The Sabbath Day

Should we keep the sabbath and which day is it?

Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

There was a time in my life that I have worked 7 days a week, doing shutdowns on power stations. Thinking back to that time, I wouldn’t want to do that ever again. I was basically in a trance the whole time and overtired. I had pain most places in my body and even started to have weird emotions.

The job I have now is what I always wanted to do. I worked so many hours at this, even weekends. I don’t need to do stuff physically; I work on a computer the whole day. Then after a few months, I started getting bad neck pains and couldn’t concentrate on my job anymore. It was like my brain was shutting down. I also started to stress about small things and started to overcomplicate things.

I started doing some research about resting and basically concluded that there should be at least one day a week rest.

So, I started to put Saturday out for my rest day. I do as little as possible, resting my brain and body. After about a month, I started to feel relaxed again and the stress stopped.

The sabbath day is Saturday on the Jewish calendar, the roman catholic changes this to Sunday. Some say because catholic’s started worshipping the sun idle, others say the non-catholic churches changed it to Sunday now because the Christians took their tithe the first day of the week to church. The first day of the week is Sunday.

This, of course, is not a good reason to change the sabbath day to any other day of the week. Also, it is not indicated in the Bible that we should change the day to any other day of the week. I am involved in a church and are active in the activities. Sometimes, I work harder at church on a Sunday than at my work during the week and I think a lot of other people do too.

It is part of the 10 Commandments to keep. But if you try to keep it, it means that you are not allowed to go out of your house, work or allow anyone else to work. So basically, you should switch off the electricity of your house and not use water from a tap. Someone might be working in the power or water plant and consuming these causes people to work.

So personally, I think we should at least rest one day a week for the sake of our bodies.

If we must keep the sabbath day as Christians, then we all are in trouble here!

The Narrow Door

There comes a time we ask ourselves, am I saved? Am I going to heaven? Well, there is only One that knows that answer. 

Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 
25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

We sometimes end up following people that manipulated us to a certain mindset. Then we end up by a church of some kind with some name with some doctrine. I have studied a lot of types of churches but find one or two that believes the Bible completely, the rest might as well not even have the Bible.

There is a lot of translations though but find the old King James KJV to be the most accurate, the others are mostly twisted and contradicts the verses. Some call them the new translations, I call them the new twisted versions.

At this point, you might think what makes me think I know the truth and gives me the right to judge what church/Bible is true or not… Well, in the end, you should too. Only God knows and spending time with Him will reveal these things.

We sometimes don’t want to bother and just listen to some YouTube sermons instead; I don’t say there is a problem with that. But only YouTube sermons and going to church? Who will ever reveal the truth if we listen to people? The Son of God is the only way to God. He is the Doorway, the Bread of Life, the Light and the Lamb that was slain.

I don’t say it is wrong to go to church or submit under a spiritual leader but make sure God is the one that sends you there.

The Bible says we should only believe and confess with our tong, then we will be saved. But how would we really know we believe?

After considering all these… by spending time with God daily to start to know His voice, will you know if you are saved. Only God can reveal that to you.

Bear Fruit

God through the Blood of Jesus gives us a lot of chances to repent and bear fruit.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

About a year after I finished school, I use to be reckless and speed around in town. The one late afternoon, it was raining, and my car had cracks in the disks of the brakes. The road ahead had a curve in and there was a car parked in the middle of the road. Heading towards the car at high speed, it seemed like the car was parked next to the road. When the road started to straighten, I realized the car was on the road. I stepped on the breaks gently then suddenly it locked and won't release. The car slid on the wet road and it almost felt like the car was sliding faster than what I was driving. So, I crashed into the other car and my car went into the field across from houses. Luckily by the time I hit the car, my car didn’t seem to be at high speed by the eyewitnesses that were in the house looking out because of the skid noises of my tyres. They were angry at the other person for parking in the middle of the road to answer his phone, and people had to drive around him if they were using that road. So, I drove home and the engine barely made it because the radiator was broken. I got off that one easy.

The next day while I was walking to my friend, I thought of all the accidents my friends and I were in before. There was a couple of car accident I was in and never got hurt. Not even a stiff neck like some of my friends did in previous accidents. Then I started to feel almost invincible. Suddenly while that thought went through my head, I felt God talk to me, saying, if it wasn’t for your mother’s prayers, you would have been dead by now. I got the fright of my life.

Pride and taking God’s Mercy for granted can cause us not to bear fruit. A selfish person is basically fruitless.

If God should have a look at us now, will He find fruit on us? He gives a lot of chances and we should not waste them.

Overwhelming Anxiety

One of the worst bad habits a man can have is to constantly worry about things. Worry about food, what to wear, home, transport, family and then even our relationship with God. Sometimes the more we worry the worst we feel about our relationship with God because He tells us we should not worry. We just can’t seem to stop worrying, to a point the worrying gets overwhelming and anxiety starts to form.

The only way to get rid of these fears is by spending time with God. Every day, even if you feel guilty for worrying. Just spend time with God.

Luke 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

There was a time in my life all went bad and I lost everything. I felt God told me to start my own business and at a point, it felt I heard wrong. I then told God; I will leave everything at His feet. No matter what people think or if I end up on the street, I will do what he tells me. I then started going to a church I used to attend, and they told me to help with youth and a lot of other things that needed to get done. It wasn’t even a week from starting to help at church, a lot of contracts started to go through for my business. Suddenly I made twice as much as I ever got per month.

Sometimes God just wants to see if we really trust Him and will sacrifice our time for Him.

Superstition is Dangerous

A few years ago, an old couple helped me and my wife with cheap rent for an apartment. We moved to the area with a promising career but when we got there, the new employer I worked for clients wasn’t interested in the projects anymore. His clients were dependent on one big factory/plant in that town and there were rumours of letting some vendors go. Then we had to move from an apartment we just started renting, after moving 150km from where we used to live. So, me and my wife urgently prayed for a solution and for a roof over our heads. Then this old couple from church told the pastor (church me and my wife just started to attend after moving there), that they can help with this cheap apartment till we are back on our feet.

I knew God called me to have my own business, that is the reason why things went wrong the moment we got there. I started working on what I felt God called me for, even sometimes till 4 in the mornings. I had a lot of ideas for my business and knew God will bless it.

I shared my business passions with the old man I rented from and he asked me to develop his software for his company to send out invoices. I was very grateful for him helping me and my wife, so I agreed. Not long after, the old man’s project started to grow so big that it took almost all my time. For three month 98% off my time went into the software for his company.

Almost at the end of the three months, I realized that the old man was not really interested in the software anymore. Also, he started telling his family and church people that I am too lazy to work, and we never go anywhere, just stay in the apartment the hole day. When I greeted his son and ask him if he was enjoying his visit to his dad, then he replied, I’m here to work, not just sitting around. Also, the old man started telling me that I should wash and polish my car, God can’t bless people that drive around with a dirty car.

Even though I was pushing his project and trying to get to mine which was pushed aside. I started to wash my car and do things just to keep him off my back. I had to look out for a job because we waisted 3 months on his project and didn’t get other clients or any of our projects out on the market. We had to get away from there, not just because he will not pay us for the job, but the old man wanted us to prove ourselves the whole time. “The only thing that will work, is what he says will work”.

Superstition is dangerous and they had a lot.

Luke 11:37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.  39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

If you believe God can only bless you when your car is clean and because you dress up. Then you better keep it that way, or else you will go down. Whatever you say and believe, will come to pass.

The old man and his wife went away for two weeks. One of his vehicles was gathering dust while he was away. The day before he came back, his workers washed the vehicle. When he arrived, I asked him how it was going. He then said he lost two of his biggest clients. At that moment he said it, I looked at the vehicle that was gathering dust the previous days, and it’s like I just realized, the power of superstition. He nearly lost everything in the two weeks he wasn’t there to check that his vehicle left at home was cleaned.

Always ask yourself and most importantly God, is what you believe from God. Anything else is from satan.

It is time well spent

Sometimes it feels so wrong just to relax at Jesus's feet and just think of nothing other than His presence of the Holy Spirit. Even if we are self-employed, we tend to worry about the pressure of our clients and to solve the problems they have. If we are at work, there is almost no way to just give some time just to enjoy the rest at Jesus or after work because of other people with us that we are responsible for. There are so many things and reasons we stress ourselves up.

Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

It could be difficult to be like Mary here in Luke 10:39. If we look at the lives of others, we all seem to be more like Martha. Even in our prayers we tell God how much pressure we have and complain that others take life lightly not to help us sometimes.

A couple of days ago, I had enjoyed so much the presence and realized we overcomplicate life with all these worries. Not long after that I read Luke 10 and got the revelation that God tells me to just trust in Him, and He will give us rest. Because the time spend with Him, will never be taken away from us. It is time well spent.

Repent

Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand