Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 31, 2026:  SOAP #5903:   Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to W

OBSERVATION:  From reading this verse one might get the idea that Stephen was in a great revival!   He was full of the Holy Spirit and having visions of God!  He saw the resurrected and ascended Jesus!    

THIS verse gives us insight into Stephen.  The verses BEFORE and AFTER give us insight into Stephen’s circumstances.  He was not in a revival.  The people around Stephen were furious at what he had just told them.  In a very short time, they would take him out of the city and stone him to death.  Stephen was discovering that the One inside him was greater than what surrounded him—even greater than what might happen to him! 

And look who was watching.  Not only was heaven taking note of how Stephen was being treated, Acts 8:1 reveals that Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was watching too!  

APPLICATION:  Praise the Lord my circumstances do not have to rule my spirit!  I can be full of the Holy Spirit no matter what is happening around me or to me!   There are people watching my life today, to see how I handle the tough times.  I want them to see in me what Saul saw in Stephen. 

PRAYER:  Lord, as Saul was watching Stephen that day, there are people watching my life today.  I need Your Holy Spirit.  I want to stay full of Your Spirit.  I want a revival in my heart that can be easily seen by others.  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
January 30, 2026:  SOAP #5902   Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

OBSERVATION:  Church growth brought problems.  Good problems, not bad problems.  Problems that needed attention, but if the apostles took care of them, they would not have time to care for their priorities!   These problems did not surprise God; He had already provided for this church growth.  What was needed was already present!  There were people full of faith and the Holy Spirit that could handle these problems!  

APPLICATION:  If I want the church to grow, I should not complain about the problems that growth will bring.  New people might sit in my favorite seat.   pastor may not have as much time for me because he is visiting the new believers. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, growth always brings new problems.  Church growth, family growth, job growth, schooling growth, etc. all brings changes and a needed increase in our faith.  May my attitudes not hinder the growth you have planned for me.  May my knowledge of you and my faith in you keep up with the growth that you bring my way.  May my growth bring expansion to your Kingdom!  In Jesus’ Name, 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
January 29, 2026:  SOAP #5901   Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
…
27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

OBSERVATION:  Who should they obey?  –the ones who could lock prison doors, or the One who could open prison doors?  
Who should they obey, the ones who can kill, or the One Who can live again?

APPLICATION:  Who should I obey? –the ones who can kill this body, or the One Who can bring it back to life?   
Who should I obey? –the ones who can lock prison doors, or the One who can open them?  

Miracles and healings have been an important part of the many people who have responded to the gospel in Sierra Leon!   God is involved in the world today and He is willing to demonstrate what He can do when there are people who need Him.  From various sources, I read of God moving among the Muslim people.  If you have a Muslim friend or fellow worker, or neighbor…step out in faith to speak to them.  God is drawing them to Him!   Be a part of what God is doing!   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, continue to remind me of the obvious and use me for your glory.    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
January 27, 2026:  SOAP #5899   Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

OBSERVATION:  The man had been lame since birth.  He had been carried daily to beg at the temple gate.  He was a regular part of entry into the temple.  They all knew him.  So when they saw him “walking and jumping, and praising God”, they were “filled with wonder and amazement!”  Peter took this opportunity to preach Jesus, crucified and resurrected.  The fourth verse of chapter three tells us that the number of believers grew to “about 5,000!”  Through this miracle the people saw that the God of the Old Testament was alive and moving in their day!  

APPLICATION:  And that is what is happening today in Sierra Leon.  A Muslim man who had been blind for 16 years was brought by his son to a Bible Fellowship meeting.  They prayed for him and his son led him home.  But in the morning, he woke up seeing!   The neighbors all knew him as a blind man, but now he could see!  They all accompanied him to the next meeting and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!  

It was not that they read about a miracle that happened 2,000 years ago, it was that they witnessed a miracle today, this week, this month!  God is involved in today’s living!  Many of then accompanied him to the next Bible Fellowship meeting and accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord!              

PRAYER:  Lord, I want you to be involved in my life today.  So I ask you to forgive my sins and live in my heart.  Make my life your permanent home.  Then speak to my heart and guide me to live a life that pleases you.  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
January 25, 2026:  SOAP #5897   Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 1:4 On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them [the disciples], he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was preparing to leave them.  His work on earth was completed; now the Holy Spirit would take over His work of being present with believers and empowering them to minister in Jesus Name. 

Jesus knew that they would not be able to accomplish their assignment in their own strength, so before they started, they were to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they had received the “power of the Holy Spirit.”

In the next chapter have recorded the day Jesus fulfilled that promise.  Then as we read the book of Acts, we see how the Holy Spirit empowered them to be witnesses. 

APPLICATION:  God still empowers His witnesses today!  Almost all of the miracles recorded in the book of Acts have happened in the last three months in Sierra Leon!  Thousands of Muslims have come to faith in Jesus!  

Monday and Tuesday (1/26 and 27) a SOAP conference is scheduled in the city of Bo.  Muslim evangelists who have come to Sierra Leon from USA and from other nations, have agreed to come and bring others with them.  Nationally recognized former Muslim who have experienced the healing and miraculous power of God will be sharing their testimonies!  

PRAYER:  Lord continue to draw the people of Sierra Leon into your kingdom.  Bless them with a great awareness of your Presence, your love and power!  Amen 

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

Personal NOTE:  The past few days I have had major problems sending out the SOAPs.  For a while I was wondering if God was telling me that my SOAP days were coming to an end.  (After all it has been 16 years!)   Technology-wise it has been a simple ministry.  I an not very capable with computers, but my limited understanding and ability was sufficient for what I was doing.  If I am to continue, I must expand a personal domain.  I feel the Holy Spirit is nudging me to stretch into new ways of SOAP ministry.   

If something happens and you do not see my SOAPs for a few days, they will be posted on Facebook and wordpress.com (see above.)  

And just to include a financial note.  In 2024 the church account provided for the SOAP ministry had 18+K.  Praise the Lord!   But in 2025 it grew to 50+K!   Money was usually sent out the same day it was received so the balance in the account was usually under $20, and many times under $10.

Leon

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 24, 2026:  SOAP #5896   Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus is here promising that the same Holy Spirit that had come upon Him when baptized by John would clothe them with power. (Luke 3:22)  The Spirit had descended upon Him in the form of a dove but would come upon them with the sound “from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…and would sit upon them like cloven tongues of fire.”  (Acts 2:1-4) 

The same Holy Spirit would continue the same ministry in the disciples as He had started in Jesus!   

APPLICATION:  If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit before beginning His ministry as the Son of Man, how much more do I need the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  If the early church needed to wait in Jerusalem for the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit before obeying the Great Commission, how much more do I need the anointing of the Holy Spirit today! 

What the world needs today is for the church today to be filled with the Holy Spirit, every day.  The world needs Holy Spirit-filled and Holy Spirit-empowered believers living and working next to them every day of the week.  The world needs to meet people filled with the same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus.  They need to meet them in the marketplace, in the schools, in the offices, in every place.     

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, help me to be what the world needs, a believer full of Jesus and walking in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  May I live every moment of every day full of you.  I surrender my life to be use by You for the glory of Jesus. 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
January 20, 2026:  SOAP #5892   Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 20:21 So the spies questioned him: …
22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”…
33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”…
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!”
40 And no-one dared to ask him any more questions.
41 Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?

OBSERVATION:  They were asking Jesus questions to trap him with his own words.  But Jesus answered their questions with such wisdom that “no one dared to ask him any more questions.”   But that was not the end of the questions.  Now it was His turn to ask the questions.    

APPLICATION:  In countries where many people have been raised in the Muslim faith, we often hear questions:  Is Jesus really God?  Did Jesus really die on the cross? …and others.  God’s answers are clearly presented in the Bible.  On several recent occasions when people attended a Bible Fellowship meeting in Sierra Leon for the purpose of asking questions and starting trouble…the Holy Spirit used answers from the Bible to convince them that Jesus is God; and they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!   Praise the Lord!   

In other places people are asking, “God, why did you let this happen?  Where were you?” 

But a day is coming when God will be asking the questions:  “Why didn’t you believe me? Why didn’t you trust me? Why didn’t you let me be a part of your life?” 

PRAYER:  Lord, help me live in such a way that it will be easy for me to answer your questions.  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
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!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  soapsbyleon.wordpress.com