DAY 8: THE CREATION STORY VII: THE SABBATH

THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY
(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

TOPIC: THE CREATION STORY VII: THE SABBATH
DATE: 8 SEPTEMBER, 2019
BIBLE READING: GENESIS 2:1-3
MEDITATION/MEMORY VERSE: HEBREWS 4:9-11 (AMP)
So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labours, just as God rested from [those labours uniquely] His own. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].

In our today’s devotional, we are looking at Sabbath as a system, not as a day.
Sabbath simply refers to rest. And according to Mark 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for man,” refers to a system God had given to His people. But, “man for the Sabbath,” refers to a day of worship. And in verse 28, Jesus Christ addressed himself as the Lord of the Sabbath; a system of rest.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus Christ says, “Come to me… And I will give you rest.”
According to our verse for meditation, there is a rest God is calling everyone to enter. That means, that system of Sabbath has a location. The location is in Jesus, because in Philippians 2:10, it says, “that at the name of Jesus…”
We quote that verse wrongly, saying “at the mention of His name.” No! “AT the name of Jesus.” This speaks of a place. Just like you are saying, “I’m AT Lagos.” See this now:
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].
There are two things I want you to observe. First, “The name of the Lord…” which supports Philippians 2:10. So this place of rest is a strong tower. Secondly, “…the righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].” This “far above evil” can also be seen in Ephesians 1:19-23. But particularly verse 21, which says, “Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.” That “far above evil” was expatiated here. And this has a cross-reference in Philippians 2:9 and 10.
“For we who have believed do enter that rest…” (Heb. 4:3). But in verse 11, we are to labour to enter into that rest. Since we believe, why do we need to labour again to enter that rest?
Just like apostle Paul, in Romans 7, he talked about his struggles with sin. But he laboured to crucify the flesh, and he got to that rest of ‘victory’ in Galatians 2:20.
As you have believed, make every effort in the secret place to come to that place of rest— far above all evils. So that no one will fall away just like the Israelites in the wilderness, they were saved from Egypt, but because of disobedience, they never entered the Promised Land.

ACTION POINT: I STRIVE TO ENTER THAT REST OF VICTORY.
PRAYER POINT: O LORD! PLEASE GRANT ME THE GRACE TO LABOUR TO ENTER INTO YOUR PERFECT REST.
PERSONAL READING: HEBREWS 3:16-4:11