First Fruits
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Pledge:
Passage: Proverbs 3:5-10
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Introduction:
This passage of scripture (3:5-6) is one of those passages that is so well known.
There is such truth in these verses .......
(Vs 5) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”
Trust - to rely on, to put confidence in.
Illustration:
Our bible is made up of 66 books, 31,142 verses,
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6918 Middle Verse of Bible
Middle Verse Of Bible
This text is found in a Psalm which is signalized by the fact that it contains the middle verse of the Bible, namely, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Ps. 118:9).
I don’t know about you but I have (in the past) had a hard time TRUSTING the Lord.
Because it looked too scary.
There was this unknown that I was uneasy about.
What if we made a decision today that 2019, we are going to trust the Lord.
2. (Vs 5) “… do not lean on your own understanding.”
When we lack in trust it is because we lean on our own understanding.
we live like this ..... “If we can understand it ..... we can trust it.”
Illustration of a chair with legs but one is broke.
Faith says the opposite though, doesn’t it?
“ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3. (Vs 6) “In all your ways acknowledge him”
Meaning: to accept someone to be what they claim too be.
He is God.
He is who He says he is.
He is God and we are not!
I had a boss at one of my job who was a real jerk.
As I was departing from that job to go into full-time ministry I remember saying to him, “You know the only difference between you God? God doesn’t think He is you.”
It is vital that we not only trust God, lean on our faith, but we must remember (Acknowledge) who he is!
Some people will say, “I know who God is, but why won’t he answer my prayer?”
Because he is not obligated to answer it they way we want it answered.
If nothing else today, let us be reminded of Who God is!
When we acknowledge God
..... Accept the idea of How He is
Vs 6 says there is a result of this .....
4. (Vs 6) “… he will make straight your paths.”
make linear movement with a focus that the movement has no wandering or turning from a course, implying movement with purpose or ease
Its interesting to the idea that scripture is not saying , “Make your path straight.”
A Path you desire, design, take!
It say’s “make straight your path.”
The path the Lord has designed for you! It was designed straight.
The beautiful thing about this is that when we get off track the Lord can straighten it all out.
The reason I say this is because of this Hebrew word for “Make straight” .....
Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology yiqtōl (imperfect)
‘Imperfective’ refers to the kind of action being described, not the time of the action. An action can be viewed in process in the past (“was walking”), the present (“is walking”), or even the future (“will be walking”)
..... it is an ‘Imperfective’ refers to the kind of action being described, not the time of the action. An action can be viewed in process in the past (“was walking”), the present (“is walking”), or even the future (“will be walking”)
‘Imperfective’ refers to the kind of action being described, not the time of the action. An action can be viewed in process in the past (“was walking”), the present (“is walking”), or even the future (“will be walking”)
Meaning this
… if you got off track in the past (He can make your path straight)
… If you decide to walk in His ways today (He can make your path straight)
… If you are trust (Faith in the Lord) your future Path is already laid out for you (Straight).
As a believer .... this should get you fired up!
As a non believer …. this should give you HOPE! Hole for your future!
God’s got this!
Just trust him! Have Faith!
I am not sure why we stop at verse 6 because Verses 7-10 has some great truths as well .......
5. (Vs 7) “Be not wise in your own eyes”
shrewd, crafty, cunning
shrewd, crafty, cunning
shrewd, crafty, cunning
Could lead to arrogance, cockiness, self reliance (Carnality)
6. (Vs 7) “… fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition In the Text
The best antidote for a prideful attitude is fearing Yahweh* and shunning* evil.*
You know what this said to me ....
The best antidote for a prideful attitude is fearing the Lord and shunning evil.
Fear - To regard with feelings of respect and reverence; considered exalted or be in awe of.
Turn away - to turn away, turn aside, depart! (REPENT)
You know what this said to me ....
The best antidote for a prideful attitude is fearing the Lord and shunning evil.
7. (Vs 8) “It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Healing - what is IT?
and refreshment to your bones.”
What will be healing?
Trusting in the Lord, Faith in the Lord, Acknowledging the Lord, Fearing the Lord, turning away from Evil.
All of this is healing to the flesh!
Refreshment - But it also refreshment to the bones!
For the Israelites strong bones were the essence of a healthy body.
Proverbs: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition In the Text
For the Israelites strong bones were the essence of a healthy body.
Worshipping God can cause one to live a healthy life.
Illustration:
A recent study, from Researchers from Ohio State University, finds that people who regularly attend religious services live approximately four years longer than average.
Researchers built the study from previous data suggesting that social interaction, volunteer work, and healthy habits can lead to a longer life.
While one could point to gym memberships and service clubs as offering similar results, there are unique benefits to church attendance that are difficult to measure.
Consistent engagement with a community of believers deepens faith, enriches the soul, and may be the real key to longevity.
Researchers from Ohio State University conducted two surveys studying more than 1,500 newspaper obituaries first from Ohio, then from across the United States.
These results come as no surprise to Azusa Pacific University's experts in the fields of counseling and faith.
“Churchgoers tend to engage in positive behaviors including high social interaction and lower rates of alcohol and drug abuse,” said Bill Fiala, Ph.D., licensed psychologist and professor in APU’s Department of Higher Education. “In addition, religious support and coping are both related to positive outcomes in mental health.”
So ..... Trusting in the Lord, living out our Faith in the Lord, always Acknowledging the Lord, Fearing the Lord, and Turning away from Evil. (DOES THE SOUL AND BODY GOOD) and you thought it was milk!
BODY:
Verses 9-10 is where I want to focus in on today.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
How many of you remember the feeling of doing something first?
Share things of doing “FIRST”
First one in the pool (un-rippled water)
First one across the finish line
The first drink of Coke (Tell about my addiction)
That first bite of a hamburger
Getting picked first for teams
Thinking of something first before anyone else had thought of it
Having your first child
That first kiss!
I have to admit, I have not received the first fruits of a harvest. (Not a farmer)
But I have enjoyed corn on the cob at the first of the season. (Delicious).
I have enjoyed an apple straight from the tree. (First fruits)
The Bible talks about “FIRST.”
The Firstborn Males and ...
The Firstborn of the livestock
English Standard Version Chapter 13
11 “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you,
12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s.
13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
() 11 “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.”
12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s.
13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
The First Fruits
English Standard Version Chapter 23
The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.
“The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.”
Let us not forget that livestock and produce was the financial resources of that day. (It was their wealth)
This was honoring to the Lord
Segway:
So Giving of our “first” honors God.
What does, Giving of our first fruits, look like today?
I think we all know that one of those “FIRST” should be giving of our tithes and offerings.
This needs to be first out of the bank account.
If nothing more this is to honor God.
This is not so that the Pastoral staff gets paid!
So that we can have this nice building.
No! It’s simply so the we show HONOR to God!
We need to be giving “FIRST” our day!
Devotions! Prayer!
We need to be giving “First” our Future!
We surrender First what we do not know. (2019)
So lets ask ourselves this morning, “In 2018 did I honor God?”
I am not asking you that to condemn you but for us to be real with ourselves.
If so … PTL
If not … (I have some great news for us today) we can start off 2019 by doing just that.
(Have the Praise team come back up)
Conclusion:
We can start 2019 off with giving of our First Fruits when it comes to finances (Tithes & Offerings)
(Ask the Ushers to come)
BLESS THE OFFERING
Only you can Honor God with the FIRST of your day. (21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer)
But today, I think we can honor God with the first of our FUTURE!
What do I mean by this?
Let’s come and seek what the Lord would have for us in 2019 by asking the Lord for a verse.
What verse, for this year, would the lord have for you “individually?”
Let’s ask him to reveal this to us (Today, tonight, tomorrow) Whenever! But let’s keep seeking until we receive this verse for the year 2019.
Prayer time!
Now what we want to do is receive communion.
We want to take the first of this year and remember what the Lord has done for us.
Read the Communion Paper