September 27, 2021: SOAP #4316:  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: My attention was caught with Jesus praising the Father.  He followed His praise with a “because…”  Jesus was praising the Father for what the Father had done.  Jesus’ praise was tied to something the Father had done. 

APPLICATION:  When I praise God, it is good give a reason for my praise.  Knowing how much the Lord has done for me, it is not difficult to give a reason for my praise.  Sometimes I get in a rut, just saying “praise the Lord,” or repeating “hallelujah.”  Of course, it is better to repeat those phrases than some of the common words/phrases used in the world around me.  But I should not become lazy in my praise.  I need to add a “because…” 

PRAYER: Lord, I worship you because of who you are, eternal, almighty, holy and loving.  Lord, I praise you for what you do, saving me, healing me, speaking to me, providing for me…. May my worship and praise bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 26, 2021: SOAP #4315:  Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

OBSERVATION: The LORD is the builder, but He does not work alone.  He has a crew of “builders.”  If the LORD is not the head-builder, their work turns out useless. 

The same is true of security personnel.  If the LORD is not the head Police officer, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 

The same is true of every line of work.  He is knowledgeable, proficient, and competent in every vocation. 

APPLICATION:  We limit our accomplishments when we think we can do our job alone.  We dishonor Him when we act like we do not need His guidance and help.  I should not consider Him as MY Helper, I should consider myself as HIS assistant. 

PRAYER: LORD, you are competent in every vocation.  Forgive me for not submitting the lead to you. Forgive me for thinking I can carry on without your input and help.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 25, 2021: SOAP #4314:  Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 8: 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. 
23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

OBSERVATION: Two confessions!  Two statements!  First: “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”  Second:  Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” 

The first was a statement of faith and purpose; the second was a statement of fear.  Hmmm… not even one of the disciples interrupted the others by reminding them of what Jesus had said.  After everything was calm, Jesus had a question for them, “Where is your faith?”

Jesus was greater than the storm, the wind, and the waves!   He was also greater than their negative confession!!!  

APPLICATION:  I am so glad that the ONE with me is greater than my negative confessions. I am glad HE challenges me to put my faith in HIS word. HE is greater than my circumstances! HE amazes me with HIS ability to overcome what seems impossible. The more I know HIM, my confession changes from my hopelessness to HIS ability!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for being greater than my negative confession!  Holy Spirit, keep interrupting my negative thoughts.  Help me fill my mind with faith-filled thoughts.  Keep bringing the mighty words of God to my mind.  Keep asking, “Leon, where is your faith?  On what is your faith resting?” Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 24, 2021: SOAP #4313:  Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 85:9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

OBSERVATION: But what makes someone good?  It is the combination of the two characteristics we see in this verse.  There must be love and holiness (here expressed in faithfulness.)

Holiness is expressed in justice and faithfulness.  Truly a god would not be good if unjust and/or unfaithful.  Love is expressed in mercy and grace.  We would not call anyone good if lacking in mercy or grace. Indeed, it is the combination of these two characteristics that make the Living God GOOD!

APPLICATION:  But how can He be both, loving and holy, and interact with fallen man?  The answer is the cross!  For, in the cross the holiness of God is satisfied as the sinless blood of God’s only begotten Son is shed to pay for our sins!  And in the cross the love of God is satisfied as men who were before lost in their sin can boldly approach the throne of God in worship, covered by the precious blood of God’s Son!

In the humble humanity of God walking dusty roads in the flesh, experiencing hunger and weariness, love and faithfulness met together. And in the bloody, sweaty, suffering of the cross, righteousness and peace kissed each other!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, your wisdom amazes me.  Through the death of your Son, you covered my sin!  And through the death of your Son, you extended the full extent of your love to me.   You have welcomed me into your family and made me your child.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 23, 2021: SOAP #4312:  Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

OBSERVATION: What special promises.  Many people would like to have people giving to them and their need like is mentioned here.  They would like to receive “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!”  They would like to have people pouring finances into their “lap!”  But there is something that precedes receiving—giving! 

I have had people telling me that God will bless me if I give to them, but they do not realize that the same God will bless them if they give!   If this verse is true, AND IT IS, a believer can give their way out of financial trouble. 

APPLICATION:  These are the words of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  I should take them to heart.  I should apply them to my life.  I should expect that they will bring results. 

I do apply these words and I do expect results.  My life is proof of the truth in this verse.  Jesus did not lie!  

Start with the measure you have and expect God to increase your ability to use a greater measure.  You should use the largest measure you can, but it is never too small for a start.  It may be so small that it does not seem to be useful where it is given, BUT IT IS NOT TOO SMALL FOR GOD TO BLESS!!! 

PRAYER: Lord, you told it like it is!  You are “the way, the truth, and the life!” Your truth applies to my giving and receiving.  As I am faithful to give with the measure I have, I expect you will increase the measure I can use in giving. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 22, 2021: SOAP #4311:  Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

Acts (NIV) 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ,,,41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

OBSERVATION: Jesus gave Peter a visual picture of what Peter could expect.  They caught so many fish they needed help from another boat; then both boats began to sink!   Jesus spoke directly to Peter.  He changed Peter’s occupation from being a fisherman to being a fisher of men!  

Some time later after Jesus had ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit had filled the believers, a crowd gathered to see what was happening.  Who was it that stood before the crowd to preach?  None other than the fisherman to whom Jesus spoke after the big catch!   The results of the message that day: 3,000 people believed Peter’s message and were baptized!!!  

APPLICATION:  When Jesus draws my attention to something unique (like a large catch of fish or the vision of a sheet let down from heaven), I need to pay attention.  He may be preparing me for a special future ministry.  It may be to 3000 as for Peter.  It may be for ministry to a strange Gentile as for Peter in Acts 10.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, many times I have prayed for you to use me for your glory.  Again, I offer myself to you.  Have your will in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 21, 2021: SOAP #4310:  Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.  The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.  43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter we see that Jesus spoke with authority. (vs: 36)   He quieted demons and commanded them to come out. (vs: 35, 41)   He rebuked a fever which left immediately. (vs: 39)   Of course the people in this community would want him to stay with them, but He had to be obedient to the authority that sent him.  He did not have authority so that he could do what he wanted to do, or what others wanted him to do.  Jesus, living as a man on earth, had authority because he was submitted to the authority of His Father.   The Father had sent Jesus for a purpose.  He had an assignment.   “Sent” is a common word Jesus uses to describe Himself. 

APPLICATION:  Only God has authority because He is worthy.  Any authority I have is delegated authority.  My obedience increases my authority.  If I have trouble being under authority, I will have trouble being in authority.  I am also on a mission; I have also been sent. 

In this chapter we see the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me read God’s word.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me recognize God’s voice.  I need the Holy Spirit to enable me to fulfill the assignment God has given me.  I need the Holy Spirit do His work through me. 

PRAYER: Jesus, may I live in such obedience to you that my words are as true and faithful as your words.  May I walk under AND in your authority!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 20, 2021: SOAP #4309:  Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore, you are feared.

OBSERVATION: 1 We can recall Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish.  Perhaps the psalmist was thinking the same.  We could easily imagine Joseph calling out to God from the pit into which his brothers placed him. Surely that was only the first of many such prayers in the life of Joseph.
2 When we get desperate, we want someone to listen!  Someone has to hear.  We want someone to know and understand what we are going through.
3 God is the perfect judge.  Nothing escapes his scrutiny.  God even judges the heart.  And He knows what we are thinking!  Indeed, the Psalmist was so obviously right: “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?”
4 If we do not appreciate the truth in verse 3, we will not fully appreciate the truth in verse 4. The Perfect Judge is also a Perfect Forgiver!

APPLICATION:  There was one desperate prayer that was not answered.  Even though it tore through the heart of our Father God, he turned away from the cry escaping the lips of His only begotten Son preparing for the agony of the cross.  That prayer was ignored, that my prayer might be answered!  Sin was laid on him that it might be lifted from me! He paid the full price, that I might freely go.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, more than once in desperation I have called out to you.  Though unworthy, I have been the recipient of your forgiveness, your mercy and grace.  I am eternally grateful! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 19, 2021: SOAP #4308:  Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 2:29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, …
How had God promised?  
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

OBSERVATION: Of the many prophecies about the birth of Jesus, this one is personalized to Simeon. 

Simeon had a close relationship with the Holy Spirit.  He walked under the care of the Holy Spirit.  He could be moved and directed by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit personalized the prophecies of the coming Messiah to Simeon. 

APPLICATION:  It is the work of the Holy Spirit to personalize the will of God in my life.  The Holy Spirit convicts me of sin and convinces me of the work of Jesus in salvation.  His presence in my life personalizes the reality of God at work within me. 

He drew my attention to the “as you have promised” in the Bible passages above.  The Holy Spirit raised the question “How had God promised?”  In reading the context I discovered that the Holy Spirit had personalized the promises of the Messiah to Simeon.  And so, the Holy Spirit personalized these verses to me.    

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, your word is so precious to me.  It is amazing as I understand the history in which your word was given.  It is even more amazing when I see how it applies to my life.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for personalizing it to me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 18, 2021: SOAP #4307:  Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

SCRIPTURE:  Luke(NIV) 1:31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus….
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

OBSERVATION:  It was not so much what Mary was to do, it was what was going to happen to her.  It was what God was going to do through her.  There was no way Mary could accomplish what God desired. But God was not depending on Mary’s ability.  He already had a plan!   The plan of God depended as much on the Holy Spirit as it did on Jesus! 

APPLICATION:  I am finding it more and more common for God to give assignments that are beyond my ability to accomplish.  But they are not too big for God to accomplish through me.  God is not depending on me to fulfill His will; He is depending on me to be the avenue through which HE can work. 

God gives me an assignment and like Mary, I may ask, “How can this be?”  And like God told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will empower you.”  Everyone will recognize that what happened was far beyond my ability and they will give glory to God!

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I am depending on you as I write these SOAPs.  Use them for your glory.  Encourage each reader to accept each assignment you give them as a challenge for their faith.  Then empower them to its accomplishment.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!