September 01, 2019: SOAP #3559:  Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 6:1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” …
3 …I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” …
5 …I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” …
7 …I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

Observation:   John was specifically invited to witness the things and activities of heaven.  He did not just read about them, he saw them, and then wrote about them.  John does not explain everything but is clear in describing what he saw.  He was given a personal tour and preview of things to come.

Application:  It is good to read about what Jesus did in New Testament the days, but it is so much better when He says, “Come.”  He personally invites me to be a part of what He is doing.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, thank you for including me.  Thank you for letting me be personally involved in what you are doing.  Find me a faithful servant.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 31, 2019: SOAP #3558:  Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Observation:    Jesus is worthy to receive power!  Jesus is worthy to receive wealth!  Jesus is worthy to receive wisdom!  Jesus is worthy to receive all strength!  Jesus is worthy to receive honor!  Jesus is worthy to receive glory!  Jesus is worthy to receive praise!

Jesus has all of this because He is God, the Son.  These are all rightfully His by the nature of His being.  But if He did not possess all of this, He rightfully receives them—he is worthy to receive them by the nature of His accomplishment!!!  He was slain, yet He is alive!  He defeated Satan and He defeated death!  He did it so perfectly that His victory can be applied to all who believe on Him!!!  He is worthy, not only because He has a throne in heaven; He is worthy because of what he accomplished on earth!!!

Application:  Because I know who He is, I worship Jesus with my mind because He is God.   And because I know what He did for me, I lovingly worship Jesus with my heart.  He is my Lord!  He deserves my commitment!  I am His to do as He directs!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, no wonder you are proud of your Son and want everyone to worship Him!  He accomplished your plan perfectly.  It is my pleasure to serve and worship Him.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping me to see what you were saying to me today in verse 12!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 30, 2019: SOAP #3557:  Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Observation:   From the book of Revelation we can see that worship is an important activity in heaven.  In these verses we see that one motivation for worship is an appreciation for creation.  Gazing in wonder at creation should cause worship to rise to the Creator.  The things too big for me to see and the things too small for me to see were ALL created by God!  And He created ALL things in between!   All things were created by His will, so they exist for His purpose!   Their continued existence is for His glory.

Application:   What a privilege is mine to drive a school bus in the country.  I can see God’s creation all around!  The beauty of a sunrise, the strength of the sun’s rays, the deer and turkey that run across the road,  the change in the seasons, the blue sky and the clouds, the rain and snow storms…and beyond all of this, I get to witness living beings getting on and off my bus.  Each one carrying the image of God!   What a privilege is mine!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I do not need to wait until I get to heaven to join those worshiping you because of your creation; I can do that today!   I do not need to wait until I am in the throne room of heaven to join in worshiping you for your creation; I can do that here and now in my bus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 29, 2019: SOAP #3556:  Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 7:9 I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will repay you in accordance with your conduct and the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that it is I the LORD who strikes the blow.

Observation:   A main part of God’s plan for Israel was to be a public example of how God would bless people committed Him.  But, sadly, they became a public example of how God judges sin.

Application:    God’s purpose for Israel is unique.  God has and will hold them accountable according to His plan.  The USA is not Israel!  We cannot claim all the promises God made to Israel as belonging to the USA.  But we do serve the same God!  He created Israel and His hand can be clearly seen in the establishment of the USA.  God has not changed.  His character is eternal.  Note the following:
–Israel had set up detestable idols in God’s temple.  The USA has destroyed millions living beings made in God’s image.
–Israel ignored God’s Word recorded on scrolls in the temple.  The USA has ignored God’s Word, Bibles in almost every home in our nation.
–Israel had some godly priests and a few godly Kings to guide them. Today we have the indwelling Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds.
–God judged Israel for their sins.  God judged the USA for the sin of slavery. God will judge the USA for the sin of abortion.
–In the time of judgment, Israel repented and experienced revival.  The coming move of God in the USA is being/will be preceded by a time of judgment.  Like in Josiah’s day, repentance may postpone but not cancel judgment.
–If God had good reason to judge Israel, how much more does He have reason to judge the USA!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the extent of our sins is shameful.  We should not dishonor you by thinking that the Righteous Judge does not see and is not concerned.  Forgive me for thinking that my sins do not bother you. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 28, 2019: SOAP #3555:  Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 2:1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Observation:  Ezekiel’s response to the appearance and presence of God was that he fell on his face. (Ezekiel 1:28)   But in verse one (above) Ezekiel is told to stand up and in verse two the Spirit raised him to his feet.  From my military background, I take it to mean that Ezekiel should be standing at attention.  His attitude should be that he was going to receive important instructions.

He was given a tough assignment.  The people to whom he was being sent were obstinate and stubborn.  They would not listen.  Ezekiel would need to remember that God was sending him.

Application:   Today it is important to realize that God is sending me to those around me.  This world is full of obstinate and stubborn people.  Whether my neighbors and/or co-workers listen or refuse to listen “they will know” that someone cared enough to tell them the truth.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, love through me.  Love those around me.  Through me, love those who are hard to love.  May the love they receive through me cause them to know that you love them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 27, 2019: SOAP #3554:  Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 143:3 The enemy pursues me; he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

Observation:   David had been pursued by King Saul, then later by his own son, Absalom.  He knew what it was like to be on the run.  When his spirit became discouraged, he knew what to do.  He thought back on all the things God had done for him in the past.  What God had done in the past gave David faith for what God would do in the future.  The past built David’s faith for the present and the future.

Application:  Especially when I am pressured to accomplish a big task, I like to make a “to do” list.  I take the big task and break it down into smaller tasks. Then I mark them off as they are completed.

In the above verses, God is telling me to include the following in my task list: remember what God has done in the past.  That should be number 2, following prayer.

God probably will not do it the same way, but He will do something!   With my faith encouraged, I can face the future with excited anticipation rather than worry!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of the many things God has already done for me. With my faith charged by remembering, I can have joyful anticipation for what my Heavenly Father will do for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 26, 2019: SOAP #3553:  Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 51:14 The LORD Almighty has sworn by himself: I will surely fill you [Babylon] with men, as with a swarm of locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you. 15 “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. 16 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Observation:  Assyria was the dominant power and had been the means of God’s judgment on the Northern nation of Israel.  Assyria was terribly wicked, and God used Babylon to overthrow Assyria.  Then Babylon became God’s hand of judgment on Judah, the southern tribes that had turned from God.  But Babylon was an ungodly nation and full of wickedness.

Jeremiah prophesied the fall of Babylon.  How could that be, they were the strongest nation in the world.  They were strong enough to overcome Assyria, but they were not strong enough to overcome God!  They ruled the known world; but God created the world!  God’s power, and wisdom, and understanding enabled Him to create the universe.

Application:  Considering thunder and lightning, rain and wind, my God is more than able to fulfill His promises to me!  I ponder His wisdom in cycling moisture from the ocean to the clouds with evaporation, and then returning the moisture to the earth through rain and to the oceans in the streams and rivers.  What a Creator!  What a God!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your power and wisdom are so wonderfully displayed in creation.  Your faithfulness insures the reliability of your promises. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 25, 2019: SOAP #3552:  Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2John

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 37:1 Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. 2 Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

Observation:   It was not that God had not spoken to them; it was that they paid no attention to what He said.  The problem was not that God had nothing to say, the problem was that they did not consider His word important enough to obey.

Application:  When I feel that God is not speaking to me, I need to check back and see how I responded the last time God spoke to me.  I may need to follow through with what He has already told me before asking Him to speak to me again.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your word is so important.  What an amazing privilege to have you speak to me.  I want my response to your word to show how I value you and your word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 24, 2019: SOAP #3551:  Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  …
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1John (NIV) 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

Observation:  Love starts with God.  Love and holiness are the bedrock of God’s nature.  They are to be the same for us.  If God has taken up residence in my life, then His love will be expressed through every interaction with others, expressed in every task, and expressed every day.

Application:   The proof of my love for God is my love for my brother.  The proof of my love for my brother is my love for God!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I pray that the same love you expressed in sending Jesus will find expression through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

August 23, 2019: SOAP #3550:  Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 31:35 This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD Almighty is his name: 36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.”

Observation:   God’s commitment to Israel is permanent as His commitment with the sun, moon, stars and ocean!  Obviously having God’s promise to support their national existence does not mean that He approves of everything they do.  One only needs to read the Old Testament to see that God is as faithful to punish Israel’s wickedness as He is to bless Israel’s righteousness.

People and nations who want to deny Israel the right to exist as a nation have an issue with the God of creation.

Application:  Observing how God is keeping His promise to Israel builds faith in my heart that He will keep His promises to me!   Israel is a nation of God’s promise; I am a child of His presence!   God had Israel build a tabernacle that He might live in the midst of them; God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross for my sins that He might live inside of me!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are committed to Israel, AND You are committed to me!  I am blest to be your child.  I am honored to be your servant.  Because I love you, serving you is my pleasure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!