Covenant Of Hope Ministries: Palm Sunday Is a Celebration of the Hope of Eternal Life

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 and sharing 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, including a fall this past week that jarred him a bit. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has just gone through surgery to remove a malignant meningioma and has been undergoing rehabilitation.

- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being.

One who is recovering from yet another fall, which thankfully didn’t cause more injuries.

One who has been suffering from a great deal of anxiety, with most of the source still unknown.

Two who have just qualified for a new home and will be moving in the next month or so. We want to wish them all the happiness a home of their own should bring.

Two who have other housing issues right now.

Three who have lost a beloved pet in this past week.

- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel and overly high demand.

- Pray for those who have suffered from violent events, that they heal and do not have scarred psyches and that those who have lost their loved ones to violence find peace in the face of fear.

- Pray for comfort and solace to be shared with those who have said farewell to a loved one this week, known or unknown.

- 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 Holy Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for those who have suffered unjustly for things they could not control. We pray for those who have lost all faith and live in fear, despair, and sorrow. We pray for the homeless and the jobless in this world. We pray for the hungry and the malnourished. We pray for the poor, weary, and weak in this world. We pray in thanksgiving for all the great gifts that You have given us, even if we don’t always realize they are there. We pray in hope and patience for those things that are worrying us in our hearts and minds. 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: Hillsong ~ Hosanna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoM0AT8fBvs

Sermon: It is Palm Sunday, today, a true celebration of all that Jesus taught, as a warning of what was and is to come, and a foretelling of all the glory eternal life can bring. Though normally we would explore the gospels for the celebration of the Day of Palms, God showed me that the background of this time period would be illustrated in similar ways through the words of Paul in his letter to the citizens of the church at Rome. This week we are continuing our study of the second chapter. We have learned quite a lot about how Paul constructs his letters to the various churches. Though his style is completely different from John the Beloved, James, Jude and Peter, as we have noted before, his point is never lost in translation. Paul realized that there were serious issues within these fledgling churches, and was instantly reminded of things that our Savior Jesus Christ did to prove the point God had in sending Him to save us, not in His life and living, but in His death and resurrection. Paul is in despair that everything that had already occurred was in vain. His words share this emotion.

Romans 2:9 KJV – Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

NIV – There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;

Evil, Paul shares, those who commit evil acts, Jews first because he and Jesus, with the other Apostles, were ALL born and raised Jewish. Gentiles, because Jesus said EVERYONE should be equal in right and wrong, reward and punishment. These ideals seem old fashioned to the world today, as we have noticed in too many ways. Tried and true, this old thought process transcends the two millennia that have passed since Jesus preached gospel. However, this sentiment came from far, far, back in the history of this world as we see it in these six instances before Jesus was ever born.

2 Chronicles 6:23 KJV –Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

NIV –then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.

Psalm 32:10 KJV – Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

NIV – Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Proverbs 11:23 KJV – The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

NIV – The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

Ezekiel 22:31 KJV – Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

NIV – So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

Amos 3:2 KJV – You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

NIV – “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”

The gospel writer Luke also alludes to this being an ancient thought process made new in the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Acts 3:26 KJV – Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

NIV – When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Paul and the Apostles had to do everything that Jesus taught them without His physical guidance. But, because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, they could still draw inspiration from their time with Him here on earth. Here are some of the gifts we can receive through faith and full belief in our Savior for who He is as He was, past, present, and future.

Romans 2:10 KJV – But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

NIV – but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Paul again draws from experiences in other letters, with other people that surrounded him in that time period. We see this through his references in his first letter to Timothy, in the words of the Hebrew prophets and the first letter Peter wrote.

1 Timothy 1:17 KJV –Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

NIV –Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 2:7 KJV – Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

NIV – You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor

1 Peter 1:7 KJV – That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

NIV –These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Equality, that’s something we still are working to achieve even today, two thousand years after Jesus began the practice of treating men, women, children, Jews and Gentiles equally. God proved equality, but too often men and women were blinded by the seven troubles on this earth to see that fact. We see this even today around this world. One of the biggest views of the seven troubles in this world is summed up in a single word. That word is “favoritism”. We see so much of this in the world past and present, that we are often buried under it. Humanity, despite our efforts to prove otherwise, believes that one color is more superior than others, rich over poor, educated over uneducated, and so forth, and so on. This next sentence Paul shares points this very large view of the seven troubles out.

Romans 2:11 KJV – For there is no respect of persons with God.

NIV – For God does not show favoritism.

Playing favorites is something we see in the workplace, in school, and, sadly, in the home. It’s something that Scripture has often pointed out, that human beings are overwhelmed with these seven troubles that were unleashed upon the earth through the actions of Eve and the influence of the serpent, Satan in disguise. Moses, Job, and the gospel writer Luke portray it this way.

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.

Deuteronomy 16:19 KJV – Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

NIV – Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.

Job 34:19 KJV – How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

NIV – who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

Acts 10:34 KJV – Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

NIV – Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

The law and the prophets, we’ve heard that a lot in Scripture. Paul again points out this connection to our salvation. He says it this way.

Romans 2:12 KJV – For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

NIV – All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

What is the LAW according to Paul’s writing? What is the LAW as it is portrayed by Jesus Christ? The LAW is that we are to LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE LOVES US. We find this in the gospel of John chapter 13. We have to have many elements of the lessons Jesus taught to understand what those three words mean. We need to develop an understanding into both how and why they are so specific as they pertain to life as we live it. We see some of that in these verses supporting Paul’s writing.

Acts 2:23 KJV – Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

NIV – This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

1 Corinthians 9:21 KJV –To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

NIV –To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

Hearers and doers of the law are before God. The doers of the law gain this in respect of so doing.

Romans 2:13 KJV – (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

NIV – For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

What is the difference between HEARING and DOING the law? The answer is “CHOICE”. We have the choice to be good and just, or bad and unjust. We have the choice to love one another, as Jesus taught, or not. We have the choice to follow God, or walk away. It is automatic to listen, but a choice to hear. This is something mankind was given from the very beginning of creation. It was a choice for Eve to listen to the serpent. It was a choice for Adam to listen to his wife. It was a choice for the Twelve Apostles to follow Jesus and take what they learned to share it with so many after the resurrection. Let’s share together in instances of this passive and active view of faith through Jeremiah and Jesus as well as another letter Paul wrote, this the first one to the church at Corinth and from James the Just, younger half-brother of Jesus.

Jeremiah 11:6 KJV – Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.

NIV – The LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them.

Matthew 7:21-24 KJV – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

NIV – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

John 13:17 KJV – If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

NIV – Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

1 Corinthians 4:4 KJV –For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

NIV –My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

James 1:22 KJV – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

NIV – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Paul wants to portray something very important to the church at Rome. There is more to being faithful than being a Jew. In this case, Paul points out that there’s more than LAW in regard to faith and the following of that faith. He does so in a very simple illustration, drawing influence from Jesus and His interaction with the Gentiles. It’s important to recognize and realize that, in the very fact that Jesus included the Gentiles in His teachings, we should be willing to include all types of people, old, young, faithful, or not, in the worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God our Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit. There is no segregation in heaven like the segregation we see around this world, even this far into existence.

Romans 2:14 KJV – For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

NIV – (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Paul references his letters to Corinth and Ephesus as well as the words of his scribe, Luke the writer of one of four gospels sharing the Word of God, our Savior and Salvation, Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:35 KJV – But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

NIV – but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

1 Corinthians 9:21 KJV –To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

NIV –To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

Ephesians 2:3 KJV – Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

NIV – All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Being one of the faithful servants of God through our Savior Jesus Christ has new facets every single day. We are introduced to them in many ways through life. As Jesus said, some would be teachers, ministers, preachers, peacemakers, evangelists, prophets, and so much more. Paul is reflecting on this distinction in his next line. Each of those who would fulfill the roles that Jesus laid out had to have these elements within them.

Romans 2:15 KJV – Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

NIV – They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

The LAW was there from the very beginning. God created the LAW because of the failure of Adam and Eve to keep the law in their hearts, despite what might happen around them. We see this in how they reacted to God walking in the Garden of Eden after eating the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 3:8-11 KJV – And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

NIV – Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Added to this, the situation was passed on from generation to generation. We see this with Abraham and Abimelek, the king of Gerar, and Sarah. Abimelek had no idea that he was sinning against God because Abraham showed fear when it came to the revelation that he was married to Sarah. Fear can do some crazy things to human beings and their common sense, following the law, and so on. We see proof of that here.

Genesis 20:5 KJV – Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

NIV – Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

We see the same thing when it comes to the sons of Jacob and their treatment of the youngest brother, Joseph. Their sin eats at their very souls as shared here.

Genesis 42:21-22 KJV – And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

NIV – They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”

An observation by John the Beloved and a confession Paul makes proves it that much further.

John 8:9 KJV – And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

NIV – At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

Acts 23:1 KJV – And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

NIV – Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Paul admonishes the church at Rome that there are consequences to all actions, whether they are immediate or delayed. Judgment is coming, regardless of the time frame. In the judgment by Jesus at the last day earth as we know it ceases to exist, all will face judgment. Human, animal, and so forth, all will learn their fate at that moment. This is what Paul alludes to here.

Romans 2:16 KJV – In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

NIV – This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Paul states, unequivocally, that Jesus Christ is the one standing as God’s judge for each of us. It’s a job that Jesus never wanted. We saw that through all the lessons Jesus taught. No matter how much love He shared with those surrounding Him, they had no realization as to what His calling meant for them as time passed. One of those who shared this thought was King Solomon. We see that in his words here.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV – For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

NIV – For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

God will indeed bring judgment through Jesus as our Savior shares in these words recorded by John the Beloved.

John 5:22-29 KJV – For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

NIV – Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

The gospel writers had quite an education of our Savior’s words and actions and how they coincided with God’s Word from the beginning. He was the Word alive and breathing. He is the Word, still alive and breathing through the Holy Spirit. This is something all true Christians need to recognize. The gospel writer, Luke, and Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth accentuate this thought.

Acts 10:42 KJV – And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

NIV – He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 17:31 KJV – Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

NIV – For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV –Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

NIV –Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

The last verse we are covering today is this one. It points out who those reading and listening to Paul’s letter needed to be reminded of. It’s something we all have to remind ourselves for. We are, all of us, member of the body of Christ, the Church. The amount of time we spend sharing His Word with each other, studying, reading, sharing, praying, singing, reflects on our ability to realize and recognize the importance of this. Paul shares it this way.

Romans 2:17 KJV – Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

NIV – Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;

Again, the writings of Paul are reflections of many views throughout Scripture, including these influences from the Old Testament.

Isaiah 48:2 KJV – For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.

NIV – you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city and claim to rely on the God of Israel— the LORD Almighty is his name:

Micah 3:11 KJV – The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

NIV – Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.”

Paul reflects, again, on the Word of God through the voice of our Savior Jesus Christ. He sends us again to the gospel according to John the Beloved.

John 5:39 KJV – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

NIV – You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

John 5:45 KJV – Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

NIV – “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.

Here is the reaction many had upon learning of Jesus Christ and His teachings. They were as afraid of Him as they were angry about His actions and reactions to the sins of humanity at the time. Imagine how it would be if it were to be occurring here and now with the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame and doubt as they are seen in every possible format in this world today, here and now. How many will say this in regard to our Savior’s call to repent?

John 9:28 KJV – Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

NIV – Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!

There is so much we could say just on these few words as shared by Paul to the church at Rome. All of us has the opportunity to realize and recognize that we are only perfect when we have Jesus in our lives, start to finish, in our minds, hearts, spirits, souls, our words and actions and reactions. One final thought, please read the passages in the gospels of Matthew chapter 21, Luke chapter 19, Mark chapter 1, and John chapter 12. Each of them describe the moment Palm Sunday was begun. 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: Johnny Cash ~ Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T8qwVjfvms

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: 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.

Covenant Of Hope Ministries

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Sunday, April 2, 2023

Palm Sunday Is a Celebration of the Hope of Eternal Life

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