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

December 28: Revelation 5-9

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You [the Lamb] are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and people and nation.

Observation: We have many ways to classify people. We identify them from their language or their nationality. We identify people by color or height. We identify them by skills. But in the end, everyone will be identified by whom they worship. Here in chapter 5 we see people who worship the Lamb. Later in chapter 14 we see others worshipping the beast.

Application: Worship is a major theme in the book of Revelation. In chapter 4 of John (who also wrote Revelation) we are told that God is seeking true worshippers, ones who worship in spirit and truth. If worship is a priority to God, it must be a priority to me also!

Prayer: Jesus, what a privilege to worship you. It is the right thing for me to do. I do not just want to be one who worships, but a worshipper. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 27: Revelation 1-4

Scripture: Revelation (KJV) 2:2 I know your works,…

Observation: To each of the seven churches in chapters two and three, the Lord says, “I know your works…”

Application: God is not looking into my works to see how I am doing. He knows. God will not have to ask questions to determine the value of what I am doing. He knows. He who knows the thoughts and intentions of my heart already knows the motives behind my works. He knows my works.

Prayer: Jesus, you know my heart. You know when I do things because I want other people to like me and when I do those same things simply because I love you. May my works bring joy to your heart and also be a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 26: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 117:1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Observation: Why should all nations praise Him; why should all people speak of His greatness? -because His love is expressed toward every one of them! No one is left out of His expression of love. No one is left out of giving Him praise. Not only is His love expressed toward all of us—it is GREAT toward us!

Application: How long should we praise the LORD? A good answer would be from verse two above—as long as His faithfulness endures! His faithfulness endures through all my good times and bad times. It continues even when I am found to be faithless. His faithfulness continues forever! My praise should also continue forever! I remember standing with my arms raised and singing with all my heart: “Jesus, I’ll praise you forever. Jesus I’ll praise you forever. No matter what the cost may be; I’ll praise you Lord, eternally! My mind’s made up; I’ll praise you forever.” (Unknown)

Prayer: Jesus, forever You are worthy of my praise. Forever surely includes today! So today is a day of praise! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Merry Christmas, my SOAP friends. I trust you are having a wonderful Christmas season, celebrating God’s love packaged in Jesus! Should you know of someone who would like to be added to the SOAP email mail list, send me their address. And if you are receiving too many email and would like your name to be removed, just let me know. Have a great Christmas and New Year’s season. May we enter 2015 with a fresh awareness of His Presence! Leon J

Christmas: Celebrating His Love!

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

December 25: 1John 1-5

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Observation: How did God prove that He loved us? He sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. How did God send His Son? He was conceived in the womb of a virgin and laid in a manger when born. How did the Son become the atoning sacrifice for our sins? Though sinless, He was crucified on a cruel Roman cross. How do we know His death is acceptable as the payment for sins? On the third day, He rose from the grave! The payment was complete! How does His death make a difference in my life? When I believe in my heart that His death was intended to be for my sins, and I ask His forgiveness; when I give Him my old life and receive His new life—oh, what a change in my life!!!

Application: Now, He lives in me. I live my life through doing, as best I know, what I believe He would be doing. How do I prove my love for Him? I do that by loving the people around me.

Prayer: Happy Birthday, Jesus! May the Father enjoy spending this special day with the people who honor your Name! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 24: John 19-21

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
John (NIV) 19:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Observation: Today is Christmas Eve, but my assigned Bible reading is about the death and resurrection of Jesus. I remembered that the magi did not come to Jerusalem looking to see IF a king had been born, but wanting to see the king who had been born. Thirty-three years later Pilate refused the request of the Jewish leaders to change his note to read, “this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” The King of the Jews was born in a manger and buried in a borrowed tomb, but He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and will return not to a manger, nor a tomb, but to the throne—to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords!

Application: At Christmas it is customary to celebrate Jesus as a baby, but it is important for me to remember more than His birth. His amazing birth was the beginning of a sinless life of loving people. His death on the cross provided me the greatest gift I have ever been given—true forgiveness and eternal life! His resurrection is the proof that His death was sufficient. His soon return as the King of kings and Lord of lords gives me hope.

Prayer: Happy Birthday, Jesus. May the gift of my life bring you joy. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 23: John 15-18

Scripture: John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Observation: Here is one of the most important keys to living the Christian live. This verse gives such a simple explanation of how we are to live and such a powerful promise. The explanation is that we must maintain a living relationship with our Lord. We are to walk in an awareness of His Presence. But what a powerful promise: “…I also remain in you!”

Application: When I am alone, I am not alone. When I am driving the car by myself, I am not alone. If the bus is full of children, He is with me. When the bus is empty, He is still with me. When I am meeting with a friend, He is a part of that meeting also. When I am in a crowd, He is with me. In the most stressful part of my day, He is with me. In the most restful part of my day, He is with me.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that my resolve to remain in you is growing. But I am also so thankful that your resolve to remain in me far surpasses my resolve. I depend on you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 22: John 12-14

Scripture: John (NIV) 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. … 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

Observation: Here are some good thoughts about reaching out to our neighbors. Invite them into our homes for a celebration, maybe a birthday party, or to watch a special sporting event. Have a good time of fellowship around a meal. For evangelism be sure to invite some who are not believers. Make honoring Jesus an important part of the conversation. For discipleship, answer their questions.

Application: My home should be a home base for evangelism.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me, and use my home for your glory! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 21: John 9-11

Scripture: John (NIV) 11:14 So then He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Observation: “Lazarus is dead…I am glad…” Lazarus was a good friend; Jesus loved Lazarus. How could Jesus say this? He could say it because he knew the end of the story! The resurrection of Lazarus became a powerful testimony for Jesus. The Jews even plotted to put Lazarus to death when they crucified Jesus. John 12:9-11

Application: I wonder how many times Jesus has said, “Leon is going through a tough time…I am glad…”

Prayer: Jesus, use my life for your glory. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 20: John 7-8

Scripture: John (NIV) 8:7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first until only Jesus was left with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go not and leave your life of sin.”

Observation: The only one present with the moral authority to condemn this woman was Jesus. He was the only one without sin. Condemnation is putting down a person; conviction is putting down the sin. Condemnation says the person is unimportant; conviction says the person is important and has value. When the world condemns us, the Holy Spirit convicts us. Then He helps us overcome the sin!

Application: I need to see people as Jesus sees them. They have great value to God. I need to treat people as God treats them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your love for people is seen in that you were willing to send your Son to die for their sins. People have great value to you. They are to have value to me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 19: John 5-6

Scripture: John (NIV) 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 The Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Observation: In continuing to read through the book of John, I notice an emphasis on the Word who became flesh (John 1:14) and who healed the official’s daughter by his word (John 4:50). In John chapter 5 we read of an invalid who stayed by the pool hoping to be the first one into the water whenever it was stirred by an angel and thus receive his healing. The invalid was healed by the words Jesus spoke to him. Jesus commanded him to do something that was impossible for him to do. He did not argue as to why he could not walk. Somehow he realized that he did not have to wait for an angel any longer. Somehow he realized that the one speaking to him had the power to make what he said come to pass. Jesus spoke with authority! The One who spoke the worlds into existence was now standing over him and telling him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!”

Application: The invalid may not have known completely who Jesus was. Surely I have a much clearer understanding that Jesus is the one who spoke the worlds into existence. If the invalid believed he could act on the words of Jesus, how much more should I be ready and willing to act on what He speaks to me.

Prayer: Jesus, your words are amazing! I want to honor you by acting like they are true. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!