Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 26, 2025: SOAP #5533:  Exodus 14-16; Acts 2 (reworked earlier SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

OBSERVATION:   They had been told to go into the entire world.  Then they had been told to wait—to wait in Jerusalem until they received what was promised. (Acts 1:4)   But when the right time arrived, the promise was given suddenly.  I am reminded of Joseph who “waited” in prison for over two years, yet when Pharaoh had the dream, suddenly, within a day, Joseph was made 2^nd in charge of all Egypt!   (Genesis 14:14 & 40)                

APPLICATION:  In the first chapter of Acts, we see the importance of waiting.  Today, in the second chapter we find that when the time is right, God often moves suddenly.   Waiting on Him is never a waste of time.  Moving ahead of Him is the real waste of time.  When He moves “suddenly” it makes the waiting worthwhile!    “My waiting” PLUS “His suddenly” is always quicker than “my running ahead on my own.” 

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust your leading and your timing.  I am certain that you know what is best.     Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 25, 2025: SOAP #5532:  Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”

OBSERVATION:   Luke was not one of Jesus disciples, but a physician who became a believer and followed Jesus.  He wrote the gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts.  Luke had come to realize that a key part of the life and ministry of Jesus was the presence of the Holy Spirit.  When Luke wrote the Book of Acts, Jesus was gone.  He had returned to heaven.  BUT the same Holy Spirit that moved and ministered through Jesus was present, and moving, in the church! 

In verse 4, Luke gives a short comment that Jesus was “eating with them.”  It is a comment made by a doctor of the physical activities of the post resurrection Jesus!   Jesus had risen from the dead, he had appeared through closed doors…did he need to eat?  I do not know, but He did.  He continued to participate in the normal things of the disciple’s lives. 

APPLICATION:  And today, Jesus, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, continues to participate in the mundane daily things of our life.  The Holy Spirit participates with us in life.  And He wants us to participate with each other in our daily lives.  We do life together. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, as you walk and talk with me, lead me to walk and talk with those around me.  As I learn of you, may other learn from me.  In spiritual things, may Jesus be glorified.  And in non-spiritual things, like sweeping the floor, or taking out the trash, may I find you are with me and that Jesus is glorified in these things too.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 24, 2025: SOAP #5531:  Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised [the Holy Spirit]; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Acts (NIV) 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

OBSERVATION:   Luke ends his book as he started.  He speaks of the Spirit. His closing remark about the Holy Spirit leads right into his next book, the book of Acts.  In Luke, the Holy Spirit is presented as the power through which Jesus ministered.  In the book of Acts the Holy Spirit is presented as the power through which the early church ministered. Things should continue today in that same pattern!     

APPLICATION:  I need to follow the example of Jesus and the pattern set by the book of Acts church in allowing the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower me. 

What a tragedy it would be for me to not take advantage of this promised empowering.  It must be good; Jesus, Himself, promised it!   It must be good; it was poured out on the Day of Pentecost!   It must be good; read the book of Acts and see how the early church was affected!  It must be good; Acts 2:37-39 says it is promised to all who will call upon the Lord!!!  That’s ME!!! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I need you to take the lead in my life every day.  I need you to minister through me.  Without you living in me, I have no hope of fulfilling your will for my life. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 22, 2025: SOAP #5529:  Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

OBSERVATION:   The loving creator God had not gone blind; he had seen the misery of His people.  He had not gone deaf; he had heard their cry.  He was getting personally involved; he had come down to rescue them and take them to a much better land.  God had a plan; His plan was a man—it was Moses! 

APPLICATION:  I remember traveling to Sri Lanka for Impetus Eighty, a conference called by Colton Wickramaratne.  “God’s plan is a man!” 

Just as Jesus was sent, so Moses was sent, and you and I are sent.  We must consider that we are sent to our families, our neighbors, our schools, our workplaces, etc.  We must take our assignment seriously. 

Each one of us must realize that we have been chosen by the creator of the universe and specifically placed where we are among the people He has put around us.  God did not make a mistake having Moses where He was and God did not make a mistake in having you and I where we are at this moment! 

PRAYER:  Lord, keep me faithfully doing the little things.  Use me in the small places; make me a light that shines for you.  May there be nothing too small to do for you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 21, 2025: SOAP #5528:  Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

OBSERVATION:   Everything is temporary.  In looking around we see that things left to themselves, tend to disintegrate, break down, and fall apart. 

Everything, that is, except one thing.  That One thing is true and remains true; it is eternally true!  The Word of God will never pass away.   

APPLICATION:  There is nothing as permanent as the Word of God; it is as permanent as God!   His Word is an expression His being.  It is important for us to know God’s Word.  It is important to make sure we understand it. 

Last week I made a mistake in using the Word, but several of you were familiar enough with the Word, that you caught my mistake.  In the OBSERVATION I called Joseph’s father Isaac.  I was wrong! His name was Jacob!  

The mistake did not change the emphasis on authority, but it does give me opportunity to correct my mistake and to emphasize the importance of checking what we hear.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can be encouraged to check further.  Our teachers and preachers, evangelist, prophets, bishops and apostles are not fallible.  If they cannot accept correction, they are not a leader we should follow! 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who works to keep me straight in understanding your word.  You said He would lead me into all truth.  (John 16:13)  How I need that special ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 20, 2025: SOAP #5527:  Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:   Genesis (NIV) 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

OBSERVATION:   Isaac was dead and now his sons feared that without Isaac’s influence Joseph might remember how they had sold him into slavery and take revenge against them.  Joseph understood that God has sent him to Egypt for the salvation of the family.  Isaac’s death did not change those facts and did not change Joseph.  His authority was a gift from God to enable him to serve his family; he would not use it for revenge or to serve himself.

APPLICATION:   Authority is the right to make decisions and to hold others accountable.  Only God has authority because He is worthy.  Any authority I have is delegated authority which means I must give an account for how I use it. 

Authority is a gift from God to make me a better servant.  It is not to be used for selfish gain or to make things easier for myself.

PRAYER:  Lord, teach me to use authority for Your glory and for the good of others.  I pray for President Trump and Vice-President Vance to use their authority with great wisdom.  Grant that these new national leaders have self-control and not use their authority for selfish actions or for revenge.  Oh Lord, be glorified in our nation I pray. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 19, 2025: SOAP #5526:  Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 19:45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

OBSERVATION:   The time of Jesus crucifixion was but days away.  He would be making the necessary blood sacrifice to pay for the sins of all who would repent and receive forgiveness.  It would cost Him His life, but it would be free to all.  And Jesus walks into the temple area where people are buying and selling animals to be sacrificed for their sins, which could never take away their sins!  

God’s house was to be a house of prayer, but they had devised a way to sell animals that were acceptable as sacrifices to the priests.

Instead of being a place to talk with God and building a relationship with Him, they were putting their trust in an animal they bought to pay for their sins!   Is it any wonder Jesus was so angrily motivated to drive out the sellers!   

APPLICATION:  If God’s house is to be a “house of prayer” then prayer should be a major characteristic of every church!  Every church should be a place to stop and pray.  Every church should be known for the people who pray.  The prayer room should be the heart of the church. 

The Bible is clear that my personal body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that God dwells in my by His spirit.  So, my body should be a “house of prayer!”  People should recognize me as someone who talks to God and who hears God talk to me.  When someone asks me to pray for them, it could be that they see me as a “house of prayer.” 

PRAYER:  Lord, I am a walking house of prayer.  May your praise be always on my lips.  When someone asks me to pray for them, may their request be mixed with those already arising from my heart to your throne.  My motivation comes from spending time with you.  May you enjoy living in my heart for it has the same atmosphere as heaven, one of worship and petition.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 18, 2025: SOAP #5525:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:   Luke (NIV) 18:1   Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

OBSERVATION:   In Jesus days on earth, He was a man of prayer.  His disciples were so impressed by Jesus’ praying that they asked Him to teach them to pray; and Jesus gave them a model prayer—what we call today “The Lord’s Prayer.”  The above verse is the introduction to a parable encouraging his disciples to pray.  I hear Jesus saying, “Do not quit praying; as long as you pray, you have hope!” 

APPLICATION:   The parable that follows teaches persistence.  Jesus continues on in this chapter to mention that we need an attitude of humility in prayer, and that we must come like a little child.  Then in verse 27 He presents a universal truth—he says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  That is the reason we “should always pray and not give up.”  Nothing we face today is bigger than our God and His ability to work it out for good!  In our prayer, we need to be careful not to pray like our problem is bigger than God, but like our God is bigger than our problem.  He is, you know!

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to live and pray like I believe that you are both able and willing to work everything out for your glory and for my good.  Amen.          

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Personal note: yesterday I was affected by an upper respiratory affliction.  I did not drive my afternoon bus route but stayed home in bed.  I am sorry for sending out the SOAP so late!  Today I stayed home from the bus driving and rested this morning.  Praise the Lord, I am starting to feel better, so will send this out a little earlier than usual. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 17, 2025: SOAP #5524:  Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”      

OBSERVATION:   Is Jesus saying that the person who does the offence should repent?  Yes, but that is not the primary message in this passage.  Jesus is not speaking to the one offending, but to the one offended.  Notice, Jesus did not say “watch them,” but “…watch yourselves.”  The emphasis is not on what the offender should do, but on what the offended should do.   The offended is not to evaluate the sincerity of the apology.  (How could someone be sincere if they have to repent seven times!)  If the offender can return seven times, obviously the offended party did not cut off any contact.  The Great Forgiver is telling me to forgive!  

APPLICATION:  We might think that it is too difficult to follow Jesus , but we must remember that He is with us to help us.   He has forgiven us and He will help us forgive others.  We should forgive others in the same way we want Jesus to forgive us.

PRAYER:  Lord, if there is anyone in the universe who knows about forgiveness, it is You!  You told us to request forgiveness from you in the same way we forgive others.   Let my forgiveness of others show how much I need your forgiveness.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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