The Vessel God Uses

[0:00] Hallelujah. Thank you for tuning in to this powerful message by David Entry at Karis Phase 2.! Our Christ-centered youth services.! You can never find Christ outside of the open Word of God.

[0:13] May Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you as you listen. So today, by God's grace, I'm speaking on the vessel God uses. God can and has used anything and anybody God can use.

[0:25] And so whatever you think about yourself, God can use anything and God can use anybody. We see God using the stick in the hand of Moses when he went to the palace of Pharaoh.

[0:37] And yes, Moses said one or two things. But the evidence and the backing of what he was saying was in the stick that God used to turn into a snake. Swallowed the snakes of Pharaoh and picked the stick up, back up.

[0:50] God used a stick. So when I say God can use anything and anybody, we see evidence in Scripture. God used a donkey. I'm sure we've heard it again and again. God used a donkey to speak to a prophet.

[1:03] God can use anything and anybody. God even used Pharaoh. He hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that he can execute his plan for his people. Pharaoh is a heathen king.

[1:14] He's not interested in God. He doesn't want to have anything to do with God. But God used him. God can use Pharaoh. God can use the king Cyrus, who was also a heathen king, a Persian king.

[1:25] Had nothing to do with God. But God used him for the deliverance of Israel. God used a scarlet cord at the window of Rahab to deliver Rahab according to his promise.

[1:38] God used a scarlet cord. Just a scarlet cord hanging around the window of Rahab meant the deliverance. This is not ordinary. It's not possible. It's highly supernatural.

[1:49] That because everything will break around, every building around you can break down. But because you have a scarlet cord at your window, your building will remain.

[1:59] This is God at work. God used a scarlet cord to deliver Rahab according to his promise. So when I say God can use anything and God can use everything, it's really so in Scripture.

[2:11] And God as well has used many heroes. When we look at Hebrews chapter 11, we see all the manner of heroes we have in Scripture. And in our faith, we see how God used them. So God can use anything and everything.

[2:24] I'm just saying it so that it sinks deep. That you shouldn't exempt yourself. It's not for the people who come to stand at the front. It's not for the people who look spiritual.

[2:36] It's not for the people, you might be at the back wearing track suit. You're not wearing work suit, formal suit and tie. And you're thinking God is only going to use the people who are wearing formal suit and tie.

[2:50] And you're exempted. That's a lie of the devil. A lie from the devil. God can use. Even if today is the first day you're sitting here, God can use you. But God can use you either as an instrument or as a vessel.

[3:05] So an instrument is a tool that you use to achieve a thing. That's why God could use Pharaoh. Pharaoh was a tool in the hand of God. The scarlet cord was a tool in the hand of God.

[3:19] The stick was a tool in the hand of God. To use. To achieve an aim. To achieve a purpose. But God can also use you as a vessel.

[3:32] God can use you as a vessel. And why am I making a distinction? An instrument is a tool that you use to achieve a purpose. But this vessel is a container.

[3:43] A vessel contains something. And it is what it contains that determines a purpose. And I want to submit to you that the Christian is not supposed to be an instrument.

[3:56] The Christian is supposed to be a vessel. Because we are supposed to contain God. And out of that is what we serve and minister to others.

[4:08] So yes. God can use you as an instrument. But that's not God's desire for the believer. So that after an instrument is used. It's discarded.

[4:19] Or it's put aside. So after God achieved his aim. For relieving the people. His people from the grips of Pharaoh. Pharaoh was found in the middle of the sea.

[4:30] Swallowed up. God had discarded him. After Rahab was delivered. The scarlet cord didn't really matter. That's not God's desire for us.

[4:42] So yes. When you say God use me. God is not interested in using you as a tool. So you sang beautifully. And then somebody fell under the power. And they got healed. We received that testimony.

[4:52] Praise God. And then move on. That's not God's desire for the Christian. So sometimes when we say God use me. We're only looking at that. You know for the works. For the backing.

[5:03] That yes. This happened with me. That happened with me. Indeed. But God doesn't want to just do that. He wants to fill us. He wants to be the indwelling spirit. He wants to be the life-giving spirit.

[5:15] That lives in us. Who resides in us. In our inner man. And that is based on relationship. Because if you're an instrument. You can be used and put aside.

[5:27] And we see God do that. There are people we read in history. And you think what happened to them? For a season. Maybe six months. One year. There was revival. And God used them mightily as an instrument.

[5:39] But you see that at the end of the day. It all fizzled away. Nothing much. Sometimes you look at them. The end wasn't really what you think. Somebody who has experienced God in this way.

[5:50] Why should they end like that? Some people even walk away from the faith. Like it's almost backslidden. How can you experience God? How can you have been used since such miracles?

[6:01] And still finish like this? They were an instrument. They were used to achieve an aim. But God's desire is for the Christian to be a vessel.

[6:13] Not an instrument. So the vessel based on what the vessel contains. Will be what is served. But you are a container. You continue to contain.

[6:25] Okay. So the Christian is supposed to be a vessel. 2 Timothy chapter 2. Okay. Let's do verse 20. But in a great house. There is not only vessels of gold, silver. But also of wood, clay.

[6:37] Some of honor. And some for this honor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter. Meaning from this honor. He will be a vessel for honor.

[6:48] Sanctified and useful for the master. Prepared for every good work. So the scripture is telling us in the great house.

[7:00] There are many vessels. The great house, of course, is the house of God. Is the church. And in the church, there are different vessels. So scripture is clearly describing us as vessels.

[7:11] In the great house. In the house of God. In the church. And it's telling us that some are useful. And some are vessels that is on to honor.

[7:23] Sanctified and useful for the master. Prepared for every good work. But it's how you present yourself as a vessel. Whether you're a vessel on to honor or dishonor. But at least you're a vessel.

[7:35] I think. Was it on Wednesday or Thursday or Tuesday? God was explaining this. That some. The vessel that is on to honor. Of course, some are silver. Some are gold. Some are made of precious stone.

[7:47] And with that. Determines what is. Nobody is going to put any. Wasteful stuff. In their vessel of gold. Yeah. It's for a really nice purpose.

[7:57] As compared to. A vessel that's to dishonor. And I remember. I was sitting in France. Like when you. When for those. I think he made a point. Back in the day. The toilets were not indoors. So he needed something called.

[8:09] A chamber pot. Some of you don't know. Just go and Google it. It exists. That is a real thing. It's a chamber pot. That is what. You for bodily disposal. Of bodily waste.

[8:19] Disposal of bodily waste. Indoors. Before it can be carried out. To be disposed of. Yeah. So some of you. It's completely strange to you. Yes. And it used to be the job of the chamber maid.

[8:31] It used to be the one who comes to carry the chamber pot outside. And go and dispose of it. But anyway. So that's a vessel. But it's a vessel on to dishonor. Okay. But what is the qualification to be a vessel of honor?

[8:45] It said. Verse 21. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter. Meaning from dishonor. And sanctifies. From the latter.

[8:56] He will be a vessel for honor. Sanctified. And useful. For the master. So to be a vessel of honor. You have to be. You have sanctified vessel.

[9:07] And you have to be a prepared vessel. And the preparation. Is the process you go. Your sanctification process you go. On. With the help. And the direction.

[9:18] And instruction. Of the Holy Spirit. So that. This verse is really just to tell us clearly. That we are vessels. 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Verse 7. Also said. We have this treasure in earthen vessels.

[9:30] So there is a treasure we have. But the treasure is in earthen vessels. This time. The vessel is not just vessel to honor. Or unto dishonor. It is telling us that.

[9:41] For when it comes to we carrying treasure. Everybody carrying their treasure. Is an earthen vessel. Meaning. Is a vessel. That has humanity. That has flaws.

[9:52] Because. Earthen vessels are not the same as golden vessels. When you drop an earthen vessel. It is going to break. Yeah. It will break. When you drop it. It will break. When you drop a golden bowl.

[10:04] It is not going to break. So when it comes to treasure. 2 Corinthians is telling us that. Actually. All of us. Are fragile. All of us.

[10:16] Have humanity. All of us. Have an aspect. Of our flesh. That is very much. Alive. Even though. Our great desire. Is for God to use us.

[10:27] As vessels. He said. We have this treasure. In earthen vessels. That the excellency of the power. May be of God. And not. Of us. The Christian. Is a vessel.

[10:38] Because we contain. The life of God. We contain. The life-giving spirit. The spirit of Jesus Christ. The indwelling.

[10:48] Of the Holy Spirit. Is in us. And that is the treasure. That this earthen vessel. Contains. Aside being treasures.

[11:00] 2 Corinthians chapter 2. All the way to 3. Chapter 3. Gives us various illustrations. It said. We are captives. In a triumphant procession. To the celebration.

[11:10] Of our Lord's victory. In 2 Corinthians chapter 2. Verse 4. The scripture says that. For us as Christians. That's what we. We represent. That we are Christ's. We are part of Christ's.

[11:22] Triumphant entry. That we are. The captives. That Christ is bringing. To the Father. That Christ has won the victory. And we are. The evidence of his victory.

[11:33] So no. We are just not vessels. But we are evidences. Of Christ's victory. As he comes. In that triumphant entry. We are also incense. Beers. That spread the fragrance. Of Christ.

[11:44] We bear the incense. That spreads. The fragrance. Of Christ. So wherever you go. Christ has to be smelt. When you come. You come with the presence.

[11:55] Of Christ. The fragrance of Christ. 2 Corinthians chapter 2. Verse 4. To 16. Verse 14 to 16. For we are.

[12:06] To God. The fragrance of Christ. Among those who are being saved. And among those who are perishing. To the one who is. To the one. We are the aroma of death. Meaning those who don't want to be saved.

[12:17] We are an aroma of death. Leading to death. And to the others. The aroma of life. Leading to life. And who is sufficient. In these things. So we bear the fragrance.

[12:27] Of Jesus Christ. And the fragrance of Jesus Christ. Is the life giving spirit. Wherever we go. At the preaching of the word of God. People's life can be transformed. People can receive.

[12:39] Eternal life. So we are bearers. Who spread the fragrance. Of the fragrance. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are written letters. And the content of the letters is Christ.

[12:51] We are ghost written letters. He said clearly. You are an epistle. In 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Verse 3. An epistle of Christ. Ministered by us. Written not with the ink. But with an ink.

[13:02] But with the spirit of the living God. Not on tablets of stone. But on tablets of the flesh. Which is their hearts. Because. We are. Christ's letters.

[13:12] The content of the letters. Is Jesus Christ himself. Where we go. When people read us. They must read Christ. They must read Christ. And also.

[13:25] In. You know. The 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Verse 18. We are a mirror. Beholding. And reflecting. The glory of Christ. In order to transform. The glorious image. Of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[13:35] We behold. Asimero. His image. And we are being transformed. Into the image that we are beholding.

[13:46] And the image we are beholding. Is the image of Christ. So we ourselves. Will be transformed. That when people see us. They see Jesus. And then of course.

[13:57] What we've been talking about. We are earthen vessels. That contain. The glory of Christ. That the excellency. May be. Of him. And not. Of us.

[14:08] So the treasure. That we have in us. Is the indwelling spirit. Is the life. Of Christ. The scripture says. That he's become. A life-giving spirit. In.

[14:19] Pre-Qui-Mutain chapter 15. Christ himself. Has become. The life-giving spirit. And that's the vessel. That is the treasure. That dwells in us. The spirit of Christ. So the treasure.

[14:29] Is not. Your good deeds. Your good behavior. How well you do things. That's not the treasure. The treasure.

[14:40] Is. Jesus Christ himself. Who lives in us. And about. The Bible talks about. That the excellence. Which is the transcendent. Surpassing.

[14:51] And exceeding greatness. Will be. Of. Him. The power. That. The treasure. Comes with. Is a power.

[15:02] That is from. Christ. So we have this treasure. And in this treasure. Comes power. With this treasure. Comes power.

[15:12] So the power. To do. The power. To be. Is from the treasure. That is in you. Which is Jesus Christ. Christ. So the more. You are in touch. And you are allowing him. To have his way.

[15:23] In your life. The more. The power of God. Is at play. In your life. And so I'm sure. That many a time. We have come to points. Where we are wondering.

[15:33] Where is the power. Don't let. The time. That you've been here. Begin to weary you. Because you're going to miss out. The reason.

[15:44] Why God brought you early. And then you see. Some others have just come. And everything is in place. Everything is set. They've been taught. To do this. Do that. And they are now flying.

[15:56] Yes. It can happen. So please. Strengthen that which remains. Don't let go. Don't give up.

[16:08] God has been faithful. God doesn't leave himself. Without a witness. There's always a witness. Somebody who waited. Somebody who trusted. Somebody who kept the faith.

[16:18] And God came through for them. So in this state. If you are filling this state. That's why there's no power. At play. There's no flow. Because your spirit man.

[16:29] Is not connected. To the spirit of the living God. And so you have become very dull. You have become fruitless. You have become a dry ground. You are almost getting to the place. Of barrenness.

[16:40] Because your spirit man. Is not alive. Unto God. The way. It needs to be. Yes. You have the life of God. But you are not engaging. You are not engaging.

[16:52] In the life of God. You are inundated. By your problems. Your problems. Have filled you. You are suffocated. You are drowning. In problems.

[17:04] There's a certain build. You have to have. That will make sure. That you can. You can really do this journey. You can't come to the place.

[17:14] Of birth. And lose your strength. No. This is not the time. But in the indwelling treasure.

[17:28] Which is. The treasure that is in this earthen vessel. Which is the indwelling spirit. Of Christ. Though as excellent. Also comes with power.

[17:40] The power to be. The power to do. And so it's almost like God has provided all we need. Within us. But we don't engage.

[17:51] We don't use. We don't know how to. Get our spirit strengthened. By the spirit. Of God in us. And therefore. We live very ordinarily. But God has provided everything we need.

[18:09] In Ephesians chapter 3 verse 17. It says. Of which I've become a minister. According to the gift of the grace. Of God. Given to me. By the effective working. Of his power. Verse 20.

[18:20] It said. Unto him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly. Above all that we can ask of. According to their power. That is at work. In us. The treasure.

[18:31] That is in us. Has power. For us to be. And so this scripture is not to make us feel. You know. When you quote it. And people say. Ooh. I. And then people rise up.

[18:42] And say. No. No. No. It's to help you understand. How you're supposed to live this Christian life. That you're not supposed to just live it as ordinarily. And just be wondering. Where would the power come from?

[18:53] Maybe the power come from. When I fall down. Seven times. Or. You know. I mean sometimes it's like. Almost like you're thinking. How would this happen? And I've been in that state before. Of thinking that God.

[19:04] I really want to experience you. And I was expecting some external thing. To take place. To generate the power. But it was in me already. And it's in you already. As a Christian.

[19:16] The power of God. When you became born again. The spirit of God. Who came upon you. And came into you. Has all. The power you need. To live this life. To fulfill everything God has called you to fulfill.

[19:28] It's in you. It's not anywhere else. When you are being prayed for. It's just a reminder. To activate. It's. It cannot be put upon you again.

[19:41] It's already there. It's already there. If the Holy Spirit lives in you. The power is already there. He lives in you. All of God's power.

[19:52] Has been put in his spirit. And lives in you. So there's nothing coming from anywhere. When you fall down.

[20:04] When you receive oil. All of it is to help. Spark. Stare it. It's to help. Activate. Because if he doesn't live in you already.

[20:16] There will be nothing to activate. The oil will mean nothing. The laying of hands will mean nothing. But the laying of hands. And the pouring of oil. Means something.

[20:27] Because the spirit of God is already in you. So the value of the laying of hands. Is because you have the spirit of God in you. If not. It's like a non-believer.

[20:38] I mean. It doesn't mean anything. The best would be. The person is an instrument. But not a vessel. But as I stated before. I said the vessel God uses. I didn't say the instrument God uses.

[20:49] So meaning that we are containers. We contain the spirit of God. And so. How do we prepare ourselves. For God to use us. The vessel.

[21:00] For the vessel to be expressed. Unfortunately. For the treasure to be expressed. The vessel must be broken. Mark.

[21:12] Chapter 14. Verse 3. So yes. You are a container. But we will see. And being in Bethany.

[21:25] At the house of Simon the leper. As he sat at the table. A woman came having a labaster flask. Of very costly oil. Or spike nut. And then.

[21:37] She broke. The flask. And poured it. On his head. But then it continues. People were indignant. Why do you waste. Why waste the fragrance.

[21:48] Oil. And all of that. Of course. It could have done this. It could have done that. But the scripture said. She. Broke. The flask. The flask is beautiful. It's not an ordinary flask.

[21:59] It's not a plastic. It's not even. Come on China. It's alabaster. But the value of the bottle. Is based on the content.

[22:11] Of the bottle. Of the flask. And so the value. Was not just the fact that. It was an alabaster flask. But it's because. It contained.

[22:22] A very costly oil. Of spike nut. And that's where the value is. But Mary knew how together. The value.

[22:33] Out. The treasure. Out. And how was that supposed to happen. By breaking. The flask. So the flask has to be broken.

[22:46] In order to pour. So without any. Without breaking. There will be no pouring. The flask is nice. But what it contains.

[22:57] Is more important. And more valuable. So yes. Your earthen vessel is beautiful. God has created you. In his image. And all that.

[23:08] But your value is more than what you look like. Your value is more than. How you present yourself. Your value. Is based on what is on the inside of you.

[23:21] Which is. The spirit of God. The same spirit. That in the beginning. Hovered over the surface of the deep. Before God spoke.

[23:31] The same spirit. Lives in you. Yeah. He had to do that. Before the word could come forth. For creation to happen. It's the same spirit.

[23:44] If you take nothing your way. Please take this. He's in us. He's in you. He lives in you. He lives in you. God has packaged all that he is.

[23:56] The power. In you. And he's put it in you. Meaning that God is very limited. As to the things he can do on earth. Even though he's so mighty. So sometimes.

[24:08] So where is the revival? The revival is in you. He's in you. God is very limited. As to what he can do on earth. Because he has limited himself.

[24:20] And put himself in us. He's packaged himself. And put himself in us. Including all the power. That he has.

[24:31] He's put in us. But we know in God's wisdom. That means that he has many representatives. Many. You contain his power. She contains his power. He contains.

[24:42] Each one of us contains his power. If we can really. Activate it. If we can really engage. Oh. Great things can happen.

[24:54] Great things can happen. To be honest. It's my personal. I'm on a personal quest. What I'm preaching. I'm preaching to myself. Because I'm doing my personal study on this. Because I don't understand. What we read.

[25:07] Seems a little bit different. From what we live. I don't understand. I want to get it. As to. How does this really work? I don't want to be caught up in the excitement.

[25:20] Just for the sake of it. I want to. When I'm excited. Because. You know when they say. When a blind mind tells you. He's going to throw a stone at you. He knows what his foot is on. That's what I want to be. I don't want to have.

[25:31] There's nothing under my foot. And I'm just shouting. Jumping. No. No. No. No. No. No. So when I. When I read the scripture. It's like. Yes. I know it. I don't want scripture just to be stories.

[25:42] Or things that hype me. I want to be my reality. I want it to be my reality. I want it to be real. And so it will require some breaking.

[25:55] For some pouring to take place. John 12. Verse 23. Jesus answered them saying. The hours come that the son of man should be glorified. Most assuredly I say to you.

[26:06] Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies. It remains alone. But if it dies. It produces much grain. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies.

[26:19] It remains alone. The thing about the seed. Is. It has an outer coat. Those of you who. Who studied a bit of agriculture.

[26:30] You know that the seed. Has an outer coat. It has an embryo. Every seed. And it has the. The other nutrients. That it needs to grow. Every seed.

[26:41] So the seed will lie there. That grain of rice lying there like that. It has what it takes. There's life in it. But you're going to cook it and eat it. But. The one you are going to cook has life in it.

[26:53] That if you do something else to it. It can generate life. Okay. So when a seed. A seed has what it takes. To replicate itself. In abundance.

[27:05] But it's not going to happen. Until a breaking takes place. So when you want to plant a seed. Traditionally. You will get some good soil.

[27:16] And put the seed there. And cover it. So we don't normally check. What's going on down there. But generally. Those who study. What happens there.

[27:28] Do tell us. That after a while. With moisture. With a bit of sunlight. Whatever is required. The outer coat breaks.

[27:41] If it doesn't break. The life can come out. So the outer coat has to break. Just as the alabaster flask.

[27:52] Has to break. So when it breaks. The funny thing is. The first bit. It doesn't. It's not. The first. In the first. We will see. The shoot come out.

[28:03] But that is the second thing. That happens. The first bit. That when it breaks. The roots of it. Starts going down. Before. The shooting that is seen.

[28:15] Starts coming out. And so even when you are being broken. You've been covered. In the soil. And in the soil. You're being broken. When you're being broken.

[28:26] The first thing is. We want to quickly shoot out. But no. He said. You quickly need to go deep. You need to go down. And get some roots in. Before the shooting up. I've seen different people.

[28:38] Come to me. And say. Oh I want a location. I look at them. But you're not ready though. You're not ready though. You're not faithful. With the three you have. What do you want a city for?

[28:52] What do you want a town for? And what do you want a village for? You're not faithful. With your small locality. We are not. We're too quick.

[29:03] To shoot out. First. As covered. Go deep. Go deep. The first aspect of your breaking. Is to make you go deep.

[29:15] So I'm just telling you. You might seem like you are. So on fire. But I tell you. God will have to break you. God breaks everybody.

[29:27] He uses. I'm sure you've heard God's servant say. I died. And started seeking revival. You have no idea what that means.

[29:38] It sounds like a sentence today. A nice phrase to say. A powerful phrase to say. It will make you feel like yeah, yeah, yeah. But I promise you. If God is serious about you. There will be some dying. There will be some breaking.

[29:50] Just get ready for it. We don't know how it will come. And when it will come. So the potential in the seed. Is there. The potential of what God can do in our lives.

[30:02] Is already there. Is in us. But are we really keen. On the process God wants to take us. Before our showing forth. When you get sown.

[30:16] You surrender. There are times you get hidden. And it takes time. If God is serious with you. It will take time. Because even tells us.

[30:29] Not to be quick to lay hands on the novice. Yeah. And so it takes time. The seed will have to break forth. It has to get its roots.

[30:40] Before it comes up to the surface. God is interested in breaking you. So that he can flow out of you. Yeah. A lot of the things we do.

[30:51] It pleases God. God is happy with us. But a lot of things we do. It's also dead works. Doesn't have the life of God. Because. It's not coming from within.

[31:03] We have sin. I mean it's nice. Because when we are young. You see somebody share testimony. Say oh wow. I prayed for three hours. Oh yeah. I'm going to go three in half.

[31:15] It's a good thing. But what is the source? Yeah. So. God requires. That each one of us.

[31:26] He takes us to a certain process. And the process is not to destroy us. Or break us down. But break us forth. So that what is within us. Can come out. So it can.

[31:37] It can easily live the life. The Christian life. Out. Not from the. From the source. From within. And some of us. We have great nature. Some of us. We have great nature.

[31:48] But it's not the life of God though. So some of us. Naturally. We are very determined people. So you can push. So somebody will be watching. And seeing that you're pushing. But it's not from the life of God though.

[32:01] It's not on dependence on him. Some of us are very diligent. When you set your mind to do something. You will do it. It's a good attribute. But just be careful. That it's not just from your strength.

[32:11] But you're relying on him. Is that based on dependence of God? Or is that based on your personal nature? Or your nature? Some of us. Our parents have put us through the paces. And so you know how to order your life.

[32:22] It's a good thing. But when it comes to the Christian life. You can't only heal people. You can't experience the supernatural. From your personal nature. Or nature. It's not possible. That's why those things are hidden from us.

[32:33] You can't work it on your own. You can't work it on your own. You can't even convince people. To give their lives to Christ. You know. You can preach.

[32:45] Preach. They start harassing them. Warning them. You will die. The day you die. You can do a man of things. You know. Get. Threaten them. You see. Today if you die. Will you go to hell? It's okay.

[32:57] I surrender. But there are some things. That will be purely based on the life of Christ.

[33:10] And that's what we have to go for. Some of us have physical strength. We are not feeble. So we can go back and forth. We can do a lot.

[33:20] You have energy. Oh yeah. You have energy. So when people see you. They think that. Wow. This person is amazing. But that one is your natural strength. It's a good thing.

[33:35] But. If it lacks the life of God. Mm-mm. You're not getting God's attention. Some of us are actually very clever. You can remember every scripture you read.

[33:47] Your brains work very well. You remember. You have photographic bravery. So you can quote. But that doesn't mean that the worst actually lives in you. Yes.

[34:00] So we can see all these things. That within a church. We can attribute spirituality. And this and this and that to that. But. I just want us to just be. I'm not saying that those things.

[34:11] But I'm just saying that please. Go beyond that. So that it's not just this activity. These things. But it's more. Based on independence. And a walk with God. And that's where God needs us to be.

[34:25] So when he's breaking you. When things are not going the way you expect it to go. You still have that stamina and the strength to go on with him. That's why we get tired. Because we live by our strength. The arm of flesh will fail.

[34:42] So the outcome. Is mixed. And impure. Dead. Results.

[34:54] Such that. I'm not saying. Our FM vessels. Don't experience humanity. But even in your tiredness. There's a joy in your heart.

[35:05] That the Lord is with you. Even in your challenges. Even in your difficulties. You know how still. How to have fellowship with him. That's the Christian.

[35:17] Not to say that things don't happen. But even in the midst of it. You know how to. Still depend on him. Continue your walk with him. And so ideally.

[35:30] What. How we should live. Is not. Heavily relying on our nature. And our nature. But we employ. Our nature. And our nature. To follow.

[35:41] The leadings. Of the spirit of God. Okay. So you. You bring them along. They don't lead. But you bring them along. But under the subjection. They influence the direction.

[35:53] Of the spirit. The breaking of the flesh. Is God's major work. And he's. Let me tell you. He's very determined.

[36:03] To do it in your life. If he's serious about. What he wants to do in your life. For some of us. It will be sooner than later. And some of us. It will be later in our journey. But God.

[36:16] Gotta break somebody. He he he. He gotta break somebody. It's necessary. He gotta teach you something. So that.

[36:27] When Abraham is being tested. By. Demanding Isaac from him. God said. Now I know. Do you think God didn't know? But it was for Abraham.

[36:38] To see who he was. It wasn't for God. It was for him. That can I actually obey God? Do I actually have faith in him? Like I've said I have. Do I actually trust him?

[36:51] That even though he slays me. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. I am here. For life and for good. So God calls Abraham in a very advanced age.

[37:05] And touches his very area of deed. He doesn't have a child. Just let him be. Isn't it? So you call him and then promise him a child. And then after you promise him a child, you decide to wait.

[37:16] What kind of harassment is it? Don't promise me. Just do it when you are ready. So that I don't have any expectation. I was just minding my business.

[37:27] All of a sudden, boof. The pregnancy is here. The baby has arrived. But no. God now has to come and announce, Abraham, follow me. I'll be your exceeding great reward. I'm going to give you a child.

[37:38] Look at the heavens, the stars. Look at the sun. The seashore. All of this. And now, after you do all of that, you saw pump and pageantry. Now he said we have to now start waiting.

[37:51] Why? Because he has to bring him to a place where he's solely dependent on him and that when he says he has faith, he really has faith in God. Not faith in his strength that he would deliver with Hagar.

[38:05] But the faith is actually in God. That's what God wants from us. Total dependence on him. So God stretches him and allows him to walk by this faith he claims to have.

[38:21] God shat Hannah's womb. The Bible says God shat her womb. Like, I'm not afraid of you. I've shat it. I'm not scared of you. I'm not a respecter of persons. Just in case you didn't know. I'm not afraid of you.

[38:33] God said, man, shat. It doesn't matter what you do. Your husband can love you till whatever. You won't have a baby. He can't see with you every day. You won't have a baby.

[38:44] Because I, God, have shat it. And then God employed a rival to just come and stare it. Penina, stare it.

[38:55] Penina, stare it. Let's stare it. Let's stare it. But what is God trying to achieve here? God is just trying to get Hannah to push her to a place where she has to be so broken that it's no longer about her and her children that she wants so that God's purpose can be accomplished.

[39:12] Hannah had to come to a place where say, God, just give me one so that I can give him back to you. Do you think when she arrived and she started popping children, do you think that would be her prayer?

[39:24] It would never be her prayer. It can never be her prayer because it didn't even occur to her. It wouldn't have occurred to her. She would have thought it's a natural thing to just get married and just start having children.

[39:35] That's the natural norm. That's the norm. That's the natural cause. But God said, no, I need something else from you. So I am intentionally going to shat you home. That was Hannah's breaking to the point that she's coming to the place of prayer and praying like she's a mad woman.

[39:52] And not just the madness, but she has to come to a place where I have surrendered, whatever you give to me no longer belongs to me. I get you, God. This is more than me. It's not just me.

[40:04] It's not just me. So you might get an admission to a very reputable university and it's not about you. And it's not about you. And God can shat something that you think you should have from you and it's still not about you.

[40:19] It will be your breaking for his purpose. I have seen amazing people. God take them, amazingly intelligent people and God take them on a course that it doesn't make sense.

[40:30] How did this person arrive here? But they are where they are and it is God's order. God is ordering them. I'm not saying don't be diligent in what you have to do. But I promise you, God has his own purpose and it will shock you.

[40:45] It will shock you. But God is working. So you have to come to a place of reliance and dependence. Well, of course, we employ our nature and our nature but God must be in charge and we have to be surrendered.

[40:58] God shall hand his womb with our apology. He did it. What can you do? There's nothing you can do. That's the point where you surrender to him.

[41:10] Say, God, I am surrendered. Have your way. I trust this journey. I trust you. I trust you. Look, Mary had to stand before people in shame.

[41:23] God knew she was a virgin. She knew she was a virgin. But the world thought that she had gone and messed up. Shame.

[41:34] Radical. A virgin with pregnancy. Who will believe you? Who will believe you? Stop talking nonsense. Just tell the truth.

[41:46] How many times does she have to explain herself? It will get to a point where she can no longer explain herself because she can't explain herself to everybody walking past. Mary, what happened? Mary, what happened? Mary, what happened? Mary, what happened? There will come a point where she would have to say, let God prove himself.

[42:01] Because the shame will be too much. The ridicule will be too much. But she had to endure it for God's purposes. Oh yes, he'll bring you there.

[42:13] He'll bring you there. Scandal and shame. But God did it for his purpose. But in that process, that is where the building has to take place.

[42:27] You're strong. You know you face the shame. You know you face the ridicule. But you still trust God. You still trust God.

[42:40] That's your breaking. This is an interesting one. We all know it. Jacob is a professional trickster. He's a professional trickster. And guess what?

[42:50] He's a master trickster. And guess what? God sent him to a chief trickster. He said, me, I know how to show you. You think you know?

[43:01] You think you're crafty? Okay. I will meet you right there. So he sent him to Laban. Laban is a grandmaster or trickery.

[43:14] Fully. And so he goes. And he thinks like, okay, I'm having a fresh start. I have the blessing in my back pocket. I'm now coming to live my best life.

[43:25] So he's, you know, walking around. Oh, okay, Laban. Okay. I see you've got one fine girl, Rachel. I'm going to choose her. That's why I like her. She looks nice.

[43:36] I've checked her out. You've done a good job. I'll continue from now. And Sullivan said, oh, okay, why not? Why not? Why not? Why not? Why not? But oh God.

[43:50] If only he knew. He shouldn't have liked her at all. If only he knew. God was going to use that. His first breaking.

[44:02] Okay. Okay. 14 years. God, I get it. Okay. Okay. This is interesting. Okay. I'm going to work for 14 years for one girl. Wow. Wow.

[44:13] Wow. Wow. Wow. You see the way you're having it easy. You Christian men. You're having it very easy. Even that.

[44:25] Remember I say two years. You can't wait. You have to support a girl like that. You're literally begging her. Please. I'm dying here. You're not dying. You have to compromise this fine Christian girl.

[44:39] It's not fair. But anyway. I ain't got time. Let's move on. He meets a grandmaster in trickery. And God uses it to break him.

[44:53] Yeah. By the time he's leaving Laban's house, he's a broken man. He's completely, he's messed him up. But he's got that tweak.

[45:06] He encounters an angel of, the angel of the Lord. And there's another breaking. When he gets to his final days, he's a changed man.

[45:17] But it took a lifetime for God to break him. Different stages of breaking. Before he can issue out a blessing for the next generation and generations to follow.

[45:29] That, just the issuing of a blessing took a lifetime of breaking. Because that blessing was supposed to transcend generations. It costed him his life.

[45:41] Lifetime. Lifetime of challenges upon challenges. He wasn't deserted. In all of it, you could see God with him. He prospered. Things were okay.

[45:52] So we're not saying that we are prepared for a life of rejection, suffering. I mean, that's not what we're saying. But as God is keeping you, there will be things you'll be working on.

[46:03] There will be things you'll be tweaking. There will be things that he has to align before his beauty will come out of you. Before his power will come out of you. A beautiful story of Joseph.

[46:18] Good track record. Amazing dreams. Like the story of Joseph is going to be similar to the story of most of us here. Because we're actually genuine people who love the Lord, who belong to the house of God.

[46:31] God has saved us early. And God has spoken things over your life. And God is watching over those things. He will make it happen. But even Joseph needed his breaking.

[46:47] He didn't. What did he do wrong? Some people say, oh, because he shared his dreams. I'm like, seriously? Does it require for me to be, the part I shared my dream, so now I have to go to prison for that. I have to be separated from my, I mean, what is that?

[46:59] No. No. It was more than just speaking about his dream. It was about where God was taking him. And so you see that somebody literally done no wrong.

[47:12] Yeah, Jacob is a trickster. But Joseph is not. His record is clean. But still, God said, I can't rely on your clean record.

[47:24] Because your righteousness is like a filthy rag before me. That won't be enough to take you to where I'm taking you to. Your strength is not enough.

[47:38] God's strength has to be worked in you by his spirit. Reliance on him. And so let me just shock you. Your beauty is not what qualifies you for your marriage.

[47:51] I know. You've been told you're beautiful from a baby.

[48:03] But that's not what will qualify you for your marriage. And God might you choose to use your marriage as your breaking. We don't know. Your qualification can be your confidence.

[48:16] He has to be. Some of us, you think that once you get your marriage, it's not your glory. He has to be. He will bring you to the point where he is.

[48:30] He is. He is. That you think about many things and it still sums up to who he is to you and who you are to him. We can go to the ends of the world.

[48:44] Goes to the highest places of authority and influence. and accomplishment and achievement. But even in there, we know that he is. That's where he wants to be.

[48:57] Number one in your life. Number one. And it can take a whole life of working on you. Working on you. So when you see the signs, surrender.

[49:10] Yeah. When you see the signs, just know that God is at work. And he's working something in me. so that his life-giving spirit will flow out of me to be a blessing.

[49:21] That's the only way you can really minister life to people. Yeah. Even though we do things that looks like we are ministering, but we are not. Because there's no, there's the flow of life.

[49:31] God's life is not coming out. Some of us are so hindered by our flesh. So, so hindered that God can't flow through us. Because sometimes the brain is too active.

[49:46] Sometimes the flesh is too strong. Your will is too strong to allow God to flow through you. But in all this, if God is serious about you, just be ready.

[49:56] He will break that will. He will. Money is not your defense. If you do a bit in our pockets in our bank account, it would be a nice thing. I know the Bible says money is a defense, but I bet you, you've seen many, many people with a lot of money.

[50:11] And you've realized that money has, even though they have money, important things have departed from them. Money could not be a defense for them. Yeah. When a rich man is dying, young, you realize money was a defense.

[50:30] Couldn't defend him. But young rich men die. It's not only old rich men. You don't know the things people do. These days, they hear, I hear, they do vitamins, infusion, yeah, fully.

[50:42] They do blood, whatever, rejuvenating. People are doing all manner of things in order to live long. But I bet you, it might not necessarily be your diet. For some people, it might just be a car crash.

[50:55] That vitamin didn't work on that dick. And it's not because you were not driving well. It was somebody else. Think about it. A rich man can die because somebody crashed into them.

[51:11] A bee. It could be anything. So the things that we think we can hold on. You are young, so I don't want to say that these things don't matter.

[51:22] We know, we tell you, get your education in place, sort yourself out, relationship, but when it comes to your Christian life, which we all hold our Bibles for, don't be deceived.

[51:37] There are lots of things that we do that doesn't have the life of God. So go to the base of it, the motives and the intentions, the why we do things.

[51:49] How much is based on scripture and what he has said? He is the word, so if we take the word, we take him in. If we have that basis, you see that you have strength for the journey.

[52:02] You have strength for the, the reason why people have survived is not because they have some natural ability or strange, sometimes they say, I love the Lord, I have passion for God and all this. It's not, it's not because they are special.

[52:16] They've just learned how to rely, to know how to rely on him. That's it. Since I look at people, I said, you know the strength that you have, you should just be grateful for that because it's so easy that you could have not had it.

[52:34] Yeah. So easy, you could have not had it. And let's learn to rely on the spirit of God and give him all the glory.

[52:46] How surrendered you are to him is more important than your strength. You may be full of opinions, but you lack the knowledge of him and the revelation of him.

[53:03] you have so many opinions. You know this, you know that, you know that, you know that. But you lack revelation of him.

[53:17] And the revelation of him is not in the multitude of the books, but it's what you have worked with him on. So Abraham is called the father of faith.

[53:29] Why? He had worked with him on the subject of faith. He's worked with him. So he had a revelation of God concerning faith. You know, so it doesn't necessarily mean you know everything at one instance, but with what he's given you, how you are transacting with him on what he's given you.

[53:52] Are you relying on external affirmations or inner witness? Yeah. Everybody's giving you a thumbs up, but deep within you, you know you've lost your contact with him.

[54:04] That should be more important to you. That should be what it takes, how you live your life, and not what affirmations people give you. Affirmations are nice. After today, oh, it was a blessing, oh, praise God, oh, that's nice, thank God.

[54:16] But what is your inner witness? It matters to him more of what your inner witness is concerning him, concerning what you're doing, than external affirmations.

[54:28] no breaking, no pouring. The vessel God uses has to be a broken vessel. And so people of God, young men who love the Lord, young women who love the Lord, he has to be the reason.

[54:51] we have to be surrendered to him, for him to do the work he has to do in us. He has to have the opportunity and the ability to break through our flesh, in other for the life of Christ, to issue out.

[55:17] And so even to be called like us, we're going on Jesus campaign. Yeah, you may have lined up your scriptures, you may have, you know, prepared well, gone through your notes in previous, listened to some messages, have some good introduction lines, you know, you've prepared well, you know how you approach people, you thought it through, and it's all good.

[55:39] But if that lacks the engagement of the Holy Spirit, that is not going to yield anything that pleases the Lord. So I'm saying do that, prepare, pray, get your tracks, get your t-shirts, style your t-shirt, whatever you want to do with it, do it, but don't forget that it's only the life of Christ, it's only the Holy Spirit who is able to give life to that dead person you speak into on that street, in that corner, in that park, wherever you meet them, we don't have what it takes to issue eternal life to anybody if it's not coming from the Spirit of God who is in us.

[56:20] And that should translate to every aspect of our lives. As we walk with Him, we are intentional. We're intentional.

[56:31] That will determine how well you do in this journey. Intentional. Intentional surrendering. Intentional working and seeing what is at work in your life and surrendering to that.

[56:46] Till we get to that point, a lot of what we do will be out of the flesh. And that would not please God or command heaven's reward.

[56:59] And so there's a vessel that God uses. The vessel that God uses is a vessel that is broken by Him. It's a vessel that surrendered. It's a vessel that allows the Spirit of God to flow out of Him.

[57:19] So yes, indeed, we carry, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. But the treasure has to be poured forth so that it can be a blessing to people around us.

[57:35] We are called to minister to. We don't only carry the treasure, but the treasure has to be poured forth by the breaking of that earthen vessel.

[57:47] Just like Mary had to break the alabaster box, alabaster flask, so that the fragrance can come out, all of us have to break our flesh, allow ourselves to be broken.

[58:02] And there are various phases that the Lord will take us through. But whatever He's doing now, whatever He's doing now, avail yourself to that process.

[58:14] because for some, the breaking will be a lifetime. But whatever He's doing now, you can't say, oh, I'll wait when you finish all. No, no, no, then you would have wasted your life.

[58:25] So whatever He's doing now, surrender to it. So the things He's talking to you about now, surrender to it. Let Him break you on that point. Allow Him to break you in your gossiping.

[58:39] Yeah. And some of it, He has to bring shame. because whatever He went to say, somebody also has, I mean, made it worse and gone and told other people, now you're fully embarrassed.

[58:50] It's good for you. Let God break you on that because the talking is too much. He's been gossiping for long. He's allowing things to go and too much water has passed under the bridge. Finally, it's enough now.

[59:01] Let me break this thing. because maybe one day you're going to be a pastor's wife and a lot of people's secrets are going to be on your table. To be honest, even some of the things you are not allowed to speak about are even used as an example in your preaching.

[59:18] It didn't please God. Yeah. There are some things you can't even use as an example in your preaching, even though it's the perfect example. But it would be wrong and will not glorify God for you to use in your preaching.

[59:29] How are you going to know how to do that? If now the small tool information you have about somebody like a parrot, you can't keep quiet.

[59:43] You will be sitting there itching. I need to tell somebody. This filler is too juicy. This is too juicy. I have to tell. Did you know?

[59:54] Did you know? Have you heard? Did you know? You can't help it. It has to be said.

[60:06] But where God is taking you, you have to shut. Your mouth has to be shut about people's business. How is it going to achieve that?

[60:18] How is it going to just watch you and take you to that place if you haven't learned how to maintain confidentiality? Some of us, you go through things, not because you cause any problems, like Joseph.

[60:31] But God is going to put you a leader over people with vulnerabilities. How do you handle people's vulnerabilities if you yourself haven't gone through anything and you are like Mary?

[60:43] You see? Madam Mary. I'm not saying go and for the catering, but your life is clean and God is calling you to dirty people. So I'm not saying you should go and dirty yourself, but oh, God will know how to break you.

[61:00] Bring you to a place where now you know how to handle people. You know how to not relate from your experience, but you have seen God's mercy. You have seen, God has taught you how to handle precious souls.

[61:16] There are many things God will have to prepare, not because we are messing ourselves up, no, but there are things that God has to prepare us for, your next phase. that's what I'm saying, what he's working on now, now, now, allow yourself for God to work on you.

[61:32] Be genuinely surrendered, be open to discipline, be open to instruction, be open to correction, because in that, God is shaping you, God is breaking you, God is remolding you.

[61:45] Because if some things don't happen, some aspects of his purpose cannot be accomplished. if nobody's told you and they've told you that it doesn't matter, once there's a declaration, you'll see all of God's purpose, let me just burst your bubble.

[62:01] If some aspects, God can touch some aspects of your life, he can do some other things in your life. So allow him to touch all your sensitive parts, all the bits that you don't want anybody to know about.

[62:19] Allow him. When you see his coming, most of you want to run, but I want to encourage you, if there's no breaking, there'll be no pouring. Thank you for choosing to listen to this message by David Entry.

[62:32] We hope you were blessed by it. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including TikTok and Threads. There's also many more messages to listen to from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and on the Karish Church app.

[62:49] Be blessed. I