"We Are A Harvest Offering" Dr. Jim Cecy

Introduction: God called His people to be a festive people Exodus 23:16 “Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.” Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord Our Provider. James 1:16-18 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”

I. The First Fruit Offerings of the Old Testament 1. The first of what you sow in the field (Ex. 23:16,19; 34:26) 2. The first of your wheat harvest (Ex. 34:22) 3. The best of your fresh oil and wine and grain (Num. 18:12; Deut. 18:4) 4. The first shearing of your sheep (Deut. 18:4) 5. The first of the honey you gathered (2 Chron. 31:5) 6. The first of the produce on your land (2 Chron. 31:5) 7. The first of all the fruit of every tree (Neh. 10:35) 8. The first of the dough before you made bread (Ex. 44:30) 9. The first born of your cattle, herds and flocks (Neh. 10:36) 10. And even your first born child (the fruit of your womb) (Ps. 105:36, etc.) These "first fruits" (Hebrew: bikkurim) - were consecrated and set apart as holy to the Lord - served as a reminder of the goodness and mercy of God - and were also a sign of a fuller harvest to come.

II. The First Fruit Offering of the New Testament James 1:16-18 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” "…the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven." (Heb 12:23) "…just as He chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world." (Eph 1:4) "…it is the gift of God, not as a result of works..." (Eph 2:9) "…born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Jn 1:3) “The Christian church is the only society in the world in which membership is based upon the qualification that the candidate shall be unworthy of membership."

A. I am consecrated and set apart as holy to the Lord Rom 11:16 "And if the first piece of dough (Christ) be holy, the lump is also (us)..." ”The Bliss and Blisters of Salvation” 1 Peter 2:9-12 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

 

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Just as the Jews of old did not normally tithe the first fruits, so we don't give 10% our lives. God wants it all as an offering. Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Our Prayer "Lord, I give my life to you as a firstfruit offering. I present myself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you. All that I am I give to you at this moment. In Jesus Name. Amen."

B. I am a reminder of the goodness and mercy of God Our lives are pictures of God's goodness and mercy

1. I am to declare His goodness with my life An incognito Christian is a contradiction in terms Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

2. I am to declare His goodness with my words Psalm 103:1-5 "Bless the Lord, o my soul and all that is within. Bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, o my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle."

C. I am a sign of a fuller harvest In the Old Testament the first-fruit offering was presented to the Lord, thanking Him for the future harvest that had not even come. This is equally true of Christians as firstfruits. • In Rom. 16:5 - the Apostle Paul calls Epaenetus the first fruit in Asia • In 1 Cor. 16:15 - Paul calls the household of Stephanus the first fruit of Achaia - the first believers in Greece but followed by many others • In 2 Thess 2:13 - Paul speaks of the Thessalonians as "from the beginning" (lit. the first fruits) for salvation -- knowing that their witness had spread throughout the ancient world "…bear fruit for God." (Romans 7:4) * "…go and bear fruit" (Jn 15:16) John 4:35 "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest." Mt. 9:37 "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Concluding Challenge: "You are an offering to God. Do you promise to regularly present yourself to Me as a holy vessel?" "You are a reminder of how good and merciful I am. Do you promise to declare My goodness to those around you?" "You are a sign of a fuller harvest. Do you promise to prayerfully participate in My harvest of souls." "Lord, Thank you for making my life an offering. May it be a pleasing sacrifice to you today. Amen." © 2009 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com

 

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