Title Keep the Sunday holy (Luke 13:10-17)
One of the most important things in life of faith is to keep Sunday holy. Even believers who are good at everything else, when they fail to keep the Lord's Day holy, we can often see that their faith is not mature and they are not blessed. However, when we keep Sunday holy, there are many changes and maturity in our faith and life. In 1 Samuel 2:30, it says, 'Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me I will despise.' God values and blesses those who have a heart to honor God and keep Sunday holy.
What are the biblical theological reasons for keeping Sunday holy?
First, keeping Sunday is a confession of creation faith. God created the universe and everything in the beginning. In the process of creation, He set the Sabbath. He created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, so he created Sunday in the creation schedule. Therefore, keeping Sunday is a confession of faith that God the Creator created the universe and everything.
Second, keeping Sunday is a confession of faith in the resurrection. Jesus Christ died on the cross to bear the sins of mankind and rose from the dead on the third day. The Resurrection Day is the first Sunday after the Sabbath. Sunday is the day when the grace of salvation is given to those who believe in the risen Lord. In the early church, Saturday and Sunday were kept as days of worship together. Then A.D. Around the 3rd century, Sunday was observed. We honor Sunday because it is the day of victory when the Lord overcame all the forces of death and rose from the dead. In John 11:25, the Lord confirms faith in the resurrection to the family before raising Lazarus from the dead, four days after his burial. 'Jesus said to me, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" And after hearing the confession of faith, he raises Lazarus to life. The Lord gives eternal life to all the saints who believe and profess the resurrection faith with their hearts. As such, Sunday is the day when we confess our faith in the Resurrection.
Third, keeping Sunday is a confession of revelation faith. Sunday is Pentecost Day. It is the day of the coming of the Lord. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost when 120 disciples prayed earnestly before God in Mark's upper room. That day is a Sunday. Moses also received the law from God on Sunday. Therefore, Sunday is the day God speaks to the people, the day on which the Holy Spirit is poured out, and the day on which grace is given. When you worship on Sunday, God's grace like the spiritual dew will come down in your hearts.
Fourth, keeping Sunday is a confession of Sabbath faith. Sunday is the Sabbath, that is, a day of rest. Many scholars interpret that the best system given for mankind is the family, the church, and this Sunday system. Rest means not only physical rest, but also eternal rest with peace, righteousness, eternal life, and joy in God on the day we finish our traveler's life. At the end of life there is an eternal Sabbath. To confess that there is such a day of rest is to keep Sunday.
What are the characteristics of Sunday?
First, Sunday is a holy day. Holy day. Today is the Lord's Day. This time is set by the Lord. It is a day ordained and set apart to be holy. God is keeping this time holy. Our chapel was also built with the same building materials as other buildings. But this space is sacred. It is a temple where worship, education, missions, grace, love, and service are found here. It is a holy place because it is the place where the Lord is present, meets the people, and receives worship. Similarly, Sundays are not 24 hours like any other day. It is God who claims the time of the week.
Third, Sunday is a good day. It is a day of blessing. Sunday is a system created by God. Those who cherish and respect this day because they are grateful for God's giving of the Lord's Day will change their families and lives. On Sunday, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. On Sunday, the Communist Party attacked and waged war. The result is failure. God protects the people who keep the Sabbath. Here's an example. There were people who regarded the Sunday holy water as life. In farming in the countryside, he believes only in himself and does not trust others. People who don't believe said, 'I will do the rice planting in your house on Sundays' in an attempt to fool this man. Then the man said that I had to go to church and said that I would not do it on Sundays. So it is said that the man could not plant rice and planted something else there. But that year, the whole area was in drought and there was no crop. However, only this house testifies that it has produced well. We need to see the blessings that are linked to one event at a time. You must believe that God blesses you. Our life itself is in God.
How should I keep Sunday?
First of all, you must adore. Psalm 84:10 says, "Better one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere, that is, it is better for me to be a gatekeeper of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked." In this way, we should long for Sunday.
Second, you must be prepared. Preparing to keep Sunday holy is very important. Even now, it is said that the people of Israel observe the Sabbath by shooting them at the first hour of the Sabbath, which begins at sunset. It means that not only shops and department stores are closed, but each family prepares food and everything to worship God and to educate their children about the Word. In this way, on the day of worshiping God, if you prepare and come out, there will be no one who will not receive grace. You will receive God's grace when you come before the Lord with your body, mind, and everything prepared while earnestly longing for God's grace that is given at the right time. If you keep these basic principles of faith well, your faith will be blessed.
Third, it must be offered as a sacrifice. A sacrifice must be present in worship. Sunday is a day to offer sacrifices to God in spirit and in truth. Worship is giving the most valuable thing to God. The foundation of worship is offering to God. It is the offering of time, body, and sacrifice. In this way, worship is not going to see, but to offering. This is the fundamental principle of sacrifice made by God.
What is God's promise to those who keep Sunday holy?
God blesses those who keep Sunday holy. I have an appointment. Isaiah 58:14 teaches us specifically. 'You will find joy in the LORD, and I will raise you on the highest places of the earth, and I will raise you up for the inheritance of your father Jacob,' says the LORD.
First, it's fun. He says it brings joy to those who keep the Sunday holy. It is a life that finds joy in the Lord.
The second is respect. It is to make you stand in a high position on the earth. It is a promise that God honors those who keep Sunday holy. In the grace of God, life is honored.
The third is generosity. God says that Jacob will raise him as his business. This is the fertile blessing of this land that God has promised. It is that God will make great for descendants and businesses who keep Sunday holy.
Dear brothers and sisters, it is a blessing to follow God's ordinances, ordinances, and laws like this. I hope that you will become saints who keep the Sunday holy throughout your life, and that you will enjoy the true peace and blessings that God has given you.