Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 30, 2024: SOAP #5353: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 62:6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, 7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. 8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled; 9 but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.”

OBSERVATION: I believe these scriptures are speaking of the future for Israel.  It speaks of a desperate situation.  The people recognize the danger and are calling on the LORD!   In verse six they are they should give themselves no rest in their praying.  AND they should give the LORD no rest!  
                   

APPLICATION:  Whenever the situation is desperate, God’s children should act and pray like it is desperate!  In Luke 18:4-8 Jesus told about an unjust judge who granted the request of a widow who would not stop seeking his aid.  Verse 7 says, And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

It is worthwhile calling on and waiting on the Lord.  We know He is kindly disposed toward His children.  I am surprised at how people spend so much time on Facebook and the internet looking for people to help them, support them, give them assistance, etc.  They are seeking what God has already promised in His word. 

PRAYER: Lord, The SOAP ministry is yours and I am involved at your direction.  Again and again you have proved that you supply for your ministry.  Use the SOAPs to build people’s faith through pointing people to the word and through setting a good example.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 29, 2024: SOAP #5352: Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 103:9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

OBSERVATION: The God who loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins has left us with many expressions of His love.  Here He tells us to look at His creation to see the greatness of His love for those who honor Him. 

APPLICATION:  Every time we walk out the door of our house, we need only to look up to be reminded of how greatly God loves us!   We exit from the ceiling of our home to the ceiling of the sky!  Wow! 

How we love each other may be seen in the height of the ceiling of our home.  How God loves us can only be understood in the ceiling of the sky!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, how great is your love for me!  In response, may it be said of me that as the clouds are high above the earth, so is Leon’s love for his Heavenly Father.  Holy Spirit, help me grow in loving my Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 28, 2024: SOAP #5351: Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

OBSERVATION: 700+- years before Jesus died for our sins, Isaiah wrote this 53^rd chapter of his book.  It is only 12 verses long. 

Yet it is a very realistic prophesy of the Suffering Savior, Isaiah used the following words:  despised, rejected, sorrows, suffering, infirmities, stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced, crushed, punishment, wounds, iniquity on him, oppressed, slaughter, cut off from the land of the living, stricken, assigned a grave with the wicked, crush, suffering, guilt offering, suffering of his soul, bear iniquities.

APPLICATION:  Here is how I must read this chapter:  “For he bore the sin of LEON and made intercession for LEON’, the transgressor.”

What a difference it makes when I see myself in the picture.  What an amazing forgiveness Jesus offers me and all who see themselves not only in this prophecy but also the reality that was foretold!  When we see the pain and agony he suffered for our sake, how can we not cry out, “Lord, forgive me…

PRAYER: …come live in my life.  Teach me your ways and enable me to live a life that honors you and brings you much joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 27, 2024: SOAP #5350: Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

(reworked from 2010) 

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

OBSERVATION: More than knowing facts about God, I need to know Him personally!   Knowing Jesus as Lord is recognizing He is my owner; he has the decision-making power.  He has the veto power over any decision I make.  How logical it is for Him to have such power as He is all-wise and can see the future.   But those who do not personally know God, and Jesus as their Lord, cannot claim these blessing of grace and peace.

APPLICATION:  I have abundant grace and peace BECAUSE I personally know God and Jesus, my Lord. 

I have abundant (even more than needed) grace (God’s goodness personally expressed to me that is even enough for me to be gracious to others) and peace (tranquility even in the midst of turmoil) BECAUSE I personally (this relationship is solely mine, not through my parents or friends) know God (the all-powerful, the all-knowing, the ever present Spirit who is both perfectly holy and perfectly loving) and Jesus (the One who died in my place on the cross) my Lord (my owner who has the “deciding” power in my life.)  

Now, Leon, think about that all day!  

PRAYER: Lord, No wonder I love and serve you!  You are amazing!  Your grace and peace keep me steady in every storm of life.  Your joy overflows to others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 26, 2024: SOAP #5349: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 5:5 …All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

OBSERVATION: Depending on the Lord, growing in His grace, seeing how capable and faithful He is, knowing that Creator God cares for me, should make me humble.  All I have comes from God, all my talents and abilities have come to me through His grace.  Of what can I take pride?   What He has done in the past builds my faith that I can trust Him now and in the future. 

All I know about Him and the promises in His Word, should alleviate/erase all anxiety!  My God cares for me!!!  My God wants me to bring my anxieties to Him!  

APPLICATION:  In the summertime money is scarce for me.  Schools are out so bus driving income is gone.  Last year at the beginning of each summer month, God sent me a check in the mail that covered that month expenses.  From totally different sources but each was for the same amount!  This year the same God met the same needs but in totally different ways.  I received a call to help be an usher and help park cars for three days.  Later I received a call to help drive a bus for a church youth ministry.  And I received a refund check for money I had sent to Western Union several years ago—money that had never been picked up.  I also received one check in the mail, and three checks handed to me for specific needs.  And I received the three faithful checks that come each month.  Again, God has provided!  

If SOAP were my ministry, I would need to raise money for its needs.  But it is not my ministry.  SOAP is God’s ministry, and He has the responsibility to provide.  There is no need to worry or be anxious about ministry needs.  There is no need to convince others to give.  I just need to be responsible to use what He provides to honor Him. 

PRAYER: Lord, use the SOAP ministry as an example for other ministries to trust you.  I am not asking you to help me with my ministry, but I am serving you in your ministry.  May other ministry leaders see the value of turning their ministry over to you.  You are more than able to deal with all the pressures of any ministry, in whatever country it is located.  Show those ministering to orphans how you are able to provide.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 25, 2024: SOAP #5348: Isaiah 43-45; 1Peter 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

OBSERVATION: In the light of God’s creation, Peter was living in the last days. Now, 2000 years later, it is even more so the last days.  So, even more we should pay close attention to being able to pray properly with a clear mind and not letting our emotions dictate how we pray.  Even more we should love each other and show hospitality without grumbling. 

Even more we should use the “gifts” we have to serve others.  The gifts, talents, strengths we have were given to us by God and we will answer to Him for how we used them.  He gave them to us to make us useful to others. 

APPLICATION:  I am to use the “gifts” I have received to serve others.  I can show my appreciation for God’s generosity to me by being generous to others.  I can express my appreciation for the understanding of His Word that He has given to me by passing it along to others. 

I can give testimony to others for what God has done in my life, and in this way build their faith for God to do the same for them. In this way God will receive double glory—glory from me and glory from them. 

PRAYER: Lord, where would I be if it was not for you!   What would I have if it was not for you.  You are the reason for my life.  Be glorified in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 24, 2024: SOAP #5347: Isaiah 40-42; 1Peter 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

OBSERVATION: Peter gives some instructions on how we are to live.  Here he tells us to return evil and insults with blessings!!  This one may be—no, will be difficult for us. But I can see four reasons why it is possible, and why we should do it. 

One:  We should not take the scriptures as suggestions, but as commands. 
Two:  Doing this is following the example of Jesus. 
Three:  Consider the promise to those who return evil and insults with blessings.  The scriptures promise that they will inherit a blessing!  A blessing promised in the Bible is worth going after!  If we feel like we are short on receiving blessings, here is a good place to start.  We can plant seeds of blessings which will bring a harvest of blessings! 
Four:  The same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Christ on the earth, now dwells in us.  He who enabled Jesus to live like this can enable us to live this!  We do not have to do this in our own power.  God is not telling us to do something that He is not willing to do through us!  

APPLICATION:  When someone forgets us, or ignores us, we can bless them.  When someone drives their car into the parking place we were waiting for, we can bless them.  When someone takes credit for our hard work, we can bless them.  When someone speaks evil of our plans, we can bless them. 

Then we can start looking for the blessings that God sends our way. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I am going to need your help in this.  Jesus, I need you to be Jesus in me.  May I step back and let you live your life in and through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 23, 2024: SOAP #5346: 2Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1Peter 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

OBSERVATION:  Before we were born, everything was done for us while we were in our mother’s womb.  But what a change when we were born.  Surely one of the first discomforts we experienced was hunger.  We learned how to suck and to open our mouth to receive food that was placed in our mouth.  Then we learned that we could use our hands to bring food to our mouth…and so the learning how to eat lessons began.  

Here the Bible tells us that our spiritual birth is very similar.  Before we were “born again,” God was bringing His word to us.  Our faith was growing.  But once we come alive in Jesus—once we are born again, we should experience some spiritual hunger.  It is good to have people help feed us (pastors, teachers, parents), but at some time we should begin feeding ourselves.  

APPLICATION:  A key in spiritual growth is application.  Why did God want me to read those scriptures.  Now that I have read the scriptures, what did God say to ME and what can I do to apply the truth I just read?  

You can use the scriptures above for your reading, if you like; but there are many good Bible reading plans. If you are just starting, just read the New Testament portions.  Pray before you start reading and read until God makes something interesting.  You may like to use the SOAP format to write your thoughts.  Putting your thoughts into words on paper helps me thing through what I am trying to say.  It clarifies what God is saying to me. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you went to such great lengths to make sure we would have the scriptures.  May we honor you by giving them a proper place in our lives.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 22, 2024: SOAP #5345: Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76; 1Peter 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 1:24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

OBSERVATION: What an appropriate verse for today’s news.  The President of the Unites States announced that he would not run for re-election.  Anyone who pays attention to the news has seen the “withering” of this man.  I have seen similar characteristics in my mother and some close family friends as they moved into their senior years. 

In stark contrast to the frailty of the flesh, stands verse 25.  “The word of the Lord stands forever!”  The Word of God has been written and is just as true today as the day it was written.  The Word of God became flesh and moved among men for 30+ years.  He was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead, arose into the heavens from which He has promised to return.  

The written Word remains true and trustworthy.  We can build our lives on it!  AND the Living Word ever lives to make intercession for us.  And He has sent His Spirit to live in us, enabling us to live our lives honoring God! 

APPLICATION:  More than just knowing about the written Word of God, I need the Living Word of God living in me by His Spirit.  How thankful we should be that He willingly forgives our sins and makes our hearts His home! 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, may my heart and mind be like a clay tablet upon which you can write eternal truth.  Lead me into Truth.  Enable me to live every day, in my environment, doing what honors my Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 21, 2024: SOAP #5344: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32; James 5

SCRIPTURE:  2Kings (NIV) 18:11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the LORD their God but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

OBSERVATION: The king of Assyria had taken Israel as captives to Assyria.  In these verses, God gives the “because.”  There was a reason why this had happened to Israel.  Their captivity was directly in response to their relationship to the LORD their God!  

APPLICATION:  The United States of America was founded by Bible reading and Bible believing people.  They did not all agree on doctrine, but they acknowledged that God had a hand in developing this nation. 

There was a “Because” for the Civil War.  President Abraham Lincoln recognized that the Civil War was God’s judgment against the sin of slavery.  There is a “Because” for what is happening at the southern border of the US.  It is God’s judgment against the sin of destroying 70+ million babies that were being created in God’s image!  God is bringing in generations of people to replace generations who were denied a right to have life.  And along with them come ever more dangerous illegal drugs and human trafficking.  Welfare budgets are being depleted.  Crime is increasing. 

What if the Federal Reserve would say, “We are too far in debt, so we are not going to print any more money.”  I fear that there are not enough Godly standards in the population to prevent looting and murder by those wanting to satisfy their desires. 

PRAYER: SOAP readers, join me in prayer for my nation:  Lord, the United States of America needs your help.  Send another revival to sweep across this land.  Give godly leaders that know and follow Your word.  Fill with your Holy Spirit and empower Your people to stand for righteousness.  In Your Mighty Name we pray, Amen

Pastor Leon
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