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Keeping the sabbath day holy is a commandment that is taken less seriously than all the others by the church as well as unbelievers. However, as the last commandment dealing with man’s relationship with God, it is no light commandment.
Remember the day of rest by observing it as a holy day. You have six days to do all your work. The seventh day is the day of rest—a holy day dedicated to the Lord your God. You, your sons, your daughters, your male and female slaves, your cattle, and the foreigners living in your city must never do any work on that day. In six days the Lord made heaven, earth, and the sea, along with everything in them. He didn’t work on the seventh day. That’s why the Lord blessed the day he stopped his work and set this day apart as holy. Ex 20: 8-11 GW
According to Jewish tradition the Sabbath is Saturday. But if you study the New Testament after Jesus’ resurrection they started honoring the Lord’s Day.
On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing Scripture with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight. Acts 20:7 GW
Every Sunday each of you should set aside some of your money and save it. Then money won’t have to be collected when I come. 1Cor 16:2
I, John, with you all the way in the trial and the Kingdom and the passion of patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s Word, the witness of Jesus. It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. Rev 1:9
When we are referring to the Lord’s day we are talking about Sunday and the principle of God’s commandment still applies.
I remember when my son came home from school with his drawings. Scribbled on the bottom was either dad or mom and the words, “I did this for you.”. Paul said to do all things as unto the Lord. Surely, if our children can do their projects for us we can do our work for God.
When I got saved I finally got a real job. No longer was I living by my wits in the streets. The realization that I would shine the light of Jesus 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, and I could be an example of Jesus, hit me hard.
We are worshippers. This is how God created us. The first part of this commandment deals with worship.The Sabbath was God’s final day of creation. But it was man’s first day of existence. So man begins his journey with worship before work.
You cannot find meaning in work without worship. This commandment has to do with worship and work. Without the sabbath work has no practical value. Nothing man can do will have eternal significance without a relationship with an eternal God.
This may make no sense to someone who is not a believer. But to us worship frames everything in our lives and gives significance to it. It lifts our work from being just a job but as worship unto the Lord.
Worship renews the spirit as sleep renews the body. God does not want us to become workaholics. He also gives us rest. Worship helps us to rest in God. Not just physically but spiritually. Sunday is set apart as the Lord’s day. Some may view Sunday as unimportant because it seems we do the same thing every Sunday. We forget how spiritual calisthenics strengthen us.
Do you remember the original Karate Kid? Daniel asked Mr Miyagi to teach him Karate. Mr. Miyagi agreed provided Daniel would not question his methods. Do you remember what that training looked like? First Daniel had to paint a fence. Then he had to sand the deck. Then finally he had to wash and wax the car…
Wax on. Wax off.
Finally Daniel reaches his limit and wants to know why he wasn’t being taught Karate. Then comes the moment that he finds out all the mundane work was an exercise in learning to defend himself. Skill comes from repeating things correctly that seem mundane. It’s the same thing with prayer, reading the Word, coming to church. These are the core dynamics that prepare us to face life, to be the light in the darkness, and to have victory over our flesh. These are the acts of worship that frame our lives.
The sabbath is rest that helps us prepare ourselves for work. Jesus said the sabbath is not made for God but for man. Just like skipping work has penalties so does skipping the sabbath has spiritual penalties. How well do you keep the sabbath Sunday?
The last 20 years people have been buying into the lie that church is not necessary to be saved. The real reason people don’t want to go to church is out of rebellion. Every Christian in the Bible went to church. Even Jesus.
Remember to keep the Sabbath holy. Ex 20: 8
The sabbath is holy and as such we need to keep it holy and set it apart.
Work and get everything done during six days each week Ex 20:9
I hear guys with their own businesses say how they need to get things done. There can be a temptation to get those things done on the Lord’s Day, Jesus kept the sabbath and he was a carpenter. He worked and he rested on the sabbath.
Surely you know.
Surely you have heard.
The Lord is the God who lives forever,
who created all the world.
He does not become tired or need to rest.
No one can understand how great his wisdom is.
He gives strength to those who are tired
and more power to those who are weak.
Even children become tired and need to rest,
and young people trip and fall.
But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again.
They will rise up as an eagle in the sky;
they will run and not need rest;
they will walk and not become tired. Is 40:28-31 NCV
I can do more waiting on God then I can do on my own. I can get victory in my finances, victory raising my kids, and victory in my marriage waiting on the Lord. Waiting on the Lord does not mean kicking back. It means resting in God.
People are challenged by schedules. Me personally, I never took a job that would require me to work Sundays. Listen you can resign from being the manager of the universe. God has it under control.
Did you know that refusing to rest is a sign of immaturity? Kids hate to go to bed. Psalms 23:2 says,
He makes me to lie down…
Sometimes God has to make me lie down.
Do you know that most Americans only go to church 3 times in their entire life. They go when they are born. They go to get married. And they go to be buried. But here are some scriptures you can’t ignore.
You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming. Heb 10:25 NCV
Anyone who is sick should call the church’s elders. They should pray for and pour oil on the person in the name of the Lord. James 5:14
When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”
my heart leaped for joy.
And now we’re here, O Jerusalem,
inside Jerusalem’s walls! Psalm 122:1
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18
A Christian who does not go to church is a headless Christian. Christian you are part of the body. When you find your part in the body you cause others to grow. If my hand and mouth doesn’t work I don’t eat and my body doesn’t grow.
Stop saying you are saved and you don’t love God’s people.The church teaches us to be servants of Christ. The church helps us to get deeply rooted.
Habitual avoidance of church is sin.What are you teaching your child about faithfulness. Even if it looks like it might rain or snow some people jump on that as an excuse and stay home.
Why should you come? You may miss the very sermon or prayer that could have set you free. On any given Sunday someone’s life can change forever. This just doesn’t happen at home.
We begin our week with worship and that is the start of our work week. Man cannot be fulfilled without worship and work means little without it.
Remember the sabbath!
PRAY THIS
Father help me not to take this command lightly. I now understand that Sunday starts my week and it should be filled with worship to you and rest in you. Help me also to keep this day holy. I choose to remember the sabbath and set it apart as a day that is just for you.
MEDITATE ON THIS
You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming. Heb 10:25 NCV
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