26 February 2017

Genesis is the Bible’s seed plot, Pastor Josh did say

Freedom was the focus on his sermon on Sunday

In Genesis two, God commanded the man to be free

With one exception, Adam could eat from any tree

God gave us freedom to choose right from wrong

But with choices come consequences, some lifelong

Adam was told if he ate from that tree, he would die

He made the wrong choice and our God did not lie

God blesses us but if we don’t treat blessings right

A blessing can become a curse, but not from spite

We must remember to worship God, who provides

Rather than the blessing itself, which has downsides

The more connected we are with God in a relationship

The easier it will be to ignore others and avoid a slip

Per Romans six, just because we are under grace

We should not sin because death we will still face

Whatever overcomes a man, per Second Peter two

Is what unfortunately he will then be enslaved to

Also from Romans six, from sin we are all set free

So that slaves of righteousness we choose to be

We each choose who to serve - self, Satan, or God

Per First Peter, a free servant of God gets the nod

And instead of always struggling to themselves find

Per Philippians three, God is the target for mankind

The phrase “free love” is a dangerous contradiction

The nature of love is to bind itself, that is not fiction

Following God’s commandments, per First John five

Is not burdensome if we love God while we are alive

Per Galatians five verse one, Christ has set us free

So we should never again submit to a yoke of slavery

Through love serve each other, per Colossians three

For the Spirit’s fruit is love, in Galatians five we see

Josh then shared his four steps that help us equip

We should pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

19 February 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh did recap the messages year to date

Fasting aided listening and create a trusting state

Fruitfulness, enjoyment, and then purposeful rest

And looking at boundaries as a way to be blessed

Pastor then quoted from Genesis two verse eight

God planted a garden in Eden, it did communicate

He also put a man there, which serves to remind

We should allow God to place us as He designed

Interestingly, per Genesis chapter two verse fifteen

God put Adam to work, or “blessed labour” is seen

This transpired before the fall, so it was God’s plan

Josh said “Enjoying Work” should be an aim of man

Per Genesis three seventeen, resulting from sin

A different type of labour, “painful toil”, did begin

But instead of focusing on work as a job or task

Per Psalms, in God’s inheritance we should bask

Per a TED talk, excellent work requires passion

Plus vision, focus, and perseverance not to ration

Remember that spiritual and secular are not split

All is sacred, as God’s ambassadors we commit

Work is FROM GOD, as it is a golden opportunity

For us to emulate God’s roles so others can see

We can thus bring light to events darkest places

And use our experiences to brighten sad faces

Work is FOR GOD, per Colossians chapter three

We should do everything in Jesus’ name, we see

Whatever we do, for God we should work heartily

So always operate with excellence and integrity

Work should be WITH GOD, as David did show

Per Psalm seventy eight, into a king he did grow

Why we are put in places we may not understand

Like David, have an upright heart and skilful hand

God wants us to be a light for everyone we meet

By relying on Him, all challenges we can defeat

For our purpose is bigger than any one person

Which gives us lots to do before our time is done

12 February 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Harris started by asking why do people get jealous

Often because we are not sure what we have, he did tell us

God has a plan and a place for each of us, per Genesis two

As such we should let God guide us in what we should do

For with all pleasant things God’s original garden was filled

Adam and Eve should've understood that and been thrilled

But instead they ignored God’s command about one tree

Introducing sin to the world, the consequences we still see

In Psalm sixteen, David acknowledged that God had a plan

And of course God’s knowledge exceeds that of any man

As part of His plan, lines or boundaries God does introduce

Boundaries limit us but also protect us, we should deduce

David recognised that only God gives us eternal inheritance

In tough times, it may be worth to give this psalm a glance

About a young boy looking through a fence, Josh did share

But when he turned around, into Disneyworld he did stare

This reminds us, despite boundaries, of how blessed we are

For looking to God for our happiness is the best path by far

On how to get there, four points Pastor Josh then did share

To pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship we are all aware

If we lack wisdom, we should ask God per James one five

Per Joshua one eight, to repeat His Word we should strive

The enemy was conquered by words, per Revelation twelve

The tongue has immense power, if into the Bible we delve

Paul says to build each other up in First Thessalonians five

Romans fourteen says the Spirit provides while we are alive

Specifically offering us peace and joy and righteousness

Which provide us with love so that others we can bless

5 February 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh highlighted that most people desire more rest

Even after taking a vacation where the beaches are best

God took a rest after His creation work, per Genesis two

But God never grows weary, Isaiah forty says this is true

He took the rest to make the day holy, the first such nod

And man's first full day was spent in fellowship with God

But by the time Leviticus chapter twenty six Moses wrote

God made observing the Sabbath a rule, an odd anecdote

Mankind had fallen into sin but also had a feeling of lack 

Obeying the Lord was the way to get His blessings back

In return, Leviticus promises plentiful harvests and peace

God does not abhor us and His power will never cease

Pastor Josh said slavery is abhorrent but does still exist

Not just physically but emotionally too, there is quite a list

In Leviticus twenty six thirteen, the Israelites God did free

Disobedient ones won't enter God’s rest, per Hebrews three

Verse nineteen goes on to say that unbelief prohibits rest

Isolating us from the Lord is the enemy’s continual quest

As we trust and submit to God, rest comes much easier

With God’s immutable love and care, life will be breezier

Per John chapter six, Jesus represents the spirit of the law

Relationships require mercy, not sacrifice, is what we saw

Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God did our sins forgive

So we should be able to forgive others as long as we live

Josh pointed out that this applies to ourselves just as well

We must learn to forgive ourselves and our sin, he did tell

Jesus came to redeem all under the law, per Galatians four

So we could be God’s sons with inheritance forever more

Come to Jesus and He will give us rest, per Matthew eleven

Even if working or burdened, true rest comes from heaven