Participants:
Series Code: HCAU
Program Code: HCAU190002A
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00:01 Music...
00:30 Welcome to 3ABN Australia Homecoming 00:34 2019. 00:38 And a very warm welcome from Wahroonga Church 00:41 we're delighted that you can join us... 00:43 and we're really looking forward to a wonderful evening together 00:47 of preaching and praise... fellowship. 00:49 And Pastor David, you're an Associate Pastor here. 00:53 That's right, yeah, 00:55 and... great pleasure to be hosting this event. 00:58 Excellent, well, we've got a really good time here 01:02 for this hour, 01:04 we've got David Aitken from western Australia 01:07 who's going to be singing the Wintley-Phipps song, 01:09 "Coming Again" and who's our Speaker? 01:13 Danny Milenkov from Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church 01:18 in the Northeast South Wales Conference 01:20 a very dynamic speaker 01:22 and so we're really looking forward 01:24 to what Danny has to share with us this evening. 01:25 And what's he speaking on? 01:27 I believe it's the Sabbath. 01:29 Hmmm... "Lest We Forget" 01:30 And he has a text here... his key text is: Exodus 20:8-11. 01:37 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 01:40 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 01:43 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: 01:47 in it thou shalt not do any work, 01:49 thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter... 01:52 thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, 01:54 nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger 01:56 that is within thy gates: 01:58 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, 02:01 the sea, and all that in them is, 02:03 and rested the seventh day: 02:05 wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, 02:08 and hallowed it. " 02:09 And Pastor David, would you like to have 02:11 a short prayer of dedication? 02:13 Certainly, let's bow our heads in prayer. 02:15 "Father, we thank you that You're a God of communication. 02:19 We thank you that you get in touch with us in various ways. 02:24 We want to thank you for the gift of music... 02:26 a wonderful language in itself... 02:28 the gift of Your Word. 02:29 We do pray that You'd bless your servants 02:32 David and Danny as they minister to us... 02:35 as they speak on Your behalf... sing on Your behalf 02:39 we pray that You'd bless their ministry 02:41 and we just ask Lord that You'd be present now 02:44 with this time together 02:46 and Your Holy Spirit would be in our midst, 02:48 and that each one of us would be blessed and challenged 02:51 and refreshed as a result of being here, 02:53 so we commit this time to You now 02:56 and we ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. " 02:59 Amen. 03:00 Thank you. 03:06 Pause... 03:12 Music... 03:46 Why stand ye gazing there 03:50 into the sky? 03:56 Be not discouraged 04:02 for we have brought good news 04:09 This same Jesus 04:13 whom we do magnify 04:19 Soon He will come again 04:25 for all to glorify 04:33 He is coming again... 04:39 He is coming again 04:46 Son of the Father 04:51 He is coming again 04:58 on Calvary He claimed my destiny 05:03 would I humble myself 05:09 myself 05:13 to 05:17 Thee... 05:20 Thee. 05:24 Lord, I want to see Your face 05:29 just help me... be strong 05:35 I know You will return 05:41 I know it won't be long 05:48 He is coming again... 05:54 He is coming again 06:01 Son of the Father 06:07 He is coming again 06:13 On Calvary... He gave my destiny 06:18 Would I humble myself 06:26 To Thee 06:33 Lift up the trumpet 06:36 and loud let it ring 06:38 Jesus is coming again 06:44 Cheer up ye pilgrims 06:46 Be joyful and sing 06:49 Jesus is coming again 06:54 Coming again... 06:57 Coming again 06:59 Jesus is coming again 07:04 Coming again... 07:07 Coming again 07:09 Jesus is coming 07:14 again... 07:19 again. 07:24 Amen. 07:26 Pause... 07:31 Good evening to you all 07:32 and happy Sabbath. 07:34 The Sabbath has begun and we praise the Lord for that 07:37 and thank you so much for that beautiful item, David, 07:40 we really appreciate it there 07:42 and Jesus is indeed coming again amen. 07:45 Audience: Amen. 07:46 Last year at the 3ABN Camp Meeting, 07:49 I had the privilege as... as David reminded me 07:53 he sang before I got up and shared 07:56 and once again, we have a repeat 07:59 and I don't know about you but I could listen to him all-day 08:01 and my wife would probably say the same. 08:04 She'd rather listen to him than to me. 08:07 So... ah ha ha ha... 08:08 beautiful voice... 08:10 beautiful voice and we praise the Lord for that 08:12 so, wherever you are watching, those who are here at Wahroonga, 08:16 here in Sydney or around the world, 08:19 I really want to welcome you to... 08:21 to this 3ABN Camp Meeting 08:23 and for me personally, 08:24 it's a real privilege to be invited by 3ABN Australia 08:28 and to share God's Word on this weekend 08:31 and so, I really count it a privilege 08:33 and am very grateful for that. 08:35 I have entitled my message, "Lest We Forget. " 08:41 Lest we forget these words... 08:43 near and dear to Australians and New Zealanders 08:46 that would be well familiar with these words 08:49 that are especially repeated on April 25 each and every year, 08:54 one of the... one of the most sacred commemorative holidays 08:58 or days of remembrance here in Australia 09:02 where Australians and New Zealanders and other... 09:05 and other peoples in the South Pacific 09:08 pause and stop and remember 09:10 those that have given their lives... 09:12 those that have paid the ultimate price 09:15 in war and conflict around the world 09:18 in order to ensure our safety. 09:20 This year, I had the opportunity of going to Turkey 09:24 for the first time 09:25 and going to what has become known as Gallipoli 09:29 where the Anzacs back in 1915 1915 of April 25 landed. 09:38 I have a few... a few snapshots that I took 09:42 and there is Anzac Cove as it has become known 09:45 and there was the beach 09:48 where those Anzacs... 09:50 those Australian and New Zealand Army Corps 09:53 is what Anzac stands for 09:55 where they landed in the early morning of April 25, 1915. 10:00 As I... as I was there and surveyed the area, 10:03 they had the remnants of... of the barracks 10:07 and where they fought against the Turks. 10:10 You also have there... not far from the shoreline 10:15 you... you have a Cemetery there where men were buried. 10:21 You have these commemorative stones 10:24 and a number of them have very fascinating 10:29 and interesting inscriptions and here's just a couple. 10:34 Here is one from this individual who died at the age of 40 10:39 and the words underneath, "Greater love hath no man 10:42 than to lay down his life for his friends. " 10:45 So, as Australians pause and New Zealanders pause 10:48 to remember... 10:49 they remember those that paid the ultimate price. 10:52 Those that... that gave their lives 10:54 in order that their fellow countrymen... countrywomen 10:58 would have peace... would have safety 11:01 and would enjoy life... 11:02 and then, this one, I came across 11:04 as I was walking through the cemetery, 11:06 "Lest we forget. " 11:08 Lest we forget... 11:10 Around Australia, on April 25... 11:15 people... young and old and those in between 11:19 gather at war memorials and here is one war memorial 11:22 with these words that you can see, 11:24 "Lest we forget... " 11:26 and they gather to celebrate and to remember 11:30 and to commemorate what has taken place. 11:32 In fact, War Memorials in Australia are a holy place... 11:38 a holy site in many towns. 11:41 Here is one that I took from a little town 11:44 in Northeast South Wales called Mullumbimby 11:47 and this was the sign: SACRED 11:50 WAR MEMORIAL PLEASE KEEP OFF. 11:52 There isn't too much that is sacred in Australia... 11:55 we're a very secular country, not very religious 11:58 but the War Memorials... 12:00 that which... that which demonstrates the sacrifice... 12:04 and the service of men and women 12:06 that have paid the ultimate price 12:08 is considered to be sacred. 12:10 So, on April 25, in a very special way, 12:14 Australian's pause to remember. 12:17 Today, we want to take a look at another memorial. 12:21 Not a war memorial 12:23 but today we're going to take a look at another memorial... 12:25 a significant memorial... 12:27 I would suggest to you, the most significant memorial 12:31 that helps us understand the God that we serve 12:34 that helps us understand Who He is 12:37 and what He has done... 12:38 the ultimate sacrifice that He has paid 12:41 in order that we may have life... 12:43 in order that we might have freedoms... 12:45 in order that we may be able to come here 12:47 and celebrate together. 12:49 So, without any further ado, I'd like to pray, 12:53 I know that we have prayed already, 12:55 but before I open up God's Word with you, 12:58 I'd like us to pray one more time. 12:59 So, if you like, just bow your heads with me, 13:02 let us pray, "Father in heaven, 13:04 as we pause now... just one moment 13:06 before we open up Your Word, 13:08 we pray that your Holy Spirit 13:10 will lead and guide us through Your Word. 13:12 Father, there's a lot to share 13:14 on this all important subject of the Sabbath 13:16 that we're going to unpack from Your Word 13:19 and I may not be able to share all of it, 13:21 but Father, I pray that I'll be able to share 13:23 that which You would want me to share on this occasion, 13:26 so, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will lead and guide 13:29 as we open Your Word... open our hearts and our minds, 13:32 for we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. " 13:35 If you have your Bibles here this evening, 13:38 I want to invite you to turn with me 13:39 to the book of Genesis, right at the very beginning, 13:43 Genesis chapter one 13:44 and we're going to read the opening words 13:47 of Scripture, Genesis chapter 1 verses 1 to 4, 13:51 most of the Scriptures will be up on the screen 13:56 but this one isn't this evening 13:58 but Genesis 1 verses 1 to 4, 14:00 "In the beginning... " the Bible says, 14:02 "God created the heavens and the earth. " 14:05 Talk about certainty amid uncertainty. 14:07 Right at the very beginning of time, 14:10 "God... " the Bible says, 14:12 created the heavens and the world. 14:14 We did not come from some cosmic accident. 14:17 We were brought forth on to this planet 14:21 by a God with a purpose. 14:22 Let's keep reading... 14:24 "The earth was without form and void 14:26 and darkness was on the face of the deep 14:28 and the Spirit of God was hovering 14:30 over the face of the waters. 14:32 Then God said, Let there be... " what? 14:34 "Let there be light and there was light 14:37 and God saw that light that it was... " what? 14:39 "good and God divided the light from the darkness. " 14:42 And that was the end of Day 1. 14:43 As you go through chapter one, you discover 14:46 that God continues to create over the next five days 14:51 and at the end of the chapter, 14:54 we have these words in Genesis 1 and verse 31, 14:58 we read these words, 14:59 "Then God saw everything that He had made 15:02 and indeed, it was... " what? 15:03 "very good. 15:05 So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. " 15:06 As God looked at all of His creation 15:10 after He had created Adam and then left the best till last 15:15 created Eve... and all the men said... 15:18 Audience: Amen... 15:19 Laughter... 15:21 Let me try that again. 15:24 After God had created the entire world, 15:27 and He created Adam 15:29 and He left the best till last in creating Eve, 15:31 and all the men said... 15:33 Audience: Amen. 15:34 Oh, that was kind of half better. 15:36 The Bible goes on and says, 15:40 "Thus the heavens and the earth, 15:41 and all the host of them, were finished. 15:44 And on the seventh day God ended His work 15:47 which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day 15:49 from all His work which He had done. 15:51 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, 15:54 because in it He rested from all His work 15:57 which God had created and made. " 16:00 Here we have the climax of God's creative work. 16:05 The Bible says, "God blessed... He sanctified... 16:09 and He rested on the seventh day. " 16:11 Scholars have discovered this incredible... 16:14 this incredible creative plan that God put in place... 16:20 no accident... 16:21 and notice... 16:23 notice this forming and filling that God performed 16:27 during those six days of creation. 16:30 We have this up on the screen, 16:32 Day 1: God created light, 16:35 on Day 4: God filled the heavens with the sun, moon and stars. 16:40 On Day 2: God created space 16:44 in the way of sky and the seas... 16:48 and on Day 5: God filled that space with birds and with fish. 16:52 On Day 3: God created dry land and vegetation, 16:56 and on Day 6: He brought about land animals and human beings 17:02 that would enjoy that space and that food. 17:05 Can you see that, yes or no? 17:07 It's so powerful, isn't it? 17:09 This forming and this filling 17:11 all the way through the six days of creation. 17:14 So, we get to the 7th day that we have just read 17:18 and the Bible says, "God rested and He sanctified 17:22 and He blessed the 7th day. " 17:24 So, God formed this day... 17:26 He formed space... He formed time 17:28 but how did He fill it? 17:30 Pause... 17:31 There's only one way 17:33 that we can come to an understanding 17:35 of how He filled it, He filled it with Himself. 17:39 God filled the Sabbath day with His presence. 17:43 That is why the Sabbath is the very climax... 17:46 very apex of creation. 17:48 It's because God gave Himself to the human race. 17:53 He didn't create anything for the Sabbath day, 17:57 He gave Himself... He gave His heart. 18:01 Back in 2010, I had the opportunity 18:04 of going to Jerusalem for the first time 18:06 and this year, I've been blessed to go again, 18:09 and we ended up in Jerusalem on the Friday afternoon 18:13 and as... a couple of... 18:16 a couple of the ministers that I was with on this tour 18:19 that had been to Jerusalem before... 18:20 they said to me, "Danny, we have to make... 18:24 we have to make it down to Old Jerusalem... 18:27 down to the Western Wall where Jews... 18:31 men and women will be gathering as the Sabbath draws near 18:35 and you have to see the celebrations... 18:38 you have to see the incredible worship 18:40 that will take place there, 18:41 you've never seen anything like it before... " 18:44 and so we headed to Jerusalem. 18:47 To the Old Jerusalem... there's a photo there 18:50 and as we made our way to Old Jerusalem, 18:55 we walked... 18:57 and I'd been looking forward to this day for a long time. 18:59 I've always wanted to go to Old Jerusalem 19:01 and we walked through... through one of the gates 19:03 and I think it was the Jaffa Gate, 19:05 there are a number of Gates that surround the Old City 19:08 which is about four kilometers in perimeter. 19:10 I've walked there a number of times, 19:12 just a beautiful... a beautiful experience 19:14 there they were gathered on that Friday afternoon... 19:17 the men on one side and the women on the other 19:21 and as I watched the view and as the sun began to set, 19:26 more and more men and more and more women 19:29 made their way to this place of worship 19:32 where... where they began to sing 19:35 and they read from the Torah 19:36 and they began to celebrate... the men on one side... 19:39 the women, as you can see, on the other side... 19:42 divided by a wall 19:43 and there was incredible celebrations 19:45 as the Sabbath was brought in. 19:49 Why were they celebrating? 19:51 That is because for a Jew, 19:53 they begin counting down the Sabbath 19:57 when Sunday comes. 19:58 You know how they refer to Sunday? 20:01 "It's only six more days until the Sabbath. " 20:08 Only six more... 20:09 Monday... it's only five... and so on and so forth 20:13 and then when Friday comes it's the Preparation day... 20:16 and I'm telling you come lunch time... in Jerusalem 20:19 the shops are shutting up... shutting up shop... 20:22 that's what they tend to do that day 20:24 and people are preparing for the Sabbath, 20:27 they don't wait till the last minute, like, some of us, 20:30 where they're... where they're looking at the clock 20:33 and they're doing the vacuuming 20:34 and they're doing the final bit of cooking 20:36 and they're doing the final bit of whatever 20:38 and as the sun sets and they look at their clocks 20:42 and they're like... "30 seconds to go" 20:44 and they're sliding on their knees 20:46 and they're ready to start off Sabbath... 20:48 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... 20:50 they welcome the Sabbath well and truly before it begins, 20:57 they celebrate it like I have not seen. 20:59 It's just powerful to witness... powerful to witness... 21:04 powerful to witness. 21:05 Well, the Sabbath and family go hand in hand... 21:08 hand in hand. 21:10 Let me share with you from Genesis 1 verses 26 to 28. 21:16 Genesis 1 verses 26 to 28. 21:20 "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, 21:25 according to Our likeness; 21:26 let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 21:29 over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, 21:31 over all the earth and over every creeping thing 21:33 that creeps on the earth. ' 21:34 So God created man in His own image; 21:37 in the image of God He created Him; 21:39 male and female He created them. 21:40 Then God blessed them... " 21:43 Another time, we have the word "blessing" 21:46 "and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; 21:50 fill the earth and subdue it; 21:51 have dominion over the fish of the sea, 21:54 over the birds of the air, 21:55 and over every living thing that moves on the earth. '" 21:58 God created marriage at the beginning of time 22:03 and God created the Sabbath at the beginning of time. 22:07 These two institutions are referred to as blessings 22:11 to the human race. 22:13 The Sabbath was to be the honeymoon for Adam and Eve. 22:19 That's what you do when you get married, isn't that right? 22:22 The next thing you do... you go on a honeymoon 22:24 as so, Adam and Eve... they went on a honeymoon... 22:27 the ultimate honeymoon... 22:29 in the Garden of Eden. 22:31 This place that literally means 22:34 "a place of pleasure and delight. " 22:37 That's what Eden means... 22:39 pleasure and delight... 22:41 and they were there enjoying their honeymoon 22:44 on the 7th day with their Creator God. 22:48 Marriage and the Sabbath hand in hand. 22:51 This was to be so important... this was to last forever 22:57 and ever and ever. 22:59 This blessed institution of the Sabbath 23:01 that God ensured that it would be enshrined 23:05 in the heart of His Law of Love the Ten Commandments. 23:10 Let's go there tonight. 23:12 We heard the words earlier from... 23:16 we read in our Scripture reading in Exodus chapter 20... 23:20 Exodus chapter 20 23:22 and verses 8 to 11, we read these words, 23:25 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 23:28 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 23:31 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 23:34 In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, 23:37 nor your daughter, nor your male servant, 23:39 nor your female servant, nor your cattle, 23:41 nor your stranger who is within your gates. 23:43 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, 23:46 the sea, and all that is in them, 23:49 and rested the seventh day. 23:51 Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. " 23:55 The language directly from the book of Genesis... 23:59 directly from that Sabbath that God created for the human race 24:04 at the very beginning of time. 24:06 The Sabbath and marriage and family 24:11 go hand in hand. 24:13 It's interesting to notice that 24:15 in the very heart of the Garden of Eden 24:18 there were two trees 24:19 that stood out from all the trees. 24:21 You can read about that in Genesis chapter 2 verse 9. 24:24 One of them... the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, 24:28 the other... the Tree of Life. 24:30 As we take a look at the Ten Commandments, 24:32 we discover that there are two commandments 24:35 that stand out amongst the ten 24:38 and they happen to be in the very heart of God's Law... 24:41 The Sabbath Commandment... 24:43 that does not begin with "Thou shalt not... " 24:46 but begins with the word, "Remember" 24:49 "Remember the Sabbath day... " 24:51 lest we forget where we came from. 24:53 And the 5th Commandment, 24:55 "Honor thy mother and thy father. " 24:58 These two commandments are different from all the others 25:03 in how they begin. 25:06 Could it be that God is directing 25:10 the attention of us all... the attention of the world 25:14 to the two institutions that have been neglected 25:17 in human history more than any other. 25:21 The two institutions that will bring forth blessings 25:26 unlike any other... to the entire human race. 25:30 I don't need to remind you tonight 25:33 that marriage and the family is under attack. 25:37 Isn't that true? 25:38 It's under attack... 25:40 like at no other time in earth's history, 25:42 it's under attack. 25:44 I'm not sure what it's like where you may be watching 25:46 around the world, 25:48 but here in Australia, 25:49 currently, more than one in three 25:52 of those who say, "I do... " come to the point 25:56 where they no longer are willing to live together. 26:00 Today, in Australia, the average marriage 26:05 has a "Use-by-date" of 12 years. 26:09 Today, in Australia, four out of five people 26:14 live together before they get married 26:17 and there are many, many 26:20 who don't bother with marriage at all. 26:22 I mean, why bother with an institution 26:24 that has brought so much heartache 26:27 to my parents and to my grandparents 26:29 and so, the enemy has done a tremendous work 26:33 in destroying the very foundation of the society 26:37 which is marriage and the family. 26:39 As goes marriage and the family... so goes society. 26:44 These two institutions given by God to the human race.. 26:48 to Adam and Eve at the very beginning of time, 26:51 marriage and the family... 26:52 two blessed institutions... God blessed them 26:55 today are under attack. 26:57 Today, marriage and the family is under attack 26:59 and one day... and I believe, not too far down the track, 27:03 the Sabbath will also be under attack. 27:06 This is the preliminary... before the main event 27:10 according to Scripture. 27:12 Now, I have to give credit to my friend Rosemary 27:16 who is no stranger to 3ABN Viewers, Rosemary Malkiewycz 27:20 for pointing something powerful out to me 27:22 several years ago. 27:24 We often... we often look at the Ten commandments 27:27 and we say that the first four are in regard 27:30 to our relationship with God, isn't that right? 27:33 And the next six are... in our relationship to one another 27:37 and that... and that is true. 27:40 However, she pointed something out that I hadn't seen before 27:44 and that is... that the 5th Commandment... 27:47 the one that deals with honoring your mother and father... 27:50 marriage and the family... 27:52 so that your days may be long 27:54 in the land that the Lord is giving you... 27:57 that is the only commandment of the last six 28:00 where "the Lord your God" is mentioned. 28:02 The only commandment where "the Lord your God" is mentioned 28:06 it's not mentioned in any of the other six 28:08 and in any of the five that follow. 28:10 Could it be that marriage and the family 28:13 is the hinge... listen to me carefully... 28:17 the hinge that connects us with God 28:21 and connects us with our fellowman... 28:26 the very hinge... marriage and the family... 28:28 once that gives way, they all give way 28:34 and that is where we are today. 28:37 Today, the very hinge of God's Law... 28:40 the very hinge that the blessings of humanity 28:45 is hinged on is under attack 28:47 and so, there'll be nothing left when that goes completely. 28:53 The very foundation of our society... 28:56 it's been said the Sabbath has been likened 29:01 to the Bill of Rights. 29:02 The American Bill of Rights or any nation's Bill of Rights. 29:06 You would probably be very familiar with these words 29:10 from the Declaration of Independence. 29:13 July 4, 1776 when 13 American Colonies broke away 29:18 from the King... or the Kingdom, I should say, 29:23 of Great Britain and... and formed the foundations of 29:26 what would become known as the United States of America. 29:30 Notice these words, 29:31 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, 29:33 that all men are created equal, 29:35 that they are endowed by their Creator 29:37 with certain inalienable rights, 29:39 that among these are Life, Liberty, 29:42 and the Pursuit of Happiness. " 29:43 That's the Declaration of Independence, 29:44 they are words from the Declaration of Independence. 29:48 As I look at those words, I cannot help but discover 29:52 and notice that these are the very words 29:54 in the 4th Commandment. 29:56 If you take a look at Exodus chapter 20 and verse 10, 30:00 once again, 30:02 you discover there that the Sabbath 30:03 was designed by God for all. 30:08 Let me read, "... in it you shall do no work, 30:11 you, nor your son, nor your daughter, 30:13 nor your male servant, nor your female servant, 30:15 nor your cattle, 30:16 nor your stranger who is within your gates... " 30:18 it's for all. 30:19 The Sabbath is for all... 30:22 for all. 30:24 It's the image of God once again being re-created 30:30 in His people... in His children. 30:32 Pause... 30:34 I find it fascinating that the Sabbath 30:39 was also a symbol for deliverance. 30:43 Every seventh year, the slaves were to be released 30:48 according to Exodus 21 verse 2. 30:51 According to Exodus 23 verses 10 and 11, 30:54 the land was to rest every seventh year 30:57 and the poor were to enjoy the produce during that time. 31:02 If ever there was a time when we desperately needed 31:06 God's Sabbath rest, I believe it's today. 31:09 Audience: Amen. 31:10 I believe it's today. 31:12 The words of Jesus come to mind in Matthew 11 and verse 28, 31:18 Jesus says, "Come unto Me, 31:20 all you who labor and are heavy laden, 31:23 and I will give you... " what? 31:24 I will give you rest. 31:26 Today, we are absorbed and bombarded 31:30 by attractions and distractions. 31:34 We are bombarded by what people think we ought to be 31:39 in order to have value. 31:40 We live in a world today where you are valuable 31:45 and you're important and you're significant 31:50 depending on the job you have, 31:53 depending on where you live, 31:55 the car you drive, 31:57 your education, 31:59 your bank balance, 32:01 your share portfolio, 32:03 your investments. 32:05 Today, we live in a world 32:08 where unlike any other time in earth's history, 32:12 people are comparing themselves with one another. 32:16 Facebook... 32:18 do I need to tell you a little bit about Facebook? 32:20 And its cousins in the media 32:27 in social media... 32:29 it's all about what I've been doing... 32:31 where I've been going... what I've been eating... 32:33 what I've been drinking... what I've been wearing... 32:34 what car I have bought 32:37 and so we're comparing ourselves to one another 32:39 and I love the Sabbath 32:40 because the Sabbath is a day when we all come together 32:44 and we realize... we are all the same. 32:47 We're all the same... 32:50 it matters not what you look like, 32:52 where you're from, 32:53 how rich or how poor you are, 32:55 you are equally valuable 32:58 because the Sabbath reminds us that we all came 33:02 from a Creator God who created us in His image 33:05 at the beginning of time. 33:07 Amen. 33:08 The Sabbath is the great equalizer, 33:12 and if ever there was a time when we needed that equalizer, 33:17 it's today... it's today. 33:19 Jesus said, in Mark chapter 2 and verses 27 and 28, 33:27 "The Sabbath was made for man... mankind... 33:30 and not man for the Sabbath. 33:32 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath. " 33:35 Jesus went about doing good, the Bible says, 33:38 Jesus said, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath 33:42 and I find it fascinating that the Gospel writers record 33:47 seven Sabbath miracles that Jesus performed. 33:50 I suspect He performed many more Sabbath miracles 33:55 but they have recorded seven. 33:57 Why seven? 33:58 Could it be that God wanted us to understand and to know 34:05 seven being God's perfect number... 34:08 the number of completion... 34:10 that we need to continue to do good on the Sabbath 34:15 continually... 34:16 continually. 34:21 The Sabbath is not only a day where we remember our Creator 34:27 and where we have come from 34:29 and that God has created us in His image 34:31 and is seeking to restore us more and more... day by day... 34:35 into His image 34:37 but it's also a symbol... a powerful symbol of redemption. 34:42 Notice these words that we find in Deuteronomy 34:45 chapter 5 and verses 12 and 15 where Moses... 34:50 before his departure and before his death, 34:54 he recounts the history of Israel 34:58 and he shares the Ten Commandments once again 35:01 with his people 35:03 but there's slight twist to the fourth commandment 35:07 and I want us to notice. 35:08 Notice, Deuteronomy chapter 5 verses 12 and 15, 35:12 "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, 35:14 as the LORD your God commanded you... 35:16 and then we have in the next verses 35:19 a direct quotation out of Exodus chapter 20 35:22 but then, in verse 15, we have a change. 35:26 "And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, 35:30 and the LORD your God brought you out 35:32 from there by a mighty hand 35:33 and by an outstretched arm; 35:35 therefore the LORD your God commanded you 35:38 to keep the Sabbath. " 35:40 Observe the Sabbath... remember it 35:44 because you were a slave in Egypt 35:48 and God brought you out with His mighty hand. 35:50 So, not only is the Sabbath a memorial for Creation, 35:56 not only is it a powerful reminder of creation 35:58 and our Creator God, 35:59 but it's also a reminder that we have been redeemed. 36:03 We have been set free, not by slavery in Egypt 36:09 but we have been set free from the slavery of sin. 36:14 That's what the Sabbath is... 36:17 reminding us of creation... reminding us of redemption... 36:22 I find it fascinating and I don't think it's by chance 36:26 that in Genesis chapter 1 and 2, 36:29 there it says, "And God finished all of His work 36:31 that He had done 36:33 at the end of six days of creation. " 36:35 And then, when we come to Calvary 4,000 years later, 36:41 Jesus' final words before He gives up the Spirit 36:46 as the Bible says, or gives up His breath and dies, 36:50 He cries out in John chapter 19 verse 30, 36:53 "It is... " what? 36:54 "finished... " 36:56 and He cried out on Friday, "It is finished" 36:59 when He purchased our salvation by His precious blood. 37:04 Audience: Amen. 37:06 At the end of the six days of Creation, 37:09 God said, "It is finished... " 37:12 and He rested on the Sabbath. 37:14 At the end of salvation on the cross, 37:21 on Friday afternoon, 37:23 Jesus cried out, "It is finished... " 37:27 I have paid the price... I have won the victory 37:30 amen... 37:31 and what did He do? 37:33 He rested... He rested in the grave 37:35 and he rose on the first day of the week, 37:38 the first day of Creation... 37:40 to continue to re-create in you and me and all of us 37:44 His wonderful image 37:46 and to prepare us for the heavenly courts above, amen. 37:48 Audience: Amen. 37:50 The Sabbath... 37:51 God's memorial of creation and redemption... 37:57 and for this reason... for this reason 38:00 because the Sabbath is linked in Exodus chapter 20 38:06 to Creation 38:08 and the Sabbath is linked in Deuteronomy chapter 5 38:13 to God's redemption for the people of God... 38:18 listen to me carefully and clearly, 38:20 for the people of God, 38:22 the Sabbath became God's covenant 38:26 with His people. 38:28 Audience: Amen. 38:29 Really? 38:31 Really. 38:32 Notice these words from Exodus chapter 31 verses 12 and 13, 38:40 "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 38:43 'Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 38:45 "Surely My... '" what? 38:47 "My Sabbaths you shall... " do what? 38:50 "you shall keep for it is a... " what? 38:52 "a sign between me and you throughout your... " what? 38:57 "generations, that you may... " what? 38:59 "know that I am the LORD who... " does what? 39:03 "sanctifies you. " 39:04 Wow! 39:06 The Sabbath is God's covenant between Him and His people. 39:16 It was to be the outward sign... 39:18 it was to be the outward demonstration 39:21 that you belong to God. 39:23 A little like two individuals on their very special day 39:30 when they say, "I do... " before all their family 39:33 before all their friends... 39:35 will give one another a... what? 39:38 As an outward symbol 39:39 that they have committed their lives together forever. 39:41 Until death do them part. 39:43 What do they give one another? 39:44 Do you know what they give one another? 39:48 They give one another.. yeah... a kiss... 39:51 I'm thinking of... I'm thinking of something that's 39:54 possibly a little bit more significant to them. 39:57 Well, depending... 39:59 they give one another a wedding ring. 40:02 Isn't that right? 40:04 In many cultures... including our culture here in Australia, 40:08 many choose to give one another a wedding ring. 40:12 What's that wedding ring? 40:15 A wedding ring is an outward symbol... 40:18 an outward sign to all those around you 40:22 that you have done... what? 40:24 That you have committed your life to someone 40:27 for the rest of your life 40:29 and so the... the Sabbath is that outward sign... 40:33 it's that the outward symbol that God's people choose 40:37 as they keep that day holy 40:41 to demonstrate before the entire world 40:45 that they belong to their Creator 40:48 and Redeemer God, amen. 40:49 Audience: Amen. 40:51 That's the whole purpose of the Sabbath. 40:54 It's powerful... absolutely powerful. 40:58 and so too, at the end of time, 41:01 the Bible says in Revelation chapter 7 41:04 and Revelation chapter 14, 41:05 God will have a people who will receive His seal. 41:08 The seal... the sign... 41:10 it will be the covenant between God and His faithful people 41:14 at the end of time, 41:15 you can read about that in Revelation chapter 7, 41:17 verses 1 to 3, 41:18 we don't have time to go there tonight, 41:20 in Revelation chapter 14 verse 1, 41:22 where Revelation describes God's end-time people 41:26 as having His Father's name written on their foreheads... 41:30 that sign of the covenant 41:35 that was for God's people during the time of Israel 41:41 continues all the way through to the very end of time 41:47 and God's seal... 41:48 God sign at the end of time is indeed His Sabbath day. 41:51 It's His Sabbath day and make no mistake... 41:55 those three significant elements of a seal... 41:59 the name... 42:01 the title... 42:03 the territory of the person giving that seal... 42:06 they are all found in the Sabbath Commandment. 42:10 "The Lord your God Who is the Creator... " 42:14 that's His title... 42:16 His dominion... "the heavens and the earth 42:18 and all that is within them... " it's all in there... 42:20 and if we had time to unpack that, I would... 42:22 but that's God's seal... 42:24 that's God's special sign at the end of time 42:26 and in Hebrews... 42:27 Hebrews chapter 4 and verses 4 and 9, 42:32 New Testament... we have these words, 42:36 "For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day 42:38 in this way: 42:40 'And God... '" did what? 42:42 "rested on the seventh day from all His works... 42:45 therefore there remains a rest" for who? 42:50 "for the people of God. " 42:52 There remains a rest for the people of God... 42:55 pause... 42:58 that word there "remains" is in the continuous tense. 43:01 I'm not a scholar... I'm not even close... 43:05 but I asked one of my "scholar" friends 43:08 who is a... who is well versed and well acquainted 43:14 with the Greek language of the New Testament 43:16 and I asked him... I said, 43:17 "Is it possible that this is in the continuous tense?" 43:20 He says, "Yes... 43:21 this means it remains forever and ever and ever and ever. " 43:27 Audience: Praise the Lord. 43:29 The Sabbath remains as God's eternal covenant. 43:33 I want to share with you 43:36 something you may not have thought of. 43:38 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy... " 43:42 there is a covenant that God made with Noah. 43:46 You can read the story of Noah in Genesis 43:49 and you'll discover there that God... 43:53 God has Moses... the author of Genesis, 43:57 writing the story of the flood in what is known as a Chiasm. 44:03 You may be thinking, "What on earth is a Chiasm?" 44:05 A Chiasm is a literary device that the Hebrews used 44:10 and the majority of the stories of the Old Testament 44:14 or many of them are written in this Chiastic form 44:18 which is... where the first part of the story 44:21 lines up with the last part of the story. 44:24 Second... with the second last... 44:26 third... with the third last... 44:27 and so on and so forth 44:29 until you get to the heart of the Chiasm 44:32 which I call the "bull's eye" 44:35 the most important part of the story 44:37 and in the story of Noah, 44:39 guess what the very center of the story of Noah is? 44:43 It's Genesis chapter 8 verse 1 44:46 and there it simply says, "And God remembered Noah. " 44:51 Wow! 44:53 "Remember the Sabbath-day covenant" 44:57 God remembered Noah. 44:59 Could it be that when the thief on the cross says, 45:05 "Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom... " 45:09 he was calling upon the covenant of God... 45:12 the truthfulness... the faithfulness 45:15 of God and His covenant. 45:16 The Old Testament ends... go home and read it... 45:22 Malachi chapter 4, verses 5 and 6, 45:24 where God, one final time, is seeking to... 45:28 is seeking to remind His people of His loving covenant 45:31 that He has made with them and He says, "Remember... 45:34 remember the covenant I made with you, 45:39 you can look it up. 45:41 Remember... 45:42 I wonder why it's called the Book of Remembrance... 45:47 Remembrance... 45:49 lest we forget God and His covenant of love... 45:55 His covenant of grace to us 45:58 God said, "Remember... 46:01 Remember... 46:03 and so as we end, we want to go to the book of Revelation, 46:07 Revelation chapter 14 46:10 where one final time at the end of earth's history, 46:12 and Pastor Geoff Youlden reminded us of this 46:17 in previous powerful message on the judgment. 46:21 and Revelation chapter 14, 46:24 we have God's final message of love to the world... 46:27 three angels that are streaking through the skies 46:32 at the end of time symbolic three angels... 46:35 three all-important messages that God has for the world 46:39 and notice these words in Revelation 14 verses 6 and 7, 46:42 John writes, "Then I saw another angel 46:46 flying in the midst of heaven, having the... " what? 46:48 "the everlasting gospel 46:50 to preach to those who dwell on the earth... 46:52 to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people... 46:54 saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, 46:58 for the hour of His judgment has come... '" 47:00 and notice these words now, 47:01 and do... what? 47:03 "worship Him who made heaven and earth, 47:05 the sea and the springs of water. " 47:07 These words are taken directly out of the 4th Commandment, 47:12 "to worship Him Who made heaven and earth, 47:16 the sea and the springs of water. " 47:18 These words come to us from the book of Genesis 47:21 where God gave the Sabbath to the human race. 47:24 At the end of time, God is inviting the world... 47:27 inviting the world to enter into His covenant of grace 47:33 that the Sabbath is such a powerful symbol of... 47:38 to worship Him as Creator and God... 47:42 as Creator and God. 47:43 Today, the Sabbath is under attack 47:49 and I don't need to remind you 47:51 especially, ever since Charles Darwin put out his thesis, 47:59 "The Origin of Species" in 1859 48:03 no longer do many... 48:07 do most, especially in the western world 48:11 believe that we came from a loving Creator God 48:15 and so the Creator and creation is under attack. 48:19 I find it fascinating that Charles Darwin 48:24 put out his first major 230-page draft of 48:29 "Original of the Species" in 1844... 48:31 in 1844... 48:33 the beginning of the judgment... 48:36 the beginning of the judgment hour, wow! 48:39 Two messages going head to head and so, this message 48:44 is for the entire world 48:45 and God says, "He will have a people... " 48:47 He will have a people on planet earth 48:49 who will be faithful to Him... 48:52 who will enter into His covenant... 48:54 we read that in verse 12 of Revelation 14, 48:56 "Here is the patience of... " who? 48:57 "the saints, 48:59 "here are those who... " do what?" 49:00 keep the commandments of God... " 49:01 and have the what? "the faith of Jesus" 49:04 and these groups of people are hated by the enemy. 49:07 They're absolutely hated by the enemy... 49:11 in Revelation 12:17, the dragon... who is Satan... 49:15 a symbol of Satan... 49:16 he hates God's people who enter into this Commandment Covenant 49:23 of grace... 49:24 and he seeks to destroy them. 49:29 He seeks to destroy them. 49:31 Why? 49:32 That is because according to Revelation 22 and verse 14, 49:36 God's end-time covenant-keeping people 49:40 those who love Jesus and keep His commandments 49:43 including the one that begins with the word "remember. " 49:46 In Revelation 22 verse 14, it says, 49:49 "Blessed are those who do His commandments 49:52 that they may have the right to the Tree of Life 49:54 and may enter through the gates into the City. " 49:56 Audience: Amen. 49:57 "Blessed... blessed are they... " 50:00 that word rings a bell doesn't it? 50:02 "Blessed... " 50:03 I remember reading that in Genesis 2 and Exodus 20. 50:09 "Blessed... blessed. " 50:12 So the Sabbath... as we take a look at the Sabbath 50:15 in the Bible, 50:17 we see that at the beginning of time 50:20 God created the Sabbath day. 50:22 At Mount Sinai, God commanded it. 50:24 In His life, Jesus worshipped on it. 50:26 In his death, Jesus observed it. 50:28 The New Testament church continued to observe it. 50:31 God's last-day people will keep it. 50:33 And finally, number 7... 50:36 we got to have 7 don't we? 50:38 We're dealing with the Sabbath, we got to have 7... 50:40 finally, the Sabbath will remain for how long? 50:43 Forever and ever and ever... 50:46 let me finish off with Isaiah chapter 66 verses 22 and 23 50:50 where God describes those who are living in the New Jerusalem 50:55 on the earth made new, 50:57 "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make 51:00 shall remain before Me, says the LORD, 51:02 So shall your descendants and your name remain. 51:04 And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, 51:08 and from one... " what? 51:09 "Sabbath to another... " most of the flesh... 51:13 No! "all flesh shall come and" do what? 51:16 "worship before Me, says the LORD." 51:19 Wow! God's Sabbath given to the human race 51:24 as a blessing before sin entered the world 51:28 will continue to be a blessing to all of the redeemed 51:33 throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity 51:37 so, what are we going to do every Sabbath? 51:40 Good question, thank you for asking. 51:42 We're going to come before our Creator God 51:45 and our Redeemer God 51:47 and we're going to fall at His feet 51:49 and we're going to say, "Thank You and praise Your name 51:53 that You created us in Your image 51:57 and when we walked away, You came in human form 52:02 and You died for us as our redeemer 52:06 and then You came as our coming King 52:10 to usher us into the eternal rest 52:14 where there'll be no more pain... 52:17 no more suffering... 52:19 no more sin... 52:21 each and every Sabbath, we will bow down and worship 52:25 our Creator and our Redeemer God 52:29 Who will sustain us for all eternity. " 52:32 Audience: Amen. 52:34 So, is it your decision... 52:35 is it your desire to be part of that group 52:39 throughout all eternity that will come and worship... 52:43 because it's all about who is worthy to be worshipped... 52:47 worship the Creator and the Redeemer. 52:50 Is that your desire? 52:51 That is my desire, let us pray, 52:53 "Father in heaven, we thank You and praise You 52:57 that Jesus is our Creator... He is our Savior 53:01 and He is our coming King... 53:04 the One we will live forever and ever with. 53:07 Bless us Father, on this Sabbath day 53:09 as we long and look forward to that eternal rest, 53:13 we will enjoy with Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior, 53:18 in His name we pray, 53:20 and everybody said, amen and amen... " 53:22 and God bless. |
Revised 2019-12-30