https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gT8oqZZZ-4
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 truth1 C 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 Roalee, daughter of Mary, a friend of mine, who has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and is currently in the hospital to get it controlled.
- We are still praying today for my dear friend JB who has finally been given limited ability to travel away from home two days per week for very short distances. Please keep JB in prayer for continued therapy, and continued doctor visits after her broken hip and upper leg.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is home after rehabilitation after losing his fingertips to serious third-degree burns. He is still healing very slowly and has slow, arduous therapy for his remaining fingers in their shaping and movement. Please pray for his healing and that his pain is treated like it should be treated, not as an afterthought.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of issues lately in her life. Please keep her in prayer for her anxieties, fears, and general well-being.
- Please pray for one of my sisters, who has a need for something new right now in regard to her career after frustration with a job she is currently within that did not turn out to be anything like it was portrayed to her.
- 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 all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, Evangelist Cal Jennings’ brother-in-law David Doyle, JB’s sister Debbie, Jerry, 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, smoke from those wildfires, storms, flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide like those in South America earlier this past month.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Jared Otieno, Pastor George Ototo, 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 a great deal of things to pray for and a great many as well. We pray for young Roalee, who has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We pray for the survivors of the earthquakes in South America. We pray for the ones in the path of the erupting Mount Etna in Sicily. We pray for those in the path of the wildfires up north in Canada right now and for those affected by the smoke that is drifting for hundreds of miles. We pray for those who are suffering from severe flooding all over this world. We pray for the many who are injured and ill in our ministry, our friends, including JB, Cal, our family, and more. We pray for the homeless and the helpless around this world. We pray for the many victims of violence, prejudice, and terrorism in this world. We pray for those still under the thumb of slavery and oppression. We pray for the unjustly persecuted and prosecuted. We pray for the friends and family who have been fighting cancer. We pray for those who survived cancer, including Kelly, Alexis, David, and Debbie and many more, that they continue to remain well. We pray for the nations at war. 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 continuing Chapter 14 of 1st Corinthians. We will cover the next seven verses and there’s a lot to go over with this. Again, Paul clarifies the benefits and drawbacks of speaking in tongues. He also clarifies the time and place for it and also for edification. Now, to define edification we have to look at what it is. To EDIFY is to bring your moral compass into sync with God’s Unconditional Love, His Wisdom, His Grace, His Peace, and His Hope. That’s important for our personal and collective spiritual growth. Now, these seven verses say a whole lot in this regard, so we’ll begin where we left off last Sunday.
1 Corinthians 14:16 KJV –Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
NIV –Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
Paul is again emphasizing the fact that we absolutely must be understood by all those around us whenever we are preaching the Word. This isn’t a small thing. This is a hugely significant requirement. God wants us to understand Him. He brings six references, three from the Old Testament and three more from the New Testament in the gospel of John the Beloved and also his letter to Rome as well as one from the Hebrew prophets here.
1 Chronicles 16:36 KJV – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord.
NIV –Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
Nehemiah 8:6 KJV – And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
NIV – Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Psalm 106:48 KJV – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.
NIV – Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord.
John 4:24 KJV – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
NIV – God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Romans 8:26 KJV – Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
NIV – In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
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.
Edification is an important consideration when it comes to worship. But what does it mean to us individually and collectively to edify? We have to have a method toward bringing every single person in a congregation closer toward God our Father and Jesus our Savior through the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s the reason we were given the gift of the Holy Spirit in the first place. Jesus wants us to remember Him and to remember our Father through the gifts that the Holy Spirit provides for us. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 14:17 KJV –For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
NIV –You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Here are two Old Testament viewpoints from the writings of King David and Paul’s often connected prophet Isaiah.
Psalm 50:14 KJV – Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
NIV – “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
Isaiah 29:13 KJV – Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
NIV – The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Paul shares three New Testament supporting verses from the Hebrew prophets, James the Just, younger brother of Jesus, and Peter as well.
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.
James 3:9-10 KJV – Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
NIV –With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
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, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone speaks 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.
Paul points out something interesting. When he speaks with God alone, he speaks in tongues. He does so not to close others out, but to focus himself on God alone. That’s part of the reason Jesus gave the Apostles the ability to speak in tongues in the first place. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to do so, but only a select few truly understand how to use the gift. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 14:18 KJV –I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
NIV –I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
Paul has three New Testament references, including one from our Savior Yeshua Ha Notzri in the gospel of Mark, the writing of the Acts of the Apostles as written by Luke, and Paul’s letters to Ephesus and Philippi.
Mark 16:17 KJV – And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
NIV – And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Acts 19:6 KJV – And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
NIV – When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Ephesians 5:19-20 KJV – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
NIV – speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:3-6 KJV – For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
NIV – For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Now, Paul manages more edification here. He wants to clarify something very important. Knowledge, godly knowledge, must be given with clarity, purity, and full understanding. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 14:19 KJV –Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
NIV –But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Paul has three Old Testament Poetic Scroll references and also one New Testament reference from the Hebrew prophets.
Proverbs 15:23 KJV – A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
NIV – A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!
Proverbs 25:11 KJV – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
NIV – Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
Ecclesiastes 12:10 KJV – The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
NIV – The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
NIV – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
We’re going to go back to something that Jesus said about thinking and understanding. He insists that we think like adults but obey like children. In the church at Corinth, Paul recognized the opposite happening. This is what he shares next for them.
1 Corinthians 14:20 KJV –Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
NIV –Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Here are four New Testament references starting with two gospel verses from Matthew in the words of our Savior and including words from the Hebrew prophets and Peter’s first letter.
Matthew 10:16 KJV – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
NIV – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 18:3 KJV – And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
NIV – And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV – For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
NIV –In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
1 Peter 2:2 KJV –As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
NIV – Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
Listening and hearing are vital for worship. They are vital for managing edification. They are vital for faith and hope and peace and unconditional love. The law is simple, love one another as He loves us. Paul shares this next in his first letter to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 14:21 KJV –In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
NIV –In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
Here are four Old Testament points of view that Paul refers to with this.
Deuteronomy 28:49 KJV – The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
NIV – The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,
Isaiah 28:11-12 KJV – For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
NIV
– Very
well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,12 to
whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen.
Isaiah 33:19 KJV – Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
NIV – You will see those arrogant people no more, people whose speech is obscure, whose language is strange and incomprehensible.
Ezekiel 3:4-7 KJV – And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. 5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
NIV – He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.
Here are three New Testament gospel points of view in the words of our Savior Jesus Christ from Matthew, Luke, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 13:14-15 KJV – And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
NIV – In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
Luke 24:44 KJV – And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
NIV – He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
John 10:34 KJV – Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
NIV – Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’?
Here is our final verse for today. Paul again repeats himself regarding prophecy and speaking in tongues. He clarifies even further for our benefit much like he did the same for the church there at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 14:22 KJV –Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
NIV –Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
There is only one Old Testament prophetic verse.
Joel 2:28-29 KJV – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
NIV – “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Here are two gospel verses from John the Beloved with one reference from Paul’s letter to Ephesus.
John 4:48 KJV – Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
NIV – “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
John 8:43-47 KJV – Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
NIV – Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
NIV – So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Portraying our faith and belief is important. Bringing honesty and clarity within that faith and belief is extremely important. Hearts and spirits must unite with Scripture and share it with each other always. It will ensure that we connect fully with our Lord and Savior Yeshu Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The best way we can bring more faith and belief together with others is by showing 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: Jesus Loves the Little Children
~ 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.
