November 20, 2015:  SOAP #2178:  

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Observation:   Acts of righteousness are good and kind things which are expected of a person claiming to be a Christian.   They are done to please God or serve others.  When they are done so people will notice, their thank you and compliment will be the only payment one should expect.  When they are done quietly and go unnoticed by others, the Heavenly Father takes the responsibility for the reward.  He is the GREAT Rewarder!

Application:  When everyone sees me do something kind for another person, two things happen:  1, the need of the other is met.  And 2, they appreciate me and make me look good.  But when no one knows that I have done something kind for another person, three things happen:  1. the need of the other is met.  2, not knowing who to thank, they give thanks and glory to God and make Him look good.  And 3, my reward comes from God!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want my acts of righteousness to give many people reason to appreciate you and give you praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 19, 2015:  SOAP #2177:

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Observation:  This verse contains Jesus basic method of ministry.  First part was teaching and preaching about the kingdom.  The kingdom is a structure of authority with a king.  Jesus helped them understand the Kingdom of God by telling them stories (parables) from everyday life.  Second part was demonstrating that authority.  Since he was not setting up an earthly government for the nation of Israel, He demonstrated the authority by healing, driving out demons, and miracles.  The authority of the kingdom of heaven made big differences in their earthly lives.

Application:   It is interesting to note that the church in the book of Acts was established following these same principles.   A lot of money is spent today on church planting and church growth.   I am thinking we should use Jesus method which was followed by the church in the book of Acts.  Hmmm.

Prayer:   Lord, use me to proclaim AND demonstrate the authority of your kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 18, 2015:  SOAP #2176:  

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation:    When we depend on our strength, we are only as strong as we can be.  When we are weak and depending on His strength, we are as strong as He is!!!

Application:   I believe my strengths come from God and I should use them for His glory.  But when thrust upon me, I should joyfully accept challenges in areas where I am weak.  They become opportunities for God to demonstrate His strength and His wisdom.

Prayer:   Lord, My life belongs to you, my strengths and my weaknesses.  Today, I want you to be glorified in both.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 17, 2015:  SOAP #2175:

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:7  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Observation:   While pastoring in Kaneohe, Hawaii, I was invited to participate in a share-a-thon for KAIM, a Christian radio station in Honolulu.  As I was driving up the Likelike highway, I asked the Lord for a thought I could share with the people.  In my heart I heard the Lord say, “Tell them I am not just a “forgiver,” I am also “for givers.”   The above verse shows that God is not only “for givers,” He loves givers!

Application:    I like scriptures that reveal God’s likes and dislikes.  It gives me ideas about how I can please Him.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You get the prize for being the world’s greatest giver!  I pray that your generosity is expressed through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 16, 2015:  SOAP #2174:

Scripture:  2Corinthians (MSSG) 5:9 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.

Observation:   If we have not established the “main thing,” there will be many pressures from the world to set a “main thing” for us.  Until we establish the “main thing” for our life, we may find that our “main thing” changes with the pressures of each day.   For Paul, the “main thing” was not just “pleasing God,” but “cheerfully pleasing God.”

Application:   How I please God gives witness to those around me.  Serving God as though it is a great heavy burden communicates to others that He is a hard task master—that I am serving him because He is twisting my arm.  Serving Him cheerfully communicates that it is my pleasure to serve Him—that I consider it an honor to do His bidding—that I consider Him worthy to be pleased!

Prayer:   Lord, I want you to know that I consider it a high honor and privilege to be your child.  My “main thing” is to cheerfully please you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 15, 2015:  SOAP #2173:

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 2:10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Observation:  As we are quickly approaching the last days, we must be aware that Satan is looking for ways to drive wedges between members of the body of Christ.  God is about to do something great, but Satan wants to spit us away from our brothers and sisters.  Instead of forgiving and allowing differences to develop maturity, we can easily run to another “church” where God has to start the maturing process again.  We must not let Satan fool us.  With the Holy Spirit we are smarter than Satan!

Application:   Instead of running, I need to let the hard times and troubles around me work to purify my life and develop my ministry to others.  Let trouble drive me to my Lord where He can develop His character in my life.  I am so thankful that I do not have to wake up in the morning to see if my right hand is still at the end of my right arm!   It would be hard to make commitments if I had to wait to see if my right hand was still where it used to be.  I am concerned that the Lord may not find the members of His body so faithful!

Prayer:   Lord, my life is yours.  I believe you have placed me where you want me.  I pray that my reasons for changing not be selfish, but may I truly move only at your direction.  I trust you to work through me where I am.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 14, 2015:  SOAP #2172:

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. 4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

Observation:    To delight in something is to find it a cause of joy or pleasure.

Application:     What a great reason I have to rejoice…The Lord takes delight in me!    He likes me and likes to be near me.  He is inclined to do special things for me.

Prayer:   Lord, I want to live my life in a way that it is easy for you to delight in me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 13, 2015:  SOAP #2171: l

Scripture:    1Corinthians (NIV) 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 1Corinthians (NIV) 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

Observation:   Paul did not tell the church to try to “use” the gifts, but to try to “excel” in the gifts.  I had not taken much notice of that word before.  God wants an abundance of gifts operating in the church.

Application:  I think that Paul would write to today’s church that we should “USE” the gifts.  Once we use them, we can work to excel in them.  If I never, or seldom, use the gifts, I will never excel.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help us be the church today that Jesus desires and deserves.  I want to take your word seriously not just to use the gifts you have given me, but to make an effort to excel.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 12, 2015:  SOAP #2170:

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

Observation:   I remember one dark rainy night near Salt Lake City, Utah.  Sharon and I were traveling in heavy traffic through an area of road construction.  A car was parked just barely off the traveling lane with its hazard lights on.  We stop and discovered two ladies with a flat tire, not knowing what to do.  (It was the day before many cell phones.)  Since it was the passenger side rear tire, I thought I should be able to safely change it.   Afterward, the driver came to me and looked in my face and thanked me for the help.  My hands had really done all the work, but she did not thank my hands at all.  She never mentioned how hard they had worked, or how dirty they got.  She just looked at my face as if she was thanking my head.  I am glad to report that my hands did not get their feelings hurt because they had not been properly recognized.  They did not stop being a part of the body.  They did not stop working for the good of the body.  They seemed to be content that the head received appreciation for their efforts.

Application:    As a part of the body of Christ, it should make no difference if I am overlooked when my work is appreciated.  My joy is seeing the appreciation going to the “Head,”—to Jesus!

Prayer:   Lord, I want my work to make you look good.  I want people to appreciate you for what you do through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 11, 2015:  SOAP #2169:

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Observation:   Here David expresses his joy in going to the house of the LORD.  But in this there are two specifics from which he receives special joy.  First, David rejoiced when someone invited him to the house of the Lord.  It was a reminder that he was welcome.   Their invitation caused him to anticipate the second specific reason for joy—he would not be alone in the house of the Lord.  He would have someone with which to share the experience in God’s house.  For days to come, they would be able to talk about what God said and did.

Application:   It is special to spend time alone in the presence of the Lord.  But it is also very special to spend time in God’s Presence with other people.  When I hear them sing or pray, my heart is encouraged to do the same.  When I hear what God has done for them, I am encouraged to believe God will do the same for me.  We can worship together.  We can pray for and with each other.  It is definitely a cause to rejoice!

Prayer:   Lord, thank you that I am not the only believer in my neighborhood and at the bus barn.  Thank you for the joy of joining with others to worship you.    Ame

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!