https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_zkOtfe68
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 both feeling a little bit better and thank everyone for their prayers.
- Pray for my sister’s youngest child who is headed for scoliosis surgery this summer at the end of June. Pray that goes well.
- Pray for my daughter and son-in-law’s family members as they work through some serious family issues.
- Pray for my friend Janice who is still fighting lingering effects of COVID 19. She is still suffering with a low-grade fever and the exhaustion, but still tests negative. Let’s hope that she recovers from the lingering effects soon.
- Pray for Janice’s mother who has also been sick and is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues.
- Pray for a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who has been diagnosed with cancer and is going through a lot of emotions and more as a result. Her treatments have been going on for the past few weeks now and she’s got quite a few more to go through before it is done.
- Continue to keep my Aunt Donna in your prayers. She is hanging on even with the cancer treatments and the many changes she is going through.
- Pray for my sister and brother-in-law as they go through the chaos of job hunting after my brother-in-law was laid off.
- Pray for my niece, Autumn, who is having a lot of health issues relative to a head injury from a car wreck. Pray that the doctors find a solution to fix everything.
- 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 now.
- 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 all of
those who suffer from cancer and other uncurable
diseases and conditions that they be
secure in God’s embrace through
the Holy Spirit.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so many we bring to You on this beautiful Sunday. We have family members who need Your comfort and Your healing. We have friends who need cures and caring with their sickness. We have friends and family with pain and sorrow, worry and fear together in their lives and this needs to be removed. We pray for those who need Your counsel and Your support with the things that are going through their lives. We pray for those who are in danger of the aftermath of natural disaster, war, famine, storm and terror. Please build our faith and hope with Your Holy Spirit through Your Son and His wonderful faith in us. 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: This is the Day – sheet music included.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXZwW0D2OZ4
Sermon: Today we remain on our voyage through the scroll of Romans as we continue with the middle portion of the fourteenth chapter. This is a sermon on one of the most difficult concepts we have in this world. The concept is judgement. What is good judgement according to God and Jesus? When does judgement cross over to the bad side of that same concept? This is something that I myself have been asked so many times. I quote one of the sentences Jesus spoke more than once in all of Scripture. Paul is reflecting on that very same thought in today’s reading. Let’s begin here.
Romans 14:9 KJV – For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
NIV – For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
Now, remember last week’s sermon? I combined the last two sentences Paul shared in verses seven and eight of chapter fourteen. What did he say? “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Paul points out that there was a specific reason for God to have Jesus die on the cross. Jesus had a reason to resurrect and then to ascend to heaven. The aim was to end the one thing that had started in the Garden of Eden. What was this? Sin! What did sin bring? Death! What did Jesus accomplish the day He died on the cross? He defeated Eternal Death and Damnation. Here is where Paul drew his influence from as well.
Isaiah 53:10-12 KJV – Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
NIV – Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Matthew 28:18 KJV – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
NIV – Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Luke 24:26 KJV – Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
NIV – Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
John 5:22-23 KJV – For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
NIV – Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
John 5:27-29 KJV – And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
NIV – And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
John 12:24 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
NIV – Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Acts 10:36 KJV – The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
NIV – You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 10:42 KJV – And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
NIV – He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
None of us is immune from final judgement. Everyone will face Jesus Christ on the last day of this world as we know it. EVERYONE! Paul points out that we are far too judgmental of each other. Now, sure, there are places where judgment is necessary. We see this in the court systems worldwide. If we didn’t exercise wise judgment with a full understanding of all circumstances relative to the incident, then this world would be an even worse place than it actually already is. If we didn’t exercise wise decision-making in this world tyranny would run amok and we’d be a royal mess. This is what Paul is pointing out here.
Romans 14:10 KJV – But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand the judgment seat of Christ.
NIV – You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
Contempt is a very bad thing to allow to reign in your psyche. It doesn’t do you any good and surely doesn’t help you get from point a to point b easily. You have to be careful in how you pursue your dreams and aspirations. It’s the same thing for daily tasks and challenges that may come our way. We have all the tools for righteous judgment. We can find it throughout Scripture. These are Paul’s reference points for this.
Ecclesiastes 11:9 KJV – Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
NIV – You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV – For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
NIV – For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Matthew 7:1 KJV – Judge not, that ye be not judged.
NIV – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
Matthew 25:31-32 KJV – When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
NIV – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Luke 18:9 KJV – And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
NIV – To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:
Luke 23:11 KJV – And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
NIV – Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.
We have to remember, JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. Jesus is the only one that stands between us and eternal damnation in the sea of fire known as Hell. It’s not an imaginary place. It’s absolutely a real place. It is described quite well in Scripture, and we should be terrified to have such a place as destiny for those who fall away from righteousness.
Romans 14:11 KJV – For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
NIV – It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
Paul again references the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 45:22-25 KJV – Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
NIV – “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in him.
Isaiah 49:18 KJV – Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
NIV – Lift up your eyes and look around; all your children gather and come to you. As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “you will wear them all as ornaments; you will put them on, like a bride.
He returns to the focus on what Jesus shared. Paul then adds to this with his writings to the church at Philippi.
Matthew 10:32 KJV – Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
NIV – “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
Philippians 2:10 KJV – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
NIV – that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Every person on this earth, living and dead, has to answer for everything that has occurred as a result of our existence. Every lie, every injury inflicted on the mind, body, spirit, or soul of others, or even ourselves, is recorded and Jesus will point out every last one as we stand in front of Him. Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s a scary truth. This is why we confess our sins to Him in prayer and meditation and ask for forgiveness. This is why we have to learn how to forgive others, no matter the infraction made or injury inflicted. It’s not easy. The Lord knows how hard it can be. But even Jesus asked God to forgive those who parted His garments and drew lots for them. Jesus asked God to forgive the two thieves that died beside him. Jesus asked God to forgive all those who were there watching Him die and laughing about it. It is important that we should reflect on what we will say when it is us sitting there waiting on judgment. What will you say? What will you do? Sorry is just a word, and it is often used far too little, and entirely too late. This is why Paul offers this cautionary point of view for the people in the church at Rome.
Romans 14:12 KJV – So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
NIV – So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Paul again points to the words of our Savior Jesus Christ, and these words should spur you toward confession and owning up to the sinful things you have done. Every word, every thought, every action, and every reaction will have its moment at the time of judgement, and we often forget this. Here are the words of our Savior Jesus and they are words to live by.
Matthew 12:36 KJV – But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
NIV – But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
Matthew 16:27 KJV – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
NIV – For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 18:23 KJV – Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
NIV – “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Paul follows up with a reference to his second letter to the church at Corinth and his letter to Galatia.
2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV –For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
NIV –For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Galatians 6:5 KJV – For every man shall bear his own burden.
NIV – for each one should carry their own load.
He then adds to this with a reference from his fellow apostle, Peter.
1 Peter 4:5 KJV –Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
NIV –But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Now, here is where Paul clarifies how we should use “righteous judgment” as opposed to rushing to judgment or even worse, complete and utter condemnation.
Romans 14:13 KJV – Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
NIV – Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Paul goes back all the way to Samuel for this reference, before returning to the words that Jesus spoke in rebuke to the apostle Peter and the rest of the apostles as well.
2 Samuel 12:14 KJV –Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
NIV –But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”
Matthew 16:23 KJV – But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
NIV – Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Luke 12:57 KJV – Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
NIV – “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Paul adds to this with the wisdom that comes from the half brother of Jesus, young James the Just.
James 2:4 KJV – Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
NIV – have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
James 4:11 KJV – Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
NIV – Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Judgment comes in many different points of view. It comes through in the foods we choose to eat and how we eat them. It comes through in the people we associate with or avoid. We see it in the books we read, the television shows we watch, the work we do, and even the style of church or ministry we choose to guide us spiritually. Here is what Paul shares about this.
Romans 14:14 KJV – I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
NIV – I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
Do you wash your hands before you eat if you’ve been working in places other than an office? Do you wash your face before you eat? It all depends on the environment you’ve just walked away from to eat your meal. It depends on whether you have the ability to do so where you might work, live, or pursue leisure within. This is why we see these references Paul shares.
Mark 7:2 KJV – And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
NIV – and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
Acts 10:14-15 KJV – But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
NIV – “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Acts 10:28 KJV – And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
NIV – He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
Acts 11:8-9 KJV – But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
NIV – “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
1 Corinthians 8:7 KJV –Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
NIV –But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
Titus 1:15 KJV – Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
NIV – To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
Jesus washed us in His blood when He died on the cross. Remember, when the soldier pierced His side, and water flowed out? Jesus baptized the people there with His own bodily fluids as He breathed His last breath and gave up the ghost. It’s an important image, because most often we do not realize how much blood was pouring out of Jesus while He hung on that cross. The points where the soldiers nailed into His hands and feet are vital points, quite literally severing serious veins and arteries, ligaments, tendons, and more in His body, thus causing intense and unbearable pain as He hung there for hours and hours in the heat of the day. There is a reason Jesus went through all of that pain. He did it so we don’t have to. We should be grateful for that, and show that gratitude toward our fellow man. This is what Paul shares.
Romans 14:15 KJV – But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
NIV – If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
Lies, they are very harmful, no matter whether it is yourself, or those who you’ve lied about. Those lies affect you, and the person, and all those who are around you that are residually affected by these lies. The thing is, people don’t often realize that one little white lie is not little to the ones caught in the crossfire, and, because of that, they are as black as black can be. This is what we see in these references Paul brings from both the Old and New Testament.
Ezekiel 13:22 KJV – Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
NIV – Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives,
1 Corinthians 8:11 KJV –And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
NIV –So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
Ephesians 5:22 KJV – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
NIV – Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
2 Peter 2:1 KJV –But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
NIV –But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
1 John 2:2 KJV –And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
NIV –He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Each of us has a job to do when it comes to faith and pursuit of it. We have to remember that Jesus wants us to share that faith and put everything bad behind us. Clear the slate. Clean out the cobwebs of lies and hate, fear and torment, because all it does it hurt you in the long run. It’s important to build your faith, your unconditional love, and all the different facets therein. 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: Just As I Am ~ Hymnal page 354 Sheet Music Attached
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxA0TFe3-Uo
~ 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.
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