Tag Archives: easter

HE is still Breaking Out!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 26, 2025:  SOAP #5837: Psalm 125; Matthew 26-27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

OBSERVATION:  They were interested in keeping people from breaking IN to the tomb; they were not considering that Someone might be breaking OUT!  They made the tomb as secure as they knew how, but it was not enough.  The heavy stone, the Roman seal, the Roman guard, and death itself could not keep Jesus from breaking out of that tomb!

APPLICATION:  It is truly amazing for me to have Jesus living within.  There is no power in the world or universe strong enough to box Him in.  Satan may try to box me in and put me in a grave.  He may use the latest technology.  He may do his best.  People may do their best.  But people, religious leaders, governmental leaders and Satan himself have already met their match at the empty tomb!   Satan has no power to entomb me in fear or doubt, or despair, or discouragement, or unhappiness.  I need only to remind him: the resurrected life of Christ within me can never be entombed again!  Wow!!!

PRAYER:  Lord, I never want to forget your power to break out of that tomb.  I never want to forget that same power is at work in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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HE accepted me!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 11, 2025: SOAP #5791: Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was risen!  He said he would rise again, and HE DID!  (Note: Matthew 16:21; 17:23; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; John 2:22)   He had kept His word!!! 

APPLICATION:  As much as these verses bless me, I am even more blest by the thought that HE IS STILL RISEN!  As the song says, “I serve a RISEN Savior, He’s in the world today!  I know that He is living, whatever men may say!” (Alfred Ackley) 

I serve a RISEN SAVIOR who is with me!  He will be with me when I am at death’s door, and He will take me through to life eternal in heaven, in the presence of His Father to live with Him forever!  

PRAYER:   Lord, How my heart rejoices to know that your are my LIVING Savior!  You are not a god made of wood or stone that sets on a shelf in my home.  But you are the LIVING GOD who dwells in my heart and shares my life with me.  Making you the LORD of my life was the smartest thing I ever did!  Thank you for accepting me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Service or Relationship?

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 10, 2025: SOAP #5637:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 27:63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

OBSERVATION:   They put a seal on the tomb of Jesus and posted a guard to make sure no one could get into the tomb and steal the body.  It was the best they knew how to do.  They could stop man from breaking in, but they could not stop Jesus from breaking out!!! 

APPLICATION:   I may find myself limited by what man does, but if I am working and walking with Jesus…He is never limited!  He cannot be limited!  It is important for me to work WITH Him, not just FOR Him. 

Sometimes I come up with a good idea of something I can do for God.  Just because it is something I think would please Him, I need to check with Him.  I have found He does not always help me to what I want to do FOR Him.  But He always helps me do what I do WITH Him.  He wants my relationship more than my service! 

Note:  If you know that God has given you a special ministry, then count on His presence to be with you.  Be faithful to use what you have for the Lord but realize that He is the One who does what you cannot do.  Count on Him for your provision.  Remember, He wants your relationship even more than your service.  Cast your cares upon Him, not on someone on the internet.  Ask Him for some promises in His word that will cause your faith to grow. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you sent your Son, Jesus, to die in my place for my sins.  You love me and want us to have a loving relationship.  As I grow in my relationship to you, you give me assignments where you teach me to rely upon you, your presence and your promises.  I am blessed as I grow in you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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