Week 22: May 28, 2017

Topic: Keep the Sabbath Holy –Part 1

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 5: 1-14

Introduction

Sabbath is the seventh day of the week observed by believers as a day of rest and worship. It is a day of religious observance and abstinence from work. Though, the Jews observe Saturdays as their Sabbath according to the Jewish calendar, while the Christians observe Sundays as their Sabbath according to the western calendar. Whatever day that you accepted as your seventh day of the week is your Sabbath day.

The Sabbath day is a holy day which must be honoured because it is on this day that Almighty God rested from His work of Creation of the Universe. The Bible stated that “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” Genesis 2: 2-3. Therefore, you have to keep God’s special day holy and use it for the progress of His work.

The Sabbath day is not the day to walk for cancer or any other type of disease. It is not a day of sports activities or a day of going around collecting debts that people owed you. Christians must not forget the instructions of the Lord our God, but “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates” Exodus 20: 8-10. Since six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, dedicate the seventh day to the Lord by resting and worshipping Him.

Sabbath is very precious to God, and because of its importance he made Sabbath to be an integral part of His commandments (popularly called The Ten Commandments) Deuteronomy 5: 13-14. Make sure you do not oversleep, but first go to Church on Sundays before embarking on any other activity. Therefore observe the Sabbath day, dedicate it to the Lord and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you Deuteronomy 5: 12.

Types of Sabbath

There three types of Sabbaths namely: The Sabbath day, the Day of Atonement and the Sabbath of the seventh year.

The Sabbath Day: Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day of every week is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation in the Churches to worship God. You shall do no work in it; it is the Sabbath day of the Lord and it must be observed wherever you live Leviticus 23: 3.

Day of Atonement: Christians must afflict their souls and do not work at all on the tenth day of the seventh month of the year. The priest shall make atonement for the people to cleanse them from all their sins before the Lord. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest and they must afflict their souls by fasting. It is a statute forever Leviticus 16: 29-31, 23: 26-32. Nowadays, majority of the Churches had replaced the “Day of Atonement with “Forty Days Lent Fasting” because of the death of our Lord on the cross Colossians 1: 14, Hebrews 9: 12.

The Sabbath of the Seventh Year: Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather its fruits; but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest of the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard Leviticus 25: 2-4; Exodus 23: 10-11.

What all the Sabbaths have in common are solemn rest and holy convocation to worship the Lord. We will focus on the Sabbath day during this discussion.

The significance of Sabbath

There are many importance of Sabbath day that were mentioned in the Bible and we will study them.

God laid the example: God in His infinite mercy always laid the example for humans to follow. The scripture stated that “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 hallowed it” Exodus 20: 11. If God can rest on the Sabbath day then you need to rest too. If He can bless and hallow the Sabbath day, then you must keep the Sabbath holy and worship Him.

Humans need to refresh: All work no rest can make anyone to collapse or break down. It is for this reason that made the Lord God to give us the Sabbath day whereby we can rest and refresh ourselves. It is written that “six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed” Exodus 23: 12. People on this planet now emulate God by going for holidays/vacations in order to revitalize their body. If you want to re-energize your body, you must rest, and if you want to be refreshed, keep the Sabbath.

It is a sign between God and Christians: Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and believers from generation to generation. Christians must keep the Sabbath because it is a sign between God and believers throughout our generations so that people will know, and we will acknowledge that He is the Lord who sanctify us and set us apart for Himself Exodus 31: 13. People who observe the Sabbath day are exhibiting signs of obedience and dedication.

Fulfillment of His Word: There is a sentence in the Lord’s Prayer which says “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6: 9-13. For the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven, we have to observe the Sabbath day just like how God and the heavens are keeping the Sabbath day. The Bible stated that “It was mentioned, somewhere in the scripture concerning the seventh day that “On the seventh day, God rested from all His works” Hebrews 4: 4. For the Word of the Lord to be fulfilled in our lives, we must rest and worship Him on the seventh day which is the Sabbath day.

Sabbath is an everlasting Covenant: God gave the Sabbath day to believers as a permanent agreement between Him and the Christians. Therefore, Christians must keep the Sabbath and observe the Sabbath throughout our generations as a perpetual covenant Exodus 31: 16. Since we have an eternal covenant with God, why not embrace it and keep it forever.

Provision for the Sabbath

Before God said we must work for six days and rest on the seventh day, He had made provision for our needs for the seventh day when we must not work but rest. He knew that either we work on the seven day or not we have to eat; so He had stockpile supplies to cater for our needs.

This was demonstrated when God was feeding the children of Israel with Manna. On the sixth day, Moses told them to take double portion according to the instructions of the Lord, because the seventh day which is the Sabbath, Manna will not fall, since God Himself will be resting. However some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather Manna, but found none. They consume the leftover from the sixth day on the seventh day, and there are no worms in the leftover and it did not stink because God gave them the grace and made provision for their need for the Sabbath day Exodus 16: 22-30.

The Bible stated that “The eyes of all look to You and you give them their food in due season” Psalm 145: 15. If God is providing for all living things that depend on Him, by giving them food at the right time, will He not provide for those people who keep the Sabbath, His everlasting covenant?

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.

Week 24: June 11th, 2017

Topic: Keep the Sabbath Holy –Part 3

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 5: 1-14

The study continues with the commandments of the Lord concerning the Sabbath day. As previously discussed that the Sabbath day is the Lord’s Day, we will be using them interchangeably.

The Commandments of God

Though, it is the commandment of the Lord that says we must eat from the sweat of our brows till we die and return to dust Genesis 3: 19. It is not right to work on the Sabbath day, in which God Himself rested from His work because it is a covenant between God and the believers. Therefore, keep and observe the Lord’s Day; do not destroy the covenant of God, but honour and respect His covenant at all times.

Emulate Nehemiah: If you do not go to church first to worship God, whatever job/business that you do on the Lord’s Day will not prosper. If you make money on this day, it will not be spent judiciously because you have disobeyed God and you did not keep His covenant.

Emulate Nehemiah and do not trade or transact any business on the Lord’s Day unless you go to church first to worship the Lord. If your business associates bring merchandise on the Sabbath day, do not accept them Nehemiah 10: 31. It is your duty to warn people who are transacting business on the Lord’s Day without going to church first. If such people did not listen to your warnings, you must rebuke them so that the wrath of God reserved for those people who profane the Sabbath day may be pacified Nehemiah 13: 15-19. Henceforth, make a resolution to worship God first on the Sabbath day before engaging in any business deal.

Keep the Sabbath and honour your parents: It is the duties of Christians to honour their parents and keep the Sabbath. If you keep the Sabbath, but disrespect your parents you have broken the law of the Lord. In order for you to be rewarded for observing and keeping the Sabbath, you must honour your parents. It is stated in the Bible that “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God” Leviticus 19: 3.

Keep the Sabbath and honour the Temple: Christians that are keeping the Lord’s Day by going to the church to worship the Lord their God must neither defile nor disrespect the sanctuary of the Lord. The mere fact that you obey the commandment of the Lord to keep the Sabbath is not an excuse for you to desecrate His holy sanctuary. It is written that “You shall keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary: I am the Lord” Leviticus 19: 30; 26: 2. Christians beware whenever you are in the church, do not misuse or disrespect the holy place.

Consequences of not keeping the Sabbath

Working on the Sabbath day is one of the strategies of Satan to lure Christians into sin and make them to stumble in the presence of the Lord. The temptation is very pronounced because the people working in organizations/establishments will be paid extra money and better rate to work on the Sabbath, while the traders will be considering the money they will make if they open their shops/markets/offices on the Sabbath. Never ignore the consequences of profaning the Lord’s Sabbath.

Miseries await them: Many Christians think that they are smart. Instead of worshipping God on the Lord’s Day, they will go to their jobs/works because of the extra income to be made. Such people are foolish because they are using carnal wisdom which is foolishness in the presence of God to judge the spiritual things of the Lord. The scripture stated that ‘For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”’ 1 Corinthians 3: 19. This group/set of people are not smart, but foolish.

Miseries await anyone who goes to work/job on the Sabbath instead of church because Satan will create a spiritual drain-pipe to siphon whatever money that is made by profaning the Lord’s Day. The Bible stated that “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” Isaiah 5: 21. Working and not going to church on the Lord’s Day is not smartness, but foolishness. Therefore, abstain from this misconduct.

They will be cut off: One of the consequences of profaning the Lord’s Sabbath is to be cut off from among the chosen people of God. Whoever does any work on the Lord’s Day shall be cut off from the community of saints Exodus 31: 14. Many Christians always think that if they continue to work on the Sabbaths and become rich, they will be reinstated or readmitted into the community of God’s people, but they are wrong. Even if they are readmitted into the church, they will not inherit the heavenly kingdom until they repent and start keeping the Sabbath.

Numerous Christians always work overnight, so on the Sabbath day fatigue will set in, and they won’t be able to concentrate in the church. If church service is delay, countless Christians will be impatient to go to work/home and they will not wait for the service to end before they leave the presence of God. Such people should change their schedule where possible or they should be more accommodating.

Such people must remember the Bible passage which stated that “In the presence of God there is fullness of joy” Psalm 16: 11.

They will be put to death: Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death Exodus 31: 15; 35: 2, Numbers 15: 32-35. Christians may say such things cannot happen in this age; it is true, but God has the power to make such people who profane His Sabbath to die spiritually instead of physical death. Therefore, Christians must not learn the ways of the gentiles by profaning the Sabbath day.

Warning from the Lord: God warned the Israelites by saying “Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers” Jeremiah 17: 21-22. Christians, pay attention to the warning of the Lord and seek the Lord God on the Sabbath day (Lord’s Day): the Special Day that God blessed and sanctified. Call on the Lord during the congregational service of the Lord’s Day and He will answer; because He is near and prepare to solve your problems. It is written that “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” Isaiah 55: 6. God is waiting for you on the Sabbaths in His sanctuary, so do not miss this great opportunity.

Their establishments will be consumed: God will consume the establishments and treasures of people who did not heed the warnings of the Lord to hallow the Sabbath day. He will use unquenchable fire to devour their earthly possessions because they do not keep the Sabbath, but continue to profane it by working on the Lord’s Day Jeremiah 17: 27. If you don’t want your treasures to be consumed physically or spiritually, stop working on Sabbaths.

Week 25: June 18th, 2017

Topic: Keep the Sabbath Holy –Part 4

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 5: 1-14

The study continues with the benefits reserved for the people who keep the Sabbath. 

Benefits

Christians must realize that whatever work done or the number of hours you spent at your work is immaterial as long as you keep the Sabbath, you will be blessed. The Bible confirmed that the blessing of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it Proverbs 10: 22. If you want riches without sadness and regret, keep the Sabbath of the Lord.

Blessed are those who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it: Christians that God desire to take to high and esteem positions in the world, if they fail when tested with smaller posts, will God be eager to permit them to control bigger things physically and spiritually? When they are in control of small offices and they cannot find time to worship Him and keep the Sabbath day holy, don’t you know that He will either put a hold on their promotions and progress or give them to their neighbours who are better than them?

It was written that “Blessed is the one who does this, the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without defiling it and keep their hands from doing any evil” Isaiah 56: 2. If you want the blessings of the Lord to come upon you, keep the Sabbath faithfully. Do not pollute it and refrain from doing any evil.

God will give you everlasting name: Our God is impartial, says the Bible Romans 2: 11. Therefore, anyone from any race, colour and gender who pleases the Lord and commit their lives to Him shall be blessed. Those people who keep the Sabbaths of the Lord, obey Him completely and remain loyal to His covenant will be fruitful.

God will set up monuments in His holy temple with the names of such people written on them. In manners that will make it better than having children because these monuments will stand eternally. God will give such people in His house and within His walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters; He will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off but endure forever Isaiah 56: 3-5. If you want your name to be written on the memorial walls in the temple of the Lord, keep the Sabbaths. If you want an everlasting name which is better than having children, remain loyal to His covenant.

Your offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable: God will bless the people who commit themselves to the Lord; those who serve Him and love His name shall multiply exceedingly. The people that does not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, but hold fast to His covenant will be promoted. The unquantifiable blessings of the Lord shall come upon those who bind/join themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love His name and be His servants who will never defile the Sabbath, but hold firmly to His covenant.

God will bring them to His holy mountain and fill them with joy in His house of prayer. He will accept their offerings and sacrifices because His house will be called a house of prayer for all nations Isaiah 56: 6-7. If you want to be among the blessed of the Lord, do not defile His Sabbath. If you want your offerings and sacrifices to be acceptable, hold firmly to His covenant.

You will be fed with Jacob’s heritage: Christians should consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying “what shall we eat?” or “what shall we drink?” or “what shall we wear?” Matthew 6: 28-31. Instead of bothering yourself, keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your interest on this day, but the interest of the Lord. Do things that are right and acceptable to the Lord, speak of the Sabbath with delight as the Lord’s holy Day. Honour the Sabbath in everything you do on this day and do not follow your own desire or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. He will make you to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, the mouth of the Lord has spoken Isaiah 58: 13-14. Do not worry yourself about what to eat, drink or wear, but keep and honour the Sabbath, and then you will ride on the high places of the world. You will be blessed abundantly to the extent that you will wine and dine with the movers and shakers of the world.

Your nation shall be established and prosper: Take heed and beware of covetousness because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things you possesses. Your life is neither measured by how much you own nor determined by your possessions Luke 12: 15. Since you cannot edify your life by your earthly possessions, beware and keep the Sabbath day holy.

Examples

Christians must learn from the examples to be discussed before it is too late. If Christians are obeying the law of their Lands/Countries, then it is inevitable to obey the statutes of the Lord concerning the Sabbaths.

Performances of Jesus Christ on the Sabbath: Christians should emulate the performances of Jesus Christ our Lord on the Sabbaths. They must know that it is their good health conditions that make them to be working on the Sabbath, which is against the commandment of God. So it is not fair to disobey the gracious and merciful God that has given us sound health by working on the Sabbath day. We must remember that “Obedience is better than sacrifice and submission is better than offering the fat of rams” 1 Samuel 15: 22. Therefore, obey the Lord by observing and keeping the Sabbath holy, else you have rebelled against the Lord. The Bible stated that “rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness is a bad as worshipping idols” 1 Samuel 15: 23.

Jesus Christ said it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, so emulate Him by praying, fasting, evangelizing, healing, helping and winning souls for the Lord on the Sabbath Matthew 12: 12. Follow the examples laid by the Lord Jesus Christ and do good things that will be the pride of Christendom on the Sabbaths. Jesus Christ performed many miracles on the Sabbaths and some of them are the following:

· Healing of the man with withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath Luke 6: 6-10.

· Healing of the woman with a spirit of infirmity in the synagogue on the Sabbath Luke 13: 10-16.

· Healing of the man who had dropsy at a ruler’s house on the Sabbath Luke 14: 1-4.

· Healing of the bedridden man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath John 5: 1-11.

· Restoration of sight to the man without eye-socket on the Sabbath John 9: 1-16.

· Healing of the man with unclean spirit at Capernaum on the Sabbath Luke 4: 31-35.

· Peter’s mother-in-law healed at the evening on the Sabbath Luke 4: 38-39.

· Many people were healed after Sabbath sunset.  Luke 4: 40-41.

Finally, return to God against whom you Christians have deeply revolted, by observing and keeping the Sabbath holy Isaiah 31: 6.

The Seal: Isaiah 66: 23: “And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me” says the Lord.