Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 23, 2026:  SOAP #5985:   1Samuel 27; 1Chronicles 9; Psalm 141; Matthew 10

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 10:40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.

OBSERVATION: How people receive me is of great concern to Jesus.  He dwells in me; He is personally involved in what happens to me.  I am more than representing Him, our lives are intertwined.  Of course, it should affect how I live my life, how I talk and act.  I must conduct my life in a way that honors Him. 

Our lives being so intertwined, people honoring or mistreating me are doing it to Jesus!  And the truth progresses on because the life of Jesus is even more intertwined with our Heavenly Father.  They are doing it to the Father. 

APPLICATION: As an enlisted man in the US Navy, I was privileged to serve on a Commodore’s staff.  When I visited a ship to conduct a medical inspection, the Captain gave me more respect than my rank deserved because when he saw me, he saw the Commodore.  The Captain knew that he would be answering to the Commodore for my report. 

I was just a lowly enlisted man dealing with earthly Captains and an earthly Commodore.  But as a born-again believers, we are walking under the Lordship of Jesus Christ!  We can expect God to deal with issues of how we are received. 

For those teams going this week into the Muslim areas of Guinea, or individuals going to work every day, we are representing the Creator of the earth, and what is more, He is with us; He has made us His dwelling place!  

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, teach me to walk solely in the authority given me.  Inspire me to use that authority to change my family and my world.  Keep reminding me that you are not only sending me, you are going with me; and how I am received is how you are received!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 22, 2026:  SOAP #5984:  1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 9:2  Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

OBSERVATION: The faith of those bringing this crippled man to Jesus was visible.  Jesus saw their faith.  Their faith was visible because they had put their faith in action.   Their faith was that Jesus could heal this man.  So, they did a very logical thing; they picked him up and took him to Jesus.

They did not say, “It is too bad that our friend cannot get to Jesus,” NO, they said, “Let’s us take him to Jesus!” 

Last week a hospitalized gentleman in Sierra Leone wanted to go and be baptized, but the doctor would not release him to go.  So the man had his son hire a motorbike to take him.  The SOAP workers encouraged him to return to the hospital, he was so sick.  But Apostle Alex said that since he is here lets go ahead and baptize him.  When he came up out of the water, he was healed!  His faith was evident.  Everyone could see his faith.  But most important, God saw his faith!  

APPLICATION: When I am praying for someone else, I need to be open to doing something that demonstrates my faith.  I need to make my faith visible. 

PRAYER:  Lord, may my faith be visible!  I want you and those around me to be able to SEE my faith.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 20, 2026:  SOAP #5982:   1Samuel 23; Psalm 31,54; Matthew 7

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 7:21  Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.  Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter.  …
24  “So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man.  He builds his house on the rock. 
25  The rain comes down.  The water rises.  The winds blow and beat against that house.  But it does not fall.  It is built on the rock.   

OBSERVATION: Jesus knew what he was talking about.  He came to do the will of the Father.  He said that the works he did were really the Father’s works and the words he spoke were also the Father’s.  Doing the Father’s will led Him to the cross and the grave.  It also led him through the resurrection back to the glory at His Father’s side.     

APPLICATION: The first work of being a Christian is to believe.   I must believe that the work of Jesus on the cross is the full payment for my sins.  Forgiveness is amazing grace offered to me which I receive by faith.  That my life belongs to Jesus can be easily seen by others as I do what He directs.  Salvation starts in my heart but finds expressions through my actions and words.  If there is no outward expression, there is probably no inward life.  After all, faith without works is dead.    

PRAYER:  Lord, not just a hearer, but a doer is what you expect from me.  May my hands and feet please you as much as my heart.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 19, 2026:  SOAP #5981:   1Samuel 22; Psalm 17,35; Matthew 6

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven… 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

OBSERVATION: Acts of righteousness are good and kind things which are expected of a person claiming to be a Christian.   They are done to please God and/or serve others.  When they are done so people will notice, their thank you and compliments will be the only payment one should expect.  When they are done quietly and go unnoticed by others, the Heavenly Father takes responsibility for the reward.  And He is the GREAT Rewarder!  

APPLICATION: When everyone sees me do something kind for another person, or ministry, two things happen: 1, the need of the other is met.  And 2, they appreciate me and make me look good. 

But when no one knows that I have done something kind for another person, or ministry, three things happen: 1. the need of the other is met.  2, not knowing who to thank, they give thanks and glory to God and make Him look good.  And 3, my reward comes from God! 

When a church offers a gift for an offering, and a greater gift for a larger offering, they are robbing the givers of rewards from our Heavenly Father.  Those “giving” are just settling for a cheap earthly gift when they could have had an eternal blessing from their Heavenly Father! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you look beyond our gifts; you are always looking at our hearts.  May our gifts be expressions of your love.  May our “acts of righteousness” give many people reason to appreciate you and give you praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 18, 2026:  SOAP #5980:   1Samuel 20-21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

OBSERVATION:  The love God wants for His people is not a reaction love, but an acting love. It is not love in return for a favor.  It is love that is given when nothing has been received deserving love.  It is a love given even when the opposite is expected.  And it is given without a promise of returned love.

APPLICATION: Simply put, it is the love that God has extended to me!  My love is to be a response to His love for me. 

One might say, “It is impossible to love like that.  It is not natural.”  And they would be right.  It is impossible for fallen, sinful man to live up to God’s holy standards.  If man was to love like that, God would need to live in him and love through him!  And that is the beauty of the Christian life!   God lives His life in me and through me!!!  I am living the impossible life because God is living His life in and through me!  

PRAYER:   Lord, because of your death on the cross in payment for sin, forgive me and cleanse me from all sin.  Come and live in me.  Come live and love through me.  Teach me your ways. May my life bring you joy today.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 17, 2026:  SOAP #5979:   1Samuel 19; 1Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

OBSERVATION: Healing was always a major part of Jesus’ ministry.  It still is!   Last week (April 8,2026)in Sierra Leone a man (Mohammed Ishaka)scheduled to be baptized was quite sick in the hospital.  The doctor said he was too sick and would not release him to go to the baptism.  He was too sick to walk.  After the doctor left the man had his son call a moped cycle to take him.  The SOAP people saw that he was too sick to be baptized, but Apostle Alex said that since he was there they should go ahead and baptize him.  He came up out of the water completely healed!!

So this is the testimony I received yesterday:  “…and now this is the greatest testimony that ever happened in the history of the SOAP MINISTRY in Sierra Leone all the sick people who came from different hospital’s after the baptism all of them was healed from their sickness and this create a lot of panic from the hospitals some hospitals close their gate for the sick people not to come out some of the sick people the doctor was following them to come and some of those doctors are Christians and those doctor was telling the SOAP MINISTRY team leader Apostle Alex for the SOAP MINISTRY team to come to the hospitals to pray for the sick people but Apostle Alex said we do not have time to go to the hospital because our time is limited so we was not able to go to the hospital because we was having only 3 days remaining, Also we do not baptize everyone especially those name who was on the list because the crowd was too much especially those who are coming from the hospital and other places…” Pastor Elijah

APPLICATION: God is alive TODAY! 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are still alive and active in our world today!  You love people and want us to express your love to them.  Find us faithful.  Amen

Pastor Leon   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 10, 2026:  SOAP #5972:   1Samuel 8-10; 2Corinthians 10

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 10:1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you— I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away!

OBSERVATION: In this verse are two interesting and very desirable characteristics of God, especially as God interacts with man: meekness and gentleness.  Here is how I see these two characteristics being expressed in the amazing relationship between me and God. 

Meekness has to do with my approaching God.  His power is under the control of His love.  He is approachable because I do not need to fear being crushed by His awesome power and glory.  He is so big and yet He touches me without destroying me.  He is careful about my being.  He is meek; I can come close to Him without fear of being destroyed. 

Gentleness has to do with God approaching me.  Gentleness is power under control.  He knows my limitations and gently draws me to him.  He gently leads and guides me.  His conviction warns me that I am headed down the wrong path. He is patient and quick to forgive. He is careful about my feelings.  During life’s storms, He shelters me.  His Word gives comfort and strength.        

APPLICATION: If man was designing a god, surely, we would want him to be meek and gently.  But God is not meek and gentle because we made him that way, nor because man made a law that a god should be that way.  God is meek and gently because that is just the way HE is.  It is His nature in dealing with sinful men who repent and make Him their LORD…in dealing with His children! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for being approachable!   Thank you for approaching me in tenderness and kindness.  Make me more like you!  May I be meek and approachable.  And may I reach out to others in a gentle way.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 09, 2026:  SOAP #5971:   1Samuel 6-7; Psalm 72; 2Corinthians 9

SCRIPTURE:  2Corinthians (NIV) 9:11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

OBSERVATION: From the context, we see that Paul is writing to people who were being challenged to give to help the church in Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was going through hard economic times. 

APPLICATION: When God gives through us, it has three obvious benefits.  The first is supplying the need to which it was given. 

The second is the glory God receives when people hear how God met the need.  The monetary gift came through us, but God receives the glory. 

The third is that the people receiving the help will pray for us. And as givers we receive the blessing of knowing that we are actively participating in God’s work and God will reward us. 

PRAYER:  Lord, you are always doing things to help me and make me look good.  May I do things that make you look good!  May I use the money, you generously provide me, to bring you pleasure.  And may you receive praise from those who benefit from my generosity.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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