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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, and voice, 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.
- 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 going through a lot of emotional chaos after fighting cancer several times.
My employer’s wife Joy is in quite a lot of pain while waiting to get back surgery.
My daughter-in-law’s grandfather, Charles Strosnider is suffering with liver and other health issues and has been in the hospital.
Three who have lost their beloved pets in the past week.
One who has returned home for more rehabilitation after a stroke.
One who has been working with cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack a month or so ago.
One who has to make a serious career change for health reasons.
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 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.
**My family will be out of town most of this week celebrating the marriage between my youngest son and his beautiful bride.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to bring love, laughter, and light for those who are depressed, sickly, sad, and in pain. We pray for those who are the victims of violence, and their families, that they may heal and be comforted by Your Unconditional Love. We pray for the homeless and the hungry that they have shelter and are well fed. We pray for members of the military worldwide, may they return home safely and whole. 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: Thank You ~ Ray Boltz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lVzeS5i8WQ
Sermon: This week we are beginning the study of the first chapter in 2nd Thessalonians. Now, greeting the church as a new blessing for Christianity and sharing it with those who were willing to believe is one thing. Maintaining that faith and belief in the face of danger and disbelief is another. This is the reason Paul wrote a second letter to the church at Thessalonica. Everyone needs encouragement to stand their ground when it comes to their personal or collective faith. Each and every one of us is tested at one point or another in our lifetimes regarding faith, belief, hope, peace, and unconditional love with all of its facets. Sowing the seeds of faith and brotherly love is what Paul was, and in many ways still is, managing with each and every letter he wrote to these fledgling Christian churches.
2 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV – Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
NIV – Paul, Simon, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
As in all of his letters, Paul is introducing himself to those who are in the church there at Thessalonica. He names Silvanus and Timotheus, known as Simon and Timothy in the New International Version, to those who are sitting there in the church. The two were priests that were still very new Christians. Yet, because they believed, and because their faith was stronger than many others, Paul entrusted them with the task of teaching the ways of Jesus Christ, and of God’s mercy and unconditional love. We see more of this in the words as shared by the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and also in Paul’s letter to the citizens at Corinth as well.
Acts 15:22 KJV –Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnaba; namely Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
NIV – Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barnabas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.
Acts 16:1 KJV – Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed: but his father was a Greek:
NIV – He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.
Acts 17:1 KJV –Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonica, they came to Thessalonica where was a synagogue of the Jews:
NIV – When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 Corinthians 1:19 KJV – For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
NIV – For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No”, but in him it has always been “YES”.
Paul continues in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica with something that Jesus often said, “grace and peace”. These are two of the many gifts that God’s Unconditional Love can bring into hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. This is why you hear these two words in conjunction with God so much. Grace and Peace are two elements of truly Christian Unconditional Love that are often not understood because you can’t have them without giving them away.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 KJV – Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul shared this thought in just about all of his letters as we see in these views from his letter to the churches at Rome and Corinth.
Romans 1:7 KJV – To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3 KJV – Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:8 KJV – Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Getting back to his letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul shares thankfulness for their perseverance and hard work to keep the church pure and unblemished by transgressions, lies, false teaching, and more. Notice how Paul points out that we should ALWAYS THANK GOD for our faith and the ability to help it grow and spread beyond just an individual but on into families, friends, neighbors, and even perfect strangers. Faith is not difficult to find, but it can be difficult to measure for people. Remember, Jesus Himself said that faith even to the smallest measure, that of a mustard seed, can move mountains out of the way, dry up rivers and oceans, all of that.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 KJV – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
NIV –We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightfully so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
It is our job as true Christians to spread God’s Word in as many ways as humanly possible. This is why we have music, poetry, and more, that is often pulled straight from Scripture. For example, there is a song titled Turn, Turn, Turn which is from the scroll of Ecclesiastes, and Give Thanks for a Grateful Heart, which alludes to the scroll of Psalms. These songs remind us to always be thankful for the things we have and the people we have in our lives. Paul continues this theme with his writing here to the churches at Rome and Corinth.
Romans 1:8 KJV – First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
NIV – First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
2 Corinthians 10:15 KJV – Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly.
NIV –Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,
Sharing faith is something a lot of us have a difficult time with. There are those who get too bogged down with daily life to bother. Then, there are those who think they are sharing faith and being faithful and yet it’s only on the surface, not deep within. Faith is something we need to work toward building up, just as a seed grows into a plant or a flower when it is properly cared for. This is how Paul points out where patience comes into the picture for building faith.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 KJV – So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
NIV – Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
Like building a foundation on a house or other structure, faith is the foundation of belief and believing. If you have no faith in what you say you believe in, then you do not believe. When you work at your faith, it can be seen and heard by others around you, and it will be noticed. There is a song titled In the Garden where the lyrics share “and He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am his own”. Every moment we breathe is thanks to God’s grace, glory, and unconditional love. Every moment we exist on this earth is thanks to the same. For that, we should all be praising God even in the most difficult moments of our lives. It’s important to share belief and faith as Paul points out in his letters to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:17 KJV – But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
NIV – Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the LORD assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
2 Corinthians 7:4 KJV – Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorifying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
NIV – I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
2 Corinthians 7:14 KJV – For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
NIV – I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.
2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV –Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
NIV –That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Hebrew prophets have this to add to Paul’s writing.
Hebrews 6:12 KJV – That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
NIV – We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Paul commends those who are working hard to share the hope of Christianity. He does so in many ways that should have those readers and listeners to feel hopeful, and blessed with God’s faith, to build upon their own. Each of us who takes up the challenge of proving just how important faith is to our salvation, proves that Jesus Christ did not suffer in vain, and that God’s greatest sacrifice holds meaning in each of us.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 KJV – Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
NIV – All this is evidence that God’s judgement is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
Paul references King David, the gospel writer, Luke, and his letter to the Romans and Philippi as well as Peter’s writing.
Psalm 33:5 KJV – He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
NIV – The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Luke 20:35 KJV –But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.
NIV – But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection of the dead will neither marry, nor be given in marriage;
Romans 2:5 KJV – But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
NIV –But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Philippians 1:28 KJV –And in nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
NIV –without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God.
1 Peter 4:14-18 KJV –If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
NIV –If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
There are so many things we hear in the words that Paul wrote. We hear about faith, hope, peace, patience, perseverance, thankfulness, the power and strength from prayer, glory and more. All of these are part of the pathway toward righteousness. Everything has a beginning, and our faith in God’s unconditional love is the first step that will help us create the perfect path toward righteousness. This is what Paul shares in his next line to the church at Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV – Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you:
NIV – God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you troubled, and to us as well.
Faith has an inherent element of obedience toward its fruition. We have to be dedicated to our faith in God, in all ways, in order for us to recognize the work our faith does for our hearts, minds, spirits, bodies, souls, and more. We have to go all the way back to the Old Testament scrolls to get insight on the importance that faith holds. We see that in the Scrolls of Exodus, Ecclesiastes, and Jeremiah, as well as Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae and Luke’s words to the Hebrews.
Exodus 23:22 KJV – But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
NIV – If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 KJV – I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
NIV – I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
Jeremiah 50:29 KJV – Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
NIV – “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
Colossians 3:25 KJV – But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
NIV – Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Hebrews 6:10 KJV – For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
NIV – God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
There is a recurrent theme in much of Scripture. That is forgetfulness. Human beings forget, sometimes we forget too much. God never forgets. That’s what Paul is pointing out. God remembers. God is just. What does it mean to be just? Being just is defined as: guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness. There is a lot in this world that is unjust. God gave us the ability, upon creation of mankind, to exercise “free will”. There we find that decision making can be a challenge when we forget our gift of free will can also put us in positions we would rather not be. That’s where forgiveness comes in. We see this with Paul’s next words to the church at Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 KJV – And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.
NIV – This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
God’s angels come to this earth in many forms and formulas. Only upon the day of final judgment will we see the power of our Savior Jesus Christ as He comes to deliver final judgment. It will be a time filled with tragedy and triumph, not just for one, but for all. This is what Moses learned all the way back to the time where he saw the angel of God in the midst of a burning bush.
Exodus 3:2 KJV – And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
NIV – There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
Exodus 19:18 KJV – And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
NIV – Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
The prophet Isaiah foretells how our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come back to transform all that is to what it should be. We see a similar sentiment in the words of Ezekiel and Daniel as well.
Isaiah 66:15 KJV – For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
NIV – See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Ezekiel 1:13 KJV – As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
NIV – The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
Daniel 7:9 KJV – I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
NIV – “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
Jesus Christ our Savior and Salvation also had this to say regarding the moment He returns to this earth from heaven where He stays now.
Matthew 16:27-28 KJV – For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
NIV – For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
It is important to realize and recognize that we are only perfect if we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and share that gift of acceptance with those who surround us, known or unknown, family or friend, and so forth. 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: In the Garden ~ Alan Jackson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhIGIfsLxVk
~ 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.
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