Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 29, 2022: SOAP #4621: Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

SCRIPTURE: Psalm (NIV) 103:6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

OBSERVATION:  To the nation of Israel, and to many surrounding them, God made known His deeds. He was a powerful God. He was more powerful than all the gods of the Egyptians. His deeds were amazing! The ten plagues destroying the gods of the Egyptians. The opening of the Red Sea allowed them to escape the Egyptian army. The provision of water; the provision of food; the cloud as a pillar to lead them in the day becoming a pillar of fire at night. Indeed, the Israelites saw the great deeds of God.

But with Moses it was different.  Moses got to know God’s ways.  He became familiar with why God did what He did!  To Moses was revealed God’s character.  (Exodus 34) Moses was shown God grace, mercy, compassion, justice, and holiness.

APPLICATION: May I never experience God working on my behalf without learning a little more about the God who works on my behalf. In every encounter, I should gain new insight into this God I love and serve.  May I grow in understanding of how God sees the things I face every day.  I want to know what makes Him smile and what makes Him sad. 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me to know, not just what you do, but why you do it!  I want to love You, not just your works.  You are more important than what you do!  And, Lord, I want to be one who brings joy to your heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 28, 2022: SOAP #4620: Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah (NIV) 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

OBSERVATION:  God uses the prophet Isaiah to send out an invitation to everyone who is thirsty and hungry.  The amount of money that one has, or does not have, makes no difference.  Money could be spent, and one could work hard, but not for anything that would satisfy the hunger and thirst for spiritual life. 

That which satisfies our spirit was purchased at Calvary.  Jesus’ death covered all the sins for which sacrifices were made in the Old Testament.  Jesus’ death also covers all the confessed sins since His death and resurrection, and all the confessed sins up to the Great Judgment in the Book of Revelation.  His death is the payment for my salvation which I receive by faith, “without money and without cost.”

APPLICATION: My heart has been filled with “what is good” and my “soul delights” in the riches of heaven!  It cost me no money and I did not have to earn it by hard work, but it has so filled my life with joy that I willingly give Him everything.  He is not only my Savior; He is my Lord!   My life is His!

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, thank you for your death on the cross.  I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  Come into my heart and be my Lord.  As you are my source of joy and peace, I want to be a source of your joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 27, 2022: SOAP #4619: Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

SCRIPTURE: 2Peter (NIV) 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. …
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Our Christian life begins with receiving by faith everything God gives us.    But that is only the beginning; Peter gives us seven things we are to add to our faith.  Having the Creator of life living inside makes a big difference.  Attitudes change.  Our view of life changes.  In verses 3 and 4, we see what God has done for us, but in verses 5 through 7 above, Peter lists seven things we are to “make evert effort to add.”  Thankfully the Holy Spirit is our helper!

As our relationship with the Lord living inside grows, changes come. We should become more like Jesus.  These qualities make believers effective and productive.  These qualities make a believer’s testimony believable.  When others see these qualities in a believer’s life, they want what the believer has.

APPLICATION: There is no mark of completion for these qualities.  I should have more self-control this year than last, but they are to always be increasing in my life.  I will never reach a place of having enough.  There will always be room for growth.

I only know that these are increasing as I see the increasing size of the obstacles that I can overcome.  Fewer things must be done to please me.  Fewer things offend me.  I am more “other-centered” than “self-centered.”  I am a more effective servant.  I am more an encourager and less a critic.

PRAYER:  Jesus, these are qualities of your life. Make me like you.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 26, 2022: SOAP #4618: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 5:12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

OBSERVATION:  Although not all, most commentaries identify this Silas as the one who traveled with Paul.  Here, this Silas is serving Peter by carrying this letter—hand delivering it to the churches in the provinces of Asia Minor listed in the first verses of this letter.  There was no mail service, nor an internet through which Peter’s letter could be delivered.  Someone was needed to personally carry and deliver it. 

I am amazed at how God uses these SOAPs.  But they would not have near the reach if it just depended on me.  God gave me the assignment to write them, and He emphasizes the scriptures I should use.  I put them on the internet and God takes them from there.  Some faithful servants of the Lord translate them into their languages, repost them, or distribute them.  God is using churches and individuals to provide finances for computers, printers, and internet connections.  Others read them and pass them along to family and friends. 

As I pondered this verse, the Lord showed me that as Silas delivered Peter’s letters in the provinces in Asia Minor, so God is using Pastor Andrew to spread the SOAPs in the nations of West Africa!  Pastor Andrew is not working to grow the SOAP ministry; Pastor Andrew is working to keep up with the growth that God is making happen. 

APPLICATION: In God’s kingdom, there are many ways to serve.  God’s rewards will not be given according to how important the position we held, but on how faithful we were.  People may consider the value of rank or authority, but God looks at the heart.  God is preparing us for eternal service in His heavenly kingdom. 

PRAYER:  Lord, we are all a part of your kingdom.  Keep me faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 25, 2022: SOAP #4617: Isaiah 43-45; 1Peter 4

SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

OBSERVATION:  What a special day this was for me.  It was a day ordained by God.  Sharon and I visited two churches in the area where I went through High School.  Since we were quite early for the first church, we left information about a Senior Rally and moved on to Belleville, Kansas.  It was there my ministry began.  It was there when my dad pastored the church, I learned to sweep the floor, dust the seats and clean the restrooms.  It was there I taught my first class of junior boys.

Later we drove by the house where we lived.  It was there one Wednesday evening that God forced me to make a decision:  would I stay home to study for a test at school in the morning, OR would I go to the Wednesday night Bible Study at the church.  The Holy Spirit helped me reason it out: how could I ask God to help me in the morning if I did not honor Him the night before!  

APPLICATION: God is starting a work in some young person near you.  God is using you to build a foundation in that youth upon which He can build.  Build wisely.  Depend on the leading and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Always remember they are growing as men and women of God.  Help them build their lives on the Word; help them learn to pray; help them to depend on the Holy Spirit.  Give them a good example of living a joyful Christian life! 

PRAYER:  Lord, only you know what is needed in the lives of the young people that surround me today. Flow through me, Holy Spirit, flow through me. Use for the future of your Kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 24, 2022: SOAP #4616: Isaiah 40-42; 1Peter 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

OBSERVATION:  Peter was specifically writing to women, but the truth he is emphasizing also applies to men.  So often we dress to impress people but take little thought about how our “dress” impresses God. 

Considering how others will see us, we clothe ourselves from the outside in. Considering how God sees us, we should clothe ourselves from the inside out.

APPLICATION: Dressing from the inside out:  love in my heart, God’s all-time favorite, will dress out as kindness and not offending others. 

Holiness, another of God’s all-time favorites, will dress out in modesty.  Not only will I take care in the clothes I wear, I will also take care in how I talk. 

Joy, yet another of God’s favorites, will dress out with a smile on my face.   I consider myself never appropriately dressed without a smile.

PRAYER:  Lord, since You have made my heart your home, may you be pleased with the way I decorate my heart.  Help me decorate my body in ways that let’s everyone know You are living in me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 23, 2022: SOAP #4615: 2Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1Peter 2

SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

OBSERVATION:  Peter was writing to a church made up of slaves and free men.  They knew the difference between being a servant and being a free man.  Yet, in Christ Jesus there is no difference.  They are all “free men.”  They are all free to live as “servants.”

We can only please God if we serve him freely.  He is not honored by people who have no choice.  He did not create us to be robots.  He is honored when the people who worship Him are convinced in their hearts that He is worthy of their worship!  The more difficult the circumstances we are in when we worship the more honor He receives.  We may be in tough times, but HE IS STILL WORTHY! 

APPLICATION: I am not a slave who cannot wait until I can be free (or an employee waiting until my work shift is over).  I am a freeman choosing to serve.  I am doing my job as a servant of God.  I may get a paycheck, or a word of praise from the people I am serving, but that does not mean near as much to me as knowing that I have pleased my Heavenly Father!  Choosing to be a servant of God is my way to let the world know that I deem Him worthy of my life.  Choosing to be a servant of man is my way to let God know that I respect Him and His creation.

PRAYER:  Father, you have created me to be a worshipper.  You have placed me in these circumstances that you will receive the unique worship that can only come from me. I want to give you the full benefit of how you created me and where you placed me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 22, 2022: SOAP #4614: Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76; 1Peter 1

SCRIPTURE: 1Peter (NIV) 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you,

OBSERVATION:  In this short passage I can see 11 topics that could be considered for a SOAP.  In a previous SOAP I considered God’s “great mercy.”  Today the Lord has drawn my attention to the “living hope.” 

Hope is a general expectation that things will work out for good. It is the expectation of something good to be experienced in the future.  We have a “living hope” because it comes from a living Savior!  His resurrection is proof that death is not the end of our life.  There is more!  We presently have a living hope that will not die in the grave.  After death, it will continue to be our living hope!  Like Jesus, we will continue to be living!  We will be living in those mansions that Jesus promised to prepare for us. 

APPLICATION: It is also a “living hope” because it changes the lives of those who are living today with that hope.  It changes my life.  I am certain that all things do work together for my good as I love God and fulfill His call on my life.  (Romans 8:28)  As I see Him working out details in my life, it builds my hope in what lies ahead. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You made it through death and the grave!  You showed yourself alive with only the nail prints to identify you as the One who hung on the cross.  You have promised to help me, to be with me.  Lord, you are my hope.  The hope you have given me replaces the fear of dying with expectation of seeing you.  Amen                    

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Personal SOAP Saga:  Sharon and I made it back to home this evening.  It is good to be back and to see Doron!  😊  We are home several days earlier than we originally thought, but our last stop did not work so we headed home.  Sharon did a good portion of the driving this evening so I could work on this SOAP.  We brought everything in from the car, and now to send this off. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 21, 2022: SOAP #4613: 2Kings 18-19; 2Chronicles 32

SCRIPTURE: 2Chronicles (NIV) 7:7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

OBSERVATION:  The greatest army on the face of the earth, the Assyrian army was about to attack Jerusalem.  King Hezekiah had done what he could to prepare and is now encouraging the citizens. First: He is confident.  He has courage.  His faith is strong.  He knows the big picture. Second:  He speaks truth.  He knows he is about to be attacked.  He knows the strength and size of the enemy’s army.  He does not deny the obvious, BUT HE ALSO KNOWS there is an unseen power.  He knows the unseen is not unavailable or uninvolved. Third:  He points the people to the Lord. They have a history from which to draw faith.  They are not alone.  They do not need depend on only what the enemy has available.  They have the resources of God Who is both able and willing! The invisible power with them is greater than the visible power of the army against them! NOTE:  God brought a miraculous deliverance to Judah.  (2Kings 19:35)

APPLICATION: Many times, I am needed to bring a word of encouragement.  I must be confident, be truthful, and point to God.  While acknowledging those things that can be seen, I must draw attention to what cannot be seen.  Into the picture of what can be seen I must paint the reality of what cannot be seen.

Of course, I must first see the unseeable myself before I can help others see it.  Most often, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in opening the scriptures to me that opens my eyes to see what is invisible to our natural sight. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to see clearly from heaven’s point of view.  Help me see what you see.  Then use me to help other see the reality of God’s presence and interaction in the world around us.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 20, 2022: SOAP #4612: 2Chronicles 29-31; James 4

SCRIPTURE: 2Chronicles (NIV) 31:21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so, he prospered.
James (NIV) 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

OBSERVATION:  The success of Hezekiah was preceded by his trusting and obeying the Lord.  He set himself to know God and work “wholeheartedly.”  Of course, God made him succeed! 

Here in the book of James we the same progressions.  Resisting the devil is preceded by submitting to God.  Desiring God to come near is preceded by coming near to God.  Being lifted up by God is preceded by humbling oneself.

APPLICATION: Like Hezekiah, I want to be a person who is attractive to God.  I want to be a person God likes to bless.  I want to be doing those things that God wants to bless.  I want to be involved in the Father’s favorite activities. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, work in me, forming me into the image of Jesus, the Father’s favorite Son.  Make me a son the Father wants to bless.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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