Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 05, 2023: SOAP #4962: Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2 (reworked from 2019)

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 2: 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

OBSERVATION:  Love demanded that He help us; holiness demanded that the help come from one who had personally experienced and overcome temptation.  God is so HOLY that love cannot be allowed a short cut to help the one loved.  But God is so LOVING that he was willing to do what holiness required.  It is amazing!   It was God’s Holiness and Love that held Jesus on the cross to suffer and die for our sins.  In LOVE for me, Jesus submitted to what HOLINESS demanded from me! 

Because Jesus suffered through times of temptation when he was living as a man here on earth, he is able to help those who are being tempted now.  Jesus understands our trials not because someone told him about them, not because he read about them, not because he overheard someone talking about them, but because he experienced them!   He has been here; He has done that!  No one will say to the Judge, “You have no right to judge me; you do not know how bad my life was.”

APPLICATION:  Jesus can help me; He has experience dealing with the devil; he knows how to defeat Satan.  Jesus can help me; He has experience dealing with the weaknesses and limitations of being human; he knows I cannot rely on the flesh, so he gives me His Holy Spirit.  Jesus can help me; He is finished dealing with his own trials; Satan cannot distract Him from helping me.   Praise the Lord!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you were the only one who could do for me what I needed. In great love, you sent your son to die in my place.  My life is yours.  You deserve so much more; it is all I can do. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 04, 2023: SOAP #4961: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

OBSERVATION:  Here is the center of all God’s purposes in creating and working with man.  It all centers in Jesus!  Jesus is the shining out of the hidden glory of God.  Jesus is how God acts, how God talks, how God loves.  How can that be?  It could not be any other way!   Jesus is God!   He is the exact representation of God the Father’s being.  There is nothing in the Father that is not in Jesus!   Jesus laid aside His glory as God but did not stop being God. (Philippians 2:6-8)   Jesus is the Word of God that became flesh. (John 1:14) Jesus not only forgives our sins, He provided “purification for sins!” (see above)  His death is sufficient to cover all our sins!   Now Jesus is back in His rightful place, glorified in heaven.  He did not have to fight to get it back: it is His by right of Who He is, Who He has always been, and Who He will ever be!  He accomplished His task; HE IS SEATED!!! 

APPLICATION:  It is good for me to be reminded of Who died for me.  It is good for me to be reminded of Who I am serving. 

Living in this world, it is easy to get my eyes off Jesus and onto my troubles.  God’s enemy wants me to keep my eyes on my troubles.  It is his way of robbing God of the attention God deserves. 

PRAYER:  Forgive me, Lord, for slighting you by ignoring you.  Instead of using my mental energies to praise and worship you, I use them to worry about what might happen.  Holy Spirit, fill my thoughts with JESUS!  May He be the center of all my mental imaginations.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 04, 2023: SOAP #4960: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

SCRIPTURE:  2Chronicles (NIV) 27:1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years…. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices .6 Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.

OBSERVATION:  Jotham’s father, King Uzziah had been a godly king until the later days of his life when he took on priestly duties and God smote him with leprosy.  Surely that made an impression on young Jotham.  And even though the citizens of Judah did not turn back to the LORD, King Jotham was a godly king.  He honored the LORD.  He stood against the tendency to leave his personal commitment to the LORD. 

So, it is not a surprise that God made King Jotham to prosper. 

APPLICATION:  God is gracious and merciful.  He loves to bless His children.  Even at times when they do not deserve His blessings, He remains faithful and continues to send blessings their way.  Note:  God continued to bless the children of Israel with manna and water even though they refused to enter the land He had promised them! 

But I want to be like Jotham, one who walks steadfastly before the LORD my God.  May it bring joy to His heart to bless me.  May he know that any blessings He sends my way will be used to bless others. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, may I be like King Jotham, walking steadfastly in your way.  May you be smiling when you bless me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 02, 2023: SOAP #4959: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 115: 2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; 6 they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; 7 they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
 Psalm (NIV) 116: 1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

OBSERVATION:  After reading the list of things that idols cannot do (Psalm 115), what a joy to read the last 10 verses of Psalm 115!  God hears and remembers and blesses us! 

And we can rejoice with the psalmist in 116.  He served a God that has ears!   He served a God who focused His ears on the psalmist!  He served a God who not only heard sounds, but who listened!   He understood the cry of the psalmist and responded!  

God is not like politicians who make promises hoping to get votes in the coming elections.  But once in their office, they forget.  They do not listen and/or remember what they heard or promised. 

APPLICATION:  Like the psalmist, I should call on the Lord “as long as I live.”  God should be the first one I tell about my troubles.  He alone has endless resources.  I settle for so much less when I depend on people.  They are so limited, but God is so unlimited! 

God has made so many promises.  No one else could make, and keep, so many  great and wonderful promises!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the more I know your word and promises, I am amazed that you are not more offended when I look to others before calling on you.  You want me to depend on you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 01, 2023: SOAP #4958: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

SCRIPTURE:  Titus (NIV) 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy …. 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

OBSERVATION:  Three themes are combined in verse seven: a past, a present and a future.  I tend to think of these three parts of my life separately.  But in God, the forgiven past is forgotten as if it never happened.  That which continues with us from the past is made new!  It moves into our present, passing under the blood and becomes a part of our future!   Hallelujah!!

APPLICATION:  As to my past, I have been forgiven and in God’s eyes I am “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned.  I was justified by His grace!  (Romans 3:24) As to my present, I am an heir.  I am God’s child.  I am family!  (Romans 8:17) As to my future, I have a hope of eternal life.  It is a hope of living forever with God in the place Jesus went to prepare for me!  (Titus 2:13)

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, You sent your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins.  You accept the payment of His blood for all my sins—those 20 years ago and those yesterday.  Now I am a part of your family, and the Holy Spirit is with me 24 hours every day.  You have given me hope for a bright future, eternal life that can never die!  Thank you for forgiving me, accepting me into your family, and giving me the hope of eternal life in heaven.   Amen                                                                        

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 30, 2023: SOAP #4957: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104; Titus 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 104:24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Amos (NIV) 9:14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

OBSERVATION:  So many wonders in the world!  Psalm 104 mentions the skies and the earth, the created animals on the earth and in the sea!  Then as I was reading Amos, I saw the prophecy about Israel.  Of the countries present in the Old Testament, only Israel remains.  Though scattered and the target of a plot to eliminate them from the face of the earth, yet there they are, back in the land God promised.

APPLICATION:  Is God still doing wonders today?  Just look at Israel!  Does God keep His promises?   Just look at Israel!   Is God at work in the world today?   Just look at Israel!   Does God forget His promises?  Just read the above scriptures and look at Israel!   Is anything too hard for God?  Just look at Israel

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the God of Israel, AND you are the God of me!  What an amazing God you are!  You are worth my love and service!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 29, 2023: SOAP #4956: Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

SCRIPTURE:  Titus (NIV) 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

OBSERVATION:  Here Paul says that our faith and knowledge is “resting” on our hope of eternal life.  On what is our hope of eternal life resting?  It is resting on the promises of God, WHO DOES NOT LIE!  

In this I understand that everything rests on the nature and character of God!  God is the originator and sustainer of all things.  The better we know and understand God, the better we will know and understand life. 

Proverbs (NIV) 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

APPLICATION:  I must be continually looking through the scriptures and in the world in which I live to learn more of Creator God.  There is no possibility of me gaining perfect understanding of the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Eternal Spirit God who is perfectly holy and perfectly loving!   The characteristics of His being are ruled only by his moral characteristics.  He is eternally holy and eternally loving and is always truthful and working according to His eternal plan.  He is far beyond amazing!!!  There is always more to learn!  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may the Holy Spirit guide me through this life, revealing through the scriptures, and through the world Your amazing character.  You lovingly sent Your Son to make the holy sacrifice necessary to pay for my sins!   I live in honor of what you have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 28, 2023: SOAP #4955: Amos 1-3, Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge…
16 At my first defense, no-one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

OBSERVATION:  Although Paul is in prison, it is in the “presence of God and of Christ Jesus” that he is giving this charge.  His physical circumstances did not mar his awareness of spiritual realities. 

In court, Paul was deserted by everyone and had no human support, But the Lord was with him, and gave him strength! Physical disappointments did not mar Paul’s awareness of spiritual realities

And in closing his letter, Paul’s prayer is that Timothy experience the presence of the Lord!  May he never lose the awareness of the Lord’s presence!  

APPLICATION:  Surely Paul’s most valuable possession was the very presence of God!  God’s presence was the essence and strength of Paul’s life.  If there was anything he could leave with his dear son in the faith, Timothy, it would be that Timothy also experience the presence of the Lord.

What do I count as my most valuable possession?   What do I want to leave with others?   …an awareness of God’s presence! 

PRAYER:  Lord, whatever my circumstances, may I never lose the awareness of your presence!  And use me to encourage others to be aware of your presence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 27, 2023: SOAP #4954: 2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, … 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

OBSERVATION:  Among the more than twenty characteristics give in these verses of people in the last days, we read “always learning, but never able to acknowledge the truth.”   Here is an amazing thing:  learning should bring people closer to the truth of reality, but people have their minds set against God so will not acknowledge His obvious part in creation or in anything else. Man now has wonderful knowledge about that little life in the womb and how it develops, yet thinks it is OK to abort it!   Man is “always learning” but not able to acknowledge the obvious truth because they leave God out of the picture. Man can so easily become proud of knowing so many things and miss knowing the One who is the Ultimate Truth!

APPLICATION:  So, what do we do?  We continue learning.  We find the source of learning that is based on truth!  I must not base truth on what I learn (there may be more to learn that will change what I think to be true), I must base my learning on what I already know to be true!  

2Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of…15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, guide my learning to be always in line with the scriptures which is Your written word from the source of all truth.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 26, 2023: SOAP #4953: Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 2:2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

OBSERVATION:  It is as true today as it was in Paul’s day.  Paul stressed the importance of faithfulness over ability.  Being reliable, being trustworthy is the priority.  There are people with great ability, but since they are not dependable, their ability is useless.  There are men who have the potential/ability to be great dads, but since they are so seldom at home, it does not help their children.  I’ve heard it said that the greatest ability is availability. 

Faithfulness is the foundation for the demonstration of one’s abilities. Ability shines best on the pedestal of faithfulness.  An employer looking for a new employee, a ministry looking for a new volunteer should always rank faithfulness above ability.

How one treats their commitments says nothing about the value of what they have committed to, but everything about them; they made the commitment.  It is their character on display.

APPLICATION:  These SOAPs today reach thousands of people.  But 13+ years ago when I first posted one on Facebook, it was read by less than 10.  God saw my faithfulness and knew I was reliable to continue His work.  He began drawing the attention of others to the SOAPs. 

The greatest faithfulness in this ministry is not my faithfulness, but God’s faithfulness.  As I am faithful to read God’s Word every day, He is faithful to speak to me through His Word!    

PRAYER:  Lord, I ask myself, “How often do I want you to speak to me?”  I must also ask myself, “How often do I read Your Word?”  Fine me faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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