https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGAacRMQe4k
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 this morning that Evangelist Cal Jennings son is in the hospital due to internal bleeding in his stomach. The doctors are working hard to stop the bleeding and are working with medical procedures today.
- 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. Surgery was managed over the past week, and she is currently in an induced coma to help her regulate her systems. Update as of today, Aunt Renee is doing well, responding to treatment. They are getting the excess fluid off her heart and the rest. Hallelujah!
- 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. They have too much red tape and confusion going on with their issues between insurance and doctor appointments. They are frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- 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, job issues, and all kinds of craziness going on in her life.
- We pray for my son-in-law, Douglas, 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. 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. Her car ended up being totaled after the fender-bender. 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.
· Happy first birthday today to my grandson Levi Alan Neff.
· Happy birthday to my son-in-law Douglas Howerton, whose birthday was Friday.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we are celebrating the second week of Advent with this world today. We pray for those who have been sick with any form of illness, pain, or trauma, including JB and EB, Aunt Renee, Autumn, Ramona, Kelly, Aunt Donna, and so many more. We pray for those who suffer from pain of all forms, including Evangelist Cal Jennings, and others. We pray for those who are suffering from their situations and working hard to find a way out of those situations, like our friend Erica. We pray for those who suffer oppression and the fear that it brings. We pray for those who are in outreach ministries worldwide, that the Word be shared with the many by the few without fear, pain, or sorrow. We ask all this through our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWMrNUggJ0U
Evangelist 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=8725724357493121&share_type=copylink
Sermon: This is the second Sunday in the season of Advent, thus the Christmas Hymns for our opening and closing songs. Today we continue with the second chapter of Second Timothy. These next five verses speak of something that Jesus warned the Apostles and Disciples about all the time. Paul is repeating this warning with the church there at Lystra with Timothy and the congregation there. This warning has to do with false teachers. These “teachers” are the opposite of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ. These are the “wolves in sheep’s clothing” that Jesus warns us about in the gospels. Here is what Paul shares.
2 Timothy 2:12 KJV –If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
NIV –if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
Endurance comes in many forms and formulas. We hear about endurance training for athletes and exercise buffs, but we don’t often hear about the work it takes for Spiritual Endurance. Yes, it takes work, but not always physically. Spiritual Endurance is something we have to work at inside our minds, our hearts, our spirits, our souls. This is the type of endurance that Paul is speaking of while writing this letter to the church at Lystra where Timothy is head priest. To demonstrate what this means Paul scours the entire New Testament for examples that will assist in this understanding. We begin in the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 5:11-12 KJV – Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
NIV – “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 10:33 KJV – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
NIV – But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Matthew 19:28 KJV – And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
NIV – Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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.”
Luke 22:29-30 KJV – And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
NIV – And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
John 12:26 KJV – If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
NIV – Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Paul adds to this with his letter to Rome, the words of the Hebrew Prophets and John the Beloved’s Revelation as well.
Romans 8:17 KJV – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
NIV – Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Hebrews 3:6 KJV – But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
NIV – But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Revelation 2:26-27 KJV – And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
NIV – To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.
Revelation 3:21 KJV – To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
NIV – To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Revelation 20:4 KJV – And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
NIV – I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Faith and belief in our love for God through Jesus is just one step. Sure, we stumble and fall in our faith, sometimes daily, but the Lord Jesus still believes in us until we stop believing in faith, hope, joy, peace, and the gift that heaven will be for all those who acknowledge Jesus and God in their lives through their experiences in the Spirit. This is what Paul points toward with Timothy and the church at Lystra.
2 Timothy 2:13 KJV –If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
NIV –if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Paul references the Torah and historical books as well as the poetic books in this portion of his letter to Timothy.
Numbers 23:19 KJV – God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
NIV – God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV – Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
NIV –Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
1 Samuel 15:29 KJV –And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
NIV –He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”
Psalm 89:33-34 KJV – Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
NIV – but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.
Psalm 119:90 KJV – Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
NIV – Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
Isaiah 55:11 KJV – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
NIV – so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Malachi 3:6 KJV – For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
NIV – “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Paul only has one reference to his other letters written, in this case, the first letter to the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV –God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV – God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We learned in the scroll of James that idle tongues and unbridled tongues are dangerous. They remain to be just that, and Paul provides the clergy and congregation at Lystra this advice.
2 Timothy 2:14 KJV –Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
NIV –Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
It is important to watch what we say and how we say it. Jesus proves it over and over again throughout all the gospels. Pay attention to these words that Jesus said seen through the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 12:36 KJV – But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
NIV –But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
Paul adds five references to his letters to Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae.
1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV – Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
NIV – I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 14:20 KJV –Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
NIV – Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Galatians 5:15 KJV – But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
NIV – If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Ephesians 4:29 KJV – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
NIV – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Philippians 2:14 KJV – Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
NIV – Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
Colossians 2:8 KJV – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
NIV –See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Paul then adds these three references to his colleagues Peter and James the Just.
1 Peter 3:15 KJV – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
NIV – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
2 Peter 3:16 KJV –As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
NIV – He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
James 1:26 KJV – Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
NIV – Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Paul continues his letter to Timothy by pointing out that it takes work, godly work, for your mind, body, spirit, soul, and heart at all times. This is what he shares with the congregation.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV –Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
NIV – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Paul goes back into the Old Testament scrolls with the law and the prophets as well.
Joshua 1:8 KJV – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
NIV – Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Ezra 7:10 KJV – For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
NIV – For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
Nehemiah 8:8 KJV – So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
NIV – They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clearand giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
Paul adds reference to the poetic books as well.
Psalm 119:105 KJV – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
NIV – Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Proverbs 2:1-5 KJV – My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
NIV – My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Paul adds these three New Testament references in this lesson.
Acts 17:11 KJV – These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
NIV – Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
James 1:22-25 KJV – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
NIV –Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
2 Peter 1:10 KJV –Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
NIV – Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
Paul then adds advice from familiar thoughts regarding profanity and vanity. We’ve spoken many, many times in regard to both of these issues humanity has plaguing it. Profanity comes in many forms, not just words that your parents and grandparents would punish you for. Vanity comes in just as many ways, and is one of the seven troubles. All seven troubles are found in this letter Paul writes to Timothy. Along with them are the warnings against having them creep into the church mindset. Remember, those seven are vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt. Yes, we see too much of these, and this is why Paul says this to Timothy next.
2 Timothy 2:16 KJV –But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
NIV –Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
It is so very important to control our thoughts, words, and actions every single day. Paul is doing his best to portray this attitude of gratitude. We should be thankful every hour of every day that we are alive to see this world with our own eyes. We should be thankful that we have family, friends, work to do, have something to eat and drink and have a place to call home. Every inch of our chaos can be pushed away from us, so long as we focus our efforts on a truly Christian life. It’s not easy with all the temptations that this world contains within it. This is why Paul shares these references to the ideal.
Proverbs 10:19 KJV – In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
NIV – Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 15:2 KJV – The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
NIV – The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
Proverbs 18:7 KJV – A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
NIV – The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
Paul only references two of his letters to other churches. These are his first letter to Corinth and his letter to Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV –Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
NIV –Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Ephesians 5:6 KJV – Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
NIV – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
As we conclude our sermon for the second week of Advent, I want to leave you with a reading plan for the weeks of Advent. 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 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: Mary Did You Know ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivxf3q-k6ds&list=PLLDVfSPfze0uUXilP0jZgcb1kSqVeS_oI&index=35
~ 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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