Sunday Is Still A Holy Day Series

Sunday is Still a Holy Day!

Exodus 20:8-11

Introduction

George Hatch raised a large family of seven boys and five girls in the sand hills of Nebraska. One Sunday morning a neighbor rushed over to help the Hatches get the new mown hay into the barn; clouds were rolling in from the West and it was quite apparent that a rainstorm was imminent.

“Let’s get your hay up before the storm hits!” Exclaimed the neighbor.

“Thank you for your kind offer,” said Mr. Hatch, “but this is Sunday, and I am going to take my family to church.”

“But you’ll lose your hay,” pleaded the neighbor.

Yet the Hatches went to church, and the rainstorm did spoil the hay.

“See, I told you that you would lose your hay,” said the neighbor.

“Yes,” replied Mr. Hatch, “I lost my hay, but I saved my family.”

It is doubtful that the neighbor fully understood what just took place. George Hatch did save his family. Today, down into the third and fourth generations, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are workers in the kingdom.

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).

I had the notion for awhile that Sunday was the only day people had left to enjoy themselves. Therefore, it was okay to take Sunday and do all the things on that day that there hadn’t been tie to do during the week. It was okay to forego church and do as one pleased, mow the lawn, take a short trip, visit relatives, sleep late, wash the car, etc. However, when God saved me, He also changed my perception of Sunday. It became the Lord’s Day, a special day set apart for His glory and His worship. Today, we are going to look in the 4th Commandment and see why just why “Sunday is Still a Holy Day!”

Let’s read Exodus 20:8-11

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

Of the Ten Commandments given to mankind, only this one is not repeated in the New Testament. Therefore, many have that since we are no longer under the restrictions of the Sabbath attitude, we are also under no obligation to respect the Lord’s Day. It is a day when God’s people are supposed to dedicate themselves and that day to Him and to His worship. There are three aspects of this 4th Commandment that I feel are relevant to us today. Let’s notice these things as we think on the thought; Sunday is Still a Holy Day!

I. Sunday is a Day of Rest

a. Man’s Labor is Crucial (verse 9)

• Contrary to popular belief, work is not part of the curse from Adam and Eve eating the apple!

• Before man sinned, he was given work to do.

• Sweat during labor is part of the curse.

• God’s intention is that man should work to earn his livelihood.

• This intention is clearly stated in 1 Thessalonians. 3:10-12.

• Man is call upon to get to work and to be busy!

• Work and the ability to work, are blessings from the hand of the Heavenly Father!

b. Man’s Lull is Commanded (verse 10)

• Just as man is expected to work, man is also expected to rest!

• Our bodies were never designed to work constantly, but we were made to have a time of rest.

• The purpose in God’s command is to allow man time to refresh his body for the 6 days of work that are ahead.

• T. Dewitt Talmadge stated, “Our bodies are seven day clocks and they need to be wound up, and if they are not wound up, they will run down into the grave.”

• God didn’t give this commandment to interfere with our pleasure, but to insure our health!

• What is permitted on Sunday you ask?

• Anything that refreshes and rests the body for the upcoming work week.

• What is forbidden you ask?

• Anything that does not allow one to be rested and refreshed.

c. Today, we are not under the bondage of the Law, but under the liberty of grace!

• However, God still expects us to maintain that one day of Sabbath rest for His glory and your health.