Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 12, 2022: SOAP #4543:  2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

OBSERVATION: Those in Thessalonica imitated Paul and what they knew about the Lord Jesus.  Their lives became examples for believers in Macedonia and Achaia.  Their lives were an original audio-visual presentation of the gospel.  People watching their “movie” could hear a witness of Jesus.  And they could see how lives were changed by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord.

They did such a good job of letting Jesus shine through them that people everywhere were talking about them! 

APPLICATION: When people talk about me, is Jesus the main part of their conversation?  Jesus is the reason for my life and should be a major part of any conversation about me.  When people watch the “movie” of my lives, can they hear the truth of Jesus from my words?  Can they experience the love of Jesus flowing through me?  Can they sense the presence of the Holy Spirit moving in my life?

PRAYER:  Jesus, live in and through me.  May people hear and see what life is like with you being Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 11, 2022: SOAP #4542:  2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

OBSERVATION: These are the last verses in the book of Matthew.  Jesus was preparing to leave.  He told them He had all authority and commanded them to “go and make disciples of all nations…”  Then He DID NOT say, “I shall return,” or, “I’ll be back,” or, “Let’s meet back here again later.”  He DID say, “I am WITH YOU always…” “…to the very end of the age.”

APPLICATION: The One who walked on earth as a man until the day He ascended into heaven is with me through the presence of The Holy Spirit.  24 hours a day, wherever I am, He is with me.  He is my wisdom and my strength.  Like the Psalmist I can say, “I will fear no evil for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

This is not me promising to be with him, but Him promising to be with me!  It is not me holding on to Him, but Him holding on to me!  The strength to secure this bond is not in my hand, but in HIS!  I might lose my grip, but I need never fear that He will lose His grip on me!

PRAYER: Lord, I know I have the responsibility to “stick” with you but in these verses, I hear you promise to “stick” with me. (Proverbs 18:24) Thank you, thank you, thank you! Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 10, 2022: SOAP #4541:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”  66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

OBSERVATION: If only the disciples had remembered what Jesus had said!  They could have set up a watch at the tomb.  They could have been counting off the days until Jesus returned.  They did not remember, so they hid away.

But someone remembered!  The chief priests and the Pharisees remembered!  Something rang true about Jesus’ words.  Perhaps the disciples would break into the tomb and steal the body.  So, Pilate made sure no one would break in, but he could not stop Jesus from breaking out!  The heavy stone, the Roman seal, the Roman guard, and death itself could not keep Jesus from breaking out of that tomb.

APPLICATION: The post-resurrection Jesus is living in me!  There is no power in the world or universe strong enough to box Him in.  Satan may try to box me in and put me in a grave.  He may use the latest technology.  He may do his best.  People may do their best.  But people, religious leaders, governmental leaders and Satan himself have already met their match at the empty tomb!   Satan has no power to entomb me in fear or doubt, or despair, or discouragement, or unhappiness.  I need but remind him.  The resurrected life of Christ within me can never be entombed again!

PRAYER:  Lord, I never want to forget your power to break out of that tomb.  I never want to forget that same power is at work in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 9, 2022: SOAP #4540:  2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 26:7 …a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.  8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

OBSERVATION: In pouring out the very expensive perfume, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, expressed the great value Jesus had in her heart. Later in the same chapter (verse 15) Jesus was valued at 30 silver coins by both Judas and the chief priests.  In the next chapter (27:3), Judas realized that Jesus was worth much more than the 30 silver coins he had received.  He tried to renegotiate, to return the coins, but it was too late.

But the greatest value expressed in this chapter is not the value of the alabaster box, nor the value of the betrayal, but the value God, the Father, placed on sinners.  He valued them enough to give His Son!!  Mary willingly gave her expensive perfume; Judas willingly gave back the 30 silver coins; Jesus willingly gave His life; but “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

APPLICATION: That is how much God values me!  Jesus gave His life!  I am ashamed to think of the times when I have valued Him so little in comparison.  Like Judas, I need to learn that Jesus can be sold for 30 silver coins, but He cannot be bought for the same price.  If I want Jesus in my heart, it costs me all I have — He becomes my Lord!  I surrender all; He is worth that and more!

PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for not appreciating Your true value!  May it be obvious to those around me that nothing in my life is more valuable than You!  I want my words and actions to express Your great value.  You are my Lord.  Thank you for forgiving my sins.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 8, 2022: SOAP #4539:  2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

OBSERVATION: God’s plan is not something that He just thought of.  His plan was in place at the creation of the world.  (Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 13:8)   When man sinned, it did not take God by surprise.  He already had a plan.  His plan would reveal to heavenly authorities God’s great ability to love.  And His love would be a holy love.  In loving us, the full price for sin would be paid.  

The plan of God is prepared.  It was intentionally set in place.  It was thoughtfully planned.  God has not waited for the last minute to decide what reward should be given to those who gave food and drink and clothing to those in need.  He considers it as though they had given it to Him. 

APPLICATION: When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in me, He replaces my stinginess with His generosity.  He is making me like Jesus.  As His child, God’s character begins to show in me.  With His character in me, I will fit in to the place He has prepared for me.  Not only has He prepared a place for me; He is preparing me for that place! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, continue working in me.  Prepare me to be a good and profitable citizen in the Kingdom you have prepared for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 7, 2022: SOAP #4538:  2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

OBSERVATION: Everything I know about Jesus tells me that He is trustworthy. He said that His words would not only outlast the heavens and the earth; His words will never pass away!

APPLICATION: This week, the reality of this verse was emphatically brought to me.  Our city was hit by a tornado!  Much work has been done to clean up the debris, but much more will be needed.  On one side of the street there are houses still standing, hardly any damage.  On the other side of the street, or just next door, there is a pile of wood with pieces of appliances and furniture.  The house has been almost totally wiped off its foundation.  The foundation looks as though it is the same as the house still standing.  Obviously, the foundation did not save the house. 

If I want to build my life on something permanent, there is nothing more stable than God’s Word! People want a good foundation on which to build their house but the best foundations available could not save the house from a tornado and they will only last as long as the earth lasts. To build a life, one needs a better foundation — one that is permanent and that will last long into eternity!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show me through the scriptures how to build my life on the Permanent foundation. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 6, 2022: SOAP #4537:  2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

OBSERVATION:  God had set His heart on Jerusalem long before the time of Jesus.  They would be the physical line through which God would send His Son.  God longed for the nation of Israel to be His special children.  He would love them, care and provide for them.  He would deliver them from trouble.  When they sinned and turned away from Him to serve idols, He would forgive them and draw them back to Himself.  God longed for a close relationship in which they were held close to His heart. 

APPLICATION: That is what God longs for today with me.  He wants to hold me close like a mother hen gathers and protects her little chicks.  My tendency can be to run off and do something, to accomplish something, to solve a problem.  Like Martha, my self-image is wrapped up in what I can DO for the Lord.   But Jesus said Mary had chosen what was better.  (Luke 10)

Today I need to take some time just to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His heart as He speaks to me.  There will be things for me to do but sitting and listening takes priority.  One way to love Jesus is to let Him love me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, slow me down.  Show me where I can just sit and listen.  Do not let me run off to do something until my eyes are filled with Jesus and  my heart is filled with you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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May 5, 2022: SOAP #4536:  2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. …
46 No-one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no-one dared to ask him any more questions.

OBSERVATION:  Trapping Jesus in His words proved impossible.  The Pharisees brought Jesus a question about taxes (v 15-22).  Then the Sadducees brought a question about the resurrection (v 23-33).  Then the Pharisees brought a question about which commandment is the greatest (v 34-40).  Jesus answered them all.  Then Jesus asked a question they could not answer (v 41-46)   They had nothing to say. 

APPLICATION: Foolishly I have done the same thing.  I have said things like, “He did not really mean it that way,” or “It really does not make that much difference to Him.” 

If it did not matter, the Holy Spirit would not have convicted me.  The fact that He brought it to my attention means that it is important to Him…and should be to me. 

I should never make excuses or try to second guess what the Holy Spirit is saying to me.  I should never try to out-talk God. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I am so blessed to have you accompanying me every day and all day long.  You help me understand the scriptures and what Jesus is saying to me.  You help me apply His words to my life.  You are working in me to make me more like Jesus!  I greatly value your presence in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 4, 2022: SOAP #4535:  2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. …
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? …45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.

OBSERVATION: Twice in this chapter we find Jesus asking a question of the chief priest, elders, and teachers.  Why would Jesus direct his question to the religious leaders and not the crowds that listened to his teachings and received his miracles?  I believe the Lord showed me that the religious leaders would be in and out of the temple and the synagogues where copies of the Old Testament scriptures were in the scrolls.  It was expected that they would read the scriptures. 

The greater population would not have a copy of the Scriptures in their home, and no access to personally reading the scriptures.  They depended on someone reading it to them.  In 1Timothy 4:13 Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful in the “public reading” of Scripture.

APPLICATION: It is important that our faith have the solid foundation of the Word of God.  Some homes may have many copies of the Bible, some may have just the New Testament and others may have only a page or a verse somewhere in their home.  We need to honor the Word by reading it and asking the Holy Spirit to show us personal applications.  We will not be judged by how many copies we have in our home, but how much is hidden in our heart! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, we honor you and your word by reading it and setting ourselves to follow through with what it says. Holy Spirit, show me how the word applies to my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 2, 2022: SOAP #4533:  2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 20:13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

OBSERVATION: When the landowner is generous with his money, he can be joyful in the giving.  From what I observe in the USA, when the government is generous with the landowner’s money, the landowner can become resentful.  He resents that they are wasting his money. 

And so often when the needy receive money from the government, they come to expect it as a right owed to them instead of a generous gift for which they should be grateful.  

Government involvement breeds resentment and expectation.  Christ teaches generosity and appreciation.  God’s generosity to me is to be the motivation for my generosity to others. 

APPLICATION: The Lord wants me to be generous with what I have.  I can be generous with the money God has given me. 

Even more important, I can be generous with the gospel.  God has blessed me with understanding of His character and His word.  He graciously reveals truth.  I trust God’s generosity to me flows through me in these SOAP devotions.  I have been blest to be a blessing.

PRAYER:  Lord, everything I have really belongs to you; it should be easy to be generous.  I want to appreciate your generosity to me by being generous to others.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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