Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 29, 2023: SOAP #4956: Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

SCRIPTURE:  Titus (NIV) 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

OBSERVATION:  Here Paul says that our faith and knowledge is “resting” on our hope of eternal life.  On what is our hope of eternal life resting?  It is resting on the promises of God, WHO DOES NOT LIE!  

In this I understand that everything rests on the nature and character of God!  God is the originator and sustainer of all things.  The better we know and understand God, the better we will know and understand life. 

Proverbs (NIV) 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

APPLICATION:  I must be continually looking through the scriptures and in the world in which I live to learn more of Creator God.  There is no possibility of me gaining perfect understanding of the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Eternal Spirit God who is perfectly holy and perfectly loving!   The characteristics of His being are ruled only by his moral characteristics.  He is eternally holy and eternally loving and is always truthful and working according to His eternal plan.  He is far beyond amazing!!!  There is always more to learn!  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may the Holy Spirit guide me through this life, revealing through the scriptures, and through the world Your amazing character.  You lovingly sent Your Son to make the holy sacrifice necessary to pay for my sins!   I live in honor of what you have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 28, 2023: SOAP #4955: Amos 1-3, Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge…
16 At my first defense, no-one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

OBSERVATION:  Although Paul is in prison, it is in the “presence of God and of Christ Jesus” that he is giving this charge.  His physical circumstances did not mar his awareness of spiritual realities. 

In court, Paul was deserted by everyone and had no human support, But the Lord was with him, and gave him strength! Physical disappointments did not mar Paul’s awareness of spiritual realities

And in closing his letter, Paul’s prayer is that Timothy experience the presence of the Lord!  May he never lose the awareness of the Lord’s presence!  

APPLICATION:  Surely Paul’s most valuable possession was the very presence of God!  God’s presence was the essence and strength of Paul’s life.  If there was anything he could leave with his dear son in the faith, Timothy, it would be that Timothy also experience the presence of the Lord.

What do I count as my most valuable possession?   What do I want to leave with others?   …an awareness of God’s presence! 

PRAYER:  Lord, whatever my circumstances, may I never lose the awareness of your presence!  And use me to encourage others to be aware of your presence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 27, 2023: SOAP #4954: 2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, … 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

OBSERVATION:  Among the more than twenty characteristics give in these verses of people in the last days, we read “always learning, but never able to acknowledge the truth.”   Here is an amazing thing:  learning should bring people closer to the truth of reality, but people have their minds set against God so will not acknowledge His obvious part in creation or in anything else. Man now has wonderful knowledge about that little life in the womb and how it develops, yet thinks it is OK to abort it!   Man is “always learning” but not able to acknowledge the obvious truth because they leave God out of the picture. Man can so easily become proud of knowing so many things and miss knowing the One who is the Ultimate Truth!

APPLICATION:  So, what do we do?  We continue learning.  We find the source of learning that is based on truth!  I must not base truth on what I learn (there may be more to learn that will change what I think to be true), I must base my learning on what I already know to be true!  

2Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of…15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, guide my learning to be always in line with the scriptures which is Your written word from the source of all truth.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 26, 2023: SOAP #4953: Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 2:2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

OBSERVATION:  It is as true today as it was in Paul’s day.  Paul stressed the importance of faithfulness over ability.  Being reliable, being trustworthy is the priority.  There are people with great ability, but since they are not dependable, their ability is useless.  There are men who have the potential/ability to be great dads, but since they are so seldom at home, it does not help their children.  I’ve heard it said that the greatest ability is availability. 

Faithfulness is the foundation for the demonstration of one’s abilities. Ability shines best on the pedestal of faithfulness.  An employer looking for a new employee, a ministry looking for a new volunteer should always rank faithfulness above ability.

How one treats their commitments says nothing about the value of what they have committed to, but everything about them; they made the commitment.  It is their character on display.

APPLICATION:  These SOAPs today reach thousands of people.  But 13+ years ago when I first posted one on Facebook, it was read by less than 10.  God saw my faithfulness and knew I was reliable to continue His work.  He began drawing the attention of others to the SOAPs. 

The greatest faithfulness in this ministry is not my faithfulness, but God’s faithfulness.  As I am faithful to read God’s Word every day, He is faithful to speak to me through His Word!    

PRAYER:  Lord, I ask myself, “How often do I want you to speak to me?”  I must also ask myself, “How often do I read Your Word?”  Fine me faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 25, 2023: SOAP #4952: Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

OBSERVATION:  He was not an apostle, a bishop, or a deacon.  But his ministry was so valuable that it was mentioned in the pages of the Bible!  He had heard that Paul was in Rome, so he searched hard till he found him. He visited Paul when Paul was in prison.  He refreshed Paul.  He gave Paul news from outside the prison.  He probably had uplifting conversations with Paul whenever he visited.  Timothy was aware of the “many ways” Onesiphorus helped Paul in Ephesus; very likely he helped Paul in those same ways in Rome.  In being helpful, he probably brought useful things to Paul, perhaps needed writing materials.  Maybe the letters Paul wrote from prison were partially enabled by Onesiphorus.  Maybe he carried those letters out of the prison!   Onesiphorus means “binging profit.”  In “many ways” he brought profit. 

APPLICATION:  Onesiphorus is not the only one without an official position who is included on the pages of the Bible.  There are “many ways” I can serve God; I can make myself useful in God’s kingdom.  Having a title, or position in the church is not nearly as important as having my sins forgiven and my name written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make me aware of the “many ways” I can be helpful to other believers.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 24, 2023: SOAP #4951: 2Kings 11,12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

OBSERVATION:  It is interesting to note that the Bible has many passages that speak of money.  From a widow giving her two mites (Luke 21:1-4) to the wealthy noted above, the Bible encourages giving.  The Bible has many passages telling us what TO DO with money, but not as many telling us HOW TO GET money. 

APPLICATION:  Five Biblical ways of obtaining money:
1.  Inherit money:  Proverbs 13:22: This may happen to me but I need to be careful with the money.  I can get wise counsel from the Bible! 
2.  Work for money:  Proverbs 13:11: This I am encouraged to do.
3.  Beg others for money:  Luke 18:35-43:  Not an example for me to follow.
4.  Giving:  Luke 6:38: Give; it will be given to you. God loves a cheerful giver.
5.  Ask God for money:  Philippians 4:6:  and 20+ other passages encouraging me to ask God.  God has many ways to answer my prayers.  He has provided a job for me to do.  He has given me a harvest from what I have previously given.  And He has had others give to my need. It all comes from Him! 

Paul never asked people to send money for his ministry.  But Paul did thank people for giving to support his ministry.  And Paul strongly encouraged others to give on behalf of the famine in Jerusalem.  (2Corinthians 8&9)

People have used the promise of rewards for giving to motivate me to give to their ministry.  What motivates me more is their testimony of how God rewarded their giving.  With the scriptures Paul wrote about giving, he was thanking them for giving, not trying to motivate them to give more to him.    

PRAYER:  Lord, How I deal with money is important to you.  May my use of money always please you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 23, 2023: SOAP #4950: 2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22,23; 1Timothy 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

OBSERVATION:  The above verses written to a young pastor are available for everyone to read.  God has not provided one Bible for the believer and another Bible for the leaders.   Everyone reads the same Bible; all Christians have the same Holy Spirit!  I believe we are all responsible for whom we follow, and we all have areas of influence as leaders.

Leaders should be mature, but they do not become leaders because they are perfect.  They will make mistakes and need forgiving.  It is also true that believers should come to know the Word enough to recognize which leaders should be followed and which leaders should not be followed.  True believers would stop following unscriptural leaders.

APPLICATION:  I am responsible as a follower and as a leader.  I need to be careful about who I follow and how I lead.

For thirty-three years Jesus walked on the same earth I walk.  When I read the Bible (especially the Gospels) I ask the Holy Spirit to help me get to know Jesus, to walk like Jesus.  I should look for leaders who best walk like Jesus. The letters in the New Testament contain many instructions to help me live like Jesus.

PRAYER:  Father, make me a follower in whom you can see your Son, Jesus.  Make me a leader (in my home, and in my church) who leads like your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 22, 2023: SOAP #4949: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

OBSERVATION:  These are the later times and there are many false teachers active today.  The media makes it easy for them to spread their doctrines around the world.  In the grace of God this is also a time of abundance when it comes to God’s word.  Consider all the translations and versions of the Bible that are available today.  Many individual Bibles have been printed and distributed throughout the world in the past.  And today, even more Bibles are being printed.  Many versions of the Bible are available on the web. 

In the scriptures we see that God, the Father, is a speaker.  We also read that God the Son, Jesus, is a speaker. And, not to our surprise, here we read that the Holy Spirit is a speaker!  So, I must pay attention to the un-easy, troubled feeling, telling me, “Something is not right!  Step back!  Take another look!”   For my good, the Spirit dwelling within is troubling my spirit. 

APPLICATION:  The better I know God’s Word, the better I can identify false doctrines.   The better I know God’s character, the better I can recognize what He would be saying and what He would not be saying.  The better I pay attention to the Holy Spirit, the better I will be prepared for the troubled times ahead. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, as I read the Bible, reveal to me the character of my Heavenly Father.  Sharpen my spiritual perception.  Help me easily recognize false teachers and their doctrines.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 21, 2023: SOAP #4948: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles (NIV) 20:12 … For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

OBSERVATION:  What an amazing victory is described in this chapter!   They followed a crazy battle plan—they had the choir lead the way into battle!  It was not the common way to go out to battle, but it was very logical considering what God had spoken to them. (1Chronicles 20:21) Through a Spirit-anointed word, they were told that they would not need to fight this battle.  The battle was the Lord’s.  They would only stand and see the deliverance that God would bring. 

After hearing what God said, King Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and they agreed to have the singers lead the army into battle, singing the praises of God!  It was a very logical move if they believed what God had said!  As they were approaching the battlefield, the armies that were invading Israel began fighting each other and destroyed each other.  No one escaped!   All that was left was to pick up the plunder.  It took them three days to collect everything!  On the fourth day they joined together for praising God!!!  Then they returned joyfully to Jerusalem to worship in the temple.  

APPLICATION:  God has unique ways to deal with every trouble I face.  If I will give God time to speak to me, He will either tell me specifically what to do or I will be able to respond logically to the truth I know about God and His ways!   If God does not show me specifically what to do, I believe that He is confident that I will do the right thing.  My life’s goal is to honor Him.  He knows if I have enough information to make the right decision and do the right thing. 

There are times when my hands seem to be tied.  I cannot do anything but prayerfully keep myself in the center of what He has previously showed me.  I must have faith that He is working for my good and for His glory. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I have often claimed that the glory, and the power is Yours.  Holy Spirit, keep reminding me that the battle is also the Lord’s!!  Whether you use me or just have me standing nearby observing, the battle is Yours! 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 20, 2023: SOAP #4947: 2Kings 4,5; Psalm 83; 1Timothy 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

OBSERVATION:  It is good to pray for those in authority.  Our lives are greatly affected by what they do.  We want them to make decisions that will affect us in a good way.  So, it is good to pray for them…

…but even more, praying for those in authority PLEASES GOD!  

APPLICATION:  The more we learn about what God did for us in sending His Son to die for our sins—the more we understand what Jesus left behind to come to earth—the more we understand the grand scheme of God in loving us, the more we love God!  How can we not love God!!!  And loving God makes us want to please God.  We become GOD PLEASERS! 

We want to learn what pleases God.  Verses like those above catch our attention.  Here is something I can do to please God.  Praying for those in authority pleases God. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to please you.  I want to make you smile.  I want to bring joy to your heart.  Thank you for scriptures that make clear what pleases you.  Holy Spirit, make me effective in praying for those in authority.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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