Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 05, 2023: SOAP #5085: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.  2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

OBSERVATION:  I believe it is a sign of a true believer who can submit to the body of Christ believing that the Holy Spirit can speak through others in regards to their life and ministry. The flesh wants to believe that God will only reveal to me that which pertains to me.  But God often uses others to bring light to ourselves, even to the most spiritual among us.

APPLICATION:  :  Pride keeps me from listening to others.  I must realize that I am only one part of the body of Christ and not the whole body.  My connection to others is important in my connection to Christ.   If I cannot hear God speak to me through others, I probably cannot hear God speak to me one-on-one.  After all, the hand is connected to the head through the arm and shoulder.  Hmmm. 

It was fourteen years ago that Pastor Dayton (formerly our youth pastor who had been chosen to be the senior pastor) asked me to write some SOAPs as an example for others.  My first reaction:  I did not want to.  It would require changing my personal devotions.  In prayer, God spoke to me, “When Dayton was the youth pastor, he had to do what I said.  Now that he is the senior pastor, I should do what he says!”  Now myself, and everyone who has been blest by the SOAPs can thank God that I was able to hear God speak to me through someone else, Pastor Dayton. 

PRAYER:  Lord, to know that you speak to me adds value to my life.  Knowing that you speak to me through others, keeps me humble and listening to those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 04, 2023: SOAP #5084: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

(reworked from 2010) 

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

OBSERVATION:  The women were headed to serve the One they loved.  They did not have all the answers, but they did not let their unanswered questions stop them from going to the tomb. 

APPLICATION:  If I let fear or unanswered questions stop me, I will never experience the empty tomb.

If I must wait until I have all my questions answered, I will never start.  I must step out in faith that God will take care of the “stones” that are too difficult for me to move.  If I want to experience some “empty tombs” I must be willing to start my journey before I know all the answers.

PRAYER:  Lord, I trust you to know how to take care of the difficulties that lie ahead.     Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 03, 2023: SOAP #5083: Job 25; Mark 13-14

(repeat with changes)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

OBSERVATION:  I see two measurements for faith.  First, we can measure faith by what it accomplishes.  We would say that it takes great faith to move mountains.  

Second, and maybe more importantly, faith can be measured by how long it lasts.  Will it outlast the problem or the trial?  It is bad when our faith is not strong enough, but it is worse when our faith is not long enough.

APPLICATION:  When the trial is over, will I still have my faith?   Hebrews 11:13 speaks of people who were “still living by faith when they died.”  I do not want my faith to die before I do!

Faith is designed by God to carry us through, through trials, through troubles, through sickness and pain, and even through death!   

PRAYER:  Lord, use your Word that I read every day to feed my faith, making it strong enough to face every problem and long enough to outlast every trial.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 02, 2023: SOAP #5082: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:7 When they brought to colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.  8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.  9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”     

OBSERVATION:  We can identify with the crowd.  Daily we see people honoring Jesus in their lives.  Are we excited when we see people honor Jesus?  It is so easy to criticize the way they honor Him, or some flaw in them and not be excited that Jesus is being glorified!  (Note: The people in the verses above were more interested in the ONE on the colt than the colt itself.)   

APPLICATION:  Am I a spectator as others worship, or do I participate by joining in the praise?

Am I passionate about Jesus?  That is the key.  May I be passionate about lifting up Jesus.  May I be passionate about others lifting up Jesus.  May I be passionate about bringing Jesus into my city, into my home, into my work place, into my … 

PRAYER:  Jesus, I rejoice when I see others exalting you.  Even when they do not dress the way I like, or sing the songs I like, or set the lighting the way I like—it blesses me to see you exalted!  As best I can, I want to join them!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 01, 2023: SOAP #5081: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

(Repeated for my sake. God’s assurance that I did something right today.)

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

OBSERVATION:  Consider the changes in perspectives of those involved:
– The children from being shunned to becoming the center of attention.
– The parents from having their most prized possession disregarded to having it greatly valued.  Jesus took time for their child!!! 
– The disciples from trying to protect Jesus from unnecessary distractions to learning his priority. They learned His value of children! 
-Jesus from seeing what he had created in his image being kept from him to not just touching them as requested but giving them a hug.

APPLICATION:  As a school bus driver, I know that children do not have my wisdom and understanding of driving a bus in traffic.  At times I may need to ignore them to safely drive, but I also need to make sure that they know they are valuable.  In fact, they are the reason for the bus and for my job as a driver!  That should be my perspective.  My job was not created to give me an opportunity to earn money.  It was created to provide safe transportation for valuable lives to and from school.  God did not tell me to drive a bus to earn money, but because He loves children; he wants me to love them too. He wants my hands to be an extension of His!   He wants my words to be His. 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me to see things as you see them — especially children.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 31, 2023: SOAP #5080: Job 22; Mark 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

OBSERVATION:  The challenge Jesus gives is not just for His top followers.  It is for every follower.  It is for “anyone” who would come after Him!  He gathered “the crowd” “along with His disciples!”  This was not a special call to disciples, missionaries, and church leaders.  It is a call to be like Jesus! 

APPLICATION:  There will be requirements that we would rather not.  There will be times when we would rather look the other way or pretend that we did not hear.  The wonderful peace and joy we experience in our hearts will be challenged by living in an ungodly world.  Following Jesus is not always easy and pleasant, but it is ALWAYS worth it! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you knew we would have difficulty in living out this challenge so you sent the Holy Spirit to live in us just as He did in Jesus.  Holy Spirit, fill me, lead me, work through me, make me like Jesus.  In His Name I pray, Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2023: SOAP #5079: Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 6:36 [the disciples to Jesus] Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he [Jesus] answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

OBSERVATION:  The assignment of Jesus was obviously too big for them. You feed these five thousand men plus women and children!   It was far beyond their abilities, but not beyond His!    The miracles started with finding out what they had [five loaves and two fish] and bringing it to Jesus.  In His hands the bread and fish multiplied and the disciples were then able to do what He had told them to do: “You give them something to eat!” 

APPLICATION:  Many times, my assignment is far beyond my ability.  I too must take my limited supply and place it in His hands.  His blessing expands the “less than enough” to “more than enough!” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, build my faith to release my “less than enough” into your hands.  I trust that from your storehouse of “more than enough” you will meet the need you have led me to encounter.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 29, 2023: SOAP #5078: Job 20; Mark 3-4

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 3:1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

OBSERVATION:  The religious leaders were closely watching Jesus.  They watched with purpose, to have a reason to accuse Jesus. 

But they were not the only ones watching.  Jesus was also watching!  He saw someone hurting.  He saw a shriveled hand. He saw a need that He could meet. 

Acts 10:38 says Jesus “went around doing good.”  He watched for opportunities to do good. 

APPLICATION:  Jesus is still looking for opportunities to “do good.”  He is looking for people through whom He can “do good.”  May I look for opportunities to “do good.”  Wherever I go.  It is not so much looking for what I can do, but for what He wants to do through me.  He will multiply the little I can do to accomplish what He can do!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, I know my limitations prevent me from meeting all the needs around me, so I need you to draw my attention to the needs you will meet through me.  Jesus, You are the Limitless One.  Speak through me and touch through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 28, 2023: SOAP #5077: Job 19; Mark 1-2

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 2:16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

OBSERVATION:  To the religious leaders, they were only “sinners and tax collectors.”  But to Jesus, they were so much more.  They were potential believers.  They were potential testimonies.  They were worthy of His time.  They were the reason He was on earth.  Of course, He would go to their homes. 

APPLICATION:  I must be careful not to think of people as useless or outside the circle of God’s grace.  Everyone within my circle of influence, everyone who can see me, everyone who can hear me are potential followers of Jesus. 

The reason some people are not following Jesus may not be because they have refused Him; it may be that no one has shared the good news with them!  May there be no one in my circle of influence of whom that is true!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, the Word (Acts 1:8) promises that when I am full of you, I will be a witness.  May I be so full of you that it will be impossible for everyone not to see Jesus living in me.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 27, 2023: SOAP #5076: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 28:7 [Shipwrecked on the island of Malta] There was an estate near by that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island… 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured…
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there [in Rome, awaiting his trial] in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:  The limitations Paul experienced provided their own unique opportunities for ministry.  Being limited as a prisoner, Paul ministered to his guards.  Being limited on a ship, he ministered to the crew.  Being limited while shipwrecked, he ministered to the sick residents.  Being limited under guard to a rented house, he ministered to those who visited him.  Being limited in prison, he wrote letters!

APPLICATION:  Friends, may we never allow the limitations that surround us hinder the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through us.  Every limitation opens another door of opportunity.  We may not have enough money to do one thing, but we have more time to do something else.  We may not be able to go to one destination, but we can minister where we are or nearby.  We may not have the needed supplies for what we would like to do, but we have the Holy Spirit anointing to do what the Spirit leads.

This week, Pastor Andrew is not able to travel in person to Kenya, but he can minister how to use the SOAPs through an internet video call on a phone the Lord provided. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, show us the opportunities we have in our limitations.  When we are serving you, we always have enough to do what you give us to do!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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