Some Things Are Essential
Principle of First

ALC Core Value
We Give God Our First
And Our Best

Ex 13:1-2
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

Principle One

The First Must Be Sacrificed or Redeemed

1 Corinthians 10:10
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Ex 13:12-14
12 that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. 13 But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14 So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Colossians 1:15
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

The First Born Must Be Sacrificed or Redeemed
Only The First Has Redemption Power

Joshua 6:18
18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are[b]consecrated to the Lord; they [c]shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”

God Does Not Need Your First
God Uses The First, To Bless The Rest

Principle Two

The First Must Be Offered

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Ex. 23:19
The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

1 Corinthians 15:20
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have [a]fallen asleep.

Jesus Is The First Born
Jesus Is The First Fruits
The First Must Be Given
The Clean Must Redeem For The Unclean

Romans 5:8-9
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Why Did God Not Accept Cain’s Offering?

Genesis 4:3-5
3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected (ACCEPTED) Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

It’s Not the He “Would Not” Accept The Offering
It’s He “Could Not” Accept The Offering

God Cannot Defy His Character
Can’t Change – Immutability
Can’t Think – Omniscience

Can NOT Be Second
Preeminence Of God

Principle Three

The Tithe Must Be First

Lev 27:30
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.

God Is Not Legalistic
I Am Not Legalistic

It’s About Your Heart Not, Not Your Hands
But Your Hands Reveal Your Heart

Mathew 6:19
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant”

Matthew 25:14-29
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.