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.
You will find us in the following locations: 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 pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has had a malignant meningioma removed and has been undergoing rehabilitation. We were updated last week that the meningioma was benign, which is a blessing all the way around.
- Please keep praying for my father-in-law Raymond Neff, who is still recovering from his severe chemical burns, but is thankfully home.
- 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 has just lost a dearly loved family member.
Two who are having money issues.
One who is suffering from fear and worry about family and pets.
One who is suffering from loneliness that keeps them from peace and patience.
One cousin who is having a great many issues in their family, including two suffering cancer, other family issues especially difficult include several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.
- 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 on this beautiful Sunday is to have the Holy Spirit bring joy and peace to our hearts, faith to our minds, and healing to our bodies, and souls this week and always. We pray for family and friends who have health and other issues that are causing upheaval and upsetting family dynamics. We pray for those who have suffered unjustly for things they could not control. We pray for those who have lost faith and live in paralyzing fear 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, weak, and sorrowful people 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: Amazing Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDdvReNKKuk&list=PL614A115BF39E5936&index=84
Sermon: This Sunday like all other days of the week, we should continue to have the glorious knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Risen Lord, our Eternal Savior and the owner and bringer of the Path to Salvation. We begin the third chapter of Romans. There is quite a lot to learn from the writing Paul managed for the Christian church in Rome, even though he never was able to step foot into the city of Rome and the church he desperately wished he could to the end of his days. Let’s begin here.
Romans 3:1 KJV –What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
NIV –What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
The New International Version carries a title for this chapter sharing God’s Faithfulness. This is something it takes a lot of time and effort for all Christians to understand. It sounds so simple, but faithfulness has more facets than the largest jewels in this world. Faith can be ruined as easily as it can blossom and grow. The seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt often are the culprits in this case with Esau. We see this here in this next pair of verses.
Genesis 25:30-34 KJV – And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me. I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said. Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day: and he sware unto him and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
NIV – He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
Remember, at the time of the gift of the birthright Isaac was passing down to his son, it was his younger son to receive it, through deception by his wife, who loved and adored Jacob far more than Esau. The amount of enmity within the hearts of these twin children is rife and easily noticed just in this short passage. We see other similar views in the writings of David, king of the Jews and also his son, Solomon, second king of the Jews.
Psalm 147:20 KJV – He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
NIV – He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
Ecclesiastes 6:8 KJV – For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
NIV – What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
Ecclesiastes 6:11 KJV – Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
NIV – The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?
Jesus
also has a great deal to teach us even now in regard to enmity. We see this
here through the words of the Gospel of John the Beloved.
John 4:22 KJV – Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
NIV – You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Jews were forbidden to speak or interact with the Samaritans. Jesus is the one who broke that rule, and proved the reason for doing such. This is something that Paul points out, that we have so much to learn within Scripture and applying Scripture to our lives every day. Paul recognized and realized just how important it would be for those he wrote letters to. We see part of that importance here.
Romans 3:2 KJV – Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
NIV – Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Paul again reflects on the writings of Moses, King David, and also the writings of the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Deuteronomy 4:8 KJV – And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
NIV – And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
Psalm 147:19-20 KJV – He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
NIV – He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
Acts 7:38 KJV – This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
NIV – He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
Belief and unbelief are discussed throughout the New Testament. We hear about it from Jesus primarily, but also reflected in the words of the Apostles and Disciples as well as the Gospel writers. We see it as they preached, taught, and shared the traditions that Jesus taught them. It is important for us to immerse ourselves in the truth of Jesus Christ and building faith within His unconditional love. In doing so we spread the ultimate gift of unconditional love to those around us. Paul points out that belief is something that doesn’t change the impact of Jesus Christ on our lives. In fact, belief builds up and heightens our righteousness, individually and collectively. This is a very important, integral element of Christianity. Something we don’t see enough of around us today.
Romans 3:3 KJV – For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
NIV – What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
Faith leads to the amazing gift of God’s grace, which is something that plenty of people realized through their belief in Jesus Christ. We see some of this effect with John the beloved’s observation here. We also see it in the reflections of Timothy and in the writings of the Hebrew prophets.
John 1:16 KJV – And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
NIV – Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
2 Timothy 2:13 KJV –If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
NIV –if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Hebrews 4:2 KJV – For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
NIV – For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.
Here comes another notation from Paul. God’s Word is the MOST TRUTH anyone will find in this world we live in. It’s not easy to embrace that. We all know that there are a lot of reasons humanity never fully embraces the divinity of Jesus Christ, of God, to the point where there would not be any of the seven troubles in life. It’s been this way since the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, many, many thousands of years ago. Truth always flows from God. We see this in Paul’s words.
Romans 3:4 KJV – God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
NIV – Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
Righteousness is a journey for all of us to pursue. It is something worth pursuing, not just because it’s in Scripture, but because it gives us a goal toward reaching heaven after this earth as it is today will be over and gone upon the moment Jesus returns to exercise His judgment over all the living and the dead. One of the most misunderstood people in Scripture was Job. Yet, his view is a decidedly human one. Often we have no idea that we are sinning. Job never knew he was one of the first human lab rats. He never realized it was not God who was causing all the death and destruction around him. It wasn’t until everything was said and done that Job realized his faith, or the lack of it, was the true reason for his trials and tribulations. Unbelief, the lack of faith, can wreak havoc on our lives, especially if we don’t pay attention to our personal waning faith in times of trial and tribulation. We see this in Job’s words. His are added to by King David, who also suffered a great many setbacks in his faith, even as king of the Jews.
Job 40:8 KJV – Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
NIV – “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Psalm 51:4 KJV – Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
NIV – Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Psalm 116:11 KJV – I said in my haste, All men are liars.
NIV – in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
Jesus was very good at pointing out the double standards with the Jews and their leadership. It’s proven here in these words shared through the Gospel of Luke. It’s important for us to see the many reasons that repetition occurs so often in Scripture.
Luke 20:16 KJV – He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
NIV – He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
People in the time of Jesus didn’t want to think about the moment when Jesus will judge the living and the dead. For the same reasons as Job couldn’t understand that his faith was being tested, the people around Jesus were the same. We hear something that gets repeated in Paul’s writing, in which he speaks from a “man’s” point of view, a “human” point of view. Many people will say, “but how can I know if it is righteousness or not? How can I understand the true view of righteousness, how it works, and why it’s important to God that we learn this?” This is a typical human view of those who have not realized and recognized the amazing gift it is to have God and Jesus in our daily lives through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is sharing here.
Romans 3:5 KJV – But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
NIV – But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)
Humanity still has a long, long road ahead. We see this fact in these verses that coincide with Paul’s writing.
Genesis 18:25 KJV – That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
NIV – Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Job 8:3 KJV – Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
NIV – Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Paul adds to this with his thoughts shared in the letters to Corinth and Galatia.
1 Corinthians 9:8 KJV –Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
NIV –Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?
Galatians 3:15 KJV – Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
NIV – Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.
The hardest thing for people to understand in their individual walk of faith is that they aren’t alone in this walk. There is always someone with them every step of the way. It is a very personal walk, usually done in a group of people to share the space in Christianity. If we all “go our separate ways” in our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls, we are lost. This is what Paul is cautioning the members of the church at Rome and each of us in this day and time as well.
Romans 3:6 KJV – God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
NIV – Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?
Remember, the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, three parts of the same whole. Understanding the connectiveness of the Holy Trinity will allow us to understand why there were so many steps involved between the expulsion from the Garden of Eden to the Revelation of what shall come in the coming years for humanity as we know it.
Job 34:17-19 KJV – Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
NIV – Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
We are ALL of us SINNERS. We are only PERFECT IN and THROUGH CHRIST. He is our connection to perfection. He is the only way we Christians can enter the gates of heaven. We see more insight as Paul continues his narrative for the Romans in their fledgling view of Christianity.
Romans 3:7 KJV – For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
NIV – Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”
God is not a lie, nor are those who teach about the truth of God liars. Yes, there are false teachers in this world. Yes, there are hypocrites as well. However, true teachers working with Christ and for God know all too well what will happen if they fall to the wayside in their walk in the Word and the exercise of teaching His Word. Teachers and Preachers often have to remind people that, even with the knowledge they have amassed in their walk of faith, there are times when they’ll trip and fall. But that’s why we have confession. That’s why we have prayer. This is something a whole family of brothers had to learn, the hard way, no less. We see this in the siblings of Joseph. This is what they learned about following God’s Unconditional Love.
Genesis 37:8-9 KJV – And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
NIV – His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
Genesis 34:17-19 KJV – But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.
NIV – But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our sister and go.” Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. The young man, who was the most honored of all his father’s family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter.
The sons of Jacob all those years ago learned a huge lesson, that enmity does nothing but bad things to anyone. Enmity affects those who point it toward others and those who are in the path of the same. That’s why it is considered one of the Seven Troubles, or the Seven Deadly Sins as some people refer to them. Paul points out that all of us are fallible because of these seven troubles. We see this here.
Romans 3:7 KJV – For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
NIV – Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”
We again are looking at the words the brothers of Joseph shared with their father upon the moment he realized that Joseph wasn’t with them. They fed him a lie, stirring up fear and sorrow, pain that should never have been inflicted on their father, their mother, and all the rest of their family. This is the epitome of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt, all at once. We see this in these two excerpts from Genesis.
Genesis 37:20 KJV – Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
NIV – “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
Genesis 50:18-20 KJV – And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
NIV – His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
The attitudes of Joseph’s brothers transformed so completely because, for one, they realized that their sins were there in plain view, not just in their subconscious minds. Their sin was proven simply in the existence of their little brother standing there before them, with riches untold, with favor through the Pharoah and his intelligence that was obvious to any who heard his words.
In a foretelling of what was to come, the prophet Isaiah points out that there will be One who does this to a whole new level. That One would be our Savior Jesus Christ. Listen to this foretelling carefully.
Isaiah 10:6-7 KJV – I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
NIV – I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
What exactly is a hypocrite? This is a word some will not fully understand. The word hypocrite is defined as a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. If we put this definition to work within Scripture, we understand all the reasons Jesus went mad and hairy in the temple, routing out the money changers, and all the other sinful elements to point out the fact that truth is more than the eye can realize alone. Truth is something that takes all of our senses to recognize. Luke points out that truth might be as obvious as the nose on our face, but that doesn’t make us see it just as easily.
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.
Remember, those seven troubles have a lot of disguises in this world. Paul points this out in this next verse in the letter to Rome.
Romans 3:8 KJV – And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
NIV – Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is just!
Paul promised it would be a long, and difficult road, to follow Jesus with the devotion required to stay on this path. He promised that there would be no easy steps, or safe havens in this world outside the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and our Heavenly Father. It’s not something we learn all at once. Though, many of us wish we could do just that. Jesus brings this comfort to us in His Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:11 KJV – Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
NIV – “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Paul reflects on his letters to Corinth and on the words of Peter as well.
2 Corinthians 6:8 KJV –By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
NIV –through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
2 Corinthians 11:15 KJV –Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
NIV –It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
1 Peter 3:16-17 KJV –Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
NIV –keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
No one is better than another. We can’t be seen as anything but equal. There is a reason for that. God doesn’t see money. He doesn’t see education. He doesn’t see stature or status in society. To Him, as it is to Jesus, we are ALL EQUAL. This is why Jesus said to the rich man to strip himself of his wealth and stature and follow out of faith, not out of any other point of view. Paul is reminding us that following Jesus requires something that has nothing to do with money, stature or status, education or lack thereof. We see that in these words here.
Romans 3:9 KJV – What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
NIV – What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.
Here, Paul again points out that sin is everywhere. It is in everything and around everything because it has existed since the Garden of Eden. Sin is death until and unless we embrace our Christian faith fully, and realize that, even with our faults and failures, we can simply ask God and Jesus for forgiveness. Paul again draws influence from all through Scripture. We see this failure through King Solomon, Isaiah, and the gospel writer Luke.
Proverbs 20:9 KJV – Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
NIV – Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"?
Isaiah 65:5 KJV – Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
NIV – who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.
Luke 7:39 KJV – Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
NIV – When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Paul again adds to this with his letters to the churches at Galatia. He reflects on the Mosaic writings in Deuteronomy. In fact, there are a hundred verses that speak of this failure. They occur everywhere through the entire Bible. These two verses are just the beginning.
Galatians 3:10 KJV – For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
NIV – For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Galatians 3:22 KJV – But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
NIV – But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Paul points out the “curse” of humanity in his writing. This isn’t the only way he shares that we should be very careful about what we do, what we say, and how as well, when it comes to our faith and sharing it with each other. Listen to His Word with your whole heart, all your attention, and you’ll realize and recognize the truth as it is meant to be seen. On the day when the roll is called up yonder, let’s all pray to be there. 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: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPz5W2e3794
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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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 © 2023 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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