Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 22, 2022: SOAP #4553: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law?  No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

OBSERVATION: Paul was writing to Jews who boasted in how well they kept the law.  It was the Law given by Moses, including the Ten Commandments, and many ceremonial laws about worship, clothing, eating and other aspects of daily life.  As Jesus proved, even the religious leaders could not keep all the commands of the law.  They had no basis for boasting. 

But the main reason for excluding boasting is because we cannot be justified by anything we do, only by something someone did for us!   That someone is Jesus!  What He did was to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins!  We receive the benefit of His sacrifice only by faith!   We cannot boast about how hard we worked to earn it.  We cannot boast about how much we deserve it.  Only with faith in God’s love for us and in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin can we boast. 

APPLICATION:  Only based on Jesus’ sacrifice for me do I stand justified before the Lord.  The Holy God made a way for me to be “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned.  Since God has that much invested in me living a holy life, I should be concerned too.  I should be concerned when I give into temptation to sin.  I must be quick to repent and ask forgiveness.  The Holy Spirit will help me grow in resisting temptation. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are so interested in me being holy that you sent Jesus to die in my place. Holy Spirit continue to work in my life, helping me resist temptation and overcome the tendencies to do things that do not honor the Father. Forgive me for acting like sin is not a big thing and does not matter.  It matters to you and should matter to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 21, 2022: SOAP #4552: 1Kings 7; 2Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.

OBSERVATION: How clearly Paul, under the anointing and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives God’s judgment on circumcision.  Outward circumcision does not make one Jewish!  The proof of circumcision is not proof of Jewish-ness.

It is not the flesh that needs to be circumcised, but the heart.  Cutting the flesh does not control the heart but cutting away the pride and selfishness of the heart controls the flesh!  When the “heart” work is done, it is not visible to men!  But it is visible to God.  Our praise and acceptance come from Him! 

How we enjoy the praise of men.  It is encouraging to know that others appreciate what we do.  It lifts us, putting courage in our hearts to continue.  When little children perform something that brings a smile to their parents, they often repeat it again and again.  The pleasure and praise of their parents is reason enough for the child to repeat it.

APPLICATION: How much more should I value the praise of my Heavenly Father!  Knowing that I have pleased Him and brought a smile to His face, puts courage in my hearts to do it again!  When I receive praise from Him, I have faith that He will also come to my aid.  I am doing that which pleases Him.  Jesus mentioned that His Father was pleased with Him and that He only did that which pleased His Father. (Luke 9:35; John 5:30)

PRAYER:  Lord, to please you, that is my goal!  Your praise is much more important to me than the praise of people. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 20, 2022: SOAP #4551: 1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures

OBSERVATION: Paul begins his letter to the Romans simply with his name.  He gives his credentials in the next few phrases, but they are not attached directly to his name.  Many, out of respect, refer to him as the “Apostle Paul,” but he merely introduces himself as “Paul.” What does Paul list first, as he identifies himself further?  Not the high position of one of the key leaders of the church, nor as a writer of Holy Scripture.  His first identification is as a servant.

Yes, Paul identifies himself as an apostle, but that was not a title he took on himself.  He was “called to be an apostle.”  Is fulfilling the ministry of an apostle, Paul was being a servant.  He was doing the bidding of his Lord. 

APPLICATION:   In identifying himself as a servant, Paul identifies himself with the One he serves; Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.  And that is how I must see myself.  I am a servant of Jesus Christ.  I am a better husband, a better dad, a better pastor, a better SOAP writer, a better bus driver, etc. when I first see myself as a servant of Jesus.

PRAYER:  Jesus, I am your servant.  In success or failure, I am your servant.  Doing what appears important, or doing what seems unimportant, I remain your servant.  Pleasing you is the priority of my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 19, 2022: SOAP #4550: 1Kings 4, 5; 2Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2Thessalonians 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

OBSERVATION: In 2020 I used this verse to give a testimony about the spread of SOAPs in Asia.  Today I believe the Lord would have me give a testimony of how the SOAP ministry is spreading in Africa. 

Pastor Andrew Borbor first read the SOAPs on Facebook.  After a short while, he began using them for devotions with his wife, and then took them to his church.  The Lord gave him a strong desire to see them spread across Sierra Leone and all of West Africa.  He took them to the churches in Freetown who received them joyfully.  Soon they were willing to give offerings to provide paper and ink.  Soon he was printing 7-8000 copies and a motorbike was purchased to help deliver the SOAPs.  Pastor Andrew has been invited to conferences to explain how the SOAP ministry can be a blessing to the pastors and churches.  (We have experienced so many miracles in Freetown!!! –printers and laptops, word of mouth, being at the right place at the right time…)

The SOAPs are now downloaded and printed in each of the fourteen West African countries.  In Kenya.  Pastor Charles Owino has used them to start discipleship schools along a circuit that he takes frequently. 

APPLICATION:  There are many testimonies of God’s blessings on the SOAPs and SOAP ministry. It is God’s ministry, and He takes care of it.  One aspect of what God is doing that really blesses me:  most of the finances comes from the people being blessed by the SOAPs.  As the Lord enables me, I am blessed to be a part of helping with initial costs.  When I started writing SOAPs, the Lord assigned me to drive a school bus.  That ministry has been a blessing to the SOAPs.  Now, most of the driving is over for the summer.  But God will faithfully provide as needed through other sources.    

PRAYER:  Lord, use the SOAPs to build faith in Asian and African countries.  You provided for six million Israelites living in the wilderness for 40 years, you can surely meet our needs!  Prove yourself the Abundant Provider for your people in Asia and Africa.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 18, 2022: SOAP #4549: 1Kings 3; 2Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

OBSERVATION: The Bible does not give us every detail of the future, but it gives us enough information to trust that God has everything under control.  In this verse I see three very important issues regarding evil and the future.

First:  Evil is not the final authority.  Evil cannot advance further than allowed.  There is a limit.  There are boundaries.  Job may have thought differently while going through his time of trouble, but God allowed Satan only so much freedom.

Second:  I see that evil will be revealed, which from the context seems to imply that the restraints will be removed.  The man of lawlessness will come into a place of recognition and increased but limited authority.  

Third: I see that timing is of great importance. There will clearly be a great victory over Satan, the false prophet, and the beast! Of that, the Bible is clear.

In the release of the evil, Jesus will be glorified as His great power will be seen over a great enemy. Whoever can hold back evil, must have greater power than evil!  Whoever “overthrows” evil definitely has greater power than evil! 

APPLICATION: This verse gives me hope that evil can be restrained.  Through prayer, the sword of the Spirit and in the power of the Holy Spirit, evil can be resisted.

In the release of the evil, mankind will clearly be given the choice of obeying or rejecting evil.  They will no longer be tricked into obeying evil as it will be clear to all for he will be revealed.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, keep me aware of what is happening in the world and in our country.  Help me to recognize evil, in me, in my country, and in the world.  Use me to resist evil.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 17, 2022: SOAP #4548: 1Kings 2: 1Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 1:12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION: For me, the portion of verse 12 that I think of most often is that “Jesus may be glorified in you (me).”   It is my desire to make Jesus look good.  I desire to have people see how wonderful He is.  I want Him to be honored in and through my life.  I want to make Him smile.  I want Him to be glad He lives in me.  

However, Paul added another small phrase: “and you in him.”  Paul was praying that Jesus would be glorified in my life, AND that I would be glorified in Him!  God wants me to be to be glad my life is all wrapped up in Jesus.  He wants to make me look good.  He wants people to see excellence in me.  

APPLICATION: I like it when people admire Jesus because of something I have said or done. I like it when God is glorified in me. 

God likes it when people see and enjoy me because of something He does or directs me to do. He likes it when I am glorified in Him.   

PRAYER:  Lord, be glorified in my life.  And thank you for making me more likeable to others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 16, 2022: SOAP #4547: 1Kings 1: 1Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1Thessalonians 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

OBSERVATION: One of the things Paul writes as he closes this letter is to pray continually.  If we really believe that God is always with us, then we should talk with him continually.  Communication is the basis of relationship.

When someone comes to visit, or when someone rides in the car with us, we make it a point to carry on a conversation with them.  It would be impolite to ignore them and speaking with them is the best way to acknowledge their presence. 

APPLICATION:  And so, it is with the Lord; praying, is the best way to acknowledge His Presence.  It would be impolite to ignore His presence!  He has promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5)   I can always talk with Him.  How foolish of me to ignore my Friend who loves me and has all wisdom.  He can show me the best path to take. 

I enjoy the time each evening when we (Jesus and I) prepare the SOAP devotion for the next day. We discuss the Bible.  He often shows me things I have never seen.  Sometimes He has me reconsider something He has told me before.  He is telling me that I need to pay more attention to something in my life.  Or, He is telling me I need to repent for something that does not please Him. 

Another special time is when the school bus is empty, and I can talk to Jesus and listen for Him to talk to me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it would not be much of a relationship if we could not talk to each other.  Part of prayer is me talking to you, but a more important part is when you talk to me.  The better I can hear you talk to me, the closer we will be.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 15, 2022: SOAP #4546: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

OBSERVATION: The reason for such admonition and warning is found in God.  God our Creator has the right to set such boundaries.  He has the right to determine what is appropriate and what is inappropriate.  He created us with a purpose in mind.  He created us to excel in certain areas, and for us to excel in those areas, we have limitations.  Doing some things will harm us, and harm our potential.  God has placed those things off limits for our own good. He calls them sin.  They are against His nature.  When we were born, we were created in His image. When we were born again, His life moved into our life and began to develop His nature in us. 

APPLICATION: God created me to live a holy life for that is the only way I can fulfill His purpose. If I am going to live a holy life in a world full of temptation, God knew I would need some help.

The same God who sent His Son to die on the cross as payment for my sins, is the same God who sends His Holy Spirit to teach me and empower me to live a holy life. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, oh how I need you.  I need you to help me overcome temptation and live a life that glorifies the Father. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 14, 2022: SOAP #4545: 1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

Praying for Loved Ones

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

OBSERVATION: It is interesting to hear Paul pray for these friends he loves so dearly.  He prays for an opportunity to visit them—to have the opportunity to help them grow in their faith.  He prays for their relationships with other believers.  He prays that the Lord will increase their measure of love.   He prays for them to have holy hearts when they stand in the presence of God. 

He DOES NOT PRAY for their jobs.  He does not pray for them to be financially secure, or for them to be out of debt.  He does not pray for them to have good health.  He does not pray for peaceful relationships with their neighbors.  He does not pray for their lives to be trouble free.

APPLICATION:  The things I often pray for are important, at least to me.  But the things Paul prayed for are much more important, especially to the Lord!  I need to use Paul as my example when I pray for my family and friends. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts as I pray.  Help my prayers to have effect from eternities viewpoint.  Help me to pray prayers that the Heavenly Father would love to answer.  Amen

Pastor Leon

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 13, 2022: SOAP #4544: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians 2:18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.

OBSERVATION: Satan, who was actively involved in the garden tempting Eve, was actively involved in keeping Paul from another visit to Thessalonica. However, although Paul could not visit them in person, he did write this letter. And though we would have had very little information about what he would have said during a visit, we do have his very thoughts preserved in this letter.  Wow!  This is just another example that what the Devil meant for evil, God can use for eternal good!  The disrupted visit turned into a letter preserved in the Holy Bible! 

APPLICATION: Satan is a created being and does not have the God-characteristics of omnipotence, omniscience, or omnipresence.  He is not all-powerful, all-knowing, and cannot be everywhere present at the same time.  However, he does have many demons who carry out his bidding and attack Christians so sometimes we think that he is everywhere. But he is not!  He does not have the final say!

Many times I have had what Satan meant for evil turned into good by God’s overriding power and authority!  What a great privilege to belong to Jesus.    

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, I know that I can trust you.  You are trustworthy.   You use your power and authority to turn what is meant for evil to good!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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