Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 06, 2023: SOAP #4902: 2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

(Repeat from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

OBSERVATION:  In Psalm 51 David begs forgiveness from God not on the basis of who David is, but on the basis of who God is.  David did not make excuses for his sin, nor did he beg mercy because he was the king of Israel.  He did not say, “Remember, I killed Goliath.”  David did not say, “I am just a man and she was a beautiful woman, Lord, what did you expect.”  No, David knew sin could be removed because there was something greater than sin. Sin kills.  Sin destroys.  Sin is powerful, but not all-powerful.  There is something stronger than sin.  There is a power greater than the power of sin!   It is God’s mercy, His unfailing love, His great compassion.  About 1000 years after this prayer God provided the perfect payment for sin (past and future) in the death of Jesus on the cross!    He does not cover over my sin; He washes me clean.

APPLICATION:  God forgave David on the basis of who God was, not on the basis of who David was.  God forgives Leon on the basis of who God is, not on the basis of who Leon is.  When I need forgiveness, I know God’s grace is sufficient for all my sin.  When I need to forgive someone, I know that God’s grace is sufficient for all their sin too.

PRAYER:   Lord, forgive me according to your mercy, your unfailing love and your great compassion.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 05, 2023: SOAP #4901: 2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 20:1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah
4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

OBSERVATION:  Here is a special blessing from the Lord in His Word.  Today I send this blessing to all those who work to prepare and provide the SOAPs for others. 

My brothers and sisters, we have stumbled into God’s work.  God used Pastor Dayton Poe to give me the assignment of writing daily SOAPs, (which I did not want to accept at the first) and God has used various ways to join others in this SOAP ministry.  This ministry is not something anyone planned, but as we were faithful in the little things, God has made it grow! 

APPLICATION:  I pray you find the strong hand of the Lord with you in time of trouble.  I pray for our Heavenly Father to send you help from heaven’s courts and may He lead the people of Zion to give into your ministry as He directs them.  May God see the sacrifices you have made to spread the SOAPs.  May He fulfill your desires.  I have, and I will continue to “shout for joy” and spread the good news of your victories.

PRAYER:   Lord, your blessings from your Word!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 04, 2023: SOAP #4900: 2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 21:12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’.”…
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”…
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

OBSERVATION:  Three times in this chapter, Jesus, the Living Word, refers to the Written Word of God.  He would not have needed to make reference to the Written Word for His spoken words carried the same authority as those written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The Written Word should have prepared them for the Living Word. 

The people to whom Jesus was speaking should have had no trouble with Jesus actions and teachings.  He had come in fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures.  Reading the scriptures would have prepared them for Jesus and His ministry. 

APPLICATION:  The closer I get to Jesus, the more my life will take on the priority of the Bible.  But how can I live according to His Word if I do not read it.  Reading the Bible should be a priority in my life.

Faithfully reading God’s Word will prepare me for the day.  I will approach the day with understanding and better respond to what happens.  How can I expect God to speak to me when I refuse to read what He has already said!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word.  Holy Spirit, open my understanding as I read it today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 03, 2023: SOAP #4899: 2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”…
30  Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”… 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

OBSERVATION:  In verses 25-28, Jesus taught the disciples about being a servant.  The purpose of a servant is to live and work for the good of another.  Then in verses 29-43, the disciples watched as Jesus demonstrated the servant attitude in ministry.  Jesus responded kindly to the interruption of the two blind men.  He asked how He might serve them.  He had compassion.  He touched them.  He touched their weakness.  He healed them.  And in so doing, Jesus became their servant!

APPLICATION:  One very great way Jesus served us is in giving us an example of what it means to be a servant.  I must do it “…just as the Son of Man…” (verse 28) 

Jesus words teach me.  His life is my example.  And as the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus, so the Holy Spirit empowers me to live out the life of Jesus. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I cannot live up to the teaching and example of Jesus without your help.  Fill me with yourself.  Empower me to be the servant needed.  May Jesus be glorified in my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 02, 2023: SOAP #4898: 1Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 19:13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

OBSERVATION:  The disciples were looking out for Jesus.  He was important and should not be interrupted with insignificant issues.  They rebuked the adults who brought children to Jesus.   Jesus did not wait until the disciples were alone with Him to correct the issue.  He immediately corrected the disciples in public. 

Children were not to be considered an interruption!  They were too important to be overlooked! 

APPLICATION:  Blest are the people who serve in church nurseries, or work in children’s ministries, or take care of orphans!  They are doing the ministry of Jesus.  They have these verses and many others to emphasize the importance of children.  They can stand in their faith praying for the needs of the children.  In prayer, they can quote the very words of Jesus regarding the importance of children.  In prayer, they can bring the “little children to Him” because “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as them.”  

These little children carry His image.  He made them; He knows what they need! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, impart the gift of faith to those ministering to children. May they first see the value of their ministry.  May they know that you are with them.  May their faith grow as they bring their needs to you and see you answering their prayers through your many resources.  Lord, especially across Africa, impart supernatural faith to those ministering to children. (1Corinthians 12:7-11) May their faith, and your response to their faith, be an example for believers around the world today.  Amen, –and every SOAP reader said, “AMEN!”      

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 01, 2023: SOAP #4897: 1Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

The Importance of KNOWING God’s Will!  (repeat from 2021)

SCRIPTURE:  1Chronicles (NIV) 14:2 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel … 
9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10 so David enquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD answered him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.” 11 So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them … .
13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley; 14 so David enquired of God again, and God answered 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

OBSERVATION:  David’s success began in verse 2.  David knew that the LORD had set him as king.  David’s kingship was God’s idea and God’s doing. So, when David was faced with the Philistine attack, David knew where to go.  He did not get counsel from advisors and counselors knowledgeable of warfare and the Philistines.  He went to the One Who set him as king.

APPLICATION:  Two problems I see:  First: I lack confidence that I am where He wants.  But when God places me under authority (in a church or at work) it is His will that I submit joyfully “as unto the Lord.”  I need to know that God has me where He wants me, and He can get me where He wants me next. Second: I often depend on my own strength and wisdom when I encounter trouble.  I depend on others to do what God wants to do.  When I started that ministry, I wanted God to be glorified in my life.  So, God brings me trouble beyond my capability and needs beyond my resources.  He wants me to depend on Him.  Oh, yes, I will pray and ask God to supply, but I cannot spend too much time in prayer as I need to be contacting others for help or resources.  But when I only ask Him, then, when the answer comes, only He gets the glory!  And everyone knows it came from God!  

Success in ministry begins with knowing I am in God’s will.  With that issue settled, I know I can trust God to provide what is needed. 

PRAYER:   Lord, knowing that you have set me where you want me gives me confidence.  But your goal is not my failure but my learning to depend on you.   I have confidence that you will be glorified by working through the needs before me today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 30, 2023: SOAP #4896: 2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 17:22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

OBSERVATION:  Here is one of several times Jesus told the disciples that his necessary suffering would take Him to death, BUT HE WOULD RETURN TO LIFE.   Yes, He would suffer.  Yes, He would die.  But He would just as surely return to life!  The victory lay on the other side of death!   

APPLICATION:  The activities of the disciples following His crucifixion show that they did not remember what He had told them.  They could have had a watch-night vigil at the tomb the evening of the second day! 

It is so important for me to look through the trouble ahead to the victory on the other!   It is easy to let present trouble block my view of the victory ahead.  If I saw the victory, I could begin rejoicing even before the trouble is swept aside. 

Being faithful to read God’s Word and listening to the Holy Spirit helps me to focus through the difficulty to the victory.  Hearing testimonies encourages me that God is still faithful to His word and is actively working today. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I know that the greater struggle brings the greater rejoicing when the victory is won.  Stir my spirit to begin rejoicing even before the victory is won.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 29, 2023: SOAP #4895: 2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

OBSERVATION:  In Jesus day people would look at the sky in the evenings to predict what the weather would be in the morning. Jesus took them to task because they were better at understanding the signs in the sky than understanding what was happening around them in life!

APPLICATION:  One of the first things I do every morning is to look at the weather forecast.  It helps me know how to dress for a day of driving the bus.  Today we have instruments to measure wind and moisture and air pressure. With satellites it is possible to see the jet stream moving across the oceans from one continent to another.  We know so much more about the weather; we prepare for hurricanes and potential tornados days in advance.

All the while, we make no preparation for coming judgment, even though our wickedness is flaunted in the face of God.  Judgment is already happening, yet we do not make the connection between God’s hand of judgment and our sin. 

The southern border of the United States is a place of judgment as God brings in new people to replace the 70+ million children that were not allowed to live.  It is a place of judgment as drug organizations send thousands of colorful pills into our country to entice children even to their death.  It is a place of judgment as known criminals can slip across the border while the border patrol is busy dealing with the large groups trying to gain entrance.  It is judgment that can be seen in  every large city

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep us alert and aware of what is happening in our cities and nation. We need your input to fully understand what we see. Help us not be taken by surprise when judgment comes. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 27, 2023: SOAP #4893: 2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

SCRIPTURE:  2Samuel (NIV) 2:12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD….
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.

OBSERVATION:  When an offering was brought to the LORD, Eli’s sons would demand to take for themselves the portion they liked best.  It was not what the people thought about the actions of Eli’s sons; it was not what their father thought about their actions; it was what God thought!   God thought their sin was “very great.” 

APPLICATION:  A few minutes ago I heard a politician say that we need to come together on the issue of abortion.  She said that people have different life experiences that affect their thinking.  Some think abortion is unquestionable wrong.  Others were raised with different values and are willing to allow for abortions.  But the politician had no comment about how God sees abortion! 

About twenty years ago, I asked the Lord why He did not do something about the national sin of abortion.  How could He allow us to continue to destroy that which is made in His image without some punishment?  I remember God clearly saying that He would bring one illegal alien into our nation for every child we had aborted!  It was a word that rang true in my spirit, but I wondered how that would happen. 

Today thousands illegally cross our southern border every day.  And along with those looking for a better life or job, comes criminals and a scourge of drugs.  An invading military army could not do more havoc than those drugs are doing!!! 

PRAYER:   Lord, you are replacing the unwanted babies that should be living among us today—you are replacing them with people breaking our immigration laws.  They too carry your image and are loved by you.  Help us to see them as a mission field you are bringing to us.  Help us to love them as you love us.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 26, 2023: SOAP #4892: 2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 13:57 And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

OBSERVATION:  The people in Jesus’ hometown were familiar with his childhood.  (verses 54-56) They knew that Jospeh was a carpenter.  They knew His mother, Mary.  His family was just like their family.  They knew his brothers by name, and his sisters.  They had played with Jesus in the streets.  They had watched him grow.  Nothing special came out of their family, so how could they believe that Jesus was special. 

They were amazed at his teaching, but their “lack of faith” limited the miracles he did.  Note it does NOT say that he did no miracles, but that He did not do many. 

APPLICATION:  Often Jesus commented that the person’s faith was key in their healing.  (Mtt 9:2, 22; 15:28 a few of many.)  In these verses it is the lack of faith that is noted. 

Faith is like sucking on a straw.  It is like drinking from a cool, refreshing glass of water through a straw.  The sucking  will not quench my thirst, but it will draw the refreshing liquid into my mouth. 

My faith puts a demand on God’s ability.  It draws the reality of His ability to my need.  I know that faith is only as good as its foundation; in this case it is only as good as the liquid into which the straw is inserted.

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, may the end of my straw always be immersed deeply in you and Your Word!    Amen.

Pastor Leon
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