September 27, 2016: SOAP #2490:  Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Observation:    Here is a phrase that gives us insight into the life of Jesus.  He was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit.”  The eternal, ever-present Spirit was a source of joy for Jesus.

Application:   The very same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus with joy, lives in me!  Just the thought of that gives me great joy!

The Christian life is more than daily reading my Bible and then going out into the day to try to apply what I read.  It is reading my Bible and then taking on the day with the Holy Spirit living inside me to speak to me and teach me how to apply God’s word in my daily life.  His Presence empowers me and fills me with joy.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I am so thankful for Your Presence in my life.  I depend on you to lead me throughout each day.  Thank you for the joy you bring to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 26, 2016: SOAP #2489:  Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Observation:   Jesus did not have the disciples come into the temple and synagogues, but He sent them out to where the people lived and worked.

Application:    Serving God is not something I do on Sunday; it is seven days every week.  It is not just for church, but for my home and my place of employment.  I must consider myself sent to share the good news that Jesus loves people and wants to be a part of their everyday life.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, as the Father sent you into the world, (John 3:16-17; 20:21) so you have sent me into the world where I am.  Use me for your glory, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 25, 2016: SOAP #2488:  Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 8:38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,  39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

Observation:    So many times we see God sending his followers to places of cross-culture ministry.   Here Jesus sent this man back to his home.  He did not need to learn a new language to testify to those at his home.  He did not need to learn a new culture.  The people at home were well aware of his past.  The people at home would see the obvious difference Jesus had made in this man’s life.

Application:    God knows where He can best use me.  I must be willing to go.  I must be willing to stay.  I am His servant; He can use me where He sees best.

Prayer:  Lord, to go or to stay, the decision is Yours.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 24, 2016: SOAP #2487:  Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.  7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Observation:   “Baca” is the Hebrew word for weeping.  What a blessing are those who turn valleys of “weeping” into valleys of springs.  They passed through the valley and left it a better place.  While in the valley, they dug a well.  They dug for water and the Lord sent water from the sky.  They turned it into a blessing for others who would enter that valley later.  Their testimony would be an encouragement.  Perhaps they wrote a book about God’s keeping power.

Application:    What an amazing gift are the people who walk through the valley of difficulty and tears, and intercede for those around them.  Sometimes the actions of our children or grandchildren can hurt to the point of tears.  What a blessing can come when those tears of hurt and exasperation are turned into tears of intercession.

Prayer:   Lord, what a special ministry is available when I walk through tough times.  I need to keep my focus on you.  I need to keep in touch with you in prayer.  I need to let you develop my valley of weeping into a valley of blessing for others. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 23, 2016: SOAP #2486:  Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 6:7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

Observation:  Interestingly, they were not looking to see if Jesus could heal.  That was not their issue.  They had already accepted the fact that Jesus could heal.  Instead of helping sick people get to Jesus, they were watching to see how they might accuse Him.  His popularity made them jealous.  They wanted to see if he would do what only he could do on the Sabbath.   They were so interested in finding a fault, they could not rejoice with the man who was healed that day!

Application:  I need to be careful not to be disappointed when Jesus seems to ignore my personal preferences while He does something special for someone nearby.  I need to be helping people get to Jesus.

Prayer:   Jesus, you are amazing. I am so glad you did not let the personal preferences of some people stop you from doing what only you could do!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 22, 2016: SOAP #2485:  Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 5:3 He [Jesus] got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Observation:  Jesus had finished speaking, but He was not finished ministering.  There was something that He still needed to do.  He needed to teach the disciples a lesson, a lesson that would be seen by the multitude still on the shore.  They needed to see that his authority was more than just a good message.  They needed to see that His authority extended to the work place, even the place in which they were the experts.  After all, fishing was how they made their living.

Application:   Too often after the message is over in church, people are dismissed without being called to the altar.  People are not given the opportunity for a deeper work of the Holy Spirit in applying the message they just heard.  Just because the message is through, does not mean that God is through working.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, help me not be in such a hurry that I run off before you are finished working in and through me.  Help me not to rush you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 21, 2016: SOAP #2484:  Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

Observation:   Jesus had returned to his home church.  He had been raised in Nazareth and surely had attended this synagogue many times with his parents.   In investigating the life of Jesus, Luke found that going to the synagogue on the Sabbath was His custom.

Application:    If it was important for Jesus to be raised in the synagogue, then surely it is important for children today to be raised in gatherings where God’s word is honored.  If it was a custom that Jesus continued into His adult life, then surely it is important for me to continue meeting with others who honor God’s Word.   As the author of Hebrews wrote:  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (10:25)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want to bring joy to your heart in gathering with your children to honor you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 20, 2016: SOAP #2483:  Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Observation:   As I began reading through the book of Luke a couple of days back, the Lord had me stop and consider Luke’s claim that he had carefully investigated the events surrounding the life of Jesus, and was presenting them in an orderly fashion.  Yesterday in the beginning of chapter 2 we saw Luke’s investigation being presented in an orderly manner.    Today, at the beginning of chapter 3 we see the same emphasis.  The specific year of Tiberius Caesar is mentioned.  Three leaders over specific areas are named.  And the names of the High Priests are given.  This was the year that God spoke to John.

Application:   That God’s actions can be placed on the same timeline as leaders and nations makes me know that God has been involved in history.  It gives me faith that no current leader can stop God’s activity in the world or in a nation today!   That I can place specific actions of God on the timeline of my life assures me that He has been with me all the time!   I can rest assured that He who has been with me, is with me now, and will be with me in the days to come.  History is really His-story!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I am blest to look back at my history and see your involvement.  My history is really our history.  It gives me confidence that you are working out a plan for my life.  I trust you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 19, 2016: SOAP #2482:  Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Observation:    Jesus’ birthday was not marked as a special day on the calendar.   The shepherds were just taking care of their daily responsibilities.  They had not awakened that morning and looked at their calendar and saw something special was going to happen.  They did not stay awake waiting for the announcement, wondering why it was taking so long. They were just being faithful doing their normal routine.  God interrupted their normal routine.  The shepherds who had taken the night off to be somewhere else, missed out!

Application:   It is good to be faithful where God has placed me.  Sometimes it is appealing to go to another church that is more exciting but being faithful to my home church has great rewards.  I expect my mail to come to my mail box.  If I am looking for a letter, I do not go to my neighbor’s mail box.  If I am looking for a word from God, I should expect God to send it through my home church.

Prayer:   Lord, two things I pray:  help me be faithful to where you have placed me AND help me to have faith that you will speak to me there!  May I go to church expecting to hear from you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

September 18, 2016: SOAP #2481:  Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Observation:    Although Luke wrote the gospel that carries His name as well as the book of Acts, he was not a Jew, and was not a disciple of Jesus.  Luke was a doctor and as such would obviously have practice in investigating the problems of his patients.  He would ask questions.  He would examine bodies.  He would research what was available in the medical world to help his patients.   After proper research, he would come to an orderly conclusion as to how to treat the patient.  He has approached his writing in the same manner.  He desired his readers to have confidence in who Jesus is and what he did for us.

Application:  The Bible is not a book of myths, but of facts.  I place my trust in what it claims to be, God’s Word, and that it is pertinent to my life.  God speaks to me through His Word.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for Luke’s careful investigation and orderly presentation.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit’s anointing as he wrote.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!