Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 22, 2022: SOAP #4614: Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76; 1Peter 1

SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you,

OBSERVATION:  In this short passage I can see 11 topics that could be considered for a SOAP.  In a previous SOAP I considered God’s “great mercy.”  Today the Lord has drawn my attention to the “living hope.” 

Hope is a general expectation that things will work out for good. It is the expectation of something good to be experienced in the future.  We have a “living hope” because it comes from a living Savior!  His resurrection is proof that death is not the end of our life.  There is more!  We presently have a living hope that will not die in the grave.  After death, it will continue to be our living hope!  Like Jesus, we will continue to be living!  We will be living in those mansions that Jesus promised to prepare for us. 

APPLICATION: It is also a “living hope” because it changes the lives of those who are living today with that hope.  It changes my life.  I am certain that all things do work together for my good as I love God and fulfill His call on my life.  (Romans 8:28)  As I see Him working out details in my life, it builds my hope in what lies ahead. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You made it through death and the grave!  You showed yourself alive with only the nail prints to identify you as the One who hung on the cross.  You have promised to help me, to be with me.  Lord, you are my hope.  The hope you have given me replaces the fear of dying with expectation of seeing you.  Amen                    

Pastor Leon
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Personal SOAP Saga:  Sharon and I made it back to home this evening.  It is good to be back and to see Doron!  😊  We are home several days earlier than we originally thought, but our last stop did not work so we headed home.  Sharon did a good portion of the driving this evening so I could work on this SOAP.  We brought everything in from the car, and now to send this off. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 21, 2022: SOAP #4613: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32

SCRIPTURE: 2Chronicles (NIV) 7:7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

OBSERVATION:  The greatest army on the face of the earth, the Assyrian army was about to attack Jerusalem.  King Hezekiah had done what he could to prepare and is now encouraging the citizens. First: He is confident.  He has courage.  His faith is strong.  He knows the big picture. Second:  He speaks truth.  He knows he is about to be attacked.  He knows the strength and size of the enemy’s army.  He does not deny the obvious, BUT HE ALSO KNOWS there is an unseen power.  He knows the unseen is not unavailable or uninvolved. Third:  He points the people to the Lord. They have a history from which to draw faith.  They are not alone.  They do not need depend on only what the enemy has available.  They have the resources of God Who is both able and willing! The invisible power with them is greater than the visible power of the army against them! NOTE:  God brought a miraculous deliverance to Judah.  (2Kings 19:35)

APPLICATION: Many times, I am needed to bring a word of encouragement.  I must be confident, be truthful, and point to God.  While acknowledging those things that can be seen, I must draw attention to what cannot be seen.  Into the picture of what can be seen I must paint the reality of what cannot be seen.

Of course, I must first see the unseeable myself before I can help others see it.  Most often, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in opening the scriptures to me that opens my eyes to see what is invisible to our natural sight. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to see clearly from heaven’s point of view.  Help me see what you see.  Then use me to help other see the reality of God’s presence and interaction in the world around us.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 20, 2022: SOAP #4612: 2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

SCRIPTURE: 2Chronicles (NIV) 31:21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so, he prospered.
James (NIV) 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

OBSERVATION:  The success of Hezekiah was preceded by his trusting and obeying the Lord.  He set himself to know God and work “wholeheartedly.”  Of course, God made him succeed! 

Here in the book of James we the same progressions.  Resisting the devil is preceded by submitting to God.  Desiring God to come near is preceded by coming near to God.  Being lifted up by God is preceded by humbling oneself.

APPLICATION: Like Hezekiah, I want to be a person who is attractive to God.  I want to be a person God likes to bless.  I want to be doing those things that God wants to bless.  I want to be involved in the Father’s favorite activities. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, work in me, forming me into the image of Jesus, the Father’s favorite Son.  Make me a son the Father wants to bless.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 19, 2022: SOAP #4611: 2Kings 17; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

SCRIPTURE: James (NIV) 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

OBSERVATION:  In the passage above we see the same thing.  Worldly “wisdom” is compared to heavenly wisdom.  Worldly wisdom is motivated by “bitter envy” and “selfish ambition.”  Worldly wisdom results in disorder and unlawful activity.  It comes from the devil. 

True wisdom comes from heaven.  It is pure and works for peace.  It treats other appropriately.  It responds to authority properly.  It quickly forgives.  It does not show favorites.  People can trust such wisdom.  It results in many righteous deeds.  A nation who has leaders using true wisdom is indeed blest! 

APPLICATION: In the USA we seem to have two different type of news stations.  Both report the news, and both give their opinion as to how people should think.  Sometimes the opinion is bigger than the news.  One side has commonly been called “fake news.”  Sometimes “fake news” ignores important stories that present narratives they do not want considered by the public. They cover up stories that make people who agree with them look bad while promoting stories that make the other side look bad. 

Citizens need the Holy Spirit and heavenly wisdom to understand the news today, not only in the USA but around the world.  The Holy Spirit can quicken our hearts and minds to signs of our returning Savior. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, when we lack wisdom, you tell us to ask for wisdom. (James 1:5) Today wisdom is greatly needed.  Answer my prayer for wisdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 18, 2022: SOAP #4610: Isaiah 32-35; James 2

SCRIPTURE: James (NIV) 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? …
17 … faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead….
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did….
24 … a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. …
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

OBSERVATION:  This past week, Sharon and I drove upon a motorcycle accident that had just happened.  The driver and his cycle were lying near the side of the roadway; the passenger was lying across the center line of the two-lane road.  The first thing I did was to check for vital signs.  Breathing?  Heartbeat?  Response?  Movement?  …all vital signs that life was still present.  They had vital signs.  The driver soon got up on his own and was answering questions.  We kept the passenger quiet and still until emergency medical technicians could properly move her and load her into an ambulance to take to the hospital for further evaluation. 

Vital signs are important because they come from inside one’s body.  I did not lift an arm or leg from the pavement and say, “There is movement, there must be life.”  The movement must be motivated from inside to be a vital sign. 

APPLICATION: I cannot use these scriptures as a club to motivate others to give.  When I give in response to someone putting a guilt trip on me if I do not give, that is not a vital sign.  It is only a sign that others are motivating my life.  It is only a vital sign when the motivation comes from the life inside.  

These scriptures tell me that the life of Jesus in me must be visible to those on the outside. Do I show favoritism?  Do I love my neighbor as myself?  Do I show mercy?  Do I help my brother and sister in need? 

PRAYER:  Lord, I want your life to be seen in me.  The purpose of my life is to reveal your life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Personal SOAP Saga:  Today Sharon and I attended church with our friends.  It was a special time with a message about being so in love with Jesus that we do things for him that may be considered a waste by others.  It has been a great week with the life group that meets in their home.  The members joined together in donating and in conducting a yard sale to raise money for one of their members.  God added what He could do to what they did and greatly increased their expected receipts!   It is so special to be a part of something that God blesses above our expectations.  We stopped to visit my friend Eugene. Tomorrow we will visit Sharon’s cousin.   😊 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 17, 2022: SOAP #4609: Isaiah 29-31; James 1

SCRIPTURE: James (NIV) 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

OBSERVATION:  The scriptures are so much more than good literature, so much more than good reading, so much more than a good memory exercise.  The scriptures are to be lived; they are to be applied to daily life.  It is good to read the Bible; it is good to memorize the scriptures; but it means nothing if we do not do what it says.  We must consider what the scriptures mean in our circumstances. 

APPLICATION: One of the best benefits of writing SOAP devotionals is that it forces me to consider the application of the scriptures.  I believe the Spirit inspired applications are a reason these SOAPs are spreading in Asia, Africa, and USA.  God wants people to apply His Word.  The Word must make a difference in the way I act and talk.

I must listen to the Holy Spirit who is my constant companion.  He is the author of the scriptures and can best show me how they apply to my life.  Not only can He show me how they apply to me, but He can also work in my life moment by moment to apply them. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I really need your help in understanding and applying what I read in the Bible. I count on your promised blessing in verse 25 above! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 16, 2022: SOAP #4608: Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

OBSERVATION:  A sacrifice is something that costs.  It may cost effort.  It does not flow out of pleasing circumstances in which everything is going our way.  It flows out of a commitment.  It requires a definite choice.  Feelings are set aside. 

Listed above are sacrifices that specifically please God, praising Him, doing good, and sharing/serving others.  It is recognizing, and applying, what Jesus said about the greatest commandment and the second being like the first.  (Matthew 28:32-39)

APPLICATION: There are times when I praise God because I feel it.  My heart is so full that it would be hard not to praise God.  But even when my heart feels empty, even when circumstances look bad, even then it is right to praise my God!  He is worthy of my praise!  In those times, I am not responding to my circumstances or my feelings, but to the truth of the One living inside me.  I know He is in my life, so with my lips I honor and praise Him for who I know He is. 

And at times I have opportunity to do something good and to share with others.  The opportunity may not come at a convenient time or may require giving something I would rather keep.  Such sacrifices give me opportunity to demonstrate my love for the Lord. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you are always worthy of my praise.  At all times, in every situation, you remain worthy of my praise and my personal involvement in serving others!  With my lips, I honor you.  With my life I serve you; in serving others, I am serving You! Amen

Pastor Leon
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PERSONAL SOAP SAGA:  We have paused our trip in Pennsylvania.  Today, Sharon and I witnessed a “life group” living out a sacrifice as mentioned in this SOAP.  They brought together things from their homes to sell in a yard sale.  The purpose was to raise money to help one of their members make it through a hard time.  They made their sacrifices of time and possessions joyfully. 
-We lost Sharon’s cell phone, so after praying and searching the place of the sale and our car, we retraced our travel to a place we had visited.  When we asked the takeout window to see if a phone had been found—sure enough!  They had it!  Praise the Lord. 
-A financial need arose for help provide a computer and printer for SOAPs in Sierra Leone.  I am not driving a bus at this time and had no extra money to help.  So, we prayed that the Lord would provide.  About two hours later a lady handed Sharon an envelope with enough money to cover the need. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 15, 2022: SOAP #4607: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12 

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

OBSERVATION:  One expression of a father’s love is discipline. Discipline is not pleasant. It is not meant to be a joyful time of enjoying a father’s presence. It is designed to make a lasting impression. It is meant to be remembered when tempted to repeat the action that brought the discipline.

But there is a reason for discipline.  Verse 10 above says, “that we may share in His holiness!”  God wants us to be like Him! 

APPLICATION: I sing, “To be like Jesus,” or “Oh, to be like Thee,” or “Make me more like you, Jesus.”  God forgave my sins and took up residence inside me.  Maybe He sings, “Make Leon more like me!”  God knows that Leon would enjoy life so much more if he approached things like Jesus.  So, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to work on my inside.  He teaches me, and trains me, and convicts me of bad attitudes.  He even works on the smallest things in my life—things that I think are unimportant.  He is working on me so that I will share in HIS holiness! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, don’t ever stop, don’t ever stop, don’t ever stop working on me.  Make me more like Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 14, 2022: SOAP #4606: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11 

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

OBSERVATION:  Understanding comes from faith.  Faith does not come from understanding. Understanding will only get us so far.  There is always a limit to our understanding. When we reach the end of our understanding, we make a guess.  We go back to the beginning and try to reason out the conclusion. But faith in God ends in logical conclusions. Considering God in the picture brings a logical conclusion.

Without faith, scientist have tried to come up with a logical conclusion to their questions about the origin of life. They have given us the “big bang” theory and evolution.  Neither are provable and both processes require giant leaps of faith.

Including God in the picture, creation is very logical.  Yes, there are some leaps requiring faith, but seen in the light of an Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscience, and Eternal Creator, those leaps are quite logical!   So, our understanding comes from our faith! 

APPLICATION: God has not lost any of His power, His ability, or His knowledge since creation.  He remains the same today as He was then.  God has proved His love for me by sending His Son, Jesus, to die as payment for my sins. 

Loving and serving Him is the purpose of my life.  I am confident that He is willing and able to take care of my needs according in ways that will bless me throughout eternity. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for giving me the measure of faith you give to all people. (Romans 12:3)   Thank you for teaching me to put that faith in you.  I can even thank you for tough times that spurred my faith to grow.  May my faith be a blessing to you. .  Amen

Pastor Leon
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NOTE:  Today Sharon and I left Ohio, my friend Harry (who is now 70) and his wife Dawn, their children, (their 16 grandchildren) and their church family!  It was our privilege to stay in the Patterson home (Ray and Dara with their 4 children, Judah, Joshua, Tirzah, and Jamin.)  We are now in Pennsylvania where we will be visiting some family and friends of Duane Wenrick, my friend from Viet Nam days.  Sharon and I were privileged to spend a month with Duane before he left for heaven.  During that time, we became good friends with the fellowship ministry that was very dear to Duane and has become the same to us.  We look forward to our fellowship in this area the next few days.

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 13, 2022: SOAP #4605: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

OBSERVATION:  I am to come into the presence of GOD with confidence, not sneaking into His presence wondering if I belong there.  I am so clean that I do not even have a guilty conscience!   (For those who understand this saying, we are “squeaky clean!”  When I rub my hand across something that has just been washed, it squeaks; we say it is squeaky clean.}

APPLICATION: Here are four reasons why I can enter the presence of God boldly: 
First: The sacrifice made for me was sufficient to meet ALL the requirements of The Holy God! 
Second: The sacrifice for me was made by the only One who had no sins of his own for which to pay.  In love, He agreed to pay for mine. 
Third: It was a sacrifice that ended in a resurrection!  Death was temporary for Jesus!!! (…and will be for me too!) Jesus is there to greet me! 
Fourth: The One who died for me, now lives FOR me, and lives IN me‼ 

That is why I can draw near to God with joy and not fear!

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, Oh, how You’ve cleansed me from sin.  Oh, how You’ve cleansed me from sin.  You gave your life, your pure spotless life.  Oh, how you love me; Oh, how you freed me; Oh, how you cleansed me from sin. Amen

Pastor Leon
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