27 November 2016 - ENCS

The "words of wisdom" series tonight Pastor Josh did finish

That we each build strong foundations is God’s stated wish

Step-by-step is the way such foundations we must build

Asahel ran too fast and as a result with a spear was killed

We need a foundation so that when our platform arrives

We are prepared for the challenge and can impact lives

We should not despise discipline, per Proverbs three eleven

For discipline is only for those loved by our Father in heaven

The verse mentions “reprove”, which is a gentle correction

Also “loves” and “delights” which imply a family connection

Proverbs twelve five says His discipline not to regard lightly

Nor to feel weary or condemned and thus behave contritely

Josh drew a line from ‘fear of the Lord’ to 'love of the Lord’

Too extreme towards fear leads to legalism from the Word

Going too far towards love leads to YOLO in not a good way

Rather, balance gets us peace and righteousness every day

Hebrews twelve eleven says that discipline seems painful

But it yields the fruit of righteousness, far from disdainful

We must put in effort to follow our calling good works to do

And ensure our character is ready as opportunities accrue

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on life’s wisdom trip

To pray, meditate on the Word, preach, and engage in fellowship

Referring to First Thessalonians five sixteen and Romans eight

Second Timothy three and First Thessalonians five add weight

We should preach to ourselves and others every day and night

Encouraging others especially when a bad mood we must fight

20 November 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh again spoke on “Words of Wisdom”, this was part three

Before looking at Proverbs three, Ecclesiastes seven we did see

As there are bandwidths to wisdom, the extremes are dangerous

Josh said it is important that principles of understanding drive us

God’s word was timely when it was given, Ravi Zacharius did say

But it is also timeless in its implications, even for all of us today

Proverbs three verse one says the we are not to forget teaching

And ensure our heart keeps commandments that are far-reaching

Josh said that depth is not in understanding, but in its application

Love, not just pure knowledge, is what leads to wisdom inflation

This then leads to more quality and quantity of life, per verse two

Life and peace will be added to what wise people are able to do

Josh then used a diagram to talk about the spectrum of new to old

Going too far in either direction is actually more foolhardy than bold

One direction leads to emotional decisions that are short sighted

The other leads to stubbornness and legalism that is not excited

Verse three says to let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake

Because from relationships, wisdom into our hearts we can take

The wise man can find favour and good success, per verse four

In the sight of God as well as many other people, that’s for sure

Verses five and six say to trust in the Lord with all your heart

For leaning on your own understanding is not wise or smart

When trust is broken, our hearts can easily become hardened

When trust is rebuilt, love will follow and mistakes pardoned

In order to turn away from evil, per verses seven and eight

Then in our own wisdom we should not give too much weight

For what God and Jesus did for us is what should really amaze

And letting God drive the depths of our wisdom all of our days

In summary, we must combine the new (heart) and the old (head)

True wisdom comes learning to obey God, Pastor Josh then said

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on life’s wisdom trip

To pray, meditate on the Word, preach, and engage in fellowship

13 November 2016 - ENCS

More on Proverbs and words of wisdom, Pastor Josh did speak

To translate knowledge into the way we live, wisdom does seek

The contrasting tale of two women is highlighted in Proverbs nine

They both say to “follow me" but their intentions do not at all align

Between Wisdom and Folly we must all distinguish and choose

For Wisdom always speaks truth while Folly tries to us confuse

Per verses fifteen to seventeen, Folly says stolen water is sweet

Thus telling us that simple solutions can complex problems defeat

This is akin to smoking and alcohol abuse, Josh did then highlight

Folly says to ignore the long term but in the short term feel alright

This is why verse eighteen says that the end game of Folly is death

Similarly, blaming others for our problems is a waste of our breath

Wisdom has built her house and hewn seven pillars per verse one

The word ‘hewn’ implies precise workmanship until all is done

We must have faith and patience when God gives us a promise

For our God never lies, so we should never doubt like Thomas

At times, we need patience because our character is not ready

In this way, when God’s promises come through, we are steady

Wisdom’s desire is for us to have life, per verses three to six

By walking in the way of insight, our simple ways we can fix

Wisdom builds, hews, celebrates learning, and to life gives breath

Folly clamours, seduces, celebrates ignorance, leading to death

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on life’s wisdom trip

To pray, meditate on the Word, preach, and engage in fellowship

6 November 2016 - ENCS

About Proverbs and words of wisdom, Pastor Josh did speak

With knowledge and understanding, wisdom is what we seek

Knowledge is about facts and understanding is implications

Wisdom is proven over time through consistent applications

Nigeria with its abundance of resources, Josh did compare

To Singapore and Botswana with good leaders who care

The difference in economic growth is clear for all to see

Similarly, Solomon asked for wisdom in First Kings three

Solomon said the beginning of wisdom, per Proverbs four

Was to obtain, at all cost, understanding more and more

In Proverbs nine, wisdom also requires the fear of the Lord

The Holy Spirit will ensure our efforts remain aboveboard

Four steps to have integrity and wisdom, Josh then did share

The first is to pray, a two way dialogue because God does care

We should however not use prayer as an opportunity to complain

For Christ went through so much more, enduring all sorts of pain

And if we feel wronged by others, our response needs to be right

For those are the instances where we can truly share God’s light

The second is to meditate on God’s word, so it is on our heart

Often times, this means to read less but think more on our part

The third is to preach, which also reminds ourselves of the truth

The fourth is to fellowship, which is key for parents and youth

In summary, Josh turned to Colossians three from verse fifteen

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” is evidently seen

To “admonish one another with all wisdom” is a good reminder

And to give thanks in all that we do makes us wiser and kinder

30 October 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh wrapped up the series on the Every Nation vision

Speaking about churches and campus ministries with incision

Children are a blessed heritage, per Psalm one twenty seven

The enemy attacks so that their eyes are diverted from heaven

Both spiritual and biological parents must protect that generation

In God’s eyes, to do otherwise would be enemy collaboration

God’s nature is relational, as the Trinity lives to love and bless

He calls us to relationships, John chapter thirteen does profess

On relationships, our earthly purpose is therefore dependent

Per Matthew twenty eight, to all tribes and nations we are sent

We are each given talents with which to bless others and to love

These help us share the Word and reflect God’s light from above

The core verse is Ephesians two, verses nineteen to twenty two

Which speaks of fellowship, family, and the unity of believers too

We are now fellow citizens, we are no longer aliens and strangers

We have rights and responsibilities but are protected from dangers

Christ is foundation of the apostles and is the ultimate cornerstone

As long as we stay within the lines, we never face troubles alone

Wisdom from God differs for each person but is always consistent

When we come together, it is powerful and we should not dissent

God helps each of us to find our spiritual family and community

Per Ephesians two seventeen, peace for all was Jesus’ decree

Through Christ, in one Spirit to the Father we all have access

Because of that, we should give Christ our all, nothing less

16 October 2016 - ENCS

About the spirit empowered ENC mission, Joey Bonifacio spoke

Quotes from both Oswald Charles and Jim Cymbala he did invoke

Believers experience the Holy Spirit, but it takes time to understand

Remember that it is omnipresent, always there to give us a hand

Per John ten verse ten, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy

To prevent us from living God's abundant life he will use any ploy

He relies on temptation, deception, condemnation, and accusation

But God provides us antidotes to the enemy’s acts of abomination

Prayer, truth in the form of His Word, the gospel, and fellowship

Individually and collectively, they help us avoid even a little slip

Pastor Joey said that the Holy Spirit plays a very important role

Helping us apply these four tools to achieve God’s intended goal

Per Romans eight verse twenty six, the Holy Spirit help us to pray

The Spirit guides us in truth, John sixteen verse thirteen does say

The Spirit is our advocate, per John fourteen and Romans eight

Ephesians one says the Spirit marks us with a seal that is great

In summary, the Holy Spirit helps us achieve and live our life

As God fully intends us to have “perissos” and joy, not strife

We must remember that the enemy is indeed real and a threat

But the Spirit is just as real yet is the strongest ally we can get

9 October 2016 - ENCS

Joy Talavera spoke about the vision of Every Nation

Focusing on “Christ-centred” as a core foundation

Using Colossians one verses fifteen to twenty three

Several attributes about Christ were evident to see

#dropthemic is a performance completely definitive

That describes Jesus all the time, perfect He did live

Christ is the image of the invisible God, Paul did say

So He is the beginning and the end, including today

Because in things that are material, Jesus cannot be

If possessions take priority for us, trouble we will see

By, through, and for Christ all things were created

So He is the centre of everything, Joy then stated

Since Jesus knows everything that is in our heart

We should follow Him, from His path not depart

He is before all things and holds them all together

He can help us through even the roughest weather

And since he is pre-eminent for the entire universe

So not thanking him upon waking would be perverse

God’s fullness dwells in Jesus, per verse nineteen

So is Jesus with us permanently or only rarely seen?

If we let Christ into our lives, He brings real peace

And with such peace, our joy and love will increase

Between ourselves and God, Jesus bridges the gap 

To be reconciled with God we do not need a map

For only Jesus Christ can make us holy and blameless

More than anything we do, He pulls us from the mess

Being Christ-centred allows Christ to keep us centred

Putting an end to sinfulness that into us had entered