Kingdom 104: The Purpose of the Sabbath--Rest and Teach
From the very beginning of creation, the seventh day was a day of rest from all the Lord God's work. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Did God rest because He was tired and worn out? Did He say "Whew! I'm whipped...I need a break!" NO! Of course not. He was giving us guidelines as to how to live our lives. He was being an example which He wanted us to follow. He emphasized this principle to the children of promise in the wilderness. The same laws and principles He made for Himself, He applied to His children. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." Notice that even those who came out of Egypt who weren't Israelites (the children of promise) had to abide by the same laws and priniciples. There weren't any exceptions. Even back then, if you wanted to be a child of the King, you had to obey the Lord God's principles. In essence, His character hasn't changed. It is eternal and unchanging. Please keep in mind that this was in the old dispensation. You should never be in subjection to the Sabbath, whether you choose Saturday or Sunday. Remember what Jesus said while He was here on earth. And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
On the Sabbath, Jesus taught the message of the Kingdom. At no time did it say that He sang or entertained the people. He always took His time and taught the people and His disciples. Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes...And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
Please notice that on the most important day of the week (the day of rest) when all the people would attend the synagogue, He taught them concerning the Kingdom. Having said that, then why do the religious leaders of our day choose to entertain people as if it was showtime?! At least that is what they do in many of our churches in the United States. This truly misrepresents what the Sabbath was set aside for. This was never the Lord God's original intent.
Far too many people in the United States attend a religious institution and call it church. Many attend for the music and the entertainment atmosphere. They are passive consumers, instead of being participants. They are looking for the Kingdom but settling for a few feel-good hours so they feel they have done their 'duty' and are in right-standing with God. They are wrong, and they are looking in the wrong places and finding no real satisfaction. They fail to realize that they are the temple where the Holy Spirit has been assigned to live. The ambassador Paul made it clear: ...do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? The Holy Spirit wants to reside in your mortal body, but first you must make it clear through obeying Him through His Word. It is by obeying God's Word that makes us. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. It is not by attending a religious institution of Sunday or Saturday. It is by reading, studying and meditating on God's Word. When you do that, you will be a living example of His Word. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. You have to remain in His Word. God knows this world would drain us and deplete our energy and weaken our resolve. He always has the answer to our need and that answer is found in His Word. Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy... He didn't hand down that decree to give us one more rule to obey. He was giving us instruction on how to rest, restore, strengthen and prepare for the week that is ahead. Our Sabbath should focus on rest and meditating on His Word. Sabbath--rest and recharge on His Word.
Being filled with His Word will strengthen your faith and THAT is your greatest asset.
On the Sabbath, Jesus taught the message of the Kingdom. At no time did it say that He sang or entertained the people. He always took His time and taught the people and His disciples. Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes...And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
Please notice that on the most important day of the week (the day of rest) when all the people would attend the synagogue, He taught them concerning the Kingdom. Having said that, then why do the religious leaders of our day choose to entertain people as if it was showtime?! At least that is what they do in many of our churches in the United States. This truly misrepresents what the Sabbath was set aside for. This was never the Lord God's original intent.
Far too many people in the United States attend a religious institution and call it church. Many attend for the music and the entertainment atmosphere. They are passive consumers, instead of being participants. They are looking for the Kingdom but settling for a few feel-good hours so they feel they have done their 'duty' and are in right-standing with God. They are wrong, and they are looking in the wrong places and finding no real satisfaction. They fail to realize that they are the temple where the Holy Spirit has been assigned to live. The ambassador Paul made it clear: ...do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? The Holy Spirit wants to reside in your mortal body, but first you must make it clear through obeying Him through His Word. It is by obeying God's Word that makes us. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. It is not by attending a religious institution of Sunday or Saturday. It is by reading, studying and meditating on God's Word. When you do that, you will be a living example of His Word. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. You have to remain in His Word. God knows this world would drain us and deplete our energy and weaken our resolve. He always has the answer to our need and that answer is found in His Word. Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy... He didn't hand down that decree to give us one more rule to obey. He was giving us instruction on how to rest, restore, strengthen and prepare for the week that is ahead. Our Sabbath should focus on rest and meditating on His Word. Sabbath--rest and recharge on His Word.
Being filled with His Word will strengthen your faith and THAT is your greatest asset.
Genesis 2:1-3 Exodus 20:8-11
Mark 2:27-28; 1:21; 6:2
I Corinthians 6:19-20 Psalm 119:9
John 15:3-4 Joshua 1:8
~~W.R. Luchie
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success.
Mark 2:27-28; 1:21; 6:2
I Corinthians 6:19-20 Psalm 119:9
John 15:3-4 Joshua 1:8
~~W.R. Luchie
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success.
