Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 16, 2022: SOAP #4547: 1Kings 1: 1Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1Thessalonians 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

OBSERVATION: One of the things Paul writes as he closes this letter is to pray continually.  If we really believe that God is always with us, then we should talk with him continually.  Communication is the basis of relationship.

When someone comes to visit, or when someone rides in the car with us, we make it a point to carry on a conversation with them.  It would be impolite to ignore them and speaking with them is the best way to acknowledge their presence. 

APPLICATION:  And so, it is with the Lord; praying, is the best way to acknowledge His Presence.  It would be impolite to ignore His presence!  He has promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5)   I can always talk with Him.  How foolish of me to ignore my Friend who loves me and has all wisdom.  He can show me the best path to take. 

I enjoy the time each evening when we (Jesus and I) prepare the SOAP devotion for the next day. We discuss the Bible.  He often shows me things I have never seen.  Sometimes He has me reconsider something He has told me before.  He is telling me that I need to pay more attention to something in my life.  Or, He is telling me I need to repent for something that does not please Him. 

Another special time is when the school bus is empty, and I can talk to Jesus and listen for Him to talk to me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it would not be much of a relationship if we could not talk to each other.  Part of prayer is me talking to you, but a more important part is when you talk to me.  The better I can hear you talk to me, the closer we will be.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 15, 2022: SOAP #4546: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

OBSERVATION: The reason for such admonition and warning is found in God.  God our Creator has the right to set such boundaries.  He has the right to determine what is appropriate and what is inappropriate.  He created us with a purpose in mind.  He created us to excel in certain areas, and for us to excel in those areas, we have limitations.  Doing some things will harm us, and harm our potential.  God has placed those things off limits for our own good. He calls them sin.  They are against His nature.  When we were born, we were created in His image. When we were born again, His life moved into our life and began to develop His nature in us. 

APPLICATION: God created me to live a holy life for that is the only way I can fulfill His purpose. If I am going to live a holy life in a world full of temptation, God knew I would need some help.

The same God who sent His Son to die on the cross as payment for my sins, is the same God who sends His Holy Spirit to teach me and empower me to live a holy life. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, oh how I need you.  I need you to help me overcome temptation and live a life that glorifies the Father. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 14, 2022: SOAP #4545: 1Chronicles 22-24; 1Thessalonians 3

Praying for Loved Ones

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

OBSERVATION: It is interesting to hear Paul pray for these friends he loves so dearly.  He prays for an opportunity to visit them—to have the opportunity to help them grow in their faith.  He prays for their relationships with other believers.  He prays that the Lord will increase their measure of love.   He prays for them to have holy hearts when they stand in the presence of God. 

He DOES NOT PRAY for their jobs.  He does not pray for them to be financially secure, or for them to be out of debt.  He does not pray for them to have good health.  He does not pray for peaceful relationships with their neighbors.  He does not pray for their lives to be trouble free.

APPLICATION:  The things I often pray for are important, at least to me.  But the things Paul prayed for are much more important, especially to the Lord!  I need to use Paul as my example when I pray for my family and friends. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts as I pray.  Help my prayers to have effect from eternities viewpoint.  Help me to pray prayers that the Heavenly Father would love to answer.  Amen

Pastor Leon

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 13, 2022: SOAP #4544: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians 2:18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.

OBSERVATION: Satan, who was actively involved in the garden tempting Eve, was actively involved in keeping Paul from another visit to Thessalonica. However, although Paul could not visit them in person, he did write this letter. And though we would have had very little information about what he would have said during a visit, we do have his very thoughts preserved in this letter.  Wow!  This is just another example that what the Devil meant for evil, God can use for eternal good!  The disrupted visit turned into a letter preserved in the Holy Bible! 

APPLICATION: Satan is a created being and does not have the God-characteristics of omnipotence, omniscience, or omnipresence.  He is not all-powerful, all-knowing, and cannot be everywhere present at the same time.  However, he does have many demons who carry out his bidding and attack Christians so sometimes we think that he is everywhere. But he is not!  He does not have the final say!

Many times I have had what Satan meant for evil turned into good by God’s overriding power and authority!  What a great privilege to belong to Jesus.    

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, I know that I can trust you.  You are trustworthy.   You use your power and authority to turn what is meant for evil to good!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 12, 2022: SOAP #4543:  2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

OBSERVATION: Those in Thessalonica imitated Paul and what they knew about the Lord Jesus.  Their lives became examples for believers in Macedonia and Achaia.  Their lives were an original audio-visual presentation of the gospel.  People watching their “movie” could hear a witness of Jesus.  And they could see how lives were changed by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord.

They did such a good job of letting Jesus shine through them that people everywhere were talking about them! 

APPLICATION: When people talk about me, is Jesus the main part of their conversation?  Jesus is the reason for my life and should be a major part of any conversation about me.  When people watch the “movie” of my lives, can they hear the truth of Jesus from my words?  Can they experience the love of Jesus flowing through me?  Can they sense the presence of the Holy Spirit moving in my life?

PRAYER:  Jesus, live in and through me.  May people hear and see what life is like with you being Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 11, 2022: SOAP #4542:  2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

OBSERVATION: These are the last verses in the book of Matthew.  Jesus was preparing to leave.  He told them He had all authority and commanded them to “go and make disciples of all nations…”  Then He DID NOT say, “I shall return,” or, “I’ll be back,” or, “Let’s meet back here again later.”  He DID say, “I am WITH YOU always…” “…to the very end of the age.”

APPLICATION: The One who walked on earth as a man until the day He ascended into heaven is with me through the presence of The Holy Spirit.  24 hours a day, wherever I am, He is with me.  He is my wisdom and my strength.  Like the Psalmist I can say, “I will fear no evil for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

This is not me promising to be with him, but Him promising to be with me!  It is not me holding on to Him, but Him holding on to me!  The strength to secure this bond is not in my hand, but in HIS!  I might lose my grip, but I need never fear that He will lose His grip on me!

PRAYER: Lord, I know I have the responsibility to “stick” with you but in these verses, I hear you promise to “stick” with me. (Proverbs 18:24) Thank you, thank you, thank you! Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 10, 2022: SOAP #4541:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”  66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

OBSERVATION: If only the disciples had remembered what Jesus had said!  They could have set up a watch at the tomb.  They could have been counting off the days until Jesus returned.  They did not remember, so they hid away.

But someone remembered!  The chief priests and the Pharisees remembered!  Something rang true about Jesus’ words.  Perhaps the disciples would break into the tomb and steal the body.  So, Pilate made sure no one would break in, but he could not stop Jesus from breaking out!  The heavy stone, the Roman seal, the Roman guard, and death itself could not keep Jesus from breaking out of that tomb.

APPLICATION: The post-resurrection Jesus is living in me!  There is no power in the world or universe strong enough to box Him in.  Satan may try to box me in and put me in a grave.  He may use the latest technology.  He may do his best.  People may do their best.  But people, religious leaders, governmental leaders and Satan himself have already met their match at the empty tomb!   Satan has no power to entomb me in fear or doubt, or despair, or discouragement, or unhappiness.  I need but remind him.  The resurrected life of Christ within me can never be entombed again!

PRAYER:  Lord, I never want to forget your power to break out of that tomb.  I never want to forget that same power is at work in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 9, 2022: SOAP #4540:  2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 26:7 …a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.  8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

OBSERVATION: In pouring out the very expensive perfume, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, expressed the great value Jesus had in her heart. Later in the same chapter (verse 15) Jesus was valued at 30 silver coins by both Judas and the chief priests.  In the next chapter (27:3), Judas realized that Jesus was worth much more than the 30 silver coins he had received.  He tried to renegotiate, to return the coins, but it was too late.

But the greatest value expressed in this chapter is not the value of the alabaster box, nor the value of the betrayal, but the value God, the Father, placed on sinners.  He valued them enough to give His Son!!  Mary willingly gave her expensive perfume; Judas willingly gave back the 30 silver coins; Jesus willingly gave His life; but “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

APPLICATION: That is how much God values me!  Jesus gave His life!  I am ashamed to think of the times when I have valued Him so little in comparison.  Like Judas, I need to learn that Jesus can be sold for 30 silver coins, but He cannot be bought for the same price.  If I want Jesus in my heart, it costs me all I have — He becomes my Lord!  I surrender all; He is worth that and more!

PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for not appreciating Your true value!  May it be obvious to those around me that nothing in my life is more valuable than You!  I want my words and actions to express Your great value.  You are my Lord.  Thank you for forgiving my sins.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 8, 2022: SOAP #4539:  2Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

OBSERVATION: God’s plan is not something that He just thought of.  His plan was in place at the creation of the world.  (Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 13:8)   When man sinned, it did not take God by surprise.  He already had a plan.  His plan would reveal to heavenly authorities God’s great ability to love.  And His love would be a holy love.  In loving us, the full price for sin would be paid.  

The plan of God is prepared.  It was intentionally set in place.  It was thoughtfully planned.  God has not waited for the last minute to decide what reward should be given to those who gave food and drink and clothing to those in need.  He considers it as though they had given it to Him. 

APPLICATION: When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in me, He replaces my stinginess with His generosity.  He is making me like Jesus.  As His child, God’s character begins to show in me.  With His character in me, I will fit in to the place He has prepared for me.  Not only has He prepared a place for me; He is preparing me for that place! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, continue working in me.  Prepare me to be a good and profitable citizen in the Kingdom you have prepared for me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 7, 2022: SOAP #4538:  2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

OBSERVATION: Everything I know about Jesus tells me that He is trustworthy. He said that His words would not only outlast the heavens and the earth; His words will never pass away!

APPLICATION: This week, the reality of this verse was emphatically brought to me.  Our city was hit by a tornado!  Much work has been done to clean up the debris, but much more will be needed.  On one side of the street there are houses still standing, hardly any damage.  On the other side of the street, or just next door, there is a pile of wood with pieces of appliances and furniture.  The house has been almost totally wiped off its foundation.  The foundation looks as though it is the same as the house still standing.  Obviously, the foundation did not save the house. 

If I want to build my life on something permanent, there is nothing more stable than God’s Word! People want a good foundation on which to build their house but the best foundations available could not save the house from a tornado and they will only last as long as the earth lasts. To build a life, one needs a better foundation — one that is permanent and that will last long into eternity!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show me through the scriptures how to build my life on the Permanent foundation. Amen

Pastor Leon
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