Tag Archives: bible

Turning Problems into Blessings!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 26, 2025: SOAP #5592:  Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 23:9 The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.
10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.  
11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God. 

OBSERVATION:   Joshua was giving Israel his farewell message.  He encourages them by recounting what God has done, and he warns them of the dangers of breaking God’s laws. 

It was not their power, but their God who made them victorious over their enemies.  It was not their numbers, but their God that sent the enemy running.         

APPLICATION:   My God’s presence is more powerful than my problems.  His presence changes the odds to my favor!   What could only be seen at first as a danger, ends up working out for my good.   

God has often changed my problems into blessings. 

When my efforts only seem to make things worse, I can quietly read His Word and let Him work.  When my words seem to fall on deaf ears, I can be quiet and let Him do the talking.  His words may be pushed aside, but people cannot turn a deaf ear to God.  In one way or another, His message will get through! 

PRAYER:   Mighty God, You are my God!  Nothing is impossible with you!  With you all things are possible!  You are not tired or worn out.  You are ever fresh!  As you promised, I can count on you to work all things together for my good.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon


The SOAP team in West Africa has finished up in Burkina Faso.  They left behind over 5,000 new believers and 150 cell groups!!!  Each cell group has an Arabic Bible.  They also installed several computers and printers which will be receiving the SOAPs every day.  A brother will be translating them into Arabic.   Tomorrow they will be starting in another West African country.  Pray for them.  😊 

The Value of Mistakes!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 25, 2025: SOAP #5591:  Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 

OBSERVATION:   These things happened TO THEM…as a warning FOR US. In the previous verses, four examples are given:  idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling.  Each was punished by God and recorded so that others would learn.   

APPLICATION:   It is good for me to learn from the mistakes of others.  Although not the only place, surely one of the best places to learn such lessons is in the Bible.  The Bible does not hide the sins and mistakes of leaders.  How I limit my understanding of God’s ways when I neglect reading His Word!   

And it is good to let others learn from my mistakes.  I should not allow the sin of pride to cause me to hide my mistakes from those under my authority or influence, especially from children.  They too will make mistakes, so they need a good example of acknowledging their wrongs.  They need a good example of how to apologize.  They need a good example of how to depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit for the change needed.    

Our lives are too valuable to ignore the lessons to be learned from mistakes.  I can forgive someone their sin against me, but I can also learn from it so that I do not sin against someone else.  And by not hiding my sins, I am allowing others to learn from me. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for the Bible!   Thank you for not covering up the faults of the leaders.  I do not have to be perfect to be used by You.   Lord, may I be a good example of how to repent and apologize to others.  Use me as an example of how to overcome temptation and failure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

NO MORE Wilderness Living in the Promised Land!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 24, 2025: SOAP #5590:  Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 18:1 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

OBSERVATION:   The big battles had been won, and the country was under Israel’s control.  But seven of the twelve tribes had not claimed their tribal inheritance, settled into their area, established their homes and made it theirs.  They had been tent-living in the wilderness for 40 years and they had become accustomed to that way of living.  Now it seemed they were willing to continue “wilderness” living in the promised land!!!

They did not need to live in tents any longer.  They could build and move into homes.  They could plant gardens.  They could develop communities.  Perhaps they had become too accustom to living in the wilderness. 

APPLICATION:   Jesus won the “big battle” for me on the cross.  He defeated Satan and secured my salvation.  As the Israelites needed to learn how to live in the Promised Land, I need to learn how to live in the Kingdom!  I need to study to apply God’s Word to my daily life.  I need to re-program my mind to think and talk Kingdom truth.  I need to stretch my faith to be stronger this year than it was last year.  None of this “wilderness living” in the Promised land for me! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, put a check in my heart when I start thinking and talking like I am still living in the world.  With your help, I want to think, and talk, and live every moment like you are with me.  …for you really are!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

He’s my brother…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 23, 2025: SOAP #5589:  Joshua 15-17; 1Corinthians 8

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 8:12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

OBSERVATION:   Paul knew that idol gods were really nothing and that meat sold in the market that had been dedicated to those idol gods was good meat; he was free to et that meat.  But if someone believed the idol was really a god and they saw Paul eating meat that had been dedicated to that idol, they may be offended and their spiritual life hindered.  So, Paul would refrain from eating that meat so he would not offend his brother. 

Paul’s love for his brother or sister in the Lord was greater than his desire to exercise his freedom.  Giving up his freedom was not done begrudgingly but willingly and lovingly. 

As I grow in my love for God I begin to value what He values.  If it is important to Him, it is important to me.  Members of His body are clearly important to Him, they should be to me also. 

APPLICATION:   The principle in this verse goes far beyond eating meats dedicated to some idol.  Sacrificing something I am free to do or something that is dear to me should not be a heavy burden when it is for my brother.  I am reminded of the song, “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.”  (A phrase popularized by Father Flanagan as the motto for Boy

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I want to love my sisters and brothers as you love them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

…just as He said…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 22, 2025: SOAP #5588:  Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

(the Lord speaking to me through an old SOAP)

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 14:10 [Caleb speaking] “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

OBSERVATION:   The land was being divided among the 12 tribes of Israel and Caleb was claiming his portion of the promised land.   He was speaking with a lot of confidence.  Although he was 85 years old, he was still strong and vigorous, and he would drive out the Anakites with their large and fortified cities.   Caleb’s talk was not something he would have to back up.  God would be backing up Caleb’s words. 

Caleb was not depending on his strength and wisdom.  He had a Helper!   He was depending on his Helper and his Helper’s promise.   

APPLICATION:   Caleb’s Helper is my Helper too!  It has been 3700+ years since He helped Caleb take possession of what He had earlier promised Caleb.  Caleb’s Helper is with me and has spoken to me also!  God will do for me, “just as He said!”  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are Caleb’s Helper!  You are still the omnipresent, omniscient, ever present, all wise and all-powerful Helper of those who trust you.  You are holy and loving, faithful and merciful.  I love you.  Thank you for speaking to me and being my Helper. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Just AND Merciful!!!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 19, 2025: SOAP #5585:  Joshua 3-6; 1Corinthians 40

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.  3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.  4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.  It is the Lord who judges me.  5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of people’s hearts.  At that time each will receive their praise from God. 

OBSERVATION:   People who rush to judgment often misjudge because they do not take time to evaluate the hidden motives. 

Some things are judged before their appointed time as being bad, but they are not bad just immature. 

Some things are judged good, but the hidden motives of the heart show that they are not good. 

APPLICATION:   God is the only perfect judge.  He knows me perfectly.  He knows the motives behind my actions.  He knows my weaknesses and immaturities. 

He is a JUST judge requiring full payment for sin.  Yet He is a MERCIFUL judge accepting the death of His own Son, Jesus, as the FULL PAYMENT for my sin!      

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you are my judge.  You know me; you understand me; but best of all, you love me!  You sent your son to die as payment for my sins.  You know my sins, yet when I confess them, you forgive me and give me a clean conscience!  You have forgiven ALL my sins; I give you ALL my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

God: Working on Two Fronts

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 17, 2025: SOAP #5583:  Deuteronomy 32-34; 1Corinthians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV)32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. 9w For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.
Ephesians (NIV) 1:18 … the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
1Peter (NIV) 2:9 …a people belonging to God,…

OBSERVATION:   As Moses was giving his farewell address, he reviewed Israel’s past.  He told them that God is the One who set the boundaries.  Each tribe and people group had their own boundaries.  It defined their possession, that over which they had authority.  Each nation, and each tribe (of Israel) had their assigned area, their inheritance.  BUT where was God’s portion?  God’s portion was His people!  

It is a concept that carries over into the New Testament.  What God gets out of this “earth project” is people. 

APPLICATION:   Today, the Lord is building His church, not a building of wood and stone, but a church of people.  He is preparing a place for us in Heaven, AND He is preparing us for that place where we will rule and reign with Him.  

He is teaching us how to have authority by learning to exercise authority in our own daily lives.  I believe He is preparing us to expand His heavenly kingdom by witnessing and discipling others here on earth.  We are learning the principles of heaven as we learn and exercise kingdom principles in our personal lives, our family lives, and our business lives, or lives interacting with our community. 

God’s portion is us.  He deserves the best portion, a portion well-prepared for eternity with Him!  

God is preparing for eternity by working on two fronts.  Jesus is working in heaven preparing a place (mansion) for me.  AND the Holy Spirit is working here on earth preparing me for that place!  

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, work in my life, my thoughts, my attitudes, and my actions.  Make me well-prepared for the heavenly place that is now being prepared for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

It’s the Law!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 15, 2025: SOAP #5581:  Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

(an earlier SOAP with minor changes)

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

OBSERVATION:  Here we are given a universal law that affects every aspect of life. 
Verse 6 and 10 show that it applies financially and materially.
Verses 8 and shows that it applies spiritually,
Verse 9 is the application of this truth.  We should always be sowing.  Reaping is assured if we remain faithful. 

God cannot be mocked.  To think that one can sow one kind of crop and reap another is foolish.  When I understand the seriousness of this law, I can greatly appreciate that Jesus took my place to reap the harvest of the sin I had sown.   And by so doing, He set me free to reap the blessings of the seed he sowed in dying on the cross.

APPLICATION: Sometimes my greatest financial need is to understand the truth in these verses.  I need to give with faith that God will bring the reward.  As I sow, God brings the harvest. 

Some people want to reap a harvest by getting others to sow.  But verses about giving in the Bible are not there to be used to motivate others to give to us.  They are there to motivate us to give!  The application of this truth is GIVING. 

Today is too late for me to do more about today’s harvest, but today I can do something about my future harvest.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for laws that set order in this world.   Thank you for helping us understand how things work.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

Internal Magnets

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 14, 2025: SOAP #5580:  Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 5:16 This I say then, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  …
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law….
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

OBSERVATION: Removing sexual immorality, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage and other works of the flesh mentioned later in this chapter—removing these from our life cannot be accomplished by focusing on stopping them.  Trying to convince myself that I really do not want to do something just does not work.  Talking myself into being strong and resisting temptation is useless too.  The only way to overcome the tendency of the flesh to succumb to temptation is to focus on what the Spirit is saying and doing.

Thoughts are like internal magnets that draw us to what we are thinking, either to do what the flesh wants, or to do what the Spirit wants. 

APPLICATION: I must give up trying to win victory over the temptations in my own strength.  It is when I walk in the Spirit that I do not gratify the desires of the flesh!  It is when I set my thoughts on the presence of the Holy Spirit and what He is doing in my life that I do not yield to sinful temptations. 

Instead of focusing on how bad sins is and how I really do not want to sin, and instead of focusing on what I should do to resist the temptation, I need to focus my thoughts on the Presence of the Holy Spirit, what He is saying to me, and what I can do to please Him.  The Holy Spirit will be focusing our ears to hear the Word and our eyes to see Jesus.  Listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit assures us of victory.  

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who lives in me, walks with me, and talks to me.  You knew I would need help in overcoming the temptations around me.  In your wisdom, you gave me your Spirit who refocuses my attention away from what I do not want to do.  And He focuses my thought on what I can do in order to please you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon

WHAT A CHANGE!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 13, 2025: SOAP #5579:  Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

OBSERVATION:   WHAT A CHANGE:  from being a slave to sin, to being a son of God!  From serving sin because I was in bondage, to serving God because I love Him.  And I love Him because He first loved me! 

APPLICATION:   I do not have to serve God—I get to serve God.  It is my privilege to serve Him.  It is my pleasure! 

Because I love Him, I consider myself His servant. 
Because He loves me, He considers me His son! 

Because I love Him and see myself as His servant, I serve Him joyfully. 
Because He loves me and considers me His son, He makes me His heir! 

He is always outdoing me!  That’s just the way He is! 

SOAP Reader: I trust you have found the joy of belonging to the LORD and serving Him out of joy.  He is so worthy; He should never need to twist our arms to serve Him.  We should serve Him willingly and joyfully.  We should consider it our pleasure to be asked to do something for Him. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I am your creation.  I am your child.  I am your friend.  I am your servant.  I am your son.  I am your heir.  I am blest!  May you be glad that I call you my Father.  May I bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon