SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…
Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…
Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…
Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Observation: These four times and three times in the next chapter we read this same phrase. Every day is a day in which God’s people need to hear “what the Spirit says.” This was true in the days of the declining Roman Empire. It is also in these days of the decline of the United States of America. In days of a declining economy or declining health, being able to hear the Spirit is priority!

Application: I have heard it said of people that they have an “ear for music.” I want to have an ear for the Spirit. I need to hear what He is saying today. I love the song that goes, “Tune my heart to the voice of your Spirit; so I may hear all you whisper to me. Shut out the world and its bright temptations; focus my eyes clearly on you. Yes, focus my eyes clearly on you.”

Prayer: Holy Spirit, you are faithful to speak to those who are faithful to listen. May I always take time to listen to you. Amen.

August 28: Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Revelation

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 1: 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Observation: This is the opening statement in the book of Revelation. We see that this was not something discovered, but something revealed. John did not think it up; he did not dream it up; it was revealed to him. For someone to reveal truth, they must first know truth, and second they must want others to know the truth. God wanted people to know and took the initiative to show John.

Application: God has many ways to reveal truth; to John He sent an angel. God usually reveals truth to me as I read the Bible. Many times God draws my attention to a verse that appears as a rose bud on the rose bush outside my office window. As the bud begins to open and each petal unfolds to reveal a beautiful flower, so the concepts in the verse open to reveal a beautiful truth. I am amazed!

Prayer: Lord, each day my heart rejoices as you reveal your truth to me. Your revelation of the beautiful rose and of the truth in your Word amazes me! Amen.

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

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 3John 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Observation: John writes to his dear friend Gaius as I would write to one of my dear friends. I want my friends to enjoy good health and that things go well for them. But most of all, I want their soul to continue in good relations with God! When I hear someone talk good about my friends and give a good report, it makes my heart smile. What a great joy to hear that those who have started in their faith continue to believe.

Application: I need to let my friends know I love them, pray for them, and rejoice when I hear people speak well of them. But my greatest joy is to hear that they continue walking with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dear friends. I pray that things go well for them as they grow in faith and love. Amen.

August 26: Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 2 John 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Observation: In this second letter, John continues his emphasis on love. In his mine he could probably hear Jesus say, “If you love me keep my commandments.” (John 14:15&23) John was continuing the emphasis of Jesus. So what is Jesus’ commandment? It is to walk in love!

Application: My love for Jesus can be seen in how I love others. People can see how much I really love Jesus because they can see how much I love them.

Prayer: Lord, your presence in my life should be easily recognized by my love for others. Love through me. Amen.

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

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Observation: When John was writing this passage, I wonder if he was not thinking back to Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) Christianity is exclusive. There is only ONE way; and Jesus is the way! What a terrible trick God would have been playing on His Son, Jesus, if there been another way for salvation!!!

Application: Verse 12 above emphasizes the exclusive character of Christianity. Verse 13 emphasizes the certainty. I can KNOW that I am saved. As wonderful as hope is, this is better than hope. This is KNOWING! I have assurance! I am certain!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking out the guess work and giving us a certain salvation, offered by grace and received by faith. Amen.

August 24: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Observation: John appears to be the closest disciple to Jesus. He heard Jesus teach. He saw the miracles. He saw the way Jesus lived his daily life. He came to know Jesus’ priorities. So it should not surprise us that the central subject of this letter is love!

Application: So how am I going to apply this passage to myself? I am going to read it again right now, and again later today. I am going to ask the Holy Spirit to help me put it into action.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to love like Jesus. Help me to love others the way Jesus loves me and the way Jesus loves them. Amen.

August 23: Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Observation: John earlier in the chapter gives us an indication of how we can recognize the Presence of God in other believers; it is by their doing what is right and their love. Here John tells us how we can recognize His Presence in our lives. It is by the presence of His Spirit. The Spirit brings things to our mind. The Spirit interacts with our spirit. The Spirit gives us understanding. The Spirit becomes a part of our everyday life. According to Romans 4:17, the Spirit brings righteousness, peace and joy to those in the Kingdom of God!

Application: It is absurd to think that I could put my finger into a live electrical outlet without feeling any effects. How much more absurd to think that I would not recognize the presence of God’s Spirit when He comes to live inside me!

Prayer: Lord, in your wisdom you sent the Holy Spirit to live in those who have accepted you as Savior and Lord. With a grateful heart, I say, “Thanks!” Amen.

August 22: Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Observation: John makes it so simple. It is hard to miss. My relationship to God can be seen in my relationship to my brother. If the “Source Of All Love” dwells within me, then love will certainly flow out of me.

Application: I may be tempted to use this as a measure to see if my brother is walking in the light. But the issue is not how my brother loves me, but how I love my brother.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making the most important issue so simple. Amen.

August 21: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: 1John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Observation: God’s forgiveness and cleansing of my sinful soul is not based on my praying the right words, or bringing the right sacrifice as proof of the sincerity of my confession. It is based on His character! Jesus does not say, “I was going to forgive you, but you did not get the words quite right.” He does not say, “Sorry, you just brought the wrong sacrifice.” When I agree with Him that I have sinned, He forgives and cleanses me based on His faithfulness to the death of Jesus. God is just and does not demand a second payment for a sin that is already covered by the blood of His Son.

Application: It is with a heart of gratitude that I serve the Lord. As the song goes, “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay; I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace; Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay!”

Prayer: Lord, I am in awe that you are faithful and just. With overflowing gratitude I express my Amen.

August 20: Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 21:3 "I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus…
John 21:9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Observation: Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, his disciples went back to their old way of life. But Jesus knew where to find them. They had returned to their old way of making a living, but when they arrived on shore, Jesus already had fish on the fire and some bread!!! (vs. 9). He already had that for which they had gone fishing AND more! He even had the bread!

Application: There are times when I might get “fuzzy” thinking about my life and what I should be doing. I may want to return to an easier way of life—one with which I am more familiar. But Jesus knows where to find me! And even before I arrive back on shore, He already has “a fire with burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread!”

Prayer: Lord, I am glad you know where to find me. You anticipate my needs and know how to provide for them. Amen.

August 19: Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!