Word of warning: This sermon recorded 27 minutes per YouTube, but takes a while to buffer and share the entire sermon. I am still seeking a better method, but have not been successful to this point.
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 a little bit of an issue with his recovery, but his dog Scrappy is doing much better and both continue to thank everyone for their prayers.
- My nephew is still healing up from his scoliosis surgery and it has been wearing on my sister and him as well. Pray that his recovery goes more smoothly as the rest of the summer passes.
- We are thankful that friends, family, and colleagues have actually made it to their destinations after last weekend’s cyberattack on Microsoft and all airlines and other modes of transportation. Thankfully, though my mother was part of that chaos, she did finally reach home on Thursday afternoon.
- Pray for Janice’s mother who is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues. Pray for her daughter and son-in-law and their two children as they recuperate from COVID-19.
- 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.
- 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.
* Happy Birthday to my sister Cathy, whose birthday was Thursday.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have a lot of people and situations to pray for this week. We pray for those affected by the weather over this weekend, as there were tornadoes and more to deal with. We are thankful that the majority of the travel issues suffered a week ago are finally resolved. We are thankful that those who were stuck in those situations worldwide actually made it to their destinations. We pray for our membership, that it continues to grow. We pray for our sick and wounded, those suffering from cancer and other deadly diseases, and more. We pray for patience and peace in these days of chaos with the weather, the cyberattacks and more. 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: Wonderful Words of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfPObNHY3Ok
Sermon: Today we are continuing our journey through the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy as we begin the second chapter. I’m doing something slightly different today. I have put the verses in the chat section so you can follow along. Now, in this chapter Paul is training Timothy and the congregation as to how to conduct their sermons and ministry services as he starts this second chapter. This is quite the lesson, and some of us in this world need to take these instructions to heart, even to this very day. The actual title of this segment is Instructions on Worship.
1 Timothy 2:1 KJV –I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
NIV –I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—
Paul is again taking a page out of the play book that Jesus formed while He was alive on this earth as flesh and blood. He draws on his own personal knowledge of Scripture, including the Historical portions of Scripture, and the Prophetic parts of the Torah as well.
1 Kings 8:41-43 KJV –Moreover concerning a stranger, that
is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's
sake;
(For
they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched
out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;
Hear
thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger
calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear
thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I
have builded, is called by thy name.
NIV – “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
Ezra 6:10 KJV – That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
NIV – so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
Jeremiah 29:7 KJV – And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
NIV – Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Paul adds to this with references to two of his letters, one to Ephesus and the other Philippi.
Ephesians 6:18 KJV – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
NIV – And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Philippians 4:6 KJV – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
NIV – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
One of the things I’ve heard many times is important here as Paul shares. This important piece of information for all Christians. We need quiet time. We need to share peace, in place of war. We need to learn how to be godly, and very honest.
1 Timothy 2:2 KJV –For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
NIV –for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Godliness takes work and practice. We all fall off that horse and struggle to stay in that saddle. It’s work to remain honest in a life filled with all forms of pitfalls and slip ups. The world is worldly, which is often against everything God and Jesus teach us. We see this issue with these points of view with Samuel, Nehemiah, King David, and King Solomon.
2 Samuel 20:19 KJV –I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?
NIV –We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”
Nehemiah 1:11 KJV – O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
NIV – Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.
Psalm 20:1-4 KJV – The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
NIV – May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Proverbs 24:21 KJV – My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
NIV – Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,
Paul adds his own viewpoint from the letter he wrote to the church at Rome.
Romans 13:1 KJV – Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
NIV – Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Every soul is important to God, every single one. That means, it doesn’t matter which part of this world we happen to be. It doesn’t matter, our job, our economic situation, or any of that. What does matter is our love, our faith, our belief, our understanding of His Word. Those matter, always, until the world as we know it ends and on beyond that. That’s what Paul portrays here.
1 Timothy 2:3 KJV –Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
NIV –Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Each and every person to ever exist has God to thank for their existence, and for the memory of their existence. That continues to this very moment in time and for as long as time itself exists. Paul draws upon his favorite prophet Isaiah, and his pupil Luke along with yet another reference from Paul’s letter to Rome.
Isaiah 45:21 KJV – Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
NIV – Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
Luke 1:47 KJV – And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
NIV – and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Romans 12:1-2 KJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
NIV – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Truth is important. Honesty, when it comes to prayer and praising God, is vital. There is a list of seven reason why. We call them seven troubles. They consist of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame and doubt. Paul is pointing out that these seven are chains that hold us back away from God our Father. Breaking these chains takes patience, persistence, prudence, faith, belief, penitence, hope, and more. These are what many call “grace” given abilities. Remember, JESUS IS OUR SAVING GRACE. This is what Paul points out next.
1 Timothy 2:4 KJV –Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
NIV –who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Paul continues to add his go to prophetic standard with the words of Isaiah here and adds Ezekiel, the gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John the Beloved as well.
Isaiah 45:22 KJV – Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
NIV – “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 49:6 KJV – Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
NIV – “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 55:1 KJV – Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
NIV – “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Ezekiel 18:23 KJV – Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
NIV – Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
Ezekiel 33:11 KJV – Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
NIV – Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’
Matthew 28:19 KJV – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
NIV – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15 KJV – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
NIV – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Luke 24:47 KJV – And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
NIV – and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 3:17 KJV – For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
NIV – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Our last verse from the first letter to Timothy for today reminds us as to who, what, and why we are known as Christians.
1 Timothy 2:5 KJV –For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
NIV –For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
Paul draws support from the Torah, which was given to us by God through the prophet Moses.
Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV – Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
NIV – Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Paul then adds to this with his go to prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 44:6 KJV – Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
NIV – “This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
Paul with his final push includes all of the gospels and adds to them with the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 1:1 KJV – The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
NIV – This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:23 KJV – Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
NIV – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Mark 12:29-33 KJV – And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
And to love him with all the
heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the
strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt
offerings and sacrifices.
NIV – “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Luke 2:10-11 KJV – And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
NIV – But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
John 1:14 KJV – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
NIV – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Acts 4:12 KJV – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
NIV – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Each of us has a mission in this world. That mission is directed by God, through the Savior Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul is teaching every person through this letter he wrote to Timothy. He’s doing so to build faith, unconditional love, hope, and peace. He’s doing so to push us toward sharing the Word with others around us who may not know of the glory of God and the grace and unconditional love of our 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: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thz1zDAytzU
~ 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.
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