Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 11, 2024: SOAP #5334:  Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

OBSERVATION:   After years of high priests wearing ceremonial garments and offering token sacrifices for sin, and then dying in office.  After years of offering animal sacrifices that could never properly cover the sins of the people for which they were killed.  After years of going through ceremonies and rituals full of meaning but that could never change any heart.  Wouldn’t it be good to have a real high priest who would not die in office and need to be replaced?  Wouldn’t it be good to have a high priest make a sacrifice that could really pay for sin? 

The point of what the writer of Hebrews is saying is that in Jesus we really do have such a High Priest!!!   We have a High Priest who was sinless and sacrificed His own blood to be the covering for sin!  We have a High Priest who rose from the death of His own sacrifice and will never die again!  He is eternal! 

APPLICATION:  His one sacrifice covers the sins of our grandparents, our parents, us, our children and our grandchildren—generations before and generations after! 

What a day that will be when family generations will join to worship this Great High Priest!   He is worthy of the praise of all generations!

PRAYER:  Lord, you are the Great High Priest who fulfilled all the prophecies we find in the tabernacle built by the Israelites in the wilderness.  You are the Great High Priest who made the one sacrifice that will forever be accepted as the payment for sin.  Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that you are LORD!   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 09, 2024: SOAP #5332:  Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 6:17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.

OBSERVATION:    God’s character is that He will never lie.  Yet about His promises for the future, He takes an oath that it will be as He said.  He wants us to be doubly sure!  He is not playing games with us; we can trust Him.  He wants us to trust Him.

His truthfulness is an anchor of our soul.  When the winds of the world in which we live try to push us off track, we have an anchor that holds us steady.  It is His truthfulness and the hope we have for the future.  Our hope and faith are held secure by the anchor of His word. 

“Inner sanctuary” and “behind the curtain” are references to the Tabernacle of Moses when the blood of a sacrificed lamb had to be taken behind the veil into the Holiest of Holies to be placed on the mercy seat.  It was proof to God of a sacrifice.  The blood of Jesus was taken into the real Holiest of Holies in heaven where His sinless blood was placed before Father as the payment for my sins!  

APPLICATION:  Oh, yes.  I can rest assured that an acceptable sacrifice has been made for me!  My future hope is secured. Jesus has already died.  Jesus has already entered heaven with blood, the proof of a sinless sacrifice.  He went before me and entered on my behalf!   I can now face death rejoicing!    

PRAYER:  Father, you see the sinless blood of your Son, Jesus, placed there on my behalf…there is no way that I could ever be worthy of such a sacrifice.  Use me for your glory.  May my life honor you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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