March 21, 2017: SOAP #2665:  Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 9:1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— 2 they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.

Observation:   The enemy had joined forces.  The Israelites knew that they would have to face them but did not know they would be facing them all together.  Their combined force was no threat to God.  In fact, it served to allow the total victory to come more quickly.  Instead of defeating them one by one, they defeated these at one time.  Their combined force gave God opportunity to demonstrate that He was bigger even than their combined strength!  It made no difference to God how many soldiers the enemy had.

Application:  There are times when the enemy comes at me and I find that God is with me to bring victory.  Then there are times when the enemy comes at me from two or three, or more directions as the same time.  There too I find that God is with me to bring victory.  Greater is He that is with me than he that is in the world, no matter how many ways I am attacked!   (1John 4:4)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You were greater than Israel’s enemies in Joshua’s day.  You are still greater—greater than my opposition today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 20, 2017: SOAP #2664:  Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 7:13 Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.’

Observation:  What a victory Israel experienced at the city of Jericho.  God had commanded that the whole city was devoted to destruction and they were not to take anything as plunder from Jericho.  At the next city, Ai, Israel experienced a resounding defeat!   Someone had taken plunder from Jericho that was devoted to destruction.  Israel would not have victory until that was removed and destroyed.  How could they expect God to give them victory when they had things in their camp totally contrary to God’s will!   Achan was discovered with the stolen items.  When he was killed and the items destroyed, God again gave them victory.

Application:   I must be careful not to hold on to things that displease God.  His victory is so important, that I should be willing to lay anything aside that would offend Him or hinder His blessing.   How can I expect God to help me out of trouble when I am not willing to stop doing the things that got me into trouble?

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me that this life is not some game in which I see how much I can do without getting caught.  Live in me and help me live a life that best pleases my Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 19, 2017: SOAP #2663:  Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 5:10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.  [They were now inside the Promised Land.] 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

Observation:   God intended manna to be the provision for their journey to Sinai, while they were at Sinai, and for their journey across the wilderness to the southern entrance to Canaan.  But because of their unbelief and refusal to go into the Promised Land, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.  God faithfully provided manna all those forty years!    Oh no!  It stopped!  God had fed them for forty years with manna.  It was God’s miraculous welfare provision while they lived in the wilderness.   It was never God’s plan for Israel to live as “manna eaters.”  It was miraculous, but it was meant to be a temporary supply.

Application:   I thank God for His healing power.  But I know God’s higher plan for me is to live in health and not need healing.   I need to treat my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.  I thank God for unexpected financial help in times of need.  But it is not God’s plan for me to live as a “welfare recipient.”   I know God’s higher plan is for me to be faithful in tithing and giving (in sowing and reaping.)  He wants me to grow to live in His abundance.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I know you are gracious and willing to do miracles to help me, but I thank you for teaching me how to move out of the wilderness and a constant need of a miraculous heavenly welfare provision.  I want to be careful to use what you have provided. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 18, 2017: SOAP #2662   Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 2:8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.  11 When we heard of it, our hearts sank and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Observation:   What a revelation.  Forty years before this time, Israel had been too afraid of the Canaanites to follow God’s command, so God led them in circles in the wilderness until that generation died off.  This lady reveals that the Canaanites had been afraid of Israel since Israel left Egypt!!!    It was not really Israel that they feared; it was Israel’s God!  They feared Israel’s God more than Israel feared Israel’s God.

Application:  The Bible has a lot to say about fearing God.  The more I know about God, the more reason I have to fear Him and the more I grow to appreciate His great love for me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, there is no way I could ever attain to Your holy standard.  But You wanted me close to You.  So, in Your great love, you provided Your Son to be the sacrifice for my sin.  And You put Your Holy Spirit in side of me to help me live a life that pleases You!  You are amazing!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 17, 2017: SOAP #2661:  Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way, no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Observation:   God wants to share His thoughts with His children, but there is a problem.  The things of God are spiritual and people are flesh and blood.  We see things from an earthy viewpoint rather than a spiritual viewpoint.  But, we can rejoice; God has an answer to this dilemma!   He gives us His Holy Spirit

Application:  It is so important that I grow in my relationship with the Holy Spirit.  Since He was sent to be with me like He was with Jesus, I need to grow in my communication with Him.  He is with me every minute, every hour, every day, every week…  I must learn to better interact with Him.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, You are my constant companion, counselor and guide.  I walk so far below my potential when I ignore You.  Make me more useable in the kingdom of God.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 16, 2017: SOAP #2660:  Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 40:16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “The LORD be exalted!” 17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Observation:   David was meditating on the Lord.  In his mind, he was contemplating God’s goodness.  God was to be praised!   It was good that David had God in his thoughts, but what he wanted was to be in God’s thoughts!  “May the Lord think of me.”

Application:   What a special joy arises in my heart when I consider that the Great Creator God is thinking of me!   I am in His thoughts!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what an amazing thing:  You thinking of me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 15, 2017: SOAP #2659:  Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Acts (NIV) 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Observation:  In reading the Gospels, it is easy to see that Jesus was known for doing good.  “He went around doing good.”   So, Paul was encouraging the Galatians to be like Jesus.

Application:   If I claim that Christ lives in me, then my life should be known for doing good.  I need to be looking for opportunities to do good.  I should expect the Holy Spirit to draw my attention to ways I can do good to those around me.   I should be concerned if I go through a day without the Holy Spirit showing me something good I can do for others.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, show me some good thing I can do to bless those around me today.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 14, 2017: SOAP #2658:  Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 25:13 Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light.  14 Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small.  15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.  16 For the LORD your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.

Observation:   God is completely holy; it is important to Him that we deal honestly in our business dealings.   To have a “heavy pound” to use when we are buying from others, so that we get a little extra is detestable to the Lord our God.  To have a “light pound” to use when we are selling to others, so that they get a little less than what they agreed to buy is equally detestable to the Lord.

Application:  It is important that there are 16 ounces in each pound I sell; and it is important that there are 60 minutes of work in each hour for which I expect to be paid.   Those for who I work must get the full measure of what I agreed to provide.  I cannot call in “sick” just to get a day off from work.  I must be honest and call things what they are.  This is not an Old Testament vs. New Testament issue.  This is a character issue…God’s character that is!   This is how the Holy God interacts with my daily/work life.  This makes me a valuable employee.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want those for whom I work to know that they are getting their money’s worth.  And I want you to be able to smile on me as I work.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 13, 2017: SOAP #2657:  Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 4:17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

Observation:  After Paul had moved on from Galatia, people came trying to convince them that they needed to keep the Jewish law to please God.   They presented their arguments with emotion.  They were “zealous.”  They wanted the Galatians to be “zealous,” to be emotionally attached to them and the Jewish law.  Paul says it is ok to be emotionally attached, but one must be careful to what one is emotionally attached.  The crowds calling for Jesus’ crucifixion were zealous.  But it is very likely that many of them had relatives or acquaintances who had been healed by Jesus.  It is not out of the realm of possibility to think that some of them had even eaten bread and fish provided by Jesus.  Yet now, motivated by religious leaders, they were zealous for His death.

Application:  I need to be careful about what I let emotionally motivate me.  Television news often shows people zealously marching and shouting prepared slogans for some cause.  Then when a reporter individually interviews some of them, they really do not understand the issue!   They have been caught up in the emotion.  I need to remember: “It is fine to be zealous provided the purpose is good.”

Prayer:   Lord, it is always good to be zealous for You!  May my love for you be easily recognized and become well known.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 12, 2017: SOAP #2656:  Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 3:8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”  … 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. … 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Observation:  This chapter gives us God’s plan in verse 8.  His plan which worked through Israel, was always greater than Israel. We read of the plan’s execution in verse 14.  One sinless man, the Jewish Messiah, would make a sacrifice for sin that would pay for the sins of the whole world and allow all people to be born again by faith in that sacrifice.  We read of the plan’s fulfillment in verse 29.  Those who have received Christ’s sacrifice and made Him their Lord, belong to Him!  They enjoy the benefits of God’s promise.

Application:   God’s plan has been realized in me:  I belong to Christ!   My life is not my own.  I live by faith in what Christ has accomplished for me and for what He wants to accomplish through me.

Prayer:   Lord, my life is Yours!  I have been bought with a price.  The purpose of my life is to glorify You, to make You look good.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!