Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 17, 2022: SOAP #4701: Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God….58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul….
8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

OBSERVATION:  From just reading verse 55 one might get the idea that Stephen was in a great revival!   He was full of the Holy Spirit and having visions of God!  He saw the resurrected and ascended Jesus!   

The verses before and after give us insight into Stephen’s circumstances.  He was not in a revival.  The people around Stephen were furious at what he had just told them.  In a very short time, they would take him out of the city and stoned him to death.  Stephen was discovering that the One inside him was greater than what surrounded him-even greater than what might happen to him!  

And look who was watching.  Not only was heaven taking note of how Stephen was being treated, Acts 8:1 reveals that Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was watching too!

APPLICATION: Praise the Lord, my circumstances do not have to rule my spirit!  I can be full of the Holy Spirit no matter what is happening around me or to me!   Not only is heaven watching me, but people are also watching my life today. 

PRAYER:   Lord, as Saul was watching Stephen that day, there are people watching my life today.  I need Your Holy Spirit.  I want to stay full of Your Spirit. I want a revival in my heart that can be seen by others.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 15, 2022: SOAP #4699: Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

OBSERVATION:  There was no requirement for them to give it all.  But they desired the esteem of giving the full amount of the sale, so they pretended to give it all.  I doubt that Ananias and his wife sat down to figure out how they could lie to the Holy Spirit.  Maybe they did not even think of it as a lie.  Surely if they had considered that the Holy Spirit would be listening to their words and evaluating their actions, they would have done it different.  The following verses give the results.

APPLICATION:  Jesus has made His dwelling IN me.  I am a temple of the Holy Spirit.  He hears every word I speak.  He knows everything I do.  There is great comfort in knowing that He will never leave me.  There is confidence in knowing that He helps me.  There is great peace in knowing that He loves me and understands my circumstances. 

HOWEVER. He also knows every word I hastily speak in anger.  He knows what I am doing when no one is watching.  I may fool people, but I can never fool God!   There is no way I can keep something hidden from Him!  

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, You are the welcomed and honored guest in my life.  It is my desire to always please you and never offend you. May those who hear the words I speak and see what I do easily understand that you the Lord of my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 15, 2022: SOAP #4699: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 4:16 “What are we [the religious leaders] going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

OBSERVATION:  The religious leaders were demanding Peter and John to do something unnatural.  When something wonderful happens, it is natural to talk about it.  Jesus had just risen from the dead; how could they not talk about it!   They had just been filled with the Holy Spirit; how could they not talk about it!  The crippled beggar had just been healed in Jesus Name; how could they not talk about it! 

APPLICATION: Jesus has forgiven my sins.  He has filled me with His Holy Spirit.  He has filled my heart with joy. How can I not talk about it!    This past week, God answered some prayers that only He and I knew about.  I heard Him and obeyed.  He heard me and replaced what I had given in response to His word!   How can I not talk about Jesus and give Him the glory!   He always gives me something fresh!  

Surely God has done something for every believer that must be shared.  It is too big to keep to one’s-self.  Even the joy in our heart pushes out into a smile. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I never run out of things for which I can give thanks to you, or testimonies I can share with others. You always give me something fresh!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 14, 2022: SOAP #4698: Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

(from an earlier SOAP.) 

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

OBSERVATION:  Peter and John were not out looking to heal someone, or to have a large gathering where they could preach about Jesus and call people to faith in Christ.  But that is what happened.  It started as they were moving through a normal day.  Nothing big was planned.  They were just doing what was common for them to do.  It was nothing out of the ordinary.  They were just being faithful in doing something ordinary.  But their ordinary day was interrupted by an ordinary beggar with an ordinary request.  Then the Holy Spirit turned their ordinary day into an extra-ordinary day!  Now we can read the rest of the story in Acts 3.

APPLICATION: The Holy Spirit specializes in taking the ordinary things I faithfully do and using them to bring glory to Jesus!  I may not know how my faithfulness in doing the little things might affect someone who is watching.  It may be just a smile, or a gentle touch, or a short prayer, (baking a cake, fixing a leaky roof, writing a letter, making a phone call, etc.) but the Holy Spirit can do something big in someone’s life with something small from me.  Whatever it is you do, do it in the name of Jesus!  Give Him glory!  Many of the big things God does, starts with a believer doing a small thing!

PRAYER:   Jesus, knowing that you are watching my life makes me want to be faithful.  May my life please you and bring you joy.  And knowing that there may be someone watching close by — someone who may need encouragement, or a kind word — this also makes me want to be faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 13, 2022: SOAP #4697: Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

OBSERVATION:  They had been told to “go into all the world” but then they were told to wait.  Then, in a moment of time, everything changed!  Suddenly!  Suddenly they were empowered and equipped to go into all the world.

Soon and suddenly are two different words.  God’s suddenly does not always happen soon enough for me, but it is always worth the wait.

APPLICATION: When the Lord tells me to wait, I can be assured that it is worth waiting for!   I often find that I am thinking too small.  God has something better and bigger in mind.

Suddenly God gives me a thought or word that changes my perspective.  Suddenly God gives me insight to a scripture passage.  Suddenly I receive a phone call.  Suddenly I hear a song on the radio.  Suddenly I see inspiration in something along the road.  Suddenly someone lifts my spirit or my thoughts by something they say.  Suddenly I become aware of God’s Presence — suddenly God speaks and everything changes!

Suddenly a word is impressed in my mind.  Suddenly I know what needs to be said or done.  Suddenly I have faith to interject myself into the ongoing process.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I am finding that you often work in the “suddenlies.”  Help me be ready when you bring a “suddenly” my way.  May I respond in faith and obedience.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 12, 2022: SOAP #4696: Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1

A little Detail   (reworked SOAP from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

OBSERVATION:  A little, probably often overlooked, detail is inserted in this verse by Dr. Luke, the author.  Luke had had finished the book that bears his name by portraying the last supper, the garden of Gethsemane, the trial, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension.  Then, here in the first chapter of Acts Dr Luke continues his writings by mentioning Jesus’ instruction to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.  He mentions the 40 days Jesus was with them prior to his ascension, and the disciples choosing a replacement for Judas.  Then in the following chapter he writes about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.   And in the middle of all these major issues, Luke inserts a short phrase that has nothing to do with them.  If it was not there, we would not miss it.  Luke writes, “ …while he was eating with them.”  The crucified and resurrected Jesus was participating in their everyday, mundane, living activity!

APPLICATION: Sometimes in waiting for Jesus to answer my “big” prayers, and be with me in the hard times, I forget that He is with me in the little things.  I need to learn to rely on Jesus in the “big” times, but I also need to learn to recognize and enjoy His presence in the “small” times.

PRAYER:   Lord, today remind me today of Your presence.  You are with me even when I do not think I need you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 11, 2022: SOAP #4695: Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words.

OBSERVATION:  The ladies went to the tomb where they had seen the body of Jesus laid (Luke 23:55).   But when they arrived, things were not as they expected.   They expected to have trouble getting the stone moved; they expected to see the body in the tomb. 

They did not see what they expected!  But what they saw was so much better—far better than they could have ever dreamed!

APPLICATION: When facing the unknown, it almost seems human nature to expect the worst.  God is teaching me not to fear the worst and not to worry about how things will work out.  Many times I have been wonderfully surprised by what I find. 

How different would have been their journey to the tomb if they had remembered, and believed, what Jesus had told them!  I must always keep fresh in my mind what God has told me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are amazing, often surprising me with blessings when I am expecting trouble. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 10, 2022: SOAP #4694: Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

OBSERVATION:  The presence of Jesus always brings reactions.  From the one criminal, a selfish request:  save yourself and save us!  From the other: we are guilty and getting what we deserve. 

The thief’s statement: “this man has done nothing wrong” was the sixth statement of Jesus’ innocence.  It had been obvious to Pilate who 4 times declared Jesus to be innocent.  Herod had also declared Jesus to be innocent.  The hatred of the religious leaders and the passion of the crowd won out over Pilate and Herod. 

Even when paying for the sins of all man, Jesus had the compassion to save one.  The criminal had admitted his guilt; he was with Jesus on their crosses; he would be with Jesus that very day in paradise! 

APPLICATION: I should always be aware of someone needing Jesus, especially when going through a time of suffering myself.  Through prayer and compassion, through words of kindness and hope, I can make the presence of Jesus noticeable.  I can reach out to those nearby, even those who may be going through the same experience as I am. 

PRAYER:   Lord, help me not to be so focused on my own troubles that I cannot see those around me going through the same.  Make your presence known through me in the middle of the pain and struggle.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 09, 2022: SOAP #4693: Nehemiah 1-2; Psalm 133-134; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV)   [Here Jesus is speaking to his disciples in the garden where he went to pray just before being arrested and crucified] …   22:40  On reaching the place he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, …  [After a time of prayer, Jesus returned to where he had left the disciples.]  46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them.  “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

OBSERVATION:  Earlier in his ministry, when his disciples had asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he taught them “Our Father … lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” (Luke 11:4)

In the verses above, Jesus knew what was just ahead for him, yet he did not ask the disciples to pray for him, but for themselves.  He knew their weaknesses.  He knew they would be tempted.  So here is a place where they needed to pray as he had taught them.

APPLICATION: I do not know what temptations lay ahead so I need to pray as Jesus instructed.   I need to pray for myself.  As long as I am in this world, I will be subject to temptations.  I should pray this prayer every day.

PRAYER:   Lord, do not lead me into places of temptation, and when I do find myself in such places, remind me that you are with me.  Deliver me from evil.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 08, 2022: SOAP #4692: Ezra 9-10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,

OBSERVATION:  The disciples were interested in the beautiful temple and the gifts that people had brought.  Jesus was interested in the people.  He saw the wealthy giving.  And He saw the poor giving.  He not only saw their gifts; He saw what was left.  He saw their hearts. 

APPLICATION: Obviously, He is watching my giving too.  My giving is important to Him.  The offering I gave today was given for His benefit.  He directed me to the job; He opened the door; He gives me the strength each day.  The money I earn is His to be used as He directs.  He sees what is given; He sees what is left. 

PRAYER:   Lord, my life is yours.  I live for your glory.  You have given me to drive a school bus for my work.  My work is my ministry.  The earnings are yours.  They are given and used at your pleasure.  It is my pleasure to serve you as you have directed me.  Thank you for making me useful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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