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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 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. May the Lord bless them with patience and courage in these darkened days.
- Pray that another dear friend gets good news in the next week or two regarding their healing process going well.
- We continue to be ever watchful in regard to the 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.
- 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.
Prayer: Father in heaven, this is our prayer for today. Our prayer begin with the hope that the fighting in Ukraine will end with good results. We pray for the citizens of earth as they suffer from war, famine, fire, floods, tornadoes, and all the other weather issues over the past week or more. We pray for those who are suffering from unemployment or homelessness. We pray for our sick and injured including Dena, Elder Cal Jennings, and so many others. We pray for our missionaries and outreach industries including Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Robert Nganwa, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Rev. Lisa Tyler, and all the rest. We pray for peace in a time of tumult and war. We pray for security where there has been so little of that. We pray all these things in the name of our Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Daughtry ~ Baptized https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNw7L_hF91Y&list=PL8IGpokMYkEWBN_aDB67AzFmC49aLXxCw&index=51
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. Today we continue with the Scroll of Titus.
Titus 1:6 KJV – If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
NIV – An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
There is that word, blameless again. Remember when Jesus confronted the men that were preparing to stone the prostitute in the streets of Jerusalem in the Gospel of John chapter 8? He watched them and said simply, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Timothy shares a similar sentiment with these words.
1 Timothy 1:9 KJV – Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
NIV – We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
Timothy adds to this with how the clergy should act and react as well.
1 Timothy 3:2-4 KJV – A bishop then must be
blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given
to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a
brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all
gravity;
NIV – Now the overseer is to be above
reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable,
hospitable, able to teach,
not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover
of money.
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he
must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.
Now we must add the Apostle Paul into the mix as well. Here are his thoughts while sharing the gospel in Ephesus.
Ephesians 5:18 KJV – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
NIV – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Titus too has similar words as shared in this next verse.
Titus 1:7 KJV – For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
NIV – Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
As doers of the Word, all of us have things we regret in our lives. All of us have times that were noteworthy in the wrong way. We often have to confess our sins to remove that spot from our memories and our spiritual selves. Remember, many of us have Jesus together with the Holy Spirit to work away our sins. Learning how to keep things together as a family, a single household, on up to an entire country, must work hard at managing to do so without having a meltdown somewhere in some way. Timothy shares that it is experience that helps us gain wisdom, something all the Apostles and Disciples worked hard to share.
1 Timothy 3:5-6 KJV – (For if a man know not
how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of
the devil.
NIV – (If anyone does not know how to manage
his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the
same judgment as the devil.
What don’t we want to be? Scrooge! Remember, a hospitable person, a person who can be sober, sincere, and more, is the best of hosts. Whereas, a drunken alcoholic or junkie, neither of them know how to keep civility as part of their attitude and share the gratitude of God’s Unconditional Love, which is what Titus shares.
Titus 1:8 KJV – But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
NIV – Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
Hospitality is a skill we must practice at. This gift can often be abused by those we invite into our homes. It can be a touchy subject for many. We’ve all seen that there are those who are the least hospitable, and then there are those who are so gracious we might wonder if we’re dreaming. There are so many things to pay attention to in Scripture that sometimes the shortest of segments are jam packed with information we should pay closer attention to. This is what the Gospel of Luke shares with Titus.
Luke 2:25 KJV – And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
NIV – Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Being devout, like being hospitable, takes practice. All of us will mess up. That’s what makes us human. So many spend their entire lives “practicing” to be truly Christian. This still in a world fraught with evil, wickedness, and sin around every corner. Righteousness is something that all of us know exists, but not all of us knows how to maintain it within their lives. That’s why we have repetition in Scripture, and a theme of this consideration from Genesis to Revelation.
Acts 24:25 KJV – And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
NIV – As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
Fear can be a motivator, or a checkmate, depending on how it affects us. Jesus and God, the angels and more, often said “Fear Not” for He is with you. “Fear Not” for with God we can do everything and anything. Titus shares this thought in this next verse.
Titus 1:9 KJV – Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
NIV – He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
How early did you start going to church with your parents, grandparents, or others? Most of us can’t remember the first time we walked through a church door. Some of us have never done so. This depends on geographics, and much more. Being a true Christian, church is in your heart, your mind, you spirit, and your soul, or that’s where church should be. God is not only found in a building. God is everywhere, in everything. God started traditions from the very beginning. It’s up to us to continue that one.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV – Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
NIV – So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
Some of us have a tough time sticking to something and seeing it through until the very end. Often, life can seem to get in the way. If we start a diet, temptation is in everything we read or see. If we start working our faith, life can take us down the wrong pathways. Sometimes far, far, off that well marked path. This is something we see throughout Scripture, where someone is lost in their path and can't seem to find that footing. That's why we build up our faith, build up that foundation toward a better tomorrow. This is what Timothy shares.
1 Timothy 1:19 KJV – Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
NIV – holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
How often have we spoken of hurdles, landmines, and distractions in our walk with God? This is something we face every single day we live. Titus shows the ones that are pulling us back have their own issues keeping them from seeing what God’s love can do in their lives. This is what Titus shares.
Titus 1:10 KJV – For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
NIV – For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.
There is so much through life that we must pay attention to. Let’s remember that time can cause as much chaos as it can help settle things down. Peace and Peril are literally on either side of a coin in the midst of being tossed. When Jesus said that we should not worry about tomorrow, He meant it literally. If we start to worry about the unknown tomorrows in our lives, we forget to live during our daily lives. That is a tragic destruction of a gift we should be holding on to. Love that is unconditional, expressed in the here and now, will provide all the promises of tomorrow that we need. This is what Timothy shares here.
1 Timothy 1:6-9 KJV – From which some having swerved
have turned aside unto vain jangling;
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor
whereof they affirm.
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless
and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for
murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
NIV – Some have departed from these and have
turned to meaningless talk.
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking
about or what they so confidently affirm.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and
rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill
their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
Fear not, because those who create reasons for us to fear, will have their final day. This is why we are all needing to be ready, prepare ourselves with immersion into the Word of God, so that we can see the deceit, the animosity, the false prophets, all of that, which we need to avoid.
2 Corinthians 11:13 KJV – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
NIV – For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
Be aware of your faith and help it grow, daily. When you do so, the Word gets written on your heart, in your mind, as part of your spirit and soul. 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: Los Lonely Boys ~ One More Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIBFsKIG9BM&list=PL73D1C8AB394E70D3&index=26
~ 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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