June 10, 2017: SOAP #2746: Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God…13 Therefore put on the full armor of God… 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith… 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, 8 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Observation:   God wants His people to be strong to fight against the enemy and to stand against temptation.  He has made special provision for us to live in victory.  He has given us HIS armor!  The armor is hanging in the closet of His Word.  I take it out of the closet by reading His Word.  I put it on by living my daily life like it is true!   I believe it is true, so I live and think and act like it is true, because it is!

Application:  God knows me perfectly.  He has provided the proper protection I need for today.  I put on His armor with a thankful heart and take on the day with faith.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, throughout this day, remind me that I am dressed in the armor of God.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 9, 2017: SOAP #2745: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation:  How are believers different than the people in the world?  They talk differently! As in chapter 4, we again see the importance of our speech.    When we talk to each other we are to encourage each other with scriptures and the words of songs.  Being thankful is not something that should happen once a year, or once a week, or even once a day.  We are “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything!”

Application:  If I am “always giving thanks to God,” then people will know me as a thankful person—a thanks-giver!  Being thankful should be a recognized characteristic of my life.  Others should describe me as a thankful person.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, if anyone has reason to be thankful, I do!  Holy Spirit, help me to be known as an encourager and gracious speaker. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 8, 2017: SOAP #2744: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Observation:   As I understand the priorities of my Christian life, first is my relationship to Jesus.  Second could be How I think.  My thoughts must be brought into line with the Word and my growing knowledge of God.  Third would be how I talk.  Faith without works is dead.  True faith will always find some expression.  Although not the only expression, words are most often the first expression of our faith.

This verse clearly implies that there will be temptation to give voice to words that tear down rather than build up.  We will see things; and the enemy will bring things to our attention that seem so important; we are tempted to gossip.  As we mature in our Christian life, we resist that temptation.

It is amazing how harmful partial truth can be.  Although it is true, it can be very unwholesome.

Application:  The purpose of my speech is to build up those who hear.  I need to build them up according to THEIR needs, not mine or someone else’s needs.   Did Jesus ever perform a miracle without speaking?  I do not think so.  And God wants to use my words to minister His grace.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to speak words, in prayer and in conversation, that can be used to build faith and accomplish your plan.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 7, 2017: SOAP #2743: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Observation:     What a high privilege Paul counted it to be a minister of the gospel. This was not something he sought out for himself.  This was not a high goal for which Paul was aiming.  God chose Paul.  God interrupted Paul’s plans to give him a more worthy goal and purpose in life.

It was a gift of God’s grace that Paul received. The grace ministered by Paul to the Gentiles, was first ministered to him.  It was first working IN him, and then THROUGH him.

Application:  I too am privileged to be God’s servant.  It is my joy to serve Him each day.  Each day His grace is ministered to me by His Spirit as I look into His Word.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for ministering God’s grace to me each day.  I pray that the grace given me flows through me to others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 6, 2017: SOAP #2742: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45: Ephesians 2

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 2:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1Corinthians (NIV) 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?…

Observation: In his letter to the believers in Ephesus, Paul teaches them that God has built Jews and Gentiles together to be a corporate body in which “God lives by his Spirit.” In his first letter to believers in Corinth he says that my individual body is a “temple,” “a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Individually and corporately the message is the same: God lives in me AND God lives in us who are believers. God lives in my body AND God lives in us as a body.

Application: I should treat my body as the temple it is. I should treat my body as HIS house. I should treat other Christians as the dwelling place of God they are. When with other Christians I need to remember that I am visiting HIS house.

As to my body, the Holy Spirit will direct the use of each part of my body. As to the body of Christ, others need me to use my gifts to help them; and I need the gifts of others to help me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for sharing this life with me. It is so good to have you live in this body with me! And thank you for designing me to share life with other believers. We are designed for fellowship! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 5, 2017: SOAP #2741: Proverbs 30,31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 33:16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Observation: Bragging on the size of one’s army, or the greatness of one’s strength is foolish. The greatest aircraft carriers, the fastest jet airplanes, the most powerful and accurate missiles are not reliable for our defense.

But that does not mean there is no reliable defense available. The greatest defender of all is the LORD God! He defends those who fear Him and put their trust in Him.

Application: It is good to hear more of our national leaders express their personal faith in God. It is good to hear them express that the source of our blessing and defense is the LORD God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you promised that your eyes would be upon those who “fear” you and “hope in your unfailing love.” Fulfill this promise in the lives of our leaders and in the life of our nation we pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 4, 2017: SOAP #2740: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 29:26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

Observation: Those seeking an audience with a ruler have their own agenda. They want the ruler to use his authority to make something happen on their behalf, often it is to correct a wrong they have suffered.

But the ruler is only a man. He is limited to human understanding. He may not understand the background of the situation. He may be limited by his own lack of desire to set things right. He may have poor counselors. There are many things that can hinder my receiving justice from a man.

However, God is not limited by any of the above! He has perfect understanding. He fully understands the underlying motives and what preceded the wrong actions. He fully understands how to set things right. He has great personal desire to set things right. And He has all eternity to do it!

Application: There are many “rulers” from which I can seek “justice.” It may be an executive with an insurance company. It may be a judge in a child custody case. It may be regarding a product warrantee. I must remember there is only One who knows the hearts and motives of those making their human judgments. It is only from Him that I am assured to obtain justice.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you alone are perfectly righteousness and just. You have proved your love for me by sending your Son, Jesus to die for my sins. You have perfect understanding in these areas that confound me. I trust you to work on my behalf. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 3, 2017: SOAP #2739: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
Proverbs (NIV) 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

Observation: What not to do: I should not make a big issue of my capabilities or of the good I do. I am doing it for the Lord and He sees everything. If it is to HIS benefit that others notice, He is more than capable of making sure they see.

Application: What to do: people around me should not feel a need to draw attention to their good works. I should be pointing it out for them. One of my ministries is to notice the good deeds of people around me and make sure they get mentioned.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me not need to be the center of attention. Help me mature to being completely satisfied knowing that my Heavenly Father got all the glory. And, help me to give honor where honor is due—to recognize and appreciate the good done by others around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 2, 2017: SOAP #2738: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

Observation: When a person has a sprained ankle, they are careful how they walk, not to further injure the ankle. They may take a different route. They may put off getting up to get some trivial item. They may ask someone else for help. They will go out of their way to protect the weak/injured ankle.

Members of the body of Christ are more valuable than an injured ankle. They should not be “destroyed.” They should not be caused to “stumble” or “fall.”

Application: As a follower of Jesus, I am not only to be careful about things that may affect my Christian life, I also should be careful about how my actions will affect those around me. I should consider the eternal life of my brothers and sisters more valuable than my freedom to do what offends them.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, make me aware of things that would cause my brother and sister to stumble or fall. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 1, 2017: SOAP #2737: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

Scripture: Proverbs (NIV) 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

Observation: Some proverbs are contained in two or three verses. Others are a part of a section that has a main thought. But the verse above seems to me to be a stand-alone verse. In my heart, I asked why this statement of the obvious? Of course, our Creator God made every part of our physical bodies. Of course, He made ears to hear. Of course, He made eyes to see. Then in my heart I heard a whisper, “Use them!”

Application: God made ears and eyes for me to use. I need to give attention to what I hear and see. For God to draw my attention to this verse, there must be something important He wants me to hear—something important He wants me to see.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me attentive to what happens around me today. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!