https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W7lFjv2n2Q
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube & Twitch & TruthSocial & Instagram & Facebook
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio & Wedding Chicks
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.
- We pray for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam and Allison, who were in a car wreck early this past week. They have several injuries including bruised ribs, bruised sternum, and more. Their vehicle ended up totaled. Please keep them up in prayer.
- We pray for friends of ours on our bowling league, after they suffered devastating injuries, some of which required surgery and will require a long recovery time as well.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings continues healing from his latest stint in the hospital just last week. He is home, thankfully, but keep on praying for his health and healing.
- 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 fighting cancer and has been released from the hospital as of a week ago. 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 navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers that they need in both of their health issues. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals. JB has been especially sick, losing weight way too fast and no complete solution in sight at the moment. She has been sick with pneumonia, an ear infection, and more health chaos for the past week and is still not doing well even with a full week of rest.
- 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 bring praises and thanksgiving after learning that my niece Autumn has had her medications changed and the seizures and more are completely controlled at this point in time.
- 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 all those who are affected by the storms and seas that are raging around the world. We pray for those who have no shelter. We pray for those who have no food or water. We pray that they receive the miracles of Your peace and comfort Lord. We pray for Sam and Allison, Wayne, Chick, and many others for their injuries and the recoveries they are working through this past week or more. We pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings, and his health as he has been quite ill. We pray for JB who has also been quite ill for the past three weeks with pneumonia and more. We pray for David and all the others suffering or having suffered from cancer. We pray for those who have survived cancer. We pray for Fran who has been in the hospital. We pray for all those who have lost loved ones in the past week, or who are remembering those who were lost in the past during this month or had remembered birthdays. We pray for all of our outreach ministries and their memberships. We pray for the orphans and the hungry. We pray for all the world that peace shall one day reign in full thanks to the glory of God through our Savior Jesus Christ in the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: His Name Is Wonderful
Sermon: Today we continue with our study of 1 Corinthians. We are continuing our study of the ninth chapter. Paul is describing his mission as given him by Jesus Christ. He is describing what it means to him and how he chooses to fulfill it. This is an important point of view for those who serve because it provides a specific point of view requiring us to pay attention to what it means to be in service to God and Jesus at all times as ministers for the Holiest of Holies. With that, let’s get started with the Scripture as shared in Paul’s first letter to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 9:13 KJV –Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
NIV –Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?
Paul is speaking of the Hebrew temple, the Jewish temple that was ordered by God as written about all the way back in the Torah. Now, you have to understand, Paul was a Benjamite, directly from the line of Benjamin. Those who took care of the temple were the Levites, direct relatives to the tribe of Levi. Both of these men were brothers, children of Abraham, and tradition meant as much to them as it did to Jesus and to Paul who proves it by referencing the Torah here along with the writings of Nehemiah.
Leviticus 6:16-18 KJV – And
the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall
it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the
congregation they shall eat it.
17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them
for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin
offering, and as the trespass offering.
18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it.
It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of
the Lord made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
NIV – Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast in the sanctuary area; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. 17 It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the food offerings presented to me. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy. 18 Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it. For all generations to come it is his perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord. Whatever touches them will become holy.’”
Leviticus 7:6-10 KJV – Every
male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place:
it is most holy.
7 As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is
one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.
8 And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even
the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath
offered.
9 And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all
that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that
offereth it.
10 And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall
all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
NIV
– Any male in a
priest’s family may eat it, but it must be eaten in the sanctuary area; it is
most holy.
7 “‘The same law applies to both the sin offering and the guilt
offering: They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them. 8 The
priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide for himself. 9 Every
grain offering baked in an oven or cooked in a pan or on a griddle belongs to
the priest who offers it, 10 and every grain offering, whether
mixed with olive oil or dry, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.
Nehemiah 10:37-39 KJV – And
that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the
fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the
chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the
Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our
tillage.
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites,
when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the
tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall
bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the
chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that
minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house
of our God.
NIV – “Moreover, we will bring to the
storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground
meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine
and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is
the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38 A
priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the
tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of
our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of
Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new
wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and
for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.
“We
will not neglect the house of our God.”
Paul adds two New Testament references here with the Hebrew prophets.
Hebrews 7:9-10 KJV – And
as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec
met him.
NIV – One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Hebrews 13:10 KJV – We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
NIV – We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
A lot is said in this world today about a “living wage”. What exactly is a living wage? Enough food to not be hungry, adequate shelter, clothes to cover our bodies, water, the ability to be clean, safe, and well. This is what God would consider a “living wage”, or the means to ensure that this is possible. Here is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 9:14 KJV –Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
NIV –In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
In a lot of versions of Christian faith, priests and ministers take a vow of poverty. But is this exactly what Paul is portraying here? Or is he pointing out that the Word is enough for anyone who is preaching? It isn’t easy to take a vow of poverty and maintain it because humanity is not inherently generous. God knows this. Here are Paul’s references, only one of which comes from the prophetic scrolls of the Old Testament.
Nehemiah 13:10-12 KJV – And
I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the
Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house
of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new
wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
NIV – I also learned that the portions
assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites
and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So
I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?”
Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
12 All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive
oil into the storerooms.
Acts 20:33-35 KJV – I
have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered
unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought
to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
NIV – I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Galatians 6:6 KJV – Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
NIV – Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 KJV – Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
NIV –We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 KJV –Let the elders that
rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the
word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that
treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
NIV –The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
Paul continues with his teaching, pointing out that he chose NOT to use the rights offered him through Scripture and the dictates God made in the Torah. Paul points out that ALL WE REQUIRE is FAITH IN YESHUA JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOR and GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER who will provide all that we could possibly require for life and survival even in this world that we live in. Now, I don’t speak for everyone I know who spends their life preaching and teaching the Word, but I myself have learned that, sure, money makes life easier with certain things, but it can also be a burden if we aren’t wise in how we use it. The same can be said about Scripture. There is a right way and a wrong way to read, hear, share, and experience it. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 9:15 KJV –But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
NIV –But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.
Paul uses only New Testament references for this one.
Matthew 6:34 KJV – Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
NIV –Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 10:8 KJV – Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
NIV – Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Acts 18:3 KJV – And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
NIV – and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
Galatians 6:6 KJV – Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
NIV – Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
1 Peter 5:2 KJV –Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
NIV –Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
Paul continues to portray why it is more important to speak the truth of the Word of Yeshua Jesus Christ and Yahweh God the Father than anything else on earth. It’s hard for people to realize and recognize the importance of Scripture for life as a whole. Putting all our faith, hope, patience, love, peace, diligence, and everything else into the Word, the Scripture as God breathed it into the hearts and minds of those who put it on paper and then lived it every single day. This is what Paul portrays here.
1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV –For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
NIV –For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
We as ministers of Yahweh and Yeshua feel useless when we do not bring the gospel truth to those around us. Whether that would be in a church, on a street corner, in a classroom, or anywhere else on earth, doesn’t matter. What matters is that we do what Yahweh and Yeshua have instructed us to do. Whether we have food, shelter, or anything else every single moment of the day we leave it up to our Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son because the Holy Spirit was sent to take care of us all and to be relied upon for as long as we are here on this earth. Paul references his go-to prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah along with Ezekiel and Amos in the Old Testament here.
Isaiah 6:8 KJV – Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
NIV – Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Jeremiah 20:9 KJV – Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
NIV – But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 KJV – Son
of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear
the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou
givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to
save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood
will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his
wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou
hast delivered thy soul.
NIV – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Amos 3:8 KJV – The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
NIV – The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken—who can but prophesy?
Paul adds four New Testament references as well. He begins with what is known as the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
NIV – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Acts 9:15-16 KJV – But
the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a
chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the
children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how
great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
NIV – But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 20:24 KJV – But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
NIV – However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 26:16-20 KJV – But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee
for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people,
and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was
not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of
Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then
to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
NIV – ‘Now get up and stand on
your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness
of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I
am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and
from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King
Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in
all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and
turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
Each and every preacher has a mission to fulfill, and they must be doing so willingly, without a single complaint or issue. It’s not easy. Yeshua proved that one in His arrest, crucifixion, death, and burial before His resurrection. He proved it in the fact that He didn’t ask for anything except a willingness to listen and hear, a willingness to fulfill His greatest hopes and dreams. What are those? Eternal life and peace fulfilled within unconditional love. That’s what Paul provides insight within for the church at Corinth and for us even today as he continues with his writing here.
1 Corinthians 9:17 KJV –For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
NIV –If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.
Paul utilizes one Old Testament reference here.
Jeremiah 1:5 KJV – Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
NIV – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Paul continues with three New Testament references mentioned here. I skipped one that we have often referenced in the gospel of Matthew regarding the Parable of the Talents because we have referenced it almost every week since starting our journey through Corinthians.
Acts 9:15 KJV – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
NIV – But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Acts 26:16-18 KJV – But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee
for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people,
and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me.
NIV – ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
1 Peter 4:10 KJV – As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NIV –Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Priests, preachers, pastors, ministers, elders, evangelists, we all have a mission to preach and teach the Word of Jesus Christ to all who listen and hear. Sharing the gospel is something that we should do without complaint, without requiring admission fees or anything. Tithes are voluntary, and not everyone provides them. Yet I earn funds via other work, and I still provide a percentage of those earnings toward the ministry, to this day, since beginning this ministry, now nearly two decades ago. Why would I do this? It’s my duty to ensure that His Word gets spread far and wide, for as long as God wishes me to use my voice, mind, spirit, and soul to do so. Here’s what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 9:18 KJV –What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
NIV –What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul again has three references from the Prophetic Scrolls of the Old Testament.
Nehemiah 5:15 KJV – But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
NIV – But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.
Isaiah 55:1 KJV – Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
NIV – “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Micah 3:11 KJV – The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.
NIV – Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Paul adds two New Testament references with his letter to Philippi and also from the first letter that Peter wrote.
Philippians 4:17 KJV – Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
NIV – Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
1 Peter 5:2 KJV – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
NIV –Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
As preachers and teachers of the Word, Paul provides us with a template to pursue ministry in a pure way that keeps the teachings of Yeshua Jesus Christ at the forefront, without resistance, and with a resilience Jesus would approve of. His first letter to the church at Corinth teaches us a great many things in relation to how we should preach and teach the Word with honor to our Father and our Savior in all ways possible. We have to remember the importance of keeping the light, life, and legacy of Yeshua Jesus Christ alive even now. It is through the life, death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: 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.
