Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 05, 2025: SOAP #5724: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 7:16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me…
18 …he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth….
28 …he who sent me is true. You do not know him, …
29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”…
33 …then I go to the one who sent me.

OBSERVATION:   Of the many words to describe Jesus only three or four are used more then the word “sent.”  And when reference is made to him being sent, it is usually Jesus doing the talking!   This is how Jesus saw himself.  This is how He describes himself.   

APPLICATION:  Jesus later said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you!” (John 17:18 and 20:21)  The Sent One is sending me. 

So, this is how I must see myself.  I am “sent.”  I must be diligent about reaching out to those to whom the Father has sent me.  To the people I meet today, I need to remember that it is not by chance that I meet them, but I have been sent. 

What a difference it will make in our meetings, if I remember that I am sent.  I have a message to deliver.  The message may be in a smile; it may be in a warm greeting; it may be a message of encouragement or acceptance; it may be that today is the day of salvation! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep me aware of the opportunities to deliver the message God has assigned me.  Many of God’s messages are delivered in pieces. The piece of God’s message that I am to deliver will be joined with a piece from someone else.  May the piece assigned to me not be missing.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 04, 2025: SOAP #5723: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

OBSERVATION:  Philip had already determined the impossibility ratio.  Andrew had found a boy with a “sack lunch” perhaps prepared by his mother before leaving home that morning.  But before Jesus asked the question, Jesus ALREADY knew what He was going to do. 

Jesus knew the status of the crowd; they were hungry.  Jesus knew the size of the crowd; 5,000 men plus women and children.  He knew how much food was needed.  He knew what was available.  AND Jesus knew what He would do! 

APPLICATION: There is nothing about the challenge I am currently facing that Jesus does not know.  He knows what is available.  He knows the schedule. Of course, He knows; He is the one who gave me the assignment!  He has told me where He wants me to be and when.  He knows how the SOAPs will be written and sent.  I take the challenge, and my perception of the challenge, to Him.  There is no need for frantic prayers.  I am praying to the One who already knows. 

If I am following His leading and doing His will, there is no need for me to be alarmed.  Jesus already knows what He will do!  I might not have enough to do everything I want to do, but I can rest assured that I will have enough to do what HE wants me to do. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I obey you, I have confidence that you will provide what is needed and will make it possible to accomplish my assignment. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2025: SOAP #5722: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

OBSERVATION:   I cannot read the Genesis 1 without pausing to think.  It contains an eyewitness of creation.  And when I read John 1, my mind goes back to Genesis 1.  John says that the Word was with God, the Word created all things, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  The Word is Jesus, the son of God, the son of man…

Here in John 5:19-30, Jesus is speaking.  I hear Him speaking of something the preceded Genesis 1, and John 1.  He speaks of a relationship that existed before creation.  It is a love relationship.  It is before John 3:16, before “God so love the world…”  It is “…the Father loves the Son…” 

Here is the reason for creation.  The Father wanted a big family of Sons and Daughters like His only begotten Son!  Sin marred creation, but it gave the Father opportunity to demonstrate His great capacity to love, AND it provided the Son the opportunity to accomplish something so great that He would forever be praised and adored!  

We miss so much in the Bible, if we do not understand that the Father loves the Son, and the Son knows that the Father loves Him. 

APPLICATION:  The Father loves me, and I know that He does! 

The love God wants me to display to the world does not originate in me.  My love falls short of God’s plan for me.  Yes, God designed me to be able to love others.  Yes, the second commandment is for me to love my neighbor as myself.  Yes, I am to love my brothers and sisters as Christ loved me.  No, it is not in my fallen nature to love like that.  But YES, God loves me enough to move inside and display His love through me. 

PRAYER:  Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me;  I will be my brother’s keeper, love though me; Hearts are bleeding deep inside; Love can dry their weeping eyes; Love through me, Holy Spirit, love though me.  (D.Rambo) Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 02, 2025: SOAP #5721: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
52 When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So, he and all his household believed.

OBSERVATION:   Driven by desperation, this royal official had left the side of his dying son to go find Jesus.  He was on a mission to bring Jesus back to his home and heal his son.  But all Jesus did was say, “You may go. Your son will live.” 

Jesus’ words were sufficient for this desperate father.  They were an acknowledgement that he had been heard.  Jesus words quieted the anxious father.  He did not get what he requested (for Jesus to come to his house) but He got what he wanted (healing for his son.)

APPLICATION:  God is thinking far ahead of me.  And in His wisdom, He often does not fulfill my request, but He often does something better.  In my frustration or pain, I have blurted out a request that seemed exactly what I needed at that moment.  But God, looking beyond the present, saw that it was not the best for me.  So, He began sending an answer that was for my good and His glory!  

Now, looking back, I can see God’s wisdom was displayed as He graciously answered my prayers. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the storehouse of all wisdom.  In your great love for me, and in your wisdom you are working in my life, not only for my future here on earth, but also for my eternity in heaven!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 01, 2025: SOAP #5720: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

OBSERVATION:   If anyone understood the life of Jesus, why He was on earth, what he was doing,  it was Father God!  Earlier in this chapter (3:16) we read that God sent His Son.  Jesus was present on a mission from the Father!  

Such great love is seen in that Jesus was willing to submit Himself to the Father and take on the assignment of dying as the payment for the sins of created humans, to bring forgiveness of their sins and allow them entrance into God’s holy heaven. 

The Father loves Jesus and desires Jesus’ mission to be successful.  He wants everyone to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Of course He rejoices over each one who receives Jesus.  And of course, His wrath will remain on all who reject Jesus. 

APPLICATION:  Seeing the truth in the verses above, the greatest joy I can bring to God is to help someone else to see their need for a Savior and accept Jesus!  If I can honor Jesus in such a way that others will see how great and loving Jesus is and receive Him as their Lord and Savior, then I will make God smile!  

I will be honoring the One He loves.  I will be honoring the One who made the greatest sacrifice.  God is greatly pleased when His Son is highly honored! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, my heart is full of appreciation for what Jesus has done for me.  Help me not miss any opportunity today to honor Jesus.  May my Heavenly Father see my appreciation in my words and actions.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 30, 2025: SOAP #5718: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

OBSERVATION:   When a gift is given, there is a giver AND there is a receiver.  God gave the gift of His Son.  God is the giver; I can be the receiver.  It blesses the Heavenly Father when people receive His Son.  Some want to change Jesus, but the blessing of relationship comes to those who receive Him. 

APPLICATION:  I must receive Jesus as who He is.  He is Savior and He is Lord.  I receive Him to save me from the wages of sin because he paid the penalty for my sin.  And I receive Him as my LORD.  I trust Him to direct my life.  I trust that He knows what is best. 

PRAYER:   Jesus, I receive you into my life.  I receive you as my Savior, forgiving and cleansing me from sin.  I receive you as my Lord, leading and guiding me for my good and your glory.  Thank you for forgiving me and receiving me as a living child of God.  I receive the joy of your life in me!  I want you to enjoy living in me as much as I enjoy having you live in me.  Amen 

NOTE:  In the past 6 months, thousands of people have responded to a call to make Jesus their Savior and Lord.  If you are one, and are reading this, we welcome you.  You are joining us as “children of God.”  You should know that God has had people praying for you and many will continue to pray for you.  You are special to God and I pray that God makes this short note to be a personal note from Him to you!   😊      

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 27, 2025: SOAP #5715: Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

OBSERVATION:   It is NOT our knowledge ABOUT Him that provides “everything we need for life and godliness,” it is our knowledge OF Him.  It is in personally knowing Him that we “participate in the divine nature.”  It is more than head knowledge.  It is heart knowledge gained by personal experience.  It happens when we confess that we are sinners and ask to be cleansed from sin by His sacrifice on the cross.  As we surrender our lives to Him as our Lord, He enters our life and we begin to “participate in His divine nature!”

It is this “participating in the divine nature” that enables me to “escape the corruption/temptations in the world.”

APPLICATION:  The only one I can be is Leon.  I can in no way be Jesus.  If I am to “participate in the divine nature” Jesus would need to come and live His life in me.  I am blessed beyond all measure BECAUSE that is exactly what Jesus does!!!  He comes and lives in me!   

PRAYER:   Omniscient Father, you knew that even though I would be forgiven of my sins, I would still need power to overcome my human nature’s tendency to sin.  Through the work of the cross in my life, dying to my old nature, and through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, I am learning to say “yes” to Jesus and “no” to satan’s temptations.  I enjoy “participating in the divine nature!”  When I received forgiveness I became your child, and now I am learning to live like your child. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 26, 2025: SOAP #5714: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

OBSERVATION:   In closing his first letter to believers, Peter gives this blessing.  He wants us to remember that though we are going through hard times, we have been called by our gracious God to share in the glory that will never end!  We can count on Him to get us through the difficult times.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

APPLICATION:  Throughout all eternity, God will receive glory from what Christ has done for Him.  Sometime our focus gets stuck on what Christ has done for us.  He has made a payment for sin so perfect that it covered ALL my sins!  He has set His peace and joy in my heart.  For this I am eternally grateful. 

But consider what Jesus did for His Father!  He brought a great company of God’s prized creation into a loving relationship with their Heavenly Father.  Jesus fulfilled the mission assigned to Him by His Father.  Now all eternity the Father will be surrounded by redeemed people giving Him praise and worship!   Our presence in heaven will be a source of eternal glory for the Father!   Look at how much the Son loved the Father!  He must be a GREAT Heavenly Father to have a Son that loved Him so much!  

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, I join with Your Son Jesus in bringing you eternal glory.  I do not want to wait until I get to heaven but I want to start now in bringing you glory through my words and actions.  May the people who know me here in this life, know that I consider you worthy of my love!  Amen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 25, 2025: SOAP #5713: Isaiah 43-45; 1Peter 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

OBSERVATION:   Most people enjoy receiving gifts.  Someone thought of them enough to give them something they did not earn.  Another part of the joy of receiving gifts is that the gift can be used to bless others.  Many times, the joy of using the gift to bless others is greater than the joy experienced in receiving the gift.  Just consider this: in giving, we are “faithfully administering God’s grace.” 

APPLICATION:  Oh, what joy I miss when I take God’s gifts selfishly.  God wants me to experience a greater joy beyond the joy of receiving.  He wants me to experience the joy of giving—so He gives me something I can give others.  He blesses me to make me a blessing. 

I believe God receives great joy in giving to His children.  He often gives us more than we need so that we too can experience the joy of giving.  Even a smile can be an avenue to give God’s “grace in its various forms.” The Holy Spirit will lead us in how to give and what to give.  No one is without a gift they can give. 

Gifts come in various forms and minister in various ways to the person receiving them.  Our gift may bring encouragement.  It may lift their faith that God will provide.  It may be a sign that God really understands what they need. 

PRAYER:   Lord, thank you for giving me gifts that You can use to bless others!  I am truly blest!   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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