Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 08, 2022: SOAP #4723: Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

(reworked thoughts from an earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

OBSERVATION:  People who do not like to consider the possibility of God’s existence have had to come up with their own explanation for how life on this world started.  The evolution of life from the ocean climbing onto earth and evolving into a man is as good an explanation of any I have heard that did not include God.  They think the Bible’s explanation of creation in Genesis is foolishness.  As I see it, their explanation of life is like going to a movie from which someone removed every scene that contained the main character.  The movie does not make much sense. And life without God makes even less sense.

APPLICATION: It is amazing how clearly things become, and how things fit together once I have God as The Main Character in the picture.   I am finding this true in every arena of life.  Having God as the main character in my home, in the church, on the school bus, in relationships, etc. sets everything in place.  The more I understand God and His character and His place, the more life on this earth makes sense! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing yourself to me in the Bible.  Help me to see you in every part of life.  In you, I find my purpose.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 06, 2022: SOAP #4721: Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

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.”

OBSERVATION:  The calling of God is a calling to freedom.  It is God’s will that we live in freedom.  It is God’s design for man to live in freedom.  It is freedom that gives us the opportunity to please God.  To have freedom means we have choices.  We use our freedom in making choices.  God could have made man to be robots, programed to do just those things and to speak just those words that honor God.  But a robot cannot love. 

God created man to be loved and to love Him in return.  God desired fellowship with people who choose to respect and honor Him.  He wanted the praise and glory from creation beings that was not programed.  It would come from people who used their reasoning powers and moral choices to come to the conclusion in their thinking that He was worthy of praise and glory!  

Sin had enslaved people to think and do evil, but the death of Jesus freed us from the slavery of sin.  Now we worship God in freedom!  

APPLICATION: Satan uses my freedom to tempt me to sin, but I use my freedom to honor God by resisting the temptation!  The verses above tell me to use my freedom to serve others.  The Ten Commandments tells me what I am NOT to do to others—murder, lie, steal—the Spirit tells me I AM to serve others in love.  In love I make choices that honor God and in love I serve “my neighbor.” 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help me to use my freedom in ways that honor you.  Help me serve others in ways that move them closer to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 06, 2022: SOAP #4721: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

(reworked from March 12, 2018)

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God?  Absolutely not!  For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

OBSERVATION:  How terrible is sin?  Look at the law! Look at the sacrifices required — death.  
How holy is God?  Look at the law!  It is perfect in defining and describing sin.  And when paying for sin, even His Son did not get a special deal.  
How wise is God?  Look at the law!  God used the law to teach us the terribleness of sin.  God used the law to set the parameters for the sacrifice of His Son.  
How loving is God?  Look at the law!  At great personal sacrifice, God paid for my sins!

When the law was given, God already knew that it would never bring about the righteous required for us to live in His presence.  So, before the law was given, God had made a promise to provide the necessary sacrifice — the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION: The law tells me how I have sinned and what the consequences are. The law can condemn me, but it can never bring me into righteousness.  The righteousness God promised only comes as I put my faith in Jesus, that His death is the sacrifice needed to atone for my sin.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, the more I understand your working with man, the more I am amazed at your holiness, your wisdom, and your love.  You have dealt with my sin in holiness and love.  And in your wisdom, you have sent your Holy Spirit to live in me.  Thank you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 05, 2022: SOAP #4720: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:1  Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

OBSERVATION:  Paul recognized that his calling did not come from man.  His calling came from God.  Paul knew he would answer to God for how he fulfilled his calling as an apostle. 

The One who sent Paul had all authority over death!  Death has already been defeated!   The One who sent Paul had already proved His love for people by dying for our sins!  

Since the calling came from God, and not from man, Paul depended on God to provide necessary resources.  If men had sent Paul, he would have relied on them to provide the necessary finances.  But he was convinced that God sent him and so depended on God to provide.   God used people to support Paul, and Paul was always grateful, but he put no pressure on people to give.  God had sent Paul, and God would provide.  Sometimes God provided through Paul’s work; sometimes through the working of those who traveled with him; sometimes through gifts from friends. 

APPLICATION: I have come to believe that God has a calling for each of us.  We are called to be a living vessel full of a living God!  We fulfill it as we are fathers, mothers, teachers, laborers, etc.  …yes, and bus drivers.  God’s calling and anointing makes us useful wherever we are.  When the Holy Spirit opens an opportunity to represent Jesus we can say or do what He would say or do. It is then we will find that we are not alone.  He is with us and expressing Himself through us!!!   

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, like Yvonne Valdez Soliz sings, “Holy Spirit, flow through me, touch through me, speak through me.”  Use me today for your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 04, 2022: SOAP #4719: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

(Personalized from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

OBSERVATION:  Because the Sabbath was fast approaching, the body of Jesus had not been prepared for burial as carefully as some would have liked so these ladies took some spices to be placed with the body.  They knew there was a large stone in place; they were certain that they could not move it.  They wondered who might be able to move it.  But that did not stop them.  They were on a mission of love.

APPLICATION: The rock had been moved from the tomb, but not from their mind.  In their mind it was still a factor, but they did not let that deter them.  Their mission of love became a mission of great revelation.  The revelation began with discovering that what they thought stood in their way was already moved and ended with discovering that the One they thought was dead was alive!  What a day that turned out to be!  It was good that they did not let the “rock” in their head keep them from their mission of love.

God has given me an assignment, I have some “rocks” in my head seeming to block my way.  In faith, I need to move ahead in faith that God will move the rocks as needed. 

PRAYER:   Yes, Lord.  I will move ahead in what I know of your will, trusting you to take care of those things that, in my thoughts, are blocking my way.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 03, 2022: SOAP #4718: Job 25; Mark 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 14:8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

OBSERVATION:  This lady had a great appreciation for Jesus and while he was reclining at a dinner table in a wealthy home in which he was a guest, she broke open a jar of very expensive perfume and poured it over his head.  As the odor filled the room everyone present became aware of what happened, and this lady was criticized for the “waste.”  It could have been sold and the money given to the poor.  But Jesus defended her.  “She did what she could.” He said she did it in preparation for his burial.  In a few days some ladies would be arising early to go to a tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus, but he would already be raised to life.  Only this lady had the privilege of serving Jesus in this way.

The issue was not the monetary value of the perfume, but to whom it belonged.  It was her perfume.  It was valuable to her.  It was hers to give.  She used it for His pleasure.  She did what she could.  

APPLICATION: In so many of the miracles in the Bible we see both man’s part and God’s part.  The miracles cannot be understood as coming about because of man’s part — only because of God’s part.  Man’s part always came before God’s part.  And man’s part was always something that he could do.  “She did what she could.”

My part is always something I can do!  I can pray.  I can reach out and touch in Jesus’ name.  I can give what I have.  God is not depending on my part to be the answer to the problem.  My part is an expression of faith that He will do His part!   Doing what I can brings pleasure to Him! 

PRAYER:   Lord, I do what is possible for me to do, all the while trusting you to do what is possible for you to do. You get the glory; I get the joy of participation.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 02, 2022: SOAP #4717: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

OBSERVATION:  Their goal was to catch Jesus in His words.  They wanted to entice him to say something that they could use against him.  Not only were Jesus’ answers recorded, so were their questions.  They wanted to catch him in his words, but they were caught in their words.  They will answer for their words. 

Their glowing words of praise, “a man of integrity,” and “you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth,” were merely shams to cover their evil hearts.  They intended to present themselves as appreciating who He was while they were hoping he would say something that would bring the Roman government against Him.

APPLICATION: I too will answer for my words.  When I speak of him as “Lord,” I must then live like it is true.  Christianity is more than a word game for Sundays.  It is a relationship I live every moment of every day.

PRAYER:   Lord, especially today, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 01, 2022: SOAP #4716: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 9:20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

OBSERVATION:  The dad was desperate.  His son needed more help than he was able to give.  But he had heard about Jesus.  Maybe Jesus could help his boy.  

The father challenged Jesus’ ability and willingness: “if you can do anything…”   I hear Jesus saying, “My ability and willingness is not in question!”  “Your faith needs to be lifted to a new height!” 

Jesus challenged the father’s faith. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes!”  Those words from Jesus expanded the faith in the father and he immediately exclaimed, “I do believe!”  Jesus responded to the faith in the father.  He had enough faith to bring his son to Jesus and now faith to confess that He did believe.  He had faith to confess his weakness. 

APPLICATION: Jesus challenges my faith too.  My faith is present, but sometimes I find that unbelief is also present.  I must mix the faith I have with the word.  The Word is my faith expander.  It is my faith developer.  God’s Word says, “Everything is possible!” Which causes me to exclaim, “I do believe!”

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for responding to my faith.  Overcome my unbelief brings me to confess with you, “EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 31, 2022: SOAP #4715: Job 22; Mark 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.

OBSERVATION:  The ministry of Jesus was a very public ministry.  Many of His miracles were done as He walked on public roads or in public places.  He became very recognizable!  It only took one person to see and recognize Him; then everyone would know.  Everyone knew of someone who needed the ministry of Jesus.  There were no medical centers available, the sick and lame were scattered in the homes.  The news of Jesus presence would cause a crowd of people to appear. 

APPLICATION: Jesus wants His Presence to be easily recognizable today.  Jesus wants people to know that He is alive—alive in me!   People who know me, should quickly recognize that there are some unique characteristics about how I respond to trouble, how I act, how I think, how I talk. 

The powerful presence of God in my life should make a seeable difference in how I live.  Living for Jesus cannot be kept a secret!  

PRAYER:   Lord, may you be easily seen in me.  May your presence have a profound influence on every aspect of my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2022: SOAP #4714: Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 5:25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. …27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came, and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was walking in a large crowd; many people had touched Jesus that day.  They had jostled against him as they walked. 

It was not just being on the same road with Jesus.  It was not just going in the same direction as Jesus.  It was not the way she talked to Jesus!  It was how she touched Jesus.  She touched Him on purpose.  She intended to touch Him.  She had purposed in her heart to touch Jesus. 

She believed if she touched Jesus she would be healed; Jesus responded, “your faith has healed you.”   

APPLICATION: It is not just being in a church or being around people who love the Lord.  It is not just hearing others talk about Jesus.   It is when I realize that what is said—what I read—what I hear—is for Leon.  The Holy Spirit stirs within me that this is for me.  With that awareness in my heart, I respond to that word.  I obey and take action that shows I understand the Word from the Lord. 

I confess my sins; He forgives.  I obey and give; He provides and meets my needs. Often His answers come as I respond to His word!  

PRAYER:   Lord, it is an honor to be your child and a joy to serve you.  Living for you is a daily adventure. Amen

Pastor Leon
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