Good morning and welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. This is the first Sunday of December, and also the first Sunday of Advent. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Normally during the season of Advent, we speak of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Though today’s sermon isn’t completely focused upon the story of our Savior’s birth two millennia and more ago, it does focus on the reason He was born and what His birth, life, death, and resurrection are and were set to achieve.
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Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
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 pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.
- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings’ sister who has a malignant meningioma.
- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being.
One who has been diagnosed with some painful health issues.
One who is rehabilitating after a very painful bladder biopsy this week.
Four who have lost a loved one or friend in the past week.
One who has returned home for more rehabilitation after a stroke.
One who has been working with cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack a month or so ago.
Another pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.
- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel and overly high demand.
- Pray for those who will be choosing candidates for the United States, that they choose wisely with knowledge of the issues and the stance of each candidate.
- Pray for those who have suffered from violent events, that they heal and do not have scarred psyches and that those who have lost their loved ones to violence find peace in the face of fear.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what
tomorrow brings.
- 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 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.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment in the wonders that You bring each of us and understanding while studying Your Word. We pray for clarity in our words and thoughts when speaking of Your Word. We thank You for the many awe inspiring gifts and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn out of us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the homeless, for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow would bring good things. 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: Alan Jackson ~ I Love to Tell the Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xXFzw3Ukc8
Sermon: This week we are finishing the study of the fifth chapter in 1 Thessalonians. There has been quite a lot to go through and I’ve had some who have worried that my writing and words could be counterproductive for the focus of faith and where it should be in our lives. Faith first and foremost, that faith includes heart, mind, spirit, and soul. It should be prayed about, cared about, shared with those surrounding us and molding our lives as we pursue life and live it to the fullest of our abilities. Paul, in his letter to the citizens of the church at Thessalonica wants the church to thrive through them, through their leadership and through the unequivocal message toward salvation found through the knowledge and pursuit of true faith in Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit to guide us in His truth always. This is an important portion of Christianity, even to this very day, as we send missionaries around the world and spread the Word as it should be shared. Today we start the last portion of the fifth chapter of First Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV –Abstain from all appearance of evil.
NIV –reject every kind of evil.
Reject all forms of evil! This is what Paul cautions the citizens at Thessalonica’s church. This is something every church, to this very day and beyond, should warn their members about, those they meet in daily life outside of church, and so on. Families should talk about this. Faith isn’t meant to be a taboo subject. Yet, even now, people tell each other, “I don’t do politics or religion in polite conversations. It only leads to arguments.” Phooey! If we don’t talk about faith, we aren’t being faithful to our own hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. This is more than meeting at the church on Sunday, or at Wednesday night Bible Study. This is more than a daily verse sitting in front of you on your vanity or at your desk. Faith is so much more than that. True faith, not a soothsayer or false teacher’s words. We see this referenced here in both Exodus and Isaiah.
Exodus 23:7 KJV – Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
NIV – Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
Isaiah 33:15 KJV – He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
NIV – Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—
Now we get to how, where, and when the Word of Peace brings something amazing toward each of us. That would be sanctification. Now, what exactly is sanctification? There are five different definitions for this single word.
Sanctification: to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.
to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.
to impart religious sanction to; render legitimate or binding: to sanctify a vow.
to entitle to reverence or respect.
to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.
We see each and every definition in the verses already shared. There is so much to this single act and action. It’s very important for us to thoroughly study and understand exactly what this means to each of us individually and then collectively as well. Paul gives us insight on the reason for this in the next sentences he shares in his letter to the church at Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV –And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At this time of year, we think of peace on earth, and good will to mankind. It’s a time where love and faith should literally be part of every conversation, no matter the color of our skin, the amount of money in our pockets, the city, state, or country we live in, or any of that. Peace, His peace, should be shared with every smile, every giggle, every handshake, nod, hug, or kiss between family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and coworkers, everybody. Why? Some people might ask. Peace is not something we can corner the market on. No single person can own peace. It is worthless unless it is shared equally with others. This is what Jesus taught. Faith is the same. If we do not share our faith, grow our faith, then we do ourselves no favors. That’s just one reason Mary, the mortal mother of our Savior Jesus Christ, says this.
Luke 1:46 KJV – And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
NIV – And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
We all need to think about these three words, in Old English, or in today’s English, magnify the Lord, glorify the Lord. It’s not earthly, to have peace. It’s beyond that, it’s sanctity that can begin in an individual heart, but, in order to grow, it must be given away willingly, no matter the situation that may be occurring in life right at that moment. Paul points out the importance of peace in several instances. We see this in his letters to the churches in Rome, and Corinth.
Romans 15:33 KJV – Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
NIV – The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:8 KJV –Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV –But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
NIV –It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Paul goes on to say that when we receive that calling to Christ, that is faith pure and simple. It is that simplicity that makes humans think too much. Yes, we love to be complicated people, even with something as basic as faith. That’s a big problem at times. Here is what Paul shares to the citizens of Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV –Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
NIV –The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
We have to refer back to the Torah, the Scroll of Deuteronomy, to understand where Paul was coming from in this letter.
Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV – Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
NIV – Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Added to this, we get to include the very first Jewish King, David, in his writings as well.
Psalm 36:5 KJV – Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
NIV – Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Psalm 40:10 KJV – I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
NIV – I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
There are many spiritual songs, poems, and more about the heart and how we should portray God’s love in our hearts, and through them as well. Paul points out one reason we should focus on His love, and how that love is faithful and perfect for each of us.
1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV –God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV –God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
One of the elements of faith we should work on is prayer and meditation within prayer. Paul points this out here.
1 Thessalonians 5:25 KJV –Brethren, pray for us.
NIV –Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Paul refers back to his letter to the church at Ephesus and also to the writings of the Hebrew theologians as well.
Ephesians 6:19 KJV – And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
NIV – Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Hebrews 13:18 KJV – Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
NIV – Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
When we meet each other in church or during study, while we are physically in the same place, we hug, we shake hands, maybe we give a high-five or bump knuckles, or wave from across the room. Smile, remember, where two or more are gathered in His name, He would be there in Spirit and in Life. Paul is pointing out how we should feel and express that feeling upon meeting together in one place.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 KJV –Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
NIV –Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.
Paul, of course, references back to the words of our Savior Jesus Christ. This is specifically where Jesus catches all of His Apostles and disciples by surprise. He points out that, if we are not willing to say anything to those who we don’t know, acknowledge them in any way, what benefit are we gaining or giving to the rest of this world? A kind word, a wave, a smile, a simple hello, for some reason, can often have us flabbergasted and at a loss for words just because we do not know those we might pass by.
Matthew 5:47 KJV – And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
NIV – And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
One thing I have learned from the many lessons that God has taught me in my lifetime is to smile more, to laugh more and to share those smiles and that laughter with the ones around me. Whether that is in a poem, a prayer, a hug, a terrible joke where I get the punchline wrong, or anything else, it means I’m learning and experiencing connections that could lead to gaining faith, hope, and unity, all things that Jesus wants us to learn. Paul offers this method, a holy kiss, to share in salute of our Savior Jesus Christ and our common ground within that salvation.
Romans 16:16 KJV – Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
NIV – Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
Paul closes out this first letter to the church at Thessalonica with a mission for the church. It’s a mission every church should continue to do in as many ways as possible throughout life as we live it here on earth.
1 Thessalonians 5:27-28 KJV –I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
NIV –I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Again we are referencing other letters Paul wrote, and also the writings of the gospel writer Luke as well.
Acts 1:15 KJV – And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
NIV – In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
Romans 16:20 KJV – And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
NIV – The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Colossians 4:16 KJV – And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
NIV – After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
Now, in the first week of Advent, there should be several things we think about. Let’s begin with a bit of background for the days prior to the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:13-26 KJV – But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is
heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his
name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine
nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his
mother's womb.
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord
their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?
for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that
stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee
these glad tidings.
And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until
the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and
marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them,
and remained speechless.
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his
ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid
herself five months, saying,
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked
on me, to take away my reproach among men.
NIV – But the angel said to him: “Do not be
afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son, and you are to call him John.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many
will rejoice because of his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to
take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit
even before he is born.
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord
their God.
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of
Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an
old man and my wife is well along in years.”
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence
of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day
this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at
their appointed time.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering
why he stayed so long in the temple.
When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he
had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained
unable to speak.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months
remained in seclusion.
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown
his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
You can see how husband and wife are divided on how they feel in regard to the imminent birth of their son, soon to be named John, and later to be known as John the Baptist. They are not the only ones to have doubts. Here we go further into the emotions and thoughts of Mary and Joseph.
Luke 1:26-42 KJV – And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a
city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art
highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast
in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast
found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth
a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:
and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of
his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I
know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a
son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called
barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country
with haste, into a city of Juda;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted
Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation
of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy
Ghost:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art
thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
NIV – The Birth of Jesus Foretold: In the
sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a
town in Galilee,
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
The virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The
Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this
might be.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with
God.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never
end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the
Son of God.
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she
who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth: At that time Mary got
ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
child you will bear!
In today’s world with science and medicine where they would be, children at ages beyond forty are being seen more and more frequently. Back in the days of Zecharias, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph, the thought of having children after the age of thirty was considered impossible. Note how Gabriel, the angel that appeared before them, says the same thing as Jesus said in His resurrection, “Fear not!” “God is with you!” We should take those six words and pray about the message in those six little words. Next Sunday we will begin with the second week of Advent and the story of our Lord Jesus Christ at the time just prior to His birth. It should be a time of hope, joy, and rising faith in the hearts of those who know our Savior and have accepted Him as such. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:
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: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem ~ Nat King Cole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKORmpW4Cg
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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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 © 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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