A few weeks ago I was at the NBBI Teen retreats. It was a blessed time of encouragement and growth for me personally and for the teens. While I was there I purchased some sermon CD's. One of the CD's was of Silas Fox. Silas was a great man of God, and he was a very different preacher. Through one of the messages, he mentioned the Seven Sabbaths in Luke. The Bible says a great deal about the Sabbath, and there are many different Sabbaths mentioned in the Bible, but Luke mentions 7 eventful Sabbaths that are not mentioned in any other Gospel. We will look at each one over the next few posts. Today I want to explain what the Sabbath is.
The Sabbath was instituted by God. On the seventh day of the Creation account in Genesis, God rested Genesis 2:2. God did not need to rest, but rested to show man an example that we need to take one day to rest. The Sabbath was instituted by Moses Exodus 16:23-29 and reaffirmed by him in the fourth commandment Exodus 20:8. The purpose of the Sabbath was to separate (make holy) one day to refresh the people and honor God. The Pharisees used the Sabbath as one of the things to follow by the letter of the law and one of the works they used as their insurance to be closer to God.
We no longer observe the Sabbath but the idealogy of the Sabbath lives on. Each of us need to take one day and set it apart to recharge our batteries. To be closer to the Lord and focus on Him. This should not be done in a legalistic manner, where if you follow this rule you are better than someone else, but it should be done to God's glory! Many times we are weary, tired, exhausted and we need the time to relax and rest. Go rested, though He certainly did not need to, but the example id for us to honor Him and relax once in a while.
I trust as we look at these seven Sabbaths in Luke that you would be encouraged to see what the Lord Jesus did during those times and how God was glorified on the Sabbath through our Lord Jesus Christ!
- Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton
The Sabbath was instituted by God. On the seventh day of the Creation account in Genesis, God rested Genesis 2:2. God did not need to rest, but rested to show man an example that we need to take one day to rest. The Sabbath was instituted by Moses Exodus 16:23-29 and reaffirmed by him in the fourth commandment Exodus 20:8. The purpose of the Sabbath was to separate (make holy) one day to refresh the people and honor God. The Pharisees used the Sabbath as one of the things to follow by the letter of the law and one of the works they used as their insurance to be closer to God.
We no longer observe the Sabbath but the idealogy of the Sabbath lives on. Each of us need to take one day and set it apart to recharge our batteries. To be closer to the Lord and focus on Him. This should not be done in a legalistic manner, where if you follow this rule you are better than someone else, but it should be done to God's glory! Many times we are weary, tired, exhausted and we need the time to relax and rest. Go rested, though He certainly did not need to, but the example id for us to honor Him and relax once in a while.
I trust as we look at these seven Sabbaths in Luke that you would be encouraged to see what the Lord Jesus did during those times and how God was glorified on the Sabbath through our Lord Jesus Christ!
- Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton
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