Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 01, 2024: SOAP #5294:  Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

(reworked from 2012)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 13:9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

OBSERVATION:  One could say that the law was given to us to protect our neighbors from evil in our hearts.  

The law does not judge our thoughts, but the actions that may come from those thoughts.  When the Spirit of God lives inside, He helps us control our inner thoughts which are the stimulation for our outward actions.  With the Spirit of God living inside, we no longer need the law controlling our outward actions.

APPLICATION:  The Spirit of the Loving and Holy God living within me now works on the inside.  I do not have to focus on the law that says, “do not commit murder.”  The Spirit works on my thoughts and helps me love the one I once wanted to kill.  The Holy Spirit helps me lovingly give to the one from whom I once wanted to steal.   His work on the inside helps me fulfill the law on the outside .

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, how I appreciate your presence!  Without you I would be unable to live a life that pleases my Heavenly Father.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 31, 2024: SOAP #5293: Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5  so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7-8   If it is serving … teaching … encouraging … contributing to the needs of others … leadership … showing mercy … .

OBSERVATION:  God’s grace has given each one a gift, or gifts, and made us useful to the body.  If our gift was the same as everyone else, there might not be opportunity to be used, but the scripture says we all have “different” gifts.  It is the difference that makes us valuable.  Sometimes it is being flexible. 

APPLICATION:  If I administer my gift/s with diligence, I will be used. I may get tired of being used, but I must train myself to see that if I am being used, I must be useful.  Being useful is so much better than being useless!  Let me write that again:  being useful is so much better than being useless!!!

PRAYER:  Jesus, use me; O Lord don’t refuse me. Surely there’s a works that I can do. And even though it’s humble, help my will to crumble. Though the cost be great, I’ll work for you.   Amen.

Personal note:  Today the Lord had me live out these thoughts before I read the above SOAP from the past.  We are spending most of this week at a church camp.  Today, I ate lunch early so that I could help by washing the pots and pans used to prepare and serve lunch.  But when I arrived at the sink, I was told I was not needed, others would be coming to do that work.  As I walked away, I saw my wife working with the laundry, so I made myself useful by helping to wash and dry and fold and store the aprons, towels, etc. used in the kitchen.  After that I came to our room to prepare tomorrow’s SOAP.  Most of the time God gives me the lesson before having me take the test, but today He had me take the test, and then explained the lesson.  My “gift” today was not the ability to wash pots and pans, but the willingness to be flexible and have a good attitude with the change.  It was a gift of seeing how I could be useful.  😊

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 30, 2024: SOAP #5291: Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

OBSERVATION:  What a statement of the matchless wisdom of God.  His wisdom is perfect, so He is perfect in judgment.

What causes the writer to make such a glorious statement of the character and judgments of God? 

The preceding verse:  32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Every person alive has been born with a nature bent toward sinning.  All have sinned! (Rom 3:23)  But the all-glorious God demonstrated His love and wisdom in providing a way to be free from the sin-nature and free from the punishment of sin.  Available to all is the forgiveness and redeemed nature provided through the cross of Jesus!  

APPLICATION:  Through accepting the death of Jesus on the cross as the payment for our sins and placing Him as the Lord of our lives, we receive forgiveness for sins and a new life in Christ Jesus.  We receive the promise of a glorious home in heaven.  

PRAYER:  Oh, the depths of your riches of wisdom and knowledge, Oh, God!   Though undeserving, you have made me your child and given me an eternal home with you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 29, 2024: SOAP #5291: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

OBSERVATION:  It is a coordinated operation.  We are not saved by our works, but when God enters a person’s life, it will bring change.  It is impossible for the Lord of all creation to enter one’s life and there be no change!  

The “first work” or expression of salvation is a confession of Jesus as Lord.  It may be expressed as a “Thank you, Jesus!”  But once we experience His presence, we must set Him as the Lord of our lives.  That is His rightful place because of who He is and because of what He has done!  

APPLICATION:  We enter into a new life.  We enjoy the clean feeling as our sins are forgiven.  We enjoy His presence.  We learn to depend on His leading in decisions we need to make. 

In some ways, nothing has changed; we still weigh the same, we still have the same height and go by the same name.  But in other ways, everything has changed!   We look at the world as He sees it.  We live our lives as we believe would please Him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what a joy it is to have you in my life.  It is exciting to know that I face the future with you, not only life here, but life in eternity!    I want you to enjoy our relationship as much as I will.   Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 28, 2024: SOAP #5290: Proverbs 7-9; Romans 9

SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs (NIV) 9: 10  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

OBSERVATION:  What an amazing nugget of truth is tucked away in this scripture. People often get their attention on the “fear of the Lord” which is emphasized numerous times in Proverbs.  There is not a special word here translated “fear.”  This word means simply, “fear” with the idea of being terrified.  Jesus spoke of such wisdom when He said we should fear Him who has to the power to destroy our souls in hell. Some would want us to think of “fearing” God as some reverential awe that engulfs us.  They say, we really do not need to be afraid.  However, in applying my limited understanding of Greek and Hebrew (which is limited to the use of Strongs and Vines) I found that the word used in the phrase “fear God” every time I have looked has the concept of being terrified.  The Holy Spirit showed me that fear is a form of worship and belongs to God alone.

That fear is not wisdom, only the beginning of wisdom.  It will lead us to the wisdom found in the second half of this verse.  This fear is the beginning, not the culmination of wisdom.

APPLICATION:  It is wise to know about God, but the emphasis here is on knowing God.  That personal, intimate knowledge of God fills our minds, our hearts, our lives with understanding.  In relating to Him we discover, come to understand, the real purpose for our existence.

Consider these verses:  Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.   So we can increase in wisdom!  

1Corinthians 1:30.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.   We will always be lacking in wisdom if I do not consider Jesus!   My wisdom will never be complete with seeing Jesus as the center of all knowledge and wisdom. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, increase my wisdom as I better understand Jesus and His place in my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 27, 2024: SOAP #5289: Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

OBSERVATION:  One of the great changes in a person’s life when they accept Jesus as Lord is the way they think.  Their perception changes and continues to change the more they are in God’s Word.

People who are trying to please God through their flesh by keeping the law, or even by doing good works, have their minds set on the things of the flesh.  Their mind is set on what they can do to please God.   

APPLICATION:  A good example of this is a question I was asked from a young person in India. “Does outward adornment affect inward holiness?”  To those walking in the flesh, the answer they believe is “yes.” But, those walking in the Spirit will come to understand that the answer can never be “yes,” only “no.” 

In fact, just the opposite is true.  It is the inward holiness that affects the outward adorning.  The closer a person walks in relationship to Jesus through the Holy Spirit, they will begin to think differently.  The more they think differently, the more their outward adorning will be affected.  As they grow in their love for the Lord, as their mind begins to think about how to please Him, and as they grow in understanding of what pleases Him they will adorn the outside of their earthly temple accordingly.  We ask ourselves, “What does Jesus think about this?  What does Jesus say?”

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, as you live inside me, help me align my thoughts to honor the Father.  Teach me with the word!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 26, 2024: SOAP #5288: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7 .

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

OBSERVATION:  God’s work in redeeming us through the death of Jesus was for more than giving us the right to claim that we are Christians.  God expects us to be fruitful.  He expects that people will see through our speech and actions that something has happened inside our life. 

When we were controlled by the sinful nature we were selfish, unkind, rude or impatient, etc.  But now that Jesus has moved into our heart and put His emphasis in our life, things are different.  It is a change that people cannot help but notice!  

APPLICATION:  A fruit tree does not work at bearing fruit—it happens naturally.  And when Christ is given Lordship of one’s life, change begins happening immediately and without effort. 

With the creator of the universe living inside my heart, it is impossible to keep it quiet and to keep it hidden!  Seeing things from His perspective makes a big difference in how I respond.

PRAYER:  Lord, I like to sing, “In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.  In my life, Lord, be glorified today.”  May the “fruit of my life” be proof of your presence!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 25, 2024: SOAP #5287: 1Kings 10, 11; 2Chronicles 9; Romans 6

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings (NIV) 11:10. Although he (GOD) had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. 11. So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.
12. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

OBSERVATION:  In this passage we read about God keeping his promise he had made to Solomon in 1Kings 9:3-8. 

God had kept His promise to King David about David’s son Solomon.  God had kept His promise to King Solomon about giving him the great wisdom for which Solomon had requested.  And now in the verses above, we read about The Great Promise-Keeper holding true to His promise about what would happen to Israel if they turned away from Israel’s God!!!  

APPLICATION:  God keeps all His promises, not because we are so deserving of His love or of his judgment.  He keeps them because He is true to Himself!   He is true to His word!

The reason Calvary was so agonizing was because God was keeping His promise to judge sin.  Jesus had no sin, but He was carrying my sin, and yours.  God’s judgment is that the wages of sin is death.  Jesus bore the full expression of God’s wrath against sin!   God was keeping His promise to judge sin, and at the same time God was keeping His promise to send a Savior!  What an amazing God!!! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what a Promise Keeper you are!!!   Jesus, what a Savior you are!   My hear overflows with gratitude!    Amen

Personal Note:  I saw the Urologist this morning and arrangement will be made to get a biopsy.  Then they will know what is needed.  Thanks, everyone, for your prayers! 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 24, 2024: SOAP #5286: 1Kings 9; 2Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings (NIV) 9:4 “As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
6  “But…
…if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

OBSERVATION:  In the verses above we read two very different promises.  They were both made by the same God.  They were both made to the same people.  The first is something to eagerly anticipate; the second is something to dread. 

APPLICATION:  It would be a shame to think that only one, the one we liked, was true for us!   It would be disastrous to think that only one of the promises was for us.  It would be tragic to think that God was only prepared to fulfill the first one.  It would be a grand mistake to think that “The Great Promise-keeper” would forget about the second promise. 

It would be a grave mistake to think that God will overlook sin.  Remember, it was He who sent His Son, Jesus, to die as the penalty for sin!  This is not something He is likely to forget!!!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are much too holy to forget any of your promises.  For those who receive your Son, Jesus, as their Savior, He bore your promise of punishment for their sins so that they may share your promises of eternal blessings.  I am trusting Jesus’ death on the cross to be the payment for my sins and I am placing Him as the head of my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 23, 2024: SOAP #5285: 2Chronicles 6, 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.
3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

OBSERVATION:  The matter before us is the relationship of faith and/or works to salvation.  Which one brings us salvation?  The Jews put a great emphasis on keeping the Law of Moses.  It was important to them how well they DID in keeping the law.  Since they could not keep it perfectly, they ended up taking pride in at least doing it better than anyone else.  Surely God would be impressed with their efforts; they were impressed!   

Here the writer of Romans bypasses Moses and goes even further back to Abraham.  Moses gave them the Law, but Abraham was their father!  It all began with Abraham.  In their consideration of Moses, the emphasis was on the work of keeping the Law.  But what did Abraham discover about his relationship with God, since he did not have the Law of Moses?

APPLICATION:  How was Abraham able to be the “friend of God?”  How did Abraham become the father of the nation, he who had no children of his own? It was simply by faith.  Abraham believed.  He believed what God said.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I do not have faith in my works for my salvation, but in the completed work of Jesus!  Without sin, He died for my sin; now I enjoy justification. Amen
If you have never made Jesus your Lord, pray with me:  Lord, I confess that I have sinned and ask your forgiveness.  Come live in my life as my Lord.  Make my life your home.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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