The video is still buffering so it might be a bit before you are able to watch the entirety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh9h-2DsJDw
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 taking life day by day with his dog Scrappy. Cal has been having issues with his stomach and also with pain levels. They appreciate all the prayers as the two of them continue to take life one day at a time.
- My daughter has asked if we could add three people from her life onto our prayer list. One of them is named Ms. Ramona and works with my daughter, she was rushed to the hospital and has been ordered to be on bed rest until further notice. The second is her husband Douglas’s grandmother, who has a tentative diagnosis of dementia. The last is her husband’s grandfather, known to everyone as Papa John, who is suffering depression due to his memory issues.
- Please continue to pray for my Mama who has been going through a lot of out of the ordinary stresses where she is right now, the last few years have been very hard on her, and she just needs some spiritual support for the time being.
- Please pray for a friend of ours, Tyrone, who is still having issues with recovering from an injury managed at work that has affected his daily life in too many ways. Pray for his healing.
- Pray for Janice’s husband who has had a serious series of illness that has kept him from eating much, has him in serious pain, and sleeping a whole lot. Janice’s mother is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues. Pray for Janice as well, she’s been in quite a lot of pain due to migraines, a fall she suffered a short time ago, and now the lingering effects of a sinus infection, which makes the migraines more frequent and stronger than they are normally.
- Please continue to keep my employer’s wife, Joy, in prayer as she has been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease.
- One of my sisters is going through some serious stresses that are affecting everything right now, let’s pray she gets relief from these issues.
- 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.
- 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 a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who is finally done with her chemo. She has survived the loss of her hair and the debilitating results of chemotherapy. Let us pray that the evil disease of cancer is gone from her body forever. May God’s blessings wrap around her and protect her keeping her spirits high and her pain low.
- Pray for all of our outreach ministers and the work they do, Pastor Stephen Okoth, 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. We are adding other outreach ministries in Kenya that include Felix Alfayo from Kisii, Kenya and the Christian Ministry Shepherd’s Home Orphanage. With him we add Pastor Amir Aneel from Pakistan from Light of Love Ministry, and Pastor Peter Nyamwembe from Nairobi, Kenya.
- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this beautiful day. We have plenty to bring to you in prayer. First we thank You for all the blessings You have presented for each of us. We thank You for friends and family and for answering their prayers, like Kelly, who survived the rigors of cancer treatment and post treatment surgery. We include Evangelist Cal with all of his health issues, Aunt Donna, still fighting her cancer, and so many others. We bring several up to You in prayer today, including Janice and her husband Ed. Janice is still suffering the effects of her sinus infection. Ed has had serious stomach issues for three or more days. Janice’s mother, who continues to heal after her stroke last year. She is starting a slow regimen of walks on her property to help with her mobility and coordination, and we thank You for those blessings bestowed. We pray for Autumn and my daughter’s colleague Ramona who is on bedrest still. We pray for my son-in-law’s grandfather and grandmother, both suffering from memory issues. We bring everyone to You for healing and health, faith and hope, peace and patience through our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Cal Jennings Version: https://m.starmakerstudios.com/a-vue3/playrecording?app=sm&from_sid=62172171219&guide_type=2&is_convert=true&pg_rf_ca_vn=15&pid=share_exp2&recordingId=8725724355776210&share_type=copylink
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash and family Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLFbUbmH7To
Sermon: Today we continue the fifth chapter of 1 Timothy. We continue with Paul’s description as to the behavior of widows and widowers. This time he’s specifically speaking to women of a specific age group who are widows at far too young an age. So let us begin.
1 Timothy 5:9-10 KJV –Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
NIV –No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
It is important to go through these verses carefully because they can be easily misunderstood. However, in Paul’s words here to Timothy, he echoes something that James the Just, human brother of Jesus, also said many times. Widows that are younger, who have perhaps lost their husbands to the wages of war, or wild animal attacks, sickness, or even in man versus man situation, these are the widows Paul singles out.
Paul adds to this with a familiar situation to him, the washing of the disciples’ feet, just as Jesus did. And just as the woman who bathed Jesus’s feet with oil and tears. It’s a symbolic action that carries weight in our faith and demonstrating it openly. Here are some points of reference.
Genesis 43:24 KJV – And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
NIV – The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys.
Luke 2:36-37 KJV – And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
NIV – There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Luke 7:44 KJV – And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
NIV – Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
John 13:5 KJV – After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
NIV – After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:14 KJV – If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
NIV – Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
Paul adds to this with reference from the Acts of the Apostles as written by Luke and also Paul’s first letter to Corinth.
Acts 9:36 KJV – Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
NIV – In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 KJV –And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
NIV –To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:39-40 KJV –The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
NIV –A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Losing your spouse is a terribly difficult thing to survive. There are those out there who have many, many difficulties just surviving day to day after losing their spouse, and this can last for untold number of years. Those who cannot go beyond the loss of their spouse will often remain alone for the rest of their lives, both male and female. Paul points toward the younger women, specifically, to take time to mourn, but then to look toward the future and seek love through hope once more. This is how Paul teaches them.
1 Timothy 5:11 KJV –But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
NIV –As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.
It is not always easy to discern your desires, and sometimes that human, carnal part of women, comes out at inopportune moments. These are the times that Paul is warning them about there at the church where Timothy preaches. He references these three Old Testament viewpoints.
Deuteronomy 32:15 KJV – But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
NIV – Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.
Isaiah 3:16 KJV – Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
NIV – The Lord says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
Hosea 13:6 KJV – According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
NIV – When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.
There are three references from the second most contested scroll of Scripture, John the Beloved’s Revelation.
Revelation 18:3 KJV – For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
NIV – For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
Revelation 18:7 KJV – How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
NIV – Give her as much
torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she
boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’
Revelation 18:9 KJV – And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
NIV – “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
Now, Paul lays it all down for the congregation in these two verses from his letter to Timotheus.
1 Timothy 5:12-13 KJV –Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
NIV –Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
Now Paul references the poetic book of Proverbs, and, ironically, it is one verse with a set of parentheses, which indicate inner thoughts.
Proverbs 7:11 KJV – (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
NIV – (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
Proverbs 11:13 KJV – A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
NIV – A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Paul again adds to these references with his first letter to Corinth, and his letter to Galatia, Peter’s first letter, and also John the Beloved’s third letter.
1 Corinthians 11:34 KJV –And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
NIV –Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
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—
1 Peter 4:15-16 KJV –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.
NIV –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.
3 John 1:10 KJV –Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
NIV –So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
It isn’t the first time we’ve heard tell about someone being guided to move forward after tragedy, such as Paul is describing here in his letter to Timotheus.
1 Timothy 5:14 KJV –I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
NIV –So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
As widows, women have something most adult females don’t realize is worthwhile. That is patience built through perseverance. It’s not easy to lose a spouse, and it doesn’t matter male or female in this thought. As I’ve said previously, I’ve seen it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears, and felt the pain these people have projected toward others. The death of a spouse isn’t often discussed in marriage counseling, or even premarital counseling. Yet, honestly, truthfully, because this world is extremely unpredictable, this is something that should be taught. That’s why Paul uses these references.
Proverbs 14:1 KJV – Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
NIV – The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Proverbs 31:27-29 KJV – She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
NIV – She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Another issue humanity has is this: “If I can’t see it with my own eyes, it’s not real, true, or worthy of discussion.” Christian faith is the polar opposite of this. Believe and you shall see, that’s what Jesus often said. In this gospel reference, they are watching as Jesus was in the midst of His crucifixion. The soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees were mocking Him.
Luke 23:35-41 KJV – And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we
receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
NIV – The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Paul chose this moment to point out that we often fail to realize the importance of certain actions, reactions, and more in our everyday life. He now references his own letters, to Corinth and to Titus as well.
1 Corinthians 7:9 KJV –But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
NIV –But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Titus 2:5 KJV – To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
NIV – to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
1 Timothy 5:15-17 KJV –For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
NIV –Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
When you turn away from the path of faith and light that Jesus blazed for each and every one of us, it’s tough on God, on Jesus, and on you. It may not be easily realized at first, but there are examples of this situation, the relationship we each have with God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is one reason we have so many songs about circles being unbroken in faith, amazing grace, being just a prayer away, and so many more. We have to remember, there is a right way, and a wrong way to do everything in life. Jesus reminds Peter and the rest of His Apostles of this fact here in these references from the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 4:10 KJV – Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
NIV – Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Matthew 24:24-31 KJV – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
NIV – For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
“Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Luke 12:42 KJV – And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
NIV – The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
Paul has three more references. The first is from Luke’s writing in the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 11:30 KJV – Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
NIV – This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Paul finalizes his references with his own letters to Rome and Thessalonica.
Romans 12:8 KJV – Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
NIV – if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 KJV –And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
NIV –Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
So, we have a lot to learn with regard to personal relationships. We have a lot of work to do when it comes to the faith we portray to Jesus and to God. That’s something we have to work on as a church congregation and as individuals, families, and friends as well. Truthfully, we, all of us, need to 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: Amazing Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4YiieS6bcQ
Cal Jennings version: https://m.starmakerstudios.com/a-vue3/playrecording?app=sm&from_sid=62172171219&guide_type=2&is_convert=true&pg_rf_ca_vn=15&pid=share_exp2&recordingId=8725724355776314&share_type=copylink
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
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.
I enjoyed this excellent teaching. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him Who sits on the throne.
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