Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 01, 2023: SOAP #5050: Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 126:1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

OBSERVATION:  Israel had sinned and God, to punish them, sent them into captivity.  But God had plans for Israel.  Through Israel would come One to be the sacrifice that pays for sin.  So, when they repented, God restored them.  God is the greatest Restorer!  They had longed to be restored to their homeland, and when it actually happened it was almost like they were dreaming.  They were full of joy and laughter.  People around them saw what happened and gave God the credit.

APPLICATION:  When God works in my life, it is right that I be joyful.   When people hear what is happening in my life may they say, “The LORD has done great things for Leon.”   Why should they say that?  Because they have seen that the LORD has done great things for me!

PRAYER:  Lord, may your works in my life be easily seen by those around me.  May they know that the explanation for some things in my life can only be found in you!    Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 30, 2023: SOAP #5049: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

SCRIPTURE:  Zechariah (NIV) 8:6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

OBSERVATION:  We may stand amazed at the things God sees as routine.  His ways are so far above our ways and His thoughts are so far above our thoughts!  What is a miracle in our eyes is something rather simple in His.  Even doctors can be heard at time declaring something a miracle, but to God it was as simple as people believing His Word, or even simpler as He at times reaches into a situation where there seems to be no faith, at least none that is visible to us.  It is just God at work doing what He can do. 

APPLICATION:  What a God!  What a wonderful God!  What a privilege to serve Him!

God always works in keeping with His word.  God works in response to our faith.  The better we know God’s character and His word, the greater our faith will be.  Through growing in knowledge of God’s character and His word, and as we personally experience God’s intervention in our lives, our faith grows.  We become confident that all things really do work together for our good!  

PRAYER:  Lord, You are amazing!  Your works are amazing.  I am always amazed and give you praise and worship.  But I am not as surprised as I used to be.  You are just doing what I expect you to do!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 29, 2023: SOAP #5048: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 12:11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was speaking to his disciples. He had some bad news: they would be brought before religious and civil leaders to answer for preaching about Jesus. It would be an experience that could cause them to worry. They might try to figure out their defense ahead of time.

Jesus also had some good news.  They would not need to worry about how to defend themselves.  Someone would be present and would teach them what to say: The Holy Spirit!  He would reveal truth to them in the moment it was needed!

First, here is a promise of God’s awareness. He knows what is happening to His children. Second, it is also a promise of God’s presence! He is close enough to be heard. And third it is a promise of His wisdom being available to those He loves! The Holy Spirit will teach them at that moment what to do.

APPLICATION:  There is bad news for me: I will experience trials and troubles. There is also good news: I can count on the presence of the Holy Spirit. I can trust His directions. Success depends on understanding what the Holy Spirit is saying…and following His directions.

My plan: First, I need to live panic-free. My circumstances may not make sense to me, but they are clear to God! Second, I need to live listening. I need to keep my ears open to His voice. Third, I need to live expecting. I can expect the great promise keeper to keep this promise also. I expect He will show me what to do. He may not show me ahead of time, but He will show me in time!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I trust you to fulfill this word in my life every day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 28, 2023: SOAP #5047: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11 (reworked SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 11:2 He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples), “When you pray, say: ‘(Our) Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.’”

OBSERVATION:  This should be called The Disciple’s Prayer for it was given by Jesus to them at their request.

Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray: Give me my bread; forgive me my sins; lead me not into temptation.  He was not teaching us to pray alone, but to pray as a group.  And when I pray as an individual, I should be consciously aware that I am not alone in following Jesus.

APPLICATION:  In praying for my needs, I need to be more aware that those around me have needs too.  Even when praying for forgiveness, I need to remember others need forgiveness too.  When I come to the Lord with my sins, I can remember that others sin too.  I need the merciful God to forgive me in the same way my brother or sister needs the merciful God to forgive them.  I need God’s help in overcoming temptations, and those around me need God’s help also.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, the next time I quote these verses as a prayer, help me pray as Jesus intended for us to pray.  Enlarge my heart to pray with and for others.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 27, 2023: SOAP #5046: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 10:8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was sending his disciples out to expand his ministry.  Here are the instructions he gave as he sent them out. 

Like his own ministry, Jesus wanted their ministry to consist of healing and teaching.  They were to teach about the Kingdom of God.  The Israelites were looking for an earthly kingdom that would free them from the rule of Rome; they were not too interested in a heavenly kingdom.  So, the disciples were to demonstrate the power of God’s kingdom by healing the sick. 

The presence of God’s kingdom is to make a big difference on earth.

The disciples were sent to do a ministry like that of Jesus.  With His teaching, He taught kingdom principles and with His miracles, He demonstrated Kingdom power and authority. 

We see the same in the life of the Apostle Paul.  Reading in Acts, we can see He taught (words) kingdom principles and demonstrated (action) kingdom power and authority. 

APPLICATION:  When I refer to Jesus as Lord, I am claiming to be a part of His kingdom and placing myself under His authority.    People will not want what I have unless they see that God’s kingdom makes a difference in my life here on earth.  My life is to be a demonstration of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

PRAYER:  Lord, may your authority be established in me and expressed through me in words and actions.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 26, 2023: SOAP #5045: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 127:1 A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

OBSERVATION:  The LORD is the builder, but He does not work alone.  He has a crew of “builders.”  If the LORD is not the head-builder, their work turns out useless.

The same is true of security personnel.  If the LORD is not the head Police officer, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

The same is true of every line of work.  He is knowledgeable, proficient, and competent in every vocation.

APPLICATION:  I limit my accomplishments when I think I can do my job alone.  I dishonor Him when I act like I do not need His guidance and help.  I should not consider Him as MY Helper, I should consider myself as HIS assistant.

PRAYER:  Lord, I do not want to just work FOR you; I want to work WITH you!  Your ways are so much higher than my ways. Your projects are so much greater than mine. Your projects stretch through this life into eternity. In heaven, I want us to look back and see what we have accomplished.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 25, 2023: SOAP #5044: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Reading for yesterday:  Ezra (NIV) 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:…5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
For today:  Ezra: (NIV) 2:64-65 The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers.

OBSERVATION:  In chapter one we read that GOD moved the heart of King Cyrus to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  God gave him something to do that was beyond his power.  God knew that King Cyrus could not accomplish this task.  But that was no problem to God.  He moved the hearts of 42,360+ Jews to move back to Jerusalem to do the work!!!   It is amazing what God can do!!! 

God often assigns us a task beyond our ability and resources.  It is not that the task is unimportant, not really needing accomplishment.  It is not that we are to work in frustration knowing that we cannot do it.  IT IS TO MAKE US RELY ON GOD!  He gives us a GOD-size job so that God can do it through us!  He never intended for us to do it on our own!!!

APPLICATION:  When God gives me an assignment, I must have confidence in Him.  He has all power.  He has all wisdom.  He understands supply and demand.  He knows where the resources are located. 

The one who supplied 42,000+ people to help, made sure that the proper amount were priests, temple workers, musicians, etc.  Before leaving, their neighbors provided the gold and silver that they would need. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I can count on you.  I know you will give me something that is too big for me to do, but not something that is too big for you.  I trust you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 24, 2023: SOAP #5043: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

SCRIPTURE:  Ezra (NIV) 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

OBSERVATION:  The God who “moved the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia,” (verse 1)  to build a temple also “moved” the hearts of the people to give and to go (verse 5).  This was God’s plan and He worked out all the details.  The heart of the King could be as easily influenced by God as the hearts of the Jews. 

APPLICATION:  I must keep reminding myself that God is more than able to take care of the details.  It is for me to be obedient and do my part.  It is not my part to twist the arms of others to give or get involved. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I set myself to do what you have “moved” my heart to do.  I know I can trust you to “move the hearts” of others to “give or go.”  I know we are all your servants; we are all working for you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 23, 2023: SOAP #5042: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete.”

OBSERVATION:  Two men with the same goal: to build a house. 

Two men with totally different outcomes:  first: a house that could not be shaken; second: a house that collapsed and was totally destroyed. 

Two different building practices:  first:  built a foundation on the rock; second:  built on the ground without a foundation.

APPLICATION:  My goal:  …to build a life that will last into eternity. 
…to gain God’s approval when I stand before Him. 
…to hear what God says to me and do what He says. 

PRAYER:  Lord, out of all the things that today will compete for my attention, hearing your words is my priority.  Only after hearing your words, can I set myself to doing your will.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 22, 2023: SOAP #5041: Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5     

(reworked SOAP from 2010) 

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding round him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

OBSERVATION:  Most fishermen have favorite bait and fishing equipment.  When they own a boat, they personalize it.  Everything has its place.  We could call Simon’s boat his “my space.” 

Jesus felt free to use Simon’s boat as a platform for teaching.  Jesus got into Simon’s space.  Simon’s space was available and used for Jesus’ ministry.  Other people were blessed because Jesus got into Simon’s boat.

APPLICATION:  I need to let Jesus get into my boat—into the “my space” areas of my life and let Him shine!  “My space” is not only my “Facebook,” and my “email,” but it is also my car, my school bus, my desk, my house, and my booth in the restaurant.   May other people see Jesus in “my space.”  May Jesus feel free to use “my space” as a platform to touch others. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as people come in touch with my personal areas today may they find you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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