Worship And Ministry Series

Isaiah 58:13-14 Rest and Ministry

Greetings: I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The Lord is good and His love endures forever!!

Introduction: Prophet Isaiah was concerned about the negligence of the People of God on the Sabbath observation. He talked about true fasting, then moved on to bring clarity on the day of Rest. I would like to leave with you three points each with three things. Three things to do on Sabbath. Three things to avoid on the Sabbath, three blessings of the observance of the Sabbath. Please understand the words I use here interchangeably Sunday with Sabbath. My words sabbath refers to Sunday. The observance of Sunday with rest and ministry.

Joke: A group of seminary students gathered in the chapel one day as the dean challenged them to NOT pray for a large church because of the stress, problems and worries that go with it. The next year one of the students who graduated returned to give his testimony. He said, “I did ask God for a big church; however, I also asked God for a pretty wife. My prayer was ALMOST answered. Instead of getting a big church and a pretty wife, I got a pretty church and a big wife!”(adopted).

1. Three things to do on Sabbath

Keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath, Call the Sabbath a holy day, and treat it honorable.

Religious observances must carry out with the right motives. Whether practicing fasting or keeping the sabbath traditions, the important thing is to honor God, not to seek personal benefit (Bridgeway Commentary).

"To keep the sabbath in an idle manner is the sabbath of oxen and asses; to keep the sabbath in joviality (pleasure, sports, etc) is the sabbath of the golden calf; and to keep it in immorality, drunkenness, and licentiousness is the sabbath of Satan, the devil's holiday."(Coffman quoted from Bishop Andrews).

Keeping feet is to do primarily with one's overall approach, with one's attitude toward the day, with respect for holy time (John W. Ritenbaugh). The foot is being used as a figure of speech for the practical choices a person makes with respect to conduct and behavior.

The New Testament makes it clear that disciples of Christ are not under obligation to observe a Sabbath day (Colossians 2:16-17, Galatians 4:9-11). Jesus is Sabbath for us and in us, the substance is of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 4:9-11). Galatians 4:10 tells us that we are not bound to observe days and months and seasons and years. The rest we enter into the experience every day, not just one day a week (Hebrews 4:9-10).

You honor it means you hold it in high regard; treat it with respect or reverence; acknowledge its greatness of it or rank of it, give deference or heed to it; to place a high priority on it.

However, we cannot ignore the importance of a day of rest (Enduring Word). It is the chief of days, worthy of all honor, and therefore honorable and holy (Benson).

The sabbath is a sign between God and his people. He appointed it for them and they observe it for obedience. On Sundays not follow regular duties and pleasures. We must put a difference between this day and other days. Old Testament calls the sabbath the Lord’s Day. So, it is Christ's day (Revelation 1:10) (Matthew Henry).

God wants us to have a certain attitude toward His holy day. Don’t think of this day as an inconvenient interruption to our schedule. Rather, He wants us to greet this day for what it truly is - the very best and most delightful day of the week! - the most honorable day the seven! (Bethany Bible Church).

A day of "resting": resting spiritually; resting physically; resting emotionally; resting intellectually, and resting socially.

A day of "embracing": embracing "intentionality", that is, the consideration of how we do the things we do; embracing the values of our church family and of the Christian faith; embracing the value of time with people over the accumulation of things; embracing the blessedness of giving instead of receiving; embracing God's call over the totality of our life; embracing God's gift of wholeness, satisfaction, fulfillment, and peace in Christ; and embracing God's love for the lost people of the world, and His call to tell others about Him. (Marva J. Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly- Bethany Bible Church).

The day of rest must lead us into the ministry. Ministry of building people, and communities.

2. Three things to avoid on Sabbath

Not going on our own way, not doing as we please, and not speaking idle words.

The Hebrew word Derek usually means road or way. Enoch walked with God means he walked on God’s route. If we go our own way, we are not in God’s way. (Journal of Adventist Society). A way is a path or a course leading from one place to another. It is a direction, a manner, or a method of doing something. It is a code of life, a lifestyle. It is self-centered (John W. Ritenbaugh).