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

November 8. 2024: SOAP #5454: Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 1:26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

OBSERVATION:   God did not choose the nation of Israel because they were the biggest, “baddest,” gang of people that ever walked the planet.  He chose them because they were weak, few in number, and did not amount to much in the eyes of their world.   If they ever carved out a portion of land to be their home, it would have to be because God was with them.  They would be able to take no credit.  Their presence today in the land God gave them is still a testimony to God’s work!    

God is still working that way today.  God is not looking for great strength or many talents, but people with weaknesses who have faith.  When God sees a weakness, He gets a gleam in His eye and chuckles to Himself, “I love it!  Here is something only I can do; people are going to see how much I am willing to do on behalf of those who put their faith in me.”     

SOAP ministry is proof of that.  I still do what the Lord told me to do 15 years ago.   I daily read His word and write a SOAP on what He speaks to my heart.  I know so little about computers and the internet, yet God has raised up people in various Asian and African countries to spread what He has given.  He is using my weaknesses. 

APPLICATION:  It is our weaknesses that give opportunity for God to shine through us.  We can take no credit for any good seen in us because if God had not helped us, we would have failed miserably.   We cannot let our weaknesses  or lack hinder us from doing what we can for God. 

PRAYER:  Lord, if you can get any glory out of my weaknesses, you are welcome to them!  I’ll just continue to trust you to work out all things for good.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 7. 2024: SOAP #5453:  Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

(reworked from 2011)

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

OBSERVATION:   “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”  What love is seen in the Father’s sending Jesus to give His life to redeem the lost creation.  Jesus came to do the Father’s will.  What love is seen in Jesus for His Father that he would be willing to carry out the Father’s will!   He prayed, “Not my will but thine be done!” The choices of the Father and the Son prove their love.  The Father was not forced to send His son.  The Son was not forced to do the Father’s will.  The motivation for these choices was love!  

That is why our freedom is so important to God; He wants us to love Him because that is our choice.  Love is expressed through our choices.  If there is no choice, it is not an expression of love.  Some choices can lead to bondage when what begins as a choice becomes the master.  It is our responsibility to make choices that protect our freedom.

APPLICATION:  Making choices to serve and please my wife is a major way of saying, “I love you,” especially when it is not what I would personally like to do.  The same is true with God.  I choose to serve God because I love Him and am convinced that He is worthy of my devotion.  I must remember: the greater the sacrifice, the greater the expression of love.  My choices are the proof of who I love and how much I love. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what can I do today to please you? Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 6. 2024: SOAP #5452:  Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

For new believers: consider what God has done for you!  He has brought you into a love relationship! 

For those who have been walking with Jesus for some time:  do not forget what He has done for you.  Joyfully spend time with Him.  Do His bidding joyfully!   Doing His will is not burdensome; it is our privilege!   Serve Him with eternity in view. 

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

OBSERVATION:   What a change:  from being a slave to sin, to being a son of God!  From serving sin because we were in bondage, to serving God because we love Him.  And we love Him because He first loved us! 

APPLICATION:  I do not have to serve God—I get to serve God.  It is my privilege to serve Him. 

Because I love Him I consider myself His servant.  Because He loves me He considers me His son! 

Because I love Him and see myself as His servant, I serve Him joyfully.  Because He loves me and considers me His son, He makes me His heir! 

He is always outdoing me!  That’s just the way He is! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I am your creation.  I am your child.  I am your friend.  I am your servant.  I am your son.  I am your heir.  I am blest!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 5, 2024: SOAP #5451:  Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

(reworked from earlier)

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

OBSERVATION:  Verse 21 stirs two very strong thoughts, the weakness of the law and the power of the cross.  It also leads me to consider how important my righteousness is to God. It is so important that He sent His Son to die in payment for sin!  Amazing!

The battle was won on the cross!  It was there that the price was paid.  It was there that Jesus won over the temptation of trying an easier way.  It was there that the power of Satan’s temptation to move outside the will of the Father was defeated!  Jesus would not give in to the devil’s temptation to move other than in His Father’s will!

Jesus entered death as The Triumphant One.  He entered the grave as The Victorious One!   He came out as More than a Conqueror!   The three days in the grave was the victory lap taken after the race had been won!

APPLICATION:  Verse 20 says I am crucified.  My life is dead.  I now live the life of Christ within me.  His life has already won victory over death and the grave.  That is the life by which I live!  In me is His victorious life!    

God wants children who will serve Him because they love Him.   Selfish children do good things because they want some reward.  But for those who love Him, serving Him is the reward!!  They consider it a privilege to bring joy to God’s heart.  They are not looking for more reward than they have already received—their salvation. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, continually remind me that I am living by God’s grace.  It is not depending on my ability to keep the law but depending on the Christ life within me who has already kept the law!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 4, 2024: SOAP #5450:  Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

OBSERVATION:   Here we have the last two verses in the book of Mark.  We see that the ministry of Jesus did not stop when He returned to heaven.  Instead, it increased!   He had fulfilled the one ministry that only He could do which was to make the sacrifice that would pay for our sins.  As He was moving toward that Special ministry, He had other ministries also.  He taught and performed miracles.  He was called a teacher.  People brought the sick to him for his touch.  The ministry of making the payment for sin is complete!!!  Another payment will never be needed.  But the ministry of Jesus in teaching and performing miracles did not stop!  

They came to where Jesus was to hear His teaching.  They brought the sick to where He was for His touch.  Now the same Holy Spirit was in the disciples as was in Jesus.  The Holy Spirit was anointing them to teach and heal the sick. 

APPLICATION:  The ministry of Jesus continues, but not in just one city, but in cities around the World.  Not just in one nation, but in every nation in the world!   His ministry has increased tremendously!!!  

Several months back a gentleman from a quite restricted area for Christians, needed to see a medical doctor for his sickness.  While out of that area, someone gave him a copy of a SOAP and told him that Jesus would heal him.  JESUS DID!   Later he called the phone number on the bottom of the SOAP and asked if SOAPs could be distributed in his area!!!  For the past six weeks, SOAP Bible studies have been happening in that area.  As the ministry of Jesus continued in the book of Acts, it is continuing in Africa!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, your anointing is on the Word in these SOAPs.  Strengthen those who print and distribute them.  May you be glorified.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 3, 2024: SOAP #5449:  Job 25; Mark 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or at dawn.

OBSERVATION:   The owner of the house will temporarily be away.  He prepares for his absence by organizing his servants by giving them specific assignments.  This caught my attention because I have recently found myself talking about writing the Daily SOAPs as an assignment God has given me. 

I did not choose to write SOAPs.  It was not something that I read about or heard about and thought “I would like to do that.”  When Pastor Dayton asked me to write SOAPs as an example for the congregation, I did not want to do it.  But God clearly told me I should do what Pastor Dayton had asked.  Now I understand this is God’s assignment for me in the closing years of my earthly life. 

Knowing that this is God’s assignment greatly affects my attitude and faith for direction and provision. 

APPLICATION:  I believe God has assigned tasks for each of His servants.  Some are assigned to raise their children to fear and honor Him.  Some are assigned to represent Him wherever they live, work, learn, etc.  Some are temporary; others are ours for life. 

We will all answer to Him for the assignment He has given us.  Just a special note:  He did not give us our assignment because He knew we could do it.  He knows the assignment is too big for our talents.  He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and empower us to fulfill our assignments!  

PRAYER:  Lord, teach me how to rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit as I fulfill my assignments in my daily life.  May I be a channel through which you can easily flow.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 2, 2024: SOAP #5448:  Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

OBSERVATION:   Faith is such an important part of our religion.  Even more, it is a basic part of life.  It would be impossible to live in a community of people without faith.  It takes faith to live in peace.  We learn to trust each other, having faith that they will keep their word. 

Of course, faith is only as good as the foundation on which the faith rests.  Faith in our neighbor is only as good as the neighbor is in keeping his word.  To gain eternal life, we must have a sure foundation.  Jesus is that foundation.  No other will do!   Faith in God grows as the truth of the scriptures is soaked up by our heart and mind. 

APPLICATION:  Faith is the assurance that God is and that He works according to His word.  When we move in obedience to Him, we have faith that all will work out for our good and His glory!   It is such a privilege to know that the little we do is an important part of the big thing God is doing.  So, we keep faithful doing the little things He has assigned to us, knowing that he loves to reward His people!   

PRAYER:  Lord, walking by faith becomes our way of life.  We make you look good when we do as you say.  In faith we move ahead, not knowing how or even why, but assured that you will be glorified.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 1, 2024: SOAP #5447:  Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

OBSERVATION:   The disciples wanted to spare Jesus of what they saw as an interruption.  Jesus was very bothered (indignant) and corrected them with a rebuke.  The disciples definitely did not see the children as He saw them!   Children carried His image, not yet stained with sin. 

He did more than they requested.  The parents asked Jesus to touch their children; He took them in His arms!  He spoke of their value and He blessed them.

APPLICATION: Scriptures regarding children seem to grab my attention.  Perhaps that is because as a school bus driver I interact with children, ages 5 to 16, every school day.  Most of them twice each day as I drive them from home to school and then in the afternoon from school back home. 

We must see children (both ours by birth and ours by God’s assignment) as He sees them!   We must exercise our faith for His understanding and His provision.   In prayer, remind God of what He has said about children in the scriptures.  We must remind God that these are not our children, but His; as His servant we are caring for His children. 

PRAYER: Lord, bless the children you have placed in our care.  May our hands be your hands, and our words your words as we carry out the ministry you have given us.  By your Holy Spirit, reveal to us how to minister your love and grace to each child.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 31, 2024: SOAP #5446:  Job 22; Mark 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

OBSERVATION:   Questions have always been a part of God’s conversations with man.  From the garden of Eden when God asked, “Adam where are you?”  Through chapters 38-41 of Job to here in Mark 8:36-37.  He asks questions that we cannot answer, but the answer is obvious.  He asks questions to show us the condition of our heart. 

APPLICATION: What a poor trade it would be to take the world in exchange for our soul!   

Only one gift was ever given that is sufficient to redeem the soul of man—that is the gift of a sinless man dying for our sins!   Jesus had no sins for which to pay when He died; He paid for mine, and yours.  What could we ever give that could match the value of that gift?  We have nothing of that worth. 

PRAYER: Lord, I have nothing to give that could pay for my sin.  I am totally dependent on you!   I must live my life in gratefulness for your kindness to sacrifice your life by dying on the cross.  Thank you, Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2024: SOAP #5445:  Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 6:49  … when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.       

OBSERVATION:   To me, this verse is a strong indication that they had taken along with them one or two baskets of left-overs from the earlier dinner. They had with them in the boat, evidence of God’s miraculous provision.  They had in the boat evidence that Jesus could impower them to do as He commanded, after all, that very afternoon, it was Jesus who commanded them to feed the 5000, and then He provided the food for them to do so.  It was He who told them to go to the other side, and He would empower them to do so.

APPLICATION:  So often, we need but to look around to find evidence of God’s intervention in our lives.  In our homes, we have “baskets full” of left-overs from some previous miracle.  Let’s not let our hearts become “hardened” so that we forget and cannot see what is so obvious.

The faith needed for present victory and provision can be found in thanksgiving for past victory and provision!  

We have not gotten all the good available from past tests and trials until we have learned the lessons we need for our present and future. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I consider the evidence of what you have done for me in the past, use it to make my faith grow to trust you for the present need.  May my heart of thanksgiving for past provision be the seed bed for faith for present and future needs.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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