SWS TOPIC

DEC. 18, 2016

FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING
THE SECRET OF OVERWHELMING BLESSING

Proverbs 3:9 9Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the FIRSTFRUITS of all thine increase:
10
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Rom.11:16 16for if the FIRSTFRUITS be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the
branches.
Leviticus 23:10 10When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall
bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest, Leviticus 23:10. It is to be set apart as
holy unto God!

INTRODUCTION
The Bible is full with almost unlimited provisions for Mans comfort here on earth and in eternity. The
oldest singular limitation is Mans refusal to simply obey the WORD of GOD. 3John 2 reaffirmed Gods
persistent intention and plan for man: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be
in health, even as thy soul prosperity. However, God not wanting to appear to man as a Dictator, grants
man the freewill to enjoy virtually endless benefits only on the condition of total obedience, to the giver of
these benefits -The Almighty GOD.
ORIGIN OF FIRST FRUITS
The First Fruit existed before the law (the Old Covenant). Abel brought to God the firstlings of his flock
and of the fat portions and the Bible says God had respect and regard for Abel and his offering. (Gen 4:
3-4) When God spoke to Moses concerning the first fruit, He said it shall be a statute forever
throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Meaning the First Fruit was to be continually given by
all of Gods children throughout the ages. (Lev. 23: 9 14) God being righteous in all His ways didnt just
ask us to give our first fruit. He also demonstrated the power of the first fruit when He gave His first
begotten son for the sins of the world (John 3:16; John 1: 34)
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST FRUIT OFFERING AND THE TITHE (Lev 27: 26-27, 30 33)
The first fruit is the first of your income and should be the best. You do not remove anything from it, you
are to give all of it. The tithe however is a tenth of your income. (Exo. 34:26; Lev. 23: 9-10; Prov. 3:9-10)
While the tithe applied to all forms of produce in the bible whether of flocks or plants, the first fruit
applied also to the first-born child of a man as consecrated unto God. We see portions in the bible where
references are made to the first fruit, the firstling or the first-born. There is something holy and special
about the first; which is why you find that some had to be given the right of the first born (Exo. 34: 19
20, Num. 18: 1315) God went after Pharaoh and the Egyptians because Jacob was his firstborn, he
was consecrated unto Him. (Exo. 4: 2223)
SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE FIRST FRUIT AND THE TITHE
The first fruit and the tithe are anointed. They are hallowed things and you cannot keep them. They
belong to God. Unlike the other offerings where you can make your choice, in the case of the first fruits
and the tithes, God specifically says they are His and you must give them to Him.
The first fruit was however revealed before the tithe (Gen. 4:1-4)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING
The first fruit offering is to God a way of demonstrating the principle of putting Him first in all things. It
shows the act of loving the Lord with all of your heart, soul and mind. (Matthew 22:32-38). The first fruit
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simply refers to the initial or the first harvest of ones labor and does not necessarily refer to agricultural
produce, but whatsoever benefits come to us as a result of our labor or service rendered.
God instructed Moses to expose the secret of overwhelming blessings to His chosen Nation of Israel.
Moses obeyed God by stating the conditions precedent to man enjoying Gods overwhelming blessings.
In the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, Moses stated the significance of
FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING, in not less than thirteen (13) occasions.
Exodus 23:19 stipulates strict obedience to giving of FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING. He repeated this again
in Exodus 34:26. To remove any uncertainty on the significance of FIRSTFRUIT, God expressly
instructed Moses again in Leviticus 23:10 that the jubilation of victory and celebration of wonderful
accomplishment must not be allowed to eliminate compliance with His instruction on FIRSTFRUIT
OFFERING.
WHY WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS? (THE BENEFITS)
1. The FIRSTFRUIT in Hebrew is bikkurim and literally means promise to come. And there is ONE
who never breaks His promise God! That is why the truth behind this promise to come in Gods
Word is so powerful. Though long overlooked by many, this divine establishment of Gods order of
things is actually the root that governs the rest. When you KEEP FIRST THINGS FIRST through faith
and obedience, you turn Gods promise into provision ABUNDANT PROVISION! The giving of
FIRSTFRUIT must be done promptly along with payment of tithe ( II Chronicles 31:5).
2. First fruit was given as a gift of obedience to... Lev 23: 14b This is to be a lasting ordinance for the
generations to wherever you live.
3. FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING must be taken to Gods house (Exodus 23:19; 34:26);
4. The FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING shall apply to all a man engages in for livelihood (Deut. 18:4);
5. The giving of FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING must be accompanied with worship (Deut. 26:10);
6. It must be offered once and during each cycle of harvest, which was yearly in biblical time (Neh.
10:35). It must however be noted that in situations of multiple planting seasons within one year,
FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING becomes due after each harvest exercise;
7. The FIRSTFRUIT is the exclusive preserve of the one considered the Nations Man of God (II Kings
4:42)
8. We are commanded to give it (Prov. 3: 9-10, Ex 22: 29) By giving your first fruit, you secure and
sanctify the rest of your fruits ( Rom 11: 16) If you dont give your first fruit, God will go after it
because it belongs to Him (Ex.4:2223) Anyone who holds back his First Fruit exposes himself to
evil. As God said to Israel. (Jer. 2: 3)
WHERE DO YOU TAKE THE FIRST- FRUIT TO?
It is to be taken to the house of God (Deut. 26: 1-4) Not just any one in the house of God is to receive it,
only the priest could receive it. (Neh. 10: 35 37) The Priest (Pastor) receives it and proclaims the
blessing upon you (Eze. 44: 30) Other references - Leviticus 23:20; Deut 18: 3 5
WAYS OF GIVING FIRST FRUITS
1. New Job: First salary package
2. New Year: First salary or first income ( for those who dont earn a salary)
3. Old Job (Promotions) Increase etc... the difference between the old and new salary. (If your heart
condemns you go ahead and give all. He is looking for something to multiply back to you).
Note that giving your first fruit offering may also be a personal revelation, and there are times the Holy
Ghost will instruct you in a way that is not common to everyone else around you. For example a
businessperson may give first fruit offerings severally, every time he experiences an increase or
receives new goods.
QUALITIES OF THE FIRST FRUIT
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It is holy and consecrated unto God. (Rom 11: 16). For anything to be presented to God, it has to be
sanctified that be presented through the Holy Spirit. Pray over your first fruit, speak Gods word
concerning it before presenting it to God (Rom 15: 16) It is the best quality (Num. 18:12 - 13). In Gen. 4:
3 - 5, God rejected Cains offering because it was not the best quality of what he got. God is concerned
about the quality of your First Fruit (Deut. 15: 19 22) It is given in whole, not in parts. It is compulsory
for you to bring in everything, you are not to take from it (Deut. 26: 2). It is brought in without delay. Dont
postpone giving of your First Fruit. (Exo. 22: 29) It brought in with an attitude of thanksgiving; for God
loves a cheerful and prompt to do it giver, whose heart is in his giving. (II Cor. 9; 7; Deut. 26: 10 11)
THE FAITH OF FIRST FRUIT
1. Causes you to trust God even more... Prov. 3: 5 6, 9 10
2. It took trust for the Israelites to give God there first...
3. Act of faithful relationship with God Gen 4: 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn
of his flock
OVERWHELMING BLESSINGS OF GOD
Givers of FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING enjoy Gods comprehensive protection. Jer. 2:3 says God issues
automatic judgment on whoever or whatsoever attempts to devour givers of FIRSTFRUIT.
1. By giving our First Fruit, you demonstrate your appreciation for God and the things He has done in
your life (Deut. 26:10 11) It releases the anointing upon your life. The bible says thy presses shall
burst out with new wine. New wine symbolizes the anointing ( Prov. 3:9) God is delighted in our
obedience to His word; for it is better to obey than to sacrifice (I Sam 15: 22)
2. Isaiah 61:7, Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you
will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting
joy will be yours.
3. God can be called upon to specially favor the giver of FIRSTFRUIT (Nehemiah 13:31); God
symbolically called Israel his first fruit and vowed to protect her Jer. 2: 3 Israel was holy to the Lord
the first fruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,
4. The Old Testament text: Proverbs 3:9-10, Eze. 44:30 state clearly that in addition to God honoring
the giver of FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING, the giver also enjoys overflowing blessings from the Almighty
God;
5. The Old Testament text further implies that the honor rendered unto God by the giver of
FIRSTFRUITS automatically attracts greater dimension of honor from GOD (1Sam. 2:30b).
6. FIRSTFRUITS are giving the first portion to GOD. Rom. 11:16 says, If the part of a dough offered as
FIRSTFRUITS is HOLY, then the whole batch is HOLY; if the root is HOLY, so are the branches.
Giving the first portion of your finances to God will cause all of your finances for the rest of the year
to be HOLY. FIRSTFRUITS causes God to treat your finances as HOLY giving you favor with GOD
because your finances are connected to the FIRST FRUIT OFFERING.
7. Ezekiel 44:30 The first of all FIRSTFRUITS of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from
all your contributions, shall be for the priests: you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough
to cause a blessing to rest on your house. FIRSTFRUITS impart a blessing on your home. Many
times a financial blessing is not our main need or concern. Having a blessing on your home positions
you to have healing in your physical, spiritual and emotional need for you and your family. When you
give FIRSTFRUITS not only do you benefit but your saved and unsaved loved ones do also.
CONCLUSION:
Gods intention is that Man lives a life of true dominion, comfort and overwhelming blessings. However,
realizing this divine desire depends on Mans prompt, total and consistent obedience to Gods
instructions, one of which is giving of FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING. The Feast of First Fruits is also referred
to as the Feast of harvest (Exo. 23: 16). This means in celebrating our giving of First Fruit we are
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invariably celebrating the harvest which we would experience throughout the year. It is an act of faith.
Therefore bring in your First Fruit with joy and thanksgiving; Give it celebrating and have an expectation
when you have acted on the word of God.

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