Scripture: Romans 14 v 5 - 6; Hebrews 4 v 1 - 11;
Ephesians 2 v 5 - 6; Galatians 2 v 20.
In recent years an age old controversy has re-emerged in
the Church that brings division and argument contrary to the love and truth of
Jesus Christ. It was always accepted by the apostles and early believers that
gatherings for worship be done on the first day of the week, Sunday, because
that was the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead and we who were crucified
with Him also rose with Him to new life on that day.
Under the Ten Commandments given by Moses to the Jews
after he met God on Mount Sinai, one of the commandments was to make the
Sabbath Day, Saturday or Seventh Day, a holy day. From holy day we get holiday,
a time of rest. The Jews to this day set aside the Sabbath, which begins on
Friday night at 6pm and ends at 6pm on Saturday.
Paul says in Romans 14 that one man esteems or honours
one day above another and other men esteem every day the same. Let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind. This means that we can worship God on whatever
day is convenient for us and every day is special to Him. This is the day that
the Lord has made, let us rejoice and give thanks in it.
I would like to take these thoughts a little deeper using
my own life experience with Jesus Christ. I learnt these things over the years
but I now understand what happened more clearly.
When I was born again in 1974 I confessed my sins to God
and because the wages of sin is death, I got the death penalty. Because I asked
for forgiveness and for Jesus' Blood to cleanse me of all unrighteousness, my
death sentence was laid on Jesus, who had died in my place. My spirit is now
seated in Christ in Heavenly places and His Spirit now lives in me. Ephesians 2
v 5 - 6; Galatians 2 v 20.
In other words - it is no longer I that live but Christ
who lives in me. We sing that chorus without really understanding the full
impact of those words. We are dead to this world! And alive in Heaven! In
Christ Jesus we live and move and have our being.
This world of sin, carnality, fleshly pleasures that I
once enjoyed and was part of, no longer delights me or holds me in its
hedonistic grip. My life in Jesus is my full delight and satisfies me
completely.
My soul and fleshly body still dwell here on Earth but I
am spiritually already in Heaven having entered into my rest in 1974. Since
then Jesus came into my heart and is continuing His work through my submission
to God's will. The more submitted I am the more He can do and the further He
can reach.
If I become stubborn and disobedient and pander to
fleshly desires, Jesus first has to conquer my will and get me back in line
with the will of God before helping anyone else. So I must be an overcomer of
everything that would block the move of God in my life. Get the log out of my
own eye before I remove a splinter from yours.
When I resist the Holy Spirit I find myself in
difficulties in a physical sense. Nothing goes right and people react
stubbornly to me. When I yield to the Holy Spirit and flow with Him everything
is in harmony around me. Peace, love, joy and victory abound and there is no
lack of anything ever.
This is my experience in a nutshell but it should apply
to us all as we seek to become more Christlike. When we enter into that Sabbath
rest it should be from the day we meet Jesus and for all eternity. Our body and
soul should just be a vessel for Jesus to continue to pour out His grace and
love to those in need of salvation.
Jesus did not come to Earth to be served but to be a
servant to us all. He came to minister salvation to take our burdens from us
and give us rest from our labours.
His promises are true and I can only give thanks and
glory to Him for the wonderful experience of freedom from religion, laws,
worldliness, evil, sin, sickness, demons, death and destruction He has given
me. He has given it to us all but some have not understood the gift He has
given. It is still wrapped in legality, human rights, man made laws and
religions.
So strip off the exterior pretty paper and look inside.
Read the Manual - the Bible - the Manufacturer's Handbook - and follow the
instructions and live the life of true freedom that is ONLY found in Jesus
Christ!
Prayer: Heavenly Father Your treasure is in us, our
treasure is in You through Your Son Jesus. Help us put away childish things and
arguments over days of worship and get to the heart of worship anyday, anytime
and always. In Jesus' name. Amen.