Untitled Sermon (3)

INTRODUCTION

There is a place on this earth... there are a few places actually... where heaven and earth meet. The places are mysterious. They are uniquely glorious and so utterly incomprehensible that one loses touch with reality and assumes they have entered a dream state. A few places where the dirt beneath your feet and the air in your lungs seems... other worldly. Places that make you think of earth like a dream... or a dream within a dream... a dream that you struggle to recall and you just can't place it A few places that make you question the reality you once knew because here in this seemingly impossible world everything is new and pure and so... real. Places where the veil between heaven and earth is so thin that you could almost... almost reach out and touch the arm of God. Places where if you strain your senses enough and listen very very closely... you can barely... just barely... make it out. Shh... do you hear it? Shh.... "Holy, Holy, Holy...." There are places on this rock.. where heaven and earth are not so far apart.

Do you know some of these places? Hmm? Summer 2013, I was in a meadow in Northern New Mexico. Literally 100 miles from the nearest car, outlet, or cell phone. It was 3am. The dead of night. I stepped out of my tent into the brightness of the starlight and moonlight... walked barefoot 100 yards because the grass was that soft and stood in an ankle deep brook. And I swear that if I could've just reached a little higher, I could've held the stars between my thumb and forefinger, lowered one to my ear and heard... barely... just barely... Holy, Holy, Holy... I swear if I could've just held the haze of the meadow in my hand... I could've pulled it back like a curtain a gotten a glimpse of the night camps of the armies of the Lord of Hosts. Some sleeping peacefully. Some standing guard. All breathing in and out the same song... Holy, holy, holy... shh... can you hear it?

The Bible talks about a few of them. Some long destroyed or lost. The Garden of Eden... The tabernacle... Mount Sinai... Mount Moriah... the temple... the mount of transfiguration.

Do you know the kind of places I'm talking about? I've only found a few... maybe 7 or 8. They aren't all nature. A long hallway on the 5th floor of a school in China. An overcrowded dining room in Stella, Missouri. A 3 lane drive-thru at the most efficient CFA in the country... have you found any of these portals?

But... did you know that heaven embraced earth in other ways? Not only in geographic places. There are certain events or institutions where a channel for grace from God is uniquely opened, and the veil between heaven and earth is thinner than paper. You experienced one of those moments just a few minutes ago in communion. These are the Sacraments.

The Bible talks about a few of them. Some long destroyed or lost. The Garden of Eden... The tabernacle... Mount Sinai... Mount Moriah... the temple... the mount of transfiguration.

But... did you know that heaven embraced earth in other ways? Not only in geographic places. There are certain events or institutions where a channel for grace from God is uniquely opened, and the veil between heaven and earth is thinner than paper. You experienced one of those moments just a few minutes ago in communion. These are the Sacraments.

Protestants have only adopted 2 or 3 of these as sacred. Communion in Baptism are fairly universal in the protestant church and marriage is considered a sacrament by many (and I tend to agree). Now by this point you may be wondering why I'm talking about sacraments in a series on rest. It's because I believe that biblically, there is another sacrament (if we use the definition of a channel in which God is uniquely present and imparts grace to his people) that we should adopt and keep holy: The Sabbath.

But... did you know that heaven embraced earth in other ways? Not only in geographic places. There are certain events or institutions where a channel for grace from God is uniquely opened, and the veil between heaven and earth is thinner than paper. You experienced one of those moments just a few minutes ago in communion. These are the Sacraments.

When I started thinking about this sermon a few weeks ago... rest... I wanted to wrestle with the question: what is God's design for rest? The answer is Sabbath. So what is Sabbath. I want to give you the definition up front and then we'll flesh it out with scripture. I hope you get to learn something new!

Now I suppose I should give a little context. The Biblical authors did not think or reason like us. Doesn't make us wrong just different. For them all they could perceive with their senses was part of a sphere called the raqqia. The firmament and the land. Earth. All they couldn't perceive was part of another sphere. The heavenlies. We tend to think of heaven and earth as totally separate dimensions. Earth is here and heaven is somewhere out there. The biblical authors thought earth is here and heaven is up there but there are some parts of earth and all its places and events where heaven is present, and some parts of heaven where earth is present. Those were places like Eden, or the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and temple. Places that were sacred because God was uniquely present there.

We tend to think of heaven and earth as totally separate dimensions. Earth is here and heaven is somewhere out there. The biblical authors thought earth is here and heaven is up there but there are some parts of earth and all its places and events where heaven is present, and some parts of heaven where earth is present. Those were places like Eden, or the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and temple. Places that were sacred because God was uniquely present there.

Traditionally the church has seven sacraments. Events or institutions in which God is uniquely present beyond day to day life and offers special grace. That's what sacraments means. Sacred things. They are marriage, communion, baptism, anointing of the sick, holy orders or ordination, confirmation, and reconciliation.

Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities for the purpose of communion with God.

Traditionally the church has seven sacraments. Events or institutions in which God is uniquely present beyond day to day life and offers special grace. That's what sacraments means. Sacred things. They are marriage, communion, baptism, anointing of the sick, holy orders or ordination, confirmation, and reconciliation.

Protestants have only adopted 2 or 3 of these as sacred. Communion and Baptism are fairly universal in the protestant church and marriage is considered a sacrament by many (and I tend to agree). Now by this point you may be wondering why I'm talking about sacraments in a series on rest. It's because I believe that biblically, there is another sacrament (if we use the definition of a channel in which God is uniquely present and imparts grace to his people) that we should adopt and keep holy: The Sabbath.

- Sabbath is in God's nature.

Protestants have only adopted 2 or 3 of these as sacred. Communion in Baptism are fairly universal in the protestant church and marriage is considered a sacrament by many (and I tend to agree). Now by this point you may be wondering why I'm talking about sacraments in a series on rest. It's because I believe that biblically, there is another sacrament (if we use the definition of a channel in which God is uniquely present and imparts grace to his people) that we should adopt and keep holy: The Sabbath.

When I started thinking about this sermon a few weeks ago... rest... I wanted to wrestle with the question: what is God's design for rest? The answer is Sabbath. So what is Sabbath. I want to give you the definition up front and then we'll flesh it out with scripture. I hope you get to learn something new!

Let's flesh this idea of Sabbath out together. Turn in your Bibles to . This is the first instance in scripture that we see the Sabbath. Before the fall, rest is a part of God's nature. Let's read it.

When I started thinking about this sermon a few weeks ago... rest... I wanted to wrestle with the question: what is God's design for rest? The answer is Sabbath. So what is Sabbath. I want to give you the definition up front and then we'll flesh it out with scripture. I hope you get to learn something new!

Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities for the purpose of communion with God.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

- Sabbath is in God's nature.

Let's flesh this idea of Sabbath out together. Turn in your Bibles to . This is the first instance in scripture that we see the Sabbath. Before the fall, rest is a part of God's nature. Let's read it.

I had this idea as a kid that when God finished creating he was so tired that he laid his head down on a pillowy cloud and started snoring... the first thunderstorm.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Ha. Maybe you had an idea like that. But... What does it mean, God rested on the seventh day? It does not mean that God closed his eyes and went to sleep. He did not take a nap. It does not mean that God rested in the sense that he became indifferent to what the man and woman were doing. We know God was not indifferent because when Adam and Eve sinned he was immediately there in the garden calling them to account. He pronounced judgment and held out hope of a Redeemer to come. Rest is not to be understood in either of those ways.

I had this idea as a kid that when God finished creating he was so tired that he laid his head down on a pillowy cloud and started snoring... the first thunderstorm.

What is involved here is what St. Augustine had in mind when, with his magnificent use of words, he contrasted the rest of God with our restlessness. He said, “Thou has made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” Augustine was thinking of the turmoil of the human heart. He was saying that our true destiny is to find the rest that is found in God only.

Is it not the case that what is involved here is this kind of rest? God, having completed his work of creation, rests, as if to say, “This is the destiny of those who are my people; to rest as I rest, to rest in me.”

Ha. Maybe you had an idea like that. But... What does it mean, God rested on the seventh day? It does not mean that God closed his eyes and went to sleep. He did not take a nap. It does not mean that God rested in the sense that he became indifferent to what the man and woman were doing. We know God was not indifferent because when Adam and Eve sinned he was immediately there in the garden calling them to account. He pronounced judgment and held out hope of a Redeemer to come. Rest is not to be understood in either of those ways.

That leads to the second point. God not only promises rest in these verses, he promises holiness as well. Holiness means to be set apart. So God sets the Sabbath day apart to teach that we are to enter not only into rest but also into holiness.

What is involved here is what St. Augustine had in mind when, with his magnificent use of words, he contrasted the rest of God with our restlessness. He said, “Thou has made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” Augustine was thinking of the turmoil of the human heart. He was saying that our true destiny is to find the rest that is found in God only.

Is it not the case that what is involved here is this kind of rest? God, having completed his work of creation, rests, as if to say, “This is the destiny of those who are my people; to rest as I rest, to rest in me.”

Understanding these verses is key to understanding the Sabbath. Rest is a part of God's nature. It is a part of his image. It is a part of our image then. A summary statement tells us that the creation of the heavens and the earth was completed. Since the cosmos was exactly as God wished and since the world was capable of continuing on its own, on the seventh day God rested. In resting God showed that he was neither bound to the creation for support nor limited in any way by it.

Is it not the case that what is involved here is this kind of rest? God, having completed his work of creation, rests, as if to say, “This is the destiny of those who are my people; to rest as I rest, to rest in me.”

God blessed the seventh day, setting it apart from all other days by making it holy. From the premise that seven units symbolize wholeness or completeness, God’s sanctifying the seventh day certified that the creation was finished and perfect. In doing this God was expressing divine sovereignty over time. God separated time into ordinary time and holy time, for God did not want humans to become slaves to endless work. So humans are to rest one day in every seven in order to praise God and enjoy both the creation, the result of God’s labors, and the results of their own work. Holy time, therefore, adds meaning to activity done in regular time. Observance of holy time also refreshes the human spirit, adding a depth of meaning to life. God ties his deliverance of Israel out of Egypt into the observance of the seventh day (). Thus, on the Sabbath Israel worshiped the God of creation who was also the God of the exodus. In worshiping this great God regularly, humans exercise the spiritual dimension of being in God’s image.

This holy time is so important to God that he included it in his law. He made it clear that the Sabbath is a bridge between heaven and earth, where God is uniquely present. Lets take a look at that.

That leads to the second point. God not only promises rest in these verses, he promises holiness as well. Holiness means to be set apart. So God sets the Sabbath day apart to teach that we are to enter not only into rest but also into holiness.

// - Sabbath is a bridge between heaven and earth.

The two go together, because holiness is the opposite of sin, and sin is what makes us restless. Why is it that when we go out into the world with the gospel the world is not willing to respond to Christ’s teaching? Why is it that when we talk about rest, the world, which is restless, does not rush with open arms to embrace the gospel? The answer is that rest is connected with holiness and the world does not want holiness.

The attributes of God are always an offense to men and women. God is sovereign. That is offensive because we want to be our own sovereign. We want to be lords of our lives. We want to say, as one of the poets did, “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”

Turn in your Bibles to . We're gonna jump around a bit between Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, but you can hold your place here in Exodus. Let's read it.

The attributes of God are always an offense to men and women. God is sovereign. That is offensive because we want to be our own sovereign. We want to be lords of our lives. We want to say, as one of the poets did, “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” Yet when we sabbath we are saying, “God you are captain of my soul.”

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

God is also omniscient. He knows everything. This is troublesome, too, because it means that God knows us. We do not want to be known, certainly not well. We want to be noticed. We want to be praised, built up. But we do not want to be known as we are because we are ashamed of what we are. Yet God knows us as no other man or woman will ever know us, and to be exposed in the sight of a holy God is frightening.

Men and women do not like God for his holiness, and it is this that makes the gospel so hard to preach. People need rest, yes. But they need it in the way it is to be found: by having sin’s penalty removed through the work of Christ; sin’s power broken through the power of the Holy Spirit; sin’s presence eradicated by Christ’s return, when those who believe on him shall be made like him in all his perfections.

For believers there is a sense in which the seventh day is fulfilled in us now. We enter by degrees into the rest and holiness Christ provides. But the ultimate realization of the Sabbath is to be at Christ’s return when we go to be with him and rest with him in holiness forever.

Now, I'm an Ozark guy and at Ozark we say context is king. Well Jesus is king but context is a close second. The command to Sabbath is number 4 in the list. If you look, you'll notice the first three have to do with our relationship to God: Have no other gods before me, make no idols, do not misuse the name of God. Commands 5-10 deal with our relationship to one another: Honor mom and Pop, don't kill, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't covet. But command number 4... some have said... is a bridge between the two. A bridge between heaven and earth. At first I didn't buy this idea. But then I read the rest of the law. If you just flip through the pages of your bible and notice the headings, from this point forward, the sabbath is about every other page. It's mentioned more than any other command except the first one. If you look at you'll see that not only every seventh day are people suppsed to consecrate themselves to God but every seventh year the land is supposed to rest! And every 50th year, that is 7 times 7 plus one, everything is to be redeemed and restored and set free. The year of Jubilee. Obviously, the Sabbath is pretty important.

Understanding these verses is key to understanding the Sabbath. Rest is a part of God's nature. It is a part of his image. It is a part of our image then. A summary statement tells us that the creation of the heavens and the earth was completed. Since the cosmos was exactly as God wished and since the world was capable of continuing on its own, on the seventh day God rested. In resting God showed that he was neither bound to the creation for support nor limited in any way by it.

Sabbath is a place where we cease doing the normal, earthly things that we do everyday so that we can engage in the heavenly parts of the world and meet God there. And what happens during that meeting? Why did God give us this gift of the Sabbath?

God blessed the seventh day, setting it apart from all other days by making it holy. From the premise that seven units symbolize wholeness or completeness, God’s sanctifying the seventh day certified that the creation was finished and perfect. In doing this God was expressing divine sovereignty over time. God separated time into ordinary time and holy time, for God did not want humans to become slaves to endless work. So humans are to rest one day in every seven in order to praise God and enjoy both the creation, the result of God’s labors, and the results of their own work. Holy time, therefore, adds meaning to activity done in regular time. Observance of holy time also refreshes the human spirit, adding a depth of meaning to life. God ties his deliverance of Israel out of Egypt into the observance of the seventh day (). Thus, on the Sabbath Israel worshiped the God of creation who was also the God of the exodus. In worshiping this great God regularly, humans exercise the spiritual dimension of being in God’s image.

This holy time is so important to God that he included it in his law. He made it clear that the Sabbath is a bridge between heaven and earth, where God is uniquely present. Lets take a look at that.

- Sabbath is trust in God's protection.

This holy time is so important to God that he included it in his law. He made it clear that the Sabbath is a bridge between heaven and earth, where God is uniquely present. Lets take a look at that.

// - Sabbath is a bridge between heaven and earth.

Let's go first to the psalms. Turn to . Let's read it.

Turn in your Bibles to . We're gonna jump around a bit between Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, but you can hold your place here in Exodus. Let's read it.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;

my salvation comes from him.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

Now, I'm an Ozark guy and at Ozark we say context is king. Well Jesus is king but context is a close second. The command to Sabbath is number 4 in the list. If you look, you'll notice the first three have to do with our relationship to God: Have no other gods before me, make no idols, do not misuse the name of God. Commands 5-10 deal with our relationship to one another: Honor mom and Pop, don't kill, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't covet. But command number 4... some have said... is a bridge between the two. A bridge between heaven and earth. At first I didn't buy this idea. But then I read the rest of the law. If you just flip through the pages of your bible and notice the headings, from this point forward, the sabbath is about every other page. It's mentioned more than any other command except the first one. If you look at you'll see that not only every seventh day are people suppsed to consecrate themselves to God but every seventh year the land is supposed to rest! And every 50th year, that is 7 times 7 plus one, everything is to be redeemed and restored and set free. The year of Jubilee. Obviously, the Sabbath is pretty important.

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Now, I'm an Ozark guy and at Ozark we say context is king. Well Jesus is king but context is a close second. The command to Sabbath is number 4 in the list. If you look, you'll notice the first three have to do with our relationship to God: Have no other gods before me, make no idols, do not misuse the name of God. Commands 5-10 deal with our relationship to one another: Honor mom and Pop, don't kill, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't covet. But command number 4... some have said... is a bridge between the two. A bridge between heaven and earth. At first I didn't buy this idea. But then I read the rest of the law. If you just flip through the pages of your bible and notice the headings, from this point forward, the sabbath is about every other page. It's mentioned more than any other command except the first one. If you look at you'll see that not only every seventh day are people suppsed to consecrate themselves to God but every seventh year the land is supposed to rest! And every 50th year, that is 7 times 7 plus one, everything is to be redeemed and restored and set free. The year of Jubilee. Obviously, the Sabbath is pretty important.

3 How long will you assault me?

Now something that kind of shocked me in this Sabbath study was . It says,

Would all of you throw me down—

this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

4 Surely they intend to topple me

32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.

from my lofty place;

Harsh! The dude is gathering fire wood on a Sabbath and is stoned. You could literally accidentally kill a neighbors slave and only owe a fine according to OT law. But... pick up some sticks on Saturday? Stoned to death. Why?

they take delight in lies.

If we are made in God's image... and designed to have communion with him through rest... If Sabbath is, as I think it is, a sacramental event where God is uniquely present and we commune with him... a place where heaven and earth meet. Then violating something that holy... results in death. Think about it. If a priest went into the Holy of Holies... behind the curtain into the presence of God, and he was not consecrated to God and fit for worship... the holiness of God would consume him and he would die. It's the same kind of deal here. Sabbath is a place where we cease doing the normal, earthly things that we do everyday so that we can engage in the heavenly parts of the world and meet God there. And what happens during that meeting? Why did God give us this gift of the Sabbath?

With their mouths they bless,

If we are made in God's image... and designed to have communion with him through rest... If Sabbath is, as I think it is, a sacramental event where God is uniquely present and we commune with him... a place where heaven and earth meet. Then violating something that holy... results in death. Think about it. If a priest went into the Holy of Holies... behind the curtain into the presence of God, and he was not consecrated to God and fit for worship... the holiness of God would consume him and he would die. It's the same kind of deal here. Sabbath is a place where we cease doing the normal, earthly things that we do everyday so that we can engage in the heavenly parts of the world and meet God there. And what happens during that meeting? Why did God give us this gift of the Sabbath?

but in their hearts they curse.

- Sabbath is trust in God's protection.

Let's go first to the psalms. Turn to . Let's read it.

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

Let's go first to the psalms. Turn to . Let's read it.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;

my hope comes from him.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;

6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

my salvation comes from him.

2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

3 How long will you assault me?

Would all of you throw me down—

8 Trust in him at all times, you people;

this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

pour out your hearts to him,

this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

4 Surely they intend to topple me

for God is our refuge.

from my lofty place;

9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,

from my lofty place;

they take delight in lies.

the highborn are but a lie.

With their mouths they bless,

If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;

With their mouths they bless,

but in their hearts they curse.

together they are only a breath.

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

10 Do not trust in extortion

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

or put vain hope in stolen goods;

my hope comes from him.

6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

though your riches increase,

6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

do not set your heart on them.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

11 One thing God has spoken,

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

two things I have heard:

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

“Power belongs to you, God,

8 Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;

for God is our refuge.

and, “You reward everyone

for God is our refuge.

9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,

according to what they have done.”

9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,

In spite of their hostility of his enemies, in this psalm David is not worrying about them but rather is trusting God. That is what the Sabbath is for on some level. Though we are faced with all kinds of trials on every side, we are to take a day and trust in God.

the highborn are but a lie.

Maybe we aren’t being hunted down by a maniacal jealous king, but we have enough troubles of our own. We live in a culture that is built on work ethic and drive. To rest is to be weak. To rest is to give up control and give in to our humanity. We are meant to be superhuman so the culture tells us. Friends, Sabbath is an act of trusting in God. It is knowing that even though I have six million things to do and the weight of the world on my shoulders, I trust that God is big enough to handle the affairs of the world for 24 hours while I rest. A failure to rest and commune with God through Sabbath is not work ethic… it’s untrust of God. A failure to rest reveals who you think God to be in your heart of hearts… not in control. So church, is he in control or isn’t he? Martin Luther once wrote in a diary something along the line of, “Oh Lord I have so much to do today that I must spend at least 4 hours sitting with you in silence.” Can we trust God?

If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;

together they are only a breath.

/ - The Sabbath is grace to allow God's healing.

together they are only a breath.

10 Do not trust in extortion

So the Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities to commune with God. When we pause these activities, we’ve seen that it is an act of trust to God that he will take care of the affairs of the world while we rest in him. The Sabbath is also made for man so that we may become open to God’s healing and resetting of our lives. Turn to Luke chapter 6 with me.

10 Do not trust in extortion

or put vain hope in stolen goods;

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

or put vain hope in stolen goods;

3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

though your riches increase,

do not set your heart on them.

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

do not set your heart on them.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

11 One thing God has spoken,

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

two things I have heard:

“Power belongs to you, God,

This is a fairly simple text to understand. While the pharisees were caught up in the letter of the law, they neglected the real purpose of the Sabbath: to commune with God. I don’t know a much better way to have communion with God than to walk through grainfields and share a snack with him. David also realized that the Sabbath was for communion with God as he took the consecrated loaves and ate them so that he may be replenished by God and able to go on.

The Sabbath rest allows us to stop doing what is hurting us and to commune with God and present ourselves to him to be healed. Jesus does just this with the man with the shriveled hand. Mark says about this episode in chapter two that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath. The Sabbath is not about just stopping everything. It’s about stopping and trusting God to heal us. When was the last time you let God heal you and rejuvenate your body and soul so that you can continue to live for him?

12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;

and, “You reward everyone

Before we wrap up with some practical ways to do this, let’s review. What is God’s design for rest? The Sabbath. What is the Sabbath? Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities for the purpose of communion with God. We sabbath because Sabbath is a part of God’s nature. Eternal rest and needlessness. We sabbath because it is a bridge between heaven and earth where we can meet God. We sabbath because it is an act of trust to an omniscient and omnipotent God. And we Sabbath to allow ourselves to be healed by God. So how do we do this?

according to what they have done.”

This psalm is about rest. Do you ever feel like an endangered species? If we are to believe what we read in the papers, there are a lot of endangered species these days, and many powerful organizations have been brought into existence to try to save them. There are endangered whales, endangered seals, endangered plants and animals, even the endangered snail darter that held up a major hydroelectric project in the South for many years. When we are discouraged, depressed, or threatened we sometimes feel that we too are one of these endangered species and that we are soon going to be destroyed, wiped out, or forgotten.

A little less than a year ago, I found myself in a dark place. I was taking 21 credit hours and working and trying to figure out how to be married. It may not seem like much, but I was burnt out. I had no connection with God, I was physically unhealthy, I wasn’t sleeping well, and I could never finish all my work. Something had to change. I talked to one of my mentors at the school and he told me that I am doing too much. He said, “Sam, God didn’t create you to be a human doing. He made a human being.” He encouraged me to practice Sabbath for 24 hours every week.

This psalm is about rest. Do you ever feel like an endangered species? If we are to believe what we read in the papers, there are a lot of endangered species these days, and many powerful organizations have been brought into existence to try to save them. There are endangered whales, endangered seals, endangered plants and animals, even the endangered snail darter that held up a major hydroelectric project in the South for many years. When we are discouraged, depressed, or threatened we sometimes feel that we too are one of these endangered species and that we are soon going to be destroyed, wiped out, or forgotten.

David did. That is what is about. David was surrounded by enemies who were treating him as if he were a leaning, tottering wall, and they were doing everything they could to push him over. Yet in spite of their hostility, in this psalm David is not worrying about them but rather is trusting God. That is what the Sabbath is for on some level. Though we are faced with all kinds of trials on every side, we are to take a day and trust in God.

So for awhile now, Annie and I have committed to this. Every Friday at 6pm we stop everything. We don’t do any homework or school work or any other kind of work that drains us. Instead we spend time reading, praying, sleeping, hiking, laughing, playing games, being with friends, eating good meals you name it. We just don’t do work. When I finally got over my pride and I admitted to God, I can’t do it all, I’m handing it over to you it’s as if he said, “about time.” And you know what? On the six days that I work really really hard… I enjoy my work so much more and I do get it all done and it’s even better quality.

David did. That is what is about. David was surrounded by enemies who were treating him as if he were a leaning, tottering wall, and they were doing everything they could to push him over. Yet in spite of their hostility, in this psalm David is not worrying about them but rather is trusting God. That is what the Sabbath is for on some level. Though we are faced with all kinds of trials on every side, we are to take a day and trust in God.

Maybe we aren’t being hunted down by a maniacal jealous king, but we have enough troubles of our own. We live in a culture that is built on work ethic and drive. To rest is to be weak. To rest is to give up control and give in to our humanity. We are meant to be superhuman so the culture tells us. Friends, Sabbath is an act of trusting in God. It is knowing that even though I have six million things to do and the weight of the world on my shoulders, I trust that God is big enough to handle the affairs of the world for 24 hours while I rest. A failure to rest and commune with God through Sabbath is not work ethic… it’s untrust of God. A failure to rest reveals who you think God to be in your heart of hearts… not in control. So church, is he in control or isn’t he? Martin Luther once wrote in a diary something along the line of, “Oh Lord I have so much to do today that I must spend at least 4 hours sitting with you in silence.” Can we trust God?

So how can you Sabbath. I want to suggest 4 things to you. All are represented in the Bible.

/ - The Sabbath is grace to allow God's healing.

1. Engage with God through his creation. Praise him for his mighty works on the earth. Get in nature. Did you know that there is something in our bodies that balances itself when we interact with nature? Our electrical systems equalize and our brain functions more clearly. Look up the research.

/ - The Sabbath is grace to allow God's healing.

So the Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities to commune with God. When we pause these activities, we’ve seen that it is an act of trust to God that he will take care of the affairs of the world while we rest in him. The Sabbath is also made for man so that we may become open to God’s healing and resetting of our lives. Turn to Luke chapter 6 with me.

2. Solitude and Silence. Posture yourself before God in a position to receive healing from him. Spend time just sitting in silence. Don’t speak. I like to pray a breath prayer. When I breathe in I pray, O Lord Jesus. When I breathe out I pray, open my heart to your love. I do this for awhile and then I am just… quiet. Even if it feels like nothing is happening I promise it is. Spiritual formation is not our work. It is God’s work that requires our participation and openness.

So the Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities to commune with God. When we pause these activities, we’ve seen that it is an act of trust to God that he will take care of the affairs of the world while we rest in him. The Sabbath is also made for man so that we may become open to God’s healing and resetting of our lives. Turn to Luke chapter 6 with me.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3. Play! Spend time doing things you love with people you love.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

4. Enjoy a good meal. Sabbath in the Bible is almost always built around a meal.

3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Finally, I want to leave you with this. In , Luke (sorry I showed my cards there) is writing about the finality of Jesus’s sacrifice. He says that when the ultimate work of Jesus was completed he sat down at the right hand of God to rest. Through his sacrifice we are able to enter ultimate communion with God. I want to just read these words over you as you find the work and sabbath rhythm in the new season:

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

This is a fairly simple text to understand. While the pharisees were caught up in the letter of the law, they neglected the real purpose of the Sabbath: to commune with God. I don’t know a much better way to have communion with God than to walk through grainfields and share a snack with him. David also realized that the Sabbath was for communion with God as he took the consecrated loaves and ate them so that he may be replenished by God and able to go on.

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them

This is a fairly simple text to understand. While the pharisees were caught up in the letter of the law, they neglected the real purpose of the Sabbath: to commune with God. I don’t know a much better way to have communion with God than to walk through grainfields and share a snack with him. David also realized that the Sabbath was for communion with God as he took the consecrated loaves and ate them so that he may be replenished by God and able to go on.

The Sabbath rest allows us to stop doing what is hurting us and to commune with God and present ourselves to him to be healed. Jesus does just this with the man with the shriveled hand. Mark says about this episode in chapter two that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath. The Sabbath is not about just stopping everything. It’s about stopping and trusting God to heal us. When was the last time you let God heal you and rejuvenate your body and soul so that you can continue to live for him?

after that time, says the Lord.

I will put my laws in their hearts,

Conclusion:

Before we wrap up with some practical ways to do this, let’s review. What is God’s design for rest? The Sabbath. What is the Sabbath? Sabbath is an intentional pause of normal activities for the purpose of communion with God. We sabbath because Sabbath is a part of God’s nature. Eternal rest and needlessness. We sabbath because it is a bridge between heaven and earth where we can meet God. We sabbath because it is an act of trust to an omniscient and omnipotent God. And we Sabbath to allow ourselves to be healed by God. So how do we do this?

and I will write them on their minds.”

17 Then he adds:

A little less than a year ago, I found myself in a dark place. I was taking 21 credit hours and working and trying to figure out how to be married. It may not seem like much, but I was burnt out. I had no connection with God, I was physically unhealthy, I wasn’t sleeping well, and I could never finish all my work. Something had to change. I talked to one of my mentors at the school and he told me that I am doing too much. He said, “Sam, God didn’t create you to be a human doing. He made a human being.” He encouraged me to practice Sabbath for 24 hours every week.

“Their sins and lawless acts

So for awhile now, Annie and I have committed to this. Every Friday at 6pm we stop everything. We don’t do any homework or school work or any other kind of work that drains us. Instead we spend time reading, praying, sleeping, hiking, laughing, playing games, being with friends, eating good meals you name it. We just don’t do work. When I finally got over my pride and I admitted to God, I can’t do it all, I’m handing it over to you it’s as if he said, “about time.” And you know what? On the six days that I work really really hard… I enjoy my work so much more and I do get it all done and it’s even better quality.

So how can you Sabbath. I want to suggest 4 things to you. All are represented in the Bible.

I will remember no more.”

1. Engage with God through his creation. Praise him for his mighty works on the earth. Get in nature. Did you know that there is something in our bodies that balances itself when we interact with nature? Our electrical systems equalize and our brain functions more clearly. Look up the research.

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

2. Solitude and Silence. Posture yourself before God in a position to receive healing from him. Spend time just sitting in silence. Don’t speak. I like to pray a breath prayer. When I breathe in I pray, O Lord Jesus. When I breathe out I pray, open my heart to your love. I do this for awhile and then I am just… quiet. Even if it feels like nothing is happening I promise it is. Spiritual formation is not our work. It is God’s work that requires our participation and openness.

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

3. Play! Spend time doing things you love with people you love.

4. Enjoy a good meal. Sabbath in the Bible is almost always built around a meal.

Finally, I want to leave you with this. In , Luke (sorry I showed my cards there) is writing about the finality of Jesus’s sacrifice. He says that when the ultimate work of Jesus was completed he sat down at the right hand of God to rest. Through his sacrifice we are able to enter ultimate communion with God. I want to just read these words over you as you find the work and sabbath rhythm in the new season:

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them

after that time, says the Lord.

I will put my laws in their hearts,

and I will write them on their minds.”

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts

I will remember no more.”

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Untitled Sermon (3)

How to Sabbath Now

How to Sabbath Now