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 pray for my nephew who suffered a bad fall on Friday and had to get staples in the back of his head, he’s in a lot of pain, bandaged up all over his head. He cracked the back of his skull and is pretty badly bruised.
- Please keep my father-in-law Raymond, and my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in prayer as they travel through the southern states reminiscing one last time for my father-in-law.
- Please pray for my employer and his wife, they lost a very dear friend earlier this past week to kidney failure.
- My employer’s wife is also not doing well health wise. She was quite ill overnight Thursday through Friday.
- My employer was in a single vehicle wreck after a diabetic blackout Friday night. He was slightly injured and was seen at the ER. His car was totaled in the accident.
- My friend Jeff Taylor’s father is in hospice care and the last day is closer.
- My friend Faith has been a little under the weather in the last few days.
- We are ever watchful in regard to the battle for Ukraine on the other side of the world. We pray for all those worldwide who are affected by the terrible things going on there. We mourn for the families and the massive loss of life. We also pray for everything that is affected as a result of the economic issues that are affecting so many.
- Pray for a friend of a friend whose daughter Everleigh is still fighting Leukemia.
- Pray that another friend gets good news this week regarding their healing process is going well.
- Pray that my brother’s therapy keeps getting better and better after his back surgery.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for the friends, family, and fans of Emilio “Luis” Delgado, well known for his work on the children’s show Sesame Street, which he participated in for 40 years. Pray for the fans, friends and family for all those lost in the past seven days.
- 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 that things start getting back to normal for Rev. Lisa Tyler and her family after quarantine.
- 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.
* Happy Birthday for my youngest child, Lukas, and my eldest son’s wife, Victoria, as their birthday is tomorrow.
* They are also celebrating my birthday, which is Tuesday.
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 the citizens of Ukraine who are fighting for their sovereignty and their freedom. We pray for those who have lost their lives on all sides of this chaos. We pray for those who have been sick, including Rev. Lisa Tyler’s family. We continue to keep Elder Cal Jennings in our prayers as well. We bring my employer and his wife, as his wife has been quite ill and he was in a bad wreck on Friday. We pray for the family of a dear friend and colleague of my employer who passed away earlier this past week. We pray that truth can be seen where too many lies have filled life as we know it. We pray for those whose jobs are in a scary position. We pray also for family members of colleagues and friends. We pray for those traveling back and forth across this country, including our family members who have been driving through the southern USA. We pray for the other travelers around this world so they remain healthy. We pray for two members of my family who are celebrating their birthdays with me. 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 Friend We Have In Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znWu2HCJ92c
Sermon: We continue to explore Peter’s second epistle today. As with other chapters of this Scroll of Scripture we see him greeting those to whom the letter is written. As Jesus considered Peter and the other Apostles, so Peter treats the ones receiving the letter, as friends through Christ.
2 Peter 3:1 KJV – This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
NIV – Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
He is reminding those who are in the church that they need to remember the words Jesus shared. He is reassuring them as they struggle to stay walking in the path Jesus left. We see this in the words of the Hebrews and Jude, youngest brother to Jesus.
Hebrews 6:9 KJV – But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
NIV – Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation.
Jude 1:5 KJV – I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
NIV – Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
One of the words I have seen in several books and publications lately has to do with mindfulness. So what does mindfulness include? The Mindfulness Manual from Prevention Magazine originally published in 2018 says that mindfulness is “about observation without criticism, and being compassionate with yourself.” It goes on to say that, “Over time, mindfulness brings about long-term changes in mood and levels of happiness and well-being. This is one thing that Jesus was working very hard to have His Apostles and Disciples understand. It is something that Peter and the others spent plenty of time toiling through life in the days after Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Mindfulness, especially when you are threatened at every turn with imprisonment, execution, and dangerous interactions, it most likely took a lot for the twelve and the disciples to continue maintaining that composure, that mindfulness to keep their calm demeanor and more. This is what Peter shares.
2 Peter 3:2 KJV – That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
NIV – I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Reminders are there to jog our memories, and there are some things we need to see, listen, hear, and understand at many different stages of life. Peter, Paul, and all the others, including the gospel authors, spent quite a lot of time working to get their followers to keep on keeping on. It’s not easy, ever, when it comes to continuity in our faith. Like everything else in this world, it is hard to stay on track and ignoring all the distractions that exist on this earth. Luke shares this from his gospel and from the Acts of the Apostles.
Luke 1:70 KJV – As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
NIV – (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
Acts 3:21 KJV – Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
NIV – Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Now we’ll see how Peter connects with Paul’s teaching in Galatia and Ephesus.
Galatians 6:2 KJV – Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
NIV – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Ephesians 3:5 KJV – Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
NIV – which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
We see another observation into mindfulness through the words of Timothy here.
1 Timothy 6:14 KJV – That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
NIV – to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We get to see how hard it is for the Apostles to push a point about the seven troubles of this world, and how hard it can be to shove those gremlins away. You remember the seven, vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt. In this world even now, all seven are easily recognizable. This is what Peter shares as a warning. Watch yourself, as much as you can, as well as you can. God knows it is not easy, as Jesus knew as well. That’s why we have the Scriptures as a guide toward good faith and righteous living.
2 Peter 3:3 KJV – Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
NIV – Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
Now we’re going back to the Gospel of John, and the Word as shared by our Savior Jesus Christ. He is speaking about the foundation of Christianity as we should see it, and share it, for others who may never have heard the Word as we would know it.
John 12:48 KJV – He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
NIV – There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are our constant and consistent guides in life once we accept the Word as it should be, TRUTH, God breathed, God inspired, Holy and Infallible Truth. We have to constantly explore the Word, learning all the little bits and pieces many of us don’t realize are just as important as the bigger, more easily seen moments and lessons taken down in Scripture. Learning that allows our knowledge to fill every part of our life. This is what the Apostle Timothy, the Hebrew prophets, and Jude, the brother of Jesus, have to share.
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;
NIV – The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Hebrews 1:2 KJV – Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
NIV – but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Jude 1:18 KJV – How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
NIV – They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
Promises, especially those from God and Jesus, are important to keep your faith within. It’s not easy, but if it were, would we want to be going through all that Christianity and the pursuit of it would bring about. It was very hard in the days of the Apostles to pursue faith for the One God in Three Forms, but these men and women worked hard to prove their faith and spread that belief, that faith, that sense of being brothers and sisters within that faith, which is exactly what Jesus was teaching the twelve and all the disciples with them. Peter points out the ones who are sabotaging everything that Jesus taught in this next verse.
2 Peter 3:4 KJV – And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
NIV – They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
If you have read any of the Old Testament, this is very familiar. The prophet Isaiah was faced with a situation remarkably similar. We’re a whole world of “We want it now” impatience on a magnificent scale. Everything is now, right now, not any other time. That’s why we have instant meals, instant access to just about anything a person could dream up, instant diagnoses, and the list goes on and on. Here are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Malachi’s observations of this style of impatience.
Isaiah 5:19 KJV – That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
NIV – to those who say, “Let God hurry; let him hasten his work so we may see it. The plan of the Holy One of Israel— let it approach, let it come into view, so we may know it.”
Jeremiah 17:15 KJV – Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.
NIV – They keep saying to me, “Where is the word of the LORD? Let it now be fulfilled!”
Ezekiel 11:3 KJV – Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
NIV – They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.’
Ezekiel 12:22-27 KJV – And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD. Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
NIV
– “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have concerning the land of
Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’? “Therefore say to
them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will make this proverb cease so that they
will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days draw
near as well as the fulfillment of every vision. “For there will no longer be
any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. “For I
the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no
longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word
and perform it,” declares the Lord GOD.’”
Furthermore, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, behold, the
house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now,
and he prophesies of times far off.’
Malachi 2:17 KJV – Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
NIV – You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”
Jesus Himself has this to say as shared in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 16:27 KJV – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
NIV – For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Peter continues with this next verse.
2 Peter 3:5 KJV – For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
NIV – But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
There are so many deniers in this world, past, present, and most likely in the future as well. Deniers that, for instance, the earth is round. Deniers who, do not believe that the earth could possibly be created in six days. Deniers who, do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He was born, lived thirty-three years on this earth, performed dozens of miracles, only some of which were shared in the gospels, was crucified, died, and resurrected after three days in the grave. A lot of people allow fear to guide them, which just adds fuels to those who do not believe in their pursuit to avoid learning and knowing about the Benevolent and Awesome God we know so little about and yet yearn to know more. So much so, that Peter decided it was time to remind the followers that were listening about the very beginning of life on earth.
Genesis 1:6-9 KJV – And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
NIV – Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
Not only that, but the repetition of that same moment in time as shared in the words of King David here.
Psalm 24:2 KJV – For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
NIV – for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Psalm 136:6 KJV – To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
NIV – who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
We’ll add the Hebrew prophets from the days after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Hebrews 11:3 KJV – Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
NIV – By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Peter even reminds the ones around him about the story of Noah and how he was charged with ensuring that humanity and the wildlife would be able to continue on after the flood that destroyed the entire earth.
2 Peter 3:6 KJV – Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
NIV – By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
Everything has a beginning and an end. This was proven by God’s Holy Word, all the way back to day one. Here is just a moment in Noah’s life.
Genesis 7:11-12 KJV – In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
NIV – In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
Now we’ll close with this last verse from Peter’s Second Epistle.
2 Peter 3:7 KJV – But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
NIV – By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
What is Peter talking about? He’s talking about the Apocalypse, something that was foreshadowed all the way back in the days of Isaiah, Elijah, and Elisha as shared here in Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi, and Jesus’s own words.
Isaiah 66:15 KJV – For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
NIV – See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Daniel 7:9 KJV – I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
NIV – “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
Malachi 4:1 KJV – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
NIV – “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.
Matthew 10:15 KJV – Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
NIV – Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
John 12:48 KJV – He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
NIV – There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
Lastly, we’re going to hear from Paul as he spoke in Corinth and Thessaly. He too speaks of the last days. Remember, Jesus Himself warned that every man’s days are numbered, but only God knows that number.
1 Corinthians 3:13 KJV – Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
NIV – their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 KJV – And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
NIV – and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
Listen, Hear, See, Share, Believe, Have Faith, Know Peace, Unconditional Love, and the Word and you will know what God has waiting for you. God knows human nature. He knows how hard those who believe in His Unconditional Love work to portray just that in a world that spreads hate, fear, and all that nasty stuff we see, hear, and experience, far too often and far too well. Peter, the rock upon which Jesus built His church, knew it, and we know it hasn’t gotten any easier. 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: Turn, Turn, Turn https://youtu.be/s4983sAoLdM
~ 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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