September 13, 2019: SOAP #3571:  Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 33:7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so, hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will be saved yourself.

Observation:   God had set Ezekiel as a watchman for the nation of Israel.  God was serious about what Ezekiel was to do, and Ezekiel should be serious too!

Although it is written to Ezekiel and is about Israel, it applies to me and to my nation.  I have a responsibility to carry God’s Word to the lost.

Application:  There are scriptures that lift me when I am going through hard times.  There are scriptures that assure me of God’s presence.  There are scriptures that promise God’s intervention and future preservation.  Then there are scriptures like the ones above.  These scriptures emphasize my part in God’s plan.  These scriptures lay out the heavy responsibility that we each carry.  These scriptures make me thankful for the scriptures about the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, in your wisdom, you knew that I would not be able to carry out an assignment like this on my own.  So, in your great wisdom you sent your Holy Spirit to live in me and empower me to fulfill your will.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 12, 2019: SOAP #3570:  Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 3:15 …Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Observation:   The three Hebrew children understood the issue.  It was not about worshipping an idol.  It was not about their flesh being able to withstand the fire.  It was all about their God!

–Could their God save them from the fire?  To them that was not an issue.  Their mind was at peace; there was no doubt; God could save them.
–Would He save them?  That was not their issue.  That was God’s issue.  That was for God to determine.
–Was God worthy of their sacrifice?  In their minds, clearly, he was!
–Would they bow to the idol?  That issue of the day.  But that issue had been settled long ago.  It had been settled in many little decisions they had previously made.  The big day had arrived, and they were standing on the national stage!

Application:   Glorifying God in my little daily decisions prepares me for glorifying God in the big decisions.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, obedience is not a little/big occasion.  I honor my Heavenly Father by obeying in ALL decisions.  Keep me aware of the issues I face every day.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 11, 2019: SOAP #3569:  Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way. …
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. …17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. … 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.

Observation:  Daniel’s courageous commitment to honoring God obviously had a great effect on those known as the three Hebrew children.  They participated with Daniel in refraining from eating the royal food.  God’s blessing on Daniel extended to them.  Daniel was later thrown to the lions and these three were thrown into a fiery furnace.

Application:   When God calls us to take a stand, we need to carefully follow His directions.  It will obviously go better for us, and who knows who is watching and will be influenced to follow.  The greatest victory for the Kingdom of God may come from someone who follows in our steps.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the power of influence.  Thank you that people watching our lives can be encouraged to be fully committed to you.  Use us and use our influence for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 10, 2019: SOAP #3568:  Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 3:31 For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

Observation:   What a great thought.  God’s anger for his people does not last forever!  He is just and brings judgment, but he also shows compassion.  SO GREAT is His unfailing love!  Indeed, SO GREAT!

God does not, from His own will, bring judgment on people.  He is enticed/He is lured/He is persuaded to bring judgment by man’s sin.  Mercy and compassion flow out of His heart of love, but judgment is given with reluctance.  Judgment is always just and deserved, but it also is an expression of God’s mercy for it is less than deserved.

Application:  I can rejoice in God’s great love. I can enjoy His love.  But I must not forget that He is holy and judges sin.  The Holy Spirit helps me to understand His great love and His perfect holiness.  God is good because He has the perfect balance of great love and complete holiness.

His holiness does not prevent His love.  His love does not mar His holiness.  So how can a holy God deal in love with a sinful man?  Only through the cross where the holy God paid the sin penalty for the man He loves.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, it is by faith in my heart and the confession of my mouth that I received your forgiveness.  Now that I am forgiven, I am a new creation!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 09, 2019: SOAP #3567:  Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 14:2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No-one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Observation:   They sang a “new song.”  We do not have the words of this “new song,” but there may be some clues.  First:  it was sung by “144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.”  Since no one else could learn that song, it must have come from their shared personal experience.  Second:  it was sung before the throne in heaven.  It was a song appropriate to its environment.  It was a song of praise and worship.

Also, it was not just a song of voices, the accompaniment sounded like harps, and it was LOUD!

Application:  For me, music raises the message from a mental, thought process to a heartfelt communication.  It adds a new dimension to the spoken words.  New songs come out of new experiences or fresh insight into something in the past.  Old songs can become new and fresh as I experience new things in God!  The key is to continue to grow spiritually.

Suggestion:  Take time to read through an old hymnal and revisit some of the songs from your past.  See how much more meaning they now have because of recent things God has done with/for you.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, every day you are worthy of a new song.  Every day I experience something new with you.  I want to sing with new appreciation for you and your grace and mercy.  Holy Spirit, help me sing with new appreciation every day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 08, 2019: SOAP #3566:  Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 44:27 For I am watching over them for harm, not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed. 28 Those who escape the sword and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few. Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand— mine or theirs.

Observation:   The Jews in Jerusalem had come to Jeremiah and asked him to inquire of the Lord what they should do.  They promised to do whatever the Lord said, be it good or bad.  God could count on them to do His will.

The word came that they should stay in Jerusalem.  God would protect them there.  But they believe that Jeremiah was not telling the truth.  They decided to go to Egypt in disobedience to God’s word.  They would not keep their promise.  So, God has a word for those in Egypt!  God is “watching over them for harm, not for good.”

Application:  To think that the God who created this world and everything in it could be watching over me for harm and not for good—that is a terrifying thought.  To think that the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, perfectly holy God is against me terrifies me.

What relief to know that the wrath of God that was against me has been satisfied by the death of Jesus on the cross!  On Him was poured the wrath of God.  He died in my place.  The rejection of Father God experienced by Jesus should have been mine.   Not only did Jesus receive my rejection, I received his acceptance.  I only had to believe and ask!  He forgave me, moved inside me, and now helps me live my daily life for His glory.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am so blessed to be your child—to know that when you look at me, you see Jesus, and that you are watching over me for my good and not for my harm! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 07, 2019: SOAP #3565:  2Kings 25; 2Chron. 36; Jer. 40-41; Rev. 12

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 36:15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling-place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.

Observation:   God’s “pity” motivated Him to reach out to them “again and again.”  But God was continually rejected and eventually his “pity” turned to “wrath!”  What sad words: “there was no remedy!”  When the Holy God is angry, His wrath is always holy.  It is justly deserved.  Those under judgment cannot complain.  Their Judge is Holy.  Their judgment is just.

Application:  This should not be hard for us to understand.  Most of us have seen or heard of stories of rejected love turning to wrath.

When God sent His own dearly loved Son to die for our sins, we should not be surprised that He gets angry when His Son is rejected by man!  If He did not get angry, we might think that He did not love His Son very much. ???

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, how amazing is your Son who willingly left His throne in heaven to die on a cruel cross for my sins.  I owe Him my all.  He is my Lord!    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 06, 2019: SOAP #3564:  Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 11:17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Observation:   My attention has been drawn to the last phrase in verse 18.  “The time has come…for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

In the first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, six times God declares the various parts of creation “good.”  Then in the last verse as God looks over everything, He says “it was very good.”  It was abundantly or exceeding good!

God created this planet for the purpose of hosting people.  He placed everything we would need to maintain our lives.   We are to use it, but not destroy it.  In judgment, God speaks of “destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Application:   The earth is valuable, and we should treat it with respect.  God, who created the earth, still considers it His!  I may have purchased or inherited property, but I am only a temporary resident.  I appreciate God’s creation by taking care of what I use.  I appreciate it by using it to serve others.  I need to leave it better than when I arrived.  I need to be careful not to waste it’s potential.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you have provided a beautiful place for us to live.  May I properly respect what you have created. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 05, 2019: SOAP #3563:  Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 25:2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. … 6 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, 7  therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
8 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Moab …
12 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Edom …
15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because the Philistines …

Observation:   The four nations mentioned in chapter 25 were all going to be judged because of their mistreatment of Israel.  This is a fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis 12:3. It is still God’s promise to Israel.

It was through their mistreatment of Israel, and God’s judgment on them that they would come to know that the God of Israel was the Lord God of the whole earth!  Each of the judgments on each of these nations ends with “Then they will know…” that Israel’s God is the Lord God of the Earth!

Application:   God wants to be known.  A time is coming when He will be acknowledged for Who He is!  Now it is my responsibility and privilege to make Him known through my life to those around me.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, flow through me.  Make Jesus known through me today, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 04, 2019: SOAP #3562:  Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 22:14 Will your courage endure, or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.

Observation:   God has been speaking to Israel about the judgment He will be bringing to them for their many sins.  The two sins that stand out are the shedding of innocent blood and worshipping idols.

Who will not fear the judgment of God?  And who will be strong enough to endure His judgment?

Application:   Would I be brave enough to stand outside as Hurricane Dorian approaches?  Would I be strong enough to stand my ground when assaulted by the wind and waves?  Surely not!  It was right for people of Bermuda to fear and attempt to move out of Dorian’s path.  But a category 5 hurricane is small compared to the judgment of Creator God!  It may be only a small part of His judgment.  He is GREATER still!  No one can escape His judgment!

What blood could be more innocent than the blood of an unborn child?  Who can count the number of people and things that have taken God’s rightful place as idols in our lives?

In considering the founding of the United States, in considering our history, in considering our reputation as a “Christian nation” … in considering the character of God, it is illogical for me to think that we can escape the judgment of God.  We need a revival of repentant hearts, of righteous thinking, and of Spirit empowered living.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, prepare us for judgment by establishing your righteousness in the lives of Your people.  Send revival to our nation.  Raise up people who are full of your Holy Spirit; people who will speak your words and live for your glory.  Send revival to our nation!  In Jesus Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!