Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our live Sunday sermon. You will normally see us live on Facebook every Sunday and then share the sermon with the world on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Blogspot. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love in 2008 with twelve people around this world. The goal is to share the Word of God and God’s truth shared with His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills heart, mind, and soul to be shared with His words by divine inspiration alone.
You will find our blog in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
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.
- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who still struggles with his memory, pain, and movement. While he is working online as a musician and evangelist it can sometimes be very difficult. Pray for his strength, pain, memory, and movement.
- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being. One who has been fighting serious sinus issues. Another who has been suffering from epilepsy, migraines, and more. A dear friend suffering from anxiety and stress. One who has just recently gotten out of the hospital, may they get well quickly. Another pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.
- Pray in thanksgiving my nephew’s issues with summer camp transportation have at last been taken care of.
- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel, driving the costs of goods higher and higher. Let us pray that the economy would transform into something that is beneficial as opposed to detrimental around this world.
- Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of all the people who were seriously injured or killed recently in several mass shootings around this country and the world.
- Be
thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and
pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for Your divine enlightenment and understanding while studying Your Word. We thank You for these awesome gifts and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn out of us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. Help us to understand that Your truth is far greater than all the madness, sin, and destruction we see around us. May our pain, fear, and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow would bring good things. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: I Love to Tell the Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrCpKa_xOcE
Sermon: We are continuing our study of the Epistle of Titus in the third chapter today. Titus, from the little church on Crete, has several revelations while he’s learning about the great sacrifice Jesus managed. Everything happens for a reason, and this was proven in Scripture, and it has also been proven in today’s world, from our own personal and collective experiences. Let’s begin here.
Titus 3:6 KJV - Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
NIV - whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
The waters of baptism and the oil of confirmation are both frequently in use in Christian faith. The cleansing of baptism and the anointing of oil have all been spoken of quite frequently in Scripture. This is shared throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Here is a view from the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah as well as King Solomon.
Ezekiel 36:25 KJV - Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
NIV - I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
Proverbs 1:23 KJV – Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
NIV – Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.
Isaiah 32:15 KJV – Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
NIV – till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.
Now we’re going to see how it is relevant in the words of Jesus recorded by John the Beloved and the teachings of the Apostle Paul.
John 4:10 KJV – Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
NIV – Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
John 14:16-17 KJV – And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
NIV – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Repeating the words that Jesus shared with all the Apostles and Disciples and other followers of our Savior is important for each of us to do. It is such because, in sharing His Word with those around us we share the Truth of God’s Unconditional Love. Paul shares more of this viewpoint in Rome.
Romans 5:5 KJV – And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
NIV – And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Now we’ll prove a point Jesus made many times in His teaching through the Gospels and beyond. Titus catches on to this unique factor of Jesus. The factor I speak of is GRACE. There is a reason we have a song titled AMAZING GRACE, and that’s simply to state pure fact. God and Jesus through the Holy Spirit would be GRACE. That’s what Titus shares.
Titus 3:7 KJV – That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
NIV – so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Eternal life is the goal of every human being who believes in Jesus Christ, in God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. All who truly believe have that breath of promise toward eternal life and our ability to reach that amazing goal. Of course, we have to reflect on the words of our Savior in the Gospels as He spoke of this exact moment in life, at the Second Coming when all will be judged.
Mark 10:17 KJV – And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
NIV – As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
So many people ask how it is even possible to gain eternal life just through faith and belief. We are made perfect through Christ who died for us. We, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, gain the ability to learn through not just studying Scripture, but by also applying the Word to our individual and collective daily lives. There are always going to be struggles in life because evil and wickedness exist in the first place. However, the hope that is Jesus Christ should be held in each heart, mind, spirit, and soul. This is something Paul unlocks as he spoke to the citizens of Rome.
Romans 8:17 KJV – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
NIV – Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:23-24 KJV – And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
NIV – Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
Was Titus as devoted to the belief in Jesus Christ as the Twelve Apostles and their Disciples? If you study his words closely you’ll see he has a great many stumbling blocks he is working to conquer. All of those stumbling blocks are lessons that build us up in the best way possible.
Titus 3:8 KJV – This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
NIV – This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Notice how Titus says, “This is a faithful saying” and then confirms that very phrase? He is emphasizing just how much faith builds our belief system and helps us remove those little stumbles, trips, and falls we have as we walk the path that Jesus left behind. Here, in fact, the Gospel of John the Beloved proves it through the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
John 5:24 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
NIV – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
The apostles Paul and Timothy share their takeaways from this conversation with Jesus while He lived here as a Man among men.
2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV – We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
NIV – It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
1 Timothy 1:15 KJV – This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
NIV – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
We turn back to the words Titus shares in his letter. He shares something it can take us a while to grasp. That is to be direct, don’t go in circles around the point, draw that straight line and walk it as it should be walked. This is how Titus sees the benefit of faith and practicing that faith.
Titus 3:9 KJV – But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
NIV – But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
Notice, Titus, much like Jesus and the Apostles, was quite wary of foolishness, inane banter, gossip and all the rest. He, like James also, saw through the facades that people built up. That’s a challenge in this world filled with seven troubles we know too well. Titus proves that the same seven troubles we see everywhere were just as alive in his lifetime. Paul speaks of spiritual gifts. The gifts of spirit are something we all may not realize we possess. Some of us have a discerning ear for hearing truth as it should be heard, being able to dissect speeches and sermons to find truth.
1 Corinthians 13:2 KJV – And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
NIV – If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Now we’ll hear it from Timothy and James the Just, younger brother of Jesus Christ our Savior.
2 Timothy 2:14-16 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.
James 4:1 KJV – From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
NIV – What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
We have to learn to separate truth from fiction, discerning His truth in this world of hate, pain, sorrow, fear, struggle, sickness, and death. We have to see the Promised Land as more than an unreachable place. We’ll get back to our last verse from Titus.
Titus 3:10 KJV – A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
NIV – Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Remember the thought “danger” can be found in the soothsayers, the double-tongued, the liars and cheaters. This is something we’ve heard quite a lot through Scripture. Jesus is the one who didn’t just point out that we need to avoid them. He actually waged war against them! We remember His actions in the temple when He chased out the moneychangers and all the rest from inside the temple. That is something all TRUE BELIEVERS STILL NEED TO DO! All of us must prevent these soothsayers, these liars and cheaters, from dragging us away from the true path. Jesus had this to say as shared in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 18:15-17 KJV – Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
NIV – “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Paul and John the Beloved shared more in this regard in our final two verses today. It is very important for us to pay attention to everything around us. It is for the precious gift of eternal life that dictates just how important it is for us to be willing to listen to His voice through the Word and act in accordance with His calling for each of us, no matter what role we end up fulfilling.
Romans 16:17 KJV – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
NIV – I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
2 John 1:10 KJV – If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
NIV – If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.
It is so important in a world filled with sickness that extends farther than something physical, mental, or spiritual that we all practice what we preach, as many have heard over the millennia that have passed since our Savior was resurrected and taken up into Heaven to sit at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. We have a special mission to fulfill in His Holy Name. Are you ready? You better be, because the time is swiftly approaching. 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: Walk and Talk With Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sX-paDbToQ
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2022 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.
