Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

February 6: Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Observation: It seems to me that these two characteristics go hand in hand: being filled with joy and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Being joyful is not necessarily a sign that one is filled with the Holy Spirit. But being filled with the Holy Spirit is commonly expressed in joy. Romans 14:17, 15:13 and 1Thessalonians 1:6 all speak of the joy of a spirit filled life, even in tough times.
We have all seen people going through a tough time at their work, but they are joyful because they know that their vacation starts in two days.

Application: I have something better than a vacation starting in two days; I have the Holy Spirit living in me TODAY, RIGHT NOW! I can heartily sing that little chorus: Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart…when the King is in residence there! So fly it high in the sky, let the whole world know…that the King is in residence there!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I desire Your joy to be seen in me. Not a manufactured joy, not a pretend joy, but an authentic joy that displays Your Presence! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

February 5: Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Observation: It was a glory time. God’s Presence filled the Tabernacle that had just been completed and set up for the first time. The cloud that the Israelites had followed from Egypt now covered the tent where God said He would meet with them. My attention was drawn to the first word of verse 34: “Then…” In the previous 33 verses of this chapter eight times we read that they set up the tabernacle “according to/as the LORD commanded Moses.”

Application: If I want to get to the “Then…” I will have to be careful to do “as the LORD commands.” Careful obedience has rewards. God’s greatest reward is His presence and His glory.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Oh, the glory of Your Presence! It is good to carefully obey You! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

February 4: Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 11:12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.

Observation: Peter had listened to Jesus and done what Jesus had told him to do. Now the Holy Spirit is speaking to Peter. Peter understood the message the Holy Spirit was speaking as surely as he had understood Jesus. And as he had done what Jesus told him, he now does what the Holy Spirit tells him.

Application: The disciples walked and talked with the Holy Spirit as they did with Jesus. Since that same Holy Spirit dwells in me, I should expect a similar relationship. I too can walk and talk with the Holy Spirit!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, you are a wonderful Treasure given to me by Jesus. You are valuable to me. Work with me to develop the same relationship you shared with the early church. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

February 3: Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you…

Observation: Jesus had walked with them and talked with them. When He ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in His followers. Now the Holy Spirit was speaking to Peter, not with a voice from a physical mouth, but speaking just as clearly. Peter recognized the Spirit’s voice and understood His message.

Application: I am finding that the Spirit speaks to me with strong thoughts in my mind usually in conjunction with a conviction in my heart that God is talking to me. I have a strong sense that if I do not obey, I will have missed God. When appropriate I will wait for God to repeat His directions through another venue. When I have time and opportunity, I will ask someone I trust who I know hears from God. I may not be able to back up the thoughts with scripture, but the Spirit’s words do not go contrary to God’s Word! As I grow in recognizing and responding to the Spirit’s voice, I can respond more quickly.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, how logical it is: if you live in me, you obviously will want to talk to me. It just makes sense. Keep talking, and I’ll keep listening. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

February 2: Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 33:13 [Moses praying to the LORD] If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.

Observation: The request Moses makes in prayer is somewhat circular. It is a request for more of what he already has.

Application: As I grow in appreciation for what I already have in Christ Jesus, I want even more. As I grow in the knowledge and wisdom of Christ, it becomes obvious to me that He is both the source and purpose for my life.

Prayer: Lord, I love you. Help me to know you more so that I can love you more. Loving you is so important to me that I want to do so more. Loving you brings me so much satisfaction and joy that I want to do it more. Knowing that I am in your favor is so important to me that I want to live in such a way that I have even more of your favor. I do not ever want to lose what I have; I only want it to increase. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

February 1: Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.

Observation: Simon had enjoyed the admiration of the people because he amazed them with his magic. When he saw how people responded to being filled with the Holy Spirit, he must have thought, “This would be a good trick to add to my act.” If he paid them enough, maybe they would give him this power.
People today still think that God can be influenced with money. Some think that because they put some money in the offering, God has to bless them. Sad to say some preachers beg for money with a token gift or a promise that the giver will receive some special blessing.

Application: If my giving is an act of obedience or an expression of love and faith, it has value. If my giving is in expecting some blessing, then I really do not understand that God’s blessings are more valuable than I could ever afford! My giving should be an expression of appreciation for what I have already received!

Prayer: Jesus. You are Lord of my life, which includes Lord of my money. It all belongs to you! It is not how much of my money I give to you; it is how much of your money I keep for myself. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

January 31: Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Observation: In these verses, God is not claiming the Israelites as His children, but is claiming to be their God! In this I see that God in his great love is not emphasizing that the Israelites identify with Him, but that He identifies with them!!!
When our enemy is attacking, we may call out, “We are children of God.” If the enemy does not listen to us, the Creator speaks up, “Back off, I am their God and you do not want to mess with me!”

Application: Like an earthly parent gets down on the floor to play with their child on the child’s level, my Heavenly Father comes down to my level to identify with me. Yes, I identify with Him as His child, but He willingly identifies with me as my God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your love for me amazes me! To think that the Creator God is willing to be known as Leon’s God! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

January 30: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them. … 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Observation: 1. Growth brought a problem. It was a relationship problem. The leaders all spoke Hebrew. Many of the new believers spoke Greek. They had been born outside of Israel and spoke Greek, but had moved back to the Jerusalem area.
2. The problem was met with organization. The Spirit-led leaders had the congregation choose men known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. The seven chosen all had Greek names. They would be the ones most aware of the problem. They had spiritual and natural qualifications.
3. Organization did not hinder growth, but brought more growth! The organization freed the leaders to continue with their priorities and raised up other leaders to take the additional responsibilities.

Application: Many problems I face in my life and ministry have to do with organization. When my life, and especially my time is not organized properly, it hinders my priorities.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need your wisdom and guidance to organize the use of my talents, resources, and time to best serve the priorities you have given me. I know I can depend on your help. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

January 29: Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

Observation: Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property and gave an offering to the church, pretending that they were giving the complete price of the sale. But they had agreed to keep back a part of the money for themselves. Earlier Jesus had told them, that what people did to the least of his disciples, they did it unto him. He would take it personal. In this passage, indeed He did! They did not just lie to man, but to God!

Application: There are several applications of this truth. When I am under attack, I know that Jesus takes it personal. And when I am blest by someone, I know that Jesus takes that personal too. And the same truth that applies to what I receive, also applies to what I give. If I attack my brother and sister, Jesus takes it personal. If I bless a brother or sister, Jesus takes it personal.

Prayer: Lord, these truths make me want to be very careful what I do or say to your children. I want to be an encourager and give a blessing. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

January 28: Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture: THE QUESTION: Acts (NIV) 4:7 They [the elders and teachers in Jerusalem] had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
THE ANSWER: Acts (NIV) 4:10 “then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”

Observation: The man was well known. He had set crippled and begging at the temple gate for years. Yet, now, this very man was walking and leaping and praising God for his healing! It was obvious to all the people that something had happened that could not be explained. Peter and John were continuing the ministry of Jesus!

Application: As a follower of Jesus in whom the Spirit of Jesus dwells, I should not be surprised when God does something through me that has no earthly explanation! It will be something that happens as I step out in faith. It will be something through which God expresses his love and concern for others. It will be something for which only God can receive the glory.

Prayer: Jesus, I believe you are ready to use your people in extraordinary ways. Our part will be small and seem insignificant, but it will release you to do what only you can do. To you be all the glory! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!