S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 15 Oscar Dupuy

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Scripture
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Observation
It is because of the resurrection of Christ that we have hope.  Hope in knowing that we too will be resurrected and be with Jesus one day.  Hope in knowing that our current reality is not the end of the story no matter how great or bad it may seem.  Jesus resurrection is the linchpin of my hope in him.  So because he is alive and well I could stand firm, and let nothing move me.

Application
Without the resurrection of Christ all that I do and hope for would be in vain.  I have staked all that I am and my understanding of this world in his resurrection.  All that he said he was and can do is proven in his resurrection.  Therefore I stand on solid ground when loss or pain comes my way, because he has promised to walk with me through it all.  Because of His resurrection I can trust Him enough to surrender myself fully to whatever work he wants to do in or through me.

Prayer
Father I praise you and honor you for you are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  Who is like you that can defeat death and sin?  Who is like you that can create light out of darkness or summon the seasons it perfect rhythm?  There is non.  So father I surrender to your majesty.  I surrender to your power.  You are trustworthy.  Help me to grasp the implications of your resurrection.  In Christ name.

G.L.U.E. 5 ways how to NOT to mess up your life...

Look at society and see it for what it truly teaches us: Let us turn to GOD instead

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that.

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism;

We have worshipped other gods and called it multicultism

We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle;

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery;

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare;

We have killed our unborn and called it choice;

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem;

We have abused power and called it politics;

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition;

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression;

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent: to direct us to the center of Your will and to openly ask these things in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 14 Oscar Dupuy

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Scripture
1 Corinthians 14:12
So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

Observation
God has given the church spiritual gifts and individuals as well.  There is nothing wrong with exercising the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, Paul encourages it yet it wouldn’t make any sense if it is only done to show off the gift and there is no understanding of what is being said.  Spiritual gifts are meant to build the Church not puff it up.  God desires for his gifts to help the church in its development, not to lose credibility in its exercise.    

Application
What good is it for me to speak in tongues if no one really understands what I would be saying.  Its seems like that would be easy to fake.  God doesn’t give us spiritual gifts only for ourselves but for others and himself.  If I am not using the gifts God has given me for the building of His Church then what is it I am using it for.  How can I allow God to use His gifts in me for others?  How can I be considerate of others who may not understand what I am doing yet be faithful to the gifts he has given me.
Prayer
Father fan into flame the gifts you have given me for the building of your church.  You have called me to take part of the work you are do in all around me with the gifts you have given me.  Show me how I could die to my own agendas and allow you to work through the gifts you have given me.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 13 Oscar Dupuy

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Scripture
1 Corinthians 13:7
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Observation
Love is a verb.  Love is an action.  Being kind, patient, boastful, self-seeking, etc. are not feelings but actions.  These things we do not feel.  We can say that we love someone yet not be patient, kind, or considerate of the other.  You could even be generous towards someone of something, yet care less about who they are as a person.  Persevering in the relationship is what matters the most.

Application
I don’t find it hard to hope the best for people. Most of the time I am good at showing love towards others in many ways.  Yet what I find most challenging is the perseverance part of it all.  Staying at it, protecting my relationships, trusting others, and hoping is always is what I find hard because you do that for the long haul.  Persevering through challenges with someone displays the kind of love Paul is talking about here.  This kind of love always hopes, trusts, and protects till the end.  

Prayer
Father, I don’t just want to show love but want to learn how to persevere in loving.  I confess that I am so quick to stop a relationship when things get difficult or a bit challenging.  I know Jesus that you loved and are still loving me in spite of many things.  Teach me to show the kind of love that you taught us through the cross.  In Jesus name.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 12 Carlos Herrera

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Scripture
I Corinthians 12:31b
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

Observation
This whole chapter is talking about “spiritual gifts.” These are special abilities that God gives us once we surrender our lives to Him. These special abilities are given to us for the benefit of the church. In this chapter, Paul unpacks very clearly what some of these “spiritual gifts/abilities” are.

Application
As important as these gifts might be, this specific verse makes a pause to say that “love” is much more important than whatever “spiritual gifts” we may have. This is so important! It does not matter how great of a pastor, preacher, leader, etc. I might become – if love is not at the heart of what I do it’s meaningless.

Prayer
Lord, it’s so good to know that what you most want “for” me is to delight in Your love, and what You most want “from” me is to love You and to love others well. Everything flows from that. Help me to live that out more and more each day. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 11 Carlos Herrera

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Scripture
I Corinthians 11:11-12
But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12 For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.

Observation
Throughout history there has always been a great struggle in understanding what scripture says about the role of men and women in the home and in the church. All cultures read into the Bible their own bias, especially in interpreting male and female roles.

Application
I have had to do a lot of “unlearning” in order to engage the conversation about the roles of men and women. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn and “unlearn” but I feel very strongly that the church (in general) has marginalized women from leadership - and it’s wrong. It’s a wrong understanding of what the whole story of scripture is trying to teach us.

Prayer
Lord, please give me wisdom and understanding beyond my years. Give me a passion and thirst for truth – truth sets me free. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 10 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.








Scripture
I Corinthians 10:12
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Observation
Jesus was the perfect example of humility. And He was big on teaching about it as well. Paul and the rest of the New Testament have a very strong underlining of humility thought out it. Here is another example of living in constant humility. The moment I think I’m standing strong “above” sin, I’m a lot closer to falling into sin then when I humbly understand that I’m vulnerable and never “above” being able to fall.

Application
As a pastor, I constantly see people in sins that are destroying them and I have to constantly remind myself that I’m not “above” their situation, but instead I’m simply standing on grace that I don’t deserve – and that I’m called to give the same grace that I have been blessed with.  So instead of being above anyone, I simply walk with them through their sin and love them as God does His work in them.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your protection and grace. Thank You for keeping me from so many things that could have destroyed the very things that I love. Cleanse me and make me whole. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 9 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.






Scripture
I Corinthians 9:26-27So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Observation
I love Paul’s humility here. He understands that even though he may know a lot and may be a great preacher – if he is not disciplined in his connection with God, he might be disqualified. He doesn’t feel like he is above being disqualified simple because of what he has done up to this point in his life.

Application
This lets me know that if I’m not constantly training on my spiritual life and am completely focused on the main goal I might lose focus and end up disqualifying myself from what I was created for. Somehow it’s so tempting to think that I’m the exception. We all think we are the exception.

Prayer
Lord, help me to keep the “main thing” the main thing – which is my connection with You. Let me run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 8 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.






Scripture
I Corinthians 8:1b-2
…while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.

Observation
Knowledge is important, but there are things that are much more important…love. Knowledge tends to puff the religious ego if it’s not flowing from a heart of love. Most importantly, knowledge doesn’t build a church…love does.

Application
It’s easy to know something and its information have no effect on my life. I know way too much about the importance of wise investments, but my life doesn’t reflect it all that much. That’s why knowledge can never be my way to view the world. Love is the lense that was created to view the world and engage it. First, to love God and then to love others as I love myself!

Prayer
Lord, help me to love well. Help me to have love be the primer to my knowledge and actions. May I love like You love. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 7 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 7:20
Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Observation
Paul understood how someone would feel like it is not worth staying together or getting married once someone surrendered their lives to Christ.  Whether you are married or not, the point is to be obedient to Christ and Christ alone.  Being married is good but brings its challenges.  Not being married has its own unique challenges as well.  Never the less, there are relational boundaries in which I live.

Application
After being married for a while with someone, habits form, good and bad.  There is a close understanding of one another.  When you are single and independent you are used to having things the way you like, and you have no one consider but yourself.  However, when Christ comes into the picture, whether you’re married or not, your mindset changes.  The way you think begins to drift towards the things that matter to God most.  My life is not my own any longer.  Whether I am married or not, I am allotted relational boundaries to live, and it is there where I should serve Christ by serving others.

Prayer
Father, help me to be faithful with the relationships you have given me.  Help me to serve those closest to me in a way that brings honor and glory to you.  May you be what others experience in me.  My friends and family members need you more than they need me.  In your name I pray.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 6 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.






Scripture
1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Observation
Even the early church wasn’t ideal.  One would think that the early church had things figured out and were models to the future church.  There was sexual immoral and disputes of many kinds.  Yet Paul reminds them about who they are now.  Old habits and lifestyles have been buried yet have roots that like to grow.  Paul wanted to remind them of who they are in light of who they were.

Application
All of us need reminders of who we were and who we are in Christ.  I am not the man I used to be.  Yet there are remnants of that old man.  You can’t deny who you were, but that doesn’t mean I can’t live out who I am now – forgiven, set free, set apart for God’s purposes, right with God, and empowered by his Spirit to live out the new man I am today.

Prayer
Father I praise you and worship you for who you are.  Thank you so much for washing away all of my sins and giving me your Spirit to live out your purposes in my life.  I surrender to you today all that I am so you may show yourself strong.  In Christ’s Name.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 5 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 5:5
...hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.



Observation
Paul wanted the people to do something about what was going on.  He knew that something this distorted could eventually affect the community at large.  Apparently this man didn’t care much about making things right.  And Paul didn’t think it would be best for him to continue on like if it wasn’t a big deal.

Application
Sometimes the best thing to do is let others go into what they have set their minds to, even if one knows that it would be hard for them and devastating.  It is hard to see someone you love go down a path that is destructive.  If that person doesn’t want any kind of counsel Paul said that let them go into what awaits them.  Hopefully adversity would awaken their senses to what God wants for them and they would turn their hearts to Him. Ultimately what is desired is for the hard hearted to return to God even if that means letting them go.

Prayer
Father you soften the heart of those that we love that are heading down a path of destruction.  May you guard our hearts from being indifferent to their pain.  As we pray for them may you soften our hearts for them as well.  In Jesus Name.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 4 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

Observation
That is a bold statement to make.  Paul wanted the believers to do what he does, imitate the way he lived his life for Christ.  Paul had a lot to say to them about their lifestyle.  But he didn’t.  He desired for them to follow him as he followed Christ.  Paul could have easily pointed out all the wrong they were doing and be right.  But he knew that wasn’t going to bring about transformation.  He himself was a Pharisee who was right but needed Christ to transform his heart.

Application
It is hard to speak into someone’s life when you don’t have a relationship with them.  If is difficult to correct someone in the way of being when all you care about is being right.  Like Christ, Paul would have been right pointing out what is wrong but chose to meet them where they were and show them grace by inviting them to imitate him.  He didn’t approve of their behavior yet accepted them and invited them to follow him as he followed Christ.

Prayer
If there is anyone I would like to imitate is you Lord.  You are all I need to be.  You are perfect and true in all you do.  As I surrender to more to you Jesus, may your Spirit make me more like you.  In Jesus name - Amen.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 3 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 3:7
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Observation
Paul cared more about God getting all the credits than himself.  Nothing was more important to Paul than pointing everything back to Jesus being the center of everything and the cause of any fruits of ministry.  He didn’t see himself entitled to any credit for the work in the lives of people.  He understood that he was only a part of what God was doing in the lives of others.


Application
How foolish it is to think that my clever presentations, wise words, and charismatic personality is what brings about change in the heart of others.  How foolish it is to think that God needs me, my abilities, talents and gifts to accomplish what he wants.  Being used by God is simply a byproduct of being connected to His voice via His word, His Spirit, circumstances, and others.  At the end of the day it is Christ who gets all the credit for everything, not me.

Prayer
Father you are always at work all around me.  I could easily being the good work yet miss out the great work that you have called me.  Give me ears to here and eyes to see what you might be inviting into.  Guard my heart from arrogance into thinking that you couldn’t do it without me.   In Jesus name.

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 2 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
I Corinthians 2:9
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

Observation
The beauty and splendor that awaits us is unimaginable.  The good that God has in store for us doesn’t fit within our context of understanding, yet we simply know that it will be more than we could ever hope or imagine.  Yet this is only for those who love God.

Application
God wants to be loved!  But this doesn’t mean He is selfish.  That is like me saying I want to be loved by Mindy and Nathan (my kids).  What parent doesn’t want to be loved?  Yet the parallel stops here.  I have rejected God.  For a long time I did not acknowledge His fatherhood.  I have to choose to do so.  He has already paid the price and has gone the distance.  All I have to do is raise my head towards Him – He is already waiting for me.

Prayer
Oh Lord, You are good behind my imagination.  Thank You for Your amazing goodness. I ask that You help me and teach me to truly love You. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. I Corinthians 1 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
I Corinthians 1:2 We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people.  He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere – whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.

Observation
Out of all the churches that Paul writes to in the New Testament, the church of Corinth is by far the most dysfunctional and sinful.  This church had all kinds of problems.  They were divided and constantly fighting. They had huge problems with prostitution and adultery.  And yet they are called God’s “holy people”.  They were made holy by means of Jesus Christ.

Application
In my own life, I see that it’s easier for me to see myself as a sinner and not as a holy person.   Yet in God’s eyes I’m made holy.  I think if I viewed myself this way I would live in holiness more.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for making me holy and righteous before You.  I ask that You would allow me to live in holiness.  Give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness and holiness. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. Romans 15 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
Romans 15:19
They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit.[a] In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

Observation
Many non-Jewish people came to faith in god because of the miracles that Paul did – which pointed to the true power of God.  The miracles were signs. I have not been able to fully see this lived out…I have only seen bits of this.

Application
I have come a long way in my understanding of miracles and signs.  For a long time it really wasn’t a part of my “living.” I agreed with it intellectually but I didn’t really expect to see miracles.  But God has been teaching me a lot about praying and expecting supernatural miracles.  I have a long way to go but I’m encouraged to see how God has worked within me to have a greater understanding of how God does and uses miracles for His glory.

Prayer
Lord, I have a long way to go in this area of my life but for the first time in my life I feel that I’m opening up and allowing You to take me places that I have not gone before in my this area.  Teach me to pray and expect miracles as a diary way of life.  And most importantly that those that do not know You may be impacted by Your power.  In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. Romans 16 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
Romans 16:1-2
Our sister Phoebe, a deacon in the church on Cenchrea, will be coming to see you soon.  Receive her in the Lord, as one who is worthy of high honor.

Observation
Paul; had his top disciples travel through the churches that had been started.  Timothy is a great example of this.  But here we have a woman. This is very shocking because women were not to be “worthy of high honor” in that culture.  Yet Paul is always fighting for women to be equals with men.  Paul always pushed the cultural norm with women.

Application
It honestly breaks my heart to see that women within the church world are still looked at as inferior.  The church world for the most part is a men’s world.  I believe the is missing  out on a lot because we are missing what God can be doing through women in greater ways.

Prayer
Lord please give the our church the wisdom and discernment to understand the different roles that men and women play while at the same time not limiting the gifts and abilities that women should bring to the church. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. Romans 14 Carlos Herrera

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture
Romans 14:14
I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.

Observation
The Bible has A LOT to say about food.  It’s amazing how much food is mentioned in the Bible.  This verse lets me know that spiritual growth is not affected by what I eat, even though there are many people within the Christian world that do not eat many things because of the laws in the Old Testament.

Application
I have the freedom to eat whatever I want.  There is no sin in any particular food in of itself.  But times have changed since Paul wrote this letter to the Romans in the first century.  In Paul’s time, they did not have a problem with obesity or many of the health problems that are so common to us today because of the type and amounts of food that we eat.  So yes, I can eat anything and it’s not sinful, but my eating habits and amounts can be. If I’m damaging my body and I’m not caring for it, I’m sinning against my body and I’m even putting myself in a place where I might not be able to be fully used by God because my body won’t let me.

Prayer
Lord, I want to honor You with my body.  I have to confess that for the last few years, I have not cared for my body in a way that honors You.  Help me to have a healthy understanding of how to honor You by the body that I care for, this body that You have entrusted to my care. In Jesus name, amen!

S.O.A.P. Romans 13 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture

Romans 13:1

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.



Observation

God has placed people in positions of authority for a reason.  Whoever is in authority now, God has allowed for whatever reason.  Some are good and others would seem horrible at exercising their authority.  Never the less my parents, my boss, the laws of the land are all placed by God.  Without people in places of authority we would be a people without restraint and chaotic.



Application

There are some authority figures in my life that I feel I don’t owe any respect even though God has placed them there.  Some authority figures abused their position and neglected their responsibility, yet want to be recognized for their position more than calling.  If God had allowed them to be in that spot, then the least I could do is submit to God by submitting to them, honor God by respecting their authority.

Prayer

Father help me to pay who I owe what they deserve.  I don’t want to owe anyone anything.  Because you place people in authority, I want to honor those in authority in my life.  In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. Romans 12:2 Oscar Dupuy

The READ this chapter click here.

Scripture

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Observation

God’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect.  It is not of this world.  It is something we conform to.  As I surrender myself to God I conform to his will like wax to a mold.  God’s will is what he desires-- period.  It is not something that is hidden to me but revealed as I align my thoughts and heart’s desire to his will.


Application

Often the question is asked-- what is God’s will for my life, marriage, my future, my relationship with the significant other, etc.  Due to our consumeristic mindset we think that God exists for us.  The question what God’s will for my life is lends itself to the thinking that God needs to conform to my will, my plans, my desires, my future…  What I want is not always what is best for me or in line with what God’s will is.  In fact we go against God’s will anytime we follow our will and not his.  My will is not ultimately perfect, completely good, and pleasing.  God’s will is for me to conform to his.  


Prayer

Father I do pray that you would help me to die to myself and live for you.  May I continue to decrease so that you may increase more in my life.  Help me conform to your will and undo any ideas that are false about you.  In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P Romans 11 Oscar Dupuy

To READ this chapter click here.

Scripture

Romans 11:30-31

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.


Observation

The Jews being the chosen people of Go walked away from him.  Yet God in his mercy opened the doors of his salvation wider for others to be his and right with Him.  His mercy and kindness was intended to go through the Jews to the Gentiles.  However, the Jews rejected it.  Their rejection didn’t affect in any way His grace towards them or humanity.  His grace is never ending, ever flowing even when it is rejected by others it is still available.  Like a winding river it always finds a way to the ocean of people.

Application

God can’t help but be kind an gracious.  It is part of his nature.  He always leaves a door open for anyone to come to Him, even after walking away at one point .  You would think he would show his sternness when someone who at one point knew him wanted to come back but He doesn’t.  There is no limit to the depth of his desire to show mercy and grace to me.  Who do I need to show mercy to and let them off the hook. Who have I completely written off and closed the door on?  How would I like it if God would have done that to me?

Prayer

Father you know who I need to show mercy to today.  You know those that I have closed the door of my heart to.  Soften my heart to those that I need to show grace and mercy to.  You have shown me show much mercy and kindness.  I thank you for that, but it spill into the lives of those around me.  In Jesus name.