The Sabbath of Ages. -The Mystery Of Shabbat.
Exodus 20:8-11NLT
Dr. Jess Moody once wrote with biting sarcasm,"What do aged atheists have to talk about, as they sit around waiting to die? Do they discuss the legacy of morality, decency, integrity, and spiritual sensitivity they have given to their children? Or the good atheism has done the world: the hospitals, orphanages, and the elevation of women...? And when the sun is sinking low, and when the conversation for the wheelchair atheist begins to lull, they can joyously contemplate their future. There is so much for an aged atheist to look forward to."
With that said, What is Shabbat? The Sabbath day.
-It’s the day set apart from all other days of the week, and it also the last day of the week. Shabbat comes at the end. -It’s also called the day of the Lord, the day of rest, the holy day.
Facts: For the devout Jew Shabbat is exciting:
1. Every week, for the 25 hours beginning just before sundown on Friday until after night has fallen on Saturday, Jewish people celebrate Shabbat, a period of rest and spiritual rejuvenation.
2. The Day Before Is Special Too. -Shabbat eve.
3. Women Light Shabbat Candles. Single 1, married, at least two.
4. Shabbat is the fourth of the 10 Commandments and repeated over and over again in the Torah, making it one of the most important elements of Judaism.
5. There Are Several Shabbat Greetings. Just one for example, Shabbat Shalom. (Sabbath Peace).
6. The Revelation at Sinai Happened on Shabbat.
7. Angels Accompany Us on Friday Night.
8. It Is Customary to Eat Fish.
9. Shabbat Is Greeted Like a Queen or Bride.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4541260/jewish/25-Shabbat-Facts-Every-Jew-Should-Know.htm
Therefore, what do the Jewish people do on the Sabbath?
-They rest from all their weekly labor, they devote the day to prayer, to the word, to worship… And to God.
As I ponder upon Sabbath, I conclude that Shabbat is very important to God, it’s an instrumental part of the 10 commandments given to Moses, by God.
Exodus 20:8-11NLT Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
As Shabbat is honored and held in great esteem, we are to remember, the age of Shabbat. -We are to remember that this will be an age of rest!
The age of Shabbat is the age of Jesus. If you think Jesus is something now, just wait until He has complete rule over this world. P.H
Matthew 24:30AMP And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor].
Listen to what the prophet Daniel said about the age to come:
Daniel 2:44CEB “But in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will be indestructible. Its rule will never pass to another people. It will shatter other kingdoms. It will put an end to all of them. It will stand firm forever,
Again, The age of Shabbat is the age of Jesus.
I want you to understand Shabbat’s mystery. The Sabbath mystery is a shadow of what lies ahead. The age to come, is the age of Shabbat, -Thus the Sabbath age.
The Sabbath day comes at the end of the week, so the Sabbath age will come at the end of history.
And as the Sabbath day is set apart from all the other days of the week, so the Sabbath age will be set apart from all other ages.
-It will be the Sabbath of ages, the age of the Lord, the age of rest!
Here is the mystery; Here’s the age of Shabbat, the age of rest!
Isaiah 11:1-9NLT “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. 4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. 5 He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. 6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. 7 The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. 8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.”
According to Scripture, we know this future age is the age of Christ's kingdom on Earth, the Millennial reign of Christ described in Revelation 20. And then this age will in turn, give way to a fourth and final age called, the Eternal order, or age of Shabbat.
Again, Jesus will be Lord over the Sabbath age!
It is then that the nations will rest from war, and the Jewish people will rest from their burdens, and Peace will cover the Earth, and the lion will lay down with the calf. And as the Sabbath is Israel’s day, so the Sabbath age will be Israel’s age… An age Holy consecrated to God and blessed.
Mark 2:27-28NLT Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!””
Is Sunday/Shabbat/the Sabbath relevant for the 21st Century? Another question has to be asked to answer the first. -Is Jesus relevant for Sunday? For Shabbat?
Matthew 8:17CEB This happened so that what Isaiah the prophet said would be fulfilled: He is the one who took our illnesses and carried away our diseases.
Hebrews 13:8CEB Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Again Mark, chapter 2, verses, 27–28 when Messiah spoke of the Sabbath and his relationship to it, what was it that he said?
-He said, the Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath, and so with the Sabbath age, the Son of man, Messiah, will be Lord over it!
There in lies the key. Even before the coming of the Sabbath age, you can live in its blessings now. If Messiah is Lord of the Sabbath, then, if you will truly make him the Lord of every part of your life, then the Sabbath age will begin for you now! P.H
For where Messiah is, Lord… There is the kingdom… And the age of Shabbat.
Hebrews 4:8-10CSB If Joshua gave the Israelites rest, God wouldn’t have spoken about another day later on. 9 So you see that a sabbath rest is left open for God’s people. 10 The one who entered God’s rest also rested from his works, just as God rested from his own.
Again, Just as God entered into rest, as believers, we can too. -God desires that we learn the secret of Shabbat, And with this secret revealed, followers of Jesus can immediately enter into spiritual rest.
Testimony- I will never forget 40 years ago while on my Insurance route I was tormented. My mind was losing the war, and satan continued to accuse me.
I called my Mother-In-Love, Mary. She said, “Howard, Gods going to teach you about entering into His rest!” After her prayer, I understood, Rest , faith and grace. And how I had to accept them... Welcome them...
The best news is, You don’t have to wait for eternal Shabbat you can work, walk, talk, live, and sleep in this God rest/Shabbat. -Jesus made that possible!
Revelation 21:1-7CSB Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. 7 Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters.
This I know, I can’t enter physical rest until I accept and enter into this spiritual rest. It’s time for Shabbat!
To enter into eternal Shabbat there are 3 important words you need to accept. This is so powerful, primarily because we have already discussed much of this! P.H
The apostle Paul gives his readers the most important word of all times. -1 Corinthians 13:13CSB Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.
1. When you enter into Shabbat, the age of rest faith will go with you! Faith. -This measure of Faith was given to you. Because of this ordained faith, you may enter into an eternal rest. -Your faith can teach you rest!
2. When you enter into Shabbat, the age of rest your hope will be fully revealed as you journey onward. Hope. -This hope keeps you strong. Your hope is eternal.
In 1873 Frances J. Crosby, wrote this powerful song: ‘Blessed Assurance’, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels, descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
3. When you enter into Shabbat, the age of rest, Love will be present. -This love given to you was given with a heavy price. -The blood of Jesus is your love!
John 3:16-17NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Benediction. -The age of Shabbat can begin today, and the best part is, Shabbat will only grow and become brighter and brighter.
