August 16, 2021: SOAP #4274:  2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

SCRIPTURE:  2Kings (NIV) 24:2 The LORD sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him. He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, 4 including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.

OBSERVATION: The God of the Old Testament remains the same in the New Testament.  He is just as holy.  Although we do not live under the law given to Moses, we can see the character of God expressed in those laws.  The shedding of innocent blood is the killing of those that carry the image of God.  The judgment brought to Israel was in the form of Babyloian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders invading Israel. 

APPLICATION:  There can be no more innocent blood then the blood of 70 million babies who were being formed in the image of our Creator.   

When I asked God what he was going to do, He told me he would bring into our country one illegal alien for each aborted child.  If we were being invaded by an army, we would set up our tanks and troops with their weapons at our border.  But the army of God bringing His judgment into the United States is not armed with weapons of war.  This army consists of children and adults of the same age as our aborted children would be.  According to news reports, the Lord has armed them with COVID which they carry to their destinations.  Also, hidden within this army and its activities are those carrying drugs into our land. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we must not forget that you are just as holy as you are loving.  Now in judgment, remember mercy.  (Isaiah 30:18)   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 15, 2021: SOAP #4273:  Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 17: 25 [Jesus praying] “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
26 I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

OBSERVATION: The priority of Jesus time on earth was to the Father.  He was here to do the Father’s will.  He was here to make the Father known.  He gave parables about the Father.  He taught about the Father.  In the hearing of His disciples, He prayed to the Father.  In prayer He talked to the Father about the disciples, and about their disciples, and about their disciples, all the way to me!  

Jesus not only revealed the Father to His disciples, He promised to continue to reveal the Father. 

APPLICATION:  My knowledge of the Father, and my relationship with the Father, is a life-long learning process.  As long as I live, I expect to be growing in my knowledge of God.  And when I cross death’s valley into the life of eternal day, my learning of the Father will greatly increase!  Death will be a great mind-expanding experience!  

Jesus, living in me, makes the Father my priority also.  In living a life like Jesus, knowing the Father and talking to the Father becomes a priority. 

PRAYER: Lord, you have revealed our Father and taught us to pray to Him.  In coordination with the Holy Spirit, you continue to reveal Him to us.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 14, 2021: SOAP #4272:  Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete….
26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

OBSERVATION: This was a key time in the life and ministry of Jesus.  In His teaching, he had been leading up to this time.  He had taught them about His Father, which is Our Father.  In this chapter, I see Jesus transferring the relationship He had built with the disciples to a relationship they would have with the Father. 

The One who loved the world and gave His only Son to be the sacrifice for sin—now He loves them personally because of their love and commitment to His Son, Jesus.  He would respond to their requests as Jesus had. They had been bringing their needs to Jesus; now they were to bring them to the Father.  Jesus tells them to ask “in my name!”  The Father would be favorably inclined to hear and answer such prayers! 

APPLICATION:  When I come to the Father “in Jesus name,” I am there to do His business.  I am there as He would be there.  I am requesting what He would be requesting.  I am praying according to His will.  I am not requesting something to use for my own desires.  (James 4:3)

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for giving me your name to use in my prayers.  Heavenly Father, how special to know that you love me.  How special to know that you aware of my love for your Son, Jesus.  Thank you for the Holy Spirit and how He ties this all together.  I am blessed!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 13, 2021: SOAP #4271:  Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John (NIV) 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John (NIV) 15:16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

OBSERVATION: Gifts can be hung on a tree by anyone.  The gifts tell us nothing about the tree.  Fruit is so different!  The fruit is an expression of the life in the tree.  A dead tree bears no fruit.  The nature of the tree is expressed in the fruit.  The branch that bears fruit does so only as it is attached to the tree. 

APPLICATION:  My life bears fruit and glorifies God only as I am attached and have His life flowing through me. 

Fruit helps those around me to see that Jesus is living in me.  Kindness and love are at a deeper level than people expect.  When they see the fruit from the presence of Jesus, they are more open to my witness of Jesus. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, our fruit pleases you.  Through the fruit in our lives, you can see that the sacrifice of Jesus is still having a great affect in the world.  You can see that we are His disciples!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 12, 2021: SOAP #4270:  Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth.  … But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

OBSERVATION: What a wonderful plan our Heavenly Father had.  He understood our need and made proper provision!  He did not just ignore our sin as though it was unimportant.  He sent his Son to die to provide the payment that sin requires.  Then He sent His Holy Spirit to enable us to live in a way that pleases Him—even though we remain in an environment where we are tempted to sin. 

The Father knew what we needed!  Through the Son, Father God provided a living presentation of Himself, teaching to help us understand, and a sacrifice to cover our sins.  Through the Holy Spirit, Father God provides His constant presence to enlighten our understanding and empower us for a life of serving Him.

For those walking in sin, the Holy Spirit’s counsel convicts them and makes them uncomfortable.  For those desiring to please God, the Holy Spirit’s counsel comforts them and guides them to do right.

APPLICATION:  What a wonderful benefit it is to have the Holy Spirit with me “forever” -not just when I am in church or just on Sundays.  As I go through each day, I need Him to teach me and to remind me of what God has spoken to me.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in your great wisdom you have shown your love for your children by sending both your Son and your Holy Spirit.  I honor you, Father, as I receive both with a thankful and humble hert.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 11, 2021: SOAP #4269:  Rework of #3173:  Jeremiah 7-9; John 13

Scripture:  John (NIV) 13:4 … [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him. …                                     
15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. …

Observation:   All Jesus needed to serve His disciples that night was a basin with water and a towel—simple items that were readily available.  Jesus did not send one of his disciples out to the market to get a plush towel, a fancy basis, and some bottled water; He used what was available. 

As I think on this, it seems Jesus usually followed that same pattern of using what was readily available.  He did send his disciples to get a donkey and to look for food to feed the five thousand, but He only used what was available.  There was no pleading for money or worrying about supplies.

Application:  Does this mean that Jesus will never have me go out looking for what I need to serve Him?  No.  But I believe it honors Him when I start with what I have available.  If I am faithful in using what is available, I have found Him faithful to supply what is needed.  I believe I should put my focus on using what I already have and let Him focus on providing what I lack.  God can miraculously multiply what I have or add to it from another source. 

I must remember that the many promises in the Bible were not placed there because someone twisted God’s arm until He gave in.  They are there because He wants us to depend on Him and trust Him for what we need. 

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I want you to be able to count on me to go where you want me to go and do what you want me to do.  I want you to know that I count on you to provide what is needed for me to fulfill your will.  I will obey your command and trust what you provide. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 10, 2021: SOAP #4268: Jeremiah 5-6; John 12  

SCRIPTURE:  Jeremiah (NIV) 5:18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not destroy you completely. 
19 And when the people ask, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’:  

OBSERVATION:  God’s judgment was in keeping with their sin.  They had forsaken God to serve foreign gods within their boundaries, now they would serve people in foreign lands. 

I am a citizen of the United States.  I know God has a message for this nation.  We are a nation that was founded by people who honored God and His word.  Throughout the Declaration of Independence, the constitution, and early documents one finds many references to God and His Word. 

The terrible sin of slavery was judged by God with a terrible civil war.  Black people were considered less than human. They were used for gain at great cost to themselves!  The Civil war cost our nation many lives!  The judgment was in keeping with our sin. 

Today, God is judging our nation for the terrible sin of abortion.  We have destroyed millions of our children who carried the image of God; now God is bringing hundreds of thousands of children who carry the image of the same God, into our southern border.  They come with and without their families.  God is replacing the millions of people we did not want.  The numbers overwhelm our border patrol; many are coming in with Covid and being released throughout the USA. 

APPLICATION:  God’s law is that we reap what we sow.  It is true for nations as well as individuals.  It is true for families and churches.  Thank God that repentance can move our sins to the “paid in full” column under the blood of Jesus! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, before we can receive the forgiveness provided by your Son, Jesus, we need the convicting presence of your Holy Spirit.  May there be a revival of conviction across our nation. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 9, 2021: SOAP #4267:  Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 11: 32 [Mary] …fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. …43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

OBSERVATION:  The stone laid across the tomb of Lazarus needed to be removed before Jesus called Lazarus to come out.  The stone was removed to let Lazarus out.  But the stone enclosing the tomb of Jesus had to be removed to let us in!  (Matthew 28:6)

APPLICATION:  Stones can set a deadline.  They make me think if only Jesus would have answered my prayer earlier.  The stone stops my faith.  My faith must go behind and beyond the stones I encounter in life.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, stones cannot stop you.  You are already working behind the stone!  Along with my faith, my praise will be on both sides of the stone.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 8, 2021: SOAP #4266:  Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 10:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

OBSERVATION: In this first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, we read about a powerful and personal encounter the prophet had with God.  God had an assignment.  The prophet doubted his ability to carry out the assignment.  It would be hard for him to carry God’s word to the people; he did not know how to speak; he was only a child. 

God also had serious doubts about the prophet’s abilities!  Obviously, God was not depending on the prophet’s abilities.  God was counting on His Own Presence to be with Jeremiah!  God would even place His words in the prophet’s mouth.  The prophet’s mouth would now belong to God and would speak God’s words!!!  Jeremiah would not need to get input from others as to what his message should be.  God would give him the message!  

APPLICATION:  When God gives me an assignment, He is not counting on my abilities or on my resources.  He is not counting on me to be able to get my message from a lesson plan or a book.  He is not counting on me to be able to convince other people to “support” my ministry.  If it is His assignment, He will supply.  It does not please God when I act like God is not able to provide and I have to convince other people to give.  It is true that God will often use other people to support HIS work, but He does the convincing.  When presenting the ministry and needs to others, I must be careful not to present God as unable to provide for His assignments.  I am a child of the KING; I am not a beggar!  It is my privilege to work for One who has no lack and provides for my every need. 

When people try to convince me to send them money, I wonder why God is not providing their needs?  Are they not doing God’s will?  Why is their faith in God so lacking?  Their faith in me seems to be greater than their faith in God!  There is no doubt that they are facing a great need…so great that only God has the resources to meet.  My assignment is to help their faith in God to grow! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Our relationship is based on faith.  Without faith it is impossible to please you.  May my faith be every growing.  Amen

Pastor Leon      
Making friends for time and eternity! 

August 7, 2021: SOAP #4265:  Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no-one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

OBSERVATION: We can work in the light of day.  When the darkness of night comes, we will not be able to work.  These two truths must be mixed with a third truth.  Jesus is the light of the world! 

APPLICATION:  For as long as Jesus is with me, I can continue working.  It is not that I can continue working, I MUST continue working.  I MUST continue to do the work that He has assigned me. 

For the follower of Jesus, all work is spiritual. 

Work is not important due to its value; it may appear to be very important or very unimportant.  Work is important because HE has given it to me.  Work allows me to be involved in His kingdom here on earth.  Work allows me to show how I value God and His desire for my life.  Work allows my attitude to be seen by others.  Work allows the inside of me (where Jesus dwells) to be seen by those on the outside of me. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you assigned Adam to care for the Garden, and you have assigned me to drive a school bus and write SOAPs. Thank you for the honor of representing you to those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!