Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. This ministry shares the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Our ministry was created with twelve people around this world back in 2008. Each of us shares God’s Word in ways He guides us to utilize. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & LinkedIn
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.
- Please continue to pray for Elder Cal Jennings as he connects with more and more people doing what he loves to do. Please pray that this new outlet he has found will prove beneficial in many ways.
- We are ever watchful in regard to the weather and other natural chaos, including the volcanoes, flooding, high winds, higher tides and more that have been seen around this world. We pray that those who are in those situations do not suffer peril as a result.
- Pray for a friend of a friend whose daughter Everleigh is home, as her platelet count went up enough to be home. She was sleeping comfortably in her own bed at long last as she continues fighting Leukemia. Keep your prayers up for this sweet, adorable child so that her cancer may be a thing of the past for her and for her family.
- Pray that another friend, who has gotten some good news in regard to her healing, heals enough to be able to do things that she hasn’t been able to manage in far too long.
- Pray for my employer’s wife who has been doing very poorly of late and know we are thankful that she is feeling better and my employer is doing much better as well.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for my mother who has had several issues of late and has been needing extra hugs and more as a result. Pray for my nephew who just started his first job, that he learns to love it and gets very good at what he’s doing. Pray for other family members that their decisions will become beneficial after a great many frustrations whether through work or personally.
- Pray for all of our outreach ministries with Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Robert Nganwa, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Rev. Lisa Tyler, and all the others who have joined us.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those who are jobless, homeless, no matter what might have ended up causing either of those. Pray that providence would find them and ease the suffering.
- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
- Pray that truth is revealed where falsehoods have been shared around this world.
- We send out happy birthday greetings for our member Wayne Bartosh who had his birthday yesterday.
- We send out happy birthday greetings for my sister Lisa, whose birthday was last week.
Prayer: Father in heaven, this is our prayer for today. We continue to pray for the ones suffering as a result of shootings and unrest around this world. We pray that truth can be seen where too many lies have filled life as we know it. We pray for those whose jobs are in a scary position. We pray also for family members of colleagues and friends. We pray for those traveling back and forth across this country and around this world for work or leisure. We pray for those who suffer from diseases that are waiting for cures, illnesses that complicate life and cause stress on bodies, hearts, and spirits. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Lincoln Brewster ~ While I Wait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NswPPVgMaPE&list=RDGMEMMib4QpREwENw3_jAc0YgNwVMNswPPVgMaPE&start_radio=1
Sermon: We continue to explore Peter’s first epistle and begin with our study of the last chapter. We’ve learned quite a lot regarding Peter’s teaching and preaching style. We see the influence that Jesus had with all of His Apostles. Let’s begin here.
1 Peter 5:1-3 KJV – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
Strange words are the norm when it comes to Ancient English. What does the word “exhort” mean? Exhort means to urge, advise, or caution earnestly or admonish urgently. In another context, as a verb without an object it is defined as this: to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings. In the case of this series of verses and the connections that are made throughout Scripture, the second definition applies more accurately. Let’s get some points of reference for this first trio of verses Peter wrote in chapter five. We’ll look at Paul’s writings now.
Romans 8:17-18 KJV – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
There is nothing that can compare to the glory of God, the glory of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Everyone has shared that fact. Jesus Himself shared this thought. No matter what we suffer here on this earth, it will dissolve in the glory of our Heavenly Father’s presence. It will simply melt away and won’t leave any memories of it. The prophet Ezekiel foretold of this consideration as we see here.
Ezekiel 34:4 KJV – The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
You’ll note that the shorter the scroll, the more there is to compare in other sections of Scripture. We learned this well when we studied the Scroll of James. Let’s see what the Lord Jesus shares through the eyes of Luke here.
Luke 21:36 KJV – Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
John 21:15-17 KJV – So
when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I
love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third
time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto
him, Feed my sheep.
What is so important about this conversation between Simon Peter, Peter, and Jesus? Why does Jesus repeat Himself? Everything that is repeated three times in Scripture is something to be paid attention to. In this case, Jesus is making a point. If we love Him as we should, with all of our hearts, our spirits, our minds, bodies and souls, then we should prove it by teaching others the wonders and awesome powers of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, for without them we would have nothing, we would be nothing. All that exists would not have become reality. This is one of the most important Christian viewpoints. All things are of God and thus all of us, human, animal, element, all of it, would have God to thank for existence. Let’s look at more points of reference, these from the Apostle Paul, for the fifth chapter of Peter’s first epistle.
Acts 20:28 KJV – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
1 Corinthians 9:17 KJV – For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
1 Corinthians 13:6-7 KJV – Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Now let’s look at this through the eyes of Timothy.
1 Timothy 3:3 KJV – Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1 Timothy 3:8 KJV – Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1 Timothy 4:12 KJV – Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
There is so much to learn through the Apostles, Disciples, and Prophets. We see how much is shared just in the words we have shared this far. Here we reference the minor prophets of the New Testament scroll of Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:2 KJV – Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:16 KJV – But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Being good, doing good things, should be something we always do willingly and gratefully. This sometimes can get to us when others around us are not forgiving, share little in the realm of grace or gratitude. We all have seen or heard someone at some point acting and reacting with anger or angst that shouldn’t be present under normal circumstances. Peter again wants to share that even he recognized, almost too late, his errors in judgment, in thought, action and reaction. Peter knows the glory of God, having witnessed it first hand with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is why he teaches those willing to listen and hear just like this.
1 Peter 5:4-6 KJV – And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
What is more important to faith? Is it having everything you pray for come true the second you utter that prayer? No. It is nothing of the sort. Faith is knowing that, though life has too many perils in this world, there’s something far better waiting for us. There’s someone who provides support that cannot be seen with our eyes, or heard with our ears, only felt within our mind, our heart, our very soul. As we are preparing for the feast of Thanksgiving in the United States, we should remember and be grateful for the gifts we have received thanks to the Great God Almighty, the Heavenly Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit. This is what is waiting for us as shared by Timothy and the Hebrew prophets.
2 Timothy 4:8 KJV – Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Hebrews 13:20 KJV – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
We add to those with the words our Savior shared in the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 12:42 KJV – And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Paul, James, and John the Beloved share still more. Let’s see what they have for us to contemplate in relation to Peter’s epistle and life as we know it.
Ephesians 5:21 KJV – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
James 4:6 KJV – But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Revelation 1:6 KJV – And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Our final verse is from the Old Testament Scroll of the prophet Isaiah. His foreshadowing of the future holds a promise we should feel even now.
Isaiah 57:15 KJV – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Who is Isaiah referencing? God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, along with Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, and the Great Comfort, the Holy Spirit. 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: Home Free ~ How Great Thou Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXQpDDcrN-w&list=RDGMEMMib4QpREwENw3_jAc0YgNwVMNswPPVgMaPE&index=11
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder 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 © 2021 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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