Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 07, 2024: SOAP #5300:  Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

OBSERVATION:  The reason for Paul being a prisoner, not of Rome, but of Christ Jesus…the reason is given at the end of chapter 2.  It is that Gentiles are now as much a part of God’s holy temple as are the Jews. 

Paul was assigned to preach to the Gentiles and to make sure everyone knew that it was always God’s plan to include the Gentiles. 

Because the Gentiles are an integral part of the plan of God, Paul has become not only a prisoner of Rome, but also of the Lord Jesus Christ!  His life was not his own.  His choices were not his own.  God had given him understanding and appointed him a minister to the Gentiles. 

APPLICATION:  It is so logical to see myself as a prisoner of Jesus.  First:  when I realize Who He is—the Creator of the Universe.  It is foolish not to do His bidding. 

Second:  when I consider what He did for me—dying for me on a cruel cross to pay the price for my sins.  How can I not surrender to such love! 

Third:  being His servant means I am a part of the great endeavor planned from the creation of the earth to be fulfilled in a great celebration in heaven!   It is good to be a part of something so much bigger than me! 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are not some God that is far out of my reach.  You are God who loves me and shares this life I live.  You are ever close.  You are a part of every decision I must make.  You protect me from my foolishness.  Like Paul, I am your prisoner, held by your love. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 06, 2024: SOAP #5299:  Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45: Ephesians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,…
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

OBSERVATION:  The reason for the dead state of those in Ephesus was THEIR sins.  They had no reason to blame anybody else. 

Oh, the helplessness of being dead and not even being aware of their lost estate nor of an eternity without God.  And, even if somehow, they could be aware, they would be helpless to do anything about it!  

The helplessness of verse one helps us to appreciate the great love, and mercy, and grace we find in verses four and five!!!  

APPLICATION:  The Gospel has two very important truths to be proclaimed:  the truth about sin and its results, AND the truth about God’s forgiveness provided through Jesus’ death on the cross. 

If people only understand the first truth, life becomes meaningless and full of unanswered questions.  If people only focus on the second truth, they may consider what Jesus did as no big deal.  They do not appreciate the terribleness of sin. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me appreciate the terribleness of sin.  Help me to see why such a terrible price had to be paid to set me free from sin.  AND help me appreciate the great victory over sin won for me on the cross.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 05, 2024: SOAP #5298:  Proverbs 30-31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 1:19 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21.  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

OBSERVATION:  This is where Christ is today!  Today, at this moment He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.  He has completed his assignment and is seated!  He has returned from the war victorious and given the place of honor.  He has returned from the earthly realms and is now seated in the heavenly realms.

At this moment, He is far above all rule.  There are no rulers nor are there any set of rules above Him!  There is no authority higher than His authority!  There is no power, there is no system of power above Him!  Throughout this age and all ages to come, His name is above all other names and titles.  He stands alone in total authority.  He stands alone in pre-eminence!

He is the head of the body, His church, and all things are under His feet, which is the lowest part of His body.  Therefore, anyone in His body is above everything not in His body!

Jesus is not just above; He is far above!  There is no comparison. We do not need a micrometer to measure His supremacy for it is clearly obvious to all.  Some races end in a photo-finish; other races end with the winner far out in front.  With Jesus there is no photo needed.  He is clearly above everyone and everything else!

APPLICATION:  Being seated with him, we too are “far above.”  Ephesians 2:6   So, let’s live like this is true.  Let’s talk like this is true.  Let’s see things from heaven’s point of view!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, when I get bothered about things around me, bring to my memory the truth in this SOAP.  Remind me that my King, King Jesus, is far above anything that bothers me!  Remind me that I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 04, 2024: SOAP #5297:  Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 60:9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. 12 With God we shall gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

OBSERVATION:  Israel had sinned, and God had rejected their call for help.  They learned that they could not depend on man like they once depended on God.   Here the psalmist is saying that the help they had gotten from man was worthless.   They needed God, for God’s help is more than sufficient!

APPLICATION:  When I put too much expectation on people, often something happens that shows me the truth of this scripture. 

When my trust is in the Lord, and He may use a person to help me, I can rejoice.  I can give God glory and give thanks to those God used to help. 

But if help does not come from the source I expect, I can still rejoice.  God has never run out of ways to help me!   Remember, when there was no man available to provide, God rained manna from heaven for 40 years! …on 6 million Jews!! …in the wilderness!!!  With the Psalmist I can say, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)

PRAYER:  Lord, You are the only one I can depend on without being disappointed. Stop me if I begin to pressure people to help me; doing so is proof that I am not trusting you.  You are my ever-present source of help. Amen

Note:  for those printing out the SOAPs, when you run out of paper and/or ink and have no money to buy more, tell God, “We have gone as far as we can go.  We rejoice in what You have enabled us to do.  We will continue as we are able.  Now we wait on you.  The SOAP ministry is Your ministry, so we look to you.  Amen.”  If people ask about when they will get their copy of the SOAP, tell them it is God’s ministry, and we are awaiting His provision!   We should not be surprised to find God multiplying supplies as He did the bread and fish. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 03, 2024: SOAP #5296:  Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 15:29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

OBSERVATION:  Paul was on his way to Jerusalem to take some help for the poor saints that he had gathered from his ministry in Macedonia and Achaia. (vs. 25-26)  After delivering the gift Paul’s plans were to stop in Rome on his way to Spain.  His plans were interrupted in Jerusalem and in a Roman court appealed to Caesar.  Then the Roman government provided his transportation to Rome. 

In doing the will of God, Paul knew that God was with him and working through him.  He had the “full measure of the blessings of Christ!”   Whether supporting himself by making tents in Corinth, or in a Roman jail, I see Paul living and working and ministering with this confidence!   He received support from some churches, but he did not depend on them nor try to convince them to give…he had “the full measure of the blessings of Christ!”   

APPLICATION:  In writing the SOAPs, I have this confidence.  I am doing what I am convinced is the will of God for me.  This ministry is for His glory.  It is His assignment for me.  This ministry has “the full measure of the blessing of Christ.” 

Whatever our lot in life (wealthy or poor), or our assignment (government official or mother at home), or our age, or relationships, we should take our place as being God’s assigned will for our lives and we should perform our service/ministry in “the full measure of the blessing of Christ.”  We are working for HIM and trusting HIM to give direction and provision. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I can count on Your empowering to do what You have assigned me to do.  I am not responsible for those things outside of my reach.  I am responsible to say and to do as Your Spirit leads.  I am responsible to trust You.  Once I have obeyed You, it is in Your hands!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 02, 2024: SOAP #5295:  Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one   another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling-block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.

OBSERVATION:  What wonderful freedoms we have in Jesus.  Yet in these verses, Paul gives two very important limitations on our freedoms. 

First is my own conscience.  I should not do what I believe is wrong, no matter what others are doing.  Why would I do something I believe would be offensive to God? 

Second is doing what would be a stumbling block to a brother or sister in the Lord.  If I know my actions would be a cause for someone to be tempted to turn away from the way God is leading them, I should refrain from exercising my freedom.

APPLICATION:  In this chapter, Paul mentions two areas where this is applicable:  in verse 5, he talks about what days we worship, and in verse 14 he deals with eating clean or unclean food.  In 1Corinthians 8 Paul deals with foods that have been to an idol. 

If Paul was writing this today surely, he would have added several issues: styles of worship and styles of clothing.  What freedoms we have in Christ, yet we can easily hurt others. 

What is needed is not more laws to limit our freedoms, but more love for one another.  It is a loving thing to sacrifice one’s freedom in love for another.

PRAYER:  Lord, make me aware of how I may be offensive to someone you love dearly.  Use me to encourage and strengthen them and not push them away.  And, Lord, help me be mature enough to not be easily offended.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 01, 2024: SOAP #5294:  Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

(reworked from 2012)

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 13:9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

OBSERVATION:  One could say that the law was given to us to protect our neighbors from evil in our hearts.  

The law does not judge our thoughts, but the actions that may come from those thoughts.  When the Spirit of God lives inside, He helps us control our inner thoughts which are the stimulation for our outward actions.  With the Spirit of God living inside, we no longer need the law controlling our outward actions.

APPLICATION:  The Spirit of the Loving and Holy God living within me now works on the inside.  I do not have to focus on the law that says, “do not commit murder.”  The Spirit works on my thoughts and helps me love the one I once wanted to kill.  The Holy Spirit helps me lovingly give to the one from whom I once wanted to steal.   His work on the inside helps me fulfill the law on the outside .

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, how I appreciate your presence!  Without you I would be unable to live a life that pleases my Heavenly Father.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 31, 2024: SOAP #5293: Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5  so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7-8   If it is serving … teaching … encouraging … contributing to the needs of others … leadership … showing mercy … .

OBSERVATION:  God’s grace has given each one a gift, or gifts, and made us useful to the body.  If our gift was the same as everyone else, there might not be opportunity to be used, but the scripture says we all have “different” gifts.  It is the difference that makes us valuable.  Sometimes it is being flexible. 

APPLICATION:  If I administer my gift/s with diligence, I will be used. I may get tired of being used, but I must train myself to see that if I am being used, I must be useful.  Being useful is so much better than being useless!  Let me write that again:  being useful is so much better than being useless!!!

PRAYER:  Jesus, use me; O Lord don’t refuse me. Surely there’s a works that I can do. And even though it’s humble, help my will to crumble. Though the cost be great, I’ll work for you.   Amen.

Personal note:  Today the Lord had me live out these thoughts before I read the above SOAP from the past.  We are spending most of this week at a church camp.  Today, I ate lunch early so that I could help by washing the pots and pans used to prepare and serve lunch.  But when I arrived at the sink, I was told I was not needed, others would be coming to do that work.  As I walked away, I saw my wife working with the laundry, so I made myself useful by helping to wash and dry and fold and store the aprons, towels, etc. used in the kitchen.  After that I came to our room to prepare tomorrow’s SOAP.  Most of the time God gives me the lesson before having me take the test, but today He had me take the test, and then explained the lesson.  My “gift” today was not the ability to wash pots and pans, but the willingness to be flexible and have a good attitude with the change.  It was a gift of seeing how I could be useful.  😊

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 30, 2024: SOAP #5291: Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

OBSERVATION:  What a statement of the matchless wisdom of God.  His wisdom is perfect, so He is perfect in judgment.

What causes the writer to make such a glorious statement of the character and judgments of God? 

The preceding verse:  32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Every person alive has been born with a nature bent toward sinning.  All have sinned! (Rom 3:23)  But the all-glorious God demonstrated His love and wisdom in providing a way to be free from the sin-nature and free from the punishment of sin.  Available to all is the forgiveness and redeemed nature provided through the cross of Jesus!  

APPLICATION:  Through accepting the death of Jesus on the cross as the payment for our sins and placing Him as the Lord of our lives, we receive forgiveness for sins and a new life in Christ Jesus.  We receive the promise of a glorious home in heaven.  

PRAYER:  Oh, the depths of your riches of wisdom and knowledge, Oh, God!   Though undeserving, you have made me your child and given me an eternal home with you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 29, 2024: SOAP #5291: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

OBSERVATION:  It is a coordinated operation.  We are not saved by our works, but when God enters a person’s life, it will bring change.  It is impossible for the Lord of all creation to enter one’s life and there be no change!  

The “first work” or expression of salvation is a confession of Jesus as Lord.  It may be expressed as a “Thank you, Jesus!”  But once we experience His presence, we must set Him as the Lord of our lives.  That is His rightful place because of who He is and because of what He has done!  

APPLICATION:  We enter into a new life.  We enjoy the clean feeling as our sins are forgiven.  We enjoy His presence.  We learn to depend on His leading in decisions we need to make. 

In some ways, nothing has changed; we still weigh the same, we still have the same height and go by the same name.  But in other ways, everything has changed!   We look at the world as He sees it.  We live our lives as we believe would please Him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what a joy it is to have you in my life.  It is exciting to know that I face the future with you, not only life here, but life in eternity!    I want you to enjoy our relationship as much as I will.   Amen 

Pastor Leon
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