December 01, 2017: SOAP #2920:  Romans 5-8

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Observation:  My victory over sin is all tied up in the crucifixion.  Through Christ’s death on the cross my sins (actions) are forgiven!  Through the death of my old self “with him” on the cross I have victory over sin (nature).

God has made every provision that we not continue as slaves to sin. He paid for our past.  He imparts a powerful new life.  He gives us authority!

Application:  My sinful actions are forgiven.  I do not have worry about being punished for them.  My sinful nature has died.  I now have a life capable of dealing with the temptation.  My old life has been replaced with His new life!

Living this new life does not guarantee that I will never surrender to temptation.  It does mean that I have both the power and authority to resist temptation.  I have the power of “Jesus-tested- and-proved” life.  The life I now live is His life.  He “road tested” it on earth in every way.  That life was checked out against every temptation of the devil.  I also have authority.  I have been given the right to use His Name!

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, thank you for making a full provision for me.  I owe you my life.  It is my pleasure to live for you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 30, 2017: SOAP #2919:  Romans 1-4

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
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Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life…
2Timothy 1:12 … for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him…
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them…

Observation:  As I see it, the challenge God has placed before Himself is to prove to living created beings, with intelligent potential, to whom He has given the privilege of choice, and who have never seen Him –to prove to these that He is worthy of their devotion and that it is logical to trust what He says.  God wants to be believed.  It honors Him when people are persuaded that He exists, and they choose to make His Living Word the most important Word in their lives.

Application:  Being persuaded, it is logical to live like I am persuaded.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, when your word is contrary to what the world is saying, it is then I prove how persuaded I am.  May I bring you glory in how I live my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 29, 2017: SOAP #2918:  1Thessalonians 4-5; 2Thessalonians 1-3

Scripture:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

Observation:  As Paul was writing to the believers in Thessalonica, he had two reasons to be thankful.  The first reason was that their faith had not stopped growing.  They had more victory in facing difficulties.  Maturity was overcoming immaturity!   The second reason was that their love for each other was also growing!  It was stronger.  They found more ways to express their love for each other.

Application:  Like Paul, my heart rejoices when I see others growing in their faith and love.  Like the Thessalonians, I desire that my faith and love continue to increase.  There is no place to level off; there is no place to stop growing!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, thank you for showing me the growth in the lives of others.  And thank you for helping me grow.  Stir me on in growing in faith and love.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 28, 2017: SOAP #2917:  Matthew 28; 1Thes 1-3

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation:  This verse contains a simple outline one can use in praying for a friend or loved one.  Pray for their faith and the expressions of faith that are visible in their life.  Pray for success in the sacrifices they make because they love the Lord.  Pray for an abundance of hope that will help them to persevere through difficult times.

Application:  Paul’s example in praying for those he remembered and loved from his past missionary journeys is an encouragement to me to pray for those dear to me from my past ministry assignments.  Anyone who has ever taught a Sunday School class, or led a small group, or assisted in youth ministry should have people whom we can “remember before our God and Father.”

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, my ministry did not stop because you moved me to another location or into another season in my life.  Help me to be faithful in this ministry of remembering the special people you brought into my life in the past.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 27, 2017: SOAP #2916:  Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

Scripture:  Matthew 27:65 [After the crucifixion of Jesus] “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”  66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Observation:  Their instructions were to “make the tomb as secure as you know how.”  And that is what they did.  They placed a seal on the tomb, thus securing it with the all the authority of the Roman government.  They place a Roman guard at the tomb, thus securing it with the physical strength of the Roman government.  But it was not enough!

The strength and authority of the Roman government was limited to only being able to do what God had already planned should be done.  They carried out the crucifixion and burial of Jesus—the things that God had pre-ordained to be done.  But to secure the tomb and keep Him in the grave—that was not theirs to do!

Application:  All the authority and strength of the enemy cannot stop God from carrying out His plan for my life!  God will use the enemy’s best efforts to stop me…God will use those efforts to show His glory through me.  I must walk in faith and obedience.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, as I stay in the center of Your will and walk in faith, there is no power on earth that can stop You from accomplishing Your goals.  My trust is in You!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 26, 2017: SOAP #2914:  Matthew 23-25

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for men to see…

Observation:  Jesus told the crowd, and his disciples, to respect and obey those who “sat in Moses’ seat.”  But they were not to imitate their way of life.  These leaders were proud and liked to be noticed.  Instead of using their authority to serve others, they used their authority to force others to serve them.  However, that did not excuse people from obeying them.

Application:  At home, at work, living in a community…we have all had times when we had to submit to people in authority even when they treated us badly.

There is only One Perfect Leader, Jesus who loves us and uses His authority to serve us.  He is our example for both how to live and how to lead.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, I am blest to be your servant.  It is my privilege and joy to serve you and follow your example.   Help me to quickly get over my disappointment when earthly leaders fail.  Remind me that they are not perfect and to continue submitting to their authority.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 25, 2017: SOAP #2914:  Matthew 20-22

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.

Observation:  Some assignments do not seem to be very important or glamorous.  Luke goes on to tell us that this was to fulfill prophecy, but there is no record of Jesus telling the disciples how important this was. It was just something Jesus told them to do.

Application:  Sometimes the Lord gives me an assignment that does not seem very spiritual.  I cannot see how it matters.  An act of kindness or a word of encouragement does not appear to have an important part in the Kingdom.  But it is important for me to faithfully carry out His assignment.  It is important to Him that I obey.  It is important to me for He rewards His faithful servants.  And it may be important to others in ways that I do not presently understand.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, it makes a difference for me to be faithful in carrying out your assignments.  So, it is important that I learn to listen to your voice.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 24, 2017: SOAP #2913:  Matthew 17-19

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Observation:  Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up a mountain for prayer.  While there, Moses and Elijah came to visit with Jesus.  Peter interrupted the event by suggesting that they build three tabernacles, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus.  Then the Father spoke from a cloud that surrounded them.  The Father was speaking to the disciples with Jesus listening.  It was a message of identification:  this is MY son.  It was a message of value:  I love him.  It was a message of appreciation for what Jesus was doing and had come to do:  I am well pleased.  It was supportive of Jesus’ ministry: listen to him.

Application:  As an earthly parent, I can take the example from my Heavenly Father and communicate those things to my children and to my grandchildren in support of my children.  Grandchildren may need to be encouraged to listen to their parents and to know that Grandma and Grandpa support their parents.  There may be times I need to speak out with words of identification, value, appreciation and support for my pastor or a friend.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, lead me to speak words of identification, value, appreciation and support for those around me.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 23, 2017: SOAP #2912:  Matthew 14-16

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Observation:  He is coming again!   He came as a baby, born into a poor family spending the night in a stable, laid in a manger where from which the animals ate.  But what a difference it will be when He returns!  He will “come in his Father’s glory!”  He is going to come with the Father’s “angels.”  And He will reward “each person” appropriately!

Application:  Sometimes the Holy Spirit draws my attention to a thought that appears to contain much more than I presently see.  So it is with the words Jesus said, “in His Father’s glory.”   That is how He described his return.  In just over a month much of the world will pause to celebrate Jesus coming as the baby in the manger.  It will be a good time to consider how it might be when He comes “in his Father’s glory.”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you have given me something to ponder as I join others in celebrating Christmas.  This year, give me a new appreciation for Jesus coming as a baby and His soon return “in His Father’s glory.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 22, 2017: SOAP #2911:  Matt 11-13

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. …
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  …
33 He told them still another parable: …
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

Observation:  Jesus often presented truth wrapped in everyday stories that everyone could easily recognize.  The stories were about things they experienced in their everyday lives.  Jesus used everyday life to teach spiritual truth.

Application:  Truth is truth.  Whether it is math, or science, or biology, or astronomy, or spiritual—truth is truth.  I should expect to gain understanding of spiritual truth by considering the world around me.

In John 14:6, Jesus claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life.”  All truth flows out of His being and is expressed in His creation.  I should expect the Holy Spirit to speak to me through the world around me.  Truth is everywhere around me.  In walking through my daily life, the Holy Spirit will often reveal the truth written in the scriptures through the truth of creation around me.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the truth around me.  I want to live expecting you to show me something every day. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!