August 24. 2015: SOAP #2090

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 5:11 … God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Observation: The beauty of this passage is its simplicity. One cannot have eternal life apart from Jesus. It is more than just knowing about Jesus; it is knowing Him; it is possessing Him. The presence of His life affects every deed and every word. As we grow in submitting to His life, our lives are changed to be more like Him.

Application: The life of Christ within me is to “ooze” out through my every words and deeds. It cannot go unnoticed for long.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I love to sing: “Jesus on the inside, working on the outside; oh, what a change in my life.” (Cymbala) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 23. 2015: SOAP #2089

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Observation: As I was reading this verse, my attention was drawn to one of the shortest words—the word “so.” “…since God SO loves us…” The previous verse describes that great love. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” It is not that Jesus died, but that the Father sent His Son to die for us. God loved us SO much!

Application: It is not that I should love God (whom I cannot see) but that I should love my brother (whom I can see.) My love for God is measured by my love for my brother. God’s love for me cost Him dearly. My love for my brother will cost me too. I may cost me putting up with small annoying habits; it may cost me my life; it may cost me anything in between.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Your great love for me motivated You to go to the greatest extreme to demonstrate that love. Your love reached to me, now I must let it reach through me. Love through me today. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

August 22, 2015: SOAP #2088: Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

Scripture: Jeremiah (NIV) 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

Observation: What a wonderful promise God makes to the people of Jerusalem. But what makes the promise even extra special is to note where they are. They are not living in security in the city of Jerusalem. They are captives that have been taken to Babylon!

Application: Sometimes the promise of God does not come to me when I am worshipping the Lord on Sunday morning surrounded by God’s people in church. Sometimes God speaks to me during the week when I am surrounded by trouble. Times of trouble do not hinder God’s plans for me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to keep my focus more on my Heavenly Father than on my circumstances. Amen.

Pastor Leon Making friends for time and eternity!

April 5, 2016: SOAP #2315:

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

Observation: The psalmist had learned there was no place on earth from which he could not call on God. In times of trouble when he needed a strong foundation, he trusted God to be a rock that was bigger than himself. He remembered when he had been overcome by the enemy; he had found God to be his refuge. God had been his strong tower from which he could overlook the battle below. From his vantage point in the tower the psalmist had viewed the enemies battle plans.

Application: I have never been in a place from which I could not call on the Lord. I have never been in a place where I could not sense His Presence. He has been my courage; he has been my strength. He has been my wisdom; He has been my source. He has been with me in the air (in small planes, Marine helicopters, and passenger jets), on land (in cars, busses and trains) and sea (in small fishing boats and US Navy ships). He has been with me on three continents and several islands of the sea. He has been with me in war and peace; in Viet Nam and at home.   He has been with me when the air was filled with the sound of whizzing bullets and exploding shells; He has been with me when the air was filled with the sounds of people worshipping. His voice has assured me; His hand has sustained me; His presence has satisfied me.

Prayer:   Lord, from the ends of the earth that I have experienced I have called on you and found you to be a rock bigger than myself or my circumstances. You have been my refuge and my strong tower. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

August 18. 2015: SOAP #2084

Scripture: Jeremiah (NIV) 36:1 …this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. 3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.”

Observation: Here is a short portion of scripture when gives us an insight into the heart of our Heavenly Father. We see that our He is not unlike parents who warn their children about doing wrong and threaten their children with punishment, yet all the time they are so willing to forgive. Punishing their children is the last thing they want to do. They would so much rather forgive than punish. However unlike many parents, His are not empty threats. He keeps His promises.

Application: God who aided in the founding of the United States of America, is a Holy God who will not allow our sins to continue without judgment. However the verses above show a God who takes no pleasure in the judgment of sin. (Note: Ezekiel 33:11) He would much rather forgive. So we must individually and nationally repent and turn from our sins. There may yet be time to be an example to the world of how God restores a nation that repents and seeks His favor.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have used the USA in many ways. You have used us to be an example of freedom. You have used us to fight tyranny and evil. You have sent many missionaries to carry the gospel throughout the world. I pray that you will be able to use us as an example of how a nation should repent and seek your favor. Amen

August 17, 2015: SOAP #2083:

Scripture: John (NIV) 19:6 …But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid…

Observation: It is interesting to note Pilate’s reaction to hearing that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate himself had declared that Jesus was a "man" after Jesus had endured the whipping. Jesus was obviously a man’s man! He had endured victoriously! He had an inner strength that amazed Pilate. Could Jesus be even more than a "man"? Pilate was afraid!

Application: Too many people today take Jesus too lightly. He was a good story teller. He was a great people helper. But in reality He is so much more! He is the GREAT CREATOR! He is GOD THE SON! He is the one all the angels in heaven adore! He is the ULTIMATE JUDGE! That He would listen to me and call me friend is the greatest honor of my life!

Prayer: Jesus, the more I learn about you, the more amazed I become. That you loved me enough to take the punishment for my sin is beyond my understanding. I know it is true; I have experienced its reality; but there is so much I do not understand. I want my words and actions to express my love and appreciation for what you have done. Amen

August 16, 2015: SOAP #2082:

Scripture: John (NIV) 18:19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

Observation: Jesus invited the high priest and his court to question those who had heard him teach in the public places. They would know what he had said. He was not trying to distance himself from what he had previously taught, but to own it. He did not need to spin his teaching to make it line up with the truth.

When confronted with recordings of their past statements, many politicians today try to “spin” the meaning of what they said. They try to make their words more acceptable to the voters. I am often amazed at the politician’s response, even after hearing a recording of their own words. It seems like anything they have ever said in public has been caught on a TV camera, a recorder, or a cell phone.

Application: Jesus had no problems with people checking into his past statements. I should have no problems either. Any comments I have made in public, any posts on Facebook or Twitter, any statements to my neighbors—they all reveal my heart. When someone questions me, I want to be able to say, “Check out what I said in the past. Look at my Facebook posts. Talk to my neighbors.”

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me live and talk today in such a way that my future will not be hindered by my past. Amen

August 15, 2015: SOAP #2081

Scripture: John (NIV) 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Observation: Who is speaking in this passage? Jesus is speaking. Who is Jesus speaking to? He is speaking to His Father in heaven. About whom is Jesus speaking? He is speaking about me! (Verse 20 makes it clear that this passage includes 21st century believers.)

Application: The Father loves me as much as He loves Jesus! He sent Jesus to earth to experience life as a creature and then to die for the sins of man. It was a terrible time of suffering, but it did not last forever. It was 33 years out of a life that had no beginning and has no end. Jesus considered what he would receive to be well worth the suffering he endured! My time here on earth is only a short time of a life that is eternal. What I have to gain is far worth any suffering I may have to endure here.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to live with eternity in view. Help me to keep singing: It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race, till we see Christ! (Esther K. Rusthoi) Amen

August 14, 2015: SOAP #2080:

Scripture: Jeremiah (NIV) 19:7 But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Observation: In the previous verses, Jeremiah gives the curses of those who trust in man. They will be like a bush in the desert places. What a difference for those who trust in the Lord. They are strong below the surface and abundant above. Their roots go down to the source of water and their branches reach high and bear fruit.

Application: As my roots go deeper into God’s Word, my life becomes more fruitful. The stronger I become in my character and the areas that people cannot see, the more fruitful I will be in the areas that people can see.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may the unseen areas of my life bring you joy and may the seen areas of my life bring you glory. Amen

August 13, 2015: SOAP #2079:

Scripture: John (NIV) 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Observation: What a vivid word picture! After a heavy storm, we have all seen branches lying at the base of a tree. Their leaves may be green and any fruit may still be healthy, but we all know what is going to happen. Without having the life-giving sap from the tree flowing through that limb, it will soon wither and dry up. Any fruit on that unattached limb will dry up and the leaves will die and fall off.

What picture of a spiritual life that once was healthy and full of life but became cut off from having spiritual life flowing through—it withers. The joy of the Lord disappears.

Some Christians are like Christmas trees that have been cut off from their root. They are pretty with all the ornaments and colored lights, but once the outward adornments are removed, they are dead. The dried needles fall off and make a mess.

Application: It is my responsibility to keep in contact with the body of Christ through which my spiritual life receives fresh life. It is my responsibility to keep in the Word of God on a daily basis allowing the Holy Spirit to unfold the verses to reveal what God is saying to me. It is my responsibility to pray without ceasing as I maintain an awareness of God’s Presence throughout each day.

Prayer: Father, here is the key for victorious living, to remain in constant contact with your Son through interacting with the Holy Spirit who is present in my life. Amen