Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 14, 2022: SOAP #4424:  Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus was having a meal in the home of a “prominent Pharisee.”  Jesus gave some financial advice.  People will speak kindly of you when you invite them to your home.  They may even later invite you to their home.  They will “repay” you according to their ability. 

But Jesus had a better investment.  It was an investment with a sure return.  It was an investment that would pay off when it really counted!  Investing in those who cannot repay you is an investment that will mature when you arrive in heaven!!!  

APPLICATION:  When I do something for those who cannot repay me, it is noticed by the ONE who will certainly repay me.  Repayment I receive in this life will be a blessing now.  But the repayment I will receive in heaven, will last for all eternity!   

Everyone has opportunity to invest for the future in the Kingdom of God.  There are many ways to invest money, but if one does not have money, surely, they have some time they can invest in a child, a young person, an elderly grandparent, or neighbor.  The opportunities to invest in the kingdom are numberless! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show me the opportunities available to me for investment.  On resurrection day, may I have valuable returns to lay at the feet of Jesus.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 13, 2022: SOAP #4423:  Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 32:9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

OBSERVATION: Jacob had left home in fear of his brother’s threats to kill him.  Now he is returning home and will soon meet his brother Esau who is coming to meet him with 400 men.  In fear, Jacob did a very logical thing—he prayed! 

First, Jacob began his prayer by reminding God of His command for Jacob to go back home and of His promise to prosper Jacob.  Then Jacob spoke with humility of how far God had brought him.  Third, Jacob mentions his fears about Esau.  Last, Jacob ends his prayer by reminding God of His promises! 

APPLICATION:  To face trouble without remembering what God has promised is foolish.  If God has given promises about my future, then I can trust God to take care of my present!   If God has promised to prepare a place for me, then I can trust him to take care of the journey to get me to that place!

PRAYER: Oh, Lord!  How important it is for me to know your word and your promises to me.  Making them a good part of my prayer life is one way of letting you know that I cherish your words; I have not forgotten what you have said to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 12, 2022: SOAP #4423:  Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 12:29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

OBSERVATION: Do we need food?  We are instructed to consider the ravens. (vs. 24)   Do we need clothing?  We are instructed to consider the lilies. (vs. 27) 

Why?  Because we are more important than ravens and lilies! 

To whom are we more important?  To God, but Jesus does not call Him God; Jesus calls Him Father! 

Whose Father is He?  Jesus says He is “your Father!!!” 

APPLICATION:  God feeds the ravens. (vs. 24)   God clothes the lilies. (vs. 27-28)   But when it coming to taking care me, Jesus calls Him my Father! 

The One Jesus called “Father,” is my Father too!  He is my Heavenly Father but I need not wait until I get to heaven to enjoy His loving care! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I accepted the payment of Jesus on the cross for my sins, I became a member of your family.  You have always been and will always be God.  But through Jesus, you have become my Father!  What a blessing is mine!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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January 11, 2022: SOAP #4422:  Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.  11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.  12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

OBSERVATION: The Creator of the Universe was talking to one man, Jacob.  God was not demanding that Jacob serve Him and fulfill His plans.  God was telling Jacob what He (GOD) would do for Jacob!!!  God was not looking for promises from Jacob; He was making promises to Jacob!

APPLICATION:  God does want me to serve Him.  He wants me to be committed to doing His will.  But the more I understand what God is doing, the more I see that what God does for me is much more than what I will ever be able to do for Him! 

God is a promise-maker and promise-keeper.  His greatest joy is for me to believe Him and act like His promises are true. 

God wants me as a trophy of His love and grace.  He wants the world to see what He has done for me and what He is doing in me.  And not only that, consider Ephesians 3:10.  God is using us to demonstrate His great wisdom to “principalities and powers” in “heavenly places.”  WOW!!! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you have me as a trophy of your love and grace. You have set me on display so that others can see your work in and through me.  You want people to see me.  You want beings in the heavenlies to see how much I love you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 10, 2022: SOAP #4421:  Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

Note:  This SOAP was written in 2010 and repeated in 2019, but the SOAPs are primarily for me, and this is something I still need to consider!Very seldom do I repeat a SOAP and when I do, it usually has a different point.  I believe this is the first time I have repeated one a third time without any changes. 

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus was in the village and Martha had opened her house to him.  The visit to her house seems not to have been planned, so now that he was present there were many things needing her attention, very likely the preparation of a meal.   There was so much to do and Martha needed more help.  Her sister Mary should be helping, but where was she?  Mary was with the honored guest, just listening!  In Martha’s mind, Mary was doing nothing-but to Jesus what Mary was doing was the most important.  Martha was doing something for Jesus (“making preparations”);  Mary was doing something to Jesus (listening).  Martha was serving, but Mary was pleasing.

APPLICATION:  Today, I too will have many things demanding my attention.  I too have that same “Honored Guest” in my life.  I too will be misunderstood.  I too need to take time from my busy-ness and listen to Him!  I want to do more than just serve Him, I want my serving to please Him!

PRAYER:  Lord, many things will demand my time today.  You are the Honored Guest in my life.  I want to listen to you!   Your pleasure is my goal.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 9, 2022: SOAP #4420:  Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

OBSERVATION: What a question!  The answer should come quickly.  But if the answer is slow in coming, one should take time to ponder it carefully. 

Earth living is temporary.  Life on the other side of death is eternal.  The things that should be valued in this temporary life are the things that will be most valuable in eternal life. 

Some people live their lives as though death is the end-all. They do not consider life after death.    

Some people live their lives as though this life will have no effect on a future life after death.  They live this life to please their present desires.  They do what seems good now. 

APPLICATION:  To spend my time and resources to gather things that will not fit into my casket—that is foolishness.  To spend my time and resources in helping those whom I will meet in heaven—that is wisdom.

To confess my sins to Jesus, to thank Him for His forgiveness and cleansing, and to take Jesus as my Savior and Lord—this is the beginning of wisdom. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to live a life that lets everyone around me know that Jesus is my Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 8, 2022: SOAP #4419:  Genesis 20-22; Luke 8   (Repeat from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 8:22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out.

OBSERVATION: There were only two things the disciples needed to know: 1) they were going to the other side of the lake and 2) Jesus was going with them.  He did not tell them about the storm they would pass through, nor about the demon possessed man they would encounter when reaching the other side.  The storm put them in “great danger,” but the One with them was greater than the storm!  The man was possessed with a “legion” of demons (a full Roman legion consisted of 6,000+ men) but the One with them was greater than the demons!    

APPLICATION:  When the Lord says, “Let’s go…,” he is not promising a trouble-free trip.  But he is promising to go with me!   When the Lord says, “Let’s go…,” he may not tell me what I will encounter, but I can proceed with confidence that “greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.” (1John 4:4) And although I may not know it, he has a plan and a purpose for the trip. 

PRAYER:  Lord, As I go through this day, not fully knowing what is ahead, I am assured that you are with me, and you are greater than any storm or need I will encounter.  Lord, I am counting on you!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 7, 2022: SOAP #4418:  Genesis 18-19; Psalm 3; Luke 7

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 3:1 A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

OBSERVATION: King David heard his enemies trying to convince him that it was foolish to trust God.  According to them God would not help David.  David was on his own in dealing with his enemies.  

So, what does David do?  He tells God what his enemies are saying.   He confesses his faith to God.  God is not only going to help David, God, Himself is a shield around David!  God gives David His favor and brings David a new point of view. 

David lifts his head from looking at the problems around him to looking at the blessings above him!

APPLICATION:  I serve the same God as David!  David’s God, who is my God, is a shield around me!   He looks on me with favor!  He causes me to lift my head from looking at the problems surrounding me to looking at the blessings above me!

Looking at the problems around me depresses me; looking at the blessings above me encourages me and assures me of victory! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I know my life is affected by where I focus my eyes.  I set the focus of my life on you and your word.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 6, 2022: SOAP #4417:  Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

OBSERVATION: Treat others the way you want to be treated.  The way you want to be treated is the way you should treat others.  I think it comes down to this: do not tell other people how you would like to be treated, show them! 

It is interesting that the following seven verses (32-38) all are telling us what to do!!!  …you do good…  …you lend…   …you love…  …you be merciful…   Do not judge…  …you forgive…  …you give…  Doing these things will bring these things into our lives. 

APPLICATION:  By my life, I should set a good example of how I would like others to treat me. 

The emphasis in these verses is not on how others should treat me, but how I should be treating others. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, keep watch over my life.  Help me live in line with the scriptures.  Show me how to minister to those around me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 5, 2022: SOAP #4416:  Genesis 12-14; Luke 5

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break….
37 And no-one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

OBSERVATION:  Luke chapter five begins and ends with important issues concerning the church.  Verses 2 through 6 tell of nets gathering many fish—so many that the nets broke.  Nets need washing and mending.  Washing and mending are proof that the nets are useful—proof of intended future use.  The church is the net God is using to catch men.  He is often working to wash and mend His church. 

The chapter ends (verses 36-39) with the importance of having new wineskins to hold the new wine.  The immediate reference is to Judaism’s inability to contain the New Wine to be poured out on the day of Pentecost.  Among other issues, Judaism had been contained by the nation of Israel, more importantly by the temple in Jerusalem, but something was needed that would include the whole world! 

I believe these verses also show the difficulty for believers who have loved and served the Lord for many years to accept the changes brought into the church by younger generations.  Styles of worship music, types of discipleship groups, types of facilities, etc.  Truly the church is for all generations! 

APPLICATION:  As a retired pastor, I often come face to face with changes.  I must be careful to learn and grow.  I must be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is doing.  God is at work today and I rejoice!  When I have trouble singing some of the newer songs, I look around at younger believers who are wholeheartedly and fervently worshipping the one I love!  My heart overflows with appreciation! 

NOTE:  being in the Word every day writing these SOAPs keeps me fresh and able to see God’s big picture. 

PRAYER:  Lord, rub the oil of the Holy Spirit into my heart.  Soften the areas that have become hard and entrenched in old routines.  Keep me open to the freshness of the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the Word.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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