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Hi, I'm Nancy Dufresne. Welcome to our podcast channel. We know you'll be blessed by today's message. The Lord is good and his mercy endureth forever. Praise the lord. The Lord has been dealing with me lately. From the Book of Hebrews, if you would turn there, chapter 10. I haven't really got notes prepared for a sermon on this, but that's okay. And verse 21, if you read the whole chapter of Hebrews 10, it talks about the blood and the Covenant. And then 21 says, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. And then it says in verse 23, let us hold fast. The Lord brought my attention to the fact that it says three times, let us, let us, let us. And the first is to let us draw near with the true heart in full assurance of faith. This is that intimacy with God that Pastor's been talking about. And that can be an entire sermon on its own, but it says, let us draw near. Why did Jesus come to us with his blood? Why did he become our high priest? Why are we saved? There's many reasons, but the primary reason is that we would draw close to him and that we would have an intimate relationship with Him. And God's been dealing with me a lot about that. I'm not going to turn there. But in Revelations, chapter 2, verse 1 to 7, to the Ephesian Church, one of the seven churches at Ephesus, Jesus says, you've done so well. And he compliments them over and over again. And he says, you've worked hard and you've been patient and you've endured and you've. You've. You've. You've sought, you've rejected evil. And when false people came in the church, you discovered them and kept the church safe. And he's telling all these. You've hated the. The Gospel of the Nicola, the Nicolations, which is that excessive grace. If you study what the Nicolations taught, it was excessive grace. And he said, you've hated that, and I've hated that, and all of that is wonderful, but I have one thing against you is that you've. You've lost that first love. You haven't done the first works. And then he says, if you don't repent quickly, I'll come in the midst of your candlestick and I'll. And I'll remove that. And, and with all the compliments and all the effort and all the work that we do for God, especially as ministers, if we don't keep the first thing first, he says, you got to do it quickly. You better change that quickly. And God been dealing with me a little bit about that. And I said, well, Lord, in defense of me, I think we're all like that. I said, in defense of me, I'm not really doing anything wrong, and I'm living clean. And even what I do is within moderation. You know, if you're watching something or relaxing or whatever, just relaxing. And the Lord spoke something to me, and he said, you think because you don't do anything wrong and what you do is in moderation, that that equals putting me first. And he said, because you're not giving yourself over to too much watching this or surfing there, you know what I mean? All the things that take our time in life, and we're so busy and we're working for God. And he said that don't equate just doing, not doing wrong and then doing what you're doing, which is fine. And even in moderation, don't equate that with putting me first, because that's not putting me first. And he really got on me. I haven't really preached this to my congregation or anything. That's why I don't really have full notes. But I've just. He's been on me a lot, and he said, son, you can do. You're doing well in all these areas, but if you don't keep first things first, which is your union with me, which is your intimacy with me, which is that first love for me. He said, all of these things that you're doing and all of the work that you're doing, at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter that much because I want you. And I said, well, Lord, I pray and I read and I do all these things and. And I'm not doing anything wrong necessarily, that I know of. And the Holy Ghost started dealing with me. And he brought back to my memory what pastor has taught us and said so many times. And she talked about that minister lady that she knew and knows. And God showed that lady, this woman in rural. I don't know if it was Montana or somewhere, but it was rural. And she was on a ranch, some kind of ranch, lots of kids, lots of laundry and responsibilities, and she's busy. And this minister friend of pastors saw in the spirit, this woman, and she's hanging clothes on the clothesline with the pegs, and she's singing to herself and worshiping the Lord. And the Lord said, she holds her. She has many responsibilities, but she holds herself in the spirit by worshiping me all day long. And then he went on to another story, and he reminded me of something else. That's why it's important you listen and pay attention to when the person that God has put over you speaks. Because God will often bring back to you what they've said to help fix your life. And he said, do you remember that she. She saw on the television years ago that minister that fell into sin, sexual immorality. And. And she said something along the lines of, lord, I guess that temptation must have been so great that he couldn't. That. That he couldn't stand against that. And the Lord said, no. No temptation is that strong, no evil, no wickedness is that great. He. His failure was not the temptation. His failure. He didn't start his day with me and keep his heart turned toward me all day long. And the Holy Ghost said something to me, and I've been endeavoring to practice it. And I'm ashamed to say maybe I haven't done it as much as I should have. But that's why God was getting on me. He said, just because you pray in the morning doesn't mean I'm first. Just because you don't sin doesn't mean I'm first. Just because you have some fun, clean fun, in moderation, doesn't mean I'm first. If you don't keep your heart turned toward me all day long. If you don't hold yourself in the spirit by worshiping me and thinking about me and loving me and whispering to me all day long, that's putting me first. And I discovered that in our busy lives like the Church of Ephesus and all the things that they're doing. But there was something that was lacking as they were not drawing near. That's the first love. It doesn't really matter what you do if you're not drawing near. Because if he's not first, if he's not everything, if he's not the lover of your soul. The Lord said something to me. He said, because, I mean, I'm not trying to brag, but we have a. Our marriage is just amazing. It really is. And it's because we have been praying for each other. If you want a good marriage, pray in tongues for your mate. And don't quit until. Until God works on them and changes them. And the Lord said something to me. He said, you know how much you love your Wife? I said, yes, sir. He said, have you noticed that your. Your mind goes to her throughout the day? You think about her? I said, yeah, I think about her because I'm just. I just love her. I'm in love with her. And the Lord said, why don't you do that with me? You love her so much that your mind, your heart turns toward her. You think about her, you talk to her, you call her, you text her. She is number one. He said, but I am greater than her. Your heart has to be turned. And he said, let us draw near. Everything in the covenant is for one ultimate purpose, that we draw near. When Pastor Noel was talking, when he was prophesying, he often talks about the union with God. That's what that is. That's the union with God. Hallelujah. That I may know him. What Paul said, what John says there, that, that it's. It's. It's the Father. Jesus said in John, I don't know if it's 14 or 15 or somewhere. And they're, like I said, I don't have notes, but the Father's in me and I'm in Him. And he gives me the words and he does the works. And this is life. John 17, 3 Eternal. This is the eternal purpose of humanity, that we may know Him. I know it's so simple, but it's something that dominates my thoughts on a daily basis. Am I keeping my heart turned toward Him? You don't ever have to worry about your confession if your heart is turned toward him. Because I was reading Psalm 91. He that dwelleth in the secret place, that's that place of the Spirit, that's that place of intimacy. He that dwells there and abides into the shadow of the Most High. Right? And then later in verse eight, it says, if you're in that place, that secret place, you're inaccessible, inaccessible. But it also, if you notice, it says, when you're in that secret place, I will verse two, say of the Lord, he is my rock, he is my refuge. He is my God. In him will I trust. He will deliver me. And all the way through, there's a confession there. And the Lord said, you're so focused on your confession, just get real close to me. Just get real close to me. And the words will just come. The confession won't be something you do legalistically. When you're close to me. When you're close to me, words flow. When you're in that secret place, I will say of the Lord, he is my. And if you look Here in Hebrews, it says. It says in verse 22, let us draw near this. Is that intimacy? And then what's the very next thing? Let us hold fast our profession without wavering. Wavering means to get tired. We can say the right thing, but we can get tired. And it really means to lean and to. And to basically give. Give up. It means to lie down. And with our words, we can't get to that place of wavering or lying down. But did you notice before the confession is talked about, the intimacy is talked about? Because when you're in the secret place, I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge. Hallelujah. We must focus on our words. Dad Hagin talked about 3 and 1. If you'll say to the mountain, be thou removed in Cassie and not done. But believe what you say, whatever you say will come to pass. Remember, dad Hagin talked about three, three times the saying, one time believing. There has got to be an emphasis more on our words. What Pastor said last night, you shall decree a thing and it shall be established unto you. But if you're in that place of union and fellowship and intimacy, it's almost. I'm not saying that you ignore the confession, but it's like something is there. It's ever present with you. Because when you're close with God, you'll act like God. And God talks. Faith talks. Faith has a voice. And as I was in the service last night, I heard these words by the Holy Ghost, have your mouth. And pastor did say something similar to this at the beginning. Have your mouth filled and ready with an answer. Have your mouth filled and ready with an answer for life. The three Hebrew children. You're going to bow or you're going to burn. We are not quick, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter, O king. In other words, if you change your mind, we're not bowing. And if you don't change your mind, our God will deliver us from the fiery furnace. And in his visage change in his rage and everything. And he throws them to be burned al in that fire. But their words and their faith preserved them in a mighty miracle. But the Lord reminded me their mouth was ready and filled. They didn't have to think, they didn't have to have a meeting. They didn't have to have a convention or a prayer time or a discussion. We are not careful to answer the. In other words, there is no thought to be given to the answer to that question. Oh king, we got the answer for you. The Goliath comes to David. I'M gonna take you. And David, he doesn't even have to pause. He says, you come to me with a shield and a spear. I come to you in the name of the Lord, my God, the Lord of hosts, and he will deliver you into my hand. And then he says, and the army. Read it. I don't have notes, but I think it's 1st Samuel 17. He didn't just say, I'll take you. He said, and the Lord will deliver the army, the host of the Philistines, into my hand. No pause, no discussion, no wondering when Cancer shows up, when this shows. No wondering when the giant shows up. He's got an answer. You come to me with your I come to you. And I won't just take you. I'll take the whole doggone army. Because no one man can take an army. But when the gift of faith is on you and God is with you and angels are with you, you can do something that no one else can do. But he had to have his mouth filled and ready with an answer. Hallelujah. While she was talking, preaching last night, I heard the Holy Ghost say, when you're close with me, the answers will flow, but you better be ready with an answer. There better be no pause when Nebuchadnezzar shows up to you, when Goliath shows up to you, when the fig tree shows up to you, I answer you real quick, let us draw near and let us hold fast our profession. Hold fast without wavering. That means we don't quit with our saying. That means when it doesn't look like it's working, it is working. You just can't see that it's working and you don't get tired in your confession. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. This is not a real sermon. I don't know what this is. I'm just. I just. All I know is that he keeps saying, let us. Let us, let us some three things focus on let us draw near intimacy. Let us hold fast. Watch your words and be ready with an answer. And then the last one. Let us consider one another. To provoke unto love and to good works. Not you can't separate 24 and 25. They go together. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some. So some people are getting comfortable and familiar as a habit. To watch, livestream and live stream is a blessing, but it's also a curse because what it does is it makes people lazy and make them feel they don't have to come. And I'll tell you something and you know it. Those that are here. But if you're not, if you're watching and you could come, you need to renew your mind. There's certain things you can't get by watching live stream. There's impartations and anointings that will not come unless you make the effort to come. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day approaching. I know that we as pastors always tell people to be faithful and to show up at church, right? But sometimes the pastors also need to be told to be faithful and to show up to camp meeting because there's something about an assembling that you can't get anywhere else. There's something about seeing each other and talking to each other and being in proximity with each other. I'm talking about each other. Exhorting one another. The ministry doesn't end when pastor stops because there's words of encouragement and exhortation from one person to another. And sometimes that can cause a turn in their life that you have no idea because you're just speaking simple, simple prophecy, edification, exhortation and comfort. But that doesn't happen if you're not here. Hallelujah. But what about the impartations that come, which you can only get? I long to see you that I may impart unto you the gifts of God, that to the end that you may be established. Paul said, I, I have to see. You see, watching. They see the minister, but the minister doesn't see them. And there's impartation that comes when the minister sees you. I can't express enough. I mean, you think out of the different things, it could be so many other things listed here. But he says, I want you to stay close because that first love is everything. And keeping your heart turned, you want to stop sinning, you just keep your heart turned. You want to overcome, you just keep your heart. You want to know what to say, you just keep your heart turned. Everything comes out of that fellowship. But you've got to keep your mouth open and ready with an answer, because I tell you, Nebuchadnezzar is coming in all of our lives. And yet there's another aspect. It's close to God. I think it's an order of importance. Your words have your words. You got to watch them, you got to hold them, you got to keep your mouth ready with an answer. But then you've also. Number three, let us consider One another. You've got to stay in. In proximity to the person God has assigned to you. If you're a congregation member, that is your pastor. That is not a convention, and that is not a traveling minister. That is not a television program. That is your pastor. But if you are a pastor or a traveling minister, that person is whoever God assigned to you as the voice in your life. There's somebody in my life that has a grace for me. Do you know who it is? She's sitting right over there. And her family, not just her, but her family, if they have the name defrain, it is a precious name to the fields. And their feet are beautiful to us. And it doesn't matter how far I have to go, how much money I have to spend. When Covid came, you know I was going to break the law. I stuffed that Listerine way on up there after four positive Covid testings. And I said to the Lord, Lord, it's up to you. You either blind that doctor and change this test. Cause you know, and I know I ain't sick, but I am going to California one way or the other if you don't change this outcome. I'm getting the canoe because, you know, upstate New York, sir. But I've. I've. I've walked the trail on the Canadian side, and there is a part that is only about 300ft from my side to your side. And it is unmanned and there are no gun towers. I could swim it or I could take a canoe. And I was this close to getting the canoe. Jenny said, I'm not coming with you. You're crazy. I am not. I'm joking, but I'm not joking. You have to make a decision. Where God called me to be, I'm going to be. It doesn't matter what the obstacle, doesn't matter what the money, doesn't matter how tired, doesn't matter if I've got kids. Stop making the excuse about kids. Stop making the excuse about money. Stop making the excuse about my spouse is tired. Stop making the excuse about all the excuses. You've got to set your heart. I consider one another, and I do not forsake being around the one with the grace for my life. We want our congregation to feel that way, but some ministers don't do it themselves. And if you're not sowing the seed of faithfulness to the one you're submitted to, why do you expect a harvest from your congregation? And I'll end it, because I don't even know what's going on. I have Sermons, but. And I'm always ready. Pastor said. Don't ever tell me again you're not ready. I'm always ready, but my notes are not always ready. And I can pick something. I've got 150 sermons in my phone. I can just pick one. But as soon as she said that, I heard the Holy Ghost say, let us. That's all he has to say, because I know what he means. Let us draw near, let us hold fast, and let us gather. And if you keep those three things straight, it will change your. It will ch. It will turn things for you. You can't just have the right confession, but never be around the one that God anointed for your life. Do you understand? I don't know where it is, but I'm going to find it. It's in Nehemiah. I think that's in the Old Testament. Just real quick, because I don't want to take long. This was spontaneous. What is Nehemiah? Is that. That's Nahem. God. Where's Nehemiah? There it is. And help me, Jesus. I think it's chapter four, but I don't know. Can you just go with me and we'll find it together? Nehemiah, Chapter four. I was reading it, but I didn't write it down. You need to write it down. Yeah. It is chapter four. Well, that's good. Oh, God. God said this to me the other day in light of. Let us gather verse 14. And I looked and rose up and said to the nobles and to the rulers, they're building the wall. And to the rest of the people, be not afraid of them. Remember the Lord, which is great and terrible. And fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses. Fight for them. What is it? What does that mean to us in the New Testament? Use your faith. It's the fight of faith. Release your faith in the fight of faith for what you need. And don't be afraid of what they're saying, whatever that means to you, because it could mean different things to different ones. And it came to pass, verse 15. When our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to naught, that we returned, all of us, to the wall, everyone to his work. See, they're working for God. And it came to pass from that time forth that half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears and the shields and the bows and the habergains, whatever that is. And the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. Verse 17. They which build it on the wall, and they which bear burdens with those that laid it. Everyone. Everyone. With one of his hands wrought in the work and with the other hand held a weapon. Brother, we're. We're in a day where that has to be our. That's us. We're holding high the weapon of faith and the weapon of the power of God, and yet we're working for God. There's a defensive posture, and yet we're being productive. Verse 18. For the builders. Everyone held his sword girded by his. Had his sword girded by his side and so builded. And he. Listen to this. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. There's a guy with the trumpet right by the leader nehemiah. Now. Verse 19. And I said to the nobles and to the rulers, this is what the man or the woman of God you're submitted to says. I said to the nobles and the rulers and the rest of the people. The work is great and large, but we are separated upon the wall, one far one from the other. The work is great, but I'm separated because he's in Cedar Rapids and he's in Paducah and. And he's in Florida and I'm in Canada and you're in Colorado and you're in Greece, and the work is great, but we are separated one from the other. Isn't that true? We're all doing the work of God, but we're all in different parts right now. Watch what he says. Were separated one far from the other. Verse 20. In what place? Therefore you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us. Come. When you hear the trumpet, come, gather. Forsake not the gathering. When you hear the trumpet, when you hear the call come. Don't say I'm doing the work of God. I'm too busy. Stop what you're doing and come when you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us, and our God will fight for us. The promise of God intervening was conditional on their attendance. I never saw that before fully. And I heard the Holy Ghost say, you're using your faith, son. Because he said, fight for your brethren. Fight for your wives and children. You're doing that. But that's not where it ends. You can't just confess and use your faith. That's the second one. But you've got to not forsake the gathering, because when you gather, God shows up and he fights for you. You're not just using your faith. But when you gather when the trumpet sounds, God shows up. It's never a waste. Together. Look at this. These wonderful new friends of ours all the way from England, you don't think the devil tries to talk to them and say it's not worth going all the way to California? You know how far that is from England and all the connections and all the money and all the time. But you see some people, they get this. They get this money is not more valuable than being around the one with a grace. And when I hear the trumpet, when you see the email, come in and say, camp meeting is this date to this date, You've just heard a trumpet. When Pastor Morgan gets up and says, the next conference is this date to this date, you, brother and sister have just heard that sounds more like a rooster than a trumpet, but you know what I mean. Dear God, I was in Dominica preaching at our Promise of Life Church, and there was a neighbor with a demonized rooster. And they're supposed to crow at 5 in the morning, but this one's got devils. He started crowing at 10, crowed every 12 seconds until 9 the next morning. Not one ounce of sleep. I got up with a rock and I cornered that thing and I said, I could cast the devil out of you, but I'm just gonna kill you instead. And I didn't know how shifty those things are. Those roosters are fast. I tried to catch it, I couldn't catch it. He ran away and kept crowing. Every day after that, when I call her, I can hear that demon in the background. Dear Lord, I don't know why I thought of that, because I'm trying to make a trumpet sound and it sounded like a rooster. When you hear them say, we're gathering, I. I don't want to offend anybody, but I'm telling you, you got to shift your thinking. It's not an option. If you want all that God has. Because Nehemiah said, you're fighting, but you want God to show up, you better gather God will fight for us. Come to me. It's not healthy in the work of God to be separated for two long periods of time. It's not healthy. It's like Jesus said, I'll go after the 1 sheep. The 99 is fine, but I'm going to go after the 1. It's not right. When you're, you're working in your ministry and, and congregation members, you. You're here already. I'm talking to ministers. We all are doing a great work and a large work for Jesus. And we're separated from far from one another. And it's not healthy for us to be alone for too long because the Nehemiah is going to sound the trumpet and say, it's time. Gather. Come from all corners, gather. God is about to show up. God showed up tonight. God showed up tonight. I've been with pastor Nancy and Dr. DeFres for a number of years, almost 20 years now, and I've never seen what happened tonight happen tonight. But God is doing something in our midst. God is showing up and we're all bringing a supply for this. I'm sorry this is not polished. I'm sorry this is not organized and varnished, because I like to varnish my sermons, make it all nice and sweet. But I'm telling you, let us draw near. That's the most important thing of our day, of our month, of our calendar, of our to do list, of everything. When's the last time you talked to him? When's the last time you thought about him? When's the last time you whispered to him while you're busy, while you're in the bank, while you're working, while you're in a counseling session? I love you, Jesus. I love you. Holy Spirit, I love you. He'll talk to you so much more if you'll engage him more. Let us draw near. Let us hold fast our words because they're going to get us out of whatever problems that we're in. And when you're close, the words just come. Hallelujah. I'm one with my father. My father is one with me. He gives me the words and he doeth the works. That's amazing. And let us consider one another by not forsaking gathering. We've got to come when the trumpet calls. God's going to show up. There's impartations for us. She has to see us. Do you understand? And I know some people say, but if I'm in the back row, she may not see me. It does. It's not legalistic like that. If you're here, God sees you. And if God sees you, whether she sees you in the back row or not, God sees you. There's impartations that come as she, you know, she doesn't have to lay hands on you. Just listen to what she's saying. Things will come out of her by anointings and they'll come into you. And he said, I long to see you. Another verse says, that I may perfect that which is lacking in your faith. There's a perfection that comes when we come to campmeeting. Hallelujah. Well, that's it. Let us draw near. Let us hold fast our profession without wavering. And let us consider one another and not forsake the gathering together. Because when we get together, God fights for us. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. We trust you've enjoyed this message. Visit us at defrainministries.org to learn of our upcoming meetings, share your testimony, become a partner, or visit our online store. This program has been made possible by the friends and partners of Dufresne Ministries.