Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 10, 2023: SOAP #5059: Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 23:22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

OBSERVATION:  Several times (verses 4, 14, 15 and 22; and Herod in verse 15) Pilate had declared Jesus to be innocent yet he caves to the shouts of the people. Was this the same crowd who just a few days earlier had shouted “Hosanna” as Jesus came into the city riding on the donkey?  Surely there were some in the crowd who had been healed or had a relative or close friend healed by Jesus.  Could it have been possible that some in the crowd had eaten the bread with the 5,000?  Why listen to this crowd? Didn’t Pilate have all Rome behind him?  Yet he gave the shout of the crowd more weight than the justice of Rome.

APPLICATION:  There is only one voice that remains constantly in line with truth and with God’s will — the voice of the Holy Spirit.  The more I learn to recognize His voice and the closer I walk to following His voice, the more I will fulfill the purpose God has for me.  

Prayerfully considering what God speaks through the Bible sharpens my sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit.  And stepping out in faith to do what He has told me builds my confidence to obey even more quickly next time.  It is the process of maturing from being His child to becoming His son, especially when His voice leads me contrary to the voice of the crowd.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, cause me to hear, understand, and obey what you say to me.  Thank you for developing maturity in my life. May there be no stopping of my growth in knowing and serving you.  Make me a profitable servant, I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
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