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

January 21: Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 1:6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died.
7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.

Observation: Everything changes. And here we read about a change in Egypt. The government changed. There was a new king. The new king was limited in his knowledge of history. The Israelites were a resource and a threat. They were a resource of free labor to build cities. They were a threat in that they had so many children. But God was with them, and God’s future plan included them!

Application: I see a parallel in our nation. We have leaders that seem to have little knowledge or appreciation for our history and for God’s place in our history. God definitely had a plan for the United States. But I think that plan is now a part of history and I am not sure if His future plans include us as a nation. Continuing down the road we are now traveling will bring us to a time when Christians will be oppressed here somewhat like the Israelites were in Egypt. We can already see this happening. I appreciate knowing that people around the world are praying for the USA and the church in the USA.

Prayer: Lord, I am so glad that Your Presence in Your people does not change as governments change. When the saints gather around your throne, may there be many from the USA. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 20: Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 50:18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?”

Observation: Isaac was dead and now his sons feared that without Isaac’s influence Joseph might remember how they had sold him into slavery and take revenge against them. Joseph understood that God had sent him to Egypt for the salvation of the family. Isaac’s death did not change those facts and did not change Joseph. His authority was a gift from God to enable him to serve his family; he would not use it for revenge or to serve himself.

Application: Authority is the right to make decisions and to hold others accountable. Only God has authority because He is worthy. (Joseph knew he was not God!) Any authority I have is delegated authority which means I must give an account for how I use it. Authority is a gift from God to make me a better servant. It is not to be used to dominate people. It is not to be used for selfish gain or to make things easier for myself. It is to be used to benefit others.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to use authority for Your glory and for the good of others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 19: Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 19:4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Observation: It was a big thing that Jesus was coming through his town. Zacchaeus acted like it was a big thing. Here was the One who opened blind eyes, made the lame to walk, fed 5000 people and even raised the dead! This was a big thing. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to make sure he would be able to see Jesus. And when Jesus stopped and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house, he welcomed Jesus joyfully. He treated Jesus like a most important guest. This was a big thing!

Application: If it was a big thing to Zacchaeus that Jesus was passing by, it should be a MUCH BIGGER thing that Jesus died for my sins, rose from the dead, forgives my sins, and now chooses to live inside me!!! Wow! That is a BIG thing! What Zacchaeus thought about Jesus could be seen in his actions. What I think about Jesus should be seen in my actions!

Prayer: Lord, It is a BIG thing that you live in me. I dedicate my life to live for you. Today, may you be seen in all I say and do. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 18: Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…
7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.”

Observation: We serve a God who can take the bad things people do to us and turn them to work for our good. It does not mean that we enjoy the mistreatment, but we can look beyond expecting God to bring good out of it. God’s blessings on Joseph were so amazing that they spilled over onto the brothers who sold him into slavery.

Application: One special blessing in growing older is being able to look back to times when God used for good what people meant for evil. I remember first understanding this process only after I had experienced the good that God brought out of the trouble. Growing in faith has helped me to understand God’s ways earlier in the process. More recently I found myself expecting the good as I was still experiencing the hurt. Faith that God would work it out for good was/is a great help in dealing with the hurt, frustration, and disappointment. It helps me to forgive. I do not sweep the old hurts under the rug; I put them under the blood! They were paid for on the cross!

Prayer: Lord, you have provided forgiveness for my sins against you and others. You have also provided for the sins of others against me. Thank you for forgiving me and helping me forgive others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 17: Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 5:9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
11 BUT let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Observation: One characteristic of the Hebrew poetry is the contrasting of two different thoughts. Here we see the difference between those whose heart is evil and those whose heart trusts in the Lord. The mouth of one is filled with lies; the mouth of the other is filled with joy. One is headed for a downfall; the other is under the protection of Almighty God. One is walking in rebellion; the other is walking in the love of God. What a difference!

Application: Is it worthwhile serving God? The Psalmist thought so. And I think so too! And when others see me, they should think so too!

Prayer: Lord, may my heart be ever filled with joy and my mouth with praise. May joy and praise be seen as proof of your Presence. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 16: Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 40:6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.
7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

Observation: Joseph had been falsely accused and thrown in prison. He had every reason to feel sorry for himself, yet these verses show that he was interested in other prisoners who were assigned to him. His ministry to them, the interpretation of their dreams, became the key for his own release two years later.

Application: My enemy would love to keep me focused on myself and the troubles I am experiencing. As long as I am feeling sorry for myself I will have trouble having compassion for those around me. God may have allowed me to be in those circumstances so that I will be readily available when He needs me for a special assignment. God may have allowed me to be in those circumstances because He loves the people there and wants to minister to them through me. They may become the key to my freedom.

Prayer: Lord, as you died on the cross, you took time to care for your mother and the thief dying next to you. Help me be compassionate like you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Out of 1500+ SOAPs, this is the third one I have repeated. I have made a few changes, but this is what God is speaking to my heart.

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

January 15: Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

Note: The younger brother who had taken his inheritance and squandered it had now returned home. The joyful father was throwing a great celebration but the older brother was jealous and would not come in to the party. So the Father goes out to him …

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 15:31 “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

Observation: Talk about unused potential!!! This son had "always" been with the father! "Everything" belonging to the father was his! And yet this son had not appreciated it, nor enjoyed it. He had labored dutifully but not joyfully! He had more awareness of the absence of his brother than of the presence of His father!

Application: Many times we become more aware of what we do not have than of what we do have—we have God’s Presence in our lives. We think more about what the enemy can do to us rather than how the One living in us can protect us. Sometimes we think of what we could do if others would give us their money. We should focus on what God can do with the money He has already provided. We are living below our potential! We may only have “just a little,” but it has never bothered God to work with “just a little.” That is His starting place. Our potential is not in how much we have, but in Who is with us!

Prayer: Lord, teach me to live up to the potential that you have placed around me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 14: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 14:1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched…
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: …

Observation: In the first verse we see that people “carefully watched” Jesus, but a little later in verse 7 we see that Jesus was watching people too! Then he told them a parable that fit the occasion.

Application: Being a follower of Jesus, I should not be surprised when people seem to “carefully watch” my life. God places me where I can be seen. He wants people to learn from watching my life. AND as I am in a place where my life can be watched, I find it is also a place where I can watch those around me. Like Jesus, I should be a people watcher. Then the message I have should be appropriate to what is happening around me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, guide my eyes to see what is taking place around me; then guide my words to speak appropriately. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 13: Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 32:9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’

Observation: When Jacob left home, it was to get away from his brother who was threatening to kill him. Now he is returning home and it is the night before he will be meeting his brother! He has sent gifts ahead. He has divided his family into two camps so one might escape if the other is attacked. He is fearful of what his brother might do. Now in his prayer, he reminds God of what God has promised. If God is going to keep those promises, then God will have to deal with the brother and help Jacob through the present crisis.

Application: To face trouble without remembering what God has promised is foolish. If God has given promises about my future, then I can trust God to take care of my present! If God has promised to prepare a place for me, then I can trust him to take care of the journey to get to that place!

Prayer: Lord, you are trustworthy! I can count on you to keep your word! I can trust you to take care of any problem I will face on the way to where your promises will be fulfilled! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 12: Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 29:25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?

Observation: So many times I have read this but never before have I noticed at how closely Laban’s deception to Jacob resembled Jacob’s deception to his father. Jacob had pretended to be his brother Esau to deceive his father into giving him the coveted blessing. And now Jacob is deceived by Laban when the older daughter, Leah, is in the wedding garments instead of Rachael. Both deceptions had to do with identity and both involved clothing.

Application: It is a law of the harvest that I cannot change. Harvest follows sowing. Jacob reaped what he had sown. This law works with the good deeds as well as with the bad. And the reaper is not always the sower. I know I have reaped many kind deeds that were sown by my parents. May my son reap a harvest from my deeds.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reaping on the cross the sins I have sown in my life. May you also reap blessings from any good I have done. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!