Paul Issues a Warning to All Christians_Watch Your Mouths

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aDJm2rNGcM

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 and his dog Scrappy are getting along okay, but they appreciate your prayers to keep them doing well.

-      My nephew is doing pretty well after his scoliosis surgery, but he’s got a whole lot of medical appointments ahead of going back to school in two weeks or so.

-      My Mama needs more prayers. She’s had five flights cancel on her due to the cyberattacks over this week and through this weekend. It is hoped she can get home today, sometime.

-      Pray for Janice’s mother who is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues. Also pray for Janice’s daughter and son-in-law who were diagnosed with COVID this past week, ending the hopes Janice had for seeing her grandchildren while she is on vacation this week.

-      Pray for my employer, Ed, who had a mini-stroke a little over two weeks ago.  He’s been put on a new medication. Please keep him and his wife in prayer as they get through all the medical chaos they’ve suffered in the past year or more.

-      Pray for a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who has been diagnosed with cancer. 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. She has survived the loss of her hair and the debilitating results of chemotherapy. She is past the halfway mark and continues with her treatments. May God’s blessings wrap around her and protect her through these treatments keeping her spirits high and her pain low.

-      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. The wreck caused her to now suffer from seizures with an epilepsy diagnosis.

-      Another friend continues to deal with many issues in their life and is working hard to straighten them out. Keep her in prayer as she continues to figure out what life has in store for her. (SGE)

-      Pray for Pastor Stephen Okoth in Nakuru, Kenya, as 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 our other outreach ministers and the work they do, including Rev. Lisa Tyler, one of my mentors, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, and the family of Pastor Robert Nganwa from Uganda who passed away a couple years ago, but the church continues on.

-      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 the many in this world who have lost their lives in the pursuit
    of faith and hope.

-   Pray for all of those who suffer from cancer and all the other incurable
    diseases and conditions that they be secure in God’s embrace through
    the Holy Spirit.

-   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 my friend Janice who has gone through way too much this past week or more, give her solace and strength to persevere. We pray for my employer, Ed, that the doctors figure out what is going on and find solutions. We continue to pray for Cal and Scrappy that they stay feeling better. We pray for spiritual support for my Mama and several friends of ours. We pray for those who were in the storm’s path over the past few weeks between the tornadoes and tropical storms of all shapes. We pray for the war torn countries, including Israel and many others worldwide. We pray for those children who are missing and for those who have been found that their experiences will not forever mark their place in their memories. 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 all the other deadly diseases. 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.

 

Opening Song: Jesus Loves the Little Children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBulLhGEbf0

 

Sermon: Today we are continuing our journey through the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy and will complete the first chapter. Now these last few verses are split in half. Paul points out that the mission Jesus gave him was to portray the miraculous ability Jesus had to forgive some of the worst sinners ever to exist, Paul being one of them, as a pharisee both by birth and by choice until he began following Jesus. This is how Paul’s letter to Timothy begins its close.

 

1 Timothy 1:16 KJV – Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

NIV –But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

 

The aim is to get people to recognize what a truly Christian attitude and mindset requires. Paul doesn’t waste time with platitudes or any of that. He’s direct, straight to the point, much like Jesus was, even through His parables. It’s important to strip away the unnecessary so that we can see truth for what it is, and how it should be seen. Here are some of the influences Paul drew from for this.

 

Exodus 34:8 KJV – And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

NIV – Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.

 

Numbers 23:3 KJV – And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

NIV – Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

 

Psalm 25:11 KJV – For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

NIV – For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

 

Isaiah 1:18 KJV – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

NIV – “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

 

Isaiah 55:7 KJV – Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

NIV – Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 

Paul now adds to the Torah historical and poetic books with the Word as shared by our Lord and Savior. In this instance we see references to the gospels written by Luke and John the Beloved.

 

Luke 7:47 KJV – Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

NIV – Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

 

John 3:15-16 KJV – That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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 – that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. 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.

 

John 3:36 KJV – He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

NIV – Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

 

John 5:24 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

NIV – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

 

John 6:40 KJV – And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

NIV – For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

 

John 6:54 KJV – Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

NIV – Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

 

Paul continues with the last line of his letter before the closing promise. Here we see him referencing to the King of Kings, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

1 Timothy 1:17 KJV – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

NIV –Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

To bring the historical and eternal understanding of God and Jesus, Paul returns to the writing of the first king of the Jews, David.

 

Psalm 10:16 KJV – The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

NIV – The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.

 

Psalm 45:1 KJV – My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

NIV – My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

 

Psalm 45:6 KJV – Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

NIV – Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

 

Psalm 145:13 KJV – Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

NIV – Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

 

The final closing leads back to familiar words that we share with each other at the end of every sermon.

 

Matthew 6:13 KJV – 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.

NIV – And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

 

Paul then adds still more from the gospel of Matthew, with the last verse of the Great Commission.

 

Matthew 28:20 KJV – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

NIV – and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Paul then focuses on the gospel of John the Beloved. Again he highlights the words of our Savior Jesus.

 

John 1:18 KJV – No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

NIV – No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

 

John 5:44 KJV – How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

NIV – How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

 

We are down to the last three verses of this first chapter. Paul has something to share, to inspire the church and Timothy himself. It’s important to give everyone a mission to share the truth of Jesus Christ. That applies to every sermon. We all should be, as ministers, priests, pastors, elders, evangelists, prophets and prophetesses, all of us should be willing to give glory to God and share His love through the Word as shared by Jesus Christ our Savior. Here are two of the last three verses shared by Paul to Timothy in this chapter.

 

1 Timothy 1:18-19 KJV –This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

NIV –Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

 

We are all sons and daughters of God by adoption through the sacrifice of the Living Lord Jesus Christ. This is the promise that Paul provides for Timothy and the church that he leads. We all need that encouraging reminder whenever we share the Word as Jesus taught. Paul brings reference to the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

 

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 – 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.

 

Paul adds references from his letters to Corinth, Titus, and Philippi.

 

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.

 

1 Corinthians 9:2 KJV –If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

NIV –Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

NIV –The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

 

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.

 

Philippians 3:18-19 KJV – (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

NIV – For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

 

Paul then adds to it all with this last reference to his fellow Apostle, Peter.

 

2 Peter 2:1-3 KJV –But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

NIV –But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

 

Now, here is the one-two punch that Paul provides Timothy to finalize this first chapter. He’s warning Timothy of the dangers of blasphemy and how dangerous this religious crime truly is.

 

1 Timothy 1:20 KJV –Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

NIV –Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

 

So, what exactly is blasphemy? Here are all the definitions of blasphemy.

Blasphemy is the impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.

In Judaism blasphemy is defined as:

1. an act of cursing or reviling God.
2. pronunciation of the Tetragram Maton (YHWH) in the original, now forbidden manner instead of using a substitute pronunciation such as Adonai.

3.    Theology. the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.

4.   irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless, etc.

For Christians, and Jews, even to this day, this is a dangerous ideal, all but ensuring that a person will end up in the pool of fire known as Hell. Paul has a reference from the writing of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

 

Acts 19:33 KJV – And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

NIV – The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.

 

Paul then adds this reference from the gospel of Matthew in the words of our Savior Jesus.

 

Matthew 18:17 KJV – And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

NIV – If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

 

Paul then adds to this with his first letter to Corinth and his second letter to Thessalonica.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5 KJV –To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

NIV –hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

 

 

1 Corinthians 11:32 KJV –To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

NIV –hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:15 KJV –Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

NIV –Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

 

Lastly, Paul references the writings of the Hebrew Scholars and John the Beloved’s Revelation.

 

Hebrews 12:5 KJV – And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

NIV – And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

 

Revelation 3:19 KJV – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

NIV – Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

 

Revelation 13:1 KJV – And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

NIV – The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

 

Revelation 13:5-6 KJV – And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

NIV – The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

 

Even in this short closing of the first chapter of Paul’s letter to Timothy, we see how strongly Paul points toward the fact that we all have to pay attention to our attitudes, actions, and our use of the Word. Never use the Word of God to commit sins of any kind. That is literal blasphemy. It is dangerous, because it will ensure you remain in the lake of fire as opposed to the path that Jesus built just for us. It is our mission to continue the legacy of Jesus Christ here on this earth. Each of us has the ability to bring just one person toward the light and life that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 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: Kum Ba Yah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFffX-3wGLc

 

 

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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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.