Take a Day Off

This is Labor Day Weekend, and many of us will BBQ tomorrow, have picnics with family and friends, take a drive to the mountains and recreate in some way.

For many in Eastern states it marks the beginning of the school year coming, while out West the kids get their first day off.

Most have no clue why we really have the day off…can anyone here identify the full origin of this American Holiday?

Read the NYTimes article...

Interesting how this “Christian Nation” in a little over a hundred years from its inception had grown to such a point of greed it was forcing its citizens to work 12 hours a day, EVERY DAY of the week - man, woman and child!!!! To the point people were staging ONE DAY STRIKES and protests that eventually became violent.

It is where we got our 40 hour work week from! Man has always been greedy and those with great resources would take advantage of those without to gain more! The Jews were even warned in the Old Testament and prophesied against for their abuses of each other in such things.

That is one reason why our Heavenly Father placed in the law He gave to His people recognized the need for man to rest and have time to worship!

I know we are a New Testament based church - but the principles of the Old Testament law addressed what would happen if people’s hearts allowed sin to reign in them and did what they thought was OK in their sight — REMEMBER - JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW not to abolish it!

What am I talking about — A SABBATH DAY REST.

Genesis 2:1–3 NLT

1 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Even God took a day of rest… God desires us to take a day of rest —

1. What is the Sabbath?

Exodus 16:23–29 NLT

23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.” 24 So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. 25 Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today. 26 You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.” 27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? 29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.”

Exodus 20:8 NLT

8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Exodus 20:8–11 NLT

8 “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.

ex 20.

ex 31.

Exodus 31:13–16 NLT

13 “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. 14 You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. 15 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. 16 The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.

ex

Exodus 35:2–3 NLT

2 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. 3 You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.”

Leviticus 16:31 NLT

31 It will be a Sabbath day of complete rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. This is a permanent law for you.

Leviticus 19:30 NLT

30 “Keep my Sabbath days of rest, and show reverence toward my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

OK! That is some powerful commands going on there — maybe ones we should take some note of...

No working, no preparing food, no lighting of lights even! WOW, the LORD took this day REALLY SERIOUSLY. There is even way more involved than these few verses I have read - including giving the land rest every 7th year from planting - something that was so ignored that it caused Israel to be taken into captivity as a punishment for ignoring this command.

The Sabbath was not only for rest, but also for honoring the LORD! The Sabbath was about trusting God for His provision on that 7th day, resting following the example that He set when He rested, and taking a day of worship where God became the focus!

A DAY OF REST

A DAY OF WORSHIP

A DAY NOT TO WORK

There was a time that these principles were even ingrained in our AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY and stores, restaurants, and factories were not allowed to run on SUNDAY! It was a day of rest and SABBATH.

At the heart of ignoring this time of rest and worship is GREED!

The desire to have more, make more, and to not trust God to be all sufficient in our lives.

From the origins of Labor Day we can see how this had become an issue even in our Christian based society!

TODAY we see many working everyday of the week and never taking rest --- I do understand where some may have a different day of rest from SUNDAY — a marked day of worship for the church.

i.e. - My Sabbath day of rest is MONDAY! Sundays I share the Word, minister to people, take care of the needs of the flock — that is why I protect my time with family and my own mental break on Mondays - I need a point of rest - I am human.

But the Sabbath was more than rest - it was a day set aside to WORSHIP!

TO HONOR GOD —

The Israelites in the wilderness had to trust that the MANNA God gave them on the sixth day - was a double amount to provide for the SABBATH day, and if they trusted God as their source - they would have enough and have rest as well.

Honoring God on this day became an exercise in FAITH!!!

We were created to WORSHIP GOD --- It is no wonder that He ordained a day for us to slow down and focus on HIM and all of HIS goodness toward us.

Yet, God does not want this to be an obligatory observance, but a desire that comes from the heart - something Christ made possible when He died to remove our sins and give us new hearts!!!

There is much we can gain by realizing when we dedicate a day to the Lord to not just rest, but to worship --- we are honoring Him with our lives and living out our faith.

2. Spirit of the Sabbath in NT

Jesus radically altered the viewpoint of the Sabbath.

Not because the day does not continue to have importance — it was part of the COVENANT of the Old Testament that came under penalty of death!!!! (THINK OF THAT)

But because as in all things - He came to make the law something desired to be lived not an obligation!

It was not about religious ceremony and punishment or demand, but about the heart!!!!

John 4:23–24 NLT

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

john 4.23-24

Philippians 3:3 NLT

3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

This same worship in spirit came down to the application of the Sabbath...

Matthew 12:1–14 NLT

1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” 3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” 9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Matthew 12:

What was truly going on here...

The religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus by making Him choose to do good --- HEALING FROM THE LORD, PROVISION FROM THE LORD or to follow the law.

Jesus taught that in discerning the law - there is compassion — doing the Lord’s work --- ministering to the needs of others --- is not work it is worship!

In reality - ministering to others in need is WORSHIP TO GOD and in many ways comes with its own rest!

We can become so bound by observation that we lose all the RIGHT MOTIVATION! It is not just by blind observance, but a heart that is worshipping.

______ SIDE NOTE:

There have been many who argue that Saturday is the Sabbath and not Sunday and feel we should worship on that day...

BUT...

the church worships on Sunday because

Jesus rose from the dead on the First day of the Week - it is a celebration of RESURRECTION and the work Jesus did!!!!

It is giving our FIRST DAY IN WORSHIP TO THE LORD - a first fruits of our time to HONOR GOD every week.

The church was established on the Day of Pentecost which was on the first day of the week - being THE SPIRIT OF GOD who set this day apart to the Lord as a New Testament principle

The early church gathered on the first day of the week showing this to be a practice to follow

Greater than which day of the week however, is the principle to HONOR the Lord and set a time to worship Him.

You can rest on Saturday and WORSHIP on Sunday.

-----

One of the illustrations Jesus uses that many use as an excuse today to not HONOR a Sabbath day of rest and worship is the story he uses regarding the sheep in the ditch!

Remember - Jesus is talking about responding to an occasional need of urgency.

If you had a sheep falling in your ditch every week - the wise thing to do would be to FILL THE DITCH!!!

That is just a little thought when we can never gather at the HOUSE OF GOD for worship because something URGENT is always demanding our time!

Jesus teaching is clearly pointing out that serving the Lord in ministry is not work, but worship and therefore honoring HIM!

3. Worship is Rest

Matthew 11:28–29 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Coming to Jesus in WORSHIP brings REST TO OUR SOULS!!!

Have we ever stopped to consider the reason why a day off of work is combined with a day to worship God...

It gives REST TO OUR SPIRIT MAN --- IT RESTORES PEACE IN OUR HEARTS!

phil

Philippians 4:4–6 NLT

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:4–7 NLT

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

That time that we spend in the presence of God - rejoicing in Him, praying, focusing on His return and His Word --- essentially

WORSHIP

Brings the peace of God into our hearts and PEACE IS REST

CONCLUSION

So,

God has REST from our labor - it happens when we focus on our relationship with Christ, when we worship, when we place OUR ETERNITY with Christ in sight!!!

This is the purpose of SABBATH!

Hebrews 4:1–11 NLT

1 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’ ” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4 We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.” 6 So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” 8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

heb 4.1-

When we take a Sabbath Day and Worship the Lord - not in obligation but because our spirit man CRAVES relationship with the Lord, we are engaging a bit of heavenly rest here on earth in anticipation of the rest to come!

Will you allow yourselves to prioritize a SABBATH each week - a day for rest and worship!!!?