Tag Archives: bible

Strong in the Lord

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 10, 2028: SOAP #5668: Song of Solomon 1-4; Ephesians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

OBSERVATION:   People have a combination of strong and weak character traits.  Some are strong in patience.  Others seem to have great knowledge.  Some love sports.  But each one has areas of weakness.  Our strengths enable us to serve others.  Our weaknesses cause us to need others.  However there is one area in which we should all be strong.  We should all be “strong in the Lord.”

APPLICATION:  In areas where I am weak, it is obvious that I need to depend on the Lord and his strength.  But I am finding that God’s strengths make my strengths look like weaknesses.  It is much better to rely on God even in areas where I think I am strong. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to be strong in my knowledge of you, strong in my relationship with you, strong in recognizing how you speak to me, and strong in depending on you. In dealing with temptation and the devil, I want to be strong in you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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NOTE: As I was reading today’s assigned passages, I was considering what I should include and what should be left for another time.  There was an urgency to write SOAPs, but we would not be back to this passage of scripture for another six months.  In pondering the many strong thoughts that came to my mind, I believe the Lord wants me to pause writing SOAPs from the daily Bible readings that is given every day at the top.  Instead, for the next week or so, I will write SOAPs from this passage on the armor of God.  I pray they will be a blessing to each SOAP reader.   😊  Leon

Filled

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 9, 2028: SOAP #5667: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

OBSERVATION:   I have found that being full of the Holy Spirit helps me to live wisely, helps me to take advantage of every opportunity, and helps me to understand the will of the Lord. 

The Holy Spirit enters our lives when we first accept the forgiveness that God offers to us through the sacrifice of Jesus. (John 20:22)  He is the one who draws us to Jesus.  But there is a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit available to all believers.  He fills us, he empowers us, the gifts of the Spirit begin flowing through us.  The book of Acts is a testimony of how God uses people who have been “baptized” or “filled” with the Holy Spirit! (Acts 1: 8 and 2:4) Instead of them containing the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit contains them. 

APPLICATION:  The expressions of God’s love were released by Jesus through His spoken word and/or the touch of His hand.  The same was true in the book of Acts.  And God is still the same, He wants to flow through our spoken words and the touch of our hands.  He wants to use us as ministers of His peace, His healing, His wisdom.  Expect God, the Holy Spirit to move in you and through you.  The initial filling of the Holy Spirit is often accompanied by the gift of tongues.  Do not think it strange, but remember that the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to exalt Jesus!  

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, thank you for drawing me to Jesus and the cleansing that comes through His death on the cross.  Thank you for living in me.  I ask you to fill me through and through with your Holy Presence and power.  Flow through me in expressions of your love.  I pray in Jesus Name, Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Sealed by the Holy Spirit!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 8, 2028: SOAP #5666: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

OBSERVATION:   Here we see the personality of the Holy Spirit. It is possible to cause Him grief.  He is not an impersonal force without feelings.  It is our responsibility not to grieve Him.  Through the choices we make, through our words and actions, we can cause God hurt.  What a shame to hurt the One Who loves us so! 

The Holy Spirit seals us.  A seal is used for several reasons.  One use is for identification.  Jesus’ tomb was sealed with the seal of Rome.  A letter was sealed with wax containing a special identification.  Another use for a seal is as a lock to keep things safe.  And a third use is for security, as a “no trespassing” sign to those who would unlawfully try to enter.  And a seal is often used to validate a document. 

APPLICATION:   We are sealed with God, the Holy Spirit!  How we should appreciate the Presence of the Holy Spirit!  

His presence validates that we are indeed children of God.  He who descended upon Jesus when Jesus was baptized begin to work in us and people recognize that we have been changed.  There is something causing us to be more like Jesus.  As we follow the leading and direction from the Holy Spirit, we see Him working trough us. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, when your Son Jesus returned to heaven, how special it was of you to send the Holy Spirit to become an important part of each believer’s life.   What joy He brings into our lives!  How we need His guidance!  How faithfully He reveals truth.  Instead of grieving the Holy Spirit, may I be a source of joy.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Pastor Leon
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A Mystery No Longer!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 7, 2025: SOAP #5665: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

A Mystery No Longer!

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

OBSERVATION:   Although there are many references in the Old Testament to God reaching the Gentile, the Jews saw themselves as God’s people.  In God’s plan to populate heaven with people, He had to start somewhere.  In sending Jesus to die in payment for our sins, He could not send 25 or 30 Jesuses—only One.  He could only come through one family in one nation.  Jesus was sent to earth through the Jewish nation. 

Once Jesus ministry was complete, the Holy Spirit was given Who revealed that God’s plan had always been to give gentiles the same standing as Jews!  

Jews and Gentiles are members of the same body—the body of Christ.  We have the same Lord!  We have the same Holy Spirit.  We share in the same promises.  We share the same destination—heaven.

APPLICATION:   Whether we live in an Asian or African country…whether we live in Europe or the Americas…whether we live in Australia or the islands of the sea…if we have confessed our sins and received His forgiveness…if we have received Jesus into our lives…then we are all members of the same body!  

The question is not to what kind of church de we attend, but has Jesus forgiven our sins and does He live within?  If so, we share the same life.  God lives in us.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ! 

PRAYER:   Jesus, you prayed that we (the members of your body) would be one. (John 17:21)   Holy Spirit, we need your help.  Work in us and through us in answer to Jesus’ prayer.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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The Holy Spirit (2)

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 5, 2025: SOAP #5663: Proverbs 30-31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you….
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

OBSERVATION:   Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure.  After His crucifixion and resurrection, He only remained on earth for 40 days, and then returned to heaven.  He told them that it was good for them that He was going!  That must have been hard for them to accept, but He told them why it would be good for them.  When He left, the Holy Spirit would sent to them. 

It would be good for them because God the Holy Spirit would not have the limitations that God the Son had to accept in order to be crucified for our sins.  The Holy Spirit would not be limited by a physical body.  He would remain omnipresent and could be with each disciple 24 hours of every day. 

They did not have to wait until Jesus arrived, or go find his location, the Holy Spirit would make each believer’s heart His home!   Through the ministry and presence of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is always with us! 

APPLICATION:   When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts.  Jesus spoke of Him as “another counsellor.”  (John 14:16)  Jesus was leaving, but He was not going to leave the disciples without someone like Himself to walk with them through this world.  He had been with them when they were together, but the Holy Spirit would be IN them!   Really, this was so much better. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, I need you to guide my thoughts as I write these SOAPs.  And I pray for each reader.  Speak to them so that they learn to hear your voice in their heart and mind.  Reveal truth to them so that they may grow stronger each day.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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The Holy Spirit

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 4, 2025: SOAP #5662: Proverbs 28-29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Ephesians (NIV) 3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:5 …because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. …

2Peter (NIV) 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

OBSERVATION:   In the past six months many people have come to faith in Jesus through various outreaches of people working with SOAP ministry.  Many live in places where Bibles are not readily available.  It is somewhat similar to the book of Acts days when the church began.  Many people came to have faith in Jesus, but they had no Bibles readily available.  Old Testament on scrolls were in synagogues, but no one could afford them in their home.  The New Testament had not yet been written.

Of course, they listened to their leaders who had more understanding and had been set as leaders for their church.  BUT MOST IMPORTANT, the Holy Spirit, who was the author of the scriptures had come to live in each believer!  They each had a personal relationship with the author of the scriptures!    

APPLICATION:   It cannot be stressed how important it is for each of us to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking.  It was the Holy Spirit that convinced us that what we had heard about Jesus was true.  It was the Holy Spirit that put the compelling thoughts in our mind and heart to pray, asking Jesus to forgive us and make Him Lord! 

And as we read the scriptures available to us (like those above) it is the Holy Spirit that convinces our hearts of their truth and puts thoughts in our mind as to how we can apply those truths to our lives. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, you who inspired men to write the scriptures, reveal truth to me.  Show me how to live a life honoring Jesus and my Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Prayer (part 4)

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 3, 2025: SOAP #5661: Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 11:2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Matthew (NIV) 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

OBSERVATION:   Continuing with the prayer that Jesus gave as a pattern when the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.  It is given in both the books of Matthew and Luke.  That the wording is somewhat different, says to me that it is a pattern for prayer, not necessarily a word for word memorized prayer. 

Prayer is to be an expression of our relationship to our loving Heavenly Father.  It is an expression of worship and appreciation.  It is also an expression of our dependence on Him.  We need His provision and we need His guidance!  

APPLICATION:   If I am going to ask God for provision, then I must be content with what He provides.  If I realize that my possessions all come from Him, then I must use them as He directs.  What I have, much or little, is not only meant to bless me, but to make me a blessing to others. 

If I am going to ask God to lead me, then I must be willing to follow.  If I believe my Heavenly Father is all knowing (omniscient) then following His guidance makes perfect sense.  He knows the way I should go.  He will lead me away from temptation and into a path where I can grow and be a blessing to others. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are so awesome!  It is my privilege to serve you.  May you enjoy having me as your child, for I surely enjoy having you as my Heavenly Father!   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Prayer, part 3

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June2, 2025: SOAP #5660: Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

SCRIPTURE:  Luke  (NIV) 11:2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

OBSERVATION:   After starting our prayer acknowledging God’s holiness and His authority, Jesus then teaches us to pray for personal things. 

We are to ask for our daily needs.  What are the pressing needs of the day?  Tomorrow, when I pray I will ask for tomorrow’s needs, so today I ask for what I need today.  If I was not sure that He would be around tomorrow, I might have to ask for tomorrow’s needs, but He lives inside me and has promised to never leave. 

Our relationship with God is very important to God, and it should be to us!   Sin separates us from God, so it is very important to ask forgiveness.   Forgiveness repairs relationships.  The one doing the offending, can apologize and ask for forgiveness, but only the offended can forgive.  We offend God and ask Him to forgive us.  I hear Jesus saying, “Ask God to forgive your sins in the same way you forgive those who sin against you!”  Clearly this forgiveness and relationship issue is a big deal with God!   

APPLICATION:   My relationship to God is the major priority!  He is the Most Important Person/Being in my life.  Sensing His pleasure in me and what I am doing means that I often must apologize, acknowledge that I have offended Him and asking Him to forgive me.  Thankfully He has promised that if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness!  (1John 1:9)

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are loving and holy.  You provided your Son to die on the cross for those you love.  And when those you love confess their sins, you are faithful to forgive.  Your forgiveness brings peace to my heart and makes me want to serve and please you more.  I pray in Jesus’ Name,  Amen

Pastor Leon
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More on prayer…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 1, 2025: SOAP #5659: Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV)  11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

OBSERVATION:   In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus gives them a pattern for prayer.  He never told them how many times to pray or gave them any specific time of day.  He just said, “when you pray.”  But from looking at the life of Jesus in the gospels, He prayed often, and so should we. 

We should pray in a way that is based on a Father/child relationship.  A father may be amused by a memorized recitation, but after three or four times, I think most fathers would say, “Don’t you have something to tell me yourself? I want to hear your thoughts, from your heart and in your words!”

God is holy and His name is holy.  In the ten commandments, the third one is not to take the Lord’s name in vain. 

And it is good in prayer to acknowledge that God’s kingdom is a rule of holiness and love.  It was brought to earth by His Son, Jesus, and was established in our hearts when we made Jesus our LORD!  

APPLICATION:   The Holy Spirit will guide us in expressing appreciation for God’s being and character.  As we begin our prayer time, it is good to remind ourselves of how great and awesome our God is.  He is more than capable of answering our prayers.  He is loving and benevolent to us!  We are a key part of His kingdom! 

It is good to remind ourselves that as a part of God’s kingdom, He is KING!   He has all authority.  Not only is His Kingdom established in our lives, we want to see His Kingdom grow to include others. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, help us to pray prayers that bless our Heavenly Father and to pray prayers that He will enjoy answering.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Prayer

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 31, 2025: SOAP #5658: Proverbs 16-18: Romans 12

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:” ‘Father…

OBSERVATION:   Prayer was such an important part of Jesus’ life, and He wants it to be an important part of our lives.  The disciples saw how important it was to Jesus, so they asked him to teach them to pray. 

Today let us consider to whom we are praying.   We are praying to the God of the universe, but Jesus tells us to address Him as “Father!”  Only once did Jesus not use the word “Father” when praying; that was when He was dying in payment for our sins which had separated us from our Loving Heavenly Father.  On the cross, Jesus cried, “My God, why have you forsaken me.”  Jesus was experiencing the results of our sin, he was separated from His Heavenly Father.   All other times, He prayed to His “Father,” and that is how He taught us to pray. 

APPLICATION:   When we ask for our sins to be forgiven and invite Jesus to live in our hearts, we become children of God.  We are a part of God’s family.  God is our Father!  It is natural for children to talk to their fathers.  In prayer, we are children talking to their Father!  

We are not just praying to our Father, He is our Heavenly Father.  He is above everything in the universe!   We are a part of a His family!  

We are not just praying to our Heavenly Father, we are praying to our Loving Heavenly Father!  He loves us so much He sent His One and Only Begotten Son to die in payment for our sins.  He has sent The Holy Spirit to teach us how to follow the example of Jesus in our daily lives.  He is the perfect one to do this because He came upon Jesus when He was baptized and walked with Him every day.  Now he is with each of us every day.  He helps us pray.    

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps me in so many ways!  Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts as I write these SOAPs.  May they be a blessing to all who read them.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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