Participants: Geoff Youlden
Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW000005
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00:27 Recent research has showed
00:29 a very alarming trend among our families. 00:34 Do you know how long the average father 00:36 spends with his children 00:37 in meaningful one-to-one relationships in a day? 00:42 I am not talking about when he says, 00:43 clean your teeth and wash the dishes, 00:45 not that type of talk but in meaningful 00:48 one-to-one talk with his children. 00:51 How long do you think the average father 00:52 spends with his children 00:54 in that type of communication on a daily basis? 00:59 I think you're going to be shocked 01:00 when you see 37 seconds. 01:05 That's what surveys. 01:07 I didn't do the survey 01:09 but those who have been commissioned to do the survey 01:12 have come up with 37 seconds. 01:14 Now if that amount of time is true, 01:17 no wonder we have problems in the families, 01:20 isn't that right? 01:22 No wonder we have children 01:23 who are damaged and angry. 01:28 But this problem is not only confine 01:30 between father and mother and the children, 01:33 but also between husband and wife, 01:37 because the facts are that if we've got little time 01:40 for our children, the chances 01:42 are that we've got little time for our spouse. 01:47 And because that is also true, 01:49 no wonder divorce and families are breaking up. 01:56 Because any family that is getting less and less time 01:59 for communication is finally going to break. 02:03 That's the reason why families break up, 02:05 it's lack of communication. 02:08 Recent Gallup poll shows that the average Christian 02:14 steals, lies, and cheats just as much 02:18 or nearly as much as those who don't go to church. 02:22 Now something has gone wrong 02:24 with their Christianity if that is true. 02:26 Because the facts are that if we've got little time 02:28 for our children, little time for our spouses, 02:32 the next conclusion that you would have to draw 02:34 is that we have little time for God too. 02:38 And if that's the case no wonder 02:40 there is very little difference between Christians 02:43 and those who don't go to church. 02:45 And so many parents are spending more time 02:48 getting things to supply to their children 02:51 when their children don't want so much of the things 02:53 as they want the parent's time. 02:58 And so because spend, people are spending less time 03:01 for communication, our families are breaking down. 03:04 And so we live in a very, very serious times. 03:08 Now God knew that this was going to be a problem 03:11 and that's why He gave us 03:13 one of the Ten Commandments to protect us, 03:16 so that we will have time for our children, 03:19 for our spouses, and also for God. 03:23 God gave us one of the Ten Commandments, 03:26 so that we would have time, 03:28 because God knows the inclination of these all. 03:33 And most of us are like workaholics, 03:35 you know, and we want to spend time getting, 03:37 getting, getting, getting, 03:39 and less time in meaningful communication. 03:43 So God knew that, and He gave us 03:45 one of the Ten Commandments. 03:49 It's interesting, a few years ago, 03:50 Christianity today which is one of America's big leading 03:53 evangelical magazine, sent out 03:55 a survey to many of its readers. 03:59 It wanted to test what its readers wanted answer. 04:05 So they sent out the survey. 04:07 They thought that the question that their readers 04:09 would want answered were questions like, 04:13 what about the heathen, 04:14 that they've never heard the name of Jesus, 04:15 so they're going to go to hell or can a person be sure there 04:19 that they're going to heaven, questions like that. 04:22 But they weren't the questions 04:23 that people wanted an answer too at all. 04:25 Do you know the questions that people wanted an answer to? 04:28 These readers at random, the question was, 04:33 "Should we take our Sabbath seriously?" 04:39 They got a shock, the editors of Christianity, 04:41 they got a terrific shock. 04:44 They never expected that to be the question on people's minds. 04:48 You see not too many Australians or Americans 04:50 or anybody in the world today 04:53 takes Sabbath seriously or Sunday seriously. 04:59 Because if the average person who does go to church 05:02 they may slip along to church for an hour or two 05:06 on the weekend, but the rest of the day 05:09 then they spend doing 05:10 what they didn't get time to do during the week. 05:14 Things like sport, shopping, gardening, all host of things. 05:23 And what this survey shows is that people are realizing 05:26 that there is something wrong 05:28 with their relationship with God, 05:30 something is missing. 05:33 I was interested in a Baptist preacher 05:35 by the name of Walter Chantry. 05:37 He wrote in his recent book "Call the Sabbath a Delight" 05:40 this is what he said, 05:41 "Whether or not people keep the Sabbath holy 05:44 is not an incidental or insignificant matter. 05:48 When God issued this fourth commandment, 05:50 He understood humanity much better than we do. 05:53 Failure to practice this moral law is a root cause 05:56 of moral decline, social disorder, 05:58 and widespread human suffering. 06:01 No successful recovery of mankind can be devised 06:05 without the inclusion 06:06 of the fourth commandment in its remedy." 06:10 And many others have been saying very similar things. 06:12 He went on to say, "It is impossible 06:15 to conceive of any measure more perfectly designed 06:18 than Sabbath to bring everlasting blessings 06:20 to individual families, churches, and communities. 06:24 Spiritual men bemoan the lack of time 06:27 to pray and to read and to worship 06:30 and witness, and teach their children. 06:32 God in His wisdom and grace has provided 06:35 just such time for these very wishes of the godly 06:39 by commanding that a day in each seven be set aside, 06:42 devoted to the Lord." 06:45 Now I happen to agree 06:46 with the Baptist preacher Walter Chantry? 06:48 I think he has made a very, very good point 06:51 that the reason God gave us the Sabbath 06:54 is so that we would have time for one another, 06:57 time for our families, time for our children, 07:00 time for one another and also time for God. 07:05 God knew that, that's why He gave us 07:08 the Sabbath Commandment, and of course, 07:09 when the Sabbath Commandment is thought about, 07:12 people obviously ask questions like, 07:15 well, which day is the Sabbath. 07:17 That's a good question actually. 07:21 Has the Sabbath being changed? 07:25 Did the apostles change the Sabbath? 07:27 These are all legitimate questions. 07:29 And tonight I thought 07:31 that we would have a look at this very question, 07:33 because if it is so important 07:36 that we have time for one another and time for God, 07:40 then this is a question that we need 07:42 to have very clearly sorted out in our minds, 07:47 and I would like you to take your Bibles tonight 07:49 and we'll open into Exodus Chapter 20. 07:51 This is the Ten Commandments of the beginning of the Bible, 07:54 Exodus Chapter 20, 07:55 and I want you to notice the Fourth Commandment. 07:58 I'm sure many of you will remember this as we read it. 08:03 Exodus Chapter 20 and verse 8. 08:07 And you've got the page there 08:08 on your outline and on the screen. 08:11 Exodus Chapter 20 and verse 8, it says, 08:14 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 08:18 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 08:21 but the seventh day is the Sabbath 08:24 of the Lord your God. 08:26 In it you shall do no work, you, nor your son, 08:29 nor your daughter, nor your male servant, 08:32 nor your female servant, nor your cattle, 08:34 nor your stranger who is within your gates. 08:37 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, 08:41 the sea, and all that is in them, 08:42 and rested the seventh day. 08:44 Therefore the Lord blessed 08:45 the Sabbath day and hallowed it." 08:49 So right back in the beginning, 08:52 right there in the very heart of the Ten Commandments, 08:54 God set aside one day, 08:58 a day that we ought to refrain from doing all the things 09:01 that we do during the week. 09:04 One day for God, one day for our families, 09:08 so that we can have meaningful relationships 09:11 with God and with one another. 09:14 And you remember that when we were talking about creation, 09:19 you know, God wants us never ever to forget the creation. 09:22 That's why He has given to us the Sabbath, 09:25 because the Sabbath as we have just read, 09:28 reminds us of what great event? Creation. 09:32 It says, for in six days the Lord made 09:34 the heavens and the earth and rested on the seventh, 09:36 and that's the basis for God asking us to work for six days 09:41 and then rest on the seventh. 09:43 And every Sabbath is a reminder of creation. 09:48 It's a memorial of creation. 09:52 And when you think about it that every person 09:54 in the world had kept the Sabbath 09:56 as God intended to be kept, 09:58 there wouldn't be an atheist, an infidel, 10:01 or an agnostic in the world today. Is that right? 10:04 They couldn't be, because if you celebrate 10:07 the Sabbath week by week, you are saying 10:10 that you believe in God as the creator, 10:13 because that's what the Sabbath stands for, 10:15 the creatorship of Jesus Christ. 10:20 And its because people have forgotten 10:23 and it's interesting that the word 10:25 that God uses at the beginning 10:26 of the Fourth Commandment is the word "Remember" 10:31 and that's the very thing that people have not done, 10:33 they've forgotten. 10:36 And that's why there is a dispute today 10:38 about the Sabbath, because they've forgotten it. 10:42 And you remember last time that we were together, 10:47 how those three messages in Revelation, 10:50 the heart of the Book of Revelation. 10:52 The first message says that we ought to worship Him 10:55 who made the heavens and the earth, 10:58 that's part of that First Angel's Message. 11:03 God wants us never to forget, 11:04 because He knew that in the last days, 11:06 there was going to be an issue 11:08 over worshipping God as the creator. 11:11 And I don't have to remind anybody 11:13 that that is a big issue today, 11:16 because many Christians no longer believe 11:18 that God actually made the world in six days 11:21 and rested on the seventh. 11:25 And yet the Sabbath is there to remind us 11:27 of that wonderful, wonderful event. 11:30 Let me read you another verse in the book of Psalms 11:32 in the middle of the Bible, Psalm 111. 11:36 This is an interesting verse 11:38 where the Psalms talks about God's works. 11:41 Psalm 111, and verse 3. 11:46 And the Psalms says this, 11:48 "His work is honorable and glorious, 11:50 and His righteousness endures forever. 11:53 He has made His wonderful works to be" what? 11:57 "Remembered" God never wants us 12:00 to forget His wonderful works. 12:03 Now you will remember 12:04 that God made the world in six days 12:07 and rested on the seventh. 12:08 Do you remember what God made on the first day? 12:13 Yes, light. The second day, He made? 12:16 The firmament. The third day what did God made? 12:21 Yes, He...He separated the land from the sea. 12:25 The fourth day, He made the...? 12:28 Sun, moon, and stars. 12:30 Also the Bible says, the fifth day, 12:32 God made? Birds and fish. 12:37 Six day, He made? Man. 12:40 By the way, He made woman too you know. 12:44 You know, sometimes there're men 12:45 who think that woman was an afterthought. 12:48 But that's not true, is it? 12:50 In fact, I had a lady come to me once after meeting 12:52 like this and she said, you know, 12:54 when God made Adam, He was very, very pleased 12:57 with what He have done, very pleased. 13:01 But when He made Eve, He perfected the art. 13:08 Well, that's the woman's perspective, 13:10 but nevertheless probably very true. 13:13 At least we men think it is anyway. 13:16 Yes, perfected the art. 13:17 So He not only made the higher animals, 13:20 He also made man and woman on the sixth day. 13:24 Then on the seventh day, I want you to notice what God made 13:28 because He did three things on the seventh day 13:32 that He never did on any other day of the week. 13:33 Just come back to Genesis Chapter 2. 13:36 With me Genesis Chapter 2, 13:37 right at the very beginning, and notice verse 1. 13:41 Genesis Chapter 2 and verse 1. 13:47 This is the end of creation week, and God says, 13:50 "Thus the heavens and the earth, 13:52 and all the host of them, were finished. 13:55 And on the seventh day God ended His work 13:58 which He had done, 13:59 and He rested on the seventh day 14:02 from all His work which He had done. 14:05 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, 14:11 because in it He rested from all His work 14:14 which God had created and made." 14:18 Now the Bible says that God did three things 14:22 on the seventh day that He never 14:23 did on any other day of the week. 14:25 The first thing the Bible says 14:27 that God did is that He rested on the seventh day. 14:31 So let's put a bit of rest into the seventh day, 14:36 and you can see now altogether 14:38 that the seventh day is looking a lot different 14:40 to every other day of the week, isn't that right? 14:43 Because God didn't rest on the first day, 14:46 second day, third day, fourth day, 14:48 fifth day, sixth day or seventh day. 14:51 Oh, oh, oh the sixth day 14:52 but He did rest on the seventh day. 14:55 But after He rested on the day, what does the Bible say, 14:58 He did next? He blessed the day. 15:02 So let's put a bit of blessing into the day, 15:04 it will sweeten it up. 15:08 So now God has done two things on the seventh day 15:10 that He never did on any other day of the week. 15:12 He rested, then blessed the day. 15:17 But not only did He rest and blessed the day, 15:19 what does the Bible say, He did next? 15:22 Yes, He sanctified it. 15:23 So let's put a bit of sanctification into the day. 15:33 I must admit it goes better when you take the top off. 15:40 We will try this time. 15:46 You see God did three things on the seventh day 15:51 that He never did on any other day of the week. 15:53 He rested, He blessed, 15:55 and He sanctified the seventh day. Steve! 15:59 Where is my friend Steve? 16:02 Oh, here he is. 16:03 Steve, the Bible says that the Sabbath is a delight. 16:09 Tell me is the Sabbath a delight? 16:11 Ah, come on, don't drink it all. 16:15 Actually we all ought to be keeping the Sabbath 16:18 because God made the Sabbath for everybody. 16:20 Thank you, Steve. 16:21 You see God did three things on the seventh day 16:26 that He never did on any other day of the week. 16:28 He rested, He blessed, 16:32 and He sanctified the seventh day. 16:37 In fact, it's every interesting that, 16:39 that word rest that's translated 16:42 in our Bible as "Rest" 16:44 when God rested on the seventh day. 16:47 That's where we get our English word Sabbath from 16:50 because the word rest simply means Sabbath. 16:53 In other words, Jesus Sabbath on the seventh day 16:57 or He rested because that means the same thing. 17:01 And as long as facts are facts, 17:04 you can never alter the simple fact 17:07 that Jesus rested on the seventh day. 17:10 You can't change a fact which is a fact. 17:13 Let me illustrate. I was born on December 24. 17:18 Now I say to parents, if you want to inflict 17:20 the terrible affliction upon any child have them 17:24 born on December 24 or I guess 25 for that matter too. 17:30 Now those of you who are not born on December 24 or 25 17:34 don't understand the problem, 17:36 but let me explain to you what it is. 17:39 You see when I was growing up as a child, 17:41 my parents and family would say to me, 17:43 "Well, Geoff, it is your birthday." 17:44 And I was always happy that they remembered 17:46 that it was my birthday. 17:48 But then they said, "But" you know when people say, 17:52 "But" you know something is going to come out 17:55 to qualify what they just said. 17:56 But they said, "It's also Christmas, 18:00 and we want you to understand that this gift 18:02 that we're going to give you is for both 18:04 your birthday and for Christmas." 18:08 So I hated being born at that time 18:11 because I only seem to get half the number of gifts 18:13 that my brother and sister got whose birthday were well 18:17 and truly away from Christmas. 18:20 So I make a decision, and the decision is this 18:22 that I am no longer going to be born on December 24. 18:26 I am going to be born on June 24. 18:29 Get us far away from Christmas as I possibly can. 18:33 Can I change my birthday to June 24? No. 18:39 Because as long as facts are facts 18:41 I was born on that day 18:43 and you can't change the fact which is a fact. 18:47 And I say very reverently today, very reverently, 18:53 even God himself can't change the Sabbath, 18:57 because you cannot change a fact which is a fact. 19:02 Now if God wants to rest on another day, 19:05 of course, He can, that's His prerogative, isn't it? 19:09 If He chooses to, that's fine. 19:13 But if He has chosen to rest on another day, 19:16 obviously He will tell us, 19:19 and then God would have two days. 19:23 But as long as facts are facts, 19:24 Jesus rested on that day 19:27 and you can't change something which happened, 19:31 and Jesus rested on that seventh day. 19:37 But not this Bible say that Jesus rested on that day. 19:42 What does it say, He did next? 19:43 He blessed the seventh day. 19:47 Now the blessing of God, 19:49 I want to tell you accounts for something. 19:50 You know as Christians we pray 19:52 that God will bless us, isn't that right? 19:55 And rightly, that's a good prayer to pray by the way. 19:58 We need, we crave the blessing of God upon our lives. 20:01 You might remember the story of Jacob 20:02 who wrestle with the angle, 20:04 didn't realize, it was the angle thought, 20:05 it was Jacob but...Esau 20:07 but when finally he realized it was a heavenly being, 20:11 he said, I won't let you go unless you bless me, 20:16 because the blessing of Jesus counts for something. 20:21 And the only day the Jesus ever blessed was the seventh day. 20:26 You know, everywhere I go, 20:28 I have people come along to me 20:29 and they said, Geoff, 20:30 why you're getting so excited? 20:31 Don't you know that one day is as good as another? 20:35 You might have heard people say that. 20:37 Maybe some of you even said it to yourself, 20:39 one day is as good as another. 20:40 Listen friend, that is almost bordering on blasphemy, 20:44 because if you say that one day is as good as another, 20:48 you are making out that the blessing of God 20:51 is no more important than the day 20:53 that Jesus doesn't bless. 20:56 Now if you say that one to six days, 20:59 one day is as good as another, 21:01 that is true because they are ordinary days. 21:05 One day is as good as another, 21:06 but the seventh day is altogether different, 21:09 because that has the very blessing of Jesus in it. 21:13 And that's what makes the seventh day altogether 21:16 different to every other day of the week. 21:20 You see in the early part of my life, 21:21 I was brought up as a Sunday keeper. 21:25 I never understood what I am sharing with you tonight. 21:31 But as I began to study the Bible, 21:33 I found that Jesus only ever 21:35 went to church on the seventh day. 21:38 It's the day that He made back in the beginning, 21:40 it's the day that He kept while He was on earth. 21:47 And as a Christian I thought, 21:49 we ought to pattern our life on the life of Jesus. 21:53 Because you see I was brought up 21:55 in the Presbyterian Church and my parents were, 21:59 and their parents all the way back from Scotland. 22:04 But friends, I don't go to church on Sunday anymore, 22:07 not because I fell out 22:08 with anyone in the Presbyterian Church 22:10 because there are wonderful people in that church, 22:13 the same as there are wonderful people 22:15 in every church. Wonderful people. 22:18 Wonderful people who don't even go to church. 22:23 But as I began to study the Bible 22:25 and I began to read it through from cover to cover, 22:28 I found that there was only one day in the entire week 22:34 that Jesus ever blessed 22:37 and that day was the seventh day. 22:39 He never blessed day one, two, three, four, five, or six. 22:45 And that's what makes the Sabbath altogether 22:47 different to every other day of the week. 22:50 And since that time 22:51 I have just gone around in the simple way 22:53 and I have explained this to people, 22:55 and I have literally seen thousands and thousands 22:57 of people step out to follow the Sabbath. 23:02 And when people say to me, 23:03 you know, one day is as good as another, 23:05 I like to illustrate with the point that perhaps 23:08 it helps us to understand this very point very well. 23:14 You see in my hand I hold two books, 23:16 one is the Bible that you've in your hands, 23:19 and the other is my diary. 23:22 Now if I was to take my diary 23:24 and to throw it down the ground 23:25 and to walk on it, probably nobody here 23:30 would be too upset except to say, 23:31 well, if you don't want it looks a decent diary to me, 23:33 if you don't want it, I will have it. 23:37 But what if I was to take this book 23:40 and throw down the ground 23:41 and treated this as light thing. 23:43 What would you feel about that? 23:44 Would you be happy? 23:47 But I could say to you, one book is as good as another. 23:50 Both have black covers, 23:52 both have white page with black print on them. 23:55 One book is as good as another. 23:57 What would you say if I argue one book is as good as another? 24:00 Would you believe that, that's true? 24:02 Is one book is as good as another? Why not? 24:07 Yes, because this is the Holy Bible, 24:09 this has been blessed by God. 24:11 Get the thought? 24:12 This is what makes the Bible different to every other book. 24:15 It's not because it has special paper 24:18 or special ink or special cover, 24:21 nothing like that at all. 24:23 What makes it different is the fact 24:24 that God blessed this book 24:26 where He hasn't blessed any other book. 24:29 And of course, that is true, 24:31 that's what makes the Bible different. 24:33 And friends, that's what makes the Sabbath different 24:36 to every other day of the week too. 24:38 It's not that the bird sing any sweeter 24:40 or the sunshine is any brighter on the seventh day 24:42 to any other day of the week. 24:44 What makes the Sabbath different is the fact 24:46 that this is the only day 24:48 in the entire week that Jesus blessed. 24:53 And it's the blessing of Jesus in that day 24:56 that makes the day different. 24:58 Can you see the point? 24:59 That's what makes it different. 25:02 That's why I stepped out to take the Sabbath. 25:05 You know I meet people who think 25:07 that when you keep the Sabbath, you are legalist. 25:09 I could never understand friend 25:10 because listen if you're going to set aside 25:13 one day every week so that you can get to know 25:15 Jesus better and to share His word 25:19 and to have time for your family 25:20 that doesn't seem to spell legalism to me. 25:23 That spells grace, and that's why God gave us the Sabbath 25:28 so that we would have time to do the things 25:31 that are most important in life. 25:34 To make sure our priorities are in their right prospective 25:39 because once you forget the Sabbath, 25:42 priorities get out of kilter 25:43 and that's the trouble with the world today. 25:45 That's why there are so many unhappy homes. 25:50 But listen, not only did Jesus rest on that day, 25:53 not only did he bless the day. 25:55 What does the Bible say, He did next? 25:57 What did He do? He sanctified this day. 26:00 What is the word sanctify mean? 26:05 If it's something is sanctified, 26:07 it means it is made holy. 26:11 It's set apart for holy use. 26:12 So after Jesus rested on that day 26:15 then He blessed the day, then the Bible says, 26:18 He set this day aside for our holy use, He sanctified it. 26:24 That's why the Fourth Commandment says, 26:27 remember the Sabbath day to make it holy, 26:32 is that what it says? No, it doesn't say that. 26:34 It says, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy 26:38 because God made it holy to begin with 26:41 and He invites us to continue to make it, 26:44 oh, to keep it holy, get the thought? 26:46 Because you and I cannot make anything holy. 26:51 Now some people think that people can say 26:53 things over water and make it holy. 26:55 I don't believe that, that's true 26:56 because the only person in the world 26:58 that can make anything holy is God. 27:02 And the only day as I've read the Bible 27:04 from cover to cover friend 27:05 and I would challenge anybody to read the Bible 27:08 from cover to cover, you will find that the only day 27:10 that Jesus has ever set aside 27:13 for our holiest is the seventh day 27:17 because that's the day He rested and blessed. 27:20 To illustrate, In my busy schedule 27:23 I found that Wednesday is the best day in the week 27:27 because for me to keep as a Sabbath 27:28 because the weekend I've got sport 27:31 and shopping and business and so forth 27:34 but Wednesday is a bit of a lull day, 27:36 so I decide that I am going 27:38 to keep Wednesday as a holy day. 27:40 I am going to go to church on Wednesday. 27:42 I'm going to read the Bible on Wednesday. 27:44 I'm going to go to church all day Wednesday. 27:48 Does that make Wednesday a holy day? 27:51 But what if I go to church all day 27:53 and I read the Bible all day Wednesday. 27:55 Does that make it holy? Why not? 28:00 Its because Wednesday was never made holy to begin with. 28:03 Can you see the point? 28:04 I don't care how sincere 28:07 and how earnest the person is in keeping any of these days 28:13 and going to church and reading their Bible. 28:15 They cannot make the day holy 28:17 because the day was never made holy to begin with. 28:19 Can you see the point? 28:21 The only day that can be kept holy is the seventh day 28:24 because it's the only day that was made holy. 28:29 And we all admit that we can't make anything holy. 28:32 Only God can do that. 28:34 And that's why it's impossible for any of us to ever suggest 28:37 that one day is as good as another 28:41 because we are treating that the blessing of God 28:45 and the sanctification of God is worth 28:48 nothing more than the day that He doesn't rest 28:50 and bless and sanctified. 28:56 I don't know whether you've ever thought about this 28:58 but this is an interesting point you know. 29:00 Have you ever wondered 29:01 where the seventh day week comes from? 29:03 Why seven days in the week? 29:06 Have you wondered that? 29:08 Because you see we get our day 29:12 by the earth rotation on its axis. 29:15 Isn't that right that gives us 24 hours? 29:18 We get our year by the earth's revolution around the sun. 29:22 Once every 365 and quarter days give us a year. 29:25 We get our month by the moon. 29:31 But where is the idea of seven days come from? 29:34 It doesn't divide evenly into the month, 29:36 it doesn't divide evenly into the year. 29:40 It's an odd number of days. Why seven? 29:43 Where did the idea of seven come from? 29:48 Well, the interesting thing is, this is the good question 29:50 to ask your atheistic friends, your revolutionary friends. 29:55 Ask them to explain 29:56 where the seven day week comes from? 30:00 I have done such a thing. 30:02 I've never got a satisfactory answer yet. 30:05 Because you take out creation 30:08 and then try to explain the seven day week 30:10 and see how you get along. 30:13 And the interesting thing is this that every nation 30:17 under God's heaven has a seven day week. 30:22 And they all start the day on the same day 30:24 and they all end the day-- week on the same day. 30:28 And the interesting thing is that over 100 languages 30:32 in the world today still call 30:34 what we call in English Saturday, 30:37 they call the Sabbath. 30:40 And there is over 100 languages. 30:43 Anybody here speak any other language outside English 30:46 in which Sabbath is refer to as the Seventh-day. 30:50 Anyone speak in the Italian. 30:52 Nick. Spell it out to us. 30:54 What is it called? Sabbatho. Sabbath. 30:57 Well, only Italians can't be wrong, can they? 31:00 Every Italian call Saturday the Sabbath in Italy today, 31:06 no exceptions for that. Anyone speak in the Spanish. 31:13 They are millions of Spaniards 31:16 and they all refer to Saturday as a Sabbath. 31:24 Someone talks German language, all right. 31:27 The interesting thing about German language 31:29 is they refer to Wednesday as Mittwoch. 31:35 What does that mean? Middle of the week. 31:36 Middle of the week, you haven't gotta be bright 31:38 to realize what Mittwoch is. 31:41 Three days either side, middle of the week. 31:44 Every German can't be wrong. 31:47 You can go up to Indonesia. 31:51 In Indonesia, Malaysia what is that, 31:53 what's the word out there? Sabato. 31:59 In Malaysia, Indonesia throughout Asia, 32:02 they're not even a Christian country Sabato. 32:06 What language have you got? 32:08 French. What's it in French? 32:12 Okay, I won't try and pronounce the French. 32:15 You got to be a Frenchman to understand French, haven't you? 32:18 But you see over 100 languages in the world today 32:25 still call Saturday the Sabbath, 32:29 1 over 100 still after all of these years. 32:36 Now everywhere I go people say to me, 32:37 "Well, Geoff wasn't the Sabbath made for the Jew." 32:41 Just come over to Mark in the New Testament. 32:43 Mark Chapter 2. 32:44 Mark 2 and notice here verse 27. 32:49 Mark the 2nd Chapter and verse 27 and 28. 32:55 "And Jesus made the statement. 32:59 "And He said to them, 33:01 'The Sabbath was made for the Jew." 33:06 Doesn't say that all, does it? 33:07 It says "the Sabbath was made for man 33:10 and not man for the Sabbath. 33:12 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." 33:18 He's the protector the Lord, 33:19 He is the one who controls the Sabbath. 33:23 He made the Sabbath, He's Lord of the Sabbath. 33:27 And the Sabbath was made for M-A-N. 33:32 You know, it also says 33:33 same Bible says woman was made for man. 33:37 You know, I know that doesn't quite sound 33:40 the best to us today at almost in today's climate. 33:43 But it doesn't mean that woman was made as a shuttle for man. 33:47 What that means is when God created woman, 33:51 He made her as blessing for man, 33:54 that's what the Bible means the same 33:55 as the Sabbath was made for man 33:57 that was made as a blessing for man to help man, to help man. 34:04 And the Sabbath was made right back there 34:06 in the beginning as a blessing for mankind. 34:10 Now it is true that Jews did keep the Sabbath. 34:12 But listen if we're going to do away with something, 34:15 because the Jews touched it friend 34:17 then we will have to do away with everything 34:19 that we have as Christians. 34:22 For example practically every Bible writer was a Jew. 34:29 Therefore if we're going to do away with something 34:31 because the Jews touched it 34:33 we'll have to do away with the Bible, isn't that right? 34:37 We'll have to do away with Jesus 34:38 because what nationality was Jesus? He was a Jew. 34:42 We'll even have to do away with salvation 34:44 because Jesus said salvation is of the Jews. 34:50 Much of our form in Christian worship today 34:54 comes to us from the Jews, 34:55 the word Hallelujah is not a Christian word, 34:58 and it's a Jewish word. 35:02 Everything that we have is come down to us 35:04 from the Jews God intended to be so. 35:07 Then ask me why He choose the Jews? 35:09 We can ask God when we get home to heaven. 35:12 Because I don't know but God choose the Jews 35:15 and God choose the Jews to be the custodian of His truth 35:20 for hundreds and hundreds of years. 35:24 And the Bible was written during that period 35:27 when the Jews were the custodians of truth. 35:31 And so everything that we have has come down to us 35:35 handle by the Jews. 35:37 But it was never God's intention 35:39 that it only be for the Jews. 35:42 Anymore then it was God's intention 35:44 that the Bible only be for the Jews 35:46 or the salvation only be for the Jews. 35:50 It's intended for all mankind. 35:54 It's not only Jewish that need time 35:56 to spend with their families 35:58 and with God that is a requirement of everybody 36:03 and God intended that everybody would keep the Sabbath. 36:07 In fact, the Sabbath was made 2,500 years 36:11 before a Jew ever drew a breath. 36:15 I don't think anyone would whatever suggests 36:17 that Adam and Eve were Jews. 36:19 And God made the Sabbath right back there in the beginning. 36:22 You know, sometimes people said to me, 36:23 "Well, Geoff, how can you be so sure 36:26 that the days of the week heaven all being mixed up?" 36:30 I've got a good Bible answer to give you. 36:33 Come over to Luke Chapter 23. 36:35 We must always go to the Bible for our answers, 36:37 Luke Chapter 23 and verse 52. 36:42 Luke the 23rd Chapter and verse 52 36:46 and we'll pick up the story 36:47 down at the Crucifixion of Jesus here. 36:49 And here we find the days of the week are named. 36:53 Have look at this in verse 52. 36:55 "This man went to Pilate 36:57 and asked for the body of Jesus. 37:00 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, 37:02 and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, 37:06 where no one had ever lain before. 37:09 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. 37:17 And the women who had come with Him 37:18 from Galilee followed after, 37:21 and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 37:24 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. 37:28 And they rested on the Sabbath 37:31 according to the commandment. 37:33 Now on the first day of the week, 37:35 very early in the morning, 37:37 they, and certain other women with them, 37:39 came to the tomb bringing the spices 37:41 which they had prepared." 37:43 Now look here we have three days 37:45 mentioned at Crucifixion of Jesus. 37:47 We have the day that Jesus was crucified on, 37:50 what is the Bible call that day by the way? 37:53 Here it's call the preparation day, all right. 37:58 Then the day that Jesus slept in the tomb, 38:01 while he was dead is call what? 38:04 Sabbath day according to the commandment. 38:06 The day that He rose from the dead is call? 38:09 The first day of the week. 38:12 So here we have these three days. 38:15 The preparation day, the day of Christ Crucifixion. 38:20 We have the day of Christ resurrection, 38:23 the first day of the week 38:24 and the day in between is the Sabbath day 38:26 according to the Ten Commandments. 38:27 Now listen, there's not, there's not too many things 38:31 that you can say that the whole world is agreed on. 38:36 But they're practically, totally agreed 38:38 on what we're going to share next. 38:41 For example every Christian agrees 38:46 that when Jesus died on that preparation day, 38:50 we have a special name for it here in Australia, 38:54 what do we call it? Good Friday. 38:56 We call it Good Friday, isn't that right? 38:59 The whole Christian world has agreed on that. 39:04 We have a special name for the day 39:06 that Jesus rose from the dead, 39:08 we call that here in Australia, 39:10 what day? Easter Sunday. 39:16 Well, the Bible says, the Sabbath day 39:18 according to the Ten Commandments, 39:20 according to Luke is the day 39:21 in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, 39:26 that's the day in between. 39:28 I mean, you can't make a mistake. 39:31 So you've got over a thousand, 39:33 hundred or billion Christians all agreed 39:37 that Sunday is the first day of the week. 39:39 In fact, that's the reason 39:41 they give for going to church on Sunday 39:44 as they say that Christ rose on that day. 39:46 I mean, there's no Biblical support for that, 39:48 that's nearly a tradition but that's what they say, 39:51 the reason that they give. 39:54 So you've got nearly 39:55 a billion Christians agreed on that point. 39:59 You've got a billion Muslims agreed 40:03 that the sixth day of the week Friday is a holy day, 40:09 because what day do they go to their mosque? Friday. 40:14 So you've got a billion Muslims 40:16 agreed on the sixth day of the week. 40:18 You've got 13 million Jews 40:20 who agreed that the seventh day is what we call Saturday. 40:25 So you've got the Muslims, the Jews, 40:27 and the Christians all agreed on one point 40:30 and that is the days of the week, 40:32 because they have never ever been changed. 40:37 I don't know of anything else that the Jews, 40:39 the Christians, and the Muslims all agree on. 40:42 But they do agree on that, because there is no dispute. 40:46 The only people that I ever find query 40:49 the fact the days of the week may have been mixed up 40:52 are those who've never studied it. 40:54 Because when you checkup on your encyclopedia 40:56 or checkup on the internet, checkup wherever you like. 41:00 There is no dispute about the days of the week, 41:03 because they have come down to us 41:05 in an unbroken line since creation. 41:09 And by the way if they'd been any mix up 41:11 through the Old Testament Jesus would have corrected it 41:14 when He came onto the earth, wouldn't He? 41:16 But He didn't correct it, 41:17 because they were still celebrating the same day 41:19 and since the time of Jesus, of course, 41:21 is very easy for us to go back in time. 41:25 No dispute whatsoever, 41:27 that's why we can be so certain in our hearts 41:30 and in our minds that there has been no change 41:34 in the cycle of the days of the week 41:35 down through the years. 41:37 Now, I've done a little summary 41:39 that I'm going to give to you to now 41:41 and I'm going to ask the ushers, 41:42 if you wouldn't mind just handing this out to everybody, 41:45 if you wouldn't mind just giving it 41:48 out as quickly as you can. 41:49 And for those of you who are watching 41:50 you're going to see it on the screen 41:52 now as we read it through. 41:54 Because and if anyone wants any extra copies of these 41:57 then just ask the ushers as you go out 42:00 and we'll be very happy to give you some extra ones. 42:03 But at least we'll give you one now. 42:05 Now when you get it you'll notice that there are two sides 42:09 there is the Lord's Day and then Sunday. 42:10 We'll have a look at the Lord's Day side for a start. 42:14 And we'll just go through the points 42:15 because this just summarizes 42:18 what we have been saying thus far. 42:23 Everyone's got one. Let's have a look at the Lord's Day. 42:26 The first thing that we noticed about the Lord's Day 42:28 is that God rested on the seventh day, 42:32 that's what made it God's rest or His Sabbath. 42:37 God blessed and sanctified, 42:39 that is He made holy the Sabbath. 42:43 And God commanded, remember 42:45 the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 42:49 The Sabbath was made before sin, 42:52 hence it is not a type. 42:54 Let me just pause on that one to explain. 42:57 Some people feel that when Jesus died on the cross 43:00 that the Sabbath was done away with. 43:03 But friend listen that is not true and I'll tell you why. 43:07 The Sabbath was made in the Garden of Eden 43:10 before Adam and Eve sinned, is that true? 43:13 Yes. Yes, it is. 43:15 With marriage, both the Sabbath and marriage 43:18 were made in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned 43:22 and it's interesting that both are under 43:24 severe attack by the devil. 43:26 Because if the devil takes marriage away 43:29 he breaks down society, if he attacks the Sabbath 43:32 he takes away the memory of creation 43:35 where we've come from and the blessing of getting 43:38 to know God the time that is allocated, 43:40 so he, both of these gifts from the Garden of Eden 43:43 are under severe attack today. 43:45 But the Sabbath was made in the Garden of Eden 43:48 before Adam and Eve sinned, 43:50 therefore before the death of Jesus was made necessary. 43:56 Because the Sabbath doesn't point forward to Jesus, 44:00 we have notice that the Bible says 44:02 the Sabbath points backwards to creation, 44:07 it's a memorial of creation. 44:10 Because it was made before the death of Jesus 44:14 was necessary in the Garden of Eden. 44:18 That's why we say here that Sabbath was made before sin, 44:23 hence it's not a type, 44:24 it doesn't point forward to anything, 44:27 doesn't point forward to Jesus. 44:29 Because Jesus death at this particular stage 44:32 when the Sabbath was created wasn't yet necessary, 44:36 because Adam and Eve hadn't yet sinned. 44:39 The Sabbath was made for man 44:42 and all mankind according to Mark 2:27. 44:45 It was made 2,500 years before there was a Jew. 44:51 The Bible never calls it a "Jewish Sabbath." 44:54 And I hope nobody else will. 44:57 God placed it in the centre of His ten moral commandments. 45:02 The Sabbath was commanded by the voice of the living God. 45:07 God wrote the Commandments with His own finger on stone. 45:13 God pronounced a special blessing on Gentiles 45:16 who keep the Sabbath. 45:17 So even in the Old Testament 45:18 there was a blessing for the Gentiles 45:20 who keep the Sabbath, not just for the Jews. 45:23 God promises to bless any person 45:25 who will keep the Sabbath. 45:28 After the Sabbath has been trodden down 45:30 "many generations," it is to be restored in the last days. 45:35 That's why you're hearing it tonight 45:36 because the Bible says it's going to be restored 45:39 before Jesus comes back. 45:42 The Sabbath is the "Lord's Day." 45:44 We could give you scores of verses, 45:46 but there are at least three 45:49 that say the Sabbath is the Lord's Day, 45:50 there's not one text anywhere 45:52 that says Sunday is the Lord's Day. 45:54 The Gentile converts called it "the Sabbath." 45:57 Notice this, 14 years after the cross. 46:02 Three decades or thirty years after the cross, 46:04 the Bible says the Sabbath remains. 46:07 It hasn't been done away with according to Hebrews 4:9. 46:10 Christians are to enter Sabbath rest 46:12 as God did in Hebrews 4:10, 46:16 where they keep it as God did. 46:18 And everyone in the New Earth 46:19 will keep the Sabbath according to Isaiah 66. 46:23 Just turn over now and we'll have a look at the Sunday side. 46:27 The first thing that we notice about Sunday 46:30 is that God worked on Sunday. 46:33 God commanded work on Sunday and God calls it a working day. 46:38 Tell me could you be a sinner and work on Sunday. 46:47 Well, no because God worked on Sunday. 46:53 And if God worked on Sunday 46:57 and He was a sinner that's preposterous. 46:59 But the first thing that God did is He worked on Sunday. 47:03 And so working day it's always referred 47:05 to as a working day throughout the Bible. 47:08 He never blessed Sunday. 47:10 Christ did not rest upon it. 47:13 Sunday was never sanctified. 47:16 The New Testament nowhere forbids work on it. 47:19 There was no penalty for its desecration. 47:22 There is no blessing promised for its observance. 47:26 No regulation is given as to how it should be observed. 47:30 It is never called the "Christian Sabbath." 47:33 It is never called the "Lord's Day." 47:36 Although some of us have been brought up 47:38 to call it the Lord's Day, 47:40 but the Bible never calls it the Lord's Day, 47:42 that's just another tradition 47:44 that we're going to talk about in future meetings. 47:46 No sacred title is ever applied to Sunday. 47:51 The word 'Sunday' never occurs in the Word of God. 47:55 Neither God, Christ, nor any inspired man 47:58 ever said one word in favor of Sunday as a holy day. 48:02 There was no requirement to break bread on Sunday. 48:06 The Bible nowhere says the first day of the week 48:09 commemorates the resurrection of Christ. 48:12 This is the tradition of men which makes 48:14 void the commandment of God. 48:17 So it is thought that you'd like to have that as a summary, 48:20 to summarize what we've been saying, but listen. 48:23 I want to take you a step further come over 48:24 to Revelation Chapter 14, would you? 48:27 Revelation 14 and verse 12. 48:30 We're down in the last days, 48:32 that wonderful Book of Revelation 48:34 that we have been starting to study now 48:36 and we're starting to understand 48:38 its wonderful prophecies. 48:40 Verse 12 and the conclusion of those 48:41 three messages it says this. 48:43 "Here is the patience of the saints, 48:47 here are those who keep." What is it? 48:50 "The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." 48:55 Can you see that God points out 48:58 His people in the last days, 48:59 in the Book of Revelation written for the last days 49:02 are identified with two outstanding characteristics? 49:05 One is that they will love Jesus 49:08 and they'll be faithful to Jesus, 49:10 but they'll also be faithful to His Ten Commandments, 49:15 that's got to include the Sabbath, 49:17 because the Sabbath is number four of the ten. 49:20 In fact, it's the largest of the ten 49:23 as far as space is concern. 49:26 And in the Ten Commandments God devoted more space 49:29 to the Sabbath commandment than any other commandment. 49:34 And God's people in the last days are identified 49:37 as those who are faithful to Jesus 49:40 and faithful to His commandments. 49:44 But I want to take you even a step further 49:46 come into the middle of the Bible, 49:48 now to the Book of Isaiah. 49:50 Isaiah Chapter 66, right in the middle. 49:54 The Old Testament, Isaiah 66 and verse 22. 50:01 Isaiah 66 and verse 22. 50:07 And Isaiah is writing not about this earth, 50:09 he's writing about the new earth and the new heaven. 50:13 It's verse 22, "For as the new heaven and the new earth." 50:17 You see what's it talking about. 50:18 New heaven and the new earth 50:20 which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord, 50:23 "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 50:27 And it shall come to pass 50:28 that from one New Moon to another, 50:30 And from one Sabbath to another, 50:34 All flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the Lord." 50:39 How many people are going to worship 50:41 God's Sabbath by Sabbath 50:43 in the new heavens and the new earth? All. 50:45 All it says that little word "A-L-L. 50:48 You see when we get home to heaven 50:49 there's going to be no fence in heaven 50:51 where those on this side all keep Sunday 50:54 and those on this side all are Sabbath keepers. 50:57 Nothing like that at all 50:59 because everybody in the new earth 51:02 is going to be a Sabbath keeper regardless of the day 51:04 that we've kept down on this earth friends. 51:06 Get home to the glory land 51:08 and you'll be a Sabbath keeper throughout all eternity. 51:12 And when I was studying this as a Presbyterian, 51:17 I thought to myself it didn't seem logical to my mind 51:21 that for all the period of the Old Testament, 51:23 everybody was a Sabbath keeper nobody disputes that. 51:26 Throughout all eternity 51:28 we're going to be Sabbath keepers, 51:29 why would we change in the Christian era 51:33 for a little period change over the Sunday. 51:37 Friend it doesn't make sense and it's not biblical, 51:42 because all through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, 51:48 every person that ever lived 51:51 in the Bible was a Sabbath keeper. 51:53 Not one of them ever went to church 51:55 on Sunday, not a single one. 51:59 And throughout all eternity 52:02 we're going to be Sabbath keepers 52:06 for as the new heaven and the new earth, 52:10 Sabbath by Sabbath and month by month, 52:15 new moon by new moon because the Revelation says, 52:17 we go up to the city, month by month 52:19 to get the list from the tree of life. 52:25 Month by month, Sabbath by Sabbath, 52:29 we go up there to worship before God. 52:32 You know, someone says to me, 52:33 "Well, Geoff, are you suggesting today 52:36 that small group of Sabbath keepers are right 52:42 and everybody else in the world is wrong 52:46 is that what you're saying tonight? 52:49 Well, listen I want to line up 52:51 for you some of our most prominent Sabbath keepers 52:54 over here on the Sabbath keeping side. 52:57 I see Adam and Eve, and I see Enoch, 53:03 I see Abraham, I see Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, 53:08 and Daniel, and Obadiah, and Malachi. 53:12 I see Jesus, I see the blessed apostles', 53:17 Saint Paul, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Peter. 53:22 And I see millions of line, 53:23 men and women down through the years 53:25 who've been faithful to Jesus and kept the Sabbath. 53:28 Over here on the Sunday keeping side, 53:30 I see those who boast 53:32 that they made the change in the Sunday. 53:34 And I see million of live folk like ourselves 53:37 who've been brought up and we have never question 53:39 that until perhaps we get to a stage of meeting like this 53:42 and for the first time perhaps we are challenged. 53:47 And as I look at these two groups of people, 53:49 the Sunday keeping group over here 53:51 and the Sabbath keeping group over here, 53:54 I'm trying to makeup my mind between the two 53:56 and I have a look over here and I'm a bit tempted 53:59 I must admit to go this way 54:01 because who wants to be different, 54:03 easy to go with, swim and go with everybody else. 54:06 The whole society seems to be get around Sunday 54:09 would be a lot of easier to stay go with a flow. 54:13 But before I make my decision 54:15 I have one last look over here on the Sabbath keeping side. 54:20 And who do you think I see tarrying above 54:22 every Sabbath keeper is whispering 54:25 to need down through the centuries. 54:26 Geoff, if you love Me keep My commandments. 54:30 As He holds those Neil Scott hands out to me. 54:34 And I tell you friend if there was no other 54:38 Sabbath keeper in the entire world 54:41 but Jesus that would settled the Christian for me, 54:44 because as a Christian deep down in my heart 54:48 I want to be like Him. 54:50 And I've got a pretty fare idea that deep down in your heart 54:56 you want to be like Him to that's why you are here, 54:58 that's why you are listening. 55:01 And in these last days 55:02 God is calling for us to be faithful to Him 55:06 and faithful to His commandments. 55:09 Let just bow our heads together in prayer. 55:13 Our wonderful Father in heave, 55:14 I want to thank You again tonight for Jesus 55:17 and I want to thank You for the truth. 55:18 Some of these things tonight 55:20 that we have talked about maybe very near to some of us 55:24 and it maybe even be disturbing to others. 55:27 And I pray Lord that you'll help us to be like the Bereans 55:30 that are in the Book of Acts, spoken there. 55:32 When I heard new things, the Bible says, 55:35 I studied the scriptures, they searched them out 55:38 to find out whether these things were so. 55:41 And so I pray Lord that You'll help us to be earnest 55:43 not just to be taken by tradition and blind prejudice. 55:48 But that You'll help us to have an open heart 55:50 and an open mind to study these things to find out 55:53 what You want us to do. 55:55 And bless us Lord as we come back into our next program 55:58 as we talk about how Sunday got into the church. 56:01 Because friends that's the logical Christian 56:03 that we would be asking now 56:06 if the Bible is so clear 56:09 how come the Sunday came into the church. 56:11 So, Lord, help us to understand and keep us 56:14 faithful I pray until Jesus come for Christ's sake. Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17