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

April 15: 1Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

Scripture: 1Samuel (NIV) 17:37 The LORD saved me from the paw of the lion. He saved me from the paw of the bear. And he’ll save me from the powerful hand of this Philistine too.” Saul said to David, “Go. And may the LORD be with you.”

Observation: The struggles David had encountered as a shepherd in saving his father’s sheep from the lion and the bear were now faith builders as he took on saving the Lord’s name from the taunts of this giant. David was young but mature. He was able to take the truth learned in one life experience then later apply it to a similar, but different experience.

Application: I can see this truth worked out in my life. Many times God was working in my life not only for the present situation, but in preparation for the future. And surely God is doing that now; bring me victory that will build my faith for that which is to come. God wants me to mature to where I can apply the old lesson and not need to relearn it.

Prayer: Lord, may I be mature enough to take lessons learned from my past and apply them to my present. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 14: 1Samuel 15-16; 1Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

Scripture: 1Samuel (NIV) 15:22 But Samuel replied, “What pleases the LORD more? Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying him? It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.

Observation: King Saul and the Israelites were to totally destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions. But they saved the King and the best of the sheep and cattle. They saved everything that was valuable but totally destroyed everything that was worthless and weak. (verse 9) When confronted by the prophet Samuel, King Saul responded that they had kept the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord.

Application: My obedience is very important to the Lord, and should be to me also. I should use my mind to determine how to best obey, rather than to think up excuses for not obeying. I cannot pay off the Lord for my disobedience. I cannot do something special for Him in order to make up for my disobedience. However if I confess my sins He is faithful and just and will forgive AND cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9) Being cleansed from all unrighteousness would include the desire to disobey again. And as this week I celebrate the death and resurrection of my Lord, I should be reminded of the great suffering my sins caused Him. To think I have an easy out of sin shows that I do not appreciate His cross and have not accepted the principle of the cross in my life where I can say “no” to what I would enjoy in order to say “yes” to what pleases Him. In so living, I discover the joy and reward for obeying Him.

Prayer: Lord, if I call you “Lord” then I must obey. Sadly, when I disobey you I am confessing with my actions that you are not my Lord. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 13: 1Samuel 14; 1Chronicles 4; 2Corinthians 13

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind; live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Observation: As Paul signs off this letter to the church at Corinth, He give a four short exhortations and a promise. He exhorts us to (1) live the best we can, (2) pay attention to Paul’s directives, (3) mutually respect one another, and (4) not allow conflict to come between us. Then there is the promise; and what a great promise it is!

Application: The God, who gave us the greatest expression of true love the world has ever seen, is with me!!! The God, who establishes peace in the midst of turmoil, is with me!!!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your presence in my life. Thank you for expressing your love and peace in and through me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Weaponless

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

April 12: 1Samuel 13; 1Chronicles 2-3; 2Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1Samuel (NIV) 13:19 There weren’t any blacksmiths in the whole land of Israel. That’s because the Philistines had said, “The Hebrews might hire them to make swords or spears!”…
22 So not one of Saul’s or Jonathan’s soldiers had a sword or spear in his hand when he went out to battle. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had those weapons.

Observation: When the Philistines were dominating Israel, they made sure the Israelites did not have any weapons with which to defend themselves. It was to their advantage to have the citizens of Israel weaponless and defenseless.

Application: The devil works in the same manner. It is to his advantage to keep Christians from reading God’s word. It is to his advantage to keep Christians from praying. It is to his advantage to keep Christians from praise and worship. It is to his advantage to keep Christians isolated and not joining with other believers.

Prayer: Lord, you never intended for only leaders to have the necessary weapons to defeat the devil. Help me to take advantage of what you have provided for me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

What God Has Done!

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

April 11: 1Samuel 11-12; 1Chronicales 1; 2Corinthians 11

Scripture: 1Samuel (NIV) 12:24 But be sure to have respect for the LORD. Serve him faithfully. Do it with all your heart. Think about the great things he has done for you.
25 But don’t be stubborn. Don’t continue to do what is evil. If you do, both you and your king will be swept away.

Observation: Saul was now king, and Samuel was stepping out of the way. Samuel ends his farewell speech with these words. They were to serve the LORD respectfully, faithfully, and wholeheartedly. They were to be careful not to forget what God had done.

Application: Today much of our nation’s history has been re-written as though God had nothing to do with it. So the new generation taking leadership does not look to God for wisdom and help because they do not remember how God gave wisdom and help in the past. Our national leaders need only to take a tour of our nation’s capital building to see how God has been the key player in our history.

Prayer: Lord, continue to remind me of my personal history. May you find an appreciative heart for the things you have done for me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 10: 1Samuel 8-10; 2Corinthians 10

Scripture: 1Samuel (NIV) 8:11 Samuel told them, “Here’s what the king who rules over you will do. He will take your sons
13 He’ll also take your daughters…
14 He will take away your best fields…
15 He will take a tenth of your grain…
16 He will also take your … servants …and your animals…
17 …You yourselves will become his slaves.

Observation: The people of Israel wanted a king so they would be like the other nations. God tells Samuel that they are not rejecting Samuel but God. He tells Samuel to warn the people but give them a king anyway. NOTE: A king whom they would serve was considered more important than a God who served them!

Application: When I consider the high cost I see some people are paying to serve the devil, I am amazed that people reject serving the one who loves and serves them. Satan hates God and uses me to get at God while God loves me, serves me and frees me from Satan’s snares. Now, who am I going to serve!!!

Prayer: Lord, the more I know you and understand how you serve me, the more obvious it is that I should serve you. Lord, I am your servant. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 9: 1Samuel 6-7; Psalm 72; 2Corinthians 9

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 9:13 You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else.
14 Their hearts will be filled with longing for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything.

Observation: Paul was writing to encourage the believers in the city of Corinth to give to help those going through a drought in Jerusalem. The people had earlier promised to give; Paul would be traveling through their city and would take their gifts with him to Jerusalem.

Application: The best benefit of giving to help people in need is that God receives praise. I give because God has blest me. He has blest me with finances to be able to give but mostly He has blest me with His great grace. Giving is acknowledging that He is the source of my finances. A second benefit of giving is that those being helped pray for me with sincerity. Paul knew the value of having people praying for him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to participate in your kingdom by giving. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 8: 1Samuel 3-5; Psalm 77; 2Corinthians 8

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 77:10 Then I thought, “Here is what I will make my appeal to. For many years the Most High God showed how powerful his right hand is.”
11 LORD, I will remember what you did. Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will spend time thinking about everything you have done. I will consider all of your mighty acts.

Observation: The Psalmist was going through an extended tough time. He had trouble sleeping. It seemed like the trial would never end. It was like God had forgotten him. In verse 10 he makes a conscious choice. He was not going to let his thoughts run his life. He would choose to think about the great things God had done.

Application: I am not a mind that has a person. I am a person who has a mind. I can choose that on which I will allow my mind to meditate. I choose to think on the good things God has done for me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many things you have done for me. You have proved yourself faithful. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 7: 1Samuel 1-2; Psalm 66; 2Corinthians 7

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 66:1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you, they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.

Observation: Verse 2 has my attention. We are told to proclaim the brilliance and worthiness and power of God’s Name. We are to proclaim his praise in a worthy way. When we glorify God, we draw attention to his character traits. People can hear and see in our lives how wonderful and holy is our God!

Application: It bothers me when the words “holy” and “awesome” are used to describe things other than God. In my thinking, those words are reserved for God, and God alone. With my limited vocabulary I am not able to think of any words that would properly replace them. If I call a great sports play “awesome” what would I call the love of God that sent his son to die for my sins?

Prayer: Lord, you are holy and your deeds are awesome! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 6: Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64, 65; 2Corinthians 6

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 65:1 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who hear prayer, to you all men will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

Observation: Like the orchestra waits in anticipation for the conductor to step to the podium and raise his baton, praise waits for God. It is ready; it is practiced; it is awaiting the arrival of the conductor and on queue it begins!

Application: I am looking forward to joining with my brothers and sisters this morning to worship the Lord! I am anticipating hearing their voices and seeing their hands raised in praise and worship. My heart will rejoice as I see my King honored.

Prayer: Lord, praise awaits you, Oh God, this morning in Generations Church. I will be privileged to be a part! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!