APOLOGIES: The sermon did not record properly due to the weather conditions in my hometown. We are currently under a tornado watch.
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ 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.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube
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.
- I learned Friday morning that there was an explosion at Tyson Foods on Thursday with one confirmed death and unknown number of injuries at this time.
- Also Friday, I learned that there was at least one fatal auto accident in my area where a young man lost his life.
- We pray for all those who have been injured or killed throughout this world over the holiday this past week.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings, as you know, lost his only son, Sean, quite recently. His memorial service is to be held this upcoming Saturday. Details are included in this link. Please keep his family in prayer, including Sean’s only son and his widow as well. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/pearland-tx/sean-jennings-12137691
- Update on my Aunt Renee: My Aunt Renee passed away just before 7 PM yesterday evening. Please pray for my Uncle Larry and the family during this time of mourning.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers they need in both of their health issues. They have too much red tape and confusion going on with their issues between insurance and doctor appointments. They are frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Erica, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and has set up a site for donations to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We continue to pray for my sister Emilie, who is still having family issues, job issues, and all kinds of craziness going on in her life.
- We pray for my son-in-law, Douglas, who has been suffering from unknown health issues that are still awaiting full diagnosis.
- We pray for a co-worker of my daughter Deanna, named Ms. Ramona, who is still having health issues that are not dissipating.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately. Her car ended up being totaled after the fender-bender. This combined with the fact she misses my father as he passed away three years ago due to COVID-19 has made it a tough year for her.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather around this world, as well as those who are picking up the pieces after the very dangerous storms we have had over the past few months.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
* Thursday was my sister-in-law Donna’s birthday!
* Today is my husband Ronald Neff’s birthday!
* Tomorrow is our 33rd wedding anniversary!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we are here today to praise Your Holy Name in the gift that You provided through Your Son Jesus Christ. We are here to thank You for the blessings that You have bestowed upon us individually and collectively. We pray that You will watch over those who have lost their loved ones in this past week, including our Evangelist Cal Jennings, our Uncle Larry, and other colleagues and friends who have lost their lives or loved ones in this world this week. We pray that you heal our sick and wounded including those who are in the hospital now due to terrible and horrific injuries, like the survivors of car crashes in so many places, and those who are pulled from the wreckage of the plant here in the state of Georgia here in the USA. We pray for those who have lost their lives in house fires, and other terrible ways. We pray for those who have lost their lives to cancer this year. We pray for those who have survived cancer this year, including my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly. We pray for all those who will face debilitating diseases and the efforts to stop the progression. We pray for those who have been sick and are still seeking answers, like JB and EB. We pray for the beginning of the New Year in 2025, that we have answers for questions remaining from 2024 and we have blessings yet to come for all those who follow You. We ask this through Your Unconditional Love in the eternal and infinite existence of our Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: This song was written by Evangelist Cal Jennings for his son Sean’s memory. https://suno.com/song/4aa9805e-fe5f-47ac-ae74-65405bc5618e?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fUo2Ikz3RZGKBKzsuOAH-SbA-oskpoIoJk3R2dA1kgtck8TRqMoil9qI_aem_ZHzjUDYHOhKYJTFVKvwbGg
Now, Evangelist Cal Jennings had a third song, but for some reason I am unable to locate the link for it. Once I locate it, I will share it on our page on Facebook.
Sermon: This is our final Sunday of Advent. Next week will be Epiphany, celebrated as the first Sunday of the New Year 2025. This sermon is all about Service, Blessing, and Growth. These three elements are what this first passage from the Scroll of Samuel portrays. This is a theme for a lot of passages that relate to God’s Temple and those who are destined to be priests within it.
1 Samuel 2:18-20 KJV – Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” And they went to their own home.
NIV – But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home.
1 Samuel 2:26 KJV – Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.
NIV – And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
Other passages in Scripture that often coincide with the week after the birth of Jesus include one other Old Testament passage. This one from the Scroll of Psalms, which King David wrote sharing that All Creation Must Praise God, Lord of All Creation.
Psalm 148 KJV – Praise the Lord From the Heavens!
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
NIV – Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
And he has raised up for his people a horn, b
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
The next verses to coincide with the final week of Advent is a New Testament view of a scroll we are quite familiar with, Colossians. This is what Paul shares with the church at Colossae.
Colossians 3:12-17 KJV – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
NIV – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Now, there is something important to understand for all of us. The reason we need to remind ourselves of why we celebrate the existence of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, is to ensure that those who follow us understand what it means to Believe without Seeing. You must understand. Jesus insisted that faith is more important than your eyesight. Belief through Faith is the BIGGEST and MOST IMPORTANT point of view for all Christians to have. True believers in God and Jesus do not need to see HIM physically to know He is here for all of us. It’s tough, especially in a cruel and unjust world. It is even tougher when we are visited by any view of tragedy, as we see in the news every day, or as we individually suffer losses that are seemingly soul deep, as Evangelist Cal Jennings has gone through this past month. We must be inquisitive with our faith. We must be willing to pursue our faith, no matter what may happen. Jesus said long ago that we must have the heart and spirit of a child to truly understand the joy that is involved in true heartfelt faith and belief. This is the reason why. Listen to the gospel writer Luke as he shares the story of Jesus as a boy.
Luke
2:41-52 – KJV
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And
when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the
feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus
tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and
they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they
found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to
pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst
of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that
heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw
him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus
dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said
unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my
Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them:
but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
NIV
– The Boy Jesus at the Temple
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the
custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the
boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he
was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for
him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went
back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the
temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his
answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to
him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been
anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Christmas joy and inquisitiveness should not be hidden away after the season of Advent. Every one of us should explore the faith, belief, grace, glory, love, hope, and peace of this season every single day of the year. We don’t need outward views of Christmas like trees and ornaments or presents every day, because we are already celebrating His existence in our lives so long as we remember Him as the Savior and our Salvation, every hour of every day and to greet each morning as the gift it should be. Yesterday may be history, and tomorrow may be filled with mystery, but today is known as the present and should be a gift we are ready to open and explore. We have a mission in life as Christians. That is to share His Word with as many people as we possibly can, and to treat His Word as the gift it is for each of us in this world. His name is Wonderful. He is our Counselor. He is our Salvation. He is Jesus Christ, who comes from the great Jehovah God our Heavenly Father. It is through the life, death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: Our closing song was also written by Evangelist Cal Jennings as he mourns the loss of his son Sean.
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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 © 2024 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.
