https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2SFHzIr7cg
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 is getting everything back together as he forges a new life after staying with family for several years. Continue to pray for his sister who is still recovering from her surgery earlier this year and the treatments she has been undergoing.
- Please keep praying for my father-in-law Raymond Neff, who has just had minor surgery to take care of a small issue that was causing a lot of little problems. He’s being kept in the hospital for a day or two.
- 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 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.
One who has had a third mini-stroke in the past week. Pray for them and their family, some of whom would be quite the distance away.
One who was taken into the hospital Friday for observation and tests, and released later that same day. Pray that the issue is resolved for their family’s sake and their own.
Please pray for two who are missing their friends and family quite a lot right now.
- 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 our sick and wounded that they may heal.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today on this beautiful and blessed Sunday is to have Your 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 health and other issues that are causing upheaval, sorrow, loneliness, fear, and more around this world. We pray for those who have had serious medical issues in our families, colleagues, and friends. 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: Alan Jackson ~ I Love to Tell the Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrCpKa_xOcE&list=PL614A115BF39E5936&index=303
Sermon: Today we are continuing our journey through Chapter Six in the Scroll of Romans. This particular Scroll is quite detailed and has a lot of areas to cover in a single letter to the church at Rome. We’ll start here where we left off last week.
Romans 6:6 KJV –Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
NIV –For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
Why does Paul consider the past in the view of an “old man”? Well, think about it this way. Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are leaving the person who didn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t, believe behind. We turn the page away from the past and start fresh in a new beginning. This is what Paul is referencing. He touches on this same sentiment in his second letter to the church at Corinth, the church at Galatia, and the church at Ephesus.
2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV –For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
NIV –For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Galatians 2:20 KJV – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
NIV – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:24 KJV – And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
NIV – Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 6:14 KJV – But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
NIV – May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Ephesians 4:22 KJV – That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
NIV – You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Paul takes this a step further for better clarity. Being newly accepted Christians, the citizens at the church of Rome needed this set of directions. Paul continues those instructions here.
Romans 6:7 KJV – For he that is dead is freed from sin.
NIV – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
So, how do we focus our faith the way Paul is teaching? There’s a lot to take in when we accept Jesus as our deliverer of Salvation. We get more of this information in the Word as Jesus spoke here in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 11:19 KJV – The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
NIV – The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
We add these words from the first letter to Peter.
1 Peter 4:1 KJV –Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
NIV –Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
The promise of “eternal life” with Jesus Christ is one that was prophesied about throughout the Old Testament Scrolls and continues even after the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember, though, life and death are a reality here on this earth. However, only some will have the promise of eternal life. Those are the ones who accept all of Scripture as divine and pursue life with the Word in their hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. This is what Paul shares in that regard.
Romans 6:8 KJV – Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
NIV – Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Paul references the first of many occasions where Jesus preached and taught outside of the temples of the Jews. In this case, it was in Samaria and He met the woman at the well. This is the Word as spoken by our Savior Jesus Christ.
John 4:17-19 KJV – The woman saith unto him, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.”
NIV – “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”
When Jesus tells us to be as little children who have no bias, no judgment, as most adults would have in life, He means it. He proves that the seven troubles, including doubt, are rampant here on this earth. They have been since the Garden of Eden. Paul adds these thoughts to the discussion.
2 Corinthians 4:10 KJV – Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
NIV –We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 13:4 KJV –For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
NIV –For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
2 Timothy 2:11-12 KJV –It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
NIV –Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
Note this as Paul shares: “We will live with Him, and we will reign with Him.” Why? Because we BELIEVE! We’ve left that sinfulness behind if we develop our faith in the foundation of life and living. Resurrection day was a monumental day in the life of Christian history. Paul provides the reason for this to those who never experienced Jesus in their own lives as he did.
Romans 6:9 KJV – Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
NIV – For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
Paul references King David, first king of the Jews as the human ancestor for both Joseph and Mary.
Psalm 16:9-11 KJV – Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
NIV – Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Paul adds to this with a reference to the Acts of the Apostles as recorded by the gospel writer Luke.
Acts 2:24-28 KJV – Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
NIV – But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: “’I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Added to Luke’s take on this verse we add the viewpoints of the Hebrew Scholars and John the Beloved’s Revelation.
Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV – Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
NIV – Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 7:16 KJV – Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
NIV – one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 7:25 KJV – Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
NIV – Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Revelation 1:18 KJV – I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
NIV – I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Resurrection is something people who are new to Christianity really can’t take in the whole truth. Most of us in this generation do not really understand the feat of impossibility that Jesus managed upon His resurrection. In fact, most people equate the ideal of “undead” with ghosts, vampires, and other creatures of mythology. However, Jesus returned to life in a more dramatic method than those who are returned to life in movies and books. His resurrection is as it was to fulfill a promise God Himself made to Adam and Eve, repeated for Noah, and on through Moses, Abraham, David, Solomon and all the rest of the greats. Paul points out the reason Jesus accepted His earthly fate in this next verse.
Romans 6:10 KJV – For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
NIV – The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
Jesus reminds us that we all are “alive” in Him and through God’s unconditional love. We all have the opportunity toward Salvation because He paved the way toward that ultimate goal of Heaven as our eternal home. We hear this in His own words as shared in the gospel of Luke. Paul and the Hebrew prophets add to these words.
Luke 20:38 KJV – For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
NIV – He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV –For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
NIV –God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Hebrews 9:26-28 KJV – For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
NIV – Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Dying to sin doesn’t mean we’re perfect. It means we accept the fact that we are human and have our faults. Accepting Jesus in our lives allows us the gift of resolution, redemption, and eternal life. These are huge, colossal gifts for the people that live with the faith that this is the truthful way to reach heaven and live forever in His presence. This is what Paul shares next.
Romans 6:11 KJV – Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV – In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
This should sound quite familiar to those who listen and read our sermons. The reason for that is we’ve been studying Paul’s letters for quite a while now. We see references to Galatia and Colossae here.
Galatians 2:19 KJV – For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
NIV – For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
Colossians 2:20 KJV – Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
NIV – Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
Colossians 3:3 KJV – For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
NIV – For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Paul wants us to remember that we can avoid sin and wickedness. We can avoid the troubles. Jesus pointed out the very same thing. We have to remember that, even though we do have weaknesses, we can be forgiven. We already have, because Jesus died, taking all of our sins away. So long as we remember to give everything to Him, all of it, every worry, every mistake, all of it, then we will see the gates of Heaven and eternal life. This is how Paul shares the thought.
Romans 6:12 KJV – Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
NIV – Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Paul references supporting thoughts through the words of Moses, King David, and his letter to Titus.
Genesis 4:7 KJV – If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
NIV – If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
Psalm 119:133 KJV – Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
NIV – Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Titus 3:3 KJV – For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
NIV – At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
The hardest thing people have issues with understanding when it comes to faith is what it reveals about them individually and collectively. When we develop faith we have to be willing to leave behind the behaviors of carnal humanity. Now, there are a great many ways we can sin and never even realize that is exactly what we would be doing. Too often when we get into the ”status quo” of human life here on this earth we are not observing what faith can do fully for us. This is why we are always learning from Scripture. We are always learning how to transform ourselves into full-fledged faithfully righteous human beings observing Christianity in whatever method we believe we fit within. This is what Paul reminds us about here.
Romans 6:13 KJV – Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
NIV – Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Paul again references the Old Testament. One of these is a reminder that we all make mistakes and each of us needs to learn to spiritually apologize in our prayers and actually repent. That’s a daunting word, “repentance”, for some. The reward is amazing and awesome. It’s titled “redemption”. That is the level of forgiveness we should all strive for. Here are the Chronicles of the Jewish Kings and the prophet Daniel’s take.
2 Chronicles 30:8 KJV –Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
NIV –Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the LORD. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
Daniel 3:28 KJV – Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
NIV – Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Paul also references the Word as shared by Jesus here in the gospels of Luke and John the Beloved.
Luke 15:24 KJV – For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
NIV – For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:32 KJV – It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
NIV – But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
John 5:24 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
NIV – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
The rewards include a great many things in redemption from sin. Paul points out just one of those benefits. He reminds us that faith in the grace of Jesus holds far more weight with God and Jesus than the law ever did. There’s a reason we have songs like “Amazing Grace” and others like it. This is why we would.
Romans 6:14 KJV – For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
NIV – For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul draws reference from John the Beloved with this as well as his letter to the church at Galatia.
John 1:14-17 KJV – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
NIV – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:23 KJV – But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
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.
Paul is telling us not to be prisoners to sin. Let’s remember that there is a reason for us to seek redemption, every single day we live our lives. If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please leave a comment or a like and we’ll be in touch. 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: Michael W. Smith ~ Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8o9l0enTls
~ 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.
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