Monthly Archives: October 2025

Do what You promised!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 12, 2025: SOAP #5792: Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. …
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

OBSERVATION:  In verse two, we see that the Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 3:22, 4:14,18-19) continued after His crucifixion and resurrection.  Earlier He had told them to go into all the world, and after seeing the resurrected Jesus, they were ready to go!  But here He tells then not to go anywhere UNTIL then have received the empowering of the Holy Spirit.  After receiving that empowering they will take the gospel to the ends of the earth ie, Asia, Africa, Americas, etc.! 

APPLICATION:  To do what Jesus tells us to do, we need the same power that Jesus had during Him ministry.  He did not minister as God, but as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit.  To do what Jesus tells us to do, we need what He provides to empower us!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit, keep me full of your Holy Spirit.  Use me for your glory.  Teach me to walk in humble obedience to you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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HE accepted me!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 11, 2025: SOAP #5791: Nehemiah 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was risen!  He said he would rise again, and HE DID!  (Note: Matthew 16:21; 17:23; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; John 2:22)   He had kept His word!!! 

APPLICATION:  As much as these verses bless me, I am even more blest by the thought that HE IS STILL RISEN!  As the song says, “I serve a RISEN Savior, He’s in the world today!  I know that He is living, whatever men may say!” (Alfred Ackley) 

I serve a RISEN SAVIOR who is with me!  He will be with me when I am at death’s door, and He will take me through to life eternal in heaven, in the presence of His Father to live with Him forever!  

PRAYER:   Lord, How my heart rejoices to know that your are my LIVING Savior!  You are not a god made of wood or stone that sets on a shelf in my home.  But you are the LIVING GOD who dwells in my heart and shares my life with me.  Making you the LORD of my life was the smartest thing I ever did!  Thank you for accepting me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  soapsbyleon.wordpress.com

Working side-by-side!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 10, 2025: SOAP #5790: Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Nehemiah (NIV) 3:1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter Nehimiah writes about restoring the walls around the city of Jerusalem.  Many people had accompanied Nehimiah back to Jerusalem for this purpose.  It was a job that would take many hands working together.  The phrase “…next to him…” is repeated many (20+) times.  There are also words like “…the next section…” and “…the adjoining section…”

In this we have a good example of the importance of the body of Christ and its ministry.  There is too much for one member to do, but not too much if we all do our part.  The styles of work on the wall probably varied from section to section.  The work patterns probably varied, but the wall was completed as each one did his part.

APPLICATION:  Last week a team of 110 SOAP ministry workers went from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Kailahun, Sierra Leone.  They had been invited by key leaders in that city.  They took 100 computers and printers to be placed around the area to provide daily SOAPs.  They were divided into three groups to conduct three meetings in three areas.  Pastor Andrew wrote, “And on the last day of the conference we made an altar call for people to come and give their life to Jesus.  Praise the Lord we have 35,000 people who came forward to give their life to Jesus a great harvest for the Lord Praise God.”  Wow!  There is much rejoicing in heaven!  

This happened as people worked side-by-side.  Each one was faithfully doing their part!  Some gave, some went, some passed out SOAPs, some prayed, some preached, some witnessed one-to-one. Each one witnessed a great miracle of God!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, Your Holy Spirit is moving all over the world.  It is a day to be faithful in our assigned places, working side by side with other believers.  Use each SOAP reader to be faithful in passing along a witness of Your Son, Jesus.  Anoint and bless the workers who will be returning to Kailahun to start Home Fellowship Groups and plant new churches.  As you are moving in US College Campuses and in West Africa, move in my area also.  Amen

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

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 09, 2025: SOAP #5789: Nehemiah 1-2; Psalm 133-134; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 22:24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

OBSERVATION:  On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus was with His disciples.  The issue arose as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom.  Jesus had the perfect squelch!  There was no question, HE was the greatest!!!  But being the greatest, He moved among them as a servant!  

He washed their feet!  He directed the Passover meal!  And He was preparing to do the greatest act of service ever done for man: He would give His sinless blood as payment for the sins of man!   HE was the greatest there, and HE was among them as one who serves!  

APPLICATION:  No one is more worthy to be served than Jesus!  I am called to be His servant.  I serve Him out of love and respect.  BUT I am not even worthy to be His servant until I have let HIM serve me!  He is the greatest servant! 

I receive Him as my Savior and He washes away my sin under the blood H shed on the cross!  I receive Him as my Lord and He serves me by directing my life in ways that honor Him and bring great joy to my heart!  

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess my sins, I am sorry for my sins; I receive your forgiveness.  Take the place as Lord of my life.  Use me to serve others and glorify you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  soapsbyleon.wordpress.com

The Real Issue!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 07, 2025: SOAP #5787: Ezra 9-10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 21:1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” 

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was watching people as they gave their offerings at the temple.  He saw the large gifts; He also saw the smallest gift.  What impressed him was not the amount of their gift, but the amount remaining after their giving.  It was not the size of the giving, but the size of the “remaining.” 

Only Jesus can truly measure the sacrifice.  This poor widow’s impressive sacrifice was measured not by the amount given, but by the amount remaining after the giving. 

APPLICATION:  Jesus watches my giving too.  Although I am able to give more than in earlier years, I also know that I have more left over after my giving.  Knowing that I am a steward and that it all belongs to God, I know that he is just as interested in what remains with me as in what is given away.     

PRAYER:  Lord, may you be pleased with the offerings I give, both with what I give, and with what remains.  But Lord, when it comes to my heart, it is ALL yours. The money in my possession is ALL yours also.  So, the real issue in giving is what do you want me to do with your money?  I love and trust you, so I will obey you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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HIS WORDS; my words

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 07, 2025: SOAP #5787: Ezra 7-8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 20:20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.
21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” 25 “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

OBSERVATION:  Did they hear what they were saying???  “You speak what is right!  You do not teach to please some and condemn the others.  You do not show partiality!  You teach God’s ways truthfully!”  They were the spies sent to trap Him in His words!  But what great words of commendation they were speaking. 

With their mouth they commended Him, but with their hearts they were seeking to discredit Him. 

APPLICATION:  Before condemning them, I need to check myself.  Do I call Him Lord in my prayer, but then live like I am Lord?  Do I sing beautiful songs of surrender and worship when I am with other believers, but then live like the world is more appealing to me when I am out on my own? 

The Lord wants me to take His words seriously.  But I must remember: He takes my words seriously.   He wants me to listen to Him.  But I must remember He listens to me. 

PRAYER:  Let the words of my heart and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) Amen

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

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 06, 2025: SOAP #5786: Esther 9-10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man, he could not, because of the crowd.4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus had no plans to spend time in Jericho; He was just passing through on His way to Jerusalem.   But His life was not His own; He was living as a man led by the Holy Spirit.  His journey that day was interrupted by opportunity. 

That interruption brought Zacchaeus into the kingdom, restored overcharged tax money, and became a part of the eternal scriptures!   That was a very important interruption!  

APPLICATION:  Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.”  Could that mean that the interruptions are also ordered by the Lord?  Hmmm…

I need to be open to interruptions.  Those interruptions may become the most important part of my day!  Before pushing them aside, I need to see if the Holy Spirit is preparing to do something special.    

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, forgive me for thinking I am too busy doing important things to be bothered by interruptions.  Forgive me for thinking that I alone know how to best plan my day.  Bring this scripture to my mind the next time I am interrupted by an opportunity to bless someone for the glory of Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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2 Great Examples!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 05, 2025: SOAP #5785: Esther 3-8; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 18:16 Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

OBSERVATION:  Mark 10:16 says that Jesus did not just do as the parents requested, but did more; He took them up in his arms!   They were more than just an object lesson.  They were special to Him! 

The kingdom belongs to such as come like children.  We have to receive it the same way the children receive it.  They cannot earn it, and neither can we.  Children receive it based only on the promise of God and that is the only way I can receive it too.     

APPLICATION:  Now, if I am going to be like Jesus, I cannot ignore children.  I cannot be too busy to act like they are not nearby or are unimportant.  Jesus takes the way I treat children as though I was doing it to Him.   

In this passage we have two great examples.  The first is given to us by Jesus.  How children receive the Kingdom of God is the way we are to receive the Kingdom!   The second example is that of Jesus accepting the little children.  We should receive the children the same way. 

PRAYER:  Lord, today I will have opportunity to serve you by serving children.  May I be a blessing to the children and to you!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Designed to Praise the Lord!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 04, 2025: SOAP #5784: Esther 1-2; Psalm 150; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 150:1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

OBSERVATION:  For everyone that breathes, there are many reasons to praise the LORD.  There are many ways to praise the LORD.  There are many places to praise the LORD.  There are many instruments to use in praising the LORD. 

Even in creation, God has provided us many ways for personal praise.  Consider our hands; lifting them, clapping them, waving them.  Consider our mouth; speaking, singing, shouting.  Consider our posture; kneeling, standing, leaping, laying before the Lord.  Consider our emotions; weeping, laughing, waiting.  We were made to praise the Lord!  Our bodies were designed to praise the Lord! 

APPLICATION:  To go a day without praising the LORD is unthinkable.  To not have a reason to praise the LORD, I would have to have my eyes blinded, my ears deafened, my tongue removed, my memory cleared, and my breathing stilled.      

PRAYER:  Lord, may I consider any day incomplete until I have given you praise.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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…also a Financial Advisor!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 03, 2025: SOAP #5782: Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 16:9 [Jesus speaking:] I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

OBSERVATION:  Today in America the stock market is growing and many people are considering what to do with money they do not need to meet present living demands.  There are many financial advisors giving advice on how to invest money so that it will be available when a person is not able to earn a livable wage or when they may be sickly at the end of their life.  Of course, they are many ways to invest money that will benefit children and grandchildren.      

The verse above shows us that Jesus is also a financial adviser!  He looks much further into the future than the advisors we see advertising around us today!   He tells us to invest our money for eternal values. 

When we get to heaven, what a blessing it will be when we are greeted by others who are present because we used our earthly money to help the gospel get to where they could hear it!  

APPLICATION:  I rejoice to hear of people in Sierra Leone sacrificing money and time to take the SOAP to areas where people have yet to hear a good salvation message to which they can respond!   …and not only in Sierra Leone but also in other areas of Africa, and in Asia, and in other parts of the world!  What a greeting they will have in heaven!!!  

It is harvest time.  Be generous in sowing the seed of the gospel.  But do not neglect working in the harvest yourself!  It is harvest time!   Invest your money in ministry that is winning souls, AND invest your money in your own efforts to win people to Jesus. Buy some food for a neighbor.  Do something special for a fellow worker. 

PRAYER:  Lord, use me in your great harvest field.  May I meet people in heaven who are there because I used my money in some way to reach them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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