Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our written 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. Evangelist Cal Jennings had a pair of stents put in his heart during his time in hospital last week. Pray they hold well for him.
- Pray for my sister’s youngest child who is headed for scoliosis surgery this summer at the end of June. He’s also been sick for the past couple of days. Pray that he feels better, and that the surgery goes well.
- Pray for my daughter and son-in-law’s family members as they work through some serious family issues.
- Pray for my close friend Janice as she works my job and hers this week while I am on vacation.
- 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 my employer, Ed, who has been diagnosed with skin cancer and is seeking treatment in a couple weeks. Keep his wife Joy in prayer as well as she continues treatment for chronic issues that have caused a whole lot of pain.
- 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 incurable 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.
- Pray for peace
on earth and good will to men as Scripture shares as
Christians everywhere are
celebrating Easter Sunday.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so many we bring to You on this beautiful Sunday. We pray for those who are ill and in need of healing through Your grace. We pray for those who suffer from deadly situations worldwide and those who have been in accidents of all forms. 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: He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ0crxOVEEQ
Sermon: Today we are continuing our voyage through the fifteenth chapter of Romans. This sermon will not be live due to my being out of town on a much needed vacation with my husband. We encounter yet another teaching moment for Paul in his letter to Rome. It’s very important for people to realize when these teaching moments occur within their congregations as well as families. Take advantage of those teaching moments and you will learn as much as the ones you are teaching. With that, let us begin.
Romans 15:8 KJV – Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
NIV – For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed
Remember, Paul isn’t speaking to just Jews in Rome. He’s speaking to Gentiles too. This is something Jesus wanted to happen as He proved when speaking to the Gentiles Himself. Now, Paul and the Apostles were doing just what Jesus wanted to happen, and what God had planned to happen many, many years prior. Paul references King David, King Solomon, and Jesus as shared in the gospel of Matthew.
Psalm 98:2-3 KJV – The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 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 – The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Proverbs 8:7 KJV – For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
NIV – My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
Matthew 15:24 KJV – But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
NIV – He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Matthew 20:28 KJV – Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
NIV – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Paul includes the writings of his pupil Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and also a reference to his second letter to the church at Corinth.
Acts 3:26 KJV – Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
NIV – When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV –For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
NIV –For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
Paul adds to his words for the church at Rome that they needed to hear for encouragement to study the Word together as a complete Christian congregation.
Romans 15:9 KJV – And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
NIV – and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Paul is also pointing out that we need to keep praising God for His grace, and in gratitude for everything provided for us. He references the words of Samuel, King David, and Matthew as well.
2 Samuel 22:50 KJV –Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
NIV –Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
Psalm 18:49 KJV – Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
NIV – Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
Matthew 9:8 KJV – But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
NIV – When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
Paul continues to provide a welcoming tone to the citizens of Rome and the congregation of the church there.
Romans 15:10 KJV – And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
NIV – Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
Paul goes back to the Torah and then includes the words of King David once more.
Deuteronomy 32:43 KJV – Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
NIV – Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people.
Psalm 66:1-4 KJV – Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
NIV – Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”
Psalm 67:3-4 KJV – Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
NIV – May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
Paul adds yet another familiar reference from the scroll of Isaiah.
Isaiah 66:10 KJV – Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
NIV – “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.
Remember, many people compared the coming of Jesus to the return of Elijah, who was carried away in a chariot of fire before the eyes of Elisha. This was a prophetic consideration because God Himself said that there would be a day when Elijah would return to the earth. Remember, because of the great friendship God had with Elijah, he was chosen to escape an earthly death. We all have that potential through belief in God and faith in Jesus Christ. Here’s how Paul says we should behave in the house of God.
Romans 15:11-12 KJV – And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
NIV – And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
Paul references King David, Isaiah, Matthew, John’s first letter, and his Revelation as well.
Psalm 117:1 KJV – O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
NIV – Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
Isaiah 11:10 KJV – And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
NIV – In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Matthew 12:21 KJV – And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
NIV – In his name the nations will put their hope.”
1 John 3:3 KJV –And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
NIV –All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Revelation 5:5 KJV – And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
NIV – Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 22:16 KJV – I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
NIV – “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Now, Paul wants to fill the membership of the church with a comforting dose of hope, joy, peace, all of which are considered fruits of the Spirit. This is what he shares next.
Romans 15:13 KJV – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
NIV – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
There are many places through Scripture that relate to the Holy Spirit and how we should foster learning through that same Holy Spirit. We see references from the first book Samuel wrote, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the prophet Joel as well.
1 Samuel 1:18 KJV –And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
NIV –She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Isaiah 55:12 KJV – For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
NIV – You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Jeremiah 14:8 KJV – O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
NIV – You who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night?
Joel 3:16 KJV – The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
NIV – The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Paul adds the comforting words of our Savior Jesus Christ as told in the gospel of John the Beloved.
John 14:1 KJV – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
NIV – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
John 14:27 KJV – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
NIV – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Paul compliments the members of the church at Rome, wanting them to pay attention more and congratulates them for doing so. It’s important for us to feel good about studying God’s Word and teaching others around us as we learn new things about how the Word affects our personal life. This is the “goodness” Paul speaks of here.
Romans 15:14-15 KJV – And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
NIV – Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of
goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Yet I
have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again,
because of the grace God gave me
Paul references his letters to Corinth and Ephesus in this one as well.
1 Corinthians 12:8 KJV –For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
NIV –To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
2 Corinthians 8:7 KJV –Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
NIV –But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Ephesians 5:9 KJV – (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
NIV – (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
Paul also references his fellow Apostle Peter and his second letter.
2 Peter 1:13 KJV –Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
NIV –I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
2 Peter 3:1 KJV –This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
NIV –Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Paul wants the Gentiles of Rome to understand that his letter is meant to be an extension of him actually being in their presence so that the gospel of God through Jesus Christ could affect them with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. This is the same “helper” Jesus promised the Apostles prior to His being arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified. He knew that the twelve would not understand until after He rose from the dead to ascend into Heaven. This is what Paul is offering, reassurance that the members of the church at Rome were not alone.
Romans 15:16 KJV – That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
NIV – to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Paul again references the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 66:19-20 KJV – And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
NIV – “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.
Paul adds to this with Luke’s writings in the Acts of the Apostles and also his first letter to Corinth.
Acts 9:15 KJV – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
NIV – But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Acts 20:24 KJV – But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
NIV – However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
1 Corinthians 3:5 KJV –Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
NIV –What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
God wants us to teach our families, our friends, about what it means to understand Scripture and to lean on its guidance through the faith we have in the fact that Jesus Christ died for us on that day so long. Our faith needs to grow and gain strength for our ability to believe that which we cannot see with our eyes, or hear with our ears. That is why 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: Kumbaya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jjcxFGEysE&list=PL614A115BF39E5936&index=123&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB
~ 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 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.
Thank you so much Rev. Laura! Have a wonderful vacation!
ReplyDelete