Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 29, 2025: SOAP #5779: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 11:13  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 
Luke (NIV) 12:11  “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12  for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

OBSERVATION:  In Luke, chapter 11 we saw that the Holy Spirit is a gift from our Heavenly Parent, our Creator.  He made us.  He knows our limitations.  When we succeed, it makes Him look good, makes Him feel good.  He created us to live victoriously in this world.  He knows what we need.  He gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us succeed. 

There has been more than one time when I wished my Spanish teacher, or math teacher, or English teacher was with me.  I faced a challenge and could sure use their expertise!  

But in Luke, chapter 12 we see that the Holy Spirit is a teacher who is always with us!  When we are in trouble, at that moment He will teach us what we should say.  He is the teacher I need!  

APPLICATION:  How I need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.  I must learn how He speaks to me.  I must quickly recognize His voice.  I must learn His touch that says, “Don’t be in such a hurry.  Take time.  You are not seeing everything clearly.  Remember what you read in the scriptures this morning.” 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, you are a teacher that is always with me.  You are the valuable gift given to me by the Heavenly Father.  Thank you for your presence in my life and for your directions.  Forgive me for the times I have ignored you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 27, 2025: SOAP #5777: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

OBSERVATION:  Evangelistic ministry, as Jesus directed the apostles, consisted of two major parts.  First was the demonstration of the power of God, and second was the information about the kingdom of God.  Sometimes the teaching preceded the demonstration, but both were clearly present. 

People need to know that God’s kingdom, His structure of authority, is present and how to personally become a part of that Kingdom through faith.  And it is good when they can see a demonstration of that authority making a difference in everyday lives.  The demonstration of God’s power over sickness helped them realize that God’s kingdom is not some fantasy.  It is REAL and affects reality!!!                                                                                               

APPLICATION:  When we invite Jesus to forgive our sins and make our lives His home, things change.  His presence in us makes a difference, a difference that people can see. 

The special move of God now happening in Sierra Leone started with God healing a key leader!  The move of God has now spread to 10 communities and Bishop Sam says that there are 15 other communities wanting the SOAP team to come!  The Kingdom of God is expanding through SOAPs in Africa and Asia! 

PRAYER:  Lord, we pray for two things.  First, may your presence in our lives make such a noticeable difference that people want what we have.  Second, Holy Spirit give us the words to say as we explain that “The Kingdom of God is near you!”  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 26, 2025: SOAP #5776: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 9:16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

OBSERVATION:  The loaves of bread were not multiplied until they were broken.  The loaves were whole when they entered His hands, but they did not leave His hands until they were broken.  He only passed out broken loaves.  It was the broken pieces that met the need of the hungry people. 

What is true of the loaves Jesus used to feed the hungry can also be true of the servants Jesus uses to help the needy.  The pride in our ability to serve the Lord must be broken until we are convinced that His work is only accomplished by HIM working through us! 

APPLICATION:  Being broken in the hands of Jesus is not a bad thing.  It is a good thing to remain in the hands of Jesus!  In fact, being broken can make me more useful as He places the pieces of my brokenness in places where people are hungry. 

PRAYER:  Lord, I remember attending youth rallies and singing with all my heart: “Jesus, use me; Oh Lord, don’t refuse me.  Surely there’s a work that I can do.  And even though it’s humble, Lord help my will to crumble.  Though the cost be great I’ll work for you.”  Oh, Lord, it is still true!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 25, 2025: SOAP #5775: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 8:1 … The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

OBSERVATION:  What a special privilege was given to these precious ladies who travelled with Jesus and the disciples.  They had the opportunity to invest money that was under their oversight into the Kingdom of Heaven—to actually support the KING of Heaven while he was on His earth mission.  They did not build any buildings or ministry centers, but the disciples did need to eat, have clothing, and places to clean up and rest. 

What joy must now fill their hearts as they look down from the heights of heaven onto the world and see the truth and spirit of Jesus filling the whole earth!  They had a part in the beginning!!!   They had been blessed by Jesus and were a part of moving His ministry forward! 

APPLICATION:  I cannot help but think of all the ways people have supported the SOAP ministry.  Only God knows how many computers and printers are preparing SOAPs every day!  Only God knows how many cartons of ink and sheets of paper have been used.  And only God knows how many people have made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives!  (Two days ago, Bishop Sam Jolly wrote that in the past 6 months, 47,000 Muslims have given their hearts to Jesus from 10 communities and there are 15 communities calling for the SOAP ministry in Sierra Leone to come!)  

If you have been blessed by the SOAPs, the Lord can use you like the women who travelled with Jesus.  You can personally spread the SOAPs or help distribute them to others.  Ask the Lord how He can use you. 

PRAYER:  Lord thank you for your blessings.  Use us to pass them along to others.  Show me my part in your Kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 24, 2025: SOAP #5774: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 85:10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

OBSERVATION:  What great characteristics we see in God.  If we were choosing how to design a god, surely we would desire our god to be good.  But what makes someone good?  Is it not a combination of the two characteristics we see in this verse.  Our god must have love and our god must be holy (here expressed in faithfulness.)

Holiness is expressed in justice and faithfulness.  Truly a god would not be good if unjust and/or unfaithful.  Love is expressed in mercy and grace.  We would not call anyone good if lacking in mercy or grace. Indeed, it is the combination of these two different characteristics (love & holiness) that make the Living God GOOD!

But how can He be both and interact with fallen man?  Should He be loving and just overlook our sin?  Would not that be an affront to His holiness?  On the other hand, should He be holy and overlook His love?  Would not His holiness cause His love to be unfulfilled as He allows man to remain separated by sin?

What wisdom can bring “love and faithfulness together?”  How can “righteousness and peace kiss each other?”  Divine wisdom knew a way in which holiness would not be compromised nor love left unfulfilled.

APPLICATION:  Indeed, in the wisdom of God, the concept of love is magnified. It is defined in the clearest and most easily understood terms!  Just how loving is this God?  Look at the answer to this dilemma!

Indeed, in the wisdom of God, His holiness is magnified!  How far will God go to remain eternally holy?  Just how holy is our God?  Look at the answer to this dilemma!

The answer is the cross!  In the cross the holiness of God is satisfied as the sinless blood of God’s only begotten Son is shed to pay for our sins!   What Holiness!  What a payment!  There was no special deal for Jesus, even though He was God, the Son!   He had to pay the full price.  The wages of sin is death!

In the cross the love of God is satisfied as men who were before lost in their sin can boldly approach the throne of God in worship, covered by the precious blood of God’s Son!  Their lives, now clean through the blood of Jesus become dwelling places for the Holy Spirit!

In the humble humanity of God walking dusty roads in the flesh, experiencing hunger and weariness, love and faithfulness met together. And in the bloody, sweaty, suffering of the cross, righteousness and peace kissed each other!

It is amazing!

PRAYER:  Lord, your cross made Ephesians 3:10 possible.  Now the manifold wisdom of God can be clearly seen by principalities and powers in heavenly places. It is now visible in in God’s highest creation, the church!  And I pray that it is visible in me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 22, 2025: SOAP #5772: Daniel 9-10; Psalm 123; Luke 5     

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:1  And it came to pass, in the multitude pressing on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats standing beside the lake, and the fishers, having gone away from them, were washing the nets, 3 and having entered into one of the boats, that was Simon’s, he asked him to put back a little from land, and having sat down, was teaching the multitudes the out of the boat.

OBSERVATION:  While standing on the seashore, Jesus began teaching the people who were gathering.  As the crowd grew, they began pressing him toward the water, so he used what was available and got into an unused fisherman’s boat. 

The lack of a meeting hall did not stop His ministry.  And the people recognized the authority with which He spoke.  They were listening to the living Word of God (John 1:14) who had been anointed by the Spirit of God (Luke 4:1) teach them the not yet written Word of God. 

APPLICATION:  The Word of God has drawing power, especially when presented with the anointing of the Spirit of God. 

These SOAPs all begin with a portion of the Word of God, the SCRIPTURE.  Then the OBSERVATION helps our understanding and the APPLICATION is to show us how the Word is applied or can be applied to our lives. 

The drawing power of the Word can be seen a people read one SOAP, then look for another one the next day, and then the next.  I have heard reports of people gathering early in the morning to get a printed copy of Today’s SOAP as soon as they are available. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, may your anointing accompany each of these SOAPs.  May each reader be aware of your presence.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
September 21, 2025: SOAP #5771: Daniel 7-8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

OBSERVATION:  Two words in Jesus’ reply speak to me.  First is the word “must,” and second is the word “sent.”  Together they speak of His allegiance to someone else.  Someone Jesus respected very much had given Him an assignment. 

It was an assignment He could not ignore.  He had no choice in the matter.  He could not stay with them; He had to move on.  Jesus truly loved His Father and willingly did what the Father assigned. 

APPLICATION:  If Jesus loves and respects His Father in such a great way, I should love and respect the Father too!  And I should love and respect Jesus in the same way.  He is the One who gave His life to make a way for me to be a part of His wonderful family!  His actions are motivated by love, mine should be too!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, may you find the same love your Son, Jesus, has for you is growing in my heart and life also.  As Jesus willingly and joyfully served you, I want to serve you the same way.  Writing SOAPs is your assignment for me.  It is my privilege and joy to serve you.  I must do this because it is your assignment for me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Also on:  soapsbyleon.wordpress.com