Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 17, 2023: SOAP #4944: 1Kings 20,21; 2Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians (NIV) 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.

OBSERVATION:  When I confessed my sins to the Lord and received His forgiveness, He made me a new creation.  The old Leon died.  The inner man died and the Holy Spirit became the new operating system in me.  Remaining behind from the old man are thought patterns and habits that are incompatible with the new life that God has in me.  Paul tells me they must be “put to death.” 

It is like a war being won, and occupation forces are left to enforce the victory and establish a new government. 

God knows Leon very well!  He knows I will have trouble “putting to death” old habits, and new habits that have gotten stuck to me from the world in which I live.  He knows…and He made provisions for my weaknesses.  He has assigned His Holy Spirit to live in me!!!  His presence and His power are vital in establishing God’s kingdom, using me to spread His victory, and preparing me for heaven!  

APPLICATION:  It is so important that I listen to the Holy Spirit.  I must become familiar with His voice and how He speaks to me.  He speaks to me through friends, through circumstances, through His voice that I hear in my heart.  He speaks to me through the scriptures.  He uses the scriptures to confirm what I have heard through other sources. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is exciting to consider what lies ahead and what you are doing to prepare me for the future. 

Pastor Leon
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