There is no live sermon today. Again the video recorded with no sound. I will keep working to resolve this issue.
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love. This ministry shares the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus 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. 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
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
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 Evangelist Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.
- Please keep several family members in prayer for their health, and other trials and tribulations. My father-in-law, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law all have had serious issues with their health in the past weeks and months including jaundice, blood loss, masses on their lungs, kidneys, liver, and other organs with issues, joint issues and more. We pray for each of their issues to be addressed and taken care of. My son-in-law’s grandmother is also having serious health issues with blockages in her veins and arteries in her neck.
- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel.
- Pray that the droughts around this world would come to an end and that the flooding and fires would ease at long last.
- Pray also for others who have lost their lives around this world to accidents, violence, and all the rest.
- 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.
**Sending out belated birthday greetings and wishes to my mother, whose birthday was Thursday.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment and understanding while we are here studying Your Word. We thank You for each of these awesome gifts 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 would 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: Faithful Now ~ Vertical Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YexUJ2WHik
Sermon: We are continuing our study of Paul’s letter to the citizens of Colossae and the second chapter. Paul chooses now to bring a very familiar lesson to the citizens of Colossae and the church therein. He does so by citing several connections from parables and conversations Jesus had with the Twelve Apostles, the Pharisees, Sadducees and all the rest. In the days after the resurrection, knowing what Jesus did and said is very important to provide foundation stones in the Word for those fledgling churches throughout Italy, Greece, Israel, and all of Asia Minor. This is where he begins our journey into enlightenment.
Colossians 2:7 KJV – Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
NIV – rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
You see the foundation, the firm hold we should possess on our foundation through Christ. Paul shared this in all of his letters, as seen in the supporting letters from Corinth and Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 1:8 KJV – Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20 KJV – And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
NIV – built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Paul directly references another Apostle’s writings, John the Beloved, and one of the many parables that Jesus utilized to teach His followers, Apostles, disciples, and more.
John 15:4-5 KJV – Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
NIV – Remain in me,
as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in
the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in
me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
That vine Jesus speaks of is Him, and the one tending to those vines would be God Himself through the Holy Spirit. These foundational moments in each parable speak fully in how much we often forget things when it comes to faith and belief, which are connected throughout Christianity in magnificent numbers of ways. Paul is warning the citizens of Colossae that they need to listen and hear carefully, and beware of those wolves in sheep’s clothing, the soothsayers, because they existed then, and still do, to this very day.
Colossians 2:8 KJV – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
NIV – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Paul backs up his warning with footnotes from other letters to Corinth and Galatia.
1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV –Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
NIV – So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
Galatians 5:15 KJV – But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
NIV – If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Of course, we have to go back to our Savior’s own words to get a full accounting of exactly why we have to be so very careful to listen and hear and more. This is where Jesus shared that thought in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 7:15 KJV – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
NIV – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
We add to that through the words of Moses in the fifth scroll of Scripture.
Deuteronomy 6:12 KJV – Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
NIV – be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
We are again led to the words of our Savior, this time in the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 7:3-13 KVJ – For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
NIV – (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’
But you say that if anyone declares
that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that
is, devoted to God)—
then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother.
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Jesus wasn’t wasting a moment in His criticism of the ways they taught the Word of God. He was adamant that they pay attention to their errors and failings and straighten up their considerations in the Scrolls of Truth and Wisdom as God had insisted they manage far, far, back in history. This is a failing that continues to this day, sadly, and Jesus warned the many and the few that this is exactly what would happen until the moment when time would be brought to an end entirely. Paul shares that importance of the Savior and His view of Salvation in these next words.
Colossians 2:9 KJV – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
NIV – For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
It is not easy for us to bring up that moment when Jesus was born into this world of sin, and just what it meant for all humankind. That moment was the culmination of every promise God ever made, to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses and Aaron, to Elijah and Elisha, to David and Solomon and on through all the prophets, kings, Apostles, and Disciples of Jesus Christ.
John 1:14-16 KJV – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
NIV – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
The moment of Immaculate Conception is as significant for mankind as creation would have been for God on the first day. For us to be full circle, to begin anew where all that had been defiled by that serpent and the failure for both Adam and Eve to realize and recognize evil in that moment. Wiping all of that away and starting anew, with a holy and pure home here on earth as well as in heaven. This is what Paul is leading the readers of his letter toward.
Colossians 2:10 KJV – And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
NIV – and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Again, Paul references back to the gospels with the words that Jesus said here as shared in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28:18 KJV – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
NIV – Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
It is important for us to realize and recognize that Jesus had every bit of God’s approval for what He was doing on earth at the time. In all of His parables and explanations, Jesus warned again and again to watch what we say, what we listen to, and what we do in every moment of life as we live it. We all know from experience in life that it’s often our mouths that will get us into deep trouble, but we also have to pay attention to our thoughts and musings, because, if we don’t, well, those are things that can go badly quickly as too many have learned the hard way. Here is what Paul shares to the citizens of Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:15-16 KJV – But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
NIV – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows, and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
When we think of circumcision we don’t think about good versus evil. We think about what doctors do to infants after they are a day or two old. We don’t think about being holy and untouched, unblemished by the world. However, when Jesus was alive, even He warned that the only way to come fully to God was to be circumcised, baptized, washed clean. He said this many times to all who followed Him.
Colossians 2:11 KJV – In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
NIV – In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
Paul shares the same thought with the citizens of Rome as well.
Romans 6:6 KJV – Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
NIV – For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
The gospel writer Mark also shares something interesting after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which adds to this very thought. It is a memory the Apostles and Disciples shared as Mark wrote. Notice how this specifically states three days and a “new temple” not made by “human hands” would be brought to life. This is a very important reference for all of us who are Christians.
Mark 14:58 KJV – We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
NIV – “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’”
Luke brings this thought to the surface in the Acts of the Apostles as well.
Acts 7:48 KJV – Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
NIV – “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Remember, when Jesus was baptized by His human cousin John the Baptist? The significance of that moment should be something we all reflect on. It is that moment of washing away the sins of this world and being made new, with a clean slate, clear conscience, and all the rest. It’s a moment we should always want to keep in our thoughts and in our actions and reactions as well. This is what Paul is referring to in the letter to the citizens of the church at Colossae.
Colossians 2:12 KJV – Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
NIV – having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Paul again reiterates these thoughts with the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 1:19-20 KJV – And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
NIV – and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength
he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
He of course is referencing his colleagues including Luke the evangelist as well in these words from the Acts of the Apostles. Added to that is another reference to his letter to the church in Rome.
Acts 2:24 KJV – Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
NIV – But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Romans 6:4-5 KJV – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
NIV – We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Our last verse from the letter to Colossae speaks of another moment Luke shared in his gospel. This one being the recounting of the parable of the prodigal son. We all, at one point or another, have been that prodigal child, walking away for reasons we might believe are valid, but end up getting us in tight, rock and a hard place, moments in our lives. All of us fall victim to these circumstances. It doesn’t matter how good of an upbringing we might have. When we have to start making decisions on our own, some of those might not be in our best interests.
Colossians 2:13 KJV – And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
NIV – When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
Again, Paul references the gospel of Luke. In this case, the parable of the prodigal son itself. It is very important that we listen to the words this father shares with BOTH of his sons, not just the Prodigal Son, but BOTH of them.
Luke 15:24-32 KJV – For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
And he answering said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.’
And he said unto him, ‘Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.’
NIV – For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Paul wants all of us to know that, even if we walk away from the path, that same path is ready and waiting for us when we’re ready to get back onto it and head toward our own enlightenment. One thing we all know in life, there are some serious wrong turns we can make at any age in every possible circumstance. That’s why we have Scripture. It’s why we have prayer, and repentance, and hope and that list just goes on and on. 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: Walk With You ~ Della Reese https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CZKIrRTIRs
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
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 © 2022 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.
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