“Greatest
Gift of All”
Keeping Days “Special”
Last
Sunday was Chris’ & my 23rd Anniversary. -
We celebrate to remind us of that most special day. –
During this month we will be looking at the most special
day ever – the coming of the Creator into His creation.
I.
Holy Days (Holidays) for the Lord
A. The Intervention of God into the Affairs of Man
1. God Himself established
certain days as reminders for His people
a.
Passover - (Ex. 12:17), “You shall observe the Passover,
for on this day I brought you out of Egypt; it shall be observed
for all your generations.”
b.
Sabbath - (Ex. 20:8), “Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy.”
c.
Day of Atonement – (Lev. 16:29-30), “This shall
be a permanent statute for you; in the 7th month
on the 10th day of the month… atonement shall be
made for you to cleanse you.”
d.
There were other holidays too; Pentecost, Purim, Tabernacles,
etc. – each of these was to remind God’s people of a time
– when God entered into their history and forever changed
their lives!
e.
Under the O.T. Law – God commanded these days – to be kept
as special.
2. But Jesus death on cross
– brought about a new situation.
a.
(Gal. 3:23), “Before faith came, we were kept in
custody under the law, - being shut away from the faith that
was later to be revealed.”
b.
Now We are no longer under the Law - (Rom. 7:6-7),
“For you have been released from the Law – having died
to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in the newness
of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter”
c.
So those former days that reminded the people of what God
had done in the past – are now superceded by a far greater
event – what God did for us through His Son!
B.
The Intervention of Man into the Affairs of God (since God
no longer commands their observance)
1. So what do we now do with
these days?!
a.
We accept them for what they are – reminders of God’s intervention
into the affairs of man.
1) (Acts 20:16), “Paul
decided to sail past Ephesus in order that he might not have
to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem,
if possible, on the day of Pentecost.”
2) Perhaps this was to be
with the Xns in Jerusalem – on the day when God began His
church.
3) Nowhere was it commanded
to mark this day – It was just a day to remember what God
did.
b.
“What about “Special Days” we DON’T read anything about
in the Bible?”
1) (Jn. 10:22-23),
“At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem;
it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple.” –
(The Bible does not speak of this Day!)
2) This day commemorates
the dedication & purification of the temple - after the
Jews had won control of it back from the Syrians in 165 B.C.
3) If celebrating a non-scriptural
“Special Day” was wrong/sinful – this would have been the
perfect opportunity for Jesus to condemn this practice – but
Jesus uses it to proclaim a better and more important purification
& rededication –
4) (Jn. 10:27-28),
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me [Dedication]; - and I give eternal life to them,
they shall never perish [Purification].”
2. There are 2 “Wrong Way”
to consider special days:
a.
To command
their observance where God has made no such command.
1) (Gal. 4:10-11),
“You observe days and months and seasons and years. – I
fear that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.”
b.
To command their non-observance.
1) (Rom. 14:5-6),
“One man regards one day above another, another regards
every day alike. – Let each man be fully convinced in his
own mind. – He who observes a day observes it for the Lord.”
c.
God does not want us to create rules for others to follow
– but to encourage all to follow Him!
C. EVERY DAY IS A SPECIAL DAY!!!
1. There are no such thing
as “common” days:
a.
Notice the title of today’s lesson is “Keeping Days Special”
– NOT – “Keeping Special Days?
b.
(Psa. 118:24), “THIS is the day that the
Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
2. So while everyday is special
- Yet some days have a singular significance – for example…
a.
For the people of God - the first day of the week (i.e., Sunday)
- has a singular significance…
1) On this day – Jesus rose
from the dead, began His church, called us to worship as His
family!
(i)
(I Cor. 5:4),
“In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled…,”
(ii)
(I Cor. 11:18), “For, in the first place, when you
come together as a church…,”
(iii)
(I Cor. 14:26), “When you assemble, each one has
a psalm, has a teaching…,”
(iv)
(I Cor. 16:2), “On the first day of every week,
let each of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that
no collections be made….”
b.
Not only in Corinth – but also from the example of the church
in Troas – we see the 1st day of the week was the
day all of God’s people met - (Acts 20:7), “On the
1st day of the week when we were gathered together
to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart
the next day.”
3. Therefore at this time,
I would like for us also - to celebrate what God did – thru
His Son for us!
a.
LORD’S SUPPER & CONTRIBUTION!
4. Today may be the single
most special day of your life…
a.
Today could be the day that (ready or not) you meet God (Jms.
4:14)!
b.
If you are not ready for that – then today could be the day
you get ready – (II Cor. 6:2)!
c.
If you are ready to make this your special day of salvation…(Mk.
16:16)!!!
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