NOTE: I am not going live due to being ill with a chest cold. The wheezing is far too much to share with you in a live sermon. I will be live next Sunday. Hope you have a blessed and beautiful day.
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love and sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.
- We learned on the day of Thanksgiving that my Aunt Renee was doing well after undergoing a procedure due to a blocked vein in her heart.
- 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. They have too much red tape and confusion going on with their issues between insurance and doctor appointments.
- 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.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there are so many reasons to thank you on this beautiful Sunday. We thank you for family and friends, for helping us gain in our faith, for healing from our illnesses and injuries, for peace on earth in the midst of chaos, for patience in everything we do, and so much more. We pray for our sick and wounded including Aunt Renee and Evangelist Cal. We pray for those who have been healed like Kelly and others we love and care about. We pray for those who are still waiting to learn what is going on like Autumn and Douglas. We pray for those who have a long road ahead like Papa John and others. We pray for the travelers, that they get home safely. We pray all these things humbly, hopefully, and thankfully through our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: O Come O Come Emmanuel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utpZAIycWFU&list=PLDcNxsEvjauo_a1FO4ub3D2TP-54hHlxp&index=15
Sermon: This is the first 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 six verses are a retelling of the parable Jesus shared in John the Beloved’s gospel chapter fifteen. Thus, here we begin.
2 Timothy 2:6 KJV –The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
NIV –The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
Paul is referencing this specific parable of the Vine and Branches for a reason. Just as Jesus Christ had done years prior, Paul was proving a point. Everything has a purpose here on this earth. We might not know or understand what that purpose may be, but there is always reason behind those things that happen in this world. Yes, even if it seems to be unreasonable in our minds, there is a reason for each of these things to proceed day by day. Paul references the poetic books along with the prophetic writings of Isaiah in the Old Testament.
Psalm 126:5-6 KJV – They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
NIV – Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Proverbs 27:18 KJV – Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
NIV – The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 KJV – In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
NIV – Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.
Isaiah 28:24-26 KJV – Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
NIV – When a farmer plows
for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working
the soil? When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter
cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt
in its field? His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
Paul then references the Gospel of Matthew, and the Gospel of Luke as well.
Matthew 9:37-38 KJV – Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
NIV – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Luke 10:2 KJV – Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
NIV – He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Why do we pray? Does it matter? We can be praying about friends and their health issues. We can be praying for our own health issues. Jesus taught that there is a right and a wrong way to pray. We need to pray not for things that are inconsequential, but for and about things that are important for our very existence, shelter, food, and a means to keep that shelter and the food on our tables. Sure, we could wish and pray for things beyond that, but we need to be thankful for the things we have. This is what Paul is pointing out. You have to take care in what you think while praying to God and Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Give your pains, sorrows, worries, fears, all of that to God in prayer. He will answer. That’s something Jesus promises us. So here is that next point as shared in Paul’s second letter to Timotheus of Lystra.
2 Timothy 2:7 KJV –Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
NIV –Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
What is Paul saying? He’s saying something I say all the time. He says, “think about it”. Scripture should be read, recited, talked about, and remembered. We can pray for answers, hope, about our fears, and experiences. Here are King Solomon’s observations on this concept.
Proverbs 2:6 KJV – For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
NIV – For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
NIV – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
The prophets Isaiah and Daniel add to this ideal.
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—
Daniel 2:21 KJV – And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
NIV – He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Knowledge and experience help us reach toward wisdom, but it’s not always an easy journey. Sometimes we might feel like we’re being beaten down by life, but these should be seen as lessons learned once we overcome them. Each stumbling stone is a point toward growth. That’s what Paul is sharing here, when Jesus Christ shared this part.
Luke 24:45 KJV – Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
NIV – Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Paul also references the Holy Spirit through the Gospels where Jesus spoke.
John 14:26 KJV – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
NIV – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Another reference Paul brings into focus is through the younger half-brother of Jesus, James the Just. This reference specifically points toward wisdom and where to find it personally.
James 1:5 KJV – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
NIV – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
As we enter into Advent, the celebration of Christmas there are a lot of things to think about in this world today. This is why Paul shares these words with Timothy and the church at Lystra. Like the rest of the letter, it is something we all need to think about.
2 Timothy 2:8-9 KJV –Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
NIV –Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
There is a reason for everything that has happened since day one. That reason is Jesus Christ. He is Love. This is what Paul is sharing with Timothy and the congregation at Lystra. He points toward the life from birth to death to resurrection. He is the reason for the season of Advent and the event known as Christmas. However, His birth is celebrated during Advent, but isn’t anywhere near that date on the calendar. We have to go all the way back to the poetic and prophetic books of the Old Testament for insight on this.
Psalm 119:95 KJV – The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
NIV – The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.
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.
Jeremiah 20:9 KJV – Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
NIV – But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
Paul also references the Word as shared by Jesus Christ in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John the Beloved.
Matthew 10:17-20 KJV – But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
NIV – Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 28:6 KJV – He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
NIV – He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Luke 24:46 KJV – And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
NIV – He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
John 11:25 KJV – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
NIV – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
John 15:20 KJV – Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
NIV – Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Paul adds more insight through Peter’s epistles, the Hebrew prophets, and John the Beloved’s Revelation as well.
1 Peter 1:3 KJV –Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
NIV –Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 3:16-17 KJV –Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
NIV –keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Hebrews 13:20 KJV – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
NIV – Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
Revelation 1:18 KJV – I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
NIV – I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
As ministers, elders, evangelists, or merely part of the congregation in the Christian church, we all have a role to play. We all need to bring our families, our friends, neighbors, anyone willing to listen to and about Jesus. This is what Paul is sharing with Timothy in Lystra.
2 Timothy 2:10 KJV – Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
NIV –Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Paul points toward the elect. Who are the elect? Christians with hearts that feel, act, and react, with Christlike attitudes, faith, and understanding. This is the type of Christians Paul is addressing. You can say you are a Christian, but you must also act like a true Christian. It’s no simple matter in a world filled with evil and wickedness, excesses and more. The devilish minions of Satan do not make it an easy walk. Jesus warned that evil and wickedness would put many stumbling stones in our path. It is our faith and belief in His very existence that keeps us from the fall into eternal damnation. This is prophetically shared in the words of King Solomon.
Proverbs 8:35 KJV – For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
NIV – For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
Paul points toward Jesus and His thoughts as to the path toward righteousness and the gates of heaven.
Matthew 24:13 KJV – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
NIV – but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Next we have more inspiration from John the Beloved and the Word as shared by Jesus.
John 11:52 KJV – And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
NIV – and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
John 15:18-21 KJV – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
NIV – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
Luke adds to this with his recording of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 14:22 KJV – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
NIV – strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Life is hard. Everyone should know this. Yet, there is a destination we all want to reach. Some of us need that destination sooner than others, but we live on His time, not our own. This is yet another concept that Paul portrays. It is important to exercise patience in everything we do for God. We are dead to the evil and wickedness of this world and alive in Christ. That’s what Paul shares here.
2 Timothy 2:11 KJV – It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
NIV –Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
Paul again was repeating what Jesus Christ had taught the twelve Apostles. We see this in three of the four gospels here.
Matthew 10:39 KJV – He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
NIV – Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Luke 9:24 KJV – For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
NIV – For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
John 11:26 KJV – And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
NIV – and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The remaining references are from Luke’s viewpoints of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter, and John the Beloved.
Acts 14:22 KJV – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
NIV – strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
1 Peter 4:13 KJV –But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
NIV –But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 John 5:11-12 KJV –And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
NIV –And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Revelation 14:13 KJV – And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
NIV – Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write
this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will
follow them.”
It is important as we continue toward the remaining weeks of Advent. Each of us has a challenge to understand the gospel stories of Jesus Christ. My challenge for you this week is to study the story of the birth of Jesus Christ found in the gospel of Matthew this week. We will go through all four gospels in the next four weeks. Matthew Chapters One and Two are your assignment this week. 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: Go Tell It On the Mountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfIKeh04KU&list=PLDcNxsEvjauo_a1FO4ub3D2TP-54hHlxp&index=9
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2024 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.
No comments:
Post a Comment