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

December 27: Revelation 1-4

Scripture: Revelation (NIV) 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Observation: I am aware of several people who have died and then been brought back to life. But the life to which they returned was still subject to death. Jesus was dead but is now alive with a life that is not subject to death. Like a wrestler, Jesus embraced death and defeated it. In Jesus, death has met its master!

Application: The life of Jesus that dwells in me is life that has already faced death, embraced it and defeated it! Like a baby emerging from its mother’s womb, at death my spirit, united with Jesus, will emerge from this physical body to a whole new level of living and a life that will never die!

Prayer: Lord, there is nothing I face in this life that you have not faced. You know what I am experiencing and you know what I should do. More than that, you give me the strength to make it through the tough times. In you, I am blest! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 26: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 119:108 Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.

Observation: This is the praise that really blesses God — willing praise! He deserves nothing less!

Application: First: I should give “willing praise” to God when things are going great! It is right to thank and praise Him for guiding my steps in times when it seems everything is working great! It is just the right thing to do! Second: I should give “willing praise” to God when the good and bad things average out and my day is just average. It is just the right thing to do! Third: I should give “willing praise” to God when things are tough and it seems nothing is going my way. It is still the right thing to do! He is no less God or less worthy on one day than on another.

Prayer: Lord, you should never have to twist my arm to get me to praise you. May “willing praise” be my language every day. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Christmas Greetings from Sharon and myself to all who read these daily SOAPs. May the Lord enjoy your celebration of His birth. I wrote this SOAP last night before going to bed, but this morning in re-reading it, the Lord showed me something I had never considered before. I know that it is nothing new, but it was new to me. Number four below was a special gift of freshness the Lord gave me on this Christmas day. Happy Christmas and Merry New Year! Leon J

The Gift of Forgiveness

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

December 25: 1John 1-5

Scripture: 1John (NIV) 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Observation: In this chapter, the word “fellowship” is used four times. Twice it refers to fellowship with God and twice to fellowship among people. It is clear that fellowship with people and fellowship with God are closely intertwined. Fellowship with others is hindered by things that cause us to be offended. They may be real things, or just things in our mind. The one thing that overcomes offences is giving and receiving forgiveness!

Application: If I am unable to have fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ who live and work near me, then I need to be checking what kind of fellowship I am having with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. If I am having trouble forgiving someone, I need to remember four things. First, I need to remember how many times God has forgiven me! Second, I need to remember that The Great Forgiver is actually living inside me to help me forgive. Third, I need to remember that forgiving is a choice while forgetting is a process. Once forgiven, I need to remember it forgiven. Fourth, I need to remember that this wonderful gift of forgiveness was purchased on the cross. Jesus’ death not only covered my sins against God, but also the sins of others against me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being quick to forgive me and restore our relationship. Help me be quick to seek forgiveness and quick to forgive so that nothing will hinder the fellowship I have with those around me and with you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 24: John 19-21

Scripture: John (NIV) 20:6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen laying there,
7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
9 (They did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Observation: After all that Jesus had said about rising from the dead, they still did not understand. This it is so much with prophecy. It is not clearly understood until after it has been fulfilled, and even then not until the Holy Spirit reveals it to the heart. They needed to understand "from the scriptures." When Jesus spoke to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He spoke from the scriptures. The Living Risen Word was opening their understanding of the written word.

Application: More than relying on my own interpretation of things around me, I need to see what the scriptures have to say. Since I believe that the scriptures are the Word of God, it naturally follows that I accept them as a higher authority than my own opinion. I can trust what God has written even before it takes place. I do not need to worry about the outcome. I can gain understanding from the scriptures that God is with me and will bring me through.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Bible, the written Word of God. Thank you for providing me something I can trust wholeheartedly. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 23: John 15-18

Scripture: John (NIV) 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Observation: Who can understand the love of God! God the Father so loved us (the world) that He gave His only Son! God the Father so loved His Son that He sent Him to develop a family of sons in His image. Amazing! And here the Son says that He loves us the same way His Father loves Him! Not only are we loved by the Father, we are loved by the Son!

Application: The Father loves the Son; the Son loves the Father. I am loved by the Father and loved by the Son. I am not only surrounded by their love, I am the object of their love! I am loved by the two greatest lovers in the world! It is amazing!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me! I want your love for me to bring you much joy. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 22: John 12-14

Scripture: John (NIV) 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
John (NIV) 14:30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,
31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave.

Observation: In the first verse the love the Father has for His Son is seen in that He honors those who serve His special Son. In 14:30-31 the love Jesus had for His Father would be easily seen by those around Him. The intensity of the suffering he would endure was proof of His love for His Father and His willingness to do as commanded in spite of personal suffering. Oh, how Jesus loves His Father!

Application: I always walk in the love my Heavenly Father has for me. And the love I have in my heart for my Savior can be easily seen by others when they see me doing what He directs even if it takes me through tough times.

Prayer: Lord, it is special when I get a glimpse of the love you have for your Father and the love He has for you. I am blest to find myself right in the middle! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 21: John 9-11

Scripture: John (NIV) 10:37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.
38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.

Observation: The One who told us to let our light so shine before others that they may see our good deeds/works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 9:16) here tells people to look at His works. Works are the outward proof of what is on the inside. Works are the proof of character. Jesus was saying that if we could not see the proof in His works, we should not believe Him. Proof of the presence of the Father in Jesus could be easily recognized in the works of Jesus.

Application: Proof of the life of Jesus in me is seen in my works. The words I say and the things I do are outward expressions of who is controlling the inside. The more I let Jesus rule my thoughts and affections, the more He will be seen on the outside.

Prayer: Lord, I want your Lordship to be so complete on the inside of my life that it will be easily recognized by those who only see the outside. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 20: John 7-8

Scripture: John (NIV) 7:12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”
13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

Observation: The leaders could threaten people if they talked about Jesus, but they could not stop them. Instead of talking out in the open, they talked secretly.

Application: Trying to control speech by fear has never worked. The best way to control speech is to encourage people to talk openly then give good arguments. But people who do not have good arguments often work to confuse the issue and silence it by threats.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, guide my words when I give answer. Spark thoughts in my mind. Impart understanding to me. May the simplicity of truth be ever on my lips. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 19: John 5-6

Scripture: John (NIV) 5:36 I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.

Observation: Jesus had been introduced by John as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) Yet here Jesus claims a greater witness to his identity. That He was sent from the Father could be seen in the works that could not be explained in human terms. They could only be explained by acknowledging that God the Father was at work.

Application: As God was seen in the life of Jesus, so He wants to be seen in my life. Through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and the gifts of the Spirit (1Corinthians 12) God desires to be seen in my life.

Prayer: Lord, I want my life to be good advertisement for You and Your kingdom. May your character be seen through the fruit of the Spirit and your power through the gifts of the Spirit. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 18: John 2-4

Scripture: John (NIV) 4:6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

Observation: "…tired as he was …" God, the Son had laid down His divinity to live a man. The Creator lived as the creation. The God who watches over Israel, who never slumbers nor sleeps, laid aside his deity to such an extent that He got tired!

Application: I like scriptures that tell about Jesus’ miracles. I like the scriptures that tell about his compassion. But those that reveal his humanity have a special place in my heart. When I am tired, I am glad to know that He got tired. He knows what it is to be tired. He understands the weakness of the flesh.

Prayer: Lord, I am so glad that you understand this life I am living. You know how to help me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!