July 15, 2019: SOAP #3511:  Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Observation:  The chapter breaks in the Bible were not a part of the original text.  Generally, they are a great blessing as they help us locate the passages we want to study.  However sometimes they hinder.  I believe chapter 12 should be the end of chapter 11.  The great cloud of witnesses mentioned above is obviously a reference to all the heroes of faith in chapter 11.

It is a “great cloud” due to the large number of people it contains.  Believers all the way back to creation.  It is a “great cloud” because of it includes great people, i.e. Moses, Elisha, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, e.t.c.  It is a “great cloud” to me because it includes my parents and grandparents.  It is a “great cloud” to be because I will join them when my life on earth is over.  What a day that will be!

Application:   Knowing that family and friends were in the bleachers encouraged me to play football or play my trombone in the band concert with more intensity.  I knew they were watching, and I sensed their presence.  I looked forward to their words of appreciation.

Knowing that I have such a great audience watching me from heaven’s bleachers encourages me to keep on when weary.  It encourages me to invest some extra effort.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I look forward to joining that “great cloud.”  Even now as a senior citizen, when I sit in earthly bleachers, use me to bring strength and encouragement to those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 14, 2019: SOAP #3510:  Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Observation:   Abraham did not know where he was going.  But he did know some things.  In verse 10 Abraham knew that God was the architect and builder of a heavenly city.  In verse 11 Abraham knew that God was faithful!  In verses 17 and 18 Abraham knew what God had told him.  In verse 19 Abraham knew that God could raise the dead.

When we consider what Abraham knew, it is not so amazing that Abraham followed God to an unknown destination.  It would have been amazing if he had not followed God!!!

Application:   In some ways, I am like Abraham.  I know too much about God not to follow Him!  It would be illogical not to follow God!  What I already know about God assures me that following God is the right thing to do, even when He does not tell me where I am going.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I know it is a faith walk when I follow your leading, but it takes much more faith to believe that I know better than you and that I will be able to face the unknown. Today, and for always, I trust you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 13, 2019: SOAP #3509:  Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again, and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
[That was the way it was under the Old Testament Law.]
[This is how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law?]
Hebrews 10:14  because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.

Observation:   What a difference Jesus made!  He put an end to the daily sacrifices made in the tabernacle, then in the temple.  And the way He did it is amazing.  He did not just make a statement that animal sacrifices were not really covering the cost of sin; He personally made the true sacrifice to which the animal sacrifices pointed.  Once and for all time, He made the perfect sacrifice to cover the penalty for sin!  It never needs to be repeated!

Application:  My first response is to accept His offer of forgiveness; He is my Savior!  My next response is to thank Him.  Then I make my Savior to be my Lord (a title that He rightly deserves).  Then I set my heart to live a life that brings Him honor and great joy.

Prayer:  Jesus, after all You have done for me, my response must be more than just “Thank you!”  My life is yours.  My future is yours.  Today is yours! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 12, 2019: SOAP #3508: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

Observation:  Jesus does not appear in God’s presence as the prosecutor bringing evidence against me; He appears as the defense attorney FOR me!  I am declared innocent not on the basis of a lack of evidence, but on the basis that the penalty has already been paid in full!!!

Application:   That I am guilty is not the question.  My adversary, the devil does not have to look far to find evidence against me.  But there is One now appearing on my behalf who still bears the scars in His hands.  I would have been found guilty, but I am declared innocent!  The proof of my innocence can be seen in the hands of Jesus!

On earth the Son of God lived and walked as the Son of Man.  Jesus was presenting our Heavenly Father to us.  Now in heaven, the sinless, sacrificed, resurrected Son of God and Man presents me to my Heavenly Father.  He is there right now and He is FOR ME!

Prayer:  Lord, forgive me for not telling you every day how much I appreciate what you have done for me!  May my words and deeds clearly show my appreciation to you and to everyone around me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 11, 2019: SOAP #3507:  Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Scripture:  Isaiah (NIV) 8:11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: 12 “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,

Observation:  What the people were calling a conspiracy was the judgment of God.  God was using the Assyrians to bring judgment.  The people were afraid of what their “conspiracy” would do; but they should have feared the holy LORD God Almighty.

In a few verses, God reveals that He will be taking care of the Assyrians and delivering His people.

Application:   We are quick to blame others for our trouble.  It is a conspiracy against us.  We do not like to consider that we might be the source of our trouble.  We may need to repent.

The United States is experiencing the judgment of God along our southern border.  God is bringing illegal immigrants to replace all the children we have aborted.  It is easy to call those standing against the President’s efforts to close off the border a conspiracy.  If we truly feared the Lord, we would repent.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, reveal truth to us. May the fear of the Lord lead us to repentance. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 10, 2019: SOAP #3506:  Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; [at the same time the following incident takes place]
Genesis (NIV) 14:21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”

Observation:  Abram and his servants had regained all the captives and plunder that had been robbed from his camp and from Sodom.  The king of Sodom told Abram to return the people but keep all the “goods.”   It was a logical offer, but Abram was living on a higher level.  He was living/working for “the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth;” he was not working for the king of Sodom.  He did not need any wages or rewards from man.  His welfare depended on God alone.

What a special blessing Abram received as God promised, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

Application:   I know it is right to work for wages, but…  I wonder how many times I might have settled for “man’s” reward and not been willing to wait for God’s “very great reward.”  When God gives me a special assignment out of my ordinary daily routine… when God calls me to enter the battle on behalf of someone else… when God brings a temporary opportunity… I can do it for His pleasure with my pay being His smile.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Surely the greatest pleasure of life will be hearing you say, “Well done,” and seeing your smile.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 09, 2019: SOAP #3505:  Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Observation:   The opening statement of this verse is a declaration of the character of God.  He is not unjust.  He is just.  He is faithful!

And there is something He will not forget!  He will not forget people who have shown him love.

How did they show HIM love?  What was the way they expressed their love for HIM that caught His attention?

They helped His people.  And it was not just a onetime expression of love; they continued to do so!

Application:   If God remembers what I do for others, I want to remember that he takes what I do as an expression of love to Him!  When I want to show my appreciation for what He has done for me, I need only look around and see what I can do for one of “his people.”

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, remind me that Jesus said that what I do for his children I am doing it as unto him. (Matthew 25:40)  Help me bring joy to the heart of Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 08, 2019: SOAP #3504:  Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 100:1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Observation:   In this psalm, we are given some special keys for life.  We are told how to enter the presence of God.  What can be more important than that!

We are to come before him with joyful songs.  We enter his gates with thanksgiving.  We enter his courts with praise.

Application:   Since God is omnipresent, I am always in His presence.  However, I am not always aware of His presence.  When I sing a joyful song of thanksgiving and praise, I become aware of His presence!  Joyful songs of thanksgiving and praise might not change my circumstances, but they will change the focus of my heart and the focus of my thoughts.

Knowing that I can enter the gates of the King of heaven, that I can enter the courts of Creator God, why would I want to stand outside with my mind locked into the hopelessness of the world around me?  Why would I hesitate to use these special keys to enter an awareness of the loving God who gave His Son to die for me?

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, remind me of what is available to me and how to use these keys.  May my joyful songs of thanksgiving and praise bring joy to the courts of heaven.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 07, 2019: SOAP #3503:  Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

Scripture:  Hosea (NIV) 11:9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man — the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.

Observation:   God did not punish Judah and Israel in wrath, for that would have destroyed them.  He punished them in love, to correct them, to preserve them.  The prophecies of the Messiah still had to be fulfilled.

In the following verses God speaks of a time of returning as He once again gathers His people from the nations.

Application:   I believe there yet remain prophecies to be fulfilled for Israel.  Though people and nations may rant against Israel and threaten to wipe them off the map, that cannot happen.  They still have a prominent place in prophecy as God wraps up His plans.

If I want to be assured of future blessing, I must be a part of the church.  And as a born-again member of the church in whom Christ dwells by His Spirit, I am promised a future of blessing and joy in heaven.  And I am promised His correction when needed.

When God corrects me, He does so in love.  His goal is not to destroy me, but to improve me.  His correction is proof that he believes I can do better.  His correction is proof that He has not given up on me!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your love for me, and your plans for me, make you desire only the best for me. I pray that you find me correctible and improvable. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 06, 2019: SOAP #3502:  Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 3:8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.
10 That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Observation:   It is not enough to know about God.  It is not enough to know that God exists.  It is not enough to know that there is a “man upstairs.”  God wants us to know Him.  He wants to communicate with us.  He wants to love us and to have us love Him.  He wants us to know more than what He does; He wants us to know why; He wants us to know His ways.

Application:   There are people in my life that I have come to know very well.  I do not need to ask them about what would please them.  I know what brings them joy and what distresses them.

God has revealed Himself in His word and the Holy Spirit helps me to grow in knowing God and His ways.   When suddenly confronted with something new, I want to be able to quickly evaluate it and know how God considers it.  I want to know what brings Him joy and what distresses Him.

Prayer:  Lord, I love to sing:
Lord, there’s just one thing; One think I ask of Thee.
Cause me to excel; excel in loving Thee.
There’s nothing in the world, that I would rather be,
Than by thy grace just one, who excels in loving Thee.
Holy Spirit, for this to be true, I need your help to better know God’s ways!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!