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

April 30: 2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 68:1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.

Observation: God’s enemies do not have even the slightest of possibility of escaping God’s judgment. Just as surely as the wicked will perish, surely the righteous will be “happy and joyful.”

Application: The more I know God and the more I understand His plan for man, the more I rejoice in Him and in His work. I am glad to be a part of what He is doing! It has become illogical to complain or be discouraged. That does not mean that I never complain or get discouraged, but when I stop to think I have to admit, it is totally illogical! It just does not make any sense!

Prayer: Lord, I want the smile on my face be a true expression of the joy in my heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 29: 2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 139:7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settles on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Observation: Verse 7 shows us that playing “hide and seek” with God is foolish. We can never win! When He does not want to be found, we can never find Him. But He always knows where we are. There is no place to go to escape His presence.

Application: But verses 8-10 show me I can play “hide and seek” with God. I am His child and He lives within me! So I can find Him. I know where he is. Wherever I am, He is there too!

Prayer: Lord, there is no place I will go today that you will not accompany me. And when I arrive at my destination I will look and find you are already there! Wow! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 28: 2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
15:34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked

Observation: Around Jesus were 4,000 hungry men besides women and children. They had been with him for three days and food was gone. The disciples had seven loaves and a few small fish. Jesus had something better: He had compassion.

Application: The compassion in Jesus motivated him to look further into the problem. Compassion motivated him to use what was available. Compassion can motivate me to stop and give what I have, even if it is only a word of encouragement. When I feel compassion, I need to investigate further and see what I have.

Prayer: Lord, I believe you can arouse compassion in my heart to direct my attention to where your compassion is already flowing. Today, may I be an instrument of your compassion. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 27: 2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 14:17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he (Jesus) said.
19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people.
20 They all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children

Observation: The disciples took what was available and gave it to Jesus. Then they took what He gave them and gave it to the people.

Application: Here is a good pattern for me and for any disciple of Jesus. I take what I have available and give it to Jesus. Then I take what He returns to me and give it to those around me. NOTE: The disciples only gave out what Jesus had given to them! ALSO NOTE: Jesus only multiplied what they had given Him!

Prayer: Lord, at your direction, to place in your hands the little I have is the wisest thing I can do! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 26: 2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 13:52 He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples) “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Observation: One should not throw away something just because it is old. Neither should one continue to use the old when the new is better. Wisdom is the blending of the old and the new. Both have value. (The principle in this verse can be applied to everything from worship music to using technology.)

Application: To live under the Old Testament law when I understand New Testament grace would be foolish, but if I ignore the Old Testament and only read the New Testament I will miss much of God’s character that can be seen as He interacted with the Old Testament people. I continue to enjoy the songs that were written in the 1920’s to the 1970’s. But if I refuse the songs of today, I miss the joy of hearing a new generation express their love and devotion to the One I love most! After all, what makes God happy should make Leon happy!

Prayer: Lord, I want to always appreciate what you have done in the past yet I want to be flexible enough to appreciate what you are doing in the present. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 24: 1Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 109:30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.

Observation: The praise in David’s heart was like a building pressure. It had to find release. The path of least resistance was through his mouth. He would join with others gathered to worship. He would lift his voice with theirs. He was not going to be one of the quiet worshippers. He would “greatly extol” the Lord!

I often hear people whose heart is so full of their favorite baseball team that they will take any excuse to talk about them. They meditate on their team all day long. Of course what is in their heart has to find some expression. They will take any opportunity to speak words of admiration and appreciation for their team.

Application: As I meditate on the Lord, my heart becomes full and the overflow spills out my mouth.

Prayer: Lord, I want people to easily recognize that you have first place in my life! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 23: 1Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 10:7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Observation: Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom accompanied by healings which demonstrated the power of that kingdom. (Matthew 4:23; 9:35) He now sends out his disciples to continue what He started. They are to tell people about the kingdom of God (God’s rule and authority) and demonstrate its power and authority by healing the sick. In the book of Acts we see this priority continue as healings were important part in spreading the gospel of the kingdom.

Application: My assignment is to speak the message of the Kingdom of heaven to those around me. But the message of God’s authority must be presented with more than just words. It must be accompanied by a life lived under God’s authority. It is accompanied by miracles and healings that only God can do. In troubled times there is peace that can only God can give. There is provision, and wisdom, and answers that can only be explained by saying, “God is here; He did this!”

Prayer: Lord, today I want to join you in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Holy Spirit, work through me to reveal your presence. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 22: 1Samuel 25, 26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 9:37 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Observation: A kingdom is a structure of authority in which a king has supreme control. The people were very interested in the subject of a kingdom for they did not like Roman rule. But Jesus was not interested in an earthly kingdom. He preached about the Kingdom of God. He proclaimed God’s rule! But he did not set up an earthly government. Jesus demonstrated the power of the kingdom through “healing every disease and sickness.” People could see the healings; they could see the difference God’s kingdom made. God’s kingdom is a heavenly kingdom that can be seen and experienced; it does a lot of earthly good!

Application: My life is to be a demonstration of the power of God’s Kingdom. God’s rule in Leon makes a difference that should be easily seen by others.

Prayer: Lord, when I call you “Lord” I am recognizing your authority to rule my life. You even taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Let it be so in me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 21: 1Samuel 24; Psalm 57, 58; 1Chronicles 8; Matthew 8

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 57:7 My heart, O God is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Observation: David was hiding from King Saul who was trying to kill him. But David knew that praising God was the right thing to do. God’s love and faithfulness were steadfast and so was David’s heart!

Application: God has not been any less loving and faithful to me than He was to David. My commitment to be steadfast in praising him should be the same as David.

Prayer: I am still singing: Jesus, I’ll praise you forever! Jesus, I’ll praise you forever! No matter what the cost may be; I’ll praise you, Lord, eternally. My mind’s made up; I’ll praise you forever! (author unknown) Amen

(Listen to song at: )

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 20: 1Samuel 23; Psalm 31, 54; Matthew 7

Scripture: 1Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. (NIV)

Observation: Saul was searching for David to kill David. That God did not give David into Saul’s hands was a good indication that David was in God’s hands! There is not a safer place to be!

Application: Staying in God’s hands is staying in the center of His will. It is there I have the fellowship of His Presence. It is there I have confidence in His power to protect me and His wisdom to guide me.

Prayer: Lord, I place my life in your hands. There is not a better place for me than in the center of your will! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!