The Sabbath means to rest or to pause. We can pause for a moment, or reflect upon God all day long.
In fact, we should take pauses throughout the day as well as Sundays.
In fact, we should take pauses throughout the day as well as Sundays.
Let's talk about the importance of the Sabbath, which we will discuss in three areas.
1. The purpose of the Sabbath.
2. The practice of the Sabbath.
3. The person of the Sabbath.
I'd like to use a Hammock as an illustration of the Sabbath.
The purpose of the hammock is to rest and shutdown.
When we lay in a hammock, we look up.
The purpose of the hammock is to rest and shutdown.
When we lay in a hammock, we look up.
We should routinely focus on God, and what He has done.
When we reflect upon God, we forget about everything else.
These are the moments to step back and think about God.
When we reflect upon God, we forget about everything else.
These are the moments to step back and think about God.
If we don't routinely pull back to reflect upon God's greatness as compared to our problems, we're overwhelmed.
1. The purpose of the Sabbath.
Genesis 2:1-3 (NIRV)
2 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing.
So on that day he rested from all his work.
So on that day he rested from all his work.
3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
He blessed it because on that day he rested from all the work he had done.
He blessed it because on that day he rested from all the work he had done.
God doesn't get tired, so why did God rest?
He stepped back to take a breath, and reflect upon what He had done.
He stepped back to take a breath, and reflect upon what He had done.
2. The practice of the Sabbath.
Exodus 20:8-11 NIRV)
8 “Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.
9 Do all your work in six days.
10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to honor the Lord your God.
Do not do any work on that day.
The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals.
It also applies to any outsiders who live in your towns.
Do not do any work on that day.
The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals.
It also applies to any outsiders who live in your towns.
11 In six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything in them.
But he rested on the seventh day.
So The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
But he rested on the seventh day.
So The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
In the middle of the ten commandments, God stops to mentioned the Sabbath along with committing murder and adultery.
Stopping to Sabbath and reflect upon God's presence keeps us from committing all the other stuff.
We can study about hammocks, but it is of no value unless we use it.
If we don't practice the Sabbath, we'll never know the benefits of it.
If we don't practice the Sabbath, we'll never know the benefits of it.
God has not wired us to go through life alone without Him.
The Sabbath causes us to disengage from the world, and re-engage with Him.
The Sabbath causes us to disengage from the world, and re-engage with Him.
Ephesians 2:4-7 (NIRV)
4 But God loves us deeply.
He is full of mercy.
He is full of mercy.
5 So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done.
He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.
He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.
6 God raised us up with Christ.
He has seated us (to Sabbath) with him in his heavenly kingdom.
That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus.
He has seated us (to Sabbath) with him in his heavenly kingdom.
That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus.
7 He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come.
His grace can’t be compared with anything else.
He has shown it by being kind to us.
He was kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
His grace can’t be compared with anything else.
He has shown it by being kind to us.
He was kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
3. The person of the Sabbath.
We can rest because our God is faithful and can be depended upon to take care of us while we rest.
If God created the world and keeps it going, He can keep our world going too while we rest!
If God created the world and keeps it going, He can keep our world going too while we rest!
Hebrews 4:9-11 (NIRV)
9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God’s people.
10 God rested from his work.
Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works.
Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works.
11 So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest (right now right here).
Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.
Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.
When God finished creation, He rested because there was nothing left for Him to do.
When Jesus died on the cross, He said that "it is finished!"
We can rest in Him because Jesus has saved us, and we rest in His finished work on the cross.
We can rest in Him because Jesus has saved us, and we rest in His finished work on the cross.
Matthew 11:28 (NIRV)
28 (Jesus speaking) “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads.
I will give you rest.
I will give you rest.
29 Become my servants and learn from me.
I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls.
I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls.
30 Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”
Jesus is inviting you into His rest if you haven't done so.
Tell Jesus I give to you myself with all of my burdens.
I ask for you to save me.
Thank you for being my Lord and Savior.
Tell Jesus I give to you myself with all of my burdens.
I ask for you to save me.
Thank you for being my Lord and Savior.
Notes taken from Timothy Straight, Healing Place Church
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