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

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

Scripture: Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Observation: Here we see the Sent One being the Sender. Jesus had been sent by the Father into the world and now He was sending his disciples into the world. He told them to pray for workers; then he said, “Go, I am sending you…” Jesus is our example of what it means to be sent.

Application: I must see myself as being sent. I am not in this world for my own pleasure or purpose. I am here to do the will of the One who sent me.

Prayer: Lord, you are the One who sent me. I am here to do your will. My goal today is to make you smile! 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: 18 ¶ Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Observation: They all had heard people talking about Jesus and knew what the crowd was saying. But Jesus was more interested in what they had to say. A relationship with Jesus always has to become personal.

Application: The friends I work with might describe my Jesus as the One I visit on Sundays, but never talk about during the week. Can they hear a difference in my conversations? From listening to me, who do they say Jesus is?

And, what about me? Who do I say He is? I know what the preacher says. I even know what some of the verses in the Bible say. But who is Jesus to me? Do I call him, “Lord?” Do I live like He is Lord?

Prayer: Jesus, every day, and all through each day I want my life to demonstrate my confession that you are my God, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP from Pastor Leon

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

September 25: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

Scripture: Luke 8:16 "No-one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

Observation: In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said “You are the light of the world.” From the verse above, we can know that our light is not to be hidden. Anyone who comes near will see our light.

Application: I should not be surprised if people look at my light and make a comment. God intends for my light to be seen. God intends for my light to be helpful to others. As the lamp is place on a stand, so God has placed my life in special places so people can see the light.

Prayer: Lord, you did not put your light in me to be hidden. And you did not place me in some private dwelling. You placed me where people can see my light. 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: Luke 7:2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.
3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

Observation: The miracle that took place in healing the centurion’s servant all began with the centurion hearing about Jesus. Someone had either been talking to the centurion or talking to someone else close enough that he could overhear.

Application: Today I will meet someone who needs a miracle from Jesus. The words that come from my mouth today can either discourage or encourage them to have faith in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, may the words I speak today cause someone to have faith in you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP from Pastor Leon

September 23: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Observation: So much of my satisfaction with life is based on my expectations. When life does not meet my expectations I am disappointed. When life exceeds my expectations I am happy. This verse tells me to place my expectations on God and His eternal rewards. To expect a good return on what I do in this life many times leads to disappointment. But to expect a good reward from the Lord in heaven—now that is a different story!

Application: I should to do good to those around me just because it is the right thing to do, even to those who stand against me. And I should do it without expecting anything in return. But I should never think that my good deeds go unnoticed nor will be un-rewarded! The Lord sees and He is the Ultimate Rewarder!

Prayer: Lord, keep reminding me that what I do for others I am really doing for you and that you are the Ultimate Rewarder! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Observation: Jesus had told them to let down their nets even though they had fished all night and caught nothing. They were probably not too excited about doing it, but because Jesus said so they did it. In verse 6 we read the results of their obedience. In verse 7 we see the importance of having good friends nearby. They needed help in handling the nets full of fish.

Application: There are times when I need friends nearby to help me, and other times when I need to be the friend ready to help. I wonder what it will be today?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a friend to others as others have been friends to me. Amen.

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

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 4:3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
Luke 4:9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.

Observation: The devil’s temptation of Jesus had to do with Jesus’ identity. If he could make Jesus think that his identity was in question, he could get Jesus to perform some act proving that He was really God. But Jesus had come to earth to live as a man, to be tempted as a man, to suffer as a man, and to die as a man. He lived a sinless life and did not deserve to die. Having no sins for which he must die, his death is received as payment for my sins! Wow!

Application: The devil strikes at my identity too. “Leon, if you really were a child of God you would not be having these problems.” But my identity is established in God’s Word! God’s Word lives in me and I live in the Word. His Word reassures me that I am His child.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit who lives in me. Thank you for the assurance that I am your child. I rejoice that my identity is not determined by my circumstances, but by YOU and your Word! Amen.

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

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 3: 1 ¶ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Observation: I like to read about God speaking to specific people at specific times. I like to read about historical people that were present in the world at the specific time God spoke. God is not separate from history, but wraps himself within the context of human existence. The Bible is not about people and places no one has ever seen or known. In the Bible we read of God being involved in the daily lives of real historical people.

Application: I can tell my son and granddaughter of the specific times and places God has spoken to me. My history is a story of God being involved in my daily life. God is wrapped in my history.

Prayer: Lord, as this day moves into history may I look back and see that you have wrapped yourself in all the events of today! Amen.

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

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 2: 1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Observation: As we are less than 50 days from the Presidential Election in the USA, taxes are a major issue of discussion. I can imagine that there was a lot of discussion among the Israelites about this new tax. They were even required to return to their home town to register. What an imposition and interruption in their work schedules. But I doubt that any of their discussions included the BIG PICTURE! The Old Testament prophet, Micah (5:2), prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem! This taxation was bad news for everyone, but it brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem!

Application: More than once I have seen God take something I did not like and make it work out for my good, even making it an important part of His plan for my life!

Prayer: Lord, you are amazing! You are totally capable of working all things—even bad things, together for my good and your glory! Amen.

September 19: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Ezekiel 46: 9 "‘When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out by the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out by the north gate. No-one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out by the opposite gate.

Observation: God was giving instructions through Ezekiel as to worship on their feast days. As there would be many people coming to the temple to present their offerings, there would need to be an orderly procession. Those entering from through the north gate should progress on through and exit by the south gate.

Application: An obvious application for me today is that I should not leave the church returning the way I entered. I should leave differently. I am changed in His presence and should not return the same way I came.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all the times you have changed me as I joined others in your presence. I entered discouraged, but left encouraged. I entered feeling week and sickly, but left feeling strong and healthy. I entered wondering how things would ever work out, but left in wonder of your awesome power and provision! Amen.

September 18: Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!