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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 has been 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 is still waiting for his beloved dog to come out of quarantine after he arrived overseas recently. Update, his dog is on the way to him!
One who is still recovering at home after a stay in the hospital due to COVID19. They are on oxygen as they recover.
Two who have just recovered from a severe bout with the flu. One of them is still fighting lingering effects.
One who is preparing for carpal tunnel and other issues to be surgically repaired.
- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel and overly high demand. Pray also for those who are affected by the bird flu epidemic that has reduced the egg supply around the world.
- 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.
- Pray for comfort and solace to be shared with those who have said farewell to a loved one this week, known or unknown.
- 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 many 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 allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in our daily lives. We pray for Your divine hand to guide us in our words, our actions, and our reactions. We pray for those who have suffered any form of loss. We pray for those who are mourning. We pray for those who are in pain for any reason. We pray for those who have suffered devastation in all its forms. We pray for our leaders, that they make wise decisions for the many. We pray for faith and love to be built in our hearts and minds, spirits, and souls to allow peace to spread throughout this world. 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: Wait for Me Thessaloniki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izBYDZtmAyE
Sermon: This week we are finishing the study of the second chapter in 2 Thessalonians. Paul and the other eleven Apostles all warned about false teachers. They come in many guises. They look just like you and me. This is what Paul points out here in our first verse today.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 KJV –Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
NIV –The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,
Historically, this traces all the way back to the fifth Scroll, Deuteronomy, written by Moses. This points out how God Himself would react to such false prophets. There is a commandment that is meant to be kept, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” That’s the FIRST commandment as listed in Exodus chapter 20. Three scrolls of Scripture later, Moses reminds us of this commandment.
Deuteronomy 13:1-4 KJV –If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
NIV –If a prophet, or one who foretells by
dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder,
and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us
follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must
not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is
testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all
your soul.
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his
commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
Jesus reiterates this very thought before His Apostles. This is a well-known and often recited reaction to soothsayers, false prophets, and deniers. Those types of people still exist in this world today. That is why we must spend the time to learn and understand all of Scripture. This is what the gospel of Matthew shares.
Matthew 4:10 KJV – Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
NIV – Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Matthew 24:24 KJV – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
NIV – For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
John the beloved also has a reference for this as well.
John 4:48 KJV – Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
NIV – “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
In this world today, yes, even now, this same thought occurs. “If you are a person of God, prove it.” I see this, hear it, all the time. The issue is, even if we do the right thing every time, people will not realize or recognize this fact that we are acting in the way God wishes us to do. Paul didn’t have to tell the people at Thessalonica this just once. He had to remind them a second time. We see this here.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV –And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
NIV –and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Paul references back to the words of Solomon, second king of Israel.
Proverbs 4:6 KJV – Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
NIV – Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
Solomon asked for one divine gift from God as he served as king of the Israelites. That one thing was the ability to gain more and more wisdom as he ruled. His wisdom resonates even today. This is something that builds up within us as we listen to His Word, take it into our minds, hearts, spirits, and souls. But that’s only part of the foundation we must have to be recognized as “faithful Christians”. We have to put the Word to work within us and with those around us. Paul points this out to the citizens of the church at Corinth as well.
1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV –For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
NIV –For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Salvation for the believers is what Paul was working toward as he continued with this second letter to the church at Thessalonica. Believing is step one. Building upon that belief takes a willingness to shut out all the false teachings, all the junk and distractions in life. It’s not easy to keep the world from invading our faith. Paul knew this, having seen it personally through the walk he made with Jesus Christ our Savior and Salvation. This is what Paul is reminding the churchgoers at Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 2:11 KJV –And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
NIV –For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.
Way, way back in the Old Testament there were some kings that disobeyed God. There were normal people who followed those kings. We see the results.
1 Kings 22:22 KJV –And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
NIV – “’By what means?’ the LORD asked. “’I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “’You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah also share what it is to fall off the path toward the light of our Savior and Salvation. We have to “test” the spirits. This is something everyone has to be willing to do. This will build up our foundation and open our hearts to cleanliness, our minds fed by the Word beyond the food we put in our mouths. This is what Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul all share as they teach the ones around them.
Isaiah 44:20 KJV – He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
NIV – Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
Jeremiah 4:10 KJV – Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
NIV – Then I said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!”
2 Timothy 4:4 KJV –And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
NIV –They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Paul was teaching Timothy, from the church at Ephesus, what God’s truth is, what the Great Teacher, Jesus Christ taught while He lived on this earth. One big thing is to recognize lies for what they are, just that, lies. Paul learned this well as one of the Twelve Apostles. He saw it with his own eyes as Jesus pointed out what it means to believe, and prove it to ourselves and those around us. The great warning is that those who fail and fall away from the path end up as Paul shares here.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 KJV –That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
NIV –and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Paul creates many, many teaching moments. They are spread throughout all of Paul’s letters. This is something that Jesus directed them toward. He knew that the only way to help the ordinary person understand Scripture. This is something that has not gotten any easier since the Scriptures were created in the first place. We see that in these words Paul shares with the Romans and Corinthians.
Romans 1:32 KJV – Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
NIV – Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 2:8 KJV – But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
NIV – But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV –Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
NIV –Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Paul points out several steps toward fully realizing salvation and what that encompasses in each of our lives. He says to “give thanks”. He says we are “His Chosen Ones”. He mentions “Sanctification of the Spirit”. Paul adds “Belief Of The Truth” at the end of this next verse.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV –But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
NIV –But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Jesus gave each and every human being a roadmap toward salvation. That road map isn’t always a straight line. In many of our lives there are plenty of forks in the road, hard curves and turns. Paul recognized this even back in the days, months, and years after Christ was resurrected. We see this feeling through the letters to Corinth and Ephesus as well as the first letter to Thessalonica.
1 Corinthians 1:21 KJV –For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
NIV –For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Ephesians 1:4 KJV – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
NIV – For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 KJV – Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
NIV – For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 KJV –That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
NIV –encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 KJV –For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
NIV –For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV –For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
NIV –For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul sees so much potential with the members of the church at Thessalonica. If he hadn’t, he would not have addressed their situation a second time to ensure that understanding was managed. When we see repetition in Scripture, it’s because the people involved had forgotten where they were going in their personal paths toward salvation. Listen to His voice and He’ll steer you in the right direction. That’s what Paul points to in this next verse.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 KJV –Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul reflects on all of this utilizing letters he wrote, but also others as well. In this case, he adds to his thoughts with the second letter that Peter wrote.
Romans 8:28-30 KJV – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
NIV – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 KJV –For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
NIV –because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
2 Peter 1:3 KJV –According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
NIV –His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Paul is wagging his finger at us. He’s being that teacher, that preacher, that makes you want to listen. This is something that Jesus instilled in His Apostles. Obviously all of them were able to utilize that methodology toward those who they met in their lifetimes on earth. We see more of that in this next verse to the church at Thessalonica.
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.
Stand firm, hold on tight, it may be a bumpy ride, but you’ve got this! That’s what Paul is showing us in this second letter to the church at Thessalonica. He is confirming thoughts Jesus portrayed for all who would listen and hear. We see Paul reflecting on this very thought in his first letter to Corinth, and the letter to Titus as well.
1 Corinthians 11:2 KJV –Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
NIV –I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.
1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV –Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
NIV –Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
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.
There is so much to learn from the words Paul and the other Apostles wrote to these fledgling churches in Corinth, Rome, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and more. We all have a ton of work to do in relation to our study of Scripture. This is something that Paul encourages throughout all of his letters. We see that here. Encouragement is very, very important to all Christians, no matter the level of their faith and understanding.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 KJV –Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
NIV –May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
Paul points toward something that Jesus insisted upon us in this world while He was alive and still after His resurrection. This reflection begins with the words Jesus spoke as recorded in the Gospel of John the Beloved.
John 3:16 KJV – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
NIV – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Titus was head of the churches at Corinth, Crete, and Dalmatia. There are many churches, even to this day, where one pastor would work for the people there. Paul, as one of the Twelve Apostles, was a leader for all those churches in Asia Minor, Greece, and more. He was one of twelve who taught thousands through letters and traveling from one city to another. In their world walking, riding camels and other beasts of burden was the only mode of transportation across land masses, and boats on the water. Spreading the Word of God was a task they were willing to undertake. We see the dedication in these next two verses, Titus and Peter prove it here.
Titus 3:7 KJV – That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
NIV – so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
1 Peter 1:3 KJV –Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
NIV –Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Paul closes this portion of his letter with calm, soothing comfort for those who read or hear what his words share. We, even today, find times where this type of comfort needs to be part of our lives as we live.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 KJV –Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
NIV –encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Paul, like the other eleven Apostles, wants to share encouragement. He wants to share the whole experience of being a child of God through salvation in Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is so much we should all see in relation to the elements of faith in all their glory. Jesus gave us many methods to learn and understand what we are learning. This is what we see in the words of Peter, James, and John the Beloved as well.
1 Peter 5:10 KJV –But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
NIV –And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
James 1:21-22 KJV – Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
NIV – Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
1 John 3:18 KJV –My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
NIV –Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Unconditional Love is more than two words. This is what Paul, Peter, James, and John the Beloved are all sharing with us. Enhance your love for God by loving one another as He loves us. 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: Matthew 24:14_Revelation 14:6 Scripture Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq20LChozPc
~ 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 © 2023 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.
