September 21, 2017: SOAP #2849: Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Observation:  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit to a place where he was tempted by the devil.  When I think of being led by the Spirit, I am usually thinking of a place of victory and great rejoicing.  I am not anticipating that the Spirit will lead me to a place of temptation.

I see a parallel passage in Acts 16 (vs. 10, 22-23) where Paul had seen a vision in which God was sending him and Silas to Macedonia.  Yet a few days later they were beaten and thrown in jail.

Application:  Being led by the Spirit does not mean the Spirit will always lead me by the shortest route, over the easiest roads, on the most pleasant paths, or to the most prosperous locations; but it does mean that He will always be with me, I will never face anything too big for Him to handle, and I can draw on His wisdom and provisions.  He will work through everything for my good and His glory.  There will be purpose in everything He and I experience together.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I trust you to lead me according to my Heavenly Father’s plan.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 20, 2017: SOAP #2848: Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar— when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

Observation:  John did not have to travel to a special place to meet God.  God knew exactly where John was.  John was in the desert, but God knew where he was and how to get there!

Application:  I am thankful that God knows where I am.  I may be separated from those I love and living in the wilderness, but God knows where I am.  The “word of God” can come to me as it did to John.  I may be home-bound or lying in a hospital room, but God knows.  He had GPS long before anyone put GPS in a vehicle.  God can find me stranded on a lightly-traveled country road.  God can find me in a traffic jam in a large city.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, wherever I am, I want to recognize and respond to your voice.  “Speak my Lord; Speak my Lord; speak and I’ll be quick to answer Thee.  Speak my Lord; Speak my Lord; speak and I will answer, ‘Lord send me.’” George Bennard, 1873-1958 Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 19, 2017: SOAP #2847: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 2:17 When they [the shepherds on the night Jesus was born] had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Observation:  I am wondering if any of those who heard the shepherds spreading the word about the angels and the baby in a manger…I wonder if any of those who heard remembered it later in life.  I wonder if 30 years later, some of them thought back to that evening in Bethlehem thinking that this Miracle Worker might be the same one the shepherds announced.

Those in their 20’s and 30’s when Jesus was born would be in their 50’s and 60’s during Jesus ministry.  Later in this same chapter (vs. 36-37) we read of Anna who was in her 80’s.  So, thinking that some would live into their 50’s and 60’s is reasonable.

Application:  It is good to look back and recall what God has done and said in my past.  It is good to know that God was working with my future in view.  He was preparing me for the present!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I move out in today, knowing you have prepared me for what lies ahead, and knowing that you are with me, as you have always been!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 17, 2017: SOAP #2845: Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 44:28 “‘I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.
29 They will eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them.
30 The best of all the first fruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household.

Observation:  The priests who were descendants of Zadok had remained faithful during a wicked time.  Now God is giving them a special assignment.  To some it may seem God was limiting their inheritance.  “They will have no possession in Israel.”  But, God was greatly expanding their inheritance.  “I will be their possession.”  What belonged to God was now theirs!  And gifts given to these priests were considered by God as though they were personally given to Him—He would bless those givers!!!

Application:  Today, we are kings and priests to the Lord. (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6)   I often settle for far less that what is available to me.  I search for an earthly inheritance when I can have Jesus as my “only” inheritance!   I act like I am going to miss out of something if I do not get the best earth is able to offer.  But I already have the best heaven can offer!!!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you have blest me far beyond my ability to comprehend.  Your Son Jesus is my exceeding great Reward!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 16, 2017: SOAP #2844: Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Observation:  This must be a description of the church in its glorified state in heaven.  It is a city called “the Lamb’s wife.”  It is all centered around Jesus.  All the glory and honor and splendor of the earth is brought to Him.  Entrance is ONLY gained through having one’s name written in the Lamb’s book of life!

Application:  This is the height of exclusivity!  There is only one-way in.  Only those whose names are recorded.  Everyone else is excluded.  I want to be in that number.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a glimpse of what you are preparing for your people.  Thank you for forgiving my sins and for including me in your plans for eternity.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 15, 2017: SOAP #2843: Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 145:13b The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made.
145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving towards all he has made.

Observation:  Psalm 145 is a great study on the character of God expressed in His actions.  In the two verses above God’s faithfulness and righteousness are coupled with His love.  Faithfulness and righteousness are both expressions of God’s holiness.

God’s character is based on holiness and love.  In Him they perfectly exist.  God never stops being holy to be loving.  God never lays aside his love to be holy.

In His perfect wisdom, God used the cross to weave together His love and His holiness without slighting either!  Without the cross, if a Holy God would allow a sinful man to approach Him, so His love would be slighted.  Without the cross, if a Loving God would allow a sinful man to approach Him and His holiness would be slighted.  Truly God’s wisdom is demonstrated to all creation as God deals with sinful man in the cross!
Application:  Through His Holy Spirit in application of the Word, God is working both His holiness and love in my life.  He is developing it on the inside so that it might be seen in my words and deeds.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, in your wisdom, you are working out your love and holiness in me.  I want you to be pleased with what you see.  Make me like Jesus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 14, 2017: SOAP #2842: Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 37:27 My dwelling-place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Observation:  God was speaking of a time when Israel would be restored to their land.  He would be known as their God, and they would be known as His people.

That is the relationship God desires with those whose sins have been forgiven and in whom God dwells by His Holy Spirit.  It is a closely connected relationship that is easily seen by others.

Application:  I should be constantly aware that I am closely related to God.  He wants me to live so that His presence can be easily recognized in everything I do.

He wants people to know that He is MY God.  I must live my life so that he is proud to be my God.  When satan messes with me, he is messing with my God!

I want people to know that I am HIS child.  I belong to Him.  I am trusting my Heavenly Father to take care of me.  When I do not do some things and when I have priorities for my money and time, I want people to know that I am His!  He and I are in this together!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You are MY God and I am YOUR child.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 13, 2017: SOAP #2841: Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 33:11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’
Psalm (NIV) 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Observation:  I like to stop and meditate on verses that show what God likes, what He enjoys, what blesses Him, what brings Him pleasure.  As I read the first verse above, my memory was drawn to the second.

Both verses speak of eternal events.  Both speak of things for which we can prepare, but once happened cannot be reversed.  The first verse speaks of that which greatly pains our Heavenly Father.  The second of that which brings Him pleasure.  The first speaks of eternal separation from those He dearly loves.  The second speaks of eternal fellowship with those He dearly loves.

Application:  Since I will surely die, it is for me to set my destination to spend eternity with God.  Since I have already sinned, I can do nothing to deserve spending eternity with God.  Since Jesus has already paid the full price for my sins I should accept His forgiveness and make Him the Lord of my life which I have done and do.  Since I am forgiven, it pleasures me to make Him the subject of my worship.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are worthy of my praise.  It is my pleasure to bring joy to you.  I want you to enjoy living in my heart. And may heaven rejoice when I die. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 12, 2017: SOAP #2840: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. 11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.  12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Observation:  The importance of a two-letter word cannot be overemphasized.  The meaning of the above passage rests upon the two-letter word: “if.”

The Sovereign God determines that His actions will be in keeping with the actions His people.  No created being has the power to force The Creator to take such a position; it is His choice alone.  It is an option offered in keeping with His love and yet it is in keeping with His holiness.

Application:  Knowing that The Sovereign God offers me options, how foolish it would be to ignore them.  1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness and cleansing.  Thank you for offering your forgiveness in response to my confession.  Thank you for coming to live in my heart and establishing your righteous reign in me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 11, 2017: SOAP #2839: Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. …
19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so, they entered the king’s service.
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Observation:  In verse 16 we read that the guard gave them vegetables (at Daniel’s request not to defile himself from eating the royal food from the king’s table) but here we read that God gave them knowledge and understanding! When we honor God He always gives what man cannot give!

Application:  When I honor God by giving up what man can provide, God will prove Himself faithful by providing what only God can provide.  I need never fear missing out on man’s provision when I have a God who can provide all things!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, there is nothing that you cannot provide, and there are some things that only you can provide!  You are amazing!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!