Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 07, 2025: SOAP #5726: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 9:30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

OBSERVATION:   First: A personal testimony is easy to give.  We all know what has happened to us.  We have personal thoughts.  It is our experience.  No one can take that from us.  It is ours.  Second: A personal testimony is hard to refute.  It was hard for the religious leaders to refute this personal experience.  They looked foolish trying.  Third: A personal testimony comes with personal convictions.  Some things become logical when we go through an experience.  This man was amazed at their attempt to discredit which was so apparent. 

APPLICATION:  No one knows better that I what God has done for me.  If He is going to get the glory He deserves, it will have to be because I have told others.  If others are going to be encouraged to believe what God can do for them, it might be because I tell them what God has done for me. 

Pastor Andrew and SOAP workers in Sierra Leone are passing to me some great testimonies of what God is doing through the SOAPs.  They go to villages/towns where they are invited, install computers and printers, print thousands of SOAPs to be distributed, then present the SOAPs and the gospel in a large meeting with many thousand gathered.  When the invitation is given to receive Jesus, thousands are responding!   Then another town (with drug problems, thievery, and prostitution) hears about what God is doing and calls them to come to their village/town. 

Three things:  pray for Africa, pray for the SOAP ministry in Africa and Asia, and be sure to share your testimony of what God has done for you!  

PRAYER: Lord, help us to be busy in fruitful ministry until you return!   Amen

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

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 07, 2025: SOAP #5726: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 9:30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

OBSERVATION:   First: A personal testimony is easy to give.  We all know what has happened to us.  We have personal thoughts.  It is our experience.  No one can take that from us.  It is ours.  Second: A personal testimony is hard to refute.  It was hard for the religious leaders to refute this personal experience.  They looked foolish trying.  Third: A personal testimony comes with personal convictions.  Some things become logical when we go through an experience.  This man was amazed at their attempt to discredit which was so apparent. 

APPLICATION:  No one knows better that I what God has done for me.  If He is going to get the glory He deserves, it will have to be because I have told others.  If others are going to be encouraged to believe what God can do for them, it might be because I tell them what God has done for me. 

Pastor Andrew and SOAP workers in Sierra Leone are passing to me some great testimonies of what God is doing through the SOAPs.  They go to villages/towns where they are invited, install computers and printers, print thousands of SOAPs to be distributed, then present the SOAPs and the gospel in a large meeting with many thousand gathered.  When the invitation is given to receive Jesus, thousands are responding!   Then another town (with drug problems, thievery, and prostitution) hears about what God is doing and calls them to come to their village/town. 

Three things:  pray for Africa, pray for the SOAP ministry in Africa and Asia, and be sure to share your testimony of what God has done for you!  

PRAYER: Lord, help us to be busy in fruitful ministry until you return!   Amen

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

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 06, 2025: SOAP #5725: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 8:28 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:   Special note: 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:  Special note:  the One who sent me, is also with me!  As Jesus did not live His life on His own, so He has designed that I not live my life on my own.  He has promised to never leave me or forsake me.  He 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 sent 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 05, 2025: SOAP #5724: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 7:16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me…
18 …he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth….
28 …he who sent me is true. You do not know him, …
29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”…
33 …then I go to the one who sent me.

OBSERVATION:   Of the many words to describe Jesus only three or four are used more then the word “sent.”  And when reference is made to him being sent, it is usually Jesus doing the talking!   This is how Jesus saw himself.  This is how He describes himself.   

APPLICATION:  Jesus later said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you!” (John 17:18 and 20:21)  The Sent One is sending me. 

So, this is how I must see myself.  I am “sent.”  I must be diligent about reaching out to those to whom the Father has sent me.  To the people I meet today, I need to remember that it is not by chance that I meet them, but I have been sent. 

What a difference it will make in our meetings, if I remember that I am sent.  I have a message to deliver.  The message may be in a smile; it may be in a warm greeting; it may be a message of encouragement or acceptance; it may be that today is the day of salvation! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, keep me aware of the opportunities to deliver the message God has assigned me.  Many of God’s messages are delivered in pieces. The piece of God’s message that I am to deliver will be joined with a piece from someone else.  May the piece assigned to me not be missing.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 04, 2025: SOAP #5723: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

OBSERVATION:  Philip had already determined the impossibility ratio.  Andrew had found a boy with a “sack lunch” perhaps prepared by his mother before leaving home that morning.  But before Jesus asked the question, Jesus ALREADY knew what He was going to do. 

Jesus knew the status of the crowd; they were hungry.  Jesus knew the size of the crowd; 5,000 men plus women and children.  He knew how much food was needed.  He knew what was available.  AND Jesus knew what He would do! 

APPLICATION: There is nothing about the challenge I am currently facing that Jesus does not know.  He knows what is available.  He knows the schedule. Of course, He knows; He is the one who gave me the assignment!  He has told me where He wants me to be and when.  He knows how the SOAPs will be written and sent.  I take the challenge, and my perception of the challenge, to Him.  There is no need for frantic prayers.  I am praying to the One who already knows. 

If I am following His leading and doing His will, there is no need for me to be alarmed.  Jesus already knows what He will do!  I might not have enough to do everything I want to do, but I can rest assured that I will have enough to do what HE wants me to do. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I obey you, I have confidence that you will provide what is needed and will make it possible to accomplish my assignment. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2025: SOAP #5722: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

OBSERVATION:   I cannot read the Genesis 1 without pausing to think.  It contains an eyewitness of creation.  And when I read John 1, my mind goes back to Genesis 1.  John says that the Word was with God, the Word created all things, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  The Word is Jesus, the son of God, the son of man…

Here in John 5:19-30, Jesus is speaking.  I hear Him speaking of something the preceded Genesis 1, and John 1.  He speaks of a relationship that existed before creation.  It is a love relationship.  It is before John 3:16, before “God so love the world…”  It is “…the Father loves the Son…” 

Here is the reason for creation.  The Father wanted a big family of Sons and Daughters like His only begotten Son!  Sin marred creation, but it gave the Father opportunity to demonstrate His great capacity to love, AND it provided the Son the opportunity to accomplish something so great that He would forever be praised and adored!  

We miss so much in the Bible, if we do not understand that the Father loves the Son, and the Son knows that the Father loves Him. 

APPLICATION:  The Father loves me, and I know that He does! 

The love God wants me to display to the world does not originate in me.  My love falls short of God’s plan for me.  Yes, God designed me to be able to love others.  Yes, the second commandment is for me to love my neighbor as myself.  Yes, I am to love my brothers and sisters as Christ loved me.  No, it is not in my fallen nature to love like that.  But YES, God loves me enough to move inside and display His love through me. 

PRAYER:  Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me;  I will be my brother’s keeper, love though me; Hearts are bleeding deep inside; Love can dry their weeping eyes; Love through me, Holy Spirit, love though me.  (D.Rambo) Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 02, 2025: SOAP #5721: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  50 Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
52 When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So, he and all his household believed.

OBSERVATION:   Driven by desperation, this royal official had left the side of his dying son to go find Jesus.  He was on a mission to bring Jesus back to his home and heal his son.  But all Jesus did was say, “You may go. Your son will live.” 

Jesus’ words were sufficient for this desperate father.  They were an acknowledgement that he had been heard.  Jesus words quieted the anxious father.  He did not get what he requested (for Jesus to come to his house) but He got what he wanted (healing for his son.)

APPLICATION:  God is thinking far ahead of me.  And in His wisdom, He often does not fulfill my request, but He often does something better.  In my frustration or pain, I have blurted out a request that seemed exactly what I needed at that moment.  But God, looking beyond the present, saw that it was not the best for me.  So, He began sending an answer that was for my good and His glory!  

Now, looking back, I can see God’s wisdom was displayed as He graciously answered my prayers. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are the storehouse of all wisdom.  In your great love for me, and in your wisdom you are working in my life, not only for my future here on earth, but also for my eternity in heaven!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 01, 2025: SOAP #5720: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

OBSERVATION:   If anyone understood the life of Jesus, why He was on earth, what he was doing,  it was Father God!  Earlier in this chapter (3:16) we read that God sent His Son.  Jesus was present on a mission from the Father!  

Such great love is seen in that Jesus was willing to submit Himself to the Father and take on the assignment of dying as the payment for the sins of created humans, to bring forgiveness of their sins and allow them entrance into God’s holy heaven. 

The Father loves Jesus and desires Jesus’ mission to be successful.  He wants everyone to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Of course He rejoices over each one who receives Jesus.  And of course, His wrath will remain on all who reject Jesus. 

APPLICATION:  Seeing the truth in the verses above, the greatest joy I can bring to God is to help someone else to see their need for a Savior and accept Jesus!  If I can honor Jesus in such a way that others will see how great and loving Jesus is and receive Him as their Lord and Savior, then I will make God smile!  

I will be honoring the One He loves.  I will be honoring the One who made the greatest sacrifice.  God is greatly pleased when His Son is highly honored! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, my heart is full of appreciation for what Jesus has done for me.  Help me not miss any opportunity today to honor Jesus.  May my Heavenly Father see my appreciation in my words and actions.  Amen 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 30, 2025: SOAP #5718: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

OBSERVATION:   When a gift is given, there is a giver AND there is a receiver.  God gave the gift of His Son.  God is the giver; I can be the receiver.  It blesses the Heavenly Father when people receive His Son.  Some want to change Jesus, but the blessing of relationship comes to those who receive Him. 

APPLICATION:  I must receive Jesus as who He is.  He is Savior and He is Lord.  I receive Him to save me from the wages of sin because he paid the penalty for my sin.  And I receive Him as my LORD.  I trust Him to direct my life.  I trust that He knows what is best. 

PRAYER:   Jesus, I receive you into my life.  I receive you as my Savior, forgiving and cleansing me from sin.  I receive you as my Lord, leading and guiding me for my good and your glory.  Thank you for forgiving me and receiving me as a living child of God.  I receive the joy of your life in me!  I want you to enjoy living in me as much as I enjoy having you live in me.  Amen 

NOTE:  In the past 6 months, thousands of people have responded to a call to make Jesus their Savior and Lord.  If you are one, and are reading this, we welcome you.  You are joining us as “children of God.”  You should know that God has had people praying for you and many will continue to pray for you.  You are special to God and I pray that God makes this short note to be a personal note from Him to you!   😊      

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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