11 February 2024 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the Knowing Jesus series today

Although from laryngitis his voice must rest, he did say

Pastor referred to Matthew chapters two through five

About two distinct contrasting kingdoms, he did derive

Jesus and Herod represented the clash of kingdoms

One legitimate, one illegitimate, thus two outcomes

One validated via a Micah prophecy, one invalid

One the Son, the other an imposter turned pallid

The Spirit of Two Kingdoms seen in Matthew four

Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted and more

He resisted, preferring the Spirit to flesh as a guide

Submission over power and humility over pride

The Values of God’s Kingdom, as per Matthew five

The Beatitudes say to new values we should strive

Humble, meek, and merciful may make some frown

Because these everlasting values seem upside down

15 October 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey today spoke on “The Heart-Eye Connection”

Per Matthew six, our eyes are like lamps giving direction

If our eyes are healthy, then our body will be full of light

If our eyes are unhealthy, our body will be dark like night

The biblical perspective is that values determine vision

So what, why, and how you see follows with precision

Social media algorithms reveal what our focus has been

If values are wrong, we see the wrong thins on screen

Vision is powerful, so the devil wants to take it away

The eye is the lamp of the body, Matthew six does say

Per Proverbs twenty nine, without vision, people perish

In Jeremiah twenty nine, God’s promises are not bearish

Joey concluded with how to have a healthy vision 

Pray unceasingly, as Daniel did when facing a decision

Always meditate on God’s word as per Philippians four

And fellowship with God’s people, find a good mentor

In other words, treat the ENCS mantra as a big tip

Always PMPF - Pray, Meditate, Proclaim, Fellowship

1 October 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke today on the topic “The Addict"

In old times, a positive attribute this term did depict

Joey said in Acts two verse forty two it was noted

The apostles were addicted, in other words devoted

To teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer

As in First Corinthians sixteen Paul also did share

Since there was no New Testament or printing press

From the Old Testament, those apostles did profess

With Jesus and the Holy Spirit as an interpreting lens

The hearts and minds of thousands they did cleanse

The apostles meditated, as per Joshua chapter one

Per Psalm one, their delight in the Law not outdone

Returning to Acts two, the believers were together

Addicted to fellowship, regardless of the weather

They met every day, their hearts glad and sincere

Breaking bread together every day through the year

Per the words of Jesus, to break bread is to proclaim

Leaving prayer as the last element, Joey did exclaim

The many signs and wonders filled everyone with awe

Their numbers grew daily based on what others saw

The four elements still apply today, Pastor did quip

PMPF equals Pray, Meditate, Proclaim, and Fellowship

Our SQ App is designed for the purpose and is free

If you want to learn more, feel free to contact me

24 September 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the “how’s your SQ” series today

Referring to Genesis when Adam and Eve went astray

In large part because with the serpent she did engage

The sermon title was “Breaking Free From The Cage”

Joey started by asking what’s freedom got to do with it?

Per Genesis two, it is a command that God did transmit

It is a daily decision whether to follow God, our free will

Love involves having that freedom which God does install

Freedom is powerful but quite dangerous it can also be

For along with great power comes great responsibility

He steals your freedom by perverting your freedom

It is clear in Genesis three the serpent is far from dumb

Temptation, deception, and accusation are his tools

Then we surrender our freedom, following his rules

We start building a cage with unrighteousness and guilt

Add in self-righteousness and shame - the cage is built

So how then we can regain our freedom is the real key

We must confess our sins, as in First John one we see

Per Second Corinthians five and also in Romans eight

That when we are with Jesus, we avoid our sinful fate

Per Galatians five, it is for freedom that Christ set us free

So stand firm, do not be burdened by the yoke of slavery

17 September 2023 - ENCS

About Spritual Quotient, Pastor Joey did today continue

Talking about “The Thief” that in John ten we did view

Our struggle is versus spiritual forces, per Ephesians six

So we pray that the eyes of our hearts on God do affix

Per Isaiah fourteen, the thief is called the morning star

God thwarted his attempted coup and said au revoir

Per Revelations twelve, his name is Satan or devil

Also several other names that we should not revel

About one-third of heaven's angels on his side fought

But omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent he is not

God lets him live so that we can exercise our free will

But his future, per Revelation twenty, torment will fill

God made us a bit lower than angels, per Psalm eight

To overcome the devil, God’s power we can activate

This is very clearly stated in Hebrews chapter two

Jesus will destroy Satan, in First John three we view

The enemy’s names tell us what he is trying to do

As he did with Eve, the serpent will try to tempt you

The devil tries to deceive, telling us all sorts of lies

Satan accuses us - so listening to him is unwise

To stop the enemy from stealing submit to God

For God’s armour Ephesians six gives the nod

Pray against temptation, meditate over deception

Proclaim the gospel, fellowship over accusation

10 September 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the “How is your SQ” series today

“In the heavenly realms” many times Ephesians does say

Spiritual forces of evil our earthly struggles often disguise

Today’s sermon was appropriately titled “Open Your Eyes” 

For those with closed eyes, the spiritual realm is not real

Per Psalm fourteen, the fool says God is not the real deal

Ones with closed eyes are fearful, insecure, powerless

Pastor Joey said they are also bold, blind, and clueless

The spiritual realm is real for those whose eyes are open

Per Colossians two, due to our sin Jesus was roped in

Supreme is the power of Jesus, in whom our faith rests

For He is above all, Ephesians one more than suggests

So to keep our eyes open, PMPF we should implement

Pray without ceasing and Meditate on His word frequent

Proclaim your identity and with God’s people Fellowship

Per Romans eight, the love of God is always in our grip

3 September 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey started a series “How Is Your SQ?" today

Following on “Foundations” and “Maturity” he did say

In Ephesians, five times ‘heavenly realms’ is referred

There was a clearly a reason this phrase Paul preferred

In the heavenly realms is where all our blessings are

Per Ephesians one, God’s blessings form a reservoir

The heavenly realms are where power actually resides

And from where manifold wisdom the Lord provides 

From the heavenly realms physical struggles emanate 

Against dark world powers, as Ephesians six does state

Spiritual manifestation in the natural, seen in Daniel ten

Daniel’s humility and prayer helped him time and again

It is quite clear that Spiritual Quotient starts with prayer

In Matthew six, the Lord’s Prayer we are made aware

First Thessalonians five says to pray without ceasing

Matthew eighteen encourages joint prayer increasing

6 August 2023 - ENCS

From the Firm Foundations series, Pastor Joey did follow

Per Hebrews six, more than baby food we should swallow

In order to be "taken forward to maturity", we then viewed

He therefore titled today's sermon “Beyond Baby Food”

Maturity in Christ is about moving forward and growing up

As per Hebrews five, on solid food the mature should sup

Growth is gradual, imperceptible, over time and seasons

We should grow up in the right things for the right reasons

Maturity is becoming more like Christ, per Romans eight

He equips us for good works, Ephesians four does state

For God uses everything and uses everything for good

Becoming more like Christ is critical, that is understood

The Lord God matures us by giving us the ability to do so

We are earthly and spiritual, First Corinthians does show

Like a gardener, God often prunes us per John fifteen

And gives examples to follow, in First John two is seen

23 July 2023 - ENCS

The Firm Foundations series Pastor Joey did complete

Hebrews five shares six elementary truths not obsolete

The last being eternal judgment, as per Revelation five

So at the title The Glory of the Last Lion Joey did arrive

The significance of God’s justice is where Joey started

It is the foundation of God’s throne, never departed

Psalm eighty nine, righteousness and justice are key

While love and faithfulness go before us, we can see

God’s justice also ensures fairness and impartiality 

Post restitution and retribution, restoration there will be

It puts in us a holy fear, also known as a reverent fear

For God judges our work in First Peter one we do hear

So then what does eternal judgement actually entail?

It is for everyone, both old and young, male and female

Per Hebrews nine, we all die and then judgement face

Our entire life is known, there is nothing we can erase

Per Hebrews four, nothing is hidden from God’ sight

It is a time of accountability, everything comes to light

Per Second Corinthians five, all appear before His seat

Since God sees all, His judgement we can not cheat

Ephesians two says we are created to do good works

But we should do these out of love, not for the perks

Joey said that eternal judgement is also a test of quality

Our foundation is in Jesus, per First Corinthians three

Our rewards will then be crowns that last for eternity

In First Thessalonians two, crowns of service we see

The crowns of devotion, as per Second Timothy four

But to Jesus, we give all the crowns and even more

16 July 2023 - ENCS

The Firm Foundations series Pastor Joey did continue 

About elementary truths in Hebrews five we can view

Repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands we see

Today Joey focused on resurrection, Embracing Eternity

To start, we must have an understanding of physical death 

For it is just a matter of time before we take our last breath

As per Second Corinthians four, we waste away outwardly

Our days are finite, in Psalm ninety and James four we see

Ecclesiastes three states that there is a time for everything

When we are born or when we die, control we cannot bring

The verse goes on to say everything is beautiful in its time

That God has set eternity in the human heart is a paradigm

Pastor then said we must understand Christ's’ resurrection

After Jesus died for our sins despite having no imperfection

As per Mark twelve, God is for both the living and the dead

So many resurrection witnesses could not have been misled

Acts seventeen says we are God’s offspring and should obey

Meaning that we should repent and in His name act and pray

This clearly has implications for our lives each and every day

We have God's power to resurrect any part of life, Joey did say

First Corinthians fifteen talks about our resurrection spiritual

The body that is sown is perishable but is raised imperishable

Similarly, the dishonourable becomes glorious thanks to Christ

The weak become powerful, in eternity for what He sacrificed

2 July 2023 - ENCS

The Firm Foundations series Pastor Joey did continue

Reference to cleansing rites in Hebrews six we do view

Such cleansing is now called baptism, Pastor did say

Thus :Laundering Your Soul” is the sermon title today

There are several reasons we need baptism, Joey stated

The first is that with sin we have all been contaminated

We have all been corrupted even if we are courageous

And to make matters worse, we have become contagious

The instruction to be baptised is important to remember

It is an act of faith, whether done in July or December

It is a picture of your new life, for the rest of its duration

And about your faith, it is an evident public declaration

So then what is baptism, Pastor Joey did try to convey

It is an immersion into a relationship with God every day

Baptism is also God’s way of cleansing you from your sin

As well as His way of of ensuring you let the Holy Spirit in

25 June 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the series on Firm Foundations

Reminding us that deaths are effectively separations

Jesus is the bridge over our immense chasm with God

We need faith on top of repentance, Pastor did us prod

He continued by saying we need faith to come to God

To Hebrews chapter eleven verse six Joey gave a nod

It says faith pleases God and believes that God is real

For those who truly seek Him, rewards God will reveal

Faith is credited as righteousness, as per Romans four

The more faith we have, the righteousness is also more

Per Hebrews four, faith enables us to enter God’s rest

And then per Hebrews ten, not shrinking back is best

The gospel reveals righteousness, by which we do live

"Faith overcome the world”, First John five does us give

Everything not from faith is sin, so faith helps every day

God will then deliver his promises,Hebrews six does say

18 June 2023 - ENCS

A new series "Firm Foundations”, Pastor Joey did start

He told us to take Hebrews five verse eleven to heart

Paul said that they needed elementary truths to relearn

They needed “milk not solid food”, he wrote in concern

Winning the Unseen Battle with Death was today’s title

Starting the series off with a topic that is extremely vital

In Genesis two, death will follow eating from the tree

Although obviously Adam and Eve didn't die physically

Romans six clarifies that the death is in fact separation

And eternal separation from God is therefore damnation

Therefore the way to reverse death is through repentance

Sins separate us from God per a Isaiah fifty nine sentence

Repentance is also the way to remove consequences

God sees our heart if we repent and come to our senses

Finally, repentance is the way for our life to be restored

As it leads to forgiveness and blessings from the Lord

Pastor then took some time to say what repentance is not

It is not about regrets as they can never reverse the rot

It is not about resentment or bitterness to self or others

Nor is it about rationalising or justifying sin to our brothers

Repentance is a lifestyle of recognising sin without cessation

Per First John one, confessing our sins leads to purification

Repentance is a state of ongoing remorse for past actions

Godly sorrow produces earnest change without distractions

Finally, repentance is a progressive change in direction

Per Matthew three, producing fruit during this correction

4 June 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke about Engaging the Next Generation

They are everywhere, we must not remain in isolation

We must acknowledge that there is a generation gap

But we can still engage if new tools we decide to tap

How we live is critical for that is what the others see

Per Matthew eleven open and friendly we should be

Humility and repentance are key, as per James four

Being genuine and transparent but faithful to the core

What and how we say things can have a huge impact

Per First Peter three, speak the truth in love with tact

We should be secure in the gospel, per Romans eight

Preach with conviction, not caring about our earthly fate

Pastor Joey concluded by telling us what to focus on

Walking in love, respecting each and every liaison

We should be self-reflexive, by doing what we say

The building of God's kingdom happens every day

21 May 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the series on God and work today

God’s call is irrevocable, in Romans eleven Paul does say

Our vocation is a calling, a way for us the world to impact

“Answer the call” was Pastor Joey’s title as a matter of fact

God’s call is universal for His purpose, per Romans eight

His call is unique, as each has unique skills to activate

Paul was called to be an apostle, as per Romans one

Each of us is a unique piece in a jigsaw God has done

When we listen to it. God’s call is where you are blessed

Per Genesis twelve, though Abram was older than the rest

God calls us to a relationship with others who are called

Akin to being a lighthouse for the masses so far sprawled

Per Romans one, God calls us to obedience from our faith

Everyone confirms their calling, as Second Peter one saith

God’s call is clear and evident, again per Romans eight

Passions, proclivities, and personality are clues to our fate

Your call is not just what you do, but it is God’s handiwork

Per Ephesians two, to do good works we should not shirk

In Philippians three, Paul implied your call is progressive

We have constant opportunities for as long as we will live

Your call fits God’s plans, per Jeremiah chapter twenty nine

His plans give us hope and a future much more than fine

Joey concluded by answering “How?” we answer today

Following what our conscience and God’s word do say

Ensuring that we are always acting out of faith not fear

And doing what will glorify God the most try to adhere

7 May 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey started a series on "God and Work”

A responsibility we are not supposed to shirk

Today’s sermon was entitled “Divine Clock In"

An appropriate name on which the series to begin

We were made in God’s image, per Genesis one

That same chapter talked of work God had done

And since He created the heavens and the earth

He works where we do work, for all that is worth

God showed us the way to work, per Creation

There was order, objectives, and organisation

God accomplished His work, per Genesis two

Satisfaction, fulfilment, and blessing others too

Our work starts with resting in God, Joey did say

Remember that God rested on the seventh day

He created us the day before, this was not a slip

God clearly wants with us a strong relationship

Our work is a responsibility from God, this is key

Involving stewardship, excellence, accountability

Our work is best done in community with a team

Shared wisdom, energy, and resources per diem

Jesus entered our work world, as per Mark six

As a carpenter, he would have had things to fix

Jesus redeemed us at work, per Romans eight

And He continues to work, John five does state 

16 April 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey Bonafacio gave us a very clear view

As the good news of Jesus series he did continue

He titled it "Our insatiable appetite for approval” 

Our need for justification, there can be no removal

Our need for approval means we continually search

A historical need for acceptance even with a church

A need to prove ourselves can not be self-attained

And a need to be whole will always leave us drained

There are several problems with self-justification

It is exhausting, often leaving us with nothing to give

It is demanding emotionally, physically, and mentally

A never ending cycle - unsustainable fundamentally

The good news of Jesus through the Bible is seen

We are justified by faith, per Galatians two sixteen

We are also justified to be saved, per Romans one

We are justified to be sanctified, all of us bar none

26 March 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey concluded the relationship series

Referencing The Lego Principle and its theories

Lego bricks can connect, disconnect, reconnect

For our relationships, a great analogy in effect

Pastor read from verse one of Ecclesiastes three

There is a time for everything and every activity

Likewise a time to be born as well as a time to die

This applies to people and relationships, no lie

Our time is limited to twenty four hours a day

That limits our relationships, Pastor did say

A reminder is found in First Corinthians fifteen

Bad company corrupts good character, it is seen

The reality is that relationships do change over time

Relationships need pruning when not in their prime

Relationships change in part because evil exists

But the core rationale for relationships still persists

Our best response to this reality is to directly speak

With God’s help we should restoration try to seek

Yet there are times when separation is necessary

Even when many others may say to the contrary

Even with separation there is always redemption

Maintain hope for the person without exemption

Trusting God for healing and His reconciliation

That is a very powerful and potent combination

5 March 2023 - ENCS

About relationships Pastor Joey started a new series

The core of who we are is subject to many theories

But we need to know, understand, accept, embrace

That leads to mastery that we can not undo or erase

The title of today's sermon was “Mastering the core”

About creation, the Creator, mankind he did explore

The core of creation is what Pastor Joey first dissected

It is inter-related, inter-dependent, and inter-connected

Next was the core of the Creator, whom none can eclipse

He is unique, the God of freedom as well as relationships

Created in the image of our God is the core of mankind

Not to be alone but with God to be one, always aligned

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