“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the First Fruits of all your increase: so, shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
25 Years. A lot can happen in 25 years. Almost 25 years ago we experienced the turn of the century – the turn of a millennium. Some of us approached the year 2000 with hope and excitement while others of us harbored fear and trepidation. Many babies born that year are graduating from college and some are even parents themselves! Twenty-five years ago my wife Dorothy (who was then my fiancé) and I, approached the new millennium in prayer and made a decision that has changed the course of our lives.
In 1998, we took a class to understand the meaning of First Fruits. We learned that First Fruits is an opportunity for us to be in covenant with each other and God as a three-cord strand as we pray about our finances. It is an annual decision to trust God to meet our needs for the coming year. We decided in 1999 to give God a First Fruits offering in January to honor Him because all we have is His and to demonstrate our trust in Him. We have been giving a First Fruits offering ever since and that’s close to 25 years now. We have honored God and He has shown us much favor in our finances, health, security, travel, relationships, and family. We have a wonderful son and daughter-in-law. We have experienced a debt-free lifestyle and have been provided many opportunities to give back and serve in the body of Christ. We believe giving our First Fruits offering has given us the freedom to enjoy life, and we thank God for being our Source and our Provider.
The First Fruits offering is a way to honor God at the beginning of the year. It’s a way of telling God that you love, trust, and recognize Him as your Source for meeting all of your needs for the coming year. You’ve heard the First Fruits testimonies this year. God is not a respecter of persons; what He has done for others, He will also do for you.
God has established a covenant with you (Ephesians 2:12-13; Deuteronomy 8:18). The Word of God says, “As long as the earth remains, there will be seed time and harvest” (Genesis 8:22a). If we plant a seed in the ground, we shall receive a harvest.
When God gave His Son Jesus (the First Fruit) as a sacrifice for our sins, He gave His first and best. He deserves nothing less than the same from us. We don’t depend on the world but on our God, so we honor Him with our First Fruits.
This year, when you give your First Fruits offering, confess this prayer over it, adapted from Deuteronomy 26: 3, 5-10, 13-15; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 7; and Malachi 3:10.
I confess this day to You, Lord God, that I have come into the inheritance which You swore to give me. I was a sinner held in bondage and darkness by Satan. But I called upon the Name of Jesus, and You heard my cry and delivered me from the power and authority of darkness. You lifted me out of my affliction and oppression. You took me in, forgave me, and translated me into the kingdom of Your dear Son. You made me Yours through the shed blood of Jesus and gave me authority over the evil one.
Jesus, as my Lord and High Priest, I bring the First Fruits of my income which You have given me. I believe by faith that you will place it before the Father and worship Him with it. I will join in worship as well. I rejoice in all the good which You have given to me and my household. I listen to the voice of the Lord my God and have done according to all that You have commanded me.
Now look down from heaven, Your holy habitation, and bless me, Your servant, according to Your riches in glory. Bless my land as You have promised in Your Word.
I declare the blessing is pouring out, and there’s not enough room to receive it. God, you have rebuked the devourer for my sake. The work of my hands will not be destroyed and come to nothing. Today, I am experiencing God’s supernatural increase, and I walk by faith. I worship You, Lord, and I declare it is done, in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth. Amen!
If you feel led, you can give your First Fruits at bridgeway.cc/firstfruits.
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