May 15, 2017: SOAP #2720: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 25:1 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. … 3… who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD.

Observation:   King David, working together with those over Israel’s army, appointed people with the special responsibility to sing songs of thanksgiving and praise to God, and as they sang, they would be open to the Spirit to sing forth what God was saying.

Application:   Hearing God’s word along with thanksgiving and praise are to be important parts of my daily life.  They should be daily parts of our governmental and military leader’s lives also.  Our spiritual lives should not be isolated from our public lives.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I have your promise that you will never leave me nor forsake me.  There is not a part of my week, or day when you are not with me. Thanking and praising you, hearing you speak to me is what life is all about!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 13, 2017: SOAP #2718: 1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

Scripture:  1Chronicles (NIV) 24:3 With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelech a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering.
…
17 the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him. 

Observation:  God is a God of order.  He organizes His people to accomplish His will. 

Organization teaches me three things:  First, God does not expect me to do everything.  Second, I must learn to depend on others to do their part.  Third, others are depending on my to do my part.      

Just as 1Corinthians 12 reminds us that our bodies are made up of different parts with different responsibilities, so the Holy Spirit gives different ministry gifts to different people. 

Application:   The same God who organized the worship around the Old Testament Tabernacle is as work today organizing His church to accomplish His will!   To be a useful part of the body of Christ, I must allow myself to be placed within God’s organization as He sees best.       

Prayer:   Lord, I want you to use me, so I must submit myself to where you place me within your body, your church.  I want to bring you joy.     Amen          

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 13, 2017: SOAP #2718: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Ps 30; 1Thes 2

Scripture:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.  9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Observation:  The rise of the Anti-Christ to whom I believe the lawless one points will be under the direct supervision of Satan.  He will be as the incarnation of Satan.  He will do many fake miracles that will get the attention of many.

Application:  To me it appears the church today is moving away from believing in the miraculous.  When people see the counterfeit, they will be sucked in, ready to believe in what they see.  How today’s church needs to return to depending on the work and power of the Holy Spirit!  Christians today need to see a real move of the Holy Spirit so that they will recognize the counterfeit.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I need your refreshing.  I need an outpouring of Your Presence in my life today.  Make Your Presence known through Your gifts, I pray.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 12, 2017: SOAP #2717: 2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 2:17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.  18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.  21 “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

Observation:  The nations surrounding Israel served idols.  It was a service that went one way.  The worshippers served the idol.  They did everything for the idol.  The idol could not even serve itself.   

But Israel’s God—What A Difference!  The God Israel served, served Israel!   King David was celebrating what God did for him.  His God even delighted in him!      

Application:  What a thought:  God delights in me!  And it is not because I am so powerful, in control, and always victorious.  It is because I am weak and my enemy is too strong for me.  It is because I depend on God for strength, and guidance; He is my support.  God loves to make His Presence known by doing for people what they obviously cannot do for themselves!        

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, when I face things that are far beyond my abilities, everyone knows that You are the reason for my success.  You get the glory!  You delight in my weaknesses! Amen            

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity! 

May 11, 2017: SOAP #2716: 2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 55:1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; 2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.

Observation:  Some pray to gods that cannot hear.  Some serve gods that do nothing to serve the worshippers.  How amazing to know and serve a God who hears, listens, understands, is available, is able, and is willing to help us!   If there is anyone we want to hear our prayers, it is God!

Later in the same chapter, the Psalmist continues:    Psalm (NIV) 55:16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.  17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.  18 He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

Application:   It just makes good sense to serve such a God!  To live my life as He directs is the smartest thing I can do!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am amazed that such a God as You loves me, listens to me, and helps me. It is my privilege to serve you wholeheartedly.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 10, 2017: SOAP #2715: 2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.  2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Acts (NIV) 4:27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

Observation:   Matthew tells how the religious leaders, probably after discussing Jesus all night, early in the morning reached their decision to have Jesus crucified.    But a short time later, Luke records the prayer of the early church.  The decision that Jesus should die was not made by the religious leaders early one morning in Jerusalem.  It had been made back in the garden of Eden when sin had first entered the picture.

Application:   When I recognize that God is sovereign, I need not worry about the outcome of trouble that comes to my life.  There is nothing that comes to me that He cannot work through for my good.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are indeed sovereign.  You can take the worse that happens to me and turn it for my good.  I can rest secure knowing all things are within your hand.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 9, 2017: SOAP #2714: 2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture:  Matthew (NVI) 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Observation:   To waste something is to exchange its value for something of lesser value, or to use it in a way that does not match its value.   The buyer may underestimate the value of what he has, or overestimate the value of what he is buying.  Either way, he loses value.  In the above passage, the lady anointing Jesus placed a high value on Jesus.  The personal loss of this expensive possession was not to be compared with the opportunity to express how much she valued Jesus!  The disciples saw the value of giving to the poor as greater than the value of honoring Jesus.  So, for them, this was a waste.

Application:   Every day in large ways and in small ways I have opportunity to express how I value the Lord.   I can give time, talent or treasure in letting Him know how valuable He is to me and in my quest to make Him look good to others.  That is good use of value; it is not a waste!

Prayer:   Jesus, may my words and actions agree:  nothing compares with You!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 8, 2017: SOAP #2713: 2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Observation:   Three “happy” words help describe people whose sins are forgiven and whose heart is right with God:  rejoice, glad, and sing.  Joy should be a major characteristic of those whose sins are have the Holy Spirit living within.  It should be obvious to others.

Application:    It is a joy to have happy children around the home.  Their laughter as they play brings joy to the adults.  My Heavenly Father likes me to be joyful.  With all He has done for me, there should be no reason not to be joyful.  May angels look forward to being assigned to me for the day.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, what a joy it is for me to have you accompany me twenty-four hours every day!  I pray that I bring you joy also. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 7, 2017: SOAP #2712: 2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 24:32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.  34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Observation:  Everything I know about Jesus tells me that He is trustworthy.  He said that His words would not only outlast the heavens and the earth, His words will never pass away!  That is not long-lasting; that is permanent!

Application:  If I want to build my life on something permanent, there is nothing more stable than God’s Word!  People want a good foundation on which to build their house but the best foundations available will only last as long as the earth lasts.  To build a life, one needs a better foundation—one that is permanent and that will last into eternity!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, show me through the scriptures how to build my life on the Permanent foundation.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

May 6, 2017: SOAP #2711: 2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

Scripture:  2Samuel (NIV) 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”

Observation:    The Lord had forgiven David, but there would be no consequences.  What did the forgiveness mean?  It meant that David would remain in relationship with the Lord.  It meant that God would still speak to him.  It meant that God would still use him as king.

It did not mean that everything was going to be good.  It did not mean that the son so conceived would live.  It did not mean that God would pull up all the seeds now planted in David’s family so that they would not come to fruit later.  It did not mean that the sin would be hidden from the eyes of men.

The most troubling thing, a thing of which David had very little understanding, was that the enemies of the Lord would “show utter contempt.”  We often forget, or do not even take time to consider how our sins affect our Lord!

Application:   The greatest restraining force to keep me from sin is a burning love for Jesus—loving Him so much that I would do nothing to displease Him!  But when the fire is not so hot, it is good to bear in mind the consequences of sin.  We will reap what we sow!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of how wonderful it is to be loved by Jesus!  Help me keep my eyes focused on this special One I call Lord!  And thank you for the convicting thoughts you bring to my heart when I start to sin.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!