Mensa Otabil - A Sacred Assembly (10/03/2025)
Well, this is the beginning; this is day number one of our 40 days of power, and I trust that God will help each one of us as we start this spiritual journey and bring us to the place of spiritual renewal and power. I’m going to read from Joel chapter 2, verses 15 and 16: «Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a sacred assembly; gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children and nursing babies. Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber and the bride from her dressing room.»
Joel was inspired by God to speak these words to Judah and Israel at a time of crisis. At this time, the nation of Israel had faced a catastrophe: an army had come against them and ransacked them, and now there is another catastrophe on the horizon. A swarm of locusts is coming against them, and God speaks to Joel to tell the children of Israel how to respond to this catastrophe. One has occurred; the other is coming. How are they supposed to respond in the midst of this crisis?
For the nation and for the people, it is in this context that the Jewish prophecy occurs, and God says that the trumpet should be sounded: «Blow the trumpet in Zion.» This means this is a public fast; it is not private. It’s not just something to be done in secret; it has to be announced that a fast is in place, and that’s what we are doing. This is a public fast. We blow the trumpet today to say this is the beginning; we have started our fast. Then He said that the fast requires a sacred assembly. This means it is not personal; it’s not just for individuals; it is for a group, a sacred assembly; it’s a corporate fast.
That’s the kind of fast we are also involved in-it’s a corporate fast. It’s a group of people embarking on a spiritual journey with God, and it includes many different groups of people. Yes, in our time, it does so. Today, as we consecrate these 40 days to the Lord, we commit our hearts to seek Him and to know His will. As it was done in the book of Joel, today is the first day of our journey, and we seek the Lord in prayer, in supplications, in petitions, in waiting on His word. We pray that the Lord will visit us and do great things among us. We trust the Lord that He will turn His face toward us, that He will look upon us favorably and attend to our prayers wherever we pray from: in any part of the world, on any continent, in any country, in any city, in any town, in any village, in any hamlet, in any home.
May the Lord shine His favor upon us as we pray, and the Lord will renew our strength. If you are weak, He will lift you up. The Lord will guide us. If you are lost in any part of your life, God will show you the way. He will order your steps, direct you, and bring you to the expected end. The Lord will open doors for us; whatever has been shut against you or denied to you, you have prayed, you have asked, you have sought, but now we are knocking; we are being persistent, and doors are going to be opened. May God open marvelous doors for you and supernatural doors for you, favor to you in the name of Jesus.
And the Lord will fight for us. If you are in any battle, those who contend against you come against Jehovah and the armies of Jehovah. It’s not just about you fasting by yourself; it’s a whole group of people in a corporate fast standing with you, joining our faith together, and God will fight for you and give you the victory. The Lord is a man of war; He rises on behalf of His children, and the Lord will give us victory, and we will triumph at the end of these 40 days. I believe God will give you a testimony, and He’ll give me a testimony, and we’ll all have something to rejoice about because the Lord God is a faithful God; He’s an awesome God; He’s a powerful God. From this day, as we start this journey, may the Lord be with each one of us and strengthen each one of us, and strengthen us together from every part of the world.
As we start this spiritual journey, let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I consecrate myself to wait on You. Let Your Holy Spirit lead me as I seek Your face.» In Jesus' name, amen and amen. Day one, we’re going to go through this day and each day for the next 40 days. I’ll catch you again tomorrow morning. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.