Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 28, 2022: SOAP #4773: Revelation 5-9  (re-worked SOAP from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

OBSERVATION:    God had given them a history of His gracious works on their behalf, but they did not repent.  God had sent prophets to speak to them, warning them of the results of their sin, but they did not repent.  God had given them examples of how other nations had reaped the results of their sin, but they did not repent.  And here a third of mankind will be killed, yet the remaining will still not repent! What an amazing statement!  I think even God is surprised.  How powerful is evil that can hold onto man even when it is obvious that he should repent and call on God.

APPLICATION: God deals with me for my good and for His glory.  What does it take to get me to repent? When I see His goodness, I should be drawn to repent of any sin out of my love and appreciation for Him.  When I see His judgment on the world around me, I should be quick to repent.  When His hand of judgment comes to me, either because of the sin in the world in which I live or because of my own personal sin, I should be quick to repent. Like Nehemiah (1:6-7) I should pray as though the sins of the nation were my own.   And like the prophet Habakkuk (3:2) I can pray, “in wrath remember mercy.”

I must not let evil have a foothold in my life. As soon as God convicts me of sin, I must be quick to confess and ask His forgiveness. (1John 1:9) 

Sin is powerful, but not as powerful as the blood of Jesus!  When I confess my sin, He forgives me on the basis of His blood sacrifice and cleanses me from all sin!!!

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be quick to acknowledge my sins and turn away from evil!  I know your judgments are always right, yet I ask you to be quick to show mercy.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 27, 2022: SOAP #4772: Revelation 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 2:12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

OBSERVATION:  John had a message for each of the seven churches of Asia.  Through John, from the Lord, came a specific message for each church. 

To Pergamum, the Lord says I know where you live, and I know about your city.  Satan has his throne, or seat of authority, in Pergamum.  There would be much evil influence in that city.  Even one of God’s faithful witnesses had been put to death in Pergamum.  Obviously, it was a dangerous place to be a Christian. 

APPLICATION: Today there are believers, even SOAP readers, who live in places where it is dangerous to be a Christian.  Take comfort in the fact that God knows where you live.  He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you!  You can count on His presence!  (Hebrews 13:5) 

The passage above goes on to give warnings about false doctrine that had discolored their beliefs. They must repent.   It is a warning we must all take to heart.  Let us keep ourselves full of God’s Word and listen to the Holy Spirit who will apply it to our lives. 

Let us set ourselves to be in the company of overcomers and share in the rewards promised. 

PRAYER:   Lord, give us strength of character to hold to truth.  Give us strength of will, to refuse evil influence.  Give us the joy of being overcomers and sharing in the promised blessings.  We are your servants and desire to glorify you with our lives.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 26, 2022: SOAP #4771: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

SCRIPTURE:  2John (NIV) 1 The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

OBSERVATION:  In Luke 2 we see that the Baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but here we see that the grace, mercy, and peace He brings is wrapped in truth and love. 

God’s holiness demands truth.  Truth is God’s reality!  Grace, mercy, and peace are offered to us in love that is based on truth.  The truth is: I have sinned and can have no place in a holy heaven with a holy God. (Romans 3:23)   The truth is: God’s sinless Son, Jesus died as payment for my sin.  The value of His sinless blood far exceeded the value of my sin. (Romans 5:8)   The truth is:  if I confess my sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

APPLICATION: To receive this grace, mercy, and peace, I simply accept it by faith.  My faith is also based on truth.  I have faith that God has told me the truth about sin, and about Jesus, and about his willingness to forgive. 

It is not a gift I can receive in my hands, but I receive it in my heart.  It enters my heart when I express the truth.  I receive it by believing it and saying, “Thank you.”  I receive it like I receive a compliment from a friend…I believe they are sincere, and I say, “Thank you.”  (Romans 10:9-10)

PRAYER:   Lord, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  I believe that your death can be the payment for my sins.  I ask you to forgive my sins.  I confess that you are my Savior and Lord.  Thank you for forgiving me and making me your child.  With my sins forgiven, my heart is your home. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 25, 2022: SOAP #4770: 1John 1-5

Merry Christmas to those reading this SOAP.  May the Lord greatly enjoy spending this special day with you!  Or if you are reading this after Christmas, may the Lord enjoy spending every day with you.  May He feel at home in your life.  May every word and every action make Him smile.  Here is a re-worked SOAP from my past. 
Leon 😊

SCRIPTURE:  1John (NIV) 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

OBSERVATION:  Who could ever describe the indescribably great love the Father has for us?  Certainly no one in this life.  We cannot even begin to understand the heights from which Jesus descended to become a baby in a manger.  We cannot even begin to understand the horribleness of sin and its consequences for which Jesus died on the cross. 

God did not love us in a stingy manner, but lavished His love on us — exorbitant, outlandish, excessive, extreme, unbelievable love. The result of this love was that we should be called God’s children. We are identified with Him by name.  The world may call us many things, but He calls us His children! We are not only called children of God — that is what we are!  THIS IS REALITY!

APPLICATION: A child of God — that’s what I am!  Christmas is a time for exchanging gifts with those we love.  He loves me and gave His Son Jesus to die for me.  I love Him and give my life to bring Him honor and glory.

PRAYER:   Lord, As I celebrate your birth today, I do it with appreciation for the love lavished on me.  I give you my heart filled with love.  I give you my mind filled with thoughts of praise and worship.  I give you my mouth filled with words of honor and appreciation that others may know.  I give you my hands and feet to be used in serving other members of your body.  I give you my life to do your will and to be a witness to the world.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 24, 2022: SOAP #4769: John 19-21

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. …
9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

OBSERVATION:  Mary arrived at the tomb “while it was still dark.”  When she saw that the stone was away from the mouth of the cave, she did not take time to investigate, she went running to tell the disciples.  Surely there could be only one explanation for the stone being moved: the body of Jesus had been moved to another location. 

In a panic, she had to tell someone.  She went running to the disciples.  Maybe they knew where the body of Jesus was.  If not, they needed to know that something had happened!  Mary’s panic caused alarm in Peter and John who took off running to the tomb. 

They needed to understand “from the scriptures” what had happened.  Later, when Jesus spoke to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He spoke from the scriptures.  Jesus, the Living Risen Word explained the Written Word! (Luke 24) 

APPLICATION: Like much of prophecy, it was not clearly understood until after it had been fulfilled.

Yes, the stone was moved from the entrance to the grave!  That was the truth.  That was reality.  BUT IT DID NOT MEAN that the body of Jesus had been moved to another location. 

When I am challenged, I must be careful about accepting what appears to be an obvious explanation. I must wait and get the truth from the Living and Written Word!. 

PRAYER:   Lord, when I am impatient, I tend to jump to what seems a logical conclusion.  Holy Spirit, it is your ministry to reveal truth; help me to wait for truth.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 23, 2022: SOAP #4768: John 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. …
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

OBSERVATION:  God the Son laid aside His omnipresence when he came to earth as a baby in Mary’s womb.  He lived and walked in the limitation of being in only one place at a time all through His ministry and death on the cross.  He still operates in that limitation.  It was so good that the Holy Spirit would be taking on the responsibility for the church when Jesus returned to heaven.  The Holy Spirit is fully omnipresent!  He can be in Asia, Africa, and America at the same time! He can move in power through believers in every area of the earth at the same time!  He is God with us wherever we are! 

APPLICATION: I should consider the relationship the disciples had with Jesus as He walked among them…I should consider that relationship to be a good example of the relationship I am to have with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit gives me understanding in the word and causes my love and appreciation for Jesus to increase.  The gifts of the Spirit make my ministry more like the ministry of Jesus. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, the wisdom of God is displayed in sending you to continue the plan to build the church.  The ministry you had with/in Jesus now continues in the church.  I pray you to develop my life and ministry into that which brings glory to God.  Anoint my life to be a continuation of the person and ministry of Jesus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 22, 2022: SOAP #4767: John 12-14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12:47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.  48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus understood that He had been sent to the earth by the Father.  He was here with a purpose.  He was representing the Father.  His words and actions would be communicating the Father’s heart.  The Father who sent Jesus made sure Jesus knew “what to say and how to say it.”  So, Jesus spoke “just what the Father” told Him to say. 

In light of these verses, it is not hard to understand why Jesus spent so much time with the Father in prayer.  Jesus lived in constant communion with His Father, but there were key times when it was just the two of them. 

APPLICATION: I also have a purpose for my life.  I am representing Jesus.  God has sent the Holy Spirit to be my constant companion.  I am never alone!   He is fully aware of everything that happens to me and around me.  As I spend quiet time with Him in the Scriptures, He sets the course of my life and prepares me for the major decisions I need to make.  As He is my constant companion, He often guides my individual steps to protect me from danger or to place me in the center of the Father’s will. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, how I need your guidance so that I will say “just what the Father” tells me to say.  Help me do “just what the Father” has given me to do.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 21, 2022: SOAP #4766: John 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

OBSERVATION:  It is the teacher’s responsibility to communicate truth to the students in ways they can understand.  It is not for the students to learn the teacher’s vocabulary; it is for the teachers to limit themselves to the vocabulary of the student.   In this, and the surrounding passage of scripture, the Master Teacher takes that responsibility.  Wanting his listeners to understand the relationship they could have with him, He spoke of shepherds and sheep.  To teach them about their heavenly family, Jesus started with the common relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. 

APPLICATION: A good shepherd would sacrifice his life to protect the sheep in his care.  This is what the Lamb of God, Jesus, did for us on the cross.  A good shepherd would know the individual sheep, and the individual sheep would know him.  Which is the relationship God desires with each of us today. 

The question is:  How well do I know Jesus?  Am I as interested in knowing Him as He knows me?  Am I willing to have a relationship with Jesus like the one Jesus has with the Father?  Hmmm…

PRAYER:  Lord, I am trusting your death on the cross to be the payment for my sins.  You have come to live with me in this physical body.  I want to live counting on your presence and your promises.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 20, 2022: SOAP #4765: John 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus said things that were hard for people to understand and accept as true.  He looked every bit human, Jewish human, for that is what He was/is.  He had laid aside his God-nature to live as a man, but not just as a man, but as a man full of the Holy Spirit, walking in the blessing and presence of His Heavenly Father!   Of course, the Father did not leave Jesus; Jesus always and only did that which pleased the Father!  

APPLICATION: As a Christian, it is my desire to be like Jesus.  I know that on my own, I do not have the strength or will power to make my life a copy of His.  When I confess my sins and invite Jesus to live in my life, I discover that He does just that!!!  He lives in me!   It is not for me to copy His life; He lives His life in me! 

I set my life to do that which pleases the Lord. Even when I sin, I want to be quick to confess and repent.  I want an attitude toward sin that pleases the Lord.  My attitude toward sin will change as I spend time with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to impress truth in my thoughts.  He formats my mind to think the thoughts of God, to see things like God sees them. 

PRAYER:   Lord, make my heart your home.  I want my heart to be a comfortable and enjoyable home for your residence.  As a new tenant rearranges the furniture and uses fresh paint to suite their taste, rearrange my thoughts and priorities to be as suit your taste.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 19, 2022: SOAP #4764: John 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

OBSERVATION:  In preparation for the Living Word coming to live on earth, God provided the written Word.  The Holy Spirit inspired Old Testament men of God to write historical and prophetic scriptures pointing the reader to Jesus, the promised Messiah. 

In the first chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus is introduced as the Word of God who became flesh and lived among us.  In the verse above, we see the Living Word carefully explaining this relationship to the religious leaders of Israel—to people who prided themselves on knowing the Old Testament scriptures.  They knew the written word, but they missed Jesus, the Living Word.  

One of the purposes of the Holy Spirit being sent after Jesus ascended back to heaven is to help believers make the connection between the written and the Living word.  (John 16:13)

APPLICATION: I need the Holy Spirit to ensure that I make the connection between the written and Living word.  (Romans 8:16)

Knowing the Bible will help me to know Jesus but knowing the scriptures alone will not get me into heaven.  For that, I must personally know Jesus.  (John 17:3) 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and am unable to pay for my sins.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross in payment for my sin and rose to life again.  Forgive me and come live in my life as my Lord and Savior. May my life I bring joy to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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