MESSENGER

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Don’t Be the Branch That Fell to the Ground! Grow in His Love Instead!

 

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 had another up and down week due to the circulatory and pulmonary issues he had last week including another stint in the hospital.Pray also for his dog Scrappy who has an injured paw.

- A colleague of mine, Kim, has lost her mother and is working on a celebration of life for her this week.

- Pray for the war torn countries of Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, and Ukraine.

- Pray for the victims of the many shootings around this world this past week.

- One friend who has come to me with fear and worry in their life regarding serious health issues and more going on. Pray that they find a solution to the health issues and improve their life in many ways at long last (SGE).

- One cousin is having a great many issues in their family including several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.

- One dear friend has been told they have cataracts which has caused massive migraine headaches that are quite debilitating. Pray that their new glasses and other things will assist in easing their pain. This same dear friend has a very bad cold that’s making everything even more difficult right now.

- Continue praying for our aunt and the family and friends of our uncle who succumbed to cancer about ten days ago now.

- My daughter-in-law Tori’s grandfather will be having a mass removed soon and the family has asked for prayers that it is easily done, and everything is good afterwards.

- Please pray for my sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Tony Angeloff, who both suffered a fall and are in a great deal of pain as a result. They are both scheduled for an MRI to find out what’s going on.

- 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 who have lost their lives in the pursuit of faith and hope.

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

- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.

- Pray for peace on earth and good will to men as Scripture shares.

 

Prayer: Father in heaven, we are here today lifting up our voices to You in this solemn prayer. We pray for any and all of our friends and family who have lost loved ones this week. We pray for those who have suffered any form of illness or pain, that their bodies and minds return to perfect health. We pray for those who have had any form of chaos in their lives this week and awaiting them as well, that they find calm and the patience to endure it. We pray for our leaders, worldwide, that they listen to Your voice over everything else and make good, beneficial decisions in all that they do. We pray that those who are facing chaos in all shapes and forms, including the unusual weather conditions and those who are not accustomed to the brutal cold, would find peace and sanity within it. We pray for all of this in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

 

Opening Song: Steve Angrisano ~ Remain in Me I am the Vine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GCJkGfwABk

 

Sermon: Today we are again continuing our study of the scroll of Romans in the eleventh chapter. Paul is relaying a very significant portion of the ministry of our Savior Jesus Christ, and one of my favorite parts of Scripture, John 15, The Parable of the Vine and Branches. It is very important for each of us as Christians, and those who want to be or are curious about Christian life. To truly understand the relationship between us individually and collectively with God, the parable brings all the aspects of our connections into the light. So, with that, let’s get started here where we left off.

 

Romans 11:17 KJV – And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

NIV – If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

 

Broken branches, we see them everywhere. We see them in actual trees, but we also see them in family trees. Some families suffer great fractures in their branches and all the way to the roots as well. All sorts of things can cause this to occur. God knows that we have the potential to connect together as the branches that bring His Word to the many, regardless of education or stature. It takes just one to unify the many. That one is named Jesus Christ, and He is the promise of salvation made to Adam, and to all the generations since. All we need to do is believe it and we will see His vision truly. For some earlier glimpses of this we travel again to the scroll of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

 

Isaiah 6:13 KJV – But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

NIV – And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

 

Isaiah 27:11 KJV – When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

NIV – When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

 

Jeremiah 11:16 KJV – The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

NIV – The Lord called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken.

 

To give you a start with the parable of the Vine and Branches, Paul references the gospel of John the Beloved here.

 

John 15:1-2 KJV – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

NIV – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

 

Paul adds to this with a reference to his letter to the church at Ephesus.

 

Ephesians 2:11 KJV – Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

NIV – Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—

 

Now, added to this is something that Jesus warned us about. Not only does He do so, but God warned several of the prophets and the kings of Israel in the same way. Don’t exploit the seven troubles, and boasting about riches or whatever is exactly that. Now, we can boast in a whole lot of ways. Some of them we don’t even realize we’re actually doing. That’s why we have to be so very careful with our words, our actions, and our reactions. This is what Paul points this out in his letter to Rome here.

 

Romans 11:18 KJV – Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

NIV – do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

 

One of the things I have been compelled to portray throughout these sermons is that to Jesus Christ, to God, we are all equals. There are no divisions like rich or poor, sick or well, short or tall, beautiful or plain, none of that. It doesn’t matter your education unless it is in reference to the Bible and knowing it well. It doesn’t matter what language you speak. God is universal. He communicates with us from the poorest to the richest, and everyone in between. We get some historical references here in these Old Testament selections.

 

1 Kings 20:11 KJV –And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

NIV –The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’”

 

Zechariah 8:20-23 KJV – Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. 
Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

NIV – This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”

 

Paul adds to the historical references with the gospel of John the Beloved and the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

 

John 4:22 KJV – Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

NIV – You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

 

John 10:16 KJV – And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

NIV – I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

 

Acts 25:7 KJV – And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

NIV – When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.

 

Paul wants us to realize that unbelief is a dangerous place to dwell within. There are the states of belief, disbelief, and unbelief. All of them have distinct realms. Those of us who believe what we have heard without the ability to have been in the same room with Jesus Christ for those years He preached and taught the truth of the Scriptures and transformed the whole relationship we have with God by ripping the veil that had been put in place between God’s full truth and humanity due to what occurred in the Garden of Eden.

 

Romans 11:19-20 KJV – Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

NIV – You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.

 

Don’t get smart with me. I have heard those words in many situations, mostly in my teenage years. Paul is correct in delivering this warning to the church at Rome. Jumping to conclusions can get you in trouble in ways you may never imagine fully. Opening your mouth without thinking about what you are saying can get you in situations you do not want to be in. Paul again references the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus with this excerpt of the gospel of John and Jesus with the Gentile woman.

 

John 4:17-18 KJV – The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

NIV – “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

 

Being truthful is important. Honesty is very important, especially to God. You see, He knows what is in your heart and mind before you could even form words to express it. The writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles points some of this out as Paul and Barnabas speak to the crowd.

 

Acts 13:46-47 KJV – Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

NIV – Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

 

Acts 18:6 KJV – And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

NIV – But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

 

Paul also references the human brother of Jesus, James the Just as well.

 

James 2:19 KJV – Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

NIV – You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

 

Paul has a warning for those who act the part, but don’t live it in full. He knows our hearts, BETTER than we do. God knows our minds from beginning to end. You can’t hide anything from God, ANYTHING. This is what Paul points out in these next verses.

 

Romans 11:21-22 KJV – For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

NIV – For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

 

We need to realize and recognize our faith and the depths at which we believe. It’s not for an actor to pretend to do. It’s for honest, humble, sincere, willing, and faithful believers that Paul is sharing this. He digs deep when he relays the message Jesus Christ taught to those who would listen and hear. Here are some references from the Old Testament with King David and the prophet Jeremiah.

 

Psalm 31:19 KJV – Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

NIV – How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.

 

Jeremiah 25:29 KJV – For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.

NIV – See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the Lord Almighty.’

 

Paul again goes back to the same chapter of John the Beloved’s portrayal of the parable of the Vine and Branches.

 

John 15:2 KJV – Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

NIV – He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

 

What is it about being fruitful in our faith? God’s aim is to show us that we can learn to grow our faith just like a field of mustard seed, or an entire vineyard filled with fruit. Paul points out that salvation begins with belief. It begins with that first step we are willing to take. This is how he shared that with the church at Corinth. He adds a reference to the Hebrew prophets as well.

 

1 Corinthians 15:2 KJV –By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

NIV –By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

 

Hebrews 3:6 KJV – But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

NIV – But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

 

Hebrews 3:14 KJV – For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

NIV – We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

 

Belief is a huge part of faith. In fact, it is the anchor for our faith. It is a root that helps us grow our faith daily. How does it do that? See through the veil of this earthly world around you. There is more than what surrounds you, the noise, the pollution, the ugliness around every corner. We have to see past all of this to the wonder, fascinating, amazing, parts of life that break through the ugliness that we are so often confronted with. The next time you think, “no, that’s not possible,” stop yourself and remember, “with God everything is possible.” Believe and you will see. Believe and you will hear. Believe and breathe life into your faith so that it can grow like that mustard seed, and it will set you free from the prison of sin and the seven troubles. This is why Paul says this next.

 

Romans 11:23 KJV – And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

NIV – And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

 

Again we hear Paul speak of “unbelief”. What is the difference between “unbelief” and “disbelief”? In actuality, these two words are quite similar. However, there’s a simple way to tell the difference. Disbelief is unpreparedness, unwillingness, or the inability to believe that something is the case while unbelief is an absence (or rejection) of belief. Paul references the evil king, Zechariah.

 

Zechariah 12:10 KJV – And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

NIV – “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

 

Paul also references Jesus in this excerpt from the gospel written by Matthew. It’s important to be able to link between the words that Jesus spoke and the historical significance of the Old Testament to show the lengths to which God was willing to go, and Jesus Christ followed the path every step of the way, even to the end of His human life. Paul adds to this with his second message to the Church at Corinth and the thoughts of the Hebrew prophets as well.

 

Matthew 23:39 KJV – For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

NIV – For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

 

2 Corinthians 3:16 KJV –Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

NIV –But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

 

Hebrews 3:19 KJV – So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

NIV – So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

 

Jesus preached to the Gentiles for a reason. He knew that His message would resonate with them more readily than the Jews. The hardest consideration for God was in the realization that the Jews, and humanity in general, has a lot of issues with the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt. Paul points this out with his next words for the church at Rome.

 

Romans 11:24-25 KJV – For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

NIV – After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,

 

Paul leans on the Word as shared by Jesus in this series of sentences. We see this through the gospels as shared by Matthew, Luke, and John and then adding to it with his letters to Corinth and Ephesus as well as John the Beloved’s Revelation.

 

Matthew 13:11 KJV – He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

NIV – He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

 

Luke 21:24 KJV – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

NIV – They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

 

John 10:16 KJV – And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

NIV – I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

 

1 Corinthians 10:1 KJV –Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

NIV –For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

 

Ephesians 3:3-4 KJV – How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

NIV – that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

 

Ephesians 3:9 KJV – And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

NIV – and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

 

Revelation 10:7 KJV – But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

NIV – But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

 

A Savior, the Deliverer, our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul proclaims His station and what will happen in the End of Days. It’s very important to plant the seed of hope as God had done with Adam, Abraham, Noah, David, Solomon, and on throughout the ages of the historical books of Scripture. It is important for us to this very day to recognize that hope as it is shared in this moment today and through what the future may bring. Tomorrow is a door to hope and faith and unconditional love. It is the ultimate gift God has provided us with. This is how Paul shares that with the church at Rome.

 

Romans 11:26 KJV – And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

NIV – and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

 

Now, as I shared a moment ago, Paul portrays the history of the Jews within these words he wrote to the church at Rome. He again refers to Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel.

 

Isaiah 45:17 KJV – But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

NIV – But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting.

 

Isaiah 59:20 KJV – And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.

NIV – “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

 

Jeremiah 31:11 KJV – For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

NIV – For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

 

Jeremiah 31:37 KJV – For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

NIV – For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

 

Joel 2:32 KJV – And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

NIV – And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

Hope is something that is spoken about in poetry, music, and prose of all forms. It is the last element of everything that is within chaos, because buried under all the chaos we live through every day is that same hope. It may not be huge. It may actually be barely noticeable. However, if we don’t exercise it, we will fail to see how our faith grows like that mustard seed Jesus compared it to. Faith, Belief, Hope, all are holding hands together with Peace, within what Jesus gave us, Unconditional Love. Faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have 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 Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’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: Wonderful Words of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVh--AlfkH4

 

 

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2024 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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