Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 26, 2023: SOAP #4922: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs (NIV) 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

OBSERVATION:  As I read the familiar verses above, one thought seemed to catch my attention.  “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” 

Practicing this simple directive will go a long way in pride-proofing my life—ensuring pride does not get a strong hold in me.     

APPLICATION:  How I look at myself plays an important part in how others see me, and how God sees me.  Humility is not thinking less of myself; it is thinking of myself less.  I am not to be the focus of my thoughts and actions.  I am a child of God, but I did not become that by my own actions.  I am what I am only by the grace of God.  The wisdom God has given me is not to make me look good, but to give me avenues of serving others. 

The wisdom and talents I have come from God, and He will hold me accountable for how I use them. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, the more I get to know you and understand your great plan for mankind, the more humble I become, and the more grateful I become to have a part.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 25, 2023: SOAP #4921: 1Kings 10, 11; 2Chronicles 9; Romans 6

. (reworked from 2011) 

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

OBSERVATION:  Praise the Lord that the first aspect of salvation is only something we pass through.  It is not permanent.  Death to sin leads to life in Christ!   In being baptized, one is not left in the water.  There is a going into the water, and a coming out of the water.  And so, it is with death. 

There is an entering into death from the earthly side, but there is a coming out on the heavenly side!  We are all certain of death.  We see it.  We experience it vicariously through those around us.  It is something of which we are certain.  There is no doubt in our mind about death.  Everyone who has ever been born has either died or will die within the next 120 years. 

Now in this verse, Paul says that the resurrection is just as certain as death.  It is certain!  There is no doubt!  Those united with Christ in death, will also be united with Him in resurrection!

APPLICATION:  To make the certainty of the resurrection, I must make certain that I “have been united with him … in his death.”  When I accept Jesus as my Savior, I accept his death as payment for my sins.  When I accept Jesus as my Lord, I die to myself to allow Him to live in me.  To realize the reality of this verse, I must both accept Jesus as Savior AND Lord. (2Peter 2:20; 3:2,18)

PRAYER:   Jesus, you are my Savior and Lord!  As my Savior, I accept the forgiveness you purchased for me by your death at Calvary. You have saved me from the results of my sins.  You have saved me from hell.  As my Lord, I surrender my life to your control.  I welcome you to live your life in and through me.  I am yours!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 24, 2023: SOAP #4920: 1Kings 9; 2Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings (NIV) 9:4 “As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
6 “But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8 And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 9 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshipping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’”

OBSERVATION:  After Solomon had finished building the temple, God, The Great Promise Keeper, gave Solomon two promises.  The first in verses 4 and 5 above and the second in verses 6 through 9.  Which promise would be fulfilled depended on a very small word—if.  The promises were conditional. 

Much of Israels history can be understood within the confines of how they did their part!   God always remained true to His Word—to His promises. 

APPLICATION:  God continues to act according to His Word.  He remains “The Great Promise Keeper!”  His faithfulness to His Word can be a great blessing to me; or it can be a great hardship.  It is for me to choose. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help me be honest when I read the Bible.  When I start to ignore what makes me uncomfortable, keep it on my mind and in my thoughts. Help me see Your hand moving in my life, in my nation, and in the world according to Your promises.  Oh, Lord, I am confident that you are faithful; help me be faithful too.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 23, 2023: SOAP #4919: 2Chronicles 6, 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

!  (reworked from 2011)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 4:8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

OBSERVATION:  What a wonderful blessing!  The KJV gives the reading as “will not” while the NIV says “will never.”  The NIV takes the same thought and brings it to the reader with an emphasis that God’s forgiveness finalizes the matter.  We do not have to worry about the future.  He Who has dealt with our sin will not be holding it up to us in the future!  Indeed, we are justified.  In His eyes, we are made as though we had never sinned!  We become new creations in Christ!   It is AMAZING!  

APPLICATION:  Although unworthy, I have been blessed in a way that only God can bless!  I have been given what I could never earn—forgiveness and right standing before God.

Now I should life like that is true.  God’s praise should ever be in my mouth. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you knew what I needed.  You knew how helpless I was in getting it through my own efforts.  So, with your effort, You provided it freely for me.  Saying “Thank you” seem so inadequate.  I give you my life.    Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 22, 2023: SOAP #4918: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 99:4 The King is mighty, he loves justice — you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.

Romans (NIV) 3:25 God presented him [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

OBSERVATION:  It is comforting to think of God’s love.  Oh, how He loves people.  But He also loves justice.  God is holy.  He is just and those He loves must be willing to be made just.  They are powerless to make themselves just, so God, who loves justice and loves people, sent His son to pay the price for the sins of the people.  How foolish it would be to refuse such a gift offered with such a love.

APPLICATION:  I am a person.  I believe that Christ died for my sins and has forgiven me.  I have been justified — made “just as if I’d” never sinned!  Wow!  I now have the privilege of a close relationship with God.   God did not treat sin as though it was no big thing; I must not treat sin as though it is no big thing.   (1John 1:8-10)

PRAYER:   Lord, if I claim to be without sin, I would be deceiving myself and the truth would not be in me.  But I confess my sins to you.  I know that you are faithful and just and you forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness.  With my mouth I say, “Thank you!”  And now with you living your life in me, I commit myself to a life that pleases you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 21, 2023: SOAP #4917: 1Kings 7; 2Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 98:1 A psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him….
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; …
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King….
8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

OBSERVATION:  Joy should be a major characteristic of our praise.  

Inner joy cannot be hidden.  It always finds a way to be displayed on the outside.  A smile, a laugh, a lifted countenance—joy in the heart will find expression on the face and through our actions. 

APPLICATION:  If the Old Testament saints were encouraged and commanded to sing and shout with joy, then surely New Testament believers should even more raise a joyful praise to our Lord!   We have so much more than they had.   We have a fuller revelation of the scriptures.  We have the New Testament to reveal the Old Testament.  MOST OF ALL, we have Jesus, who died for our sins that we might have a personal relationship with Almighty God!   We have the Holy Spirit living in us!   WE DEFINITELY HAVE MORE FOR WHICH TO SHOUT AND SING!!!  

PRAYER:  Lord, when I think of all you have done for me, how can I not praise you.  May all who know me, expect to hear your praise coming from my mouth.  May your praise become a part of my regular conversation.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 20, 2023: SOAP #4916: 1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God…
5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Paul was purposefully chosen and placed in his ministry to the church.  It was through God’s working in Paul’s life and for the sake of glorifying the name of Jesus that Paul was so placed in the body of Christ.  The calling to be an apostle was not of Paul’s workings but an expression of the grace of God.  It was an undeserved act of God in calling and using Paul.

Verse 6 tells us that not only Paul had been purposefully placed in the body of Christ, but those to whom he was writing had also been called to belong to Jesus!  They too were purposefully placed in the body of Christ!   

APPLICATION:  I too have been purposefully called and placed—to be a husband, a father, a pastor, a school bus driver, and a SOAP writer.  It is God’s grace and mercy in working through my strength and weaknesses, my successes and failures, for His glory. 

AND YOU TOO, dear SOAP reader.  You too are purposefully called to be—a ?spouse?, ?parent?, ?student?,  ???.  We have been purposefully called and placed.  Do not despise where you are!   We must let Jesus shine through us—let Jesus be Jesus in us!     

PRAYER:   Lord, your grace has been extended to each of us in allowing us to carry your Presence in whatever circumstances we are.  May those around us see you living in us and may they receive the “calling to the obedience that comes through faith.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 19, 2023: SOAP #4915: 1Kings 4, 5; 2Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2Thessalonians 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Kings 4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.  31… And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

OBSERVATION:  In 2Chronicles 1:7-12 we read that God told Solomon to ask what he wanted God to give him.  Solomon asked for wisdom to be able to rule God’s people.  The verses above show how God abundantly answered that request!  

APPLICATION:  When our prayers line up with God’s will; when our prayers are to enable us to do His will more perfectly—then I believe God will answer abundantly.  

The truth is this: when we surrendered our will to Jesus and asked Him to forgive us and be the Lord of our lives—at that moment we received more than Solomon received.  He just received wisdom; we have received the source of all wisdom living in our hearts!   (Matthew 12:4; 1Corinthians 1:30)

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you blest Solomon with wisdom, but you blest me with your Son!   Help me appreciate what I have been given.   Holy Spirit, reveal the wisdom I need for today!  Amen;

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 18, 2023: SOAP #4914: 1Kings 3; 2Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 2:10 …They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

OBSERVATION:  What a sad condition man finds himself in when he refuses to believe the truth.  Not having a sure foundation for their belief system, they grope about for anything that they can claim as “their truth.”  Ignoring truth that has a solid foundation, they assert “their truth” which lacks a foundation of reality.  But it is not enough for them that others allow them display “their truth,” they soon want others to accept “their truth.”  And even more, they want others to join them in proclaiming “their truth.”  Soon they want everyone to celebrate “their truth.” 

One does not have to remember very far back when “their truth” is what was considered wickedness!  

APPLICATION:  There are many examples of this truth that can be seen on the television news.  People refusing to believe the truth supported by facts come up with their own explanations. 

But the most dangerous is when a person does not accept the truth about Jesus—that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin—that He will forgive those who ask and receive Him as Lord.  Soon they are believing that if they have more good than bad in their lives, they will be OK.  Soon they are believing that a loving God will not punish their sin.  Soon they are believing that they can live however they choose.  Soon they are believing that whatever feels good is acceptable.  Soon they are believing that the Bible is a book of myths.  Soon they are even believing there is no God. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, in your kindness you gave us laws by which we should live.  In your kindness you sent your Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice to pay for our sins.  In your kindness you sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in our lives and help us to live lives that please you.  I commit myself to live in your kindness.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 17, 2023: SOAP #4913: 1Kings 2: 1Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Thessalonians (NIV) 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Thinking about the coming judgment, Paul is always praying for His spiritual children.  His desire is that they receive gracious rewards rather than just punishment on that day. 

Paul wants God to look at the Thessalonians and say, “I am glad I sent Jesus for them.”  He wants God to smile when He sees them on Judgment Day.

Paul wants them to live in such a way that God happily hears their prayers and joyfully answers, and is so doing, fulfils every one of God’s good purposes for them.

Paul wants their faith to be rewarded as they see their efforts succeed.  Of course, we are always called by God to do things that far exceed our abilities.  If we are to succeed, then God must use His power to bring them to fulfillment.

APPLICATION:  Here is a pattern prayer for me to pray for my family and friends.  It is a prayer that looks beyond present circumstances into eternity.  It is a prayer that God will be delighted to answer.   

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, teach me to pray with eternity in view.  Help me break the habit of praying for earthly blessings and things desirable to make this life easier.  Teach me to pray with eternity in view.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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