Great Is Thy Faithfulness_Infinite Are Thy Mercies

Covenant of Hope Ministries Wednesday Study_7_31_2014

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Midweek Study for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. I have often described myself as the Rainbow Minister. My reasoning for that is this: The rainbow symbolizes faith, understanding, and God's strength to forgive, heal, and so on. You can find sermons posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster & Google+

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. Look for my name minus the title. These are now extremely variable. Our Elder Cal Jennings is just as variable and can be found on several sites as noted by his sermons. 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.

- Bring into prayer a dear friend, Kerry, as she is having serious issues with scar tissue and it is threatening her life.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as his health has gone up and down far too often of late. Please also keep in prayer his well-being, spirit, and faith. May the Good Lord Above shine His light around you, through you, and within you.

- Please pray for my friend Theresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer. Keep Theresa 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 pray for a friend Laura, as she has a great many test results to go through.

- Continue with the prayers for Brother Wayne Bartosh as he continues settling his father’s estate.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

-Pray that things continue progressing for housing and more with our family. We are thankful for all the prayers and good thoughts you have brought for us.

- 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 are grateful to Your grace and wisdom that brings us to where we see Your love in all we do, and who we see, and how we share. We are thankful for the blessings You bring. We are blessed by the mercies and graces You bring. With Your grace and love we know the pains and sorrows will ease, the fear and anguish will end, and hope will be there with love for ever after. We know these things in Your Holy Name, are gifts shared in Jesus Christ our Savior, through the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Great Is Thy Faithfulness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YFlfM34m1A

Sermon: Lately I’ve been just letting go and having His faith reach toward whatever needs to be discussed. So, that is what happened here today. The verses caught my attention a day or two ago. I have contemplated them, meditated over them and more. In doing so I realized something very interesting. Let’s start with the verses primarily here in Lamentations 3:22-27 KJV – It is the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

It is good that a man should both hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

To have the LORD as our portion, part of us, it is good. What is even better is if we allow our soul to seek that portion which is HIS, and share not just that part with Him but with all of the rest, ourselves included. The process might sound strange, to share that portion of us with ourselves, and with God, and with others as well, but it isn’t truthfully. In fact it is like opening our psyche, heart, whatever to share with those who love us, who know us, and whom we would like to know.

Psalm 57:10 KJV – For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Mercy, we have seen a lot of views of the gift. You see, it is a gift. His mercy is, especially. Like His truth, it is eternal.  A gift in His love, more than the earth, the moon, and the sky. As constant as those three there is a pivot for that consistency, it is yet another constant. His name is the LORD. Malachi 3:6 KJV – For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

It is due to the fact that He is always here, doesn’t change, and gives us a method to see this fact that we can realize, no matter how different we are, even hour to hour because of what we learn, there is one constant. That one constant is what makes each of us unique. We know him as Our Father. It is a blessing to have His arm to hold us up, protect us, and more. This is shared here in Isaiah 33:2 KJV – O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Some say there are ways to see the most important things in our lives. There are. In fact, Scripture shows us many things we don’t see with our eyes, our minds, spirits, hearts, and souls as one. That’s where the challenges of life are born. He brings a new point of view of the same person, body, mind, spirit, and soul, every morning as we open our eyes once more. Psalm 130:6 KJV – My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they watch for the morning; I say, more than they watch for the morning.

Wait for the LORD more than the morning. So many of us are ‘tomorrow get here fast’, and some of us want that faster. God already said time is as time will be, past, present, and future. Waiting for Him is more important than watching for morning. There are several views. First, if you think about it, watching the horizon for sunrise can be seen as worry, even fear. Jesus told us not to worry because things will work out one way or the other and we can’t make them do so, only time can do the same. The faith we have cannot be built on worry. It cannot be built on anxiety of any form. In fact, faith is built when you let those anxieties, fears, and more, go. Let it go, and there He will be. That’s the light at the end of the tunnel we always hope and pray for, the gift to just let life go, and He’ll be there to catch. 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.

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: Great is the Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdqfAkHCZnA

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster & Google+

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

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.

This mission statement speaks of the rainbow in the darkness. Every time I would have a seriously traumatic thing happen in my life I would wake in the middle of the night. When I do I see a rainbow at the end of my bed, or even through the window behind my head. I’ll see that rainbow in a dark room even during the day. It will hover in the shadows and reassure me that God is with me.

The Radiant Light_Life_Love_Hope_Everlasting

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_7_27_2014

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. I have often described myself as the Rainbow Minister. My reasoning for that is this: The rainbow symbolizes faith, understanding, and God's strength to forgive, heal, and so on. Find us posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

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.

- Bring into prayer a dear friend, Kerry, as she is having serious issues with scar tissue and it is threatening her life.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as his health has gone up and down far too often of late. Please also keep in prayer his well-being, spirit, and faith. May the Good Lord Above shine His light around you, through you, and within you.

- Please pray for my friend Theresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer. Keep Theresa 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 pray for a friend Laura, as she has a great many test results to go through.

- Continue with the prayers for Brother Wayne Bartosh as he continues settling his father’s estate.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

-Pray that things continue progressing for housing and more with our family. We are thankful for all the prayers and good thoughts you have brought for us.

- 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. There are so many suffering with trials and tribulations we bring to You. We are thankful for You as You listen, hear, and see, especially when we need that, not just when we want it. We pray that Your grace fill the hearts of those around us. We pray each of us would feel that light, that radiance, within us, as it surrounds us. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through Jesus our Savior and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Music Like A Radiant Light http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD8-5gqkkgI

Sermon: Just about everyone has heard the phrase ‘have the last word’. Well, often we don’t think about it beyond an argument of one type or another. When you take the Scriptures into account you’ll find some interesting views of the ‘last word’. We’ll start here with a title before the verse.

God’s Final Word In His Son

Hebrews 1:1-4 NASB – God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

And he is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

So what is the last word? It’s quite simple. JESUS. He is radiance. He is the way. He is life. He is truth. He is pure. These are things the prophets taught us to hope for. They are the promises Jesus Himself made. These very words were brought forward by the apostles, and more. Here we see the wisdom of Jesus as to what we choose to hear and see, as opposed to what is truly there. Let’s look here.

Luke 10:23, 24 NASB – Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,

for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”

The hardest thing for some of us is to both listen and hear the way we should be doing the same. Notice I said should be. I didn’t say want to be. We need to listen and hear what IS as opposed to what we WANT. These are the things Jesus warns about. Sometimes it is all but nose to concrete obvious and we refuse to see it. This is one of the things Jesus was teaching, see beyond that concrete to where the truth would be. Walls are only there in our way if we build them and keep them there. God proves it in yet another view here.

Psalm 2:8 NASB – ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

Who owns everything? Well, to know that you have to ask who created everything in the first place. God said “ASK OF ME” and “I WILL SURELY GIVE”. The problem is, we don’t want to ask for help when we know we need it. Jesus is that help. It’s why He was born, lived, and willingly died a horrible death. He did so because He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIGHT, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Here we’ll see more in that view.

John 1:3 NASB – All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

We wouldn’t be here without Him. We can’t truthfully live without Him. With Him in our life we can see more than the concrete, the brick, and other barriers. There are only barriers if we refuse to see God’s pinpoints of light, that candle in the darkness. His name is Jesus, and through him Life is Everlasting. Love is Infinite as it is Eternal. That is why He brought us Unconditional Love, because it is Infinite, Eternal, and Everlasting, all at once. 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.

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: Light In Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGUkJv1Jx08

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

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 © 2014 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.

This mission statement speaks of the rainbow in the darkness. Every time I would have a seriously traumatic thing happen in my life I would wake in the middle of the night. When I do I see a rainbow at the end of my bed, or even through the window behind my head. I’ll see that rainbow in a dark room even during the day. It will hover in the shadows and reassure me that God is with me.

The True Meaning of Love and Peace

Covenant of Hope Ministries Wednesday Study_7_23_2014     

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Midweek Study for Covenant of Hope Ministries. My name is Cal Jennings and I am Elder for the ministry. You can find sermons posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster & Google+

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. Look for my name minus the title. These are now extremely variable. Our Elder Cal Jennings is just as variable and can be found on several sites as noted by his sermons. 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.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very sick and has been spending a great deal of time bedridden. His energy has been in short supply but his faith continues. Help to bring his faith, health, and well-being up to where it will be of benefit in so many ways.

- Please pray for my friend Laura as she has come upon a bad snag in her health. May God and Jesus bless her with good news and great health once more.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer. Please also keep her in prayer for spiritual blessings and hope at the end of her very dark tunnel.

- Please continue your prayers for Wayne Bartosh and his family as they work in settling his father’s estate.

- 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.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. Praise God for some good answers. Please bring up in prayer that we finalize on the new house on the designated date or sooner.

- 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.

- Pray that the willingness to communicate grows for the ministry.

- 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. There are many we wish to bring to You for spiritual healing, good health, stronger faith and hope all in Your love. We pray that the violence and pain be eased or ended. We pray for peace to be brought, shared, and understood. We pray these things in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: "Don't Have Love" (Official Music Video) - Christian singer Holly Starr: New Christian Music Video

http://youtu.be/E06cXUgI9_s

Sermon: Most of us are familiar with this first verse about love. It is often used at weddings, in bible studies, and in memes. I am going to use the NIV so that people are clear on the meaning of these verses.

1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Footnotes:

a.   1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages

b.   1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames

Now, I don't fully understand how boast translates to “body to the flames” unless it is indicative of boasting being an act of sin. The Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament

translates verse 3 as “If I give away everything I own, and I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it benefits me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3 Mounce

Now, giving your body over to be burned is certainly a hardship. Still, without love, you have done it for naught. We should do all things in the spirit of love, for God IS love.

1 John 4:16-18 New International Version (NIV)

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

If we know God. If we have accepted the sacrifice of His Son, we can know that we are saved. There is no fear because God loves us. Even facing almost certain death, as I once did during an explosion at the refinery where I worked, I was able to stay because I knew that I was covered by God's love and that Jesus' sacrifice had saved me. The others ran because they feared death.

When we face a trial of death, we never really know how we are going to react until we are placed in that situation. We may think that we may be fearful or that we may be courageous but until we get there, we really don't know. I had a moment of fear recently when I was told that I had a precancerous tumor... not because I feared death but because I feared what would lead up to death having seen my late wife suffer through the chemo and the multiple operations to no avail. That was a lot of suffering for no positive result. She had gone from being overweight to literally looking like a skin covered skeleton. I would rather go without treatment or be able to die rapidly than go through what she went through. Still, I had fear when I shouldn't have. After others prayed for me, the doctor did three more biopsies of the tumor and said it was benign. God is love. God can and does heal even cancer. You just need to believe and have faith that it is so. Luckily, I overcame my fear and my faith was restored and I was indeed healed.

In Romans, Paul tells us a little more about love.

Romans 12:9-13 New International Version (NIV)

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Mounce Reverse-Interlinear says in verse 9, Let (agape) love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Now in verse 10 we see a different Greek word for love. It uses the Greek word philostorgos which means “tenderly affectionate.” Verse 10: Love one another with (philadelphia) brotherly affection. So, we are to genuinely have brotherly love, loathe what is evil, and be tenderly affectionate to one another in brotherly affection. Romans 6:16 says to greet one another with a holy kiss.

Romans 16:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send greetings.

How many churches do this today? Wouldn't most of us fear kissing another person, especially of the same gender, in church? What has happened? What has changed? I'll tell you what has changed. People have gotten away from the whole idea of true brotherly love. Satan has driven a wedge between us with homophobia and fear of not appearing to be “manly” enough. There is seldom affection shown between members of a church these days. There is gossip in the church such that a man and woman who appear to hug too long might have rumors of having an affair between them. These are evils that we should abhor. When something causes suspicion because Christians are affectionate toward one another in a brotherly way, you know that Satan is at work. It is generally that person's thoughts that are evil and that person tries to transpose it onto others. Beware of undue suspicion. The next passage gives us more on the subject.

1 John 3:7-17 New International Version (NIV)

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[a] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Footnotes:

a.   1 John 3:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters(adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 16.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Let's look at verses 7-10 for a moment. A person may be very sinful before he comes to Christ but once he or she has that seed, sin will slowly fade away. They can't continue to sin because they have been born of God. It may take some more time than others to turn away from their sin... sometimes because they don't realize what they are doing, but the Holy Spirit will convict their heart if they are born of God; if they believe. Those who continually sin and don't care one way or the other are posers. They pretend to be Christians but are, in reality, children of the devil. They will hate others because of race, because of background, or because of many of other reasons. The main reason is that they are of the devil. Some of them proudly proclaim that they are children of the devil and are trying to interfere with the work of Christ while some, even ministers, preachers, or whatever their title, mislead their church members with reasons to hate, support of war, preaching politics from the pulpit in order to promote hate and evil, or whatever that particular preacher's heart is filled with. If he's not preaching love, he's not preaching of God. You might consider changing churches. Verses 11-15 explain it more, even calling those who hate a brother or sister is a murderer and has no eternal life in them.

Look at verses 16 and 17. “16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

If we see a brother or sister in need and we have the material possessions to help them but refuse to, how can the love of God reside in that person? That person is consumed by his or her own greed if he or she has no pity on their brother or sister in need. Those who do give to their brother or sister who is in need shall be rewarded with eternal life for they are of God.

In this next verse, we will see how the Pharisees got together to try to catch Jesus by obtaining a Pharisee who was an expert in the law. What did Jesus tell them?

Matthew 22:34-40 New International Version (NIV)

The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Footnotes:

a.   Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5

b.   Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

He told them, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” What is the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. Why? Because God is love and he wants us all to love one another. Who is our neighbor? Everyone is our neighbor. They may be a next door neighbor, and across the street neighbor, a person in a neighboring country, or any other person in the world. We are all brothers and sisters who are born of God. No one is better or worse than the other. We should constantly strive to better ourselves so that we can realize and show that love of God even more by showing pity on them if they are in need and by showing them brotherly affection. There are some who pose as brothers, especially on the internet, to scam people out of money, as we have seen more frequently in just one or two countries. I'm not speaking of giving all of your money to such people because they simply want to swindle you. If, however, you know someone who is truly in need and you have the ability to help them, you SHOULD help them. Show concern and brotherly affection toward them. Let go of hate and open yourself up to love and peace for Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Ephesians 2:13-18 New International Version (NIV)

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Remember: Be there for one another in love and peace. Let us now bow our heads and pray as 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.

Closing Song: I Will Be Here - steven curtis chapman

http://youtu.be/Ed6eAXcr-K8

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ Be With You,

Cal-el

http://www.spaceeagleproductions.org
http://www.myspace.com/music_man1701
http://www.facebook.com/cal.jennings

Intriguing Comparisons for John 3:16 Small But Meaningful

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_7_20_2014

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. I have often described myself as the Rainbow Minister. My reasoning for that is this: The rainbow symbolizes faith, understanding, and God's strength to forgive, heal, and so on. Find us posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

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.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very sick and spends quite a few days unable to do much. His strength and energy have suffered as a result of pain and more. God and Jesus bring him strength in his faith, his body, and his hope.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer.

- 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.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. We have had many setbacks in the past few months, and a few gains as well. May God’s blessings be upon us as we pray for success in these endeavors.

- 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 thank and praise you for the answers to prayers for some. We thank you for the gift of life, love, and understanding. We pray for the many who are in mourning after disasters and more. We pray for those who are sick, in pain, and lost from the path they should be on. We pray for friend and foe, that peace may be shared between them. We pray all these things in Your Holy Name through Jesus Christ the Savior and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: The Love of God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fla6EO07I3E

Sermon: This is one verse that often catches my attention. It is also one spoken about in just about every view of ministry. This week what I did was to examine how the different centuries, authors, languages, would have changed the very words written for this verse. Some might find this a boring and repetitive view, but, until and unless we see all the points of view, we won’t be able to find our own meaning. Every person has a different point of view, that’s known as Free Will. Let’s take a look at it starting with our customary King James.

John 3:16 KJV – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

NASB – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

LAMSA (GREEK) – For God so loved the world, that he even gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

LATIN – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only- begotten Son, that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

NIV – For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

HEBREW-ENGLISH – For the Elohim so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Notice that these aren’t very different. However, there are a few changes in the meaning because of the change in words. For example, eternal, everlasting, they are similar, in fact, synonyms for each other. However, when you add words before or after like these in the Latin, may have eternal life. These two little words change should have. How do they do so? The pairing could be seen as synonyms. Yet, they also imply may have would be maybe, as should have would be compelled to. To be compelled to, it’s like being drawn toward that ideal. How interesting that we would be compelled toward believing, as opposed to insisting as some would teach. You have to believe, some say. You can learn to believe, or be compelled to. One must learn to know, that’s how my grandmother and other teachers taught me.

A compelling thought is one that draws you in, makes you want to explore the idea further. That’s exactly what God and Jesus want us to do. They want us to look beyond the words to the meaning behind them. This is the reason to see every view known in regards to a single verse of Scripture. To some it may seem redundant, and useless even. To others it would be opening the door to exploration. That door is open already, we just have to walk right through it. Again, Jesus told us that everyone follows their own path, it is their decision as to how to open that door, and when to do so. This is what is so important about reading between the lines, beyond the words, to the meaning.

Boredom, that’s what some would say in seeing these words repeated over and over again. I’ve had a few tell me that very thing. Yet, there are reasons to be repetitive. If you were to explore all of Scripture you would note that every inch is just that. In fact, most of the verses say the same thing twice, just with different words. That is exactly the reason these verses are written in each of the various languages and texts. Every translator will see these words differently. That includes those who are reading, as opposed to writing them.

Writers sometimes will read too much into things. Readers can do the same. Yet, there is also the opposite where we don’t look far enough. That is the reason to explore all points of view. You’ll ask, what exact reason would that be? It’s known as Free Will. God gave us the ability to see it in our own point of view, gathering all of the information and processing it to where we can understand.

Take, for example, if you were to see the very same event as a group of others. No description of that event will be the same. In the authorship of the Scriptures, you’ll see just that. For one thing, the Scrolls were first shared in words alone. They weren't written down for a very long time. Once they were they had been passed down for several generations. The Gospels, when they were written, four different men shared their points of view. The words and events were similar. Yet each shared details they saw that the others did not. When you hear a story about, perhaps a relative’s life, is it the same as they had shared when you were a child? Or, is it seen differently when you are an adult? Every story is seen differently based on knowledge, understanding, wisdom, the steps of life. This also includes who is telling the story, and is it recent, or is it somewhere in years far in the future. You have to gain knowledge to understand, and then you’ll be wise when you can apply it and realize the meaning.

No, in most cases it’s not an action movie plot. In fact, some may find it more like a drama. Yet, if you look at the Scriptures as somewhere in between the two, you’ll find that yearning to learn more. How do we get it to where it’s exciting? There is only one way. That’s to talk about our individual insights based on each verse, passage, or even a sermon written that covers those verses and passages. Jesus and the twelve Apostles often talked about the Scriptures, bringing them into the present, as more than a memory, as a practice. Remember, practice always makes perfect. That’s why they repeat so much all the time, in school as children, and as adults.

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.

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: Your Love Never Fails

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

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 © 2014
 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.

This mission statement speaks of the rainbow in the darkness. Every time I would have a seriously traumatic thing happen in my life I would wake in the middle of the night. When I do I see a rainbow at the end of my bed, or even through the window behind my head. I’ll see that rainbow in a dark room even during the day. It will hover in the shadows and reassure me that God is with me.