The Sabbath #1

The point: Be cautious and charitable in your conclusions about the Sabbath, recognizing that godly scholars disagree.

Martin notes that even godly Calvinists and Reformed men disagree on the Sabbath, which should make one cautious and charitable in their own convictions.

good to know, if you study the subject of the Sabbath, that no matter what conclusions you reach on almost any point regarding the Sabbath, you'll find many godly students of the Scripture disagreeing with you, and many Calvinists disagreeing with you, and some of the finest of Reformed men who have disagreed on this matter of the Sabbath. Though there be many godly and able scholars and many men who generally agree, we still have to follow God's word and our convictions according to it. But when you see such a phenomenon as God allowing those who seem to agree on so much else to disagree abou...

5:20 - 6:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Be cautious and charitable in your conclusions about the Sabbath, recognizing that godly scholars disagree.

An argument against Sabbath observance is presented: Christians worship on Sunday, not Saturday, implying they don't believe the Fourth Commandment is in force.

Another argument that will be brought forward if you try to hold the position that there is a Sabbath, an obligation to observe a Sabbath for all men today, will be something like this. People will come to you and say, you're Christian. Christians don't really believe that the Fourth Commandment is in force today in our generation, because you worship on the first day of the week, not the seventh. So we've got you there because you Christians don't observe the day that's mentioned in the Fourth Commandment.

6:05 - 6:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Be cautious and charitable in your conclusions about the Sabbath, recognizing that godly scholars disagree.

If God had rested on the third day of creation, creatures would worship on the third day, illustrating that the specific day of rest is determined by God's pattern, not an arbitrary choice.

If God in his creation had rested the third day, then his creatures would have to worship on the third day. For we are invited into God's rest. It is his rest. It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, and we are to imitate him on the day that he has rested.

7:40 - 8:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Be cautious and charitable in your conclusions about the Sabbath, recognizing that godly scholars disagree.

If a new heaven and earth were created, and God rested on a different day, creatures of that new order would imitate His new day of rest, illustrating the principle behind the shift to the first day of the week.

If a new heaven and a new earth were to be created, and God were to finish his new order on a different day and enter into rest from his new creation on that day, and if we were to live as creatures of this new order, then we would be obliged to imitate him on his day of rest. And that's exactly what the Bible says. The New Testament tells us has happened. There's been a change of the day because there has been a change of the order in which we are living.

8:01 - 8:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Lead the next generation into the spirit of the Sabbath, which is to rejoice in God on that day, rather than just giving them a list of do's and don'ts.

A student in the church grew up keeping 'all nine of the Ten Commandments,' having never heard the Fourth Commandment emphasized, illustrating how easily this commandment is overlooked.

Most people would like to forget that God has said in Exodus chapter 20, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Let me urge you to turn to Exodus 20 at this time. We have a student in our church who put it in a very convenient way. He said, I was brought up to be a very moral person. I kept all nine of the Ten Commandments. He'd never heard

24:32 - 25:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Lead the next generation into the spirit of the Sabbath, which is to rejoice in God on that day, rather than just giving them a list of do's and don'ts.

Telling the next generation a long list of do's and don'ts for the Sabbath is the surest way to guarantee they won't keep it, emphasizing the need to teach the spirit of the law.

started last night to look at the principle of the Sabbath. We've tried to look at the principle of keeping the Sabbath. Remember, we're not trying to clog up your mind with a long list of do's and don'ts. The surest way to guarantee that the next generation will not keep the Sabbath is to tell them what they can do and what they can't do, and never lead them into the spirit of the law, which is to rejoice in God on that day. But

25:37 - 26:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Apply the principles of the Sabbath to find glorious liberty in the fellowship of God.

The Sabbath is described as the 'cream of all time,' a day of 'gold of heaven,' and a 'Jubilee' to converse with the Redeemer, illustrating its blessedness and spiritual value.

day, that is, it's separated from common and normal use and consecrated to God. And we want to keep in mind that the Sabbath is a blessed day. For the Christian, it's the cream of all time. Six days are spent gathering the straw of this world, and God says, I'll give you one day in seven to mind the Sabbath. And we want to keep in mind that the Sabbath

26:22 - 26:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Reckon on the Sabbath day when you make plans for your life and arrange your business schedule.

People remember golf dates when making plans but often forget to factor in the Sabbath, illustrating the need to consciously 'remember' the Sabbath day.

You remember other things. You remember your recreation when you make your plans. Oh, I can't come to that conference next week. I have a golf date with so-and-so.

28:30 - 28:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not treat the Sabbath as the week's wastebasket for loose ends of housework, homework, or office paperwork.

The Sabbath is not the 'week's wastebasket' for loose ends of housework or homework, illustrating that it requires intentional preparation and respect.

This is a holy day, and it's not the week's wastebasket to pick up all the loose ends of housework and homework and office paperwork. When you look for a job, keep in mind that one day in seven is to be given to the Lord. It touches little things. Remember to prepare your household, your wardrobe, your car, to provide your needs during the week so that you'll be ready for the Lord's day and able to give it to the Lord.

28:49 - 29:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Finish schoolwork and assignments before the Lord's Day, especially if due on Monday.

Teenagers leaving schoolwork until Monday, forgetting the Sabbath, illustrates the need to plan ahead and finish assignments before the Lord's Day.

Sometimes you teenagers leave your schoolwork go to the very last minute when it's due on a Monday. Remember the Sabbath day. And when you get an assignment three months in advance, get it finished before the Lord's day. America has been conditioned to thinking that weekends are times when you pack in as much fun as you possibly can.

29:15 - 29:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Finish schoolwork and assignments before the Lord's Day, especially if due on Monday.

Americans are conditioned to pack fun into weekends, leading Christians to have all recreation on Saturday and then do chores/homework on Sunday, illustrating a misunderstanding of Sabbath preparation.

And the Christians are used to thinking, that's right, so I've got to have all of my fun on Saturday. Because I'm not supposed to have fun on Sunday. That's right. I'm supposed to have fun on Sunday.

29:40 - 29:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Finish schoolwork and assignments before the Lord's Day, especially if due on Monday.

Waking up on Sunday morning and realizing it's Sunday for the first time, leading to last-minute chores and forgotten tasks, illustrates the failure to 'remember' and prepare for the day.

And so you have all of your recreation on Saturday, and then on Sunday you can do your homework and the odd chores that you couldn't do on Saturday because you were busy having fun. But the Scripture says, remember the Sabbath day and prepare for its coming. Keep it in view. If you wake up on Sunday morning and say, oh, this is Sunday, and it's the first time you've thought about it.

29:48 - 30:12 Read in full sermon

The point: When planning vacation trips, remember that Sunday is God's day, not just another day to travel, sightsee, or play.

Planning vacation trips without remembering Sunday is God's day for rest and worship, illustrates the need to reckon on the Sabbath principle.

You've got to remember the day to make it holy. And if you try not to do those things at the time that you need them, you'll not be able to keep the day holy anyway, because you're thinking about the other things that you've forgotten to do. When you plan vacation trips, remember, have it imprinted on your mind that Sunday isn't just another day to travel and sightsee and play. It's God's day.

30:28 - 30:49 Read in full sermon

The point: When planning vacation trips, remember that Sunday is God's day, not just another day to travel, sightsee, or play.

Sunday school teachers who prepare on Saturday night find the Sabbath a greater delight, illustrating how preparation enhances the experience of the day.

In other words, reckon on the principle that there's one day in seven belonging to the Lord. It's interesting in talking to some of our Sunday school teachers that they mention that when they've fallen into the pattern of preparing for their class on Saturday night, spending Saturday evening in praying and reading the Scriptures and studying God's Word, they say that the Sabbath becomes a greater delight to them because their heart is prepared for that day. They've been looking forward to the day. And sometimes in talking to preachers, they mention that when you try to preach on Sunday morning...

30:49 - 31:32 Read in full sermon

The point: When planning vacation trips, remember that Sunday is God's day, not just another day to travel, sightsee, or play.

Preachers find it harder to preach in the morning (like 'banging up against a thick wall') but easier in the evening after people have thought about the Lord all day, illustrating the impact of preparation on corporate worship.

In other words, reckon on the principle that there's one day in seven belonging to the Lord. It's interesting in talking to some of our Sunday school teachers that they mention that when they've fallen into the pattern of preparing for their class on Saturday night, spending Saturday evening in praying and reading the Scriptures and studying God's Word, they say that the Sabbath becomes a greater delight to them because their heart is prepared for that day. They've been looking forward to the day. And sometimes in talking to preachers, they mention that when you try to preach on Sunday morning...

30:49 - 31:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure the Sabbath is a day in which you do not carry on the common work of the other six days.

A Nigerian student working for missionaries on the Sabbath illustrates the principle that the Sabbath is for everyone, not just the employer, and that employers have a responsibility to ensure their employees can rest.

Not only does it say, in it thou shalt not do any work, but it says neither shall your son or your daughter or your servants or the strangers that are within your gates or the cattle. I remember a missionary who was in Nigeria who came home and told us that when he tried to teach the principle of the Sabbath from the Ten Commandments, he was approached by some of the Nigerian students with the response, well, I can't rest on this Sabbath. I can't rest on this Sabbath. I'm working for the missionaries that day.

32:28 - 33:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Do all within your power to see that those under your employ have the Sabbath day to worship the Lord.

Some Christians with visitors on the Lord's Day invariably miss worship, illustrating the need to clearly explain Sabbath habits and invite guests to worship.

Do all within your power to see that those under your employ have the Sabbath day to worship the Lord. And even strangers in the home should have it clearly explained what your habits are on the Lord's day and why and be invited to worship with you. Some good Christians I know that when they have visitors and family come on the Lord's day they invariably miss worshiping with the people of God.

34:01 - 34:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not tempt others into sin by placing temptations before them on the Lord's Day.

Some wonder if they should plug in a coffee pot on Sunday because someone has to be at the power station, illustrating the need for latitude in judging 'necessity' and not shouldering the weight of the world.

I've seen some who've wondered whether they ought to plug the coffee pot in on Sunday morning because you're not going to be able to do that. Because you're not going to be able to do that. Someone has to be at work at the power station on that day. It's not your job.

34:42 - 34:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Build into your children the attitude of reverencing and enjoying the Sabbath by spending it with them and guiding them.

Parents wonder why children sit still in school but not at home; the answer is often the teacher's attention, illustrating that parental attention makes the Sabbath delightful for children.

Attitude is really the biggest problem. You know parents sometimes send their children off to school and they say well my child never sits down at home. I don't understand how he can sit still in school for so many hours. Did you ever think that it was because a teacher was finally paying attention to them?

37:07 - 37:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Build into your children the attitude of reverencing and enjoying the Sabbath by spending it with them and guiding them.

If parents view the Sabbath as a burden, children will sense it and loathe the day, illustrating the importance of a positive parental attitude in teaching children to love the Sabbath.

If you have the attitude that you don't want your children to miss a blessing they'll catch that and they'll know that it's for their good. But if you begin with the idea well it's hard enough for me to spend the whole day how in the world am I going to get my little child to do it? They'll sense that as well and you've lost the whole battle. They'll loathe the day as you loathe it.

37:49 - 38:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid circumstances that lead you to break the commandment, such as allowing your mind to wander after worldly things.

The command against cattle laboring on the Sabbath is explained as a way to prevent one's own mind from 'grinding' after worldly things, illustrating the principle of guarding the Sabbath from distractions.

Avoid the circumstances that lead you to break the commandment. I think that's why the Lord says that the cattle should not labor on the Sabbath day. At least one of the reasons. The cattle have no souls.

38:50 - 39:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Clean up the 'gates of your Sabbath' by making personal rules about media consumption or visits that might spoil the day.

Nehemiah threatened violence against heathens selling wares at Jerusalem's gates on the Sabbath, illustrating the principle of 'cleaning up the gates of your Sabbath' by removing temptations.

After he got the Jews to obey the Sabbath day in Nehemiah 13 he saw that the heathens still came around the gates of Jerusalem and so he threatened them with violence personally if they wouldn't leave with their wares. Why? He didn't want the Jews tempted to go out and to work on that holy day. And so you have to clean up the gates of your Sabbath.

39:24 - 39:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Clean up the 'gates of your Sabbath' by making personal rules about media consumption or visits that might spoil the day.

Turning on the radio or TV for news but letting the mind wander to ball games or political debates illustrates how media can spoil the Sabbath and the need to make personal rules to guard it.

If you turn on the radio or television for a news broadcast do you allow your mind to wander on then to the ball game or to a TV special and spend the whole afternoon at it or on to a political debate? If so then you may have to lay your hands on the table and lay your hands on the cause of it and say to it that the gates of your Sabbath are cleared up by not turning that TV on or that radio on. I didn't say it was wrong to turn it on. And the thing that you've got to learn as a Christian is to make rules for yourself and not for all the church when you're cleaning up the gates of the Sabbath ...

39:49 - 40:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Clean up the 'gates of your Sabbath' by making personal rules about media consumption or visits that might spoil the day.

Visiting someone on the Lord's Day might lead to spending time on 'trite things' and spoiling the day, illustrating the need for personal discernment in guarding the Sabbath.

When you visit someone on the Lord's day are you likely to get so far from the Sabbath and spend so much time in trite things that the whole day is spoiled? If so, and remember I'm saying if so, then don't make that visit on the Lord's day. There are other circumstances in which it may be a great blessing to visit on the Lord's day among God's people or a great time to go and to witness to your friend because he's off on that day as well.

40:26 - 40:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by emphasizing that outward formality without the spirit of the Sabbath displeases God. He presents the Sabbath as a blessed foretaste of heaven, a day for…

Quoting Amos 8:5, which condemns those who long for the Sabbath to be over to sell corn, illustrates the wrong spirit towards the Sabbath.

Amos 8 and verse 5 condemns those who say oh when will the new moon be gone that we may sell corn. When will the Sabbath be over that we may set forth wheat. But if you have the root of the matter in your soul the application of the principles in outward circumstances will be wings to inward devotion and merely a guard to keep you in worshiping God and lifting up your heart to them.

42:33 - 43:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by emphasizing that outward formality without the spirit of the Sabbath displeases God. He presents the Sabbath as a blessed foretaste of heaven, a day for…

Alluding to Psalm 84:10, 'a day in thy courts is better than a thousand,' illustrates the delight true saints find in God's presence on the Sabbath.

To those who look forward to unbroken fellowship with God in heaven the Sabbath is a blessed day. The saints confess a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.

43:02 - 43:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself if you have consecrated yourself to the Lord if you cannot devote one day in seven to God.

The Bible doesn't mention golf courses in heaven, but it does describe worship and being with the Lord, illustrating that heaven's attraction is God Himself and eternal praise.

How can you expect to enjoy heaven which is an eternity of praise to God? You don't read anywhere in the Bible that there are any golf courses in heaven. There might be but it doesn't say so in the Bible. The only thing that's said in the Bible of heaven to attract you to heaven is that the Lord is there.

44:14 - 44:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself if you have consecrated yourself to the Lord if you cannot devote one day in seven to God.

Even dear saints fall asleep in church, like Christ's disciples falling asleep when asked to watch for an hour, illustrating that while the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak, but the heart still longs to keep the commandment.

Surely you'll desire oh the spirit when it's willing still finds the flesh weak. And when Christ asks us to watch with him for an hour we'll fall asleep. As some dear saints do at times fall asleep in church. Their spirit is willing their flesh is weak.

45:00 - 45:17 Read in full sermon