Genesis
John 3:16
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:13
Proverbs 3:5
Romans 8:28
Matthew 5:16
Luke 6:31
Mark 12:30
SPOKEN WORD HIGHLIGHT
SIZE
POSITION
LINES
CASE
FORMAT
by calvaryokc
on Jan 01, 2025
In today's message, we explored the profound principle of putting God first in every aspect of our lives. This principle is rooted in the scripture that encourages us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, with the promise that all necessary things will be added to us. We delved into the importance of prioritizing God not only in our spiritual lives but also in our finances, as exemplified by the practice of tithing. Tithing is not merely a financial transaction but an act of faith and obedience that invites God's blessings into our lives. By giving God the first fruits of our increase, we align ourselves with His divine order and open the windows of heaven for His abundant provision.
We also discussed the significance of baptism in Jesus' name, which symbolizes our identification with Christ and the washing away of our sins. Baptism is a powerful act of faith that connects us to the body of Christ and the transformative power of His blood. It is through faith in His name that we receive salvation and forgiveness, and it is this faith that empowers us to live victoriously.
As we enter the new year, we are challenged to prove God by putting Him first and trusting Him to meet our needs. This challenge is not just about financial provision but about experiencing the fullness of God's blessings in every area of our lives. By prioritizing God, we position ourselves to receive His miraculous interventions and to witness His faithfulness in ways we have never imagined.
**Key Takeaways:**
1. **Putting God First:** Prioritizing God in every aspect of life, including finances, invites His blessings and provision. When we seek His kingdom first, He promises to meet our needs, demonstrating His faithfulness and care. [14:20]
2. **The Principle of Tithing:** Tithing is an act of faith and obedience that aligns us with God's divine order. By giving the first fruits of our increase, we open ourselves to His abundant blessings and protection from the devourer. [21:00]
3. **Baptism in Jesus' Name:** Baptism is a powerful act of faith that signifies our identification with Christ and the washing away of our sins. It is through faith in His name that we receive salvation and become part of the body of Christ. [01:26:41]
4. **Faith and Obedience:** God's blessings are the consequence of our obedience, while curses result from disobedience. By aligning our actions with His principles, we position ourselves to receive His favor and miraculous interventions. [22:57]
5. **Challenge for the New Year:** As we enter 2025, we are challenged to prove God by putting Him first and trusting Him to meet our needs. This act of faith will unlock His blessings and transform our lives in ways we cannot imagine. [28:23]
**Youtube Chapters:**
[00:00] - Welcome
[12:02] - The Anointing and Callings
[12:57] - Putting God First
[14:20] - God's Provision and Faith
[16:41] - The Principle of Firsts
[18:12] - Consequences of Disobedience
[18:45] - The Challenge of Tithing
[19:34] - Understanding Tithes and Offerings
[21:00] - Blessings of Obedience
[22:57] - The Power of Faith
[23:57] - Purpose of Tithing
[25:23] - God's Promise of Blessing
[26:08] - Proving God
[26:41] - Rebuking the Devourer
[28:23] - New Year Challenge
[29:50] - Putting God First in All Aspects
[31:21] - The Parable of the Fig Tree
[01:21:16] - The Importance of Baptism
[01:22:19] - Identifying with Jesus
[01:24:26] - Spiritual Circumcision
[01:25:37] - The Power of the Blood
[01:26:41] - Faith in His Name
[01:27:22] - The Holy Ghost Within
[01:28:07] - Miracles Through Faith
[01:29:38] - Communion and Fellowship
[01:30:33] - Invitation to Baptism
[01:32:11] - Power in the Blood
[01:35:34] - Jesus, the Lamb of God
[01:36:54] - The Throne of God and the Lamb
[01:38:26] - Becoming the Body of Christ
[01:40:17] - Communion as One Body
[01:41:05] - The Body and Blood of Christ
[01:42:31] - Thanksgiving for the Blood
[01:45:27] - Baptism and Healing
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
2. Malachi 3:8-10 - "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 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."
3. Acts 2:38 - "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 6:33 suggest about the order of priorities in a believer's life? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on putting God first? [14:20]
2. According to Malachi 3:8-10, what are the consequences of not tithing, and what promise does God make to those who do? [18:45]
3. How does the sermon describe the significance of baptism in Jesus' name, and what does it symbolize for believers? [01:21:16]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does seeking God's kingdom first, as mentioned in Matthew 6:33, impact other areas of a believer's life, such as finances and relationships? [14:20]
2. How does the principle of tithing, as discussed in Malachi 3:8-10, serve as an act of faith and obedience, and what are the spiritual implications of this practice? [19:34]
3. What is the connection between baptism in Jesus' name and the believer's identity in Christ, as explained in the sermon? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual circumcision? [01:24:26]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where God is not first? What steps can you take to realign your priorities according to Matthew 6:33? [14:20]
2. Consider your approach to tithing. How does your current practice reflect your faith and trust in God's provision? What changes might you need to make to align with the principles discussed in Malachi 3:8-10? [21:00]
3. Have you experienced a situation where putting God first led to unexpected blessings or provision? Share your experience with the group. [16:41]
4. If you have been baptized in Jesus' name, how has this act of faith impacted your spiritual journey? If not, what questions or concerns do you have about baptism? [01:22:19]
5. As we enter the new year, what specific challenges do you face in trusting God to meet your needs? How can the group support you in this journey of faith? [28:23]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of giving God the "first fruits" in other areas of your life beyond finances, such as time and talents? [29:50]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to exercise more faith and obedience. What practical steps can you take this week to align your actions with God's principles? [22:57]
Day 1: Prioritizing God Invites His Provision
In every aspect of life, prioritizing God is a profound principle that invites His blessings and provision. This principle is rooted in the scripture that encourages seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, with the promise that all necessary things will be added to us. By putting God first, not only in spiritual matters but also in practical areas like finances, individuals align themselves with His divine order. This alignment opens the door to experiencing God's faithfulness and care in meeting their needs. The act of prioritizing God is a demonstration of trust in His ability to provide and care for His people. [14:20]
"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can intentionally put God first today, and how do you anticipate His provision in that area?
Day 2: Tithing as an Act of Faith and Obedience
Tithing is more than a financial transaction; it is an act of faith and obedience that aligns believers with God's divine order. By giving the first fruits of their increase, individuals open themselves to God's abundant blessings and protection from the devourer. This practice is a tangible expression of trust in God's provision and a commitment to His principles. Tithing invites God's blessings into one's life, demonstrating the power of faith and obedience in unlocking divine favor. It is a spiritual discipline that reflects a heart aligned with God's purposes and a life lived in accordance with His will. [21:00]
"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." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you approach tithing as an act of faith and obedience this week, and what changes might you need to make to align your finances with God's principles?
Day 3: Baptism as Identification with Christ
Baptism in Jesus' name is a powerful act of faith that signifies identification with Christ and the washing away of sins. It symbolizes a believer's connection to the body of Christ and the transformative power of His blood. Through faith in His name, individuals receive salvation and forgiveness, becoming part of the body of Christ. Baptism is a public declaration of faith and a step of obedience that empowers believers to live victoriously. It is a significant milestone in the Christian journey, marking a new beginning and a commitment to follow Christ wholeheartedly. [01:26:41]
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: If you have been baptized, how does your baptism continue to influence your daily walk with Christ? If you have not been baptized, what steps can you take to explore this important act of faith?
Day 4: Obedience Unlocks God's Favor
God's blessings are the consequence of obedience, while curses result from disobedience. By aligning actions with His principles, believers position themselves to receive His favor and miraculous interventions. Obedience is a key that unlocks the door to experiencing God's faithfulness and provision. It is through obedience that individuals demonstrate their trust in God's wisdom and His ability to guide their lives. This alignment with God's will invites His blessings and protection, creating a life marked by His favor and grace. [22:57]
"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." (Deuteronomy 28:1, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with obedience, and how can you take a step towards aligning your actions with God's principles today?
Day 5: Trusting God for the New Year
As the new year begins, believers are challenged to prove God by putting Him first and trusting Him to meet their needs. This challenge is not just about financial provision but about experiencing the fullness of God's blessings in every area of life. By prioritizing God, individuals position themselves to receive His miraculous interventions and witness His faithfulness in ways they have never imagined. This act of faith is a declaration of trust in God's ability to transform lives and bring about His purposes. [28:23]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: As you enter the new year, what specific steps can you take to put God first in your plans and trust Him to meet your needs?
Putting God first in every aspect of life? Anybody here proven the Lord in putting him first? The scripture says, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. And the things... What are the things? What were the things? [00:13:28] (25 seconds)
He said, people worry about what they're going to eat, what they're going to wear. He said, I feed the birds. I clothe the lily. Solomon in all of his splendor wasn't arrayed like just one lily that I clothe. Oh, you have little faith. What are you worried about? I'm going to take care of you. [00:14:10] (18 seconds)
And the scripture is why we give. We don't give because the church needs money. We don't give because God needs our money. We give because God says, if you'll put me first in priority in your finances, I'll take care of your finances. [00:17:37] (18 seconds)
And so, so when we give a 10 % of our first to God, God blesses the 90 that's left over. But if we keep the 10th back and we, and we use it, then we are operating with a hundred percent that's got a curse on it. [00:21:00] (18 seconds)
And so individuals can be cursed. And what is a curse? Let me explain. What the difference between a blessing and a curse is. When they went into the promised land, there was a mountain on one side and a mountain on the other. And Moses placed blessings on one mountain and curses on the other. [00:21:52] (17 seconds)
And if you're wondering what baptism in Jesus' name signifies, we're buried with Christ into his death so that we can be raised with him as well. And so baptism in Jesus' name is a part of. It's a part of our fellowship with Christ. It's where the blood of Jesus washes away our sins. [01:24:26] (24 seconds)
It's through faith in His name that we receive salvation and forgiveness of sins. It's not the water. Because you take baths, hopefully, on a regular basis, and you don't wash away your sins. But when you go down in that water in the name of Jesus, everything changes. [01:26:41] (26 seconds)
I need a shelter. I was in your way, now your love gives me that I'm weak. I need a shelter. I was in your way, now your love gives me that I'm weak. I need a shelter. I was in your way, now your love gives me that I'm weak. I need a shelter. I was in your way, now your love gives me that I'm weak. I need a shelter. I was in your way, now your love gives me that I'm weak. I need a shelter. I was in your way, now your love gives me that I'm weak.
The grace of God, minister through the service, through the preaching, bless for the Galloway. Let the anointing of the Holy Ghost rest upon him as he preaches the word of the Lord. Let there be confirmation. Let callings go forth. Let giftings be imparted. Let ministries be birthed. Let lives be healed. In Jesus' name, establish their steps. Heal their past. Give them a vision for their future. And give them purpose right now in Jesus' name. Hallelujah.
We're going to glorify and praise your name for it, Lord. Thank you for what you're going to do. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Let's praise the Lord in advance for the great things that are going to happen. To God be the glory. To God be the praise. Amen. You can be seated. Amen. Excited for them. And I want you to put a lot into this trip. Amen. Pray, pray, pray. Seek God and God will bless. Amen.
How many of you have seen in the word of God the value in putting God first in every aspect of life? Anybody here proven the Lord in putting him first? The scripture says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." And the things... What are the things? What were the things? He was talking about it prior to that. What were the things? He was talking about it prior to that. What were the things he was talking about? Clothing. Food. Amen. The necessities of our life.
He said, people worry about what they're going to eat, what they're going to wear. He said, "I feed the birds. I clothe the lily. Solomon in all of his splendor wasn't arrayed like just one lily that I clothe." Oh, you of little faith. What are you worried about? I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to take care of you. And so there's a principle. And the principle is if you put God first, God will make sure that you're taken care of.
Now, how many of you have proven that? Maybe even miraculously seen God come in and supply. Sister Natasha, I just share a little testimony this morning. I was walking. We were having Bible study today, Sister Natasha. And you don't know this, but I walked into Walmart to grab a veggie tray. And I grabbed it. I grabbed the veggie tray. And I'm walking to the checkout line. And I look up. And all I can see is this huge display of hot chocolate.
And I was like, man, that is a big display of hot chocolate. And I looked at the whole hot chocolate rack. And listen, folks, I don't buy hot chocolate. I don't drink hot chocolate. I don't even want hot chocolate. And I see. And I'm like, wow. I want the big. I want the biggest box of hot chocolate on that rack. And I look for the biggest box. And I grab the biggest box. And I walk to the checkout line. And I'm like, why am I buying hot chocolate?
And I check out. And as soon as I rung it up, I thought, I'm going to give this to Sister Natasha. And she's got all those kids. I'm going to give them hot chocolate today. And I walk in. And I slide it across the table at Bible study. And Sister Natasha was like, wow. My kids were just telling me, "Mama, do we have money? Do we have money in the budget for hot chocolate? We want some hot cocoa." Isn't God awesome?
And you know what? It's just another little example that if you'll put God first, God will give you everything you need. I think we ought to praise God for the supply, for the blessing. 2025, He's going to bless you. He's going to supply your needs. He's going to take care of you. What do you have? What do you have to be afraid of? Oh, you of little faith? Put God first, and God will take care of you.
It's just a part of God's plan. It's the way He does things. And if you put God second, don't expect God to just take care of everything. He says, "You'll have no other gods before me. I'll never be second." He said, "Because I'm the only God that exists, so I'm first." Now, it says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." That word first means in time, priority, position. That means the first part of your day. It means the first part of anything that we do.
My mom taught me to give my first paycheck of any job that I started. So I would, I'd start a job. I think my first paycheck was probably like $58. You know, gave the whole paycheck. That was pretty easy. But when that second first job check came in for $780, I was like, ooh, that's a bigger one. And I threw that check in the offering. And I started doing, giving God my firsts.
And the scripture is why we give. We don't give because the church needs money. We don't give because God needs our money. We give because God says, "If you'll put me first in priority in your finances, I'll take care of your finances." And what a lot of people I've heard say is, "Well, I can't afford to give. I can't afford to give right now because," fill in the blank. How many of you have bills? How many of you have thought, "Man, I really need to pay the bills? How am I going to pay the bills this month?" You know, how many of you really make sure you pay your bills?
Why? Because if you don't pay your bills, you lose your electricity. You get evicted from your house. There's consequences for not paying your bills. But a lot of people don't recognize that there are consequences for not putting God first. And the consequences for putting God in a different place other than first are greater than not paying your bills. Did you know that?
Pull up Malachi chapter 3. I'm going to give a challenge today. I felt like doing this. It's 2025. It's the first day of the year. And I thought, I'm going to share something. This is going to change somebody's life if they'll listen. It changed my life. Let's just go there. I don't know why I got my phone.
Malachi 3 and 8 says, "Will a man rob God? Yet you've robbed me, but you say, Wherein have we robbed thee?" And then God answered. Now, you've heard this verse before. This is nothing new. I know I'm preaching to the choir here. Y'all are givers. But I want to give you a little reminder of what the blessing of the Lord is in giving. He says, "Will a man rob God? Yet you've robbed me in tithe." And you say, "Wherein have we robbed thee?"
You know, to rob God kind of sounded... It was like a shocking statement. How do you rob God? Now, if you... How many of you would like to see God work miracles in your finances this year? Is there anybody that needs a financial miracle? All right. Now, if you need financial miracles, I want you to perk up. Listen. Don't tune me out. Because you've heard teaching on this before. I want... I feel like God wants to challenge somebody. Because he wants to prove himself in miraculous ways.
Okay. He says, "You've robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed thee?" And he said, "In tithes and offerings." What are tithes and offerings? Biblically, tithing is 10% of our increase. Okay. So, if I work a job. And I go. And I gather in. Whatever I get from that work, 10% of my increase belongs to God. And God said, "Give me the first fruit." So he didn't want your leftovers. He didn't want them to bring in the grain after they had let it sit for months in the storehouse. He said, "You bring me your first."
And so when we... A lot of people think, "Well, I can't afford to do this or I can't afford to do that." But God said, "If you'll put me first, I'll make sure there's enough at the end." And so when we give a 10% of our first to God, God blesses the 90 that's left over. But if we keep the 10th back and we use it, then we are operating with a hundred percent that's got a curse on it.
And now this, once again, this is not something that I'm asking you to do. This is something I'm trying to explain so you can understand how to be blessed because God's a God of principles and he will bless your finances if you will do what he says. So this is really just a faith-based operation here. It's not about, you know, what you give God. It's about obedience and faith.
He says, "You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed me, even this whole nation." So even nations can be cursed. And so individuals can be cursed. And what is a curse? Let me explain. What the difference between a blessing and a curse is. When they went into the promised land, there was a mountain on one side and a mountain on the other. And Moses placed blessings on one mountain and curses on the other. And he had the children of Israel walk between the mountains and they were proclaiming the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience.
A curse is simply the result or the consequence of disobedience. That makes sense. It's not like somebody's casting spells. No, it's a curse. It's a curse. It's a curse. It's a curse. It's a curse. It's the result of disobedience, but blessing is not some kind of mystical thing that's hard to attain. Blessing is the consequence of obedience. God says, "If you'll do it, I will bless you." He told Abraham that.
"Leave your father's house, leave your country, leave your nation, your kindred, go to a land I'll show you, and I'll make your name great. And you'll be a blessing. I will bless him that blesses you. And I will curse him that dishonors you. And in you, all families of the earth will be blessed." That is the blessing of Abraham. And as children of Abraham, that blessing is on us. And Abraham tithed of all of his goods to Melchizedek. Before the Mosaic law, Abraham was tithing.
So this is not Old Testament. This is just in general, God expects us to honor him with our increase. And he tithed to a priest, king of Salem, or peace, a man who was without beginning of days and end of days type of Jesus Christ. Abraham tithed of everything that he owned. And so God expected that to continue.
And then he says, "You're cursed with the curse because you robbed me. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse." So tithing is not something that we just give. It's not a goodwill measure. I, uh, Sister Natasha, as much as nice as it would be, that was not my tithes that I gave to you in hot chocolate. Amen. You don't tithe by buying stuff for people because you don't control the tithe. You don't get to choose what your tithe does. Your tithe comes to the storehouse.
And it was... Here's what the purpose of the tithe was. To make sure the ministry didn't stop working among the people. When they quit tithing, the priest had to go get a normal job or a secular job, whatever you... He couldn't continue to minister. And so the whole blessing of the society failed because the people didn't fulfill their obligations that God had requested of them. That's a simple way to put it.
But when we tithe, the kingdom prospers. When we fail to tithe, we actually put a curse on ourselves and the kingdom doesn't continue. And so he says, "Bring the tithes into the storehouse." That's God's house. "That there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith." This is the only place in the Bible you'll see God say, "Prove me." Say it, the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open you the windows of heaven."
God's not interested in our money. God is interested in blessing us. I'm going to say it again. God's not interested in our money. He doesn't need money. God wants to bless us. We determine whether he opens the windows or he shuts them up. We are the ones that determine if he'll open them and pour out a blessing that there's not room enough to contain it. That's what it says.
He says, "Prove me and see if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Now this is God talking. This is why we say giving is a matter of faith. Because when we give, we receive. Oh, you know, I don't give to receive. Well, let me tell you something. God says, "Prove him."
I'm going to tell you, you do give to receive. Every time you walk into McDonald's, you don't just hand out money for free. When you go to Walmart, you don't just pass cash out to the register and walk out empty-handed. You give to receive. And God says, "Prove me now." When you put your money in the register, you give to receive. And God says, "Prove me now."
When you give into the kingdom of God, you're not just giving something and not receiving. God says you're going to receive more than you gave. In fact, he says, "I'll give you more than you got room to receive. I'll give you so much that it'll fill up your whole place." But he doesn't stop there. He says, "I'll give back to you."
And then he says in verse 11, and I, this is God talking, "I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes." Where's all your money going? The devourer is taking it. God says, "I'll put holes in your pocket." And you'll say, "Where'd it go?" Okay. He says, "I'll rebuke the devourer or in an agricultural sense, I'll rebuke the worms from eating your crops. I'll rebuke the caterpillar. I'll rebuke the locusts."
I'll rebuke the locusts. I'll rebuke the locusts. I'll rebuke the locusts. I'll rebuke the locusts. I'll give you a greater harvest. All that work you're putting into what you're doing in the field is going to render a hundred percent instead of 20%. See, this is how God works. He makes your work more profitable. This is important because he increases your capacity for blessing.
This is the challenge that 2025. Amen. He says, "Neither will you, I will, he will not destroy the fruit of your ground. Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before you." He says, "Neither will you, I will, he will not destroy the fruit of your ground. Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before you." He says, "Neither will you, I will, he will not destroy the time in the field," says the Lord of hosts, "and all nations will call you blessed."
This is the challenge. I'm going to challenge somebody that has never taken the opportunity to prove God. And I'm going to... Maybe you have in the past, but I want to give you a challenge starting in 2025. Give God his first fruits, your first fruits, give him a tithe of your first fruits and give him offering and watch your finances explode with blessing.
Do we deny that we want our finances to be blessed? Who doesn't want their finances blessed? I mean, who wants money problems? That's why Jesus said you have no faith because you're worried about your clothing and you're worried about your food. It's money problems. It's provision problems. But God says, "If you prove me, I will open the windows of heaven."
How many of you have found and be faithful in your finances? Isn't it amazing what God does? Amen. Isn't it amazing? Isn't it amazing what God does? Isn't it amazing what God does? Amen. Isn't it amazing what does. This doesn't mean we don't work. This doesn't mean we don't have to turn around, and you know what? When we do the will of God, God is going to provide for us.
I want you to stand with me today, and I want you to take your resources, whatever it is that you give. This is the first of the year, and we're going to bring our first fruits. This is our first opportunity to give in the offering in 2025. So I want you to take your offering out, or if it's on your phone, whatever, whatever. Get your offering out. Come on, hold it up, and I want us to give to God, right, and say, "God, this is yours. Lord, I'm giving you my first fruits, and I'm going to be faithful in giving you 10% of my increase."
Amen, and can I say this? You know, some people are going to say, "Well, my bills are not my increase." Oh, yes, they are. God's income pays your bills. Your increase is what you take home, okay? And for some of you that are in business or other aspects, you need to recognize God is going to provide for your business if in your business you'll put God first, too.
Don't just put God first in your finding. Put God first in every aspect of your life. Get up and pray first thing in the morning. Read your word before you read the news. Give mercy instead of responding with anger, and watch God bring it back to you. Give back, multiply it. Hallelujah. Are you thankful today? Come on, let's give God the glory as we come and give. Amen, as he has blessed us in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen.
And he spake also this parable, A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. The certain fruit thereon and found none. Found no fruit on it. Then he said unto the dresser of his vineyard, "Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit. Go ahead. I found fruit looking for fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down. Why cumbereth at the ground? Cut Israel off. Be done with them."
And he answered and said unto him, "Lord, let it alone this year also till I dig about it and dung it. Give me one more year. And if it bear fruit well and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it. Cut it down."
Okay. If you've been baptized in the name of Jesus, you got a reason to praise God. I said, if you've been baptized in the name of Jesus, you got a reason to give him the glory. You know, amen, as Dad has said, as I said on Sunday, when Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus' grave, he didn't shout, "Come forth!" Because if he'd have said "come forth," everything that was dead would have had to obey.
He didn't say "come forth." He said, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he which was dead came forth, bouncing out with grave clothes on. Do you realize when Jesus comes back, he's not going to shout, "come forth." He's going to cry out to everything that's got his name attached to it. You don't think Jesus' name baptism is important? Think again.
If you're not baptized in Jesus' name, you don't have the name applied to your life. I said you've got to have the... Got some of that organ? B3. Kick it off. I said he's going to write his name in their foreheads. You've got to have the name on you. Yeah. Now, that's important. That's important because we identify with Jesus. We're the body of Christ.
And he just, that was powerful. That was what he... See, that was the other half of Sunday PM. We'd have been here all night. Amen. But do you believe it? Do you believe coming? He's coming. You know, he had us, we call it communion because we're coming together and we're communing with one another. And he had us take communion. We traditionally take communion on New Year's Eve. We have a watch night service.
And we're going to take communion at the first of the year. And if we've got ushers ready, I hope that they're ready. I saw them moving around back there getting ready. Amen. It looks like they're ready. Come on, ushers. You guys come to the front. Just kind of, you can stand up here. We're going to take communion together.
Now, no one took communion in the Bible that was not baptized in Jesus' name. And if you're wondering what baptism in Jesus' name signifies, we're buried with Christ into his death so that we can be raised with him as well. And so baptism in Jesus' name is a part of... It's a part of our fellowship with Christ. It's where the blood of Jesus washes away our sins.
It's where it's a part of our new birth. And it's a part of our circumcision. On the eighth day, the child was circumcised. And in Colossians, Paul taught us that before you get your communion cups, hang on. God bless y'all. Amen. We're going to get them in a moment. I don't want the distraction of everybody running around grabbing communion cups right now. Ushers, just put your hands over them. Amen.
But when we are baptized in Jesus' name, it's a type of spiritual circumcision, a cutting off the sins of the heart. And it's where the Jewish baby received their name. Jesus, on the eighth day, was named Jesus. When we are buried in baptism, we cut off our entire sinful past and we get a new name. My God. There's going to be a great revelation of the name of Jesus.
We're going to baptize more people this year than we've ever baptized in Jesus' name. I said we're going to baptize more people this year than we've ever baptized in the precious, wonderful. Come on, somebody shout it. Can we shout into God with praise? For the lives that are lost are going to be changed, transformed through the blood of the Lamb.
Hebrews teaches us there is, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. Your sins cannot be forgiven without the shedding of blood. And it is in the waters of baptism that the blood of Jesus forgives your sins. Baptism's powerful. And the only reason somebody would ever get baptized biblically is that they believe it.
It's through faith in His name that we receive salvation and forgiveness of sins. It's not the water. Because you take baths, hopefully, on a regular basis, and you don't wash away your sins. But when you go down in that water in the name of Jesus, everything changes. It's faith that you receive. It's faith in His name that saves us from our sins. Amen. Aren't you thankful you know the name?
I said, aren't you thankful that you know the name? Jesus is the name of the Father. He said, "I've come in my Father's name." Jesus is the name of the Son. Jesus is the name of the Holy Ghost because He said, "I'm sending the promise in my name." The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom I'm going to send in my name. He shall teach you all things whatsoever I've commanded you.
And he said he's going to be with you and he is with you. I'm telling the Holy Ghost is in us. It's the same spirit that made Jesus God. God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Now we're people of the name. Well, I feel faith in this house. There's miracles in this room.
Tonight, your body can be healed because of the blood of Jesus. This room. Not because of us, but because the blood is going to flow in this room. Healing is going to flow. Divine healing is going to flow. I baptized a gentleman in a baptism in Louisiana. It was an amazing time. When I baptized that man, he had AIDS and he was blind in one eye and we baptized him. And when he came out of the water, he came out speaking in tongues like a chainsaw and God healed his eye of blindness.
You drink it because this is my blood, which was shed for many. He said, "Take this bread and eat it because it's my body." What was he saying? When you take the bread and you drink the cup, you are becoming in fellowship with him. We become a part of the body of Christ. And where Jesus went, miracles happen.
Oh, hallelujah. If you feel faith, if you feel a witness, you got a need, you feel a witness in what I said. I want you to begin to praise God for what he's going to do in your body. Come on, come on. Worship God for what he's going to do. Miracles are in this room. There is absolute supernatural miracles. They're going to be unlocked.
Come on, somebody give God praise like it's already done. Give him praise like it's already done. Come on, you feel it? There's miracles. Hallelujah. I'll tell you what. I want you to begin to just make your way up, grab a cup and just start circling around and make your way back to your seat. So just take off, move out one direction, turn to the right and head to the right and go all the way around the room and head back to your chair while they worship the Lord in a chorus.
Can we sing a song on the blood? Let's sing a chorus on the blood, Brother Isaiah. Now, if you want to be baptized in Jesus' name, guess what? Today is your blessed day. If you want to be baptized in Jesus' name, we have baptismal, raise your hands. This is Sarah. She's ready to direct you to get a robe on and you can be baptized in Jesus' name. I'm telling you, I wouldn't leave the house if I wasn't. And you can get your sins washed away.
Come on, somebody. There's joy. There is power, power, wonder-working in the precious blood of the Lamb. There is power, power, wonder-working free from the burden of sin. There's power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you for us this wonderful power in the blood? Oh, there is power, power, wonder-working.
One can wash away my sin. Well, after the Holy Ghost in this house, there's miracles in this room. Come on, there's miracles in this room. God's ever delivered you. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Come on, somebody. I'm telling you, when Paul... Excuse me, when Jesus stepped on the scene, and he walked up to John the Baptist. John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."
He had not even begun ministry. He was not even baptized yet. And John was a prophet, and he prophesied, "Here comes the Lamb of God." Why is Lamb significant? Passover. Sacrifice. Death. Something's going to die. Jesus was the Passover Lamb. He was the sacrificial Lamb that was going to die and deliver His people from death.
In Revelations chapter 22, He showed, He told me a pure river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. So you got two, right? God and a Lamb. Well, you know who the Lamb is, right? That's Jesus. He's the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was a tree of life which bared 12 men of fruits, yielded a fruit every month, the leaves were the healing of nations.
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God of the Lamb. Maybe it's a two-seat throne. Maybe it's got two chairs on it for God and the Lamb. It says, "The throne of God the Lamb shall be in it, and their servants shall serve them." Did you catch it? Verse 4. And they shall see their faces. What? Who are we going to see? God and the Lamb, right? When we get to heaven, they shall see His face.
And His... My God, I wish somebody that knows who you serve would give Him some glory. You've got to remember. Amen. This world doesn't show you who Jesus is. Jesus says, "I'll show you who I am. Hey, this is the body of Christ." He says, "When we do communion, we're becoming a part of the body."
And I'll tell you something else that's beautiful. You know what made Jesus the body of Christ? The Spirit and the Word. You know what was in the beginning? The Spirit and the Word. You know what's in the church? The Spirit and the Word. Hallelujah. Come on. Come on. It's all in Him. It's all in the fullness of the Godhead. It's all in Him. The mighty God in Christ. It's all in Him.
All right. Where's that verse at? I keep getting back to it. I keep leaving it. Anybody else want to preach? We're about to all be preachers. You're about to take communion with one another. You know, some congregations, they do this every service. It doesn't say how often we're supposed to do it. It just tells us as often as you do it, do it in remembrance of Him.
And so it doesn't tell us do it every service, every day. And when you do it all the time, it kind of just becomes kind of a ritual. But today, we're going to take communion, and we are going to become one body. We're brothers and sisters. We're blood brothers and sisters. We got the same blood flowing through us. We got the same daddy and the same mama. Hallelujah.
And we're all going to go to heaven together in Jesus' name. Lord willing. Let's do it. And so... Paul says, "For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, that same night in which He was betrayed, took bread. And when He had given thanks, He break it and said, 'Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'"
This body, Jesus' physical body. You can break the bread. His physical body was blessed, given thanks, and broken. Lord, we thank You for the body. We thank You for the body. We thank You for the body that was broken for Your body. You broke. You suffered. You went through tremendous agony. You went to Gethsemane. You wept tears and sweat, drops of blood.
Lord, You died. You were broken. You were beaten. And by Your stripes, we are healed. And Lord, we thank You for the blessed body that was broken for us. Thank You for that. You can eat the bread. After the same manner also, He took the cup. He gave thanks. When He had supped, saying, "This cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye as often as you drink it in remembrance for me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till you die. For as often as you drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till you die. His death saved us. We should have died. There's not a person in this room that doesn't deserve death because we're all sinners. He took our place.
And so by drinking this, we're acknowledging, "Jesus, You paid my price." And You give thanks. Thank You for the blood that was shed for the sins of the world. You shed Your blood for the sins of the world. We deserve death, but You paid the price for us. The wages of sin is death, but You stepped in and said, "No, I'll pay their price."
Think about it, folks. Every sin you've ever committed, Jesus paid the price for. Thank You for it, God. I give You the praise. There's healing in the blood. There's life in the blood. There's deliverance in the blood. There's salvation in the blood. There's forgiveness in the blood. Take drink His blood. Amen. Shed for the sins of the world. Hallelujah.
Now give Him thanks and praise. Woo! Glory! Boy, I tell you, Hallelujah, there's healing in this room. I wish somebody would get out and begin to rejoice and praise God that you're a part of the... Can you give Him praise right now? Go ahead. Lift up your voice. Put a smile on your face.
And baptized in Jesus' name now got two going in the water. Give God the glory. Come on, find somebody to minister to. This is the body. If you need healing, lift your hands up. Yeah, call on the name of Jesus. If you need a miracle, call on the name of Jesus. If you need a miracle, if you need God to do a work in your life, come on, let's pray of your desire to obey the commandment of Jesus Christ in your life.
I baptize you in the only saving name that is the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of all of your sins in Jesus' name. The desire of your heart to obey the commandment of Jesus Christ. I baptize you in the only saving name. That's the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of all of your sins. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Jesus, sir.
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