July 01, 2019: SOAP #3497:  Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

Scripture:  Titus (NIV) 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men.
AV …shewing all meekness unto all men.
HCSB …showing gentleness to all people.
MESSAGE  …should be bighearted and courteous.
NKJV  …showing all humility to all men.
RSV  …show perfect courtesy toward all men.

Observation:   As I have been reading through the Bible this year, my attention has been drawn to the many times reference is made to humility.  Obviously, it is very important to God.

Above we are instructed to show true humility to all people.  That would include those who to whom I must submit.  I should approach them with humility.  But that would also include those for whom I am responsible.  I should show humility to my boss as well as those who work for me.

Application:  When I stand before another person, I am standing before someone who was made in the image of God.  When I talk to another person, I am talking to someone so valuable to God that He sent His Son to die for them.   How proper it is to show true humility, gentleness, courtesy.  I may not think that they deserve such treatment, but the One I serve does deserve having me walk in humility!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, work this quality into my life. Bring these thoughts to my mind when you see I need them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 29, 2019: SOAP #3496:  Amos 7-9; Psalm 104:  Titus 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 104:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent 3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

Observation:   God is great!  He is clothed with splendor and majesty.  He wraps himself in light.  These are the outer expressions of God, but what is He like at the core.  He stretches out the heavens and he set the earth on its foundations.  This is what he does, but what is He like at the core of His being.

His works show his greatness, but what makes Him good?

At the core, He is holy.  (Psalm 99:9) At the core He is love!  (1John 4:8,16) It is the combination of his eternal holiness and eternal love that make God good.

Application:  I am extremely honored to know God!   To think that one so great and so good would send His son to die for my sins is very humbling.  To have God’s Holy Spirit living in me is also humbling.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may my life bring honor and pleasure to you.  May our relationship bring you much joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 29, 2019: SOAP #3495:  Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 86:8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Observation:   Sometimes when I read the Bible, I find myself talking to the writers.  Sometimes I speak my agreement.  I usually have a long conversation with Job’s friends.  Sometimes I fill them in on what God has done since they put down their writings.  Sometimes, like these verses, what they wrote is good, but it is even greater when brought up to date!  SOAP readers, forgive me as I write this to David…

David, I have to tell you, you did not know even the half!  When you wrote that “no deeds can compare with yours,” you did not even know the best thing that God ever did!  He sent His Son to live among us with the limitations of a man.  He was introduced as the Lamb of God. He lived without sin, then died on a cross—the pure, holy, sacrificial Lamb of God to pay for our sins!  No other god ever did anything like!  David, you were right; there is no god like our God!!!  NO other god, NO other religion can be compared to our God!!!

Application:   This God is and will be worshiped by people from all nations, and that includes me.  It is my privilege to worship the one unique, eternal, almighty, omniscient, omnipresent God, the creator of all things,

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I worship you because of who you are—and because of what you have done for me.  You deserve all my worship.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 28, 2019: SOAP #3494:  Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 4:16 [THE PAST] At my first defense, no-one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
18 [THE FUTURE] The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Observation:   In verses 16-17, Paul shares about his past.  He had to face charges alone—But the Lord was on his side and brought deliverance.  In verse 18, Paul jumps to the future—The Lord will rescue him and will bring him safely to the heavenly kingdom!

The only way I know to get from the past to the future is to go through the present.  What is happening in Paul’s present?  Chapter 1 verse 12 tells us that he is suffering.  Chapter 2 verses 8-9 tell us that he is in chains.  Earlier in chapter 4 we read that he is already being poured out and that his departure (death) is soon.

Application:  Some people get so caught up feeling miserable and complaining about present troubles that they forget what God has done in the past and what He has promised for the future!   Like Paul, sometimes I need to forget about my present troubles, review what God has done for me in the past and remind myself of God’s future promises.  From past victories and future promises, I can gain strength to face today’s troubles.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for wasting time worrying about my problems.  What you have done for me in the past assures me that you have my present in control. Your promises provide a glimpse of what my future holds as I walk with you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 27, 2019: SOAP #3493:  2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Observation:   What makes a person properly equipped to meet the challenges in the world?  It is the God-breathed Scriptures.  It is the scriptures that teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us.

Application:  Bible Schools and Bible Colleges help prepare people for ministry—but only as they teach the God-breathed word.  God intends for us to learn from each other, that is why He gave apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers.  But their priority textbook must be the Bible!

Of course, the greatest teacher is the Holy Spirit, the author of the scriptures.  Faithfully reading the Bible, and the Holy Spirit’s constant presence in my life, keeps me thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, today as I look into your Word, teach me how to apply it to my life and ministry. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 26, 2019: SOAP #3492:  Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.

Observation:   One needs to know the rules of the game.  There have been football games in which one team gained the most yards but lost the game.   It is not how many yards a team gains, it is how many points they score!

In our history, there have been several elections in which the candidate for president who had the most popular votes, lost the election.  It is not the total number of votes one receives, but how many electoral college votes were received.  Those running for president of the US need to know the rules.

Application:   In verse 7, Paul writes, “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give insight into all this.”

I hear Paul saying, consider what I am saying as to how it should be applied.  Truth is truth. However, in different situations it can be applied with some variation.  Paul is telling Timothy to consider these basic truths and apply them appropriately in the situations he faces.  He is encouraging Timothy that the Lord will guide him in applying these truths.

As the football coach must study the rulebook; as the presidential candidate must study the constitution; so, I must study the Bible!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me daily apply the scriptures to my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 25, 2019: SOAP #3491:  Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Observation:   Onesiphorus was not an apostle, not an elder, not a deacon, not a teacher, not evangelist, not a prophet…he was a Christian!   He was a slave belonging to Philemon.  Yet, on judgment day, when rewards are being distributed, he will share in the rewards given to the Apostle Paul!!!  Onesiphorus was a helper!

Application:  Help is an interesting topic.  Basically, help is assistance.  Help is not someone carrying the whole load for all time, but someone coming along side to assist for a season.  Their assistance brings a message of encouragement.  It brings a time of relief.  It assures us that others are aware of our need and appreciate what we are doing.  Help reassures us that others also see value in what we are struggling through.

Helpers enable ministries to go further, reach more, continue longer, and bring even more glory to God!  Everyone needs help AND everyone is used by the Holy Spirit to help others.  May I be as faithful to help as I have been blessed to be helped!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thanks for helpers!  Thank you for the special helpers you have brought my way to accomplish my current assignment.  And, in this current assignment, thank you for using me to help others. Holy Spirit, show me those who need my help.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 24, 2019: SOAP #3490:  2Kings 11,12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 24:15 Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty. 16 He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.
2Chronicles (NIV) 24:25 When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Observation:  Jehoiada and Joash—two names linked together for the good of Judah and the glory of God.   One a priest, the other a king.  The priest was “buried with the kings;” the king was “not buried in the tombs of the kings.” The priest lived and ended well.  The king lived well as long as he had input from the priest, but when the priest died, he did not finish well.

King Joash was greatly influenced by the priest, Jehoiada and as long as the priest was alive, he followed the ways of the Lord.  But when the priest died, King Joash took in counsel from others who led him, and the nation, away from God.

Application:  Thank God for people who had good influence in my life.  They blest my life in many ways.  But now many of them are gone.  Now I come to the final season of my life without their counsel.  How I end this life is very important.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, people come and go in my life, but you remain constant.  I need your counsel and guidance.  I need your wisdom and direction if I am to end this season well.  I know I can count on you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 23, 2019: SOAP #3489:  2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22,23; 1Timothy 5

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 23:16 Jehoiada then made a covenant that he and the people and the king would be the LORD’s people.

Observation:  Jehoiada was the high priest who provided leadership for the nation.  He worked behind the scenes and when the time came, he brought about open change.  His efforts brought about a change in the political leadership.  He caused the downfall of a wicked queen who had usurped the throne.  He worked to save the life of the true king.  He planned and initiated political change that re-established the rightful king.  He led by godly influence.  He did not step into a place of political authority, but worked to ensure the true king, King Joash, was established in authority.

Application:  God is today looking for Godly leaders who will use their influence to bring change to their nation.  God is looking for Godly leaders who will take a risk.  God is looking for Godly leaders who will stand against wickedness.  God can use those leaders, like Jehoiada, to bring change.

Prayer:  Lord, use me to herald your truth—to speak against wickedness and call people to righteousness.  Use me for your glory!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 22, 2019: SOAP #3488:  2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

Scripture:  2Kings (NIV) 8:4 The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to beg the king for her house and land. Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.”

Observation:   This woman had been encouraged by the Elisha to live in elsewhere during the famine.  Now the famine was over, and she has returned to Israel from the land of the Philistines.  In her absence, someone had taken over her property, so she went to the king to request his help.  As she enters the king’s presence, the king is having an interesting conversation with Elisha’s servant, Gehazi.  He is asking about the miracle done in Elisha’s ministry—about people raised to life from the dead.  And AT THAT MOMENT in walks this woman whose son had been raised from the dead!  She has a need and the perfect timing of god insured that the king would be kindly inclined!

Application:  In these past 3 weeks, my heart has rejoiced to find God’s favor doing the same for me.  Several times, I walked into situations at the exact time for God to answer one of my needs.  Several times, people have arrived just in time to give me wise counsel.  God’s timing is amazing.

Psalm 37:23 (KJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, indeed my steps these past few weeks have been “ordered” by you!  I am glad to know you delight in my way, for I surely delight in your ways!  Walking in your paths keep me in step with your timing!  I need your timing in order to accomplish the assignments you have for me.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!