Covenant of Hope
Ministries Sunday Sermon_10_13_2013
Good afternoon,
and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev.
Laura A. Neff. The ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. Find us posted on
Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:
Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope
We have
email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. These are
now extremely variable. We’re still working this out between the two of us as
to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further
regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon
length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be
video presentations.
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 has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.
- Continue your prayers for Phoebe Fair’s family as they
continue to grieve her loss.
- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as his health
doesn’t know where it wants to be.
- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four
cancer. Keep Teresa and her daughter in prayer for many other things that have
been weighing down on their hearts, minds, and spirits.
- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for
whatever they might need.
- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe
haven.
- Let us keep another friend, Jeff, and his family in prayer
after a disappointment that has them searching for answers.
- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering,
and chaos we are going through.
- Please keep a child from my sister’s classes who lost his
mother. He is nine years old. The family is devastated and needs prayers for
solace and understanding.
- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the
world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many
ways, even if we start with just one step.
- Remember those who have been lost either violently or
peacefully this week.
- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter
their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry,
should support one another.
- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in
regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray
that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and
for all.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we
thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We pray
that You might bring peace in all forms, the heart, the mind, the body, the
spirit, and the soul. We know there are those of us hurting in many ways,
whether it be our hearts, our minds, our spirits and our souls. I have read
about, and listened to others, so many others, who have spoken of this. Peace
is what we seek. Trust in You as in each other we would hope for, It is for
these that we pray in Your Holy Name, through the gift that is Jesus Christ,
and His gift to us through the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Sermon: Today we’re taking a break from
the book of Psalms to cover something I haven’t thought to bring up in too many
years. That topic is the path toward peace. Recently, I can’t remember where,
but I heard these words. “The path of peace lies between fear and trust.” Well,
you see this, but you don’t see this, through Scripture. Often you have to pay
attention more than you already do. There are two verses in this regard and
then another I wish to share with you. All of them should be known to you. Here is our first found in Matthew 28:5 KJV –And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for
I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Yesterday I was looking at something about the symbol of ying
and yang and read there that the path between ying and yang is balance. Well,
isn’t the space known as the path of peace the same between fear and trust? Now
that is interesting, don’t you think? Let’s take a look at more in regard to
trust. Luke
5:10 KJV – And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which
were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch
men.
So as you can see, fear, and those ever familiar words, fear
not. How often do we hear that one in Scripture? We fear of the LORD as well.
Yet, we often do not see them together with the words trust, or even with
peace. So, we’ll find the middle ground first here in John 14:27 KJV – Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid.
Matthew 18:3-5 KJV – And said, Verily I say unto
you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
The best ways to show peace is to be peaceful. Many of us
don’t realize how we will show anger and fear and more where children can pick
up on them. If, however, we see life from their point of view, things can
change. Being humble isn’t easy when the world around you focuses on “ME” in
place of “US”. This is yet another view of the path toward peace. We go from
one side, to the other, as shared here, in the same scroll we have studied for
many months, Psalm 5:11
KJV – But
let all those that put their trust in
thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let
them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Of course, there are many views, but today
there would be only two. Why is it these two are used today? They show us that
trust comes from God, and we should return this trust, because sure, we can
trust God, but often cannot trust one another. When we can do both, and then
add them to where we only fear because we can’t see the sun amidst the clouds
we will find where they meet and at that point will be the path of peace. Psalm 40:4
KJV – Blessed is that man that maketh
the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the
proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
So we have to finish off again with peace. Here is yet more on trust. In this one we also see both peace and trust
as we look here at 3 John 1:14
KJV – But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to
face. Peace be to
thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
So, between fear and trust you find peace.
What an interesting view. Now, included will be a picture that looks like a
three year old’s version of finger paint computer style. I did that on purpose.
Yes, that means I did the art work. I used a typical program on the computer
called paint. Notice how the two blend in together and reach toward peace? Now that’s something to think
about as we pray in the prayer Jesus taught us saying:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
After this manner therefore pray ye: 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 KJV)
Closing Song: Let There Be Peace On Earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPH4LRASWbo
~Shalom~
Covenant
of Hope Ministries
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 © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and
Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all
that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.
