Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 27, 2022: SOAP #4711: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28 (Re-worked SOAP from 2017)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 27:42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

OBSERVATION:  For the Roman soldiers, the decision was easy.  If the prisoners escaped, the soldiers would pay with their lives.  And since there was no way to control the prisoners in the sea, they should immediately kill them.  But there was one prisoner who had made quite an impression on the centurion in charge.  To save that one prisoner, the centurion he would not allow any of the prisoners to be killed.

Paul’s presence made a difference!  I am sure that those in danger of being killed were glad to have Paul as one of their number!

APPLICATION: God’s presence in me makes a difference in me.  My presence in the world makes a difference in my world, where I live, where I work, and where I worship.  I can speak words of cheer.  I can speak positive words of faith.  I am not a negative, complaining person.  I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, lead me, guide me. Shine through me. May the love of our Heavenly Father be easily seen in me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 26, 2022: SOAP #4710: Job 17; Acts 24-26

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 26:30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul had just made his defense before visiting King Agrippa. In Agrippa’s mind, it was a miscarriage of justice. Paul was clearly innocent. Paul should have been set free. But God saw things differently. Paul would testify as to the Risen Savior in Rome and Rome was going to provide the transportation and the security for the journey. Also, Paul would need some settled, quiet time to write letters which would later become part of our Bible.

APPLICATION: More than once have things that appeared so wrong to me proved to be so right.  Instead of letting things get me unsettled in my spirit, I must remember just Who lives inside me; How powerful He is, He loves me immensely; He can turn what is against me to be for me. God enjoys working thing out for my good and for His glory!

Getting upset about things happening to me is proof that I am looking at them from the viewpoint of my limitations.  I ask myself questions like, “What am I supposed to do now?”  “Who do they think I am?”  What they think is unimportant.  What I think is critical.   What do I think I am?  

I am a child of the Most High God!   The Holy Spirit has made me His dwelling place!  Paul was not alone in the prison cells!  He had his most far-reaching ministry while in prison.  I, too, am not alone!  God is working in and through me.  I should see things from the viewpoint of heaven.   

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep me focused on the big picture.  Help me focus beyond my current circumstances and catch a view of eternity.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 25, 2022: SOAP #4709: Job 16; Acts 21-23

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 23:23 Then he [the Roman Commander] called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

OBSERVATION:  The irony of the situation cannot be missed.  Here the same Roman government that crucified Jesus at the insistence of the Jews, now goes to great ends to protect Paul from those same Jews!!!

Consider how God used the Roman government for His glory.  First, the tax that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.  The crucifixion (Acts 4:28). The arrest of Paul by the Romans protected Paul from the Jews.  The peace of the Rome (Pax Roma) allowed Paul to move freely to spread the gospel. 

Like blowing wind and flowing water, when its movement is limited, it will find a new channel, around, or over, or under.  The Holy Spirit is more powerful and more creative than blowing wind and flowing water!  When Rome closed the channel for Paul’s preaching ministry by imprisonment, God opened a channel for writing letters. 

APPLICATION: That which seems to stand against my ministry may be used by God to expand my ministry!  Lack of resources may limit Leon’s plans, but it can never limit the gospel! 

When limitations stop what I want to do, or what I think He would have me do, I need to keep faithful as He has showed me in the past.   As He sees my faithfulness and continues to develop my life, He will open a channel for ministry.  

PRAYER:   You are LORD, You are my LORD.  So my ministry is YOUR ministry.  You have given me an opportunity to demonstrate my love for you by serving in Your ministry. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

For those who might be interested:  Another day in the SOAP saga:  54 years ago, Sharon and I were married at Layne’s Home for Servicemen in San Diego.  I am more than blest!  I am SOOOO blest!  We look back and see how our love for each other has grown.  We look back and see God’s hand all along the way.  It is my privilege to serve our LORD with such a wonderful wife.  😊  

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 24, 2022: SOAP #4708: Job 15; Acts 19-20

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 20:33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.  34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

OBSERVATION:  Paul’s is giving a farewell report of his own life and ministry.  He gave them a warning and committed them to God and God’s Word.  He ends with words about money. 

He gives himself as an example of working to supply his own needs and those who traveled with him.  He gives himself as an example of a “hard worker.”  He gives himself as an example of a giver.  His work had purpose: to supply his own needs and to enable him to help the weak.

APPLICATION: It is true: it is more blessed to give than to receive!  As a giver, God has added a joyful purpose to my work.  I am not just serving me; I am serving God; I am serving others.

When it is hard to get up early and go to work driving the school bus, the Lord provides joy in considering the blessing I will have in giving.  When the children are way too loud, when the weather is way too cold, when the country roads are way too dusty, I have found that the joy of the Lord is my strength!  HE rides my bus!

Since Christians are instructed to do everything for the glory of God (1Corinthians 10:31), my work should be to the very best of my ability. My attitude at work should make me a blessing to the other nearby workers. My supervisors should have no doubt that they are getting my best.

PRAYER:  Lord, make me a blessing to my boss. Make me a blessing to those who work near me. Make me a blessing to those who benefit from my work. But most of all, may my work be a blessing to you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 23, 2022: SOAP #4707: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 17:2  [In Thessalonica] As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts (NIV) 18:4 [In Corinth] Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Luke (NIV) 4:16 He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
Hebrews (NIV) 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is … 

OBSERVATION:  Paul had a practice that was very much like Jesus.  They both had the same custom.  They regularly went to the place where God was honored. Among other things, their ministry was a ministry of presence.  Their presence said gathering together was important.  Their presence was an encouragement to others. 

APPLICATION: I accepted Christ as my Savior; He now lives inside me and has made me a part of His body, the church.  If those following the Old Testament scriptures were to meet regularly, how much more should the church regularly come together.  As I want my physical body to interact and work together, how much more does Christ want His body to do the same.  The writer of Hebrews mentions people with a different custom-that of NOT meeting together.  How unlike Jesus that custom is.

When I join with others, I recognize that my presence can be an encouragement to others.  My participation in worship can encourage the worship leader.  My actively listening to the preacher can encourage them to put their heart into the sermon.  By being present and interested, I can inspire someone sitting nearby to have faith that God will speak to them. 

Just a thought:  If I want to be present with the body in glory, I should make it a practice to be present with the body here on earth!

PRAYER:   Lord, may my presence in Your body (the church) be an expression of appreciation for Your Presence in my life!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 22, 2022: SOAP #4706: Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 16:6 Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had a very human limitation:  he could only be at one place at one time!   He was unable to be in two places at the same time.  For those of us who have the same limitation, it is very important that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit!  This was the time for the province of Macedonia where Paul ministered in the city of Philippi.  He established a church and later wrote them the letter of Philippians which is included in the New Testament!   Later Paul would spend two years in the city of Ephesus which is in the province of Asia, the province earlier put out of bounds. (Acts 19) And from that ministry we have the book of Ephesians.  

APPLICATION: I, too, have the same limitation as the Apostle Paul.  I can only be in one place at one time.  For the kingdom of God to get the greatest benefit from Leon, I must carefully follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.  I must trust that His “no” is just as important as His “go.”  His limitations in one area give freedom in other areas.  I must trust His wisdom!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, You created me so you best know my limitations.  You made me this way, so obviously you planned on working with my limitations.  Develop patience when I deal with my own limitations, and grace when I work with the limitations in others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 21, 2022: SOAP #4705: Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

OBSERVATION:  To me this is amazing.  In verse 19 we read about Paul being stoned to the point he was considered dead.  His body was drug outside the city, probably to some cemetery or garbage dump.
In the next verse, we see the disciples of Lystra gathering around Paul, probably praying, and God worked a miracle.  God restored Paul and he was able to go back into the city.
One would think that he would take a few days to recover from the stoning, but that is not what we read.  The next day he and Barnabas left for Derby.  They were not traveling in some comfortable coach, but walking!  The distance I read in Robinson Word Pictures was 40 miles!
Paul and his traveling companions returned to Lystra, (verse 21) preaching, “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Paul was living what he was preaching! 

APPLICATION: Enduring ridicule, suffering, and/or persecution for the sake of Jesus strengthens our testimony.  We demonstrate that it is well worth the sacrifice to follow Jesus.  Our testimony while suffering exalts Jesus.  It shows people, earthly principalities, and heavenly principalities that Jesus has worth in our estimation.  He is too valuable to turn away. 

PRAYER:   Lord, an old song comes to mind:  Keep me true. Lord Jesus, keep me true.  There’s a race that I must run; there are victories to be won.  Give me power every hour to be true. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 20, 2022: SOAP #4704: Job 6-8; Acts 12

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell….

OBSERVATION:  Peter was in prison, but the church was praying. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, but the church was praying. Peter was bound with chains, but the church was praying. There were sentries at the entrance and two levels of guards, but the church was praying.

The church was not picketing the jail; the church was praying.  The church was not standing outside the governor’s house; the church was on its knees in Mary’s house.  The church was not talking to its representatives; the church was talking to its God!   The church was not organizing a letter writing campaign; the church making a direct appeal to the One who has many creative ways of dealing with such problems.

APPLICATION: In times of trouble, I can think of many things to do. If they work, I may receive the glory. But when I pray, I am acting like it all depends on God; and when God answer’s my prayers, He gets the glory! God has many creative ways of answering prayer. Sometimes His creative ways include me, but my part can never be interpreted as bringing about the needed answer. (i.e. Moses lifted rod could never be seen as the reason the Red Sea parted for Israel to cross.)

NOTE:  10/19/22   Less than a month ago the Lord answered a prayer for extra finances.  I had obeyed God to give out money set aside for taxes. I was confident that God would replace them but wondered how.  I told no one, but God spoke to several people who responded to His direction!  The money was replaced along with extra to meet several other SOAP needs!   PTL!!!  Now, God gets praise and thanksgiving from me for his hearing and answering my prayer.  He also gets praise from those who gave because they had heard and followed His direction.  And God received thanks and praise from the extra needs that were met!    PTL!!!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, use my prayers to cause people to look to you for the needed answer and then give you the glory as they see your answer. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 19, 2022: SOAP #4703: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Acts (NIV) 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

OBSERVATION:  It was a vision of unclean animals that Peter was commanded to “kill and eat;” of course, Peter, a Jew in good standing, refused.  They were unclean.  But God had made them clean.   Those three visions prepared Peter’s heart and mind to accept the invitation to go to an “unclean” Gentile’s house. 

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, in the same way as upon the Jews on the day of Pentecost, was proof to the Jews present that these Gentiles had been accepted by God.  When the testimony was shared back in Jerusalem, it prepared the hearts and minds of the whole church leadership to agree.  If God had accepted the Gentiles and given them the gift of the Holy Spirit in the same way as he had done for the Jews, who were they to reject the Gentiles as believers!  

APPLICATION: I have had the privilege and joy to share fellowship and ministry with other Holy Spirit-filled believers.  We did not agree on every doctrine, but we shared the life of the Spirit and enjoyed the sweet fellowship in the presence of Jesus.  One fellow bus driver and I share our common faith almost every day. 

I believe the Holy Spirit is still at work making me acceptable to other believers, and other believers acceptable to me. 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is not something I remember from my past, but something that keeps me full of God’s presence every day.  Oh, I can tell you when, but I would rather tell you about now.  I have many testimonies of what God has done in my life, but I would rather talk about what the Holy Spirit is doing today!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, continue to do in me what you did on the day of Pentecost and at Cornelius’ house in Acts 10. Keep me full of your love and power.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 18, 2022: SOAP #4702: Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.
Acts (NIV) 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Acts (NIV) 9:21 All those who heard him (Saul) were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem among those who prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts (NIV) 9: 32 As Peter travelled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

OBSERVATION:  Acts chapters 8 and 9 are mainly taken up with the ministries of three men, Philip, Saul, and Peter.  Only Peter was one of the twelve Jesus chose and appointed as apostles. 

Not too much is known about Philip. In chapter 8 he did some work as an evangelist and served as a deacon; he was a family man.  God uniquely led him to Samaria and then to a person traveling alone. 

Of course, we all know about Saul—the Apostle Paul.  But his public status was much different at the time of chapter 9.  To use a modern-day term, he terrorized the church—that is until God captivated him. 

APPLICATION: The Holy Spirit does not always use the persons we would expect. He did not just use the apostles! All SOAP readers, and this SOAP writer, should make ourselves available for the Lord to use us.  We do not need a title or position.  Whether He directs us to a crowd, or to an individual, our joy will be in that we obeyed! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I want to be available for you to use me as you know best.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon