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
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 18, 2025:  SOAP #5859: John 2-4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

OBSERVATION:   The sower and the reaper work in different seasons, but they work for the same goal and share the same satisfaction.  It is all for the harvest.  Their work is “harvest-driven.” 

In Kingdom work, joining the sow-ers and reap-ers are the prayer-ers—those who pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His fields.  (Matthew 9:37 and Luke 10:2) (And Romans 2:15 mentions senders.)

The different yet coordinated work results in them being “glad together.”   Surely one of the joys of heaven will be learning about the others who planted the seeds we had the privilege of reaping.  And even others who reaped the seeds we planted.  And the joy of meeting the intercessors who prayed in the harvest.  There will be great joy shared by sowers and reapers and intercessors and senders/givers with the souls brought to Jesus!  

APPLICATION: I need to keep my eyes open and focused on the field.  Today I will be an intercessor or a sower or a reaper, or a sender maybe all four. God will bring into my field of vision, someone who needs to hear the gospel, or someone who is ready to commit their life to Jesus.  (In Luke, the next verse after telling them to pray, He told them to go!  Similarly in Matthew.) 

PRAYER:   Lord, use me this day for your glory.  May I meet someone in heaven for whom I prayed today when I gave support, and/or someone in whom I planted a seed today, and/or someone I led to Jesus today.  May there be much rejoicing in heaven because I have been faithful today.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 17, 2025:  SOAP #5858: 2Peter 1-3; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

OBSERVATION:  We are now in the Christmas season, a time when many people celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Mark begins his biography of Jesus with His baptism.  Matthew and Luke give more specific details about His birth. 

The “Christmas Story” in John does not give the account of the angels, the shepherds or the magi from the east.  It tells us nothing of Joseph, or Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary.  We read nothing of the Bethlehem nor of the reason Jesus was born there.  But what we read is so important! 

The Word who is as much God as God became flesh and became as much man as man! 

APPLICATION:  Jesus walked and lived in time and space, in history and geography.  We know the years in which he lived and the cities in which he walked.  He is very much aware of the struggles I face.  He knows what it is like to live among people like the ones around me.   He is well able to help me because He has personal knowledge and understands.  

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for coming to earth and living among people like me.  Thank you for your personal involvement in my salvation.  Thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live in me.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 15, 2025:  SOAP #5856: James 1-5

SCRIPTURE:  James (NIV) 2:22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did….
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone….
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

OBSERVATION:   How do we know someone loves us?  It is by the way their deeds back up their words.  If there are no actions, then we come to know that there is no love.  Self-serving actions only prove that they love themselves.  Self-sacrificing actions are proof that they love another. 

And so, it is with faith.  Faith is proved by action.  When someone has faith, it can be seen.  Of course, God sees the heart and is the only true judge of someone’s faith and deeds.  But it is impossible to hide true faith from others.  Those working in the emergency room check vital signs (respiration, pulse, brain waves) to see if life is present.  So, works are the vital signs of faith. 

So, in what do I place my faith?  I place my faith in the work of Jesus who died on the cross as the payment for my sins.  My works (which man can see) show proof that I my faith (which only God can see) is settled in him. 

In the Old Testament, the law gave a specific list of things to do i.e. when to pray and what sacrifices to make.  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit living within us shows us what to do.  The command is “love” and the Spirit nudges us in how to express that love. 

APPLICATION:  I am to live my life so that my faith is visible.  Let my love and devotion to Christ be well known.  May my talking about my fith not be the first someone knows about it.  May they first see it in the way I live. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for what you have done for me.  Holy Spirit, show me how to express my faith and love today so that others can see it.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 14, 2025:  SOAP #5855: Hebrews 12-13; Jude

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” …
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

OBSERVATION:  As a believer in Jesus, His words are important to me.  What He says is of great importance to me.  I want to learn His teachings. 

It is worth any effort to read God’s Word or go to a gathering where His Word is being read and explained. 

Living like His words above about never leaving us nor forsaking us should have a great influence in how I live.  His constant presence means I do not love money and I can be content with what I have.  I can count on His help and I do not need to beg others for money. 

Knowing that God Almighty is with me frees me from fear of what lesser beings (like man) can do to me.  They may kill this physical body, but then I will be forever with my Lord in heaven!  

APPLICATION:  What I know of God’s Word should affect how I live and how I speak. 

So I make every effort to read God’s Word and/or to go where I can hear it read and explained simply in my language.   Then I must apply it to my life. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what you say is important to me.  Help me to learn what You have written in your scriptures.  That will help me better understand what you are speaking to me in my heart.  Thank you for walking and talking with me.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 13, 2025:  SOAP #5854: Hebrews 9-11

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 11:11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

OBSERVATION:  Abraham had received an astonishing promise.  Although he was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, they were going to have a baby!  It would have been totally unbelievable.  But, knowing Who made the promise—that made the promise believable. 

Which is greater, the promise or the one making the promise?  The One making the promise is capable.  He has the power, He has the wisdom.  The One making the promise is faithful. 

APPLICATION:  The One making the promise loves me and is working through all things for my good!  It is completely logical to trust God.  It is illogical and foolish not to trust Him! 

It was the Lord who put it in my heart as a young child that I would be a missionary.  Then he clearly led me to Bible College for a year, then into the US Navy for 10 years, then to stay in Hawaii as a pastor of Bayview Chapel for another 13 years, and then to Kansas for 20 years…all the while I was wondering would ever be a missionary.  I was already 62 years old.  Then the Lord told me ,in 2009, to start writing SOAP devotionals.  It was such a small thing, but God makes small things grow’s!  Today they go into 20 countries and are a key ingredient in a revival in Sierra Leone.  I am so glad I did not quit after two or three years!   I was faithful in the small things because God is faithful in small, no—big, no ALL things.  God is faithful in ALL THINGS! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I consider you faithful.  You are more than able.  You have proved you love me.  You have kept and will keep your promises to me! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 11, 2025:  SOAP #5852: Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 2:3 …This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

OBSERVATION:  The message of salvation came from Jesus.  Jesus had returned to His Father’s side in heaven.  Now those who had seen and heard Jesus passed along their testimony to the one who wrote the book of Hebrews and those who would be reading this book.   AND even more, God Himself was involved in sending the Holy Spirit with gifts to validate their message. 

The miracles in the Bible demonstrated God’s concern for people and His willingness to get involved.  The miracles were proof of His presence and involvement.  In thinking through the Old and New Testament miracles, they were always beyond the possibility of man.    

APPLICATION:  Reading the reports of the 20 teams of Christians spread last week (11/30-12/6/20250 throughout the nation of Sierra Leone is like reading in the book of Acts.  God is doing the same things today.  There are miracles and healings and people being filled with Holy Spirit!  There have been testimonies of the Holy Spirit specifically dealing with individuals who refused to allow the teams to minister in their area.  Best of all: thousands have accepted Jesus and committed their lives to Him!  

The SAME JESUS who was walking among the Jews in Israel is today walking by His Holy Spirit among the Muslims of Sierra Leone. The SAME HOLY SPIRIT who was with the apostles in the book of Acts is the SAME HOLY SPIRIT with believers in West Africa today.  …and He is with all believers today in 2025. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, work and speak through me today.  Help me see those around me who are ready to respond to You.  Use me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 10, 2025:  SOAP #5851: 2Timothy 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  2Timothy (NIV) 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

OBSERVATION:    One of Satan’s greatest failures would be putting the Apostle Paul in prison.  It resulted in Paul having time to write letters under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!   Paul could not get out and the Holy Spirit could not be kept out!!!!   Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote letters that have gone far beyond Paul’s limitations of traveling and of time!!!  

APPLICATION:  We all experience limitations.  We can be restricted by poor health, by limited finances, by location, by lack of understanding, by available resources, etc.   BUT God’s Word is not limited.  It is not chained!   When all Paul could do was write letters, he wrote letters.  How glad we are to day to be able to read those letters!   Remember: Paul could not get out, and the Holy Spirit could not be kept out!  

Last week Apostle Alex, the leader of SOAP MINISTRY team five in Sierra Leone went to a house but was denied entrance by the Muslim owner.  So, they proceeded to the next home where the owner called everyone to come (more than 180) and listen to what was being said.  Everyone gave their hearts to Jesus.  About 100 were healed.  Many were filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.  It was a noisy revival happening out in the open.  The neighbor looked to see what was happening and ended up getting saved. 

PRAYER:  Lord, limitations can be used to focus my attention on what you really want me to do.  Help me not to be disappointed or discouraged because of the limitations I face.  Use the limitations to set the timing for my life.   May my faith lift me to see above and beyond the limitations.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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