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

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

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 16:13 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Observation: It has been said, “If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.”

Application: There is only place for one supreme master in my life. Sometimes I struggle as self wants that place, but life works so much better when Jesus has that place. All other areas of my life must bow and honor Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for holding me accountable. With my mouth I have called you Lord. Now I need your help to make my actions line up with my words. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Note: The younger brother who had taken his inheritance and squandered it had now returned home. The joyful father was throwing a great celebration but the older brother was jealous and would not come in to the party. So the Father goes out to him…

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 15:31 “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

Observation: Talk about unused potential!!! This son had "always" been with the father! "Everything" the father had was his! And yet this son had not appreciated it, nor enjoyed it. He had labored dutifully but not joyfully! He had more awareness of the absence of his brother than of the presence of His father!

Application: Many times I have been more aware of what I did not have than of God’s Presence in my life. I have thought more about what the enemy could do to me than how the One living in me could protect me.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for not counting on your Presence, your promises, your power, and your plans for me. Forgive me for wasting my time worrying about what the devil can do to me. Forgive me for not appreciating what I have and for focusing on what I do not have. Your Presence is more than enough for my every need! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Observation: Israel had sinned and God, to punish them, sent them into captivity. But God had plans for Israel, and when they repented, God restored them. God is the greatest Restorer! They had longed to be restored to their homeland, and when it actually happened it was almost like they were dreaming. They were full of joy and laughter. People around them saw what happened and gave God the credit.

Application: When God works in my life, it is right that I be joyful. When people hear what is happening in my life may they say, “The LORD has done great things for Leon.” Why should they say that? Because the LORD has done great things for me!

Prayer: Lord, may your works in my life be easily seen by those around me. May they know that the explanation for some things in my life can only be found in you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 30: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

Scripture: Zechariah (NIV) 9;12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

Observation: God brings two thoughts together that are somewhat foreign to each other, and yet are powerful in combination: that of being a prisoner and that of hope. Many prisoners do not have hope. In fact many a prison is made out of hopelessness.

Application: Can it be that hope is a prison keeper? Can it be that hope is what keeps me faithful in places less than desirable? Can it be that I am held by hope? Yes, yes, yes, especially when that hope comes from the Lord. I am a prisoner of hope. I cannot give up, I have hope!

I am not only a prisoner "of" hope; I am a prisoner "with" hope. It is amazing what a little ray of hope can do. It is like a little beam of light into a dark place. If light can get in, then there is a way for me to get out! The One Who shines hope into the darkness is able to get me out of the darkness.

Prayer: Lord, You are the “Hope-Giver!” With you I always have hope! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 29: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear…
30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

Observation: In my mind I can picture a young man needing a car for transportation to and from work. His dad just turns a deaf ear to his request yet allows him to borrow one of the family cars. Then on his 18th birthday, the father gives him a portion of his inheritance. The inheritance contains more than enough money for a car, even a car of greater value than he originally wanted.

Application: As I seek my Heavenly Father’s kingdom I discover he is not unaware of my needs. He does not ignore my needs. He does not say they are unimportant. He meets my needs! He meets my spiritual needs, and as the above verses show, he meets the needs of my physical life also!

Prayer: Lord, it is so good to be able to trust you. I trust your wisdom and your provision. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 28: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 11:2 He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples), “When you pray, say: ‘(Our) Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Observation: Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray: Give me my bread; forgive me my sins; lead me not into temptation. He was not teaching them to pray alone, but to pray as a group. And when they pray as an individual, they should be consciously aware that they are not alone in following Jesus.

Application: In praying for my needs, I need to be more aware that those around me have needs too. Even when praying for forgiveness, I need to remember others need forgiveness too. When I come to the Lord with my sins, I can remember that others sin too. I need the merciful God to forgive me in the same way my brother or sister needs the merciful God to forgive them. I need God’s help in overcoming temptations, and those around me need God’s help also.

Prayer: Lord, we are a needy people. We need your provision, your forgiveness, and your protection. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 27: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 10:8 When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.
9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Observation: Jesus was sending his disciples out to expand his ministry. Here are the instructions he gave as he sent them out. Like his own ministry, Jesus wanted their ministry to consist of healing and teaching. They were to teach about the Kingdom of God. The Israelites were looking for an earthly kingdom that would free them from the rule of Rome; they were not too interested in a heavenly kingdom. So the disciples were to demonstrate the power of God’s kingdom by healing the sick. The presence of God’s kingdom makes a difference on earth.

Application: When I refer to Jesus as Lord, I am claiming to be a part of His kingdom and placing myself under His authority. People will not want what I have unless they see that God’s kingdom makes a difference in my life here on earth. My life is to be a demonstration of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Prayer: Lord, may your authority be established in me and expressed through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 26: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Scripture: Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,
44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”
45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Observation: The New International Version translates it as: …Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you.” The King James Version translates it, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears.” A time was soon to come when it would be good for them to remember what he was saying. It would have been good for them to ask questions. It just did not need to sink into their ears but into their hearts.

Application: When I am passing through troubled times, it is good if I can remember what God has said to me. There have been several times when God spoke things to me that I did not understand, but I felt certain that He was speaking to me. I put them on a shelf in my mind where they could be safe. Sometimes I would think about them, but put them back on the shelf because I could not see any application. But times came when I needed to know God’s will. And then the Holy Spirit reminded me of what was on the shelf. Then I knew what to do.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for your faithfulness to speak to me ahead of time, even though I had no understanding at the time. Later your Word guided me and gave me comfort that you knew what was happening in my life. I can trust you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 25: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8 (J I see I wrote on the wrong scripture.)

Scripture: Luke (KJV) 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Observation: I noticed in this verse that Simon’s mother-in-law was healed by Jesus and she immediately began ministering to those around her. Her healing enabled her to serve. God loves to bless people; but He also wants them to have the joy of passing those blessing to others.

Application: God’s blessings to me, be they healings, strength, finances, etc. are not just meant for my benefit. I am blest to be a blessing. I wonder how God feels when I ask for more finances when the last time I spent what He gave me only on myself? It is good to be free from pain, but healing should enable me to do something for someone else even if it is just telling them what God has done for me.

Prayer: Lord, my life is full of your blessings. May I be as generous to others and you have been to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 24: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture: Ezra (NIV) 1: 5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
7 Moreover King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.

Observation: In the opening verses of this book we find that God had moved the heart of King Cyrus to recognize Jehovah as the LORD God above all gods and that His temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt. In verse five (above) God moved on the hearts of some of the Jews to move back to Jerusalem to do the work. They did not organize a fund raiser or beg for money. The same God who moved the heart of King Cyrus was the same God who moved their hearts to go. And the same God worked in the hearts of their neighbors to assist by giving. Even King Cyrus provided for their mission! God covers all aspects of HIS projects.

Application: From personal experience, I know God pays for what He authorizes. If the vision is MINE and WHAT I WANT TO DO for the Lord, then I may have to struggle to find the money. But when the vision is HIS and is WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO for Him, then I can rest in faith that He will provide. When it is His vision, the pressure of finances is not on me, and I do not have to put pressure on others. I can obey expecting His supply.

Prayer: Lord, It is good to rest in your plan knowing you are the Great Provider. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!