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

February 15: Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 25:4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you LORD are good.

Observation: There can be no better place for hope than in the One whose love and mercy are great. His love and mercy were well known before we were born. From early in the morning until late at night, and then all through the night, our hope can rest in the LORD!

Application: I do not have to worry about my past sins. In God they are forgiven and forgotten. God is not focused on my past sins, but on today as I walk in His love and in the power of His Spirit. In Him I have hope to overcome the temptation of sin. In Him I have hope to accomplish what He gives me to do.

Prayer: Lord, because of your merciful love, you have both forgiven and forgotten my sins. Remember me according to your love. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 14: Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 21:29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple)
30 The whole city was aroused and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple…
31 While they were trying to kill him…

Observation: In the verses above, much trouble was caused by assumption. I believe it was Ed Cole who said, “Assumption is the lowest level of knowledge.” It is a belief that if one thing is true, then the second thing must also true. It is taking a leap that seems logical but has no logical support. If someone stops talking when I enter a room, I assume that they must have been talking about me. And if they stopped talking about me, I assume they must have been talking bad about me.

Application: Several things that help me deal with assumptions. First, I know that my Heavenly Father perfectly knows what people were saying. If I need to know, He is able to make sure I know. Second, I choose to assume something good. If they were talking about me, they were probably trying to decide what to get me for my birthday—which actually happened to me some years back. While I was fighting off thoughts about how people were talking behind my back, they were actually signing a birthday card to give me later. Ha!

Prayer: Lord, with you I walk by faith and not by assumption. I know you and am persuaded that you are able to guide me when I do not have complete understanding. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 13: Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Observation: These are the final words of Paul’s farewell to the church leaders from the city of Ephesus. He called attention to his example and emphasized the importance of hard work. Hard work not only enables us to provide for our own needs, but also enables us to give to those needing help.

Application: The Lord has many resources and ways to help people. He does not need me. But he wants me to be able to experience His joy in giving, so He gives through me. He lets me be a part of what He is doing. A great part of the joy I have in driving the school bus is the joy of increased giving.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to experience the joy of giving. May my giving bring joy to your heart. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 12: Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture: Leviticus (NIV) 19:34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Observation: People are important to God. When foreigner came to live among the Israelites, they were to be treated as if they had been born in Israel. Two reasons are given. Reason #1 was Israel’s history of being foreigners living in Egypt. Reason #2 was that God required it.

Application: Many times I have heard parents trying to reason with a child determined to do something wrong. When reasoning does not seem to work, I have heard parents end the argument with “because I said so!” Parents expect their words to carry the weight of their position. How right it is for God to expect His words to carry the weight of HIS position!

Prayer: Lord, your word is an expression of your love and holiness and wisdom. Your word carries your authority. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 11: Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Scripture: Leviticus (NIV) 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Observation: God was speaking to Moses about the sacrifices that would be accepted to pay for their sins. Here is what I see: It was not the killing of the animal, but the shedding of its blood that made atonement. (Atonement means it brings at-one-ment with God.)

Application: It was not the killing of the flesh that paid the price for my sin, but the shedding of the blood! In the God/Man, Jesus, the flesh was man’s part (Mary’s part), but blood type which is determined by the sperm from the man came from God. Mary, the virgin was impregnated by the Holy Spirit. The blood that Jesus shed for my sins was pure, sinless blood! It did not come from Adam. It was untainted by the sin that had been passed from Adam down through the generations. The blood of Jesus can be accepted as payment for my sins because there was no sin in Jesus needing to be covered.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking my sin seriously. Thank you for understanding what kind of a sacrifice I needed. Thank you for being willing to be that sacrifice. May you find me ever grateful! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 10: Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”

Observation: Paul had spent some time looking for something to use as a starting point in presenting Jesus to these people. He found it among the altars to their gods.

Application: I need to keep my eyes open for starting points to present Jesus to people around me. The popular saying, “Oh my god,” gives me the opportunity to say, “Tell me about him.” There are many opportunities to comfort people who are grieving, and to help people who are hurting. These are opportunities to extend the ministry of Jesus.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me alert and ready to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 9: Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

Observation: Paul and Silas had been beaten with many stripes and then placed in the custody of the jailer with instructions to guard them carefully. Taking no chances, “he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.” Their circumstances were bad, their feet were bound; but their hearts were free. It was more than a concert for prisoners. Someone more important was listening that night. Their song was heard in the courts of heaven and stirred the heart of God.

Application: Many times sorrow is expressed through music. But it was not sorrow or hurt or self-pity that was in the songs of Paul and Silas—it was praise to God! My heart has often been lifted from the prison of my circumstances by the anthem of praise.

Prayer: Lord, you are always worthy of my praise! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 8: Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 15:7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Observation: The early church was going through a tough transition. Gentiles were being saved and becoming a part of the church. They were wrestling with the question as to whether or not the Gentiles would need to become Jewish believers and keep the Law of Moses. Here Peter reminded that that God had already decided the issue. God had given them the Gentile believers the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48) just as he had given to the Jewish believers earlier on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). God had not required them to become Jewish.

Application: There have been times when I struggled with what was acceptable or unacceptable. In searching the scriptures and prayer, I have usually discovered that God had already decided the issue. I have found that the more I get to know Him, the better I am able to discern what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.

Prayer: Lord, I want to become so close to you, so familiar with your character, and so in touch with your Spirit that I will easily understand what is acceptable and unacceptable to you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 7: Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 14:26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Observation: They had completed their work, but the job was not yet done. It would not be fully completed until they gave a report to those who had sent them out. (Acts 13:3) The senders should also be able to enjoy the fruit of their labor. With Facebook today it is often possible to keep senders informed daily without waiting for the completion of the ministry. It is a good way to remind people to pray for their ministry as well as to help them pray with understanding. (Thank you Paul Conger and your team presently in Peru.)

Application: I need to be careful to keep people informed. Ministry is not completed until the report has been given and thanks have been expressed!

Prayer: Lord, thanks must first be given to you. Holy Spirit remind me to give a report and thanks to those deserving. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 6: Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 13:2 While they were worshipping the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Observation: In these verses we see the official beginning of Paul’s (then known as Saul) missionary journeys. It is notable to see the coordination of the work of the church and the Holy Spirit. Verse 3 reads that they were sent off by the church. Verse 4 reads that they were sent by the Holy Spirit. They were sent out by the church in Antioch and later they reported back to the church in Antioch.

Application: It is no surprise to me that God gives authority to those who are under authority. In submission one learns to lead. If I cannot submit to others, I am not qualified to lead. If I cannot hear the will of God for my life through people God has placed in my life, I probably cannot hear His will from God. My ministry is greatly hindered when I cannot submit to the authorities God has placed in my life.

Prayer: Lord, In complete submission to your Father’s will, you became the Head of the church. You are the perfect example of a submitted leader. Keep reminding me of this. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!