https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4_nYfi0dVA
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ 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: Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube & Twitch & TruthSocial & Instagram & Facebook & Reddit
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio & Wedding Chicks
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.
- We pray for JB’s family as they say a final farewell to their mother, who passed away last Sunday early in the morning.
- We pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is facing prostate cancer treatment.
- 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. He was released from the hospital late this past week.
- We pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is fighting cancer.
- 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. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- 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. Her car ended up being totaled after the fender-bender. This combined with the fact she misses my father as he passed away three years ago due to COVID-19 has made it a tough year for her. This past week, being the first birthday without my sister, has been rough 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, Pastor George Ototo, 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 have so much and so many to pray for. We pray in thanksgiving and gratitude for this beautiful day we have to share with You. We pray for those who need comfort after the loss of a loved one, including JB and her siblings, my Mama and our family, and so many others. We pray for those who have been sick, including Evangelist Cal Jennings, EB, and others. We pray for those suffering diseases like cancer including Jerry and Fran, and those who have fought and won against cancer including JB, Debbie, Alexis, and my Mama. We pray for those who are in mourning. We pray for those who were killed in violence and natural disasters around this world. We pray all this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Amazing Grace ~ Verses 7 & 8 written by Rev. Laura A. Neff in 2006.
1. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
2. T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come. Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
5. Yea when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease. I shall possess within the veil a life of joy and peace.
6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forebear to shine. But God, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.
7. A dream of love I hold it here, hidden deep within my soul. Found in a heart of gold so dear, with life its only goal.
8. May life itself be found to be as much a dream as true. If only I were blessed to see, the blessed sight of You.
9. When we've been here ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun.
Cal Jennings Version: https://m.starmakerstudios.com/a-vue3/playrecording?app=sm&from_sid=62172171219&guide_type=2&pg_rf_ca_vn=20&pid=recordingsharing&recordingId=8725724363597001&share_type=copylink
Sermon: Today we are beginning Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians. We’re going to dive deeper into sexual immorality, which hasn’t changed much since the days of Paul, which is why we’re having this conversation today. Paul continues his lecture over the church at Corinth in this regard. Now, this chapter is very long and very complicated, so we will discuss only a few verses at a time for that specific reason. Paul traverses nearly all of the Old and New Testaments with just the first four verses we are covering today. Let’s begin here.
1 Corinthians 7:1 KJV –Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
NIV –Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
Sex, or even the thought of sex outside of marriage, in Biblical times was a strict no-no. Yes, there were prostitutes throughout Scripture, but that did not make it morally right according to God. That’s why Paul is again bringing this up. Sexual immorality is something that has filled just about every single scroll in Scripture. Paul begins his references in Genesis, continues into the poetic scrolls of the Old Testament.
Genesis 1:27-28 KJV – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
NIV – So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 2:18 KJV – And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
NIV – The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 24:67 KJV – And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
NIV – Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Proverbs 5:15-19 KJV – Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
NIV – Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJV – Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
NIV – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Paul then references the Word as spoken by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew before referencing the Hebrew prophets and his fellow apostle, Peter.
Matthew 5:27-28 KJV – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
NIV – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 19:10-12 KJV – His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
NIV – The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Hebrews 13:4 KJV –Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
NIV – Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
1 Peter 3:1-7 KJV –Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
NIV – Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Paul continues instructing the church at Corinth, specifically on illegal forms of sexual relations next.
1 Corinthians 7:2 KJV –Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
NIV –But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
Paul uses references from the Torah, the Poetic and Prophetic Scrolls of the Old Testament.
Genesis 2:24 KJV – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
NIV – That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Deuteronomy 24:5 KJV – When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
NIV – If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 KJV – Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
NIV – Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.
Malachi 2:14-16 KJV – Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
NIV – You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.
Again, Paul references the gospel of Matthew and the Word of Jesus.
Matthew 19:4-6 KJV – And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
NIV – “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Paul doesn’t just speak of the women in the church. He also speaks to the men. In this verse, he speaks directly to the men.
1 Corinthians 7:3 KJV –Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
NIV –The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
Paul references the Torah once here.
Exodus 21:10 KJV – If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
NIV – If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.
Paul then focuses his references on his other letters to Ephesus, Colossae, Thessalonica and Lystra.
Ephesians 5:22-27 KJV – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
NIV – Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Colossians 3:18-19 KJV – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
NIV –Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 KJV –For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
NIV –It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
1 Timothy 5:14 KJV – I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
NIV – So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
Now this final verse from chapter seven today will have the women listening up in arms, especially in this world today. However, truthfully, once you marry your husband, you are ONE FLESH, as much part of your husband as he is part of you as his wife. Here is what Paul shares with the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:4 KJV –The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
NIV –The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
There are four references for this verse today. Now, if you were to do research, you’d find that every one of these verses today have connecting verses that are identical, so the selections made are to keep us from having too much repetition within the Word for now to ensure that we do not get lost in translation. Here are two Old Testament references from the poetic scrolls.
Proverbs 31:10-12 KJV – Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
NIV – A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Song of Solomon 7:10 KJV – I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.
NIV – I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.
The final verses are from Paul’s letter to Ephesus and his first letter to Timothy at Lystra.
Ephesians 5:28-33 KJV – So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
NIV –In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 KJV –Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
NIV –A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Paul has a lot to teach us in this chapter. It’s not easy to be completely faithful to our spouses, or to our own bodies in mind, heart, spirit, and soul. There is a reason Jesus said to watch what we think, do, and say. He proved that it is so very important for us to remember His Word because He is the reason for our being here in this place right now. 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.
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: This Little Light of Mine
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & Twitch & USAlife
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.
