1/27/2019
The Principle of Firstfruits
Keeping God First In All Things – Pt 4
God Favors The Offering of Firstfruits
Genesis 4:3-7 Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel & his offering, but on Cain & his offering He did not look with favor.
Firstfruits Means Giving To God Before Anything Else
Proverbs 3:10 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of ALL your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing & your vats will brim over with new wine.
The Firstfruit of ALL Things Belong To God
Leviticus 27:30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.
The Firstfruits Belong To Him Even While We Still Possess Them!
Deuteronomy 26:12-13 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless & the widow, so that they may eat in your towns & be satisfied. Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion & have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless & the widow, according to all You commanded…
We Are To Keep God First Even When We Think We Can’t
1 Kings 17:8-16 The word of the Lord came to him: “Go to Zarephath of Sidon & stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” So, he did; When he came to the gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her & asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “Bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread–only a handful of flour in a jar & a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home & make a meal for myself & my son, that we may eat it & die.”
God’s People Have A History of Placing God FIRST
Genesis 26:23-25 Issac went to Beersheba. That night the Lord appeared to him & said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you & will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”
1. Isaac built an altar there & called on the name of the Lord.
2. There he pitched his tent
3. There his servants dug a well.
God Reminds Us Who Gives Wealth
Deuteronomy 8:17-20 You may say to yourself, “MY power & the strength of MY hands have produced this wealth for ME.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is HE WHO gives you the ability to produce wealth & so confirming My covenant…
God Blesses One Person To Bless Many More
Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation & I will bless you; I will make your name great & you will be a blessing.
The Path To Return To God Is In Giving To God
Malachi 3:7-10a Return to Me & I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ “In tithes & offerings. You are under a curse–the whole nation of you–because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.
Only In Giving To Him Does God Ask Us To Test Him
Malachi 3:10b-11 Test Me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, ” see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven & pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops & the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty.