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.
- Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog has asked that we pray for her mother’s health. She also asks for prayers for her brother’s attitude and also for Rabbi Karen’s stress levels.
- My daughter Deanna’s surgery went well two weeks ago, and she is recovering well. Pray that the recovery is short.
- My grandson Levi was very sick this past week, spending several days in hospital due to breathing issues. He went home on Thursday, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord.
- JB’s sister Debby was diagnosed with cancer this past week and is set to undergo surgery and treatment. Please pray that the processes and procedures get her through this.
- 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. He has been very ill this past week and needs extra prayer to ease stomach and other issues.
- 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 are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, 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. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-alexis-gain-independence-with-a-car?attribution_id=sl:32349d9f-5de6-42f7-a2fc-6578c008bc38&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
- 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. She had an upsetting day on Friday and spent time with me on the phone to unwind her frustrations. This combined with the fact she misses my father as he passed away four years ago in May due to COVID-19 has made it a very tough year for her.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including one newly diagnosed, Debby, and two survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- 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, we bring praises and thanks to You
for this beautiful Sunday. We are thankful for the good news received from
Deanna and other family and friends. We are thankful that Levi has recovered
from his brief illness. We are blessed with Your presence in our lives and
remain steadfast in celebrating this fact. We bring our sick and injured up to
You in prayer including Debby, Rabbi Karen’s mother, Autumn and Evangelist Cal
Jennings. We thank You for seeing to their spiritual and physical health as we
know Your healing touch can work miracles of all possibilities. We thank you
for all that You bring to our outreach ministries, our friends, our families.
For this we pray in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, through the Holy
Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Wonderful Words of Life
Sermon: Today we are continuing chapter four of the second letter Paul wrote to Timotheus of Lystra. Paul continues to name off his needs and also what his messengers should be watchful for. In the days of the Apostles and their teaching all over Greece, Italy, and all of Asia Minor, they were in constant danger just because they were the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ. With that, we’ll begin where we left off last week. All the readings of the verses will be in the New International Version for ease of understanding.
2 Timothy 4:12 KJV – And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
NIV – I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
Notice, Paul often shares information with the various churches in his letters, informing the leaders there that they have allies in many places. He does this quite often in all of his letters. He has plenty of references for this in six of his letters and also in the writings of the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles as well.
Acts 19:22 KJV – So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
NIV – He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
Romans 16:21 KJV – Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
NIV –Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.
1 Corinthians 4:17 KJV –For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
NIV – For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
Ephesians 6:21-22 KJV – But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
NIV – Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
Philippians 2:19-23 KJV – But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
NIV – I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
Colossians 4:7-9 KJV – All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
NIV –Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 KJV –And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
NIV – We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
Paul also points out, about things that he has forgotten in other places, like in this instance regarding a cloak and books he had left behind in the city of Troas. Things like this allowed him the ability to have his colleagues check in on the many churches that were hearing the Word through Paul’s letters.
2 Timothy 4:13 KJV – The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
NIV – When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
Paul only has one Old Testament reference. Everything else comes from his pupil, the gospel writer Luke.
Jeremiah 36:2 KJV – Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
NIV – “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now.
Acts 9:2 KJV – And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
NIV – and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 18:3 KJV – And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
NIV – and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
Acts 20:34 KJV – Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
NIV – You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
Acts 22:3 KJV – I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
NIV – “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
Acts 23:6 KJV – But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
NIV – Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”
Acts 26:5 KJV – Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
NIV – They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee.
Paul doesn’t just reference the good people he met on his travels and through his letters. He also references some of those his colleagues should avoid, some of them at all costs.
2 Timothy 4:14 KJV – Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
NIV – Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
Paul references the Torah and the historical scrolls in Scripture with this one.
Deuteronomy 32:35 KJV – To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
NIV –It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.”
1 Samuel 24:12 KJV –The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
NIV –May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
1 Samuel 26:10 KJV –David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
NIV – As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
Paul adds to this with reference to the writings of King David and King Solomon as well.
Psalm
94:1-2 KJV –
O
Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew
thyself.
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
NIV – The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
Proverbs 20:22 KJV – Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
NIV – Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
Paul then adds two references from the Word as shared by Jesus in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 5:44 KJV – But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
NIV – But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 6:27-28 KJV – But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
NIV – “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Paul adds two more Scriptures from the Hebrew Prophets and also John the Beloved’s Revelation.
Hebrews 10:30 KJV – For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
NIV – For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Revelation 22:12 KJV – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
NIV – “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Again Paul warns Timotheus and the church there at Lystra about spending any time at all with those who actively corrupt the Word of Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:15 KJV – Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
NIV – You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
Paul references his favorite scrolls of Scripture with the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Isaiah 30:9-11 KJV –
That
this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the
law of the Lord:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us
right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of
Israel to cease from before us.
NIV
– For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to
listen to the Lord’s instruction.
They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no
more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of
Israel!”
Jeremiah 23:16 KJV – Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
NIV – This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
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.
Paul again brings the Word of Jesus Christ into the conversation with the references to gospel writers Matthew, Luke, and John the Beloved. Again, these are referenced as a warning to the church there at Lystra.
Matthew 7:15 KJV – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
NIV – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Acts 19:33-34 KJV –
And
they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And
Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the
people.
But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two
hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
NIV – The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
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.
Our final verse from the second letter Paul wrote to Timotheus of Lystra is this one.
2 Timothy 4:16 KJV – At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
NIV – At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
Paul references quite a few verses from the poetic scrolls written and recorded by King David.
Psalm 22:11 KJV – Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
NIV – Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Psalm 31:11 KJV – I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
NIV – Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends—those who see me on the street flee from me.
Psalm 38:11 KJV – My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
NIV – My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
Psalm 41:9 KJV – Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
NIV – Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
Psalm 69:20 KJV – Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
NIV – Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 88:18 KJV – Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
NIV – You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend.
Psalm 142:4 KJV – I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
NIV – Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
Paul then references his favorite, go to, prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah before including Zechariah as well.
Isaiah 53:3 KJV – He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
NIV – He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Jeremiah 20:10 KJV – For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
NIV – I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”
Zechariah 13:6 KJV – And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
NIV – If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’
Paul finalizes his thoughts with reference to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some of these will be familiar to those who are paying attention to that extra reading I shared a couple of weeks ago for the season of Lent. These verses are part of that series of devotionals.
Matthew 26:56 KJV – But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
NIV – But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Matthew 27:46 KJV – And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
NIV – About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Mark 15:34 KJV – And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
NIV – And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Luke 22:31-34 KJV –
And
the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren.
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and
to death.
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not
crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
NIV – “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to
sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon,
that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your
brothers.”
But
he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster
crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Fear can make us do some crazy things, and most of the time when we allow fear to swallow us, we go completely off the rails. This is why Jesus was so sharp with Peter in this last verse shared. Each and every one of us have had moments where we have taken a dive into the deep end without realizing that we’ve done just that. It is the reason we needed Jesus Christ to be born, lived life on earth for thirty-three years, was crucified, died, and was buried before being resurrected into glory. It is the reason we still need Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to keep us going on the path of eternal light and unconditional love. 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: Blessed Assurance
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=8725724359706031&share_type=copylink
~ 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
Music provided by Evangelist Cal Jennings.
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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