https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsNxc3iy5wY&t=12s
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.
- Our prayers were answered for my son-in-law Douglas’s diagnosis, let’s hope the solution, a diagnosis of sleep apnea, assists him in his daily life.
- 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 three survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly, and my friend Erica.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We have several who have asked for private prayer requests including my friend Jeff and his family, as well as my friend Mary and hers.
- 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.
* Christopher Tyler, son of one of my mentors, Rev. Lisa Tyler, had his birthday yesterday!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we are all blessed with Your presence in our lives. We hope that others who have never experienced Your Unconditional Love can realize and recognize that You are the source of everything and everyone. We pray that You heal those who are part of our groups and families who are injured or ill. We pray that You help find solutions to things that we cannot do on our own. We pray that You protect and provide for each of our orphans, our homeless, lost, sick, and those who are losing hope. We pray in thanksgiving for the blessings You have bestowed upon us. We thank You for all You have given us. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through our Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Shall We Gather at the River https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNNykxJ9zFI
Sermon: Today we are continuing chapter three of the second letter Paul wrote to Timotheus of Lystra. For those who did not hear or read the first five verses of this chapter, I will summarize to keep you grounded here in what Paul is teaching the church there at Lystra with Timotheus as their leader. Paul is describing the “Last Days”. Now, we have heard tons and tons about these final days of earth as we know it. We’ve heard it from every possible religious viewpoint. We’ve even heard it from a bunch of scientific ones. Paul wants to have Timotheus and the congregation focus on what will happen to those who destroy themselves through the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt. He describes them quite well in the first five verses as were shared last Sunday. Now, we’re going to confront exactly how these specific types of people will affect those of us who are doing everything we can to avoid those same seven troubles. Sometimes it is important to reiterate the previous verses of Paul’s letters to get a proper perspective. So, here are these verses.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV –This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
NIV –But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
Paul says to avoid these people, ignore them, walk away from them, turn your back on them. These are strong directives. Yes, we still have to do the same thing. Some people are not meant to be in the same circles as we are. Christians have to use their ability to discern properly in order to stay out of the traps that the seven troubles produce with people who are corrupt within those seven troubles. Now we’re going to continue with the next six verses from the third chapter of this letter Paul wrote to Timotheus.
2 Timothy 3:6 KJV – For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
NIV –They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
So, where does Paul draw his references from with this precautionary stance with the church there at Lystra? He goes all the way back to the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Jeremiah 5:26-27 KJV – For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
NIV – “Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people. Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful.
Ezekiel 13:17-19 KJV – For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
NIV – “Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.
Paul turns to the Word spoken by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew. Then he adds words written by the gospel writers Luke and John the Beloved, as well as the younger brother of Jesus, Jude.
Matthew 23:14 KJV – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
NIRV – “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter. And you will not let those enter who are trying to.
Acts 20:29-30 KJV – For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
NIV – I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
1 John 4:1 KJV –Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
NIV – Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Jude 1:4 KJV – For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV –For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Paul points toward something quite interesting that often gets overlooked. Regardless of how often we might study, learn Scripture, there are some of us in this world who will miss the entire depth of what is written within those Scriptures. Years ago, I had a very important question asked of me. That question was to tell someone certain things about a specific portion of Scripture. The one who asked was my great grandmother. I did my best to answer her at the time. I was twelve years old and had a lot of responsibility at that age. We were celebrating Christmas, the second one celebrated as the eldest of seven children. Yet, this specific Christmas was very special to me because it was the last Christmas I managed to spend with my great grandmother. She, in her great wisdom, taught me a lesson in observation of my personal faith and how to express it better than I ever had before. This is what Paul is instructing Timotheus in, as well as the congregation there at Lystra. Sometimes we really have to pay attention to the things that are going on around us in order to formulate our next steps. Much like Timotheus then, I went through that same experience, at twelve years old. Yet, I didn’t even realize it until I was in my thirties. Amazing what our own past can provide us in relation to Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:7 KJV – Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
NIV – always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
The pursuit of the truth, specifically the truth found within our faith, is an incredibly vital pursuit to work toward for every single Christian, no matter how much faith we feel we already have, there are ways we trample that same faith in our daily lives. There are ways we erode and destroy that faith in what we pursue outside of the church, the ministry, and that takes a toll. Paul goes back to the poetic book written by King Solomon for insight on this.
Proverbs 1:7 KJV – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
NIV – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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 then adds insight from his go to prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hosea as well.
Isaiah 6:9-10 KJV – And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
NIV – He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever
hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make
the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Isaiah 44:18-20 KJV – They have not known
nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their
hearts, that they cannot understand.
And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding
to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon
the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the
residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot
deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
NIV – They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
Jeremiah 4:22 KJV – For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
NIV – “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.”
Hosea 4:6 KJV – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
NIV – my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
Paul continues with the references, in this case with the Word as spoken by Jesus in the gospels of Matthew and John the Beloved.
Matthew 13:14-15 KJV – And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
NIV – In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
John 8:43-47 KJV – Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
NIV – Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Paul concludes his references for this verse with his letter to Rome and his first letter to Corinth.
Romans 1:21-22 KJV – Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
NIV –For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV –But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
NIV – The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
As done previously, we are connecting the next two verses to keep the context intact. Paul is speaking to Timotheus and the congregation at Lystra regarding protecting the truth from corruption and people who do not have faith and are foolish in their actions and words as well. Remember, fools never prosper, as King Solomon warned in the Old Testament Scrolls. This is what Paul is referencing here.
2 Timothy 3:8-9 KJV – Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
NIV – Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
Paul includes four references to the scroll of Exodus in the Torah.
Exodus 7:11-12 KJV – Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
NIV – Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
Exodus 7:22 KJV – And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said.
NIV – But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.
Exodus 8:7 KJV – And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
NIV – But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.
Exodus 9:11 KJV – And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
NIV – The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians.
Paul then adds to this with the gospels of Matthew, and John the Beloved as well as Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 23:13-15 KJV – But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
NIRV – “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter. And you will not let those enter who are trying to. “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You travel everywhere to win one person to your faith. Then you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
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.
Acts 13:8-10 KJV – But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
NIV –But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
Paul includes two references to his two letters to Corinth as well.
1 Corinthians 10:10-11 KJV –Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
NIV –And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV –For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
NIV – For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Again we have two verses linked together to keep everything cohesive and connected when it comes to the references and frame of thought. Here Paul references the “Fruits of the Spirit” once more.
2 Timothy 3:10-11 KJV – You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
NIV – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
There are three references to the Old Testament, and the first one is in the historical books. It is the longest series of verses in this entire sermon, but it is vitally important to listen closely, or to read closely, this series of verses for understanding of what Paul is telling these people there at the church in Lystra.
1 Kings 18:19-40 KJV – Now therefore send,
and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four
hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at
Jezebel's table.
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets
together unto mount Carmel.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two
opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the
people answered him not a word.
Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord;
but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for
themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord:
and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered
and said, It is well spoken.
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for
yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your
gods, but put no fire under.
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called
on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But
there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which
was made.
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for
he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or
peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and
lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time
of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any
to answer, nor any that regarded.
And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came
near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the
sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy
name:
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a
trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on
the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt
sacrifice, and on the wood.
And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he
said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with
water.
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that
Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of
Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy
servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God,
and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood,
and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The
Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them
escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon,
and slew them there.
NIV – Now summon the people from all over Israel to
meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal
and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount
Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will
you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is
God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but
Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s
prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it
on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on
the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I
will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it
first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not
light the fire.” So they took the bull given them and prepared
it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!”
they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced
around the altar they had made.
At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a
god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping
and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed
themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood
flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the
time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no
one paid attention.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he
repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve
stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of
the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” With the stones he
built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large
enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the
wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them,
“Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. The
water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord,
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in
Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your
command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know
that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the
stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the
people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The
Lord—he is God!”
Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get
away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley
and slaughtered there.
Jeremiah 14:14 KJV – Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
NIV – Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.
Ezekiel 13:9 KJV – And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
NIV – My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
The last of the references are all in the New Testament, two of them written by the gospel writers Matthew, Luke, John the Beloved, and the last being written by the Hebrew Prophets.
Matthew 7:15-20 KJV – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
NIV – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Acts 13:11 KJV – And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
NIV – Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
Acts 20:18-21 KJV – And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Hebrews 13:7 KJV – Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
NIV –Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
1 John 4:1 KJV –Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
NIV –Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
God and Jesus set us up, even two millennia after the resurrection, so that we could remember what the seven troubles of vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt, can do to destroy the key to Christianity. That key is “FAITH IN JESUS”. It is the single most important three words you will ever reflect on. Our faith in Jesus verifies that His Word, His Unconditional Love, continues to affect every single truly Christian person on this earth. But, it doesn’t stop there! We each can help His Unconditional Love to flourish and touch other people. It is important to remember the reason for our being here. 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: Here I Am, Lord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDdniihKBzI
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=8725724359135624&share_type=copylink
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & USA Life & LinkedIn & Truth Social & Nextdoor
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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