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

March 11: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 2:1 Then after fourteen years, I went again to Jerusalem…
2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Observation: I believe it is a sign of a true believer who can submit to the body of Christ believing that the Holy Spirit can speak through others in regards to their life and ministry. The flesh wants to believe that God will only reveal to me that which pertains to me. But God often uses others to bring light to ourselves, even to the most spiritual among us.

Application: Pride keeps me from listening to others. I must realize that I am only one part of the body of Christ and not the whole body. My connection to others is important in my connection to Christ. If I cannot hear God speak to me through others, I probably cannot hear God speak to me one-on-one. After all, the hand is connected to the head through the arm and shoulder. Hmmm.

Prayer: Lord, to know that you speak to me adds value to my life. It is a privilege to have you speak to me in any way you choose. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 10: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Scripture: Galatians (NIV) 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.

Observation: Paul is writing to the churches in the Roman province of Galatia. The verses above are a part of Paul’s testimony. Paul understood that God’s purpose in revealing the truth about Jesus to him was to enable him to carry that message to other places and peoples. God revealed truth TO Paul so that it would get THROUGH Paul to others.

Application: When God teaches/tells/shows me something in His word I should expect that there will soon be opportunity to share it with someone else. First God gets his truth to me; then He gets his truth through me. To miss the opportunity to pass along what God gives me is to miss out on blessings God has for me. God’s plan is for me to be useful.

Prayer: Lord, I want to please you today by passing on to others what you have given to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 9: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus body…
5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man…
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

Observation: The ladies entered “death’s door” into the tomb. They expected to find a dead body; instead they heard the voice of an angel saying, “He’s alive!” Expecting death, they found life!

Application: When it comes to Jesus, I often find myself under-expecting. He far surpasses my expectations! And I am thinking that when I enter death’s door into heaven, I will be entering the most alive place I could ever imagine. I believe it will far surpass my expectations!!!

Prayer: Lord, I am learning to expect the unexpected from you. You commonly surpass my expectations. You often work outside of my possibilities. You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 8: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

Scripture: Deuteronomy (NIV) 7:12 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors.
13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers…
14 You will be blessed more than any other people…

Observation: What wonderful promises God gave to Israel—promises that went far beyond their abilities—promises that He was well able to keep. But many of His promises swing on a hinge. They swing “yes” or “no” based on the word “if.”

Application: I must be careful to claim God’s promises appropriately. If I have met the condition, then the promise of God is sure. I can then rest in confidence that he will do as He promised. If I do not meet the condition, the promise of God is just as sure, but just as sure NOT to be done.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to carefully read God’s Word and understand His promises. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 7: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Scripture: Deuteronomy (NIV) 5:3 It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

Observation: Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses in his farewell address reminds the people of Israel that they had personally seen and heard God. Every generation needs their own encounter with God. How right it is that new worship songs are continually being written by people experiencing their own encounters with God.

Application: I will always enjoy what God has done in my past. The songs of the past will continue to stir my heart. But I desire to continue rejoicing with the younger generation as we together experience God and lift our voices in praise with new expressions of worship.

Prayer: Lord, Continue to remind me of what you have said to me and done for me in the past. Use me to remind others of your personal involvement in our lives. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 6: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 13:13 …but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. “

Observation: I see two measurements for faith. First we can measure faith by what it accomplishes. We would say that it takes great faith to move mountains. Second, and maybe more importantly, faith can be measured by how long it lasts. Will it outlast the problem or the trial? It is bad when our faith is not strong enough, but it is worse when our faith is not long enough.

Application: When the trial is over, will I still have my faith? Hebrews 11 speaks of people who were still living by faith when they died. I do not want my faith to die before I do!

Prayer: Lord, use your Word that I read every day to feed my faith, making it strong enough to face every problem and long enough to outlast every trial. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 5: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 12:29: “The most important one,” Jesus answered, “is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
31 The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Observation: These two commandments were Jesus’ answer to the question as to which of the Ten Commandments was the greatest. In keeping these two commandments, one would be keeping the essence of all ten. My attention is drawn to the second one in verse 31.

Application: If I love my neighbor as myself, I will serve him the way I want to be served. I will not misuse him to get ahead and I will not put him down to make me look better. I will overlook his mistakes because I believe his intentions were good. I will correct him as I want others to correct me with gentleness and in private. I will not talk bad about him to others. In these ways and others I will love him as I love myself.

Prayer: Lord, guide my eyes to see the needs of my neighbor and then guide my hands to serve him. Help me love him as I love myself. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 4: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Scripture: Numbers (NIV) 35:34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.

Observation: People who claim to be Christians should treat their property with respect. First, because it was created by God. He made it and gives it to us to take care of it. We honor the Creator by treating what He created with respect. Second, because it is the home of God’s children. People who have been redeemed live there! Third, because God Himself lives there with His people.

Application: The way I care for my property can be a testimony to others of how God cares for me. It can also be a testimony to others that I do not see this property and these possessions as mine, but as His. I care for them in a way that makes Him proud.

Prayer: Lord, teach me and help me be a good steward of the property and possessions you have provided for my family. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 3: Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 10:32b Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
33 “…They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him…
37 “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

Observation: Several times Jesus specifically told his disciples that he would be killed and three days later rise from the dead. However when the time came, they did not remember what he had said. I am thinking that they were more interested in what they wanted to say to him than listening to what He wanted to say to them.

Application: Many times I am more interested in what I want to tell the Lord than in listening to what He wants to tell me. Later I have trouble remembering what He said. I must learn the priority of listening to Him.

Prayer: Lord, to hear your voice, to carefully listen to your words, to value what I hear you say, and then in times of trouble to remember what you said. Holy Spirit help me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

March 2: Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 9:21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Observation: The dad was desperate. His son needed more help than he was able to give. But he had heard about Jesus. Maybe Jesus could help his boy. Jesus challenged his faith.

Application: Jesus challenges my faith too. My faith is present, but sometimes I find that unbelief is also present. And sometimes when I look back on my day, I find times I made decisions based on my faith and times when I did not allow my faith to affect my decisions. Faith in God and His Word MUST be a major part of EVERY decision.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for responding to my faith. Help me overcome my unbelief. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!