Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 06, 2026: SOAP #6090: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 8:2 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: In this passage we see that Jesus carefully did what the Father directed; He was sent by the Father. He was here to do the Father’s will.

Note that 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: As Jesus did not live His life on His own, so He has designed that I do not live my life on my own. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me. He has 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 placed 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 04, 2026: SOAP #6088: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

OBSERVATION:  There are many recent testimonies from West Africa about the healing power of God flowing through these SOAP devotionals.  About a month ago there was a cripple young man who stayed in his room for several days reading the SOAP.  One night he began shouting, “I can walk!”  It was a miracle that opened a whole city to the gospel! (He was not even yet a believer!) 

Yesterday I read about a man who took a SOAP home and read it to his blind mother.  She took it and kept it under her pillow for three days.  Then after 15 years of blindness, she woke up seeing!  

There was no medicine, no doctors, no preachers, no apostles, no evangelists…only words printed on a sheet of paper—the Words of God!  (She was not even yet a believer!) 

APPLICATION:  It is a powerful thing when the Living Word (Jesus) has the opportunity to apply the Written Word (the Bible).  Miracles and healings can happen when the Living Word applies the Written Word!  

Be faithful to take in God’s Word, either through reading or being in a place to listen. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, awaken my heart to what you are saying to me through the scriptures.  Surely there be many opportunities to apply the Word of God in my life.  Help me apply the Word of God to my daily life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 03, 2026: SOAP #6087: Nahum 1-3; John 5

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was speaking to the Jewish Religious leaders who took great pride in knowing and studying the writings of Moses and the Prophets.  They were considered experts in the law.  They could quote it; they could use it to condemn others; but they could not see that its purpose was to lead them to Jesus, the Promised Messiah!

The ones who best knew the Written Word missed the Living Word to whom the scriptures pointed!  We need the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw us to Jesus!  He reveals truth about Jesus to our hearts.   

APPLICATION: The two men on the road to Emmaus had a personal eye-opening conference with the post-resurrection Jesus who revealed how that he had just fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.  (Luke 24:13-27)

We all need the Holy Spirit to give us such a conference as we read God’s Word and hear God’s Word preached.  He convicts us of sin and convinces us that Jesus died for our sin.  He takes the truth of Jesus and applies it to our hearts. 

PRAYER:  Jesus, it is not how well I know the scriptures that matters, it is how well I know you!  You are the reason to study the scriptures, either by reading or hearing!  Thank you for the healings and miracles.  They show your power to change our lives.  They demonstrate your love for people.  They show us that you are present with us.  Holy Spirit, open my understanding as I read and hear the Scriptures read.  Reveal to me the Living Word as I become more acquainted with the written Word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 2, 2026: SOAP #6086: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

OBSERVATION:  This woman had something Jesus wanted.  Water, but He really wanted more.  He wanted her.  Jesus was not so much interested in what she could give Him, but in what He could give her.  She could give him water from a well, but He could give her living water! 

In my limited study of various religions, it seems the emphasis is always on what the worshipper can do or give their god.  The sacrifice is always made by the worshipper.  What a difference that the one true God is really interested in what He can give me!   

She came by herself to draw water, normally that was a social time for friends.  She had been married five times and was now living with a man not her husband; that was probably the reason no one wanted to accompany her to the well. (vs 18.)  But the next time she came to the well, the whole town came with her! (vs 30.)  What a change!!  What Jesus did in her could be seen by the whole town…just like the testimonies of the miracles in West Africa. 

APPLICATION: More than once I have discovered that when Jesus was asking me for something He was really wanting to give me something!  I need to remember that by nature Jesus is a giver.  It is foolish to withhold from Him what He desires.  When He sees the nature of a giver in me, He opens His treasures to me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, three things you are teaching me: 1. You are teaching me to give.  2. You are teaching me the joy of giving.  3. You are teaching me that you always out give me!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2026: SOAP #6084: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  John 3:6 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (Note verses 23 and 24)

OBSERVATION:  In John 3:16 Jesus is speaking with an inquisitive seeker.  We read that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Becoming a Christian is responding to the great love that God has for us. It is singing, “Oh how HE loves me!” We love Him because He first loved us! We are responding to His great love for us.

However in John 14:21 Jesus is speaking to His disciples.  Here it is God responding to our great love for Him!  We have come to know and love Him. Our love for Him is clearly seen in that His commands are priority in our lives. It is God singing, “Oh how he loves me!”

APPLICATION: It is an ever widening spiral. At the center is His great love for me. He gives His Son to die for me. I respond in love, beginning to learn and keep His commands.  He sees my response of love and is so joyful that He reveals even more of Himself and His plan for me. I respond in such appreciation and amazement that I love Him even more! I begin to sacrifice my wants in order to fulfill His wants. He sees my increased love for Him and He reveals His heart to me. I am so enamored with His great heart of love that I am willing to decrease so that He may increase. And on, and on it goes! Ever more and more loving revelation on His part; ever more and more loving surrender on my part.  It is a ever-growing, never-ending story of love.

PRAYER:  Lord, loving you more, bringing greater joy to your heart—that is what life is all about!  Now, how can I make you smile today?  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 31, 2026: SOAP #6084: Isaiah 63-64; Psalm 107; John 2

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 107:19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank-offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

OBSERVATION:  “He sent forth his word and healed them.”  Surely Jesus fulfilled this prophetic scripture.  In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we read that the WORD was in the beginning.  The WORD was with God and the WORD was God!  The WORD became flesh and lived among us.  We read in the gospels that a major part of the ministry of Jesus was healing. 

As in the gospel days when Jesus walked the earth, we are seeing amazing healings happening today through the written WORD contained in each SOAP.  Within the last year, many thousands of people in West Africa have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their faith settled by witnessing the many healings that God is doing among them. 

APPLICATION:  Never hold back from praying for someone who is sick, especially if they ask.  God is working among the Muslim people because they ask.  They see the healing power of God and they ask for the SOAPs to be brought into their community.  Many have experienced the healing power of God merely by reading the SOAPs. 

Healing provides an open door through which Jesus can gain access to someone’s heart.  If God has healed you, be ready to give your testimony.  Let them know we serve a healing God!  

PRAYER:  Lord, through my testimony, may people see you as a loving God who cares for people.  You use your power on behalf of people.  You are not waiting for us to serve you, but you wait to serve us.  Your love and power are amazing.  Amen

Pastor Leon    
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 30, 2026: SOAP #6083: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

SCRIPTURE:  John (NIV) 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was with God in the beg beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men…. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

OBSERVATION:  God anointed men throughout the ages to write the scriptures which we call the Bible, the written Word of God.  From the verses above we understand that Jesus is the true Word, the living Word of God.  Throughout history we can find people who valued the Bible.  They protected it.  They hid it, They translated it.  They printed it.  They shared it.  They wanted everyone to have it.  How valuable is the written Word of God! 

In my understanding, there is only One Thing Greater than the written word of God—the LIVING WORD OF GOD!  To

APPLICATION: To have a Bible, the written Word of God, or even to have a portion of it and not to read it, and meditate on it, and pray over it.  What a tragedy.  To miss out on the wisdom and encouragement, and comfort available is such a loss. 

But an even greater loss would be to have the LIVING WORD OF GOD living in my heart and not to talk with Him, not to seek His wisdom, not to develop and maintain a continual relationship with this lover of my soul…there could be no greater loss in all of eternity!  

PRAYER:  Lord, what a blessing, what a fellowship to have you share this life with me!  You walk with me and you talk with me, and you tell me that you are my God and that I belong to you!  I am blest beyond measure.  When I do not have a Bible, I am never without your presence!  You are always with me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 29, 2026: SOAP #6082: Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2Peter 3

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

OBSERVATION:  This is the closing verse of Peters second letter to the church.  It is God’s desire that we grow in our knowledge of Him.  He loves to reveal Himself to His people.  Today my attention was drawn to the phrase, “…grow in the grace…”  God wants me to grow in grace. 

First: I must grow in my understanding of grace.  It is God’s unearned and undeserved favor.  By faith I have received the forgiveness that His amazing grace has provided.  God is kindly disposed to me.  He recognized His Son, Jesus, living in me as the Lord of my life. 

Second: I must grow in living a grace filled life.  God’s grace is a foundation for my trust.  I can look at everything through God’s grace.  I live because of God’s grace so I should live in honor of God’s grace.  Others should see the difference God’s grace makes in my life.  God’s grace in my life should result in a life of thanksgiving!

Third: I must grow in giving grace.  I have received grace; I should be graceful to others.  God loves to give grace to me, but even more He loves to give grace through me.  Kindness and forgiveness should be readily extended to those around me. 

[Personal thought: “Grow in grace:” that means I should be more gracious today than at any previous time in my life!  At 78 years of age, I should be an expert in being gracious!] 

APPLICATION: Thoughts of God’s amazing grace should be mixed with all my thoughts.  They should be a part of every conversation.  Gratitude for God’s grace easily mixes with an attitude of thanksgiving.   Even when going through the toughest times, I have sufficient reasons to be thankful for God’s grace. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your grace has been abundantly provided by your Son, Jesus.  Holy Spirit, help me grow in grace.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 28, 2026: SOAP #6081: Isaiah 53-56; 2Peter 2

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter 2:20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

OBSERVATION:   We rely on doctors to deal with truth.  We want them to discover the truth, reveal the truth and help us deal with the truth.  We are happy when they give us a “good report.”  We may not be happy with a “bad report,” but we should be appreciative.

The Bible is a book of truth, truth about God, truth about man and truth about their relationship.  For the Bible not to tell us about sin is much worse than a doctor not telling us about a fatal disease in our body. 

APPLICATION: It is good to have escaped the corruption of the world.  I know that could only come through a relationship in which Jesus is my Savior and I accept his death on the cross as the payment for my sins. 

It is also good to be warned about the possibility of getting entangled again in the corruption of the world.  I know that I can only remain free through a relationship in which Jesus is my Lord, and I choose to only do what pleases him. 

PRAYER:  Lord, two things I pray: first, thank you for providing the way of escape from sin; and second, help me not get entangled in it again.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 27, 2026: SOAP #6080: Isaiah 50-52; 2Peter 1

SCRIPTURE:  2Peter (NIV) 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

OBSERVATION:  Christianity is both an outside religion and an inside relationship.  The early church had no Bibles, so God anointed several leaders to write the history of Jesus and the church and others to write letters describing how having Jesus living in our lives would affect our lives. 

Having Jesus living inside makes a big difference.  I want my life to be a comfortable home, so I need to begin aligning my life with His character.  (Like verses 5-7 above.)   It may seem like a very difficult thing to do, but it is not all that hard.  Jesus is more interested in our lives having those characteristic than we are!  And He now lives inside where those changes need to be made.  And as He lives inside and helps us make those changes, the outside of our lives (note: verse 8) began to be seen on the outside.  Others see the changes in our conversation and actions. 

APPLICATION: Verse 8 above tells us that this is a process and we grow in “increasing measure.”  Just having Jesus living inside makes a big difference, but God expects growth.  He designed our physical bodies to grow.  All living things grow.  The church is to grow, and believers are to grow.  We are to become better at expressing love and joy and peace etc. 

PRAYER:  Lord, what a great thing you did for me when you forgave my sins and moved into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  Now I want to do something for you; I want to grow in my response to you.  I want to grow in expressing your life in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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