Things that must characterise your fasting

[0:00] Hallelujah! We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Karis Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God.

[0:11] May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this word. See when you are fasting, the word fast looks like, how many of you when you are fasting you feel your head being slow?

[0:25] But you are fast in the spirit. So the word fast means acceleration, you are moving fast in the spirit. Some of us here, things that would have taken you five years, it's going to be accomplished this year.

[0:45] Things that would have taken others ten years, it's going to be accomplished in a matter of months. When you are fasting, there are some things that must characterize your fasting.

[1:01] Okay, there are some things that must characterize, I will say the same thing over and over again. And number one is prayer. It's the prayer that makes it fasting.

[1:13] It's the prayer that makes it fasting. So it must be characterized by prayer. Some of us, when God wants to really accelerate you and bless you, He will wake you up in the night.

[1:28] You can see you are in a good position to pray. He will wake you up or something. Once you get up, before you come to bed, spend some time praying. Today, as I was meditating and praying, I began to notice some things in my spirit.

[1:43] Some of us, you can take a day off, two days off. During this fasting, you won't take any day off. What are you looking for? Think. You won't take any day off.

[1:55] And some of you, instead of even believing God to start work early, so you can finish and be, nothing has changed. You are fasting, but nothing has changed about your schedule. Some schedules are very complicated. You can't change it like school.

[2:09] The time, school starts the time. But when it comes to work, some of us, you have a good relation with your manager. You can tell the manager, I will start early, so I can finish early.

[2:21] You haven't, nothing has disrupted your normal course of fasting, but you are fasting. No, you are not fasting. You are just putting away food.

[2:32] Some of us, take a day off next week, if you can. Take two days off. For what? Just so you can be indoors with God.

[2:45] No social media. And not watching nonsense. But you are reading your Bible. You are praying, spending time. Why are you praying and your phone is on? Unless, of course, maybe you are a parent, and your children are going to school, or something that you need to.

[3:03] But where there is no agency to hear from anybody, switch off the phone. Switch it off. Anyone who cannot, whatever is coming to you and they call you and they don't get your ear, you won't miss anything when you are with God.

[3:21] That's the point. You can't miss anything when you are with God. Take a day off. Some of us, you can take a day off this week. Take one day off next week. Take one day off the third week.

[3:32] So that every week of the, don't do it for me. I don't know what you are going through. And I don't know what you are looking for. I don't know what heaven must do for you. But this fasting must change everything.

[3:46] And it will change everything for you. It will change everything for you. Listen to that. As I said yesterday, some of you must, especially when you are younger, it doesn't matter, you can even be old.

[4:01] Don't break. Don't break with some heavy food. Just, you can take some smoothie. Some light, something.

[4:13] Do it fast. Let this fasting be a real fasting. You feel, because most of us, it's a process we go through. Because it's church activity. So, it's a season and then you put food aside.

[4:25] And you can't wait till. I realize, sir, pastor, I realize, when you are desperate for God, you don't feel hungry. You don't feel, in fact, if you are really fasting and seeking God, you don't feel the hunger.

[4:38] So, today I've been feeling very hungry. I'm feeling very hungry. I think you have to upgrade it. Take it to another level. Look for God. And you have time for some things.

[4:50] Am I talking to somebody? Yeah. So, pray. So, take time in the day. Pray. Some of us, the nature of your work, you might not pray.

[5:01] Some of us, if you, I was thinking about, if you take a day off, you might not even have anywhere to pray because of the condition in your house. You need to be somewhere where you don't see anything. You know, you don't see movement. You don't see.

[5:12] Just you. You can find somewhere. Under the tree somewhere. On the park somewhere. So, remember I said this. If you can, take time off.

[5:23] Take time off. And those of us who have the liberty. And sometimes you work from home. You know your work is flexible. Take, block a period off.

[5:36] And just you and God. And then leave your email. Just, I don't know how it works for you. But, take time off. When you are, it's your day off. Why are you phoning people? Go in here.

[5:47] Go in here. In that time of fasting. Or maybe you are not looking for something from God. But, if you are looking for something. Am I communicating something to somebody? Somebody must seek God. Until he raise righteousness on us.

[6:00] So, one of the things that must be done is prayer. Say prayer. And number two. As I said the other time. It's so important.

[6:11] Repentance. Repentance. The Holy Spirit works with repentance. Let's all say that together. The Holy Spirit works with repentance.

[6:23] Please say it again. The Holy Spirit works with repentance. So, in Acts chapter 3 verse 19. It says that, when you repent, times of refreshment will come.

[6:35] It says, repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out. When the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord.

[6:48] God is pouring out. There is an outpour of the Spirit to accomplish some divine things in people's lives. But, it starts with, why are you fasting without repenting? Repentance means, Lord forgive me.

[7:01] Ask God for mercy. Ask God to have mercy on you. And, promise God that I am not going there again. I receive grace. I receive help not to go there again.

[7:12] Sometimes, I heard somebody say this. Bless me so much. He says that repentance is not about how bad you feel about the past. But, repentance is how you know the future has changed.

[7:27] Now, you will do something. It has changed. It won't happen. It has changed. Praise the Lord. You know the future has changed. Some things will. That's repentance.

[7:38] When you know this thing will happen again. When you know this direction I am not going again. Praise the Lord. In Acts chapter 2 verse 37. It says that, They were cut to their hearts and they asked, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

[7:52] Verse 38 says, Peter says, Repent and be ye. Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And ye shall receive what?

[8:03] Did you see, did you see where the Holy Ghost comes in? Repentance precedes for the Holy Spirit to come in. In the moment we are going to pray a few prayers. Going to rise up to say, God forgive me.

[8:16] I repent. You have to repent. As I said yesterday, Sometimes you can repent on the behalf of your father. Fertish priest mother. On the behalf of your wicked sister. On the behalf of your bad brother.

[8:29] On the behalf of your family. On the behalf of things that you have done, you know, God told you not to do. You have to repent. You have to repent. For the things you have said, negative things you have said against where his anointing is.

[8:43] You have to repent. And he allows the Holy Spirit to flow upon somebody. We have to pray the prayer, Oh Lord, grant us the spirit of grace of repentance.

[8:55] So that your Holy Spirit can come upon us. So that your Holy Spirit can come upon us. You see, when you are genuinely repenting, it really opens the floodgates of favor of God upon your life.

[9:06] And this fasting, I know many lives will never be the same again. So repentance. Say repentance. And then let the word of God saturate you. Nine chapters a day in the New Testament.

[9:18] You will finish the whole New Testament by the ending of this fasting. Fasting. So, spend time reading your Bible. Don't only read Psalm 38.

[9:29] No, you are taking the day off and you are reading only Psalm 38. No, think about it. Some of us, we think it is so long to read, reading the Bible. You are fasting and you don't have time to read the Bible.

[9:42] So what is going inside you? Man must not live by, you know, but by everywhere. And you are building your spirit man. You are building your spirit man.

[9:53] So you need some spiritual nourishment. So, this season of fasting, your reading of the Bible shouldn't be not as usual. It should be more than usual. I might communicate to you with someone. Please listen to my heart.

[10:05] You listen and you follow it. You will see the difference it will make for you. You don't listen and you just go normal. You get normal results. But I believe you won't get a normal result. You will get extraordinary results.

[10:18] Number four, believe God by faith. Trust God. Faith. Fight the good fight of faith. Believe God. Trust God. He is faithful. Number four, stay focused.

[10:29] Number five, sorry. Stay focused on this fasting. Stay what? Focused. Stay focused. Sometimes distractions will come, but don't be distracted. Just stay focused. Keep going.

[10:40] Keep going. Keep going. You are fasting and they clamp your car. Don't stop the fasting. Find a way how to solve it. But you have to be resolute in your heart that nothing will stop me. Nothing will distract me.

[10:51] I have set my face like a flint. And I am going to push and push and push. It doesn't matter what happens. It doesn't matter what anybody says. It doesn't matter whether somebody offends me or not.

[11:02] I am determined that I am going to move very fast. Are you getting what I am saying? Be focused. And then number six, separation. Separation means disassociation or disconnection.

[11:15] Separate yourself from some things. Fasting. Fasting actually. Real fasting means somebody has separated themselves from something. So it is not just giving away food and praying.

[11:27] Also in your natural life, there will be some things you won't be doing. It is no sin. They are no sin, but you don't have time for this season of fasting. Do you understand that?

[11:38] When a woman is pregnant, there are things they don't do. So for the period of fasting, there are some things you have to withdraw from. Why don't you also do social media fasting?

[11:49] Unless it is part of your assignment or your job. Because some of us, what waste our time is social media. Social media. So some social media fasting.

[12:00] When you wake up, the very place you keep going, it is not for spiritual nourishment, but just for entertainment and gratification. Part of the fasting, you decide that I am staying away from this.

[12:12] For this period of fasting. So I can concentrate on God. Is somebody getting what I am saying? Yeah. So separate yourself. Some phone calls and some friendship, you don't need it.

[12:24] This time of fasting. Detach yourself from some people. You know they are a toxic influence on your spiritual life. Detach yourself from them. Detach yourself from certain people.

[12:35] So dissociate yourself. Disconnect yourself. Number seven is, when you are fasting, it is good to have a specific target in your fasting. God, I am believing you for this.

[12:47] Some of you here, some of you here, you have to, see these things I am saying. Can you imagine you are dedicating yourself doing that and you are believing God for marriage. God, Lord, this here.

[12:59] You see, you can get from God though. But just that some of us are not willing to move towards God the way we should. We want God to come to us. God, come, come, come, come, come, come.

[13:11] Hurry up. Hurry up. I am fasting. Come. You have to move. You said draw near to God. And so I was giving illustration that if there are 10 spaces between you and God, when you take one space, God will also take about four spaces.

[13:27] Because God's steps are bigger than you. So by saying you should draw, James chapter four, you should draw near to God. And what happens? He will also draw near to you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

[13:38] So take the time and the trouble to push towards God. Amen. Push towards God. Push towards God. So it is necessary to have specific requests.

[13:51] Specific requests concerning maybe your health, your family, your career, your ministry. Ministry. Or when you pray, when you are fasting, you pray for ministry. It works. By the time you realize you are, many of us, many of us say, we have fasted and prayed a lot for anointing.

[14:09] Oh yes, yes. One of the things I have fasted more in my life for, more than anything else, is anointing. But anointing is over and over and over and over and over.

[14:20] I go seeking God's face. Anoint me. Anoint me. When you fast, if you are a pastor and you have never fasted for anointing, you are not serious. You will be grounded permanently.

[14:31] Pray. Don't fast for members to come. Lord, send them. You can add it to your fasting later. You know, the edges of prayer request edges.

[14:45] But real prayer, God anoint me. Anoint me. One of the things you should be asking God for is anointing. One of the things you should also be asking God for is wisdom.

[14:57] Wisdom. Wisdom. Wisdom. Wisdom. Give me wisdom. Give me wisdom. Give me wisdom. Guide me. Direct me. Give me wisdom. What I say.

[15:08] What I shouldn't say. Give me wisdom. How I react. How I shouldn't react. Give me. Your life has been dominated by your emotions. Emotions are very dangerous master. Emotion is a dangerous master by a good servant.

[15:21] Don't let your emotion lead you. And then number eight is listen. Listen. Because anytime you get close to God, anytime you get close to God, he will always speak to you.

[15:34] Why? Because he's a speaking God. God will always speak to you. God will. He'll speak to you through different means. He'll speak to you in the service. He'll speak to you through messages. God will always speak to you.

[15:45] Listen. When you are praying, expect to hear from God. Expect to hear. Open your spirit. Expect to hear. One of the things that make God speak to us very fast is our willingness to obey.

[15:57] When you have an obedient heart, it's easier to hear from God. When you haven't obeyed the previous instruction, he won't tell you a new one.

[16:11] So it's very important. You have to listen. And then number what? Obey promptly. How many of you, since we started this fast, you felt God has given you some instructions?

[16:24] Maybe you have not pushed further. But when you push closer to God, he'll be giving you, he'll point some things to you to do. Some of the things will be very sacrificial on your part. Some of it too will just show you something that needs to be done.

[16:38] Is somebody learning something? I think it's important. So, there are things that he will speak to you. Obey promptly. Don't delay the obedience.

[16:50] Obey when God speaks to you. Obey it. Obey. Obey. Obey. Some of us, as we pray this evening, I'm sure you'll hear from God. You've heard something.

[17:01] God will be dropping. God likes guiding us, you know. He'll be dropping things in your heart. Move. Move very fast. Move very fast. And then finally, sow wild seeds.

[17:13] Mm-hmm. Say mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I think I mentioned it yesterday, right? Therefore, let's go back to that state. It releases things. It releases things.

[17:25] Say, I've been a pastor for a while. I've pastored so many people. I've pastored people who are close to me, who have come around, who are around, and I've seen how seed sowing can change people's.

[17:39] I've seen it. It's not like, you know what I'm talking about. When you're a pastor and people, they take wild steps to give. They sow seeds. You tend to know. And you see it.

[17:50] Sometimes it's, I think it was the last two years that I was telling pastor last year, I said, this thing is not even challenging me. I realized that this thing works so powerful. I have to upgrade my seed sowing light.

[18:01] But that's not general life I'm talking about. Some of us, you have to intentionally make, some of us naturally, you are very stingy. Yeah. Naturally, you struggle to give. I'm telling you.

[18:12] Naturally, you struggle to give. And so your life is what comes into your life. The benefits that come. The blessings, not the blessings, the things you gain in life are as a result of your own hard work.

[18:26] It's called buying and selling. So if I'm selling this, if that's my job, you come and buy it. So people who are not quick to give and don't practice their giving life, their lives only see the natural results.

[18:49] Sometimes you'll be tired of giving. But when you want to stay down, especially in times of fasting, when you are seeking God's face, listen to Him. Take steps! Sow wild seeds!

[19:02] I'm not saying this because we need offering. God forbid. I'm saying this because it's the reality, it's the truth. It's the truth. So you can change a lot by giving big.

[19:17] Say, a lot can change by attempting to give big. I hope you are getting what I'm saying. I hope you are getting what I'm saying. Say, let's go back to that corner.

[19:30] In that corner. When you are practicing covenant giving and covenant seesowing, don't feel someone is fooling you.

[19:41] It sounds wise, but you'll be crippled in life. If no one can fool you, God can bless you. If no one can fool you. Because you are too smart.

[19:52] Because sometimes covenant obedience, like you live with your wife or you live with your husband. And you feel that he keeps saving, hiding money. It's not nice. But you know God has told you everything you get shared.

[20:05] That's what God has told you. And you keep sharing, but it's hiding. It gets to a time you feel like, no, I won't let him fool me. Me try to hide some and I'll only share a little. But you see, you are missing God.

[20:16] Because sometimes when God... How many of you have felt like you have to forgive somebody who doesn't want to change? They don't want to change. They are taking... So sometimes you feel like, no.

[20:32] Godness matters. Godness... If you think... If you have a mindset, no one can fool me. There are people who come to churches and you are believing God for a change of story.

[20:46] But as far as he said, me, no one can get my money. What you didn't realize, no one needs your money. No one needs your money. Your money needs a connection. You have to send your money on the mission.

[20:58] Because it's on its way out anyway. Oh yeah, yeah. That money is on its way out. Rather, direct it to where it can bring you some amazing results. So ten points.

[21:13] Now... We want to pray. We want to pray. I want to give you a prayer topic. I have... I have three major prayer topics to pray. The number one is the repentance. Because... Some of us...

[21:24] You really have to ask God. You tell God, I'm sorry. Yeah. Thank you is not enough. Sorry. You really have to repent and say, God, I'm sorry. Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me.

[21:36] Psalm 40 verse 11. Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, O Lord. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually be pleased, Lord. Look at verse 13.

[21:47] Verse 13 says that... Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, O Lord. Make haste to help me. When you ask for mercy, forgive me. Somebody say, forgive me.

[21:58] Forgive me. Sometimes you have to pray and say, forgive my house. Forgive my family. Forgive my family. We have been mean to your work. We have been unfair to your people.

[22:10] Forgive my family. Forgive my... Can you imagine someone who comes from a family of slave... Slave trade. You have to pray and ask for forgiveness for your...

[22:21] For your family. Because sometimes when people are dying suddenly, Keep you going to prison or evil, bad people, drugs. Sometimes deep, deep in the background, There's some evil activity that went on.

[22:34] So somebody must rise up and ask God for mercy by asking God's favor, His mercy, forgiveness on the behalf of the family. Does that make sense?

[22:45] Yeah. So that's number one prayer. And then my two prayer topic, which is a major one. The second prayer topic is Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 3. Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 3.

[22:57] It says that, and this shall be the priest due from the people. So that means that people will give this to the priest. Okay. This is what the people will give to the priest.

[23:08] This shall be the priest due from the people. From those who offer a sacrifice. So when you are offering a sacrifice to God, like fasting time. Fasting is a sacrifice, season of sacrifice.

[23:19] That's why there must be giving in your fasting. Not only giving of seeds or things. You also, God will speak to you to sew a dress to somebody. Give a dress, that new dress, give it to that lady.

[23:31] That new shoe, give it to this person. God will speak to you. That new earring that you've been keeping for so long. That earring. Give it to her. You will hear it. Give it to her.

[23:42] Give it to her. Sometimes you say, oh God, this is too much. Yeah, give it to her. Because there's too much blessing coming. God, there are some things that are in your life that are not meant for you.

[23:53] They are meant to be your seed for your harvest. A destiny swallowing harvest. A harvest that will swallow your destiny. Those of us who don't know how to sow seeds, I really feel sorry for you.

[24:07] I really feel sorry for you. Your life will be ordinary. Because in the kingdom, it's not buying and selling. It's sowing and reaping.

[24:19] So, it says that this is what you shall give to the priest. Who is our actual high priest? Who is our actual high priest? So that's important.

[24:30] Jesus is our high priest. Okay, he said this is in the time of sacrifice, what shall you give to the high priest? He said that give to the priest the shoulder. Okay, he said that from those who offer sacrifice, whether it be bull or sheep, they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks and what?

[24:51] The stomach. And the stomach. Oh yes, say oh yes. Oh yes. Quickly, the shoulder stands for, in Matthew chapter 23 verse 4, it says that these Pharisees, these hypocrites, they are hypocrites.

[25:05] They put heavy weights, they put heavy weight, they bind heavy burdens, for they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay it on men's shoulder.

[25:18] So the shoulder is for what? So the shoulder is for what? Burdens. So the shoulder is for what? Burdens. Matthew chapter 11 verse 27, 28. Let's look at from verse 28. Verse 28, sorry. Matthew 11, 28.

[25:29] Come to me all you who are laboring and I'll give you. Verse 29. It says that take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you'll find rest for your soul.

[25:43] Next verse. For my yoke is easier, my burden is light. So it's a burden. No, but it says come to. Jesus is our burden bearer. When you are fasting and in times like this, that's the prayer we are about to pray.

[25:58] We are going to pray 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 7. Casting all your care upon him. Yeah. Yeah. As I was praying today, the Lord was laying so much on my heart.

[26:09] People should pray and talk to God about your problem. Talk to God about your problem. Live it with God. Cast it upon him. In times of fasting, sir, one of the things you should master in dealing with what is hurting you?

[26:24] What is troubling you? What is frustrating you? What you are afraid of? What is threatening your future? Commit it to God. That's the shoulder. The shoulder commits it to God.

[26:37] That any burden, it says, is this not the first thing I have chosen? To undo heavy burdens. Any burden on your life will be undone in the name of Jesus.

[26:49] Every demonic burden on your life will be undone in the name of Jesus. Every satanic burden on your life will be undone in the name of Jesus.

[27:00] So shall it be. Amen. This year is your year God will supernaturally give you. Amen. Lift up your hands, please.

[27:11] Say, oh Lord. Oh Lord. Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. Deliver me. Deliver me. Show your power. Show your power. Intervene on my behalf. Amen.

[27:22] Let your glory be manifested. In my life. Any demonic verdict. Any demonic conclusion. Planned against me. Planned against me. I declare. It's overturned.

[27:34] It's overturned. It's overturned. It's overturned. It's overturned. It's overturned. In the name of Jesus. Oh Lord. Thank you. For your mercy.

[27:45] Thank you. For deliverance. Thank you. For miracles. In my life. Now. Oh Lord. I receive. My miracle. Now.

[27:56] Clap your hands for the Lord. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms.

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[28:21] And the Caris Church app. Don't forget to like and share the message. Be blessed.