Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 7: Ezra 7-8; Luke 20

Scripture: Ezra (NIV) 7:27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Observation: Ezra did not take courage because King Artaxerxes was sending him back to Jerusalem to restore the temple. He did not take courage because the King had generously provided finances from the royal treasury. He did not take courage because the King had provided letters to the neighboring countries to help Ezra in his mission. He did not take courage because of those who would accompany him back to Jerusalem. Ezra took courage to move ahead because the hand of the LORD God was on him! Using the phrase “the hand of the LORD my God was on me” Ezra was saying that he had a conscience awareness of God’s presence and God’s nudging him in the way he should go.

Application: Recently I have found myself looking for other sources of strength. I look for a break in a full schedule. I look for a way to off load some responsibilities. I look for something to distract me for a while. But the times I have had the most strength is when I have a conscience awareness of God’s presence.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know you are always with me; however I greatly appreciate the times you make me especially aware of your presence. During those times you impart your peace and strength. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 6: Esther 9-10; Luke 19

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 19:5 When Jesus reached the spot [where Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector, had climbed into a tree to see Jesus], he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Observation: Not only was it good for Zacchaeus that Jesus would come to his house, it was good for others. The poor would receive a benefit from his generosity. People who had been cheated would be refunded. When Jesus comes into someone’s life, not only do they get forgiveness, peace and joy in their lives, those living around them will benefit from their new attitudes.

Application: Jesus works within me by removing the heavy load of guilt and he also gives me peace and joy. But not only is His presence good for me, it is good for those around me. They benefit from the Christ-like attitudes that begin growing in my life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may it be easy for those around me to see Jesus living in my life. May they be blest as I accept and forgive them, just as I have been accepted and forgiven. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 5: Esther 3-8; Luke 18

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 18:9 He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple to pray… 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax man. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Observation: A person in prayer should have some concept of to whom he is praying. The God of the universe deserves thoughtful and respectful prayers. What a sham for a man to stand before God pretending to be something important because of his own accomplishments.

Application: Humility should be a major part of my life. But if there is any place where I should be humble more than any other place, it would be in prayer to God, the Creator of the heavens and earth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, before you, I am only what I am. I cannot pretend to be important other than that you love me and gave your Son to die for my sins. Whatever value I have comes from the fact that you created me, your purpose for me, and your love for me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 4: Esther 1-2; Psalm 150; Luke 17

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 150:1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with harp and lyre…
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Observation: Verse 1 gives the places to praise the LORD. Verses 3-5 give a list of things to use in praising the LORD. Verse 6 tells us to whom this command to praise the LORD was given—to everything that has breath. Verse 2 gives two reasons we should praise the LORD. We should praise him for his acts of power and his magnificent and surpassing greatness. He is without equal! His powerful acts are always under the control of his holiness and love.

Application: If there ever was a being to admire, it is God! If there ever was someone deserving our love and commitment, it is God! His acts of power are never done selfishly. They are worthy of all praise!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are amazing! Your acts demonstrate your surpassing greatness. Your power is seen in your gentleness. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Are His Eyes on Me?

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 3: Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly: but the proud he knows from afar.

Observation: The Lord is highly exalted above all creation yet his eyes are drawn to the humble. He knows the value of humility. He is not looking for those who can put on a good show; he looks for those willing to work behind the scenes. He is looking for those who serve faithfully even when no one is looking. He who never sleeps and whose eyes are never closed sees what no one else sees. He sees what people do when they think no one else is watching.
He knows what the proud are doing, but he likes to give his attention to the humble.

Application: It is important for little children to know that their mom or dad is watching. If I want to have God’s attention and enjoy His presence “up close” I must learn to walk in humility. I must be willing to serve those who cannot repay me. I must serve with equal passion when people are watching and when no one is watching. Like a little child, my Heavenly Father is watching.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that you enjoy watching me. Give me an opportunity to serve people in a way that no one will know but you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

The Father’s Party

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 2: Zechariah 13-14; Psalm 147; Luke 15

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 15:22 But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 Your brother has come, he replied, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. 28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

Observation: The older brother’s attitude kept him from enjoying the party. He was right in his facts, but wrong in his heart. In his head he had all the reasons the younger brother’s return should not be celebrated. His heart could not see how good it was that the younger brother had returned. He did not understand that the party was really for the father, not the brother. The older brother was welcome to join the party, but his own attitude kept him out. How sad when people cannot participate in the party because of their own attitude.

Application: I can see times when my own attitude has kept from enjoying things that were available to me. I want to have the attitude of the father, not the attitude of the older brother. If the Father is rejoicing, I should be too! Who am I to throw cold water on His party?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be like you. I want to look at things from your point of view. When you are rejoicing, I want to rejoice with you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

October 1: Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 14:8 When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this man your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Observation: This teaching from Jesus is so in keeping with the way he lived. He lived as a servant. Humility has great value with God. When one exalts himself, it is for others to humble them. When one humbles himself, it is for others to exalt them. It is so much better to be exalted by others than to be humbled by others.

Application: Whether I am standing in line at McDonalds or driving with traffic on the highway, I can practice humility. What do I have that I have not been given? What do I know that I have not been taught? Humility should be a major character trait in me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, How can I be other than humble when I think of how you love me and what you have done for me? I am your humble servant! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

September 30: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 13:14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

Observation: Their priorities were mixed up. In reality, they treated their animals on the Sabbath better than humans. They were indignant because of Jesus’ action. Jesus was indignant because one created in God’s image was of less value than their animals. Jesus was not saying that they should ignore or mistreat their animals but he was saying that humans are more important than animals.

Application: What would Jesus say to our nation? We have fines and prison terms for those who would destroy the eggs of endangered birds. But we approve businesses that destroy hundreds/thousands of unborn human babies each year? In judgment, Jesus will be indignant! How could he be any less?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us to value the people around us as our Heavenly Father values them. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

September 29: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 12:54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘it’s going to rain,’ and it does.
55 And when the south wind blows, you say ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.
56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?”

Observation: It is amazing to me at how accurately we are able to forecast the weather. With radar and satellite information available in the morning, I usually walk out the door properly dressed for the day. With the information provided in God’s Word, we can forecast that major changes are coming to this world!

Application: How foolish to live like spiritual matters are unimportant. How foolish to live like Jesus will not return for a long time. How foolish to live like the things happening in the Middle East do not affect me. I must live each day all for the glory of God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may you be pleased with how I live this day. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

September 28: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

Scripture: Zechariah (NIV) 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Return to me,” declares the LORD Almighty, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

Observation: God was speaking to Israel. They had a history of walking with the LORD and depending on Him. They had a history of turning away and going into captivity. They had a history of returning to the LORD and being brought back into their land. God is saying to them it is time to return. And He is promising that if they will return He will return.

Application: In Revelation 2:4-5, the church at Ephesus was told they had lost their first love and they were to repent and return to the things they did at the beginning. Today I hear people wanting God to do today the things he did in the Book of Acts. In these verses I believe I hear God saying that the church should return to being totally committed as the early church. Then God will return to doing the miracle as He did for the early church.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to be totally committed to serving you and making you known. Love through me and do your works through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!