July 12, 2021: SOAP #4239:  Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 12:1 In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4 In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

OBSERVATION: In this short psalm of praise, we see that what God did for Israel was meant to be broadcast to the world.  It was not just for Israel’s benefit.  They received the blessing of God’s goodness, but there was a blessing for God too!  They were to make the works of God well known “among the nations” and in “all the world.”  

APPLICATION:  I too have a debt of gratitude.  I too have things to share with the world.  I too need to make God look good by the things I say about Him. 

PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for the times I did not take the opportunity to make you look good.  You have done so much for me.  The first thing I should do is thank you.  The second thing I should do is to tell someone!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 11, 2021: SOAP #4238:  Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 8:10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

OBSERVATION: The first covenant centered around laws written on tablets of stone. We call them the Ten Commandments.  Motivation was very self-centered — there was a reward promised if it was kept.  AND there was punishment promised if it was broken. 

The New Covenant is not written on stone tablets, but on hearts of flesh.  Jesus’ forgiveness removes the fear of punishment.  AND His Presence is better than the rewards.  The more we know Him the more we love Him. Our motivation changes from selfishness—the fear of punishment and hope for reward.  Our motivation changes to love.   Once we were being forced into a mold by an outside influence; but now we live to please Him because we love Him.

APPLICATION:  How can I not love the One Who loved me so much that He took my penalty.  It is my desire to please him — to bring joy to His heart, to bring a smile to His face.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, to live my life in honor of your Son who died in my place, to please you and to make you smile; this is my daily goal.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 10, 2021: SOAP #4237:  Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7 (Reworked from 2014—too good not to repeat!)

Scripture:    Hebrews (NIV) 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.    

Observation:   What a difference!!!  The law could tell what was done wrong and give a token penalty offering, but it could never change the heart.  It is the heart from which our actions proceed.  But Jesus can save COMPLETELY.  He makes an acceptable sacrifice to more than cover the penalty for sin, AND by His Spirit He lives inside, working to change the heart!  Wow!  

Application:   The sacrifice of the dying Jesus is more than sufficient to pay for all my sin!  The presence of the living Jesus is more than sufficient to establish victory in my daily life.      

Jesus’ sacrifice fills my need for my past; His life within fills my need for my present; His promises fill my need for my future!   For sure, Jesus is my everything!

Prayer:   Lord, thank you for understanding my weaknesses and knowing how to be what I need.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 09, 2021: SOAP #4236:  Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.

OBSERVATION: It is customary that when someone has been called as a witness in a court, they lay their hand on a Bible and swear to speak the truth.  It is recognizing that God’s Word is true and promising that their testimony will be as true as God’s Word.  It is confessing that God’s word is the ultimate authority and that we will all answer to Him. 

God desired His word concerning the Jewish nation and Abraham’s descendants come with the highest authority:  the authority of the unchanging plan, and the authority of a sworn statement made by God. 

APPLICATION:  The foundation for my hope is God’s eternal plan and His words of promise.  His plans and His promises come from a Holy God who cannot lie.  They are trustworthy.  As Edward Mote wrote in 1834, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”  God went to great personal sacrifice to give me hope! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am never without hope.  My hope even reaches through death’s door to find it’s fulfillment in eternity.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 08, 2021: SOAP #4235:  Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 5:1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. … 4 No-one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. …
5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”…
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

OBSERVATION: The high priest who served in the Tabernacle of Moses represented the people before God. In keeping with His holiness and perfect justice, God required that the high priest be chosen from among those they represented. They had to understand those they were representing.

And so, when the Perfect High Priest came, He was born in a manger and grew up among men.  He was tempted in every way as were those whose sins He would carry on the cross to die.  He was tempted but did not sin.  Since he grew up and lived among men, He understood the temptations and trials of life.  Since He had no sin for which to pay, His sacrifice is accepted as the payment for my sin!

APPLICATION:  I have a High Priest who understands me.  He knows what it is to be tempted.  And since He overcame temptation, He can help me overcome temptation. 

He lived a victorious life, and the life He now lives in me is a victorious life!  The life He now lives in me has already overcome death!   His life has already been in the grave and been resurrected.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help me to live in the victory of Jesus.  Keep fresh in my mind what Jesus had done for me.  Keep me aware that Jesus lives in me. Keep reminding me that the resurrected Jesus is living in me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 07, 2021: SOAP #4234:  Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.

OBSERVATION:  The rest that the Israelites missed was the truth that we are not granted entrance to the kingdom of God, nor heaven, based on our works.  We “rest” from our words and depend totally on His work (on the cross.) 

I must stop depending on my own works to make me good enough for heaven.  I must depend wholly on Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins.  It must be mixed with faith.  It is by faith that I receive His work as mine.  Until I believe it was for me and the benefit is mine, it has no power to prepare me for heaven and to change my life.

APPLICATION:  God responds to faith.  He wants to be believed.  It blesses Him when He sees me talking and acting as though what He has said is true!  My faith springs from God.   I believe He loves me.  I believe His word is true.  I believe He keeps His promises.  My faith is based on His Word. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for being so believable.  The more I know you, the easier it is to believe you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 06, 2021: SOAP #4233:  Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house….
5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

OBSERVATION: The Jewish people had (and have) great respect for Moses, and rightfully so.  Moses led them out of Egypt and across the dessert for 40 years.  But as much respect as they had for Moses, they should have even more for Jesus!  

Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, caring for God’s people.  Jesus is so much more!   Moses was a servant IN God’s house, but Jesus is the faithful Son OVER God’s house!   

Moses sinned and needed forgiveness; Jesus never sinned and provides forgiveness.  Along with all the other Israelites, Moses needed a lamb to cover his sins; Jesus is the Lamb!

APPLICATION:  The application for this passage is found in the first verse: “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”

Jesus is to be a permanent part of my thought life.  I should consider His feelings as He participates in everything I do.  Since I have invited Him to live in my heart as the Lord of my life, everything I say and do affects Him.   

PRAYER: Lord, you are the guest in my life that always has the place of honor.   I want you to enjoy living in me.  May my words and actions bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 04, 2021: SOAP #4232:  2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

OBSERVATION: God is the reason for everything.  It was for His glory that Jesus came to die on the cross.  God desired a family of sons and daughters just like His Son, Jesus, so He “planted” Jesus as a seed to bring forth a harvest of many just like Him. 

Jesus was perfect in who He was.  He was the perfect Son.  He was perfect God.  He was perfect man.  He had to be born as a man.  He had to live as a man.  He had to endure the limitations of being human.  He was perfect in every way but one.  He was not the perfect sacrifice for sin until he had suffered and been crucified. 

God took no shortcuts in dealing with sin.  Sin can only be satisfactorily covered with the blood of a tried-and-true perfect sacrifice. 

APPLICATION:  God’s plan is that people join Him in ruling and reigning in glory.  But sin had separated us from that possibility. Hallelujah, God knew what we needed.  And God was willing to pay the price! 

PRAYER: Lord, you were the perfect sacrifice for sin.  You took the assignment from the Father willingly and fulfilled it perfectly.  You provided for our greatest need, the forgiveness of sin.  We trust you to continue provide for our needs.  And we want you to be able to trust us to live in honor of your sacrifice.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 04, 2021: SOAP #4231:  2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 1:10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

OBSERVATION: In this passage we see the temporary nature of “the earth and the heavens.”  They are like a good shirt or pair of pants; the earth and the heavens will wear out and need to be changed. 

But what a difference is seen in God the Son, the creator of the earth and the heavens.  The earth and the heavens will “wear out” and “be changed,” BUT NOT THE SON!   He remains!  There will never be an end to HIS years!  

How illogical to worship creation as the creator!

APPLICATION:  These verses make me better appreciate the ONE who has made me His dwelling place!  Knowing that He is in me should make a big difference in how I talk and act.  Knowing that He is ALWAYS with me should make a big difference in how I talk and act when I am alone, for I am never alone!  

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are amazing.  You deserve my attention, my loyalty, my service, and my worship. You are worthy of my all.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 03, 2021: SOAP #4230:  Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs… 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”…
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

OBSERVATION:  The revelation of God’s majesty and holiness brought an awareness of the prophet’s sin and the sin around him.  The removal of guilt and forgiveness of sin brought the ability to hear “the voice of the Lord.” 

APPLICATION:  Our nation is struggling under the weight of sin.  We are in the harvest season and many of us do not like what we are reaping!  But this is only the beginning of the harvest.  We have only begun to harvest the borders of the field.  The whole field is full of things that dishonor God!  When God’s people see the holiness of God, we will cringe at the wickedness of what is around us.  When the Holy Spirit touches us, we will hear the voice of God.  We will rise up and go forth like a mighty army, but the nation will not change.  Out of a nation headed for judgment, God will reap His harvest, His church. 

The darkness of our environment will make the glory of God shine even brighter!  

PRAYER: Touch me, Holy Spirit.  Then touch through me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!