Text: 1 Corinthians 15:16-23
Memory verse:
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

Evang Billy Graham once said, “Without the resurrection, the cross is meaningless.” Resurrection is the core of the Christian faith. Jesus was not the first man to rise from the dead. For example, Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son and Elijah raised the widow’s son to life. Jesus Himself raised Lazarus and the only son of the widow of Nain. Jesus’ resurrection, however differs from all others. Firstly, only Jesus died, rose again and died no more (Rev 1:18).
Secondly is that He rose up with an incorruptible body from the grave (I Cor‬ ‭15‬:‭44‬). He came up with a new body after dumping all our troubles in the grave.
Thirdly, Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee that others who died in Christ will also rise to life, not to condemnation (John 5:29). The Hebrew word for ‘firstfruit’ means promise to come. The first fruit is the first harvest. It’s an act of faith that guarantees that other harvests will come in the order of the firstfruit. If the firstfruit is made holy by the Lord, all the rest will be holy (Neh 10:35; Rom 11:16). That’s why you must always give God the firstfruit of your earnings yearly and with every increase. “But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised “(I Cor‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬ GNB). If Christ’s work of redemption stopped only at the cross, then all our patriarchs and the martyrs who died in Christ had died in vain. All religious leaders who had claimed to be a saviour at one time or the other had their lives terminated with death. They were buried and they remained in their tombs till date. But Jesus’ tomb is empty till date. He conquered death and rose to die no more. He is the Saviour and High Priest with an endless life ( Hebrew 7:16).
Friends, the firstfruit connects to the rest in a divine order. Your resurrection to life is guaranteed if you are connected and remain connected to Jesus till the end.

Prayer points
1. Father, thank You for raising Jesus up from the grave as my Firstfruit in Jesus name.
2. Father, please help me never to disconnect from You till the end in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I am connected to Jesus, my Firstfruit, in a divine order.
2. I also invoke the law of divine connectivity as I dedicate the firstfruit of all my earnings to God.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng