June 18, 2016: SOAP #2389: 1Kings 22; 2Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Observation: As Paul closes his letter, he introduces two brothers who would accompany the letter. Their purpose would be to bring them up-to-date on Paul’s ministry and circumstances. They would be able to answer questions. As visitors in the congregation, they would be an encouragement.

Application: What an excellent goal when visiting churches—to be an encouragement. I should take that as my assignment. The Lord is sending me to be an encouragement to the church or to someone I meet.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, may this be my assignment every time I gather with other believers. Open my eyes to see things I can appreciate, especially to take notice of the things You appreciate! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 16, 2016: SOAP #2387: 1Kings 20-21; 2Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 17:7 In the third year of his reign [King Jehoshaphat] he sent his officials …to teach in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites…and the priests… 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went round to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. 10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.

Observation: What a wise King! He wanted his people to know their God and their history. Reading the Law is like reading the history of the Jews. Their history was uniquely tied to their God.  The neighboring nations were not afraid of Judah’s weapons, nor their army led by brilliant generals. They were not afraid of Judah’s strong economy, nor of strong alliances with other nations. They were not afraid of their population. They were afraid of Judah’s God!

Application: Oh that our national leaders would follow King Jehoshaphat’s example. May every citizen of this great nation come to know “the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.” (…as we sing in the fourth stanza of our national anthem.) When we lose our fear and respect of God, other nations lose their fear and respect of us!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me understand the Bible and walk in faith and knowledge that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 16, 2016: SOAP #2387: 1Kings 17-19; Colossians 2

Scripture: 1Kings (NIV) 17:4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”… 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 1Kings (NIV) 19:7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

Observation:  In a space of three chapters, God had three different ways of providing for Elijah, His servant—ravens, a widow, and the angel of the LORD. First: The ravens: God’s provisions came through unexpected and unusual sources. Second: The widow: because God could provide through her, he provided for her! Third: The angel of the LORD: God provided a meal that sustained the prophet for forty days!   God has a million different ways to prove He never changes! He can be trusted to provide our needs.

Application: As Elijah was responsible to obey the Lord, the Lord took responsibility for Elijah’s provisions. As I put obedience as my priority, I can trust the Lord to put my provision as His priority!   I see birds every day; I know of widows living in this town; I know God has His angels. Surely He can provide for me.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, the song says, “trust and obey.” Teach me, like Elijah, to obey and trust. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 15, 2016: SOAP #2386: 1Kings 16; 2Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 15:8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. 9 Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

Observation: The prophet Azariah brought a word from the Lord. King Asa and the nation of Judah responded and turned from years of worshipping idols to worshipping the true God. Judah was experiencing a time of revival. The news traveled into neighboring Israel and many people moved to Judah. They wanted to live in a nation where God was honored and could be seen.

Application: The presence of God should be seeable in my life. People around me should be able to recognize the difference God makes in my life. By responding to God’s Word and walking in an awareness of His presence, I can daily enjoy revival in my personal life.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, I honor you and welcome your presence in my life. Today I want you to enjoy living in me and expressing yourself through me. Let your presence in me attract people to you. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 14, 2016: SOAP #2385: 1Kings 15; 2Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Observation:  Verse 19 is a popular verse to memorize. Many of us want to claim it as a personal promise. We like to think that God will supply ALL our needs “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” In 2Corinthians 9 Paul writes about sowing and reaping as an encouragement for those in Corinth to give. But to those in Philippi he writes this promise because they have been giving as can be seen in verse 18.

Application: To claim this as a promise to me, I need to be a giver. Like humility, being a giver is a quality that attracts God’s attention. God is a giver and it is His joy to provide for those who express His character.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are loving and generous and kind. Make me more like you. You are not only a FORGIVER; you are FOR GIVERS. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 13, 2016: SOAP #2384: 1Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Philippians (NIV) 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Observation: The mind is an important part of the Christian life. From the Bible’s perspective, I have a mind; I am not a mind. I have a mind; my mind does not have me. I am to discipline my mind and use it to control my body in a way that honor’s God. There is too much ahead for me to waste my time thinking about what is past. When my mind becomes locked into earthly things, I think as an enemy of the cross.

Application: I need to treat my mind like a most precious possession. It is more valuable than my automobile. Saturday I took my car in for an oil change to make sure all the fluids were clean and properly filled. How much more should I care about keeping the inside of my mind clean and properly filled with God’s Word.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me keep a close watch on what is accepted into my mind. May it be easy for you to communicate with me and may my thoughts be acceptable to you. I want my thoughts to be under your control. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 12, 2016: SOAP #2383: 1Kings 12; 2Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Observation: My attention was drawn to the progression in the above two verses. Jesus “humbled himself” before God “exalted him.” I have seen people who want God to exalt them before they are willing to humble themselves.   I have also seen people who exalt themselves only to have God bring about a humbling fall. But God honors people who are not looking for recognition or acclaim, but only that God receives the glory.

Application: It is not a little thing to be honored by God, especially on judgment day. There can be no higher honor than to know that the LORD is pleased with me.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, surely there is a special place in your heart for those willing to humble themselves. It must fill your heart with great joy to give them honor, not only in this life, but throughout eternity. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 11, 2016: SOAP #2382: Song of Solomon 5-8; Philippians 1

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Observation: Paul was writing from prison. Here we read the same concept found in Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God work for good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”   Obviously this was more than just something that came to mind while he was writing to the church in Rome. This was a life principle. He lived with assurance that God was at work in his life and everything would turn out for his good.

Application: I too love God and I too am called according to His purpose, so I too can live with the assurance that everything in my life will turn out for my good. Everything means everything!   Such knowledge establishes peace in my heart and mind.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, as Your child I have peace. I have confidence in Your word and Your ability to make my circumstances turn out for my good. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 10, 2016: SOAP #2381: Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Observation: Paul did not tell us to have a full suite of armor in our closet, but we are to put it on. The armor is not any good unless we are wearing it.  Paul did not tell us to pray that God will cloth us in His armor, but he tells us to put it on!  It is our responsibility to be ready for the attack of the enemy. The breastplate of righteousness will not protect us unless it is “in place.”

Application: The breastplate of righteousness is made up of the righteous deeds I do. Doing right protects my heart from feelings of guilt. Obeying and doing what is right keeps the enemy from accusing me before my Heavenly Father.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the righteousness you give me through Jesus your Son. Holy Spirit, help me to “wear” that righteousness and keep it “in place” through my words and actions. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 9, 2016: SOAP #2380: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

Scripture: Ephesians (NIV) 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Observation:  The issue is submission. Submission is the proper attitude toward authority. Submission is for everyone. The world is so structured that every single person comes under the authority of someone else. The Only One with all authority is God!   All other authority is delegated from God.

Authority may come from knowledge. Doctors have authority in treating the injured. The key to walking in this authority is to grow in knowledge.

Authority can come from position. This authority is usually delegated from a higher authority and is given to one deemed worthy. If we cannot submit, we will never have delegated authority.

Authority can come on the basis of function. The person scrubbing the floor has the authority to put up a “Caution – Wet Floor” sign, and even the CEO rebels against that authority at his own peril.

Application:  In the body of Christ, we submit to one another. We recognize the above mentioned authorities and instead of giving those over us a hard time, we make it easy for them to exercise their authority, as we want them to do for us in the areas over which we have authority.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me honor and submit to the authority you have place in my life. In submission, teach me to skillfully use the authority you have given me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!