Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 09, 2026: SOAP #6093: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

SCRIPTURE:  John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”…
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

OBSERVATION:  It is good for us to quickly understand that Jesus’ love for us does not always mean that he will do what we want when we want it.  His actions may seem to us that he has ignored our request or not taken it very seriously.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  He loves us!  Even in this passage that fact is repeated in verse five. These were people that Jesus loved!  They were important to him!

I wonder if at least one of the disciples had the thought, “Jesus, you sure missed it this time.  You said this sickness would not end in death.”  For those of us who now know the rest of the story we see that the end result was not death but death was one step in the pathway that led to “God’s glory.”

For the Christian, nothing ends in death!!!

APPLICATION: I can trust the Lord.  I may not understand why He does some things or the way He does them, but I can trust Him.  Everything I know about Him tells me I can trust Him.  I can trust his love for me! 

Even my physical death will be but one step that into God’s presence! 

PRAYER:  Lord, when you do not do what I want, or do it when I want it, I still know I can trust you.  Your love for me never changes.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!  
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 06, 2026: SOAP #6090: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 8:2 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

OBSERVATION: In this passage we see that Jesus carefully did what the Father directed; He was sent by the Father. He was here to do the Father’s will.

Note that the One who sent Him, was also with Him. According to His own words, “He was not left alone.” The Heavenly Father was with Jesus.

Jesus was aware of the presence of the Omnipresent God. Even as he laid aside His deity to live as a man on earth, he had fellowship with His Father. He often spoke to and with Him. His awareness of the presence of His Heavenly Father can be seen in many places.

APPLICATION: As Jesus did not live His life on His own, so He has designed that I do not live my life on my own. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me. He has sent His Holy Spirit to empower me to minister to others in His name. I am not here on my own. Jesus and the Father have made me their dwelling! (John 14:23) My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!

Jesus did not drop me off, leave me on my own, promise to check up on me from time to time, and finally promise to return later to take me where He lives. He placed me here; He remains with me; He does His work through me.

PRAYER: Jesus, it is you and me—we are in this together! My desire—to always do what pleases you! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 04, 2026: SOAP #6088: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 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:  There are many recent testimonies from West Africa about the healing power of God flowing through these SOAP devotionals.  About a month ago there was a cripple young man who stayed in his room for several days reading the SOAP.  One night he began shouting, “I can walk!”  It was a miracle that opened a whole city to the gospel! (He was not even yet a believer!) 

Yesterday I read about a man who took a SOAP home and read it to his blind mother.  She took it and kept it under her pillow for three days.  Then after 15 years of blindness, she woke up seeing!  

There was no medicine, no doctors, no preachers, no apostles, no evangelists…only words printed on a sheet of paper—the Words of God!  (She was not even yet a believer!) 

APPLICATION:  It is a powerful thing when the Living Word (Jesus) has the opportunity to apply the Written Word (the Bible).  Miracles and healings can happen when the Living Word applies the Written Word!  

Be faithful to take in God’s Word, either through reading or being in a place to listen. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, awaken my heart to what you are saying to me through the scriptures.  Surely there be many opportunities to apply the Word of God in my life.  Help me apply the Word of God to my daily life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2026: SOAP #6087: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was speaking to the Jewish Religious leaders who took great pride in knowing and studying the writings of Moses and the Prophets.  They were considered experts in the law.  They could quote it; they could use it to condemn others; but they could not see that its purpose was to lead them to Jesus, the Promised Messiah!

The ones who best knew the Written Word missed the Living Word to whom the scriptures pointed!  We need the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw us to Jesus!  He reveals truth about Jesus to our hearts.   

APPLICATION: The two men on the road to Emmaus had a personal eye-opening conference with the post-resurrection Jesus who revealed how that he had just fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.  (Luke 24:13-27)

We all need the Holy Spirit to give us such a conference as we read God’s Word and hear God’s Word preached.  He convicts us of sin and convinces us that Jesus died for our sin.  He takes the truth of Jesus and applies it to our hearts. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, it is not how well I know the scriptures that matters, it is how well I know you!  You are the reason to study the scriptures, either by reading or hearing!  Thank you for the healings and miracles.  They show your power to change our lives.  They demonstrate your love for people.  They show us that you are present with us.  Holy Spirit, open my understanding as I read and hear the Scriptures read.  Reveal to me the Living Word as I become more acquainted with the written Word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 2, 2026: SOAP #6086: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

OBSERVATION:  This woman had something Jesus wanted.  Water, but He really wanted more.  He wanted her.  Jesus was not so much interested in what she could give Him, but in what He could give her.  She could give him water from a well, but He could give her living water! 

In my limited study of various religions, it seems the emphasis is always on what the worshipper can do or give their god.  The sacrifice is always made by the worshipper.  What a difference that the one true God is really interested in what He can give me!   

She came by herself to draw water, normally that was a social time for friends.  She had been married five times and was now living with a man not her husband; that was probably the reason no one wanted to accompany her to the well. (vs 18.)  But the next time she came to the well, the whole town came with her! (vs 30.)  What a change!!  What Jesus did in her could be seen by the whole town…just like the testimonies of the miracles in West Africa. 

APPLICATION: More than once I have discovered that when Jesus was asking me for something He was really wanting to give me something!  I need to remember that by nature Jesus is a giver.  It is foolish to withhold from Him what He desires.  When He sees the nature of a giver in me, He opens His treasures to me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, three things you are teaching me: 1. You are teaching me to give.  2. You are teaching me the joy of giving.  3. You are teaching me that you always out give me!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2026: SOAP #6084: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  John 3:6 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (Note verses 23 and 24)

OBSERVATION:  In John 3:16 Jesus is speaking with an inquisitive seeker.  We read that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Becoming a Christian is responding to the great love that God has for us. It is singing, “Oh how HE loves me!” We love Him because He first loved us! We are responding to His great love for us.

However in John 14:21 Jesus is speaking to His disciples.  Here it is God responding to our great love for Him!  We have come to know and love Him. Our love for Him is clearly seen in that His commands are priority in our lives. It is God singing, “Oh how he loves me!”

APPLICATION: It is an ever widening spiral. At the center is His great love for me. He gives His Son to die for me. I respond in love, beginning to learn and keep His commands.  He sees my response of love and is so joyful that He reveals even more of Himself and His plan for me. I respond in such appreciation and amazement that I love Him even more! I begin to sacrifice my wants in order to fulfill His wants. He sees my increased love for Him and He reveals His heart to me. I am so enamored with His great heart of love that I am willing to decrease so that He may increase. And on, and on it goes! Ever more and more loving revelation on His part; ever more and more loving surrender on my part.  It is a ever-growing, never-ending story of love.

PRAYER:  Lord, loving you more, bringing greater joy to your heart—that is what life is all about!  Now, how can I make you smile today?  Amen. 

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

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2026: SOAP #6084: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 107:19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank-offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

OBSERVATION:  “He sent forth his word and healed them.”  Surely Jesus fulfilled this prophetic scripture.  In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we read that the WORD was in the beginning.  The WORD was with God and the WORD was God!  The WORD became flesh and lived among us.  We read in the gospels that a major part of the ministry of Jesus was healing. 

As in the gospel days when Jesus walked the earth, we are seeing amazing healings happening today through the written WORD contained in each SOAP.  Within the last year, many thousands of people in West Africa have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their faith settled by witnessing the many healings that God is doing among them. 

APPLICATION:  Never hold back from praying for someone who is sick, especially if they ask.  God is working among the Muslim people because they ask.  They see the healing power of God and they ask for the SOAPs to be brought into their community.  Many have experienced the healing power of God merely by reading the SOAPs. 

Healing provides an open door through which Jesus can gain access to someone’s heart.  If God has healed you, be ready to give your testimony.  Let them know we serve a healing God!  

PRAYER:  Lord, through my testimony, may people see you as a loving God who cares for people.  You use your power on behalf of people.  You are not waiting for us to serve you, but you wait to serve us.  Your love and power are amazing.  Amen

Pastor Leon    
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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