December 21, 2017: SOAP #2940:  John 9-11

Scripture:  John (NIV) 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John (NIV) 11:39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
John (NIV) 11:43 …Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out…

Observation:  Obviously Lazarus was not as dead as they thought!  His body was dead; it had been buried for four days.  But death could not stop Lazarus from hearing the voice of Jesus.  Lazarus was alive enough to hear the voice of Jesus even though his body was dead.

Lazarus did not return to a glorified resurrected body like Jesus. Lazarus was still subject to future death. The stone from Jesus’ tomb was not rolled back to let Him out, but to let us in!  The stone was not removed from Lazarus’ tomb so that he would hear the voice of Jesus, but so that Lazarus could walk out once his life returned to his body.

Application:  Death will not be the end of my life—only the end of my life in this physical body.  The Apostle Paul wrote that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2Corinthians 5:6-8) Standing at a grave prepared to receive the body of my loved one is not an eternal parting, but only a sad “see you soon.”  …until then!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, at my parents’ grave you put a song in my heart: Until then my heart will go on singing:  Until then with joy I’ll carry on; Until the day my eyes behold His glory; Until the day He calls me home!”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 19, 2017: SOAP #2938:  John 7-8

Scripture:  John (NIV) 8:3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”…
NOTE:  John (NIV) 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,

Observation:  The law was clear.  The religious leaders had already judged this woman.  She was obviously guilty.  But this provided an opportunity to trap Jesus.  With no idea that they would one day stand before this same Jesus to answer for their sins, they brought this lady to Jesus and demanded His judgment.  His judgment was what the law demanded, death.  And before long He would satisfy that judgment for her on the cross.

In bringing this lady to judgment, the religious leaders brought themselves.  None of them were without sin and able to cast the first stone.  Each one left, admitting his own guilt.  The only One without sin who would have been able to cast the first stone, refused to condemn her, telling her to leave her life of sin.

Application:  As one who has sinned, I am glad to know that He is the Merciful Judge before whom I will stand on judgment day, forgiven and justified by the blood of His sacrifice.  As one quick to judge others, I need to learn the lesson Jesus was teaching that day:  judgment must start with me.

Prayer:   Jesus, you are the perfect Judge.  You have already paid the price for my sin.  I surrender my life to you, my Lord and Savior.  Make me what best pleases you and use me for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 19, 2017: SOAP #2938:  John 5-6

Scripture:  John (NV) 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”  6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
6: 12  When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Observation:  5,000 hungry men, 8 month’s wages, 5 loaves, 2 small fish.  Those are the numbers.  No wonder Andrew said, “…how far will they go among so many?”  Add in 1 Jesus: now 5,000 men had enough to eat AND 12 baskets full of leftovers.

Application:  More than once I have said, “How far will that go among so many?”  Be it bills, or food, or time, or talents, or strength, or energy.   I must change my focus from the numbers to Jesus.  He too knows how to count, but He also knows how to make up the difference!   I must obey His leading in what to do with the little I have.

Prayer:   Jesus, You are the All-Sufficient One!  When I obey You, You make up what I lack!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 18, 2017: SOAP #2937:  John 2-4

Scripture:  John (NIV) 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

Observation:  This woman had something Jesus wanted.  Water, but He really wanted more.  He wanted her.  Jesus was not so much interested in what she could give Him, but in what He could give her.  She could give him water from a well, but He could give her living water!

She came by herself to draw water, normally that was a social time for friends.  She had been married five times and was now living with a man not her husband; that was probably the reason no one wanted to accompany her to the well. (vs 18.)  But the next time she came to the well, the whole town came with her! (vs 30.)  What a change!!

Application:  More than once I have discovered that when Jesus was asking me for something He was really wanting to give me something!  I need to remember that by nature Jesus is a giver.  It is foolish to withhold from Him what He desires.  When He sees the nature of a giver in me, He opens His treasures to me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, three things you are teaching me:  1. You are teaching me to give.  2.  You are teaching me the joy of giving.  3. You always out give me!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 17, 2017: SOAP #2936:  2Peter 1-3; John 1

Scripture:  John (NIV) 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Observation:  John ignores all the interesting facts about the birth of Jesus which can be read in Matthew and Luke.  He goes to the heart of the matter.  Here is the true meaning of our Christmas celebrations.  Yes, He was born in a manger.  Yes, the angels announced His birth to shepherds.  Yes, He was born in Bethlehem.  Yes, He was born of a virgin.  All important facts concerning His birth.  But the most important fact…the identity of this baby in the manger!

He is “the true light that gives light to every man!”  His “life is the light of men.”  He is the way, the truth, and the life!  The Creator of all was entering the stream of human life as a baby!

Application:  What a great reason I have to celebrate Christmas.  I must not let other things outshine the true reason.  I must remember it is CHRISTmas.  It is all about Him!

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, Your coming to earth is definitely something to celebrate.  Holy Spirit, help me to keep the main thing, the main thing this CHRISTmas season. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 16, 2017: SOAP #2935:  1Peter 1-5

Scripture:  1Peter (NIV) 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Observation:  In being “born again” we have been given an inheritance.  Unlike earthly inheritances, this one can never perish, spoil or fade.  A crashing stock market cannot steal the value of our inheritance.  Foolish management by some fund supervisor will never wipe out the value in this inheritance.  It is ours now.  But it is being kept in heaven for us.  It is there for our benefit.

Application:  This changes my perspective on dying.  Going through death’s door, I will enter into the fullness of the inheritance “kept in heaven” for me as God’s son.  Investments sent ahead will be enjoyed based on heaven’s value.  What a day that will be!  O death, where is your sting?

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, the inheritance you have planned for your sons and daughters is beyond our comprehension. Your plan is amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 15, 2017: SOAP #2934:  James 1-5

Scripture:  James (NIV) 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? …
17 …faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. …
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  … 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. … 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Observation:  If someone claims to be a joyful person, one would expect to see expressions of joy.  If they never smile, never laugh, and seem to be always worried, people would not believe them.  If there is joy inside, it will find some way to be expressed.
When being examined by a medical doctor, they will record the vital signs.  They will make a record of the pulse, respirations, blood pressure—things that are not life, but are considered proof that life is present.

The same is true of faith.  True faith in the heart will find some way to be expressed outwardly.  The signs/works/expressions of faith are not faith, but if not present, faith is dead.

Application:  I am saved by faith in what Jesus did for me; I am not saved by my own works.  Saving faith is seeable; it can be seen by others.  If my faith is not seeable, it is dead faith and not able to save me.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, may those around me see you at work in and through my life.  May my expressions of faith life be a blessing to others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 14, 2017: SOAP #2933:  Hebrews 12-13; Jude

Scripture:  Jude (NIV) 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.

Observation:  This passage brings to my mind pictures of a grand ball or state dinner where each guest is announced as they enter.

As those redeemed by His blood enter before the throne in heaven, the Darling of Heaven will say to the Glorious Father seated on the throne, “Holy Father, it gives me great joy to present _______ ______, once a slave to sin, but redeemed by my sacrifice, now Your Son/Daughter, filled with Your Holy Spirit.”

Application:  To be presented to the Father by Jesus with great joy—that will make all the trials worth the suffering!  What a day that will be!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me live a life worthy of what is ahead!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 13, 2017: SOAP #2932:  Hebrews 9-11

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Observation:  Abraham had received an astonishing promise.  It would have been totally unbelievable.  But, knowing Who made the promise—that made the promise believable.  Which is greater, the promise or the one making the promise?  The One making the promise is capable.  He has the power, He has the wisdom.  The One making the promise is faithful.

Application:  The One making the promise loves me and is working through all things for my good!  It is completely logical to trust God.  It is illogical and foolish not to trust Him!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I consider you faithful.  You are more than able.  You have proved you love me.  You will keep your promises to me! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 12, 2017: SOAP #2931:  Philemon; Hebrews 5-8

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” it was finished!

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Observation:  The sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary was so completely sufficient that there is no need for any further sacrifice for sins!

Based on the scripture above, people who believe that some sacrifice made by some priest today will bring forgiveness of their sins are believing a lie.  When Jesus said, “It is finished,” I was finished!

Priests who tell people that their sins are forgiven based on a ritualistic or symbolic sacrifice—those priests are leading people away from faith in the one and only sacrifice that has the power to cleanse from every sin—the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross.  What a tragedy!

Application:  My faith reaches back in history to Calvary!  It was there Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for my sins!  And based on that sacrifice, my sins have been forgiven and I now stand before God as thought I had never sinned!   Based on that sacrifice, the Holy Spirit of God now lives in me.  He helps me overcome temptation and leads me to repent when I fall.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need you to help me understand what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross.  I need you to help me live a life worthy for His glory. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!