August 26, 2020: SOAP #3919:  Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

Scripture:  3John (NIV) 1:5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

Observation:   It would not surprise me to find that the early church did not have a large group of seasoned leaders and pastors.  And so, it would not surprise me that they relied on traveling ministers.  In the above verses we read about traveling ministers being lovingly welcomed into the fellowship of believers.  John encourages them to send them on to their next ministry location “in a manner worthy of God.”  In so doing, they would be working together for the kingdom of God. 

Application:   Hospitality is a very important ministry.  Using our homes and resources to help those ministering to the body of Christ.  We may not have a place of leadership in the body of Christ, but by being hospitable, we share in that ministry.  We can enable others to their ministries.  Remember, just a “cup of cold water” earns a “reward!”  (Matthew 10:42)   

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, indeed you are my Lord.  All I have is really yours.  Help me carefully use what you intend for my use.  Help me easily release what you helped me gather for use elsewhere.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 25, 2020: SOAP #3918:  Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2John

Scripture:  2John (NIV) 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Observation:   The grace, mercy and peace that comes to us from God is always wrapped in truth and love.  Truth is an expression of holiness.  He who is perfectly holy always deals with truth.  Truth is God’s reality. 

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve.  Mercy is God not giving us what we deserved.  Peace is God establishing a right relationship with us. 

Grace, mercy, and peace all come to me with full acknowledgement of my sin.  Truth acknowledges my sin.  And truth acknowledges God’s holiness.  But truth also acknowledges God’s love and His holy sacrifice made for my sin! 

Application:   Grace, mercy, and peace have come to Leon from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son.  And they are wrapped in truth and love!   It does not bring a stain on the Father’s holiness to draw Leon close to Him.  It glorifies His holiness and His great love.  In the wisdom of God, Jesus’ sacrifice so perfectly provided what I needed that I have been justified, made “just as if I’d” never sinned!  (1Corinthians 6:11)      

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, oh the grace, mercy and peace provided for me through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus!  May my life be a true expression of my deep appreciation. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 24, 2020: SOAP #3917:  Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Observation:  Many people like to start their prayers by claiming that God will provide whatever they need or want.  They start with the promise at the end of verse 15: “we know that we have what we asked of him.” 

But the first part of verse 15 shows that knowing that he “hears” “whatever we ask” comes before getting the prayers answered.  If I do not have confidence that He hears me, I have no claim that He will answer my prayer.  So, how can I know that He hears me?  For that I need to go back to the last part of verse 14. 

Having the confidence that God hears my prayer AND answers them starts with asking “according to his will.” 

According to verse 14, the better I know God and understand His will, the better I will be able to pray.  Prayer is not a way to get God to accomplish my will.  It is a way for me to be a part of His will.  In prayer, God is allowing me to participate in His plan. 

Application:   This promise is not for just any quick prayer made without thinking.  This promise requires some thoughtful application on my part.  First: I must know the character of God.  He is holy and loving.  He is wise.  Second:  I must search the scriptures to see if God has revealed His will about the subject of my prayer.  Has anyone in the Bible dealt with this issue.  Third:  I need to remember what the Holy Spirit has said to me in the past.  I need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will to me.     

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to have a small part in accomplishing you will on earth.  May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 23, 2020: SOAP #3916:  Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world….
6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood….
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit….
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Observation:   We know that we have a relationship with God because we interact with God through His Spirit.  The problem is that there are many spirits not from God who are moving around our world.  We must learn to recognize the Spirit of God from the spirit of antichrist. 

Application:  How can I know to whom to listen?  First: I must acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh; He is different than all other humans born on this earth.  His is God!   Second:  John said that those who know God, listens to him and those with him—those who wrote the scriptures.  The better I know God’s written Word, the better I will be able to recognize God’s spoken word!   Third: knowing that God has given me His Spirit, I expect Him to speak to me.  I must pay attention.  I prepare myself to hear His voice.  I become familiar with how He speaks.   Fourth:  God always works in love.  God is holy and God is loving.  Fifth: God’s word is confirmed through others to whom and through whom He speaks. 

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that it is your nature to reveal yourself.  You speak.  Your Son, Jesus, speaks.  The Holy Spirit speaks.   It is for me to listen.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 22, 2020: SOAP #3915:  Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Observation:  John presents our relationship with God in “present tense” terms.  It is not that we once lived in Him, or that we visited Him last Sunday, or that we will be joining him after we die…No!   It is that we are in a continual, day by day, ongoing relationship.  It is always current.  He lives in us!  He has placed His Holy Spirit within us to interact with us. 

Application:   Jesus stressed the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The disciples were told to expect the Spirit to be another comforter just like Jesus had been.  (John 14:16)   In other words, my relationship with the Holy Spirit should be like the disciple’s relationship with Jesus.  I should read the Gospels to learn about how Jesus, while He was on earth, related to the Holy Spirit.     

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, teach me to hear your voice, to trust you and rely on you.  Make me like Jesus, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 21, 2020: SOAP #3914:  Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does— comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Observation:  John cauterizes all the temptations that comes from the world’s system into three categories: 1. They make the flesh feel good. 2. They are pleasing to the eye, or 3. They appeal to our pride and make us think better about ourselves (prove who we are.)  

These are the same ones Satan, as the serpent in Genesis 3:6 used to tempt Eve:  1.  The fruit was good to eat, 2.  It was pleasing to the eye; it looked really good.  3.  Eve would be like God to know the difference between good and evil. 

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” 

Yes, Jesus was tempted in these same three ways.  Matthew 4:1-10  1. He was hungry and was tempted to satisfy his flesh by turning a stone into bread.  2.  He was to look at the kingdoms of the earth that could be his.  And 3.  He could prove who He was by casting himself off the highest point of the temple. 

Application:  Almost all the advertising today appeals to one of these three areas:  makes the flesh feel good, pleasing to the eyes, or make us think better about ourselves (prove who we are.)   In many ways, the world glamorizes these three temptations.  Where Eve fell, Jesus overcame!  And Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, lives in me to help me overcome!   Praise His Name!     

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, oh how I need your forgiveness and how I need your Holy Spirit to live victorious in this world!  With you living in me, I have a life inside that has already overcome the temptations of this world!  Amen

Pastor Leon|
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 19, 2020: SOAP #3912:  Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 1:6 If WE claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, WE lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if WE walk in the light, as he is in the light, WE have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies US from all sin.

Observation:   It is a short chapter of only 10 verses.  Yet the number of personal plural pronouns caught my attention.  In these 10 verses, 20 times we read “we.”  6 times we read “us.”  5 times we read “our.” 

John was writing as a part of church leaders; in verse 3, “WE proclaim to you what WE have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with US.” 

John was writing to a body of people of which he was a part:  in verse 7 “if WE walk in the light as he is in the light, WE have fellowship with ONE ANOTHER.” 

Application:   It is John’s way of emphasizing the need for relationship and fellowship.  The Christian life was not designed to be lived by one’s self.  WE need each other.  It is impossible that offenses will not come, but The Great Forgiver lives in me and has commanded me to forgive.  Every time I forgive my brother and sister, I honor the forgiveness I have received.    

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, in your wisdom, you place me in the body of Your Son, Jesus.  Holy Spirit, help me honor Jesus by joyfully and faithfully doing my part as a part of His body. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 19, 2020: SOAP #3912:  Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

Scripture:  John (NIV) 21:5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. … 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

Observation:  It is a fish story with a strange twist.  Jesus was not with them as much as He had been, so they decided to go back to their old way of life—fishing.  After fishing all night and catching nothing, the stranger on the shore suggested that they throw their net on the other side of the boat.  After so doing, their net was full (153 large fish).  They knew it had to be Jesus!  Impatient Peter jumps into the water heading for shore leaving the others to bring the boat and net full of fish. 

When they arrived at shore, they found that Jesus already had “a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread!”  Jesus already had that for which they had toiled all night!   

Application:   Two miracles I see:  First, Jesus gave direction to their fruitless efforts and they had an abundant catch!  O, how I need Jesus to direct my efforts.   Second, when they arrived at shore, they found that Jesus already had that for which they had been fishing!  Jesus anticipated their hunger and invited them to breakfast!  My need does not catch Jesus by surprise!     

Prayer:   Lord, Often, I have noticed that you started preparing the answer even before I prayed.  (The letter with the answer was postmarked even before I prayed!)  You anticipated my need and pre-answered my prayer.  You are amazing!     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 18, 2020: SOAP #3911:  Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

Scripture:  John (NIV) 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Observation:   Their fear had locked the doors.  They had been locked by the disciples from the inside to keep “the Jews” out.  But locked doors could not keep Jesus out! 

Jesus was there to pass on two things.  First, He passed to them His commission.  He had been sent by the Father; now He was sending them with the same purpose.  Second, He was passing along to the His Enabler.  He had not started His ministry until the Holy Spirit had come upon Him.  Now He was passing on that same anointing. 

Application:  Jesus often gives us thing too big for us to do, but He never gives us things to big for the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is not counting on me to be able to fulfill His will.  Jesus is counting on the Holy Spirit to be able to work in and through me. 

Jesus did not suggest, “I have someone you might find helpful, someone you might enjoy.  Just let Him be a part of your life.  You will be blessed.”  No, Jesus commanded them “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!”  It was a command, not an option! 

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I receive you into my life.  You came to Jesus when he was baptized and led Him into His ministry.  Do the same for me.  Do it every day, I pray!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 17, 2020: SOAP #3910:  Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19

Scripture:  John (NIV) 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.

Observation:  And so begins the chapter in which the Central character of all history, does the Central action of all history moving toward the Central purpose for all creation! 

It is a chapter in which a Holy God demonstrates His holiness by requiring the full payment for sin, even though it was His own sinless Son paying the price for sinful man!  No short cuts were allowed. 

It is a chapter in which a Loving God expressed His love to beings that were created in His image and designed for fellowship with their Creator. 

Application:   Being one for whom Christ died, and having received the benefit of that sacrifice, it is my joyful and loving duty to allow my life to be molded by the Holy Spirit into that which meets with His approval.     

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I hold back my joyful acceptance of your will.  Jesus, you are the Lord of my life.  For what you have done for me, no lesser position is proper for you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!