Good
afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I
am Rev. Laura A. Neff, and the ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. You
can find us posted on Sundays. These are our locations online only:
Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope
We have
email and Instant Messenger through Facebook available most Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
and Sundays 10AM to 2PM ET US. We’re still working this out between the two of
us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will be informing
you further in regard to changes being made. These changes were made due to
health reasons. There will be live sermons, and the sermon length will be
shortened dramatically, but we are unsure as to when that might be.
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.
Please pray that our brothers and sisters who are ill will regain their health.
Please pray that my son has a great year in school as he attends his first year of college.
Please pray for peace and prosperity for the many who need it most.
Please pray that my son has a great year in school as he attends his first year of college.
Please pray for peace and prosperity for the many who need it most.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we
thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We are
grateful that You listen, even when we do not. We are blessed that You listen,
and hear, regardless that we often don’t do the same. We pray for those we
love, those we know, and those we don’t, that they be safe, secure, and well.
We pray for peace given from the heart. We pray for hope in the midst of
despair. We pray all these things in Your Holy Name, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: With Arms Wide Open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99j0zLuNhi8&list=LLys7UjSJHrgrNHy9kLrkxpw&feature=player_detailpage
Sermon: Lessons learned is wisdom earned.
I cannot remember where I heard this particular phrase, but, in this particular
section of our psalm, it most definitely can be thought of as something
important. The title of this sermon, Our Pleas Heard But We Do Not Do The Same,
You see, God always has an ear ready to listen, and a mind, spirit, and soul to
hear what is listened to. The problem is, we forget how we are supposed to do
the very same thing. The first pair of verses show how we forget to listen and
hear. We only see the bad, when there is good to be found.
Psalm 44:18-19 KJV –Our heart is not turned back, neither have
our steps declined from thy way;
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and
covered us with the shadow of death.
Sometimes
we need to be taught lessons we don’t like to be taught. Yet, those lessons may
seem like they are horrible tests, in actuality, they bring us strength in
understanding. You see, if you understand, you can be enlightened, knowledge
then increases to the point of wisdom. It is that point we must reach, in order
to see what righteousness would be. This is the time of succour, the time of
assistance when we get hit by bad things. We often forget that He is there to
give us that assistance, maybe not physically, but spiritually. That’s very
important for all of us. There is one potential word change in verse eighteen
where it says ‘steps declined from thy
way’, this can also be shared as ‘goings
declined from thy way’. What does this share? It shares times we fall away
from the path of righteousness. That’s something we tend to do a lot more than
we may realize.
Isaiah 34:13 KJV – And thorns shall come up in her palaces,
nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation
of dragons, and a court for owls.
The
terrible thing is we often fall into the dangers of those trials and
tribulations, those troubles that can, and will, trap us in our fear there are
two word changes at the very end of this verse, the first is changing to a court for ostriches replacing the very
same portion of the verse that shares this next one. The second is a court for owls which would also, or
rather, could also be seen as daughters
of the owl. Note the verse shares both ostriches and owls. Stick your head
in the sand. The second, daughters of the owl, what could it mean? We normally
see owls as objects representing wisdom, so, perhaps this court for owls is
fighting against the ostriches, maybe getting heads out of the sand to hear,
see, know, and understand.
Psalm 44:20-21 KJV – If we have forgotten the name of our God, or
stretched out our hands to a strange god;
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the
heart.
How many
times have we forgotten the fact that God knows our footsteps, our thoughts,
even our fears, before they even reach our hearts, our minds, our spirits, and
our souls. That’s something too many of us think would be impossible. You must
remember, with God, anything is possible. It is shared in Scripture many times.
Yet, we often forget that very same thought. With God, we can do anything, and
anything is possible. It doesn’t matter who would think it, but often there are
times we say this or that would be impossible. We aren’t thinking about the
gifts God can give, the strength in His love, and more. That’s something we all
should work on. There are several connecting verses to this one starting here.
Job 31:14 KJV - They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
Job 31:14 KJV - They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
It’s not
unusual to feel like you’ve been rolled up under the water, or a truck. Often
life can make us feel as though we are over our head in the water, even like we
are drowning. It isn’t easy to pull ourselves out. Often we forget that God is
there to lend a hand. Those helping hands are more important than we may ever
know.
Psalm 139:1 KJV – O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
How many times have we thought that God wouldn’t realize who we are, what we are made of, physically, spiritually, mentally, and more? In some cases, that would be a daily occurrence. In others, it could be minute to minute or second to second. So many of us forget that He is there, and all we have to do is ask.
How many times have we thought that God wouldn’t realize who we are, what we are made of, physically, spiritually, mentally, and more? In some cases, that would be a daily occurrence. In others, it could be minute to minute or second to second. So many of us forget that He is there, and all we have to do is ask.
I Samuel 16:7 KJV – But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on
his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:
for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Here we see a perfect view of the one thing that mankind would pursue every day of the week. We see beauty on the outside, but often forget to look within. If you listen to their hearts, you’ll understand your own. Don’t always look on the outside, because the inside, the heart, could be quite ugly.
Here we see a perfect view of the one thing that mankind would pursue every day of the week. We see beauty on the outside, but often forget to look within. If you listen to their hearts, you’ll understand your own. Don’t always look on the outside, because the inside, the heart, could be quite ugly.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV – For God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Some may never have heard a song that shares the words ‘whether you are bad or good’ it is a Christmas song here where I live. God knows secrets, whether they are our own, or those they have heard from others. Keeping secrets, not just about ourselves, but about others, isn’t easy, nor is it good in every instance. The thing that must be used is discernment. You’ve got to tear that secret apart and see if it will bring anyone to harm, including your self.
Some may never have heard a song that shares the words ‘whether you are bad or good’ it is a Christmas song here where I live. God knows secrets, whether they are our own, or those they have heard from others. Keeping secrets, not just about ourselves, but about others, isn’t easy, nor is it good in every instance. The thing that must be used is discernment. You’ve got to tear that secret apart and see if it will bring anyone to harm, including your self.
John 2:25 KJV – And needed not that any should testify of man: for he
knew what was in man.
He knows man. No need to testify something God already knows. There is an interesting revelation, knowing that God already knows everything we do and say. That is where judgment comes in. Yet, God will only watch as Jesus, His Son, would bring judgment, as He brought sacrifice to save us. Note this, not only did He sacrifice to save, He will also provide judgment, which looks quite like a twoedged sword.
He knows man. No need to testify something God already knows. There is an interesting revelation, knowing that God already knows everything we do and say. That is where judgment comes in. Yet, God will only watch as Jesus, His Son, would bring judgment, as He brought sacrifice to save us. Note this, not only did He sacrifice to save, He will also provide judgment, which looks quite like a twoedged sword.
Acts 1:24 KJV – And they prayed, and said Thou, Lord, which knoest the
hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.
The chosen ones, there’s one we hear about throughout scripture. We see the ideal so often it should be by rote when we encounter it time and again. Who are the chosen ones? They are the ones who listen, and hear. They are the ones who take what they listen to and hear first knowledge then wisdom, toward the path of righteousness. This leads up to what is shared here.
Romans 2:16 KJV - In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Note it says the secrets of men. Those shall be judged as much as our actions. Think about it, secrets, words, actions, all linked together, and all to be judged. It is very difficult to realize which would be part of our lives and whether we have been able to overcome those same trials and tribulations.
The chosen ones, there’s one we hear about throughout scripture. We see the ideal so often it should be by rote when we encounter it time and again. Who are the chosen ones? They are the ones who listen, and hear. They are the ones who take what they listen to and hear first knowledge then wisdom, toward the path of righteousness. This leads up to what is shared here.
Romans 2:16 KJV - In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Note it says the secrets of men. Those shall be judged as much as our actions. Think about it, secrets, words, actions, all linked together, and all to be judged. It is very difficult to realize which would be part of our lives and whether we have been able to overcome those same trials and tribulations.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV – For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
You see, God and Jesus are of one Spirit, that is why the Holy Spirit was given to us. They can discern every part of us, from heart, mind, soul, spirit, to bones and marrow, muscle and skin, and more still. How often do you think of all these parts of us as being part of our trials and tribulations? How often do you think the author of this psalm realized that is just what God was sharing? Was it learned even many, many years later? Well, we’ll see in this verse from the word of Jesus as shared here.
Revelations 2:23 KJV – And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
You see, God and Jesus are of one Spirit, that is why the Holy Spirit was given to us. They can discern every part of us, from heart, mind, soul, spirit, to bones and marrow, muscle and skin, and more still. How often do you think of all these parts of us as being part of our trials and tribulations? How often do you think the author of this psalm realized that is just what God was sharing? Was it learned even many, many years later? Well, we’ll see in this verse from the word of Jesus as shared here.
Revelations 2:23 KJV – And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
So, who
are her children? We should all remember. Those are known as troubles. Vanity,
Lust, Envy, Enmity, Malice, Shame, and Doubt. What is the worst trouble that
there could be? Each and every one of these would lead to that one. That worst
scenario would be death. Our hearts speak as much as the mind, the spirit, the
soul, because we have to, we must remember that controlling our thoughts, our
expressions and more would indeed bring much more than we may ever realize.
Psalm 44:22-26 KJV – Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day
long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for
ever.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and
our oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto
the earth.
Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.
‘For our help’ could also be ‘a help for us’. Think about it this
way, they are asking for a helping hand. When we give someone a helping hand,
it can certainly change things from bad to good. Shouldn’t we believe that God
can do the same? In this case, the plea is to get them out of the mess they
created. There are many who get into that same sticky spot. Yet again, we
cannot remember that God is there to pick us up out of the mud, the muck, and
the dirt. This is yet another thing we forget sometimes daily. Now, that’s
something to think about as we pray in the prayer Jesus taught us saying: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)
Closing Song: On Eagles Wings
~Shalom~
Covenant
of Hope Ministries
Scripture
Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition:Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, Inc.
Scripture
Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture
Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible
Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA
Sermon or
Study Copyright © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit
fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together
as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.
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