Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 12, 2023: SOAP #4908: 2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
verse 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers 3. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  How the good news of Jesus spreads!  -From Jesus to the disciples and Stephen.  -From Stephen to Paul.  -From Paul to those in Thessalonica.  -From those in Thessalonica to those in Macedonia and Achaia.

Paul’s heart was entwined with those in the Thessalonica church.  His heart rejoiced at their commitment.  And their hearts surely rejoiced that they were included in Paul’s prayers.  Paul had special memories of things about this church for which he gave thanks to God. 

APPLICATION:  Here is a good example of praying for other believers.  We can pray for what comes out of their faith, their love, and their hope.  We can pray for their accomplishments, their work, and their endurance. 

And we can rejoice when others see things in us for which they can pray! 

PRAYER:  Lord, what a special assignment we have—to pray for others.  And what a special privilege to be remembered before your throne in the prayers of others.  Bless those who support the SOAP ministries.  Bless those who work to translate, print, distribute, the SOAPs.  Bless Pastor Andrew and Bishop Emmanuel who are presently on a tour to install two laptops and two printers in six West African countries.  (Bissau, Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Nigeria, Senegal)  Thank you for the provision enabling this increase in the SOAP ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 11, 2023: SOAP #4907: 2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

OBSERVATION:  Here Jesus was giving His disciples the Great Commission.  It was their responsibility to carry on the ministry He had started.  They had been with Him from the beginning of His ministry.  He had even sent them out two by two in preparation for His ministry time coming to their area.  Jesus had taken them aside to teach and answer their questions. 

But Jesus was not depending on them to remember everything.  He was depending on His presence, His Holy Spirit! 

NOTE:  Jesus was not commanding them to be with Him; He was promising to be with them!!!  

Of course, they would be able to fulfill His command!  He was going to be with them!  Of course, they would not forget His words; He was going to be with them! 

APPLICATION:  Jesus is not depending on the strength of my hand to keep me close to Him.  Jesus is depending on the strength of HIS hand to keep me close!  

PRAYER:   Lord, I am depending on your promise to be with me “always, to the very end of the age.”  I too, am depending on your strength to keep me close.  I am depending on your presence to guide me in the way I should go.  Lord, I am depending on YOU!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 10, 2023: SOAP #4906: 2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

(reworked)

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 27:42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

OBSERVATION:  If Jesus would have come down from the cross, they would have believed in him — or so they said.  But their believing in him would have gained them nothing.  There would have been no forgiveness of sin if Jesus had come down from the cross.  Our sins are forgiven because he stayed on the cross.  The wage of sin is death, not suffering.  Jesus had to do more than suffer; he had to die.  He stayed on the cross until he died, and now we can believe on him!

He had to die, He had to be buried, He had to rise again on the third day like He promised!  (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19)

APPLICATION:  I am so thankful that Jesus did not take a short cut in dealing with my sins.  He took my sins as if they were his own.  He suffered, shed his
blood, and died.  My sins are more than covered by the payment Jesus made.

He rose from the dead on the third day and now He lives the resurrected life in me!   It is a life that has already defeated death!  When the time comes for me to die, there is no one I would rather have with me than Someone who has already “been there and done that!”  He will allow me to draw on His fearless approach to death. 

PRAYER:   Lord, with my sins forgiven and my faith resting wholly in you, I will pass
through death as you did. I will join you in the courtroom of heaven.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 09, 2023: SOAP #4905: 2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 71:9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone….
14 But as for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

OBSERVATION:  One of the greatest concerns of senior citizens should be the next generation.  That they know the Lord should weigh heavily on our hearts.

In this passage, I hear David saying,” Do not take my life from the earth until I have passed on my testimony to the next generation.” 

APPLICATION:  Each generation must take the responsibility to pass along truth to the next generation.  We must pass on the truth that is recorded in God’s word.  AND we must pass on the truth of how God was working in our lives.  We must not let them think that the working of God ended when the last pages of the Bible were written.  We must not let them think that the working of God stopped with the last generation or the one before that. 

We must tell them what God has been doing in our generation and lead them to expect that God will also be working in their generation!!!   

PRAYER:   Lord, help me plant in the lives of the next generation, a sure expectation to hear you speak and to see your works.  Personally reveal yourself to them, I pray.   Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 08, 2023: SOAP #4904: 2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 25:14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.  …   19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’  23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

OBSERVATION:  The one returning with 4 talents received the same commendation as the one who returned with 10 talents.  One might think that returning with 10 talents would deserve a greater reward. 

The key, I believe is in verse 15:  the master gave “each according to his ability!  The master was not rewarding fruitfulness, but faithfulness! 

APPLICATION:  We often look at the outward, visible results of ministry.  We consider how great the ministry, or how large the congregation, or how big the building.   We must remember that God is looking beyond size or amount; He is also considering the faithfulness of the heart!   Fruitfulness is important to God.  Faithfulness will result in fruitfulness, but only God can correctly judge. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep my motives pure.  Help me have a servant’s heart that is free from pride and comparison with others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 07, 2023: SOAP #4903: 2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come….
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

OBSERVATION:  There are some things that we cannot know.  We know that Jesus will return, but we do not know when.  We do not know if we will be present when Jesus returns for His church or if we will leave earth individually.  That knowledge is not available to us. 

Praise the Lord, we can know that we are ready!  We can know that our sins are forgiven. 

APPLICATION:  Today I attended a funeral of a man younger than myself.  Monday I will attend a graveside service for a lady older than myself.  I remember as a young pastor doing my first funeral for a person younger than myself.  Such opportunities serve to keep me aware that I must “keep watch” and “be ready.” 

Thoughts of the return of Jesus should not be buried and forgotten.   Keeping those thoughts active in my mind will help me to “be ready.”  Such thoughts will help me make wise decisions as to how I spend my time, my energy, and my money. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross to insure I am ready to join you in heaven when my time comes to leave this world.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit who helps me keep watch and aware of the times in which I am living. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 06, 2023: SOAP #4902: 2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

(Repeat from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

OBSERVATION:  In Psalm 51 David begs forgiveness from God not on the basis of who David is, but on the basis of who God is.  David did not make excuses for his sin, nor did he beg mercy because he was the king of Israel.  He did not say, “Remember, I killed Goliath.”  David did not say, “I am just a man and she was a beautiful woman, Lord, what did you expect.”  No, David knew sin could be removed because there was something greater than sin. Sin kills.  Sin destroys.  Sin is powerful, but not all-powerful.  There is something stronger than sin.  There is a power greater than the power of sin!   It is God’s mercy, His unfailing love, His great compassion.  About 1000 years after this prayer God provided the perfect payment for sin (past and future) in the death of Jesus on the cross!    He does not cover over my sin; He washes me clean.

APPLICATION:  God forgave David on the basis of who God was, not on the basis of who David was.  God forgives Leon on the basis of who God is, not on the basis of who Leon is.  When I need forgiveness, I know God’s grace is sufficient for all my sin.  When I need to forgive someone, I know that God’s grace is sufficient for all their sin too.

PRAYER:   Lord, forgive me according to your mercy, your unfailing love and your great compassion.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 05, 2023: SOAP #4901: 2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 20:1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah
4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

OBSERVATION:  Here is a special blessing from the Lord in His Word.  Today I send this blessing to all those who work to prepare and provide the SOAPs for others. 

My brothers and sisters, we have stumbled into God’s work.  God used Pastor Dayton Poe to give me the assignment of writing daily SOAPs, (which I did not want to accept at the first) and God has used various ways to join others in this SOAP ministry.  This ministry is not something anyone planned, but as we were faithful in the little things, God has made it grow! 

APPLICATION:  I pray you find the strong hand of the Lord with you in time of trouble.  I pray for our Heavenly Father to send you help from heaven’s courts and may He lead the people of Zion to give into your ministry as He directs them.  May God see the sacrifices you have made to spread the SOAPs.  May He fulfill your desires.  I have, and I will continue to “shout for joy” and spread the good news of your victories.

PRAYER:   Lord, your blessings from your Word!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 04, 2023: SOAP #4900: 2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 21:12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’.”…
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”…
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

OBSERVATION:  Three times in this chapter, Jesus, the Living Word, refers to the Written Word of God.  He would not have needed to make reference to the Written Word for His spoken words carried the same authority as those written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The Written Word should have prepared them for the Living Word. 

The people to whom Jesus was speaking should have had no trouble with Jesus actions and teachings.  He had come in fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures.  Reading the scriptures would have prepared them for Jesus and His ministry. 

APPLICATION:  The closer I get to Jesus, the more my life will take on the priority of the Bible.  But how can I live according to His Word if I do not read it.  Reading the Bible should be a priority in my life.

Faithfully reading God’s Word will prepare me for the day.  I will approach the day with understanding and better respond to what happens.  How can I expect God to speak to me when I refuse to read what He has already said!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word.  Holy Spirit, open my understanding as I read it today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 03, 2023: SOAP #4899: 2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”…
30  Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”… 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

OBSERVATION:  In verses 25-28, Jesus taught the disciples about being a servant.  The purpose of a servant is to live and work for the good of another.  Then in verses 29-43, the disciples watched as Jesus demonstrated the servant attitude in ministry.  Jesus responded kindly to the interruption of the two blind men.  He asked how He might serve them.  He had compassion.  He touched them.  He touched their weakness.  He healed them.  And in so doing, Jesus became their servant!

APPLICATION:  One very great way Jesus served us is in giving us an example of what it means to be a servant.  I must do it “…just as the Son of Man…” (verse 28) 

Jesus words teach me.  His life is my example.  And as the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus, so the Holy Spirit empowers me to live out the life of Jesus. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I cannot live up to the teaching and example of Jesus without your help.  Fill me with yourself.  Empower me to be the servant needed.  May Jesus be glorified in my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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