October 05, 2020: SOAP #3959:  Esther 3-8; Luke 18

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Observation:  This is the introduction to Jesus’ teaching about an unjust judge and a woman who would not stop asking for what she needed the judge to do.  He gave her what she wanted because he realized that she would not stop bothering him until he did.  (verses 1-8) Jesus ends with: “7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you; he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Application:  To stop praying before receiving the answer is to give up.  It could show that I do not have faith that God will answer, so I look for the answer from another source.  It could show that my request was not really that important to me.  

Continuing to ask can show that I am desperate; this is important to me.  It can show that I believe that He is the Only One who can grant such a request!   It can show that I believe He is inclined to answer my prayer.  It can be an expression of my faith that it is worth my time to spend in His presence.   

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am so glad that you are kindly disposed toward me.  When the answer is “no” I have confidence that you really do know what is best.  When the answer is delayed, I know it is for my good and your glory.  But until I know the answer, I am going to keep asking.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 04, 2020: SOAP #3958:  Esther 1-2; Psalm 150; Luke 17       

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 17:26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

Observation:  Surely the people of Sodom knew that Lot was living among them.  His uncle Abram with all his company of servants and sheep were not too far away.  And Lot himself had so many sheep that he and Abram had to separate to find enough pasture for their sheep. 

They knew that Lot was in their city, but they did not know that judgment was coming their way.  They did not know that Lot’s presence was the only thing holding it back!  It happened “the day Lot left.” 

Application:  The day the church is taken from this earth also will be a terrible day.  It will be the first day without their righteous influence. Even as we see sin abounding, seemingly in all places, a day is coming when there will be no one under the control of the Holy Spirit to withstand evil.  In the USA one can see the lack of godly influence in the laws being written today, and in the decisions made in our courts.  People publicly calling for the defunding of our police and leaders listening to them, and then passing legislation to withdraw money from the police!  

If the presence of righteous Lot withheld judgment on Sodom, may the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of committed believers do the same for our nations today. 

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, mold me, fill me, use me.  Make me like Jesus! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 03, 2020: SOAP #3957:  Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Observation:  The Bible has much to say about money.  Here Jesus is drawing some conclusions from his story about a rich man and his dishonest manager.  Knowing that he was soon to lose his job, the manager began to work deals with people who owed his master.  He made them good deals hoping that when his job was over, one of them would provide him new employment. 

First lesson:  wealth, available in this life, little or much, can be used to serve people who will be friends when this life is over. 

Second lesson:  how one manages little demonstrates how they will work with much.  Nothing is never too small to use for the Kingdom of God. 

Third lesson:  how one manages the valuable property of someone else reveals how they will manage their own property.

Application:  There is no starting place too small.  If I do not start giving with what I have, what will it take?   If I do not start giving now, when?  The first harvest I reap, may be rather small, but it will be larger than what I sowed.  Then, if I sow what I reap, my next harvest will be greater!  The sooner I start, the faster my harvests will grow.  Now, what do I have that I can invest into my future??? 

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, there is no greater giver than you.  I have benefited from your giving, especially in the giving of your Son, Jesus!  May your giving continue in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 02, 2020: SOAP #3956:  Zechariah 13-14; Psalm 147; Luke 24        

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50  When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Observation:  Jesus is here promising that the same Holy Spirit that had come upon Him when baptized by John would clothe them with power. (Luke 3:22)  The Spirit had descended upon Him in the form of a dove but would come upon them with the sound “from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…and would sit upon them like cloven tongues of fire.”  (Acts 2:1-4) 

The same Holy Spirit would continue the same ministry in the disciples as He had started in Jesus!   

Application:  If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit before beginning His ministry as the Son of Man, how much more do I need the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  If the early church needed to wait in Jerusalem for the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit before obeying the Great Commission, how much more do I need the anointing of the Holy Spirit today! 

What the world needs today is for the church today to be filled with the Holy Spirit, every day.  The world needs Holy Spirit-filled and Holy Spirit-empowered believers living and working next to them every day of the week.  The world needs to meet people filled with the same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus.  They need to meet them in the marketplace, in the schools, in the offices, in every place.     

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me to live every moment of every day full of you.  I surrender my life to be use by You for the glory of Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

October 01, 2020: SOAP #3955:  Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 126:4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Observation:  How encouraging it is to read about a person singing songs of joy and carrying all the sheaves.  We rejoice with him.  We would like to be like him. 

Praise the Lord!  The Lord be glorified!  We can be like him!   We too can sing songs of joy and carry sheaves. But we must start where he started!   We must start by doing some prayerful sowing.  We must sow in faith that a harvest will come.  It may be a sacrifice to set aside seed for sowing.  It may seem more necessary to eat the seed!  But once the seed is eaten, it has no power to reproduce!!!  It has no power to affect the future.  This man was not carrying “seed to eat,” but “seed to sow!”   He went out carrying “seed to sow.”  He returned “carrying sheaves!” 

Application:  We all have opportunity to put the law of sowing and reaping to test.  Remember, seed does not have to be very large.  It always multiplies to more than it started.  And with the increase, we can sow more seed and reap even a greater harvest.  Some feel their seed is so small, that it is not worth it to sow, but that is a mistake.  God can take prayerfully sown seed and multiply it far beyond what one would expect!!! 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, by your Spirit, speak these words to the hearts of those who read this SOAP today.  Show them the seed now in their possession that can be sown.  Assure them that it is not too small to give.  Bless their seed to place it is given.  Multiply their sowing back into their life.  I pray in Jesus Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 30, 2020: SOAP #3954:  Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13    

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 13:14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So, come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” 15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

Luke 12:6  …five sparrows… 7 …you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: …much more valuable you are than birds!
Luke 12:27 “Consider how the lilies grow. …28 …how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

Observation:  Yesterday in Luke 12 we read that people are more valuable than sparrows (verses 6-7) and ravens (verse 24).   God is more inclined to take care of us than He is to care for the lilies and the grass that grows in the field.  Today, in Luke 13 we see that God values man above oxen and donkeys.    

Application:  But there is no greater expression of God’s value of man than can be seen at Calvary!  Is man important?  Just look at the cross!  Yes, consider the ravens…yes, consider the lilies…but most of all, CONSIDER THE CROSS! 

God is so holy, that sin can only be atoned for by sinless blood.  God is so loving that He gave His Son to be that sacrifice.  God thinks that you are worth dying for.  God thinks that you are a good investment.  God has a special place for you in heaven!          

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you gave your only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Thank you for loving me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 29, 2020: SOAP #3953:  Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12    

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew (NIV) 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Observation:  The value of sparrows is exceedingly small—even half a penny!  They are of such little value that if one buys four, a fifth one will be added for nothing.  Yet even the one that brought no price is noticed by God.   “Not one of them (not even the fifth one) is forgotten by God.” 

The emphasis of these verses is on the value God has placed on man!  It is without question that people are worth more than sparrows.     

Application: This past Sunday, Pastor Steven Bishop preached a powerful message about ending life in the womb.  If we understand the development of the life in the womb, we are sinning when we do not speak against this sin.  Killing the life in the womb is illogical.  It is a sin against that which carries the image of God.  It is a sin against the life that God places within man.  It is a sin against the value that God has placed on man.  We would not allow people to treat animals as the doctor treats the baby in the womb.         

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the Bible teaches me what to do with sin.  I acknowledge it as sin.  I confess my part in the sin.  I accept the death of Jesus as payment for my sin.  I thank Him for His forgiveness, invite Him to live in me, and make Him the Lord of my life. This I do.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 28, 2020: SOAP #3952:  Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11     

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 11:11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Observation:  Why is our Heavenly Father so willing to give the Holy Spirit to us? 

Before Jesus began His ministry as the Son of Man He was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descended on Him.  The sinless Son of Man completed His ministry on earth full of the Holy Spirit.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit were active in Jesus. 

If it was important for Jesus to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit, how much more is it important for redeemed people who have a history of sin, be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

The presence, baptism, and anointing of the Holy Spirit is the greatest proof that our Heavenly Father is committed to seeing us live victoriously in this world.  That is why!     

Application:  I need to be committed to developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit so that I can live in joyful victory and be powerful in service.  The Holy Spirit increases the effectiveness of everything I do for the Lord! The Holy Spirit inspired people to write the scriptures and He inspires me as I read the scriptures!       

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, how wise of you to send the Holy Spirit to live in my life when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.  You are obviously committed to my living in victory over sin and the devil!  You have given me the same Holy Spirit that lived in Jesus!  I am so blessed!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 27, 2020: SOAP #3951:  Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10   

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” … 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Observation:  Here is a descriptive phrase that is not necessary for the narrative but gives us insight into the life of Jesus.  He was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit.”  

The Holy Spirit was active in the conception and birth of Jesus (Luke 1:35; 2:25-27).  He was also active in the pre-ministry baptism and temptation (Luke 3:22; 4:1).  Then He was acknowledged by Jesus in the synagogue when Jesus claimed Isaiah was writing about Him (Luke 4:18-21). 

Here in chapter 10 Luke gives us the Holy Spirit as a source of joy in Jesus life.  Jesus is not described as having joy but being “full of joy!” 

Application:  If my goal is to be like Jesus, then the Holy Spirit must be an important part of my life.  Since Jesus life here on earth is to be my example, then I too should be “full of joy through the Holy Spirit!”   

If the joy in my heart arises from the presence of the Holy Spirit, then it should be obvious to others.  It should be a joy that cannot be hidden, a joy that cannot be contained, a joy that spills out all over.   May I be a carrier, and spreader, of great joy!   

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, keep me full of your presence and full of your joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 26, 2020: SOAP #3950:  Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9    

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.  …
6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.… 10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.

Observation:    As the Lord has recently been emphasizing the ministry of the Holy Spirit through Jesus as recorded by Luke, I believe I am to build on what was in SOAP #2594. 

Not all the ministry in the gospels was done by Jesus.  Jesus sent THEM to preach, THEM to heal the sick, THEY departed, THEY went through the towns, THEY preached, THEY healed, THEY returned, THEY reported back.  THEY did what they had seen Jesus doing.     

Application:   Jesus was preparing the disciples for the time He would no longer be with them.  Later in the book of Acts, the church continued the ministry of Jesus.  As Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit, so the early church ministered in that same Spirit.   

The world today is desperate for the church to move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Healings for sick bodies, miracles for food supply, words of knowledge and wisdom to give understanding and direction, tongues and interpretation assuring of God’s presence and His awareness of personal circumstances, and prophecy to build faith that He is ultimately in control.      

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, the world needs you working through God’s people.  My neighbors need you working through me.  Use me as an open channel through which you can continue the ministry of Jesus today.  Flow through me today in little ways. Flow through me, Holy Spirit, flow through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!