https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaIUBY2j9kI
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 my employer and his wife, Ed and Joy, who are quite ill at this time. Ed was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and his wife Joy has been in the hospital with fluid in her lungs and other health issues. She was sent home last weekend but returned to the hospital on Thursday. She is on oxygen full time and 24-hour observation. Pray for their son Ed Jr. and his back and the processes he and his brother and their families have to pursue during this difficult time.
- We are still praying today for my dear friend JB who has finally been given limited ability to travel away from home two days per week for very short distances. Please keep JB in prayer for continued therapy, and continued doctor visits after her broken hip and upper leg. Please pray about the source of her extreme weight loss so that it can be solved. Please start praying again for her husband EB as well with his health and his muscles and movement as he has serious mobility issues. Add to them with her sister-in-law who is suffering from cancer at this time.
- Pray for my son-in-law’s younger sister who lost two babies before twelve weeks gestation in the past six months.
- Pray for that same son-in-law’s grandfather Wayne Shelton, who had a stroke two weeks ago.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is home after rehabilitation after losing his fingertips to serious third-degree burns. He is still healing very slowly and has slow, arduous therapy for his remaining fingers in their shaping and movement. 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 Mama who has had a lot of issues lately in her life. Please keep her in prayer for her anxieties, fears, and general well-being.
- Please pray for one of my sisters, who has a need for something new right now in regard to her career after frustration with a job she is currently within that did not turn out to be anything like it was portrayed to her. She has had several interviews and has another one soon. Please pray that she receives positive results.
- 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 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, smoke from those wildfires, storms, flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide like those in South America earlier this past month.
- 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 a great many things to pray for and a great many people as well. We pray for Ed and Joy, EB and JB and their many health issues. We pray for EB and JB’s sister-in-law who has cancer as well. We pray for those who were lost or have survived or are still missing due to the massive flooding in Nepal. We pray for the ones in the path of the still erupting Mount Etna in Sicily and Mount Kilauea in Hawaii along with the remaining thirty others. We pray for those in the path of the wildfires up north in Canada and in the United Kingdom right now and for those affected by the smoke that is drifting for hundreds of miles. We pray for those who are in the path of the various hurricanes and tropical storms. We pray for the many who are injured and ill in our ministry, our friends, including Cal, 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 our friends and family who have been fighting cancer. We pray for those who survived cancer, including Kelly, Alexis, David, and Debbie and many more, that they continue to remain well. We pray for the nations at war. We pray in remembrance of those lost in the war on terror that was emphasized twenty-five years ago last Friday. 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: Put Your Hand in the Hand
Song by Ocean
Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
By puttin' your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
Every time I look
into the Holy Book I want to tremble (tremble)
Or when I read about the part where the carpenter cleared the temple
(Temple)
For the buyers and the sellers were no different fellas than what I profess to
be
And it causes me shame to know we're not the people we should be
So, put your hand in
the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
By puttin' your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
My mama taught me how
to pray before I reached the age of seven
She said, "there'll come a time when there'll probably be room in
heaven"
But I'm feeling kinda guilty 'bout the number of times to do what we must do
Well you do what you must do
But we forget what he said, then we figure that he'll still make room
So, you gotta put
your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
By puttin' your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
Everybody come along
Put your hand in the
hand of the man who stilled the water
(Who stilled the water)
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
(Who calmed the sea)
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
Sermon: Today we begin the fifteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians. Again, there are a lot of verses to cover. We may, or may not, manage to complete this chapter before Advent, but we sure will do all we can to manage that. This sermon covers the first six verses of this chapter. This chapter specifically annotates a narration of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Let’s start here.
1 Corinthians 15:1 KJV –Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
NIV – Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
Paul instantly references the gospel as shared through Mark and John the Beloved. Now, this is specific to what Paul is teaching the church there at Corinth. He points toward the parable of the Sower, referencing our Savior, and points out that there are good things and bad things about everything in this world, and everyone within it. There are good qualities that we should emphasize and bad qualities we should eradicate. Now, this is not easy, and make no mistake, Paul doesn’t even allude to the idea that it might be. It’s one of the most difficult parts of life, to discern the difference between good and evil, even within ourselves, because we all have the propensity for both. Here is what Paul shares next.
Mark 4:16-20 KJV – And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who,
when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves,
and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth
for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are
sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this
world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering
in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are
sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth
fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
NIV – Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
John 12:48 KJV – He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
NIV –There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
Paul continues with three further references in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter’s second letter and the letter written by Jude.
Acts 13:32 KJV –And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
NIV –“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors
2 Peter 1:12 KJV – Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
NIV – So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
Jude 1:5 KJV – I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
NIV – Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
The gospel, the Word of our Savior, is what brings salvation. This is something every single one of the Apostles preached. Paul proves it here in this next verse.
1 Corinthians 15:2 KJV –By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
NIV –By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
Holding firmly to the Word is not easy. In fact, it is probably one of the hardest things we ever have to do. Jesus Himself said it would be difficult. Society would beat Christians down, hard, and has proven that for millennia since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Yeshua Ha Notzri. Paul brings these three references from the Old Testament Poetic Scrolls.
Psalm 106:12-13 KJV – Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. 13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
NIV – Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. 13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
Proverbs 3:1 KJV – My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
NIV – My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
Proverbs 4:13 KJV – Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
NIV – Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Paul utilizes two gospel verses here with Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 24:13 KJV – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
NIV – but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Luke 8:13 KJV – They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
NIV – Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
Paul continues with references from the Acts of the Apostles, the Hebrew Prophets, James the Just, and John the Beloved.
Acts 2:47 KJV – Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
NIV – praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Hebrews 3:6 KJV – But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
NIV – But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Hebrews 4:2 KJV – For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
NIV – For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.
James 2:14 KJV – What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
NIV –What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
1 John 2:24-25 KJV –Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
NIV –As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
Now, this next verse stops at a comma or a semicolon, and I had to do this for a reason. First, there are a lot of reference verses. Second, it qualifies as a complete thought even if it is not a complete sentence. It also points out the entire reason for this chapter, the proof that Jesus Christ suffered, died, was buried, and resurrected fully alive. This is imperative for us to understand, and it was the same for those who were living in the times where the Apostles lived. Let’s look at this now.
1 Corinthians 15:3 KJV –For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
NIV –For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
Paul has three Old Testament references from the poetic scroll written by King David and the prophetic scrolls written by Isaiah and Daniel. Pay particular attention to what David shares in Psalms as it is added to in Isaiah and Daniel.
Psalm 22:16-18 KJV – For
dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my
vesture.
NIV – For dogs have compassed me: the assembly
of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my
vesture.
Isaiah 53:5-6 KJV – But
he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one
to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
NIV
– But
he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned
to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Daniel 9:26 KJV – And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
NIV – After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.
Now we get into the Gospel account in Matthew at the Last Supper, along with the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, the writings of the Hebrew prophets, and the first letter John the Beloved wrote to Ephesus.
Matthew 26:28 KJV – For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
NIV – This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 2:23-24 KJV – Him,
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
NIV – This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Hebrews 9:28 KJV – So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
NIV –This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
1 John 2:2 KJV –And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
NIV –He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Now, I had to put two verses together because it lays out events in historical perspective, the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ and those who witnessed all of it, including Peter, also known as Cephas.
1 Corinthians 15:4-5 KJV –And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
NIV – that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Again, there are three verses from the Poetic and Prophetic Scrolls of the Old Testament. Pay very close attention to all of these because they describe events that happened in the New Testament and will happen again in the future.
Psalm 16:10 KJV – For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
NIV – because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
Isaiah 53:10 KJV – Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
NIV – Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
Hosea 6:2 KJV – After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
NIV – After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
With these are two gospel references from John the Beloved, and the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles as well. He is again describing to the church at Corinth the processes and procedures that occurred at the death of our Savior Yeshu Ha Notzri Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 19:40-42 KJV – Then
took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as
the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden;
and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews'
preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
NIV – Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
John 21:1-7 KJV – After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
NIV
– Afterward Jesus
appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon
Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons
of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going
out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So
they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the
disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends,
haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the
right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were
unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the
Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his
outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
Acts 10:40 KJV – Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
NIV – but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
Now, I want to be clear about something. Paul and the others might have taken a while to recognize Jesus, but He was seen standing there in front of them, alive, after His resurrection. That’s important, because it didn’t just happen to the Apostles. This happened to ordinary and extraordinary people all over the world. Yet, it isn’t talked about like it should be. It isn’t recognized as it should be. That, in itself, the appearance of our Savior, in places other than Israel, is very, very important and it is one of many reasons that Christianity spread to the far reaches of the earth. Now we get to our final verse for this chapter today which proves this theory.
1 Corinthians 15:6 KJV –After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
NIV – After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Paul only utilizes New Testament references here from the gospel John the Beloved and includes the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. Now, there were actually two gospel references, but they offer the exact same scene, so it was determined that the second would be the more descriptive of the two and more understandable for this verse.
John
21:1-14 KJV – After these things
Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this
wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus,
and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his
disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto
him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship
immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore:
but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children,
have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the
net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast
therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It
is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his
fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were
not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with
fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of
coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of
the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great
fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was
not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and
dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing
that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and
fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his
disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
NIV
– Afterward Jesus
appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon
Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons
of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going
out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So
they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the
disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends,
haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you
will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in
because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the
Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his
outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The
other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they
were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they
landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some
of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter
climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large
fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus
said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None
of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus
came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This
was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from
the dead.
Now, it is important to realize that Jesus appeared before His Apostles many times after the Resurrection and He had a purpose for doing so. It was to ensure that His teachings would always be presented as though He were alive and standing in front of the congregation. This is why we preach the way we preach. This is why we teach Scripture the way we teach it. He is alive. He is in our presence. We may not see Him with our eyes, but He is here with us everywhere, every day, all day, and all night.
Acts 1:3 KJV – To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
NIV – After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Acts 7:60 KJV – And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
NIV – Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 10:40-41 KJV – Him
God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God,
even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
NIV – but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
In the days of old, people were not believed if only one person was present during an event and then told others about it. That’s why witnesses are required, even to this moment in time. Sure, technology helps in some ways in this world today, but having a human eyewitness is still important, especially when it comes to faith, belief, and Christian values of all sorts. This is not just because of the fact that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Yeshu Ha Noztri, died for our sins and was raised from the dead to judge the living and the dead at the right hand of the Father in heaven. It is very important because Paul was living proof that it happened. All of the Apostles were.
The best way we can bring more faith and belief together with others is 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: My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
~ 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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