10 September 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke about Enoch using Genesis chapter five

Per two verses, Enoch "walked with God" while he was alive

But then Enoch “was no more, because God took him away”

The fact that he did not die is unique, Pastor Joey did say

The prophecy of Enoch is mentioned in Jude verse fourteen 

God would come to execute judgement, it is clearly seen

The Lord revealed His plans to prophets, per Amos three

Which is why the Old Testament is important for us to see

Enoch fathered Methuselah, whose name was a prophecy

“His death shall bring judgement” was a Godly guarantee

Seven days before the flood, at age nine hundred sixty nine

Methusaleh died, his grandson Noah to carry the bloodline

In order to fully appreciate His grace, we must fear the Lord

In this regard, Proverbs nine verse ten should not be ignored

In Matthew ten verse twenty eight, the disciples did all hear

As Jesus reiterated that God, not any man, we should fear

Enoch did not experience death, per Hebrews chapter eleven

Because he walked in faith, God took him directly to heaven

Romans ten verse seventeen says faith comes from hearing

Hearing the word of Christ is thus more than just endearing

Three steps we can take to have faith, Pastor Joey did highlight 

Being in God’s Presence, not being present, is what is right

Agreeing with God, not merely acknowledging Him, is key

Choosing God’s Pleasure over ours should be our reality

Per Psalm sixteen, in God’s presence there is fullness of joy

Since God is everywhere, this true joy nothing can destroy

We cannot please God without faith, per Hebrews eleven

And if we have faith, our eternal reward awaits in heaven

14 February 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh delivered “The Heart of the Matter’ part two

On the topic of “Courtship and Dating” what we should do

With a reference to a seventy five year study he did start

For happiness, meaningful relationships are a key part

There are no specific bible verses on dating or courtship

But there are still guidelines to help everyone on this trip

“Do unto others…” is Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew seven

That summarises all the Old Testament laws from heaven

For when our relationship was broken with God above

We needed laws guiding us in the absence of pure love

But now the Holy Spirit tells us how best to approach

Relationships in a manner which is above all reproach

First Timothy chapter five says not to rebuke others

“With absolute purity” treat brothers, sisters, mothers

In Mark chapter ten to God’s words Jesus did refer

Two wholes, not halves, become one, we can infer

We should not look to another person to fill a gap

Only God can complete us, anything else is a trap

This is repeated in Colossians chapter number two

We “have been given fullness in Christ” in all we do

Being happy and complete with God is a precondition

Before moving on to marriage, per Josh’s admonition

From First Corinthians six comes additional sage advice

Do not be yoked with unbelievers even if they are nice

Two cannot walk together, per Amos chapter three

Unless in terms of what to do, they both do agree

If both are following Jesus in their walks individually

Then much easier their joint walk will of course be

Per Ephesians five, we should imitate God above

Beware life’s impurities and always walk in love

Meditating on things pure, per Philippians four

Ensures the God of peace will us never ignore

3 August 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Larry continued the series titled "Centered"

Into the third chapter of Colossians we entered

About roller coasters, he said he was often scared

They are often like our life of faith, he then shared

The downward rush of fear, the upward relief of joy

The enemy attacks us, trying our lives to destroy

Every time that he tells us to disobey and not to step out

What he is really doing is sowing more and more doubt

God has called us into a life of faith, we must remember

This is true all the time, from January through December

The tendency may be to get off the roller coaster ride

Because as it continues, we get more scared inside

But we should never give in to the "whatever" attitude

That lowers our standards and allows too much latitude

 

The title of his sermon was "The Virus Called Whatever"

In the text, the word appears many more times than never

Verse seventeen says in whatever we do, do in God's name

Verse twenty three talks of the heart and then says the same

The enemy will continually try to distract us by whatever means

Overwhelming us with challenges or boring us with routines

In return, we must do whatever it takes to do things for God

Whether or not they may appear normal or even quite odd

For as per verse one, we "have been raised with Christ"

We should set our hearts on Him, who has always sufficed

 

Pastor's first point referred to John ten and "You Have Power"

Paul encouraged us to be aware of God's strength every hour

In Colossians chapter one, he refers to "holy and faithful brothers"

If we do not see ourselves in that way, then neither will others

To do God's calling is a privilege and is why we are here on earth

We should get in the game and give excuses a very wide berth

We should be rooted and strengthened in Christ, per chapter two

Our family and friends should always challenge us better to do

But we should not get hung up on mistakes, even if they are often

For obedience comes one step at a time; the path God will soften

Pastor then pointed out that self-focus usually leads to resistance

But through it all, God provides the power for us to go the distance

 

Pastor Larry's second point was that we should "Live Higher"

Per verses five and eight, our earthly nature we should retire

And not to revert to old ways, then we must always take care

Reading the Bible every day is just as important as prayer

Like training for a marathon, we must prepare to finish strong

Per Amos, God is angered when for other things we long

By reading the Bible daily, we prepare for times of temptation

Per Colossians three verse ten, this forms a strong foundation

 

In summary, Pastor said that we should do whatever it may take

To step out in faith and overcome our fears, doing all for His sake

4 May 2014 - The Prophets to Israel

The Lord spoke to the prophet Joel, per Joel chapter two

Telling the under attack Israelites what they should do

“Even now…return to me with all your heart”

“With fasting and weeping…” on your part

God said he wanted their hearts, not their clothes

For He is gracious and His compassion grows

Due to His love, “he relents from sending calamity”

Besides, “Who knows? He may turn and have pity”

Joel told Israel to gather and to declare a holy fast

Praying to God not to turn the nation into an outcast

In response, “the Lord will be jealous for his land”

“And take pity on his people” wherever they may stand

The Lord spoke to the prophet Amos, per Amos nine

The “sinful kingdom” was in the eyes of the Lord divine

God threatened to destroy it but not Jacob’s house

Because of their evil actions and many a grouse

God said, “All the sinners…will die by the sword”

For they were arrogant and ignored the Lord

But He promised to “restore David’s fallen tent”

And thus rebuild it as He had originally meant

He promised to “plant Israel in their own land”

And said from there, they would never be banned

The Lord spoke to the prophet Hosea, per Hosea eleven

Israel strayed despite being rescued, said God in heaven

But although the Israelite nation continued to refuse to repent

God’s compassion will overcome his anger at their dissent

He promised not to devastate Ephraim or to come in wrath

For God knows that they will eventually follow his path

The Lord spoke to the prophet Isaiah, per Isaiah six

God was on His throne, glorious as everyone depicts

The seraphs’ voices of praise shook the room

For the whole earth God’s glory does consume

Isaiah rued that the people had unclean lips

His guilt and sin, the seraph’s coal eclipsed

The voice of the Lord Isaiah did then hear

In response, “Send me!” Isaiah did volunteer

The Lord spoke to the prophet Micah, per Micah one

God promised judgment for what the people had done

The Lord will come down from His dwelling place

Because Israel’s transgression did Him debase

Then He “will make Samaria a heap of rubble”

Breaking idols into pieces, for they are trouble

11 August 2013 - ENCS

Aptly, as we just concluded the National Day celebration

Gerald Giam spoke on "How righteousness exalts a nation"

 

His main text was Proverbs fourteen verse thirty four

He referred to other passages, but this was the core

"Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace"

That decides whether a smile or frown is on God's face

Per Amos 5:12, God knows how great our sins are

Whether they occur at home, in the office, or afar

Righteousness is living a life that honours God

Even when nobody is watching, however odd

In Daniel's three friends, righteousness was seen

As told in Daniel chapter three, from verse sixteen

In Daniel six verse five, Daniel of course did the same

Refusing to worship the king, as God he would defame

 

Gerald then talked about being raised high when we exalt

As contrasted with being condemned when sin is our fault

In Deuteronomy 28:1-5, this promise by God was conveyed

Obey God's commands and His blessings will then cascade

This can be seen in today's world, Gerald did point out

Corrupt countries prosper less, of that there is no doubt

Righteous laws and social equality bring similar rewards

Prosperity and growth are blessings God then accords

 

In Isaiah 42:6, into righteousness God does us call

He wants us to be a beacon of light for one and all

We need to stand up in our community and workplace

Bestowing on others righteousness, care, and grace

Democracy reflects the will of the people, good or bad

So about elected officials, we should not be happy or sad

He then referred to Second Chronicles seven verse fourteen

God's people should humble themselves and pray, it is seen

To Proverbs, chapter twenty nine verse two, he did return

If wicked people rule a nation, there is cause for concern

As a church, we need to speak up, as per Esther 4: 14

If we are silent too long, bad things are too often seen

 

Gerald said we each operate within a given sphere

We can most influence those to whom we are near

That is where we are called to advance his righteousness

Our family, colleagues, neighbours, and friends we can bless

He referred to Martin Luther King's comments on wrong vs right

Who said that for a nation, a righteous leader must be the light

Regardless of whether something is not popular, politic, or safe

A good leader must do the right thing, even if to many it does chafe

 

In summary, from Matthew chapter five verse six Gerald did quote

"Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness" Jesus did note