God First in 2024 | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter
by Kenneth Carpenter
First Apostolic Church of Maryville (Maryville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16, Revelation 11:3-11, 1 Kings 17:1, Jeremiah 23:29, Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12-13, 1 John 4:18, 1 Kings 17:17-24, 2 Corinthians 8:12, Mark 1:35

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/kenneth-carpenter--god-first-in-2024
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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remain standing with me open your Bibles up and join me in the book of First Kings chapter number 17 and verse number8 what a wonderful what a wonderful Ministry the sodos are doing and um I thought as they were singing uh I don't know very much Spanish but I thought about the scripture Paul said I will sing with my understanding and I'll sing with the spirit also when you travel like first lady and I do to other countries sometimes you sit through an entire service you don't know a word they're saying but you sure know what you feel you sure know what you feel you feel the presence you feel the presence of God Amen well today on this last Sunday 2023 um I want to challenge you this morning this this message is a challenging message today how many how many want to be challenged want to be challenged today how many want to be better I want to be better want to be challenged so going to challenge you this morning First Kings 17 and8 and the word of the Lord came unto him saying arise get thee to zerath which belongeth to zidon and dwell there behold I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee he arose and went to zerath and when he came to the gate of the city behold the widow woman was there Gathering of sticks he called to her and said fetch me I pray the a little water in a vessel that I may drink and as she was going to fetch it he called to her and said bring me I pray thee a morsel of bread in thine hand and she said as the Lord notice this underline it as the Lord thy God as the Lord thy God as the Lord your God didn't sound like she had a god did it she said as the Lord as the Lord thy God as the Lord thy God liveth I have not a cake but a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruise and behold I am Gathering two sticks that I may go in and dress it for me and my son that we may eat it and and and die sound like the last meal Elijah said unto her fear not go and do as thou has said but make me therefore a little cake first bring it unto me and after make for thee and thy son for thus sayeth the Lord God of Israel the barrel of meal shall not waste neither shall the cruise of oil fail until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the Earth she went and did according to the SA of Elijah and she and he and her house did eat many days the barrel of meal wasted not neither did the cruise of oil fail according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah simple theme as a matter of fact it is the theme for the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ it is a theme for this church for 2024 it is a simple theme you'll hear it over and over again God first in 20 24 God God first 2024 father I love you Lord I Thank you for this past year you are a faithful God you've never failed nor forsaken God there's times I may not have understood but there was not times that I was forsaken and God I thank you for all that you've done for us Lord God I thank you for all your many blessings and the continual Touch of your spirit Lord for the next few moments anoint your servant that I may speak the word of God to this congregation that we may be challenged in this upcoming year I'll give you praise if you'll anoint me one more time I'll give you praise and honor in jesus' name we pray if you're going to be challenged clap your hands as you're being being seated today come on clap them real good as you're being seated today God God first 2024 let me give you a little history on this subject this character by the name of Elijah Elijah Elijah the prophet his name simply means my God my God is Jehovah my my God is Jehovah what a wonderful name to have what a wonderful name to have my God is is Jehovah interesting things I like to tell you about Elijah before we go into this story Elijah has not tasted of death yet all right Elijah left this world this Earth in a chariot of in a chariot of fire he left this world in a chariot of fire almost give or take when you go into this many years it's give or take a few decades almost 2900 years ago Elijah left this Earth in a fiery Chariot going up into heaven he's not tasted of death yet as a matter of fact 2,000 years ago Elijah and Moses appeared on what we know as the Mount of transfiguration as Jesus prayed and was transfigured before them when deity when deity be to shine so brightly that it Shone through his flesh in his clothes and the Bible said that there was their talking with Jes Jesus both Elijah and and Moses of course we understand that the Bible is the Bible is filled the Bible is absolutely filled with typology now Moses did die Moses did die but Elijah has never died and so there on Mount Transfiguration was a perfect typology of two men who are living in a glorified State one man died and he's glorified one man has never died and he is glorified this is typifying that when the Lord comes again and raptures his church there will be some that go from glor from the grave to glory and there will be those that are here and remain that will be changed in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye into in into into Glory can you say Amen just a couple facts about just a couple of facts about this Eliah here um we find them both Moses and Elijah if you turn with me to the Book of Revelation chapter number 11 and um he's talking in chapter uh Revelation chapter number 11 and uh verse number three of a terrible time that's coming upon the Earth and um he says here in verse number three chapter 11 and I will give power I will give power there's this terrible time that's upon the Earth this tribulation that's upon this Earth and um God says in verse three I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesy 1,23 score days clothed in sacka now these two witnesses you're going to see in just a moment these two witnesses is none other than Moses and Elijah Moses and Elijah now they're going to prophesy against a Godless Nation Nations plural they are they are clothed in sackcloth and they are prophesying and they are telling the Doom that these nations are going to face verse four these are two olive trees these two witnesses or two olive trees two candlesticks standing before the god of the earth and if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devour their enemies and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed these have power to shut up Heaven that it reain not in the days of their prophecy so now we see that this is Elijah because that was his prophet prophecy of shutting up the Heavens It Was Elijah It Was Elijah that prayed and the heavens ceased to give the rain the Dew let's continue to read and have power over Waters to turn them to blood and to Smite the Earth with all plagues as often as they will we know that was the ministry of Moses Moses struck the Red Sea and it turned to blood verse seven and when they have finished their testimony the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also the Lord was crucified we know that is Jerusalem so the Antichrist is going to be given power to kill Moses and uh Elijah and there their dead bodies are going to remain no uh decency of burial they'll lay there in the streets verse n and and they of the people and kindreds and tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in Graves we understand through the power of media today through the power of uh of of technology today that the world can be looking at the same thing from where they're at through their computers through their computers and so this battle will take place Moses and Elijah will be put to death their bodies will lay in the streets the world will see their dead bodies they will lay there and it's interesting they will lay there they will lay there not three days as the Lord laid in the Tomb they will lay there not three days as the Lord laid in the Tomb but they'll lay there three and a half days now I personally believe it's my personal belief that the adversary the one that ascendeth out of the bottom of pit may ring his hands for three days because he knows very well that they crucified the Lord Of Glory but in three days he rose again so I wonder I wonder if the devil doesn't exhale on the third day because Moses and Elijah doesn't get up but the third three and a half days in the middle of the day the Bible says in the three and a half days they they going they're going to they're going to lay there three and a half days suffer their bodies not to be put in the grave now watch what happens when these Godly Witnesses are taken out of the way Watch What Happens watch the world Break Forth in joy when these voices of sackcloth and these voices of rebuke and these voices of absolute is put to death and they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoice over them and make marry and send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth man I'm telling you these two men were such a thorn in their flesh such a foreign preaching calling people to repentance showing people the error of their way that when these voices are silenced I mean to tell you they develop their own Christmas time they develop their own time of Joy they begin to get happy I'm not going to have to hear that voice anymore I'm not going to have to tolerate an absolute anymore I'm not I'm not going to be reminded of that anymore I'm going to live the way that I want to live and Christmas breaks out they send gifts to one another but then the Bible says and after three and a half and after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them can I tell you something not only will technology show the death of Elijah and Moses but technology is also going to have to show the resurrection of Moses and Elijah can you say Amen I'm just taking a little time to tell you about this Elijah about this Elijah connection as a matter of fact I go back to First Kings 17 and verse number one listen to him Elijah the tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead said unto Ahab as the Lord God God of Israel liveth before whom I stand there shall there shall not be due nor rain these years follow this now but according to my word according to my word you see today it is not the word of a man but it is the word of God that flows through that person and a lot of people need to understand it's not the word of a man it's not a man's word but it's the word of God that flows through that vessel and so Elijah is simply not saying hey I shut up Heaven no he is saying God used me to shut up the heavens and God used me to open up see this is the power this is the power of the word of God well how powerful is the word of God follow closely Jeremiah 23:29 Jeremiah said this is not my word like as a fire sayeth the Lord and like a hammer that delivered sir but if you can ever allow the word of God to begin to burn in your life the word of God is fire the word of God is a purifier the word of God is our light the word of God is our heat when you're in the darkness he's your light when you're in the cold he is your fire he is your he is your all in all the word word of God is your fire and the word of God is like a hammer that breakthough in pieces you just don't know how long this has been in my hard heart you just don't know how hardened they are you just don't know how hardened I am toward this doesn't matter how hard you are there's not a rock so hard that God's word can't bust that God's word can't crack so I'm going to tell you something this morning if 2023 you're still wrestling with some things you need to ask yourself a serious question question have I applied the word to this not mental not not positive mental attitude I'm all for being positive praise God we need more of that some people the only time they're positive is when they're positively negative I I'm for being positive I'm for seeing the glass half full instead of half I'm I'm I'm all for that but nothing you hear I wish somebody shout nothing no nothing will ever take the place of saying word of God what do you say about this word of God you're in my life and the word of God can come and bust in pieces not only that in Ephesians chapter 6 verse1 17 the Bible said take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God it is a fire sister Carpenter it is a hammer sister Carpenter but you use a sword on the enemy that's what you use a sword for it is on the enemy and so when the enemy talks to comes to us you are no match for the Enemy by yourself that's why you need to get on this Bible reading tomorrow that's why you need to get a Bible own a Bible Mark a Bible up read a Bible put it on your phone play it in your car play it in your home wake up to the Bible go to sleep to the Bible because the Bible is that sword that continually tells the enemy you're not coming here I refuse to allow you inside of my mind great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them oh Hallelujah I just want somebody to praise him right now oh yes oh yes oh yes you know some a lot of folks are real deceived a lot of folks are real deceived I it it it really it's heartbreaking how deceived some people are and um and I show you a little bit of this um they'll say things like well I don't believe you have to I I don't believe you have to be baptized I don't believe you have to receive the holy go I don't believe that all all all I believe is obey Ten Commandments of which I always say name them and at best they'll get three but they stand there and tell tell you that all you got to do is obey the Ten Commandments they tell you what you're saying is wrong and all you got to do is obey the Ten Commandments and they can't even name them that's how deceived people are today that's how that's how dis that's how they have disguised themselves watch look at Hebrews chapter 4 verse number 12 Hebrews chapter 4 and verse number 12 for the word of God is quick that's not talking about speed that's talking about alive the word of God is alive powerful sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing aunder of Soul and Spirit and the joints in the tomorrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do can I tell you something you don't know yourself outside of the word of God oh I know who I am preacher you talk to me about you don't know who you are you don't know who you are unless you have a Bible knowledge that's the only way you know who you are if you have a Bible knowledge because the Bible said your heart is deceitfully wicked above all and no man can know it you can think oh I'm right I'm right until you allow the word of God to do surgery until you allow the word of God to lay you down until you you you close your mouth I'm sorry you you close your mouth and let the word open its mouth and it would Amaze you when we can close our mouth and let the word of God open its mouth how we can stand and say I didn't know it said that I I I I've been doing that I didn't know that was that's why the word of God is alive powerful well I thought you was going to tell us about the widow woman in the cake well I am but I got to get you to understand the word because when Elijah came to zarap it's because Elijah through God shut up the heavens and Elijah through God was going to open up the Heavens so it is ental IAL that we keep Elijah alive it's essential that we keep Elijah alive I'm going to tell you something it is essential that we keep the word of God alive it is essential it is essential I love singing oh I I love everything matter of fact I just sat there I just sat there sometimes I'm saving my energy cuz I'm going to stand a while and I might not stand as long as others stand I I I may be saving my energy a little bit or whatever and and uh but I don't want them to quit h sister Eric I don't want you to quit I just it could go on and on and on and on and on but you know what we know we're not saved by singing We're saved by the word of God that's what's going to change our life a song will change our emotion but a word will change our heart a word will change your heart so it's essential somebody say essential I've have got to keep the word of God I have got to keep the word of God alive in my life and so God says to Elijah I want you to go down to zarap that's a gentile place and I have already commanded a widow woman to sustain thee now let let's just back up for a moment God speaks to this widow woman she has one son that we know of and she's in the process of gathering two sticks does it sound like a big fire to me with two sticks and she's going to take the little meal and the little oil and the little and she going to make a little cake that they may eat it and that they'll die now that sound pretty bleak to me I I it sound Bleak to you sound Bleak to me but then all of a sudden this widow woman hears from God and God says widow woman I have my word come into your house and my words come into your house and I need you to keep my Word Alive can I tell you God is speaking yes even today God is speaking to some of you and some of you are widows some of you not naturally but some of you are on your last meal you are on your last meal you're you're you're you're seeing the end I mean the credits are rolling in your life you're 30 some odd years old and you've already determined that your life is over and you're running the credits about your life all those credits are regrets that you're the way that you are but somehow you stumble into a church and the god of Heaven begins to speak to the Widow and he begins to tell you you need to take care of my word I've got something that's going to turn your last meal into your first miracle meal I I've got something that's going to change you that must have been something when God God spoke to the widow woman she might have shook her head maybe like some of you are doing today when we begin to preach If any man being Christ he's a new creature old things have passed away behold all things are new when we begin to tell you about a god who's able to do exceedingly abundantly and above all that you can ask and or think when we begin to tell you about a God that can turn things around in your life you are so much like the widow woman of shaking your head and saying you know maybe ate too much pizza maybe may maybe this is I I'm just believing a mirage or something of this nature but it wasn't sure enough the prophet showed up at the gate and the prophet said uh hey I need a little water I'd like to have a little water I'm thirsty and you will you notice something with me she obliged him with the water isn't amazing how some people will go so far she said oh I I'll uh I'll go get you a drink of water and as she was going to get the water he said oh hey by the way would you bring me a morsel of bread would you bring me just a just a morsel of bread that's when she stopped She let me tell you about this Elijah she said you see two sticks I'm I'm gathering them to make a fire I just have a little oil in the cruise and I just have a little I just have a little meal in the barrel and I'm going to go home and make it for me and my son that's the end of verse number 12 that we may eat it and do what die but now comes now comes the most powerful statement that you'll ever hear fear not fear not fear is something that paralyzes you fear is something the adversary hopes that we will live in yes even children of God Satan wants us to vacillate between faith and fear he wants he doesn't mind the devil doesn't mind if we come for an hour and a half or so on Sunday and get a little faith inside of us the the the lion and all of that he doesn't mind brother Josh if for a few moments we see him as a pillar of Fire by night and A Cloud by day and all that just as long as Monday we go back to fear fear is not of God sir fear will paralyze you fear will paint you a portrait of your life and it's not a good ending we're going to fix this meal and we're going to die but the man of God said fear not watch shouldn't I fear what's wrong with fear well let's let the word tell you what's wrong with fear 1 John 4:18 there is no fear in love who is love somebody shout it out who is love love love is not a foggy feeling love is God God is love there is no fear in love perfect love casteth out fear because fear haveth torment he that feareth is not made perfect in love there's no way that you can believe that God loves you and have fear on the inside of your heart so the way to get fear out is to understand the perfect of perfection and the completeness of completion and that is God's love hey my name name's Elijah my God is Jehovah hey my name's Elijah there's no cancer that can overcome my life hey my name's Elijah there's no betrayal that can run over the top of me hey my name's Elijah I will not fear what the enemy will do to me because hey my name is Elijah I wish somebody in this building today would understand the power of perfect love I don't serve God like a young young kid that's in Love That Gets a flower and says he loves me he loves me not He Loves Me He Loves Me Not and hopefully we end with the last pedal being he loves me no no on God's pedal brother Tyler there is no he loves me not there's not a he loves me not upon God's pedal so if I could just understand today I don't care how dark the forecast I don't I don't care how few the meal you got inside hey my name is Elijah would you give God a hand of Praise right now fear not fear not fear not go and do as you have said but make me therefore a little cake and here's where it's all going to turn around for us first God not God in 2024 not God in 2024 not going to do any of us any good to have a them God in 2024 but what's going to do us right is God first in 2024 fear not you just go and make me a little cake first now I'm going to tell you on the surface this commandment sounds like a cruelty doesn't it this commandment sounds cruel can I tell you that Elijah was given that woman the greatest opportunity of her life because had Elijah not showed up she would have ate that last meal and her boy would have ate with her and they would have both sat and watched as each other died sometimes people can see the preacher oh I've been at this for a while oh high is thick oh cruel old preacher oh yeah you preachers need a little sensitivity about you don't you're up there preaching those Thou shalt not to those Commandments you understand something today when a gospel preacher with the word word of God on his tongue begins to declare the word of God to you it may cut you it may sting you by the way when the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost some of its first members had a hole in their heart because when Peter preached they were pricked in their heart can I get you to understand today that the greatest opportunity that we all ever got the big break in life wasn't a financial break it was a spiritual break because somebody came to us and said I'm going to tell you what you need to do Eddie Shipley you've been putting Eddie Shipley first but you need to start putting God first and that's the greatest privilege oh somebody magnify the Lord with me right now somebody somebody somebody magnify the Lord woo hallelujah how how in the world could you say that how could you say that make me a cake first I'm going to tell you it may sound like cruelty to those that don't understand but to those that understand it's the opportunity of all opportunities fear not go make me a cake first not me the man but me the word put the word first bring it unto me and after make for theme thy son for thus saith the Lord God of Israel the barrel of meal shall not waste neither shall the cruise of oil fail until the day that the Lord send rain I don't know about you and and and I I really don't want to get sidetracked on this but you better keep the word of God alive in your life for what happens in life when 2023 dawned brother Burkett when we stood here a year ago saying goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023 there's no way we knew that our last service here would would be without our precious y KO Yoko we didn't know that look at me folk life happens you better keep the word of God alive in your life because life happens and there's one thing I don't want to do I don't want to go try to resurrect the word when life happens I got enough on my plate dealing with life I want to have life very much alive I want to have the word very much alive when life falls apart when that 2 a.m. call in the middle of the night I want the word to be alive when that unexpected call into the office we're terminating your job I want that word of God alive in my life when that doctor says I need you to come back in tomorrow we see some things on the scan that don't look like church I'm here to tell you this Sunday morning we need the word alive in our lives let me say this today you may be SE and know I don't want to get sidetracked on this because I got an ending I got I got an ending here it is possible it is possible to enjoy the laws of God's benefits and not know God who did the woman say when Elijah said give me a cake as the Lord your God he's your God would you not think would you not think that after she made that first meal that first little cake she walked it down to the prophet she gave it to him and she went back to her house probably with anxiety her hand shook as she got the jar I know I turned it upside down and beat the bottom of it and got all the meal I could out but she opens it up and God's Heavenly Angelic door Dash she looked she said that wasn't there when I left that wasn't there when I left she wouldn't got that bottle of oil she said I know I shook it real good I got the last drop she turned it up and the oil began to pour she made her a cake she made her son a cake now this went on for over a year but I to believe I don't I don't have the Bible to stand on but I I really believe that when that woman got up every morning to make them cakes I believe she started brother Thorp with Elijah I believe she started with him first because she might have thought if I get selfish and make mine and his and last I better make his first so some time went on they ate from that Miracle Barrel they had the oil and they ate we don't know know if it was a birth defect we don't know if it was hereditary but the little boy started coughing sneezing asthma it may have been but one day that little boy laying in his mother's bosom took his last breath and died now please follow me it is possible in the same house of a miracle to have tragedy the same house that's got a miracle kitchen has got death in the living room and that's where the woman came and the woman fell apart don't allow life to get you cynical toward the word of God don't allow don't you ever I don't care how faithful you are with your tithe and offerings don't you ever have a financial failure and let this come out of your mouth is this what what I get I work with a guy I know he don't tithe and give offerings and he just got a deal on a car my car just blowed up you know what that's a testimony to you are serving a law of benefit and you have no relationship with the god of that benefit I'm not listen listen praise is wonderful praise works you don't even have to know God I know some of you going some of you your mouths are gonna go gape open with this I got it written down you don't have to even know God to praise God you don't have to know him well evidently I do know him because I feel better after I praise him well sure you do you've got your mind off all your trash all your depression you're listening to music that don't glorify all this crazy stuff you're listening to music get your mind off of problems and I God sure you're going to feel different about about that but you can praise God and not know God you can go to a miracle meal barrel and a miracle Cruise of oil and not knowing him because she fell apart she brought that dead baby and she said she Stu that dead baby out to him and she said is this what I get have you come to call my sins to remembrance now that's another thing I could get on for just a moment when you understand the word you don't go through life going I wonder if God's getting back for me I I want if God's getting even with me right now I want if God no no no none of that because you understand two things number one when you go down in the water in Jesus name every sin you've ever committed in God's eyes have been washed away and been remitted oh let me let me let me she says this what is this what I get for housing you is this what I get he said ' let me have that baby who who is Elijah he's the word of God he said let me have that baby let me let me have that let me have that baby right now let let let me let me have that baby and the Bible said well let me let let me go to it I don't know if I I don't know if I sent this to you I don't know if I sent this to you uh in in my notes give me uh uh First Kings chapter 17 and and uh the miracle uh Mill Barrel is is is Flowing but all of a all of a sudden in verse 17 of chapter 17 it came to pass after these things the miracle that the son of the woman the Mistress of the house fell sick his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him she said unto Elijah what have I to do with thee Oh thou man of God do you pick up the sarcasm do you pick up the sarcasm oh oh thou man of God Art Thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son did you come to get even he said unto her give me thy son oh the word says give me thy son he took him out of her bosom carried him up into a loft where he Abode laid him upon his own bed and he cried unto the Lord and said oh Lord my God hast thou also brought evil upon the Widow with whom I sojourn by slaying her son he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried follow this closely and Cried unto the Lord and said oh Lord my God I pray thee let this child Soul come into him again look at this next verse glue your eyes on it and the Lord heard the voice of Elijah widow woman you better be glad that you made the take first because somewhere down the months and the years you're going to need that voice to be able to lift up a prayer and the Lord heard the voice of Elijah and the soul of the child came again unto him and he revived Elijah took the child brought him down out of the chamber into the house delivered him into his mother and Elijah said and the word said and Elijah said s thy son liveth and the woman said to Elijah now by this I know that thou art a man of God and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth you can enjoy a miracle and not KN him you can enjoy the benefits of blessings and not knowing but when God resurrect what you love the most when God in 2024 we're going to pray prayers we're going to get our prodal back home I don't care how dirty they are we got a fire I don't care how hard they are we've got a hammer I don't care how denying they are we got a sword in 2024 our prodal are going to come home and God is going to elevate your faith and you're going to say now I know God answers prayer now I oh God come on come on to today let's praise him right now now I know God is alive now I know God is real now I know God is resurrected keep that word oh friend oh friend musicians would you come right now could we just take a moment and praise him right now could we just take a moment and praise him right now come on praise him you know there's more people in here than what we hear right right now come on praise him right now come on Praise Him you better keep the word alive in your heart you you better keep the word of God alive in your heart oh my oh my oh my better keep it alive in your heart you better read until you get Faith you better keep reading your Bible until something starts turning on the inside of you you you may be seated for a moment please listen closely I feel like God gave a message to challenge us putting God first in 2024 isn't an emotional de decision you'll never make it being an emotional decision putting God first is I'm not I'm not trying to whip you up in Emotion to make a decision it is an intellectual decision of the mind of the Mind Paul spoke to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 8:12 and he said to them these words for if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that which he hath not God said what I'm looking for you to what I'm looking to see in you today is not what you don't have but I'm looking to see what you have do you have a willing mind can I tell you if you don't have a willing mind there's not a preacher that can help you if you don't have a willing mind if you don't have a willing mind you will end 2024 just like you went into it but oh if I can just get a willing mind to say God you're first in 2024 God it would be good for me to put you first in 2024 as a matter of fact God that's the only place I can put you in 2024 is first first there's two things what does it look like Bill Car you've told us a lot of Bible stories today but what would it actually look like tell me what would it actually look like starting tomorrow morning what would putting God first look like help me you're my pastor well in the morning if you would focus on two God things to God things two God things number one prayer and number two the word prayer and the word don't concern yourself with time your desire to be in his presence will grow and grow Jesus gave us an example in Mark 135 and in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed prayer first in the morning prayer first before you check your email prayer first before you scroll through Facebook prayer first before you do any other thing prayer first reading your Bible and the bible program has been presented to you now I could challenge you today and I hope I have challenged you I could challenge you but a challenge is just a challenge unless you commit to it unless you commit to it Joshua told the people of God he almost he almost was really just being very transparent with them he said you all can't serve the Lord oh we can that that somebody spoke out of the congregation yes we can serve the Lord Joshua he said no you can't he's a jealous God he's a jealous God you you you can't do it Joshua made the famous statement it seems evil to you you do what you want to do but as for me and my house we going to serve the Lord Joshua said I can't answer for y'all but I I can answer for the house of Joshua they kept saying somebody spoke out of the congregation again and said we will serve God Joshua we will we want to serve God I believe there's voices in here today I believe there's men here today I believe there's men here today heads of houses here today that are saying brother Carpenter God first at my house in 2024 God first in my house in 2024 I believe I hear that I believe I hear that I believe I hear somebody said thank you for challenging me pastor but Joshua knew a commitment a commitment without a reminder Joshua said there's got to be something to remind you all there there's got to be something come on uh Pastor old team come on up here for a moment spread out across the altar I guess maybe brother Hammond you stand over here and brother no I I brother Eric go that way Joshua knew that a commitment without a reminder would soon be forgotten so he had him write all the words down brother Marshall and he put them under a tree and he said these words every time you pass by here you'll be reminded you'll be reminded of the commitment that you made I I want to give the head of every home a little cake this morning no it it's not intended for you to eat it it's intended my heart's desire is that you would take this home and for the first 31 days of this year you would leave it somewhere in your house that your family be a good time to teach a little lesson that your family would know every time they passed by and saw this what's that mean Daddy that means God first you kids had prayer today you kids had prayer today y'all have we had prayer today that's say I I'd like today if you'd stand with me and if you'd like to accept this challenge of this commitment of God first in 2024 God first in 2024 and I'm I'm going to ask first for the men I'm going to ask first for the heads of the houses the men if you want to AC if you want to accept the challenge of God first in 2024 to come down and take one of these little cakes out of this basket and just move away from them but stay in the altar if you would stay in the altar brother Mayo stay right up here thank you oh God so sister Eric man if you just kind of pack around here so the other men can get in you are my one thing oh God you are my one thing God you are my one thing God oh God I've got to keep your word alive God I I've got to have you first in my life God God you've got to be first in my life God you you've got to be first in my life oh God you've got to be first at the carpenter house God you've got to be first at the Mayo house God you you've got to be first God at the Gomez house God you've got to be first at the amons residence God you've got to be first at the Kirby house God you've got to be first oh God you've got to be first oh god oh you've got to first God God you've got to be first God oh God you've got to be first God you've got to be first God oh yes God oh yes God God now I'd like to ask I don't know and if we don't have any left we'll we'll bring some more back tonight but if you're here here today sister and your husband's not with you and and you won't now if your husband's up here that's going to be that's going back to your house today but if you're here and your husband's not with you but you want one of these won't you come right now these men are they're making room for you you you come right now go ahead sis God come on man let's hold up I accept the challenge it's going to be prayer first let's going to be Bible reading first God God first oh God first God first God first God first God first I don't oh God I love you God I made that commitment to you this morning God I'm sorry God that I'm not here God I'm sorry I'm not all that I should be God I'm not been all that I should be in 2023 God I'm not been all that I should be God you are oh god oh give me Jesus Give Me Jesus give me Jes Give Me Jesus oh God you Give Me Jesus Give Me Jesus you all this world oh give me Jesus give me Jes oh give me Jesus Give Me Jesus me oh give me Jesus God I make that commitment God ask for me in my house we're going to serve God that's for be in my house it's God first ask for be in my house God first God first in 2024 God first in 2024 God first in 2024 oh God first in 2024 yes God come on men come on women come on Church you are let's lift it up before God I make that commitment you are God you're not going to be last anymore God you're not going to be the spare tire anymore God you're not going to be the spare tire anymore God I'm going to come to know you oh I'm going to come to know you oh I need anything oh yes God you are my you are my you are my worthy you are you are you are my one thing you are my my you are my one thing you are you are my one thing you are my God we're going to have a new home in 2021 we're going to have a new life in 2021 I'm going to have new joy in 20 24 God I'm going to have peace in 2024 I'm going to have joy in 2024 oh yes oh yes glory to God you all this world you can have all this world men men I want you if you accept this challenge to say oh yes do you accept this challenge men oh yes 31 days 31 days starting tomorrow make sure this is somewhere in your home that reminds you that reminds you of God first in 2024 it's going to remind you going to be something might haunt you going be something might haunt you it might tell you this sister Debbie might talk to you and say you didn't pray today you didn't pray today don't get mad at her don't put a cloth over her whatever you do don't eat her all right be reminded 2024 now tonight also we're going I'll bring some more cakes with me tonight because I'd like for some of the young people that maybe their moms and dads don't come to church how many of you strong tower students that maybe your mom and dad's not in church you'd like to have one of these put on your your dresser to remind you of God first God first we're going to have some more here tonight but tonight we're going to end our service with an oldfashioned prayer line we're going to have an oldfashioned prayer line tonight we're going to start we're going to leave is anybody besides me interested in leaving some things in 2023 sir to the curve we're going to have a prayer line tonight uh Pastor Ericson I think we have one to baptize today thank the Lord oh let's lift up our hands and let's praise him right now thank God thank God thank God oh yes Lord oh yes Lord father I bless this young man that's come for baptism today God thank you Lord for his willingness to publicly oh God stand and obey the scripture to take on your name and baptism Lord if he's not already received the Holy Ghost oh god of Covenant Lord fill him with the Holy Ghost this morning with the evidence of speaking with other tongues God make a mighty Soul winner out of him make a mighty Soul winner out of him Lord in Jesus name I pray amen I don't want any I you are my you are my I don't want I don't need anything you are my you are my wory you are you are my you are my you are my you are my me give me Jesus give me me Jesus Give Me Jesus oh give me Jesus Give Me Jesus you all world you why don't you just turn and pray for somebody besides you turn and pray with somebody see you tonight at 5:30