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Fences
May 30, 2021
51m 23s

A Fence of Rest

by Johnson Bowie
Thank God for fences! We put them around things that are valuable, like our homes, a children’s playground, art… Even God set up fences to guard what was most important to Him, and He has set the example for us. The first one He ever built was around time. God created for six days and on the seventh day, He rested, and He has extended that same invitation to us. If we want to truly thrive, we must find real rest for our souls. How? Let’s follow God’s way and enjoy the gift of the Sabbath day!
Sermon Notes

Fences

A Fence of RestMay 30, 2021

If I grow IMMENSE on my outside without a FENCE for my inside, the winds of life will blow, and my damaged roots won’t be able to keep me from falling.

We put FENCES around things that are valuable

FENCES keep BAD things OUT and GOOD things IN.

What FENCES have I put in my life to protect my roots, to ensure I’ll thrive for the long haul?

Genesis 2:2–3 NIV

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

A Fence of Rest

  1. The First Fence God Created Was Around TIME

Qadosh: Hebrew – Holy, To be set apart for a special purpose

Genesis 2:3 NIV

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested (shabbat) from all the work of creating that he had done.

Shabbat: Hebrew – Sabbath, To cease, To abstain, To end, To stop

Exodus 20:8-11 NIV

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do ANY WORK… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.

        

A Fence of Rest

  • The Sabbath is the Gift of a Day

Unobserved Sabbaths Accumulate



2 Chronicles 36:21 NLT

The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the SEVENTY YEARS were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.

The Sabbath is my day to Pray and Play

Colossians 3:15 NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

“Because the world is full of so many ugly things, on the sabbath I must feed my soul beauty.”

Deuteronomy 5:15 NIV

Remember that you were SLAVES in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

We’ve been set free but too many of us are still living as slaves.

A Fence of Rest

  • The Sabbath is a Daily Gift

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus wants the Sabbath to become an attitude and a lifestyle. Wherever I am, I can pause and find Jesus right there.

Our God is holy, special and unlike anyone or anything else we’ll ever encounter. In His love, He has called us to live life according to His standards rather than the world’s. God has set up fences of holiness to protect what is set apart for His unique purposes. With that, He has created a fence of space as a model for us in regard to having healthy relationships with others. Find out more in part three of our Fences series!
June 13, 2021
57m 38s
God erects fences to protect things that are holy. He is the one and holy God, set apart and unique from everything in this world. He has called us to be holy as He is, putting a fence between us and the ways of the world. But why does holiness matter? Join us for part two of our series!
June 6, 2021
54m 50s
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