Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 29, 2024: SOAP #5444:  Job 20; Mark 3-4

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

OBSERVATION:   Jesus set a pattern for His disciples.  Those who would be sent to minister FOR HIM must first spend time WITH HIM. 

A business owner who has spent years building a successful business probably will not take an extended vacation and leave his business in the hands of a novice.  Before turning it over to someone, he would want to make sure they understand his ways and priorities. 

And so it was with Jesus.  He did not send the disciples on their own until that had spent time with Him. 

(Note the time Joshua spent with Moses, and Timothy spent with Paul.)

APPLICATION: The goal I see in ministry is not for me to do something for the Lord, but to let Him do through me what He wants to have done.  Since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) this is the day of Holy Spirit empowered ministry.  We first spend time with Him in learning His ways and His heart.  Then we go out and minister with Him. 

It is not so much asking Him to help us in our ministry.  It is Him allowing us to be a part of what He is doing. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, you have been sent to dwell in me and to minister through me.  I surrender my will and desires to you.  Use me for the glory of Jesus and the honor of the Father.   In Jesus Name, Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 28, 2024: SOAP #5443:  Job 19; Mark 1-2

SCRIPTURE: Mark (NIV) 1:2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

OBSERVATION:   John the Baptist was the “voice calling in the desert.”  He was sent to “prepare the way for the Lord.”  The way he dressed, and what he ate emphasized that he ministered in the desert.  He did not claim to be the Messiah, but clearly said he was a forerunner.  He is the one who publicly introduced Jesus and baptized Jesus.  (Mark 1:6-8; Luke 2)

APPLICATION: We can take this as our assignment.  There are people around us in whom the Lord wants to enter their lives and live in them.  God wants to use us to speak words of comfort or witness to them.  God wants our lives to be examples so they can see the great value it is to have Jesus living in us.  God desires that our joy speak to them of the peace He has brought to our lives. 

In these and many other ways, we are “preparing the way for the Lord” to enter their lives. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what a blessing!  I get to be a part of what you are doing in the world around me today!  I pray you find me a faithful servant who carefully follows the leading of your Holy Spirit.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 27, 2024: SOAP #5442:  Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

SCRIPTURE:   Acts (NIV) 27:33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

OBSERVATION:    The ship was about to break up in the storm. Paul was not the owner or the pilate responsible for the ship and its crew. Paul was not the Roman centurion responsible for the soldiers and prisoners. But prisoner Paul was definitely the leader. He had heard from the Lord! He spoke with understanding. He spoke with wisdom. He took action. He set an example for the sailors and soldiers to follow. He instilled hope and they followed his example.

APPLICATION:   Leadership in times of peril does not always come from those in positions of civil or military authority. God can use a person filled with the Holy Spirit who does not see their circumstances as limitations to the mighty God they serve. God can use a person who has heard from God and believes that God will do as He says.

PRAYER:   Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit.  I set my heart to be a pleasant place for Him to live.  I set my ears to hear what He says to me.  I set my mouth to speak as He gives me words and thoughts.  Lord, in whatever situation I find myself, like the Apostle Paul, I set my life to bring you honor as the Holy Spirit leads me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 26, 2024: SOAP #5441:  Job 17; Acts 24-26

(reworked from 2012)

SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 24:27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

OBSERVATION:    When Paul first became a follower of Jesus, he was told that he was chosen to take the message of Jesus before kings.  Years later when arrested in Jerusalem he was specifically told he would be testifying in Rome.  (Acts 23:11)   But two years have passed, and Paul is still in jail in Judea!  Two years—a long time to wait—and to be waiting in jail—Paul was waiting for others to make decisions concerning his life.  He was totally powerless to determine his own course of life, yet he eventually made it to Rome. (Acts 28:16)  (In Genesis 41:1 we read of Joseph also waiting an additional two years in prison after revealing the dreams of the butler and cup-bearer.) 

APPLICATION:  Sometimes when I read the Bible, I think that things happen as fast as I can read about them.  But verses like the one above let me know that though God is not always in a hurry, He is always faithful.  I can trust God to bring about His promise in His timing.  And I am far enough along in the course of my life to have some personal testimonies of God working through my impatience to prove His faithfulness!  God’s faithfulness is longer than my impatience!   I need to learn to wait on God.  

PRAYER:  Lord, even though my patience may be stretched, I know I can count on your faithfulness. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 25, 2024: SOAP #5440:  Job 16; Acts 21-23

(repeat)

SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 23:23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

OBSERVATION: The irony of the situation cannot be missed.  Here the same Roman government that crucified Jesus at the insistence of the Jews, now goes to great ends to protect Paul from those same Jews!

It is interesting to me how God used the Roman government for His glory.  First, the tax that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.  The crucifixion (Acts 4:28). The arrest of Paul by the Romans protected Paul from the Jews.  The peace of the Rome (Pax Roma) allowed Paul to move freely to spread the gospel.  The later imprisonment of the Romans gave Paul the impetus to write much of the New Testament as letters to churches. 

APPLICATION:  That which seems to stand against my ministry may be used by God to expand my ministry!  Lack of resources may limit Leon’s plans, but it can never limit the gospel!  Like blowing wind and flowing water, when its movement is limited, it will find another way around, or over, or under.  The Holy Spirit is more powerful than blowing wind and flowing water!

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, may I be a channel through which you can readily flow. Keep reminding me that what limits me does not limit you!  Keep reminding me that what seems to be against me, may work out for good! Amen.

Pastor Leon

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Personal notes:
1.  Today was my 7^th radiation treatment. (7 of 28)  My time was moved to close to noon which required that I give up my noon pre-school route, at least until Thanksgiving.  Things seem to be progressing well.  Cells are being destroyed by the radiation, but God designed that the healthy cells replace themselves.  If you think of praying for me, pray that the healthy cells replace themselves quickly.  😊  
2.  October 25^th is Sharon and my 56^th wedding anniversary!  God has been so good to us.  We have been blest to serve in special places and God has given us such a great family and so many good friends.  Rejoice with us.   😊  

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 24, 2024: SOAP #5439:  Job 15; Acts 19-20

SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12  so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts (NIV) 20:20  You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

OBSERVATION:   The church in Ephesus started out of Paul’s teachings in the synagogue.  When they had to leave that location, they moved to the lecture hall.  During that time, he taught them daily and everyone, Jews and Greeks “who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” As Paul was later meeting with the leaders of the Ephesian church, he reminded that he had taught them “publicly and from house to house.” 

Today the church is often recognized by its building.  But that was not the case in the book of Acts.  The church was not recognized by its building but by its teaching and preaching of the Word of the Lord.  And it was recognized by miracles of healing and deliverance in the name of Jesus.    

The preaching and teaching of the Word of God accompanied by healings and miracles was the key for starting churches and church growth in the book of Acts. 

APPLICATION:  We need the Holy Spirit anointing today in sharing the word and believing for miracles.  

PRAYER:  Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit and anoint us to preach and believe for miracles.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 23, 2024: SOAP #5438:  Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 17:2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said.

OBSERVATION:  Paul understood the nature of God.  God is perfectly holy and cannot ignore sin.  How does a perfectly Holy God deal with sinful man in a way that fulfills His love?   Paul understood:  Jesus Christ HAD TO SUFFER!   For God to satisfy the love He has for man, Jesus Christ HAD TO SUFFER the full penalty of sin.  For man to be able to enter into an intimate relationship with God, Jesus Christ HAD TO SUFFER!

APPLICATION:  Now I better understand the nature of God, the nature of man, and the nature of sin.  For a Holy God to be able to express His Love to Leon, Jesus Christ HAD TO SUFFER!

How thankful I am that the Father so loved me that He was willing to send His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for me.  How reasonable it is for me to commit myself fully to Jesus for what He did for me.  I am so thankful that the pain and the death on the cross was not the end, but He rose from the dead and is now seated at the Father’s side and that He lives in me by His Spirit!   Death was not the end for Jesus and it will not be the end for me!

PRAYER:  Lord, how can I say thanks for the love you have shown to me.  You took my place and paid for my sins.  I want my life to be a visible expression of my appreciation.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 22, 2024: SOAP #5437:  Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

SCRIPTURE: Acts NIV) 16:12 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

OBSERVATION: Through a dream, Paul and those traveling with him had been directed by the Holy Spirit to the province of Macedonia. There probably was no synagogue in the city of Philippi, so they looked by the river for a place where Jews would gather for prayer. The water would be readily available for their ceremonial washing. It might have been a house used for prayers, or just an open-air place with or without a roof. From the few women gathered grew the church to which Paul wrote the letter we have in our Bible—Philippians. church.  We do not go to church; we are the church!  Let’s act like the church. Let’s do what the church does.  Let’s expect the Holy Spirit to work through us wherever we are!

APPLICATION:  I am so glad the church is NOT A BUILDING! The church is people who have Jesus living in their hearts. The church may have regular scheduled times of gathering, but the church meets anytime two believers meet. It may be in a grocery store, at the market, at the post office or gas station. It may be in a hospital around a sick friend.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, thank you for moving through us in times when we are gathered as the church.  But, also move through us in times and places where we would not normally expect you to do so. Keep reminding we that I are the church wherever we are and whatever we may be doing. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 21, 2024: SOAP #5436:  Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

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 the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

OBSERVATION:   We need to be careful to report back to people who have a part in our ministry. This would include the authority which sent us out.  This would include people who have helped carry the financial burden of the ministry.  This would include those who have agreed to pray for our ministry.  Reporting back should be a common thing for grateful people.  It is giving honor where honor is due.  (Romans 13:7)

APPLICATION:  If we really love people, we should want them to know what their prayers and gifts have accomplished.  It gives them opportunity to give praise to God.  It makes them feel like they have a part in the victories.    

PRAYER:  Lord, may it be easy for me to give thanks and honor where it is due.  Holy Spirit keep me aware of this debt.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 20, 2024: SOAP #5435:  Job 6-8; Acts 12

SCRIPTURE:  (NIV) 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.

OBSERVATION:    Peter was in jail.  Sentries at his cell door.  Sleeping between two soldiers, chained with two chains.  Rome had done everything within its power to make sure Peter would be present to meet Herod in the morning. 

BUT GOD did something within His power to make sure Peter would not be meeting with Herod!  

Knowing that Herod had put the Apostle James to death recently might have cause Peter to sleep lightly, but Peter was so sound asleep that the presence of the angel did not wake him.  The angel had to strike Peter on his side to wake him up!

APPLICATION:  When I am in the center of God’s will, and I know that I have been obedient to Him, I can trust Him for the outcome.  I too can sleep. 

God’s wisdom is far greater than mine.  It is wisdom on my part to closely follow and obey Him.  Then it is wisdom on my part to trust Him to work out the problems.  It is wisdom not to run ahead of Him nor to lag behind Him.  If He seems to be moving slow, trust Him.  It is not wise to run ahead of Him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is good to wait on you to send me; you wait with me.  It is good to go where you send me; you go with me.  It is good to arrive when you arrive, because you are already there and you have made the necessary preparations for what you want me to do.  Lord, it is good to be on your team and a part of your ministry.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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