Faith_Hope_and Love In a Mission Jesus Left for Us

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx7uCjKIrtA

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 Yeshu Ha-Notzri or in English Jesus Christ of Nazareth 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 my daughter’s colleague and others who have lost everything in the wildfires here in the state of Georgia.

-      We continue to pray for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam and Allison, who were in a car wreck several weeks ago. They continue in recovery but are not completely healed. Please keep them up in prayer. They thank everyone for their prayers.

-      We continue to pray for friends of ours in our bowling league, after they suffered devastating injuries, some of which required surgery and will require a long recovery time as well. They too appreciate the prayers and thank everyone who has lifted them up.

-      A cousin of ours is looking toward moving to be near where we are, but there are some hurdles they have to overcome to do so. This move would be for a new job. Please pray that this hurdle can be overcome to allow them a new horizon.

-      Evangelist Cal Jennings is currently still in rehabilitation and is still working toward healing after his serious and severe injuries. Please pray for his health, it’s still very bad this time.

-      David Doyle, brother-in-law of Evangelist Cal Jennings, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. David is a preacher of the Word as well, and this is a new challenge for him and Cal’s sister and their family to experience this close to Christmas. Please keep all of them in prayer during this journey.

-      We continue to pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is healing after completing his prostate cancer treatment.

-      We keep JB’s sister Debbie back into prayer as she has now been diagnosed with Lymphoma after conquering two rounds of breast cancer.

-      We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is still fighting cancer. Her doctor is going to keep a closer eye on her after each treatment for her cancer.

-      We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they are continually frustrated with all their medical issues that are ignored or overlooked. JB has been especially sick, losing weight way too fast and no complete solution in sight at the moment. She has gotten a tentative diagnosis for what is going on with her, but her doctor has scheduled her with a specialist to verify. JB has been seriously ill this past two weeks with a serious viral infection on top of everything else.

-      We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and is seeking to sell things she owns to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information. 

-      We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately after the loss of my sister four months ago. These anxiety issues are really devastating for her and for the family, so please keep all of them in prayer.  

-      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 wildfires, storms, flooding, 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 those who have no shelter or basic comforts. We pray for those who have no food or water. We pray for those in the path of the forest fires here in the state of Georgia. We pray for those who are forced to do things against Your will. We pray for those who have been taken from this life and for their families, after professing their love for You. We pray that they each receive the miracles of Your peace and comfort Lord. We continue to pray for all those in the bowling league that are still recovering. We continue to pray for our sisters and brothers who are recovering from injuries and illness. We continue to pray for those who have been ill or injured including Evangelist Cal Jennings and JB as well as many others in our community. We pray for our Outreach Ministries, their members, their services, and their leadership. We pray for all 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: Jesus Loves Me

Sermon: Today we are completing our study on the Scripture Scroll of First Corinthians in Chapter Ten. Paul finalizes this chapter by pointing toward the “sacrificial foods” and respecting others. It’s one thing to be able to eat anything we choose to eat, but it’s another to eat foods that are “sacrificial” to other gods. Paul wants us to remember that we are children of God, brothers and sisters of the Risen Lord Yeshua Ha Notzri Jesus Christ, and as such are under His direction and not anyone else’s. Yet, we still have to pay attention to what is filled with righteousness as opposed to evil and wickedness. So, with that, let’s begin where we left off last week.

 

1 Corinthians 10:28 KJV –But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

NIV – But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.

 

Abstaining from anything should always be an act of conscience. We have people who abstain from alcohol, cigarettes, and other vices. It’s not hard to imagine this thought with the consideration of sacrificial creatures. Paul is just reminding us that we need to pay attention to everything we do. Paul focuses on the New Testament with his references, including the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and also Paul’s letter to Timothy.

 

Acts 15:29 KJV – That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

NIV –You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.

 

1 Timothy 1:5 KJV –Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

NIV –The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

 

1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV –For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
⁵ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

NIV –For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

 

Conscience is not just our own, but it belongs to everyone, and no one person can judge another person’s conscience by their own, because we are as unique as snowflakes. This separate consciousness is something unique to all humanity, created by God the day He breathed life into Adam and Eve. He insisted that humanity would receive the ability toward free will and a living conscience within them, the spirit of life, the very essence of our existence. Here is what Paul says next.

 

1 Corinthians 10:29 KJV –Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

NIV – I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?

 

This time Paul references his letter to the Romans and also the first letter that Peter wrote.

 

Romans 14:4 KJV – Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

NIV – Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

 

Romans 14:13-15 KJV – Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.¹⁵ But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

NIV –Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.

 

1 Peter 2:16 KJV –As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

NIV –Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

 

We should always pray about the food we eat because we don’t always know when or if we’ll get another meal. It’s not something about half of this world worries about, food and what they’re eating, but the rest of this world, yeah, they often praise God for the fact that they have anything on their table, or wherever they happen to eat. Our outreach ministers have seen this in living color. Paul says we should be thankful for every single crumb we might have in front of us. That’s what he shares with the church at Corinth here.

 

1 Corinthians 10:30 KJV –For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

NIV – If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

 

Paul includes more writing from Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, and then adds his own thoughts from his letters to Rome, Colossae, and Timothy of Lystra.

 

Acts 27:35 KJV – And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

NIV – After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

 

Romans 14:21 KJV – It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

NIV – It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

 

Colossians 2:16-17 KJV – Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:¹⁷ Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

NIV – Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

 

Colossians 3:17 KJV – And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

NIV –And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV –For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:⁵ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

NIV –For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

 

Paul has a reminder for us again, this time to remember that we need to praise God and give all glory to Him for everything that we eat or drink or do. For instance, if all you have to eat would be beans and rice, be thankful that you have that much. If you have plenty, then remember those who do not, and if you can share, do so. Add to that, always be thankful and prove it by praising God for the food and drink before you. Here is what Paul says in his letter to Corinth.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV –Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

NIV – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

Now, Paul has one, just one, Old Testament reference here. It’s one written by an elderly King Solomon. It’s an interesting reference here for Paul to bring forward from the Old Testament.

 

Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

NIV – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

 

Paul adds these two gospel references from Matthew and John the Beloved.

 

Matthew 5:16 KJV – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

NIV – In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

John 15:8 KJV – Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

NIV –This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

Paul included three other New Testament references from his fellow Apostle, Peter, as well as the Hebrew prophets.

 

1 Peter 2:12 KJV –Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

NIV –Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

 

1 Peter 4:11 KJV –If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

NIV – If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Hebrews 13:15 KJV – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

NIV –Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

 

Paul issues a warning to the church at Corinth this time. It’s one we all should pay attention to. That one would indeed be something we often forget to listen to every single day. Oh, and it’s not easy to keep this in mind.

 

1 Corinthians 10:32 KJV –Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

NIV – Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—

 

All of his references are in the New Testament for this verse. They focus mostly with the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

 

Acts 15:19-21 KJV – Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
²⁰ But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
²¹ For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

NIV – “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹ For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

 

Acts 16:3 KJV – Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

NIV – Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

 

Acts 17:22-23 KJV – Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
²³ For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

NIV – Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

 

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.

 

Acts 21:24-26 KJV – Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.²⁵ As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

NIV –Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. ²⁵ As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”
²⁶ The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.

 

Paul includes two references to his letter written to the church in Lystra with Timothy.

 

1 Timothy 3:5 KJV –(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

NIV – (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

 

1 Timothy 3:15 KJV –But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

NIV –if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

 

The final verse in this chapter is this one. Paul points out that he has one aim in all that he does. That aim, that intention, was to ensure that salvation would be possible for those who read and received his letters. This is important because we, as ministers and as Christians as a whole, need to continue this mission that Jesus charged us with in the gospel of Matthew.

 

1 Corinthians 10:33 KJV –Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

NIV – even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

 

Here are five references, most of them written by Paul in the letter to Rome, Timothy, and also the letters written by James and Jude.

 

Romans 14:19 KJV – Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

NIV – Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

 

Romans 15:2-3 KJV – Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ³ For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

NIV –Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

 

1 Timothy 4:16 KJV –Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

NIV – Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 

James 5:19-20 KJV – Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
²⁰ Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

NIV – My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

 

Jude 1:23 KJV – And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

NIV – save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

 

We have an important mission as Christians. That mission is to continue the pursuit of faith and hope and love through our walk with Yeshua Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It’s not an easy walk. It’s a necessary walk. That walk is extremely important and keeping faith, hope, and peace alive is a really good reason for that. Nobody here on earth knows the day, the hour, the minute, or even the very second of when our Lord and Savior Yeshu Ha-Notzri Jesus Christ will return to this world to gather His faithful. No one, EXCEPT YHWH THE FATHER. 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: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & Twitch & USAlife

Evangelist Calvin Jennings

Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

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 © 2026 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.