Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 24, 2023: SOAP #5104: Matthew 17-19

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus touched them AND spoke to them.  We see the ministry of touch, and the ministry of words.  Both are so important!   The Holy Spirit will flow through us in both.

The ministry of touch emphasizes PRESENCE.  There are times when that ministers more than words.  A touch can say, “I am here for you,” or “I am with you.”  It can say, “I do not know what to say, but I love you and I am here.”

The ministry of words ministers in two ways.  First is the message that the words convey, which can range from comfort to correction, from encouragement to exhortation.  Second is the manner in which the words are spoken—the tone of voice.  The tone of voice can minister tenderness or sternness, patience or persistence.

APPLICATION:  Even without consciously thinking about it, I will be using these two ministries today.  I will be greeting friends with hugs and words of friendship.  I will not know the hurt behind the smile or the pain underneath the hug.  I need to be aware when the Holy Spirit wants it to be more than just a general greeting.  I want them to sense His presence in me and to hear His words from lips.   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, touch through me today.  Speak through me to those needing encouragement and comfort. Impress on my thoughts words and ideas that will best minister to those to whom I am speaking.    Amen

Pastor Leon
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Note:  Please pray for Pastor Andrew Borbor in Sierra Leone.  He has been improving from the personal attack and robbery he suffered sometime back.  This past week he developed severe headaches and is back in the hospital awaiting brain surgery.  The doctors have finally been paid to do the surgery, but now they want the family to provide five units of blood before they do the surgery!  I believe this all is an attack from the evil one to rob the Kingdom of an anointed minister and to send his family into poverty.  Please join me in prayer for a miracle.  I am praying that God’s obvious involvement in Pastor Andrews recovery will strengthen his ministry and be a testimony to God’s miraculous power.   Amen

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 23, 2023: SOAP #5103: Matthew 14-16

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 15:25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 22, this woman is identified as from Caanan (non-Jew) yet she recognized that Jesus could help her daughter.  She, being a Gentile mother willing to go among people who would not accept her, came to Jesus.  Jesus said that what she requested was the children’s bread, not to be tossed to dogs.  Her great love for her daughter and her great faith in Jesus combined into a resolve in her heart that would not be offended!  

Jesus gave her the children’s bread! He healed her daughter that very hour!!!  

APPLICATION:  From Jesus words, we can see that healing can be considered the children’s bread.  His death purchased our salvation, making us God’s children and it is “by his stripes we are healed!”  (Isaiah 53:5; 1Peter 2:24

Reading through the Gospels it is easy to see that healing was a major emphasis in the ministry of Jesus.  Reading through the book of Acts it is easy to see that the ministry of healing is to continue in the church. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, we are your children.  Walking with you is walking in your protection and provision.  We joyfully claim the “children’s bread” you have for us.  May our faith and love mix into a resolve that we too will not be denied.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 22, 2023: SOAP #5102: Matthew 11-13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 13:14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

OBSERVATION:  The gospel message is to be a hearing AND seeing message.  Jesus not only taught messages that people could hear, He did miracles that people could see!  Sometimes His miracles provided an opportunity to teach, and sometimes His teaching led to faith for a miracle.  But they were always together.  (Matthew 11:4-5; and as you read the Gospels take note of the many times teaching/preaching and miracles were linked.)

APPLICATION:  It concerns me that in many churches today the “hearing” aspect of the gospel has taken priority over the “seeing” portion of the gospel.  1Corinthians 12:7-11 speak of “seeable” workings of the Holy Spirit that God has given to each of us. 

Understanding the importance of both hearing and seeing, I must make sure my actions line up with my words.  My daily life is witnessed by many people who need Jesus.  My words and my actions might be the only gospel message they will receive. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the balance between your words and your actions as you walked on earth.  You are my example.  The same Holy Spirit that led you now leads me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 21, 2023: SOAP #5101: Matthew 8-10

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 8:23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

OBSERVATION:  We remember the disciples were seasoned fishermen when Jesus callee them.  They left their nets and boats to follow Him.  They had experienced many storms on the seas, but this one caused fear.  It was a furious storm, and they were alarmed. 

They should have remembered what Jesus said before the teacher offered to follow Him and before the disciple wanted to have time to bury his father.  Jesus had “given orders to cross to the other side of the lake.”  (verse 18)

APPLICATION:  When the Lord showed me to write a SOAP and post it on Facebook New Year’s Day 2010, I thought, “If I do it today, I will need to do it every day this year! Would God give me something every day of the year? Can I trust God for a SOAP thought every day for a whole year?”  After 5,000+ days, I can say, “Yes, God can enable me to do what He tells me to do!” 

The Lord often gives us assignments that are too big for us, but not too big for Him.  When Jesus is “in our boat,” he can take us through any storm we may face.  The key to victory in the storm is having Jesus in my boat.  I cannot move ahead of Him, nor lag behind.  I must keep in step with HIM!  

PRAYER:  Lord, you are the Master of the wind; you are the Peace-speaker.  You are the Trouble-calmer and the Food-multiplier.  You have not given your son or daughter a job that you cannot help us through.  May you receive glory from our obedience.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 20, 2023: SOAP #5100: Matthew 5-7

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 3:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

OBSERVATION:  The ones who make God’s kingdom their priority will find that God makes their needs His priority.

APPLICATION:  Am I struggling to fill my needs (food and clothing)? These are priorities for people in the world. But I am a part of God’s kingdom! Sharon and I have set our lives to make His kingdom our priority. We are finding that God is making our needs His priority. My retirement plan is tithing. Where can I find a better return than the open windows of heaven? (Malachi 3:10)

Verse 32 assures me that my heavenly Father KNOWS my needs.  He also knows that He has given me this promise, along with many others in His Word.  I would be disrespectful to God if I did not trust His promises but began looking elsewhere for my provision.  I need not pressure anyone to meet my need; I have the promise of God!  God may give me a job. He may use others to help, but they will be responding to His leading, not to my begging!    

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you know my needs better than I do. You are more capable of taking care of my needs than I am. How foolish to take the responsibility for my needs out of your care.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 19, 2023: SOAP #5099: Matthew 1-4

(reworked SOAP from 2010)

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

OBSERVATION:  “Jesus was led by the Spirit.”  That sounds good.  But He was led “into the desert.”  That does not sound very good.   Led “to be tempted.”  That is even worse!   “Tempted by the devil.”  Was Jesus really following the Spirit?  Did the Spirit make a mistake? 

This wilderness time was important for laying out the principles by which Jesus would live His life, i.e.  He would live by the word.  He would bow only to His Father God.  And He would not force God to prove that He (Jesus) was the One with God’s favor.

APPLICATION:  When I am in the “desert” I should not immediately think that I have done something wrong.  It may be that I am exactly where God wants me.   Even if God did not specifically lead me into hard times, I can take advantage of them to clearly demonstrate the principles by which I live.  And if the devil had something to do with the difficulties around me, may I so glorify God that the devil ends up saying, “I never want to do that to Leon again.”

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I trust you to lead me, even if it is through tough times.  Guide each word and each action so that others can see Jesus living in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 18, 2023: SOAP #5098: Ps 124, 2Corinthians 11-13

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthinas (NIV) 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “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.

OBSERVATION:  Paul had a problem that irritated him.  Like many people who live in this area say, “It got under his skin.”  It irritated him so much that he prayed, “pleaded with the Lord” to fix it or take it away three times. 

God did not do what the Apostle Paul wanted.  He told Paul that his weaknesses would make opportunity for God’s grace and power to be seen in Paul. 

APPLICATION:  I have heard that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was poor eyesight.  I have also heard that it was the opposition that seemed to follow Paul wherever he went.  But since I believe that this verse was inspired by the Holy Spirit, I believe the specific description of the “thorn” is not important.  It was not included on purpose! 

So, with whatever I am struggling, and with that which God has not answered my prayer for its removal—these are opportunities for God’s strength to be seen through my weakness!   He will take care of the issue in another way that brings Him even more glory!!!  My weakness will showcase His strength!   

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust you to be working even when I do not see you working.  I know you and I know your character!   I trust you to be working through sources of which I am not familiar.  I know your ways are higher than my ways.  Amen   

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 17, 2023: SOAP #5097: 2Corinthians 7-10

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

OBSERVATION:  This is a chapter with blessings for givers.  If one desires the blessings in this chapter, they must become a part of God’s givers. 

It all starts with recognizing that the seed and the bread both come from Him.  He is the supplier of seed and bread.  Bread is for eating and provides the nutrition needed for our personal lives.  Seed is for planting (for giving into God’s ministry) which produces the next harvest.  If the seed is eaten, it will never be more that it was and it will be gone.  But if the seed is planted, it will produce more seed of which a portion can be used for bread and a greater portion for planting. 

APPLICATION:  When I understand the truth of this passage, I realize that it all comes from God.  He may have used the place I am working to provide finances, but I recognize that it all came from HIM!   The seed which becomes bread came from HIM.  It is right to pause before our meals and thank HIM!   The seed which is sown for a future harvest came from HIM.  He will help me understand where to plant His seed. 

When I plant seed (give an offering) I am only giving what He has given me. If the seed is eaten, it will never be more; if the seed is given it will never be less. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, you are the Lord of the harvest (Luke 10:2) You are the one who established seedtime and harvest in the world you created.  You are the LORD of every harvest.  You created a single seed that when planted would grow into a plant with hundreds of seeds.  Take the small seed I am planting in your kingdom today and cause it to multiply for your glory.  Show me where to plant this seed.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 16, 2023: SOAP #5096: 2Corinthians 3-6

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

OBSERVATION:  Paul is writing about the continuation of our life after death.  It may appear that life has been swallowed up by death, but for those who have made Jesus the Lord of their lives and in whom the Spirit dwells it is totally different.  Our temporary physical body which is subject to death is swallowed up by life! 

The Holy Spirit who entered my life when I was born again, the Holy Spirit who flooded my life when He filled me is just a deposit guaranteeing more to come!   To me that says that life in heaven will be a life led by the Spirit and flowing in the full power of the Holy Spirit!     

APPLICATION:  The stirring of the Holy Spirit in my life; the leading of the Holy Spirit in my Bible reading and daily life; the gifts of the Holy Spirit—all these are good indicators of what is coming!   Heaven will surely to be better than what I have now.  The fullness of what is promised is surely greater than the deposit!   The deposit is GREAT!  The fullness will be even GREATER!!!  

PRAYER:  May the Holy Spirits part in my daily life become normal.  May I become very familiar with this Heavenly visitor.  Prepare me for the day when the “deposit” becomes the fullness.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 15, 2023: SOAP #5095: Job 41, 42; 2Corinthians 1, 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

OBSERVATION:  “All our troubles” do not happen when gathered with other believers.  Trouble can come any day, any night.  It may seem that trouble can find us easier than the pastor can find us. 

It is in the classroom of life that we discover that HE is with us and comforts us every day throughout the week.  Then what we have learned and received from God, we can pass along to others in trouble. 

APPLICATION:  When my mom died, and later my dad I began to see the depth of these verses that I had often so quickly passed over.  The Holy Spirit was teaching me in the classroom of life.  It was in walking through the valley that I gained greater understanding of this truth. 

God does not give me comfort like a gift that I can take with me as I go throughout my day!   No, God does not give me comfort; God IS my comfort!  He is not giving me something that will enable me to live without Him.  He is becoming someone that I cannot live without! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, with a heart of gratitude, I give you thanks for walking with me through life, and teaching me.  Holy Spirit, quicken my mind to be able to pass on what You teach me.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
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