https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGJH5IIoeYU
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
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 & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is facing prostate cancer treatment.
- We pray for my middle son who suffered an injury at work and is resting per doctor’s orders for the next few days.
- 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 last 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, though, according to her mother she is doing better these days.
- 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.
- 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 the latest hurricane, 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.
*Happy Birthday to Allison, my sister-in-law, whose
birthday was Friday.
*Happy Birthday to Suzanne, who shares her birthday with my granddaughter
Maria, yesterday. Suzanne is Maria’s Paternal Nana as I am her Maternal Granny.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for all those who have been displaced due to war and destruction, natural disaster, and more. We pray for those who were in the path of the latest hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and are coping with the devastation in Jamaica and other places. We continue to pray for those families that have had hostages released in Israel. We pray for peace to fill this world at long last. We pray for those who have lost loved ones to violence, accidents, and more this week. We pray for those who have been injured in any way, including my middle son. We pray for those who have been sick with cancer, including Jerry and others. We pray for those who have survived cancer, like Debbie, J.B., Alexis, Donna, and others we know. We pray in thanksgiving for those who have healed from sickness around this world. We pray for the orphans, refugees, and missionaries around this world. We pray for our outreach ministries that they continue through even in the face of adversity in Your Name. 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: Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Sermon: Today we are continuing Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians. Now, when I started setting up the outline for this sermon, I wanted to go from verse 25 through verse 30, but God had other plans for us. We are going through the verses 25 through 29 and then will split the remaining 11 verses between the next two sermons so we can concentrate the remainder of November and December on the story of Jesus’s birth in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, saving the one from Luke for the week of Christmas and on through Epiphany. We’ll finish with Corinthians after the New Year. With this segment of 1st Corinthians Paul is again speaking about chastity, faithfulness, and the need for us to pay attention to the things we think, do, and say in our daily lives. This isn’t easy, regardless that people say it sounds like it is. Satan and his minions are waiting for us to slip, so they can take us all the way down. This is where we will start with Paul’s first letter to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:25-26 KJV –Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
NIV – Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
Paul jumps in with references to the Word from Jesus as written in the gospel of Matthew along with the gospels from both Luke and John the Beloved.
Matthew 10:16-23 KJV – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will
deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before
governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up,
take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that
same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but
the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up
the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up
against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men
for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in
this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have
gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
NIV – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as
shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils
and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and
kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say
or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your
Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 19:11-12 KJV – But
he said unto them, All men cannot receive this
saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 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 – Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 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.”
Matthew 24:19-21 KJV – And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
NIV – How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
Luke 21:23-24 KJV – But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give
suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath
upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge
of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem
shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled.
NIV – How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
John 16:33 KJV – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
NIV – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Acts 14:22 KJV – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
NIV – strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Paul includes the writings of the Hebrew prophets and one final reference from James the Just, younger human sibling of Jesus.
Hebrews 10:32-34 KJV – But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
NIV – Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
James 1:2-4 KJV –My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
NIV – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Paul reminds the men of Corinth that they are meant to be faithful husbands and fathers. They aren’t to have wandering eyes or lustful thoughts for others beyond their wives. This is still a problem in this world today, because temptation is literally everywhere, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. This is what Paul shares with the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:27 KJV –Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
NIV – Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
Paul scours the Torah for reference this time, along with the prophetic writings of Malachi.
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 24:1-4 KJV – When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
NIV – If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, 2 and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, 3 and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, 4 then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Malachi 2:16 KJV – 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 – “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.
Paul shares three references from the gospel of Matthew, two from Jesus and one from the centurion who asks for His help.
Matthew 5:32 KJV – But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
NIV – But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 8:9 KJV – For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
NIV – For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Matthew 19:6 KJV – Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
NIV – So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Paul has a warning about marriage, and those of us who are, or were married, can testify to his knowledge. It’s not easy. There are things that happen that are or will be completely unexpected. There are times where we wonder what to do or even how to do something that needs to be done. Marriage is an equal partnership in all aspects and respects of life. If you’re not ready for it, bide your time and make sure that you can handle anything and everything that could possibly come up. This is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 7:28-29 KJV –But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
NIV – But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
Paul goes to the wise words of King David in the Psalms for reference and follows it up with a very familiar set of words written by King Solomon which are often set to music, and one of my favorite segments of the Old Testament as well. His last Old Testament reference is from his go-to prophet Isaiah.
Psalm 39:4-5 KJV – Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
NIV – “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.
Ecclesiastes
3:1-8 KJV – To every thing there
is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and
a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a
time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time
to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time
of peace.
NIV – There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Isaiah 40:6-8 KJV – The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
NIV
– A voice says, “Cry
out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers
of the field.7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because
the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The
grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Paul returns to the Word of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke next.
Matthew 24:42-44 KJV – Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the
goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would
have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for
in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
NIV – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Mark 13:32-37 KJV – But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
NIV – “But about that day or
hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
34 It’s like a
man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with
their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore
keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come
back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at
dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Luke 21:34-36 KJV – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
NIV – “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Paul’s remaining references are from the Hebrew Prophets, James the Just, Peter, and John the Beloved.
Hebrews 10:25 KJV – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
NIV – not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
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.
James 5:8-9 KJV – Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
NIV –You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
1 Peter 4:7 KJV – But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
NIV – The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
2 Peter 3:8-9 KJV –But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
NIV –But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1 John 2:17 KJV –And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
NIV – The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Revelation 1:3 KJV – Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
NIV –Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Paul doesn’t want people to rush into things, growing into a trade or another form of occupation that takes practice and patience. Growing in any relationship, whether it is with family, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, future spouses, takes time, patience, faith, hope, and lots of unconditional love. All of these take a while to grow and that’s what Paul points out to the people at Corinth. It’s something everyone today should take to heart and to think about. Paul’s writings prove that Peace, Hope, Truth, and Love have a name and 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: Turn, Turn, Turn
~ 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.
