Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 1, 2024: SOAP #5386: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

SCRIPTURE: Revelation (NIV) 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

OBSERVATION:   We like to think of God as a God of love.  Sometimes we forget that He is also Holy.  The face of God is so capable of expressing love that we do not consider that a holy God is very capable of expressing anger!  When the object of His love is being hurt, He can get very angry.  And we must remember that this is the Almighty, Omnipotent God!   He has unlimited power and ability to express His emotions.  No wonder the kings and generals of the earth will try to hide from His wrath—even calling for the mountains to fall on them to hide them from God!  

APPLICATION:  Today is a day of grace.  A day in which God expresses His love and forgiveness to those who accept what Jesus did to pay for our sins.  We do not need to hide from His face but run to His face and embrace.  I know this day of grace will end—and I believe quite soon. 

So, if you have not made Jesus your Lord and Savior, then do it today, before you go to sleep tonight!  It is that important!  Come and enjoy the great peace that accompanies His presence in your life.  He will be like a drink of cool water to your dry and thirsty soul. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, what an honor to know your Son, Jesus.  I am blest that He has forgiven my sins and now by His Spirit lives in my heart.  Fill me with your peace and joy.  Live in me.  For it is in the Name of Jesus, I pray,  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 31, 2024: SOAP #5385: Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

OBSERVATION:.   The Lamb, Jesus, was worthy of worship and praise because He is almighty God.   He is our creator, and we should honor Him because we all come from Him.  He is the reason we are here. 

Yet in Heaven there was a specific reason for worship.  He was the only one worthy to open the seal of the scroll.  He was worthy BECAUSE of what He had accomplished on His earth assignment!  He had completed His assigned task successfully!   He was born into a sinful world, yet He had not yielded to temptation!  He died as though He was guilty, yet He was totally innocent.  His blood was not needed to pay for His sins, so it could be accepted as payment in full for those who confess their sins and receive Him as their Lord!   

APPLICATION:  Believing the above to be true, I pray…

PRAYER: Jesus, I accept your death as the payment for my sins.  Forgive me and make me clean.  I confess you as Lord of my life.  May my life honor you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 30, 2024: SOAP #5384: Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
verse 9 (KJV) …for thy pleasure they are and were created

OBSERVATION:.    God is the mastermind behind all creation. Another being did not suggest that God use His magnificent powers to make stars and suns, to make planets with moons.  It was all His idea and is all created by His will and for His pleasure. 

That being true, one should expect to see the character of the Creator in all creation.  His perfect holiness is seen in the stars and planets staying true to their set courses.  People can work with the elements that make up this earth because once they discover the laws displayed by that element, they can have faith that it will always be the same!   God’s holiness is immutable!  

But if God is good, there must be more to God than just holiness.  It is holiness mixed with love that makes God good.  So, where can we look to find God’s love.  No place is the extent of God’s love seen other than His dealing with the man He created and gave the ability to make choices.  He would love man back into His family.  He would lovingly convince man that loving and serving Him would be worthy of any sacrifice, even death.  He paid the ultimate penalty for man to be redeemed, and men would willingly pay the ultimate penalty in loving God! 

APPLICATION:  We all have opportunity every day to express our love for the One who died for us.  We were created by His will and for His pleasure.  God’s wisdom, displaying both His holiness and His love, is being displayed through the church to rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. (Ephesians 3:10)  In small ways and big ways, God is displaying His character through me every day! 

PRAYER: Lord, I have been created by Your will and for Your pleasure.  May my life bring you honor and delight.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 29, 2024: SOAP #5383: Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

SCRIPTURE: Revelation (NIV)3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  (Also verses, 13 & 22) 

OBSERVATION:.   God I a speaker!  He has many ways to communicate.  He reveals Himself to us through what He does and what He says.   

APPLICATION:  I do not read the above verse to say that IF we are listening, He will be speaking.  I read it to say that God IS speaking, and we should be listening. 

God has something to say.  He spoke to us clearly through His Son, Jesus.  When Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to live in us.  Jesus work on the cross forgave and cleansed our sins.  He made us holy and clean, so we could be a good dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.  As Jesus walked and talked with His disciples, so the Holy Spirit walks and talks with us now. 

The Holy Spirit, who is the author of the Bible, will speak to us through our reading.  Reading the scriptures is a major way God speaks to us.  He often speaks to us through other people and even through our circumstances.  Many times He places a thought in our mind, a persistent thought that is hard to shove aside. When we believe it may be the Holy Spirit, it is to our benefit and to God’s glory if we will follow through with what that thought requires.  When we do so, we learn how the Spirit works in our life. 

When we pray, we can ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us.  He is a good teacher and enjoys teaching those who want to learn.  

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I believe you are speaking to the church today.  Give me a keen ear to hear and understand what you say to me and what you want to say through me.  It is my pleasure to have you living in my heart!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 28, 2024: SOAP #5382: Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  (also verses 11, 17, and 29 and chapter 3, verses 6, 13, and 22)

OBSERVATION: The Holy Spirit had something to say to the churches.  But the church would not hear the Spirit talking.  The Spirit had to find someone with the capacity to hear Him speaking and communicate it to the church.  He found just the man.  John, having been one of the three closest disciples to Jesus, he was uniquely prepared to hear the Holy Spirit speaking and write down what he heard and saw.   And having been exiled to the tiny island of Patmos for preaching the good news about Jesus, he had plenty of time to listen to what the Spirit was saying to the churches.    

APPLICATION:  It is important to know that the Holy Spirit is still speaking.  Through the gifts of prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, discernment, word of wisdom, word of knowledge the Holy Spirit speaks through people to the church. Through unique thoughts He places in the stream of my daily thinking—the Holy Spirit is still speaking, and I should be listening. 

We should expect the Holy Spirit to speak to us.  It is as normal as a mother giving instructions to an one of her children to be passed on to the other brothers and sisters. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, find me one willing to recognize and respond to your voice.  May I learn to recognize your voice as easily as I recognize my family’s phone numbers when they show up on my phone.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 27, 2024: SOAP #5381: Jeremiah 52; Psalm 143-144; Revelation 1

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

OBSERVATION: The hand that broke the bread and multiplied the fish, the hand that touched the blinded eye now touched John.  The touch was not just a casual touch of a friend, but a significant touch, a touch full of meaning.  It was such an important touch that John mentions it here in his writings.  It was a touch of presence.  The touch was Jesus way of saying, “I am here.”  
Along with the touch came the assuring words, “Do not be afraid.”  John’s courage was not to be based on who John was, but on who Jesus is. 

APPLICATION:  The courage I have to face the issues of this day is not based on my strength or wisdom.  It is not based on my ability to figure things out and to come up with a workable plan.  As I pray, read His Word, and meditate on Him, I feel His touch and sense His presence.  I look ahead into this day actively acknowledging the fact that Jesus is with me and will be with me all day long; my faith is in him. 

And I sing, “Oh, to be His hand extended; Reaching out to the oppressed…”  But I sing it, “Oh, to be Your hand extended…”  And I sing, “Touch through me, Holy Spirit, touch through me…”  Because I know that I am not the only one who needs a touch from the Lord.  I know that God wants to use me, through a word of encouragement, or touching a shoulder, or a smile, even through this SOAP—God wants to use me to touch others. 

PRAYER: Lord, use these SOAPs to bring an awareness of your presence.  As you speak to me, speak to others.  As I sense your presence, may others also sense your presence.  May your presence surround them like a heavenly hug.  Draw us all closer to you.  I pray in honor of your name,  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 26, 2024: SOAP #5380: Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

(reworking an old SOAP through which God is speaking to me)

SCRIPTURE:  3John (NIV) 6 They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! 7 They set out under the banner of the Name and get no help from unbelievers. 8 So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

OBSERVATION: John is writing to Gaius who had opened his heart and home to some traveling ministers.  The traveling ministers had returned and reported back to their home church.  They gave a such glowing report of the hospitality received that John writes a thank-you letter.  Great hospitality was their way of honoring those traveling ministers. 

My focus was drawn to verse 6, “…worthy of God himself.”  It made me consider what hospitality am I showing God.  He is The Honored Guest living in my life.  My hospitality shows the level of honor He is receiving from me!  Do I honor Him as one held in high esteem?  Am I careful with how I talk or act?

APPLICATION:  If anyone deserves excellent hospitality, it is God.  I should show him the greatest hospitality as I hold Him in such high esteem!  I should always treat Him as the Most Honored Guest!  I want to make Him know that He is welcome to share my life.  I want Him to know that I am honored to have Him spend the day with me.  I do not want to ignore Him or forget He is with me!  What could be too great an imposition in having the Creator of the Universe accompanying me throughout my day!!!   My response to any impositions is one way I can show Him how much I honor Him.  I do not want Him to ever think that I do not value His Presence or that He is not welcome!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I honor you!  I know I am unworthy to have you share my life.  Amazing, as you share my life, I get to share your life!  Jesus, thank you for making this possible by dying to cleanse me from the sin that separated me from you.  Holy Spirit show me how to express hospitality that is “worthy of God.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 25, 2024: SOAP #5379: Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2John

SCRIPTURE:  2John (NIV) 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

OBSERVATION: As John begins his short letter to fellow believers, he includes this word of blessing.  He mentions five key aspects of our lives as Christians: combining grace, mercy, and peace, with truth and love! 

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve.  He is favorable disposed to us.  Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve.  I see grace and mercy combining in peace. Living with the forgiveness of the God of all creation is amazing.  Knowing that God is for us and that we live in His mercy is like swimming in a sea of peace!  I do not earn the grace, or mercy, or peace.  It all comes from Him. 

APPLICATION:  However, the truth and love is my part of this equation.  God’s part, grace, mercy, and peace, comes to me as I walk in truth and love.  With the help of the Holy Spirit living in me, I align my thoughts and actions with the truth of God’s character and His Word.  And I follow His command to love. 

Grace, mercy, and peace are the completed work of the cross.  Walking in truth and love is a work in progress. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, by faith I receive the grace, and mercy, and peace provided for me through the death of Jesus, my Lord.  But I need your help to walk in truth and love.  Teach me truth and guide me in the path of love.  In Jesus Name, I pray,  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 24, 2024: SOAP #5378: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

  (reworked SOAP from 2011)

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

OBSERVATION: It cannot be ignored:  to love God means that we keep His commands.  To some, that thought seems cumbersome.  We are willing to say we love God, but when it comes down to actually doing some of the things He says, well, that is too inconvenient, and we might miss out on something we really like.  Think about it: how can we say we love God and not take time to read His Word, the Bible?

Instead of proving our love for God, we want God to further prove His love for us by overlooking our sins and understanding how tough it is to live by His rules.  We want Him to heal our sick bodies; we want Him to provide finances for what we would like to have.  Instead of thinking about the things we can do to prove our love for Him, we think of all the additional things He can do to prove His love for us!!!  And this after He has already given His Son to pay for our sins by His death on the cross!!! 

APPLICATION:  He has already proved His love for me; now it is my turn to prove my love for Him!  If I really love God, keeping His commands is not burdensome. 

It is really quite simple:  it is a joy to do things for those I really love.  It is my pleasure to discover what pleases them.  It pleases me to do those things that bring joy to their heart.  It makes me smile to make them smile. 

It makes me smile to make HIM smile!!!

PRAYER: “I love you Lord, and I lift my voice To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice; take joy, my King, in what you hear; may I be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.” (Laurie Klein)  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 23, 2024: SOAP #5377: Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

Following the Flow

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

OBSERVATION:  Gravity is unseen, yet no one doubts its existence!   We cannot see it, but no one has tried to convince me that there is no thing such as gravity. 

The same is true with love.  No one can see it, but no one doubts it existence. 

And the same is true with God’s love.  It is an unseen emotional force, but consider what it caused God to do.  God loved us and God sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins!   God was not rewarding us for the good we had done; he was paying the penalty for the bad we had done!   Why would He do that?  Because He loved us!   The cost was not some special treasure locked away in a safe room in heaven; the cost was his very Son laying down all the glory and privilege of heaven to be formed as a baby in a woman’s womb, to grow and live as a man without sin, then to be crucified as the blood sacrifice necessary to free us from sin’s bondage!   And God loved us enough to be willing to do that!!!    What love!!!

APPLICATION:  No wonder John wrote “since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another!”  How else could we appreciate such love? 

His love reaches to us and through us.  People will be drawn to this unseen force of God’s love as they experience it through our deeds.  They will see what it has done in our lives and gain first-hand knowledge as God’s love flows through us to them. 

Someone said that evangelism is simply following the flow of God’s love. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, help me follow the flow of your love through me today.  Show me someone who needs some expression of God’s love.  Let me be the one you use to express your love today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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