Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 22, 2022: SOAP #4706: Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 16:6 Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had a very human limitation:  he could only be at one place at one time!   He was unable to be in two places at the same time.  For those of us who have the same limitation, it is very important that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit!  This was the time for the province of Macedonia where Paul ministered in the city of Philippi.  He established a church and later wrote them the letter of Philippians which is included in the New Testament!   Later Paul would spend two years in the city of Ephesus which is in the province of Asia, the province earlier put out of bounds. (Acts 19) And from that ministry we have the book of Ephesians.  

APPLICATION: I, too, have the same limitation as the Apostle Paul.  I can only be in one place at one time.  For the kingdom of God to get the greatest benefit from Leon, I must carefully follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.  I must trust that His “no” is just as important as His “go.”  His limitations in one area give freedom in other areas.  I must trust His wisdom!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, You created me so you best know my limitations.  You made me this way, so obviously you planned on working with my limitations.  Develop patience when I deal with my own limitations, and grace when I work with the limitations in others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 21, 2022: SOAP #4705: Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

OBSERVATION:  To me this is amazing.  In verse 19 we read about Paul being stoned to the point he was considered dead.  His body was drug outside the city, probably to some cemetery or garbage dump.
In the next verse, we see the disciples of Lystra gathering around Paul, probably praying, and God worked a miracle.  God restored Paul and he was able to go back into the city.
One would think that he would take a few days to recover from the stoning, but that is not what we read.  The next day he and Barnabas left for Derby.  They were not traveling in some comfortable coach, but walking!  The distance I read in Robinson Word Pictures was 40 miles!
Paul and his traveling companions returned to Lystra, (verse 21) preaching, “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Paul was living what he was preaching! 

APPLICATION: Enduring ridicule, suffering, and/or persecution for the sake of Jesus strengthens our testimony.  We demonstrate that it is well worth the sacrifice to follow Jesus.  Our testimony while suffering exalts Jesus.  It shows people, earthly principalities, and heavenly principalities that Jesus has worth in our estimation.  He is too valuable to turn away. 

PRAYER:   Lord, an old song comes to mind:  Keep me true. Lord Jesus, keep me true.  There’s a race that I must run; there are victories to be won.  Give me power every hour to be true. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 20, 2022: SOAP #4704: Job 6-8; Acts 12

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell….

OBSERVATION:  Peter was in prison, but the church was praying. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, but the church was praying. Peter was bound with chains, but the church was praying. There were sentries at the entrance and two levels of guards, but the church was praying.

The church was not picketing the jail; the church was praying.  The church was not standing outside the governor’s house; the church was on its knees in Mary’s house.  The church was not talking to its representatives; the church was talking to its God!   The church was not organizing a letter writing campaign; the church making a direct appeal to the One who has many creative ways of dealing with such problems.

APPLICATION: In times of trouble, I can think of many things to do. If they work, I may receive the glory. But when I pray, I am acting like it all depends on God; and when God answer’s my prayers, He gets the glory! God has many creative ways of answering prayer. Sometimes His creative ways include me, but my part can never be interpreted as bringing about the needed answer. (i.e. Moses lifted rod could never be seen as the reason the Red Sea parted for Israel to cross.)

NOTE:  10/19/22   Less than a month ago the Lord answered a prayer for extra finances.  I had obeyed God to give out money set aside for taxes. I was confident that God would replace them but wondered how.  I told no one, but God spoke to several people who responded to His direction!  The money was replaced along with extra to meet several other SOAP needs!   PTL!!!  Now, God gets praise and thanksgiving from me for his hearing and answering my prayer.  He also gets praise from those who gave because they had heard and followed His direction.  And God received thanks and praise from the extra needs that were met!    PTL!!!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, use my prayers to cause people to look to you for the needed answer and then give you the glory as they see your answer. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 19, 2022: SOAP #4703: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Acts (NIV) 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

OBSERVATION:  It was a vision of unclean animals that Peter was commanded to “kill and eat;” of course, Peter, a Jew in good standing, refused.  They were unclean.  But God had made them clean.   Those three visions prepared Peter’s heart and mind to accept the invitation to go to an “unclean” Gentile’s house. 

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, in the same way as upon the Jews on the day of Pentecost, was proof to the Jews present that these Gentiles had been accepted by God.  When the testimony was shared back in Jerusalem, it prepared the hearts and minds of the whole church leadership to agree.  If God had accepted the Gentiles and given them the gift of the Holy Spirit in the same way as he had done for the Jews, who were they to reject the Gentiles as believers!  

APPLICATION: I have had the privilege and joy to share fellowship and ministry with other Holy Spirit-filled believers.  We did not agree on every doctrine, but we shared the life of the Spirit and enjoyed the sweet fellowship in the presence of Jesus.  One fellow bus driver and I share our common faith almost every day. 

I believe the Holy Spirit is still at work making me acceptable to other believers, and other believers acceptable to me. 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is not something I remember from my past, but something that keeps me full of God’s presence every day.  Oh, I can tell you when, but I would rather tell you about now.  I have many testimonies of what God has done in my life, but I would rather talk about what the Holy Spirit is doing today!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, continue to do in me what you did on the day of Pentecost and at Cornelius’ house in Acts 10. Keep me full of your love and power.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 18, 2022: SOAP #4702: Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.
Acts (NIV) 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Acts (NIV) 9:21 All those who heard him (Saul) were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem among those who prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts (NIV) 9: 32 As Peter travelled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

OBSERVATION:  Acts chapters 8 and 9 are mainly taken up with the ministries of three men, Philip, Saul, and Peter.  Only Peter was one of the twelve Jesus chose and appointed as apostles. 

Not too much is known about Philip. In chapter 8 he did some work as an evangelist and served as a deacon; he was a family man.  God uniquely led him to Samaria and then to a person traveling alone. 

Of course, we all know about Saul—the Apostle Paul.  But his public status was much different at the time of chapter 9.  To use a modern-day term, he terrorized the church—that is until God captivated him. 

APPLICATION: The Holy Spirit does not always use the persons we would expect. He did not just use the apostles! All SOAP readers, and this SOAP writer, should make ourselves available for the Lord to use us.  We do not need a title or position.  Whether He directs us to a crowd, or to an individual, our joy will be in that we obeyed! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I want to be available for you to use me as you know best.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 17, 2022: SOAP #4701: Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God….58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul….
8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

OBSERVATION:  From just reading verse 55 one might get the idea that Stephen was in a great revival!   He was full of the Holy Spirit and having visions of God!  He saw the resurrected and ascended Jesus!   

The verses before and after give us insight into Stephen’s circumstances.  He was not in a revival.  The people around Stephen were furious at what he had just told them.  In a very short time, they would take him out of the city and stoned him to death.  Stephen was discovering that the One inside him was greater than what surrounded him-even greater than what might happen to him!  

And look who was watching.  Not only was heaven taking note of how Stephen was being treated, Acts 8:1 reveals that Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was watching too!

APPLICATION: Praise the Lord, my circumstances do not have to rule my spirit!  I can be full of the Holy Spirit no matter what is happening around me or to me!   Not only is heaven watching me, but people are also watching my life today. 

PRAYER:   Lord, as Saul was watching Stephen that day, there are people watching my life today.  I need Your Holy Spirit.  I want to stay full of Your Spirit. I want a revival in my heart that can be seen by others.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 15, 2022: SOAP #4699: Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

OBSERVATION:  There was no requirement for them to give it all.  But they desired the esteem of giving the full amount of the sale, so they pretended to give it all.  I doubt that Ananias and his wife sat down to figure out how they could lie to the Holy Spirit.  Maybe they did not even think of it as a lie.  Surely if they had considered that the Holy Spirit would be listening to their words and evaluating their actions, they would have done it different.  The following verses give the results.

APPLICATION:  Jesus has made His dwelling IN me.  I am a temple of the Holy Spirit.  He hears every word I speak.  He knows everything I do.  There is great comfort in knowing that He will never leave me.  There is confidence in knowing that He helps me.  There is great peace in knowing that He loves me and understands my circumstances. 

HOWEVER. He also knows every word I hastily speak in anger.  He knows what I am doing when no one is watching.  I may fool people, but I can never fool God!   There is no way I can keep something hidden from Him!  

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, You are the welcomed and honored guest in my life.  It is my desire to always please you and never offend you. May those who hear the words I speak and see what I do easily understand that you the Lord of my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 15, 2022: SOAP #4699: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 4:16 “What are we [the religious leaders] going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

OBSERVATION:  The religious leaders were demanding Peter and John to do something unnatural.  When something wonderful happens, it is natural to talk about it.  Jesus had just risen from the dead; how could they not talk about it!   They had just been filled with the Holy Spirit; how could they not talk about it!  The crippled beggar had just been healed in Jesus Name; how could they not talk about it! 

APPLICATION: Jesus has forgiven my sins.  He has filled me with His Holy Spirit.  He has filled my heart with joy. How can I not talk about it!    This past week, God answered some prayers that only He and I knew about.  I heard Him and obeyed.  He heard me and replaced what I had given in response to His word!   How can I not talk about Jesus and give Him the glory!   He always gives me something fresh!  

Surely God has done something for every believer that must be shared.  It is too big to keep to one’s-self.  Even the joy in our heart pushes out into a smile. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I never run out of things for which I can give thanks to you, or testimonies I can share with others. You always give me something fresh!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 14, 2022: SOAP #4698: Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

(from an earlier SOAP.) 

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

OBSERVATION:  Peter and John were not out looking to heal someone, or to have a large gathering where they could preach about Jesus and call people to faith in Christ.  But that is what happened.  It started as they were moving through a normal day.  Nothing big was planned.  They were just doing what was common for them to do.  It was nothing out of the ordinary.  They were just being faithful in doing something ordinary.  But their ordinary day was interrupted by an ordinary beggar with an ordinary request.  Then the Holy Spirit turned their ordinary day into an extra-ordinary day!  Now we can read the rest of the story in Acts 3.

APPLICATION: The Holy Spirit specializes in taking the ordinary things I faithfully do and using them to bring glory to Jesus!  I may not know how my faithfulness in doing the little things might affect someone who is watching.  It may be just a smile, or a gentle touch, or a short prayer, (baking a cake, fixing a leaky roof, writing a letter, making a phone call, etc.) but the Holy Spirit can do something big in someone’s life with something small from me.  Whatever it is you do, do it in the name of Jesus!  Give Him glory!  Many of the big things God does, starts with a believer doing a small thing!

PRAYER:   Jesus, knowing that you are watching my life makes me want to be faithful.  May my life please you and bring you joy.  And knowing that there may be someone watching close by — someone who may need encouragement, or a kind word — this also makes me want to be faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 13, 2022: SOAP #4697: Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

OBSERVATION:  They had been told to “go into all the world” but then they were told to wait.  Then, in a moment of time, everything changed!  Suddenly!  Suddenly they were empowered and equipped to go into all the world.

Soon and suddenly are two different words.  God’s suddenly does not always happen soon enough for me, but it is always worth the wait.

APPLICATION: When the Lord tells me to wait, I can be assured that it is worth waiting for!   I often find that I am thinking too small.  God has something better and bigger in mind.

Suddenly God gives me a thought or word that changes my perspective.  Suddenly God gives me insight to a scripture passage.  Suddenly I receive a phone call.  Suddenly I hear a song on the radio.  Suddenly I see inspiration in something along the road.  Suddenly someone lifts my spirit or my thoughts by something they say.  Suddenly I become aware of God’s Presence — suddenly God speaks and everything changes!

Suddenly a word is impressed in my mind.  Suddenly I know what needs to be said or done.  Suddenly I have faith to interject myself into the ongoing process.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I am finding that you often work in the “suddenlies.”  Help me be ready when you bring a “suddenly” my way.  May I respond in faith and obedience.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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