December 21, 2016: SOAP #2575:  John 9-11

Scripture:  John (NIV) 9:24 A second time therefore they called the man who had been blind, and said, “Give God the praise: we know that that man is a sinner.” 25 “Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know,” he replied; “one thing I know — that I was once blind and that now I can see.”

Observation:   They were certain.  They were sure they could not be wrong.  They just needed someone else to agree with them.  (Like many in the news media today.)  They wanted the blind man who Jesus had just healed to confirm what they “knew.”  But the man would only testify to what he knew for sure.  He knew what he had personally experienced.

Application:   This passage has many angles from which I can make personal application.  First, from the man healed from blindness, I must be faithful to testify of what God has done for me.  Second, from the Jewish leaders, I see that I must be careful not to look for proof to support what I already know.  I must search out truth.  Truth stands firm as its own foundation.  Truth does not need outside support to hold it in place.  Truth is its own foundation.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, when I stand on the foundation of Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life,” I stand secure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 20, 2016: SOAP #2574:  John 7-8

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?”  32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. … 41 Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”… 46 “No-one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.  47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

Observation:  I had to smile when I read the above passages.  The Pharisees were convinced that they were right.  To them things were so obvious that they had to be right!   It was inconceivable they could be wrong.  -As I was reading this, it sounded to me like today’s news media in the USA.  They were convinced that Hillary Clinton was going to win the election.  It was inconceivable that Donald Trump would win.  Anyone believing Trump would win was laughed out of the conversation. -But the Pharisees and today’s news media were obviously wrong.  A little honest investigating would have helped both!

Application:  Truth is important!  Truth must be important to me.  The truth about Jesus is priority! The Holy Spirit will lead me to the truth.

Prayer:   Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) The more I know the truth, the more I will understand You!   The more I know you, the more I will understand the truth.  Teach me truth!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 19, 2016: SOAP #2573:  John 5-6

Scripture:  John (NIV) 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.  67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Observation:   The time came in Jesus ministry when many of his disciples gave up on following him.  Some of his sayings were hard to understand.  Perhaps it was because he was not moving toward becoming the political leader they hoped.  When He asked the twelve apostles if they would be leaving Peter answered for them all.  “Leave!!! Where would we go?”

Application:   If I am looking for someone who, in perfect love for me, will only speak truth to me…  If I am looking for someone who will only choose what is best for me… If I am looking for someone who is worthy of my whole devotion…  where else could I go but to Jesus?

Prayer:   Jesus, you alone are worthy.  I trust you with my whole life, all I am and all I have.  The best thing I can do for my wife, my family, my friends is to give myself totally to You!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 18, 2016: SOAP #2572:  John 2-4

Scripture:  John (NIV) 4:25 [Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well.]  The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

Observation:    As I was reading this, I thought it must have been a special joy for Jesus to reveal Himself to this thirsty woman, “I who speak to you am he.”  Then I sensed the Lord saying to me, “I still like to reveal myself to people.”  Across my mind came memories of recent testimonies I have read of people in Muslim countries turning to Jesus because of dreams and visions.  Jesus is still revealing Himself to people looking for something to satisfy their thirsty souls.

Application:  Yes, He is the one!  I have tasted and received the life-giving water Jesus offers.  It is for me to share with a thirsty person today.

Prayer:   Jesus, to the thirsty people around me, may I be faithful to tell them that you are the answer to the longings in their thirsty soul.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 17, 2016: SOAP #2571:  2Peter 1-3; John 1

Scripture:  2Peter (NIV) 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Observation:  Christmas is not only an expression of God’s love in sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins, it is an expression of God’s holiness.  The sacrifice for sin had to be prepared in a way that would stand the scrutiny of the highest court in the universe.  Only a sinless sacrifice could pay for the sins of others.  The sacrifice had to be proven sinless not because it had no opportunity to sin, but because it had every opportunity to sin, yet resisted and remained pure!   Oh, what a Savior!!!  He met the righteous demands of the One and Only Perfectly Holy God!

Application:  In love, God forgives me and pays for my sins by the death of Jesus.  In holiness, He sent the same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus—that same Holy Spirit to live within me and help me overcome temptation.   Oh, what a God!!!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, you are amazing!  You know me perfectly.  You have perfectly supplied for my needs!  I am blest to be yours! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 16, 2016: SOAP #2570:  1Peter 1-5

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Observation:   Proper respect is to fear God.  To treat Him in a casual way is foolish.  Proper respect for those in authority is to obey them.   The proper respect for our brothers and sisters in Christ is to love them.  Jesus told us to love them as He loves us.

Application:    This scripture tells me to have proper respect for everyone.  I should respect everyone as a special creation of God.  They were created for His purpose.  God loves and values people so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die for their sins.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are not willing that any should perish but that all should have eternal life.  Help me to respect all people as valuable to You!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 15, 2016: SOAP #2569:  James 1-5

Scripture:  James (NIV) 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Observation:   The first things about Job that comes to my mind are Satan’s conversations with God about Job, how he lost all his possessions, how he lost his children, how he remained faithful to God, and how his four friends tried to get Job to admit that he was such a great sinner that he deserved all this trouble.  The first thing that comes to my mind IS NOT the last 8 verses of the book of Job.  Yet James draws our attention to “what the Lord finally brought about.”

Application:  When I am going through troubles, I need to remember that God is not finished.  I have not yet seen what God will “finally bring about.”

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am convinced that your plan is not to bury me in trouble, but to use the trouble that comes my way to prepare me for what you “finally bring about” on earth and in heaven.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 14, 2016: SOAP #2568:  Hebrews 12-13, Jude

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Observation:  One expression of a father’s love is discipline.  Discipline is not pleasant.  It is not meant to be a joyful time of enjoying a father’s presence.  It is designed to make a lasting impression.  It is meant to be remembered when tempted to repeat the action that brought the discipline.

Application:   If I respected my earthly father for his discipline, how much more should I respect my Heavenly Father.  I should be concerned when I do not experience His discipline.  His discipline, and my response, brings righteousness and peace into my life.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, (as someone said,) you love me just the way I am, but you love me too much to leave me that way.  Thank you for caring enough to discipline me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 13, 2016: SOAP #2567:  Philemon; Hebrews 9-11

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Observation:   It is good to live by faith.  It is necessary to live by faith.  It is impossible to live without faith.  When I eat in a restaurant, I have faith that people I cannot see are preparing my food in a safe, tasty manner.   When the food is brought to my table, I eat it without asking any questions.  When I drive, I drive in faith that the vehicle approaching me will stay on their side of the road.
Living by faith is a major Bible doctrine:
Romans 1:17 “The righteous will live by faith.”
2Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Galatians 2:20 The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:11 “The righteous will live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38 But my righteous one will live by faith.
Living by faith is making life decisions based on truth that we cannot prove.  We are convinced that God exists and He speaks.  His word is the basis for all we are, all we say, and all we do.

Application:   I want it said that I was living by faith when I died!!!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, continue to teach me Your Word so that my faith may continue to grow stronger.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 12, 2016: SOAP #2566:  Hebrews 5-8

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 5:1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

Observation:   The high priest who served in the Tabernacle of Moses represented the people before God.  In keeping with His holiness and perfect justice, God required that the high priest be chosen from among those they represented.  They had to understand those they were representing.

And so when the Perfect High Priest came, He was born in a manger and grew up among men.  He was tempted in every way as were those whose sins He would carry on the cross to die.  He was tempted but did not sin.  Since he grew up and lived among men He understood the temptations and trials of life.  Since He had no sin for which to pay, His sacrifice is accepted as the payment for my sin!!!

Application:   Having received the forgiveness Jesus offers, I should live a life of gratitude to God.  Having received the indwelling Holy Spirit, I should allow Him to live His life through me.  In this way, I can bring joy to my Heavenly Father.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so blest to be your child.  By living joyful and righteously, may those nearby easily recognize your presence in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!