https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM13Wi9Fdoc
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 Yeshu Ha-Notzri or in English Jesus Christ of Nazareth 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 all the fathers in this world on this Father’s Day as it is celebrated here in the USA. Yes, even those who have lost their children over the years deserve to be recognized for the sacrifices they have made over their lifetimes as fathers. Yes, even to those whose fathers are no longer here on this side of existence. For all father’s should be honored just as we honor our Heavenly Father.
- We are praying today for my dear friend JB who had a very bad fall two weeks or so ago and broke her hip. She is home resting after surgery that weekend and staying until the doctor is confident, she will manage, which has been updated for another month from now. Keep her husband EB in prayer as he stays home until she gets back to full strength. My husband and I have been helping with their errands along with another neighbor.
- We continue to pray for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam and Allison, who were in a car wreck a few months ago. They continue in recovery but are not completely healed. Please keep them up in prayer. They thank everyone for their prayers.
- We continue to pray for friends of ours in our bowling league, after they suffered devastating injuries, some of which required surgery and will require a long recovery time as well. They too appreciate the prayers and thank everyone who has lifted them up.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is currently in rehabilitation after losing his fingertips to serious third-degree burns. He is healing very slowly and has just had his stitches removed two weeks ago now. Please pray for his healing and that his pain is treated like it should be treated, not as an afterthought.
- We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is still fighting cancer. She has been scheduled for a special scan to see if the cancer is gone. Please pray for this cancer to be gone forever.
- 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. She is also having a medical issue with swelling behind the knee right now that she hopes prayer will help alleviate. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- 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. She has also been told not to drive any longer, which frustrates her even more right now. 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, Evangelist Cal Jennings’ brother-in-law David Doyle, JB’s sister Debbie, Jerry, 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, storms, flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Jared Otieno, Pastor George Ototo, 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 have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for the fathers who have sacrificed so much for us over the years. We pray for the fathers who have lost children and for those fathers who have been lost to life as we know it. We pray for the many who are injured and ill in our ministry, our friends, including JB, Alexis, Evangelist Cal Jennings, our family, and more. We pray for the homeless and the helpless around this world. We pray for the many victims of violence, prejudice, and terrorism in this world. We pray for those still under the thumb of slavery and oppression. We pray for the unjustly persecuted and prosecuted. We pray for the friends and family who have been fighting cancer including Fran, David, and Debbie. We pray for those who survived cancer, including Kelly, Alexis and many more, that they continue to remain well. We pray for the nations at war. We pray for all this in Your Holy Name through our Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: This Is the Day
Sermon: This is Father’s Day here in the USA. We celebrate our fathers’ past, present, and future. But we should also celebrate our Heavenly Father every single day. We should also celebrate the gift of that Heavenly Father as provided to us through the sacrifice He made through His Son Yeshu Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ, on the cross two millennia ago. We celebrate His love through the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s something we’re going to discuss today as we are continuing the twelfth chapter of 1st Corinthians. We are covering the next six verses of this chapter starting with this.
1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV – But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
NIV –Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
The common good, Paul shares with the church there in Corinth. It’s important to understand what this “common good” would actually mean. Well, to do that, we have to look at these references Paul provides us with from the New Testament.
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.
Acts 1:8 KJV – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
NIV – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 2:17-18 KJV – And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
NIV – “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Hebrews 2:4 KJV – God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
NIV – God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
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.
1 Peter 4:10 KJV –As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NIV – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Now, Paul continues to clarify the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they are different for every single person. This is important, because even Jesus said that every person has a special purpose under heaven. Remember that from His Sermon on the Mount and also from the Great Commission. This is what Paul shares next. And yes, there’s only half a sentence here, but that’s on purpose specifically because there are so many references for the next three verses I couldn’t possibly do them collectively to where they made sense.
1 Corinthians 12:8 KJV –For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
NIV –To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
Paul covers the Torah, Historical, Poetic, and Prophetic Scrolls of the Old Testament here.
Exodus 31:3 KJV – And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
NIV – and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—
1 Kings 3:9-12 KJV –Give therefore thy
servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between
good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this
thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing,
and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for
thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself
understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given
thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before
thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
NIV – So give your servant a discerning heart
to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is
able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So
God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth
for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment
in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I
will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been
anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Daniel 1:17 KJV – As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
NIV –To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
Proverbs 2:6 KJV – For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
NIV – For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Isaiah 11:2 KJV – And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
NIV – The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
Paul adds two from the New Testament including the words of Yeshu Ha Notzri Jesus Christ.
Luke 21:15 KJV – For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
NIV – For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
James 1:5 KJV – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
NIV – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Paul continues to add more aspects of the Holy Spirit with this next verse. It’s important to break this down for complete and total understanding of the extensive power of the Holy Spirit and the reason that Jesus and God have given this gift to us both individually and collectively. This gift of the Holy Spirit allows us a connection that is beyond the physical connection of God and our Savior Yeshu Ha Notzri Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV –To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
NIV –to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
For this Paul only focuses on the New Testament scrolls, most of which are in the gospels with our Savior’s Word. Added to this he includes writings from Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and the words of James the Just, younger human brother of Jesus.
Matthew 9:22 KJV – But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
NIV – Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
Matthew 17:20 KJV – And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
NIV – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Mark 16:17-18 KJV – And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
NIV – And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Luke 17:6 KJV – And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
NIV – He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Acts 3:6-8 KJV – Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
NIV – Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Acts 6:5 KJV – And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
NIV – This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
James 5:14-15 KJV – Is
any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
NIV – Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Paul continues with the gifts of the Holy Spirit separating them individually toward people, which is as God intends them to be. It’s important for us to realize the power and strength of our Heavenly Father, and also the ability that Yeshu Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ of Nazareth afforded for those who believe. We all have a great deal of spiritual strength if we are willing to really work toward utilizing it properly and with a heart that is filled with godly love and spiritual strength that He has afforded for us to use.
1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV –To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
NIV –to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
Again, Paul focuses on the New Testament with the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter, and John the Beloved’s letters.
Acts 2:4-11 KJV – And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of
every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own
language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to
another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were
born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in
Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues
the wonderful works of God.
NIV
– All of them were
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from
every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a
crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language
being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these
who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us
hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and
Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia
and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both
Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the
wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 5:12 KJV – And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
NIV – The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV – How
shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to
be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,
and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own
will?
NIV – how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
2 Peter 1:20-21 KJV –Knowing this first, that
no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
NIV –Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:1 KJV –Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
NIV – Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Now, Paul wants the members there at the church in Corinth, as well as those who read this letter today, to understand something very important about the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are never the same twice. They are never identical to any single person on this earth. They change from generation to generation, male or female, it won’t matter. That’s what is unique about God’s methodology. His Holy Spirit is one filled with the ultimate in discernment. Every person has their own individual human spirit that, combined with the Holy Spirit, becomes something different in the pursuit of faith, hope, and unconditional love. This is what Paul points out next.
1 Corinthians 12:11 KJV –But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
NIV –All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Paul utilizes only one verse from the Old Testament in the writings of Daniel here.
Daniel 4:35 KJV – And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
NIV – All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
Paul adds two gospel verses from Matthew and John the Beloved, as shared in the Word of our Savior, next along with the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 11:26 KJV – Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
NIV – Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
John 3:8 KJV – The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
NIV – The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Acts 16:6-7 KJV – Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
NIV – Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Our final verse today is a very important one. Every person in the Church has a special purpose. Every single member has a reason to be there, and a mission to provide for the church. It is never the same twice. It is never always easily recognized. Often, we’ll miss someone else’s mission entirely. That is a human failing that we often succumb to.
1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV –For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
NIV –Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Paul’s references are from three of his letters and the first letter that Peter wrote.
Romans 12:4-5 KJV – For
as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another.
NIV – For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Ephesians 4:4-6 KJV – There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in you all.
NIV – There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Colossians 3:15 KJV – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
NIV –Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
1 Peter 4:11 KJV –If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV –If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Our work as a church is such that we are together as one to provide a service to those around us. We need to remember that sure, we are individuals, we are unique from each other, but that uniqueness allows us something amazing. It allows us the ability to bring hearts, minds, and spirits together so that we might grow in faith and belief through the hope and unconditional love that Yeshua Ha Nozri Jesus Christ of Nazareth brings us. We do that by showing 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: Shall We Gather at the River
~ 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 © 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.
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