Sabbath (Part 3)

Many sermons in Christian Evangelical churches discuss being a follower of Jesus. Worship teams also compile song sets that have the theme of following Christ with lyrics such as:

“ I surrender all, all to Him I owe…”

and “I will make room for you, to do whatever you want to do- Jesus…your way is better”

Being a Christ follower means we choose to be obedient to Jesus’ teachings.

Ephesians 5:3 says “Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma”

Yes, a full surrender is what Jesus is asking of us- if we desire to live in all the benefits and blessings He won for us at the cross. This surrendered life CANNOT be accomplished by human will, we need the Holy Spirit’s power working through us.

That is why, when we deeply consider the fourth Commandment: “Keep the Sabbath Day Holy” we know that surrender is required in order for the Holy Spirit to empower us to desire following this commandment as an act of worship.

Our country was founded on Christian values. Slowly, over the years, reading the Bible, discussing the teachings and living life within its virtues seems old fashioned or not necessary. But if we look back at the founding student guidelines of respected Universities in this country – we may be able to wrap our minds around how far America has changed. Let me give you examples of two prestigious institutions and their founding rules of conduct.

Yale also had similar student guidelines(the full list here)

1. Every student shall exercise himself in Reading Holy Scriptures by himself every
Day, that the word of Christ may Dwell in Him richly and that he may be filled with
the knowledge of the will of God in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

2. Every student shall consider the main end of his study, to wit [which is] to know God
in Jesus Christ and answerably to lead a Godly sober life.

3. All students shall avoid the profanation of God’s Holy name, Attributes, word and
ordinances, and the Holy Sabbath, and shall Carefully attend all public assemblies for
Divine worship, and shall avoid all appearances of Contempt and irreverence.

I personally wish these precepts remained part of every college and University student rule book. What a wonderful world we would live in. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns many people.”(Prov 14:34)

Turning Our Hearts Toward The Lord

What we’re really talking about here, is that our nation has lost its heart for the Lord. Obedience means pure and unadulterated love and worship of our divine Creator. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the Lord,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

This verse explains that by acknowledging the Lord’s holy day as beneficial to us, and choosing to happily honor it, we will triumph in life as did Jacob.

25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak. But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”(Genesis 32:25-26)

Jacob wouldn’t let God go until God blessed Him, and the same will be true of us. If we hold on to the Lord, honoring Him, never letting go, we too will partake in the inheritance of Jacob. Benson’s commentary defines Jacobs blessings like this:

Thou shalt be above the reach of danger. And feed thee with the heritage of Jacob — Thou shalt enjoy the good of the land of Canaan, which God promised as a heritage to Jacob and his seed, Genesis 35:12. Or, figuratively understood, thou shalt enjoy temporal as well as spiritual blessings. The Lord will withhold from thee no manner of thing which he sees to be for thy prosperity and happiness.

I wonder what would happen to this nation if all Christians decided to pause on Sunday, refusing to allow the powers of darkness to over rule God’s highest rule for our lives? In the Yale guidelines the students were to avoid contempt towards the day; and irreverence shown to God, His sanctuary or His holy day.

” If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”(2 Chron 7:14 KJV)

Much has changed in the United States since 1940’s-1950’s when businesses closed and families spent the day together. This country was a decidedly Christian country and we sang about the liberty of God’s Law in “America The Beautiful” hymn (listen here.) Can you imagine this being sung in schools today?

Even though the world has changed, God has not changed and we do know what Scripture reveals about the Sabbath.

1. The Sabbath should be kept holy
2. We should rest from our job of earning money- God is our provider. (those in ministry and public health and safety of course will take a different day of rest)
3. acts of mercy as well as necessary work do not defile the day.

Lastly, we can flip this topic on its head and ask: What bad will happen to my family, church or country if I adhere to this Commandment? If we are followers of Jesus and know that God is the provider of all joy, peace, health, strength and prosperity, we can easily answer…nothing.

Psalm 34:9
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

Food For Thought,

Lisa

This is a link to my favorite Bible with excellent teaching points. Click here.