S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #25 - November 25, 2022 "God Desires Faithfulness & Fruitfulness"

S. Matthew 21:43 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”

O. Jesus is teaching and communicating that God is no longer giving Israel priority in the Kingdom of God. He is going to give this to another (Gentiles). Jesus has demonstrated this by the cursing of the fig tree (should have had fruit) and then His parable of the landowner. The tenants of this vineyard (land - i.e. Israel) mistreated two sets of servants and then mistreated his son (OT prophets, NT disciples and then Jesus). He concludes that the kingdom will be given to another who will bear fruit (presumably Gentiles).

As I read this overall passage, it seems clear to me that this is the beginning of Israel being set aside (c.f. Romans 9-11).

A. Though this passage is talking about national privilege and priority in the Kingdom of God and not personal (individual) salvation, it is clear that God desires obedience and fruit bearing from His people. I desire to be an obedient (faithful) and fruitful follower of Jesus and that He will be pleased and extend His favor and blessing to me.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you Lord Jesus for the great salvation you have given. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to be faithful and fruitful that I might enjoy the continued favor and blessings that the Father has for those who serve Him. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day #24 - November 24, 2022 "No Qualification Period Needed"

S. Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV) 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

O. When Jesus was asked about how many times we should forgive others, Jesus uses a figure of speech (hyperbole) that exagerates the thought. Peter thought perhaps up to seven times. Jesus’ answers up to seventy-seven times. IE You just keep forgiving. There is no “qualification period” a person must go through to receive forgiveness. Paul says we are to forgive others as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32)

A. Because we are to forgive and there is no limit on forgiveness, I am deciding to forgive people even before I need to - in advance. I know there will be times I offend others and times when others offend me. I am forgiving them in advance - no qualification period needed - because God has forgiven me without qualification.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you for the forgiveness I receive from you. I am forgiving others in advance so that relationships continue and are not severed, and so we can direct people’s attention to you. I pray this in Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #23 November 23, 2022 "Humbled by 'Binding and Loosing' "

S. Matthew 6:18-20 (NIV) 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

O. Jesus blesses Peter for his confession that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus then gives Peter (and I think this extends to all believers) the keys to Kingdom living, that is this binding and losing. The binding and losing refers to the authority that Christ’s disciples have in proclaiming the gospel and in the oversight of the church.

This “authority, is that as they act (binding, loosing) they are doing so by the blessings of God in Heaven. God will honor His word His call to believers by blessing their work. There is a similar thought expressed by Luke in Acts 18:9-10.

A. I am humbled and blessed to serve the Lord through the ministry of the local church. I know as we proclaim Christ Jesus, He will continue to bless and lead us. Some aspects of the church oversight is humbling - humbling that God does give Christian leaders great responsibility to manging His house. I will continue to keep my eyes on Him and the great work of reaching our world with the Gospel of Jesus.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you Jesus for this great responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and for the oversight of your church. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me with knowledge and wisdom to be a loving, humble and faithful manager of the Lord’s house. In Jesus’ name.