MESSENGER

Sunday, December 17, 2023

The Miracles of John and Jesus Affect Us Even Now

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpCv2kJqdns

 

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 continue to pray for my grandson Levi one week after his birth at 34 weeks. So far he is eating well and is alert and following faces and voices, both excellent signs for being born prematurely. He is a little jaundiced, which is keeping him in the NICU for the time being.

- Please also keep my daughter-in-law Rebecca in your prayers that she continues to heal and does well after the marathon she went through last week and on through most of the past two.

- Please pray that the house for my daughter, Deanna, son-in-law, Douglas and granddaughter, Maria, gets completed in time for Christmas for them. They’ve been waiting for a long, long time for its completion.

- Please pray for my friend Jessica who has been recovering from an illness that caused all sorts of issues for almost two weeks.

- Please pray for a young man named Tyrone, who hurt his knee at work quite recently and is on the slow road toward healing.

- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who continues to have issues with pain and pain relief of late and other respiratory and circulatory issues. He has come off one medication that was causing issues with vertigo and is much better at the moment.

- Please continue praying for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has been in rehabilitation after having her benign brain tumor removed.

- Pray for all of the travelers as we prepare for the Christmas holiday in the next week that everyone reaches their destination safely.

- Pray for the war torn countries of Israel and Kuwait at this time.

- Pray for the victims and survivors of the attacks by Hamas.

- Pray for the victims of the many shootings around this world this past week.

- 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 come to me with fear and worry in their life regarding serious health issues and more going on. Pray that they find a solution to the health issues and improve their life in many ways at long last (SGE).

        One suffered an injury to their shoulder.

Several who are having money issues of varying degrees.

        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.  

        One cousin is having a great many issues in their family include several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.

- Continue praying for our uncle who is now in rehabilitation while suffering from cancer, for which he will undergo treatment soon. Our aunt, his wife, is also suffering from cancer, due for a double mastectomy and treatment as well. They both thank you all for your prayers.

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

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.

 

Prayer: Father in heaven, we are here to lift up our voices to You in prayer. This week we are inching toward the celebration of Christmas and the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help us to remember the reason for the season is to love one another as Jesus loves us, and as You have always loved us. Help us to learn patience, and to persevere even in the toughest of times. Help this world find peace after war, healing after devastation, and hope in the midst of despair. Help those who are missing loved ones that cannot be here with them this Christmas. Help those who live with their memories so that they can also be present in the here and now even with those old pains and sorrows creeping to the surface. We pray for all of this in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

 

Opening Song: Josh Groban ~ It Came Upon A Midnight Clear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13oqAS91r7o&list=PLAV7hQToHN7SJMTk2_Q8vFJTJfZRBTPow&index=112

 

 

 

Sermon: Today we are continuing our study of the gospel story of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ as told by the gospel writer Luke. Here we begin where we left off last week.  

Luke 1:39-45 KJV – And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

NIV – At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

 

These two cousins, the elder and the younger, are about to prove the existence of God in the amazing feats the pair would be a part of. Elizabeth, elderly, long past the normal point of ability to have a viable pregnancy, preparing to give birth to her first child with her husband Zacharias. Mary, who had never known a man, was promised to a man, Joseph, who learned that she was pregnant already, and she was accepted regardless for marriage. These two immense hurdles for the two women were met head on by the two men who would be the fathers of these children. One, Zacharias, was so shocked he literally could no longer speak. Another, Joseph, strong in his faith in God and the understanding of what had happened was all in God’s plan. There are others in Scripture who went through seemingly impossible things as well. Here are some references that are given validity because of Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph.

 

Judges 5:24 KJV – Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

NIV – “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

 

Psalm 34:2-3 KJV – My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

NIV – I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

 

Psalm 35:9 KJV – And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

NIV – Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.

 

Mary’s song is important because it portrays her as a young woman with hidden strength that provides a steady thought process even in the midst of the impossible thoughts. It’s one of those things we have to remember. With God everything is possible. Scripture proves it from Genesis to Revelation. Humanity wants to believe that there is no possible way that things like Immaculate Conception, water turning to wine, the lame could walk, the blind could see, but God proved it all possible, way, way back in Scripture and this is what Mary is sharing here.

 

Luke 1:46-56 KJV –And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

 

NIV –And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

 

These two cousins realize that the births of their first children, two sons, through the miracles of God, held more promise to them than anything else that had ever happened in the history of humanity. We know from history now they were right. The births of these two little boys, John and Jesus, would provide a solid path toward righteousness and to eternal life, just as God had promised Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, Abraham and all the rest. Here we see some of those inklings, and including the Word as spoken by Jesus on His sermon on the mount.

 

Psalm 71:19 KJV – Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

NIV – Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?

 

Psalm 126:2-3 KJV – Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

NIV – Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

 

Genesis 17:7 KJV – And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

NIV – I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

 

Exodus 20:6 KJV – And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

NIV – but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

 

Exodus 34:6-7 KJV – And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

NIV – And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

 

Psalm 98:1 KJV – O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

NIV – Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

 

Isaiah 40:10 KJV – Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

NIV – See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

 

Matthew 5:6 KJV – Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

NIV – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 

Isaiah 41:8 KJV – But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

NIV – “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,

 

Psalm 98:3 KJV – He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

NIV – He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

 

Genesis 17:7 KJV – And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

NIV – I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

 

Genesis 17:19 KJV – And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

NIV – Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

 

Psalm 132:11 KJV – The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

NIV – The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.

 

God’s oaths are often referred to as covenants. We’ve spoken about covenants before as being a rarely broken promise between God and man. Look around. This earth is still here. Despite the earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, famines, and more, there is still solid ground. There is still hope, no matter how crazy the weather is, or how much chaos is occurring, God has a plan, and we’re all part of it. Now we’ve watched the news and heard all about the chaos in this world. Rarely do we hear about the good things. Why is that? Chaos sells, of course. It gives the actors and actresses something to dramatize. It gives politicians something to grasp at in regard to policies that may, or may not, be brought to the table. It gives lawyers, judges and the rest something to do in prosecuting or protecting the many as opposed to the few. Some stories, though, need to be remembered, and the stories of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ would be two of them that are actually one. So here’s where we hear about the birth of the first of these.

 

Luke 1:57-64 KJV –Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

 

NIV – When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

 

Now, Jewish tradition in the circumcision of their sons after eight days continues to this day. Many Christians also have their sons circumcised as well these days, taking the example of Jesus with the Apostles this far into the future. Here’s the history of this tradition.

 

Genesis 17:12 KJV – And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

NIV – For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.

 

Leviticus 12:3 KJV – And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

NIV – On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.

 

What do you do when you see something that should be impossible? How about when you hear something that is impossible? Think about it this way, even with all the miracles in this world, only some make people stop in their tracks and say, “How in the world?” Here’s one of those moments.

 

Luke 1:65-70 KJV –And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

NIV – All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Song
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

 

Zechariah’s ancestors had their moments as well. We see them here.

 

Genesis 39:2 KJV – And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

NIV – The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

 

Acts 11:21 KJV – And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

NIV – The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

 

Joel 2:28 KJV – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

NIV – “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

 

1 Kings 1:48 KJV –And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

NIV –and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”

 

2 Samuel 22:3 KJV –The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

NIV – my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me.

 

The births of John and Jesus were God’s foundation for bringing salvation to the entirety of mankind. Everything that had occurred to that point needed to do so or none of us would ever have become reality for our parents, grandparents, and all the rest of our ancestors. The same can be said for our children, grandchildren, and on forward beyond what we may ever realize. Our enemies are many, even though most of them remain unseen before us here and now. This is what we hear from the gospel of Luke next.

 

Luke 1:71-75 KJV –That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

NIV –salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

 

The word “covenant” is being put to use for good reason in these verses. It was a covenant promise God made to Adam. He repeated it to Abraham and Isaac, Noah, David, Solomon, and more. He proved it time and again in the fact that all the way from the beginning, a lineage could be traced all the way to the births of each and every person here on this earth today. Here we listen to more of those promises made.

 

Leviticus 26:42 KJV – Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

NIV – I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

 

Genesis 12:3 KJV – And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

NIV – I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

 

Hebrews 9:14 KJV – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

NIV – How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

 

Jeremiah 32:39 KJV – And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

NIV – I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV –But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

NIV –But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

 

Jeremiah 31:34 KJV – And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

NIV – No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

 

Isaiah 9:2 KJV – The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

NIV – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

 

Matthew 4:16 KJV – The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

NIV – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

 

Matthew 3:1 KJV – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

NIV – In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

 

Everyone should have a mission in life, even from childhood. John, cousin to Jesus, had one. Jesus had one as well. Here we see the beginning of this amazing mission to bring God back to the people, and the people back to God in a very significant way.

 

Luke 1:76-80 KJV –And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

NIV –And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

 

The precedents for the work that John and Jesus were set to do reach way, way back into the days of the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah. The work John and Jesus did was life-changing then, and remains so to this day. Every life-changing, earth-shattering, mold-breaking moment has a footprint from the past. Even the walk that John the Baptist managed in the wilderness, and the work Jesus managed in the temples and other places around their world had threads intertwined with the past, and we see some of those in the words of Jeremiah and Isaiah here.

 

Jeremiah 31:34 KJV – And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

NIV – No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

 

Isaiah 9:2 KJV – The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

NIV – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

 

 

Christmas is coming soon, and we all will experience that moment where the world stands still in the midst of the celebrations that occur to celebrate the greatest gift ever received, the birth of a Savior named Jesus, in Hebrew Yeshua, Emmanuel, and it all started in a little stable in the city of Bethlehem on a silent night. When you hear the songs, Silent Night and Do You Hear What I Hear, remember, the voice you should be listening for is from God and His name is Jesus. Faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. 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: Nat King Cole ~ O Little Town of Bethlehem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKORmpW4Cg&list=PLAV7hQToHN7SJMTk2_Q8vFJTJfZRBTPow&index=161

 

 

 

~ 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

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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