Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 01, 2023: SOAP #5081: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

(Repeated for my sake. God’s assurance that I did something right today.)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

OBSERVATION:  Consider the changes in perspectives of those involved:
– The children from being shunned to becoming the center of attention.
– The parents from having their most prized possession disregarded to having it greatly valued.  Jesus took time for their child!!! 
– The disciples from trying to protect Jesus from unnecessary distractions to learning his priority. They learned His value of children! 
-Jesus from seeing what he had created in his image being kept from him to not just touching them as requested but giving them a hug.

APPLICATION:  As a school bus driver, I know that children do not have my wisdom and understanding of driving a bus in traffic.  At times I may need to ignore them to safely drive, but I also need to make sure that they know they are valuable.  In fact, they are the reason for the bus and for my job as a driver!  That should be my perspective.  My job was not created to give me an opportunity to earn money.  It was created to provide safe transportation for valuable lives to and from school.  God did not tell me to drive a bus to earn money, but because He loves children; he wants me to love them too. He wants my hands to be an extension of His!   He wants my words to be His. 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me to see things as you see them — especially children.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 31, 2023: SOAP #5080: Job 22; Mark 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

OBSERVATION:  The challenge Jesus gives is not just for His top followers.  It is for every follower.  It is for “anyone” who would come after Him!  He gathered “the crowd” “along with His disciples!”  This was not a special call to disciples, missionaries, and church leaders.  It is a call to be like Jesus! 

APPLICATION:  There will be requirements that we would rather not.  There will be times when we would rather look the other way or pretend that we did not hear.  The wonderful peace and joy we experience in our hearts will be challenged by living in an ungodly world.  Following Jesus is not always easy and pleasant, but it is ALWAYS worth it! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you knew we would have difficulty in living out this challenge so you sent the Holy Spirit to live in us just as He did in Jesus.  Holy Spirit, fill me, lead me, work through me, make me like Jesus.  In His Name I pray, Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2023: SOAP #5079: Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 6:36 [the disciples to Jesus] Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he [Jesus] answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

OBSERVATION:  The assignment of Jesus was obviously too big for them. You feed these five thousand men plus women and children!   It was far beyond their abilities, but not beyond His!    The miracles started with finding out what they had [five loaves and two fish] and bringing it to Jesus.  In His hands the bread and fish multiplied and the disciples were then able to do what He had told them to do: “You give them something to eat!” 

APPLICATION:  Many times, my assignment is far beyond my ability.  I too must take my limited supply and place it in His hands.  His blessing expands the “less than enough” to “more than enough!” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, build my faith to release my “less than enough” into your hands.  I trust that from your storehouse of “more than enough” you will meet the need you have led me to encounter.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 29, 2023: SOAP #5078: Job 20; Mark 3-4

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 3:1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

OBSERVATION:  The religious leaders were closely watching Jesus.  They watched with purpose, to have a reason to accuse Jesus. 

But they were not the only ones watching.  Jesus was also watching!  He saw someone hurting.  He saw a shriveled hand. He saw a need that He could meet. 

Acts 10:38 says Jesus “went around doing good.”  He watched for opportunities to do good. 

APPLICATION:  Jesus is still looking for opportunities to “do good.”  He is looking for people through whom He can “do good.”  May I look for opportunities to “do good.”  Wherever I go.  It is not so much looking for what I can do, but for what He wants to do through me.  He will multiply the little I can do to accomplish what He can do!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I know my limitations prevent me from meeting all the needs around me, so I need you to draw my attention to the needs you will meet through me.  Jesus, You are the Limitless One.  Speak through me and touch through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 28, 2023: SOAP #5077: Job 19; Mark 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 2:16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

OBSERVATION:  To the religious leaders, they were only “sinners and tax collectors.”  But to Jesus, they were so much more.  They were potential believers.  They were potential testimonies.  They were worthy of His time.  They were the reason He was on earth.  Of course, He would go to their homes. 

APPLICATION:  I must be careful not to think of people as useless or outside the circle of God’s grace.  Everyone within my circle of influence, everyone who can see me, everyone who can hear me are potential followers of Jesus. 

The reason some people are not following Jesus may not be because they have refused Him; it may be that no one has shared the good news with them!  May there be no one in my circle of influence of whom that is true!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, the Word (Acts 1:8) promises that when I am full of you, I will be a witness.  May I be so full of you that it will be impossible for everyone not to see Jesus living in me.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 27, 2023: SOAP #5076: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 28:7 [Shipwrecked on the island of Malta] There was an estate near by that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island… 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured…
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there [in Rome, awaiting his trial] in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  The limitations Paul experienced provided their own unique opportunities for ministry.  Being limited as a prisoner, Paul ministered to his guards.  Being limited on a ship, he ministered to the crew.  Being limited while shipwrecked, he ministered to the sick residents.  Being limited under guard to a rented house, he ministered to those who visited him.  Being limited in prison, he wrote letters!

APPLICATION:  Friends, may we never allow the limitations that surround us hinder the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through us.  Every limitation opens another door of opportunity.  We may not have enough money to do one thing, but we have more time to do something else.  We may not be able to go to one destination, but we can minister where we are or nearby.  We may not have the needed supplies for what we would like to do, but we have the Holy Spirit anointing to do what the Spirit leads.

This week, Pastor Andrew is not able to travel in person to Kenya, but he can minister how to use the SOAPs through an internet video call on a phone the Lord provided. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show us the opportunities we have in our limitations.  When we are serving you, we always have enough to do what you give us to do!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

If you do not receive the SOAP, you can read them on the Facebook page “Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon.”  or  at soapsbyleon.wordpress.com  

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 26, 2023: SOAP #5075: Job 17; Acts 24-26

SCRIPTURE:  Job (NIV) 17:3 “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?

OBSERVATION:  Job had come to the realization that he was incapable of meeting God’s demands.  It was not within Job to come up with something that would qualify as acceptable to God. 

God perfectly understood Job’s predicament and that is why He sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice He demanded to cover our sins.

APPLICATION:  There is nothing I can do to atone for, to cover, to satisfy God’s demands.  I can only receive by faith His forgiveness and live in appreciation for what Jesus has done on my behalf.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I recognize that I have sinned and there is nothing I can give as an acceptable sacrifice to cover the offence against you of my sins.  I understand that you sent your Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life and then die as though He was a sinner.  His sinless blood was not needed to cover His sins, which He had none, therefore it is available to cover my sins.  I understand that if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness!  (1John 1:9)   I confess my sins and receive your forgiveness.  Thank you for making me your child.  Thank you for coming to live inside me.  I now set my life on a course to honor you.  In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Note from Pastor Andrew:  Cavalry greetings to you all in Jesus name Amen, I want to take this opportunity to thank the almighty God for spearing my life after been attached by arm rubbers and hospitalized two weeks ago I lost everything including the money, my Passport, phone and other documents ment for my travelling. I also want to thank my Daddy Pastor Leon and everyone who stood in the gap to pray for me may the good Lord bless you and your family in Jesus name Amen . I also want to thank you who supported my Daddy Pastor Leon financially to buy me a phone, thank you so very much. I’m great ful and back online to God be the glory I’m kindly asking you all to continue to pray for me as I’ll be hosting an online conference with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania about the SOAP MINISTRY Once more I thank you all and May the good Lord continue to bless you and your family in Jesus name Amen. Your Faithfully servant Pastor Andrew.

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 25, 2023: SOAP #5074: Job 16; Acts 21-23

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 23:11 The following night [while Paul was in prison] the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

OBSERVATION:  On his trip to Jerusalem, Paul had been warned many times that he would meet with trouble.  The prophetic words proved true.  Trouble had indeed found Paul.  Now in jail, the Lord appears to Paul.  Just the Lord’s Presence must have communicated to Paul several things:  first, “I know where you are!” And second, “I know how to get to you!”   The Lord’s words said first, “I know you have been faithful.”  And second, “I have more for you to do.”

APPLICATION:  Trouble is not an indication that I have missed God!  It is amazing to me that God was using Rome to protect the life of Paul.  He would later use Rome to provide the transportation to the city of Rome where God wanted Paul to give testimony.

That which limited Paul, only served to further his ministry.  And while he was in Rome’s prison he wrote his letters that took him around the world to generations of people living long after his death!

You may think you are limited, but God can use those limitations to spread your ministry further than you could ever have dreamed!  The “prison cell” you are in is not meant by God to limit your ministry, but to focus your ministry.  Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, focus on what you can do!  Leave the results to God! 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me not to be so concerned about what I cannot see but to focus more clearly on what I can see.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

#1.  I received a call today from Pastor Andrew using his new phone!!!  Our hearts rejoiced together for God’s provision.  Pastor Andrew did not have money for a phone; I did not have money for a phone; but God knew who did and God spoke to them to provide!!!   Now they will share in the heavenly rewards that will come.  
#2.  October 25 is the day Sharon and I were married 55 years ago!!!  Rejoice with us as we celebrate God’s sustaining power and provisions.  …as we celebrate the love we have for God and each other. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 24, 2023: SOAP #5073: Job 15; Acts 19-20

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 20:36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had just given them some farewell words of encouragement.  In a few minutes he would be boarding a ship and starting his journey back to Jerusalem.  But before leaving, they knelt together on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and prayed.

APPLICATION:  In prayer we entrust those we love into the hands of God for His protection, His guidance, and His provision.   It is a good way of saying we have done all we can do and now they are in God’s hands.

Parents, be sure to pray for your children as they leave for school each day (…and as they grow older, each time there is a “good-bye.”)  May your prayers be strong in their minds as they move throughout their day.  Give them something to remember!  Let your prayers be the last words they hear as they go out the door for school, or as they leave for an extended trip.    

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you that I heard my Dad and Mom pray for me.  They lifted my name before the Creator of the world.  They asked you to bless me, to guide my steps, and to anoint me for service.  I thank you for your hand upon my son, Doron.  Fill his heart with the fulfillment and the great joy that is found in serving you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 23, 2023: SOAP #5072: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 17:15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had arrived in Athens and had to await the arrival of Silas and Timothy.  Instead of taking a room and spending the time alone, he went out into the city and looked around.  He began talking with the Jews in the local synagogue as well as the people in the marketplace.   He used his “waiting-time” to interact with people.  He was invited to speak publicly at a place where people gathered to hear new ideas.   He made good use of his “waiting-time.”

APPLICATION:  Today I will have “waiting-times” before the time to begin my bus route, maybe in a doctor’s office, or in a grocery store check-out line; and, of course, stopped at a traffic lights.  Waiting times can be frustrating if I am in a hurry, BUT if I see it as an opportunity for the Lord, it can be turned into a blessing.

What do I do with my “waiting” time?  Do I look around?  Do I see who might be open to some conversation?  Do I take advantage of opportunities to present Jesus?  Speaking might not be possible, but praying always is!

PRAYER:  Lord, help me to have my spiritual eyes open to opportunities available in my “waiting-times.”  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Praise the Lord, Pastor Andrew will be getting a phone today!   The Lord provided specifically for the phone.  He should be able to participate in a conference in Kenya this week via the internet.  Praise the Lord!!!