July 05, 2019: (reworked from July 5, 2014) SOAP #3501:  Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2

Scripture:  Hebrews (NIV) 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Observation:   Love demanded that He help us; holiness demanded that the help come from one who had personally experienced temptation.  God is so HOLY that love cannot be allowed a short cut to help the one loved.  But God is so LOVING that he was willing to do what holiness required.  It is amazing!   It was God’s Holiness and Love that held Jesus on the cross to suffer and die for our sins.

Because Jesus suffered through times of temptation when he was living as a man here on earth, he is able to help those who are being tempted now.  Jesus understands our trials not because someone told him about them, not because he read about them, not because he overheard someone talking about them, but because he experienced them!   He has been here; He has done that!  No one will say to the Judge, “You have no right to judge me; you do not know how bad my life was.”

Application:   Jesus can help me; He has experience dealing with the devil; he knows how to defeat Satan.  Jesus can help me; He has experience dealing with the weaknesses and limitations of being human; he knows I cannot rely on the flesh, so he gives me His Holy Spirit.  Jesus can help me; He is finished dealing with his own trials; Satan cannot distract Him from helping me.   Praise the Lord!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you were the only one who could do for me what I needed. In great love, you sent your son to die in my place.  My life is yours.  It is the least I can do. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 04, 2019: SOAP #3500:  2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

Scripture:  2Kings (NIV) 16:11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned.
16:16 And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

Observation:   A few days ago, we read about King Uzziah going into the temple to offer sacrifices—which was the priests responsibility. (2Chronicles 26) When the priest, Azeriah, along with 80 priests, stood against the King, God struck the King with leprosy.  In today’s passage, instead of standing against King Ahaz, the priest went along with the king to replace the old altar with a new fancier altar and to re-arrange other items in the temple as the King of Assyria had suggested.

Application:   As the United States pauses for the annual celebration of our independence, we need religious leaders who will boldly speak the word of the Lord to our political leaders.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, send a Holy Spirit revival to your church today, especially to the leaders.  When political leaders close their ears to what you are saying, embolden religious leaders to speak your word clearly. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 03, 2019: SOAP #3497:  Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 26:7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites.
14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and sling stones for the entire army.
15 In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

Observation:   As men have “advanced” and become “more civilized” they have “improved” their ability to wage war.  Having the most “modern” of weapons not only enabled a king to defeat his enemy but also to defend his cities.  Here skillful men under the reign of a righteous Uzziah are credited with designing some of the ancient, defense machines of war.

Application:  The better we can fight an offensive war against the enemy of our souls, the better we will be able to defend our families and homes.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, keep me alert and awake.  Use me to attack the enemy.  Use me to defend those closest to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 02, 2019: SOAP #3498:  Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

Scripture:  Jude (NIV) 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Observation:   As we live in a world full of temptation, what a blessing to know Someone able to keep us from falling.  How does He do that?  Sometimes he brings a helper alongside.  Sometimes He gives us a prop.  Sometimes He calls out to us.  Sometimes He shows us in His Word.

But the greatest way He keeps us from falling is to live inside each one!   His presence, not just near me, but in me!  It is an inside job!  His presence inspiring, indwelling, and empowering me!

Application:   I must learn to recognize His presence in me.  I need to be listening and expecting to hear His voice.  I need to be in God’s Word daily.  If I have been reading in God’s Word, I will more quickly recognize what He speaks to me personally.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, thank you for sharing my life.  I need a constant reminder of your presence.  I want you to feel welcome and feel at home.  Keep me from falling and present me faultless before the Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 01, 2019: SOAP #3497:  Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

Scripture:  Titus (NIV) 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men.
AV …shewing all meekness unto all men.
HCSB …showing gentleness to all people.
MESSAGE  …should be bighearted and courteous.
NKJV  …showing all humility to all men.
RSV  …show perfect courtesy toward all men.

Observation:   As I have been reading through the Bible this year, my attention has been drawn to the many times reference is made to humility.  Obviously, it is very important to God.

Above we are instructed to show true humility to all people.  That would include those who to whom I must submit.  I should approach them with humility.  But that would also include those for whom I am responsible.  I should show humility to my boss as well as those who work for me.

Application:  When I stand before another person, I am standing before someone who was made in the image of God.  When I talk to another person, I am talking to someone so valuable to God that He sent His Son to die for them.   How proper it is to show true humility, gentleness, courtesy.  I may not think that they deserve such treatment, but the One I serve does deserve having me walk in humility!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, work this quality into my life. Bring these thoughts to my mind when you see I need them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 29, 2019: SOAP #3496:  Amos 7-9; Psalm 104:  Titus 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 104:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent 3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

Observation:   God is great!  He is clothed with splendor and majesty.  He wraps himself in light.  These are the outer expressions of God, but what is He like at the core.  He stretches out the heavens and he set the earth on its foundations.  This is what he does, but what is He like at the core of His being.

His works show his greatness, but what makes Him good?

At the core, He is holy.  (Psalm 99:9) At the core He is love!  (1John 4:8,16) It is the combination of his eternal holiness and eternal love that make God good.

Application:  I am extremely honored to know God!   To think that one so great and so good would send His son to die for my sins is very humbling.  To have God’s Holy Spirit living in me is also humbling.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may my life bring honor and pleasure to you.  May our relationship bring you much joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 29, 2019: SOAP #3495:  Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 86:8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Observation:   Sometimes when I read the Bible, I find myself talking to the writers.  Sometimes I speak my agreement.  I usually have a long conversation with Job’s friends.  Sometimes I fill them in on what God has done since they put down their writings.  Sometimes, like these verses, what they wrote is good, but it is even greater when brought up to date!  SOAP readers, forgive me as I write this to David…

David, I have to tell you, you did not know even the half!  When you wrote that “no deeds can compare with yours,” you did not even know the best thing that God ever did!  He sent His Son to live among us with the limitations of a man.  He was introduced as the Lamb of God. He lived without sin, then died on a cross—the pure, holy, sacrificial Lamb of God to pay for our sins!  No other god ever did anything like!  David, you were right; there is no god like our God!!!  NO other god, NO other religion can be compared to our God!!!

Application:   This God is and will be worshiped by people from all nations, and that includes me.  It is my privilege to worship the one unique, eternal, almighty, omniscient, omnipresent God, the creator of all things,

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I worship you because of who you are—and because of what you have done for me.  You deserve all my worship.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 28, 2019: SOAP #3494:  Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 4:16 [THE PAST] At my first defense, no-one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
18 [THE FUTURE] The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Observation:   In verses 16-17, Paul shares about his past.  He had to face charges alone—But the Lord was on his side and brought deliverance.  In verse 18, Paul jumps to the future—The Lord will rescue him and will bring him safely to the heavenly kingdom!

The only way I know to get from the past to the future is to go through the present.  What is happening in Paul’s present?  Chapter 1 verse 12 tells us that he is suffering.  Chapter 2 verses 8-9 tell us that he is in chains.  Earlier in chapter 4 we read that he is already being poured out and that his departure (death) is soon.

Application:  Some people get so caught up feeling miserable and complaining about present troubles that they forget what God has done in the past and what He has promised for the future!   Like Paul, sometimes I need to forget about my present troubles, review what God has done for me in the past and remind myself of God’s future promises.  From past victories and future promises, I can gain strength to face today’s troubles.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for wasting time worrying about my problems.  What you have done for me in the past assures me that you have my present in control. Your promises provide a glimpse of what my future holds as I walk with you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 27, 2019: SOAP #3493:  2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Observation:   What makes a person properly equipped to meet the challenges in the world?  It is the God-breathed Scriptures.  It is the scriptures that teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us.

Application:  Bible Schools and Bible Colleges help prepare people for ministry—but only as they teach the God-breathed word.  God intends for us to learn from each other, that is why He gave apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers.  But their priority textbook must be the Bible!

Of course, the greatest teacher is the Holy Spirit, the author of the scriptures.  Faithfully reading the Bible, and the Holy Spirit’s constant presence in my life, keeps me thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, today as I look into your Word, teach me how to apply it to my life and ministry. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 26, 2019: SOAP #3492:  Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.

Observation:   One needs to know the rules of the game.  There have been football games in which one team gained the most yards but lost the game.   It is not how many yards a team gains, it is how many points they score!

In our history, there have been several elections in which the candidate for president who had the most popular votes, lost the election.  It is not the total number of votes one receives, but how many electoral college votes were received.  Those running for president of the US need to know the rules.

Application:   In verse 7, Paul writes, “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give insight into all this.”

I hear Paul saying, consider what I am saying as to how it should be applied.  Truth is truth. However, in different situations it can be applied with some variation.  Paul is telling Timothy to consider these basic truths and apply them appropriately in the situations he faces.  He is encouraging Timothy that the Lord will guide him in applying these truths.

As the football coach must study the rulebook; as the presidential candidate must study the constitution; so, I must study the Bible!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me daily apply the scriptures to my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!