Gtcotr/ss120609
Have you ever heard the saying: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
This is not just a cute saying … it’s a principle found in the Bible. In fact it stems from the first, and perhaps the most important, of the Ten Commandments - The First Commandment which is:
Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.”
God tells us to keep the main thing the main thing and He is the main thing. God deserves to occupy first place in our lives and He should be offered the first and very best we have.
1 Kings 17:13 … but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
From requiring the hungry widow in 1 Kings 17 to offer Him a cake first, to laying claim on all of the spoil taken in the first battle for the Promise Land at Jericho …
Joshua 6:19 "But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD."
God demands we put Him first place in our life.
I am going to attempt to impact and motivate you this morning to trust God on a new level, by putting Him first place and offering Him the opportunity to prove Himself faithful in life.
What if I told you that God wants to bless you and increase your finances and that He is only waiting on you to make the first move. Would you want to know what He was waiting for? Would you at least listen to His plea?
Come along with me this morning and let’s visit the future as we turn our Bibles to the Book of Revelation, chapter 14.
Revelation 14 NKJV
1 ¶ Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
It is evident that these 144,000 are somehow special to God. In fact, verse 5 says that “they are without fault before the throne of God.” This means that when they stand before God, He sees no blemish, no imperfection, and no fault in them at all. Only the grace of God can cover a man to that extent. God has accepted these 144,000 as “firstfruits”. This is why they are without fault in His eyes.
Firstfruits – this is a term which we are not readily familiar with in these days. However, today we are going to take a look at what the Bible has to say about firstfruits and see how we might apply this powerful principle in our lives today. So, what does firstfruits mean? Simply: First Fruits!
The Apostle Paul referred to Jesus as being a First Fruit:
1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
The first ripened fruit of the field each year is the promise of more fruit to come – a potential recognized later in the harvest. Paul even counted those who were first born again in each church to be firstfruits of that church.
1 Corinthians 16:15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—
The Word of God also counts the whole of mankind as a type of firstfruit of God’s creation.
James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
This makes mankind special in the eyes of God, holy unto God, in an accepted position with God. When man offers himself to God through Jesus he finds himself before God without fault in God’s eyes. Why, because of this special position we hold as a kind of first fruit, which belongs to God.
Jesus came as a man, not as a dog, or a cow, a bird or some locust on the great wheel of reincarnation. When Jesus matured, fully ripened if you will, as the Son of Man, victorious over sin, death, hell and the grave … He became the first ripe, firstfruit unto God from among mankind.
God accepted Jesus as a firstfruit offering, which insured a blessing from heaven on the rest of the harvest yet to come. When God accepts a sacrifice or offering it becomes holy. When a part of anything is blessed, the whole becomes blessed.
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Since God accepted Jesus as a firstfruit of mankind, all men who come to God through Jesus stand before God without fault, holy and accepted by Him. Jesus was the first, fully given to God, and His blessing is now on us.
Jesus opened a door of blessing to all men. It is the principle of firstfruits.
If the first fruit is given to God the whole harvest is blessed by Him.
God requires the first and best to be offered, dedicated, given to Him. If the first is blessed, there is a blessing on the rest.
So, how does this apply to our lives today? Throughout the Bible, God gives instructions concerning firstfruits. From guiding the Children while under the Law of Moses, to instructing New Testament Churches in every generation, God has not left us without instruction. Even Solomon in all his wisdom wrote:
Proverbs 3
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
A promise is attached to this principle of giving firstfruit offerings to God. If we honor the Lord with the firstfruits of our increase, our very first fruits, then the rest of our harvest will be blessed by Him throughout the year.
The first ripe or first harvested or first gathered-in fruit of the field you work in and depend on, belongs to God and, if given to the Lord in faith, God promises to protect the field, increase the harvest, and bless the rest of that year’s income from that field.
The Old Testament contains a law of firstfruits which has become the New Testament Principle of firstfruits. This truth affords us access to the same benefits that the Children of Israel enjoyed in their Promise Land. You can read more about the law of firstfruits in Deuteronomy 26. However, the intent of this Word is still plain and still pertains to Believers today.
God demands He be first place in our lives and He knows that He is not, when He is not, first place in our finances. God wants us to trust Him with our most valuable possessions, and with many people, that means money.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters … you cannot serve God and money.
As for me and my house, all of the very first paycheck of the new year is given as a holy firstfruits offering to God by faith. I trust the principles of God’s Word and know that He will accept our offering and bless the rest of our harvest much more than we could ever be blessed without His holy intervention.
Then, with each paycheck for the rest of the year we are committed to dedicate the first ten percent as a tithe and bring it to the house of God, for the work of God which goes on in and out from this place.
It has been my personal experience and the testimony of everyone I know who has trusted God in their finances and given firstfruits, tithes and offerings, that this particular area of faith so moves the hand of God.
I can tell you for certain that God will not forget your faith or your holy act of giving offerings in obedience to His Word. When is the last time you sacrificed something for the continuing work of God?
Many people need a financial miracle. However, God demands that we participate in our miracles. In every Bible story wherein God gave financial increase or met a financial need, the person receiving the miracle did something to show their trust in God first.
We don’t grow crops without first sowing seeds and we won’t get God’s blessings on our finances without first trusting Him with what we have.
Prayerfully consider starting 2010 off with God’s special blessing on your finances for the whole year. Remember what Solomon said:
"Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
And remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!
Keep God number one in your life!
