September 25, 2020: SOAP #3949:  Ezra 2-3; Luke 8    

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 8:1 After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

Observation:  As I was reading this chapter, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to the last phrase in the first verse (above).  “The Twelve were with him…”   Being “with Him” in verse 9, I see that they were able to ask Him questions about His parables.  Then one day (verse 22), Jesus said, “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.”  Being “with Him” they saw Him still a storm (verse 24) and cast demons out of a man (verse 29). 

It is amazing what they learned when they were “with him!” 

Application:  As I was considering the above, I heard Jesus say, “People are often more interested in me being with them then they are in them being with me! They want me to participate in what they are doing rather than participating in what I am doing.” 

Maybe I should change the word to: “And I walk with Him, and I talk with Him.  And I tell Him He is my Lord.  And the things I learn as I walk with Him, by reading from His Word”        

Prayer:  Lord, the more I know you, the more reasonable it is for me to fit into your plans rather than try to make you fit into my plans.  Forgive me for putting my desires above yours.  How inconsiderate of me.  You are worthy and must be number 1 in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 24, 2020: SOAP #3948:  Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7      

Note: SOAP from 2013/2018.  I receive multiple requests for money every day via Facebook.  The Lord has showed me that He would use me to help increase people’s faith in God to provide.  God can use other believers, or unbelievers, or provide through a miracle.  In whatever way He provides, our faith grows in Him, and our relationship of trust also grows.  This is a day for FAITH! 
The life of George Mueller (1805-1898) and his orphanages attest to God’s provision.  After being clearly assured of God’s perfect will, George Mueller, without asking anyone else, prayed in the support for ten thousand orphans.  He refused to tell anyone his needs, only God.  

Scripture:  Ezra (NIV) 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: (especially verses 5 -7)

Observation:  God had moved the heart of King Cyrus to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem.  In verse five God moved on the hearts of some of the Jews to move back to Jerusalem to do the work.  They did not organize a fund raiser or beg for money.  The same God who moved the heart of King Cyrus was the same God who moved their hearts to go.  And the same God worked in the hearts of their neighbors to assist by giving.   God covers all aspects of HIS projects.

Application: From personal experience, I know God pays for what He authorizes.  If the vision is MINE and is WHAT I WANT TO DO for the Lord, then I may have to struggle to find the money.  But when the vision is HIS and is WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO for Him, then I can rest in faith that He will provide.  When it is His vision, the pressure of finances is not on me, and I do not have to put pressure on others.   I can obey with the expectation of His supply.

Prayer:   Lord, you are the same God who moved the heart of the pagan king Cyrus.  You are the same God who moved the Jews to go and to give.  You are the same God who provided for George Mueller.  And you are with me!!!  And you will provide for me to do your will!  Amen

Pastor Leon – Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 23, 2020: SOAP #3947:  Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Observation:  God is who He is because of who He is!   He is not who He is in response to man.  He always remains true to who He is.  He is gracious and benevolent.  Yet He is completely holy.  He does not stop being holy to be “kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” 

Nature is full of expressions of God’s love and goodness.  Yet His kindness is most clearly seen in the cross of Jesus. 

God’s standard is perfection.  He maintains perfection because He is holy.  He imparts holiness to us as we acknowledge that it was our sins for which Christ died on the cross. 

Application:  Every day of creation, God pronounced it “good!”  When Adam and Eve sinned, God removed them from the garden, but not from creation.  Though sinners, they were allowed to live among the many expressions of God’s goodness.  Our sinful ways have brought turmoil to things in nature, but God still lives here with us.  He is still “kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”      

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, the many expressions of your kindness amaze me.  I see your kindness in creation, in your intervention in my life, in your working in my circumstances—just everywhere.  Your goodness gives me much for which to be grateful!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 22, 2020: SOAP #3946:  Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5   

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 5:17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.

Observation:  Although the Holy Spirit is not specifically mentioned here, it seems clear to me that the “power” is not His own power for that would have always been with Him. To me, this is referring to the Holy Spirit that came on Him when baptized by John, and of which He spoke in the synagogue in Luke 4:18.

The gift of healing is definitely one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 12:9).  Jesus’ ministry was marked by notable healings and miracles. 

The power to heal was noticeably present, so much so that it is recorded in the scriptures. 

Application:  It is a powerful moment when I become aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a moment filled with possibilities. It is a moment when I expect God to do what only God can do.  It is a moment when my human limitations give way to divine possibilities. It is a “nothing-is-impossible” moment when hope drives out despair. It is a moment for my faith to soar.  I am Holy Spirit activated! 

I must remember that Jesus was walking with/in the SAME Holy Spirit who brings salvation into reality in my life and anointed me for service when I was Spirit baptized.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, dwell in me as you dwelt in Jesus.  Flow through me as you flowed through Jesus.  Anoint my life for the glory of God!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 21, 2020: SOAP #3945:  Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 4: 1 ¶  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

14  Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,…21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Observation:   Luke continues his emphasis on the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Obviously, this was a major factor in the ministry of Jesus.  Although Jesus did not stop being God, He laid aside His deity to live and die as a sinless man.  His sinless death provided forgiveness of sin for those who put their faith in Him.  The Holy Spirit empowered the ministry of this One who called Himself the “Son of Man.”  Note Luke’s record in verses 32 and 36 of this same chapter. 

Application:  The life of Jesus on earth is the perfect example of following the leading of the Holy Spirit and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit flow through Him.        

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, find in me open ears to hear what you are saying and a willing heart to do as you lead.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 20, 2020: SOAP #3944:  Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 3:16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Observation:   Here in chapter three, Luke continues to tie the ministry of Jesus with the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Luke is here quoting John the Baptist who was a forerunner of Jesus, sent to prepare the people for Christ’s coming and to introduce Jesus to Israel. 

In Acts 1 and 2 we can read of the fulfillment of this prophetic word.  On the day of Pentecost, those gathered in the upper room were all filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking praises to God in unlearned languages, with what appeared to be tongues of fire on each one’s head.  Peter addressed the onlookers and referred them back to the words of the prophet Joel.  He could have also referred them back to John the Baptist words as recorded by Luke.    

Application:  Every time in the book of Acts when people were initially filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke in other languages.  Of course, once filled with the Holy Spirit, they went on to other Spirit-led ministry.  However, those gathered on the day of Pentecost is the only time we read about the tongues of fire.  

From personal experience, I have found the Holy Spirit is not tongues of fire on my head, but a burning flame in my heart.  He stirs my love for Jesus and sparks boldness in speaking for my Lord.        

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptize us into you for your anointing and empowerment.  Use me to bring glory to Jesus, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 19, 2020: SOAP #3943:  Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Speak through me, Holy Spirit, speak through me!

Scripture:   Luke (NIV) 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Observation:   As in the preceding chapter, here again we see the Spirit’s work resulting in “speech” evidence. We see both praise and prophecy coming from Simeon.  When we think of the nine gifts of the Spirit (1Corinthians 12:7-10), most of them are linked to the tongue.  The gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy are directly expressed through speech.  The word of wisdom and the word of knowledge often are revealed through appropriate words of direction or understanding.  Think of the many times Jesus activated the gifts of healing and miracles through His spoken word.       

Application:  As I interact with others, and as I write these SOAPs, the Holy Spirit wants to use my speech, and words, to minister God’s grace to others.  He brightens my thoughts and empowers me to communicate those thoughts.    

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, you anoint me as you reveal what you want me to write.  I pray you anoint those who read these SOAPs.  Use the SOAPs to speak words of your grace to each reader.  Give each reader faith that you want to speak through them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 18, 2020: SOAP #3942:  Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 1:15 [angel speaking of John] for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. …
35 The angel answered, [to Mary] “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….
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit….
67 His [John’s]father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Observation:   The Holy Spirit had a major role in the life and ministry of Jesus.  And it does not take Luke long to introduce the Holy Spirit into his narrative.  As we continue in the book of Luke, we will find the stream of Spirit-empowered ministry continuing.

God the Father sent God the Son to live on earth as a man.  Jesus laid aside His deity (God-ness) to live as a man.  Though He had always been, and was while on earth, and always will be God the Son, He emptied Himself of His God-ness to live as a man.  He commonly called himself the “Son of man.”

While on earth as the Son of Man, he limited himself to only what was available to man, the Written Word and the Indwelling Holy Spirit. 

Application:  As we read through the book of Luke, we find the Son of Man surrendered to and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  As we read through the book of Acts, we find the early church continued surrendering to and being empowered by the same Holy Spirit.  As we live each day, we should expect to live our lives today surrendered to and empowered by the same Holy Spirit!   It continues today!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, how we limit our potential when we do not acknowledge you, submit to your infilling, and learn to depend on your presence.  Bring another day of Pentecost revival to the church today we pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 17, 2020: SOAP #3941:  Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Observation:  Entrance into heaven is based on our faith in the work of Jesus on the cross.  He died to pay for our sins.  Our sins are washed away in the blood he shed.  Our garments were once stained with our sins, but they are washed clean in the blood of Jesus sacrifice! 

Separate from our entrance into heaven is the rewards each one will receive.  Those rewards will be based our what we have done.      

Application:   God is blessed by what we “do” for Him.  He does not miss the sacrifice and effort expended in serving Him.  He takes note, and He will be faithful to reward each one “according to what he has done.”       

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, your heart of love has often rewarded me more than my labors deserved.  I am sure it will be no different on that day mentioned in the verses above.  From my point of view: serving you is such a great honor.  But from your point of view:  having me serve you is a great pleasure.  May I be worthy of pleasuring you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 16, 2020: SOAP #3940:  Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 21:9 One of the seven angels … said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal….
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

Observation:   The city of Jerusalem in Israel is a city that was built around the temple. Everything is in relationship to the temple.  All activity related to the temple.  The people lived and set their schedules around the temple. 

In contrast, the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, is a city WITHOUT A TEMPLE!   All activity is centered around the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.  The presence of God makes the whole city the temple.  The people do not visit the temple/church building weekly or on holy days, they live in the temple and in relationship with God, they ARE the temple!    

Application:   It is easy for believers today to become building centered.   We think of the church as a building, yet we all are looking forward to going to a city that has no temple building!  Buildings can be gathering places, teaching places, fellowship places, but the church is the people of God.   

The heavenly fellowship that God desires is that He lives in me every day, all day.  He walks in me and talks with me.  He has made me His dwelling place.  He is not just an honored visitor on Sunday, He is a permanent part.     

Prayer:  God, you are a permanent part of my life.  You are THE important part of my life.  Every moment of every day revolves around you.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!