Week 23: June 4th, 2017

Topic: Keep the Sabbath Holy –Part 2

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 5: 1-14

The study shall continue with the declaration of the Sabbath day as the Lord’s Day.

The Lord’s Day

It is an indisputable truth that Jesus Christ our Lord is the Lord of the Sabbath day. It is written that “For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath” Matthew 12: 8, Mark 2: 28, Luke 6: 5. Since Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, henceforth, the Sabbath day must be called the Lord’s Day and Christians must refer to the Sabbath as the Lord’s Day.

We must acknowledge that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of mankind. God created the Sabbath for the sake of humans so that we can rest. He created the Sabbath purposely to meet the needs of people and not people for the Sabbath. The Bible stated that “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath” Mark 2: 27. The Sabbath was created for man, therefore, let us observe and keep it holy.

John the apostle used the Lord’s Day in an acceptable manner. He saw an heavenly vision that enlightened and benefited mankind to this day Revelation 1: 9-20. If you use the Lord’s Day in acceptable way, God will use you in manners that is beyond human comprehension and you will be utilized to comfort mankind.

Profanity of the Lord’s Day

Christians, how did the Lord wronged you? How did He burdened you? What did He do to you that make you turn from Him? How did He wearied you that you do not want to observe or keep the Sabbath holy? God want to know why your patience is exhausted Micah 6: 3. If God has not done anything wrong, if He has not wearied you, then you have to return and reconcile with Your Creator. You must obey His instructions to work for six days and rest on the seventh day which is the Lord’s Day.

People in position of Authority: Many people in position of authority are despising the holy things of the Lord and profaning His Sabbath. Most of them neither observe the Lord’s Day nor keep it holy. It is the on Lord’s Day that they will be having series of meetings; plotting and executing evil schemes, and attending social events instead of being in the church in the presence of God Ezekiel 22: 6-8. Stop all these conducts that can provoke the Lord to anger and turn a new leaf by spending the Lord’s Day in His presence.

Priests and religious leaders: Lot’s of priests and religious leaders are ignoring the law of Lord. They always disrespect the sacred things of the Lord because of money and rewards. Many priests are despising the law of the Lord, thereby defiling His sanctuaries. The scripture stated that “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they known the difference between the unclean and clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbath, so that I am profaned among them” Ezekiel 22: 26. Do not be like the so-called priest and religious leaders who fail to speak out because of gains and turn blind-eyes to the atrocities which the wealthy people are committing because of vanity of this world.

Many people are defiling the Temple: Many Christians are desecrating the Holy Temple of the Lord; the temple that the holy angels are using with reverence, but many Christians treat it with disrespect:

· Many Christians have sexual contact and they will not have their bath before going to Church.

· Numerous Christians consume alcoholic drinks before coming into the presence of God.

· Countless Christians come to the house of God to fornicate or commit adultery.

· Some come to Church to defraud people or transact business in the holy place. It is written that “They have done this to Me: They have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths” Ezekiel 23: 38. Such people should cease these nefarious activities so that they will not be guilty of two offenses in the presence of God.

Many Christians have fellowship with the darkness and proceed to the church to have fellowship with God. Such people are only deceiving themselves because God will never have fellowship with them. This category of Christians in Yoruba land always sings this song “We will celebrate our contrary traditions (2ce), Christianity cannot forbid us from performing our contrary culture.” Believers should change the song to “I can’t (3ce); I cannot worship God with Mammon.” The Bible stated that “For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My Sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house” Ezekiel 23: 39. Anyone that has polluted himself/herself by sacrificing to the idols or mingling with the darkness must not come into the temple of God to defile it. Many so-called Christians that are recruiting for satanic realms must stop immediately; else the judgement of God shall come upon them.

Many professed Christians who come into the presence of God belong to covens of witches; those that are cultists must renounce their membership of the satanic sect and repent genuinely so that the fierce anger of God will not come upon them.

Christians must not be absent: Christians must not be absent whenever there is a Church Service, most especially the service of the Lord’s Day. Nobody knows his/her day of visitation, when the Lord will send the angels to descend and resolve your problems. Remember the Bible passage which stated that “We must not forsake the assembly of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one and another and so much the more as you see  the Day approaching” Hebrews 10: 25. Therefore, Christians do not ignore Church Services or forsake prayer meetings, most importantly the Lord’s Day Church Service. Do not give flimsy excuse that “I am praying in my home/house”, but go and join the assembly of the saints in the Church.

Christ went to the Temple on the Sabbath

Jesus Christ laid examples of how to use the Lord’s Day judiciously. On several occasions, He went to the temple on the Lord’s Day to do His Father’s work. Therefore, every Christians need to go to the Church on the Lord’s Day.

Jesus and His disciples went to the temple on the Lord’s Day and He taught people the Word of God Mark 1: 21. On another occasion, He went to the temple and read the scripture Luke 4: 16-18. If you too go to the church on the Lord’s Day and teach/preach the word of God, it will touch peoples’ lives. The gentiles around your church’s location will beg to hear more of the Gospel; most of them will repent and surrender their lives to God Acts 13: 42. If you want to be vessel of honour, then you need to evangelize and win souls into the kingdom of God.

Emulate Jesus Christ by doing good, and going to the church on the Lord’s Day Mark 6: 1-2.