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

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

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 111:9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!

Observation: I heard of a little child who described a friend as a person in whose mouth your name is safe. How we speak of our friends reveals how much we value them as friends. How we speak of God our Father, the Holy Spirit, or the Lord Jesus Christ reveals how much we really value God.

Application: I would never use the name of a highly respected friend in a light-hearted manner, or in a way that would disrespect them. And since there is no one I respect more than God, I want to make sure God’s names are safe in my mouth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may all who hear me speak quickly know that you are honored above all others in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 2: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Observation: What a setting! Multitudes from every nation and tribe, from every people group and language, standing in worship before the throne of heaven and before the Lamb who died on the cross to pay for our sins.

Application: This morning I was privileged to stand with others in worship of our risen and glorified Lord. At times we sang softly and other times with all our strength. We recognized Him in our presence, but a day is coming when He will recognize us in His Presence.

Prayer: Lord, what a privilege it will be to join with the multitude in heaven worshipping you! What a privilege it is to worship you now! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 16:14 And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the LORD GOD.

Observation: Israel was attractive because of God’s favor and blessings. Beauty may be natural, but when God puts His special touch and His splendor on a person, it completes their beauty! Their beauty cannot be complete without His touch!

Application: May I never forget that the beauty of the Lord is the only lasting beauty; the joy of the Lord leaves no bad aftertaste; the love of the Lord covers the greatest debt and sets the greatest value!

Prayer: Lord, shine through me and your smile will be my greatest reward. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 31: Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Observation: There will clearly be some times in heaven when the noise will be deafening! Countless angels will be singing with a “loud voice.” Every created living creature will give their praise. It will not be quiet!

Application: It has been my privilege several times to worship with large numbers of people each singing their new song to the Lord. To me it was like the sound of many waters going over a water fall. It reminded me of a trip once to Niagara Falls.

Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of the joined praise of all creation. May I find today some special way to add my praise to the praise already being lifted to you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 30: Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

Observation: I noticed that heaven’s throne is not an empty throne! And I also noticed that the one sitting on the throne has more glory than the throne. The throne does not give its occupant glory, the occupant gives the throne glory! God is not glorious because He sits on the throne in heaven; the throne in heaven is glorious because God sits on it!

Application: In John 14:23 Jesus told us that if we love Him and keep His commandments the Father in Glory will loves us. Jesus and the Father will come to us and make their home in us! What a thought! The one who sits on the throne in heaven sits on the throne in my heart!!! The One who gives glory to the throne in heaven gives glory to the throne in my heart! He adds value to my life!

Prayer: Lord, there is always something new about you to discover in the Bible. You give my life meaning! You give my life value! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 29: Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 7:8 I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices.
9 I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that it is I the Lord who strikes you.

Observation: In God’s holy economy, all sin will be judged. For those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior, the punishment for their sins was completed by the death of Jesus on the cross. All others will experience the judgment for sin in their own person.

In the verses above God is speaking to the nation of Israel. If the nation of Israel was judged because they rejected the law given to Moses, how much more will people today be judged who have rejected God’s Son, Jesus!

I believe the Lord has shown me that He is bringing one unwanted alien into our country for every unwanted child we have aborted.

Application: I like to focus on the promise of God’s blessings. But the same faithful character behind those promises of blessings also stands behind the promises of judgment! If he keeps His promises of blessing, I can be assured that He will keep His promises of judgment.

Prayer: Lord, those who refuse to acknowledge that you are the author of our blessings, will be forced to admit that you are the author of our judgment. I want to be quick to acknowledge your blessings and live my life in ways that please you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 28: Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

Scripture: Ezekiel (NIV) 1:1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was upon him.

Observation: He was a long way from home and the temple of the Lord; he was among people taken captive from Israel to Babylon. It was THERE the heavens were opened for Ezekiel to see visions of God! It was THERE the hand of the Lord was upon him!

Application: I am on a school bus trip, sitting in a Burger King—it is HERE God draws my attention to these verses. It is HERE the Lord assures this former senior pastor that hearing His voice and obeying are still keys to a joyful life. Joy comes from making Him smile.

Prayer: Lord, my location and vocation are not problems to you! May I never let them be problems to me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 27: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Observation: From the context I get the idea that the Psalmist was going through a hard time. I can hear him praying this prayer before going to sleep at night. After a long stressful day he might pray, “May I wake in the morning with a reminder that you have not forsaken me. I trust you to show me what to do.”

Application: In times of trouble I can sleep knowing that the Lord will watch over me through the night and give me some new expression of his unfailing love in the morning. In the jungles of Viet Nam I would often go to sleep with Psalm 3:5 on my mind. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”

Prayer: Lord, there is no better way to close my eyes in sleep than in knowing that I will awake in the morning to discover a new expression of your love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 26: Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

Scripture: 3John (NIV) 1:3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear than my children are walking in the truth.

Observation: Though not John’s physical children, John had been instrumental in the lives of his readers and he refers to them as his children. Children can bring joy in three ways. First, there is the joy of the relationship. Second is the joy of observing their growth. Third is the “great joy” received when someone else has a good report.

Application: I need to watch for opportunity to give a good report. Instead of being a gossip spreading bad reports about others, I want to be known for spreading good reports and compliments. May I bring joy to someone today by giving them a good report about someone they love. I might have opportunity to tell one of my bus rider’s parents something special I have noticed about their child.

Prayer: Lord, use me today to spread this special kind of joy. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

August 25: Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2John

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 1:1 The elder, to the lady chosen by God and to her children, who I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—
2 because of the truth which lives in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

Observation: Knowing truth does not make us arrogant; it makes us humble. It does not make us haughty; it makes us loving. It does not make us tyrants; it makes us servants. Instead of becoming threatened, those knowing truth rejoice when others discover truth. Knowing truth becomes a reason for fellowship.

Application: Knowing Jesus, Who is the way, the truth and the life, causes me to be humble and loving. He causes me to enjoy serving others. I rejoice as others discover the truth available in relationship with Jesus. Knowing the truth brings a strong bond of fellowship with others who know the truth!

Prayer: Lord, it is your desire that I walk in truth. You want me to recognize and understand truth. Make me restless when I am not growing in truth. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!