Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 22, 2025: SOAP #5529:  Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

OBSERVATION:   The loving creator God had not gone blind; he had seen the misery of His people.  He had not gone deaf; he had heard their cry.  He was getting personally involved; he had come down to rescue them and take them to a much better land.  God had a plan; His plan was a man—it was Moses! 

APPLICATION:  I remember traveling to Sri Lanka for Impetus Eighty, a conference called by Colton Wickramaratne.  “God’s plan is a man!” 

Just as Jesus was sent, so Moses was sent, and you and I are sent.  We must consider that we are sent to our families, our neighbors, our schools, our workplaces, etc.  We must take our assignment seriously. 

Each one of us must realize that we have been chosen by the creator of the universe and specifically placed where we are among the people He has put around us.  God did not make a mistake having Moses where He was and God did not make a mistake in having you and I where we are at this moment! 

PRAYER:  Lord, keep me faithfully doing the little things.  Use me in the small places; make me a light that shines for you.  May there be nothing too small to do for you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leo

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 21, 2025: SOAP #5528:  Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

OBSERVATION:   Everything is temporary.  In looking around we see that things left to themselves, tend to disintegrate, break down, and fall apart. 

Everything, that is, except one thing.  That One thing is true and remains true; it is eternally true!  The Word of God will never pass away.   

APPLICATION:  There is nothing as permanent as the Word of God; it is as permanent as God!   His Word is an expression His being.  It is important for us to know God’s Word.  It is important to make sure we understand it. 

Last week I made a mistake in using the Word, but several of you were familiar enough with the Word, that you caught my mistake.  In the OBSERVATION I called Joseph’s father Isaac.  I was wrong! His name was Jacob!  

The mistake did not change the emphasis on authority, but it does give me opportunity to correct my mistake and to emphasize the importance of checking what we hear.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can be encouraged to check further.  Our teachers and preachers, evangelist, prophets, bishops and apostles are not fallible.  If they cannot accept correction, they are not a leader we should follow! 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who works to keep me straight in understanding your word.  You said He would lead me into all truth.  (John 16:13)  How I need that special ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 20, 2025: SOAP #5527:  Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:   Genesis (NIV) 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

OBSERVATION:   Isaac was dead and now his sons feared that without Isaac’s influence Joseph might remember how they had sold him into slavery and take revenge against them.  Joseph understood that God has sent him to Egypt for the salvation of the family.  Isaac’s death did not change those facts and did not change Joseph.  His authority was a gift from God to enable him to serve his family; he would not use it for revenge or to serve himself.

APPLICATION:   Authority is the right to make decisions and to hold others accountable.  Only God has authority because He is worthy.  Any authority I have is delegated authority which means I must give an account for how I use it. 

Authority is a gift from God to make me a better servant.  It is not to be used for selfish gain or to make things easier for myself.

PRAYER:  Lord, teach me to use authority for Your glory and for the good of others.  I pray for President Trump and Vice-President Vance to use their authority with great wisdom.  Grant that these new national leaders have self-control and not use their authority for selfish actions or for revenge.  Oh Lord, be glorified in our nation I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 19, 2025: SOAP #5526:  Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 19:45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

OBSERVATION:   The time of Jesus crucifixion was but days away.  He would be making the necessary blood sacrifice to pay for the sins of all who would repent and receive forgiveness.  It would cost Him His life, but it would be free to all.  And Jesus walks into the temple area where people are buying and selling animals to be sacrificed for their sins, which could never take away their sins!  

God’s house was to be a house of prayer, but they had devised a way to sell animals that were acceptable as sacrifices to the priests.

Instead of being a place to talk with God and building a relationship with Him, they were putting their trust in an animal they bought to pay for their sins!   Is it any wonder Jesus was so angrily motivated to drive out the sellers!   

APPLICATION:  If God’s house is to be a “house of prayer” then prayer should be a major characteristic of every church!  Every church should be a place to stop and pray.  Every church should be known for the people who pray.  The prayer room should be the heart of the church. 

The Bible is clear that my personal body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that God dwells in my by His spirit.  So, my body should be a “house of prayer!”  People should recognize me as someone who talks to God and who hears God talk to me.  When someone asks me to pray for them, it could be that they see me as a “house of prayer.” 

PRAYER:  Lord, I am a walking house of prayer.  May your praise be always on my lips.  When someone asks me to pray for them, may their request be mixed with those already arising from my heart to your throne.  My motivation comes from spending time with you.  May you enjoy living in my heart for it has the same atmosphere as heaven, one of worship and petition.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 18, 2025: SOAP #5525:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:   Luke (NIV) 18:1   Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

OBSERVATION:   In Jesus days on earth, He was a man of prayer.  His disciples were so impressed by Jesus’ praying that they asked Him to teach them to pray; and Jesus gave them a model prayer—what we call today “The Lord’s Prayer.”  The above verse is the introduction to a parable encouraging his disciples to pray.  I hear Jesus saying, “Do not quit praying; as long as you pray, you have hope!” 

APPLICATION:   The parable that follows teaches persistence.  Jesus continues on in this chapter to mention that we need an attitude of humility in prayer, and that we must come like a little child.  Then in verse 27 He presents a universal truth—he says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  That is the reason we “should always pray and not give up.”  Nothing we face today is bigger than our God and His ability to work it out for good!  In our prayer, we need to be careful not to pray like our problem is bigger than God, but like our God is bigger than our problem.  He is, you know!

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to live and pray like I believe that you are both able and willing to work everything out for your glory and for my good.  Amen.          

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Personal note: yesterday I was affected by an upper respiratory affliction.  I did not drive my afternoon bus route but stayed home in bed.  I am sorry for sending out the SOAP so late!  Today I stayed home from the bus driving and rested this morning.  Praise the Lord, I am starting to feel better, so will send this out a little earlier than usual. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 17, 2025: SOAP #5524:  Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”      

OBSERVATION:   Is Jesus saying that the person who does the offence should repent?  Yes, but that is not the primary message in this passage.  Jesus is not speaking to the one offending, but to the one offended.  Notice, Jesus did not say “watch them,” but “…watch yourselves.”  The emphasis is not on what the offender should do, but on what the offended should do.   The offended is not to evaluate the sincerity of the apology.  (How could someone be sincere if they have to repent seven times!)  If the offender can return seven times, obviously the offended party did not cut off any contact.  The Great Forgiver is telling me to forgive!  

APPLICATION:  We might think that it is too difficult to follow Jesus , but we must remember that He is with us to help us.   He has forgiven us and He will help us forgive others.  We should forgive others in the same way we want Jesus to forgive us.

PRAYER:  Lord, if there is anyone in the universe who knows about forgiveness, it is You!  You told us to request forgiveness from you in the same way we forgive others.   Let my forgiveness of others show how much I need your forgiveness.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 16, 2025: SOAP #5523:  Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

(Reworked SOAP from 2012)

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 16:10  “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

OBSERVATION:   Here we see a progression from being faithful with little to becoming faithful with much.  We see the progression from being faithful with temporary worldly wealth to becoming faithful with eternal wealth.  There is the progression of working for others to working for one’s self. 

Two words that have no limit: little and much.  There is no amount too little to start.  And these verses put no limit on much. 

APPLICATION:   I must be willing to start where I am and use what I have.  I must keep aware that my future opportunities depend on my faithfulness today.

PRAYER:   Lord, help me not to become discouraged about my present circumstances but keep faithful knowing that today is preparation for my future.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 15, 2025: SOAP #5522:  Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

(from an earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 15:1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

OBSERVATION:   When something clean and pure comes in contact with something dirty and contaminated, it is expected that the dirty will contaminate the clean.  But in this verse, we see the pure sinless Jesus purposefully intermingling with sinners.   Jesus even reached out and touched the lepers.  He did not get leprosy, but they were made clean!  (Luke 5 & 17)   Jesus did not become contaminated, but sinners left forgiven, and lepers left clean!    

APPLICATION:  When I confessed my sins to Jesus and invited him into my life, He did not become contaminated, but I became forgiven by his love and justified by his sacrifice.  He made me just as if I had never sinned!   Amazing!!!    Now his life in me helps me walk in the world without becoming contaminated also!   And when I do, He forgives. (1John 1:9)       

PRAYER:   Lord, I am so glad you are willing to intermingle with sinners.  Although you hate sin, you are not afraid of it.  Your righteousness is greater than sin!   Your death pays for my sins; your love forgives me; and your life lifts me to live as your child!   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 14, 2025: SOAP #5521:  Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no-one pursued them.

OBSERVATION:   Jacob set himself to obey God, to go to Bethel, establish his household there and build an altar to God.  Since they were committing themselves to Jehovah God, they needed to get rid of any foreign gods and take off clothing that may have been designed around those gods. 

And as they moved out in obedience, the Lord set the greatest security system any people ever had.   Fear!  Not because they were such a great company, they were really few in number.  Not a fear because they were mighty warriors.  No, it was the “terror of God!”  Jacob was doing his part (obedience); God was doing HIS part! 

APPLICATION:  When I walk in obedience, I am finding that God takes care of the problems I may face because I am doing His will.  I am faithful to tithe on my income; God is faithful to provide the many aspects of life—finance, housing, transportation, medical, etc.  And above all of that, I have the joy of being a friend of God!   Wow!  

I am faithful to write the SOAPs and He is faithful to provide what finances may be needed.   He knows the finances better than I, so I work with what He provides.  I know my part and I am confident that He knows His part. 

PRAYER:  Lord, find me faithful doing what you have given me to do.  I know I have found you faithful to keep your word.  The more I am in your word and get your word into my heart, the more faith grows in my heart.  You are trustworthy, so I will “Trust and Obey!”   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 13, 2025: SOAP #5520:  Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 32:9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

OBSERVATION:   Jacob was headed back to his home country where he would meet his brother, Esau.  Jacob had left home because Esau had threatened to kill him.  Jacob had sent some messengers to Esau looking for favor, but the messengers had returned saying Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men.  Jacob was desperate and turned to the Lord in prayer. 

His prayer is a good example for desperate people today.  First, he reminded God that he was doing what the Lord told him to do.  Second, he was humble and acknowledged what God had done.  Third, he stated his immediate need.  Forth, he ended by reminding God of His promises. 

APPLICATION:  Like Jacob, when I am desperate, I should begin and end my prayer with what He has said.  It is a way of saying, “I have not forgotten your word.  I have hidden it in my heart. And my faith is in you!”  I should not take more time in laying out my troubles that I do in praying His word!  He already knows my troubles; He wants to know if I know His Word!   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me not to let my desperate thoughts and feelings determine how I pray.  May the fact that I know you are greater than any problem I face, be clearly stated in my desperate prayers.  May the humble confession of my faith, the confession of Your greatness, and the confession of what you have spoken to me all work together to build my faith and to live in victory as You change me and my current situation!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon