May 16, 2015: SOAP #1990:

Scripture: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Observation: Paul, who had prayed for them, now asks their prayers for himself. Leaders, seeking the prayers of those to whom they minister are clearly admitting that they too are human, subject to temptation and capable of making mistakes. It is a way of acknowledging that they need God’s help and guidance too. Leaders need our prayers whether they ask for it or not. We need to pray for our leaders.

Application: It is easy to point out flaws in leaders. They are human and subject to temptation. Instead of using our energy to condemn them we should keep our eyes on Jesus and our leaders in our prayers. We should talk to God about our leaders more than we complain to others.

If I am faithful to read God’s Word and to commune each day with the Holy Spirit, I can grow in my spiritual life with our without input from a spiritual leader. People who complain about “not being fed” often reveal that they are not faithful in Bible reading and prayer. (John 14:26; 16:13 and 1John 2:27) However we must remember that leaders are God’s gift to the church! (Ephesians 4:11)

While in the US Navy I complained to the Lord about attending the base chapel. God spoke to me, “If I can speak to my prophet through a donkey (Numbers 22:28), I can surely speak to you through a chaplain!” My attitude changed and from that time I never left the chapel without something that God spoke to me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for the leaders you have placed in my life. Bless them and guide them by your Holy Spirit. My life has greatly benefited from their ministry. People who receive a blessing from my ministry today should also be grateful for their ministry. Amen

May 15, 2015: SOAP #1989: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

Enlightened AND Empowered

Scripture: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality…7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Observation: Understanding that these guidelines for sexual gratification come from God, whoever rejects them also rejects God. Paul is just the messenger.

God has not only given us these guidelines; God has given us His Holy Spirit! Since creation, God has known that man could not keep His holy commandments. Man must have help! At the same time God gave the commandments to Moses, He also gave the sacrifices to be made when they would be broken. There was only One Who kept the law perfectly—Jesus who died as payment for the sins of mankind and rose that we might have eternal life. Now God has sent His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to dwell in our lives, motivating us and helping us to live God’s way.

Application: God greatly desires Leon to live a holy life. So much so that He has given me His word to enlighten my mind AND His Holy Spirit to empower my life. Obviously that I live a holy life is very important to God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know me perfectly. You know how much I need both your Word and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your gracious provisions for me. Amen

May 14, 2015: SOAP #1988:

Scripture: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

Observation: From reading earlier in this chapter we can see the great love the Apostle Paul had for the believers living in the city of Thessalonica. He would have loved to come to visit them so he made it a matter of prayer. For the obstacles to be removed His travel plans would need to be authorized by the One in charge.

When I hear people begging for money to do the Lord’s work or making people feel guilty for not giving, I wonder who authorized that “ministry.” When a ministry is authorized by God and has His anointing, people will be glad for the privilege of giving. It is their joy to be a part of what they see God is doing.

Application: When I have God’s authorization for a matter, then I can trust Him to provide whatever is needed. His provision is the proof of His authorization. My faith for God’s provision increases when I know that I am in God’s will.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can trust you to pay for what you authorize. Help me stay in the center of your will. Amen

May 13, 2015: SOAP #1987

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Observation: David had experienced firsthand the working of God in his life. David had been sad, not just sorry, not just crying, but wailing. God intervened and did not just ease his sorrow, or dry his crying eyes, but caused him to dance with joy! God had turned a time of great sorrow into a time of great joy—from one extreme to another. Of course David would not be silent!

Application: Several times in my life I have felt God lift me from the valley’s floor to the mountain’s top. My heart sang His praise. I imagine that those who have suffered on death’s bed and then awakened in the presence of God experience what David was trying to describe. Of course I will not be silent! If you are looking for a quiet time in heaven, you might not want to be too close to me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what a day that will be when we are in Your Presence. As a newborn baby leaves the darkness of it’s mother’s womb and discovers the bright lights of the outside world, so we will leave the limitations of this world to discover the glories that await! Amen

May 12, 2015: SOAP #1986

Scripture: 2Samuel (NIV) 22:31 “As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.

Observation: Perfection is one of the attributes of God. It is an expression of His holiness. Not only is He perfect, here we read His way is perfect. What He does is perfect. He does everything in a perfect way. He never stops being Holy and never stops being Loving. He is the perfect balance.

Application: In His perfect love and holiness, God created man and gave man the ability to choose. God is much too worthy to be served and worshipped by other than those who choose to love Him. God accepted the challenge to reach into a sinful world and convince people of his worthiness. It validates His holy judgment against those who lived in the full light of His perfection and chose to rebel.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, those who remain faithful to you and honor your perfection will soon be gathered with those who have gone before. We will join them in worship at your throne. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. 23 …but as for me, I trust in you.

Observation: I remember a story about a sailor who was just released from active duty following World War II. He was on the last portion of the trip home. He lived out in the country and was walking with his sea bag on his shoulder. A gentleman driving by stopped an offered him a ride in the rumble seat. A short time later when the driver looked back, he saw the sailor holding his sea bag on his lap. “Set the bag on the seat beside you,” he suggested. The sailor replied, “Oh it is enough that you give me a ride. You do not need to carry my sea bag also.”

Application: Only God knows how many times I have treated God the same way. He who carried my sins is able to carry my cares. He who carried my iniquities is able to carry my diseases. He who carries my life is able to carry my worries and weaknesses. The sailor had a ride to his front door, my LORD will carry me through heaven’s gates!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can trust you. You care for me! Amen

Scripture: 2Samuel (NIV) 18:1 David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai, the Gittite.

Observation: David was running from his son, Absalom who was trying to take over the kingdom of Israel. In these verses we read the simple organizational structure David used to prepare his men for war. I have met people who felt any organization was not spiritual; however in the Gospels we read of Jesus organizing people. In Mark, chapter six, He had the 5000 people sit down in groups of 50’s and 100’s before feeding them. In the same chapter we read He sent out His disciples two by two.

Application: Organization is a tool God has given us to use in accomplishing His assignments. Even everyday tasks like doing the wash, requires separating the whites from the colors. Cooking often requires some items to be mixed together before adding in other ingredients. In the church some are teachers and others serve on the worship team. If I do not organize my day, my daily devotional time can be easily pushed aside.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in those areas where I have authority, I need the Holy Spirit to help me organize my resources to accomplish your will. Amen

May 9, 2015: SOAP #1983: 2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Completing the cycle…

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 71:18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Observation: Here is a prayer everyone can pray. If we are not old and gray, we hope to become old and gray. The only thing that can stop us from growing old and gray is to die young.

Even in his old age, David had a purpose in life. It was to make sure that the following generation knew that God was both capable and willing to do mighty acts on the behalf of men. What God had done for David, God would do for the following generation.

Application: Two things I take from this passage. First, I need to be sure to pass along to the next generation the things God has done for me. Second, I need to encourage others in my generation to be faithful to pass along a testimony of what God has done for them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, the cycle of your work in my life is not complete until I have told the next generation. Holy Spirit, show me the opportunities I have to tell others what you have done for me. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Observation: What a beautiful thought. My life is hidden with Christ in God! (Colossians 3:3) I can depend on Him for my protection. He surrounds me with songs of deliverance which build my faith. If God is my protector, of whom should I be afraid!

Application: I like that God surrounds me with songs of deliverance. Is He doing the singing, or is He singing though others? I am not sure. Sometimes I have a song playing in my mind and often I hear my wife singing as she works around our home. One after another she will sing the worship choruses we sang 20-25 years ago. They are songs of worship and songs of confession of the power, love, and wisdom of our God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is good to have my life hidden with Christ in you! You are my protector and you fill my life with songs of deliverance! Amen

May 7: 2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Not Expected

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 24:42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Observation: In the 1970s Sharon and I taught Sunday School classes in the chapel at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station in Hawaii. One day I asked the young people in my class what would be the latest date we should expect Jesus to return. They said 1985, 1990, etc. with the latest being 2000. When I asked them why they chose that year, their response was: I want to graduate from college; I want to have my own family; etc. Each one had figured the coming of Jesus according to their own time line.

Application: Jesus is not coming when I expect Him, or when it is convenient for me, or when I have accomplished everything I want to do. I must be ready. I must live ready. From looking at Matthew 24, this is the right season for His return; it may just be today!

Prayer: Jesus, I believe you are about to return to this earth. Even so come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20) Amen