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

February 19: Numbers 5-6; Psalm 22; Acts 26

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 26:28 The Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Observation: In chapter 24 we saw Felix being convicted by the Holy Spirit. Here we see Agrippa being stirred by the Holy Spirit. Although the scriptures do not specifically say, it seems that both men walked away from the opportunity to become a believer. It is a tragic thing to walk away from the Holy Spirit’s call.

Application: 1. My life is fragile and can be over in a moment. It is foolish to ignore the Holy Spirit. 2. I have such limited understanding of my circumstances; the Holy Spirit has no such limitations. It is foolish to ignore the Holy Spirit. 3. No one knows and understands me like the Holy Spirit. It is foolish to ignore the Holy Spirit. 4. No one understands the future better than the Holy Spirit. It is foolish to ignore the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, what a special honor it is that you take time to personally speak to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 18: Numbers 3-4; Acts 25

Scripture: Numbers (NIV) 3:23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle. 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliaspaph son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting…

Observation: When the 600,000+ Israelites came out of Egypt, they were a mass of people. One of the main things needed was organization. God gave Moses the instructions to organize them around the tabernacle. Each tribe was assigned where to camp and the families of Aaron’s sons were given specific assignments to care for the parts of the tabernacle as they journeyed through the wilderness.

Application: The church in the world today is somewhat like the Israelites in the wilderness. God has organized us into congregations and given us assignments. I need to be faithful in my assigned part. -For a person to live like they do not need the local church is like an Israelite crossing the wilderness on their own. Their daily supply of bread, water, and fellowship was available to the Israelites as they moved together. –Those making the radio or television their church may enjoy the preaching and the music in the comfortable setting of their home. The media ministry expects its “members” to send in their tithes but the “member” probably should not expect a pastoral visit to their homes in times of celebration or to the hospital if ill—no handshakes or hugs or help with a financial struggle. The true expression of the New Testament church is local.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the church. What a wonderful plan you have for your people to work and fellowship together while we are in this world. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Respond Quickly!

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

February 17: Numbers 1-2; Acts 24

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 24:25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

Observation: It seems to me that the Holy Spirit was using Paul’s words to bring conviction to Felix . Felix did not say, “No;” he just said, “Not now.” That “not now” extended out for two years and we have no record of Felix ever responding to the Spirit’s call.

Application: The time to respond to the Spirit’s call is when He calls. “No,” and “not now” are never appropriate answers to the Holy Spirit. The only appropriate answer is “YES!” The only appropriate time is when He calls. If we are looking for a “convenient” time, we can know that the devil will do anything possible to make sure that any time is inconvenient.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, everything I know about you convinces me that it is wise for me to respond quickly to your call. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 16: Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Observation: Paul could be encouraged because of four things: First, the Lord was with him! Second: The Lord spoke to him! Third: The Lord knew what he had been doing and was aware of his situation! Fourth: The Lord had future plans for him!

Application: The Lord is with me! The Lord speaks to me! The Lord knows what I have been doing! The Lord still has plans for me! I am encouraged in the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of your Presence. Thank you for the strength of your Word. Thank you for the comfort in knowing that you are aware of my circumstances. Thank you for the joy of knowing you still have things for me to do! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 15: Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 25:4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you LORD are good.

Observation: There can be no better place for hope than in the One whose love and mercy are great. His love and mercy were well known before we were born. From early in the morning until late at night, and then all through the night, our hope can rest in the LORD!

Application: I do not have to worry about my past sins. In God they are forgiven and forgotten. God is not focused on my past sins, but on today as I walk in His love and in the power of His Spirit. In Him I have hope to overcome the temptation of sin. In Him I have hope to accomplish what He gives me to do.

Prayer: Lord, because of your merciful love, you have both forgiven and forgotten my sins. Remember me according to your love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 14: Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 21:29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple)
30 The whole city was aroused and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple…
31 While they were trying to kill him…

Observation: In the verses above, much trouble was caused by assumption. I believe it was Ed Cole who said, “Assumption is the lowest level of knowledge.” It is a belief that if one thing is true, then the second thing must also true. It is taking a leap that seems logical but has no logical support. If someone stops talking when I enter a room, I assume that they must have been talking about me. And if they stopped talking about me, I assume they must have been talking bad about me.

Application: Several things that help me deal with assumptions. First, I know that my Heavenly Father perfectly knows what people were saying. If I need to know, He is able to make sure I know. Second, I choose to assume something good. If they were talking about me, they were probably trying to decide what to get me for my birthday—which actually happened to me some years back. While I was fighting off thoughts about how people were talking behind my back, they were actually signing a birthday card to give me later. Ha!

Prayer: Lord, with you I walk by faith and not by assumption. I know you and am persuaded that you are able to guide me when I do not have complete understanding. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 13: Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Observation: These are the final words of Paul’s farewell to the church leaders from the city of Ephesus. He called attention to his example and emphasized the importance of hard work. Hard work not only enables us to provide for our own needs, but also enables us to give to those needing help.

Application: The Lord has many resources and ways to help people. He does not need me. But he wants me to be able to experience His joy in giving, so He gives through me. He lets me be a part of what He is doing. A great part of the joy I have in driving the school bus is the joy of increased giving.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to experience the joy of giving. May my giving bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 12: Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture: Leviticus (NIV) 19:34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Observation: People are important to God. When foreigner came to live among the Israelites, they were to be treated as if they had been born in Israel. Two reasons are given. Reason #1 was Israel’s history of being foreigners living in Egypt. Reason #2 was that God required it.

Application: Many times I have heard parents trying to reason with a child determined to do something wrong. When reasoning does not seem to work, I have heard parents end the argument with “because I said so!” Parents expect their words to carry the weight of their position. How right it is for God to expect His words to carry the weight of HIS position!

Prayer: Lord, your word is an expression of your love and holiness and wisdom. Your word carries your authority. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 11: Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture: Leviticus (NIV) 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Observation: God was speaking to Moses about the sacrifices that would be accepted to pay for their sins. Here is what I see: It was not the killing of the animal, but the shedding of its blood that made atonement. (Atonement means it brings at-one-ment with God.)

Application: It was not the killing of the flesh that paid the price for my sin, but the shedding of the blood! In the God/Man, Jesus, the flesh was man’s part (Mary’s part), but blood type which is determined by the sperm from the man came from God. Mary, the virgin was impregnated by the Holy Spirit. The blood that Jesus shed for my sins was pure, sinless blood! It did not come from Adam. It was untainted by the sin that had been passed from Adam down through the generations. The blood of Jesus can be accepted as payment for my sins because there was no sin in Jesus needing to be covered.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking my sin seriously. Thank you for understanding what kind of a sacrifice I needed. Thank you for being willing to be that sacrifice. May you find me ever grateful! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 10: Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”

Observation: Paul had spent some time looking for something to use as a starting point in presenting Jesus to these people. He found it among the altars to their gods.

Application: I need to keep my eyes open for starting points to present Jesus to people around me. The popular saying, “Oh my god,” gives me the opportunity to say, “Tell me about him.” There are many opportunities to comfort people who are grieving, and to help people who are hurting. These are opportunities to extend the ministry of Jesus.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me alert and ready to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!