April 30, 2017: SOAP #2705: 2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Ps 68; Matthew 17

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.  4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Observation:   Moses had been gone for 1500 years.  Elijah had been gone for 900 years, yet here they are alive and talking with Jesus!   It seems they were easily recognized by Peter, James and John.

Application:   Death only affects our physical bodies.  As birth was the doorway through which we entered this life, so death is the doorway through which we enter the next life.  We will be recognized by those who have preceded us and by those who will follow us.  I am certain that when we arrive and see Jesus, we will say what Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here!”

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You have so much in store for us!  Your plans for us do not end in our physical death but extend far into eternity.  For those who have received Jesus as Savior, it will be good!    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 29, 2017: SOAP #2704: 2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 5:22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David enquired of the LORD, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle round behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.  24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”  25 So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

Observation:   A few verses before this passage, God had given David victory over the same Philistines.  But now they are going to meet in a battle again.  David does not rush ahead, thinking I know how to do this.  David does not say, “We did it before; we can do it again.”  David does not presume that he will win this battle, so he inquires of the Lord.   It is God’s people David will be leading into battle and he needs God’s permission and directions.

God gives David orders, but this time it is different.  They are to approach from a different direction and wait for the right timing.  David listened to the Lord and then did what the Lord commanded.

Application:  I must stop to listen to God.  He may give me the direction and timing to insure I come out victorious too.  God likes to program me for victory!  If I let Him, He will set me up to win!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you are the Great General to whom I submit and obey.  Show me your direction and timing. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 28, 2017: SOAP #2703: 2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 15:29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.

Observation:    Jesus left the land of the Gentiles and returned to Jewry.  He traveled along the Sea of Galilee.  He climbed up the mountainside from the sea and sat down.  He had come to a good ministry place.  He did not build a shelter.  He did not call for a tent.  He did not put up benches.  He SAT DOWN!

There was nothing frantic about Jesus preparing for His ministry.  HE was prepared.  Ministry does not require outer circumstances to be perfect, but inward attitudes.  Ministry requires a current relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes we are so tired after preparing the “house” that we cannot minister to the people!   Jesus did not waste time and energy on externals.  But when the people came, He was ready!

Application:   I must always remember that ministry preparation is a heart matter.   The greatest hindrance to my ministry is not a lack of facilities, but a lack of heart preparation.  I fear the church in USA has put too much emphasis on the building in which the ministries of the church take place.  I see some ministries in third world countries trying to follow our example.  Some feel they cannot minister because they do not have a church building.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for the facilities you provide for ministry.  But most of all thank you for ministries that are not limited to buildings or limited by the lack of buildings.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 27, 2017: SOAP #2702: 2Sam 2; 1Chron 11; Ps 142; Mat 14

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 14:15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”  17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.  18 “Bring them here to me,” he said.

Observation:  It had been a long day.  It is very likely that some people with children had already started to return home.  They would need to find something to eat for their children and get them to bed.

Perhaps it was seeing some people starting to leave that prompted the disciples to remind Jesus of the time and situation.  Jesus did not say that they could not leave; He said it was not necessary for them to leave.   He was not ignoring empty stomachs; He had a plan!

Surely the next day back in their homes, those who stayed spoke to some who left early, telling them of the miracle they personally experienced!  They were so glad they stayed!

Application:  When things do not go the way I like, I may be tempted to leave early.  I may be tempted to give up, thinking I have waited long enough for things to change.  But if God has sent me, I must be willing to wait until He dismisses me.  He may have only five loaves of bread and two fish…but they are in HIS hands!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want to be one who stays.  I want to be one who witnesses and experiences your provision.  Holy Spirit, warn me when I try to leave too early.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 26, 2017: SOAP #2701: 2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 13:3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.” … 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

Observation:   Jesus used everyday things to teach eternal truth.  In this chapter, He used seed (vs.19), good and bad seed (vs.24), mustard seed (vs.32), yeast (vs.33), a hidden treasure (vs. 44), fine pearls (vs.45), and a fishing net (vs.47).

Application:   Jesus can still teach us from the examples in nature and in our everyday lives.  Last week as I was driving the school bus down an extremely dusty road, I was asking God to send some rain to keep the dust down.  Then it came to me, compliments of the Holy Spirit, that if I would allow the Holy Spirit to fall like rain every day on me, He would keep the “dust” down in my life.  People traveling through my life would be better able to see Jesus, like I wanted to be better able to see the road.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, everyday show me truth from the world around me and from my life.  Then help me, like Jesus, pass along those truths to others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 25, 2017: SOAP #2700: 1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

Scripture:  1Samuel (NIV) 30:26 When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”

Observation:   It is very likely that those to whom David sent a portion of the plunder had earlier supported David while he had been in their neighborhood.  Probably like Nabel, David had been a protection to those living in these areas, and as with Nabel, he expected them to share with him some of their blessing.

Now that David has been blessed with the plunder from the Amalekites, he shares with them.  When they were blessed, he was blessed.  And now that he has been blessed, they share in that blessing.  From the list of places where David sent portions of the plunder (note verses 27-31) we get the idea that it was a great amount of plunder.  David spread the wealth around.

Application:   Victory is to be shared!  If I claim that God is with me and He has helped me, then it is only proper that I share the benefits of any victory.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I have nothing that you have not provided for me.  You have been the strategy and force behind every victory.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your great plan.  Thank you for things that I can share with others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 23, 2017: SOAP #2698: 1Sam 27; Ps 141; 1Chron 9; Mat 10

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 141:1 A psalm of David. O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you.  2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Observation:   David wanted His prayers to be pleasing to God.  He wanted them to have a sweet smell as they rose to the throne.  He desired that his prayers leave behind a sweet aroma.  May God take time to think on our prayers.  May our prayers linger in His thoughts.

Application:  A young lady who rides my bus almost every day has the habit of wearing a certain perfume.  To me it smells like a cup of vanilla cappuccino.  The aroma lingers at the front of the bus as she passes by.  Her presence cannot be ignored.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, teach me to pray in a way that causes the Father to look forward to my prayers.  May He recognize my presence by my prayers.  Teach me to pray in a way that causes my prayers to linger in His thoughts.  Teach me to pray in a way that He enjoys.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 22, 2017: SOAP #2697: 1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 9:33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” Earlier in the same chapter:  8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Observation:   From the same chapter we see two completely different responses to Jesus.  The Pharisees claimed that the works of Jesus were being done in Satan’s power.  The crowd recognized that it was the power of God.  They recognized that Jesus was working under the authority of God.  The Pharisees who had been taught by well-respected religious leaders misjudged the source of Jesus authority.  The people in the crowd that had not had the benefit of such teaching, easily saw that what Jesus was doing obviously came from God!

Application:  It is great to have opportunity to learn from teachers who have studied the Word of God.  Teachers are one of the special gifts God gives to the church. (Ephesians 4:11)   But we must always remember that the Greatest Teacher is the Holy Spirit!  Jesus said the Holy Spirit would lead us into all the truth!  (John 16:13-15)

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for making the Word understandable for us.  Indeed, You are a great Teacher! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 21, 2017: SOAP #2696: 1Sam 24; Ps 57, 58; 1Chron 8; Mat 8

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

Observation:   Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law provided two things.  First, it provided relief.  The fever and all that accompanied it was gone.   Second, it provided opportunity to serve Jesus.  She was enabled to use her gifts to serve.  She did not just sit back and enjoy the fact that she had been blest; she made herself a blessing!

Application:   God has blest me in many ways.  It is good to enjoy His blessings.  I believe He enjoys that I enjoy His blessings.  But He receives even more joy when I take those blessings and use them to bless others.   I can tell others what God has done for me to encourage them to believe God for what He will do for them.  And, I can share my blessings with others; I can give part of what I have been given.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You are a giver and your blessings enable me to be a giver like you.  Show me how to bless others with the blessings you have given me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 20, 2017: SOAP #2695: 1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 54:6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Observation:   As I read the passage above, I wondered to what the Psalmist was referring as good.  Was it God’s name?  Or was it the act of praise?  Indeed, both are “good.”  His name is “good.”  The name of Jesus is the name above all names.  A name with such meaning should not be spoken thoughtlessly.

Application:   And it is “good” to praise His name.  Speaking His promises and His actions is good for Him because it brings honor to Him.  It is also good for me because it lifts my thoughts to the One who is above all my struggles.  It lifts my thoughts to the One who is always with me.  Without question, it is “good” for me!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is good for me to ponder how good you are!  You are good, and everything you do is good!  What you are doing in my life is good.  It is good for me to praise you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!