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.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings and his dog Scrappy are thankful for your prayers.
- Pray for my friend Mary and her family. They lost a very good friend a week ago Friday, and one of their two remaining dogs, and another dear friend’s house burned to the ground as well just two days ago.
- Pray for my granddaughter Maria who has been sick with a double ear infection this week.
- Pray for my friend Janice who has had a very bad cold, sinus infection, and sore throat, for the past two weeks as well. Keep her mother in prayer as well. She too has been sick and is still having issues after a stroke last year.
- Pray for my niece, Joy Angeloff, and her family after her stepfather passed away.
- Pray for a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
- Pray for another high school friend, her name is Lori, who lost her mother-in-law this past week.
- Pray for a friend who has had a lot of issues to deal with in their life and is working hard to straighten them out. A lot of questions in regard to their health and more have plagued this person for quite a while. They have said they appreciate our prayers.
- Pray for those who were killed in accidents and violent criminal actions this past week, and for the families who are saying good-bye.
- Be thankful for each day as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Holy 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 as
Christians everywhere are
celebrating the season of Lent.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so many we bring to You for healing and comfort through their trials and tribulations. We pray for Kelly, Mary, Joy and her family, Janice and her mother, Cal and Scrappy, and Maria as well. We pray for those who have been brought to harm around this world last week. We add to that those who have been falsely imprisoned and all who are being punished unjustly. We add to this with those who are fighting through their health conditions far and wide. We pray that they hear Your voice and feel Your presence in their lives. 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: Jesus Saves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwZqhx8eSN4
Sermon: Today we are beginning the twelfth chapter of Romans. Paul is preaching about purity and what it means to follow this thought, body, mind, heart, spirit, and soul. It is very important for us to present ourselves as purely human spirits without the trappings of everyday things that occur. This is a specific instruction he delivers.
Romans 12:1 KJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
NIV – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Jesus gave His life, His human form, to provide us with salvation. He did so as an innocent person, without flaw, without blemish, of any form and formula. It’s not easy to be that kind of pure. But remember, with Christ we can be anything. With Christ, we can do anything. There is a reason that God provided us with a method toward salvation. Paul references the earliest inklings of salvation all the way back in the Torah, and carried this breath of a promise through David as well. We see this promise holding strong here.
Deuteronomy 14:2 KJV – For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
NIV – for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
Psalm 50:14 KJV – Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
NIV – “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
Paul also references his first letter to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV –Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
NIV –I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV –For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
NIV –you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Remember a while back we spoke about not allowing our hearts to be turned toward what is earthly, or worldly? This is something we are drawn towards through Scripture, because God says it throughout from the Garden of Eden and through Revelation. It is up to us to follow the directions within the Word to get us from here where we are all the way down the path toward eternal life as promised by Jesus. Paul points out one of those methods toward doing just that.
Romans 12:2 KJV – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
NIV – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Transformation, this is very, very important in the stepping stones that Jesus left for us to traverse to His open arms. If you think about it for a moment, you’ll see that evil and wickedness all follow a pattern that leads us in circles, twists, curves, endless holes that seem impossible to travel toward safety, security, hope, and peace in the world of God’s Unconditional Love. Paul shares this through the prophetic books of Scripture to start.
Ezra 10:11 KJV – Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
NIV – Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”
Paul adds to this with the words of our Savior Jesus Christ shared in the gospels of Matthew and Mark.
Matthew 13:22 KJV – He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
NIV – The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:19 KJV – And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
NIV – but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Paul also gains insight from his letter as he wrote to the churches in Galatia and Ephesus as well.
Galatians 1:4 KJV – Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
NIV – who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Ephesians 4:23-24 KJV – And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
NIV – to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 5:10 KJV – Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
NIV – and find out what pleases the Lord.
Now, Paul again brings to mind something that is very important for us to get fixed in our minds. He wants us to “THINK ABOUT” our walk with Jesus, our path toward God’s promise of redemption through the Unconditional Love that Jesus has promised us for over two millennia now. This is how we should pursue that gift of grace.
Romans 12:3 KJV – For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
NIV – For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Now, Paul warns us in this about those seven troubles we are always speaking of. He points out how one leads to another, and so forth throughout all seven of them. He also points out that there are ways to avoid this cascade effect. To do so, he goes back to the words of the wise King Solomon.
Proverbs 16:18-19 KJV – Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
NIV – Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
Proverbs 25:27 KJV – It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
NIV – It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
Ecclesiastes 7:16 KJV – Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
NIV – Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
Paul then adds to that with reference to his first letter to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 3:10 KJV –According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
NIV –By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
Everyone has a place in God’s Holy Church as begun through the work of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Every person has their own place, none of them being the same. Yet, all of them connect one to the next creating unity, hope, peace, and more. This is how Paul shares these thoughts, actions, and reactions.
Romans 12:4-5 KJV – For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
NIV – For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Of course, Jesus and His Word would be a primary contributor to Paul’s writing. Here Paul draws reference to the words of our Savior Jesus through the gospel written by John the Beloved here.
John 17:11 KJV –And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
NIV – I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
Paul then connects this further in the writings he managed for the churches at Corinth and Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 6:15 KJV –Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
NIV –Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 10:17 KJV –For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
NIV –Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 10:33 KJV –Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
NIV –even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV –For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
NIV –Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:20 KJV –But now are they many members, yet but one body.
NIV –As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV –Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
NIV –Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Ephesians 4:4 KJV – There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
NIV – There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Ephesians 4:12 KJV – For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
NIV – to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Ephesians 4:16 KJV – From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
NIV – From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Paul continues with this in his letter to the Romans.
Romans 12:6 KJV – Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
NIV – We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
Paul points out that grace transforms each of us in unique ways. All of us have our own talents, aspirations, passions and more. They are not the same as the person you are sitting next to, behind, or in front of, whether at work, school, or even on a bus, in traffic, or at the office. This includes the supper table in your family home. He again references the Word of our Savior Jesus as shared in the gospels of Matthew and Luke as well as the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 23:34 KJV – Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
NIV – Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
Luke 11:49 KJV – Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
NIV – Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’
Acts 13:1 KJV – Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
NIV – Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
Acts 2:17 KJV – And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
NIV – “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Paul adds to this with his insight to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:5-7 KJV –That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
NIV – For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
1 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV –And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
NIV –Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Paul points out that every person has their position in the church that is our salvation. Whether we teach, preach, or serve in any other formula. Paul invokes the Great Commission shared in Matthew 28, which I suggest you study to see that Jesus was talking to you as well.
Romans 12:7 KJV – Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
NIV – if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
Teaching is important throughout Scripture. God insisted on the children learning. He also insisted that even the elders had to continue learning each and every day. We see this in the Torah and through the prophetic and poetic books as well.
Deuteronomy 33:10 KJV – They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
NIV – He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Psalm 34:11 KJV – Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
NIV – Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 21:8 KJV – And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
NIV – And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
1 Samuel 12:23 KJV –Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
NIV –As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
Ezekiel 3:17-21 KJV – Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
NIV – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
“Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
Ezekiel 33:7-9 KJV – So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
NIV – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
Again Paul is focusing on how we should be teaching and preaching the Word. If we transform one person from wickedness to holiness, from atheist to Christian, from ignorant to knowledgeable and wise, and even if it is only one person, then we have accomplished the work that Jesus set forth for us to manage. If many people are willing to follow along, then our work has increased His gift of grace toward the many, as opposed to the few. This is how Paul shares that.
Romans 12:8 KJV – Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
NIV – if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
What does it take to get anyone excited about learning? Encouragement! We have to cheer them on to help get them motivated to do the studying. This is where teachers put their skills to work. The same can be said for preachers, priests, chaplains, evangelists, prophets, and more. We see this sentiment all the way back in the Torah.
Genesis 18:19 KJV – For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
NIV – For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
Deuteronomy 15:8-11 KJV – But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
NIV – Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
This is added to with one of the most tragic people spoken of throughout Scripture, and one that Paul refers to quite often. His name was Job, and he had to learn a lot regarding faith, hope, and more as his life was taken on a literal rollercoaster, with twists, turns, ups, downs, and everything in between.
Job 31:16-20 KJV – If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
NIV – “If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless— but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow— if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,
But Job isn’t the only one who had a lot of learning to do. Even kings were not immune to the need for study when it comes to God’s Word and how He wants us to learn. Here we see as one of the most famous kings, the first king of the Jews, David, spent quite a lot of his life learning.
Psalm 101:1-8 KJV – I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.
NIV – I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil. Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.
Even David’s son, also king of the Jews, Solomon, had moments where he had to learn, to be taught, and then to pass on the lessons learned to those who surrounded him.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
NIV – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Every person in this world can learn something new about their faith, their understanding of Scripture, and the gospel writer Luke proves this with his words that shared the Acts of the Apostles after the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:36 KJV – And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
NIV – Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),
Acts 11:23 KJV – Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
NIV – When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Acts 13:15 KJV – And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
NIV – After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
If we are to be stewards of true faith, we have to speak up. We have to showcase the Word as it should always be seen. Pure Fact, Pure Truth, Pure Hope in the Faith that each of us can grow from the smallest of inklings into the gigantic leaps toward Salvation, which is the complete transformation from life as we know it to eternal life as we choose to pursue it. 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: What A Friend We Have In Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi1-5kmbkyQ
~ 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 © 2024 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.
