Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 26, 2023: SOAP #5014: Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

SCRIPTURE:  3John (NIV) 3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

OBSERVATION:  Some visitors came to John’s area and they gave a report to John about John’s friend Gaius who was special to John.  John had probably been instrumental in bringing him to Jesus.  He was dear to John, so much so, that when John heard the good report he sat down and wrote this short note. 

I am sure John’s letter became a prize possession of Gaius.  It would not surprise me to discover that he kept this letter in a special place.  He probably read it many times, especially when going through some struggles. 

APPLICATION:  Two good points can be made from this short book.  First, it is good to pass along good news.  May I be known as a person that carries good news about others.  When a student on my bus goes out of their way to do something kind for another, may I take note and report it to parents, teachers, administrators, whoever I know that cares about that student. 

Second, when I am given a good report about a good friend, may I respond like John by writing and sending a short note or letter, or an email, or a short phone call.  John’s letter was only 13 verses long.  But what encouragement it must have been to Gaius!  Someone noticed what he did.  Someone had cared enough to mention it to John. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, use me to speak good about others.  Use me to send short thoughtful and encouraging messages.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer August 25, 2023: SOAP #5013: Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2John  

SCRIPTURE:  Jeremiah (NIV) 39:16 “Go and tell Ebed-Melech the Cushite, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfil my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be handed over to those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the LORD.’”

OBSERVATION:  Such interesting scriptures that contain promising thoughts for those going through hard times.  Ebed-Melech was from Ethiopia, perhaps an ambassador to Israel.  Here he would see God’s hand of judgment but would be preserved.  He had rescued Jeremiah from a cistern, and now God would rescue him.   God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.  Ebed could rely on God’s word to him! 

APPLICATION:  There are SOAP readers who need to draw hope from these chapters (38-39).  Prayerfully read the word to see what God is saying to you.  God is able to provide food when our nation is going through famine.  God is able to provide finances when we are surrounded by poverty.  God is able to provide healing and health when we are surrounded by sickness.  God is able to provide a rescue from what holds us captive. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, speak through the scriptures to my life today.  Give me promises that I can stand on through the storms of life.  Help me make them a permanent part of my thought life.  Give me the gift of faith to hold on to your promises.  …for the glory of Jesus, Amen!   

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 24, 2023: SOAP #5012: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

OBSERVATION:  John wanted more for His readers then only knowing about Jesus.  He wanted them to know Him!   He wanted them to have confidence…to be certain. 

Eternal life is much too important to just guess about.  God has designed it so that we can be certain!   It is much too important to leave for after we die to see if we made it to heaven.  God wants us to be certain!     

APPLICATION:  The beauty of this passage is its simplicity. One cannot have eternal life apart from Jesus. It is more than just knowing about Jesus; it is knowing Him; it is possessing Him. The presence of His life affects every deed and every word. As we grow in submitting to His life, our lives are changed to be more like Him.

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I am a sinner.  I need your forgiveness.  I receive you, and your forgiveness, with a grateful heart.  Make my heart your home.  I want you to be my Lord and have an active part in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 23, 2023: SOAP #5011: Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

OBSERVATION:  Of the three disciples closest to Jesus, John seemed to be the closest.  John and his brother James were once known as the sons of thunder.  (Mark 3:17)   But now we know John as the one writing about the love of God that brought God to earth to die for the sins of the man He created!!! 

When God took up residence in my life, He brought His love with Him.  It is more than the love He extends to me, as great as that is!  It is also the love He wants to share through me.  He wants to change me from a “son of thunder” to a vessel known for His love. 

APPLICATION:  Whenever my world gets tipped over and what is on the inside spills out, I want to be found as being full of God’s love.  I want to respond as Jesus would in my situation, because He is in the same situation; He lives in me; He is with me!  

PRAYER:  Lord, the only way I can ever love like you, is if you live in me and you do your loving through me.  Today I die to myself to become alive to you.  Live in me and love through me.  Express your love though me today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 22, 2023: SOAP #5010: Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

OBSERVATION:  During the ministry of Jesus, there were no tape recorders to record the sermons He preached.  Although His messages were not embedded in tape or on the pages of a book, they were embedded into the hearts of men.  The Apostle John was the closest disciple to Jesus.  After Jesus had left, John spoke and wrote what had been written on his heart when he was with Jesus.

At the heart of Jesus’ ministry was love.  At the heart of John’s ministry, we find the same.  People who do not live right nor love their brothers and sisters are not children of God.

APPLICATION:  Of course, God is interested in books with His words on every page, but His is much more interested in people with His words written on every page of their heart.  It is not how many Bibles, or translations of the Bible I have; it is how much of God’s Word is planted in my heart.  It is how much of His word is being applied to my life.

People can read God’s Word printed on paper, but God wants people to read His word written my heart. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make my life a living letter sent to those around me.  May they see Jesus on every page.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 21, 2023: SOAP #5009: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 2: 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

OBSERVATION:  If I must walk (live) as Jesus did, there must be some way for me to know how Jesus lived.   Surely God would not require something of me that I cannot do.  I believe there are several ways today I can learn how Jesus lived His life.  One would be to read the Bible.  The first four books of the New Testament, the Gospels, are books about how Jesus lived His life here on earth.  From the example of His life I can learn what attitudes I should have.  From His teachings I can learn many important things. 

Another way I can learn is from the lives of other believers who have been following Jesus longer than myself.  I can watch the lives of mature believers who have been studying the scriptures for years.  God has placed leaders in the church to help us live our daily lives. 

But the most important way for me to “walk as Jesus did,” is to walk full of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did not begin His ministry until He was baptized in water and the Holy Spirit descended on Him as a dove. (John 1:32) His life and ministry were guided by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:1,18) Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us of Him! (John 14:26; 16:13-15)

APPLICATION:  I need to be faithful to make myself available to the Word of God however it is available to me.  …by reading, by hearing it read, by hearing Spirit anointed preaching, by discussion and asking questions.  

I need to walk with the Holy Spirit as my constant companion and guide.  He is the same Spirit that was with Christ!   (Romans 8:11, 14-16)

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, fill me.  Be my guide.  Make me like Jesus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 20, 2023: SOAP #5008: Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

OBSERVATION:  God’s forgiveness and cleansing of my sinful soul is not based on my praying the right words or bringing the right sacrifice as proof of the sincerity of my confession.  It is based on His character! 

Jesus does not say, “I was going to forgive you, but you did not get the words quite right.”  He does not say, “Sorry, you just brought the wrong sacrifice.” 

When I agree with Him that I have sinned, He forgives and cleanses me based on His faithfulness to the death of Jesus.  God is just and does not demand a second payment for a sin that is already covered by the blood of His Son.

APPLICATION:  It is with a heart of gratitude that I serve the Lord.  As the song goes, “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay; I needed someone to wash my sins away.  And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace; Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay!”

PRAYER:  Lord, I am in awe that you are faithful and just.  Thank you for forgiving my sins.  Thank you for being my Lord.  With overflowing gratitude I express my appreciation. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 19, 2023: SOAP #5007: Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 21:3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish….
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

OBSERVATION:  While they were using their best skills to catch fish, Jesus was on the shore with fish already on the fire along with some bread!   It was not until they followed His directions that they caught any fish.  

Then, when they arrived at shore, they found that Jesus already had that for which they had been fishing!  Jesus anticipated their hunger and invited them to breakfast!  My need does not catch Jesus by surprise!  Jesus had already met their great spiritual need; He had died on the cross for their sins and He had risen from the dead!   Now He was prepared to meet their physical need for food!  

APPLICATION:  Walking in His direction and under His blessing is the best way to succeed.  Having the peace of God is the greatest success.  Even in stressful times, I can rest in Him and on His promises.  He is trustworthy! 

PRAYER:  Lord, Often, I have noticed that you started preparing the answer even before I prayed.  (The letter with the answer was postmarked even before I prayed!)  You anticipated my need and pre-answered my prayer.  You are amazing!     Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 18, 2023: SOAP #5006: Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 19:18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

OBSERVATION:  When Mary saw Jesus, her emotions quickly changed from grief to ecstatic joy! Jesus then gave her a task, “Go and tell … ” Would she do it? Of course, she would! I can easily imagine the excitement in her voice as she told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” “He is alive!!!” This was personal. She had seen Jesus!  He had talked with her!!! 

APPLICATION:  How sad it is when our testimony becomes stale. In walking with Jesus, we should have something fresh to share with others every day. This is what God said today! This is what God did today! I’ve got to tell somebody! 

Preparing the SOAPs has been time when God speaks to me and gives me something fresh every day.  He is so faithful.  In faith I prepare my paper to write down what God will speak to my heart. 

Sending out the SOAPs has brought many testimonies of how God is at work today.  This SOAP is God’s ministry.  God gave me this assignment.  If I am faithful doing His work, God is faithful supplying what is needed.  God is at work spreading the SOAPs. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are using these SOAPs far beyond my thinking.  You continually give me fresh testimonies.  I am humbled when I consider what you are doing with my feeble efforts to communicate what you give me every day.  I pray that others will be encouraged to believe that you will speak to them every day also.  Help them to write SOAPs also.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 17, 2023: SOAP #5005: Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19

SCRIPTURE:  Jeremiah (NIV) 23:23 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

OBSERVATION:  In speaking to the unfaithful shepherds, God reveals something about Himself.  God is God wherever God is.  He is not more powerful here than He is anyplace else.  He is not less powerful anywhere else than He is here!  

No one can hide from God; and no one can be hidden from God.  When we try to hide, we are only hiding in plain sight of God.  He fills heaven and earth.  It is foolish to try to hide from God.  It is foolish to hide anything from God. 

APPLICATION:  What fear should fill the hearts of those who are trying to hide from God, or those thinking that God has not seen what they did or heard what they said!   All we say and do is in plain sight of God. 

AND what peace should fill the hearts of those thinking they are all alone in their troubles!   God is with them!  He sees them!  He knows!   What comfort should fill the hearts of those praying for loved ones in some far away land.  God is just as close to those for whom we are praying as He is to those doing the praying.  He who is with us as we pray is with them as we pray for them! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what an amazing God you are!  I remember that night in Viet Nam when the enemy was attacking our perimeter.  I remember the small airplane that seemed to rain fire upon the enemy.  (Only one in five rounds were tracer bullets.)  What terror was probably in the heart of the enemy; what comfort was in my heart.  That night, I was glad I was on his side!  And today, I am so glad I am on your side!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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