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

November 11: Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 10:15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

Observation: Paul has been speaking to them about life being a race that we should run in a way that we win. He has given them some examples from their history. He is about to address the subject of how to partake of communion in a proper way. In this verse we can hear him say, you have enough common sense that you can judge for yourselves if what I am saying is right. Not only did they have their own common sense, they had the Spirit of God living inside and they had the Old Testament scriptures. Paul had faith that they were capable of judging his words. In Acts 17:11 Paul commended people who checked out his teaching with the scriptures.

Application: I am to judge what I hear, even from preachers. Just because they say, “God told me…” does not mean that I should accept it as God’s word for me. I am to judge. I have my knowledge of God’s character; I have my knowledge of God’s Word; I have what I know God has spoken to me in the past; I have other Christians that God has placed around me. I give God time to mix these four ingredients with my faith that God is a speaker and can speak to me in a way that I can understand. With the Holy Spirit living inside me, I have confidence that I can recognize what is from God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, reading your word convinces me that you are a SPEAKER. You want me to hear and understand your words. I trust you to help me judge what I hear. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!