FIRST FRUITS

After waiting for around 20 years, we had experienced the first fruits of our langsat-duku cross; it was a wonderful feeling of thanksgiving and joy to see how the good Lord had finally answered our prayers and saw our labor. Yes, we are still continuing to labor in His Vineyard, which we had lovingly named as Village of Faith, and in spite of all odds, we are seeing the mighty hand of God through His Word and Spirit, doing healing and reconciling families. Thanks to all the intercessors and prayers warriors who stood with us and most of all, THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT. LET ALL GLORY BE TO HIM.

The Literal Meaning:

While there is no New Testament admonition binding Christians to give "firstfruits' we do know that God loves a cheerful giver. Christians are expected to give of our substance to support the work of the church and missions. We, like the Israelites need to give.

The Spiritual Meaning:

All Christians are especially dedicated to God in the manner of firstfruits. As it is written in James 1:18, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." We need to be mindful, just as God wanted Israel to be mindful, that we and all we have belong to God.

The Passover Connection:

Christ in His Resurrection is "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" 

1 Corinthians 15:20-23. Jesus gave His life as our Passover lamb on the 14th day of the first Hebrew month, Nisan. We believe that He rose from the dead on the 16th of Nisan, the Feast of Firstfruits. Since Jewish reckoning views part of a day as a full day, the 14th through the 16th was considered three days.

1 Corinthians may even have been written shortly after Passover, to judge by references such as 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 and 16:8. Christ rose as the first to be resurrected, but all who trust in Him will also rise from the dead in the final "harvest."

The Prophetic Meaning:

In addition to the fact that God has promised that we, too, will be raised from the dead, in Romans 8:23 Paul says that as redeemed people we possess the "firstfruits of the Spirit." "Paul is saying here either that the measure of the Holy Spirit that we now have is but a foretaste of the greater measure there will be in the age to come, or that the gift of the Spirit now is a foretaste of the many other blessings we will have in due course.

Further insight visit: http://www.delusionresistance.org/christian/firstfruits.html