First fruit Sermon

I give God all the glory and honour for giving me this privilege to write this. whenever it comes

to giving to the Lord, a lot of people find it difficult to do that and why? All they want is asking

God to give them this or that. Giving to God is an expression of love. 1 John 4:8 He that loveth

not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1Jo 4:8 KJV). So if you will walk with him, you must

learn and know how to give. You must be loving and know how to express divine love.

The essence of the first fruit is seen in the book of Jeremiah 2:3 where God tells you why? And

the reason he requires first fruit from you. Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and

the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith

the LORD. (Jer 2:3 KJV). Devouring the first fruit brings evil.

God made Israel his first fruit of his increase and devouring or destroying Israel brings evil to the

person who tried it. As you can see it throughout the bible, anyone or nation God used to punish

the children of Israel, God still do a comeback punishment. But why? They touch his first fruit.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them

that slept. (1Co 15:20 KJV). The scripture here shows Jesus as the first fruit of all who died

serving the Lord so they may rise with him.

It is a way God operates. Proverb 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the

firstfruits of all thine increase: (Pro 3:9 KJV) first fruit is a way of honouring God. There is a

difference between tithing and first fruit. The book of Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into

the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the

LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that

there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Mal 3:10 KJV). It talks about bringing tithe.
A lot of people think tithe and is part of the old covenant, whereas Abraham paid his tithe to

Melchizedek long before Moses was born not to talk of him giving the law to the children of

Israel and this means that it is not under the old covenant that we have tithe, it has been before

the law, not to over emphasized the book of Hebrew 7:1-10 speaks the story of Abraham and

Melchizedek the priest of God.

First fruit is the first of all you produced as the children of Israel offer their first born to God not

as a burnt offering, but as God’s own vessel known as a living sacrifice. Their first livestock,

first farm produce etc. The bible make it clear in Malachi 3:11-12 And I will rebuke the devourer

for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast

her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you

blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:11-12 KJV). Which

shows that tithe rebuke the devil and bring blessings to your home, house, marriage and all your

endeavours.

In the book of Ezekiel 44:30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of

all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first

of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. (Eze 44:30 KJV). The

above scripture shows that first fruit cause not blessings to come, it makes it rest. Tithe bring

blessings, but first fruit cause the blessing to rest in your home, marriage, finance etc.

The book of Romans proves it in Romans 11:16 that first fruit is part of the grace dispensation as

it is written in Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be

holy, so are the branches. (Rom 11:16 KJV). Under the law, if the unclean touches the clean, it

makes the clean unclean, but under the grace dispensation, if the unclean touches the clean, the
clean not just makes the unclean clean, it makes it whole. As we can see it in the story of Jesus

and the woman with the issue of blood.

Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the

receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Rom 11:15 KJV) and the book of 1 Corinthians

15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

(1Co 15:20 KJV). The scripture makes it clear that Christ is the first fruit and we are joined with

him makes us holy. If what saves us is through first fruit, why shouldn’t we observe it or do it.

How do we give it?

Nehemiah 10:35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all

trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: (Neh 10:35 KJV). The bible makes it clear that

you bring your first fruit yearly to the Lord, your first salary in the year is for God, your first

sales profit in the year is for God. I understand that faith grows and if you can’t pay it once, you

can pay it twice, as in give your half salary or half sales profit and then the following month you

can balance it up.

The essence of giving is a prove of love and so do it cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting

down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and

bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; {imaginations: or, reasonings}

(2Co 10:5 KJV). Your mind or your reasoning might be giving you different thought, but the

bible says casting down all imaginations or thought that raise itself above the knowledge of God.

Proverb 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own

understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in

thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Pro 3:5-7 KJV). This is David’s advice to

Solomon, a lot of Christians will say if I give this money, how will I get back to this point of
financial level, what a natural man! It is the blessings of the Lord that maketh rich and add no

sorrow (Proverb 10:22). It is not of him that runneth nor of him that willeth, but of him the Lord

shows mercy (Romans 9:16).

Since you have been holding your hands back not to give, did anything change? Are you better

than before? Why not even try and trust God, if God mercy is not on your work, you will work

very hard and still end up in debt. There is something you don’t understand about God. He is a

jealous God. (Nahum 1:2) and when you hold back your hand, he sees a rival (called Mammon)

that you love more than him (God) and the more you hold back, the more he makes it scares for

you to get it.

Do you want to live by your salary or by his mercy? Do you want to live by your handiwork or

by his grace? Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psa 127:1 KJV). Don’t be

fooled, life is spiritual, pay your tithe and first fruit then await God’s visitation. If God is not

involved, you labour is in vain, ask me why children from the best schools are not always the

best? A lot of people don’t pay their tithe and first fruit and they are doing well, but at the end of

all they build nothing stands.

God gave Jesus to the whole world and that multiplies and bring him many sons as you and I are

now sons of God, everything you give God multiplies in multiple folds. Hannah gave Samuel

and she conceived more, she brings forth more children. You might know what is called first

fruit and you don’t understand it. Here it is now, work on it and God will make his blessings to

rest on and in your life, house, business and all you have. Hallelujah

In Hebrew 3:15-16 says While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came
out of Egypt by Moses. (Heb 3:15-16 KJV). There is a promise land, there is a destination God is

taking you to, not all get to promise land, do this and get to your destination in life. Every destiny

has a destination.

OLORUNSAYE, John Abayomi

ABCC MINISTRIES