The Sabbath day and keeping it holy was to be a mark upon the children of Abraham [descendants and children of promise through Christ] along with the other commandments laid down BEFORE Sinai, “ I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” Gen 17:1-2. For Abraham BELIEVED God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. The Most Highs laws, statutes and commandments, included everyone in Abrahams house or bought with money from any foreigner who was not his descendant. After Sinai the children of Israel AND the stranger alike, were also given the law [His word]. The stranger was to take hold of all the practices that took place inside the house of Israel and become a living breathing part of her.

Let me be clear:

We are saved by grace through Faith…in Christ

We are justified through Faith…in Christ

We have a righteousness that is by Faith…in Christ

For the just shall live by Faith – Just as our father Abraham and his Seed, who is Christ, whom the inheritance belongs, for the Most High gave it to Abraham by promise [an everlasting Covenant].

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen 17:1-7

“And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:” Gen 22:16

“Because that Abraham obeyed My voice [His word], and kept My charge, My commandments, my statutes, and My laws.” Gen 26:5

Brothers and Sisters, this promise was before Mount Sinai. Sabbath came before Sinai and THIS is the promise and covenant the Most High will keep forever. We ARE free and do not seek to be justified by the law…of sacrifice.

The “Grafted in Church” is to do the same thing. Grab hold to His word, and walk in His ways. But we being a wild olive tree are like a bull let out of the pen. We go rushing out, full force with no care or thought of what is behind, all we know, is we’ve have been set free! We are wild by nature. We claim we’ve read the book and we think we really understand the law, not realizing, His law IS His word. His word IS law. He said, He chose a day and it is called Sabbath. He wants us to honor it. He didn’t present it to us as a covenant that can be broken. It was a command, a command which shines the light on our hearts, “if you LOVE Me, do what I say”. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”. John 10:27

Here is the Most Highs plan for us, even before Christ came, “physically”. For He is the one who laid down the law “spiritually”, in the beginning.

Salvation for the Gentiles Isaiah 56 KJV

Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

3 Neither let the son of the stranger [Gentile], that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

6 Also the sons of the stranger [Gentile], that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

8 The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

The Gentile who is a wild olive tree, has been grafted into the tree that still belongs to Israel. Israel has to always be a part of the tree, in order for the tree to bear the fruit it was created to bear. And anything that comes along and takes hold to it - through grafting -, must conform to the natural branches in order to be recognized as the natural tree, bearing natural fruit.

Now, because Christ loves us so much, He went out of His way to make us feel, believe and understand that we have truly become His, just as any parent of an adopted child would. But we have taken the bull by the horns and have denied the natural child along with all of the rules of the house, to our peril. Thus, He will say, I never knew you.

Again, “3 Neither let the son of the stranger [Gentile], that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.” Isa 56:3

I am now understanding with confidence, that yes, Christ set us free from the bondage of the law…of sacrifice, that brought severe penalties, even death! But the law of His voice [word] will never cease to exist!

For, God’s law is perfect Psalm19:7
It is holy, just and good Rom 7:12
It is eternal Psa 111:7-8

Thou Christ know exactly who His children are, He wanted us to be set apart. He wanted a special people, all His own. I have come to understand that these laws were not supposed to be a burden to us as Gentiles, but a MARK! His Mark, His Signature. The Signature to the world, that WE belong to the Most High God of the Universe. Not by our church attendance. Not by our verbal acknowledgment that we are “Christians”.

And not by our belief that we can live like the heathen [non-believer],

Eat like them – for He gave us “Dietary laws”, they are there for our benefit, not God’s…to keep HIS people healthy

Celebrate like them – Paganism! “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles, for the customs of the peoples are futile”. Jer 10:2

Walk the walk like them – But! “…walk before Me, and be thou perfect” Gen 17:1

Worship like them – Honor HIS Sabbath

Or BECOME just…like…them – Unrecognizable to Him…to our Lord

We were supposed to be a Chosen people, a Set Apart Generation, a Peculiar People.

To Israel he says:

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” Deut 14:2

To ALL those who grab hold of His Name - The Stranger, the Gentile, the Adopted sons and daughters, male and female, slave or free.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” 1 Pet 2:9

We were and are supposed to be known by our actions, based on our foundational beliefs that have a foundation poured by Christ Himself…MARKED with His Signature.

I believe and I have stated before that we do not know who we are anymore. Our hearts, our minds, and beliefs have been, diluted, polluted and ears muted. We cannot hear or comprehend WHAT the Spirit is saying to the Church. He said we don’t even know that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes, based on the imaginations of their own heart. The deception is DIABOLICAL and it worked!

As my husband stated, “We were supposed to have an effect on the world, NOT the world have an effect on us!

Effect? Umm, success in bringing about a change in somebody or something, or the ability to achieve this.

Christ wants us to get back to His ways. He wants to BE the Desire of Our Heart.

Man’s worship day is Sun-day. A day where they think they are magnifying God, but only magnify themselves. A day they declare, and for a brief moment that He is the center of attention. A day where everyone feels welcomed and are entertained. A day that is comfortable for everyone…and we agree and take part, because it is convenient and comfortable for us. We go, we pray, sing a few songs and OFF to the ballgame!

It takes time for Sabbath prep. Making dinner for the next day, cleaning the house so there is no “work” to do, so that the entire day is dedicated to worshiping, praying, studying and magnifying Him…for…one…day. This aside from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives; where we also incorporate thoughts of Him with willingness to share the Gospel. He knows we need rest. He knows we need an escape from the worries and stresses of everything happening throughout the OTHER six days in our week. He knew, and invited us to sit down and sup with Him…just one day.

”Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

For us, this is too difficult. Because we have acclimated ourselves to the world. We have lost our spiritual prowess to stand against what man dictates, so we acclimate and accommodate and hurt no one’s feelings; no one but the one who has power over life and death, good and evil. Instead of grabbing hold to what our God, our King desires from us, we search and search for reasons to gratify and justify our fleshly conscience. Oh, do I have to do that? Oh no! I thought He set us freeeeee!

Instead of recognizing the very thing He gave us to keep our focus on Him - His Holy Spirit - that reminds us of HIS Sabbath; the Spirit that directs us to come to Him weekly, for one…day, and pour all our cares on Him, for he cares for us. I was one of those that considered every day the Sabbath day.

We must ask ourselves, if we have already entered His rest, why do we worship [on Sunday] at all? If we have entered His rest, why will ALL nations come up year to year to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, isn’t everything done away with? Why, if we have already entered His rest, will burnt offerings and sacrifices be accepted on His alter? Why, would Christ honor the Sabbath? Why did the apostles still honor the Sabbath? And why would Paul preach on Sabbath to both Jews and Gentiles and persuade them to continue in the grace of God? It seems apparent that all of them would have denounced the Sabbath altogether, sense we have been set free. Acts 13:43

If we are seeking justification for righteousness through the law, then we must keep ALL of the law, and be judged by the law of sin and death – the law of sacrifice. Christ knew this would be impossible for any of us to do. So, for the remission of sin that brought death…He Gave Himself, for the iniquity of us all.

Christ, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, All the Prophets, The Apostles including our brother Paul, were ALL Hebrews, and carried forth the message of Christ. They were ALL Israelites! They were His “Witnesses” Isa 43:10, they gave the Testimony. And ALL who are His will and shall follow in their ways.

Did not Christ Himself, lay the foundation of the earth and is the same yesterday, today and always? Yes! He Doesn’t change. For He has Commanded:

1.“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2.“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.

3.“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4.“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Let Us, Honor the Sabbath Day and Keep it HOLY.

As brother Paul states, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”. 1 Cor 11:1, and “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me”. 1 Cor 4:16

Remember, we are very acquainted with recognizing ourselves as “spiritual” Israel. So, to us, it appears this would apply.

“Also the sons of the stranger[Gentile], that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isa 56:6-7

This appears to be saying, we are to emulate the people who are called by His name…Israel. For, He is our God, and He is Holy. The Sabbath day is His. Keeping it and Honoring it was for a sign. It is His MARK upon US! That we are also the children of God.

For, “blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it: who keeps from defiling the Sabbath”. Isa 56:2

It is the 7th Day.

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid…Rom 3:3

It is time to come out of darkness to this truth. It is time to come out from amongst her.

My question is this. Why, are we so contentious about this day and where does this spirit come from? Why does it make us cringe? What will we benefit by actively acknowledging and honoring this day? What will we lose?

What it appears we have done, is to adamantly acknowledge that we are no longer under the law. Though many of us do not understand the whole meaning and logistics of the law nor do we care to admit it. But have vehemently become Spiritual Law Guardians and Freedom Protectors, at…all…cost!

Not even the Most High can command…a Day.

I know, because I was once blind, but now I see. I was deaf, but know I hear.

I have TAKEN the MARK!

Blessed Be His Name

Dear Linda,

There seems to be distinction between the Sabbath and what followed later in Leviticus when the 613 laws were given unto the Children of Israel, which none were able to keep. That difference, as I read your article and the Bible is that the Sabbath is a "COVENANT" between Abraham and the Great I AM, our Heavenly Father. Since a Covenant is a binding agreement, which is between two parties, it certainly is not broken by Almighty God nor was it broken by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or those that continued to hold it dear to their hearts. A covenant is usually signed by both parties; perhaps a seal put upon it as binding. That seal, in this case, was for Abraham and his descendants to keep the Sabbath for an everlasting sign. I believe in the Sabbath but would like to point out something that you said:

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It takes time for Sabbath prep. Making dinner for the next day, cleaning the house so there is no “work” to do, so that the entire day is dedicated to worshiping, praying, studying and magnifying Him…for…one…day. This aside from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives; where we also incorporate thoughts of Him with willingness to share the Gospel. He knows we need rest. He knows we need an escape from the worries and stresses of everything happening throughout the OTHER six days in our week. He knew, and invited us to sit down and sup with Him…just one day.

”Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

For us, this is too difficult. Because we have acclimated ourselves to the world. We have lost our spiritual prowess to stand against what man dictates, so we acclimate and accommodate and hurt no one’s feelings; no one but the one who has power over life and death, good and evil. Instead of grabbing hold to what our God, our King desires from us, we search and search for reasons to gratify and justify our fleshly conscience. Oh, do I have to do that? Oh no! I thought He set us freeeeee!


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I believe it is quite clear that Jesus Christ rebuked the religious leaders of the day who were so entrenched in the nitty gritty of the law that they would not allow anyone to be healed on the Sabbath, to help an animal to become free of it's peril should it fall on that day and on and on it went, right? Why would the Son of God, our Redeemer go against God's Laws? That is the point here, isn't it? They (the Pharisees) were following all of the Levitical Laws, which were impossible to keep, plus the many additional man-made laws and had lost the whole concept of the Sabbath, which was what???? It was that special relationship between man and God which marked them different than those that followed the pagan ways.

So, is the question here about the Sabbath a matter of having to do all the preparations the day before because there was no cooking allowed on the Sabbath or does that come under the guide-lines in the Levitical Laws?

When Our Lord said for us to Love the Lord Thy God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves, he had just condensed the whole of the Ten Commandments. As it is noted, the first four deal with God's relationship with man and the remaining six deal with man's relationship with his fellow man.

We are free indeed in the fact that our Redemption was purchased by The Lamb of God.

The issue of Sun Day worship or keeping The Sabbath (Remember to keep holy the Sabbath) is a very touchy issue, much like Christmas and other pagan holidays; one which cannot be pounded into a person. Each of us needs God's Holy Spirit to guide us. I used to attend Mass for 25 years, then stopped all together. Then I was born-again, attended Sunday Worship faithfully until that day that I saw my denomination had left the true gospel and taken up the ways of Rick Warren. Then I stopped attending services of any kind. During all this time, I've read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation (not in continuous order) because I love the history and prophecies that are taught there which become more clear each time I read BUT I learned only by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It made me realize what we were being saved from and the depth of Satan's desire to usurp Jesus Christ from His rightful place and steal His possession from Him. I'd love to have a good solid place to join with like minded people but they are extremely rare so I draw closer to the Word and special places of information such as Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum for guidance and fellowship.

Bottom line Linda is that I am free in Jesus Christ like you and others. I pray to be able to Love the Lord my God with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself. We can't be faithful to manmade church doctrines and be faithful to Jesus Christ. The Sabbath is not a Law but an agreement, which I believe the Church of Rome, willfully broke thus putting the people, once again, under the bondage of it's doctrines much the same as the Jews who did not come to faith in their Messiah, continue to do today. God's Holy Spirit continues to do the convicting work until Jesus Christ returns, Praise the Lord.

gerlinda

Hi Gerlinda, I appreciate your response Sis.

I certainly understand what is being said here, and I agree with you. This boils down "to each his own" when it comes to what prep "if any" one wants or chooses to do. This is not a blanket statement on what ALL of us should be doing, but a glance at the mindset, we as the body - "IF, that would be what it takes to honor the Sabbath" are not willing to do.

This was said to make plain the inconveniences that get in the way of our lives, because we HAVE become so acclimated to this world. This is why we even have the disagreement on which day IS worship day or not. Because we simply went away from what He commanded, based on what man dictated. We agree with the other nine, with no disagreement at all, and debate about the one...Sabbath. Satan plays us like a violin, one against another on this issue alone. Yes, the first four Commandments has to do with our relationship with Him and I am glad He made clear to me how this was supposed to be carried out...it is written in the commandment. I also stated that His word is law and the law is His word. Meaning what He says, goes whether we agree or not. He speaks and it IS, and He doesn't change.

My bottom line in this message was that we ARE supposed to be different from the world around us, and one way the Most High established this difference was the act of honoring His Sabbath. We weren't to be set apart from Israel in our ways, as described in Isa 56, thus we have the "New Testament" Christians. This is why we've lost our influence on the world. We have become just like them.

He has taken me back to understanding things that I never really gave a lot of thought about. I know that I am drawing closer to Him and He is revealing more and more. What He brings to light requires change from all of us and this is where most of us have a problem.

Not that one has to be religious about their actions, let your free willed heart determine the extent of your actions. This is a change that has to be between you and Him, and cannot be based upon someone else's thoughts or actions, He has to be the reason for your change. As I have stated, it is not that I am willingly placing a yoke of bondage on my own neck, I understand the freedom I have in Him. We are doing that which we know pleases Him, as He brings to light His truth about these issues.

Thanks Gerlinda, I hope this clears things up.


Blessed Be His name

Brothers and Sisters,

In light of the video message "666 and the Mark" posted by Steven, I thought it very appropriate to bump this post up again.

Blessings of understanding to the listener and reader.

http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3330765498&frmid=8549&msgid=928062&cmd=show


Blessed Be His Name

Dear Linda,

I know this subject is important to you, and I appreciate and respect that. It is so interesting to me that each time you or someone else brings that up the Lord compels me to respond...I mean gives me a great unction to do so, it is as if I have no other choice and no matter what I am studying or working on at the time, I have to stop and address this first.

So, please forgive me for being so adamant about it...I am sure you would do the same if you were so compelled by the Lord. I shared this before, about the boldness the Lord has given me on this issue. I once addressed this issue with a whole group of Seventh Day Adventists at one of their own gatherings and on a Saturday. I spent 170 hours studying before doing so, and it was not my boldness that helped me have the courage to do such a thing..I did not want to do it. But, the Lord was with me and I did do it and it was actually well- received by about half of the people at the gathering. I tell you this to show you that this is not about me and my opinion, this is always inspired by the Lord.

The mark of Christ is the Holy Spirit and being born again..it cannot be the Sabbath rest of the Old Testament and the Law. Jesus is our Sabbath rest...just as He is Israel, the Temple, and anything physical that we used to rely on. It is all inside of us now...no outward law, or work.

I just put on a couple more posts about this. I just wanted to let you know it is nothing personal and that I am spiritually compelled to do so.

You are a treasured sister in Christ to me!

Patti C.

Hello. My Sister,

It is OK, we are both following Christ and obviously doing what we believe The Lord is compelling us to do. We just have to, this time, agree to disagree OK! There is certainly no love lost in this. For ALL things will come to fruition in His time. I am saying, that it is He that has taken me "back to the basics" of understanding "Paul's gospel" and is clearing the way for me and my family to come in line with what is true and what isn't. For one, I do know that He did not set Paul above Himself but sent Paul to bring Gentiles INTO the commonwealth of Israel...the ways and practices of "Physical Israel".

"For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! indeed, let God be true and every man a liar.'" Rom 3:3-4

As truth is being revealed to us, let us follow the light of it with all righteousness and peace. The Roman Catholic Church has it's tentacles in every area of our lives, and the lives we call "the Christian experience". The video posted by Steven was an excellent display of how far it goes, and for us to understand it all, we will have to have immortal bodies in order for us to comprehend and withstand the magnitude of its destructive evil.

I KNOW going back to the basics of this mindset will be difficult for MANY of us to understand, because we have been so indoctrinated against it, against the Old Testament, against Physical Israel, against following the laws, statutes and commandments of God, why? because we say we love Him. This alone gives pause, as to what it means to be "Born Again".

God bless you Patti, in your efforts to get understanding. I appreciate you being open and unafraid to what He wants to reveal to you, and may we all be careful in our zeal for knowledge, as to where that knowledge is coming from. Satan is looking to steal, kill and destroy. The gate is narrow Brothers and Sisters, and few there be that find it. Christianity has fallen in so many ways and has become an apostate church. Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

I Love You Patti,

Blessed Be His Name