August 22, 2021: SOAP #4280:  Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother….
18  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth….
21  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God  22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him….
24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

OBSERVATION: When the emergency medical technicians arrive at the scene of an accident, they begin by checking for key vital signs; they feel for a pulse and check for breathing.  Vital signs are not life, but they are expressions of life.  Physical life always finds some way to express itself. 

The same is true for spiritual life.  The presence of God’s life within a person cannot be hidden for long. 

APPLICATION:  I am saved by faith.  I cannot do enough works to earn my salvation.  It is a gift of God that I receive by faith!  That basic truth is the foundation which is followed by another truth.  Saving faith grows.  It finds ways of expression in what I do.  I do what it right; I love our brother; I obey His commands; I do what pleases Him.  Faith without works is dead!  (James 2:20 & 26) The proof of saving faith in my life is in my living.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the proof of my faith, and of your life in me, can be seen in my living.  I want the love and holiness of your presence to find expression in what I do and say.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 21, 2021: SOAP #4279:  Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 2:4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

OBSERVATION:  In every walk of life, actions are the proof of belief!  People often speak of their beliefs.  People believe in airplanes.  People believe in medicine.  People believe in many things they cannot explain, and their actions are proof of their belief. 

We speak of religion as belief.  But the verses above state very clearly that Christianity is more than a belief.  It is a way of life.  It is walking “as Jesus” walked.   

One’s actions do not turn into belief; but real belief turns into action; and the actions become proof of the belief.

APPLICATION:  If I am going to take these scriptures to heart, learning about Jesus is very important.  I must do more than believe in Him; I “must walk as Jesus did.”  Walking as Jesus is so important that four books in the Bible are dedicated to telling us how Jesus walked.  Especially Matthew, Mark, and Luke are very similar.  Repetition is God’s way of saying, “This is important!”  “Look at this!”  “Do not miss this!” 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, Jesus said you would teach us about Jesus and help us remember what He said.  Work with me to make me more like Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 20, 2021: SOAP #4278:  Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

OBSERVATION: Here is one of the biggest words in the Bible.  The meaning of whole passages swings on this one, two—lettered word.  It is a word found through out the Bible.  It sets the condition of the promised reward, or the promised judgment.  …IF…

APPLICATION:  At times I like to take the passage of scripture following the “if” and claim it as applying to me.  But the promise is true only IF I fulfill the condition. 
“IF” I confess my sins… 1John 1:9, 2Chronicles 6:37-38
“IF” I forgive my brother… Matthew 6:14
“IF” I abide in him… John 15:7
“IF” I ask anything according to His will… 1John 5:14
…and many, many, many others!  
Sometimes I memorize what follows the “if” and quote it when it fits my need, but God is not obligated to answer those prayers.  I need to align my life with the whole counsel of God!

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, show me the conditions to be met when I need your help.  May my life be one you enjoy blessing because I enjoy doing those things that please you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 19, 2021: SOAP #4277:  Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 21:19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus had just talked to Peter about how Peter would die.  Peter wanted to know how John would die. 

In all the ways God deals with us, He does it personally.  He treats us as individuals.  We will be rewarded as individuals. 

APPLICATION:  That another believer has a more difficult life, or easier, should make no difference in my relationship to God.  Living in a beautiful home, or homeless, makes no difference.  I must keep my eyes on Jesus!  Living in freedom or under oppression makes no difference.  I must follow Jesus. 

What God is preparing for us far surpasses anything we have here on earth; it will make all our differences seem small.  Everyone in heaven will be rewarded for faithfulness.  My focus must be on where God has placed me and using what God has made available to me.  I must be faithful in whatever opportunity God has provided for me to serve Him. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, what a great privilege to be a part of what you are doing in the earth today.  Thank you for the opportunities to serve You and others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 18, 2021: SOAP #4276:  Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

OBSERVATION:  Matthew presents Jesus as King to the Jews.  Mark presents Jesus as the Perfect Servant to the Romans.  Luke presents Jesus as the Perfect Man to the Greeks.  And John wrote to present Jesus as God to the church.

During His time on earth, Jesus usually referred to Himself as the Son of Man, however he never denied or tried to correct being called the Son of God.  Everyone could see that Jesus was a man-child of a woman.  John, and others, came to see Jesus as much more.  Jesus is the Promised Messiah, the Christ.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  John wrote to present Jesus as the life-giver for those who believe in Him. 

APPLICATION:  Through my life, I am to present Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God” so that others can believe and find “life in His name.”  My life is to be a letter for people to read. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may YOU be the first thing people think about when they think of Leon.  I want my life to be a letter that YOU write to the people who know me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 17, 2021: SOAP #4275:  Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 19:10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

OBSERVATION: Pilate claimed to have the power to free or crucify Jesus.  But when it came to his opportunity, Pilate was unable to set Jesus free. 

He could not free Jesus because there would be a riot by the Jews who were demanding crucifixion.  The Jews claimed that Pilate would not be a friend of Caesar if he let Jesus go.  There was a lot of pressure on Pilate. 

But greater than the pressure from man, was the divine will of God.  It was God’s will for Jesus to be crucified.  There was no other one who could die as payment for man’s sin! 

APPLICATION:  In Pilate, I see a parallel to our president.  I wonder why he does not take any action to stem the tide of undocumented people coming across our southern border.  It seems his hands are tied.  I believe his hands are tied by the same power that stopped Pilate from setting Jesus free. 

God is judging America for the sin of abortion.  As God called the animals to come to Noah’s ark, as God has called Jews to return to Israel, so God has called for an army of people to walk into the United States. 

There is only one thing man can do to stop God’s judgment: repent.  Judgement is a holy God’s response to sin; forgiveness is a loving God’s offer to those who repent. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the violence of the abortion clinic has spilled out into the streets of America.  We repent and turn from our wicked ways.  (2Chronicles 7:14) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 16, 2021: SOAP #4274:  2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

SCRIPTURE:  2Kings (NIV) 24:2 The LORD sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him. He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, 4 including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.

OBSERVATION: The God of the Old Testament remains the same in the New Testament.  He is just as holy.  Although we do not live under the law given to Moses, we can see the character of God expressed in those laws.  The shedding of innocent blood is the killing of those that carry the image of God.  The judgment brought to Israel was in the form of Babyloian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders invading Israel. 

APPLICATION:  There can be no more innocent blood then the blood of 70 million babies who were being formed in the image of our Creator.   

When I asked God what he was going to do, He told me he would bring into our country one illegal alien for each aborted child.  If we were being invaded by an army, we would set up our tanks and troops with their weapons at our border.  But the army of God bringing His judgment into the United States is not armed with weapons of war.  This army consists of children and adults of the same age as our aborted children would be.  According to news reports, the Lord has armed them with COVID which they carry to their destinations.  Also, hidden within this army and its activities are those carrying drugs into our land. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we must not forget that you are just as holy as you are loving.  Now in judgment, remember mercy.  (Isaiah 30:18)   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 15, 2021: SOAP #4273:  Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 17: 25 [Jesus praying] “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
26 I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

OBSERVATION: The priority of Jesus time on earth was to the Father.  He was here to do the Father’s will.  He was here to make the Father known.  He gave parables about the Father.  He taught about the Father.  In the hearing of His disciples, He prayed to the Father.  In prayer He talked to the Father about the disciples, and about their disciples, and about their disciples, all the way to me!  

Jesus not only revealed the Father to His disciples, He promised to continue to reveal the Father. 

APPLICATION:  My knowledge of the Father, and my relationship with the Father, is a life-long learning process.  As long as I live, I expect to be growing in my knowledge of God.  And when I cross death’s valley into the life of eternal day, my learning of the Father will greatly increase!  Death will be a great mind-expanding experience!  

Jesus, living in me, makes the Father my priority also.  In living a life like Jesus, knowing the Father and talking to the Father becomes a priority. 

PRAYER: Lord, you have revealed our Father and taught us to pray to Him.  In coordination with the Holy Spirit, you continue to reveal Him to us.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 14, 2021: SOAP #4272:  Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete….
26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

OBSERVATION: This was a key time in the life and ministry of Jesus.  In His teaching, he had been leading up to this time.  He had taught them about His Father, which is Our Father.  In this chapter, I see Jesus transferring the relationship He had built with the disciples to a relationship they would have with the Father. 

The One who loved the world and gave His only Son to be the sacrifice for sin—now He loves them personally because of their love and commitment to His Son, Jesus.  He would respond to their requests as Jesus had. They had been bringing their needs to Jesus; now they were to bring them to the Father.  Jesus tells them to ask “in my name!”  The Father would be favorably inclined to hear and answer such prayers! 

APPLICATION:  When I come to the Father “in Jesus name,” I am there to do His business.  I am there as He would be there.  I am requesting what He would be requesting.  I am praying according to His will.  I am not requesting something to use for my own desires.  (James 4:3)

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for giving me your name to use in my prayers.  Heavenly Father, how special to know that you love me.  How special to know that you aware of my love for your Son, Jesus.  Thank you for the Holy Spirit and how He ties this all together.  I am blessed!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 13, 2021: SOAP #4271:  Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John (NIV) 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John (NIV) 15:16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

OBSERVATION: Gifts can be hung on a tree by anyone.  The gifts tell us nothing about the tree.  Fruit is so different!  The fruit is an expression of the life in the tree.  A dead tree bears no fruit.  The nature of the tree is expressed in the fruit.  The branch that bears fruit does so only as it is attached to the tree. 

APPLICATION:  My life bears fruit and glorifies God only as I am attached and have His life flowing through me. 

Fruit helps those around me to see that Jesus is living in me.  Kindness and love are at a deeper level than people expect.  When they see the fruit from the presence of Jesus, they are more open to my witness of Jesus. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, our fruit pleases you.  Through the fruit in our lives, you can see that the sacrifice of Jesus is still having a great affect in the world.  You can see that we are His disciples!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!