4th Commandment - Use your time to glorify God.
  Ex 20:8-11
 
 1.  One of the distinctive features of the Jewish Religion
 was observance of Sabbath.
  a.  Sabbath = literally "to cease" to desist "to rest"
  b.  On the 7th day of week, Saturday (not Sunday)
 2.  This has been more abused than understood throughout
 history.
 3.  4 Basic reasons for the Sabbath command
   a. To memorialize deliverance (Deut 5:15)
   b. To memorialize creation (Ex 20:11)
   c. Special sign to Israel (Ex 31:12-17) (many miss this)
   d.  A day of rest (Deut 5:14)
 4.  By Jesus' day, Jews had taken this wholesome 
 instruction to extremes
   a.  The Mishnah contained 39 acts forbidden on Sabbath
 (seperating 2 threads, tying certain knots, writing 2 or
 more letters of alphabet).
   b.  Plus addd precautionary measures (tailor not allowed
 to take his needles home on Friday, or a scribe his pen)
   c.  Jewish legalism made a beautiful event into a harsh
 and hateful ritual (Mark 2:27)
 5.  Christians are not commanded to keep the Sabbath
  a. Nowhere in the New Testament are Christians instructed
 to observe Sabbath.
  b. Thus all rules and regulations are void so far as we
 are concerned.
  c. But the principle imbedded in this law is still 
 binding.
 6.  What is the principle of the 4th command?
  a.  Use your time to God's glory.  God wants to be honored
 with soul (spiritual), heart (emotional), mind 
 (intellectual), strength (physical).
   our lives, the 1st command, Mk 12:30
   our hearts, the 2nd command,   "   
   our lips, the 3rd command, "
   our time, the 4th command, "
 7. Use your time wisely
  a. Eph 5:15-17  
     Col 4:5
     Ps 90:12 (Moses)
     Ps 39:4 (David)
       Stewardship of Time
  b.  Good stewardship of time allows for work, rest, 
 worship.
   II Thess 3:10
   Luke 5:16
   Heb 10:25
  Balance is necessary for honoring God with your time.


 Why do Christians observe Sunday as the day of worship
 rather than Saturday?
 a.  It was not taken from Judaism and gradually given
 Christian significance.
 b.  It was a special day for Christians from the very
 beginning.
   1.  The Lord was raised on Sunday (Mt 28:1)
   2.  The church began on Sunday (Act 2:1)
   3.  The Lords Supper was taken on Sunday (Act 20:7)
   4.  The collection was taken on Sunday (1 Cor 16:1-2)
   5.  The Lord's Day was Sunday (Rev 1:10)
 c.  Sunday did not become a state holiday until the time
 of Constantine (321), but it was a special day for 
 Christians from the beginning of the church.
 2.  Is it correct to refer to Sunday as the "Christian
 Sabbath"?
  a. NO.
  b. The Sabbath was distinctly Jewish
  Ex 34:27-28
  Lev 26:46
 3.  Is our behavior on Sunday governed by Sabbath law?
  a.  Some forbid any kind of work or play on Sunday.
  b.  Misapplication of the principle of the Sabbath.
  c.  On the other hand, it is not just business as
 usual.
     1. It is the Lord's Day
     2. A day to worship and honor the Lord
     3. But not because of the Sabbath laws.
 
 ==END==