September 15, 2020: SOAP #3939:  Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Observation:  In chapter 19 the mention of the mark of the beast had to do with the punishment of those who received it.  In this chapter we find the reward for those who refused it.  They come back to life and have the high honor of being a part of Christ’s reign on earth for 1000 years. 

It is always worth the effort to follow and honor Jesus.   

This passage is also a good reminder that our life does not end with death.  What we will experience after death will far surpass anything we have experienced during our short time in this life.  I think of eternity as a mind-expanding experience.    

Application:  A strong message I have from my father’s life:  it is not always easy, but it is always worth the struggle to follow Jesus.   I love to sing:  “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.  Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.  One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase.  So bravely run the race till we see Christ!”     

Prayer:   Lord, your plans are amazing!  What a peace to know that your plans will succeed.  Nothing can stop your will or your plans.  You make promises that only you can keep.  …and we know that you will keep them. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 14, 2020: SOAP #3938:  Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 19: 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war….14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. …
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Observation:  In these verses we see that those who take the “mark of the beast” will be following kings of the earth joined with the beast.  They have been deceived by miraculous signs performed by the prophet.  They have joined together to fight the One coming from heaven with the armies of heaven.  The beast and the false prophet will be captured and thrown alive into the fiery lake; the others will be killed, later to be brought before the great white throne judgment. (Revelation 20:12)     

Application:  This passage stands as a strong warning to be very careful of whom I am following.  Miracles are not proof that someone has God’s approval or that they are sent from God.  The better we know the Scriptures and have a current relationship with the Holy Spirit, the better we will read the warning signs that are always available when something is not right.        

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the scriptures and especially for the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit, I want to clearly hear your voice.  To walk in this world, I need your guidance. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 13, 2020: SOAP #3937:  Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”  
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’ 8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Observation:   In the middle of this alarming passage of God’s judgment on sin, we read a most comforting verse.  As God remembers the sins of the nation and prepares to give them double, He also remembers “His people!”  “His people” are not perfect sinless people, but they are the ones whose sins have already been judged.  They were declared guilty; they received the offer of forgiveness and the death of Jesus as the payment for their sins; they are now justified—(just-as-if-I’d never sinned!)   

Application:  God does not forget His people!  He will not forget me!  He has a way to get me out of trouble.  I can trust Him!        

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, it is comforting and encouraging to know that you will not forget me.  How special to have a place in your memory!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 12, 2020: SOAP #3936:  Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 81:8 “Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—if you would but listen to me, O Israel! 9 You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.

10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. 13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!

Observation:   How God loves His people.  He wants them to listen to His warning.  He alone is their God.  God reminds them of what He has done for them.  But they would not listen!   In Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, to each church is written, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  God is a speaker; His people must be listeners! 

Application:  God’s strength, God’s willingness to help, God’s wisdom, God’s ability does not benefit me unless I listen.  God speaks to me.  Hearing His word and the Holy Spirit provides me direction.  God’s Spirit speaks to my heart as I read His word, as I gather in worship and listen to anointed preaching, as I meditate on what I have hidden in my heart God personally speaks to Leon!     

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, to grasp the truth that you know me personally as an individual and that you speak to me personally humbles me.  You love me.  You speak to me.  You give me personal direction.  Forgive me for the times I have not been listening. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 11, 2020: SOAP #3935:  Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 2:27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these…

Observation:   The challenge was great:  If the king had told his dream, anyone could make up some interpretation, BUT if one could tell the king the dream, the king would believe that person could also tell the interpretation.  It was not an illogical challenge.   

The consequences were drastic.  Failure to tell the dream would mean death.  And everyone else had already failed.    

It was an impossible situation, “…but there is a God in heaven…”     

Application:   It is not uncommon to face situations beyond our talents, and wisdom, and capabilities.  But there is still a God in heaven!   Things that are beyond my comprehension are completely understood by Him.  And He will show me what I need to know.  I can trust Him.       

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so glad that you are “still a God in heaven!”  But I am even more glad that you are still the omnipresent God on earth, the God who has made my heart His home, the God who is with me, the God who speaks to me, the God who helps me… (add your own!)  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 10, 2020: SOAP #3934:  Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 15:2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. 4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Observation:   In chapter 13 we read about a mark (666) on the back of the right hand or forehead that would be required to buy and sell.  In chapter 14 we read about the future of those who receive the mark.  Their identity with the antichrist meant that they also receive his judgment. 

Here in chapter 15 we read about the future of those who refuse the mark. They will be a part of a celebratory group honoring God with musical instruments and their singing. 

Application:  In playing with children, I have often held an object in my closed hand, then held out both hands, closed, for them to choose which hand was holding the desired object.  From these three chapters we see that God offers the choice with both hands open. 

The Holy and Faithful One reaches out to us in Love and gives us the full picture.  Nothing is hidden.  Accepting Satan’s offer and letting Satan mark us as his own property leads to eternal suffering in hell.  Rejecting Satan’s offer and choosing God’s way leads to eternal life in the presence of Almighty God. It is hardly a choice!      

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I choose you.  I choose to reject Satan’s claim of ownership on my life.  I accept your death as the payment for my sins.  You are my Lord and Savior.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 09, 2020: SOAP #3933:  Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 14:9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”

Observation:   I did not want to write yesterday’s SOAP about the mark of the beast found in Revelation 13:16-18.  I had used it for SOAPs in several other years, but the Holy Spirit kept it so strong in my thoughts, I had to use it again.  Then God gave me some thoughts to use to show an application for today. 

But when I read the above three verses, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Here is the reason for yesterday’s SOAP.  The mark of the beast is Satan placing his mark of ownership on that which was created in my image!  It is that which I created in my image taking Satan’s mark of ownership.” 

Those who accept Satan’s mark of identification, also accept his future judgment.  Verse 10 above says, “…he too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury…tormented with burning sulphur…”  Note: Revelation 20:10

Application:   I want to make sure I am totally identified with my Creator, my Savior, my Lord.  I do not want there to be any question as to which side I am on.  Whatever I can do to identify Jesus as my Lord is a small price to pay for what Jesus did to identify with me and to take my place in paying for my sins.       

Prayer:  Lord, how can I say thanks for all you have done for me.  Use my life for your glory.  May I bring joy to your heart! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 08, 2020: SOAP #3932:  Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 13:16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no-one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.

Observation:   I remember reading this passage many years ago and thinking: “This is crazy!  Who would ever take a mark or allow a computerized chip to be placed in their hand or forehead?”  As soon as I finished thinking those thoughts, the Lord strongly impressed on my mind, “When the time comes, it will not be the ones who accept the mark who will be considered crazy, but those who refuse it!”  At that time, I could not see how that would ever be, but today people could very easily be duped into receiving such a mark. 

Tomorrow when I go to the bus barn to drive a school bus, someone will pass a thermometer by my forehead to see if I have a fever which may indicate that I have been infected with Covid-19.   Once a serum is available, it would be easy to implant a small chip into each one who has been inoculated.  It would be easy to screen everyone entering a bank or grocery store.  And the crazy ones will be those who reject the inoculation and the chip. 

Application:   Today it is essential to have a current relationship with the Holy Spirit.  I must “walk” and “talk” with Him every day.  I need the Holy Spirit to lead me in “paths of righteousness” and safety.       

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, you do see around corners and what is ahead.  I am dependent of your guidance.  May every day bring fresh spiritual skills in recognizing your voice.  As you anointed men of old to write the Bible, anoint my heart today to understand what I read.  Prepare me each day for what lies ahead.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 07, 2020: SOAP #3931:  2Kings 25; 2Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.”

Observation:  Those in the heavens have a great reason for rejoicing.  Satan, “the devil,” “the dragon,” has lost a war with Michael and has been cast out of heaven.  He will no longer have access to the throne to accuse people before God.  But the cause for rejoicing in the heavenlies is cause for alarm on earth.  Satan is furiously set on destroying God’s creation. 

What raises Satan’s fury is the same thing that gives me reason for rejoicing.  He knows what I know.  “His time is short!” 

Application:    Satan does not have all eternity to accuse and slander and deceive.  His time will come to an end!   But my time of serving God in a kingdom of love and peace and joy will never end!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us how things will happen at the culmination of your “man” plan.  It gives us hope as we go through difficult times. We know who wins. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 06, 2020: SOAP #3930:  Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 11:13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. … 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God.

Observation:  The above verses show us the difference between two locations—heaven and earth.  In verse 13, an earthquake causes the city to fall, bringing the death of 7,000 people.  In verse 16 the elders around the throne of heaven fall on their face in worship!      

Application:    Often we find ourselves in circumstances where we have no choice.  We can do nothing but go with the current.  Knowing what is going to happen, one can prepare ahead of time, but waiting until we are in the grip of the circumstances is too late to make a choice.   

People who are left behind when Jesus comes for His church will be in the grip of the prophecies of God’s judgment on the earth.  It will be an earth in turmoil, reaping the results of the seeds of sin that have been recklessly planted by people who think they will not have to answer for their deeds.  Choosing Jesus to be their Savior and Lord earlier would have saved them much suffering.   

This world which has been a testimony to the mercy and grace of a loving God will become a testimony to the justice and truthfulness of a holy God.  All creation has been witness to God’s love in redeeming sinful man.  All creation will be witness to God’s holiness in judging those reject His offer. 

Prayer:   Jesus, I choose you now.  I choose you now to be my Lord and Savior.  Set your Holy Spirit in me and lead me to live in a way that brings you glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!