Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 07, 2025: SOAP #5514:  Genesis 18-19; Psalm 3; Luke 7

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: will you also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from you to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from you: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

OBSERVATION:   The LORD had just revealed to Abraham that HE would destroy Sodom because of their wickedness.  Abraham was greatly concerned because his nephew, Lot, had taken up residence there.  Abraham knew the character of God and began to intercede for the city.  It is good to note how he interceded. 

He DID NOT intercede on the basis of his relationship with Lot and Lot’s family.  He DID NOT intercede on the basis of Lot coming from a good family background.  He DID NOT intercede on the basis of the young children in the city.  He DID NOT intercede on the basis of all the animals in Sodom. 

He DID intercede on the basis of God’s character.  He DID intercede on the basis of God’s righteousness.  He DID intercede on the basis of God’s position of “Judge of all the earth.”

APPLICATION:  I need to start looking at the world around me from God’s perspective and praying with that in mind.  Why should God want to do what I am asking Him to do?  What benefit is there in it for God?  How will answering my prayer show God as holy and loving? 

NOTE:  God knew Abraham’s deepest concern and verse 29 of chapter 19 shows that God answered the heart of the prayer. 

PRAYER:  Lord, You are totally holy and totally loving.  You are that way when you answer every prayer I pray.  In your holy judgments, you do not stop being merciful and loving.  And in your many expressions of love, you do not stop being holy.  Many times I have received the expression of your love because Jesus took the expression of your holiness.  I am forever grateful.  May I not forget that you are as holy today as you have ever been.  I worship you, my Holy and Loving Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 06, 2025: SOAP #5513:  Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:…
17:5 Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made you. 6 And I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you.

OBSERVATION:  In Genesis 1 we read that everything God created was to bring forth after its kind.  Plants bring forth more plant; animals bring forth more animals.  Humans bring forth more humans. 

But chapter 17 goes even further: people of faith bring forth people of faith!   Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith.  Later we read that Abraham was not only the father of the children of Israel (as well as the children of Ishmael and Abrahams children born after the death of Sarah [Genesis 25:1-7]) he is declared to be the father of all who live by faith (Romans 4:12-18). 

APPLICATION:   It is to God’s glory that we bring forth fruit.  We need to plant in others what has been planted in our lives. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may I give you pleasure as I pass along to others what you used others to plant in my heart.  As your work in my life has resulted in a measure of fruitfulness, may your work through me result in much fruitfulness in others.  Through it all, may much honor be given to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 05, 2025: SOAP #5512:  Genesis 12-14; Luke 5

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

OBSERVATION:  It is right to consider circumstances in making decisions for our lives.  Peter had much experience in fishing.  He was the expert.  He understood that sometime fishing was an exercise in futility. However, Peter had come to understand something else.  Jesus is Lord. What Jesus says trumps all circumstances.  So Peter proceeded to do some more fishing!  …but with different results! 

APPLICATION:   I am sure when I was a child, I was like so many other children whose favorite question seems to be, “Why?”  I am sure that my parents, like so many other parents I have known, often responded, “Because I said so.” 

Now I wonder if that was not God’s way of training me to respond to Him.  I do not need to understand every aspect of the decision, but when He speaks, I do need to obey Him.   “Because He said so” is a sufficient reason!  

Fifteen years ago I started writing SOAPs, not because I wanted to do it, but simple because God made it clear He was telling me to do it!  I wondered if God would give me something for every day of 2010.  Yes, He did, and He has done so for 15 years.  Some results are as Peter experienced in verse six.    

Yesterday, I received a note from Bishop Emmanuel in Liberia.  78 SOAP MINISTRY team members spent three days, including Christmas day, distributing 89,000 copies of SOAPs in the streets of the capitol city of Monrovia.  They have the names, addresses, and phone numbers of 2,750 people who gave their lives to Jesus!  

PRAYER:  Lord, You are faithful.  I know I can trust you.  “Because you said so” is enough of a reason to obey. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 04, 2025: SOAP #5511:  Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

(reworked from 2010)

SCRIPTURE: Luke (NIV) 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

OBSERVATION:   Here, in the synagogue, Jesus reads about the working of the Spirit from the book of Isaiah.  Although Jesus will reach out and touch many people, the Spirits anointing on Jesus is to primarily flow through His mouth, through His words.  He has been sent to “preach” and to “proclaim.”   In other scriptures we read that “no man spoke like this man,” and we read of his “gracious” words.  Jesus was known as a “teacher.”  (Note: Luke 4:43-44)  

APPLICATION:   The Holy Spirit’s Presence and anointing is upon me today.  What difference will that make? Although there are other expressions of His Presence, it should make a difference in how I talk and in what I say.  Those closest to me, my spouse and those with whom I work, should be able to recognize the Presence of the Holy Spirit in me by what they hear. 

Do the words from my mouth reveal Who is living inside?      

PRAYER:   Lord, may you be heard through me today.  Use my words to reveal your presence.  May people easily recognize me as a follower of you by the way I talk.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 02, 2025: SOAP #5509:  Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

(reworked from 2012)

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2  Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

OBSERVATION:   I like to read about God speaking to specific people at specific times.  I like to read about historical people that were present in the world at the specific time God spoke.  God is not separate from history but wraps himself within the context of human existence. 

The Bible is not about people and places no one has ever seen or known.  In the Bible we read of God being involved in the daily lives of real historical people. 

A day or two ago I heard a speech given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he spoke about Moses as a real person whose words meant something still today.  The present is wrapped in the reality of history.  It is good for us to know history.  It is good for us to know what God has said and done in the past.

APPLICATION:   I can tell my son and granddaughter of the specific times and places God has spoken to me.   My history is a story of God being involved in my daily life, speaking to me, providing for me.  God is wrapped in my history.    

Others can learn from my history.  They can see that God is very concerned and active in our lives today.         

PRAYER:  Lord, as this day moves into history may I look back and see that you have wrapped yourself in all the events of today! I saw you today in the lives of my family.  I saw you today in a pastor leading a funeral.  I saw you today in the lives of those in the car in which I was riding.  You were everywhere!  Amen.  

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 02, 2025: SOAP #5509:  Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…. 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son…

OBSERVATION:   It was the Word of the Lord through the prophet Micah (5:2) 750 years before that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. 

Note: Mary’s pledge to marry Joseph was before the Angel’s visit which informed her of Emmanuel entering the stream of humanity through her womb.  She did not know to choose a man from Bethlehem.  Nor did Caesar Augustus know of Micah’s prophecy and design his edict for everyone to go register in the home of their family.  As far as I know Caesar had no knowledge the coming Messiah. 

Everyone was just doing what they thought best, not knowing that they were a part of the fulfillment of prophecy.   God’s will was being perfectly worked out through their lives.   Mary gets no credit for Jesus birth in Bethlehem.  Caesar gets no credit…ONLY GOD gets the credit!!! 

APPLICATION:   God is faithful to keep His word.  He works through natural, political, spiritual, relationships, etc. to fulfill His word.  When God makes a promise to us, we need not worry if it will happen.  We need not manipulate our circumstances to make it happen. 

Through His promises He give us opportunity to trust Him.  We do not work to make them happen, but our work is an expression of faith that they will happen.  When the promises are fulfilled, ONLY HE gets the credit! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust you!  So many times You have proven that You are faithful and capable of keeping your word.  Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful and keep my word also.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 01, 2025: SOAP #5508: January 1:  Genesis 1-2; Luke 1

SCRIPTURE:   Luke (NIV) 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3. Therefore, since I, myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

OBSERVATION:   Here Luke gives his reason for writing what we call the gospel of Luke.  He knew there were may who knew the life of Jesus, and people were always talking.  Stories would get changed and soon people would not know what to believe.  So Doctor Luke “carefully investigated everything” before making a written document that could be trusted. 

APPLICATION:   The basis of Christianity is a personal relationship that each believer has with Jesus.  More than knowing about Jesus, or reading about, or hearing about Jesus, we know Him.  He takes up residence in our life. 

Our experiences all differ, for we are all different people.  It is the written Word that gives us a basis for our faith.  In using the Scriptures to increase our faith in what we are feeling, or thinking, we have Luke’s purpose in writing—we have certainty.  The word either corrects what we think we know, or builds our confidence in trusting Jesus.   The Holy Spirit uses the Word to keep us moving ahead in loving Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, use the written Word to put certainty and confidence in our lives.  Build our faith as we consider what is happening in our lives and in the world around us.  Anoint our pastors and teachers (and parents) to make the scriptures understandable.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 31, 2024: SOAP #5507: Revelation 19-22

SCRIPTURE:   Revelation (NIV) 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

OBSERVATION:   Only five verses from the end of the Bible and God makes a clear invitation to all who read or hear the scriptures. 

In case a reader has missed the many invitations to participate in God’s great plan and enjoy the presence of Almighty God living in their life, God puts one more invitation here in the final verses of the Bible. 

The “water of life” is a very costly gift, but to us it is offered free.  Jesus paid the cost by dying for our sins on the cross. 

APPLICATION:   It is an invitation to whoever is thirsty.  …to those who feel that life has not satisfied them.  …to those looking for a life with purpose and reason. 

The “water of life” is offered, but we must “take” it.  We acknowledge that we have sinned and receive His forgiveness.  We take it by simply believing it and saying, “Thank you!”  So simple, yet so life changing! 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, as you are stirring in my heart as I write this SOAP, stir in the heart of each reader.  May each reader have the joy of starting a new year assured that you are with them, sharing their portion of life, and at the same time sharing your life with them.  May each reader rejoice in your presence.  You are with us!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 28, 2024: SOAP #5504: Revelation 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues. 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

OBSERVATION:   God remembered the crimes of this city and He is preparing to send judgment.  But God also remembers His people.  He will spare them.  He calls them out.  He will save them from the coming judgment. 

As a holy God, He cannot ignore the sins, and as a loving God he cannot withhold mercy from those who are His people. 

APPLICATION:   Since all have sinned and come short of the glory makes His people different from all the others?  Why can they escape judgment?  It is because their sins have already been judged.  They were judged as deserving death and their sins are covered by the blood of Jesus death on the cross.  They had judged themselves guilty and confessed their sins.  They had received Jesus’ death as the payment for their sins; they  have been forgiven!

Jesus death on the cross is still available to cover the sins of anyone who will receive Him as their Lord and Savior.  (Romans 6:24-26)  Pray with me now…

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I have sinned and deserve judgment.  I believe that you lived a sinless life and your death can be accepted as the payment for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and take your rightful place in my life as LORD.  Come and live in my heart.  Make my life your home.  With a humble and grateful heart I receive you now as my Savior and Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Note: for those who prayed this prayer for the first time, here are some thoughts that may be a blessing to you.  Just as our physical life needs daily feeding and care, so it is that our spiritual life grows with daily attention.  Four things:  1.  Read the Bible every day, or what portion you have of the scriptures; talk with the Lord as you read His word.   2. Pray every day; talk with the Lord.  Praise Him and tell Him your challenges and troubles.  3.  Actively listen for what He will say to you.  4. Meet with other believers.  You might start with the person who gave you this SOAP. 

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 29, 2024: SOAP #5505: Revelation 10-14

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.

OBSERVATION:   Here we see a coordination between the activities on earth and the activities in heaven.  As I meditated on that thought, I realized that the whole Bible reveals this coordination.  What happens in heaven affects what happens on earth.  And what happens on earth affects what happens in heaven. 

Throughout history, the activities of heaven and earth flow together toward a destiny with God’s prophetic word.  Heaven and earth are welded together to fulfill the plan of God. Having just finished the Christmas season we heard of the angels appearing to the shepherds and the star that guided the magi to the Christ child. 

APPLICATION:   Obviously the amassing of sin on earth brings God’s judgment from heaven.  But it is also obvious that the obedience and the prayers of God’s people are effective in changing and postponing coming judgment.  I need to live and pray like needed changes depend on me. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I need you to guide me in praying.  Pray through me.  Keep me aware of how the Heavenly Father sees my circumstances. Help me to see things as He sees them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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