SOAP

Scripture:  Ephesians 5:18b-19  ” Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.  Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourself, making music to the Lord in your hearts.”

Observation:  Being filled with the Holy Spirit has to be the most awesome feeling ever.  No worries just his presence .  This presence leads one to sing together in their hearts.

Application:  Why is so hard being in his presence?  The Ephesians letter spoke so much to my heart in how Satan is always lurking to steal my heart.  I remember so fondly when I first went into ministry how I was debt free and all I wanted to do was serve God on the mission field.   There were no people to manage, no repairs on the facility, or no dysfunction in families, no music wars, n0  technology, just the Bible and a big heart.  I guess that is the reason I have always liked the movie “Pure Country.”  It is never about the big church or bright lights but the Gospel in the clearest and simple form.  When that happens the presence of God appears and all you want to do is sing your heart out to God.

Prayer:  May I find the presence daily of the Holy Spirit as I seek to lead the church, the staff, my children, and love my wife.

SOAP

Scripture for today:

Matthew 20-22

Key verse today:

Matthew 21:10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

Observation: People got caught up in the frenzy or mob but had no idea for what. They just knew something was happening so they just the band wagon.

Application: Do I know what is going on or I just get swayed by the crowd. The crowd is the popular opinion that seeks to draw me in. The city was stirred and became convinced that Jesus was the new military leader riding in on a donkey. Leadership is knowing what is happening and when you are involved it is for the right reasons.

SOAP

Verse for today:

Matthew 17-19

Key verse for today:

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Observation: Jesus was referring to how hard it is for a rich person to make it into heaven because all their importance is in stuff. Jesus knew that changing their heart seemed impossible but with God anything can happen.

Application: Many people today say why bother because nothing will change. This is a defeated attitude that will only steal their joy in life. Our faith should propel us to only believe but in using our live to make a difference for Christ in how we treat our neighbor. If not why bother?

SOAP

Scripture for today:

Matthew 14-16

Key Scripture for today:

Matthew 14:31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Observation: The disciples thought they had seen a ghost but it was Jesus. Peter thought he could walk on water. Jesus knew Peter could. But, Peter sank because of his lack of belief.

Application: I wonder how spiritual I am but when given a chance to walk on water or how do I measure? Do I take the first step or two or do simply say I can’t. Do I believe that through Christ all things are possible? Peter downfall came as result of his noticing his surroundings. Christians fold easy when poplualr opinion is evelavated. What a shame!

SOAP

Scripture for today:

Matthew 11-13

Key scripture for today:

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

Observation: Jesus does not like lukewarm followers. You are either following HIm or working against Him.

Application: The church is known for all the feelings that we forget that often when Jesus taught people simply walk away because the teachings were tough. They walked away sad like the rich young ruler because they would rather have stuff than to live a life for Christ. Being with Jesus means that our lives all not for ourselves or what makes us comfortable. Our lives are about the submission to the Lord’s will.

SOAP

Scripture for today:

Matthew 8-10

Key Verse for today:

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Observation: Jesus cared for people. He died for people. He was for the helpless. He knew that the workers are few in that few are willing to love people to that level. He knew His Father could call more workers.

Application: I answered that call of being a worker in March of 1990 at Wingate College on my first mission trip to Quito, Ecuador. It was there that I noticed that very few can keep the intensity for the Lord for the distance. Even in the church it is so important to reach new workers for ministries. New people represent vitality in the life of the church.

SOAP

Scripture for Today:

Matthew 5-7

Key Verse for today:

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Observation: The verse that struck me was that only a few will it. That implies that many think that they found it but really have not. Most Christians today would claim that they have found it which is troubling when the church often mirrors that culture. Our lives should be lived from those that are new creations.

Application: Is it true that only a few have found the narrow gate? To say that most have taken the broad gate sounds so judgmental. But, the church is full of those of those who have taken the easy way and have not honored God by by worshiping him and by giving of their tithes. What this mean for the modern belivers. Am I in that number? Have I taken the easy way and broad way that narrow gate that leads to life.

SOAP

Scripture for today:

Matthew 1-4

Key verse for today:

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Observation:

John the Baptist felt Jesus should baptize him. He tried to stop him to avail.

Application:

Interesting that Jesus saw a need to be baptized. Why? He was the Son of God. He was following His Father’s will in which He was to be baptized. After he was baptized, it was obvious that His Father approved of this public event. Our focus should not be on what is comfortable but what is our heavenly father asking us to do in His name.

Prayer: Following the Father’s Will

SOAP

Scripture for today:

Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 11-13

Key Verse for today:

2 Corinthians 12: 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation:

Even though Paul was converted on the road to Damascus God still had him to deal with a thorn. This thorn is unknown but is often speculated with no clear answer. This thorn kept Paul on knees to Christ as he longed to the thorn to be taken away. Christ was not going to take the thorn because when we are weak we are strong if our dependence is in Christ.

Application: Thorns are in all our walks. There are things that cause us pain in which we pray to be delivered from God. Many times Satan lives in these weaknesses and uses the pain to discourage or plant doubt in our faith. But, when we remain faithful in our weaknesses God in His majesty makes us strong. If we are not faithful we usually have a walk that is inconsistent.

Prayer: May my thorn not get me discouraged in being weak.

SOAP

Scripture for today:

2 Corinthians 7-10

Key verse for today:

2 Corinthians 8:5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

Observation:  The believers dedicated there selves to the Lord by submitting to His will.

Application: This is incredible and I long to be in a body of believers who are this sold out. Their opinions meant nothing but their hearts were united to go wherever and do whatever God ask them as a group or a families to do in His name. Incredible commitment and movement of the Spirit.

Prayer: Help me be in that number.