26 August 2018 - ENCS

To the end of Genesis fifteen Pastor Joey took us today

It contains the fourth “behold” in the chapter he did say

Like Abraham, we should have a long term perspective

For God’s covenants last for much longer than we live

This means we should think about the future generations

What we do today can often have long term implications

Similarly, it is for future generations that we should build

And of course training them so that they are aptly skilled

For the foundations of the future are put in place today

By what we do, we don’t do, and of course how we pray

Per the last two verses, our boundaries we should know

God promises a delightful inheritance that to us will flow

When we understand God’s covenant and long term view

Our values will change and we will know what best to do

19 August 2018 - ENCS

Pastor Neli visiting from Brisbane did share on Genesis fifteen

From verse twelve on, an impactful dream by Abram was seen

Between the truth of God’s promise and circumstantial reality

In Abram’s life and often in ours, a big gap may appear to be

But most promises require a process before we see provision

Allowing God to strengthen us and to address our imprecision

Per verse thirteen, His promises can refer to future generations

Because His timeline is different from ours, we face frustrations

Remember the Israelites asked for a king and were given Saul

His character was not aligned so he ended up taking a big fall

On Egypt, God promised Abram that he would bring judgement

For the country as well as the world system is what God meant

God builds through us for generations to come, Neli did opine

Although a man of faith, Abram sinned via Ishmael’s bloodline

Abram would live to an old age, verses fifteen and sixteen state 

And in the fourth generation, the Israeli people would repatriate

God builds with us has two meanings, as Neli did give a view

All believers are living stones in God’s house, per First Peter two

And we are also God’s co-labourers, per First Corinthians three

Providing a foundation that others build upon is often our legacy

12 August 2018 - ENCS

On Genesis and Abram, Pastor Joey did the very long series continue

In chapter fifteen, Abram was told to count all the stars, not just a few

God said he had brought Abram from Ur to the land he would possess

How would he know, a believing but dubious Abram did then express

In our lives today, the uncertainty Abram felt we do regularly mirror

We want to believe God’s promises but have doubts and some fear

God told Abram to bring a dove, a pigeon, a ram, a goat, and a calf

So Abram did so and without asking, knew to cut each animal in half

Shedding blood was an integral part of agreeing a contract those days

There was an implied threat if broken is what Jeremiah thirty four says

For a very serious matter a contract or covenant was duly considered

It always contained three main components, from Pastor we then heard

The acceptance of an offer, the terms considered, and parties involved

Walking through a river of animal blood is how agreements were solved

God’s covenant with Noah was based on a promise for all of mankind

This one with Abram was the Lord's first to a single individual confined

Abram never did waver in his faith, per Romans four from verse twenty

He gave glory to God and trusted God would deliver on promises plenty

Pastor said God’s Word is a sacred covenant that we should thus treat

The amount of time we spend with it helps make the covenant complete

To Psalm one hundred three verses two thru five, Pastor did then refer

We should bless the Lord and not forget all the benefits he did confer

Our sins He forgives, our diseases He heals, and our lives He redeems

He crowns us with eternal mercy and love as well as goodness streams

29 July 2018 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the Genesis series, still in chapter fifteen

Per verse two, Abram pointed out that a child he had not seen

As happens to all of us at times, he was frustrated and confused

It must have appeared that his greatest dreams were bruised

God had already promised that there would be a great reward

But Abram felt that this promise was somehow bring ignored

His name meant “blessed father” but to others this was a joke

When combined with God’s promise, it probably felt like a yoke

Similarly, there can be much pain and waiting on our journeys

This can cause angst and doubt, often bringing us to our knees

But then the Word of the Lord came to Abram, per verse four

Reminding us that no matter what our dreams, God offers more

For we need the Word of the Lord, not just a one time miracle

Akin to teaching someone to fish, from a perspective empirical

That Abram’s heirs would be flesh and blood, God made clear

Comparing the total offspring to the stars countable in a year 

To look to heaven, God was probably also reminding Abram

This is something we should remember when we are in a jam

Per verse six, Abram believed God and was made righteous

To believe righteousness can come from actions is treasonous

For we all have sinned and even a little sin makes us impure

But Jesus died to cleanse us of our sin, of that we can be sure

Pastor Josh then talked about what we should do while we wait

To Isaiah in chapter forty nine, three prophecies God did state

But God had even bigger plans, for these were "too light a thing”

And Isaiah’s prophecies were later manifested by Jesus the King

In conclusion, Josh said that seeing God made Abram righteous

The lesson about waiting on the Lord should apply to each of us

For in each season we do walk through, we get a new revelation

With an “I am”, our prayers God answers with a holy sensation

Put another way, our fears and doubts God’s Word can destroy

So we walk in righteousness, experiencing God’s peace and joy

22 July 2018 - ENCS

The series on Genesis, Pastor Harris today did continue

Focusing on chapter fifteen verse one, providing his view

God told Abram three important things in this one verse

Of course they came in the form of a promise not a curse

By telling Abram to ”fear not” is how God did commence

Which is strange for Abram had not committed an offence

But sometimes we do the right things yet they feel wrong

Especially in this world, our principles seem not to belong

This can lead to a fear of missing out or lacking provision

Sometimes it can even lead to being the target of derision

God then said “I am”, two words to which we must listen

Followed by “your shield” which elicits a calming vision

In Hebrew, shield means to cover, surround, or defend

God has our back, on that fact we can always depend

Per First John chapter four, perfect love casts out fear

And God’s love is immense, from Romans five we hear

The passage ends with “your reward will be very great"

Although like the Levites, for this we might need to wait

For per Deuteronomy eighteen, God is their inheritance

But only God brings true happiness, don’t take a chance

1 July 2018 - ENCS

Pastor Joey restarted the Genesis series after a five week cessation

He reminded us that Abraham participated in many a large migration

Looking at Genesis chapter fourteen, he asked what are our essentials

Something that has been evaluated by many with academic credentials

The eighty/twenty principle and the rule of the vital few to name just two

Getting the most “bang for the buck” and benefit out of everything we do

From Sodom and Gomorrah, four kings took all their goods and food

Per verse twelve, they also took Abraham’s nephew Lot into servitude

As a side note, the first mention of “Hebrew” verse thirteen does contain 

Pastor pointed out Abraham, not the kings, in our memory does remain

Abraham and three hundred eighteen men pursued the kings and armies

Per verse sixteen, they routed the kings and the possessions did seize

The Bible is silent on how this was achieved, but God was clearly key

The people welcomed Abraham back but neglected to God give glory

Except Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High, per Hebrews seven

He was the king of righteousness and peace, which come from heaven

Akin to communion, Melchizedek welcomed Abram with bread and wine

Per Psalm eighty five, righteousness and peace effectively do intertwine

And per Hebrews seven, Melchizedek represented Jesus as the tenth king

For the number ten represents finality and perfection in virtually everything

Pastor said that to get righteousness and feel peace, we must God hear

If we do not hear God, we aren’t listening or trusting or keeping Him near

We should know bread and wine represent His righteousness and peace

By listening to God and focusing on His Word, both will no doubt increase

24 June 2014 - ENCS

The final part of the series on the church, Pastor Joey did share today

Church involves a pattern, a purpose, and a pursuit he did again say

But without participation my members, those three Ps will fall short

Because, as Pastor did emphasise, church is not a spectator sport

In Matthew sixteen, Jesus called on Peter to be the church’s rock

Against the gates of hell, the church is built to push back and block

The enemy appears as a tempter, deception, adversary, and accuser

But our participation can help ensure that the enemy will be a loser

Pastor highlighted four actions, each of which serves as an antidote

The first is to always pray, per the Matthew chapter twenty six quote

Per Matthew six verse nine, we need God’s help to resist temptation

We should pray to God, tapping into his resource via daily declaration

Meditating on the Holy Word arms us against the enemy’s deception

Per Psalm one, this applies to all aspects of our life without exception

Proclaiming our faith is by far the best way to combat condemnation

Per Romans eight, Luke two, and chapter five of the book of Galatian

Fellowshipping with other people of God helps fend off accusation

For we are stronger and able to resist the enemy when not in isolation

So in conclusion, we should pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

Allowing the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts so it can continually equip

For per the Bible, the Spirit can teach, reveal, counsel, and baptise

Always illuminating the path to eternal life, which is the ultimate prize

Thus for the church to have meaning, everybody should participate

Not just in church but in our daily lives, Pastor did emphatically state