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Be Healed by the Spirit, Week 7b
Copyright 2007 Wilma Zalabak

Faith Statement: I can have the sign of the Spirit of God in my life.

It is in us to long for a sign, Mark 16:17
But there are evil signs, Revelation 13:13,16

The Gift of Healing

Jesus commanded it, Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:2; 10:9
Through touch and prayer, James 5:13-18
Only from God, Exodus 15:26
What to do for healing, Isaiah 58

The Gift of Sealing

God’s sign as opposed to evil signs, Revelation 14:1-4
1. Has to do with the law of God, Isaiah 8:16
2. Abraham had a seal/sign, Romans 4:11
3. Job’s transgressions sealed, Job 14:17
4. Not to be changed in difficult times, Jeremiah 30:10-14
5. Hold back wars until sealed, Revelation 7:3
6. Jesus was sealed, John 3:33; 6:27
7. Established, anointed, and sealed with the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

The Gift of the Sabbath

1. Sign for personal assurance, Ezekiel 20:12, 20
 Rest and assurance go together, Isaiah 30:15; 32:17
 Rest is a gift from God, Hebrews 4:1, 10-11

2. Sign forever, announcing creation, Exodus 31:16-17
 For protection from evil, Revelation 9:4
 For God’s vindication, Revelation 12:17

In church on Sabbath is a good place for healing, Matthew 12:9-10; Mark 1:21; 3:2; Luke 6:6; 13:10-14; 14:3; John 5:10; 9:14

The Sabbath is a gift from God like salvation, Ezekiel 20:12

The Sabbath is the sign that will follow believers, Mark 16:17

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History of the Sabbath and Sunday

1. God made the Sabbath when He finished the creation, Genesis 2:1-3
2. People worshiped sun and planets, 2 Kings 23:5
3. Idol worship polluted the Sabbath sign, Ezekiel 20:16, 21, 24
4. For this reason God allowed destruction, Nehemiah 13:17-18
5. Jesus went to church on Sabbath, Luke 4:16
6. Jesus commanded to keep the Ten Commandments, Matthew 19:16-19; Luke 10:25-28
7. The women at the tomb kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, Luke 23:56
8. “First day” texts Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1 all mention Sunday, early in the morning before anyone knew there was a resurrection; they do not claim Sunday is Sabbath.
9. “First day” text John 20:19 pictures a meeting of the disciples on Sunday evening, still not believing the resurrection and meeting for their own safety, not to bless the day. If Jesus had changed His command during that meeting, they would have told us.
10. The apostles preached every Sabbath to both Jews and Greeks, Acts 13:42; 18:4
11. “First day” text Acts 20:7 tells of a meeting on Saturday evening for the purpose of bidding farewell to those who were beginning their travels on Sunday.
12. Paul predicted the preaching of perverse things after he left, by people seeking draw a following, Acts 20:28-31
13. “First day” text 1 Corinthians 16:2 pictures a person doing personal financial management on Sunday, laying aside the offering, so there’s no scrambling for offering on Sabbath.
14. Jesus predicted that His followers would be keeping the Sabbath whenever Jerusalem fell, and they were; that was in 70 AD.
15. Paul predicted that before the return of Jesus there would be a falling away in which something or someone human would be exalted above God for worship, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
16. Sabbath will be kept in the new heaven and new earth, Isaiah 66:22-23

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What to Do on the Sabbath

1. Jesus built a habit of attending church and reading the Scriptures on Sabbath, Luke 4:16.

2. Paul built a habit of attending church and preaching on Sabbath, Acts 17:2.

3. Isaiah calls us to honor God on Sabbath, refraining from purely human focused ways, pleasures, and words, Isaiah 58:13-14.

4. Nehemiah contended that the gates must be shut as the Sabbath came on, and no harvest carried in, nor any buying and selling on the Sabbath, Nehemiah 13:15-21.

5. God taught the Israelites in the desert to cook and bake their food the day before in preparation for the Sabbath, Exodus 16:22-30.

6. Jesus healed and provided basic needs on Sabbath, Luke 6:1-10

7. The women who followed Jesus to the tomb prepared on the preparation day, rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, and returned to their duties on the first day of the week, Luke 23:54-24:1.

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Response Questions

1. Is there a story of healing that you’d like to tell?

2. We need healing in so many ways: physical, emotional, relationships, spiritual, financial, from bad habits, from bad associations, from consequences of past choices, from possible previous conscious choices to serve Satan. Is there a prayer request for healing that you’d like to share?

3. What have you heard others say about Saturday as Sabbath?

4. How would you prepare to meet the King of the universe on the day of His appointment with you? What kinds of things would you hope you could do together?

Bible Study Suggestion: Luke 23:50-24:9, "Three Big Days."

1. What stands out for you here?

2. When you put yourself in the story, how do you feel?

3. What is God asking you to do in this passage?