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.

“brought out TO BE brought in”

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2025: SOAP #5573:  Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 6:20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders— great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us OUT from there to bring us IN and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.

OBSERVATION:   The Israelites were to pass on to their children their history.  Living in slavery was not pleasant.  God did great miracles (the ten plagues) to deliver them from Egypt.  But God was not only interested in getting the Israelites OUT of Egypt, He wanted to get them IN the promised land. 

APPLICATION:   So many times, we want God to deliver us from some troubling situation.  We pray for God to help us get free.  But once free, we do not think about why God set us free.  He got us OUT of the troubles so that we can be IN a time of praise and thanksgiving.  We come IN to opportunities to tell others what God has done for us.  Our testimony gives God glory!  

He delivers me from debt so that I can tithe and have money to give to others.  He brings me out of a time of sickness so that I can be in a time using my strength to serve Him and others.  Etc.   

PRAYER:   Lord you are so faithful to lift me out of my despair and troubles.  You bring me to a time of rejoicing in Your presence, a time of thanksgiving for how you have helped me.  May I be faithful to enter a season of thanksgiving and praise for what you have done.  You gave me relief; I give you praise!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Here is an update from Pastor Andrew and Bishop Emmanuel: 
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Here in Niger the conference was very great I will bless the Lord for the people the two days conference the total people that are attended is the first day we have 7,500 people on the second day we have 9,000 people and today we know that the number is going to increase.

In the two days conference we have 1,800 people who give them life to Jesus and as today is the last day we are expecting more people to come and also to be safe we will be organizing a discipleship class tomorrow for the new convert who give the life to Jesus.

We have already organized as SOAP MINISTRY team here in Niger also we have teach them how to print the SOAPs too the computers and printer and also how to distribute the SOAPs to the people in the country everyday they have already started receiving their own SOAPs yesterday.

Tomorrow the discipleship class is going to start for all those who give their life to Jesus during the conference for 2 days class for all those who gave their life to Jesus  in the conference and we will send them to a different churches.

We will be leaving here on Saturday morning to Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a very strong Muslim country but a few Christians but I believe this is a time or Revival in that country please help us in prayer as we go on Saturday but me Bishop Emmanuel and Pastor John we are fully ready with God’s favor and anointing to go into the country with the true gospel.
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Also, an update for those who have been praying for Samuel, Pastor Andrew’s son:  He had broken bones in his right foot.  The injury to his left leg were some wounds, but x-rays showed no broken bones.  He is now at home!   We can pray for God to provide some pain medication and to replace the refrigerator, TV, etc. sold for hospital payment. 

Also pray for some additional computers and printers.  They have installed all they have and have three West African countries plus some in East Africa. 

Leon  😊

Living Ready!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 06, 2025: SOAP #5572:  Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 13:28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

OBSERVATION:   Having been born the year Israel became a nation and believing that the fig-tree in verse 28 could be a reference to Israel, I consider myself a part of “this generation.”   I believe the things mentioned in the previous verses will happen in my lifetime.  

The theme of the next 5 verses is “be on guard,” “be alert,” “don’t be sleeping,”  “watch!”  This is not a day to be a sleepy Christian. 

APPLICATION:   In verse 37 Jesus says, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  I must take that personally.  I must not let myself be influenced by the world into thinking that everything will continue as it has.  I must keep my ears open to what the Holy Spirit is saying.  I must keep “on guard” and “alert!” 

I need to get my news from the Bible even more than from newspapers, magazines, radio or television.  The Holy Spirit is the author of the scriptures and He is able to give us understanding of how they apply to today. 

Reality may be that I have less time than my generation.  An accident, or some sickness may usher me into the presence of God before the call for “this generation.”  I have no promise of tomorrow.  (Proverbs 27:1)  I must be ready today!  I must live ready! 

PRAYER:   Lord, You have a plan and you have a time frame into which that plan must be finished.  As we quickly approach the completion of your plan, keep me sharp in hearing your voice.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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What A Teacher!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 05, 2025: SOAP #5571:  Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:1 He [Jesus] then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey…

OBSERVATION:   When Jesus taught heavenly principles, He always used earthy illustrations that would be easy for people to understand.  He used illustrations from their everyday life, things with which they were already familiar.  When Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to continue this ministry of revealing truth.  (John 16:3)

APPLICATION:   When the Holy Spirit shows me something new, I often come away thinking, that is so simple.  The most profound truths are put in the simplest of terms so that even I can understand them!  

The Holy Spirit is a good teacher because 1) He perfectly understands the truth, 2) He perfectly understands each of us, and 3) He communicates with each person individually. 

He is with me when I read the scriptures.  He is with me when I hear a preacher or teacher or a word of prophecy.  He rode the school bus with me and made me aware of things that demonstrated spiritual truth.  The Holy Spirit sparks my heart to receive truth and then apply it.  The Holy Spirit is my personal tutor.  I could not ask for a better teacher.  (And the same is true for each believer!)

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, thank you for being my teacher.  As I write these SOAPs give me clarity of thought.  Help me understand what you are saying and help me communicate the truth in ways that are easy for readers to understand, and easy to translate.  Thank you for being with each SOAP reader and showing them what is important for them to hear and apply.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Until Then…

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 04, 2025: SOAP #5570:  Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 11:7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple.

OBSERVATION:   The road was covered with coats and branches.  It was a great celebration!     Jesus was entering Jerusalem, riding on a colt.  The people who were at the head of the parade shouted, “Hosanna!”  Those who brought up the end shouted, “Hosanna!”   Their focus was Jesus!  

APPLICATION:   The parade that entered Jerusalem that day is still going.  It has stretched through the years to where I am today.  The parade route has changed.  It is not going through the gates of the city of Jerusalem in Israel; it is going through the “death gate” and entering the New Jerusalem in heaven!   Those who preceded us in death have already entered the gates of heaven and are now enjoying the presence of God from heaven’s point of view.  Last night I was privileged to join 20-25 others still in this life.  We joined in the presence of God as we worshipped the same God from our limited earthly point of view.

We are near the end of the parade.  we join with those who have gone ahead in shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  Jesus is the center of our world too!

PRAYER:   Jesus, all of earth and heaven is centered on you!  May those who are standing along my part of the parade route see you exalted and be welcomed to join the celebration!  What a day that will be when we are all together in the courts of heaven!  But until then we will continue singing your praise worshipping you!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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A Servant

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Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 03, 2025: SOAP #5569:  Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

OBSERVATION:   The world had gotten things upside down.  Jesus put them right side up.  In man’s eyes, rulers are the greatest.  In God’s eyes, servants are the greatest. 

Jesus had come to serve the will of the Father, and to serve man by making the payment for sin.  And in being the servant/slave of all, He clearly was the greatest of all! 

People who have been given authority should use it as a tool to increase their service to others.  Their decisions and their actions should be for the benefit others.       

APPLICATION:   I am a servant of the Most High God.   It is all about Him!  I must remember how Jesus answered the question about which was the greatest commandment: 

Mark (NIV) 12:29  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

PRAYER:   Lord, what an example you set!  I am amazed at the great extent You went to serve me.  May my life be used to serve your purposes.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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My Loving Lord!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 02, 2025: SOAP #5568:  Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

OBSERVATION:   Peter, James, and John had accompanied Jesus up the mountain.  They saw his garments glow super white.  They saw Elijah and Moses present to talk with Jesus.  Peter suggested they build three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.  Then a cloud enveloped them, and they heard the voice of God.  He was not speaking to Jesus; He was not speaking to Moses; and He was not speaking to Elijah.  He was speaking to them!

They were words of identification: “this is my son!”  This is someone special.  God the Father was identifying with Jesus.  
They were words of relationship:  “Whom I love.” I have an emotional tie to Him.  I expect you to treat Him as someone very special to me. 
They were words of direction:  “Listen to Him.”  Do what He says.  Make sure you can hear His voice. 

APPLICATION:   God the Father may be speaking to someone else, but He has been definitely talking to me.  Fifteen years ago, He told me to drive a school bus.  Two weeks ago, He told me my season for bus driving was over.  I continue to write the SOAPs and I am now living and listening day by day for further direction. 

Do I respect God?  I must identify with Him as my Father.  I must love His Son as my Lord.  I must listen to Him and do what He says! 

PRAYER:   Jesus, my relationship with you starts with acknowledging that I am a sinner and I need the forgiveness you provide through your death on the cross. But that is only the beginning!   Because what follows is a life-long loving relationship learning how to live as Your friend and discovering the joy of having you for my best friend.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Be Encouraged! It is WELL WORTH any trouble we experience!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 01, 2025: SOAP #5567:  Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

SCRIPTURE: Mark (NIV) 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

OBSERVATION:   One cannot accuse Jesus of sugar-coating His call.  He did not promise us a thorn-less rose garden.   He gathered the crowd as well as His disciples to let them know that following Him would be a difficult journey.  

There will be requirements that we would rather not accept.  There may be times when we would rather look the other way or pretend that we do not hear what He telling us to do. 

The wonderful peace and joy in our hearts can be challenged by the ungodly world into which He has sent us.     

APPLICATION:   Following Jesus is not always easy and pleasant—not the way we would choose.  But it is ALWAYS worth it!  And the options are not acceptable.  Like my dad said, “It is worth the sacrifice to follow Jesus!” 

PRAYER:   Lord, the more I know you, the more I love you.  The more I know and love you, the more I am convinced that following you is worth any cross I am called to carry.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Especially when only God is watching!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 28, 2025: SOAP #5565:  Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

OBSERVATION:   Put prophecy, wisdom and faith in verse 2 and generosity and sacrifice in verse 3 – all on one side of God’s scale.  Then put love as the lone quality on the other side.  It will not be balanced!  What is it about love that makes God give it so much value?  I asked the Lord and He dropped these words in my heart: 

Having prophecy, wisdom, faith, generosity, and sacrifice makes people love you.  Having God’s love makes you love others. 

APPLICATION:   The important thing is not how much others love me, but how much I love others!   It is not about being so “nice” that people love me, it is about being so full of God that I love people, especially those hard to love. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, surely, no one has ever loved you the way you have loved us. I am certain that I have never loved you the way you have loved me.  Holy Spirit, help me grow in loving God.  Help me faithfully express my love to God by loving those around me, not only in the big ways, but especially in the little ways, and when no one is watching but You.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Serving A Faithful God!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 27, 2025: SOAP #5565:  Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

OBSERVATION:   To me, this verse is a strong indication that they had taken along with them one or two of the left-overs from the earlier dinner. They had in the boat evidence of God’s miraculous provision.  They had in the boat evidence that Jesus could impower them to do as He commanded, after all, it was He who commanded them to feed the 5000, and then He provided the food for them to do so.  It was He who told them to go to the other side, and He would empower them to do so.

APPLICATION:   So often, we need but to look around to find evidence of God’s great intervention in our lives.  In our homes, we have “basketfulls” of left-overs from some previous miracle.  Let’s not let our hearts become “hardened” so that we forget and cannot see what is so obvious.

God told me that my bus driving was over.  He did not say that my living in His provision was over.  As long as I am faithful to do as He directs, I can rest assured that He will continue to provide.  My faith was not in the bus company, my faith was in God.  My faith is still in God.  What He provided through the bus company, He will now provide through another source—probably for the next six months or a year, through the VA as a pension from cancer that is associated with agent orange being used in the areas we traversed in Viet Nam.  When this gets cleared up, God will provide through another means!  That is the way He is.  I am faithful to do as He says; He is faithful to provide and do what is needed for me to complete His assignment. 

PRAYER:   Lord, keep me in step with you, not lagging behind nor running ahead.  May I live and move with an awareness of your wonderful presence.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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The Journey becomes Personalized!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 26, 2025: SOAP #5564:  Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5 Mr 5:37  

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 5:25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. …27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came, and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was walking in a large crowd; many people had touched Jesus that day.  They had jostled against him as they walked. 

It was not just being on the same road with Jesus.  It was not just going in the same direction as Jesus.  It was not the way she talked to Jesus!  It was how she touched Jesus.  She touched Him on purpose.  She intended to touch Him.  She had purposed in her heart to touch Jesus.  The journey became personalized to her!     

APPLICATION: It is not just being in a church or being around people who love the Lord.  It is not just hearing others talk about Jesus.   It is when I realize that what is said—what I read—what I hear—is for Leon—it becomes personalized!  The Holy Spirit stirs within me that this is for me.  On February 16, 2025, as the pastor was preaching about seasons, the Lord said to me, “The season for bus driving is over!”  I started planning to finish driving this school year.  Then I heard Him say, “I did not say it was coming to an end, I said it was over!”  The next morning I took actions that showed I understood what God said to Leon. 

I confess my sins; He forgives.  I obey; He provides and meets my needs. Often His answers come as I respond to His word! …sometimes even before! 

PRAYER:   Lord, it is an honor to be your child and a joy to serve you.  To call you “Lord” means that I do what you say.  Living for you is a daily adventure. Amen

Pastor Leon
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