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[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Entry. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. What is fasting? Fasting is, simply put, abstaining from food for spiritual reasons.

[0:30] To abstain from food and water, for that matter, sometimes, and drink for spiritual reasons. That is fasting.

[0:43] In Matthew chapter 6, Matthew chapter 6, and reading from verse 5, are you there?

[0:54] And when you pray, you shall not be like. And when you pray, let's read the first line together.

[1:09] Let's go. And when you pray, you shall not be like. No, no, the first line. Yes, the first line. Let's read it again. And when you pray, you shall not be like.

[1:20] You shall not be like. Let's read just the first line. Okay. Is there something to understand about that? Okay.

[1:31] Let's read just the first line. Not the first sentence. The first line. All right. Let's read. Let's go. And when you pray, you shall not be like.

[1:42] Okay. I was checking if somebody got it. When you pray, you shall not be like.

[1:55] Prayer is a when, a matter of when, not a matter of if. For a Christian, prayer must... You can't be a Christian without praying.

[2:09] You can't be a Christian. You actually become a Christian through praying first. Accepting Jesus, you pray. So, look at the next verse. Verse 6. Let's read the first line again.

[2:26] Is that okay? Let's go. Let's read it out loud. One more time. So, you see, is there a difference between the previous one?

[2:40] He said, when you pray, don't. Then he said, when you pray, do. Did you see that? So, he showed us things that we shouldn't do when we pray, and things that we should, that must happen when we pray.

[2:54] So, he didn't say just don't. He also showed us do. So, he said, when you pray, don't be like that one. When you pray, do it like this. So, prayer, so long as Jesus is concerned, is a necessary aspect of your work with God.

[3:09] And so, when you pray, you should pray always. And then when you are praying, it showed us how we should do it. And then jump to verse 16. Verse 16 of Matthew chapter 6.

[3:20] It says that, moreover, let's go. Let's read the first line again. First line. Is that okay? All right. First line. Did you hear that? First line. Let's go. First line. You see that?

[3:36] So, moreover, when you fast, don't be like. The next verse here. The next verse again. Let's read the first line again.

[3:47] Did you see that? So, it's telling you, don't be, when you do this. And fasting is a matter of when. Fasting is a matter of when.

[4:00] It's not a matter of if. If you're a believer and you don't fast, you are actually losing a lot of ground. So, it says that, but when you fast, anoint your head.

[4:17] When you fast, do it. Do this. Do that. When you fast. When you fast, don't do this. When you fast, do this. So, Jesus expects us to pray and he expects us to fast because prayer is a when, when you, and fasting is a when you.

[4:34] Now, there are many hindrances to prayers. There are things that can hinder your prayer. For instance, the way you treat your spouse, your wife, or your husband.

[4:48] A major one we just read. If you remember, James chapter 1 verse 6. When you pray without faith. Okay. When you pray without faith, you can hinder your prayers. When you pray amiss, you can hinder your prayers.

[5:00] So, there are a few things that can hinder prayers. But one of it, which many people have lost sight of, which has not actually been emphasized on much in the church, is pride.

[5:15] Pride will stop you in your tracks. You can't come near God in pride. Pride will stop you in your tracks. Pride will stop you in your tracks. Nobody can ever come nearer God in pride.

[5:30] So, the Bible puts it this way in James chapter 4 verse 10. It said, humble yourself. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.

[5:43] It didn't say, most people have been praying this prayer. God, please help me to be humble. No. No, no, no. He never asked us to pray for him to make us humble. God, don't ask God to make you humble.

[5:55] You may not like what may happen after us. It may be a long, humiliating experience. Don't ask God, God, please make me humble.

[6:07] He's going to allow some annoying person to come and deal with you in a way. You allow it. I'm watching. He said you want to be humble. But he says that you have to take the responsibility of humbling yourself.

[6:23] Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. If you want God to lift you up, what does the Bible say you should do? Humble yourself. Ah, I said if you want God to lift you up, what does the Bible say you should do?

[6:37] Humble yourself. Before you start binding devils. Before you bind the devils anti-breakthrough demons. Please. Humble yourself.

[6:50] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So, in 1 Peter chapter 5. In 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 5 and verse 6.

[7:01] See what it says. 1 Peter chapter 5. Likewise, you younger people submit yourself to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with what?

[7:16] Humility. Not makeup. I almost spoke about husbands and wives again. I realize makeup doesn't move husbands at all.

[7:28] No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Be clothed. Be clothed with humility.

[7:40] Why? Why? Let's read it. Why? Oh, I can't hear you. What's going on with you? Why? Why should you be clothed with humility? For God resists the proud. His grace to the humble.

[7:52] God, the Bible said He resists. Now, can you imagine if you and God are pulling? Who is stronger? And God resists the proud. You are not that strong to be able to stand his resistance.

[8:06] God is busily resisting you and you are busily asking him to do what you expect him to do. Why are you praying and you are proud? If you are in need of help from God, deal with your pride.

[8:29] It is one thing that will mess your future up when it comes to God. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

[8:41] Verse 6. Verse 6. Therefore, humble. You see the same thing he said. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in that inappropriate timing.

[9:00] Your time of elevation is fast approaching. But it can't happen if you don't humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Say humility.

[9:12] Say humility. Jesus Christ told us a parable of, no, actually he was warning us. He said that, and I think that's quite common sense, but sometimes people miss it.

[9:24] Jesus said, if you are invited to a dinner, a function, okay, and there are dignitaries coming, please, don't go and sit at the high table. Don't just go and take your own seat at the high table.

[9:38] Just in case another has been invited who is higher than you, whose place is supposed to be at the high table. When you do that, they will come and ask you, please, can you move from where? Luke chapter 14, verse 8.

[9:50] When you are invited to, you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit at the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him.

[10:07] The next verse, verse 9. So don't always go, start from the top.

[10:27] There are people who come around and they want to be part of this church or want to serve yourself. You know me, I've been a pastor for seven years, and I've helped a lot of pastors, so God has sent me here.

[10:42] I know God didn't send you. God didn't send you. I want to come and help. You want to come and help. Who told you we are looking for help? We are not looking for help.

[10:54] Our help is in the name of the Lord. We are a family. And we are growing together. The people who normally come with the intentions to come and help, find it difficult to submit.

[11:09] Because they come with their dictates. They define how they will do it. So the way you are doing it already, if you tell them, no, don't, we are not doing it this way, they say, okay, this is how I can do it. Hey, people are serious.

[11:20] So. But. Anyway, let's go back to the text.

[11:31] So Jesus said, if you are invited to go to a place, do not go and be telling where you have to sit. Some of you, when you come to church, ashes give you a seat. You are so big.

[11:43] You are so big. Ashes cannot sit you. You are so, I don't understand people. You come to church and you are so big. You are coming to church. Church. And you are so big.

[11:54] We can't get you a seat. You show where you want to sit. No. No, Asha can show me where I want to sit. No. I determine where I want to sit. I want.

[12:04] No, no. Listen. Listen. Listen. I'm going to sit. I'm going to sit. Let me say this. It may sound, it may not sound socially nice.

[12:18] Always remember, God doesn't need you. You need God. By inference, I'm trying to tell you, the church doesn't need you.

[12:30] How can you say that as a pastor? The truth can sometimes be strong. Even me, the church doesn't need me. I need the church. Listen. It's a privilege for me to be pastor in this church.

[12:43] This church can still go on without me. It's a privilege. Because it's a move of God. It's a move of God. And it's not built around a person.

[12:56] God will show you how redundant or irrelevant you can be. God can, if you like, dare him. And you will see, the thing God asked you to do, which you didn't do, which we are charging him for.

[13:10] Other people will be doing, and the thing will be getting better and better and better. And you realize that nobody is indispensable. Not me, neither my wife.

[13:22] When it comes to the work of God. Even me, I'm a member of this church. Are you getting what I'm saying? Yes, sir.

[13:34] We live in a society and in a generation where people go to church, and they feel they are doing the church a favor for coming. When puppets are not hot, people come and bluff.

[13:48] Right. So we have to resort to marketing skills. Marketing means to retain people.

[13:58] When God is not burning hot on the puppets. But when God is burning hot on the puppets, people pressing, they come to look for God.

[14:12] That's the reason why you should pray for your pastor. That he keeps the altar hot. He keeps his garments clean and pursues God. That Holy Spirit gets the precedence in the church.

[14:24] Amen. It's important. So, he says that when you go somewhere, don't go and sit at the best place. Let's get back to the text.

[14:37] He says that they will tell you to give your place to somebody else. Look at best ten. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, friend, go up higher.

[14:55] Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. Because you were promoted. Yeah. Now, look at how he concluded in verse 11.

[15:06] That's where I want to go. Let's read verse 11 together. For whoever exalts himself will be humble. And whoever exalts himself will be humble. If you exalt yourself, you'll be humble.

[15:18] The way, when it comes to God, the way up is down. Pride will cause you your blessings.

[15:31] Humility is the biggest opportunity to walk into a blessing. Humility. Humility will introduce you into the realm of God.

[15:45] And you'll be favored. The Bible says that he will lift you high if you humble yourself before God. Nowadays, when in our generation, everybody's important.

[15:58] It's all about people. Self. Self. You know, you are the center of the world. The center of the universe. It's about you. Give yourself the good treat. Do this. Everything is racing towards making people feel very special.

[16:12] Sometimes nowadays, even the restaurants, they're where they decorate their food. And the desserts, the new menus of different types. Some of the desserts you see, you're wondering, how can I eat this?

[16:27] They are giving you an experience. Life now has become people having wonderful and great experiences. So, you are always the best person who should be giving the best of focuses.

[16:40] So, we bring that into God's house. And listen, I've come. God, you know what? You need me. You better bless me. People go as far as saying, God, I give you an ultimatum. If you don't do something about this, I'm not coming again.

[16:56] Tell somebody, humble yourself. Do you know the first sin in the universe? The first sin in the universe.

[17:09] Do you know who it was? Who committed that? Who? Lucifer. In the universe. He was in the presence of God. In the entire creation of God.

[17:21] Lucifer, he was in the presence of God. He was a creature. But he determined, he desired to be equal with God. That's proud. Pride. He was so proud. He desired to be equal with God.

[17:33] And because of that, he fell from his position. Now, Jesus Christ, who was kind of at, you can equate them to kind of Lucifer in that kind of proximity to God.

[17:45] He was even God himself. But Bible talks about Jesus was equal with God. And yet, he humbled himself. Did you see that? Lucifer was creator, created by God, and he sought to be equal with God.

[18:00] But Bible says Jesus was equal with God. But he humbled himself and became obedient unto death and death on the cross.

[18:11] That's the most shameful death any person should desire. But Jesus humbled himself. Do you know what he means by death on the cross? He was stripped naked and hung up high enough for everybody to see him. After they beat him.

[18:22] The most obscene kind of gruesome death anyone can go through. Jesus.

[18:32] He humbled himself. Say humble. Humbled. Look at verse 9. Therefore. Did you see that? Did you see that? The therefore is there for the fact that Jesus humbled himself.

[18:46] Therefore, God has highly exalted him and given him a name that which is above every name. Therefore, why did God exalt him?

[18:57] Why did God exalt Jesus? He humbled himself. You understand the point of making it. So, humbling yourself entitles you to the lifting of God.

[19:11] Jesus humbled himself and therefore God highly exalted him. Thank you, Jesus. In Psalm 138 verse 6, Bible says God sees the proud from afar.

[19:30] He knows the proud from afar. Can you imagine? When you are coming as a proudful person or a proud person, God sees you from afar. And he begins to plan against you.

[19:42] Did you see that? He said, though the Lord is on high, yet he regards the lowly. But the proud, he knows from afar.

[19:53] He knows from afar. God doesn't entertain the proud. The proud, he knows from afar. This is leading me to Psalm 35.

[20:05] Very important text. We are now landing into the key subject of the day. Psalm 35 verse 13. Psalm 35 verse 13.

[20:19] But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sacral. Let's not read it out loud. Let's go. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sacral.

[20:33] I humbled myself to God. How did I humble myself? How did I humble myself? Now, in the Jewish times, listen to this very carefully.

[20:45] I'm on the Jews. When someone says that, humbling yourself. Now, God has means, has shown us means of humbling ourselves. It's not only saying, some people when they go to somewhere, they say, oh, can you come and see this?

[20:58] No, no, no. No, no, that's not enough. Most of the time, that's not enough. Or someone says, your dress is nice. Oh, no, no, no. It's just about Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.

[21:11] Sister, I really like the way you've done your hair. Oh, thanks be to God. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God. Meanwhile, that's what you have been craving for the whole day.

[21:22] For someone to notice your hair. Let's just learn. Sometimes, especially Christians, what some Christians claim as humility.

[21:34] It's not humility. It's far from. Okay. Some people are actually so proud. One great man said about pride.

[21:48] He said, pride is the only sickness that affects everybody apart from the one who has it. Pride is the only sickness that affects everybody except the one who has got that sickness.

[22:03] There's no obvious sign of pride that when you think you are humble enough. Can I say that again?

[22:14] There's no obvious sign of pride that when you think you are humble enough. As for me, I'm humble. As for me, I'm humble. That's pride talking. That's pride talking.

[22:25] That's pride talking. When husbands and wives are fighting. And you are trying to mediate. One person says, he's very proud. It's him. It's him. It's very easy to judge people with your head and judge yourself with your heart.

[22:40] Pride. Yeah. So, pride is a very dangerous thing.

[22:52] So, God has showed us ways to be humble. One of the ways God has instituted in Scripture to be humble is fasting.

[23:04] So, when people fasted, they called, they say, I humbled myself in sackcloth and ashes. In Scripture, the act of fasting is a humbling experience.

[23:19] Now, put that text again, Psalm 35, verse 13. In the King James. King James is better. I want to show you something. In the King James.

[23:33] Let's read from I humble. Let's go. How did I humble? What did I do? I can't hear it.

[23:44] One more time. One more time. Some of you are not reading it properly. Read it. I humbled what? Not myself.

[23:55] My soul. My soul. Some translations say myself. But original Hebrew is my soul. What's your soul? Where your I will is.

[24:08] Or I want. I think. I feel. I want. I think. I feel. You're, most of us, all about our life is what you want, what you feel, what you think.

[24:20] What you want, what you feel, what you think. That's your soul. What you are. And I understand. No. God said. What you want, what you feel, what you think is not important. Most of us have been raised in our homes and in our society to make you feel what you think is very important.

[24:36] What you want is very important. What you feel is very important. God said. What you feel is not that important. What you want is not that important. And what you think is not that important. What's that important? The will of God is important. Wow.

[24:47] Thanks God. It's the will of God. Yeah. so until we bring our souls to the place where nothing matters but the will of God. Other than that, sir, you step on my toe and it's about me.

[25:02] The way I feel you treated me, I'm not happy the way, and I think that someone must bring you to me. I think, even though I know that under normal circumstances, because of this, for the sake of God's work, and God actually ignores it and leaves you.

[25:16] I don't want to leave it. I want to deal with it. Even though my dealing with it can even affect the work of God negatively. So I then, I ignore the will of God and I go with what I want, go with what I feel.

[25:31] That's what has been happening to a lot of people. You are in a department and you are spoiling things because this is what I feel like doing. Most of us have blocked our miracles and testimonies because our lives have been overtaken by our souls.

[25:46] So God is not getting his way. We are praying for you. The same hands that was laid on you was laid on somebody else. Their own came.

[25:56] Other people, their own came. Your own has been withheld. Because the I will, I will is becoming too much. It has become too much. I want, I want has become too much.

[26:08] I feel, I feel has become too much. I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think, I think. And you are thinking and missing God. I'm not saying we shouldn't think.

[26:19] What I'm saying is that if it's just about what we think, our opinion, my opinion, that's my opinion. With your opinion, you are still missing God.

[26:29] So why don't we humble ourselves and go for God's opinion? God, he says that, as for me, I humbled my soul.

[26:43] So it starts with your soul. I'm teaching you on humility. And one of the ways to engage in humility, as I said, he said, how did he humble himself, his soul?

[26:53] In fasting. Now, let's look through the Bible about a few subjects, a few things they did through fasting. Number one, in the Old Testament, the Jews have this, they still celebrate it anyway.

[27:12] They have this festival. It's called the Atonement. It's Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur. It's the most sacred day of the Jews in the year.

[27:27] The most sacred day. The most important day. It's very holy day for the Jews. It's called Yom Kippur. This year, Yom Kippur is, I think, October 8th, from the evening to October 9th.

[27:39] It's a big thing. And what's Yom Kippur? Yom Kippur is when they come and confess their sins before God, their atonement, and their sins are forgiven. So when you read Leviticus chapter 16, God has given a whole list of the things that he's going to do for them, the things that he's going to do for them because of the atonement, because of the Yom Kippur.

[28:01] They should just make sure they are there. And from Leviticus chapter 16, in Leviticus chapter 16, God has given a whole long list.

[28:13] Then when he, just like our salvation, Jesus has already died and paid for our salvation. So there's no, there's nothing you should pay for to be saved. You don't have to pay for anything to be saved.

[28:25] You just have to trust in Jesus, believe that he did it for you, and that starts your salvation process. All right. So in the same way, God has done everything that needs to be done for them to be free, for their sins to be forgiven.

[28:40] And guess what? But when you read the verse 29 to 31, God tells them what they are supposed to do. So verse 29 to 31, it says that, this shall be a statute forever for you.

[28:52] In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls. Say, afflict your souls. Afflict your souls. Louder, please. Afflict your souls. Can you say, louder, please.

[29:03] Afflict your souls. What does he mean to afflict your souls? He said, you shall afflict your souls and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells amongst you.

[29:17] Verse 30, for on that day, the priest shall make atonement for you to cleanse you that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. Verse 31, it is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you and you shall afflict your soul.

[29:34] It is a statute to the Lord. Now, when they talk about afflicting your soul, it means humbling your soul. So he said, I've done everything for you. The only thing I require of you on that day is that you will fast.

[29:49] You will fast. You will fast and humble yourself before God. So, watch this. So, you can tap into all the provisions of heaven.

[30:02] All the provisions God has made for us. He said, humble yourself. Humble your soul. Afflict your soul. You know, when you are fasting, it can be very inconveniencing.

[30:15] Yeah. Yeah. Fasting humbles you. Fasting. It humbles you. Sometimes, when you are really fasting, you lose interest in a lot of nonsense. Somebody said, somebody say, no energy to talk.

[30:31] No energy to engage in a lot of this. Yes. So, fasting actually, humbles you. You get very quiet. People ask you, are you okay? I'm okay. He said, I'm fine.

[30:41] I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. So, fasting is a very humbling experience. And in Yom Kippur, they fasted to tap into the blessings of God.

[30:55] Somebody say, Amen. Amen. And not just that, also, in the book of, actually, in the book of Acts chapter 7, 27 verse 9, look at how God, how Paul refers.

[31:13] In those days, Paul, after the shipwreck, he said they did not, because it was a, it was Yom Kippur. Okay. And watch this. He said, now, when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was already over.

[31:29] Yom Kippur was already over. They used to, among the Jews, they used to call it the fast. Do you understand what I'm saying? They used to call it the fast. Why? Because that was when they have to afflict their souls.

[31:41] Humble their souls. I'm not talking about self-flagellation, self-affliction, which certain parts of the Catholic churches in the Middle Ages, some of them, some people still now do it, where they take whips, and they beat themselves for their sins, and they crawl, they punish themselves.

[31:58] That's self-flagellation. It doesn't do anything for you. Taking whips and beating yourself, and cutting yourself, you're punishing yourself. Listen, you can't pay for your own sins.

[32:09] No. Because the wages of sins is death. If you want to pay, you got to die. But when you die, it's not even the end. You are going to face judgment, and you'll die again.

[32:20] Yes. So you can't pay for your own sins. The only way that your sins can be paid for is when God himself, who set the standard, comes to meet the standard on your behalf, and gives you the credit, and takes your guilt, and passes his credit to you.

[32:35] That's when the exchange takes place. That's when you can say you are free. All right. So, the Jews even call it fast, because that was a time of humbling their souls.

[32:51] Returning, look at this. When the exile was, the exile, or those who were in exile, they were returning. They did it in fasting. I need you to see this very carefully.

[33:02] So number one, at the time of atonement, they had to tap into God's blessings through fasting. Number two, during the return from captivity.

[33:14] Okay. In the book of Ezra chapter 8, verse, I have to rush through this quickly now. Ezra chapter 8, verse 21 to 23. Thank you, Jesus.

[33:28] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Is somebody learning something? I just want you to get this, because it will help us. We have in our generation, Christians, who only think about what God must do for them.

[33:45] A lot of us. We only think about what God must do for us, but not what God expects us to do. He said, when you fast. Ezra chapter 8, 21.

[34:01] And I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves. Did you see that? He proclaimed a fast. What's the purpose of proclaiming the fast?

[34:13] I proclaim a fast that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

[34:27] Now, this man fasted and went to the king. He said, king, we want to go back to our hometown to go and build the temple and the wall to go and do God's work. And the king gave them favor.

[34:38] And the king said, the way is dangerous. And he told the king that, no, don't worry. Our God is able to protect us when we go on the way. Even though there are bandits and thieves and armed robbers on the way, he said, our God is able to protect us so don't worry about our journey.

[34:54] We will go. But later on, they were granted the leave to go. Not leave to remain. This one, leave to go. So, they were granted leave to go. They were granted leave to go.

[35:06] And guess what? He says that, then I proclaim a fast at the river Ahava, the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

[35:21] For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemies on the road. Because we had spoken to the king, saying, the hand of our God is upon all those who, all those for good who seek him.

[35:39] But his power and his wrath are against all those who forsake him. So, we fasted and entreated our God for this and he answered us. So, he said, I couldn't go to the king because I boasted.

[35:51] My testimony was that God's hand is with us. Carice, I'm telling you, the hand of God is with us. After we make such declarations, please, let's go back into the place of fasting.

[36:04] Now, God, we have said it to prove yourself. God, prove yourself. Some of you, your old friends, your family members, your exes, they are all waiting to see what will become of you.

[36:20] So, sometimes, people are waiting to see your demise because of this noise you are making about church. And some of, I don't even know, there are people who, apart from wives, as married couple.

[36:31] Now, why would I go and tell my sister how much I give to God? Who is a non-believer? Why? Why am I going to tell, what has that got to do with my mom? I'm an adult enough. I'm old enough to go and tell my mom that, oh, I was giving my tithe.

[36:47] This is not necessary. And you put yourself in harm's way and they will butcher you and attack you and don't see why. Why are you giving 10 pounds to church?

[36:57] Why? Why are you giving 10 pounds? You see, but you are doing it out of your spiritual convictions and faith and understanding. unbelievers will never understand. Let me tell you something.

[37:08] Some of you, you don't even understand because possibly your heart is unbelieving. Unbelievers will never understand why you should give your resources to God. Yes. You are telling everybody you give tithe.

[37:21] They will curse you. People will vandalize you for doing spiritual activities. I remember my mom warned me and my parents, they warned me years ago when I got born again I was fasting and fasting.

[37:38] I kept fasting. I kept praying. My mom, one day after vacation, it was a boarding school. So when you come back home, my mom said to me, look, all your friends are looking fresh.

[37:50] Look at the way you have fasted. You have become like a pea. Please, eat, okay? Please. That was a nice monthly advice. I said, eat. I said, ma'am, thank you, I understand it. Don't worry, one day I'll be eating.

[38:05] Are you getting it? So sometimes, so they made their noise before the king. They said, our God will take care of us. And then when they finished, they realized, did we actually think very well about what we said?

[38:16] Yes, we thought about it, but the reality hits in. Sometimes you go into meeting, I've been in several meetings and we'll make a pledge. Then later on, I'm thinking, did I do the right thing or something?

[38:28] So he said, our God, when we left, we realized that we would need help. But we can't go to the king and ask for escorts and soldiers and horsemen because we have already told him that those of us who see God, God will protect us.

[38:42] And those who don't see God, God will judge. So now we can't go and ask for king. So what did we do? We fasted. Ezra chapter 8. We fasted. We fasted and entreated God that God helped us resolve this matter.

[38:57] Some of you are believing God that you are saying that you get married. You are telling your family members they should watch you. Things will work for you. After saying that, back it with fasting.

[39:09] Back it with fasting. Ezra chapter 8 is what I said. Back it with fasting. Verse 23. Verse 23.

[39:26] So we fasted. Let's not read it this way. Let's go. So we fasted. We did not grow from you. But we did not grow from you. We did not grow from you. God will answer your prayers. Amen.

[39:38] And what does that imply? So they had a safe journey. God protected them. What two told you God can't? You see, you have either the natural means or the supernatural means.

[39:48] And when you get into every situation, you can choose either to go supernatural or natural. And they chose that we can go to the king even though it doesn't look good. But no, we are going to go to God.

[40:01] And God showed up. God will show up in your situation. In this month of fasting, God will show up in your situation. Now quickly, number three.

[40:12] Quickly. In Joel, I think we should rather, when people are under God's judgment, so first of all, when they were returning exiles, they fasted.

[40:26] When people were under God's judgment, they also fasted. Look at this. I know you like this text. In 1 Kings chapter 21, verse 21. 1 Kings 21, 21.

[40:38] This is about Ahab. How many of you know about Ahab? Ahab was the most wicked king in Israel. He was the most wicked. He was the one who married Jezebel.

[40:51] The most wicked king. Who told you who you married doesn't matter. The most... Chapter 21, verse 21.

[41:03] It says that, Behold, this is God talking. Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your prosperity, and I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both born and free.

[41:21] I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and like the house of Basha, the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger and made Israel sin.

[41:36] That's God's judgment, what God said about Ahab. He said, You, I'm going to punish you, and I'm going to make sure that no one will succeed you.

[41:48] And look at verse 27. That's an amazing text, verse 27. Verse 27 says that, So it was, when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about mourning.

[42:07] He fasted when he saw the judgment coming. I don't know what you have done which makes you know that judgment is coming. Sister, brother, I think I suggest you fast. You have a court case and it's likely you'll be found guilty.

[42:22] Fast. Believe God. Because what is coming ahead, you know. This one, even the judgment of God we are talking about. And this, look at verse 28. Verse 28.

[42:33] And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, I like verse 29. See how Ahab has ham, see how Ahab, this wicked king has humbled himself before me.

[42:46] Because he has, because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. Fasting can avert the judgment of God. Fasting can avert judgment.

[43:01] He fasted. Jonah chapter 3, verse 5. Jonah, God said to Nineveh that I am going to wipe all of you out. So the people of Nineveh believe God, proclaim the fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.

[43:18] They fasted. They fasted. And what happened? Verse 10. Verse 10 says that, then God saw their works that they turned from their evil ways and God relented from the disaster that he had said he would bring upon them and he did not do it.

[43:40] How did they avert the judgment? Fasting. I know you are guilty about something and it's likely to bite you. You remember that scripture I quoted? He who goes into his neighbor's wife will not go unpunished.

[43:54] You know. Brother, I beg you, take advantage of the fasting and avert the danger.

[44:06] Sister, I beg you, you have gone for somebody's husband. You know what I'm talking about. please, avert the judgment that is pending over your life.

[44:19] How? By humbling yourself and crying out to God in fasting. Number four, avoid disaster. I showed you the scripture earlier.

[44:32] Esther fasted and the Jews were about to be massacred. All of them. It was a pre, like, it was Hitler. What Hitler did. Heman was about to do that.

[44:45] And watch this, watch this. At that time, all the Jews were concentrated in one place. So it was easy to finish all of them. At least in the days of Hitler, some were in UK, some were in America and a few other places.

[44:58] So it wasn't easy to gather all of them. But, Heman was going to gather all of them and annihilate them. And guess what? They proclaimed a fast.

[45:10] Esther fasted. And when you read the story carefully, you realize that at the end of the day, the Jews prevailed over their enemies because of fasting. Esther said in the verse 16, he said, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan and fast for me.

[45:25] Neither eat nor drink for three days nor night. Me, my maidens and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law.

[45:37] And if I perish, I perish. And she never perished. Those who in the name of God say if I perish, I perish and obey God never see perishing. She fasted and overturned the disaster that is coming.

[45:51] I don't know what disaster you can smell ahead. Fasting can overturn disaster. That's what they did in the Bible. That's what they did in the Bible.

[46:02] Jesus himself fasted in the New Testament. Look at this. they fasted to prove, you know, John Wesley. John Wesley will not appoint you or ordain you as a minister if you will not fast every Wednesday and Friday.

[46:19] No wonder his movement, the Methodist church, was so strong. Because all Methodist ministers John Wesley will appoint, you have to live a lifestyle of fasting every Wednesday and every Friday.

[46:31] Paul said in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 4. 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 4. He says, he was given the qualification or the things that ministers, they as ministers have been through or they go through.

[46:47] They said, but in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God. How do you commend ourselves? In much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses.

[46:57] The next verse, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, and in what? In fastings. So a minister of God, one of the characteristics of a minister, someone representing God, is there must be fastings in your life.

[47:15] You want to change your family members and you are not fasting. You want to see revival in your house and you are not fasting. Fasting is just a sign, one of the signs of a regular minister.

[47:29] Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 23 and verse 27. I'm running up now. And they, I'm sorry, are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool.

[47:42] I am more. In labors, more abundantly. In stripes, above measure. In prisons, more frequently. In death, more often. They started mentioning the things that he goes through.

[47:54] He goes through as a minister. Look at verse 27. In weariness, and toil. In sleeplessness, often. In hunger, and thirst. In fasting, often.

[48:04] In cold, and naked. So you see, as a minister, he said, we go, we have been through hunger. Listen, there's a difference between hunger, and thirst, and fast. What is the difference between hunger, and thirst, and fast?

[48:18] When you are, when you go through hunger, hunger, and thirst is, when you are not eating, hunger, and thirst is, when you are not eating, because you don't have anything to eat.

[48:32] And fasting, is when you have the option to eat, you have the opportunity, but you deprive, and deny yourself, that privilege to eat. So that, Paul had all, both of them.

[48:45] But the point here, is that, ministers of the gospel, it was part of their regular lifestyle, in the Bible. Some of us are saying, pastor, I want to be a great man of God.

[48:56] Listen, the way you are eating, and not fasting, I doubt if it will happen. I'm here to see, any great man of God, who doesn't live, a fasted life. Every man of God, and every, everyone who can make, an impact for God, must learn, how to fast.

[49:15] I'm just talking about, some of you, you say, God, I want you to use me. Start fasting. We have come from camp. This is a good opportunity. Join the fasting, and then afterwards, you schedule, your own periodic fastings.

[49:28] Other than that, God can use you, God can use you, the way he should use you. Amen. And then, I think finally, there was corporate fasting.

[49:40] Today has been a long one, isn't it? Yeah, it's good. At least, I wanted to teach on fasting, so that we just, have a reason, to go on this journey.

[49:53] I like this. In Acts chapter 13, verse 1 to 4, Bible says that, in the church that was in Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers. There were certain what? I can't hear you.

[50:05] There were certain what? There were certain prophets and teachers in the church that is in Antioch, and then he mentions their names, and then he ended with Saul. Then verse 2.

[50:17] Verse 2 says, As they ministered to the Lord, and did what? Fasted. The Holy Ghost said. You see, their ministering to the Lord was part of the, it was an act of fasting.

[50:28] They were ministering to the Lord and fasted. The Holy Ghost said. The Holy Ghost said, separate unto me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work which I have called them. Watch this. And so, after the Holy Ghost spoke, they should have just said, okay, they said, we should separate you.

[50:42] No. But, look at verse 3. Then, having fasted and prayed, they laid hands on them and sent them off. So, guess what? They were fasting, ministering and fasting to the Lord.

[50:55] The Holy Ghost spoke. And after the Holy Ghost spoke, they fasted again and prayed and sent them off. So, you can tell, fasting was a very important part of the work of God.

[51:06] They were fasting. In Acts chapter 14, before they appointed the first elders of the church, they fasted. Acts chapter 14, verse 21 to 23. They fasted and appointed elders.

[51:18] In the book of the, in the New Testament, actually, missionaries are not, missionary is not the word of the New Testament. The New Testament is apostles. The New Testament is not missionaries, it's apostles.

[51:31] Apostles are people who are sent out to go and do a work. So, before the apostles, they were teachers and prophets, but to have the apostles, they fasted and prayed and the apostles were sent.

[51:43] And Bible says that when they were sent out, when the Holy Ghost had sent them, so the Holy Ghost was involved in the process, but they had to engage in fasting and prayer. And then finally, have I said finally already?

[51:59] Are you sure? Okay, finally, finally. Verily, verily. I think you will like this one, so let me add it.

[52:11] I think, actually, I finished the point in the Bible, but this one is, um, um, what happens when we fast? Look at this.

[52:22] In 2nd, you notice that, 2nd Chronicles chapter 7, verse 14. 2nd Chronicles 7, verse 14. I think it would be nice for us all to read it from the screen.

[52:34] Can you see it from the screen? Please, do me a favor. Shall we all read it together? Amen.

[52:54] Seven things that have to be done here. Seven things. Number one is humble. Did you see that? Number two is what?

[53:06] Number one is humble. Number two? Number three? Three. Oh, you guys are amazing. I wish I was the one who taught you at school. It would be very easy. You would make me look like I'm a very good teacher.

[53:19] Wow. So, no, I mean at school, at school, at school. So, number one is humble. Number two? Number three? Number four?

[53:30] Number four? Number four? Number four? Number four? Number four? Number four? Wow. You guys, I think I have to stop. You know the word already. This is good. Number four, ten. Okay. Number five? Number five? Yeah, here.

[53:41] Number six? Number seven? Zero. Seven things that happen. Four are by the people of God. Three are by God.

[53:52] If my people do these four things, I'll also do the three. Number one is humble themselves. Humble themselves. That's fasting.

[54:04] Okay. And pray. Bishop O'Hare de Poe made a statement, I've said it a few times, that God doesn't answer fasting. He answers fasting and prayers.

[54:16] He answers prayers, actually. So, when you fast, for goodness sake, pray. Other than that, it's just a hunger strike. So, he said, if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and do what?

[54:32] Pray. Pray. And then do what? Seek my face. I want to say something about seeking the face of God. When he says pray, you know, it's not about praying from seven to eight. Not just that.

[54:44] Seek my face here means that you are praying till you have a certain encounter. Like when we went for the camp. So, it's not about time. Frame. You just, you are on a mission.

[54:55] You want, you want to be, you pray to enter his presence. You pray till you know that you are in his presence. So, he said, if my people shall humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and then the third one, turn from their wickedness.

[55:09] Sometimes, it's easy for people to think, me, I don't have any wicked life. I don't have anything. Bible says, the heart of man is desperately wicked. And usually, you think you are okay till you come into the presence of God and you realize that there's a lot of problems with you.

[55:23] How many of you have been in God's presence and in prayer, God begins to convict you that you have to forgive this person. You have to stop that. You have to stop that. How many of you? Because in the presence of God, you begin to realize who you really are.

[55:36] So, he said, and turn from your wickedness. God, what will I do? I will hear from heaven, number one. Number two, I will forgive their sins. And number three, I will heal their life.

[55:48] Fasting will change this land. Hallelujah. Any judgment, impending judgment of God on this land, our fasting can change it. Our fasting can change it.

[56:01] So, that's what God said, when we fast, it can be done. I've shown you a few things that fasting did in the Bible. And I want you, as we embark on this fasting, remember, you are doing something worthwhile.

[56:12] You are afflicting your soul. So, it's not work on a pack. You will feel it. Some people say, Pastor, when I fast, I really feel hungry. Yes, we all do. We all do.

[56:26] You are sacrificing your breakfast, sacrificing your lunch, sacrificing your normal, comfortable way of living, and humble your soul, or afflict your soul, to seek the face of God.

[56:38] That is fasting. And when people see God's face, they see it. Listen, I know, I'm a pastor, and I'm very much aware, that a lot of people have been trained by our kind of pastors to depend on the pastors.

[56:51] So, the pastor is a powerful man of God. He's the one when he prays for the things that will happen. Please, that is not Christianity. God calls us, anoints us, to stand with you and to be a blessing to you. But the ultimate responsibility is you.

[57:04] It's in your hands. And if you can take this fasting thing I'm talking about and engage it, I'm telling you, say, God told me there will be many testimonies. It's testimonies.

[57:16] But we don't need testimonies. Just that sometimes we don't want to pay the price, but we want the price. There is a price tag on every price.

[57:27] If you want to win the award, there is a price to pay. And I want to challenge you. Take it as a project. I said it yesterday in our service. Take it as a project.

[57:39] It's a project. You are believing God for something. Some of you, your marital conundrum or your marital quagmire or your marital challenge must be sorted this fast.

[57:50] Amen. That's engaging in fasting so that God will intervene in your situation that it doesn't become now a critical situation.

[58:02] Listen, my argument here and my point is that God is still at work. Why not in your life then?

[58:14] If God is still working, then why not in your life? And I used to say this when I used to be on TV and preach before I closed the message, before I end the broadcast, I always said, if God will bless somebody, it might as well be you.

[58:31] If God is going to bless somebody, it might as well be... Shall we please rise to our feet? And I want you to lift up your hands just for two minutes. And I need you to talk to God about something that you are believing Him for.

[58:46] That this fasting, may He show you His favor. That this fasting, you will see the goodness of God. That this fasting, you will see that you will experience the power of God. That this fasting, you will experience the blessing of God.

[58:59] Lift up your hands and pray right now. Lift up your voice and pray right now. Lord, we need your hand. Lord, we need your intervention. Lord, we need your defense.

[59:10] Lord, we need your help. Lord, we need your intervention. Lord, we need your intervention. As we engage in this man's fasting, Father, show your glory.

[59:22] Father, show your power. Father, manifest your power. Somebody pray for your child. Pray for your marriage. Pray for your business.

[59:34] Pray for your husband. Pray for your wife. Pray for the situation at hand. Pray about that court case. Pray about the release of those documents. Pray in the name of Jesus.

[59:46] Pray about that court situation. Pray about that problem in the family. Pray about that medical complication. Pray about your health.

[59:56] Pray about that medical challenge. Somebody pray. Pray seriously. that this season of fasting, today is the day number two of our June fast.

[60:07] That God of heaven will do something supernatural. God of heaven will manifest his glory in your life. The God of favor will show up on your behalf.

[60:18] The God of power will visit you. The God of power. in the name of Jesus. Lift up your two hands close.

[60:28] Say after me, Oh Lord, I believe in you. I believe that you are able to do more exceedingly, abundantly, above all I can think or ask for.

[60:44] This morning, today, I sustain in your presence. I ask, let the supernatural be manifested in my life. Throughout this period of fasting, I receive grace.

[60:58] I receive strength to humble myself, to humble my soul, to seek your face, and to turn from my wicked ways. Oh Lord, I pray for divine manifestations in my life against the plans of the enemy.

[61:16] Every satanic injunction over my life, in my family, in my health, in my finances, in my career, in my studies, in my relationships.

[61:28] Oh Lord, every satanic injunction let it be overruled. Let it be overturned. Let it be nullified and canceled in the name of Jesus.

[61:39] Show your power. Show your power. Distrude. Let your power be manifested as we engage in the fast. Let your glory be seen.

[61:51] Oh Lord, show your glory. Oh Lord, show your power. And we promise to bring you all the glory. Thank you in Jesus' name.

[62:04] Well, put your hands together for the Lord and give God a shout. Give the Lord a shout. Amen. Amen. Please be seated.

[62:18] We thank God for using his servant, Reverend Dr. David Enchie, to share this awesome word. If this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at charis.org.

[62:32]  Remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Charis Ministries. Stay blessed.