Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 3, 2022: SOAP #4657: Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 20:8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So, I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. 9 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations they lived among and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites by bringing them out of Egypt….
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws— although the man who obeys them will live by them—and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So, I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the desert. 22 But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

OBSERVATION:  As God’s highest creation, man is very important to God.  God cares what people think about Him.  Through the nation of Israel, God wanted to display to the world what a holy and loving God He is.  The Israelites ignored His word and turned to idols.  God was going to destroy them, but Moses interceded and for the sake of what the other nations would think, God spared His people.  (Exodus 32)  What the other nations thought about God was determined by the actions of God’s people. 

APPLICATION:  What do my family and friends think about the God I serve?  Do they see that the God I serve is just for Sundays or for when I am in church with church people?  Or do they see that my God is a part of my every-day life?  Do they see that the God I serve is worthy of my full devotion every day and in every part of my life? 

PRAYER:   Oh, Lord, may the people that know me, be convinced that Leon is serving a God worthy of my full devotion.  Like my brother’s song:  “Lord, there’s just one thing; One thing I ask of Thee; Cause me to excel; Excel in loving Thee.  There’s nothing in this world, That I would rather be; But by thy grace just one; Who excels in loving Thee.” Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 2, 2022: SOAP #4656: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 7:14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

OBSERVATION:  They are in heaven because they are depending on the sacrifice of Jesus to make them clean.  But they had been faithful through many hard times.  They had endured hunger, thirst, time in the heat of the sun—they had “come out of the great tribulation.”

We should take note that God specifically rewards them.  They are day and night before His throne serving God.  They will have special protection and provision.  God, Himself, will comfort them!

APPLICATION: Our entrance into heaven is based solely on what Jesus did for us on the cross.  But our rewards in heaven will be in keeping with what we have endured and accomplished for God.  The rewards will far surpass our suffering.  It will be worth it all!   

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, we live our lives here on earth for your glory.  Use us as you see best. Use me today for the good of your kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 1, 2022: SOAP #4655: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

OBSERVATION:  That which motivates great love; can also motivate intense anger.  A mother who has great love for her child will understandably have intense hatred for that which harm her child. 

God has great love for the Son.  The Son has great love for the Father.  The Father and the Son have great love for those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.  The Father and the Son will have intense anger for those who have mistreated the church.  Martyrs in heaven will have a prominent place!  Their presence will be a continual reminder of how the church has been mistreated. 

APPLICATION: When one considers how intense is the love of God, one can get an idea of how intense His wrath can become.  Hebrews (NIV) 10:30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I must live my life in a way that pleases God, that brings joy to His heart.  I need to be considerate of His feelings, of His likes and dislikes.  There is great honor and reward for doing those things that please Him.  To knowingly ignore His feelings is foolish. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, teach me how to please the Father like Jesus pleased the Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 31, 2022: SOAP #4654: Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 5:4 I wept and wept because no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb,…
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb….9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

OBSERVATION:  In Revelation, chapter 5, we see Jesus introduced as a Lion.  He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the One who has triumphed!  Yes, He is introduced as the Lion, but He is worshipped as the Lamb! 

He is worshipped because of what He did.  He was slain and with His blood purchased people for God from every people group in the world.  AMAZING!  Indeed, He is worthy of worship!  

APPLICATION: Jesus laid aside His position and ministry as a Lion to pick up His ministry as a Lamb.  He came to earth to live and die as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth!

I sometimes like to think of myself as a Lion, a leader with authority.  But I need to focus on being a Lamb, a servant of those around me.  If I can be a good servant, God will have me serve in places where I can honor Him. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I worship you for who you are and “because you were slain, and with your blood” you purchased me for God! May I serve you faithfully every day. Thank you.

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 30, 2022: SOAP #4653: Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

OBSERVATION:  Here we can see that Genesis 1:1 is still an important subject in heaven.  It is a reason for the worship of the one sitting on the throne of heaven.  On the throne is the One who created all things!  All things were created by His will.  He was not conducting some experiment wondering what He might make.  He created with purpose.  He knew what He was doing. 

He created living plants and animals to support His crowning creation: man.  He created man with understanding and the ability to reason.  He created man to make choices.  Understanding the greatness and wonderfulness of God, man could choose to love and worship his Creator!  To create a man who would be free to worship, or not to worship.  God was taking a risk.  What if He could not convince people to worship Him!   But He did!!!  To God be the glory!!!

APPLICATION: Satan, in the presence of God, made his choice to rise up against God, usurp God’s authority and set himself up as god.  Jesus made a way for man to be forgiven and cleansed.  The redeemed will be present to worship God as those who have chosen to worship God, even though Satan has used his power to turn them away from God.  I believe their presence around the throne will be vindication for God’s judgment on Satan and his followers. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are perfectly holy. You are preparing a holy bride for your Son, Jesus.  Holy Spirit, work in my heart.  Make me like Jesus.    Amen

Pastor Leon    
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 29, 2022: SOAP #4652: Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 3: 1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
8 [to the church of Philadelphia] I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut…
15 [to the church of Laodicea] I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

OBSERVATION:  God is the perfect judge.  He knows our deeds.  He knows what we have done and why we have done it.  No one will ever be able to fool God!  

God knows the good deeds His children have done, even the small things that no one else noticed!   God knows our deeds!   He wants to reward us more than our deeds deserve. 

God also knows the terribleness of sin.  He knows the proper punishment for sin!  Sin is so terrible that He prepared an appropriate place for Satan and those who reject God’s forgiveness. 

God also knows the deeds of His Son, Jesus!   God knows the value of the sinless sacrifice of Jesus.  It covers the sins of those who believe in Him—of those who have confessed their sin to Him and received His forgiveness—of those who have made Him the Lord of their life. 

APPLICATION: Jesus told us that no one could come to the Father but through Him.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  (John 14:6)   Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by the grace of God that comes into our lives by faith. (Romans 10:9-10) Knowing the truth, believing it, receiving it by confessing it, brings the peace and joy of the Lord into my heart! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I invite you to live your life in me.  (Revelation 3:20)  Thank you for what you have provided.  —forgiveness of my sins and your presence to live in me!  Thank you.  I am blessed beyond measure!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 28, 2022: SOAP #4651: Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. THERE the hand of the LORD was upon him….
Ezekiel (NIV) 3:15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—overwhelmed.  16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me (THERE):…    Ezekiel (NIV) 3:22 The hand of the LORD was upon me THERE, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing THERE, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down.

OBSERVATION:  Ezekiel had been taken captive and moved to Babylon.  I am sure he missed home, but Ezekiel did not let his circumstances become so great in his thinking that he could not hear God!   And there in the land of Babylon, Ezekiel heard God speaking to him!   Yes, the same God in the temple in Jerusalem knew where His prophet was and how to get ahold of him!  

APPLICATION:  God knew where Ezekiel was and how to get his attention.  God had no trouble finding Ezekiel and giving him instructions as to what he should be doing. 

And God has no trouble finding Leon and speaking into his heart.  Every evening we have time together.  Usually, it is at my desk in my office.  But if we are traveling, God has no trouble speaking to me in Indiana, Ohio, or Pennsylvania.  In my home, at church, driving a school bus, God knows where I am and how to get my attention.  He knows all my “there’s”!!!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what a special privilege is mine to be your servant.  May I be quick to respond when you call.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 27, 2022: SOAP #4649: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 143:1 A psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

OBSERVATION:  The Psalmist needed mercy; he cried out for mercy.  But mercy could only come from one who would come in “faithfulness and righteousness.”  If his cry had been for justice, he would have been defending his innocence.  But his cry for mercy was an admission that he had done wrong and deserved punishment. 

God can only come in faithfulness and righteousness.  He is perfectly holy.  He is faithful.  He cannot be other than He is.  He is righteous.  He is eternally holy.  Even when He is loving and merciful, He is holy!   How can that be?  The perfectness of God’s mercy is found in Jesus coming to pay the full price for sin by dying on the cross!  

Jesus answered the prayer of the psalmist!  He came in faithfulness and righteousness and brought us mercy! 

APPLICATION: We must never forget that our perfectly loving God is also perfectly holy.  Every act of mercy is put in perfect balance with the value of the sacrifice of Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for coming to my relief in faithfulness and righteousness.  Help me to live this day with a grateful heart.  No one will ever be able to call into question whether my sins have been covered.  They are covered by the blood of a sinless sacrifice at Calvary.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 26, 2022: SOAP #4649: 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:  John had a good reason to rejoice.  He had received some visitors who brought him a good report about his friend, Gaius.  John received so much joy that he responded with this short letter.  His heart had been encouraged by a good report; he responded with a short letter of appreciation. 

APPLICATION: When I receive good news about a special friend, I need to take time to.  send a note.  I need to follow John’s example.  Such notes are an encouragement to those who receive them.  Someone noticed.  Someone had said good things about Gaius.  So, John took time to write a note of appreciation.  Such a note is often stored away in a special place where it can be taken out and enjoyed again.  The note can encourage their heart a second time, a third time, etc.    The Holy Spirit can bring it across their path in times of trouble or discouragement. The note may cause our ministry to continue even when we cannot be there.                                                                                     

PRAYER:  Holy, use me to bring words of encouragement to my friends.  Help me not to miss the opportunity to lift them with my words.  Especially use me to bring words of encouragement to my family.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 24, 2022: SOAP #4647: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

SCRIPTURE: Psalm (NIV) 74:8 Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. 9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.

OBSERVATION:  Israel had sinned and turned from the God who had delivered them from Egypt.  They started serving other gods.  Then, in their “desperate need” they called on God.  Let God be glorified in how He chose to deliver them.  May people honor God because of His intervention.  May the Name of the Lord be glorified.  May other nations see that God did what only God could do.  God had brought the punishment for their sin; God would bring the deliverance they needed. 

APPLICATION: The 16^th president of the USA was Abraham Lincoln.  He recognized that the civil war was God’s hand of judgment for the sin of slavery.  It was the costliest war in the history of our nation.  Today we are in another time of God’s judgment.  About 15 years ago, I asked the Lord what He would do about the sin of child-sacrifice.  God clearly told me that he would be bringing one undocumented alien into our nation for every child we have sacrificed to the god of convenience!  Today they are pouring over our southern border and our national leaders are tongue-tied and hand-tied, unable to do anything. 

When I see the TV reports of all the young men crossing the border, I cannot help but think that these are the children we have sacrificed.  God is bringing them to us.  What will we do?  Will the church enlist them into God’s army, or will they join the army of destruction?  How will we respond to God’s judgment?

PRAYER:  Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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