https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUvgwvflHPw
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live 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 & USAlife & YouTube
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 in his own apartment for a couple months now and enjoying it immensely. He’s been having issues with pain and pain relief of late and other respiratory and circulatory issues.
- Please continue praying for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has been in rehabilitation after having her benign brain tumor removed.
- 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 of varying degrees.
One who is having family issues due to a new job orientation where they have to be out of town for a week and needs to find someone to stay with two children that can’t go with them due to school and work conflicts.
There are a few who are having chronic ongoing health issues, and diseases including cancer for several of them.
One who is continually suffering from loneliness that keeps them from peace and patience.
One cousin is having a great many issues in their family include several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.
Our uncle has been in the hospital in ICU and other places suffering from cancer and having issues with his lungs, breathing, and more. I haven’t had any updates as yet.
- 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 those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of faith and hope.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we are here to praise You and Your influence in our lives. We bring our sorrows to you to help us cope. We bring our hopes to you to raise them up. We bring our fears and worries to bring them out of our hearts and replace them with faith and determination. We pray for those on our lists who need Your strength and guidance. We pray for those suffering medical distresses to be healed in Your Holy Name. We pray for those in leadership to make good decisions to benefit the many and not forget the few. We pray for all of this in Your Holy Name, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Marty Haugen ~ We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight https://youtu.be/6hk_7EUvwv8
Sermon: Today we are beginning our study of the tenth chapter in the scroll of Romans. Paul is more and more passionate in his emphasis on faith and righteousness as we continue learning from his compassionate response to the new Christians and the new Christian church in Rome. Paul is sharing with them that he truly wants as many to come to Christ as possible. This is how he shares that.
Romans 10:1 KJV – Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
NIV – Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
Remember, Judaism and Christianity were only found in select places. Hardline Jews refused to accept Jesus Christ for what He was. Romans were still transitioning from polytheistic to monotheistic in Paul’s time here on earth. His passion was to ensure that people understood what it meant to be Christian, and that it involved every part of themselves, including heart, mind, body, spirit, and soul. Not only that, it involves transforming the whole being, not just one or two parts of yourselves. Here is the background Paul draws from.
Exodus 32:10-13 KJV – Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
NIV – Now leave me alone so that
my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make
you into a great nation.”
But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom
you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he
brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face
of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on
your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous
as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I
promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’”
1 Samuel 12:23 KJV –Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
NIV –As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
Paul is pointing out that he is there to teach, preach, and to record each and every person who has accepted God through Jesus Christ. His letters are sermons in written form, much like we do with our sermons, to ensure that instruction and guidance could be relayed in multiple formats. There is one thing that Paul shares in this verse that people have to learn to understand.
Romans 10:2 KJV – For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
NIV – For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
What is zeal? There are several definitions from the Easton Bible Dictionary.
They include these formulas: an earnest temper; may be enlightened; As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends; It is sometimes ascribed to God.
Are you willing to learn what these can be in your personal Christian walk of faith? Here are the scrolls that Paul connects to this verse.
Psalm 14:4 KJV – Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.
NIV – Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
John 16:2 KJV – They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
NIV – They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.
Acts 21:20 KJV – And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
NIV – When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
Acts 21:28 KJV – Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
NIV – shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
People who have never been introduced to the strength of Christian faith sometimes have issues with understanding what it really means to be a heartfelt, soulful Christian. This is what Paul shares as a template for Christianity.
Romans 10:3 KJV – For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
NIV – Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
All faith requires some form of foundation. Jesus taught from the Scriptures, the TORAH, NEVI’IM, and KETUVIM. These are the sections known as the LAW, the PROPHETS, and the WRITINGS of Scripture. These next verses represent two sections of the Jewish Scriptures, including the Torah and the Nevi’im.
Deuteronomy 6:25 KJV – And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.
NIV – And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”
Isaiah 51:1 KJV – Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
NIV – “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
Isaiah 57:12 KJV – I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
NIV – I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.
Isaiah 64:6 KJV – But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
NIV – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Paul points out the significance of Jesus Christ and why Christianity is set apart from Judaism even to this very day. This is what he shares with the church at Rome.
Romans 10:4 KJV – For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
NIV – Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Prophetic writings predicted the existence of Jesus Christ and the significance of His life long before He was born a babe created by God through Immaculate Conception with the Virgin Mary to live and share what the truth of God’s Word was meant to be from the very beginning of humanity until the day when there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth. Paul reflects on this with excerpts from the prophet Isaiah, his pupil Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, as well as his letter to the church at Galatia.
Isaiah 53:11 KJV – He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
NIV – After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
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.
Galatians 3:24 KJV – Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
NIV – So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 4:5 KJV – To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
NIV – to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
We have to remember, that in order to understand what is right in front of us we have to learn what has occurred during the history of this world. History changes based on the ones teaching or recording it. We know this from all forms of written word, and must then form our own understanding of it. This is what Paul shares here.
Romans 10:5 KJV – For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
NIV – Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”
Again Paul is portraying the Torah in this verse. Here are two connections to the Torah.
Leviticus 18:5 KJV – Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.
NIV – Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.
Deuteronomy 4:1 KJV – Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.
NIV – Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
Paul then adds to this with the prophetic books, or the Nevi’im through the words of Nehemiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel.
Nehemiah 9:29 KJV – And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
NIV – “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.
Isaiah 55:3 KJV – Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
NIV – Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
Ezekiel 20:11-13 KJV – And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
NIV – I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live. Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy. “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness.
Paul is quick to point out that we have to be careful when we pursue our faith and not twist it to fulfill our needs or desires. Paul wants us to understand that the pursuit of faith and righteousness is something that requires purity of heart, purity of mind, and purity of spirit in order to be physically, mentally, and soulfully driven. This is what Paul shares next.
Romans 10:6 KJV – But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
NIV – But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)
Again Paul brings references from the Torah, the Ketuvim, and the gospel writer John the Beloved’s work as well, in the words of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 KJV – For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
NIV – Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
Proverbs 30:4 KJV – Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
NIV – Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
John 3:12-13 KJV – If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
NIV – I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
John 6:33-38 KJV – For the bread
of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he
that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All
that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in
no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the
will of him that sent me.
NIV – For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the
bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes
in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever
comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come
down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
John 6:50-58 KJV – This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
NIV – But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which
anyone may eat and not die. 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.”
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves,
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly
I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you
have no life in you. Whoever
eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at
the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is
real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father
sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live
because of me. This is the bread that came down from
heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will
live forever.”
It is significant for Paul to point out one thing. People, once they are dead in the grave, or ascended into heaven, as Jesus Christ would have been, they no longer walk with earthly restraints. It’s something he had no choice but to emphasize with the many churches throughout the Roman Empire, because the citizens had been born and bred with polytheistic ideals for centuries by that time. This is why Paul shares this next verse.
Romans 10:7 KJV – Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
NIV – “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
People tend to fear what they do not understand. Even now, people will try their best to explain away worry, fear, and all of that, when it comes to daily life. Most mythology is built upon this premise. The Bible, however, is not built upon fear or worry, or any of those earthly connections. The Bible is a Spiritual, Ethical, Emotional, and even Physical voice from God, written through Inspiration so as to bring us closer to Him. Jesus is as He was a physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, steadfast beacon of light for those who suffered the debilitating effects of fear. This is what Paul references in regard to these considerations.
Luke 8:31 KJV – And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
NIV – And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
Hebrews 13:20 KJV – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
NIV – Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
1 Peter 3:18-22 KJV –For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime
were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were
saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us
(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who
is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities
and powers being made subject unto him.
NIV – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Faith is something that builds up within our hearts, our minds, our very existence in Christ’s love. Faith is the guideline for our understanding of His Word, and this is what Paul points out in this last verse from Romans today.
Romans 10:8 KJV – But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
NIV – But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:
Paul considers several influences for this verse. The connections that we need encompass all sections of Scripture. We see this influence here in these verses.
Deuteronomy 30:14 KJV – But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
NIV – No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
Isaiah 57:19 KJV – I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
NIV – creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
Paul connects this with his letter to the church at Ephesus. It is so important that we have these building blocks, this inspiration, to grow our faith, build our hopes, and more.
Ephesians 5:26 KJV – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
NIV – to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Everyone has the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. If you are ready to do so today, please leave me a message in the comment section and I’ll help you on your new journey. 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: Morris Chapman ~ Be Bold! Be Strong! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcIUzB_f5HI
~ 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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