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

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

Scripture: 2Corinthians 12:9 But He (God) said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)

Observation: Paul had learned that when he relied on his own strength, he could only accomplish what his own strength could endure. But when he relied on God’s strength, he could accomplish what God’s strengths could endure!

Application: In areas I am weak I obviously need to rely on God. But I am finding that even my areas of strength are extremely weak compared to God’s strength! Whether I have to rely on His strength or choose to rely on His strength, I am always further ahead for having done so.

Prayer: Lord, how desperately I need you! Every hour I need you. In every situation I need you. I just need you! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: 2Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Observation: To get his readers to believe him, Paul had just reluctantly given a list of his qualifications. Then he follows with this statement. Here he is saying that his greatest assets are his weaknesses for in them he must depend on Christ. In areas where he is obviously weak, others will have to admit that it was Christ working through him. And Paul wants all the glory from his life to go to his Lord Jesus Christ.

Application: When I do well in an area where I have a natural strength, there can be a tendency for me to take the credit—“look at what I have done!” There can be a tendency for people to give me the credit. But in the areas I am weak—in those areas I have to depend on the Lord. Those who know me have to give the glory to Jesus too. And those who see God working through my weaknesses will be encouraged to believe God to work through their weaknesses.

Prayer: Lord, shine through me. I want others to see what you can do, not what I can do. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: 1Samuel 10:7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
8 Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do. (NIV)

Observation: Samuel had told Saul that the Spirit of the Lord would come powerfully upon him and he would be changed. Then there was freedom for Saul to do whatever his “hand finds to do.” Yet that freedom came with limitations. He was to wait for Samuel seven days when Samuel would bring some specific instructions.

Application: I rejoice in the freedom I have in the Lord! I am free to evaluate situations and do what I believe would best honor Him. But my freedom is within the specific boundaries of His written Word. I am not free to sin and break His commandments. However in areas not covered by the Word, He is with me and I have freedom knowing he will check me if I start to go wrong.
Sometimes my freedom is limited by my circumstances; I seem to be a prisoner of my environment. But my environment can never hold my inner man as a prisoner. I am always free to have a heart of gratitude and an attitude of praise!

Prayer: Lord, I want my freedom to please and honor you. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

It Is Definitely Worthwhile!

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

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

Scripture: 2Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)

Observation: In this verse Paul is ending his teaching on giving. It was the indescribable gift that motivated Paul. Paul’s high values of what God had given him caused him to willingly and joyfully give his life for the gospel.

Application: My value of what God has given me helps set my level of giving. The more I value what God has given me, the more I am willing to give. The more I value what God has given me, the more I am willing to endure any hard times that come my way!

Prayer: Lord, it is worthwhile serving you! It is worth any struggle. It is worth giving my best and giving up what I may like best. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: 2Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. (NIV)

Observation: There had been a drought in Jerusalem. Before this letter was written; those in the Corinthian church had agreed to give some money to help the people in Jerusalem. Paul would soon pass through Corinth. He encouraged them to prepare their gift and invited some of their congregation to accompany him in taking their gift to Jerusalem.

Two criteria are given in this verse for givers. First they must be willing. They were not being manipulated to give. Second they must have money available to give. This is not “going into debt” giving. They were not being asked to put it on a credit card. This was to be giving from what they had.

Application: My giving is an expression of appreciation for what the Lord has already given me. (Tithing is based on 10% of what I have received, not what I do not have.) I may give sacrificially by choosing to live on less in order to give more. I may make a promise to give in the future from what the Lord provides in the future, but my giving is to come from what I have, not what I do not have. I see this principle applying to Christmas gifts as well as gifts to the church and various ministries.

Prayer: Lord, my giving is an expression of my love for you. May I give willingly and generously from what I have as you have given to me from what you have. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: 2Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (NIV)

Observation: Most of us do not consider sorrow something good, but it can be the road out of trouble. Godly sorrow takes responsibility for our actions and seeks forgiveness. Worldly sorrow blames others and refuses to take ownership. It is not our fault. Someone else made us do it. We are sorry we got caught or for the results that came our way, but not because we did it.

Application: It is wonderful that God is so willing to forgive and restore friendship with us. For me to receive His forgiveness, I have to take responsibility for what I have done. When I cannot admit that I have sinned, I cannot experience the joy of His forgiveness and restoration.

Prayer: Lord, I know that you are the only One who can truly forgive and remove the guilt of sin. I want to be quick to apologize, to be quick to admit that I have sinned. 1John 1:9 says that if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

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

Scripture: Psalm 65:4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. (NIV)

Observation: As a little boy I remember hoping to be chosen to play on a team with my friends. Later I remember wanting to be chosen to play football. I remember the joy of being chosen to sing in the Revivaltime Choir when I was in college. How special that Sharon accepted my clumsy proposal and chose me to be her husband. But by far the greatest joy/privilege was to be chosen by God!

Application: He chose me because He loved me—and oh how He loves me! He loved me and chose me when I really did not know how to love Him back. God did not choose me because of my strengths, but because of my weaknesses. He chose me to be His servant when I really did not know how to serve. He chose me not for me to use my strength and wisdom to work for Him, but so that His strength and wisdom would be seen as He works through me.

Prayer: Lord, oh how you love me! Teach me how to love You and others in return. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 5: Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2Corinthians 5

Scripture: Ruth 1:6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. (NIV)

Observation: Naomi’s husband had moved from Israel to Moab during a time of famine. Her sons had married. Her husband and her sons died and now she was left alone with her daughters-in-law. But without the help of radio or television news stations good news had come to Moab. The famine in Israel was over! Naomi decided to go home!

Application: When God does something good for me, it is good to let others know. When I hear of God doing something good for others I get to pass along the news. God does not depend on radio or television or even the internet. God depends on people to pass along His good news. He depends on me.

Prayer: Lord, send someone my way today who needs to hear some of Your good news. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 4: Judges 19-21; 2Corinthians 4

Scripture: 2Corinthians 4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (NIV)

Observation: Here is the purpose of our physical bodies. They are to reveal the life of Jesus. As we die to our desires, we become alive to His desires and our body becomes an avenue to express His life rather than ours. Many times it is the difficult things we experience that get the attention of others. They too experience difficulties and they respond in anger, frustration, etc. When we face the same troubles and respond differently, they become aware that we have a something different in our life.

Application: The life of Jesus will be seen in me as I respond in the same way He would respond to the circumstances surrounding me. If I depend on myself, I will fail. But if I follow His lead, He will help me succeed. It is not what happens to be, but how I follow Him in responding to what happens to me.

Prayer: Lord, it is obvious to me that I need you! Speak to me, as only You know how, and direct my responses today. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

April 3: Judges 17-18; Psalm 89; 2Corinthians 3

Scripture: 2Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (NIV)

Observation: Paul had just claimed that the people of the church in Corinth were the proof of his ministry. Then he quickly acknowledges that success was not because of their skills, but totally because of their dependence on God.

Application: Today I will depend less on me and more on the Spirit of God living in me. Today I will be less stressed. Today I will be more confident that I will succeed because I have more faith in God’s ability than my ability. I will be more humble, knowing that success did not come because of my intelligence or my skills. Today my life will become a living expression of the Life of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I want to live my life depending on you so that others can see you instead of me. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!