Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 12, 2026: SOAP #6126: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. 11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.  12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

OBSERVATION: The importance of a two-letter word cannot be overemphasized.  The meaning of the above passage rests upon the two-letter word: “if.” 

The Sovereign God determines that His actions will be in keeping with the actions His people.  No created being has the power to force The Creator to take such a position; it is His choice alone.  It is an option offered in keeping with His love and yet it is in keeping with His holiness. 

APPLICATION: Knowing that The Sovereign God offers me options, how foolish it would be to ignore them.  1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness and cleansing.  Thank you for offering your forgiveness in response to my confession.  Thank you for coming to live in my heart and establishing your righteous reign in me.  I know that Your action of forgiveness is based on my action of repentance and making Jesus the Lord of my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 10, 2026: SOAP #6124: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

SCRIPTURE:  Lamentations (NIV) 3:19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.  20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.  21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

OBSERVATION:  It seems like trouble comes easily to our memory.  We do not have to try to think about trouble.  It seems our minds are programmed to ponder trouble.  As we think about the bad things that come our way, we become depressed. 

But those who know the Lord, have something to “call to mind.”  I may not be able to stop thinking about trouble by trying to stop thinking about trouble.  But I can actively place my thoughts on something else. 

APPLICATION: Today I will find hope as I actively think about the LORD’s great love, His compassion which never fails, and His great faithfulness.  How can I be depressed when I consider the greatness of the LORD!  

How can I be depressed when I consider that I am the object of HIS great love? 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, when I think about trouble, I often make it bigger than it really is, but when I think about you, I can never make you bigger in my thoughts than you really are!  Indeed, your grace is amazing; your love is amazing; you are amazingly great!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 07, 2026: SOAP #6121: 2Kings 25; 2Chron 36; Jere 40-41; Rev 12 

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.  And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8  but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 
9  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him.  10  …the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 

OBSERVATION:  John was being shown a vision of things that would come to pass in the future.  Satan was defeated at the cross when the sinless Jesus died for our sins. (Colossians 2:15)  He is defeated and will be thrown out of any access he has in heaven.  He will end up in the lake of fire God has prepared for him and his angels.  (Matthew 25:41) 

But at present Satam has limited freedom to move around and tempt people to break God’s laws.  He cannot touch God, but he gets at God by trying to destroy what God loves.  In the big scheme of things, Satan’s temptations are being used to give us opportunity to prove our love for God. 

APPLICATION: It is good for me to remember that Satan is a defeated foe and the One who defeated him on the cross lives in me.  Jesus defeated Satan by refusing to follow Satan’s temptations to take an easy way.  Jesus resisted even to the point of death! 

Now Jesus lives inside me and He helps me to resist the temptations of the devil.  He has already defeated Satan and He knows Satan’s tactics and the best way for me to overcome Satan’s temptation.  I do best when I let HIM fight my battles.                                                                                                                   
PRAYER:  Lord, I know you are not depending on my strength to withstand the devils temptations.  You have already proved yourself to be victorious and I am depending on your victorious presence in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 06, 2026: SOAP #6120: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 11:13  At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
15  The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16  And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

OBSERVATION:  In this reading our attention is drawn to the difference between what was happening on earth and what was happening in heaven.  The inhabitants of earth are reaping the rewards of evil.  Those on earth, who give glory to God, do so motivated by terror. 

The inhabitants of heaven are enjoying the Presence of Almighty God.  Those in heaven, who give glory to God, do so motivated by honor and appreciation for this Perfectly Holy Being who is all powerful and in control. 

APPLICATION: It is good to consider the differences between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms of this earth.  The United Stated began as a God-honoring nation, but as we approach the “days of the book of Revelation,” the differences between born-again Christians and just nominal Christians is becoming more and more obvious. 

I am so blest to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven!  I hope it is obvious to everyone! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, thank you for living in me and making me a part of the kingdom of God.  Guide my words and actions that it becomes obvious to those around me that this world is not my home; I am a citizen of heaven. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 05, 2026: SOAP #6119: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 10:5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.
6  And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!

OBSERVATION:  There are key moments in life when things change.  There is no more waiting for that long anticipated moment to arrive.  We wondered how it would be, but in that moment, we are living it.  It is here, and everything changes. 

Moments like the death of my parents, like when I got married, like when the Lord moved us from Hawaii to Kansas…life changing moments.  After those moments, everything is different!  

APPLICATION: Many people would rather not think about the judgments promised by God.  I must not make that mistake.  The same God who promised blessings also promised judgment. 

I cannot stop it; I cannot change it!  But I can change how it will affect me.  Before the coming time of judgment, I can place myself in the merciful care of my Creator!   I can accept the payment made to cover my sins.   And soon it will happen; I will be standing before Him!   The anticipation will be over; the moment will be the reality.  There will be no more delay!           

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for graciously taking on yourself the burden of paying for our sins.  The day of your appearing is fast approaching.  We want to be ready!  And we want to bring many with us!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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