Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 27, 2025:  SOAP #5868: Revelation 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 1:4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

OBSERVATION:  The apostle John is writing to the seven churches in the province of Asia.  His greeting to them is “grace and peace” from the eternal God, from the seven Spirits before the throne, and from God the Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is identified by His character (faithful), by His accomplishment (the resurrection), and His authority (the King over all kings). 

Not only because of who He is, but especially because of what He has done for us, to Jesus belongs “glory and power for ever and ever!!!”  All creation owes Him glory, but especially those who have been loved by Jesus, freed from their sins, and set into a place of honor to serve the Father God!

APPLICATION:  Obviously, Jesus is the center of God’s man-plan.  Jesus is the faithful witness of the holiness and love of God.  He forever has the high place in heaven for what He accomplished.  Every redeemed man and woman is a testimony to what Jesus accomplished. 

How proper for Jesus to be the center of my life.  How proper for Him to receive glory and power every day in and from my life!!!      

PRAYER:  Lord, to you be the glory and power for ever and ever!  You are the center of God’s man-plan for Leon.  You are worthy of my dedication.  You are worthy of my worship. Amen 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 26, 2025:  SOAP #5867: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

SCRIPTURE:  2John (NIV) 1 The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

OBSERVATION:  In Luke 2 we see that the Baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but here we see that the grace, mercy, and peace He brings is wrapped in truth and love. 

     God’s holiness demands truth.  Truth is God’s reality!  Grace, mercy, and peace are offered to us in love that is based on truth.  The truth is: I have sinned and can have no place in a holy heaven with a holy God. (Romans 3:23)   The truth is: God’s sinless Son, Jesus died as payment for my sin.  The value of His sinless blood far exceeded the value of my sin. (Romans 5:8)   The truth is:  if I confess my sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

     The grace, mercy and peace that comes to us from God is always wrapped in truth and love. Truth is an expression of holiness. He who is perfectly holy always deals with truth. Truth is God’s reality.

     Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserved. Peace is God establishing a right relationship with us.
Grace, mercy, and peace all come to us with full acknowledgement of our sin. Truth acknowledges our sin. And truth acknowledges God’s holiness. But truth also acknowledges God’s love and His holy sacrifice made for our sin!

APPLICATION:  To receive this grace, mercy, and peace, we simply accept it by faith.  Our faith is also based on truth.  We have faith that God has told us the truth about sin, and about Jesus, and about his willingness to forgive. 

     It is not a gift we can receive in our hands, but we receive it in our heart.  It enters our heart when we express the truth.  We receive it by believing it and saying, “Thank you.”  We receive it like we receive a compliment from a friend…we believe they are sincere, and we say, “Thank you.”  (Romans 10:9-10)

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  I believe that your death can be the payment for my sins.  I ask you to forgive my sins.  I confess that you are my Savior and Lord.  Thank you for forgiving me and making me your child.  With my sins forgiven, my heart is your home. Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 23, 2025:  SOAP #5864: John 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus had just told of this unique relationship they had with the Son and through the Son to the Father. (John 14:20 ) Now He speaks of their responsibility to maintain that relationship.

God’s plan for each branch is fruitfulness, but our fruitfulness depends on us remaining in contact with Him.  The works we do and the attitude we display to the world is to be the outward expression of the inner person that is being renewed in Christ Jesus. 

We obtain Christ by faith and on the basis of His completed work at Calvary.  We maintain that relationship by our daily walk of faith and obedience.

APPLICATION:  Fruitfulness in the responsibility of every branch, but fruitfulness is impossible unless it remains attached to the vine. 

And so it is with us.  We are to be fruitful.  We were created to be fruitful.  Yet the fruit God desires from our lives is impossible to bear unless we are attached!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, being your child is a constant part of my life that I live out every minute of every day.  It is an adventure to learn how you react to the world around me.  May my outward life be proof that you are living inside!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 21, 2025:  SOAP #5862: John 12-14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12:17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

OBSERVATION:  It was an amazing time.  Jesus had just called Lazarus out of a tomb in which his body had been for four days!   Obviously, it was hard to keep that news quiet.  Everyone present at the tomb was talking to everyone they knew!  It was an amazing event that they had personally witnessed.  It was unlike anything they had ever seen. 

But they were not the only ones talking.  Others who had only heard about it were talking about it!  So “many” went out to meet Him!   So many that the religious leaders said, “Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 

APPLICATION:  That is what is happening today in West Africa.  A Muslim from New York City is scheduled to arrive this week to encourage the Muslims not to listen to the Christians.   But he will find that some of the ones he was counting on to help him have already heard and have already made commitments to Jesus!!!   They have seen what Jesus can do in healing and miracles.  They have talked about it.  And others who have only heard have also been talking about Jesus and what He does today for His followers. 

PRAYER:  Lord, we pray for the many people who have given you what you most want for Christmas—they have given you their hearts!   May your peace flood their hearts and minds.  Keep them strong.  May they feel your love surrounding them.  We need your help to provide Bibles and your anointing on the leaders who will help them understand your word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 14:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.

OBSERVATION:  As the relationships with an earthly parent progresses through many levels, so the relationship with our Heavenly Father progresses/grows through many levels.  I see the first level described in the Bible as a Shepherd and sheep.  Before one can be sent as a servant, one has to first learn to recognize the voice of the Master.  The emphasis on being a sheep is to recognize His voice and follow. 

APPLICATION:  New-born sheep learn the voice of their shepherd by watching their mama sheep.  They learn to recognize the voice to which she responded was the voice to which they should respond.  It is the same with little children learning from their parents.  They learn from their parents’ reactions. 

And the same is true with new/young Christians.  As a child I learned to honor God and His Word.  I learned to respect God.  Through my parents and people working with children in the church we attended I learned how to recognize God’s voice. I learned the value of listening to God and doing what He says. 

When I get together with other believers, I listen to their stories of God’s working.  I learn His ways and His priorities.  Then as I read the Word of God, or hear it read, I recognize Him speaking to me. 

PRAYER:  Lord, speak to us.  Help us recognize your voice.  Speak to us through your Word.  And for the thousands of new believers who do not yet have a Bible, uses these SOAPs and other believers who have known you for long enough to have some maturity—use us to help them recognize your voice.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 20, 2025:  SOAP #5861: John 7-8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 7:18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was speaking about Himself as He had been sent by His Father in heaven.  He was present on earth to make the Father known.  He was present on earth to do the Father’s will. 

A person speaking on his own authority is trying to prove that he has a good grasp of the issue.  He wants others to see his valuable opinion.  He wants others to see his wisdom.  He wants to win others to his side.  It is to his glory to have others change to his point of view. 

But when a person has been sent by God and represents His love and holiness, he will do so in love and holiness.  He will not use lies to speak of God’s holiness.  He will not use hate to reveal God’s love.  He will be a person known for honesty and truth. 

APPLICATION:  As I represent the Holy God where I live and work, I can only properly do so by allowing His character to shine through my words and actions.  Of course, in myself I fall far short of such a high standard.  Which is no surprise to God!  That is why He sent His Holy Spirit to live in me.  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, how I need you to help me properly represent the One who has sent me to those around me.  Knowing that you anointed Jesus for His ministry here on earth, you are the perfect one to live in me and help me to be like Jesus!   Help me work for the honor of the One who has sent me.  Holy Spirit, I am counting on you!  Do what you do in me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 19, 2025:  SOAP #5860: John 5-6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

OBSERVATION:  Much of Jesus teaching was about His Father.  And much of Jesus when He left, He and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in believers and through them to continue the ministry of Jesus!  

The Father sent Jesus to live as a sinless man totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to fulfill His assigned ministry. While Jesus was living as a sinless man on earth, it was the Holy Spirit who was the life of God within Him.  The Holy Spirit was the source of the words spoken by Jesus. 

Jesus told us, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.”  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.  Being forgiven and justified, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us as He did within Jesus.  Jesus was sent to rely on the Holy Spirit, so if I have been sent in the same way.  Since He is my example, I too must rely on the Holy Spirit as He did.  

APPLICATION:  When I confessed my sins and ask Jesus to forgive me on the basis of His death on the cross, the same Holy Spirit that came upon/within Jesus comes to take up residence in me!!!   My life’s goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through me as He did through Jesus!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, You and Jesus, what a team in honoring the Father!  Baptize me; fill me to overflowing as you filled your disciples in Acts 2.  Make me your partner in ministry. Anoint me to do your works as happened in the book of Acts, and is happening today in Sierra Leone.  Take the lead in my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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