Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 08, 2024: SOAP #5209: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 15:29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!

OBSERVATION: The pain screamed, “Save yourself!”  The disgrace of dying like a criminal shouted, “Save yourself!”  Those insulting Him said, “Save yourself!”  The religious leaders said, “Save yourself!”  Did He have the power to “save Himself?”  Oh yes.  Even satan recognized that Jesus could call angels to help. (Luke 4:10)

But there was something He could not do.  He could not save Himself AND fulfill the purpose of His coming.  This was why He had been sent!  This was why He was on earth!   He had no sins for which His blood would be required to cover, so He readily offers it to repenting sinners to cover their sins!  

In their mocking, the priests and teachers of the law were right.  Jesus could not save Himself!  

APPLICATION:  By refusing to save Himself, Jesus chose to save me!  …and you!   In love, Jesus took the penalty for our sins.  And in love, He will forgive our sins. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you that your love and forgiveness reaches to me.  I confess my sins and receive your forgiveness.  I invite you to make my life your home.  Bring someone into my life that will help me understand this relationship that we share.  Thank you for the joy you put into my heart.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2024: SOAP #5208: Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 14:12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

OBSERVATION: What a great privilege for this household to host the last supper.  The room could be used because it was “furnished” and “ready.”  The owner had provided and prepared it for such an occasion.

APPLICATION:  Are my home, my car, and my possessions available and ready to be used by the Lord?   More important, is my life available and ready to be used.  I need to keep it “furnished” with the truth from the Bible.  

If I want the Lord to use me, I must prepare myself to be used and make myself available.  I should be as diligent in preparing my life for use as firefighters are in preparing themselves for the next fire and the fire engine for its use.

PRAYER:  Lord, show me how to prepare myself and my possessions for Your use.  As the song say, “To be used of You is my desire.”  Amen.

From the Lord: Today I will do something in your life in preparation for what you will face in the future.  It may not seem very important now, but there will be a time when you will understand the wisdom in what I have done.  Endure it with grace, knowing that I am  preparing you for future service.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 06, 2024: SOAP #5207: Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  (NIV) Mark 13: 28 ¶  “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

OBSERVATION: Having been born 76 years ago in the year Israel became a nation and believing that the fig-tree in verse 28 could be a reference to Israel, I consider myself a part of “this generation.”   I believe the things mentioned in the previous verses will happen in my lifetime. The theme of the next 5 verses is “be on guard,” “be alert,” “don’t be sleeping,” “watch!”  This is not a day to be a sleepy Christian.

In the USNavy, I served  night duty on a medical ward in San Diego, then later as the radio watch in the mountains of Viet Nam.  I learned the need for being alert.  But being spiritually alert is an even greater need, and today more important than yesterday! 

APPLICATION:  In verse 37 Jesus says, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  I must take that personally. 

I must not let myself be inoculated by the world into thinking that everything will continue as it has.  I must keep my ears open to what the Holy Spirit is saying.  I must keep “on guard” and “alert!”

Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit must be my priority every moment of every day.  Whether I am alone or in a crowd; whether I am busy or resting; whether I am reading my Bible or watching the news, I must remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  I must be watching for His interaction.  I must be listening for His voice.  I must be available for Him to use me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You have a plan and you have a time frame into which that plan must be finished.  As we quickly approach the completion of your plan, keep me sharp in hearing your voice.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 05, 2024: SOAP #5206: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

OBSERVATION: Jesus did not criticize the wealthy for giving “out of their wealth,” but He made a special note of this poor woman giving “out of her poverty.”  He did not try to stop the woman from giving.  He did not say, “You need it worse than the temple needs it.” He did not say, “It is so small they will not miss it; it will not do any good.”  He did not say, “Let the others who have more be the ones to give.”  He did not say, “Since that is all you have, keep it for your needs.”  And He did not say, “God sees your heart, so you do not need to give.”

The truth is, if anyone needed to give, it was her.  She needed to give in order to receive.  Her giving gained the attention of Jesus, the greatest Giver.  This poor widow became the most talked about, the most read about money giver in the history of man!

APPLICATION:  Obviously being a giver has nothing to do with the amount of money I have.  I do not have to wait until I have more to become a giver.  It is recognizing that all I have comes from HIM; He is not running short; He loves me enough to provide more. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You are the greatest of all givers.  Make me more like you.    Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 04, 2024: SOAP #5205: Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

(repeat from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:13 Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

OBSERVATION: There are many fig trees in Israel, but this one caught Jesus attention. This one was “in leaf.”  The season for figs was fast approaching and some have said that the fruit preceded the leaves.  This tree showed promise of fruit.  So seeing the leaves, probably in abundance, Jesus expected to find some fruit.

APPLICATION:  Outward appearance may draw people to give a closer look, but what do they find?  Joy is attractive.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit in our lives, but joy can also be a fruit of my favorite NASCAR driver winning the race.  At a distance, I may appear to be a joyful person, but a closer look will reveal the source of my joy.

PRAYER:  Lord, may people find that the source of my joy is You, and may what You find in me bring You joy.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 03, 2024: SOAP #5203: Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10: 6  “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’.  7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,  8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

OBSERVATION: Making some humans male and others female is God’s idea.  It was He who designed the differences.  It was not for the purpose of separating them, but for the purpose of uniting them.  When their differences are united, “… the two will become one flesh.”   The differences give them the opportunity to love and serve one another.  The uniting of differences gives strength and produces fruitfulness!

God is the one who created the differences, and God is the one who joins them in creating new life.  Divorce is man’s way of dealing with differences.

APPLICATION:  In marriage, the flesh of a man and woman are joined sexually to bring about a child whose flesh is the combination of the flesh (the DNA) of its two parents.  The two have become one through their commitment to each other.  The two have become one through the presence and blessing of God on their commitment to each other.  The two have become on through their identity with each other.  The two have become one through forming one household.  The two have become one through their physical sexual union.  And the two have become one in the child they produce.  No wonder God puts such a high value on marrying and preserving marriage.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for my wife and the life we share together.  I am blest!  …we are blest!  …our family is blest!  And, Lord, most of all, we want you to be blest!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 02, 2024: SOAP #5203: Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 9:41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

OBSERVATION: As I was reading this passage, I noticed that Jesus was not addressing the people who were to give the cup of cold water, but to those who would be receiving the cup of cold water. That was different than I had originally thought. 

Jesus had said that he takes it personal when people mistreat us, but here He is saying that He also takes it personal when people do us good!  Because we belong to Jesus, God will notice the good that people do to us.  God will notice and will reward them.

APPLICATION:  There are times when I would like to repay a blessing I have received, but not sure how, and/or lack the resources.  But one thing I can do for sure is to remind God about this promise!  I can pray for His blessings on them.  Then I can watch to see what He does to reward them!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I am thankful for the times you have rewarded me for something I did to bless someone else.  Now I am going to enjoy watching to see how you reward those who bless me.  I believe it is right for you to bless them because they were responding to the call of your Holy Spirit as they ministered to my need.  It was You who brought this to their attention and they responded to You by helping me.  So, bless them Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 01, 2024: SOAP #5202: Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

 (God speaking to Leon through a repeat!)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20  “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

OBSERVATION: The disciples were focused on the amount of bread.  Their focus was on how many basketfuls.  Twelve the first time and seven the second.

But I think they missed the most important thing.  Jesus said, “When I broke the five loaves … ” and “When I broke the seven loaves … ”  The important thing was not how many basketfuls remained after everyone ate, but WHO was breaking the Bread!

Now they had only one loaf.  The basketfuls were not with them.  They had been left behind.  But the Bread-breaker — now that was different.  He was still in the picture!   He could take the one loaf they had AND He could take care of other problems too!

APPLICATION:  I must always remember that the Miracle-worker of my past is with me today!  The Healer of my past diseases is with me today!  The Wisdom-giver in my past troubles is with me today!  My Friend, my Provider, my Way-finder and Way-maker …    Yes, the Bread-breaker is with me today!

PRAYER:  Jesus, with you, nothing is impossible.  With you, all things are possible!  What you have done in my past springs to new life today.  You are all I need.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 29, 2024: SOAP #5201: Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

(reworked from last leap year day)

SCRIPTURE:  John (The Message) 10:10 [Jesus speaking] A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

OBSERVATION: Today is the extra day added in for leap year.  The normal 28 days of February has become 29.  It makes me think of all the extras that God has placed in this world for us to enjoy.  I remember a small box of coloring crayons I had as a young boy.  As I recall there were 8 basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. brown, and black.  They were beautiful and I enjoyed them.  Later I got a box of 16, then one of 32!  The basic colors had been shaded and mixed!

Primary colors occur naturally without being mixed first; they are red, yellow and blue. Secondary colors, formed by mixing two of the primary colors, are orange, green and purple. Black, when mixed with other colors, creates darker shades of colors. White has the opposite effect, creating lighter tints of colors. Brown is formed by mixing all three primary colors together, or by mixing primary colors with secondary colors. (This paragraph is from information on the internet.) 

God could have made the world in eight basic colors, but that would not have displayed the wonderful variety of a God who loves beauty. 

APPLICATION:  Today is an extra day to notice and thank God for the extra things He has brought into my life.  As I drive the school bus through the countryside, I can take note of the color variations in the earth and sky.  I could have made it through life without even missing them, but He put them there for me to enjoy. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I appreciate the variety of colors, the variety of food, the variety of sounds, and the variety in the people around me  It is variety that You have placed in this world for me to enjoy.  Indeed, You are AMAZING!!!   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 28, 2024: SOAP #5200: Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

OBSERVATION: Prophecy, wisdom and faith in verse 2 and generosity and sacrifice in verse 3 – all on one side of the scale/balance with love being the lone quality of the other side.  What is it about love that God so values?  Several years ago I asked the Lord and He dropped these words in my heart: Having prophecy, wisdom, faith, generosity, and sacrifice makes people love you.  Having God’s love makes you love others.

Several months back I was reading about the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:34-40)  I asked the Lord why it was the greatest.  He told me it was the one that the Heavenly Father loves most.  He loves us, He is love!  But the great satisfaction of love is being loved back.  God loves to be loved!  

APPLICATION:  In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment?  Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

Why that one?  Because that is the one God loves best!!!   That is the way HE wants to be loved.  That is the way HE deserves to be loved!  

The important thing is not how much others love me, but how much I love others!  I do not read the Bible to find out how others are to treat me…But to find out how I am to treat others. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, surely, no one has ever loved you the way you have loved us. I am certain that I have never loved you the way you have loved me.  Help me grow in loving you.  Help me faithfully express my love to you and to those around me, not just in the big ways, but especially in the little ways, and when no one is watching or listening but You.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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