First Things First - Week 3

In this Palm Sunday message from Orlando North Church, Pastor Rob delivers a powerful, personal sermon that weaves together the story of Jesus' triumphal entry with a deep dive into the biblical principle of giving the 'firstfruits'—not just 10% of income, but the first and best of what we have. He begins by reflecting on the emotional weight of Palm Sunday, where Jesus entered Jerusalem amid cheers and celebration, yet wept over the people's blindness to His true mission. This contrast sets the stage for a profound exploration of stewardship: God is the owner of all things, and we are stewards entrusted with resources, talents, and time. The sermon challenges the common misconception that tithing is merely a financial obligation, reframing it instead as an act of worship and trust. Drawing from Genesis 4, where Abel’s offering was accepted because it came from the firstborn, and Cain’s rejected because it came from abundance, Pastor Rob emphasizes that giving the first requires faith—trusting God to provide even before we see the results. He traces this principle through Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, the laws of Exodus requiring consecration of the firstborn, and the conquest of Jericho, where the entire city was devoted to God. He warns against the prosperity gospel’s distortion of stewardship, affirming that the real promise is not wealth, but freedom, provision, and intimacy with God. The message culminates in a heartfelt invitation to test God’s faithfulness by giving the first, not the leftover, and to experience the joy of worshipful, obedient trust.