March 25, 2017: SOAP #2669: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were… 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did… 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did… 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did… 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come.

Observation:   To learn by example is a great advantage.  People who can learn from the example of others do not have to experience the lesson themselves.  However, there are two different kinds of examples:  good and bad.  The problem with a bad example is that it only gives one way of NOT doing it, but does not show the right way.  The blessing of a good example is that it leads to success for others.

Application:   It is good for others to be able to learn from my life.  I trust that there are more examples of what to do than of what not to do.  My desire is to be a good example.

Prayer:   Jesus, thank You for Your great example that is recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  You showed us how to live.  You showed us how to be both holy and loving.  Shine through me today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 24, 2017: SOAP #2668:  Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 9:12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.  13 Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?  14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Observation:   Although it is not the primary thought of the above passage, Paul acknowledges that money can have a negative effect on the gospel, even from people with good intentions and handling it properly.  So, he would not demand his right to financial support from the Corinthians.  He would even work in Corinth to supply his own needs. (Acts 18:3) It was not their money he wanted for the gospel; he wanted them!

Money is such an important part of our lives.  If people are going to live a victorious Christian life, they need to be taught how to handle their money.  As we would logically expect, the Bible has a lot to say about money.

Application:  The Bible has a lot to say about family; I need to apply that truth to my family.  The Bible has a lot to say about work: I need to apply that truth to my work.  The Bible has a lot to say about being a part of the church…  The Bible has a lot to say about money…  How I use my finances can help or hinder my testimony.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, my life is Yours, so my money is Yours.  Help me to be sensitive to how I apply the money you provide. Thank you for what you have been teaching me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 23, 2017: SOAP #2667:  Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 15:1 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south. 2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea, 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka.

Observation:  This chapter is about a very important issue:  boundaries.  The boundary of the land assigned to each tribe is quite detailed.  Boundaries serve two important purposes.  They define AND limit authority and responsibility.   A boundary shows where one’s authority and responsibility stops.  A boundary shows where someone else’s authority and responsibility begins.  The boundaries were important enough to be recorded in the Bible.

Application:  In His word, God has provided written boundaries for my life.  It is good for me to respect them.  He set the boundaries of day and night so that I would have proper rest.  He set boundaries on my actions so that I would not harm others.  I enjoy His blessings and His protection when I remain within those boundaries.  Like the lines on the highway, the faster I go, the more important the boundaries become.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, in your love and wisdom, You have set boundaries for my life.  Thank you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 22, 2017: SOAP #2666:  Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 13:13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

Observation:   This verse in in the middle of several chapters that record the great victories that God had given Israel.  Chapter twelve has a list of 31 kings they had defeated.  Almost in passing, we read of these two nations that the Israelites did not conquer!  They were allowed to remain among the Israelites.      But what seemed like “no big deal” later proved a major problem.  These people brought temptations to Israel and led them into sin.  The book of Judges shows the suffering Israel endured because of this “no big deal.”   And it is easy to see that God suffered along with His people.

Application:  I need to be careful about things that I think are “no big deal.”  If they are contrary to God’s will, they need to go!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, one of Your assignments is to convict me of sin.  Help me to carefully listen to Your voice and follow Your directions.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 21, 2017: SOAP #2665:  Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 9:1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— 2 they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.

Observation:   The enemy had joined forces.  The Israelites knew that they would have to face them but did not know they would be facing them all together.  Their combined force was no threat to God.  In fact, it served to allow the total victory to come more quickly.  Instead of defeating them one by one, they defeated these at one time.  Their combined force gave God opportunity to demonstrate that He was bigger even than their combined strength!  It made no difference to God how many soldiers the enemy had.

Application:  There are times when the enemy comes at me and I find that God is with me to bring victory.  Then there are times when the enemy comes at me from two or three, or more directions as the same time.  There too I find that God is with me to bring victory.  Greater is He that is with me than he that is in the world, no matter how many ways I am attacked!   (1John 4:4)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, You were greater than Israel’s enemies in Joshua’s day.  You are still greater—greater than my opposition today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 20, 2017: SOAP #2664:  Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 7:13 Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.’

Observation:  What a victory Israel experienced at the city of Jericho.  God had commanded that the whole city was devoted to destruction and they were not to take anything as plunder from Jericho.  At the next city, Ai, Israel experienced a resounding defeat!   Someone had taken plunder from Jericho that was devoted to destruction.  Israel would not have victory until that was removed and destroyed.  How could they expect God to give them victory when they had things in their camp totally contrary to God’s will!   Achan was discovered with the stolen items.  When he was killed and the items destroyed, God again gave them victory.

Application:   I must be careful not to hold on to things that displease God.  His victory is so important, that I should be willing to lay anything aside that would offend Him or hinder His blessing.   How can I expect God to help me out of trouble when I am not willing to stop doing the things that got me into trouble?

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me that this life is not some game in which I see how much I can do without getting caught.  Live in me and help me live a life that best pleases my Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 19, 2017: SOAP #2663:  Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 5:10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.  [They were now inside the Promised Land.] 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

Observation:   God intended manna to be the provision for their journey to Sinai, while they were at Sinai, and for their journey across the wilderness to the southern entrance to Canaan.  But because of their unbelief and refusal to go into the Promised Land, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.  God faithfully provided manna all those forty years!    Oh no!  It stopped!  God had fed them for forty years with manna.  It was God’s miraculous welfare provision while they lived in the wilderness.   It was never God’s plan for Israel to live as “manna eaters.”  It was miraculous, but it was meant to be a temporary supply.

Application:   I thank God for His healing power.  But I know God’s higher plan for me is to live in health and not need healing.   I need to treat my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.  I thank God for unexpected financial help in times of need.  But it is not God’s plan for me to live as a “welfare recipient.”   I know God’s higher plan is for me to be faithful in tithing and giving (in sowing and reaping.)  He wants me to grow to live in His abundance.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I know you are gracious and willing to do miracles to help me, but I thank you for teaching me how to move out of the wilderness and a constant need of a miraculous heavenly welfare provision.  I want to be careful to use what you have provided. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 18, 2017: SOAP #2662   Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

Scripture:  Joshua (NIV) 2:8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.  11 When we heard of it, our hearts sank and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Observation:   What a revelation.  Forty years before this time, Israel had been too afraid of the Canaanites to follow God’s command, so God led them in circles in the wilderness until that generation died off.  This lady reveals that the Canaanites had been afraid of Israel since Israel left Egypt!!!    It was not really Israel that they feared; it was Israel’s God!  They feared Israel’s God more than Israel feared Israel’s God.

Application:  The Bible has a lot to say about fearing God.  The more I know about God, the more reason I have to fear Him and the more I grow to appreciate His great love for me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, there is no way I could ever attain to Your holy standard.  But You wanted me close to You.  So, in Your great love, you provided Your Son to be the sacrifice for my sin.  And You put Your Holy Spirit in side of me to help me live a life that pleases You!  You are amazing!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 17, 2017: SOAP #2661:  Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

Scripture:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way, no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Observation:   God wants to share His thoughts with His children, but there is a problem.  The things of God are spiritual and people are flesh and blood.  We see things from an earthy viewpoint rather than a spiritual viewpoint.  But, we can rejoice; God has an answer to this dilemma!   He gives us His Holy Spirit

Application:  It is so important that I grow in my relationship with the Holy Spirit.  Since He was sent to be with me like He was with Jesus, I need to grow in my communication with Him.  He is with me every minute, every hour, every day, every week…  I must learn to better interact with Him.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, You are my constant companion, counselor and guide.  I walk so far below my potential when I ignore You.  Make me more useable in the kingdom of God.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

March 16, 2017: SOAP #2660:  Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 40:16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “The LORD be exalted!” 17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Observation:   David was meditating on the Lord.  In his mind, he was contemplating God’s goodness.  God was to be praised!   It was good that David had God in his thoughts, but what he wanted was to be in God’s thoughts!  “May the Lord think of me.”

Application:   What a special joy arises in my heart when I consider that the Great Creator God is thinking of me!   I am in His thoughts!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what an amazing thing:  You thinking of me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!