https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMk66zfECL4
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 employer’s wife Joy who has spent three days in the hospital with an infection as well.
- 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 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 August. 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.
* We send birthday greetings to my sister Debbie and my Aunt Kristina, who celebrate tomorrow.
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 who have lost their homes to fire, storm, or earthquake, or any other force. 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: How Great Thou Art
Sermon: Today we are continuing our study on the Scripture Scroll of First Corinthians in Chapter Ten. This is one of the last two sermons on this chapter. It has been quite the journey for us to pursue. Paul is again cautioning the church at Corinth. He wanted them to realize that provoking God is a really bad idea. It has proven to be such for thousands of years. Here is where we begin this morning.
1 Corinthians 10:22 KJV –Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
NIV –Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
Paul starts his references with the Torah, which he does quite regularly with his letters to the various churches. Paul continues the Old Testament references with his go-to prophet Isaiah along with the prophet Ezekiel.
Exodus 20:5 KJV – Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
NIV – Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Deuteronomy 32:21 KJV – They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
NIV – They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Isaiah 45:9 KJV – Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
NIV – Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
Ezekiel 8:3 KJV – And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
NIV – “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?
Paul includes three New Testament references, two of them from the gospel of Matthew in the words of Yeshua Ha Notzri Jesus Christ and one from the younger brother of Jesus, known in Scriptural and historical circles as James the Just.
Matthew 4:10 KJV – Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
NIV – Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Matthew 6:24 KJV – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
NIV – “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
James 4:5 KJV – Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
NIV –Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
Paul points out something interesting with this next verse. He points out how we can say things are okay to do, but that doesn’t make it so, nor does it make it worthwhile to do. These are things that are important for us to recognize and realize.
1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV –All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
NIV – “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.
In this point of view, we have a lot of repetition in the realm of Old Testament references, but these are some New Testament points of view. Only one of them comes from the gospel of Matthew. Added to this there are other potentials including the Hebrew prophets, Peter, James the Just and John the Beloved.
Matthew 7:12 KJV – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
NIV – So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Hebrews 10:24 KJV – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
NIV –And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
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.
James 2:8 KJV – If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
NIV –If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
1 John 3:18 KJV –My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
NIV –Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
It is really, really, hard not to want something more than someone else wants the same. This is one of the many things that people have issues with. Why do people only want and care about their own lives and completely ignore and neglect their neighbor, sibling, parent, grandparent, or whoever? This is something that all kinds of people have succumbed to. Yet, it’s not what mankind was intended to experience. Fighting against this instinct is a serious challenge. This is what Paul points towards.
1 Corinthians 10:24 KJV –Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
NIV – No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
This one has four pertinent references, one from the Old Testament Torah and three from the New Testament.
Leviticus 19:18 KJV – Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
NIV – “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Matthew 22:37-39 KJV – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
NIV – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Luke 6:31 KJV – And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
NIV –Do to others as you would have them do to you.
1 John 3:17 KJV –But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
NIV –If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Paul again points toward what we eat and why we don’t need to focus on the restrictions applied to the Jews by God throughout the Torah. It’s something that I can honestly say has been brought up just about every year I’ve been a minister by someone somewhere. Sure, there are reasons we need to be careful what we eat. Sure, there are reasons we should be careful about how much and how often we eat. But there are not the same style of restrictions that were noted in the Torah. Yes, most likely someone is going to argue about this point, but even Jesus pointed out that we are not as restricted with anything except some very specific necessities dictated by Him.
1 Corinthians 10:25 KJV –Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
NIV – Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
Here are five separate Old Testament references.
Genesis 9:3 KJV – Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
NIV – Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
Leviticus 11:2-4 KJV – Speak
unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat
among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth
the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the
cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud,
but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
NIV
– “Say to the
Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may
eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that
chews the cud.
4 “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a
divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud,
does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you.
Isaiah 66:17 KJV – They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.
NIV – “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord.
Ezekiel 14:14 KJV – Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.
NIV – even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.
Daniel 1:8 KJV – But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
NIV – But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
There are only two New Testament references worthy of mentioning at this point which have not already been noted prior to this in the writing Paul managed for the church there at Corinth. The first is a reference of the Word as shared by Yeshua Ha Notzri Jesus Christ and the second is from the Acts of the Apostles written by the gospel writer Luke.
Matthew 15:11 KJV – Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
NIV – What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Acts 10:15 KJV – And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
NIV – The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Paul adds another reminder here. This earth that we live upon is God’s, not ours. We don’t own anything anywhere on this earth. We’re borrowing it from God. Now, that’s an interesting concept for those who are obsessive about possessions. It’s a challenge for us to recognize and remember that this is God’s country, this is God’s world, we’re just occupants of it.
1 Corinthians 10:26 KJV –For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
NIV – for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
Here are four Old Testament points of reference, three of them from the Torah.
Exodus 19:5 KJV – Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
NIV – Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
Leviticus 25:23 KJV – The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
NIV – “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.
Deuteronomy 10:14 KJV – Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
NIV – To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
Job 41:11 KJV – Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
NIV – Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.
Paul includes two New Testament points of reference as well.
Acts 17:24-25 KJV – God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
NIV – “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
Hebrews 1:2 KJV – Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
NIV –but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Our final verse today is one that has Paul pointing out that again, food should not worry us, regardless of who prepares it for us, or what would be on the plate. That sometimes is a challenge even for Christians, because there are some fears and more that exist in our mind’s eye that will cause us to cringe or avoid the different foods. It’s a challenge to eat them, sometimes, but it can also be a challenge not to do so. That restraint is as important as our belief would be. Faith and belief are a requirement for Christians, and that should be seen across the board, not just in food and drink, everything.
1 Corinthians 10:27 KJV –If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
NIV – If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.
There are two Old Testament views from the Torah.
Genesis
19:1-3 KJV – And there came two
angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them
rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into
your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall
rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in
the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto
him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake
unleavened bread, and they did eat.
NIV – The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”
“No,”
they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and
entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and
they ate.
Exodus 12:43-49 KJV – And
the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover:
There shall no stranger eat thereof:44 But every man's servant
that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat
thereof.
45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth
ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone
thereof.
47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep
the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him
come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no
uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the
stranger that sojourneth among you.
NIV – The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These
are the regulations for the Passover meal:
“No foreigner may eat it. 44 Any slave you have bought may eat
it after you have circumcised him, 45 but a temporary resident
or a hired worker may not eat it.
46 “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat
outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. 47 The whole
community of Israel must celebrate it.
48 “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the
Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he
may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it. 49 The
same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among
you.”
Our final three references are from the New Testament in the writings of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles with Paul’s first letter to Timothy.
Acts 10:28 KJV – And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
NIV – He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
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 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.
Something that we have to remember on an hourly basis is the fact that everything around us, even if some of it is manmade, the elements of it would be created by God. While we are reading Scripture, or studying it, or even while praying and meditating on Scripture, it is very important to keep in mind that there is a reason for God to give us Scripture in the first place. We need to have a constant and consistent reminder of Him every hour of every day that doesn’t include trees, flowers, rain, snow, water, or any of the natural world. The Word connects the physical world to the spiritual world, and we need that connection in every possible way. There’s a really good reason for that. It’s because 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: Just As I Am
~ 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 © 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.
