November 01, 2019: SOAP #3620:  Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 10:1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again, crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

Observation:  Jesus was known as a teacher.  Later in this chapter (verse 20) He is addressed as “Teacher.”  His knowledge of His subject was clear to all who heard him.  He even demonstrated His teaching by His life and His miracles.

Application:   He was not someone who taught; He was The Teacher.  It was His nature to teach.  He desired people to understand spiritual and eternal things—and especially wanted them to know His Father.

What He was in the days of the gospels, He remains today.  Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, He continues to teach.  For those who faithfully read the Bible, they are sitting at the feet of The Teacher!  For those who walk with Him each day, they are continually learning as He draws their attention to people, nature, circumstances, etc. that surrounds them.  That is Who He is; that is what He does!  Yes, He is so much more, but in it all, He remains The Teacher.

He continues to expand my understanding and appreciation for Who He is and What He is doing.

Prayer:   Lord, you are my teacher.  Through the Holy Spirit, you continue to teach me every day.  Use me to teach others what you have taught me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 31, 2019: SOAP #3619:  Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Matthew (NIV) 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Observation:  Mark’s passage above shows how people were living out Matthew 6:33. And it shows how God took care of His part.

Hearing His words was more important than going after food.  Jesus was well aware that they had been with him for three days.  Whatever food supply they had brought with them was now depleted.  All that the disciples could find was “seven loaves” and “a few small fish.”  It was insufficient to feed 4,000 men plus women and children.  But when placed in Jesus’ hands it was a good starting place!  It became more than enough!

Application:  What is insufficient to meet my needs can be a good starting place for Jesus.  I need to place it in His hands.  I need to give Him control.

Prayer:   Lord, as I set myself to “seek FIRST your kingdom,” I trust you to meet my needs out of your riches, not my finances.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 30, 2019: SOAP #3618:  Job 21; Mark 5-6

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people [5,000 men from verse 44] away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Observation:  The disciples had a compassionate and logical suggestion.  Jesus responded by instructing THEM to feed the crowd.  Then he asked them a question that led them to the heart of the issue.  He told them to check out the facts.  “Go and see.”  The facts were that they had 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 men plus women and children!

Application:   Some would lead us to believe that the disciples had a negative confession.  They confessed to having only 5 loaves and 2 fish.  Their report did not discourage Jesus, and it helps us understand the magnitude of this amazing miracle!

If the bank balance sheet, if the laboratory report from the hospital, if the empty grocery shelves, if the enemy has a larger army than we have, if anything looks discouraging, we should not hesitate to bring the facts to Jesus!  It will only demonstrate the greatness of the miracle!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so glad that you are not afraid of the facts.  I am even more glad that your facts can over-ride our facts.  We are confident that you are working for your glory and our good! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 29, 2019: SOAP #3617:  Job 20; Mark 3-4

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Observation:  There are so many thoughts that can be mined from this passage.  But there is one that God has placed in my thoughts.  When the boat is in the storm, it is good to have Jesus in the boat.

Application:   I do not know what storms I will be facing nor when they will come.  The best preparation is to make sure that I have Jesus in my “boat” today.  I want to know that He hears me, and that I can hear Him!  For me, that means that I need to be talking with Him when there is no storm.  I cannot wait for the storm to make sure I can talk to Him and hear Him talk to me!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, keep talking to me.  Talk to me every day.  Even when there is no storm, talk to me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 28, 2019: SOAP #3616:  Job 19; Mark 1-2

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some ears of corn. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Observation:  God, who best knows the nature of man, best understands how evil destroys what He has created.  The laws He gave are for man’s benefit.  They are not meant to limit our enjoyment of life, but to enhance it.  The ten commandments are basic instructions on how to fulfill the two commands that Jesus gave:  Love God AND Love one another.

God did not create the Sabbath and then looked for a way to honor it; He created man on the sixth day then created the Sabbath for rest.  The Sabbath was created for man’s benefit.

Application:  What a blessing to live in a country where the constitution was not designed to protect the government from unruly citizens, but to protect citizens from an unruly government.  People do not exist to serve the government, but the government exists to serve us.  People were granted by the Creator certain rights that cannot be denied or taken away.  Our government and the constitution were created for the people’s benefit.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you designed a special day for rest, obviously, rest is important!  You designed the cycle of night and day to provide for rest.  Holy Spirit, help me honor what was designed for my benefit. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 27, 2019: SOAP #3615:  Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 27:21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. …
25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me….
34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” …
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.44 The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

Observation:   Just like the word of God that came through Paul: … safe but wet!  … safe but beat by the waves!  … safe but hanging onto pieces of the shipwreck!  … safe but cold!  … safe but still in the storm!  …safe and glad to be alive, I am sure!  Everyone’s story was a little different, but they all made it safely to land!

Application:  I can trust God to keep His word.  He may not still the storm, but He will get me through!   He promised to go and prepare a place for me.  He promised to come to take me where He is!   I may go through some storms, but “it will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.  Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.  One glimpse of His dear face…all sorrow will erase.  So, bravely run the race, till we see Christ!”

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, what a day that will be when we join you before the throne in Heaven!  What a day of rejoicing!  What a day of celebrating your great sacrifice!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 26, 2019: SOAP #3614:  Job 17; Acts 24-26

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 26:13 About noon, O King, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Observation:  Two surprises for Saul.  First: the being, appearing in light brighter than the sun, was the very one Saul had been persecuting.  He was taking Saul’s persecution of the Christians as personal.  What Saul was doing to the believers, he was doing to Jesus!

Second:  Jesus did not come to Saul with revenge, but with an assignment.

Application:   That is the same way Jesus has treated me!  He has not come with revenge, but with an assignment.  I could easily expect revenge, but with Him it would not be revenge, but just punishment.  However, in His great mercy, he comes with grace and forgiveness…AND an assignment.  Love for Him and appreciation motivates me to fulfill my assignments.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, anoint me to fulfill my assignments.  Live and flow through me while I am here on earth just as you did through Jesus when He was here on earth.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 25, 2019: SOAP #3613:  Job 16; Acts 21-23

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 23:10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Observation:  Paul was in a precarious situation.  He was being mobbed and had to be rescued by Roman troops.

When the Lord appeared to Paul, He did not speak of Paul’s current troubles.  He did not promise that Paul would soon be restored.  God spoke to Paul about Paul’s future.  God gave him an assignment for his future!  This current situation would be cleared; Paul’s testimony was needed in Rome!  The Jews that were threatening Paul’s life would not be successful.  God had future plans for Paul!

Application:  When I think of God’s promise and assignment, I lose my fear of things around me.  What a waste of time to worry about my present troubles when I know that God has something for me to do in the future.  God does not need to explain to me how He is going to take care of my present difficulties; when I know He has future plans, I know He has a way to get me though the present to where I will need to be in the future!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is good to know that there is no present situation that can hinder you from getting me to my future assignments. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Oct 24, 2019: SOAP #3612 (from Oct 24, 2014, #1786):  Job 15; Acts 19-20

Scripture:  Acts 20:36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Observation:   Paul had just given them some farewell words of encouragement.  In a few minutes he would be boarding a ship and starting his journey back to Jerusalem.  But before leaving, they prayed together.

Application:   It has always seemed appropriate to include prayer in “good-bye” times.  It is a way of acknowledging that God is in control of the “comings” and “goings” of our lives.  I remember my wife, my parents and my brother praying for me in the airport just before boarding the plane for Viet Nam.  I remember the prayers of the Bayview Chapel congregation in the Honolulu Airport as we were leaving to pastor in Kansas.

In prayer we entrust those we love into the hands of God for His protection, His guidance, and His provision.   It is a good way of saying we have done all we can do and now they are in God’s hands. (Parents, be sure you pray for your children as they leave home at key times in their lives.  May your prayers be strong in their minds as they move out into the world.  Give they something to remember!)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the special people who prayed for me when I was leaving.  And thank you for the opportunities I have had to pray for others when they were leaving.  Acknowledging your presence in these times brings peace and comfort.  Holy Spirit, embolden parents to bless their children with their audible prayers.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 23, 2019: SOAP #3611:  Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

Scripture:   Acts (NIV) 18:23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Observation:   Paul had a traveling ministry.   He took all opportunities to tell about Jesus.  When there were believers in the area, he would meet with them to strengthen them in their faith.  The early church did not have Bibles but relied on the knowledge of their leaders and the traveling preachers.  Paul, with his great knowledge of the Old Testament, could build their faith that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.  And when he was in prison and not able to travel, he wrote the letters we have today.  In person, and by mail, he strengthened the church.   If it was available, surely Paul would have used email!     (Thank you, Missionary Ralph Hiatt for your great example of this ministry.)

Application:   In reading the scriptures for today, the Lord refreshing in my heart His assignment for Sharon and me.  As we move from place to place God will use us to encourage and strengthen believers and churches.  As Paul wrote to young Timothy to stir up the gift that was in him (2Timothy 1:6), so the Lord would use us to encourage senior saints to “stir up the gifts” that are in them.  We cannot allow them to settle to the bottom of our heart and be covered over by disappointment, discouragement, or self-pity.  The gifts of the Spirit are too valuable to be buried.  We must stir them up!   Senior citizens, as we move from place to place we must be about strengthening everyone around us.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, use us for Your glory and the good of Your church.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!