December 06, 2016: SOAP #2560:  Philippians 1-4

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Observation:   Paul wanted the greatest reward for those who had supported his ministry, so he did not want his need to be the motivation for their support.  There was no pressure from Paul to entice gifts for himself. If they gave, it should have been in response to the leading of the Lord, of a desire put there by the Holy Spirit. Paul was looking to the Lord for His support.  He was content with whatever the Lord would supply.

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 4:14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. … 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

Observation:     There are two results of giving.  Paul was indeed blessed by their giving during his time of need.  But the other result of their giving was more important to Paul—the givers would be rewarded.  Paul speaks in terms of an account.  The account is not always current.  There are credits that build up as we give.

Application:   There is coming a day when the Great Account Keeper will pay off all the credits.  What a day that will be!

Prayer:   Jesus, you are The Faithful Judge, not only to punish sin, but also to reward righteous acts. There is only one reason to withhold punishment—your death on the cross for our sins.  But because of our giving and serving, may there be many reasons to reward us.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 05, 2016: SOAP #2559:  Ephesians 5-6; Psalm 119:1-80 

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 119:9 Beth How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. … 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Observation:   In these two verses, the psalmist recognizes the value of God’s word in being a guide as to how to live and in setting a natural barrier against sin.

Application:   I must read the Bible to learn how to live a life pleasing to God.  I must place it in my heart to be remembered so that I can resist the temptation to sin.    What is true of the written Word of God is also true of the Living Word that became flesh, Jesus God’s Son.  (John 1:14)   Knowing about Jesus gives understanding as to how God wants me to live.  But personally having Him live in my heart gives strength to overcome the temptations.  What a difference He makes!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, how I treasure your Word, your written and especially your Living Word!  Jesus, thank you for living on earth as my example and living in me to be my strength.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 04, 2016: SOAP #2558:  Ephesians 1-4

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Observation:   God choose us according to “his pleasure and will.”  No one was twisting God’s arm.  Joab had to trick David into restoring Absalom to Jerusalem in 1 Samuel 14.  No one tricked God into bringing us into His kingdom!  It pleased Him to do so!  Our position in His family brings Him joy and pleasure! He did this, not because of our worth, but because it pleased Him!  Oh, yes, we did have potential. That potential was placed in us by His creative act. But it was not that He could not pass up someone with potential, but that it pleased Him! His will was in working out His pleasure.

Application:  Knowing that I have been chosen according to the pleasure of His will, I must walk in humility with my one goal to make Him smile.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, may you enjoy living in me.  I want my life to give honor to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 03, 2016: SOAP #2557:  Romans 13-16

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 15:17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.  18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So, from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Observation:   As Paul closes his letter to the Romans, he provides a quick overview of his ministry.   As Jesus was known as a teacher, so teaching was an important part Paul’s ministry.  And here Paul describes his ministry in similar terms that could be used to describe the ministry of Jesus: “the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.”  As Jesus relied on the presence of the Holy Spirit, we see that Paul did the same.  As Jesus’ ministry was known for miracles, so Paul’s ministry was known for miracles.  I believe we can say that Paul’s ministry was a continuation of the ministry of Jesus.  The same Holy Spirit working in Jesus, was working in Paul.

Application:  The same Holy Spirit is still working through flesh and blood people today.  Believers today in whom Christ dwells by His Holy Spirit need to rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I need to set myself to be an avenue through which the Holy Spirit can express Himself today.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, May you find me a willing and useful vessel through whom you can express your presence in my world today. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 02, 2016: SOAP #2556:  Romans 9-12

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Observation:   The heart and the mouth work in coordination.  Both are necessary to complete God’s work of salvation in our lives.  Faith in the heart that does not find a way of expression is dead.  On the other hand, words in the mouth must be flowing from a heart of confidence.  When the heart and the mouth are in sync, power is released.  Sin is eradicated and salvation brings new life.

Application:   James 2:20 tells me that faith without works is dead.  Living faith works in me and through me.  Although not the only one, speaking is surely one of the first expressions of faith.  With my mouth I confess to God and with my mouth I confess before people.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, I pray that every day you will hear me confess that you are my Lord, not only in prayer, but also in my conversations with those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

December 01, 2016: SOAP #2555:  Romans 5-8

Scripture:   Romans (NIV) 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Observation:    We can live above condemnation as we keep our focus on the victory we have in Christ Jesus. The reason that there is no condemnation as stated in verse 1, is given in verse 2:  there is a law that supersedes the law that brought condemnation.  Praise the Lord! The law of the Spirit of life was implemented by Christ Jesus.  His death on the cross legally broke the power of the law of sin and death.  His life now within us not only raises us to live above the requirements of the law of sin and death, but also continues to provide forgiveness and mercy as we confess our sins.

Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw us closer to God. Condemnation is the work of the flesh to push us away from God. It often enters our life through our ears.  Condemnation says, “You are wrong; you will never make it!” Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit speaking into our hearts, “You are wrong; let me help you!”

Application:   I must be careful to let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.  When I take on myself, it usually results in condemnation.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, convicting men of sin is your job. Help me to speak the truth clearly and lovingly.  I must leave the inside work to you.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 23, 2016: SOAP #2554:  Romans 1-4

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 1:9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.  11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Observation:   Paul has a yearning to meet his brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Rome. He wants to see them succeed.  He wants to see them grow.  He wants to see them strong.  He knows that he may have a part in their growth if he can just spend some time with them. Historically, some see evidence that Paul later got to Rome.  It is interesting to me to note that we have no cassette tape of his ministry there and no booklet of sermons preached when he was in Rome.  It is only in the delay of his going that we are blessed.  Out of a heart of concern, a heart of longing to see them, Paul writes this letter, which remains to bless us today!

Application:    May I learn to see delay as God does and may I be fruitful in my times of delay as was Paul.

Prayer:  Jesus, may I come to see you as the Lord of the Delay.  You are the Lord of my Delays.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 29, 2016: SOAP #2553:  1Thessalonians 4-5; 2Thessalonians 1-3

Scripture:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 3:2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.  4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.

Observation:    In dealing with other believers, we can have “confidence in the Lord” because “the Lord is faithful.”   He is faithful to work in their lives as He is in our lives.

Application:   When I hear a bride and groom make their wedding vows to each other, I know that in that special moment, they fully intend to keep their promises.  I also know that in the days ahead, they will need a faithful Lord to strengthen them and enable them to live out their promises.  They will need “confidence in the Lord” that their spouse will do “and will continue to do as they promised.

Prayer:  Lord, I know you are faithful to help me, and faithful to help those around me. I have confidence that you will work in my life, and in the lives of those around me.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 28, 2016: SOAP #2552:  Matthew 28; 1Thessalonians 1-3

Scripture:   1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Observation:   Paul’s love for the people in Thessalonica is obvious as one reads this letter.  Timothy had been sent to check on them and had just returned with good news.  Paul is rejoicing.  Yet he “earnestly” desires to see them again.   He is not concerned about their health, or if they all have jobs.  He is concerned about what might be lacking in their faith.

Application:    Some people are so worried about something missing in their retirement portfolio, or their kitchen, or on their car, but have no concern about what might be lacking in their faith!  I need to be more concerned about my son’s faith than his job.  I need to be concerned about my faith, and the faith of those I love.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, help me have the same concerns you have about me and those I love.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

November 27, 2016: SOAP #2551:  Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.  63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’  64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

Observation:   Who remembered what Jesus had said?  It was the Chief priests and the Pharisees!   They even acted in accordance with what they remembered.  If the disciples had remembered His words, they would have been camped out at the tomb.  They would have wanted to be present when Jesus appeared from the grave.  (John 20:9)

Application:   Let it never be said that the people of the world know the scriptures better than I know them.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, I confess that I need your help to remember what I read in the scriptures.  And give me the courage to act accordingly.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!