Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2025: SOAP #5722: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

OBSERVATION:   I cannot read the Genesis 1 without pausing to think.  It contains an eyewitness of creation.  And when I read John 1, my mind goes back to Genesis 1.  John says that the Word was with God, the Word created all things, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  The Word is Jesus, the son of God, the son of man…

Here in John 5:19-30, Jesus is speaking.  I hear Him speaking of something the preceded Genesis 1, and John 1.  He speaks of a relationship that existed before creation.  It is a love relationship.  It is before John 3:16, before “God so love the world…”  It is “…the Father loves the Son…” 

Here is the reason for creation.  The Father wanted a big family of Sons and Daughters like His only begotten Son!  Sin marred creation, but it gave the Father opportunity to demonstrate His great capacity to love, AND it provided the Son the opportunity to accomplish something so great that He would forever be praised and adored!  

We miss so much in the Bible, if we do not understand that the Father loves the Son, and the Son knows that the Father loves Him. 

APPLICATION:  The Father loves me, and I know that He does! 

The love God wants me to display to the world does not originate in me.  My love falls short of God’s plan for me.  Yes, God designed me to be able to love others.  Yes, the second commandment is for me to love my neighbor as myself.  Yes, I am to love my brothers and sisters as Christ loved me.  No, it is not in my fallen nature to love like that.  But YES, God loves me enough to move inside and display His love through me. 

PRAYER:  Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me;  I will be my brother’s keeper, love though me; Hearts are bleeding deep inside; Love can dry their weeping eyes; Love through me, Holy Spirit, love though me.  (D.Rambo) Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 02, 2025: SOAP #5721: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
52 When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So, he and all his household believed.

OBSERVATION:   Driven by desperation, this royal official had left the side of his dying son to go find Jesus.  He was on a mission to bring Jesus back to his home and heal his son.  But all Jesus did was say, “You may go. Your son will live.” 

Jesus’ words were sufficient for this desperate father.  They were an acknowledgement that he had been heard.  Jesus words quieted the anxious father.  He did not get what he requested (for Jesus to come to his house) but He got what he wanted (healing for his son.)

APPLICATION:  God is thinking far ahead of me.  And in His wisdom, He often does not fulfill my request, but He often does something better.  In my frustration or pain, I have blurted out a request that seemed exactly what I needed at that moment.  But God, looking beyond the present, saw that it was not the best for me.  So, He began sending an answer that was for my good and His glory!  

Now, looking back, I can see God’s wisdom was displayed as He graciously answered my prayers. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the storehouse of all wisdom.  In your great love for me, and in your wisdom you are working in my life, not only for my future here on earth, but also for my eternity in heaven!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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