1. HOLY SABBATH
Rest for You !

2. Picture with me this scene of peace and loveliness
Picture with me this scene of peace and loveliness. Creation week draws to a close. Everywhere the eye rests is beauty surpassing anything we have ever seen. The ear is regaled by the melodious voices of a thousand feathered throats and the first couple strolls in the light of the westering sun with their Creator.
As the sun sets it is the beginning of the Seventh Day and now God gives a Special Announcement , on this Seventh day He would rest and commune with them!

3. God looked at the work of the past six days and He pronounced it good; yea more than good – it was PERFECT! Then He sets aside a special day! The Bible puts it this way: “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:3
God made a SABBATH, He rested from His work, not because He was tired, but in satisfaction of a job well done. He gave this SABBATH that He blessed and set aside as Holy, to the first couple. Their first full day on earth was to be a day of rest and communion with their God!

4. Two special gifts, instituted by the Creator have come down to man from Eden, the very beginning. In the perfection of the newly created earth God performs the first marriage and then invites the newly-weds to rest and commune with Him on the Seventh day! Then He sanctifies it – that is , He sets it apart as Holy. Nothing is more precious to LOVE than spending time together!
“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:14

5. After resting upon the seventh day, God sanctified it, or set it apart, as a day of rest for man. Following the example of the Creator, man was to rest upon this sacred day, that as he should look upon the heavens and the earth, he might reflect upon God's great work of creation; and that as he should behold the evidences of God's wisdom and goodness, his heart might be filled with love and reverence for his Maker.
In Eden, God set up the memorial of His work of creation, in placing His blessing upon the seventh day. The Sabbath was committed to Adam, the father and representative of the whole human family. Its observance was to be an act of grateful acknowledgment, on the part of all who should dwell upon the earth, that God was their Creator and their rightful Sovereign; that they were the work of His hands and the subjects of His authority.

6. The Sabbath was commemorative – the World’s Birthday, if you please
The Sabbath was commemorative – the World’s Birthday, if you please. Can you change your Birthday? Of course not! Now God could have created everything in 1 day and rested the second, or in 2 or 3 days, but He chose to do it in six days and rested and set aside the Seventh. Did you know that Creation Week is the ONLY explanation for the Seven Day Week, and this seven day week is almost universally known on earth even far back in history and legend!
The Seventh day Sabbath was give to the Father of the whole human race- it was not for only some; it was for all! Did you know that in MOST of the worlds languages the name for the Seventh day is Sabbath or something that means rest.
In one African tribe, the name of the Seventh day is ‘God’s Day’ but since the coming of the white people to their land, Sunday is called the ‘White-man’s day”. Truly a sermon in a sentence!

7. Like the Sabbath, the week originated at creation, and it has been preserved and brought down to us through Bible history. God Himself measured off the first week as a sample for successive weeks to the close of time. Like every other, it consisted of seven literal days. Six days were employed in the work of creation; upon the seventh, God rested, and He then blessed this day and set it apart as a day of rest for man.
But the assumption that the events of the first week required thousands upon thousands of years, strikes directly at the foundation of the fourth commandment. It represents the Creator as commanding men to observe the week of literal days in commemoration of vast, indefinite periods. This is unlike His method of dealing with His creatures. It makes indefinite and obscure that which He has made very plain.
This is beautiful and forcible when we understand the days of creation to be literal. The first six days of each week are given to man for labor, because God employed the same period of the first week in the work of creation. On the seventh day man is to refrain from labor, in commemoration of the Creator's rest.

8. The importance of the Sabbath as the memorial of creation is that it keeps ever present the true reason why worship is due to God"--because He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. The Sabbath therefore lies at the very foundation of divine worship!
Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man's thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel.
The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God, "Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:7

9. God saw that a Sabbath was essential for man, even in Paradise
God saw that a Sabbath was essential for man, even in Paradise. He needed to lay aside his own interests and pursuits for one day of the seven, that he might more fully contemplate the works of God and meditate upon His power and goodness. He needed a Sabbath to remind him more vividly of God and to awaken gratitude because all that he enjoyed and possessed came from the beneficent hand of the Creator.

10. God designs that the Sabbath shall direct the minds of men to the contemplation of His created works. Nature speaks to their senses, declaring that there is a living God, the Creator, the Supreme Ruler of all. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.“ Psalm 19:1, 2.

11. The beauty that clothes the earth is token of God's love
The beauty that clothes the earth is token of God's love. We may behold it in the everlasting hills, in the lofty trees, in the opening buds and the delicate flowers. All speak to us of God. The Sabbath, ever pointing to Him who made them all, bids men open the great book of nature and trace therein the wisdom, the power, and the love of the Creator.

12. Come with me to behold another wonderful scene
Come with me to behold another wonderful scene. The place is Egypt on the morning of the Exodus. Truly the second great event of this earth after Creation! Over a million men plus their families are being brought out of cruel bondage to serve the Lord their Creator.
Out into the desert they go, then through the Red sea by an amazing miracle of God! They are on their way to Sinai, the Mountain of God. But there is a problem!
Where is the food going to be found to feed this huge nation in the desolate desert??
But God has the answer!

13. When they get up the next morning, they find the ground covered with a small seed-like substance. “Manna? Manna?” they cry, “What is it?” God tells Moses to inform them, “This is your food. You will gather it every morning only enough for the day. If you gather more it will spoil”

14. But on the sixth day they were to gather double and on the Seventh day there would be none! They were to rest on the Sabbath day! Now remember – this was BEFORE the received the Law at Sinai! They already KNEW about the 7th day Sabbath!

15. But some did not listen. They tried to gather extra so they could sleep in – and it spoiled! And some headed out on the Seventh day to look for Manna and there was none! Now notice with me what the Lord said to these:
Exodus 16:28-30 “And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.

16. The Ten Commandment Law on Stone was not given until Exodus 20, but here it is plain that the Law existed from time immemorial and was KNOWN to the people, including the 7th day Sabbath! At Sinai all God did was provide them with a multi-media review and a hard copy of it.

17. Let’s look for a minute at the great presentation at Sinai
Let’s look for a minute at the great presentation at Sinai. First the holiness and sacredness of the Law was shown by the preparation to be done.
None were to come near the mountain, it was holy ground!
The people were to have their hearts right towards the Lord.
They were to wash themselves, their clothes, and clean their dwellings.
They were to assemble before the Lord on that day to hear the Holy Law.
They were to consecrate themselves to obey God.

18. When the Day came, what did God do?
He kept His promise and came down on the mountain.
He appeared in cloud and fire and with the great sound of a trumpet.
He did this to impress the people with the holiness of His Law!
He also wrote the Law in Stone! A sign of its permanence and solidity.
Stone is a foundation material. Stone is enduring.
Jesus Himself is known as the Rock of ages, and the Law of God was written in His heart also! Ps 40:7, 8 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

19. God made an everlasting covenant with those who would keep His law
God made an everlasting covenant with those who would keep His law. And he wrote it in stone and signed it with His own hand!

20. By the way; we have here instruction on how to keep the SABBATH which is the day God meets with His people in a special way!
We are to respect that day; None were to come near the mountain, it was holy ground!
We are to prepare our hearts for worship; The people were to have their hearts right towards the Lord.
Our persons and dwellings are to be clean and neat: They were to wash themselves, their clothes, and clean their dwellings.
We should assemble for worship with like believers; They were to assemble before the Lord on that day to hear the Holy Law.
We should renew consecration to God; They were to consecrate themselves to obey God.

21. Let us look at that Holy Law now in Exodus 20 :
1: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

22. 4: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy
4: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

23. 5: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6: Thou shalt not kill.
7: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8: Thou shalt not steal.
9: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

24. Notice there is something different and vitally special about this 4th commandment! What is it? It is in the very HEART of the Law! There is no where else in the Law that we are told WHO’S Law this is and WHY we should obey it! If you remove this commemoration of CREATION from the Law, then no longer does it identify the CREATOR GOD!

25. Only God can CREATE and that is the REASON we are to obey and worship HIM. Because He is our CREATOR. He owns US and this WORLD by right of having CREATED !
The SABBATH is the SEAL of the LAW.

26. Just as all legal documents have to have an official seal, so does the LAW of God have this seal!! A SEAL has to have 3 main parts.
1) The name of the ruler.
2) The ruler's title.
3) The territory over which he rules.

27. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work ... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11.
This is the only place in the LAW where you will find God's seal. Here are the three parts of the seal.
1) His name - "the Lord."
2) His title - "thy God" (Creator).
3) His territory - "heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is."
That is fantastic! No wonder Satan has worked so hard to hide the truth of the sacred Sabbath from us. It's God's sign! His official SEAL!

28. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2 
God also told them, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of My lips.” Psalm 89:34.
You may ask "Is the Sabbath really the seal of God?" Look at Ezekiel 20:12. "Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them" "And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Ezekiel 20:20. (The word "sign" means the same as "seal"- see Romans 4:11).
What could be clearer? The seal of God is His Sabbath. Satan knew that he had to get at this very part. No wonder the beast ripped it out and put in a substitute!

29. ONLY THE CREATOR CAN RE-CREATE
ONLY THE CREATOR CAN RE-CREATE!! This is the most important thing for fallen mankind to realize if we ever hope to be SAVED!
It brings us face to face with the fact that it was our CREATOR, who died on that cross to redeem His creatures. Only the CREATOR could redeem man and only the CREATOR can re-create man!
At Creation God created for six days and RESTED the Seventh.

30. Jesus died on the cross for man’s redemption on the sixth day and He
RESTED in the tomb from His work of redemption on the Seventh day Sabbath!
Remember the Sabbath means the Creator’s REST!
On the first day of the week, very early, before dawn, He arose to continue His work for Man.

31. Are we to keep Sunday as memorial of the resurrection
Are we to keep Sunday as memorial of the resurrection? Nowhere does the Bible even hint at such a thing! We HAVE a ceremony to remember the resurrection: it is BAPTISM, where we die to the old life; are buried with Christ; and arise to a new life in Him!

32. The Redeemer said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
The Creator said: “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.” Ezekiel 20:12
The Redeemer said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
In Eternity: “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 66:23

33. “Come…and I will give you Rest!”
The Seventh Day Sabbath is our Birth Certificate and our Re-birth Certificate also - because only our Creator can be our Saviour!
“Come…and I will give you Rest!”

34. Crowning jewel of creation, Blest and hallowed, sanctified; Time and changes all transcending, Shared forever, glorified. Blessed Sabbath made for man, Gift from the Creator's hand.
Sin and sickness, prayer and weeping Cease at close of earthly days; But Thy Sabbath is eternal, Joyful thanks to Thee we raise! Blessed Sabbath made for man, Gift from the Creator's hand.
Teach us Lord, in storm or sunshine How to truly rest in Thee, May Thy Sabbath peace enfold us And our shelter ever be Blessed Sabbath made for man, Gift from the Creator's hand.