May 01, 2021: SOAP #4167:  1Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

SCRIPTURE:  1Chronicles (NIV) 14:2 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel…
9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10 so David enquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD answered him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.” 11 So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them….
13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley; 14 so David enquired of God again, and God answered 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

OBSERVATION:  David’s success began in verse 2.  David knew that the LORD had set him as king.  David’s kingship was God’s idea and God’s doing. 

So, when David was faced with the Philistine attack, David knew where to go.  He did not get counsel from advisors and counselors knowledgeable of warfare and the Philistines.  He went to the One Who set him as king. 

APPLICATION: Two problems I see:  First: I lack confidence that I am where He wants.  But when God places me under authority (in a church or at work) it is His will that I submit joyfully “as unto the Lord.”  I need to know that God has me where He wants me and He can get me where He wants me next. 

Second: I often depend on my own strength and wisdom when I encounter trouble.  I depend on others to do what God wants to do.  When I started that ministry, I wanted God to be glorified in my life.  So, God brings me trouble beyond my capability and needs beyond my resources.  He is wanting me to depend on Him.  When the answer comes, only He can get the glory!  Everyone knows it came from God!!!   Oh, yes, I will pray and ask God to supply, but I cannot spend too much time in prayer as I need to be contacting others for help or resources. 

PRAYER:  Lord, if you do not come through, I am going to fail.  But your plan is not my failure but learning to depend on you.   I have confidence that you will be glorified by working through the need before me today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 30, 2021: SOAP #4166:  2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 17:22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

OBSERVATION: When Jesus spoke of the cross, he also spoke of the resurrection.  The disciples were so consumed with the cross, they did not take note of the part about the resurrection.  Instead of hiding, they could have been having a pre-celebration celebration!  They could have been celebrating His promise in preparation for the Celebration of His resurrection!   

APPLICATION: Learning from the disciples:  How many times have I been discouraged because of the hardship I am experiencing.  I should be rejoicing in His promise.  Faith in God’s promise is expressed in my attitude, words, actions while I am going through the difficulty.  It does not take faith to rejoice when the battle is over. 

Learning from Jesus:  when I am talking about the difficulties ahead, or difficulties I am now experiencing, I need to be sure and talk about the promises of God.  I cannot forget the “third day” part of the discussion.  When I speak of my death, I need to speak of the joy of heaven.  I need to speak to my family of the reunion we will have in heaven. 

When I talk with my family and/or friends about caskets, funerals, cemeteries, etc., I certainly need to talk about heaven. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, as you passed through death and returned to our Father, so I will pass through death and join you in heaven.  May my conversation about death always include the continuation of my life in your presence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 29, 2021: SOAP #4165:  2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

OBSERVATION: God was watching over us in the womb.  How wonderfully we were created.  Today, man can place a small camera in the womb to photograph the developing child.  It is amazing! Truly, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

For nine months, we were being prepared to meet the world in which we now live.  Not only was it preparation time for us, but it was also preparation time for our parents. 

APPLICATION:  Now we are living the life for which we were being prepared.  Our parents made ready to care for us and raise us to meet the challenges of life. 

As the womb was preparation for this life, so this life is preparation for eternity!  And as we are being prepared for heaven, so heaven is also being prepared for us.  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us!  (John 14:2)

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, as important was the preparation time in the womb, this life being preparation for eternity is even MORE IMPORTANT!  Holy Spirit, watch over my development.  I am being “fearfully and wonderfully” prepared for eternity!  Use me in this life to help others also prepare for eternity. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 28, 2021: SOAP #4164:  2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 15:35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.
36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children.

OBSERVATION:  The leftovers were the same quality as the meal.  They were prepared with the same hands.   They were not wasted.   They were gathered/picked up.  4000 plus women and children had been fed.  In the light of how many were fed, 7 basketfuls are not much left over.  The leftovers are proof that everyone had enough to eat.  The leftovers are proof that Jesus was more than able to feed that many people!  

APPLICATION:  If Jesus could stretch “seven” loaves and “a few small fish” to feed “four thousand, besides women and children” then surely, He can take the little I have to meet whatever need I have. 

It amazes me when what He provides is exactly what is needed.  But like the good leftovers from yesterday’s dinner, I have often enjoyed the leftovers from God’s provision.  They remind me of His provision and of His generosity in providing more than enough. 

PRAYER:  You are more than enough, more than enough. 
      You are El Shaddai, the God of plenty. 
      The all sufficient One, God Almighty. 
      Jesus you’re more than enough.   (David Ingles)   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 27, 2021: SOAP #4163:  2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 142:7 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:  God cannot be put in a box; and neither can our relationship with God be put in a box.  However, I see worship as focusing on the character and nature of God while praise focuses more on God’s actions.  We worship Him for who He is; we praise Him for what He does. 

APPLICATION: Praise makes us attractive.  Generally, people enjoy being with positive people.  Nothing is more positive than praise.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help me not to miss even one opportunity to give voice to my praise.  May those around me see my life and hear my words.  May what they see (my actions) and what they hear (my words) be woven together to speak your praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 26, 2021: SOAP #4162:  2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 13:31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”

OBSERVATION: A mustard seed, so small, it appears rather insignificant; yet it contains the life of a large plant.  So large that birds can perch on its branches.  The seed could be misjudged by those who do not understand what it contains.

APPLICATION: Some of the seeds God gives us to plant are such small deeds that we can easily misjudge them. Yet when they are done in Jesus name, they contain the life of Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit within impresses us to give a word of encouragement or offer a cup of cold water (or hot coffee).  We may misjudge the seed God wants us to plant in our friend’s life because it seems so insignificant.  Surely no one will notice.  Surely it will not make a difference.  What good can come out of such a small thing?  We may be tempted to skip over the small deed in search of something greater.  Only God can see ahead to know what will come from the tiny seeds we plant today.

PRAYER: Lord, help me be faithful in the little things today. Even if it is only a smile, may it be given in honor of you and for your glory. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 25, 2021: SOAP #4161:  1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 12:34 …For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

OBSERVATION: We may not see the inside of a person, but the inside always finds a way to express itself.  When the Lord is invited into a person’s heart, His presence can be seen in their words, their actions, and their attitudes.  It is hard to hide Jesus in a heart.  It can be seen in their love for God’s word.  And the more they read the Bible, the more of God’s word will be stored in their heart and the more their heart will overflow reveling God’s presence. 

Ministry is the overflow of a heart full of the Holy Spirit. 

APPLICATION: Words of doubt are changed into words of faith.  Words of complaining are changed into words of appreciation.  Words of despair are changed into words of hope. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, fill my heart with your presence as I fill my heart and mind with your word.  My mouth is filled with your praise even as heaven is filled with your praise.  It is your presence the causes heaven to be filled with praise, and it is your presence that causes my mouth to be filled with your praise.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 24, 2021: SOAP #4160:  1Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 11:29 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: How I want to be yoked to the Lord.  Surely that would guarantee success in the burden I am carrying!  If I can just get the Lord into my yoke and help pull the load on my shoulders, then I will not have to struggle so hard, and success will be assured. 

BUT that is not what I see in this verse.  It is not getting the Lord into MY yoke to help with MY burdens.  It is me getting into HIS yoke and using my strength to pull HIS burden. 

APPLICATION: When I am desperately trying to accomplish my goal, when I am passionately trying to get others to help me, I need to make sure I am in HIS yoke and I am working together to accomplish HIS goal. There are  many good causes to which I can be yoked, but the key is to be in the yoke He has prepared for me.

When I am in HIS yoke, I can count on His strength.  No need for desperation when I am yoked to Him and carrying His burden. 

PRAYER: Lord, help me to give up the yoke people have hung on me and to take up your yoke. The yoke on me is yours, and I count on you to accomplish the goal.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 23, 2021: SOAP #4159:  1Samuel 27; 1Chronicles 9; Psalm 141; Matthew 10

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 141:8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge— do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

OBSERVATION: The people around David were setting traps for him. They were intent on destroying him. But the eyes of David’s soul were fixed on the Lord.

David knew the source of the help he needed!  He was not going to let other things pull his gaze from the Lord!  He was not going to be distracted!  His eyes were fixed on the LORD! 

He was not going to look elsewhere for help.  Why waste his time by looking elsewhere for help?  Others may not be able or willing to help, but David knew the LORD to be both willing and able! 

APPLICATION: When I fix my eyes on my problems, they become bigger. They become bigger than they really are. When I fix my eyes on the Lord, He also becomes bigger. But, what a difference! He never becomes bigger than He really is!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you amaze me. However big my problems, you are bigger still.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

April 22, 2021: SOAP #4158:  1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 63:1 A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

OBSERVATION:  God was not a god to David.  He was not just any god.  God was his God!  The God of creation was David’s God!  

How did David communicate to God that David considered Him to be David’s God?  Part of the answer is found in the remaining verses of this chapter. 

First of all, David told Him.  He spoke words of appreciation to God.  He spoke a picture of how much he desired God. Then David backed up his words with action.  He went to the sanctuary, he glorified and praised God.  He lifted his hands and sang praises to God.  He thought about him at night on his bed. 

Surely God knew what David thought of Him.  God did not have any doubts about David.  God knew that David was committed to him.  God knew that David loved Him and considered God to be David’s God!  

APPLICATION:  So, what about me?  Does God know that He is Leon’s God?  What do I do to communicate that truth to God?  What about others…do they know that the God of creation is my God? 

PRAYER:  O God, you are my God. I want my words and actions to demonstrate to you and to others that you are my God.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!