Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 22, 2024: SOAP #5284: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

(Reworked SOAP from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus

OBSERVATION:  All have sinned and come short of God’s standard.  Neither the Gentiles, without God’s written code, nor the Jews, with God’s written code, were able to meet God’s holy requirements. The most glorious thing about verse 23 is the first word of verse 24!  The truth expressed in verse 23 does not nullify the truth expressed in the next verse.  For all mankind, the second is as equally available as the first is absolutely true.  For the believer, both are equally AND absolutely true.

Both the Jews and Gentiles have sinned.  BUT both the Jews and Gentiles can be brought into right standing without any cost to themselves.  It is a gift freely given, one clearly not deserved!  It is given through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus!

APPLICATION:  The better I understand how hopeless I was in sin, the better I appreciate the grace of God that justifies me—made me just-as-if-I’d never sinned!   I was hopelessly lost in sin, but now I am gloriously made clean!   What a great God!  How logical and proper to commit my whole life to him!  

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for saving me from sin and its results.  I am yours.  Use me as you desire.  Speak through me.  Touch through me.  Live through me.  Amen. 

Personal note:  My thanks to those praying for me.  Today was the last day of driving elementary school students.  Tomorrow will be the last day for High School and Middle School students.  June 3-20 I will be driving for summer school.  Friday I have an appointment with a Urologist to set up a biopsy of areas found on the MRI. 

SOPE note:  Bishop Matthew Same (Kenya) purchased eleven computers and printers in Sierra Leone and has returned to Kenya where they are being set up for receiving and printing SOAPs.  He will be setting up an East Africa SOAP Team.  Praise the Lord! 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 21, 2024: SOAP #5283: 1Kings 7; 2Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

(The following SOAP is from 2021, but it follows so well with yesterday’s SOAP, I believe the Lord would have it repeated today.)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

OBSERVATION:  God never uses feelings, or impressions, or false testimony as a basis for his judgments.  Human judges may at times have to rely on such, but not God. His judgments are always based on truth!  No one can fool Him!  No false testimony will be received.  No excuses will be allowed.

APPLICATION:  In God’s court there is not a prosecuting attorney.  Truth and reality are the same thing.  Reality demands that I plead guilty.   There is no need for a prosecuting attorney, but there is a defense attorney, Jesus, God’s own Son.  He is not present to argue that I am innocent.  MY Defense Attorney defends me by arguing truth, not the truth of my guilt, but the truth of His payment on the cross! 

God’s holiness reveals that the only penalty for sin is death.  God’s holiness demands sin’s penalty must be paid.  Either I will pay the penalty by my death and eternal separation from God, OR I accept the payment Jesus has already made and make Him the Lord of my life.  He joins me now in this life and I will join Him in life after I die.  My sin is reality; Jesus’ payment on the cross is also reality!  

Reality also includes my confession of sin and acceptance of Jesus as my Savior and Lord.  (I trust every SOAP reader has accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord.)

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, truth is so important to you. Truth and reality are the same to you.  They are the same in nature.  To know you is a study in reality.  To study creation is an endeavor of reality. Jesus, thank you that your death and resurrection is also a reality.  Your accepting my confession and forgiving my sins is also a reality for which I am eternally grateful. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 20, 2024: SOAP #5282: 1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

OBSERVATION:  The Bible does not say they were wise, only that THEY claimed to be wise.  They came up with their big ideas.  They figured out all the possible explanations, except those that acknowledged God.  They judged themselves to be wise, while, in reality, they had become fools.

Judgments cannot stand alone.  Judgments are made on the basis of our knowledge of what is acceptable, or perfect.  We know what is true, and we judge something as to how it relates to true.  We know the need and we judge something at how well it meets the need.  We have some concept of beauty, and we judge how well it meets that concept.  Judging is never done on the basis of what is being judged alone, it is always done on the basis of knowledge or opinion already present in the mind of the one doing the judging.

APPLICATION:  When we leave out the knowledge of God, we have no basis, no foundation, for making a rational judgment. Since God created all things, His character and purpose must be a consideration in all true judgment. 

If we ignore the reality of God’s existence, His actions and purposes our judgments may appear wise to those who also ignore the reality of God.  But in reality they will always be, and in the end prove to be, foolish!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, like the proverb says, “The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  I do not just want to know about you, I want to know you.  What pleases you?  What makes you smile?   Amen  

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 19, 2024: SOAP #5281: 1Kings 4, 5; 2Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2Thessalonians 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles (NIV) 2:5 “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

OBSERVATION:  King Solomon had it right! He was building a Great House for a Great God, who was so great that Solomon’s temple could not begin to hold him!

Since Solomon’s temple could not hold God, why was Solomon building it?  He was building it as a proper place to burn sacrifices before the Lord!

APPLICATION:  Solomon’s Great God is the One Who lives in me by His Holy Spirit! As King Solomon was building a temple that was worthy of such a Great God, so I should conduct my life in this earthly temple in a way that is worthy of such a Great God! 

“For we are the temple of the Living God!  (2Corinthians 6:16)   Many gods made of stone have temples made of stone, BUT we have a LIVING GOD who deserves a living temple.  Everyday, and in every activity of our life, people around us should see the LIVING GOD working in our lives. 

David’s son, King Solomon, built a temple of stone.  David’s Son, King Jesus, is now building a temple made of living stones!!! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for not displaying your greatness in this temple of my body. May the walls of my temple be covered with your love and holiness. May the story of your Amazing Grace be written on each wall. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 18, 2024: SOAP #5280: 1Kings 3; 2Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings (NIV) 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”…
9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

OBSERVATION:  What a wise choice, to choose wisdom!  He requested a wise heart to enable him to govern Israel and to know the difference between good and evil.

Of all the things Solomon could have requested, he asked for that which would make him a better servant, both to God and to the people.  He used his power to choose, and in so doing did not use it selfishly.  He did not choose to better his own standing, but to enable him to better the standing of others.

APPLICATION:  Every once in a while, we too have an unexpected choice.  We unexpectedly find or receive some extra money.  How do we choose to spend it?  Or we unexpectedly have an “extra” hour in our day.  How do we choose to spend it?

May God be as pleased with our choices as He was with Solomon’s.  As we read on from the scriptures above, we see that God was so pleased that He gave Solomon all the things he did not ask for—wealth, honor, peace, long life! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I need your wisdom flowing through me as I write these SOAPs every day.  I need your wisdom, leading me to good choices for myself and for good counsel for people needing help.  In Jesus Name I pray,  Amen

Personal update:  I have an appointment with a Urologist next Friday.  He will evaluate the results of the MRI and set a plan for a biopsy in the near future.  School ends May 22; summer school starts in June, four mornings each week.  I am scheduled to drive the bus then. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 18, 2024: SOAP #5280: 1Kings 3; 2Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings (NIV) 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”…
9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

OBSERVATION:  What a wise choice, to choose wisdom!  He requested a wise heart to enable him to govern Israel and to know the difference between good and evil.

Of all the things Solomon could have requested, he asked for that which would make him a better servant, both to God and to the people.  He used his power to choose, and in so doing did not use it selfishly.  He did not choose to better his own standing, but to enable him to better the standing of others.

APPLICATION:  Every once in a while, we too have an unexpected choice.  We unexpectedly find or receive some extra money.  How do we choose to spend it?  Or we unexpectedly have an “extra” hour in our day.  How do we choose to spend it?

May God be as pleased with our choices as He was with Solomon’s.  As we read on from the scriptures above, we see that God was so pleased that He gave Solomon all the things he did not ask for—wealth, honor, peace, long life! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I need your wisdom flowing through me as I write these SOAPs every day.  I need your wisdom, leading me to good choices for myself and for good counsel for people needing help.  In Jesus Name I pray,  Amen

Personal update:  I have an appointment with a Urologist next Friday.  He will evaluate the results of the MRI and set a plan for a biopsy in the near future.  School ends May 22; summer school starts in June, four mornings each week.  I am scheduled to drive the bus then. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 17, 2024: SOAP #5279: 1Kings 2: 1Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

OBSERVATION:  God’s justice is an expression of his holiness.  It is perfect. When we think of justice in our nation, we think of courts and judges.  That is a very important part of justice, but it is only half the story.  In God, justice does not only have to do with punishing the wicked, but also with rewarding the righteous.

Paul points to God’s justice to encourage those suffering persecution. And his inclusion “as to us as well,” indicates that Paul takes courage and strength himself from the thought of God’s justice. This is not the end of the story. What is ahead makes it well worth putting up with this temporary trouble we experience.

APPLICATION:  Those in hospitals want to know when they will be going home. Anyone going through trouble wants to know when it will end.  It will end when Jesus returns.  He will return with great glory, not coming again like a newborn baby in a manger.  The angels will not be limited to announcing his arrival to shepherds.  He will come with “blazing fire” and “powerful angels.”

PRAYER:  Lord, what a day that will be when you return to set up your kingdom on earth!   Then you will rule in holiness and love.  Courts will not be swayed away from truth.  After years of rule by men with selfishness, greed, graft, dishonesty and evil, the world will be ruled by The Only One Worthy!  You proved you are holy by your life on earth and you proved you are loving by dying for our sins!  Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 16, 2024: SOAP #5278: 1Kings 1: 1Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1Thessalonians 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessaloniang (NIV) 5:16 Be joyful always; 17  pray continually; 18  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

OBSERVATION:  There are 14 directive phrases that Paul writes to the Thessalonians at the close of this letter in verses 12-22. 

The 10th directive.  In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we are to be thankful.  Paul is not here telling us to be thankful FOR those circumstances, but IN those circumstances.  However blessed or troublesome our circumstances are, we have something for which we are eternally grateful.  We have His Presence!  We have His Promises!

APPLICATION:  It is the will of God for us to be thankful.  It is good for God when we are thankful.  It is good for us when we are thankful.  It is good for our neighbors when we are thankful.  

A thankful believer makes God look good!  It makes other people want what we have. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I want you to enjoy my prayers.  May they be full of appreciation and rejoicing in what you have done and are doing around me. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 15, 2024: SOAP #5277: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

(from 2014 SOAP)  

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 of the above verse 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.” {2Corinthians 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—it is only temporary!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 14, 2024: SOAP #5276: 1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

(reworked from 2018)

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. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for 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. 

My first thoughts about “clearing the way” has to do with my calendar.  There are times when my planned activities get in the way of God’s plan for me.  I need Him to clear my calendar of commitments and things that would stop me from doing His will. 

Also, Paul’s travel expense account was not in a local bank.  God was his banker and funded Paul’s ministry.  Sometimes Paul worked to not be a burden to others.  (1Thessalonians 2:9)   Sometimes people traveling with Paul took jobs so that Paul would be able to focus full time on ministry.  Sometimes churches send Paul support for his ministry.   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 and not to run ahead.  Walking in the center of His presence is where I find the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s anointing and the assurance of His full provision. 

While in the US Navy, I found that when I obeyed my assignment, I did not have to carry the burden of provision.  Now I am finding that God is a much better provider than the US Navy! 

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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