All In: I Got A Heavenly Hand

Sermon Text: Joshua 7:,1 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.

Point 1: What is first fruit?

It's the harvest that ripens first. It's not the tithes or offerings.

Prov. 3:9, Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Point 2: When was first fruit given?

It was given the first of Jewish New Year when they entered the Promised Land. It was also given whenever different crops were ready for harvest.

            Lev. 23:9-10, The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.

Point 3: Why did they give first fruits?

So they would be blessed and the rest of their harvest/year would be fruitful.

Prov. 3:9-10, Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Romans 11:16, If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Point 4: What is the theological implications of first fruits?

God even gave his first fruit in Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:20, But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

James 1:18, He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Point 5: What is the impact of first fruit?

It has the impact of increasing my faith and showing God I am all in.

Genesis 4:3-5, In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Point 6: What is the life application for us?

Our first fruit is our harvest/pay (one day, two days, one week pay, etc.) like Scripture teaches us we are giving it the first of the year so the rest of the year will be blessed. It goes toward our pledge which pays for construction.

Point 7: The more I give the more I add to my account. 

              Phil. 4:17, Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. Mal. 3:16, Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

            Rev. 20:12, And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

(a)           Everything I do is accounted for.

Point 8: Every time I give I purchase souls for the kingdom, infrastructure, and future rewards.

Matt. 13:44-46, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Point 9: I need to make an exchange for external living.

(a)           I will live forever so I might as well live well.

Rev. 21:1-2, Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  

Luke 12:32 - 34 Do not be afraid…(33) Sell your possessions…Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted.

Point 10: Eternity is equality in heaven but not my rewards.

2 Cor. 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Prov. 24:12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it?  Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Point 11: My rewards are connected to what I did on earth.

Luke 6:35; 14:13-14, But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Heb. 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Matt. 16:27, For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Crowns imply status and position i.e. crown prince then they are just prince

a. Crown of life given for faithfulness James 1: 12…he will receive the crown of life

b. Incorruptible Crown given for determination 1 Cor 9: 24…only one gets the prize…25…we do it to get the crown that will last forever…

c. Crown of glory spiritual leadership 1 Peter 5: 1 – 4 …serving…because you are willing…not greedy for money…you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

d. Crown of righteousness for purifying and readying yourself for Christ return 2 Tim 4: 6 - 8…there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…not only for me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing