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

June 25: Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

Scripture: 2Timothy (NIV) 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Observation: When God places His Spirit within us, it is NOT to make us bashful, shy, timid, nervous or afraid. His Spirit give s power, love and self-discipline.

Application: The Spirit of the Lord energizes me with power to make a difference. He places the God kind of love in me to enable me to love the unlovable. He causes me to think and understand without over-reacting, but in moderation and self-control.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit. You know what I need! I need more than just to be told to how to act, I need the presence of your Spirit within to enable me to act appropriately! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 24: 2Kings 11, 12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 6:5a …people of corrupt mind…who think that godliness is a means to financial gain
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Observation: Money is an important part of our life and is an avenue through which we can express our priorities. Earthly money will have no value in heaven. God did not place us on earth with a given amount of money, and we will not be allowed to take any of it with us. It is how we use money here that gives it eternal value.

Application: Some of the great challenges of my life have to do with the proper use of money. One challenge is to get the best value available out of the money I have. Money is valuable and should not be wasted on unimportant matters. Another challenge is to trust God that he has and will provide what I need to fulfill his will. It is easier to do God’s will with other people’s money rather than believe God can multiply what I already have. (Henry Vanderbush was the best example of not putting pressure on people to give to support what God had assigned him to do.) My third challenge is how to invest what I have in ministry that will best enhance God’s Kingdom. People arriving in heaven will not go to the bank teller to check on the size of their account. But people arriving in heaven will be greeted by others who are there because of how their money was invested on earth!

Prayer: Lord, I need the help of the Holy Spirit to wisely use the money you have made available to me. May Your priorities be easily seen in how I use money. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 23: 2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22,23; 1Timothy 5

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 5:21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

Observation: Not every has the same talents and assignment from the Lord, but everyone has the same value to the Lord. The Bible even gives different qualifications for various leadership positions. Leaders should emphasize that each member of the body is necessary and valuable.

Application: People have different talents and assignments from the Lord. Some people have been believers for many years, others but a few. Some are wealthy, others poor. Some speak fluently, others are hard to understand. But Jesus died for each and every one. They are extremely and equally valuable to Him and should be to me also.

Prayer: Lord, check my prejudices. Help me to see each person as you see them. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 22: 2Kings 8, June 22: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 4:15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers

Observation: Paul was writing to Timothy who was being trained to be a leader. His life would be on display for people to see. How he lived his life was very important. What he believed was very important. He must be diligent.

Application: These and similar scriptures serve two purposes. First: they give instruction for leaders. There is not a more important book on leadership than the Bible! Second: they guide people as to which leaders they should follow. People should carefully and prayerfully choose leaders who measure up to the Bible standard. Leaders should be diligent in being godly leaders. People should be diligent in choosing godly leaders.

Prayer: Lord, how wise of you to have both leaders and followers read the same book! How foolish not to read it! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 21: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 20:29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side

Observation: Israel’s enemies had a problem. If they were going to defeat Israel, they would have to defeat Israel’s God. Israel’s God was not made out of wood and stone like their gods. He did not have to be carried around like their gods. Israel’s God fought for Israel. They could not attack Israel because they could not defeat Israel’s God. Israel had peace.

Application: It is good for people to hear about what God is doing in my life. It can be a testimony to help them to trust God for what He can do in their lives. It is good for me when people hear what God is doing in my life. Some will rejoice with me and be willing to help. Others will see that hindering me is really working against what God is doing.

Prayer: Lord, I desire that Your Presence and works are easily recognized in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 20: 2Kings 4, 5; Psalm 83; 1Timothy 2

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 83:3 With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.

Observation: 3,500 years later, not only is Israel’s name still remembered, it can be found on the map of current nations. Of course there are still people saying what their enemies said 3,500 years ago, but the same God is still God! He was able to sustain Israel then, and He is able to do so today!

Application: Israel’s God is Leon’s God! I do not serve a lesser god. My God is bigger than any enemy or any problem I may face. I don’t have a problem; it’s my enemies that have the problem. They have to find a way to defeat God!

Prayer: Lord, You are Israel’s God and You are Leon’s God. I am so glad I do not have to face my problems alone. Compared to me, my problems are large. But compared to you, my problems are small. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 19: 2Kings 1-3; Psalm 82; 1Timothy 1

Scripture: 1Timothy (NIV) 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Observation: For those desiring to be like Jesus it would be good to note the purpose statements Jesus made throughout the Gospels. What Paul wrote to Timothy is the same thing Luke recorded in his gospel (Luke 19:10): “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Application: Knowing the purpose statements of Jesus will help me better understand the life He lives in me. Why is my attention drawn to someone who does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior? It is because the One living in me came “to seek and to save” that person. God is giving me the joy of sharing in His special plan. His purpose is becoming my purpose.

Prayer: Lord, Help me not to miss any opportunities today to speak to someone about your great love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 18: 1Kings 22; 2Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 4:17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

Observation: In closing his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul writes this personal comment to Archippus. An assignment from the Lord should always be taken seriously. It should not be left undone. If we follow His directions, we are not responsible for its results only its completion.

Application: This SOAP ministry is so simple. It seems to me anyone could do it, and many do. Yet God has given me the assignment of sending these out by Face Book, email, posting on several Web/blog sites and on the bulletin board at the YMCA. They are translated into a couple of languages in Southeast Asia. Those written in 2012 are put in monthly booklets for some senior citizens who do not get on the computer. They are also printed quarterly for some in Bangladesh. A faithful heart is the fertile ground in which God can plant a simple ministry and make it grow.

Prayer: Lord, may everyone who reads these SOAPs be encouraged to be faithful in the simple things you give them to do. Our faithfulness allows you to use these ministries far beyond our initial dreams. Lord, May I faithfully complete my assignment! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

The Umpire

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

June 17: 1Kings 20-21; 2Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Observation: The word translated “rule” in this verse means “to be an umpire.” The “peace of Christ” is to be the umpire calling the balls and strikes in my life.

Application: If I am uneasy about something, I should consider it outside the strike zone and let it go. If I have peace, I can swing away!

Prayer: Lord, Help me to be sensitive to your call regarding the many choices that come my way each day. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

June 16: 1Kings 17-19; Colossians 2

Scripture: Colossians (NIV) 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Observation: Here it is! The triumph was on the cross. There is where the battle was fought! And there is where the victory was won! In the eyes of man, when Jesus was taken off the cross he was defeated. But in the light of eternity He was the VICTOR! Of course we did not realize how great the victory was until the resurrection, even yet we do not grasp the fullness of that victory. But we enjoy it and we celebrate it. When we partake of communion, we are "showing the Lord’s death until He comes." (1Corinthians 11:26) In the Bible we have no direct command to celebrate the resurrection, but we do have the command to celebrate His death by taking communion.

Application: I have had victories that first looked like defeats. I should now know enough to wait before complaining about something that looks like a defeat. The greater the struggle, the greater the victory and my victory is assured because the VICTOR lives inside!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your victory on the cross. Thank you for paying the price for my sins. I enjoy the results of that victory now and will for all eternity! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!