There have been MANY arguments on: Can you go out and eat on God’s Sabbath?
I, personally, have seen both sides of this issue. I have, personally, embraced both sides through the years. Yet, the more I think, guided by God’s Spirit, the more I see that God’s word is CLEAR.
MANY will sugar-coat their religion to fit their personal taste.
All I am going to say is this: If you go to a restaurant on God’s Holy Sabbath, you’ll be BUYING.
In the Book of Nehemiah chapter 10, we are shown a very simple instruction –
“If the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell ON THE SABBATH DAY, we would not buy it from them ON THE SABBATH, or on a holy day; …” – Nehemiah 10:31.
Exodus 20:10 –
“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 male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger [foreigner or visitor] within your gates.”
A waiter or a waitress is considered a servant. In other words, serving you within a restaurant.
But what about: within your gates!?
In that era of time, many were farmers. Most had livestock and farm hands.
The Sabbath is a day of rest FOR ALL! - cf. Acts 17:30. You cannot go out and just say – because the world doesn’t keep the Sabbath I will take advantage. This type of thought is conforming to the ways of this world – cf. Romans 12:2.
In Revelation 3:15-16 the Lord Jesus Christ says to many of the Body of Christ -
“’ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16) So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.’”
Brethren, a true Christian is either hot for God – doing His will, obeying His LAW – summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS – staying in His Way, or they are but lukewarm, wishy-washy, and making up their own rules – as did the Jews adding to the LORD our God’s LAW. Or they are just cold – and not abiding at all in the LORD God’s LAW, STATUTES, ORDINANCES, and JUDGMENTS!
God created a perfect Plan. We should stick to it!
The Preparation Day was made for God’s people to prepare for the Holy Sabbath day – e.g. doubling up on your duties, such as preparing food for the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:1 says, “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.”
The apostle Mark writes in Mark 2:23 – “Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.”
This is not an act of labor. It’s simply plucking grain as you walk by. It certainly isn’t buying or selling.
There are no servants involved. A simple hand reaches out and plucks a head of grain as you walk by. Very simple.
If people want to have a delight in God’s Sabbath, where there is no labor involved and have a great meal and fun with family and friends – PRAISING GOD over a meal, then substitute going out to a restaurant for a cookout with pre-prepared food from the Preparation Day (FRIDAY).
e.g. Have coals for your barbeque grill ready. All you need to do on God’s holy Sabbath for the cook is to start the fire with a match and enjoy good fellowship as the food cooks on the grill. No labor involved – only joy. It will be all set up from the day before. THIS IS A DELIGHT IN THE SABBATH – and it’s already set up from the day before.
Brethren, in this life we are to be led by the Spirit of God, to make decisions, either hot for God, or lukewarm, or cold.
K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-7). Don’t try to twist and tangle God’s living truth to fit your own personal agenda.
If we are OBEYING the LORD our God and NOT forsaking fellowship (when we are able), then we will have company on the Sabbath. Recall: a great many had church services in a home in the early beginnings of the Church of God.
Yet, do not worry if you cannot find like-minded people to be in company with. The LORD our God recognizes your commitment to Him. Our Lord Jesus and a legion of angels are with you on the Sabbath – if you are faithful. You have your spiritual gathering and fellowshipping, even if no other physical human is around!
Just make sure the Sabbath stays HOLY – SACRED, CONSECRATED! No cussing, no gossiping, no idle talk – but rather staying focused on the KINGDOM OF GOD, the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, the Way of God, the Law of God - and the worship of God in Spirit and in Truth. Like King David, meditate on the Law of God.
Remember that SIN is the breaking of the LORD our God’s holy, immutable, and relevant LAW – summed up in the Ten Commandments! Not the Jewish laws which they added! – cf. 1st John 3:4.
What made our Lord Jesus Christ perfect!? He kept the LAW of God perfectly. He fulfilled the Law – meaning that He, and He alone, lived by the Law of God perfectly. Thus allowing us the perfect example to live by – as a FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
Jesus told His disciples that if they have seen Him then they have seen the Father – because they are as ONE.
Jesus says that we are to be perfect (strive to be perfect), as God the Father is perfect in Heaven.
How do we do this!?
BY OBEYING HIS LAW!!! Just as our Lord Jesus did!
LAWS equal WAYS of lifestyle.
The religions of this present evil age which come off as fluffy and productionized are nothing more than the religions of Satan the devil – to snare unsuspecting people away from the REAL religion of God – cf. James 1:27.
Mankind has perverted God’s Law to fit their own human agenda.
Without the holy LAW of God, you don’t have God, instead, you have Satan the devil as your god.
So, we all, brethren, need to stop sugar-coating God’s immutable Way to fit our own way and excuses.
We need to be DISCIPLINED with ourselves in the service of God. BE ON FIRE FOR GOD! BE HOT AS CHRISTIANS! Dedicated – not excuse-makers!
K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-7). The simplicity of Christ makes life so much easier and correct.
KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY!
Going out to eat among the world in a restaurant on God’s Holy Sabbath day – A HOLY DAY – actually sets yourself up for breaking the Sabbath.
When you are in a restaurant on the Sabbath day, are you actually keeping God’s Sabbath holy!?
You have actually embraced this world’s SYSTEM! – cf. Romans 12:2.
You certainly don’t know who is in the room there with you. They may be vulgar, they may have all sorts of demonic ways!
I, personally, have been in restaurants with brethren on God’s Holy Sabbath and sensed evil spirits in the room.
I have often thought that it doesn’t feel right in the eyes of God to be among the world – ruled by Satan the devil – in a restaurant setting on GOD’S HOLY SABBATH! How are we keeping the Sabbath holy by allowing ourselves to be among this world!?
1st Corinthians 5:11 –
“But now I have written to you NOT TO KEEP COMPANY WITH ANYONE NAMED A BROTHER, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person.”
The Greek word that the apostle Paul uses for “brother” is adelphos, which can also mean “fellow countryman, neighbor.”
There’s a high chance that in a restaurant setting you are going to be among some of these types of people. Yet, with the LORD God’s people, you know who you are among. Spirit-led people of God.
So, for me, from now on in order to keep the Sabbath HOLY, I am going to be a lot more DISCIPLINED in my service to God and not allow myself to be among this world on God’s HOLY DAY. But rather I am going to keep the Sabbath by being among like-minded people of God – led by the Spirit of God.
No more allowing myself to be among idle chit-chat on the Sabbath. It is either uplifting Godly matters on the Holy Sabbath, or I won’t be a part of it.
“But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for WHATEVER makes manifest is light. 14) Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’” – Ephesians 5:13-14.
Brethren, it’s time to get serious and fully dedicated to the LORD our God – before it’s too late. □
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