Becoming a Seven-day Adventist

Intro

I want to start out this morning, asking you to not get lost in the title of my message. This won’t be controversial, but I certainly pray that it be inspiring. It should challenge every single one of us. In the day we are living in, my prayer is we will commit and re-commit to the cause of Christ.

Someone may wonder if I am attempting to de-value the Seventh day Sabbath. No in fact I want to more strongly emphasize its importance and impact.

Today we are going to look at the example of Christ, and patriarchs in scripture as to how they spiritually fueled themselves seven days a week. A little later, I have also asked a select few to serve as a panel sharing their experiences on this topic. Before we jump in, lets go to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer

You know as I talk to many of you, I often hear a similar message. You all are busy and tired. Can anybody relate? Can the parents in this room relate? Can those who are working 40-60 hours a week relate?

It’s why our understanding of the Sabbath is so crucial. God made Sabbath for man, and not man for the Sabbath. God created the Sabbath as resting day for His children. Not simply to nap all day but to rest from the stresses which exist during the week and leave those at the foot of the cross.

Hey but listen… are their any PK’s out there? (Pastor’s kids?) or those who are part of a pastors family? You know there isn’t a lot of restful Sabbaths. It very much is a work day. I don’t want that to sound like a complaint. I love serving God and his people on Sabbath. Its a blessing. But I won’t act like their aren’t tiring days and tiring Sabbaths. Our dedicated ministry leaders and volunteers can understand what I am talking about. There is a lot of work and effort that goes into coordinating Sabbath school, Pathfinders, Adventurers, prayer meetings, small groups, bible studies, potlucks. I’ve witnessed volunteers in multiple churches I have served in experience burnout to the point of losing their joy in serving the church. Praise the Lord for Mary’s in this room but I will say Martha’s need a turn to be Mary’s also.

So for some, what I hear, is that Sabbath often isn’t feeling as restful as it should. For us long time Adventists in this room, it would be odd to think of Sunday as a resting day from our Sabbath affairs.

I would like to share something which may not be earth shattering or paradigm shifting for some, but for others, maybe you understood this but hadn’t put this into practice.

You can find rest in Jesus, all SEVEN days of the week.

I hope that our identity as Seventh-day Adventist Christians has caused you to inadvertently preserve your Christian and spiritual identity with one singular worship filled day, (or even just a morning), and thats it.

Let me give you a Biblical example. As the Israelites were wandering the desert, God sent them Manna for sustenance. He gave them this Heavenly bread portion. Sunday through thursday and they were to collect two days worth on fridays to be filled also on Sabbath. The Lord’s provisions for his people were provided all week long.

Now if we were to talk about Spiritual food, are their any of us collecting this provision on Sabbath (maybe gleaning from the sermon, the music, the Sabbath school…hey for some it could be literally gleaning just one or a couple of those things) and then expecting it to sustain us for all seven days. I don’t have that understanding that of the Sabbath provisions.

What I am saying is two-fold. God wants our hearts Seven-days a week, just like a marital couple wants their spouse’s heart everyday. Yet God has put something in the calendar for a highly prioritized date night, (or day if you will).

So how do we get there? How do I go from being simply a Seventh-day Adventist worshipping christian? To becoming a Seven day Seventh-day Adventist Christian?

What is the fuel that I should be consuming for myself as well as motivates me to carry on the mission that God has placed on the church.

I think we have a number of examples we can look to in scripture but we also proverbs throughout scripture encouraging us to seek the presence of God.

Psalm 63:1 ESV

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

In a church I previously pastored, one of my members, who was a retired sheriff, told me he been confronted by a family member who had chastised him for giving his life to Jesus. He had been told he didn’t need Jesus and should give up his false religion. He responded, to give up Jesus, would be like giving up breathing. He needed Jesus more than he needed oxygen to survive.

My friends do you have anyone in your life who is walking this world without the love of Jesus in their heart? Its like walking around with an undiagnosed cancer. Something slowly eating away at us and not knowing it.

Jesus modeled a behavior of taking in the presence of his father daily.

A few weeks ago in Sabbath school, our young adults were discussing Jesus’ habits.

Mark 1:35 ESV

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

I remember it was asked in groups to discuss why Jesus prayed in isolation as he did.

I believe the answer is layered. For practical purposes, Jesus was escaping the crowds and even his disciples to have an unfiltered and raw experience with his father. It’s hard to to have that special time when distracted with all the other things. It showed Christ’s humanity even while still being divine. Jesus was consuming God in order to be His best servant on Earth.

Parents, mothers probably even more specifically, if you want to be the best parents to your children, please fill yourself spiritually. If the only time to do that is when its dark outside morning or evening or both, do not neglect filling yourself. Your not going to be able to give what you do not have. Self sacrifice might sound noble, but if we truly want to give our kids our best, we’ve got to fuel ourselves.

One other conclusion our young adults were having was that perhaps Jesus was communing with God each morning receiving the instruction for each each day. Hey listen, those who might wonder if thats reaching a bit, I think thats totally plausible. I think many of us in our prayer life, end up doing a lot of time talking but are not doing enough listening. We’re great at filling silences, and complaining we aren’t hearing God’s voice.

What is the Bible’s instruction? “Be still and know I am God” -Psalm 46:10

At a time when the prophet Elijah was was fleeing the wrath of Jezebel, and his colleague prophets were being hunted down and killed, Elijah desperately needed God’s counsel. The word of the Lord had instructed to Elijah to go and stand on the Mount before the Lord.

1 Kings 19:11-12

English Standard Version Chapter 19

And behold, the LORD passed by, and ca great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

Notice his voice wasn’t heard in the distraction of the winds and earthquakes and fire. It doesn’t come in the form of a louder voice. But it is there. If we would look through the noise or filter through it God is seeking to give you.

Folks, talking about the noise that can affect us hearing God’s voice. There is some noise which happen in which we collide with. Tragedies in our communities, family, strife etc. However, would I be wrong if I expressed sometimes we invite and consume the noise willingly at times as well. I’m not saying don’t watch the news, but I will say, the news is a LOT of noise. Love or hate the current presidential administration, I think we can all agree there is a LOT of noise. Some of us study politics and world events so much whether your are from the LEFT or RIGHT PERSPECTIVE, we are declaring God’s will not through scripture or God’s voice but through our preferred political lens. What I am saying is I am not looking for that still small voice through any political system but through worship, and especially in solitude communion with God.

Look to the Daniel’s, the Elijah’s, the Joshua’s, the David’s and of course Jesus as the example of fueling spiritually throughout the week.

Parents do not underestimate the power of modeling a devotional life to your children. I think I’ve stated before, I don’t know that as a child I appreciated all the family worships my parents put us kids through. Friday and Saturday nights we’d have worship reading a devotional reading, talking, and praying, even singing. But it wasn’t just on Sabbath. Before driving us to school I remember my dad gathering myself and my siblings for 5-10 minutes to pause and pray before we started our days.

I don’t have time, I don’t have time. I’ve said that myself even. The Lord keeps telling me, when I listen. Make the time. You will do what you prioritize.

Now the reason we’re focusing on consumption, especially on days not revered like Sabbath, is because largely what we consume directly affects our output.

Elijah was desperate to hear God’s voice speaking to Him because the noise around him had caused him incredible anxiety and fear. I don’t want to compare pastors to prophets per say, but I can certainly be guilty of allowing the calamities around me invoke fear because of a lack of communion with God.

God’s voice is the greatest dispeller of fear, and also the greatest producer of faith.

His voice is a guide in the blackest of night, our bleakest of circumstance. It is our compass.

And for some of us here its hard to hear God’s voice because maybe I’m only listening on Sabbath morning, or maybe even barely listening at that. That may sound like a criticism, but I say it with empathy because it is certainly easy to fall into.

I’ve asked a few faithful saints to come forward and serve as a panel for discussion. Now I haven’t invited these 3 forward because they are perfect, or because their spiritual life has never wained but because I know them as active seekers of God’s voice.

Ms. Larra Milner I’ve admired as someone how I just don’t know how she keeps going. She serves our kids at ACA all week, her family, then also in Sabbath school cradle roll division, and also VBS! Yet through it all consumes Jesus and portrays Him to others!

Sheldon Bernard, serves our young adults, and I won’t ask him to tell everyone his age but He is still young at heart and in spirit. I’ve asked him up here because He is a dedicated student of the Bible the Bible. He doesn’t glaze over texts but listens for God’s voice in every text.

Alexa Broome, we don’t often see on stage but is faithful in the pews and in her home. She is dedicated in her small group. She is constant encourager to those around her and another example of faithfulness to God no matter the noise out there.

What are some obstacles you have faced in maintaining a daily relationship with Jesus?

How has the Sabbath contributed to your daily worship throughout the week?

What is your best advice for best practices for those who want to grow spiritually all seven days of the week?

thankyou to our panel

Church family there are days when I am away either at our church plant connection or gone for a period of time. Some will jokingly reintroduce themselves to me if its been a few sabbaths absence. I love to respond, well come see us in the office during the week.

The fact is if you are a member of the Raleigh Seventh-day adventist church you are a member of a Seven-day Adventist community, because this church is active Seven days a week. It’s a rare day this campus isn’t in use, but more than that the church is not about our facility use, but that our members are active. We won’t stay active if we aren’t fueling ourselves with the Holy Spirit. If you are here wanting to connect with a small group, we have them, but we need to do a better job of advertising them. Maybe someone here wants to begin a group or a support group and help each other grow spiritually, don’t look for myself or Pastor Lal or even an elder to lead them. Come to us and we’ll see how we can support you in that initiative. However those ideas are always fostered in prayer and seeking God’s counsel and inspiration.

Today it is my desire for us all here today to commit or re-commit ourselves to Jesus and serve through His church, the Seventh-day Adventist church. The Seventh-day is tied to our identity. We believe through Bible prophecy those who keep the Sabbath are identifying themselves as part of God’s people, that being said, lets not short change God. Let’s be Seventh-day Adventists, all seven days of the week. SEEK His still small voice even through the noise.

Lets pray.