Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 27, 2025: SOAP #5746: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

(a repeat from the past) 

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

OBSERVATION:  The angel was sent to John.  The Revelation was given to a man.   It is interesting to note that God’s ministry to people usually flows through people.   Even for Jesus’ ministry to and among men, He had to become fully human.      

APPLICATION:  God’s plan was to reach me, to draw me to Himself.  But that was not the end. His plan continued.  His plan was to use me.   If I protested that I was only a man, He would assure me that was what qualified me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, that you would take someone as weak and frail as myself, with all my limitations, to be useful in your Kingdom amazes me.  May you receive all the glory.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 24, 2025: SOAP #5743: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

SCRIPTURE:  Jeremiah (NIV) 33:1 While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time: 2″This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

OBSERVATION:  King Zedekiah had locked Jeremian in prison because Jeremiah was prophesying that God was going to hand Judah over to the Babylonians.  The king was able to control the prophet, but He could not control the prophet’s God.   No prison can keep God from speaking to His servant.  

APPLICATION:  If there is nothing that can hinder God from getting to me, there is nothing that can hinder Him from clearing a way for me to get out. 

And I must not allow myself to get so caught up in my circumstances that I close my ears to what He has to say.  Consider the promise God made to Jeremiah while Jeremiah was still imprisoned!

PRAYER:  Lord, You have such good things to say to me.  Even when I am trapped and feel so limited.  You are never limited!   And in you, my possibilities are never limited.  May my ears be ever open to hearing what you are saying to me even when my circumstances seem crushing.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 23, 2025: SOAP #5740: Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

OBSERVATION:  John appears to be the closest disciple to Jesus.  He heard Jesus teach.  He saw miracles.  He saw the way Jesus lived his daily life.  He came to know Jesus’ priorities.  So, it should not surprise us that the central subject of this letter is love!    

APPLICATION:  My love for God who cannot be seen is proved by my love for my brother who can be seen.  My love for God, though strong, may not always be visible, however my love, or lack of love, for my brother cannot be missed. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to love like Jesus.  Help me to love others the way Jesus loves me and the way Jesus loves them.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 21, 2025: SOAP #5740: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

OBSERVATION: John writes about so much that we know.  We know that we are at peace with God, by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  He lives within us!  We sense His approval and joy when we do what pleases Him.  We sense His disapproval when we do that which displeases Him. 

After all He has done for us, it is our great desire to please Him.  All who are born again have this one inward desire—to please our Heavenly Father.  That is what the Holy Spirit was doing in Jesus, and that is what the Holy Spirit is doing in us. 

APPLICATION: So, we continue in Him.  It is a never-ending relationship we have begun.  It is a relationship in which we bring joy to the Father through honoring and obeying His Son Jesus.  It is a relationship closely monitored by the Holy Spirit.  We are learning to hear how He speaks to us.  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, lead me, guide me.  I know you are working for my good.  May my life honor you and bring you great joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 20, 2025: SOAP #5739: Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 1:2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  John is revealing a source of joy and peace.  What they have discovered is available to his readers also.  John has fellowship with others who share his passion.  And those to whom, he is writing can share that same peace, joy, passion.  They can even share in the fellowship with Father God and His Son, Jesus Christ!  

APPLICATION:  I need to count it as a special privilege and blessing to walk in fellowship with God!  I should look forward to his fellowship each day.  I should expect the revelation of His presence in every challenge or difficulty.  I have His promise, so I should act like He is with me.   He is not with me because I am acting like He is with me.  I am acting like He is with me because I know I can count on His Word!   HE IS WITH ME!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I remember singing, “What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms. I have perfect peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.” (Showalter) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 19, 2025: SOAP #5738: Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 21:25 There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.

OBSERVATION:  John finishes his book about the life of Christ with the above words.   They are like the last verse of the chapter in yesterday’s SOAP.  It took Luke to pick up the narrative about what Jesus continued to do through the working of the Holy Spirit. 

APPLICATION:  It is exciting to read about God working in the lives of the early church.  But, to me, it is just as exciting to read about what God is doing today.  Sometimes when I hear about God working in Africa, I think, that is the same way Peter was called to Cornielius home. (Acts 10)  I hear about healings which result in whole communities hearing the good news of Jesus!   (Acts 9:39-42)

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, obviously, You are just as interested in opening your kingdom to those lost in sin today as you were in the days of the book of Acts.  Surely you are coming soon and you want your banquet hall to be full.  Use us to bring others with us.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 17, 2025: SOAP #5736: Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

OBSERVATION:   On a trip to Jerusalem as a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus stayed behind in the temple discussing the scriptures with the learned religious leaders.  They were amazed at his knowledge and understanding. (Luke 2:41-49)

And, now here on the cross He was not just discussing the scriptures; He was living them out!  

APPLICATION:  I am not called to die for the sins of man, but I too must live out the scriptures.  I must do more than read the scriptures; I must do more than discuss the scriptures; I must live the scriptures in my life. 

The Holy Spirit will guide me through bringing the scriptures to my mind.  He will convict me when I do something wrong.  He will encourage me as I move forward in doing His will. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, you are such an important part of my life and my continued spiritual growth.  Please continue to bring truth to my heart and mind as I read the scriptures.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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