Combining Church Faith and Personal Faith Is Our Path to Salvation

 

 **Facebook live glitched out on me three times. Sermon was not recorded live. **

Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love and sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

 Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin

Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio

 

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 grows or changes every week. This is our current list.

- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has a malignant meningioma.

- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being.

One who has been diagnosed with some painful health issues.

One who is suffering blood loss from an unknown issue.

Four who have lost a loved one in the past week.

One who has returned home for more rehabilitation after a stroke.

One who has been working with cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack a month or so ago.

Another pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.

- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel and overly high demand.

- Pray for those who have suffered from violent events, that they heal and do not have scarred psyches and that those who have lost their loved ones to violence find peace in the face of fear.

- Pray for the victims of the recent hurricane here throughout Florida, throughout the island countries of Bahamas, Cuba, and our own Puerto Rico as well as on the Gulf and East Coasts of the USA as they continue to pick up the pieces after the devastation.

- Pray for all those who are suffering from epic drought, including the central United States, central Africa including Ethiopia, and many other locations.

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.

- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.

- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

- Pray for our veterans, no matter where they live or lived, no matter their skin color, their national origin. Every veteran deserves a blessing.

* Happy belated birthday to my sister Lisa, whose birthday was Friday.

* Happy belated birthday to my nephew, Charles R. Angeloff Jr.

* Happy birthday to one of our founding members, Wayne Bartosh.

Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer at this moment is to have the Holy Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment in the wonders that You bring each of us and understanding while studying Your Word. We thank You for the many awe inspiring gifts and the many more You have brought us. We pray for an end to the droughts that are occurring around this world. We pray for relief from the wrath of the various tropical storms, wars, and more. May our fears be drawn out of us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the homeless, the survivors of the latest hurricanes and tropical storms. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow would bring good things. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Danny Gokey & Koryn Hawthorne ~ We All Need Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRX-r51_1TA

Sermon: This week we are completing the study of the fourth chapter in 1 Thessalonians. We again are experiencing the single most important lesson we could ever learn as Christians, as believers in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That important lesson is to Love One Another. Here we see how Paul shares this important element of Christian faith to the members of the church at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 KJV –But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

NIV –Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

Now, Love One Another has been around far, far longer than it has been since the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from His earthly grave and ascended into heaven. We see that through the words of the prophet Jeremiah here.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 KJV – But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

NIV – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Three little words are added to Love One Another. Those are Sin No More. We hear that through different methods including this pair of references in our Lord Jesus’s own words.

John 6:44-45 KJV – No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

NIV – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.

John 13:34 KJV –A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

NIV –“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

As He has always loved us, we should love Him. Paul is pointing this out as a defining characteristic of Christianity and faith in God. He does so in many ways throughout all the letters he wrote. Here is just one of those examples in the letter sent to the church at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 4:10 KJV –And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

NIV –And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

We see additional references Paul makes through the letters written to the churches at Rome and Philippi.

Romans 15:26 KJV – For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

NIV – For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.

Philippians 1:9 KJV – And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

NIV – And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Paul wants people to understand that it takes peace, patience, faith, and the sharing of those to expand our understanding of Christ. Faith is an individual experience shared in the midst of others in a congregation. How we learn is just as important as what we learn when it comes to Scripture. This knowledge should be used in all aspects of our lives.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV –And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

NIV –and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,

Paul draws upon the wisdom of the Old Testament and, of course, the greatest Teacher of all, Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 17:14 KJV – The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

NIV – Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Lamentations 3:26 KJV – It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

NIV – it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Luke 12:42-43 KJV – And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

NIV – The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.

We are all able to be teachers of the faith Jesus Christ taught. When we absorb the Word in our own study, we learn as Jesus wishes us to learn. Take your time to study, whether it’s a single verse, chapter, or anything in between. This will benefit us in ways we may never realize. This, according to Paul, is one of many reasons to do so.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 KJV –That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

NIV –so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Again, Paul is referencing the Word as shared by Jesus, this time in the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 4:11 KJV – And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

NIV – He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

Paul then references his letters to the churches in Rome, Ephesus, and Colossae.

Romans 13:13 KJV – Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

NIV – Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

Ephesians 4:28 KJV – Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

NIV – Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Colossians 4:5 KJV – Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

NIV – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Knowledge and the gaining of it would be one of the single most important steps we can take in our understanding of faith through the teachings of Jesus. This is what Paul is sharing with the church at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV –But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

NIV –Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Knowledge is power. That’s something Paul is pointing out. The power of the Word is such that we can be drawn into the truth of God’s love and also given the path before us to walk down toward the glorious moment we see Him face to face.

Leviticus 19:28 KJV – Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

NIV – “’Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

Paul also references the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 7:60 KJV – And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

NIV – Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

For so many in this world seeing is believing. We’ve all heard that argument many, many times. However, truthfully, faith doesn’t require eyes to see it. Believe, and you will see the truth of God’s unconditional love, the hope of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ, and the comforting embrace by the Holy Spirit in the midst of wickedness and despair.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV –For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

NIV –For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Belief is important for any endeavor of the heart and spirit. This is something that is portrayed throughout Scripture. Paul is sharing just how important faith and belief would be in his letter to Thessalonica and in references from the churches at Rome and Corinth.

Romans 8:11 KJV – But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

NIV – And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

 

1 Corinthians 15:12-13 KJV –Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

NIV –But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

Paul wants everyone in the churches to be reassured, that even after their deaths, as ours here and now, everyone gets the opportunity to stand beside Jesus when the Second Coming arrives.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 KJV –For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

NIV –According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Paul convinces us that there is every single reason we could dream up for us to actually be able to stand at the gates of heaven upon the glorious moment when death and destruction end and paradise and eternal life begin. We see this thought shared not just with the church at Thessalonica, but also at Corinth, and Galatia.

1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV –In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

NIV –in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

 

2 Corinthians 12:1 KJV –It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

NIV –I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

 

Galatians 1:12 KJV – For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

NIV – I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

This is a moment the Twelve Apostles dreamed of every moment they lived after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a moment every one of us should anticipate with glee. It is a moment that will transform everything and everyone in the blink of an eye.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV –For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

NIV –For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Are we ready? This is something many of the prophets and others in Scripture asked themselves many, many times. Here we see it in the writings of Joel in the Old Testament.

Joel 2:11 KJV – And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

NIV – The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

The Word of our Savior Jesus Christ is a bountiful view of faith and love, hope, and peace. We see that in these examples from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 16:27-28 KJV – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

NIV – For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew 24:31 KJV – And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

NIV – And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Matthew 25:31 KJV – When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

NIV – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

As we complete this chapter in the letter to the church at Thessalonica, there are a great many lessons to be recognized. The voyage in faith is equally as important as the destination. This is something Paul reflects on in these last two verses of his letter to the church at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 KJV –Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

NIV –After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

There are a great many prophets and theologians throughout Scripture who reflected on this very thought. Here we see how the prophet Daniel viewed the coming salvation.

Daniel 7:13 KJV – saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

NIV – “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

Jesus reflected on this moment as well. His thoughts and prayers have been spoken of for more than two millennia now. Here we see His words as recorded by John the Beloved, and the gospel writer, Luke.

John 12:26 KJV – If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

NIV – Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Luke 21:28 KJV – And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

NIV – When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Faith and belief are two steps we take in our understanding of Scripture. Wisdom is a combination of working our faith, exercising our belief, and proving the combination in our actions and reactions. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:

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)

Closing Song: Vlad Vallejo ~ Living By Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s03B1wZf6xA

 

 

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

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 © 2022 http://www.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.