Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 01, 2022: SOAP #4593: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

SCRIPTURE: Titus (NIV) 3:14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

OBSERVATION:  Titus had been left behind in Crete to bring order to the new church by recognizing the leaders and giving them responsibility. Paul’s letter was giving Titus instruction. As he closes, Paul gives a short overview of what church people should be like: (1) dedicated to doing good, (2) providing for their own daily needs, and (3) not time wasters/good workers.

Obviously not everyone who starts attending church will be mature in their thinking about life.  They need to learn about being responsible.  But before they can be expected to learn, the church leaders must have a mental picture of how Christians should behave and act.  Paul was making certain that Titus had such a picture.  And the Holy Spirit stops me at this verse to make sure that I get the same picture!  

APPLICATION: Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, church leaders should teach Bible concepts about living and serving.  And they should also set a good example.  The presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers will apply the word that is taught and will help them grow in these areas, doing good, providing for family, and being a good worker.  Their lives will become a witness to people living around them and working with them.  The church will have a good reputation in their community. 

(As this works within a church, it should also work in a family.) 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me communicate your word and to live my life as an example of commitment and diligence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 30, 2022: SOAP #4592: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104; Titus 2

SCRIPTURE: Titus (NIV) 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. …
10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

OBSERVATION:  Also, to older women, younger women, younger men, servants — Paul writes how to behave.  He starts this section stating that these things they are to teach according to “sound doctrine.”  In the middle of this section Paul tells us that we are to act properly “so that no one will malign the word of God.”  The last verse of this section (verse 10) shows that our actions are to make the doctrine of God our Savior look good, make it “attractive.”

APPLICATION: What good is my doctrine if it does not affect my actions, my attitudes, my reliability, my work, my life?  Why should anyone be interested in what I believe if the way I talk and act shows that my faith is not important, or strong enough to affect the way I live? 

What they SEE in me should help them to have faith in Jesus, whom they cannot see!  Jesus wants them to see His life in me. He wants to be seen living in me.  His life is designed to be visible in me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me make my life a good display of the life of Jesus in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 29, 2022: SOAP #4591: Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

SCRIPTURE: Amos (NIV) 5:14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
Titus 1:16 (NIV) They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.

OBSERVATION:  What God spoke through Amos to Israel is the same thing God spoke though Paul to Titus 800 years later.  And it is appropriate for today in 2020.  People claim with their words to know God, but their actions prove they only know about God!  They may have said a prayer inviting Jesus to be the Lord of their life, but their actions show that He is not Lord now! 

APPLICATION:  People cannot see my heart; they can only hear what I say and see what I do.  At first, they will generally believe what I say.  Then my actions will either prove or deny my words.  After getting to know me, they will believe my actions.  I want them to see the same thing they heard.  I want my words and actions to reveal a heart that truly loves God.

PRAYER:  Lord, my actions throughout the day are as important to you as the prayers I pray.  When I call you Lord in prayer, help me to live like that is true all day long.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 28, 2022: SOAP #4590: Amos 1-3, Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy (NIV) 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 6, Paul writes about his present life.  He is at the end of his ministry.  He is at the point of departure.  In verse 7, Paul writes of his past life as a believer.  It was a struggle, but he faithfully fought for the Lord.  It was a race, but he did not slow down; he kept running.  And he had remained faithful and true to Jesus.  In verse 8, Paul writes about his future life.  He is anticipating personally receiving God’s approval and reward!  

To Paul, the future was just as real as the past he had lived and the present he was living!  The past and the present set the tone for the future.  He had been faithful; he was faithful; and he knew God would be faithful!

APPLICATION: My life began at conception.  Birth did not change who I am, it only gave more opportunity to develop and express who I am.  For the past 74 years, the life that started in the womb has been learning to live out the purpose God set for me.  What started with my parents teaching me to pray, then progressed to the church nursery, then to children’s church and Sunday School classes, then to youth Bible studies, then to Bible college then to the US Navy, then to pastoring, has now progressed to retirement and to writing SOAPs!   Soon that same life will progress to and through death’s door to enjoy the fullness of my heavenly life!  “What a day that will be!”  My future is just as real as my past. 

The same is true for every SOAP reader! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to share in this life.  Thank you for a heavenly home being prepared for me.  Thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps me prepare in this life for the future.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 27, 2022: SOAP #4589: 2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE: 2Kings (NIV) 13:22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.

OBSERVATION:  This verse reveals the faithfulness of God!  He had made a covenant with Abraham around 2000BC.  (very rough estimate!)  God remembered His covenant with Abraham in the days of King Jehoahaz 800BC. (not quite so rough estimate)  1200 years later Abraham was off the scene, but God was still on the scene, and still remembering His covenant!   What a God!   

Now it is 2200AD!  (exact date!)  It is 4200 years later.  Abraham is off the scene.  King Jehoahaz is off the scent.  But God is still on the scene.  The land of the covenant now holds the nation of Israel!  What a testimony of God’s faithfulness!

APPLICATION:  I can count on God to keep His promises!   HE is the original PROMISE KEEPER!  The better I know God’s Word, the Bible, the better I will know and understand His promises.  His promises are expressions of His character.  So the better I know HIM, the better I will have faith in His promises. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, to know you is so much better than just knowing about you.  But the longer I know you, the more I learn about you!  You continue to amaze me as you reveal yourself in your word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 26, 2022: SOAP #4588: Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy (NIV) 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

OBSERVATION:  Paul is writing to his son in the faith.  He obviously loves Timothy and is training Timothy to be a capable and well-respected leader in the church.  In this chapter Paul gives some thing not to do, and some things to do.  In this verse, Paul is setting a goal: “Timothy, do your best, or make every effort, or do not let anything stand in your way…It is God’s approval you need.  If you teach, and present, and interpret the Word of God correctly you will not be ashamed in God’s presence.”

APPLICATION: This verse is specifically for Leon.  The SOAP ministry is God’s assignment and has become a major part of every day.  The SOAP ministry is built around the Word of God.  I must be faithful to correctly handle the Scriptures.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is always with me to teach me, to correct me, to keep me focused on the truth.  He guides me in applying the word to my life. 

This verse is specifically for every pastor, every teacher, every parent, and everyone who has a leadership role in the lives of others.  We all must “correctly handle the word of truth!”  Then, when we stand before our Lord, we will hear his words, “Well done!”

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, You are the One who enlightens our minds and hearts with truth.  We depend on you as the disciples depended on Jesus. May our hearts be sensitive to you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 25, 2022: SOAP #4587: Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy (NIV) 1:9 (God) who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

OBSERVATION:  When God “saved” me he forgave my sins and accepted what Jesus did on the cross as the necessary punishment.  I cannot do anything to earn this forgiveness; I can only receive it.  He then calls Me to live a holy life.  All of this happens in my life because of God’s purpose and grace.  Everything that happens to me either came to me as God’s purpose or something that can be used for His purpose.  My life is all about “his purpose.”   “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

APPLICATION: God has a purpose for my life, but I need His grace to fulfill that purpose.  The longer I live, the more I read His word, the more I fulfill what I presently understand of God’s purpose for me, the better I get to know and understand His full purpose for me.  I can now see how the various strands of my life were being woven together to develop His purpose.  I can look back and see how some strands were broken off because of doubt and disobedience.  I can see some strands that have been damaged and scarred.  But as I review my life, I can see a consistent single strand that has held everything together.  It is Jesus!  (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

At age 30, I did not understand how God was working toward His purpose for me when I would be age 70.  But being faithful at 30 prepared me to be faithful at 70. 

God is in the process of developing some great prayer warriors, great witnesses, great givers.  He is working in their lives now in preparation for much future fruitful ministry

PRAYER:  Lord, what a blessing to know that you have a purpose for my life and that you are working now in preparation for that ministry!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 24, 2022: SOAP #4586: 2Kings 11,12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

OBSERVATION:  Wealth is such an unstable foundation.  It is not dependable.  The only worthy foundation is faith in God.  We must see Him as the source of our lives and the provider of all needed to sustain our lives.

As God gives talents to be used for His glory, God also provides finances to be used for His Glory.  While our faith is resting on Jesus and what He has done for us, we must be generous with what we have.  We must give willingly.  We must give joyfully.  We must be givers, even if our gift is small.  We must remember that God is looking at our heart, not the size of our gift.  He knows what we could have given.  He knows how much is left in our hands after we have given.  He remembers what He told us to give!  

APPLICATION: “Investing” in the kingdom of God is the only way to send finances ahead into the life after death, into the “coming age.”  It is good to plan for our latter years by investments that will provide finances.  So, from earth’s perspective we try to make good investments for the future.  But, when we arrive in heaven, we will have heaven’s perspective.  We will then enjoy the benefits of what we invested in the Kingdom. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I made you Lord, you became Lord of all I am and all I have.  You are the Lord of my finances.  NO, that is not correct.  I am the caretaker of YOUR finances.  Show me how to best use for your glory, the finances you have placed in my hands.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 23, 2022: SOAP #4585: 2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22,23; 1Timothy 5

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

OBSERVATION:  When we are born again, we enter a “family” relationship.  Being sons and daughters of God makes us brothers and sisters.  We are spiritually related.  We have the same Holy Spirit living inside.  We have many common interests.  Our relationship to Jesus and our spiritual brothers and sisters becomes the major driving force in our lives.  We are all headed toward our eternal dwelling in heaven.  What a day that will be when we all gather around His throne!

APPLICATION: When our granddaughter was just three or four years, she accompanied us to a family reunion about a hundred miles from our home.  On the way home, she said, “I didn’t know I had such a big family.” 

Bill Gaither wrote a song: “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…”  Being a part of this family is certainly something to rejoice.  Whenever we are privileged to join with other members of this family, we are celebrating His presence and we are celebrating each other. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, how special that you have made me a part of your wonderful family.  It is the life of your Son Jesus that makes us one.  It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that coordinates our lives.  Make me acutely aware of your presence whenever I meet another brother or sister.  Amen 
And, thank you for the SOAP readers who share with me Your Word. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 22, 2022: SOAP #4584: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

OBSERVATION:  In this verse Paul is giving young Timothy some directions for ministry.    The church goers in Ephesus very likely did not have personal copies of the scriptures.   Public reading, preaching, and teaching of God’s Word are necessary for individual believers to grow in understanding of God and His plan for our lives.   

Where believers have their own personal copy of the Bible, they should have a daily time of reading it.  They should also be faithful to gather with other believers to receive God anointed preaching and teaching.  In areas where personal copies of the Bible are not so readily available, it is the leader’s responsibility to make sure the Scriptures are read, and preached, and taught!

APPLICATION: I rejoice in what the Lord shares with me every day through Bible reading.  I further rejoice when I hear that God has used a SOAP to speak to someone else.  But I rejoice even more when I hear these SOAP devotionals have encouraged someone to start or increase their personal time in Bible reading, even better, to begin writing down what they hear God speaking to them.  That is great!

PRAYER: Lord, use me and these SOAP devotionals to build others in their faith and to encourage them to read the Bible for themselves.  Holy Spirit, apply the word to our hearts so that our lives might please our Heavenly Father.     Amen

Pastor Leon
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