Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2023: SOAP #4991: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.

OBSERVATION:  In this passage of scripture (verses 31-47) Jesus gives five sources of testimony that should cause those listening to Him to accept Him. 

He started with John the Baptist (verse 33) who introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.  Then Jesus gives His works (verse 36), the healings and miracles, as testimony to His coming from the Father.  Third, Jesus tells of the Father’s approval (verse 37).  Fourth, Jesus tells that the very scriptures they search (verse 39) testify of Him!  And at the end of this passage (verses 45-47) Jesus points to the Jewish hero, Moses, as testifying about Him. 

Jesus was a person who spoke the truth!  He was to be believed!  He had been sent from God the Father.  Jesus had the credentials to be believed!  

APPLICATION:  God is at work in me to make me believable.  God wants my actions to make my words believable.  He has placed the Holy Spirit within me to guide my growth and life.  The Holy Spirit helps me remember and understand the scriptures.  He helps me apply them to my life. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I grow, may more and more people be able to testify that I belong to you and live as you direct.  May they see your love and holiness being expressed through my words and actions.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 02, 2023: SOAP #4990: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

OBSERVATION:  These verses about harvest are within the context of Jesus ministering to the Samaritan woman at the well.  Because of her testimony, many people came from the town to see Jesus.  John 4:4-42

Jesus spoke to his disciples about the harvest, not about a grain harvest, but a people harvest.  He told them to open their eyes and look at the fields.  What did they see?  They saw the people coming from the town.  Each person was a field ready for harvest. 

In every harvest, we find sowers and reapers.  The work of the reaper is proof that there has been a sower.  They both work with the same goal, the harvest.  They rejoice together. 

APPLICATION:  In some people (fields) the germinating and growing time of the seed (the gospel) is longer than others.  The seed may have been planted by a mother or father in a young child.  It may have been watered for years with the tears of praying parents.  It may be harvested long after mom and dad have died.  It may have been harvested by people the parents did not know.  But in heaven, they will rejoice together!  And what a great rejoicing that will be!  

PRAYER:  Lord, sometimes I am the sower; sometimes I am the reaper.  Help me be faithful in both.  Open my eyes today to see that even now there are fields (souls) ready for harvest.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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