August 11, 2016: SOAP #2443:  Jeremiah 7-9; John 13

Scripture:  John (NIV) 13:14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Observation:   Jesus had set an example for his disciples, now He commands them to do the same for others.  He did not just tell them what to do, He showed them.  His example was not in what He had done for someone else, but in what He had done for them.     

Application:   The command is that I do for others what Jesus has done for me!   I have not just read about His example; I have not just see what He did; I have not just heard others tell me—I have personally experienced.  He has forgiven me; I am to forgive others.  He has provided for me; He can use me to help provide for others.   He has been kind to me; He has not overlooked me; He has comforted and encouraged me.   

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, speak through me.  Touch through me.  Encourage through me.  Do through me what you have done to and for me.  Amen         

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 10, 2016: SOAP #2442:  Jeremiah 5-6; John 12

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 6:10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so that they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Observation:  What a sad thing to say about a group of people, especially for those known as Jehovah’s people—especially for people who have had such a rich history of God working on their behalf.  But now they did not like the what God was saying.  God was identifying their sins and speaking judgment.  God’s word was not politically correct: it was offensive!

Application:   Today God is speaking in a very similar way.  He is identifying sin and promising judgment.  The United States of America has been known as a Christian nation.  We have a history of God involved in the establishment of our nation.  Yet to many today the word of God has become offensive.  “Political correctness” has more value than God’s Word in determining what is “acceptable.”

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, empower the church today.  Burn truth in our minds and on our hearts.  Fill us with a supernatural courage to speak truth.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 9, 2016: SOAP #2441: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

Scripture: Jeremiah (NIV) 3:12 Go, proclaim this message towards the north: “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt—you have rebelled against the LORD your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’” declares the LORD.

Observation: How disappointed God had become with Israel. He had chosen them and set them up in their own land making them a nation under His authority. They had forgotten what He had done for them and ignored His warnings he had sent again and again. YET God is willing to show mercy! He promises not to be angry with them forever. They only must acknowledge their sin. They must own up to their rebellion and return to Him.

Application: I understand the great love God has for man more than those in the Old Testament time. God loved me so much he was not only willing to show me mercy—He loved me enough to send His Only Begotten Son to die for my sins! It is truly amazing!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, may my love for You keep me from sinning and when I do, may I be quick to repent. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 8, 2016: SOAP #2440: Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

Scripture: Jeremiah (NIV) 2:27 They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’ 28 Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.

Observation: Israel had turned their back on Jehovah, their God. They had chosen to make gods/idols out of wood and stone like the nations around them. But when things went bad, it was not the gods of wood and stone to which they looked, but to the living God, Jehovah. We treat God as though He has no feelings. But He can be greatly offended. He allows us to reap what we have sown. (Note verse 19.)

Application: In the fourth stanza of our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, we sing “…may this heaven rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation…” Surely the God who brought the judgment of the civil war to our nation for the sin of slavery will again bring judgment for destroying 55+ million unborn babies who were created in His image. We want to ignore God’s creative order. Yet, as judgment continues to increase on our nation, God will openly receive and forgive individuals who approach Him in humility and repentance. He will not save the USA, but He will save the church.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, guide me in praying. Help me make wise decisions in preparation for coming judgment. Give me strength to do what I need to do. Give me courage to say what needs to be said. Be glorified in my life, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 7, 2016: SOAP #2439: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

Scripture: John (NIV) 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.

Observation: The man had obviously been blind; he had been born blind. Now the man could obviously see. There had to be an explanation. And there was; Jesus had healed him. But the truth did not fit into their preconceived ideas. Some minds were closed; others were willing to check further. Their response was divided. As we read on, we see the closed minds ruled the day.

Application: I want my eyes and heart open to what God is doing around me. When I see God doing something that only He can do, I want to be supportive and encouraging people to have faith for even more.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your guidance. Help me not to misjudge what you are doing. Use me to encourage people in who are experiencing your hand at work in their lives. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 6, 2016: SOAP #2438: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

Scripture: John (NIV) 8:30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

Observation: It was a short time before Jesus would be crucified and the religious leaders were getting more and more upset with the attention he was receiving. They tried to stir the crowd against Him. They asked questions trying to trap Him, but He always had an answer. Jesus spoke of His Father and the special relationship He had with the One who had sent Him. Some of His words were difficult to understand, but the Bible says, “many put their faith in him.”

Application: It may appear that everything is arranged to bring about our defeat. It may appear that everybody is against us. People in authority may be working against us. But we never know who is watching our faith as it is expressed in hard times.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, like you, people are watching me. I pray that they see confidence that You will carry me through the tough time. I pray they see that you are obviously worthy of any trouble I experience in following you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 5, 2016: SOAP #2437: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

Scripture: John (NIV) 7:31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?”

Observation: The religious leaders wanted to control the people and have their support in putting Jesus to death. They feared Jesus and His simple way of pointing out the truth. They succeeded in getting the crowd to join them in yelling, “Crucify him” to Pilate’s question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” (Matthew 27:22)  HOWEVER, they did not convince everyone. There were “many in the crowd” who saw things as they really were.

Application: The same is true today. Although the news cannot be shared too specifically, I rejoice when I hear that “many in the crowd” today in the Muslim countries are turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior. They see the terrible deeds of those who claim to closely follow the Koran. They hear their religious leaders fanning the flame of jihad. Their eyes are being opened to truth.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, as we are in the final days before Your return it is understandable that You will use any means available to reach as many people as possible. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 4, 2016: SOAP #2436: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

Scripture: John (NIV) 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John (NIV) 6:32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”

Observation: To the woman at the well (John 4) Jesus offered Himself as water. To the people gathered in Joy 6, Jesus offered Himself as bread. Jesus meets the basic essentials of our life. How logical their response. “Give me this water.” “Give us this bread.”

Application: I need to present Jesus to those around me as the one who meets the basic needs of life. I pray the Lord will help me to awaken their thirst and hunger. I pray that they will say, “Give me this water; Give us this bread.”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, May your living water flow from my life and may my words be your bread that satisfies. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 3, 2016: SOAP #2435: Nahum 1-3; John 5

Scripture: Nahum (NIV) 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. 3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.   —BUT— 7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, 8 but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness.

Observation: At the same time God was angry with Nineveh for their extreme cruelty, He was loving and caring for Judah. God is like a very tender and loving mother who has intense hatred for a dog or someone who has harmed her child. The two opposite emotions logically co-exist within her heart. Her love motivates her anger. The Father’s love for His Son motivates his anger against those who reject Jesus.

Application: It is good for me to remember that my loving God can be a terror. I do not think I fully comprehend the love our Heavenly Father has for His Son, Jesus. It is foolish not to fear God. (Matthew 10:28) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but love is the goal of the relationship. God’s perfect love overcomes fear. (1John 4:18)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, although the Father’s great love for me draws me near to His heart, let me never forget that His awesome holiness and power make Him One to be feared. May I not foolishly think I can get by with things that displease Him. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 2, 2016: SOAP #2434: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

Scripture: John (NIV) 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Observation: In a day in which going to the well was fellowship time for women, the lady to whom Jesus was speaking came by herself. Perhaps her life of having five husbands and now living with a man who was not her husband caused her to be shunned by the other women; so she came by herself. To this woman, Jesus revealed a wonderful truth about God. God is looking for worshippers. God wants worshippers. He wants worshippers who come in truthfulness and engage their spirits. I believe Jesus saw this woman as a good candidate to be a God worshipper!

Application: I wonder how many times I have met people who were good candidates to be God worshippers. They had the potential, but I did not see it. Instead of pausing to engage them in conversation, I hurried on my way, as they hurried on theirs.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, when I meet someone all alone, remind me to see them as Jesus saw this woman—a candidate to become a God worshipper. Help me to follow the flow of Your divine attention that flows through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!