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.
- 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. She and her sons will be embarking on a new adventure returning home to Arizona this next week.
- We pray for my son-in-law, Douglas, who has been suffering from just diagnosed sleep apnea as he adjusts his sleep patterns for it.
- Our prayers were answered for my daughter Deanna’s co-worker. She gave birth to a healthy baby this past month.
- 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 two survivors of the disease, 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. This includes the arctic blast of winter weather and also the terrible wildfires that are consuming millions of acres of land, homes, and businesses as well.
- 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 Birthday to Evangelist Cal Jennings, whose birthday was yesterday.
Prayer: Lord, we have so much going on that we pray You help us organize our minds, bodies, hearts, and spirits. We pray for those who have been sick like several family members and friends, including JB and EB, Joy, and so many more. We pray for those who are soon traveling long distances to find a better life for their families, like my sister Emilie and her sons Joey and Auggie. We pray for our friends who are trying their best to change their lives like Erica. We pray for those who are in the path of the wildfires in California. We pray for those who have suffered all forms of natural disasters, including the earthquakes and more that have happened this past week. We pray for peace and patience, hope and faith throughout this world, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and You, our Heavenly Father, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: He’s Alive Dolly Parton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ln7Okj4Sro
Sermon: Today we continue the study of the Second Scroll of Timothy. We have a lot to learn today so let’s begin. The cautions Paul delivers to Timotheus of Lystra are important to this very day. We have to take care of the things we think, say, and do, no matter what may happen in this world. Each of us needs to learn what it means when Jesus said to take up our cross and follow Him. What does it mean to do this? It means we have to willingly leave the earthly part of ourselves behind and follow Him. It’s a true challenge, because this earth has every form of temptation there could possibly be. This is why Paul starts off this way.
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 shares these three gospel choices from the Word of Jesus.
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 11:25-26 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: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
NIV – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Paul then adds these five excerpts from his letter to Rome, to Peter’s first letter, and John the Beloved’s first letter and his Revelation as well.
Romans 6:8 KJV – Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
NIV –Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
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.”
Remember, Jesus pointed toward the suffering we would do as Christians, being scorned and tormented by this world and its complete absorption of sin and sinfulness. We can’t avoid seeing, hearing, experiencing the sin that exists. It’s just not humanly possible. This is why Paul cautions the church at Lystra in his second letter to Timotheus.
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;
Paul only shares one reference to the entire Old Testament series of scrolls and that one is from the prophet Daniel.
Daniel 7:18 KJV – But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
NIV – But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
Paul continues to utilize the gospels to explain his thoughts. He utilizes all four of the gospels this time around.
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 the Hebrew Prophets and also with John the Beloved with his Revelation.
Hebrews 13:6 KJV – So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
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.
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.
One of the many concepts that Jesus dealt with is denial. People deny God all the time. Yet, we often forget that if we deny Him, then on that last day, He will deny ever knowing us. It’s that terrible thought, what comes around goes around. We have to remind ourselves not daily, but minute to minute, to remember that Jesus made one of the most incredible sacrifices so that we could reach heaven. But, if we deny this fact, which is not just portrayed in the Bible, but in actual historical documents, we will be denied in His presence on the Last Day as described in Revelation. Here is what Paul writes to Timotheus 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 points toward five references in the Old Testament. Two of those would be in the Torah. The remaining few would be in the poetic and prophetic books.
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.
Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV – It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
NIV –Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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.”
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.
The remaining three scriptures that Paul references are from the Hebrew prophets and the writings of John the Beloved in his first letter to Ephesus.
Hebrews 6:18 KJV – That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
NIV – God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
Hebrews 10:23 KJV – Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
NIV –Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
1 John 1:9 KJV –If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
NIV –If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We have to remember that arguments get us nowhere. Often it is because we fail to listen and hear prior to there being arguments in the first place. There is one thing that we often forget, the act of listening and the action of hearing are intertwined. If we do not utilize both, misunderstandings abound. This is what Paul is portraying to the church congregation at Lystra which Timothy leads. Here is how he says this.
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.
The words we think, write, and then share with others, are important because it roots us in reality. Years ago there was a statue of monkeys on my father’s desk. Those monkeys had words up under them. The first monkey said, “Monkey see nothing.” Its hands were over its eyes. The second monkey said, “Monkey hear nothing.” Its hands were over its ears. The third monkey said, “Monkey speak nothing.” Its hands covered its mouth. The fourth, and final monkey, said, “Monkey do nothing.” This specific monkey stared straight ahead, with its arms at its side. We can’t go through life with these four attitudes. If we do, we miss so much in this world.
Jesus warns us all the way back in the gospel of Matthew that we can’t do this, with blinders on, without thinking before speaking, working, or anything else. This is how Jesus put it.
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 also references James the Just, younger brother of Jesus. These are very similar words from the younger human brother of Jesus.
James 1:26 KJV – If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
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’s final two references are from the writings of Peter.
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.
We have a duty to break out of the mold of those four monkeys. We have to portray Jesus Christ as the Savior and the Salvation of all who believe in Him. The time is coming quickly, where we will have to make the final choice and confess our sins and admit our failures in order to reach the breaking point of salvation that only Jesus can bring us back from. It is important to remember salvation and the bringer of that for all believers. 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: Unshakable Faith ~ Original Song by Cal Jennings https://suno.com/song/f2f8dc53-300a-4d1f-9e55-a365e7ebdadb
~ 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 © 2025 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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