You must Honor Him

“Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.”

Isaiah 56:2 NLT

In the New Testament days, the Sabbath is now Sundays or the Lord's Day. It is on the day our Lord resurrected. It represents the eighth day in eternity. Eight means a new beginning. 

The Sabbath (Lord's Day) was a day of rest for God who rested on this day of creation. However, it does not mean we just rest, sleep, and relax. It is a day we must honor Him. We must not do wrong on His Day (Sunday's). To rest in God is to spend time with Him as we worship, pray, and spend time in His presence. Our refreshing and strength is renewed when we are rested in Him.

Why did God institute the Sabbath? Dose it still apply today? 

“Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from GENERATION TO GENERATION. It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community.”

Exodus 31:13-14 NLT

“The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. It is a PERMANENT sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’””

Exodus 31:16-17 NLT

Of the Ten Commandments of God, the fourth says "Remember!" God's people tend to forget many things. We are to remember to keep the Sabbath Holy. The word Holy on a basic level means to set apart. We are to set apart this day for our God.

Therefore, now on the Lord's Day, we must assemble together to rest in Him to honor Him. We must stop all secular work and commerce. In Egypt, when God required His people to go to the wilderness to offer burnt sacrifices, Pharaoh increased their task. He increased their work. Today, is no different. We live in a spiritual type of Egypt and the world revolves around money and commerce. Many Christians are but slaves to debt and the system. Commerce requires God's people to work on Sunday's, forcing them to break His commandments,  and many are lured to participate and spend money (shopping) on His Day rather than to rest in Him. This is why so many Christians are in trouble. Moreover, they are very exhausted because they do not rest in Him but because their tasks has increased. They very tired and without joy.

How do we find His joy? How do we find His rest? How will we be refreshed?

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Isaiah 58:13-14 NLT

For those who do not know and work on Sunday's, you must pray and ask the Lord to help you find another job or obtain a schedule in which you can come and honor Him. Then He will get you a better job. For those who profess to be His people, you must set aside this day to honor Him. Every Sunday, you are required to assemble and give honor. 

Many of you have to work Monday to Friday in full time positions. You go to work because many of you have too. You do not pick your work days and go at your leisure. We do not tend to sacrifice our work days because it will cost us. If there is a ball game on, you do not just stop working. If you want to spend time with family, many do not sacrifice their work days to go visit friends and family. Otherwise, you lose a day's work or wages. Yet, we will use God's time on a day (Sunday) we are required to honor Him to fulfill our personal desires. We use God's day because we think it's free. We don't lose any wages by going on Sunday's. But in spiritual reality, it will cost you big! This is our blemished sacrifice to Him as we use Him and His time rather than our other days or our work days. This is why we do not get our prayer answered. 

When we return to Him with a full heart obeying all His commandments

and as we honor His Day, HE said He will give us great honor and we will be satisfied. Please Pray for God to show us where in the areas we need to get right with Him for our Great King is soon returning for a people set apart for Him.

Pastor Steve