Tag Archives: christianity

By faith receiving a gift that I could never earn!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 25, 2025: SOAP #5652: 1Kings 10, 11; 2Chronicles 9; Romans 6

Continuing in Romans 4…

SCRIPTURE: and OBSERVATION:   Romans (NIV) 4:6  David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

The author has been teaching us from the example of Abraham, and will return in verse 9, but for these next three verses we will consider David.  David was being led by the same Holy Spirit when he wrote about God’s grace in Psalms 32.

How blessed it is to have righteousness credited to our account, especially when it comes from God.

If I am going to depend on the righteousness I can earn, it will be quite lacking to meet my need.  Most of my righteousness would consist of good intentions, but there would be selfish streaks running throughout.  The performance would be recognizable most of the time, however it would be flawed by times of my mind being full of myself. 

On the other hand, if God credits the righteousness of Jesus to me, then it will be righteousness with perfect intention at its heart, and perfect performance.  There will be no question on judgment day.  Clearly HIS righteousness is sufficient for me!   

With my righteousness, I will always be wondering if it is good enough.  I will not have much peace of mind for worrying if it will suffice for entrance into heaven.  With God’s righteousness, I have peace of mind.  There is no need to worry about whether it will meet His requirements!   It is better to receive as a gift what I could never earn!

APPLICATION:   Eternity is so important.  There are only two places to spend eternity:  heaven in God’s presence or hell with its torment away from God’s presence.  I must be sure of my eternal destination!  It can be a worrisome process: have I done enough to make sure I am going to the right place? 

What peace calms my troubled thoughts when by faith I receive Christ as my Lord and Savior for then my entrance into heaven will be based on what He has done instead of what I have done!!!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, on the basis of what Jesus has done for me, my sins are forgiven and you have taken me into your family as your child!  Thank you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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What A Change!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 22, 2025: SOAP #5649: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

OBSERVATION:   NOTE: I repeat this SOAP from last year for the many new readers who have recently made Jesus to be Lord of their lives and accepted the forgiveness He offers.  Many do not have Bibles, so the verses above will help them better understand what God has done in their lives.  –and it is good review for us all! 

All have sinned and come short of God’s standard.  The Gentiles who are without God’s written code, nor the Jews who have God’s written code—neither were able to meet God’s holy requirements. The most glorious thing is that the truth expressed in verse 23 does not nullify the truth expressed in the next verse. 

For all, the second statement (are justified freely) is as equally available as the first statement (all have sinned) is absolutely true.  But for the believer, both are equally AND absolutely true. We have sinned and are justified! 

Both the Jews and Gentiles have sinned.  BUT both the Jews and Gentiles can be brought into right standing without any cost to themselves.  It is a gift freely given, one clearly not deserved!  It is given through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus!  Our sins are forgiven! 

APPLICATION:  The better I understand how hopeless I was in sin, the better I appreciate the grace of God that justifies me—made me just-as-if-I’d never sinned!   I was hopelessly lost in sin, but now I am gloriously made clean!   What a great God!  How logical and proper to commit my whole life to him!  

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for saving me from sin and its results.  I am yours.  Use me as you desire.  Speak through me.  Touch through me.  Live through me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Jesus!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 20, 2025: SOAP #5647: 1Kings 6; 2Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

OBSERVATION:   Through the prophecies in the Old Testament we are assured that Jesus, as a descendent of David, is fully human.  It was the resurrection that “declared with power” that Jesus is the Son of God.    His death proved His humanness.  His resurrection proved His divinity.   His death showed Him to be the Son of man.  His resurrection showed Him to be the Son of God. 

Actions speak louder than words.  There are no words of Jesus that are more powerful than His resurrection.  No one was at the garden grave calling Jesus to come out of the tomb.  No one was speaking to His dead body to come back to life.  The only ones at the tomb were ones making sure no one would steal His dead body.  By His power as God the Son He rose from the grave!  He had laid down His life and He picked it up again.  What a powerful declaration!!!

APPLICATION:   Jesus, the Son of God, has already been and returned from where I am headed—the grave.  He is with me now and from this moment on!  

PRAYER:   Jesus, how powerfully you have spoken.  The truth of who you are fills my heart and life.  Your presence in my life assures me that I have nothing to fear! Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pleasing God

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 15, 2025: SOAP #5642: 1Chronicles 25-27; 1Thessalonians 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

OBSERVATION:   Here we see that our goal is to please God.  Our whole lives should be lived for the approval and pleasure of God.  When we accepted Jesus as our Savior (saving us from the wrath of God that will be poured out on sin), when we acknowledged Him as our LORD, He cames to live in us by His Holy Spirit. 

If I am going to please God, first, I need to know what pleases Him and what displeases Him.  Of course, there are many scriptures in the Bibe that can help us understand what God likes and dislikes.  But not everyone has a Bible—but every believer has something even better!!!   The scriptures were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and He cames to live in us when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior!!!!   Amazing, the author of the scriptures actually lives within us!!!

APPLICATION:   Of course, if I have a copy of the Bible, I need to be reading it.  But if I do not have a copy of the Bible, I need to learn to hear the Holy Spirit speaking in my heart.  When things please God, the Spirit is peaceful.  When things do not please God, the Spirit stirs uncomfortable feelings or thoughts.  It is then I need to be quiet and open my heart to what He is saying.  Many times, the Holy Spirit will bring a strong thought to my mind to show me what to do.  Of course, God also uses people to bring us His messages.  When He does, you will sense the Spirit within giving approval.

Be sure to spend time every day, just talking to God—praying.  Be sure to make some of the time just being quiet and listening.  Whatever portion of scripture you have, value it.  Let God know that His word is important to you.   

PRAYER:   Lord, However you speak to me is important!  Speak into my heart and mind.  Speak to me through people you have sent to help me.  Help me understand how much you love me and how I can best please you.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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God’s Word at Work!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 13, 2025: SOAP #5640: 2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1Thessalonians 2

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 2:3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts….
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

OBSERVATION:   No tricks, no deceitfulness were used by Paul to reach out to the Thessalonians.  Paul was not interested in building his kingdom, but God’s.  It was God who was using Paul to build the eternal Kingdom!  Paul had been chosen by God and entrusted with a noble assignment.  The good news of God’s great love for man, and the extent He went to show it, had been entrusted to Paul.  

Paul’s motive was, to put it most simply, to make God smile.  The test that concerned Paul, was not the approval of man, but the approval of God.  God considers the heart, the motives.

Paul’s was thankful for their openness to God’s Word.  Though it came through men, they accepted it as from God.  It is a life-changing word that Paul could see was presently at work in those to whom Paul was writing.

APPLICATION:   It was a joy for Paul to see people accept the scriptures as the Word of God and to see the Word at work in their lives.  Paul’s thankfulness is very understandable.

Every SOAP begins with a Scripture about which I write an Observation.  I prayerfully ask God to give me an Application of that scripture to my life.  Then I close with a short Prayer. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I am greatly humbled to see how you are using these SOAPs every day.  In them You show us that you love us.  You are interested in our lives.  And you speak to us each day.  Touch each reader with you Holy Spirit today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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No Longer Motivated by Fear!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 12, 2025: SOAP #5639:  2Samuel 21-23; 1Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

OBSERVATION:   What Paul says in this verse 4 is something of which he is confident. This is something that is obvious to him.

He addresses them as “brothers loved by God.”  What greater blessing can there be in the whole earth than to be loved by God.  It means that God is benevolently inclined to me.  It means that He intends me good.  It means that he will go to any length for my good, which is obviously proved by Calvery!  Knowing that God loves me is a thought to make any day a good day!

APPLICATION:   What is this of which Paul is so certain?  It is that they were chosen of God.  They had received Jesus, God Son, as their Lord and Savior.  God had looked them over and chose them.  God had seen that they were created in His image and now had His Son living within them.  God could not refuse His Son!  They had potential for special communion with Him.  How special it is to be chosen!

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, may every thought I think, every word I speak, and every action I make be a proper response to this truth—that my Heavenly Father is for me and loves me.  As His child, I do not respond out of fear for what He might do to me, but out of love because of what He already did for me.  He sent His Son to die for my sins!!!  His Son now lives within me.  Now I serve Him because I love Him. I am responding to His great love for me.  Holy Spirit, help me live my life in a way that brings joy to my Heavenly Father’s heart!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Jesus ALONE is Lord!!!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 11, 2025: SOAP #5638:  2Samuel 19, 20; Psalm 55; Matthew 28

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

OBSERVATION:   Jesus was preparing to leave his disciples.  He makes a simple statement: “All authority has been GIVEN to me.”   Jesus did not usurp authority.  Jesus did not gain authority by deceiving people.  Jesus did not fight to gain authority.  It HAS BEEN GIVEN to Him!  It is His!!!   

Jesus was judged WORTHY to receive all authority.  Father God, sitting on the throne of heaven judged that Jesus’ hearts and thoughts were pure. Nothing evil could be found in His being.  In His essence He was pure.  His actions were perfectly in line with His assignment.  His sacrifice proved His obedience even unto death.  His sinless blood which flowed from a sinless life was more than sufficient to cover the sins of all men.  His complete humility was worthy of ultimate exaltation. 

Jesus was judged worthy to receive ALL AUTHORITY.  He not only has authority on Friday, or Saturday, or Sunday, but every other day also.  He not only has authority on spiritual matters, or relationship matters, but on every aspect of life.  He has complete authority over all the disciplines of life.    

APPLICATION:   It is for me to judge Jesus to be worthy of ALL AUTHORITY in my life.  I GIVE Him ALL AUTHORITY because I judge that He is WORTHY!  His worth is obvious.  He needs not to fight me to prove that He is powerful enough to bring about my surrender.  Although, if necessary, He loves me enough to do that because as my Creator He knows what is best for me!  It is good for me to see Him as He really is—WORTHY!!!    

PRAYER:   Jesus, you are LORD of my life.  On my knee I bow and with my tongue confess that you alone are LORD!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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It Was Not Possible!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 09, 2025: SOAP #5636:  2Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

OBSERVATION:   It all came down to this.  Would the Father require the Son He loved to die for the sins of people?  Was it possible for there to be another way?  Could the creation God loved be saved in any other way?  Did Jesus really need to suffer as payment for our sins? 

The Holiness of God demanded that the payment for sin was death.  Since everyone had sinned, everyone had to die.  Sin could not be allowed into the Presence of the Holy God!  God could never realize the joy of loving His prize creation because sin separated us!  The loving God could never have fellowship with His sinning creation.  But if there was one born without sin, who overcame every temptation and lived a sinless life—then His death could be the payment for people born and living in sin!  So, this Holy and Loving God sent His Son to live that life and be that sacrifice!!! 

APPLICATION:   So, it was not possible for “this cup” to be taken from Jesus!   He must suffer and die as the Holy payment of a Holy God on behalf of sinful people who would then know the Love of God!   And so, in all creation where we can see the majesty and awesomeness of such a great Creator God there is one planet where we can see displayed the Creator’s great ability to love—earth!  

Dear SOAP reader, through accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we can be the recipients of that love, and through us can be seen the awesome love of our Creator! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your heart must have been twisted almost to the breaking point as the Son You love requested that the cup of suffering and death be taken from Him.  Yet even though He was your dearly loved Son, you required the same payment from Him as you would from me.   And so, with my sins forgiven I can enter your Holy presence. Just saying “Thanks” is too little, I give you my life as your home.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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In His Wisdom

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 07, 2025: SOAP #5634:  2Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no-one deceives you.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. … 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.

OBSERVATION:   To be deceived is to believe a lie.  Jesus said of Satan: “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)  It seems obvious that deception is Satan’s main game. 

In verse 4 above, Jesus warns us.  Yet in verse 5 and 11 we find that many people will be deceived.  And in verse 24 we see that Satan tries to deceive even the “elect.”     

APPLICATION:   Since Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) I need to keep close to Him. 

God knows that we forget what we have heard or even read in the Bible.  God knew that there would be some people who would not even have a Bible to read.  (The first printing press to produce the Bible in book form was in the 15th century)  So, in His wisdom, God has sent the Holy Spirit to live in each of His children.   The Holy Spirit has been given to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).  As we are able to read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will help us understand and apply it to our lives.  But in times and places where no Bible is available, the Holy Spirit can still lead us in paths of truth and to reject the lies that Satan uses to trap us. 

Whenever my thoughts are scrambled, whenever my heart is troubled, or whenever I have an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, I need to ask God for His wisdom to understand what he might be telling me.  Philippians 4:7 tells us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.  As God’s children in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, we need to be careful when we do not have peace and when something disrupts our peace. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, cause a question to arise in my heart every time I am about to be deceived into believing a lie.  Lead me into the path of truth.  Keep me free from deception.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Your Invitation!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 05, 2025: SOAP #5632:  2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 22:8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

OBSERVATION:   Jesus often used parables/stories to emphasize what He was teaching.  His stories were all real to life.  They were not about fictional things, but things people understood from their everyday life. 

In this story Jesus was emphasizing that our Heavenly Father is preparing a grand banquet in honor of His Son, and He wants the great hall full of guests.  He wants heaven to be full so His invitations have gone out.  But some of those invited have chosen not to come.  So with urgency He tells His servants, “Go out, and invite anyone you find!”  

There is only one requirement: they must be willing to come!  They did not need a ticket, or to bring a gift, or even have the right clothes.  They did not need to pass a test to be eligible to come.  They only had to be willing to accept the invitation, to believe that it was a genuine invitation personally offered to them.  A necessary wedding garment would be provided. 

APPLICATION:  Last Sunday night such an invitation went out to a large gathering of people invited to hear about the SOAPs.  About 19,000 responded to the call to make Jesus the Lord of their lives.  They provided their names and phone numbers, so now they too are receiving the SOAPs every day!  

Pray with me that the SOAPs will help them grow in loving Jesus and experiencing His love and grace.  Pray that the joy of the Lord will flood their hearts and homes. 

If you, dear SOAP reader, have not yet asked Jesus to forgive your sins and invited Him to be the LORD of your life, pray with me…

PRAYER:   Lord, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  I invite you to live in my heart as my Lord.  With thanksgiving, I receive your offer of forgiveness.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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