Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 12, 2023: SOAP #4847: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

OBSERVATION:  Just why is it that God gives us the promised Holy Spirit?  Is it because we have done such an excellent job in keeping the law?  Is it because He owes us for working so hard at keeping the law?  Or does God give us the life of the Spirit because we believe His word?  Obviously, the answer, un-given, is clear.  It is because we believe!  Read the next verse: 6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

The “new creation” life of a believer starts by faith; AND it continues by faith! 

APPLICATION: The same is true for me. I could not save myself. Salvation came when I confessed my sins and accepted what Jesus did as the complete payment for my sins. Just as I relied on Him for my salvation, I must continue to rely on Him to live His life through me. Jesus is not living Leon’s life. Leon is living Jesus’ life. But the truth is that Leon cannot live Jesus’ life. The only one who can live Jesus’ life is Jesus.  So, Jesus must come and live His own life in Leon!  And that is exactly what He does by His Holy Spirit!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins.  I receive your forgiveness.  And I receive the Holy Spirit as you promised.  With Jesus as my Lord and the Holy Spirit empowering me, may my life bring you honor and joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 11, 2023: SOAP #4846: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:7 [Paul writing] …they [the church leaders in Jerusalem] saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

OBSERVATION:  God’s kingdom is great and has many separate responsibilities.  To the Corinthians, Paul likens the church to a human body with each member having a different assignment.  In the passage above, Paul recognizes that God had called Peter to minister to the Jews and God had called him to minister to the Gentiles. 

APPLICATION: Some people get so caught up with their assigned responsibility, they think everyone should be doing what they are doing.  They spend their time trying to recruit others to help them…to even leave off their assigned ministry to help them. 

Each believer needs to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling them to do.  When they are faithfully doing God’s will, they will be walking in the path of God’s provision.  

PRAYER:   Lord, your faithfulness is so much greater than mine.  But I am learning that when I am faithful, I can count on your faithfulness.  Use me to encourage others to be faithful to the ministry you have given them.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 10, 2023: SOAP #4845: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Paul clearly saw himself as a servant of Christ.  To Paul, success in life was winning His approval.

If I call Jesus Lord, then I am also claiming that I am his servant.  And if I am his servant, then my goal is to please Him!  (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11)

APPLICATION: Since there is no common yardstick, success is hard to measure.  Commonly we measure our success based on how others see us.  A person is successful when the significant people in their lives consider them successful.  For a young child, it is their parents.  For a student it is their teacher.  For a teen, it is their peers.  For a husband it is his bride.  For an employee it can be their boss.  For a business owner, it is customers or the owners of similar businesses. 

As important as these may be, there is really only one measure of the success that really counts.  Does my life bring joy to God?  Can I make Him smile?

PRAYER:   Lord, today I want to bring joy to Your heart and a smile to your face! May it start with this prayer.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 09, 2023: SOAP #4844: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

OBSERVATION:  Of course, they did!   They had been with Jesus and witnessed his miracles.  They had eaten the Last Supper, been to Gethsemane, to the cross and to the tomb.  Then on the third day, they went to the tomb again!  Of course, they will talk about it.  It would be unnatural not to talk about it!!!

Of course, He did.  He is the One who took them on ministry trips and answered their questions.  He is the One who sent them out in pairs, then heard their reports when they returned.  He is the One who gave them instructions about going into all the world!  Of course, He would be with them.  Of course, He would confirm His word by signs, by Holy Spirit anointed miracles.  It would be illogical to think that they could continue His ministry without the signs to accompany it. 

APPLICATION: Of course, He will do it today!   As we set ourselves to honor Him, as we speak His words, of course the Holy Spirit will confirm His word by signs, By things happening in response to His Word that we speak, He will confirm that it is His word and that we are speaking for Him!  

That is the way He did it for the early church; we should expect nothing less!     

PRAYER:   Lord, so fill and anoint us with the Holy Spirit that when we speak your words, your message, people will see results and receive you as the Lord of their lives. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 08, 2023: SOAP #4843: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 19

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 9:1 Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky… 3 But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you. 4  After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you.

OBSERVATION:  How clearly Moses put it.  God was not depending on them.  God was not counting on their strength or wisdom.  God was going to go before them and bring the victories.  They would have a part in driving them out, but God was their assurance of victory.  God should get the glory!  

So verse four is also clear.  It is not because Israel has been so perfect, but because these nations have been so wicked!  Those nations will never be able to stand before God and say, “We did not deserve to be driven out.”  They had 400 years to consider the life of Abraham and 40 years to consider how God brought Israel out of Egypt!

APPLICATION: How special is it to walk with God.  First:  He directs my path.  He tells me where to go.  There is always a challenge because Satan is going to oppose anything God is doing.  Second:  God promises to go with me.  I do not have to face the challenge alone!   The One who has already defeated Satan is accompanying me!  Wow!  Third:  When I arrive, I do not just meet the enemy, I discover that God is already there!  He got there before I did!   Double Wow!  He told me where to go; He went with me; and He was already there when I arrived!  

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you that I can do more than hope, I am assured of your promise and presence.  I am blest!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2023: SOAP #4842: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14 (from earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 14:12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

OBSERVATION:  What a great privilege for this household to host the last supper.  The room could be used because it was “furnished” and “ready.”  The owner had provided and prepared it for such an occasion. 

APPLICATION:  Are my home, my car, and my possessions available and ready to be used by the Lord?   More important, is my life available and ready to be used.  I need to keep it “furnished” with the truth from the Bible.   If I want the Lord to use me, I must prepare myself to be used and make myself available.  I should be as diligent in preparing my life for use as firefighters are in preparing themselves for the next fire.   fire engine for its use.

PRAYER:   Lord, show me how to prepare myself and my possessions for Your use.  As the song says, “To be used of You is my desire.”  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 06, 2023: SOAP #4841: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 “No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

OBSERVATION:  If we believe what Jesus said about himself, that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), then it is logical to believe the above.  His “words will never pass away!” 

Truth may be hidden, misquoted, denied, but truth is eternal.  Truth remains truth.  Truth will never pass away! 

I just noticed that Jesus did NOT say that heaven and earth might pass away, but that they WILL pass away.  As surely as Jesus words will NEVER pass away, just as certain, heaven and earth WILL pass away. 

APPLICATION: Investing life into that which will pass away is foolish.  There are many investment counselors giving advice on how to invest money for the future.  But for the child of God, in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, investing for the future is not good enough!   We want to invest for eternity!    

Thankfully God has provided the perfect investment counselor, the Holy Spirit.  He is not someone we need to look up, he dwells within us!   He will guide us on investing our money, our time, and our lives for the greatest eternal benefit!   He will help us apply the words of Jesus in our today’s life, to have the greatest eternal good! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, guide the investment of my life and my possessions for eternal good.  When I bow before the throne in heaven, may my heart rejoice that I followed your lead in investing my money, my time, and my life.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 05, 2023: SOAP #4840: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 1:8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers— to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

OBSERVATION:  After 40 years of wondering in the wilderness, Israel was about ready to go into the Promised Land.  God had given them the land, but they still must go and take possession of the land. 

To take possession, they would need to fight some battles.  God gave them battle plans and did miracles on their behalf, but they still needed to fight!   God did not send Israel into the promised land to be defeated, but to conquer it, to possess it, to make it a place where the promised Messiah would come! 

God’s promise of the land included His promise to be with them and help them. 

APPLICATION: Many times, God’s promises set the direction for our lives.  We must move ahead with confidence.  We must take on the challenges in faith that God did not send us here to be defeated! 

I must not hold back from what God has promised because it will require a struggle or hard work.  The One who promised, will be with me to ensure the victory. 

PRAYER:   Lord, your promises assure me that you are interested in me and will continue with me through the completion of what you have promised.  There is assurance of victory in taking possession of your promises.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 04, 2023: SOAP #4839: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11 (From an earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

OBSERVATION:  The colt: what an interesting object lesson.  I can learn from the colt for I too carry Jesus, not on my back, but in my heart. 

APPLICATION: The crowd was not cheering the colt, but the One the colt was carrying.  May I carry Jesus in such a manner that He receives the glory and honor He is so richly due. 

The people were laying down their garments on the road, not to make the road softer for the donkey, but in honor of the King.  Any glory I receive, any compliments, must be recognized as belonging to Him. 

I must keep in mind that what people do for me, is really in honor of the King.  Any blessings I receive are because of His Presence!

PRAYER:   Lord, the joy and the benefits of serving you may be mine, but the glory is clearly Yours.  As I enjoy the benefits, may you enjoy the glory!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 03, 2023: SOAP #4838: Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

OBSERVATION:  He saw!  Jesus saw what was happening around Him.  Children were being denied their opportunity to be close to Him.  He was being denied His opportunity to be close to them!  
His feelings were aroused. He felt indignation! (much grief, outrage, anger)  It was shameful that the people representing Him would turn children away!!! 
He spoke!  It is not that the children belonged to the kingdom, but that the kingdom belonged to the children!  …and to those who receive it as a child. 
He touched!   No, not just touched them…He picked them up in His arms! 
He blessed!  He blessed what He valued. 

Children were not a side issue to Jesus.  They were an important part of His whole ministry. 

APPLICATION: God has made children an important part of my ministry.  School bus driving is not something I can drop when a more important opportunity comes my way.  The children on my bus are important, to God and to me.  Being faithful to them is being faithful to God. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, give me words of kindness, encouragement, hope, and blessing for the children around me.  May I be a trustworthy and dependable friend. Keep me serving them with eternity in view.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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