https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbDGExJNllE
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ 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.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube & Twitch & TruthSocial & Instagram & Facebook
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio & Wedding Chicks
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.
- The world mourns the passing of Brigitte Bardot, who passed away yesterday at the age of 91.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings went into the hospital two weeks ago for a heart procedure. Thankfully he was home in time for Christmas. He has had an eventful year with his health, so please keep him in your prayers.
- David Doyle, brother-in-law of Evangelist Cal Jennings, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. David is a preacher of the Word as well, and this is a new challenge for him and Cal’s sister and their family to experience this close to Christmas. Please keep all of them in prayer during this journey.
- We keep my Uncle Bob into prayer as he has been in the hospital with fluid on his lung. I haven’t heard if he is back home yet or not, so we’ll keep him here for the moment.
- We continue to pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is healing after completing his prostate cancer treatment.
- We bring JB’s sister Debbie back into prayer as she has now been diagnosed with Lymphoma after conquering two rounds of breast cancer.
- We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is fighting cancer and undergoing treatment.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers that they need in both of their health issues. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals. JB has been especially sick, losing weight way too fast and no complete solution in sight at the moment. The doctor has started her on a ton of medication to see if that can assist, but it is slow going.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and is seeking to sell things she owns to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash, though, according to her mother she is doing better these days.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately after the loss of my sister two months ago. These anxiety issues are really devastating for her and for the family, so please keep all of them in prayer.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, JB’s sister Debbie, our friend Alexis, my Aunt Donna, and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including wildfires, storms, flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
* Happy Birthday to my
sister-in-law Donna, whose birthday was the 26th.
*Happy Birthday to my husband Ronald, whose birthday is tomorrow the 29th.
* Happy 34th Anniversary to my husband and I who celebrate our
wedding anniversary on the 30th.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for all those who are visiting family and friends for the Christmas and New Year holidays. We pray for those who have been traveling that they return home safely. We pray for those who serve around this world that they realize they are loved and cared for. We pray for a safe and secure, beautifully blessed and happy New Year in 2026. We pray for a bright and beautiful New World in Your Kingdom. We pray for those who have lost loved ones to any and all forms of violence, accidents, and more this week. We pray for those who have been sick, including Evangelist Cal Jennings, my Uncle Bob, and others. We pray for those who have been sick with cancer, including Fran, Debbie, and others. We pray for those who have survived cancer, like Jerry, J.B., Alexis, Donna, and others we know. We pray in thanksgiving for those who have healed from sickness around this world. We pray for the many orphans, refugees, homeless, and missionaries around this world. We pray for our outreach ministries that they each continue through, even in the face of adversity in Your Holy and Blessed Name. We pray all this in the name of our Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Poem: What Love Seeks to Find ~ Rev. Laura A. Neff © 2011
When I look around this world,
All I want to find would be;
Something promised as life swirled,
Amidst life’s chaos and calamity.
So when someone asked today,
What love seeks to find;
I thought to write how He’d portray,
Just what He has in mind.
You wouldn’t find fear and hate,
Or anger, greed, and lust shared there;
There wouldn’t be an empty plate,
Found in any house anywhere.
And when asked the reasons why,
As the days and nights combined;
Asking questions at every cry,
Seeking what love seeks to find.
You see, there’s a reason unknown,
Yet it’s right before our very eyes;
Held in every heart its spirit grown,
And can be shared if we’re wise.
So it’s not hard for God to remind,
Us in what good things love can do;
Whenever love seeks to find,
What it seeks would be in you.
Sermon: Although Advent celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the end of Advent, the final two Sundays, celebrate the future Second Coming of Christ, which we all wish we could anticipate. However, Yeshua, Jesus Christ has told us that “NO ONE” knows that moment in time “EXCEPT THE FATHER”. With this, the Holy Spirit has led me to share specific segments of the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John the Beloved. We will begin with one of my favorite chapters of Matthew, and one that was embodied in song at one point.
Matthew 24:26-44 KJV –Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
The Second Coming
27 For as the lightning cometh out
of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the
carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign
of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory.
31 And he shall send his
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Parable of the Fig Tree
32 Now learn a parable of the fig
tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that
summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall
see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This
generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my words shall not pass away.
Illustration of the Days of Noah
36 But of that day and hour knoweth
no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were
before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood
came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field;
the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at
the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not
what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if
the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would
have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for
in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
NIV – “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the
wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not
believe it. 27 For as
lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever
there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the
distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened, and
the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the
sky, and the heavenly bodies will be
shaken.’
30 “Then will appear the sign of
the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will
mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power
and great glory. 31 And he
will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect
from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the
fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know
that summer is near. 33 Even
so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right
at the door. 34 Truly I tell
you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have
happened. 35 Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour no
one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the
coming of the Son of Man. 38 For
in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the
flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the
Son of Man. 40 Two men will
be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be
taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because
you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known
at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would
not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will
come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Today we’re adding one segment of the gospel of Luke with this. This is despite the fact that Luke 17 repeats Matthew 24. Instead, we will see what is shared with Luke 21 here.
Luke 21 KJV – 1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 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.
37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
NIV –1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
The last two segments of the gospels the Spirit has compelled me to utilize today come from the gospel of John the Beloved. These two are significantly shorter than the others, so here they are together.
John 5:16-30 KJV –And
therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had
done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My
Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him,
because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his
Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of
himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth,
these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the
Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him
greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth
up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no
man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should
honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son
honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath
life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him
authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for
the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his
voice,
29 And shall come forth;
they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have
done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do
nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine
own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
NIV –So, because Jesus was doing these things
on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In
his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is
always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For
this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the
Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with
God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very
truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he
sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.
Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be
amazed. 21 For just as the
Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom
he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover,
the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “Very truly I tell you,
whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will
not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will
live. 26 For as the Father
has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the
Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at
this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice
29 and come out—those who
have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil
will rise to be condemned. 30 By
myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I
seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
John 14:1-4 KJV – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
NIV – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
The greatest importance of our celebration of Advent isn’t just in the birth of our Savior, it is in the proof that our Savior brings something that normal humanity could never own, SALVATION. Without our faith and belief in God and in Yeshua, Jesus Christ, the Savior, the gates of Heaven will remain closed to us. There is a reason that Jesus points out He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God ensured that this would be possible in the Immaculate Conception, the Miraculous Birth, and the Resurrection. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. 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: A Mansion Waits ~ https://suno.com/s/h0BLirdphfFRhn04
Lyrics Written by Laura A. Neff – © May 2006
Melody Produced © 12/26/2025 Laura A. Neff
A mansion with so many rooms awaiting company,
We see it in His holy words, a place for you and me.
We hear it in a song that’s sung in blessed harmony,
A mansion waits so far away in heaven faithfully.
Chorus:
In heaven, in heaven, a mansion waits in heaven. In heaven, in heaven, a mansion waits you see.
A revelation fully known in hearts both far and near,
Here the seeds of hope are sown with whispers in our ear.
A mansion with so many rooms and streets all paved in gold,
A promise His word assumes, a gift as was foretold.
Chorus
A mansion with so many rooms a blessing to behold,
As God’s gift of love resumes in paradise so bold.
A promise made so long ago within the hearts of men,
A place the angels each know and we shall see again.
Chorus two times.
Amen.
NOTE: The song didn't sound through the system very well, so please feel free to click the link above to listen to it the way it should sound. Have a blessed and beautiful week everyone! Happy New Year!
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & Twitch & USAlife
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 © 2025 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Poetry and Music Copyright © 2008 & 2025 Laura A. Neff
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.
