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 and his health issues, which are numerous. He has been having issues with his pain, vision, and memory.
- We are ever watchful in regard to the weather with tropical weather and with the high winds around many places. We continue to pray for those who suffer or have suffered from the COVID-19 chaos. Let us pray for calm skies and seas, calm voices and spirits, and also healthy outcomes for those who are affected.
- Pray for my friend Jeff, his wife and granddaughter, all have COVID-19 and are in their second week of quarantine.
- Pray for my father-in-law, who fell and broke his collarbone. Pray his healing goes well.
- Pray for a friend of a friend whose daughter Everleigh is still fighting cancer cells due to Leukemia.
- Pray that another friend gets good news tomorrow regarding their healing process in hopes that it continues going well and my friend is able to work at the office once more.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- 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.
- Pray for a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year 2022 for one and all after this arduous two years with COVID-19 Coronavirus.
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 for those whose jobs are in a scary position. We pray also for family members of colleagues and friends who have been injured or ill. We pray for those traveling back and forth across this country, including our family members who have traveled here for the Christmas holidays. We pray for the other travelers around this world so they remain healthy. We pray for the medical scientists, and physicians who battle on the front lines of the COVID-19 virus and all the other terrible diseases in this world. 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: What a Beautiful Name ~ Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWFzMvCfLE
Sermon: We are exploring the end of the Christmas story from the eyes of Matthew’s gospel today. The original time of the three wise men was what is known to Christians as Epiphany, traditionally observed on the 6th day of January. We will explore those origins today. Let’s start here:
Matthew 2:1 KJV – Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Through our time studying Scripture together, we have noted that when there are a select few locations for any mention, it usually means that this is very important and should be recognized as such, immediately upon this realization. The important view here is King Herod. This is very important for several reasons. King Herod was an envious and prideful man. He wanted no others to be considered as a king in his kingdom. These wise men were wealthy, and it was easy to see. It was for this reason that Herod was more than interested in finding out who the child was, and where they would be, so that he could ensure that Jesus would not live long enough to vanquish him or his family.
Luke 2:4-7 KJV – And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house
and lineage of David) .
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
We went through these verses through our sermons in the past month or so. Here we see the interest the three wise men had in a tiny infant born to the Virgin Mary. The words the angel spoke, that Jesus was the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, King of the Jews. We see that here in these two verses in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 2:2 KJV – Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Luke 2:11 KJV – For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Imagine what it would be like, to have a child, barely out of the womb, become an enemy of a king who was full of hate, vanity, and all the other seven troubles. It’s terrible to think that infants who could not even speak words would be seen as dangerous to a sitting king. We see that quite frequently at the time of Jesus’s birth and before, especially in the Roman Empire.
Matthew 2:3-4 KJV – When
Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Herod was worried, because he felt his kingdom was under threat with the birth of a boy ordained by God ahead of His birth to reign as King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Here we see the premonitions of our Savior’s birth.
2 Chronicles 36:14 KJV – Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
Malachi 2:7 KJV – For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
Now, we find where the wise men said exactly what Gabriel, the angel and the group of Heavenly Hosts explained where the King of Kings, Lord of Lords was born. This they then explained to Herod.
Matthew 2:5-7 KJV – And
they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the
prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of
Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them
diligently what time the star appeared.
It is quite interesting how maliciously Herod was in attempting to fool these kings from afar. He wanted to ensure that there would be none who could challenge his rule in Jerusalem. We see in the past where this was foreseen.
Numbers 24:17 KJV – I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
It makes a person wonder, why did Herod not have additional spies following the wise men to Bethlehem? Did he truly put all his faith into these three wise men from far away lands? What surprises many would be this set of thoughts, because people do not understand just how controlling the seven troubles can be. Vanity, envy, wrath, all three are obvious in these thoughts implied through the words of Herod. This is why God sent a warning to the three wise men and to Mary and Joseph. We see that here.
Matthew 2:8-12 KJV – And he sent them to Bethlehem, and
said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him,
bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw
in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young
child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they
departed into their own country another way.
Herod’s downfall was ensured in his actions at the point where the wise men hurried away home and Joseph took Mary and Jesus out of the city of his birth and hurried into hiding until the all clear was sounded. Imagine how scared Joseph and Mary would have been. This is the mortal type of fear that everyone experiences. It is not difficult to understand their feelings at this point, especially with a tiny baby in the balance.
Job 33:15-16 KJV – In a
dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in
slumberings upon the bed;
Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
Dreams, especially those mentioned in Scripture, have a deeper meaning than what many consider to be dreams nowadays. In the words that Job shares, he notes that this is the time when the Lord hears our thoughts, and helps us sleep, clear our thoughts, and all of that. Now, as it comes about here in Scripture, dreams are often warnings of things that would occur if the person dreaming would not act accordingly. This is what we see in these next six verses.
Matthew 2:13-18 KJV – And
when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a
dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young
child to destroy him.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed
into Egypt:
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding
wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in
all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are
not.
This was a dangerous time for children, for parents, in the vicinity of King Herod’s reign. It was an urgent warning for the wise men and for Mary and Joseph as well. Jealousy is a dangerous view of envy and vanity combined. It does terrible things to a person, no matter their stature. It is why the seven troubles are spoken about so often in our sermons. We see an interesting view of “Israel”, which is the name God gave Jacob, as he led the way to the land of plenty for the Israelites.
Hosea 11:1 KJV – When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
We add another premonition through the cries of Rahel as shared by Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 31:15 KJV – Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Destruction comes to those who defy and disobey God. This is what occurred with King Herod the First. We see that here in these verses.
Matthew 2:19-20 KJV – But
when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to
Joseph in Egypt,
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of
Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
God wanted Jesus to be raised in the land of Galilee, city of Nazareth, where His family was comforted and felt at ease. The only way that Jesus was to learn how far the Israelites had fallen from the path, was to see it from this viewpoint as a child.
Luke 2:39 KJV – And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
At this point, Jesus is a young child in his father and mother’s care and considered one of the members of the city of Nazareth, known as a Nazarene. This is also an important building block for the future teaching and instruction that Jesus would manage for the multitudes in Jerusalem and beyond.
Matthew 2:21-23 KJV – And
he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of
Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a
dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
One of the things that we see in the earliest days of Jesus is that there is a great deal of fear that He would be slaughtered because of who He would be. This is a legitimate fear, because so many of the leaders of the various countries were terrified that His birth would lead to the destruction of their kingdoms. Yet, in that, the kings and other rulers were like bulls in china shops, blatantly destroying any and every one that would be anywhere near the view of newborn, under a year of life. People don’t want to give up their leadership roles, we see this quite often in history. King Herod was only one of the many. This is why Mary and Joseph listened to God and His messengers. This is why the wise men and even the shepherds did the same. It was important to the whole story of Jesus, from the first glimmers of premonitions to the point of his birth here on earth in the little town known as Bethlehem. This is also the reason that Jesus was raised in Nazareth in Galilee. We have a lot of thinking for this new year. We have seen so much death and destruction that those seven troubles have all but consumed us in so many ways. The fear that is felt by the people who have seen the worst and survived, as well as those who have lost their lives just in the past two years shows just how much fear exists in this world today. Believe, have faith, and believe. God is with you always, not just in the good times, but in the bad ones as well. It is why I always share these last few words for you. 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: Song of Joy ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxio54dWfX4&list=PL614A115BF39E5936&index=171
~ 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 © 2022 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment