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 spent a day or more in the hospital trying to get things back on track with his medication and more due to his respiratory and circulatory issues. He was feeling well enough and responding well to treatment enough to spend his birthday at home celebrating with family.
- Pray for the war torn countries of Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, and Ukraine.
- Pray for the victims of the many shootings around this world this past week.
- One friend 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 cousin is having a great many issues in their family including several diagnoses that are a lot to process for them.
- Continue praying for our aunt and the family and friends of our uncle who succumbed to cancer about ten days ago now.
- My high school friend Jessica lost her mother this past week.
- My daughter-in-law Tori’s grandfather will be having a mass removed soon and the family has asked for prayers that it is easily done, and everything is good afterwards.
- Please pray for my sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Tony Angeloff, who both suffered a fall and are in a great deal of pain as a result. They are both scheduled for an MRI to find out what’s going on.
- 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.
- Pray for peace on earth and good will to men as Scripture shares.
Prayer: Father in heaven, we are here to lift up our voices to You in quiet and solemn prayer. We pray for the friends and family who have lost loved ones this week. We pray for those who have suffered any form of illness or pain, that their bodies and minds return to perfect health. We pray for those who have had any form of chaos in their lives this week and awaiting them as well, that they find calm and the patience to endure it. We pray for our leaders, worldwide, that they listen to Your voice over everything else and make good, beneficial decisions in all that they do. We pray that those who are facing winter’s chaos, including those who are not accustomed to the brutal cold, would find peace and sanity within it. 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: How Firm a Foundation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwGW8qRqz4I
Sermon: Today we are beginning our study of the scroll of Romans in the eleventh chapter. We are going to prove, through the Scriptures that each and every one of you is worthy of becoming a resident of heaven’s many mansions. Today we are recapping a lot of the history of Israel, the chosen people of God. Why does Paul feel the necessity to do this? Well, in the days there in Rome, a lot of misinformation could easily be attributed incorrectly to the Scriptures. It’s why early Christian priests were very, very wary of translating Scripture into any language other than Hebrew. It is also why, even the Roman Catholic church, refused to translate Scripture into any other language beyond Latin, Greek, or Hebrew. Paul sought purity in the Word as Jesus shared it. There were no frills, no embellishments when it came to the Word as shared by any of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. We see that quite clearly here as we begin this chapter.
Romans 11:1 KJV – I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
NIV – I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
The descendants of Benjamin were warriors, not peacemakers. Jacob, Benjamin’s father, even noted Benjamin’s demeanor as that of a ravenous wolf on the warpath. Paul points out that the Israelites, the Hebrews, were not forgotten, because he could prove it as easily as the prophets of old could do so. He references Samuel and Jeremiah from the Old Testament and also our Lord and Savior Jesus.
1 Samuel 12:22 KJV –For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
NIV –For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.
Jeremiah 31:37 KJV – Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
NIV – This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 33:24 KJV – Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
NIV – “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation.
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!”
Paul also draws references to his second letter to Corinth and also his letter to Philippi.
2 Corinthians 11:22 KJV –Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
NIV –Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
Philippians 3:5 KJV – Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
NIV – circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
With the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ there were a lot of people who followed Him but were shaky in their faith after His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. It isn’t a surprise that their faith was shaken. This has happened to a great many people in the two millennia since then as well. Paul means to reassure the ones who are reading this letter. Now, in order to understand this more easily, I have divided it up a bit differently so we can put everything in context. Here is what Paul shares in the next three verses.
Romans 11:2-4 KJV – God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
NIV – God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Paul again references well known historical documentation of the Old Testament writers, including those historians of the Jewish kings as shown in this next series of verses.
1 Kings 19:10-14 KJV –And he said, I have
been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have
forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold,
the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake
in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and
after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after
the fire a still small voice.
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle,
and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came
a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and
slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek
my life, to take it away.
NIV – He replied, “I have been very
zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,
torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the
only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord,
for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks
before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an
earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a
fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle
whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out
and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites
have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to
death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill
me too.”
1 Kings 19:18 KJV –Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
NIV –Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Paul adds to this with the writings of King David and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah.
Psalm 94:14 KJV – For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
NIV – For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.
Isaiah 4:3 KJV – And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
NIV – Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 31:37 KJV – Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
NIV – This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord.
Nehemiah 9:26 KJV – Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
NIV – “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies.
Again Paul references the Word as shared by Jesus Christ our Savior. This time he refers to the gospel as shared by Mark and references his first letter to Corinth as well.
Mark 12:26 KJV – And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
NIV – Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
1 Corinthians 8:3 KJV –But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
NIV –But whoever loves God is known by God.
Now, Paul adds some insight for us even this far into the future. He speaks about something that is distinctly only available by those who believe with all their hearts through the faith they have developed in the Word as our Lord and Savior shared it. This distinct something that we as true believers receive just for that reason is “GRACE”. It is by the “GRACE” of our Savior Jesus Christ that we are saved from eternal death and destruction. This gift came to us the moment we chose to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and God as the Father of everything. Those who believe by faith alone are very special to Jesus Christ and to God Himself as well. This is what Paul is sharing next.
Romans 11:5-6 KJV – Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
NIV – So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
We have spoken about the difference between ancient Jewish traditions and true Christian practice. One of those is that good deeds, good works, are not enough to get us anywhere in God’s love. In fact, faith alone is enough. Remember, Jesus told us that faith, even in the smallest of amounts, like the mustard seed, can blossom into something phenomenal. (Matthew 17, Luke 13 & 17) We have to nurture our faith with prayer, and solemn study of the Word, in order to understand everything that God has promised us and all the promises that the life of Jesus Christ confirmed. Here are Paul’s inspirations for this portion of the letter he wrote to Rome.
Isaiah 4:3 KJV – And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
NIV – Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
Luke 6:13 KJV – And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
NIV – When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Ephesians 1:5-6 KJV – Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
NIV – he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Paul has so much to share that we need to spend quite a lot of time in smaller bits of the letter to ensure that we do not miss something. He points out something regarding the need for faith to grow like that mustard seed as Jesus taught. He points out that those who believe through faith have done something that those who can’t, or won’t believe. We are the “elect” of Jesus Christ. He has become our personal protection from eternal death and destruction. We’ve all heard about guardian angels, but Jesus is far, far, more powerful than the angels. Remember, even God spoke about this all throughout Scripture, that Jesus would judge the living and the dead, and that He would rule over the angels and humanity right beside God the Father. That’s a lot to have on one set of shoulders, yet Jesus went into the idea willingly because He sees something in all of us that is worthy of redemption. Now, it is up to you, individually and collectively, to find the reason Jesus chose you and here is part of the method toward doing so.
Romans 11:7 KJV – What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
NIV – What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,
Now, Paul wants us to have our faith surpass even the wildest of our dreams in redemption. He wants us to celebrate the fact that we are the chosen who will meet Jesus at the gates of heaven. Again he references the earliest kings of the Jews, in this case King Solomon, the son of David.
Proverbs 1:28 KJV – Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
NIV – “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,
God points out that we can’t just expect Him to be there in the blink of eyelashes. We have to work our faith and then we will see what that exercise manages to manifest in our lives. Some of us don’t realize that this takes 100%, yes, every ounce, of our thoughts, actions, and reactions every single day to focus ourselves toward faith and the pursuit of it. We can’t grow our faith if we don’t feed it. How do we do so? We read the Word. We recite it out loud. We follow the practices laid out in the New Testament. We heed the history of the Old Testament, so we do not fall away from the path and repeat that same history. We don’t want to fall back into those old habits because they will lead us in the opposite direction than Jesus does. This is pointed out through the words of Isaiah, Matthew, and Mark as well.
Isaiah 6:10 KJV – Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
NIV – Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Isaiah 44:18 KJV – They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
NIV – They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
Matthew 13:14-15 KJV – And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
NIV – In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
Mark 6:52 KJV – For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
NIV – for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Paul adds to these references with two from his letters written to Corinth and Ephesus.
2 Corinthians 3:14 KJV –But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
NIV –But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
Ephesians 4:18 KJV – Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
NIV – They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Our last verse from this chapter of Romans is mostly done in parentheses, which truthfully speak volumes all by themselves.
Romans 11:8 KJV – (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
NIV – as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Now, why would Paul separate half of his thoughts like this? In truth, if you look closely, he is actually emphasizing something specifically for us to understand. Every person can be led astray by the world that surrounds them. Every person has the ability to turn the world away and follow Jesus. Paul points out that following Jesus doesn’t require our eyes, or any of our human senses. It requires our hearts, our spirits, our very souls. This is what Paul is teaching the ones who read his letters. He is giving us a valuable lesson. Don’t believe everything you hear or see in this world. Believe God. Believe Jesus. Believe in your faith and have faith in your belief. That is what will make you stronger. That is what will lead you to heaven’s gates. Paul references the Torah and the prophets of the Old Testament and then also references our Lord and Savior Jesus in the Gospel as written by Matthew.
Deuteronomy 29:4 KJV – Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
NIV – But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.
Isaiah 6:9 KJV – And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
NIV – He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Isaiah 29:10 KJV – For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
NIV – The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep: He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers).
Jeremiah 5:21 KJV – Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
NIV – Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
Ezekiel 12:2 KJV – Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
NIV – “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.
Ezekiel 20:26 KJV – And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.
NIV – I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.’
Matthew 13:13 KJV – Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
NIV – This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
Why do we tell stories and share fairy tales? There are lessons to learn and one way to do so is to put it in story form because people will remember them better that way. History can be dry and boring, causing people to lose interest. Parables, short stories as Jesus shared them, are simple, but very effective in getting His point across. When we share our faith with each other, it can be done similarly, through poetry, music, and so much more. God wants us to be able to share the Word in as many formats as possible, written, spoken, sung, all of them. This is how faith leads to the path that Jesus left for us. 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: Mustard Seed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6TWuCBz3wU
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2024 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not toexploit 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.
