Anointing Service || The Anointing || Pastor Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

May 17, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Two Offerings, One Heart

The smoke of Abel’s lamb rose as a sweet aroma. Cain’s clenched fists held back his best. God rejected his half-hearted offering. The first murder began with jealous rage over giving—a heart refusing surrender. Jesus later called hypocrites “whitewashed tombs” for honoring God with lips while withholding their lives. What you give reveals who owns you. [47:50]

God sees past dollar amounts to the posture beneath. Abel’s offering cost him the firstborn of his flock—a tangible act of trust. Cain gave leftovers, resenting the demand. When you tithe grudgingly or avoid generosity, you repeat Cain’s rebellion masked as compliance.

This week, notice where you withhold your best—time, resources, forgiveness. Do you give God leftovers while keeping prime cuts for yourself? Open your hands and say, “Take the first portion.” What offering have you been guarding that God is asking you to release?

“Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.”
(Genesis 4:3-5, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any resentment in your giving. Ask God to give you Abel’s heart of joyful surrender.
Challenge: Write down one area where you’ve given minimally. Intentionally give your “firstborn” there today.

Day 2: Mites and Millions

Jesus watched the rich drop heavy coins, unimpressed. A widow crept forward, her two copper mites clinking—all she had. He called disciples over: “She gave more than all.” Her empty hands held radical trust. The temple treasury echoed with hollow religiosity, but her sacrifice thundered in heaven. [34:26]

God measures generosity by sacrifice, not surplus. The wealthy gave from excess; she gave from survival. Jesus honored her poverty-born offering because it cost her everything. When you calculate percentages instead of surrender, you miss the widow’s secret: giving isn’t arithmetic—it’s worship.

Examine your budget. Does your giving require faith, or just math? Next time you donate, pause and ask: “Does this feel safe, or does it stretch my trust?” What would it look like to give something that actually costs you?

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:43-44, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to break your addiction to “safe” giving. Thank Him for His faithfulness when we risk lack.
Challenge: Give a gift that requires adjusting your lifestyle (e.g., skip a meal out, donate the amount).

Day 3: First Fruits, Full Barns

Israelite farmers eyed early crops—tempted to sell for quick profit. God demanded first fruits: “Bring the best sheaf to the priest.” Obedience meant trusting later harvests to come. Solomon later warned: “Honor God with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9). Stingy hearts hoard; faithful hearts plant. [09:34]

Firstfruits declare God’s ownership over everything. Withholding them insults His provision. Modern “firstfruits” include your initial paycheck at a new job, the first hour of your day, or the best of your creativity. Like the boy’s loaves given to Jesus, your “little” becomes His miracle when surrendered first.

Where are you harvesting early instead of honoring God’s order? This week, identify one “firstfruit” you’ve delayed giving—a project, bonus, or opportunity. What would it look like to release it before securing the rest?

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
(Proverbs 3:9-10, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for His faithfulness in past provision. Surrender your next “firstfruit” aloud.
Challenge: Set aside 10% of your next income before paying bills. Give it within 24 hours.

Day 4: Five Loaves, Twelve Baskets

A boy’s lunch—five barley loaves, two fish—landed in Jesus’ hands. Disciples scoffed, “How far will this go?” Jesus blessed it, broke it, and fed thousands. Leftovers filled twelve baskets. The miracle began when the boy released his meal. Your “not enough” becomes abundance in Christ’s hands. [01:01:50]

God multiplies what we entrust to Him, but He won’t snatch it. The boy chose surrender over hunger. Like the widow’s oil or Peter’s boat loaned to Jesus, your resources gain eternal purpose when handed over. Hoarding breeds scarcity; giving unlocks divine math.

What’s your “five loaves”—the resource you’re clutching, fearing insufficiency? Name it today: time, savings, a skill. How might God multiply it if you let go? What basket of leftovers have you missed by refusing to share?

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ […] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces.”
(John 6:9-13, NIV)

Prayer: Hold your hands open. Say, “Take my loaves, Jesus. Turn them into baskets.”
Challenge: Give a tangible gift (food, clothes, tools) to someone in need today.

Day 5: Storehouses and Open Windows

Malachi rebuked thieves who robbed God’s tithes. “Test me,” God said. “See if I won’t throw open floodgates of blessing.” The storehouse wasn’t just a temple—it fed priests, orphans, and foreigners. Tithing isn’t a transaction; it’s covenant partnership with God’s mission. [22:36]

Withholding tithes starves heaven’s work on earth. But returning them activates promises: protection over crops (Malachi 3:11), national blessing (3:12). Your tithe funds gospel labor, shelters the vulnerable, and declares, “God owns it all.” The storehouse isn’t a building—it’s the frontline of kingdom advance.

Are you giving God leftovers instead of tithes? Review last month’s expenses. Does your giving reflect covenantal obedience or convenient charity? What “floodgates” have remained shut because your storehouse stays empty?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
(Malachi 3:10, NIV)

Prayer: Repent for any withheld tithes. Ask God to redirect your finances for His glory.
Challenge: Audit last month’s giving. If below 10%, give the difference this week.

Sermon Summary

We celebrate the commissioning of the class of 2026 and move into a focused exposition on intentional giving, honoring God with our increase. We lay out reasons for giving: honor, love, obedience, and grateful worship. We insist that giving forms a spiritual loop; receiving without giving produces barrenness, like the Dead Sea, while giving activates God’s provision. We root the practice in scripture, using Proverbs 3 to call for trust in God rather than reliance on our own understanding, and we connect that trust to the posture of the heart behind every gift.

We define types of giving. Firstfruits mark the habit of acknowledging God before we spend, and they prepare the rest of the harvest to grow. Tithe appears as the minimum covenantal discipline, a basic 10 percent that signals where priority lies in our budget and heart. Offerings meet communal needs, support the work of ministry, and express sacrifice beyond requirement. We teach proportional giving, so that generosity reflects how much we have received, not merely how much others give.

We unpack real-life examples and warnings. The first homicide, rooted in resentment over giving, shows early how critical generosity proves to human flourishing. Wealth can operate like a spirit; any person or system can exercise influence, but moral accountability matters. Giving that comes from manipulation, greed, or hollow ritual loses its value. Where the heart resists, gifts diminish; where the heart honors, God responds with multiplied blessing, sometimes in unexpected ways. Testimonies show how obedience to give opens supernatural increase, while delayed or withheld giving can hinder divine movement in a life.

We call for a steady discipline: trust God with our resources, make firstfruits a habit, honor the covenant of the tithe, and let offerings sustain communal ministry. We press for honest self-examination of vows, pledges, and leftover giving. We promise an anointing for prosperity not as a magic formula but as God’s empowerment to break poverty patterns when hearts align with divine ownership. We close with prayer for God’s goodness and public blessing, inviting tangible, holy increase that appears in the presence of others.

Key Takeaways

1. Giving honors God first Giving places God before consumption and asserts divine ownership over increase. When we give first, we declare trust that God will sustain the rest, and we cultivate a posture that privileges worship over worry. This practice reorders priorities and prepares the rest of our resources to flourish under God’s favor. [53:54]
2. Giving heals restless hearts Generosity changes inner chemistry and redirects attention from scarcity to service, relieving envy and anxiety. When we move outward rather than hoard inward, we open pathways for joy, psychological renewal, and spiritual clarity. Practical acts of giving to neighbors or hospitals translate faith into healing for our minds and souls. [49:30]
3. Firstfruits shape future increase Offering the first portion sanctifies our earnings and invites God to bless the remaining harvest. This habit trains dependence and signals that we expect God to multiply what we set aside for Him. Firstfruits act like a seedbed; they initiate growth that often returns in surprising multiples. [69:11]
4. Tithe as covenantal discipline Tithing forms a baseline of obedience that aligns budgets with faith and resists treating God as last in our plans. The tithe functions as a spiritual minimum that preserves worshipful priorities and tests whether we trust God with provision. When we practice it consistently, we cultivate stewardship that shapes character and community. [79:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[43:21] - Recognition of Graduates
[44:40] - Commissioning the Class of 2026
[46:37] - Intentional Giving Introduced
[47:19] - Why Giving Matters
[49:30] - Giving and Emotional Health
[53:02] - Posture of the Heart and Gifts
[57:16] - Trust Not In Our Understanding
[69:11] - Firstfruits Explained
[79:16] - Tithe as Covenant Practice
[87:57] - Offerings and Church Support
[97:59] - Anointing For Prosperity
[108:41] - Psalm 31 Prayer for Goodness
[123:40] - Voting Reminder

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Malachi 3:8-10 (ESV)
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Observation Questions

What does Proverbs 3:9-10 command believers to do with their wealth, and what promise is attached?
According to the sermon, what are the four reasons for giving (honor, love, obedience, worship)? How does the story of Cain and Abel illustrate the dangers of wrong motives in giving? [47:50]
Malachi 3:8-10 accuses Israel of "robbing" God. What specific actions does God say constitute this robbery, and what invitation does He extend in response?
The sermon describes firstfruits, tithes, and offerings as distinct types of giving. What practical examples were given to explain these categories? [09:11] [19:16]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Malachi use the strong language of "robbing" God when addressing withheld tithes and offerings? How does this connect to the idea of covenant faithfulness?
The sermon compares hoarding wealth to the "Dead Sea" and links giving to emotional health. How might withholding generosity create spiritual or relational barrenness? [47:19]
Proverbs 3:9-10 ties honoring God with firstfruits to trusting Him. Why is prioritizing God before spending or saving an act of faith rather than a financial strategy?
The story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44) was referenced indirectly in the sermon. How does proportional giving challenge cultural views of generosity? [34:02]

Application Questions

What practical step could you take this week to prioritize "firstfruits" giving (e.g., setting aside a portion of income before expenses)? How might this habit reshape your trust in God’s provision? [09:11]
Reflect on a time when you gave reluctantly or with resentment. How could aligning your heart with 2 Corinthians 9:7 (“cheerful giver”) transform your approach to generosity?
The sermon warned against treating God as an “afterthought” in budgets. What changes could you make to ensure your giving reflects His priority in your life? [16:36]
Have you ever made a vow or pledge to God (e.g., during a crisis) that remains unfulfilled? What would it look like to honor that commitment this month? [39:50]
The story of the pastor’s guilt over withholding groceries [59:59] highlights delayed obedience. Is there a specific act of generosity you’ve been postponing? What’s one way to act on it?
How could you intentionally "give to heal restless hearts" this week—whether through financial support, time, or acts of service? [49:30]
The sermon linked tithing to breaking "poverty patterns." What fear or mindset might God be calling you to surrender to experience His "supernatural increase"? [37:59]

Sermon Clips

29s

#GodFirstBudget

“If God is not first in your budget, he's not first in your heart. If what you give God is the leftover, then he has not gotten first place in your life. And when you give God the less leftover, what if God also gave you the leftover? I remember mommy j was telling us a story one day. Please keep that scripture there for me. She says, one day, the lord laid in her heart to go and give somebody something. And she she took it, packed it, and kept it by the door so that she would not forget.”

30s

#LoveGivesNotTakes

“We give because we love there's a difference between love and lust. Lust thinks of what can I take from you? Lust and greed. What can I take from you? And how much can I take from you? Love says, what can I give to you? That's a difference. You've got to know that difference. You you know? So as you grow on in life, I want you to learn how to honor God. Listen, whether you honor him or not, you will meet him eventually.”

43s

#HeartPostureMatters

“I pray that your gift is never rejected by God in Jesus' name. The posture of your heart determines the value of your gifts. You can give a lot, but if your heart the posture of your heart is antithetical to the honor that should be associated with the gift, your gift minimizes in value. It loses its value. So for you, particularly, all of you professionals in this church, young people rising up in career, rising up in business, building your family, the most important thing is not so much about the size of your gift, but the posture of your heart and whether you are willing to give God in honor.”

40s

#GivingAndConsequences

“Some people don't know how to receive. Some people don't know how to give. Some people are like the Dead Sea. They receive and receive and receive and receive, and they don't ever give. So the Dead Sea receives, and it's called the Dead Sea because everything in the Dead Sea is is dead. You know? And it's interesting. Let me say this before I forget it. The first homicide in the world the first homicide in the world was about giving. When God created the world, the first crime that was committed in the world apart from eating the the fruits in the world was about what? It's about giving.”

46s

#GiveForWellbeing

“God's love was exemplified. God's love was expressed not by thinking about it, but by giving. God so loved that he gave. So giving is important. Let let me tell you this. If you are constantly restless, if you're constantly in a bad mood, I want to tell you, go out and give. Go to the hospital, Northside, Piedmont, any of the hospital. Just say, I I want to give something to somebody. Or go somewhere and help. Giving does good to your mind, to your brain, to your psychology, to your spirituality, to your well-being.”

31s

#NewCovenantTithing

“Now in the New Testament, you are not cursed. Can somebody say amen? Oh, come on. Say a good amen. Amen. Oh, say it aloud. I am not cursed. I am not cursed. Is not cursed. I am the bless of the Lord because the one who took the curse, my curse, was nailed on the cross. Amen? The new test New Testament, you're not cursed. But when you do not tithe, you are not working in compliance with New Testament or covenant revelation.”

32s

#GivingHealsYou

“It releases the happiness hormone chemicals in your body, dopamine, and it make it just makes you feel better. So those of you it's not just about God loves a cheerful giver. You yourself, you love a cheerful giver. You need a cheerful giver. You need to give for your own well-being. Look at somebody and say it's good for you. It's good for you. It's good for you. Not just about giving to God, but giving to humanity, giving to people, giving to in fact, giving to your enemies, that's the best giving.”

52s

#LayUpTreasures

“Because when you die, you breath you breath your last breath, you're gone. The things you stacked up here stacked up here. You know? And you didn't stack anything in heaven. You walk into heaven, your house is bankrupt. You walk into heaven, your mansion is Jesus puts it this way. He says he said, I want you to lay up treasures in a place where neither rust nor moth nor roaches nor bandits nor tariffs nor war can affect. You listening to no. The taxman, IRS cannot affect. I can imagine. Say, lay it up.”

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Anointing Service || The Anointing || Pastor Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

Devotional

Day 1: Two Offerings, One Heart

Day 2: Mites and Millions

Day 3: First Fruits, Full Barns

Day 4: Five Loaves, Twelve Baskets

Day 5: Storehouses and Open Windows

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Anointing Service || The Anointing || Pastor Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

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