[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. May the life of God enter into you and you as you listen to this message. Be blessed.
[0:17] When you fast, God moves fast. Wow. When you fast, what happens? God moves fast.
[0:30] It's not because God is slow, but fasting makes you more open for an encounter.
[0:42] It's like, in fact, where he talks about, it's not that my hands are short that I can't save. So it's not about what God can do, but it's more about how well we can be prepared to receive Him.
[0:55] So fasting prepares us and opens us for more receptivity. So let's say if we have 5G here and your phone can only do 3G.
[1:09] So you see, it's not the 5G that is here. That is the problem. So if you can upgrade and change something in your phone to be able to even do 4G, that means you can catch things faster.
[1:21] So fasting retains you spiritually. That's why when you want to fast, you start fasting, you begin to feel resistance. You feel resistance.
[1:32] And if the resistance doesn't succeed in stopping you, then temptations and opposition. People begin to fight you. Who shouldn't be fighting you?
[1:43] People begin to do things to provoke you. That shouldn't be. Why? Because Satan wants to slow you down.
[1:55] Because when you fast, God will move fast. Fasting tunes you for a better receptivity from above.
[2:07] That is why I'm very confident that somebody is receiving a testimony. If you are the one I'm talking about, your amen will show it. I see God favoring you.
[2:26] Amen. Jesus was teaching in Luke chapter 5 verse 17. And the power of God was present to heal. The teaching, he says, and the Pharisees and the teachers of the Lord.
[2:39] And the power of God was present to heal through teachings. So I see you entering to another phase.
[2:55] Now when we are fasting and coming to the end of the fasting, that's when one has to be a little bit more alert. Why? Because usually at the end of fasting, things tend to happen.
[3:07] Amen. The Bible says at the end of the fasting, Esther took a step. And the Bible says that Daniel fasted three whole weeks. Daniel chapter 10 from verse 2.
[3:19] He said, I fasted three whole weeks. I did not eat any pleasant food. Nor any pleasant thing entered my mouth. Three whole weeks was fulfilled.
[3:30] Yeah. He said, I ate no pleasant food, nor meat, or wine came into my mouth. Nor did I anoint myself at all.
[3:41] Till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Now, so he said, I did this till that. In other words, for three weeks. Till God told three whole weeks were fulfilled.
[3:53] Look at the next verse. It says that now on the 24th day of the month. So he started on the 30th day of the month. I was by the side of the great river that is the Tigris.
[4:06] What happened? I lifted my eyes and said, look, and behold, a certain man clothed with linen, whose waist was gathered with gold of ufers.
[4:17] It was an angel. So he described, an angel visited him. And he said, Daniel, your prayer has been answered. Amen. Yeah. He spoke to him.
[4:29] He said, oh, Daniel, man of great, man of great, man, greatly beloved, understand, understand the words which I speak to you. And I have now been sent to you.
[4:40] Whilst he was speaking these words, Daniel said he was trembling. Anyway, he said, I've come to give you answers. But I was withheld. But even though, at the end of three weeks, something showed up.
[4:55] All the resistance couldn't take it anymore at the end. He said, I was fasting and on the third day. I was fasting, Acts chapter 10 from verse 29.
[5:07] I was fasting. And he was on the roof praying. And within the time of the fasting, towards the end of the fasting, four days ago I was fasting and at the ninth hour, a man stood clothed.
[5:23] I was fasting and it was the third day the angel came. So towards the end of the fasting, things come. Matthew chapter 4 verse 3.
[5:37] It says that, and now when he came to him, let's look at verse 2. And when he had fasting for 40 days, afterwards. Luke chapter 4 verse 2.
[5:52] Luke chapter 4 verse 2. Being tempted for 40 days, and he knows he had nothing. And afterwards, when they had ended, he was hungry. And the devil started talking to him.
[6:05] So towards the end, that's when he finished the devil. In temptation, he made him small. As a human who was being tempted by the devil, Jesus dealt with him in fasting.
[6:20] Amen? Amen? Amen. So, I'm trying to say that in the next two days, expect a heavenly visitation. Yes!
[6:35] Gatherings of believers are so crucially essential. Crucially essential. Gathering of believers, or let's put it this way, gathering of God's people.
[6:51] When God's people gather, it's so essential. There were things Jesus didn't teach, so He has gathered. They were gathered. In fact, Acts 1 verse 4 says that, And when they had assembled, it was a constant thing.
[7:08] When He resurrected, He went into the place where they have gathered. There's something about our gathering that attracts God. And God works in gatherings. Let's all say that together.
[7:22] All works in gathering. So anything that wants to stop you from being part of the gathering of the believers, is trying to stop you from experiencing God in an unusual way.
[7:35] Different things Satan uses to stop people from being in the gathering among the believers. Number one is get them distracted by other events.
[7:46] So you do not... Satan will use other activities very quickly and easily to distract you. He likes that a lot. Using activities.
[7:57] And some of them are legitimate activities. But he will use that to distract you. Number two, he also uses feelings. So today I don't really feel like it.
[8:11] It's too hot. Today I'm very... Today... You shouldn't go to church because you feel like it. You shouldn't go where believers have gathered because you feel like it.
[8:23] So... Feelings. You can use your feelings. Number three, you can also use your offense. You have been offended.
[8:35] That's why now in days you don't come because your father died and no one called you. Did you die? Thank God you didn't die. Maybe prayers have kept you alive. Sometimes you forget about...
[8:49] You see... Your mother dying does not change the problems you have. Okay. Let me see. If you have marital problems, You are fighting with your wife every day.
[9:02] Say God forbid. God forbid. Fighting with your wife and it's become a bigger problem for you. And your mother dies. Listen.
[9:13] We are trying to help you through the teaching of God's word so that... That actual current problem in your life can stop. Now your mother has died. Another issue. But you are using that issue...
[9:25] To... Redraw yourself from where the major problem will be solved. You understand what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah, you've seen that? So Satan will use it. Yes. So... You are offended because on your birthday...
[9:37] No one put your image on their status. It's just skin deep. Whatever you are excited about...
[9:49] You are always quick to show. Things must begin to speak very loudly around you. Nothing of value comes without an effort. You want to tap into a certain grace...
[10:02] You got to pay a certain price. Yeah. You have to pay a certain price. You want to cash a grace a person carries... Or a grace in a house... You have to pay a price.
[10:13] Not a convenient price. It's not a convenient price. A price that people might rise up against... But you still pay the price. Status!
[10:25] But the point I'm making is that... Sometimes... There's not enough signals around you... That corresponds to your so-called commitment to church. That's all I'm saying.
[10:37] There's not enough weight of signals around you... That reflects your claims of commitment. Yeah. If you are really committed...
[10:49] It will show... In different ways. Then sometimes... Nobody puts your picture on their status... Or your birthday. So now you are upset.
[11:00] That's why you are not coming to fellowship. Okay. So offense. Offense. Offense can stop you from coming to fellowship. Coming to church meetings. And so now in this...
[11:12] I even watch online. So... Gatherings are important. And Satan will use anything to block your gathering. He will use activities. He will use your feelings.
[11:25] I'm tired today. He will use your fear. He will use your offense. And then we use fear. Fear. So... I've seen this man.
[11:36] I feel... I just have the conviction that... I should bless this man. Because... I can tell the hand of God is on his life. Just when I was about to bless him... This guy said... It's not everywhere I take my money to...
[11:47] Because some of these people... You can't trust anybody. So now... He's afraid. Am I doing the right thing? The way I'm going to give this thing to this person. Is this something... Or maybe...
[11:58] Let me downgrade it. See... Because... There's a certain level of trepidation. Trepidation. The Bible said... Perfect love... Casts out fear.
[12:09] 1 John chapter 4... I think there's 16 or somewhere there. 18. Perfect love... Casts out... Fear. Okay.
[12:21] So... That is what the enemy... Some of the things that... Amongst other things... The enemy will use to block you from fellowshipping. Now... But why is fellowship important? Am I teaching at all? Yes.
[12:32] Why is fellowship important? When we gather... God likes our gathering... Because when we gather... It gives God... Opportunity to do something... Personally in your life. Some of the personal things...
[12:43] That happen in your life... Is when we gather... Jesus said... In Mark chapter 11... That my house... Shaddashadaba... Shall be a house of prayer... For all nations.
[12:55] Coming together... Is... Afford somebody... An opportunity... To say one. Coming to church... You have to... Listen... There are times...
[13:06] There's a problem you're dealing with... And you haven't finished dealing with the matter... Or... Something has come up... You know you have service in the evening... This evening... Don't tackle it...
[13:17] Say... I'll be back... Let me go to church first... Let me go to church... Let me go to church... Let me go and... Spend time in a place of prayer... And then when I come... Now... I'll have a clarity of mind... To be able to deal with this challenge...
[13:29] That is coming... Because suddenly... My landlord has come... And turned off all the lights... And taken off the roof... Now... Instead of running after him... It's almost... I don't know... I have service this evening...
[13:40] Alright... And it's now... 1pm... I have service... At 7... Okay... Six hours later... Let me go and... I'm going to church and come... Yeah...
[13:51] Then after church... I will tackle this thing... The doctors have said something to you... Before you start talking to other people about it... You let me go to church... Especially...
[14:02] When you know... Church is coming... See what I'm talking about... When you know... You have a service ahead of you... Take advantage of it... And say... Okay... I'm going to church and come...
[14:13] Some of you... I've always told people... Maybe you are going through... A difficult time... We are not sure what decision to make... And we are about to start fasting... I don't know... You are coming... I said... You wait...
[14:24] Let's finish the fasting... Let's spend... Enough time praying... Sometime before we finish... Before we could say... Jack... God has actually visited you... Amen... So...
[14:35] One of the things that God can... God uses... The gathering of the believers... To do personally in your life... Is give you the chance to pray... And in prayer...
[14:47] You tackle difficult matters... And matters that... Need the hand of God... You tackle them in prayer... So... Gathering gives us the opportunity...
[14:58] You can pray when you are private... But there is something about... Prayer among the saints... Praying with the brethren... And prayer... They were let go...
[15:09] Acts chapter 4 verse 23... They went to their own company... And when they have told them... All these things... They lifted up their voice... Verse 24... And began to pray... So...
[15:21] Prayer... Number two... It gives us the opportunity... For the word of God... To come to us... The word of God comes to us... When we gather...
[15:34] The word of God... And the word of God... Came to... The son of Amos... Or Amos... And the word of the Lord... Came to Isaiah... The word of the Lord... Came to Elijah...
[15:45] He said... Get up and go to Zeraphim... The word of the Lord... Came... The word of the Lord... It gives us an opportunity... For a word... Listen... Nothing... Secures...
[15:57] Spiritual testimonies... Faster... Than when your heart... Is moved... By a word from God... Sometimes... Music can move you... It's good...
[16:08] Sometimes... Someone can say something... Testimony can touch you... And all that... It's good... But when a word... Moves your heart... It secures... Brings you... Closer to a state of testimony...
[16:19] Than any other thing... A word... That's why the apostles said... We will give ourselves... Continually to the ministry... Of the word... In prayer... Because those two things... Are non-negotiables... When it comes to...
[16:31] Divine visitation... So when we come to church... Sometimes... It might not even be a long preaching... But a word... Something from the scripture... That's why... It is... Wrong...
[16:42] To preach... Without quoting scripture... It's really wrong... It's really wrong... It's really wrong... It's really wrong... To preach... Or attempt to preach...
[16:53] Without quoting scripture... You might not know the reference... But you must know what... The word says... It's... It's... It's... It's... It's...
[17:04] It's... It's... It's... It's... It's... It's written... Use it... And go and look for where it's written... But it is written... So... You must...
[17:15] Sometimes you might not have the references... But you must have the word... Inside... That is... Somewhere... You know it's somewhere written inside it... And when we come to church... When we come to church...
[17:26] It's a force... The word to enter us... Number... Three... What God does... Personally... Through you... Is...
[17:38] Faith... When you come to church... There's... The gathering of the believers... Has a way... Of boosting your faith... Yeah... Boosting your faith...
[17:55] Number... When we come together... The gathering of the believers... It has a way of boosting your faith... Number... Four... Listen...
[18:06] When your faith says yes... Heaven will not say no... Amen... Actually... You really need faith... Because... Jesus said... He said... Someone...
[18:18] Luke chapter... 20... 2... Verse... 31... Someone... Satan has desired to sift you like wheat... But I prayed for you... That your faith...
[18:32] He said... But I have prayed for you... Look at verse... 31... The Lord said... Someone... Satan has asked for you... That he may...
[18:43] That means he hasn't done it yet... That means he's not doing it now... That's his plan... And he has desired to... One translation says... Satan has desired... He has desired... Hey...
[18:54] What does the King James say? Satan has desired to have you... That's his plan... He has desired... Just like Potiphar's wife... Cast a longing eye on Joseph... Yeah...
[19:06] Yeah... Satan has developed... A very... Strong appetite for you... Yeah... Sometimes Satan can develop an appetite for your health...
[19:17] Sometimes Satan can develop an appetite for your finances... Sometimes Satan can develop an appetite for your ministry and your spiritual life... So he said...
[19:29] Satan has desired... To sift you... To have you... And to sift you like wheat... So that's his plan...
[19:40] But he said... I have prayed for you... I have prayed for you... That's what... Your faith fails now... So... This... This is what... Prophesying about what's about to happen... And he says that... You need faith to enter that season...
[19:52] When you come to church... It gives you faith to enter the coming seasons... You are able to generate faith... To enter the coming seasons... Nobody knew what was coming... He said... I have prayed for you... That when that crisis comes... When those challenges come... Your faith faileth not...
[20:04] One of the miracles... There was no miracle like that in the Old Testament... Blind eye seeing... No... In fact that's why the blind eye... The blind eye... The blind eye... The blind man... Chapter 5...
[20:16] John chapter 9... He asked them... Have you ever heard of a blind man's eye being opened? Yes... It wasn't part of the miracles... That were happening... To us...
[20:27] Who is the blind eye... That was happening... To us... You are... And we are going to... To us... We are going to see... We are going to see... The blind eye... part of the miracles that were happening God was doing in the old no it wasn't Old Testament miracle it was very particular so he says that go and tell him and Isaiah said that blind will see when the Messiah comes so he said go and tell him the lame walk the blind see they have their sights restored then look at what Jesus has added that's where I want you to please Matthew go and tell them the dead are right to the gospel is preached to them and the poor of the gospel look at the next verse read it this is not a time to be offended because you are in prison he should have sir he should have told the people who came that John the Baptist was such a great man he didn't tell them he waited after the people have left the entire telling the crowd that amongst all people born by women there's nothing like John oh it's your Bible he said they're praising John the Baptist not to the people who are going to John but to the people who are just away from John offense I'm glad because on the timetable of your life at this juncture your car will be clamped but it's good you were in church before that season came before so it will be clamped anyway but now it's a that that that you are a man whose car has been clamped a woman whose car has been clamped and but yet you are in faith and you just finished church you they came a little late they should have come before you go to church that's what I'm talking about when you come to church faith rises when you come to the gathering why do you think that
[22:24] God will not give you your marriage why are you afraid about your health why are you afraid God can't do it for you you cannot stay in the presence of God and ever remain the same you are I see a testimony running towards you if you believe in that you are amen be the loudest is somebody learning something faith rises up number three number four when we come to church when we come into the gathering one of the things that happen is that encounters are given how many of you have come to church and something happened to you which you can't explain but it's this is amazing what is this what is this you can't see that something that's even sometimes you cry say God I'm changing from today something has happened to you something happened to and especially at environments like this you go home and you can't even sleep you sleep and your sleep is disrupted because you feel like praying not because of you are afraid of something evil or ominous about to happen but you just you just feel a presence you just feel that you have gotten the breakthrough yes but why do you laugh at someone when they are expressing their faith you you you are you are you are a problem you are one of those who are telling blind by tomorrow sit down you are shouting to man someone is busy this is a faith catching a a a a a a environment a miracle catching about encounter encounter getting environment allow people to release their faith to shout their amen to jump and scream shout I believe sit down let me finish yeah somebody's catching your husband yeah says one is catching your wife yes catch the word which will manifest in the next four years or the next five years that's what I mean the word will manifest so catch a word so when we come into a meeting like this is encounters it gives someone an opportunity to have a personal encounter amen amen eat it have an encounter when you come to an atmosphere like this you are likely to have an encounter and tonight someone will have an encounter so our gatherings what do our gatherings do for us personally the gathering do number one what gives us opportunity to pray number two to hear a word from god the word of god to hear the word of god number three to to boost our faith number four it is your encounters that determines the quality of your testimony so and lastly let me add this when we ah when we come together in fellowship genuine christian fellowship you will always get the chance when you come to church it gives you the opportunity to say all i have to say bye and she hey all i have to say he said he said were not then cleansed where are the nine did they not come back ah ah ah ah he said were there not 10 cleansed look chapter 17 verse 17 that was were there not 10 cleansed hey this is a were there not 10 cleansed but where are the nine
[26:33] verse 18 were there not any fun who who what what what does it mean to return to come back so gathering gives you opportunity to come back to come back to come back not to always come and ask sometimes you need to come back to say baba baba oh oh oh please sit down let's thank god let's thank god before actually the benediction okay benediction blessing people before they leave it's not more about god protect you god no it's not more about that in the new testament it starts with unto him who by his power created is that's yeah give him thanks now you are acknowledging him and throwing it to him that he alone deserve that's why it says that unto him who is able to do exceeding efficiency after travers 20 21 and 20 20 and 21 unto him who is able to do exceedingly and badly above all that we can take our acts of according to the power that works in us for strange unto him be the glory in the church now and throughout all generations every time church church must end with thanks don't leave church without thankfulness in your heart yeah that's what it's called dog so much yeah i love it i think i heard someone saying thank you jesus thank you lord sometimes when you hear something that is not nice say thank you jesus thank you lord thank you lord that when when things don't make sense and you are just confused say thank you lord thank you lord thank you and when you come to church it creates an atmosphere to be able to say equality hallelujah hallelujah we are thankful for one of the biggest things i'm supposed to end now but i always want to share one of the biggest things that anybody can be any believer can be thankful to god for is ephesians 1 7 that he how he has forgiven us he has we have redemption is that in him we have redemption through the five with you this thing bless me so much in proverbs chapter 17 verse 5 verse 15 proverbs chapter 17 verse 15 i was trying to talk about it last sunday but they were messing up with the scriptures proverbs 17 verse 15 what does it say if you justify the wicked you are an abomination to god somebody who is not innocent someone who is a sinner someone who is a gift guilty who's guilty so who's guilty who's who's carrying guilt is guilty you justify such a person you are an abomination to god but that's exactly what god himself did yes romans chapter 4 verse 5 god did what he said is abomination to me he did it because of you romans chapter 4 but to him who does not work but believes on him that just if god justifies the
[30:33] ungodly god is as god has specialized the speciality of god is forgiveness of sins chapter verse 10 verse 10 of mark chapter 2 yeah mark chapter 2 yeah mark chapter 2 what is verse mark chapter 2 verse 10 but that you may know that the sound of man has power on earth to forgive sins sins don't send people to hell sins don't send people to hell i'm sure you would have been a candidate of hell that's why we can't finish saying thank you what so what sends people to hell unforgiving sins unforgiving sins is what sends people to hell and today god looked at you he said neither do i condemn you and you are finding it difficult to say thank you in micah in micah chapter 7 verse 18 and verse 19 micah chapter 7 verse 18 19 who is a god like you and passing over the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he does not retain his anger forever because he delights us delights in mercy look at the next verse look at the next verse he will he will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities you will cast all our sins into the depths of the seas oh sinners like us forgiving and can't say thank you even without music why don't you lift your hands and just show appreciation show appreciation god forgives sins and for that we are thankful can i bring a little bit home to some of you only god knows even in these times of fasting what type of images you've watched what types of thoughts you have processed some of you have are processing last four thoughts and then you are still preaching you are still preaching on the streets winning souls you are still in church sweating sweating and believing god for a miracle hey you and sometimes you're surprised god shows you favor what what what what what i don't think we have much to say but
[34:36] all i have to say all i have all i have all i have to say all i have to say all i have to say lastly the greatest thing we can be thankful for that's the greatest thing the gospel offers which is forgiveness of sins in psalm 103 says bless the lord oh my soul and forget not his benefit bless the lord oh my soul it has never stood for god not his benefit who who forgives all hey not some god in christ found god in christ found a way to justify the ungodly and still not be an abomination to himself just you so the biggest reason for thanksgiving to a christian for a christian for a christian's forgiveness of sin but you yourself besides all of us oh you god thanks you yourself you remember sometimes you have to think between january and now there was a time you thought you will lose that your job for when you are going to meet your boss you thought that this thing was not going to happen but it was something unrelated it turned out not to be what you were afraid could happen and you were praying and god has shown you mercy so this time we are going to say a short thanks again but personally what can you remember that could have gone wrong and you were you were worried it was going to go wrong and you believe you go and it didn't go wrong and you forget you forgot so quickly to come back to say father i bring you back thanks i mean if you understand what i'm saying you forgot to come that loan application almost fell through yeah that mortgage almost didn't go through that application that examination that you knew that you have this one is a fail that you knew yeah and the paper came and the results came you're very confused because it felt like there's something going on and yet you haven't been able to come and say thank you you forgot you got a new job you got a new job that others will do anything for they are not getting lift up your hands and begin to thank you begin to thank you thank you father we come back with thanks we come back with thanks we come back to you with our thanks we come back to you with our thanks for what could have gone wrong and it didn't go wrong is
[38:39] oh come on come on come on come on the devil wanted you to die but you are still here the enemy wanted to kill you but you are still here you are here to say thank you i've come back to say thank you i just said i just came to say thank you i'm back again here i am now i'm back again the enemy sometimes loved ones around you their lives were a stake yeah but for your sake god spared them yeah yeah yeah your auntie almost died died was an intensive care You were so worried, you prayed.
[39:40] And today you've forgotten. And it's just about four months ago. Your little nephew was in intensive care. The whole family was distraught.
[39:52] Today he's running around playing football. No, no, no, no. There are times you knock on God's door and God says, Who is there?
[40:03] He says, It's me. He says, Who is there? You mention your name. I'm back again. He says, Yes, Lord, I'm back again. Yeah, what? This time was there. No, God. I just... Thank you, Lord.
[40:15] I just gave to say thank you. Thank you, Lord. And we say, Oh. And God says, Oh, you remember? Because usually people forget when I do it. You remember? He said, God, thank you.
[40:26] He said, Okay, after you have thanked me, what can I do? He said, God, no, no. You've done enough. I just want to continue to thank you. And then... And then... And then... And then you go back.
[40:39] That's what David did. The Bible said he sat on the floor and he said, What is me? What is my house? Carries, what are we? It's not because we pray more powerful.
[40:50] Many churches will pay young people to come to church. They will pay. They will pay anything. We don't struggle. What have we done?
[41:01] David said, Lord, what have I done? And what is my house that you have brought me this far? And then, as though this was not enough, you are still doing more? You know, you are promising to bless my house in the future.
[41:33] and you gave me my master's wife you have done so much for me even when i sinned against you you forgive me you've done so much and now i know what you have done is not enough you want to do more if you say lord i would thank you forever thank you forever it's like so you come back again you just said it's me god said you again say yes god i just came to say thank you say okay after that what again i know you normally have something you want to ask god no this time only thanks then you go a few hours or a few days later you come back knock again okay who is there it's me who you you again ah okay what what do you what can i do for god i'm coming to say i said you've said already god i want to say because you keep doing it and and god said god god said god god said but you have told me already for your husband for your wife why are you coming again and then you said god you've done so much for me i cannot tell it all so what what one woman cannot finish it god you've done for yes then the kidemi went and sat before the lord and said who am i oh lord god and what is my heart that you have brought me see how far you brought me oh he said and yet this was a small thing in your eyes oh god and you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come and i've regard regarding me according to the rank of the men of a high degree me you are treating me like i'm so big so yet this was i thought this is a small thing what you have done is so big and you have got you want to do more 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 caris church on youtube don't forget to share and subscribe to our podcast so you're always up to date be blessed