https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrfhVfBZ4po
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 continue to 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. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace. He was released from the hospital late last week.
- We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is fighting cancer and undergoing treatment.
- 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, though, according to her mother she is doing better these days.
- 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 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 the latest hurricane, 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 all those who have been displaced due to war and destruction, natural disaster, and more. We continue to pray for those families that have had hostages released in Israel. We pray for peace to fill this world at long last. We pray for those who have lost loved ones to violence, accidents, and more this week. We pray for those who have been sick with cancer, including Jerry and others. We pray for those who have survived cancer, like Debbie, J.B., Alexis, Donna, and others we know. We pray in thanksgiving for those who have healed from sickness around this world. We pray for the orphans, refugees, and missionaries around this world. We pray for our outreach ministries that they continue through even in the face of adversity in Your Name. We pray all this in the name of our Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Amazing Grace
Sermon: Something that we often hear about in society as a whole is control, specifically self-control. Did you know that this is one of the Fruits of the Spirit? It’s a GIFT that God brings to us through Yeshua, who gave us this gift of Spirit, a gift of Grace. Now, if you do not remember what the fruits of the spirit are as shared in Paul’s letter to Galatia, here they are: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. You are going to hear all about the spiritual gift of self-control that requires cultivation in this sermon. Today we are continuing Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 7:30 KJV –And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
NIV – those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
It is so important for us to understand the depths to which self-control can dwell, and what it can do to our very spirit and soul. It’s not easy to portray peace while your insides are about to explode. It’s not easy to be stoic when you want to bawl your eyes out. It’s not easy to keep a straight face when all you want to do is giggle yourself to the floor and roll back and forth. This is the kind of self-control Paul is talking about. He gathers up a whole lot of references for this entire section, and some of them are repetitive, so this selection is what God brought to my heart to share here in the Old Testament.
Psalm 126:5-6 KJV – They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
NIV – Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Isaiah 61:2 KJV – To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
NIV – to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
Jeremiah 16:8-9 KJV – Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.
NIV – “And do not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down to eat and drink. For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place.
Ezekiel 7:12-13 KJV – The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
NIV
– The time has come! The day has arrived! Let not the buyer rejoice nor the
seller grieve, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. The seller
will not recover the property that was sold—as long as both buyer and seller
live.
For the vision concerning the whole crowd will not be reversed. Because of
their sins, not one of them will preserve their life.
Paul includes three passages from the Words of Yeshua, Jesus.
Luke 6:21 KJV –Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
NIV – Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Luke 17:27-28 KJV – They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
NIV – People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.
John 16:20 KJV –Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
NIV – Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
Paul’s last three references for this first view in 1 Corinthians today are these three from James the Just, Peter, and also John the Beloved.
James 4:9 KJV – Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
NIV –Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
1 Peter 1:6 KJV –Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
NIV –In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Revelation 18:11 KJV – And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
NIV – “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore—
Something that we need to remember is that this world is TEMPORARY. Even God Himself said so. Jesus proved it through His Word, His life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Paul is reinforcing that fact with this next line from his first letter to the church there at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:31 KJV –And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
NIV – those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Paul includes five points of view for this in the Old Testament Scriptures.
Job 14:1-2 KJV – Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
NIV – “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 KJV – Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
NIV – “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
Psalm 39:4-6 KJV – Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
NIV – “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.
Psalm 102:25-27 KJV – Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
NIV – In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
Isaiah 40:6-8 KJV – The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
NIV – A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Paul then turns to the gospel with the Word as Jesus spoke in these excerpts from Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 24:35 KJV – Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
NIV – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Luke 21:34-36 KJV – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
NIV – “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Paul continues to add interesting viewpoints from the Hebrew prophets, James the Just, and John the Beloved.
Hebrews 13:14 KJV – For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
NIV – For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
James 4:14 KJV – Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
NIV –Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
1 John 2:17 KJV – And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
NIV –The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Now, Paul wants to point toward how to utilize the specific spiritual gift of self-control, in this case, with men specifically, who are unmarried. It’s important to keep our focus on Him because this world can pull us every which way and make it very, very difficult to keep our mind, heart, spirit, and soul focused on Him alone.
1 Corinthians 7:32 KJV – But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
NIV – I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
Being free from concern is not easy when we are married and raising families. Yet, even when we are married, we can exercise the spiritual gift of self-control. Regardless that Paul speaks of this specific virtue with single men, specifically, he wants to give them a godly purpose before and beyond marriage and family. Godliness is a level to strive for, no matter what our age, gender, expertise, skin tone, occupation, or anything else. In this case, I found only one of the Old Testament references that fit our points of reference here in the words of King Solomon here.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
NIV – Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
All four gospel writers have something to share with the words of Yeshua, Jesus Christ here in three of the gospels. We hear other points of view from John the Beloved as well.
Matthew 6:25-34 KJV – Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
NIV – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of
the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can
any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon
in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is
how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is
thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So
do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first
his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 13:22 KJV – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
NIV – The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:19 KJV – And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
NIV – but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Luke 8:14 KJV – And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
NIV – The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Luke 10:38-42 KJV – Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
NIV –As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
1 John 2:15-16 KJV –Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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 –Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 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.
Paul continues with devotion and being devoted to God as a single person. However, he also points that those who are married have their own reasons for godliness. It is not easy for anyone to devote themselves fully to any one thing. This is something I have learned over the years as a minister, and even before that as a lay minister. These days I have been working on the educational end of Scripture, on top of what Elohim, Yahweh, has for me to do. He asked me to pursue this because He knows I listen to His voice in a unique way that resonates when I relay what He tells me. That’s what Paul wants people to see when it comes to guidance for the gifts of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:33-34 KJV – But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
NIV – But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
Notice how important it is to be a husband or a wife? This is the reason Paul wants us to know and understand what self-control truly is and what it truly means for us to exercise it with caution throughout life. Add to this, you have the single most important need in your Spiritual life. The seven spiritual gifts of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are vital for a happy, balanced life here on this earth. These are vital not just for us individually, but collectively as well. What makes them important? Well, our connections to each other and to God make them all very, very important. God proves it through Scripture and Paul references quite a few of these points of view. Here are several from the earliest Scrolls of the Old Testament.
Genesis 2:18 KJV – And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
NIV – The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:24 KJV – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
NIV – That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Genesis 3:16 KJV – Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
NIV – To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV – And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
NIV – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 24:5 KJV – When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
NIV – If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
Paul adds three verses from the poetic and prophetic Scrolls of the Old Testament as well.
Proverbs 18:22 KJV – Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
NIV – He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 31:10-11 KJV – Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
NIV – A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
Malachi 2:14-15 KJV – Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
NIV – You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
Paul includes a single New Testament point of view from the gospel of Matthew in the Word of Yeshua, Jesus.
Matthew 19:5 KJV – And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
NIV –and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
Our last verse from the first letter to Corinth today gets us within the final five verses of this chapter. Paul points out that self-control is a beneficial spiritual gift for every part of life, not just our mortal life here on this earth, but also life with Yeshua and Yahweh upon the moment that time comes for each of us. We have so much to learn and so much to strive towards when it comes to faith and faithfulness, wisdom and understanding in the Word. This is what Paul provides for the church there at Corinth next.
1 Corinthians 7:35 KJV –And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
NIV – I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
Paul brings us two verses from the Psalms of King David, first King of the Jews.
Psalm 86:11 KJV – Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
NIV – Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Psalm 119:10 KJV – With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
NIV – I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
Paul adds to these with the Word of Yeshua Jesus Christ, the Hebrew prophets and James the Just the younger human brother of Yeshua Jesus.
Matthew 13:22 KJV – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
NIV – The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
NIV – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
James 1:8 KJV – A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
NIV – Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
There is so much to find in the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions by name in Galatians and teaches about through all of his letters. They are a simple reflection of what Yeshua Jesus taught and what God provides for those who believe with their whole hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. Peace, Hope, Truth, and Love have a name and His name is Yeshua 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: And Can It Be
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 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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