OUTLINES
1.WHAT ARE FIRST FRUITS AND HOW ARE THEY GIVEN?
2.BENEFITS OF GIVING FIRST FRUITS
WHAT ARE FIRST FRUITS AND HOW ARE THEY GIVEN?
First fruits are in three categories:
a.) The first fruits of increase- proverb 3:9-10 for example, increase in salary (different between the old and new salary)
b.) The first fruits sacrifice- Genesis 22.God told Abraham to sacrifice Issac his only son. This means the entire January salary, for instance. The different between first fruit of increase and the first fruit sacrifice is in divine response in the first fruit of increase. God promised that your barn will burst while in the first fruit sacrifice, your blessing will become global they will be irreversible and they will extend to your generations yet unborn.Genesis 22:15-18
c.) Redemption of the first male child- exodus 13:13; 34:20; Numbers 18:15-19. The first child belongs to God. You can redeem him With a price.
The first fruit is the chief priest. Dedicating first fruits to God is a way of thanking him for providing them.
BENEFITS OF GIVING FIRST FRUITS
Our perfect example is Abraham Genesis 22:15-18. When he kept the commandment according to proverb 3:9 God lifted him. so he he promised to lift as many as will keep or obey his voice on the matter of first fruits as on every other commandments. Abraham honoured God and he was mightily blessed Genesis 24:35.36. Hannah honoured God with Samuel and she had five more children 1samuel 2:21. Solomon honoured the Lord with a thousand burnt offerings at the beginning of his regime as the king of Israel. For this, God visited him and blessed him with what money could not buy- 1kings 3:3-14.
CONCLUSIONS
A first fruit of every type is what God asks from his children and this is a way of declaring our love for him, and to thank him for his blessings. To pay our first fruits is to be established more firmly in His covenants with us.
