Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 7, 2022: SOAP #4661: 2Kings 25; 2Chron. 36; Jer. 40-41; Rev. 12

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

OBSERVATION:  In Revelation, John is prophetically looking at the end of God’s plan in creating man.  In chapter 11 we saw that a result of Jesus being given the authority to reign was that evil was judged and righteousness was rewarded.  Here in chapter 12 we see that another result of Jesus’s reign is to move Satan toward his final destination, the lake of fire.  (Revelation 20:10) 

God’s plan will not be complete until evil has been properly disposed.  Not only will God overcome evil, His plan includes that His children have power to overcome evil.  They overcome Satan by the blood of their crucified Savior.  Satan is guilty of killing the only one who did not deserve to die!  They overcame him by the word of their testimony, and they have lost their fear of death!  They do not fear the worst thing that Satan can do to them!

APPLICATION: The blood of Jesus marks me as being a child of God.  Satan cannot take this child to hell!  God has other plans for me!  He has eternal plans that Satan cannot touch.  While Satan is forever in the lake of fire, this child will be forever in the presence of God!  This child will be joyfully worshipping and serving God forever! 

PRAYER:   Lord, although I do not see everything about heaven and being in your presence, yet I am convinced by what I do see that it will be worth it all to be there with you.  You are worthy of my worship and devotion.  You created me to be an instrument of worship.  Heaven will be a joyful place of completely fulfilling your purpose in creating me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September6, 2022: SOAP #4660: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

OBSERVATION:  It is something to celebrate!!  There was a change in government.  The kingdom of the world has come under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ!  This will be the ultimate change for the world.  It begins a time of judging evil.  It begins a time of rewarding the righteous. 

It is something to celebrate!  It is the last change!  He will reign “forever and ever!” 

APPLICATION: When the government of the world is replaced with the government of God, it is always something to celebrate.  Luke 15:7 tells us there is even rejoicing in heaven when the ruling kingdom of this world is replaced by a new KING! –when ONE sinner repents! 

PRAYER:    Lord, what a day!  What a celebration!  What an appropriate time for worship!  –a day when you are given your rightful place as LORD of all!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 5, 2022: SOAP #4659: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel (NIV) 28:25 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. 26 And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.

OBSERVATION:  Some people believe that the church has taken the place of Israel in God’s plan. They believe the prophecies concerning Israel are really for the church.  I cannot see any interpretation of the verses above other than the nation of Israel living in the land God promised Abraham.  And a view of current world events shows Israel now back in the promised land. 

APPLICATION: The rainbow in the sky serves as visible proof that God keeps His promise made to Noah.  The existence of Israel back in the land God promised Abraham serves as visible proof that God still keeps His promise made to Abraham.  My time in the US Navy, my wife, our ministry in Hawaii, our son, our ministry in Kansas, and this SOAP ministry all serve to remind me that God is still keeping His promises to me! 

PRAYER:   Lord, among so many other titles, Promise Keeper fits You well.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 4, 2022: SOAP #4658: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Revelation (NIV) 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.  16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them … . 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not … 

OBSERVATION:  God is always prepared.  Nothing takes Him by surprise.  He does not overlook any detail in His preparation.  In John we read that preparations are being made for a special place in heaven for those who believe in God and in Jesus, His Son.  Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”  Of course, it is!  He loves us and has prepared a place for us. It will be His special day when we all join Him there!  It will be very special for us, too! 

In Revelation we see that preparation is also being made for judgment on those who do not believe.  God’s holiness demands it!  Matthew 25:41 tells us that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Those who reject Jesus will join the devil for eternity. 

APPLICATION: Two destinations have been prepared and God graciously gives me the choice. He is not holding out two closed hands asking me to guess which hand to choose. He is holding out His hands open and palms up telling me to choose. He tells me to consider the end of my life.

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I choose you! I choose to believe you! You are trustworthy and faithful. You are believable. I choose you! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 3, 2022: SOAP #4657: Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 20:8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So, I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. 9 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations they lived among and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites by bringing them out of Egypt….
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws— although the man who obeys them will live by them—and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So, I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the desert. 22 But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

OBSERVATION:  As God’s highest creation, man is very important to God.  God cares what people think about Him.  Through the nation of Israel, God wanted to display to the world what a holy and loving God He is.  The Israelites ignored His word and turned to idols.  God was going to destroy them, but Moses interceded and for the sake of what the other nations would think, God spared His people.  (Exodus 32)  What the other nations thought about God was determined by the actions of God’s people. 

APPLICATION:  What do my family and friends think about the God I serve?  Do they see that the God I serve is just for Sundays or for when I am in church with church people?  Or do they see that my God is a part of my every-day life?  Do they see that the God I serve is worthy of my full devotion every day and in every part of my life? 

PRAYER:   Oh, Lord, may the people that know me, be convinced that Leon is serving a God worthy of my full devotion.  Like my brother’s song:  “Lord, there’s just one thing; One thing I ask of Thee; Cause me to excel; Excel in loving Thee.  There’s nothing in this world, That I would rather be; But by thy grace just one; Who excels in loving Thee.” Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 2, 2022: SOAP #4656: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 7:14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

OBSERVATION:  They are in heaven because they are depending on the sacrifice of Jesus to make them clean.  But they had been faithful through many hard times.  They had endured hunger, thirst, time in the heat of the sun—they had “come out of the great tribulation.”

We should take note that God specifically rewards them.  They are day and night before His throne serving God.  They will have special protection and provision.  God, Himself, will comfort them!

APPLICATION: Our entrance into heaven is based solely on what Jesus did for us on the cross.  But our rewards in heaven will be in keeping with what we have endured and accomplished for God.  The rewards will far surpass our suffering.  It will be worth it all!   

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, we live our lives here on earth for your glory.  Use us as you see best. Use me today for the good of your kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 1, 2022: SOAP #4655: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

OBSERVATION:  That which motivates great love; can also motivate intense anger.  A mother who has great love for her child will understandably have intense hatred for that which harm her child. 

God has great love for the Son.  The Son has great love for the Father.  The Father and the Son have great love for those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.  The Father and the Son will have intense anger for those who have mistreated the church.  Martyrs in heaven will have a prominent place!  Their presence will be a continual reminder of how the church has been mistreated. 

APPLICATION: When one considers how intense is the love of God, one can get an idea of how intense His wrath can become.  Hebrews (NIV) 10:30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I must live my life in a way that pleases God, that brings joy to His heart.  I need to be considerate of His feelings, of His likes and dislikes.  There is great honor and reward for doing those things that please Him.  To knowingly ignore His feelings is foolish. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, teach me how to please the Father like Jesus pleased the Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 31, 2022: SOAP #4654: Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 5:4 I wept and wept because no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb,…
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb….9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

OBSERVATION:  In Revelation, chapter 5, we see Jesus introduced as a Lion.  He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the One who has triumphed!  Yes, He is introduced as the Lion, but He is worshipped as the Lamb! 

He is worshipped because of what He did.  He was slain and with His blood purchased people for God from every people group in the world.  AMAZING!  Indeed, He is worthy of worship!  

APPLICATION: Jesus laid aside His position and ministry as a Lion to pick up His ministry as a Lamb.  He came to earth to live and die as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth!

I sometimes like to think of myself as a Lion, a leader with authority.  But I need to focus on being a Lamb, a servant of those around me.  If I can be a good servant, God will have me serve in places where I can honor Him. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I worship you for who you are and “because you were slain, and with your blood” you purchased me for God! May I serve you faithfully every day. Thank you.

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 30, 2022: SOAP #4653: Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

OBSERVATION:  Here we can see that Genesis 1:1 is still an important subject in heaven.  It is a reason for the worship of the one sitting on the throne of heaven.  On the throne is the One who created all things!  All things were created by His will.  He was not conducting some experiment wondering what He might make.  He created with purpose.  He knew what He was doing. 

He created living plants and animals to support His crowning creation: man.  He created man with understanding and the ability to reason.  He created man to make choices.  Understanding the greatness and wonderfulness of God, man could choose to love and worship his Creator!  To create a man who would be free to worship, or not to worship.  God was taking a risk.  What if He could not convince people to worship Him!   But He did!!!  To God be the glory!!!

APPLICATION: Satan, in the presence of God, made his choice to rise up against God, usurp God’s authority and set himself up as god.  Jesus made a way for man to be forgiven and cleansed.  The redeemed will be present to worship God as those who have chosen to worship God, even though Satan has used his power to turn them away from God.  I believe their presence around the throne will be vindication for God’s judgment on Satan and his followers. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are perfectly holy. You are preparing a holy bride for your Son, Jesus.  Holy Spirit, work in my heart.  Make me like Jesus.    Amen

Pastor Leon    
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 29, 2022: SOAP #4652: Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 3: 1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
8 [to the church of Philadelphia] I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut…
15 [to the church of Laodicea] I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

OBSERVATION:  God is the perfect judge.  He knows our deeds.  He knows what we have done and why we have done it.  No one will ever be able to fool God!  

God knows the good deeds His children have done, even the small things that no one else noticed!   God knows our deeds!   He wants to reward us more than our deeds deserve. 

God also knows the terribleness of sin.  He knows the proper punishment for sin!  Sin is so terrible that He prepared an appropriate place for Satan and those who reject God’s forgiveness. 

God also knows the deeds of His Son, Jesus!   God knows the value of the sinless sacrifice of Jesus.  It covers the sins of those who believe in Him—of those who have confessed their sin to Him and received His forgiveness—of those who have made Him the Lord of their life. 

APPLICATION: Jesus told us that no one could come to the Father but through Him.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  (John 14:6)   Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by the grace of God that comes into our lives by faith. (Romans 10:9-10) Knowing the truth, believing it, receiving it by confessing it, brings the peace and joy of the Lord into my heart! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I invite you to live your life in me.  (Revelation 3:20)  Thank you for what you have provided.  —forgiveness of my sins and your presence to live in me!  Thank you.  I am blessed beyond measure!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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