Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 12, 2025: SOAP #5762: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings— and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was introduced to the world by John the Baptist as the Lamb. The context of this verse shows a ten nation confederacy submitting their power to Satan’s kingdom to make war against the Lamb.  The outcome of this war is not in doubt. 

With the Lamb are those who have been called, then they have been chosen, and finally they have proven faithful.   

APPLICATION:  I cannot do the calling.  God calls me as the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin and draws me to His forgiveness. 

I cannot do the choosing.  God chooses to place His Spirit within me.  He chooses to make me His dwelling place, His home.  He chooses to have fellowship with me!  

But I can be faithful.  I can be faithful to listen and to obey.  I can be faithful to keep Him #1 in my life.   I can be faithful to the assignments He has given me. 

Just a note:  if you are a parent, God has given you the greatest assignment any person can have.  Remember, Mary’s assignment was to be a mother!  Be faithful to raise your children, and to pray for them daily. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you have loved me and proved again and again your love for me.  You have chosen me and given me some special assignments.  How can I not be faithful to you!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 11, 2025: SOAP #5761: Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 16:7 And I heard the altar respond:  “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.” 

OBSERVATION:  In chapter 6 of this book we saw that the souls of the martyrs were allowed to be under the altar, the place from which this voice came.  They had a “ring-side” seat from which they could view the heavenly activities.  Seeing how God was dispensing judgment, they marveled at God’s fairness and justice. 

Was God angry?  Definitely, but as we read about God’s wrath, we see that His anger is under the control of His holiness.  He does not judge in spite, in revenge, or in hate, but with truth and justice. 

His judgment is always fair and appropriate! 

APPLICATION:  It was amazing grace that motivated God to pour out the judgment I deserved on Jesus who died in my place.  Jesus received the full penalty that was appropriate for my sin, and for the sins of the whole earth. 

Having accepted Jesus as my Lord (boss/owner) and Savior (the One Who paid the price for my sins) I walk in joyful confidence that God’s justice has been satisfied.  The amazing God has an amazing plan to demonstrate both His holiness and love. 

His holiness was clearly demonstrated in that He demanded the full penalty for sin from Jesus who had never sinned but was paying for my sin!!!  God’s holiness demanded that the full penalty be paid. 

His love was clearly demonstrated in that the sacrifice was motivated purely by love for undeserving, unworthy me. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, your judgments are always appropriate.  And in Jesus, they are heavily flavored with your grace and mercy.     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 10, 2025: SOAP #5760: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 15:2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God  3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. 4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

OBSERVATION:  In verse 3 we see that the Old Testament and the New Testament are really only one book.  It is just one story.  Through Moses and the tabernacle with its ceremonial rituals we were taught to recognize Jesus, the Lamb of God who fulfilled the law and became the perfect sacrifice to take away the sins of the world!   What Moses began, Christ finished!   It is all one story!  …and it is not finished, there is still more!      

Old Testament and New Testament saints will join in worshipping the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world!  

APPLICATION:  I need to worship the Lord from both the Old Testament and New Testament perspectives.  Seeing the character of God expressed in the Old Testament scriptures gives a rich source of teaching and worship.  Seeing the character of God expressed in Jesus and the teaching of the New Testament add so much to the beauty of what I see of our Amazing God.  Through Jesus, I not only get to know more about God, but I get to KNOW God! 

He is clearly worthy of all worship and praise!   He is worthy of all Old Testament and New Testament worship songs.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for not slighting your holiness to show us your love!  You are amazing!  You are worthy of my devotion.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 07, 2025: SOAP #5757: 2Kings 25; 2Chron 36; Jer 40-41; Rev 12

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

OBSERVATION:  Who you are fighting determines the weapons to be used.  When fighting the “accuser,” having one attitude and using two weapons will win every time.  The attitude is to not love our lives so much that we are afraid to die.  We must be courageous.  Again and again in the scriptures we are told to be courageous.

Along with courage, we need the blood of the Lamb.  It is the blood that removes even the hint of guilt.  The blood is not proof that we have not sinned.  No, The blood is the proof that a sacrifice has been made that covers our sins.  The accusations have no basis when we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus!  We are forgiven and cleansed from “all unrighteousness!” (1John 1:9)  We are justified!  We are pure.  We are as pure as if we had never sinned!  Thank God for the blood.  It is definitely something to celebrate!

And there is another weapon.  It is the “word of our testimony.” The “word” is Jesus and He must be the focus of our testimony if we are to be effective against the devil.  It is our/my testimony.  It is personal.  This is what Jesus has done for me. 

APPLICATION:  God has created me to be an overcomer.  He has given me many promises in the scriptures.  His presence is always with me. I must remember that the life that Jesus now lives in me by His Holy Spirit is post-resurrection life.  He has already defeated the devil and death!  He has already faced every trial and temptation I will ever face!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I step out of the way, Live your life in me.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 06, 2025: SOAP #5756: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 11:13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”  16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

OBSERVATION:  It is good to note the difference between what happens on earth and what happens in heaven.  The inhabitants of earth are reaping the rewards of evil.  Those on earth, who give glory to God, do so motivated by terror. (verse 13)  The inhabitants of heaven are enjoying the Presence of Almighty God.  Those in heaven, who give glory to God, do so motivated by honor and appreciation for this Perfectly Holy Being who is all powerful and in control.  (verse 16)

APPLICATION:  It is good to consider the differences between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms of this earth.  There are so many!  Those of us who have received forgiveness and in whom Christ dwells, even now, are blest to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven!  The blessings we enjoy now are nothing compared to the blessings we will enjoy in heaven!!    

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for living in me and making me a part of your kingdom.  May it be obvious to others that I consider myself greatly blest to be a part of your kingdom.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 05, 2025: SOAP #5755: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 10:11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
Revelation (NIV) 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

OBSERVATION:  The plan of God was to provide a sinless sacrifice that could be acceptable as payment for the sins of all who believe.  It must be a sacrifice that met all the moral qualifications and fulfilled all the prophetic scriptures. 

Only One sacrifice met all the requirements:  Jesus. 

There was/is no other sacrifices for other nations.  Jesus was the one sacrifice for the world; for all who would believe.  But being ONE, he came through ONE nation so much of the scriptures targets Israel. 

Throughout the Old Testament we find God reaching out to other nations, but when Jesus had completed the sacrifice and had risen from the dead, we see a fresh emphasis of the gospel to all the world!  Here in the last book of the Bible, we see God’s purposes and plans include “every nation and tribe and tongue and people.”    

APPLICATION:  This includes me, my family members, my neighbors, my fellow workers, everyone I meet every day, AND everyone who reads this SOAP.    

We receive the benefit of His sacrifice by faith.  We acknowledge that we have sinned and ask His sacrifice be accepted as payment for our sin.  We invite Jesus to live in us as our Lord.  Oh what a change that makes in our lives! 

PRAYER:  Lord, with a grateful heart I receive your forgiveness and dedicate my life to live each day for you.  Use me today for Your glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 01, 2025: SOAP #5751: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

OBSERVATION:  One does not have to read in the Bible very long to discover that God has a great capacity to love, also a great capacity for wrath.   

He is not a disinterested third party that hardly ever takes a second thought about the people He has placed on this planet.  He is very interested!  

He greatly loves His creation.  And that which He greatly loves can stir His great anger!      

APPLICATION: When I love someone, I want to know their likes and dislikes.  I want to do things that bring them pleasure—things that are good for them.   I want to observe what they do and understand why.  Before long I am not surprised at how they react when confronted with various circumstances.  I want to know God in such a way.  I want to understand why He does what He does.     

PRAYER Holy Spirit, from what I read in the scriptures I have come to believe that the Heavenly Father wants me to know Him in such a close way that I can understand His heart.  You, Holy Spirit, are the key to revealing His heart to me. (John 16:13)  You are the teacher I need.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 30, 2025: SOAP #5749: Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4

SCRIPTURE:  Ezekiel (NIV) 8:1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon me there.

OBSERVATION:  When God interacts with man, He enters man’s reality.  He works in man’s environment.  He works on man’s calendar and in man’s time.  The reality of God speaking to Ezekiel was so strong and clear that it was time-stamped in Ezekiel’s memory. 

As I visited with a friend today, he spoke of a specific day, in a specific jail cell where his life changed.  He can now see God’s hand previously working in his life, but that was the moment God’s power broke through all the addictions and he has been “clean” for the past six+ years!  Wow!!! 

There have been times when God has definitely spoken to me (Leon).  Remembering the circumstances helps me remember the message.  I remember kneeling at the platform in the Larned AG church. (1953)  I remember driving away from a stop sign in Wichita. (2010)  I remember Woodston Camp. (1964)  I remember an altar at the Kailua Church. (1972)  I remember the mountains south of the DMZ. (1969)  I remember the office of Bayview Chapel. (1989)  I remember…  Remembering where I was helps me remember what He said.     

APPLICATION:  When God has clearly spoken to us, it is good to write down what God has said.  It may also be good to write down the date and some description of what was happening in our day or life at that time.  

PRAYER:  Lord, Your words are precious, I do not want to forget them. Thank you for walking with me AND TALKING with me, not just in life changing moments, but every day!  That God talks to me, how special is that!!! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 29, 2025: SOAP #5748: Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

OBSERVATION:  In the last message to the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3, we have this invitation.  The Lord is standing on the outside and is knocking to gain entrance.  He wants to be on the inside but will not enter unless invited. 

If invited, He will eat with them, have fellowship with them.  He will sit at the table of their life and participate with what they have.  AND they will eat with Him at the table prepared for Him!  They will have fellowship with Him!

APPLICATION:  There can be no question as to who gets the better deal!  Jesus sitting at my table, eating what I have to eat, OR me sitting with him on His throne and eating what He has to eat, enjoying what is prepared in heaven for Him!!!  

Whatever I have, I consider it HIS.  He always has the seat of honor in my house.  From what I see in the scriptures He is saving a special seat for me;  I want to make sure He gets the best seat here that I can possibly provide. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are welcome in my life and my home.  I want you feel comfortable living in me.  I want my words, thoughts, and actions not offend you.  Please feel free to correct me and show me how I can improve.  May you enjoy living in me and sharing my life.  It is a great honor to have you living in me, and it would give me much pleasure to know that you enjoy living in me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 28, 2025: SOAP #5747: Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 2:11  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death…. 17  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…. 29  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  3:6,13,22,29

OBSERVATION:  Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation contain 7 individual messages to 7 churches.  Each message ends with the same message.  They are to use their ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Communication is such an important God given ability.  When He created man, it was His practice to appear in the garden to spend time with His creation. (Genesis 3:8)  God clearly created man to communicate with each other and to communicate with Him. 

Speaking is a very important part of communication, but just as important is listening.  I think of hearing as listening to understand.  Ears make listening possible, but God wants more that that we hear sounds.  He wants us to “hear” His message, to understand and respond. 

APPLICATION:  The SOAP method of Bible reading helps insure we “hear” what God is saying.  The APPLICATION emphasizes the personal aspect of God’s Word.  I read it, but what does it mean to me?  What is my response to what God is saying? 

There is an important part that follows “hearing” what God is saying; it is “doing” what we hear God speaking to us.   Our “doing” shows God that we understand what He said and are trying to put it into practice.  It shows God that we heard Him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I pray for the SOAP readers who are working to apply Your word to their lives.  Fill their hearts with peace and joy.  Show them the benefit of truly hearing what you are speaking.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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