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

February 5: Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 12:10 They [Peter being led out of prison by an angel] passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him…
[Peter then goes to John Mark’s home where people are praying. The servant girl who responded to his knock became so excited she ran to tell the people but did not open the door.]
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Observation: If the angel who opened the prison gate would have continued with Peter, the angel could have opened the door to John Mark’s home. But he did not continue with Peter, so Peter had to wait outside until someone finally opened the door. It was easier for Peter to get out of prison than for him to get into the prayer meeting! God did for them what they could not do, but expected them to do what they could do.

Application: I have seen that many of God’s works have a part that only He can do AND a part he expects me to do. To feed the 5000, Jesus used the lunch a young boy was willing to give. Jesus will bring salvation but it is my part to tell the good news. It is my part to reach out and touch; it is His part to heal. Sometimes my part is only to open the door.

Prayer: Lord, I know you will be faithful to do your part. Today I want you to find me faithful in doing my part. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 4: Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Observation: In verses 7-11, the Psalmist writes how God’s words revive the soul, make the simple wise, rejoice the heart, and enlighten the eyes. He says they are more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey. Surely the Psalmist was thinking that having God’s words set the boundaries for his words and setting his mind to ponder what God has said would be acceptable to the Lord.

Application: Not just my words, which those around me can hear, but also my thoughts, which no one but God knows, can be acceptable to the Lord. Since He lives in me and shares this body with me, it is my desire to make Him feel at home. As He moves among my words and thoughts, may He say, “This place sounds like heaven. I feel right at home in this life.”

Prayer: Lord, Make Yourself at home in me. I want you to feel welcome and comfortable. I want you to enjoy living in me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 3: Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 10:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Observation: Peter had been told by an angel to go with the people who would ask for him. Those looking for him were Gentiles, people with whom the Jews had as little contact as possible. The Jews considered themselves as special, as God’s chosen people. They did not realize that they were chosen because God wanted to reach the Gentiles!

Application: The New International Version reads, “God shows no partiality!” The King James Version reads, “God is no respecter of persons.” In the life of Leon it should read, “God highly values every person.” There are no unimportant people. Everyone has value.

Prayer: Lord, may your love for all people be easily seen in me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 2: Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Observation: What a great thought about heaven. Our future is bright. In His Presence will be joy and eternal pleasures.

Application: But what a greater thought when I consider that He has made me His dwelling and that I never leave His Presence!!! It is not just "You will fill me with joy," but also, "You have filled me with joy!!!" Praise the Lord! It is good to look forward to the "eternal pleasures" but even better to enjoy the ones we have at present in His presence!

Prayer: Lord, I have joy because of you! You not only give me joy, You are my joy! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

February 1: Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”…
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”…
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Observation: Philip had an everyday, talking with, walking with, and doing what he says type of relationship with the Lord. God could speak to Philip and Philip did not have to put out a fleece or look in the scriptures for confirmation before doing what God commanded. Philip could recognize God’s voice. God said it; Philip did it.

Application: The question is not: does the Holy Spirit speak to people today? The question is: am I listening for His voice? If I am listening, I will hear. How much distraction does God have to work through until He has me able to hear His voice?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the quiet moments in my heart throughout each day in which I can hear your voice. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 31: Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 7:35 This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” –this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

Observation: The Jewish leaders were jealous of the way God was using Stephen. They rounded up some false witnesses who would lie and brought Stephen to trial. When the High Priest asked for Stephen to answer the charges, Stephen gave an overview of the history of Israel. In this verse he points out that even though Moses had been earlier rejected as a leader, 40 years later God speaks to him from a burning bush and sends him back to the very people who had rejected him!

Application: Rejection from men does not mean that God is through with me. Past failure does not hinder God from using me later. I have to keep my ears open to God’s voice. I must keep my focus on the future.

Prayer: Lord, You are amazing. You use us even when others see nothing good in us. I am so glad you have the final say! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 30: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 25:40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

Observation: Moses was up on the mountain in the presence of God. He was being told the specifications for each part of the tabernacle. He was also being shown the pattern.
As I recall my grade school years. I have many memories, some good and some bad, of the black board, or chalk board. The teacher would explain a math concept or a phrase in a sentence. Then she would write it out on the black board. She would solve the problem or diagram the sentence while we watched her. Then she called us to the board to demonstrate our level of understanding.

Application: What God did for Moses, and what my grade school teachers did for me, is what God wants to do for people today. It is good for us to read the Bible and listen to sermons. And we definitely need the Holy Spirit living inside. But we also need something we can see. We need a pattern to follow. So the Bible tells us to be faithful in meeting with other believers. As the church gathers, we find people to be our pattern and our lives become a pattern for someone else.

Prayer: Lord, may my life be a faithful pattern for someone who wants to please you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 28: Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture: Exodus (NIV) 24:12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction. “

Observation: At God’s command, Moses had taken the 70 elders with him up on the mountain. The Israelites who remained on the desert floor saw great evidences and manifestations of God’s Presence. The 70 who climbed the mountain saw God! They saw His beauty. They enjoyed His fellowship. And now in this verse, God calls Moses even higher. It was there God gave Moses the 10 commandments and the plans for the tabernacle.

Application: Being in God’s Presence is an enjoyable blessing. But God does not call me into His Presence only to bless me, but to make me a blessing. Like Moses was given the Commandments and Tabernacle plans for the nation of Israel, God blesses me with things that He then uses to bless others.

Prayer: Lord, Your plan is not only to bless me, but to include and enable me to share Your joy in blessing others! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 28: Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Observation: Silver that has been purified in an earthen furnace, then purified again, and then purified again up to seven times, would surely be considered pure. Generation after generation, decade after decade, year after year, God’s Word is placed in earthen furnaces—in the hearts of people.

Application: God’s Word is not put in the furnace to make it pure, but to prove it is pure. It can take the heat! And those who hide it in their hearts discover that they too can take the heat. It continues to be proven pure time and time again.

Prayer: Lord, Your word is pure. It remains trustworthy and true. It continues to be proved a good foundation for every life. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

January 27: Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he [a lame man] asked to receive alms.
4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John and said, “Look at us.”
5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God,

Observation: Peter and John did not have what the lame man requested, but they believed they had something much better. Peter and John valued what they had to give and their actions proved it. They believed the lame man would like what they had. They did not see him as an interruption keeping them from getting to their prayer time, but as an opportunity for God to be glorified.

Application: Do I value what I have enough to stop and offer it to others? When I see someone with a need, do I quickly hurry on hoping they will not ask me for help? Do I believe God is able to work through me? Can people look at me expecting to receive something?

Prayer: Lord, I believe you can do amazing things. I believe you can use me. May I not see people as unwanted interruptions in my busy schedule, but as people you love and want to help. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!