November 11, 2019: SOAP #3630:  Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely, he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the ploughman ploughs and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
Romans (NIV) 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?

Observation:  In the Kingdom of God the value of money is enhanced.   It provides and avenue for us to express our appreciation.  It is an acceptable harvest for those sowing spiritual truth.  It is not wrong for it to be an expected harvest.  Those receiving spiritual seed sown into their lives should willing and joyfully return a “material harvest” to those sowing.  They should expect to do so.

Money is one way of sending those who carry the gospel to places of spiritual darkness.  (Romans 10:15)

Application:   The tithe is God’s money (Malachi 3:8).  He directs that it be brought into the store house.  How I invest my money, the remaining 90%, is an important part of being in God’s kingdom.  I use it to provide for my family and myself.  I believe God would have me save a portion for future needs.  AND it is my joy to invest in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I have been faithful but still have much to learn.  One thing I have learned—you are more faithful than I am.  I have taken your challenge to prove you (Malachi 3:10), and you have proved faithful!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 10, 2019: SOAP #3629:  Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

Observation:  Knowing and loving—both are important but what a difference.  Knowledge can make us proud.  True love makes us humble.  We can be proud of what we know.  But when we love we become aware of how little we know about the focus of our love.  We ever desire to learn more about what we love.  Walking in love, we use our knowledge to better serve the ones we love.

God’s knowledge of those who love Him is limitless.  If He desired, He could use that knowledge to destroy me, but He uses it in love to correct me and build me up.

Application:  To be known by God!  What a comforting and inspiring thought.  The one who knows me best loves me most!  He knows the difference between my reasons and excuses.  And He uses that knowledge for my benefit.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, what a blessing—to know that Your knowledge of me is complete.  I trust you!  I trust your leading.  In your wisdom and love you work through everything for my good.  May my life bring you glory.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 09, 2019: SOAP #3628:  Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Observation:  These are good questions for people who think they are better than others.  For people who think they have arrived at their status in life by their own skills.

Who made each of us different from everyone else?  None other than God.
What do we have that we did not receive?  Nothing.  Either we received it as a gift, or we received the skills to gain what we have.
So, what reason do we have for boasting?  None.

Application:   Instead, I have every reason to walk humbly.  Thanksgiving should be a hallmark of my life.  Serving others with the gifts I have received from God gives purpose to my days.  And I should make myself available to the gifts God has given to others.  Humility is important for passing along what God has given me AND for receiving from others what God has given them.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is for me to walk humbly before you and humbly within the body of Christ.  Help me dispense your gifts in a way that is easy for people to receive.  Bless others with the gifts you have placed in me.  Bless me with the gifts you have placed in others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 08, 2019: SOAP #3627:  Job 33; 1Corinthians 1-3

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”

Observation:  On some tests I have taken, I have scored somewhat high in the areas of math.  I enjoy working with numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) but easily recognize my limitations.  I understand basic math and enjoyed working with the beginning levels of algebra.  But that is as far as my understanding goes.  There are some math words about which I have no clue:  logarithms; calculus; trigonometry; etc.  They far exceed my math abilities.

God’s wisdom far exceeds man’s wisdom.  He perfectly understands not only physical laws and their limitations, He perfectly understands the laws of the spiritual world.  He understands how spiritual laws can affect the natural world.  Many miracles are just a spiritual law trumping a natural law.

God looks at the problems I bring Him in prayer with a full understanding of what is available in both the physical and spiritual world to solve that problem.

Application:  As I grow in my understanding of God and the spiritual world, I need to see my problems in the light of Who God is, how much He loves me, and what God has available.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me go through this day knowing that you are with me.  I want to walk in confidence that you are more than willing and able to help me face this world.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 07, 2019: SOAP #3626:  Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Observation:   It is not those to whom Christ belongs, but those who belong to Christ.  I hear in this scripture not an emphasis on me possessing Him, but Him possessing me!

When we belong to Him, He is Lord.  He is Master.  It is His life we are living.  We are no longer our own.  We have been bought with a great price.  And so, we have died to ourselves.  As Christ was crucified to His earthly life, so those belonging to Him have crucified the sinful nature.  They count it as dead!  The soul was crucified at the cross.  Now the crucified soul is to put to death, crucify, the flesh and its lusts.  Before the soul was crucified with Christ on the cross, I did not have the power to crucify the flesh, but the life that has been crucified is one now living in the power of the Spirit.  And as I walk in the Spirit there is power enough to deny the flesh!

When the flesh is crucified, there must be something to take its place.  To deny the flesh without setting one’s self to please the Spirit is futile.

Application:   As I slack off in what I eat, I pick up bad eating habits.  My appetite becomes accustomed to things and amounts that are unhealthy.  When I realize the danger of continuing to eat unhealthily, I start making changes.  With my mind, I know it is best to choose healthy food, but the flesh has grown accustomed to unhealthy habits.  I often need help, like a diet or eating plan, to make good eating choices.

And I need help to crucify the flesh and please God.  That is where the indwelling Holy Spirit brings motivation and assistance.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, The Heavenly Father knew that I would be helpless to live this life without you.  After Jesus died for my sins, He sent you to live in me.  Thank you for being my Counselor and Helper. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 06, 2019: SOAP #3625:  Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

Observation:  The law did not bring sin.  It only defined the sin that was present in the world.  Sin entered the big picture when Satan rebelled against God.  Sin spread to the earth in the garden when Adam and Eve ate the fruit forbidden by their Creator.  The law defined sin.  The law helped us recognize sin.  The law showed us there was only one remedy for sin—death.

The law was not given with the thought that man could ever be able to keep the law.  At the same time the law was given, sacrifices were established.  The law contained no rewards for perfectly keeping the law, only sacrifices for breaking the law.

The law also helped us identify the Savior—the only one who was born without sin and perfectly kept the law.  He needed no sacrifice to atone for His sin; He became the sacrifice to atone for our sin!

Application:  Oh, the wisdom of God in developing a perfectly holy and perfectly loving plan to deal with sinful man!  Oh, the love of God in sending His Son to be the perfect sacrifice!   Oh, the grace of God that continues to reach out to those who resist is love and direction!  Oh, the joy in the heart of God when a sinful person accepts the sacrifice of the Son to cover their sins!  Their acceptance, and any sacrifice they endure, validates God’s great sacrifice in sending His Son and the suffering endured by the Son.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, nowhere in all creation is your character displayed in such splendor as in your dealing with fallen men.  Your wisdom in perfect holiness and perfect love are amazing!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 05, 2019: SOAP #3624:  Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture:  Galatians (NIV) 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Observation:  Verse 21 stirs two very strong thoughts, the weakness of the law and the power of the cross.  It also leads me to consider how important my righteousness is to God. It is so important that He sent His Son to die!  Amazing!

The battle was won on the cross!  It was there that the price was paid.  It was there that Jesus won over the temptation of trying an easier way.  It was there that the power of Satan’s temptation to move outside the will of the Father was defeated!  Jesus would not give in to the devil’s temptation to move other than in His Father’s will!

Jesus entered death as The Triumphant One.  He entered the grave as The Victorious One!   He came out as More than a Conqueror!   The three days in the grave was the victory lap taken after the race has been won!

Application:   Verse 20 says I am crucified.  My life is dead.  I now live the life of Christ within me.  His life has already won victory over death and the grave.  That is the life by which I live!  In me is a Victorious, Triumphant, More than Conqueror life!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, continually remind me that I am living by God’s grace.  It is not depending on my ability to keep the law but depending on the Christ life within me who has already kept the law!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 04, 2019: SOAP #3623:  Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. …
20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Observation:  The Lord’s command was for them to go into all the world and preach the good news, BUT it was not God’s plan for them to go alone.  The book of Acts tells us that they were to wait in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and then move out into the world.  Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit they carried the gospel as instructed and found that the “Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs.”

Application:  God never sends me to go on my own or work on my own.  Through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, He goes with me and works through me.

Prayer:  Jesus, you are my only hope of salvation.  Holy Spirit, you are my only hope of fulfilling God’s will.  Mold me, fill me, and use me for your glory! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 03, 2019: SOAP #3622:  Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 14:1 …the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
[Jesus was arrested at night and taken to the high priest.]
…55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

Observation:  My attention is drawn to the obvious similarities between the way Jesus was treated 2000 years ago and the way US President Trump is being treated today.  It would have been easy to find evidence of the good Jesus had done, but that is not what they wanted.  God was obviously working through the mistreatment of Jesus to bring about a sacrifice to provide forgiveness for sinful man.  I believe God is obviously working, and will continue to work, through President Trump.  Through closed hearings in the basement of the capitol, the President’s enemies are trying to find evidence that will agree with their pre-set ideas of his guilt.  They do not want to acknowledge the good he has done.  Politically, President Trump has set himself to receive blessings from God.  He has honored Israel by moving the USA embassy to Jerusalem.   He has taken a strong stand against the murder of unborn babies being formed in the image of God.

Application:   As I see God deliver President Trump from his accusers, I can be encouraged that God will do the same for me.  God can turn what is meant for bad to become things for God’s glory and my good.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I pray that the whole world will witness your care for those who do your will.  I trust you.  You are ever able to deliver me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

November 02, 2019: SOAP #3621:  Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 12:13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

Observation:  It is impossible to read this verse and not think of what I have been hearing reporters telling us in their news program.  People who dislike President Donald Trump, listen to his every word to find something they can use to turn people against him.  They seem blind to any good he does.

Just like the religious leaders in Jesus day who refused to give Jesus any credit for all the healings and miracles, reporters today seem to be living in a different world.  They do not see the great improvement in our nation’s economy nor how changing regulations has released the growth of so many businesses.

The enemies of Jesus convinced the Romans to crucify Him.  The enemies of President Trump are trying to impeach him.

Application:   Jesus was walking in the stream of prophecy.  He was sent to fulfill His Father’s will to die as payment for the sins of man.  President Trump is not sinless, nor has he been sent to fulfill Bible prophecy.  President Trump needs our prayers.  Our nation needs a president that can be influenced by God.  We need a president who has people praying for him.  We need to be those people who are praying for our president!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, your word gives us specific instructions to pray for our leaders.  Holy Spirit, remind us to pray and anoint us as we pray.  Lead us to pray according to Your divine purpose and will.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!