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 had an unusual symptom bugging him at the moment. Let’s hope it is something that won’t take much to repair. Please also pray that the things he needs the most will be found sooner rather than later.
- Please continue praying for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has had a benign meningioma removed and has been undergoing rehabilitation. The family is overjoyed to learn that the tumor was benign.
- Please also pray for a friend of Cal’s who had a heart attack last week.
- Please keep praying for my father-in-law Raymond Neff, who is still recovering from his severe chemical burns, but is thankfully home. He is improving some, but there are still issues with his health as a result of the burns.
- Please keep praying for the families of honorary member Debbie Bolton, who passed away last week and my friend Faith who lost her husband Brian last week. They are having a tough time coping with the losses. May our prayers of comfort and hope fill their hearts.
- 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.
Several who are having money issues.
One who is suffering from loneliness that keeps them from peace and patience.
One cousin who is still having a great many issues in their family, including two suffering cancer, other family issues especially difficult include several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.
- 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 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 the family and fans of Tony Bennett who passed away this past week.
- Pray for my friend Kristy's Uncle Bruce's family and friends as he passed away on the 4th of July.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
* My sister Cathy has her birthday on Tuesday.
* My cousin Tom has his birthday on Thursday.
* My aunt-in-law Renee has her birthday on Friday.
* My friend Jeff has his birthday on Friday as well.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today on this Sunday morning is to have the Holy Spirit bring each of us the gifts of spiritual strength, joy and peace to our hearts, faith to our minds, and healing to our bodies, and souls this week and always. We pray for family and friends who have had health and other issues that are causing upheaval, sorrow, fear, and more around this world. We pray for those who have had serious medical issues in our families, colleagues, and friends, including Evangelist Cal Jennings and his sister, Kristy and her extended family, my employer’s wife, and several others. 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: When Peace Like A River https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmglOH1JJjg
Sermon: Today we are beginning
the seventh chapter in the scroll of Romans. Lately music is what compels me to
read these verses many times before putting everything into words. Paul
continues his explanation of true Christian faith in these first verses of the
seventh chapter. Let’s begin here:
Romans 7:1 KJV –Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
NIV –Do you not know, brothers and
sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority
over someone only as long as that person lives?
There is a phrase often heard by theologians and even here in Scripture as well. The phrase is “the Law and the Prophets”. This phrase is found in full only eight times in Scripture. Five of those would be found in the New Testament gospels. One way to understand why the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ literally shredded this phrase is by going back to see the reason the “Law” was created in the first place. Here we find one of the many prophets of God, Ezra sharing the formulation of the Law and the prophets into action.
Ezra 7:25 KJV – And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
NIV – And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
King Solomon, one of the most studious of the law, and one of the wisest rulers ever to rule over the Hebrews, has this to share.
Proverbs 6:23 KJV – For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
NIV – For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,
Look at this, the commandment is a lamp. The law is the light in that lamp. Instruction is the oil that keeps that flame going. This analogy is just one way we get guidance and all that is taught in Scripture. Now we are going to hear something that is often hotly contested and protested by female ministers.
Romans 7:2 KJV – For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
NIV – For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.
I have heard several say that this means we cannot seek love a second time after the loss of our spouses. This is wrong. In fact, Paul points out that love is what keeps us secure, safe, and happier. The ultimate model for faithful marriage is found with the first couple ever to exist.
Genesis 2:23-24 KJV – And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
NIV – The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Love one another means listening and hearing, sharing and caring, and more. In this excerpt from the scroll of Numbers, we see just one view of this.
Numbers 30:7-8 KJV – And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
NIV – and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her.
Now, Paul is going to throw some theologians for a loop in this next verse. It is the one moment where we see give and take, fifty-fifty pursuit of happy marriages. We see this in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:4 KJV –The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
NIV –The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:39 KJV –The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
NIV –A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
Paul is simply reinforcing his letters for each church that he wrote to. Again, these are sometimes hotly contested in this world today. Marriage can be a complex relationship, even if there are those who have no true understanding of what a good marriage is. In the case of what Paul is sharing here, we are taken back in his memories of what is a true and faithful marriage and what it should look and act like.
Romans 7:3 KJV –So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
NIV –So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.
Remember, Jesus warned the men who were intent on stoning Mary Magdalene to death, that the one who had no sin whatsoever could throw the first stone. Paul is pointing out that this attitude works both ways as well. Adultery is simple. If you think about anyone you are not married to in a sexual manner, that is taking a step over the line toward sin and wickedness. It is the reason that the seventh commandment was written in the first place. Here is another location that is pointed out.
Exodus 20:14 KJV – Thou shalt not commit adultery.
NIV – “You shall not commit adultery.
It was retold and reinforced by Jesus here to point out that there are stricter guidelines when it comes to marriage and the sanctity of “holy” matrimony.
Matthew 5:32 KJV – But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
NIV – But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Paul is adding his first letter to Timothy to this explanation.
1 Timothy 5:11-14 KJV –But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
NIV –As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
Paul is reminding us that the sanctity of prayer, of faith, of commitment, is as much a relationship with God through Jesus as any marriage is between a man and a woman. In this way we are fruitful in the eyes of God. Here is what Paul shares.
Romans 7:4 KJV –Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
NIV –So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
Paul adds his reflection on the day just before Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified, and this is very, very important. We have to understand the relationship between God, Jesus Christ, and the Church. The Church is the “Body of Christ”, because each of us willingly accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We see this in the words of Matthew, Mark, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 26:26 KJV – And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
NIV – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Mark 4:20 KJV – And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
NIV – Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
John 6:51 KJV – I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
NIV – I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 15:8 KJV – Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
NIV – This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Paul adds his thoughts from the first letter he wrote to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 10:16 KJV –The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
NIV –Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Paul in his next words is sharing an analogy between flesh and spirit. When we live “in the flesh” we live an earthly, sinful life. When we live “in the spirit” we have shed that old earthly part of us and transformed ourselves into more spiritual beings. This adds to the parable of the Vine and Branches found in John 15. It is also the reason Paul points the members of the church in this direction.
Romans 7:5 KJV –For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
NIV –For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.
Paul is again reflecting on the words Jesus spoke. We see this reference in the gospel of Matthew and also that of John the Beloved.
Matthew 15:19 KJV – For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
NIV – For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
John 3:6 KJV – That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
NIV – Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Paul shares from excerpts in his second letter to Corinth, and his letter to Galatia.
2 Corinthians 3:7 KJV –But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
NIV –Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
2 Corinthians 10:3 KJV –For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
NIV –For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
Galatians 5:16-17 KJV – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
NIV – So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
The next thing that Paul reminds us about is the fact that we’ve put on the “new man” as he called faith in Christianity as a pure, clean, unblemished being. This newness is important to do whatever it takes to clear out the cobwebs of worry, fear, pain and sorrow and pursue faith in its purest form.
Romans 7:6 KJV – But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
NIV – But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
One of the questions I have heard for most of the time I have been a minister is why, specifically, we have to go through the process of becoming new again. Well, I have put it this way. When we are baptized with water, it cleanses us not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally. Add to that the confirming and waterless baptism in spirit and we become more and more spiritual. Paul is referencing his second letter to Corinth, as well as his letter to Galatia.
2 Corinthians 3:6 KJV –Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
NIV –He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Galatians 3:13 KJV – Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
NIV – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Galatians 3:23-24 KJV – But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
NIV – Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
Paul adds still more to this. He wants to clarify the difference between the law and the prophets, and the clean, unblemished faith in the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:7 KJV – What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
NIV – What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Ah, there’s a word we don’t hear much in today’s world. “Covet”. To covet something is to want it beyond, “Oh, I’d love to have that.” This is a direct image with the troubles of Lust, Vanity, and Envy. We see this in the exact depiction of the tenth commandment.
Exodus 20:17 KJV – Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
NIV – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 KJV – Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.
NIV – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Now we have to understand the necessity there was for the “Law and the Prophets” as God brought them into being for the Jews. We see this in King David’s writings here.
Psalm 19:7-12 KJV – The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
NIV – The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Forgiveness is powerful. Being able to forgive takes a whole lot in some cases. We’ve seen and heard this throughout our individual lifetimes. Paul portrays what the law and sin would create, and that is death. This last verse from Romans for today lets us see a word we don’t see in today’s world very often.
Romans 7:8 KJV – But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
NIV – But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.
So, what is the word “concupiscence”, anyway? In plainer English, this is “lust” or “sexual desire”. Yep, you heard it right. That’s number three in the seven troubles. Paul reveals the fact that everyone has issues with the seven troubles. He himself admits this. Jesus points out that there are a lot of ways the seven troubles affect humanity. We see this in His words shared through Mark and John the Beloved’s gospels.
Mark 7:21-22 KJV – For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
NIV – For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
John 15:22-24 KJV – If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
NIV – If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
Paul adds to this with his first letter to the church at Corinth and also the words written by James the Just, younger half-brother of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV –The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
NIV –The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
James 1:13-15 KJV – Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
NIV – When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
There is a reason to enforce the idea that God cannot tempt anyone, and nor is He subject to temptation. This is something that should never be influenced by the seven troubles that affect this world. 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: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n5w_2IXvuA
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
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
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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