26th May: The Lord’s Day
Speaker: Duncan Wyncoll
Large numbers of evangelical churches nowadays only hold one Sunday service. The 4th commandment stands out as unique, and yet has long since been abandoned. Here are the reasons why God’s people must dedicate this day to their Lord, and the activities that should fill it.
Introduction
· Enormous diversity of Sabbath keeping
· RC ‘midnight mass’, to attending worship, & then treat as any other day
· Or some who treat the Lord’s Day with enormous respect
A criticism of a few years ago – esp. in the US:
‘Just a Jewish ordinance – similar to sacrifices… can’t be proved by the Word…’ New view
Practice follows belief
· Unbelievers think nothing of the Lord’s Day – own pleasure & pursuits
What about believers? – The way they act, follows from their beliefs
· Steady decline in standards over the decades
Purpose of 10 commandments: everlasting rule of God (Eternal Law) –
1. To Bar the way to Heaven and point to the Saviour
2. To See lofty standards of God’s holiness and seek mercy
3. To Define sin
4. To Protect society – never recognised as such
5. To Show God’s character & His tastes
This commandment serves all these purposes…
How will you persuade an unconvinced friend?
A. What is the Scriptural proof of the Sabbath?
1. History of Creation – Gen 2.3: ‘& God blessed the seventh day, & sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created & made’. (Note NOT the 7th day of the week)
· One of the 5 things given to man: a dwelling-place, work to do, a command to observe, a companion & a Sabbath day to keep!
· Denied by some that Adam observed Sabbath…
2. Giving of the Law – Exod 20.8-11: the longest, fullest & most detailed
· Delivered by thunder, lightening & earthquake
· Remember (never forget) the Sabbath Day i.e. which you used to keep…
· No temporary obligation – No change to law on adultery, murder & theft
3. The OT prophets – spoken as one of the greatest sins
· Why? if the 4th commandment was to pass away?
4. The teaching of Christ – ‘came not to destroy the law but to fulfil’
· Mark 10.19: speaks of 10 Commandments as recognised standards – ‘Thou knowest the commandments…’
· Christ speaks 11 times about the Sabbath to correct the superstitious additions of Pharisees, but never once denied the holiness of the day
· Healed & walked in cornfields
· The Writings of the Apostles – Gal 3.24 - ‘Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.’ The moral Law is a recognised rule of life
5. The Practice of the Apostles –
· Always kept one day as Holy - Luke breaking bread at Troas:
Acts 20.7 - ‘& upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; & continued his speech until midnight’
· 1st day of week – Resurrection day, John 20 blessed with HS & Acts 2
· John refers to Sabbath ‘I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day’ (Rev 1.10)
Don’t devalue the authority of scripture (relevance of OT)… or despise the 10 Com’s… All scripture is given by inspiration…& is profitable etc – 2 Tim 3.16
B. What is the purpose of the Sabbath?
JC Ryle – God’s merciful appointment for the common benefit of all mankind. He knows what is best for society & for individuals.
1. Good for man’s body – Rest is essential
· Also LJC – Mark 2.27 - ‘The Sabbath was made for man & not man…’
Isaiah 58.13,14 – ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; & call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; & shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; & I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, & feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.’· Promise of happiness, great honour, prosperity & ‘kept’ – like a Castle…
· E.g. WW II factory workers – you cannot continue working indefinitely
· French revolution: threw out things Christian, only for them to come back
· Circadian rhythms: temp, hormones and weekly/monthly cycles
· Stress and illnesses. ‘It protects society…’ like Christian Marriage…
2. Good for man’s mind – Intervals are vital to recover
· William Wilberforce declared power of endurance to his Sabbath observance
· Over-studying before exams can be a disaster. One wonders: Is the brain programmed to need a day off?
· Problems are often ‘solved’ during a break
Illus: ‘Not working’ can be the best witness – organisation, priorities, TV/Leisure. The witness of an organised believer was great witness to me when I was seeking…
3. Good for nations
· Effect upon character & prosperity (including economic)
4. Good for man’s soul – regular recurring time for self-examination!
Illus: reaction of a colleague to listening to an on-line sermon – how can you listen to that stuff? it makes you feel so bad every week? It constantly challenges you?
· Are we prepared for heaven? No Sabbath - no God
· Gratitude & worship, contemplation & learning
· Obedience & yieldedness
· Acknowledges dependence upon Him
5. A relic of Paradise & a type of Heaven
· Are we prepared for the Eternal Sabbath? – Hymn 676
C. How should the Sabbath/The Lord’s Day be kept?
1. A day of rest
· No work, except works of ‘necessity & mercy’
Illus. Drive on the L side of the road – child runs out. You have to drive to the R – a work of necessity
· Hospital visits
· Nowadays some people have to work…
· Security, retail jobs made to work in Dec etc.
2. It must be kept Holy
· “Affairs of the Soul & communion with God”
· Not necessarily church all day…
· The Principle is – 1st devotion to God, then regard for others
· Not seeking our own enjoyment
3. ‘Holy rest’
· A day for the soul’s business (‘Market day for the soul’)
Reflection: What happens when we die? Will we appear before God?
· The brightest, most cheerful day of the 7
· Rest from normal labour! It may be busy – SS, hospitality etc
· If a Christian cannot enjoy a ‘holy’ Sunday ® the fault is not in the day, but in his/her soul
4. ‘Remember the Sabbath day to KEEP it’
· Hedge, guard & protect – Satan will try to ruin it!
· Difficult in halls of residence, or living with unsaved families
· Prepare for it
Illus: watching TV late > tiredness. Preparation for Sunday, arriving on time…
How is the Sabbath profaned/spoilt? – ‘Remember the SD to keep it holy’
1. Privately – continually guilty, but we need our consciences awakened
· Our thoughts (try to stop thinking about work…)
· Not wanting to sound overbearing, but we have to challenge ourselves
· Pastimes & study
· Reading newspapers, novels, excessive talk on non-spiritual topics (e.g. football)
2. Publicly
· Shopping, unnecessary travel, excursions, online activity
Book recommendation: Call the Sabbath a Delight – W Chantry
Conclusion – final challenges
· What harm has God done, that we turn our backs on one of His eternal Laws?
· How will we answer in the judgement?
· Some find it difficult to get to two services when they could: Is it weary to spend one day for Him?
Nothing is more reasonable than for the created, to give a portion of time to the Creator
