1.2 The Summary – The Day of Reflection

The 7th Day Rest (Sabbath) offers time for us to reflect on our lives, and to make necessary changes where we should. The 7th Day Rest (Sabbath) is necessary for us to order the private world of our inner lives in relationship to God; without that, our lives are shaped by outer demands that are constantly pressing upon us, draining our energy, blunting our sensitivities, and blurring our perspectives. So vital is the 7th Day Rest (Sabbath) that R. Paul Stevens reckons, “A weekly experience of Rest is fundamental to our regaining perspective and entering that Rest that is essential to personal, social and creational survival” (R. Paul Stevens, “Sabbath,” “The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity, eds.” Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens, 853).             

1.3 The Lord’s Day (Sunday) – Morrow after the Sabbath

Both “the Feast of the Waving of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits” (Christ’s Resurrection – Matthew 28:1-10) and “the Feast of Pentecost” (Outpouring of the Holy Spirit & Birth of the Church – Acts 2:1-4) are to be celebrated on “the Morrow after the Sabbath,” thus, “A New Beginning” and “A New Day” – The Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10) – bypassing the Weekly Sabbath. Under the Law Covenant, the Feast of the Waving of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits and the Feast of Pentecost shadowed forth the two Foundational Events of the New Testament Church:  

• The Feast of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14) is waved on “the Morrow after the Sabbath” which is the First Day of the Week (Sunday), the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10) – the Day of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1-10; 1Corinthians 15:20). The New Testament Believers worship the Lord Jesus Christ on the First Day of the Week (Sunday), the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10).
• The Feast of Pentecost took place on “the Morrow after the Sabbath,” (Leviticus 23:15) on the First Day of the Week (Sunday), The Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10).  The Day of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church (Acts 2:1-4). 

Jesus & Holy Spirit – Thus, two Persons in the Eternal Godhead, the Son of God (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit – by passed the Old Covenant Sabbath Day and acted on the First Day of the Week (Sunday) or “Morrow after the Sabbath,” – the two Foundation Events (Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ {Matthew 28:1-10; 1Corinthians 15:20}; and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church {Acts 2:1-4}), both took place on the First Day of the Week, the Lord’s Day (Sunday). It is for this reason (Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ {Matthew 28:1-10; 1Corinthians 15:20}; and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church {Acts 2:1-4}) that the Believer-in-Christ keeps the Lord’s Day (Sunday) and not the O.T. Sabbath.   

1.4 End of Sabbath Keeping

The very fact that “the Feast of the Waving of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits” (Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ {Matthew 28:1-10; 1Corinthians 15:20}), and “the Feast of Pentecost” (Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church {Acts 2:1-4}) were kept “the Morrow after the Sabbath” pointed to the end of Sabbath Keeping of the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20:11). This is in fulfilment of the Prophecy in Hosea 2:11 – The LORD said that He would “cause all her mirth to cease, her Feast Days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths, and all her solemn Feasts.”

Although Sabbath Keeping of the Old Testament ceased (Hosea 2:11), after the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1-10) and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), nevertheless, the benefits of the “the Creative-Principles in the Sabbath” continued:

1. “Cease from Work.”
2. “Rest-Day.”
3. “Day of Grace.”
4. “Day of Setting-apart.”
5. “Day of Blessing.”
6. “Day of Celebration.”
7. “Day of God and man/woman in Partnership.;”
8. “Day of Being and not Doing.”
9. “Day of Refreshing”
10. “Day of Weekly Cycle.”

These 10 Creative-Principles in the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3) have not been done away with, but applicable and continued in the “Christian’s Sabbath – The Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).

Apostle Paul shows that the Sabbath in the Creation (Genesis 2:2-3) finds the fulfilment in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then spiritually fulfilled in the Church, in the Day of Pentecost, the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church {Acts 2:1-4}:

• Galatians 4:9-10 “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.”
• Colossians 2:14 “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He (Jesus) had taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Thus, the N.T true Sabbath Rest is in Christ’s Finished Work (“It is Finished” – John 19:30) and in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-11). The Sabbath was the Sign and Seal of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 20:11). The New Testament Sign and Seal is the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2Corinthians 1:22):

• The Lord’s Day (Sunday) is the Day of Rest.
• The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Rest (Acts 2:1-4).

Thus, for the Church and the Individual to return to the O.T. Sabbath (Exodus 20:11) is to come under the Old Covenantal Seal (Exodus 20:11). God does not take the Old Covenant Seal (Sabbath – Exodus 20:11) and put it on the New Covenant. The New Covenant Seal is the Holy Spirit:

• Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him (Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise.”
• Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption.”
• 2Corinthians 1:22 “Who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 

Once, we, the New Testament Believers know which Covenant we are under then all confusion ceases in the Keeping of the Day? – New Covenant Believers keep The Lord’s Day (Sunday – Matthew 28:1-10; Revelation 1:10) and not the Mosaic Sabbath Day (Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm).

1.5 The Lord’s Day

(Revelation 1:10; Matthew 28:1-10) – Sunday Day, “The Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10) is the time we spend with God, in Worship, not as a legalistic burden, but of the joy of encountering with the Lord Jesus Christ, by not making the rules of “The Lord’s Day” (Christian’s Sabbath) more important than the “Rest & Worship” that Christian’s Sabbath (“The Lord’s Day – Sunday” – Matthew 28:1-10; 1Corinthians 15:20), offers! We must ensure that “The Lord’s Day” (Christian’s Sabbath) serves God’s People rather than God’s People served the Christian Sabbath (“The Lord’s Day’), without undue concern for other Church’s business that might rob us of our communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, as commonly, Worship Services are peppered with the sound of cellular phones; also, numerous activities are crammed into “The Lord’s Day” (Christian’s Sabbath – Sunday), leaving little room for waiting upon/communing with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Worship, at times, require us that we set aside time to wait and listen for God’s Voice – Psalm 46:10a “Be still and know that I am God” – and to respond to Him, appropriately. Spontaneous moments are common in Prophetic Worship. The art of waiting on The LORD seems to be lost, today, in many Churches, because the prepared programs, though important, have consumed all the moments, in the Worship Services. Silence is more the result of our Awe and Wonder we experience in God’s Presence rather than being an expression of Worship by itself. Not all waiting upon The LORD to be in silence – sometimes we wait upon The LORD with the musical instruments play quietly, while we wait to hear Him (God) speaks. Revelational knowledge of God is discovered in our stillness, before Him – Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the Nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” – discovering the delights and the joy of His (God’s) Presence!

• Sabbath