Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 12, 2024: SOAP #5213: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no-one is justified before God by the law because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

OBSERVATION: What a chapter!   How clearly Paul defines that God has done for me what I could not do for myself.  Before I came to faith in Christ, I could not keep the law so perfectly that I would be included in heaven.  But faith in what Jesus did makes me acceptable for heaven!!!  

I started on my heavenly quest by faith.   Now that I am on my journey, I must LIVE by faith!   If I was trusting the law, then I would be required to “continue to do everything written in the book of the Law.”  Because if I did not, I would be cursed!   But now I continue to live by the way I started—by FAITH!  

APPLICATION:  Living by faith means that I am living CONFIDENT.  I am not worried.  Christ’s death for my sins far exceeds my ability to keep the law.  Living by faith means that I am living GRATEFUL.  I am thankful that God did for me what I was unable to do for myself.  Living by faith means that I am living LOVING JESUS!  I honor Jesus not because I have to but because I want to — I love Him!  Living by faith means that I am living OPEN.  Everyone who knows me will know that Jesus lives inside.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, living by faith means that I am living JOYFUL!  Being joyful is natural when I know I am walking with Jesus!  Holy Spirit, help me spread your joy around.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 11, 2024: SOAP #5212: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

OBSERVATION: Just as there are different members of the human body with each one doing an assigned part and all coordinated together to cause the body to function, so it is with the body of Christ.  God has different assignments for different members.  Peter and John were sent to minister to Jews; Paul and Barnabas were sent to minister to Gentiles.  God was working through both ministries.  God does not have us all in the same location doing the same thing.   

          God is a great coordinator of ministry.  This past week someone listening to the Lord, sent me some money.  I was wondering how the Lord would have it used, but the next day an emergency arose for the brother who is traveling to install the 85 computers and printers.  The Lord had already taken care of it.  Then a day or so later the brother who does the SOAP printing for Free Towne was hospitalized.  Could I help?  No, but God had already coordinated someone with the ministry of giving to meet the needs. 

APPLICATION:  Whatever our ministry, writing, preaching, serving, giving, praying…we must be faithful.  We can count on God to be faithful; we must trust Him.  It is not our place to tell others how to be faithful.  We must tell God and let Him move their hearts.  If God does not provide what we need, He probably has other plans or different timing..  We must faithfully continue using what we have to do what He has given us to do. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are “at work” in every place and in every assignment. It does not matter where we are or to whom we minister. We are never alone for You are with us. Our strength does not matter, for You are working with Your strength. Our resources do not matter, for You are at work with your unlimited resources! Use us for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 10, 2024: SOAP #5211: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Paul could not be a servant of Christ AND work for the approval of people.  With Jesus as his Lord, his goal was to win God’s approval.  Some people would approve of his work; some would not.  It was the approval of God that was important to Paul. 

APPLICATION:  These verses contain the goal of every pastor as they preach, and surely my goal in writing the SOAPs.  The message must come from the Lord!   It is more than what God has said, it is what is God saying!  What is God saying now. 

God is eternally ever present!  The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this letter to the church in Galatia.  The same Holy Spirit reveals the application of God’s word to our everyday lives. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I am your servant, and it is your approval I seek.  Knowing that I have pleased you brings me joy and great peace.  Holy Spirit, I depend on you to show me which scriptures to put in each day’s SOAP and how they apply to my life.  I depend on your presence to lead me throughout each day.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 09, 2024: SOAP #5210: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

OBSERVATION: Jesus had finished His work on earth.  He had taught them, had set an example for them, had died for their sins, had risen from the dead and now returned to heaven and sat down in His place of honor.  He sat down because His work in becoming our Redeemer was finished.  

But the story continues.  His ministry continues.  But now He is working with His disciples through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Now “His words” that they spoke were confirmed by the same signs that followed “His words” when He spoke them!   

APPLICATION:  What an honor to have the life of Jesus living within!  What an honor to have the same Holy Spirit living in me and moving through me!  What an honor to be a continuation of the ministry of Jesus!  What an honor to speak “His words!” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, as Jesus emptied Himself of His God characteristics and walked as a man on earth, you filled Him and anointed Him and flowed through Him.  Help me follow His example to live and minister in your anointing.  May healings and miracles confirm “His word” that is ministered in these SOAPs.  …for it is in His Name I pray, Amen. 

From the LORD:  Expect me to demonstrate my presence in your life by doing things beyond your capabilities.  Others will be drawn to me as they see what I do in you.  Admit your weakness and give me the glory.  Your weaknesses are opportunities for me to demonstrate my power! 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 08, 2024: SOAP #5209: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 15:29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!

OBSERVATION: The pain screamed, “Save yourself!”  The disgrace of dying like a criminal shouted, “Save yourself!”  Those insulting Him said, “Save yourself!”  The religious leaders said, “Save yourself!”  Did He have the power to “save Himself?”  Oh yes.  Even satan recognized that Jesus could call angels to help. (Luke 4:10)

But there was something He could not do.  He could not save Himself AND fulfill the purpose of His coming.  This was why He had been sent!  This was why He was on earth!   He had no sins for which His blood would be required to cover, so He readily offers it to repenting sinners to cover their sins!  

In their mocking, the priests and teachers of the law were right.  Jesus could not save Himself!  

APPLICATION:  By refusing to save Himself, Jesus chose to save me!  …and you!   In love, Jesus took the penalty for our sins.  And in love, He will forgive our sins. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you that your love and forgiveness reaches to me.  I confess my sins and receive your forgiveness.  I invite you to make my life your home.  Bring someone into my life that will help me understand this relationship that we share.  Thank you for the joy you put into my heart.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2024: SOAP #5208: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 14:12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

OBSERVATION: What a great privilege for this household to host the last supper.  The room could be used because it was “furnished” and “ready.”  The owner had provided and prepared it for such an occasion.

APPLICATION:  Are my home, my car, and my possessions available and ready to be used by the Lord?   More important, is my life available and ready to be used.  I need to keep it “furnished” with the truth from the Bible.  

If I want the Lord to use me, I must prepare myself to be used and make myself available.  I should be as diligent in preparing my life for use as firefighters are in preparing themselves for the next fire and the fire engine for its use.

PRAYER:  Lord, show me how to prepare myself and my possessions for Your use.  As the song say, “To be used of You is my desire.”  Amen.

From the Lord: Today I will do something in your life in preparation for what you will face in the future.  It may not seem very important now, but there will be a time when you will understand the wisdom in what I have done.  Endure it with grace, knowing that I am  preparing you for future service.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 06, 2024: SOAP #5207: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  (NIV) Mark 13: 28 ¶  “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

OBSERVATION: Having been born 76 years ago in the year Israel became a nation and believing that the fig-tree in verse 28 could be a reference to Israel, I consider myself a part of “this generation.”   I believe the things mentioned in the previous verses will happen in my lifetime. The theme of the next 5 verses is “be on guard,” “be alert,” “don’t be sleeping,” “watch!”  This is not a day to be a sleepy Christian.

In the USNavy, I served  night duty on a medical ward in San Diego, then later as the radio watch in the mountains of Viet Nam.  I learned the need for being alert.  But being spiritually alert is an even greater need, and today more important than yesterday! 

APPLICATION:  In verse 37 Jesus says, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  I must take that personally. 

I must not let myself be inoculated by the world into thinking that everything will continue as it has.  I must keep my ears open to what the Holy Spirit is saying.  I must keep “on guard” and “alert!”

Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit must be my priority every moment of every day.  Whether I am alone or in a crowd; whether I am busy or resting; whether I am reading my Bible or watching the news, I must remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  I must be watching for His interaction.  I must be listening for His voice.  I must be available for Him to use me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You have a plan and you have a time frame into which that plan must be finished.  As we quickly approach the completion of your plan, keep me sharp in hearing your voice.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 05, 2024: SOAP #5206: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus did not criticize the wealthy for giving “out of their wealth,” but He made a special note of this poor woman giving “out of her poverty.”  He did not try to stop the woman from giving.  He did not say, “You need it worse than the temple needs it.” He did not say, “It is so small they will not miss it; it will not do any good.”  He did not say, “Let the others who have more be the ones to give.”  He did not say, “Since that is all you have, keep it for your needs.”  And He did not say, “God sees your heart, so you do not need to give.”

The truth is, if anyone needed to give, it was her.  She needed to give in order to receive.  Her giving gained the attention of Jesus, the greatest Giver.  This poor widow became the most talked about, the most read about money giver in the history of man!

APPLICATION:  Obviously being a giver has nothing to do with the amount of money I have.  I do not have to wait until I have more to become a giver.  It is recognizing that all I have comes from HIM; He is not running short; He loves me enough to provide more. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You are the greatest of all givers.  Make me more like you.    Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 04, 2024: SOAP #5205: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

(repeat from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:13 Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

OBSERVATION: There are many fig trees in Israel, but this one caught Jesus attention. This one was “in leaf.”  The season for figs was fast approaching and some have said that the fruit preceded the leaves.  This tree showed promise of fruit.  So seeing the leaves, probably in abundance, Jesus expected to find some fruit.

APPLICATION:  Outward appearance may draw people to give a closer look, but what do they find?  Joy is attractive.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit in our lives, but joy can also be a fruit of my favorite NASCAR driver winning the race.  At a distance, I may appear to be a joyful person, but a closer look will reveal the source of my joy.

PRAYER:  Lord, may people find that the source of my joy is You, and may what You find in me bring You joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 03, 2024: SOAP #5203: Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10: 6  “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’.  7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,  8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

OBSERVATION: Making some humans male and others female is God’s idea.  It was He who designed the differences.  It was not for the purpose of separating them, but for the purpose of uniting them.  When their differences are united, “… the two will become one flesh.”   The differences give them the opportunity to love and serve one another.  The uniting of differences gives strength and produces fruitfulness!

God is the one who created the differences, and God is the one who joins them in creating new life.  Divorce is man’s way of dealing with differences.

APPLICATION:  In marriage, the flesh of a man and woman are joined sexually to bring about a child whose flesh is the combination of the flesh (the DNA) of its two parents.  The two have become one through their commitment to each other.  The two have become one through the presence and blessing of God on their commitment to each other.  The two have become on through their identity with each other.  The two have become one through forming one household.  The two have become one through their physical sexual union.  And the two have become one in the child they produce.  No wonder God puts such a high value on marrying and preserving marriage.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for my wife and the life we share together.  I am blest!  …we are blest!  …our family is blest!  And, Lord, most of all, we want you to be blest!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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