How You Preach Is As Important As What You Preach

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfVqvDf661o

**Apologies, the music doesn't play on the video again, and I haven't figured out why as yet. The links to the music are listed at the song locations in the written version.

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.

-      Evangelist Cal Jennings is healing from his latest stint in the hospital just last week. He is home, thankfully, but keep praying for his health and healing.  

-      David Doyle, brother-in-law of Evangelist Cal Jennings, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. David is a preacher of the Word as well, and this is a new challenge for him and Cal’s sister and their family to experience this close to Christmas. Please keep all of them in prayer during this journey.

-      We continue to pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is healing after completing his prostate cancer treatment.

-      We bring JB’s sister Debbie back into prayer as she has now been diagnosed with Lymphoma after conquering two rounds of breast cancer.

-      We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is fighting cancer and has been hospitalized this week as a result.

-      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. JB has been especially sick, losing weight way too fast and no complete solution in sight at the moment. She has been sick with pneumonia, an ear infection, and more health chaos for the past week and is still not doing well even with a full week of rest.

-      We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and is seeking to sell things she owns to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information. 

-      We bring praises and thanksgiving after learning that my niece Autumn has had her medications changed and the seizures and more are completely controlled at this point in time.

-      We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately after the loss of my sister four months ago. These anxiety issues are really devastating for her and for the family, so please keep all of them in prayer.  

-      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 wildfires, winter storms, flooding, 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.

*Evangelist Cal Jennings celebrates his birthday today!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings, and his health as he has been quite ill. We pray for JB who has also been quite ill for the past two weeks. We pray for David and all the others suffering or having suffered from cancer. We pray for those who have survived cancer. We pray for Fran who has been in the hospital. We pray for all those who have lost loved ones in the past week, or who are remembering those who were lost in the past during this month or had remembered birthdays. We pray for all of our outreach ministries and their memberships. We pray for the orphans and the hungry. We pray for all the world that peace shall one day reign in full thanks to the glory of God through our Savior Jesus Christ in the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: How Great Thou Art
Evangelist Cal Jennings’ Version

Sermon: Today we continue with our study of 1 Corinthians. We are beginning our study of the ninth chapter. Ministry is a challenge at the best of times in places where we are still working to engage the churches. Granted, even in places where Christianity is well established, there are situations where we are left with issues that come up in understanding and knowledge. This is part of what Paul is addressing with the church there at Corinth in this chapter. Let’s begin here.

 

1 Corinthians 9:1 KJV –Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

NIV –Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?

 

What’s Paul doing? He’s pointing out the truth. He’s pointing toward all the work he has done for the church there at Corinth. There are so many times where we see false prophets and false teachings occurring, even in the Christian Church. Paul wants them to focus, intently, on the truth that is Yeshua, Jesus Christ, Yahweh, God the Father, this is something that even Jesus insisted upon. Here are seven passages from the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, some of which are from the Word of Jesus.

 

Acts 1:21-22 KJV – Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,²² Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

NIV – Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

 

Acts 2:32 KJV – This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

NIV – God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

 

Acts 4:33 KJV – And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

NIV – With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

 

Acts 9:3-6 KJV – And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
⁴ And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
⁵ And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
⁶ And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

NIV – As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

 

Acts 9:27 KJV – But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

NIV – But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

 

Acts 18:9-10 KJV – Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
¹⁰ For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

NIV – One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

 

Acts 22:6-10 KJV – And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
⁷ And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
⁸ And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
⁹ And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
¹⁰ And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

NIV – “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
⁸ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹ My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
¹⁰ “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’

 

Paul points toward their contribution to his apostleship. Much like true and just ministers who address their congregations as giving them the continued ability to provide that same congregation with the spiritual guidance they needed. Paul was essential for this with the many churches to whom he sent letters, as he did for Corinth. Our many sermons over the past few years would portray this teaching and the leadership that Paul provided for each and every church congregation. So, this is how Paul addressed the thought.

 

1 Corinthians 9:2 KJV –If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

NIV –Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

 

Paul has several references for this, but only one is from the Old Testament with his go to prophet, Isaiah here.

 

Isaiah 49:6 KJV – And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

NIV – he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

 

Paul includes two references to the Word of Yeshua Jesus Christ, in the gospel of John the Beloved and the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

 

John 6:27 KJV – Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

NIV – Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

 

Acts 9:15 KJV – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

NIV –But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

 

Paul’s last reference here is within his first letter to the church at Thessalonica.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 KJV –For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? ²⁰ For ye are our glory and joy.

NIV – For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

 

Christians had a whole lot of adversity back in those days and this is what Paul references next.

 

1 Corinthians 9:3 KJV –Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

NIV –This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

 

Paul connects this with his pupil, and gospel writer Luke, in his writing for the Acts of the Apostles. He added more through his fellow apostle, Peter.

 

Acts 22:1 KJV – Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

NIV – “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

 

Acts 25:16 KJV – To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

NIV – “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.

 

1 Peter 3:15-16 KJV –But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
¹⁶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

NIV – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

 

We’re all human, and people often forget that, even as ministers of the Word, we are still human and have human needs. This is what Paul addresses next.

 

1 Corinthians 9:4 KJV –Have we not power to eat and to drink?

NIV –Don’t we have the right to food and drink?

 

Paul references three of the scrolls in the Torah for this.

 

Leviticus 6:16-18 KJV – And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
¹⁷ It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
¹⁸ All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.

NIV – Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast in the sanctuary area; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. ¹⁷ It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the food offerings presented to me. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy. ¹⁸ Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it. For all generations to come it is his perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord. Whatever touches them will become holy.’”

 

Numbers 18:8-9 KJV – And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
⁹ This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of their's, every meat offering of their's, and every sin offering of their's, and every trespass offering of their's which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

NIV – Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share. ⁹ You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons.

 

Numbers 18:31 KJV – And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

NIV – You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.

 

Deuteronomy 25:4 KJV – Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

NIV – Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

 

Paul adds to this with the Word as shared by Jesus Christ in the gospel of Matthew and also the Acts of the Apostles.

 

Matthew 10:10 KJV – Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

NIV – no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.

 

Acts 20:33-35 KJV – I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. ³⁴ Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
³⁵ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

NIV – I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. ³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

 

Our last two verses in this letter Paul wrote to Corinth are these.

 

1 Corinthians 9:5-6 KJV –Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
⁶ Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

NIV –Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? ⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

 

Now, this is something that I’ve seen and heard from people over the years regarding working beyond preaching. Remember, Jesus was a carpenter, like his human father Joseph. Paul was an apostle, but he was also a tentmaker. He was particularly skilled in this and people often requested his assistance. He is known to have worked with Aquilla and Priscilla in this occupation. Paul worked, but he also spent time with his wife and family while he traveled from congregation to congregation, for as far as he could travel. This tendency is noted through Scripture. Paul has a reference in the Torah and another in the poetic books.

 

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.”

 

Proverbs 11:24-25 KJV – There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
²⁵ The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

NIV – One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
²⁵ A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

 

Paul includes references in the gospels of Matthew and Mark.

 

Matthew 8:14 KJV – And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

NIV – When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.

 

Matthew 19:29 KJV – And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

NIV – And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

 

Mark 10:29-30 KJV – And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

NIV – “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

 

He adds more from the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and the Hebrew prophets.

 

Acts 1:14 KJV – These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

NIV – They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

 

Acts 18:3 KJV – And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

NIV – and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

 

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.

 

To this day, Paul teaches us to pay attention to the TRUTH. Jesus wants us to see it all around us. He wants us to hear it throughout Scripture. He wants us to act on it, every single day. This is important for us to keep doing, regardless of the oppression we might encounter. This includes the bots that we find in social media, the false prophets in the letters and articles found both online and off, and so much more. We have to remember the importance of keeping the light, life, and legacy of Yeshua Jesus Christ alive even now. 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: Just As I Am
Cal Jennings’ Version

 

 

 

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & Twitch & USAlife

Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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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 © 2026 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.