Do you know how much Do you know how much God talks in the Bible God talks in the Bible

aboutabout……Baptism? Baptism? 40 verses40 versesFaith? Faith? 350 verses350 versesPrayer? Prayer? 275 verses275 versesLove? Love? 650 verses650 versesFinances/Material Possessions/ Finances/Material Possessions/ Wealth? Wealth? 2,350 verses!2,350 verses!

Generosity: Key to Generosity: Key to Abundant LivingAbundant Living

““Generosity Generosity through through

Firstfruits Firstfruits Giving”Giving”

generositygenerosity  Yes, you will be Yes, you will be enriched in every enriched in every

wayway so that you can so that you can always be generousalways be generous… …

(2 Cor. 9:11a)(2 Cor. 9:11a)

generositygenerosity showing a readiness to give showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or time, than is strictly necessary or

expectedexpected

Firstfruits GivingFirstfruits GivingBegins with Begins with consistentlyconsistently giving God a giving God a

% of the income He has provided% of the income He has provided(why begin with 10?(why begin with 10?…10 is used with …10 is used with

tests)tests)

10% is a starting point, but we are 10% is a starting point, but we are not not under the law but graceunder the law but grace…and GRACE …and GRACE ALWAYS GOES BEYOND THE LAW! ALWAYS GOES BEYOND THE LAW! (Matthew 5)(Matthew 5)

Firstfruits: Timeless Firstfruits: Timeless PrinciplePrincipleSeen in Genesis, with the first Seen in Genesis, with the first

people on earth.people on earth.

Seen in Joshua, with the first battle Seen in Joshua, with the first battle for the promised possession.for the promised possession.

Seen in Jesus, with the first one to Seen in Jesus, with the first one to overcome death. (1 Cor. 15:20-23)overcome death. (1 Cor. 15:20-23)

Firstfruits Giving…Firstfruits Giving…#1-Honors (kabod) the lord with #1-Honors (kabod) the lord with what I produced. what I produced. Prov. 3:9Prov. 3:9

#2-Sets aside the first. #2-Sets aside the first. 1 Cor. 16:21 Cor. 16:2

#3-Lives in the supernatural favor #3-Lives in the supernatural favor of God. of God. Prov. 3:10; Luke 6:38; Rom. Prov. 3:10; Luke 6:38; Rom. 11:1611:16

Generosity/Firstfruits Principle

Give freely and become

more wealthy; be stingy and lose

everything. (Prov. 11:24)

Action Steps…Action Steps…1. Commit to being a generous 1. Commit to being a generous person, and then to being a person, and then to being a generous giver. Repent if necessary.generous giver. Repent if necessary.

2. Set aside the first; honor the Lord 2. Set aside the first; honor the Lord with it, then bring your offering. If with it, then bring your offering. If you have never done this do it now.you have never done this do it now.

Next Steps…Next Steps…3. If you have never given 10% 3. If you have never given 10% before begin where your faith isbefore begin where your faith is… … but begin today and be consistent.but begin today and be consistent.

4. Plan to bring a firsfruit offering 4. Plan to bring a firsfruit offering to begin the year and begin a cycle to begin the year and begin a cycle of harvest and the supernatural. of harvest and the supernatural.