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

April 30: 2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them saying, “Rise and have no fear.”
8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Observation: Jesus touched them and spoke to them. We see the ministry of touch, and the ministry of words. Both are so important! We need to become skilled in using them both.
The ministry of touch emphasizes PRESENCE. There are times when that ministers more than words. A touch can say, "I am here for you," or "I am with you." It can say, "I do not know what to say, but I love you and I am here."
The ministry of words ministers in two ways. First is the message that the words convey, which can range from comfort to correction, from encouragement to exhortation. Second is the manner in which the words are spoken, the tone of voice. The tone of voice can minister tenderness or sternness, patience or persistence.

Application: Today while I drive the school bus, I will have many opportunities to touch people and speak to them. Even without consciously thinking about it, I will be using these two ministries.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, touch through me today. Speak through me to those needing encouragement and comfort. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 29: 2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Observation: There was a time when some people claimed that a baby in the womb was only tissue. It was called POC, or Product of Conception. Today we have videos made of the child’s personal and unique body developing in the womb. What a welcome change to hear news stories about laws being passed to protect unborn children.

Application: When I think of how wonderfully I was formed, I am forced to acknowledge that God created me for His purpose. I have value to Him! My challenge is to live each day in a way that brings honor and glory to Him! Of course these truths apply to everyone around me. They too are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” I must respect them for they too are made in the image of God.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of this truth. Keep reminding me that my body is a temple in which you live. I want your life to be seen in and through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 28: 2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

Scripture: 1Chronicles (NIV) 12:38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.
39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them.
40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Observation: David had been king over the southern tribes for several years while Saul’s son retained the kingship over the northern tribes of Israel. But now the northern tribes were ready to make David their king too. They came to Hebron “with a whole heart” and they were of “a single mind.” Their unity resulted in great generosity and joy.

Application: My circumstances may have some similarities with Israel. Our pastor recently resigned we are now in the first steps of finding God’s will for a new pastor. When the decision is finalized, the Leadership Board will rejoice if the same things can be said about Generations Church A/G as was written about Israel.

Prayer: Lord, give Generations Church a whole heart and single mind in choosing a pastor. Let generosity flow from a joyful heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 27: 2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves for the wind was against them.

Observation: They had just fed 5000 people plus the women and children. Then Jesus “made”/constrained/compelled his disciples to get into a boat to “go before him to the other side.” I doubt that they knew they were being sent into a storm. However it was in the storm that Jesus came walking on the water. It was in the storm that Peter was invited to walk on the water also. It was in Jesus calming the storm that they came to confess, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (vs.33)

Application: More than once I have followed the will of God into a storm. More than once I have found Him with me in the storm. More than once I have seen Him at work, doing what only He could do. More than once He has made it possible to get to the other side. More than once, I too have come to say, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

Prayer: Lord, Living for you is not a “storm-less” life. It is in the storms that we discover you are the great Storm-Tamer. And if you send me into a storm I can count on you to get me to the other side. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 26: 2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Observation: The value this man would be getting far surpassed the value of all his possessions. He was willing to give up everything else in order to possess this one treasure. He found joy in the sacrifice.

Application: When I have something that I am not willing to give up for the Lord, it shows that I do not yet understand the great value of the Kingdom of God! To hold onto something of temporal value and let it keep me from something of eternal value is not wise by anyone’s standard. But I find joy when I release what I cannot keep in order to gain what I cannot loose!

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in such a way that others can see the joy I have in serving you. It is my pleasure to serve you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 25: 1Samuel 30, 31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

Observation: Amazing characteristics are found in Jesus. He walks in great power, but in gentleness. He does not carelessly break that which is weak. He does not snuff out the smallest remainder of a flame that has almost gone out.

Application: I have often benefitted from the gentleness of Jesus. His patience has been shown me many times. Instead of putting me down for becoming distant—instead of putting out the flame of love almost gone, He has breathed on me to revive the flame.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your gentleness and patience in dealing with me. You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Loved!

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

April 24: 1Samuel 28, 29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 109:26 LORD my god, help me. Save me because you love me.
27 LORD, let my enemies know that you yourself have saved me. You have done it with your own hand.

Observation: David was in trouble from his enemies. He wants to see God’s judgment on them. But David is probably aware that he is not guiltless. David cannot pray, “Save me because I have lived so perfectly.” He prays, “Save me because you love me.” And I hear David saying, “Do not let your salvation prove how wise and strong I am, but how wise and strong and loving you are!”

Application: How wonderful it is to know that God loves me! His greatest motivation is not how perfectly I perform, but that I am His child and He loves me.

Prayer: Lord, I am amazed at how much you love me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 23: 1Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 10:32 What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I will also say in front of my Father who is in heaven that I know him.
33 But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I will say in front of my Father who is in heaven that I don’t know him.

Observation: I see four parties mentioned in these verses. The first pair is someone talking and someone listening here on earth. The second pair is in heaven. What we say about Jesus to others here on earth makes a difference in what He says about us to His Father in heaven.

Application: In a conversation, who is doing the talking is important. But just as important can be who is doing the listening. If someone is talking about me, I cannot think of anyone I would rather have talking about me than Jesus. And if Jesus is talking about me, I cannot think of anyone I would rather have Him talking to than to our Heavenly Father! Of course, how He talks about me depends on how I talk about Him. Hmmm.

Prayer: Lord, I do not want your name to sound strange in my mouth. May those around me expect to hear me talk about you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

I wonder how many remember this little chorus…

Let’s talk about Jesus; the King of kings is He;
The Lord of lords, supreme; throughout eternity;
The Great I Am, the way; the truth the light the door.
Let’s talk about Jesus more and more.

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

April 22: 1Samuel 25, 26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he felt deep concern for them. They were beaten down and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is huge. But there are only a few workers.
38 So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest field.”
10:1 Jesus called for his 12 disciples to come to him. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every illness and sickness.

Observation: Jesus felt deep concern; he felt compassion for the people, so what was the plan? His plan was to send workers with His message and in His authority.

Application: God has sent me to the people around me because He loves them. When I talk to those around me, I am talking to people who were created in God’s image and are greatly loved by God.

Prayer: Lord, when I am bothered by what someone says or does, remind me of how much you love them and how special they are to you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 21: 1Samuel 24; Psalm 57, 58; 1Chronicles 8; Matthew 8

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 8:2 A man who had a skin disease came and got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, if you are willing to make me clean, you can do it.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing to do it,” he said. “Be clean!” Right away the man was healed of his skin disease.

Observation: The man had heard enough to know that Jesus could heal the skin disease. But would Jesus be willing to do so? Would Jesus be willing to do it for him? How Jesus’ words must have stirred his heart.

Application: I can see that many times I have had the same doubts. There was no doubt about Jesus being able to provide what I needed, but was He willing to do it for me? Satan was quick to remind me of my failures and how I had no right to expect God to help me. I needed Jesus to speak into my spirit, “I am willing!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many times and many ways you have helped me. Thank you for your willingness to help me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!