June 30, 2016: SOAP #2401: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104: Titus 2

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 104:24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small.

Observation: The wisdom of God is easily seen in creation. Knowing the nutritional needs of each creature, both living and small, God designed one form of life to be food for another form of life. Obviously the nutritional need of each creature had to be prepared at the same time each creature was created. The balance in creation is amazing.

Application: God not only knows the needs of the animal kingdom; He also knows my needs. His wisdom was sufficient for him to meet their needs; His wisdom is sufficient for Him to meet my needs.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Your wisdom demonstrated in creation amazes me. The little I know about the plant and animal kingdoms causes me to appreciate your ability to care for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 28, 2016: SOAP #2399: Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

Scripture: 2Timothy (NIV) 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Observation: Here are two keys for anyone involved in training others—great patience AND careful instruction. “Careful instruction” is the teacher’s responsibility. Impatient trainers discourage learning, especially if the trainee is having difficulty understanding the subject. The trainer needs to understand the subject AND the ones being trained. How much background is needed with the training? What do the trainees already know? Nothing helps a trainer have “great patience” as seeing those he is training growing in their understanding and application. This is the goal of “careful instruction.”

Application: I am glad I have the Holy Spirit to work in and through me as I teach others. I must depend on Him! He knows both the subject and the heart of the trainee. He can lead me to give “careful instruction.” He also knows me! He knows my weaknesses and where I lack patience. He can inspire me with new ways to teach and with new illustrations. He is the Teacher’s Aide without equal!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your help to carefully explain the scriptures. Help me to communicate in an easy to understand way. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 28, 2016: SOAP #2399: Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

Scripture: 2Timothy (NIV) 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Observation: Here are two keys for anyone involved in training others—great patience AND careful instruction. “Careful instruction” is the teacher’s responsibility. Impatient trainers discourage learning, especially if the trainee is having difficulty understanding the subject. The trainer needs to understand the subject AND the ones being trained. How much background is needed with the training? What do the trainees already know? Nothing helps a trainer have “great patience” as seeing those he is training growing in their understanding and application. This is the goal of “careful instruction.”

Application: I am glad I have the Holy Spirit to work in and through me as I teach others. I must depend on Him! He knows both the subject and the heart of the trainee. He can lead me to give “careful instruction.” He also knows me! He knows my weaknesses and where I lack patience. He can inspire me with new ways to teach and with new illustrations. He is the Teacher’s Aide without equal!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your help to carefully explain the scriptures. Help me to communicate in an easy to understand way. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 27, 2016: SOAP #2398: 2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 25:14 When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. 15 The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”

Observation:  Unbelievable! King Amaziah had totally destroyed the Edomites and now he takes their gods and sets them up and worships them as his own!!! It just does not make any sense! Those gods could not save the Edomites from King Amaziah, and now he wants to honor them! They were not able to save their worshippers from defeat; what help should King Amaziah expect to receive from them???   God’s anger is totally logical! He had every right to be upset with King Amaziah!   If God would not have been bothered, one could have thought that He did not care and people did not make any difference to Him.

Application: After all God has done for me, I need to be careful in how I treat God. I do not want to place my trust or give my worship to lesser gods. I want Him to know that He has first place in my life. I want others to know that He has first place in my life.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want to treat you with the respect you deserve! You alone are worthy of my worship.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 26, 2016: SOAP #2397: Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

Scripture: Jonah (NIV) 2:1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.

Observation: Surely this must be the most unique place of prayer recorded in the Bible, but we can be glad that our God can hear prayers even from inside the fish!     But God not only heard the prayer from a man in the belly of a fish, He heard the prayer from the heart of a man running from God!!!

Application: I am glad to know that God can hear my prayer in any circumstance. I am glad to know that God can hear my heartfelt prayer even if I am in trouble because I have been running from Him!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, how you love me. It is amazing how you are always willing and able to hear my prayer. How foolish to think that you might not hear me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 25, 2016: SOAP #2396: Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 1:12 …I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Observation: As one grows in their faith they grow in knowing their Heavenly Father. He is the One who loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to make the required payment for our sins. He is the One who sent His Holy Spirit to accompany and empower us through each day. The more we know Him, the more we are convinced that He is able to fulfill all His promises.

Application: The Father loves and honors His Only Begotten Son. He fully knows the value of Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins. I can wait with confidence as I approach the day of judgment. My sins have been atoned for by the blood Jesus shed on the cross.

Prayer:   Holy Father, your holiness demands a proper payment for my sin. Your great love provided that very payment through Jesus your Son. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 24, 2016: SOAP #2395: 2Kings 11,12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Observation: With money one cannot buy their way into heaven, but with money they can lay up treasure in eternity.

Application: To have finances in my hand that can be invested for my future yet not to do it is unwise. To have finances in my hand that can be invested for my life in eternity yet not to do it is foolish!   To plan for earthly retirement without planning for eternity is foolish.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, Give me wisdom in planning for my future! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 23, 2016: SOAP #2394: 2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22,23; 1Timothy 5

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 5:3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

Observation: Recently I have noticed that humility and giving are two special characteristics that attract God’s attention. This verse specifically notes something else that pleases God: caring for one’s parents and grandparents. Verses like the ones above have special meaning for people who love God and desire to please Him.

Application: Putting my “religion into practice” is more than just a mental exercise. It requires action. Faith must be seeable. Those around me should be able to recognize my faith by my actions, including how I respect and care for my parents.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, although I am already a parent and a grandparent, help me show respect for older generations around me. May my actions show that I appreciate them and their contributions to my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 22, 2016: SOAP #2393: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 21:6 He [King Jehoram] walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.

Observation: Because of his sin, King Jehoram deserved judgment, but because of God’s covenant with King David, God would not destroy the descendants of David. God had promised that the Messiah would come as a descendant of David. It was not only a promise made to David; it was a promise made to the entire world. One was promised that would pay the penalty for sin.   God was being faithful to His promise. Jesus was born a descendant of David in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Application: I like to read the promises God made to the Jews and think that they might apply to my nation, the USA. However, I know of no clear future prophecy about the USA to which God must remain faithful. We are foolish not to expect God’s judgment on our nation and the leaders who make rules and judgments contrary to God’s laws.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, although I am unaware of any prophecies concerning the future of the USA, I know of many prophecies concerning your church! I am so glad to be a part of your body, the church, in the world today. There is a bright future for your people!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 21, 2016: SOAP #2392: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 20:12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” 15 He [the Spirit speaking through Jehaziel] said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

Observation: King Jehoshaphat and the people were so convinced that God had spoken that they did a very logical thing. They put the choir in the front of the army to lead them into battle!  When they arrived, they found that the armies coming to invade Judah had turned on each other and nothing was left for the Judah’s army to do was to pick up the spoils, which it took three days to do!!!

Application: How appropriate this passage is to me. Tomorrow morning, I have to take a driving test with the new school bus company that is taking over the transportation for our school district.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I know you will be with me in the morning and the “battle” is yours. I can go with your praise in my heart and in my mouth! Thank you for your peace! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!