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.
- Please keep my father-in-law Raymond in your prayers. He is back home now but still a bit weak after a blood transfusion was necessary to rebuild his supply.
- Please keep my daughter-in-law and her family in prayer. Their father is in hospice care due to stomach cancer.
- Please keep my friend Jeff’s father in prayer, he is suffering from cancer and starts chemotherapy tomorrow.
- We are ever watchful in regard to the weather with snow, freezing rain, blizzard conditions, and high winds around many places. We continue to pray for those who suffer or have suffered from the COVID-19 chaos. Let pray for calm skies and seas, calm voices and spirits, and also healthy outcomes for those who are affected.
- Pray for Dena and her healing process.
- Pray for Regina Fuller, who is a follower of our ministry and continues to be in the hospital, the fourth time since Christmas.
- Pray for a friend of a friend whose daughter Everleigh is for her bone marrow replacement to be managed Monday. This is tremendously good news for little Everleigh and her family.
- Pray that another friend gets good news in two weeks regarding their healing process is going well.
- 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.
Prayer: Father in heaven, this is our prayer for today. We continue to pray for the ones suffering as a result of hostage situations, shootings and other unrest around this world. We pray that truth can be seen where too many lies have filled life as we know it. We bring Regina, Everleigh, We pray for those whose jobs are in a scary position. We pray also for family members of colleagues and friends. We pray for the 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: Vine and Branches ~ Trevor Thompson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_4pzgxNWaM
Sermon: We continue to explore Peter’s second epistle today. Through this journey we have learned quite a lot in regard to Peter’s ministry. Let’s begin here.
2 Peter 1:5 KJV – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
We all recognize these words. However, do we truly understand the meaning behind them? Peter is sharing the wisdom that we must build up on the tenuous strands of faith with virtue, knowledge, and the rest. It is very important, not just in your Spiritual life, but also in your everyday life as well. Diligence is just another word for being observant in our deeds and daily lives. Virtue is exactly what it infers, being true to your faith, without having outside thoughts that draw you away from your faith. This is something we must remember to keep with our faith and the same can be said for knowledge. We can know a lot, but does that mean we know enough? This is what Jesus warns about here in these two entries of the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 24:5 KJV – For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24 KJV – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
We’ve heard a lot about false prophets, not just in one Scroll, but actually in just about all of them. Being able to pinpoint who those false prophets are and shutting their destructive words and actions out of life as we know it can be as easy as closing a door and locking it in place or as hard as saving a ship full of holes in the hull. We see the thoughts alluded to in the words from Paul and Timothy here.
Acts 20:29-30 KJV – For I know this, that
after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them.
1 Timothy 4:1 KJV – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Philippians 4:8 KJV – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 1:9 KJV – And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
The warnings are for the present day as much as they were for those faithful Christians at the time of Peter and Paul. They prove the point that there is evil somewhere around every corner we might turn. There are times we have to remind ourselves of the words Peter shares. Here is the continuation of Peter’s writing.
2 Peter 1:6 KJV – And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Temperance, which signifies restraint in how we pursue anything. Patience, sometimes the most difficult grace we have pursued. In some ways, people have often thought, “how can I be patient?” or “why is it so hard to wait?” Now, don’t tell me you have never gone through those thoughts in your lifetime. Patience, as you recall, is something that takes an infinite amount of humility to keep intact. When we can manage that, we find the godliness that resides within our hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. We see that fact in the writings of Paul to the citizens of Corinth.
1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV – And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Add to these with the words of James and Timothy.
James 1:4 KJV – But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Timothy 4:7 KJV – But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Patience is something that rewards us in the long run. This is what James and Timothy share and complements perfectly with Peter’s words here.
2 Peter 1:7 KJV – And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Kindness, something we have heard is worthwhile to share and to feel. This is something that is portrayed in thousands of ways throughout Scripture as we worship God. It should be seen more around us here in this world. One commercial I remember hearing “in a world where we can be anything, be kind.” There is so much involved in this simple sentence. That’s what we see here in Paul’s words to those in Galatia.
Galatians 6:10 KJV – As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
The Gospel of John the Beloved shares in His own Words, how Jesus wants us to see all of these facets combined as one into one simple sentence we hear a lot.
John 13:34-35 KJV – A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.
I cannot, in all honesty, remember how many times I have referenced John 15. This is an earlier precursor to that very distinctive view of God’s love for us. Jesus alludes to all the gifts God’s unconditional love has in store for those who believe in everything good and gracious that God has brought. It’s a very vivid view of this sentence Jesus shares with His Apostles and Disciples. Now we see how Paul shares that with others.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
There are many things that we can say we lack in our lives. Charity for those who have less than we might sometimes proves to be a difficult subject. However, charity doesn’t mean we have to approve of how someone lives. Charity is something that must come from somewhere else in our minds, hearts and spirits. It takes a lot to learn what that means because, much like love, these emotions and morals are different for every person. It is part of the uniqueness of humankind. Peter continues to show just how important it is for us to recognize our faith and the facets of that faith would be in our daily lives, not just the moment we listen to a preacher at the pulpit, on the television, or in the middle of a field somewhere. Peter continues that thought here.
2 Peter 1:8 KJV – For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These things faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are not things at all. They are aspects of the good side of humankind. They are what brings us closer to being one with God. We know from experience that kindness, faith, virtue, temperance, patience, charity, are no easy things for us to manage in a world full of cruelty and all the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame and doubt. We see those seven running rampant and destroying those who have been working hard for God and Jesus to spread the truth about God’s Unconditional Love, even this far in the future from the moment Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. We heard the first inklings of evil in Genesis, with Adam and Eve, the serpent, then with Cain who slew Abel, and on into the future as well. We have to recognize those seven evil troubles as what they are and do everything we can to eradicate them from our lives. It is not easy, and all of Scripture warns us of this fact. We see it here in the words of Jesus’s brother.
Jude 4:7 KJV – For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
We hear it in the words Jesus shared with the Apostles in the Gospel of John here in these two verses.
John 15:2 KJV – Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:6 KJV – If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
All of those things, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly love, kindness, and charity are mentioned in this parable of The Vine and the Branches. It bears repeating so often because of how much truth is kept in these words and how humanity can lose its way, fall off the vine and wither and die because of the evil in this world. Peter warns that it is those times, when we suffer lack in these virtues of faith, that we fall into trouble.
2 Peter 1:9 KJV – But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
There are things we must remember as we follow the path that Jesus left behind. It’s something that gets repeated in both the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament. We have to remember the path and how it was forged, why it was forged, so that we, can find it and stay on it toward the ultimate gift of eternal life. These are things that John the Beloved, Peter, James, Jude, Paul, and all the others taught over and over again some of them very specific in their writing. That’s what makes this portion of Scripture so very important. We know well from James that he, much like his Brother Jesus, was straight up and to the point. John the Beloved also says a lot in just a few words. We see that here.
1 John 2:9-11 KJV – He that saith he is in
the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of
stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and
knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Peter refers all the way back to the story of Noah, which wasn’t just a story. It was, in fact, the only opportunity for God to start over with everything to wipe the evil that began with the serpent in the Garden of Eden to be washed away and humankind to re-emerge on the earth as the humble and generous men and women God knew could exist even in the midst of all the evil and sin.
Genesis 7:1 KJV – And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Now, we see here with Peter summing up just what has been shared. Yet, in this summation is the exact guidance Jesus gave the Apostles prior to His death and resurrection. Diligence, being careful, in all that we do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and spreading the truth of God’s Word is vitally important for, as it was for them in the fledgling Christian church and continues to this very day and time. Be good and share kindness, unconditional love is more than anyone can understand individually because there are so many components that are beyond the scope of human understanding. Yet, so long as we follow the Words that Jesus shared, and the Truth that God has brought, we will find that path, just as Peter shares here.
2 Peter 1:10 KJV – Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
John the Beloved lived a life on earth decades longer than his Brothers, the Twelve Apostles. Some wonder how it was possible. However, if you look at the history of John the Beloved’s life, you understand that he never doubted in the truth of Jesus and God’s Word. He never wavered in the faith that he held. He always knew that there was more than people around him could not see, understand, or portray. The godliness of this one man, who suffered many terrible things, boiling in oil, exile on Patmos, and yet, survived to be an old man of 93 before he left this life. That’s what makes these observations he made so much more meaningful in relation to faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. We see that here in these verses as he wrote them.
1 John 3:19 KJV – And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
Revelation 22:14 KJV – Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
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: Casting Crowns ~ Voice of Truth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cKm_mYVPQE
~ 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.
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