The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 23
“Remember the day of Shabbat and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all of your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat of Yahoweh your Deliverer. On it you shall not do any work, not you, or your son or daughter, or your manservant or maidservant, or your animals, or the foreigner within your gates. For in six days Yahoweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, Yahoweh blessed the day of Shabbat and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11).
Even when Christians do keep Day 1 (Sunday), they do it unto themselves by watching the game, cooking, and shopping, yet, Sabbath is unto Yahoweh, and that is why many false Christians hate it. They despise emulating the Messiah. I also know from talking to many Christians that there are numerous believers who would love to be followers … if they only knew how. If you are not yet sure, or are even dead set against the keeping of His time, then I ask you to give this consideration: Consider the Father.
Yahoweh was the first to ever celebrate Sabbath. He worked for six days, and rested on the seventh to show us how to live. He could have finished creation more quickly perhaps, or taken a longer break, but He instead showed us His perfect plan. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array. And on the seventh day Elohim completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made.” (Genesis 2:1-3). When Yahoweh blesses something and offers it to you, then accept this gift in utter joy.
If each person planted a tree on Arbor Day, every year many billions of trees would spring forth in beauty. If everyone kept the Sabbath, all the stores would close, industry would grind to a halt, radio and television would not broadcast, farm equipment would be in the barns rather than in the fields, and His Word would spring forth in beauty. If just this nation kept the Sabbath, to give our bodies, minds, and families, time for genuine re-creation, our country would be the envy of the entire world. It would be beautiful.
Some say the Sabbath is no more, yet the only time we don’t see the Sabbath was when Yahoweh punished people, or when people punished themselves by forgetting His program. “He has demolished His booth like a garden, He has destroyed His place of meeting. Yahoweh has made the appointed times and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Tsiyon, and despises sovereign and priest in His raging displeasure.” (Lamentations 2:6). Let’s take a closer look at the theory of dispensational Scripture to see if there then remains a Sabbath rest for the people of Yahoweh, as He says in Hebrews 4:9, or if He changes, as He says He does not, in Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6.
A person who keeps the first day of the week, called Sunday, as a Sabbath, has already stilled the voice telling them about the true Sabbath, and since they have stilled the Father’s voice, and their voice, they will not hear another’s. And if another presents this truth too often, or too much, those who cannot hear will become angry without a cause. Let you not be among them, but let it rather be said of you: That one loves the Footsteps of the Messiah more than his / her own.
Some will say this is the old covenant, but, according to Yahoshuah, it remains. He reiterated Sabbath in Matthew 12:1-15, He kept it every week (Luke 4:16 and 1 Peter 1:19), and said to pray He does not return upon it (Matthew 24:20). It is said, “They will know you by your love.” What do we have love for? Love for adultery? Or love of the Father, which is the keeping of His Commands? “So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim.” (Hebrews 4:9).
In Matthew 12 the Messiah says, “For the Son of Adam is Master of the Sabbath.” The Master, questioned often by the Pharisees about healing on the Sabbath, then healed a man on Sabbath regardless of man-made traditions saying not to. Breaking a human tradition is not a sin by the Law of Yahoweh. The Pharisees, however, began to plot on ways to do away with this Law follower Who said, “Follow Me.” Christians, too, are guilty of the crimes of the Pharisees. What happens when we act like this? Not just act—the Messiah knew their thoughts! Aware of it, He left! He left! … He left. Are we telling the Messiah what day Sabbath is on and what we are to do? Are we plotting on ways to twist words to rid ourselves of the Law Keeper? Aware of it He left! … He left.
While vast numbers of Christians have opted for days other than what Yahoweh Commanded, the fact is, only one day was separated by Yahoweh. A fact we dare not disregard. The Sabbath, according to the calendar of Yahoweh, is from Preparation Day sundown to Sabbath sundown. What do we do on this day? We should use it to rest our bodies, abstaining from our normal routine of work or business like buying and selling, and take time to study His Word so we can keep the Sabbath holy by seeking the spiritual things. Physical gratification is short-lived; it does not satisfy the soul. Spiritual things do. Aside from meditating on Yahoweh, valuable time can be spent in prayer, admiring His creation, and helping the needy. (Please read Matthew 4:4 and Proverbs 22:6).
In battle, if the enemy has two large highways by which they receive the vast majority of their supplies, then you destroy those roads and cut that supply off. This is done to weaken, and even kill the enemy. This war tactic is not just used by men, but fallen angels, too. Metaphorically speaking, we had two roads into our life that brought us wonderful blessings, but the enemy has taken them down. If we take them back, though, then we can be revived, and reclaim our rightful worship. If we can just reclaim them, the Sabbath and His Name, we can know the fortitude of the Sabbath keeping Spirit of Yahoweh. Ah, but Satan knows and will do everything to stop you from living like the Messiah. He’ll do anything to prevent you from victory. He’ll even go so far as to put on the face of a preacher.
“‘Have I any pleasure in the death of the wrong?’ declares the Master Yahoweh. ‘Is it not that he should turn from his ways, and live?’” (Ezekiel 18:23). Yahoweh calls us to return to Torah, to His Teachings, but Satan does no such thing, unless, of course, he could get you to keep just a few and fight the rest. Therefore, while I say these are key, I do not say this to neglect the other commandments. I, however, do state that with Sabbath we truly revive. The battle wears on us all, but when we can call upon His Name at any time, and when we keep His Sabbath on His time, then we have rejuvenation. The devil cannot win when the strong tower we run to is His Name, and we can rest with Him. I see Sabbath the same way a chick sees his mother’s wings. Peace cannot come from any other. Sabbath is like being a newborn in His lap.
Alas, there are arguments to go against everything the Bible says, and each one of them comes from the wicked one. Some say we are to celebrate Sabbath on the first day of every week rather than the one Yahoweh keeps. Some even say there is no longer a Sabbath. However, Yahoweh said to honor Sabbath, His Son did indeed do this, and it is my desire to be like the Messiah. Was the Sabbath moved to the first day of each week? Did Yahoweh in His Commands do this? No. Did His Son remove or change Sabbath? No. Will I follow the traditions of man that Yahoweh hates? No! Why should we doubt when the Messiah Himself kept the Sabbath? Yahoshuah was only against the laws of men, not the Teachings / Law of Yahoweh.
So where does this confusion come from? “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these things. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the other writings. You, therefore, beloved ones, being forewarned, guard yourselves, lest you are led away by the errors of lawless men and fall from your secure position,” (2 Peter 3:16-17). Some say the confusion comes from Paul. It doesn’t. It comes from willfully twisting his words and hiding behind doctrines of men.
In Acts 20:7 we read, “And on the first day of the week, the taught ones having gathered together to break bread, Sha’ul, intending to depart the next day, was reasoning with them and was extending the word till midnight.” The term “breaking of bread” is still used by many cultures and people to signify getting together and eating (this was not communion). Paul was leaving soon and obviously still had much to say and so spoke until midnight. If I were leaving for a long time tomorrow would I not go and spend time with my family? Yes, I would, as did our brother Paul. Many, as 2 Peter 3:16-17 states, will twist this and say it means Sabbath was changed to the first day. This is lawlessness. Or sin, as we call it today. Let us use Yahoweh’s calendar and see the truth. Paul was there on the first day of the week (sundown on Sabbath), and kept speaking until midnight (still Day 1). He left in the morning (the next “daylight”) for his journey (still Day 1). Either way, Sabbath, or the changing thereof, was not mentioned here.
“For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him—being read in the congregations every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21). What and When? Torah and Sabbath. Who? The Gentiles. Paul needed to show Gentiles the Messiah for the Torah is already known and taught. Let the Gentile learn Yahoweh’s Torah in the congregations on Sabbath!
It is fitting to ask: Whose disciples are we? “What I mean is this, that each one of you says, ‘I am of Sha’ul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Kepha,’ or ‘I am of Messiah.’ Has the Messiah been divided? Was Sha’ul impaled for you? Or were you immersed in the name of Sha’ul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). Yahoshuah never said “follow Paul,” He said, “Follow Me”. I say this with all honesty: if Presidents and top celebrities, alleged pastors and false rabbis, and even Moses, Noah, Jeremiah, Solomon, David, John, Paul, Peter, Matthew, and every other man and woman in the world that has ever been, said it’s ok to steal and murder, would it make a difference? The Messiah said it wasn’t ok, and Yahoweh wrote them both, along with eight other Commandments, in stone. Hence, there is no argument for those whose Master is Yahoweh and not man. There remains then a Sabbath rest for His people.
(His people? Isaiah 56 explains that anyone, including any foreigner, who has bound himself to Yahoweh to serve, love, and worship the Name Yahoweh, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, will be blessed. If you have not bound yourself to Yahoweh, then you do not get to keep His Sabbaths. If you have, then the gift is yours. If you have not, then I encourage you to give your life over to Him in such a way that there is enough love to emulate the only One Who can Redeem your very soul.)
In Acts 17:10-11 we see noble people searched the Scriptures daily for the truth. They did not search Paul’s letters for ways to avoid the Commandments. It is important to realize only Genesis through Zechariah was in existence at the time, and most congregations only had one or two of these books on scroll. The Jewish Bereans did not search the letter Paul just sent; rather, they searched the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul regularly reasoned with those in the synagogue using Torah. How many of us are strong enough to do that today? Yahoshuah, on the road to Emmaus, revealed to His two disciples how Moses and the Prophets spoke of Him. “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Mosheh and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded even if one should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:31). I would like to repeat that. “If they do not hear Mosheh and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded even if one should rise from the dead.” To hear them doesn’t mean to read the Books of the Bible aloud, only to then put His Word back on the shelf. We are to act upon the Word, for if you do not act upon them, then you did not hear them. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself this: Is a child just audibly hearing you tell him to behave, good enough? Or does he need to behave, too?
Scripture is of no private interpretation. We cannot claim the Bible says stealing is righteous without knowingly lying. The same can be said for Sabbath observance. Praise Yah for this Truth given to us!
At times, other passages are brought to us, to encourage us to stop walking as He walks. These have been brought to me a few times now: “One indeed judges one day above another, another judges every day alike. Let each one be completely persuaded in his own mind. He who minds the day, minds it to Yahoweh. And he who does not mind the day, to Yahoweh he does not mind it. He who eats, eats to Yahoweh, for he gives Elohim thanks. And he who does not eat, to Yahoweh he does not eat, and gives Elohim thanks.” (Romans 14:5-6). There are various theories on these two verses. One states this is talking about the Sabbath. This is doubtful, as this stance does not agree with other Scriptures that uphold the Sabbath. Nor is there mention of the Sabbath in this verse, or chapter for that matter. Nor is it man who makes the Sabbath day above all other days. It is Yahoweh Who sanctified and blessed the seventh day at creation. This passage is talking about fasting and what day it is performed on, as this Scripture says (also see Luke 18:11-12). (There is also one other possibility to this passage, but I will discuss it when the proper time comes.)
Yahoshuah never had to tell people to keep the Sabbath, just how. When they weren’t honoring their parents, He talked about this Commandment in Matthew 15:3-9. It is with little guesswork involved as to what the Saviour would say today. Rather than just rebuking the Pharisees who add to the Father’s Teachings, He would speak against the Christians who take away from them. Instead of a few commandments not being honored, they would each one be spoken upon. “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.” (Matthew 15:9).
What if you feel your heart is telling you it doesn’t matter? Walk wisely, in the Way of Messiah, and then your heart will be guided. His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. “How long, you simple ones, would you love simplicity, and shall scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Turn at my reproof. See, I pour out my spirit on you, I make my words known to you. Because I called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one inclined, and you spurned all my counsel, and would not yield to my reproof, let me also laugh at your calamity, mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Let them then call on me, but I answer not; let them seek me, but not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahoweh,” (Proverbs 1:22-29).
“When Yahoweh your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’ Do not do so to Yahoweh your Elohim, for every abomination which Yahoweh hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones. All the words I am commanding you, guard to do it—do not add to it nor take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).
Many wonder if we should keep the Sabbath, yet, this is the wrong attitude as it causes the speaker and some hearers to flee from wisdom and understanding. The thought should be: If the Messiah did—then let us also. “And He came to Natsareth, where He had been brought up. And according to His practice, He went into the congregation on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.” (Luke 4:16).
Sunday worship is by no means a universal practice. Many Christians choose Yahoshuah and the Bible for their base of authority, and so set apart the Sabbath day. Their decision is a personal choice made on the question of by whose authority they will live. Who will you choose? Will you choose the day named for what men of old, and now, worship the Sun upon? Or will you walk as the Messiah walked? It is a question of love. It is a question of discipleship.
You cannot make anything holy. It was either made holy by Yahoweh or it is not holy. Yahoweh separated Sabbath. He never set apart another day for the weekly Sabbath. I have asked many preachers to give me every verse showing that Sabbath was changed to the day of the sun. Only one showed me two verses. They, of course, are passages I use to prove there remains a Sabbath for His people, by using a Biblical calendar. The resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit. Both were a Day 1 to be sure, but both were Festivals of Leviticus 23. Of these, I will soon share.
The greatest sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was greed. I am often asked, “How can I stop working on Shabbat? That’s when all my business is!” You only have one major decision to make in this life, and that is, “Who is in charge?” You can decide that the world is in charge. It sets the rules, and so, rather than a few commandments, you have several million laws. You’ll vainly try to get as much as you can out of life without getting burnt too badly. But, alas, you’ll have to work on Shabbat and venerate the day of the sun—that’s one of the rules. Or you can decide that you’re in charge. Who knows, you may “win”. But there’s some stiff competition considering there are billions of people out there thinking the same thing. The third alternative is to decide that the One Who made you is in charge. While this One you’re working for isn’t planning to make things easy, you can rest assured that He is by your side every step of the way. And He’s in charge, 100%. The answer to many of the questions you have is the same answer to the question, “Who is in charge?”
Those who use the Sabbath day for pursuing worldly pleasure, work, or profit, are not only missing out on a true spiritual blessing that will keep our minds and bodies strong, but they are also quenching His Spirit, just as He is quenched by any disobedience. Yahoweh gives His Spirit to those who strive to obey Him! He calls those who have not yet desired Him enough to obey, but if they will not heed His Voice, then by their action they withdrawal from His Voice, His Word.
“And we are His witnesses to these matters, and so also is the Set-apart Spirit whom Elohim has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32). Given to those who obey Him! Truly, when we disobey the truth given to us, then Yahoweh will not convict us on more truth. When we accept and obey the truth shown us, He will guide us into more truth.
Partaking of the Sabbath will help keep us from falling away. Soon, keeping the Sabbath will no longer be just a day of rest, but rather a way of life. The idea of breaking it becomes unthinkable! Ask anyone who keeps the Sabbath the way Yahoweh wants us to, and he or she will testify Sabbath is truly a blessing! Ask those who do not keep it and they will say His Word is a curse. It may take time, so be sure to give His Word as much of a chance as He gives you.
There seems to be nothing more controversial in the Church today than suggesting that Sunday morning is not the Sabbath. Even when it is clearly stated in the Scriptures that the Sabbath is the Seventh day, the Church is quick to defend its position and traditions, even though they are without Scriptures to do so. To me, this is very sad. My heart mourns, and my tears have fallen.
The church tries on this day to mix sun worship with worshiping the Son, calling it Son worship as a pun. While this may sound cute, I assure you, to Yahoweh it is not. Much like the church embracing Easter in an attempt to gain more people, the celebration of the seventh day was abandoned due to embracing pagan practices. Though some will say it is to remember the Messiah’s resurrection, don’t let them fool you into the same thinking that got them fooled into Easter. I’ve never seen any of the people they “reached” through celebrating Halloween go to church afterward because when we embrace the world, or even the church … that is all we have; however, if we embrace Yahoweh, then we have something desirable. Oddly enough, Yahoweh’s Word remains true. He does not change. He cannot lie. Hence, His desire to be worshiped His way has not been altered for any perceived benefit to us. What a powerful stronghold Satan has in the traditions of man!
“And the Dwelling Place of Elohim was opened in the heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His Dwelling Place. And there came to be lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.” (Revelations 11:19). Do you suppose the fourth commandment is cut out of the Ten Commandments in the ark of His covenant? Or do the tablets have tape holding them together in Heaven because the Almighty broke them to appease the traditions brought on us by pagans? It would be a fool’s mission to attempt to do away with something that has its original kept safe in Heaven. Look to His Word. Do not forfeit His Way for the way of the modern day church.
We often read of the “Lord’s Day.” in Revelations. Of course, this is simply an alteration, as it ought to be the “Day of Yahoweh.” It’s amazing that just by using His Name that Sunday simply doesn’t seem to fit anymore. The Lord’s Day? What Lord? The Sun? Nowhere does Scripture proclaim, or imply, that this is the first day of the week. Yahoweh’s Day? Could it be the day He set aside at the beginning of time? He does not change. He is the Aleph and Tav. The changing of the Sabbath is never mentioned. It’s bad Biblical interpretation, and beyond dangerous, to make up a doctrine from a vision, such as Revelation 1:10. When we forfeit Yahoweh’s authority for that of man’s, we become an abomination. We become humanists. And there are many in the church who defend themselves for being just that.
While anyone who has read a little bit of the Bible can tell you what day Sabbath is, many “pastors,” who know full well Sabbath is not Day 1, simply can’t tell it like it is because their church won’t allow Truth. The ancient Christians were very careful in the observation of the Sabbath, not because they were “infected” with Judaism, but because to worship Yahoshuah, the Master of the Sabbath, was their joy.
I have even heard people preach that the Messiah is our Sabbath, thus we rest in Him. Is there logic behind this excuse? They say, “We rest every day now in the Messiah.” but notice the commandment says, “Six days you shall labour and do all of your work,” not, “seven days you shall rest.”
The fourth commandment says that our animals need rest, too. Suppose you were a farmer living in the early 1800’s. Could you claim that your animals were keeping the Sabbath by, “resting in the Messiah,” while you had servants use them to plow your fields? Neither can anyone claim to be keeping the Sabbath by, “resting in the Messiah,” when they go to work on that day. It is true that Yahoshuah gives us rest in the age to come, and that we have a great peace because of Him, but just because there is a spiritual representation of a clear Scriptural commandment, it does not mean we ought to disobey what the commandment says. We were clearly commanded to be baptized; yet we all know it has a spiritual meaning that is very important. But these are rare arguments, one of the most common ones is the Messiah Himself broke the Sabbath.
“And it came to be on a Sabbath that He went through grain fields, and His taught ones were plucking the heads of grain and were eating, rubbing them in the hands. And some of the Pharisees said to them, ‘Why are you doing what is not right to do on the Sabbath?’” (Luke 6:1-2).
You may have heard it said, “Yahoshuah defended Himself and His disciples for breaking the Sabbath.” Notice that in the above verses the issue was not whether or not to keep the Sabbath, but rather how the Sabbath should be kept! Think about this for a moment; if Yahoshuah broke the Sabbath, then He did not keep the fourth commandment, and thus sinned. Certainly, our perfect Messiah kept the Sabbath, and kept it perfectly. The real issue was about how the Sabbath is to be kept. The scribes and Pharisees had added over one thousand laws to Sabbath observance, such as not carrying your bed, making mud, rubbing your eyes, petting a cat, picking food and eating it, or healing on the Sabbath. From far-fetched things to daily needs, men forbade, in essence, the peace of Sabbath. I am not going to list all the instances, as there are many of them, but I do hope that each time you see men getting mad at the Messiah for allegedly breaking the Sabbath, you will place your faith in Yahoweh and not man. Yahoshuah never kept man’s traditions, and is hated for it. Yahoshuah always keeps the Father’s teachings, and He is hated for it. Some even question, “Did You really keep the Sabbath, and say to follow You? … I don’t think You did.”
“Then the Master answered him and said, ‘Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loosen his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? And this one, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, look, for eighteen years, should she not be loosened from this bond on the Sabbath?’” (Luke 13:15-16). Be let loose the bond of Satan on the Sabbath by Yahoshuah!
A common form of reasoning against Yahoshuah’s example of keeping the Sabbath is that He only went along with Sabbath observance so that the Torah would be fulfilled. The problem with this alleged reasoning is that it could be applied as an excuse to do away with anything Yahoshuah ever said or did! What percentage of His words and deeds are we to discount? This reasoning has no basis in Scripture. Furthermore, if He did it just because it had to be done, then He did not truly observe Sabbath, because without heart, nothing done or undone is of any value.
(The idea of not keeping the Sabbath did not exist among the Jews of that day. This is why Yahoshuah did not emphasize Sabbath as much as He undoubtedly would today.)
“And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.’” (Mark 2:27). It is true that man was not made for the Sabbath, the Sabbath was made for man! Notice that Yahoshuah never said, “The Sabbath was made for Jews, not Jews for the Sabbath.” or, “The Sabbath was a mistake.” He plainly said the Sabbath was made for all mankind. When Yahoweh rested on the seventh day as an example for us, there was only Adam and Eve. Two Jews. The Sabbath is for followers of Elohim.
“‘See, days are coming,’ declares the Master Yahoweh, ‘that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of Yahoweh.’” (Amos 8:11). Psalms 118, which gives a vision of Yahoshuah, is followed by Psalms 119, which professes awe for the Torah. Yahoshuah precedes the long Psalm of Torah, for unless we are first declared righteous through belief in Him, we would have difficulty in saying, “Oh, how I love Your Torah!” or, “Your Sabbath is a delight!”
There is an old saying, “Much more than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel.” Sabbath is a time to study, pray, and rest, and has kept me in His Word. The misled call this blessing a burden. If to you Sabbath is a burden, then you follow man and man is your master. What then would your master tell you?
“The Yehudim therefore said to him who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath, it is not right for you to take up the bed.’” (John 5:10).
“But the ruler of the congregation, responding, much displeased that Yahoshuah had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which men should work, so come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.’” (Luke 13:14).
“And the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, for them to find an accusation against Him.” (Luke 6:7).
“And because of this the Yehudim persecuted Yahoshuah, and were seeking to kill Him, because He was doing these healings on the Sabbath.” (John 5:16).
“If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the Torah of Mosheh should not be broken, are you wroth with Me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:23). Why were they angry with the Messiah? I will tell you: Because He is the Messiah! A Keeper of Torah. Why are people angry with you if you keep the Sabbath? Because you are emulating the Son of Yahoweh!
How can you proclaim to be a servant of Messiah, if you claim you cannot do what He has taught? He taught us how to be holy. Was He so foolish as to teach us something we could not do? Do we only say, “I can do all things through the Messiah Yahoshuah.” as sort of a trite saying, but not as a resounding statement of truth writ upon our life? What then of those who speak ill of the Word saying we cannot keep His Law? Will I stumble? Yes. Will I reach up my hand? Yes, for He has lowered His. When we fall, we can arise. When we arise we can fall. But we can choose, we can choose to rise or to stay fallen. The holy are not the sinless, but those who are repentant enough to walk away from their sin and into the Teachings of HaShem.
“In those days I saw in Yehudah those treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day. So I warned them on the day they sold food. And men of Tsor dwelt there, bringing in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Yehudah, and in Yerushalayim. Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, ‘What evil matter is this that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do the same so that our Elohim brought all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Yisra’el by profaning the Sabbath.’” (Nehemiah 13:15-18).
“Oh, but that is only for Israel! My Neeeeeeew Testament says, “Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths—” (Colossians 2:16). … Yet, Yahoweh will judge you. Do not ever let a human judge you for keeping a Sabbath. They have no right to judge you concerning something they know nothing of. Notice the next verse shares that these things are a shadow of things to come. Not were a shadow, but is a shadow. Do not let the pagans who are breaking such things judge you! They will try to, but do not accept their ignorance and instability.
Our fathers turned their faces toward the east, and they worshiped the sun, but as for my household and I, our eyes are turned toward Yahoweh. “Guard My Sabbaths and reverence My set-apart place. I am Yahoweh.” (Leviticus 19:30).
People are hungry, but being fed fluff. Preachers and elders—I beseech thee! The numbers in your church building is not important if all of them are lukewarm, for the same fate befalls them all. You may fear the reprisal of the congregation, but you must guide them ever quickly to fear Yahoweh, as you ought as well. Feed them the truth. Don’t cover up the Spirit with comfortable lies. There are no true messages that will not bless everyone. None. The truth of the message of Sabbath even blesses the animals! The stranger! Even you!
“He again defines a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through Dawid so much later, as it has been said, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’ For if Yahoshuah had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim.” (Hebrews 4:7-9).
“Say to them, ‘As I live,’ declares the Master Yahoweh, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wrong, but that the wrong turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Yisra’el?’” (Ezekiel 33:11).
Yahoweh sees breaking Sabbath as worthy of death. Who cares if a preacher thinks it’s of no value, changed, or done away with? The Sabbath, such a wonderful blessing, remains. “Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to Yahoweh in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3). Enjoy the Sabbath to Yahoweh!
“And you, speak to the children of Yisra’el, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, Yahoweh, am setting you apart.’” (Exodus 31:13).
Sabbath is a blessed day, and there are around 52 each year! Yahoweh never made us for constant labour; however, some of us are giving the Creator one day of rest … and not six days of work. There’s more than one side to a coin, and there is more than one side to a Command from Yahoweh. Let us not be twisters or ignorers of His Laws, but, as Yahoshuah Himself was not here to change the Law, but rather to keep it, so then should we strive to do in love and joy. Let us honor more than the day of rest, let us honor the other six as well by working for Yahoshuah! “Then He said to His taught ones, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the workers are few.’” (Matthew 9:37).
We spend the day reading Scripture and in fellowship, refreshing ourselves for ministry by being ministered to. To spend the entire day doing good deeds would hinder the purpose of the Sabbath, but certainly the sick can be visited and the discouraged lifted up by encouragement on this Holy Day. Yahoshuah helped others when the occasion arose, and spoke the Torah every Sabbath in the assembly (now rendered church). If you read Matthew 12:1-21, you will see this through Yahoshuah Himself.
“For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim rested from His own.” (Hebrews 4:10). Who is to rest? “and the land enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies waste and you are in your enemies’ land. Then the land would rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. As long as it lies waste it rests, for the time it did not rest on your Sabbaths when you dwelt in it.” (Leviticus 26:34-35 see also Isaiah 66:23). Land, animal, slave, free, Jew, Gentile, man, woman: this is who is blessed with the opportunity to keep Sabbath in love. We are!
Some consider that if you pick one day out of the week, then you still get the benefit, but that depends on your idea of benefit. Consider a story of the man who had seven rings: he asked his “bride to be” to sell all of the rings except one very special ring he had a special plan for. But then the bride to be went and sold the ring the man had set apart. She chose to preserve another ring instead. Did she do the will of her Love? … I think we know the answer. Rather than choosing what we think is best, I encourage everyone to do what Yahoweh says is best.
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12).
Once upon a time, I did not believe it mattered what day we kept Sabbath, if kept at all. I am ashamed of this, yes, but praise Yahoweh for giving me a chance to get to know Him better. Find a family who loves the Messiah, and keeps Sabbath, and ask to share a few Sabbaths with them. They will not be perfect, so do not look for perfection in them, but it will give you a glimpse. Do not let others step on this joy revealed to you from His Word. Instead, look to how the Messiah walked. The Messiah kept the Sabbath!
“Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of Yahoshuah.” (Revelation 14:12).
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shabbat Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
Exodus 16:22-23, 31:13-17, Ezekiel 20:11-21, Psalms 92, Proverbs 22:6, Jeremiah 8:19, 6:20, 17:21-22, Isaiah 58:13-14, 17:8, 27:9, 66:23, Ezekiel 30:13, Lamentations 2:5-7, Matthew 4:4, 5:18, 12:1-21, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 4:16 and 14:5, John 5:17-18, Romans 14:7, Colossians 2:15-17, Hosea 13:2, Hebrews 4:1-11, Exodus 30:23, Isaiah 43:24, Ezekiel 27:19, Song of Songs 4:14, Nehemiah 10-13, Genesis 1, Leviticus 23, Exodus 20,
