June 12, 2018: SOAP #3113: 1Kings 12; 2Chronicles 10,11; Philippians 2

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 2:6 Who [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Observation:  For Jesus, being born as a man was not enough.  Even then He humbled Himself, becoming willing to submit to that which was required of Him, even death. And if that was not enough, and in the justice of God it was not, the death was on a cross, showing it was under the curse of sin.

We see five steps of emptying/humbling that the Son completed:
#1.  …from being God to making Himself nothing; #2. …to taking on the nature of a servant; #3. …to becoming a man; #4. …to death; #5. …to death under the curse as a criminal.

What a contrast to the five “I wills” of satan in Isaiah 14:13 and 14:
#1.  “I will ascend to heaven; 2.  I will raise my throne above the stars of God; #3.  I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. #4.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; #5.  I will make myself like the Most High.”

It was satan’s goal was to raise himself to the place from which Jesus was willing to descend.  How we should appreciate the great sacrifice of our Precious Savior.  It is no wonder that the Father has highly exalted Jesus! Note:  Philippians 2:9,10.

Application:  Satan’s goal was to gain for himself; Jesus goal was to gain for others—for me!  Being like Jesus means that I must be willing to humble myself.  What is my goal?

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, today, help me walk humbly before God and people.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 10, 2018: SOAP #3111: Song of Solomon 5-8; Philippians 1

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

Observation:   From the context, I believe Paul is referring to whatever might happen to himself.  Paul is writing from prison and is not sure if he will be released or executed.  They should not let whatever happens to Paul, or to themselves stop them from heeding his council.

If they will conduct themselves in a manner that speaks well of the gospel, then the reports that Paul will receive in person or through a messenger, will always reassure him that they are standing steadfast and in unity against all enemies of the gospel.

Application:   In every circumstance, in all troubles, in great joy or sorrow, gain or loss, I should always conduct myself in a manner that speaks well of the good news that Christ Jesus came to earth to die for my sins and that He rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven where He is preparing a place for me and He will return for me soon!  That is truth, and I should live as though it is true!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, help me live a life worthy of the fact that my sins are forgiven and that you are always with me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 10, 2018: SOAP #3111: Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Observation:   Even in prison, Paul would have opportunity to give a witness about Jesus.  He did not want to miss any opportunity, so he was requesting their prayers.

Application:   There are times when I talk to myself, but not very often.  When I open my mouth, I am expecting someone to be listening.  I may be asking a question; I may be answering a question.  I may be commenting on something someone has previously said.  Someone is listening, and that gives me opportunity to say something about Jesus!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, to day make me aware of opportunities I will have to speak about Jesus.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 09, 2018: SOAP #3110: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 5:13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Observation:   It is the very nature of light to reveal.  Whatever is brought into the light, or that onto which the light shines, is made visible, not by the nature of the thing exposed, but by the nature of the light.  It is impossible for that onto which the light shines to remain in darkness.  That onto which the light shines has no power to remain hidden.

Christ is the LIGHT of the world.  When He shines on us, and in us, and through us, He brings both light and life.  The only thing that will stop the light from revealing to us is when we have our eyes closed as in sleep or death.  So, we are to wake up.  We are to open our eyes and see what the light has revealed.

Application:  As I continue in the light of His Presence and in the light of His Word,  I grow in understanding and enjoying Him.

Prayer:   Lord, continue to shine your light into my heart and mind.  Continue to reveal the truth about Who you are and Who I am.  Continue to fill me with the light of your Presence and of your word.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 08, 2018: SOAP #3109: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 4:8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Observation:   Since Jesus is God and was in the beginning with God, there could be no possibility of his ascending, seeing as there was no place higher to which to ascend–unless He first descended.  For the ultimate good for man, and for the glory of His Father, He did just that!  (To climb a ladder when you are already standing on the top rung would require you first stepping down.)

Jesus is Worthy of His exalted position, not only because He is God, but because He willingly descended to fulfill the will of The Father, defeated the enemy, and then rose in glory.  Indeed, He is Worthy!

Application:   Jesus is God and has always been God.  But we have another reason to worship Him.  He is worthy because of what He has done!  He descended from His high position, took the place as a man within the stream of humanity, lived without sin, suffered and died to pay for the sins of man, rose from the dead, and has ascended to a pace of glory in heaven.  He is worthy because of what He did!   Note:  Revelation 5:9.

Prayer:     Jesus, you are worthy of all honor and praise.  You died for me.  You provided for me to forgiven.  You sent your Holy Spirit to live within me to give me power live in victory.  You are worthy of all my praise and worship.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 07, 2018: SOAP #3108: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

Observation:   -The reason Paul has just given (in the preceding verses) is that, along with the Jews, the Gentiles are now a part of God’s building. Paul is assigned to preach to the Gentiles and to make sure everyone knew that it was always God’s plan to include the Gentiles.
–Because the Gentiles are an integral part of the plan of God, Paul has become not only a prisoner of Rome, but also of the Lord Jesus Christ! His life is not his own. His choices are not his own. God has given him understanding and appointed him a minister to the Gentiles.
–Surely the people of Ephesus were already aware that God had so called Paul. This calling upon Paul was an expression of God’s grace for the Gentiles. It was a reaching out to those who had been excluded in the law.
–How important is revelation! It is the only way man can know about God. Praise God that He is a revealer; He reveals Himself. The only way the finite can know the Infinite is if the Infinite chooses to reveal Himself.

Application:   What God had revealed to Paul was not just for Paul’s benefit.  It was to be shared.  God’s purpose was to tell Paul, so Paul could tell others.  It was “to him for us.”  The same is true for the things God has shown me (and whoever reads these SOAPs.)  They are “to me for others.”

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, today lead me to someone who needs the truth you have placed in my heart.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 06, 2018: SOAP #3107: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45: Ephesians 2

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Observation:     What a blessing is ours.  We have been “made alive with Christ.”  We have been “raised up with Christ.”  And we have been “seated with Christ in the heavenly realms!”

Apart from Christ we have nothing.  With Christ we have life—we have His life!   We have a new outlook—we have a heavenly perspective!   And we have a secure position—we do not have to struggle to arrive; we are seated with Christ!

Application:   Years back in Hawaii, we used to sing, “Keep looking down; keep looking down; from the heights where the glory doeth abound.  For you are seated in heavenly places with the King, who are you to be moved by anything!”  (unknown)

Prayer:   Lord, I surrender my life to you and you share your life with me!     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 05, 2018: SOAP #3106: Proverbs 30,31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1

Scripture:  Ephesians (NIV) 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way.

Observation:  Jesus did not take this high and exalted position upon Himself, it was given to Him. He is deserving, but He did not reward Himself. How unlike some people today who accomplish something worthy, then declare themselves to be worthy, and finally take for themselves whatever reward they deem appropriate.  Proverbs 27.2
–This One Who has been so exalted, God gives to the church as its head! What a privilege is ours!
–God the Father put Jesus in charge of all things. There is nothing that is not under His feet today! Although this includes all things, it specifically includes the church of which He is the head.

Application:  It is not my church, nor your church. It is HIS church. He is the head of everything for the church! It is not my ideas that count, nor a board’s, nor a committee’s ideas, but HIS!

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, continue reminding me that the church is HIS!  It is my privilege to be a part of HIS church!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 04, 2018: SOAP #3105: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Scripture:  Proverbs (NIV) 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Observation:  Fear is a form of worship.  When we fear man, we are giving to man what we should only give to God.

Fear is a thought-magnet.   Fear captivates our thoughts and welds them onto the object of the fear.

Application:   Worship is a good way to wrest my thoughts from the thought-magnet and purposefully place them on God.  When I consciously think of God’s wisdom, omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence–the thing feared loses its grip on our mind.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, there is nothing on earth that threatens your righteous reign.  There is no power or authority to which you yield.  May my fear of you always override my fear of man.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

June 03, 2018: SOAP #3104: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 15:25 Now, however, I [Paul] am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Observation:   For the Gentiles, helping the Jew was their pleasure; it was also their duty.   It was proper for Gentiles to give to the Jews.  Through the Jews came the written word of God.  Through the Jews came the Messiah!  And through the Jews came Paul’s ministry.  So, it was more than their pleasure, it was their duty.
–The Jews had not placed these blessings in the reach of the Gentiles in order to get their money.  They were not selling God’s blessings.  They were not begging the Gentiles to send them money.  They were not sending the Gentiles a bill.
–Paul explained that in the natural order of ministry, an offering was owed. They had been given something of great value.  The giver was now in need.

Application:  When I become aware that those who have shared the spiritual truths with me are going through difficult times, it is proper for me to help them with an offering.  The value of the offering in no way compares to the value of the spiritual input.  Yet it is one way I have of expressing my appreciation for what they brought to my life.  It can demonstrate that I value what I have received.   A visit, a card of encouragement, words of appreciation may have more value than money.

Prayer:    Holy Spirit, help me show proper, meaningful, expression of appreciation for those who opened spiritual doors for me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!