January 25, 2017: SOAP #2610:  Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Observation:    Yesterday the Lord drew my attention to the last action Jesus performed as He was leaving earth. (Luke 24:50)   He blest those gathered with Him.  Here in the beginning of the book of Acts, which Luke also wrote, we have the last promise the Lord gave.  Someone would be coming from Heaven to take His place.  He had previously told them about the Holy Spirit.  When He left, they were to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the promise. (Acts 1:4)

Application:   I need to value what Jesus valued.  What was important to Him, should be important to me.  If His last promise was to experience the Presence of the Holy Spirit, it should be my priority to be walking every day with an awareness of His Presence!

Prayer:   Jesus, I call you Lord; what you say is important to me!  Holy Spirit, Jesus promised I would receive power to be His witness when you come upon me.  Let it be true today, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 24, 2017: SOAP #2609:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Observation:  Jesus had completed His earth assignment.  He had finished what His Father had sent Him to do.  So, what is His last act on earth as He is returning to heaven?   He blesses the people gathered around him.

Application:  What an appropriate, Christ-like action to take when leaving people.  When the purpose of the time together has been accomplished and the time comes to move on, how appropriate to leave a blessing.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, remind me when the time is appropriate to leave a blessing.  Then guide my words in giving a blessing that will comfort, encourage and uplift the hearers.  May they be truly blest.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 23, 2017: SOAP #2608:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.  5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

Observation:  God was preparing to bring Israel out of Egypt to the land He had promised them (Note: Exodus 6:4-8).  There were two nations that interested Him.  Of course, Israel was one.  But the other was Egypt.  The Egyptians were important to Him.  He wanted them to know His omnipotent power.  He was greater than the gods of the Egyptians.  When Israel left, the Bible tells us that some Egyptians accompanied them.

Application:  Many of the things I encounter in life have a dual purpose.  God is working in my life as my faith, patience, and endurance grow through the trials.  But God is also interested in those around me.  He wants them to see my faith as I hold steady in the troubled waters.  He wants them to see His deliverance in my life.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are at work in and through my life.  I want that all your purposes for today be realized in me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 22, 2017: SOAP #2607:  Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them… 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.  10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Observation:    Again and again, God, who is all seeing and all knowing, reassures Moses, and later the Israelites, that He has heard their prayers, He has seen their misery, He is concerned, and He is doing something about it.

Application:   I believe that God is omniscient (all knowing).  I believe that He sees everything.  I believe that He hears every conversation, even those from which I am excluded.  When I am excluded, He goes with me—He also remains behind to hear what is said.  I believe He loves me and works all things for my good.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Although my circumstances may seem to be against me, how can I worry when I know You are for me!    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 21, 2017: SOAP #2606:  Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 2:23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.  24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.  25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

Observation:   The Israelites had experienced times of acceptance and appreciation.  Then a new pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph and everything changed.  The Israelites were forced into slavery.  But Someone Heard their cry!   God heard and remembered His promises!  God was concerned!

God heard their groaning.  God saw their situation.  God remembers what He had planned for them and what He had promised them.  Perhaps their prayers were an indication that they were ready to follow Him through the wilderness.

Application:   God hears our groaning.  God sees our situations.  God remembers what He has planned for us and what He has promised to us.  Perhaps my prayers do not yet have the intensity that shows God I am willing to follow Him through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, may you hear intensity and faith in my prayers.  Accomplish your will for my life, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 20, 2017: SOAP #2605:  Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 20:35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.  37 But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’.  38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Observation:   As I was reading this familiar passage, I saw a statement of truth from Jesus that I had overlooked.   The first part, “neither marry nor be given in marriage,” captured my thoughts and I never really pondered the second part, “they can no longer die.”  I believe what he said, but I just never given it attention that he said it so specifically in this passage.  Those who physically die while being spiritually alive in Christ will no longer be able to die!!!

Application:  Death becomes the doorway into life that can never die!

Prayer:    Jesus, You have made my life full joy, meaning, and purpose.  You have prepared a future for me and are preparing me for the future.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 19, 2017: SOAP #2604:  Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.  4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Observation:   There are Zacchaeus-es today who want to see Jesus.  If Jesus was present today as He was in the Gospel days, only one Zacchaeus would be able to see him at a time.  But God wants every Zacchaeus to see Jesus!   So, He lives His life in His people.  Every Zacchaeus in every nation and every city should be able to see Jesus living in Christians in their area.

Application:    My assignment is to let Jesus live His life through me today.   He is to be heard in my words and seen in my actions.  My attitude should reflect His presence to those around me.  It is an impossible assignment for me.  It is only possible as He lives His life in me.

Prayer:     Jesus, be Jesus in me.  No longer, me, but Thee.  Resurrection power, fill me this hour, Jesus be Jesus in me. (McSpadden)  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 18, 2017: SOAP #2603:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

Observation:   Jacob has just recently learned that the son he had long considered dead was alive and in charge of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh!   Now he had stopped for a night on his way to see Joseph.  And God appeared to Him in a vision.  “Do not be afraid to go to where you are headed.  I am going to make you a great nation there.  All you need to do is have lots of babies.  I’ll take care of the rest of my plan.  I will go with you and I will SURELY bring you back!”

Application:   When the God Who created the world and sent His Son to die for my sins says something like this to me, what is an appropriate response?  In my youth, God led me out of Kansas and went with me.  Each place He led me He was with me.  And He has brought me back to Kansas.  And like every other place I have been, God is with me now.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are the God who is with me.  You are the promise-keeping God.  You are the God who cares for me and has plans for my future.  Your plans for me include being your dwelling place for a short time here on earth, then joining you in your dwelling place for all eternity!  Wow!!!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 17, 2017: SOAP #2602:  Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 17:7 “Suppose one of you had a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Observation:   Christians often refer to themselves as servants of Jesus, but do not understand what it means to be a servant.  They are willing to serve, but only when it is convenient.  They expect to be rewarded for every sacrifice they make.  They are more interested in what God can do for them instead of what they can do for God.

Those who call Him Lord must see themselves as His servants.  They must learn to recognize how He speaks to them.  They must do what He says.  They see their possessions as His possessions and themselves as His stewards.

Application:  What is my duty?  Simple; I must do what He says.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I desire to be a servant that brings you joy and honor today.  Among the many things before me to do, may I be careful not to miss what you have told me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 16, 2017: SOAP #2601:  Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.  5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

Observation:   Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery.  Now in Egypt, he was living in Potiphar’s house.  But the same God who was with Joseph at home, was with him in Egypt.  Although Joseph was his father’s favorite son, he did not end up selfish and arrogant.  He must have learned from his father how to run a household.  He must have learned at home the value of honoring God.  Before Joseph found favor in the eyes of Potiphar, he had favor in the eyes of the Lord!

Application:   To live a life in the favor of God is highly desirable.  God’s favor can be seen by those around us and they too can enjoy the blessings that come from God’s favor.  Having God’s favor often results in having the favor of those around us.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for your favor.  May your favor be a source of blessing to those around me where I live and where I work.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!