First Priority
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 8/3/2023Matthew 6:33
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73:52
Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez challenges believers to make God their first priority by trusting His provision over worldly systems and staying obedient to His word even when it is difficult.
Key points
- •Seeking God's Kingdom first means prioritizing His way of doing things over personal aspirations and material pursuits.
- •Worry and anxiety are indicators of 'little faith' and an insult to God's role as a provider who already knows every need.
- •Disobedience to God's laws has generational consequences, but obedience opens doors to unlimited possibilities for one's children.
- •True stewardship involves honoring God with finances through tithes and offerings regardless of circumstances or feelings about leadership.
- •Staying where God plants you, even in difficult seasons, is essential for reaching your ultimate destiny.
Scripture
Purpose
Faith
Holy Spirit
Stewardship
Obedience
Life application
This week, identify one area of life where you have been trying to 'figure it out' on your own (like finances or career) and consciously surrender it to God by asking for His specific direction and prioritizing His principles over your own shortcuts.
Reflection questions
- In what areas of my life am I currently acting more like a 'resident' of the world than a 'citizen' of the Kingdom?
- Is my current anxiety a sign that I am counting my problems instead of God's past blessings?
- Am I willing to stay where God has planted me even if a more 'enticing' or lucrative opportunity arises elsewhere?
- How does my approach to stewardship today impact the spiritual and material inheritance of the next generation?
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Full transcript
0:00stand and we're going to read a passage
0:02of scripture
0:04that we're all familiar with.
0:07Um
0:09it has actually be
0:11come one of the theme scriptures for
0:14this ministry.
0:17I've been preaching in this church for
0:1832 years.
0:21And
0:24I can't tell you how many times I've
0:26quoted this scripture.
0:28And um when God gave me this word today,
0:33I I really asked him
0:36why?
0:37Why would you want me to
0:41preach on this
0:42passage of scripture?
0:45Because the people should know it.
0:49This is a conversation I've been having
0:50with God.
0:52They should know it.
0:54And he reminded me of a scripture
0:58where he says faith comes by
1:01hearing
1:02and hearing
1:04and hearing the word.
1:07Because just because we've read the
1:09scripture maybe a thousand times doesn't
1:12mean we have received all the revelation
1:16in it.
1:17So he reminded me that whenever he
1:20brings something to us again
1:24is because he wants to open our
1:26understanding.
1:28So I have a few questions here to ask
1:30you
1:31and then we'll go into that scripture.
1:34Um do you really believe
1:40that you
1:42truly
1:44believe in the Bible?
1:47You don't have to answer back to me.
1:51But think about this.
1:53Do you really believe
1:58in the Bible? That you believe
2:02in the Bible. Question number two.
2:05Do you believe God
2:07wants to be involved in every area
2:12of your life?
2:14Do you really Do you really believe
2:18that God wants you?
2:22He wants your love life.
2:25He wants your family.
2:28He wants
2:29to be involved pursuits.
2:33He wants to be involved in your
2:34business, your career,
2:37your finances.
2:40And do you really believe
2:43that you can have the fullness of God
2:47in all areas of your life?
2:50That he actually wants Watch this.
2:55You whole.
2:58Not broken.
3:00Not unfulfilled.
3:02Do you really believe that?
3:06And if you believe all of what I've just
3:09asked you,
3:11then here's the bigger question.
3:14Then what's wrong with your life?
3:19Why
3:20is your life
3:22not in alignment
3:25with what he said about you?
3:29Why?
3:31Is it that Watch this.
3:34God lied?
3:36He's playing tricks with you?
3:40Is it that the Bible is true? Cuz if you
3:42believe in the Bible and the Bible is
3:45true and you're reading his word, then
3:47you ought to know that there's truth to
3:50it.
3:52And if he wants you to have all his
3:55promises,
3:57why then
3:59are our lives not in alignment with his
4:03word? His word is up here and we're down
4:06here.
4:08Is it that he
4:09finds pleasure
4:12in you falling short
4:15of his promises for your life?
4:18I hope not.
4:20Here's the scripture. You know it.
4:22Matthew 6:33.
4:25Want to read it though from the
4:26amplified.
4:29Cuz we we know this.
4:32If you've been coming to the Faith
4:33Center, you know this.
4:36It says here, Matthew 6:33,
4:40but first and most importantly,
4:44seek, aim at,
4:47strive after his kingdom and his
4:50righteousness.
4:52This way or his way of doing
4:55and being right.
4:57Seek after
4:59The Bible says most importantly, strive
5:02after the kingdom of God
5:05and his righteousness and it defines
5:08what he's talking about, his way
5:12of doing doing doing the things you do
5:16and being right.
5:19The attitude
5:21and character of God.
5:25And then he says,
5:27all things
5:30will be added to your life.
5:33I submit to you in this room, those of
5:35you are streaming,
5:37we are coming up short
5:41every single day
5:44because
5:45the all things he wants to bless us
5:48with,
5:50we're not getting them.
5:53That's why we're short. Father,
5:55I'm going to do exactly what you told me
5:56to do.
6:00You told me
6:02not to receive the offering until the
6:04end of the service today.
6:07You said, go right into the message
6:12and speak to your people.
6:15Those who have an ear, let them hear.
6:19Those who are ready to receive, Father,
6:21I pray
6:22that every good promises in your word,
6:28they will walk out of this room today,
6:30they'll log off
6:32and their lives will never ever be the
6:36same again.
6:39That today is the last day the devil
6:41will cheat them out
6:43of what you have in store for them.
6:48This is the last day
6:51they will live not knowing who their
6:53father is.
6:56You are their heavenly Father and you
6:58said you shall supply every need in
7:02their lives.
7:04And I thank you that revelation truth
7:07is going to come forth now in Jesus'
7:10name. Amen. Come on with the clapping of
7:13your hands, would you give him praise?
7:16And you may be seated in the presence of
7:18the Lord.
7:20In the book of Hosea,
7:22chapter four,
7:24verse six. Hosea 4:6.
7:29That verse should serve as a reminder to
7:34all of us
7:35that our
7:37inability to acquire knowledge, watch
7:41this,
7:42will have generational consequences.
7:48When we fail to acquire
7:52knowledge wisdom
7:55it has
7:56generational consequences.
8:00I submit to you
8:02many of us
9:41the center man.
9:43This was God's people. HERE IS WHAT THE
9:47PROPHET OF God is PROPHESYING
9:51to God's people. He said, my people are
9:55destroyed.
9:57The word destroyed, demolished,
10:02wiped out,
10:05nullified,
10:07rendered unproductive
10:10for lack of knowledge.
10:14Think about that.
10:17That people are destroyed
10:21not because of the gossip people
10:24say about you.
10:27He never said people are destroyed,
10:30watch this, because they have no money.
10:32People are destroyed because of the
10:34class they are in life. People are
10:37destroyed because of lack of knowledge,
10:40because you have, watch this, rejected,
10:43according to the Bible, you have
10:46rejected,
10:47it says, knowledge.
10:52When we fail to walk in knowledge,
10:55when we fail to understand there's more
10:57to our lives and God has much more for
11:00us, and as long as the devil keep us in
11:03ignorance,
11:06we will never flourish,
11:09rather we will perish.
11:13Every action you take in life will
11:15determine whether you flourish or
11:18perish.
11:20And it's connected to your ability to
11:22gain wisdom.
11:25How do you know what Henry Fernandez is
11:27telling you is true?
11:34How do you know?
11:36How do you know that I'm not a preacher
11:38who's just telling you a whole bunch of
11:40garbage?
11:44Excite you, make you feel good.
11:47And you leave out here, "Woo, great
11:48church, great pastor."
11:50How do you know? Do you have the
11:52knowledge
11:55to check Henry
11:57every time he opens his mouth?
12:02And the only way you can check what I'm
12:04saying is
12:06you got to know the information.
12:12I can't tell you how many people flood
12:14churches every week.
12:17It's a whole bunch of excitement.
12:19Everybody having fun.
12:23It's become like a a show.
12:27And at the end of the day, the truth is,
12:30most of them don't have knowledge.
12:34You ask them about the Bible, they don't
12:36know it.
12:37They know what the preacher told them.
12:41And preachers are wrong at times.
12:46He said, "People are perishing because
12:49of the lack
12:51of knowledge, information.
12:53Why? You have deliberately chosen to
12:57reject
12:59the knowledge."
13:04So, we're kingdom citizens and we want
13:07to benefit from God and the promises,
13:10and you're sitting THERE AND YOU'RE
13:11FRUSTRATED WITH LIFE, YOU'RE ANGRY AT
13:14GOD, and it doesn't your your life
13:16doesn't measure up to the word of God,
13:18and then you put the responsibility on
13:20the church and the pastor, and I don't
13:23like these churches, they're full of
13:24hypocrites, and the church don't work
13:27anymore, and religion we've now labeled
13:30God religion, religion don't work
13:32anymore because what you have done, you
13:34have worked religion in people and it
13:38came up short in your life,
13:41but you keep rejecting
13:44the truth, which is the word.
13:49The word.
13:50Somebody say the word.
13:52Say it again, the word.
13:54If you test the word and the word come
13:57up short, then you can stand before God
14:00and said, "You lied to me."
14:08But he said, "They perish because
14:12they've rejected knowledge." And watch
14:13this, he said,
14:15"You rejected knowledge, so then I
14:17rejected you being priest to me." Let me
14:20pause there for a moment. I saw that, it
14:22blew my mind.
14:23Why would God says, "I rejected you
14:26because you rejected me. I rejected you
14:27as a priest." A priest is one who
14:30renders rituals or rites or service or
14:35perform
14:37a spiritual service.
14:42All of us are
14:44the priest to the Lord.
14:46So, watch this,
14:48when you keep rejecting
14:51the truth, the word,
14:54and accept all of the stuff the world
14:57has to offer, church or whatever
14:59religion,
15:01God says, "All of your priesthood
15:05approach, praise and worship,
15:09everything you're doing," he says, "I
15:11don't want to hear that."
15:18Check me on it.
15:20I don't want to hear that cuz the
15:21problem is
15:22you are more excited
15:25about rituals.
15:29You are more excited about your position
15:31as a priest.
15:33I'm a Christian.
15:36Priesthood.
15:37I'm a minister.
15:40The scripture will also tell you this is
15:42why we got these issues in the church.
15:44Even the disciples tried it on Jesus one
15:47day.
15:48Who should be the greatest among us?
15:52The struggle is we're fighting for
15:54position in the church.
15:57We're fighting for recognition.
16:00And God says, "I don't want to see none
16:02of that. I reject all of that
16:05because
16:07you don't even know the truth."
16:13And then he says,
16:15"And since you have forgotten," watch
16:17this now, this is where it gets
16:19technical,
16:22"because you've rejected or forgotten
16:25the laws of God." Where do you find the
16:27laws of God?
16:30In the Bible.
16:33If you practice law, if you're a lawyer,
16:36some of you are in here,
16:38and you know very well that if you
16:40practice law in order to be able to try
16:43your case or know how you're going to
16:46handle that situation, you have to
16:48resort to what the law says.
16:53Not your feelings.
16:55You got to try. It's like a juror.
16:58If you're if you ever be called to jury
17:00duty,
17:03you have to when the case is brought to
17:05you, you have to try it or judge it
17:10based on what the law says. You may even
17:13disagree with the witnesses.
17:17But when you go into that jury room jury
17:19room, you have to decide based on the
17:22law, not your feelings. That's why
17:24sometimes juries may have
17:28to plead not guilty.
17:31Not that the person is not guilty,
17:36but based on what the law says.
17:40They could not conclude
17:44beyond a reasonable doubt
17:49that
17:50we should charge that person.
17:53So, what the word of God is saying,
17:55"You forgot my law, and because you
17:57don't know my law,
17:59you are making decisions
18:03that YOU CANNOT SAY BEYOND A REASONABLE
18:07DOUBT, I DON'T DOUBT IN MY MIND THIS IS
18:11WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT ME, THIS IS WHAT GOD
18:14SAYS ABOUT MY LIFE, THIS IS WHAT GOD
18:17SAYS ABOUT MY FUTURE." You can't do it
18:20because you don't know the law.
18:29Tell your neighbor, "Please don't be so
18:30quiet on the pastor."
18:34You're scaring me. You're quiet. You're
18:36too quiet. You're scaring me.
18:39So, it says here,
18:41God says,
18:43here's the sad part about it,
18:46"I will also
18:48forget
18:50not you,
18:51the generational
18:55denial."
18:58When you lack the wisdom and walk in
19:01obedience to God's word, you don't even
19:03realize it's not even about you. God
19:06says, "I reject your children."
19:17That's why I said at the opening
19:18statement
19:20is that
19:21uh
19:23every
19:24decision you make,
19:27if you are unable to acquire knowledge,
19:32it has generational consequences.
19:37When you don't know, why on earth are
19:39you here?
19:41When you don't know, what does God say
19:43about you?
19:44When you don't know, what does he
19:46require of you and why he's asking you
19:50to do it, not the world, not your
19:53feelings, based on what he's asking you
19:56to do. When you don't follow him, it has
20:00generational consequences.
20:03Some of the stuff you're struggling with
20:05is because your parents disobeyed God.
20:12That's it.
20:14You and I ARE BATTLING STUFF TODAY IS
20:17BECAUSE MAMA and daddy and grandparents
20:21did SOME STUFF AND WALKED in ignorance
20:23and DID NOT WALK IN THE WILL OF GOD AND
20:25HERE IT IS IN 2023 WE'RE STRUGGLING
20:32BECAUSE THEY walked
20:34outside of the knowledge of God and by
20:36the way when a person seeks
20:39to acquire knowledge it opens up the
20:42door to unlimited possibilities.
20:48This is why God told me this morning to
20:50do it differently. He says, "No." He
20:52says, "I want the people to see
20:57the door
20:59of opportunity.
21:01Great possibilities.
21:04The stuff you're asking him for
21:07you don't have to beg him
21:12to DO IT.
21:15HE'S NOT AN UNREASONABLE GOD.
21:18All he's asking of us to do
21:22is to honor him.
21:25Seek him first. Make him your top
21:31priority.
21:32And that's why I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
21:34FIRST PRIORITY.
21:37Who is first in your life?
21:41Think about that.
21:43Who's first in your life?
21:46You may say, "Well, I don't want to hear
21:48this, man. You know, this is uh you
21:49know uh
21:51Well, here's the problem
21:53with that kind of an attitude.
21:56I just hope you don't have children.
22:03I just hope you don't have children.
22:06Cuz maybe you don't care about yourself.
22:09Maybe you want to come short of the
22:10glory of God.
22:13What about your children?
22:16At least give them hope.
22:19And based on your action, your obedience
22:21to God will determine whether or not
22:22your children
22:24will walk in the blessings of God. So,
22:25make no mistake about it, if you will,
22:27the word of God is filled with
22:30information about how you and I can
22:33successfully commute through life.
22:37How we can get through life and yes,
22:39life is a journey that takes us through
22:42ups and downs, but in between those ups
22:45and downs are unlimited opportunities to
22:48receive blessings.
22:52Through the ups and downs. Somebody in
22:54this room, somebody streaming, you're
22:56probably on the downward trend in your
22:58life now.
23:00You're not really up there. Some of you,
23:02yes, everything's going great for you.
23:05Everything's wonderful. But pause for a
23:07moment, let me talk to the people who
23:09whose lives are
23:11on the downward trend.
23:14And just because your life is on the
23:15downward trend, you're thinking maybe
23:18this Bible stuff don't work.
23:21Maybe this God stuff don't work. Watch
23:23this. Maybe this sacrifice stuff don't
23:26work. Let me ask you a question. Listen,
23:28and this this is going to challenge you.
23:32If you can stand in this room or as
23:35you're streaming, if you can honestly
23:38say watch this, you've done everything
23:41the book told you to do.
23:44You followed the laws of God.
23:49But God didn't do his end of the
23:51bargain.
23:52If you can do that, stand.
23:54Cuz I'll throw this iPad at you.
24:01Cuz that's not true.
24:03We have come up short on our end.
24:08And how much longer are you going to
24:12wake up
24:14and end the day
24:17as unfulfilled?
24:21How many MORE YEARS ARE YOU GOING TO
24:22CLOSE
24:24AND CELEBRATE A NEW YEAR AND MAKE ALL
24:27THE RESOLUTION ONLY TO FIND OUT BY THE
24:29MIDDLE OF THE YEAR
24:31you're still short?
24:35How long are you going to not go for the
24:41stuff that he SAID IS ALREADY YOURS?
24:46How long?
24:48How long are you going to sit there and
24:50let your mind talk to you
24:52and tell you all kinds of stuff? How
24:54long are you going to let this society
24:57tell you how to think?
25:01How long?
25:03Is it the word or society? Well, let's
25:05see how how far society going to get
25:07you.
25:10Or is it the word?
25:13So,
25:14the understanding you should have is
25:17simply this.
25:19Every blessing you seek to receive
25:23is totally controlled by God.
25:29Every blessing.
25:31Every blessing. Come on, everybody say
25:33it with me. Every blessing
25:35I seek to receive
25:38is controlled by God.
25:41Every blessing you want
25:45is controlled by God. He determines
25:47whether you have it or not. And can I
25:49tell you he's already determined how to
25:51get it.
25:57He has determined ALREADY HOW TO GET THE
26:01BLESSING.
26:02SO, Matthew 6:33,
26:04the amplified, it says, "But first and
26:08most importantly, your first priority as
26:12a child of God, watch this, is not to
26:16seek your personal aspirations.
26:20No.
26:23It's not it.
26:25It's not to go after material things in
26:27life, though you will receive those
26:29things.
26:31It's not to kill yourself, I want a
26:34spouse
26:36or I want this, I want money, I want
26:39this career. It says the first and most
26:42important thing is to seek and then he
26:45kind of explains it here in the
26:47amplified, it's to aim at your desire.
26:52That's your aim. That's what you should
26:55strive after.
26:59That's what you should go after. Seek
27:01after it. The kingdom of God and his
27:05righteousness, the principles of the
27:08kingdom.
27:11Seek after the kingdom of God. It's
27:13amazing how we are more willing to
27:16comply with the laws of America or
27:19whatever country you're part of.
27:21We're willing to comply with it cuz we
27:24fear the government coming after us.
27:28But have no respect for God's laws.
27:36None.
27:38And we wonder
27:40why we coming up short because if you're
27:42a part of the United States of America
27:45and you abide by certain laws, yeah,
27:46there's some benefits, for example,
27:48social security. You know, I don't know
27:50if it'll be around when some of us
27:51retire, but uh
27:53you know, if you pay into social
27:55security and you you pay your taxes and
27:57all kind of stuff and there's certain
27:59benefits when you're a citizen of this
28:01country, the kingdom of America.
28:05There's certain benefits
28:07in this country. There's certain
28:09privileges, watch this, in this country.
28:14You know, if you're a citizen you can
28:17vote.
28:18You have a voice. You can
28:21make your voice be heard
28:25as a citizen.
28:27Watch this.
28:29Watch this.
28:32How then are you a kingdom citizen
28:37and want the master to hear your voice
28:41when maybe you're not a citizen
28:46but just a resident?
28:56Cuz with a resident
28:58you don't have certain rights and
29:00privileges.
29:01Cuz with a resident
29:03Thank you, Holy Spirit. With a resident
29:07you are refusing to give up your
29:09country's passport.
29:14I I
29:16I am in America
29:20but I still identify.
29:25I don't care about the privileges of
29:27America. I still I am a born Jamaican.
29:34I'm just using that cuz I was born
29:35there.
29:38So, that same principle is in the
29:40kingdom.
29:42We call ourselves kingdom citizens.
29:47But the truth is we're really residents.
29:53We've got one foot in the world.
29:56And we like the world's passport.
30:00That's what we like. We like the world's
30:02passport.
30:03We don't want to have the kingdom
30:06passport.
30:09And then we're wondering when it's time
30:11for the kingdom of God to
30:14dish out its benefits.
30:18Why we're not getting it?
30:21Cuz you have a different passport.
30:27Look at your neighbor and say, "Boy,
30:28he's talking to you today, man."
30:32He's really talking to you today.
30:34I know what you saying. I came to the
30:36wrong church service, man.
30:41But watch this. I'm going somewhere with
30:42this.
30:44You see your According to what Matthew
30:466:33 is telling us,
30:49we must know that later in the latter
30:52part of the verse
30:54uh uh previous part of the verse,
30:56there was a reason why this passage of
30:58scripture was written. Like many of you,
31:00God told me,
31:02says, "Son, seriously, you you may
31:04believe it if you want or not.
31:06Cuz there's a lot of my people asking
31:09me,
31:11praying,
31:13why certain things ain't happening.
31:17You know you're in here.
31:20You know you're streaming. Why
31:23certain things are not happening in my
31:25life?
31:27And some of you are so worried about
31:30everything.
31:32You're stressed.
31:35Telling you you're stressed.
31:37You're not happy.
31:39You're not your best self.
31:42And you're going to the temple. And
31:44you're streaming the temple.
31:47And you're just not fulfilled.
31:50Let me tell you why Jesus spoke these
31:53words to the people.
31:55First thing I need you to do
31:57is to seek the kingdom first. First
32:00thing I need you to do is to hold onto
32:04your kingdom passport.
32:06First thing I need you to do is to honor
32:10me. If anybody's going to help you,
32:14it is me in the kingdom.
32:16Let me show you why he he told us in
32:20verse 33
32:22that we must put him first because our
32:25focus is off.
32:28It's off. We're not We're not
32:30prioritizing him.
32:33The truth is God has taken second, third
32:36place. Some of you don't even have him
32:38on the radar.
32:42He's not first priority.
32:45When you get up each day, do you include
32:47him in your day?
32:49Do you include him in your decisions?
32:52Some of you are dating people you have
32:54yet to ask God, is this the right man or
32:57woman for me? Cuz the truth is you know
33:00if you ask HIM, HE MAY GIVE you the
33:03answer you do not want.
33:22We That's our problem. WE DON'T WANT TO
33:24TALK TO GOD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE IF WE
33:26EVER TALK TO HIM, he's going to tell us
33:29some stuff
33:32we're not willing to submit to.
33:36You know if you put him first in your
33:37finances,
33:40the truth is
33:42the truth is if you go to God and you
33:43just say, "God, what's your will for my
33:46finance? God, I'm just tired of just
33:49coming up short every month. I'm just
33:51tired of struggling financially, God.
33:54I'm just tired of it. I've got these
33:55bills. I don't have a house at this age.
33:57I don't have a house. I don't have the
33:58down payment. At this stage, I need a
34:00car and I don't know where the money's
34:02coming from and so forth." And here's
34:04what you have done. You have not gone to
34:05him first. He is not first priority.
34:09What you have done, you've let your
34:11little peanut brain convince you that
34:15you're smarter than God. So, what you
34:17do, you try to figure your way out. So,
34:20here's what you do. You go to somebody
34:23and you borrow the down payment. How
34:25silly is that? You go borrow the down
34:28payment to go pay for a car or pay for a
34:31house. Or you put it on your credit
34:34card.
34:36So, you keep living Watch this on credit
34:39where in his word he never said he
34:41promised you a LIFESTYLE OF CREDIT.
34:51SO, YOU ADAPT TO THE SYSTEM OF THE
34:53WORLD. YOU'RE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT
34:56YOU'RE OPERATING AS THE WORLD'S KINGDOM
34:58CITIZEN. SO, YOU'RE DOING IT LIKE THE
35:01WORLD. YOU'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THE WORLD
35:02IS SAYING. AND YOU'RE DOING THIS IS HOW
35:04YOU HANDLING YOUR MONEY CUZ YOU KNOW IF
35:07YOU GO TO GOD AND PRAY TO HIM AND SAY,
35:09"OKAY, GOD, I'M TIRED OF THIS NOW. There
35:12has to be a better way out." The first
35:15thing he's going to tell you, "Put me
35:16first in your finance."
35:18And the truth is we don't want to hear
35:23that.
35:25Cuz we think our brain is
35:27better than God.
35:30How can I make a thousand dollars and
35:31you're asking me to give a hundred
35:32dollars to the church?
35:35Because the society now tells you, "Oh,
35:38them preachers are crooks. Them churches
35:40are crooks and they what you How you
35:41going to take ten uh how's hundred
35:44dollars out of a thousand dollars give
35:45it to the church da da da da da." All
35:46kinds of stuff. And and and and and
35:49that's more of what's in your head
35:52than what the word says.
35:55Because nothing in the word word of God
35:59that says when you give God your
36:00offering or your tithes and so forth, it
36:03says where give it based on how the
36:06pastor dress. Give it based on how you
36:09feel. God says give it. And because
36:12watch this, because you don't know your
36:13Bible. You don't understand that there
36:16are many references in the Bible that
36:18when the priest mishandled God's money,
36:22it is not you. God will take care of the
36:25priest.
36:31When a priest steals,
36:34I always tell people, "IT'S BETTER TO
36:36STEAL from people."
36:39That's why you don't know your word.
36:41MALACHI, "WILL A MAN ROB GOD?"
36:45You know why IT WAS IN THERE? IT WASN'T
36:47THE PEOPLE. IT WAS THE PRIEST
36:51WAS ROBBING GOD.
36:59It was the priest.
37:01And will A MAN ROB GOD? And then they
37:04Like some of you, "Well, how how am I
37:06robbing God?" He gave the answer in
37:09tithes and offering.
37:16And we wonder
37:18why it's not working for us because if
37:20we ever put God first and go and say,
37:22"Okay, God. Okay.
37:26It's not working the way I'm doing it."
37:29We know he's going to say, "Stop robbing
37:31me."
37:33If I give you a hundred dollars,
37:36I'm asking you
37:40to give me back a seed out of that.
37:42This has nothing to do with you and the
37:45preacher. Watch this now.
37:46I'm going to say something bold here. If
37:48you go to the Faith Center, you're
37:49streaming the Faith Center. And for
37:50whatever reason, we have our
37:51preferences, you don't like this guy.
37:53You don't like him.
37:55Whatever reason. You just think he's
37:57flashy, he's whatever. He dresses, what
37:59he drives, whatever. Okay. Leave.
38:02Go find somewhere else, but still give
38:04the seed.
38:10But it's a copy out. It's It's cheating
38:13yourself
38:15when you make up excuses
38:17cuz you know it's really not the
38:18preacher is the problem.
38:22It's just he's not first in your life.
38:26Cuz let me tell you something, baby. Let
38:28me talk to all the men here.
38:31When a woman is truly first in your
38:34life,
38:36and you check out that chicken, you like
38:39her, I mean you like everything about
38:43her,
38:45and you really really want her,
38:50YOU OPEN YOUR WALLET.
39:02I TELL ALL THE SISTERS,
39:05IF A MAN SAYS HE LOVE YOU, "MAN, I LOVE
39:07YOU. I LOVE EVERYTHING about you.
39:08Whatever whatever." AND HE'S STINGY,
39:11RUN.
39:14RUN.
39:20Run for your life.
39:23Cuz something wrong.
39:28When you love God, watch this.
39:31No preacher, nobody in church
39:35have to preach you, make you feel
39:36guilty,
39:38make you feel happy.
39:40It is a genuine relationship with you
39:43and God.
39:49Here's the reason behind Matthew 6:33.
39:51I'm trying to really go through this
39:53quickly. Look at verse 25. I love this.
39:57Jesus now speaking.
40:01Really?
40:02Why he concluded seek first the kingdom
40:05of God. He says, "Therefore, I tell you
40:08stop being worried or anxious,
40:10perpetually uneasy, distracted about
40:13your life as you as to what you will eat
40:17or what you will drink, nor about your
40:19body or what
40:21you will wear.
40:22Is life more than food
40:26and the body more than clothing?
40:29Look at the birds of the air. They
40:31neither sow seed nor reap the harvest,
40:34nor gather the crops into the barns. And
40:37yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding
40:40them. Are you not
40:43worthy much more
40:45than they?
40:47Then verse 27. And who of you by
40:50worrying can add 1 hour to the length of
40:54his life? In other words,
40:57what's the purpose of worrying?
41:00What is it going to do?
41:03That is why for those of you are
41:05struggling with anxiety
41:07and you're worried about your future,
41:09your life, and maybe things that you're
41:11Oh God, you're panicking and and and
41:13maybe it's affecting you mentally.
41:16This scripture should heal you.
41:20Don't worry.
41:23Don't worry.
41:25I don't care what you're going through
41:26right now. You're sick in your body.
41:28Don't worry about it. Doctor's giving
41:30you a bad report. Don't worry about it.
41:32Well, I should be Why? What is it going
41:34to do?
41:35In fact, Satan will use the worry
41:38to increase and magnify the sickness.
41:43Bring stress on your life. But when you
41:46put it in the hands of God,
41:49come on now.
41:50He knows the future. Verse 28. And why
41:54are you worried about clothes? See how
41:56the lilies and the the wild flowers of
41:58the field grow. They do not labor nor do
42:01not spin wool to make clothing. In other
42:04words, the the those lilies of the sea,
42:08birds of the air, they don't worry,
42:09"Well, I'm going to get like some of you
42:10Well, what am I going to wear to church
42:12next week?"
42:15The flowers just blossom.
42:18And then it says in verse 29. I love
42:20this.
42:22Yet I say to you
42:24that not not even Solomon in all his
42:27glory and splendor dressed himself like
42:30one of these.
42:32But if God so clothes the grass of the
42:35field, which is alive and green today
42:39and tomorrow it is cut down and thrown
42:42as fuel into the furnace, will he not
42:46much more clothe you, YOU
42:51OF LITTLE FAITH?
42:56HE'S SAYING THE STUFF YOU AND I ARE
42:58WORRYING ABOUT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR THE
43:00SIZE OF YOUR FAITH
43:04that have caused you to sit there every
43:05single day
43:08worried about your tomorrow
43:11and all over as people are listening to
43:13this sermon right now,
43:15you have missed so many God
43:17opportunities cuz you're sitting there
43:20counting your problems
43:23instead of your blessings.
43:27What am I going to do this? How am I
43:28going to How am I going to manage? How
43:29am I going to get the school children in
43:31the college? How am I going to pay for
43:32this? How am I going to pay the
43:33mortgage? How am I going to get the
43:34house? How am I going to pay the rent?
43:35How am I going to pay the car note? How
43:36am I going to take care of this doctor
43:37bill? You're you're so worried and and
43:40and it's an insult to God because you're
43:43not you're treating God as if he's Bank
43:45of America. They can collapse.
43:51You're treating God as if he's some he's
43:53like Social Security. You're paying to
43:55it, you don't even know if you're going
43:56to get anything from it.
43:59When he says, "The earth is mine so
44:01fullness thereof." He's saying to us,
44:04"How dare you
44:06look at the birds.
44:08Have you ever in your life
44:12SEE A BIRD FLY ON YOUR PROPERTY AND A
44:15BIRD CRYING TO YOU, "HEY MARY, I DON'T
44:19KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO EAT TOMORROW.
44:22GOT ANY FOOD UP IN THERE?" NEVER.
44:26NEVER.
44:29BIRDS FLY AND THEY EAT.
44:33WHAT'S WRONG WITH US?
44:35WHY WE CAN'T JUST GET UP EVERY DAY, PUT
44:38GOD FIRST, AND TRUST THAT HE SHALL
44:41SUPPLY OUR EVERY NEED?
44:45THAT HE'LL HEAL US. HE'LL PROTECT US.
44:48HE'LL WATCH OVER US. WHY CAN'T WE BE
44:51LIKE THE birds and THE LILIES?
44:55WHY?
44:58AND WE CALL OURSELVES kingdom citizens?
45:00What is wrong with us?
45:04And then it says in verse 31,
45:07"Therefore, do not worry or be anxious
45:09as we keep in themself again,
45:11perpetually uneasy, distracted saying,
45:13'What are we going to eat or what are we
45:16going to drink or what are we going to
45:18wear?' For the pagan Gentiles eagerly
45:22seek after these things." I see see.
45:26We're acting like people outside of the
45:29kingdom.
45:31Cuz that's what they do.
45:34They hustle.
45:37So they do anything.
45:41And they worry about it.
45:43And he's saying, "You're acting like the
45:45pagans,
45:48the people who don't belong into the
45:50kingdom.
45:51They sit and they worry about these
45:53things, but do not worry for your
45:55heavenly Father
46:01You don't think You don't think he knows
46:04you're sick?
46:06You don't think he knew that the doctors
46:08gave you a bad report?
46:11YOU DON'T THINK HE KNOWS THAT you are
46:14desperate for a husband or A WIFE?
46:18YOU DON'T THINK HE KNOWS THAT YOUR
46:20MARRIAGE IS THE WORST IT HAS EVER BEEN?
46:24THAT YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE IS ON THE VERGE
46:26of a divorce?
46:28YOU DON'T THINK HE KNOWS THAT YOU ARE
46:30BACKED UP IN YOUR MORTGAGE AND YOUR RENT
46:32and you're backed up in your car note?
46:34DON'T YOU THINK HE KNOWS THAT YOUR
46:36CHILDREN ARE DRIVING YOU CRAZY?
46:38DON'T YOU THINK HE KNOWS YOU DON'T HAVE
46:40A JOB?
46:41DON'T YOU THINK HE KNOWS THAT YOUR BOSS
46:43IS GETTING ON YOUR LAST NERVE ON THE
46:45JOB? DON'T YOU THINK HE KNOWS THAT
46:47mentally you are unstable RIGHT NOW?
46:51HE KNOWS.
46:54STOP TREATING GOD LIKE THESE CRAZY
46:57PSYCHICS YOU'RE GOING TO, PAYING MONEY
46:59AND THEY DON'T KNOW A DOGGONE THING
47:01ABOUT YOU.
47:04YOU DON'T NEED NOBODY TO READ THE PALM
47:06OF YOUR HANDS. YOU GET INTO THE WORD OF
47:09GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD WILL SHOW YOU
47:11YOUR YOUR FUTURE.
47:20HALLELUJAH.
47:23GLORY TO GOD.
47:25Glory to God.
47:28Glory glory glory glory glory glory to
47:31God.
47:34FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS
47:38THAT YOU NEED THEM.
47:40Then he says in verse 33 now.
47:47First and most importantly,
47:50after you stop worrying about all these
47:52things,
47:54after you stop worrying about your
47:56insufficiency,
47:58stop worrying about the moneys you don't
47:59have.
48:01I'm talking to couples in this room
48:02today.
48:04I'm talking to people who have small
48:05businesses.
48:08Some of you are about to close the
48:09business. This may not be for everybody
48:11and I'm telling you today, do not close
48:14that business.
48:16I don't care how you're struggling. If
48:18God gave you the idea, don't you not
48:20know he knows you're struggling?
48:25Don't you not know that?
48:2832 years ago when I started this church,
48:31I'm telling you, it didn't start like
48:32this. It was a struggle.
48:36It was a struggle.
48:39I had two car payments, my car and my
48:42wife's car, total about a $750.
48:46We were renting the school and the rent
48:48for the school I think was about 850.
48:52We started the church.
48:55Few weeks after we just about 11 people
48:57were in the building.
48:59Most of them we had to use our car to
49:01drive to pick them up.
49:03They didn't have anything.
49:06And I had the rent to pay for the
49:08church $850.
49:11And I chose to pay the rent and not my
49:14car payments.
49:18And banks were calling us to REPOSSESS
49:22OUR TWO CARS
49:24because I chose
49:27to take my money
49:30and pay the rent of the church
49:33BEFORE I PAID MY OWN HOUSE PAYMENT AND
49:36BEFORE I PAID MY CAR PAYMENTS.
49:40AND I WAS THREATENED TO LOSE MY CAR.
49:44AND I WAS SAYING, "GOD, THIS IS NOT
49:45WORKING."
49:47BECAUSE THE LITTLE MONEY WE WOULD
49:48COLLECT FOR THE OFFERING, BY THE TIME
49:50THEY'LL GIVE THEIR $1, their $2, BY THE
49:53TIME WE'RE DROPPING THEM BACK HOME,
49:55THEY'RE TELLING US THEIR SAD STORY, AND
49:57WE HAVE TO TAKE THE MONEY BACK OUT OF
49:59THE OFFERING PLATE AND GIVE IT RIGHT
50:01BACK TO THEM. IT WAS LIKE A CREDIT
50:03UNION, YOU ALL. It was like a credit
50:05union.
50:06You put in, you take out.
50:13It was years of struggle.
50:17But I always say, "God,
50:20I never wanted to do this."
50:25You know the story behind it. Never
50:26wanted to do this.
50:28I wasn't one of them guys just want to
50:29start a church. I never wanted I grew up
50:31in church. I didn't want this.
50:34But I know without a doubt it's my
50:35purpose in life.
50:37And he told me to do this, and then I
50:39challenged him.
50:41Because this is not mine, it's yours.
50:44You going to pay your bills.
50:51And all he asked of me,
50:53do my work.
50:56In season, out of season, even when
50:58you're uncomfortable.
51:01Even when personally my own life was
51:03threatened by me losing my own earthly
51:06possession.
51:09God says, "You take care of me."
51:13Almost lost my car. Both cars.
51:17But I paid it anyway.
51:19One point the bank was calling. I'll
51:22never forget her name, Salu. She would
51:24call me every time. "Mr. Fernandez,
51:27we want the car payment. You said you
51:29were going to send it next week." Which
51:31I did. I lied. I said I'm going to send
51:33it. I'm I'm telling you you don't talk
51:35and you judge me all you want.
51:42I I DID SOME CRAZY STUFF.
51:45A Christian.
51:49TO THE POINT, MAN, MY LIES INCREASED.
51:51SHE WOULD CALL ME. "MR. FERNANDEZ, THEY
51:54HE DON'T LIVE HERE NO MORE. Wrong
51:55number."
51:56Oh, I did all of that.
51:58Seriously.
52:01I did all of that.
52:06So, I know what you all do.
52:09Cuz I did it.
52:10And finally, when I got sick cuz until
52:13you get to that point, man, where you
52:15got TO CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS NO MORE.
52:22SHE CALLED ME BACK. AND I SAID, "YES,
52:24THIS is Mr. Fernandez."
52:27Well, we've been calling about the car
52:28payment da da da da da da da da da da da
52:29da da da da.
52:30And I said, "Okay, here's the deal.
52:33I don't have it.
52:35When I get it, I'll I'll I'll I really
52:37I'll really pay it. But I tell you what,
52:40honestly, this is where I challenged
52:41God. I challenged him.
52:45I told Fiel you where the cars were.
52:49I said, "Come and get them."
52:52I was ready
52:55TO LOSE BOTH OF MY CARS
52:58for the sake of the gospel.
53:01I was willing to do that. Come, get the
53:04cars.
53:07I'll take the bus.
53:11The moment I did that,
53:14miraculously,
53:17money started coming in like crazy.
53:22I kept my cars.
53:26And God started blessing and blessing
53:28and blessing and blessing
53:31because I chose
53:35first priority.
53:37I chose to put him
53:40first.
53:44All throughout my life,
53:47there were many instances I just I felt,
53:50"No, I don't want."
53:51But I said, "God,
53:54Matthew 6:33,
53:56seek you first your righteousness."
53:59I had opportunities a few years ago.
54:03Um
54:05the church wasn't doing so well, the
54:07Faith Center.
54:10That was when we were in Plantation.
54:14And I looked at God, I know you told me
54:16to do this.
54:18Then a pastor in Atlanta died.
54:21And they called me.
54:23The church leadership there called me.
54:26And they said,
54:28"We've been watching you on television."
54:30I just started a television ministry
54:32then.
54:34And we think you're anointed da da da da
54:36da all this stuff.
54:38We're in need of a pastor now.
54:42Um
54:44would you consider becoming a pastor
54:47here?
54:48At first, I'm like, "No, no, no. I'm
54:51going to stay for a while."
54:52But when they told me how much they
54:53would pay me,
54:59all of a sudden I'm like,
55:01"Okay.
55:02Let's talk."
55:05And the benefits the benefits the
55:06benefits the benefits the benefits the
55:08benefits the benefits the
55:11And
55:15I said to God,
55:17"First priority.
55:19I really would like to get this job
55:22because my current situation
55:25is not favorable.
55:29And
55:30my first priority God said to me,
55:34'Don't leave the Faith Center.
55:37Stay where I planted you.'
55:41Say it with me. Stay where I planted
55:45you.
55:46That's for somebody today.
55:49I stayed where God planted me.
55:54I have no regrets. Had I left and gone
55:57to Georgia,
55:59I wouldn't be standing here today.
56:02How many of you are making decisions
56:05in temporary situations
56:10that is going to permanently hurt you?
56:14I was working at North Broad Medical
56:15Center.
56:17You know the story.
56:18Hated the job, wasn't making enough
56:20money.
56:24And God spoke a word to me.
56:27Out of the little that I had.
56:29He said,
56:31"Stay where I planted you." But I didn't
56:33want to listen, like some of us. We're
56:35very We're stubborn.
56:37Not knowing we're hurting our future.
56:40God told me,
56:41"Do not quit the job."
56:47I got an offer with Eastern Airlines,
56:49filled out the application.
56:51I'm from You know, I came from the
56:53traveling tourism industry.
56:56Pass all the test and
57:00finally, they offered me a job as a
57:02flight attendant.
57:05My dream job.
57:07Cuz I The reason The only reason I
57:10wanted Eastern Airlines flight attendant
57:13job was I GET TO FLY for free.
57:19I get to travel the world. It is amazing
57:22how many of you are making decisions for
57:24free stuff.
57:31You're messing UP YOUR WHOLE DESTINY
57:33FOR FREE STUFF.
57:40When I got the job, I'm ready to go.
57:42They pay me much more money. I went to
57:44to my
57:45to God and my first priority. "Hey, God,
57:48look, Eastern This what they going to
57:50pay me. These are the benefits.
57:52This is the situation. I know you're
57:54going to say I approved."
57:58And God said to me,
57:59"Stay
58:01where I planted you."
58:03The thing I didn't want to hear.
58:05And when he told me that, I'll never
58:07forget it.
58:11I screamed. I was hurt, man.
58:14But I said, "Okay, God,
58:17how about North Broad Medical Medical
58:19Center
58:20spent thousands of dollars
58:23to train
58:25your boy
58:27to become a leader.
58:29So, when I became a pastor,
58:32it was the systems of the world that
58:35taught me administrative skills.
58:38Some things you are walking away from
58:43is for your good.
58:47It is for your good.
58:50I close with this cuz I need to pray for
58:52some people.
58:55I got a call once cuz I'm saying these
58:57stories to you because somebody watching
59:00today, somebody in this building
59:05because God's not your first priority,
59:08the enemy's got your mind all over the
59:10place.
59:11And you're letting go of what will last
59:16for temporary satisfaction.
59:19And that's where you're going to lose.
59:23My office got a call a couple of years
59:24ago.
59:26There was a university
59:28who they fired the president of the
59:31university.
59:33And they had a search committee. And
59:36this search committee was looking to
59:38find the perfect president. They had
59:41certain criterias. It's a Christian
59:43university, very prominent one.
59:46And they were
59:47looking for one with pastoral leadership
59:50and television gifts, all that kind of
59:53uh stuff. And they said, "I'm one of the
59:55candidates that were recommended to us.
60:00Um
60:01would you consider?"
60:03Not really. I'm fine. Watch this.
60:07But again, cuz the enemy will come with
60:10enticing stuff.
60:14So, when they told me how much they were
60:16going to pay me
60:18and the giving me a car allowance and
60:21house allowance.
60:57You know, whatever. So,
60:59we flew to the university. They flew me
61:02out.
61:03Rolled out the red carpet.
61:07And was willing
61:10to um
61:11you know,
61:13convince me this is the best move.
61:16Until God made them do something
61:22that really proved to me if I put him
61:24first, I can't go wrong.
61:28They said to me, "The only way you can
61:30take the president's job,
61:33you have to resign from the church.
61:36And you have to resign from your
61:38university."
61:42The moment they said that,
61:44I said, "God, thank you for blocking the
61:46door."
61:53I want you to bow your heads with me
61:55today.
61:56And I want you to listen to me
61:57carefully.
62:01If If unless it's an emergency,
62:04you can leave, but please hear the Holy
62:06Spirit today.
62:09I want every person in this room to make
62:12a decision today,
62:15every person streaming, God is first.
62:21I want him to be first with every
62:23decision you make.
62:25Every decision you make.
62:27Put him first.
62:30Right now, if he's not lord of your
62:33life,
62:35he's not first priority.
62:37Oh, yeah, you go to church. Yeah, you
62:38believe in God,
62:40but he doesn't have full control over
62:42your life. The first thing I want you to
62:43do
62:44is to turn your life over to him,
62:46wherever you are.
62:48And the way to do it, you confess with
62:49your mouth, you believe in your heart. I
62:51just want you to simple say it. It's no
62:53magic to it. It is simply acknowledging
62:55him as lord and ask him to take full
62:58control over your life. Here we go. I
63:00just want you to say this in this
63:02prayer. Say, "Lord Jesus,
63:05I am a sinner.
63:07Today, I repent of my sins.
63:10And I declare with my mouth
63:13and I believe in my heart
63:16that I'm born again
63:18in Jesus' name.
63:20Amen.
63:21Now that you're born again, that's the
63:24first step. He is first in your life.
63:28I am going to ask every person in this
63:31room, every person streaming,
63:33if If you truly want to make God a
63:37priority
63:40and you truly want the benefits of the
63:42kingdom of God,
63:44he's first in your life.
63:47Fall in love with his word.
63:49Read his word every day.
63:51In fact, I would suggest you start the
63:53day as of tomorrow. You can do it today.
63:58Start every day by reading his word.
64:01And here's what I'm going to do. I'm
64:03going to ask every person
64:06to make that decision to say, "God,
64:09I think you spoke clearly to me today
64:13in the area of my finance.
64:16I'm not even going to talk about no
64:18special offering or whatever. God,
64:21you just blessed me with an income.
64:24You know the amount. I I regardless of
64:28what's happening around me,
64:30I am going to tithe
64:34today.
64:36You are my first priority.
64:39I put the burden on you now. Now, if you
64:41are fine, everything is working well for
64:44you, maybe this is not for you.
64:46But if you're like me,
64:48when you want a supernatural
64:50intervention,
64:52you don't do it the world's way. Keep
64:54borrowing, keep hoping. You don't live
64:57by luck.
64:59Keep playing the lottery all you want.
65:03They say it's one in a million, million,
65:05whatever chances. When it comes to God,
65:08it's one in one chance. If you test it,
65:12you will prove it.
65:14That's it.
65:17I want you to do that today, but here's
65:19what I want. I want every couple.
65:22If you are married and your spouse is
65:24here today,
65:26I want you to come down to this front.
65:27Bring your spouse with you.
65:30Every couple.
65:31Every couple.
65:34Come on, quickly, quickly.
65:36Bring your spouse. Come on, quickly.
65:38Come on.
65:40Come on.
65:41Come on.
65:44Come on.
65:48Come on. Squeeze it.
65:51First
65:52priority.
65:53Every couple. Come on.
66:00Come on.
66:02Squeeze your way in.
66:05Sing it. Sing it. It's all about him.
66:10Come on.
66:11Bless you. Bless you.
66:13Bless you.
66:16Bless you. Bless you. Bless you.
66:20Bless you. Bless you.
66:24Bless you. Bless you.
66:28Bless you.
66:31Come on. Squeeze them in. Squeeze them
66:33in.
66:34Squeeze them in. Squeeze them in.
66:43Bless you. Bless you.
66:46God bless you. Now listen.
66:51If your spouse is not here today and
66:54you're still sitting in your seat,
66:56you're more than welcome to stand where
66:57you are. Stand where you are if your
66:59spouse is not here today. I don't want
67:01to exclude you out of this. Please stand
67:03where you are. Thank you.
67:05Thank you. Now listen to me carefully.
67:09I am just obeying God.
67:11That's all. Take it for what it's worth.
67:14I'm not here to convince anybody about
67:16anything.
67:18But this is what the Holy Spirit told me
67:20to do is to have all the couples to come
67:22down.
67:24And I'm going to pray over your life.
67:28And what he's telling me to tell you,
67:31listen to me carefully. If you do it
67:33God's way,
67:35he says, "If you do it God's way,
67:39the struggles you're having would go
67:41away."
67:43Listen to me. Really?
67:45It's that simple.
67:48Not that the challenges weren't not
67:52going to be there,
67:53but it will no longer be a struggle
67:56cuz you understand the assignment.
67:59You will always have problems,
68:02but you struggling with it
68:04will no longer exist. Why? He's first
68:07priority.
68:09Listen to me.
68:11As long as you both are not
68:14one,
68:16as long as you don't come in agreement,
68:20it has generational consequences.
68:25When you don't come together with your
68:27money,
68:30I understand the world
68:31for every woman standing in here,
68:34streaming, if you got your little secret
68:36bank account,
68:39listen to me,
68:41cuz you have a choice.
68:43If you feel the man is not faithful, if
68:45you feel he's a trickster, whatever it
68:47is, why are you with him?
68:50If you think it's never going to work,
68:54WHY SPEND THE NEXT 30 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE
68:58WITH SOMEBODY THAT YOU'VE GOT TO
68:59OUTSMART?
69:04But if you feel God has put you
69:06together,
69:08stop the sneaky stuff.
69:12Stop it.
69:15And if you make a dollar,
69:18he makes $2 or you make $2 and she makes
69:23uh $4,
69:25put it together
69:28and lift it up to God.
69:30I said, "This is what you've blessed
69:31this union with.
69:33Now, here's yours."
69:38And stop worrying about the house.
69:41Stop worrying about the money you need.
69:46If you put him first,
69:50everything you need will be added added
69:52added added added added added added.
69:59Stop inviting the devil in your house.
70:03Because
70:04you have two different mindsets.
70:07Stop it.
70:09And stop hiding your money from God.
70:13I can only tell you.
70:16Stop it.
70:18If you're a couple,
70:20put God to the test. Now, if you have an
70:22unsaved husband,
70:24unsaved wife,
70:26and they don't believe in God and all
70:28kind of stuff, you tell them, "It's up
70:30to you.
70:31I'm going to honor God. If you don't
70:33want to give your portion,
70:35I'm going to honor God."
70:37Pray for him or her.
70:39Pastor Eddie Sims is a pastor of this
70:41church, one of the senior pastors of
70:43this church.
70:44How Pastor Eddie Sims got to this
70:46church, his wife first came to this
70:49church way back in Plantation.
70:52And she came when we had a little bit of
70:54people in the building.
70:55I don't think we had 50 people in there.
70:58And she came.
71:00And it was an altar call like this. I
71:02went down and I laid my hands on her,
71:04and she fell out on the floor.
71:07Why they were heading back home, he
71:10cursed her out.
71:13"Don't you ever let that man put his
71:14hands on you again."
71:16Oh, he told her off. Angry.
71:20Guess what? He got saved in this church,
71:23became one of the senior pastors.
71:31Why?
71:33Wanda Sims put God first.
71:37Stop taking matters in your hands.
71:39And I'm telling you today,
71:42everybody singles
71:46stop worrying about husband, wife, stop
71:49worrying about, "Ooh,
71:51at this age, I better find him real
71:53quick cuz my clock is
71:56is ain't ticking no more. I
72:01Stop it.
72:04Stop it.
72:05You don't get to tell God
72:08when it's going to happen.
72:10I had my FIRST CHILD AT 37. I DIDN'T
72:12WANT TO.
72:14I wanted four kids.
72:16Wanted to start early.
72:18Well, for 16 years I couldn't have kids.
72:22Totally.
72:23My wife and I couldn't have any
72:25children.
72:26And I don't know why God waited for 16
72:28years.
72:30And after the second one, no more. I
72:32don't want no four no more. Just two.
72:40I want to pray for you. And I'm going to
72:41ask everybody today, when I pray for the
72:43couples, doesn't mean singles are not
72:45important. We pray for them all the
72:47time.
72:49Then I'm going to ask everybody to go
72:50back to their seat, and we're going to
72:52if this message touched you as a couple,
72:56if it touched you as a single person,
72:58respond accordingly. If it doesn't,
73:01God bless you. I'm fine.
73:03I'm just the postal service for heaven.
73:06I deliver the letter.
73:08I'm not responsible for the content.
73:11Father,
73:12everybody lift your hands, would you?
73:14Just as a sign of surrender.
73:17There are thousands watching now.
73:20As they lift their hands, too.
73:23In the name of Jesus,
73:26Holy Spirit,
73:29you were right up in this house today.
73:33You spoke to us
73:35like a father
73:37talking to his children.
73:40You spoke to us with love and
73:42conviction.
73:45And God,
73:46we put you first in every area of our
73:50lives.