Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 01, 2023: SOAP #5111: Romans 5-8

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so, he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

OBSERVATION:  A Mother knows that it is important to warn her child of the dangers in the room, but she also understands that now he is focused on those things, and they hold an attraction for him.  So, she, who has experienced the grief they can bring, now stays with the child, and works to keep the child’s focus on herself and those things she knows are harmful.  Her presence is protection for her child.  Her wisdom is now available to the child.  Her experience and maturity are now available to guide and protect the child.  Her presence makes all the difference.

If she had just warned the child, then left the room, the child would soon wander into the forbidden area, but her watchful eye keeps him safe.

Her warning teaches, but her presence insures!  How true of our walk with God.  God desires that we learn and grow in understanding, so He gives us His Word, the Bible.  God also knows that we need His watchful eye on us, so He gives us His Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION:  And in addition to all this, it is the joy of the mother to spend the time with her child, and so it is not grievous for God to spend the personal time with each of us!   He joys in us even as a mother in her children.  Let us be the children who bring our Heavenly Parent much joy!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you knew how important it would be for your presence to be with us.  Even after being forgiven, we still need your Presence.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 30, 2023: SOAP #5110.: Romans 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 3:20 Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

OBSERVATION:  As creation is a self-portrait of God’s being, so the law is a self-portrait of God’s moral character.  It is absolutely perfect. It is so holy that man is unable to keep it.  In order to be acceptable before God, man needs help—lots of help!   In the tabernacle and temple, God accepted animal sacrifices.  They could not atone for man’s sin, but when done in faith, God accepted them as a stand-in sacrifice until the one perfect sacrifice would be made. 

From the depths of the hopelessness seen in verse 20, we are lifted to the height of hope in verse 21! There is another way to right standing with God.  There is another way to obtain righteousness.  And since it is righteousness from God, we can be assured that it is acceptable before God! Although this righteousness is apart from the law, it has been prophesied in the law itself and in the prophets. Every time a sacrifice (as required of the Law) was made, it was a prophecy of one coming who would put an end to sacrifices!   Every time a son of Adam stood as priest before God (as required by the law) it was a prophecy of One coming who was worthy to stand in His own sinless garments before God!

APPLICATION:  The hopelessness of verse 20 is offset by hope offered in verse 21 “to all who believe.”  The “believer” receives a “righteousness from God!”  It is received through faith in Jesus.  The sinless blood of Jesus covers my sins and I am made just-as-if-I’d never sinned!  

PRAYER:  Jesus, my faith is in you and your death on the cross as the sacrifice for my sins.  I receive your forgiveness and invite you to live in me and through me as my Lord!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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I have not heard anything today from Pastor Andrew.  He will be in the hospital for at least a week to monitor his medications and progress.  Thanks to everyone for praying.  God is faithfully at work in and through and for Pastor Andrew. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 29, 2023: SOAP #5109.: 1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

OBSERVATION:  We believe!  We are believers!  Our faith is founded upon historical fact.  We believe Jesus was crucified.  He died.  But that is not all we believe.  We believe that Jesus rose from death.  Jesus came back to life.  Jesus proved that death is not the end.  Jesus passed through death and returned.

APPLICATION:  AND SO  …    Believing the first part logically leads us to believe the second part. Because we believe Jesus died and rose, we also believe that those who have died while believing in Him will accompany Him when He returns.  As Paul wrote in another place, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” {2Co 5:8 } They are with the Lord as their body lies asleep in death. They will come with the Lord when He returns to this earth.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the assurance we have that the parting of death for those who die knowing you is only temporary.  Amen

NOTE:  As I was reading this verse my thoughts were drawn to those who have experienced the death of a loved one this past year.  This will be the first Christmas season without them.  May the One Jesus sent to be our Comforter, the Holy Spirit use this SOAP to ease some of the pain.  As great as the pain has been in the separation, even greater will be the joy in being reunited in the presence of God. 

Pastor Leon
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A note re: Pastor Andrew in Sierra Leone.  As a lingering result of the robbery and assault he developed some severe headaches for which the doctor needed to do surgery.  The money for the surgery was finally gathered, then the doctors wanted Doris to supply five units of blood before they would do the surgery.  She sold their refrigerator and borrowed $75 to purchase the blood; the doctors did the surgery.  Praise the Lord, Pastor Andrew is doing well in recovery and will be there for another week.  Please continue to pray for Pastor Andrew as he recovers, and for his wife Doris who still needs to repay the loan and purchase special meals the doctors have ordered. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 28, 2023: SOAP #5108.: Matthew 28; 1Thes 1-3

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

OBSERVATION:  Paul loved the believers in Thessalonica and would love to visit them, but his life was not his own.  God the Father and the Lord Jesus would have to “clear the way” for a visit back to Thessalonica. That speaks to me of two things:  clearing the calendar to schedule a time for such a visit AND providing necessary provisions for the trip. 

When God had clearly given an assignment in one location, Paul was not free to leave whenever he wanted and go to another location.  God was Paul’s calendar keeper!  God must “clear the way” from the first before he moved on to a second. 

God was his banker and funded Paul’s ministry.  Sometimes Paul worked a job, sometimes people traveling with Paul took jobs, sometimes churches sent Paul support.   God’s funding depended on doing God’s will.  So, Paul needed God to “clear the way” for travel to Thessalonica.  The assurance of God’s authorization comes with the assurance of God’s provision.

APPLICATION:  It is important for me to walk in step with God, not to lag behind or to run ahead.  Walking in the center of His presence is where I find peace, the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s anointing, and the assurance of His full provision.  I get myself in trouble when I go it on my own. 

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, as my love and appreciation for you grows in my heart, so grows my desire to live in the center of your will.  Being sure of your will for me brings the assurance of your provision.  You “clear the way” for me to do as you direct.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 27, 2023: SOAP #5107.: Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 26:2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away…[UNTIL] 27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there… [AND ONLY FIVE DAYS UNTIL] 27:5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

OBSERVATION: Just two days away from the darkest day on earth.  Man would kill his Creator!  Satan would incite men to kill the only One who had never sinned!  Religious leaders would break religious laws to bring about the death of the only One who had ever kept all the laws!  The hope of sick people who had only heard about the Healer would be dashed to pieces!  What a dark day!  … and in only two days!

But those of us who know the rest of the story know that it was just five days away from the greatest day ever!  In five days, the grave would be empty; death would be defeated!  In five days, sin would be atoned!  In five days, the Resurrected Jesus would appear with no indication that he had experienced the cruelty of a Roman crucifixion!  In five days, hope would overtake despair and joy would overtake sorrow!

APPLICATION:  There are times when great trouble is only two days away.  Sometimes God removes the trouble and give me victory; sometimes He leads me through the trouble to the victory only three days later!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to always see trouble in the light of victory. Victory preventing the crisis is great, but often the victory after the crisis is even greater.  However it comes, my eyes are on you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 26, 2023: SOAP #510.: Matthew 23-25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 23:14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey….
20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five… I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with the two talents also came….see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

OBSERVATION:  Note that the one returning with 4 talents received the same commendation from the master as the one returning with 10.  As I wondered why, I was led back to verse 15: they were given talents “each according to his ability!” Then I understood that they were not being rewarded for fruitfulness, but for faithfulness!  (Faithfulness does result in fruitfulness, but God rewards the faithful.) 

APPLICATION:  How foolish it is to compare my accomplishments to those of others.  God is looking for faithfulness.  They may have been given more talents, or fewer than were given to me.  Their talents may be in different skills than mine.  What is important: am I making the most of every opportunity the Lord has brought to me?  Will I be faithful today to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through me today? 

PRAYER:  Lord, Jesus, there has never been a servant as faithful as you.  Work your faithfulness into my character.  Be your assignment large or small, I want you to find me faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 25, 2023: SOAP #5105: Matthew 20-22

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. … 4  This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

OBSERVATION:  Some assignments do not seem to be very important or glamorous, like going to get a donkey.  As he was writing his gospel, Luke goes on to tell us that this assignment, getting the donkey, was to fulfill prophecy. (Zechariah 9:9)  But there is no record of Jesus telling the disciples how important this was.  

APPLICATION:  Sometimes the Lord gives me an assignment that does not seem very spiritual. I cannot see how it matters. An act of kindness or a word of encouragement does not appear to have an important part in the Kingdom. I am thinking that if I do not follow through with what I believe God is prompting me to do, it will not make any difference.  Oh, but doing it may change a life!  

It is important for me to faithfully carry out His assignment. It is important to Him that I obey. It is important to me for He rewards His faithful servants. And it may be important to others in ways that I do not presently understand.  I do not know what just happened in the life of the one to whom I am sent.  It was just something Jesus told me to do.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, it makes a difference for me to be faithful in carrying out your assignments. So, it is important that I learn to listen to your voice. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 24, 2023: SOAP #5104: Matthew 17-19

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus touched them AND spoke to them.  We see the ministry of touch, and the ministry of words.  Both are so important!   The Holy Spirit will flow through us in both.

The ministry of touch emphasizes PRESENCE.  There are times when that ministers more than words.  A touch can say, “I am here for you,” or “I am with you.”  It can say, “I do not know what to say, but I love you and I am here.”

The ministry of words ministers in two ways.  First is the message that the words convey, which can range from comfort to correction, from encouragement to exhortation.  Second is the manner in which the words are spoken—the tone of voice.  The tone of voice can minister tenderness or sternness, patience or persistence.

APPLICATION:  Even without consciously thinking about it, I will be using these two ministries today.  I will be greeting friends with hugs and words of friendship.  I will not know the hurt behind the smile or the pain underneath the hug.  I need to be aware when the Holy Spirit wants it to be more than just a general greeting.  I want them to sense His presence in me and to hear His words from lips.   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, touch through me today.  Speak through me to those needing encouragement and comfort. Impress on my thoughts words and ideas that will best minister to those to whom I am speaking.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Note:  Please pray for Pastor Andrew Borbor in Sierra Leone.  He has been improving from the personal attack and robbery he suffered sometime back.  This past week he developed severe headaches and is back in the hospital awaiting brain surgery.  The doctors have finally been paid to do the surgery, but now they want the family to provide five units of blood before they do the surgery!  I believe this all is an attack from the evil one to rob the Kingdom of an anointed minister and to send his family into poverty.  Please join me in prayer for a miracle.  I am praying that God’s obvious involvement in Pastor Andrews recovery will strengthen his ministry and be a testimony to God’s miraculous power.   Amen

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 23, 2023: SOAP #5103: Matthew 14-16

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 15:25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 22, this woman is identified as from Caanan (non-Jew) yet she recognized that Jesus could help her daughter.  She, being a Gentile mother willing to go among people who would not accept her, came to Jesus.  Jesus said that what she requested was the children’s bread, not to be tossed to dogs.  Her great love for her daughter and her great faith in Jesus combined into a resolve in her heart that would not be offended!  

Jesus gave her the children’s bread! He healed her daughter that very hour!!!  

APPLICATION:  From Jesus words, we can see that healing can be considered the children’s bread.  His death purchased our salvation, making us God’s children and it is “by his stripes we are healed!”  (Isaiah 53:5; 1Peter 2:24

Reading through the Gospels it is easy to see that healing was a major emphasis in the ministry of Jesus.  Reading through the book of Acts it is easy to see that the ministry of healing is to continue in the church. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, we are your children.  Walking with you is walking in your protection and provision.  We joyfully claim the “children’s bread” you have for us.  May our faith and love mix into a resolve that we too will not be denied.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 22, 2023: SOAP #5102: Matthew 11-13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 13:14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

OBSERVATION:  The gospel message is to be a hearing AND seeing message.  Jesus not only taught messages that people could hear, He did miracles that people could see!  Sometimes His miracles provided an opportunity to teach, and sometimes His teaching led to faith for a miracle.  But they were always together.  (Matthew 11:4-5; and as you read the Gospels take note of the many times teaching/preaching and miracles were linked.)

APPLICATION:  It concerns me that in many churches today the “hearing” aspect of the gospel has taken priority over the “seeing” portion of the gospel.  1Corinthians 12:7-11 speak of “seeable” workings of the Holy Spirit that God has given to each of us. 

Understanding the importance of both hearing and seeing, I must make sure my actions line up with my words.  My daily life is witnessed by many people who need Jesus.  My words and my actions might be the only gospel message they will receive. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the balance between your words and your actions as you walked on earth.  You are my example.  The same Holy Spirit that led you now leads me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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