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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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 25, 2023: SOAP #4891: 1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 12:9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So, he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

OBSERVATION:  Here we have Jesus comparing saving an animal (which was acceptable in Jewish law) to healing a person (which was unlawful on the Sabbath.) 

How illogical to save an animal, yet not heal a person!!!  Somehow the value of the human life had been lost in their thinking.  Jesus came to restore sanity. 

APPLICATION:  The application is easy to see.  Today we have people who are for saving whales, wild horses, eagles, lions, etc.  Yet for that created in God’s image, termination of a pregnancy is acceptable, if the life is inconvenient! 

Over ten years ago, I asked the Lord what He would be doing about this problem in the USA.  Allowing that created in His image to be destroyed did not seem like something He would overlook, especially in a nation built on Biblical principles.  He spoke to me that He would be bringing one illegal alien into our country for every child that should have been born!  I wondered how that could be.  Then our borders began to open up during Obama’s presidency.  During the Trump years, there was an attempt to limit crossing the borders.  But the first day of Biden presidency, the boarders were opened and now thousands come across every day.   God is true to His character and His word!                                                                                                                    

PRAYER:   Lord, you are always faithful to your character and your word.  We have not been faithful.  Forgive us, we pray.  In judgment remember mercy and teach us your principles.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 24, 2023: SOAP #4890: 1Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

OBSERVATION:  Come to Jesus for rest:  I find rest from having to be good enough to be accepted.  I find He has already accepted me! But there is more. 

Take his yoke for training:   Being yoked to the Lord, I am bound to His schedule and life.  I cannot go my own way; the yoke holds me at His side. 

It is like being yoked in the boot camp of the United States Navy.  I had to fit into their schedule.  I went to class on their schedule.  I had to do the physical training on their schedule.  It was my choice (God’s choice) to leave Bible College and join the US Navy, but once in the Navy, my choices were limited.  I ate and slept on their schedule.

APPLICATION:  I am yoked to the Lord!  I go on His schedule and go where He goes.  Is it limiting?  Yes.  Is it worth it?  Yes, yes, and YES!  It is a privileged to be accepted into His yoke.  Being in the yoke with Him, I find His strength sufficient! 

He could wrestle me into His yoke but He wants me to take it willingly.  The US Navy’s goal for me was not to spend my whole enlistment in boot camp. 

(As I see it, God’s purpose for the yoke is to train me for future ministry, not to keep me in the yoke forever.  However, there may come a future time when I am yoked to another for their growth.  Only to the level I am willing to be yoked to the Lord, will others be yoked to me.  Learning to be a leader begins with learning to be a follower.) 

PRAYER:   Lord, it is my great privilege to be yoked to you.  Wherever you go, I must go with you.  Wherever I find myself, you are there with me!  Holy Spirit, make my time in the yoke profitable for the Kingdom.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 23, 2023: SOAP #4889: 1Samuel 27; 1Chronicles 9; Psalm 141; Matthew 10

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

OBSERVATION:  Here we have two very important words in the life of a true disciple of Jesus.  The first word is “sent.”  Jesus was sending out His disciples.  He gave them instructions about what to do and what to expect. 

The first word is for Jesus to do; the second word is my responsibility!  It is the word “go.”  It is my response to being sent.  If Jesus is Lord, I must go where I am sent.  He is Lord; He does the sending; I do the going! 

APPLICATION:  I have learned two other truths about God’s sending and my going.  First:  He does not send me alone!  He is going with me!   We will make this journey together!   Second:  When I arrive at my destination, He is already there!  He has been there all the time! 

And, yes, He was sending me.  If He needed someone with other talents, or a different testimony, He would have sent them.  If I do not have what is needed, He will provide it!  

PRAYER:   Lord help me to hear your directions and then quickly respond.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 22, 2023: SOAP #4888: 1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” … 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

OBSERVATION:  This passage has always had my attention.  It was not the faith of the paralytic, but the faith of those who carried him to Jesus.  It was their faith that was put into action.  It was their faith that Jesus saw.  

According to their faith, their actions were very logical.  Jesus could heal; their friend needed healing but could not walk; they would carry him to Jesus. 

Perhaps there were others that day who wondered what these men were doing.  It might have seemed like a waste of time and effort.  But to those carrying the paralytic, it was very logical!  

And it was also very logical to someone else—to Jesus!  He understood what they were doing.  He responded to “their faith!” 

APPLICATION: Faith is the natural response to hearing God speak to my heart.  When God personalizes His word to my heart, it is more than words on a page, or more than someone speaking to me.  Those written or spoken words carry a message for Leon.  They are burned into my thoughts, and I cannot push them aside. 

When God speaks to me, it is logical to direct my actions accordingly.  When I act like His word to me is true, then my faith becomes visible to others and to God. 

PRAYER:   Lord, Others may see my faith; some may be critical, but I want my faith to be visible to you.  May I bring joy to your heart by acting like your word to me is true.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 21, 2023: SOAP #4887: 1Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 8; Psalm 57, 58; Matthew 8

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 57:9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

OBSERVATION:  How great is God’s love!!!  In this verse, God’s great love reaches to the heavens.  There is no place in the universe where God’s love does not reach.  There is no sin that is greater than God’s love.  God’s love is so great that He gave the greatest treasure in heaven (the life of His Son, Jesus) to redeem fallen man. 

APPLICATION: His love is so great that if you have not yet confessed your sins and given your life to Him, you can do that in this moment.  Praying is just talking to God.  Talk to Him right now as though He is right there with you—He is!  Tell Him you are a sinner.  Ask Him to forgive your sins.  Invite Him to live in your life.  Ask Him to help you make your life a home in which He will enjoy living. 

Now as you continue in your day, just remember that He is with you.  You will see a change in your perspective.  He will cause you to see things as He sees them. 

He is so close, so you can talk to Him anytime.  He is so important you will enjoy spending time just with Him.  When you gather with other believers, God will draw your attention to things the pastor/preacher/teacher says.  Remember them and start applying those truths in your life.  The Holy Spirit will give you thoughts in your mind to help you. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, use these simple thoughts to draw SOAP readers into an enjoyable and continual relationship with you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 20, 2023: SOAP #4886: 1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

OBSERVATION:  How amazing to serve a God who wants to be asked!   Earthly fathers love to fill the requests of their children.  And the same is true of our Heavenly Father.  He loves to express His love in tangible means.  He wants others to see that His children are blest!   They will want to be His children too! 

Each verse in the passage above has an emphasis on “asking.”  To whom does God give the good gifts in verse 11?  …”to those who ask him!”  

APPLICATION: With a passage of scripture like the above, why would I ask someone else?  Am I really His child?  Do I really believe that His word is true?  Do I believe that He can provide my needs?  Do I believe that He loves me enough to take care of me?  Do I think God needs my help to answer my prayers? 

If I promised my son that I would give him money needed for a special project, and then the next day I overheard him asking his uncle for money for the same project…I would wonder if my son really trusted me.  Did he doubt my word?  Yet, I have done that to God, many times.

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I am sure I have often offended you by ignoring your promise and then trying to get people to do what You have promised. Holy Spirit, help my faith to be grounded in the Scriptures.  Help my faith to keep growing. You have many ways to answer my requests.  I trust you to use the one which will bring you the most glory.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 19, 2023: SOAP #4885: 1Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

OBSERVATION:  The above passage begins with “Be careful…”  Jesus is telling us to give special attention to this matter.  It is not to be overlooked. 

Our generosity is for our Heavenly Father’s eyes, not for the world’s eyes.  When He sees, He will reward.  But when our charity is for the eyes of the world, that is all the reward we will receive. 

Maybe we thought that when the world saw our good deeds, they would support us.  We hoped they would join us.   But according to the words of Jesus, when we try to gain man’s attention in this matter of giving to the needy, we are just trading God’s reward (verse 4) for man’s reward (verse 2).  That is a very poor trade!! 

APPLICATION:  I believe this passage directly addresses the practice of some churches to take pictures of giving to the poor and then posting those pictures on Facebook.  If that has been your practice, please pray about it.  Let God prove Himself and bless you with His reward!  

Not just for churches, this passage is for individuals.  When God gives opportunity, prove His word.  Give secretly and prayerfully take note of God’s reward. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are a giver, and you want a family of givers.  You want your children to experience the joy of giving.  Giving is one way we participate in your ministry.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 18, 2023: SOAP #4884: 1Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

OBSERVATION:  The love God wants for His people is not a reaction love, but an acting love. It is not love in return for a favor; it is love that is given when it was not expected.  And it is given without a promise of returned love.

APPLICATION: Simply put, it is the love that God has extended to me! 

One might say, “It is impossible to love like that.  It is not natural.”  And they would be right.  It is impossible for fallen, sinful man to live up to God’s holy standards.  If man was to love like that, God would need to live in him and love through him!  And that is the beauty of the Christian life!   God lives His life through me!!! 

PRAYER:   Lord, because of your death on the cross in payment for sin, forgive me and cleanse me from all sin.  Come and live in me.  Come live and love through me.  Teach me your ways. May my life bring you joy today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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