GOD FIRST: THE BIBLE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST-FRUITS.
THE URGENT NEED FOR SERVANT LEADERS part 2
February 20, 20145 Lessons in Leadership
March 6, 2014GCC Message 23rdFebruary 2014
When we accept Jesus as Savior, God welcomes us into His family and as any earthly family each has a DNA, has a culture but it also has principles by which such a family runs. In our new family we have many principles and our enjoyment in this family is when we learn how that family operate and willingly accept to abide by those principles. One of these is the principle of putting God first.
A. Exodus 20:2-17 The Ten Commandments
B. ABEL AND CAIN’S OFFERING
C. TESTING OF ABRAHAM
Genesis “22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. ”
II. THE LAW OF FIRST FRUIT FRUITS
A. THE LAW
Exodus 13:2
Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”
Exodus 23:19
19 The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.
Lev. 23:9-10
9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.
This is also called the principle of the first born.
Lessons
1. The Lord required the Jews to offer their very best.
The farmer had to carefully look in the garden to prepare a sheaf that was the best for the Lord. If it was animals, it was the first birth from that cow or sheep but it had to be with no blemish, if it was found sickly the farmer had to redeem it with another good animal.
2. This was a prayer of faith for a bumper harvest.
It was the very first, which meant, by faith the farmer was saying I am trusting, the rest will be good. It was like saying Lord watch over my harvest.
3. Their giving of the first was consecrating the rest of the crop/ flock to God.
When you gave your first it represented a dedication of the rest of the crop or the flock to God. Saying: I am asking you to put your hand of blessing upon my animals, my business and my crop.
4. It had to be the first.
First meant before you did any eating or selling, you had to go to the Lord’s house and take the First fruit.
Today not many of us are farmers, or cattle keepers. Our jobs, our business, our investments are equivalent to our gardens or flocks. The people of old traded in animals, in crops, in bars of gold or silver, but today we trade in money. This principle today applies to our money.
B. THE BLESSING OF THE FIRST FRUIT
Prov. 3:9-10
9 Honor the Lordwith your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine. NKJV
9Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits of all your crops;
10then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine. NIV
LESSONS.
1. Giving of the first fruit is worship. HONOR
When we come to God with what he has given, we are saying. Yes, you are my God, what I have, I got it from you, you gave me the energy, your provided the health, you gave me the wisdom. Giving is worship of the highest order.
When we let go of our money we are breaking a spirit of false trust and security in what we possess and we are releasing a spirit of total dependence on God. Which an amazing attitude of worship. IT IS SAYING; WITHOUT YOU, I AM NOT ABLE, GOD!
2. God has to be involved in all
a. Possessions, wealth, everything I own.
b. He gave them to me. He has the power to increase them or to remove his hand of protection from them.
3. He wants the first and the best.
He is number one. Remember the first 4 commandments; it is all about Him and not you.
WHY FIRST?
Pastor Robert Morris says: “How you handle money reveals volumes about your priorities, loyalties and affections.
Remember Abraham: God had a very big plan for Abraham, he was to be the father of faith. He was to be the first patriarch.
He had to test Him and also to teach Him.
God was saying: If you are willing to give me your first and best then, I can trust you with my first and my best.
If you are willing to give me your best then it releases faith to totally trust me with your future.
WHAT IS FIRST?
First is what you get first.
First is what you spend first.
It breaks a spirit of greed and releases a spirit of faith. You are trusting that God will provide
Why?
It is God’s eternal principle.
Someone said:
“It is the principle of putting God first and the principle of faith that initiates the blessings. It is the trigger.”
Remember what we said above: The giving of the first consecrates the rest to God. It is like releasing the God’s hand to bless, and protect from the interference of the enemy.
5. Our first fruit is given to the House of the Lord.
Why?
The way God supports his work is through the faithful giving and generosity of His children.
When we bring out first fruit to God’s house, then we become partners with God in reaching the world through Missions, church planting and evangelism.
- Time.
When you wake up, do you give the Lord the first hour of your work day? What if you did?
Can you imagine how God will direct your plans?
The early believers decided to worship God on Sunday. This was the day that Jesus rose from the grave, but when you think about it, it is the first day of the week. When I give God the first day of my week in worship it is acknowledging that for sure, God you are first.
- Talents and gifts
- Our very selves
- Possessions.
a. Harvest
b. Animals from our farm
c. Money
d. Consistently giving of our tithes.
III. JESUS OUR FIRST FRUIT
John 3:16 says: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
ICor, 15:20 Paul’s calls Jesus, the first fruit of all who have risen from the dead.
God gave His first born but only his first born but also his only begotten Son.
Then Jesus wanted to get us to the Father, but we were children who had a lot of blemish/ we not clean, and he needed a perfect clean sacrifice, to redeem us in order to be accepted. So he accepted to be sacrificed to redeem us.
But also when God gave, he received many sons and daughters. For whosoever receive Him he gives them the right to become the sons of God.
If He gave, we should also give, if he received in return, we shall also receive in return. Our receiving may not be in monitory terms but we shall surely receive.
IV. ADVENTURE WITH GOD.
Someone said: “It always requires faith to give the first. That’s why so few Christians experience the blessings of tithing.”
God is calling us to an adventure, in that adventure we shall rise up and say, I know I belong to you, I know all that I have belongs to you and when you ask me for my first fruit you are saying. Put me first, trust me to take care of you and you are saying like Malachi put it:
“Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. 11 For my part, I will defend you against marauders; protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers.” 12 “You’ll be voted ‘Happiest Nation.’ You’ll experience what it’s like to be a country of grace.”
