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 gotten better with his health, but there are other worries he still has. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him fully.
- A dear friend of mine has asked for prayers for her mother, who has been moved to rehabilitation after a devastating stroke. She has a long road ahead and everyone in the family needs the reassurance of God’s grace and love for them, and for their mother.
- Please keep several other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being. One who has been diagnosed with an ulcer this past week after being continuously ill for the last month. Another whose medications are lacking right now, which causes lack of sleep and clarity in their daily life. One who has just recently gotten out of the hospital, may they get well quickly. Another pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.
- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel.
- 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 healing to each of our bodies,
minds, spirits, and souls. We have family, friends, and colleagues who have a
deep need for prayer. We see so much anger we wish it to be removed from
hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for those who are in mourning around
this world. We all pray that those who are angry for whatever reason receive
peace in their hearts. We pray for those who are in fear of their lives that
they find safe haven. We also pray for those who have been sick, no matter the
cause, that they be well. 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: Casting Crowns ~ Follow Me https://youtu.be/LraPDltKlvI?list=RDLraPDltKlvI
Sermon: So, we’re about halfway
through the third chapter of Colossians and will complete it today. Paul is
speaking to the citizens of the church at Colossae regarding how important it
is to pay attention to HOW we worship God through Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit. This is, actually, something that the Jews knew long before Jesus was
born. However, with the number of Gentiles that were coming to Christ, this
knowledge needed to be taught yet again. To this day there are those who are
fully uneducated in the truth of Scripture, and, because of this, all those who
love the Lord want to share exactly how His unconditional love fills their
lives.
Colossians 3:16 KJV – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
NIV – Let the message of
Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with
gratitude in your hearts.
Music is the healing balm of the soul. Many people feel
this way in regard to the art of song. In fact, music and poetry are often
utilized in Scripture. So often in this world we live in today we see ministers
focusing on how music coincides with the Word of God. That’s why psalms are, to
this day, set to music in many different ways. We see entire passages of
Scripture shared in this way as well. Let’s see other methods used to spread
the truth of Jesus and God.
1 Corinthians 14:15 KJV –What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
NIV – So what shall I do? I will pray with my
spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit,
but I will also sing with my understanding.
Ephesians 5:19 KJV – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
NIV – speaking to one another with psalms,
hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the
Lord,
James 5:13 KJV – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
NIV – Is anyone among you in trouble? Let
them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
See how music is portrayed in these different points of
view? It is very important for us to understand in this world today, that
poetry, music, and ministry are interconnected, and all have been part of each
other from the earliest of times. James points out that music and prayer are
connected. Now, Paul wants us all to remember that the things we do and say
need to be filled with faith and reverence toward the Lord. We see that in this
next verse in the letter to the church at Colossae.
Colossians 3:17 KJV – And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
NIV – And whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
This is one verse that has gotten people into hot water
because they did not follow the directions. The words are simple, and most
should be able to follow the meaning, and yet, so often in this world people do
the opposite. They don’t watch their actions. They don’t pay close attention to
what they are saying. These two failures are, sadly, something that happens
every day in every city, state, or country around this world. Perfection is
through faith, and if we don’t portray our faith then it gets lost in
translation. Paul adds that, even while consuming meals we need to remember
that God has given us a gift of a meal, no matter what the size of it would be.
This is what is shared in this connecting pair of verses.
1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
NIV – So whether you eat or
drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Ephesians 5:20 KJV – Giving thanks always for
all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
NIV – always giving thanks to God the Father
for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Add to this where we would find one of several verses
most women like to argue about. However, in the time where this was written, it
was something that was always adhered to in society, no matter if they were Jew
or Gentile, and this was all around the world. The consideration is also a
tradition held as far back as Adam and Eve. This is the reason it was strictly
considered as shared in Paul’s letter here.
Colossians 3:18 KJV –Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
NIV –Wives, submit yourselves to your
husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Families, in those days, were often large. While in
Colossae, the origins in the society of these men, women, and children was far
more liberal than it was in Judaism. Teaching new traditions through the
teaching of Jesus Christ was not an easy transition because of those very same
societal norms. We see this all over the world even now, regardless of the fact
that we live in a far, far different view of society. We see this same
sentiment in the words of Peter and in Paul’s letter to the citizens of
Ephesus.
1 Peter 3:1 KJV – Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
NIV –Wives, in the same way submit yourselves
to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may
be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
Ephesians 5:9 KJV – (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
NIV – (for the fruit of the light consists in
all goodness, righteousness and truth)
One thing that is unique about the second of these
connecting verses speaks of virtues. The fruits of the Spirit hold three
things, goodness, righteousness, and truth. The Spirit is “light”, godly light.
Colossians 3:19 KJV –Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
NIV –Husbands, love your wives and do not be
harsh with them.
Love is something that can grow in beautiful ways, and
this is what God hopes we have between husbands or wives. It is something we
must, as faithful and good spouses, and parents, pass down from generation to
generation, as God has directed us since the first days of creation. Peter has
more to say.
1 Peter 3:7 KJV – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
NIV –Husbands, in the same way be considerate
as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner
and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder
your prayers.
We see Paul’s thoughts, to keep all the ugliness away
from faithful marriages and parenthood as well. Here is what he says to the
citizens of Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:31 KJV – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
NIV – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
As the siblings of Christ, given the honor to be such
through His direct order to the Twelve Apostles, we all need to remember that
these bad feelings, bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, even slander and malice,
were not supposed to be in our minds, hearts, spirits, and souls. Jesus meant
in every way, conscious, unconscious, subconscious, all possible ways. I’ve had
some ask me how this is possible. With God, as Scripture says, EVERYTHING IS
POSSIBLE. One thing we have to remember from Jesus is that we have to be
WILLING to take up our mats and follow Him. Add to that, parents need to
provide guidance for their children as their first teachers. While we are
parents, no matter how often or seldom we attend church, sharing the Word with
our children should happen every day in some way as this verse shares.
Colossians 3:20 KJV – Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
NIV – Children, obey your parents in
everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Yeah, not easy with the busy lives of children and
parents in this world today, but in the days of Paul and the other Apostles,
this was a tradition that occurred no matter what day of the week it was. The
challenge today is in removing all the major distractions in everyday life.
There are a great many of those as we all know. Discipline is something we tend
to struggle with in this world. That has many causes, and this is why Paul
shared this following sentence with the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 6:1 KJV – Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
NIV – Children, obey your
parents in the Lord, for this is right.
The prophets and preachers in the writings of Hebrews
have this to share.
Hebrews 13:21 KJV – Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV – equip you with everything good for
doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
When we think of teachers we think of people who have the
drive and desire to share knowledge to others around them, no matter what age
they would be. Learning is something that has, even in the days of Paul, always
been something people wanted. Many of those who received Paul’s letters had
only a few who could actually read them. Before people wrote down the
Scriptures, it was shared orally. Nowadays too many of us confine ourselves to
reading to ourselves when it comes to Scripture. Yet again, parents are noted
to not cause arguments between them and their children.
Colossians 3:21 KJV – Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
NIV – Fathers, do not embitter your children,
or they will become discouraged.
We all remember the parable of the prodigal son. The
lesson Jesus was teaching was more than our relationships with our parents, but
also the perceptions of our siblings as a result of whatever arguments might
have taken place. Literally, many of us have felt we at one time could have
been considered this “prodigal son”, and it is not separate from one gender to
another. There have been, most likely, in this world, many “prodigal daughters”
as well. Have you ever felt as though you would be in those children’s shoes or
perhaps in the shoes of the brother who had stayed home with his family? What
this shares with us as children of God would be, actually, that, even if we wander
away from the path that Jesus left behind, it doesn’t mean we will be forbidden
from getting back on that path once again. We see more of that in Paul’s letter
to the church at Thessaly.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 KJV – As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
NIV – For you know that we dealt with each of
you as a father deals with his own children,
Yet more controversy found in today’s world for the next
sentence Paul shares to the citizens at Colossae. Servants, in the day of Paul,
were everywhere. In today’s world slavery of all types is frowned upon. This is
because, as most historians have shared, slavery was often a brutal experience.
It’s why Paul was pointing this out. He agreed that we should not have any view
of slavery. Back in those days, Paul would have been considered a contemporary
to Harriet Tubman and the ones who ran the Underground Railroad here in the
United States. Perhaps the abolitionists around the world. Several early Christian
leaders, including Clement I of Rome, Polycarp of Smyrna, Ignatius of Antioch
and Ovidius of Braga, appointed Bishop in what is now known as Portugal, freed
5,000 slaves. This next verse is from Paul, pointing out how slavery should not
be part of a Christian life.
Colossians 3:22 KJV – Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
NIV – Slaves, obey your earthly masters in
everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their
favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Today we are slaves to our
devices, televisions, computers, cellular phones, tablets, even game platforms
and more. We can choose to remain chained to our devices for amusement, or we
can choose to use them to research, to learn more about faith, hope, love, and
more of those graces and godliness as Jesus wishes us to manage. We again hear
the worries of parents for their children and how their discipline works or
fails. Here are four more of those examples.
Malachi 1:6 KJV – “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.
“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
NIV – A son honoureth his
father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour?
and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say,
Wherein have we despised thy name?
Acts 2:46 KJV – And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
NIV – Every day they continued to meet
together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together
with glad and sincere hearts,
Ephesians 6:5 KJV – Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
NIV – Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Titus 2:9 KJV – Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
NIV – Teach slaves to be subject to their
masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,
Paul and the rest of the Apostles along with the disciples
of Christ wanted these early Christians to understand exactly what Jesus wanted
them to teach others around the world, both near and far from Jerusalem. In the
first century after the resurrection, the Apostles were actually considered
renegades by the Jews in Jerusalem and their other strongholds. Yet, even in
the face of danger, they pursued righteousness and taught others to pursue it
as well, not by hiding it, but by proving it in actions, thoughts, and writing
as well as this next verse shares.
Colossians 3:23 KJV – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
NIV – Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Humanity tends to play follow the leader only in some
situations. Often we’ll see those around us who seem to be wandering aimlessly,
whether in thought or action. It’s these “dreamers” the ancient world despised
and proved how much so, sadly. In today’s world the “dreamers” tend to be
treated the same way. We see that, no matter the walk of faith a person
manages. That’s the saddest part of all. Faith is more than a path to follow.
Belief is more than an action we fulfill in our minds and words. Hope is more
than a wish and a dream. This is what Jesus wants us to see and what Paul
desperately wanted to portray to the churches at Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, Colossae,
Thessaly, and the rest. Yet, long before Jesus was thought about, we find this
verse here.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
NIV – Whatever your hand
finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you
are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
This connects us to Paul’s letter to the church at
Ephesus.
Ephesians 6:7 KJV – With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
NIV – Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people,
Serve others as if you are serving God and Jesus. This is
what Paul is sharing. In this next verse Paul reminds us that we need to listen
closely to the Word and pay attention to how His Word transforms us,
individually and collectively.
Colossians 3:24 KJV – Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
NIV – since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
No matter what we do in life, where we live, and any of
that, we have to remember that, as Christians, we are His brothers and sisters.
We are His family. As His family, we need to continue the legacy that is
Christian faith. We see this thought in the words the gospel writer Luke shared
in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 20:32 KJV – And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
NIV – “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
We see similar thoughts from Paul in this next verse.
1 Corinthians 7:22 KJV – For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
NIV –For the one who was a slave when called
to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was
free when called is Christ’s slave.
Though the twelve Apostles spread themselves out around
the world that was known at that time, they still shared their letters
together. Because of this, these words shared in the letter by Peter connect
quite easily with what Paul was sharing to the members of the church at
Colossae.
1 Peter 1:4 KJV –To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
NIV –and into an inheritance that can never
perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
We all make mistakes, and we should know there are
consequences for that. This is something that Paul reminds the citizens of
Colossae. It’s more than the law of the land. God wants us to be repentant when
it is necessary for us to be such. That’s something people in those days, and
even sometimes today, that there are consequences for falling away from the
path. Figuring out how to fix that is seen as an important step for everyone to
take.
Colossians 3:25 KJV – But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
NIV – Anyone who does wrong will be repaid
for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Ah, favoritism, the one thing we parents try not to
portray with our children. It’s something that is not easy to manage sometimes.
Every child is as unique as every adult would be. It is because of this
uniqueness that we learn, act, and react differently, even if we have a twin
sibling. There are things that all of us have within us that can draw us closer
to each other, and, at times, can drive wedges between us as well. This is
something that is as equal to and as opposite of God as possible. We see that
in this connected verse from the Torah, the first five Scrolls of Scripture.
Deuteronomy 10:17 KJV – For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
NIV – For the Lord your God is God of gods
and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality
and accepts no bribes.
Jesus points out an interesting fact in His words to the
twelve Apostles and is something that we need to hear and then think about.
That’s why Paul references this particular statement in his letter to Colossae.
Matthew 16:27 KJV – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
NIV – For the Son of
Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they
have done.
Jesus isn’t speaking of His mortal life here on earth.
He’s speaking of the Second Coming and what will be some of the signs and
symbols that will occur in the moment where Revelation comes in the view of
Armageddon. Paul also reminds us that there are no favorites in God’s kingdom.
We are EQUALS in the eyes of Christ. That’s a major point of view, and
something that, to this very day, causes arguments in all corners of the world.
Listen to what Paul wrote.
Romans 2:11 KJV – For there is no respect of persons with God.
NIV – For God does not show favoritism.
Favoritism still occurs in this world. We see it in all
sorts of points of view. That’s something we, to this day, have not managed to
change in society today. 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: Barbershop Medley ~ And Can It Be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDKW9fuSulU&list=PL614A115BF39E5936&index=27
~ 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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