Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 1, 2025: SOAP #5539:  Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.        

OBSERVATION:   Phillip had just been in a city in Samaria where the whole city accepted the message of Christ; now he is specifically sent to a desert road, to an individual.  It is interesting to note that in both places—in the city and on the desert road—Phillip was not the first to carry God’s message.  John, chapter 4, tells of Jesus spending two days in Samaria where many believed.  And the gentleman in the chariot had been reading in Isaiah before Phillip arrived. 

APPLICATION:  When I am led by the Holy Spirit, I always find that I am not the “first responder.”  God has timed my part in their life perfectly with what He is already doing!   Many times, someone else has already been used by the Lord to speak into their lives.  And I can be assured that the Holy Spirit is present long before I arrive on the scene. When my attention is strongly drawn to someone, I should move out boldly and see how I can be a part of what God is already doing in that life. 

I must remember that I am not the one winning them to Jesus.  That is the job of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit uses my part to mix in with what others have told them. 

PRAYER:  Lord, today, lead me to someone with whom I can share what You have done for me.  May my words encourage them to recognize and accept what You are already doing for them.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 31, 2025: SOAP #5538:  Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 7:2 And he [Stephen] said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

OBSERVATION: In chapter seven, verses 2 through 53, we read Stephen’s personal defense before the Jewish council.  It is a recounting of Israel’s history from Abraham to Jesus.  A common thread woven through these verses is that Israel had a God who speaks!  God talks to His people.  And He acts in accordance with His spoken promises.  The same God who spoke in creation (Genesis 1), spoke to the Israelites throughout their history. 

They heard God speak.  They understood what God said.  When they followed what God said they had good success.  When they disobeyed, they experienced trouble. 

APPLICATION:  The eternal God is still a speaker.  The Bible is THE WORD of God.  In the WORD of God, I find words specifically directed to me.  As I read the WORD of God, the Holy Spirit, who lives inside me, draws my attention to specific passages I am to apply to my life. 

As I gather with other believers, God often speaks to me through a pastor, a teacher, a song, a gift of the Holy Spirit flowing through another believer, and other ways.  The Holy Spirit focuses my attention on what I need to hear. 

Throughout my day, and even as I sleep, my thoughts are captivated and locked into a subject, or a memory.  I use the WORD of God to judge these thoughts.  God will never speak contrary to His WORD. 

It is good to write down what I hear God is saying to me.  It is a way to let Him know that what He says is important and I do not want to forget it.  When He sees I value what He says, He will be more inclined to speak to me again.  It is good for me to review what God has said to me and see if I have done what He told me to do. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I am so glad you are a speaker.  I am so glad I can trust you to reassure me with love and guide me with wisdom.  I am privileged to hear you speak to me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 30, 2025: SOAP #5537:  Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 25:8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.  9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Exodus (NIV) 26:30 Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.   (also 27:8; 25:40; Acts 7:44; and Hebrews 8:5)
Exodus (NIV) 27:8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

OBSERVATION:   Moses went up the mountain to spend time with God.  Not only did he bring down the Ten Commandments, but he also brought back plans to build a portable tabernacle.  God not only told Moses; He showed Moses.   Surely there must have been times when the builders went to Moses with questions about the plans and Moses said, “Here is how I saw it on the mountain.”          

APPLICATION:  When I have questions about living out my Christian life, I can go back to the gospels and see how Jesus did it.  I can also think back to how my dad did it.  Visual examples help me better understand God’s written words. 

God wants my life to be a visual example for others to follow.  He wants my life to be a living example of how to live in victory through the hard times. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for coming to earth to show me how to live.  And thank you for the people you placed in my life to show me how live in my world.  May my life be useful as a living example for others of how to live in this world.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 29, 2025: SOAP #5536:  Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 5:2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3  Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

OBSERVATION:   There was no requirement for them to give it all but, desiring the esteem of giving the full amount of the sale, they pretended to give it all.  In reality, they kept part for themselves.  I doubt that Ananias and his wife sat down to figure out how they could lie to the Holy Spirit.  Maybe they did not even think of it as a lie.  Surely if they had considered that the Holy Spirit would be listening to their words and evaluating their actions, they would have done it differently.  The following verses give the results.

APPLICATION:   I need to keep at the front of my thoughts that the Holy Spirit is listening to my words and reading my mind.  He takes what I say to others as if I am saying it to Him!!! 

I have asked Him to be my Lord and live in my heart.  There is nothing I do that He is not a part.  He hears every word and even knows my every thought. 

His presence gives peace when I am doing what pleases Him; His presence brings conviction when I start to go contrary to what is in line with His will for me.  His presence is a most valuable asset for those desiring to please God.  Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts.  Reading His Word every day, praying (talking with Him throughout the day), and in carefully monitoring the peace in my heart I can stay in the center of God’s will. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep me aware of Your Presence today.  Nudge me when I am about to go beyond the truth or say something out of place or hurtful.  Amen.

Pastor Leon  
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 28, 2025: SOAP #5535:  Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

(reworked from earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 4:27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

OBSERVATION:   What an amazing truth.  In all of their evil, jealous, and murderous spirit, they ended up doing only what God had determined before should be done!

APPLICATION:   When people arise against us and do their worst, we need not fear. The God we serve is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient!  He is always present; He is all powerful, the Almighty, And He is all knowing. 

Our enemy is so limited!  He only has the freedom to do what God allows him to do.  He cannot go beyond what God allows!  

God may just be doing the same thing in our lives as in the verses above.  He has the power to turn the circumstances!  He has the wisdom to do it at just the right time!  He has the love to do it!  In the end we will be able to say: “Ours the victory, His the glory!”    

PRAYER:   Father, help me remember that there are times when you allow people to come against me so that your great love, and mercy, and compassion can be seen shining through me.  I can count on you to use those difficulties so that people can see you through me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer January 27, 2025: SOAP #5534:  Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 3:5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

OBSERVATION:   Are we aware of “what” we have?  We have the same God Peter had!  We have the same Holy Spirit!  We have the same Name with which to bring the authority of heaven to earth!

Peter used his hands to reach out and his physical strength to assist the man to obedience.  He was giving the man more than physical help, but the physical help was part of the package.  God uses what we have but then accomplishes so much more than what we are obviously able so that we get the joy of participation, but He gets the glory!

Peter would not take credit for the healing, but the scripture gives Peter credit for what he did.  He did not do much, but he did what was needed.  He was not the source, but he was a willing vessel.  Peter could not heal him, but he could lift him!  

The effect of the human cooperating with the divine!   Power is released!  Healing is affected!

APPLICATION:  We cannot heal, but we can lift‼  AMEN! I can “lift my eyes to the hills.”  Ps 121:1 I can lift my praise to God.  Ps 63:4 I can lift my prayer/petitions to God. I can lift another’s load. I can lift another’s spirit by words of kindness.

We may, in the name of Jesus, reach out with a dinner, or ride, or $20.00, but God flows through the channel we have created to move by His Holy Spirit and He does what only God can do.  We get the joy of participation, but God gets the glory!

PRAYER:  Thank you, Lord, for letting me be a part of what You are doing!  May You get much glory from my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 26, 2025: SOAP #5533:  Exodus 14-16; Acts 2 (reworked earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

OBSERVATION:   They had been told to go into the entire world.  Then they had been told to wait—to wait in Jerusalem until they received what was promised. (Acts 1:4)   But when the right time arrived, the promise was given suddenly.  I am reminded of Joseph who “waited” in prison for over two years, yet when Pharaoh had the dream, suddenly, within a day, Joseph was made 2^nd in charge of all Egypt!   (Genesis 14:14 & 40)                

APPLICATION:  In the first chapter of Acts, we see the importance of waiting.  Today, in the second chapter we find that when the time is right, God often moves suddenly.   Waiting on Him is never a waste of time.  Moving ahead of Him is the real waste of time.  When He moves “suddenly” it makes the waiting worthwhile!    “My waiting” PLUS “His suddenly” is always quicker than “my running ahead on my own.” 

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust your leading and your timing.  I am certain that you know what is best.     Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 25, 2025: SOAP #5532:  Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 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.”

OBSERVATION:   Luke was not one of Jesus disciples, but a physician who became a believer and followed Jesus.  He wrote the gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts.  Luke had come to realize that a key part of the life and ministry of Jesus was the presence of the Holy Spirit.  When Luke wrote the Book of Acts, Jesus was gone.  He had returned to heaven.  BUT the same Holy Spirit that moved and ministered through Jesus was present, and moving, in the church! 

In verse 4, Luke gives a short comment that Jesus was “eating with them.”  It is a comment made by a doctor of the physical activities of the post resurrection Jesus!   Jesus had risen from the dead, he had appeared through closed doors…did he need to eat?  I do not know, but He did.  He continued to participate in the normal things of the disciple’s lives. 

APPLICATION:  And today, Jesus, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, continues to participate in the mundane daily things of our life.  The Holy Spirit participates with us in life.  And He wants us to participate with each other in our daily lives.  We do life together. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, as you walk and talk with me, lead me to walk and talk with those around me.  As I learn of you, may other learn from me.  In spiritual things, may Jesus be glorified.  And in non-spiritual things, like sweeping the floor, or taking out the trash, may I find you are with me and that Jesus is glorified in these things too.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 24, 2025: SOAP #5531:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised [the Holy Spirit]; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

OBSERVATION:   Luke ends his book as he started.  He speaks of the Spirit. His closing remark about the Holy Spirit leads right into his next book, the book of Acts.  In Luke, the Holy Spirit is presented as the power through which Jesus ministered.  In the book of Acts the Holy Spirit is presented as the power through which the early church ministered. Things should continue today in that same pattern!     

APPLICATION:  I need to follow the example of Jesus and the pattern set by the book of Acts church in allowing the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower me. 

What a tragedy it would be for me to not take advantage of this promised empowering.  It must be good; Jesus, Himself, promised it!   It must be good; it was poured out on the Day of Pentecost!   It must be good; read the book of Acts and see how the early church was affected!  It must be good; Acts 2:37-39 says it is promised to all who will call upon the Lord!!!  That’s ME!!! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I need you to take the lead in my life every day.  I need you to minister through me.  Without you living in me, I have no hope of fulfilling your will for my life. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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