Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 20: Matt 5-7

Scripture: Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Observation: I have used many lamps and candles: handmade torches in Viet Nam, candles when electricity was out in our home, and beautiful oil lamps for Christmas Eve services. Though they were very different, their purpose was the same—to give light. Each was placed where their light would have the most benefit.

Application: I should not be surprised when people invade my space to look at my life. God has purposefully placed me where His light in me can be most easily seen by someone He loves very much.

Prayer: Lord, help me remember that it is ok when people invade my privacy. When they look at me, I want them to see you! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 19: Matt 1-4

Scripture: Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

Observation: Stay there until … To many times people let trouble or circumstances set their times, but Joseph was sent to a location and told to stay "until." Instead of letting God develop their character through tough times, some people move quickly to a more pleasing location.

Application: When I have been given specific directions, I should stay "until." If I went somewhere just to check it out, then I can probably leave for the same reason. But, if the Lord sent me, I need to stay until He releases me to go elsewhere!

Prayer: Lord, help me not to forget that you are working in my life with eternity in view. May I faithfully remain until… Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 18: Ps 124, 2Cor 11-13

Scripture: Psalm 124:1 If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say—
2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
3 when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;
4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters would have swept us away.
6 ¶ Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Observation: It is good to know that I am on the Lord’s side. I am for him! AND it is so good to know that He is on my side. He is for me!

Application: I am so glad that HE is on MY side and is for me. Good things would not have happened and bad things would have been so much worse! Trouble would have lasted so much longer and I would not be able to walk in faith that it would all work out for good!

Prayer: Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, I am so glad you continue to be on my side! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 17: 2Cor 7-10

Scripture: 2Corinthians 10:17 But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Observation: In the previous verses Paul gives guidelines for boasting. First (verse 12), boasting should not be done to compare one person to another—to make one person look better than another. Second (verse 13), boasting should be limited to the areas God has assigned. Third (verse 14), boasting should be limited to stating the truth. Fourth (verse 15, 16), boasting should not be taking credit for what others have done. Fifth (verse 17), boasting should be centered in the Lord.

Application: My best boasting is when I sing, “Look what the Lord has done!” I think the Lord likes to boast, “Look what my child has done!”

Prayer: Lord, May my life bring you much joy and give you reason to boast. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

What is glory?

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 16: 2Cor 3-6

Scripture: 2Corinthians 3:9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Observation: In these verses the Apostle Paul is comparing the ministry of the Law given to Moses to the ministry of the Holy Spirit living in our lives today. The glory of the Old Testament Law, which can only condemn us because we are all already guilty of breaking it, cannot compare with the glory of the Holy Spirit that lives within us and empowers us to victory over temptation.

Application: Glory is a word often used in Christian circles. But what is glory? I believe a simple definition would be: goodness, value, or worthiness that can be experienced. I can see God’s glory in creation. I can feel the glory of His Presence. God wants the world to see his glory in me.

Prayer: Lord, I want to glorify you by letting the world to see your goodness, your value, your worthiness in me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 14: Psalm 149; 1Corinthians 15, 16

Scripture: 1Corinthians 16:17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Observation: These three men had traveled in person from Corinth to visit Paul in the province of Asia. Their presence refreshed Paul’s spirit. Their visit caused him to look away from his present struggles and look back on times when God was using him in Corinth. They made the load seem lighter. They talked about what God had done while Paul was with them in Corinth. They filled him in with news of what was happening to people he loved. They refreshed his spirit.

Application: The Lord wants to use me today to refresh the spirit of someone I meet. I can do that by being with them. I might remind them of what God has done in the past. I can encourage them to be hopeful. I can build up their faith. I can talk about how big and loving God is!

Prayer: Lord, as you have used people to knock the cobwebs out of my mind and renew my thinking, use me today to refresh another person’s spirit. May their heart be joyful and their burden lighter as we talk of your great love. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 13: Job 39, 40; 1Corinthians 13, 14

Scripture: 1Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1Corinthians 14: 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Observation: Chapter 13 ends with love being the greatest. Chapter 14 tells us to especially desire the gift of prophecy. Why? Because love motivates us to minister to others and that is what prophecy does—minister to others.

Application: Love is to be the motivation for my ministry/service. Ministry can accomplish much for the kingdom, however only ministry motivated by love can really please God. God looks at the heart of the minister.

Prayer: Lord, may love be the reason for my ministry—love for you and lover for others. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 12: Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1Corinthians 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Observation: The Apostle Paul is writing about the body of Christ, the church. He has just finished emphasizing that the body is ONE. Now he emphasizes that this ONE body consists of MANY members. The value of many members is their differences. If they were all the same, there would not be enough opportunities to keep them all useful. And the body would be limited in what it could accomplish It is their difference that makes each member of the body valuable and useful.

Application: I am not designed by God to be an exact copy of another member of the body of Christ. I am useful to the body as I develop the differences that make me unique. The Life of Christ makes me a part of His body; my differences make me a useful part.

Prayer: Lord, it is my desire to be useful in your Kingdom. Help me see my differences as open doors and invitations to opportunities. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 11: Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

Scripture: 1Corinthians NIV 10:6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
1Corinthians NIV 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
1Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Observation: Since there is a common aspect to every temptation, it is good that we can learn from both the mistakes and successes of others. And even more, we have a God who is faithful not to allow temptation beyond our capabilities! Wow! And even more, we have His presence!

Application: Examples, promise, and Presence. God has set me up to be successful in overcoming temptations!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for examples. Thank you for your promises. Thank you for your Presence in my life! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 10: Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 7: 4 The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Observation: Deprive (NIV), defraud (KJV), do not cheat (Phillips), refusing what is due (Williams), heavy words and phrases describing withholding sexual relations from a spouse. Yes, God made sex and protected it by restricting it to the committed relationship of marriage. Yes, God knows how important sex is and designed it to be shared by a man and woman in marriage and not withheld or used as a weapon.

Application: If I value the wonderful gift of sex given by the Lord, I will enjoy it within His set boundaries of marriage and see it as an important ministry to my spouse.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many wonderful gifts you have given people, among which is the beauty of sexual intimacy. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!