Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 8, 2022: SOAP #4631: Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah (NIV) 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.  9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

OBSERVATION:  The assignment was too great for Jeremiah.  He did not know how he would be able to do what God said.   From reading on, we can see that Jeremiah was not alone in thinking such thoughts.  God agreed with Jeremiah.  God did not think that Jeremiah would be able to fulfill his assignment!   God would put God’s words in Jeremiah’s mouth!  God also promised Jeremiah that he would not be going alone; God was going with him!!! 

When Jeremiah told God his limitations, he was not telling God anything new.  God already knew that the job was too big for Jeremiah.  And God already knew how Jeremiah’s limitations could be overcome.  God put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth and God promised to be WITH HIM!  

APPLICATION: I should not be surprised when the things I face are too big for me.  God is not wanting to prove how much I can do, but to prove how much He can do through me.  Nothing is too big for God!  Nothing is too hard for God!!  Nothing is impossible for God!!!  I am not facing this world based on my abilities, but on HIS abilities! 

I have often prayed for God to be glorified in my life. I should consider the impossible things I face as answers to those prayers!  He will be glorified in me as people see what He can do through me.

PRAYER:  Lord, as I go through this day, I am counting on you to put your words in my mouth.  Speak through me to those around me.  Speak to me and through me, I pray.  Use these SOAPs to encourage others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 7, 2022: SOAP #4630: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
John (NIV) 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,…27  And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. …
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.

OBSERVATION:  In reading the portion in John 9, the verses in John 5 and 12 came to mind.  There seems to be a conflict.  I asked the Lord to help me understand.  Because Jesus completely fulfilled the law without any sin and then died for our sins, to Jesus the Father has assigned all judgment.  But while on earth, Jesus did not come to be our judge; He came to save the world. 

In John 9 Jesus is saying “For judgment I have come into this world…”  From the context, I hear Jesus saying, “To help you make good judgment I have come into the world.”  Following Jesus’ teaching gives us the ability to make good judgments.  If we claim to be wise enough and not need Jesus’ teaching, and receive what He offers, our “guilt remains.”

APPLICATION: Through a personal relationship with Jesus as my Savior and Lord; through the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life; and through growing in my knowledge of the Bible, I grow in my ability to make good judgments.  Making good judgments is one way of honoring and pleasing my Lord.  It is why He came. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is my goal to honor you.  Holy Spirit help me make good judgments in who I listen to, what I believe, and what I do.  Help me understand the scriptures and apply them to my life. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 6, 2022: SOAP #4629: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

OBSERVATION:  God is so high and holy that He can only be truly worshipped by those who are free to worship Him.  If He is so High and Holy, He should not need to force people to serve and worship Him!!!  We are not puppets responding to the pull of a string, moving at the will of a great string-puller.  We are not slaves with no choice but to obey God.  God created man to have a choice.  He desires to reveal Himself to us that we will be convinced that He alone is worthy of worship.  He does not need to pull a string to get us to worship Him!  He does not need to demand our worship. 

God is honored when we serve Him as Lord and worship Him as worthy.   He is even more greatly honored when our service and worship come despite pressure on us to not serve and worship Him.   

APPLICATION: Presently man has limited knowledge of how this earth and life began.  We can choose to accept by faith what the Bible says, or we can think up some probable explanation that leaves God out of the picture and accept that by faith.  

There are many places in the world today where we can see the result of leaving God out of the picture.  There are also many places where people are slaves.  Some are slaves to men.  Some are slaves to religions.  Some are slaves to social and religious practices. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, you came to set us free!  We are free to have a relationship through you to our Heavenly Father!  That is God’s desire and plan!   Help me to live in that freedom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 5, 2022: SOAP #4628: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus’ invitation to those at the feast in Jerusalem is offered to us today.  Those who are thirsty for a life that is satisfying, can find that “drinking the life of Jesus” does satisfy. 

APPLICATION: Water in the faucet might have potential to satisfy our thirst, but as long as it remains in the faucet, it will never satisfy.  Water in the glass has the potential of satisfying our thirst, but if it remains in the glass, it will never satisfy.  Only water that I drink, that I take into my mouth, that I swallow, only THAT water satisfies. 

The same is true of the promises of Jesus.  Hearing somebody talk about them, even entering into the conversation to talk about them; that will never satisfy.  I must drink them into my life.  With my mouth, I confess that I have sinned.  With my mouth, I ask the Lord’s forgiveness.  With my mouth, I invite Him to live in me.  With my mouth, I confess that He is Lord.  And with my mouth, I thank Him for forgiving me and joining me in living in my heart.

PRAYER:  Lord, with my mouth I confess my sins and ask you to forgive me.  With my mouth I confess that you are Lord.  With my mouth, I thank you for forgiving and cleansing me from sin. Let your “streams of living water” flow out from me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 4, 2022: SOAP #4627: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

OBSERVATION:  I have read this passage many times and have written several SOAPs on the thoughts brought to my heart as I was reading.  Today this phrase caught my attention: “he already had in mind what he was going to do.” 

Philip had already determined the impossibility ratio.  Andrew had found a boy with a “sack lunch” perhaps prepared by his mother before leaving home that morning.  But before Jesus asked the question, Jesus already knew what He was going to do. 

Jesus knew the status of the crowd; they were hungry.  Jesus knew the size of the crowd; 5,000 men plus women and children.  Jesus knew how much food would be required.  Jesus knew what was available.  Jesus knew what He would do! 

APPLICATION: There is nothing about the challenges I face that Jesus does not know.  He knows how big; He knows the timing.  He knows what is available. I take my challenge, and my perception of the challenge, to Him.  There is no need for frantic prayers.  I am praying to the One who already knows. 

If I am following His leading and doing His will, there is no need for me to be alarmed.  Jesus already knows what He will do!  I might not have enough to do everything I want to do, but I can rest assured that I will have enough to do what He wants me to do. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I obey you, I have confidence that you will provide what is needed and will bring the response from those around me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 3, 2022: SOAP #4626: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

OBSERVATION:  In the Old Testament, judges could only be taken from citizens living in Israel.  They had to live in the same circumstances and under the same laws as the people they would be judging. 

God is Holy.  He is perfectly holy.  Jesus has the authority to judge, not because He is the Son of God, but because He is the Son of Man!   Jesus has been tempted and tested in every way as we are.    

In chapter five of Revelation, no one in heaven or earth was found to be worthy to open the seven seals on the book in the hands of the one sitting on the throne.  NOT EVEN THE ONE ON THE THRONE HOLDING THE BOOK WAS WORTHY!!!   Only when Jesus entered, the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of man—only HE was worthy to open the book!!!  

Jesus is worthy to have the “authority to judge,” not because He is the eternal Son of God, but because He became the Son of Man, resisted every temptation to sin, was crucified as a sinless sacrifice, and rose again!  He is WORTHY!!!

APPLICATION: Jesus is worthy to be my Lord.  He is the Only One worthy to be my Lord.  He is so deserving of that honor that there should be no disputing it on my part!  The more I know Him, the more convinced I become that He is Worthy to be Lord.  There is no question:  He is Lord!!

PRAYER:  Lord, more than just a word I use in addressing you, or a word I use when speaking of you, I want it to be the reality of my life.  You are LORD!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

August 2, 2022: SOAP #4625: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”  40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.  They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

OBSERVATION:  Many people in Samaria believed in Jesus “because of the woman’s testimony.”  Yet her testimony was so simple: “He told me everything I ever did.”  She did not have a great understanding of who Jesus was; she only knew what He had done for her. 

Reading between the lines, I am certain her testimony was more than just the words she said; it was the way she said them.  They were spoken with enthusiasm!  People who heard her were convinced that she believed what she was saying.  

APPLICATION: My testimony is not an explanation of God’s plan of redemption, nor of some explanation of some difficult scripture passage.  My testimony is telling others what God has done for me!  It is not what someone else has told me; it is my experience.  This is what God has done for Leon!  

A testimony is a powerful witness.  It cannot be refuted because no one else has had my experience.  It is powerful because it is what I know!  I can speak with authority!  It is powerful because it shows God being involved in my life today!  He is interested in what is happening today.  It is powerful because it lifts the hearer’s faith to believe that God will do the same for them!  

PRAYER:  Lord, you have given me a powerful tool to use for your glory: my testimony.  Holy Spirit, bring me an opportunity to share my testimony with someone today who needs to hear what you have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 1, 2022: SOAP #4624: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John (NIV) 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

OBSERVATION:  In verse 16 we read that God the Father loved the world so much that he gave his Son to die as a blood sacrifice to pay for man’s sins.  Then in verse 35 we read of His great love for His Son.  After what the Son did in coming to earth and suffering the death on a cross — noting that he did it for the Father — no wonder that the Father loves the Son and is angry with everyone who rejects Him!  Any parent would feel the same!

APPLICATION: The Son displayed His love for the Father by enduring life as a baby, the humility of living like a human, the misunderstanding and ridicule of those around him, the suffering and death as a criminal on the cross!   Jesus honored the Father with his obedience. 

I honor the Father by honoring and loving His Son.  I honor the Son by honoring and loving the Father.  I also honor the Father and the Son by loving and honoring those who share the life of Jesus.  The church is a gathering of people who love and honor God.  We honor God with our obedience.  Another very important way we love and honor God is by loving and honoring each other. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you have honored me in many ways.  You sent your Son to die for my sins.  You sent your Holy Spirit to live in me.  You made me a part of your family.  My goal is to live a life that honors you. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2022: SOAP #4623: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 2:(1-10) 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

OBSERVATION:  Someone had miss-planned; the wine ran out before the wedding celebration was over.  But whoever made the guest list, planned well!  They had invited Mary, Jesus, and His disciples.  (John 2:1-2)   When the wine was all gone, there was someone present who could change the circumstances. 

Mary’s instruction to the servants was simple: “Do whatever he tells you.”  Jesus’ instructions to the servants were also simple: “Fill the jars with water,” and “take some water to the master of the banquet.”  It was something they could do.  So, the master of the banquet received the wine, and Jesus received the glory.   He is still receiving the glory for this miracle!   

APPLICATION: Notes to myself:
1.  Make sure Jesus is included in everything I plan.
2.  When something goes wrong, go to Jesus first.
3.  Do exactly what he says. (No need to worry; it will be something I can do!)
4.  Make sure Jesus gets the glory!

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be sure my plans include you!  I want to make plans that include you.  Even better than that, Lord, I want to be a part of your plans for today.  I know that you are including me in your plans.  I know that there will be something small for me, but it will be something I can do. And when the day is over, I want to rejoice as you receive the glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 30, 2022: SOAP #4622: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus created the world, yet when he came as a little baby, born of a virgin, announced by angels, in the town prophesied by the prophet Micah, the world did not recognize Him.  Even the Jewish people who had been given all the prophecies about Jesus did not recognize Him.  The religious leaders who probably best knew the Old Testament scriptures did not receive him but led the mob in having Jesus put to death.

APPLICATION: As I read the above verses, it came to me that there have been times my eyes were so fastened on my circumstances that I did not recognize the presence of Jesus.  He had come to me; and I claim to be his own, but I did not recognize His presence!  He has promised to never leave nor forsake me.  (Hebrews 13:5)   In not considering His presence and not looking to Him for wisdom, I missed the opportunity to exercise my faith.  I missed the opportunity to see what He would do. 

PRAYER: Lord, May I always keep myself keenly aware of your presence.  May thoughts of your presence be first in my mind whenever I face trouble.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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