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

May 11: 2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 55:16 As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change—he will hear them and humble them because they have no fear of God

Observation: Obviously the time of day makes no difference to when one can call upon God. And no mention is made of location or physical position or of how long one must pray in order to be heard. The size of the enemy makes no difference. God hears those who fear Him and rescues them!

Application: What a comfort to know that there is no trouble in which I cannot call out to God for help! I can always trust God to hear me and to work through all things for my good and His glory!

Prayer: Lord, as you helped those Bible days, as you helped those in the early church, as you helped my grandparents and my parents, and as you have helped me in my past, I know I can trust you to help me today. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 10: 2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 27:63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’…
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Observation: The enemies of Jesus were better at remembering his words than were the disciples. They remembered that Jesus had said so they took action. They were concerned that the disciples might try to steal his body. But they did not need to fear the disciples! The disciples did not seem to remember what Jesus had said, or have faith that he would do what he said. So while the disciples hid, the Roman soldiers acted on Jesus’ words and made the tomb as secure as they knew how.

Application: I need to keep my focus on what Jesus has told me. When the enemy has done all he knows how, he still is no match for Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who reminds me of what you have told me. I want your words to be the reasons for my actions. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 9: 2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 71:14 …I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all.
Psalm 71:17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Observation: A the psalmist was now “old and gray.” He looked back to his youth and realized that each season had added more reasons to praise the Lord. Now, there were too many to tell! But he wanted to be sure the next generation knew what God had done for him.

Application: Now I too am “older.” My hair, what remains, is “white.” (I just checked the mirror. Ha!) Each season of my life has added more reasons to praise the Lord. He has been faithful to bless and help me. I must be faithful to tell others what he has done for me.

Prayer: Lord, may my appreciation for your many blessings be seen in my faithfulness to the next generation. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 8: 2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding but must be controlled by the bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Observation: Here is God’s desire for leading his children. He wants to have such a relationship with us that he can direct us with just a glance of his eye or a nod of his head. When our attention is on him we can be led in this simple and loving way. However if our attention is always in other places, he has to lead us like one leads a horse, with a bit and bridle to control the direction of the head.

Application: May I grow in following Jesus that I can be directed with the quietest of whispers and the gentlest of pressures. May I notice where his attention is focused and may I be concerned with what concerns him.

Prayer: Lord, my desire is to be like you. Help me to see what you see and to love what you love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 7: 2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?
46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions

Observation: Whenever I call Jesus Lord or refer to Him as Lord, I am implying that I am his servant. Being His servant has responsibilities as well as the potential of great reward.

Application: Since I call Jesus my Lord, it is important that I carry out the responsibilities of being His servant. I need to understand that the assignments given a servant are not for the pleasure of the servant but the pleasure of the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, as your servant, may I bring you pleasure. What is your pleasure for me today? Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 6: 2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 51:16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Observation: David had sinned and he was living with a load of guilt. He was desperate to have his relationship with God restored. He would have made any sacrifice, but he knew God was really interested in only one sacrifice. It was not the sacrifice of an animal, but the sacrifice of a broken and crushed heart. He was extremely saddened that he had sinned and disappointed the Lord.

Application: Like David, I am helpless to undo or erase my sins. As I grow in understanding of your death on the cross, I grow in understanding of how my sin hurts and disappoints you. I too must come knowing that a heartfelt sorrowful confession of my sin will be met with gracious and loving forgiveness. I will receive what I do not deserve!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your willingness to forgive, cleanse, and restore our fellowship. On the cross, you paid a debt you did not owe. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 5: 2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 22:37 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.
40 All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments.

Observation: It is always good to be reminded of the bottom line. Everything is based on these two commandments.

Application: I am to love my neighbor as I love myself, but I am to love God with ALL my heart (the center of all physical and spiritual life), and ALL my soul (the center of all my feelings and desires), and ALL my mind (the center of all my understanding).

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for not loving you as completely and intensely and thoughtfully as you deserve. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 4: 2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him, “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

Observation: Authority is the right and responsibility to make decisions and to hold others accountable. Authority is expressed through words with an expectation that those words will be obeyed. There is only One with all authority—God. All other authority is either delegated or usurped. I learned in the Navy that they way to have authority is to submit to the ones with authority over me. No body questioned if Jesus had authority. The religious leaders wanted to know its source.

Application: Authority flowed perfectly from Jesus because he was perfectly submitted to His Father in Heaven. God’s delegated authority to and through me will only be to the level of my submission to God.

Prayer: Lord, I surrender all; I surrender all. All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 3: 2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

Scripture: 2Samuel 7:22 How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

Observation: King David was responding to God’s message that God would establish David’s line as King forever. I hear David saying, “I have never heard anyone speak of any God like you. From what I hear of the other gods, not one of them even comes close to you! You are far superior to all other gods!”

Application: If David was in awe of God during his days, how much more should I be in awe of God today! People worship the gods of nature and the gods of their ancestors. I have never heard anyone talking about their god being infinite in strength and also both holy AND loving! I have never heard of another God as holy—existing in perfect rightness and demanding a perfect sacrifice to pay for my sin! I have never heard of another God as loving—loving us so much that he sent his only son to die for my sins that I might have access into His presence!!!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am in awe of your perfectly demonstrated holiness and your perfectly expressed love! You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Past, Present, Future

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

May 2: 1Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 106:10 He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.

Observation: When they forgot what God had done, they did not wait for God to show them what to do. They would go ahead and do what seemed best to them. They would approach their problems according to their own plan. All too soon they would be crying out to God to come help them out of their troubles. If only they would have remembered what God had done for them in the past!

Application: If only Leon would remember what God has done for him in the past! Then he could trust God in the present and have a much better future!

Prayer: Lord, I know that tomorrow will be much better if I remember what you did yesterday and trust you today! Holy Spirit, help me remember! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!