Wednesday Sermon - Communication

Covenant of Hope Ministries Midweek Study_1_15_2014

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Midweek Study for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. The ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. Find us posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. Look for my name minus the title. These are now extremely variable. Our Elder Cal Jennings is just as variable and can be found on several sites as noted by his sermons. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be video presentations.

This week's midweek sermon is brought to us by Elder Cal Jennings.

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.

- Continue your prayers for Phoebe Fair’s family as they continue to grieve her loss.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers.  He needs multiple surgeries but his heart is not strong enough to go through them.  Besides needing his pacemaker replaced and his surgical hernia repaired he has a precancerous tumor in his stomach that urgently needs to be removed or healed.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer. Keep Teresa and her daughter in prayer for many other things that have been weighing down on their hearts, minds, and spirits.

- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for whatever they might need.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through.

- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many ways, even if we start with just one step.

- Remember those who have been lost either violently or peacefully this week.

- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry, should support one another.

- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and for all.

Shed a Little Light

There is a problem troubling the ministry.  We receive no communication from those reading our sermons.  We have no idea how to address your needs or if there is anyone bothering to read the sermons of the ministry.  We would love to do live sermons again but due to health problems we are unable to do so at this time.  My lack of teeth and some other health issues make it difficult for people to understand me when I speak.  My mother tells me I'm unintelligible.  I'm not sure as to what Rev. Laura's problem is with speaking but she may tell you if you ask.  The problem is that no one seems to be asking.  Are she and I writing these sermons only for each other?

We should be communicating and encouraging one another.  We should be helping one another as we are able as well.

Hebrews 10:24-25

King James Version (KJV)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

I'm sure that many of you can see the day approaching.  There are signs in the heavens and on the earth that seem to indicate that we may be in the last days.  Earthquakes, tsunamis, violent storms, etc. were all mentioned in the bible.

Matthew 24:3-8

King James Version (KJV)

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Both the NIV and the Spanish translations of the bible list verse 8 as birth pains or birthing pains.  These signs tell us that the time of Jesus' return is near.

Matthew 24:3-8

New International Version (NIV)

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 

5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

It is also mentioned in I Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

King James Version (KJV)

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Travail means labor.  These two passages make it clear what was being referred to in the bible.  Because the end may be near, we should be comforting one another and building each other up so that we may be strong against what is to come.  If there is no communication, how are we to comfort one another and build each other up?

1 Thessalonians 5:11

King James Version (KJV)

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

This might make it a little more clear and easier to understand.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Not to be harsh but, if we have any real members, sadly you are not doing.  We would appreciate communication from you even if it's to critique the sermons as long as your intent is not to make personal attacks.  None of us is blameless before the Lord.  I'm sure most of you are familiar with Romans 3:23, but here is the whole statement.

Romans 3:19-26

King James Version (KJV)

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

There is also the example of the woman who had committed adultery whom Jesus saved from being stoned.

John 8:5-7

King James Version (KJV)

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Remember, Jesus came not to condemn but to save us.

John 3:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If there are any other members of the ministry besides Rev. Laura and I, we would really love to hear from you.  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  For this ministry to be a success, we need to join together and encourage one another.  Rev. Laura and I, though very ill, have done our best to bring the message of Christ and his salvation to those of you who are housebound or otherwise afflicted. We need

participation of our members or readers if there are any. 

I know there are detractors to the ministry, but that is to be expected in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:3-5

King James Version (KJV)

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We already know who the accuser is.

John 8:44

King James Version (KJV)

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The devil will meet his end though, as promised.

Revelation 12:10

King James Version (KJV)

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

We are doing our best to comfort and communicate with you and comfort you in your time of need, so please don't fear communicating with us and comforting us in our times of need as well.  A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Mark 3:22-25

King James Version (KJV)

22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Will you stand with us?  If so, please don't forget to comment.

We Gather Together

http://youtu.be/MB7M4RNi024

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ Be With You,

Cal Jennings