The Principle of the First Fruits
Teach us to Trust • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsWhat would your life be like if God not only redeemed your soul but every aspect of your life. When we understand the tithe we understand God's redemptive work through his Son Jesus, Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Who has their Christmas tree up already?
This year we have been asking the Lord to Teach Us! We want to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him. One of the biggest lessons Jesus continually taught his disciples was faith and trust in Him.
So, As we begin to close down this year and get into the Holiday season we are going to move from Teach us the Way in Acts and begin a little series on Teach Us to Trust. We will pick back up in Acts in the new year as we look at Paul the Evangelist.
Faith is the substance and evidence of things that have not yet come to pass. “I have faith that you can accomplish all you have spoken.”
Trust is a character quality that put on an individual. “I trust that you will do all that you have said you will do.”
When I teach people how to study the Bible, I have them look for patterns or veins that run all through the word of God. It’s those principles that consist throughout the entirety of the Bible.
God has shown us a big vision for our church. In faith I can see the community center and Mental Wellness Clinic. It is the substance and the evidence of God’s vision for Reliant.
I trust that God has the power and the means to make our faith become sight.
God character and action is not dependent on my faith and trust. He will be bring to pass what he said and what he wants whether I believe it or not. But, when I do place my faith and trust in him, He allows me to join him in the work of faith as it becomes sight.
The Principle of the First Born
The Principle of the First Born
The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”
The Lord requires the firstborn consecrated to Him.
The Lord requires the firstborn consecrated to Him.
Set it aside because it belongs to God.
Set it aside because it belongs to God.
you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s.
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
The principle: if you are not willing to redeem it to the Lord then you will lose it anyway.
The principle: if you are not willing to redeem it to the Lord then you will lose it anyway.
Would you rather give your 10% to God and be bless or don’t give and lose it.
The Lord redeems the unclean with the clean.
The Lord redeems the unclean with the clean.
This is actually talking about Jesus. If you have an unclean animal it has to be redeemed with the sacrifice of the clean.
This is actually talking about Jesus. If you have an unclean animal it has to be redeemed with the sacrifice of the clean.
Donkey = Unclean
Lamb = Clean
We were born unclean and therefore must be redeemed by the clean.
We were born unclean and therefore must be redeemed by the clean.
Jesus was born clean and had to be sacrificed for the unclean.
Jesus was born clean and had to be sacrificed for the unclean.
The first one is the redemptive one.
The first one is the redemptive one.
The principle: You give God the first by faith knowing God will redeem the rest.
The principle: You give God the first by faith knowing God will redeem the rest.
The Example of Jericho
But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”
The Principle of the Firstfruits
The Principle of the Firstfruits
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
The Difference between bringing and giving to the Lord.
The Difference between bringing and giving to the Lord.
Exodus 23:19 (ESV)
“The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.
“bring”: He never uses the word give because you can’t give what isn’t yours.
“bring”: He never uses the word give because you can’t give what isn’t yours.
Malachi 3:8–10 (ESV)
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
The Difference between Cain and Able.
The Difference between Cain and Able.
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
The principle of First Fruits and Firstborn was in effect 2500 years before the law.
The principle of First Fruits and Firstborn was in effect 2500 years before the law.
Cain gave what he wanted when he wanted.
Cain gave what he wanted when he wanted.
You don’t get to decide what is the Lord’s if you want him to redeem it.
You don’t get to decide what is the Lord’s if you want him to redeem it.
God requires the first for His is the first. Second or last is never good enough for God.
God requires the first for His is the first. Second or last is never good enough for God.
Able brought the firstborn unto the Lord.
Able brought the firstborn unto the Lord.
Able honored the Lord as First and God regarded Able.
God shows favor to those that put Him first.
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
The Principle of the First Ten Percent
The Principle of the First Ten Percent
“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.
The tithe might be more personal to God than what you think because it represents Jesus.
The tithe might be more personal to God than what you think because it represents Jesus.
Jesus is the Firstborn of all creation
Jesus is the Firstborn of all creation
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Jesus is the Firstfruits of the resurrection.
Jesus is the Firstfruits of the resurrection.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Jesus is God’s tithe of clean for the unclean.
Jesus is God’s tithe of clean for the unclean.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God gave Jesus first to redeem sinners.
God gave Jesus first to redeem sinners.
Math example: If you have $1000 which is 10 $100 bill, how much is the tithe? $100.
Which one is the tithe? The first one to leave your hand.
Most try and give God the leftovers, but he would except it anyway because he’s first.
And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
We were an enslaved people in sin, but God with a mighty hand has redeemed us.
We were an enslaved people in sin, but God with a mighty hand has redeemed us.
Therefore we sacrifice to the Lord who has redeemed us and set us free.
Therefore we sacrifice to the Lord who has redeemed us and set us free.
We bring the firstfruits of all our increase unto the Lord as a reminder of the redemptive work of Jesus in our lives. The Clean for the Unclean.
We bring the firstfruits of all our increase unto the Lord as a reminder of the redemptive work of Jesus in our lives. The Clean for the Unclean.
If God is willing to tithe his son for you, why would we withhold the firstfruits from him?
If God is willing to tithe his son for you, why would we withhold the firstfruits from him?
Are you giving the Lord your leftovers or are you bringing him the firstfruits?
Are you giving the Lord your leftovers or are you bringing him the firstfruits?
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
R-Group Questions:
R-Group Questions:
As much as you feel comfortable, describe your journey of tithing to the group.
What connections did you draw from God’s tithe and your tithe to him? (hint: We illustrate God’s love for us through his sacrifice as we sacrifice back to him.)
For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’