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

January 31: Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Observation: In these verses, God is not claiming the Israelites as His children, but is claiming to be their God! In this I see that God in his great love is not emphasizing that the Israelites identify with Him, but that He identifies with them!!!
When our enemy is attacking, we may call out, “We are children of God.” If the enemy does not listen to us, the Creator speaks up, “Back off, I am their God and you do not want to mess with me!”

Application: Like an earthly parent gets down on the floor to play with their child on the child’s level, my Heavenly Father comes down to my level to identify with me. Yes, I identify with Him as His child, but He willingly identifies with me as my God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your love for me amazes me! To think that the Creator God is willing to be known as Leon’s God! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 30: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them. … 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Observation: 1. Growth brought a problem. It was a relationship problem. The leaders all spoke Hebrew. Many of the new believers spoke Greek. They had been born outside of Israel and spoke Greek, but had moved back to the Jerusalem area.
2. The problem was met with organization. The Spirit-led leaders had the congregation choose men known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. The seven chosen all had Greek names. They would be the ones most aware of the problem. They had spiritual and natural qualifications.
3. Organization did not hinder growth, but brought more growth! The organization freed the leaders to continue with their priorities and raised up other leaders to take the additional responsibilities.

Application: Many problems I face in my life and ministry have to do with organization. When my life, and especially my time is not organized properly, it hinders my priorities.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need your wisdom and guidance to organize the use of my talents, resources, and time to best serve the priorities you have given me. I know I can depend on your help. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 29: Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

Observation: Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property and gave an offering to the church, pretending that they were giving the complete price of the sale. But they had agreed to keep back a part of the money for themselves. Earlier Jesus had told them, that what people did to the least of his disciples, they did it unto him. He would take it personal. In this passage, indeed He did! They did not just lie to man, but to God!

Application: There are several applications of this truth. When I am under attack, I know that Jesus takes it personal. And when I am blest by someone, I know that Jesus takes that personal too. And the same truth that applies to what I receive, also applies to what I give. If I attack my brother and sister, Jesus takes it personal. If I bless a brother or sister, Jesus takes it personal.

Prayer: Lord, these truths make me want to be very careful what I do or say to your children. I want to be an encourager and give a blessing. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 28: Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture: THE QUESTION: Acts (NIV) 4:7 They [the elders and teachers in Jerusalem] had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
THE ANSWER: Acts (NIV) 4:10 “then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”

Observation: The man was well known. He had set crippled and begging at the temple gate for years. Yet, now, this very man was walking and leaping and praising God for his healing! It was obvious to all the people that something had happened that could not be explained. Peter and John were continuing the ministry of Jesus!

Application: As a follower of Jesus in whom the Spirit of Jesus dwells, I should not be surprised when God does something through me that has no earthly explanation! It will be something that happens as I step out in faith. It will be something through which God expresses his love and concern for others. It will be something for which only God can receive the glory.

Prayer: Jesus, I believe you are ready to use your people in extraordinary ways. Our part will be small and seem insignificant, but it will release you to do what only you can do. To you be all the glory! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 27: Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 3:3 When he [the crippled man] saw Peter and John…he asked for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him as did John. The Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 The Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk.

Observation: Money is an important part of ministry, but lack of money is never a reason to stop or delay ministering. The ministry that Jesus left the church was based on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than the power of money.

Application: I believe I will give an account to the Lord of how I use the money He provides or enables me to earn, but how much more will I be held accountable for the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit he has given me!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, forgive me for the times I have hindered the flow of your ministry through me. I want to be a willing and useful vessel through which you can flow. Use me today however you deem best. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 26: Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 16:35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
Acts (NIV) 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer…46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Observation: God has designed that we have a daily relationship with Him. As the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they depended on God for their daily food. God was faithful to provide a day’s measure of food each day for six week days and two measures on the sixth day (none on the seventh.) And when the church was born on the day of Pentecost it became their practice to join daily for teaching and fellowship. (Copies of the scriptures were not available in their homes.)

Application: How wise that God has provided for my daily need. I have many copies of God’s Word in book form, on audio tape, and via the internet. How foolish it would be to leave God’s Word unopened.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your daily provision. You knew that we would need our personal copies of your Word for our daily provision. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 25: Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 1:7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

Observation: Jesus had risen from the dead and was now preparing to leave the disciples and return to His Father. They had been asking if this was the time to restore the kingdom to Israel. In the verse above He tells them that the Father has set the times and seasons. Then He tells them to expect a new empowering relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Application: It is quite logical to think that the One who set the distance between the earth and the sun and the moon, the One who set the boundaries of the oceans, would have some control over the activities of created life that He placed here. The One who set the time of days, weeks, months, and years surely has something to say about times and dates of key world events. The day of our Lord’s return is not determined by religious leaders, dictators, or governments. That date is set by Father God! And that date seems to be fast approaching!

Prayer: Lord, how foolish it is for us to think that things will continue as they have been. We see major changes in the world as preparations are made for your return. Help us to move forward in faith and not in fear. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 24: Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 9:20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 21 But those who ignored the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the field. … 23 …The LORD sent thunder and hail… 24 …it was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation… 26 The only place it did not hail was in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.

Observation: Pharaoh’s heart would soften during the plague, but when things returned to normal, it would harden again. Six plagues had come on the Egyptians and some of the Egyptians were beginning to believe in Moses’s God. Now Moses told them to bring in their livestock and servants to a place of protection because God was sending hail such as Egypt had never experienced. Some of them did!

Application: I believe God’s judgment is coming to the United States of America. As a nation we have turned away from God and made for ourselves gods of economics, government, science, medicine, education, entertainment, etc. God will judge these gods just as He judged the gods of Egypt. But I believe God will have His ways of protecting those who believe His word. To believe His Word, we must recognize His Word and to recognize His Word, we must come to know Him. It is not enough to know about Him, we must know him. (If someone reading this desires to know God, send me an email and I will gladly explain it further: elhiebert.)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is your holy nature to judge sin. Yet your loving nature provided a way for you to bear that judgment. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my place and dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you for accepting my invitation to live in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 23: Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 7:3 “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. They I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

Observation: Bringing Israel out of bondage and into the land He had promised them was the obvious plan of God. But He was interested in the Egyptians also. The Egyptians were not unimportant to God! He wanted them to see the powerlessness of their gods and come to know Him, the One and Only True God. Later it would be written: “For God so loved the world…!” (John 3:16)

Application: Sometimes what God does in my life is for the benefit of others. He loves them too. He wants them to see Him working in my life. His plan is bigger than what is happening in me. Those around me are important to Him; they should be important to me too!

Prayer: LORD, you have done so much for me! Use me so that others can see your holiness and love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 22: Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that thought the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God call to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Observation: Moses was not in a “spiritual” place or doing some “spiritual” thing. He was tending sheep on the back side of the dessert. In the heat of the dessert, a burning bush may not have been too strange, but something made this one different. It did not burn up. It caught Moses’ attention. It was when God saw that Moses took extra time to check it out that he spoke to Moses.

Application: I hear God saying that I need to be careful not to overlook things that are happening around me. When I am inclined to give something a second look, or to go closer to check it out, God may be preparing to speak to me. Hearing a painful or unusual comment may open the door for ministering the love of Jesus. Encountering the unusual in my daily life can be an opportunity to hear God speak to me or through me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, remind me not hurry past the unusual. I want to be open to hear you speaking to me in the normal routines of my daily life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!