First Fruits Part 5

Posted by Paula White - Sun, January 17, 2010 at 02:21 PM

Click here to download the sermon notes for “First Fruits Part 5”.

Text: Genesis 4:1-16
v.7 – If you do what is right will you not be accepted?

Accepted – (Hebrew) = An elevation in rank or character; elevation or cheerfulness, dignity, advanced, to lift and raise up.

There is a High Life in Christ, that God has provided for you (an utmost life).

It’s time to bring forth out of the invisible all acts of creative expression that God ordained for us to produce. It’s time for your dream to become a reality. No more delay to your destiny!

You hold in your heart God’s inheritance for you which is your piece of his great dream. The life God put you in is bigger than the life you are living. Challenge the status quo and Reject any self-imposed limitations. Do not all unfounded fear of failure to prevent you from initiating the pursuit of you r purpose.
ELEVATE = ADVANCE = LIFE
Decide to go for it like in II Kings 7:3 Where the four lepers said, “Why must we sit here and die?” Declare that you will be a proactive producer and stop making excuses. If you want to find a way, you will. If not you will find an excuse. Let’s go up in every area of life! It’s time for your lifting.

v.7 If thou doest well, you and your life will be elevated (advanced, lifted and raised up)
To retrace his steps to consider his ways and find where he was wrong then amend his offering and his intension accordingly.

In order to see the path to what you want you must first see clearly what is holding you back. You can’t conquer what you don’t confront and you can’t confront what you don’t identify. Cain’s error was not simply in an offering but it was in an attitude towards his offering.

Matt 6:21 reveals that where your treasure is there your heart will be also. This is a heart issue. Your checkbook is a book of revelation as to where your heart is. It reveals what is important to you and what you value. Remember the law of loving makes you giving. John 3:16 – For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten son. What you give to is a reflection of what you love, value or desire. God didn’t want or need Cain’s offering, He wanted Cain.
All first things belong to God.. Ex 23:19 Bring the best of your first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. Ex. 13:2 – Consecrate to me every first born male offspring of every womb man or animal – belongs to me. Gen. 3 – Adam and Eve were clearly and definitely instructed by God concerning the terms of approach with explicit requirements for worship.

Worship comes from 2 words:
Weorth = worth, value, respectc
Scype = to shape or build
Worship is to shape or build worth, value and respect.
Worship – is done out of an intimate relationship with God. God declares in John 4:23 the time has come where true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and in truth. Intimacy is freedom to share the real you with out rejection or abandonment. This is the desire and design of God – to live with you; have habitation. Ps. 132:13&14 – for the Lord has chosen Zion (a people and place in Christ) he has desired it for his habitation.
v. 14 – This is my resting place for ever and ever; here will I dwell for I have desired it.

God is looking for a resting place (place of habitation) Is there room in your life for him? You will fill your life with something, something occupies your heart. Follow the trail of your time, affection, energy, loyalty, thoughts, dreams and priorities and you will find what or who is sitting on the throne of your life or in your heart.

It was beyond question, Cain and Abel knew in order to come before God with acceptance there was a 1) place to worship 2) time to worship 3) a way to worship
By faith he was commended as a righteous man when God spoke well of his offering.
Abel – a man who made a decision by principle with execution. God offers us the choice between a fruitful and prosperous life or one that leaves behind little or nothing of lasting value.
Cain – gave what He wanted to give Abel – gave what God wanted.

Prov. 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace but with humility comes wisdom

Heb 11:4 – By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did (am much more full or complete sacrifice)

It wasn’t the type of offering But is it was the order and attitude honor and obedience of the offering that distinguished Abel’s as superior to Cain.

Abel – brought first fruits and honored the order or divine and accurate arrangement of God.
Cain – offering or worship was done out of obligation under his own terms.
v.3 – Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ( In part)
PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE
When? “In the process of time” At the end of day, when something has ended and now there is a 1st or a beginning.

There is a sacred time or appointment to bring God what belongs to him. A way or means of worship in this case…

The key to enjoying and living an utmost life and empowered, abundant life of quality with provision and purpose is to honor God and his word with our life. I John 3:12 – (warns us) be not like Cain from the evil one and slew his brother and why did he slay him? (Because his deeds activities, works, were wicked and malicious and his brothers were righteous.

Cain was: wroth (angry & jealous) Jealous – hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage. Your obedience will irritate those in opposition to the instruction and truth of God’s instruction; truth of God’s word. The condition of Cain’s heart was clearly revealed by his anger and actions. When you position yourself and posture for the good life in God, HATERS COME OUT! God will bench haters.

Joseph – brothers wanted to kill him.
Peninah – starts producing children irritates Hannah
David – celebrated by the woman who said “Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten of thousands.
Don’t waste your energy fighting the wrong opposition. The person has No respect for God has no respect for others or for themselves.

II Cor. 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see whether you are in faith (the word) test yourselves – do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you, unless of course you fail the test.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 – 9)The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? 10) the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

God pleaded with Cain to retrace his steps and make amends; Cain was cognizant of what to do – of the quality of offering to give God.
As a result, Cain
1) Lost the presence of God
2) Lost connection from family
3) No fixed or secure residence
4) Ground was cursed so it would not yield adequate recompense
5) A fugitive, to waver and go up and down, a vagabond – always disappearing

God wants to heal your life of everything and to bring your heart to a place of wholeness. God wants your heart/your love

First Fruits Part 5

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