3rd Aug 08 - HolidaysSpeaker: Pastor Modupe Omideyi
Topic: Holidays
Text: Genesis 2:1-3
The word "holiday" is actually a corruption of 'Holy Day'. The first holiday was taken by God. He rested on the seventh day, ceased from work, blessed the day and made it holy. He was not tired but had completed the work He had been doing (Genesis 2:1-3). Rest was made statutory for the people of Israel. In Exodus 12:14-16, God commanded them to hold a holy assembly and do not work except to prepare food. In Exodus 16:23-30, God gave them the Sabbath - day of rest. Sabbath (1) - pause, cease, be still
Sabbath (2) - rest mentally and physically
God commanded the Sabbath for two reasons (Exodus 20:8-11; Deutoronomy 5:12-15);
1. He rested on that day and made it holy
2. So that the entire community can rest including servants
The principles of Sabbath apply to our "holy days"- our days of rest. This period of rest may be seasons, days or moments in a day. Sabbath is a spiritual discipline as is prayer, fasting, giving, service. Proper rest is therefore more than just relaxation or break from work. It is a spiritual discipline. It affords us time to recover and be replenish (eg Elijah - I Kings 19:4-8; Jesus - Mark 1:31 -38); time to stop and celebrate (Genesis 1:31 - Genesis 2:3), time to share God's enjoyment of creation (Psalm 92). It enables us to rejoice (Philippians 4:4-6). It cuts across various vices like workaholic, materialism, pre-occupation with past or future, self -pity, anxiety, undervaluing relationship and family.
Isaiah 58:13-14 spells out the attitude we should keep towards the Sabbath. We should not go our own way, do as we please or speak idle words. We should instead call it a delight and consider it honourable. The result of which is joy, victory and abudance. |
