May 01, 2019: SOAP #3436:  1Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 14:2 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. …
14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10 so David enquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD answered him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.”

Observation:   David knew that his position as king was only because of God.  And knowing that, when the Philistines came looking for David, David went out to meet them!   If God had placed David in that position, surely God would give David victory over the Philistines!  AND David took time to ask God what he should do.  If God had placed David in that position, surely God would tell David what to do!

Application:  It makes a big difference when I know that I am where God wants me.  I can go out to meet those looking for my defeat.  I ask God and expect him to tell me what to do!  I can expect Him to be with me and give me victory!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I know I am where you want me to be and doing what you want me to do.  I know you are with me.  I know that you will tell me what I am to do.  I know that you will use me for your glory. My victory does not depend on my ability, but on Your presence!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 30, 2019: SOAP #3435:  2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
…19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Observation:   The disciples had been walking with Jesus.  They had seen Him perform many miracles.  They knew that demons could be forced to leave.  But they had been unable to make it happen!  They wanted to know why.  They went to the expert.  They went to Jesus!   Had they used the wrong formula?  Had they not held their hands in the proper position?  Had they used the wrong scripture references in telling the demons to leave?  I am certain that they tried to do it just the way they had seen Jesus do it!  What had they done wrong?  Why did it not work?

Jesus knew the problem: it was not their formula; it was not the scriptures they used; it was not the way they held their hands; it was their faith; it was too little.

Application:   I see myself in the disciples’ shoes.   As Jesus knew the Word, so I need to know the Word!  As Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit, so I must depend on the Holy Spirit!

My faith grows as I learn to hear His voice speaking into my spirit man.  My faith grows as I become more familiar with His Word.  My faith grows as I grow familiar with the Holy Spirit and His ministry.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I am depending on You to teach me Jesus’ way in ministry. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 29, 2019: SOAP #3434:  2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 5:9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

Observation:   There was a reason for David’s success and military strength.  It was not because David was so wise or had such leadership skills.  It was because the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY WAS WITH HIM!

David was not living under any delusion that his own wisdom and leadership skills had brought him such success.  David KNEW THAT THE LORD HAD ESTABLISHED HIM AS KING.  David knew that God had given him authority to make him useful—to make him a greater servant.

Application:  Thinking that I am where I am because of my wisdom and skills can make me arrogant and prideful.  Knowing that God has place me where He desires makes me humble and useful.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, what a great privilege it is to be your servant.  Serving you fills my heart with joy.  May I be useful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 28, 2019: SOAP #3433:  2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 15:11 What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean’, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean’.”…
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean’. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean’.”

Observation:   The mouth gives expression to our heart.  By listening to a person’s words, especially in unguarded moments, one can know the speaker’s priorities.

Application:  In our society, what we put into our mouth is big business.  Advertisement for where we eat, what we buy at the grocery store, and what we put in our mouth make up a high percentage of what we see every day.  Even more important than what I have for breakfast, is what is in my heart.

Having Jesus living in my heart as Lord should make a big difference in the words and attitudes that are expressed through my mouth.  People listening to my words should quickly discover Jesus on the inside!

Prayer:  Jesus, you are the Lord of my life.  May you be easily seen in my words. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 27, 2019: SOAP #3432:  2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Observation:   David knows where to go for help.  At a time when he had no place to go, he knew where to go.  He knew he was not crying for help because he was deserving, but because God was merciful.

David gave God a reason why God should rescue him.  David would praise God and give Him the glory.  And he would not just do it quietly—no!  Others would gather about David to hear how God was good to David!

Application:  Do I give God a good reason to help me?  When he delivers me, do I just go back and do the same thing that caused my problem in the first place?  When He heals me, do I just go back to living in a manner that originally brought about the sickness?  When He meets a financial need, do I continue to waste money on lottery tickets?

I get helped/healed.  But what does God get out of it?  He should get the reward of having me speak His praise.  He should get me living in a way that shows I appreciate what He has done.  He should get the glory from others who hear my testimony!   People should hear me singing, “Look what the Lord has done!”

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I know you love me and have helped me through many times of crisis.  I set my heart to live by your principles so that I will not experience the same crisis day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year.  Your desire is for me to mature as your child.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

April 26, 2019: SOAP #3431:  2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 13:15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

Observation: Here we have the bottom line.  This is why they are in such a predicament.  Their hearts are hard!  Hearing comes through the ears, but the message is understood in the heart.  Seeing comes through the eyes, but the understanding of what is seen is in the heart.  Our five senses keep us in touch with the world around us, but our heart must be sensitive to the Lord in order to process that information and make application to life.

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 13:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Observation: But those to whom Jesus was talking are not like the others.  They are blessed because they really see with their eyes, and really hear with their ears.

Application: Although Jesus does not say it specifically, it is clear from the context:  The disciples did not have better ears, or better eyes.  It was the condition of their heart!   Their heart was tender and sensitive to spiritual truth.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I want a tender heart that is sensitive to spiritual things.  Only then will I be able to process the information taken in by my five senses.  I want to see things and understand them the way you do.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 25, 2019: SOAP #3430:  1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.  34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Observation:   When the heart is full and begins to overflow—that is when the contents of the heart become visible.  It is interesting to hear people who have unexpectedly received a reward making a thank-you speech.  Their priorities can be seen.  The same can be said for someone who has unexpectedly been overtaken by some tragedy.

Application:   What comes out of my mouth when I do not have time to think?  In the moment of surprise, or physical pain, or an emotional jar—what comes flying out of my mouth?

It is important to fill all the shelves, cupboards, and closets in my heart and mind with God’s word.  When someone open a closet containing 70 years of my memories may they get a good dose of God’s Word!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me fill my life with so much of the word that every memory cannot be shared without becoming a testimony of Jesus in my life.  May memories be full of what Jesus was doing in my life and what He was speaking to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 24, 2019: SOAP #3429:  1Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 11:27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Observation:   In this verse, Jesus gives us a small glimpse at the eternal relationship between God the Father and God the Son.  There is a relationship so deep that it cannot be understood without revelation.

In the gospel days, people did not recognize the full identity of Jesus.  But the Father knew.  He recognized His Son.  The Father knew who Jesus was, what Jesus was doing, and where He was.  The Father saw His Son teaching truth, healing the sick, doing miracles, etc.

Although “knowledge of the Father” was available in limited ways, “knowing the Father” was available only through the Son.  He said, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”  (John 14:2&7)   Relationship with the Father is ONLY through the Son!

Application:  What a great relationship I have with the Son as my Lord and Savior.  As much as He values that relationship, Jesus desires more for me.  God the Son desires me to grow in relationship with Father God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and the continued work of the Holy Spirit in my daily life, may I become the son you designed me to be. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 23, 2019: SOAP #3428:  1Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 10:40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.

Observation:   How people treat His disciples is very important to Jesus!  He takes it personally.  He considers it as though they blessed or mistreated Him!   And the same is true about the Heavenly Father.  How people treat Jesus is very important to God the Father.  He takes it personally.  He considers it as though they blessed or cursed Him!

Application:   How people treat me is not something I need to worry about.  Jesus is with me.  What they do to me they do to Him.  And when people bless me more than I am able to return, I know that He is able to bless them properly.

And I need to be very careful as to how I treat Jesus.  It might be easy to think of Jesus as just another man and not give Him the respect He is due.  Any disrespect I give Jesus is taken personally by the Father.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, check me if I speak disrespectfully of Jesus. His is the name about all names.  It should always be spoken with greatest respect.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 22, 2019: SOAP #3427:  1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Observation:   When working for someone, it is good to know their perspective and priority.  Knowing how the boss sees a matter helps me know how to do my work in a manner that pleases him/her.

How much more important is it that I know how God views certain things.  How does God view crowds of people?  He sees them with compassion.  He sees how they are treated.  He sees how much they need help.  He sees them as a ripe harvest field.  (In the next chapter, Jesus calls the twelve, gives them authority, and SENDs them out to minister to the people.)

Application:   As to a specific application: how does God view the large number of persons crossing the southern border into the United States?  He sees the longing of each parent, desiring a better life for their children.  He sees those used by smugglers to carry their drugs or to draw attention elsewhere while they cross the border in an unguarded section.  God sees each woman suffering from sexual abuse.  He sees the bodies of those who die along the trail.

God sees and He has compassion.  To God they are like sheep without a shepherd.  To God they are a great harvest field.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help me see those coming into our nation as you see them.  Use me for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!