So you don't work on Sunday...what about this

[Richard]

I have have not been taking a day off to recharge each week for some time now, and some of the reasons that God wanted us to have a day to rest each week are becoming evident.

Inspired to do do what God had told us to do about the sabbath, and that it really was made for man and not man for the sabbath, I came across the fact that God had also ordained that every seventh year was to be a year of jubilee where all slaves were to eb set free, debts canceled, land returned to the original owners and there was to be no work of planting etc. for the whole year. It was a faith trip as they were to only live off the food that naturally came up as the land needed its sabbath also. Israel neglected this sabbath year and eventually it ticked God off enough that he had most of them killed and the remnant went into Babylonian captivity for 70 years while the land had its sabbath rests. The sabbath year was obviously really important to him, and he must have considered Israel's neglect of it a grave atrocity to themselves as well as the abuse of the land.

God does not just make up sabbath rests for the fun of it - but for a reason. Imagne having the year off. What would it do for your well being? Your familys?

Anyway, any thoughts on what the sabbath year may look like now days and how we may begin to enjoy the beauty of the sabbath year?

Thanks in advance...

 

[jiggyfly]

The sabbath is now Christ. For the new covenant believer everything is in Christ. The sabbaths in the old covenant were mere shaddows of Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30
28*Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29*Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30*For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.

Collosians 2:16&17
16*So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17*For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself.

 

[stephen]

The sabbath is now Christ. For the new covenant believer everything is in Christ. The sabbaths in the old covenant were mere shaddows of Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30
28*Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29*Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30*For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.

Collosians 2:16&17
16*So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17*For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself.

Such truth their jiggy, such powerful truth. I am praying that Richard will be able to get a true hold of what you are saying. It will surely release him, and all folks, from the bondage of the "Law" sabbath etc..

*For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself

 

[Richard]

It seems that I was totally misunderstood - likely because I had 1.5 minutes at 6:15 am to get it out there.

I am one of the most unreligious people that I know, and have been working or doing work like things 7 days a week. I am getting quite tired and burnt out. Through this experience, I have come to realize that there may be a reason that God said that we are to rest 1 day a week from our work. We have chosen Friday to be our relax, recharge and family day where we will not do "work" things. It is something that we need to do as a family and it seems that God already knew that when he set the example by resting on the seventh day after creation. It is not out of religious duty, and we are not afraid to go out for lunch on Saturday or Sunday for fear of causing someone to "break the Sabbath."

Yes, Jesus is my rest, yes we are not obliged to keep Saturday "holy" by following the prescribed rules that the pharisees had created regarding the Sabbath, and yes, I cannot work 24/7 and survive. God has created a natural rhythm of resting 1 out of 7 days (do not read this rigidly) in order for us to live in a healthy harmony with Him, our families and friends, etc. Rest and recreation are an important part of our spirituality.

In this discovery of the natural rhythm of work and rest that God has initiated, it has raised my curiosity of this longer rhythm of the year of jubilee where God had wanted Israel to have a year of rest from their normal working life. Why did he initiate it? What is His purpose behind it? How did it benefit the people? What would it look like today, in principle - not actually according to a Jewish calander that has been traced back to the year that God cammanded Israel to do it so we can be sure that we got teh right year, but rather in a way that we can enjoy the benefits that the seventh year sabbath brings.

I know that it would challenge our materialism, as the typical N. American carries a high debt load and lives beyond their means, it would challenge our faith, strengthen our families, help us stay focused on what really matters by having time to contemplate and rethink, reduce stress and increase our quality of life (we would have time to enjoy it more) and many other benefits, I am sure.

But my question is how can we enter into that rhythm of freedom and rest that God desired for Israel? How can this become a practical possibility?

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Re: So you don't work on Sunday..........

As my pastor once pointed out, one does not have to observe the Sabbath on Sunday, else pastors and others who work on Sundays would be left out. The Sabbath is a day devoted to resting and hanging out with The Lord.



SLE

 

[jiggyfly]

Hello Richard, sorry about the misunderstanding. Glad to see that you are not in bondage to the old law.

I know that it would challenge our materialism, as the typical N. American carries a high debt load and lives beyond their means, it would challenge our faith, strengthen our families, help us stay focused on what really matters by having time to contemplate and rethink, reduce stress and increase our quality of life (we would have time to enjoy it more) and many other benefits, I am sure.

But my question is how can we enter into that rhythm of freedom and rest that God desired for Israel? How can this become a practical possibility?

One thing that has helped my family is working towards becoming debt-free.Our mortgage is the the only debt left. Materialism is a serious hinderance to the believer. Jesus Himself said "you cannot serve God and money". The way out is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Now I don't mean through books, seminars and special instructions by so-called christians either. Just follow the Holy Spirit and do as He instructs you.

Some years ago the Lord convicted me about borrowing and going into debt. Many of the christians around us tried to convince me that I was missing what God wanted for me. But now we are enjoying the freedom that God intended and it was not through structured classes or debt counselling but just following the Holy Spirit. I am not against debt counselling or teachings on debt control but it is for those who are trying to do it carnally. So just follow the Holy Spirit and it will work out. Although it took us a couple of years to get everything paid off with the exception of our house, in just a few short months we began to experience a release of the pressures that debt causes.

You mentioned recreation, I have found that a hobbie is a very good way of thwarting stress. Mine is flyfishing, I don't have much stress in my life but I still need a hobbie. Many talk about the importance of ballance and the best way is to follow the Holy Spirit and let him work out that ballance. I promise that the Joy of the Lord will be a fruit at your family's table.

 

[Chad]

Great response brother jiggy. I agree with what you've pointed out about debt. I highly recommend everyone to pay in cash as often and as much as you can. Pay your bills with FAITH and let GOD do His work to bless you and guide you. Believe that the debt will be gone. Believe that you will be set free of anything you owe.

Christ set us free from everything that would hinder us. We need to jaggy this and submit to Him for guidance and understanding. He is our rest and our rescuer!