November 21, 2017: SOAP #2910:  Matthew 8-10

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 10:7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew (NIV) 10:16 I am sending you out…

Observation:  To those weary and thirsty, Jesus invited them, “Come.”  To His disciples He commanded them, “Go!”  He had gathered them around Him so that he might send them out.  (Matthew 3:14; Luke 9:1,2; Acts 1:8)

In Matthew 8 we see Jesus ministry was not building centered.  He ministered while entering Capernaum, He ministered in Peter’s house, around the lake, in a boat, and near a cemetery!  Then in Matthew 10 we find Jesus telling His disciples to GO!

Application:  God can tell me to GO, because He has promised to go with me.  God can tell me to preach His message, to heal the sick…to give what I have received because He is with me!  His presence makes the impossible possible.  What I cannot do, He can do through me!

Prayer:   Yes, Lord, you are sending me out.  The ministry of the church outside the building validates the ministry inside. May you be glorified. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 20, 2017: SOAP #2909:  Matt 5-7

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them.
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? …
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Observation:  Food, clothing, health for a longer life—all things people worry about.  They are important things.  Even our Heavenly Father knows they are important and that we need them.  It is one worry people can remove from their lives by giving top priority to the kingdom of God.  His resources are limitless.  He is well able to provide “these things.”

There are people who want God, or the church, to take care of their needs but the kingdom of God has a low priority, or no priority, in their lives.  It is good for the church to help, but they cannot help with the worry.

Application:  Children should not need to worry about “these things;” the adults in their lives should take care of these needs.  In the same way, when the kingdom of God becomes my first concern, I can trust my Heavenly Father to make “these things” His concern.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are the perfect, trustable, faithful provider!  Thank you for taking care of “these things.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 19, 2017: SOAP #2908:  Matt 1-4

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Observation:  Jesus was looking for some key individuals to be His disciples.  He did not open an office in the local synagogue where He could manage His ministry and call in people for interviews.  He did not go to a job agency to find people needing a job.  He did not put an ad in the local newspaper or post a note on a local bulletin board.  He personally went out where people were living their normal lives. He went “walking beside the Sea of Galilee.”  He went where people were busy working their normal jobs.  There He found those in whose care He would leave His church.

Application:  At this time in my life, God has moved me out of a church office centered ministry to driving a school bus and the SOAP ministry out of my home office.  More than before, I am out “walking” where “future disciples” live and work.  I need to keep my eyes open to the people around me.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep me aware of the people around me.  May I see them as You see them.  I appreciate your trusting me with the opportunity to interact with so many people that you love people who have the potential to be Your disciples. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 18, 2017: SOAP #2907:  Ps 124, 2Cor 11-13

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Observation:  Paul is closing his letter with a blessing.  He is requesting a triune blessing from a Triune God.  First; the grace that opens the door for us to become the sons and daughters of God comes to us through the work of Jesus on the cross.  Second; it was the Love of God expressed in sending His Son to die for our sins.  And third; the joy experienced by the disciples in walking through life with Jesus is now ours as we walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit!

Application:  As Thanksgiving Day approaches, my heart overflows with thankfulness.  I am so thankful for the grace extended to me through the death of Jesus.  And I am so thankful for love beyond my comprehension that sent Jesus to live in this sinful world.  And I am so thankful for the fellowship I have with the Holy Spirit

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, the more I walk in constant fellowship with you, the more I appreciate what Jesus did for me on the cross and the Father’s love that sent His Son.  Be my guide every moment of the day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 17, 2017: SOAP #2906:  2Cor 7-10

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

Observation:  Paul was writing to the church at Corinth about receiving an offering for the people in Jerusalem who were experiencing a time of famine.  There would be three results of their giving.  First, the people in need would be helped.  Second, God will be praised for the generosity of His people.  And third, the people receiving the help would pray for the givers.

Application:  God is a giver, so it stands to reason that those in whom He dwells will be givers also.  Money provides a great avenue to express the Christian characteristics of giving and compassion.  Money also provides an avenue to express faith.  God does not need money to accomplish His purposes, but uses money to grow my faith.  God is not looking at the amount of money in my hand, but the degree of faithfulness in using what I have.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, so much of my life has to do with money.  May you be blest in how I apply what you provide.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 16, 2017: SOAP #2905:  2Cor 3-6

Scripture: (NIV) 2Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Observation:  Often when I am listening to the news, I wonder what the truth really is.  The first person will describe something making their side look good while making the other side look bad.  Then a second person will describe the very same thing making their side look good and the first person look bad.  They “spin” the facts in such a way to gather support for their side.  One side, or both sides, use deception to distort the truth.

Application:  In the scripture we find God “setting forth the truth plainly.”  One news caster likes to call his show, “The No Spin Zone.”  But the Bible alone is “The True No-Spin Zone.”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, in my daily conversations, in my ministry, and in these SOAPs, help me set forth the truth plainly. Stop me from putting “my spin” on Your Word.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 15, 2017: SOAP #2904:  Job 41, 42; 2Corinthians 1, 2

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Observation:  The Apostle Paul is writing to the believers in the city of Corinth.  He assures them that the same God at work in his life, is also at work in their lives.  The same God who gives him strength to stand, is the same God who gives them strength to stand.  This God has anointed both Paul and the Corinthians.  Both are marked with God’s seal of ownership.  Both have the Holy Spirit dwelling within!   And in both, the Spirit is as a deposit, guaranteeing that more is coming!

Application:  We have not experienced the fullness of what God has for us.  There is more!   The presence of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee to us that more is ahead!

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, as blest as I am now, it good to know that I have a guarantee from you that more is coming!  What is past, in no way can compare to what is ahead!  I know it must be good—you gave me the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come!   With a guarantee like that, what is waiting ahead will be more than fantastic!!! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 14, 2017: SOAP #2903:  Psalm 149; 1Corinthians 15, 16

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 149:4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

Observation:  For what honor should the saints rejoice?  What honor causes saints to sing for joy through the night?  They had gone to bed to rest, but their mind was so captivated by the honor they had received that it refused to shut down for the night.  This was indeed a high honor!

This was an honor greater than Queen Esther received when she dared to go into King Xerxes presence without being invited.  He welcomed her intrusion.

This honor (Psalm 149:4) was having the personal attention of the Great Creator of the Universe!!!  But, not just the personal attention, the Great Creator delighted in His people!!!

Application:  As great as the honor bestowed on the Psalmist, to me has been given even a greater honor!!!  For me, God sent His only begotten Son to die in my place that I might have forgiveness for all my sins.  To me, God sent His Holy Spirit to take up residence in my body!  If the Old Testament saints had reason to rejoice and sing for joy on their beds, how much more reason have I!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, for me to delight in You, is well within understanding.  But for you to delight in me…it is hard to comprehend!  It makes me want to please you with all I am and all I do. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 13, 2017: SOAP #2902:  Job 39, 40; 1Corinthians 13, 14

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Observation:  Often our response to news depends on how we feel about those involved.  When we hear of something good happening to someone we like, we rejoice.  But when we hear something good happening to someone we dislike, we cringe.  We think that they did not deserve such a blessing.

Application:  As God entered my life and began to establish His love as the motivator for my actions, He made changes.  I find myself hurting for those experiencing evil, even if they are not my friend.  I find myself rejoicing with others who are experiencing blessings, even if they are not my friend.  I do not have to be blessed to rejoice in blessings.  Instead of being envious, I can rejoice in the blessings of others.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you have given me a great area in which I can delight.  Almost every day, you show me good things that happen to others. Wow!  You have made that a source of joy for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 12, 2017: SOAP #2901:  Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 12:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

Observation:  That is a good question!   If every part of the body was just the same as every other part of the body, “where would the body be?”  In the human body, it is the difference in the parts that makes them valuable.  Each one was designed with a specific purpose and their difference sets their value.  Each part becomes an expert on its assigned task.  In writing to the church in Corinth, Paul says the same is true of the body of Christ.

Application:  If I choose to attend a church where everyone is just like me, I might enjoy it, but my value in the body of Christ would be cheapened.  If I allow God to place me where He wants me, I will probably be in a church where most people are different than I am.  I may not be as comfortable in that church, but my value to the Lord will increase as I become one with people who share the same over-all assignment, but faithfully do their part which is quite different than mine.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, remind me that our differences have been designed by you.  Help me value my differences as well as the differences of those around me.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!