Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 14:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.

OBSERVATION:  As the relationships with an earthly parent progresses through many levels, so the relationship with our Heavenly Father progresses/grows through many levels.  I see the first level described in the Bible as a Shepherd and sheep.  Before one can be sent as a servant, one has to first learn to recognize the voice of the Master.  The emphasis on being a sheep is to recognize His voice and follow. 

APPLICATION:  New-born sheep learn the voice of their shepherd by watching their mama sheep.  They learn to recognize the voice to which she responded was the voice to which they should respond.  It is the same with little children learning from their parents.  They learn from their parents’ reactions. 

And the same is true with new/young Christians.  As a child I learned to honor God and His Word.  I learned to respect God.  Through my parents and people working with children in the church we attended I learned how to recognize God’s voice. I learned the value of listening to God and doing what He says. 

When I get together with other believers, I listen to their stories of God’s working.  I learn His ways and His priorities.  Then as I read the Word of God, or hear it read, I recognize Him speaking to me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, speak to us.  Help us recognize your voice.  Speak to us through your Word.  And for the thousands of new believers who do not yet have a Bible, uses these SOAPs and other believers who have known you for long enough to have some maturity—use us to help them recognize your voice.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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