Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 18, 2023: SOAP #4853: Joshua 1-2; Psalm 37; 1Corinthians 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.  

OBSERVATION: God’s temple is where He lives.  The church is not the building I visit once or twice a week, or month, or year.  The church is not a building, but people.  It is people in whom God lives by His Spirit.  He does not just visit once a week but lives there twenty-four hours, seven days a week.

APPLICATION: The house is not the family and the building is not the church.  The family is not a family only when they are present in the house, nor is the church only the church when it is gathered in the “church” building.  The family is tied together by a common life and so is the church. 

We do not go to church; we are the church.  We are the church when we are in our homes.  We are the church when we are at work.  We are the church when we are in the market.  The presence of the Holy Spirit in people—that is the church.  My body is the temple of the Lord!  

Yesterday I met with a group of about 15 men at Panera restaurant.  God had accompanied each of us to that place and the Holy Spirit was clearly moving among us.  We were the church.  Later, Joe and I were together in my car, just the two of us.  But no, Someone was with us!  We were still the church. 

PRAYER:   Lord, What is true in your word, is true in my life.  Help me to live it today.  Help me to be a good presentation of what I really am.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 17, 2023: SOAP #4852: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us….
16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

OBSERVATION:  No one knows how God thinks, except the Spirit of God.  Just like I must live with my own thoughts, so the Spirit of God lives with the thoughts of God.  No one can truly know how I am thinking except myself.  And no one can truly know how God is thinking except the Spirit of God!  

If I wanted you to really know how I was thinking, I would need to give you my mind, my spirit.  And if God really wants me to know how He is thinking, He would need to give me His mind, His Spirit.  And that is what He did!!! 

Jesus died on the cross to forgive my sins, making me clean.  Then the Holy Spirit enters my clean heart to show me how to live. 

This is the SAME Spirit that came upon Jesus when He was baptized by John, so He really does understand how we are to live in this world. 

APPLICATION: This chapter should be hung on the walls of my mind.  I should read it every day. It is not a promise of what awaits me in heaven.  It is a statement of what I have NOW! 

This chapter shows why it is so important that I learn to listen to the Holy Spirit!  He will speak to me as I read the Bible.  He will show me how those scriptures apply to me.  He will help me understand what God thinks about the issues I face in life.  He will empower me to live victoriously! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I set myself to be a vessel that you can easily work through.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 167, 2023: SOAP #4851: Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no-one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

OBSERVATION:  One of the symptoms of pride is boasting.  It is hard for a person full of pride to resist the temptation of talking about themselves and what they have done.  Their words work together to put themselves in a good light and to draw attention to themselves. 

God like to use our foolishness, our weakness, and our lowly position.  When those are not hidden, the wisdom that is expressed must have come from God.  Everybody knows that we do not have that wisdom.  When something great happens, it must have been God; everyone knows that we did not have the strength  or the resources!  It must have been God!   

And when we realize that all we are, and all we have, comes from God who has placed us in Christ Jesus, then we stop boasting about ourselves and begin boasting about our Lord!  

APPLICATION:  The greatest thing in my life—the one thing worthy of boasting—is that I am “in Christ Jesus;” I am a part of His body, the church.  It is truly amazing!  But that is the one thing I could do nothing about.  There is no basis for boasting!  I can only boast in what God has done!  

My goal is to make God look good!  May God be exalted in my conversation. May God be exalted in all I do. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, work in me so that the presence of Jesus can be easily seen in all I say and all I do.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 15, 2023: SOAP #4850: Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 28:13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

OBSERVATION:  The verses 1-14 are the word of God spoken through Moses to the children of Israel.  They tell them of God’s plans to establish them in the Promised Land.  They tell of the blessings God has in store for them if they continue to follow God’s commands. 

Then we come to the word “However.”  This is what the Israelites can expect if they do not obey.  The Lord’s blessings turn to the Lord’s curses.  Verse 63: “Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you.”

APPLICATION: The “HOWEVER” set a dividing line for the Israelites.  They discovered that the God who brought them out of Egypt and gave the blessings in verses 1-14 was indeed the same God who kept His word given in the verses following verse 15. 

The scriptures show how the Israelites made the “However” to be a dividing line for God’s dealing with them. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, as I enjoy the blessings of your love, may I never forget that you are holy. Holy Spirit, help me stay on the right side of the “However!”  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 14, 2023: SOAP #4849: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

OBSERVATION:  Yes, I have freedom!   The death of Jesus on the cross set me free from the bondage of sin.  Freedom gives me choices.  I can choose to do what is right, or I can choose to sin.  God does not tie my hands and lock me in a box.  My service to God only honors God when it is freely given.  God is much too holy and worthy to be served by those who have no choice but to serve Him.  He will use people, but His joy comes when I choose to serve Him.

As I understand it, God is working in my life to lovingly win me into loving Him.  I am committed to God because I love Him.   

From God’s point, it is risky.  People can accept His forgiveness then go out and sin again, and again until they are back in bondage to sin.  It hurts God’s heart!  I am His creation.  He loves me.  He is pulling for my good! 

APPLICATION: There is only one sacrifice that covers my sin — the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  And only one life that gives me power to live above sin — the resurrected life of Jesus living within.  The sacrifice of Jesus put an end to relying on the law given to Moses, but it did not negate the eternal truth that the wages of sin is death.  Repentance means confessing AND turning from sin.  I must die to myself and come alive to His life within! 

PRAYER:   Lord, by your forgiveness you free me from the guilt of past sins, and by your life you free me from the power of temptation today.  Forgive me for thinking it is OK to sin and then ask forgiveness later.  Holy Spirit, today you will be facing with me any temptation coming my way today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 13, 2023: SOAP #4848: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NV) 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had first stopped at Galatia due to illness.  Either the sickness caused him to stop where he had not planned or caused him to extend his stay instead of moving on as he had planned. The people of Galatia did not treat Paul as though he was untouchable due to his sickness but went out of their way to minister to him.  Paul refers to it as a trial that THEY endured. Paul was not afraid to identify his problem as “my illness.” It was not considered a “negative confession.”  The Galatians did not reject Paul or belittle his faith because of this sickness.

Paul, and the Galatians, and the Holy Spirit used this “illness” for the glory of God.  Paul did so by taking the opportunities afforded him to preach the gospel.  The Galatians did so by accepting the gospel! Then, later, the Holy Spirit expanded this ministry by inspiring Paul write this letter to the Galatians, now a part of our Bible!!!   It all started with Paul’s schedule being interrupted by his illness.  

APPLICATION: Limitations, unplanned interruptions, changes in schedules may provide unexpected opportunities to share the love of Jesus.  I must not waste my time complaining but must looking for divine opportunities.  Only God knows the full value of unexpected opportunities brought our way.  (A mother is staying home to tend to a sick child. Today God will answer your prayers for your child’s salvation. …and you get to be a part!) 

I must not let my frustrations with a broken schedule, or a delay, cause me to miss opportunities to share the love of Jesus with those nearby. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, when things are not going my way, help me to keep a sweet spirit. May a bad attitude on my part not hinder someone from seeing you at work in me, and being open to your work in their life.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 12, 2023: SOAP #4847: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

OBSERVATION:  Just why is it that God gives us the promised Holy Spirit?  Is it because we have done such an excellent job in keeping the law?  Is it because He owes us for working so hard at keeping the law?  Or does God give us the life of the Spirit because we believe His word?  Obviously, the answer, un-given, is clear.  It is because we believe!  Read the next verse: 6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

The “new creation” life of a believer starts by faith; AND it continues by faith! 

APPLICATION: The same is true for me. I could not save myself. Salvation came when I confessed my sins and accepted what Jesus did as the complete payment for my sins. Just as I relied on Him for my salvation, I must continue to rely on Him to live His life through me. Jesus is not living Leon’s life. Leon is living Jesus’ life. But the truth is that Leon cannot live Jesus’ life. The only one who can live Jesus’ life is Jesus.  So, Jesus must come and live His own life in Leon!  And that is exactly what He does by His Holy Spirit!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins.  I receive your forgiveness.  And I receive the Holy Spirit as you promised.  With Jesus as my Lord and the Holy Spirit empowering me, may my life bring you honor and joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 11, 2023: SOAP #4846: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:7 [Paul writing] …they [the church leaders in Jerusalem] saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

OBSERVATION:  God’s kingdom is great and has many separate responsibilities.  To the Corinthians, Paul likens the church to a human body with each member having a different assignment.  In the passage above, Paul recognizes that God had called Peter to minister to the Jews and God had called him to minister to the Gentiles. 

APPLICATION: Some people get so caught up with their assigned responsibility, they think everyone should be doing what they are doing.  They spend their time trying to recruit others to help them…to even leave off their assigned ministry to help them. 

Each believer needs to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling them to do.  When they are faithfully doing God’s will, they will be walking in the path of God’s provision.  

PRAYER:   Lord, your faithfulness is so much greater than mine.  But I am learning that when I am faithful, I can count on your faithfulness.  Use me to encourage others to be faithful to the ministry you have given them.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 10, 2023: SOAP #4845: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Paul clearly saw himself as a servant of Christ.  To Paul, success in life was winning His approval.

If I call Jesus Lord, then I am also claiming that I am his servant.  And if I am his servant, then my goal is to please Him!  (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11)

APPLICATION: Since there is no common yardstick, success is hard to measure.  Commonly we measure our success based on how others see us.  A person is successful when the significant people in their lives consider them successful.  For a young child, it is their parents.  For a student it is their teacher.  For a teen, it is their peers.  For a husband it is his bride.  For an employee it can be their boss.  For a business owner, it is customers or the owners of similar businesses. 

As important as these may be, there is really only one measure of the success that really counts.  Does my life bring joy to God?  Can I make Him smile?

PRAYER:   Lord, today I want to bring joy to Your heart and a smile to your face! May it start with this prayer.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 09, 2023: SOAP #4844: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

OBSERVATION:  Of course, they did!   They had been with Jesus and witnessed his miracles.  They had eaten the Last Supper, been to Gethsemane, to the cross and to the tomb.  Then on the third day, they went to the tomb again!  Of course, they will talk about it.  It would be unnatural not to talk about it!!!

Of course, He did.  He is the One who took them on ministry trips and answered their questions.  He is the One who sent them out in pairs, then heard their reports when they returned.  He is the One who gave them instructions about going into all the world!  Of course, He would be with them.  Of course, He would confirm His word by signs, by Holy Spirit anointed miracles.  It would be illogical to think that they could continue His ministry without the signs to accompany it. 

APPLICATION: Of course, He will do it today!   As we set ourselves to honor Him, as we speak His words, of course the Holy Spirit will confirm His word by signs, By things happening in response to His Word that we speak, He will confirm that it is His word and that we are speaking for Him!  

That is the way He did it for the early church; we should expect nothing less!     

PRAYER:   Lord, so fill and anoint us with the Holy Spirit that when we speak your words, your message, people will see results and receive you as the Lord of their lives. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon