Be careful now because demons of confusion, lethargy and laziness will keep you from observing the elements. Do not give them the satisfaction. Sabbath observance will not be complete if an element is missing.
Rest
Shabbat comes from shavat Hebrew verb meaning “to rest or cease from labor.” It mandates abstention from secular or mundane activities, particularly from earning a living.
21 Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers. JEREMIAH 17
“Cursed is the ground because of (your disobedience); through painful toil you will eat of it… By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,” said God to the first man (Genesis 3:17, 19). The introduction of Sabbath however has the effect of softening the curse, “At certain days of the year, I will lift the curse I have put on you. Rest from toiling the ground (earning a living) for I will take care of your personal and family needs.”
He who observes the Sabbath day will be compensated.
29 Don’t they realize that I am giving them twice as much on the sixth day, so that there will be enough for two days? For the Lord has given you the seventh day as a day of Sabbath rest. EXODUS 16 tlb
He who observes the Sabbath Year will be compensated.
3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest… 20 You may ask, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest crops?’ 21 I will send you with such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. LEVITICUS 25
No one has to say, “If we observe the Sabbath, who would attend to our needs?” God will. He keeps His promises (1 Corinthians 10:13 tev).
13 If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath, and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable; and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. The mouth of the Lord has spoken. ISAIAH 58
Sabbath observance is a crucible test to find out who will trust God enough to make Him No. 1 in their lives.
1 Since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful none of you be found to have fallen short of it. HEBREWS 4
10 For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. MATTHEW 4
Sacred Assembly
Sabbath is more than rest for our bodies and minds. It is essentially a holy rest to the Lord (Exodus 35:2, Exodus 20:8). It enjoins the humankind—yes, not only us but the collective whole—to rest from secular activities and to hold a sacred assembly (what is called holy mass by Catholics, worship service by Born-Again Christians, holy convocation in kjv).
Why Hold Sacred Assembly
What are we doing here?—perhaps you have asked yourself this while attending sacred assembly. The answers are all of the following:
§ To be sanctified (meaning “be set apart”) from the false worshipers and be distinguished as members of the Church.
§ To have the privilege of an intimate audience with God, thank and glorify Him for our blessings of the week, praise and worship the Most Holy Name. § To worship as a corporate body.
§ To submit the corporate petitions of the Church and the church to God.
§ To hear the Word for the week and be taught its proper interpretation (Nehemiah 8:8, Luke4:15-27).
§ To enjoy fellowship and concelebration of love with God, our families and churchmates.
§ For the weak, the weary, the persecuted, the hurt, the abused, the downtrodden, the broken-hearted, the perplexed, the downcast, and the sick to be refreshed, encouraged and renewed (Isaiah 40:31).
§ To have an indication, rehearsal and foretaste of the Sabbath rest that awaits the children of God in heaven.
Where to Hold Sacred Assembly
Go to the chapel or church house where the name of Y’shua dwells, where sacred assembly is held according to the appointed times, and where 100% obedience is promoted.
How to Hold Sacred Assembly
Prisoners, the sick, the infirm, the elderly and their caretakers are excused from attending sacred assembly. Likewise, those who report for military and police duty on that day. And those who are physically distant from the chapel or church house. If you are one of them, don’t waste the day however; use it to advance your soul growth. Start your Sabbath observance by saying a prayer. Open your Bible and read a chapter or two. Take note of the verses that strike you. Meditate on its meaning. Do your best to understand what is being said like a soldier getting a direct order from his superior officer. Then do praise and worship especially because you are privileged to receive a direct order from God and can do it.
Where two or more come together in Y’shua’s name, the following activities are recommended:
§ Welcome one another, especially the newcomers if any. Greet each other Shalom!
§ Do praise and worship. Sing worship songs. Dance if you feel like dancing to the Lord.
§ Testify to the blessings you received during the week. Sing together a thanksgiving song.
§ Recite the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
§ Read from the Scripture and teach its proper interpretation.
§ Teach about tithes and offerings. Sing a thanksgiving song while gathering them. Bring the collection to the altar. Pray for God to accept them and to bless the tithers.
§ Submit your corporate petitions.
§ Bring the sick, the possessed and the burdened before the altar. Lay your hands over them and do intercessory prayer for them.
§ Pray a closing prayer. Read the Benediction (Numbers 6:22-27). Sing a closing song.
§ Pray for God to bless the Sabbath meal. Feast and fellowship with God and neighbor.
Feasting
Sabbath days are appointed feasts (Leviticus 23:2, 37). Fiesta is Spanish for feast. Sabbaths are fiesta days, except the Day of Atonement. The blessings we receive and God with us are good enough reasons for feasting. Feasting is not complete without music, games, merrymaking, funny stories and laughter. Nehemiah 8:10 says there must be “choice foods and sweet drinks.” We are to eat our tithes and offerings (Deuteronomy 12:6-7, 14:23, 15:19-20). If they are yet in the form of money, Deuteronomy 14:26 tells us to buy some “beef, lamb, wine, beer” with it. Wine and beer may be served but do not get drunk and unruly (1 Corinthians 11:22); for God is in our midst (Matthew 18:20) and He should be respected.
Churches nowadays collect the tithes and offerings and send the tithers away hungry and thirsty. This should not be the case. It’s unbiblical and a malpractice. We are to eat and rejoice with our families, churchmates, church workers and the less fortunate among us (Deuteronomy 12:18).
Sabbath feasting is a shadow of the 1,000 years of feasting God has prepared in heaven. He is hoping that all of us would honor His invitation.
16 A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servants to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.” 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, “I have just bought a field. I must go and see it. Please excuse me.” 19 Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.” 20 Still another said, “I just got married, so I can’t come.” 21 The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry. LUKE 14
This is what God has to say to those who would rather pursue a path separate from that of God: “They shall never enter My rest” (Hebrews 4:3).
Concelebration of Love
In the Philippines Sunday is popularly held as “rest day.” The morning is used for cleaning house, washing the laundry, buying food and cooking. Some souls go to church for an hour or two. The afternoon is reserved for watching TV or films, shopping, dating, gossiping, gambling or getting drunk. But Sabbath should be spent in a different fashion. Sabbath is for bonding, concelebrating and spending quality time with God and neighbor. Also, Sabbath day should be observed, not Sabbath hour.
What does concelebrating mean? It comes from two Latin words celebrare (celebrate) and cum (with). Encarta defines “celebrate” as
1. vti show happiness: to show happiness that something good or special has happened, by doing such things as eating and drinking together or playing music
2. vt mark an occasion: to mark a special occasion or day by ceremonies or festivities
3. vti perform a religious ceremony: to perform a religious ceremony according to the prescribed forms
4. vt praise something: to praise something publicly or make it famous
Nobody can do concelebration alone. This is why we refrain from observing the Sabbath by watching the sacred assembly on TV. Don’t do it if you can help it. That’s for the sick and the elderly who cannot attend the assembly in the physical.
Concelebration with God. Physical eyes do not see it but during sacred assembly, our souls are, in fact, transported to the heavenly realm and seated to feast with God. Nothing should be more welcome and exciting. There is superabundance of infectious love, inner joy and festivity in the air. Open your vessel and you would be filled to overflowing. This is how spiritual refreshment and renewal come about. Perhaps this explains why on Sabbath days the Israelites (descendants of Jacob, whom God renamed Isra’el) walked briskly in going to their synagogues and walked very slowly after the sacred assembly.
If you are water-baptized, that should mean the Spirit is in you, a communion of love binds you and God. During sacred assembly, you get to enjoy both communion and concelebration of love with God, wow!
Now, have you seen someone being critical, irritable or angry before, during or after attending sacred assembly? Or was it you? Well, being critical, irritable or angry is not the Sabbath spirit. Its spirit is LOVE. Take a dip and you get wet with love all over, so wet that you should turn into an infectious virus of love for one whole week! Nothing should be able to disturb your serenity. Nothing should make you critical or irritable or angry. If the sacred assembly does not turn you into a love-virus, better check what is wrong.
Concelebration with neighbor. This means keeping busy with love-works inside and outside of the church. Y’shua did it by going to a synagogue, fellowshipping with its members, reading from the Scripture, teaching its proper interpretation, and doing healing.
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