Good Morning and Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our live Sunday sermon. 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 Jesus Christ in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ. After the live sermon.
I will post this sermon, video included, to the blog found at this 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.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has for far too long. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they continue to wait on doctors and more regarding their health issues, and the intense pain included, that have been center stage for the two for way too long.
- We pray for a friend of ours, Erica, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and has set up a site for donations to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We continue to pray for my sister Emilie, who is still having family issues and has just had a long week in preparation for part of it.
- We pray for my granddaughter Maria, whose birthday was Friday, and who has been diagnosed with a double ear infection.
- We pray for my son-in-law, Maria’s father, who has been suffering from unknown health issues that are still awaiting full diagnosis.
- We pray for a co-worker of my daughter Deanna, named Ms. Kendra, who was in a terrible car accident last week.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash.
- We continue to pray for my employer and his wife, Ed and Joy, who have both suffered a lot of health issues over the past year or more.
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately, and misses my father as he passed away three years ago due to COVID-19.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather around this world, as well as those who are picking up the pieces after the very dangerous storms we have had over the past few months.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so many to pray for. We bring up to You the orphans from all over the world, including within the ministries of colleagues far and wide. We bring you the disabled and injured, the sick and the poor worldwide. We pray for those who have been sick or injured this past week or more, including EB and JB, and others we care about. We pray for those suffering diseases that seem incurable here on earth, like cancer, as suffered by Donna and Kelly. Or seizures like my niece Autumn, but we know that You can heal and help those who are suffering. We pray for those in this world who suffer from memory loss, like my son-in-law’s grandparents, and JB’s mother as well. We pray for the orphans so they will be well fed and cared for. We thank You for all that You bring to each and every one of us. 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: Just a Closer Walk With Thee ~ Alabama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPmJemdLGf8
Sermon: Today we are starting the second letter that Paul wrote to Timotheus. Now, we are covering the first seven verses of the first chapter today. These seven verses are separated in the New International Version with Paul’s typical introduction, a prayer and praise of thanksgiving, and an appeal for the church members’ loyalty to both Paul and the Gospel. Now, that’s important to understand.
2 Timothy 1:1 KJV –Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
NIV –Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
Whenever Paul introduces him in his letters, he always makes a point to describe his title in relation to Jesus Christ. Note, he may have stature per the Jews, but for the rest of his life, Paul considered himself as a mere Apostle to Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who believe in Him. Notice, Paul believes him to be a completely new version of a Jew. In this case, a Christian Jew. Yes, there are Christians who are Jews by heritage even to this very day, and will be eternally, so long as they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus was one of the most unique people who ever walked on this earth. Paul references these five excerpts from the gospel of John the Beloved for clarity as to the relationship we all should have with Jesus.
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 5:39-40 KJV – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
NIV – You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have 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.
John 10:28 KJV – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
NIV – I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Paul then references his letters to Corinth and Galatia.
1 Corinthians 1:1 KJV – Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
NIV – Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
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:
Galatians 3:26-28 KJV – For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
NIV – So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Paul references Timothy as his own, much loved, son. He did this quite often. This affection is something that Jesus taught, and God did as well. To God, we are all His sons and daughters. To Jesus, we are all His brothers and sisters by adoption. This is the sentiment that Paul uses in these verses.
2 Timothy 1:2 KJV –To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV –To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul reflects on the words of his pupil, the gospel writer Luke, and then adds in his personal letters to the churches at Rome, Corinth, and his pupil Titus as well.
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.
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.
Titus 1:4 KJV – To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
NIV – To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus 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,
Now, this time Paul references his origins as a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. He is reassuring the church there at Lystra with Timotheus as lead minister, that he is with them through the Holy Spirit, and that God and Jesus are there with them as well.
2 Timothy 1:3 KJV –I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
NIV – I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
It is always reassuring that we have someone praying for us, as often as we pray for them. This is something that is universal for Christians, once they accept the concept of spirituality as more than fable or fairy tale. It takes a certain maturity to understand the ins and outs of faith and belief through the Holy Spirit as we are brought into God’s Presence, and into the presence of Jesus Christ through the existence of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which rained down from Heaven upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This amazing gift existed before Jesus brought it to the Apostles, but not many understood what the Holy Spirit truly was, is, and will always be. We have verses for reference in the historical scroll of First Samuel, and then more references from the New Testament scrolls of Acts as well as the letters Paul wrote to Rome and Thessalonica.
1 Samuel 12:23 KJV –Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
NIV –As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
Acts 23:1 KJV – And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
NIV – Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
Acts 24:14-16 KJV – But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
NIV – However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
Romans 1:8-9 KJV – First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
NIV – First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
1 Thessalonians 3:10 KJV –Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
NIV –Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Paul says this a lot, as seen in this next verse. He desperately wanted to be able to visit these fledgling Christian churches, but, as all the other Apostles were, he was a wanted man. Christianity was frowned upon by both the Jewish leaders and the Roman Empire at the time. This made every word uttered toward faith and belief in Jesus and God was as dangerous as it was liberating. This is epitomized in this verse.
2 Timothy 1:4 KJV –Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
NIV –Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
Paul brings more reference to the poetic books with this, as he spent many days and years weeping for the fact that he could only write letters to these locations far from his homeland, where he spent most of his time hiding from the Jews and the Romans as well.
Psalm 126:5 KJV – They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
NIV – Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
One of the unifying scrolls of Scripture for Paul are those of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah as referenced here.
Isaiah 61:3 KJV – To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
NIV – and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Jeremiah 31:13 KJV – Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
NIV – Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Paul references the gospel writers Luke and John the Beloved with their additional writings from the Acts of the Apostles and the Revelation.
Acts 20:37-38 KJV – And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
NIV – They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Revelation 7:17 KJV – For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
NIV – For the Lamb at the center
of the throne will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every
tear from their eyes.’”
Revelation 21:4 KJV – And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
NIV – ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Now we are getting toward the end of our verses for today. Paul actually splits this pair of verses, however, we will need to have them together for context reasoning. Paul is edifying Timothy and his congregation for their faith and the expression of it. He speaks specifically about Timothy’s relatives, making this letter more personally motivated, more personally impactful for Timothy and the congregation.
2 Timothy 1:5-6 KJV –When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
NIV – I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Paul asks for loyalty toward Jesus and God through the connection Paul brings to them through his letters. It’s important to understand we are all connected to Jesus and, through Him, to God. This means we are part of each other, no matter where we happen to be on this earth. Because of that fact, we are ultimately connected as Christians whenever we share our faith with each other and keep that hope and more alive as a result. Paul again is drawing from the prophet Isaiah and two references from gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Isaiah 43:26 KJV – Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
NIV – Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.
Acts 6:6 KJV – Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
NIV – They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 8:17-18 KJV – Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
NIV – Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
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.
Our last verse from this second letter today is this one. Paul is pointing out that we aren’t powerless. With God and our faith and belief in Him we have a unique power and the clarity of mind necessary to prove it through unconditional love. Here’s how Paul portrays this.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV –For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
NIV – For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Paul references three prophetic verses from Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah.
Isaiah 11:2 KJV – And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
NIV – The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
Micah 3:8 KJV – But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
NIV – But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.
Zechariah 4:6 KJV – Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
NIV – So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Paul’s final references for this week are from the Word as shared by Jesus in the gospels of Luke and John the Beloved as well as Paul’s letters written to Rome and Galatia.
Luke 10:19 KJV – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
NIV – I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
John 14:27 KJV – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
NIV – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Romans 8:15 KJV – For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
NIV – The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
NIV – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
It is important to know the elements of the Holy Spirit that blossom and grow like grapes, roses, and all other types of blossoms that bring us the vision of growth and maturity in our faith, belief, and unconditional love. It is important to build our foundations of our personal faith carefully. This way it is rooted in the Word as it should be. When we celebrate this faith together, we bring more voices to that foundation and build upon it the way Jesus referenced and the way the twelve Apostles worked toward as well. With that, 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: His Name Is Wonderful ~ The Imperials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0yC4lptPEs
~ 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.
