The Secret of Having a Victorious New Year (For 2025) | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

The principle of the first fruits is a foundational concept throughout the Bible. It teaches that when the first part is blessed and dedicated to God, the rest is also blessed. This principle calls us to give the first portion of what we receive to God before we use it for ourselves or any other purpose.

In the book of Genesis, we see that God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. The concept of beginnings is deeply tied to the biblical principle of the first fruits. The Hebrew word for first fruit is “Reshit,” which signifies the initial or first portion that is to be consecrated to the Lord.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He established the law of the first fruits. This law instructed them to offer the first of everything to God, including the firstborn of their families and the first harvest of their fields. During the time of Passover, there was a specific day known as the Day of First Fruits. On this day, the priest would go into the fields and cut down the first sheaf of the spring harvest. This offering symbolized new life and marked the end of the long winter season. By dedicating the first fruits to God, the Israelites ensured that the rest of their harvest would be blessed.

The concept extended beyond crops. The firstborn son in each family was also considered the first fruit. However, the Levites were chosen by God to take the place of the firstborn in service to Him. This act of redemption reinforced the principle that the first belongs to God and must be consecrated to Him.

This idea of first fruits carried over to the New Testament. Jesus, the Messiah, rose from the dead on the Day of First Fruits during Passover, becoming the first fruit of those who will be resurrected. Fifty days later, during the Feast of Shavuot (known in Greek as Pentecost), the early believers were anointed by the Holy Spirit. On that day, God dedicated 120 believers as the first fruits of a new spiritual harvest—the age of salvation for all nations. These believers spoke in different languages, symbolizing that the message of salvation would spread to all people and nations.

The first fruits principle is also connected to the tithe, which represents the first 10% of one’s income. While most people today are not farmers, the concept remains relevant. The tithe is a way of acknowledging that everything we have comes from God. By giving the first part of our income to God, we recognize His provision and invite His blessing over the rest of our resources.

In ancient Israel, the first day of every biblical month was celebrated as a holy day, known as the New Moon. The Israelites would sound the shofar, marking the first fruits of the month as holy to God. This practice reinforced the importance of honoring God at the beginning of each new cycle.

The principle of the first fruits reminds us that God should be first in every aspect of our lives. Before we spend on our needs or desires, we should honor God with the first portion. By doing so, we demonstrate that He is our priority and that we trust Him to bless and provide for the rest.

In modern times, the first fruits principle continues to encourage believers to dedicate their time, resources, and efforts to God before anything else. It’s a powerful reminder that when we put God first, everything else in our lives falls into its proper place. As the Bible teaches, if the first part is holy and blessed, the rest will be holy and blessed as well.