https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAItBR6xl7w
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.
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 & Facebook
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio & Wedding Chicks
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.
- We pray for JB’s family who lost their mother this morning.
- We pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is facing prostate cancer treatment.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been for far too long. He is currently in the hospital due to extremely low blood pressure readings. They admitted him into the hospital yesterday afternoon.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers that 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.
- 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. This past week, being the first birthday without my sister, has been rough for her.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, JB’s sister Debbie, our friend Alexis, 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.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for our sick or wounded, including Evangelist Cal Jennings who is in hospital, JB and EB, JB’s Mother, and her neighbor Jerry, as well as others who have been sick. We pray for those who are healing after illness including Debbie, who is JB’s sister. We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather all over this world, including earthquakes, flooding, and hurricanes. We pray for those who have survived all kinds of chaos including Alexis and others. We pray all this by our Heavenly Father in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: I Love to Tell the Story
Sermon: Today we are completing Chapter 6 of 1 Corinthians. Now, the first verse is the completed paragraph from last week’s sermon, and you’ll wonder why it was chosen to bring it forward into this week’s sermon. Well, this one verse points toward the reason that the last paragraph was written. People need to understand the importance of what Paul is sharing with the church there at Corinth. With that, let’s begin where we left off last week. When you think of the song that we had for the first hymn, you think of this verse.
1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV –But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
NIV – But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
The unseen is what everyone in Christianity holds on to in their spiritual lives. It is that unseen, unknown, that has us wondering what is in store. Paul knew exactly what would happen on this earth. He warned everyone that their behavior would be telling in the last days. This is something that needs to be understood even to this day. Paul reflects on the gospels and on the words of Jesus as shared here in these verses from the gospel and letter of John the Beloved as well as from Peter.
John 6:56 KJV – He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
NIV – Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
John 14:20 KJV – At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
NIV – On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
John 15:4-5 KJV – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
NIV – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 17:21-23 KJV – That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
NIV –that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
2 Peter 1:4 KJV –Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
NIV –Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
1 John 2:24 KJV – Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
NIV –As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
1 John 3:24 KJV –And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
NIV –The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 John 4:13 KJV –Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
NIV – This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
Now, Paul includes warnings for the church there at Corinth in these final verses. This is just one. Now for those who read this sermon the word fornication appears in this verse. The definition of this is noted in the New International version which is sexual immorality. Now, this specifically holds a lot of separate components and many people will commit this Christian crime without even thinking about it. That’s why it takes a strong sense of faith and belief to prevent us going down that road and the grace of Jesus Christ to forgive us for those moments. That’s why Paul mentions this here.
1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV –Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
NIV –Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
Paul goes back to the Torah in the first scroll of Scripture, then to the poetic books as well in the Old Testament.
Genesis 39:7-10 KJV – And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
NIV – and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
Proverbs 5:3-5 KJV – For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
NIV – For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
Proverbs 6:32 KJV – But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
NIV – But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
Proverbs 7:25-27 KJV – Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
NIV – Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 9:13-18 KJV – A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
NIV – Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Paul then utilizes only one verse of the Word of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew before referencing Peter, the Hebrew prophets, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 5:28 KJV – But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
NIV –But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
1 Peter 2:11 KJV – Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
NIV – Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
Hebrews 13:4 KJV – Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
NIV –Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
1 John 2:16 KJV –For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
NIV – For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Revelation 21:8 KJV – But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
NIV – But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
The hardest part for Christians is understanding that we are body, spirit, mind, heart, and soul, part of Jesus Christ. He dwells within us so long as we keep His teachings. Now, in this world it is not an easy thing to keep this mindset. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our bodies are not just our own, but part of His body as well.
1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV –What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
NIV –Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Paul goes back to the Torah and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, yet again in the Old Testament here.
Leviticus 26:12 KJV – And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
NIV – I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
Isaiah 63:11 KJV – Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
NIV – Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people—where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
Jeremiah 31:33 KJV – But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
NIV – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Ezekiel 36:27 KJV – And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
NIV – And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 37:14 KJV – And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.
NIV – I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Paul adds to this with the gospel of John the Beloved and the writings of Peter.
John 2:21 KJV – But he spake of the temple of his body.
NIV – But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
John 14:17 KJV – Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
NIV –the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
1 Peter 2:5 KJV –Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
NIV – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The final verse for this chapter points out that Jesus paid the price for ALL sin. He paid it all for everyone willing to believe in Him. These are Paul’s parting words for this chapter.
1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV –For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
NIV –you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Paul’s reference for the Old Testament is from his go-to prophet Isaiah here.
Isaiah 43:1 KJV – But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
NIV – But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Paul continues references from Jesus in both Matthew and John the Beloved in the gospels as well as Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 20:28 KJV – Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
NIV – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 3:16-17 KJV – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
NIV – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Acts 20:28 KJV – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
NIV – Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Paul’s final four references come from the Hebrew prophets, Peter, and John the Beloved.
Hebrews 9:12 KJV – Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
NIV –He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV –But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
NIV –But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 John 4:9-10 KJV –In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
NIV – This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Revelation 5:9 KJV – And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
NIV – And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
We are bought through an inconceivable price, the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ for no crimes committed, no faith lost or forgotten in Him, but for the failures of humanity that plague us even two millennia in the future. We have a lot to learn about our Savior and His Salvation even today. It is important to remember the reason for our being here in this place right now. 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: This Is the Day
~ 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
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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