Author Archives: SOAPs by Leon

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About SOAPs by Leon

At the end of my first year in Bible College, the Lord sent me into the US Navy. It was at a serviceman's center in San Diego where I met and married Sharon. During the final years of the ten years I spent in the US Navy, most with the US Marine Corps as a hospital corpsman, I became the pastor of Bayview Chapel A/G in Kaneohe, Hawaii. After 17 years, the Lord sent us back to my birth state, Kansas, where we were pastors of Andover Assembly of God for 20 years. In retirement, the Lord has given me two assignments: first is to write these daily devotions. You are being allowed to eves drop in on what He is saying to me. You will notice the applications are usually in the first person. The second assignment is to drive a school bus. What a privilege to serve others in this practical way and to interact with people outside the church environment. My heart smiles as I continue to joyfully serve my God and others. :) A third assignment from the Kansas Assemblies of God is to be the ministry coordinator for the Kansas Senior Adult Ministries. My wife, Sharon and myself enjoy traveling around the state of Kansas, visiting the churches and encouraging ministry to senior adults and the ministries of senior adults.

Today’s Living

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 27, 2026:  SOAP #5899   Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

OBSERVATION:  The man had been lame since birth.  He had been carried daily to beg at the temple gate.  He was a regular part of entry into the temple.  They all knew him.  So when they saw him “walking and jumping, and praising God”, they were “filled with wonder and amazement!”  Peter took this opportunity to preach Jesus, crucified and resurrected.  The fourth verse of chapter three tells us that the number of believers grew to “about 5,000!”  Through this miracle the people saw that the God of the Old Testament was alive and moving in their day!  

APPLICATION:  And that is what is happening today in Sierra Leon.  A Muslim man who had been blind for 16 years was brought by his son to a Bible Fellowship meeting.  They prayed for him and his son led him home.  But in the morning, he woke up seeing!   The neighbors all knew him as a blind man, but now he could see!  They all accompanied him to the next meeting and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!  

It was not that they read about a miracle that happened 2,000 years ago, it was that they witnessed a miracle today, this week, this month!  God is involved in today’s living!  Many of then accompanied him to the next Bible Fellowship meeting and accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord!              

PRAYER:  Lord, I want you to be involved in my life today.  So I ask you to forgive my sins and live in my heart.  Make my life your permanent home.  Then speak to my heart and guide me to live a life that pleases you.  Amen 

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

God loves them too! God loves us all!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 26, 2026:  SOAP #5898   Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”  (also verse 18)

OBSERVATION:  2Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  In the verse above, we see that God had the same desire in the Old Testament.

Instead of wanting to help the Israelites accomplish God’s will, the Egyptians were set on keeping them in slavery.  They were working against God.  Yet God wanted them to know Him.  We know God loved the Israelites, but the truth is—God loved the Egyptians too! 

APPLICATION:  When people stand against me and what I believe God wants to do in my life, it is easy to write them off my list of friends.  That may be my way, but it is not God’s way.  He loves them too!  He wants me to love them too. 

He may even have a plan to use me to reach them! 

PRAYER:  Lord, You love my enemies and You tell me to love them too; to bless them that curse me and to do good to them that hate me and pray for them who despitefully use and persecute me. (Matthew 5:44) To do this, Lord, I need your help.  Amen. 

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

Special Prayer Request:  There will be a SOAP conference in Bo, Sierra Leon on Monday and Tuesday (today and tomorrow.)  Some Muslim missionaries have agreed to attend and will be given a few minutes to make a presentation.  There will be many new believers present with their testimonies of the miracles God has done during the last few months.  There will also be many Muslims present who still need Jesus!   Pray for a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit at these meetings!  

Continuing: The Book of Acts

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 25, 2026:  SOAP #5897   Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:4 On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them [the disciples], 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:  Jesus was preparing to leave them.  His work on earth was completed; now the Holy Spirit would take over His work of being present with believers and empowering them to minister in Jesus Name. 

Jesus knew that they would not be able to accomplish their assignment in their own strength, so before they started, they were to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they had received the “power of the Holy Spirit.”

In the next chapter have recorded the day Jesus fulfilled that promise.  Then as we read the book of Acts, we see how the Holy Spirit empowered them to be witnesses. 

APPLICATION:  God still empowers His witnesses today!  Almost all of the miracles recorded in the book of Acts have happened in the last three months in Sierra Leon!  Thousands of Muslims have come to faith in Jesus!  

Monday and Tuesday (1/26 and 27) a SOAP conference is scheduled in the city of Bo.  Muslim evangelists who have come to Sierra Leon from USA and from other nations, have agreed to come and bring others with them.  Nationally recognized former Muslim who have experienced the healing and miraculous power of God will be sharing their testimonies!  

PRAYER:  Lord continue to draw the people of Sierra Leon into your kingdom.  Bless them with a great awareness of your Presence, your love and power!  Amen 

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

Personal NOTE:  The past few days I have had major problems sending out the SOAPs.  For a while I was wondering if God was telling me that my SOAP days were coming to an end.  (After all it has been 16 years!)   Technology-wise it has been a simple ministry.  I an not very capable with computers, but my limited understanding and ability was sufficient for what I was doing.  If I am to continue, I must expand a personal domain.  I feel the Holy Spirit is nudging me to stretch into new ways of SOAP ministry.   

If something happens and you do not see my SOAPs for a few days, they will be posted on Facebook and wordpress.com (see above.)  

And just to include a financial note.  In 2024 the church account provided for the SOAP ministry had 18+K.  Praise the Lord!   But in 2025 it grew to 50+K!   Money was usually sent out the same day it was received so the balance in the account was usually under $20, and many times under $10.

Leon

What the world needs!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 24, 2026:  SOAP #5896   Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus is here promising that the same Holy Spirit that had come upon Him when baptized by John would clothe them with power. (Luke 3:22)  The Spirit had descended upon Him in the form of a dove but would come upon them with the sound “from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…and would sit upon them like cloven tongues of fire.”  (Acts 2:1-4) 

The same Holy Spirit would continue the same ministry in the disciples as He had started in Jesus!   

APPLICATION:  If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit before beginning His ministry as the Son of Man, how much more do I need the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  If the early church needed to wait in Jerusalem for the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit before obeying the Great Commission, how much more do I need the anointing of the Holy Spirit today! 

What the world needs today is for the church today to be filled with the Holy Spirit, every day.  The world needs Holy Spirit-filled and Holy Spirit-empowered believers living and working next to them every day of the week.  The world needs to meet people filled with the same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus.  They need to meet them in the marketplace, in the schools, in the offices, in every place.     

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to be what the world needs, a believer full of Jesus and walking in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  May I live every moment of every day full of you.  I surrender my life to be use by You for the glory of Jesus. Amen

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

The “you”-es and the “I”-es

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 23, 2026:  SOAP #5895   Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 7:2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”
6 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.

OBSERVATION:  Moses needed to remember what God had said.  He especially needed to remember the “you-es” and the “I-es”  God had clearly laid out the assignments.  In the 5 verses above, there are 4 you-s but there are 12 I-s and my-s. 

God gave Moses and Aaron their assignments; He would do the rest!  Their assignment was something they could do.  They were physically able to do what God commanded them to do.  It was not all that was needed, but it was all they could do.  The rest of the challenge of getting Israel out of Egypt, was God’s part. 

APPLICATION:   SOAP devotions did not originate with me, nor was it my idea to start writing them.  God clearly and specifically assigned me to write SOAPs.  Writing them was something I could do, after all He was the one giving the inspiration.  The spread of the SOAPs has all been HIS work.  The supply of needed finances are His responsibility. 

For the past 16 years, I have been faithful to do my part in writing the SOAPs, but what is that compared to His faithfulness for the (soon to be) past 78 years.  And through the SOAP ministry, God has completed some until He directed me into writing and posting SOAPs. 

PRAYER:  Lord, it is my pleasure to do as you direct.  May you be glorified in the fruit of this simple ministry.  Amen

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

Furnished and Ready

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 22, 2026:  SOAP #5894   Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 22:9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.  10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

OBSERVATION:  I wonder about the history of this house.  Was it built with a guest room?  Had a son or daughter once lived in the room?  When they moved out, did it become the guest room?  Whatever, it was now a designated guest room.  It was furnished and ready for guests. 

Jesus was not making his permanent residence in this “guest room.”  It was just a short stop on the way to the cross.

APPLICATION:  So it is with my physical body.  This is not my permanent residence.  When I die, I will leave it behind.  At the resurrection, it will be changed to be like his glorious body!  This worldly residence I live in is not my permanent home.  I am just passing through.  I should consider it as a “guest room.” It is to be furnished and ready as a guest room for Jesus to use as He desires. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, this body is yours to use how and when you desire.  You may want to use it as a meeting place for some of your disciples.  You may want to use it to meet with people who have not yet made you their Lord and Savior.   What a special honor that you would use me as your “guest room.” Amen

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

Much Better than my “Best-Guess!”

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 21, 2026:  SOAP #5893   Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

Much better than my “best-guess!”

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
Exodus (NIV) 2:1 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

OBSERVATION:  The Jews in Egypt had grown to such a number that Pharoah made a plan to stop their growth:  he would have each baby boy thrown into the Nile river.  Moses’ mother, tried to hide her baby, but it was impossible to hide him from Pharoah’s soldiers.  So, she came up with a plan, she would hide him in the reeds along the Nile river. It was a God-plan! 

God used the very thing that was meant for the death of the baby boys, the river, to became the salvation of Moses!  Pharoah’s daughter found him and brought him to live as her son!  And Moses’s mother became his nurse! 

APPLICATION:  Oh, how we wish God would deliver us from the trouble and turmoil we see around us.  We complain and ask, “Why…what are you doing…why must I stay here?”  We cannot fully understand God’s plans…that is until we have lived it out.  Only then will we really see how the trouble we are experiencing will be used by God to fulfill His promises and bring Him glory. 

That which the devil would use to defeat us can be the very thing God uses to bring victory!  We should never despair!  God used the very household of the one trying to destroy the Israelites to bring their salvation!

PRAYER:  Lord, I am learning to trust you!   You often work through the trouble around me for my good.  You are Trustworthy!  Your ways are higher than my ways.  You see further into the future than I do.  When I start to make decisions by my “best-guess” I will pause to consider what you are saying.  Amen

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

Questions and Answers

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 20, 2026:  SOAP #5892   Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 20:21 So the spies questioned him: …
22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”…
33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”…
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!”
40 And no-one dared to ask him any more questions.
41 Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?

OBSERVATION:  They were asking Jesus questions to trap him with his own words.  But Jesus answered their questions with such wisdom that “no one dared to ask him any more questions.”   But that was not the end of the questions.  Now it was His turn to ask the questions.    

APPLICATION:  In countries where many people have been raised in the Muslim faith, we often hear questions:  Is Jesus really God?  Did Jesus really die on the cross? …and others.  God’s answers are clearly presented in the Bible.  On several recent occasions when people attended a Bible Fellowship meeting in Sierra Leon for the purpose of asking questions and starting trouble…the Holy Spirit used answers from the Bible to convince them that Jesus is God; and they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!   Praise the Lord!   

In other places people are asking, “God, why did you let this happen?  Where were you?” 

But a day is coming when God will be asking the questions:  “Why didn’t you believe me? Why didn’t you trust me? Why didn’t you let me be a part of your life?” 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me live in such a way that it will be easy for me to answer your questions.  Amen

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

Being Useful

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 19, 2026:  SOAP #5891   Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 19:30  “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no-one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”…
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

OBSERVATION:  They released the donkey to the disciples simply because “the Lord needed it.” Their possession was now under the control of Jesus. And their possession was a part of bringing Jesus great honor and praise.

APPLICATION:  Jesus has done everything for me.  He left his home in heaven to live as a man on the earth.  He has taught me how to love and live.  He died in payment for my sins and he rose from the dead.  He promised to live in my life by his Holy Spirit!  His strength has enabled me to gain whatever I possess in this life.  When he says, “I need it…”, it should be released at his command immediately. 

May the things I possess (cars, homes, bank accounts, etc.) also have a part inbringing Jesus much honor and praise.  Of what greater value can they have then in being useful to honor the King of Glory! 

PRAYER:  Lord, as the colt, may my possessions also have a part of bringing you much honor and praise. Use whatever you can in a way that will glorify you.  Amen 

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

I will SURELY bring you back…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 18, 2026:  SOAP #5890   Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 
4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

OBSERVATION:  Jacob has just recently learned that the son he had long considered dead was alive and in charge of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh!   Now he had stopped for a night on his way to see Joseph.  God appeared to Him in a vision.  “Do not be afraid to go to where you are headed.  I am going to make you a great nation there.  I’ll take care of the rest of my plan.  I will go with you and I will SURELY bring you back!”

APPLICATION:  In my youth, God led me out of Kansas and went with me.  Each place He led me He was with me.  In 1989 He brought me back to Kansas.  After 20 years of pastoring Andover Assembly of God, I resigned as the senior pastor.  It was then that God assigned me to write and post daily SOAPs (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer). 

God has taken the simple SOAPs I write and accomplished more than I ever dreamed.  Being faithful in little things makes them available for His use.  And when He uses something that He planned, it moves in His power and with His anointing.  It has the potential of heaven.  He is working out His plan!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the God who is with me.  You are the promise-keeping God.  You are the God who cares for me and is working out your plans.   Your plans include using me for your glory.  Your plans for me include being your dwelling place for a short time here on earth, then joining you in your dwelling place for all eternity!  Wow!!!  Amen

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