Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 16, 2023: SOAP #4823: Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.” 16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

OBSERVATION:  He was just a young boy who overheard adults discussing their plans to kill Paul.  There was nothing someone his age could do, so he took the information to his Uncle Paul.  Paul had one of the centurions escort His nephew to the commander.  His story was believable, and the commander took actions accordingly.  (Read the rest of the chapter.)   

We all recognize the Apostle Paul as a main character in the Bible.  God not only chose and used Paul, but He also chose and used others.  Paul’s nephew was used in a very crucial way.  Paul’s life was spared.  Paul was alive to write other books of the Bible.

APPLICATION: There are many small unnoticed acts that we may have opportunity to do for the Lord.  We may think we are too small, or too old, or too young, or too poor, or too uneducated, or too limited to be useful to the Lord.  But, like Paul’s nephew, lets commit ourselves to use what we have in whatever way we can. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, please do not let me overlook the small things I can do.  Do not let me become so focused on the big things I hope to do, that I miss the small things I can easily do.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 15, 2023: SOAP #4822: Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 26:8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.

OBSERVATION:  Some see the level ground in verse 12 as referring to an easy path, one that will not cause us to stumble.  There is truth in that viewpoint.  However, I have come to consider it differently.  I see it as we all stand on level ground in God’s presence.  King David was not closer to the Lord than the other worshippers.  He was not ABOVE them because he was king. 

At the foot of the cross, we were all equally sinners and are equally redeemed.  We were all equally bought by the same blood.  Before the cross of Jesus, the important are humbled to join their praise and worship with the lowly.  Before the cross of Jesus, the lowliest are raised to stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest leaders in history. 

APPLICATION: It is not your value, nor my value…it is the value of the treasure within us.  It is not their value, nor our value…it is the value of the treasure within.  Every person has value.  Jesus set the value of a person when He died on the cross to pay for our sins.  God, the Father, valued lost, sinful man so much that He was willing to send His Son to bring us back into right relationship. 

Join me in worship…

PRAYER:   Lord, we worship you.  We honor you.  We stand together “on level ground” before Your throne and declare that you are LORD!  Our hearts are humbled that you made room for us together in Your presence.  Keep our hearts knit together by your Holy Spirit, throughout this day.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 14, 2023: SOAP #4821: Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 21:3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying good-bye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

OBSERVATION:  The church was young and relatively small.  It surely was a special blessing to look for, and to find disciples in the various cities.  To me it appears that these were new acquaintances to Paul.  But whatever, we see that in seven days, the Holy Spirit knit their hearts together.  As families they accompanied Paul to the beach.  As families they knelt to pray with Paul and his traveling companions.  And as families they said good-bye and returned home. 

APPLICATION: As I have had opportunity to travel, what a joy it is to meet other believers, especially in unexpected places.  Their presence is a comfort and encouragement to me.  How sweet is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as we lift the name of Jesus and share our testimonies.  It has always been a time of mutual edification. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep my eyes open and my ears tuned in to those around me.  May I not miss an opportunity to speak a word of encouragement to another believer in an unexpected place.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 13, 2023: SOAP #4820: Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

OBSERVATION:  Paul is giving his farewell sermon to the elders from Ephesus.  They had come to Meletus to meet with Paul.  He closes his sermon with giving himself as an example of how to work and handle money.  He had worked to provide for his own needs and for the needs of those with him.  He did not expect others to provide for his needs.  When people sent money, he thanked them but he did not ask or expect them to send him money.  He used his money to supply his “own needs” and to “help the weak.” 

He believed the words of Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

APPLICATION: When I have financial needs, I have found that often my greatest need is to give.  Giving is like sowing seeds into the ground.  Moisture and time cause them to sprout, grow, and produce more seeds.  Some seeds I can eat, and some must be planted for a future harvest.  My planting may be small to start, but it will increase. 

Consider:  the portion of seed  I eat is the largest it will ever be; but the portion of seed I plant is the smallest it will ever be!   I plant by giving! 

PRAYER:   Lord, finances is such an important part of my life.  Thank you for your words and for the examples you have given.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 12, 2023: SOAP #4819: Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had the same priority as Jesus.  Before Jesus left, He made sure that the disciples knew to wait in Jerusalem to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus had given them the Great Commission of going into all the world, but He knew that they were not prepared to fulfill it until they had a special encounter with the Holy Spirit.  (Luke 24:49 & Acts 1:8)

When Paul met the disciples in Ephesus, he wanted to make sure they were ready to face the troubles that accompanied being a Christian.  “Had they received the Holy Spirit?”  “No,” they answered.  So, “how were they baptized?”  “In John’s baptism.”  So, Peter baptized them in the Name of the Lord Jesus, laid his hands on them and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit!  

APPLICATION: If you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you will know it.  Others will know it too.  It is hard to keep it hidden!  

But more important than being baptized in the Holy Spirit, is staying full of the Holy Spirit!  Our relationship with the Holy Spirit should be even better than the New Testament disciples had with Jesus.  The Holy Spirit lives within me.  I walk and I talk with Him!    

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I want to live full of you.  May my every word and action have your approval.  More than you being in me, it must be me being fully in you! Amen.

Pastor Leon   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 11, 2023: SOAP #4818: Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

OBSERVATION:  The Apostle Paul was no different from the rest of us: he needed money to live. He did not expect others to carry his load, so he joined with Aquila and Priscilla in their work as tentmakers. His schedule was to work all week then preach in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday). When those committed to Paul arrived in Corinth to join in the ministry they must have started working to earn living expenses because Paul was then free to give all his time to preaching. Silas and Timothy now share in Paul’s reward!

APPLICATION: Sometimes my schedule is difficult as I try to balance driving a school bus with opportunities to minister. I am blest in knowing that God assigned me to drive the bus and driving the bus is just as important to God as other ministry. He considers it all ministry. Bus driving and daily SOAPs are priorities because God specifically directed me into these ministries. I believe an important part of my ministry is helping believers see that their “jobs” are an important ministry.

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the privileges of daily sharing Your Word and of driving the school bus. I enjoy being Your servant. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Note:  This SOAP devotion was written in 2017.  At that time, I had been writing and driving for 7 years.  Now another 6 years have passed.  Look what God has done! Driving the bus and writing daily SOAPs re just small things.  This ministry has grown because God is faithful, and He honors faithfulness. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 10, 2023: SOAP #4817: Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

(from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 17:2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Luke 4:16 He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is … 

OBSERVATION:  Paul had a practice that was very much like Jesus.  They both had the same custom.  They regularly went to the place where God was honored.

APPLICATION: I accepted Christ as my Savior; He now lives inside me and has made me a part of His body, the church.  If those following the Old Testament scriptures were to meet regularly, how much more should the church regularly come together.  As I want my physical body to interact and work together, how much more does Christ want His body to do the same.  The writer of Hebrews mentions people with a different custom-that of not meeting together.  How unlike Jesus that custom is!

PRAYER:   Amen. Lord, thank you for the privilege of being a part of your body.  May my presence in Your body (the church) be an expression of appreciation for Your Presence in my life!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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February 09, 2023: SOAP #4816: Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them….
23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.

OBSERVATION:  Through their ministry, a demon-possessed slave girl had been delivered.   Her masters now would not be able to use her to make them money.  They had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in jail.  I think in jail. Paul and Silas looked back and reminded themselves of God’s call.  No, they had not missed the will of God.  And while waiting for whatever it was that God was going to do, they began to sing.  An earthquake shook open the stocks and set them free!

APPLICATION: Being in the will of God is no guarantee that everything will go well.   But being in the will of God builds my faith to be able to sing at midnight, even when things are looking bad.   Being in the will of God builds my faith to wait for Him to do what only He can do!

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to keep my eyes on you. Help me always remember that the word you gave me when things were going good is strong enough to keep me when things are not going good.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 08, 2023: SOAP #4815: Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15  (reworked from 2018)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 15: Acts (NIV) 15:9 He made no distinction between us [Jewish believers] and them [Gentile believers], for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

OBSERVATION:  Grace and Faith. The importance of these two words in our relationship to God cannot be over emphasized. Grace is offering a gift that is totally undeserved to someone who has no standing on their own to gain the gift for themselves. Faith is the confidence/assurance in a person’s heart that something is absolutely true. Salvation is offered in grace and received by faith.

Later Paul would write: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

APPLICATION: Grace is God offering me the gift of salvation — a gift I can never earn nor obtain, other than as a gift. Faith is the assurance in my heart that God’s offer is true, and I receive it by acknowledging my unworthiness and inability; all I can say is, “Thank you!”

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, your plan of salvation assures that only you get the glory. You offered it before we even knew we needed it. It can only be legally offered because of your work in sending your Son. All the glory can only go to you! You alone are worthy! THANK YOU!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 07, 2023: SOAP #4814: Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derby. 21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

OBSERVATION:  Paul was hit with rocks to the point he was considered dead.  His body was drug outside the city, probably to some cemetery or garbage dump. Disciples gathered around Paul, probably praying, and God worked a miracle.  God restored Paul and he got up and went back into the city!   One would think that he would take a few days to recover from the stoning, but that is not what we read.  The next day they left, walking to Derby, a distance of 20 miles [Nelson]!  After ministry in Derby, they stopped again in Lystra on their way home.

APPLICATION: Two things I see in this passage.  First, the Christian life is not trouble free.  Problems and persecution are not signs I am out of God’s will.  His presence sustains us and carries us through the troubles. 

Second, having Christ is my life is well worth any troubles that come my way.  As my father’s life taught me, it is worth the sacrifice to follow Jesus.

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, make me a useful servant.  Let your power and grace be seen in me. I am relying on your presence!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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