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. 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 still undergoing 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 has returned home for more rehabilitation after a stroke.
A pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.
Three people known to have lost loved ones in the past week.
A dear friend who has been sick with a fever this week.
A friend who just made a
monumental move to the country of his
birth to live with his sister after several traumatic situations.
One who has had several emotional issues and has survived cancer as well as heart issues in the past several years needs prayer to resolve those issues in their heart, mind, spirit, and soul.
- 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 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, one week prior to the celebration of Christmas is to have the Spirit of peace, patience, and prosperity bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment in the many wonders that You bring each of us and understanding while studying Your Word. We pray for those traveling around the world this week for the Christmas holidays. May they reach their destinations safely and on schedule and may they return to their homes the same. 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 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. 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: O Come All Ye Faithful ~ Josh Groban https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWIeFbuapAY&list=PLGe2R7xAJHzoq3jdKLppUcX_3AvC2czkg&index=13
Sermon: This week we are continuing in the historical blessing every human being is part of even this far in the future. We approach the day where Jesus was born over two millennia ago. There are many reasons to be methodical in our study of this amazing event in human history. One of them is in the fact that this time of year the real and true reason for the season has been commercialized in a thousand ways compounded by the number of years since the birth of Jesus in the first place. Today we are going to work with the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Elizabeth. Added to that is the song of Zechariah, when, at the moment of naming his child, his voice was returned to him and he proclaimed his newborn son’s name at the temple, confirming and compounding his wife Elizabeth’s insistence to the name chosen.
Luke 1:57 KJV –Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
NIV –When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
Elizabeth and Mary were only two women in Scripture who delivered important men into this world and the history of all Scripture. Here is another significant birth in God’s plan.
Genesis 21:2-3 KJV – For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
NIV – Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.
Faith is something that grows when we work at it heart, mind, spirit, and soul. Every human being on this earth has the ability to build faith within them. In the cases of Elizabeth and Mary, faith wasn’t as much an issue as fear would have been. The births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were moments where everyone should have rejoiced, even with the very unusual considerations that Elizabeth was advanced in age, and Mary was a virgin.
Luke 1:58 KJV –And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
NIV –Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
God’s grace should be considered a portion of unconditional love. Yet, there are some who do not realize that you cannot have one without the other. Much like peace, without sharing it with those around us we cannot reap the benefits of that same peace. We see this fact included in the next four views from Genesis, Ruth, and Isaiah.
Genesis 19:19 KJV – Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
NIV – Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die.
Genesis 21:6 KJV – And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
NIV – Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
Ruth 4:14 KJV – And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
NIV – The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!
Isaiah 66:9-10 KJV – Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
NIV – Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.
The miracles of these two special babies would bring monumental changes to how this world filled with people would worship, pray, and work within His Unconditional Love. The birth of John started the first of many, many miracles. The first would be with the revelation of newly born John’s name, as chosen by God Himself and relayed to Zacharias by the angel Gabriel.
Luke 1:59-60 KJV –And it came to pass, that
on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him
Zacharias, after the name of his father.
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
NIV –On the eighth day they came to
circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father
Zechariah,
but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
Remember, baby boys go through what is known as circumcision in Jewish circles. This is something that has carried over into Christianity as it was shared through Jesus and His teachings for all humanity, Jew or Gentile, bond or free. There are several different moments in Scripture that portray the importance of circumcision.
Genesis 17:12 KJV – And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
NIV – For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
Leviticus 12:3 KJV – And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
NIV – On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.
2 Samuel 12:25 KJV –And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
NIV –and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
Isaiah 8:3 KJV – And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
NIV – Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
Philippians 3:5 KJV – Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
NIV – circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
Now, there are going to be people all around the world who scratch their heads at the names we give our children. There are many reasons, big and small, that we each have for choosing names. Some are wanting to be unique. Others are wanting to bring history forward into the future. In the case of Elizabeth and Zacharias, it was a promise kept between the pair of them and God.
Luke 1:61-63 KJV –And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
NIV –They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
In a dictionary of names you’ll find that the meaning of the name “John” is “Yahweh is gracious”. It’s a poignant and pointed indication as to what the Savior Jesus Christ would accomplish with the moment the two cousins would meet at the shores of the Jordan River. Here are some references to truth, mercy, and unconditional love in the writings of Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
Proverbs 3:3 KJV – Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
NIV – Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Isaiah 30:8 KJV – Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
NIV – Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.
Jeremiah 17:1 KJV – The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
NIV – “Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.
Now we observe a miracle, a God granted miracle. This in the fact that Zacharias opened his mouth and spoke for the first time since learning of his son’s existence all those months before.
Luke 1:64 KJV –And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
NIV – Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
His inability to speak continues to serve as a reminder for each of us who have a physical voice, and even for those who use their hands to speak, that every voice has a purpose, and a reason to exist. Even those who have no physical sound that comes from their mouths. Pay attention to each other as you take turns speaking. Consciously allowing others to speak with you and you return the favor builds faith, hope, and understanding, all of those steps toward eternal peace within and without. Here God reminds Moses and the Jews as to who the Creator would be. We see additional thoughts through the prophet Ezekiel.
Exodus 4:11 KJV – And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
NIV – The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
Ezekiel 33:22 KJV – Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
NIV – Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the LORD was on me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.
When Elizabeth insisted on her son’s name being John and Zacharias confirmed it, the idea that an angel had spoken to them personally, even separately, this, quite literally, had the Jews quaking in their proverbial sandals. Many people worry as to what the future brings. All worry does is make you old early. Trust in God’s actions in your lives. He will never steer you wrong.
Luke 1:65 KJV –And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
NIV –All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
We’re going to get a peek at the birth of our Savior as we tie in a verse from the Gospel writer Matthew here.
Matthew 2:1 KJV – Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
NIV – After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
Fear, that’s a word that exists in Scripture more than five hundred times. What’s more important is a command issued by God Himself. The two word command is “FEAR NOT”. The combination shows up in Scripture 170 times. Luke points out that fear affects people no matter their importance, from the highest to the lowest of all beings in this world.
Acts 2:43 KJV – And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
NIV – Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
Acts 5:5 KJV – And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
NIV – When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
Acts 5:11 KJV – And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
NIV – Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Now we get to the reaction to Zacharias and Elizabeth’s new son. It’s one that includes not only fear, but also a little envy. Yeah, a pesky portion of the “seven troubles”, that’s what envy would be. Little did they realize just how significant that particular bitter seed, envy, could do to wreak havoc in life.
Luke 1:66 KJV –And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
NIV –Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
For those who understood signs and symbols, and for those who were truly faithful to God and His commands recognized the birth of who one day would be John the Baptist, the fact that Zacharias and Elizabeth first brought this child into the world, and then insisted on a decidedly non-familial name for him, proved, without a shadow of doubt, just how much God should influence all aspects and respects of life as we live it. Luke and Paul both pointed this out.
Acts 11:21 KJV – And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
NIV – The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Colossians 1:5 KJV – For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
NIV – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel
Now, last week we had Mary’s song. This week we have the song of Zechariah. Listen to this carefully and see just how significant the elderly father viewed the birth of his new son.
Luke 1:67-80 KJV – Zechariah’s Song: And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
NIV – Zechariah’s Song: His father Zechariah
was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God
of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant
David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies and from the hand
of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him
without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet
of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way
for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of
their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us
from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our
feet into the path of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
It’s important also to recognize the very different upbringing John the Baptist had from our Savior Jesus Christ. Each of us has unique qualities in our lives, not just in looks, personalities, and all that, but through ideologies, studies, and more. Abraham noted this, as did David, first king of the Jews.
Genesis 24:27 KJV – And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
NIV – saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
Psalm 18:2 KJV – The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
NIV – The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 41:13 KJV – Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
NIV – Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 89:17 KJV – For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
NIV – For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.
Psalm 106:10 KJV – And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
NIV – He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
Psalm 106:45 KJV – And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
NIV – for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.
Psalm 107:10 KJV – Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
NIV – Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains,
We see more of this uniqueness in the words of Micah and Malachi.
Micah 7:20 KJV – Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
NIV – You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.
Malachi 3:1 KJV – Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
NIV – “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
Paul also pointed this out in his letter to Ephesus. Peter did the same as did the Hebrew Prophets.
Ephesians 4:24 KJV – And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
NIV – and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Peter 1:21 KJV –For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
NIV –For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 6:13 KJV – For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
NIV – When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,
The gift of “peace on earth” and “good will toward man” are something everyone hears at this time of year. However, it should be repeated throughout the year. Peace isn’t relegated to a single month in the year for anyone. It should be a common theme, much like faith and belief. These elements of human life don’t just stop cold and lock the door after the first day of a new year only to be opened in the first week of December. Eternal peace and godly faith, hope, all of those elements are to be constantly built upon for all of us, so that when the moment where Jesus returns to read the names of the saved out of the book, we can be assured we are all there in proof of our faith and understanding of God’s Holy Word. 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: Pentatonix ~ The First Noel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u5UvnKlCTA
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
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.
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