Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
November 01, 2025:  SOAP #5812: Psalm 121; Mark 9-10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. …49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”  …51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

OBSERVATION:  Blind Bartimaeus was not blind any more!  I believe he was at the front of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem that we read about in the next chapter!  

APPLICATION:  Consider this email I received today from Sierra Leone… 
“…And also few days ago we have a testimony that happened in Kailahun City SOAP MINISTRY team who is president in Kailahun city doing the home Fellowship Bible study with the new convert to give the life to Jesus doing the SOAP MINISTRY  Conference there they said everyday new …people are coming to the Bible study and giving their life to Jesus, and they said this all happened just because of one miracle that the Lord did on Monday during their Bible study…….. They said there was this man who name is (Abraham) Who has been blind for 15 years somebody brought him to the Bible study and they said during the Bible study they was praying and the said in the midst of the prayer the man (Abraham) shouted I can see I can see my eyes have open and they say immediately they stop the prayer and start checking him and people came forward and testified that this man has been blind for 15 years almost everybody in the city Kailahun know him God is at work Praise the Lord Amen 🙏.
This testimony have shook the whole city right now thousands of people are going for the home Fellowship Bible study everyday into the five venue that they have in Kailahun City, And because of this five Pastors have come to start five churches in Kailahun city right now.”

PRAYER:  Jesus, Christ, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 30, 2025:  SOAP #5810: Job 21; Mark 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 5:39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

OBSERVATION:  Many people would think that the notation at the end of this passage is unimportant, but having driven a school bus for 15 years, I know that children get hungry.  It is special to me that Jesus noticed this simple need for some food for a hungry stomach!   The story would have been complete without mentioning it, but mentioning it shows that Jesus is aware of even small, and unimportant issues of a young girl’s life. 

Of course, Jesus raised her back to life, that is why He went to her home.  But it was for more than that…He was interested in her, her needs, and her ongoing life. 

APPLICATION:  Of course Jesus forgave me.  That is why He came and died on the cross!  But He is also interested in all the aspects of my life.  There is no part of my life that He does not share.  There is no need of which He is unaware.  He wants me to bring my needs to Him in prayer, but I should never think that my telling Him is the first He knew about it!  

PRAYER:  Lord, you know my needs even before I ask.  I trust you to guide me and provide for me as I life for you and do your will.  You know what I need even before I ask.   Amen

Pastor Leon us
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 27, 2025:  SOAP #5807: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 27:23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

OBSERVATION: Paul is aboard a ship headed for Rome to stand trial before Caesar.  The ship is caught in a terrible storm.  For fourteen days the crew had nothing to eat.  On the third day into the storm, they had thrown the ship’s tackling overboard. 

In the verses above, we have Paul speaking to the crew and fellow passengers on the ship.  They consisted of the crew, Roman soldiers, fellow prisoners, and some traveling companions of Paul, including the author of the book of Acts. 

Listen to Paul as he describes His God.  Paul belonged to God and Paul served God.  Paul’s God was a speaker; He talked to Paul.  Paul’s God knew where Paul was and how to get a message to Paul.  He had sent a messenger to Paul “last night!”  Paul’s God made promises to Paul that included the people around him.  They would all survive the present danger.  Paul’s God could be trusted.  It would be “just as he told me!” 

APPLICATION:  Paul was not talking about the storm.  He made no comments about the wind and the waves.  He made no comment about being a prisoner.  No, Paul did not talk about the unimportant things; he talked about the Important One!   He had heard from the God of the wind and the waves.  He had a message from God.  (The ship was wrecked in the storm, but all were saved!) 

PRAYER:  Lord, as I move through a world full of turmoil and trouble, I want to keep my focus on you!  Your enemy, and my enemy, wants to get my focus off you and onto the storms that surround me.  Help me to hear what you are saying and to speak from heaven’s point of view.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 25, 2025: SOAP #5805: Job 16; Acts 21-23

SCRIPTURE:  Job (NIV) 16:19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.

OBSERVATION:  Without full understanding, Job is crying out to God for relief from his suffering.  He is a righteous man and cannot understand why he is suffering.  In this passage, Job’s faith shines through his pain.  Prophetically he cries out to God, he needs an intercessor to take up his case.  What he calls for is fulfilled in Jesus!  

APPLICATION:  What a witness Jesus is!  What an advocate I have in Jesus!  It is not my sin of which He witnesses, nor of the good things I have done to pay the penalty of my sin.  He witnesses of His righteousness and His payment on the cross!  

My sin is not the issue.  That I am guilty is not the issue.  I am guilty.  I have sinned.  But whatever that sin … however vile it may be, the sacrifice is sufficient!!!  His death on the cross more than covers the cost of my sins!   My Advocate is not arguing my guilt nor any mitigating circumstances.  He is presenting the over-reaching value of His sacrificial payment!

PRAYER:  Lord, when I confessed my sins to you, you cleansed me from all unrighteousness!  (1John 1:9).  To stand before you free from the guilt of sin, and not facing the penalty of sin, I am free to love and serve you!  I want to live my life in honor of you and what you have done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 24, 2025: SOAP #5804: Job 15; Acts 19-20

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 19:10 This [daily discussions in a lecture hall in Ephesus]  went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 

OBSERVATION:  In Acts 16:6 we read that the Holy Spirit stopped them from going into Asia.  Instead they received a call to Macedonia where a church was established in the city of Philippi, the leading city of Macedonia.  God’s timing is so important.  Chapter 19 above was God’s time for the province of Asia and Paul’s ministry was so effective in the city of Ephesus that everyone in that province heard the word of the Lord!      

APPLICATION:  Timing is just as important in my life as it was in Paul’s—and just as important in today’s church as it was in the early church.  To move in God’s timing, I must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.  To listen to the Holy Spirit, I must recognize His voice. 

God’s timing includes time for planting, time for growing, and time for harvesting.  As a young boy, I remember the testimonies of missionaries to Africa, many of them were working in a time of planting.  They faithfully planted the seed.  And there have been years when the seed was growing and needed watering.  Today is harvest time for Africa. Those who planted the gospel, and those who watered it with their tears can rejoice together as thousands are coming to Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, in whatever I do, being effective is following Your lead.  Keep working with me so that I more quickly recognize and obey Your voice.  And Lord, help everyone who is involved in the harvest be as faithful as those who planted and watered.  It is the ministry of the harvesters that proves the ministry of the planters and waterers.  Ame

Pastor Leon
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