May 12, 2019: SOAP #3447:  2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Proverbs (NIV) 27:2  Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

Observation:   The lives of the Christians in Thessalonica had an effect in many places.  Paul had run across people speaking of the Thessalonians where ever he traveled.  Paul did not even need to bring up the topic.  In a day without telephone or any other modern communication line we enjoy today, the news of Gods working in Thessalonica had spread.

Application:   It is good when others speak of the changes in our life.  They should be able to see God at work and make comments.  Some things we used to do we do not do anymore.  Now we do some things that we seldom did before.  Oh, what a change.  People are going to notice.

And, people are going to talk.  When they talk about me, may they have something good to talk about.
And, I am going to talk.  May I talk about the goodness of God and not the goodness of me.  May I brag about what God has done and not about what I have done.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, in Jesus, you have given us something good to talk about.  May I be known as a person who loves to talk about Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 11, 2019: SOAP #3446:  2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Observation:   My attention has been drawn to the last phrase in the book of Matthew.  “And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is the statement of a firm truth.  It is for sure.  He WILL make this happen.

It does not promise that we will be with him, but that He will be with us!  It is not me holding on to Him, but Him holding on to me!  The strength to secure this bond is not in my hand, but in HIS!!!  I might lose my grip, but I need never fear that He will lose His grip on me!

This promise is good “to the very end of the age.”  He will not just get me to the end times and hope that I will make it through.  He will be with me “to the very end of the age.

Application:   His presence changes everything.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, as I meditate on this verse, speak this promise to my heart.  There will not be a single moment of a single day that I will need to be afraid.  His presence drives away all fear.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 10, 2019: SOAP #3445:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 56:10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise— 11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Observation:   There can be no greater place to put my trust than in the Creator of the Universe, the Creator of man, the One who sent His Son to die in payment for my sins.  To trust One who started everything and who loved me to that extent makes perfect sense!  With my trust in God, what can happen to me that He cannot work out for my good?  This verse would make a good motto for a person, for a church, even for a nation!

Application:    When I came to verse 11, I immediately thought of our United States national motto:  In God we trust.  The phrase first appeared on two-cent coins in 1864.  The first verse of our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, ends with “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’”  It was not until 1956 that President Eisenhower singed a bill passed by the 84^th Congress declaring “In God We Trust” as our national motto.

Prayer:  I’m trusting you, Lord.  I’m trusting you.
You’ve been so faithful; You’ve been so true.
You’ve never failed me, Like I’ve failed you.
I’m trusting you, Lord; I’m trusting you. (unknown)
Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 09, 2019: SOAP #3444:  2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 71:10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no-one will rescue him.”
12 Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 But as for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Observation:   The Psalmist was aware of his circumstances.  He was aware of what his enemies were saying.  His enemies were saying that God had forsaken him.  BUT the Psalmist knew better!  He had one thing that would never run out—HOPE!   He could remember what God had done through the year and now that he was older, he had HOPE.

Application:   Hope is a confidence that everything will work out for good.  (Romans 8:28) When God is on our side, hope is ALWAYS available.  When I was young, I learned some about hope.  As I have aged, I have learned more about hope.  Now that I am older, I have more reason for hope than ever before.  I know God better.  I know His Word better.  I know more about eternity.  Whatever happens on this earth, for the child of God, things are going to get better!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you do not give me hope; YOU are my hope!  Without you, life is hopeless.  You are my firm foundation when the world is swaying.  You hold me together when everything is falling apart.  I will always have you; I will always have hope!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 08, 2019: SOAP #3443:  2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Observation:   The weight of unconfessed sin is heavy.  It hinders a person during the day like the heat of summer wears him down.  It is difficult to peacefully sleep with a guilty conscience.

Oh, but the humble acknowledgement of sin—the acknowledgement that it is my sin, what a relief!  The joy of forgiveness was always available, but pride would not allow confession.

Application:  When I take the responsibility for my sin, Jesus takes the responsibility of removing the guilt!  His sacrifice on the cross has more than enough value to cancel my guilt!   King David (in the Psalm above) was forgiven on the basis of what Jesus would do.  I am forgiven on the basis of what Jesus has already done!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you fully understand the evil nature of sin, even small sins.  Yet your love for man led you to make the perfect sacrifice.  Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins.  Thank you, Jesus, for coming.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for opening my eyes to receive the forgiveness Jesus provided. Amen

Pastor Leon
|Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 07, 2019: SOAP #3442:  2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 24:29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Observation:   In my limited understanding, I believe that the rapture of the church will have already taken place when these scriptures are fulfilled.  As I see it, the rapture if a quiet catching away of believers that meet the description found in the scriptures.

The above is when Jesus comes to set up His government on the earth.  It will be an audiovisual event!   This will not be a quiet event.  There will be much to see and much to hear.  Everyone will see and hear.

Application:  All in all, Christianity is meant to be an audiovisual relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord.   If it cannot be seen, if it cannot be heard, then it is doubtful if it is real.

Having Christ living within my heart, makes a difference in how I talk and what I do.  If Jesus really is God, how could it not be seen, how could it not be heard if He is living in my life as my Lord?

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I am counting on you to make Jesus seen in my words and actions through me.  May I be easily moldable to make Jesus visible.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 06, 2019: SOAP #3441:  2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Observation:   David was grief stricken.  He had caused the death of one of his loyal soldiers, then married that soldier’s wife who was pregnant with David’s child.  His sin was great; David felt the weight in his heart.  There was nothing David could do to make things right.  He realized that an animal sacrifice would not cover his sins.  God would have to cleanse David.  God would have to blot out David’s iniquity.  God would have to renew a steadfast spirit in David.  God would have to restore David’s joy.  There was nothing David could do.  God alone would need to cover David’s sin.

God did that for David on the basis of a bloody sacrifice about 1000 years later.  Jesus died on the cross to cover David’s sins!

Application:  Jesus died on that cross to cover my sins too.  Sins past, sins present, and sins future—His sacrifice was sufficient to cover all sins that are confessed and for which forgiveness is requested.

Prayer:  Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness.  Save me from the eternal results of my sins.  I receive you as my Savior.  I make you my Lord.  Thank you for paying the price for my sins.  Thank you for accepting me.  Thank you for becoming my Lord.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 05, 2019: SOAP #3440:  2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright.

Observation:   There are many things in which we can place our trust.  Some are worthy of limited trust and some are not.  Only God is worthy of full trust.  Only He is worthy of all our trust.

Application:  It is important that I keep the Lord, His promises, and His presence in my active memory.   The truth of God and His character, the truth of His promises need to be a part of every thought process.  Trusting God is acting like what I know about Him is true.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, trusting in you makes perfect sense.  It is completely logical.  You are worthy of my trust!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 04, 2019: SOAP #3439:  2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Observation:   In answering their question about his authority, Jesus gave them several parables. He then asks them a question to which they respond.  Then Jesus asks if they have ever read the scriptures He quoted.

I get the impression from His question that they should have been able to understand what He said—if they had been reading the scriptures.

Application:  Reading the scriptures brings much understanding to things around me.  Many of my questions are answered as I read.  God speaks to me as I read.  The Holy Spirit stirs my thoughts as I come to something He wants to impress in my thinking.

Prayer:  Jesus, you are the living Word and you always speak and work in agreement with the written word.  Reveal yourself to me as I look into the Bible each day, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 03, 2019: SOAP #3438:  2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 7:11  …The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Observation:   King David had just told the prophet, Nathan, that he wanted to build a house for the Lord.  David was living in a beautiful palace, but the ark of the Lord was still in the tent they had set up for it.  Nathan assures David that it is a great idea, but as he leaves, God tells Nathan HIS plans.

David wanted to build a house for God, but God is going to build a house for David!  David’s son, King Solomon, would be the one to build a house for the Lord, but God was going to build an everlasting house for David.  It was a prophecy that of David’s descendants (Jesus) would establish an eternal kingdom!

Application:  God’s plans are always bigger than man’s plans.  I plan for my lifetime; God plans for eternity!   As I plan for today, this week, this year—God is planning for the next generation.  He is already preparing a place for me in heaven.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your vision goes beyond what I can see.  Your plans for me reach beyond my life into the future—into my future and the future of those around me.  Holy Spirit, anoint me to use my days wisely.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!