Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 22, 2023: SOAP #4856: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 14:10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there, and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”  13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

OBSERVATION:  Caleb had previously been in the promised land as one of the 12 spies sent in by Moses.  Ten of the spies brought back a message that caused fear in the hearts of the Israelites.  Joshua and Caleb spoke of God’s promises.  Moses made a promise to Caleb that he would inherit the land where the spies had traveled.  Now, after 40 years of wondering in the wilderness until that generation died, God had brought them in and had given them victory.  The land was being divided; Caleb takes the promise to Joshua. 

At 85, one would think that Caleb’s fighting days were over.  But Caleb remembered what God had said through Moses.  And he knew he could count on the “Promise Maker” to be a “Promise Keeper!”

Caleb had seen God at work in the battles the Israelites had fought in approaching the Promised Land, and in taking possession.  God was clearly fighting for the Israelites!   Caleb knew that same God would be helping him!  

APPLICATION:  I am only 75, but what difference does age make!  Caleb’s helper is Leon’s helper!   He can lift me above my troubles.  He makes all things work together for my good!   He can even make my mistakes work together for my good and for God’s glory. 

PRAYER:   Lord, raise up an army of senior citizens who will accept an impossible challenge and believe that God, as their helper, will take them to victory!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 21, 2023: SOAP #4855: Joshua 9-11; 1Corinthians 6

(a repeat from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

OBSERVATION:  God’s life-changing power—it is amazing!   For those who have been cleansed and set apart for God’s Presence and purpose, they are also justified, which amazingly means made “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned!   What we were has been removed and only exists as a memory of our past.   What we are is clean and useful to God as though we had never sinned!   It is truly amazing!

APPLICATION: How I live demonstrates my appreciation for what God has done for me.  To continue, or return to what Jesus died to forgive would be like spitting in His face.  It is my desire and His will that I live like Jesus.  It is His Presence that enables me to do so.  With His Presence, I am a new creation!

PRAYER:   Lord, I am amazed at your grace in accepting me, forgiving me, and cleansing me.  I am Yours!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 20, 2023: SOAP #4855: Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 69:6 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. …
13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation….
16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

OBSERVATION:    At heart, David was a God-lover.  He had sinned and realized that his actions could affect others.  David did not want God’s people to be disgraced and put to shame because of his sin.  David did not want his actions to be a hindrance to anyone’s trust in God.

The Psalmist was not approaching God on the basis of how he deserved God’s love, but on the basis of God’s character.  He was counting on God’s goodness and love.  He was counting on God to show him favor and be merciful.

APPLICATION: It is humbling to realize how holy, just and righteous God is and how unworthy I am.  I have to depend on His mercy and His love for me.  He made a sacrifice so awesome that it more than covers my sins.  Not only do I need to depend on Him, He wants me to depend on Him.  I must depend on Him when I am in trouble, when I am tempted, when I am tired, when I am disappointed, when I am happy, when things are going my way and when they are not.  At all times I must depend on Him! 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, according to 1John 1:9, if I confess that I have sinned, you are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  My trust is in you.  I trust you to take care of the sins I have committed and the sin nature that tries to control my thoughts and actions.  By dying to myself, I come alive to you and learn to let you live through me..  Thank you for forgiving me and making me a part of your family.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 19, 2023: SOAP #4854: Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 3:7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, “This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”

OBSERVATION:  What a change! Moses had led them out of Egypt and for forty years in the wilderness.  He was gone.  There was a new leader!   A new leader, but the same God!   Joshua was not Moses, but God was still God!!! 

It is good to note that God’s word to Joshua was that God would take the responsibility of proving that He would be continuing with Joshua as He had been with Moses!   Reading on in the book of Joshua, shows us how God did just that! 

APPLICATION: A few children who started riding my bus 13 years ago graduated last year.  Teachers changed each year, but their bus driver remained the same.  School buildings changed in middle and high school, but their bus driver remained the same.  Longevity has benefits for the students…and for the bus driver. 

Longevity as a Christian is good for homes and churches.  BUT time always come for change.  It is in the times of change that we must have confidence in a God who never changes.  He continues, faithfully the same through the change. 

If I remain calm, trusting God in through the confusion of the change, God, Himself, will prove that He remains the same after the change as He was before! 

PRAYER:   Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) The changes I experience do not change you!  You will be the same when the change is through. My heart rejoices in your faithfulness. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 18, 2023: SOAP #4853: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.  

OBSERVATION: God’s temple is where He lives.  The church is not the building I visit once or twice a week, or month, or year.  The church is not a building, but people.  It is people in whom God lives by His Spirit.  He does not just visit once a week but lives there twenty-four hours, seven days a week.

APPLICATION: The house is not the family and the building is not the church.  The family is not a family only when they are present in the house, nor is the church only the church when it is gathered in the “church” building.  The family is tied together by a common life and so is the church. 

We do not go to church; we are the church.  We are the church when we are in our homes.  We are the church when we are at work.  We are the church when we are in the market.  The presence of the Holy Spirit in people—that is the church.  My body is the temple of the Lord!  

Yesterday I met with a group of about 15 men at Panera restaurant.  God had accompanied each of us to that place and the Holy Spirit was clearly moving among us.  We were the church.  Later, Joe and I were together in my car, just the two of us.  But no, Someone was with us!  We were still the church. 

PRAYER:   Lord, What is true in your word, is true in my life.  Help me to live it today.  Help me to be a good presentation of what I really am.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 17, 2023: SOAP #4852: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us….
16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

OBSERVATION:  No one knows how God thinks, except the Spirit of God.  Just like I must live with my own thoughts, so the Spirit of God lives with the thoughts of God.  No one can truly know how I am thinking except myself.  And no one can truly know how God is thinking except the Spirit of God!  

If I wanted you to really know how I was thinking, I would need to give you my mind, my spirit.  And if God really wants me to know how He is thinking, He would need to give me His mind, His Spirit.  And that is what He did!!! 

Jesus died on the cross to forgive my sins, making me clean.  Then the Holy Spirit enters my clean heart to show me how to live. 

This is the SAME Spirit that came upon Jesus when He was baptized by John, so He really does understand how we are to live in this world. 

APPLICATION: This chapter should be hung on the walls of my mind.  I should read it every day. It is not a promise of what awaits me in heaven.  It is a statement of what I have NOW! 

This chapter shows why it is so important that I learn to listen to the Holy Spirit!  He will speak to me as I read the Bible.  He will show me how those scriptures apply to me.  He will help me understand what God thinks about the issues I face in life.  He will empower me to live victoriously! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I set myself to be a vessel that you can easily work through.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 167, 2023: SOAP #4851: Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no-one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

OBSERVATION:  One of the symptoms of pride is boasting.  It is hard for a person full of pride to resist the temptation of talking about themselves and what they have done.  Their words work together to put themselves in a good light and to draw attention to themselves. 

God like to use our foolishness, our weakness, and our lowly position.  When those are not hidden, the wisdom that is expressed must have come from God.  Everybody knows that we do not have that wisdom.  When something great happens, it must have been God; everyone knows that we did not have the strength  or the resources!  It must have been God!   

And when we realize that all we are, and all we have, comes from God who has placed us in Christ Jesus, then we stop boasting about ourselves and begin boasting about our Lord!  

APPLICATION:  The greatest thing in my life—the one thing worthy of boasting—is that I am “in Christ Jesus;” I am a part of His body, the church.  It is truly amazing!  But that is the one thing I could do nothing about.  There is no basis for boasting!  I can only boast in what God has done!  

My goal is to make God look good!  May God be exalted in my conversation. May God be exalted in all I do. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, work in me so that the presence of Jesus can be easily seen in all I say and all I do.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 15, 2023: SOAP #4850: Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 28:13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

OBSERVATION:  The verses 1-14 are the word of God spoken through Moses to the children of Israel.  They tell them of God’s plans to establish them in the Promised Land.  They tell of the blessings God has in store for them if they continue to follow God’s commands. 

Then we come to the word “However.”  This is what the Israelites can expect if they do not obey.  The Lord’s blessings turn to the Lord’s curses.  Verse 63: “Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you.”

APPLICATION: The “HOWEVER” set a dividing line for the Israelites.  They discovered that the God who brought them out of Egypt and gave the blessings in verses 1-14 was indeed the same God who kept His word given in the verses following verse 15. 

The scriptures show how the Israelites made the “However” to be a dividing line for God’s dealing with them. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, as I enjoy the blessings of your love, may I never forget that you are holy. Holy Spirit, help me stay on the right side of the “However!”  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 14, 2023: SOAP #4849: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

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.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

OBSERVATION:  Yes, I have freedom!   The death of Jesus on the cross set me free from the bondage of sin.  Freedom gives me choices.  I can choose to do what is right, or I can choose to sin.  God does not tie my hands and lock me in a box.  My service to God only honors God when it is freely given.  God is much too holy and worthy to be served by those who have no choice but to serve Him.  He will use people, but His joy comes when I choose to serve Him.

As I understand it, God is working in my life to lovingly win me into loving Him.  I am committed to God because I love Him.   

From God’s point, it is risky.  People can accept His forgiveness then go out and sin again, and again until they are back in bondage to sin.  It hurts God’s heart!  I am His creation.  He loves me.  He is pulling for my good! 

APPLICATION: There is only one sacrifice that covers my sin — the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  And only one life that gives me power to live above sin — the resurrected life of Jesus living within.  The sacrifice of Jesus put an end to relying on the law given to Moses, but it did not negate the eternal truth that the wages of sin is death.  Repentance means confessing AND turning from sin.  I must die to myself and come alive to His life within! 

PRAYER:   Lord, by your forgiveness you free me from the guilt of past sins, and by your life you free me from the power of temptation today.  Forgive me for thinking it is OK to sin and then ask forgiveness later.  Holy Spirit, today you will be facing with me any temptation coming my way today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 13, 2023: SOAP #4848: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NV) 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had first stopped at Galatia due to illness.  Either the sickness caused him to stop where he had not planned or caused him to extend his stay instead of moving on as he had planned. The people of Galatia did not treat Paul as though he was untouchable due to his sickness but went out of their way to minister to him.  Paul refers to it as a trial that THEY endured. Paul was not afraid to identify his problem as “my illness.” It was not considered a “negative confession.”  The Galatians did not reject Paul or belittle his faith because of this sickness.

Paul, and the Galatians, and the Holy Spirit used this “illness” for the glory of God.  Paul did so by taking the opportunities afforded him to preach the gospel.  The Galatians did so by accepting the gospel! Then, later, the Holy Spirit expanded this ministry by inspiring Paul write this letter to the Galatians, now a part of our Bible!!!   It all started with Paul’s schedule being interrupted by his illness.  

APPLICATION: Limitations, unplanned interruptions, changes in schedules may provide unexpected opportunities to share the love of Jesus.  I must not waste my time complaining but must looking for divine opportunities.  Only God knows the full value of unexpected opportunities brought our way.  (A mother is staying home to tend to a sick child. Today God will answer your prayers for your child’s salvation. …and you get to be a part!) 

I must not let my frustrations with a broken schedule, or a delay, cause me to miss opportunities to share the love of Jesus with those nearby. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, when things are not going my way, help me to keep a sweet spirit. May a bad attitude on my part not hinder someone from seeing you at work in me, and being open to your work in their life.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon