https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2dEB-GGrYQ
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.
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 had a malignant meningioma removed and has been undergoing rehabilitation.
- Please keep praying for my father-in-law Raymond Neff, who is still recovering from his severe chemical burns, but is thankfully home.
- 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 suffered a moderate level stroke about a week ago and is on the slow road toward recovery. May their family rally together to help them through the process with God’s Holy Spirit leading the way.
One who has suffered from issues with fraud and the frustration that comes with that.
Two who are having money issues.
One who is suffering from fear and worry about family and pets.
One who is suffering from loneliness that keeps them from peace and patience.
One who lost her brother Drew Mitchell, age 19, this past week in a hit and run in Mississippi.
- 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 the multitude of violent events around this world, 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 comfort and solace to be shared with those who have said farewell to a loved one this week, known or unknown.
- 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.
We have several birthdays this week.
* Happy Belated Birthday to my brother-in-law Josh, his was yesterday.
* Happy Belated Birthday to my daughter’s best friend Chelsea, who also celebrated yesterday.
* Happy Birthday to my niece, Kimberly, whose birthday is in four days.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today on this beautiful Sunday is to have the Holy Spirit bring joy and peace to our hearts, faith to our minds, and healing to each of our bodies, and souls. We pray for the sick in body, mind, heart or spirit. May Your grace fill them with hope, peace, and patience. We pray for those who have suffered unjustly for things they could not control. We pray for those who have lost faith and live in paralyzing fear and sorrow. We pray for the homeless and the jobless in this world. We pray for the hungry and the malnourished. We pray for the poor, weak, and sorrowful people in this world. We pray in thanksgiving for all the great gifts that You have given us, even if we don’t always realize they are there. We pray in hope and patience for those things that are worrying us in our hearts and minds. 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: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Else https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk
Sermon: This Sunday like all other days of the week, we should continue to add more and more to the glorious knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Risen Lord, our Eternal Savior and the owner and bringer of the Path to Salvation. As we continue our study of the letter Paul wrote to the church at Rome, we are learning so much about how much of the mission Jesus Christ pointed His Apostles and Disciples toward upon His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. That mission, is, as it was, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV –Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
NIV –Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So, how does this fit in with our study of the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome? Well, Paul is, as all the Apostles were, taking our Savior’s directive and running with it. You see, upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity was illegal to practice, everywhere, not just in Jerusalem and the rest of the lands led by the Jews, but controlled by the Romans as well, and, as we all know, the Roman Empire was a vast segment of this world at that time.
Romans 3:11 KJV – There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
NIV – there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
Paul is reflecting on King David, first of the Jewish Kings, elected by God Himself through the prophet Samuel. We see this in King David’s words.
Psalm 53:2-4 KJV – God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
NIV – God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God.
Paul is also reflecting on the words of the prophet Isaiah. In this case, it is a premonition brought to Isaiah regarding the birth of the blessed and Holy Savior, Jesus Christ, as we all know Him to be.
Isaiah 9:13 KJV – For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
NIV – But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.
Paul points out something that happens even to this very day. We may outwardly show our faith, but inwardly, most of us need practice. This is the reason we have the phrases “Practicing Christianity”. We can ask God and Jesus for help with our faith. We can find it if we are willing to give everything to Him, all our pain, sorrow, fear, joy, laughter, all of it. It’s not easy to leave God in control of our lives because there is so much history behind the many issues that plague humanity in one way or another, no matter where we live, how little or much we may earn, what we do for our livelihood, or any of that. The most profitable thing to work toward is faith, because even the smallest amount grows exponentially when we nurture that faith with further study, more and more practice in different, even unusual ways. This is what Paul warns us about here.
Romans 3:12 KJV – They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
NIV – All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Paul is warning the Romans who are willing to defy the authorities and attend the Christian church there. He warns them not to be hypocrites, which even today can often occur in churches around this world. It’s a warning we have to take to heart and work hard to prevent in our personal lives. We see this in the words of King Solomon as well as our Savior Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV – For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
NIV – Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
Matthew 25:30 KJV – And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NIV – And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Jesus points out, much as God did for Samuel, that what you see is not what you get when it comes to the human psyche. Realizing and recognizing this factor takes as much practice as learning God’s Word would. There are only some who remember everything in their lives without blinking. Most of us, however, aren’t practicing enough to manage anything close to that ability. This is the reason there is so much left we must learn in this world. Paul points out two-faced practices that are easily exposed by humanity in this world.
Romans 3:13 KJV – Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
NIV – “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
In other words, everyone, watch your mouth, what you say. Watch your actions, whatever you do. Watch your thoughts, all of them. The reason for this is because vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt are easily disguised by the human factor. We can say one thing and think or mean something else entirely. This is why Paul points this out in his writing to the church at Rome. He reflects on the writings of David and Jesus’s younger brother James.
Psalm 5:9 KJV – For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
NIV – Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.
Psalm 140:3 KJV – They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
NIV – They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.
James 3:8 KJV – But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
NIV – but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Paul, much like James, points out how easily our mouths can open, and our feet can end up inside them. This colloquialism is a cultural verbal description that we hear everywhere in one form or another. Too often we speak without thinking about what we’ll say first. Another familiar method is to step foot into a disaster of our own making. Paul wants to warn us against jumping the gun in situations we might engage in. He also wants to do verbal slaps in the face, much like our parents did if we ever used profane language in front of them. This is how Paul writes this visual.
Romans 3:14-15 KJV – Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood:
NIV – “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood;”
Again Paul draws reference from two separate kings of the Jews, David and his son, Solomon.
Psalm 10:7 KJV – His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
NIV – His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
Proverbs 6:18 KJV – An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
NIV – a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
Righteousness is something we all, as Christians, should want to achieve. In order to do so, we have to own it. We have to portray it. We have to wear our righteousness physically, mentally, spiritually, soulfully. It’s something that can’t be done with a snap of your fingers. Like understanding Scripture as a whole, it takes practice. This has to occur every day, not just once in a while, once a week, or any longer span of time. Every single day we should want to share time with God as we pray, read, meditate, or sing His Word to ensure we can learn every mystery within His truth. This is how the prophet Isaiah shares it and how Paul shares the same in his letter to Ephesus.
Isaiah 59:17 KJV – For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
NIV – He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
Ephesians 4:31 KJV – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
NIV – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Now, I have been led to do the next three verses at once because they literally connect to each other as they should be frequently reflected on by each of us. This is what Paul directs us to recognize in the wrong footsteps to make in our lifetimes. It’s not easy, as we know, to be truly and fully devout at all times day in and day out unless we confess our sins and failures, in order to reflect on the true path we all want to pursue.
Romans 3:16-18 KJV – Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
NIV – ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
We all know that there are many colloquialisms, sayings, that can be pointed toward for this set of verses. We all tend to pay more attention to death, destruction, or disaster as a human race. This is why news outlets, movie and television program creators, writers and authors, focus so much on the bad things that are happening in this world, rather than the warm, fuzzy, fun things that occur. God knew this before any of us were ever born. He proves it in the words as recorded by Moses, David, Solomon, and Isaiah here.
Deuteronomy 25:18 KJV – How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
NIV – When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
Psalm 36:1 KJV – To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
NIV – For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Proverbs 8:13 KJV – The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
NIV – To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Isaiah 57:21 KJV – There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
NIV – “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Isaiah 59:8 KJV – The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
NIV – The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
There is a reason Paul reflects on these instances in the history of the world. It’s because those things were happening around him then. The reason we have to go over these things as well would be that time may bring more modern methods to us as the human race, but we still suffer from these spiritual, psychological, distinctly human failures in life.
Romans 3:19 KJV – 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.
NIV – Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
The “LAW” as Paul points out is the one that was originally imposed by God upon the tablets scribed while Moses was up on Mount Sinai all those millennia before this date. Here we see corresponding views from King David, the prophet Ezekiel, and the Word as shared by Jesus in the writings of John the Beloved.
Psalm 63:11 KJV – But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
NIV – But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Psalm 107:42 KJV – The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
NIV – The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Ezekiel 16:63 KJV – That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
NIV – Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.’”
John 10:34 KJV – Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
NIV – Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods"’?
Now, this verse referenced in John the Beloved’s gospel is one that helped convict Jesus of portraying truth in a way the Pharisees and Sadducees were up in arms about. They didn’t recognize Jesus as the Savior promised in the Word of God, prophesied thousands of years before He was standing there in front of them at that time and place. There were many reasons, but one of the simplest was in the fact, that “IF” they were looking at the “REAL DEAL” as Jesus proved to be, they were literal toast, and nobody would follow their leadership as it had been for so very long. All of the Apostles point to this failure of humanity in one way or another. Paul adds to it with these words.
Romans 3:20 KJV – 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.
NIV – Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
The LAW, as it was written on the tablets by God’s Almighty Hand up on Mount Sinai, is here due to “SIN”, which is part of the human condition. Jesus is the “SALVATION”, because He “DESTROYED” that which created “ORIGINAL SIN”, not just in His life, but also in His death and resurrection. Jesus continues this process even to this very day. This is why you’ll often hear me say “judge not, lest you be judged”. We don’t want the job Jesus has at this point. We shouldn’t want it at all. We are “JUSTIFIED THROUGH CHRIST”, which holds the exact elements of what “SALVATION” is. We see exactly this in the words of King David and the gospel writer Luke as he recorded the Acts of the Apostles.
Psalm 143:2 KJV – And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
NIV – Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
Acts 13:39 KJV – And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
NIV – Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
Justified, we are justified as the children of God, and as brothers and sisters of Jesus, this means a whole lot. In truth, this portrays the fact that we, as faithful believers, are worthy, redeemed, and absolved of the connections to “Original Sin”. Righteousness takes practice, and, as we know, humans are, fallible. That’s why we need our faith in God, our belief in Jesus, to ensure that we can be justified as “RIGHTEOUS” on the day our Savior returns to judge the living and the dead. This is what Paul points out here.
Romans 3:21 KJV – But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
NIV – But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
God is the ultimate view of perfection. His Word is forever. It is as it was and as it always will be. Past, present, future, enduring the test of time as we know and understand it. We see this fact as we reflect on every scroll of Scripture, including the words shared through the prophets Isaiah and Daniel.
Isaiah 46:13 KJV – I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
NIV – I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.
Daniel 9:24 KJV – Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
NIV – “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
We must also include the words of our Savior Jesus Christ through the writings of the gospel writer Luke, and still more in the teaching as Luke continues with the Acts of the Apostles.
Luke 24:44 KJV – And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
NIV – He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Acts 10:43 KJV – To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
NIV – All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
When we witness each other as Christians, we continue a tradition that began with Jesus. At that time, Jesus insisted to have at least one, and often several, with Him during important moments, like when he led John the Beloved up the mountain, or when He led them into the city on Passover while He rode upon the back of the little donkey. Humility is something Jesus always managed to portray easily. This is what Paul shares in addition to the importance of righteousness. Being righteous is being one with God, as Jesus is One with Him, so we should be the same. Paul shares this in a unique way.
Romans 3:22 KJV – 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:
NIV – This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
Notice how Paul puts it, the “righteousness of God which is by FAITH of JESUS CHRIST UNTO and UPON ALL who believe, without differences, no matter if we are Jew or Gentile. Paul reflects on the writings of the prophets Jeremiah and Daniel as he writes.
Jeremiah 23:6 KJV – In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
NIV – In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.
Daniel 9:24 KJV – Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
NIV – “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
Paul adds other references to his colleague Luke through the Acts of the Apostles and also through his letters to the churches at Galatia and Colossae. It is important for us, as Christians, to learn about God and Jesus with their development of righteousness, which is something we need to continue to portray as true Christians. Just as Paul portrays here.
Acts 3:16 KJV – And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
NIV – By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Galatians 3:28 KJV – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
NIV – There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:11 KJV – Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
NIV – Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
All of us have the opportunity to grow and transform our lives through the Word of God. It takes only a moment to give our lives to Him and allow Him to shine through our thoughts, actions, and reactions in life. This is something we should enjoy the pursuit within. 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: Alan Jackson ~ Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg5mVgR7JuA
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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Evangelist Calvin Jennings
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 © 2023 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.
