Podcast
[0:00] Hallelujah! We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny, but the Word of God. May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this Word.
[0:16] Colossians chapter 4 verse 17. Shall we all read it out loud? Let's go. And I say to our disciples, take me to the ministry of the child and the child and the child and the child and the child.
[0:29] One more time. And say to our disciples, take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in that thou fulfill it. Amen. He said, you have received ministry in the Lord. Take heed to the ministry that you have received in the Lord that thou fulfill it.
[0:53] Nobody can fulfill your ministry for you. Don't wait for someone to give you a position before you fulfill your ministry. No one can fulfill your ministry for you.
[1:07] And we are all here because every one of us has got a ministry. It doesn't have to have a name, but it must be a ministry that is in your heart.
[1:22] It's your heartbeat. You know it's your commitment to God. And that's why we are all here because everyone here is one way or the other involved in ministry.
[1:39] What is ministry? Ministry, another word for ministry is service. Service. Or one author puts it this way.
[1:50] Ministry is meeting needs with love. Meeting needs with love. The work of God does not thrive on committees.
[2:07] Committee. This committee has met. This committee has met. The work of ministry. The work of God thrives on ministry. So ministry is like the blood.
[2:19] Like the way blood is in the body. Ministry in the church is just the way blood is in the body. So without blood, a body cannot live.
[2:31] Without ministry, the work of God cannot go on. So an opportunity to do ministry, to be involved in ministry or the work of God is one of the best opportunities you can ever receive in life.
[2:50] So when the devil wants to fight you, wants to make you backslide, wants to fight your reward, wants to fight your opportunities, the first thing he wants to attack is your ministry.
[3:01] When people start backsliding, it begins to show in the way they carry out their ministries. The ministry is so spiritual. Ministry is so divine.
[3:14] Show me someone who is, give me somebody who is praying, always praying in the, going away and spending time, hours praying, almost every time.
[3:28] And reading his Bible. When you show me somebody who just prays averagely, but it's more, it's involved in ministry. And I'll tell you the one who will be rewarded is the one involved in ministry.
[3:41] Unless it's a prayer ministry. If it's a prayer ministry, there are people like Anna, who God has given them the ministry of praying for some things to happen.
[3:53] So it's not like they are praying for themselves. So it's a ministry. It's like an intercessory ministry. He was interceding for the arrival of the Messiah.
[4:03] So then when God says, I'm going to do something, there must be somebody who has the ministry of prayer to stay in intercession constantly for it to happen.
[4:19] So ministry is what makes God's work, work. The worst thing that the COVID tried to do against the church is to deny people from service, from fulfilling their ministries.
[4:36] So let's say somebody is in the choir. And then for one reason or the other, it's no more interested in the choir. Stopped.
[4:46] You are not doing anything. Satan has won the vote in your life. And it will always have an impact on the quality of blessings your life flows in.
[5:03] So to be part of ministry, to be involved in ministry is a very great opportunity. And it says that, the scripture says that, say to Archippus.
[5:14] It is a say to the Christians. It doesn't give us ministry collectively. Ministry is very, very personal.
[5:26] It's a very personal thing that your fulfillment of your ministry should not be determined by others. How others treat you or how others do this.
[5:37] It's a very personal thing. It says that, watch the text again. Say to Archippus, take heed. Tell him that he should take heed to the ministry which thou has received.
[5:49] In the Lord. So you receive it. And you take it to that ministry. That you have received in the Lord. What are you supposed to do? Take it that you fulfill it.
[6:03] Is it possible there will be a lot of Christians who will die with unfulfilled ministries? And I don't know how God is going to reward people with unfulfilled ministry.
[6:15] One of the blessedness of godliness is that it holds value in the life. Bible says, 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 8.
[6:28] It holds value in the life that now is and the life that is to come. Anybody who is genuinely working with God, it must show in your life. Not later.
[6:39] The life that now is. The life that now is. If nothing is working in your life, that means you are not working for the Lord.
[6:51] If nothing. If one of the things that, when things start going wrong. One after the other.
[7:03] Wake up. It's not just prayer. It's commitment to God. Commitment to God has a way of being like the wind in your sail.
[7:15] The wind under the wings. To sustain you. It's commitment to God. So, anytime things start going, anything can go wrong with life.
[7:28] One thing or the other. But if it's not one, you can see a trail of different things. Different things. You just lost your job. And then your mother was hospitalized.
[7:40] And then your car was seized. And then your mortgage didn't go through. Too many things. Too many things. Too many things are happening together.
[7:52] Too many things that are happening together. That must show you that something is wrong. So, when a lot of things are not. Suddenly, then the doctors are also complaining about your health.
[8:04] Your health. Your marriage. Your child. Your job. I mean. It's like. They begin to happen one after the other.
[8:15] Trend of negative things. If you are in Christ. And you have been walking with Christ. And trend of negative things begin to. By the second one. Two and a half. One realize that no.
[8:26] Something is wrong. Something is wrong. It's not first of all a matter of prayer. First of all a matter of commitment. Commitment. Grace. One of the reasons why.
[8:39] It is good. Or. Let me put it this way. When I saw it in the scripture. It was such a blessing to me. Now. It says that. Take it to the ministry you have received. That you fulfill it. God will not fulfill it for you.
[8:50] You have to fulfill it. God. When it comes to ministry. I want to use one of the words. The people were using. Which people couldn't spell.
[9:04] It's not monogistic. It's synergistic. It's not a monogistic act from God. So God is just doing his own thing. No. God doesn't do his own thing in your life.
[9:15] He does it with you. So Ephesians chapter 3 verse 9. He says. We are working together. Call. Uses the word. Call. First Corinthians 39.
[9:27] For we are laborers together. With who? With who? With who? With God. I know some people won't say it. We are laborers together with.
[9:39] With God. Not with your departmental leader. Not with your pastor. Not even with your church. You are laboring together with God.
[9:53] It calls for labor. Labor will take your energy. Labor will ask of you.
[10:05] What might inconvenience you. Labor. Labor. And it says that anytime there's labor. It is. In fact. The Bible puts it this way.
[10:16] It said. It's. God doesn't forget. The labor of love. Hebrews chapter 6 verse 10. Your labor of love. Is the labor of love.
[10:28] You are laboring. And this is. Because of your love for God. That's why you are going through. What you are going through. You are laboring. The platform. Or the foundation. Of your labor. Is love for God.
[10:39] So. It says that. We are. Laborers together. Let's all say together. Together. So you are co-laborer. It's never a.
[10:51] Monagistic. It's. Mono. It's like God. Synergistic. It's together. Syn. Synchronized. Synergistic. So.
[11:02] There are certain works. On earth. That God. Does not. It's not a monogistic act. It's synergistic. It's not a monogistic. Especially when it comes to. This is a good one.
[11:13] The quality of blessing. You walk in. The quality. Blessings are real. Blessings are real. Blessings.
[11:24] You must walk with God. And serve God. To the. To the extent that. Everybody. Around you. Especially. Family members. And old friends.
[11:35] Don't have the choice. But to admit. That you are better than them. Your life has been better. Made better. They will admit. That. God. Has actually favored you. Yes.
[11:47] God has actually favored you. I am a living proof. That. God. Rewards. Labor. Labor. And that is one of my biggest message.
[11:59] For Christians. I have seen. How. God. Rewards. Labor. Your labor. Your work. Your work.
[12:10] Your commitment. Your devotion. To God. When you see a church. With less. Workforce. When I say workforce. Those of us here. Who are part of the department.
[12:22] With less workforce. They will never see. Major move of God in there. You will see a lot of. Major move of God in there. When you are doing something. At a church. It is not about money. It is an attitude. But you have to.
[12:33] Guard. Against that. Because. It can downgrade. The quality of. Reward. Or reaction. Heaven gives you. It is important.
[12:45] You have to. Guard. Against it. Some people. When they marry you. Your story changes. Yes. It is not everybody. You marry you. Some people. When you marry them.
[12:56] You will never go up. No. It depends on what is following them. And what is following you. Some people. When you marry them. Life begins to fall in pleasant places for you.
[13:10] Sometimes. The shortest way. To secure some things. Is. The covenant way. Dedication. To the things of God. Can secure some things. For your life.
[13:21] Which hitherto. It will be a struggle. Service. Commitment. This thing works. It works. It works. I am standing here.
[13:32] As an evidence. Of how much. Genuine. Genuine. Not eye service. And memory. Memory. Nothing is. You are not.
[13:43] Nothing ever satisfies you. Everything is somebody's. Somebody's responsibility. It's a sign you are not spiritually growing. Doesn't matter how long you have been in the church. Everything has been somebody's responsibility.
[13:54] They haven't given you a chance. They haven't given. You are not spiritual. You are not growing. You are not spiritual. You are not growing. The one who cannot be corrected. Cannot be lifted. You can't be lifted.
[14:07] Some people. When you correct them. Before they even listen to you. They have concluded you are wrong. For correcting them. God gives grace. To the humble. Most interpretation boils down.
[14:19] To lack of spirituality. Interpretation that makes your heart faint. That makes you feel tired. That makes you feel disinterested. Be committed.
[14:31] Be faithful. Be faithful. When God wants to help you. Guess what? I'm about to say all I've been trying to say. When God wants to help you. What you need is mercy.
[14:42] Because of your mercy past. Because of every one of us. I need more mercy. If there's anyone who needs me.
[14:54] I need more mercy. Mercy has a way. Of overlooking where you've gone wrong. When you realize you have gone wrong. And you are willing to amend. It's not those who correct them.
[15:06] They are upset. When we correct you. You are upset. Mercy will elude you. It's pride. It's pride. Because if God was with you.
[15:17] Where are the results? In that thing. Somebody told me. I stand now for Bible school. Where is it taking you? Where are your souls? Where are your souls?
[15:30] Where are your works? If God is with you. Where are. It's a simple question. Where are your works? If.
[15:41] Acts 2. 22. God. Attested him. With signs. Yes. Yes. Yes. If God is with you. It will show in a lot of different areas. Somebody say mercy.
[15:52] Mercy. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 1. Let me try and round up. Pastor Charles. You will like this text. That's my testimony. Let's already align together. Let's go. Let's go. Two things.
[16:12] It's similar to take you to your ministry. Don't lose heart. Because watch this. The ministry you have been allowed to get involved. It's an expression of God's mercy towards your future.
[16:25] Because when God wants to favor you. It's not going to be moderistic. It's going to be synergistic. So. Because God wants you to cooperate with him in something.
[16:37] Because why do you have to reap what you have not sown? So for God to show you certain levels of mercy. Show blessings in your life.
[16:48] He will give you great room for you to sow seeds. For you to get involved with something. And then on the grounds of that. He exposes you to unmerited favors.
[17:00] Yes. But. So. Somebody asked me a question. He said. If grace is unmerited. And he says that sometimes you can do something to provoke grace. Then it's not. It's merited. A very interesting question.
[17:13] God doesn't work unilaterally. To determine blessings in your life. He works with you. So your portion.
[17:25] He will create the room. So God will come and create room. When he wanted to give Hannah. A son. He made Hannah realize that God is lacking a prophet.
[17:36] A prophet. And for Hannah's heart to say. I want to be the one who produced that prophet. So it's like. Look okay. Now that means that I'm teaming up with God. God. I need a son. But God also.
[17:48] Needs a prophet. And I make a commitment to God. That if you give me a son. I'll give him to you as a prophet. And God said. I'm looking for a prophet. So that's good then. It's a deal.
[17:59] It's a deal breaker. God authorized the deal. And gave her a son. But not only that. Gave her many other children. So because God wanted to visit her.
[18:10] God created the platform for her. To get involved with what God is doing. You see what I'm saying. So. When you do ministry. Or you serve in God's house.
[18:22] It is. An extension of mercy. For you to procure. What is not about to show up. So you procure something. That shows up. To put laughter in your mouth.
[18:33] So he said. As you have received this ministry. Since you have received. As you have obtained mercy. As you have received mercy. Ministry. To do anything in God's house.
[18:44] God is trying to show you mercy. Because it's likely. Your background is about to bite you. It's likely. Something you did wrong. Is about to creep up.
[18:55] In your future. To hurt you. Pay back time. Because. Not everybody. Many people. Do not. Qualify. For certain things in life.
[19:08] No. Many people. But God. In his wisdom. Because he wants to show you mercy. To make you a mother. Because. Four years. Five years. Even. Six years before.
[19:19] Ten years before you got married. He created room. Room. For you to be serving. Dedicatedly. In the choir. Because. Ministry. Is God's way. Of.
[19:30] Lavishing mercy. On you. Because. The truth is that. He is not unrighteous. To forget. Your labor of love. So.
[19:40] Anytime you get opportunity. To invest labor. You have committed. God. His. His hands are. Forced to show up. In your life. In a favorable way. But.
[19:50] So. Satan. Scanning. Way. Is to. Stop you. From commitment. To ministry. In a certain level. Yeah. Are you getting what I'm saying?
[20:02] Yeah. Satan. Is determined to stop you. When you get it. Right early. It gets very well for you. When you get it right early. A lot of things.
[20:13] Fall in places. Early in your life. Yeah. If you don't get it right early. Later on. You may try to catch up. But by the time you even catch up.
[20:24] It's not the same. It's never the same. So. Age has a way. Of making you tired. Age. So it's always. Better to stay. Start.
[20:35] Doing some things early. Over the years. So you might not know. I think God should be mercy. By giving me opportunity to serve. Because. He was preparing me.
[20:45] For today. Because today is not a qualification. It's just an extension of his mercy. Towards my future. Show me mercy. If you have the chance to serve. It's God's mercy.
[20:59] Towards your future. Some of you. Towards your marriage. You never know who you are going to marry. Yeah. Maybe people don't grow to be across 45 in their family. There are so many dynamics in life.
[21:12] A lot of dynamics. Sicknesses. Acute mental health. That are genetical. In people's life. You won't know that this person I'm going to marry.
[21:24] You're going to marry somebody. And later you find out that this person has unusual sleeping disorder. There are so many variables in life.
[21:35] Marriage. You will get it. The kind of children you are about to produce is also a different story. Their health. Their health. The time of their birth.
[21:46] Some of the children. Sometimes if you are not careful. And God doesn't intervene. You will give birth. And the child comes premature. And they want to start a whole journey of challenge in your life.
[21:59] To the extent that every time that a child is not well. They ask when was the child born. You can ask always. When the child is having some health issue.
[22:09] They ask what time. If they were born full time. A full term. Yes. They always ask at the hospital. Caesarean. Or natural birth. These are all little little various you might not know.
[22:22] When you are committed to God. I'm not saying. If it happens to you. That means you are not committed to God. That's not what I'm saying. But sometimes there's something like that. In the pipeline ahead. And you're messy.
[22:34] Messy. Messy. Messy. I'm amazed how you showed me mercy. And you look at others. You were in the same group with. And you can tell how your story is different.
[22:46] You can tell how. Instead of murmuring and complaining and joining. People who. Stories are different. Yes. God's way of showing you mercy. Is not your education.
[22:58] It's your service. Therefore having obtained this. As we have received mercy. Let us not lose heart. Because that means that when you are.
[23:10] When you have given your ministry. There are times where you feel like. It's okay. I've done enough. How many of you have felt. Tired before. Like. What you are doing. Emotionally.
[23:21] Feel like. You know what. Is enough. It is part of it. So. So then. We are. Let us not lose heart. Because. It gets to a time.
[23:31] When you feel like. You know what. I've tried. Sometimes. Even not what. What you have done. But. How people are also receiving you. Maybe your leader. Is speaking on you.
[23:42] Unnecessary. Do you know what. God is trying to give you opportunity. To be humble. And prove where your allegiance is. If your allegiance is to God. Or to the system. Just the leader.
[23:53] When your allegiance is to God. You don't lose heart. Because you are busy procuring mercy. For your future. For your marriage. Listen. If there is something you need.
[24:05] Believe God. For. Mercy for your family life. That's. One of the greatest areas of blessing. For some of us. The amount of. Things you have done.
[24:16] Means your. Is likely. Your marital future. Your family future. Is at stake. Yeah. The only thing that can help you. Is when mercy gets involved.
[24:27] When mercy gets involved. When mercy. The way you. You bad. Mouth somebody's marriage. When they were about to do the wedding. Oh this girl is young. Say all kinds of things.
[24:40] Your marriage hasn't come yet. You are still waiting. Now you know better. You have to believe God for mercy. You have to believe God for mercy. And show other people mercy.
[24:52] Don't ever develop appetite. For disgusting other people's downfall. Second Samuel. I think Second Samuel chapter 2 verse 9. Said tell it not in God.
[25:03] Publish it not in Ashkelom. Publish it not in Ashkelom. How are the mighty fallen. And it has become your song. Because somebody has fallen. You are rejoicing.
[25:15] You are rejoicing. Chapter 1 instead. Yeah. From 19. From 19. The beauty of Israel is slain. On your high plains.
[25:25] How the mighty have fallen. This is talking about Saul. And his son Jonathan. They died. I think from verse 18. Let's see what 18 says. And he told them.
[25:37] To cheat the children of Judah. So. Indeed. Okay. So then it says that. How are the mighty fallen. Then the verse 20. The verse 20 says that. Some things tell it not. Pub proclaim it not. In the streets of Ashkelom.
[25:48] Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice. Lest the daughters of the uncircumphiles triumph. Some things. Don't talk about it. Don't talk about it. Someone did something against you.
[25:58] You are so happy. They are falling. Don't. Don't rejoice. Don't. It says if your enemy falls. Do not rejoice. Do not rejoice. If I were you.
[26:10] I will always assess my need. Oh yes. Assess my need. Consider my background. Assess my need. You have a health issue.
[26:23] Every time. Hospital. Every time. Hospital. Every time. Hospital. Why do. Or your child. Or your husband. Or your wife. Why don't you serve in a certain foolish capacity. Don't serve like others who don't have your kind of problem at serving.
[26:37] Because you know what you are trying to procure. Believe God. That mercy. Mercy. For some reason. Mercy will spare you. Because. Something in your past.
[26:47] Something in your past. Is still standing against you. Yeah. Yeah. There's a standing order from your past still against you. All of us. All of us. Me included. There are things.
[26:58] Mistakes. You might call it errors. But destiny doesn't care. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There are some errors. That are standing against you. Things you have said. That you shouldn't have said. People you have hurt.
[27:10] That you shouldn't have hurt. People you lied against are in trouble. And out of their pain. Some of you boys. You broke a woman's heart. You won't come and serve faithfully. You've come to church.
[27:21] You're also trying to look like. You've been so spiritual. And you are joining a team of people. Gossiping. And your service. You come late. You hang around. Now you have been in church long enough. So. Well. Ask for pastor.
[27:31] I know this. I know this. Your destiny will know it. What gives me the audacity to speak. The way I'm speaking. Is because this is the only. Sure way. I've found. Sure way.
[27:42] I've found. That. So I'm trying to tell you. Believe God for mercy. I don't know what is chasing you. From your mother's background. But don't forget about your mother's story.
[27:53] Don't forget about your father's story. Look at the state of your health. Look at the state of your family life. Your children. That should advise you. That. The only way God can.
[28:05] Be forced. To get involved in my life. Is my. Engaging in this ministry. In ministry. He said. He gives you ministry. That's why I said. See to it that you fulfill it.
[28:17] Say. There are some people. Let me say this at the end. There are some people. God. The. People God is using. Say. This one.
[28:28] Is profitable. To me for ministry. Yeah. If people God is using. Who we can tell God is using. Can't say. You are profitable for them in ministry.
[28:40] My sister. My brother. Believe God. You are not doing ministry. If you are. If your ministry is authentic. You will always be profitable. Some. Who are ahead and God is using.
[28:52] Profitable. He said. 11. For 11. Bring Mark. For he is. Profitable. To me. For the ministry. There are some people.
[29:04] I will. They will always give you. As a leader. They will always give you opportunity to say. They are profitable to you. For the ministry. Over 90% of you here.
[29:16] Are very profitable. For the ministry. Others are growing into it. But. It is a matter of spiritual maturity. So. Grow up. As you grow.
[29:27] You get there. Some people. If they are not around. It doesn't affect anything. When it comes. It affects numbers. Number. Head count. So. Everybody is important.
[29:38] To that. But ministry. Some people. If they are not around. You. In fact. When they are around. When it comes to ministry. It increases the load. You know what I'm saying. You must be the one.
[29:49] Who. An apostle. Can say. I need this guy. For he is. Profitable. Sir. Any endeavor. Or any need. In this ministry. There always be somebody.
[30:00] Who comes to mind. There are certain people. When there is a need. They will never come to mind. Depends on what need. Every need. There is somebody. Who will come to mind. There is somebody.
[30:10] Who will come to mind. In this work. Everybody. There is something. I can call upon. I mean. There are people. Some of you. You will never by accident. Even come. In my mind. Push yourself.
[30:21] You will never lose. No. You will never. No one does. The work of God. And loses. Okay. So I want to encourage you. That's my. Philosophy in life.
[30:34] Do God's work. And God will take care of you. Do God's work. And it's not everything. You have to pray for God. Bless me. Bless me. You do. It says seek. If you are the kingdom of God. And to be added.
[30:46] Whatever your life needs. Marriage. Money. Safety. Your children. Your children are the most. Important aspect of your future.
[30:57] The way you are. Your retirement age will go. Is a function of your children. Your retiring age is. How you be peaceful.
[31:08] Ask your grandma. Your peace. In your latter age. Has to do with. Your children. The outcome of their life. Not one. And how they are. They are not fighting among themselves.
[31:19] And some of those things. Is not just training. Is the blessing of the Lord. Is the blessing of the Lord. So don't be serving.
[31:30] And just looking at today. But as you serve. Remember. This is mercy. God is creating room for me to have mercy. So the things that have fought my father. Will not be able to successfully fight me.
[31:42] The things that have fought my mom. Will not be able to fight me. The things that fight family members. Will not be. I know it's my turn. But mercy. I have obtained mercy. To escape.
[31:52] What nobody in my family escapes. Thank you for listening to this message. By David Entry. We pray you have been strengthened. And enlightened. You can connect with David Entry.
[32:05] On all relevant social media platforms. Including Instagram. And LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages. From David Entry. On all relevant streaming platforms. And the Caris Church app.
[32:16] Don't forget to like. And share the message. Be blessed. Be blessed.