S.O.A.P.

May 15: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

Something I Cannot Escape

Scripture: 1Thessalonians 4: 13 ¶ Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Observation: Here and in verses 14 and 15, as well as verse 10 of the following chapter, Paul speaks of death as "sleep." We should fear death no more than we fear going to sleep at night. We expect to awake from our sleep in the morning, and we should pass through death expecting to "awake" in His presence.

Application: Considering death in this manner, gives me hope. Oh yes, I grieve, but not like those who have no hope.

Prayer: Lord, dying is a part of life that no one can escape. Thank you for giving comfort in your word. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 14: 1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

Thankful for friends!

Scripture: 1Thessalonians 3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

Observation: Paul has a thankful heart. Not only will Paul have joy in standing before the Lord at the judgment, he NOW has joy in God’s Presence because of the Thessalonians.

Application: In the Lord I have many reasons for joy. There are many memories of God’s Presence which can stir my heart to rejoice. Reading Bible verses that God has used to speak to my heart cause me to rejoice. And like Paul, I too have many reasons for joy as I think of all the special people God has brought into my life.

Prayer: Lord, I give you thanks and praise for the many friends you have brought into my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

S.O.A.P.

May 13: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thessalonians 2

Encouraging, Comforting & Urging

Scripture: 1Thessalonians 2:11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Observation: How should a father treat his children? They could take example from Paul’s treatment of the believers in Thessalonica. Children need encouraging because life is sometimes a struggle. Children need comforting because life includes suffering. Children need urging because there are priorities that must not be missed. Children need to be "urged" to live a life that brings a smile to God. Children need to grow in their understanding of what it means to be a part of God’s glorious kingdom!

Application: As a parent, a grandparent, and a bus driver, most of my activities with children can be seen in “encouraging,” “comforting” and “urging.”

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a good “encourager,” a good “comforter” and a good “urger.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 12: 2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

After that…

Scripture: 2Samuel 21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer on behalf of the land.

Observation: Each of us have "after that" experiences in our lives. These are experiences of which we enjoy the presence and blessing of God, but only after we have made the past right. We can never change the past, but we can acknowledge it and take responsibility for it. We cannot change it, but God can forgive it! Many times the past must be put to death and buried properly before the blessings of the Lord return.

Application: 1. I can acknowledge the wrong that has been done.
2. I can take responsibility and not blame others.
3. I can take the necessary actions. (Before God, on the cross, Jesus took the necessary action for me! I must take the necessary action before man.)
4. I can bury it. Burying does not mean forgetting. I can put it behind me. I am responsible for what I can do: repenting, forgiving, and making things right as I am able. Then I must leave it with the Lord who marks its grave with His blood. Now, when Satan brings it to my mind, I tell him just where to find it—under the blood of Jesus! Satan has to leave it alone and I am not going to dig it up!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for helping me put the past behind me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 11: 2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

May 11, 2012 and beyond!

Scripture: Matthew 28: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Observation: Jesus was soon to leave them, but here He was saying He would be with them to the very end of the age! His physical body in which He walked the earth, in which He suffered and died, in which He arose from the grave would now soon be leaving. But the Holy Spirit who dwelt within Jesus would be coming and He would never leave!

Application: The age is not yet over! Jesus is still present in the person of His Holy Spirit. Jesus lives in me! His promise is true! Here it is May 11, 2012 and He is still with me! Wow! What a promise! What a Promiser!

Prayer: Lord, your promise is true. Here I am, and here you are! You are with me! Your same Holy Spirit lives in me! (Romans 8:11) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Monday, May 10: 2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Mathew 27

This is a repeat from 2010. It is too good not to send it out again!

Breaking out

Scripture: Matthew 27:64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."

Observation: They were interested in keeping people from breaking IN to the tomb; they were not considering that Someone might be breaking OUT! They made the tomb as secure as they knew how, but it was not enough. The heavy stone, the Roman seal, the Roman guard, and death itself could not keep Jesus from breaking out of that tomb.

Application: It is truly amazing for me to have Jesus living within. There is no power in the world or universe strong enough to box Him in. Satan may try to box me in and put me in a grave. He may use the latest technology. He may do his best. People may do their best. But people, religious leaders, governmental leaders and Satan himself have already met their match at the empty tomb! Satan has no power to entomb me in fear or doubt, or despair, or discouragement, or unhappiness. I need but remind him. The resurrected life of Christ within me can never be entombed again! Wow!!!

Prayer: Lord, I never want to forget your power to break out of that tomb. I never want to forget that same power is at work in me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 9: 2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Recognized by his speech!

Scripture: Matthew 26:73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."

Observation: Jesus was on trial and Peter was close by. Peter had just denied knowing Jesus two times. But the way he talked gave him away. Probably those from Galilee had unique and recognizable ways of saying certain words. But the next verse tells us that Peter began to curse and swear. The accent may identify Peter with Jesus, but the way he cursed was meant to break that tie.

Application: The way I talk has a lot to do with how others think of me. Jesus presence in my life affects how I act and how I talk. That Jesus is living on the inside should be easily recognized by my speech.

Prayer: Lord, may people see you in my actions and hear you in my words. Live your life through me today. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 8: 2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Campaigning

Scripture: 2Samuel 15:1 As time went on, Absalom took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him.
2 Early each morning he would take up his post beside the road at the city gate. When anyone showed up with a case to bring to the king for a decision, Absalom would call him over and say, "Where do you hail from?" And the answer would come, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."
3 Then Absalom would say, "Look, you’ve got a strong case; but the king isn’t going to listen to you."
4 Then he’d say, "Why doesn’t someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I’d settle things fair and square."
5 Whenever someone would treat him with special honor, he’d shrug it off and treat him like an equal, making him feel important.
6 Absalom did this to everyone who came to do business with the king and stole the hearts of everyone in Israel.

Observation: As we approach our national elections we are seeing more and more political advertising. Candidates are looking for votes. It appears to me that some act just like Absalom. Although there was no election for king in Israel, the above verses above show Absalom undermining David’s position as King of Israel.

Application: I need to be careful not to draw attention to myself, but always point people to the real King, King Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of all honor. May all the glory go to you! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 7: 2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

No longer banished!

Scripture: 2Samuel 14:14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

Observation: What an interesting story in 2Samuel 14. What a prophetic word from this lady! God still loves people who are banished by their sin. Through the death of His Son, Jesus, He made a way to bring them into His Presence!

Application: I was once banished from God’s Presence on the basis of my sin. I have now been forgiven and brought into His Kingdom as a servant, into His family as a son, and into His Presence as a worshipper! Wow!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for making the required payment for my sins. Thank you for welcoming me into your Kingdom, into your Family, and into your Presence! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

May 6: 2Samuel 11,12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

All because of Who He is!

Scripture: Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

Observation: The above is a psalm of King David after he had been confronted with committing adultery with Bathsheba. He does not seek mercy because he is such a good man or because he has such an important position in government, or because it may hurt others if the truth came out. There is only one basis to seek God’s mercy: that is the basis of God’s character. God has “unfailing love” and “great compassion.”

Application: I cannot earn God’s forgiveness with my history of good works. I cannot earn God’s forgiveness with the importance of my service. Truth is that I cannot earn my forgiveness. It is not given on the basis of my merit. It is God alone who will hear my confession and forgive me. And He does it because of who HE is, not because of who I am.

Prayer: Lord, What amazing grace comes to me from your “unfailing love” and “great compassion.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!