Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 04, 2026:  SOAP #5876   Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 4:17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

OBSERVATION:  In this chapter we see dealing with a demon (vs.35), rebuking a fever (vs.39), healing various kinds of diseases (vs.40), dealing with multiple demons (vs.41), and explaining that he was sent to preach. 

Later he said that “as the Father” had sent Him, He was sending us! (John 20:21) 

APPLICATION:  In kindergarten, my teacher had “show and tell” times.  We brought something special from home and would tell the rest of the class about it. 

Such was the ministry of Jesus.  It was tell them about the kingdom and demonstrate/show the power of the kingdom! 

I fear the church’s ministry today is almost all “tell” and very little “show.”

I have noticed that the mighty move of God in Sierra Leon has a good balance of both “Show” and “Tell.”  The demonstration of God’s power through healings and miracles causes the preached and read Word to take great hold in the minds and lives of the new believers!  

PRAYER:  Lord, as your Holy Spirit anoints us to share the Word of truth, so anoint us to demonstrate the power of the gospel.  May people not only hear our witness, but may they see your life living in and through us.  Let your power be seen in our changed lives and then demonstrated through us.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 021, 2026:  SOAP #5874: Genesis 3-5; Luke 2

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

OBSERVATION:  In the first chapter of Genesis, we find a major characteristic of God is that He speaks. And now in chapter three we find Satan also speaking and sowing doubt about what God said. We often think that the first sin was the eating of the forbidden fruit, but it really started by doubting God’s word.

In Sierra Leone, where, in the last month, thousands of people have come to make Jesus the Lord of their lives, a man has come from the USA to try to convince the people not to listen to the Christians.  He is sowing doubt in minds that Jesus is God and that He did not really die on the cross. 

APPLICATION:  God’s word is as faithful and true as God’s character.  (The same can be said about any person.)   It is important to know that God is completely trustworthy.  And it is important to know what God has said.   Satan will use whatever voice is available to him to try to get us to doubt God’s Word.     

How important is the ministry of the indwelling Spirit of God who becomes a part of our lives when we are born again.  He is the author of the scriptures, leading people as they penned the scriptures.   And by living in each born again person, He can direct us to truth and to avoid lies.  We may not be able to read, or have a copy of the Bible to read, but we have the Holy Spirit in our lives!!!   And God has places Spirit called and anointed leaders to serve His people.  The Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to the scriptures. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, what a blessing to know that you, my God, are totally trustworthy.  Your word is true and a good foundation for my life. Holy Spirit, help me quickly recognize the truth from the false.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 01, 2026:  SOAP #5872: Genesis 1-2; Luke 1

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

OBSERVATION:  God just appears in the first verse of the Bible.  There is no character development.  There is no background development.  All we know about God from the scriptures comes later in the Book.  In the beginning, He just is!

A person knowing nothing about God who picked up the Bible for reading, beginning on the first page would first learn that God is. He exists.

The second thing he would learn is that God is a creator.  In fact, He is The Creator.  The reader has learned nothing of His character, nothing of His holiness nor of His love.  He has learned only that God is and that God creates.

The third thing he would learn about God in Genesis 1 is that God is a speaker.  This is the most dominate characteristic of God seen in the whole of the Bible.  Not only is Bible the Word of God, but there are also pages and pages on which His Word is given as quotation. God is a speaker.  God has something to say.  God communicates.

APPLICATION:  If God is a creator and a speaker then surely, he would make His creation with the ability to hear.  Being a God who loves, He would give His most prize creation the ability to hear, and to understand His words, and of course, the ability to respond—to return the communication! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you have spoken to us in so many ways, most clearly through your Son, Jesus.  And you have given us the Holy Spirit to make your words clearly understood in our hearts.  Today, and every day this year, we ask you to speak to us.  We set our hearts to listen carefully and do as you say.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 31, 2025:  SOAP #5872: Revelation 19-22

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

OBSERVATION:  As we come to then end of the last chapter in the last book of the Bible on the last day of 2026, it is a time to look back.  I started writing SOAPs back in 2009, a few in October, a few in November and a few in December.  I was hesitant about doing one on January 1, 2010.  I thought if I did it the first day of the year I would need to do one every day of the year.  Could I believe God for something every day for a year?   The answer is YES!  …every day for a year, a second year, a fifth year and now a 16^th year! 

Even as a small child I knew that God was calling me to be a missionary.  Knowing that, I tried to carefully follow the Lord’s directions, even when they did not seem to fit into God’s calling.  Even when Pastor Dayton asked me to write the SOAPs, I did not understand what God was doing.  But today I do!  SOAPs are going into 20+ nations in Africa and Asia.  They carry a fresh word from the Lord every day.  God is using the SOAP team in Sierra Leon to do the ground work of a great spiritual awakening.  I get several reports every week of God’s hand being extended.  It is like reading the book of Acts: healings, miracles, dreams, etc. 

APPLICATION:  The question was not would God speak to me every day.  The question was: would I take time to listen every day? 

If we really believe God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (present everywhere), we would be very foolish not to pay attention to what He says.    

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for your willingness to speak to us.  Holy Spirit, teach us to listen and obey.  Thank you for the joy you give us as we follow your directions.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 30, 2025:  SOAP #5871: Revelation 15-18

SCRIPTURE:   Revelation (NIV) 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues. 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

OBSERVATION:   God remembered the crimes of this city; He is preparing to send judgment.  But God also remembers His people.  He will spare them.  He calls them out.  They are FREE from the coming judgment. 

As a holy God, He cannot ignore the sins; as a loving God he cannot withhold mercy from those who are His people. 

APPLICATION:   Since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, what makes His people different from all the others?  Why can they escape judgment?  It is because their sins have already been judged.  They were judged as deserving death but are included with those covered by the blood of Jesus’ death on the cross.  They had judged themselves guilty and confessed their sins.  They had received the death of sinless Jesus as the payment for their sins; they have been FORGIVEN!

Jesus’ death on the cross is still available to cover the sins of anyone who will repent and receive Him as their Lord and Savior.  (Romans 6:24-26)   Pray with me now…

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I have sinned and deserve judgment.  I believe that you lived a sinless life and your death can be accepted as the payment for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and take your rightful place in my life as LORD.  Come and live in my heart.  Make my life your home.  With a humble and grateful heart, I receive you now as my Savior and my Lord.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 29, 2025:  SOAP #5870: Revelation 10-14

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17  saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. …
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

OBSERVATION:  In verses 16-17 we see that what happens on earth, “the kingdom of the world becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,” affects what happens in heaven.  In response “the twenty-four elders fell on their faces and worshipped…the One who had begun to reign!” 

In verse 19, we see that what happens in heaven affects what happens on earth.  The God on earth is the God in heaven!

APPLICATION:  Heaven and earth are wedded together in one grand scheme to fulfill God’s purposes.  It is ALL ONE STORY!  People in heaven are interceding for me.  What I do on earth may affect people’s eternal location. 

Not only are heaven and earth welded together, so is the past, the present, and the future.  God has been at work in my life, He is at work in my life now, and for eternity I will glorify Him by fulfilling His purpose.   

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, in creation, you designed that earth and all heaven show forth your glory.  In your Son’s death on the cross you brought it all together for your glory.  Thank you, Lord, thank you for including me and all those who have recently received you as their Lord and Savior!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 27, 2025:  SOAP #5868: Revelation 1-4

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation (NIV) 1:4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

OBSERVATION:  The apostle John is writing to the seven churches in the province of Asia.  His greeting to them is “grace and peace” from the eternal God, from the seven Spirits before the throne, and from God the Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is identified by His character (faithful), by His accomplishment (the resurrection), and His authority (the King over all kings). 

Not only because of who He is, but especially because of what He has done for us, to Jesus belongs “glory and power for ever and ever!!!”  All creation owes Him glory, but especially those who have been loved by Jesus, freed from their sins, and set into a place of honor to serve the Father God!

APPLICATION:  Obviously, Jesus is the center of God’s man-plan.  Jesus is the faithful witness of the holiness and love of God.  He forever has the high place in heaven for what He accomplished.  Every redeemed man and woman is a testimony to what Jesus accomplished. 

How proper for Jesus to be the center of my life.  How proper for Him to receive glory and power every day in and from my life!!!      

PRAYER:  Lord, to you be the glory and power for ever and ever!  You are the center of God’s man-plan for Leon.  You are worthy of my dedication.  You are worthy of my worship. Amen 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 26, 2025:  SOAP #5867: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

SCRIPTURE:  2John (NIV) 1 The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

OBSERVATION:  In Luke 2 we see that the Baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but here we see that the grace, mercy, and peace He brings is wrapped in truth and love. 

     God’s holiness demands truth.  Truth is God’s reality!  Grace, mercy, and peace are offered to us in love that is based on truth.  The truth is: I have sinned and can have no place in a holy heaven with a holy God. (Romans 3:23)   The truth is: God’s sinless Son, Jesus died as payment for my sin.  The value of His sinless blood far exceeded the value of my sin. (Romans 5:8)   The truth is:  if I confess my sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

     The grace, mercy and peace that comes to us from God is always wrapped in truth and love. Truth is an expression of holiness. He who is perfectly holy always deals with truth. Truth is God’s reality.

     Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserved. Peace is God establishing a right relationship with us.
Grace, mercy, and peace all come to us with full acknowledgement of our sin. Truth acknowledges our sin. And truth acknowledges God’s holiness. But truth also acknowledges God’s love and His holy sacrifice made for our sin!

APPLICATION:  To receive this grace, mercy, and peace, we simply accept it by faith.  Our faith is also based on truth.  We have faith that God has told us the truth about sin, and about Jesus, and about his willingness to forgive. 

     It is not a gift we can receive in our hands, but we receive it in our heart.  It enters our heart when we express the truth.  We receive it by believing it and saying, “Thank you.”  We receive it like we receive a compliment from a friend…we believe they are sincere, and we say, “Thank you.”  (Romans 10:9-10)

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  I believe that your death can be the payment for my sins.  I ask you to forgive my sins.  I confess that you are my Savior and Lord.  Thank you for forgiving me and making me your child.  With my sins forgiven, my heart is your home. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 23, 2025:  SOAP #5864: John 15-18

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus had just told of this unique relationship they had with the Son and through the Son to the Father. (John 14:20 ) Now He speaks of their responsibility to maintain that relationship.

God’s plan for each branch is fruitfulness, but our fruitfulness depends on us remaining in contact with Him.  The works we do and the attitude we display to the world is to be the outward expression of the inner person that is being renewed in Christ Jesus. 

We obtain Christ by faith and on the basis of His completed work at Calvary.  We maintain that relationship by our daily walk of faith and obedience.

APPLICATION:  Fruitfulness in the responsibility of every branch, but fruitfulness is impossible unless it remains attached to the vine. 

And so it is with us.  We are to be fruitful.  We were created to be fruitful.  Yet the fruit God desires from our lives is impossible to bear unless we are attached!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, being your child is a constant part of my life that I live out every minute of every day.  It is an adventure to learn how you react to the world around me.  May my outward life be proof that you are living inside!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 21, 2025:  SOAP #5862: John 12-14

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 12:17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

OBSERVATION:  It was an amazing time.  Jesus had just called Lazarus out of a tomb in which his body had been for four days!   Obviously, it was hard to keep that news quiet.  Everyone present at the tomb was talking to everyone they knew!  It was an amazing event that they had personally witnessed.  It was unlike anything they had ever seen. 

But they were not the only ones talking.  Others who had only heard about it were talking about it!  So “many” went out to meet Him!   So many that the religious leaders said, “Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 

APPLICATION:  That is what is happening today in West Africa.  A Muslim from New York City is scheduled to arrive this week to encourage the Muslims not to listen to the Christians.   But he will find that some of the ones he was counting on to help him have already heard and have already made commitments to Jesus!!!   They have seen what Jesus can do in healing and miracles.  They have talked about it.  And others who have only heard have also been talking about Jesus and what He does today for His followers. 

PRAYER:  Lord, we pray for the many people who have given you what you most want for Christmas—they have given you their hearts!   May your peace flood their hearts and minds.  Keep them strong.  May they feel your love surrounding them.  We need your help to provide Bibles and your anointing on the leaders who will help them understand your word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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