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

October 23: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

Scripture: Acts 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!

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

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 22: Job 11-12; Acts 15-16

Scripture: Acts 16:25 ¶ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.

Observation: From the context we know that Paul and Silas were “severely flogged’ and then put in an “inner cell” with their “feet in the stocks.” Hurting and bleeding backs, in jail with limited movement—so what did they do? They sang songs of praise to God! When God set them free, “everybody’s chains came loose!”

Application: God is not only interested in doing things in me, but also through me! He is not only interested in my freedom, but the freedom of those around me. People who are not willing to use their freedom to help others become free, will in the end, loose their own freedom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the freedom you have given me to know you and worship you. Today, use me to help others to enjoy that same freedom! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 21: Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

Scripture: Acts 13:29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
30 But God raised him from the dead…

Observation: The enemies of Jesus had done all they could do. They had put him to death and buried him. They could not do more than that! BUT GOD was not through!

Application: When it seems the enemy has done his best to destroy me, I can still rejoice; God is not through with me yet!!! The best is yet to come!

Prayer: Lord, “But God…” what wonderful words to consider, especially when I am going through tough times. You are always more than enough. With you, all things end in victory! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 20: Job 6-8; Acts 12

Scripture: Acts 12:7 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.
9 Peter followed him out of the prison…
10 They 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…
12 …he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Observation: The church was not writing letters. The church was not picketing Herod’s palace. The church was not carefully planning what they might to do bring about Peter’s release from prison. The church was PRAYING! It is not wrong to write letters. It is not wrong to picket. It is not wrong to make careful plans. BUT it is wrong if we do not do pray!

Application: On November 6, 2012, citizens of the United States will go to vote. Voting is not just a privilege, it is our duty. BUT our faith is not in our vote, but in our God! Join me in making the voting booth a prayer booth. If you are able, bow on your knee and pray for 15-20 seconds before casting your vote.

Prayer: Lord, help us to honor you by prayerfully fulfilling our duty to vote. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Important!

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

October 19: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11

Scripture: Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

Observation: Peter, a Jew, had been obedient to the Holy Spirit. He crossed a prejudiced barrier and entered the house of a gentile. There is no indication that Peter knew what he was to do, or what was to happen. But his obedience in going was all that was needed. While he was speaking, the Gentiles experienced the Holy Spirit the same as the Jews had on the Day of Pentecost!

Application: There is no way to over emphasize the importance of obedience! When I obey and do what I can do, I open the door for the Holy Spirit to do what He can do!!! Obedience to God opens the door for the Holy Spirit to move in my environment.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I pray that you always find me ready and willing to obey your direction. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 18: Job 3-4; Acts 8-9

Scripture: Acts 9: 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

Observation: The Lord tells Ananias to go to see Saul, but Ananias starts to tell God just how bad this Saul really is. Is Ananias thinking that God does not really understand who Saul is? Does Ananias think that God needs his evaluation of this man?

Application: While driving in Wichita, I had asked God what I might do to bring in additional finances. I turned the corner and saw a school bus with a big sign, “Drivers Wanted.” I heard the Lord say, “You can drive a school bus.” My response, “I don’t think so!” After all, I have an irregular heartbeat. Now the only restriction on my bus driving is a requirement for an annual physical instead of one every two years.
I wonder how many other times God has given me directions only to have me give him some information he might not know! Duh! Who do I think I am? Who do I think He is?

Prayer: Lord, I need never second guess you. I can trust that you know everything needed in order to give correct directions for my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 17: Job 1-2; Acts 6-7

Scripture: Acts 7: 5 He gave him (Abraham) no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.

6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.

7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterwards they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’

Observation: Although God’s promise to Abraham about having a son (Isaac) was fulfilled to Abraham and Sarah, much of God’s promise was not completed in Abraham’s lifetime. Abraham lived in a tent (a temporary dwelling) while in the Promised Land. It was not until the Israelites had spent 400 years in Egypt that God gave the Israelites the cities and fields in the land of Israel.

Application: I believe God is as faithful today to fulfill His promises as he was in the days of Abraham and his descendants. Things God spoke to me in my late teens were not fulfilled until I was in my late 20’s. What God told me in my mid twenty’s came to pass in my forty’s. Things God started in my late teens are being completed today. Some things will be fulfilled in my son’s life. Some of the messages God has spoken to the churches I pastored are still awaiting complete fulfillment.

Prayer: Lord, help me to faithfully pass on the promises you have given to me. I pray for those, who will remain when I am gone, to receive the promised blessings. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 16: Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Scripture: Acts 5: 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men
Acts 5:38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Observation: From among the religious leaders who wanted to put the apostles to death came a word of wisdom. If what the apostles were preaching was of man, it would soon die out. But if it was of God, they would never be able to stop it!

Application: When speaking for the Lord, it is important that I say what God is saying. When I give my own wisdom, or worldly counsel, God is not committed to bring it about. It will soon die out. But when I speak His words, He stands behind them to accomplish His purpose.

Prayer: Lord, I dedicate my mouth to you. Use it to communicate your message to the people around me. May people be blest to hear your words. May you receive the glory. And may I have the joy of being useful. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 15: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

Scripture: Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Observation: Peter and John had just been released from prison with a strong warning not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. They were now back with the church. In prayer they did not ask for the persecution to stop, but for boldness to continue speaking.

Application: So often today I hear prayers and prayer requests for God to make things go easier. We are often more interested in our comfort than in God’s glory. If our priority is God’s glory, we can trust Him with the things that concern us, either to remove them or give us the strength to go through them.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray for God’s glory. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 14: Nehemiah 11-12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture: Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

Observation: In the temple, there were set times for people to gather to pray.

Application: God is so available that I can talk to him anywhere and at any time. Yet, God is so important that there should be set times I stop just to spend with him. Also, other people are so important to God that there should be set times I gather with them to talk with him. In the set times of prayer, I usually pray for what is important, sometimes I even have a written list of people and things. In spontaneous times of prayer, I usually pray for urgent things that are pressing on me in the moment. In all times of prayer I can worship him for who he is and praise him for what he has done!

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the church calling me to times of prayer. Thank you for meeting with me each morning. And Lord I thank you for walking and talking with me throughout each day. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!