Maintaining Self-Discipline and Self-Control Is Vital to All Who Minister

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NNbheA7ycQ

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 are praying today for my dear friend JB who had a very bad fall two days ago and broke her hip. She is in hospital after surgery yesterday and staying until the doctor is confident, she will manage even from home. Keep her husband EB in prayer as he stays home alone until she gets back from her stay at the hospital. My husband and I took her up to the hospital yesterday to ensure that she was taken care of. She’s in good hands where she is, praise the Lord for that.

-      We continue to pray for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam and Allison, who were in a car wreck a few months 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.

-      Evangelist Cal Jennings is currently in rehabilitation after losing his fingertips to serious third-degree burns. He is healing very slowly and has just had his stitches removed. Please pray for his healing and that his pain is treated like it should be treated, not as an afterthought.

-      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 my sister-in-law Fran who is still fighting cancer. She is currently back in the hospital and in a lot of pain. Please pray that her pain is eased soon.

-      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. She has also been told not to drive any longer, which frustrates her even more right now. 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, 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, storms, flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.

-      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 so much and so many to pray for. We pray for the many who are injured and ill in our ministry, our friends, including JB, 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 including Fran, David, and Debbie. We pray for those who survived cancer, including Kelly, Alexis 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: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Sermon: Today we are completing the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians. There might only be five verses left, but there’s a lot packed into these five final verses. Now, I had to combine the last two verses together on top of that because most of the reference verses are identical and, as you well know, I don’t like repeating myself unless it is vital for understanding. Now, Paul makes an interesting reference here, specifically to falling asleep. He’s not discussing actual sleep. He’s talking about being spiritually asleep. The distinction is important in this case. There are a lot of people in this world who are spiritually asleep. A spiritual awakening is vitally important for Christians, no matter their age, location, or any of that.

 

1 Corinthians 11:30 KJV –For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

NIV – That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

 

Paul has references in two locations for the Old Testament, the Torah and the Poetic Scroll of Psalms.

 

Deuteronomy 28:22 KJV – The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

NIV – The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.

 

Psalm 38:3-8 KJV – There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. ⁴ For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. ⁵ My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. ⁶ I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. ⁷ For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. ⁸ I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

NIV – Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.⁴ My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. ⁵ My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. ⁶ I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. ⁷ My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. ⁸ I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

 

 

Now, Paul includes five New Testament points of view with this. Those would be found in the Acts of the Apostles, the writings of the Hebrew Prophets, James the Just, brother of Jesus, and John the Beloved’s Revelation. The first one is a powerful lesson in telling the whole truth, not just part of it. It also portrays what happens when the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Troubles interfere in our spiritual lives.

 

Acts 5:1-11 KJV – But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
² And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
⁶ And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
⁷ And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
⁸ And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
⁹ Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
¹⁰ Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
¹¹ And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

NIV – Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

 

 

Acts 7:60 KJV – And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

NIV – Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

Hebrews 12:5-11 KJV – And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
⁷ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
⁹ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
¹¹ Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

 

NIV – And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, ⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 

James 5:14-16 KJV – Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. ¹⁶ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

NIV – Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 

Revelation 3:19 KJV – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

NIV – Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

 

Now, another of my pet peeves in Scripture or the observance of Scripture has to do with judgment. I often quote Jesus with the words “judge not lest ye be judged” which is in the gospel of Matthew and serves as reference with this. However, there is a way to honor that consideration without condemning ourselves or anyone else unjustly. This is how Paul puts judgment into perspective.

 

1 Corinthians 11:31 KJV –For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

NIV – But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.

 

Yes, it is difficult to judge our own actions, but it is not without precedent. All we must do is look to Scripture for answers to that one, and here are some prime examples from the Old Testament.

 

Psalm 139:23-24 KJV – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: ²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

NIV – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Proverbs 28:13 KJV – He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

NIV – Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

 

Lamentations 3:40 KJV – Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

NIV – Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

 

Now, here are eight New Testament references and you’ll understand immediately why I chose to split the last ten verses of this chapter up the way I did.

 

Matthew 7:1-5 KJV – Judge not, that ye be not judged. ² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. ³ And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ⁴ Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? ⁵ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

NIV – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 

Matthew 26:41 KJV – Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

NIV – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

John 5:24 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

NIV – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

 

Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

NIV – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

 

James 1:23-25 KJV – For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

NIV – Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

 

1 John 3:21 KJV –Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

NIV – Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

 

Judgment is a hard subject, not just by human means, but by divine ones as well. This is why in justice systems in democratic companies there are juries of peers for the most part. This is why Jesus said judge not lest ye be judged. He spoke of judging without rational thought processes. If we rush to judge, even our own actions, we condemn without cause. That’s defeating God’s purpose in our lives. This is why Paul shares the next words here with the church there at Corinth.

 

1 Corinthians 11:32 KJV –But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

NIV – Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

 

Now, Paul has quite a few references for this verse as well. They are split in half between the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament is shared in the Torah and Poetic Scrolls.

 

Job 5:17-18 KJV – Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: ¹⁸ For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

NIV – “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. ¹⁸ For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

 

Psalm 94:12 KJV – Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;

NIV – Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law;

 

Psalm 119:67-71 KJV – Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. ⁶⁸ Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. ⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. ⁷⁰ Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. ⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

NIV – Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. ⁶⁸ You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. ⁶⁹ Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. ⁷⁰ Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. ⁷¹ It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

 

Proverbs 3:11-12 KJV – My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: ¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

NIV – My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

 

Paul adds only two New Testament references for this. These are found in the words of the Hebrew prophets and also in the words of James the Just, younger human brother of Yeshua Jesus Christ.

 

Hebrews 12:5-6 KJV – And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

NIV – And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

 

James 1:2-4 KJV – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; ³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

NIV – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

Now, our last two verses are a reminder, yet again, as to propriety regarding the communion meal. It’s important that Paul repeats himself so often just in this single chapter. It simply means that he worried they would not listen and hear what is vitally important regarding the sanctity of the communion meal. With that, here are the final verses of this chapter.

 

1 Corinthians 11:33-34 KJV –Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. ³⁴ And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

NIV – So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. ³⁴ Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

 

Here are six New Testament references for these final thoughts in the chapter.

 

Acts 2:42 KJV – And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

NIV – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

Acts 2:46 KJV – And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

NIV – Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

 

Acts 20:7 KJV – And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

NIV – On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

 

Titus 1:5 KJV – For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

NIV – The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

 

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.

 

1 Peter 4:9 KJV –Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

NIV – Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

 

This world is changing every second of every day. There is more and more evil present within it. For this reason it’s increasingly important that we teach the way that Jesus taught, the way God intended us to learn about Him. This allows us to grow in faith and belief through the hope and unconditional love that Yeshua Ha Nozri Jesus Christ of Nazareth brings us. We do that 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: His Name Is Wonderful

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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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

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Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to 

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created through fear together as the bringers of the 

light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.