Saturday, August 27, 2022

26 August 2022 - ENCS

Pastor Neli Atiga yesterday led a very special worship night
The music, the words, the voices were more than just alright
Bishop Manny Carlos spoke about how God can situations fix
He based his message on Psalm one hundred and twenty six

Being in lengthy exile had been traumatic for the Jewish nation
Returning to Jerusalem was a dream but required restoration
For the city and the temple had both been entirely destroyed
God’s covenant promises people, place, presence - not a void

Manny then highlighted that God can very suddenly restore
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy even more
We should remember that our labour for God is never in vain
God has promised restoration and has begun the process again

Sunday, August 21, 2022

21 August 2022 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the series on Evil Days Ahead
Passages from several books of the Bible he then read
Ephesians six mentions the breastplate of righteousness
God says to stand firm, First Peter five does profess

The work of righteousness is peace, per Isaiah thirty two
Romans eight states God will always see us through
No weapon formed against us by the enemy will prevail
If, per Isaiah fifty four, of God’s righteousness we avail

Righteousness is reflected and evident in our actions
Rooted in covenants and relationships and reactions
In verse six, God’s words to His people Micah did share
Comparing our righteousness to His, we should not dare

First Thessalonians five says to put on faith and love
As a breastplate to signify we belong to God above
Remember we are all unclean, per Isaiah sixty four
A message repeated in Romans three wit detail more

Righteousness gives us peace, protection, and power
Through right standing, relating, and living every hour
By letting go of self-righteousness and receiving God’s
For believing our hearts are worth it increases the odds

1 Peter 5:8
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Ephesians 6:13-14
Isaiah 32:17, 54:17, 61:1-7, 64:6
Micah 6:1-8
Philippians 3:6-8
Romans 3:10-12

Sunday, August 14, 2022

14 August 2022 - ENCS

Pastor Josh Harris continued the “Be Strong” series today
Leveraing what Pastor Joey and Ephesians six had to say
Snowden famously said that truth is first casualty of war
For us to wear the belt of truth, Pastor Josh did implore

If we are falsely accused, according to Psalm forty three
We must seek God’s light and truth to combat the enemy
For the truth will set us free, states John eight thirty two
Otherwise we are slaves to sin because of the sin we do

The answers to “why truth” are thus it gives us direction
And by seeking God, truth also provides us protection
Thirdly, Pastor Josh highlighted, truth buys us freedom
So bottom line, not seeking truth would be a bit dumb

Definitions of ‘what is truth?”, there are a preponderance
Be it logical, experiential, or universal correspondence
Truth is righteously active, as stated in Isaiah eleven
And truth is embodied in Jesus sent down from heaven

To answer the “so how?”, look at Ephesians four and five
Replace our falsehoods with our true identity so to thrive
We should remember to walk and do everything in love
Thus as God's children, we can try to imitate Him above

Ephesians 4:21-24, 5:1-2, 6:13
Isaiah 11:2-6
John 8:32-36,14:6

Sunday, August 7, 2022

7 August 2022 - ENCS

Pastor Joey kicked off the “Be Strong” series today
Based on what Paul in Ephesians chapter six did say
We should put on God’s full armour per verse thirteen
'When (not if) the day of evil comes"'is clearly seen

We are in the midst of evil days, Pastor Joey said
Pandemic, poverty, war, pestilence causing dread
The Bible remains relevant and in it we can trust
It is always factual, spiritual, practical, and robust

Five times in Ephesians ‘heavenly realms’ appears
Struggles against flesh and blood are not our fears
But rulers, authorities, and powers of the dark world
How we can combat these Pastor Joey then unfurled

First is to be conscious about the heavenly realm
For that is where Jesus is eternally at the helm
We have been offered a chance to sit with him
Our eternal purpose and mission is not a whim

The evil that was in the heavens, God did displace
With his perfect son Jesus Christ, He did replace
As the lyrics in the song “In Jesus’ Name” stress
God is fighting for us, pushing back the darkness

Second is to be conscious about the evil days
Be careful how we live and be wise in our ways
We should make the most of every opportunity
To watch our steps and the devil’s schemes see

These evil spiritual forces include lust and greed
Envy and pride are bad; even success can mislead
We must not let the sun go down while still angry
For the devil that is a very common opportunity

"Be conscious of the resources we have" is third
All about the ’strength of the Lord’ we then heard
Per Isaiah, strength comes from hope in the Lord 
Paul said in full armour we can stand as a horde

Ephesians 1:3, 18-21; 2:6; 3:10; 4:26-27; 6:10-17
Isaiah 40: 28-31