Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 29, 2022: SOAP #4591: Amos 4-6; Psalm 86,87; Titus 1

SCRIPTURE: Amos (NIV) 5:14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
Titus 1:16 (NIV) They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.

OBSERVATION:  What God spoke through Amos to Israel is the same thing God spoke though Paul to Titus 800 years later.  And it is appropriate for today in 2020.  People claim with their words to know God, but their actions prove they only know about God!  They may have said a prayer inviting Jesus to be the Lord of their life, but their actions show that He is not Lord now! 

APPLICATION:  People cannot see my heart; they can only hear what I say and see what I do.  At first, they will generally believe what I say.  Then my actions will either prove or deny my words.  After getting to know me, they will believe my actions.  I want them to see the same thing they heard.  I want my words and actions to reveal a heart that truly loves God.

PRAYER:  Lord, my actions throughout the day are as important to you as the prayers I pray.  When I call you Lord in prayer, help me to live like that is true all day long.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 28, 2022: SOAP #4590: Amos 1-3, Psalm 80; 2Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy (NIV) 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 6, Paul writes about his present life.  He is at the end of his ministry.  He is at the point of departure.  In verse 7, Paul writes of his past life as a believer.  It was a struggle, but he faithfully fought for the Lord.  It was a race, but he did not slow down; he kept running.  And he had remained faithful and true to Jesus.  In verse 8, Paul writes about his future life.  He is anticipating personally receiving God’s approval and reward!  

To Paul, the future was just as real as the past he had lived and the present he was living!  The past and the present set the tone for the future.  He had been faithful; he was faithful; and he knew God would be faithful!

APPLICATION: My life began at conception.  Birth did not change who I am, it only gave more opportunity to develop and express who I am.  For the past 74 years, the life that started in the womb has been learning to live out the purpose God set for me.  What started with my parents teaching me to pray, then progressed to the church nursery, then to children’s church and Sunday School classes, then to youth Bible studies, then to Bible college then to the US Navy, then to pastoring, has now progressed to retirement and to writing SOAPs!   Soon that same life will progress to and through death’s door to enjoy the fullness of my heavenly life!  “What a day that will be!”  My future is just as real as my past. 

The same is true for every SOAP reader! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to share in this life.  Thank you for a heavenly home being prepared for me.  Thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps me prepare in this life for the future.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 27, 2022: SOAP #4589: 2Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 25; 2Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE: 2Kings (NIV) 13:22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.

OBSERVATION:  This verse reveals the faithfulness of God!  He had made a covenant with Abraham around 2000BC.  (very rough estimate!)  God remembered His covenant with Abraham in the days of King Jehoahaz 800BC. (not quite so rough estimate)  1200 years later Abraham was off the scene, but God was still on the scene, and still remembering His covenant!   What a God!   

Now it is 2200AD!  (exact date!)  It is 4200 years later.  Abraham is off the scene.  King Jehoahaz is off the scent.  But God is still on the scene.  The land of the covenant now holds the nation of Israel!  What a testimony of God’s faithfulness!

APPLICATION:  I can count on God to keep His promises!   HE is the original PROMISE KEEPER!  The better I know God’s Word, the Bible, the better I will know and understand His promises.  His promises are expressions of His character.  So the better I know HIM, the better I will have faith in His promises. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, to know you is so much better than just knowing about you.  But the longer I know you, the more I learn about you!  You continue to amaze me as you reveal yourself in your word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 26, 2022: SOAP #4588: Jonah 1-4; 2Timothy 2

SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy (NIV) 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

OBSERVATION:  Paul is writing to his son in the faith.  He obviously loves Timothy and is training Timothy to be a capable and well-respected leader in the church.  In this chapter Paul gives some thing not to do, and some things to do.  In this verse, Paul is setting a goal: “Timothy, do your best, or make every effort, or do not let anything stand in your way…It is God’s approval you need.  If you teach, and present, and interpret the Word of God correctly you will not be ashamed in God’s presence.”

APPLICATION: This verse is specifically for Leon.  The SOAP ministry is God’s assignment and has become a major part of every day.  The SOAP ministry is built around the Word of God.  I must be faithful to correctly handle the Scriptures.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is always with me to teach me, to correct me, to keep me focused on the truth.  He guides me in applying the word to my life. 

This verse is specifically for every pastor, every teacher, every parent, and everyone who has a leadership role in the lives of others.  We all must “correctly handle the word of truth!”  Then, when we stand before our Lord, we will hear his words, “Well done!”

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, You are the One who enlightens our minds and hearts with truth.  We depend on you as the disciples depended on Jesus. May our hearts be sensitive to you. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 25, 2022: SOAP #4587: Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy (NIV) 1:9 (God) who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

OBSERVATION:  When God “saved” me he forgave my sins and accepted what Jesus did on the cross as the necessary punishment.  I cannot do anything to earn this forgiveness; I can only receive it.  He then calls Me to live a holy life.  All of this happens in my life because of God’s purpose and grace.  Everything that happens to me either came to me as God’s purpose or something that can be used for His purpose.  My life is all about “his purpose.”   “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

APPLICATION: God has a purpose for my life, but I need His grace to fulfill that purpose.  The longer I live, the more I read His word, the more I fulfill what I presently understand of God’s purpose for me, the better I get to know and understand His full purpose for me.  I can now see how the various strands of my life were being woven together to develop His purpose.  I can look back and see how some strands were broken off because of doubt and disobedience.  I can see some strands that have been damaged and scarred.  But as I review my life, I can see a consistent single strand that has held everything together.  It is Jesus!  (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

At age 30, I did not understand how God was working toward His purpose for me when I would be age 70.  But being faithful at 30 prepared me to be faithful at 70. 

God is in the process of developing some great prayer warriors, great witnesses, great givers.  He is working in their lives now in preparation for much future fruitful ministry

PRAYER:  Lord, what a blessing to know that you have a purpose for my life and that you are working now in preparation for that ministry!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 24, 2022: SOAP #4586: 2Kings 11,12; 2Chronicles 24; 1Timothy 6

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

OBSERVATION:  Wealth is such an unstable foundation.  It is not dependable.  The only worthy foundation is faith in God.  We must see Him as the source of our lives and the provider of all needed to sustain our lives.

As God gives talents to be used for His glory, God also provides finances to be used for His Glory.  While our faith is resting on Jesus and what He has done for us, we must be generous with what we have.  We must give willingly.  We must give joyfully.  We must be givers, even if our gift is small.  We must remember that God is looking at our heart, not the size of our gift.  He knows what we could have given.  He knows how much is left in our hands after we have given.  He remembers what He told us to give!  

APPLICATION: “Investing” in the kingdom of God is the only way to send finances ahead into the life after death, into the “coming age.”  It is good to plan for our latter years by investments that will provide finances.  So, from earth’s perspective we try to make good investments for the future.  But, when we arrive in heaven, we will have heaven’s perspective.  We will then enjoy the benefits of what we invested in the Kingdom. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I made you Lord, you became Lord of all I am and all I have.  You are the Lord of my finances.  NO, that is not correct.  I am the caretaker of YOUR finances.  Show me how to best use for your glory, the finances you have placed in my hands.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 23, 2022: SOAP #4585: 2Kings 10; 2Chronicles 22,23; 1Timothy 5

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

OBSERVATION:  When we are born again, we enter a “family” relationship.  Being sons and daughters of God makes us brothers and sisters.  We are spiritually related.  We have the same Holy Spirit living inside.  We have many common interests.  Our relationship to Jesus and our spiritual brothers and sisters becomes the major driving force in our lives.  We are all headed toward our eternal dwelling in heaven.  What a day that will be when we all gather around His throne!

APPLICATION: When our granddaughter was just three or four years, she accompanied us to a family reunion about a hundred miles from our home.  On the way home, she said, “I didn’t know I had such a big family.” 

Bill Gaither wrote a song: “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…”  Being a part of this family is certainly something to rejoice.  Whenever we are privileged to join with other members of this family, we are celebrating His presence and we are celebrating each other. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, how special that you have made me a part of your wonderful family.  It is the life of your Son Jesus that makes us one.  It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that coordinates our lives.  Make me acutely aware of your presence whenever I meet another brother or sister.  Amen 
And, thank you for the SOAP readers who share with me Your Word. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 22, 2022: SOAP #4584: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

OBSERVATION:  In this verse Paul is giving young Timothy some directions for ministry.    The church goers in Ephesus very likely did not have personal copies of the scriptures.   Public reading, preaching, and teaching of God’s Word are necessary for individual believers to grow in understanding of God and His plan for our lives.   

Where believers have their own personal copy of the Bible, they should have a daily time of reading it.  They should also be faithful to gather with other believers to receive God anointed preaching and teaching.  In areas where personal copies of the Bible are not so readily available, it is the leader’s responsibility to make sure the Scriptures are read, and preached, and taught!

APPLICATION: I rejoice in what the Lord shares with me every day through Bible reading.  I further rejoice when I hear that God has used a SOAP to speak to someone else.  But I rejoice even more when I hear these SOAP devotionals have encouraged someone to start or increase their personal time in Bible reading, even better, to begin writing down what they hear God speaking to them.  That is great!

PRAYER: Lord, use me and these SOAP devotionals to build others in their faith and to encourage them to read the Bible for themselves.  Holy Spirit, apply the word to our hearts so that our lives might please our Heavenly Father.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 21, 2022: SOAP #4583: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE: 1Timothy (NIV) 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, … …and on through verse 7   (And then the qualifications for deacons in verses 8-13)

OBSERVATION:  In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he gives instructions for setting order in the church.  Paul trusted Timothy and sent him to help the churches, but Timothy was young and would need some guidance.  So, the Holy Spirit anoints Paul as he writes it in a letter.  The letters would encourage Timothy and give him some support for decisions he would have to make, especially about setting leaders in a congregation of mostly new believers. 

In times of disagreement, Timothy could take out this letter and say, “Let’s see what Paul says about this matter.”   Some people might think that Timothy was too young to be making such decisions, but they would not argue with the Apostle Paul. 

APPLICATION: Knowing that issues of leadership would continue to arise within churches, the Holy Spirit wisely made sure that this letter was included in the Bible.  We can all read and see the qualifications God expects in church leaders.  Those are the same qualifications we should expect.  They are no secret!  They are clearly stated in the scriptures.  We should not be following leaders who do not have these qualities. 

As a leader, I need to check myself by the qualifications in these scriptures.  And in setting leaders in the church, I need to be sure that they meet these qualifications. 

These would make good qualification for parents. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I know that you anointed the Apostle Paul to write these scriptures.  Now, I need your help in becoming, and being, what I should be.  Reveal truth to me and help me express that truth through my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 20, 2022: SOAP #4582: 2Kings 4,5; Psalm 83; 1Timothy 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—

OBSERVATION:  Communication (talking to each other) is the heart of every relationship.  Talking to God we call prayer.  For communication to be complete, we must listen to what He is saying.  We are not just giving a speech! 

Prayer is an important part of each believer’s life.  God created man for fellowship.  When sin destroyed that fellowship, God began working out a way for it to be restored.  Jesus died on the cross as the payment for our sins.  We are justified (made just as if we’d never sinned) by His blood.  Our relationship has been restored and now communication between God and man is possible, and expected, and enjoyed!

Paul knew the importance of prayer, so he urged Timothy to be a man of prayer.

APPLICATION:  Prayer is so important that I should set times specifically to pray.  Prayer should be so common that I am continually talking to God and listening to what He is saying to me. 

God is so important that I should have set times to pray—to talk with Him and listen to what He is saying to me.  God is so close that I can talk with Him all day long.  Handel Price once told me that he seldom prayed for more than twenty minutes, but he seldom went twenty minutes without praying.  I do not have to pray; I get to pray!  With what I know about God, I should not need any urging to pray. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what a privilege is mine, to pray and bring my praise and worship, along with my needs and burdens to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon