July 07, 2021: SOAP #4234:  Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.

OBSERVATION:  The rest that the Israelites missed was the truth that we are not granted entrance to the kingdom of God, nor heaven, based on our works.  We “rest” from our words and depend totally on His work (on the cross.) 

I must stop depending on my own works to make me good enough for heaven.  I must depend wholly on Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins.  It must be mixed with faith.  It is by faith that I receive His work as mine.  Until I believe it was for me and the benefit is mine, it has no power to prepare me for heaven and to change my life.

APPLICATION:  God responds to faith.  He wants to be believed.  It blesses Him when He sees me talking and acting as though what He has said is true!  My faith springs from God.   I believe He loves me.  I believe His word is true.  I believe He keeps His promises.  My faith is based on His Word. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for being so believable.  The more I know you, the easier it is to believe you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 06, 2021: SOAP #4233:  Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house….
5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

OBSERVATION: The Jewish people had (and have) great respect for Moses, and rightfully so.  Moses led them out of Egypt and across the dessert for 40 years.  But as much respect as they had for Moses, they should have even more for Jesus!  

Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, caring for God’s people.  Jesus is so much more!   Moses was a servant IN God’s house, but Jesus is the faithful Son OVER God’s house!   

Moses sinned and needed forgiveness; Jesus never sinned and provides forgiveness.  Along with all the other Israelites, Moses needed a lamb to cover his sins; Jesus is the Lamb!

APPLICATION:  The application for this passage is found in the first verse: “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”

Jesus is to be a permanent part of my thought life.  I should consider His feelings as He participates in everything I do.  Since I have invited Him to live in my heart as the Lord of my life, everything I say and do affects Him.   

PRAYER: Lord, you are the guest in my life that always has the place of honor.   I want you to enjoy living in me.  May my words and actions bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 04, 2021: SOAP #4232:  2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

OBSERVATION: God is the reason for everything.  It was for His glory that Jesus came to die on the cross.  God desired a family of sons and daughters just like His Son, Jesus, so He “planted” Jesus as a seed to bring forth a harvest of many just like Him. 

Jesus was perfect in who He was.  He was the perfect Son.  He was perfect God.  He was perfect man.  He had to be born as a man.  He had to live as a man.  He had to endure the limitations of being human.  He was perfect in every way but one.  He was not the perfect sacrifice for sin until he had suffered and been crucified. 

God took no shortcuts in dealing with sin.  Sin can only be satisfactorily covered with the blood of a tried-and-true perfect sacrifice. 

APPLICATION:  God’s plan is that people join Him in ruling and reigning in glory.  But sin had separated us from that possibility. Hallelujah, God knew what we needed.  And God was willing to pay the price! 

PRAYER: Lord, you were the perfect sacrifice for sin.  You took the assignment from the Father willingly and fulfilled it perfectly.  You provided for our greatest need, the forgiveness of sin.  We trust you to continue provide for our needs.  And we want you to be able to trust us to live in honor of your sacrifice.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 04, 2021: SOAP #4231:  2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 1:10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

OBSERVATION: In this passage we see the temporary nature of “the earth and the heavens.”  They are like a good shirt or pair of pants; the earth and the heavens will wear out and need to be changed. 

But what a difference is seen in God the Son, the creator of the earth and the heavens.  The earth and the heavens will “wear out” and “be changed,” BUT NOT THE SON!   He remains!  There will never be an end to HIS years!  

How illogical to worship creation as the creator!

APPLICATION:  These verses make me better appreciate the ONE who has made me His dwelling place!  Knowing that He is in me should make a big difference in how I talk and act.  Knowing that He is ALWAYS with me should make a big difference in how I talk and act when I am alone, for I am never alone!  

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are amazing.  You deserve my attention, my loyalty, my service, and my worship. You are worthy of my all.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

July 03, 2021: SOAP #4230:  Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs… 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”…
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

OBSERVATION:  The revelation of God’s majesty and holiness brought an awareness of the prophet’s sin and the sin around him.  The removal of guilt and forgiveness of sin brought the ability to hear “the voice of the Lord.” 

APPLICATION:  Our nation is struggling under the weight of sin.  We are in the harvest season and many of us do not like what we are reaping!  But this is only the beginning of the harvest.  We have only begun to harvest the borders of the field.  The whole field is full of things that dishonor God!  When God’s people see the holiness of God, we will cringe at the wickedness of what is around us.  When the Holy Spirit touches us, we will hear the voice of God.  We will rise up and go forth like a mighty army, but the nation will not change.  Out of a nation headed for judgment, God will reap His harvest, His church. 

The darkness of our environment will make the glory of God shine even brighter!  

PRAYER: Touch me, Holy Spirit.  Then touch through me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

July 02, 2021: SOAP #4229:  Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 116:6 The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. 7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. 8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

OBSERVATION:  The Lord has protected us and been our deliverance in time of need.  He has been good to us.  The Lord kept us from deaths grip, our eyes from crying, and our feet from stumbling!

All this and more He has done for us. 

APPLICATION:  What does He want from me?  He wants me to be a walking billboard while I am alive on earth.  He wants me to be a demonstration of what God is able to do. 

He does not call me to live hidden away in a cave where no one can see me.  He assigns me a responsibility in a place where my life will be visible to others. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, For you to be glorified in my life, you must be seen in my life.  You must be given credit for your works.  I will make sure your working in my life is well known.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Received this note from Pastor Andrew: ”Hello Daddy God bless you Sir. Praise the Lord i came back yesterday safe and I thank God for my health now am getting stronger. I thank God for is grace and I thank God for you Daddy for your prayers and Help to me and the family may the good Lord continues to bless you and Mom in Jesus name Amen.” Thanks to all who have been praying for Pastor Andrew!

July 01, 2021: SOAP #4228:  Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

SCRIPTURE:  Titus (NIV) 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

OBSERVATION: It is not in payment for the good we have done, nor it is a reward for some special favor.  It is because of His mercy made possible through the sacrificial death of Jesus and applied through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit has been distributed abundantly or generously.  He is more than sufficient to fulfill the purpose for which He is given to us.  We serve a generous God! 

APPLICATION:  My time and resources are limited so I cannot respond to every need.  Often, I must choose whom I should help.  But I have never had God withhold blessing from me because of a concern that He would run short and not be able to bless someone else.   This truth makes it easy to rejoice with others who are blest.  Their blessing does not diminish what God has for me!   And when I am unable to help someone, I am so glad I can point them to a generous God who never runs short!  My inability to help does not mean that God cannot help!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your generous gift of the Holy Spirit!  You knew that I would not be able to continue on my own.  You knew what I needed, and you generously gave me your Holy Spirit.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

June 30, 2021: SOAP #4227:  Amos 7-9; Psalm 104: Titus 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 104:31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works—32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. 35 But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD.

OBSERVATION: This is a psalm/song about creation. The glory and wisdom of God is seen everywhere in the world He created. Everyone should be able to enjoy their works, and so should God.  His works should bring him joy.  Man is the part of creation that has the power to bring Him the greatest joy, also has the power to bring Him the greatest sorrow.

APPLICATION:  Meditation is a very personal activity.  What one meditates about usually depends on what is pleasing to the person.  However, the psalmist desires that his meditation to be pleasing to God! 

I have not taken much time to consider my meditation.  I have just thought about things that captured my attention at the moment.  I do not want to say anything that would be displeasing to the Lord.  I do not want to do anything that would be displeasing to the Lord.  I do not want to think anything that would be displeasing to the Lord! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I need your help to keep my thoughts pleasing to the Lord.  May He enjoy sharing this life with me.  May my words, my actions, and my thoughts bring pleasure to Him.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making Friends for Time and Eternity

Personally note:  Thanks to everyone who prayed for Pastor Andrew.  He was released from the hospital today to his home.  He had some painful dislocations but no broken bones.  Praise the Lord!  His assistant pastor will help him with distributing the SOAPa.  Pray for his continued recovery and to make it over some financial hurdles.  Thank you!  😊 

June 29, 2021: SOAP #4226:  Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 86:5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you….
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours….
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God….
13 For great is your love towards me; …
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness….
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,

OBSERVATION: Who would not serve a God like our God!  He is so great and mighty that no other being can compare!  No other power could force God to be gracious and compassionate!  No other power could force God to be good and to forgive His creation.  Those are characteristics to which He must hold Himself. 

APPLICATION:  I stand in awe, for indeed I serve an awesome God!  I do not deserve His loving kindness.  I could never force Him to be kind to me.  If He dealt with me according to His righteousness and holiness, I could never stand in His presence. 

Yet in a miraculous way, He does deal with me in keeping with His righteousness and holiness.  Through the death of His sinless son, Jesus, I am cleansed from all unrighteousness!  I am justified—made just as if I’d never sinned!!!  Jesus has made His home in me and God the Father now sees me as He sees His holy and righteous Son, Jesus!  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, seeing all this truth in one chapter excites me.  You are amazing.  No one has forced you to be loving and good.  There is no one who has the power to force to do anything.  You are the way you choose to be.  You act only in accordance with your nature.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 28, 2021: SOAP #4225:  Amos 1-3; Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

OBSERVATION:  Paul worked in the awareness of two continuous realities.  The realities had their beginning in the past, were in the present, and would reach into the future.    
-The first was the continuum of his life.  He had “fought the good fight… finished the race…kept the faith.”  Now he would continue his life in the presence of the Lord who would reward him.  
-The second was the continuum of the church.  That for which Paul had been living his life would continue long after his departure (death).  Timothy needed to be prepared to continue serving the church. 

APPLICATION:  I need to see my life in relationship to the same continuous realities.  How I live my life now will affect how I live after my physical death.  It was a birthing process that brought me into this world, and death will be the birthing process that will take me into the continuation of my life in God’s eternity. 
-I need to see my ministry in relationship to the continuing church.  The environment will change, but the church will remain, and God’s truth will remain.  I must give understanding and application to the message in God’s word.  God’s word remains truth across all cultures and all times.  The part that is true in the USA is just as true in Asia and Africa.  What is true in Bangladesh is just as true in Pakistan and USA.  What was true in Moses’ day remains true today.  What is true today will always be true. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I want to be faithful in continuing to love and serve you. …to love and serve your . Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!