Tag Archives: god

Making God Smile!

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8Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 08, 2025: SOAP #5574:  Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

OBSERVATION:   From the various scriptures within the context of the above verse, it is easy to understand that Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and clearly not deserving of death.  But Pilate had a problem.  He was more concerned about pleasing people than about pleasing justice.       

APPLICATION:   The desire to please others can cause me to do or not do many things.  I need to carefully consider who I am pleasing.  The thought process of both big and small decisions should include the question, “Who am I pleasing,” and “Who will be displeased?” 

People will tell me that I should make my own decisions and not care about what others think, but to ignore what God thinks is to miss the greatest source of wisdom available to me.  I must remember that I was created to love God and to honor him with my choices. 

Knowing that God is omniscient, all-knowing, the wisest thing I can do is to listen to Him and do as He directs.  My wisdom in no way matches His wisdom!   The wisdom of the wisest man on earth does not match His wisdom! 

In looking back on my 77 years, I can see wisdom in the steps I have taken in preparation for writing SOAPs.  But I must be quick to say that they were not the steps I would have taken, but they were the steps God planned for me.  In His wisdom, He was preparing me to write SOAPs. 

“Make God Smile!”  The earlier in life you make that the goal of your life, the more you will be smiling when you reach 77! 

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, “Who am I pleasing?” bring this question to my mind many times throughout today.     Amen

Pastor Leon
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“brought out TO BE brought in”

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2025: SOAP #5573:  Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 6:20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders— great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us OUT from there to bring us IN and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.

OBSERVATION:   The Israelites were to pass on to their children their history.  Living in slavery was not pleasant.  God did great miracles (the ten plagues) to deliver them from Egypt.  But God was not only interested in getting the Israelites OUT of Egypt, He wanted to get them IN the promised land. 

APPLICATION:   So many times, we want God to deliver us from some troubling situation.  We pray for God to help us get free.  But once free, we do not think about why God set us free.  He got us OUT of the troubles so that we can be IN a time of praise and thanksgiving.  We come IN to opportunities to tell others what God has done for us.  Our testimony gives God glory!  

He delivers me from debt so that I can tithe and have money to give to others.  He brings me out of a time of sickness so that I can be in a time using my strength to serve Him and others.  Etc.   

PRAYER:   Lord you are so faithful to lift me out of my despair and troubles.  You bring me to a time of rejoicing in Your presence, a time of thanksgiving for how you have helped me.  May I be faithful to enter a season of thanksgiving and praise for what you have done.  You gave me relief; I give you praise!  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Here is an update from Pastor Andrew and Bishop Emmanuel: 
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Here in Niger the conference was very great I will bless the Lord for the people the two days conference the total people that are attended is the first day we have 7,500 people on the second day we have 9,000 people and today we know that the number is going to increase.

In the two days conference we have 1,800 people who give them life to Jesus and as today is the last day we are expecting more people to come and also to be safe we will be organizing a discipleship class tomorrow for the new convert who give the life to Jesus.

We have already organized as SOAP MINISTRY team here in Niger also we have teach them how to print the SOAPs too the computers and printer and also how to distribute the SOAPs to the people in the country everyday they have already started receiving their own SOAPs yesterday.

Tomorrow the discipleship class is going to start for all those who give their life to Jesus during the conference for 2 days class for all those who gave their life to Jesus  in the conference and we will send them to a different churches.

We will be leaving here on Saturday morning to Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a very strong Muslim country but a few Christians but I believe this is a time or Revival in that country please help us in prayer as we go on Saturday but me Bishop Emmanuel and Pastor John we are fully ready with God’s favor and anointing to go into the country with the true gospel.
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Also, an update for those who have been praying for Samuel, Pastor Andrew’s son:  He had broken bones in his right foot.  The injury to his left leg were some wounds, but x-rays showed no broken bones.  He is now at home!   We can pray for God to provide some pain medication and to replace the refrigerator, TV, etc. sold for hospital payment. 

Also pray for some additional computers and printers.  They have installed all they have and have three West African countries plus some in East Africa. 

Leon  😊

What A Teacher!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 05, 2025: SOAP #5571:  Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 12:1 He [Jesus] then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey…

OBSERVATION:   When Jesus taught heavenly principles, He always used earthy illustrations that would be easy for people to understand.  He used illustrations from their everyday life, things with which they were already familiar.  When Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to continue this ministry of revealing truth.  (John 16:3)

APPLICATION:   When the Holy Spirit shows me something new, I often come away thinking, that is so simple.  The most profound truths are put in the simplest of terms so that even I can understand them!  

The Holy Spirit is a good teacher because 1) He perfectly understands the truth, 2) He perfectly understands each of us, and 3) He communicates with each person individually. 

He is with me when I read the scriptures.  He is with me when I hear a preacher or teacher or a word of prophecy.  He rode the school bus with me and made me aware of things that demonstrated spiritual truth.  The Holy Spirit sparks my heart to receive truth and then apply it.  The Holy Spirit is my personal tutor.  I could not ask for a better teacher.  (And the same is true for each believer!)

PRAYER:   Holy Spirit, thank you for being my teacher.  As I write these SOAPs give me clarity of thought.  Help me understand what you are saying and help me communicate the truth in ways that are easy for readers to understand, and easy to translate.  Thank you for being with each SOAP reader and showing them what is important for them to hear and apply.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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A Servant

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Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 03, 2025: SOAP #5569:  Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

OBSERVATION:   The world had gotten things upside down.  Jesus put them right side up.  In man’s eyes, rulers are the greatest.  In God’s eyes, servants are the greatest. 

Jesus had come to serve the will of the Father, and to serve man by making the payment for sin.  And in being the servant/slave of all, He clearly was the greatest of all! 

People who have been given authority should use it as a tool to increase their service to others.  Their decisions and their actions should be for the benefit others.       

APPLICATION:   I am a servant of the Most High God.   It is all about Him!  I must remember how Jesus answered the question about which was the greatest commandment: 

Mark (NIV) 12:29  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

PRAYER:   Lord, what an example you set!  I am amazed at the great extent You went to serve me.  May my life be used to serve your purposes.   Amen. 

Pastor Leon
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Especially when only God is watching!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 28, 2025: SOAP #5565:  Numbers 24-27; 1Corinthians 13

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

OBSERVATION:   Put prophecy, wisdom and faith in verse 2 and generosity and sacrifice in verse 3 – all on one side of God’s scale.  Then put love as the lone quality on the other side.  It will not be balanced!  What is it about love that makes God give it so much value?  I asked the Lord and He dropped these words in my heart: 

Having prophecy, wisdom, faith, generosity, and sacrifice makes people love you.  Having God’s love makes you love others. 

APPLICATION:   The important thing is not how much others love me, but how much I love others!   It is not about being so “nice” that people love me, it is about being so full of God that I love people, especially those hard to love. 

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, surely, no one has ever loved you the way you have loved us. I am certain that I have never loved you the way you have loved me.  Holy Spirit, help me grow in loving God.  Help me faithfully express my love to God by loving those around me, not only in the big ways, but especially in the little ways, and when no one is watching but You.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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Serving A Faithful God!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 27, 2025: SOAP #5565:  Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

OBSERVATION:   To me, this verse is a strong indication that they had taken along with them one or two of the left-overs from the earlier dinner. They had in the boat evidence of God’s miraculous provision.  They had in the boat evidence that Jesus could impower them to do as He commanded, after all, it was He who commanded them to feed the 5000, and then He provided the food for them to do so.  It was He who told them to go to the other side, and He would empower them to do so.

APPLICATION:   So often, we need but to look around to find evidence of God’s great intervention in our lives.  In our homes, we have “basketfulls” of left-overs from some previous miracle.  Let’s not let our hearts become “hardened” so that we forget and cannot see what is so obvious.

God told me that my bus driving was over.  He did not say that my living in His provision was over.  As long as I am faithful to do as He directs, I can rest assured that He will continue to provide.  My faith was not in the bus company, my faith was in God.  My faith is still in God.  What He provided through the bus company, He will now provide through another source—probably for the next six months or a year, through the VA as a pension from cancer that is associated with agent orange being used in the areas we traversed in Viet Nam.  When this gets cleared up, God will provide through another means!  That is the way He is.  I am faithful to do as He says; He is faithful to provide and do what is needed for me to complete His assignment. 

PRAYER:   Lord, keep me in step with you, not lagging behind nor running ahead.  May I live and move with an awareness of your wonderful presence.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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Who is in your boat?

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 25, 2025: SOAP #5563:  Numbers 17-18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 4:37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

OBSERVATION:   At least three of Jesus disciples were fishermen. (Peter, James and John) Quite probably others were too.  So, as people with knowledge and experience, they knew what a storm could do to a small boat.  They were afraid.  They looked at their environment.  They looked at their boat.  They probably heard fear filled comments of those who were not fishermen.  Surely, they were frantically bailing out the water from the waves breaking over and swamping the boat.  This was a serious situation!   They had every reason to fear.  It would have been unnatural not to fear. 

BUT there was something that could overcome such fear.  Faith!  Not faith in their ability as fishermen, nor faith in people on the shore.  Only faith in Jesus!  …and He was present with them!!!!    He was already in their boat!!! 

APPLICATION:   We all face storms that can swamp our physical bodies, our family relationships, our finances, whatever boat we are in.  We are powerless against them.  We all face trouble that only Jesus can solve. 

Is Jesus in your boat?  You are either in a storm, or a storm will be coming.  We all have faith, but where is your faith?  The object of our faith must be worthy and capable.  Jesus is both!   I invite you to pray with me…

PRAYER:   Lord, I need you in my boat.  You see the things that are beyond my ability.  I place my faith in you to forgive my sins.  Make me clean in my heart and mind.  I set you as the Lord of my life. 

Pastor Leon
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HE made it all; HE lives in me!

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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 04, 2024: SOAP #5327:  2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 1:10 He [God speaking to Jesus] also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

OBSERVATION:    In these verses, God is speaking through the author of the book of Hebrews the same thing He said through the apostle in John 1:3  “All things were made by him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” 
This work of His hands will perish.  It will wear out like a suit of clothes.  It will all change, but JESUS will never change!   He eternally remains the same! 

APPLICATION:  Pick any day in the future; pick tomorrow, or a day next week, or next year, or 50 years from now, or 1000 years from now…Jesus will be the same!   He will be just as loving then as He was when He died on the cross for our sins.   He will be just as holy then as He was when He paid the price for our sins.  He wants us to know that God loves us!  He wants us to be holy, free from the stains of sin.  Because of His death, He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness!  (1John 1:9) 
What a mistake to let my attention be captivated by that which is going to change and perish rather than keep my attention focused of Him who never changes!!!  What a mistake to focus on the temporary things rather than on the Eternal One!!! 

Note: Your circumstances have changed. They will change again. Some changes will be better and some worse.  Know that He will use the changes to change you for His glory.  Keep your attention on HIM who never changes.  He is with you and will be with you through all the changes.  Keep your ears open to His voice and your hand in His. He loves you!  Amen

PRAYER:  Lord, whatever happens in this temporary world does not change the truth that you, the unchanging God, have made me your dwelling place.  I can always count on your presence.  “You walk with me, and you talk with me, and you tell me I am your own…”  Amen

Pastor Leon
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