Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 08, 2022: SOAP #4600: Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus “went before us” into the courts of heaven.  As the King James Version says, Jesus was our “forerunner!”  He went before us into heaven with His blood shed on the cross as the payment for our sins.  He made the way for us to follow Him and for us to be welcomed into heaven. 

So, He sends us through death into glory.  He accompanies us on the trip he has already taken.  And He will be waiting to welcome us into heaven! 

APPLICATION: Jesus has taken the part of a “forerunner” for me on many occasions.  Every place to which Jesus has sent me, I have found that He was already there.  He sent me.  He accompanied me as I went.  And He was waiting there when I arrived.

Recognizing God’s voice is key.  Because when I know that (#1) God is sending me, then I can have confidence that (#2) He will go with me.  And (#3) I will find He is already there! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, stop me from running out on my own, or ahead of your divine timing. Help me not to confuse my will with your will.  I need your plan and your provision.  So, help me move in your timing.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 08, 2022: SOAP #4600: Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

OBSERVATION:  Although prayer was an often habit of Jesus, it seems to me that verse 6 above is referring to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He was arrested by the Romans.  He had cried out in deep agone, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  It was so agonizing that His sweat was like “drops of blood!”  (Luke 22)

Did the Father hear Jesus, His Son who was on a mission to do the Father’s will?  Surely He did!  Jesus had reverently submitted himself to the Father.  Could the Father have recalled the mission and delivered His Son from the suffering of the cross?  He was the only “one who could save him…”

APPLICATION: But for the sake of His own faithfulness to His promises to the Old Testament believers…  But for the sake of those created in His image…  But for the sake of the joy set ahead (Hebrews 12:2) for His own Son…  …the Father did not answer this heart-wrenching prayer from His Son. 

Not answering that prayer hurt the Father even more than it hurt His Son. (Just ask any father.) 

PRAYER:  Father, I want to live each day in appreciation for what you and your Son did for me.  I want to be a source of the joy from His sacrifice that Jesus now enjoys.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 07, 2022: SOAP #4599: Hosea 10-12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine (KJV. mix) it with faith….
6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

OBSERVATION:  The promises come from God.  God has also given each one “the measure of faith.”  (Romans 12:2)   God’s promises have no value to us unless mix them with faith.  But faith is more than a mental acknowledgement that God is real and that His word is important.  Verses six and seven give two characteristics of NOT mixing in faith. 

In verse six, the expression of “no-mix-faith” is disobedience.  The main expression of faith is obedience.  Some may remember singing, “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way…”  When I believe God is really God, then I will do what He says.  It is foolish to disobey God!   I trust Him; I believe Him; I do as He says!  

In verse seven we find another characteristic of “no-mix-faith:” a hard heart.  It is acting as though God is quite unimportant.  It is ignoring Him.  It is being so busy that there is no time for God.   It is making an issue of living “MY” life the way “I” want.  God slowly gets pushed totally out of the picture.   

APPLICATION: When I believe God, I make it a point to do what He says.  What He says is important.  I know that obeying Him blesses Him AND a benefits me!   Careful obedience is the best way to tell God that I believe Him, and I trust Him.

When I tell God what He told me in the past, I am not jogging His memory, I am showing Him that I remember and that His words/promises are important to me! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I believe your promises.  I know I can trust you!  Amen

Pastor Leon    
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 06, 2022: SOAP #4598: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 3:5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

OBSERVATION:  Moses WAS faithful as a servant…  Moses faithfully fulfilled what God assigned him to do.  He finished His part in God’s plan.  He moved on and Joshua took his place as the leader of the Israelites.  But note the difference: 

Christ IS faithful as a son…  Jesus lived, died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He continues His ministry even to today!  Here He is said to be over God’s house, speaking of the believers in whom God dwells as a temple.  In Ephesians they are called “His body” over which He is head. (Ephesians 1:22-23). He is, He remains the head of the church.  He is over God’s house, the church! 

APPLICATION: Jesus continues His ministry as Head of the church, as being over God’s house.  Jesus IS faithful over God’s house.  That being true, I AM (present tense) His house, His temple in which He dwells.  That is who HE IS!  That is who I AM!

It is proper for me to make my outside look like someone important is living inside.  But it is more important that the inside be a place where my holy and honored guest feels at home.  With Jesus on the inside of me, He will help fix the outside of me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, how my heart smiles when I recall the Kaneohe Samoan A/G church singing: “Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, Oh what a change in my life!” Continue to build me together with other SOAP writers and readers. Make us a house for your glory!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 05, 2022: SOAP #4597: Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation, I will sing your praises.”

OBSERVATION:  Considering that Jesus left His perfect heavenly home to be born as a child to grow into manhood then to be crucified…it is difficult to comprehend the full extent of His love for us.  And then we read verse eleven!  The One who made us holy—that’s Jesus, and the ones who are made holy—that’s us/that’s me, we are the same family!!!  Jesus calls me “brother!” 

Jesus said we must be “born again.”  We have been born into a new family.  Jesus is my brother!  

APPLICATION: God is my Father; Jesus is my brother; Heaven is my home.  The Holy Spirit is my constant companion, enabler, and teacher.  What do I have on earth that compares to what is prepared for me in heaven?  If I had to give up everything, it would be small in comparison to what Jesus gave up to come and be the sacrifice I needed. 

NOTE:  As I write this, the citizens of the USA, are celebrating our Independence.  Fireworks are going off continually.  Arial bursts light up the evening sky.  We celebrate a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”  We celebrate a constitution that does not tell the people what they cannot do, but tells the government what it cannot do!  Indeed it is a good thing to celebrate, BUT NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT as being a part of the family of God!  What a God!  What a family!!!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, may every word I say and everything I do express my honor and joy in being a part of your great family.  Thank you for including me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 04, 2022: SOAP #4596: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 1:4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

OBSERVATION:  Both in being and in name, Jesus is far superior to angels.  We have not been given an angel’s name by which we can have access to heaven.  It is in Jesus name we pray.  Angels serve us in many ways, even more than we know, but it was Jesus who took our sins to the cross. 

God did not send a sinless angel; He sent His Son!  Jesus was not here on a fact-finding trip to report back to his Father about the status of sinful man.  Jesus did not return to heaven to give a report of the sinfulness of man on earth. 

Heaven already knew that every human was infected with sin.  Jesus did not come to investigate; Jesus did not come to find someone who could fix the sin problem; Jesus came to personally fix the problem. 

Jesus was superior to the angels in being as a creator is superior to his creation.  Then He humbled Himself, taking on the form and limitations of a sinless created man.  In living and dying and rising from the dead, Jesus proved he is superior to any angel.

APPLICATION: I have not been given the name of an angel in which to approach the throne; I have been given the name of Jesus!!!   (John 14:13-14)   This is an honor and responsibility. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I come in the name of your Son, Jesus.  I have come to see your will done in my life and on earth as it is in heaven.  Holy Spirit, teach me to use the name of Jesus in a way that honors Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 03, 2022: SOAP #4595: Isaiah 6-7; 2Chronicles 26-27; Philemon

SCRIPTURE:  Isaiah (NIV) 7:3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out… to meet Ahaz [King of Judah]… 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.”
[That is what they were saying, BUT WHAT DOES GOD SAY?]
7 Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘It will not take place, it will not happen,…9… If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”

OBSERVATION:  The kings of Ephriam, Israel and Aram had decided to invade Judah and divide it among their nations.  But what they were saying did not match what God was saying!   Isaiah was sent to tell Ahaz, Judah’s king, what God was saying!  King Ahaz’s faith must be placed in God’s word!  

APPLICATION: How do I know what God is saying to me?  God speaks to me through His Word, through anointed preaching, through teachers, and even through circumstances.  The Holy Spirit grabs my attention and causes me to focus on something I would normally have overlooked.  As it floats around in my thoughts, the Holy Spirit mixes in other thoughts and I quickly realize that God is speaking to Leon.  He wants me to pay attention to what I am seeing, hearing, and/or thinking.  Often the Holy Spirit brings a passage from the Bible to my mind that confirms and supports what I hear Him saying to me.  Many times it is confirmation of something I have already been thinking. 

If I do not stand in faith in what God is saying to me, I too will fall.  It is a learning process.  I learn from the blessing of God when I step out in faith and do what God says.  I also learn from the regret I have when I do not do what He was directing. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I know you are a living, speaking God.  I know that you talk to people.  You want to hear us, and you want us to hear you.  I move in faith that you will say something to me today. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 02, 2022: SOAP #4594: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

SCRIPTURE: Jude (NIV) 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

OBSERVATION:  In his short letter of warning about various false teachers, Jude ends with some specific things that believers should do.  I doubt if any homes during Jude’s day had a written portion of any scriptures, Old or New Testament. They would only have what they remembered from the sermon at the last gathering. So, their relationship with the indwelling Holy Spirit was a priority.  They needed His inner guidance. 

They could keep an up-to-date relationship with the Holy Spirit by praying in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit would guide their prayers.  The gentle Holy Spirit would be at peace in their hearts as they lived within his direction.  But when they moved into danger, their hearts would be troubled. (Matthew 3:16 and Ephesians 4:30)

APPLICATION: If I want to please my Lord, I must learn how the Holy Spirit speaks to me.  I must recognize His approval or disapproval.  Praying in the Spirit helps me develop a keen sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I thank you for the written scriptures that you have made available for me.  But even more, I thank you for the Living Spirit, the author of those scriptures, who dwells inside me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 01, 2022: SOAP #4593: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

SCRIPTURE: Titus (NIV) 3:14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

OBSERVATION:  Titus had been left behind in Crete to bring order to the new church by recognizing the leaders and giving them responsibility. Paul’s letter was giving Titus instruction. As he closes, Paul gives a short overview of what church people should be like: (1) dedicated to doing good, (2) providing for their own daily needs, and (3) not time wasters/good workers.

Obviously not everyone who starts attending church will be mature in their thinking about life.  They need to learn about being responsible.  But before they can be expected to learn, the church leaders must have a mental picture of how Christians should behave and act.  Paul was making certain that Titus had such a picture.  And the Holy Spirit stops me at this verse to make sure that I get the same picture!  

APPLICATION: Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, church leaders should teach Bible concepts about living and serving.  And they should also set a good example.  The presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers will apply the word that is taught and will help them grow in these areas, doing good, providing for family, and being a good worker.  Their lives will become a witness to people living around them and working with them.  The church will have a good reputation in their community. 

(As this works within a church, it should also work in a family.) 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me communicate your word and to live my life as an example of commitment and diligence.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 30, 2022: SOAP #4592: Amos 7-9; Psalm 104; Titus 2

SCRIPTURE: Titus (NIV) 2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. …
10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

OBSERVATION:  Also, to older women, younger women, younger men, servants — Paul writes how to behave.  He starts this section stating that these things they are to teach according to “sound doctrine.”  In the middle of this section Paul tells us that we are to act properly “so that no one will malign the word of God.”  The last verse of this section (verse 10) shows that our actions are to make the doctrine of God our Savior look good, make it “attractive.”

APPLICATION: What good is my doctrine if it does not affect my actions, my attitudes, my reliability, my work, my life?  Why should anyone be interested in what I believe if the way I talk and act shows that my faith is not important, or strong enough to affect the way I live? 

What they SEE in me should help them to have faith in Jesus, whom they cannot see!  Jesus wants them to see His life in me. He wants to be seen living in me.  His life is designed to be visible in me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me make my life a good display of the life of Jesus in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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