May 4, 2016: SOAP #2344: 2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 21:12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’.” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

Observation: Jesus was known for the miracles and healings that accompanied His teaching ministry. When people heard that Jesus was nearby, they went to the temple expecting to be healed or to see healings and miracles. In the verses above, the people came to the temple because they heard Jesus was there. The blind and lame came expecting something to happen.

Application: When people come to church today—what are they expecting? I think that many church goers do not expect much, and they usually get what they expect. They go expecting to meet their friends, and they do. They expect to hear a message from the Bible, and they do. They expect to sing some songs of worship, and they do. But they do not expect to see healings and miracles, and they don’t!   Hmmmm…

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, we need your presence and ministry to change the expectations of people going to church. Change my expectations, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!