September 21, 2021: SOAP #4310:  Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.  The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.  43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter we see that Jesus spoke with authority. (vs: 36)   He quieted demons and commanded them to come out. (vs: 35, 41)   He rebuked a fever which left immediately. (vs: 39)   Of course the people in this community would want him to stay with them, but He had to be obedient to the authority that sent him.  He did not have authority so that he could do what he wanted to do, or what others wanted him to do.  Jesus, living as a man on earth, had authority because he was submitted to the authority of His Father.   The Father had sent Jesus for a purpose.  He had an assignment.   “Sent” is a common word Jesus uses to describe Himself. 

APPLICATION:  Only God has authority because He is worthy.  Any authority I have is delegated authority.  My obedience increases my authority.  If I have trouble being under authority, I will have trouble being in authority.  I am also on a mission; I have also been sent. 

In this chapter we see the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me read God’s word.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me recognize God’s voice.  I need the Holy Spirit to enable me to fulfill the assignment God has given me.  I need the Holy Spirit do His work through me. 

PRAYER: Jesus, may I live in such obedience to you that my words are as true and faithful as your words.  May I walk under AND in your authority!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 20, 2021: SOAP #4309:  Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore, you are feared.

OBSERVATION: 1 We can recall Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish.  Perhaps the psalmist was thinking the same.  We could easily imagine Joseph calling out to God from the pit into which his brothers placed him. Surely that was only the first of many such prayers in the life of Joseph.
2 When we get desperate, we want someone to listen!  Someone has to hear.  We want someone to know and understand what we are going through.
3 God is the perfect judge.  Nothing escapes his scrutiny.  God even judges the heart.  And He knows what we are thinking!  Indeed, the Psalmist was so obviously right: “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?”
4 If we do not appreciate the truth in verse 3, we will not fully appreciate the truth in verse 4. The Perfect Judge is also a Perfect Forgiver!

APPLICATION:  There was one desperate prayer that was not answered.  Even though it tore through the heart of our Father God, he turned away from the cry escaping the lips of His only begotten Son preparing for the agony of the cross.  That prayer was ignored, that my prayer might be answered!  Sin was laid on him that it might be lifted from me! He paid the full price, that I might freely go.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, more than once in desperation I have called out to you.  Though unworthy, I have been the recipient of your forgiveness, your mercy and grace.  I am eternally grateful! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 19, 2021: SOAP #4308:  Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 2:29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, …
How had God promised?  
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

OBSERVATION: Of the many prophecies about the birth of Jesus, this one is personalized to Simeon. 

Simeon had a close relationship with the Holy Spirit.  He walked under the care of the Holy Spirit.  He could be moved and directed by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit personalized the prophecies of the coming Messiah to Simeon. 

APPLICATION:  It is the work of the Holy Spirit to personalize the will of God in my life.  The Holy Spirit convicts me of sin and convinces me of the work of Jesus in salvation.  His presence in my life personalizes the reality of God at work within me. 

He drew my attention to the “as you have promised” in the Bible passages above.  The Holy Spirit raised the question “How had God promised?”  In reading the context I discovered that the Holy Spirit had personalized the promises of the Messiah to Simeon.  And so, the Holy Spirit personalized these verses to me.    

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, your word is so precious to me.  It is amazing as I understand the history in which your word was given.  It is even more amazing when I see how it applies to my life.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for personalizing it to me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 18, 2021: SOAP #4307:  Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

SCRIPTURE:  Luke(NIV) 1:31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus….
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

OBSERVATION:  It was not so much what Mary was to do, it was what was going to happen to her.  It was what God was going to do through her.  There was no way Mary could accomplish what God desired. But God was not depending on Mary’s ability.  He already had a plan!   The plan of God depended as much on the Holy Spirit as it did on Jesus! 

APPLICATION:  I am finding it more and more common for God to give assignments that are beyond my ability to accomplish.  But they are not too big for God to accomplish through me.  God is not depending on me to fulfill His will; He is depending on me to be the avenue through which HE can work. 

God gives me an assignment and like Mary, I may ask, “How can this be?”  And like God told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will empower you.”  Everyone will recognize that what happened was far beyond my ability and they will give glory to God!

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I am depending on you as I write these SOAPs.  Use them for your glory.  Encourage each reader to accept each assignment you give them as a challenge for their faith.  Then empower them to its accomplishment.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 17, 2021: SOAP #4306:  Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Genesis (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

OBSERVATION: Having now come to the final verses of the book of Revelation, the final verses of the New Testament, the final verses of the Bible, we find the Holy Spirit.  The same One present in Genesis 1:2 is here in Revelation 22:17.

There we saw The Speaker, speaking the world into existence.  Here we see The Speaker speaking to His creation.  It is an invitation to join in the fulfillment of the purposes of creation.  God’s plan in creation is fulfilled in the acceptance of this invitation.

APPLICATION:  What a special word—come.  Often it is spoken, “Come here” or “Come with me.”  It is a word of invitation.  It speaks of presence—the presence of the speaker.  The word “Go” speaks of assignment but does not carry the idea of presence of the speaker.  “Come” causes the hearer to focus on the speaker.  Who is it that says, “Come?”  Into whose presence am I invited or with whom will I be accompanying? 

The God of creation is inviting me to come into His presence and to be a part of His plan!  It is beyond amazing!

PRAYER: Yes, Lord, I will come.  Thank you for including me and making me a prat of your plans.  I am humbled by your invitation.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 16, 2021: SOAP #4305:  Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
Revelation (NIV) 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
John (NIV) 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

OBSERVATION: A person planning on going to heaven must make preparations.  We must be born again with our names written in the BOOK OF LIFE.  (See yesterday’s SOAP.)

We see from the verses above, we are not the only ones making preparation.  God, in faith, is preparing a place for us.  He is expecting us to be there.  He is anticipating our arrival! 

APPLICATION:  The Holy Spirit helps me prepare for heaven.  And while I am making preparation for leaving this earth; God is making preparation for my arrival in heaven!  The psalmist got it right: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

PRAYER: Lord, knowing that you are the one making the preparation for my arrival gives me great peace about leaving earth.  Your perfect love casts out all fear about death and dying.  What a day that will be!!!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 15, 2021: SOAP #4304:  Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

 (a prayerful rework of SOAP #2478)

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.  15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Observation:    In “the books,” my deeds may take up one line, or a whole page.  My deeds may be entered on 100 pages.  It makes no difference how many entries there are under my name in “the books.”  The important thing:  is my name written the “THE BOOK OF LIFE.” 

Application:   My SOAP friends, our names are written in THAT BOOK when we are born again.  It is when I open my mouth and confess that I have sinned.  It is when by faith I receive His forgiveness purchased by the death of Jesus on the cross.  It is when I thank him for saving me from the results of my sins.  It is when I confess Him as my Lord.  It is then His Spirit comes to live in my life, and I surrender everything to Him.  With new life in me the purpose of my life changes from pleasing me to pleasing Him.   

Have you been born again?  Is your name written in THE BOOK OF LIFE?  I invite you to pray with me…

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I need a life changing event.  I confess my sins and ask your forgiveness because Jesus, your Son died as payment for my sins.  Holy Spirit, come and live your life in me.  Help me make Jesus my Lord, owner, boss.  May I find true joy in serving you.  And may you find joy in having me as your child.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 14, 2021: SOAP #4303:  Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

OBSERVATION: Jesus told the woman at the well that God was seeking worshippers. (John 4:23) Here a great multitude of worshippers gather around the throne.  

Worship in heaven has several characteristics.  It is unified; everyone participates.  It is loud; like rushing water and loud peals of thunder.  It is enthusiastic; the worshippers were involved in shouting and bowing.  It is God centered; it is directed to the Lamb and the One on the throne.  It is based on truth; satan’s defeat is complete and Jesus is Lord! 

APPLICATION:  I can learn from this description of heavenly worship.  I can set my heart to learn from this example of worship.  I can make sure I am a participator in worship.

The fans in the stadium stands watch their favorite team struggle to win the game. Rather than sitting quietly by, they yell and scream as though the outcome of the game depended on their cheering. So may I praise and “cheer for God” as though the victory depends on my praise!

PRAYER: Lord, you are worthy of my worship. I worship you with my heart, my soul, my mind, and my body.  I am looking forward to joining that great multitude in heaven to worship you. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 13, 2021: SOAP #4302:  Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 34:10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. 11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.

OBSERVATION: Here is God’s solution.  As to the shepherds, He will hold them responsible for the way they handled their assignment.  As to Israel, He will become their Shepherd.  He is not replacing the shepherds with others who will do the same; He Himself will become their shepherd.

The previous verses in this chapter show us what the unfaithful shepherds did; the remaining verses show us what the Faithful Shepherd will do!   In the remaining verses of this chapter, one reads “I” 28 times!  It is very clear just Who is going to be the shepherd and what He will do!

APPLICATION:  It is good to have God for our Shepherd.  Indeed, he is the “Good Shepherd!”  What a privilege to be in His flock! 

In being a part of the flock, I want to be one closest to my Shepherd’s side.

PRAYER: Lord, you are my Shepherd!  As a part of your flock, I want to grow in hearing and recognizing your voice.  I trust you to lead me and provide for me as I follow you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 12, 2021: SOAP #4301:  Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

OBSERVATION: The psalmist was not encouraging his readers to ask God for strength.  He was celebrating their relationship in which God was their strength! 

APPLICATION:  In 2Corinthians 1:3 we read that God is the God of all comfort.  He does not give us comfort; He is our comfort!  As so the psalmist found it true for strength.  Too often I have asked God for strength when I should have moved out in faith that He is with me!  He is my strength! 

If God is MY strength, my weakness is not an issue!   If God is MY strength, my enemy’s strength is not an issue!

PRAYER: Lord, you are my strength.  Your Presence within me enables me and strengthens me to do everything you give me to do. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!