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

December 31: Revelation 19-22

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments.

Observation: Being true and just are great reasons to give honor to a king, governor, and/or ruler. God’s judgments are true; they are not phony, but real and genuine. They are not done for show. His judgments are just. They are the proper application of a holy law. They are in keeping with the nature and purpose of the law. The wording of the law is not twisted to make it mean something that was not intended.

Application: What a great reason I have to worship Jesus; He is true and just. What a great reason it is for me to surrender total control of my life to Him! What a great reason I have to look forward to His government taking control of this earth.

Prayer: As the author of Revelation closes out the book (Revelation 22:20), I also pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 30: Revelation 15-18

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 16:9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
16:10 …People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
16:21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on the people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Observation: Today, it seems people just do not want to acknowledge there is a God, or want to think that if he does exist, he is not interested in this earth. In Revelation chapter 16, people are forced to acknowledge the existence of God, and that he is very involved in the earth. They acknowledge Him, but they curse Him. Sin has warped their thinking!

Application: How foolish to blame God for reaping what I sow. My heart must be tender to God and I need to be quick to repent.

Prayer: Holy Father, the day of Your judgment on sin is coming, even sooner than we like to think. May I stand before you with my sins forgiven, covered by the blood Your Son shed for me on the cross Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 29: Revelation 10-14

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
11 Then I saw another beast…12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast…15 It was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

Observation: As I continue reading through the book of Revelation, I am again drawn to the truth that this is a book of worship. The issue: will the world worship the Lamb who created the heavens and the earth and who shed his blood in payment for man’s sins? Or will they worship the beast who is out to destroy God’s creation.

Today I noticed a major difference: those who worship the Lamb do so because He is worthy. Note how their songs emphasize that He is worthy. But those who worship the beast do so because they are forced to do so or they will be killed if they do not worship.

Application: I worship The One who is obviously worthy of worship! He does not have to twist my arm to make me worship. I honor Him by worshipping Him willingly.

Prayer: Jesus, You are the Lamb, and you are worthy of my worship. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 28: Revelation 5-9

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You [the Lamb] are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and people and nation.

Observation: We have many ways to classify people. We identify them from their language or their nationality. We identify people by color or height. We identify them by skills. But in the end, everyone will be identified by whom they worship. Here in chapter 5 we see people who worship the Lamb. Later in chapter 14 we see others worshipping the beast.

Application: Worship is a major theme in the book of Revelation. In chapter 4 of John (who also wrote Revelation) we are told that God is seeking true worshippers, ones who worship in spirit and truth. If worship is a priority to God, it must be a priority to me also!

Prayer: Jesus, what a privilege to worship you. It is the right thing for me to do. I do not just want to be one who worships, but a worshipper. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 27: Revelation 1-4

Scripture: Revelation (KJV) 2:2 I know your works,…

Observation: To each of the seven churches in chapters two and three, the Lord says, “I know your works…”

Application: God is not looking into my works to see how I am doing. He knows. God will not have to ask questions to determine the value of what I am doing. He knows. He who knows the thoughts and intentions of my heart already knows the motives behind my works. He knows my works.

Prayer: Jesus, you know my heart. You know when I do things because I want other people to like me and when I do those same things simply because I love you. May my works bring joy to your heart and also be a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 26: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 117:1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Observation: Why should all nations praise Him; why should all people speak of His greatness? -because His love is expressed toward every one of them! No one is left out of His expression of love. No one is left out of giving Him praise. Not only is His love expressed toward all of us—it is GREAT toward us!

Application: How long should we praise the LORD? A good answer would be from verse two above—as long as His faithfulness endures! His faithfulness endures through all my good times and bad times. It continues even when I am found to be faithless. His faithfulness continues forever! My praise should also continue forever! I remember standing with my arms raised and singing with all my heart: “Jesus, I’ll praise you forever. Jesus I’ll praise you forever. No matter what the cost may be; I’ll praise you Lord, eternally! My mind’s made up; I’ll praise you forever.” (Unknown)

Prayer: Jesus, forever You are worthy of my praise. Forever surely includes today! So today is a day of praise! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Merry Christmas, my SOAP friends. I trust you are having a wonderful Christmas season, celebrating God’s love packaged in Jesus! Should you know of someone who would like to be added to the SOAP email mail list, send me their address. And if you are receiving too many email and would like your name to be removed, just let me know. Have a great Christmas and New Year’s season. May we enter 2015 with a fresh awareness of His Presence! Leon J

Christmas: Celebrating His Love!

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

December 25: 1John 1-5

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Observation: How did God prove that He loved us? He sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. How did God send His Son? He was conceived in the womb of a virgin and laid in a manger when born. How did the Son become the atoning sacrifice for our sins? Though sinless, He was crucified on a cruel Roman cross. How do we know His death is acceptable as the payment for sins? On the third day, He rose from the grave! The payment was complete! How does His death make a difference in my life? When I believe in my heart that His death was intended to be for my sins, and I ask His forgiveness; when I give Him my old life and receive His new life—oh, what a change in my life!!!

Application: Now, He lives in me. I live my life through doing, as best I know, what I believe He would be doing. How do I prove my love for Him? I do that by loving the people around me.

Prayer: Happy Birthday, Jesus! May the Father enjoy spending this special day with the people who honor your Name! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 24: John 19-21

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
John (NIV) 19:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Observation: Today is Christmas Eve, but my assigned Bible reading is about the death and resurrection of Jesus. I remembered that the magi did not come to Jerusalem looking to see IF a king had been born, but wanting to see the king who had been born. Thirty-three years later Pilate refused the request of the Jewish leaders to change his note to read, “this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” The King of the Jews was born in a manger and buried in a borrowed tomb, but He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and will return not to a manger, nor a tomb, but to the throne—to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords!

Application: At Christmas it is customary to celebrate Jesus as a baby, but it is important for me to remember more than His birth. His amazing birth was the beginning of a sinless life of loving people. His death on the cross provided me the greatest gift I have ever been given—true forgiveness and eternal life! His resurrection is the proof that His death was sufficient. His soon return as the King of kings and Lord of lords gives me hope.

Prayer: Happy Birthday, Jesus. May the gift of my life bring you joy. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 23: John 15-18

Scripture: John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Observation: Here is one of the most important keys to living the Christian live. This verse gives such a simple explanation of how we are to live and such a powerful promise. The explanation is that we must maintain a living relationship with our Lord. We are to walk in an awareness of His Presence. But what a powerful promise: “…I also remain in you!”

Application: When I am alone, I am not alone. When I am driving the car by myself, I am not alone. If the bus is full of children, He is with me. When the bus is empty, He is still with me. When I am meeting with a friend, He is a part of that meeting also. When I am in a crowd, He is with me. In the most stressful part of my day, He is with me. In the most restful part of my day, He is with me.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that my resolve to remain in you is growing. But I am also so thankful that your resolve to remain in me far surpasses my resolve. I depend on you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 22: John 12-14

Scripture: John (NIV) 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. … 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

Observation: Here are some good thoughts about reaching out to our neighbors. Invite them into our homes for a celebration, maybe a birthday party, or to watch a special sporting event. Have a good time of fellowship around a meal. For evangelism be sure to invite some who are not believers. Make honoring Jesus an important part of the conversation. For discipleship, answer their questions.

Application: My home should be a home base for evangelism.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me, and use my home for your glory! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!