Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2025:  SOAP #5810: Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 5:39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

OBSERVATION:  Many people would think that the notation at the end of this passage is unimportant, but having driven a school bus for 15 years, I know that children get hungry.  It is special to me that Jesus noticed this simple need for some food for a hungry stomach!   The story would have been complete without mentioning it, but mentioning it shows that Jesus is aware of even small, and unimportant issues of a young girl’s life. 

Of course, Jesus raised her back to life, that is why He went to her home.  But it was for more than that…He was interested in her, her needs, and her ongoing life. 

APPLICATION:  Of course Jesus forgave me.  That is why He came and died on the cross!  But He is also interested in all the aspects of my life.  There is no part of my life that He does not share.  There is no need of which He is unaware.  He wants me to bring my needs to Him in prayer, but I should never think that my telling Him is the first He knew about it!  

PRAYER:  Lord, you know my needs even before I ask.  I trust you to guide me and provide for me as I life for you and do your will.  You know what I need even before I ask.   Amen

Pastor Leon us
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 27, 2025:  SOAP #5807: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 27:23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

OBSERVATION: Paul is aboard a ship headed for Rome to stand trial before Caesar.  The ship is caught in a terrible storm.  For fourteen days the crew had nothing to eat.  On the third day into the storm, they had thrown the ship’s tackling overboard. 

In the verses above, we have Paul speaking to the crew and fellow passengers on the ship.  They consisted of the crew, Roman soldiers, fellow prisoners, and some traveling companions of Paul, including the author of the book of Acts. 

Listen to Paul as he describes His God.  Paul belonged to God and Paul served God.  Paul’s God was a speaker; He talked to Paul.  Paul’s God knew where Paul was and how to get a message to Paul.  He had sent a messenger to Paul “last night!”  Paul’s God made promises to Paul that included the people around him.  They would all survive the present danger.  Paul’s God could be trusted.  It would be “just as he told me!” 

APPLICATION:  Paul was not talking about the storm.  He made no comments about the wind and the waves.  He made no comment about being a prisoner.  No, Paul did not talk about the unimportant things; he talked about the Important One!   He had heard from the God of the wind and the waves.  He had a message from God.  (The ship was wrecked in the storm, but all were saved!) 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I move through a world full of turmoil and trouble, I want to keep my focus on you!  Your enemy, and my enemy, wants to get my focus off you and onto the storms that surround me.  Help me to hear what you are saying and to speak from heaven’s point of view.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 25, 2025: SOAP #5805: Job 16; Acts 21-23

SCRIPTURE:  Job (NIV) 16:19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.

OBSERVATION:  Without full understanding, Job is crying out to God for relief from his suffering.  He is a righteous man and cannot understand why he is suffering.  In this passage, Job’s faith shines through his pain.  Prophetically he cries out to God, he needs an intercessor to take up his case.  What he calls for is fulfilled in Jesus!  

APPLICATION:  What a witness Jesus is!  What an advocate I have in Jesus!  It is not my sin of which He witnesses, nor of the good things I have done to pay the penalty of my sin.  He witnesses of His righteousness and His payment on the cross!  

My sin is not the issue.  That I am guilty is not the issue.  I am guilty.  I have sinned.  But whatever that sin … however vile it may be, the sacrifice is sufficient!!!  His death on the cross more than covers the cost of my sins!   My Advocate is not arguing my guilt nor any mitigating circumstances.  He is presenting the over-reaching value of His sacrificial payment!

PRAYER:  Lord, when I confessed my sins to you, you cleansed me from all unrighteousness!  (1John 1:9).  To stand before you free from the guilt of sin, and not facing the penalty of sin, I am free to love and serve you!  I want to live my life in honor of you and what you have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 24, 2025: SOAP #5804: Job 15; Acts 19-20

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 19:10 This [daily discussions in a lecture hall in Ephesus]  went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 

OBSERVATION:  In Acts 16:6 we read that the Holy Spirit stopped them from going into Asia.  Instead they received a call to Macedonia where a church was established in the city of Philippi, the leading city of Macedonia.  God’s timing is so important.  Chapter 19 above was God’s time for the province of Asia and Paul’s ministry was so effective in the city of Ephesus that everyone in that province heard the word of the Lord!      

APPLICATION:  Timing is just as important in my life as it was in Paul’s—and just as important in today’s church as it was in the early church.  To move in God’s timing, I must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.  To listen to the Holy Spirit, I must recognize His voice. 

God’s timing includes time for planting, time for growing, and time for harvesting.  As a young boy, I remember the testimonies of missionaries to Africa, many of them were working in a time of planting.  They faithfully planted the seed.  And there have been years when the seed was growing and needed watering.  Today is harvest time for Africa. Those who planted the gospel, and those who watered it with their tears can rejoice together as thousands are coming to Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, in whatever I do, being effective is following Your lead.  Keep working with me so that I more quickly recognize and obey Your voice.  And Lord, help everyone who is involved in the harvest be as faithful as those who planted and watered.  It is the ministry of the harvesters that proves the ministry of the planters and waterers.  Ame

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 22, 2025: SOAP #5802: Job 13-14; Acts 17-18

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, …
11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character…for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  …
17 So he reasoned in the synagogue [in Athens] with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there.

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter we read of Paul’s ministry in three cities: Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens.  We read of Paul presenting, explaining, and defending the scriptures.  We read of rejection and many who accepted his message, Jews and Greeks, men and women.  But one thing seems to be missing: miracles.  We read of no notable healing or miracles in these cities. 

The success of Paul’s ministry in these cities rested in the faithful presenting and defending the scriptures.  The Holy Spirit, who worked miracles through Paul in other cities, anointed Paul in presenting the Word of God. 

APPLICATION:  I cannot over emphasize the importance of being familiar with God’s Word, the scriptures, the Holy Bible.   The more I know the Bible, the more I know my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus.  The more I know the Bible, the more I make myself available to be used by the Holy Spirit. 

PRAYER:  Holly Spirit, use what I know of God’s Word to minister to those around me today!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 21, 2025: SOAP #5801: Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there [in the city of Iconium], speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

OBSERVATION:  The ministry of the church in the book of Acts followed the example of Jesus.  It consisted of two main parts.  First was the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom over which Jesus is Lord and King.  Second was the demonstration of the power and authority of that Kingdom seen in “miraculous signs and wonders.”  They did not always happen in that order, but both were commonly a part of Jesus ministry. 

The combination of proclamation and demonstration are effective in bringing others into the kingdom.  Of course, the most effective demonstration is the changes in the lives of those who invite Jesus to live in their life as Lord!  But that often takes time before it becomes obvious.  Healings and miracles are more instantaneous.  People hear the proclamation of Jesus and they see the power of His presence demonstrated in a living situation! 

APPLICATION:  In the gospels I see the ministry of Jesus; in the book of Acts I see the same ministry continuing in the early church.  Today I should expect that same ministry continuing in and through my life.   The same Holy Spirit working through Jesus was working in the book of Acts; today that same Spirit dwells in me.  …and in SOAP readers!  

My heart rejoices as I hear testimonies of God working through the lives of SOAP readers.  The Holy Spirit is present and working today as in Jesus’ day, and in the book of Acts!   The ministry of Jesus continues!!!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, today find me a vessel You can work through.  May it be easy for you to work in and through me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 20, 2025: SOAP #5800: Job 6-8; Acts 12

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 12:6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
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.

OBSERVATION:  Just a short time before, James, the brother of John, had been in jail and killed.  Now King Herod had taken Peter into custody.  Perhaps he remembered that Peter had been in jail before.  Perhaps he recalled the time the apostles had just disappeared from the locked and guarded cell only to return to the temple courts preaching.  That would not happen this time.  This time there would be guards at the entrance.  Peter would be chained between two soldiers in the cell with him!   There was nothing that Peter could do—but sleep. 

APPLICATION:  The cell-floor bed was not comfortable, the chains probably hindered his movement, the guards may have been snoring, and the morning did not look too promising, but Peter was sleeping.  He was sleeping so soundly that the angel struck Peter on the side to wake him!  Peter had been walking in the will of God; now he could do nothing but trust God with his future.  We can too! 

PRAYER:  Lord, when circumstances do not look good and I see no way out,  there is only one thing I can do—trust you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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