January 5, 2017: SOAP #2590:  Genesis 12-14; Luke 5

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 5:30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Observation:   Jesus was recognized as a religious man.  He was a teacher who taught the ways of God.  He knew the scriptures.  So why did He eat with people who were obviously sinners?   The religious people of His day could not figure Him out.    But Jesus knew His purpose.  He was on a mission.  He had come to heal the physically and spiritually sick.  He had come to call sinners to repentance and into a relationship with God.  Interacting with sinners was a primary purpose of His ministry.

Application:   As a Christian it is easy to get focused on ministry to other Christians.  But if Leon wants to be like Jesus, being around sinners and interacting with unbelievers must be a priority.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of my Heavenly Father’s priorities He has set in my life.  Help me recognize and seize every opportunity to interact with the unbelievers around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 4, 2017: SOAP #2589:  Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 4:17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Observation:   With this verse from Isaiah, Jesus proclaims the basis for his ministry.  Jesus was not ministering from His own standing as God the Son, but from the presence, leading, and power for the Holy Spirit working through Him as the Son of Man.  Luke continues this priority as he writes of the ministry of the church in the book of Acts.  The miracles recorded in the book of Acts can be understood as the church continued in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Application:   Jesus set the example of relying on the Holy Spirit.  The early church followed His example.  Now it is for me to follow His example in relying on the Holy Spirit in my life.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, let Isaiah’s prophecy be fulfilled in the church today—in my life!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 3, 2017: SOAP #2588:  Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 7:24 The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.  Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

Observation:  Every day being locked into the Ark with all the animals, Noah might have wondered if God had forgotten them.  Noah would have been watching the amount of food and water being consumed each day and wondering how long it would last, hoping there would be enough.  But the One who designed and planned it all, knew exactly how much food would be needed, exactly how much water, exactly how long it would need to last.  They were not forgotten.  God was remembering!  They were safe in God’s memory!

Application:   The One who designed the ark, is the same One who designed this earth.  Surely, He did not miscalculate how much land area would be needed to grow food and support the animals man would need.  Greed and mismanagement have hindered production of food needed today.  But as this world marches toward Armageddon, God has not forgotten us!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, my faith is in your memory!  I am safe in your memory!  You have not forgotten me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

January 2, 2017: SOAP #2587:  Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Observation:   In the first chapter of Genesis we find a major characteristic of God is that He speaks. And now in chapter three we find Satan also speaking and sowing doubt about what God said. We often think that the first sin was the eating of the forbidden fruit, but it really started by doubting God’s word.

Application:  God’s word is as faithful and true as God’s character.  (The same can be said about any person.)   It is important for me to know that God is completely trustworthy.  And it is important for me to know what God has said.   Satan will use whatever voice is available to him to try to get me to doubt God’s Word.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, what a blessing to know that you, my God, are totally trustworthy.  Your word is true and a good foundation for my life. Holy Spirit, help me quickly recognize whose voice I am hearing.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Happy New Year!  We are now officially into the 17^th year of the 21^st century.  Let’s live as though this is the year the Father answers Jesus prayer in John 17:24. He prayed that we would be with Him and see His glory!   Let’s live each day as though it is the day Jesus returns.  He may come for all of us at once, or one at a time.  Let’s be ready and rejoicing to accompany Him!   Leon

January 1, 2017: SOAP #2586:  Genesis 1-2; Luke 1

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  3 And God said…

Observation:   Before beings known as people were created, a place had to be prepared for them to exist.  So, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.   It all started with God.  In the beginning, He was already present.  The beginning of the earth and man was not the beginning of God!

Application:  It is good for me to consider that God has been there in all my beginnings also.  In the beginning of every new ministry, God was already there…and He was speaking.  There are times when I need to review what God said at the beginning.    In the beginning of 2017, God…   God is present. God has plans for 2017.  God is speaking.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am so glad that 2017 is not your beginning.  But as I begin 2017, I want to be very aware of your presence and clearly hear what you are saying to me.  I am so glad that we are moving into 2017 together!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 31, 2016: SOAP #2585:  Revelation 19-22

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Observation:  It is interesting to note the things missing in heaven.  There is no night, no sun, no moon, no curse, no darkness, nothing impure…but the one thing that caught my attention:  no temple.  Temples and building in which the church has gathered for discipleship, fellowship, and worship have been such an important part of church life it just seems natural that there should be such a place in heaven.  But it is God’s presence that makes a place a church.

Application:   As the life of Leon in my body makes Leon a person, so the life of Jesus in me makes me a part of the body of Christ, God’s church, God’s temple.  The presence of God in heaven makes all of heaven a temple!  The presence of God in Leon makes Leon a temple.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me live like this is heaven on earth.  Help me be constantly aware of Your presence. Everything I do and every word I say, let it be done to bring you pleasure.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 30, 2016: SOAP #2584:  Revelation 15-18

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 16:4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7 And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”

Observation:   God is perfectly holy, so His judgments are always holy.  God is all-knowing and completely wise, so His judgments fit the punishment.  God is Almighty so there is no question that His judgments will be enforced.

Application:   Not to fear such an awesome God is the most foolish think I can do.   To respond to his loving offer of mercy and forgiveness is the most logical thing I can do.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to pay for my sins.  Thank you for forgiving me.  Heavenly Father, thank you for accepting me into your kingdom.  Holy Spirit, thank you for becoming my constant companion.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 29, 2016: SOAP #2583:  Revelation 10-14

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 13:5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.  6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling-place and those who live in heaven.  7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.  8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear.

Observation:   In the time described above, people will be in one of two important groups.  They will either be in the group whose names are written in the “book of life belonging to the Lamb,” or in the group who “worship the beast.”   The issue is not race, politics, language, nationality, wealth, education—but who they worship.

Application:   Everyone around me is either a believer or potential believer.  I must live my life as an example and encouragement to the believers.  I must live my life as an advertisement so that potential believers will want what I have.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, live the life of Jesus through me.  Let those around me recognize Jesus in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 28, 2016: SOAP #2582:  Revelation 5-9

Scripture:  Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Observation:   Obviously, there will be tears in heaven.   They may be tears of sorrow because ones we loved on earth are missing in heaven.  They may be tears of shame because once we see how much God loved us and did for us, we see how little we did for Him.  Yet the tears will not last.  The Great Comforter will be the One who wipes them away!

Application:  What a great Savior and Comforter I have!  Motivated by great love for Him, I want to bring Him much joy while here on earth.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, talk to me all day long, showing me ways I can bring joy to my Heavenly Father.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 27, 2016: SOAP #2581:  Revelation 1-4

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Observation:   The angel was sent to John.  The Revelation was given to a man.   I am amazed to me to see how God’s ministry to people so often flows through people.   Even for Jesus’ ministry to and among men, He had to become fully human.

Application:   God’s plan was to reach me, to draw me to Himself.  His plan continues.  His plan is to use me.   If I protest that I am but a man—He assures me that is what qualifies me.  My weaknesses and failures uniquely qualify me to be used of God.  The credit for any success must go to Him alone.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, That you would take someone as weak and frail as myself, with all my limitations, to be useful in your Kingdom amazes me.  May you receive all the glory.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!