June 20, 2017: SOAP #2756: 2Kings 4,5; Psalm 83; 1Timothy 2
A WHOLE LOT MORE!

Scripture: 2Kings (NIV) 4:3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.

Observation: Her husband had died leaving behind debt. The creditors were coming to take her two boys. She came to the prophet seeking his help. The prophet was about to tell her to pour the little oil she had into borrowed jars, sell the oil, pay the debt, and live off the extra. But first she had to go borrow some jars. So, the prophet told her, “Don’t ask for just a few!” The miracle that was about to happen would only be limited by the number of jars she borrowed!

Scripture: 2Kings (NIV) 4:6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

Application: I often hear people in prayer use a word I have come to dislike: the word “just.” It is used in a manner that we really do not want to bother God very much, so, if He will “just” do this, or “just” help us, or “just” supply this need… If He will “just” answer this prayer we will not need to ask for anything else—as though we are offending Him by asking!!! One of these days I am going to rudely interrupt someone’s prayer and say, “NO! I do not want God to “just” do that…I want Him to do a WHOLE LOT MORE! I do not have “just” a few jars to be filled!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know in your loving and gracious heart you hear our prayers, but do such prayers bother you as they are beginning to bother me? Holy Spirit, help me not to limit you by my small-faith prayers. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 19, 2017: SOAP #2755: 2Kings 1-3; Psalm 82; 1Timothy 1

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Observation: Paul’s past, of persecuting the church, made him acutely aware of the abundant grace God had given him. But God had also given him faith, as a fruit of the Spirit, and as a gift of the Holy Spirit. It was a faith founded in Christ Jesus. It was a faith that ministered to others through Paul. And God had poured out His love on Paul. In Christ, Paul saw how great God’s love was for himself. He saw how greatly God’s love would flow through him to others.

Application: The older I become and the more I read God’s Word, the more I appreciate God’s abundant grace that I have received. The more I appreciate God’s grace, the more I want to exercise the faith to minister God’s great love to others.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need your help. May grace, faith and love be seen working in me and flowing through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 18, 2017: SOAP #2754: 1Kings 22; 2Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 4:10 My fellow-prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. …
11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. … 12 Epaphras…
14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas,,,
15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house…
17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Observation: Paul is closing his letter to the believers in Colosse. He mentions those by name who are with him and sending their greetings. He mentions by name those to whom he wants his greetings mentioned. He gives a final short message to Archippus. He takes the pen from the hand of whoever was writing for him and signs the letter in his own handwriting. And he adds three words: “Remember my chains.”

Application: I believe there are thousands around the world today who would love the opportunity to write letters to the church. They would encourage us to stay strong. They would tell us that it is well worth any sacrifice to serve Jesus. And like Paul, they would close their letter: “Remember my chains.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it was for the believers in Paul’s day to pray for Paul. It is for me to pray for those in chains today for their faith. I pray for their freedom, but most of all I pray for a great revival in each heart. May your Presence fill them with your joy and with your love. Lift them on eagle’s wings, I pray. Save their captors. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 17, 2017: SOAP #2753: 1Kings 20-21; 2Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Observation: Now we have been raised with Christ and have died to our old way of life; our lives are all wrapped up in Jesus. So, what does that mean? What changes should we make in the way we live? Major changes should be made in what we desire and in how we think.

What my heart desires, my mind will naturally be thinking of ways to satisfy that longing.

Application: I need to change the focus of my desires and thoughts. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” I am to make sure the King of Heaven is the King of my life. Everything in Heaven revolves around the King; everything in my life should revolve around the King!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me aware of changes needed in what I want and in how I think. May your will be done in my life as it is in heaven. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 16, 2017: SOAP #2752: 1Kings 17-19; Colossians 2

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

Observation: It would have done us no good if God would only have forgiven us a few of our sins, or some of our sins, or most of our sins. Unless all our sins are forgiven we are as if none of our sins are forgiven.

As Paul wrote to the people in Colosse, John wrote to the church: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

Application: I am thankful that all my sins are forgiven! I do not have to worry about some sin being too bad to be covered by the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice is sufficient! It is for me to confess, to acknowledge my sins, to admit that they are my sins. He is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse/purify me from all unrighteousness! It is amazing Grace!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your grace is amazing. To be totally forgiven—cleansed from all my sins. To be made just as if I’d never sinned! To be pure in God’s sight! To be totally free from the guilt of all my sins! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 15, 2017: SOAP #2751: 1Kings 16; 2Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1

Scripture: 1Kings (NIV) 16:13 …so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols.

Observation: The level of anger is usually connected with the level of love. A mother may be angry when she hears of someone preying on children, but she really becomes ANGRY when it is her child!

So, it is very understandable when God gets angry at how people deal with Israel, His chosen people. He loves them. And when the people He has loved, and led, and fed—the people He has given a promised land, and fought for them, and to whom He sent His Son—when those people reject Him, He gets angry.

Application: The United States has many historical parallels to God’s dealing with Israel. God has blest us, watched over us, and used us. Clearly, we have experienced His favor. And at times we have experienced His judgment. Now, as a nation, in many ways we have rejected God. Unless we truly repent, we will experience His anger.

There is One that God the Father loves above all others—His Son Jesus the Christ. After all that Jesus has done for us, how would we expect the Father to react when we disrespect and reject Jesus! God’s judgment will be extremely rational. John 5:23 …that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me to honor the Son as I honor the Father. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 14, 2017: SOAP #2750: 1Kings 15; 2Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 4:16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Observation: In my lifetime I have heard these verses mentioned many times as church leaders were encouraging people to give financially in an offering. It is good to know that God likes to bless givers.

As I considered these verses today, I saw that Paul was not writing to encourage people to give, but thanking them for having already given! He was not asking for an offering. They had given to him many times in the past. And he had just received an offering from them. This letter was NOT to motivate them to give more to him, but to thank them for what they had ALREADY given.

Application: It concerns me when I see people struggle in their finances—have they learned to tithe? Have they made God the Senior partner in their finances? One of the great benefits of tithing is knowing that God is my financial partner when going through times when money is short. A major part of our retirement planning was, and continues to be, tithing.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, many times in the past you have proved yourself to be faithful to your word and to me. In the present, you are continuing to show yourself faithful. I fully expect you will continue in the days ahead. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 13, 2017: SOAP #2749: 1Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Observation: No one has arrived at perfect maturity or perfect understanding. Everyone has room to grow. The Bible continues to yield golden nuggets to those who continue to read and study it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Application: Being a Christian is a daily and life-long challenge to bring the desires that accompany my flesh under the control of my spirit which has become one with God’s Holy Spirit who shares this physical body with me. I cannot let my failures or my immaturity, or my lack of understanding get me discouraged. I must be faithful to live as best I know, and as best I can with what I already have!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, the Heavenly Father knew that I could not live the Christian life in my own understanding and strength. So, in assigning you to live this life in me, He has programmed me to succeed where I would have totally failed. I am glad to have you with me! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 12, 2017: SOAP #2748: 1Kings 12; 2Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,

Observation:     Everything we do, without exception, should be done with a sweet spirit.

Complaining or arguing (NIV) is described as a secret debate, not out in the open, but stirring up the undercurrent.  Murmuring or disputing (the words used in KJV) contains the idea of questioning or deliberating.  This in no way limits questions for the sake of understanding, but for the sake of contention.  One can find many examples of this in the political news.

Sometimes people ask question upon question merely for the sake of disruption.  Some people who do not like the answers just keep on asking questions hoping to get an answer that they can use in their agenda.

Also, there are people giving answers that do not give true understanding.  Some people give answers and make comments that are more emotional than informational.

Application:  If this verse is any indication of how Christians should interact with others, we need more Christians involved in our government.  Sometimes it is hard for me to listen to the news programs.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, develop a sweet spirit in me. May it never be hard for my Heavenly Father to listen to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 11, 2017: SOAP #2747: Song of Solomon 5-8; Philippians 1

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

Observation: Oh the memories Paul had of Philippi. He must have remembered how God had given him a vision of a man from the province of Macedonia calling him. He must have remembered how he and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail. He must have remembered the worship time at midnight and the earthquake that shook open the jail and set every prisoner free. Yes, Paul had memories of his time in Philippi. And whenever he remembered the church in Philippi, he gave thanks to God!

Application: Memories bring opportunity to appreciate what God has done! Like Paul, my memories can become reasons for praise. I remember my grandfather singing, “Precious memories, how they linger; How they ever flood my soul; In the stillness of the midnight, Precious sacred scenes unfold.” (by: Johnnie R. Wright)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the special gift of memories. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!