The Father’s Party

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

October 2: Zechariah 13-14; Psalm 147; Luke 15

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 15:22 But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 Your brother has come, he replied, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. 28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

Observation: The older brother’s attitude kept him from enjoying the party. He was right in his facts, but wrong in his heart. In his head he had all the reasons the younger brother’s return should not be celebrated. His heart could not see how good it was that the younger brother had returned. He did not understand that the party was really for the father, not the brother. The older brother was welcome to join the party, but his own attitude kept him out. How sad when people cannot participate in the party because of their own attitude.

Application: I can see times when my own attitude has kept from enjoying things that were available to me. I want to have the attitude of the father, not the attitude of the older brother. If the Father is rejoicing, I should be too! Who am I to throw cold water on His party?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be like you. I want to look at things from your point of view. When you are rejoicing, I want to rejoice with you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 1: Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 14:8 When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this man your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Observation: This teaching from Jesus is so in keeping with the way he lived. He lived as a servant. Humility has great value with God. When one exalts himself, it is for others to humble them. When one humbles himself, it is for others to exalt them. It is so much better to be exalted by others than to be humbled by others.

Application: Whether I am standing in line at McDonalds or driving with traffic on the highway, I can practice humility. What do I have that I have not been given? What do I know that I have not been taught? Humility should be a major character trait in me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, How can I be other than humble when I think of how you love me and what you have done for me? I am your humble servant! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 30: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 13:14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

Observation: Their priorities were mixed up. In reality, they treated their animals on the Sabbath better than humans. They were indignant because of Jesus’ action. Jesus was indignant because one created in God’s image was of less value than their animals. Jesus was not saying that they should ignore or mistreat their animals but he was saying that humans are more important than animals.

Application: What would Jesus say to our nation? We have fines and prison terms for those who would destroy the eggs of endangered birds. But we approve businesses that destroy hundreds/thousands of unborn human babies each year? In judgment, Jesus will be indignant! How could he be any less?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us to value the people around us as our Heavenly Father values them. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 29: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 12:54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘it’s going to rain,’ and it does.
55 And when the south wind blows, you say ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.
56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?”

Observation: It is amazing to me at how accurately we are able to forecast the weather. With radar and satellite information available in the morning, I usually walk out the door properly dressed for the day. With the information provided in God’s Word, we can forecast that major changes are coming to this world!

Application: How foolish to live like spiritual matters are unimportant. How foolish to live like Jesus will not return for a long time. How foolish to live like the things happening in the Middle East do not affect me. I must live each day all for the glory of God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may you be pleased with how I live this day. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 28: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

Scripture: Zechariah (NIV) 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Return to me,” declares the LORD Almighty, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

Observation: God was speaking to Israel. They had a history of walking with the LORD and depending on Him. They had a history of turning away and going into captivity. They had a history of returning to the LORD and being brought back into their land. God is saying to them it is time to return. And He is promising that if they will return He will return.

Application: In Revelation 2:4-5, the church at Ephesus was told they had lost their first love and they were to repent and return to the things they did at the beginning. Today I hear people wanting God to do today the things he did in the Book of Acts. In these verses I believe I hear God saying that the church should return to being totally committed as the early church. Then God will return to doing the miracle as He did for the early church.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to be totally committed to serving you and making you known. Love through me and do your works through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 27: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 10:2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. …9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them The Kingdom of God is near…16 He who listens to you listen to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Observation: It is amazing at how closely Jesus identifies with us. How people accept or reject us as we speak on his behalf, he takes personally. And not only does he take it personally, our Heavenly Father does too.

Application: If He takes it personally, I should to. Knowing this, I should be very careful in how I speak and act. I am representing Him!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is a great privilege to represent you as I live my life here on earth. Holy Spirit, please keep reminding me of this truth. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 26: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”

Observation: Three thoughts that come to mind when I read this verse. First: if people really believed this, they would be standing in line begging to be a part of the children’s ministry in their church. Second: this is an encouraging thought for those becoming weary in ministry to children. Third: when those to whom one ministers are unable to reward, the Great Rewarder Himself will surely not overlook or forget what He takes as personal!

Application: In addition to driving the school bus, a new opportunity has been recently been brought to me to minister to children. I need to keep these thoughts in mind. I need to remember that God takes this ministry as though I am personally doing it to him. I need to look for rewards coming my way.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the Great Rewarder. Forgive me for the times I have overlooked children who are so important to you. When I get too busy, remind me of their importance. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Giving

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

September 25: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 8:1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another…The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Observation: Luke here names three women who traveled with Jesus and the disciples. Luke also mentions their special ministry.

These women believed in Jesus. They believed in His ministry. They invested themselves and their finances into that ministry. They benefitted from that ministry. Surely their heavenly perspective is that this was the best investment they could have ever made with their money.

Colton Wickramaratne, who became the General Superintendent for the Assemblies of God in Ceylon tells how a poor widow woman who made her living in Florida by doing laundry was led by the Holy Spirit to send money every month to support him in Bible School. She now shares in his eternal reward.

Application: Through my presence, through my help, through giving, and through words of encouragement I can give into the ministries of others. If I follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, what I am able and led to give can have a great impact on someone just starting in ministry. Small gifts and words of encouragement can mean much more at the beginning of ministry than the larger support that will come later. Like the song says, “Little is much when God is in it!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 24: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Observation: The Psalmist is taken with the beauty of God’s house. What a privilege it is to be in the house of the LORD. Those who dwell in God’s house will always have reason to praise God.

Application: I cannot help but think of how much greater is my blessing than the psalmist. Not only do I get to live in God’s house, but God himself has made me His dwelling place; He lives in me! How many more reasons do I have to always praise Him!!!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am so blest that you have chosen to live in me. I want to live each day in such a way that others will recognize your presence in me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 23: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Observation: God expects us to be merciful. He clearly commands us to be merciful. He expects us to be forgiving to the point that we should not expect to receive forgiveness if we do not forgive. But not only does God expect to see mercy in our lives, He, Himself, gives the example we are to follow!!! He sets a high standard for mercy!

Application: I am to be merciful “…just as…” my Heavenly Father is merciful. The mercy I have received, I am to extend to others. The more I understand the mercy I have received, the more I understand the mercy I am to show. Receiving mercy is a “feel good” matter. It definitely makes me feel better knowing that God has forgiven me. But it is also a “do good” matter. I am to pass on what I have received. The blood of Jesus that covers my sins against God can also cover the sins of others against me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you graciously accept the death of your Son as the payment for my sins. May I learn to be merciful and accept that same death as the payment for those who sin against me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!