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

January 17: Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 17:1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.

Observation: It is impossible to live in this world and not be tempted to sin. Temptation seems to surround us. But as great as temptation is around us, greater is He that is within us!

Application: The key to overcoming temptation is not in keeping myself in a “temptation free” zone (I do not believe there is one in this world), but in keeping the Great Overcomer as the LORD of my life. The desire to be like Jesus on the inside must be greater than the desire aroused by temptation on the outside. Letting my mind dwell on the temptation gives it a place on the inside. Filling my mind with God’s word and praise makes it hard for temptation to get a foothold in my mind. Jesus has already met every temptation and overcome it. He already has the victory. He will not help me just try to win over temptation; He has established His victory in me by His Presence!

Prayer: Jesus, You are the Great Overcomer, You are the Great Victor. Help me live in your victory. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 16: Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

Scripture: Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned…

Observation: Jealous brothers sold Joseph into slavery to some Ishmaelites headed to Egypt. When they arrived in Egypt, they sold Joseph to Potiphar.

People removed Joseph from his family. They removed Joseph from his home. They removed Joseph to another country/nation. They even removed Joseph from being a free man. But they could not remove Joseph from the LORD’s presence or from the LORD’s favor! Even as a slave, Joseph prospered! He prospered in the very place he was a slave!

Application: I can prosper and enjoy the presence of the LORD wherever I am. My circumstances cannot stop God’s blessings—even His favor. What people do to me is not greater than the blessings God desires to pour out on me. What they mean for evil, God uses for my good and His glory!

Prayer: Lord, it is my privilege to serve a God whose power to bless is greater than man’s power to destroy. Your power to bless cannot be stopped by man! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 15: Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Observation: The LORD’s righteousness—what a great reason to praise the LORD! God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), and eternal (no beginning and no end). It is frightening to think of an all-powerful god who is selfish, lawless and hateful. There could be no escaping his anger or displeasure. But our God is righteous!!!

Application: I have a great reason to praise the Lord! I can trust that He will always deal with me according to righteousness! He will never be unfair. He will always do what is right. I must remember that even when He deals with me according to His great love, His actions will be righteous. He is holy!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for finding a righteous way to lovingly forgive me. In sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins, you acted in both righteousness and love! You are amazing! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 14: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 35:4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

Observation: Jacob and his wives and children were headed back to Bethel, the place God first appeared to him when he was leaving home, running from his brother. God had promised to be with him, wherever he would go, and God had been faithful. Along the way, Jacob and those with him had collected some idol gods and items that represented those gods. It was now time to put them aside and commit to the One True God. Then God did what only God could do…He did what we would expect Him to do for those totally committed to him…He put terror on all who might be inclined to harm Jacob and his family. He was their shield of safety.

Application: I live in a day when much important information about me is on the computers at the bank, at the doctor’s office, at the office where I once had a mortgage on our home, at the government offices, and other computers all hooked together by the internet. It is obvious to me that there is only one real source of security. The One who protected Jacob is still protecting people. He has protected me many times. And even when His path leads me through times of trouble and suffering, the reward on the other side makes it well worth trusting Him!

Prayer: Lord, you are my security and protector. I can trust you to care for me even as you cared for Jacob. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 13: Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 13:23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Observation: The first word that caught my attention was the word “many.” Many will try to enter, but it will be too late. What was once open to “whosoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” is now closed; the opportunity has passed. The second thing that caught my attention was “make every effort.” This is too important to miss. One should make every effort!

Application: The third thing that caught my attention was a thought that came to mind, “If they should make every effort to enter, then I should make every effort for them to know and have opportunity to enter.” It is important to them; it should be important to me!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, speak to my heart and mind to make me aware of opportunities I have to acknowledge you publically, or speak to an individual. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 12: Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 12:29 [Jesus speaking] And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Observation: Before God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day, he created the earth with just the right environment for man. He knew what man would need, so he engineered/designed just the right settings into which he would place man. (Evolutionist believe that through trial and error man developed to fit into the environment that just happened to be there. Creationist believe that the environment was pre-designed to fit the needs of the man who would be placed there.) There can be no question; God knew what was needed to live.

Application: I am discovering that God still knows we need “such things.” And He is still able to provide “these things.” When I discover how I can best benefit God’s kingdom, I discover I can trust Him to take care of the “these things” He already knows I need.

Prayer: Lord, to live my life for the benefit of your kingdom—that is my goal. Then I can trust you to take care of all of the “these things.” Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 11: Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 11:2 He [Jesus] said to them [his disciples], “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Observation: If a person prays this prayer as it is given, they are asking God to forgive them because they forgive everyone who sins against them. It is something to consider very thoughtfully. If I do not forgive, I am asking God to not forgive me. If I forgive slowly, I am asking God to be slow in forgiving me. If I hold a grudge, I am asking God to hold a grudge against me.

Application: It is clear; I have been forgiven and God expects me to forgive. I will continue to need God’s forgiveness. I cannot live without someone sinning against me. To not forgive those who sin against me further hurts me. To think that someone’s sin against me is too great to forgive is to not fully appreciate what Jesus did to provide God’s forgiveness for me. Recently the Lord showed me that His death on the cross not only provided forgiveness for my sins against God but also provided for the sins of other people against me. I am thinking that Jesus death enabled God to forgive me and when I receive that forgiveness it enables me to forgive others.

Prayer: Jesus, You are the great forgiver. Holy Spirit help me to forgive as I have been forgiven. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 10: Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 10:16 [Jesus speaking] “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Observation: Jesus had appointed seventy-two to be sent out two by two into the places he would be going. He gave them instructions about what they needed to take and where they should stay. He told them to heal the sick and preach about the Kingdom of God. He told them what to do when rejected. He ends with the verse above. People who listened to them would be listening to Jesus. People who rejected their message were rejecting Jesus, AND the Heavenly Father who sent Jesus.

Application: Sometimes I am not consciously aware of the great power that stands with me and behind me. I act like I am out on my own. I act like it all depends on me. I let lack of results discourage me. BUT if I can hear Jesus speaking the above verse to me and know the Holy Spirit is living in me, there should be nothing able to discourage or distract me from His mission. My Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and me—what a team!!!!!

Prayer: Lord, my one goal is to please you. Rejection or failure means nothing when I know you are with me and Our Heavenly Father stands with us! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 9: Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

Scripture: Genesis (NIV) 24:19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.

Observation: I always enjoy reading Genesis, chapter 24. Abraham’s servant had been sent back to Abraham’s homeland to look for a bride for Abraham’s son, Isaac. He arrived at a well and prayed that God’s will would be shown to him in that the young lady who came to the well would be willing to give him a drink and then draw water for his ten camels. Rebecca had no way of knowing that everything those camels carried would become gifts for her and her family. She willingly gave a drink and she offered to draw water for the camels. She had no thought of what might be in it for her. And there seems to be no thought as to how much ten camels could drink. She seems only willing to serve. She “drew enough for all his camels.”

Application: I am God’s servant. In serving the Lord, I never know who it is He has brought my way. I may see it as just “drawing water for camels,” while God sees it with an eternal perspective. As Rebecca drew enough water for all the camels, I need to serve “enough”—not until I get tired or think it is time to quit, but “enough” to meet the need.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am your servant. My goal in serving is to please you—to bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 8: Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Observation: Jesus is explaining the parable of the seed and the sower. The seed is the Word of God and the ground is the lives into which the Word is sown. He has just explained about the seed that falls on the path that is immediately taken away. Then He explained about the seed that falls on rocky ground that grows but has not roots to sustain it in hard times. Thirdly He explains about the seed that falls among the thorns which choke the life out of the plant. And in verse 15 He explains about the seed that falls on good soil. Here the seed reaches its designed potential of producing a crop.

Application: The King James Version reads “bring forth fruit with patience.” The NIV reads “by persevering produce a crop.” It takes time for the seed sown to produce a crop. In the natural world it may take two or three seasons to pass before the full crop is reaped. In the spiritual world, it may even take several years, or even several generations. But with patience and perseverance the crop will come.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You sowed your Son, Jesus into this world. You have been reaping a harvest of believers in every generation. One day before your throne will be a gathering of redeemed “from every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation!” (Revelation 5:9) What a great harvest that will be!!! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!