Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 14, 2022: SOAP #4637: Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you…
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was telling them something they did not want to hear.  To make it easier to accept, Jesus told them that it would be for their good.  Then Jesus goes on to explain how it will be for their good.  Their relationship with Jesus will grow even stronger because of the presence and ministry of the Spirit.  Having the Counsellor, the Comforter, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth—having the Holy Spirit with every one of us twenty-four hours every day is so much better than having Jesus walk on earth in one place at a time.  When Jesus was in Jerusalem, he was not in Bethany or Capernaum.  When in Israel, he was not in Rome, or Africa, or any other country.  What a great blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit with us today!!! 

APPLICATION: Jesus told them something they did not want to hear.  But it turned out so much better!!  Many times in my life I have faced things that I did not like.  I complained about them.  I prayed for Jesus to help me change the situation.  But Jesus did not seem to hear or answer my prayers.  I had to keep on moving ahead, through the trouble, wondering if I would ever get through.  I wondered if God knew and understood what was happening to me.   As I completed the journey through the trouble, I discovered that God really did know what was happening.  God really did understand.  God was working it out for my good!  The end was better for me than the beginning!!!   Romans 8:28 is really true!!!

PRAYER:  Lord, how can I doubt your love for me.  Holy Spirit how can I doubt your wisdom in leading me through life!  I have fount the best application of my wisdom is to follow you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 13, 2022: SOAP #4636: Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing….
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples….
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

OBSERVATION:  Clearly God brings us into His Family to bear fruitful.  He has designed us to be fruitful.  But being fruitful is not something we can do on our own.  IF we remain in Him, like a branch in a vine, we will bear fruit.  It is our responsibility to remain.  We cannot separate ourselves from our source of His life and expect to remain fruitful. 

APPLICATION: Bearing fruit means that we do things that make Him look good.  Obviously, that includes the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:9) being present in our lives.  It also includes deeds of service, kindness, benevolence, etc.  It includes the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 12:4-11), which are gifts given to every believer to make them fruitful in ministry. (1Corinthians 12:7) 

Being fruitful means that the life of the Spirit is in me and flowing out of me.  It means that I am keeping in contact with the source of that life through prayer, Bible reading, meeting with other believers.  God uses their gifts and strengths to minister to me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I keep myself grafted into the body of Christ, keep your life flowing to me and through me I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 12, 2022: SOAP #4635: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work….
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. …
20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

OBSERVATION:  In verses 8-10 Jesus explains His relationship with the Father.  Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus.  They are so much one, that those who saw Jesus, saw the Father.  Jesus spoke the Father’s words and did the Father’s deeds. 

Then in verses 17 and 20, Jesus shows us that we have the same relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as Jesus had with His Father. 

APPLICATION: This relationship is a high privilege.  We are children of God.  We are to grow into sons.  We are to mature into fathers. (1John 2:12-14) 

With this high privilege comes a great responsibility.  My life is to represent God here on earth.  But it is not something I must do on my own.  The Holy Spirit living within me works in me and through me.  His presence lives the life of God in me and through me.    

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, it is so important that I learn to hear your voice and to quickly respond to your leading.  As you came upon Jesus at His water baptism, so come upon and in me.  Lead me as you led Him.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 11, 2022: SOAP #4634: Jeremiah 7-9; John 13

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 13:13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
John (NIV) 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

OBSERVATION:  In the gathering of Jesus and the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.  Then He tells them that they should do for each other what He had done for them.  This was not something they were to return to him, but something they were to do to and for each other.  Jesus told them to do “as I have done for you.”

I see His example and instruction as a preface for what He would say a few moments later.  He set a new command for them; they were to love each other as Jesus had loved them!   Jesus said, “As I have loved you.”

APPLICATION: As a follower of Jesus, I must take the command of Jesus seriously.  I must sincerely love my brothers and sisters in Christ the way that Jesus loves me.  I am to follow His example.

It is a command that I cannot do in myself.  It is a call to love with Jesus love.  It is a love that goes beyond Leon love.  But it is His command!  What am I to do? 

I have discovered that Jesus will not command me to do something that He is not willing to do through me.  And so, I let Him love through me.  He pours His love into me; He pours His love through me.  The people of the world take note of how we in the body of Christ love one another. 

PRAYER:  Lord, your love is pure; your love is holy.  Your love is not self-serving, but self-sacrificing.  Love through me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 10, 2022: SOAP #4633: Jeremiah 5-6; John 12

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 12:47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus knew that he was sent.  There was a reason He was on earth.  Jesus knew who sent him.  What He said, and how He said it was very important.  His words would lead people to eternal life.   People would be judged according to the words that Jesus spoke. 

APPLICATION: I should take time to think before I speak.  I should consider who lives inside me.  I should consider His desire concerning those to whom I am speaking.  Surely such thoughts would affect what I say and how I say it.  I should consider that the words I speak to them may be recalled on judgment day. 

PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for times I have not carefully represented you with my words.  Holy Spirit, flow through me and speak through me. Heavenly Father, may you be glorified in my words.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 9, 2022: SOAP #4632: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

OBSERVATION:  Lazarus was dead!  Everyone was sure he was dead.  The funeral was over, but the grieving continued.  He had been buried for four days.  But he was not so dead that he could not hear the voice of Jesus!   It was just his body that was dead.  His spirit was very much alive!  His spirit recognized his name and who it was that was calling.  His spirit recognized the authority in that call.  It was a call he could not ignore; he had to return. 

What seemed hopeless, was not hopeless.  What seemed so final, was not final.  The body was dead, but life continued.  Those who had lovingly and carefully prepared the body for burial now had to undo their work. 

APPLICATION: There are many things in life that seem final, but not to those who know God!  Things thought impossible become possible when God gets involved.  It is His specialty!  It is His way of leaving His calling card that says, “God was here!!!” 

I remember my dad and mom singing: 
   “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
   Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
   God specializes in things thought impossible
   And He will do what no other power can do!”

PRAYER:  Lord, you are the miracle worker.  You are the impossible doer.  You have told me to come in faith and ask you.  You often use others to meet my needs.  Forgive me for taking my eyes off you and looking to those who have previously helped to meet my needs. My struggle can be your opportunity to demonstrate your unlimited ability! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 8, 2022: SOAP #4631: Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah (NIV) 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.  9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

OBSERVATION:  The assignment was too great for Jeremiah.  He did not know how he would be able to do what God said.   From reading on, we can see that Jeremiah was not alone in thinking such thoughts.  God agreed with Jeremiah.  God did not think that Jeremiah would be able to fulfill his assignment!   God would put God’s words in Jeremiah’s mouth!  God also promised Jeremiah that he would not be going alone; God was going with him!!! 

When Jeremiah told God his limitations, he was not telling God anything new.  God already knew that the job was too big for Jeremiah.  And God already knew how Jeremiah’s limitations could be overcome.  God put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth and God promised to be WITH HIM!  

APPLICATION: I should not be surprised when the things I face are too big for me.  God is not wanting to prove how much I can do, but to prove how much He can do through me.  Nothing is too big for God!  Nothing is too hard for God!!  Nothing is impossible for God!!!  I am not facing this world based on my abilities, but on HIS abilities! 

I have often prayed for God to be glorified in my life. I should consider the impossible things I face as answers to those prayers!  He will be glorified in me as people see what He can do through me.

PRAYER:  Lord, as I go through this day, I am counting on you to put your words in my mouth.  Speak through me to those around me.  Speak to me and through me, I pray.  Use these SOAPs to encourage others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 7, 2022: SOAP #4630: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
John (NIV) 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,…27  And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. …
John (NIV) 12:47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

OBSERVATION:  In reading the portion in John 9, the verses in John 5 and 12 came to mind.  There seems to be a conflict.  I asked the Lord to help me understand.  Because Jesus completely fulfilled the law without any sin and then died for our sins, to Jesus the Father has assigned all judgment.  But while on earth, Jesus did not come to be our judge; He came to save the world. 

In John 9 Jesus is saying “For judgment I have come into this world…”  From the context, I hear Jesus saying, “To help you make good judgment I have come into the world.”  Following Jesus’ teaching gives us the ability to make good judgments.  If we claim to be wise enough and not need Jesus’ teaching, and receive what He offers, our “guilt remains.”

APPLICATION: Through a personal relationship with Jesus as my Savior and Lord; through the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life; and through growing in my knowledge of the Bible, I grow in my ability to make good judgments.  Making good judgments is one way of honoring and pleasing my Lord.  It is why He came. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is my goal to honor you.  Holy Spirit help me make good judgments in who I listen to, what I believe, and what I do.  Help me understand the scriptures and apply them to my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 6, 2022: SOAP #4629: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

OBSERVATION:  God is so high and holy that He can only be truly worshipped by those who are free to worship Him.  If He is so High and Holy, He should not need to force people to serve and worship Him!!!  We are not puppets responding to the pull of a string, moving at the will of a great string-puller.  We are not slaves with no choice but to obey God.  God created man to have a choice.  He desires to reveal Himself to us that we will be convinced that He alone is worthy of worship.  He does not need to pull a string to get us to worship Him!  He does not need to demand our worship. 

God is honored when we serve Him as Lord and worship Him as worthy.   He is even more greatly honored when our service and worship come despite pressure on us to not serve and worship Him.   

APPLICATION: Presently man has limited knowledge of how this earth and life began.  We can choose to accept by faith what the Bible says, or we can think up some probable explanation that leaves God out of the picture and accept that by faith.  

There are many places in the world today where we can see the result of leaving God out of the picture.  There are also many places where people are slaves.  Some are slaves to men.  Some are slaves to religions.  Some are slaves to social and religious practices. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, you came to set us free!  We are free to have a relationship through you to our Heavenly Father!  That is God’s desire and plan!   Help me to live in that freedom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 5, 2022: SOAP #4628: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus’ invitation to those at the feast in Jerusalem is offered to us today.  Those who are thirsty for a life that is satisfying, can find that “drinking the life of Jesus” does satisfy. 

APPLICATION: Water in the faucet might have potential to satisfy our thirst, but as long as it remains in the faucet, it will never satisfy.  Water in the glass has the potential of satisfying our thirst, but if it remains in the glass, it will never satisfy.  Only water that I drink, that I take into my mouth, that I swallow, only THAT water satisfies. 

The same is true of the promises of Jesus.  Hearing somebody talk about them, even entering into the conversation to talk about them; that will never satisfy.  I must drink them into my life.  With my mouth, I confess that I have sinned.  With my mouth, I ask the Lord’s forgiveness.  With my mouth, I invite Him to live in me.  With my mouth, I confess that He is Lord.  And with my mouth, I thank Him for forgiving me and joining me in living in my heart.

PRAYER:  Lord, with my mouth I confess my sins and ask you to forgive me.  With my mouth I confess that you are Lord.  With my mouth, I thank you for forgiving and cleansing me from sin. Let your “streams of living water” flow out from me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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