Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 08, 2026:  SOAP #5911:   Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 15:3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

OBSERVATION:  Church growth brought its own problems.  Now that the Gentiles were being saved, some of the Jews thought that the Gentiles should go through the ceremonial process of becoming Jews, they should be circumcised.  (The new non-Jewish believers were not becoming Jews, but by the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit in salvation, they had become Gentile believers!  They had been born again into a whole new family.  It was a family known as “followers of the way,” but later began to be called “Christians.”  In this family, Jews and Gentiles are all bound together as one.) 

As Paul and Barnabas traveled back to Jerusalem to get an answer from the recognized church leaders, they reported to those along the way what God had been doing among the Gentiles, a report that caused great joy!    

APPLICATION:  What God has done, and is still doing, among the Muslims in Sierra Leon should cause great joy!  Knowing that a similar outreach is soon to take place in Liberia should be reason for increased prayer!  God loves Muslim people!  Jesus died for Muslim people!  He loves them just as much as He loved us.  It brings great joy to His heart whenever a single person acknowledges their sin and asks for His sacrifice to be the payment for their sin!   Can we even begin to understand the great joy when hundreds and thousands of Muslims make Jesus the Lord of their lives!!!  

PRAYER:  Lord, with all of heaven we rejoice with what you are doing in Africa. Your Holy Spirit is at work among your people to reach out to the lost.  We pray a special anointing on those leading the evangelistic crusade in the nation of Liberia.  Provide the money needed for printing SOAPs, Bibles to distribute, for food and lodging of those called to commit their days for this ministry.  Give them the great joy of winning people to your matchless name of Jesus!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 07, 2026:  SOAP #5910:   Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there [in the city of Iconium], speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

OBSERVATION:  The ministry of the church in the book of Acts followed the example of Jesus.  It consisted of two main parts.  First was the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom over which Jesus is Lord and King.  Second was the demonstration of the power and authority of that Kingdom seen in “miraculous signs and wonders.”  They did not always happen in that order, but both were commonly a part of Jesus ministry. 

The combination of proclamation and demonstration are effective in bringing others into the kingdom.  Of course, the most effective demonstration is the changes in the lives of those who invite Jesus to live in their life as Lord!  But that often takes time before it becomes obvious.  Healings and miracles are more instantaneous.  People hear the proclamation of Jesus and they see the power of His presence demonstrated in a living situation! 

APPLICATION:  In the gospels I see the ministry of Jesus; in the book of Acts I see the same ministry continuing in the early church.  AND through the reports from Sierra Leon, I hear the same thing happening today! 

Muslim missionaries, as visited Sierra Leone will be soon in Liberia.  The SOAP team there is planning a 50 day outreach to Muslims, starting before the missionaries arrive.  God loves Muslim people!  Please join with the Liberia SOAP team in strong interceding prayer for God to bring a great spiritual awakening among the Muslim people!  Pray for God’s provision and anointing. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, today find me a vessel You can work through.  May it be easy for you to work in and through me.  Lord, I am feeling that today is Your day for Muslims.  Pour out your Holy Spirit on the believers who work and live among them.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 04, 2026:  SOAP #5907:   Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 12:24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread.  

OBSERVATION:  Steven had been stoned to death.  Saul had traveled from city to city to take believers as prisoners to Jerusalem.  James had been recently put to death by Herod.  Peter was then thrown into prison from which he miraculously escaped, being let out of prison by an angel.  The social and political climate was not conducive to Christianity, but the “word of God” continued to “increase and spread.”

APPLICATION:  The above passage obviously could not mean that more Bibles were being printed because the printing press had not yet been invented.  There were very few copies of the scriptures available to the early church.  Yet we read, “the word of God continued to increase and spread.” 

I think that the word of God was spreading because people were receiving the truth of the Gospel and it was being lived out through their daily lives.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was making the truth of scripture obvious to those early believers.  It was not the Word of God written in scrolls or books, but the Word of God written on the hearts of men and women!  

If we want revival in our neighborhood, we must let the Word of God increase and spread in our personal lives.  We must let our neighbors see God’s Word in action every day!  They see us gathering in fellowship groups and churches, but how is the Word of God increasing and spreading in our daily lives? 

PRAYER:  Lord, let your Word, first of all, increase and spread in me and my family.  May it spread to every day and every part of my life.  Then it will increase and spread where I live and where I work.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 04, 2026:  SOAP #5907:   Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

OBSERVATION:  It is hard for me to read the Book of Acts and not compare it to what is happening today in Sierra Leon. 

Above we read that the Christians scattered by persecution were faithful to witness, but only to the Jews.  However, some began to speak to the Greeks (Gentiles) and found great acceptance.  The “Lord’s hand was with them” indicates to me that miracles were happening and drawing people to the Lord. 

APPLICATION:  What is written above in verse 21 could be said about the SOAP ministry team in Sierra Leon.  The Lord’s hand has been with them the past two months as they conducted a nation-wide ministry to the Muslims.  Well over 100,000 Muslims have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior!  

This afternoon I was blest to visit with Pastor Andrew from Sierra Leon over Facebook, and with my brother in Hawaii over a cell phone as Pastor Andrew recounted some of the miracles and we lifted our voices in praise.  We rejoice with each advancement, and we are encouraged to believe for Liberia who is now preparing for a visit from some Muslim evangelists. 

PRAYER:  Lord, our hearts rejoice in what you are doing in Sierra Leon, and we pray for a continued move of your Holy Spirit across Africa and Asia.  This is your day for reaching Muslims.  Give boldness to every Christian to witness your love and grace, especially to any Muslims with whom they come in contact.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 31, 2026:  SOAP #5903:   Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to W

OBSERVATION:  From reading this verse one might get the idea that Stephen was in a great revival!   He was full of the Holy Spirit and having visions of God!  He saw the resurrected and ascended Jesus!    

THIS verse gives us insight into Stephen.  The verses BEFORE and AFTER give us insight into Stephen’s circumstances.  He was not in a revival.  The people around Stephen were furious at what he had just told them.  In a very short time, they would take him out of the city and stone him to death.  Stephen was discovering that the One inside him was greater than what surrounded him—even greater than what might happen to him! 

And look who was watching.  Not only was heaven taking note of how Stephen was being treated, Acts 8:1 reveals that Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was watching too!  

APPLICATION:  Praise the Lord my circumstances do not have to rule my spirit!  I can be full of the Holy Spirit no matter what is happening around me or to me!   There are people watching my life today, to see how I handle the tough times.  I want them to see in me what Saul saw in Stephen. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as Saul was watching Stephen that day, there are people watching my life today.  I need Your Holy Spirit.  I want to stay full of Your Spirit.  I want a revival in my heart that can be easily seen by others.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 30, 2026:  SOAP #5902   Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

OBSERVATION:  Church growth brought problems.  Good problems, not bad problems.  Problems that needed attention, but if the apostles took care of them, they would not have time to care for their priorities!   These problems did not surprise God; He had already provided for this church growth.  What was needed was already present!  There were people full of faith and the Holy Spirit that could handle these problems!  

APPLICATION:  If I want the church to grow, I should not complain about the problems that growth will bring.  New people might sit in my favorite seat.   pastor may not have as much time for me because he is visiting the new believers. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, growth always brings new problems.  Church growth, family growth, job growth, schooling growth, etc. all brings changes and a needed increase in our faith.  May my attitudes not hinder the growth you have planned for me.  May my knowledge of you and my faith in you keep up with the growth that you bring my way.  May my growth bring expansion to your Kingdom!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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