Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 15, 2025: SOAP #5703: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

OBSERVATION:   Here we are invited to join the author in setting our focus on Jesus.  If we have received Him as our Lord and Savior, this is a very logical invitation.  Knowing that he is the greatest source of wisdom, means that my mind is always open to His input.  Knowing that He can see into the future and knows the thoughts and purposes of those around me…it is foolish for me to push Him out of my thoughts! 

In this verse and its context, the author of Hebrews does not hide the fact that living for Jesus can be difficult.  Everything does not go our way.  We may be persecuted by those who do not understand.    Jesus too was persecuted, and I am not called to endure more than he did.     

APPLICATION:  So what am I to do?  I am to focus—to fix my eyes upon Jesus.  Presently, it is the eyes of faith.  Soon it will be face to face.  I need to keep singing the chorus I learned years ago. 
                       Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

                                 Look full in His wonderful face.

                                 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim  

                                 In the light of His glory and grace.

PRAYER:   Lord, looking at you always lifts my day.    Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 14, 2025: SOAP #5702: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews (NIV) 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

OBSERVATION:   God could have set any criteria as a basis for His favor.  He could have chosen to favor those with great abilities.  He could have chosen to favor those with physical beauty …or with great knowledge …or those who make great accomplishments.   In these areas, we may excel in comparison to others, but in comparison to God, we all fall short.   But God chooses a measure for His blessings in which we all start at the same level.  God chose FAITH!   Our faith pleases God!               

APPLICATION:  Faith in God is very reasonable.  It is just as reasonable as believing something weighing thousands of pounds can move through the air without touching the ground.  To me it is so reasonable to believe that airplanes fly that I pay money to ride.  And it is even more reasonable to believe that the God of the universe created me for His glory.  He is pleased when I become convinced that He is and that He loves me.  I am learning to love Him and trust His word!   

PRAYER:   Lord, you are believable!  Believing in you gives meaning to my life.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 13, 2025: SOAP #5701: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

SCRIPTURE:  [This was the way it was under the Old Testament Law.]
Hebrews (NIV) 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again, and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
[This is how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law!]
Hebrews 10:14  because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.
[Now, this is the way it is: Old Testament laws written on stone tablets now replaced by New Testament laws written on hearts by the Holy Spirit]
Hebrews 10:16 …I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.

OBSERVATION:   What a difference Jesus made!  He put an end to the daily sacrifices made in the tabernacle, then in the temple.  And the way He did it is amazing.  He did not just make a statement that animal sacrifices were not really covering the cost of sin; He personally made the true sacrifice to which the animal sacrifices pointed.  Once and for all time, He made the perfect sacrifice to cover the penalty for sin!  It never needs to be repeated!  AND WHAT”S MORE: He sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts! 

APPLICATION:  My first response is to accept His offer of forgiveness; He is my Savior!  My next response is to thank Him.  Then I make my Savior to be my Lord (a title that He rightly deserves).  Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I set my heart to live a life that brings Him honor and great joy. 

PRAYER:   Jesus, after all You have done for me, my response must be more than just “Thank you!”  My life is yours. My future is yours. Today is yours!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 10, 2025: SOAP #5698: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 7:27   Unlike the other high priests, he (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people.  He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself!  

OBSERVATION:   UNLIKE the High Priests making the sacrifice for the sins of the people in the Old Testament, Jesus did not need to bring a sacrifice for his own sins.  AND UNLIKE the Old Testament priests, Jesus did not bring an animal, He gave his own life as the sacrifice.  AND UNLIKE the Old Testament priests Jesus did not make a sacrifice in faith that the proper sacrifice would someday be made to reward the faith of the worshippers.  Jesus sacrifice was the fulfillment of the faith of all the previous sacrifices!  AND UNLIKE the Old Testament priests, Jesus did not make a sacrifice that would need to be repeated.  His sacrifice put an end to all future sacrifices for sin!  

APPLICATION:  His “once for all” sacrifice is sufficient to cover all my sins!   When He forgave me, He did not just sweep my sins under the rug, He did not say, “Leon, your sins are not very bad; we will just forget about them.”  NO, He said, “Leon, your sins are terrible, but my sacrifice is sufficient!”   His sacrifice was more than sufficient to cover my sins—and the sins of the whole world!    

PRAYER:   Lord, I am amazed at your holiness and love!  I am amazed at your sacrifice for me.  You are amazing!  Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from ALL unrighteousness!    Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 05, 2025: SOAP #5693: Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy [Jesus] and those who are made holy [believers] are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

OBSERVATION:   The main story of the Bible is not what man can do for God, but what God has done for man!   History is truly “HIS STORY!”  The above verse deals with the part of the story where God so loves the man He created that He sends His sinless Son, to become a man and die for man’s sins.  In this way people can become part of the sinless family of God!  Now when man’s sins have been properly covered with a sinless blood sacrifice—now when man is forgiven, the living Jesus is not ashamed to identify with man as brothers. 

APPLICATION:  After all that Jesus suffered for me, I should live my life as being honored to be a part of God’s family.  The cost paid to release me from sin proves that I am loved and that I have value to God.  The main story line is not what I can do for God, but what God has done for me! –and what He has prepared for my future! 

PRAYER:   Jesus, forgive me for taking my place in your family so lightly.  Such a high honor deserves my deepest appreciation.  Thank you for forgiving me and accepting me. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 04, 2025: SOAP #5692: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

OBSERVATION:   Of the many special characteristics of God is that He wants to be known.  He is a “self-revealer.”  One of the ways He shows Himself is through His words; He is a “speaker.”  The writer of Hebrews mentions that God has spoken in the past but recently (in the writer’s day) God had spoken through Jesus. 

God did not stop speaking when Jesus finished His ministry here on earth, but continued to speak through the writers of the New Testament and today through the Holy Spirit.  
 
Because God is eternal and immutable, we know that what Jesus said lined up perfectly with the Old Testament.  We know that what the writers of the New Testament wrote lined up perfectly with the Old Testament and with Jesus.  And we can have confidence that what the Holy Spirit speaks to us will also line up perfectly with the Old Testament, Jesus, and the New Testament. 

APPLICATION:  Obviously, the better I know the written Word (the Old and New Testaments), and the better I know the living Word (Jesus), the better I will recognize and understand what the Holy Spirit, who lives in me, is speaking to me today. 

PRAYER:   Lord, Eli in 1Samuel chapter 3 directed Samuel to pray, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”  And, as Israel needed Samuel, so the United States of America, on this Independence Day, needs people who hear your word today!  May SOAP readers be people who hear your voice.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 02, 2025: SOAP #5690: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm 115-116; Jude

SCRIPTURE:  Jude (NIV) 24  To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—25  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.

OBSERVATION:   In this benediction at the end of the short book of Jude there is much to consider!!!   Just think of this: we are to be presented “…in his glorious presence without fault and with great joy! “  

What a glorious day that will be—to stand faultless before God.  It will be a humbling experience to know that I am there only because of the sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son! 

APPLICATION:  My question: is this speaking of my joy that I will have in being presented without fault?  Will I say, “Father, my joy is overflowing as I stand faultless here in your presence.”

Or is this speaking of the joy Jesus will have?  Will Jesus say, “Father it gives me exceeding great joy to present Leon.  He stands faultless because every sin has been accounted for in the sacrifice I made on the cross.” 

Surely, we both will have great joy, but Jesus has invested much more than I, so rightfully the greatest joy should be His! 

PRAYER:   Lord, even now may I bring you joy.  May I bring you joy in trusting you.  May I bring you joy in doing as you direct.  May I bring you joy in how I represent you, and how I talk about you.  May you enjoy living in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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