Tag Archives: god

My weakness; HIS STRENGTH!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 13, 2025: SOAP #5610:  1Samuel 14; 1Chronicles 4; 2Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 13:4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you….

OBSERVATION:   Here we see even Jesus weakened Himself to the place people could crucify him!  Then He was resurrected by the power of God and He now lives by God’s power. 

Why did Jesus become so weak to be killed?  I was for our sake.  He died for our sins and He arose with the power to give salvation to all who will receive!!    

The pre-crucifixion Jesus is no longer alive!  When we invite Jesus to come into our lives and become our Lord, He is not moving in as the one we read about in the gospels, but as the one in Revelation 1.  The crucifixion is over!  He is not preparing to suffer!  He is coming again to rule and reign.  He comes into our hearts as the reigning king and Lord!     

APPLICATION:   The power Jesus has in His resurrected life was not for His benefit, but for my benefit!!!  (That is an amazing thought!)  And now as I live in weakness, God’s power shines through me.  It is not power to be used for my benefit, but for serving others!  

PRAYER:   Lord, teach me how to step back from using my limited power to allow Your unlimited power to flow through me.  Help me remember that when I am weak, then I am strong in you.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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He takes advantage of my weaknesses!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 12, 2025: SOAP #5609:  1Samuel 13; 1Chronicles 2-3; 2Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

OBSERVATION:   God’s power is best seen in a person’s life in areas where they have little or no power of their own.   Credit cannot go to them, for everyone knows they have no talent, or wisdom, or strength to accomplish what is needed.  All the credit and glory must go to the Lord.  And they are delighted when God gets the glory!  

APPLICATION:   I should be delighted, but at times I am troubled when God calls me to do something out of my comfort zone.  Only after God has proved Himself faithful in accomplishing through me what I could not accomplish myself do I relax and rejoice in His Presence. 

In driving a school bus for 15 years, I had become comfortable, enjoying the interactions with the students.  But last week, the Lord had me working in the front office of an automotive muffler shop.  At times I saw that my weaknesses became His strengths.  I could not talk much about automotive mechanics and exhaust systems, but the Lord helped me turn the conversation to spiritual things. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I know you will never call me to do what you are not willing to do through me.  More and more, help me to relax and enjoy the journey.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Faithfully Prepared

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 11, 2025: SOAP #5608:  1Samuel 11-12; 1Chronicales 1; 2Corinthians 11

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians 11:7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
2Corinthians 13:10 — the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.  Note: 2Corinthians 10:8

OBSERVATION:   The Lord wants us to be elevators.  May we raise people with strength and confidence.  May we lift them to a higher floor.  If we have to take people down, may we do it in gentleness and carefulness, bringing them down easily and not crashing to the bottom.   The priority however is to build them up and lift them to a higher point of view.  

A word of encouragement, a compliment, a friendly greeting can lift the countenance of a person feeling discouraged, defeated, and/or all alone. 

APPLICATION:   Almost everywhere I look, I can find people who need a lift.  I need only to look at the faces of those around me.  When people are down, it can be seen on their face.  And better than that, we have the Holy Spirit to encourage us to speak to someone; and He will mix thoughts or words in our thinking to speak to them. 

Today, the Lord wants to use me to bring a word of hope and/or encouragement.  I must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. 

Here is a simple and practical suggestion: if you do not know what to say, start with the main thought from your most recent devotion, the one from this morning or last night.  It is very likely that God knew who you would happen to meet today, and He has prepared you. 

PRAYER:   Lord, show me today someone who needs a lift.  Use me to help lift their burdens.  I believe you are preparing me now to share your love with them.    Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Faith in our Giving!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 09, 2025: SOAP #5606:  1Samuel 6-7; Psalm 72; 2Corinthians 9

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

OBSERVATION:   What a special chapter on the blessings of giving, however it should be noted that Paul was not presenting this truth to motivate people to give to him or his ministry.  He was in Macedonia (Philippi) writing to the believers in Corinth about sending some financial help to the believers in Jerusalem who were experiencing a time of famine. 

My personal application of this chapter to the SOAP ministry:  God is the one who started this SOAP ministry.  I started not because I wanted to, but because He told me to write the SOAPs.  I consider myself blessed to be a part of HIS ministry.  Since the ministry is HIS, after all it is HIS word that is being presented, …since it is HIS, I expect Him to provide the necessary finances.  There should be no pressure from anyone in the SOAP ministry trying to convince anyone to give.  If convincing is needed, that is the job of our senior partner, the Holy Spirit.  

APPLICATION:  When you give in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, give in faith.  First: have faith that God is blest in your giving.  Second: have faith that God will use what you give to meet a need.  Third: have faith that your giving is a seed that will produce fruit.  Fourth: have faith that your seed will cause others to give praise to God.  Fifth: have faith that God will bring blessing back into your life.  Note verse 11 above.  Expect to experience the joy of giving.  Expect to experience the satisfaction of being a key part of a ministry team even though you are not physically present with the team!   

PRAYER:   Lord, teach us how to participate in ministry through praying and giving.  Show us how important the support ministries are to what you are doing.  Amen. 

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

Learning the Important Things

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 08, 2025: SOAP #5605:  1Samuel 3-5; Psalm 77; 2Corinthians 8

SCRIPTURE:  1Samuel (NIV) 3:8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.  9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the LORD said to Samuel…

OBSERVATION:   God was speaking!  The God of creation was speaking to a young boy.  Samuel did not yet recognize God’s voice and thought the old priest, Eli, was calling him.  After his third trip to check on Eli, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel.  So, he told Samuel how to respond.  And God cared enough that He called out a fourth time!

What Samuel heard was important, but what God heard was even more important!  First, God heard one of his created beings say, “LORD, I hear you.”  God had been hearing people cry out to Him, but here was a man that could hear God call out to him!  Second, God heard a man, created in His image say, “What you say is important.  I am listening.”  God had been listening to desperate people call to him with what was important to them.  Here was a young man willing to let God tell him what was important to God.  Samuel was saying, I can sleep later; hearing what you have to say is more important than sleep.  Third, God heard a young man say, “I am your servant.  I will follow through with your instructions.”  I will honor your word.

APPLICATION:   I know God hears me.  It is important that God knows that I hear Him! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, make me like Samuel.  I know you like to hear me come to you with my praise and worship, yes and with my needs.  But when it comes to my wants and needs, it is more important that I hear your word, then you hear my words.  Amen

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

NOTE:  dear SOAP READING friends; I trust this repeated SOAP burns in your heart as it did mine.  It speaks to the heart of our relationship with the Great God of Glory!   What a special privilege is ours!  But I fear we often fall into the temptation to see His as the answer to all our needs, rather than seeing ourselves as the ones He created for His glory.  His will has priority over our desires!   Leon    

The Road out of Trouble

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 07, 2025: SOAP #5604:  1Samuel 1-2; Psalm 66; 2Corinthians 7

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  

OBSERVATION:   Most of us do not consider sorrow something good, but it can be the road out of trouble.  Godly sorrow takes responsibility for our actions and seeks forgiveness.  Taking responsibility and apologizing opens the door for those offended to forgive.  And most important, for God to forgive! 

Worldly sorrow, however, blames others and refuses to take ownership.  It is not our fault.  Someone else made us do it.  We are sorry we got caught or sorry for the results that came our way, but not because we did it. 

APPLICATION:   It is wonderful that God is so willing to forgive and restore friendship with us.   For me to receive His forgiveness, I must take responsibility for what I have done.  When I cannot admit that I have sinned, I cannot experience the joy of His forgiveness and restoration.  But when I do, I have His promise of forgiveness.  (1John 1:9) 

We find that confession is the first step on the road out of trouble!  And when we take the first step, we find that He is right there waiting for us!   All the time we wasted while He was just one step away!  And then He walks with me on the rest of the road out of trouble. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I know that you are the only One who can truly forgive and remove the guilt of sin.  I want to be quick to apologize, to be quick to admit that I have sinned.  1John 1:9 says that if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.      Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Wherever & Whenever

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 06, 2025: SOAP #5603:  Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64, 65; 2Corinthians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 65:1 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.  2 O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.

OBSERVATION:   I see Zion as the place where people gathered to worship the Lord.  It was there they celebrated in His presence.  It was there they heard the decrees and judgments of the Lord.  It was there they brought their sacrifices.  It was a gathering place for worshippers. 

So, what is in Zion that makes God want to be present?  Praise!   The assembled worshippers are anticipating His arrival.  Their hearts have been cleansed from sin.  Their mind is anticipating His arrival.  Then His presence is recognized, and what happens? The place erupts in praise!   There are shouts of “Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!.”  There are expressions of joy, clapping and dancing.  The King is present and they rejoice. 

APPLICATION:   Then the praise subsides, but not His presence.  And in the stillness of His presence the praise turns to worship!   They do not sing about Him, they sing to Him.  His presence stirs in their hearts and they respond in loving surrender.  He is God, Almighty.  He is our dearest friend!   The bride of Christ has moved from the wedding celebration into the intimacy of the bridal chamber where the relationship can reach new levels of love. 

Yes, praise awaits God in our gatherings, but the psalmist did not wait until he was in Zion to praise and worship the Lord.  As we read Psalms, we see that praise and worship should be a major part of our lives, wherever and whenever.  Praising Him for what He has done and worshipping Him for who He is. 

PRAYER:   Lord, you are worthy of my praise and worship. May you enjoy your days living in me.  May I always have praise in my heart ready for you.  May praise always be ready to spill out of my mouth.  Amen

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

Priorities

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 05, 2025: SOAP #5602:  Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:   2Corinthians (NIV) 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

OBSERVATION:   It is good that Paul describes death with two equal but opposing phrases.  The first is “to be away from the body.”  The body in its present form is temporary.  It is temporal.  It is appropriate and proper for our life on earth.  But until Jesus comes, it will be left behind.

The second phrase, “at home with the Lord,” gives us a wonderful comforting thought about death.  Not only does Paul tell where we will not be, he also tells us where we will be!   When death takes us, what a comfort it is for our loved ones to know to where we have gone!  What comfort for those left behind, those with the responsibility of taking care of what we leave behind — our possessions, our family and friends, yes, and our body too.

APPLICATION:   Two things we can take from this passage as priorities.   First, we need to make sure that are ready to meet Jesus, either when He specifically calls for us, or when He comes for all believers!   What could be more important than being prepared for our death!!!  We choose our eternal destiny while here on this earth.  “Eternity” is longer than “forever.”   Now is the time to choose; today is the day of salvation.  Going through death’s door, we will enter eternity without God in hell, or eternity with God in heaven!  The second is to make sure our family will meet us there!  

If you are not sure, pray with me…

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner.  I humbly request your forgiveness.  What a terrible price You paid to be able to wash me clean from all sin.  I receive the blood of your sacrifice as payment for my sins.  Come live in my life as my Lord.  I surrender my heart and life to you.  Thank you for forgiving me and sharing my life with me.  As you are living in me, may the things I do and say bring you joy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Renewed Thinking

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 03, 2025: SOAP #5600:  Judges 19-21; 2Corinthians 4:

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

OBSERVATION:   Paul was going through tough times.  It was not easy, but he kept things in proper perspective.  Some things have more value than others, and Paul had sorted them out.  He “fixed” his eyes on what was unseen because that was eternal and more important.  Being unseen, it was the eyes of his soul that were fixed.  His thoughts were continuously taken up with the eternal things. 

APPLICATION:   There are so many voices calling and signals vying for our attention today.  It is so easy to let our thoughts get wrapped around the temporal things facing us.  How we need to be like Paul with our minds so impacted by God and His plan that we see everything in the light of eternal values.  When we must think of temporal (seen) things, for we live in a temporal world and are trying to win people in that world, we consider temporal things in the light of eternity!  How can we use them to have the greatest effect on eternity.  Can I give a temporal gift or serve them in such a way that they will want to meet this Jesus I love and serve. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I see the value of keeping everything in the perspective of the eternal.  I am too easily distracted.  Please do not ever stop calling me back to your side to see things as you see them. 
Holy Spirit, you have moved into my life and made me your home.  You are always with me.  You know my thoughts better than any other person, even better than I do.  Renew and refresh my thoughts each day, even every hour if you see it is needed.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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God’s Earth Plan for Man

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 03, 2025: SOAP #5600:  Judges 17-18; Psalm 89; 2Corinthians 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant— not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

OBSERVATION:   The “letter” is a reference to the written law that was given to Moses.  It included the 10 Commandments.  The “letter” can show me what I have done wrong, but it does not help me to do better.  God understands that I am incompetent to live up to His standards.  But the Holy Spirit living inside me is competent to both help me understand God’s requirements AND help me live them.  (Wow!) 

APPLICATION:   When all I see is the law of God and how I have broken it, I live in condemnation.  When I confess my sins and accept that God the Son, Christ Jesus died for MY sins, I receive His provision of forgiveness.  The Father knew that I would need more than forgiveness.  Forgiven and depending on my own strength, I fall back into sin.  So, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in me.  When I depend on God the Spirit living inside me, I have His provision to overcome temptation.  (Praise the Lord!)  

The law of God the Father gives me understanding of sin!  The death of God the Son, Jesus, gives me forgiveness of sin!  The indwelling of God the Spirit gives me power over sin!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank you for understanding me and fully providing everything I need.  You are amazing!  While I am on this earth, You have designed me to be a temple of the Holy Spirit and to work together with Him.  In that way I can live a life that glorifies Jesus and gives you much joy.  Amen. 

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