Is Pastoring a One Man Show?

Elders are pastors?
-rory moore

According to scripture, is the typical church to be a One Man Show? -or was there another form of oversight to "pastor"?

• Can one man really Pastor a congregation?
• Did Paul start churches and move on putting them into the hands of one pastor, priest, or bishop?
• Did any apostle establish a church board or turn a church over to a family to run it?
• Were any of the church epistles sent to one man, i.e., to  Pastor XYZ?

After many churched years of functioning inside the system as an "elder", doing all the things ministers do, after leaving the institutional side of the church system, (clergy-laity-membership-hierarchy), we were called out of that and have spent years in careful study of scripture...

I was never a Pastor, or The Pastor, but was once an ordained minister and a "pillar" in our assembly.

My wife and  served as a shepherds, servants, and elders with the responsibility to lead, attend to, and feed God's people much as fathers who watch and care for a family.
 -We were never a sole authority Pastor, (aka .."lords"), but as one among others with various ministries, gifts, and callings in God's kingdom. I never saw myself as a pastor especially after being an "Assistant Pastor", and a longtime ministering elder.  

What we realize now is All of the so-called "five-fold" gifts of ministries are elders, but not all elders are "five-fold" ministers. We were part of a typical church structure in which position and rank were of the clergy and laity. Clergy ministry had its' privileges and perks, laity were expected to follow, support, and fund the vision. 

How did all this become evident?

For the past few of years, I have been reading, studying, and re-reading the book of Acts, in order to learn and understand what form of church government was observed, and what was preached, taught, and ministered, and the manner in which the disciples carried out the commands of Jesus.

We saw how the Lord gave examples from Acts 20:28 in which Paul told the elders, the "overseers" (i.e. the bishops) of the church at Ephesus, to "take heed to yourselves, and all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you (plural) overseers, to feed (other versions read "tend") the flock of God which he has purchased with His own blood".

Let's notice the Holy Spirit made them overseers, not via ordination certificate, voting them in as Pastor, Bible College or Seminary, a denominational franchise, or a home missions board.  (see How To Answer A Call From God)

Hold that thought please, Paul wiped out the organizational flow-chart, church hierarchy, and staff diagram with the Pastor at the top of the pyramid..
In a perfect world, the Holy Spirit calls people, scripture qualifies them, and Spirit-led elders acknowledge their gift and service as overseers WITHOUT sending them to Bible School.

How in the name of the "Nicolaitane" clergy can that be?

It came as a shock to realize the Holy Spirit does not put ONE man in charge over the rest of the ministries like the Nicolaitanes do.  (If you  do not know what a Nicolaitane is, please refer to the articles on this site.  God knew when He put that term in the scripture and said He "hates" it.)

What about those apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists?
They were all there at the church at Ephesus and not one was titled, salaried, collected  tithes, or in charge of a building program. No robed "Bishop", pope, Superintendent, Board, or frocked cardinal was seen in the entire church. -Quite a contrast to the local church scene, isn't it?

So we have found ourselves as functioning elders and helpers of the faith for many, feeding others from the Word itself, tending and caring for them, encouraging them, and even doing the work of an evangelist as we sow the seed of God's Word in many places.

By choice we are untitled servants of the Lord, not building own kingdom nor looking with expectation of financial gain from those we minister to.
God will see to it that our needs are met as He always has done as He told us in His Word.

1 Peter 5:1-3 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1  Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker,² feed the flock of God that [is] among you, overseeing not by force, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,
³  neither as exercising lordship over (God's) heritages, but examples for the flock,

1Peter 5:1 (in the ASV)
The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder (Peter), and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
 2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint (by controlling), but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy money, but of a ready mind;
 3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

We are to feed, not force, tend to and not be served by; give to and not take from; serve willingly and not for the expectation of a hireling.

Maybe you should pray for God to assemble you with others according to His Will, and if you are walking in the "bond of love", seeking His righteousness in overcoming the world and sin, our prayer and desire is to help equip you to be a Holy Spirit sent minister and equipping others to do likewise.

We are not about owning a bigger church barn, taking ownership of people, or being a "lord" over God's heritage. (1Peter 5:4)

Jesus is Chief Shepherd according to 1Peter 5:4, and Psalm 23. "The Lord is my Shepherd (PASTOR) I shall not want".

Pray  His love and tenderness will flow through your elders as we die to self and become vessels through which He manifests His Shepherdship.

Scripture Summary Notes:   Elders are pastors:
Acts 14:23 (NLT) Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. 

²³ And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord (ASV)

Acts 15:2 ... Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:4 ... they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Acts 15:23 ... The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
Acts 16:4 ...they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

"feed the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers"  

1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders that go before you be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that you should set in order the things lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I <also>  had appointed thee:

Leadership in the Early Church
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness
"elder":  presbeteros Strongs 4245
elder, of age,
 the elder of two people
 advanced in life, an elder, a senior
 forefathers
 a term of rank or office
 among the Jews
 members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
 of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
 among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably

Acts 15: Keep and DO The Old Testament Laws PLUS Faith in Christ?

Church problems.. Acts 15: The Feasts, Sabbaths, Dietary Laws, Tithing, and other Matters..
Should WE be Observing Them?

-rory moore

-according to the Jewish apostles and the Holy Spirit.

Let's define a problem encountered in the Acts Congregations.

Question:
  In the New Testament, are the churches instructed or commanded to observe the Jewish feasts, sabbaths, ordinances, circumcision, or dietary laws, which were given to Israel in the Old Testament?
It may surprise you to know that this became a HOT, hot topic in the early years of the church.

The apostles and others were confronted by this burning question as the Good News spread across Asia.
Antioch was having a big revival, MANY souls saved, in Acts 12, and the Jews in Jerusalem heard, so the believing strict-law observant Pharisee Christians went to Antioch and began preaching the law to gentiles.

Let's see the Jewish apostles and what they did or did not write in the New Testament scriptures for us to believe and do.

In Christ's Will, i.e. his Testament, we are directly instructed, commands, to be baptized, assemble ourselves, work, love, to pray, and given instructions that are “written”.

One instruction is that we are "NOT go beyond that which is written”. -1Cor. 6:4.

Thus Paul wrote Timothy to deliver commands to the churches, but there is no mention of dietary laws, Sabbaths, feasts, or even tithing.

Paul said in 1Timothy 4:11  These things command and teach.
So we need to read what he wrote "these things" were, and those commands to be taught are in the preceding passages.

Because today we encounter many among us that want to bring us back under the laws and ordinances of the First Covenant that Christ never gave as commandments through the apostles to the church.

ACTS 15.. trouble trouble
The problem of the law and grace in the church became a controversy as they transitioned the covenants and began to live New Testament life.

The Jewish  APOSTLES and ELDERS were forced to deal with this question of the OLD Covenant law and NEW Covenant disciples, in Acts 15 specifically.

5)  But there rose up certain of the *sect of the Pharisees who believed

     saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and  order them to keep the law of Moses.

- This caused a BIG problem early in the NT church.
Non-Jewish saints were being added to the body of Christ by the the thousands as the gospel went into the whole world.

How did they resolve this controversy with the law as an issue and debate among the churches?
The apostle (Luke) wrote about this important meeting:

6)  And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. (following Moses' law)
7) …   Peter rose up, and said to them, Brethren, you know that a good while ago God made choice
            among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

 Peter points out that non-Jewish gentiles were now partakers of the gospel through faith.

8)  And God, who knows the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit,
     even as he did to us ( Jews)

9)  and He made *no distinction between us and them*

              -->   cleansing their hearts by faith. <--

Let's continue to see if the Jewish apostles instruct the churches to be cleansed by faith AND keep points of law from the OLD Covenant.

10)      Now therefore why make a trial of God,
that you (vs 4, the Pharisees that believed and sought to make the gentiles keep the law of Moses in vs.5)
that you should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

 What "yoke" were they talking about?

-it was the LAW of the OLD Covenant of course,  remember verse 5?
“certain of the *sect of the Pharisees who believed*,
      saying, It is needful to circumcise them,
     and to charge them to keep the law of Moses

11) But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

Did you see that?
“WE (Jews) shall be saved … in LIKE MANNER as THEY (the gentiles)”.

Was Peter  out of the boat again and needed correction, as Paul did with Peter as Peter reverted to a law observance in Galatians 2?

Witness James, another apostle,  the brother of Jesus speaks to the assembly:

13)   And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, give ear to me…
(skipping down)
19)  Therefore my judgment is that we (Jews)  *trouble not*  them from among the Gentiles turn to God…

What kind of "trouble" was he referring to?

It is written right in the passage:
24)   For as much as we have heard that certain who went out from us have
        --->  troubled you with words,
        --->  subverting your souls;
        --->  to whom we (Jewish apostles) gave no commandment;

Now hold it right there!
The apostle James, one of the Jews who were given “the commandments of the Lord”,
said to the  assembly regarding people who were “troubling” the disciples, and “subverting”  their souls, he went on to say about the people bringing Christians back under law:
"to whom we gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT"?

Again, what was the problem?

-remember, verse 5?
“ certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying,
   It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

So the Jewish apostles and elders there in the heart of law-observant Israel,  who gave us the commands of the Lord in the New Covenant said:

20) .... that we write to them, that they abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication,
           and from what is strangled, and from blood.

so they WROTE DECREES TO THE CHURCHES:

23) and they wrote this to them,
     The apostles and the elders, brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch
     and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
For as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, *subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; (*subvert means to trouble, upset. Evidently gentiles became alarmed by the legalists imposing the many laws, ordinances, and commands for the Law of Moses)

Here is what the apostles who gave us the New Testament  "wrote the churches":

28)  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,
        ---> to lay upon you no greater burden
        ---> than these necessary things:

29)   that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled,
        and from fornication; from which if you keep yourselves,  it shall be well with you.
        Fare you well.

"NO GREATER BURDEN"
from all the laws, ordinances, commands, and statutes from the Law of Moses where we find the feast laws, tithing laws, Sabbath laws, stoning law breakers, circumcision, animal sacrifices, and more????

Dear Reader, this was THE place and time to either affirm matters of the law or free the disciples from them!  
And letters in writing were sent out to the churches with the "decrees" of the apostles and elders from Jerusalem.

If you are a bit shaken, go back to Acts 15:5 one more time to see what the problem was.
Then go forward to verses 28-29 to conclude what the HOLY SPIRIT, the Spirit-filled apostles and elders wrote.

What is significant is what they purposely left out.
Flesh circumcision omitted.

Tithing omitted.
Sabbath observance was left out.
Mandatory feast observances according to the law were abolished,
-especially the three required feasts to be kept in Jerusalem, and not somewhere else.
- the complex dietary laws were dropped (except blood). ‎
-the forbidding of men to shave their beards omitted.
- nor did they tell the churches they had to learn the Hebrew names or language!

Now when the apostles delivered the "decrees" from the Holy Spirit to the churches,
 there was no more debate. 
The saints did not argue, contend for the law, or accuse Paul of being a heretic.
Here was their reaction:

31) And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.

After those days, the issue of keeping the laws continued to trouble the churches and Paul wrote regarding these same matters of the law warning them.

He warned them of being "bewitched" by those that would compel you to observe what the apostles of the NEW Covenant church had already set in order regarding the OLD Covenant laws, statutes, commands, and ordinances, which "troubled" and "subverted" the souls of the disciples:

Gal 5:9   A little leaven (from the law) leavens the whole lump.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:
                for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written
                in the book of the law to do them.

After Acts 15, we never, never read where Sabbath laws, the feasts of Israel, tithing, circumcision, or the ban on beard shaving was given to any church or saint. 
Even so, there are still many today who would “trouble” the disciples and “subvert your souls”,  and teach contrary to what the Jewish apostles wrote “as seemed good to the Holy Spirit”.

Galatians 1: 6)
     I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ
     unto a different gospel;
7)  which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you,
      and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Heb 7:18 For there is VERILY (indeed-truly) A DISANNULLING OF THE COMMANDMENT
               going before  the weakness and un-profitableness thereof,

          19)  for the law MADE NOTHING PERFECT, but the bringing in OF a BETTER HOPE,
       by which we draw nigh unto God

Please, do not let them "subvert" your soul, or "bewitch" you into thinking we have commandment to observe laws which are IMPOSSIBLE to keep.

In addition to what the Holy Spirit directed in Acts 15, Peter, Paul, James, and John
never wrote a command to keep Jewish feasts, sabbaths, dietary laws,
circumcision, tithing, or the many matters of the 613 ordinances in the Old Covenant law.

They DID write:

Col. 2:14
having blotted out the bond written in ordinances  that was against us,
which was contrary to us: and He has taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;

And they did write the commandments of Jesus to the mixed Jewish gentile church at Ephesus:

Eph. 2:15
     having *abolished* in the flesh the enmity,
     even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
     that he might create in himself of the two  (Jews and gentiles)
     one new man,  (in Christ)
     so making peace

 Acts 16:4   And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep,
                  that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Fare ye well.

Paul Corrects Peter over Matters of The Law (think about tithes and sabbath too)

 

A little leaven. 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟐.

by rory moore

Finally there are many voices exposing ministers that teach monetary tithing which God never ordained, and recently some well known "Big Name" ministers have publicly repented from it.

Jesus said tithing was of the matters of the law in Mat. 23:23 and this is true.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀. Leviticus 27:30-32/ Deut. 14:23

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹.

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹.

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲.

So let's check out PAUL's loving rebuke to PETER.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐰?

Galatians 2

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙣𝙚𝙙.

12 Because certain Jewish brothers came from James, he ate with the Gentiles;

but when they came, he drew back and separated himself,

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠

(Peter intimidated by what the Jewish brothers who were observing the law might think!) And it infected other Jewish brethren who then separated from the gentile brethren!

13 And the rest of the Jews separated from the gentiles with him

𝑷𝑨𝑼𝑳 𝑾𝑨𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑷𝒀! 𝑯𝑬 𝑹𝑬𝑩𝑼𝑲𝑬𝑫 apostle 𝑷𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓.

14 But when I saw that the Jewish brothers walked NOT CORRECTLY ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL,

I said to PETER in front of all,

" If you, being a Jew, live along with non-Jews,

and do not as Jews keeping the law,

𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙅𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙬?

For if I build up again those things which I destroyed (faith in the works of the law, like tithing, circumcision, sabbath), then I prove myself a transgressor.

21 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Gal. 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?4:

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are UNDER A CURSE:

for it is written,

=>> Cursed is every one who does not continue in ALLLLLLLL things that are written in the book of the law, TO DO ALL OF IT. Do we want to go there? Paul's love and care for gentile Christians that they not be hindered by laws and a covenant God never gave them.

Do you see our need to prove for ourselves from different viewpoints on a given matter as taught in church?

How to Keep A Proper Sabbath Observance

Keeping the Sabbath

      As modern Christians we considered our desire to please God and observance of the 7^th day of the week, the Sabbath, has come to our attention on more than one occasion.
The day came and a  thoughtful reading of Sabbath scriptures was due. 
For a time we even attended a Friday night service hosted by a Messianic Jewish brother, and considered purchasing a talith prayer shawl like Jesus wore.

But our traditional church meeting time was Sunday morning and we really had no clear Biblical teaching while in our old church, we only had a minimal understanding about the Sabbath observance. (in contrast to weekly exhortations to tithe, attend church, and the latest growth program).

In the Evangelical Christian world we were part of, we did not “observe the Sabbath because we were under “grace.”  We knew of 7^th Day Adventists and Baptists, Messianic Jewish Christians, and others who strongly emphasized “keeping the Sabbath” like they were. 

But we were not clear…  we saw where Jesus sort of observed the Sabbath and Paul was observed going to Synagogues to witness to his Jewish brethren that Jesus was Messiah. 

The scriptures say that a proper and Biblical Seventh day, as literally defined by God in the Old Testament, begins at sunset. 

In Genesis 1:13 for example, God said:

 “There was evening and there was morning, a third day”, and the other 6 days of creation are spoken of likewise. 
So a proper Biblical day began at sunset and a new day began the following day at sunset (on our Saturday evening)

There is no specific mention of the “Sabbath” until Exodus 16:23, which was about 2,500 years after creation.
 God did not give Abraham Sabbath observance when making Covenant with him. (However Abe was commanded circumcision)

We fast forward to Exodus and the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.  After 430 years of serving the rulers of Egypt as slaves, the Lord told Moses and Aaron it was high time to get out of Goshen.  (Exodus 12).

The Lord God called the month they were called out of Egypt “the FIRST month (aka Abib)” (Ex.12:2), and they were given instructions for the next 14 days (which included two sabbaths).

The Lord commanded the mandatory requirement of sacrificing a lamb without blemish, and applying the lamb’s blood to the doorposts of their homes so the death angel would “Passover” and spare their lives.

This was to be observed and diligently kept as “an ORDINANCE FOR EVER”.

The Lord ordained also a mandatory feast called “Unleavened Bread” of “seven days” as an observance “an ordinance FOREVER":

And in verse 16 “And in the first day there shall be an holy *convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy *convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.”
 (*convocation: means a public meeting, rehearsal, assembly)

Here God gave them the weekend off, and no work. Hooray!

 He also gave command to eat unleavened bread for seven days, in fact, the Lord ABSOLUTELY required that “there be no leaven found in your houses” or “eaten that which was leavened”  under penalty of death!   -Exo.12:3). 

God was very particular how and what they ate or it might be their last meal. 

The children of Israel were doing well so far, the Lord giving them specific instructions regarding the observances of the Passover and the seven days of Unleavened Bread, including a FEAST on the 7^th day, and admonishing them that when they went back into the Promised Land of the Canaanites they were to keep these observances “FOREVER”. 

Seems they were happy with this arrangement and God was with them:
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light”.

Many “oohs” and “ahhs” were heard at this time in the camp of Israel, and the word “WOW!” was invented to express awe.

Shortly after this, evil King Pharaoh decided to do some “ethnic cleansing” but God intervened by permanently baptizing the Egyptian army in the Red Sea (not to be confused with the Dead Sea). 
 “PRAISE GOD!!” –cried the Israelites and they celebrated joyously as the final bubbles surfaced over the watery grave of Pharaoh and Co.  

For three months the folks of Israel were given a desert tour by God, being fed, watered, and given specially anointed footwear guaranteed by God not to wear out

Unfortunately, those sorry excuses for victorious believers murmured and complained about how God was treating them.
So in Exodus chapter 16, God gave them some loving correction, and got a little more direct with them about the sabbath too:
Ex 16:23 And he said to them, This is that which the LORD has said, To morrow is the Rest of the holy sabbath to the LORD: bake or boil that which you will bake to day.

And the Sabbath gift was introduced.
Exodus 16:29 “See, for that the LORD has given you the SABBATH”.

Life was good, no taxes, a nice day of rest, God was feeding them, leading them, and they were getting real comfy with their walking tour through the countryside.

By chapter 19 of Exodus, it was time for God to give Moses more complete rules for His people, so He called Moses to come meet Him up on Mt. Sinai, and bring the people so they could fellowship and find out about God’s plan for their lives. 
 The Lord mentioned them being so special and how He wanted to bless them.  

But then in chapter 20, God stopped being “seeker-sensitive” while giving them His “Best Life Now” agenda for prosperity.
When “all the people saw the thunderings, and lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. “  

Then it happened: “WHOAA!! –we’re outa here!” they said when they saw and heard God was really awesome, serious, and they skee-daddled away from the mount where Moses was receiving the LAW.. 

“Ten’s enough for me!!!” - they hollered over their  shoulders as they “removed”.  -“Next thing ya know, He’s gonna bring up tithing!”

God had only got as far as giving the Ten Commandments when this happened. After the dust settled, He and Moses got back to work up there on Mt. Sinai, and the rest of the folks got back to their sports, games, and small talk about their neighbors and the weather. 

So The Lord and Moses worked out the rest of the details regarding God’s contract with Israel including things like “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Ex. 21:24), smiting those that broke it, 
and… the SABBATH.

Sabbath times…

God was very picky when it came to His orders about the Sabbath.

It began on sunset Friday, (that was before Friday was invented, back then they only had numbers).  And the new interpretation (from God Himself) of the 3 month old Sabbath rules went like this:

Ex 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Ex 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Everyone, even slaves and animals had chores, no tasks for your employees, and no dishes or laundry.  No honey-do’s, no campfires, no stove cooking. 
And please do not make sabbath breakers of the “waitress”, or the chef in the restaurant that you used to visit after Sabbath before you read this.

Ex 31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Ex 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 
 Now there’s some strong incentive to be Sabbath-careful! 
Keep that in mind when you read the next one!:

Ex 35:3 Ye shall *kindle no fire throughout your living quarters on the sabbath day.
  (*means consume, to burn, or heat.) 
You know, like the heater or house furnace, your car’s engine that burns gas, or the blow dryer for your hair. 

Now here’s a super Sabbath for you, it lasted a whole year!
Lev 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 

No plowing, planting, pruning so with that death penalty, we recommend not pruning the lawn either, just in case.  Even the ground itself got a vacation.

Suddenly, keeping the true Sabbath becomes challenging, and don’t forget that death penalty in Exodus 31:15.  

If you are going to keep the Sabbath now, you just can’t pick and choose verses, you know.

Num 28:9  on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: (was also commanded for the Passover Sabbath)

According to the law of the Passover Sabbath, you must remember to kill two spotless lambs, give two tithes of wheat flour with oil, and a drink offering to the priest.

Lev 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall *afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.  *humble, submit, weaken, abase. 
Sports fans and football play-off watchers…beware!

Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 

 Now here’s a special little Sabbath you probably never heard about…  And a bit more about that:

Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even to even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 

Now hold on, God just said there was a special SABBATH on 7-1, 7-9, and 7-15 of the Jewish calendar??!  

Hmmm, how about that, God snuck another Sabbath or three in on the folks just to make sure they were paying attention!  

Lord have mercy, this Sabbath keeping just got complicated and you have us on a different calendar to boot!

And just to make sure they got the Sabbath correct, this happened in Numbers 15:
32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.  They put him in JAIL for sticks on the Sabbath?

35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Whoaa, you mean the church had to take that guy out and let him have it with the rocks?  Yes, that’s what God told them to do because he violated the Sabbath law.

About this time you may be thinking, “this Sabbath thing is pretty scary and they sure didn’t explain all those OTHER Sabbath scriptures to me very well.” 
 If you thought that you are CORRECT! 
And if you thought observing the Sabbath only meant driving over to a meeting Friday night or Saturday morning you were WRONG!

We could stop now with just those verses from the OT Law, and you would have plenty to think about.
 Remember, when Christ and the early church apostles came along, they knew those verses. 
All of them, death penalty and taking a year off from farming included.

So when someone tries to put you under the Sabbath, chances are 100% he does not keep the Sabbath law the way it was given either.

 Let’s see, to summarize a few points about really keeping the Sabbath:

-It was a mandatory observance upon penalty of death.

-In the 7^th year Sabbath, no planting or pruning. 

-No fire.  Period. Not the one in your cars engine, the house heating system, nor the stovetop.

-No work. Not for you, your kids, your employees, or your servants like the waitress and cook at the restaurant.

-No travel.  Whoops! –there goes the trip to church in the car whose engine burns gasoline for fuel.

-Observance of those tricky 7-1, 7-9, and 7-15 Sabbaths of the Jewish calendar you forgot to buy, and then there is that Passover Sabbath with the two lamb-sacrifice to watch out for.

Please don’t stone me, go back and re-read those Sabbath verses for yourself.
 About now you may be thinking:     "we got us us sabbath problems here"

Why even the apostle Paul said to the church in Galatians: 3:¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all  which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But not to worry, dear reader, the NEW Covenant is called a “BETTER covenant” than the Old Covenant which Paul said “was done away in Christ”, and “Christ is the END of the Law to all that believeth”, and “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace –Eph. 2:15; you can have peace with God and be free of the obligation of trying to keep the law of the Sabbath as given in the Old Covenant. 

See article "Tell Me, You Who Desire to be Under The Law"  

for a more thorough Scriptural explanation of our relationship to the OT law.  

Putting the Sabbath to Rest

Putting the Sabbath to Rest
by Rory Moore

  

To-day we have a wonderful  sabbath rest to enjoy!

Would you like to see a revelation of a New Testament sabbath we all could use, near the end of this post there one that is overlooked.

Backround:
The sabbath laws and other commands were first given as part of the body of the law from the Old Covenant.  
  

1. The Old Covenant law said to "DO ALL" many, many times, and this was repeated by Paul in Gal. 4:21 "Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?"

and he said " I testify again to every man that received circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  You are severed from Christ, you (who) would be *justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.  "

*justify: to render innocent, justify, be righteous.

And again in James 2:10    For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.


So where was sabbath commanded?
-In the Old Covenant law, of course.

 -Just like the new moons, feasts of Israel, dietary laws, and a multitude of other commands that confused Christians are often entangled with. (Gen 17:13/ Lev 12:3)

"The law" included every sabbath law and command:   

Deuteronomy 8:1 All the commandments .. I command thee ... shall ye observe to do...
Leviticus 19:37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them

please, give close attention to sabbath law:

Exodus 31:14 You shall keep the sabbath, it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death... Remember, the law said "do ALL"

Keep "Do ALL" in mind when you read what the disagreeing readers say.

It is very clear. "DO ALL..." means you can't go in and "diminish ought" from the parts your religion tells you that you cannot do or are not capable of doing. (such as keeping the sabbath upon penalty of death or keeping the feasts of the Lord IN Jerusalem 3 times a year, as God commanded.)


 >>>>> a reader who disagreed wrote:
"First I see you lumping together all of the Sabbaths, but it is only the seventh day Sabbath that was included in the 10 commandments <<<<<
But I respond that God is the One that "lumped" ALL of His commands, statutes, and ordinances into the body of the whole law.)

The sabbath was one of the laws, whether you choose it as the 4th commandment, or "do all.." requirements of the sabbath law observances.

It was not just only one day a week. 
-Plus the mid week sabbath on Passover.
-Plus there was a year long sabbath every 7th year. 

-Plus on "EVERY Sabbath" there is to be a burnt offering:

"On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering" (Num. 28:9,10).

We all know it is impossible to sacrifice a lamb on every sabbath, what a offense that would be, to Jesus' sacrifice.
Those who insist they are keeping the sabbath, and insist that others keep it  have a huge problem. By this one verse we can see according to the letter, they have already broken the sabbath law.

>>>>> a reader who disagreed said: 

"We can all have different ways to keep the Sabbath, but who cares, as long as we are keeping the Sabbath and honoring God." <<<<<

My answer: But there are no "different ways to keep the sabbath".
God cares and was VERY specific on how to keep the sabbaths. (there was more than just the one on the 7th day of the week). 
Keeping a partial sabbath your own way is dishonoring God who told them how to keep the sabbath. So If you "keep sabbath" any other way than the way God gave it (including the death penalty), you are guilty of breaking God's Law that you put yourself under. 

Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Notice the plural, which includes the sabbath year:

Leviticus 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD 

Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the **works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them... 

The problem "sabbath keepers" have is they pick out the sabbath from Exodus, but fail to realize God had specific instructions for how He wanted it kept. If they did not keep it the way God said, they were guilty of breaking the sabbath.

Jesus knew the law and taught others to keep it because they were yet under the Old Covenant prior to the death of the testator, Jesus Christ. see Hebrews 8.

2.   Where do you find the 10 Commandments? 
They are given in Exodus 20, and again in Deuteronomy 5 to Israel.
Dt.5: 31 ... and I will speak to you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. (BTW, we do not live in that land.)

(please read the article about the sabbath laws and the parts they never told you about or excused for not doing) 

3.    Let's be honest. You want to keep this law or that one, a feast here, a sabbath there. A dietary law or two, a tithe.  There are plenty of others that some think we need to follow, and much confusion.
Even most feast-keepers and law-observant Christians can't agree how to follow OT laws pertaining to them.

Notice: 
Psalms 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth...
We must learn from the New Testament in order to get the "sum" total regarding the truth, or else we are guilty of "diminishing" from the WHOLE Word of God. 

Exodus 34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day shall you rest 

This promise was also mentioned by Isaiah, a prophecy of a future "rest" :

Isa 28:11 .. by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people  12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

When did this begin to be fulfilled?

It began on Pentecost in Acts 2 and continued as God gave the Holy Spirit to them that believed. (Mark 16:18, Luke 24;47-49: Acts 1:8, etc.):
Acts 3:19 Repent and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Thus the prophesied "refreshing" came with the baptism of the Holy Spirit as Isaiah prophesied, tongues included.

4.  If we walk in the fullness of the Spirit, we are not in bondage to the works of the law as it is written: Gal. 5:18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Romans 7:6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

  Was the sabbath ever given as an ordinance to the church through the apostles?
 Can you find any instruction to a church or saint in the church epistles for that? (When I looked, I could not find any)

Acts 15,  The Jewish elders did NOT tell the gentile churches to observe the sabbath!

-if it was to be observed as a universal ordinance, this was the time and place to decree sabbath keeping because they were debating which laws to have the churches observe..

5.  What was the Jewish apostle Paul referring to in these next verses written to Christians: 

Galatians 4:10  You observe days, and months, and times, and years. ??
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore condemn you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ???

Why was no one to judge or condemn the Colossians in regard to sabbath observances?
Simply because they were never commanded to observe the sabbath! 

The plural use of "days".
Paul was intimately familiar with ALL sabbath days, including the Passover feast midweek high-sabbaths, and the sabbath years.
But he did not "cherry pick" sabbath law to make a convenient observance for Christians.

Why did he chastise the Galatians?
 "you observe days... months.. years...times.."
-it was because they had become "leavened" to observe the sabbath, circumcision and other laws according to what was given in the old Covenant!

Consistent with this is that in all the book of Acts through Revelation, there is not one reminder to keep the sabbath, circumcision, sacrifices, tithes, or feasts.... 

6.  We are in the NEW Covenant. 
That should be obvious, the old covenant has been "changed", "dis-annulled",  "blotted out", "abolished",  and "nailing it to the cross".

Hebrews 7:12

the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change also of the law.
Ephesians 2:15 

having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances

col. 2:14

having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he has taken it out of the way,
 nailing it to the cross;

And so Galatians 5:18  if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law

In Hebrews, speaking to those who had known the Law, the writer speaks of the "rest" God had given.

The "rest" on the sabbath day and all the sabbaths were spiritual types of something that would come later through a "better covenant":
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things...
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Let's look at a few SABBATH things here:

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.
"sabbath" is "sabbatismos": i.e. a keeping sabbath. It is an on-going, continual sabbath. 

Now it changes.
Have you ever noticed the word "to-day" in this passage about the sabbath in Hebrews???

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

THINK: How is "day by day" called "today"?  

Hebrews 3:15 while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 

Hebrews 4:7 he again defines a certain day, <calling it> To-day, saying in David, so long a

 time afterward, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

7. 

  Have you gotten the revelation for "to-day"?

Did Jesus promise a rest for only on the 7th day? 
-or is there a "rest" remaining to the people of God for "TO-DAY"?
"TO-DAY if you hear His voice..."
The "rest" is for "today", i.e., for the sons of God to enter into our NT promises by faith, as by believing they have received. (Mark 11:23-24)

Since the works are finished, we should believe and rest from our own works to save, heal, and deliver ourselves. The promises are past-tense yet they are for us today.
Because of this, we need to know what God said, especially in the New Testament.

Heb.4:3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, (i.e. a spiritual Sabbath rest). There remains therefore a sabbath rest, (literally "a keeping of rest") for the people of God. 
This constant "keeping of rest" every day ("to-day") through the past tense promises is our New Testament spiritual Sabbath.
(10) For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. 
Our faith in each of these promises brings us into more of the rest. 

For example, if we believe that "by his stripes you were healed," then we will not keep seeking a healing but will rest accepting that it was accomplished at the cross. This is real faith and pleases the Father when we trust HIM to meet our need.
Through believing the promises (salvation, healing, deliverance, provision) we enter into the on-going "sabbath" rest from our own works.

Those who continue to earn favor for what God has freely given believe in salvation by works. Heb.4:10 For he that is entered into his rest has rested from his works ….
Heb.3:19 And we see that they were not able to enter in (and receive the promises) because of unbelief.

To-day the promise of rest is when we believe and become partakers of Christ (His health, holiness, and blessing), "if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end".
-i.e. resting in faith He will do for us what He said in His word!

THIS is "the rest" that the sabbath foreshadowed, as we cease from our own efforts and works and we "rest" in God's salvation to save, heal, deliver, and provide for us.


Is it a certain day we enter in to His rest for these promises? 
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, 

To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 

"To-day"?
We have stumbled into the secret place of rest, because every day is "to-day"! 

He no longer limits a certain day (the 7th), but now in the New Covenant gives us the foreshadowed type from the old sabbath to our  EVERY DAY  rest.

That  is what "to-day" is. 

So what is the point here? -just some more Bible knowledge to fuss over, another do's and don't?

Here is the profound point of sabbath rest. The REAL Rest.

It is when we "rest" in Christ and have peace over the cares, worries, and struggles of life.

When we are not entering into His Rest, we worry, are anxious, fearful, stressed, oppressed, even to the point of sickness.

When our cares are cast upon Him and we leave them in His hands, we rest as He works them out for us.

Praise the Lord Jesus.

 Scripture Notes:

* the curse: as given in detail by God and described in Deuteronomy 28.
** "to-day" as given in Hebrews as relating to the rest:
Strongs 2250 def:
-the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset
-Any part of a day is counted as a whole day, hence the expression "three days and three nights" does not mean literally three whole days, but at least one whole day plus part of two other days.
-used of time in general

***past tense promises: we who believe "rest" in: 

"By His stripes ye WERE healed" 
Colossians 3:1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God
1st Peter 1:18 knowing that ye were redeemed
Mat 5:31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.
24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for,believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

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