Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 12, 2024: SOAP #5427:  Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
6 ¶  So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”   He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

OBSERVATION:   In his gospel, Luke emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus.  And now, in Acts (also written by Luke), we see the emphasis on the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of the church. 

They would be “baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  The Holy Spirit would “come on” them and they would receive power to be witnesses throughout the world, starting in Jerusalem where they were then gathered.  

APPLICATION:  I too must start in Jerusalem…in my Jerusalem where I live.  I too must depend on the Holy Spirit to lead me to those needing to hear the message of Jesus.  I too must rely on the Holy Spirit to work through me as I speak, pray, and touch in Jesus Name. 

When I face a situation beyond my capabilities, it is then for me to trust the Holy Spirit to work through me.  When He does, people around will know that Leon could not do what was done.  There must be someone greater working in me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, let me live a life that is obviously beyond my abilities.  Let me live a life that can only be explained through acknowledging that God is with me.  Holy Spirit, lead me and use me to bring glory to Jesus.  For it is in His Name I pray,  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 11, 2024: SOAP #5426:  Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

OBSERVATION:  These are the last words of Jesus as recorded in Luke’s gospel.  They are a promise to fulfill the Father’s promise.  And they are to stay in Jerusalem until they have received this promise and been empowered with heavenly power.  They were not to leave the city until this happened.  They were to “stay in the city until…”

This was the same Jesus that had told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person.  But before leaving, He told them to stay!  

If we only had Luke’s gospel, we may wonder what was so important?  Why postpone the message of the resurrected and living Christ!  Why should they wait to tell the world the good news? 

That question is answered in Luke’s sequel, The Book of Acts!  

As they were following Jesus last command, waiting in Jerusalem, in Acts, chapter two, they were all baptized in the Holy Spirit!  The church was impowered to go like Jesus and to do the works of Jesus!!!  They continued the ministry of Jesus!  The Father’s promise was fulfilled!  

APPLICATION: The Father’s promise is for today too!!!  Acts 2:38-39!!!  The Good News is great: Jesus died to forgive my sins!   But there is more:  the Holy Spirit is with us as He was with Jesus and He empowers us today to do what Jesus would do!!! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, find me a willing vessel that you can use to bring glory and honor to Jesus!  Anoint the simple things you give me to do with your power.  Anoint the simple words I write to carry your truth.  This I pray in Jesus Name,  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 10, 2024: SOAP #5425:  Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 23:47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

OBSERVATION:    Who was this centurion and what had he just seen?  He was the centurion in charge of the crucifixion of Jesus and he had just witnessed the death of Jesus.  

Four times Pilate had declared Jesus to be innocent.  Then Pilate said that Herod had found Jesus to be innocent.  The thief on the cross a sixth time and in this verse, the centurion makes the seventh declaration of the innocence of Jesus.   

APPLICATION:  Jesus was innocent!  There is no question!  Yet a holy God allowed his innocent son to die a terrible death.  Why?  There is only one reason, He was dying in my place, and I am not innocent! 

PRAYER:  You may want to pray as I have prayed: Jesus, I am a sinner and need to be cleansed of my sins and forgiven.  I am asking that the blood you shed on the cross be the payment for my sins.  Cleanse me, forgive me, and be my Lord.  I thank you as I receive your forgiveness by faith.  In Your Wonderful Name I pray,  Amen
 
And now, you may want to join me in this prayer:  Lord, you died for me and now you live in me.  Today I die to myself to live my life for you.  May I bring you much joy.    Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 09, 2024: SOAP #5424:  Nehemiah 1-2; Psalm 133-134; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 22:8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

OBSERVATION:    Some things can happen on the spur of the moment; however, others require preparation.  The cross required great preparation beginning even before the foundation of the world. Man got a glimpse in the Garden of Eden; more details are added through the remaining chapters of Genesis.  In Exodus we see the cross being central, woven into the Tabernacle of Moses.

Now Peter and John were being sent ahead to continue the preparation for the cross.  For Peter and John, it was merely preparing for the Passover.  For Jesus, it was preparation for the transaction that would bring many sons into glory!   Peter and John did what they could.  They made the preparations that were possible for them to make.  But Someone would soon be present that would be able to do what they could not do!

APPLICATION:  God often uses us, like Peter and John, to do the preparation work for what He is about to do.   Someone’s heart needs to be softened to receive Jesus, so He sends us to do some deed of kindness.  He may use us to say something to a friend that will encourage them to say, “Yes,” to Jesus.  There is no body better than the Holy Spirit in showing us what we can do to make preparation for Jesus to come into another person’s life. 

I must remember that it is not my presence that will change their life, but the Presence of Jesus!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, use me to make preparations for my family, my friends, my neighbors, my co-workers to experience the joy of knowing Jesus as the Lord of their lives.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 08, 2024: SOAP #5423:  Ezra 9-10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

OBSERVATION:   Since this was a public place, I can imagine that it would not be uncommon for people to watch what was being given into the “temple treasury.”   The amount of the offering would probably bring some comments from those watching.  And, for those wanting attention, this would be a good way to be noticed. 

Jesus saw the big givers, but He also saw a poor widow.  He took note of the small offering she brought.  He also saw her and her gift.  In HIS eyes, her little gift did not get lost in the total. 

APPLICATION:  Sometimes our gift is hardly noticeable.  Compared to what others can give, it hardly seems worth giving.  But we are not giving for others to see, but for HIM to see.  Our gift is in honor to HIM!  

Poor people can give too!   Our gift may be just a glass of cold water, or a word of encouragement, but with the blessing of God, it can be just what is needed at that moment.   Sometimes it is just the gift of our presence. 

PRAYER:  Lord, make me a giver.  Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see what I have that I can give.  Make me a blessing to someone today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 07, 2024: SOAP #5422:  Ezra 7-8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 20:22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 
23 He (Jesus) saw through their duplicity and said to them,
24 “Show me a denarius.  Whose image and inscription are on it?”  “Caesar’s,” they replied. 
25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 

OBSERVATION:    If the image of Caesar on the coin indicated Caesar’s ownership, then that which carried the image of God would indicate God’s ownership. 

Genesis 1:27 says that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Mankind was God’s plan and God’s creation. 

As coins having the image of Caesar are to be returned to Caesar, so those bearing the image of God should be returned to God. 

A day is coming when we will all stand before our Creator to give an answer for how we lived. 

APPLICATION:  I like the song: “I was made in His likeness, created in His image.  I was born to serve the Lord.  I can’t deny Him; I’ll always walk beside Him.  I was born to serve the Lord!”    

All people carry the image and likeness of God, so when dealing with people, even with hard people, I should respect God’s image in them. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I bear your image and you have chosen to live in me.  Today may others recognize your Presence in me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 06, 2024: SOAP #5421:  Esther 9-10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 19:7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

OBSERVATION:    Visiting the home of Zacchaeus, a tax collector, gave the Jews opportunity to criticize Jesus, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”  But it also gave Jesus the opportunity to make a clear statement of His purpose in being on earth.  He had come “to seek and to save what was lost.”  

APPLICATION:  If I claim to be Christ-like (Christian) than I should have the same priority: to seek and to save what was lost.  If I claim to have the same Holy Spirit in me as was in Jesus, then I should expect that He will establish the same priority in me as He did in the life and ministry of Jesus. 

If I look at the world around me and believe that the time for the return of Jesus is getting close, then I should have the same priority as Jesus.  If someone I know has not received the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers, if they do not know that Jesus paid for our sins by His death on the cross, then I should love them enough to tell them.  I cannot save them, but I can tell them.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, guide my steps each day, and draw my attention to someone ready to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Make me a continuation of the life and ministry of Jesus—to seek and save the lost.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 05, 2024: SOAP #5420:  Esther 3-8; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:  Esther (NIV) 4:12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

OBSERVATION:    Mordecai had raised Esther as his own daughter.  He had taught her to honor God and respect her earthly father.  Understanding the grave predicament facing the Jews, he realized that, as queen, Esther had a unique position to speak to the King an their behalf.  …also on her behalf for she too was a Jew. 

APPLICATION:  Every believer should look around them and ask themselves, “Why am I working in this company, or why am I living in this neighborhood?”  “Why did this family move into the house next to mine?”  “Has God put me here for such a time as this?” 

When a unique opportunity comes our way, we should be looking to see if God has a reason for bringing it to us.   Will this bring opportunity to tell someone about Jesus and what He can do?  

PRAYER:  Lord, I know you are depending on me like you were depending on Esther.  But in being used, Esther was depending on you!   I expect you want to use me where you have placed me.  I am depending on you.  Be glorified in and through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 04, 2024: SOAP #5419:  Esther 1-2; Psalm 150; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

OBSERVATION:   Jesus said there would be a day when the King comes to earth in a very dramatic way.  It will be like lightning flashing from one part of heaven and streaking across to another part!  Everyone will see it!  (Verse 24)   But until that day, people will not be able to observe expected characteristics of God’s Kingdom being established on earth.  With fallen man leading governments, we will observe what fallen man does. 

It is not that the Kingdom of God is not present, for indeed it is!   It is not that the Kingdom of God does not make and changes, for indeed it does!   But its presence is in the hearts of people!   The changes brought by the Kingdom are in the hearts of people!    

APPLICATION:  When I accept Jesus as my savior and place my faith in His death as the payment for my sins, I become a part of His body.  But as I make Jesus the Lord of my life, I begin to live the Kingdom life.  King Jesus becomes the LORD of my life and lives His life through me.  He can bless the plans I make, or he can cancel those plans, or he can replace them with His plans.  It is perfectly OK because He is LORD!   

I have lived long enough to know that when Jesus changes my plans, it is well worth any effort to do as He leads.   He changed the way I did my daily devotions to this SOAP format!  I did not want to make the change, but I am so glad I did!   

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, more than just calling you LORD, I want to live my life like you really are my LORD.   You loved me enough to die for me, so obviously I can trust my life in your hands.  Your ways are always better than my ways.  The SOAPs sure are proof of that.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 03, 2024: SOAP #5418:  Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

OBSERVATION:   When we all get to heaven, our eyes will be opened to what God has prepared for us!  It will be better than anything we had ever dreamed.  We will be overflowing with thanksgiving to Jesus for His sacrifice that covered our sins and made heaven possible for us.  We will also be thankful for people who told us the truth about Jesus, about sin, and about salvation.  We will be glad to meet them and tell them how God used them to reach us. 

With that in mind, Jesus here tells us that we, who know Him, should use our worldly wealth in ways that will insure that others will join us in heaven. 

APPLICATION:  There are so many ways to invest our money into the kingdom from buying a ticket to take an unsaved friend to his favorite sporting event, to buying a Bible to give to someone interested, to giving in an offering for a missionary or their ministry, and on, and on, and on…  

Jesus is telling us to use our money to win people to Him, but many times it takes no money.  Just lend a listening ear or a helping hand, or a word of encouragement, or just a smile.   

Jesus is telling us that the people we influence in this life will be on the welcoming committee when we arrive in heaven!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, may there be people in heaven who will be glad to see me.  May the money that passes through my hands influence people to love and serve you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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