Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 21, 2024: SOAP #5253: 1Samuel 27; 1Chronicles 9; Psalm 141; Matthew 10

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 10:19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

OBSERVATION: I have watched old movie scenes of communication lines being cut in the Civil War, and in World War I.  I have seen scenes of establishing and breaking communication in World War II.  As a hospital corpsman with a Marine unit in Viet Nam, I usually stayed by the platoon lieutenant and the radio man.  I learned from personal observation the importance of good communication.   Good communication is understandable and up to date.  We trusted the one sending the messages to know the big picture of the war and how we would best serve.

APPLICATION:  As I am engaged in spiritual warfare, God has provided the greatest communication system ever used.  It is the presence of his Holy Spirit dwelling in me 24 hours every day!  Wow! 

He is present in every situation.  He is always with me; He knows what I am facing.  He knows when the problems I face are because of my own making.  He knows what is in the hearts and minds of those I encounter. 

As I learn to limit distractions and focus on hearing his voice, I find his communication to be both understandable and up-to-date.  Better than that, it is up to the minute, even the second!   God has the big picture, and I can trust Him to use me to bring victory for His glory!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I have found that very seldom do I understand the big picture.  Many times my vision is locked into my circumstances.  But I am learning that there is wisdom in taking time to listen to you.  I know that doing what you say is the best way to deal with present troubles and to prepare for the future.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Personal note:  I want to thank those who have prayed for me during the past several days.  A dear friend counseled me to contact the MRI location and ask them some questions; and to make sure they know that I have a pacemaker.  They did not know; their facility is not able to do MRIs for people with pacemakers, so it is presently being rescheduled at a different facility.  Praise the Lord.  I expect it will be this coming week.  Also, on Monday I am to get a physical for another year of bus driving.  Because of an irregular heartbeat I am required to get a physical every year.  So, when the Lord brings me to your mind, pray for me.  If it is time, after 14 years, to stop driving the bus, may the Lord make His will clear.  😊   Leon  

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 20, 2024: SOAP #5252: 1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

(reworked from last year) 

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

OBSERVATION: How amazing to serve a God who wants to be asked!   Earthly fathers love to fill the requests of their children.  And the same is true of our Heavenly Father.  He loves to express His love in tangible means.  He wants others to see that His children are blest!   They will want to be His children too!

Each verse in the passage above has an emphasis on “asking.”  To whom does God give the good gifts in verse 11?   …”to those who ask HIM!”  God often uses other people to answer our prayers, but He wants us to direct our asking to Him. 

People I have asked in the past were willing to help, so it becomes easy to have faith that they will help again.  But, “HOW MUCH MORE” is our Heavenly Father willing to give…much more willing to give to us that anyone else we may be asking. 

APPLICATION:  Considering the passage of scripture above, why would I ask anyone else?  Am I really His child?  Do I really believe that His word is true?  Do I believe that He can provide my needs?  Do I believe that He loves me enough to take care of me?  Do I think God needs my help to answer my prayers?

If I promised my son that I would give him money needed for a special project, and then the next day I overheard him asking his uncle for money for the same project … I would wonder if my son really trusted me.  Did he doubt my word?  Yet, I have done that to God, many times.

PRAYER:  Forgive me Lord for not standing on your promises.  Forgive me for having more faith in people than in you.  Increase my faith as I grow in your word.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 19, 2024: SOAP #5251: 1Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

OBSERVATION: Our Heavenly Father has a special place in His heart for the needy.  Proverbs 19:17 tells us that giving to the needy is loaning to the Lord who will reward them.  Here Jesus said that the way we give can cancel our reward!!!  In giving so that people will see our generosity, we are trading our Heavenly Father’s reward for the reward of honor from men!!!   That is a bad trade!!! 

APPLICATION:  We surely do not want to miss the Lord’s reward.  We know that He is loving and abundantly generous.  We clearly do not want to disqualify ourselves from His reward. 

Whenever I see pictures on Facebook of generosity being given to the poor, my heart hurts.  Many of those pictures come from poverty areas of the world.  They need the abundant blessing of the Lord.  They need the reward of our Heavenly Father. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help us to apply the scriptures to our activities.  We need the blessings of our Heavenly Father.  We do not want to miss even one.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 18, 2024: SOAP #5250: 1Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

(reworked) 

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

OBSERVATION: I remember an abandoned fire base in Viet Nam where I found some waxed cloth used as packing for ammunition.  When twisted tightly, it could be used as a crude candle.  The benefit of candles is light.  We place them in our homes where their light gives the greatest benefit.  And so God intentionally places His people where their lives will be best seen by others.

APPLICATION:  I do not have to make my light shine; I am to let my light shine.  It is the nature of light to be seen.  God does not want me hidden from the world, but He has carefully placed me where I will be seen.  It is not my wise words but my good deeds that men are to see.  And the result of their seeing my good works, they will praise God!

Our location is for HIS benefit!  The hard things we face are for HIS benefit.  He wants people to see how He can live and work in us.   Through our weaknesses people can see His strength!  

PRAYER:  Lord, when I find myself in a dark place remind me that you put me there to let your light shine through me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 17, 2024: SOAP #5249: 1Samuel 19; 1Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Mark (NIV) 3:14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

OBSERVATION: These verses contain Jesus basic method of ministry. First part was teaching and preaching about the kingdom. The kingdom is a structure of authority with a king. Jesus helped them understand the Kingdom of God by telling them stories (parables) from everyday life.

The second part was demonstrating that authority. Since he was not setting up an earthly government for the nation of Israel, He demonstrated the authority by healing, driving out demons, and miracles. The authority of the kingdom of heaven made big differences in their earthly lives.

A third very important part of Him ministry was choosing disciples who would be with Him and then He could send them out.  They would hear every sermon and watch Him do the miracles.  He would ask them questions and they could ask Him questions. 

APPLICATION:  It is interesting to note that the church in the book of Acts was established following these same principles. Teaching, demonstrating, and discipling.  May it be said that the church in the 21^st century is still using the same principles. 

Note:  this ministry should start in our homes.  Teaching God’s Word, demonstrating how our faith is lived, and training our children. 

PRAYER:  Lord, use me to proclaim and demonstrate your word.  Use me to help others make your word a central part of their daily lives.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 16, 2024: SOAP #5248: 1Samuel 18; 1Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

OBSERVATION: The One who had willingly emptied Himself of His God-ness to live on earth as the Son of Man, was now empowered by the same Holy Spirit who was present at creation (Genesis 1:2). This was the same Holy Spirit the angel spoke of when explaining to Joseph, that Mary’s pregnancy was the work of the Spirit of God. (Matthew 1:18 & 20). The Holy Spirit was a major part of Jesus life and ministry.

APPLICATION:  I am called to be like Jesus. But I am often not sure how Jesus would live in the USA in 2024. The specifics are not always obvious. I need help in living like Jesus in my clothes, in my family, in my city, at my age of 76.  Jesus only lived 33 years as a man on earth.  How do I live like Jesus as I grow older?  Obviously, I need the Holy Spirit to be active in my life. I need Him to speak to me in ways I can understand.  I need Him to open the riches of God’s Word, the Bible to my heart and mind. 

I need to be like Jesus in hearing and following the Holy Spirit.  I need to pay attention to the soft impressions the Spirit brings to my mind. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, you understand every day of my life as you understood every day of Jesus’ life on earth.  As I move through this day, reveal to me how I can best honor Jesus.  And, through these SOAPs, make me a blessing to others.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 15, 2024: SOAP #5247: 1Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 9:9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

OBSERVATION: What a wonderful privilege to know the Name of the Lord.  His nature is revealed in His name.  It is a nature that will never change.  We can always count on Him being true to His Name!  

The Lord does not have a refuge in some hidden location where He can take us to escape our troubles.  HE is the refuge.  He does not take us someplace safe and leave us. HIS PRESENCE is the refuge!   Psalm 23:5 tells us he “prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.”

He is a place of safety, a place to be refreshed, a place to find help and comfort.  He is a strong defense.  I can sleep at night for He guards my perimeter.  He surrounds me with His presence.                       

APPLICATION:  What a refuge!  My God does not prepare a place of refuge; He is my refuge.  My God is my refuge in the time of trouble.  He is my refuge in the time of trouble! Like the turtle’s shell, my REFUGE is always with me!

PRAYER:  Lord, you are my refuge.  You are an ever-present help in the time and the place of trouble! (Psalm 46:1) You do not have to take me out of my trouble to give me peace. You do not need to take me to a different location.  You are my peace! (Ephesians 2:14) Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 14, 2024: SOAP #5246: 1Samuel 15-16; 1Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

OBSERVATION: Joseph was a righteous man.  Mary was pregnant. She had already broken the marriage engagement.  Joseph would do what a righteous man would do.  He also would set aside the engagement.  But he was also a good man who loved Mary.  He did not want her to be humiliated.  He would not make a big scene, so everyone would know how much he had been hurt. He would do it quietly.

BUT GOD STOPPED HIM!   There was a higher purpose in what was happening.  Joseph was to be a part of something much greater than he ever dreamed.

APPLICATION:  I am glad to know that God can stop me.  Sometimes when God stops me, it is because I am about to make a fool of myself.  God kindly steps in and corrects my direction.

At other times when God stops me, it is because He has a higher purpose.  He is allowing me to be a part of something much greater.  He says “No,” because he is saying “Yes,” to something far better.  If He allowed me to move ahead with the “first,” there would be no possibility of the “best.”

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust you to see what I cannot see.  I trust you when you say “No” as I trust you when you say “Yes.”  You stopped my old way of Bible reading to open time for me to write daily SOAPs.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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My Personal SOAP Saga:  NOTE:  The SOAPs are my personal devotions with the Lord each day.  This one is a repeat from last year.  God is speaking to me today through this SOAP from the past.  He wants me to hold steady and trust Him to work through the tomorrows.  I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know He is with me and will be with me.  A high laboratory test indicates that further checking is necessary.  So Friday (April 19) I will be having a MRI to check the prostate.  In advance, I say “Thank you, for your prayers.”  I will keep you informed as I move forward in Jesus.   😊  

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 13, 2024: SOAP #5245: 1Samuel 14; 1Chronicles 4; 2Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-bye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

OBSERVATION: As Paul signs off this letter to the church at Corinth, He gives four short exhortations and a promise.  He exhorts us to (1) live the best we can, (2) pay attention to Paul’s directives, (3) mutually respect one another, and (4) not allow conflict to come between us.  Then there is the promise; and what a great promise it is:  And the God of love and peace be with you!

APPLICATION:  The God, who gave us the greatest expression of true love the world has ever seen, is with me!  (John 3:16)  He loves me and He loves through me. 

The God, who establishes peace in the midst of turmoil, is with me!  He is the wall-breaking peace maker!  (Ephesians 2:14)  

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for your presence in my life.  Thank you for expressing your love and peace in and through me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 12, 2024: SOAP #5244: 1Samuel 13; 1Chronicles 2-3; 2Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?…
 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

OBSERVATION: It is a fact that we have hands and feet; that we can see.  But there is another fact that can only be understood with special revelation.  It is a fact, but just not as obvious.  That these parts are present in the body is obvious, but how they got there must be deduced from an outside source.  Here the Bible says that the parts of the body were designed and placed by God, just as He wanted them to be.   They are present at His pleasure!

APPLICATION:  Being securely attached means that the life of the body flows to me, and through me.   If it does not flow through me, it will soon stop flowing to me.  I need to keep the lines in both directions open and unclogged by resentment  or unforgiveness. 

As members of my physical body cannot move themselves to another location in my body, I cannot move myself from one part of the body of Christ to another part without doing harm.  Physical transplants require a skilled surgeon.  Spiritually transplanting one believer from one body to another requires the work of the Holy Spirit. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you have placed me in your body “just as you wanted me to be.”  Sometimes it was not clear to me why you sent me where you did, but now I am so glad I had the clarity of mind to follow you.  You had a plan for me and prepared me to do your will.  Holy Spirit, help the SOAP readers to trust your leading and find the joy that comes in doing as you direct.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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