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

September 23: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart if full of.

Observation: The mouth often becomes a window allowing others to see what is in the heart. A person may try to carefully choose their words, but in an unguarded moment the contents of the heart spills out through the mouth. We need to seriously consider what we read in God’s word. In meditating on it, we are tucking away God’s word into the corners and empty places of our heart. The Holy Spirit can bring it to my memory when we need it.

Application: When I squeeze the ketchup container, I expect Ketchup. When I squeeze the mustard container, I expect mustard. And when my heart is suddenly squeezed may my words be His words!

Prayer: Lord, I want my heart to be filled with your Word and with your praise. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 22: Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture: Luke (NIV) (Jesus speaking) 5:37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking the old wine wants the new, for they say, “The old is better.”

Observation: Of course people say the old is better. It is better for it has aged and the taste has been refined. But it would be foolish to forget that what is now old was once new. And when it was new, people said the same thing about it that they are now saying about the new wine of today. Jesus was speaking about the changes that were coming to God lovers. The church would not fit into the Jewish religion. The church would be open to people who are not Jews. The church would have a freedom that the Jews did not have under the law.

Application: It is not uncommon today for my generation (the older generation) to complain about the differences we find in the church. It is not like it used to be. We need to be careful not to criticize God’s Spirit being poured into new wineskins. I want to leave a good example for the new generation as to how to continue strong faith and commitment. Should the Lord tarry His coming, they too will go through times of change. I want them to remember me as gracious and encouraging. I pray they will serve the Lord with total commitment and abandonment.

Prayer: Lord, work your graciousness into my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 21: Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scripture: Luke (KJV) 4: 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Observation: Here and in other places in the scriptures the Word of God is compared to physical bread. God so designed our bodies to need bread/nourishment on a regular, daily basis. He also designed our spiritual lives to need regular/daily nourishment.

Application: I am thinking that the spiritually weak status of so many Christians today can be attributed to the lack of daily spiritual nourishment. If they ate as little physical food as spiritual food they would be extremely sickly and scrawny. Spiritually they are starving themselves.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for the availability of your Word. Help me not to be negligent in reading and applying it to my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 20: Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Observation: How do we wait? What do we do when we wait? The psalmist had a good thing to do while waiting. He kept his thoughts busy in the word! Here are a couple of thoughts: First: If the devil is in any way involved in the delay, and he finds you in God’s Word, he will quickly get things rolling. Far be it from him to think he is providing you time to draw closer to God! Second: If God has some special purpose in your waiting, get into the Word! You will realize that purpose more quickly, and you will be greatly benefited by the waiting time. The waiting will not be just "dead" time in your life; it will have gained eternal value!

Application: I need to do my waiting with the Word! I need to do my waiting in the Word!

Prayer: Lord, may your Word be my friend in my waiting times. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 19: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 It has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation…

Observation: In verse 25 we read that Simeon had a close relationship with the Holy Spirit. In verse 26 we read that the Holy Spirit communicated to Simeon. In verse 27 we see that the Holy Spirit directed Simeon into the temple courts. Then in verses 34-35 the Holy Spirit spoke prophetically through Simeon.

Application: Jesus knew what Leon would need so He sent the Holy Spirit to live in Leon. I depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s word and will to me. He directs me to the place where I can be used by God. At times He even gives me what to say.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I cannot live the life of Jesus in my own strength. Jesus relied on you when He walked on this earth; how much is it even more important that I rely on you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 18: Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 1:30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David
33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Observation: As I recall from my history classes, there have been many structures of authority used in this world. There have been kingdoms and dictators. There have been democracies and republics. Nations have at times been formed into empires. God’s structure of authority is a kingdom with a loving and holy king, the only King worthy of his title and position. Earthly kings rule within the earthly boundaries of their kingdom; King Jesus rules within the heart of those who serve him because they love him. Earthly rulers come and go; Jesus remains. His kingdom will never end!

Application: The more I understand about King Jesus, his character and his kingdom, the more thankful I am to be a part of His kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, it is my great privilege to have you as the King of my life. May I be a good citizen in your kingdom. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 17: Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 1:4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come…
22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

Observation: Mentioning the grace of God must have been common in the early church. I found 15 New Testament books that mention “grace” in the greeting and in the closing. Three others mention it in a greeting either at the beginning or the end. The narrative in the book of Acts contains many greetings using the word “grace” as Paul met many people in his travels. And John, in writing the Revelation, the last book in the Bible, opens and closes with “grace.”

Application: I need to make “grace” a major theme in my life. People who listen to my conversations should recognize that I count the grace of God as a most treasured possession. People who interact with me should find that the grace of God not only flows to me, but flows through me.

Prayer: Lord, I want your grace to flow through me to those around me. You have been so gracious to me; help me be gracious to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 16: Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 40:4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”

Observation: Ezekiel was directed in four ways: First: he was to look with his eyes. How often we do not see what we are looking at. Our eyes glaze over. They are open, but not seeing. It was important that Ezekiel use his eyes to their potential.
Second: he was to hear with his ears. Here again, we often do not notice so much of the noise around us. Those who have trained themselves to notice every noise can describe the myriad of noises that are around us even when we think it quiet.
Third: he was to pay attention. We need to actively set our mind to note what we are seeing and hearing.
Fourth: he was to tell everything he had seen.

Application: God wants to communicate to me and through me. I need to keep my mind focused on Him and not become distracted.

Prayer: Lord, as I open my eyes, help me to see. As I open my ears, help me to hear. As I open my heart, help me to understand. As I open my mouth, help me to speak clearly. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 15: Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 145:3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.
145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.

Observation: This psalm presents the greatness of God. He is good and has compassion. His kingdom is everlasting. He is trustworthy and faithful. These reasons and more are given for the greatness of God!

Application: This psalm is not talking about someone who lives in heaven, or walked on earth 2000 years ago. This psalm is about the one who has made my life his home. Words cannot do Him justice. However the Psalm ends with, “My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” If I truly set my mouth to speak of the greatness of God, there would be no time for gossiping, complaining, or backbiting.

Prayer: Lord, let useful words come out of my mouth today. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 14: Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

Observation: In this final portrait of Jesus, we see that he is at the head of the armies of heaven. He is not just in charge; he is not behind the lines directing the action. He is out in front. He is leading the charge! The outcome of the battle is not determined by how well the armies fight, but by the sword of the word spoken by him. The One who spoke the worlds into existence now speaks victory! There is power in His word!

Application: May I always find my place following Him! To jump ahead means I will face a foe greater than myself. To follow behind means I will arrive at the battlefield where the enemy has already been defeated!

Prayer: Lord, help me remember my place is to follow. Even in leading, I must be a follower. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!