Friday, February 4, 2011

Follow-up on the Sabbath

So HOW to keep the Sabbath may actually be easier than WHEN to keep the Sabbath.  I think the HOW is to not do worldly things and to spend the entire day (or as much of it as you can) thinking about and praying to God.  Don't just sit around watching TV, go to a baseball game, etc.  Spending money seems to be out of the question as well based on the OT text (outside of donations to your church).

So WHEN is my real question.  Maybe this one is easy as well.  I'd like some confirmation from others who are thinking about this subject, though.  In my mind the Sabbath is, as it was in the beginning, on our Saturday.  My question is, WHEN on Saturday?  As of now, I think it should be the sundown on Friday to the sundown on Saturday, but I'm not completely convinced that is correct, either.  Maybe the midnight to midnight "true" Saturday?

I'd really like to hear other viewpoints on this.  As I said in the previous post, as death was a punishment for not keeping this commandment, it must be pretty important to God, and I want to do my best to keep it correctly.

4 comments:

  1. Hi John,

    We're no experts,but we know the Lord judges our willingness to be obedient and observes our humble efforts,based on what we do know.

    We also observe the sundown to sundown time frame. We don't shop at all,and right there for me it was a sacrifice! I used to love that day to do that!

    I know alot of Sunday Sabbath observers have bo qualms about any of that and are quite happy to go out to eat,but we aren't supposed to cause anyone to have to work either.

    Until we learn otherwise,we are just plain more aware of our relationship to Him and are conscious of our desire to be in obedience,and that has carried over into other areas of our life as well.

    If you find out something we ought to be doing,please share it! My husband and I have only been at this for about a year or so,this "coming out of Babylon" stage,more convinced of the need to obey and be as close to the Lord as possible.

    We have to believe that prayer is the key to keeping that door wide open for Him to work in us and through us,through it all.

    God bless you and may you be at peace with His will for your life.

    In Christ,
    Sandie

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  2. John He made it holy and we are to keep it Holy by not working or doing our own pleasure but consecrating the time to Him in Praise and partaking of His Word. We are to prepare for the Sabbath that we do nothing that would distract from being in and with Him as it is the one day of the week He comes to tabernacle with us. The angels also praise and worship Him on Sabbath.

    He also marks as his own on that day. It is a day of joy as we come to find a rest in Him that day that can not be equalled. We come to know Him in a greater way and He extends a blessing.

    We are stengthened to run another week to live as He would have us.

    Yes it is sundown to sundown, read the creation story, the day starts with the dark part first.

    Blessings to you and we are in Sabbath now here in Ohio.

    Bro. Gibs

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  3. Thanks, guys. Glad to see we all pretty much agree. I do feel better.

    Sandie - since you've only been at this a year - do you go to a church? Do you go on Sat or Sun?

    I really like the church we go to, and I think they are 98% doing the right things. I'm just starting to take it on myself to keep the Sabbath on Sat and all that involves, then go to church on Sun morning. I figure, surely it's ok to honor God on an extra time of the week on top of the Sabbath. :) Now maybe that "gathering" should take place on a Sat, but I hope that's not a big sticking point. :)

    It's also hard because I've looked and there are VERY few churches anywhere near me that celebrate a Saturday Sabbath, and most of them are extremely small. Some of them, I'm not even sure they are still open.

    The main kicker for me is that I don't think there is a church that is 100% correct biblically. Even the few that claim they are seem to take other parts of the bible to an extreme that I don't think is necessary. So I am "celebrating" the Sabbath myself on Sat, yet gathering with others I know to worship further on Sunday. At least that is my current situation. I perhaps could be convinced otherwise, though.

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  4. Hi John,

    No,I don't go to church.Never had a history of doing that and don't see myself starting now.

    I think if I did though,I would think what you are doing is fine,and even better because you can tell people about the real Sabbath and maybe relate to them what you are seeing about the importance of keeping the Commandments,etc,...

    Maybe you can have the best of both worlds? If you have deep roots in attending a church,it would be hard to cut loose,I'm sure.

    My fellowship consists only of the "when two or more are gathered in my name",between my husband and myself. That,and the very few other believers we have contact with. It's okay for us though.

    I couldn't really say what another should do.

    Maybe ask the guy who does the remnantofgod site!
    The guy who does the newsletters and all. I'll bet he would have something to share on the subject!

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