Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 11, 2022: SOAP #4726: Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

(re-worked from 2016)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus started the practice of communion at the Passover Celebration He shared with His disciples on the night He was arrested. Here Paul is giving instructions for taking communion. Of course, this is not the only scripture passage regarding communion, but here are three things I get from this verse.

APPLICATION: First: it is to be personal. It is to be eaten — swallowed into my body. My relationship with God is personal!  I proclaim that I am now a part of the story. 

Second:  By the way I live, I proclaim that He is alive; but in communion I proclaim His death.  I proclaim that I believe He died, and that He died for me. His blood has cleansed me from sin! 

Third: I am to do this until He comes.  I am looking forward to the day I will eat with Him in heaven.  What I do now on earth is directly tied to what I will do then in heaven.  I proclaim that my future is all involved with Him! 

PRAYER:   Lord, in celebrating communion I am drawn to Your death. In love and grace, you draw me into the heart of the story!  Your death is personal, but instead of grieving, I rejoice!  Thank you, my Lord!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 10, 2022: SOAP #4725: Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

(re-worked SOAP from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

OBSERVATION:  We all have some measure of knowledge.  As my knowledge expands, my concept of self-importance can also expand.  It can puff me up with pride.  I began thinking that I know so much—that I have all the answers—everyone should do as I say.  

Three remedies are provided in these verses.
First: Love God.  I must love and get to know the One Who knows all about me-and loves me anyway!  
Second:   I must acknowledge that there is yet much for me to learn.
Third:  I must always have more love in my heart than knowledge in my head.  Then the knowledge in my head can flow out of me through a heart of love.  The truth that flows out of me should be wrapped in love! 

APPLICATION: The above truth is the basis for the judgments Paul gives regarding an issue in the daily lives of his readers, namely: eating meat that had been dedicated to an idol. 

The above truth should be the foundation for basic life decisions I make today.

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help the love level in my heart to always exceed the knowledge level in my head.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 09, 2022: SOAP #4724: Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

OBSERVATION:  This is the sixth time in this chapter we find the phrase, “Do you not know that…”  It seems Paul is covering things he had taught them when he had been present.  Now, in this letter, Paul is calling them to remember what he had said.  “Do you not know…”  “Do you not remember…”    

APPLICATION: In this verse I see two different but related truths. 

First: Obviously, I am responsible for my actions.  I am told to “honor God” with my body.  My choices are expressed through my body.  I should choose to do that which honors God.  How I choose to act, and what I choose to say should honor God.  My conversations and actions should show others that I am not my own. 

Second:  My body is a living temple in which the Holy Spirit lives.  I am not his vacation home.  He lives in me!  I am His permanent residence!   He is always present!  That means that He is always present to help me!!!  He is always available to tell me how to react, or what I should do.  He is always available to give me warning when there is trouble ahead.  He empowers me and brings the Word to my memory. 

PRAYER:   Lord, with your death on the cross, you bought me to be yours.  Yes, I know that You have made me to be a temple of the Holy Spirit!  May your presence be recognized in me by my words and actions. May my life bring you joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 08, 2022: SOAP #4723: Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

(reworked thoughts from an earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

OBSERVATION:  People who do not like to consider the possibility of God’s existence have had to come up with their own explanation for how life on this world started.  The evolution of life from the ocean climbing onto earth and evolving into a man is as good an explanation of any I have heard that did not include God.  They think the Bible’s explanation of creation in Genesis is foolishness.  As I see it, their explanation of life is like going to a movie from which someone removed every scene that contained the main character.  The movie does not make much sense. And life without God makes even less sense.

APPLICATION: It is amazing how clearly things become, and how things fit together once I have God as The Main Character in the picture.   I am finding this true in every arena of life.  Having God as the main character in my home, in the church, on the school bus, in relationships, etc. sets everything in place.  The more I understand God and His character and His place, the more life on this earth makes sense! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing yourself to me in the Bible.  Help me to see you in every part of life.  In you, I find my purpose.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 06, 2022: SOAP #4721: Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

OBSERVATION:  The calling of God is a calling to freedom.  It is God’s will that we live in freedom.  It is God’s design for man to live in freedom.  It is freedom that gives us the opportunity to please God.  To have freedom means we have choices.  We use our freedom in making choices.  God could have made man to be robots, programed to do just those things and to speak just those words that honor God.  But a robot cannot love. 

God created man to be loved and to love Him in return.  God desired fellowship with people who choose to respect and honor Him.  He wanted the praise and glory from creation beings that was not programed.  It would come from people who used their reasoning powers and moral choices to come to the conclusion in their thinking that He was worthy of praise and glory!  

Sin had enslaved people to think and do evil, but the death of Jesus freed us from the slavery of sin.  Now we worship God in freedom!  

APPLICATION: Satan uses my freedom to tempt me to sin, but I use my freedom to honor God by resisting the temptation!  The verses above tell me to use my freedom to serve others.  The Ten Commandments tells me what I am NOT to do to others—murder, lie, steal—the Spirit tells me I AM to serve others in love.  In love I make choices that honor God and in love I serve “my neighbor.” 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help me to use my freedom in ways that honor you.  Help me serve others in ways that move them closer to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 06, 2022: SOAP #4721: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

(reworked from March 12, 2018)

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God?  Absolutely not!  For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

OBSERVATION:  How terrible is sin?  Look at the law! Look at the sacrifices required — death.  
How holy is God?  Look at the law!  It is perfect in defining and describing sin.  And when paying for sin, even His Son did not get a special deal.  
How wise is God?  Look at the law!  God used the law to teach us the terribleness of sin.  God used the law to set the parameters for the sacrifice of His Son.  
How loving is God?  Look at the law!  At great personal sacrifice, God paid for my sins!

When the law was given, God already knew that it would never bring about the righteous required for us to live in His presence.  So, before the law was given, God had made a promise to provide the necessary sacrifice — the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION: The law tells me how I have sinned and what the consequences are. The law can condemn me, but it can never bring me into righteousness.  The righteousness God promised only comes as I put my faith in Jesus, that His death is the sacrifice needed to atone for my sin.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the more I understand your working with man, the more I am amazed at your holiness, your wisdom, and your love.  You have dealt with my sin in holiness and love.  And in your wisdom, you have sent your Holy Spirit to live in me.  Thank you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 05, 2022: SOAP #4720: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:1  Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

OBSERVATION:  Paul recognized that his calling did not come from man.  His calling came from God.  Paul knew he would answer to God for how he fulfilled his calling as an apostle. 

The One who sent Paul had all authority over death!  Death has already been defeated!   The One who sent Paul had already proved His love for people by dying for our sins!  

Since the calling came from God, and not from man, Paul depended on God to provide necessary resources.  If men had sent Paul, he would have relied on them to provide the necessary finances.  But he was convinced that God sent him and so depended on God to provide.   God used people to support Paul, and Paul was always grateful, but he put no pressure on people to give.  God had sent Paul, and God would provide.  Sometimes God provided through Paul’s work; sometimes through the working of those who traveled with him; sometimes through gifts from friends. 

APPLICATION: I have come to believe that God has a calling for each of us.  We are called to be a living vessel full of a living God!  We fulfill it as we are fathers, mothers, teachers, laborers, etc.  …yes, and bus drivers.  God’s calling and anointing makes us useful wherever we are.  When the Holy Spirit opens an opportunity to represent Jesus we can say or do what He would say or do. It is then we will find that we are not alone.  He is with us and expressing Himself through us!!!   

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, like Yvonne Valdez Soliz sings, “Holy Spirit, flow through me, touch through me, speak through me.”  Use me today for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 04, 2022: SOAP #4719: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

(Personalized from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

OBSERVATION:  Because the Sabbath was fast approaching, the body of Jesus had not been prepared for burial as carefully as some would have liked so these ladies took some spices to be placed with the body.  They knew there was a large stone in place; they were certain that they could not move it.  They wondered who might be able to move it.  But that did not stop them.  They were on a mission of love.

APPLICATION: The rock had been moved from the tomb, but not from their mind.  In their mind it was still a factor, but they did not let that deter them.  Their mission of love became a mission of great revelation.  The revelation began with discovering that what they thought stood in their way was already moved and ended with discovering that the One they thought was dead was alive!  What a day that turned out to be!  It was good that they did not let the “rock” in their head keep them from their mission of love.

God has given me an assignment, I have some “rocks” in my head seeming to block my way.  In faith, I need to move ahead in faith that God will move the rocks as needed. 

PRAYER:   Yes, Lord.  I will move ahead in what I know of your will, trusting you to take care of those things that, in my thoughts, are blocking my way.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 03, 2022: SOAP #4718: Job 25; Mark 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 14:8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

OBSERVATION:  This lady had a great appreciation for Jesus and while he was reclining at a dinner table in a wealthy home in which he was a guest, she broke open a jar of very expensive perfume and poured it over his head.  As the odor filled the room everyone present became aware of what happened, and this lady was criticized for the “waste.”  It could have been sold and the money given to the poor.  But Jesus defended her.  “She did what she could.” He said she did it in preparation for his burial.  In a few days some ladies would be arising early to go to a tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus, but he would already be raised to life.  Only this lady had the privilege of serving Jesus in this way.

The issue was not the monetary value of the perfume, but to whom it belonged.  It was her perfume.  It was valuable to her.  It was hers to give.  She used it for His pleasure.  She did what she could.  

APPLICATION: In so many of the miracles in the Bible we see both man’s part and God’s part.  The miracles cannot be understood as coming about because of man’s part — only because of God’s part.  Man’s part always came before God’s part.  And man’s part was always something that he could do.  “She did what she could.”

My part is always something I can do!  I can pray.  I can reach out and touch in Jesus’ name.  I can give what I have.  God is not depending on my part to be the answer to the problem.  My part is an expression of faith that He will do His part!   Doing what I can brings pleasure to Him! 

PRAYER:   Lord, I do what is possible for me to do, all the while trusting you to do what is possible for you to do. You get the glory; I get the joy of participation.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 02, 2022: SOAP #4717: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

OBSERVATION:  Their goal was to catch Jesus in His words.  They wanted to entice him to say something that they could use against him.  Not only were Jesus’ answers recorded, so were their questions.  They wanted to catch him in his words, but they were caught in their words.  They will answer for their words. 

Their glowing words of praise, “a man of integrity,” and “you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth,” were merely shams to cover their evil hearts.  They intended to present themselves as appreciating who He was while they were hoping he would say something that would bring the Roman government against Him.

APPLICATION: I too will answer for my words.  When I speak of him as “Lord,” I must then live like it is true.  Christianity is more than a word game for Sundays.  It is a relationship I live every moment of every day.

PRAYER:   Lord, especially today, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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