Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our sermon or
midweek study. You will normally see us posted on Sunday and Wednesday. I am
Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love. It
doesn’t conform to society’s wishes. This ministry shares the Word of God, the
Spirit of Christ Jesus. Those who know me well will recognize that there are
definitive differences in the creation of every sermon from this point forward.
It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth
will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my
heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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.
- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings who has been suffering
greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him. Pray
that his boredom be eased with music and more.
- Please pray for relief in the trials and tribulations for
Sister Theresa and myself as we have had a great many over the past year and
more.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what
tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through
the Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows
bring blessings and pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that
have occurred just this past week around this world.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is
to have the Spirit bring clarity to each of our decisions. We thank You for
that gift and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn out of
us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it
might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our
hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward
others. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the
frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the
rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every
tomorrow bring good things. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name,
through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so
it shall be.
Opening Song: God of Mercy (Prayer Song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnSm1wLCNPw
Sermon: This day had me thankful that there
are those who are merciful and practice with the gift of mercy. There is so
much we see in this world where no mercy can be found. This is one reason to
actually teach what mercy would be. What is it? Mercy is compassion, pity,
benevolence, this is a kindness shown toward someone that’s done something
wrong, or even an enemy. Remember the prayer Jesus taught us asked us to
forgive each other. That is part of being merciful. What can happen to our
hearts, spirits and souls if we do? Let’s take a look at what Scripture has to
say.
Proverbs 11:17 KJV – The merciful man doeth good to his own
soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
We’ve seen a lot of cruelty in this world. What happens if we
show cruelty toward another? Well, in a lot of ways we pay for it, whether it
is by the hands of another, justice in the hands of the people, or some other
means. Yet there still would be something Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the
Mount found here.
Matthew 5:7 KJV – Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.
Jesus proves even now that He is merciful, as our Father is
the same. How so you might ask? Well, we’re alive to tell the story, share our
own as we follow in faith and love. That’s exactly how He is merciful. He gives
us the chance to follow, no matter what. Forgive us our trespasses, that’s
bringing mercy toward us. If we forgive, He will do the same for us even if the
ones we forgive would not do the same toward us.
Psalm 18:25 KJV – With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself
merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
We are good people if we share mercy. Those who share mercy
with us would also prove to be good in one way or another. It is no easy thing
to share mercy, to offer mercy. It prove there is something good in each and
every one of us. What happens when we don’t show mercy? Well, He has something
to say about that through yet another of the Apostles.
James 2:13 KJV – For he shall have judgment without mercy,
that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Now, James, being the younger brother of Jesus, was very good
at telling it like it is, no holds’ barred. He didn’t waste words. In fact he
was straight to the point in seconds and usually makes you think twice as you
read, and re-read, his words. Mercy, when we don’t show it, will not be shown
to us. Who will not show us that mercy? Jesus won’t even when He wants to do
so. That’s where it comes up to the day of Judgment. When we show mercy it is
noticed, not just by those around us, but by Jesus Himself. Now that’s
something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:
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: Lord Have Mercy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXsk_mV5ls
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder 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 © 2015 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.