Sleep Not, Keep Praying

[0:00] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to another word-filled message by David Entry. Preaching is the means by which God manifests His word and nourishes our spirits.

[0:12] May the life of God enter into you anew as you listen to this message. Be blessed. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. In Luke chapter 3 verse 21.

[0:25] Luke chapter 3 verse 21. When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized. And while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

[0:44] Jesus, it came to pass that Jesus, while the people were being baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

[0:58] And whilst He prayed. Somebody say, whilst He prayed. While He prayed. Say, while He prayed. While He prayed. Say it again, while He prayed.

[1:08] While He prayed. When was the heaven opened? While He prayed. While He prayed.

[1:44] Heaven responds to prayer. In Luke chapter 18 verse 1. The Bible says that. And He spoke a parable unto them to this end.

[1:57] That man ought always to pray and not to faint. Man ought always to pray and not to faint.

[2:07] Because it is easy to give up. It is easy to relax. It is easy to be tired. So instead of being tired.

[2:19] He said, go beyond your limits. Go beyond your limits. Go beyond your limits. Most of us. Most of us. When it comes to victory.

[2:32] Success. Testimonies. Greatness in life. It has always to do with people. Who go beyond where the others stop.

[2:43] I used to. As I have told you. Over and again. That I used to be. An athlete. Secondary school athlete.

[2:54] In my school. And when. You are running 200 meters. 100. The sprint. 100 meters is okay. But. 200. Or 400. 200.

[3:04] After 100 meters. You are tired. Your muscles get a bit stiff. And sometimes. When you get to 150 meters. Or 180 meters. Practically it is like.

[3:15] You are tired. That is where everybody slows down. And people will cheer you on. Come on. Just finish hard. Push hard. 400 meters. After the first 100 meters. You are beginning to be tired.

[3:27] After 200 meters. No one finishes 400 meters. The way. They finish 100 meters. Why? Because it is easier to start.

[3:38] But towards the finishing. Becomes a bit difficult. Because. You get to a point. Where you just have to push down. Those who receive the crown. Are those who push.

[3:50] Push further than others. So. When you watch. Usually. Let's say it is 400 meters. After 200 meters. People cannot run. Like the way they started. But those who are able to make themselves run.

[4:03] Faster. Than the others. In other words. They run. After 200 meters. Like someone run. Before 200 meters. They tend to be the ones. Who win the prize.

[4:14] All may finish. But it is the way. They push themselves. That make them win the prize. And I discovered in life. That to win the prize. You have to push. Bible says that.

[4:25] Men always. Ought to pray. And not to faint. Let's all say that together. Men. Men always. Always. Always. Ought to pray. Let's see it again.

[4:38] Men. The King James says. Men. Oh. Men. Men ought. Always. To pray. The new king. How does the new King James put it? Men. Always.

[4:48] Ought. To pray. The new king. Men. Always. Ought. To pray. Men. Always. Ought. To pray. Men.

[4:59] Or how many times. Do we have to pray? Always. But we prayed yesterday. Always. But we prayed last week. Always. But we prayed last year.

[5:10] Always. Men. Always. Ought. To pray. And not. Lose heart. Or. And not. Faint. In other words. There are.

[5:21] Times. Where you. Actually. Don't. Feel. Like. But. Even though. You don't. Feel. Like. You still.

[5:31] Have. To. More. Men. Always. Feel. Must. Feel. Like. Praying. No.

[5:42] I don't. Feel. But. I. Have. To. I don't. Feel. Like. Praying. But. I. Ought. To. In. Matthew.

[5:53] Chapter. 26. Verse. 36. Very. Interesting. Story. There. You are. All. Familiar. With it. But. It's. Good. To. See. It. Matthew.

[6:03] 26. 36. Then. Jesus. Came. To. Them. To. A. Place. Called. Gethsemane. Matthew. 26. 36. Then.

[6:14] Jesus. Came. Came. With. Them. That's. Talking. About. His. Disciples. To. A. Place. Called. Gethsemane. And. Said.

[6:24] To. The. Disciples. Sit. Here. While. I. Go. And. Pray. Over. There. He.

[6:34] Told. The. Disciples. Sit. Here. While. I. Go. And. Pray. Over. There. There. Is. Always. A. Here. And. Over. There. There. Is. An. Over. There. That. You.

[6:45] Only. Go. There. When. You. Want. To. Pray. In. The. When. They. Came. To. Gethsemane. He. Told. While.

[6:56] I. Go. Sit. Here. While. I. Go. And. Pray. Over. There. Then. Verse. 37. And. He. Took. With. Him. Peter.

[7:10] And. The. Two. Sons. Of. Zebedee. And. He. Be. Be. Be. Be. Sorrowful. And. Deeply. Distressed. He. Took. With. Them. Whilst. The.

[7:20] Rest. Were. Waiting. Sitting. There. He. Said. Well. I. I. Going. To. Pray. Some. People. Need. To. Go. With. Me. So. He. Carried. A. Few. Along. He. Had. How. Many. Of.

[7:30] Were. The. Disciples. How. Many. Were. The. Disciples. And. What. Percentage. Of. The. Disciples. Did. He. Take. With. Him. He. Took. 25. Percent. Of. The. Disciples.

[7:42] He. Took. 25. Percent. Of. The. Disciples. And. He. Said. You. Guys. Let's. Go. He. Took. Three. Out. Of. The. Twelve. He. Said. The. Rest. You. Stay. But. You. Have. To. Come. Along. With.

[7:52] Me. Praise. The. Lord. It. Feels. Like. The. All. Those. Of. Us. In. This. Room. Come. Along. With. Me. So. That. We. We. Are.

[8:02] A. Big. Congregation. But. We. Are. Just. About. Twenty. Five. Percent. Or. Even. Less. Here. So. He. Separate. Because. When. It. Comes. To. Going. Further. Some. People.

[8:13] Must. Sit. Down. But. It. Doesn't. Mean. They. Are. Not. Disciples. They. Are. Disciples. But. They. Must. Sit. Down. Because. They. Will. Make. A. Full. Of. Them. So.

[8:23] He. Took. Them. To. Go. And. Pray. But. Interesting. Even. Those. Who. Are. Chosen. To. Go. And. Pray. Let's. See. What. Happened. Verse. Thirty. Eight. Then. He. Said. To. Them. My. Soul. Is.

[8:34] Exceedingly. Sorry. For. Even. Unto. Death. Stay. Here. And. Watch. With. Me. And. Watch. The. He. Didn't say. Watch. Me. Pray. Do. What. Watch. That means.

[8:44] I came. To. Watch. So. Whatever. I'm doing. You should. Be doing it. So. Watch. With. Me. There are guys. They can't sit there. But. You. Stay. Here. And. Watch. With. Me. Do.

[8:56] What. With. Me. Do. What. With. Me. Watch. With. Me. Watch. Keep. Your. Eyes. Open. Keep.

[9:06] Your. Eyes. Open. And. The next. Verse. He. Went. A little. Further. And. Fell. On.

[9:16] His. Face. So. He. Was. Expecting. Him. Not. As. Far. From. Those. Who. Are. Sitting. These guys. They say. You are. With. Me. Let's. Do. It. Together. But. I. Still. Need. To. Separate. Myself. A. Little. Bit. So. He. Went. A.

[9:26] Little. Further. And. Fell. On. His. Face. And. Pray. Say. Oh. My. Father. If. It. Is. Possible. Let. This. Come. Pass. From. Me. Nevertheless.

[9:37] Not. As. I. Will. But. Let. Your. Will. Be. Done. He. Prayed. But. It's. Interesting. This. This. Prayer. It. Took. Him. One. Hour. To. Pray. This. One. It.

[9:50] Took. Him. One. Hour. That. That. Thing. He. Said. Over. There. Oh. What. Did. He. He. He. Fell. On. His. Face. Prayed. Saying. Oh. My. That. Saying. It's.

[10:00] One. Hour. Saying. So. I'm. Sure. Maybe. Oh. We. Take. Our. Five. Minutes. Oh.

[10:15] My. My. My. Two. Minutes. Father. Father. Father. Oh. My. Father. If it's possible. Let this.

[10:25] Come fast. Never. Let's. Verse. Verse 40. That's the point. Then he came to the disciples. And found them sleeping. What did he tell them?

[10:38] Watch with me. He came and found them sleeping. He said. Peter. What? Could you not watch me for how long? One hour.

[10:48] So he went for one hour. Say nothing. could you not watch with me one hour one hour you have come to sit here sleeping could you not watch with me one hour this test was he expecting them to be praying or expecting them just to be sleeping actually that exclamation what you are sleeping do you know the kind of person you are guiding that was very funny alright let's look at the next verse the next verse is even stronger watch and pray to watch with him watch and pray lest you enter into temptation but the next point is where he faced it with us the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak that's why they were sleeping right so he knew that these guys were willing he knew that he was dealing with people who were weak there's someone here you feel weak you're tired that's why I said men always have to pray not to faint hallelujah but you know what I want to draw attention to he says watch and pray that you fall not into temptation that's the first one so the kind of temptation you are able to deal with has a lot to do with how you push yourself in that hour of prayer let me put it this way watch and pray that you don't become a victim victim of circumstances you will fulfill your destiny

[12:42] I say you will fulfill your destiny you can take this hold me to account on the statement I'm about to make you can write it down hold me to account some of you later on in your life later years five years later four years five years later ten years later you'll be alive anyway say amen five years later you'll look back and miss moments like this and you'll see how moments like this has accounted to making your life colorful but at the time it doesn't look like that because you can't go through moments like this and become a victim of circumstances in life watch and pray you know what before then Peter told Jesus me I will never deny you he said it before they went to pray if he had prayed he wouldn't have denied him because the spirit was willing but some of the things it doesn't take your physical energy it doesn't take your flesh yes you are strong less you are good some of us the temptations that are befalling us is because of prayerlessness yes years ago

[13:58] Pastor Pia Kofi said something which I will never forget he said as a Christian if you don't pray you'll be sure the things you find yourself doing how many of you agree with me you will be sure the things you find yourself doing when you see a Christian has done something very bad which a Christian shouldn't do don't jump into conclusion that this person is bad check it very carefully prayerlessness prayer is missing prayer is missing so we should be thankful to God for opportunity to pray say hour of prayer hour of prayer say hour of prayer hour of prayer you must make full use of hour of prayer because it will always be like this remember remember so take advantage of now some of you the jobs and the businesses God is about to bless you with a prayer a prayer in your time you'll be so busy you can't be because around this time you'll have a meeting with one of the members of the cabinet but someone will look at you and envy you and think they don't know the investment you have put on the ground

[15:08] Peter said I mean he said I will not deny you even till death that's what he said after he rebuked Jesus he rebuked Jesus you can't go and die he said I'm telling you the truth you he said me in Matthew chapter 16 verse 28 26 27 he said me I don't know he said he said you the cock will not grow twice and you deny you have denied me three times before within the next few hours he said me he said it will never happen the lift of 22 verses says that I tell you Peter the rooster shall not grow this day shall not grow this day before you deny me three times oh that you don't know me and what did Peter say what did it say three yes both to prison and to death he said don't worry I don't know what you are talking about he said Lord I'm willing to go with you both to prison and to death was he did he mean it yeah and then when

[16:17] Jesus was a rep he said I don't know him but you know how he came back to him he said I don't know him after denying Jesus three times they were carrying Jesus Jesus was going to the bed Jesus saw Peter their eyes met he looked at him and Peter remembered it's called the holy gaze you know when people keep looking at you if you are in town and someone keeps staring at you and staring at you you may call the police because human beings don't like being stared at looking at you and looking at you and keeping an eye on you so when Adam and his sinned they went to higher because they didn't want to go to see them and Peter when he sinned and when he denied Jesus Jesus saw him easier for him Jesus had not seen him but Jesus was going they beat him and look at Peter did you see that on the screen and okay the same look that same is really good to go and the Lord turned and looked at Peter then Peter remembered the word that the Lord the word of the Lord how he said before the rooster crossed you you know what I mean just said look look at him

[17:42] Peter he was bragging because he thought he meant it but some of the things you can accomplish with the arm of flesh some of you have wonderful and beautiful destinies and you want to achieve it with the arm of the flesh United Kingdom demons Britannia will fight you because he said tell you who told you someone can be a prime minister from Peckham meanwhile your destiny is supposed to be a prime minister but your parents just grew up in Peckham so you don't have a choice you just grew up there but it can't stop where you are going say prayer prayer that's what I mean some of us do you know oh thank you Holy Ghost this is a very good point I'm about to we are praying for the Holy Spirit to come but you see when you pray to God and you open up your spirit you begin to receive things you have not asked for what happens is that some of you it could be in your destiny or it could be in your future it's been programmed into your future not by God but by circumstances and situations that when your child is three years old your child will be hospital and the doctor said that the child has seven days to live and at the time you will be looking for prayer this prayer is already working for you are you getting what I'm saying the mystery of prayer you will never pray and lose you can play and lose but you never pray and lose the flesh the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak so he told them

[19:38] I told you to pray you are sleeping he said wake up and pray that you fall not into temptation but for Matthew chapter 26 verse 41 the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak is weak verse 42 again a second time he went away and prayed saying oh my how long does it take to pray that prayer let's see if it's possible unless I drink it you let your will be done verse 43 and he came and found them ah I sleep again but their eyes were heavy does that sound like somebody here I'm not talking about just sleeping but there are times where your body is heavy the cold is heavy some of you have had a rough day today it could be it has been quite an interesting day you are not in the mood like the way most of us have been trained to think about the mood from infancy you are trained that I'm not happy

[20:54] I'm sad I'm sad they were sitting in the corner why I'm sad I'm sad they said the devil has started capturing that small boy I'm sad I'm sad I'm sad come and eat no I don't want to eat why I'm sad I'm sad that's one of the spirits the way through that's wicked spirits called Britannia range people who rule some of people like I'm sad I'm sad I'm sad none of you have had an interesting day but you are still here praying if I were you I'd be clapping for you hallelujah praise the Lord their eyes were their eyes were heavy go to the next verse their eyes were heavy and so he left them he said he didn't wake them up so he left them and went away again and prayed the third time saying what the same words why are they telling you you can't pray the same thing he said the same words he didn't say the same words even the same prayer would be different words but this one said the same words three times three hours saying every hour he says the same word every hour say the same and then what happened in verse 45 then he came to his disciples and said to them are you still not only sleeping now they are resting properly you know how when maybe you are at your office you are you know had a good decent night sleep and you are dosing off you know you are sleeping but you are not resting which is different from when you stretch your recalor and put your legs on the table your mom says what are you doing you are resting and it came to his disciples and said to them are you still sleeping and resting behold the hour is at hand and the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners and what happened rise let us be going see my betrayer is at hand they were sleeping they didn't realize it was a crucial moment they didn't know

[23:12] I believe they knew like reverend told that gentleman if you knew who you would keep an eye on you would have you would have prayed you would have kept away they didn't know Jesus said rise let's go my betrayer is at hand he's now coming Judas is coming the guys are coming to arrest me he was sleeping let's go to the next verse and while he was still speaking Judas one of the twelve with a great multitude with swords and clubs came from the chief priest and he knew what was ahead because he was prayerful but he didn't know because he was sleeping for Judas came that time he had settled the issue in prayer already so it wasn't a threat to him next verse this is a nice story isn't it now his betrayer had given them a sign saying whomever I kiss he's the one sees him because the guys didn't know who they are coming to arrest so betrayer said the one I'll kiss they went and kissed him don't be deceived by kisses

[24:29] Bible says that the rebuke of a friend is better than the kisses of your enemies in other words the rebuke of your pastor is better than the kisses of those people who are trying to just get your money and get your attention Judas came to kiss him but it wasn't a kiss a genuine kiss it was a kiss of betrayal at least even if you betray me betray me betray me like that with a slap but don't give me an assurance that you know you are always with me I love you so much kissing is one of the highest form of a demonstration of affection I'm genuinely for you I love you I'm there for you oh you're betraying me with a kiss immediately he went up to

[25:30] Jesus and said greetings rabbi and kissed him greetings rabbi oh and what happened verse 50 many pastors know what I'm talking about but Jesus said to him friend why have you come then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him verse 51 the next verse and suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut him he shaved the guy's ears off he's a fisherman he's not a soldier fisherman but there were soldiers there but the guy knew they could fight he was a rough street boy rough guy shaved off his ear and now what happened look at verse 52 but Jesus said put your sword in his place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword put your sword back you were supposed to have been praying now you are going to take sword you are supposed to have been praying listen save this moment this moment what we are doing here will save you a lot of

[26:54] I know your flesh is weak I know your eyes are heavy you know again it's better the next verse or do you not do you not think that I can now pray to my father and he will provide me with more than 12 legions of angels deliverance is not a problem because you have been working in the flesh you are using political things to try and secure the future no this is not a way to secure if I want it's easy deliverance is easy I can just say angels father send them all these guys will be scattered what's the next verse how then could the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen this is how the scripture will be fulfilled they must arrest me now he couldn't have been living in scripture in the revival if he wasn't praying those who were not praying they needed another teaching when the hour has come he didn't know what was going on he took his sword to fight he followed him to the praetorium where he says he was going to be sentenced or judged and he was denying him by heart left right center

[28:17] I don't know him I don't know him I don't hear him I said I would say I know him what happened to me because you didn't pray when you were supposed to pray so if if you were the devil say God forbid you can never be the devil but if you were the devil you have to get people not to pray so you can get an advantage over them that's not the devil's time tested where every prayerless church becomes victimized church praying church cannot be victimized Satan's job is to find ways to make you not pray on your way to prayer someone calls you you know what your cousin who lives in Honolulu you have not seen him for 10 years he just came in his business brought him in but he's going tomorrow night and he wants to meet up with you and you don't even know just before you go to prayer meeting they call you that he's here he wants to meet up with you for dinner at

[29:21] Nandos so let him take the lead you two come and take your lead when you finish you can meet somewhere spend some time together there's so many someone will just call you say oh are you still going but yesterday you went why are you going today come on let's let's just because tonight's program you don't have to miss it in fact I've been given three free tickets you know those free things United Kingdom if you want to trap anybody just write free on it write free on it right now if you want people to come to church just write free iPad if you are selling anything and you want to sell better just find a way of putting free around it free free people will be tempted because we just love free things pray take advantage and let's pray and not sleep praise the Lord he said for our temporal affliction 2nd

[30:30] Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16 this is something you have to know 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16 he says that therefore we do not lose heart even though our outward man is perishing yet the inward man is being renewed day by day as you physically feel tired spiritually you are being renewed amen so renew your spiritual man at the expense of your physical man renew your inward man at the expense of your outward man the outward man will say I'm tired the inward man will say no even though you are tired it's helping me so keep pushing through the tiredness keep pushing through the tiredness keep pushing through the tiredness if it lies within your power but there are some of us it's not that you are working you actually can make it but you have decided that you have you know your attendance will be zigzag you know you are there but really not there you can't be bothered but really listen let your absence bother you because it's not affecting anybody but you now let me put it this way how about those who don't come at all it's up to them

[31:49] I told you your presence in a prayer meeting saves you from one major prayer topic in the future so you don't have to be in a position where you are requiring people to be praying for you on some things he said many things that happened to Christians could have been avoided didn't have to happen if people were praying a lot of things that happened to Christians could have not happened if they would have been praying God will give you an advantage in life he says that therefore we lose no heart even though our outward man perishes our inward man is being renewed how many times how many times how regularly day by day so don't go don't wait day week day and a week day and a week later day by day one of the things

[32:55] I discovered is brothers and sisters listen to this one of the things I discovered is that you do not always have to feel it but you must know something is happening there are times you come to the prayer meeting very flat but even though our outward man perishes our inward man is renewed day by day then he continues for our light affliction light says light I prefer spending time here every evening than to go spending time in the hospital I won't always be in the hospital if I'm not the one sick loved one and then your home schedule is messed up and you know some of you may not know but visiting somebody at the hospital the uncertainty they say we don't know what they always don't know we've taken blood sample we are waiting for this sample to come what are they going to say he's got something and uncertainty and then they come and say it's not diabetes because it's clear we tried this one it's not

[34:19] HIV it's clear but we don't still know so we are still checking but we are keeping an eye on him we are experimenting with this drug if it will work and no no no no no no no no no no that no no no no so listen as you spend more time here praying something rubs on you read your bible but he says Christ he went to pray the people who were around him began to get affected so in the same way you spend time praying your loved ones and people who matter to you can become victims because you don't have time you have covered them your children need you praying your future wife needs you praying your future husband needs you praying your future children they need you praying your future businesses need you praying somebody shout hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah let me finish this thing oh I like to teach you our light affliction which is but for a moment it's very momentary this pain how many of you you will be praying today sometimes you feel tired the weather is very unfriendly but it's just a moment is it cold inside here if you are sitting in your room possibly even this place will be warmer than your room but pastor you don't know what you are talking about because when I can I get here

[35:52] I live here jumping on the train going to start on the platform waiting for the bus and that's where the problem is it's not just the warmth here but the warmth here has given you something which if you are going to meet the queen you would have still wanted if they say come for OB and it's in the night he will go now he will go now so it's not cold here come and imbibe bask I like what reverend needs to say he doesn't go on holiday he's never been on holiday because he's approached to life so that's why I was thinking about happiness and enjoyment he will remain a failure it's only failures who are thinking about enjoyment and happiness Bible says the heart of the wise man is in the house of mourning the heart of the fool is in the house of party 15 there's no wedding cake he will not be part of it or birthday cake every day he's eating one cake on the other it's this one's party it's this one's birthday it's this one's party the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning and ivy the meth and ivy see what's the meaning of meth pleasure pleasure you're happy and then you're playing games video movie your friend has told you he has bought the latest game

[37:20] Nintendo so come and let's play and instead of you coming to pray you are going to play Nintendo Nintendo Nintendo is for children PS4 PS4 PS4 is a system it's not a game my friend can't just tell us all the games you are a game programmer you know eh eh it's even too long FIFA yes thank you FIFA you are going to play because your friend said I bought a new one so your owner can sing remotely and the only time I can play is around 7 to 8 because I'm very busy so you two you say ok don't worry I'll come I was supposed to go and play I like this as a Nintendo FIFA I want to try my remote play with my new gadgets Amen

[38:24] Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen ok did you get something yes little drops of water make a mighty ocean little bits of advice make a very wise great advantage future Amen you always get something when you come here your life will be better today than it was yesterday Amen based on what you are exposed to prayer and the word of God can you imagine every day we are hearing something from God's word every day we are praying we are hearing we are praying you don't know what you are doing to yourself let those who have time to laugh let them keep mocking they are mocking and God is making you they are mocking and God is making you because your heart is not in the house of pleasure for our light affliction is working for us a fire verse 17 for our light affliction is working which is bad for a woman is working for a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory shout glory glory glory is coming to you people will see you and they will say wow

[39:37] I really wish I was here I really wish I was him why because this moment that looks painful is working for you a far more because it's light when you compare where you are going this thing is just light it's light so shall it be for you in Jesus name amen please put your hands together for Jesus thank you for listening to this message by David Entry to hear more from David Entry follow him on Facebook Instagram Twitter and LinkedIn you can also subscribe to Karas Church on YouTube don't forget to share and subscribe to our podcast so you are always up to date be blessed you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you