August 29, 2019: SOAP #3556:  Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 7:9 I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will repay you in accordance with your conduct and the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that it is I the LORD who strikes the blow.

Observation:   A main part of God’s plan for Israel was to be a public example of how God would bless people committed Him.  But, sadly, they became a public example of how God judges sin.

Application:    God’s purpose for Israel is unique.  God has and will hold them accountable according to His plan.  The USA is not Israel!  We cannot claim all the promises God made to Israel as belonging to the USA.  But we do serve the same God!  He created Israel and His hand can be clearly seen in the establishment of the USA.  God has not changed.  His character is eternal.  Note the following:
–Israel had set up detestable idols in God’s temple.  The USA has destroyed millions living beings made in God’s image.
–Israel ignored God’s Word recorded on scrolls in the temple.  The USA has ignored God’s Word, Bibles in almost every home in our nation.
–Israel had some godly priests and a few godly Kings to guide them. Today we have the indwelling Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds.
–God judged Israel for their sins.  God judged the USA for the sin of slavery. God will judge the USA for the sin of abortion.
–In the time of judgment, Israel repented and experienced revival.  The coming move of God in the USA is being/will be preceded by a time of judgment.  Like in Josiah’s day, repentance may postpone but not cancel judgment.
–If God had good reason to judge Israel, how much more does He have reason to judge the USA!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the extent of our sins is shameful.  We should not dishonor you by thinking that the Righteous Judge does not see and is not concerned.  Forgive me for thinking that my sins do not bother you. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 28, 2019: SOAP #3555:  Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

Scripture:  Ezekiel (NIV) 2:1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Observation:  Ezekiel’s response to the appearance and presence of God was that he fell on his face. (Ezekiel 1:28)   But in verse one (above) Ezekiel is told to stand up and in verse two the Spirit raised him to his feet.  From my military background, I take it to mean that Ezekiel should be standing at attention.  His attitude should be that he was going to receive important instructions.

He was given a tough assignment.  The people to whom he was being sent were obstinate and stubborn.  They would not listen.  Ezekiel would need to remember that God was sending him.

Application:   Today it is important to realize that God is sending me to those around me.  This world is full of obstinate and stubborn people.  Whether my neighbors and/or co-workers listen or refuse to listen “they will know” that someone cared enough to tell them the truth.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, love through me.  Love those around me.  Through me, love those who are hard to love.  May the love they receive through me cause them to know that you love them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 27, 2019: SOAP #3554:  Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 143:3 The enemy pursues me; he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

Observation:   David had been pursued by King Saul, then later by his own son, Absalom.  He knew what it was like to be on the run.  When his spirit became discouraged, he knew what to do.  He thought back on all the things God had done for him in the past.  What God had done in the past gave David faith for what God would do in the future.  The past built David’s faith for the present and the future.

Application:  Especially when I am pressured to accomplish a big task, I like to make a “to do” list.  I take the big task and break it down into smaller tasks. Then I mark them off as they are completed.

In the above verses, God is telling me to include the following in my task list: remember what God has done in the past.  That should be number 2, following prayer.

God probably will not do it the same way, but He will do something!   With my faith encouraged, I can face the future with excited anticipation rather than worry!

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of the many things God has already done for me. With my faith charged by remembering, I can have joyful anticipation for what my Heavenly Father will do for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 26, 2019: SOAP #3553:  Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 51:14 The LORD Almighty has sworn by himself: I will surely fill you [Babylon] with men, as with a swarm of locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you. 15 “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. 16 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Observation:  Assyria was the dominant power and had been the means of God’s judgment on the Northern nation of Israel.  Assyria was terribly wicked, and God used Babylon to overthrow Assyria.  Then Babylon became God’s hand of judgment on Judah, the southern tribes that had turned from God.  But Babylon was an ungodly nation and full of wickedness.

Jeremiah prophesied the fall of Babylon.  How could that be, they were the strongest nation in the world.  They were strong enough to overcome Assyria, but they were not strong enough to overcome God!  They ruled the known world; but God created the world!  God’s power, and wisdom, and understanding enabled Him to create the universe.

Application:  Considering thunder and lightning, rain and wind, my God is more than able to fulfill His promises to me!  I ponder His wisdom in cycling moisture from the ocean to the clouds with evaporation, and then returning the moisture to the earth through rain and to the oceans in the streams and rivers.  What a Creator!  What a God!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your power and wisdom are so wonderfully displayed in creation.  Your faithfulness insures the reliability of your promises. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 25, 2019: SOAP #3552:  Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2John

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 37:1 Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. 2 Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

Observation:   It was not that God had not spoken to them; it was that they paid no attention to what He said.  The problem was not that God had nothing to say, the problem was that they did not consider His word important enough to obey.

Application:  When I feel that God is not speaking to me, I need to check back and see how I responded the last time God spoke to me.  I may need to follow through with what He has already told me before asking Him to speak to me again.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, your word is so important.  What an amazing privilege to have you speak to me.  I want my response to your word to show how I value you and your word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 24, 2019: SOAP #3551:  Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  …
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1John (NIV) 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

Observation:  Love starts with God.  Love and holiness are the bedrock of God’s nature.  They are to be the same for us.  If God has taken up residence in my life, then His love will be expressed through every interaction with others, expressed in every task, and expressed every day.

Application:   The proof of my love for God is my love for my brother.  The proof of my love for my brother is my love for God!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I pray that the same love you expressed in sending Jesus will find expression through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

August 23, 2019: SOAP #3550:  Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

Scripture:  Jeremiah (NIV) 31:35 This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD Almighty is his name: 36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.”

Observation:   God’s commitment to Israel is permanent as His commitment with the sun, moon, stars and ocean!  Obviously having God’s promise to support their national existence does not mean that He approves of everything they do.  One only needs to read the Old Testament to see that God is as faithful to punish Israel’s wickedness as He is to bless Israel’s righteousness.

People and nations who want to deny Israel the right to exist as a nation have an issue with the God of creation.

Application:  Observing how God is keeping His promise to Israel builds faith in my heart that He will keep His promises to me!   Israel is a nation of God’s promise; I am a child of His presence!   God had Israel build a tabernacle that He might live in the midst of them; God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross for my sins that He might live inside of me!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are committed to Israel, AND You are committed to me!  I am blest to be your child.  I am honored to be your servant.  Because I love you, serving you is my pleasure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 22, 2019: SOAP #3549:  Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Observation:   It might be difficult to describe love—to put it into words that properly and adequately portray its fullness.  But it is not difficult to understand what love is: just look at Jesus and what He did for us at Calvary.  He sacrificed Himself for my benefit!  He is my example; I am to make sacrifices of that which supports my life for the benefit of others.

Application:   Verse seventeen has a practical application for my everyday life.  This love is more than a sacrifice to share spiritual truth.  It starts with using my material possessions to help fill material needs of my brother.  I cannot just pray for them, share God’s word with them and, give them a word of encouragement.  I am to share my “material possessions” with them.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, show me how to give the Heavenly Father the most glory by using what He has placed in my hands.  Use my material possessions, use my life to minister to the needs of others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 21, 2019: SOAP #3548:  Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Observation:   One would expect builders to know the type of material to be used in their building.  They are the experts.  They should be able to recognize stones to be used in the foundations.

The magi expected those in government to know where the King of the Jews would be born.  Many people expected that the High Priest in the temple would know where the Messiah would be born.  They were considered the experts.

The experts missed it!  They were not so expert!

Application:  I am an adult.  To some, I am an expert—I must be; I am over 70 years old!  In looking at the people around me, it may be easy to miss the value that God has placed in their lives.  Sometimes I take the word of the “expert” about the value of a young person’s life.  I need the help of the Holy Spirit to see what is hidden in the life of a youth.  Instead of writing them off as having no value, I need to let the Holy Spirit show me the potential buried in their hearts.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me see the young people around me as you see them.  Show me their potential.  Help me see below the surface.  Use me to encourage them and help them see what you can do with their lives. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 20, 2019: SOAP #3547:  Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

Scripture:  1John (NIV) 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
4 We write this to make our joy complete.

Observation:   John is writing from a personal perspective.  This is not hearsay.  He is telling us what he personally experienced.  And more than a personal experience, it is a shared personal experience.  This is not something he experienced on his own.  There are people who can verify his experiences.  There are people with whom he has discussed Jesus—His life and His ministry, His teachings, His death, His resurrection.  Instead of “I” and “my” we read “we” and “our.”

Application:   My experience with Jesus is also a personal experience.  Jesus has personally directed my decisions.  He has healed me and provided for me.  But it is more than a personal experience, it is a shared personal experience.   Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father…”  We share the glorious life of Jesus.  We share the scriptures.  We share the Holy Spirit.  We share the blessed hope.  We share the challenges and we share the rewards.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for those who share my blessings and burdens. Thank you for those who share my challenges and rewards.  Thank you for those who encourage me.  Use me to encourage somebody else today. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!