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

August 21: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God lives in you¸ and you have overcome the evil one.

Observation: Many scriptures give the importance of growing in our Spiritual life; however these verses show characteristics of different growth levels. From children whose sins are forgiven and who know their daddy we progress to young men who are strong and know how to fight off the enemy. Finally we grow into fathers who know the eternal character of God as it is expressed in His works of creation, revelation, salvation, etc.

Application: For someone who is fascinated by discovering something new, there are ALWAYS new things for me to discover in the Word and in my relationship with God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the joy of discovering new things in your Word. Every day you help me grow and mature. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 20: Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
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 is not in us.

Observation: Being a truthful person requires a truthful evaluation of me. Truthfulness is admitting that I have sinned. I have fallen below my own standard of what is right. I am guilty of the very things I condemn in others.

Application: Admitting I have sinned is a step out of self-deception and is agreeing with God. Amazingly I find that confessing those sins to God does not bring His condemnation, but His forgiveness and cleansing! Wow!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for understanding my need. Thank you for dying on the cross in payment for my sins. Thank you for forgiving me and making me clean. I am blest! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 19: Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

Scripture: Jeremiah (NIV) 46:28 “Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the LORD. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.

Observation: In this verse one can see that our Creator is holy in dealing with sin yet He has the loving heart of a Father. Sin is terrible. It cannot go unpunished. Yet in discipline there is room for mercy. The nation of Israel (Jacob) was such a key part of God’s plan to redeem sinful man, that they would not be destroyed. In punishment they would be preserved.

Application: I live in a nation and a world of sinful people. God has not changed and judgment is coming to this world. However I need not fear judgment, for Jesus has already taken my judgment, as well as the judgment of all who receive Him as their Savior and Lord. As God preserved His people, Israel, how much more will He preserve those in whom He dwells by His Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you, for on the cross you accepted the punishment for my sins. I do not fear the coming judgment. Use me to warn others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 18: Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

Scripture: John (NIV) 20:31 But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Observation: Matthew presents Jesus as King to the Jews. Mark presents Jesus as the Perfect Servant to the Romans. Luke presents Jesus as the Perfect Man to the Greeks. And John wrote to present Jesus as God to the church.

Jesus referred to himself and lived His life as the "Son of Man," yet he never said "you’re mistaken" when someone spoke of him as the "Son of God." Several times He even acknowledged that fact. John was convinced that Jesus is the Son of God and it became the purpose for his writing.

Application: Paul referred to our lives as letters that people can read. (2Corinthians 3:2-3) When people “read” my life, what do they learn about Jesus. Like John, I want my readers to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have life in his name.

Prayer: Lord, with my life, help me write a letter that is easy to understand and helps people believe that You are the Son of God. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 17: Jeremiah 23-25; John 19

Scripture: John (NIV) 19:38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.

Observation: Jesus was aware that He was going to be crucified, but we have no record of his making provisions for His dead body. As far as we know, Jesus did not assign any of the disciples to make the necessary arrangements. Something needed to be done with the body. It is notable that this service came from unexpected sources. The disciples should have taken care of this matter, but they were in hiding. These two men were not publically known for their devotion to Jesus yet their act of respect is noted publically in scripture.

Application: When I have been doing God’s will and I have a problem bigger than I can handle, I should not be surprised to find that God can bring help from unexpected sources. Just because the needed help does not come from a source I expect, does not mean that God has His hands tied. When His ministry needs more than I have available, I need to be careful NOT to pressure people, but to trust God.

Prayer: Lord, I want to keep my eyes ever on you. When I am doing your will, I can trust you to provide all the needed resources! You can send help from such unexpected places! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 16: 2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

Scripture: John (NIV) 18:3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5.. “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said.

Observation: They were coming to arrest Jesus. He would be taken for trial, condemned and crucified. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He did not run away or hide from the intense suffering ahead; He went out and faced the issue. Instead of running from death, Jesus experienced it on the cross and conquered it by His resurrection. Now death runs from Him!

Application: When I am confident that I am doing what God has given me to do, I do not have to let fear run my life. Of course I will experience trouble, but the “Death Conqueror” helps me become a “trouble conqueror.” I do not have to run; I too can face trouble without fear.

Prayer: Lord, Help me never under estimate the victory that is a part of the life you now live in me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 15: Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

Scripture: John (NIV) 17:16 They are not of the world even as I am not of it.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Observation: Jesus was praying for His disciples. The life they had did not come from this world just as Jesus did not come from this world.
Jesus was sent "to" the world, but did not come not "from" the world. In the same way, after having received life from above, they are sent "to" the world.

Application: I have been born again with the Jesus life from above. Now I am sent to the world. Although I am being sent to the world, I should not see it as if I am being sent home. This world is no longer my home. I am sent to the world on a mission to invite others to join me on a journey to heaven.

Prayer: Lord, you have sent me as your ambassador to those around me. May I represent you well. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 14: Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

Scripture: John (NIV) 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Observation: Jesus was preparing his disciples to accept the idea that he would soon be leaving them. From the context one can get the idea that this idea would not be well accepted by the disciples. They had plans for Jesus. They would be part of those plans. But now Jesus is leaving and not taking them with him. He was leaving them behind. His words that this would be good for them was probably hard for them to receive; after all, what could be better than having Jesus among them and being a part of his kingdom? Jesus answered that question: having the Comforter, the Holy Spirit would be better.

Application: Do I appreciate what I have? I do not need to walk to the next town to hear Jesus. I do not have to wait until he visits my church on Sunday to talk with Jesus. I have the same Holy Spirit that was with Jesus living in my life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! There is nothing I will face today that is beyond His power and authority.

Prayer: Lord, you were right, having the Holy Spirit is so much better that what the disciples had in the days of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 13: Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

Scripture: John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Observation: There are times when we want to run, but the Lord tells us to stay. He is cutting, and the cutting is not pleasant, but it is necessary for fruitfulness. We must remain where he has grafted us in. His goal is fruitfulness. For a branch to be fruitful it needs the uninterrupted flow of the sweet sap from the vine. We have to remain. The wonderful promise is that as we remain, He remains in us!
Fruitfulness is the responsibility of every branch, but fruitfulness is impossible unless it remains attached to the vine. So it is with us. We are to be fruitful. We were created to be fruitful. Yet the fruit God desires from our lives is impossible to bear unless we are attached! A daily walk is required to maintain the fruitful life God desires.

Application: As the branch draws its daily life from the vine, so I must draw my daily life from the Lord through prayer and reading His word. I might make it one or two days without input from Him, but if I go too long, my leaves will wilt and my fruit dry up before it matures.

Prayer: Lord, may the fruit of my life bring you glory and be a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 12: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

Scripture: John (NIV) 14:25 All this I have spoken while still with you.
26. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Observation: Jesus had laid aside his deity to walk on earth and minister as a man anointed with the Holy Spirit. Now He was promising that the same Holy Spirit would continue the ministry through people. Jesus was not depending on the disciples to carry on His ministry; He was depending on the Holy Spirit to lead, and guide, and empower them.

Application: Jesus is not depending on Leon to continue the ministry to Leon’s generation. Jesus is depending on the Holy Spirit living in Leon to flow through Leon. Theministry through Leon must be done in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, may I always be sensitive to the directions the Holy Spirit brings to my thoughts. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!