Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 18. 2024: SOAP #5464: Ps 124, 2Corinthians 11-13

(from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians 11:30   If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

OBSERVATION:   In order to have people accept his ministry, Paul felt the need to defend himself from attackers.  He has just listed some of his accomplishments and some of the trials he had endured. 

In reading between the lines, I believe Paul found this a difficult thing to do.  It was too much like bragging. When attention is drawn to areas where we are strong, people give us the praise.  We get the accolades, the “well-done,” the “Atta-boy.”  People appreciate and admire us.

But when attention is drawn to our weaknesses, people can more readily understand that accomplishments in these areas had to be made with outside help.  We had to have a source of strength and wisdom outside ourselves to accomplish anything.  When people see the source of that strength and wisdom as Jesus, He gets the glory.

APPLICATION: Instead of trying to hide my weaknesses, I need to let others know they are there.  If they get anything good from my life, it is because Jesus lives inside and is at work through me.

Unlike so many politicians of today, I am not trying to get people to elect me.  I am trying to convince people that Jesus is worthy to be “elected” as the Lord of their lives!  If He helps me in my weaknesses, He will do the same for them!

PRAYER:   Lord, I know you are bigger than all my weaknesses and mistakes.  I have confidence that you can work through my weaknesses and mistakes for your glory and the good of others. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 17. 2024: SOAP #5463: 2Corinthians 7-10

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

OBSERVATION:   There is one word in the above passage that is used two times.  That word specifically tells me that this passage is for me.  I can apply the truth in this verse and expect it will work for me, just as Paul expected it to work for those in Corinth.  It is the word: “Whoever.”  I am a “Whoever!” 

The Bible is not just for one generation.  What WAS good for the days of Paul IS good for the days of Leon.  The Bible is not just for one continent.  What WAS good for people in Corinth IS good for Leon in the USA.  The Bible is not just for one people group.  It WAS good for the tentmakers of Corinth.  It WAS good for the Roman citizens.  It WAS good for the early Christians.  It IS good for bus drivers today.  It IS good for all believers today.  It is good for “WHOEVER!”

Money truths in the Bible apply to the poor as much as to the wealthy.  Wealthy people are encouraged to be generous.  Poor people are encouraged to be generous.  People in rich countries are encouraged to be generous.  People in poor countries are encouraged to be generous.  God loves wealthy generous cheerful givers!  God also loves poor generous givers!

APPLICATION:  Generosity is not measured by how much is given, but by how much is left.  Generosity may be a greater sacrifice to someone poor, but God loves a cheerful giver, and they will reap generously! 

Let’s be “Whoevers1” Let’s be generous in what we give and how much we give.  Let’s make it easy for God to love!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, no one can out give you!  You are the greatest giver!  Holy Spirit, show me how give and what to give.  May the nature of my Father be seen in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 16. 2024: SOAP #5462: 2Corinthians 3-6

(repeat from 2021)

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

OBSERVATION:   We often think when a person dies their life has been swallowed up by death.  But for the believer, the very opposite is true.  What is mortal (temporary human life subject to death) is swallowed up by life!!!

As we pass through the death experience, we become absent, we leave behind our temporary home—this earthly tent, and move to our permanent home with the Lord.  (2Corinthians 5:8)   Entrance into our heavenly home depends solely on our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as the payment for our sins.  The rewards we will receive in heaven will be based on our service to the Lord and to people during our time on earth. 

APPLICATION:   In the Creator’s plan, children are not meant to live out their lives in their mother’s womb.  Nor are adults meant to live out their lives in this world.  The womb and the world/earth are passageways through which we all must pass. 

Sad to say, some people will not be present to receive any rewards because they missed having faith in Jesus.  They need to pray: 

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, I believe you died on the cross to pay for my sins.  I ask you to forgive me and make me clean from all sin.  I make you the Lord of my life.  Set your Holy Spirit to live within me and teach me how to live a life that pleases you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 15. 2024: SOAP #5461: Job 41, 42; 2Corinthians 1, 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 1:9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.  (Note: Romans 15:30)

OBSERVATION:   Paul had been through some hard times, so hard that it seemed probable that he would die.  But his faith was firm in the God who raises the dead!  God had delivered Paul and Paul was confident that God would continue to get him through hard times.  Even the people to whom Paul was writing deserved to know that their prayers had made a difference.  God’s deliverance for Paul came in answer to their prayers! 

APPLICATION:   Sometimes we want to help those we love.  We want to do something significant yet are not sure what to do.  We may even think our hands are tied and there is nothing we can do.  Clearly, we do not appreciate the importance of prayer!  We need to grow in our appreciation AND PRACTICE of prayer!!!  We really do not need to practice prayer, we just need to DO IT!   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, call us to pray; teach us to pray; pray through us!   Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Special SOAP prayer needs sent to me the last few days:
1.  Shafiq Masih, who translates the SOAPs into Urdu in Pakistan, will be having heart surgery on Monday.  Pray for his healing and needed finances.   
2.  Charles Owino will be making a December trip in Uganda to areas needing SOAP.  Pray for God’s provision and safe travels. 
3.  Doris Borbor has been in her home area of Sierra Leone where 6 or 7 computers and printers provide SOAPs.  God has used the SOAPs in so many ways, that they are looking to provide 20 more printing places in the city and neighboring villages.  God has changed so many lives that they have raised most of the money needed and God has provided Doris a special job which will help with some of what remains!  Praise the Lord! 
Praise report:   I have had 20 radiation treatments with 8 more to go.  Lab tests show that they have been very effective in dealing with cancer!  Praise the Lord!!  I have minimal side effects from the treatments and am still able to drive the morning and afternoon school bus routes. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 14. 2024: SOAP #5460: Psalm 149; 1Corinthians 15, 16

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

OBSERVATION:   Verses three and five above tell us how to praise the Lord, but verse 4 tells us why.   Two reasons are given.  First: the Lord takes delight in his people!  Second: he looks favorably on the humble and gives them a sign of his esteem.  He gives them a crown. 

APPLICATION:  What a wonderful reason I have to praise God: He delights in me!  My presence brings Him joy. 

When people I love give me their attention, it gives me joy.  When they listen to my words and value what I say it gives me joy. 

When I give God my attention and my desire to hear Him speak makes me search His Word…  When He sees me putting into practice what I read in His Word…  When I give Him the glory for what has happened in my day, He gets joy, and He gives me the joy of knowing I have delighted Him.  

What an amazing thought: The Creator of the universe gets joy from my being in His presence!  Things I do make Him smile! 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I look around the world, I see so much that must cause Your heart to break.  I want my life to bring you much joy.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 13. 2024: SOAP #5459: Job 39, 40; 1Corinthians 13, 14

(reworked for today from earlier)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

OBSERVATION:   When we gather for our church meetings, we expect the pastor to have something prepared to say; we expect the teachers to have their lessons prepared for their class; we expect the worship leader and musicians to have songs prepared.   Many go to church prepared to receive, but not prepared to give.  However, this verse says that “EACH OF YOU” has something to give.

APPLICATION:  What the Lord has for me to give may not be a public expression of God’s grace from the front of the congregation when everyone is listening to me.  It may be a word of comfort or encouragement to give to an individual who is hurting.  It may be our testimony of God working in our lives that another believer needs to hear. 

It may be more than the tithes I put in the offering; it may be extra money the Lord has given me to pass on to someone with a special need.  God can use me to help lift someone’s burden.

I must go to church ready to give as the Lord shows me a need.  Even before I arrive, I should begin looking for an opportunity to share God’s grace.

PRAYER: Lord, prepare me to be a useful instrument of Your grace when I gather with other believers.  “Make Me a Blessing” is my song and my prayer.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 12. 2024: SOAP #5458: Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 12:13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink…
20  As it is, there are many parts, but one body….
25  so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

OBSERVATION:   Paul mentions MANY PARTS, yet only ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT.  The parts are all different.  It is their differences that give them value to the body.  The parts are set in the body by God.  The Spirit of God is the life of that body.  The Spirit directs/coordinates the ministries of the parts

APPLICATION:  It is easy to have favorite parts of the body.  Some are better at giving aid and comfort.  Some see things just the way I see them.  Some are better at ministering to my needs.  So, I must grow up and mature to have “equal concern” for each member.  Their function maybe different, but their value has been set by God with the sacrifice of Jesus.  The flow of the Spirit through each ministry makes them useful parts of the body.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me grow to see the life that flows through each believer.  Use me to minister to all the members of your body.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 11. 2024: SOAP #5457: Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

(expanded from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

OBSERVATION:   Paul here offers his life as an example for his readers.  Yet his offer to be their example is based on his following Christ.  He could have said it in a negative way:  Do not follow me if I am not following Christ. 

Every good leader is also a good follower.  Good leadership comes from good follower-ship. 

APPLICATION:  So the first question I must ask myself—who am I following?  Who is my example, or examples?   

A second important question for me to ask—who are my leaders following?  Who was their example? 

And a third question that logically follows—who is following me?  What are they learning from my example?  Are those following me learning to be a good follower of Christ?  Are they learning to love God’s Word?  Are they learning to apply the scriptures to their daily lives? 

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to follow you closely.  May my life be a good example of following You.  Lord, thank you for my parents who not only gave me a good example of how to live, but also of how to grow old gracefully.  Lord, thank you for assigning me to write SOAPs.  I pray that others will follow my example and experience you speaking to them through Your Word.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 10. 2024: SOAP #5456: Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

OBSERVATION:   Paul was writing about food available for purchase in the market that had been sacrificed to an idol before being put up for sale.  People who had a clear understanding of God and creation, knew that idols were not gods.  They could eat the meat with a clear conscience because they were not offending the true God in their eating.  However, there were people in the church who still looked at the idols as gods.  Eating food killed as a sacrifice to an idol was very offensive to them.  Since they had been saved out of a pagan society, they had probably worshipped those idols.  It was confusing in their thinking to see believers eating food that had been sacrificed to those idols from whose worship they had been delivered.    

Paul does not in these verses deal with the non-godness of the idols, but with the love we should have not to offend our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

APPLICATION:  Maturing in Christ is growing in love.  It is seen in how we are willing to limit our freedoms in order not to offend, or, in order to serve others.  Some people leave their family and homeland to take the gospel to others.  Some people forgo a better car or house in order to give more money to spread the gospel.  Some people give up an evening at home in order to minister to a group of boys or girls.  Etc.   We sacrifice what is not bad or sinful in order to make sure someone else joins us in heaven. 

PRAYER:  Lord, that is what you did for me.  You gave up your home in heaven to come to earth, to make the sacrifice for my sins.  May I never complain about what I may need to sacrifice in spreading the truth of who you are and how great is your love.  May my love for you cause me to consider any sacrifice as only a minor inconvenience.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 9. 2024: SOAP #5455: Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

(reworked from 2012)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

OBSERVATION:   A servant is how Paul saw himself, and how he wanted others to see him.  He was not about promoting himself.  He was all about serving Christ and those to whom he had been sent.  The secrets were given to him not so that he and God could have something special that no one else would know, but so that he could share them with others.  God wanted them to be well-known and Paul was a servant doing God’s will. 

APPLICATION:   A servant is how I should see myself, and how I want others to see me.  It is not about promoting me.  I am all about serving Christ and those to whom I have been sent.  The things God shows me in His Word (things He has shown to many, many others) are not only just so God and I can have something special, but so that I can share them with others. 

And the truth that the LORD makes special in the lives of SOAP readers is for them to share with others. 

PRAYER:   Lord, SOAP is a major avenue you provide for me to share with others the things you give me.  May each reader recognize the opportunities you bring their way to share with others what you give them.  In this way we serve YOU, and others.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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