SOAP August 31, 2014

Scripture: But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ (Genesis 14:22-23 ESV)

Observation: Abram was wise in seeing that the King of Sodom could be glorified if he took riches from him.

Application: We must seek God above all else, being wise in who can claim influence in our dealings, lest God be robbed of glory and another lay claim to it falslely.

Prayer: Daddy, grant us wisdom to see the schemes of the wicked and let us instead lift our hand to You.  Amen.

SOAP August 30, 2014

Scripture: Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9 ESV)

Observation: Abram's selflessness in allowing Lot to choose which land to take is a wonderful example of stewardship.

Application: Treat all things as Abram did, with impartiality and an open hand that says "whatever I have is yours".

Prayer: Daddy, thank You for continually teaching about giving and stewardship.  Amen.

SOAP August 29, 2014

Scripture: So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:4 ESV)

Observation: Abram went, without fuss, question, or revolt...he was obedient.

Application: Obeying God doesn't mean we have all of the answers, understand the purpose, or know where we are going.  It means trusting God completely, that whatever is in store for us or happens on the journey, it is by His hand.

Prayer: Daddy, help me comprehend faith like Abram, faith like Peter on the water, and lead me to that place of total trust.  The place where I trust You more than myself in every situation.  Amen.

SOAP August 28, 2014

Scripture: Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4 ESV)

Observation: When we find ourselves saying things like "Let us build" it is indicative of a plan that has lost God as the focal point.

Application: We must not only seek The Lord in decisions, but ask and allow Him to participate in the work.

Prayer: Daddy, open our eyes, ears, and hearts to You, so that we would always know that it is Your work, and that we are honored to be included...not the other way around.

SOAP August 27, 2014

Scripture: These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood. (Genesis 10:32 ESV)

Observation: God is laying out the history from Noah forth.

Application: this gives us roots, places and people to which our faith in God is traced.

Prayer: Daddy, I pray that one day soon, we would all see ourselves in the light of the glory of Your salvation.  Amen!

SOAP August 26, 2014

Scripture: I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis 9:15 ESV)

Observation: The little things, like God "remembering" the covenant are so personal.

Application: God is personal, He is relational, He cares about having a relationship with us.  Like any relationship, it is a two way street, meaning that if we don't reciprocate, the relationship won't develop. Seek to spend time with God, developing the relationship.

Prayer: Daddy, help us be more relationship focused in our walk with You.  Let us purposefully spend time with You.  Amen.

SOAP August 25, 2014

Scripture:While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22 ESV)

Observation: God is into even the small details of our lives.

Application: The Lord knows what season we are in, and He knows what we need.  Trust in Him and He will see us through the storm.  He will see us through whatever we are facing.

Prayer:Daddy, let us be dependent upon You and not ourselves.  Amen. 

SOAP August 24, 2014

Scripture: And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days. (Genesis 7:24 ESV)

Observation: Imagine how Noah must have felt, at this point.  He knew about the rain for 40 days and nights...how long these 150 days must have seemed.

Application: God's plan is just that, HIS plan.  We must not be caught off guard by "unexpected" delays, they are merely details, things along the path to continue to point us on the path to trusting in Him.

Prayer: Daddy, stretch our faith daily, and teach us to trust You above all else.  Amen!

SOAP August 23, 2014

Been sick the last couple days, sorry for missing.

Scripture: But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. (Genesis 6:18 ESV)

Observation: God is a personal God, He makes personal covenants with us.

Application: Just as God fulfilled His covenant with Noah, He fulfills the covenant of salvation for each of us through the blood of Jesus, offering salvation by grace through faith in Him.

Prayer: Daddy, let us know You in a very personal and real way.  Amen.

SOAP August 20, 2014

Scripture: When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” (Genesis 5:28-29 ESV)

Observation: Based on the genealogy given, Adam and Noah were alive at the same time.

Application: We never know how God will use the people in our lives to impact the world.

Prayer: Daddy, let us never take forgranted Your sovereignty.  Amen.

SOAP August 19, 2014

Scripture: Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16 ESV)

Observation: Just like Cain, none of us are in the presence of God unless we have have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

Application: No man comes to the Father except through Christ.  Share this message, for it is a message for all to hear!

Prayer: Daddy, I pray that our most urgent mission would be to tell others about You and that nothing would stand in our way.  Amen!

SOAP August 18, 2014

Scripture: And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8 ESV)

Observation: Adam and Eve's response to hearing God walking in the garden was one of fear, guilt, shame, and conviction.

Application: Nothing is able to be hidden from God.  Let us rather approach Him in faith by grace, trusting in Jesus and Hs perfect sacrifice for us.

Prayer: Daddy, teach us to not get hung up on who we were, but rather know who we are in You.  Amen!

Drano

Have you ever had a really bad clogged pipe?  Let me tell you from first hand experience, this is NOT a pleasant experience!  My beautiful bride recently had a birthday and I decided to make her a special meal around her birthday...pasta from scratch.  I love cooking, I make a lot of things from scratch and I had high expectations of the success of the dish.  I do not own a pasta machine, and I had never made pasta from scratch before, but I had every confidence that things would turn out fine (based on prior culinary successes).  I worked the dough until it was just right, rolled it out to the proper thickness (Definitely need to buy a pasta machine!) and carefully cut the noodles.  I  boiled some salted water and cooked the noodles to perfection.  I tasted a noodle and it was like velvet, silky, salty...perfection.  I was SO excited to finish it up.  I pulled the pot from the stove and went to drain it the pasta over the sink...but the lid on my pasta pot was not fastened correctly...and ALL of my beutiful homemade pasta fell straight into the sink and down into the garbage disposal.  My heart sank...let's just say that we had take out that night...Fast forward a few hours, I was doing dishes before bed and the sink started backing up on both sides...a clog (can you say Hello Pasta!).  This was not how I had planned on spending my evening...I fought with the clog with vinegar, baking soda, chemicals, etc. until after 2AM...then I decided to just let things sit and let the "Drano" do it's job.  The next morning, the water had draineed, but the drain was still VERY slow to drain.  After a few YouTube searches, I plunged the drain, used some boiling water, got it clear, and then one final chemical treatment and things were good.  Why am I telling you all of this?  God works in a very similar fashion with His word.  Check out tonight's passage:

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV)"

We may not see the "clog" in our own lives, but it starts to back up into everything that we have going on.  We start to experience problems and often times we try everything in our power to solve things to no avail.  Sometimes the answer is simply reading, applying, and trusting in God's word.  When we do this faithfully, and allow it to properly sink in, the "clogs" in our life clear up.  It's not magicial, it is simply us coming to the realization that God knows best and that His plan is how things were designed to work.  His word is good, honest, and true.  It guides and directs our hearts to seek after Him.  If you find  yourself at a "Clog" in your life, seek answers from God, read His word, Pray, seek wise counsel from other believers.  This is not a "prosperity" gospel message, this is a "How I deal with life" message.  Get in the word, Get on your knees, and Get with wise counsel...it just may unclog your life...AMEN!

SOAP August 17, 2014

First, let me appologize for not posting over the last couple of days (see the tonight's topical post).  Now, on with tonight's SOAP post.

Scripture: The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. (Genesis 2:20 ESV)

Observation: Adam did not realize his need for a "helper", that is why God had Him name all of the animals, this made it obvious to Adam that he was alone and thereby creating a need.

Application: A cure is solution is useless without a problem.  We must identify the need before seeking the fulfillment of it.  Just as Eve was the fulfillment of Adam's need, so is Christ the fulfillment of our need for atonemennt.  He is the ultimate sacrifice and gave himself for us so that we may be saved by grace through faith in Him.

Prayer: Daddy, You know what we need  before we do.  Thank You for helping us identify our own needs and then fulfilling our needs.  Amen!

SOAP August 14, 2014

Scripture:In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 ESV)

Observation: God has always been, since before the beginning of Earth.

Application: God is not subject to the rules of the Earth (gravity, time, etc.) for He made them.  We must belive that He is bigger than the created, for He alone is the creator.

Prayer: Daddy, in the blink of an eye you can turn chaos to order, insanity to sanity, hurt to joy, and sorrow to dancing.  May we ever praise Your name, no matter our circumstances.  Amen.

SOAP August 13,2014

Scripture: Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me. (Psalm 142:6-7 ESV)

Observation: my persecutor is myself, my prison is my own thoughts...this is how I feel tonight.

Application: Christ alone has the power to set me free, to deliver me, to surround me with the righteous.  Lord give me steadfastness and stregnth to see Your mighty work...I need You!

Prayer: Daddy, there is so much I am weeping and struggling with.  I need Your mighty hand, I need You to fight for joy for me, for I am growing weak with every breath, gasping for air...deliver me!

SOAP August 12, 2014

Scripture: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:16-18 ESV)

Observation: Prayer is powerful.

Application: One can read all the scripture in the world, yet if one's prayer life is poor or non-existent, it is a tell tale sign of an immature relationship with God.  Pray often, pray unceasingly, pray, pray, pray,...

Prayer: Daddy, let us be a people who prays continually, not grumbling, but bringing our requests humbly before You.  Give us a great desire to pray.  Amen.

SOAP August 11, 2014

Scripture: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:1-10 ESV)

Observation: There are choices made by others all around us that impact is, just as our choices impact them.  The motives behind action make all the difference.

Application: Make certain that our actions are pointing towards Christ and that there can be no confusion between what we say and what we do.

Prayer: Daddy, be with Your people who are hurting here and across the world.  Give them stregnth and let us partner with them in prayer and any means that we can.  Come Lord Jesus...Amen!

SOAP August 10, 2014

Scripture: But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:14-16 ESV)

Observation: True satisfaction comes from Christ alone, everything else is deception.

Application: Elevate Christ, not self.

Prayer: Daddy, keep us from falling into the trap of self reliance, gratification, and self seeking.  Let our lives be fully about You, not just in word, but in every action, and thought.  Amen.

SOAP August 9, 2014

Scripture: You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2:19 ESV)

Observation: Belief and trust are two different things.

Application: Trust in Jesus as Saviour by faith, believing that He is the Son of God is not enough.  Put your faith and trust in Him alone.

Prayer: Daddy, transform our hearts and minds to understand the path of righteousness. Lead us to walk with You and keep us from straying from Your path.  Amen.

SOAP August 8, 2014

Scripture: Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21 ESV)

Observation: Receive with meekness.  Again, it's a heart issue.

Application: The attitude in which we receive the word of God has a direct impact on how/ if we apply it.

Prayer: Daddy, let us be doers and not just hearers.  Let us be changed from the inside out.  Amen.

SOAP August 7, 2014

Scripture: Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:1-2 ESV)

Observation: the demonstration of love towards others is critical.

Application: Greet everyone with open arms and without condemnation.

Prayer: Daddy, teach us to be as You call us to be.  Amen!

SOAP August 6, 2014

Scripture: Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13 ESV)

Observation: We must identify our weaknesses and strengthen them in Christ.

Application: Look inward and upward, for that is how what is lame will be healed.

Prayer: Daddy, show us the thing in our lives that are lame, things that You have gifted us with, yet we are not using for Your glory.  Show us these things, strengthen us in them and teach us to harness them for Your glory.  Amen.

SOAP August 5, 2014

Scripture: But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16 ESV)

Observation: The reward is not to be had in this life, but in eternity.

Application: Strive not for Earthly gain, rather strive towards rewards in Heaven.

Prayer: Daddy, let us focus on, dwell on, and seek the Heavenly rewards that You prepare for us.  Amen.

SOAP August 4, 2014

Scripture: But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:39 ESV)

Observation: we must not shrink back, but push on with faith.

Application: Fear is the path to doubt, to hesitation, the path to missing out on the life that God has called us to.  Let us walk boldly in faith, knowing that He alone guides our every step.

Prayer: Daddy, we mess up, And yet still You give new mercy to us every day.  Glorify Yourself in us.  Amen.

SOAP August 3, 2014

Scripture: so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28 ESV)

Observation: Jesus is coming again, not to deal with sin, but us who are eagerly awaiting Him!

Application: Get ready, He is coming and no man knows the hour or the day.

Prayer: Daddy, let Your people be excited and ever vigilent, awaiting the return of Jesus.  Amen!

SOAP August 2, 2014

Scripture: For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:12-13 ESV)

Observation: Christ is the new covenant.  Salvation by grace through faith in Christ is the gospel.

Application: No matter our past, there is still grace and forgiveness in Jesus. Come to Him today!

Prayer: Daddy, tonight I pray specifically for those who think they have blown it so bad that there is no hope.  With You, there is always hope. Move mountains God, so that people may come to know You.  Amen!

SOAP August 1, 2014

Scripture: Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)

Observation: Salvation involves a direct confrontation of sin and is thereby, spiritual warfare.

Application: Pray unceasingly for that is which not ours.  Pray for God to give strength to those around us!  Amen!