Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon. We try to be live every 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.
- We pray for the veterans of war, armed service duty, worldwide this weekend, as Veteran’s Day is celebrated in the USA on November 11th which is tomorrow. Salute to all who have been lost, maimed, and survived and all who bore the weight of their country’s security on their shoulders and backs.
- We have just learned that my Aunt Renee is in the hospital undergoing a procedure due to a blocked vein in her heart, so let’s pray for healing and for the steady hands of the doctors too.
- 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 navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers they need in both of their health issues.
- We continue to 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 an emergency room visit after my nephew suffered a serious allergic reaction causing itchy, red, swollen skin.
- We pray for my granddaughter Maria, whose birthday was a week ago Friday, and her ear infections are doing better, thankfully.
- 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. She had a fender bender on Thursday and is severely rattled as a result. This combined with the fact she misses my father as he passed away three years ago due to COVID-19 has made it a tough year for her.
- 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 are facing surgery, including my Aunt Renee. 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, and severe allergic reactions like my nephew, 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 pray for our soldiers. 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 Poem: Life’s Eternal Soldier ~ Written by Rev. Laura A. Neff
Sermon: Today we are continuing the second letter that Paul wrote to Timotheus. Now, we are covering the next several verses of the first chapter today. These 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 1:8 KJV –Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
NIV –So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Paul, like James the Just, human brother of Jesus, loved to cross-reference the Old and New Testaments to point out prophecy and fulfillment of that prophecy. We spoke about the ultimate Biblical Cross-Reference diagram a couple weeks ago, and this sermon epitomizes that same diagram. All you must do is look up Chris Harrison. His work simply epitomizes the life of Jesus Christ, and the entire existence of humankind, from the first thoughts of God in Genesis through the final words as spoken by Jesus in John the Beloved’s Revelation. We have much to learn within the simple yet complicated consideration we know of as Scripture. Here are two poetic reference points from Paul’s thoughts.
Psalm 19:7 KJV – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
NIV – The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalm 119:46 KJV – I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
NIV – I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
Paul adds to this with two prophetic viewpoints from the often referenced Isaiah.
Isaiah 8:20 KJV – To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
NIV – Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Isaiah 51:7 KJV – Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
NIV – “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.
Paul adds to this with the Word as shared by our Savior Jesus Christ in these two gospel references.
Mark 8:38 KJV – Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
NIV – If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
John 15:27 KJV – And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
NIV – And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Paul adds two of his references from the letters he wrote to Rome and Corinth.
Romans 1:16 KJV – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
NIV – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
1 Corinthians 1:6 KJV –Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
NIV –God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.
Paul continues with his references and his instructions for Timotheus and his congregation.
2 Timothy 1:9 KJV –Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
NIV –He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
Paul goes all the way back to the Torah with this reference.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 KJV – The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
NIV – The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Again, Paul references the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 14:26-27 KJV – This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
NIV – This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
Paul adds more references of the Word as shared by Jesus through the words of Matthew, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 11:25-26 KJV – At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
NIV – At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
John 6:37 KJV – All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
NIV – All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
John 10:28-29 KJV – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
NIV – I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
John 17:9 KJV – I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
NIV – I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
Paul adds three references from his letter to Rome.
Romans 8:28-29 KJV – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
NIV – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 11:29 KJV – For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
NIV – for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Romans 16:25 KJV – Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
NIV – Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,
The next thing Paul shares with Timothy and his congregation there in Lystra is about the immortal and eternal existence of our Savior Jesus Christ. I once heard an interesting point of view for this. Jesus Christ points toward Unconditional Love, which is both eternally blessed and infinite in measure. This is the essence of salvation as promised by God Himself to Adam and on through the millennia to this very moment in time. Here is how Paul shares that viewpoint.
2 Timothy 1:10 KJV –But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
NIV –but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Paul pulls out five separate prophetic references from the scroll of Isaiah.
Isaiah 25:7 KJV – And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
NIV – On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
Isaiah 43:3 KJV – For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
NIV – For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
Isaiah 45:15 KJV – Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
NIV – Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Savior of Israel.
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.
Isaiah 60:2-3 KJV – For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
NIV – See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Paul then adds references from his letters to Rome, Corinth, and Thessalonica.
Romans 2:7 KJV – To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
NIV- To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Romans 16:26 KJV – But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
NIV – but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—
1 Corinthians 15:26 KJV –The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
NIV –The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 KJV –And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
NIV –And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
Paul now references his place in the world for anyone who reads his letters, meets him in person, and reads about him long after his death. These are our last verses from the first chapter of the second letter written to Timotheus of Lystra.
2 Timothy 1:11-12 KJV –Whereunto I am appointed
a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
NIV –And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Paul references the writings of King David in this trio of verses.
Psalm 9:10 KJV – And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
NIV – Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 25:2 KJV – O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
NIV – I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 56:9 KJV – When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
NIV – Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.
Paul adds two more references from the prophet Isaiah as well.
Isaiah 12:2 KJV – Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
NIV – Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 50:7 KJV – For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
NIV – Because the Sovereign
Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
He adds two references to the gospels including Matthew and Jesus speaking as recorded in the words of John the Beloved. With these he adds the writing of the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 12:21 KJV – And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
NIV – In his name the nations will put their hope.”
John 10:28-30 KJV – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
NIV – I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Acts 9:15 KJV – But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
NIV – But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Paul’s final references included his letters to Rome and Ephesus.
Romans 1:16 KJV – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
NIV – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Ephesians 3:7-8 KJV – Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
NIV – I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
Paul is all about proving the validity of Scripture. He followed the example set by Jesus Christ, who portrayed the entire fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, and all the rest in Scripture. God also provides fulfillment to this very moment for each and every believer in Jesus Christ and in the existence of Unconditional Love as brought to us from God Almighty and shared through our Lord and Savior with the Holy Spirit. 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/Poem: A Soldier’s Prayer ~ Rev. Laura A. Neff
~ 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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