Covenant
of Hope Ministries Wednesday Study_5_7_2014
Good
afternoon, and welcome to this Midweek Study for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I
am Rev. Laura A. Neff. You can find sermons posted on Sundays and studies on
Wednesday. Our locations are online only:
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.
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 keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very
sick spending most of his weeks extremely weak and in bed. His ability to view
all that is written through Christ and the music that is bringing further
meditation in the Word as it is brought to us through the Spirit.
- Please pray for my friend Theresa’s sister who is in stage
four cancer. Now it has been learned that two of her sisters are suffering from
cancer or other issues related to it. One of those sisters has been given
antibiotics for an infection and is coming home. Pray that she continues to get
stronger.
Please add to her prayer as she is suffering a great deal of
pain and sorrow in the financial view. A miracle is needed to keep shelter over
her head and more.
- Please keep our member Wayne Bartosh in prayer for his trials
and tribulations that he may receive mercy and hope in Jesus.
- 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. My physical being continues as it has been.
Those who have seen pictures have said so. We have been given an avenue, pray
that the avenue opens to a larger path toward all the relief we need as a
family.
- Pray also for guidance in relation to one member of the
family, that our frustrations be soothed in His grace.
- 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.
- Pray that I may be able to get in touch with all of our
membership, even with the shortest of notes, just to say hello and I’m thinking
about each of you.
- 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.
- Please keep a friend, Debby, in your prayers for a swift
recovery after major cancer surgery.
- Continue your prayers for Phoebe Fair’s family as they
continue to grieve her loss.
- 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.
Prayer:
Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who
are here to share it with us. We pray for those who have suffered so much pain
in the losses of lives and the terrible, continuous views of those same losses.
We pray for those in serious strife, through kidnapping, murder, and more. We
pray that You show those who create this chaos that peace is much more than
something heard about. We pray for our friends and families, that they may be
safe, well, and spiritually healed. We pray all this in Your Holy Name, Amen
and so it shall be.
Opening
Song: Josh
Groban Let Me Fall
Sermon:
This
morning I was inspired by two passages in Scripture brought to me in my email.
God chose to bring them, not just in one view, but in all that are available.
There are interesting comparisons and contrasts. I will bring the different
ones that leapt off the pages, not due to the fact that they were written in
different eras, but in the fact that they can be interpreted, or read, so very
differently from the others. Sometimes we don’t believe there really is a lot
of difference. This can be true. But, there is a point of view where they
create a chain of sorts, one leading into the next, or perhaps adding to the
primary view. That is where this study is coming from. All of God’s wisdom
links, not just through the Scripture itself, but through all of the points of
view that are given through centuries of translation. As we know, there is a
difference between Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English. There are even different
views of English to be shared. Let’s take a look here with our first verse and
its differences as well as similarities.
I John 5:4-5 NIV – For everyone born of
God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even
our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God.
NASB –For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is
the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God?
Lamsa Greek –For whoever is born of God triumphs
over the world; and this is the victory which conquers the world, even
over faith.
Who is he who triumphs over the world but he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?
KJV – For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that
Jesus is the Son of God?
Notice
there are only subtle differences, but think about it this way. Whatsoever, whoever,
and people are the first differences. Whatsoever can include all, beyond
people. Whoever and People are much closer in the thought process. Why is it
that King James and his collective of theologians and others would have chosen
this in place of the others? Was it pure persuasion from King James? As we
know, each interpreter chooses how they see the Word of God. That’s one of the
many problems between Christians. Perhaps that is why the comparison is
necessary. Every Christian must choose their own path. That is what Jesus said.
No path is identical in the pursuit of His wisdom and peace. Let’s take a look
at the second set of verses chosen. They are found here:
Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV – For by grace are ye
saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of the works, lest any man should
boast.
Intriguingly,
the first choice, by grace, would be identical through all four points
of view. Let’s check and see the others and their differences.
Lamsa Greek – by grace
Not of the works
Lest any man should boast.
NASB – by grace
Not as a result of works
No one shall boast.
NIV – by grace
Not by works
No one can boast.
So
that no one can, should, or shall boast. Here we go again, no one can, should,
or might. Did you notice? By works, as a result of works, of the works, yes,
they look the same, but are they coming across the same? By, in one viewpoint
meets all of the others. Yet, in another you can see the results, and through
these works. By, and through the works, you can see the results. Now, there you
go, a combined view that provides us with a more complete thought. Don’t you
think? Then we look at the boasting. No one can, or should, that is present
tence. Shall is future tense. So, again, we see it as can, should, or shall in
this view. Though you can do something, sometimes you shouldn’t, but you still
might. Can you see where they combine? They bring us ability, warning, and
caution, all at once, but not in the same exact way. Is it just due to the time
frame in which the translations were done? Perhaps it was done due to the
different interpreters? Of course, God could show us, including the writer, how
all work together, and give the reason for them to do so. 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: To
Where You Are
~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
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and
Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all
that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.
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