The Sabbath

Debra

Sabbath.mp3

by Pastor Mark Downey

A question which agitates the Christian Identity community is: what day is the Sabbath? Some say Sunday is based on sun worship, while others say Saturday derives from Saturn. So begins long, drawn out controversies of pagan origins vs. "Thus sayeth the LORD." The point of the Sabbath is missed by the arguers, good Christians that they may be. I believe this issue has been used as a wedge to sow discord among the brethren. We had a guest visit our church once, a libertarian CI, who never came back, not because of lack of fellowship or worship, but because he was adamant about Saturday being the day.

We observe Sunday, not as a matter of dogmatic doctrine, but because it has been the traditional day for a long, long time. "The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe throughout their generations, for it is a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel" Ex. 31:16.

Passover

Debra

by Pastor Mark Downey

If we do not truly rejoice in God, for what He is in Himself, and that because of all the perfections which are eternally resident in Him, then how dwelleth the love of God in us? Each of us needs to be most prayerfully on his guard against devising an image of God in our thoughts which is patterned after our own evil inclinations. Of old the Lord complained, "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself" Ps. 50:21.

"If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark [impute] iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?" Ps. 130:3. We might ask ourselves this question for it is written, "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment" Ps.1:5. Three out of four believers do not stand in the 'Parable of the Sower' (Luke 8:4-14) because of different grounds representing the heart or soul of people who come under the hearing of the Word. 75% of the ground is unfruitful and they remain so because the Holy Spirit did not cultivate them prior to hearing the Word.