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

December 31: Revelation 19-22

Scripture: Revelation 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments….
Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! …

Observation: As we come to the last reading for the year, I again notice the priority of worship in the book of Revelation. I have noticed that the worship in heaven is LOUD! It is like the sound of “many waters.” The worship in heaven must be described as enthusiastic! Everyone participates! It is louder than being in a football stadium when everyone is on their feet cheering their team.

Application: The best thing about the worship in heaven—I get to be a part of it! I’ll be there! My voice will be one of the millions lifted to the throne. I had better practice and make sure I am ready.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me to be a true worshipper. May I exit 2012 with my heart and my mouth full of worship! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 30: Revelation 15-18

Scripture: Revelation 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no-one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Observation: When we really love someone, it is very understandable that we will get very angry if others purposefully harm them. In fact, the more we love, the angrier we will get. So we should not be surprised when we read of God’s wrath. God has the capacity for GREAT LOVE!!! He also has the capacity for GREAT WRATH!!! Yet in great love and great anger, he is always holy.

Application: God greatly loves His Son who completed the most difficult and rewarding assignment ever given. I must not disrespect Jesus, after all, I am the beneficiary of His sacrifice! How wise of God to place his Holy Spirit in me to lead me and empower me to live a life that pleases Him. How foolish of me to ignore what He says. How just of God to hold me accountable. How understandable for God to be angry if I disrespect His Son!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, although I deserved your wrath, thank you for sending Jesus to take my penalty. Thank you that I need not fear your wrath. Holy Spirit help me to live a life that shows appreciation for what I have received. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 29: Revelation 10-14

Scripture: Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Observation: Again my attention is drawn to the subject of worship. In this verse we see that worship is not just to be practiced in heaven, but also on earth. God will have worship from every nation, every tribe, every language and every people!

Application: That would include my nation, my family, my language, and my race. That surely includes me!

Prayer: Lord, you told the woman at the well that God was seeking worshippers who would worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24) May you find what you are looking for in me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 28: Revelation 5-9

Scripture: Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing round the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,
12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Observation: As we close out the last few days of this year by reading the book of Revelation, one might note that worship is an important part.

Application: As I come to the final days in 2012, worship should be a major part of what I do. It is right to look back with thanks for what God has brought me through. It is also right to look forward in faith for what God will continue to do. The end of the year is a time for worship.

Prayer: I worship you, Almighty God; there is none like you. I worship you, Oh Prince of Peace; that is what I want to do. I give you praise; for you are my righteousness. I worship you, Almighty God; there is none like you. (S.C.Woods) Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 27: Revelation 1-4

Scripture: Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. Verses 2:9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15

Observation: Jesus was giving John a message for each of the seven churches in the province of Asia. Each message has a portion beginning with “I know…” He did not say, “You are probably…” or “It has been told me…” or “Others think…” When we stand before Jesus, we can be certain that He knows!

Application: He knows me. He understands my struggles. He knows what I am going through. He knows me. I cannot fool him. He also knows those around me. He also knows what they say about me and how they treat me.

Prayer: Lord, I can trust you totally for there is nothing hidden from you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 26: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Scripture: 2John 12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Observation: So much of communication is lacking when limited to paper and ink. John would much rather talk face to face with his readers where he could emphasize the urgency of his message with his tone of voice and emphasize his love with a hug. It would be good to be able to ask and answer questions. However he did not let the limitations keep him from writing a letter. Today we recognize that the Holy Spirit was inspiring him to write, not just for their benefit, but also for ours today. The great benefit of paper and ink is that it lasts; it can be re-read; it can be passed along for others to read.

Application: Today email, Facebook and Twitter have taken the place today of paper and ink. They have the same limitations and also the necessity of brevity. We greatly need the Holy Spirit to aid our communication for our benefit and God’s glory.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me use the limited tools of communication available to me today to bless others and bring glory to God. And thank you that communication with you is never limited! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 25: 1John 1-5

Scripture: 1John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (NOTE: God’s present/gift to me!)
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (NOTE: I love by being present, not absent.)
12 No-one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us (NOTE: lives now, in this present time.) and his love is made complete in us.

Observation: The English word “present” has several meanings that apply to Christmas. First: the children all want a “present” (gift) for Christmas. Second: the birth of Jesus demonstrated that God was “present” (not absent) among men. Third: Jesus was not coming in history (the past) nor the future, but in the “present.”

Application: I have found that in my “present” (current) life, Jesus is “present” (with me)! And that is the greatest Christmas “present” (gift) of all! He is truly Immanuel – God with us!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of your presence! My present to you is being present in worship and present in serving others. Lord, here am I; use me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

He was there!

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

December 24: John 19-21

Scripture: John 20:13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don’t know where they have put him."
14 At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Observation: Jesus is standing there unrecognized by Mary who was mourning his loss and thinking that someone has stolen his body. She was so lost in her grief that she did not take a close look at who was standing beside her and talking with her. She recognized him when he spoke her name. (verses 15-16)

Application: There are times I get so lost in my circumstances that I do not expect nor do I look for the presence of Jesus. Yet He is has promised never to leave me nor forsake me! He is with me!

Prayer: Lord, my circumstances may be so dark that I cannot see everything clearly, but I can be assured that you are there with me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 23: John 15-18

Scripture: John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Observation: Never far from our thoughts at Christmas is the subject of presents—presents we give and presents we receive. Without exception, the greatest present one can receive in their lifetime is the gift of eternal life given by Jesus. In verse three, we have Jesus’s definition of eternal life.

Application: It is not enough for me to know about Jesus, read about Jesus, or talk about him—I must know him. And as I continue to read the Bible and prepare the daily SOAP devotionals, I want to continue to grow in knowing him—not just knowing more about him. It is not just gaining daily knowledge about him. It is sharing the daily experience of life with him.

Prayer: Lord, as we experience this day together, show me how you respond to the things happening to me and around me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 22: John 12-14

Scripture: John 12:27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

Observation: His time was fast approaching. He would soon take on that for which he was sent. It was not something that put an excited anticipation in his heart, but a dreaded anticipation. He was looking ahead to the cross. His heart was troubled. Yet Hebrews 12:2 says that for the joy set before him he endured the suffering.

Application: There is great joy in serving the Lord but that does not mean that there will not be times when my heart is troubled at what lies ahead. In those times I must look even further ahead to see the joy waiting on the other side of the suffering.

Prayer: Lord, it is always worth the time, effort, struggle, and even the suffering to follow you Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!