(Most taken from past SOAPs)
SCRIPTURE: 1Corinthians (NIV) 1:9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
OBSERVATION: In this letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes of a great struggle he had to endure. It was not pleasant It pushed him beyond his own capacity to endure. It appears Paul wished he could die. How did he make it through? He quit relying on his own strength and ability. He depended on God. God had enough power to raise the dead; God had enough power to get Paul through.
Paul remembered how God had delivered him in the past. God was with him so Paul had confidence that God will deliver him from the present trouble. And the God who delivered Paul in the past, and is delivering Paul in the present, is the same God who will deliver Paul from yet unknown perils in the future!
APPLICATION: What God has done in the past gives me faith for the future. What I know about the past builds my faith for the future. What I have experienced of God’s grace prepares me to expect His grace in the future! It is my confident expectation that God will not change and will continue to deliver me. I must always face forward. I must face the future, but I must not forget the past. As I look to the future, I remember the past! To move into the future without the lessons of the past is foolish.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I remember singing “Constantly Abiding, Jesus is mine. Constantly abiding, rapture divine. You never leave me lonely, You whisper O, so kind, ‘I will never leave thee,’ Jesus is mine!” Thank you for your continuous presence! Amen
Pastor Leon
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