Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love and sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus 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. 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
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 and has been undergoing treatment.
- Pray for the people in Turkey and Syria who have become victims of the earthquake last week. Pray for the dead that they may be found, and for the trapped, that they might be rescued alive if at all possible.
- Continue to pray for the situation in Ukraine, that freedom does not get destroyed in this ongoing conflict.
- 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 whose mother is still having issues with memory after a stroke and is still rehabilitating at home. The same one’s stepfather is suffering from cancer.
- One who has a couple of big decisions that need to be made, sooner rather than later.
- One who has been sick off and on over the past three weeks or more.
- Two who have had COVID-19 to varying degrees.
- 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 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.
- Pray for comfort and solace to be shared with those who have said farewell to a loved one this week, known or unknown.
- 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 those who have suffered unjustly for things they could not control. We pray for those who have lost faith and live in fear and sorrow. We pray for the homeless and the jobless in this world. We pray for the hungry and the malnourished. We pray for the poor, weak, and sorrowful people in this world. We pray for the survivors and those lost in the battles being waged in Ukraine. We pray for the survivors and mourners in Syria and Turkey due to the earthquake. We pray in thanksgiving for all the great gifts that You have given us, even if we don’t always realize they are there. We pray in hope and patience for those things that are worrying us in our hearts and minds. 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: Danny Gokey ~ Stand in Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIREaGBN4Jw
Sermon: This week we are continuing the study of chapter in 3 in 2nd Thessalonians. In this world we hear a whole lot about “good” behavior. We see more examples of “bad” behavior than “good” in today’s world through news outlets, television, movies, and more. Well, it wasn’t all that much different in the days of the Apostle Paul and the eleven Apostles with him after the resurrection. They just didn’t have television, movies, or videos to spread this “bad” behavior. This is something that Paul is pointing out in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 3:7 KJV –For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
NIV –For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
As children we learn consequences and rewards regarding behavior. All of us have memories of these instances as well. The thing is, we still fall into those bad behaviors, sometimes without even realizing it. This is what Paul speaks to them about and references his first letters to Corinth and Thessalonica.
1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV –Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
NIV –Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV –And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
NIV –You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV –Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
NIV –And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Fairness is another thing we learn about in the letters that Paul wrote to the various churches. This is something that still can be a rather large stumbling stone in today’s world. Many do not have the exact same view of what fairness should be. In truth, fairness should be part of covering all the bases in life, our Christian faith is fair and just, but we have to work together to prove that fact. This is what Paul points out here.
2 Thessalonians 3:8 KJV –Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
NIV – nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
Paul again draws upon his experiences in life after the resurrection, and Luke, the gospel writer and another assistant with Paul, has this to say.
Acts 20:34 KJV – Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
NIV – You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
Do you remember when Jesus told the woman who grabbed his robe to go and sin no more? Do you remember when He did the same for the woman who was going to be stoned to death for adultery? That’s what Paul is pointing toward in his many letters written. We can’t say one thing and do the opposite. We can’t forgive someone verbally but not forgive them in our hearts and minds. This is something people wrestle with every day. Paul adds to that with these words in his letters to Ephesus and his first letter to Thessalonica.
Ephesians 4:28 KJV – Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
NIV – Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
1 Thessalonians 2:9 KJV –For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
NIV –Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
Paul continues to be humble, even in his letters to so many. This is not an easy thing in the world after Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven. It’s not any easier almost two thousand years later either. Yet, even with all that is happening around us, we need to provide that hope, not just for those around us, but for ourselves as well. Paul shares this ideology this way.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 KJV – Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
NIV – We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
Again, Paul references the words of Jesus as shared in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 10:10 KJV – Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
NIV – no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.
Humility, being humble, is something that takes a lot of patience and practice to manage. Remember, every Apostle wrestled with this very concept. Just about every person in Scripture has wrestled with the same. When we learn something important, we must practice that concept physically, mentally, out loud and in silence, before we have imprinted those important lessons on our very soul. Throughout this second letter, Paul is pointing this personal journey out in many ways. We see this reference to his letter for the church at Galatia.
Galatians 6:6 KJV – Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
NIV – Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
We also see this in the letter for Peter.
1 Peter 5:3 KJV –Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
NIV –not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Discipline in faith is something that takes work. If we don’t practice it, our faith is unruly, disorganized, and not in sync with what Jesus taught. This is something that Paul points out to the church at Thessalonica here.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 KJV – or even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
NIV – For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
In this world today we don’t see much regarding “work and you eat” anymore, unless they are lessons parents should bring for their children. Finish your homework and then you can eat. Finish your meal before you watch television or some other activities. Though we don’t see this very much in today’s world of computers, television, and other forms of “entertainment”. We see Jesus sharing that paying attention is extremely important, as shared in the gospels of Luke and John the Beloved.
Luke 24:44 KJV – And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
NIV – He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
John 16:4 KJV – But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
NIV – I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,
Luke also shares this.
Acts 20:18 KJV – And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
NIV – When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.
Paul is also reflecting on the first letter he wrote to the church at Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 3:4 KJV –For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
NIV –In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV –And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
NIV –and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,
Pursue faith in a quiet life, keeping thoughts to yourselves, your hands busy with work and your mind focused on that work. Remember what we learned with James? He said to “bridle” our tongues. In other words, watch your mouth, don’t say something you’ll regret later, and don’t think it either, or those thoughts will haunt you one day. Paul reflects on this exact concern here in this next verse.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 KJV – For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
NIV – We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
Already we have spoken in regard to half of the Ten Commandments, and here’s another one in the letter Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:28 KJV – Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
NIV – Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
We have to add this thought from the letters from Timothy and Peter as well.
1 Timothy 5:13 KJV –And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
NIV –Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
1 Peter 4:15 KJV –But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
NIV –If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
Be loud and proud about your faith, but also be quiet and thoughtful whenever the need arises. Demonstrate your faith in all kinds of ways, but don’t exaggerate it, don’t pontificate within it. That takes you down the same route as seven troubles would manage. This is what Paul shares here in this last verse we are exploring today from the Second Letter to Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 3:12 KJV – Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
NIV – Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.
Quiet strength in our faith is something we all need to work on. Sure, we can sing and shout to the rooftops how much we love the Lord, but when we work quietly and faithfully in His footsteps, those same footsteps are leaps and bounds as opposed to tiptoes all around. The food that is God’s Word is more than what we put in our mouths to fill an empty stomach. We see proof of the importance of the food for thought here in these supporting verses.
Proverbs 17:1 KJV – Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
NIV – Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 KJV – Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
NIV – Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 KJV – Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
NIV – As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV – And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
NIV – and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,
There are so many lessons in these last few verses Paul wrote in this second letter to Thessalonica that this single chapter, the final chapter in 2nd Thessalonians, we’ll need another entire sermon to cover it all. With this, remember, study what you can as often as you can. Your heart, mind, spirit, and soul depend on that study, and in sharing those studies with each other. 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: Jeremy Camp ~ Living Word https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6-KKBxaFJk&list=PLh_zYS6MYQNnMbVSTiEgdYFoMwhVs2yz4
~ 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 © 2023 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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