Building Upon the Ultimate Cornerstone Is What We Must Do

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpjnFwedAqY

 

Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live 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 location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube

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 in his own apartment for a couple months now and enjoying it immensely. He’s been having issues with pain and pain relief of late and other respiratory and circulatory issues.

- 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.

        There are several suffering in what appears to be no-win situations and are having to pursue legal methods that will hopefully help them out of their personal mess that spills over to other friends, family, and colleagues.

        There are a few who are having chronic ongoing health issues, and diseases including cancer for several of them.

        One who is continually suffering from loneliness that keeps them from peace and patience.  

        Continue praying for our uncle as we haven’t had any updates to his condition at this time.

- Pray for the families in Israel and Palestine who have been attacked so terribly by the terrorist organization of Hamas.

- 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 who have lost their lives in the pursuit of faith and hope.

- 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 peace, faith, hope, and unconditional love to hearts, minds, spirits, and souls of friends, family, and colleagues in this world. We pray for several who are on personal prayer lists quite often lately. We pray for answers to questions we only ask of You this week. We pray for relief from natural disasters around this world. We pray for our hungry and homeless in this world, that they find housing and healthy food to eat. We pray for those who are suffering the devastation of terrorist led war and the destruction that follows it. We pray for honesty and humility to be heard from our leading officials around this world. 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: Randy Travis ~ My Rock, My Sword, My Shield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i94DRAQ_Zyw

 

 

 

Sermon: Today we are completing our study of the ninth chapter in the scroll of Romans. Something Paul does often in his letters is point out the things that everyone in their churches go through, not just the congregations, but the leadership for them. Finding that foothold in our Christianity and our faith within it, and having leadership that supports your growth allows us to walk the path Jesus left for us one by one, together, shoulder to shoulder. It’s not easy to be a leader, and Paul knew this. He points to other leaders of the Jews including Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many more.

 

Romans 9:27 KJV – Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

NIV – Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.

 

Here are his reference points for Abraham and Isaiah.

 

Genesis 22:17 KJV – That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

NIV – I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,

 

Isaiah 10:22 KJV – For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

NIV – Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.

 

We have to add Jeremiah, Hosea, and Joel and their prophetic leadership.

 

Jeremiah 44:14 KJV – So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.

NIV – None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”

 

Hosea 1:10 KJV – Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

NIV – “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’

 

Joel 2:32 KJV – And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

NIV – And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

 

There is a whole lot that Isaiah did in his work to lead the Jews toward God and godly lives. This is something Paul literally spent his entire life to manage after the resurrection. Paul points out that God has work to do within each of us. He points out that Jesus started the process, and the Spirit continues that as long as we allow the Spirit within us, heart, mind, body, spirit, and soul. This is what Paul shares next.

 

Romans 9:28 KJV – For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

NIV – For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”

 

Paul again reflects on the words of the prophet Isaiah here.

 

Isaiah 10:22-23 KJV – For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

NIV – Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.

 

Isaiah 28:22 KJV – Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

NIV – Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.

 

Isaiah 30:12-14 KJV – Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

NIV – Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.”

 

Paul adds to these with the perspective shared through Daniel.

 

Daniel 9:26-27 KJV – And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

NIV – After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

 

Paul now reflects on something that Isaiah shared regarding Sabaoth, (pronounced Sah-bay-awth). This person was in the first scroll of Samuel. Now, Sabaoth’s father, named Yaldabaoth (pronounced Y-al-da-bay-oth) suffered a deep envy for his son’s ability to lead. As we know, envy is one of the seven troubles we often speak of. Envy, jealousy, has been experienced by just about everyone and has caused many arguments, fights, wars, and more. That’s why it is part of the seven troubles in the first place, because there is so much wrong that can occur just by allowing the seeds of envy to first be sown and then to take root. It isn’t a good thing for anyone, and this is what Paul is warning the citizens of the church at Rome against.

 

Romans 9:29 KJV – And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

NIV – It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”

 

He brings up one of the most discussed portions of Scripture, Sodom and Gomorrah. Paul doesn’t try to make it sound pretty, because it wouldn’t be possible to gloss over anything that happened in those cities. The consequences that befell the people of those two cities were shocking, and definitely proved that we do not want to provoke the wrath of God in any way if that’s just a sample of how much God’s wrath can manage. Remember, after the epic flood where Noah rode the waves in an ark, God promised He would never flood the whole earth again. He also promised that He would never wreak that amount of havoc on this earth. When the sins and horrors of Sodom and Gomorrah were too great to ignore, God didn’t see any other route toward changing it, and that’s why he saved Lot, and all who were his kin. It’s why Lot was able to pick up stakes and run for his very life, and for the lives of his entire family. Paul is warning the people at Rome that their habits and their leniency were going to literally be their downfall. Here’s where Paul brings insight to his thoughts.

 

Deuteronomy 29:23 KJV – And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

NIV – The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger.

 

Paul adds to this with references again from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and this time Amos added to them.

 

Isaiah 1:9-10 KJV – Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

NIV – Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

 

Jeremiah 49:18 KJV – As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

NIV – As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns,” says the Lord, “so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it.

 

Jeremiah 50:40 KJV – As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

NIV – As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighboring towns,” declares the Lord, “so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it.

 

Amos 4:11 KJV – I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

NIV – “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

 

Paul is now including the Gentiles into his letter. The reason for that is many Jews still felt that the Gentiles should not have anything to do with the celebration of Christianity, or of God in any formula because the interaction between Jews and Gentiles had been forbidden by God for so long. It was Jesus who changed that and there are reasons for doing so that are not explained in Paul’s writing.

 

Romans 9:30 KJV – What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

NIV – What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

 

Again Paul references righteousness and wickedness, faith is something that can be taught, and also must be part of us without fail as we pursue Christianity. Faith is the primary element of all Christians and their pursuit of righteousness. Remember, wickedness and righteousness are polar opposites. The Scriptures share many of the comparisons and contrasts for these two throughout Scripture, and you can tell that these two are pulling us back and forth because the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt are so deeply seeded in humanity. We see in the words of King Solomon what some of these tug-of-war worthy elements can be like on our individual and collective lives.

 

Proverbs 15:9 KJV – The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

NIV – The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

 

Proverbs 21:21 KJV – He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

NIV – Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

 

Now in this next part of the letter Paul wrote to the church at Rome it required me to put two verses together. The reason for this would in fact be because, in order to get the whole picture, we can’t split these two verses without getting lost in translation. Paul again is speaking of faith and the difference between how the Jews of old were required to pursue faith through good works. Jesus insisted on the opposite. It’s not about how many times you do good deeds. Faith without works, that is how Jews of the age back then were like, if you don’t work on your good deeds, then you wouldn’t achieve righteousness.

Jesus literally wagged His finger in front of many faces and said works guarantee nothing in righteousness. Faith and belief carry far more weight. Remember the parable of the mustard seed as shared by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew in Chapter 17. Remember, the smallest shows of true faith are more valuable than a lifetime of good deeds. Sharing your faith with those around you, no matter if they are family, friends, colleagues, or perfect strangers. That tiny step of faith is worth more than anything on this earth. That is the whole point of that parable and what Paul is sharing here.

 

Romans 9:31-32 KJV – But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

NIV – but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

 

Again Paul is referencing the prophet Isaiah.

 

Isaiah 8:14-15 KJV – And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

NIV – He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.”

 

Isaiah 51:1 KJV – Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

NIV – “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;

 

Paul adds these memories from the Gospel of Matthew and the words of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Matthew 13:57 KJV – And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

NIV – And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

 

Matthew 19:16-20 KJV – And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

NIV – Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

 

It is important to realize just how important the groundwork that was managed with God’s works among His people, far, far back in history and on through to this moment in time. He points this out with the words of Simeon for Mary, and, at the time, the infant named Jesus.

 

Luke 2:34 KJV – And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

NIV – Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

 

Paul adds to this with a reference to his fellow apostle, Peter, and the letter Paul wrote to the church at Galatia.

 

1 Peter 2:6-8 KJV –Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

NIV – For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

 

Galatians 5:4 KJV – Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

NIV – You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

 

Paul, in this last verse of the ninth chapter, driving the point of his letter home. How did he do this? He pointed to the cornerstone which most of the world at the time thought was more a stumbling block than a cornerstone of faith, hope, and unconditional love. That cornerstone is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is what Paul shares.

 

Romans 9:33 KJV – As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

NIV – As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

 

Again Paul adds to this with reference to the words of King David and also the prophet Isaiah.

 

Psalm 119:116 KJV – Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

NIV – Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.

 

Isaiah 8:14 KJV – And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

NIV – He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

 

Isaiah 28:16 KJV – Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

NIV – So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

 

Added to this Paul again references the direct words of Jesus through the eyes of the gospel writer Matthew.

 

Matthew 21:42 KJV – Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

NIV – Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

 

Jesus Christ should always be your foundation stone, your personal cornerstone because He lived and died for each and every one of us. All He asks is that we grow our faith and share that gift with others around us. If you are ready to welcome Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today, please leave me a note, follow us here at Covenant of Hope Ministries, and we’ll welcome you with open arms. 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: Jordan Merritt and Travis Ryan ~ Shalom ~ https://youtu.be/prKxZwPav8A

 

 

 

~ 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

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

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