Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 28, 2022: SOAP #4743: Matthew 28; 1Thes 1-3

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

OBSERVATION:  It is good to note Paul’s prayers for the Thessalonians in this letter.  To this point his prayers have mostly been prayers of thanksgiving for their acceptance of God’s word and what God has done for them.  In the verses above, Paul prays for God to make a way for him to visit these dear friends.  He prays for their love for one another to increase.  

Then in verse 13, he prays with heaven in view.  What happens here on earth, in this life, is preparation for the time they will stand in the presence of God.  They cannot depend on their own works to make them “blameless and holy.”  Only the work of Jesus on the cross can cover their sins and make them holy and just as if they had never sinned!  May they stand in the presence of God with their sins forgiven to receive rewards for faithful service. 

APPLICATION:  When I pray for my family and friends, I too need to pray with heaven in view.  Paul did not pray for earthly blessings, like good jobs, abundance of finances, cars, houses, etc.  It is not wrong to pray for such things, but the focus of my prayers, like Paul, should be on eternal things. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, may my son rejoice in your presence on that day.  And may his presence before you bring you great rejoicing too.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 27, 2022: SOAP #4742: Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus had made it clear that hard days were ahead.  He would be tried and condemned to death.  He would be crucified.  His followers would be scattered.  The disciples would be in hiding.  BUT after it was over…  After Jesus had risen from the dead…  Jesus had plans for the future!  They were to meet Him in Galilee!

In Mark 16:7, the angel at the empty tomb told the ladies coming to anoint the body, “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

APPLICATION: When I see hard times ahead, I need to recall what God has spoken to me.  Did His words to me include any future plans?  Has he given me something to do that I will need to do at a later date?  He must be expecting me to make it through the trial. 

God would not have given me an assignment that He will not help me fulfill.  Remembering God’s promises and remembering His directions can be great faith builders for holding steady in present and future trials. 

The trio known as “Sisters” sing: 
   I’m gonna make it, He’s already said that I would
   I’ll keep on trusting that He’s working everything for my good
   He walks beside me and heaven is in my view,
   I’m gonna make it through.

PRAYER:  Lord, I know I can trust you for the future.  I know I can trust your plans.  I know that you will work through everything for my good and your glory!Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 26, 2022: SOAP #4741: Matthew 23-25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 24:23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was explaining to his disciples about the end times. Satan and his kingdom would be on an all-out attack to destroy God’s Kingdom. Jesus was giving them warning “ahead of time.”

By having this knowledge ahead of time, they would know what to believe and how to respond to what they hear. 

APPLICATION: God is faithful to prepare His children for what they will be facing.  I need to be faithful reading God’s word and hiding it in my heart.  I need to have fresh input from God’s word every day.  By faithfully reading God’s word, I am being prepared for the future. 

And what is more…God has given me His Holy Spirit to be with me every day.  He brings His word to my attention to prepare me for what is ahead. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you are obviously interested in my success.  Your Holy Spirit uses your word to prepare me for what lies ahead.  May I be as interested in being prepared as you are in preparing me.   Use the words in this SOAP to prepare someone for what is coming their way today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 25, 2022: SOAP #4740: Matthew 20-22

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus knew what was coming. He knew the agony that was coming His way. Here he was preparing the disciples. His description did not stop in the time of suffering. He did not end with “mocked and flogged and crucified.” His description went all the way through the suffering to the time of victory! “On the third day he will be raised to life!”

APPLICATION: When I am preparing my family and loved ones for trouble, I too need to take them through the trouble to the time of victory. 

I should leave them with more than funeral plans and a list of songs I want sung at my funeral.  I must tell them about heaven.  I must tell them where they will find me when they arrive in heaven.  I will be awaiting their arrival and expecting to greet them.   

I must tell them that death does not end my life but opens the door for my life to continue into eternity.  I will see Jesus!   What a day that will be!!!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, Your plans for me (my family, the church) do not end with death.  Prepare me for my heavenly assignment.  May I continue in loving and serving you.  May I continue to bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 24, 2022: SOAP #4739: Matthew 17-19

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:  Jesus never considered children to be an interruption.  They were often the focus of His attention.  When adults tried to rearrange things to fit their priorities, Jesus corrected them and brought the children back into focus. 

Not only His words, but also His actions demonstrated the value He personally placed on children.  He touched them. 

APPLICATION: Jesus lives inside me.  He did not change His nature when He entered my life.  The way Jesus was in the days He walked the earth, is the way He is now living in me.   I want to be like Jesus.  Children must become as important to me as they were and are to Jesus. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, as I drive the school bus, touch through me, speak through me, love through me. May their problems be as important to me as they are to them.  May my words bring faith into their troubles.  May my hand on their shoulder minister your approval and encouragement to their hearts.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 23, 2022: SOAP #4738: Matthew 14-16

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 14:15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus told them to feed the hungry crowd.  They responded, “We have only… .”  — they did not reckon on the presence of Jesus!  They had enough to feed 5000 men plus the women and children.  Wow!  They even had more than enough!  They had enough for twelve basketsful of leftovers!  WOW!!  The miracle could have been done with much less!   Their attention had been on what they had in their hands (which was clearly insufficient), rather than on who was among them (Who was completely sufficient)!

APPLICATION: To limit my potential to what I have in my possession is foolish.  His resources are far greater than what I have and far greater than what I need.  Through Him I can do what God tells me to do.

The key for me is to be a good listener.  I must learn to limit myself to what He says.  I should not run ahead and make plans that I think will improve His plans.  I have so many “good” ideas.  But who can I get to pay for my ideas?  He provides for His plans; He has not promised to pay for my plans. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I believe you enable me to do what you tell me to do.  You do not ask me to do what I cannot do, but only to do what I can.  When I do what I can, I can count on you doing what you can do. It is my joy to work with you! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 22, 2022: SOAP #4737: Matthew 11-13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

OBSERVATION:  This verse interests me because it gives me a window through which I can see the heart of God.  It does not tell me how big God is, or how strong God is, or how wise God is.  It does not tell me that God is an omnipresent, eternal Spirit.  It tells me what pleasures God. 

This verse reveals the nature of His heart.  Here is something that motivates Him!   He loves to make the complicated things that confound the intelligent so simple that even children can grasp them.  Just like an earthly parent, or a teacher, God loves to see a child’s eyes light up with the joy of discovery.  It brings God pleasure to see His child come alive with new and personal revelation. 

The “wise and learned” approach the truth of the scriptures intellectually.  They use their reasoning powers to gain understanding.  But the “little children” have not yet developed their mental abilities; God just unwraps it and “reveals” it to them.  Why does God do this?  It is His “good pleasure!” 

APPLICATION: When I read the scriptures and come across a hidden gem of truth, the Holy Spirit sparks my attention and my curiosity.  As I meditate on the flower bud, the pedals begin to open and soon I am looking at a beautiful flower.  Many SOAPs come out of that spark. 

Consider what I would miss if I did not take time to read God’s Word!!!  …if I did not take time to meditate on the “sparks!!!”   …if I did not allow the Holy Spirit to apply the truth to my life!!!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for making my time in your Word profitable to me and through the SOAPs to others.  May you be blest!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 21, 2022: SOAP #4736: Matthew 8-10

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was speaking to His disciples about rough days ahead.  He did not tell them that they would escape without any personal troubles.  He did not promise that it would be easy for them. 

But He did promise two things.  He promised that the Holy Spirit would give them how to answer their accusers which implies the Presence of the Holy Spirit with them!   Yet more than with them; speaking “through” them!  

APPLICATION:  The joy and peace that God gives does not come from our circumstances, but from His Presence!   Whatever the source of my troubles, oppressive government, economical setbacks, family, health, etc., I have God, the Holy Spirit, dwelling in me!  

God has not promised me eternal physical life, but He has promised eternal spiritual life.  In fact, I have it now!   In this life, the Holy Spirit often gives me what to say at key times.  He helps me know the right thing to do. He helps me write these SOAPs.

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I want to be open to your input into my thoughts.  As I read the Bible, keep speaking to me till I  recognize your voice and understand what you are saying to me.  Put your thoughts among my thoughts.  Teach me to apply what I hear from you.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 20, 2022: SOAP #4735: Matthew 5-7

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:  I believe it pleases God when we do an act of service or kindness in a place that no one will notice.  Oh, people may notice that something was done, but they will not notice who did it. 

It concerns me when I see pictures posted on the internet of people distributing food and clothing to the poor. 

It concerns me when people are offered a “gift” based on the size of their offering which is publicly announced.  People are being enticed to give based on what they can receive now instead of waiting for the Father’s reward. 

Have these people never read the above scriptures?  The honor and attention they receive from men is their “full” reward! 

APPLICATION:   I believe it is the Father’s joy to reward His children.  He loves to catch us doing things that please Him.  …doing things that only He can see.  It is my opinion that we offend Him when we settle for our “reward in full” from men rather than wait for what God has in store for us. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, in the Scriptures, reveal to me personally how I can best honor my Heavenly Father.  Help me please Him with every part of my life…with everything I say and all I do.  Help me be more concerned about what He sees rather than what man sees.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 19, 2022: SOAP #4734: Matthew 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Luke (NIV) 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

OBSERVATION:  Here we have the two main characters in the New Testament.  No, one of them is not the devil!!!  First, of course God the Son, Jesus, who came to live a sinless life as a man and then give His life in payment for sin.  Second is God the Spirit who anointed the sinless man, Jesus, to do the works of God. 

After Jesus was risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, the Spirit was poured out on the church.   The Bible was written by people anointed by the Spirit.  And it is the Spirit who reveals the truth of the Bible to us today, and who empowers us to live a life that glorifies God.    

APPLICATION: I like to think of the Holy Spirit leading me in ways of overcoming and victory.  But the Spirit led Jesus into “the desert!”  …to a place where Jesus was “tempted by the devil!”  The Spirit does not always lead us in the most pleasant places; the goal is that we move in the “power of the Spirit!” 

A friend of mine told me when people are working with iron, they put it in the fire then beat it with a hammer; then they put it back in the fire, take it out and beat it again with the hammer; then they do it again…and again!  …until it has reached the desired goal.   Sometimes we are in God’s blacksmith shop.

In times like this, it is good to remember that God truly loves me.  He is an expert blacksmith and does not make mistakes.  God has a plan for my good and His glory.  It will be worth it all when I see Jesus! 

PRAYER:   Lord, I am trusting you. You see the future and you know what is best.  What you have done in the past assures me that I can trust you for the present and the future. Make me like you!  May you be glorified in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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