June 10, 2016: SOAP #2381: Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Observation: Paul did not tell us to have a full suite of armor in our closet, but we are to put it on. The armor is not any good unless we are wearing it.  Paul did not tell us to pray that God will cloth us in His armor, but he tells us to put it on!  It is our responsibility to be ready for the attack of the enemy. The breastplate of righteousness will not protect us unless it is “in place.”

Application: The breastplate of righteousness is made up of the righteous deeds I do. Doing right protects my heart from feelings of guilt. Obeying and doing what is right keeps the enemy from accusing me before my Heavenly Father.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the righteousness you give me through Jesus your Son. Holy Spirit, help me to “wear” that righteousness and keep it “in place” through my words and actions. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 9, 2016: SOAP #2380: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Observation:  The issue is submission. Submission is the proper attitude toward authority. Submission is for everyone. The world is so structured that every single person comes under the authority of someone else. The Only One with all authority is God!   All other authority is delegated from God.

Authority may come from knowledge. Doctors have authority in treating the injured. The key to walking in this authority is to grow in knowledge.

Authority can come from position. This authority is usually delegated from a higher authority and is given to one deemed worthy. If we cannot submit, we will never have delegated authority.

Authority can come on the basis of function. The person scrubbing the floor has the authority to put up a “Caution – Wet Floor” sign, and even the CEO rebels against that authority at his own peril.

Application:  In the body of Christ, we submit to one another. We recognize the above mentioned authorities and instead of giving those over us a hard time, we make it easy for them to exercise their authority, as we want them to do for us in the areas over which we have authority.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me honor and submit to the authority you have place in my life. In submission, teach me to skillfully use the authority you have given me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 8, 2016: SOAP #2379: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

Scripture: Ecclesiastes (NIV) 7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Observation: Looking at the past and learning from it can be good. But thinking that it was better than today can lead to problems. Daydreaming about the past robs from productive thinking about the present. It takes time from preparing for the future. For the past five years I have been driving a school bus for the public school where I live. This year they have discontinued their transportation department and have contracted with a private company to provide bussing services. In the training process for the new company I am finding that focusing on what I have lost has hindered me from appreciating the opportunities ahead.

Application: I have grown in my relationship with God since my younger days. My understanding of God’s Word is much greater now. Sometimes it is still a challenge to see my present through His eyes. But it is important to live my life according to what I know about my Heavenly Father.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me keep my focus on You and how I can best serve you. Make me a blessing. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 7, 2016: SOAP #2378: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Observation: In God is not a meager supply, but glorious riches. There is abundance in Christ Jesus! When He gives to us, He does not become short! Giving power to us does not make Him weak!

The delivery is made in the person of the Holy Spirit. The delivery is not laid at our door step, or in the yard, but actually “brought into the house.” The Spirit indwells us! He imparts strength in the inner man. This is not a new shirt, but a renewed heart!

Paul was not writing to unbelievers, but to saints. Obviously he understood that being born again did not in itself keep us on the mountain top always walking in victory. Trials and tribulations do come to believers. They need to be strengthened, and strengthened again, and strengthened yet again!

Application: I Praise God that there is abundance of strength available for my inner man through the Spirit.  I need a daily allotment of grace and power. My inner man is built up as I daily read your Word and spend time in your Presence.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you know my weaknesses! You know that I cannot live victorious in my own strength. Thank you for making provisions for me! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 6, 2016: SOAP #2377: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45: Ephesians 2

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no-one can boast.

Observation: God has big plans for us. God’s plans go far beyond this life. In the ages to come, God will use us as proof that He is capable of amazing grace. His kindness to us comes through Christ Jesus and we have done nothing worthy to earn it.

Application: God has designs for my life to be an eternal living trophy of God’s grace. This One who has such great future plans for me has taken up residence in me. My speech and my actions should display my appreciation for His Presence and His Plans.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am humbled to think that your plans for me reach far beyond my life on earth.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 5, 2016: SOAP #2376: Proverbs 30,31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Observation:  What has the Father done? He blessed us with not just a few, but every spiritual, not temporal (temporary) but eternal, blessing. Who has the Father so blessed? Us! We are so unworthy, but God in grace has provided abundantly. He not only forgives, but justifies!   He not only cleanses, but sanctifies! He not only wipes out the past, but sets before us a new future! How does the Father dispense His blessing? These blessings are in Christ, not separated from Christ, but in Him. They are ours only as we are Christ’s. They cannot be found in money, in understanding, in sex, in pleasure, in entertainment, etc., but only in Him! Who did the Father do this for? He did it for us!

Application: What should be my response?  Praise. From the Greek word used here comes the word “eulogize.” We commend, extol, laud, and applaud. It is grace beyond reason that He has bestowed on us! The least I can do is give Him my all! My all includes my praise!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what you have done for me is beyond my full understanding. It is way beyond expectation. It is the opposite of what I deserve. The only explanation is your great love, mercy and grace. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 3, 2016: SOAP #2374: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 28:8 He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

Observation:  In coming to the final chapters of reading through the book of Proverbs, I think back over the many verses that address the poor. There can be many causes for poverty. Being poor is not the worst thing in life. There are ways to treat the poor and ways to not treat the poor. These verses and more show us that poverty is an important issue to God.

Application: I do not need a special revelation from God to help the poor. I have the Bible! God has spoken clearly enough about his concern for the poor. He has made it clear that I should be willing to help them. Once my obligations (including my tithes) have been met, I can consider how to help people in need. Paul encouraged 2Co 8:12: “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” That says to me that I should not go into debt but give from what I have in hand. I can help the needs I can see and understand. If I am helping from a distance, I can give through a ministry that has personal actively involved in verifying the need. NOTE: being a Facebook friend is not sufficient for me to send money. I never send money to people I do not know.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, may you find my heart willing to help the poor. Give me wisdom to help them in ways that are beneficial. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 3, 2016: SOAP #2374: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Observation: This verse gives some guidelines to be considered when we have opportunity to help our neighbor.   Our help should be done for their good and to build them up.

Application: I do not want people to become dependent on me and my help, but on God and His help. Along with any help I give, I need to explain how to trust God, I need to give an example of trusting God, and I need to encourage them to trust God.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, give me wisdom so that my assistance really works for good and builds up those I help. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 2, 2016: SOAP #2373: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 14:7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Observation: Paul begins this chapter in verse one telling us that we should not judge each other on disputable issues. Then he continues to list two issues that were big to the Jews and Gentiles in the church. The first one dealt with what kinds of food to eat. The second had to do with which day was considered sacred. Our love for each other should be expressed in two ways. First, we should not judge a person whose faith is weak and holds to a certain diet or day. Second, we should not intentionally offend a weak brother by exercising our freedom as to diet and worship day.

Application: Last weekend I attended the 50^th high school graduation celebration. I can remember our choir singing: “No man is an island; no man stands alone. Each man’s joy is joy to me, each man’s grief is my own. We need one another. So I will defend Each man as my brother, each man as my friend.” I am not alone in this world. My life is intertwined with the lives of others. God’s love in me can be seen in how I consider others around me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want it easily seen that I belong to you. Let your Holy Spirit direct my words and actions. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 1, 2016: SOAP #2372: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 19:11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offence.

Observation:  A lack of patience can be a lack of wisdom. A person of wisdom knows how to hold off anger. With wisdom they can understand the offence and its underlying cause. With wisdom they can devise a way to thoughtfully respond. With wisdom they find ways to control their anger.

Application: When I display a lack of patience, I am displaying a lack of wisdom. Hmmm. James 1:5 tells me that if I lack wisdom I can ask God and it will be given to me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, the wisest thing I can do is to submit my life totally to Your Holy Spirit. Teach me, lead and guide me I pray. May your wisdom be seen in my patience. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!