Problem of the Sabbath
Review:
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- Sabbath is Rest
- God’s Original intent for man Kind is his Eternal Intent
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- Dominion
- Partake and enjoy all that God has provided
- Rest and fellowship with God
- To guard and keep it (responsibility)
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- Priority of the Sabbath
- Daily Application of Sabbath
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- One minute pause
- Benevolent detachment – Giving everyone and everything to God
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- Practical’s of the Sabbath
- Spirit of the Law Vs. The Letter of the Law
- Just because you check it off the to do list, doesn’t mean you benefit from it
- Jesus did Good and Acts of Mercy on the sabbath (not legalistic)
Problem of the Sabbath:
Exodus 16
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- Israelite people receiving Manna From Heaven
- God Provided for their obedience to the Sabbath
- It always requires faith and obedience to walk in the blessings of God
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Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Why do we neglect the Sabbath?
1. We don’t think we can
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- We’ve allowed “busy” to be a badge of Honor
- We’ve Mistaken Activity for Impact and Success for Significance
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Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
2. We don’t think we need it
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- We forget that the sabbath is not a rule but a necessity in our lives.
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Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Mark 8:34-37 MSG
When we don’t submit to His way of living, we contribute to the break down of our own souls.
3. We don’t want to let go
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- Control and Idolatry
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Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34 AMP
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Romans 1:22-23 NKJV
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- We often run to relief instead of restoration
- We use idols as a band aid to stop the bleeding, never allowing the issue to heal
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Practice of the Sabbath:
1. Be realistic
So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.
Exodus 18:17-18 NKJV
2. Learn to say “No”
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 NKJV
3. Change your perspective
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG