**There will not be a live sermon today because we are in the middle of a family reunion here.
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 serious memory issues, and his wife Joy has been in the hospital with fluid in her lungs and other health issues. She is now on oxygen full 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 this past week.
- 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 on Monday. 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 family, friends, and fans of several celebrities who have left this side of life this past week including Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Hayden Panatierre, Peter Cullen, Samuel Monroe, Jr., Jaye P. Morgan, Debbie Clark, Shelley Fabares, and Norway’s King Harald V.
- 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 deal of things to pray for and a great many as well. We pray for Ed and Joy, EB and JB and their 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 the massive flooding in Nepal. We pray for the ones in the path of the erupting Mount Etna in Sicily. We pray for those in the path of the wildfires up north in Canada 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 the 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 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: Today we are completing Chapter 14 of 1st Corinthians. We will cover the final six verses and there are some interesting points that are made with these. We begin where we left last week with this verse here. Now, again, this is specifically directed toward the overbearing women of that church in Corinth and their attitudes, actions, and reactions in the realm of worship which were taking away from the true meaning of what worship of God and our Savior Yeshu Ha Notzri Jesus Christ of Nazareth would and should be. As I have said many, many times, this is often the argument most people have for banning women from speaking in church at all, and this is not the intent that Paul or even our Savior had in mind.
1 Corinthians 14:35 KJV – And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
NIV –If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
Add to this, Paul wasn’t speaking about church things in their conversations. He was speaking about everyday things that do not have a place in church worship. That’s completely different from what should be shared within the walls of a church. Sure, we talk about home and happiness and family, but there are some things that should remain inside the home and not be shared in public places like the church.
Here is one Old Testament Poetic Scroll verse for reference.
Proverbs 18:15 KJV – The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
NIV
– The
heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
We have three New Testament references for this one from the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
Luke 2:46-47 KJV – And
it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding
and answers.
NIV – After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Acts 18:24-26 KJV – And a certain Jew
named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the
scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being
fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord,
knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when
Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him
the way of God more perfectly.
NIV –Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Paul makes a great point with this verse. It’s hard for people not to share the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, or doubt. In fact, it’s just as hard not to share within the seven deadly sins, which are also equal to these troubles, pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Notice how three of the two groups of seven are identical. The only four from each group that are different are vanity, shame, gluttony, doubt. Pride relating to how we view ourselves and vanity relates to what we want others to think of us. Shame is an emotional burden or heavy sorrow where a person feels fundamentally flawed rather than just regretful about a specific action. It focuses on the self with a negative, beating-oneself-up mentality. Sloth is a weariness of the soul or an evasion of spiritual and moral good. Rather than simple physical laziness, sloth often manifests as a resistance to change, or an outward busyness used to hide from deeper inner vulnerabilities. This series of sins and troubles are what Paul references next because people were confusing God’s truth with their lives in general and the two are not, and never will be, equal.
1 Corinthians 14:36 KJV –What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
NIV –Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
Paul references one gospel verse with three from the Acts of the Apostles and one last one from the Apostle Peter’s second letter.
John 1:1-3 KJV – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
NIV – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Acts 10:34-35 KJV – Then Peter opened his
mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth
him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
NIV – Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Acts 13:46-49 KJV – Then Paul and
Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should
first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord
commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou
shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and
glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life
believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the
region.
NIV – Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to
speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider
yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For
this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I
have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may
bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the
word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Acts 15:7-9 KJV –And when there had been much
disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how
that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth
should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
NIV –After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
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.
Paul includes this one regarding prophets and prophecy and telling the truth about what is gospel and what is fully true in the realm of God’s Word. That is something that continues to have relevance even in this world today. There are so many who profess to truly know God and His Word, but there are just as many wolves wearing sheep’s clothing as there are true sheep with their Shepherd. There are multitudes of false teachers and false prophets covering this earth, and that’s something we all must be wary of. Here is what Paul shares next.
1 Corinthians 14:37 KJV – If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
NIV – If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
Paul shares two Old Testament points of view for this one.
Numbers 24:3-4 KJV – And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of
Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
4 He hath said, which heard
the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance,
but having his eyes open:
NIV – and he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, 4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
Numbers 24:16 KJV – He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
NIV – the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
Paul includes one New Testament view from the first letter John the Beloved wrote.
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 provides
1 Corinthians 14:38 KJV –But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
NIV – But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
Here are four Old Testament references from the Torah and the Poetic Scrolls.
Proverbs 1:7 KJV – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
NIV – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:24-28 KJV –Because I have called, and ye refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought
all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your
fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction
cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they
shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
NIV
– But since you refuse to listen when I
call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my
rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock
when calamity overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster
sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will
look for me but will not find me,
Proverbs 19:27 KJV – Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
NIV – Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6 KJV – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
NIV – my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
Here are three references from the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 7:6 KJV – Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
NIV – “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Luke 10:16 KJV – He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
NIV – “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
John 9:39-41 KJV – And Jesus said, For judgment
I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they
which see might be made blind.
40 And
some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him,
Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were
blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin
remaineth.
NIV –Jesus said, “For judgment I
have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will
become blind.”
40 Some
Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind
too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind,
you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt
remains.
Our next verse again turns back to prophecy and speaking in tongues. This is basically Paul’s beginning of his closing arguments for this chapter. Remember, he was a former Pharisee. He knew the Law in all points of view, and Jesus proved that his view was quite different from theirs and from our own. Paul understands the significance of speaking in tongues and of prophecy and which one should carry the greater weight. This is what he shares here.
1 Corinthians 14:39 KJV –Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
NIV –Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Paul shares one Old Testament point of view for this. Now, this specific verse is very, very significant, and extremely relevant to our faith and belief system known as Christianity. It also reiterates the existence of our Savior and the bringer of our Salvation and His station in this world and beyond.
Joel 2:28-29 KJV – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
NIV – “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Paul includes three New Testament points to consider. All of these have been referenced previously in this letter that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.
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.
Romans 12:1 KJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
NIV – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:6 KJV – Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
NIV –We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
Our final verse for this chapter is this. Paul points out that there is a specific order in which to manage worship, prayer, giving thanks, intercession, prophecy, and speaking in tongues. There is a specific way in which we all should participate in these things. Not all of us are given the gifts of perfection within any or all of these, just the tools in which we may participate well within them. There was a lot going on in the years 54-57 AD. That is what Paul is emphasizing. There continues to be a lot going on all over the world for Christians and Christianity. We all should be aware of what came before and how to personally handle whatever comes our way when it regards faith, belief, hope, and unconditional love through faith in our Heavenly Father and our Savior.
1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV –Let all things be done decently and in order.
NIV – But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
One reference comes from the Old Testament in the Poetic Scrolls.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
NIV – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Our final three references come from the gospel of Luke and the writings of James the Just, younger human brother of Jesus and the Apostle Peter in his first letter.
Luke 1:3-4 KJV – It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
NIV – With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
James 1:22 KJV – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
NIV –Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
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.
There is so very much we need to understand when it comes to speaking Biblical truth, Gospel truth, Prophecy, speaking in tongues, and also when it comes to who has the right to speak within the church, and when it is appropriate. This entire chapter has been outlining all of those aspects of worship and faith and belief. We have a lot of work to do together to understand everything. 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: Our God Is An Awesome God
~ 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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