NOTE: It can take several minutes to allow the video link
to buffer so that it can be seen and heard in full.
This has been the technical
issue Evangelist Cal Jennings and I have had for the past three weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEuuuNgrJTA
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live 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.
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.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is still having issues with his body even this long after surgical recovery, but his dog Scrappy is doing much better and both continue to thank everyone for their prayers.
- Pray for the travelers and the celebrators of the 4th of July here in the USA this week on Thursday that they stay safe. Pray for the pets and their well-being during this time due to the noise levels that will be higher due to fireworks and more.
- Praise God that my younger sister’s son got through surgery and a five day stint in the hospital in better shape than he was when he went in. The surgery was successful, though very long. Let’s pray his recovery is strong and steady and he stands much taller than he was.
- Pray for my Mama. She’s having a hard time right now, still mourning my father, who passed away in May 2021 and her life hasn’t been easy as she spends most of her time alone now. Pray that she makes it to my sister’s home safely as she comes to visit and assist while my nephew is coalescing.
- Pray for Janice’s mother who is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues.
- Pray for my employer, Ed and his wife. The two have been feeling a lot of different aches and pains this past month or more.
- Pray for a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who has been diagnosed with cancer and is going through a lot of emotions and more as a result. Her treatments have been going on for the past two months now and she’s got quite a few more to go through before it is done.
- Continue to keep my Aunt Donna in your prayers. She is hanging on even with the cancer treatments and the many changes she is going through.
- Pray for my niece, Autumn, who is having a lot of health issues relative to a head injury from a car wreck. Pray that the doctors find a solution to fix everything.
- Pray for a friend who has had a lot of issues to deal with in their life and is working hard to straighten them out. She returned home two weeks ago to find her husband had cleaned out all of his things and left. Pray for her as she picks up the pieces. (SGE)
- Pray for Pastor Stephen Okoth in Nakuru, Kenya, one of our outreach ministers for fifteen years. He and his congregation have done amazing work there in Kenya. God has been with them and the prayers we bring help as well.
- Pray for those who were killed in accidents and violent criminal actions this past week, and for the families who are saying good-bye.
- Be thankful for each day as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Holy Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those
who have lost their lives in the pursuit of faith and
hope.
- Pray for all of
those who suffer from cancer and other incurable
diseases and conditions that they be
secure in God’s embrace through
the Holy Spirit.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.
- Pray for peace on earth and good will to men as Scripture shares, because peace needs to be shared or it cannot exist. This is the gift Jesus gave to all of us when he sent His peace out into this world.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so many to pray for and so many reasons to pray for ourselves as well. We pray for Cal and Scrappy that they feel better. We pray for spiritual support for my Mama and several friends of ours. We pray for all who are suffering chronic diseases and illnesses, that Your healing hand will wrap them in comfort, love, and support. We pray for those who are suffering from cancer, and other deadly diseases. We pray for those who are traveling for the upcoming holiday celebrating the birth of this nation on Thursday this week. We pray for safety and security for all who celebrate and for the police officers who are keeping an eye on everything. We pray for all of this in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
NOTE: Our Evangelist, Cal Jennings, got me thinking a few years ago, about a Capella music for our sermons. With that thought, I have chosen two a Capella songs for today’s sermon. Unfortunately, I cannot sing at all this week due to allergies affecting my voice. Please feel free to listen to these songs after the sermon or while you are reading it.
Our
Opening Song: The Lily of the Valley ~ A Capella https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS6KMx_0NDQ
Sermon: Today we are beginning our journey through the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy. Timothy, often recognized more easily as Timotheus, was from the city of Lystra, which existed in what is now modern day Turkey. The interesting part of that place, at the time of Paul’s travels, is that there was no synagogue anywhere in Lystra, or near it, either one. There were two Jewesses, one who was the mother of Timothy. She taught Timothy everything about the Torah and the rest of the Jewish teachings and Paul was a great ally for the three. In the case of Timothy, Paul is issuing a directive for him to oppose the false teachers he and the church leadership would be encountering there in the church at Lystra.
1 Timothy 1:1 KJV –Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
NIV –Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
Like all of his other letters Paul opens this letter to young Timothy introducing himself as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and eternal gift of hope for one and all. It’s important to remind everyone, even himself, that there is something greater than all of us in what we know as the eternal and infinite existence of God and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Paul utilizes the gift of the Holy Spirit to help those in the very different churches to rise above, and Lystra is equal to all the others when it comes to issues in the church body. Paul references his pupil Luke, and also his letters to Corinth, Colossae, and his letter to Titus.
Luke 1:47 KJV – And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
NIV – and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
2 Corinthians 1:1 KJV –Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
NIV –Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
Colossians 1:27 KJV – To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
NIV – To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Titus 1:2-3 KJV – In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
NIV – in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
Titus 2:13 KJV – Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
NIV – while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Paul refers to Timothy like he would his son by birth, because, as Jesus said we are all brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers in the world of God’s unconditional love, which is as eternal as it is infinite in our existence.
1 Timothy 1:2 KJV –Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV –To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
These words, faith, grace, mercy, and peace. What are they? They are fruits of the spirit, these are gifts from the Vine, which represents Jesus, that the vineyard has grown for the husbandman, which represents God, to pluck them up once they have grown to help them grow even more. These fruits are part of us, and they need to be nourished through our continued voyages through Scripture. In studying, reading, speaking the Word aloud, we are giving it the nourishment to grow and spread like the vines in a vineyard. Paul is sharing so much within this simple verse that he references Luke’s writings in the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul’s letters to Rome, Corinth, and Galatia.
Acts 16:1-3 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: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
NIV – Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
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 his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:17 KJV –For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
NIV –For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
Galatians 1:3 KJV – Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
NIV – Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul knows as well as any of the other Apostles that the Spirit is always replenishing our own human spirit, as well as the need for more faith, hope, peace, grace, and love in each of our lives. Paul is pointing toward Timothy and reminding him that he had asked for Timothy to stay a while and help the church in Ephesus to keep that specific church from devolving into chaos.
1 Timothy 1:3 KJV –As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
NIV –As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer
In the days of Paul and the Apostles it was no easy task to change or transform thousands and thousands of years worshiping a pantheon of gods and all the rest of the pagan practices. To this day, some places on this earth are in that same category with it quite dangerous to preach as Jesus Christ directs us to do. Paul references Luke’s writing once again in the Acts of the Apostles. He also references his letters to Rome, Corinth, and Galatia.
Acts 18:19-21 KJV – And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
NIV – They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
Acts 19:1 KJV – And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
NIV – While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples
Romans 15:26 KJV – For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
NIV – For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.
Romans 16:17 KJV – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
NIV – I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
2 Corinthians 11:4 KJV –For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
NIV –For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Galatians 1:6 KJV – I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
NIV – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
What Paul is doing is quite similar to what we see in this world today. He preaches faith, belief, hope, peace, and unconditional love. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and they are part of the Great Commission that Jesus instructed His Apostles and Disciples to spread to the world, not just Jerusalem, Israel, and the surrounding areas. He wants us to spread the Word throughout the World just like the Twelve Apostles did until their deaths. It is why our outreach ministers do all they can to keep the newly Christian congregations strong in their faith, much like Paul is directing Timothy to manage as we see in these next verses.
1 Timothy 1:4-5 KJV –Neither
give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather
than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
NIV –or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Paul wants us to focus on the TRUTH. This is what he is teaching Timothy in this letter. He doesn’t want people living and surviving on fairy or other tall tales. Jesus is as real today as He was in the days of Paul and the other Apostles and Disciples. His existence is proven in history and kept alive by those of us who believe even without seeing the power of God in human form doing amazing things like healing leprosy, blood diseases, blindness, lameness, and even resurrecting others from death’s grip as well. Those things really happened in this world two millennia ago. Think about it! Jesus was doing those things between the ages of eighteen and thirty-three and many were willing to do as the lame man and take their mats up and walk with Him. Here are some requirements God wants from us as we make our own walk in the path Jesus blazed for us.
Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV – And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
NIV – And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Zephaniah 3:7 KJV – I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
NIV – Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
Paul adds this to his recollections of historical Torah teachings.
Romans 12:9 KJV – Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
NIV – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
2 Corinthians 1:12 KJV –For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
NIV –Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
Ephesians 3:2 KJV – If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
NIV – Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
Titus 1:14 – Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
NIV – and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
Titus 3:9 KJV – But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
NIV – But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
Paul wants us to keep walking in that path Jesus left us when Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” It’s more important with every day that we exist on this earth as it would be right. It is simple, but complex at the same time. It takes practice to teach others, and to learn from that teaching of the Word. Yet every one of us has the capacity to manage it. 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 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: Send the Light ~ Acapeldridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RjmtL7nmw0
~ 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 © 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.
Thank you so much Rev. Laura!
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