Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 28, 2022: SOAP #4651: Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. THERE the hand of the LORD was upon him….
Ezekiel (NIV) 3:15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—overwhelmed.  16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me (THERE):…    Ezekiel (NIV) 3:22 The hand of the LORD was upon me THERE, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing THERE, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down.

OBSERVATION:  Ezekiel had been taken captive and moved to Babylon.  I am sure he missed home, but Ezekiel did not let his circumstances become so great in his thinking that he could not hear God!   And there in the land of Babylon, Ezekiel heard God speaking to him!   Yes, the same God in the temple in Jerusalem knew where His prophet was and how to get ahold of him!  

APPLICATION:  God knew where Ezekiel was and how to get his attention.  God had no trouble finding Ezekiel and giving him instructions as to what he should be doing. 

And God has no trouble finding Leon and speaking into his heart.  Every evening we have time together.  Usually, it is at my desk in my office.  But if we are traveling, God has no trouble speaking to me in Indiana, Ohio, or Pennsylvania.  In my home, at church, driving a school bus, God knows where I am and how to get my attention.  He knows all my “there’s”!!!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what a special privilege is mine to be your servant.  May I be quick to respond when you call.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 27, 2022: SOAP #4649: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 143:1 A psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

OBSERVATION:  The Psalmist needed mercy; he cried out for mercy.  But mercy could only come from one who would come in “faithfulness and righteousness.”  If his cry had been for justice, he would have been defending his innocence.  But his cry for mercy was an admission that he had done wrong and deserved punishment. 

God can only come in faithfulness and righteousness.  He is perfectly holy.  He is faithful.  He cannot be other than He is.  He is righteous.  He is eternally holy.  Even when He is loving and merciful, He is holy!   How can that be?  The perfectness of God’s mercy is found in Jesus coming to pay the full price for sin by dying on the cross!  

Jesus answered the prayer of the psalmist!  He came in faithfulness and righteousness and brought us mercy! 

APPLICATION: We must never forget that our perfectly loving God is also perfectly holy.  Every act of mercy is put in perfect balance with the value of the sacrifice of Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for coming to my relief in faithfulness and righteousness.  Help me to live this day with a grateful heart.  No one will ever be able to call into question whether my sins have been covered.  They are covered by the blood of a sinless sacrifice at Calvary.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 26, 2022: SOAP #4649: Jeremiah 50-51; 3John

SCRIPTURE: 3John (NIV)3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.  4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

OBSERVATION:  John had a good reason to rejoice.  He had received some visitors who brought him a good report about his friend, Gaius.  John received so much joy that he responded with this short letter.  His heart had been encouraged by a good report; he responded with a short letter of appreciation. 

APPLICATION: When I receive good news about a special friend, I need to take time to.  send a note.  I need to follow John’s example.  Such notes are an encouragement to those who receive them.  Someone noticed.  Someone had said good things about Gaius.  So, John took time to write a note of appreciation.  Such a note is often stored away in a special place where it can be taken out and enjoyed again.  The note can encourage their heart a second time, a third time, etc.    The Holy Spirit can bring it across their path in times of trouble or discouragement. The note may cause our ministry to continue even when we cannot be there.                                                                                     

PRAYER:  Holy, use me to bring words of encouragement to my friends.  Help me not to miss the opportunity to lift them with my words.  Especially use me to bring words of encouragement to my family.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 24, 2022: SOAP #4647: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

SCRIPTURE: Psalm (NIV) 74:8 Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. 9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.

OBSERVATION:  Israel had sinned and turned from the God who had delivered them from Egypt.  They started serving other gods.  Then, in their “desperate need” they called on God.  Let God be glorified in how He chose to deliver them.  May people honor God because of His intervention.  May the Name of the Lord be glorified.  May other nations see that God did what only God could do.  God had brought the punishment for their sin; God would bring the deliverance they needed. 

APPLICATION: The 16^th president of the USA was Abraham Lincoln.  He recognized that the civil war was God’s hand of judgment for the sin of slavery.  It was the costliest war in the history of our nation.  Today we are in another time of God’s judgment.  About 15 years ago, I asked the Lord what He would do about the sin of child-sacrifice.  God clearly told me that he would be bringing one undocumented alien into our nation for every child we have sacrificed to the god of convenience!  Today they are pouring over our southern border and our national leaders are tongue-tied and hand-tied, unable to do anything. 

When I see the TV reports of all the young men crossing the border, I cannot help but think that these are the children we have sacrificed.  God is bringing them to us.  What will we do?  Will the church enlist them into God’s army, or will they join the army of destruction?  How will we respond to God’s judgment?

PRAYER:  Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 24, 2022: SOAP #4647: Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; 1John 5

SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

OBSERVATION:  In this letter, John mentions many things that we can know, and he goes on to tell us “how we can know.”  For John, the proof of our faith is in our actions.  Proof of our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ can be seen in our love for God.  Our love for God can be seen in our obedience to His commands. 

For those who love God, obeying Him is not a heavy burden!  It is a joy to carry out His commands.

APPLICATION: Love of God is not something that can be kept a secret.  Loving God will make me want to know what He had to say, so the Bible will become my most favored book.  Loving God will make me want to please Him, so I will read the Bible to see what He likes, what pleases Him, what brings Him joy.  Loving God makes me want to be around other people who love Him.  I enjoy worship and hearing the preaching of the Word.  Others will see changes in me because I love God. 

Love of God is hard to hide. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may everyone around me know that I love and serve you.  May they see that serving you is not a burden, but a source of joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 23, 2022: SOAP #4646: Jeremiah 31-32; 1John 4

SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

OBSERVATION:  The key to overcoming the world is not doing the best you can.  It is not using all your self-power to withstand temptation.  It is not depending on the church to step in and give support.  It is not going to a success seminar.  The key to overcoming the world is having Someone who has already overcome the world living inside!   The One inside me must be bigger than the one in the world. 

We need an inside connection to keep us informed on heaven’s viewpoint! 

APPLICATION: One cannot overstress the importance of having Jesus living inside!   I acknowledge that I am a sinner; ask Him to forgive my sins; invite Him to live in my heart; and then thank Him for doing just that…not because I am worthy, but because He promised, and I believe He keeps His word! 

What a difference it makes when God dwells inside, and I acknowledge His presence in me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me to keep fresh in my memory that you are living inside me.  May I be a good host, talking to you and making you comfortable.  Holy Spirit, show me things to do that honor Jesus.  Strengthen me to overcome the one who lives in the world.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 22, 2022: SOAP #4645: Jeremiah 28-30; 1John 3

SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

OBSERVATION:  It cannot be said better than that! If you want to know what love is, look at Jesus!

If you want to know what love does, look at Jesus!

APPLICATION: If I want to love like Jesus, I have found that I cannot do it on my own.  I had to give my life to Jesus, ask Him to live in me and He expresses His love through me! 

I cannot meet all the needs of everyone I meet each day.  I need the Holy Spirit to stir the love of God in my heart as to what I can do.   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I know that you will not allow me to ignore a need of my brother.  I know that you are aware of my possessions and my needs.  I trust you to lead me in how I can use my possessions to be a part of the answer for my brother’s need.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 21, 2022: SOAP #4644: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1John 2

SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

OBSERVATION:  John makes it so simple.  It is hard to miss.  My relationship to God can be seen in my relationship to my brother.   If the “Source Of All Love” dwells within me, then love will certainly flow out of me. 

APPLICATION: I may be tempted to use this as a measure to see if my brother is walking in the light.  But the main issue is not how my brother loves me, but how I love my brother.

The longer He lives in me, the more loving I should be. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for making the most important issue so simple. Holy Spirit, plant this in my thoughts today and bring it to my memory when I need it most.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 20, 2022: SOAP #4643: Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1John 1

SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
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.

OBSERVATION:  I have yet to meet a person claiming to have lived a perfect life.  We all have a line of acceptable behavior, and, at some time, have all fallen below our own line right and wrong.  So, as in verse 8, claiming to have never sinned is deceiving ourselves.  And, as in verse 10, claiming to have never sinned is calling God a liar for He says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Our predicament is hopeless without the verse in the middle, verse 9.  Acknowledging the truth, agreeing with God that I have sinned, I discover that God not only forgives, He purifies me from all unrighteousness!

APPLICATION: What a God!  He does for me what I could not do for myself!   He forgives me and purifies me from all unrighteousness!  Amazing!  I receive it by faith.  Then He sends the Holy Spirit to live in me empowering me to resist temptation.  And he continues to forgive me and cleanse me as needed!  I am humbled!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your forgiveness provided for me through the death of your Son, Jesus!  Thank you for your Holy Spirit living in me, helping me to resist temptation.  Thank you that you continue to forgive me and continue to cleanse me from all unrighteousness!  Thank you for being what I need!  It humbles me to say it, but You are the perfect God for me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 19, 2022: SOAP #4642: Jeremiah 45-47; Psalm 105; John 21

SCRIPTURE: Psalm (NIV) 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…
8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,

OBSERVATION:  When God created man, He created him in His image.  We have many similar characteristics.  One special likeness is memory.  In the above verses, we see that there are special things we are to remember.  We are to remember the times God did things that only God could do.  We are also to remember the promises of judgment he will send if we continue in sinful ways.  

But we see that God also has a memory.  He remembers His promises.  He remembers His covenants—His promises He swore to people, binding them with a sacrifice.  How special the promise He has given that is sealed with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross. 

APPLICATION:  When I confess my sins, God remembers the sacrifice of Jesus!  He forgives me.  Now it is for me to remember what forgiveness cost the Holy God.  My sin could not be ignored; a proper sacrifice was needed; a sacrifice that could only be made by Jesus.  When I remember what He has done for me, is anything too great for me to do for Him?  

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess my sins!  I give you my life!  I invite you to live your life in me.  I set you as Lord over my life.  Forgive me for forgetting promises I have made to you.  Help me remember my promises to you and your promises to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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