APPEARING EMPTY BEFORE GOD (DEUTERONOMY 16:16-17)

INTRODUCTION:

1. If we had lived under the Old Testament we would have been familiar with many rules.

2. One of the rules that we would have remembered is found in Deuteronomy 16.

3. If you have found this chapter, let’s look at Verse 16 together:

4. READ 16a.

5. God commanded the men of Israel to attend these festivals.

6. Attendance was not the only thing that God required from the Hebrew men.

7. Let’s bypass 16b for a moment and look at Verse 17. READ.

8. At these feasts, there was to be some giving. The men were to bring something with them.

9. To appreciate this verse some background information is necessary.

10. In 16a we are introduced to three feasts.

A. Each of these feasts was connected to nature.

B. The unleavened bread (Passover) feast started during the barley harvest.

C. Thus people had something to bring as a gift.

D. The feast of Pentecost (weeks) was during the wheat harvest.

E. Again, men had something to bring.

F. The feast of the tabernacles was at the end of the work year.

G. This, too, was timed in such a way that men could bring a gift.

H. Men were capable of making a contribution during these feasts.

I. BECAUSE THIS WAS POSSIBLE, GOD SAID IN 16b – READ. GOD SAID, “WHEN IT

IS TIME TO OBSERVE THESE FEASTS, BRING A CONTRIBUTION.” GOD SAID TO THE

HEBREW MEN, “DO NOT SHOW UP EMPTY-HANDED.”

A. This text is a passage that can be easily abused.

B. Those in the denominational world who continually speak about money will find this verse.

C. As I said last week, I am going to spend some time talking about money.

(1) The elders have not asked me to deal with this subject.

(2) Goshen is not in a financial crisis.

(3) Our basis for this study is very simple.

(4) First, this subject is often abused; truth needs to be taught.

(5) This topic is a Bible topic – this means it must be included in our teaching.

D. Today’s study will spring from Deuteronomy 16.

E. Though this passage has been read and will be used by me,

F. All of us need to recognize that we are not under the Old Testament.

G. Jesus took the Old Testament out of the way, Hebrews 8:13.

H. Thus, we have no business observing these three feasts.

I. However, the Bible says that we can learn some things from the OT. Romans 15:4

J. There are principles that we can glean from the old covenant.

K. This morning I am proposing that Deuteronomy 16:16-17 gives us a basic principle.

L. This principle may be summarized by the word “empty”.

M. God’s people are not to be empty.

(1) This was true in Old Testament times.

(2) It is still true in the New Testament era.

N. Before this principle is developed in detail, we want to introduce one more reference.

(1) This reference is found in the New Testament in Luke 11.

(2) Luke says that Jesus had just drawn a line.

(3) The Lord said that people are “with Him” or “against Him”.

(4) Following this statement we have a little story.

O. This material begins in Verse 24 and goes through Verse 26. READ.

(1) This picture is sad.

(2) A man was possessed by an evil spirit; the spirit was evicted.

(3) This man is now “empty”.

(4) Practically anything can be put into this man’s life.

(5) According to the Lord nothing is put into the empty space.

(6) Is this man’s emptiness good or bad?

(7) Jesus says that the demon returned.

(8) This time the demon brought some of his friends.

(9) This man lost his emptiness.

P. If we look at our lives as Christians, do we see emptiness?

(1) Are our prayers essentially empty?

(2) That is, are they empty of passion, earnestness, pleading?

(3) Are our prayers empty in the area of time?

(4) That is, prayer is a quick activity that periodically takes 3, 4 or 5 minutes?

Q. Our record of teaching the lost, is it full or empty?

R. Kind works done as a Christian – is our list full or empty?

S. Kind speech – is our record full or empty?

T. Our attendance chart at services/Bible classes – full or empty?

U. The record of our Bible Study – full or empty?

V. The people we have given a tract to – many or virtually none?

W. The money we have given for the cause of Christ – much or little?

X. What we have done as a Christian?

Y. If we sit down and look at our life, what kind of record do we have – full or empty?

II. IF WE TAKE A GENERAL LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE DO NOT FIND THAT

GOD’S PEOPLE ARE EMPTY. MOST WHO ARE HERE …

A. Have heard Matthew 25 read hundreds of times.

B. On the day of judgment people will be gathered around the throne of God.

C. The saved and the lost will both have a sentence pronounced upon them.

D. Have we realized that in this scene we have both emptiness and fullness?

(1) Let’s first look at the emptiness.

(2) Jesus spoke of people who needed the basics of life.

(3) Verses 42-43. READ.

(4) Envision a list of people.

(5) On this list are names of those who are hungry and thirsty.

(6) Also on the list are strangers in need of lodging. Verse 43.

(7) People in need of clothing are on the list. Verse 43.

(8) Prisoners and the sick are also mentioned.

E. People from many walks of life are in need of help.

(1) All kinds of needs exist.

(2) We are aware of at least some of these needs.

(3) Though we can see the needs, we do nothing.

(4) Or, our help is so slight that it is hardly worth mentioning.

(5) Now the time has come to appear before God.

(6) God essentially asks us, “What have you done?”

(7) Some will have an empty folder in regard to Christianity.

(8) Some never obey the gospel.

(9) Others obey the gospel but the life that is lived is for all practical purposes empty.

(10) When it comes to giving and helping, many contribute little to help with people’s needs.

(11) This is what the judge is going to say.

(12) My Bible and your Bible both say that …

(13) When the hungry needed food, some never lifted a finger.

(14) When people were thirsty, not a drop of water was given.

(15) People needed a place to sleep, a bed was never offered.

(16) People were in need of clothes, none were ever supplied.

(17) Prisoners and the sick were left alone, the visitor logs were left empty.

F. Bearing this information in mind, remember the principle from Deuteronomy 16.

G. God said, “Do not appear before me empty!”

(1) This was a stern warning.

(2) God meant what He said.

(3) Appearing before God empty-handed is a bad choice.

H. The people in Matthew 25 did not learn from this Old Testament instruction.

I. There will be some on the day of judgment who will be empty before God.

J. Or, if they are not empty, their record will be pretty slim.

K. What will happen to these people, to us if we are empty?

L. Verse 41 of Matthew 25 – READ.

(1) We are not saved by works.

(2) The Bible does teach that those who are saved are workers.

(3) Heaven is for those who do and who give.

(4) How do we know this? Matthew 25

M. Jesus said that not everyone will have an empty record.

(1) There will be some on the day of judgment who have a full folder.

(2) Some will have a record that is very long.

(3) Possible contents of this record are in Verses 35-36 – READ.

(4) Here are people who gave of their time, skills and money.

N. If we look at our entire record as a Christian up to this point …

(1) Is it empty? Is our record like a brand new file folder?

(2) Or, is it full and continuing to grow?

(3) Are we giving God the best that we can offer?

(4) Or, are we trying to throw him a few scraps?

III. THESE MAY NOT BE PLEASANT QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER, BUT THEY ARE

NECESSARY. GOD’S PEOPLE AND EMPTINESS DO NOT GO TOGETHER.

A. I have demonstrated this in more than one way, but …

B. Let’s now approach the subject from yet another vantage point.

C. Let’s look at some of the individual words in the NT that describe Christians.

D. You can find many more references than I will list.

E. From Philippians 1:9 we have these words:

(1) “May your love abound more and more …”

(2) When it comes to love, emptiness is wrong.

(3) Love is to abound.

(4) Not only did Paul say “abound”, he added “more and more”.

F. Love pushes out emptiness.

G. In Verse 11 Paul added, “being filled with the fruit of righteousness”.

H. The brethren at Rome had learned how to be full of goodness. Romans 15:14

I. Instead of being empty, we are to be zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

J. The Hebrew writer in 10:24 said that we are to “provoke” our brethren.

(1) The KJV and the ASV both use “provoke”.

(2) This is an excellent translation of the original word.

(3) The Greek word means to stimulate, irritate, to provoke.

(4) If the writer had said nothing else the church would be an interesting body.

(5) The writer added to his thought: provoke unto good works.

K. What does this mean?

L. In simple terms, we stimulate each other to build a record.

(1) We motivate each other to give, sacrifice and to labor for Christ.

(2) Christianity is not about preachers building a record.

(3) It’s not about a few church members doing all the work.

(4) Every Christian has the responsibility to create a file filled with good works.

(5) None of us will want to come before God empty.

M. First century Christians were well aware of this information.

N. In I Timothy 2:10 Paul spoke of women involved with good works.

O. In I Timothy 5:10 Paul spoke of some widows who were to be known for their good deeds.

P. In the book of Acts we read about Tabitha.

(1) This woman was “full of good works”. Acts 9:36

(2) Time after time in the NT God’s people were busy and giving.

(3) Money was given, often sacrificially, but giving is much broader than just money.

(4) Christians did not want to die with an empty record.

CONCLUSION:

1. Last week we learned that we have a duty to give God our best.

2. Today we have added a little more to last week’s lesson.

3. God not only deserves our best, he deserves it on a regular basis.

4. We need to do the best work we can as often as we can.

5. This approach to life will keep us from appearing before God empty-handed.

6. If as a Christian our record is very poor, that can be changed.

7. If we have no record, a time is coming when we will want one.

8. The time to start this record is right now.

9. What we give in and out of worship needs to be as fervent and as good as we can possibly make it.

10. If you know that your record is empty, or nearly empty, why not take the necessary steps today?