Greatly Encouraged!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 6:18 NIV God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

Observation: God’s plan to have redeemed people in His family has never changed. God’s Word cannot change because it is based on His character. So when we who are holding onto the hope He holds out to us can be GREATLY ENCOURAGED!

Application: How can I not be encouraged when I consider who God is and what He has promised me! I am not just encouraged, I am GREATLY encouraged! The more I learn about God and His great love for me, the more I am encouraged!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for who you are and for your promises to me! As Psalm 25:5 says, “My hope is in you all day long!” Amen.

July 9: Micah 1-4; Hebrews

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

I used to…

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Observation: As in infancy our physical life depended on “milk,” so our early spiritual life depended on the “elementary truths of God’s word.” As our physical life matured to be able to eat “solid food” so our spiritual life is to mature to know and understand the “teaching about righteousness.”

Physical maturity comes gradually; spiritual maturity also comes gradually. (Our granddaughter Taelyn grows every day but we do not recognize it until her clothes do not fit or we take time to draw a line on the wall at the top of her head and compare it to the previous line.)

Faithfully taking in the “solid food” of the scriptures matures us to “distinguish good from evil.” We can then do the good and abstain from the evil. (Measuring lines for spiritual growth can be: “I used to think that way.” Or “I used to do that.”)

Application: As I read the Bible faithfully, I grow in understanding your plan for my life. I grow in understanding right from wrong. As I grow, I leave behind the worldly things and embrace the spiritual things.

Prayer: Lord, may my spiritual growth not be stunted. Amen.

July 8: Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

My Past; My Present

Scripture: Hebrews 4: 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Observation: Because of Jesus death to pay for my sins, God’s throne of judgment has been changed into a throne of grace. My approach with fear of punishment has been changed into an approach with a sure expectation that I will find mercy and grace!

Application: At God’s throne I find mercy that forgives my past sins! And as amazing as that is, I also find something even greater. I find grace to help me win in my present struggle.

Prayer: Lord, you do not forgive me to be free to repeat yesterday’s sins, but, knowing my weaknesses, your grace helps me overcome today’s struggle. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Amen.

July 7: Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Encouragement

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Observation: One of the main goals I see in this chapter is that we finish with a faith as strong was when we first started to believe. What is considered “little sins” can be accepted into our lives and deceive us into believing that “little sins” will not hurt us. We then, little by little, become hardened to the things of God. The things of the world are not quite as dangerous as we once thought and the things of God are not quite as important. Encouragement helps keep us on course.

Application: I need to be encouraged daily by the input of others into my life. Daily I need to encourage those around me. I am encouraged to be faithful as I remember the saying on my parent’s wall: “Only one life, will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last!”

Prayer: Lord, help me to be open to the encouragement from others and make me an encourager. Amen.

July 6: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

July 5: Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2

SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation (Jesus) perfect through suffering.

Observation: Jesus was/is perfect in that He is God, the Son. He was/is perfect in that he had not sinned. But He was not the perfect sacrifice until He had been tempted. His temptation and suffering proved He was the worthy sacrifice for our sins.

Application: Because He overcame temptation to sin, his death is accepted as the payment for my sins. And because He overcame temptation, He understands what it is to be tempted and He can knowingly help me to overcome temptation. His death for me covers my sins; His life in me enables me to overcome the temptation to sin! Indeed, He is perfect!!!

Prayer: Lord, what a great sacrifice you were willing to make to erase my sins and become my ever-present help in temptation. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

I pray that the Lord, our God, will enjoy our celebrations today. As we today celebrate the declaration of our freedom from England, let us not forget the One who purchased our freedom from son…

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

July 4: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

Scripture: Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Observation: :…the radiance of God’s glory…” and “…the exact representation of his being…” and “…sustaining all things by his powerful word.” These descriptive phrases of Jesus stretch my mind. This One who was born of a virgin and walked among men as a man was clearly more than just a man. He is the glory of God made visible! He is not just a copy. He is the exact representation of God. He represents God down to His very nature. He is everything God is. Yes, this is the One Who willing died for me on the cross!!!

Application: What a privilege to be a servant of Jesus! That He would choose me! He deserves my best. He deserves my all. I could never make a sacrifice for Him that would be worthy of His sacrifice for me!

Prayer: Lord, In my heart I sing the old chorus: “You are my everything, You are my all. You are my everything, both great and small. You gave Your life for me; made everything new. You are my everything; none other will do.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

July 3: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

Whose prisoner am I?

Scripture: Philemon 1 ¶ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow-worker,

Observation: In Clark’s Commentary we read, “some think that the term “prisoner…” should have been translated “bound with a chain.” Very likely Paul was bound with a chain to the arm of a Roman soldier. Yet Paul describes himself not as a prisoner of Rome, but as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.” The cords of love that bound Paul to Jesus were stronger than the chains of Rome that bound him to the soldier.

Application: Whose prisoner am I today? What chains are binding me? To what am I bound?

Prayer: Lord, like R.K. Carter wrote in his song, “Standing on the Promises” I want to be “bound to you eternally by love’s strong cord.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

July 1: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

(Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

Scripture: Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Observation: Jude was planning to write to the church about the wonderful salvation we share, but things came to his attention that changed his mind. There were people in the church who were twisting the truth. They were saying that since God is so full of grace, we have a free license to keep on sinning. God will just keep on forgiving. Then Jude gives several examples of people who started out right, but changed along the way.

Application: There is an aspect of life that is a battle and I must fight to remain true to the scriptures. The examples in the book of Jude make it clear that it is not that I said the sinner’s prayer 10, 20, or 50 years ago; it is about how I am living now and how I finish my race. I must continue. I cannot change God’s grace into permission to continue living in sin. Confession (agreeing with the truth of sin in my life) without repentance (turning away from the sin in my life) is just playing games with God. That is not a good thing to do!

Prayer: Lord, You are not playing games with me and you do not want me playing games with you. May sin be as terrible to me as it is to you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

(Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

July 1: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

Scripture: Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
…
14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

Observation: In chapter 2 we read that we should be “eager” to do good. Here we have the instruction to “devote” ourselves to doing good. Devoted has the concept of being faithful and continuing to do good even when it is difficult or inconvenient.

Application: When I am devoted to doing good, my actions are an expression of what is in my heart rather than a response to the good or bad things that happen to me. The best way I know to judge what is good is to consider how God see it.

Prayer: Lord, I want my actions today to bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

June 30: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104: Titus 2

Scripture: Titus 2:14 (Jesus) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Observation: One characteristic of people who belong to Jesus is that they are “eager to do what is good.” It may be a burden. It may not be easy. But they are eager because they want to please the Lord. They want to please Him because they love Him. People who are eager usually do not complain. People who are eager accept the challenge before them joyfully.

Application: If there was ever anyone eager to do something it should be me eager to do what pleases the Lord. As the eagerness of others challenges me, my eagerness should be an example to others.

Prayer: Lord, I want you to see in ma an eagerness to do what pleases you. It is my privilege to serve you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!