Tag Archives: bible

My Victory is in Jesus!

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8Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 11, 2025: SOAP #5577:  Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

OBSERVATION:   This verse stirs two very strong thoughts, the weakness of the law and the power of the cross.  It also leads me to consider how important my righteousness is to God. It is so important that He sent His Son to die!  Amazing!

The battle was won on the cross!  It was there that the price was paid.  It was there that Jesus won over the temptation of trying an easier way.  It was there that the power of Satan’s temptation to move outside the will of the Father was defeated!  Jesus would not give in to the devil’s temptation to move other than in His Father’s will!

Jesus entered death as The Triumphant One.  He remained true to His Father’s will even unto death!   He did not surrender Himself to the devil’s temptations.  He entered the grave as The Victorious One!   He came out as More than a Conqueror!   The three days in the grave was the victory lap taken after the race had been won!

APPLICATION:   When Jesus entered my life as Lord, it is like He takes a victory lap in me.  He breaks the power of sin in me.  He lives His life in me!  Once I was in bondage to sin, now I have the power to resist temptation.  I can confess the weakness of my flesh and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit!   I can claim the Name of Jesus!  I can speak out what God has done for me!   (Revelation 12:11)

PRAYER:  Lord, by your Holy Spirit, you lead me and empower me to live a life that honors you.  Teach me your way, O Lord, I pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Please pray for the SOAP Conference team that is now in Burkina Faso.  Pray for God to do miracles like in the book of Acts.  May many people be drawn to the Lord!  

Living Ready!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 06, 2025: SOAP #5572:  Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

OBSERVATION:   Having been born the year Israel became a nation and believing that the fig-tree in verse 28 could be a reference to Israel, I consider myself a part of “this generation.”   I believe the things mentioned in the previous verses will happen in my lifetime.  

The theme of the next 5 verses is “be on guard,” “be alert,” “don’t be sleeping,”  “watch!”  This is not a day to be a sleepy Christian. 

APPLICATION:   In verse 37 Jesus says, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  I must take that personally.  I must not let myself be influenced by the world into thinking that everything will continue as it has.  I must keep my ears open to what the Holy Spirit is saying.  I must keep “on guard” and “alert!” 

I need to get my news from the Bible even more than from newspapers, magazines, radio or television.  The Holy Spirit is the author of the scriptures and He is able to give us understanding of how they apply to today. 

Reality may be that I have less time than my generation.  An accident, or some sickness may usher me into the presence of God before the call for “this generation.”  I have no promise of tomorrow.  (Proverbs 27:1)  I must be ready today!  I must live ready! 

PRAYER:   Lord, You have a plan and you have a time frame into which that plan must be finished.  As we quickly approach the completion of your plan, keep me sharp in hearing your voice.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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What A Teacher!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 05, 2025: SOAP #5571:  Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:1 He [Jesus] then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey…

OBSERVATION:   When Jesus taught heavenly principles, He always used earthy illustrations that would be easy for people to understand.  He used illustrations from their everyday life, things with which they were already familiar.  When Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to continue this ministry of revealing truth.  (John 16:3)

APPLICATION:   When the Holy Spirit shows me something new, I often come away thinking, that is so simple.  The most profound truths are put in the simplest of terms so that even I can understand them!  

The Holy Spirit is a good teacher because 1) He perfectly understands the truth, 2) He perfectly understands each of us, and 3) He communicates with each person individually. 

He is with me when I read the scriptures.  He is with me when I hear a preacher or teacher or a word of prophecy.  He rode the school bus with me and made me aware of things that demonstrated spiritual truth.  The Holy Spirit sparks my heart to receive truth and then apply it.  The Holy Spirit is my personal tutor.  I could not ask for a better teacher.  (And the same is true for each believer!)

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, thank you for being my teacher.  As I write these SOAPs give me clarity of thought.  Help me understand what you are saying and help me communicate the truth in ways that are easy for readers to understand, and easy to translate.  Thank you for being with each SOAP reader and showing them what is important for them to hear and apply.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Oh, what a change!!!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 2, 2025: SOAP #5540:  Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 9:19 …Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23 After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,

OBSERVATION:   What a change!  Paul was on a trip to Damascus to take those who believed in Jesus as prisoner and take them before the religious court, probably to kill them.  That is the way it started, but Jesus interrupted Paul’s trip and Paul came to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah for which the Jews were waiting.  Before leaving Damascus, he preached powerful sermons proving that Jesus is the Christ.  He even became a target of being potentially killed

APPLICATION:  No one can change a life like Jesus!  When He comes into a person’s life and is given the place as Lord, He makes changes!   Our nation is presently undergoing great changes as we have a new president!   Every day, the news has stories about how President Trump has changed something.  But the political changes are small compared to the changes Christ brings to our lives.  2Corinthians 5:17 says “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.  The old has gone, the new is here!”

PRAYER:  Lord, what a special blessing it is to be a “new creation” in you.  Life is not boring with you because every day you have something new for us.  Being faithful in reading your word, in prayer, in consciously being aware of your presence all day long keeps us spiritually alert for a new adventure with you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Programmed for Victory

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 23, 2025: SOAP #5529:  Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 6:6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’” 9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

OBSERVATION:   What promises!   And consider who it is that is making these promises!   It is none other than The Creator of the Heavens and Earth!   If anyone had the power to keep such promises, GOD DID!!! 

If God almighty made such a promise to me, I believe I would be shouting, and dancing, and having a happy party!!!  But not the Israelites, no. They were so discouraged, they did not even hear the promises, or Who it was making such great promises!   We often criticize them, but we must be careful. Because we do the same thing!  

APPLICATION:  Knowing us as well as He does, He has given us a whole book filled with His promises!   If we forget we can go back and read them again!  

And knowing us as well as He does, He has given us the Holy Spirit to accompany us throughout our lives!   He accompanies us 24 hours a day.   He teaches up; He reminds us; He guides us!   We are never left alone.  We must apply what we have been given.  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ who suffered and died in payment for our sins.  We are so blest!    AND thank you for your Word, written and available.  It teaches us to live in victory.  AND thank you for the Holy Spirit!  His presence assures us that we will always have someone to guide us and remind us of what you have said.   Heavenly Father, you have programmed us for victory and you have provided for our victory.  We rejoice.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Obedience/Provision

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 08, 2025: SOAP #5515:  Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 22:11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

OBSERVATION:   In obedience to God’s command, Abraham had taken his son, Isaac, to the mountain designated by God to sacrifice him to the Lord.  This was the son they had hoped for and prayed for through many years of Sarah’s barrenness.  This was the son God had promised.  This was the son God had given them.  Was Abraham willing to sacrifice something so precious and special?  Did Abraham hold God in even higher regard than he did his own son?    

The answer was YES.  And as Abraham was beginning the action, God stopped him and there in the thicket they saw a ram which was then sacrificed in the place of Isaac.  What relief and joy must have flooded the heart of this 100+ year old father!!! 

APPLICATION:  What God speaks to my heart through this passage, is that God is faithful to provide for me when I am faithful to do as He says.  My obedience and God’s provision are strongly tied together.  My obedience gives me confidence that I please God as well as brings joy to God in accomplishing His will.  It makes Him kindly disposed towards me. 

This ministry of SOAP is a modern example of this.  SOAP was not something I was excited to do.  But it was clearly God telling me to write SOAPs.  The sacrifice of my way of doing my daily devotions in no way compares to Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, but the miraculous provision sometimes overwhelms me as the ram in the thicket surely did Abraham. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I know that I am doing your will, I know I can count on you for the needed provision.  Your provision may come through a job I can do for which I will receive a paycheck (like driving a school bus).  It may come through the work of my hands (like planting a garden or harvesting fruit trees).  It may come like manna from heaven or a money gift through the mail.  But however you provide, it comes in response to my faith and it is received with thanksgiving and praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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