Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 27, 2022: SOAP #4528:  2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 14:15 …Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

OBSERVATION: The bread was now in the hands of Jesus.  He gave thanks and broke the loaves into edible pieces.  Now a link was needed—a way to get the bread and fish from the hands of Jesus to the hands of hungry people.  Five thousand (plus) people seated on the ground would take up a large space.  The ones sitting along the outer edge of the crowd were just as hungry as those seated near Jesus.  There needed to be a way to get the broken pieces of food to everyone.  Praise the Lord, there was a way!  Jesus “gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

APPLICATION: As the disciples were the link through which Jesus fed five thousand, I am (we are) the link Jesus wants to use to reach those seated in my (our) area.  I (we) must take the good news of Jesus to those with whom I (we) interact. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make each one who reads this SOAP a link to reach someone who lives in their area. May the peace and joy of Jesus be seen in our lives and draw people our loving Savior. Amen

Pastor Leon
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