Jeff Johnsen's S.O.A.P. Weblog

Look at me Now

jeffjohnsen — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:01:52 +0000

Luke 20

46 Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes, and they like to be greeted in the market. They want the front seats in the meeting places and the best seats at banquets. 47 But they cheat widows out of their homes and then pray long prayers just to show off. These teachers will be punished most of all.

Observation: Jesus is describing how not be like the religious leaders. They wore clothing that drew attention to themselves in the market place. I do not think he was referring to the robes clergy wear on Sunday morning. They also liked to be greeted in public. They desired to always be in limelight. They took advantage of widows and then had the audacity to pray long prayers.

Application: Christianity is not a religion of privileges except to go to heaven. Just because you are a believers does not mean you will be liked, honored, and given respect. It could very well mean the opposite. God is the only one can give you favor with others. Jesus did not like what he saw in the religious leaders of his day. John Baptist even said “I must decrease so he can increase.”

Prayer: May my life be a blessing to others and not a turn-off.

Your Word Should Be Gold

jeffjohnsen — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:52:02 +0000

Genesis 47

31 “Will you give me your word?” Jacob asked.
“Yes, I will,” Joseph promised. After this, Jacob bowed down and prayed at the head of his bed.

Observation: Isaac is dying a wanted Joseph to bury him in his homeland. Jospeh gave him his word and prayed for him.

Application: Your word has to be gold. Without your word what do you have ? I love the biblical application of your word. I still believe yourword is an important today as it in the days of Joseph. If you you can’t keep your word, then don’t give it.

Prayer; May I seek to keep my word as gold as Joseph did with his father, Isaac.

Perspective

jeffjohnsen — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:15:17 +0000

Genesis 45:1-5

1 Since Joseph could no longer control his feelings in front of his servants, he sent them out of the room. When he was alone with his brothers, he told them, “I am Joseph.” Then he cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him and told about it in the king’s palace.

Joseph asked his brothers if his father was still alive, but they were too frightened to answer. Joseph told them to come closer to him, and when they did, he said: Yes, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. Don’t worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives.

Observation: Joseph tried so hard to be strong and fair. Strong because he was a King’s official and fair because he was God’s anointed. The story of Joseph is painful until they are united in Egypt. Seeing the way the brothers treated Joseph for God’s Glory is a miracle.

Application: Seeing the big picture of life is hard. We live in the here and now and give little thought to an eternal one. The story of Joseph is a huge testament to how a follower of God should forgive others in light of the ultimate will of God. This story is loaded with theological perspectives.

Prayer: Help to see the big perspective of God using me.

Being Thankful

jeffjohnsen — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:52:44 +0000

Luke 17

17-19 Jesus asked, “Weren’t ten men healed? Where are the other nine? Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?” Then Jesus told the man, “You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well.”

Observation: Jesus is stating the fact that ten lepers were healed and only one returns to give thanks. It happens to be a foreigner much like the good Samaritan. Jesus reaches out and blesses the one that came back to say thank you.

Application: We get so caught up in ourselves that we lose tract of time. Ten were healed but only one was thankful. Our culture today believes that life owes them so much. Many of the wealthy would not be where they are today if not for someone giving them a helping hand. It is blessing when we have the opportunity to thank someone for what they have done for us. Jesus used the foreigners as the example.

Prayer: May I remember to always be tahnkful for others that helped me.

Warn Before It Is To Late

jeffjohnsen — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:31:23 +0000

Luke 16
19-31 There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.” Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.” But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.” Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.” Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.” So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”

Observation: The hearers would not have liked this story. The story was counter-culture back then as well as it is now. It seems as if you have it good in this world you trust only in your possessions and lifestyle. Your stuff becomes your downfall. The beggar made it into heaven while the rich man went to hell. He even recognized that his family was hell bound. He wanted the beggar to warn his family. Jesus said if they would not listen to someone living then being dead won’t help either.

Application: Very unnerving story for the modern-day suburban church. The pews are filled with families whose goal is to obtain more stuff and make more money. This story would be sending them to hell while the lowest in society would turn to Jesus and trust him with their whole heart. As a Pastor, I am not a judge. I try to inspire others to be Christ followers with all their stuff that they fill makes them happy.

Prayer: May I always challenge the culture to be God followers.

Let’s Celebrate

jeffjohnsen — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:48:35 +0000

Luke 15
4-7 If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it. And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, “Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep.” Jesus said, “In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to.”

Observation: Restoring sheep (people) is biblical. It is a mandate from Jesus that he cares about the lost. The lost often do not know it but rejoice when they return. Our culture has many who have never been found and need to experience the power and love of God.

Application: In the ministry it is hard going after lost sheep (people) because they not do affirm us. They are not easy found by not returning phone calls or emails. When something is lost, it is not easily found. That means you have to put forth an effort to search diligently and not be in a hurry. This is challenging because it is the toughest thing to do in ministry.

Prayer: May I have a heart for the lost who need to be restored or have never met Jesus.

Legalism

jeffjohnsen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:32:38 +0000

Luke 14

1 One Sabbath, Jesus was having dinner in the home of an important Pharisee, and everyone was carefully watching Jesus. 2 All of a sudden a man with swollen legs stood up in front of him. 3 Jesus turned and asked the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses, “Is it right to heal on the Sabbath?”

4 But they did not say a word.
Jesus took hold of the man. Then he healed him and sent him away. 5 Afterwards, Jesus asked the people, “If your son or ox falls into a well, wouldn’t you pull him out right away, even on the Sabbath?” 6 There was nothing they could say.

Observation: Jesus is saying that the Sunday was meant for doing good. He asked the Pharisees an obvious question because he knew the answer. They would rescue a son or daughter or ox if they fell into a well. Of course they would. Jesus was challenging their legalism in how they saw the Sabbath.

Application: Often on Sundays we go to church as a family and then out to eat with others. Our afternoons are spent in reading or recreation. Sundays night the kids are at youth. Is this bad? Often by virtue of being out I minister to people. The Christian faith is not about legalism but about experiencing the pure love of Jesus.

Prayer: May I use my life not in legalism battles but in the pursuit of helping my brother.

Assumptions are not Always Right

jeffjohnsen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 03:17:59 +0000

Genesis 32
6 When the messengers returned, they told Jacob, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is heading this way with four hundred men.”

7 Jacob was so frightened that he divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two groups. 8 He thought, “If Esau attacks one group, perhaps the other can escape.”

Observation: Jacob is scared to death that his brother is coming with 400 men. His assumption is that they are coming to destroy him for what he did in stealing his blessing from Isaac. So his mind was scheming into have he could be st cut his losses.

Application: Who could blame Jacob for being scared to death? He stole his brother’s birthright as well as his blessing. He assumed that his brother would get revenge! Wrong assumption or wasting energy into worrying. Because his past was shady, his assumption were jaded.

Prayer: May I think through decisions effecting other people.

Other Annoyance

jeffjohnsen — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:27:00 +0000

Luke 12

4-7 My friends, don’t be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear! Five sparrows are sold for just two pennies, but God doesn’t forget a one of them. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Observation: Being afraid of people is a human condition. We all remember childhood bullies who stole our joy. I remember several at Southwest Middle School. They were always poor students who delighted in making fun of others. Focusing on anyone or anything but God is a mistake. Jesus was teaching his followers that he must be their highest loyalty.

Application: Chapter 11 in Luke is a radical call to put Jesus number one in your life. It sounds easy but distractions are everywhere. The biggest is always other people and the second is things. People steal your loyalty by emails, texts, letters, and calls. Daily reading and blogging is the best way I know to keep focusing on other people and not let some steal my joy by becoming your focus.

Prayer: Help me to not let people be my focus instead of the Savior.

Equally Yoked

jeffjohnsen — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:54:51 +0000

Genesis 27
46 Rebekah later told Isaac, “Those Hittite wives of Esau are making my life miserable! If Jacob marries a Hittite woman, I’d be better off dead.”

Observation: What was so bad of the Hittite women? In the Old Testament everything was about Yahweh. Obviously, the Hittite women had cultural influences that Isaac and Rebekah felt would contaminate Jacob. Esau purposefully disobeyed his parents and married many of them anyway.

Application: I see it so often that people date or marry someone whose faith is dismal and they try to win them over to the faith. It seldom happens but often you will have both of them not honoring God. It is one thing to evangelize but another to seek a spouse that does not share your same values. The church across the land is filled with families not equally yoked. There is no doubt that this puts stress every Sunday morning in our homes.

Prayer: Use me to raise up kids who choose a spouse that honors God.