30 June 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the series on "The Code"

His passion for honour and value really showed

He said blessings often result from honouring others

Per Ephesians 6, especially our fathers and mothers

Another way to think of honour is as a value

There is a quantity and a quality in all we do

 

All of God's commandments we cannot even know

But focus on the core, from which the rest all flow

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus distilled it all into one statement

To love God completely is the greatest commandment

We cannot love Jesus without loving others as well

For Jesus' feet move with compassion, Josh did tell

And as we love Jesus, His love will enter into our heart

Then from the path of loving others we will not depart

 

Josh referred to eighties music and the love theme

But "the search is over" since Jesus' actions redeem

And if there is any doubt about what Jesus meant

John 6: 29 says "to believe in the one He has sent"

To do this right actually requires lots of hard work, Josh said

Reading the Word and in tough times, trusting God instead

Instead of cursing our enemies, we should forgive and bless

Even if their actions were intended to put us into a big mess

Put another way, our enemies we should not hate, but love

That is how we can best honour our heavenly father above

 

In short, we should listen to and believe God's word, then obey

Putting our trust in God is what faith is all about, Josh did say

And per Hebrews 11:6, without faith we cannot please God

In subsequent verses, Noah, Abraham, and others get a nod

Remember that if for some reasons we delay our obedience

His response will be delayed, for this is disobedience in a sense

 

Compared to any problem, God is bigger and stronger

David realised that, so Goliath was not alive much longer

This truth and God's deeds we must tell the next generation

By setting their hope in God they can have a strong foundation

About hope, two unchangeable things are in Hebrews 6:18-19

We are to be encouraged and use it as an anchor, it is seen

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 mentions faith, hope, and love

All three are important but the latter is rated far above

If we invest in these, we will receive the eternal reward

For our life's quality and quantity will please the Lord

Then Josh had us turn to First John chapter five verse three

"Obey His commands, which are not burdensome" we see

That is a good way to sum up Josh's message today

Telling us to honour, value, have faith, love, and obey