More about Sabbath

Exodus 20:10 On the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. The main issue is that Ceremonial Sabbath meant NO one work at all. Not cleaning, not cooking, not even shopping (milking the cow). Every seventh day, each member of the will rest on their chosen seventh day of the week. It is my belief that sabbath (a day of rest) to the pattern of work six days and rest one day. Another issue is this: The Sabbath observance was a part of the ceremonial law of the Old Testament, along with such things as circumcision and eating restrictions. Would we be rejoicing to live in a Pharisaic-dominated society as they were part of "Ceremonial Law" followers? These ceremonial laws showed that the Israelites were set apart (sanctified) from all other nations (Exodus 31:12, 13). The New Testament shows that all ceremonial law (restrictive eating - Timothy 4:4, 5), circumcision - I Corinthians 7:18, and Sabbath-keeping - Colossians 2:16, 17) was fulfilled in Christ, and our need to observe it for justification and sanctification abolished. We are even warned against Sabbath-keepers who want to judge others for not keeping it: "Let no man judge you...regarding...sabbaths" (Colossians 2:16). The Ceremonial Pharisees hated Christ not only because He broke their ceremonial traditions in order to help people (Matthew 15:1-9) but because He saw through their religion to their hearts. Sabbath was the only Ceremonial law in the Ten Commandment. The other 9 are moral laws. Now with the New Testament, every day is ONE of Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9-11). Quote In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ, which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come. It is quite clear in those verses that the weekly Sabbath is in view. The phrase "a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day" refers to the annual, monthly, and weekly holy days of the Jewish calendar (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 31:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Hosea 2:11). If Paul were referring to special ceremonial dates of rest in that passage, why would he have used the word "Sabbath?" He had already mentioned the ceremonial dates when he spoke of festivals and new moons. The Sabbath was the sign to Israel of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:12; Nehemiah 9:14). Since we are now under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8), we are no longer required to observe the sign of the Mosaic Covenant. Source: John MacArthur

Schemer

Proverbs 24:8 He who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. A Schemer is somone who is clever to achieve people from knowing Jesus Christ. Satan have many schemes to fool people into sinning against God. 1 Timothy 4:1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Glorify God

We were created so we can Glorify our Creator !!! Psalm 86:12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,And I will glorify Your name forevermore. When Christ died on the Cross, 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Common Sense, Knowledge

Abound in Faith: 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. Is our common sense consistent with Jesus Christ? Proverbs 4:23, it says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." Spiritual maturity requires great care and a true knowledge of ourselves to distinguish what is going on out in this dark world. "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16). In 1 Corinthians 2:6, “but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world....” made me think. Wisdom by definition means quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience and understanding. There is head knowledge and a heart knowledge, in knowing God (not just about Him) the heart must be involved with the head. 1 Peter 1: 13 - 16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

We are Chosen by God

Jesus said in John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." Then again in John 6:44, Jesus said "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." Again, Jesus said in verse 65"This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." The Holy Spirit have been trying to draw people to Him by convicting them to repent and put their faith in God. However, Jesus set an example why people do NOT turn to God is in Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Romans 9:19 says "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" Also in Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" The Holy Spirit is inviting everyone as in Matthew 22:14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen." In John 3:16 ""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The Holy Spirit convicts a person to repent his/her pride by "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12) Remember the story about the rich ruler? Jesus looked after the rich young ruler as he walked away, but Jesus did not follow him or attempt to coerce him. Jesus wants people make their own choices; and Christ knew this and permitted rich ruler to go his own chosen way. Jesus is saying that He cannot do our repenting for us. He died for our sins, now it is up to us to pick up the cross (acknowledge the Holy Spirit). "Salvation is free, ... but discipleship will cost you your life." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). Acknowledge the Holy Spirit means a disciple must understand that God is both holy and loving; confess that he/she is a sinner, are made in the image of God; that Christ's death was the substitute payment for our sins; and that because of Jesus' payment, we are able to granted access to the heart of God. Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Mark 13:20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [ Stand Firm ] But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Quote Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. God knows every little details and He has already planned out our tomorrows and He is holding the world in the palm of His hand. Sovereignty and omnipotence are together that one cannot exist without the other. Quote Union between Christ and his people was planned already in eternity, in the sovereign pretemporal decision whereby God the Father selected us as his own. Christ himself was chosen to be our Savior before the creation of the world (1 Pet. 1:20); Ephesians 1:4 teaches us that when the Father chose Christ, he also chose us. - - by Anthony Hoekema Quote God has reserved to Himself the right to determine the end of life, because He alone knows the goal to which it is His will to lead it. It is for Him alone to justify a life or to cast it away. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quote We have no choice in what we want to do, whatever God's programmed may be we are there, ready. . . A ready person never needs to get ready. Oswald Chambers- Quotes From "My Utmost For His Highest" (p l09)