Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 12, 2022: SOAP #4482:  Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

OBSERVATION: It is abundantly clear that we cannot meet the righteous demands of holy living required by the law.  We are hopelessly under the curse of the law because we have sinned.  (We are hopeless in saving ourselves, or in depending on another son of Adam to do it for us because they have all sinned too!)

But the good news is that Someone, not a son of Adam, but the Son of Man, conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin has redeemed us! That redemption was purchased for us by the only One who was not under the curse.  He became a curse for us enabling us to receive the blessings of Abraham, God desiring that we all share in those blessings.

And without the redemption of Jesus, we could never share in the blessed ministry of the Holy Spirit!   What a loss that would be to us!

APPLICATION: I am amazed that God would love me enough to redeem me from the curse of my breaking the law.  He took the penalty and let me go free just as if I had never sinned!  I am amazed!

This life, which was started by faith, cannot be lived out in my own strength or wisdom.  When I try to live in my own strength, I soon find myself needing to repent, confess, and receive forgiveness.  Victory is mine when I continue to live by faith in relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may my appreciation of your amazing grace be easily seen by those around me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 11, 2022: SOAP #4481:  Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:7 [Paul writing] …they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter, and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

OBSERVATION: In the early church, there were two groups of believers.  There were those who had been born and raised in the Jewish religion.  They followed the religious pathway into which Jesus was born.  The second group had no Jewish background and did not even understand all the feasts, sacrifices, and temple requirements.  God loves both, so He sent James, Peter, and John to the Jews.  And He sent Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles. 

APPLICATION: The same is true with this SOAP ministry.  I listen carefully to what God would have me write.  Every day I send it out by email, and blog, and Facebook.  God has given different people different assignments.  Some translate and post them on the internet.  Some print them and distribute them in the marketplace.  Some print and distribute them to churches and Bible studies.  Some forward email to their family and friends.  There are different assignments in different countries and in different languages.  But in whatever language and in whatever country, the message is from the Lord. 

The God who was “…at work in the ministry of Peter…was also at work in my {Paul’s} ministry…” And the same God is “at work” in these SOAPs.  To me the proof is how God has provided/assigned His servants to spread them. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, anoint me each day with thoughts that are easy to understand, easy to translate, and easy to apply to each reader’s life. As each of us fulfill our assignment, help us to bring joy to the Father’s heart.  May Jesus be glorified! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 10, 2022: SOAP #4480:  Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIC) 1:22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.

OBSERVATION: Paul was writing to the church in Galatia and giving some of his own testimony.  What a change Jesus had brought in Paul’s life.  It was a dramatic change, one that could be easily seen by people around him.  Once they feared Paul as he set about persecuting the church; now they praised God because of him.

APPLICATION: There are two worthy goals for my life.  First: I want God to receive praise from me. There is much around me for which I can give God praise. 

And second: I want God to receive praise from others because of me.  May it be easy to see Jesus in my life, words, and deeds. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what a special joy it is to know that something I do causes others to praise you!  It makes my heart smile.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 9, 2022: SOAP #4479:  Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.  20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

OBSERVATION: The ministry of Jesus was a teaching ministry that was confirmed by the signs and wonders he performed.  People might deny the truth of His teaching, but they could not deny the miraculous healings. 

Here at the end of the book, Mark speaks of His (Jesus) leaving AND His continued ministry through the disciples.  The confirmation that the disciples were doing God’s work was “the signs that accompanied it.”  It was the same confirmation that accompanied Jesus’ ministry. 

APPLICATION: The same Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus at His water baptism was the same Holy Spirit that descended on the disciples un the upper room on the day of Pentecost.  The Spirit-anointed ministry of Jesus continued in the disciples.

That same Holy Spirit came to live within me when I accepted Jesus as my Savior.  It was the same Holy Spirit that overflowed my life when I was baptized in the Spirit.  At salvation, the Spirit comes to live within me.  I contain the Spirit.  He goes where I go, He is my ever-present Comforter.  When I was baptized, I entered the life of the Spirit.  He contained me!  I go where He leads, say what He gives me, and do what He directs. 

(Salvation is like a jar being filled with water.  The jar contains the water.  Baptism is like the jar being thrown into the ocean.  The water contains the jar!  The jar now moves at the influence of the currents in the water.)

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, thank you for revealing Jesus to me. I want you to flow through me as you did through Jesus on this earth.  As Jesus did, I want to live in the ever-flowing current of the ocean of your presence.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 8, 2022: SOAP #4478:  Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 15:40 Some women were watching [the crucifixion of Jesus] from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there…. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

OBSERVATION: The women had no responsibility in the events of the day.  They were not a necessary part of the narrative.  They had no power to intervene.  They could not change a thing.  It would have happened exactly the same if they were not there. 

But they were there!  It was a ministry of presence.  They stood available.  They were willing to be seen in support of Jesus.  They saw Him die.  They saw His body taken down from the cross.  They noted “where He was laid.”   

Reading a few verses into chapter 16 we find the reward for such a ministry.  They were the first to witness the empty tomb and receive a message for the disciples.  The ministry of presence brought Mary Magdalene to be the first to see the risen Jesus! 

APPLICATION: Sometimes all I have is the ministry of presence.   I do not know what to say; I do not know what to do; but my presence says I care.  My presence sometimes gives an open door to say a word of cheer, congratulations, encouragement, or comfort.  It may provide the opportunity to do a small deed of kindness.  My words and/or deeds may soon be forgotten, but they will remember my presence—they will remember that I was there. 

NOTE:  I think about this ministry in the ways Jesus ministers to me.  His presence means so much!   His presence says so much to me.  It says He is with me and He is aware of my struggle. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I cannot describe the value of your presence in my life.  Knowing that you will never leave me, nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6) causes courage to flood my heart and mind.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 7, 2022: SOAP #4477:  Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 5:8 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

OBSERVATION: Note the difference between verse nine and ten.  God brings punishment to three and four generations of those who hate Him but blesses a thousand generations for those who love him‼

In this, I see that God created man to demonstrate His great capacity to love!  God was not created for man.  Man was created for God.  Man was created to fulfill something lacking—an avenue to express the great love of God—the love shared within the Trinity.  God needed a living being whom He could love and who had the capacity to love Him in return.  It is proper that we love Him because He first loved us.  But He loved us with no guarantee that we would return His love.  He even increased the odds that man would reject His love by giving Satan freedom to tempt and deceive man. For those who receive and return His love, they will be eternal, living displays of the great love of God.    

APPLICATION: Nothing in creation will ever be able to question the Love of God.  Should the question of God’s love ever arise, all heaven can point to Leon! 

Jesus died on the cross as payment for my sins!  Jesus has often forgiven my sins.  I have often humbly approached the throne of mercy with the truth of 1John 1:9: “If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.” 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I prepare this SOAP, my heart is being stirred by your Holy Spirit.  So many times, you have graciously forgiven me and blessed me with your Holy Presence.  Thank you for forgiving me and showing your kindness to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 6, 2022: SOAP #4476:  Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no-one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains. 9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

OBSERVATION: The gospel is the good news about Jesus paying for our sins with His death on the cross.  That payment sets us free from paying for our own sins by spending eternity in hell.  That payment secures for us an entrance into spending eternity in heaven. 

The requirement is that every nation must hear the good news.   It is the fulfillment of the Great Commission Jesus gave His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20]

APPLICATION: The events this week as Russia invades Ukraine are strong indications that we are approaching the end.  I am privileged to be a part of the end time requirement to “preach the gospel to all nations.”   The Holy Spirit’s anointing has been given to enable me/us to be a part of this important task.  (Acts 1:8)   

I must be aware of the people God brings my way.  And I must be ready to share the gospel with them. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I need your anointing to empower me to witness to my generation—to my family, my neighbors, my friends, and others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 5, 2022: SOAP #4475:  Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

  (reworked SOAP from 2011)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “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.’

OBSERVATION: Here is a question that had probably been asked since just after the commandments were given to Moses.  Surely this “teacher of the Law” had heard this question debated many times.  Which of the Ten Commandments is most important?  If I can only keep one, which one should it be?  Which one should I be most careful not to break?

The difference is that now it is being asked of One Who could give an authoritative answer!   The answers received from others could be considered and debated, but the answer received from Jesus must be accepted and applied

APPLICATION: Since I claim to be a Christian—a follower of Jesus, the answer Jesus gave should be the bottom line for my life.    Not only should I set myself to do nothing that would make God doubt my love for Him, but I should also set myself to know Him better so that I may better know how to love Him—with the passion of my heart, with the choices of my will, with the intelligence of my mind, and with the actions of my strength. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may my love for you be well known in heaven and here on earth.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 4, 2022: SOAP #4474:  Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed has withered!”
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

OBSERVATION: Faith is a mental conviction strong enough to affect my actions.  As I see it, faith does not release my power and ability; it releases the power and ability of the one in whom I place my faith.  Acting in faith is a confession of my weaknesses and dependence on the one in whom I have faith.

When I place my faith in a bank, if my faith is strong enough, I will place my money in that bank.  By my faith, I release that bank’s protection and its promises of interest. 

Faith is only as strong as the foundation on which it rests.  The greatest faith has the greatest foundation.  Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” 

APPLICATION: To have faith in God, I need to know what He is like.  Is He trustworthy?  What pleases Him?  And of course, does He speak?  What has He said? 

For example, I know what God has said about giving.  My faith in God makes me a giver.  My giving releases God to fulfill His word of blessing, of reward, of provision, etc. to me.  He does more than I could ever do.  God’s actions in response to my giving causes my faith to grow. 

I also know what God has said about forgiving…about relationships…about fellowship…about…  When my faith in God causes me to obey His word, I release His wisdom and power on my behalf. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, in great wisdom, you gave us the Bible so we would know who you are, how I can trust you, and what you have said.  Thank you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 3, 2022: SOAP #4473:  Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

OBSERVATION: Money is such an important part of life, so, as we would expect, the Bible has much to say about money. Although “money” is not mentioned specifically in the above passage, one could not live out these truths without applying it to money. 

First we see that following Jesus requires sacrifice.  We also see that our sacrifice does not go unnoticed in heaven.  God takes the responsibility to reward us.  When I expect men to bring my reward, I get what men can give.  But when I expect God to give the reward…God is much more generous than men…God has many more ways to reward than men…and God has more ways to get His reward to us.  God’s rewards and blessings are not trouble free.  We live in a fallen world.  The Bible also has much to say about persecutions.  We see that God’s rewards extend into eternity! 

APPLICATION:  We have the joy of giving and receiving here in this life.  In addition, we will have rewards in eternity!   Is it worth-while to follow Jesus?  Is it worth the sacrifice?  It definitely is!!!  

PRAYER:  Lord, in comparison to you, any sacrifice I am required to make seems so small. May you be blessed by my living and my giving. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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