Honor the Principle of "First Things First" - and Put God First in 2010, "the Year of Completion and Fulfillment!"

Are you ready to live the life God meant for you to live?  Are you ready to live an ultimate life with purpose, provision, blessings and fullness of His presence?

Well, there is a specific principle and pattern in God’s Word that is foundational, and even fundamental, for the manifestation of God’s promises and provision to come to pass in our lives. It is the principle of “the First” – also known as First Fruits - because God is very serious about FIRST THINGS FIRST! 

You cannot have the existence of every promise of God without obeying this foundational principle—First Fruits.  First Fruits is prioritizing God’s presence in your life.  It’s putting His order and accurate arrangement into place.  First Fruits provide the foundation and structure for God’s promises and blessings in your life. 

Even as the world is faced with uncertain times and global recession, the body of Christ must put their faith and trust in God’s Word, and the firm and true principles He has established for our blessing, protection, and provision.  We must make His presence our priority!  No matter what your situation today, God has instituted this principle – the principle of First Fruits—for your success in 2010!  It is a pattern laid out for your provision, for your well-being and abundant life…a pattern laid out for your peace and protection…a pattern laid out for your family and future…a pattern laid out for your career success. You just have to follow the pattern in obedience and honor to God. 

This pattern and principle of First Fruits is all throughout the Word of God.  You see where God spoke to Moses as He prepared the Israelites to be led out of slavery in Egypt:

And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it to thee, That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among they children shalt thou redeem.  (Exodus 13:11-13)

First is fundamental or essential, serving as the basis for supporting existence.  That means whatever is first or fundamental affects everything that follows it!  That is why God lays claim to ALL first things. The first sets the pattern for the rest.  God requires you to give Him ALL FIRSTS - to put Him first in everything!  As you honor Him first in your life through your obedience in your worship, your dedication, your prayers, your fasting, and your offerings then His presence governs the rest!  The first represents the total—whatever the first portion is used for determines what will happen to the rest. 

God declares in (Exodus 22:29)….  “Do not hold back offerings from your grainaries or your vats.  You must give me the firstborn of your sons.  Do the same with your cattle and your sheep…”

The Hebrew word for first fruits, reshiyth, means “the first in place, time, order or rank.” It also means the beginning, the chief or principle thing.  Another Hebrew word for first fruits, bikkurim, means “a promise to come.” It shares the same root word, bekhor, as the word meaning “firstborn.”  The first fruits offerings establish the law of first things, that is the giving over or devotion, as required, of all firsts.  First fruits, which belong to God, govern the rest and set the pattern—and position the believer to receive the promises of God.

C.S. Lewis said, “When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed, but increased.”  Romans 11:16 tells us “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches” (NKJV).
We have to understand God’s never-changing principle—that for possession to happen in our lives, we must work in His divine order, governed by the truth of the Word of God.  When the “first” of anything is consecrated to God, then His presence and provision covers or governs the rest of it.  ALL firsts belong to God, that is the first thoughts of your day, the first day of the week, the first month of the year, the first of all your increase, and so on…  ALL FIRSTS!!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow . . .” (Proverbs 3:5, 6, 9, 10, NKJV).
 
It is important to remember that provision is about more than finances . . . it is a wholeness word.  It encompasses spirit, soul, mind, body and emotions as well as finances.  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly,” which means superior in quality and quantity (John 10:10, NKJV).

So, how do you implement the principle of First Fruits?  Simply put, you KEEP FIRST THINGS FIRST.  You keep God first in every area of your life by:

PRAYING. Give God your first thoughts in the morning.  Talk with Him before you do anything else EVERY day.  Pray without ceasing for your family, for financial recovery and blessings, for healing . . . for all of your needs.  God will honor your faithfulness

PLANNING.  As you look ahead in 2010, what are your goals?  Seek God’s clear direction for your unique destiny.  Get a plan of action.  Keep it in front of you on a daily basis.  Let it get into your spirit.  See it!  Believe it!  Live it!

MAKING AN OFFERING.  God established that we honor Him throughout all generations with the giving of a first fruits offering.  He declared that is a holy ordinance to be kept forever.  Give your First Fruits offering at the beginning of this year in obedience to God’s command and see the activation of His promises.  Your sacrificial offering will be a seed for provision and blessings the remainder of the year.  According to Ezekiel 44, when you present your First Fruits offering, it will cause a blessing to rest, that is to settle down, upon your house! 
Each January, I along with many others, put God first and honor Him with the first of my substance by sowing a First Fruits offering.  Though it is a sacrifice, it is the seed for God’s presence to govern my year and release supernatural provision.  First Fruits sets the pace and pattern for the year.  Remember, First Fruits is the whole of the first.  I always honor Him with an entire week’s pay — sometimes with an entire month’s pay.

Every year I invite my ministry friends and partners like you to join me and sow a week’s salary.  Others give a day’s pay.  But everyone shares their best in obedience with giving of First Fruits offering honoring and establishing God’s presence and provision for the year.  The results are miraculous! 

Won’t you join me in putting God first in your life—as you honor Him through your best First Fruits offering, in obedience to His command?  As you do so, you will position yourself to experience the promise of His provision, protection, blessing and abundance in 2010 – “the year of completion and fulfillment!”

God bless you, and Happy New Year!

Click here to sow your sacrificial FirstFruits Offering today!

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