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

May 5: 2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

Scripture: 2Samuel (NIV) 10:12 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.

Observation: The battle was going against the armies of Israel. Joab re-assigned their positions and gave these last minute words of encouragement. The Arameans fled before Joab and when the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled too.

Application: When God gives me specific instructions I must do exactly as He says. When I am not sure what God wants, yet circumstances demand that I do something, I must be strong and courageous. I must work to the best of my ability, knowing in the end it all depends on God.

Prayer: Lord, When I do not know what to do, I know that you want me to keep listening. I know that I must use my energy and wisdom to do the best I can. But I also know that I can trust you for the results. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 4: 2Samuel 8, 9; 1Chronicles 18, 19; Matthew 21

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Observation: Here the crowd acclaimed Jesus to be the Son of King David, an obvious heir to the throne of Israel. Just a few days later Pilate asked, “What then shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” The crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:12-13)

Application: Is Jesus worthy to be the King of my life, or is he an imposter trying to usurp my authority to do as I please? My words and my actions indicate as to which crowd I am a part.

Prayer: Lord, I want my words and my actions to clearly demonstrate that you are my King and my Lord! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 3: 2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

Scripture: 1Chronicles (NIV) (NOTE: This is the Prophet Nathan giving King David God’s words.) 17:10 …”And now I am telling you this: GOD himself will build you a house. 11 When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child to succeed you, a child from your own body, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. 12 He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule forever.”

Observation: At the beginning of this chapter David wanted to build a house for the Lord, but instead, here the Lord informs David that HE will build a house for David. Not only will God be building David’s house, David’s son (Solomon) is the one who will “build a house to honor me (God)." It is interesting to me that Jesus is often called the son of David. John, chapter 14, tells us that David’s greater Son, Jesus, is also a builder.

Application: David’s son, Solomon built a house for God. David’s son, Jesus has gone to a place with many mansions to build/prepare a place for me!!! Solomon built on earth; Jesus is building in heaven! Solomon used the best materials available here on earth to build the temple; Jesus is using the best materials in heaven to build for me!! Solomon’s temple was temporary and later destroyed; Jesus house is eternal!!!

Prayer: Lord, it is right for us to prepare a place for you, but my heart rejoices when I think of the place you are preparing for me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 2: 1Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19

Scripture: 1Chronicles (NIV) 16:28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;

Observation: In reading these verses my mind caught on the word “due.”

Application: When I honor God by giving proper recognition to his glory and strength I am only giving him what is rightfully his. He deserves the recognition and glory because of the value of His being. I owe him the recognition and glory because of what he has done for me.

Prayer: Lord, you deserve the glory for who you are! Lord, I owe you the glory for what you have done for me! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

May 1: 1Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Observation: I am thinking that Peter must have been proud of himself to suggest that he should forgive seven times. In practice, people may forgive one or two times, maybe three—but Peter was suggesting seven. Seven would be quite a stretch for most people.
But as magnanimous as seven would seem, it does not even come close to Jesus’ requirements.

Application: Was Jesus speaking in extremes just to make a point that it is important to forgive? I think not. Why? Because that is the way Jesus had treated me. He has forgiven me seventy-seven times and more. I believe He wants forgiveness to become a major part of my life. In my strength, this is impossible, but I now have the Great Forgiver living in side of me.

Prayer: Lord, I depend on you to help me forgive. Help forgiveness to become a part of my character. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 30: 2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them saying, “Rise and have no fear.”
8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Observation: Jesus touched them and spoke to them. We see the ministry of touch, and the ministry of words. Both are so important! We need to become skilled in using them both.
The ministry of touch emphasizes PRESENCE. There are times when that ministers more than words. A touch can say, "I am here for you," or "I am with you." It can say, "I do not know what to say, but I love you and I am here."
The ministry of words ministers in two ways. First is the message that the words convey, which can range from comfort to correction, from encouragement to exhortation. Second is the manner in which the words are spoken, the tone of voice. The tone of voice can minister tenderness or sternness, patience or persistence.

Application: Today while I drive the school bus, I will have many opportunities to touch people and speak to them. Even without consciously thinking about it, I will be using these two ministries.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, touch through me today. Speak through me to those needing encouragement and comfort. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 29: 2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Observation: There was a time when some people claimed that a baby in the womb was only tissue. It was called POC, or Product of Conception. Today we have videos made of the child’s personal and unique body developing in the womb. What a welcome change to hear news stories about laws being passed to protect unborn children.

Application: When I think of how wonderfully I was formed, I am forced to acknowledge that God created me for His purpose. I have value to Him! My challenge is to live each day in a way that brings honor and glory to Him! Of course these truths apply to everyone around me. They too are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” I must respect them for they too are made in the image of God.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of this truth. Keep reminding me that my body is a temple in which you live. I want your life to be seen in and through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 28: 2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

Scripture: 1Chronicles (NIV) 12:38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.
39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them.
40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Observation: David had been king over the southern tribes for several years while Saul’s son retained the kingship over the northern tribes of Israel. But now the northern tribes were ready to make David their king too. They came to Hebron “with a whole heart” and they were of “a single mind.” Their unity resulted in great generosity and joy.

Application: My circumstances may have some similarities with Israel. Our pastor recently resigned we are now in the first steps of finding God’s will for a new pastor. When the decision is finalized, the Leadership Board will rejoice if the same things can be said about Generations Church A/G as was written about Israel.

Prayer: Lord, give Generations Church a whole heart and single mind in choosing a pastor. Let generosity flow from a joyful heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 27: 2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves for the wind was against them.

Observation: They had just fed 5000 people plus the women and children. Then Jesus “made”/constrained/compelled his disciples to get into a boat to “go before him to the other side.” I doubt that they knew they were being sent into a storm. However it was in the storm that Jesus came walking on the water. It was in the storm that Peter was invited to walk on the water also. It was in Jesus calming the storm that they came to confess, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (vs.33)

Application: More than once I have followed the will of God into a storm. More than once I have found Him with me in the storm. More than once I have seen Him at work, doing what only He could do. More than once He has made it possible to get to the other side. More than once, I too have come to say, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

Prayer: Lord, Living for you is not a “storm-less” life. It is in the storms that we discover you are the great Storm-Tamer. And if you send me into a storm I can count on you to get me to the other side. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 26: 2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Observation: The value this man would be getting far surpassed the value of all his possessions. He was willing to give up everything else in order to possess this one treasure. He found joy in the sacrifice.

Application: When I have something that I am not willing to give up for the Lord, it shows that I do not yet understand the great value of the Kingdom of God! To hold onto something of temporal value and let it keep me from something of eternal value is not wise by anyone’s standard. But I find joy when I release what I cannot keep in order to gain what I cannot loose!

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in such a way that others can see the joy I have in serving you. It is my pleasure to serve you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!