SHABBAT & DILIGENT WORSHIPPER
YAHWEH DEMANDS OUR WORSHIP.
IT'S FOR THIS REASON HE CREATED US.
KEEP HIS SHABBAT DAY HOLY.
GENESIS 2:2-3; EXODUS 20:8-11; EXODUS 31:13-17
SABBATH – A RENEWAL DAY
I have read through the Scriptures several times, and what kept recurring in them is the LOVE of YAHWEH to His people. He shared His Shabbat rest as the foremost part of His love to His people. To maintain His love with His people, and to establish a special relationship with them, He appointed a special Day of Rest and called it “SHABBAT DAY”. YAHWEH is the Owner and Giver of Shabbat (Gen. 2:2-3). He invited us to be part of it (Gen. 20:8; Mark 2:27-28). Shabbat is YHWH’s major commandment that must be kept (Exodus 20:8-11) by His chosen people. It is a vital SIGN that defines their obedience and the relationship between Him and them (Exodus 20:8-11; Ezekiel 20:12,20). Sabbath is a SIGN that fulfils Exodus 19:5-6 “Covenant”, which means that those who obey Him and keep His Covenant are His Own POSSESSION; they belong to HIM; therefore, He sanctifies them and sets them apart (Exodus 31:13). Again, Sabbath summarises the first five of the Ten Commandments that showcase “LOVE of YHWH to His people”. Let’s gather before our FATHER that loves us dearly. Let’s worship Him on His set-apart day of Shabbat. Let’s remain grateful to His wonderful love in our lives.
SABBATH WARNS AGAINST IDOL WORSHIP
Shabbat Day is the 7th Day of the week. It’s the only day YAHWEH gave a name as “Shabbat” or “REST DAY”. All other days were named – 1st, 2nd, 3rd…6th day. The six days [1st – 6th Days] are all given to man as days for work, except the 7th day of Rest, which is YAHWEH’s [Ex. 20:8-11]. Every truthful Bible scholar will tell you that – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are names of heavenly firmaments the Gentiles designated to the idols they worship (Deut. 4:19; Is. 47:13; Is. 8:2]. Human beings named those days after idols they worship to their own peril. They were not named and authorised by YAHWEH, except the 7th day, which He called SHABBAT or REST (Gen.2:2-3; see Gen. 1:3-31; Ex. 20:8-11). YAHWEH warned Yisrayah [Israel] that they should NEVER worship or bow down to those firmaments named after the Gentile idols; they should also not bow to images they made with their hands on the earth or beneath the earth. Objects of firmament they must not worship include the sun, moon, stars, and days. Till today, the warning against worship of idols has never been heeded. Idols are Satan’s religious ways with which he deceives the whole world [Rev. 12:9]. The ancient fathers of Yisrayah perished because they did not heed YAH’s instructions [see Heb. 4:1-11]. Our relationship with YAHWEH gets reinvigorated the more we consistently obey Him and fellowship with Him on the 7th Day of REST. YAH's desire to fellowship and to relate with His people explains in part the reason for Shabbat Day of worship. One of His greatest commandments in the COVENANT to His beloved children is that they should REMEMBER THE SHABBAT DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY (emphasise mine throughout).
WHY WE KEEP SABBATH
SABBATH IS REST
Why did He charge His people to REMEMBER the Shabbat Day to keep it holy? The reason is that the Shabbat commandment captures the relationship that exists between HIM and His people. How? Shabbat means we should REST from work. Shabbat is a SIGN that we belong to the FATHER, the Creator of heaven and earth. Those who keep Shabbat holy ‘BELONG to Him’. In keeping Shabbat: we glorify His revered NAME, “YAHWEH”, which He demands from us; we showcase LOVE unto Him; and we submit to Him in WORSHIP as FATHER and CREATOR. When we keep Shabbat Day holy in spirit and truth, we meet His commands of rest and worship unto HIM [Ex. 20:8-11; Ex. 31:12-17; Rev. 14:6-9]. Rest and worship of YAH are very important components of the first five commandments of the covenant that showcase our love for HIM, and we must not be lukewarm about it. It’s a matter of life and death to keep Shabbat Day holy. In Shabbat obedience, YAHWEH stores the blessing of life for those who would obey; and the curse of death to those who would disobey. This is a secret known only to the obedient children. To be part of life maintenance and blessings, consistency in hearing and doing His commandments is key (Deut. 4:1-5). Having observed Shabbat day thus far, I attest that there are indeed blessings for keeping His fourth commandment called SHABBAT. YHWH the FATHER kept the Sabbath; YAHSHUA MESSIYAH kept the Sabbath; the Disciples kept the Sabbath; the Sabbath is kept also in heaven. We are charged to continue to keep the Sabbath – because rebellion attracts a curse and eternal death.
SABBATH – TEST COMMANDMENT
I have steadily heard from true believers’ testimonies that YAHWEH renews and reinvigorates the life of His obedient people regularly, particularly on the 7th Day Shabbat meetings. Remarkably, and according to the Scriptures, the Shabbat Day happens to be the TEST COMMANDMENT that showcases the ROLL-CALL of OBEDIENCE and ATTENDANCE. Every believer must fulfil his or her Attendance Record before YAHWEH. From it, His people are remembered for the oncoming great salvation. Do you know that it’s because of consistency in keeping to YAH’s commands that a Book of Remembrance was written and opened to His people? Malachi the Prophet revealed that when the Priests failed in their duties to continue to guide Yisrayah’s [Israel] to worship Him in line with His Covenant, He was angry with them. He warned them and told them the consequences for discontinuing in revering His holy NAME through worship [Mal. 2:1-2]. He told them that He would “curse” them if they continued to be derelict in His commandments; and He did curse them. Even today, priests, pastors, teachers, etc. who lead people away from calling His true Name in worship and honour are under YAH’s curse. Malachi further reveals:
“Then those who feared YAHWEH spoke with each other, and YAHWEH listened to what they said. In His presence, a Scroll [Book] of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honour of His NAME. “They will be My people,” says YAHWEH of Heavens Armies. “On the day when I act in judgement, they will be My Own special treasure. I will spare them as a FATHER spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve YAH and those who do not.” [Malachi 3:16-18, NLT; also see Rev. 3:8,10].
Exactly! This is about obedience to keeping His SHABBAT Test Commandments where the believer showcases LOVE, WORSHIP, and reverence of His NAME. To YAHWEH, consistency and steadfastness in worship and service are very important for our life and salvation.
SABBATH – A MEANS FOR MEASURING OBEDIENCE
For the reason that SHABBAT is a key JUDGEMENT commandment, YAH enshrines it in a Stone Tablet as a memorial appointment with His people. Indeed, we hear that those who maintain their PRESENCE and call upon His NAME, a Book of Remembrance (Book of Life) was written and opened for them. In the Book of Life, their acts that inform their obedience are recorded. These are truly the believers and keepers of His Word who don't slacken on His instructions. No matter the life pressures and worries, they remain steadfast as they seek to do those things that please Him, as YAHSHUA also did. YAHSHUA affirms that this set of people are indeed His DISCIPLES.
Another truth I found from the Scriptures is that YAHWEH use the Test Commandments, Sabbath, to select His seed and His kind, that bear His image so that they can INHERIT HIS KINGDOM. YAHSHUA reveals this truth by asking us to first 'seek the KINGDOM of YAHWEH and His RIGHTEOUSNESS'. No one can seek His Kingdom and Righteousness without adhering to the pathway of Shabbat and Feast appointed to teach and reveal His Way, Truth, and Life (Lk. 4:16; Jn. 7:17-18; Jn. 14:6). Until people discover the truth behind keeping SHABBAT and Feasts, they may not appreciate that Shabbat is [part of] the pathway to continuous means to learn, to know, to receive blessings, and to increase in faith and to grow in HIS KNOWLEDGE. Until people love to place their trust in Him and obey His voice, they may not understand how much harm they cause themselves in disobedience. In this regard, I also found that only a few people discover this hidden truth, and no one can take it away from them. Many will be shocked in the judgment days to know that Shabbat is key to the Covenant Law of YAHWEH. Sabbath as a test commandment, it measures OBEDIENCE in the call to WORSHIP YAHWEH Who created the heavens and the earth [Rev. 7:6-9]. Those who rebel against worship of YAHWEH will perish in everlasting fire [Rev. 7:10-11].
SABBATH KEEPING DEMANDS CONSISTENCY
Someone may ask: 'Don’t I keep YAHWEH's Shabbat and the Feasts?'
My Dear Reader, the Scriptures teach that those who worship HIM shall worship HIM in spirit and truth. They must continue to do so consistently, persistently, and joyfully. Can we truthfully declare that we keep His appointed holy days as HE commands? Judge for yourself! Now, following His demand for consistency and sincerity to worship Him every Shabbat Day and every appointed Feast, do we truly honour HIM with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our might? Do we fulfil the reason HE created us, which is to serve and worship HIM? Do we do those things that please HIM? Or, do we worship and serve HIM when it pleases us? We can’t worship and serve Him at our own pleasure (Isaiah 58:13-14). It was because the fathers of old chose to serve HIM anyhow they liked that HE abhorred their Sabbaths and their feasts [Isaiah 1:10-15]. Do we want to continue the pathway of our fathers? The commandment says, on the Shabbat Day, ‘down tools of work.’ DO NO WORK! That Day is sacred for Him. Shabbat is YAHWEH’s Day, which He invites us to family interaction and rejoicing. He needs our presence; our relationship; our reverence, and true worship. In all these, it’s for our own good. To choose when to honour Him and when not to do so is an act of disobedience punishable by death. Is He harsh? No! We must obey and honour YAHWEH because HE is our Creator. He gave us six days to work. He took only one day [Seventh Day], and asked us to keep it holy. To work on Sabbath day is to challenge His POWER and AUTHORITY. According to His Word, His coming judgment and wrath will fall on those who did not obey Him. By choosing to be casual undermines His plan and purpose for our lives. How will He refine us and get us ready for His kingdom when we're not ready to learn and obey His voice? How will we continue to be remembered in His ROLL-CALL? Maintaining an obedient life and listening to YAHWEH always is the answer for our names to remain in the BOOK OF LIFE.
DEATH AWAITS VIOLATORS OF SABBATH
The seed of YAHWEH are the obedient people, and they follow Him wherever HE goes. SHABBAT as Test Commandment is meant to sieve and pick His seed. Sabbath is meant to ascertain obedience. It's meant to define those who are YAHWEH’s sons and daughters and to open the Book of Life for their continuous REMBRANCE till YAHSHUA returns. It's meant to certify those who belong to Him. It's meant to identify His family. It's part of the narrow way. Many don't walk by it. Those who hate HIM never keep His Shabbat way. Shabbat Day is a "secret fruit", a “test code”, that identifies those who truly love HIM. Have you noticed He tested Yisrayah with SHABBAT both in the wilderness and in the Land of Yisrayah? He reveals this to only those who truly study His Word. Both Yisrayah and Yehudah are still scattered all over the world today because this heart commandment – Shabbat – is still being rejected and defiled. Those who truly keep the Shabbat have nothing to do with this world of iniquity that is passing away. The obedient are expectant of His Promised coming Kingdom.
Yet, another biblical truth is that Shabbat Day of worship is a MARK or SIGN of YAHWEH. The sign showcases that the worshippers or keepers BELONG TO HIM (Ex. 20:8-11; Ex. 31:13-17). To the worshipper, SHABBAT as a sign provides him or her the knowledge that YAHWEH alone ordains it as a sacred day. Therefore, YAHWEH establishes a bonding relationship between the worshipper and Himself.
“YAHWEH then gave these instructions to Moses: “Tell the people of Yisrayah: ‘Be careful to keep my Shabbat day, for the Shabbat is a SIGN of the COVENANT between Me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may KNOW that I AM YAHWEH, who makes you holy: You must keep the Shabbat day; for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death: anyone who works on that day will be cut off from thee community” (Exodus 31:12-14).
Shabbat is a sign given to us that we indeed belong to YAHWEH, and disobedience would attract death, period! On the other hand, Sunday worship is a mark or sign of the beast (Rev. 14:9-11), where the disobedient people worship Satan (Rev.13:3-4). Why did you say so? Sunday – the first day of the week – is not YAHWEH’s commanded day of worship. It’s not a sign that showcases belongingness. Satan, an opposer of YAHWEH’s Word, a deceiver of the whole world [Rev. 12:9), blinded the eyes of mankind to rebel against YAHWEH’s command. Satan, being the ruler of this sinful world, succeeded in deceiving many not to heed the gospel of truth [2 Cor. 4:4]. The Scripture says that those who violate the Sabbath day shall perish from the earth. Breaking of YHWH’s covenant attracts a curse and death sentence (Deut. 27:26; Exod. 31:14,15; Isaiah 24:5-6, etc). Sabbath is one of the many Covenants, which we are warned never to break.
Finally, the Scriptures tell us that YAHWEH will "cut off" those who break His “SHABBAT” and Feasts when YAHSHUA returns [Ex. 31:14; Rev. 11:18]. By dishonouring His Shabbat, they denied His NAME and didn't keep His Commandments. But all the obedient people of YAH shall be saved (Rev. 3:8,10). The disobedient are described as those who destroy the earth, and shall be destroyed with the wicked when the Master MESSIAH returns (Rev. 11:18).
Lessons we must learn here: stop following traditions which tend to encourage us to follow the wicked ways of rebellious fathers; we must reject Satan’s choice day to worship. To join faith with him would be disobedience to YAHWEH. Those who serve half-heartedly because of the pressure of life should learn to put the Word of YAHWEH first. No matter the pressure or trials we may be facing now, we must not allow them to stop or inhibit us from approaching the throne of grace on YAH’s appointed day – Shabbat. YAH appoints us to remember (not to forget) HIS Day of Shabbat and Feasts. All believers are being tried with difficulties and troubles now, so that they would escape the oncoming judgement meant for the disobedient. We must learn to overcome issues of life. He has given us grace to overcome. The reason people don’t enjoy His grace is that they are far removed from His Covenant call. We can only appropriate His GRACE to overcome when we draw close and obey Him. Sometimes we think as believers we may not witness or go through 'troubles'. It's not true! YAHSHUA MESSIAH inform us that through tribulations, or troubles, we shall enter His Kingdom. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of YAH.” [Acts 14:22]. Also, the kingdom shall not be ours if we refuse to DO HIS WILL. YAHSHUA clearly tells us: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My FATHER who is in heaven will enter [Matt. 7:21]. Therefore, YAHSHUA calls us to be obedient and OVERCOME. He also requests us to occupy till HE returns. Do the work of the Ministry or Assembly till He returns.
May ABBA YAHWEH grant us HIS unfailing love and grace to overcome. May the troubles of this life never STOP us from obeying. May procrastination and excuses be far removed from us. May we never take YAHWEH's commands for granted. The fathers of old perished on disobedience. May obedience daily guide our hearts as YAHWEH demands our presence to worship Him at all times, particularly on His appointed SHABBAT and FEAST DAYS. May HE never erase our names in His Book of Life, as we carry on having faith in YAHSHUA MESSIAH and obey His Word.
This article has been provided for the purpose of “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging [us] to continue in the faith” [Acts 14:22].
Shalom
Dr. Goodwins Arikibe
Assembly of the Living YAHWEH