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

September 7: 2Kings 25; 2Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Observation: My first thoughts were, how strange that there is war in heaven. How could there be war in God’s throne room? Then I thought that the word “heaven” sometimes refers to all that is not earth. Although Satan has some freedom to roam in the heavens, I am thinking that his emphasis is earth. Earth is where God’s special creation is being prepared to rule and reign. Earth is the place God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life and die for the sins of man. However a time is coming when Satan will be limited to the earth.

Application: Satan’s battle is not with me, it is with God. My life is the territory that both kingdoms want to claim for their own. Satan uses me to get at God. Jesus died for me because He loves me. My life is often the battlefield. Accepting Christ as my Savior gains me entrance into God’s Kingdom. Making Jesus my Lord and submitting to His authority helps me live in victory in His kingdom.

Prayer: Jesus, you are my Savior and my Lord. By your death as my Savior you purchased my freedom. By your love and wisdom as my Lord you rule my life for my good and your glory. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Prophecy

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

September 6: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 30:1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:…

Observation: Here is the definition of prophecy; it is giving forth the word of the LORD. I used to think of prophecy as pertaining to the future; and many times it does. But more simply and more complete; prophecy is just saying what God is saying.

Application: Sometimes that word has to do with the future, and sometimes with the present. But I am finding it always has application to the lives of the hearers—it always has application to me. God still loves people and hates sin as much as He ever did. So the words He spoke in the past have meaning to me today. Many times as I read and understand what He spoke to others, I find I better understand what he is speaking to me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for having people write down your words so that I might learn from them today. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 5: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 28:15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you…
16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

Observation: Here I believe the Holy Spirit’s anointing has carried the prophet from writing about the king of Tyre, who had set himself up as a god (see the previous verses), to writing about the evil power behind the king, even Satan himself. As all God’s creation, Satan was created beautiful and blameless. But he took his eyes off the Creator and put them on creation—he became enamored by his own beauty.

Application: It is so easy to take credit for our appearance and talents. But I had no choice in the body that was given me; however I can choose to use it to glorify God. I also had no choice in the talents that were given me, but I can develop them and use them to glorify God. I may not have much choice in the people who will cross my path today, but I can see each one as an opportunity to make God look good.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for what you have given me. May I use my body and my talents for your glory! Tonight may I go to sleep tired, but happy in knowing that all the glory that came my way was passed along to you. Today may I speak your name with appreciation many times. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 4: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 22:12 In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And youve forgotten me…”

Observation: They remembered how to do the evil things, but had forgotten the most important thing! They no longer had a proper measure for good and evil.

Application: When we forget God, we lose all perspective on reality. We lose our “Measuring Stick” for judging good and evil. Not having a true measure for good and evil, before long, we judge evil on how it compares to what others are doing. As long as we can see someone who is worse than ourselves, we feel justified in continuing as usual.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what a terrible awakening will come when the world realizes that your perfect holiness in the measure by which all men will be judged. What a tremendous thanksgiving will arise in the hearts of those whose personal righteousness has been replaced by the righteousness of your Son, Jesus! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 3: Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 111:1 Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds…
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just…
8 …done in faithfulness and uprightness…
10 …To Him belongs eternal praise.

Observation: The psalmist was not going to sit idly by while others sang their praises to God. He was going to join in with all his heart! He knows that God deserves eternal praise! In this chapter he focuses on the works of God. They are glorious, majestic, faithful, just and done in faithfulness and uprightness! No wonder God’s people think about them and delight in them. God expresses Himself in His works! With all our heart—that is the only way to praise God!

Application: God’s works are such a source of joy to me. They are expressions of His great love and holiness. And in the same way, I know that my works are expressions of what is in my heart.

Prayer: Lord, may people see you in the things I do. I want my works, my words and deeds, to be an expression of you living in me. I hope you enjoy seeing my works as I enjoy seeing your works! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 2: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Observation: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…) will be fulfilled. People from every nation, every tribe, every people group, and language will be present on that day when we stand in worship before the throne of God Almighty! What a day that will be!!!

Application: Songs that comes to my heart and mind as I write this: “What a day that will be!” “When we all get to heaven!” “When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.” “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.” These are songs we sing at our family reunions. I can hear my Grandpa Boese singing: “Face to Face.” I can hear my mother and Aunt Clara singing about “Looking for a city that is built four-square.” Standing before the throne is going to be one great family reunion!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the great privilege of being in a family that is looking forward to meeting at your throne. What a day that will be! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 1: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 70:4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “Let God be exalted!”

Observation: Those who make it their practice to seek the Lord have cause to rejoice and will be joyful. They may not find reason to rejoice and be joyful in their circumstances, but they will always have cause to rejoice in their God. It is possible to exalt problems to where they are bigger than they actually are. It is impossible to exalt God to where He is greater than He really is!

Application: When my eyes are on my problems I can see that the problems are greater than me; it is natural to worry. But when my eyes are on God, I can easily see that He is much greater than the problems!!! His love directs his power to work for my benefit. His love directs his knowledge and wisdom to be available to me as needed. Let God be exalted in my life!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I exalt you today. You are much bigger than any problem coming my way. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 31: 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, looking as if it had been slain…
7 He came and took the scroll…
12 In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb…
13 …”To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise…

Observation: In heaven, Jesus is introduced to John as the LION, but he makes his appearance as the LAMB. He is not worshipped as the conquering, all powerful LION but as the LAMB who suffered, bled, and died. He could demand worship because he had the power to force people to worship him. Instead He chooses to be worshipped by those who have experienced his love and choose to worship him.

Application: If I want to be like Jesus I must be more of a lamb than a lion. It is not how many people I can rule, but how many I can serve.

Prayer: Lord, as your servant, help me be a useful servant to those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 30: Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 11:19 “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done,” declares the Sovereign LORD.

Observation: God knows what it takes for us to follow his decrees and keep his laws. It takes a new heart and a new spirit. But those who refuse God’s heart transplant will reap the results of what they have done. With death certain, how foolish it would appear to refuse a donor’s heart. With hell certain, how much more foolish it is to refuse the Donor’s Heart!

Application: Praise the Lord a donor heart was found for me! For a person to receive a transplanted heart today, it requires the death of the donor. And that is the same with my heart. It required the death of the donor! Jesus died for my sins on the cross that He might become the new heart that I desperately needed.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you knew that I could never make it on my own. Sin was too deeply ingrained in my heart. You knew I needed a new heart! And through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, that is exactly what you did for me! Thank you Heavenly Father and thank you Lord! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 29: Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (also verse 13 and 22)

Observation: This phrase is repeated four times in chapter 2 and three times here in chapter 3. It is always the Spirit that is doing the speaking, and it is always in the present tense. And in these chapters it is always the church to whom He is speaking.

Application: I believe the present tense of the Holy Spirit’s speaking is especially true today. I believe God is speaking to his church today. Being an active part of the church is a priority. Consider what I miss if I am absent when the Spirit is speaking to the part of the church where he has placed me! I want to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church today.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I am so thankful that you have not lost your voice. I am thankful that you are teaching me to listen carefully when you speak to and through your church. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!