Holidays

Chuck Missler talked about how our traditions (holidays) are actually pagan in origin.  He views it as an experience of nostalgia, but admits that it may be more spiritually pure to not celebrate these things.  He recognizes that we are in the world, but hopefully not of it – Satan is the ruler of this world.

Greater Responsibility

God has revealed to me that with greater truth comes greater responsibility.  By asking him to reveal truth, I am asking for the things that go along with it.  For example, the idea of the Sabbath has been raised to my attention.  If the Lord reveals that this is an expectation to observe, that does represent growth in the Lord, while representing a new responsibility to respond to that truth with head (decisions) and hand (deeds).

More Games

I struggled today with deciding whether or not to buy an Xbox 360 game that I had on pre-order for a couple months – Fable 2.  I struggled because I wasn’t sure whether it was something that ‘God would approve of me doing’.  The feeling I faced was whether my time should be free enough to be spending on something like that or whether I should focus that time on the Lord.  

In studying Ezekiel tonight, Chuck Missler talks about idol worship.  He says that “Any kind of excessive preoccupation with something other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, can become an idol.”  

Now the question is, what’s considered excessive?!  Idols offend God.  Our attention and commitment must be on the Lord.  He may even reward the diligence of making decisions that I think He may not necessarily ‘expect’.  For example, maybe it’s ‘ok’ in His eyes that I play a video game here and there, but maybe, just maybe, it brings Him joy when I choose Him.

Call Upon the Lord

I need to call upon the Holy Spirit in all decisions, moment-by-moment.  When I’m faced with a decision and I’m feeling unsure, I’ve probably already passed the point in which I should have called upon the Lord.  Even then though, being unsure should be the sure reminder to get Him involved – call upon His name.  The Holy Spirit will always draw you closer to the Lord.

Mark of the Beast – Linked to the Sabbath?

http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/booklets/tw-bk.cgi?category=Booklets1&item=1104414149

I’ve been introduced to the idea of the mark of the beast possibly being tied to the observance of the Sabbath.  ‘The Sabbath has been used historically as a test of faith’.  My initial reaction is that the fourth commandment exists, and there is nothing that tells me that the 4th commandment is any less of a commandment than any other.  I may be saved by grace, but obeying the commandments are still my best way of loving God.  Also, Sabbath contains the word ‘Abba’ (father), Sunday contains ‘Sun’ – what do I worship?  Additionally, it’s been raised that the idea of Sunday is actually a Catholic (man-made) idea, and not biblical at all!  Do I follow God’s law or man’s?  

I am going to investigate how I can remember and keep the Sabbath holy to best serve and honor my Lord and God.  This is an urgent research topic.

• Sabbath is actually Shabbat in Hebrew, which means ‘rest’ or ‘cessation’.  
• The day is blessed and sanctified according to Genesis 1.  
• Friday is the day of preparation for the Sabbath
• Sabbath is from Friday sun-down to Saturday sun-down
• The Sabbath was in place from the beginning (Genesis 1).  The commandment was a reminder.
• Recognizing the Sabbath is recognizing God as creator.
• The fourth commandment has more space devoted to it than any other
• "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 manservant, nor your maidservant, 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"
• The Sabbath points to creation – no other day of the week has been blessed by God
• The Sabbath is NOT about sacrifices, washings or ceremonial duties
• ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a SIGN between Me and you throughout your generations, THAT YOU MAY KNOW that I am the Lord who sanctifies you’" (Exodus 31:13).
• "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a PERPETUAL covenant. It is a SIGN between Me and the children of Israel FOREVER, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed" (Exodus 31: 16-17)
• A ‘sign’ (above) is something voluntarily displayed.
• According to Paul, Gentile Christians were to be "grafted" into Israel and become spiritual Israelites (cf. Romans 11:17, 24; Galatians 3:28-29).
• "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God" (Romans 2:28-29). For these reasons, Paul called the New Testament Church the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16)
• "Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil" (Isaiah 56:2).
• "Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants-everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant-even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for ALL NATIONS" (Isaiah 56: 6-7).
• Jesus tells us to follow Him – He is the light, yet many will argue why Sabbath keeping is not necessary
• Whoever therefore breaks one of the LEAST of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19)

Jerusalem

The great event in Jerusalem’s history is the Babylon captivity – 3 sieges.   May 14, 1948, Israel was reborn (the 2nd re-gathering).  Jerusalem was rededicated to Israel June 1967.

Ezekiel 3

Ezekiel 3 – our job is to be a witness (to warn).  It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convert souls

Pride

Pride – The first sin.  ‘Puffing up’, like leaven bread.

Too Many Beers

After journaling yesterday about my struggles, when I went to bed, I cried in prayer.  Mostly was calling out to the Lord to speak to me.  He reaffirmed for me that I am on the right path.  He also led me to realize that the issues I experienced last night were caused by a single root – alcohol.  I had drunk 3 beers and that weakened my spiritual abilities and reception of the Holy Spirit.  

He said specifically that:

That is now the rule I will live by.  I feel that there is more to write about that prayer last night, but I can’t remember more of it, which is a great example of how journaling is so valuable to a Christian.

Mettle

You measure the mettle of a sailor not on a fair day but when the weather’s rough