May 01, 2020: SOAP #3802:  1Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 14:13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley; 14 so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go straight up, but circle round them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

Observation:  The LORD protected David by interacting with the thoughts of the nations around Israel.  With their eyes they saw David’s victory and with their ears they heard of David’s victory.  Then God directed their thoughts that they should respect and fear David.

Why would God do this?  A look at verse 16 shows that David respected God.  He listened to what God had to say and he obeyed God.  He did as God commanded him.

Application:   Obedience to God and respect from people; these two thoughts go together.  If I want people to respect me, I need to respect God.   Having God make people respect me starts with me respecting God!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, moment by moment throughout each day show me how I can respect you. Honoring your word by reading it, obeying the inclinations in my heart placed there by the Holy Spirit, doing what I believe will bring you joy.  I want you to be glad that I am your child.  I want you to know, and others around me to know, that I am honored to be your child.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 30, 2020: SOAP #3801:  2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here….

Observation:  Jesus called three disciples to be alone “with Him” to a “high mountain.”  Reading between the lines, it took some extra effort to accompany Jesus on this adventure.  But at the end of their time on the mountain, Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here!”

Many times, Jesus ministered to multitudes, but this was a small group ministry—only three.  Peter enjoyed it so much that he wanted to stay

Application:  Our nations response to the corona virus has forced us to take some difficult/different paths.  Being at home, or meeting with another believer can have great benefits, especially when Jesus is present!

God is saying, “If you cannot feel my presence as closely and intimately at home as you can in church, something is wrong.  My presence is as real at home as it is at church.  Worship can be as stirring at home as it is at church.  The Holy Spirit can speak to your heart just as clearly at home as He can at church.  I enjoy ministering to the multitude.  I enjoy ministering to disciples.  I enjoy ministering wherever two or three are gathered in my name.  When you recognize my presence, when you honor my word, being alone with you and your family brings me great joy.”

Prayer:  Jesus, the joy of a small group meeting (of family members at home or meeting another believer at the store, or in a phone/video call) is recognizing your presence.  It is hearing you speak to our hearts and seeing your hand at work.  Like Peter, may we at home say, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 29, 2020: SOAP #3800:  2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Observation:  The subject of rewards is a major portion of the scriptures.  God is just; He will repay each person according to their investment in the kingdom.  God is faithful; He will keep his promises.  God is loving; He enjoys rewarding his children.  God is generous; He will reward his people abundantly more than they deserve.

Application:   If my life is cut short and I do not receive all my rewards before I die, NO WORRY, my faithful, loving, just, and generous God will have all eternity to pass out rewards!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, if there were no rewards, you alone are worthy of my devotion and service.  I serve you because I love you.  You are my Father!   And I know that you reward me because you love me.  I am your child!  I am amazed and blessed to know that you enjoy rewarding and blessing me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 28, 2020: SOAP #3799:  2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 15:29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.

Observation:  Jesus had come to a good ministry place.  He did not build a shelter.  He did not call for a tent.  He did not put up benches.  He SAT DOWN!

There was nothing frantic about Jesus preparing for His ministry.  HE was prepared.  What was inside of Jesus poured out to the people.  Ministry does not require perfect circumstances.  Ministry requires a current relationship with the Holy Spirit, compassion for people, willingness to be interrupted, and the investment of time.

God can use the coronavirus to cause the church to move outside the limitations of a building.

Application:    When my heart is ready, ministry can happen any place. The greatest hindrance to my ministry is not a lack of facilities. The great hindrances to ministry are empty hearts, being too busy, and being unwilling to be interrupted.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, may my heart be so full of you that you spill over as I walk through this world.  May ministry come from the overflow of my heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 27, 2020: SOAP #3798:  2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 142:5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Observation:  Why did David want to be free from prison?  …here’s why…  “…that I may praise your name!”  His report of God’s goodness to him would cause his friends to gather nearby and he would report to them what God had done for him!

Application:   Why do I want God to do things for me?  Obviously, I want to have life a little easier.  I do not like to struggle.  I do not like to be restricted.  Oh, yes, I will give God some praise, but that is not the priority for my request.

His glory should be the reason for all my requests.  My worship and praise should start even before I receive the answer to my prayers.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I can see that in many ways I am still the center of my life.  Forgive me for seeing things only as they affect me.  May I see every struggle as an opportunity to demonstrate that it is worth any struggle to serve you.  May I see every victory as an opportunity to give you the glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 26, 2020: SOAP #3797:  2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.

Observation:  Jesus ministered at non-traditional places (by the lake), to those choosing to stop their plans and listen (the crowds), using what was available (a boat), telling stories that were very real to life (a farmer and his seed) and applicable to spiritual life (seed is the message of the kingdom and field is the hearts of people -vs. 18-23).

Application:   Today, the people known as the church have been forced out of their buildings known as churches to gather around computer/TV screens to join in worship and hear the sermons their pastors have prayerfully prepared.

The persecution mentioned in the book of Acts (8:1-4) forced the believers out of Jerusalem and as they scattered, infected with the gospel and the Spirit of God, they “went everywhere preaching the word.”

From Reuters news 4/25/2020  “The first death linked to the disease was reported on Jan. 10 in Wuhan, China.  It took 91 days for the death toll to pass 100,000 and a further 16 days to reach 200,000, according to the Reuters tally of official reports from governments.”

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, surely you are more powerful than COVID-19 which has encircled the earth in less than 6 months.  May these be the days of a world-wide revival.  Anoint the church.  May the revival encircle the earth,  reaching every home.  May I be so “infected” with the gospel that everyone I meet catches what I have! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 2, 2020: SOAP #3796:  1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some ears of corn and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered…

Observation:  When they were just fishermen, probably nobody cared that they picked corn on a Sabbath day.  If someone did notice and was bothered enough to make a comment, it would probably be countered with, “Oh, they are just fishermen!”

But they are now known as followers of Jesus!  The complainers were not trying to make them look bad, they were using them to make Jesus look bad.

But in Jesus, they had the expert defense attorney!  Jesus had even defended a woman that was caught in the act of adultery!

Application:   Being known as a Christian causes my life to be on a pedestal.  There are people who enjoy finding something I have done wrong.  At times it gives them a defense for their own deeds.  For sure the devil likes to find something Leon is doing so he can point it out to God.  “Did you just see what Your child did?  I heard Leon say that you were living in him!”

Knowing that the devil likes to accuse me before God, makes me want to be quick to repent.  When the devil brings it up to God, I want God to be able to say, “Leon was just here.  I have already forgotten what was discussed, but if you check his heart again, you will find a fresh application of the blood of Jesus.”

Prayer:   Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to forgive me when I repent.  Your graciousness is undeserved by me, but so appreciated!  May my thankfulness be easily seen by others.  And may people who watch me, discover that pleasing you is my greatest goal. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 24, 2020: SOAP #3795:  1Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Observation:  A yoke is a wooden collar designed to hold two oxen to work side by side.  In my limited perspective, I can see two purposes for a yoke.  One is to join the power of the two as one.  The second is to train younger ox.  The younger ox has no choice but to obey the master’s commands as the older and stronger ox does it’s master’s will.

“Take” and “learn” Jesus said.  The purpose of my being yoked to Jesus is not because He is lacking the strength to accomplish His mission.  It is for my benefit.  It for my training.

Application:   When I accepted Jesus as LORD, I took His yoke upon me.  In making Jesus my Lord, I accept His plans for the day, His attitudes, His direction.  I allow Him to change my direction.  It is not that the older ox goes where the younger ox is inclined to go—it is that the younger ox learns to go the way of the older, stronger ox.

Prayer:  Lord, as I am yoked to you, I want you to find me easily trainable.  I want to be a pleasant yoke-mate with you.  May you enjoy that I am yoked to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 23, 2020: SOAP #3794:  1Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

Observation: “The worker is worth his keep,” a commonly known truth that Jesus applies to sending out the disciples.  Jesus calls them “workers” or “laborers.”  What the disciples had to give out, they had freely received, so they were to freely give it out.  But they should expect that those receiving their ministry would value it and provide for their needs.  (Note the verses following.)

Application:   Several applications can be taken from this passage.  As a minister of the gospel, I need to hold what I have freely received as valuable and I need to expect those to whom I freely give it to learn its value.  As the Lord sends me, He will provide.

As an employer, I need to freely and gladly pay those who add value to my life/business.  As a good steward of the business God has given me, I may need to make needed adjustments to ensure that the cost of having employees is properly covered by the value they add.  A good employee is worth being appreciated in many ways.

As an employee, I need to make sure my labor brings in more than enough value to cover my salary and all the other costs of my employment.  I want tp be valuable to my employer.  (I am not really working for him; I am working for the Lord!)  I want my employer to be blessed because I am working for him; but most of all I want him blessed because God is with me at work!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may I be a valuable “worker” in your vineyard.  May I be worth my keep. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 22, 2020: SOAP #3793:  1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 9:18 While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment…
25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Observation:  These two remarkable miracles happened within the same day.  Jesus was on His way in response to a father’s faith for his daughter.  The father’s faith was for Jesus to touch his daughter and she would live.  Jesus’ journey was interrupted by a woman who had been ill for twelve years.  The woman’s faith was for her to touch Jesus’ clothes and she would be healed.

Jesus touched the girl; the woman touched Jesus.  The expression of their faith was different; the object of their faith was the same.  Both received what was needed.

Application:  The expression of my faith is proof that faith is present.  Different situations will bring about different expressions of my faith.  But the one thing constant must be the object of my faith.  Jesus will act according to His word.  The better I know the Bible, the better I will understand how God works and what I can expect.  Faith comes from hearing God speak to me, and hearing God speak comes through the word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your word.  Thank you for the specific of what you expect from me and what I can expect from you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!