Strive to pray

[0:00] Thank you for tuning into this message by David Entry. Every true revival is a product of the strong preaching of God's word. May you receive a word from this message that will spark a revival in you.

[0:12] Luke chapter 11 verse 1. It came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place, when he had ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to preach the gospel.

[0:31] Teach us to cast out devils. Because all these things are within reach if we can be prayerful.

[0:43] So, in Acts chapter 6, it says it's not reason, it's not desirable, it's not right that we should leave, what did they say? They should leave the word.

[0:56] Okay, so it's just the word of God. That was the most important thing. It's not reason that we should leave the word of God and set tables.

[1:08] So, what they didn't want to leave was what? They can leave other things. Because serving of tables is so important. But if you put it on a scale with the word of God, it just goes like this.

[1:23] Serving of tables, it can't even flip over. When you put side by side on the scale, the word of God and serving of tables, which Jesus was talking about, the things that matter to men.

[1:37] You cannot be alive without eating. Can you? You need to eat so you can do things. So, even to preach, you need to eat.

[1:49] Yeah. To preach, you have to eat to preach. You have to even eat to pray. I mean, food is so fundamental. If you don't eat, you will die.

[2:01] So, eating is important. But they said, when you look at serving food and preaching the word, what keeps us going and what keeps food on our table is when the word is amongst us.

[2:14] When the word is strong amongst us, then God can provide for us. It's very easy to look up to God when the word of God is in you. It's really a big struggle to try to do God or look up to God without the word inside you.

[2:35] When the word comes in you, it helps you to do God. Because doing God is not primarily natural to any human being.

[2:50] You just can't get up and do God. God, some things must happen. That's why if you stop attending church, you can be a pope, you will backslide.

[3:02] If you stop reading your Bible, you can be coming to church, but you'll be getting weaker inside. Do you understand that? Because you are not just there and then naturally you do God.

[3:15] So, those of you who are here, who are born again, you will know that there are times where your spiritual impetus was a bit low. There are times where your fervency was low.

[3:28] In fact, especially when you are very strong and you have impacted a lot of people, there will be times when you are so low and they still think you are so there. Because if they find out, they will be so disappointed.

[3:43] Because they put you up there. They don't know that most of the time you are not even down. You are underground. So, if you have been born again for a while, you know there are times where you are up.

[3:59] There are times where you are down. What can hurt you most in your spiritual journey is when you have more down moments. Because the more you have down moments, the more your gossiping weakness begins to show.

[4:14] It hasn't left to. If you used to be something, don't think you are completely gone. I was teaching a KB2 and I was explaining how the algorithm.

[4:25] You know, you go and watch some cooking something or something. And then the next time, even when you don't want to watch, because it's seen that watching can work with you.

[4:40] In fact, it takes into consideration how long you stay today. Your engagement. Your engagement and your interaction. How long it's been going on for.

[4:52] To determine how much needs to be sent your way. Hallelujah. And you are still Christian. You are still active in church. I don't know whether I can say you still love God.

[5:04] But let's grant that you still love God. So, these are things that are necessary. Every one of us, we have moments. Low moments. But the more you read your word, the more you spend time praying.

[5:16] The more you listen to preaching, the more it keeps you in good shape. Some of you don't know that. I know music makes you feel, but preaching keeps you in better shape. So, they said, it is not right to just keep eating and leave feeding.

[5:33] So, he said, we cannot leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, select ye amongst yourselves, some of you men of all the criteria.

[5:44] Then the verse 4 says that. What did they say is not good for them to do? Verse 2. What did they say is not right for them to do? To leave the word. That's all that matters to them. But in order to be able to stay with the word of God, they said, we will continually.

[5:59] Verse 4. Give ourselves to what? Prayer first. Prayer first. Prayer first. He said, but we will give ourselves.

[6:11] Somebody say continually. Let's all read the text together. Let's go. All right. Now, let's read it to prayer.

[6:22] Let's go. One more time. Do you mind personalizing it? I.

[6:35] Say it again. For the last time. I will give myself continually to prayer. So, he said, we will give ourselves continually to prayer.

[6:49] That is what will help us not to leave the word. Because if you do not pray, even though you don't intend to leave the word, you will throw it away.

[6:59] No, you won't leave it. You will actually throw it away. He said, if you don't pray, you will be shocked at the things you find yourself doing. As a believer, you will be shocked at the things you find. I don't know if you know what I'm talking about.

[7:11] Yeah. So, prayer helps your spiritual life being in alignment with God and God's purpose. So, they went to Jesus.

[7:23] They said, Master, teach us how to pray. Just as John taught his disciples to pray. The apostle says something very important about Acts 4, Acts 6, 4.

[7:35] We will give ourselves consistently, continually. Continual prayer is very important. So, in Luke chapter 18, verse 1, he says, taught them a parable.

[7:48] He said a parable to this end. I like that phrase. So, the objective, the main purpose of the parable. He spoke a parable to them to this end. The main objective, the main purpose of that parable is that to teach them how men always ought to pray.

[8:06] Say always. You see? How men ought always. So, the oughtness is hinged on the always. Not that men have to pray.

[8:18] It's not about men have to pray, but it's about men always ought. Ought always. So, the oughtness is on the always.

[8:30] Don't use prayer like 999. That's the problem. Most of us use prayer like 999. This is called an Epaphras moment.

[8:41] What distinguished Epaphras from the others was that Paul was in prison. And he left Colossae to go to Rome to go and report to Paul the state of the church.

[8:54] But that was very risky for him to do. So, when he went and Epaphras went and told Paul about what was he risked his life. So, Paul wrote the letter of Colossae.

[9:07] And he's listening by the hands of Epaphras. Right? Colossae 1.7. Epaphras was mentioned only three times in five verses. As he also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ.

[9:24] You know, so Epaphras was not the one who sent the letter. He went to report the condition. And when he went to report, the reason why he couldn't send the letter is potentially Paul wanted him around him.

[9:36] Paul wanted to keep Epaphras because he's a good man. But much more, Philemon 1.23 makes us understand that the guy was also, he risked his life and he was incarcerated.

[9:47] They put him in jail. Epaphras, my what? My what? He was free. But he went to Paul and risked his life and he was also put on house arrest.

[9:58] So, he couldn't come back. Colossae 4.12 tells us about Epaphras. It says that Epaphras, who is one of you, a born servant of Christ, greets you.

[10:10] See, men always. Always. Not 999. Always laboring fervently. That laboring, the Greek word, agonizomaya.

[10:23] Laboring. It's the same thing Jesus Christ. Agonize. That's where you get it, agonize. We have to fervently agonize in prayer. In Colossians 1.29, Paul says that, to this end, I strive.

[10:37] It's the same word. I agonize. To this end, I also labor. I think James says, I strive. One of them. To this end, I am pushing myself. I am laboring.

[10:48] I am striving. I am striving. It's the same word that was translated. Agonize. Agonizomaya. And Bible says that Paul said, Epaphras won't sleep.

[10:59] You always hear the guy is laboring, not for his needs. Laboring for revival. He says that, always laboring favoritally for you in prayer.

[11:13] You got to pray for your family. If what you see you don't like, it's just begging for you to pray. You got to pray for your husband. You got to pray for your wife.

[11:24] You got to pray for our nation. You got to pray about your job. The conditions going on there. There are some things that won't change if you won't pray. But let me tell you something.

[11:36] Prayer doesn't change anything. Sometimes someone was going to, I think a certain pastor was going to preach. And he said, before I, let me tell you, prayer changes nothing. He said, prayer changes nothing.

[11:47] Really? It's God who changes things. Prayer just appeals to God. So don't expect that your prayer will do it by your God.

[11:59] Daniel. Daniel. Your God who you serve faithfully. Your God. Has he been able? Because God is able to do. Ephesians chapter 3 verse 20.

[12:12] Unto him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we think or ask of. According to his power that worketh in you.

[12:25] Someone shout, God is able. God is able. In 2 Corinthians it says that God is able to make all grace above. God is able. That's why we pray.

[12:36] Why do we pray? For God is able. Why do we pray? For God is able. Why do we pray? For God is able. If you want to see the ability of God, what do you do? Pray.

[12:46] And don't pray once in a while. Always. Ought always. You ought always. You ought always. You ought always. You ought always.

[12:57] When the Bible says that Epaphras was liberating. Another word that it was also translated, 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 25. It says, strive for the mastery. Somebody should strive.

[13:11] How many of you have wanted to pray but you just couldn't pray? No, it's not because you're a bad person. Because prayer sometimes doesn't come naturally. That's why you have to strive.

[13:22] But we have to continually give ourselves to prayer. Praying always with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians chapter 6. So prayer is necessary.

[13:35] You know when you watch a movie and somebody is shot but the person is not dead. And the guy is coming. The person is not dead but he's trying to. He can't. He's in pain but he has to move himself.

[13:46] That's how you should do in prayer. Sometimes you feel like, I'm not up for it. But things are up for you. Push yourself and go.

[13:57] Because something is after you. Satan's appetite for you will never decline. Whether you are spiritual or you are not spiritual. His appetite for you will never decline.

[14:09] And he never gets satisfied. Because he has one agenda. To kill, steal and destroy. Until you are destroyed, he's not leaving you alone. Is somebody ready to pray?

[14:20] The reason why you're always discouraged is because you're always not praying. Someone who prays regularly never gets discouraged. Because prayer uplifts you into God.

[14:32] For God to do things. Prayer brings you into God. Prayer brings you into God. Prayer bridges the gap. Closes the gap between you and God's purposes.

[14:43] Every one of us have a big gap between us and God's agenda for our lives. And his purpose for our times. But the more you pray, the more the gap gets bridged. Hallelujah.

[14:54] Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. We pray you have been revived to us God. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms.

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[15:17] Thank you. Thank you.