Pastor Ovid Need

Now we come to some of the feast days which pointed to Christ and were fulfilled in Him, Col. 2:16-17.

1. The first and most important one that Moses instructs them is what, v. 1? _________

a. This was in what month for Israel, Ex. 12:2?

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Of course, this brings up an interesting point. Any attempt to abide by the old Hebrew rites and rituals, such as the Sabbath, would have to be based in the old Hebrew calendar which would be quite unlike ours of today.

b. What was to be the result if a person did not keep this, Num. 9:13?
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c. This goes almost without saying, what did this celebration or feast point to, I Cor. 5:7?
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d. What does this removal of leaven in Deut. 16:3-4 represent, I Cor. 5:8?
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We can find a record of our Lord partaking in this in Lk. 22 and He makes the proper applica­tion of it as He does, vv. 1-20. Paul, in I Cor. 11:23-34 gives the proper observance for His people today. V. 24, we have the Lamb slain and His people eating of it. This is strictly sym­bolic. The scriptures do not even hint that this bread turns into the actual flesh of Christ as the Romanist would have us believe. The same goes for the cup. It does not change into His blood. Paul clearly tells us the purpose of this celebration.

2. What is it, I Cor. 11:25?

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a. "Unworthily". What would this speak of? We have the above reference which would show this, (see #1-d) v. 27. _________________________________________________________________

b. What is Paul's instruction here, v. 28? ___________________________________________

c. What is the purpose of this, v. 31? __________________________________________

d. What does he mean, "judge", I Jn. 1:9; Prov. 28:13-14? ___________________________

e. What will happen if we don't do vv. 31-32? _______________________________________

Compare I Cor. 11:27-32 with Num. 9:13. The church cannot chastise a person for doing I Cor. 11:29, but the Lord sure will. If we will read Heb. 10:26-31 we will find this confirmed. Known sin "swept under the rug" and ignored will lead to some very serious problems. Others may think we are Christianity "incarnate in the flesh", yet the One with whom we have to do knows the truth and He will deal with His people according to that truth, Heb. 4:13; Rom. 2:2, 6, 11. Therefore, we see it clearly laid out here, if we won't deal with those things in our lives which displease Him, then He will if we are His children. If He doesn't, then we are not His children, Heb. 12:5-11.

f. One more thing here, whose fault is it when these things befall us, I Cor. 11:29; James 1:14? _______________________________________________________________________

g. This comes back to Deut. 11:26-28; Rom. 6:16. A thought in passing here. Notice Rom. 8:34, " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Let's raise a question here, what form does this love take at times, (1) Heb. 12:6? ____________________________________________________
(2) I Pet. 1:7? ___________________________________________________

Let's be careful, though, that we do not get Heb. 12:6 and I Pet. 1:7 mixed up. If we do, espe­cially if we mistake (1) for (2) and grow harder in our error, we are in for some very difficult times. This is a teaching of Prov. 28:13- 14.

Deut. 16:1-8. V. 8 speaks of the total rest we have in the Lord Jesus, our passover.

3. Deut.16:9-2-12, we have the feast of the first fruits, Lev. 23:10-12. This is given to His people as a what, Lev. 23:21? _________________________________________________________

a. How is the feast kept forever, I Cor. 15:2-23?
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There is a "harvest" coming when all of the dead in Christ will rise first and we which are alive and remain will meet Him in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The unsaved will also be raised for judgment.

As we see from Lev. 23:10-21, there are seven sabbaths (7x7=49) counted, then the next day is also a sabbath, making 50 days from the passover feast. When this offering of the first fruits is made, this is called Pentecost and we see what this feast spoke of in Acts 2:1. Again, this is ful­filled and is kept by His people today in Christ our Lord.

Deut. 16:13-15, the feast of the tabernacles. This was a seven day religious holiday. This was a time of rejoicing in the Lord for His goodness and bounty. A fulfillment of this is prophesied in Deut. 32:43; Rom. 15:6-13; Gal. 4:27; Phil. 3:1, 3; 4:4; I Thess. 5:16 or how about Rev. 19:7, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him:"? Notice, everyone in the land is to par­ticipate in this rejoicing. Really, the whole land will rejoice when God's people obey Rom. 1:21, Prov. 29:2. We will surely rejoice when evil is put away forever.

Deut. 16:16-17. Here we have the requirement of every man to appear before the Lord with his gift as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord. Here we have several things referred to:

First, serving God is men's work. God is searching for men. God wants men who will stand for Him in the face of EVERYTHING the world, the flesh, and the devil can throw at them, Ezek. 22:30.

According to Ezek. 22:30, this world is perishing for lack of MEN who will serve God as their number ONE priority; men who will be faithful to the death if need be.

Answer: Pray that God will provide men as labours in His harvest, Matt. 9:37- 38; Lk. 10:2; Jn. 4:35 (See also, Ezek. 36:8-15 and compare with Isa. 58 (esp. vv. 12-14).

Second, bring his gift. Here could easily be: a) Rom. 12:1-2, giving ourselves and our talents, abilities and gifts to Him; b) I Cor. 16:2, the bringing of the tithes and offerings to Him. c) Lk. 12:48 is very definitely referred to here in Deut. 16:17. Every person owes to Him according to how He has blessed them. Some owe more to Him than do others. Are we rendering to Him according to His blessings upon us?

Third, We also could have here the absolute requirement of every man (woman and child, also) to stand before Him and answer for everything done in this body. We will answer for our faithfulness to use for His glory everything which has ever, is, or will ever be in our possession, II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 4:2.

We might mention here this confrontation, the warfare, between God and the world, flesh and devil is for the hearts of men. These enemies will be at every corner to prevent men from serv­ing God in humility and a pure heart. Whatever it takes to prevent the man from serving God will be presented. The choice is before us just as sure as Moses and Joshua presented it to Israel. The world will very strongly present Christians as "sissies," as well as Christianity as a crutch for women and children. They will present men as those who can "hold their own" in ANY situation, whether it is drinking or adultery.

We have been trained in this belief. It will take a very determined effort to operate con­trary to this training. Also here, God will raise up women to replace the men who refuse to serve God with their whole heart.

4. Deut. 16:18-20. Here Moses covers again the civil governments structure -- local judges and officers of godly reputation who would do what, v. 19 (see Prov. 17:23. Also, Deut. 1:12-18)?
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Verses 21-22. These trees were used by these Canaanite people as symbols for their fertility cults and worship. The Lord absolutely forbids the trees or any images for any kind of worship. He alone was to be looked to for all fertility and prosperity. V. 22 is a reminder of what He has already said. See Ex. 23:24. This is also a reference to Deut. 5:8 as we covered it back there.

Conclusion: Might we be found worthy through the Lord Jesus Christ, and Lord, provide MEN for Your harvest.