December 22, 2021: SOAP #4402:  John 12-14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me, commanded me what to say and how to say it.  50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

OBSERVATION: God’s message had been spoken by the Old Testament prophets.  It had been communicated by dramatized sermons.  It was uniquely communicated with ceremonies and sacrifices through the law by the Tabernacle of Moses.  But never was God’s message to the world more clearly communicated than by the life and ministry of Jesus! 

Jesus put God’s message into flesh.  He communicated it in words and actions.  The Father “commanded [Jesus] what to say and how to say it.”

APPLICATION:  Today, God communicates His message through the church.  He has placed the Holy Spirit in every believer to influence us to live like Jesus—not only with our words and actions, but also with our attitudes.  He tells us “what to say and how to say it.” 

My words are to communicate His truth and my attitudes are to communicate His love!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, work your truth and attitudes into my heart that I not only speak truth from my mouth, but it flows from a heart filled with your love.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 21, 2021: SOAP #4401:  John 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 11:21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. …
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” …
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

OBSERVATION: When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.  Jesus could have healed Lazarus, but now there was no hope—Lazarus had died.  Their faith had reached a barrier over which it could not lift them.  Even with Jesus present, their faith was dead.  They had faith until death but not beyond! 

Jesus called Lazarus back.  He called him to return.  He came back to life, but he needed the grave clothes to be unwrapped.  He returned to a life that would end in death.  Lazarus bounced back from death into the continuation of a life that would end in death. 

What a difference—the resurrection of Jesus.  No one was needed to remove any grave clothes from Jesus.  Jesus did not return to a life that was subject to death.  Jesus did not bounce back; He went all the way through to resurrected, never ending life!   And that is where He takes me!!! 

APPLICATION:  I stand at the coffin of my loved one hoping they will bounce back.  I would love to have them back and share this life with me.  But my faith looks beyond the grave.  They have passed through death to a never-ending life!  I see them enjoying the presence of Jesus.  They are now more alive than they ever were here in this life.  As the baby emerges from its mother’s womb into a bright world full of new experiences, so the believer bursts out of this life through death into a life even more full, and more purposeful, and more exciting than could ever be experienced here!    

Missing them makes me mourn; seeing them by faith causes me to rejoice! 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for faith that reaches beyond death! Amen

Pastor Leon                        
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 20, 2021: SOAP #4400:  John 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:26 … But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

OBSERVATION: The emphasis of John in his gospel is to present Jesus as God the Son.  Jesus died for our sins and desires a current and active relationship with us. 

In the book of John, one of the most important subjects—if not the most important subject—of Jesus’ teachings is “the Father.”  He gives all the credit for His purpose in being present, for His miracles, and for His teaching to the Father.  It is important to Jesus that we come to know His Father. 

APPLICATION:  It blesses the Father when I honor Jesus His Son!  It blesses the Father when I receive the salvation provided by Jesus.  It blesses the Father when I am born again and become a part of the family of God.  It brings the Father great joy. 

It blesses Jesus, the Son, when I honor the Father.  It blesses Jesus when I grow in my knowledge of the Father.  It blesses Jesus when I pray to the Father in the name of Jesus!  It blesses Jesus when I act and talk like a child of the Most High God, when I behave like I am His son! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make me a blessing to the Father by helping me live a life that honors Jesus.  Make me a blessing to Jesus by helping me live a life that honors the Father.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

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! 

December 17, 2021: SOAP #4397:  2Peter 1-3; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

OBSERVATION: Peter had a purpose in writing his letters.  He wants his readers to “recall,” to remember what God has said.  Remembering God’s Word will stir up good thoughts and right thinking!  Peter was not writing to entertain his readers, but to influence their thinking.

APPLICATION:  I am the gatekeeper for my thoughts.  I must be concerned about where my thoughts are focused.

The more I interact with the world around me, the more I tend to think like the world.  Reading and meditating on God’s Word redirects my thoughts and brings them in line with God’s Word.   I have peace as I think and act according to God’s Word.

PRAYER:  Lord, as Peter’s writings “stimulate” me to wholesome thinking, use my writings to “stimulate” others.  Then, Lord, use their writings to “stimulate” their family and friends. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 16, 2021: SOAP #4396:  1Peter 1-5

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

OBSERVATION: In casting something, there is a point when I must release it from my grip.  This verse is not about casting something in my hand, but something in my heart.  It is something that has grabbed the thought process of my mind. 

Knowing that my anxieties are going into His care helps me release them from my control. 

APPLICATION:  I am not releasing my anxieties to the most skilled doctor, but to my Creator God who formed me from dust.   I am not releasing them to the world’s most intelligent lawyer, but to my Omniscient God.  I am not casting my care onto some uninterested god who dwells in the highest heaven.  I am casting ALL my anxiety on the one who loved me enough to die for my sins, enough to hear and answer my prayers, enough to spend every day living in my heart, I know He is inclined to help me! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the more I understand your greatness and the more I understand the greatness of your love for me, the easier it is for me to trust you.  So, I cast all my anxieties on you because you care for me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 15, 2021: SOAP #4395:  James 1-5

SCRIPTURE:  James (NIV) 4:2b You do not have, because you do not ask God.

OBSERVATION: Here is one important reason why we are lacking—we do not ask God! 

God loves us.  God is for us.  God has all power.  God has all the resources we could ever need.  God has proven ability to meet needs.  The Old and New Testament have testimonies of God meeting man’s needs.  The Bible Book Stores have many books with testimonies how God met needs during my lifetime.  One can hear many testimonies of God meeting needs on radio and television.  So why would I not ask God? 

God knows me.  God may have other priorities in my life.  God knows of any hidden sin and bitterness that may need to be eradicated from my heart.  God knows the right timing for the work He has assigned me.     

When God takes too long to answer, I may turn to other sources.  Someone once showed an interest in my ministry so I try to convince them that God will not be able to complete the ministry without their offerings.  Maybe I will use some verses from Paul’s letters about God’s blessings on givers, but he wrote them to thank people for their gifts, not to convince them to start supporting his ministry.                                            

APPLICATION:  When I am doing God’s will, I can trust Him to supply my needs.  When serving in the US Navy, I was sent to Viet Nam.  While there, the US government provided everything I needed.  Surely God is greater than the US government!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you know what I will need to fulfill your plan for me.   I trust your timing for needed provisions. To you goes all the glory!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 14, 2021: SOAP #4394:  Hebrews 12-13; Jude

SCRIPTURE:  Jude (NIV) 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

OBSERVATION:  In this benediction at the end of the short book of Jude there is a wealth of preaching material!!!   The thought that has arrested my thoughts is that we are to be presented “…in the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. “   

What a glorious day that will be—to stand faultless before God.  It will be a humbling experience to know that I am there based on the sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son! 

APPLICATION:  Will I say, “Father, my joy is overflowing as I stand faultless here in your presence.”

Or will Jesus say, “Father it gives me exceeding great joy to present Leon.  He stands faultless because every sin has been accounted for in the sacrifice I made on the cross.” 

Surely both will be true, but Jesus has invested much more than I, so rightfully the greatest joy should be His! 

PRAYER:  Lord, even now may I bring you joy.  May I bring you joy in trusting you.  May I bring you joy in doing as you direct.  May I bring you joy in how I represent you, and how I talk about you.  May you enjoy living in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

December 13, 2021: SOAP #4393:  Hebrews 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

OBSERVATION:  In the small picture, faith progresses through an individual’s life.  They believe God’s word about salvation and their faith life begins.  God’s plan is for their faith to grow through understanding the scriptures applied to life’s experiences. 

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is the BIG picture.  Faith progresses from one generation to the next.  It moves from history to the present, and in verse 40 to the culmination of our common faith.  The faith story will not be complete until we join those who were living by faith when they died.  To fully enjoy what God has planned, they are awaiting our arrival!  They were living by faith when they died; now they are living by faith as they await our arrival.  (Hebrews 11:13)

APPLICATION:  These verses give us comfort in knowing we will be joining our loved ones who have already crossed through death’s door into heaven and are now awaiting our arrival.  These scriptures give us courage to face difficulties, knowing they are all temporary.  They give us inspiration knowing we will be hearing their stories and sharing our stories.  These verses relieve disappointments for not receiving everything I expected in this life…even those already in heaven are awaiting “something better!” 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the more I know you, the easier it is to live by faith.  Your promises are trustworthy, not because I want them to be, but because you said them!  You are trustworthy!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!