September 28, 2019: SOAP #3586:  Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

Scripture:  Zechariah (NIV) 2:1 Then I looked up—and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.” 3 Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him 4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

Observation:  What a promise! What a Promiser!  The emphasis of this promise is His Presence!  It is an “outside” and “inside” promise.  On the outside, He promises to be the wall of fire to protect, to ward off the enemy.  Inside, He promises to be their glory.  He is the reason people admire those who are the New Jerusalem!

The prophet is writing about Jerusalem, but many see him as writing about the New Jerusalem, the church.

Application:   In this passage we see a position the Lord likes to take with His people.  He Himself likes to be the wall of fire around us and He Himself wants to be the glory seen inside.

It is for me to trust His Presence around me to deal with things I cannot control.  It is for me to let His Presence within me be seen in what flows from me, my language, my attitude, my decisions, and my actions.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, I trust you to be seen outside/around me in the things I cannot control.  I want you to be able to trust me to let your Presence be seen inside me from what flows out from my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 27, 2019: SOAP #3585:  Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Observation:   The “seventy-two” disciples had been given authority over sickness and instructed to tell people about the Kingdom of God.  They returned to Jesus with great joy.  That demons were subject to them as they went in Jesus name was no surprise to Jesus.  He had been in heaven with the Heavenly Father when Satan fell from his place of honor.

Application:   Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!  (1John 4:4)  The One in me was in heaven when Satan fell!  The One who sent me to minister in His name has complete authority over the devil.   As I walk under the authority of That Name, I have authority in That Name!

I am thankful that Jesus allows me to minister in His name with authority, but I rejoice that my name is “written in heaven!”

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, continue to reveal the truth of my relationship with Jesus.  Continue to minister through me to those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 26, 2019: SOAP #3584:  Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 127:1 A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Observation:   God, who created us loves us.  God not only created us, He created everything in the environment in which He placed us.  He knew our strengths and weaknesses.  He knew the limitations of our physical bodies.  He knew we needed rest.  He created the night as a time for rest.

In His creation, God designed a time and way to rest.  As surely as God designed our bodies to hunger and ways to satisfy that hunger, He also designed our bodies to become tired and ways to refresh those tired bodies.

Sleep was designed by a wise God to refresh and recharge those He loves.

Application:  Do I trust God’s wisdom?  Then I should value sleep!  Do I trust that God loves me?  Then I would be foolish not to take advantage of what He has lovingly provided.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, with my limited wisdom, I accept the gift of sleep that you in your unlimited wisdom have provided.  I gratefully accept what you lovingly provide.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 25, 2019: SOAP #3583:  Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 8:1 After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Observation:   Jesus did not keep his ministry in the larger population areas, he traveled to the smaller towns and villages.  And in the same line of thinking, Jesus not only ministered to large crowds, he ministered to individuals.

Note:  The most well-known verse in the Bible (John 3:16) is from Jesus to one person, Nicodemus.

Application:   The one person I will meet at work today is as important to Jesus as a multitude gathered to hear a sermon.  It may be the person sitting alone at a sporting event to which I have driven a school bus.  It may be the person getting into the car parked next to mine as I am leaving the bus barn, or in the parking lot at the grocery store.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, make me aware of the individuals around me that need Jesus.  Then guide my words to build bridges they can cross to Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 24, 2019: SOAP #3582:  Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 7:2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

Observation:  A servant of great value to the centurion was sick.  He was so sick that the centurion was concerned enough to get personally involved.  The centurion had two very valuable things.  First, he had some valuable knowledge about Jesus.  Jesus was known as a healer!   Second, the centurion had valuable friends who knew Jesus and they could intercede for him.

Application:   I am thankful that I do not need to depend on others to pray for me, but I am so thankful that I have friends who are willing to go to Jesus on my behalf!  They are valuable!

Thinking that God will hear the prayers of someone else before He hears me—thinking that God will answer the prayers of others before He will answer my prayers—that is not good.  It can show that I do not appreciate how much He loves me.  God does not love people who live in the USA more than people who live in Bangladesh, or Pakistan, or India!

Yet God has placed us in the body of Christ to minister to one another.  And He gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit to enable us to minister to one another.  The gifts He has given me are for me to minister to others.  The gifts he has given others are to minister to me.  The gifts make us valuable to one another!  It is God’s way to keep us loving and serving one another.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the valuable people who have prayed for me.  May I be valuable in praying for others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 23, 2019: SOAP #3581:  Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Observation:  It is easy to recognize an overflowing heart.  All one needs to do is to listen.   Whatever fills the heart soon finds expression in words.  The heart may be filled with grief or joy.  It may be filled with greed, lust, or pride.  It may be filled with love, appreciation, or praise.

Application:  I may need to pay attention to the subject of my conversation during each day.  Whatever it is that fills my conversation will most probably be what fills my heart.

It is easy to fill an empty heart.  But if the heart is already full, it may not be easy to replace what is already there.  That makes it very important to make sure my heart is full of Jesus every morning.

Prayer:   Lord, I want my heart to be full of you.  Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Jesus. Fill me with the word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 22, 2019: SOAP #3580:  Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 9:11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore, the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

Observation:  The same God who blessed Israel when they were walking in His ways, is the same God who brought the curses and judgments against them when they turned from His ways.  God was faithful to bring judgment as He was to bring blessings.  Why?  Because God is first, faithful to Himself.

Application:  The character of God does not change when He deals with the nations of the earth or with individuals.  God is faithful to His word.  He is faithful to bless or bring judgment.  God has made a way that our sins can be forgiven, and we can be made just as if we had never sinned!   It is amazing, but that has been provided for us by the death of Jesus on the cross.  He who never sinned, received the punishment as though He had sinned so that I who had sinned could be accepted as though I had never sinned!

Prayer:   Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  Your death on the cross is credited to me and my sins are forgiven and cleansed.  Come live in my heart.  Show me how you speak to me.  I make you my Lord.  Thank you for forgiving me and joining me in this life as my Lord. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 21, 2019: SOAP #3579:  Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 4:40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Observation:  It had been a long day.   Jesus had been at the synagogue and had gone to Peter’s home.  Peter’s mother-in-law was ill; Jesus healed her.  She prepared a meal for them.  The news spread that Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in-law so all the sick in the area gathered outside the door.  Jesus did not send them away because he needed some rest; He ministered to them.  He laid His hands on each one!    He did not hurry because He was tired, or it was getting dark outside.  He touched each one!

Application:  All ministry from the Lord is personal.  I may be seated in a congregation with hundreds of people, but God speaks to me personally.  Sometimes he sends one of his servants to minister to me personally.  Sometimes I hear a radio ministry or read a book.  But God speaks to me personally.  He touches me!

I remember a youth camp where I was wondering if God still wanted to use me.  I asked God that our district superintendent, Paul Lowenberg would lay his hands on me.  I thought it would happen during the evening altar service.  But one noon time as I was standing in line for lunch, Bro. Lowe approached needing to cut across the line.  Probably unknowingly to him, he went out of his way to cross where I was standing.  He laid his hand on my shoulder and acknowledged me.  His touch was God’s touch.

I need to be careful that I do not hurry by someone to whom God would have me minister.  God may use me to personally touch them and impart a sense of His Presence and His Care.

Prayer: Touch me, Holy Spirit, then touch someone else through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 20, 2019: SOAP #3578:  Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

Scripture:  Daniel (NIV) 6:20  When he [King Darius] came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Observation:  Daniel had done a good job in serving the king.  The king honored Daniel which made Daniel’s enemies jealous.  They tricked the king into making a law which Daniel, remaining true to his God, could not keep.  Breaking that law, resulted in Daniel being thrown into a den of lions.

After a sleepless night and way before breakfast, King Darius made his way to the den of lions to personally check on Daniel.  “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you?”

Later King Darius would write to everyone in his kingdom, “”For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.  He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:26-27)

Application:  It has not been a den of lions, but there have been times when people who know me have asked me similar questions.  “Leon, has the God you serve been able to rescue you?”  I believe God puts us in specific situations to cause people to ask, “Is the God you serve able to rescue you?”

Prayer:   Lord, I want to be faithful to bring you glory.  May my life answer the question, “Is the God Leon serves able to rescue him?”   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

September 19, 2019: SOAP #3577:  Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 47:21 “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign LORD.

Observation:   It is not clear in my mind as to when the nation of Israel should be divided and assigned as in this chapter.  Some think that it happens during the millennial reign of Jesus after His return to earth.  However, earlier in this chapter it mentions sacrifices that were nullified by the death and resurrection of Jesus.   Whenever, it is clear that God is interested in the aliens.  Those who have settled and now have children are to be treated as citizens.  They are to receive an inheritance as a citizen.

Treating them as citizens would mean that they have BOTH the privileges AND the responsibilities of citizen.  They are free to live as a citizen, but they are responsible to live up to the expectations of citizens.

Application:  The USA has absorbed many aliens from south of our boarder.  These verses give us good Godly counsel on how to deal with the stranger who moves into our neighborhood or city.  They have great value to God!  God paid the same price for their salvation as He did for mine.  I need to treat all people as having great value to God.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, lead me and use me to reach out to the strangers who have moved into my area.  May they come to know you, to love you, and to serve you. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!