Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 04, 2023: SOAP #5114: Ephesians 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no-one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

OBSERVATION:  This scripture indicates that God had assignments in place before we arrived on the scene. These tasks were prepared with us in mind that we would be fulfilled in participating with Him in His great work. Of course, they are designed way beyond our personal abilities. They were designed to make us dependent on the indwelling Holy Spirit for completion. They force us to keep in close relationship, which is His number one goal for each of us.

APPLICATION:  I knew God’s call on my life as a young child.  I made major plans according to that call.  Then God interrupted my plans and sent me much different than how I had planned to fulfill His calling.  Sometime later He  gave me a place of ministry that seemed to fulfill the original calling…Then He clearly directed me to a location completely contrary to the expectations I had as a child.  But I had to do what God was telling me.  Upon stepping down from being a senior pastor, the new pastor asked me to start writing SOAPs.  And through God’s expansion of His ministry, God’s original call is being fulfilled in a much greater way that I ever dreamed.  Of course, God knew what He was doing all the time!  

Not only did God prepare the SOAP concept for me; He prepared my life, my heart, my understanding to be able to write them.  It is humbling to see how God has been at work for all those years. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, being obedient and faithful gives you the time to properly prepare us in advance for your assignments.  Continue your work through the SOAPs.  Continue your work in Pastor Andrew.  May your healing and restoring work be seen in him.  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
December 03, 2023: SOAP #5113: Romans 13-16

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  God gives us endurance and encouragement.  How does he do that?  He gives them to us through the Scriptures.  The Word strengthens us to endure, and the Word encourages us to continue moving forward in faith. 

This was written to people who did not have a copy of the Bible in their home or a personal app on their phone.  This was written to people who heard the word when the church gathered and then worked to apply it in their everyday life. 

APPLICATION:  To the students departing the bus I drive, I often tell them, “Take your smile with you.  Don’t leave it on the bus.  You will need your smile today.  It is hard to sweep up smiles.”  Maybe preachers should say the same thing.

It is not the Word of God in a book on a desk or shelf at home.  The Word was preached and taught in church, but we did not leave it there!  It is the Word of God that is in our thoughts and in our heart.  It is the Word of God on which we are meditating.  Our thoughts are changed and soon our actions are changed!  We think differently; and then we act differently. 

The Word in our heart is the voice of the Holy Spirit saying, “Don’t give up!  You are going to make it!  He is coming soon!  Count on me; I am with you!”

PRAYER:  Lord, meditating on your word brings encouragement and endurance!  It also brings healing!  Holy Spirit remind us to read a portion of God’s Word every time we visit someone sick.  Amen! 

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

Note from Pastor Andrew’s wife:  Yes Daddy I always see him everyday three times for the day to give him the pop and his medicine. He also talk to me about is talking is not clear and not shouting since the surgery the doctor don’t allow him to sit down or to walk he always lying down it’s only me the Doctor allowed to see him everyday for apart from me no other person to enter into the room to see him or to talk with him. He is recovering little by little but the Doctor have advice us strongly even this morning that we should try to get all the medicine that he had advised us to buy so that we can give to him to recover quickly because the doctor said is only when we get all the medicine that will help him to recover quickly. That’s why I am praying strongly that God will make a provision for us to get all the remaining medicine for him because everyday I see Pastor Andrew I am not happy in that hospital. God bless you dad let us continue to pray for him. Doris. 
Less than 100 is remaining on the cost of the medicine and I will be able to send it Monday.  The doctors only do according to what has been paid.  It sure makes me appreciate what we have in Jesus!