DO NOT COME EMPTY
Monday – April 7, 2025
Video link: https://youtu.be/tiVoMH_RuRw
Today I will continue to teach about the various offerings that are taught, even commanded in the Scripture. Most people are familiar with the tithe and freewill offerings but what about “firstfruits” and “sowing” for a harvest? It seems to me that many are expecting a harvest from the three offering types noted. We will explore what each offering is, what our obligations and benefits are from each. One thing I want to be crystal clear from the beginning. The giving of any of the offerings or sowing is never to be considered routine and traditional. It is a heart issue, a willing obedience. The following Scripture will be our text or anchor for this teaching.
Nehemiah 12:44 (KJV)
44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
We see three offerings, really obligations, spelled out clearly in this Scripture verse. There is much controversy about offerings, especially the tithe. It seems that much of the controversy concerning tithing and other offerings is rooted in fear, which is lack of love of and trust in God. This is God kind of love which only God and His children can express (get my book – Awake, Arise, and Triumph – Be Love). Many exclaim that is the Old Testament, I give when I can! There is much wrong with this view, and I will get to all of that in the process of this teaching.
One thing is clear, at least to me, and that is that we are not to come before the Lord empty.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (KJV)
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
An idea has arisen in modern times that the gospel is free. Really? It was not free for God. He paid everything to redeem humankind. It was not in ancient times either, no one came to the priest without the prescribed offering. Has God changed somewhere along the way? The Church House is not free; the Ministers appointed to that House are not free, and the maintenance of that House is not free, and the outreach of that House into all the world is not free.
The following is an example of this command to not come before the Lord empty. When we go to Church or to a man/woman of God otherwise we are going before God and we are not to go empty, that is without an offering. We have lost this knowledge, this teaching. When did God change? Let us look at an example of this command.
1 Samuel 9:3-10 (KJV)
3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
They knew not to inquire of the mouthpiece of God without an offering, they must not presume and come empty. All offerings like everything else in the Kingdom of God must be by faith. We, Christians, do all by faith. Faith is being fully persuaded of the Word of God, the will of God. But accomplishing anything in the Kingdom of God takes far more than just believing.
TAKE HOME:
- Is the Word of God from the mouth of His appointed servants valuable to you?
2. We are not to come to the Minister of God, to the Church House empty, without something to give.
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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