“The First to Rise” Pastor Dave Jansen May 28, 2017

Leviticus 23:4-6, 9-14 (NLT) The Lord’s Passover begins at sundown on the fourteenth day of the first month. The next day, the fifteenth day of the month, you must begin celebrating the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you enter the land I am giving you and you harvest its first crops, bring the priest... (cont’d) Leviticus 23:4-6, 9-14 (NLT)

...a bundle of grain from the first cutting of your grain harvest. On the day after the Sabbath, the priest will lift it up before the Lord so it may be accepted on your behalf. On that same day you must sacrifice a one-year-old male lamb with no defects as a burnt offering to the Lord. With it you must present a grain offering consisting of four quarts of choice flour moistened... (cont’d) Leviticus 23:4-6, 9-14 (NLT)

...with olive oil. It will be a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. You must also offer one quart of wine as a liquid offering. Do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh kernels on that day until you bring this offering to your God. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation wherever you live. Leviticus 23:4-6, 9-14 (NLT)

Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’ Deuteronomy 26:3 (NLT)

The Feast of Firstfruits is God the first of what we have about giving God the first of what we have

All the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord.” Numbers 3:13 (NLT)

Redeem them when they are one month old. The redemption price is five pieces of silver Numbers 18:16 (NLT)

His parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord. Luke 2:22-23 (NLT)

He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:18 (NIV)

Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth... Revelation 1:5 (NIV)

Jesus was the first to rise from the dead

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV) Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV)

His resurrection guarantees ours

A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. John 5:28-29 (NIV)

We can face death with that hope!

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s... (cont’d) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

...word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (cont’d) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

What can you do to show your gratitude?

What can you do to show your gratitude? Give him your firstfruits

Proverbs 3:5-10 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to... (cont’d) Proverbs 3:5-10 (NIV)

your body and nourishment to your bones ...your body and nourishment to your bones. 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. Proverbs 3:5-10 (NIV)

Thankful that Jesus is the firstfruit of my resurrection someday...

Thankful that Jesus is the firstfruit of my resurrection someday... -- I am committing today to give God the firstfruits of my time, talent and treasure

Thankful that Jesus is the firstfruit of my resurrection someday... -- I am committing today to give God the firstfruits of my time, talent and treasure -- I want to give God my firstfruits. Help me, God, to trust you.

“The First to Rise” Pastor Dave Jansen May 28, 2017