https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnGejY6qpBE
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, 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.
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.
- I learned Thursday that Evangelist Cal Jennings’ only son Sean passed away. We pray for the family and friends of Sean amid this devastating loss. The memorial service will be held January 4th.
- We learned on the day of Thanksgiving that our Aunt Renee was doing well after undergoing a procedure due to a blocked vein in her heart. The surgery was managed over the past week, and she is currently in an induced coma to help her regulate her systems. Update as of Wednesday this past week Aunt Renee is in an induced coma in the VICU with dire illnesses including pneumonia and a bladder infection.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been 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. Their primary care physician raised Cain in his office and is working to get EB in for his neurological tests that are desperately needed right now.
- 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. She had some good things happen this past week but there still is a long way to go. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass it on.
- We continue to pray for my sister Emilie, who is still having family issues, job issues, and all kinds of craziness going on in her life. Hopefully she has good news after something that occurred Friday afternoon.
- We pray for my son-in-law, Douglas, who has been suffering from unknown health issues that are still awaiting full diagnosis. He is in the midst of a series of medical tests including a sleep test which he spent the past day or so in that process.
- We pray for a co-worker of my daughter Deanna, named Ms. Ramona, who is still having health issues that are not dissipating.
- 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 Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately. The holidays are hard on her after losing my father three years ago. Today would have been my parents’ 58th anniversary.
- 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, during this Christmas week we are a ministry in mourning and pain. We pray for our Evangelist Cal Jennings and his family as well as the friends of his only son Sean, who passed away Thursday. We pray for my Aunt Renee who is still in the hospital in VICU with a dangerous set of virus and other infections. We pray for my Uncle Larry and the rest of the family as we all wait on word about her condition. We pray for those who have suffered losses in their families and are missing their presence during this Advent season. We pray for those who cannot be together for Christmas and for those who are traveling around this world during the holiday season. We pray for those who are homeless and in desperate need. We pray for those who are in hospital over these holidays. We pray for those who suffer depression and sorrows of all sorts during this holiday. We pray for the glory that is our Savior, Jesus Christ, that His return is near at hand bringing Salvation and Hope amid Your infinite and eternal peace and the hope of unconditional love. We pray in Your holy name through our Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: O Come All Ye Faithful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tM5pwvUGMI
Sermon: Like he has throughout the two letters to Timotheus of Lystra, Paul is cautioning him on the way to lead the congregation of the church. Not only is he doing so for the leadership of the church at Lystra, but also the entire congregation and beyond. This advice on precautionary measures is extremely important even today. In giving this advice the fruits of the Spirit can fulfill the greatest promise that Paul and the other Apostles of Jesus were charged with keeping.
2 Timothy 2:22 KJV –Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
NIV – Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Life in the days of Timotheus and the congregation in Lystra might have been far from what many of us today would understand, but they had some of the same forms of chaos as we do. The forms that still translate to this moment in time are seven troubles. We’ve spoken about these many times. Vanity, Envy, Lust, Enmity, Wrath, Shame, and Doubt are the seven troubles. These are the spawn of evil and wickedness. All you need to do is open your newspaper, watch the network news, or simply walk out the door and you’ll see all seven of them in action. Every human being on this earth has fallen into the trap known as these troubles. There is, as there was, only one who could walk away from them. His name is Jesus. Every human being has been tempted into these. Paul points toward the poetic books and the Word as Jesus spoke in the gospel of Matthew.
Psalm 119:9 KJV – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
NIV – How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
Proverbs 4:23 KJV – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
NIV – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 15:9 KJV – The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
NIV – The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
Matthew 5:8 KJV – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
NIV – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Paul adds insight from his letter written to the church at Galatia and also to James the Just, younger human brother of Jesus.
Galatians 5:16-17 KJV – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
NIV – So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
James 4:7-8 KJV – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
NIV –Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
There are a great many pieces of advice that are given throughout all the letters written by the Apostle Paul. One of those deals with foolishness. Now, those who know me understand my thoughts regarding fools and foolishness. You don’t want to be a fool in God’s court. Here is what Paul tells Timotheus.
2 Timothy 2:23 KJV –But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
NIV – Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
There are so many lessons to learn through the words of Scripture, and how they connect back and forth from one location to another. It is something that is often seen throughout history as to how we reference the past if something in the present reminds us of something that had happened before. This is exactly what Paul is leaning toward with these references from the writing of the wise King Solomon.
Proverbs 18:2 KJV – A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
NIV – Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
Proverbs 20:3 KJV – It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
NIV – It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
Proverbs 26:4-5 KJV – Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
NIV –Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Paul then adds in his personal experiences through the letters he wrote to Corinth and Titus. Adding to this is a reference to the letter written by James the Just, half-brother of Jesus. In the second verse from the first letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth references Job. The scroll of Job is a difficult book to pursue studying because it is quite depressing and traumatic in a lot of ways. This is why many would only reference specific verses. Paul chooses carefully when it comes to his references, as we see here.
1 Corinthians 1:20 KJV –Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
NIV –Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 3:19-20 KJV –For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
NIV – For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (Referencing Job)
Titus 3:9 KJV – But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
NIV – But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
James 4:1 KJV – From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
NIV – What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
Here we see Paul instructing Timotheus and the church in regard to caution. He says, don’t hurry. Don’t force your teaching. Instead take a gentle stance and the learning will flow more smoothly and without as many backward steps as if you were to rush headlong into the Word. This is something that is true even to this moment in time. We cannot rush things. If we do, something will be lost in translation. This is how Paul shares the thought with Timotheus.
2 Timothy 2:24 KJV – And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
NIV –And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Why is it important to possess the virtues of peace, patience, perseverance, kindness, faith, hope, and the rest? They are the pathways toward leading a congregation toward the Truth, the Life, the Light, and the Way, known as Jesus Christ, Savior of All who Understand what Unconditional Love is and how to apply it to their lives.
Paul references King Solomon’s writing in the poetic books of the Old Testament.
Proverbs 15:1 KJV – A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
NIV – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Paul adds to this with the Sermon on the Mount as shared by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Matthew 5:9 KJV – Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
NIV – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Paul adds to this with a reference to his letter to Galatia regarding the fruits of the Spirit and also another reference to James the Just.
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.
James 1:19-20 KJV – Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
NIV – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 3:17 KJV – But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
NIV – But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Behavior is important in all views of life. How we behave in any situation influences how we learn, what we learn, and even if we learn while in those situations. Behavior is always a challenge in this world because some people have zero patience, either being too eager, or too bored with life and school or other methods of learning, including learning Scripture. This is what Paul shares next.
2 Timothy 2:25 KJV –In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
NIV – Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
Paul goes to the words of the prophet Jeremiah to help us understand.
Jeremiah 13:15-17 KJV – Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive.
NIV – Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom. If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
Jeremiah 26:12-15 KJV – Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
NIV – Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Paul then shares references from the Word of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John as well as the letter written by James the Just.
Matthew 5:44 KJV – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
NIV – But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 11:29 KJV – Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
NIV – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Luke 6:27-28 KJV – But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
NIV – “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
John 5:34 KJV – But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
NIV – Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
James 1:21 KJV – Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
NIV –Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Paul says something in his references. Witnessing and testifying faith are very important for every Christian. We can do all kinds of talking, but witnessing to others and testifying the transformational moments we have each had in the Spirit through the Word is important to share with those who haven’t accepted Jesus as their Savior, or even if they have never been in a Sunday School or Church Service of any form. It is important for our own spiritual health to remember that we need to share His Word with others. It’s important to our physical and mental health to continue learning with our whole hearts, minds, spirits, and souls. This is what will prevent our falling into traps like this one Paul points toward with the final verse of this chapter to Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:26 KJV –And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
NIV – and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
We know temptation comes in way too many directions in life. But, we often forget that temptation didn’t exist in the original plan that God had for humanity. The very first moment of temptation occurred with the first woman to ever exist. Eve suffered temptation thanks to Satan who appeared as a serpent in the Garden of Eden. Here is the retelling of this moment where God realized that the only redemption to be found for Humanity would have to occur and it wouldn’t be easy.
Genesis 3:1-5 KJV – Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
NIV – Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The
woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but
God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the
garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows
that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,
knowing good and evil.”
Completely protecting us from evil is impossible in this world today. It is still a challenge, just like it was in the Old Testament and all the New Testament. This is a reference Paul makes through the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel.
Isaiah 14:12-15 KJV – How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
NIV – How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
Ezekiel 28:12-17 KJV – Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
NIV
– “Son of man, take up
a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the
Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and
perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz,
onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings
and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they
were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were
blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found
in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you
sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you,
guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on
account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
Paul adds references from the gospel of John the Beloved, John’s first letter and the letter written by James the brother of Jesus.
John 8:44 KJV – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
NIV – You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
James 4:7 KJV – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
NIV –Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 John 5:19 KJV –And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
NIV –We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
It is our second to last Sunday in Advent. There is so much to learn about the celebration of Jesus. Some of that will be presented in a pre-recorded sermon for Christmas Eve. I hope that everyone has a safe and beautiful Christmas. For those who have had devastation greet them this week and in the past month or more, all of us are praying for each, and every, one of you. We pray for the orphans and their caretakers, the homeless and those who help find them shelter, food to eat, and the simplest of necessities in life. It is important to remember the reason for this season. His name is Jesus Christ, who comes from the great Jehovah God our Heavenly Father. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, 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.
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: O Holy Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Tu68aky4k
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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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