March 22, 2021: SOAP #4127:  Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 7:17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches….
20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. …
24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

OBSERVATION: In writing to the church in Corinth, Paul was setting down some general rules of behavior.  He starts off by saying that if you are a Jew, do not try to become an un-Jew, and if you are a Gentile, do not try to become a Jewish.  If you are married, do not seek a divorce.  In the light of eternity, our status or position has no bearing.  Everything will change in eternity, so if you are planning on going to heaven, do not worry about such things.  People who do not know God or understand His plan sometimes have the idea that they must make changes to be comfortable and pleasing for them on earth. 

Yet Paul is saying our status is very important!  We should be content with the way God made us.  To apply Paul’s teaching to today, if we were made male, we should not try to be female.  If we were made female, we should not try to be male.  People may try to change their outside, but no one is able to change their DNA.  Our DNA will always be a witness to how God made us. 

APPLICATION: As opportunity presents itself, it is good to improve my standing, however that should never be done because I am discontent with my present circumstances and how God made me.  (Philippians 4:11-12; Hebrews 13:5) 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, life here is so short compared to eternity.  Knowing that you are with me—knowing that you have something for me to do—changes my perspective of everything.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 21, 2021: SOAP #4126:  Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 11:15 As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

OBSERVATION:  God to Moses, Moses to Joshua.  Joshua received from Moses as though he personally had received it from the Lord.  The truth is that if Joshua could not receive from Moses, he would not have been the leader to follow Moses.  When a person cannot be under authority, they are not qualified to be in authority.  It is proper to note that the same LORD who commanded Moses was the same LORD who helped Joshua!  

APPLICATION:  The same LORD who commanded Moses was the same LORD who helped Joshua, was the same LORD who directed Pastor Dayton Poe to start SOAPs in Generations Church, was the same LORD who directed Pastor Dayton to ask Sharon and myself to do the SOAPs.  I did not want to do my daily devotions in the SOAP format, but that same LORD showed me that I was under Dayton’s authority and I should do as he directed.  Now 11 years and 4,125 SOAPs later, the LORD’s wisdom can be clearly seen. The same LORD is helping me every day to present a fresh word from the LORD. 

The key to progressive ministry is to keep in relationship with the ONE who gave the first word!  The Holy Spirit must give personal revelation to each one. 

PRAYER:  LORD God, you who spoke to Moses and then through Moses to Joshua, you have spoken to me through Dayton and now speak to me each day, and through me to others—and through them to even others!  Holy Spirit, keep me/us to be clean and useful channels through which you can flow!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 20, 2021: SOAP #4125:  Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 69:13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. 17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. 18 Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. 19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced, and shamed; all my enemies are before you. 20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. 21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

OBSERVATION: The Psalmist, King David, was “in trouble.”  Like a man who stumbled into quicksand, He was sinking!  He was desperate for God to hear and answer his prayer!  His enemies treated him with disrespect.  He looked for “sympathy” and “comfort” which should have been provided by his friends.  He found none. He seemed all alone in his trouble, but he knew where to go.

He was sure that God’s love is good, and His mercy is great!  God has eyes; He sees.  God has ears; He hears.  God has hands; He reaches out on behalf of His children doing His will.  David was king at God’s appointment and anointing.  He was confident that he was doing God’s will. 

APPLICATION:  Like Moses called out to God in time of trouble (Exodus 5:32) so David called out to the same God.  Their God is my God!   The God of Moses, the God of David, is the God of Leon.   Why should I take my troubles to anyone else!!! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, when I am needy and in trouble, I know I can come to you!  I know that what you have given me to do is beyond my human abilities; I must depend on you!  I am learning that you want me to depend on you.  You love taking my limitations to demonstrate your greatness.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 19, 2021: SOAP #4124:  Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

OBSERVATION:  It should be clear to everyone that we are servants of Christ.  God has entrusted us with a responsibility.  Faithfully fulfilling that responsibility should demonstrate that we consider it a special privilege to be allowed a position of responsibility in God’s kingdom. 

The second verse above tells us that the person given a responsibility must “prove faithful.”  “Prove faithful to whom?”  There are three to whom we should “prove faithful.”  First, we should prove faithful to those we serve.  Faithfully fulfilling our responsibility should bring benefit to them.  Second, we should “prove faithful” to those with authority.  If we are watching children, we should “prove faithful” to their parents.  If we have responsibility for a church ministry, we should “prove faithful” to the pastor.  We should “prove faithful” to our boss at work.  And third, we must “prove faithful” to God.  He knows our heart.  He knows our intentions.  It is His judgment that matters.  His judgments cover the first and second areas above. 

APPLICATION:  My servant status should not come as a surprise to my friends.  It should be clear that I am a servant of Christ. 

While being faithful comes from my daily life, I see the “proving faithful” comes when I face a challenge that I would rather ignore.  It is so important for me to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I have confidence that He is on my side and wants me to “prove faithful!” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I desperately need your help.  Show me the details of being faithful.  Help me understand what my part may be in every situation.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 18, 2021: SOAP #4123:  Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

OBSERVATION: As we read through this chapter, we can identify several characteristics of “infants in Christ” or “worldly.” First, they are still baby Christians in their understanding of God’s ways and plans for us.  (Hebrews 6:1-2)   They have experienced salvation, but they have not begun the journey of maturing.  Second, jealously and quarrelling indicate selfishness.  Putting others before oneself and forgiveness have not been worked into their character.  And third, they identify with a man more than with God. 

APPLICATION: As an adult, I have much of the responsibility for my spiritual growth.  It is my choice to spend daily time just with the Lord.  It is my choice to meditate on the scriptures.  It is my choice to apply the scriptures to my personal life.  It is my choice to meet with other believers.  Mostly it is my choice to listen to the Holy Spirit. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I need your assistance in becoming a mature believer—one growing in understanding the Word, one putting others before petty jealously and quarrelling, and one whose identity is as a lover of Jesus. Help me, I pray.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 17, 2021: SOAP #4122:  Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 We have … received the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13 This is what we speak, …words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words….
15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,
16 …we have the mind of Christ.

OBSERVATION: My human spirit knows what I am thinking.  My spirit can make me feel guilty when I do something wrong, or prideful when I accomplish a difficult feat.  My human spirit knows my thoughts.  My human spirit sets my attitude. 

What Paul is saying above is that the Holy Spirit knows God even better than my human spirit knows me.  Having the Holy Spirit in me is having the mind of Christ! 

APPLICATION:  For me to mature as a spiritual man, I must grow in allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my thoughts and actions.  The Holy Spirit understands the deepest thoughts of God and can help me understand.  I use my mental skills to become familiar and memorize Bible verses, but to understand those verses, I need the Holy Spirit.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me communicate spiritual truth to others.  I need the Holy Spirit to make judgments—to evaluate things in the light of God’s Word. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, for me to live a life pleasing to you and fulfill the ministry assigned me, I need you to override my human spirit.  Help me to understand truth and to communicate that truth.  Help me keep Jesus Lord of all. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 16, 2021: SOAP #4121:  Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. … 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no-one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

OBSERVATION: Many times, in doing miracles, Jesus gave people an assignment to the one in need.  It is notable that Jesus never gave an assignment that prove how wise or how strong they were.  It was always something simple that they were obviously capable of doing.  It was something to prove their faith.  It was washing the mud out of the eyes.  It was having the people sit down in groups of 50.  It was filling the jars with water.  It was casting their net on the other side of the boat.  No one could mistake that their action caused the miracle.  Jesus was the only one who could receive the glory. 

APPLICATION: When a miracle is needed, the pressure is not on me.  He will give me something that I can do.  It might not make any sense to me; it is not designed to make sense to me.  It is designed to demonstrate my faith in Him.  If I hurry and get presumptuous, I get myself in trouble.  I MUST HEAR from Him.  What He says takes priority. 

God did not choose me because of my abilities.  God did not make a list of my strengths and determine where I could best serve Him.  He does not want people to be amazed at what I can do.  He wants them to be amazed at what He can do!

PRAYER:  Lord, I know you are not counting on me to accomplish your will.  You are counting on me being obedient.  You are counting on me listening to your voice and following your Word!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!    

March 15, 2021: SOAP #4120:  Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

OBSERVATION:  Paul reminds us that he is writing to fellow believers, he calls them “brothers.”  Can Christians sin?  Obviously so, or this scripture would have no meaning.  He is not saying that we “have to” sin, but “if, in case” we sin.

What should happen in the church when a believer sins?  We should never speak to anyone else until we have first talked to the offender!  Here Paul tells us to “restore him.”   Jesus instructed us that when we are witness to a sin, we are to go personally to that person and confront them with what we witnessed.  (How wise it was for Jesus to instruct us to go to that person first.  It may be that we have the facts wrong, and we save ourselves embarrassment.  It could be that the person will repent upon being confronted and thus save themselves embarrassment. Matthew 18:15-17)

This instruction is given to those who are spiritual.  It will be easier for the offender to receive correction from one who is spiritual If a person in truly spiritual, they will be sensitive, understanding the desire of the Spirit to restore rather than tear down. 

The goal is restoration!  One should keep in mind the story of our Good Shepherd who left the 99 to restore the 1 to the flock.  Some people might be so jealous for the purity of the church that they are too willing dis-fellowship the offender.

Restoration is to be done gently, in love—love for God and for the person needing restoration.  We must remember how much Jesus loves this person—how much He was willing to pay for their soul.

APPLICATION: Even the spiritual must remain alert so that the enemy will not be able to take advantage of this situation and cause them to fall.   They could be tempted by pride in that the Spirit was able to use them in such a wonderful way.  They could be tempted to tell others and become gossips.  They might even be tempted with the same sin. Just keeping in mind that we might be tempted makes us work to correct others in a way we would like to be corrected ourselves.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, in these matters, may the love of God flow through me and may your wisdom guide me. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 14, 2021: SOAP #4119:  Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

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:  Some believers take the point of view that Christ belongs to them.  He was the one crucified for their benefit so now everything is going well.  Although there is some truth in that concept, Paul clearly does not hold that point of view.  Rather than Christ belonging to Paul, Paul belonged to Christ!!!  Paul’s writings and ministry show that Paul suffered many things in fulfilling the Lord’s calling.  (Acts 9:15-16)

Jesus lived a life of self-sacrifice that led to the cross.  The cross was in keeping with His life.  The same can be said of the apostle Paul.  (Note 2Corinthians 11) 

APPLICATION:  Christ does not belong to me; I belong to Him!   Christ does not exist to fulfill my desires and to make life easy for me.  No, my love for Jesus causes me to crucify my old nature—put away my desires and passions.  Pleasing God is more important than pleasing myself.  I have found that the more I belong to Jesus, the more I appreciate that He belongs to me!!!

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to claim the first part of verse 24.  I want it to be true that I belong to you.  Holy Spirit, help me to live out the second half of that verse.  I live by your presence in my life and it is my desire to “keep in step” with you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

March 13, 2021: SOAP #4118: (re-worked #1926) Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

OBSERVATION: At the proper time, and with a proper ceremony, a wealthy landowner would free his son from the supervision of a guardian to be recognized as a son with the full authority belonging to a son.  And so, there was a proper time when God sent His Son Jesus to free us from the requirements of the law.  God’s people would enter a new aspect of relating to God, not as children needing the protection of the law to keep them from sinning, but as sons and daughters in whom God’s Spirit lives, directing their every thought and deed.  This is so much better!

APPLICATION: Now is the “proper time” for me to be led by the Spirit of God.  Now is the proper time for me to expect the Holy Spirit to speak to me.  When things do not go as I planned, I should be expecting that the Spirit will show me what He has planned.  Instead of being disappointed, I should be excited to discover His will.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, this is the day, this is the time for me to walk and talk with you.  Please keep working with me until I easily recognize your Presence, your voice, and your direction.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!