Week 1: January 3, 2016
Topic: The First Fruit
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 26: 1-11
Introduction
Our God is the God of heaven and the universe. As we all know that “the earth is the Lord’s”, including everything in it: this world plus everything that is residing in it (both living and non-living things) belong to God (Psalms 24:1).
God’s Love for First
God loves people to give back a portion of what He has given to them, for the propagation of His work in the land of the living. He loves the first of everything that is why His name is Alpha and Omega, which means the First and the Last.
From the explanation above, we believers must dedicate every first thing, both living and non-living in our lives to God: which means our firstborn, first fruit, and first paycheck/salary must be dedicated to him and He must be first in our hearts/thoughts.
God demonstrated His love to be first through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ by making Him to be:
· The first and only being to be conceived through the Holy Spirit.
· His is the firstborn of Virgin Mary (the first male child delivered by Holy Mary).
· Also, He is the firstborn of the dead, and the first being that resurrected.
It is His love for first things that made God to command the believers to always give Him the first fruit of our crops or paychecks annually, while the rest is to cater for our needs.
He established the commandment of the firstborn in the land of Egypt, through His mighty power. Every believer that did not obey this commandment might miss the glorious home, because no disobedient soul shall come into the Kingdom of God.
Commandments Regarding First fruit/Firstborn
Christians must be willing to do anything for their Creator without holding back. Therefore, pay your tithe, first fruit, and other obligations faithfully. All our firstborn belong to God.
It is for reason that He preserved the firstborn of the Israelites in the land of Goshen while those of the Egyptians of the olden days perished. (Exodus 22: 29)
No soul has the right to deny God the absolute heritage of their firstborn. It is either you dedicate your firstborn to the service of God, or take the necessary steps to redeem your firstborn. (Exodus 13: 11-15)
We must realize that among the annual festivities approved by God, the celebration of first fruit is one of them. That is why our church (Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry) is commemorating this event. (Exodus 23: 14-16)
It is a festive event whereby everyone will gather/assemble in the presence of God, to present the first produce of their farmland or their first paycheck/salary of the year.
Whenever we present our first fruit to God, it must be accompanied by prayers and solemn jubilation. This will make our first fruit to be acceptable to God, who in turn will bless us accordingly for our obedience. (Numbers 28:26)
It is very essential to rejoice before the Lord during this important occasion, because our God loves a cheerful giver. If you give your first fruit grudgingly or give it in a way to show off, it is not acceptable.
Designated Place of Collection
The book of Deuteronomy stated the designated place for the collection of first fruit as the Holy Temple/Church of God; therefore do not pay your first fruit anywhere else except in the church.
Unless you bring/mail your first fruit to the church and present it in the presence of Almighty God, it is not acceptable, (Deuteronomy 26: 2-10)
Whatever location you may be in this world, and wherever you are, either it is your birthplace/promise land/Land of fulfillment it is your duty to present
your
first fruit to God in His Holy Temple as a token of appreciation, and rejoice
for all that He has done for you.
Remember that, to give is more blessed than to receive. Therefore, give your first fruit so that God will reciprocate this kind gesture.
Appointed People to Collect First Fruit
It is only the priests that are authorized to collect first fruit. When you take your first fruit to church, pay it to the General Overseer/pastor-in-charge, and not to the workers/choir/ushers. (Leviticus 23: 10).
If you want God to fulfill His pending promises in your life, then pay it to the appropriate people.
Reasons for Collection of First Fruit
1. Our God is a just God that is why He needs/wants the first fruit to take care of the needs of the priests/pastors/ministers of God. Since they do not have any other job/work that can bring/produce income/salary than the work of God. (Leviticus 23: 10). If you want to put smiles on the faces of the household of your pastor, please pay your first fruit as commanded by the Lord, whenever it is due.
2. Furthermore, God directed the Levites, who are the full time workers in the house of the Lord, to share out of the first fruit. Since God dislikes selfishness, the first fruit is for the progress and promotion of His work (the Gospel) among the living souls. (Deuteronomy 18: 1-4).
If you don’t want the ministers of God to lack/suffer, but have enough to cater for their needs, you have to pay your first fruit every year. Anyone who fails to pay his/her first fruit did not want the work of God to progress.
God Wants the Best
We must realize that whatever wealth/riches we have, belongs to God. He only put us in charge of the administration of such wealth. (Numbers 18: 8-12) Therefore, bring the best when presenting your first fruit before the Lord, so that you will not be like Cain who did not offer his first fruit which made God not to respect his offering. (Genesis 4: 2-5).
It is the directive of God, to bring the best of our offerings and first fruit, which are the portion of the priests, therefore let us comply with His commandments in order to please our Lord, who will give us our hearts’ desires and make us to realize our dreams/ambitions quickly.
Conclusion
Finally, every Christian must not forget to bring the best and first produce/paycheck of the year - 2016, to the house of the Lord their God.
For compliance, God will multiply you exceedingly in all sectors/areas of your life with abundance of peace in the year 2016.