SOAP from Pastor Leon

September 23: Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Observation: So much of my satisfaction with life is based on my expectations. When life does not meet my expectations I am disappointed. When life exceeds my expectations I am happy. This verse tells me to place my expectations on God and His eternal rewards. To expect a good return on what I do in this life many times leads to disappointment. But to expect a good reward from the Lord in heaven—now that is a different story!

Application: I should to do good to those around me just because it is the right thing to do, even to those who stand against me. And I should do it without expecting anything in return. But I should never think that my good deeds go unnoticed nor will be un-rewarded! The Lord sees and He is the Ultimate Rewarder!

Prayer: Lord, keep reminding me that what I do for others I am really doing for you and that you are the Ultimate Rewarder! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Observation: Jesus had told them to let down their nets even though they had fished all night and caught nothing. They were probably not too excited about doing it, but because Jesus said so they did it. In verse 6 we read the results of their obedience. In verse 7 we see the importance of having good friends nearby. They needed help in handling the nets full of fish.

Application: There are times when I need friends nearby to help me, and other times when I need to be the friend ready to help. I wonder what it will be today?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a friend to others as others have been friends to me. Amen.

September 22: Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 4:3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
Luke 4:9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.

Observation: The devil’s temptation of Jesus had to do with Jesus’ identity. If he could make Jesus think that his identity was in question, he could get Jesus to perform some act proving that He was really God. But Jesus had come to earth to live as a man, to be tempted as a man, to suffer as a man, and to die as a man. He lived a sinless life and did not deserve to die. Having no sins for which he must die, his death is received as payment for my sins! Wow!

Application: The devil strikes at my identity too. “Leon, if you really were a child of God you would not be having these problems.” But my identity is established in God’s Word! God’s Word lives in me and I live in the Word. His Word reassures me that I am His child.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit who lives in me. Thank you for the assurance that I am your child. I rejoice that my identity is not determined by my circumstances, but by YOU and your Word! Amen.

September 21: Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 3: 1 ¶ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Observation: I like to read about God speaking to specific people at specific times. I like to read about historical people that were present in the world at the specific time God spoke. God is not separate from history, but wraps himself within the context of human existence. The Bible is not about people and places no one has ever seen or known. In the Bible we read of God being involved in the daily lives of real historical people.

Application: I can tell my son and granddaughter of the specific times and places God has spoken to me. My history is a story of God being involved in my daily life. God is wrapped in my history.

Prayer: Lord, as this day moves into history may I look back and see that you have wrapped yourself in all the events of today! Amen.

September 20: Daniel 5-6; Psalm; Luke 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Luke 2: 1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Observation: As we are less than 50 days from the Presidential Election in the USA, taxes are a major issue of discussion. I can imagine that there was a lot of discussion among the Israelites about this new tax. They were even required to return to their home town to register. What an imposition and interruption in their work schedules. But I doubt that any of their discussions included the BIG PICTURE! The Old Testament prophet, Micah (5:2), prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem! This taxation was bad news for everyone, but it brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem!

Application: More than once I have seen God take something I did not like and make it work out for my good, even making it an important part of His plan for my life!

Prayer: Lord, you are amazing! You are totally capable of working all things—even bad things, together for my good and your glory! Amen.

September 19: Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Ezekiel 46: 9 "‘When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out by the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out by the north gate. No-one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out by the opposite gate.

Observation: God was giving instructions through Ezekiel as to worship on their feast days. As there would be many people coming to the temple to present their offerings, there would need to be an orderly procession. Those entering from through the north gate should progress on through and exit by the south gate.

Application: An obvious application for me today is that I should not leave the church returning the way I entered. I should leave differently. I am changed in His presence and should not return the same way I came.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all the times you have changed me as I joined others in your presence. I entered discouraged, but left encouraged. I entered feeling week and sickly, but left feeling strong and healthy. I entered wondering how things would ever work out, but left in wonder of your awesome power and provision! Amen.

September 18: Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 22:11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

Observation: Many people live as though the sun will always come up in the morning and there will always be a tomorrow.

Application: I should live my life as though there will be no tomorrow. I need to do things right as there may not be time to correct them tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord, I know you are coming soon and I need to keep myself ready. Amen.

September 17: Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Observation: In the previous chapter we were told that those whose names ARE NOT written in the “book of life” were “thrown in the lake of fire.” In this chapter we see what is prepared for those whose names ARE in this book. Wow!

Application: Having the name “Ernest Leon Hiebert” in the “Book of Life” is of major importance! Knowing that it is there is a source of great peace and joy!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for making provisions for me to be born again. Thank you for writing my name in the “Book of Life!” Amen.

September 16: Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
Revelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Observation: Before God’s throne there are no distinctions. Great and small will stand side by side. There are books recording our actions from which we will be judged. But there is a much more important book—the book of life. No one will be found acceptable according to the works written in the books. The only ones found acceptable for entrance into heaven are those whose name is written in the book of life—those whose names are not “blotted out” of the book of life. (Rev 3:5)

Application: The priority of this life is to make sure my name is written in the book of life. I have done that by accepting the death of Jesus on the cross as the payment for my sins. He is my Savior! I do that every day by thinking, talking, and acting in a way that honors Him. He is my Lord!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins and being the Lord of my life. Amen.

September 15: Ezekiel 38-39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 19:11. I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself.
13. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Observation: There are many portraits of Jesus in the Bible, but in these verses we have His final portrait. The one once lying in a manger is now seated on a white horse. The son of Mary is now the Commander-in-Chief. His words which were gracious are now a sharp sword. The gentle man who blest little children is now the dispensing God’s wrath. The one followed by twelve fishermen is now followed by the armies of heaven! The suffering sacrifice is now the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

Application: This is my Jesus. This is the one I love and Who loves me! I want my thoughts, my decisions, my words, and my actions to reveal to the world how honored I am to have Him as my Lord!

Prayer: Lord, you are worthy; I worship you! Amen.

September 14: Ezekiel 36-37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!