https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6tD6ZvK3wQ
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 & Bluesky
Wedding officiant pages: Wedfolio & WeddingChicks
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.
- Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog has asked that we pray for her mother’s health. She also asks for prayers for her brother’s attitude and also for Rabbi Karen’s stress levels.
- We pray for JB’s sister Debbie, who is undergoing proton treatment for cancer at this time.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been for far too long. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers that they need in both of their health issues. We are thankful that JB’s mother is out of the hospital and home at last. We are praying that JB feels much better in the days that come as she rests after her weeklong visit with her mother out west of here. She is home as of Friday night.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and has set up a site for donations to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately. Everything that has been going on lately has made it a very tough year for her.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, JB’s sister Debbie, our friend Alexis, my Aunt Donna, and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for all that You have brought each of us in this world. We thank You for the protection of all Christians and those who have converted to Christianity around this world. We praise You for all that You have given Your creation. We bring friends and family up to You in prayer for illness including, Evangelist Cal, JB and EB and also JB’s Mother. We bring friends and family up to you for housing and nourishment including our orphans and others overseas with our Outreach Ministers including Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Pastor Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Waqas Gil, and so many others. We pray for peace and patience to surround those who need it the most. We pray all these things 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 Loves Me
Sermon: Today we begin our voyage into the fourth chapter of First Corinthians. Paul discusses Apostleship and the true nature it should possess according to God and Jesus. This is important for us as Christians to first understand and then share with those who are transforming into true Christians. Let’s begin.
1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV –Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
NIV – This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
Stewards of the mysteries of God, Paul says in the King James version, servants of Christ, entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. This makes us something the opposite of what everyone sees as the word “servant” or “servitude”. We are the holders of the mysteries God revealed through Jesus Christ. We are the conveyors of these mysteries, the knowledge and wisdom with which Jesus entrusts each of us who knows Him as Lord and Savior. We see this in His own words here in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 24:45-51 KJV – Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made
ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his
coming;
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the
drunken;
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and
in an hour that he is not aware of,
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NIV – “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 12:42-44 KJV – And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
NIV – The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Paul adds words from the Hebrew prophets as well.
Hebrews 3:5 KJV – And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
NIV – “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future.
Hebrews 5:4 KJV – And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
NIV – And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
Hebrews 13:17 KJV –Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
NIV –Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Now, Paul points out requirements for stewardship. These are important, and not easily maintained on a steady, regular basis in this world of seven troubles multiplied over millennia.
1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV –Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
NIV – Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Paul selected two specific Old Testament points of view for this.
Genesis 39:4-6 KJV – And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
NIV – Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Proverbs 28:20 KJV – A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
NIV – A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
Joseph, son of Jacob, and Solomon, son of David, both of whom were wise in their own rights, but gave glory to God for the gift of that wisdom. This is important to recognize as Jesus said these words in direct relation with a parable you’ve heard from our sermons many times at this point.
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!’
Luke 16:10-12 KJV – He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
NIV – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
Paul’s final reference comes from fellow Apostle Peter.
1 Peter 5:2-4 KJV – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
NIV – Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Judgment has always been something I’ve said to be very careful while delivering. There is a difference between human judgment and God’s righteous judgment. When we judge, we have to learn how to see only the wrong that was done and treat it accordingly. Judgment cannot be based on bias of any form or formula, yet, we see this happen all the time on this earth because of the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt. This is why Paul shares this next line.
1 Corinthians 4:3 KJV –But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
NIV –I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
Paul has points of reference all through Scripture, including two from the Old Testament here.
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV –But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
NIV – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Isaiah 11:3 KJV – And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
NIV – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
Paul adds to this with the words of our Savior Jesus, in three of the four gospels, and a warning that I myself have shared with those who listen to or read my sermons since the very beginning of my being an ordained minister of God’s Word.
Matthew 7:1-2 KJV – Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
NIV – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 23:28 KJV – Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
NIV – In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Luke 6:37 KJV – Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
NIV – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
John 5:44 KJV – How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
NIV – How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Paul adds a similar warning from the human brother of Jesus, known by many as James the Just.
James 4:11-12 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. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
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. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Paul again reiterates that all final judgment is isolated to Jesus Christ, not to us here on earth. That’s significant for anyone and everyone who is transformed by the Word to become a true Christian. Here’s what Paul shares with the church membership at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 4:4 KJV – For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
NIV – My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
Paul goes back to the words of King David, and the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
Psalm 26:2 KJV – Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
NIV – Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
Psalm 139:23-24 KJV – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
NIV – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
NIV – The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
He adds to this with writings from Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, the Hebrew Prophets, and James the Just, human brother of Jesus.
Acts 24:16 KJV – And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
NIV – So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
Hebrews 9:14 KJV – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
NIV – How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
James 4:12 KJV –There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
NIV – There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Now Paul gets into the intricate details of judgment, and how we are to perform righteous judgment, as opposed to human judgment, leaving it for Jesus to completely judge anything, everything, and everyone as well.
1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV –Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
NIV – Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Paul references Kings David and Solomon as well as the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel.
Psalm 37:6 KJV – And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
NIV – He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Psalm 90:8 KJV – Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
NIV – You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
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.
Isaiah 45:3 KJV – And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
NIV – I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Jeremiah 17:10 KJV – I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
NIV – “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Daniel 2:22 KJV – He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
NIV – He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Paul adds reference to the Word as shared by Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, and Luke as well as the Hebrew prophets and John the Beloved’s Revelation.
Matthew 7:3-5 KJV – And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
NIV – “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 10:26 KJV – Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
NIV – “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
Luke 12:2-3 KJV – For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
NIV – There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
NIV – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Revelation 20:12 KJV – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
NIV –And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
It is important to provide points of reference when it comes to helping others transform their lives through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul does this quite well with his words here.
1 Corinthians 4:6 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.
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.
It is important not to read our own thoughts into the Word. This is what Paul is saying here. We can’t put our personal thoughts into God’s, because the Word is His Word, not ours. His Word existed before we were even thought about, so our experience on earth has nothing to do with the Word Itself. This is why Paul is cautioning everyone there in Corinth. He has plenty of references from King Solomon, the prophet Jeremiah, and James the Just.
Proverbs 3:7 KJV – Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
NIV – Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 16:18 KJV – Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
NIV – Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 27:2 KJV – Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
NIV – Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV – Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
NIV – This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
James 4:6-10 KJV – But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
NIV –But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
The words watch your mouth, and be aware of your thoughts, come to mind here with the last verse we are sharing from Paul’s first letter to Corinth today. These should be very familiar words as we’ve seen him share them throughout all of his letters to the various churches, and other Apostles and human siblings of Jesus have done so as well.
1 Corinthians 4:7 KJV –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 – 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 shares three Old Testament references, one from the Torah, one from the Poetic Scrolls, and one from the prophet Isaiah.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 KJV – And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
NIV – You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Proverbs 16:9 KJV – A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
NIV – In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Isaiah 26:12 KJV – Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
NIV – Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
Paul adds two references from the gospels of Luke in the Word of Jesus, and John the Beloved, as well as a final reference from James the Just, human brother of Jesus.
Luke 12:48 KJV – But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
NIV – But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
John 3:27 KJV – John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
NIV – To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
James 1:17 KJV – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
NIV – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
We have a job to do as stewards, or assistants, helping to spread the Word of Jesus far and wide. We must do so with careful wording, ensuring to preserve the methods that Jesus taught us to manage. This is the importance of our being here. His name is Jesus Christ, who comes from the great Jehovah God our Heavenly Father. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, 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: Kumbaya
~ 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 © 2025 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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