May 12, 2020: SOAP #3813:  2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. …

Observation:  Paul recognized that his ministry in the city of Thessalonica was on target with what God wanted him to do.  Not only was God presence with him, the Holy Spirit was active with him in ministry.  Paul was faithful in preaching.  Paul opened his mouth.  Paul used his voice.  AND the Holy Spirit demonstrated His power and brought deep conviction.  It is the presence and working of the Holy Spirit that validates ministry.

Application:  God has called me to this ministry, and the Holy Spirit validates the call by opening a passage in the Bible to give me fresh understanding for each day.  I set myself to read the scriptures; in faith I prepare a paper to make notes of what I hear Him emphasizing; in faith I prepare my computer program with the scripture references I will read for the day.  Then as I read and meditate on what I read, the Holy Spirit speaks to my mind and heart. Sometimes, like a beautiful flower the passage is open before me.  Sometimes, like a flower bud, the pedals of the flower open as I meditate on the passage.  Sometimes as I write one thought, a second comes, and then a third.

It may be an encouraging thought, or a corrective thought.  It may bring needed direction.  It may give understanding.  But it is always appropriate for today.  It is for me.  It is fresh.  It is for today.  It validates God’s call.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, use these SOAPs as an example to others for hearing you speak to them.  Oh, Heavenly Father, how you love people.  How you love to speak to them.  How you love for us to be listening.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 11, 2020: SOAP #3812:  2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) [Judas to the chief priests] 26:28 …”What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So, they counted out for him thirty silver coins.  …[Later] 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” [After the resurrection] 28:12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Observation:  The “high and holy” priest refused to return to the temple treasury the same money they had given to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus—it was “blood money.”   Then, after the resurrection, the same priests gave the soldiers” a large sum of money” to spread a lie that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus while they were asleep!

Application:  Money has great power for good or evil, depending on the motives in the heart of the one who possess it.  The Bible mentions some women who traveled with Jesus and the disciples; they helped finance ministry out of their wealth.  In the verses above money that had been given to God by temple worshippers was used by the priest to bring on the death of Jesus.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want the money you place in my hand to further your kingdom.  May it be a cause of joy to you.  When I die, may the money I have given to you far exceed the money remaining in my bank accounts. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 10, 2020: SOAP #3811:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture:  The chapter assigned for today from Matthew is about Jesus on the cross.  Since it is Mother’s Day, for Matthew 27:55-56, 61 I am substituting this passage from John which mentions Mary, Jesus’ mother.
John (NIV) 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Observation:  What Jesus was doing at that moment was so much bigger than Mary. He was dying as payment for the sins of everyone who would accept Him as Savior and Lord. Yet His assignment was not so big that He could not take time for His earthly mother.

Application: Today care homes are full of elderly people whose children act as though their jobs are so important that they do not have time to visit their parents.  Their jobs are not nearly as important as was Jesus’ job that day on the cross, yet He took time for His mother.   To ignore elderly parents is not very Christ-like. Honoring our parents is being like Jesus.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of your priorities, especially when I get to busy to remember them myself. Speak to our hearts and give us creative ways to express our love to our parents.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 09, 2020: SOAP #3810:  2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 71:14 But as for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Observation:  When God is at work, sometimes there is not much left for us to do—that is except use our mouth to “praise,” “tell,” “proclaim,” and “declare.”

May I be as diligent in using my mouth to extoll the greatness of God and His mighty deeds as He is in caring and providing for me.

Interesting note:  in Matthew 26:73-74 Peter was recognized by his accent, and then tried to distance himself from Jesus by his words.

Application:  We probably all have a friend that loves to talk about their special passion, be it sports, or automobiles, or food, or grandchildren…  As their friend, we know their favorite topic.

Do my friends know my favorite topic?  Have they come to recognize me as one who is passionate about Jesus?  If they have a problem, do they know me as someone who will pray for them?

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, my heart is full of appreciation for what Jesus has done for me.  Keep me aware of opportunities to tell, declare, and proclaim His love and mercy.  Guide my conversation, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 08, 2020: SOAP #3809:  2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

Observation:  My grandparents passed down several oil lamps to my parents who in turn have given a couple to our family.  They sit on a shelf where we can easily get to them.  When I look at them, I think of my grandparents.  But most of the time they go unnoticed.  That is until the electricity goes out!

I have learned several keys to getting the brightest light from a lamp.  First: the glass globe must be clean.  Often the inside needs cleaning more than the outside.  To put all my attention on the outside leaves the globe still dirty.  Second:  the inside of the globe holds smoke from an un-trimmed and mal-adjusted wick. If the wick has not been prepared, it puts off too much smoke.  Third: the wick needs to be in the oil.

When the wick is not properly trimmed and putting off smoke, those looking at the lamp say, “Someone needs to trim the wick.”  They attention is on the wick. When the wick is properly trimmed and adjusted, and the globe is clean, people say, “What a beautiful lamp!” Their attention is on the lamp.

Application:  The wick is like my flesh.  It needs to be in constant contact with the Holy Spirit.  When my attitude needs trimmed, people say, “What’s wrong with Leon?”  When my globe is dirty, people have trouble clearly seeing Jesus.  Their attention is on me.  But when the globe of my life is clean, and the I am full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, and I have a Christ-like attitude, people can see Jesus in me!   Their attention is on Him!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, use your word to keep my life trimmed and in touch with you.  Keep me full of you.  Let me be a lamp that reveals Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 07, 2020: SOAP #3808:  2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Observation:  There was a generation of real people alive when God sent the flood and destroyed the earth except for Noah and those with him on the ark.  There was a generation of real people alive when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire.  There was a generation of real people alive when God, the Son, walked the earth.  There will be a generation of real people alive on the earth when events begin to build toward the end.  There will be a generation of real people alive on earth when the time of the end shall come!

Application:  I might be a part of that generation.  The probability of anyone alive today being a part of that generation is extremely high.  To not take warning is foolish.  To not spread the warning is wasting our time.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, anoint me and flow through me with a warning appropriate for today.  Help me not be foolish nor be wasting my time.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 06, 2020: SOAP #3807:  2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

Observation:  In Psalm 51 David begs forgiveness from God, not on the basis of who David is, but on the basis of who God is.  David did not make excuses for his sin, nor did he beg mercy because he was the king of Israel.  He did not say, “Remember, I killed Goliath.”  David did not say, “I am just a man and she was a beautiful woman, Lord, what did you expect.”  No, David knew sin could be removed because there was something greater than sin. Sin kills.  Sin destroys.  Sin is powerful, but not all-powerful.  There is something stronger than sin.  There is a power greater than the power of sin!   It is God’s mercy, His unfailing love, His great compassion.

Much later one of Jesus disciples would write “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

Application:  David was miserable.  He knew that the death of an animal could never provide an equal payment for his sins.   Somehow God’s “unfailing love and great compassion” would have to come through in forgiving him and washing away all his iniquity.   John, having been a witness to the crucifixion and the resurrected Jesus, understood that God does exactly what David needed.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, John understood what both David and I needed.  I also needed my sins forgiven and cleansing from all unrighteousness.  Thank you for providing what David and I needed.  We receive your forgiveness and cleansing with great thanksgiving.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 05, 2020: SOAP #3806:  2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

King David had sent Joab and the entire army out to fight the Ammonites who had hired the Arameans to help them.  When Job realized that he had an army before him and another army behind him, he took some of the best troops with him to fight the Arameans and put the rest of the army under the command of his brother, Abishai, to fight the Ammonites.  He gave his brother the instructions in the verses above.

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 10:11 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. 12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.”

Observation:  When those hired to help, the Arameans, fled before Joab, the Ammonites also fled before Abishai.

Application:  There are times when the assignment has changed.  It appears much more difficult than first expected.  It seems greater than our ability or strength.  We may have thought it was just the flu, but the test showed COVID-19.   We thought if we could just cut back, but now we are losing our business.  We may have thought we were only behind one payment, but now they are repossessing our car.  Joab’s words to his brother are God’s words to us!  BE STRONG!   BRAVELY FIGHT THE BEST YOU ARE ABLE!  SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR CHILDREN OF HOW TO FACE TROUBLE.   REMEMBER, THE LORD IS GOING TO WORK THIS OUT FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I have committed my life to you and your son Jesus, my Lord.  You are ultimately in control of my life.  I trust you with my past, my present and my future.  You are going to do what is good in your sight.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 04, 2020: SOAP #3805:  2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 18:6 He [David] put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went. ,,,
13 He [David] put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went.
14 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

Observation:  The key to David’s victory was the LORD.  King David was ruling under the favor of God.

The first key to the LORD’s favor was that David was in the center of God’s will.  David did not become king by any selfish ambition.  Samuel had anointed David to be king, and war with the Philistines brought about the death of King Saul.  David was clearly king at the will of God.

The second key to the LORD’s favor was that David treated God’s people with respect.  He did “what was just and right” for those God had placed under David’s authority.  David did not rule for his own benefit, but for the benefit of the people.

Application:   If I want God’s favor, I must allow Him to place me where HE wants me.  And if I want God’s favor, I must fulfill my responsibilities carefully and honorably.  I am not serving myself, but God and those around me.

Prayer:  Lord, it is my pleasure to serve you.  It gives me joy in knowing that my service benefits you and makes you smile.  It is then I know I am walking in your favor.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 03, 2020: SOAP #3804:  2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Observation:  On the walls of corporate offices around the world one can find organizational charts of those in authority.  The President or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is at the top or out front.  All others shown as under or behind the CEO.

In God’s kingdom, the greatest is not the one on top, but the one on the bottom.  The question is: How many people can the leader serve? The greatest is not the one resting in the treetops enjoying the view, but the one from which the roots draw their nourishment.

I once thought it hurtful when people “treated me like dirt.”  But in returning to the farming state of Kansas back in 1989, my attitude changed.  I learned that farmers greatly value their dirt.  The life of the farm depends on dirt.  They have many ways to care for their dirt.  I began to feel honored when the congregation, like farmers, treated me like valuable dirt.

Application:   Jesus turns organizational charts up-side-down.  He puts the most important one at the bottom.  In the kingdom, it is not how many people I can control; it is how many people I can serve.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, love turns into service.  It all starts with my love for you—How can I serve you today?  And in loving those around me, show me how I can serve them today.  May my service today please you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!