KEEPING THE SABBATH IN SPIRIT AND IN PEACE

Click To Enlarge (Note: Graphic shows Apostle Peter healing a cripple in Acts 3, not Jesus)

Sometime believers stumble over their legalistic, works-oriented tendencies, thereby negating the Freedom and Liberty believers have been given in Christ. One place where this is especially evident is in various teachings about the Sabbath, which can become extremely restrictive and demanding. However, though we are commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy, and to rest from our works and concentrate on doing God's work on the Sabbath, all of us face challenges in this life that hold us back from keeping God's Commandment to keep the Sabbath perfectly.

This is especially true if we're married to, or have children that are unbelievers, and they want to attend events or engage in affairs that they insist on doing on the Sabbath Day, or if we have a work position that doesn't allow us to honor the Sabbath. In these cases, we should do our best to reflect Christ's loving and perfect character and to witness to the lost, just as we would on any other day. So, when we come into contact with people throughout the week, our faith in and love for Christ and our neighbors should always be apparent, no matter what those whom we come into contact with may believe.

One thing we need to remember is that all true believers are under God's Grace through Christ, and Christ nailed all the sacrificial and ritual Laws to the Cross with Him because He was the PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR SIN (See Colossians 2:13-14). Therefore, we are no longer subject to keeping any of the ritual or sacrificial Laws that were attached to the Seven Major Feasts of the Lord. Instead, we only need to focus on the Laws that SPECIFICALLY govern our MORAL WALK with God and mankind. The only exceptions to this rule are the three major Feasts of the Lord that our Savior Yahshua either directly told us to honor, or showed us to honor by their connection to major events in the making of God's NEW Covenant with mankind.

This NEW Covenant was cut via Christ's shed Blood on the Cross, and it was sealed by His Resurrection during the Feast of Passover. It was then further expanded upon after Christ's Ascension by the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost or Shavuot, and it was given a future dimension via Christ's establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth through the process of becoming Born Again in the Spirit. The final goal of this process of being redeemed, transformed and gathered into God's Fold through Christ is celebrated at the Feasts of Tabernacles and Chanukah.

The Feast of Passover, with its focus on Resurrection Sunday, is in the early Spring, Pentecost Sunday or Shavuot is in the Late Spring, and Sukkot or Tabernacles is in the Autumn. However, the Jews also view Chanukah as a second Feast of Tabernacles, and I have proven that the 9-day Feast of Chanukah is directly connected to the much maligned, but nonetheless sanctified 12-day Feast of Christmas. Therefore, celebrating Chanukah and/or Christmas as a holy feast dedicated to God's Son fulfills our requirement to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Happily, most believers do honor these three Feasts in their own ways, and since they are not required to keep the Sabbath as the Jews do, they also have the freedom to keep the Sabbath traditionally, or skip or alter it a bit when necessary.

In the Gospels, there is proof that we have freedom from traditional Sabbath-keeping in that Yahshua was a Sabbath breaker. For example, Christ healed the sick on the Sabbath (See Luke 6:6-11; John 5:8-19). In the example given in the Gospel of John, Yahshua not only healed a man with an infirmity on the Sabbath, but ordered him to pick up his bed and walk. Now, not only was it unlawful for the healed man to pick up his bed and carry it on the Sabbath according to the incorrect but prevailing Jewish interpretation of the Sabbath Law, but it was also technically unlawful for Yahshua to show mercy and compassion by healing on the Sabbath, based on Jewish teaching. So the Jewish religious leaders of the day called the Pharisees actually sought to kill Jesus for disproving their strict and meritless definition of how to keep the Sabbath, and not for actually breaking any of God's Commandments.

Christ and His apostles also picked grain and ate it on the Sabbath when they were hungry (Mark 2:23-28). When the Pharisees ridiculed Christ and the Apostles for picking ripe grain on the Sabbath, Yahshua said that God made the Sabbath for mankind, NOT mankind for the Sabbath, meaning that the Sabbath was meant to be a blessing for mankind, not a burden or curse that kept them from eating, enjoying nature, or caring for others (See Mark 2:27). This is why Paul said not to let anyone judge you by whether or not you keep sabbaths, which are a shadow of the reality and FREEDOM that we have been given in Christ (See Colossians 2:16-17, below). As the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:8-23:

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, who is the head of all principality and power. 11
      In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16
      So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puff ed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20
       Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Paul's discourse in Romans 14:1-10, which is quoted below, also emphasizes the truth that believers have the Freedom and Liberty in Christ to do as the Holy Spirit leads them. He does so using language that addresses believers in regard to observing traditional Feast days and sabbaths, and the rituals associated with them:

“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
       6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. 8 Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

This means that believers can choose to keep the Sabbath and other ritual behaviors regarding what we eat and drink, or where we go everyday of the week, or on one day, or part of one day in the week, or not at all due to other pressing obligations, and they should NOT feel ashamed or condemned for it. In Christ, we are free from the restrictions placed on us by the sacrificial and cyclical rules of God's Law because Christ fulfilled or will fulfill them all for us. This is why, in his epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul warned against falling back on old ritual behaviors, and explained what it means to have Freedom and Liberty in Christ:

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” ~ Galatians 5:1-6

I for one, am extremely grateful to Yahweh God for this blessing under His Grace, and for the faith that His Son and Spirit have given me to work out my salvation with His perfect love, which casts out all fear. For though we must all work out our salvation with a degree of fear and trembling when we err, we also can find great peace and liberty through our diligent application of love, mercy and Grace - both towards ourselves, and towards all of our brethren in the faith.

As for how we should spend the Sabbath, Luke, the write of Acts makes it clear that believers should fellowship with one another on the Sabbath, as well as help other believers in need of help, or that are poor by setting aside funds to give to them when needed (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).

For more information on this important topic, you may want to read two previous POEM Ministry blog articles, which go even further into the purpose and prophetic meaning of the Sabbath. Here are the titles and links to them:

PROPHECIES OF THE 1ST DAY

 AND 7TH DAY SABBATHS

http://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com/2016/11/prophecies-of-1st-day-and-7th-day.html

WHY CHRIST IS THE LORD

OF A PERPETUAL SABBATH!

http://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com/2016/05/why-christ-is-lord-of-perpetual-sabbath.html

With Love From
Your Sister In Yahshua,
Helena Lehman of the
Pillar of Enoch Ministry
Ministry Web Site: http://pillar-of-enoch.com
Ministry Blog: http://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/helenalehman

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helena.lehman   

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To examine the contents of my Language of God Book Series
and to purchase paperback or digital copies of any or all of these books, 
visit my POEM Ministry web site page concerning this series here:

“The Language of God” Book Series

Synopses, Reviews, Excerpts, and Ordering Options

http://www.pillar-of-enoch.com/languages-series/

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This Ministry is in Financial Need!

Please Consider Giving a Gift of $10 or more if this

article, and my other books and articles have blessed you.

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PROPHECIES OF THE 1ST DAY AND 7TH DAY SABBATHS

There is no question that God set aside the commemoration of the seventh day of every week as a Sabbath rest unto God in perpetuity. So at face value, the fact that most Gentile believers keep the first day of the week as a Sabbath unto God seems like a blatant denial of God's fourth Commandment to remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. However, keeping a Sabbath rest on the first day of the week is based on two valid points. First of all, Christ rose from the dead early on the first day of the week (John 20:1), cutting a New Covenant with humanity marked by His horrible death and miraculous resurrection. Secondly, the Apostle Paul told believers to set aside some of their increase to share with other believers when they met for fellowship on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).

But there is another reason that is a bit more esoteric or hidden from view unless one spends time in deep study, and inquires of God for the answer, for there is a Prophetic quality to the choice of the day in which we choose to worship God that is not only biblically sound, but totally in keeping with the Spirit of our New Covenant with Christ. The prophetic quality is hinted at in Revelation Chapters 21 and 22, where Christ is the King of kings Who sits on the Heavenly Throne in the New Jerusalem as the fully perfect and divine representative of God the Father. As the enthroned King, Yahshua or Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, and the Beginning and the End (See Revelation 21:6-8 and Rev. 22:12-15).

In Revelation 21:1-8, God - and ostensibly His Son - are described as the Comforter of Christ's Bride, wiping away their sorrow and replacing it with the joy of being counted as worthy to be a part of God's family. The Son of God is also described as the King on the Throne Who is the First and the Last - meaning that He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith, and He is First in the order of Creation, the firstborn of the First Resurrection, and the Final Authority in Salvation and Judgment. At this time, Christ speaks and clearly identifies the destination of the blessed, who will dwell in the New Jerusalem and have everlasting fellowship with God. He also tells of the destination of the damned, who will spend eternity in the lake of fire called Hell for breaking His Commandments and not repenting of their sins.

Christ's remarks here recall His parabolic and highly prophetic statement that was used several times in Scripture. This is the fact that the first would be last, and the last would be first (See Matthew 19:28-30; Matthew 20:11-16; Mark 10:29-31; Luke 13:28-30). What this means is that those who were first spiritually enlightened by God would eventually fall by the wayside and become last in the hierarchy of the Kingdom of God, and in danger of hell-fire. Meanwhile, those who come into the Kingdom of God through Christ as the Last Adam will become first in the Kingdom by the power of Christ's covering blood and saving Spirit.

In the past, those who were spiritually first referred to the Israelites that were under the Law of Moses. They had a type of salvation that was based on faith, blood sacrifice and works. Those who kept the Law and did good works in keeping with God's commands were considered first on a spiritual level. Therefore, at this stage of God's redemptive plan, those who were unsaved, did not have the blood covering offered by the Temple sacrifices, and were destined to Hell for this reason were seen as the last spiritually. But after Christ died and rose again, a new stage of God's redemptive plan revealed itself through the teaching of Christ in the Gospels, and by Paul and others in the rest of the New Testament, and those who were spiritually last became first.

At the time of Christ's death and resurrection, the majority of the Jews rejected Christ as the Messiah. Then, 70 years later, their Temple to Yahweh in Jerusalem was destroyed, and they no longer could offer up sacrifices for their salvation. This is when those who were spiritually first became spiritually last, and became subject to Hell and damnation. Without the Temple to perform sacrifices as prescribed by the Torah, Jews are to be judged by the Law. But since only those who keep it perfectly are not subject to hellfire, they are all subject to it unless God shows them mercy as His Chosen People, or they repent and accept Christ as their Savior.

Only those who accept Yahshua or Jesus as their Messiah and King can be considered first in the Kingdom of God. Those who love and follow Christ will be co-rulers and priests with Christ, and they will minister to those who are not yet saved, or who are mortal and saved during His Millennial Kingdom. For this reason, keeping the Sabbath on the first day of the week is symbolic of the new position each born-again believer has attained in Christ as the first to enter the Kingdom of God. In addition, since the seventh day is tied to judgment and completion, it signifies that there will be an end to, judgment of, and final reckoning of this fallen world, and that it is passing away. But meeting on the first day of the week proclaims that believers are the first to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and to find the true freedom and liberty they will have in Christ for all eternity.

Yahshua is the Lord of the Sabbath, and He and His disciples broke it in order to give their bodies sustenance (See Matthew 12:11-8), and to heal and serve God's children in need (See Luke 13:14-16). This is why born again believers choose to spend more than one day in communion with God, having fellowship with His saints, and studying His Word. Instead, rather than keep the Sabbath for one day like the Jews, believers can proclaim by their supposed Sabbath-breaking that they can spend time throughout every day of the week reading Scripture and finding fellowship, as well as preaching to the lost, just as Christ taught, but the Jews failed to do.

When we die to the world to live for Christ, it means that our every waking moment of every day is spent in fellowship with, and in communion with Him. But to have God's fellowship, we must be born again, and be listening to God's Spirit within us. This means living uprightly by keeping Christ's commandments, and going to the Cross daily to ask God for forgiveness of every seen and unseen sin. In this manner, true believers keep the Sabbath every day of the week.

So. if you choose to worship Christ and fellowship with other believers on Sunday instead of Saturday, do not allow yourselves to be bullied by Seventh Day Sabbath keepers. Stand firm in Christ, and in your knowledge of the truth, and have a blessed Sabbath whenever you choose to remember it.

For more information on this important topic, you may want to read a previous POEM Ministry blog article, which goes even further into the purpose and prophetic meaning of the Sabbath. Here is the title and link to it:

WHY CHRIST IS THE LORD

OF A PERPETUAL SABBATH!

http://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com/2016/05/why-christ-is-lord-of-perpetual-sabbath.html

With Love From
Your Sister In Yahshua,
Helena Lehman of the
Pillar of Enoch Ministry
Ministry Web Site: http://pillar-of-enoch.com
Ministry Blog: http://pillarofenoch.blogspot.com

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/helenalehman

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helena.lehman

~~****~~***~~****~~

To examine the contents of my Language of God Book Series
and to purchase paperback or digital copies of any or all of these books, 
visit my POEM Ministry web site page concerning this series here:

“The Language of God” Book Series

Synopses, Reviews, Excerpts, and Ordering Options

http://www.pillar-of-enoch.com/languages-series/

~~****~~***~~****~~

This Ministry is in Financial Need!

Please Consider Giving a Gift of $10 or more if this

article, and my other books and articles have blessed you.

CLICK BELOW TO GIVE POEM A CASH GIFT: 

http://pillar-of-enoch.com/contact.html

~~****~~***~~****~~