**Summary:**

As we embark on a new year, it's essential to prioritize our spiritual lives by making space for God. Throughout history, God has designated specific places to meet with His people, and today, our hearts are His temple. By setting our priorities straight, we can achieve spiritual, relational, and financial success. The concept of "first things first" is crucial, as it emphasizes the importance of placing God at the forefront of our lives. This involves dedicating the first day of the week to Him, engaging in fasting and prayer, and regularly participating in communion.

The analogy of the canister with rocks, pebbles, and sand illustrates how we should prioritize our lives. The big rocks—Jesus, His church, our marriage, family, and health—should come first. Medium-sized rocks like career and education follow, while the sand represents less important activities. By refusing to live "sand first," we can ensure that our lives are aligned with God's will.

The principle of giving God the first and the best is evident throughout Scripture. By dedicating the first day of the week to worship and setting aside the first portion of our income, we honor God and invite His blessings. Fasting and prayer are powerful tools that help us draw closer to God, displace spiritual darkness, and intercede for those who cannot pray for themselves. As we engage in these practices, we create space for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives.

Communion is a vital practice that allows us to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice, leading to repentance and reconnection with God. By regularly coming to the table of the Lord, we can experience His presence and receive the grace and mercy we need. As we commit to living close to God in 2025, we open ourselves to transformation and the fulfillment of His promises.

**Key Takeaways:**

1. **Prioritizing God in Our Lives:** The analogy of rocks, pebbles, and sand teaches us to prioritize Jesus, His church, our marriage, family, and health as the "big rocks" in our lives. By placing these first, we align our lives with God's will and invite His blessings. [43:13]

2. **The Principle of First and Best:** Scripture emphasizes the importance of giving God the first and the best, whether it's the first day of the week or the first portion of our income. This act of honoring God invites His blessings and sets the tone for the rest of our lives. [45:57]

3. **The Power of Fasting and Prayer:** Fasting and prayer are powerful tools that help us draw closer to God, displace spiritual darkness, and intercede for those who cannot pray for themselves. These practices create space for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. [56:06]

4. **Communion as a Means of Reconnection:** Regularly participating in communion allows us to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice, leading to repentance and reconnection with God. This practice helps us experience His presence and receive the grace and mercy we need. [01:02:12]

5. **Living Close to God in 2025:** By committing to live close to God this year, we open ourselves to transformation and the fulfillment of His promises. This involves prioritizing His presence, engaging in spiritual disciplines, and making space for Him in our daily lives. [01:05:40]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [39:04] - Making a Place for God
- [43:13] - Prioritizing the Big Rocks
- [45:57] - The First and Best Principle
- [48:17] - The Importance of Sunday
- [54:34] - Health Benefits of Fasting
- [56:06] - Fasting and Spiritual Breakthrough
- [57:56] - Intercession and Breaking Bondage
- [01:00:01] - Praying for the Lost
- [01:02:12] - Communion and Reconnection
- [01:05:40] - Living Close to God
- [01:08:33] - The Table of the Lord
- [01:09:57] - The Portal of Communion
- [01:11:29] - Invitation to Intimacy
- [01:13:21] - Preparing for Communion

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**
1. Exodus 13:2 - "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal."
2. Acts 20:7 - "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight."
3. 1 Corinthians 16:2 - "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made."

**Observation Questions:**
1. What are the "big rocks" that the pastor identifies as priorities in our lives? How do these relate to the analogy of rocks, pebbles, and sand? [43:13]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of giving God the first day of the week? How does this align with the New Testament practice? [45:57]
3. How does the pastor describe the role of fasting and prayer in displacing spiritual darkness and bringing breakthrough? [56:06]
4. What is the purpose of communion as described in the sermon, and how does it help us reconnect with God? [01:02:12]

**Interpretation Questions:**
1. How does the principle of "first things first" challenge the way we currently prioritize our time and resources? What changes might be necessary to align with this principle? [43:13]
2. In what ways does the act of setting aside the first portion of our income as a tithe reflect our trust in God? How might this practice impact our financial decisions? [45:57]
3. How can fasting and prayer serve as tools for intercession for those who cannot pray for themselves? What might be the spiritual implications of this practice? [57:56]
4. What does it mean to live close to God, and how can regular participation in communion facilitate this closeness? [01:05:40]

**Application Questions:**
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there any "big rocks" that you have been neglecting? How can you rearrange your schedule to ensure these are prioritized? [43:13]
2. Consider your Sunday routine. How can you make the first day of the week more holy and dedicated to God? What specific changes can you implement this week? [45:57]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel spiritual darkness or bondage. How can you incorporate fasting and prayer to seek breakthrough in this area? [56:06]
4. Think of someone in your life who is far from God. How can you commit to interceding for them through fasting and prayer this month? [57:56]
5. How often do you participate in communion, and what steps can you take to make it a more meaningful practice in your spiritual life? [01:02:12]
6. What distractions or "sand" in your life are preventing you from living close to God? How can you minimize these distractions this week? [01:05:40]
7. Reflect on the pastor's invitation to live close to God in 2025. What specific spiritual disciplines can you commit to this year to deepen your relationship with God? [01:05:40]

Day 1: Prioritizing the Foundation of Our Lives
In our fast-paced world, it's easy to fill our lives with activities and commitments that seem urgent but are not truly important. The analogy of rocks, pebbles, and sand serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize the foundational aspects of our lives: Jesus, His church, our marriage, family, and health. These are the "big rocks" that should be placed first in the canister of our lives. When we prioritize these, we align ourselves with God's will and invite His blessings. By refusing to live "sand first," we ensure that our lives are not only productive but also meaningful and spiritually fulfilling. [43:13]

"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)

Reflection: What are the "big rocks" in your life that you need to prioritize today? How can you make space for them in your daily routine?


Day 2: Honoring God with Our First and Best
The principle of giving God the first and the best is a recurring theme in Scripture. By dedicating the first day of the week to worship and setting aside the first portion of our income, we honor God and invite His blessings into our lives. This act of prioritizing God sets the tone for the rest of our lives, aligning us with His purposes and opening the door to His provision. When we give God our first and best, we acknowledge His sovereignty and express our trust in His ability to meet our needs. [45:57]

"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: In what ways can you give God the first and best of your time, talents, and resources this week? What changes might you need to make to prioritize Him in these areas?


Day 3: The Transformative Power of Fasting and Prayer
Fasting and prayer are powerful spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to God and displace spiritual darkness. These practices create space for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives, bringing about spiritual breakthroughs and interceding for those who cannot pray for themselves. By engaging in fasting and prayer, we align ourselves with God's heart and open ourselves to His transformative power. These disciplines are not just about abstaining from food or reciting words; they are about deepening our relationship with God and seeking His will above all else. [56:06]

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate fasting and prayer into your spiritual routine this week? What specific areas of your life or the lives of others do you feel led to intercede for?


Day 4: Communion as a Pathway to Reconnection
Communion is a sacred practice that allows us to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and reconnect with God. By regularly coming to the table of the Lord, we experience His presence and receive the grace and mercy we need. This practice leads to repentance and a renewed sense of intimacy with God, reminding us of the depth of His love and the power of His redemption. As we partake in communion, we are invited to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and embrace the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. [01:02:12]

"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" (Luke 22:19, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart for communion this week? What areas of your life need repentance and reconnection with God?


Day 5: Living Close to God in 2025
As we commit to living close to God in 2025, we open ourselves to transformation and the fulfillment of His promises. This involves prioritizing His presence, engaging in spiritual disciplines, and making space for Him in our daily lives. By intentionally seeking God and aligning our lives with His will, we position ourselves to experience His transformative power and the abundant life He promises. Living close to God is not just about religious activities; it's about cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Him that permeates every aspect of our lives. [01:05:40]

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to live closer to God this year? How can you make space for His presence in your daily life and routines?

So we're going to make a place. And throughout the history of God's people, he's always designated. Spaces and places where he would meet with them. And his promise out of Exodus is, I will meet with you and I will speak to you. Now, in the Old Testament, they were temples and tabernacles and tents and holy mountains. And God said, gather here and do it in a particular way that I will show you. And when you show up at a place that is prepared, then I will meet with you there. New Testament believers, we're still to gather together on the first day of the week. I'll be talking about that. We're not to forsake the assembling of our spirit. We're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. But now his temple is you, your heart. As Paul asked the question, don't you know, don't you know you are a temple of the Holy Spirit? So I want to talk to you about making spaces and places for God to move in your life and to really set yourself up for success in 2025. [00:39:53] (57 seconds)


first things first. Or you've told somebody or they've told you, hey man, get your priorities straight. And there's an illustration that you've all seen and maybe you've used this illustration and it's of the canister of the rocks. And there's the large rocks, the medium -sized rocks or pebbles and they're the sand. And they each represent priorities in our life. And the way this works out, if you've ever seen it, it's actually accurate little scientific experiment. If you put the big rocks in first, then the pebbles second, you can get all of it into the canister and shut the lid. But if you put the sand in first or the little rocks in first, when you finally get to the big rocks, there won't be enough room. And all these rocks, pebbles and sand represent the priorities of your life. Now, I would submit that the big rocks in all of our lives are these, Jesus, his church, your marriage, your family, your health. You got it? Jesus, his church, your marriage, your family. You got it? You got it? You got it? You got it? You got it? You got it? You got it? family and your health. Those are big rocks. And then we all have some medium -sized rocks that are important, and they need to fit in the canister, like your job or career, your education, your home, your insurance, retirement planning. All those are medium -sized rocks that you need to have in your priorities, for sure. But then we all got some sand in our life, don't we? A lot of sand. And your sand is different than mine, but we've all got some. Maybe your sand is social media scrolling or fantasy football or cleaning the garage, feeding the cat, whatever. We all got some sand. But someone, I just lost two cat people. They're like, medium rock for sure. Okay, I get it. [00:41:39] (95 seconds)


And I've made a decision in my life, and I want to emphasize it, that in 2025, I refuse to live sand first. Would you? Would you indulge me and say that line with me? In 2025, I refuse to live sand first. And if you do that, you'll see success in every area of your life. Now, there's a theme throughout Scripture. You're going to find this in the Old Testament, New Testament, wisdom letters, cover to cover, and here's what it is. The first is holy to the Lord. The first is holy to the Lord. And this starts with our relationship with God. In order for Jesus to be Lord in your life, He must be on the throne of your heart without rival. That means there's no other person, no priority, no value, no passion, no attraction that supersedes the place that Jesus has in your heart. That's why the first and greatest commandment is what? If you know the 10 commandments, number one is what? You shall have no other gods before me. That's the number one commandment. And what God is saying is, He's not hoping He makes the top five this year. And He's like, hey, maybe I get up to spot number three. And if He is not Lord of all upon the throne of our hearts, then He's not Lord at all. And if He is the biggest rock, well, maybe that's why His names are the cornerstone and the rock of our salvation. He is the biggest rock. And when He has the place in the throne of our heart, it will affect everything else. When He is first, it will affect our priorities, our giving, our relationships, our attitudes. It will, in fact, affect our behavior. Now, this language of God first is [00:43:21] (97 seconds)


Make a place for God by giving him the first day of your week. Now maybe you didn't know this, but the New Testament church moved the worship day for hundreds or 1500 years. The worship day was the Sabbath and the Sabbath was holy under the Lord. And there's a whole long list of rules about the Sabbath in Exodus and Leviticus. But when Jesus came out of the tomb on the first day of the week, remember it says that Mary and the other ladies went down to the tomb with spices and perfumes to anoint the body of their savior. And when they got there, the angel of the Lord said, he's not here. He is risen. So from that day forward, the New Testament church moved the worship day. began to meet on the first day of the week. It was holy unto the Lord. And the first day is in fact Sunday. [00:45:57] (44 seconds)


But there is a principle about making the first holy unto the Lord. And I would submit, something to you that maybe you haven't thought of. Your week doesn't start on Monday. Your week starts on Sunday. Sunday is the first day of the week. So make the first of your week holy to the Lord. And here's the principle. When you set aside the first and the best and honor him, he blesses the rest. When you set aside the first and the best of your income called the tithe, he actually blesses the rest, rebukes the devourer, opens the windows of heaven. This is the principle throughout the word. See, culture says, Sunday's my weekend, you know? And the attitude is like, Friday at five o 'clock, ding, ding, ding, bell rings, party time, right? It's five o 'clock somewhere, you know? And everybody parties hard. And then Sunday is kind of recovery. Watch some sports or football, eat a late breakfast, you know, mow the lawn. And then, Monday, I got to start my week again. [00:46:58] (58 seconds)


It's like modern day science and psychology and the rest of them always catch up with what God wrote in his word thousands of years ago. Have you seen that? So God actually mandated fast for his people throughout the year. And it is a way for optimum health. And a lot has been written about it. I recently finished a book on intermittent fasting, which is a big deal in the last three to five years in our culture. But let me read you one bit about the physical benefits of a fast. A great article. It says this. It is a grim reality that the toxins in our food and environment are causing inflammation and speeding up cellular degeneration at an alarming level. Meanwhile, cellular rejuvenation is being handicapped by overconsumption in our nation. However, fasting restores the balance, removes toxicity, giving your blood a break from digestion to redirect energy toward healing and rejuvenation. [00:54:34] (55 seconds)


Fasting is one of the most powerful ways to reset your body. Damaged tissues, toxins, tumors, abscesses, cysts, and fatty deposits are eliminated during the remarkable immune system deep clean that is activated by fasting. And we don't fast as a hunger strike or to get in better health. But if that's all you got out of it, it would be worth it. A three -day water fast, a five -day juice fast. [00:56:06] (25 seconds)


Fasting gets my flesh and personal ambition off the throne of my heart and makes room for the work of the Holy Spirit. Hey, if you want more of activity of the Holy Spirit and God moving in your life, if you want to hear from God this year, then set aside days to quiet all the noise. Here's a quote from the fasting guide. Most of the hindrances I face in accomplishing God's will for my life are self -imposed. [00:56:48] (27 seconds)


My soulish thoughts and unsanctified desires get so loud that I can't hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and I move through life failing to perceive what the Spirit is saying. But see, fasting begins to quiet those unwanted voices. I begin to hear the voice of the Lord. I become sensitive to the things of the Spirit as I deny my flesh. Now, flesh or carnality, both of those phrases are used in the New Testament writings of Paul. It just means the part of you that wants to control you. [00:57:56] (32 seconds)


And then fasting and prayer releases those that are in bondage. And I want to call you up and challenge you to make this personal because, get this, there are people in your life that either cannot or will not pray for themselves. Why is that? Because they're in so much spiritual bondage and spiritual blinders are over their eyes that when they think of God or think of church, they think of dead religion, legalism, something that a lie has captured their imagination. The Bible calls them strongholds. But when we fast and pray, something happens in the spirit. Those strongholds are brought down. And people that are in bondage, they go free. [01:00:01] (42 seconds)


Make a place for the presence of God by personally coming to the table of the Lord for communion. Now, in just a few minutes, I'm going to lead you into a time where we'll recognize again what Jesus did on the night that he was betrayed and he was beaten and he wore that crown of thorns and he took the strife. For our healing, our salvation, our peace of mind, and for eternity with him. And this is something you can do at a personal level. Now, I do this in my office. I do this with our small group leaders or our small group or wherever it might be. But a lot of times I'm just by myself having communion. And when I begin to recognize the broken body of Jesus and I take some time, shut the door, turn on some worship music, as I consider what Jesus did on that, special night, you know what it does? It brings me to a place of reflection, which leads to repentance, which leads to reconnection. If you really slow down and think about the cross and the fact that Jesus died on that cross for your eternity with him, that moment of reflection causes us to come into something that is very sweet and tender to the heart of the Lord, and that is the conviction of sin. See, a lot of people mistake conviction for condemnation because they get around church people and they, they just feel condemned, like you're not holy enough and you're not good enough and you messed up. And man, that list of sin is brutal. God's not like that. He reveals the condition of our heart not to condemn us, but to draw us close to himself that we might repent of our sins and receive forgiveness. And then we reconnect with him. You see, it's my sin that separates me from my savior. But as we break this bread and drink this cup, we're recognizing that there is a provision that I don't have to live at a distance. I don't have to live at a distance. If I could get you to make one commitment for 2025, I would urge you and beg you to make this commitment. I will not live at a distance from God this year. [01:02:12] (119 seconds)

Come on. Let's show some love to all of our locations. Let's welcome Napa and East Bay and Roseville, Calgary, Canada, Prison Church Network, everybody on the screen. We love you so much.

Oh man, it feels good in the house of God. Are you well? Yeah, you look good.

Oh, by the way, before you're seated, they just let me know the parking lot's completely full. We're parking at State Farm. Kids ministry is overflowing. There are a few seats left in the room, but not many. So the way you could help us is next week, we do want you to come back to church. But some of you, as the Lord leads, could you choose the 8:15? There are a few seats left in that service or the 11:45. There are other services, is what I'm saying. You pray, God will speak to you. All good?

All right. Turn to somebody before you're seated. Just tell them, "I'm glad you're here. I'm just, I'm glad you're here. Pull up a chair."

You made it into the building. Thank you, band.

And I do want to mention, we have a special couple here from Columbus, Ohio. They were pastors in Ukraine and now missionaries to Ukraine and on staff. Would you guys stand up? Oleg and Tanya and your kids, come on, stand up. Just show these guys some love. We love you. I want to honor you. Let's spend a little time in California.

Well, it is the first Sunday of this new year, and it's good to see you in the house. You are here. And if you're not here in person, if you're out of town, small town, deployed military, if you're part of the online, we love you so much. And thanks for being a part of this service as we're going to talk about the significance of the first and the best.

We're going to jump into this series, "Making a Place." And can we bring up that graphic? Because I need to read some of it. It disappeared on me. Just praying in the spirit. Oh, look at that, what the Lord has done.

So we're going to make a place. And throughout the history of God's people, He's always designated spaces and places where He would meet with them. And His promise out of Exodus is, "I will meet with you and I will speak to you."

Now, in the Old Testament, they were temples and tabernacles and tents and holy mountains. And God said, "Gather here and do it in a particular way that I will show you." And when you show up at a place that is prepared, then I will meet with you there.

New Testament believers, we're still to gather together on the first day of the week. I'll be talking about that. We're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. But now His temple is you, your heart. As Paul asked the question, "Don't you know, don't you know you are a temple of the Holy Spirit?"

So I want to talk to you about making spaces and places for God to move in your life and to really set yourself up for success in 2025. Because I believe as you apply what I'm going to share today, you will set yourself up for spiritual success. And in doing that, you'll also be in a position for relational success, financial success, in every area of your life. Is anybody up for some of that?

So today I want to talk to you about first things first. But for those of you that are into New Year's resolutions, I applaud that. I got a little bad news. The new stats are out. 92% of all New Year's resolutions don't make it past February 1st. But I believe better things of you.

And so what I want to do is I want to give you three things that you can do in this month that will set you up for spiritual success. And I want to give you three things that you can do in this month that will set you up for success and carry over into the year.

You know, you've probably heard this old adage: first things first. Or you've told somebody or they've told you, "Hey man, get your priorities straight." And there's an illustration that you've all seen and maybe you've used this illustration, and it's of the canister of the rocks. And there's the large rocks, the medium-sized rocks or pebbles, and then there's the sand.

And they each represent priorities in our life. And the way this works out, if you've ever seen it, it's actually an accurate little scientific experiment. If you put the big rocks in first, then the pebbles second, you can get all of it into the canister and shut the lid. But if you put the sand in first or the little rocks in first, when you finally get to the big rocks, there won't be enough room.

And all these rocks, pebbles, and sand represent the priorities of your life. Now, I would submit that the big rocks in all of our lives are these: Jesus, His church, your marriage, your family, your health. You got it? Jesus, His church, your marriage, your family, and your health. Those are big rocks.

And then we all have some medium-sized rocks that are important, and they need to fit in the canister, like your job or career, your education, your home, your insurance, retirement planning. All those are medium-sized rocks that you need to have in your priorities, for sure.

But then we all got some sand in our life, don't we? A lot of sand. And your sand is different than mine, but we've all got some. Maybe your sand is social media scrolling or fantasy football or cleaning the garage, feeding the cat, whatever. We all got some sand.

But here's what I want to say about this: I would challenge you in 2025 to not live sand first. And I've made a decision in my life, and I want to emphasize it, that in 2025, I refuse to live sand first. Would you? Would you indulge me and say that line with me? In 2025, I refuse to live sand first. And if you do that, you'll see success in every area of your life.

Now, there's a theme throughout Scripture. You're going to find this in the Old Testament, New Testament, wisdom letters, cover to cover, and here's what it is: the first is holy to the Lord. The first is holy to the Lord.

And this starts with our relationship with God. In order for Jesus to be Lord in your life, He must be on the throne of your heart without rival. That means there's no other person, no priority, no value, no passion, no attraction that supersedes the place that Jesus has in your heart.

That's why the first and greatest commandment is what? If you know the 10 commandments, number one is what? You shall have no other gods before me. That's the number one commandment. And what God is saying is, He's not hoping He makes the top five this year. And He's like, "Hey, maybe I get up to spot number three."

And if He is not Lord of all upon the throne of our hearts, then He's not Lord at all. And if He is the biggest rock, well, maybe that's why His names are the cornerstone and the rock of our salvation. He is the biggest rock. And when He has the place in the throne of our heart, it will affect everything else.

When He is first, it will affect our priorities, our giving, our relationships, our attitudes. It will, in fact, affect our behavior. Now, this language of God first is in the New Testament. Exodus 13:2. This is the Lord speaking. God is saying, "Don't say the leftover crops and the scraps at the end of the day. The first and the best belongs to me."

Acts 20:7. "On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share the Lord's Supper." 1 Corinthians 16:2. "On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers. On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income."

So we see it again. The first, the best, the first, the best. It belongs to the Lord. And I want to give you three practical rocks that you can apply in your priorities this year to set yourself up for success.

Here's number one. Make a place for God by giving Him the first day of your week.

Now maybe you didn't know this, but the New Testament church moved the worship day for hundreds or 1500 years. The worship day was the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was holy unto the Lord. And there's a whole long list of rules about the Sabbath in Exodus and Leviticus.

But when Jesus came out of the tomb on the first day of the week, remember it says that Mary and the other ladies went down to the tomb with spices and perfumes to anoint the body of their Savior. And when they got there, the angel of the Lord said, "He's not here. He is risen."

So from that day forward, the New Testament church moved the worship day and began to meet on the first day of the week. It was holy unto the Lord. And the first day is, in fact, Sunday.

Now we're not legalistic about this. We're not religious about this. There are some denominations and religions that if you don't go to church on the right day, you're not making it into heaven. And the word is clear on this. You can worship God on any given day of the week, and He's going to accept your worship. Do you understand that?

But there is a principle about making the first holy unto the Lord. And I would submit something to you that maybe you haven't thought of. Your week doesn't start on Monday. Your week starts on Sunday. Sunday is the first day of the week. So make the first of your week holy to the Lord.

And here's the principle. When you set aside the first and the best and honor Him, He blesses the rest. When you set aside the first and the best of your income called the tithe, He actually blesses the rest, rebukes the devourer, opens the windows of heaven. This is the principle throughout the word.

See, culture says, "Sunday's my weekend," you know? And the attitude is like, "Friday at five o'clock, ding, ding, ding, bell rings, party time," right? It's five o'clock somewhere, you know? And everybody parties hard. And then Sunday is kind of recovery. Watch some sports or football, eat a late breakfast, you know, mow the lawn. And then, Monday, I got to start my week again.

You know, there's been a lot of songs written about, you know, kind of the Monday blues, right? Let's just speak according to culture. But let's just do a little music trivia, just a little bit. A first throwback for all the boomers in the house. You name the artist, I'll sing the song. "Monday, Monday, I can't trust that day." Mamas and the Papas right there, boom. 1967, shout out. You know, that's when they wrote the good music.

How about this for a little younger crowd? "Just another manic Monday." The Bangles. Is that right? Was it the Bangles? The Bangles. Is the other one a football team? Okay, great. They're not going to make it, by the way. But I'm just sorry. That's my bad. That's my bad. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

The thought being is your week starts on Sunday. So that's the first thing. Very practical. Honor the Lord.

Now, let me just say, there are people watching that are in other states and areas where they can't make it to the house of God, or you have some physical condition, you can't get out, or you're deployed military, and there is no shame or condemnation. Let me look at everybody on the stream and just say, we love you. God honors your heart, so receive no condemnation from this, all right?

The other side of this is, if you are able to be in the house of God, but you're one of those folks that comes to church when, well, my team's not playing, and I don't have to mow the lawn today, and I didn't stay up too late, and I don't have friends in from out of town, I'm not going snow skiing, and on and on and on. Well, I guess I'll make it to church.

Church that's giving God the least and the last, and you forfeit the blessing. So here's my appeal to you in 2025: make the house of the Lord and His people a priority and see what God does in your life this year. Are you with me on that?

Number two: make a place for God by pursuing Him through fasting and prayer in the month of January.

Now we are to pray at all times. Jesus said men should always pray and never give up. Paul wrote that we should pray without ceasing. And as a church, we pray every Thursday night together. We have morning prayer times, pastor prayer. There's an army of intercessors. You should check that on the website. There are people fasting and praying using these weapons of warfare year-round.

But at the Father's House in January, we call the entire church to a season of fasting and prayer. It's like our tithe of the year. We give God January in such a way that we set the rest of the year up for increase and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

And so this year, we're calling a 14-day fast, and this will come up on the screen from the 7th of this month, that's this Tuesday, to the 20th. There's an all-church fast, there's a midday pursuit, I'll talk about that in a moment, and then we're also calling everyone to 14 days of communion, coming to the table of the Lord either with believers here in the room or at your home by yourself, and I'll give you some thoughts and instruction on that.

Now this Thursday night right here in this room, we're having something called United Pursuit. So we come together. If you haven't been to this, it's powerful. This room will be pretty well full of people who come for an hour, hour and five minutes to do nothing but worship God and pray. We clear out all the chairs. There are hundreds of people in the mosh pit. The Holy Spirit moves. It's prophetic. You know that God does something significant when His people say, "We're coming to simply worship Jesus and call out on His name."

So all of our locations will be here with the exception of Calgary, Canada. So Pastor Andrew and Brittany, we're going to stream it into Calgary for you unless you want to jump on a plane and head this way. Just grab a couple hundred people and show up. But this week is going to be powerful at United Pursuit.

And here's what the Lord has laid on my heart to pray specifically for you and get in the room because we're believing there's going to be an anointing for these three areas: United Pursuit that 2025 would be a year of healings and miracles, financial breakthrough, and supernatural provision, and people we love that are far from God coming home to Jesus.

All right, so if one of those three resonates in your heart, you're thinking, "I need some of that." Here's something I know about every one of you: there is somebody in your world close to you, probably a family member, close friend, co-worker that you love that is far from God. And so we're going to stand in that gap of intercession this Thursday night and pray for them by name.

Now, if you're new to church or new to faith or maybe thought, "You know, I'm going to start the year and go down to that Father's House," I got an invite. You find yourself stumbling into the room going, "Wow, all these people and all this music," and then this guy's up on stage talking about fasting. It looks like they're putting me on the high dive right out the gate. I get it.

So we have provided something for all of you, especially if you're new to this. It's called a guide to prayer and fasting, and you can find that on the website. Get the TFH app. It's a pretty thorough book on what the Bible has to say about the power of fasting, that it's for the New Testament church, it's for you, it's going to release some things in your life. And even if you've read this material before, go back, give it another read because it will produce faith in your heart to step into this fast with us in the next couple of weeks.

Now, we're going after the spiritual benefits of fasting, but did you guys know there's some amazing health benefits to fasting? And obviously, God is going to give you some of that, and you're going to get some of that, and you're going to get that, and you're going to get that.

It's like modern-day science and psychology and the rest of them always catch up with what God wrote in His word thousands of years ago. Have you seen that? So God actually mandated fast for His people throughout the year. And it is a way for optimum health. And a lot has been written about it.

I recently finished a book on intermittent fasting, which is a big deal in the last three to five years in our culture. But let me read you one bit about the physical benefits of a fast. A great article says this: "It is a grim reality that the toxins in our food and environment are causing inflammation and speeding up cellular degeneration at an alarming level. Meanwhile, cellular rejuvenation is being handicapped by overconsumption in our nation. However, fasting restores the balance, removes toxicity, giving your blood a break from digestion to redirect energy toward healing and rejuvenation. Fasting is one of the most powerful ways to reset your body. Damaged tissues, toxins, tumors, abscesses, cysts, and fatty deposits are eliminated during the remarkable immune system deep clean that is activated by fasting."

And we don't fast as a hunger strike or to get in better health. But if that's all you got out of it, it would be worth it. A three-day water fast, a five-day juice fast.

But what about the spiritual benefits that are clearly listed in the word? And there are several of these in the guide. Let me just give you a few.

Number one. Fasting gets my flesh and personal ambition off the throne of my heart and makes room for the work of the Holy Spirit. Hey, if you want more of the activity of the Holy Spirit and God moving in your life, if you want to hear from God this year, then set aside days to quiet all the noise.

Here's a quote from the fasting guide: "Most of the hindrances I face in accomplishing God's will for my life are self-imposed. My soulish thoughts and unsanctified desires get so loud that I can't hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, and I move through life failing to perceive what the Spirit is saying."

But see, fasting begins to quiet those unwanted voices. I begin to hear the voice of the Lord. I become sensitive to the things of the Spirit as I deny my flesh.

Now, flesh or carnality, both of those phrases are used in the New Testament writings of Paul. It just means the part of you that wants to control you. And for all of us, it's good to say no to our appetites. No, we're not going to eat that much. We're not going to drink that much. We're not going to sit on the couch today. We're not going to scroll through the app. Whatever it is for you, the self-denial is not just some kind of, you know, self-harm to make yourself better, but it's actually pushing back this so that I can receive something of the Spirit realm. Are you with me?

And so we're going to make a place for the Holy Spirit to move.

Secondly, fasting and prayer displaces spiritual darkness and brings breakthrough. One day, Jesus' disciples were very frustrated. There was a father who brought a son who was demonized, and it seemed to be just like a garden variety demon that they couldn't cast out. So Jesus shows up. He rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith, casts the demon out of the little boy, and then He makes this statement in Matthew 17: "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

I would submit to you today that there are spiritual powers in your life, in our lives, in our families, our generations, in our family tree, in our nation. There are spiritual powers and influences. Ephesians calls it principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in this present age that are not displaced without using the weapons of our warfare. One of the weapons God has given us is the ability to fast and pray and see some of these things pushed back.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about maybe in your life there's been generational anger or addiction, or a spirit of poverty, or whatever it might be. And you just watch it. You watch it in granddaddy and uncle, and now it's showing up in your life.

Listen, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the shed blood and the weapons of our warfare, we can say it stops with me, enough is enough, and we push back the powers of darkness.

And then fasting and prayer releases those that are in bondage. And I want to call you up and challenge you to make this personal because, get this, there are people in your life that either cannot or will not pray for themselves. Why is that? Because they're in so much spiritual bondage and spiritual blinders are over their eyes that when they think of God or think of church, they think of dead religion, legalism, something that a lie has captured their imagination. The Bible calls them strongholds.

But when we fast and pray, something happens in the spirit. Those strongholds are brought down. And people that are in bondage, they go free.

Here's what God said in Isaiah 58:6. "Is this not the fast I've chosen, to lose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?"

Now, this is a rhetorical question. So God is actually saying this: "This is the kind of fast I've chosen, that you would break the yoke." Now, we know that God is the yoke breaker. He is the chain breaker. And it is the anointing that breaks the yoke, it says in Isaiah. But He uses us to stand in this gap of fasting and prayer.

You know what an intercessor is? It's someone who stands in this place between the much-needed mercy of God and broken humanity that cannot and will not pray for themselves.

By the way, I'm here. I'm saved. I'm alive. I'm a pastor. I'm standing in front of y'all. Because when I was a broken, drug-addicted mess at 22 years old, there were some ladies in the church that said, "I did not know that well," that went on an extended fast. This one precious saint, her name was Val Gatelli. And God showed her what He wanted to do in my life. She saw something that I'd never seen. And it provoked her to go on to an extended time of fasting and prayer for my life.

And that intercession, standing in that gap, began to break chains. I could tell you stories about when God showed up in my life uninvited.

Now, when you fast and pray for someone, somebody else, here's the deal. We all have a blessing and a curse called free will. You have a free will. I have a free will. And even when Jesus is revealed to my life, it doesn't mean that I will accept Him because I have a free will to reject Him.

So for the people in your life that are far from God, and when you fast and pray, it does not guarantee their salvation and their coming out of darkness, but it does guarantee that God is going to interact with them. All of a sudden, people start showing up. Circumstances start changing.

And listen, if you've got some folks in your life that you really love, here's a dangerous prayer I want you to pray. You ready? Whatever it takes, get them, God. That's deep theology right there. Whatever it takes, get them, God.

There are a couple of guys on my prayer list. Again, this January, I've been praying for these guys for a decade, and they bubbled up in my spirit this last week. And I'm praying, and some of you know what I'm talking about. Whatever it takes, get them, God.

All right? Now, once the Lord... When the Lord introduces Himself in a revelation of the gospel, then their free will comes into play.

But here's been my experience. When people see Jesus for who He is, when all the dead religion is broken off, and we see Him on the cross and His love for us, and we get a revelation of that, it's virtually impossible to resist because the human heart longs to know their Creator. Amen?

And here's what happens, 2 Corinthians 4: "Satan, who's the god, small g, of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They're unable to see the glorious light of the good news." Think about that. They can't even see it.

It's just like, "I don't see what you guys are going to church and talking about Jesus and all the stuff you do." They don't understand the message of the glory of Christ, who's the exact likeness of God.

But when we fast and pray for them, the spiritual blinders are broken off. Come on, somebody.

So what I'm going to ask you to do and be talking about it this Thursday night is get a list of names, the top three people in your world that you're going to intercede and fast for in the month of January. And then we'll have a line that says the long shot. We're going to pray for the long shot. Some of you are the long shot, by the way. And you're in the room and you're getting baptized in water because of prayer and intercession.

And the last one is this, and we'll prepare our hearts to receive communion. Make a place for the presence of God by personally coming to the table of the Lord for communion.

Now, in just a few minutes, I'm going to lead you into a time where we'll recognize again what Jesus did on the night that He was betrayed and He was beaten and He wore that crown of thorns and He took the strife for our healing, our salvation, our peace of mind, and for eternity with Him.

And this is something you can do at a personal level. Now, I do this in my office. I do this with our small group leaders or our small group or wherever it might be. But a lot of times I'm just by myself having communion.

And when I begin to recognize the broken body of Jesus and I take some time, shut the door, turn on some worship music, as I consider what Jesus did on that special night, you know what it does? It brings me to a place of reflection, which leads to repentance, which leads to reconnection.

If you really slow down and think about the cross and the fact that Jesus died on that cross for your eternity with Him, that moment of reflection causes us to come into something that is very sweet and tender to the heart of the Lord, and that is the conviction of sin.

See, a lot of people mistake conviction for condemnation because they get around church people and they just feel condemned, like you're not holy enough and you're not good enough and you messed up. And man, that list of sin is brutal. God's not like that. He reveals the condition of our heart not to condemn us, but to draw us close to Himself that we might repent of our sins and receive forgiveness.

And then we reconnect with Him. You see, it's my sin that separates me from my Savior. But as we break this bread and drink this cup, we're recognizing that there is a provision that I don't have to live at a distance.

I don't have to live at a distance. If I could get you to make one commitment for 2025, I would urge you and beg you to make this commitment: I will not live at a distance from God this year. I'm going to live close because you can come close by the blood of Jesus.

This is the covenant promise. Look at this in Hebrews 10. "By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the most holy place." Now He's using tabernacle imagery. "So let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts, fully trusting Him. For our guilty conscience have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."

Spending time in the presence of God, listen, it changes everything. You know, if you've been coming to the church very long at all, you know this about me. I've been coming to the church very long at all. I've been coming to the church very long at me and our team. Our goal for you is not to have a local church where you attend faithfully and go through some programs and give your money. Check the list. I'm out.

Our goal is this: that you would know and access the presence of God. It's more than a feeling or an emotion. It's not setting an atmosphere with the right songs and karaoke. Mama or whoo, I think I felt something. No, the presence of God is the revelation of the person of the Holy Spirit.

And when you live your life in His presence, everything changes. Everything. You will see yourself differently. You will see your future differently. You'll see your career, your marriage, your giving, your priorities. Everything makes sense in His presence.

And one day it will make sense as we stand before Him in His fully revealed glory when He comes back for His church. But for so many, it will be too late. Even believers will there be tears in heaven? Ask Eric Clapton. Yeah, I think there will be at the front end for sure because so many will realize, "I was doing the bare minimums and I could have made a difference in Israel. I could have made a difference with my family. I could have given and served and lived wholeheartedly for the Son of God."

You're going to recognize that one day. What I'm pleading with you is this: let that moment be now. Come into His presence now. Get all the peripheral out of the way now and see yourself the way He sees you.

Hey, I'm going to hit a mile marker in my life in a few months: 65 years old. Oh my God, come on, Medicare! There's a song we sang back in the 90s called "Oh Ancient of Days," you know, and I'm getting ready for that.

But here's what I'm seeing: my perspective is different at this end of the playground. My perspective is different in the fourth quarter of the game. I want to do all I can to live for Christ in His glory. Why? Because I'm spending some time in His presence.

And it's not about a cozy retirement, and it's not about a legacy that I built. It's all about living a life with the glory of God.

And I'm not going to let you down. I'm not going to let you down. I'm not going to let you down. I'm not going to let you down.

If you come to Midday Pursuit, which is at all locations, we'll have a worship band on stage. If you haven't been and you can make it noon to one o'clock during our 14 days of fasting, here's what we do. We take a full hour to worship Him and wait on Him. The whole thing is vertical. Nothing is horizontal. We're not exhorting, preaching, praying for one another. We're just here to minister to the Lord.

And we'll have tables to my right and left with communion where you can come and then find a place to be with the Lord. But if you can't make it down to the house during those days, let me encourage you to find a place at home.

Let me just tell you my practice. I put on some worship music. I'll get a piece of bread and the juice, and I'll take some time. Just wait on Him in my office. I want to encourage you to find that simple place.

What about this? What if? I'll give you a what if. What if you push back the plate one meal a day? Push back the dinner plate. Say, "God, I'm giving you this 45 minutes. I'm going to go into that secret place. I'll get a Bible and a journal, the bread and the cup. And I'm going to wait on you for 45 minutes."

What do you think might happen in your life in the month of January? I think you know. Clarity would come. An encounter would come. A revelation of what you need to do in your future. The things that your heart is hungering for.

But we got to displace some stuff, guys. So we're calling the whole church. Every Sunday service for the next three weeks, table of the Lord. Pursuit nights, table of the Lord. 14 days, all the worship lunches or the midday pursuits, the table of the Lord.

Why? Because this is not just some religious sacrament. It's not like, you can get dead religion on anything: church attendance, Bible study, sermon series, communion. It can just become dead religious form that has no life.

But here's the way the Lord intended it. He said, "As often as you do this, you're proclaiming." What? Yeah, you're proclaiming my death. You're proclaiming who I am. You know, when you break this bread and say, "Jesus, I believe you were broken for me and you died for me. And thank you for washing me by your blood," you're making a proclamation into the spirit realm over your life. You're changing direction.

And He meets with us. If the invitation is that we can come close by the blood of Jesus, He says that He's opened a new and living way. Here's what it is: there's a portal right into the presence of God that's provided through communion when it's done in faith.

Now, some of you might've been raised in dead religion. You took communion every day. You went to mass or church or whatever it might've been. And it just became that thing, you know, and you did it and it didn't affect you.

But here's the thing. When I recognize that my Savior stretched out His arms and shed His precious blood to make me His own and reconnect me with the Father, as I recognize His blood, there's a portal. We go right into the presence of God by His blood.

By the blood of Jesus, not by performance, not by earning our way, but simply by the blood. It's fairly simple. You know, the word tells us that a fool don't need to make any mistakes understanding the gospel of Christ. He has put the cookies on the lowest shelf for me.

Sign up if you need it. Hmm, then why don't more people come? Oh, because I'm at another table. I'm over here at the table of, you know, I'm at the table of, you know, entertainment, self-indulgence, busy schedule, pursuing my career, shaping my brand, influencer, blah, blah, blah, all stubble and hay that will burn up.

And the Holy Spirit's whispering, "Hey, over here, I got another table. It's called intimacy, the secret place. I have a vision for your life." But you can't eat at both tables. You can't drink from both cups.

So today He invites me to come over here. He invites us, and I want to invite you.

Now, we're going to read out a proclamation, a declaration that we're going to release the other campuses to go in this communion time. Would you lift your voice up and read Hebrews 4:16 with me? Come on, let's read.

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

Today we're coming boldly. Other locations, you can go into that ministry time.

Here in this room, would you bow your heads for just a moment? Before we receive these emblems or even prepare them, I want to ask you, if you are here in this room, first Sunday of the year, and you would say, "Pastor Dave, I don't think I'm ready to do this. I don't feel like I'm right with God. I've got sin in my life. I have separation. I'm not serving God currently."

With heads bowed, this is a private moment between you and Him. But if today you would say, "But I'm ready on this first Sunday of 2025 to come back to faith or fully surrender my life to God, my life to Jesus. I know He's tapping on my heart, and I'm going to get right with Him."

We'll do something very simple. I'm going to pray out a prayer. And if that's you, you agree with this prayer. And then at the end of our time, in just a couple of minutes, there's going to be leaders all across the front, small group leaders and pastors. Then at the end of the service, just come down, meet with somebody and say, "Hey, I prayed that prayer with Pastor Dave today."

Because the Bible says the power is in the confession. And today when you confess that you're making Jesus Lord, your spiritual reality changes. But it will change right now as you believe.

So if that's you, I'm going to pray this out. You agree.

Dear Jesus, I know I need a Savior. I can't save myself. Lord, I've got things in my heart and my life. I feel separation from You, Father. But today I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He died on the cross for my sin, and He rose again. And I put my faith in the finished work of the cross. And I say, "Lord, save me, forgive me, make me Your own."

And from this day forward, I'll be Your disciple in Jesus' great name. Everybody said amen? Amen.

If you prayed that today and meant it, then we want to meet with you. Now, we're going to prepare these emblems right now, if you haven't already. But as we do, we're just going to take a moment, and the band's going to sing this over us one more time. So get those emblems ready, and then we'll come to the table.

Come on, sing Hallelujah one time.

So Jesus took that unleavened bread, and He broke a piece, and He handed it to His disciples, and He said, "This is my body, which is broken for you. As often as you do this, you remember and proclaim my death until I come back." Shall we eat together?

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for Your healing grace today.

And Jesus took the cup, said, "This is the new covenant written in my blood. As often as you drink this together, you're remembering and proclaiming my death till I return."

Today, it's His blood that invites you in, welcomes you into His presence. Let's drink together.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord.

Just a bit of a prophetic nudge, then we're going to sing. We got to get out of here in a minute.

But I just sensed the Holy Spirit said, "There's some people in the room, and you asked me to sing. I asked this question, can it really be different? Can it really change? I've been in this pattern for however long."

And that question has come to your mind, and the Lord wants you to hear this today, that He's invited you into a new beginning, that the old will pass away, that the change you carried can and will be broken in the name of Jesus.

And it is a new day. It's not just a new year. It's a new day in the spirit. And if you'll be obedient and simply say, "Jesus, I'm going to follow You hour by hour, day by day," you're going to be able to do that. You're going to be able to look up three or four months from now, and you'll be stunned and amazed at the difference that you've seen in your life.

That's His promise. The fact or the lie that you can't change is exactly that. It's a lie of the enemy. And we break that in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

Well, here's what we're going to do. We're going to stand and sing our way out of here. And another group of people are coming in. But the pastors, the leaders are going to be up front. So if you need prayer, come this way.

Come on, let's stand. Let's lift this up strong. Look forward for prayer. God bless you guys.