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

December 3: Romans 13-16

Scripture: Romans 15:17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—
19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Observation: Jesus demonstrated the power of the kingdom as he proclaimed the truth of the kingdom. The disciples continued in the same manner and here we see Paul doing likewise. The miracles of Jesus were done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Here we see the same is true of Paul.

Application: The lives and ministries of Jesus and Paul were made effective by the works of the Holy Spirit. How much more I need to be open to the working of the Holy Spirit in my life and ministry. I need Him to speak to me and through me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please keep working with me until I learn to recognize your voice the first time every time. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 2: Romans 9-12

Scripture: Romans 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Observation: We should practice hospitality until we get it right. Saturday I was privileged to drive a bus load of Andover High School students to a location where they served about 200 children presently living in foster homes. The gifts were NOT FOR the children. While the foster parents were kept in a room away from the activity, students accompanied the children as they choose Christmas gifts for their foster families! They would then take the gifts to tables where other students would help wrap the gifts. The children were receiving a wonderful gift—they were being enabled to experience the joy of giving.

Application: Like the children, this Christmas I will only be able to give what I have been given! God will enable me to experience one of His greatest joys—the joy of giving.

Prayer: Lord, may your generosity flow through me, and not just to me! Thank you for sharing with me the joy of giving! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

December 1: Romans 5-8

Scripture: Romans 5: 6 ¶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. …
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Observation: At the perfect time, and while we remained totally helpless, God did what only God could do. He paid the price. Christ gave His life for those who had ignored and broken God’s law.

Application: 1. There have been times when God’s intervention came even before I knew I was going to have a need. God was showing me that He knew what was coming and had it well in hand. I can trust Him!
2. Then there have been times when His help did not come until the very last minute. It was there when I needed it, but not a minute sooner. God was showing me I can trust Him!
3. There have also been times when His help arrived too late for my timing. But as I watched Him at work, I discovered that God is never late. Even when He is late according to my timing, He still has plenty of time to accomplish His plan! Again, God was showing me I can trust Him!

Prayer: Lord, Your timing is always perfect. You not only do the right thing, You do it at the right time. I can trust you!. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 30: Rom 1-4

Scripture: Romans 3:20 Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Observation: The law showed me the requirements of a Holy God, but provided no way for me to obtain such righteousness. God provided righteous for me through the death of His Son, Jesus. His death covers my sins and His Life empowers me to overcome temptation.

Application: With confidence that God will accept the death of His Son as the payment for my sins, I agree with God that I have broken His righteous law and ask forgiveness. In faith that He will do as He has promised, I receive His forgiveness by thanking Him and stating that I surrender to His ownership over my life. I open my life to become His dwelling place. I now enjoy freedom from guilt and His continual presence.

Prayer: Lord, I am blest to have Your forgiveness and enjoy Your Presence! I want my words and actions to show of my appreciation. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 29: 1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

Scripture: 1Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6 ¶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

Observation: There is a difference in who we are. There is a difference in Whose we are! There is a difference in our circumstances. There is a difference in our understanding. SO there should be a difference in how we live. OTHERS are asleep, but let US be awake. Those living in the system of the world are clueless and unaware of what is about to happen. We are alert, or mentally in tune with our circumstances. We live like we understand our priorities.

Application: People listen to what I say and watch how I live. They should be able to see a difference. This world is not my home. I believe Jesus is soon to return! So then I am living to please him, trusting him for direction and provision.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing me out of the kingdom of darkness in to your Kingdom of light. May I live my life in the light as you are in the light! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 28: Matt 28; 1Thes 1-3

Scripture: Matthew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Observation: The women arrived at the tomb expecting to place some spices around the body of Jesus. They probably felt the earth quake on their way to the tomb. They found the stone already rolled away from the entrance. They were given a message by the angel of the Lord. They were reminded of what Jesus had said. They were given an assignment to go tell the disciples. They were terrified, yet filled with great joy. Their emotions were mixed.

Application: There are times when my emotions run the gamut from fear to joy, from high to low, from hot to cold. In those times I need to remain steady by remembering what Jesus has told me, and carry out my assignments.

Prayer: Lord, with the situation in our nation and world, I see the church coming into a season when emotions will be pulled in many directions. Keep me in your word. Keep me steady. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 27: Psalm 125; Matt 26-27

Scripture: Matthew 27:2 Jesus speaks of His crucifixion
verse 12 Jesus speaks of His burial
verse 21 Jesus speaks of His betrayal
verse 31 Jesus speaks of the disciples forsaking Him
verse 32 Jesus speaks of his resurrection!

Observation: This passage of scripture all takes place before Jesus had been arrested. He was well aware what was about to happen. It would not end with His death, but with His resurrection!

Application: The Lord is well aware of what is ahead for me. He knows the hard time that may be ahead. He knows how it will end. He knows it will end in victory!

Prayer: Lord, when it seems there is no way to deal with trouble except to take it head on and go through it, help me remember that you already know how it will end. You already know the victory ahead. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

November 26: Matt 23-25

Scripture: Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:45 "He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Observation: The King, who I cannot see at this time, is judging His servants. He takes personally how I treat those I can see. The King, whose presence may not seem very close, takes personally how I treat those whose presence I cannot miss. Later the Apostle Paul would write, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17)

Application: What I do today will count toward eternity. Everything I do today should be done exactly as I would do it for Jesus, because that is really who I am doing it for!

Prayer: Lord, you will be riding my bus today. You will be looking at me through the eyes of the children. May my words and actions bring joy to your heart. May they be the words and actions you enjoy rewarding. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Generosity

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

November 25: Matt 20-22

Scripture: Matthew 20:13 "But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Observation: When the landowner is generous with his money, he can be joyful in the giving. From what I observe in the USA, when the government is generous with the landowner’s money, he becomes resentful. And so often when the needy receive from the government, they come to expect it as a right owed to them rather than a generous gift for which they are grateful. Government involvement breeds resentment and expectation. Christ teaches generosity and appreciation.

Application: The Lord wants me to be generous with what I have. I can be generous with the money God has given me. I can be generous with the gospel. I can be generous in sharing the truth God reveals to me. I have been blest to be a blessing.

Prayer: Lord, show me some way today to be generous. I want to appreciate your generosity to me by being generous to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

It is good…

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

November 24: Matt 17-19

Scripture: Matthew 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
15 "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

Observation: Peter was right; it had been good for them to be there on the mountain as Moses and Elijah returned for a visit with Jesus. Peter wanted to extend the time on the mountain. He did not want this time to end. But Jesus did not come to the earth to live on a mountain. He came to live among people and pay the price for their sins by dying on a cross! It was good for them to have been there, but it would not have been good for the boy with seizures if they had stayed.

Application: When I walk with Jesus, I walk according to His purposes, not according to what pleases me. I find that when he takes me to a “mountain-top” time he also returns with me to my daily life. It is good for me to get away; it should be good for others that I return.

Prayer: Lord, you brought Sharon and me away for this week; you have been with us; and you will return home with us tomorrow. May our lives be a blessing to others. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!