https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPwIUj1DFh0
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.
- This week will mark the twenty-third anniversary of 9-11-2001 celebrated in the United States as Patriot’s Day in memory of those 2,977 victims, and 300 emergency responders including fire, police, and rescuers, lost on that terrifying, tragic day. Many are asked to “never forget” that moment in time. Though there are several other dates we continue to “never forget”, this one struck a serious chord around the world because of the locations that were struck and the fact that the ones who committed these crimes destroyed the lives of thousands of people from all around the world all in less than one day beginning at 7:59 AM and ending at 11:00 PM after the final building fell in New York City and one entire section of the Pentagon collapsed.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is taking life day by day with his dog Scrappy. Cal has been having issues with his stomach and also with pain levels. They appreciate all the prayers as the two of them continue to take life one day at a time.
- My daughter has asked if we could add three people from her life onto our prayer list. One of them is named Ms. Ramona and works with my daughter, she was rushed to the hospital and has been ordered to be on bed rest until further notice. The second is her husband Douglas’s grandmother, who has a tentative diagnosis of dementia. The last is her husband’s grandfather, known to everyone as Papa John, who is suffering depression due to his memory issues.
- Please pray for my Mama who has been going through a lot of out of the ordinary stresses where she is right now, and just needs some spiritual support for the time being.
- Please pray for a friend of ours, Tyrone, who is still having issues with recovering from an injury managed at work that has affected his daily life in too many ways. Pray for his healing.
- Pray for Janice’s mother who is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues. Pray for Janice as well, she’s been in quite a lot of pain due to migraines and a fall she suffered a short time ago.
- Pray for my employer, Ed, who had a mini-stroke a little over three weeks ago. He’s been put on a new medication and is better, but still needs prayer for other things going on in his life.
- Please keep my employer’s wife, Joy, in prayer as she has been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease.
- One of my sisters is going through some serious stresses that are affecting everything right now, let’s pray she gets relief from these issues.
- Pray for a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who is finally done with her chemo. She has survived the loss of her hair and the debilitating results of chemotherapy. Let us pray that the evil disease of cancer is gone from her body forever. May God’s blessings wrap around her and protect her keeping her spirits high and her pain low.
- 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 niece, Autumn, who is having a lot of health issues relative to a head injury from a car wreck. The wreck caused her to now suffer from seizures with an epilepsy diagnosis.
- Pray for Pastor Stephen Okoth in Nakuru, Kenya, as one of our outreach ministers for fifteen years. He and his congregation have done amazing work there in Kenya. God has been with them and the prayers we bring help as well.
- Pray for our other outreach ministers and the work they do, including Rev. Lisa Tyler, one of my mentors, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, and the family of Pastor Robert Nganwa from Uganda who passed away a couple years ago, but the church continues on.
- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there is a grim anniversary to reflect upon for many in this world. Please help us comfort those who have lost so much and so many. We pray for those who have been ill, in pain, and deeply sad or sorrowful. Those include Evangelist Cal Jennings, a friend, Tyrone, my Mother, Ann, my Aunt Donna, my Niece Autumn, Douglas’s grandparents, Papa John, and his grandmother. We pray for the memory issues that plague Janice’s mother, and all the other chaos that the family has been through. We include my employer and his wife, Ed and Joy and their health issues as well. Added to them all includes friends Mary and Kelly, who have just gone through serious issues in their own health, may they find good health and great news in the future. 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 Little Light of Mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRgHmsY_3kU
Sermon: We will complete the fourth chapter in 1 Timothy today. In order to do so with some degree of understanding, we actually have to go back to the 8th verse of this chapter to give greater clarity. That verse is:
1 Timothy 4:8 KJV – For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
NIV – For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Paul wants his readers and listeners to understand that though physical exercise may seem beneficial, it isn’t as important as spiritual nutrition and spiritual exercise, which is literally salvation for the human soul. He continues this point of view with these next two verses.
1 Timothy 4:9-10 KJV –This is a faithful
saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For
therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living
God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
NIV –This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
Paul goes back to the writing of King David as his first point of reference.
Psalm 36:6 KJV – Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
NIV – Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
Psalm 107:2-6 KJV – Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
NIV – Let
the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of
the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and
west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they
could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their
lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he
delivered them from their distress.
One thing people often need to be reminded of is exactly what happened even with the Apostles. That is the fact that Jesus Christ was born to be our salvation, from the first day of His earthly life, to His ascension into heaven and beyond that to this very day. We first hear Peter, originally Simon Peter, and his reaction to a question Jesus asked.
Matthew 16:16 KJV – And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
NIV – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Paul then adds the words of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:21 KJV – His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
NIV – “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
John 4:42 KJV – And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
NIV – They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
John 5:24 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
NIV – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
1 John 5:10-13 KJV –He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
NIV –Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- Concluding Affirmations -
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Paul continues to address the congregation in Lystra, led by Timothy and his family. He’s pointing toward the Word of Jesus, and God as being taught as he, Timothy, had been trained by Paul. It is important to understand the parts of life we should emphasize in ministry, whether we are ordained, or not. Portraying God’s Word as it should be, in its purest form, is something every person should work toward. This means studying the Word, taking the Word to heart and pursuing its instruction with all our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls.
1 Timothy 4:11-12 KJV –These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
NIV –Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
Paul has only one reference from the Old Testament scrolls. That one is from the prophet Zechariah. This prophet was doing his best to get people back to worshiping God, and not other idols and more. It wasn’t easy, but he did as God led him to do. This is something Paul wants us to remember, that we all have a mission to share the Word as shared by Jesus Christ, in order to continue the legacy that God built through the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, the Son of Man, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Zechariah 2:4 KJV – And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
NIV – and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it.
Paul then only includes one, just one, of the Word as spoken by Jesus Christ through Matthew’s gospel here.
Matthew 18:10 KJV – Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
NIV – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Paul then references his letter written to Titus.
Titus 2:7 KJV – In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
NIV – In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
Titus 2:15 KJV – These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
NIV – These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Paul then adds still more in one of the most often utilized verses in Paul’s letters. This specific one written to the church at Philippi.
Philippians 4:8 KJV – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
NIV – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Paul’s final reference for these verses written to Timotheus of Lystra are these from fellow apostle, Peter.
1 Peter 5:3 KJV –Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
NIV –not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Paul is now giving the leadership of the church there at Lystra specific instructions regarding preaching and teaching of the Word, and that was not to stretch it where it doesn’t go. Much like people in this world will stretch truth, often to the breaking point, Paul is cautioning the priests and leaders of the church not to distort the true message as spoken by God through Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 4:13 KJV – Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
NIV –Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
Paul goes all the way back into the Torah from the Old Testament and then adds to this with the Poetic and Prophetic books as well.
Deuteronomy 17:19 KJV – And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
NIV – It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees
Joshua 1:8 KJV – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
NIV – Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalm 1:2-3 KJV – But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
NIV – but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Paul then includes two references from his first letter to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 14:6 KJV –Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
NIV –Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV –How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
NIV –What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
Prophecy is just as important to understand within Scripture. What is a prophecy? A prophecy is the foretelling or prediction of what is to come.
Something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
A divinely inspired utterance or revelation: oracular prophecies.
The action, function, or faculty of a prophet.
This is important to understand because prophetic occurrences are recorded, verified, and fulfilled all throughout Scripture. It is this point that Paul is making. We see this in the next verse shared with Timothy and the church at Lystra.
1 Timothy 4:14 KJV –Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
NIV –Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Paul gives several references to this by going back to the gospels of Matthew, Luke, sharing the Word of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:14-30 KJV – For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NIV – The Parable of the Bags of Gold
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Luke 19:12-26 KJV – He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
NIV – He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
Paul continues to reference the writing of Luke as shared in the Acts of the Apostles here.
Acts 6:6 KJV – Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
NIV – They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 11:30 KJV – Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
NIV – This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 22:5 KJV – As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
NIV – as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
Paul wants us to pray about the things we listen to and hear in regard to Scripture. That’s what he is sharing with the Timothy and the congregation there in Lystra.
1 Timothy 4:15 KJV –Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
NIV – Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Listening to, reading, and studying Scripture is very, very important for us to do every day, in order to continue keeping our faith strong and steady throughout our lives. Paul makes a point of portraying Scripture from both Old and New Testaments to ensure that a full understanding of prophecy and the fulfillment of it in the life and mission of Jesus Christ.
Joshua 1:8 KJV – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
NIV – Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Paul only references two verses written by King David.
Psalm 1:2 KJV – But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
NIV – but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 19:14 KJV – Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
NIV – May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Paul adds to this with the words of our Savior Jesus Christ in the gospel of Matthew at the end of the Beatitudes.
Matthew 5:16 KJV – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
NIV – In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Paul then includes one verse from the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles here.
Acts 6:4 KJV – But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
NIV – and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
The last verse in this chapter of 1 Timothy is this one.
1 Timothy 4:16 KJV –Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
NIV –Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Paul is telling Timothy and the church leadership to keep teaching the doctrine as they had been, and to live their lives within the same. Doing so will benefit the listeners and the one reciting for those listeners as well. There are only three references, one in the Torah, one in the prophetic books, one from the Gospel of Mark in the Word of our Savior, and the last one from Paul’s letter to Rome.
Exodus 23:13 KJV – And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
NIV – “Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.
Ezekiel 3:19 KJV – 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.
NIV – 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.
Mark 13:9 KJV – But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
NIV – “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
Romans 16:17 KJV – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
NIV – I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
There is so much in this world that can distract us from our mission to learn and understand Scripture, and then to apply it to our everyday lives. It’s important for us to push aside all the distractions and detriments we might come across in life and pursue what Jesus Christ asks us to do, that is a godly and humble life in His image and His Word as the perfect portrayal of faith in Him. Let’s show each other how 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: Michael Row the Boat Ashore
~ 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.
Thank you very much Rev. Laura.
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