Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 04, 2023: SOAP #4992: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”… 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” …
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

OBSERVATION:  As daily bread (food) is important to our physical life, so spiritual bread is important to our spiritual life.  Jesus is not claiming to be the bread we eat with dinner. He claimed to be the living bread of God’s eternal life.   

APPLICATION:  This wonderful thing that God has provided is simply received by receiving Jesus into our life.  We receive Him as simply as we eat bread. 

We see the bread on the table.  We believe it will satisfy our hunger.  We believe that it will be good for our physical body.  We reach out and bring it near, placing it in our mouth.  We chew it and swallow it.  As it is digested in our stomach, it becomes a part of our physical body.  It gives us strength. 

I hear about Jesus.  I hear He will satisfy the longings of my heart.  I believe that it will be good for me to enter this relationship with Him.  I reach out by faith and bring Him near, allowing Him into my thoughts.  I think about His love for me, about His death on the cross.  I ask Him to forgive my sins and be the Lord of my life.  As He does, He becomes a part of my whole being!  I learn to walk in His strength!  

PRAYER:  Lord I receive you as the bread of God who brings eternal life.  Forgive my sins.  I join you in an abundant life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2023: SOAP #4991: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.

OBSERVATION:  In this passage of scripture (verses 31-47) Jesus gives five sources of testimony that should cause those listening to Him to accept Him. 

He started with John the Baptist (verse 33) who introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.  Then Jesus gives His works (verse 36), the healings and miracles, as testimony to His coming from the Father.  Third, Jesus tells of the Father’s approval (verse 37).  Fourth, Jesus tells that the very scriptures they search (verse 39) testify of Him!  And at the end of this passage (verses 45-47) Jesus points to the Jewish hero, Moses, as testifying about Him. 

Jesus was a person who spoke the truth!  He was to be believed!  He had been sent from God the Father.  Jesus had the credentials to be believed!  

APPLICATION:  God is at work in me to make me believable.  God wants my actions to make my words believable.  He has placed the Holy Spirit within me to guide my growth and life.  The Holy Spirit helps me remember and understand the scriptures.  He helps me apply them to my life. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I grow, may more and more people be able to testify that I belong to you and live as you direct.  May they see your love and holiness being expressed through my words and actions.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 02, 2023: SOAP #4990: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

OBSERVATION:  These verses about harvest are within the context of Jesus ministering to the Samaritan woman at the well.  Because of her testimony, many people came from the town to see Jesus.  John 4:4-42

Jesus spoke to his disciples about the harvest, not about a grain harvest, but a people harvest.  He told them to open their eyes and look at the fields.  What did they see?  They saw the people coming from the town.  Each person was a field ready for harvest. 

In every harvest, we find sowers and reapers.  The work of the reaper is proof that there has been a sower.  They both work with the same goal, the harvest.  They rejoice together. 

APPLICATION:  In some people (fields) the germinating and growing time of the seed (the gospel) is longer than others.  The seed may have been planted by a mother or father in a young child.  It may have been watered for years with the tears of praying parents.  It may be harvested long after mom and dad have died.  It may have been harvested by people the parents did not know.  But in heaven, they will rejoice together!  And what a great rejoicing that will be!  

PRAYER:  Lord, sometimes I am the sower; sometimes I am the reaper.  Help me be faithful in both.  Open my eyes today to see that even now there are fields (souls) ready for harvest.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 01, 2023: SOAP #4989: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

OBSERVATION:  John 3:16 tells us the Father so loved the world that He gave His Son.  So, was Jesus just being used by the Father, or was there something more?

Much more!  The Father was honoring the Son by giving the Son an opportunity to be honored above all creation.  The Son would not only be honored by the right of His existence as an eternal member of the Trinity, but also because His life and actions proved that He was ultimately worthy of such honor!   Notice what the Father gave the Son to enable Him to succeed:  placed all things under Jesus feet, John 3:35;  committed all things to Jesus, Matthew 11:27;  gave Jesus all authority in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18; gave Jesus the authority to give eternal life, John 17:2. 

The Father gave the Son an assignment which the Son fulfilled perfectly!  He came as He was sent.  He submitted himself to earthly authority.  He spoke the words of the Father.  He fulfilled the law completely, even dying as the sinless offering.  He overcame death!   Now, He has a name above ALL names, Philippians 2:8-9. 

This is why in Revelation 5, when no one was worthy to open the scroll—even the one sitting on the throne—the Lamb came forward and He was worthy.  Not because of who He is, but because of what He had accomplished!  Now all creation honors the Son because of His accomplishments!!! 

APPLICATION:  My Heavenly Father also gives me opportunity to express my love and appreciation by my actions. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I know you love my thoughtful words of love and appreciation.  But I also know you love it when my actions demonstrate that love and appreciation.  May my whole life honor you.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2023: SOAP #4988: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

OBSERVATION:  What an oversight it would have been not to invite Jesus and his disciples.  Surely the one making out the invitation list had no idea of what role Jesus would have in this wedding.  Since Mary (Jesus’ mother) knew about the shortage of the wine and took the initiative to tell Jesus, …maybe she was a part of the family.  Maybe Jesus was invited as part of Mary’s extended family.   The important thing:  Jesus was present!    

APPLICATION:  When people invite me to their gathering, they are also inviting Jesus!  He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me.  He is always with me.  When the boss invites me to his office, he is also inviting Jesus!  I am the pass key that gives Jesus entrance into every place to which I have access! 

Because He is omnipresent, He is everywhere present.  However, when He enters a location with me, He has a voice (mine) to speak His words; He has hands and feet (mine) to do His bidding. 

PRAYER:  Lord, like Mary, help me be aware of what is needed around me.  Show me how I can be used to bring you glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 30, 2023: SOAP #4987: Isaiah 60-62; John 1  

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:10 He [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus created the world, yet when he came as a little baby, born of a virgin, announced by angels, in the town prophesied by the prophet Micah, the world did not recognize Him.  Even the Jewish people who had been given all the prophecies about Jesus did not recognize Him.  The religious leaders who probably best knew the Old Testament scriptures did not receive him but led the mob in having Jesus put to death.

APPLICATION:  As I read the above verses, it comes to me that there are times my eyes are so fastened on my circumstances that I do not recognize the presence of Jesus.  He is with me; he never leaves me; I claim to be his own, but I do not recognize His presence!  I miss the opportunity to exercise my faith.

My conversation should be filled with faith and the possibilities of what God can do; but in not considering His presence, my conversation is filled with doubt and negative thoughts about what I fear.  People around me see that my claim to being a Christian really makes no difference in my daily life. 

PRAYER:  Lord, May I always keep myself keenly aware of your presence.  May your presence be the first thought in my mind when I face trouble.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 29, 2023: SOAP #4986: Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 3:4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
Isaiah (NIV) 59:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

OBSERVATION:  People sometimes choose to forget.  They ignore facts, history, common sense and eye-witness reports to invent some explanation that fits what they like. 

But there is One who remembers.  Not only does He remember, but He is also the only eyewitness of how man was created!  He knows why man was created!  He is the Creator!!!  

APPLICATION:  God knows our weaknesses.  He remembers how we were created.  He created us, and He loves us!  He sent His Son because He loves us! 

Instead of “deliberately forgetting” I should “deliberately remember.”  Why would I not remember His promises? Why would I not depend on Him for my needs? 

I need to deliberately remember the truth in the last part of 2Peter 3.  I need to remember and live my life accordingly. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that your memory is perfect and complete.  In your memory is only truth.  I can trust you to remember my weaknesses.  I can also trust you to remember to what Jesus did for me on the cross.  I can trust you to remember that I am your child.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 28, 2023: SOAP #4985: Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 55:9″As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

OBSERVATION:  God’s Word is powerful and effective.  It is not an explosive power, but an aimed power.  It is power with purpose.  God does not speak just to hear himself speak.  His words are purposefully spoken.  They have been sent with an assigned purpose. 

APPLICATION:  When the Creator of the Universe speaks, I should listen.  I must pay attention to every word! 
–I must consider what.  What is God saying? I should write it down, so I do not forget! 
–I must consider why.  Why did God tell me that? 
–I must consider: What response will please the Lord?  How do I apply what God said to my life? 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, it is my honor that you speak to me.  You share your thoughts with me!!!   May my response be proof that I heard you and understand what you are asking of me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 27, 2023: SOAP #4984: Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

OBSERVATION:  Here are two words that should never describe a Christian! …ineffective and unproductive.  Knowing and experiencing the life of the Lord Jesus Christ makes me effective and productive. 

Having the life of Christ living within us draws attention.  It is hard to keep Him from being noticed.  He begins to make changes.  He enters our lives on the basis of our faith.  He accepts us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. 

He entered our life because of our faith.  Now that He has established His presence, He begins to rearrange our heart and mind.  To the faith, He helps us add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love!  And as He fills our lives with these, the things that once marked our character (selfishness, impatience, anger, slothfulness, etc.) are crowded out of our lives.  The new creation on the inside begins to be seen on the outside!  

APPLICATION:  The presence of Jesus living inside me makes me effective.  Faith filled prayers make changes.  Little things I do get noticed and bring glory to God.  The presence of the Holy Spirit living inside me makes me productive.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit make me a blessing to others. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may I never be ineffective or unproductive.  The more I know you, the greater my desire to be an effective and productive part of your Kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 26, 2023: SOAP #4983: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 46:4 Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 5 “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? 6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. 7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it…9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
1Peter (NIV) 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

OBSERVATION:  In Isaiah’s day, people were making gods out of gold, bowing down and worshipping them!!!  God had delivered them from Egypt, fed them in the wilderness and fought many battles for them!  God had even made promises to them!  How do you think God felt when His people ignored what He said and prayed to a lifeless idol that could not hear, see, or even think!!!  They wanted the idol to do what God has already promised He would do!!!  

Then, after Jesus had come to earth, lived, died, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven…after all that, Peter writes to the church, “Cast all your anxiety on Him! He cares for you!!!”  How do you think God feels when people ignore this promise and frantically look elsewhere for help?  

APPLICATION:  The Bible DOES NOT tell me to cast some of my anxiety; it says ALL my anxiety!  Any limits on this promise are limits I have placed there in my thinking and on my faith. 

When I have so many promises from God, why would I look to man and expect Him to meet my needs!   God is the Promise Keeper.  I need to know His promises!    

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for taking my anxieties elsewhere.  I am standing on your promises!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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