https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDpVa0Bica0
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 and his wife, Ed and Joy, who are quite ill at this time. Ed was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and his wife Joy has been in the hospital with fluid in her lungs and other health issues. She was sent home last weekend but returned to the hospital on Thursday. She is on oxygen full time and 24-hour observation. Pray as they are being set up with full-time managed care. Pray also for their son Ed Jr. who has had a lot of back problems and is trying to hold off with surgery until retirement.
- 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. Please pray about the source of her extreme weight loss so that it can be solved. Please start praying again for her husband EB as well with his health and his muscles and movement as he has serious mobility issues. Add her sister-in-law who is suffering from cancer at this time.
- Pray for my son-in-law’s younger sister who lost two babies before twelve weeks gestation in the past six months.
- Pray for that same son-in-law’s grandfather Wayne Shelton, who had a stroke two weeks ago.
- 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. She has had several interviews and has another one soon. Please pray that she receives positive results.
- 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 Ed and Joy with their health issues, and their son Ed Jr. for his back issues, EB and JB and their many health issues. We pray for EB and JB’s sister-in-law who has cancer as well. We pray for those who were lost or have survived or are still missing due to the massive flooding in Nepal. We pray for the ones in the path of the still erupting Mount Etna in Sicily and Mount Kilauea in Hawaii along with the remaining thirty others. We pray for those in the path of the wildfires up north in Canada and in the United Kingdom right now and for those affected by the smoke that is drifting for hundreds of miles. We pray for those who are in the path of the various hurricanes and tropical storms. We pray for the many who are injured and ill in our ministry, our friends, including 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 our 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 in remembrance of those lost in the 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: His Name Is Wonderful
Sermon: Today we continue the fifteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians. Again, I have had to combine two verses together for clarity and continuity. It’s important to keep things in context, especially within Scripture. God doesn’t want confusion, and we should avoid that possibility. Now, Paul is again sharing how Jesus Christ appeared before the Apostles after His resurrection, in the flesh, and this is vitally important to understand because resurrection of the dead is not to be taken as a dream state, or a fantasy, or visions, or any of that, it is as it was a reality. Thomas proved it by putting his fingers into the wounds on Jesus’s hands and in His side as well. The Apostles proved it by not just seeing Jesus standing there with them, but by spending time with Him, learning, preaching, teaching, sharing, eating, all the normal things people do every day.
Paul had to share these things with the church at Corinth because they had to understand the significance of having a resurrected man standing in their midst. To this day, people ask whether He ever was real, regardless that history proves He existed, lived, died, was buried, and was resurrected. Let’s start where we left off.
1 Corinthians 15:7-8 KJV – After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
NIV – Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Paul focuses on the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles for his references here.
Matthew 28:16-17 KJV – Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
NIV – Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Mark 16:14 KJV – Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
NIV – Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
John 7:5 KJV – For neither did his brethren believe in him.
NIV – For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
John 20:19-29 KJV – Then
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and
stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be
unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his
hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace
be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith
unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they
are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with
them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen
the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of
the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand
into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and
Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust
it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not
seen, and yet have believed.
NIV – On the evening of that first day of the
week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the
Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he
said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when
they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am
sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and
said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if
you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was
not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other
disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my
finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not
believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and
Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among
them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then
he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my
hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because
you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have believed.”
Acts 1:2-12 KJV – Until
the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had
given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the
things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,
which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not
for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power.
8 But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they
beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went
up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called
Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
NIV
– until the day he was
taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the
apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented
himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared
to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On
one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father
promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few
days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord,
are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for
you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very
eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going,
when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men
of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same
Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way
you have seen him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called
the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
Now, Paul says something in this next verse that challenges everything we understand about the Apostles. He points out that he persecuted the church AFTER the resurrection. Now, we all know that he was a Pharisee prior to following Jesus, but why would he persecute the church after the resurrection? Well, there was a lot of conflict within him, the things he’d grown up with and the things he learned from Jesus and the chaos that was the trial, death, and resurrection of our Savior all but destroyed Paul’s thoughts, beliefs, faith, and so much more. This is why he is, to this day, a cautionary tale for believers. He believed, yes. But did he know how to portray that belief to others in the appropriate ways effectively and efficiently? Did he know how to keep the momentum of what Jesus Christ did for His followers going through all the new territories outside of Jerusalem? No, he had to learn just like he had to learn how Jesus wanted him to learn throughout the time of Jesus’s ministry while here on earth. This is why Paul says this to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 15:9 KJV –For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
NIV –For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Now, again, Paul focuses on the gospel of Luke and the writing Luke did in the Acts of the Apostles for this. What is interesting is that he reflects on the Centurion who asks for his servant to be healed.
Luke 7:7 KJV – Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
NIV – That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Luke 17:10 KJV – So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
NIV – Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Paul then focuses on his own reaction to the death and resurrection of Jesus, which was to revert to his Pharisee duties and persecute those who didn’t believe in the Old Testament Scrolls as written, not as transformed and fulfilled through and by the Word of Jesus. That’s what makes Paul all the more human. He realized his mistakes, and he atoned for them. It wasn’t easy. He suffered a great deal for those mistakes, and he later died proving that he could become everything Jesus had hoped he would. Here are the references from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 8:3 KJV – As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
NIV – But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 22:4-5 KJV – And
I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both
men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the
estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and
went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to
be punished.
NIV – I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 26:9-11 KJV – I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
NIV – “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
Now, in this next verse, Paul refers to his full transformation into a messenger, a human envoy, for Jesus Christ and His teachings. It’s important to see this full transformation of what Paul ended up becoming after the resurrection. You have to understand, the Apostles had to scatter throughout the world. The disciples did too. Mary, John the Beloved, Peter, James, son of Zebedee, Jude, the other Judas, Matthew, Thomas, Andrew, Phillip, Thaddeus, Bartholomew, and Simon the Zealot, all of them scattered to save themselves and to save others through the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul shares next. Paul says he worked harder because he had to.
1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV –But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
NIV –But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Now, again Paul focuses on the New Testament gospel of Matthew and also five references to his letters to Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, and Philippi. Notice, he uses the Word of Jesus Christ in this reference, proving that what he is saying comes from God, not from him personally.
Matthew 10:20 KJV – For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
NIV – for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Romans 15:15 KJV – Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
NIV – Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me
Galatians 2:2 KJV – And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
NIV – I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.
Galatians 2:20 KJV – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
NIV – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 3:7 KJV – Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
NIV – I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
Philippians 2:15-16 KJV – That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the
day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
NIV – so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Truth, as some would say, is in the eye of the beholder. However, God’s truth isn’t seen through the human eye. His truth is divine throughout and cannot be seen by the naked human eye. That’s why Jesus was adamant with Thomas that those who believe without seeing will reap more benefits from His Word than those who had to see to believe. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 15:11 KJV –Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
NIV –Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Again, Paul focuses on the New Testament with just one gospel verse from John the Beloved, the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s letter to Rome and Peter’s first letter as well.
John 20:21 KJV – Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
NIV – Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Acts 2:32-36 KJV – This
Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this,
which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith
himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that
God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
NIV
– God has raised this
Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to
the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit
and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did
not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I
make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 4:33 KJV – And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
NIV – With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
Acts 13:32-33 KJV – And
we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the
fathers,
33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that
he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou
art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
NIV – “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’
Romans 1:16 KJV – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
NIV –For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
1 Peter 1:25 KJV –But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
NIV –but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
Resurrection is a concept that many people only attribute to the Bible, or to monster movies that are complete fiction. The reason for that is we’ve never seen it in real life, unless you count the use of a defibrillator in modern medicine. However, the resurrection that occurred with Jesus Christ was beyond what could happen with modern medicine, because there was no practiced precision the likes of a doctor with those defibrillator paddles. This was God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, raising a dead body out of the grave and back to life, with blood flow, consciousness, and everything else. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 15:12 KJV –Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
NIV –But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Now, we have prayers about those living and dead. We have promises throughout Scripture in this regard. Yet, the only time we have actual proof of this occurring in real life is through the writings of the Apostles, the prophets, and so forth in Scripture. Now, let’s explore seven New Testament references here.
Matthew 22:23 KJV – The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
NIV – That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
Matthew 22:31-32 KJV – But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read
that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the
living.
NIV – But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
John 5:28-29 KJV – Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that
have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil,
unto the resurrection of damnation.
NIV – Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
John 11:25-26 KJV – Jesus
said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
NIV – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Acts 4:2 KJV – Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
NIV – They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 17:32 KJV – And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
NIV –When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
1 Peter 1:3 KJV –Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
NIV –Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
There is a reason for witnessing in Scripture. Just as there is a reason for witnessing in the world at large. So many times, unless an incident has been seen, heard, and experienced by multiple people and corroborated through them, a lot of people do not believe because in this world seeing and hearing are believing where in heaven believing is far from it. That’s what Paul shares next in our final verse for today.
1 Corinthians 15:13 KJV –But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
NIV –If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
There are three reference verses from the Prophetic Scrolls and the Acts of the Apostles. It is vitally important to recognize and realize the importance of the resurrection in our daily lives as Christians. This is something we can never just cast aside because we are literally fighting this world tooth and nail for the real truth that is God through our Savior Yeshu Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Ezekiel 37:12-14 KJV – Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.
NIV – Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Daniel 12:2 KJV – And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
NIV – Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Acts 24:15 KJV – And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
NIV – and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Righteousness is important. Faith and Belief are important. The combination of Righteous Faith and Belief requires a staggering amount of understanding and wisdom within the Word of God. This is not just because of the fact that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Yeshu Ha Noztri, died for our sins and was raised from the dead to judge the living and the dead at the right hand of the Father in heaven. It is very important because Paul was living proof that it happened. All of the Apostles were. It remains an important facet of faith and belief today, not religion, faith and belief, because they are not the same.
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: Here I Am Lord
~ 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.
