Kigoye Eriya

Numbers 28:26 “Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:”     God expects us to give the first fruit of all our increase or you may call them new sources of income. What does the Bible mean by that? It meant that if someone was harvesting amount X every year, it means when God increases them by X+1, they would have to give an amount which is the difference between (X+1) - X = +1 as a first fruit. This may be a salary increase or extra profits. If that increase is happening in the middle of the year the following month is when you should give it. This is so honouring to God for the increase He has brought your way. In that way you testify that He has led you into that increase.  After reading all these series of firstfuit, of this is your first, I urge you to go back and read all the previous one I have written on the subject, you ca...

Numbers 18:12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.” Firstfruit in the Bible were meant to be given to God but received by and eaten by the priests who served in the temple. Since it was meant to be eaten, I wonder if the believers could bring a bad harvest knowing full well that someone would consume it, moreover their priest. This scripture is thus so fundamental on the nature of firstfruit one gives. Yesterday we saw a kind of firstfruit given regularly. This am writing about is one where a person gives the best of the harvest to their priest.  If one had a garden and they harvest fruit, it would not be honouring for them to bring bad fruit to the house of God however much it was the one that budded first. They would select the best of the best as firstfruit. If it was an animal which was the firstborn,  they would not offer a lame or one which was torn ...

Leviticus 23:10 “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall  reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:” The children of Israel were instructed to give firstfruit on a regular basis and not once in a while as a way of honouring God for what they have harvested. According to our theme scripture,  every harvest they got, they gave firstfruit.  It is said that when one had a huge garden and they have sowed seed, the first plants which budded were tied with a string or ribbon. When they fully bore fruit, they would be put together in a basket and offered to the priest as firstfruit.  Even in our day, firstfruits are a gift one ought to give with regularity. God gives us a harvest of finances daily, weekly, monthly, sesonally or yearly, it is honouring to Him when we offer Him the firstfruit of those regular provisions we acquire. ...

Nehemiah 10:17 “And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.”  First fruits are different from tithes as the scriptures state it. There is a misconception that they are the same, but they are not.  We express honour for God by giving first fruit. It is one way of saying God you are first and leader in my life. This brings a reward of plenty and abundance in our lives. Paying tithes, on the other hand, God orders an outpouring of blessings and also rebukes the devourer on our behalf. It's a way of saying, "God, you are my source."  It's commonly said that if you want to change levels, you need to do something different. Pr Diana Mwebe always says that things don't just happen. There are reasons behi...

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. God takes first things very seriously. That's is why there is the law in Bible interpretation called the law first mention of a word in the Bible like grace. The first mention of it, sets a precedence for other times it appears in the Bible.  Even to men, first things are very important, it's never easy to forget them. To men, it is said the first impression makes a lasting impression. The first time you came to church, the usher who welcomed you makes you either stay in the church or leave it, the first birthday of a child is usually made so big because its simply the first if it's kind. Some have many unsuccessful attempts to get children so the day they give birth and the child makes one year is a big celebration to them. I also recall the first time people celebrated my birthday.  Hardly did anyone celebrate me before but that day was quite remarkable. Whenever I look at t...

Nehemiah 10:35-37 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as [it is] written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: And [that] we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. First fruits in the Hebrew is called "Bikkurim" and that literally means "the promise to come". It refers to the very first of the ripened crops or increase. The first portion is not just part of the harvest; it is the portion that sanctifies the rest. It sets a holy foundation for what ...

Ezekiel 44:30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all [things], and every oblation of all, of every [sort] of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. God is so loving towards firstfruit givers because He commands a blessing over their homes. You are blessed, maybe you just don't know it but if you look critically you are indeed blessed. Many homes suffer the curses of lack, need, poverty, disease because they are out of order with God's truths. As for you if you align well with God's commands, you won't suffer from what other people suffer from.  It's all the working of God so that no one will boast. If you're children are in school, have a shelter over their head, feed, they are clothed, they are healthy, the blessing is at work. Never take those things light because millions if not billions cannot afford them.  The blessings are varied. So...

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Giving is about dependence on God and has very little to do with amounts. There are some who give an amount which appears big but when they could have given more. That is not pleasing to God. I have talked about firstfruit principles in previous weeks now its time to go practical. How can someone actually do it practically without breaking their backs and yet do it cheerfully?  Giving your full salary, moreover gross pay before taxes are excluded as firstfruit looks far out of reach but not impossible. Giving it all at once is highly commended, but if you give it cheerfully in amounts you are able to handle according to your faith it will be also great. God is able to meet our needs when we give in faith supernaturally. But I am sure some people will be frustrated in giving if the landlord knocks on their door, their family goes hungry or lack transport to work if they have given all th...

1 Samuel 1:24-28 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child [was] young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. We see in the scriptures that Hannah who was formerly barren, gave her firstborn son, Samuel to the service of God and God was faithful to add her more children. But there's a contrast we see among believers nowadays.  One of the most disheartening things is when you see believers put first things last and last things first. What do I mean, they place the work of God on the sidelin...

Leviticus 27:28-29 Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord. None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death. If you ever forget anything, never forget that always the first things in your life should be devoted to God. When the first is offered to God, it becomes a root that governs the rest. It also represents the rest.  Remember Jesus Christ who died for us. Everyone's sins were nailed to the cross in his body, when he resurrected we resurrected with him and this becomes effectual when one receives salvation. We are governed in Him and He represents us perfectly before God, hallelujah. That is why if He is Holy, we are Holy in Him. If He was accepted, we are accepted through Him and not on our own merit. In like manner, when you give your first hour...

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will over flow. Honouring God as stated here has everything to do with our giving of firstfruits. The blessing that follows is abundance and it is is because of the giving of firstfruits.  No one on this world desires a poor and begarly life. But it comes down to one's choice of following God's order or way. God's way is known by the Word. He has placed everything we need to know about Himself in the Word so that we don't walk in the dark.  Even before the Word orders our lives, we first enter into covenant with God. The covenant binds us with God in perfect relationship. A non Christian cannot know God because they are not in covenant with Him but a Christian is in covenant with God. But for the covenant to work, obedience to the parts of the covenant is paramount. Disobedience denies one the privileges that would ...

Deuteronomy 21:15-17 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, [both] the beloved and the hated; and [if] the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit [that] which he hath, [that] he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, [which is indeed] the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated [for] the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he [is] the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn [is] his. Being the firstborn is not something one has in name only. There are a number of privileges that accompany firstborns some of which are position,  authority,  inheritance and representation.  Position: Being firstborn is a position one holds by simply being above the rest in terms of birth. Nowonder in some tribes of Uganda, baganda tribe in particular, the first born is never called by their na...

Exodus 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine. Bishop Gerald usually says Satan loves to claim the things which God has put a claim on. For example he said in the old testament that the every firstborn of animals, people, farmland is his. But have you realised that even the enemy has since the days of Adam directed his attacks on the firstborns? Cain the firstborn of Adam and Eve was filled with jealousy because his offering was not accepted by God. Sibling rivalry is common when the children compare themselves amongst themselves.  Fast forward to the story of Jacob and Esau.  Esau sold his birthright to Jacob who was younger because he was hungry. He saw no need of it since he was in deep hunger. He despised the inheritance that was meant to be his because of foolishness. He did not see far. That is likened to many who despise spiritual things. They look down on the blessing t...

Romans 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Many instances in the new testament the Bible refers to the first converts to Christianity from a region or area as firstfruits. These people usually open up the gospel to others when they become the men of peace that God uses to touch others. The first converts usually become faithful labourers for others on behalf of the gospel like it was with Epaphras to the Colossians. Epaphras is believed to have been the one of the first converts from Colossae who heard the gospel from Paul while at Ephesus and took the gospel message and the letters of Paul to the Colossians and continued to pray for them. He also continually informed Paul about their status when it came to matters of faith.  Cornelius was the first non Jewish person who received the gospel through Peter and the Baptism of the HolySpirit and that opened up the gospel to the gentile w...

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, The shadow of the new testament is the old. The new testament is the old testament revealed. When the Bible says Israel is my firstborn, that is a picture of Christ and the church.  The church gets to partake of the same rights of inheritance and a privileged position of being sons and daughters of God by faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection.  We are partakers of eternal life, forgiven of all our sins, have the promise of resurrection of our bodies when the Lord returns the second time on earth. All this is our because of the union we have with Christ. Through him we are partakers of His divine nature, hallelujah! Further scriptures   2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corrupt...

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Christ is mentioned as the firstborn of every creature. This is a profound statement which can be misunderstood if not interpreted right. Firstborn there means first in importance, preeminence, supremacy, rank, importance, inheritance and one who comes before all else.  It is key to note that Christ was not created but through Him all things were created. He existed before all creation meaning He is God. Christ tasted death on our behalf, suffered the punishment that was meant for us and was the first to resurrect from the dead and never to die again. Others either did not die like Elijah or rose again but died again like Lazarus. When he resurrected He was the first to be a partaker of life eternal and this qualifies him to be the heir of all things and head of His body, which is the church. The church too will resurrect from the dead, and partake of the blessings of life eternal just like chri...

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn: God openly declared Israel as his firstborn children in the Bible. Kindly note that this does not mean that they are the only children of God but they were the first nation to be adopted as God's children for salvation and others were to follow.  God's plan of salvation can be traced back to Abraham (although I don't have space and time to explain it since the fall of Adam) whom he called out of worshipping idols unto worshipping the one true God. Remember that wickedness before Abraham was too much in Noah's time that God sent a flood that destroyed the whole world except eight people who were in the Ark. God regretted for having done such an act and decided to draw man through love and grace. So he began a search of someone through whom He could preserve a righteous line for the coming saviour. Through Abraham God brought forth the nation of Israel who are usuall...

Genesis 4:3-4 GNT After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the LORD. Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, The first illustration of firstfruit principle was when Abel offered the first born lamb of his unto the Lord. When he killed it, he offered the best parts of it as an offering. Some versions call it the choicest parts and those were the fatty potions of it. It is not surprising that Lord permitted the writer to take note of such detail. The Bible later on says that the Lord respected his offering and was pleased with it. Can I make a case of Cain too, maybe not today but the point is Abel offered the first and best of his flock to God. New testament believers need to learn from this. The quality of what we offer to God matters. Why give God the leftovers and moreover the bad leftovers yet an old testament person out o...

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. God deserves our worship, love and time. Our lives need to be rotated around Him in all that we do.  The Bible says we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things shall follow. That scripture is contrary to popular thinking nowadays which advocates that people are masters of their destinies. Only the humble can try to live by it. That scripture does not say we should do other things and then seek God about them. On the other hand we should first go to Him for direction and then other things should follow.  That is why Sunday according to our numbering of days is called the first day and it is on such a day that we go worship God in the church. We are literally saying that, "Lord, you are our God and we are setting you first before all the busyness we shall be engaged in the rest of the week."  I remember growing ...