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 Evangelist Cal Jennings and his health issues, which are numerous. He has been having issues with his pain, vision, and memory.
- Please pray for my son and daughter-in-law as her father fights cancer for the fifth time. Pray also for my daughter-in-law’s entire family as they soldier on through this terrible disease her father is suffering from. Her father has reached the near end and it’s devastating for all who are members of the church that he led for several years, known by all as Pastor Gregory. May the Lord bless them with patience and courage in these darkened days.
- Pray for my son-in-law’s brother Zack and his wife Kayla as they hurry to Illinois after her father has had a stroke. Pray that her father’s stroke is not devastating and that they get there and back safely.
- Pray that another dear friend gets good news in the coming weeks regarding their healing process, and a return to health for three family members who have been in the hospital over the past week as well.
- We continue to be ever watchful in regard to the continued battle for Ukraine on the other side of the world. We pray for strength and courage when we hear the news about the atrocities occurring so far away. We pray for all those 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 occurring worldwide.
- Pray for our friends and family members that they are able to find peace, develop patience, and share love and hope with those who surround them.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for all of our outreach ministries with Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Robert Nganwa, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Rev. Lisa Tyler, and all the others who have joined us.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.
- Pray for 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.
- Continue prayers for our friend Dena who is still in the mystery phase of diagnosing her issues.
- Pray for the Newman’s and their extended family as the one year anniversary of the loss of our father, husband, brother, etc. We’ve celebrated his life, as we should, and all of us miss him terribly.
- Pray for those suffering as a result of famine, fires, droughts, floods, and more chaos caused by the weather conditions and other 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 belated birthday to my eldest and only daughter, Deanna. Her birthday was Friday.
* Congratulations to my soon to be daughter-in-law, Rebecca, who graduated on Friday with her Master’s Degree.
* Congratulations to my niece, Alyssa, who graduated high school yesterday.
* Congratulations to my son-in-law’s younger sister, Shannon, who graduates high school this Friday.
Prayer: Father in heaven, this is our prayer for today. We pray for those who are refugees due to war. We pray for those who have died in the war in Ukraine, and for those who are fighting for sovereignty. We pray for our sick and dying, including Dena, Pastor Gregory, my friend’s family members, and my son-in-law’s brother and sister-in-law with her father, as well as all the others on our list. Pray for our Evangelist, Cal Jennings, as he works hard to keep his health and spirits in a good view. Pray for our newest high school and college graduates, including Rebecca, Alyssa, and Shannon. May their chosen futures be blessed and bright. 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: Follow, Follow, I Will Follow Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8N0gcTgGBw
Sermon: We have been focusing our attention to the various epistles, letters, written to the churches all over the place in Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, and other locations. We start with the second chapter of Titus.
Titus 2:1 KJV – But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
NIV – You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
Now, a lot of people don’t like the word “doctrine”. In religious circles the word “doctrine” has two definitions. The dictionary has three. Here are those three:
· a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government: Catholic doctrines; the Monroe Doctrine.
· something that is taught; teachings collectively: religious doctrine.
· a body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject: the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
So, when you put these three definitions up to the first verse in Titus Chapter 2, you can see that this is the model for teaching Scripture, teaching God’s Law, His Policies, and His methods. Every person on earth learns differently, so approaching doctrine and learning the ins and outs is as individually geared as it is collectively. Now, there are those who should be careful, those who are evil know the truth and the doctrine of God, most of them better than the devout and the still learning. These are the people we should watch out for as shared in Timothy’s epistles and Peter’s as well.
1 Timothy 1:10 KJV – For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
NIV – for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.
1 Peter 4:11 KJV – If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV – If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
The best way to learn is to be awake, alert, willing, focused, and patient. It takes time and deep study to get all Scripture the way it should be known to become well known by heart, mind, body, spirit, and soul. This is something that Titus shares quite well in this next verse.
Titus 2:2 KJV – That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
NIV – Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Faith, for anyone in this world, can take a mighty beating. True faith, when exercised in the right ways, is undefeatable by evil and evildoers. Faith, and belief in that faith, is important for us as Christians. We need to practice as much as we preach, practice with all of our hearts, minds, spirits, souls, every part of us that can learn to know all the nuances of Scripture will find the ultimate peace, the magnificence of wisdom in this world of death, destruction, wickedness and evil. Be careful how you address each other, how you treat one another, because that treatment reflects on your own heart, mind, body, spirit, and soul. This is what Timothy warns as well as Philemon.
1 Timothy 5:1 KJV – Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
NIV – Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
Philemon 1:9 KJV – Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
NIV – yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
Treating one another with respect and understanding in place of contempt or disgust is something that takes a very, very well disciplined person. It’s not easy to keep our thoughts, our words, in line with this consideration, around this world, because there is far too much evil, wickedness, ignorance, and fear to be found. As Christians we need to remember that not everyone seeks faith in the same way. Not everyone gets to the same place at the same time. This is why there are so many reminders in Scripture, to keep us from that fall, from being trampled in the last days as it were. This is what Titus has to share next.
Titus 2:3 KJV – The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
NIV – Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
You see, all of these men of God have the same thoughts, the same methodology of explaining how we should act, react, and generally behave toward one another. It boils down to three words, “Love One Another”, and then five words, “Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself”. Remember, Jesus pointed out, all of the laws God brought to humanity revolve around these two simple phrases. Each one of them has a single element that is universal. That element is LOVE. We see here in the words of Paul and Timothy, what the direct opposite consideration would be.
Romans 1:29 KJV – Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
NIV – They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
1 Timothy 3:8-11 KJV – Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
NIV – In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
All of this is to prepare a fledgling church, at that time, to be devout, and work toward a godly destination, with Christ as the head of the church, and each of us with our own place within that same church. This is what Titus shares next.
Titus 2:4-5 KJV – That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
NIV – Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Now, in the world today there is a great deal of debate on the school of thought for women and ministry. However, Jesus Himself pointed out that the church family is made up of equals, not superior and subordinate. Jesus proved this with Mary Magdalene, the Samaritan woman, and Martha, with the blind, the lepers, the lame, and so many others.
1 Timothy 5:10-14 KJV – Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 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. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
NIV – and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 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. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
Timothy points out the ones that should be taught the proper way to follow Jesus’s path. This is shared in shorter views through several Epistles and other Scrolls. The biggest thing, once you are considered an adult, you should follow God’s Word, the path of Christ Jesus, as the Apostles, Disciples and other followers of Jesus learned to do. The last verses we will share today from the Scroll of Titus are these.
Titus 2:6-7 KJV – Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
NIV – Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
How often do we hear of sobriety in Scripture? If you pay attention, the school of thought is continuous from Genesis to Revelation. Good behavior includes sobriety, patience, perseverance, faith, hope, love, peace, all of those great things that we, on too many occasions, leave at the doorstep in place of keeping it going throughout our days and nights. We have to be vigilant, which automatically means being sober and focused. This is what is shared to the citizens of Thessaly by Paul and then also by Peter. It’s a responsibility to lead others to the path Christ blazed for us. Otherwise, we wouldn’t struggle so hard to get on that path and stay there. Here are Paul and Peter’s viewpoints.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 KJV – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
NIV – So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
1 Peter 5:3 KJV – Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
NIV – not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
It is so important that we pay attention to our actions and reactions in this world today. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, and that’s why we have to pay attention in the here and now. We have to remind ourselves what would Jesus do. How would He react or act in today’s world? Where are we on the path that Jesus left behind? Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: Casting Crowns ~ Follow Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraPDltKlvI
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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.
Thank you Rev. Laura.
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