Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 18, 2022: SOAP #4641: Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

OBSERVATION:  Here Jesus declares His purpose…and ours.  He was sent, and in the same way we are sent.  He was the Sent One, now we are sent ones! If Jesus was sending them as He was sent, then they would have to be accompanied by the Holy Spirit.  His ministry did not begin until anointed by the Spirit at his water baptism by John when the Spirit descended in the form of a dove.  Jesus was not going to send his disciples out into ministry without the benefit of the Spirit.  They would not be sent out with less than He had when His ministry began.

APPLICATION: It is not by chance I am where I am.  I have been sent.  If Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit to direct His ministry, how much more must I learn to be led by the Spirit.  I must follow the example of Jesus in trusting the Spirit.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, lead me to be like Jesus and to do what He would do in the places I am being sent today. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Separate Note: 
Friends, 

I have been amazed at how God uses the SOAPs He gives me every day!   I never dreamed they would go as far as they have.  Every week, and many times every day I receive reports of how they are reaching into new areas. 

I am humbled to know that God uses these SOAPs to share His Word.  I believe God uses these SOAPs because they are faithful and fresh every day—faithful for over twelve years and fresh every day.  God wants to have a current relationship with His children.  He wants us to listen every day to what He is saying. 

Should you be interested, from time to time, in receiving updates in a separate email as to how this ministry began and how it is spreading, send me a reply by email at ernestlhiebert@gmail.com.  Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 17, 2022: SOAP #4640: 2Kings 24; Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 19:18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle…
28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

OBSERVATION:  After eating the Passover supper with His disciples, He took them to the garden where He prayed, and where Judas led those who arrested Him.  From then on, prophecies of His trial and crucifixion were fulfilled by others until verse 28.  “Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”   With those words Jesus started the fulfillment of Psalm 69:21. Up to that time, Jesus had been the passive victim enduring the suffering from what others were doing to Him. It was all within the Father’s will. 

And now, everything was set in motion.  His physical death was moments away.  BUT all scripture must be fulfilled!  Psalm 69:21 must be fulfilled.  (“They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.”) So Jesus says, “I thirst.”

APPLICATION: As I have progressed through my life as a Christian, there have been things that happened to me.  Sometimes it seemed my life was in the hands of others.  And at other times my life moved as I made decisions. 

But I have given my life to the Lord.  When it was my decision, I have trusted Him to show me how to decide and what directions to take.  When my life was at the mercy of others, in my heart I knew that God had control!   No one was big enough to move me out of God’s will.  I had to let my faith dominate my attitudes.

PRAYER:  Lord, when the choices are mine, I joyfully choose to do your will.  And when I have no choice as to my physical body and its surroundings, I choose to make my heart a place that you enjoy by keeping my attitudes in line with the fruit of the Spirit.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 16, 2022: SOAP #4639: 2Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18

SCRIPTURE: Psalm (NIV) 112:1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

OBSERVATION:  People who have had the experience of overseeing workers will easily identify with three types of workers.  First, there are those who refuse to work.  They do everything they can to get out of working.  Second are those who do the work but are constantly complaining about how hard the work and how they would rather be somewhere else.  The third type is a joy to have working for you.  They delight in having a job.  They are quick to do the job.  They are careful to do it right. 

People who can identify with this can surely understand how God looks at His children, His servants. 

APPLICATION: I want to delight in following the Lord’s commands, making it a joy for Him to bless me.  I want to do my job with a joyful heart.  When He sees me, I want to make Him smile. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I know I will not be able to please everyone all the time, but, Lord, I want my words and actions to always please you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 15, 2022: SOAP #4638: Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 17:25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus is speaking of a most personal relationship.  He does not want us to just know about Him.  He does not want us to just hear about Him. He does not want us to just read about Him.  He wants us to know Him (Note John 17:3).  Jesus does not want to just to have weekly visitations.  Jesus does not want to just be a distant relative, like a grandparent or important ancestor.  Even more than being with us, He desires to be in us.  (Revelation 3:20)  He does not want to move into the house next door, or the family room in our home…He wants to be IN us.  He wants to share this body and share this life. 

APPLICATION:  More than the banker I visit at the bank.  More than the baker I visit at the restaurant.  More than the doctor I visit at the hospital.  At my invitation, Jesus has made my heart His home.  We share this life together.  He enables me to be more than I can be.  With His forgiveness comes peace and joy!  Like Paul wrote, “Christ in me, the hope of glory!” (Colossians 1:27)

PRAYER:  As a child, I used to sing: “Into my heart; Into my heart; Come into my hear, Lord Jesus.  Come in today, Come in to stay.  Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.”   Thank you Jesus for doing just that!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 14, 2022: SOAP #4637: Jeremiah 16-17; Psalm 96; John 16

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you…
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was telling them something they did not want to hear.  To make it easier to accept, Jesus told them that it would be for their good.  Then Jesus goes on to explain how it will be for their good.  Their relationship with Jesus will grow even stronger because of the presence and ministry of the Spirit.  Having the Counsellor, the Comforter, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth—having the Holy Spirit with every one of us twenty-four hours every day is so much better than having Jesus walk on earth in one place at a time.  When Jesus was in Jerusalem, he was not in Bethany or Capernaum.  When in Israel, he was not in Rome, or Africa, or any other country.  What a great blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit with us today!!! 

APPLICATION: Jesus told them something they did not want to hear.  But it turned out so much better!!  Many times in my life I have faced things that I did not like.  I complained about them.  I prayed for Jesus to help me change the situation.  But Jesus did not seem to hear or answer my prayers.  I had to keep on moving ahead, through the trouble, wondering if I would ever get through.  I wondered if God knew and understood what was happening to me.   As I completed the journey through the trouble, I discovered that God really did know what was happening.  God really did understand.  God was working it out for my good!  The end was better for me than the beginning!!!   Romans 8:28 is really true!!!

PRAYER:  Lord, how can I doubt your love for me.  Holy Spirit how can I doubt your wisdom in leading me through life!  I have fount the best application of my wisdom is to follow you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 13, 2022: SOAP #4636: Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing….
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples….
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

OBSERVATION:  Clearly God brings us into His Family to bear fruitful.  He has designed us to be fruitful.  But being fruitful is not something we can do on our own.  IF we remain in Him, like a branch in a vine, we will bear fruit.  It is our responsibility to remain.  We cannot separate ourselves from our source of His life and expect to remain fruitful. 

APPLICATION: Bearing fruit means that we do things that make Him look good.  Obviously, that includes the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:9) being present in our lives.  It also includes deeds of service, kindness, benevolence, etc.  It includes the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 12:4-11), which are gifts given to every believer to make them fruitful in ministry. (1Corinthians 12:7) 

Being fruitful means that the life of the Spirit is in me and flowing out of me.  It means that I am keeping in contact with the source of that life through prayer, Bible reading, meeting with other believers.  God uses their gifts and strengths to minister to me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I keep myself grafted into the body of Christ, keep your life flowing to me and through me I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 12, 2022: SOAP #4635: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work….
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. …
20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

OBSERVATION:  In verses 8-10 Jesus explains His relationship with the Father.  Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus.  They are so much one, that those who saw Jesus, saw the Father.  Jesus spoke the Father’s words and did the Father’s deeds. 

Then in verses 17 and 20, Jesus shows us that we have the same relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as Jesus had with His Father. 

APPLICATION: This relationship is a high privilege.  We are children of God.  We are to grow into sons.  We are to mature into fathers. (1John 2:12-14) 

With this high privilege comes a great responsibility.  My life is to represent God here on earth.  But it is not something I must do on my own.  The Holy Spirit living within me works in me and through me.  His presence lives the life of God in me and through me.    

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, it is so important that I learn to hear your voice and to quickly respond to your leading.  As you came upon Jesus at His water baptism, so come upon and in me.  Lead me as you led Him.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 11, 2022: SOAP #4634: Jeremiah 7-9; John 13

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 13:13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
John (NIV) 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

OBSERVATION:  In the gathering of Jesus and the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.  Then He tells them that they should do for each other what He had done for them.  This was not something they were to return to him, but something they were to do to and for each other.  Jesus told them to do “as I have done for you.”

I see His example and instruction as a preface for what He would say a few moments later.  He set a new command for them; they were to love each other as Jesus had loved them!   Jesus said, “As I have loved you.”

APPLICATION: As a follower of Jesus, I must take the command of Jesus seriously.  I must sincerely love my brothers and sisters in Christ the way that Jesus loves me.  I am to follow His example.

It is a command that I cannot do in myself.  It is a call to love with Jesus love.  It is a love that goes beyond Leon love.  But it is His command!  What am I to do? 

I have discovered that Jesus will not command me to do something that He is not willing to do through me.  And so, I let Him love through me.  He pours His love into me; He pours His love through me.  The people of the world take note of how we in the body of Christ love one another. 

PRAYER:  Lord, your love is pure; your love is holy.  Your love is not self-serving, but self-sacrificing.  Love through me, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 10, 2022: SOAP #4633: Jeremiah 5-6; John 12

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 12:47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus knew that he was sent.  There was a reason He was on earth.  Jesus knew who sent him.  What He said, and how He said it was very important.  His words would lead people to eternal life.   People would be judged according to the words that Jesus spoke. 

APPLICATION: I should take time to think before I speak.  I should consider who lives inside me.  I should consider His desire concerning those to whom I am speaking.  Surely such thoughts would affect what I say and how I say it.  I should consider that the words I speak to them may be recalled on judgment day. 

PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for times I have not carefully represented you with my words.  Holy Spirit, flow through me and speak through me. Heavenly Father, may you be glorified in my words.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 9, 2022: SOAP #4632: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

OBSERVATION:  Lazarus was dead!  Everyone was sure he was dead.  The funeral was over, but the grieving continued.  He had been buried for four days.  But he was not so dead that he could not hear the voice of Jesus!   It was just his body that was dead.  His spirit was very much alive!  His spirit recognized his name and who it was that was calling.  His spirit recognized the authority in that call.  It was a call he could not ignore; he had to return. 

What seemed hopeless, was not hopeless.  What seemed so final, was not final.  The body was dead, but life continued.  Those who had lovingly and carefully prepared the body for burial now had to undo their work. 

APPLICATION: There are many things in life that seem final, but not to those who know God!  Things thought impossible become possible when God gets involved.  It is His specialty!  It is His way of leaving His calling card that says, “God was here!!!” 

I remember my dad and mom singing: 
   “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
   Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
   God specializes in things thought impossible
   And He will do what no other power can do!”

PRAYER:  Lord, you are the miracle worker.  You are the impossible doer.  You have told me to come in faith and ask you.  You often use others to meet my needs.  Forgive me for taking my eyes off you and looking to those who have previously helped to meet my needs. My struggle can be your opportunity to demonstrate your unlimited ability! Amen

Pastor Leon
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