You may have heard the word Sabbath or Shabbat, but what does it mean? What is its significance in the Bible? What does it mean for you? All these questions and more will be answered in this presentation for why Shabbat is for you!!

First what is the Sabbath? You can find the first reference to the Sabbath in Genesis. 

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." Genesis 2:1-3

From these verses we can see that Yahweh rested after he finished working. He worked for 6 days which is the average time humans work during the week.  Then on the 7th day he rested (in a practical sense took the day off) the 7th day would be modern day Saturday with the biblical day starting in the evening you would start Shabbat at sundown Friday and celebrate through sundown Saturday

Later on in the Bible we see another reference.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11

These verses are from the TEN COMMANDMENTS, a list of things that churches consider "a moral compass". The truth is in the name, these are not moral suggestions, these are the COMMANDS of GOD, that God himself gave to his people. So why do churches not take this one command seriously? Why do people not pay attention to one of the most important commands in scripture? Unfortunately it is an inconvenience for people to obey this command since it involves not doing any work. What they don't realize is that it is the time God set aside to spend time with YOU. But millions of people are saying "I don't have time for you God, I need to work on this". Another important aspect of Sabbath is that it is a covenant with God, people are breaking covenant with God every time they decide that the Sabbath doesn't matter. 

"Therefore the people of Israel [anyone who follows the God of the Bible] shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’" Exodus 31:16-17

What is the definition of forever? Does something that lasts forever...end?

Another reason people don't obey the command is because they think that Yeshua got rid of all these commands. Read this verse and tell me if Yeshua got rid of any of the commands.

Yeshua said:

"“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill (fully teach) them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Mat 5:17-20

How can people think that he abolished the law when in this verse he specifically says he didn't? This also means that he didn't abolished the Sabbath, in fact you can find many verses that state that he celebrated the Sabbath! Yeshua is our perfect example to follow, so why wouldn't we also celebrate the Sabbath?! The Sabbath is 100% relevant for today and if you follow the God of the Bible then this is for YOU.

So if God established the Sabbath, and Yeshua celebrated the Sabbath, and the word of God has not passed away, then what does it all mean for you? It means that you need to make a decision. Who are you going to serve and who do you want to be in the end? Will you hear "well done good and faithful servant"? Will you heed the call in Revelation 14:12?

"Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yeshua."

Rev 14:12

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,"

Deut 30:19

You always have the choice and I pray you choose life and SHABBAT!

Shalom friends!

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