Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 12, 2023: SOAP #5000: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 14:9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus gives the Father credit for all His teachings and miracles. The Father, living in Jesus, was doing the Father’s work.  Jesus had humbled himself while on earth; he had emptied himself of his goodness.  He lived as a man, a sinless man, as a created man, He lived the life He had created man to live.  So how did Jesus do all the miracles?  According to verse 10, it was the Father living in Jesus who did the works.   
     Jesus was returning to the Father and now Jesus would do in and through us what the Father had done in and through Jesus!!! 

APPLICATION:  So, how does that apply to me?  Just as Jesus depended on the Father to give Him what to say, and to do the miracles through Jesus, now I must depend on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to give me the words to say and flow through me to do His works. 
     The SOAPs are the Lord’s work.  He clearly told me to write them.  He leads me what to write.  He provides for them.  He uses them in many different places and ways. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I look back over 5000 SOAPs, I see your hand at work in and through me.  Your word washes me as it flows through me.  Your word changes how I think as I meditate on it.  Your word changes my life as I apply it.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 11, 2023: SOAP #4999: Jeremiah 7-9; John 13

By THIS shall all men know…

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

OBSERVATION:  When questioned about the greatest commandment, Jesus gave two:  Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.  But now, as Judas had just left to betray Him, Jesus moves even deeper into what His disciples needed to know.  Greater than the Law of Moses, Jesus was giving His disciples a new law to love ONE ANOTHER as Jesus had loved them!!!   This is more than loving our neighbor as we love ourselves; this is loving our brothers and sisters as Christ has loved us!   My love for myself is not the measuring standard for how I love others; Jesus love for me is the measuring standard! 

He continues on to say that this love would become a trademark by which the world would recognize them as disciples of Jesus. 

APPLICATION:  Evangelism is a main purpose of the church.  We take it seriously.  We organize evangelistic crusades.  We spend a lot of money on outreach.  It is so right that we do this. 

But I wonder what would happen if we took these two verses to heart and really began LOVING ONE ANOTHER as Jesus loves us!   Would all men recognize that we are Christ’s disciples?  Would they want to be a part of such a loving fellowship of people?  In stead of us seeking the lost, would the lost begin seeking us?    Hmmm…  I wonder…

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show me how to love as Jesus has loved me.  Help me see that this is not a measurement of how people are to love me, but for how I am to love my brother and sister.  Live in me; love through me; be seen in my love.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 10, 2023: SOAP #4997: Jeremiah 5-6; John 12

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12: 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence; they still would not believe in him…
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

OBSERVATION:  The inner turmoil that must have been in the lives of these people.  1.  They believed in Jesus; they saw the miracles and knew He spoke truth. 2.  They were afraid to express their faith.  3.  They feared losing their place in the synagogue.  4.  They loved the praise of men.  They suffered from peer pressure. 

Peer pressure is a big motivating influence in our lives, especially in teen-agers.  It is when we do something because we want to feel accepted and valued by our friends.  Maturing should help us grow into identifying truth and making our own decisions. 

APPLICATION:  It is important to identify truth.  Truth is the only worthy foundation upon which I can build a life that will stand the storms of time. 

Any study of life will bring me to Jesus, Who claimed to be “the way, THE TRUTH and the life.”  (John 14:6) 

Building my life on Jesus, is so much better than building it on peer pressure.  

PRAYER:  Lord, you are omniscient!  You know all things.  You know truth.  You know what is real.  You are the one true source of reality.  I depend on your leading to walk through this world.  Guide me into truth; your word is truth.  (John 17:17)  Alert me when I start relying on peer pressure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 09, 2023: SOAP #4997: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 11: 32 [Mary]  … fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died … . 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  … 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

OBSERVATION:  The stone laid across the tomb of Lazarus needed to be removed before Jesus called Lazarus to come out.  Lazarus was returning to life as he had known it.  He would later die and be buried.  The stone was removed to let Lazarus out.  Those gathered were told to “take off the grave clothes and let him go!”

Note the difference with the stone enclosing the tomb of Jesus!  He was already out!  The stone had to be removed to let us in!  (Matthew 28:6) The ladies were invited to “Come and see the place where he laid.” 

APPLICATION:  Stones can set a deadline.  They make me think if only Jesus would have answered my prayer earlier.  The stone stops my faith.  My faith must go behind and beyond the stones I encounter in life.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, stones cannot stop you.  You are already working behind the stone!  Along with my faith, I want my praise to be on both sides of the stones in my life!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 08, 2023: SOAP #4996: Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

SCRIPTURE:  Jeremiah (NIV) 1:6 “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

OBSERVATION:  Jeremiah had a problem.  (It was the same problem Moses had.)  In verse 6 Jeremiah said, “I do not know how to speak,” and “I am only a child.”

When Jeremiah was saying “I am only a child,” he had his eyes on himself.  He was looking at his limitations.  He was not counting on God’s abilities but his own inabilities.

In the previous verses, God had told Jeremiah that he had now arrived at the time and place for which God had originally formed him.  Before Jeremiah was formed in the womb, God knew this child would have a special purpose and place in Israel, being a spokesperson for the Lord God.  Jeremiah had been set apart (sanctified) for this very purpose.  Jeremiah was formed, set apart, and sent (appointed).

APPLICATION:  The key for Jeremiah is found in verse 7.  Jeremiah was to go to those to whom GOD had sent him and Jeremiah is to say to those people what GOD had given him to say.  Jeremiah was only the messenger/delivery boy. He must keep his ears open to the Lord God. Jeremiah had said he could not speak, I hear God saying, “you do not have to speak, only repeat!”

In writing a SOAP each day, this clearly speaks to me.  It is not for me to come up with something good that God has said in the past, or something that He will say in the future, or something I would like to hear Him say.  Rather it is for me to repeat what God IS saying today. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, keep my ears attentive to what you are saying.  Help me repeat it clearly.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 07, 2023: SOAP #4995: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 9:24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

OBSERVATION:  The facts were all there—AND verified.  This man had been born blind.  This man could now see!  Jesus had made some mud with his saliva, put it in his eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.   The man went and washed and could now see!   Would the religious leaders accept the personal testimony that was collaborated by parents?  NO!  (—a good example of a common idiom.) “You will never be able to make some understand or accept something if they are too stubborn or unwilling to learn or notice.”    

APPLICATION:  There is no wall so high as a closed mind.  There is no door so locked as a closed mind. 

Jesus’ instruction to the early church was that they were to remain in Jerusalem until they had been filled with the Holy Spirit!  (Act 1:8)   I am thinking that there is no wall so high or door so locked that the Holy Spirit cannot gain entrance. 

I need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in and through me as I move through the world around us!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, take over my life.  Anoint me to do the works that Jesus gives me to do.  Unlock closed doors and break down walls in the minds of those around me.  May Jesus be glorified in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 06, 2023: SOAP #4994: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was known as a teacher.  Many people listened to His words.  What He said was important.  Now the teachers of the law, hoping to trap Him with His own words, asked Him, “what do you say?” 

In response, Jesus made two comments.  Jesus did not accuse or defend the obviously guilty woman.  He spoke first to the accusers.  “The one without sin should go ahead and throw the first stone.”  As Jesus was writing in the sand on the ground, each accuser left, the older ones first.  Soon, the only ones left were the guilty woman and the one without any sin, the only one qualified to throw the first stone!

APPLICATION:  How could Jesus ignore this sin?   Oh, He was not ignoring it!  Before too long, He would be carrying that sin to the cross.  He would be paying for that sin by shedding His blood on the cross.  Jesus never ignored sin!  And He still does not ignore sin.  And His blood still covers sin!  

PRAYER:  Lord, my sins can be judged before the throne of God when I die, or I can confess my sins now and receive the forgiveness you purchased for me on the cross.  By faith I receive your forgiveness.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 05, 2023: SOAP #4993: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

OBSERVATION:  Even in the crowd that the religious leaders would lead in calling for His crucifixion, there were thirsty people.  So, what do thirsty people do?  They do not just look at water; they drink water.  And Jesus invited them to receive (drink) Him and His teaching into their lives. 

Not only would they be satisfying their thirst, but streams of living water would flow out from them. 

APPLICATION:  After Jesus had ascended back to His Father, the Holy Spirit filled every believer on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:4) What flowed into them, and filled them, flowed out of them and changed the world!   

As I read/hear the truth of the Word of God (drink it in), the Holy Spirit sets it on fire in my heart, in my thoughts.  It then makes it way out of my life (streams flowing out) to bless other thirsty people!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I am thirsty!  May I always be thirsty.  May I always be drinking from the living water of your word.  May there always be fresh streams of living water flowing from my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 05, 2023: SOAP #4993: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

OBSERVATION:  Even in the crowd that the religious leaders would lead in calling for His crucifixion, there were thirsty people.  So, what do thirsty people do?  They do not just look at water; they drink water.  And Jesus invited them to receive (drink) Him and His teaching into their lives. 

Not only would they be satisfying their thirst, but streams of living water would flow out from them. 

APPLICATION:  After Jesus had ascended back to His Father, the Holy Spirit filled every believer on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:4) What flowed into them, and filled them, flowed out of them and changed the world!   

As I read/hear the truth of the Word of God (drink it in), the Holy Spirit sets it on fire in my heart, in my thoughts.  It then makes it way out of my life (streams flowing out) to bless other thirsty people!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I am thirsty!  May I always be thirsty.  May I always be drinking from the living water of your word.  May there always be fresh streams of living water flowing from my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 04, 2023: SOAP #4992: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”… 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” …
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

OBSERVATION:  As daily bread (food) is important to our physical life, so spiritual bread is important to our spiritual life.  Jesus is not claiming to be the bread we eat with dinner. He claimed to be the living bread of God’s eternal life.   

APPLICATION:  This wonderful thing that God has provided is simply received by receiving Jesus into our life.  We receive Him as simply as we eat bread. 

We see the bread on the table.  We believe it will satisfy our hunger.  We believe that it will be good for our physical body.  We reach out and bring it near, placing it in our mouth.  We chew it and swallow it.  As it is digested in our stomach, it becomes a part of our physical body.  It gives us strength. 

I hear about Jesus.  I hear He will satisfy the longings of my heart.  I believe that it will be good for me to enter this relationship with Him.  I reach out by faith and bring Him near, allowing Him into my thoughts.  I think about His love for me, about His death on the cross.  I ask Him to forgive my sins and be the Lord of my life.  As He does, He becomes a part of my whole being!  I learn to walk in His strength!  

PRAYER:  Lord I receive you as the bread of God who brings eternal life.  Forgive my sins.  I join you in an abundant life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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