Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 30, 2023: SOAP #4926: Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

OBSERVATION:  I see this as a “stand-alone” truth.  This is a statement about how God works with His children.  But in the context of Romans 11 this truth is being applied to Israel.  God’s call and promises to Israel will be fulfilled. 

 In this statement about the way God deals with his children, we see He has plans for our lives.  He is working toward an expected outcome in our lives.  He has thought through what he wants us to do.  So, His gifts and callings are purposeful.  He will not repent of the gifts He has given us, nor will He say He is sorry for His calling on our lives. 

APPLICATION:  Fulfillment in life is found in fulfilling God’s plan for your life. 

Know that God is more interested in you knowing His plan, than you are interested in knowing His plan!  If your heart is set on knowing, you do not need to be afraid that you will miss it!   If someone gives you a “word” that God wants you to do a certain thing, wait for God to confirm it.  I recommend that you ask Him to confirm it through the scriptures.  There will be difficulties in moving ahead with God’s plan.  Having God’s will for your life supported by two or three confirmations will build your faith to overcome those difficulties.  If you find yourself waiting to know God’s will, get busy serving the Lord, doing what is readily available for you to do, doing what you see before you.  Ask your pastor how you can him. 

If God has given you children, know it is God’s will for you to raise them as strong believers!   You need not look for another calling of God.  That is your calling!!!  If God wants to give you an additional ministry, let it be His plan and initiative and not yours. 

PRAYER:   Lord, find my ears open to hearing your voice.  Find my heart willing to answer your call.  Find me faithful in fulfilling my part.  Find me easy to lead.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 29, 2023: SOAP #4925: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10 (reworked)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

OBSERVATION:  Here Paul says it clearly.  It is a confession with the mouth of what is believed in the heart.

Faith without works is dead, and the confession of the mouth is an expression of the faith in the heart.  It is commonly the first expression of faith’s presence.

This faith accompanied by its confession brings salvation!

The confession is of the Lordship of Jesus.  We surrender to His control and rulership.  Our lives are now His to be lived as He directs.  This is completely reasonable.  He is omnipotent and omniscient and motivated by love.  He died for me.  It would be unreasonable not to surrender to His Lordship!

His death, as payment for my sins, did not end His life.  He is the resurrected Lord with power over death.  His death paid the penalty for the sins I have committed, and now His life within is the power to live in victory over sin!

APPLICATION:  I need BOTH!  I need His payment for the penalty of my sins.  AND I need His presence for the power to live each day.  His payment is a historical fact; His presence is an everyday reality!

PRAYER:   Lord, with my mouth I confess that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness.  In my heart I believe that you died on the cross in payment for my sins.  Forgive me.  Come live inside me as my Lord.  Help me to live in a way that demonstrates both:  the historical fact that you died for my sins, AND the current reality that you live within me. Thank you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 28, 2023: SOAP #4924: Proverbs 7-9; Romans 9

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 9:4 …Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

OBSERVATION:  God had only One Son and could send him to the world through only one family, living in one nation.  He died on only one cross — once and for all.  God blessed the world through Israel.

God, the Son, is God just as the Father and the Holy Spirit are God!  Verse 5 above tells us that Jesus is “God over all.” The human body by which he entered His time on earth as a man was a descendent of King David and back to Abraham.  He was a Jew.  He was sent as a love gift from God to sinful people through the nation of Israel. 

APPLICATION:  I am amazed that God loves me enough to die in payment for my sins.  I am honored that Jesus would enter my heart.  I am so thankful that He has cleansed me from sin.  I am blest that Jesus would share my life and walk with me through every day.  I am joyful that He talks to me and makes His ways open to me.  I am relieved that He is not hard to please.  I am privileged to have His presence with me every day. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you are “God over all.”  What a changes you make in my life.  As you continue to live in me, you continue to reveal yourself to me and bring change to me.  It is my pleasure to walk through each day with you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 27, 2023: SOAP #4923: Proverbs 4-6; Romans 8 (Reworked from 2014.)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 7:7 … I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law… .
Romans (NIV) 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

OBSERVATION:   In many ways, it is like a mother and her child.  The Mother knows that it is important to warn her child of the dangers in the room, but she also understands that he is focused on those things; they hold an attraction for him.  Even her warning brings them to his attention.  So, she stays with the child and works to keep the child’s focus on herself and those things she knows are not harmful.  Her presence is protection for her child.  Her wisdom is now available to guide and protect the child. 

Her presence makes all the difference. If she had just warned the child, then left the room, the child would soon wander to the forbidden things, but her watchful presence keeps him safe. Her warning teaches, but her presence insures! 

And in addition to all this, it is the joy of the mother to spend the time with her child, and so it is not grievous for God to spend the personal time with each of us!   He joys in us even as a mother in her child.

APPLICATION:  How true of our walk with God.  God desires that we learn and grow in understanding, so He gives us His Word, the Bible. 

God also knows that we need His watchful eye on us, so He is present with us by His Holy Spirit.  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, may I be a child that brings you joy.  I want you to enjoy our life together!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 26, 2023: SOAP #4922: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs (NIV) 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

OBSERVATION:  As I read the familiar verses above, one thought seemed to catch my attention.  “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” 

Practicing this simple directive will go a long way in pride-proofing my life—ensuring pride does not get a strong hold in me.     

APPLICATION:  How I look at myself plays an important part in how others see me, and how God sees me.  Humility is not thinking less of myself; it is thinking of myself less.  I am not to be the focus of my thoughts and actions.  I am a child of God, but I did not become that by my own actions.  I am what I am only by the grace of God.  The wisdom God has given me is not to make me look good, but to give me avenues of serving others. 

The wisdom and talents I have come from God, and He will hold me accountable for how I use them. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, the more I get to know you and understand your great plan for mankind, the more humble I become, and the more grateful I become to have a part.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 25, 2023: SOAP #4921: 1Kings 10, 11; 2Chronicles 9; Romans 6

. (reworked from 2011) 

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

OBSERVATION:  Praise the Lord that the first aspect of salvation is only something we pass through.  It is not permanent.  Death to sin leads to life in Christ!   In being baptized, one is not left in the water.  There is a going into the water, and a coming out of the water.  And so, it is with death. 

There is an entering into death from the earthly side, but there is a coming out on the heavenly side!  We are all certain of death.  We see it.  We experience it vicariously through those around us.  It is something of which we are certain.  There is no doubt in our mind about death.  Everyone who has ever been born has either died or will die within the next 120 years. 

Now in this verse, Paul says that the resurrection is just as certain as death.  It is certain!  There is no doubt!  Those united with Christ in death, will also be united with Him in resurrection!

APPLICATION:  To make the certainty of the resurrection, I must make certain that I “have been united with him … in his death.”  When I accept Jesus as my Savior, I accept his death as payment for my sins.  When I accept Jesus as my Lord, I die to myself to allow Him to live in me.  To realize the reality of this verse, I must both accept Jesus as Savior AND Lord. (2Peter 2:20; 3:2,18)

PRAYER:   Jesus, you are my Savior and Lord!  As my Savior, I accept the forgiveness you purchased for me by your death at Calvary. You have saved me from the results of my sins.  You have saved me from hell.  As my Lord, I surrender my life to your control.  I welcome you to live your life in and through me.  I am yours!  Amen.

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 24, 2023: SOAP #4920: 1Kings 9; 2Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings (NIV) 9:4 “As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
6 “But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8 And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 9 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshipping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’”

OBSERVATION:  After Solomon had finished building the temple, God, The Great Promise Keeper, gave Solomon two promises.  The first in verses 4 and 5 above and the second in verses 6 through 9.  Which promise would be fulfilled depended on a very small word—if.  The promises were conditional. 

Much of Israels history can be understood within the confines of how they did their part!   God always remained true to His Word—to His promises. 

APPLICATION:  God continues to act according to His Word.  He remains “The Great Promise Keeper!”  His faithfulness to His Word can be a great blessing to me; or it can be a great hardship.  It is for me to choose. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help me be honest when I read the Bible.  When I start to ignore what makes me uncomfortable, keep it on my mind and in my thoughts. Help me see Your hand moving in my life, in my nation, and in the world according to Your promises.  Oh, Lord, I am confident that you are faithful; help me be faithful too.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 23, 2023: SOAP #4919: 2Chronicles 6, 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

!  (reworked from 2011)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 4:8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

OBSERVATION:  What a wonderful blessing!  The KJV gives the reading as “will not” while the NIV says “will never.”  The NIV takes the same thought and brings it to the reader with an emphasis that God’s forgiveness finalizes the matter.  We do not have to worry about the future.  He Who has dealt with our sin will not be holding it up to us in the future!  Indeed, we are justified.  In His eyes, we are made as though we had never sinned!  We become new creations in Christ!   It is AMAZING!  

APPLICATION:  Although unworthy, I have been blessed in a way that only God can bless!  I have been given what I could never earn—forgiveness and right standing before God.

Now I should life like that is true.  God’s praise should ever be in my mouth. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you knew what I needed.  You knew how helpless I was in getting it through my own efforts.  So, with your effort, You provided it freely for me.  Saying “Thank you” seem so inadequate.  I give you my life.    Amen.

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 22, 2023: SOAP #4918: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 99:4 The King is mighty, he loves justice — you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.

Romans (NIV) 3:25 God presented him [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

OBSERVATION:  It is comforting to think of God’s love.  Oh, how He loves people.  But He also loves justice.  God is holy.  He is just and those He loves must be willing to be made just.  They are powerless to make themselves just, so God, who loves justice and loves people, sent His son to pay the price for the sins of the people.  How foolish it would be to refuse such a gift offered with such a love.

APPLICATION:  I am a person.  I believe that Christ died for my sins and has forgiven me.  I have been justified — made “just as if I’d” never sinned!  Wow!  I now have the privilege of a close relationship with God.   God did not treat sin as though it was no big thing; I must not treat sin as though it is no big thing.   (1John 1:8-10)

PRAYER:   Lord, if I claim to be without sin, I would be deceiving myself and the truth would not be in me.  But I confess my sins to you.  I know that you are faithful and just and you forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness.  With my mouth I say, “Thank you!”  And now with you living your life in me, I commit myself to a life that pleases you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 21, 2023: SOAP #4917: 1Kings 7; 2Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 98:1 A psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him….
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; …
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King….
8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

OBSERVATION:  Joy should be a major characteristic of our praise.  

Inner joy cannot be hidden.  It always finds a way to be displayed on the outside.  A smile, a laugh, a lifted countenance—joy in the heart will find expression on the face and through our actions. 

APPLICATION:  If the Old Testament saints were encouraged and commanded to sing and shout with joy, then surely New Testament believers should even more raise a joyful praise to our Lord!   We have so much more than they had.   We have a fuller revelation of the scriptures.  We have the New Testament to reveal the Old Testament.  MOST OF ALL, we have Jesus, who died for our sins that we might have a personal relationship with Almighty God!   We have the Holy Spirit living in us!   WE DEFINITELY HAVE MORE FOR WHICH TO SHOUT AND SING!!!  

PRAYER:  Lord, when I think of all you have done for me, how can I not praise you.  May all who know me, expect to hear your praise coming from my mouth.  May your praise become a part of my regular conversation.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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