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Is The Lunar Sabbath Biblical?

June 17, 2023

Recently we were somewhat shocked to see a longtime Seventh-day Adventist announce on her YouTube channel that she has given up the SDA faith because we don’t keep the right Sabbath. We knew that her presentations weren’t often a “Thus sayeth the Lord” study, but now we know she wasn’t grounded at all. One of our most basic doctrines is cut asunder for a new theory.

The Sabbath is omni-important as we read —

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 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 2:1-3)

So this being the case, do we not think our arch enemy will find a way to becloud and confuse God’s Sabbath keepers? Of course. And one of the most delusional and non-logical tricks he has foisted upon us today is the lunacy of the — Lunar  Sabbath.

Let us delve into this subject.

The Lord said to Moses, “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Ex. 12:2. God did not say, “It shall also be the beginning of weeks to you.”

It is true that the names of the months and the days of the week are of mythological origin, but the cycle of the week, as we shall see is from time immemorial.

Let us remember that the moon was created on the 4th day and the Sabbath was the 7th day. This fact shall come in handy as we proceed.

The Sabbath which the Lord hallowed was celebrated on exactly the seventh day after the creation of the earth began, not on the seventh day after the creation of the moon began (Gen. 2:2). So the weekly cycle which God set in motion, and the Sabbath which He Himself celebrated, were not measured by the revolutions of the moon, but by the revolutions of the earth.

Understanding the Creation Week | Six Literal Days | Six-Day Creation | God's Creation

Had He intended the moon to fix the time of the holy Sabbath, He would have made it complete its revolution around the earth once either in exactly four weeks or in exactly one week. But since the moon does not do so, it cannot be taken as the Divine regulator of the weekly holy Sabbath day. Moreover, Sabbath begins at “even,” whereas the new moon may appear at any hour of day or night.

So God’s instruction of “even to even” of keeping the Sabbath holy, and as all the historical records prove, must be changed into something else if we observe the lunar sabbath. 

For instance, in the area where we live, the new moon starts this evening (June 17th) at 9;37 pm, past the time the sun sets at 7:59 pm! So are we to ignore the “even to even” time to start the Sabbath now? If that’s the case, then all the ancient customs of the Jews and Christians must have broken the Sabbath, as they both started and stopped the holy observance at the wrong time according to the lunar sabbath observance!

The following paragraphs briefly bring forth solar, lunar, and Biblical facts, not implications, that the weekly cycle never has been and never can be controlled by any lunar or solar calendar, and that the church under God’s direction has never either in the Old or in the New Testament kept a lunar Sabbath.

Had the Lord blessed and observed a Sabbath that is governed by the moon, then the Sabbath hours could not have fallen on the seventh day from the beginning of creation, but rather must have fallen within the tenth day, for the moon was not created and set in motion until after the fourth day of creation. (See Genesis 1:14-19). Since the week was not then governed by the moon, it certainly cannot be governed by it now and still be the week of creation.

As creation week was three days older than both the sun and the moon, the fact conclusively follows, therefore, that neither of these heavenly luminaries could have ever regulated the week of creation. Moreover, such a solar-lunar regulatory force would, except it be in cycles of tens, deprive Time and Creation of the first three days, leaving them as a phantom “lost period.”

The lunar month is not actually four weeks (28 days) long, but approximately twenty-nine and a half days. All the ideas of the weeks being dependent upon the monthly orbit of the moon, cannot hold up upon Biblical history, facts, and logic.

So we see had the Lord wanted us to use the lunar cycle as the Sabbath beginning, then by logic, it would have been the 10th day after creation, not the 7th day, to which we were to observe the Sabbath. The three prior days of creation must be days that count as nothing. God just eliminated them from history! So we see the complete folly of this idea.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.” (Jer. 23:16)

“The only ones that will endure to the end will be those who carefully watch their steps from being carried away either by his additions to, or by his subtractions from, the works of Inspiration.” (2 TG, no. 46, p.43-44)

Summary —

History does not support the lunar sabbath either from Scripture or logic. On the contrary, it reveals that the present Roman week is the same as the ancient Jewish and Christian week, that it has been and still is the world’s week from time immemorial from creation. If we fall for a spurious sabbath, then our enemy has snared us with the breaking of the 4th Commandment. The enemy has devised a false idea of true Sabbath worship snaring those who fail to be guided by the “Spirit of Truth”.

Posted in Commandments, Proper teachings, Sabbath, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Squeezings

June 16, 2018

Image result for picture of someone pressuring someone for money

The dictionary  describes the word compel as–

“force or oblige (someone) to do something. bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure.drive forcibly.” (Source-Google dictionary)

A few weeks ago we were attending one of the local S.D.A churches in our area. It was your typical service complete with music, speeches, sermon and the usual money requests. But something happened that caught my eye, even more, shook us up a little. Allow us to explain.

As we Seventh-day Adventists know, one of the primary customs of our service is the offering service. In addition to that we have the little kids request offering time. They are sent out among the crowd to gather small donations, usually dollar bills. Most often they are accompanied by an adult as many of them are very small with their little hands holding onto the basket, container or bag.

As this part of the service began, We were sitting and watching the activity. Soon, a very small boy came up to us and he stopped at me and pointed his small basket at me. I looked at him and smiled thinking he would see that I would not contribute. But instead he kept the basket at my chest waiting and watching. It turned out to be almost one minute of his waiting and watching, he would not move on.

At this point I placed my hand on his little shoulder and said “it’s ok, you can go”. The father came to our aid and moved him along. No doubt and as one would imagine I felt embarrassed and frankly a little disturbed by this scene. Thus, the reason for this post.

The last message of Elijah gives us counsel on this subject —

“What a privilege and what an opportunity is now ours! Look and see what a difference there is between God’s method for supporting His work, and the Roman system that is now carried on by the church: plate-passing, high-powered speeches, Big Day, Book Day, high pressuring, campaigning, selling, auctioneering, Harvest Ingathering, birthday offerings, Christmas-tree hangings, baby weighings, Dorcas sales, investment funds, and what not!  As none of these squeezings are Biblical, and as all of them are Pagan in origin and condemned by the Scriptures, they could not possibly be considered freewill offerings. Search and see.

   Instead of Sabbath-keeping the day is devoted to money raising, and instead of a house of worship, the church is turned into a den of thieves — disgusting to observers, and most discouraging for a member to invite a friend or a neighbor to a church service.  Is there any wonder that God does not now bring many into the church (“Testimonies,” Vol. 6, p. 371)?

   It was this sort of thing that aroused Luther to action as he saw the priests living in luxury by exploiting the people’s conscience and by making the poor poorer.  True worship and God’s plan for supporting the work must now be restored.” (Jezreeel Letter, no.9, p.8)

Did you notice the word “squeezings”? This is exactly the method used today to extract money from the people albeit sometimes in the form of innocent little children! The fact remains it’s a –squeezing! Further, as the basket or bag is passed around many eyes settle on the next one to have it placed before them and we wonder what they will do. Is this not a form of extraction or coercion?

Some may claim this is all “innocent” stuff, not something to make a big deal out of. After all the main purpose is to put money into God’s storehouse , so the end justifies the means. But is that really God’s way, His plan for us as “returners” of His money?

Sometimes I have a mental picture of the following when watching the little ones scramble around for money, which although funny is sadly close to the truth —

Image result for monkey asking for money

These little kids are being manipulated by the grownups just like this monkey–take money for the owners and not really know what they are doing!

The message tells us to “search and see”. When we look through God’s word, the Bible, and we will NEVER find one example of solicitation or money dealing within His sanctuary. All we find is a collection box set up at the entrance of the Sanctuary or Temple premises.  See this post for more on this subject–

The Collection Box

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7)

If we would do as shown throughout the Bible, a container placed in view for us to discreetly place our offerings we would definitely be giving without compulsion or pressure. God loves his type of giving.

We are told the following well-known Scriptural counsel–

“Teach a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

So what are we doing? We are teaching our little ones to do little abominations! What a way to bring up our children. The Lord shall soon rain down justice and one of the those righteous and just acts will be NO MORE of these abominations done in His house.

Further as a reminder, the issue of paying tithes on the Sabbath is dealt with in HIs Elijah message. It is given to us to do the following —

“In order to eliminate money changing for tithe and offering, paying for books, etc. on the Sabbath, a Laodicean practice which the word of God condemns, let us carefully attend to all such matters on the first day of the week (1 Cor.16:2) by placing all monies in envelopes.” (Vol. 1 Symbolic news code, no.9, p.11).

“The Bible does not teach or recommend even a plate collection (a custom which Rome originated) in Sabbath services, much less merchandising in the presence of God.  All the Bible recommends is a container for free will offering placed somewhere in the church premises…Since the Bible does not teach any plate gatherings, but only freewill offerings (and not for your own use either), then by high pressuring the laity with your speeches, your pleas, and plate-passing all in the name of Christ, you make Him an extortioner of the worst kind.” (Jezreel Letter, no. 3, p.1-2)

In closing, there is the more important aspect of this subject and that is returning our Tithes to His true storehouse. But that is a long discussion of itself. Our point here in this report is that we find ourselves each Sabbath doing an “abomination” and make no mistake this is not a little thing. Pressuring and compelling is not “freewill offerings”. God does not want this nor is God like us.

“These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.” (Psalms 50:21)

Posted in Christian walk, God's storehouse, Sabbath, Sighing and Crying, Tithes and Offerings | 2 Comments »

Sabbath Day Confusion?

January 20, 2018

Image result for picture of lunar calendar

As we have posted before, Satan has been active in these last days. One of the most talked about latest ploys is the idea that the true “Sabbath day” is not really Saturday at all. YouTube, Blogs, Facebook, email, you name it, the word is out there that we as Adventists are being hood winked. We got the day all messed up! Why we are dis-honoring God Himself!

Is it truly so?

But do not for a moment think God did not know about this ploy. Yes indeed! What you are about to read is deep and profound.The following is a report made in 1940 by Victor Houteff.

We often read where our prophetess Ellen White was gifted of God. Especially when we learn that such beautiful and profound writings came from a 3rd grade educated woman! God did it again, brother Houteff had a 4th grade education. It seems God made these lowly educated servants, an example of His power, His ability, His omniscience.

If you’re impressed, by all means copy and spread this report. Satan may very well send his workers your way with this ploy. You can effectively shut them down with this report. Be Blessed.

"The Weekly Cycle Is Neither Solar Nor Lunar. 

The Sabbath on which the Lord rested was exactly six days after the moment creation began; then, on the seventh day He rested (Gen. 2:2).  Had He, though, blessed a day which is ruled by the moon, He would have then rested the tenth day, for the moon was not created until the fourth day of creation. (See Genesis 1:14-19.)  But keeping a Sabbath on the seventh day from the creation of the moon would not have been in commemoration of  creation, but in commemoration of the moon!

   The first Sabbatical week of creation's being three days older than both the sun and the moon, makes it clear that neither of the luminaries can regulate the week of creation.  Such a regulatory force would of necessity have deprived Time and Creation of the first three days, leaving them as a phantom "lost period."

   The two foregoing paragraphs completely invalidate the idea of the week's being dependent upon the monthly orbit of the moon, and render unnecessary any further discussion of the subject.  For the sake however, of clearing some other controverted points, as well as for saving ourselves time later on in answering detailed questions on this subject, we submit the subjoined observations.  From them the reader is asked to consider that if a lunar sabbath were correctly  named, should it not be named, not the sabbath of creation, but rather

Only a Planetary Sabbath?

   The Lord having rested on the "seventh day," not on the tenth, the weekly cycle began with the first day of creation, whereas solar and lunar time commenced three days later.  A sabbath which is governed by either a solar or a lunar calendar, though, could never memorialize the week of creation, but rather only the planets themselves, and therefore, if correctly named, must be called "planetary."  Then, too, the monthly revolution of the moon round the earth, not coordinating  with the daily revolution of the earth round the sun, as already pointed out, makes it

Impossible to Keep a Planetary Sabbath.

   The fact that the moon takes longer than 28 days to complete its revolution round the earth, then were we to standardize the seventh, the fourteenth, the twenty-first, and the twenty-eighth days of the lunar month, for the observance of  the Sabbath, as the misnamed booklet advocates, we would not have kept up with the moon anyway, for the lunar month is not  actually 28 days, but approximately 29-1/2 days.

   A lunar sabbath must necessarily coordinate with both lunar and solar time.  But a sabbatical month (28 days) falls 1-1/2 days short of a lunar month (29-1/2); and a sabbatical year (12 x 4 = 48 weeks; 48 x 7 = 336 days) falls 18 days short of a lunar year (354) and 29 days short of a solar year (365).  So at the close of each sabbatical year, the lunar sabbath-keeper, in order to keep time with the weekly cycle, as well as with the rotation of the earth and of the moon, would have to make the earth stand still 29 days and the moon 18 days.

This analysis corroborates the fact that the weekly cycle cannot be governed by the motion of either the moon or the sun, but only by the power of God, which brought forth the first day of creation, three days before there was either sun or moon.  And so, as we are again shown, the Sabbath is a memorial, not of the sun or the moon, but of creation.

   There is no doubt in the minds of any that the Jewish and Apostolic churches in Christ's time were keeping the right Sabbath day; and that the zeal which the Roman Emperor, Constantine, had for the Christian faith would have absolutely forbidden him to abolish the Christian's calendar and to establish another which would annihilate both the Sabbath of creation and their memorial of the resurrection.

   Surely no one supposes that had he done such an impious thing, the Christians would have honored him so greatly as to call him a saint and to fix the twentieth day of May as his festival, which some observe even until this day. (See Twentieth Century Cyclopaedia, Vol. 3,p.13)

   Indeed, the Christians would have made so much of his sacrilege that no conceivable circumstance could have concealed the blasphemous act from the prying eye of history.  But such an entry is not to be found in

History's Record.

"The use of the week was introduced into the Roman Empire about the 1st or 2nd century of the Christian era from Egypt and had been recognized independently of Christianity before the Emperor Constantine confirmed it by enjoining the observance of the Christian Sabbath.  With the Mohammedans the week has also a religious character, Friday being observed by them as a Sabbath." -- Twentieth Century Cyclopaedia, Vol. 8, p. 487.

   "The period of seven days...was used by the Brahmins in India with the same denominations employed by us, and was alike found in the  calendars of the Jews, Egyptians, Arabs and Assyrians." -- Standard Dictionary, definition "Calendar."

   "The week is a period of seven days having no reference whatever to the celestial motions, -- a circumstance to which it owes its unalterable uniformity.  It was employed from time immemorial in almost all eastern countries; and, as it forms neither an aliquot part of the year nor of the lunar month, those who reject the Mosaic recital will be at a loss, as Dalambre remarks, to assign it to an origin having such semblance of  possibility." -- Britannica Encyclopedia.

   "It is our pleasure (such is the Imperial style) that all the nations, which are governed by our clemency and moderation, should steadfastly adhere to the religion which was taught by St. Peter to the Romans; which faithful tradition has preserved; and which is now professed by the Pontiff Damasus, and by Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, a man of Apostolic holiness. 

According to the discipline of the Apostles, and the doctrine of the Gospel, let us believe the sole deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; under an equal majesty, and a pious Trinity.  We authorize the followers of this doctrine to assume the title of Catholic Christians; and as we judge, that all others are extravagant mad-men, we brand them with the infamous name of Heretics; and declare that their conventicles shall no longer usurp the respectable appellation  of churches." -- Gibbon's Rome, Vol. 3, p. 81. (Milman edition.)

   This historical record plainly shows that the weekly period of seven days has continued unbroken from time immemorial, that Rome did not abolish the Christian week but the Roman, and that the one which took its place was the same as the Jewish, or the Christian.

   Even the lunar-sabbath advocate, himself, unwittingly admits that Constantine, in the days of his conversion to Christianity, discarded the eight-day week and adopted and confirmed the seven-day week -- the week of creation: "These three witnesses [The New International Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Encyclopedia  Americana]," says the brochure, "tell us that the Romans did not have seven days to their week, nor their astrological names, till the days of Constantine, but that up to that time they had eight days."--The Sabbath of Creation, p. 24.

   Though the nations of today do not follow the Biblical monthly calendar, that in no wise alters the fact that the original weekly cycle has never been changed.  And as it is entirely independent of both the solar and the lunar calendars had God not preserved it intact throughout all the ages, the saints, now in "the times of restitution of all things," would have great difficulty to restore it and to vindicate its integrity.  Thus it is seen from every test put to it, that such a lunar  sabbath is unbiblical and unhistorical and the closer it is brought to the light, the plainer it will be seen to be

Even More Illogical.

   It is true that the ceremonial system (younger than the Sabbath institution, and set up because sin entered into the human family) was in some respects subject to lunar laws; but the seventh-day Sabbath's being established, not in relation to sin, but only in relation to the perfect work of creation, could no more be governed by the law of sin than it could by the law of the moon.  The Sabbath institution is senior to the ceremonial institution and has nothing to do with the law of sin, as has the Sanctuary.  The Sabbath, therefore, cannot bow down in subservience to an institution which is not only its junior but which also owes its existence solely to sin!

   Again we see that this author's theory of a "Planetary Sabbath" is blasphemous as well as unreasonable and futile.

   The theorist has used the writings of certain historians, but let the student of Truth closely examine the quotations, and he will find that they do not support the theory any more than the Bible supports it, which leads to

The Theorist's Main Trouble.

   Going off on such tangents is due to shallow reading and to interpreting the words of others without digging deep enough to find the thought of the original authors.  And the main reason that advocates of error stay in their errors is that most of them are determined at any cost to stand by their self-made theories!  And that is their main trouble.  But we hope and pray that these mistaken  brethren will welcome the Truth as contained  in the plain, pointed, unglossed, and fundamental facts set forth in these pages, and allow It to lodge in their hearts.  Thus only may they be led to walk in the light and to find rest in Him Who is anxious to lead us into all Truth, and Who therefore, sends this

Counsel And Appeal.

   Watch your steps, and pay no homage to either a moon or a sun sabbath-day.  For by sacredly honoring such a common day, you would be worshiping those things which were created in the last three days of creations's week; namely, the planets of the heavens and the creatures of the sea, the fowls of the air and the creeping things of the ground, the beasts of the field and the mortal man of clay!

   Follow the leadership of God instead of the leadership of the moon.  Be ye not idolators, for "...it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered:  and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land." Zech. 13:2." (Tract 10, p.32-40)

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Proper teachings, Sabbath | 4 Comments »

A Sabbath Study

September 28, 2013

This week we’d like to review some important aspects of Sabbath keeping. We are all aware as Seventh Day Adventists that we are the people of God today who profess to strictly honor Him on His day. But unfortunately we have steadily retreated towards Egypt in this regard. We have become, in many cases a poor example of proper Sabbath observance. Let us look at some areas we have gone off track and how we can get back on the straight and narrow in regards to Sabbath keeping.

In (Amos 8:5) we read“..When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?…”—

What do we find in the above?  We see a few truths worth noting. Aside from the fact that it deals with dishonest tradesmen, we notice a subtle underlying  truth in regards to the Sabbath.  The Lord is upset and will spare no longer. He’s had enough. He tells us, “The end has come upon My people Israel…”(Amos 8:1) Then He describes who He’s addressing, “Hear this, you who swallow up the needy and make the poor of the land fail, saying…”(Amos 8:4).

Then we see the above highlighted verses. They are describing those who are of the worldly mindset and are going through the motions of Sabbath keeping. Notice they are thinking of how soon the Sabbath will be over. So that they can get back to being deceitful and dishonest “sell the bad wheat”. Although they surely aren’t aware that what they do is bad. Their thinking is obviously “we have fulfilled our duty, hurry up let’s be done with it.” They are the going through the motions–Sabbath keepers.

So God’s word through Amos show us that He is watching our motives for Sabbath keeping. Are we enjoying the day, keeping it holy? Or are we going through the motions, secretly looking forward to it ending so that we can go on with our lifestyle? What we can learn here is that Sabbath is a time for the Lord and the Lord only. All other things, including our motives, must be devoted to Him, lest He search us out and find us naked in this regard. “”I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the LORD will do nothing to them, either good or bad.” (Zeph. 1:12)

What are some of the ways we can check ourselves to see if our motives are wrong?

1) Checking the clock frequently during Sabbath

2) Devoting time to non-Sabbath activities such as internet searching for worldly things (also with handhelds). If we are to use electronic devices on the Sabbath, let it be for God’s glory, not our own desires. Reading the Scriptures, studying a report of God’s prophecies and such are what we can use these devices for on Sabbath.

3) Engaging in worldly conversation throughout the Sabbath (politics, business, social issues, etc.)

4) Doing any “work” even “religious work” that we should not be doing on the Sabbath , that can and should be done on the regular “work days”.

Concerning number 4, brother Houteff explains, ”

 “As a people we have forgotten the true meaning of Sabbath keeping.  We have come to suppose that anything which pertains more or less to religion is permissible on God’s holy day.  It is said, It is the Lord’s work.  But God has never said anywhere in the Scriptures that His people are at liberty to do all manners of work (that pertain to religion) on the Sabbath day. 

Work which can be done on a day other than the Sabbath is not a work for the Sabbath.  “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: In it thou shalt not do any work.”

   Note the way the commandment reads: “Any work.”  God does not mean that we can do our work in the six days, and His on the Sabbath.  He says it is a day of rest: Not physical, but spiritual rest.  For instance, it would be wrong for one to sell good religious books on the Sabbath, even if he turned all the proceeds to the church.

  It would be wrong for a surgeon to perform surgical operations on patients on the Sabbath  day if it can be done at another time.  It would be wrong for a nurse to give treatments to patients on the Sabbath day if it was not absolutely necessary.  Read Volume 7, page 106.

It would be wrong for a church council to meet on the Sabbath and discuss church business, or make plans of any kind.  It would be wrong for a Sabbath keeper to load himself with evangelical announcements for a series of meetings, and distribute them from house to house on the Sabbath day.  All this manner of work could be done on a day other than the Sabbath.

   When we do this kind of work on the Sabbath, we do it to save ourselves an hour or so of time for the next day, thus we rob God of His time and add it to our secular pleasure.  If it is wrong for one to go and sell good religious books on the Sabbath, though he turns all the proceeds to the Church, it would be doubly wrong to sell that same book in the house of God on the Sabbath day, regardless of what is done with the income. 

If all of this is true, then it would be wrong to go out with Harvest In gathering papers and receive contributions for missions on the Sabbath.  It is time for God to call our attention to these things.” (Shepherd’s Rod, vol. 1, p.148-149)

Next we find another prevalent concern today–buying and selling on the Sabbath.This is  really a big problem within our church. I remember when I first came into the church, the old timers (members of experience) asked me if I would like to join them for lunch at the local restaurant after Sabbath services. Being new to Sabbath keeping I said “sure, why not.”

As I progressed in the walk, I found out that buying and selling was strictly forbid. Nehemiah’s admonish is the word of God that the Lord guided me to.

“In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.  People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day?  Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”

When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.  Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.

But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.”(Nehemiah 13:15-22)

Wow! Now if we don’t get the point from the above verses we shall never understand much of anything pertaining to the Sabbath ways of the Lord! Again, it is clearly shown by God’s inspired Scriptures that buying and selling is a no-no on the Sabbath. And yes that would include things like buying gas to get to church! There is a reason they call Friday–preparation day. We foresee and prepare for Sabbath in advance.

Then we have the solemn case of the man who wanted to pick up sticks on the Sabbath. Sounds harmless and innocent right? Let’s see how this is the example of how serious our Lord takes the Sabbath and it’s observance.

(Number 15:32-37) -” While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.  Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.  Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.”  So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Solemn is an understatement. This shows us that the Sabbath is not to be carelessly observed. In other words, if the Lord did this to this man, can we expect Him to clear us of things much worse? “For I am the Lord, I do not change..” (Malachi 3:6). If we are tempted to stop at the market, or by gas, or watch worldly TV on Sabbath, can we expect the Lord to say “Looks like  I made a mistake in ordering the stoning of that man because I forgive you for this.”? Of course not.

Yes, the Lord will forgive us if we mess up once in a while but once we know the light on His truth we are expected to obey Him in this regard. But if we do, we repent and turn from it. In explaining how the Lord deals with sin, including Sabbath sins, Ellen White explains–

“In all His dealings with His creatures God has maintained the principles of righteousness by revealing sin in its true character—by demonstrating that its sure result is misery and death. The unconditional pardon of sin never has been, and never will be. Such pardon would show the abandonment of the principles of righteousness, which are the very foundation of the government of God. It would fill the unfallen universe with consternation. God has faithfully pointed out the results of sin, and if these warnings were not true, how could we be sure that His promises would be fulfilled?” (God’s Amazing Grace, p. 73).

So we should learn from the above that should we carelessly observe His Sabbath, and then compound it by not asking for forgiveness and also  not turning away from it, we are in effect asking the Lord to give us an “unconditional pardon”! Woe unto us this thought!

I have often pointed out this simple and straight testimony. When God created us , He gave us 7 days in each week. Is it unreasonable to give back just one of those days strictly devoted to Him?  Unfortunately the vast mankind of the earth thinks it is! They want to claim it all.

God’s history with His people has many times centered around this one area –poor Sabbath keeping. We can read clear admonishments in this regard in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

“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.”  (Jer. 17:21-22)

“You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths.” (Ezek.22:8)

In closing let us look at the beautiful Sabbath promise of our Lord.

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.(Isaiah 58:13-14)

Posted in Obedience, Sabbath | Leave a Comment »

Traveling on the Sabbath

December 29, 2012

In today’s hustle and bustle world, many of us  are often found traveling. As Sabbath keepers we should always be prepared at home and away. Let’s look at ways which we can guard the Sabbath, to help us keep it “holy” while on the road.

In the fourth Commandment, it begins, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… (Exodus 20:8). This keeping it holy applies each and every Sabbath, whether we are at home or traveling. In (Isaiah 58:13) we read, “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause 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.”

Also, “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.”(Jer.17: 21-22)

 The above is packed with nuggets of gold (Truth). We see that our focus should be to guard against the ever tempting carnal nature of doing “our pleasure” on His holy day. This can be a big problem in situations where one is traveling and away from their routine and customs of the home life. However, as always the Lord has made a way out for us. It’s called preparation.

As  many of us Adventists know , we regard Friday as our “preparation day”. And rightly so. This day is obviously the day before His holy day, so we basically have this day to get things prepared and ready. So let’s look at some areas where we can prepare in traveling.

1) Meals.

This probably is one of the most troubling areas of trying to keep the Sabbath holy when we travel. Obviously we can’t cook most of the time, so we cut corners and eat out. But there again the preparations should be made. Almost every area we travel in, there is a market where we can buy food and snacks. So we can load up on the goodies to eat and drink on the next day -the holy Sabbath.

Sadly some fall into the devil’s trap and succumb to eating in a restaurant. This is  a real  “breaking” of the Sabbath. The most obvious reason is the buying and selling on the Sabbath. We are also encouraging and helping others to break it as well, though they may not be aware of it. In the 13th chapter of Nehemiah we can find specific warnings against buying and selling on the Sabbath.

We need only look back to the story in (Numbers 15:32-41). There you’ll recall the Lord ordered a man stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. How do you think our Lord looks upon us, as we are profaning  His holy Sabbath much more? We should not dare trespass in this way.

2) Planned travel.

Here is another area where we must put the Lord first. When we are to plan our travel, we should be most careful to arrange our flights, so as to not travel on the Sabbath. Long car traveling, which can be laborious should also be avoided also . Yes,  this could cause a delay or interruption, but are we going to risk breaking and trampling His Sabbath in this way? Again our planning and preparation is a must, in order to keep His holy day–holy.

A while back I was in church, in the restroom, and I overheard a conversation. One man was explaining how he was going out-of-town next “Saturday” and flying out. I was amazed!  This I’m afraid, is much more common than we want to believe. The lazy and careless approach to Sabbath keeping will one day cost us if we keep it up. If the Lord stoned that man in the Numbers story, and saves us, as we do much greater  willful transgressions on the Sabbath, will He not have to apologize to that man and his family? Let’s think that through. What makes  us think we now have more rights and liberty to transgress today?

Our two great duties are —Fear God, and keep His Commandments. ( Ecc.  12:13-14).

3) Buying and selling.

Here again is a great temptation. We find ourselves wanting to buy gas, food, general necessities. We rationalize,  “We’re on the road, the Lord understands the circumstances.” Again, Friday is the preparation day when we should get the gas and buy the goodies, etc. With careful planning and thought, we can load all we need by Friday sunset and be good to go for the Sabbath.

4) Places of worship

Sometimes  in our travels there are no close Sabbath churches around. What to do? In the book of Acts there is the example of Paul finding a “riverside” to go to, to pray and have fellowship (Acts 16:13). He was apparently not near a temple and found a quiet place by a river.  So we can also go to a quiet mountain area, beach, or other remote quiet area to pray and read the Scriptures and fellowship. Contemplate the beauty of our Lord’s  creation. We shouldn’t watch worldly TV in our hotel room, or be part of any other worldly endeavor that might keep us from keeping the Sabbath holy.If we know we’ll be staying in the room for the Sabbath, we can take those long overdue naps, or pray, study, or listen to beautiful Christian music. When we indulge in knowing and listening to the things of the Lord, time goes by much too fast!

Our Lord and His word will not change.  “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4). The continual willful sinning in transgressing His Sabbath will, according to His word, cost us a price–our life.

In closing let us be good preparers and planners, thinking of honoring our Lord on His holy Sabbath even while traveling. Traveling will bring us challenges, but we can view them as stepping-stones, to exercise our devotion to the Lord.  Our Lord said the following  “Whoever is faithful in very little, is faithful also in much..” (Luke 16:10).

Posted in Christian walk, Sabbath | 8 Comments »

A New Sanctuary Experience

December 8, 2012

Have you dreamed of walking into the sanctuary on the Sabbath and becoming a part of a new service? One that is alive and has the Lord’s Spirit upon it. The holy Presence is felt all around. Let us pretend for now what our service would be like if we went back to the basics of the early Christian church.

In (Jeremiah 51:1) we read ” We are ashamed because we have heard reproach. Shame has covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house.”  Here we see that from way back, our church (sanctuary) has had a  problem. We have allowed the unconverted (strangers) into the LORD’S SANCTUARY. Let me repeat whose sanctuary it is –the LORD’s SANCTUARY. That’s right, we’ve lost site of this fact. Our behavior and service has mostly become self satisfying.

As we’ve mentioned many times before, we are now called on to validate our walk with Him, by signing and crying. Here in the sanctuary, is where, if we are showing the Lord we truly care, we are sighing and crying. The things we see EVERY Sabbath, should make us shake our head and cry out to the Lord “When  will we clean His sanctuary from the worldly customs, pagan customs, irreverent behavior, cold formalism, and so forth.

Isaiah also cries out about the defiling of His sanctuary,  “..Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary…Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That you would come down! That the mountains might shake at your presence.” (Isaiah 63:18, 64:1).

 How many of us today view the church sanctuary as –holy? Let’s think about that. When you walk into our Lord’s sanctuary, do you feel this holiness? If we are truly upfront and honest, we must say–no. Why is that? It can only be that we’ve stopped doing things that are pleasing to Him, both inside the sanctuary and out.

In many places throughout God’s word he makes references to the “shepherds”. We are well aware that this means God’s leaders, those who are in charge of the flock (church). The majority of the blame is placed upon them!”His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant;they are all dumb dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand;They all look to their own way, everyone for his own gain, from his own territory”(Isaiah 56:10).

“….Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Ezek.34:1)

It is indeed a solemn thing to be placed in the position of leadership, and of which being God’s watchmen for the people, is the most solemn. Let’s now look at a service that would be a changed one or new one, one that would be very conscientious of doing right within His house, careful in each and every matter.

It is early in the morning. The doors to the sanctuary have not yet opened. The first of the people to open up the building are arriving. The few people who open it up step into the foyer. Preparations are made. An Elder walks into the sanctuary to check that all is well and in order for the service (temperature, lighting etc.)

Just a few weeks ago the pastor had an epiphany at his home. He utterly broke down and prayed to our God, an all night session. He had seen that the Lord’s true plans are centered around the soon to come church purification among his own people, his church. He was convicted. He knew that his endless peace and safety messages from the pulpit was not the Lord’s will for him  today. His purpose was now changed. The seriousness of “sighing and crying” was upon him, and he knew much of these abominations were right in the church. And worse yet, he was the shepherd leading the people into it!

So for the last couple of weeks, he has told the straight testimony. He has warned the people to straighten up before God, honor Him truly, inside the sanctuary and out. So the people have been abuzz the last couple weeks. Had the pastor done a 180? This is not the same man as before they thought. They had now been counselled on how to behave in the sanctuary and how the service was changing.

The pastor knew well that his new-found faith and knowledge could very well head him into opposition from the luke warm head leaders, yet he knew that Christ was the one he must follow. As the shepherd of his flock, he was no longer to be “ignorant” or a “dumb dog”. He must be bold and not afraid to do the “right thing” before the Lord.

The people soon begin to file in and an elder greets them at the sanctuary door, and politely opens it for them. They begin to find their seats. As more and more come into the sanctuary, there is a quietness all around. No one is talking. You see one of the points that the pastor has made is that the sanctuary shall be a “house of prayer”.  “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matt.21:13). There has been clear instructions that prior to the service, the people may pray, meditate,or contemplate their past week with the Lord. But there is to be an honorable silence in His house, until the service starts.

The “Sabbath school lesson” has been moved to an adjacent building. Gone is the back and forth conversations of the people in His sanctuary.Also gone is the custom of swinging the sanctuary doors wide open to let all the foyer noise and distractions into the sanctuary, after the sanctuary Sabbath school class. Instead a beautiful silence is experienced, the Holy Spirit roams the place as silent thoughts and prayers go up before the Lord, who is in His sanctuary now.  “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Matt.18:20).

Also gone is all the cellphone ringing, handhelds on and being used. All the people have been instructed to dress as they would if they were going to have a private one on one meeting with the president of the USA. But in this case there is One much greater who they will stand before today. The women are counselled in modesty.

It is now close to the time of the church service, many have taken their seats. Yes amazingly there is a church wide silence. Gone is the laughter, loud speaking, and the standing in the isles idly chatting.  The Spirit of the Lord seems to be growing among the people. Some have been kneeling for quite a while, deep in thought and prayer, those prayers are indeed heard by the One who is in the sanctuary now.

The pastor enters the sanctuary and comes to the pulpit, he breaks the silence and says ” Greetings my beloved church members. Let us begin this service by kneeling and praying for the Lord’s guidance and Spirit to be upon us today.” So the whole congregation kneels in prayer, and it lasts a good 5 minutes. After prayer, he invites the congregation to sing a couple of songs of praise to the Lord. The people are joyous and the sound of all the voices is helped by some unseen Spirit, for it is now almost heavenly. The Lord has been pleased with the service so far and is blessing the people with the uncanny harmony and sounds.

After the singing, the head elder comes up and speaks a few words on the different church activities and prayer requests. The custom of the children’s story is next. However, the custom of having the little ones go around and take money is gone. You see  the pastor has decided to go back to the original early Christian and SDA church custom of collecting the tithes and money for the church on the “first day”  not Sabbath(1 Cor.16:2). He also is keenly aware that to handle money within the Lord’s sanctuary is truly an abomination. This custom was not practiced in the early SDA church. It crept in from the pagan church customs. (See our post https://godsloveandlaw.com/category/tithes-and-offerings/ )

So the children gather up front to hear a story of Jesus or some inspired Biblical story. After the story they head back to their seats but are counselled by their parents to keep quiet.

Now comes the part where the people become interactive in the service. The pastor announces that it is now time for the “personal testimonies” . He asks for the people to raise their hands if they have a personal testimony of what the Lord has done for them the past week. An elderly man raise his hand and tells of his dream he received of meeting an old school friend, and sure enough, he ran into him 2 days later in the supermarket! The people yell  ” Hallelujah!”  One man stands up and says “Praise the Lord!”

Next a young woman raises her hand and tells of  how her reading the Scriptures this week has brought her closer to God. And some yell  out–amen. You see in this part of the service the people enjoy listening to what the Lord and His Holy Spirit have done. For they have come to praise Him for not only what He has done do but what He is “doing”.The people see  that they are serving an alive and working Lord!  Many others tell of   “signs” they received of the Lord. This continues on for at least 15 to 20 minutes. It has become many of the church goers favorite part of the service. The testimonies speak volumes for the faith and confidence of the members.

Now it has come time for a couple more songs of praise. The people are loving it as they are inspired after hearing what the Lord has done this week among the members.

After the singing, the pastor is ready for the sermon. He has prepared a sermon concerning Revelation. He wants to enlighten his flock of some of the mysteries therein. The people are rapt in attention as  he devotes time about Rev. chapter 3, about his own Laodicean church. No more are the ones who are silently napping  or being distracted some way. The Spirit has awoken the church!  He speaks about how we are not to be lukewarm in our walk with the Lord, and if we do on a continual  basis, our Lord promises that He will “sprue us out”.

As the sermon goes on, a man stands up and says ” I have just received a vision!”  The pastor calms the congregation down and tells the man “Speak my brother, speak”. The man begins to tell it. ‘The Lord has shown me that some in our church are buying and selling on this , His holy Sabbath day. This is not right before the Lord, please stop it!” and then he sits down. The pastor immediately goes to Nehemiah chapter 13 and reads the whole chapter. For he knows that this was a direct sign from the Lord, and that some are in need of hearing this today.

So the people are witnessing the direct hand of God in moving the hearts of the people through the sermon. Our Lord has been pleased because He has witnessed the people’s honor and reverence to Him. The sermon finishes strongly as the people yell out “amen” after he is done. He reminds them that the church building will be open tomorrow for tithe donations, or if they prefer they can get an mailing envelope in the foyer and mail it in.

As he closes the service He once again asks the congregation to kneel and pray. He requests that the Lord watch over each and every member. He asks that the ones who are buying and selling come to repentance this week. The prayer finishes and he walks out of the sanctuary. The people silently get up and leave as well.

Outside there are people glowing with an inner contentment because they have just been a part of a holy affair. The Lord was in His sanctuary! It has affected them. They discuss how the pastor has really guided the church in the right way. They shake their heads as they talk about the prior days where nothing of the sort was experienced at all! This experience has motivated them to walk closer to the Lord this coming week.

My beloved brothers and sisters, what we have read here will very soon come, something very similar, after the Lord’s time for revival and reformation has come. This experience is not my idea  rather it is  guidance from the Lord to show that His sanctuary will indeed  once again  be  –holy. Let us get a jump-start by spreading this post to  your friends and relatives if you have been blessed. That they may see that there is indeed a better way to honor Him on His Sabbath. And it will lead to —  A New Sanctuary Experience.  Praise the Lord!

Note- For more reading on the “Behavior in the House of God” see Testimonies for the Church, Vol.5, p.491-501

Posted in Church, Loving the Lord, Sabbath | 6 Comments »

The promises of the Sabbath

May 14, 2011

When God set a weekly day aside for us He made a most joyful day, a truly spiritually uplifting day! For Isaiah was truly spirit filled when he said ( Isaiah 58:13) ” If you keep your foot from doing your own pleasure ON MY HOLY DAY, and call it a delight and honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways , or speaking your own words, THEN you will delight yourself in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride among the high places of the earth…”   In this scripture we find a summary of  what the Sabbath has to offer. If we heed this word of God, HE WILL FULFILL HIS PROMISE.

You’ll notice in the above word, we are told to basically “keep it holy” . That means to look at our day with our Lord as SPECIAL. We should start it with a long shower, for cleanliness is godliness. Then we should dress respectful EVEN IF WE ARE ALONE. All these things we are doing to show God we HONOR Him on His day, a day HE HAS BLESSED.

Once we look  to honor HIM, He then pours out His BLESSINGS on us. In (Ezekiel 20:20) we are given A GREAT PROMISE! How many would like to KNOW, I mean REALLY KNOW  that the Lord is really your God, that you know Him and  feel Him and walk with Him? Well just look at this promise ” KEEP my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a SIGN between us. THEN (here’s your promise) YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD”   Wow, the ultimate promise– we get to KNOW HIM!!

Many through-out history have neglected this simple and plain instruction of God –  Do  NOT  do  your  own  pleasure  or ways  on MY DAY.  They “mix” this day with worship and their own ways–talking about their personal business, world’s problems, going shopping, to a restaurant, etc.  Are there  not SIX DAYS in the week to do this??

Look at how serious our Lord watches His people observe His Sabbaths.(Numbers 15:32-36)  A man was simply going outside of camp to collect sticks on the Sabbath. The Lord instructed the people that he must die. He was to be an example of  not doing our own ways or pleasures and to keep HIS DAY holy. We do well to remember this drastic example for it shows how serious our Lord watches our obedience. Many don’t understand that we profane the Lord when we trample His HOLY Laws.

That brings me to today. Look around and observe the absolute TRAMPLING of His holy day today by so called “Christians”. Is it not because the “pastors” and “priests” are teaching the people to go ahead and disregard HIS DAY? Again God’s word describes this terrible thing (Ezekiel 22:36) ” Her priests do violence to My Law and profane my Holy things. They do not distinguish between the Holy and the common. They teach that there is no difference between the clean and unclean and they shut their eyes to MY SABBATHS, so that I am profaned among them”.

So His blessings are not received by the people, they walk in darkness, never knowing the bliss and holiness they can feel and experience by OBEYING HIS WORD. Infact we are told that God works on us every Sabbath, making us holier and cleaning us up.He PROMISES to sanctify us. (Exodus 31:13)”… My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you through out your generations, that YOU MAY KNOW that I am the Lord WHO SANCTIFIES YOU”.

If you are not keeping the Sabbath Holy I plead with you to do it. Please don’t go through the motions, do it RIGHT! I was a typical ” in the dark” person who thought the ‘Sabbath” was an old Jewish tradition, something us Christians don’t need  UNTIL I TRIED IT!Then as I learned more and more (how to keep it holy) My joy became greater, my appreciation and closeness to Him became greater!   There is nothing like blindly trusting and following God’s word, EVEN IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT. You will completely,  if you believe and follow His word,  amen.

Posted in Sabbath | 7 Comments »

Just how important is the Sabbath anyway?

September 18, 2010

Again, I was scheduled to write about the prior said post about how many are breaking the Commandment of worshipping idols and images(one day I will get it done,lol). But it is always important to listen to the Lord and write what “He” tells me,  not necessarily what I had in mind. But what has been revealed to me is VERY profound! Please  read this carefully.

The Sabbath I believe,  is so much more important to us than many believe. It’s implications go farther than many also realize. In Isaiah 58:13 we read  ” If you keep your foot from doing YOUR OWN PLEASURE on  ‘MY’  Holy day and call the Sabbath a delight and honorable,  THEN you will find joy in the Lord. ”

In today’s practice their are basically two different types of Sabbath keepers. One type honors the Lord by going to church, yet after that they seldom stop from doing their “pleasures” (ie. TV, worldly radio, going out to eat, visiting with friends to gossip, etc.)  Then the other, observes the  Sabbath closer to God’s intention. They realize that  this day is ALL about HIM. And they give Him honor and praise through out the Sabbath. Their whole desire this day is to draw close to the Lord in prayer and fellowship and abstainment from worldly things. Which one are you?

God’s intention is so clear for this day. His word says (Exodus 31:13) “…My Sabbath you shall keep,….that you may KNOW that I am the Lord, who sanctifies you.”  God does something VERY special this day. You may look at it like this. All week we are faced with polluting sin and temptation. Yet because we honor His day as He said, He “recharges” us greatly every Sabbath. He provides stronger armor for us.

Another way to look at it is like this. On the Sabbath, the Lord takes out His tool box, and starts looking over your heart and goes to work, adjusting and fixing certain areas of our spiritual condition that may need improvement or re-alignment.

Speaking from  a personal view, the times where I had not kept the Sabbath as I should, I have found that the following week I seemed alot weaker and susceptible to the devils attacks.  I believe  what Isaiah meant when he said KEEP FROM  doing your own pleasure was a BIG  KEY in observing the Sabbath. In other words,  give your devoted  love and attention to Him this day and you’ll find He makes you holy and stronger to go through the next week. Weekly He covers us with His sanctification!

Again we are told HOW important the Sabbath is (Ezekiel 20:20) “Keep my Sabbaths HOLY, that they may be  a sign between us. THEN you will know that I am the LORD YOUR GOD”  Amen!  How powerful is that?  God bascially is saying not to just ‘observe” His Sabbath but KEEP  IT  HOLY!!  There is the great difference. When we finally realize just how important this day is, we do indeed DELIGHT and have JOY in the Lord!    Amen.

For those of you interested in proper Sabbath keeping, you may want to see our post in www.oursword.blogspot.com  called “The Sabbath, what it is and how to keep it” listed under “Sabbath.”

Posted in Sabbath | 9 Comments »

My people have utterly desercrated MY Sabbaths

April 24, 2010

As I have been reading Ezekiel I am struck by the utter passion the Lord had for the people to come into “obedience”. . But His anger was brought forth due to their disobedience. His Laws and particularly His Sabbath was SO important to Him as evidenced by Ezekiel’s writings.

In Ezekiel 20:10  we read “Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them to the desert. I gave them My decrees and made know to them My Laws, for the man who obeys them WILL LIVE BY THEM. Also I gave them My Sabbaths as a SIGN BETWEEN US, so that they would know that I, the Lord,  made them holy” Here we see that the Lord singled out His Holy Day as a “Sign” between Him and His people. Many Christians  believe this “sign” still exists today. I, too, believe this and am “utterly” convinced it’s true.

Then  in Ezekiel 20:13 “yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not follow my decrees and rejected My Laws-although the man who obeys them will live by them- and they ‘utterly’  desercrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert.”  What strikes me here is the Lord singling out His Sabbath for special emphasis. . We can really see that He valued this most Holy Day. It’s almost as if the Sabbath is “the Commandment” that the Lord could no longer take being abused. Because we notice special mention of “utterly desercrating My Sabbath”

Again Ezekiel makes the point repeatively,  from the Lord ( Ezekiel 20:20) “I am the Lord your God, follow my decrees and be careful to  KEEP my Laws. Keep My Sabbaths holy, that THEY MAY BE A SIGN BETWEEN US. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God”.   Twice in close proximity the Lord calls the Sabbath a “sign” between us. Can we not realize the passion and pleading from the Lord to the people? Now, can I ask you,  has the Lord changed so much as to “lose” this passion for upholding  His Laws and Sabbath? (Malachi 3:6)  “I the Lord, change not.”

A fourth time AGAIN the Lord says (Ezekiel 20:21) “But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep My Laws–although the man who obeys them will live by them, and they desercrated My Sabbaths” Notice the Lord keeps referring to “MY SABBATHS”. They are indeed the Lord’s. The seventh day is specially made and is in fact “the Lord’s”.  This day was made also for man that we might partake in communion with Him on “His Day”.

Finally a fifth time the Lord says (Ezekiel 20 :23) “Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries BECAUSE they had not obeyed my Laws and rejected my decrees and desercrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their father’s idols”

After reviewing the above words of the Lord it is clear that He gave the people great signs and wonders (deliverance from Egypt)but that in return He asked for something . It was to “obey” Him through His Laws and Sabbath.  Today, can we imagine our Lord changing SO MUCH and saying “Ok, My people, never mind My prior words, go ahead and desercrate my Holy Day, it’s ok. We have a new covenant and My Laws don’t really matter anymore. ”  But this is exactly what many are doing today! Assuming our Lord has changed so much and His words and ways have done a complete 180 turnaround. I say NO! Infact by His blood He has put His final stamp on His Laws and Sabbath and we have NO MORE EXCUSE to disobey His Laws or desercrate His Holy Sabbath.

Posted in Sabbath | 14 Comments »

7 truths anti-Sabbath keepers choose to ignore

March 13, 2010

With so much on the line, in these last days, I thought it would be important to show some powerful truths  from God’s word about the Sabbath. There is actually a tremendous amount  said about the Sabbath(mentioned 169 times in the bible!)  Here are some specific powerful  truths anti-Sabbath keepers (hereafter referred as AS) cannot accept as truth, even though it is plainly written in God’s word!

Number 1.   Jesus never broke or trespassed  the Sabbath. We know HE is our example of how to live a “Christian” life. So how can (AS) overlook their OWN LEADER’S example???  (1John 2:6) “He that says the Lord abides in him, ought to walk, just as He walked. So where did Jesus walk every Sabbath? You got it, the Synagogue  (church).  Jesus’ example of obeying the Sabbath must be ignored by the (AS).

Number 2.  In Genesis we find God blessed and made HOLY the SEVENTH DAY.  Now, here is the million dollar question. Where in all of scripture can you show where the  HOLY BLESSINGS  HAVE BEEN REMOVED???  Answer-  Nowhere!  So if the blessing and sanctification has never been removed for the holy seventh day, it must mean IT IS STILL HOLY!  And if it is, should we not show any special observance on this day, as God commanded? (AS) must ignore that the HOLY BLESSINGS are STILL there! I think they prefer to ignore  it instead of keeping  it holy as commanded by our Lord.

Number 3.  It is very plain to see, and straight forward, I might add, that ALL people will worship the Lord on the Sabbath in the FUTURE. (Isaiah 66:22-23) “For as the NEW  heavens and earth which I will make shall remain before me, says  the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass from one new moon to another, and from ONE SABBATH TO ANOTHER, shall ALL FLESH come to WORSHIP before Me, says the Lord”  ok, if we are definitely going to worship the Lord on the Sabbath in the future, why is there a break from Sabbath observance now  as (AS) must believe???  It makes NO SENSE.

Number 4.     One of my all time favorite scriptures (Psalms 111 :7-8)   ” The works of His hands are truth and judgement, ALL of His Commandments are sure. They STAND FAST FOREVER AND EVER, done in truth and uprightness”         Here we see when He wrote the GREAT 10 Commandment law with His own Hands, they were true. They also are to “STAND FOREVER AND EVER”     The Sabbath is in the HEART of those Commandments that stand forever and ever.So the (AS) must ignore that the Commandments are STILL standing and are to be obeyed and observed.  These words of God’s do not count as truth to them. By the way, I have never   heard or seen a  remotely clear attempt to counter this word of God by the (AS)  Why? Because  they can’t.

Number 5.    (AS) love to quote Paul as to justifying their position on not observing the Sabbath. If they will only STUDY God’s word, they will very quickly learn that Paul (through God’s spirit) speaks about TWO different “Laws”. One  is the Moral Law (10 Commandments)  the other is the Mosiac laws. They were the sacrificial, ceremonial, ritual laws, foreshadowing Christ as our Savior. There is TREMENDOUS confusion within Christianity about the writings of Paul. Infact God forsaw the day that people would “distort” Paul’s writings when He inspired Peter to write about Paul’s writings (2 Peter 3:15-16) “….just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are HARD TO UNDERSTAND, which the ignorant and unstable people DISTORT, as they did other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

But if we study scripture the ONLY time Paul is mentioned WORSHIPPNG is on the SABBATH! The bible records at least 84 Sabbaths Paul honored and observed!  And he is shown to be converting GENTILES as well as JEWS on the SABBATH. What were the Gentiles doing there if  “Sunday” was already being preached as the “Lord’s day”? Paul continued Sabbath after Sabbath to bring all the people back into temple(church) on the same day each week– the Sabbath! Not Sunday, Tuesday or even Friday! Surely the Apostles were gathering every “Sunday” and  word  should have spread to “abandon” the Sabbath for Sunday, right?   Wrong!

Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin and their spies(many years after Christ’s death on the cross). In their accusations they did not  accuse him of breaking the Sabbath. Why?  Because he DID NOT!  Infact he said (in his defense) (acts 24:14) “…I worship the God of our Fathers, believing all things written IN THE LAW, and in the Prophets”   We know Paul wrote very clearly about the Mosiac laws being done away with, so it had to be that  he ” BELIEVED in the MORAL LAW ” (which includes the Sabbath). And He believed in the Prophets (ALL of whom believed in the Sabbath).  So much truth here the (AS) ignore!

Number 6.     The wise man, Solomon, wrote in Ecclesiates about all the trials, tribulations and doings which man can do in life. It was all “meaningless’. Except at the end where he made his summary of  all he had spoken. (Ecc 12:13)  “For this is the SUM of the matter,  Fear God, and Keep His Commandments, FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN”  Notice it does  not say “this is the whole duty of JEWS”  He said man!   (AS)  are you part of mankind?  Then God is talking to YOU,too! Your DUTY is to fear God and obey His Commandments.  But this is another word of God that (AS) must ignore and explain away. They must say “it is no longer true”. (Numbers 23:19) ” God is not a man, that He should lie,  nor a son of man that he should CHANGE HIS MIND (in other words (AS) believe we no longer have these duties now because God has changed His mind and these words are no longer true). Does he speak then not act? Does He promise then not fulfill?”   Can we see the absolutely strange logic the (AS) must use to explain away God’s true words?

Number 7.   Jesus’ spoken words in (Matt 5:18-19)  “Truly I say to you, until heaven  and earth pass away, NOT ONE IOTA or letter shall pass from the LAW, until all has been accomplished.  Whoever, therefore, breaks the LEAST of the Commandments and teaches others to do so, shall be called LEAST in heaven, but  whoever DOES THEM and teaches others to do so, shall be call GREAT in heaven”       In our Christian world today, which Commandment , do you think is looked upon as the “least”?  You got it, the Sabbath!   Ok, our Lord warns you (AS) don’t break it, or be called “least in heaven”

May the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and may you know this truth, that His Sabbath is to be honored just as it was in the beginning of the world.

Amen Lord, may your words be forever true and righteous!

For those of you who would like to see a most thorough Sabbath study click here http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/ten_commandments-new_testament.html

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