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

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

Scripture: Job (NIV) 35:5 Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.
6 If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give him, or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.

Observation: So I interrupt the speech of Elihu, “How does our sin affect God? Is that what you are asking, Elihu? I am glad you asked! If only you knew! It affected Him so much that He sent His only Son to die in payment for our sins! Everyone will have to admit that is a great affect!

Application: If I think that my sin does not hurt anyone, I am forgetting how much God paid to forgive my sins.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for thinking that my sins do not affect you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 9: Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

Scripture: Job (NIV) 34:3 For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

Observation: These words of Elihu sound great, but his application is lacking. His observation is that Job, once very prosperous is now destitute and suffering. He used his human wisdom to determine what has happened. He reaches the only logical conclusion. It is obvious to him that Job has sinned! Ooops, Elihu, you left out what God said about Job.

Application: As I write this SOAP, I am on a bus trip to Exploration Place. Here are exhibits of this world that are wonderful, truly full of wonder. My heart rejoices at the grandeur of God’s creation. But like Elihu, people are trying to explain this world using the greatest human wisdom available. They have reached what they see as very logical conclusions. Like Elihu, they too leave out what God has said. They ignore the only eye-witness account of how this world came to be.

Prayer: Lord, You have proven yourself faithful to me in so many ways. I know I can trust your word. Remind me to find out what you have said before I jump to my own conclusions. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 8: Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

Scripture: Job (NIV) 33:21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden now stick out.
22 they draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God, “Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them

Observation: Here Elihu, the youngest of Job’s friends, is trying to convince Job that he must have done something terrible to deserve such suffering. Yet he believes there might be someone in death to provide a ransom. There might be someone who will speak to God on the sinner’s behalf.

Application: As I read this passage, I want to shout back through time, “Elihu, young man, there is indeed a Mediator. I have found Him! His name is Jesus. He is the fairest of ten thousand! He speaks truth. He is gracious. He not only found a ransom, He became the ransom to spare us from the pit. He restores our life. He brings us God’s favor! He brings us forgiveness and makes us live!”

Prayer: Lord, I so appreciate what you have done for me! Indeed, you are my Mediator! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 7: Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Observation: What a strong statement we read about harvest. God cannot be mocked. To think that one can sow one kind of crop and reap another is foolish. When I understand the seriousness of this law, I can greatly appreciate that Jesus step in to reap the harvest of the sin I had sown. And by so doing, He set me free to reap the blessings of the seed he sowed in dying for me on the cross.

Application: It is good for me to remember that there is both a negative and positive application to this law. I can sow to reap destruction OR I can so to reap eternal life. Today I want to sow good things into people’s lives. In that way I will be preparing for a future harvest of blessing. It is too late to do any more about my present harvest, but I can do something about my future harvest.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for setting order in the universe by your laws. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 6: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God send his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Observation: God did not redeem man from outside the legal system, but Jesus was “born of a woman,” and “born under the law.” He brought about our freedom from the penalty of broken laws by coming under the law himself. Instead of outside in, he worked from the inside out! He accepted the burden of keeping the law while being tempted to break the law. He fulfilled the requirements of the law perfectly, yet was put to death as a lawbreaker. Since he had no sin for which to pay, his death is credited toward covering the sins of everyone who believes in him.

Application: Jesus still works from the inside out. The change did not come in my life until I invited him into my life. He entered my life as Savior and Lord. As he is Lord in my life he brings victory to the outside actions of my life.

Prayer: Lord, you are still working from the inside out. I confess you as the Lord in and of my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 5: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 1:22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us in now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.
24 And they praised God because of me.

Observation: Paul was writing to the church in Galatia and giving some of his own testimony. What a change Jesus had brought in Paul’s life. It was a dramatic change, one that could be easily seen by people around him. Once they feared Paul as he set about persecuting the church; now they praised God because of him.

Application: Now there are two worthy goals for my life. First: I want God to receive praise from me. And second: I want God to receive praise from others because of me.

Prayer: Lord, What a special joy it is to know that something I do causes others to praise you! It makes my heart smile. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 4: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture: Job (NIV) 26:14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

Observation: In verses seven through thirteen, Job describes some of the wonders and vastness of the heavens. He describes the clouds that hold water, the horizon, and the oceans. Then he says, “These are the outer fringe of his works!”

Application: When I stand outside at night and look at the heavens, I am beholding just the outer edge of God’s works. He is vastly beyond my limited knowledge and thinking. There is no end to searching out the character and workings of God. Yet it is worthwhile to search Him out because the better I know God, the better I trust him. He is absolutely trustworthy AND capable!

Prayer: Lord, you are indeed amazing! My mind cannot comprehend even the outer fringe of your works. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 3: Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Observation: Jesus was talking to his disciples about the end days. He emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit. The people would need to have a close relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Application: I believe that the days about which Jesus was talking are beginning now or soon to come. I must listen to the Holy Spirit. I need to sharpen my ability to recognize His voice and be quick to do as He directs. I need to go through my day thoughtfully doing my best as I understand it. However when I hear/sense/feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit to change, I should not push those thoughts away as though they are just some crazy thoughts. If there is nothing morally wrong with them, I should consider that the Holy Spirit may be directing me to change my words or actions.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I consider it a great privilege that you would speak to me and use me for good. Obviously You know what is best for me to say and do. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

A Key Lesson!

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

November 2: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Scripture: Job (NIV) 23:8 But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.
9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Observation: Job is saying, “I cannot find God, but He has no problem finding me! I do not know anything about what He is doing, but He knows everything about what I am doing!” We all need to learn this lesson, and the sooner we learn it, the better it is for us.

Application: It is a fact that God is with me. I may not always feel like it. I may not be able to prove it to everyone around me, but I live like it is true because I know it is true!

Prayer: Lord, You have been with me even when I did not feel like it. I am glad I do not have to follow my feelings. I am glad you are greater than my feelings! I am SO glad you are always with me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 1: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Observation: I have several “go to” people in my life. If I have trouble with my car, I go to Glen. If I have trouble with taxes, I go to Sarah. If I have trouble with music, I go to Richard. If I need help with Sunday evenings at Victoria Falls Living Facility, I go to Leonard. In the verses above we see the Psalmist writing about his “go to.” His “go to” was the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Application: No matter what my problem, I cannot find a greater “go to” than the LORD! He knows it all because He created it all! He loved me enough to die for me! I do not have a better “go to” than the LORD!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many ways you have helped me. May I be faithful in serving you as you have been faithful in serving me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!