How (Not When) You Keep the Sabbath

EastCoastRemnant · Feb 6, 2016

Myself and my wife start our Sabbath with prayer, confessing any sins that were still knowingly unaccounted for. Within 1/2 an hour we gather with a friend in the States on Skype and do song worship and devotional, fellowship, etc... we then either relax on nature shows, listening to worship music, closet prayer or study. We allow ourselves to get a good nights sleep and because of my wifes disability, we aren't able to attend a physical church so we again gather with our friends via Skype and spend 2-4 hours fellowshipping in formal study time, sharing a meal together and then we go off and again find our own Spirit lead activity til Sabbath ends. We then gather back together as a group and do an ending thanks prayer and sing a Sabbath ending song... Best day of my week!

Sophrosyne · Feb 6, 2016

seeking.IAM said:
Again, this thread is not about Sabbath day worship or keeping the law. It is about how people observe if they observe. Is that so hard to understand?

I find it hard to say that "observing" the Sabbath is not a form of trying to "keep" it, and that talking about "observing" won't ever include worshiping it at ALL..... in other words you are naive to think a thread discussing Sabbath observation won't include the obvious reason for the Sabbath's existence.

seeking.IAM · Feb 6, 2016

Sophrosyne said:
...you are naive to think a thread discussing Sabbath observation won't include the obvious reason for the Sabbath's existence.

I assume worshiping on the Sabbath is a given. Therefore, I inquire about additional practices.

Sophrosyne · Feb 6, 2016

seeking.IAM said:
I assume worshiping on the Sabbath is a given. Therefore, I inquire about additional practices.

Actually if one goes by the Old Testament Sabbath worship was never commanded, in fact the first Sabbath observance had NO worship mentioned at all.

bugkiller · Feb 6, 2016

BobRyan said:
How does the Bible say we are to keep Sabbath in texts like Ex 20:8-11, Lev 23:1-4 and Is 66:23??

And should we be honoring the Word of God on this subject? Or should we focus primarily on our own whims? preferences? customs?

Mark 7:6-13 says something about this subject.

Well that was fast.

bugkiller

bugkiller · Feb 6, 2016

BobRyan said:
What I actually do is follow the instruction given in Exodus 20:8-11, Leviticus 23:1-4 and Isaiah 66:23

Because I believe 2 Timothy 3:16 , 1 John 5:1-4 and Romans 3:31

Yeah, right.

bugkiller

bugkiller · Feb 6, 2016

LittleLambofJesus said:
It can't be soon enough for me..........

http://www.christianforums.com/forums/sabbath-and-the-law.1131/
Sabbath day worship and keeping the law

.

Hey you're still alive. Hope all is well.

bugkiller

bugkiller · Feb 6, 2016

withdrawn

bugkiller

BobRyan · Feb 6, 2016

seeking.IAM said:
I assume worshiping on the Sabbath is a given. Therefore, I inquire about additional practices.

Well it was a "given" for D.L. Moody.
For C.H. Spurgeon and the "Baptist Confession of Faith"
For authors of the "The Westminster Confession of Faith"
For Matthew Henry
For many others - that studied the Bible in places like Is 66:23
"From Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL mankind come before Me to worship" for all eternity in the New Earth.
For Christ in Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was MADE for mankind - not mankind MADE for the Sabbath"

BobRyan · Feb 6, 2016

seeking.IAM said:
I hope not. I did not seek a "war of Law vs Grace" or a discussion of scripture or "shoulds." .

Can scripture be "banned" from a given thread as "off limits"??

Are Christians well-advised to keep the Bible at a distance?

I guess it depends on the agenda for the thread.

What happens in Mark 7:6-13 when man made tradition collides with the Word of God?

roamer_1 · Feb 6, 2016

seeking.IAM said:
There are so many threads debating which day the Sabbath is to be observed, yet I find so little said about how one observes the Sabbath.

It really depends - I try pretty hard to not get into a rut with it... I try to have cold-cuts, salads, and etc ready by sundown Friday, or I might make a big pot of chili... The idea being to reduce food prep during Sabbath...

Chores are kept to a minimum, and I get them out of the way. no work, no fire, no transactions... No extensive travel - If I want to spend the day fishing or something, I get there friday and spend the night...

I might worship with the SDAs, or go to the morning Bible study at the Victory church... but generally it is a day to remain at home. There's a bench up the mountain, and a place by the creek, and I will often take a walk to either one, or sit on the porch, in order to sit and read the Bible. Might walk down to my mother's and visit a bit... Might watch sermons on YouTube, might have friends over for informal Bible study and debate...

Quite often my kids drop in, and the herd of grandkids - Sometimes my younger sister comes by with cake (long story).

Saturday evening is always Havdalah at my Mom's which co-ordinates with 'family night', either potluck, or rotating family houses providing the fare... and usually winds up in board games or a movie...

Kersh · Feb 7, 2016

Deleted.

Kersh · Feb 7, 2016

EastCoastRemnant said:
Actually, not... to be really astute would be to notice that the words used were "foolish questions, contention and strife about the law"... notice that the adverbs used are in the negative or against the subject of the law... it is these foolish slanders against the law that would profit no one and were prideful. Careful you don't be found twisting straight testimony or the end result will be worse.

The negative adjectives refer to foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and strife, not the law.

This will be my final word on the topic, out of respect for the OP and to avoid embroiling my self in a foolish quarrel.

roamer_1 · Feb 7, 2016

EastCoastRemnant said:
Best day of my week!

Amen to that - I grew up in a hard-core Dutch Reformed environment. (Sunday) Sabbath was such a burden (other than the Sunday dinner at Gramma's)!

Now Shabbat is a glorious day. I look forward to it with great anticipation. The BEST DAY!

dennis777 · Feb 7, 2016

seeking.IAM said:
There are so many threads debating which day the Sabbath is to be observed, yet I find so little said about how one observes the Sabbath. I am interested in the specifics of your Sabbath observance -- what you do to differentiate your Sabbath from other days. I am specifically interested in practices other than corporate worship in the church of your choice. How else do you observe the Sabbath?

If this thread deteriorates to yet another "which day" discussion, I pray a Mod will be along to swiftly kill the thread. There are plenty of other places for that discussion.

I work 7 days per week (physical work, making money)........Collossians 2;16.......the Sabbath Day is a shadow of Jesus........just as the OT lamb is a shadow of the NT LAMB, JESUS........"Christ is our Passover"...........

In the OT, if you DONT do physical rest on saturday, you lose your physical life (stoning),,,,,and that stone is Christ.

In the NT, we enjoy a Spiritual Rest in Christ,,,,,,,rest from guilt, shame, dread of the second death, etc........if you DONT enjoy the Spiritual rest in Christ, you lose your Spiritual life (you lose your salvation).......1 Cor 9;27.

The OT is physical.......the NT is Spiritual.
The OT is the foreshadow of the NT.
EVERYTHING in the OT is a foreshadow (prediction) of EVERYTHING in the NT.
The OT shadows are PROPHECIES (PREDICTIONS OF THE FUTURE) OF THE NT SUBSTANCE.
The bible is about 30% predictions (prophecies).....No other book or God can predict the future like Jesus can........Isa 46;9-10.
Praise Christ!

LittleLambofJesus · Feb 7, 2016

BobRyan said:
How does the Bible say we are to keep Sabbath in texts like Ex 20:8-11, Lev 23:1-4 and Is 66:23??

And should we be honoring the Word of God on this subject? Or should we focus primarily on our own whims? preferences? customs?

Mark 7:6-13 says something about this subject.

BobRyan said:
I think it is interesting to compare those two.

BobRyan said:
What I actually do is follow the instruction given in Exodus 20:8-11, Leviticus 23:1-4 and Isaiah 66:23

Because I believe 2 Timothy 3:16 , 1 John 5:1-4 and Romans 3:31

BobRyan said:
And to get the most accurate view of the "idea of Sabbath" we need to go to the "source".

None of us became Christians by keeping the Bible at arms-length distance.

BobRyan said:
Well it was a "given" for D.L. Moody.
For C.H. Spurgeon and the "Baptist Confession of Faith"
For authors of the "The Westminster Confession of Faith"
For Matthew Henry
For many others - that studied the Bible in places like Is 66:23
"From Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL mankind come before Me to worship" for all eternity in the New Earth.
For Christ in Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was MADE for mankind - not mankind MADE for the Sabbath"

BobRyan said:
Can scripture be "banned" from a given thread as "off limits"??

Are Christians well-advised to keep the Bible at a distance?

I guess it depends on the agenda for the thread.

What happens in Mark 7:6-13 when man made tradition collides with the Word of God?

You still haven't answered the OP question.
This is not a debate on the Sabbath but how do you yourself specifically observe the Sabbath.
As far as I can see, you have yet to address that, so your posts are essentially off topic, IMHO.

seeking.IAM said:
There are so many threads debating which day the Sabbath is to be observed, yet I find so little said about how one observes the Sabbath.

I am interested in the specifics of your Sabbath observance -- what you do to differentiate your Sabbath from other days. I am specifically interested in practices other than corporate worship in the church of your choice. How else do you observe the Sabbath?

If this thread deteriorates to yet another "which day" discussion, I pray a Mod will be along to swiftly kill the thread. There are plenty of other places for that discussion.

LittleLambofJesus · Feb 7, 2016

roamer_1 said:
It really depends - I try pretty hard to not get into a rut with it... I try to have cold-cuts, salads, and etc ready by sundown Friday, or I might make a big pot of chili... The idea being to reduce food prep during Sabbath...

Chores are kept to a minimum, and I get them out of the way. no work, no fire, no transactions... No extensive travel - If I want to spend the day fishing or something, I get there friday and spend the night...

I might worship with the SDAs, or go to the morning Bible study at the Victory church... but generally it is a day to remain at home. There's a bench up the mountain, and a place by the creek, and I will often take a walk to either one, or sit on the porch, in order to sit and read the Bible. Might walk down to my mother's and visit a bit... Might watch sermons on YouTube, might have friends over for informal Bible study and debate...

Quite often my kids drop in, and the herd of grandkids - Sometimes my younger sister comes by with cake (long story).

Saturday evening is always Havdalah at my Mom's which co-ordinates with 'family night', either potluck, or rotating family houses providing the fare... and usually winds up in board games or a movie...

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

roamer_1 said:
Amen to that - I grew up in a hard-core Dutch Reformed environment.
(Sunday) Sabbath was such a burden (other than the Sunday dinner at Gramma's)!

Now Shabbat is a glorious day. I look forward to it with great anticipation. The BEST DAY!

How was Sunday a burden to you?

.

.................

roamer_1 · Feb 7, 2016

LittleLambofJesus said:
Interesting. Sounds like that is something one can do on Sunday?

Sure! all except the 'Sabbath' part

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that. How was Sunday a burden to you?

It was.... forced. Plastic.

As a kid, two services, early and late morning, then off to Gramma's for dinner (which was awesome), then hang around and do nothing all afternoon, waiting for the evening service... Stuck in 'Sunday clothes' the whole day long... As a lad, it was hideous. Dirt and me were great friends, and trying to prevent my good clothes from being dirty was sheer torture... and there was no option, or I wouldn't be presentable for the evening service...

Later, when we moved, it was Presbyterian USA, and later still OPC - And there Sabbath was incidental... an hour at church, coffee time, and that was it. Hardly a mention of Sabbath. Nothing sacred about the day.

Then marriage, and many years of 'baby needs new shoes', working 7 days a week to make my businesses run. Whatever Sabbath 'was' was lost to me entirely. If I got Sunday off somehow, it was for NASCAR.

In all of it, I had never known 'Sabbath rest', nor the blessings thereof. It was either burdensome, or incidental.

It was not until I began understanding Torah that the promise made below came true:

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

dennis777 · Feb 7, 2016

ISA 58.......AMPLIFIED BIBLE......
Keeping the Sabbath
13
“If you turn back your foot from [unnecessary travel on] the Sabbath,
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a [spiritual] delight, and the holy day of the Lordhonorable,
And honor it, not going your own way
Or engaging in your own pleasure
Or speaking your own [idle] words,
14
Then you will take pleasure in the Lord,
And I will make you ride on the high places of the earth,
And I will feed you with the [promised] heritage of Jacob your father;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
unquote

The NT Sabbath must be a DELIGHT,,,,,,we delight ourselves in Spiritual rest from sin, shame, guilt, dread of death.........the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY,.............
We MUST have JOY!
Praise Christ!

In the OT, when the men were victorious on the battlefield, their wives would greet them with dancing, singing, PRAISES...........In the NT, we PRAISE Jesus because He won the victory over our great enemy, DEATH, on the Cross.
Praise Christ!

roamer_1 · Feb 7, 2016

dennis777 said:
The NT Sabbath must be a DELIGHT,,,,,,we delight ourselves in Spiritual rest from sin, shame, guilt, dread of death.........the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY,.............

One of the aspects of Sabbath I learned from Torah is that only a free people have a day off. Sabbath is liberty.
All those years, a slave to my business - I was not free.

The physical aspect of a day with limiting parameters, when applied, causes idling... Not idleness, necessarily... I mean a time to quit bouncing off the rev-limiter... A time to recoup and recover... a day of simple pleasures, largely unplugged. The physical aspect needfully promotes the spiritual aspect... Because there is time for contemplation... peace. JOY.

It truly is a delight. And the anticipation of the day brings something to look forward to all week long. I can't begin to describe how observing Shabbat has blessed my life.

How (Not When) You Keep the Sabbath

I Must Decrease That He May Increase

Let Your Light Shine.. Matt 5:16

Episcopalian

Let Your Light Shine.. Matt 5:16

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Hebrews 2:14.... Pesky Devil, git!

Hebrews 2:14.... Pesky Devil, git!

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