Tag Archives: god

…because of The LORD!

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 04, 2025: SOAP #5631:  2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

SCRIPTURE:  2Samuel 8:6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. …
14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

OBSERVATION:   Surely David invested effort in procuring victory, but the Bible gives him no credit.  All the credit and glory belongs to the Lord.  “The LORD gave David victory wherever he went!”  Victory was not because David was such a great general, but because he served such a great God!  Victory came at the Lord’s prerogative. He could have given it to another, but He gave it to David.  They were David’s victories.  The glory was the LORD’s.  The LORD gave victory to David; David gave glory to God!  The victory belonged to David, but the glory belonged to the LORD! 

The truth in this passage is the same truth I see in the SOAP ministry.  The LORD very clearly instructed me to start writing these devotions.  The LORD has faithfully given me something to write every day for the past 15+ years.  I have done no advertising; the LORD brings them to people’s attention.  The growth in the printing and distribution of the SOAPs can only be understood in that the LORD was working.  The LORD has caused them to spread in places I would have never gone, nor would current SOAP leaders gone.  The LORD takes this ministry personally. 

APPLICATION:   In preparation for battle, or for any ministry, the priority must always be ensuring that I am on the LORD’s side.  That must take priority over the LORD being on my side.  It is good to have the LORD on my side, but so much better when I am on His side!!!  It is good to work for the LORD, but so much better to work with the LORD.  I am assured of victory when I am doing what He is doing. 

PRAYER:   Lord, when I am working with you I have the assurance of your power and wisdom.  I can trust you for provision.  I can depend on you for direction.  You always have a plan and, in your timing, you will show me.  You will turn the struggles into victories.   Amen. 

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

Doing it The Jesus Way!

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 03, 2025: SOAP #5630:  2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 20:26 …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
28 just as THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.”

OBSERVATION:   That is how verse 28 is marked in my Bible – bold and underlined.  It is a purpose statement Jesus gives for His own life.  This is why He came.  Here is the reason for His presence.  This is an important verse revealing motive.  Recently as I read this passage, I noticed I had missed something very important.  I missed the first two words of the verse: “just as…”  Jesus was telling us about His purpose to use Himself as an example for applying the previous two verses to our lives.  “If you want to be great, you must become a servant (vs 26), —even a slave (vs 27); and here is your example (vs 28).  Do it like I do it!  Follow my example!”

APPLICATION:   The authority God has given me is a tool to use in serving others.  It is not how many people I can rule, but how many people I can serve.  Jesus is my example of not taking the comfortable way and making choices that serve me but making choices that serve others.  Today, in my life, I want to embolden and underline the two words previously missed. 

I want to serve “Jesus way.”  And since He is living inside as my LORD, I can count on Him to express Himself through me. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you are my example in using whatever authority is mine today, be it over others or just over myself.  I want to make decisions that please you and serve others.  As best I can, I want to use this day “just as” you would.  I am counting on your presence in me to help me.  Amen. 

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

“there”

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 02, 2025: SOAP #5629:  1Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.  2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

OBSERVATION:   Jesus was moving toward Jerusalem where he would offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for sin.  He did not invite the “large crowds” following Him to join Him in Jerusalem.  He did not tell them to meet Him at the temple.  No, He ministered to them—“He healed them there.”   They did not need to be in Jerusalem; they did not need to be in the temple; they only needed to be in the Presence of Jesus!    

APPLICATION:   A building, even a church building, is not necessary for the ministry of Jesus.  Costly musical instruments and talented musicians are not necessary; a choir is not necessary.  The only thing necessary for the ministry of Jesus is the Presence of Jesus.  If I am with only one person, and Jesus is present, His ministry can be effective there!      

Several months back, a gentleman was walking in Freetown, Sierra Leone, going to a doctor’s office to see about his sickness.  Someone met him on the street, gave him a SOAP and told him that Jesus could heal him.  Jesus did! 

This past Sunday evening, in several large auditoriums people were gathered for a presentation of SOAPs.  After a call to receive Jesus, prayer was offered for healing.  Several testimonies have been received from people who were healed.  Physical healings are personal proofs of God’s presence, His love, and His power!  People can be healed walking on the street or in a gathering of people if Jesus is there! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, continue to remind me wherever I am, Jesus can do what is necessary there!  May I recognize His Presence and release a knowledge of His Presence in that place by my words and actions.  Amen

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

Forgive? How? …just as…

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 01, 2025: SOAP #5628:  1Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 18:32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow-servant just as I had on you?’  34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

OBSERVATION:   Jesus was telling the story of a servant whose master had forgiven him a huge debt.  Later it was reported to the master that this same servant had refused to forgive a much smaller debt and had his debtor thrown in prison until he paid.   The servant did not consider the master’s generosity sufficient to cover the debt the other servant owed him.  The above verses give the master’s response.      

APPLICATION:   The Holy Father God considers Jesus’ death to be more than sufficient payment to cover all my sins against Him.  It honors Him when I consider Jesus’ death to be more than sufficient payment to cover all the sins of others against me!   Forgiven, I forgive! 

To say, “I cannot forgive just as He forgives,” is to ignore the presence of the Great Forgiver living in me!   He is not requiring of us something He has not done for us nor something He will not do through us. 

REMEMBER: Forgiving is a choice; forgetting is a process!  When I remember an offence, I must remember it as forgiven and use it as an opportunity to give praise to God for what He has done for me.

PRAYER:   Lord, I “show forth your death” when I consider your death as sufficient payment for sins against me.  May you be glorified in my life.   Amen

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

Bearing My Burdens

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 30, 2025: SOAP #5627:  2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah

OBSERVATION:   In this psalm, David presents God as majestic over all the earth and the peoples of the earth.  He has total victory over his enemies.  He is the mighty general leading a great army.  His chariots are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands!    Yet he cares for his people.  He bears their burdens!  

APPLICATION:   While other gods were burdens that their worshippers had to carry, my God daily carries my burdens!   He uses His strength to serve me!    He encourages me to cast my cares on him because he cares for me!    

Worry is a great burden, yet knowing that God is with me and that He has all knowledge and wisdom—and that He loves me and is present to help me and show me what I should do—it makes my worries melt away.  I roll my burdens and worries on Him knowing that the troubles will not be ignored, but He will deal with them in love and wisdom.  And when it is time for me to do something, He will show me what to do and He will be with me to help me!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, you are amazing.  You are so great, yet you care for me—you carry my burdens!  You sent Jesus to bear the burden of my sins to the cross where His sinless blood became the payment for my sins!  He took the burden of my sins and replaced it with His peace and joy.  I am blessed!  Amen

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

Pleasing God

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 29, 2025: SOAP #5626:  2Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

SCRIPTURE:   Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

OBSERVATION:   If I really want to please God, then I must know what pleases Him.  I cannot live my life doing what pleases me and just hope that enough of it will please Him that I will make it into heaven. 

APPLICATION:   There are two ways to organize one’s life.  First is to please myself and hope that some of it pleases God.  The second way is to set my heart to please God and discover that it very often pleases me too!  

There are two sources of knowledge about God and what pleases Him.  First is The Word of God which many refer to as the Holy Bible or the scriptures.  In them we read about the character of God and see how Jesus lived in this world.  Second is the Holy Spirit that comes into our lives when we take Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  He often releases joy when we are pleasing God and usually fills our heart with guilt, or remorse, or heaviness when we do what displeases God. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for the joy that fills our hearts when we first invite you to live in our hearts.  And thank you for the peace you bring into our lives.  Teach us from your Word how to please you.  Walk with us, talk with us.  Teach us to recognize your voice.  In Your Name, Lord Jesus, we pray,  Amen

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

Just a note of rejoicing to share with SOAP readers.  Yesterday evening there was a LARGE group of people gathered to hear about Jesus and the SOAPs. (35-40,000) It is reported that 19,000 accepted Jesus as Lord and gave their names and phone numbers to receive the daily SOAPs. 
So, if you had a glad day today, it might have been that the joy of heaven spilled over into your heart!   Please pray for the SOAP team to help these new believers grow in their faith and in the joy of the Lord!   It’s a new day of the Lord!  

It Must Be A Heart Matter!

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 28, 2025: SOAP #5625:  2Samuel 3; 1Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 15:4  For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ 6 he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus, you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”

OBSERVATION:   In these verses Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders about the way they twisted the commands.  They talked like they had it all together when it came to spiritual things, but the most important part to God—their heart—was far from what it should be.    

I hear him saying their worship was useless to God and useless to themselves.  Their teaching should have come from their personal relationship with God, but instead they just mouthed what someone else had said. 

APPLICATION:   It is good to learn from others, but I must personally hear God speaking to me.  And when He does use people to speak to me, the Holy Spirit confirms in my spirit that the message is from God.    That happens more often when I honor God with my lips AND with my heart.

The personal relationship that God desires is for us to accept Jesus offer of forgiveness (made possible by His sinless life and death on the cross) and to make Jesus the Lord of our lives.  We invite Him to live in our lives, not as a guest, but as a permanent, honored resident, as the LORD of our lives.

PRAYER:   Lord, as a child, I used to sing:  “Into my heart, come into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus.  Come in today, come in to stay; come into my heart Lord Jesus.”  Amen. 

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

An Important Link

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 27, 2025: SOAP #5624:  2Samuel; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 14:17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he (Jesus) said.  19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.  Then he gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children

OBSERVATION:   The disciples took what was available and gave it to Jesus.  Then they took what He gave them and gave it to the people. 

The disciples were a key link for getting the needed bread from Him who is the bread of life, to those needing nourishment. 

APPLICATION:   Here is a good pattern for me and for any disciple of Jesus.  I take what I have available and give it to Jesus.  Then I take what He returns to me and give it to those around me. 

I become a link to get the message from Jesus to those needing to hear. 

NOTE:  The disciples only gave out what Jesus had given to them! 
ALSO NOTE:  Jesus only multiplied what they had given Him!

PRAYER:   Lord, at your direction, to place in your hands the little I have is the wisest thing I can do!  Lord, I place this SOAP in your hands.  Multiply it and use it for your glory!  I know you will then place this SOAP into the many hearts and hands of those who will distribute it to those hungry for a word from you. Amen

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

Something Fresh!

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 26, 2025: SOAP #5623:  2Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 13:52 He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples) “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” 

OBSERVATION:   One should not throw away something just because it is old.  Neither should one continue to use the old when the new is better.  Wisdom is the blending of the old and the new.  Both have value.   (The principle in this verse can be applied to everything from worship music to using technology.) 

APPLICATION:   To live under the Old Testament law when I understand New Testament grace would be foolish, but if I ignore the Old Testament and only read the New Testament I will miss much of God’s character that can be seen as He interacted with the Old Testament people. 

I continue to enjoy the songs that were written in the 1920’s to the 1970’s.  But if I refuse the songs of today, I miss the joy of hearing a new generation express their love and devotion to the One I love most!  After all, what makes God happy should make Leon happy! 

Oh the joy that comes from daily time reading and meditating on God’s word.  He continues to give me new understanding from the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures and new ways to apply them to my daily life.  God’s word is always fresh in my heart.  

Read your Bible with a pencil and sheet of paper (or a blank page in a journal) with you.  Write the date on the sheet praying for God to show you something fresh for you today.  God responds to faith and your faith has made preparation for you to hear from God!  

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to always appreciate what you have done in the past yet I want to be flexible enough to appreciate what you are doing in the present…what you are doing today.  Amen

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

In This Together!

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 25, 2025: SOAP #5622:  1Samuel 30,31; 1Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

SCRIPTURE:  1Samuel (NIV) 30:3 When David and his men came to Ziklag [their home at that time], they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.  6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

OBSERVATION:   What a verse!  Everything had gone wrong for David, even his men were turning against him, BUT David had a source to Whom he could turn for solace, support and strength.  It is important to note that David did not find strength in the LORD God, but in the LORD HIS GOD!  

God is a never-failing and eternal source.  He avails today as He did then for all who seek His comfort.  God is our refuge, an ever-present help in time of trouble!

APPLICATION:   It may be trouble that causes me to turn to God.  He may be my last ray of hope.  So, in my desperation I call upon Him and find Him to be strength and consolation. 

No, He does not give me strength; He becomes my strength; He is my strength; It is His presence!   He does not give me strength so that I can take it and run away on my own…NO, He becomes my strength!!!  I have strength in His presence! 

PRAYER:   Lord, I am finding that YOU are all I need!  In my relationship with you I have peace and joy.  I have the satisfaction of your approval as we walk through life together.  Surely, we are in this together!   Amen

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