Instructions for me!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 17, 2026:  SOAP #5889   Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 17:3  So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

OBSERVATION:  The above passage was not written to the one doing the offense, but to those suffering the offence.  Notice that it does not say “watch him,” but “watch yourselves.”  It does not say, “if you sin,” but “if your brother sins.” 

This is what I am to do.  This is what The Great Forgiver is telling me to do!   I am not to wait until my memory has forgotten the offence, I am to forgive while it is still fresh in my memory.  Forgiveness is a choice; forgetting is a process. 

APPLICATION:  Without forgiveness things can never be truly settled.  It is impossible for the offender to go back and undo what has been done. 

It will take acknowledgment and repentance to settle the issue in the heart of the one doing the offence, but the issue can only be settled in the heart of the offended by forgiveness.  Forgiveness is not looking into the future waiting for the offender to come with repentance.  In fact, when the offender does come, if he does, may he find that he has been long forgiven! 

PRAYER:  Lord, I can forgive because You have already forgiven me.  Lord, I must forgive because you have commanded me to forgive.  In the Lord’s prayer, you taught me to pray for you to forgive me as I forgive others.  And Lord, as The Great Forgiver living inside me, you help me forgive!   I know forgiveness is important to you, and I make it important also to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon Ma
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Who is waiting for me?

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 16, 2026:  SOAP #5888   Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

OBSERVATION:  Priorities for me when I get to heaven: 
First; Nothing will be more important in heaven than seeing Jesus, the One who died for my sins! 
Second: Seeing my family. 
Third: Seeing some of the Old Testament and New Testament heroes of the faith whose stories in the Bible inspired me.    
Fourth: Those who had a part in bringing me to Jesus and helping me grow.  I will have opportunity to thank some very special people. 

But the emphasis in the verse above is not seeing those who were instrumental in bringing me to the Jesus, but in being greeted by those for whom I had a part in bringing to Jesus!   They arrived before I did and were waiting for me.  I invested finances and resources in a way that resulted in their hearing the gospel.   

APPLICATION:   Financial counselors will advise me on how to make sure I have enough money to take care of my final years on earth and leave some for those who continue living on earth once I am gone.  In the above verse, I am told to use my money to ensure there will be people to greet me when I enter heaven.   

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the finances you have entrusted to my care.  Keep reminding me that they all belong to you.  It is not how much of your money I give, but how much I keep for myself.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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So Thankful!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 15, 2026:  SOAP #5887   Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 15: 4  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?…
8  “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?…
20  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

OBSERVATION:  In Luke 15 we read three stories about lost things.  Take note of a common thread.  The sheep owner searches “until he finds it.”  The woman searches for the coin “until she finds it.” And the Father was still looking for his boy when he returned; he spotted his son coming while “he was still a long way off.”    

Although the sheep owner had 99 others, each one was important.  Although the woman had 9 other coins, this one was important.  And although the Father had another son, this one was important!  They were important enough to not give up searching.   

APPLICATION:  Each one is important to the Heavenly Father.  You are important. He is not willing that any should perish. (2Peter 3:9) He is not willing that you perish.  When it comes to dealing with His children, God is persistent!  

PRAYER:  Pray with me:  Thank you, Lord, for not giving up on me.  Thank you for calling until…  Thank you for loving me until…  Thank you for loving me through the times I ran from you.  Thank you for …!  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Being watched & Being a watcher

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 14, 2026:  SOAP #5886   Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 14:1  One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched…
7  When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: …

OBSERVATION:  In the first verse we see that people “carefully watched” Jesus, but a little later in verse 7 we see that Jesus was watching people too!  Then he told them a parable that fit the occasion.   

APPLICATION:  Being a follower of Jesus, I should not be surprised when people seem to “carefully watch” my life.  God places me where I can be seen.  He wants people to learn from watching my life.  If I am a new believer, there will be changes that other people will see, maybe changes in some habits, or places I go, or things I do.  Especially if God has healed me of a easily identifiable infirmity or disability.  People will be watching me.  It will give me opportunities for me to give glory to God for what He has done!  

AND as I am in a place where my life can be watched, I find it is also a place where I can watch those around me.  Like Jesus, I should be a people watcher.  Then the message I have should be appropriate to what is happening around me.  The Holy Spirit will draw my attention to people needing a word of encouragement or a witness of God’s mighty power.      
PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, guide my eyes to see what is taking place around me; then guide my words to speak appropriately.    Amen

Pastor Leon
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Expecting Jesus to do what only He can do!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 13, 2026:  SOAP #5885   Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 13:10  On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

OBSERVATION:  When Jesus was teaching, it was not unusual for something special to happen.  In the verses above, Jesus noticed a woman present who needed healing.  Without reading on, we all know that something special happened.

Jesus is still working in the same way.  I have received two testimonies from Sierra Leon this week of people being healed in the Home Bible Fellowship meetings being held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the new believers.  

The first was of a younger brother of a man who came regularly to the meetings.  His brother could not talk but after they prayed he began shouting, “I can talk, I can talk!” 

The second was of a young person who led his blind father to the meeting.  They prayed for him and then they led him back home.  Early the next morning there was a commotion in the father’s room as he was shouting, “I can see!”  He had been blind for 16 years, so everyone in his area knew him and knew he was blind.  They followed him back to the Bible study and committed their lives to Jesus!  

APPLICATION:  When I gather with others to hear the Word and the Holy Spirit makes me aware of the presence of Jesus, I should expect something special, something unique, something only God can do.  I should never settle for anything less. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, build in me an expectation to see manifestations of your presence.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Do not worry!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 12, 2026:  SOAP #5884   Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 12:22  Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear…
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

OBSERVATION:  For our physical lives, there is nothing more basic than food and clothing.  Of course, God knows this because He created us!   He perfectly understands our physical bodies. 

In these verses, Jesus is speaking to His disciples.  He is speaking as their Creator. (John 1:3)   And He is speaking as their LORD.  They were His disciples. 

APPLICATION: In claiming these scriptures for my life, I need to live acknowledging God as my creator and that He is my LORD.  I need to put my trust in HIM and look to HIM for my daily provision.  He may use someone else to be a part of His answer, but it is always best when they are responding to Him and not to me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I am blest to know that you already know by needs.  I want to honor you by depending on you to keep your word.  I want to honor you by taking the job you provide and by being a careful, happy worker.  May you be glorified in my life.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Pastor Leon
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Untroubled Sleep

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 11, 2026:  SOAP #5883   Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

OBSERVATION:   One day in 1969, while serving with the US Marine Corps in Viet Nam I heard the Lord speak this scripture to me.  Up to that time, like the Marines sleeping around me,  I slept with my boots on.  There would be no time to put on boots if the enemy attacked. But the Lord’s word was specific to me, so from that day on I took off my boots to sleep. We never had any trouble from the enemy at night, not at our home base nor camped on the mountain side.  I would take off my damp socks that I had been wearing that day and put them down my pant legs to be dried by my body heat.  I would then put on dry socks and set my boot close by to let them air out while I slept.  My feet and toes were also able to air out during the night.  And I slept in peace, for the LORD made me dwell in safety!

APPLICATION:  What was once foolish made perfect sense when I heard God’s promise.  Only God knows if He ever needed to confuse the enemy or direct them away from our camp because one of His children was sleeping with his boots off.  Only God knows if my simple act of faith had impact on the enemy, but it had an impact on my life.  My God was trustworthy and I could sleep!  

It has been 57 years; God is still trustworthy, and I can still trust Him.  In a few weeks, others will be making decisions that may affect my circumstances but cannot affect my God!  So, I have very little trouble sleeping.  As long as I trust and obey, I have confidence in His love, His wisdom and provision! 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for personally speaking to me and teaching me that I can trust you!  My faith is still expressed in small actions that I can do to honor You.  Hear my prayers for the SOAP readers whose worried and troubled minds keep them awake at night.  “You, alone, Oh Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
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A Very Important Prayer Request!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 10, 2026:  SOAP #5882   Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

OBSERVATION: Many churches and faith organizations have an emphasis on prayer at the beginning of each new year.  Many times they have a central scriptural theme guiding the prayers. 

When God’s people gather to pray, often people are given opportunity to make a “prayer request.”  So many times, those requests are for God to heal a sick relative or friend.  Even personal requests usually are for healing. 

If we would stop and ask Jesus what he would have us pray about, His answer surely would be like verse 2 above.

APPLICATION:  We are the ones who should be praying about the harvest.  We are the ones He is sending.  Every day we are walking in the harvest field as we go through our regular daily activities.

Let us always have someone in our thoughts for whom we are praying for their salvation.  The next time we are in a prayer meeting, let us honor the Lord by praying for His request.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus, told us to pray for people who will work in your great harvest field.  We pray for those who have taken SOAPs into the streets as a tool for evangelism.  Bless them.  We pray for those who have recently taken Jesus as their Savior and committed their lives to you.  Help them grow in their faith.  We pray for you to use us in answer to your prayer request.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Doing it like Jesus!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 09, 2026:  SOAP #5881 Lu 9:30  Two men, Moses and Elijah,   Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick….
6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere…
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus plan of evangelism consisted of two major parts.  First, He preached, and second, He healed and performed miracles.  In the above passage, we can see that He sent out his disciples with the same plan; preaching and healing. 

The evangelism emphasis in Sierra Leon this past month, has followed Jesus example.  There was a call for people to take the gospel to every part of the nation.  2,000 people responded.  They were divided into 20 teams and assigned cities and villages in specified areas.  They went door-to-door sharing the gospel and praying for healings and miracles.   Oh, the testimonies!  …and the thousands who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! 

APPLICATION:  They have started 1,050 Home Bible Fellowship meetings, meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.  People are still coming to give their lives to Jesus. Some meetings are over 1,000!  We have a goal of providing one Bible for each fellowship group and are still about 250+ short.  Praise the Lord, they have the SOAPs. 

Wherever two or three gather in the name of Jesus, HE IS PRESENT!  (Matthew 18:20)  When you meet another believer, know that He is present and expect that He will do something that will make His presence known!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, when I read “For God so loved the world…” may I not be thinking of the planet earth, but the individual I will be meeting today.  Help me see everyone I meet today—help me see them as an opportunity to be your witness.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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A lesson from the Old Testament

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 08, 2026:  SOAP #5880   Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 22:9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11  But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

OBSERVATION: Through the years, I have heard many sermons preached about Abraham and his faith.   God’s promises for Abraham’s future were all in Isaac. 

But today, the Lord is speaking to me through Isaac.  Isaac had surely heard the stories of how he was the son of promise.  He surely knew that he would inherit all of Abraham’s possessions.  He was greatly loved and valued by his father.  Yet laying on the wood, bound as a lamb would be for a burnt offering, I believe Isaac came to know that God was more important to Abraham than even he was.  Isaac, who had been the center of Abraham’s world, came to know that there was someone more important!   There was no struggle, Isaacs trusted his father. 

APPLICATION: This passage should remind us of another Son who willingly submitted Himself to his Heavenly Father’s will. For Isaac, there was a voice from heaven stopping the sacrifice.  But for Jesus, no voice came.  He was not only laid on the cross, but He was also crucified; He died; and He was buried. 

The wages of sin is death, and because He had no sins for which to die, He died for my sins, and for your sins, and for the sins of all who will accept Him as the Lord of their lives.  But, more than die, He rose from the grave showing that death is not the end. 

PRAYER: Lord it is my joy to live with you now here on earth, AND to live with you in heaven for eternity!  Amen  

Pastor Leon
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