The God Factor

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Entry. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. Hallelujah. In Hebrews chapter 11, verse 9, I think you will like this one. By faith, that's talking about Abraham. By faith, he is sojourned in the land of promise.

[0:25] By faith, Abraham sojourned in the land of promise. To sojourn means to travel. He was moving in the land.

[0:35] He was within the land of promise. Which land? The land of promise. By faith, Abraham sojourned in the land of promise. Watch this. As in a strange country.

[0:48] That's the land God said I'm going to give to you. When he got to the land, he didn't settle like I have arrived. He was even handling the place of promise. That marriage he has waited for for so long.

[0:59] That job he has waited for for so long. That house he has waited for. That breakthrough he has waited for for so long. When the promise of God was fulfilled, Bible said Abraham handled it like he has not even arrived yet.

[1:12] By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise. In a strange country. He behaved like I don't even know the place yet. You have arrived. This is where God said he was bringing you.

[1:23] Yes, but I still, I'm still looking up to God. I don't know the place yet. Why? Because he was looking for something. And Bible says that dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, they're heirs with him of the same promise.

[1:38] That means that Bible says that they were also heirs of the same promise. What God promised Abraham was valid for Isaac and was valid for Jacob. And they all handled the promise of God in the same way, the same manner.

[1:54] Because they learned from Abraham. Bible says that he dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob. Isaac also dwelt in tents. Jacob also dwelt in tents. They didn't build houses, let alone mansions in the promised land.

[2:06] Because why? I will show you what there is. Look at Ephesians 10. Bible says that, for he sought for a city which had foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

[2:18] So he sought for a city which had foundation. There are things that your mind can be on. And because of that, even though you've got the best job, even though you are married, even though you've had your children, even though you've had so much money, there are things that will be on your mind.

[2:35] Your focus will be on some things that nothing is good enough for you outside of that. That is the secret of Rahab. Rahab said that, Bible said he hit the spies.

[2:48] She, sorry, she hit the spies. She covered them. Because she knew that God was with them. Verse 25. Because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

[3:05] Why did she hide them? Because she saw that there is some God factor in this thing. And I want to risk everything and focus on that. That's the same thing. Abraham said, I'm looking for the God factor in the steps I'm taking.

[3:19] In my friendships, I'm looking for a God factor. I'm looking for a city that has foundation. The builder is God himself. God is the one who has built this. God is the maker and the builder.

[3:31] This thing I'm running with, it is from God. Why are you trying to make a boyfriend a potential husband? When you know that this one, the foundation is not God.

[3:42] It doesn't have a foundation. When you know that this one is not God who is building it. You know, you know it's not God who is the maker. But you are making it the promise. Because it looks like God has promised you that this year is going to be.

[3:53] So, when the thing looks like a husband, you have hijacked it. But you are not looking out for the God factor inside it. By faith, it takes, well, watch this.

[4:04] It takes faith to be able to look at breakthrough. They've handed breakthrough to you. You can look at breakthrough. And you say, no, I don't see God factor in this.

[4:15] I'm going to risk it and look for what has the promise of God in it. That's faith. That's faith. Your number one, anybody who's working by faith, your number one priority is what God is doing.

[4:34] It's what God is saying. Not how you feel. Not what they are saying. Not how it looks like. So, Abraham got to the promised land and still said, I'm not building a house.

[4:47] I'm not settling. I'm still moving from. Maybe there's a particular spot in this promised land that God will need me. Because he was looking for a building. And it's not only him. Isaac did the same. Jacob did the same.

[4:58] No wonder God said, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Why? Because these are people who only look for what I am looking for. And build their lives around what I'm building for.

[5:10] I'm building. Watch this. Foundation. Everything you are doing, make sure it has a godly foundation. Marriage. Business. Your career.

[5:23] That bringing of your children. Your children's education. Your financial pursuit. Make sure. Your friendships. Ask me as your pastor.

[5:33] One of the things that you must know. I don't have too many friends. I have just a few. And even that, I'm very careful who becomes my friend. The fact that you are a pastor doesn't mean you can be my friend. Because there are different types of pastors who are looking for different kind of things.

[5:51] Not many wise. Not many noble. He said not many noble. God does not depend on people's nobility to do his work. He will call the fishermen. He will call the foolish.

[6:01] He has chosen the foolishness of this world to confine the wise. Those who are saved. Those who he's saving. He can choose them anytime. Now, let me not go too far from what I'm talking about.

[6:11] Because I'm moving into something else that is on my passion. My heart. The point here is that, sir. Madam. You choose to walk by faith. And faith is not jargon.

[6:25] Attitude. Cliché. I walk by faith. I walk by faith. No. It's not just that. Faith is an action. And the action is you and an attitude. The action is you are taking steps based on what you know God has told you.

[6:41] That's in obedience. Yes. And then the attitude is you are not settling on anything less than what you know God is doing. Whether it's convenient is not convenient. Bible says, by faith, Abraham dwelt in the promised land as a sojourner.

[6:58] He is sojourned. He was traveling from place to place with Isaac and Jacob with him. Verse 10 says that for this sort, for he looked for, he looked for a city.

[7:10] Please. Faith will always look for a city who has foundations. Whose maker and builder is God. In other words, faith will look for the God factor in this thing I'm trying to do. Someone has started liking you.

[7:24] Is he of God? I know you want to marry, but that thing is he of God. He's somebody's husband. She's somebody's wife. Oh, I feel like preaching.

[7:35] Some of you are very quiet on me. All right. We walk by faith and not by sight. And when you are walking by faith, don't fear.

[7:46] You trust God. Put your confidence in God and take the steps of God. From tonight, I see somebody's story changing. From tonight, I see somebody's story changing.

[7:58] I see a radical shift and a radical turnaround in your story in the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. So shall it be. Amen.

[8:10] Amen. In Jesus name. Amen. We thank God for using his servant, Reverend Dr. David Entry, to share this awesome word. If this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at caris.org.

[8:26] Remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Caris Ministries. Stay blessed. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[8:36] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.