Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 13, 2022: SOAP #4667: Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 34:29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD. 31 You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.’”

OBSERVATION:  This is a portion of God’s promise to Israel.  God desires a personal loving relationship with His people.  Israel was not just any nation, they were God’s nation; they were God’s people.

They depended on Him to be God.  He depended on them to obey and to represent Him among the nations. 

God wanted to be known as Israel’s God.  He wanted Israel to be known as God’s people! 

APPLICATION: I am not just any person; I am His person!  He is not just God; He is my God!  God wants me to live my life in such a way that it is obvious to the people around me that He is my God and I am His child. 

He depends on me to represent Him truthfully; He wants me to depend on Him to do what only He can do. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are my God; I am your servant.  It is my honor and joy to be partnered with you.  As people get to know me, may they get to know you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 12, 2022: SOAP #4666: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 81:14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

OBSERVATION:  What promises we read from God!!!  With promises like the above, what can go wrong!  But the three verses above follow verse 13. 

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 81:13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways,

OBSERVATION:  Verse 13 begins with “If my people…”  There is a condition to the promises in the verses that follow!   If they listen and do, God will do the promises in verses 14-16, but if they do not pay attention, God will not keep those promises.  (I must remember that the scriptures were not originally written with numbers for chapters and verses.  It is good to read a few verses before and after the verses that speak to me.)

APPLICATION:  God’s promises of punishment and judgment are just as true as His promises to bless and sustain.  I must remember that God is a Promise Keeper!  He does not just keep the promises I like.  He is true to His Word! 

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to be as careful to follow your directions as I want you to be in following your promises to sustain and keep me, to provide for me, and to take me to heaven.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 11, 2022: SOAP #4665: Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl [of God’s wrath vs.1] on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

OBSERVATION:  I am amazed at the response of sinful man.  God promised judgment if they sinned.  They sin and God keeps His word.  Their response is to curse God and refuse to repent.  Cursing God indicated that they are aware that these catastrophes came from Him, but they refuse to repent!  How illogical!  

APPLICATION: Sin has a strong hold on people.  It affects them physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.  It puts a lock on their thoughts so that they cannot see the obvious. 

It takes the unlocking, mind opening power of the Holy Spirit to break into a mind bound by sin.  He convicts us of sin and convinces us of the saving grace of Jesus.  It looks to me like the great influence of the Holy Spirit is removed when the church is removed.  The Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus, and then the early church, works through people.  When people who have yielded themselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit are removed, the influence of the Spirit is removed.  Sin remains and increases it control of people. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, keep me from underestimating the power of sin.  Convict me of sin.  Make sin, even what I consider small sins, repulsive to me.  I confess my sins and receive the forgiveness purchased for me on Calvary.  Make me holy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 9, 2022: SOAP #4663: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 15:1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.

OBSERVATION:  With these plagues, God’s wrath is finished.  Here we read of God’s wrath being finished.  But we never read of God’s mercy or grace being finished!   For all eternity we will be able to talk about how terrible God’s wrath was.  And we will always be talking about how great IS his mercy and grace.  We will continue to enjoy the benefits of His mercy and grace. 

In heaven, we will better understand hell and from what God has saved us.  And, of course, we will better understand heaven, the benefits of his mercy and grace.  We will always be discovering something new about our eternal home for which we will be thankful. 

APPLICATION: Even though my present understanding is limited about the greatness of God’s mercy and grace, they should both be constant themes of my praise and worship. 

God’s wrath is an emotional expression of his anger.  He has every right to be angry.  But even in His wrath and anger He remains perfectly holy.  His anger does not drive Him beyond His holiness.  In anger He remains just. 

For God to remain holy and yet be merciful and gracious, the wrath I deserved was poured out on Jesus at the cross!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, the more I understand about your wrath, the more I appreciate your mercy and grace, and the more I appreciate what Jesus took for me on the cross. My heart overflows with gratitude!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 9, 2022: SOAP #4663: Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

SCRIPTURE:  Obadiah (NIV) 18 The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; the house of Esau will be stubble, and they will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau.” The LORD has spoken. 19 People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. 20 This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land as far as Zarephath; the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev.
21 Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD’s.

OBSERVATION:  The book of Obadiah is a prophecy directed to Edom, the descendants of Esau.  Edom will be held accountable for how they had treated Israel.  “There will be no survivors from the house of Esau. The LORD has spoken.”  It sounds final, but the prophet has more to say. 

The prophet ends his prophecy with seven very strong words: “And the kingdom will be the LORD’s.”  When all is over, when all is said and done, “And the kingdom will be the LORD’s.!”  

APPLICATION: Whatever happens to me, or to the nation in which I live, I can draw strength and courage from those seven last words.  I belong to a kingdom that has no end.  It is ruled by a King who has no end!   It is a kingdom that expresses the true nature of the King.  As a subject of that kingdom, I have the same priorities as the King.  The characteristics of the King are being worked into me. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, work in me, make me a true expression of King Jesus.  I pray that His nature will be easily seen in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 8, 2022: SOAP #4662: Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 48: Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.

OBSERVATION:  In the building and the history of Jerusalem, the psalmist found proof of God’s greatness!  In its walls and in its temple, the psalmist saw God’s design.  God was visible wherever he looked. 

APPLICATION: This morning as I drove the school bus several children became excited; they saw a doe (a female deer) and two small baby deer in a pasture near the road.  As I slowly drove ahead, the mother deer crossed the road in front of the bus.  She was followed shortly by one small baby deer and then a second.  My heart rejoiced at God’s handiwork on display.  But even more, my heart rejoiced at the excitement of the children. 

God’s handiwork is always on display.  But many times, I am too busy with my schedule to take time to consider what is right before my eyes.  I miss the opportunity to give my most worthy God the praise He deserves. 

PRAYER:   Lord, indeed, you are great and most worthy of praise.  Holy Spirit, slow me down enough to be able to see creation’s beauty.  May my mouth be quick to give you praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 7, 2022: SOAP #4661: 2Kings 25; 2Chron. 36; Jer. 40-41; Rev. 12

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

OBSERVATION:  In Revelation, John is prophetically looking at the end of God’s plan in creating man.  In chapter 11 we saw that a result of Jesus being given the authority to reign was that evil was judged and righteousness was rewarded.  Here in chapter 12 we see that another result of Jesus’s reign is to move Satan toward his final destination, the lake of fire.  (Revelation 20:10) 

God’s plan will not be complete until evil has been properly disposed.  Not only will God overcome evil, His plan includes that His children have power to overcome evil.  They overcome Satan by the blood of their crucified Savior.  Satan is guilty of killing the only one who did not deserve to die!  They overcame him by the word of their testimony, and they have lost their fear of death!  They do not fear the worst thing that Satan can do to them!

APPLICATION: The blood of Jesus marks me as being a child of God.  Satan cannot take this child to hell!  God has other plans for me!  He has eternal plans that Satan cannot touch.  While Satan is forever in the lake of fire, this child will be forever in the presence of God!  This child will be joyfully worshipping and serving God forever! 

PRAYER:   Lord, although I do not see everything about heaven and being in your presence, yet I am convinced by what I do see that it will be worth it all to be there with you.  You are worthy of my worship and devotion.  You created me to be an instrument of worship.  Heaven will be a joyful place of completely fulfilling your purpose in creating me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September6, 2022: SOAP #4660: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

OBSERVATION:  It is something to celebrate!!  There was a change in government.  The kingdom of the world has come under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ!  This will be the ultimate change for the world.  It begins a time of judging evil.  It begins a time of rewarding the righteous. 

It is something to celebrate!  It is the last change!  He will reign “forever and ever!” 

APPLICATION: When the government of the world is replaced with the government of God, it is always something to celebrate.  Luke 15:7 tells us there is even rejoicing in heaven when the ruling kingdom of this world is replaced by a new KING! –when ONE sinner repents! 

PRAYER:    Lord, what a day!  What a celebration!  What an appropriate time for worship!  –a day when you are given your rightful place as LORD of all!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 5, 2022: SOAP #4659: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel (NIV) 28:25 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. 26 And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.

OBSERVATION:  Some people believe that the church has taken the place of Israel in God’s plan. They believe the prophecies concerning Israel are really for the church.  I cannot see any interpretation of the verses above other than the nation of Israel living in the land God promised Abraham.  And a view of current world events shows Israel now back in the promised land. 

APPLICATION: The rainbow in the sky serves as visible proof that God keeps His promise made to Noah.  The existence of Israel back in the land God promised Abraham serves as visible proof that God still keeps His promise made to Abraham.  My time in the US Navy, my wife, our ministry in Hawaii, our son, our ministry in Kansas, and this SOAP ministry all serve to remind me that God is still keeping His promises to me! 

PRAYER:   Lord, among so many other titles, Promise Keeper fits You well.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 4, 2022: SOAP #4658: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Revelation (NIV) 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.  16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them … . 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not … 

OBSERVATION:  God is always prepared.  Nothing takes Him by surprise.  He does not overlook any detail in His preparation.  In John we read that preparations are being made for a special place in heaven for those who believe in God and in Jesus, His Son.  Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”  Of course, it is!  He loves us and has prepared a place for us. It will be His special day when we all join Him there!  It will be very special for us, too! 

In Revelation we see that preparation is also being made for judgment on those who do not believe.  God’s holiness demands it!  Matthew 25:41 tells us that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Those who reject Jesus will join the devil for eternity. 

APPLICATION: Two destinations have been prepared and God graciously gives me the choice. He is not holding out two closed hands asking me to guess which hand to choose. He is holding out His hands open and palms up telling me to choose. He tells me to consider the end of my life.

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I choose you! I choose to believe you! You are trustworthy and faithful. You are believable. I choose you! Amen

Pastor Leon
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