Tag: Sabbath-day

Remember . . . (Addendum)

Every Wind of Doctrine p6.3 Remember the Sabbath Day

Here is my current conclusion on ‘Remember the Sabbath Day.’ i will begin my conclusion with two quotes one from John Wesley, and this one from a Mr. John William De La Flechere, this quote recorded in a memoir written by John Wesley from the late 1700. “Our national depravity turns greatly on these two hinges, the profanation of the Lord’s day, and the neglect of the education of children.” He later states, “. . . well be a warning to us, to consider a religious observation of the Lord’s day as the best preservative of virtue and religion, and the neglect and profanation of it as the greatest inlet to vice and wickedness.”

John Wesley himself says, regarding the Scripture, “Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy.” He writes, “Have you forgotten who spoke these words? Or do you set Him at defiance? Do you bid Him do His worst? Have a care. You are not stronger than He. ‘Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth; but woe unto the man that contendeth with his Maker. He sitteth on the circle of the heavens; and the inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers before Him!’” Later he writes, “Shall a man then rob God? And art thou the man? Consider, think what thou art doing! Is it not God who giveth thee all thou hast? Every day thou livest, is it not His gift? And wilt thou give Him none? Nay, wilt thou deny Him what is His own already? He will not, He cannot, quit His claim. This day is God’s. It was so from the beginning. It will be so to the end of the world. This He cannot give to another. O ‘render unto God the things that are God’s,’ now; ‘Today, while it is called today!’” Let me conclude Wesley’s portion of my post with this; “The Lord hallowed the Sabbath day, but he hath also blessed it. So that you are an enemy to yourself. You throw away your own blessing, if you neglect to ‘Keep this day holy.’ It is a day of special grace.” [From his sermon: A Word to a Sabbath-Breaker]

In all of my study and research on the Sabbath day it is safe to conclude these historic truths. The theological shift within the Christian churches observance from Saturday to Sunday began in the late first century to late second century. Historically it is linked to the first day of the week, Sunday, because the tomb of our blessed Messiah was discovered empty on the morning of. The Roman Catholic Church formalized this change at the Council of Laodicea (circa 363-364 AD) In the decree it is expressly written along with many other degrading statements toward the Jewish community, “Christians should work on Saturday but rest on Sundays.” Did they forget that the Messiah was an Israelite? That all of Scripture is written around the Hebrew people. That the promise of the coming Messiah would one day sit on the throne as King of Israel? These changes are based on assumed Papal authority of which there is non and the Protestants continued adherence only furthers this delusional belief.

The shift was gradual historically. And overtime we can see that we have drifted from Elohim. As did the people of Israel. In fact any honest reading of the Scriptures will reveal that much of Israels struggles were due to their drift from the Sabbath day. Which lead only to other areas of life becoming lukewarm, until eventually they were sent into exile. The shift away from YHWY was within a generation! Look what happen within a generation of Messiah Yahoshua’s resurrection, we began a slow slip from the Way by profaning the Sabbath. Now the Church has come to believe in a hyper grace movement that leaves out the very real nature of Elohim. His desire, His will, His governance. If the Sabbath day is to be observed in Heaven, doesn’t that mean that it should be observed here on earth? “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” These are the words of Yahoshua when asked by His disciples, “Teach us to pray?” But no we only say the words but for the majority of believers today they will claim their right to lawlessness based on hyper grace and misunderstanding Paul as Peter writes, “He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16)

It is therefore my understanding and now solid belief that we are to observe the Sabbath day and to keep it holy. It is for all people established at creation, set forth in the Ten Commandments, given to all people who would join to Israel. Yahoshua, is the Messiah of Israel and the nations, He will return as King of Israel in Jerusalem where we will make a pilgrimage three times a year throughout the millennium reign of Messiah here on earth. Any other day, any other belief, is, by the Word, the working of the lawless one who seeks to deceive humanity into worshiping him by worshipping themselves and placing the traditions of man above the very Word of Elohim.

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it Holy.

You are loved,
cj

Remember . . . (2/2)

Every Wind of Doctrine p6.2 Remember the Sabbath Day

Saint Augustine, Book VIII Chapter 12, 2/3 down the first paragraph begin: “Somehow I flung myself down beneath a fig tree and gave way to the tears which now streamed from my eyes, the sacrifice that is acceptable to you. I had much to say to you, my God, not in these very words but in this strain: ‘Lord, will you never be content?’ (Psalm 6:3) ‘Must we always taste your vengeance? Forget the long record of our sins.’ (Psalm 79:5, 8) For I felt that I was still the captive of my sins, and in my misery I kept crying ‘How long shall I go on saying “tomorrow, tomorrow”? Why not now? Why not make an end of my ugly sins at this moment?’”

To which i thought as i read Augustine’s words; The heart felt plea of a man broken and seeking truth, wanting truth, desiring a life lived that pleases Elohim, our Father, through Yahoshua, His Son, the ONLY PATH, The Way, The Truth, and The Life. This is the broken and contrite spirit that Adonai desires, for it is in our emptiness that we are able to be filled. Remember, on this journey of life as we seek The Way, He has said, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of Elohim rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) “‘Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does Yahweh require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” (Micah 6:7, 8)

Augustine continues: “I was asking myself these questions, weeping all the while with the most bitter sorrow in my heart, when all at once I heard the singsong voice of a child in a nearby house. Whether it was the voice of a boy or a girl I cannot say, but again and again it repeated the refrain ‘Take it and read, take it and read’. At this I looked up, thinking hard whether there was any find of game in which children used to chant words like these, but I could not remember ever hearing the before. I stemmed by flood of tears and stood up, telling myself that this could only be a divine command to open my book of Scripture and read the first passage on which my eyes should fall. For I had heard the story of Antony, and I remembered how he had happened to go into a church while the Gospel was being read and had taken it as a counsel addressed to himself when he heard the words ‘Go home and sell all that belongs to you. Give it to the poor, and so the treasure you have shall be in heaven; then come back and follow me.’ (Matthew 19:21) By this divine pronouncement he had at once been converted to you.”

The more i read his words the more i resonate with them, with his heart, and emotion. i recall a time in a prayer chapel in which i had an encounter that cannot be easily explained yet is as simple to understand as ‘Take it and read, take it and read’. To which i did and in no less enthusiasm as Augustine pens, my life from that moment forward would have new meaning, new purpose, and new challenges. Yet all The Way my Savior leads me. So what did Augustine read that so impacted his life?

Augustine continues: “. . . continuing Paul’s Epistles. I seized it and opened it, and in silence I read the first passage on which my eyes fell: ‘Not in revealing and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not it quarrels and rivalries. Rather, arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ [Adonai Yahoshua Messiah]; spend no more thought on nature and nature’s appetites.’ (Romans 13:13, 14) I had no wish to read more and no need to do so. For in an instant, as I came to the end of the sentence, it was as though the light of confidence flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled.”

Augustine held to an eighth day sabbath or first of the week. He writes however, on the importance of observing the Sabbath-Day by stating: “Well, then, is it owing to the one precept about the Sabbath-Day, which is included in it, that the Decalogue is called ‘the letter that killeth?’ Because, forsooth, every man that still observes that day in its literal appointment is carnally wise, but to be carnally wise is nothing else than death? And must the other nine commandments, which are rightly observed in their literal form, not be regarded as belonging to the law of works by which none is justified, but to the law of faith whereby the just man lives? Who can possibly entertain so abused an opinion as to suppose that ‘the ministration of death, written and engraved in stone,’ is not said equally of all the Ten Commandments, but only of the solitary one touching the Sabbath-Day? (Written in his reply to Faustus the Manichaean, Book VI-2)

So many throughout history have qualified the importance of ‘Remembering’ the Sabbath day as important as following any of the Ten Commandments. It really isn’t until more recently that the Sabbath day has become even a reproach to the Sunday morning followers of Jesus. The notion that any day is Sabbath now in Jesus is another cancer on the modern church. Although, many giants of the faith have made this statement they still adhered to a Sabbath day routine, which attempted to maintain the solemnity of the Sabbath itself. As i have ventured in my reading of Scripture the Sabbath day has jumped off the page because over and over again it was the most outward sign of being in covenant with Yahweh. You don’t wear your circumcision on the outside, no one see’s that but Elohim and your wife, but a Sabbath day is seen by all.

Calendar’s through time have changed but the people of Elohim (the Hebrew Nation known as Israel) have kept the seventh day. There are sects to this day that follow a new moon sabbath count for days, weeks, months and years. Yet the majority of the followers of The Way, have observed the present day calendar as a symbol, that although they live in the world, they are not part of the world. And as one must live within the society of exile they partake in a manner that gives Elohim the glory above local traditions of man. Hence my reason for observing a Saturday Sabbath over a Sunday one. For if it were so, it would be Sabbath for all children of Elohim.

A commandment so important that it is an eternal outward sign, like a wedding ring, of the covenant, and is highlighted out of the Ten with the word Remember, which means, ‘to mention, to record, to make a memorial, make remembrance, to be brought to remembrance, brought to mind;’ should make one pause as to how they are doing just that. How are you “Remember[ing] the Sabbath day, to keep it holy? Is it just a thought, a nice idea, a fulfilled sign?

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahweh your Elohim; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days Yahweh mad the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in the, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11

How does one ensure even his servant isn’t working? After Sunday service, he runs to the store. He might stop at the diner for lunch and then tip poorly. How can you say one ought to be in Church to hear the Word and be Saved? Yet, you still require them to serve you after not hearing a Word that was said from the pulpit. For too long now, the modern church has had an anti-christ spirit regarding the Sabbath day. I think, given the times we are now in, it is time to repent. We should do our best to REMEMBER the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

You are loved,
cj

Remember . . . (2/2)

Every Wind of Doctrine p6.2 Remember the Sabbath Day

Saint Augustine, Book VIII Chapter 12, 2/3 down the first paragraph begin: “Somehow I flung myself down beneath a fig tree and gave way to the tears which now streamed from my eyes, the sacrifice that is acceptable to you. I had much to say to you, my God, not in these very words but in this strain: ‘Lord, will you never be content?’ (Psalm 6:3) ‘Must we always taste your vengeance? Forget the long record of our sins.’ (Psalm 79:5, 8) For I felt that I was still the captive of my sins, and in my misery I kept crying ‘How long shall I go on saying “tomorrow, tomorrow”? Why not now? Why not make an end of my ugly sins at this moment?’”

To which i thought as i read Augustine’s words; The heart felt plea of a man broken and seeking truth, wanting truth, desiring a life lived that pleases Elohim, our Father, through Yahoshua, His Son, the ONLY PATH, The Way, The Truth, and The Life. This is the broken and contrite spirit that Adonai desires, for it is in our emptiness that we are able to be filled. Remember, on this journey of life as we seek The Way, He has said, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of Elohim rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) “‘Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does Yahweh require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” (Micah 6:7, 8)

Augustine continues: “I was asking myself these questions, weeping all the while with the most bitter sorrow in my heart, when all at once I heard the singsong voice of a child in a nearby house. Whether it was the voice of a boy or a girl I cannot say, but again and again it repeated the refrain ‘Take it and read, take it and read’. At this I looked up, thinking hard whether there was any kind of game in which children used to chant words like these, but I could not remember ever hearing them before. I stemmed by flood of tears and stood up, telling myself that this could only be a divine command to open my book of Scripture and read the first passage on which my eyes should fall. For I had heard the story of Antony, and I remembered how he had happened to go into a church while the Gospel was being read and had taken it as a counsel addressed to himself when he heard the words ‘Go home and sell all that belongs to you. Give it to the poor, and so the treasure you have shall be in heaven; then come back and follow me.’ (Matthew 19:21) By this divine pronouncement he had at once been converted to you.”

The more i read his words the more i resonate with them, with his heart, and emotion. i recall a time in a prayer chapel in which i had an encounter that cannot be easily explained yet is as simple to understand as ‘Take it and read, take it and read’. To which i did and in no less enthusiasm as Augustine pens, my life from that moment forward would have new meaning, new purpose, and new challenges. Yet all The Way my Savior leads me. So what did Augustine read that so impacted his life?

Augustine continues: “. . . continuing Paul’s Epistles. I seized it and opened it, and in silence I read the first passage on which my eyes fell: ‘Not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not it quarrels and rivalries. Rather, arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ [Adonai Yahoshua Messiah]; spend no more thought on nature and nature’s appetites.’ (Romans 13:13, 14) I had no wish to read more and no need to do so. For in an instant, as I came to the end of the sentence, it was as though the light of confidence flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled.”

Augustine held to an eighth day sabbath or first of the week. He writes however, on the importance of observing the Sabbath-Day by stating: “Well, then, is it owing to the one precept about the Sabbath-Day, which is included in it, that the Decalogue is called ‘the letter that killeth?’ Because, forsooth, every man that still observes that day in its literal appointment is carnally wise, but to be carnally wise is nothing else than death? And must the other nine commandments, which are rightly observed in their literal form, not be regarded as belonging to the law of works by which none is justified, but to the law of faith whereby the just man lives? Who can possibly entertain so abused an opinion as to suppose that ‘the ministration of death, written and engraved in stone,’ is not said equally of all the Ten Commandments, but only of the solitary one touching the Sabbath-Day? (Written in his reply to Faustus the Manichaean, Book VI-2)

So many throughout history have qualified the importance of ‘Remembering’ the Sabbath day as important as following any of the Ten Commandments. It really isn’t until more recently that the Sabbath day has become even a reproach to the Sunday morning followers of Jesus. The notion that any day is Sabbath now in Jesus is another cancer on the modern church. Although, many giants of the faith have made this statement they still adhered to a Sabbath day routine, which attempted to maintain the solemnity of the Sabbath itself. As i have ventured in my reading of Scripture the Sabbath day has jumped off the page because over and over again it was the most outward sign of being in covenant with Yahweh. You don’t wear your circumcision on the outside, no one see’s that but Elohim and your wife, but a Sabbath day is seen by all.

Calendar’s through time have changed but the people of Elohim (the Hebrew Nation known as Israel) have kept the seventh day. There are sects to this day that follow a new moon sabbath count for days, weeks, months and years. Yet the majority of the followers of The Way, have observed the present day calendar as a symbol that although they live in the world they are not part of the world. And as one must live within the society of exile they partake in a manner that gives Elohim the glory above local traditions of man. Hence my reason for observing a Saturday Sabbath over a Sunday one for if it were so, it would be Sabbath for all children of Elohim.

A commandment so important that it is an eternal outward sign, like a wedding ring, of the covenant, and is highlighted out of the Ten with the word Remember, which means, ‘to mention, to record, to make a memorial, make remembrance, to be brought to remembrance, brought to mind;’ should make one pause as to how they are doing just that. How are you “Remember[ing] the Sabbath day, to keep it holy? Is it just a thought, a nice idea, a fulfilled sign?

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahweh your Elohim; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11

How does one make sure that even his servant isn’t working if after Sunday service he runs to the store, or stops at the diner for lunch and then tips poorly? How can you say, one ought to be in Church to hear the Word and be Saved and yet still require them to serve you after not hearing a Word that was said from the pulpit? For too long now the modern church has had an anti-christ spirit when it comes to the Sabbath day and i think given the times we are now in it is time to repent and do our best to REMEMBER the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

You are loved,
cj

Contend for the Faith

“See that no one leads you astray.” Matthew 24:4
“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:10
“I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8
“Why do you call Me ‘Master, Master,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46

“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead and saying, ‘This Yahoshua, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah.’” Acts 17:2-3
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4

Everywhere we read, “Scriptures,” in the New Testament, it is referring to the Old, every, single, time. The Scriptures in the New support the Old, they do not contradict them. If what you read in the New seems to contradict or change the Old, you need to re-examine your understanding. Unfortunately, for many the Old is done away with which allows them to make the New say anything they want in order to justify their way of living. Beginning with this post i will be diving into the idea of being ready to give an answer to everyone who asks and contend for the faith of those in Messiah Yahoshua. Today i want to point out the idea of the Sabbath.

Paul, was in the synagogues every Sabbath as was his custom. There he reasoned with both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), using the Scriptures to show that Yahoshua was the Messiah. The Apostles, understood the significance of the Sabbath. In fact you wont find a scripture in which they were not honoring or reasoning, or teaching on the Sabbath. In Exodus 20:8-11 we read:

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it HOLY. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY.”

This, the fourth commandment is the one emphasized the most with the second being the 2nd commandment, regarding carved images and idol worship. Can you name a denomination that uses carved images and encourages praying to statues or idols? Hint, it is also the organization that claims its authority by way of its changing of the Sabbath day from the seventh day of the week to the first (See: “The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine” Rockford, IL: Tan Books & Publishing, 1977; pg. 50 — and —Catholic Catechism, Part Three, Section Two, Chapter One, Article 3- I, II). Interestingly enough the Catholic 10 commandments removes the second commandment which commands us not to carve images or worship idols, and expands the 10th Commandment into two, “You shall not covet your neighbors spouse,” and “You shall not covet your neighbors goods.” Not to be misunderstood while giving the 10 Commandments, which is better translated, 10 Words, YHWH reminded them, “But showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and KEEP My Commandments.” Daniel warns us this would happen, Daniel 7:25 says, “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”

Peter and the Apostles declared, “We must obey Elohim rather than men. The Elohim of our fathers raised Yahoshua, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. Elohim exalted Him at His right hand as King and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who OBEY HIM.” Acts 5:29-32. And Jude writes, “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our Elohim into sensuality and deny our only King and Master Yahoshua Messiah.” Jude 1:3-4

There is one Sabbath Day. Can we worship Elohim on any day? Yes, of course we can! However, if we are to emulate the Messiah, as Paul says, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah,” and both Yahoshua and Paul honored and kept the Sabbath day, should we then not also keep the Sabbath day as Elohim instructs us?

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it HOLY. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days YHWH mad heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY. (Exodus 20:8-11)

REMEMBER, you are loved,
cj

The 9 Commandments

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou Shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet . . . anything that is thy nieghbors.

It seems fitting to take out the commandment about honoring the Sabbath and keeping it holy since we have thrown it aside anyway. After all, we have made every excuse in the book to remove any need to honor it, even replacing it haphazardly without honor, certainly not holy, and filled it with worldly pleasure.

One, at this point, might label me a legalist. Ok, fair enough. Yet, if i am a legalist, then would i also be labeled a legalist if i said, “you shouldn’t kill someone?” Or that “you shouldn’t commit adultery?” Or any of the other commandments. The answer is obviously NO, so why is one labeled a legalist if they call for the observance of the Sabbath? Maybe someone can enlighten me. Of course, there are the scriptures that talk about how they gathered on the first day of the week, that being Sunday. However, it also says they gathered all the time; we don’t do that! It also says they took communion A LOT! Some are content to take it once a quarter, and still some not at all!

Part of loving God with our whole being as Jesus declared, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” is honoring Him. i am not saying that you cannot honor God on Sunday, or Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday . . . what i am saying is that God clearly cuts out Saturday and says, this is the Sabbath, and you should honor it and keep it holy.” So the next question is, how do we honor it, how do we keep it holy?

The Pharisee’s obviously were missing the boat on this as Jesus clearly rebuked them for how they had turned it into something that it wasn’t. So what is it? “Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day, God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because, on it, God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.” God took the seventh day, and He rested. We can rest on any day of the week, i get it, but there is something to this seventh-day rest if it weren’t so the devil wouldn’t care to distract us from it!

i have been taking Saturday and resting. i try to do as little as possible. i refrain from shopping because that requires someone to not be at rest so that i can shop. i don’t do this out of legality but in honor of both God and others as i wish for them to honor the Sabbath day. i am still figuring out what it means to keep the Sabbath, but i spend time with the Lord. i read Scripture, listen to sermons, pray continuously, and seek to honor God by honoring the Sabbath. i believe this is what God desires of all of us. i would love to hear your thoughts on the idea.

You are loved,

cj