Tag Archives: god

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
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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
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Beauty spilling out…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 02, 2025: SOAP #5599:  Judges 13-16; 2Corinthians 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

OBSERVATION:   Later in chapter 11 of this letter, Paul gives a list of the things he has endured while serving the Lord.  Five times he had been whipped with 39 lashes, he had been beaten with rods, he had been stoned, he had been shipwrecked three times, he had been hungry and thirsty, cold and naked.  Yet in this verse he is thankful to God who had always led him “in triumphal procession in Christ.” 

The physical crushing and hardships that Paul endured released a special insight into the depth of Paul’s love for Christ and for the church.  People could see evidence of the presence of Jesus in his life.  It was like people could smell a special fragrance that made them realize the presence of Jesus. 

APPLICATION:   We may not always have triumph in our circumstances, but we can always have victory in our spirit and in our attitude.  And when it is obvious to others that we are being beaten down, yet we do not act beaten down—it is then our life becomes a testimony that there is something on the inside (the life of Christ) that is greater than anything the world can throw at us!  

The deep-seated joy and peace that radiated from His presence seems especially noticeable when there is struggle and turmoil on the outside.     

PRAYER:   Lord, I pray for those who are going through great suffering or are in the hospital.  May your presence be easily recognized in their lives.  May your peace flood their room and spill out into the hallway.  May the medical staff look for excuses to visit their rooms.  Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in them.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Our Heavenly Father

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 31, 2025: SOAP #5597:  Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1Corinthians 16

SCRIPTURE:  Judges (NIV) 10:13 [The LORD speaking:] But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
15 But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.”
16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

OBSERVATION:   God had chosen Israel as His special people.  He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt.  But Israel put God through much heartache by turning to other gods.  Now they were in trouble and asking for help.  God was understandably angry (verse 7) with them and told them to go to the other gods they had chosen to worship.  But, instead of turning to the other gods, Israel, obviously knowing there was only One True God, got rid of the foreign gods.  Then God had a problem.  The problem—His love!  He could bear their misery no longer!  What a special insight into the character of our amazing God!  

APPLICATION:   Parents who go through ups and down with their children should easily be able to identify with God.  They can become so angry with the decisions their children make, yet they lovingly suffer with their children through the results of those decisions.  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, forgive me for not paying attention to what you have said.  I need your Holy Spirit to help me not to do those things that hurt you, but to help me do those things that bring joy to your heart.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Inescapable, Universal Law

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 29, 2025: SOAP #5595:  Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1Corinthians 15

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.     

OBSERVATION:   The eternal laws of holiness rule all that our Holy God created.  They are reasonable and logical laws.  God is holy and he has revealed the holy laws that rule the past, the present, and eternity.  No one can escape the universe, so no one can escape the holy laws. 

The primary law of holiness is that the soul that sins shall die.  It is a law that cannot be changed.  It is a law that condemns every living person to death, eternal separation from the Holy God into a proper place for those who break the holy laws, which is eternity in hell. 

Without breaking, Holy laws allow one out.  If someone of the same eternal value who has not broken any holy laws would be willing to take the guilty party’s place, the guilty could go free! 

The reality is that the Holy God is also a loving God.  He so loved the man He had created that He sent His son (Jesus) to be born as a man, to live a perfectly holy life, and to die for our sins!  His resurrection is proof that there is life beyond the grave!   It is eternal life with two possible destinies, heaven or hell. 

APPLICATION:   In Adam, holiness demands I pay for my sin by spending eternity in hell.  In Christ, my penalty has been paid and I will spend eternity in heaven in the Presence of a Holy and Loving God!   It is truly amazing!    

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, next month as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Your Son, thanksgiving overflows for your great mercy and grace.  Father, thank you for Jesus!   Jesus, thank you for dying and resurrecting!  Holy Spirit, thank you for leading me to Jesus! Amen

Pastor Leon
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In me and Through me

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 29, 2025: SOAP #5595:  Judges 6-7; Psalm 52; 1Corinthians 14

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 14: 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people…
40  But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. 

OBSERVATION:   I have heard it said that the first law of heaven is “order.”   Heaven is definitely orderly.  Everything is in place.  Everything has purpose. 

I cannot imagine the control tower of a major airport being disorderly.  The order of the landings and the planes waiting their turn to land are maintained in an orderly fashion. 

The universe speaks of order.  The galaxies and solar systems all have order.   They are an expression of an orderly creator. 

So, it should not surprise us that God wants order in His church.  The highest order in a church gathering is when the Holy Spirit directs the body of Christ in ways that bring glory and honor to God the Father.   

APPLICATION:   There have been times when my path took me places that appeared very disorderly.  However, in looking back, I can see that God had ordered my steps with purpose.  Sometimes it was for me to be God’s instrument of peace and order. 

My life is peaceful and orderly when it is directed by the Holy Spirit.  First, the assurance of His presence in my heart maintains peace in me.  Then, the Holy Spirit directing my actions and words helps establish peace through me in my environment. 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, bring your order to every area of my life.  Work through my words and actions to bring peace to others.    Amen

Pastor Leon
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Lord, may it be your joy…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 28, 2025: SOAP #5594:  Judges 4-5; Psalm 39, 41; 1Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 41:1   Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in time of trouble.
2   The LORD protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. 
3   The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.  

OBSERVATION:   The weak are important to God and those who care for the weak are important to God.  God considers those who help the weak as His helpers. 

Of course, He protects and preserves them; they are doing His work.  Of course, He restores them to health so they can continue doing His work.  (This would be like Dorcas in Acts 9:36-41 who was “always doing good and helping the poor.”)

APPLICATION:   I know that God is a gracious God and treats me FAR better than I could ever deserve.  But still, I want to live my life is such a way that God would want to restore my health.  It would be to His benefit, and the benefit of others, to have me continue doing what I had been doing.  

When people are sick and praying for healing, I wonder if God ever wants to ask, “Why should I heal you?”  “Do you want me to heal you so that you can continue complaining, or hating, or hurting others, etc.?” How much better it would be if God could say, “Of course, I will heal you.  It gives me joy to enable you to continue bringing me honor and glory on earth by the way you serve others.  They can easily see that I am living in you!” 

PRAYER:   Lord, help me to be like Dorcas.  I want to please you in the way I live my daily life.  May you smile and may others be blest.  When I am sick, may it be your joy to heal me so I can continue to honor you with the way I live.  Amen.
And, Lord, there are SOAP readers who have used up their strength in serving others.  Help them to know that you take their service personal—they have been serving you; and they can personally take the above verses as your promise to them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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A Notable Difference!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 27, 2025: SOAP #5593:  Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

SCRIPTURE:  Judges (NIV) 3:1 These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): …
4 They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD’s commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses.

OBSERVATION:   God had a plan laid out very clearly through Moses that they were to completely drive out all the inhabitants of the land.  However, they did not obey.  Here (verse 1,2,4) we see that God can even use their disobedience.  God is sovereign.  He is never boxed in.  Our disobedience may foil His best plan, but He remains with numberless ways to bring about His plan.  What trouble these remaining Canaanites would cause the Israelites, but God would use them for His glory.

God used these nations to teach the Israelites who had no battle experience how to war.  God would use these nations to bring temptation to Israel, to put a choice before Israel.  Who would Israel choose to serve?  Would they remember what God had done for their nation, or would they forget and make their choices based on present conditions? 

Israel’s choices would be obvious to all; and God’s pleasure/blessings would also be obvious to all.  Not only was God teaching Israel, He was/is also teaching all who would read and learn.

APPLICATION:   The same God has laid the same choices before us today.  If we have lived long enough we should be able to see how God has blest us when we walked close to Him and the difference in how the world treated us when we did not follow God’s ways. 

If you have not been a believer very long, talk to someone who has been a believer and follower of Jesus for years and see if they can give some personal examples of the difference of living close to Jesus verses living without relying on Him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I want to have a close, daily relationship with You.   Be my best friend.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Turning Problems into Blessings!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 26, 2025: SOAP #5592:  Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

SCRIPTURE:  Joshua (NIV) 23:9 The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.
10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.  
11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God. 

OBSERVATION:   Joshua was giving Israel his farewell message.  He encourages them by recounting what God has done, and he warns them of the dangers of breaking God’s laws. 

It was not their power, but their God who made them victorious over their enemies.  It was not their numbers, but their God that sent the enemy running.         

APPLICATION:   My God’s presence is more powerful than my problems.  His presence changes the odds to my favor!   What could only be seen at first as a danger, ends up working out for my good.   

God has often changed my problems into blessings. 

When my efforts only seem to make things worse, I can quietly read His Word and let Him work.  When my words seem to fall on deaf ears, I can be quiet and let Him do the talking.  His words may be pushed aside, but people cannot turn a deaf ear to God.  In one way or another, His message will get through! 

PRAYER:   Mighty God, You are my God!  Nothing is impossible with you!  With you all things are possible!  You are not tired or worn out.  You are ever fresh!  As you promised, I can count on you to work all things together for my good.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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The SOAP team in West Africa has finished up in Burkina Faso.  They left behind over 5,000 new believers and 150 cell groups!!!  Each cell group has an Arabic Bible.  They also installed several computers and printers which will be receiving the SOAPs every day.  A brother will be translating them into Arabic.   Tomorrow they will be starting in another West African country.  Pray for them.  😊 

The Value of Mistakes!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 25, 2025: SOAP #5591:  Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 

OBSERVATION:   These things happened TO THEM…as a warning FOR US. In the previous verses, four examples are given:  idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling.  Each was punished by God and recorded so that others would learn.   

APPLICATION:   It is good for me to learn from the mistakes of others.  Although not the only place, surely one of the best places to learn such lessons is in the Bible.  The Bible does not hide the sins and mistakes of leaders.  How I limit my understanding of God’s ways when I neglect reading His Word!   

And it is good to let others learn from my mistakes.  I should not allow the sin of pride to cause me to hide my mistakes from those under my authority or influence, especially from children.  They too will make mistakes, so they need a good example of acknowledging their wrongs.  They need a good example of how to apologize.  They need a good example of how to depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit for the change needed.    

Our lives are too valuable to ignore the lessons to be learned from mistakes.  I can forgive someone their sin against me, but I can also learn from it so that I do not sin against someone else.  And by not hiding my sins, I am allowing others to learn from me. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for the Bible!   Thank you for not covering up the faults of the leaders.  I do not have to be perfect to be used by You.   Lord, may I be a good example of how to repent and apologize to others.  Use me as an example of how to overcome temptation and failure.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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