December 19, 2021: SOAP #4399:  John 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me

John (NIV) 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was sent to the earth with an assignment.  He had a purpose.  He was present on earth for the will of another.  His purpose was all wrapped up in pleasing the One Jesus considered more important than Himself—His Father. 

Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (“not my will but thine be done,” Luke 22:42) shows that Jesus did have His own will, but it was totally subservient to the will of the Father. 

APPLICATION:  As Jesus perfectly lived His life to please His Father, now to Him belongs the pleasure of having the members of His body, the church, live their lives to please Him! 

Songs like “Make me more like, you, Jesus…”  and “To be like Jesus…”  are more than just words from my mouth.  They are commitments from my heart.  Calling Him “Lord” is more than something said without thought.    

PRAYER:  It is my pleasure to serve you, Lord.  There is no greater purpose in life than to please you.  May I bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 18, 2021: SOAP #4398:  John 2-4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

OBSERVATION: What a promise Jesus made to the woman at the well.  It all started with Jesus asking her for a drink.  Now He was offering her a drink that would become a “spring of water” on the inside and would result in eternal life!!!   What a promise!    

A spring must have a source from which the water comes.  If a person is going to have a “spring of water” inside, something must be put on the inside that will be the source of that water.  That something is really a someone—the Holy Spirit!  

APPLICATION:  When I receive salvation by faith—trusting that the death of Jesus on the cross is the payment for my sins and surrendering the Lordship of my life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in me.  He is that “spring of water” inside.  Like water, He is my renewing and refreshing that continually restores peace and joy. 

He is the water that flows from me to the dry places around me.  He draws my attention to needs He wants to meet through me.  He puts words of encouragement in my thoughts to be given to those around me.  In many ways He touches others through me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, having you live inside is a great honor.  I surrender to the direction of your flow in and through me.  Knowing that you are working in me gives me great peace.  Knowing that you are working through me gives me great joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!