https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjSvHiIrW1I
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ 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. In all of these verses shared I am reading in the New International Version for the ease of understanding.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube & Twitch & TruthSocial & Instagram
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.
- Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog has asked that we pray for her mother’s health. She also asks for prayers for her brother’s attitude and also for Rabbi Karen’s stress levels.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been for far too long. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers they need in both of their health issues. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and has set up a site for donations to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- Our prayers were answered for my son-in-law Douglas’s diagnosis, let’s hope the solution, a diagnosis of sleep apnea, assists him in his daily life.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately. Her car ended up being totaled after the fender-bender. This combined with the fact she misses my father as he passed away three years ago due to COVID-19 has made it a tough year for her.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including two survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
* Our Outreach Minister Waqas Gill celebrated his birthday this past Friday.
* Our Outreach Ministers Sister Santhi Swaroopa and Pastor Duke Moenga will celebrate birthdays on the 12th.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this beautiful day! We bring those who need Your strength and healing including JB’s sister and others. We bring those who are traveling to You for their safety and security. We bring those who are trapped by the weather situations around this world and also by those who are suffering from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes as well. We pray for all those who have survived terrible situations that they heal. We pray for all those who said good-bye to loved ones in this life and that they are offered Your solace. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord and the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Price Paid ~ Written and Produced by Cal Jennings © 2025 https://suno.com/song/84d3a509-e1e2-45fe-bd08-66c70a20bd1d
Sermon: Today we are beginning the second chapter in the First letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Paul points toward something all ministers should strive toward. We should lean on the Holy Spirit and allow the Lord to speak THROUGH US! It’s not my words you hear, Paul says, but HIS. Much like Paul, I spend my time providing Scripture for all who are willing to listen and hear. I don’t do so by my personal will, but by HIS, because HE CALLED ME to SERVE YOU FOR HIM. This is how Paul begins his second chapter of his first letter to Corinth as seen here.
1 Corinthians 2:1 KJV –And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
NIV –And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
Paul only has two Scripture references from the Old Testament, one in the Torah and one in the prophetic scroll of Isaiah.
Exodus 4:10 KJV – And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
NIV –Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Isaiah 53:1 KJV – Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
NIV – Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Paul adds four New Testament references, but only one of them comes from someone other than himself. That one is from the writings of the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 18:1-4 KJV – After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
NIV – After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Paul refers to three of his letters to Rome, Galatia, and Ephesus.
Romans 15:18-19 KJV – For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
NIV – I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
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 6:19-20 KJV – And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
NIV – Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Paul doesn’t want the citizens of the church at Corinth to focus on him. He wants them to focus on God and Jesus! That’s WHO we all should be focusing on when we read and share Scripture in any and all situations! This just exemplifies the mot important factor we all must focus upon, GOD! That’s why even JESUS prayed to GOD for guidance. HE, being the SON OF GOD, asked GOD for help, for guidance, for instruction, which is what every single person should be doing, every single day.
1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV –For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
NIV – For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Paul points toward this as a “blank slate”, refusing to know ANYTHING about this church OR its members ahead of time. He is leaning on the WORD as JESUS taught him. Now, by that time, Paul had experienced a whole lot of differences in the world around him, as he avoided the Romans, the Jews, and all who hunted him, as they hunted all the Apostles and the family of Jesus Christ after the resurrection. Paul doesn’t judge them, because as Jesus taught, we are not here to judge. It isn’t time to judge. Here Paul again references the gospels and the gospel writers, John the Beloved and Luke specifically along with their fellow apostle, Peter.
John 17:3 KJV –And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
NIV – Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Acts 4:10-12 KJV – then know this, you
and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands
before you healed. Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
NIV – Be it known unto you
all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth
this man stand here before you whole.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV –
Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and
gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:
NIV – For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
1
John 5:11-12 KJV – And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not
life.
NIV – And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Paul
points to something I reflected on when I was still a child learning Scripture
and all about Jesus. Just how connected are we ministers of God’s Word supposed
to feel with our ministry and church members? Just how much are we to share
with each other? I tried to see this connection with the ministers I grew up
with. Only a select few of them portrayed this attitude and ability. It’s not
easy to be able to connect both in a one-on-one situation and in a full
congregation one. The ability to transition between single people, Sunday
School or Bible study groups, and full-church congregations takes practice.
Someone asked me last year if I had this type of experience beyond our little
online ministry and I actually laughed. Yes, I have preached to small groups as
little as three people and all the way up to nearly three thousand people, of
all ages, in one location. All of this has been done in the past 35 years of my
life. Yes, I have learned a lot, a whole lot, as to how to provide the Word in
a way where everyone could relate to. Much like Paul, at the time this is
exactly how I felt.
1 Corinthians 2:3 KJV –And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
NIV –I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.
Paul again references the Old Testament, the Torah, the historical scrolls, and the prophetic scrolls as well.
Exodus 4:11-12 KJV – And the Lord said
unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the
seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt
say.
NIV –The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Judges 6:15-16 KJV – And he said unto him,
Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in
Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite
the Midianites as one man.
NIV – “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but
how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least
in my family.”
The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike
down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
1 Kings 19:3-4 KJV –And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
NIV –Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Jeremiah 1:6-8 KJV –Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
NIV
– “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do
not know how to speak; I am too young.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone
I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid
of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 20:7-9 KJV – O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
NIV
– You deceived me, Lord, and
I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone
mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if
I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is
in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it
in; indeed, I cannot.
Paul includes only a single reference to the New Testament. This time the writing of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 18:9-10 KJV – Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
NIV – One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Again, Paul points out that God provided His words through the Holy Spirit, and he didn’t rely on his human experience at all. That’s important for all ministers to rely upon God’s Holy Spirit in the providing of spiritual holistic knowledge, wisdom, and the true path personal faith should point toward. This is how he shares that.
1 Corinthians 2:4 KJV – And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
NIV –My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
Paul utilizes only one Old Testament reference from the prophet Zechariah here.
Zechariah 4:6 KJV – Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
NIV – So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Paul focuses on the gospel writers of Matthew, Luke and John the Beloved in these four excerpts.
Matthew 10:19-20 KJV – But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
NIV – But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Luke 21:15 KJV – For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
NIV – For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
John 16:13 KJV – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
NIV – But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Acts 1:8 KJV – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
NIV – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Paul adds his own experience in his letters to Rome and to Timothy of Lystra.
Romans 15:18-19 KJV – For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
NIV – I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
NIV –For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Paul continues pointing toward how God’s Word is so important in the building of our faith, our belief, our worship of Him through Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:5 KJV –That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
NIV – so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
Paul has four favorite segments of the Old Testament to point us toward his reasoning.
Psalm 118:8-9 KJV –It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
NIV – It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
NIV – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
NIV – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV – Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
NIV – This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Paul then adds to this with the Word as Jesus spoke through the gospels of Matthew and John the Beloved.
Matthew 7:24-27 KJV – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
NIV – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
John 6:63 KJV – It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
NIV – The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
Title:
Faith in Action
Hebrews 11:1 KJV – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.
NIV – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
The last verse from this first section of chapter two in the first letter Paul
wrote to Corinth has this as its title. “God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit”.
Now, the King James doesn’t share titles often, most of the time we see this in
the New International Version. So, what does this title give us? Paul wants us
to see the difference between God’s wisdom and “human” wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV – Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet
not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to
nought:
NIV –We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
Paul speaks of maturity. Now, maturity doesn’t mean age in this instance. It means wisdom and understanding and the ability to apply them as it references and relates to Scripture. SO, how do we apply Scripture to life? Well, first we have to learn it. Then we have to understand what it means, not jut when it was written, and the history involved, but also how it applies to our own lives today. Once we get to this point, we then need to apply Scripture to our lives as we live. In doing so, we gain the wisdom God is asking us to achieve. Here is one of the toughest views of attempting to gain wisdom in the terrible experiences of life. A tough portion of Scripture to understand, the story of Job. Now, regardless that this specific scroll is often avoided more than plagues, floods, and volcanic eruptions there is some seriously, seriously, pertinent knowledge to be gained. This is just one tiny snippet of reason toward this.
Job 12:13 KJV – With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
NIV – “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
Paul adds to this with the writings of King David and his son King Solomon.
Psalm 111:10 KJV – For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
NIV – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Proverbs 2:6-7 KJV – For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
NIV – For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk
uprightly.
Then he adds to this with the prophets of Isaiah and Daniel.
Isaiah 29:14 KJV – Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
NIV – Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
Daniel 2:20-22 KJV – Daniel answered and
said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are
his:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up
kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know
understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in
the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
NIV – and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Paul’s final two references are from the younger human brother of Jesus, James the Just, and from the Hebrew prophets. Listen to this carefully.
James 3:13-17 KJV – Who is a wise man and
endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your
hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not
from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is,
there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and
easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
NIV – Who is wise and understanding among you? Let
them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from
wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do
not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not
come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For
where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every
evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Hebrews 5:14 KJV – But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
NIV – But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
We have a whole lot to learn from the words that Paul has written in all of his letters. He knew then that sometimes people would either not want to understand or not realize what they were listening to. This happened to Jesus. It happened to the prophets of old. It happened to the chosen kings of Israel too. Wisdom takes learning, practicing, sharing, experiencing, applying, and then realizing the impact of all of these steps toward that same wisdom. It is important to remember the reason for our being here. His name is Jesus Christ, who comes from the great Jehovah God our Heavenly Father. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how 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.
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: Where the Shadows Flee ~ Written and Produced by Evangelist Cal Jennings © 2025 https://suno.com/song/c155fe7a-3c2b-4dcf-be1d-6da79a974af3
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & Twitch & USAlife
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
Music Copyright © 2025 Evangelist Cal Jennings https://suno.com/@caljennings
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2025 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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