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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. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. 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 is in treatment.
- 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 who has been diagnosed with some painful health issues.
One who is having issues with illness that have put them in the hospital.
One who has been suffering with a lot of pain lately.
Two who have lost a loved one in the past week.
One who has had to come to a difficult decision this past week and another one who will have to make another difficult decision in the days and weeks to come.
One who is still working with rehabilitation after a stroke and is fighting memory issues.
One who has been working with cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack a bit over a month or so ago.
Another pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.
- 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 will be choosing candidates for the United States, that they choose wisely with knowledge of the issues and the stance of each candidate.
- 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.
- 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 health and healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment in the amazing wonders that You bring each of us and understanding while studying Your Word. We thank You for the many awe inspiring gifts and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn out of us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May calmness and serenity fill our minds, replacing pain, fear, hate, and anger. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the homeless, the survivors of the latest weather in storms, blizzards, earthquakes, drought, famine, and more. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow would bring good things. 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: Home Free ~ How Great Thou Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXQpDDcrN-w
Sermon: This week we are continuing the study of the fifth chapter in 1 Thessalonians. Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica has a great many pointers for those who are becoming or have become very new Christians. Some of these are not easy tasks or abilities to develop, even in this day and age over two millennia later. Remember how, early in Scripture it says this? Deuteronomy 19:21 KJV – And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
NIV – Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Judaism had many rules and regulations at the time when Jesus still walked the earth. This continued even far beyond the resurrection. This shows just how far humanity has come to note that life is valued quite differently from everything else. Paul is pointing out that the resurrection transformed faith, belief, and the law according to the church. One of those is that payback doesn’t really reward the giver or the receiver. We see that here.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV – See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
NIV – Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Revenge, payback, we hear that nearly every waking moment sometimes. There is nothing sweet or satisfying about either. In truth, you’ll feel the repercussions in your conscience, your subconscious, and your unconscious mind at some point. We see what Solomon, Jesus, and Paul all reveal with their thoughts here.
Proverbs 20:22 KJV – Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
NIV – Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.
Matthew 5:44 KJV – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
NIV – But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Romans 12:9 KJV – Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
NIV – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:17 KJV – Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
NIV – Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Something we all should do with our faith, belief, and the portrayal of them would be to rejoice. We are again coming toward the celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Advent of new beginnings. During this time, even if we are not focusing on the Christmas story everyone portrays at this time of year, still we are reminded to rejoice. Paul is no different in his reminders to the church members in Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 KJV – Rejoice evermore.
NIV – Rejoice always,
There are several points to be found and made with these two little words. Paul reflects back to the gospel as written by John the Beloved in a response the twelve Apostles had to a question.
John 6:32-35 KJV – Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that
bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
NIV – Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Always give us bread they asked. This is something we as Christians should be asking in the here and now. The Lord Jesus Christ is known by many names. The Bread of Life would be just one of them. We know from Old Testament times that the Bread from heaven was food to sustain the Israelites as they were exiled in the desert for forty years. Jesus, in a way, reinforces this thought. Sustaining life is exactly why Jesus Christ was willing to sacrifice His very life to afford salvation for the many as opposed to the few. Paul points out in this last reference just how important it is for us to rejoice in the very thought that Jesus did everything for each and every person who exists on this earth.
Philippians 4:4 KJV – Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
NIV – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Now, these verses as they continue in the letter to the church at Thessalonica might be short, but they pack a punch. Here is one example.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV – Pray without ceasing.
NIV – pray continually,
Prayer is something we have noted in life whether it is at a meal around the table, in the church pews during mass or other service, and on our knees at night by our beds. One reference I can relate to you with is an actual prayer written by United States President George Washington wrote to the Catholic Church in 1780.
“May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors, and planted them in the promised land, whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation, still continue to water them with the dews of Heaven, and to make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessing of that people whose God is Jehovah.” (Washington’s Prayers: Burke, W. Herbert; 1907 All Saints Rectory Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge, PA; page 22)
I know that there are many billions of other prayers that other notable figures have put on paper, God gave me this one to share today. Another whose prayers were written with care and spoken about reverently included the prophet Daniel.
Daniel 6:10 KJV – Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
NIV – Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Paul again references another of his letters, this one to Ephesus.
Ephesians 5:20 KJV – Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
NIV – always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The song we listened to last Sunday titled “Give Thanks” is a prayer in song form. We should always give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to our Heavenly Father as well. This is something that Paul points out here.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV – In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
NIV – give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Paul is reaching back into the past in the writings of the first King of the Jews, David. We see the humanity of someone so powerful as David turned out to be. We all fall. We all fail. We all learn to apologize and improve our behaviors. David proves this here.
Psalm 34:1 KJV – A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
NIV – Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left. I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
No matter how rotten life can get, there are those bright spots we should praise God for. This is the ultimate gift for our hearts, spirits, and souls. Sure, sometimes it takes a while to get the words out, whether we speak aloud or whisper them where no others can hear. The important thing is to simply talk with God through the Holy Spirit. Paul points this out in his letter to the citizens of the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 5:20 KJV – Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
NIV – always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One thing so many have issues with when it comes to prayer, is clarity. God doesn’t care if it’s a garbled mess of jumbled puzzle pieces. He cares only that you give your prayers to Him. He’ll sort out the direction your mind is going. He wants us to pray no matter the time on a clock, whether you kneel, sit, have your hands clasped, or raised up toward heaven. Prayer is not a science we have to dissect like specimens in a laboratory, it’s a spiritual action and reaction. We see that in these next two verses in the letter to the church at Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 KJV – Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings.
NIV – Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt
The Holy Spirit is just as important as God and Jesus. This is a gift, a living, breathing, gift. The Holy Spirit is something that offers us subconscious, unconscious, and conscious support in the hard times and in the easier times as well. People often consider this part of the Trinity as the “Comforter”. Prophecy has tons and tons of references in Scripture and outside of it as well. Prophecy according to God and Jesus is something that has a specific aim toward salvation. This is a very specific aim, direction, and so on.
Acts 13:1 KJV – Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
NIV – Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
Spiritual teachers, ministers, chaplains, evangelists, elders, preachers, priests, all of those ordained into the services of God, have a direction to reach toward. We are all charged with sharing the Word of God in the truest form we can possibly portray them. We are all charged with the necessity to test the spirits of this world. This is what John the Beloved portrayed here, and Paul is reflecting upon this same thought.
1 John 4:1 KJV –Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
NIV –Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Paul points out the importance of testing the spirits of this world. Remember, Jesus also warned that there were evil spirits, and false prophets in forms that just look, sound, feel, act, like the world we consider to be normal.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
NIV – but test them all; hold on to what is good,
Paul reflects on his other letters, to the churches at Rome, Corinth, and Galatia.
Romans 12:9 KJV – Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
NIV – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Corinthians 14:29 KJV – Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
NIV – Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
Galatians 6:10 KJV – As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
NIV – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Test yourselves in your faith. Test those around you as well. You’ll realize and recognize truth much more easily as you practice testing those spirits around you. Some of those wolves in sheep’s clothing will, at some point, stick out like a tiny white spot on a black floor. 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: Alan Jackson ~ I Love to Tell the Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrCpKa_xOcE
~ 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 © 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.
