SOAP on Luke 5 via Daily SOAP app - sample of mine.
SCRIPTURE:
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
Luke 5:33-39 (ESV)
OBSERVATION:
It would be futile to try to combine the new religion with man-made legalism. The new religion would be spoiled, and in way case the two way could not be combined, just as an unshrunk piece of cloth will pull away from an old garment or fermenting whine will burst old skin containers that have lost their elasticity. V 39 is probably an ironic comment on Jews who rejected the new wine of the gospel and held that the old ways were better.
These two parables illustrate the fact that you can’t mix old religious rituals with new faith in Jesus. Jesus disciples were not fasting along with the Pharisees and John’s disciples because they were now under the new covenant of grace and faith in Christ. As mentioned earlier, Jesus fulfilled the law; therefore, there is no longer any need to contiune with the old rituals. Jesus cannot be added to a works-based religion. In the case of the Pharisees, they were consumed with their own self-righteousness, and faith in Jesus cannot be combined with self-righteousness rituals.
APPLICATION:
No matter what I do. Whatever beliefs that constitutes that work must be done, or a ritual or belief that goes outside of the only one that can truly save is Jesus Christ [is false]. Believing in the person of Jesus that he is the one that has given atonement for all of our sins. We trust Him as a person, that He has saved us. It is not an intellectual based faith of facts, based on history or beliefs, or rituals - there is true assurance in Jesus Christ knowing what He did at the cross is finished and nothing else needs to be added. If we contiune to hold on to these old beliefs - they are works of self-righteousness and Jesus cannot be added to it. New religion would be spoiled [having faith in Christ mixed with work based rituals and beliefs would turn into legalism when Jesus came to bring grace and salvation. The two cannot be combined because they are on two opposite beliefs and spectrums. Works-based [legalism] vs Jesus Christ [grace]. legalism kills grace.
PRAYER:
Dear Father God,
Please help me to know you more. Help me to understand and contiune to go deeper in Your Word. Jesus I want to have an intimate relationship with you as a person. Not just an idea or a factor or a belief. I want to be transformed, I want my life to shout out your salvation and grace. Help me to be solid in the gospel, in doctrine and be able to address all walks of life. I know I am just a simple person in a wheelchair. My mind isn’t that sharp, I have a hard time organizing my thoughts, remembering, and reciting important information and recollection of history and scriptures. I want to share the gospel with gentleness, respect and compassion. I want the Holy Spirit to work within me. I don’t want to be like a frog in my throat. I want to be able to calm, collected, discerning and speak the truth so that people can know Jesus Christ as Lord. Sometimes I don’t know how to do that. I don’t want just to be spiritual but be able to engage people to intellectually. To be to draw them and to plants the seeds, have deep discussions and come humbly to serve and share. Not come with a combative attutitude, or desperation. Form relationships and fulfil the commission you have called us to do. Help us to further your Kingdom Father. Guide us when to speak, when to shut up and to pray. Teach us Holy Spirit. We desire to grow deeper, be changed, understand theology and truly know why. Surface is not enough anymore. We want to know you Jesus Christ. Take us places that we need to go in order to grow, be discipled by you. Bring us in fellowship with others who will challenges us, sharpen us, grow us, allow us to wrestle and to encourage us to continue to seek ask and knock - all for your glory and our good. In Jesus Name Amen.
