Grace World Outreach Church
The Secret Of The Sabbath
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
https://graceworldag.online.church
Sunday 5:00 AM
The Secret Of The Sabbath
Be Still & Know I Am God
23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
(Mk 2:23–28, ESV)
Many miss out on the blessings and benefits of the sabbath because they do not know how to truly be intentional and consistent in taking the day to be still and know that He is God.
Karoshi - Japanese for death from overwork
There is a serious consequence to forsaking God’s command to rest!
God designed our world to work in a rhythm. If you learn to work WITH God in that rhythm, you find blessing
The first mention of the Sabbath in scripture
Genesis 2:1–3 (ESV)
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested (Hebrew - Sabbath) on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Sabbath - to cease, to stop, to rest, to be still, to be silent, to be absent, to disappear
4 Secrets of the Sabbath
1. IT’S BIBLICAL
Exodus 20:8–11 (ESV)
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
* This is the longest of the commandments
* It has nothing to do with church, but everything to do with rest
* Breaking a command comes with consequences
Nu 15:32–36 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him. 35 And the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses.
When you choose to not rest, you are taking yourself outside of the blessings of the Lord and letting your schedule stone you to death
Some Consequences Of Not Resting
- Decreased health
- Diminished Productivity
- Shortened Lifespan
- Stolen Joy
2. IT’S A BOLD WITNESS
Exodus 31:16–17 (ESV)
16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”
* It is a Sign To An Unbelieving world that you believe in God
* It is a Sign of God’s goodness and grace to His people
“on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed”
Refreshed - to inhale, to breath in
What causes you to be refreshed?
The blessings Of Rest
- Renewed vision
- Revived life
- Restored energy
- Returned joy
- Reproduction
3. IT’S ABOUT BELIEF
This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’ ” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” (Ex 16:23–26).
Note:
* This was a test… will you trust me to provide more with six days than you can gather for yourself in seven
* What God provided for the sabbath didn’t spoil
* There was nothing to "find in the field" on the sabbath
Book Recommendation:Take The Day Off, Robert Morris
Honoring the sabbath is a belief that if I give God the day, He will bless me to accomplish immeasurably more in 6 days WITH HIM then I can accomplish in 7 days WITHOUT HIM
4. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL BLESSING
Mark 2:27 (ESV) And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is not a burden, it is a blessing
7 miracles that took place on the sabbath
1. Jesus Heals a Man with a Unclean Spirit
Mark 1:21-28 and John 4:31-36.
2. Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-In-Law
Matthew 8:14-15 Mark 1:29-31 Luke 4:38-39
3. Christ Restores the Withered Hand of a Man
Matthew 12:9-13 Mark 3:1-6 Luke 6:6-11
4. Jesus Heals an Invalid Man at Bethesda
John 5:1-17
5. Jesus Restores a Blind Man’s Vision
John 9:1-12
6. Christ Heals a Crippled Woman
Luke 13:10-17
7. Christ Heals a Man with a Dropsy
Luke 14:1-6
What does seven (number of completion) miracles on sabbath communicate to us?
The sabbath is for our healing
Questions:
How intentional are you in taking a full day of rest each week? What are the consequences you have seen from failing to observe a true sabbath?
What are the things that refresh you? What would an intentional day of rest look like for you in the coming week? What things will you have to rearrange to truly take the day?
Be Still & Know I Am God
23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
(Mk 2:23–28, ESV)
Many miss out on the blessings and benefits of the sabbath because they do not know how to truly be intentional and consistent in taking the day to be still and know that He is God.
Karoshi - Japanese for death from overwork
There is a serious consequence to forsaking God’s command to rest!
God designed our world to work in a rhythm. If you learn to work WITH God in that rhythm, you find blessing
The first mention of the Sabbath in scripture
Genesis 2:1–3 (ESV)
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested (Hebrew - Sabbath) on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Sabbath - to cease, to stop, to rest, to be still, to be silent, to be absent, to disappear
4 Secrets of the Sabbath
1. IT’S BIBLICAL
Exodus 20:8–11 (ESV)
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
* This is the longest of the commandments
* It has nothing to do with church, but everything to do with rest
* Breaking a command comes with consequences
Nu 15:32–36 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him. 35 And the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses.
When you choose to not rest, you are taking yourself outside of the blessings of the Lord and letting your schedule stone you to death
Some Consequences Of Not Resting
- Decreased health
- Diminished Productivity
- Shortened Lifespan
- Stolen Joy
2. IT’S A BOLD WITNESS
Exodus 31:16–17 (ESV)
16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”
* It is a Sign To An Unbelieving world that you believe in God
* It is a Sign of God’s goodness and grace to His people
“on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed”
Refreshed - to inhale, to breath in
What causes you to be refreshed?
The blessings Of Rest
- Renewed vision
- Revived life
- Restored energy
- Returned joy
- Reproduction
3. IT’S ABOUT BELIEF
This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’ ” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” (Ex 16:23–26).
Note:
* This was a test… will you trust me to provide more with six days than you can gather for yourself in seven
* What God provided for the sabbath didn’t spoil
* There was nothing to "find in the field" on the sabbath
Book Recommendation:Take The Day Off, Robert Morris
Honoring the sabbath is a belief that if I give God the day, He will bless me to accomplish immeasurably more in 6 days WITH HIM then I can accomplish in 7 days WITHOUT HIM
4. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL BLESSING
Mark 2:27 (ESV) And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is not a burden, it is a blessing
7 miracles that took place on the sabbath
1. Jesus Heals a Man with a Unclean Spirit
Mark 1:21-28 and John 4:31-36.
2. Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-In-Law
Matthew 8:14-15 Mark 1:29-31 Luke 4:38-39
3. Christ Restores the Withered Hand of a Man
Matthew 12:9-13 Mark 3:1-6 Luke 6:6-11
4. Jesus Heals an Invalid Man at Bethesda
John 5:1-17
5. Jesus Restores a Blind Man’s Vision
John 9:1-12
6. Christ Heals a Crippled Woman
Luke 13:10-17
7. Christ Heals a Man with a Dropsy
Luke 14:1-6
What does seven (number of completion) miracles on sabbath communicate to us?
The sabbath is for our healing
Questions:
How intentional are you in taking a full day of rest each week? What are the consequences you have seen from failing to observe a true sabbath?
What are the things that refresh you? What would an intentional day of rest look like for you in the coming week? What things will you have to rearrange to truly take the day?