THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH #5
“THE SABBATH”
Exodus 20:8-11
* In preparing for this message, I was ready to begin with this statement- “this is the most maligned & violated of all commands.” Candidly- God arrested my heart & said, “Ok, hot shot--which is the least maligned command?”
* So I reviewed all 10 Commands
No Other Gods
Commit Murder
No Idols
Adultery
Lord’s Name
Steal
Sabbath Day
Lying
Parent’s
Covet
* When I consider history and the Bible, it is easy to become depressed. Our forefathers gave their wealth, work, sweat, blood, & lives to give us a country which honors this great Decalogue. Today they would probably turn over in their graves to see how we have abandoned our heritage. This command reads as the longest passage given to any command/ TEXT
* This command is a call. In this day of close communication, calls are very common. We receive all kinds of calls, reminder calls, renewal calls, bad calls, good calls, even draft calls for our young men. Have we forgotten the call of God?
1. CALL TO NOT FORGET
* God simply says, “Remember” Why did He say that? Could it be because the Children of Israel were so apt to forget? They always are forgetting the important stuff. They are quick to forget the conditions in Egypt, they can’t seem to remember victories and blessings of God, so it stands to reason that they will probably forget this important day.
* We could do a study on the “Sabbath day” which would require several weeks to complete, but how about a short lesson for clarity. There is some confusion about the Sabbath. Many think the word “Sabbath” means Saturday because it is the 7th day. In fact, one group has built a denomination on this belief. It is true God rested on 7th day & it is equally true “Hebrews” worshipped on Saturday.
* The word Sabbath means to cease, desist, and/or rest from worldly activity such as work, making a living, and the like. The reason we are commanded to do this is to reflect on God’s goodness, rest in His love, reconnect with His spirit, and get our spiritual & physical strength replenished. God designed us to need the rest, reflection, & renewal of the day.
* It is an interesting truth that post-resurrection NT believers (Jews) moved their day of worship, rest, and giving to the first day, the Lord’s Day which was Resurrection day. Why did they do this? To even ask this question means that we have lost the “wonder” of the resurrection. This is the day given to God for celebration of Jesus coming back from the death. In this command we have been called to not forget, yet some have forgotten/.
* We seem to fill our Sundays with everything BUT Him. We can work all week to get boat ready, the golf clubs clean, the television finely turned, or any of another hundred things, and come to “church to do our time.” We sit, stand, and sing with our lips but our hearts are privately saying ”hope service is not too long” or “I hope we can get that preacher to keep it short,” or even “if I am to complete my plans, I don’t have time.”
* One of the saddest remarks I have ever heard as a pastor was stated with a sense of seriousness that I didn’t believe. He said, “Since you came, cannot beat Methodist to restaurant. May I submit this command has been forgotten?
2. CALL TO NOT FORSAKE
* We are also called to “Keep it Holy” and “sanctify it.” We don’t hear these words very often. Yet holiness, sanctification, and even consecration are part of God’s standard. The Bible still says, “Be holy as I am holy.” This is not speaking of perfection but rather, motivation.
* We forsake this command when it becomes “OUR DAY” which we “lend a part of” to God as opposed to His day.
* He says, “Make it Holy,” set it apart, calendar it, because it’s HIS! Prepare for it!
* We understand what it means to really prepare. We prepare for weddings, building a house, opening a business, vacations, trips, even for company. We know about this.
* The same principle applies for the Lord’s Day. We should be well prepared for our corporate time together. When I became you pastor, I covenanted with you that if you would show up, I would do my best to be prayed up, planned out, and ready to bring fresh bread from the table of God. From my side of this table, I have done my best to keep my end of the arrangement and with only a couple of exceptions in the 2 years have been prepared.
* Let me give you a statement which may unnerve some; how you prepare for the Sunday Gatherings determines your level of excitement, enthusiasm, expectation, & anticipation.
* My 7th grade English teacher was Mrs. Borum. She was a wonderful lady who had 24 students in this class. We all had to do book reports. As I recall, we were to do 6 per day for 4 days. The kicker was that she was not going in any particular order so we were all to be ready on the 1st day. Well, I wasn’t ready and dreaded going to class. However, by day 2, I was totally prepared so class was fun that day.
* Let’s apply this to our time together. Have you ever invited someone to attend church service with you and shock of all shocks, they said they would come. Do you remember how excited you were? You told them where you would meet them and got there ahead of time ready to greet them. You couldn’t help it, but this relationship was exciting because of the care.
* Please don’t miss this; God has told us to remember and to not forsake the “Sabbath Day” and the assembling together on this day. You know what; He is the one waiting to greet us. Now for all you “theologians”, I am aware that the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts and goes with us everywhere. Instead of over thinking this, we simply need to respond to His words & understand that the church assembled has a dynamic which is totally a God thing. It is the manifest presence of God.
3. CALL TO NOT “FAKE IT”
* Verse 10 speaks of totally committing this day to God, not just acting like it. Back in 60’s & 70’s, we talked about “phonies.” In fact, even though this is not a history lesson, one of the reasons for the Jesus movement of that era was that the younger generation “heard” one thing and “saw” another in the lives of the “establishment.” It is sad to say, but if we are honest and cut away all the fluff, we discover that much of what is done in the world and even the church is done for show.
* In the Bible days, leaders would “fast.” That is, they would deprive themselves of food for spiritual reasons. The problem was that they would dress the part so everyone will know how godly and spiritual they were. Why? Wanted everyone to see.
* It is safe to say that when we do something for show or just enough to get by, we are not pleasing to the Father. In fact, Jesus taught that if we do anything before men to be honored by men, we already have our reward.
* I close with a couple of suggestions for your day of Worship;
* P - Prepare daily for the Sabbath--(rest and worship)
* L - Love God with all your Heart & Live like 1st love
* A - Ask God daily for a clean heart & right spirit
* N - No….Say “no” to temptations of Satan
CONCL: This command, which is the first command stated in a positive manner is a call to not, not forget, forsake, and not fake. Be authentic.
* Please don’t forget the day of worship & rest belongs to God, it is His.
* Please don’t forsake to set it up, set it aside & prepare for it.
* Please don’t fake it or do it for show. Sell out and give yourself to the Lord. That is what God desires.
