June 19, 2021: SOAP #4216:  2Kings 1-3; Psalm 82; 1Timothy 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope…
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

OBSERVATION:  For those who consider Jesus to be their Lord, they do not consider their lives to be their own.  They belong to Jesus.  His will is their “command.”  His assignments are their “appointments.” 

APPLICATION:  God’s appointments for me have changed during different seasons, but His LORDSHIP remains.  The Same One who appointed me to be a student in Bible College, is the Same One who assigned me to join the US Navy to be a hospital corpsman for 10 years with the marines.  The Same One who assigned me to serve in the US Navy is the Same One who appointed us to be the pastors of Bayview Chapel in Hawaii, and the Same One who moved us from Hawaii to Kansas where He appointed us to serve as pastors of Andover Assembly of God.  Now, for the last ten years, His assignment has been to write these daily SOAPs and to drive a school bus. 

Every season of life contains an assignment that is a holy calling to be joyfully accepted and faithfully completed. 

Look for it!  Accept it!  Do it as unto the Lord!  Make the Lord smile! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help every SOAP reader to see the holy calling in their present assignment.  We are all surrounded by people who need Jesus or a word of encouragement and people who need our prayers.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 18, 2021: SOAP #4215:  1Kings 22; 2Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians (NIV) 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

OBSERVATION: Paul comes to the close of his letter to the saints in Colossae.  He had started the letter with prayers for his readers.  He brought teaching about Christ and our relationship to and with Him.  He had given instruction as to how this truth should affect our lives. 

Now in closing, Paul has a personal request.  It was for prayer!  It was not to be released from prison.  He did not ask for money.  He did not ask for food or clothing.  He wanted their prayers that he would have opportunity and ability to carry out his assignment of proclaiming the gospel.  Doing God’s will was more important to Paul than the other things he could have requested. 

APPLICATION:  When I am looking for assistance, what is my priority?  How do I want people to help me?  What is the most important thing that someone can do for me?  When my faith rests completely in God and His assignment for me, then I can rest in His provision.  I do not need to frantically look to others for help.  The absolute best thing that someone can do for me is to pray for me!  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings you have sent my way.  Today I want to thank you for the blessing of having others pray for me!  Thank you for their prayers that I may clearly and faithfully write these SOAPs.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 17, 2021: SOAP #4214:  1Kings 20-21; 2Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians (NIV) 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

OBSERVATION:  Past tense:  you have been raised with Christ!  The past affects my present.  Because I have been raised, I am raised with Christ!  Present tense:  our life is now hidden with Christ in God!   That is true about me. That is truth that affects everything I say and do.  Future tense:  I will appear with Him in glory.  Death cannot stop God’s plan.  God’s plan for me continues through death into a future with him in glory! 

APPLICATION:  What is true about me, is true about my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I must be careful in talking about them.  I must be careful in talking to them.  I must treat them with the respect Christ deserves, for He dwells in them as He does in me!!! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help me keep this truth clear in my thinking.  May my life glorify Jesus in how I live with Him.  May my life glorify Jesus in how I relate to my brothers and sisters in Him.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 16, 2021: SOAP #4213:  1Kings 17-19; Colossians 2 (repeat from 2018 because this is what I need today!)

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians (NIV) 2:8 See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fulness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fulness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority.

OBSERVATION: The fullness of God is in Jesus. And the fullness of Jesus is in believers.

How foolish to place my trust in anything, or anyone except Jesus.  All that God is, is in Christ.  And all that Christ is lives in me.  The fullness of all God’s being is in Christ.  There is nothing lacking!  And when Christ makes my heart His home, all that Christ is, dwells inside me!!!  Amazing! 

APPLICATION:  If I had a million dollars in my bank account, I would not be living like a pauper. And since I have Christ living in my life, I should not be living like a helpless, hopeless, worried, discouraged, complaining Christian! With Christ, all things are possible. Nothing is impossible! That truth should be evident to all who see me and hear me.  I need to mix this truth with every thought in my mind.  May I live every day like this is true,  BECAUSE IT IS!!!

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me to Whom I belong and Who lives in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 15, 2021: SOAP #4212:  1Kings 16; 2Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles (NIV) 16:7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

OBSERVATION:  Reliance is an expression of faith.  When we have faith in something or someone, we rely on them.  Faith in a bank is shown in reliance on that bank, we deposit money for safe keeping.  Our level of faith in a person can be seen in our reliance on that person. 

From the above verses, it is understood that God sees these issues in the same way.  God was offended when King Asa relied on the King of Aram and not on the LORD his god!!! 

APPLICATION:  When I need help, to whom do I go first?  I will probably go to where I believe I will find the help that I need.  So, with all the promises in God’s Word, God should be the first one to whom I should run!  

When I beg and plead with someone to help me, I am demonstrating that I have more faith in man than in God!   It is true that God often uses people to meet our needs, but He gets the glory when their help is given at God’s leading. 

PRAYER: Lord, my faith is in you!  In love for me, you have hidden many promises in the pages of your word.  And even more, you have given me your Holy Spirit to help me find them and apply them to my life.  I am blessed!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 14, 2021: SOAP #4211:  1Kings 15; 2Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles (NIV) 14:11 Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no-one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name, we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.” 12 The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled.

Philippians (NIV) 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

OBSERVATION:  King Asa with 580,000 foot-soldiers was facing an army of 1,000,000 plus 300 chariots. Asa knew the truth of Philippians 4:6 many years before Paul wrote it!  He did not ask others to pray.  He prayed!  Others could join with him, but they would not be praying in place of him. 

APPLICATION:  People often ask me to pray FOR them; and I often ask them how they are praying.  Then I pray WITH them.  It is good when we pray for one another, but it is not good when I rely on someone else to do my praying. 

I may think that someone else is closer to God so God will be more inclined to hear their prayers.  But the truth is that God lives IN ME so no one can be closer to the omnipresent God than I am.   I am His child!  They may be as close to God as I am, but I am closer to my problem.  They may have more faith, but when I use the faith that I now have, to call on God, and He answers—my faith will grow!  The problem gives me the opportunity to use the faith I have!  This problem gives God the opportunity to be glorified and to see my faith grow!

PRAYER: Lord, to quote King Asa, “LORD, there is no one like you!  I rely on you, and in your name, I face the challenge before me.  LORD, you are my God; do not let the devil, the temptations of my flesh, or any need I face prevail against you!” Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 13, 2021: SOAP #4210:  1Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles (NIV) 12:5 Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have abandoned me; therefore I now abandon you to Shishak.’” 6 The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is just.” 7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. 8 They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”…12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

OBSERVATION:  Humility has great value to God. Humility is not thinking I am better than anyone else.  Humility is a proper attitude toward God.  Humility is seeing the image of God in those around me.  Humility is being willing to serve others. Humility is the proper attitude of a servant.  Humility is being willing to take on the least desirable task.  Humility is not being easily offended.  Humility makes one approachable. Humility is the proper attitude toward authority.  Humility is being able to take direction and accept correction.  But best of all:  humility makes us attractive to God!!! 

In Isaiah 14:12-15 we read that Satan set himself in pride to become like God.  In Philippians 2:5-8 we read that Jesus humbled Himself to become like man!  Satan was brought down; Jesus was exalted!  Just as pride leads to a fall (Proverbs 16:18), so humility leads to honor (Proverbs 15:33).

APPLICATION:  When I walk in pride, I am acting like the devil.  When I walk in humility, I am acting like Jesus. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you have placed your Holy Spirit in me to make me like Jesus. Help me walk in true humility. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity.

June 12, 2021: SOAP #4209:  1Kings 12; 2Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Philippians (NIV) 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

OBSERVATION: Yes, there is encouragement from being united with Christ!  Yes, there is comfort from his love.  Yes, there is fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  Yes, there is tenderness and compassion. 

Being united with the Creator of the Universe, with the Lord of Glory, with God-the Son, with the One who loved me enough to die for me, with the one who defeated death!!!  Being united with Him—how could I not be encouraged?  He is my eternal source of encouragement! 

What do I face that is greater than the one with whom I am united?  What problem do I face that He cannot solve?  How can I be discouraged when He is with me?

APPLICATION:  Since I am united with Christ, and since I have such encouragement, what am I to do?  I am to encourage others!  I am to be a source of encouragement for others.  I am to point them to Christ, the true source of encouragement.  I am to encourage others to have confidence that God will do for them what He has done for others.  I am to encourage them in the word and to build their faith.   

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, let the Word mix in my thoughts in such a way that I can give understanding and build the faith of SOAP readers.  Increase their faith, I pray.  Help me to encourage them to have faith to take their needs to you instead of man.  Speak to each of us on how you would use us to encourage and help others.  And help us to respond in obedience to your voice more than to the voice of the need. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 11, 2021: SOAP #4208:  Song of Solomon 5-8; Philippians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Philippians (NIV) 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

OBSERVATION:   God is presented as “our Father.”  What a comforting understanding this brings to us.  This is how Jesus taught us to pray.  This is how Jesus referred to God. He is the Father, the source of life.  He is the Father, ever loving and caring for His children.  He is the Father, ever providing.   And He is OUR Father.  Many Christians like to think of Him as MY Father, but that is not what is written.  To claim God as my Father, I must claim others as my brothers and sisters, so He really is OUR Father.

Grace and peace have their source in God the Father and God the Son — the only source of true grace and peace.  What comes from the Father, must flow through the Son.

APPLICATION:  I must never forget that all people have the same Creator, having been created in God’s image.  I should treat them with respect for Who He is.  Additionally, those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord have been born again into God’s family.  We share the same Heavenly Father.   I acknowledge them in prayer by praying, “Our Father.”  I acknowledge them in my life by loving them as spiritual brothers and sisters.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, what a wonderful family you have.  It is my honor to be a part. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 10, 2021: SOAP #4207:  Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
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: Sin did not start on earth.  Adam and Eve were not the first sinners.  Satan/the serpent brought sin into the heavenlies.  Earth was created as a place where God could display His holiness and love for all to see.  The stage was set, the Son was sent, the struggle was started, and the Servant subdued the serpent!    The Son of Man/Son of God now leads His body, the church, in triumphant battles against evil. 

APPLICATION:  So, what does that mean to me?  It means I need to “put on the full armor of God.”  This armor is not something to be read about, or to be studied in a history class, or to be viewed in a museum display.  It is to be worn!  The belt of truth is to be buckled around my waist.  The breastplate of righteousness is to guard my vital organs.  The helmet of salvation is not to be left behind.  The shoes are to be on my feet.  I always need the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit. 

Even as I faithfully wore a flak jacket and helmet in Viet Nam, how much more should I faithfully PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD today and every day! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have so willingly and generously provided for me.  Holy Spirit, remind me and show me how to put on this armor.  Remind me to keep it in place.  Check me if I start to lay it aside. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternityl