September 10, 2017: SOAP #2838: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Scripture:  Lamentations (NIV) 3:25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Observation:  Why is it good to wait patiently for the Lord?  Because God is good to those whose hope is in him.  God loves it when we wait in confidence that He is worth waiting for.

Application:  Everything I know about God brings me to believe that it is worth my time to wait for God.  I need not panic, as that shows that I really am not expecting Him to act according to His character.  I can wait in quiet expectation!

It is good for God when I wait in quiet expectation.  It brings joy to His heart to know that someone trust Him.

It is good for me when I wait for God in quiet expectation.  It keeps me from worry and anxious thoughts as to how I can work things out.

It is good for those around me when I wait for God in quiet expectation.  It keeps me from desperately trying to get my friends to help me out of the trouble I am experiencing.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is good to trust you.  It is good to expect you to do what you have promised.  It is good for You.  It is good for me.  And it is good for those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 9, 2017: SOAP #2837: Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Scripture:  Obadiah (NIV) 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
4 Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

Observation:  God hates pride.  There is no height too high from which God cannot bring a proud person down.  God speaks with confidence—“I will bring you down!”   God will not attempt, He will do it!

God speaks with authority—“declares the LORD!”  This will happen because God has “declared” it!

Application:  Pride goes against God’s nature.  It is self-deceiving.  Pride repulses God, but humility has a great attraction for Him.  God dwells with the humble!  (Isa 57:15)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want my life to be attractive to you.  I want you to enjoy being with me.  I know you love your Son, Jesus.  I want my life to be like Him!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 8, 2017: SOAP #2836: Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 43:27 For I am watching over them for harm, not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed.
Jeremiah 44:22 When the LORD could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became an object of cursing and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today.
Revelation 13:9 He who has an ear, let him hear.

Observation:  Israel had committed so much sin that God could take it no longer!   Sin would have destroyed Israel, but God was not through with Israel.  The promised Messiah had not yet been given.  If there would be a nation to receive the Messiah, sin would need to be cut back.  So, God went to work, watching over them to allow harmful punishment.  In God’s emergency tool kit, he had war and famine and evil rulers to take them captive.

Application:  In the USA, there has been a partial turning toward God, but not yet a national turning away from sin.  God has many tools to use in dealing with us.  He does not need to bring an invading army, God has wild fires, hurricanes, debt, illegal immigration, etc.

Three observations I have about “natural” disasters.  First, God can send them.  Second, God can allow them.  And third, God can stop/prevent them.  It would never be wrong to ask God if there are things we need to change.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, let those who have ears to hear (Rev 13:9), hear what you are saying to our nation.  Guide us in returning to our Godly heritage. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 7, 2017: SOAP #2835: 2Kngs 25; 2Chron 36; Jer 40-41; Rev 12

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 36:23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.’”

Observation:  If God wants something done, He is certainly able to get it done!   He can even use a pagan king to build His temple!  God has no shortage of resources.  He does not need to twist people’s arms to give to His projects.  He allows us the privilege of participating in what He is doing, but it is not because He is running short and is relying on us to bring the victory.

Application:  If it is my work, then it is my responsibility to raise the necessary provisions.  If it is God’s work, then He has the responsibility.  My part is to walk in faith and obedience.

In Viet Nam the Marine Corps supplied all my clothing, all my food, all the medicine and battle dressings in my medical bag, even a weapon and ammunition, …everything.  The only thing they did not provide me was the Bible I carried with me.  After 10 years I got out of the military to become a pastor.  I found that God was even more faithful than the US government!   Now that I am retired, I am finding that God remains faithful in providing.

When people are asking for money and using gimmicks and gifts to motivate people to give, I wonder who has authorized that ministry.  Is it their ministry, or God’s ministry?

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, sufficiency of Spirit and finances is your stamp of approval that I desire on the things you have given me to do. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 06, 2017: SOAP #2834: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 11:13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Observation:  John the author of Revelations, saw what would be considered a natural disaster—an earthquake.  It is a severe earthquake bringing great damage to the city and the loss of 7,000 lives.  It does not appear that the people blamed nuclear testing, drilling for oil, mining for coal, etc.…they gave the “credit” to the God of heaven and they were terrified!

Application:  It is logical and right to fear God.   It is foolish not to fear Him, especially if one is living a sinful life!   God can send natural disasters and stir up war.  God can allow storms and war to come through nature and the breakdown of human relationships.  God can stop natural disasters and wars by His intervention.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may times of trouble quickly turn our hearts to you.  May repentance be our first action when our sins are obvious.  May our dependency on you be obvious to all.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 05, 2017: SOAP #2833: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 25:6 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says [regarding the Ammonites]: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, 7 therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

Observation:  This chapter and the first part of the next chapter is dedicated to God’s judgment on nations who mistreated Israel.  Israel had been rebellious and turned away from the God Who had delivered them from Egypt.  God had even used some of these nations to bring His judgment on Israel.  But the Israelites were still God’s chosen people and deserved respect.

Application:  I may not agree with everything Israel does today, but I know they are God’s chosen people—they became the avenue of humanity through which Jesus came!  That they are again a nation in the land God promised Abraham shows me that God is still working with Israel.

Not only the nation of Israel, everyone deserves respect, for they carry the image of our Creator!  I may not agree with everything they say or do, but I must acknowledge and respect God’s image.
Prayer:   Heavenly Father, everywhere I look I see your handiwork.  I see what you have done, and what you are doing.  You are amazing!  I respect You and Your work in Israel and in the lives of people around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 04, 2017: SOAP #2832: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 22:30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

Observation:   God was promising to bring judgment on Israel.  In these verses, we see that God’s love is strong in His heart.  He looked—He searched for a man to intercede for the nation.  He longed to answer a prayer on behalf of His sinful people, but He found no one to intercede.  (Later, God would send His Son, Jesus, to stand in the gap and make the necessary sacrifice to pay for our sins!)

Application:  Today God is looking for intercessors, people to stand in the gap on behalf of lost people in the world.   Will He find in me what He is looking for?

The President of the United States called for Sunday to be a National Day of Prayer on behalf of those affected by the hurricane in Texas and Louisiana.  The Sunday School Class and both Worship Services we attended had specific prayer for our nation.  Let us continue into the week what was started on Sunday.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I pray that you find what you are looking for.  I pray that I can be an answer to that prayer and satisfy your search.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 03, 2017: SOAP #2831: Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 111:7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant for ever—holy and awesome is his name.

Observation:   Holiness and Love are the two main tenets of God’s moral character.  Every attribute of God’s character flows out of these two.  In the verses above, the emphasis is on God’s holiness.  Holiness within is expressed outwardly in faithfulness, justice, trustworthiness, steadfastness, uprightness.  The loving act of redemption is accomplished in perfect holiness.

In the cross of Christ, perfect holiness and perfect love come together without either one being slighted.  God’s holiness was not slighted as God reached out in love to sinful man.  The cross is the most loving act ever known in the world.  The cross is also the holiest act ever known in the world.

Application:  I like to stop and meditate on verses that reveal God’s character.  It is awesome to see unlimited power under the control of perfect holiness and love.  What wisdom!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is amazing to consider your perfect character.  No man could have created such a perfect being.  No man forces you to be holy and loving.  That is just who you are!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 02, 2017: SOAP #2830: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 17:2 “Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell the house of Israel a parable.  3 Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon. Taking hold of the top of a cedar, 4 he broke off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.

Ezekiel (NIV) 19:1 “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel 2 and say: “‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs.

Observation:   The use of parables did not begin with Jesus.  In the Old Testament, one can find many allegories and parables.  The verses have two: the first, an eagle carrying the top of a cedar tree; the second, a lioness with her cubs.

All the world is God’s creation.  It should not surprise us to find illustrations of spiritual truth portrayed and demonstrated in the physical world.  Romans 1: 19 Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Application:  So, I am still in school.  I live and move in God’s classroom.  I need to keep my eyes open to see what God has placed around me.  And I need to keep my heart open to the Spirit who will reveal truth to me from what I see.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, this world is a classroom in which I am to learn about you.  Show me something specific today.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!