June 12, 2021: SOAP #4209:  1Kings 12; 2Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Philippians (NIV) 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

OBSERVATION: Yes, there is encouragement from being united with Christ!  Yes, there is comfort from his love.  Yes, there is fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  Yes, there is tenderness and compassion. 

Being united with the Creator of the Universe, with the Lord of Glory, with God-the Son, with the One who loved me enough to die for me, with the one who defeated death!!!  Being united with Him—how could I not be encouraged?  He is my eternal source of encouragement! 

What do I face that is greater than the one with whom I am united?  What problem do I face that He cannot solve?  How can I be discouraged when He is with me?

APPLICATION:  Since I am united with Christ, and since I have such encouragement, what am I to do?  I am to encourage others!  I am to be a source of encouragement for others.  I am to point them to Christ, the true source of encouragement.  I am to encourage others to have confidence that God will do for them what He has done for others.  I am to encourage them in the word and to build their faith.   

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, let the Word mix in my thoughts in such a way that I can give understanding and build the faith of SOAP readers.  Increase their faith, I pray.  Help me to encourage them to have faith to take their needs to you instead of man.  Speak to each of us on how you would use us to encourage and help others.  And help us to respond in obedience to your voice more than to the voice of the need. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!