Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 16, 2026: SOAP #6130: Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”…
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp….
27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter, the Bible reads like a tourist brochure for a famous city.  Those brochures are prepared for tourists to entice them to put those locations as destinations for future trips. 

The information presented above makes it very clear that I do not want to miss this city.  I will not need a visa or a passport.  I only need my name written in the “Lamb’s book of life.”

APPLICATION: Once our name is written in the “Lamb’s book of life” both our travel to the city and our entrance into the city is secured.  The blood from the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the payment for our sins and the secured entry requirement

PRAYER:  Lord, you not only loved me enough to pay for my sins and live with me in my heart while I am still on earth, you loved me enough to prepare an eternal place for me where I can live with you in that beautiful city!   What a day that will be!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 15, 2026: SOAP #6129: Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

OBSERVATION:  John saw books (plural) which were used for judging.  They contained the works/actions that the people had done.  And in the same verse (12) we read of “another book” called the “book of life.”   Verse 15 gives the importance of “book of life,” because “if anyone’s name was not found in that book, he was thrown into the lake of fire!” 

It does not make any difference if they had all good works and only one or two bad works recorded in “the books.  If their name was not written in the “book of life” their destination was the “lake of fire.” 

APPLICATION: One cannot over emphasize the importance of having one’s name entered in to the “book of life!”  It is a book that records the names of persons who have the life of Jesus in them.  Their sins have been forgiven, and Jesus has been invited to live inside as their Lord.  (1John 1:9; Revelation 3:20) 

What joy His forgiveness and His presence brings!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I am a sinner needing forgiveness.  I want your death on the cross to be the payment for my sins.  I invite you to make my heart your home.  Write my name in the “book of life,” and live in me as my Lord.  I set my heart to live for your glory.  May my life make you smile!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 14, 2026: SOAP #6128: Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

OBSERVATION:  This is the last picture of Jesus given in the Bible.  It is the portrait of a victorious conqueror.  The baby in the manger has become the conquering King of Kings!   The teacher who walked the dusty streets of Jerusalem has become the Lord of heaven.  The innocent crucified one has become the King of Glory!  The gentle shepherd who lives in my heart is known as Faithful and True and rides a white horse leading the armies of heaven!       

APPLICATION: What a great honor and privilege it is to know this great conqueror as my Lord and Savior!   Who am I that I should have the privilege of His constant presence!   Who am I that I should have the benefit of His counsel and wisdom! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I accept the forgiveness you provide and I commit my life to honor you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 12, 2026: SOAP #6126: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. 11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.  12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

OBSERVATION: The importance of a two-letter word cannot be overemphasized.  The meaning of the above passage rests upon the two-letter word: “if.” 

The Sovereign God determines that His actions will be in keeping with the actions His people.  No created being has the power to force The Creator to take such a position; it is His choice alone.  It is an option offered in keeping with His love and yet it is in keeping with His holiness. 

APPLICATION: Knowing that The Sovereign God offers me options, how foolish it would be to ignore them.  1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness and cleansing.  Thank you for offering your forgiveness in response to my confession.  Thank you for coming to live in my heart and establishing your righteous reign in me.  I know that Your action of forgiveness is based on my action of repentance and making Jesus the Lord of my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 10, 2026: SOAP #6124: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

SCRIPTURE:  Lamentations (NIV) 3:19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.  20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.  21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

OBSERVATION:  It seems like trouble comes easily to our memory.  We do not have to try to think about trouble.  It seems our minds are programmed to ponder trouble.  As we think about the bad things that come our way, we become depressed. 

But those who know the Lord, have something to “call to mind.”  I may not be able to stop thinking about trouble by trying to stop thinking about trouble.  But I can actively place my thoughts on something else. 

APPLICATION: Today I will find hope as I actively think about the LORD’s great love, His compassion which never fails, and His great faithfulness.  How can I be depressed when I consider the greatness of the LORD!  

How can I be depressed when I consider that I am the object of HIS great love? 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, when I think about trouble, I often make it bigger than it really is, but when I think about you, I can never make you bigger in my thoughts than you really are!  Indeed, your grace is amazing; your love is amazing; you are amazingly great!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 07, 2026: SOAP #6121: 2Kings 25; 2Chron 36; Jere 40-41; Rev 12 

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.  And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8  but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 
9  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him.  10  …the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 

OBSERVATION:  John was being shown a vision of things that would come to pass in the future.  Satan was defeated at the cross when the sinless Jesus died for our sins. (Colossians 2:15)  He is defeated and will be thrown out of any access he has in heaven.  He will end up in the lake of fire God has prepared for him and his angels.  (Matthew 25:41) 

But at present Satam has limited freedom to move around and tempt people to break God’s laws.  He cannot touch God, but he gets at God by trying to destroy what God loves.  In the big scheme of things, Satan’s temptations are being used to give us opportunity to prove our love for God. 

APPLICATION: It is good for me to remember that Satan is a defeated foe and the One who defeated him on the cross lives in me.  Jesus defeated Satan by refusing to follow Satan’s temptations to take an easy way.  Jesus resisted even to the point of death! 

Now Jesus lives inside me and He helps me to resist the temptations of the devil.  He has already defeated Satan and He knows Satan’s tactics and the best way for me to overcome Satan’s temptation.  I do best when I let HIM fight my battles.                                                                                                                   
PRAYER:  Lord, I know you are not depending on my strength to withstand the devils temptations.  You have already proved yourself to be victorious and I am depending on your victorious presence in my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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