We all need a rest from our labours. We see the Lord provides for His people in this way as part of His provision for His people. Know His rest today.
Deuteronomy 15: The Sabbatical Year
1 "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.
2 And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbour. He shall not exact it of his neighbour, his brother, because the LORD's release has been proclaimed.
3 Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.
4 But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess---
5 if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.
6 For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
7 "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,
8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.
10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'
12 "If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
13 And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed.
14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.
16 But if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you,
17 then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And to your female slave you shall do the same.
18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired servant he has served you six years. So the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.
19 "All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
20 You shall eat it, you and your household, before the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose.
21 But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
22 You shall eat it within your towns. The unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or a deer.
23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
Things to think about…
1. Wouldn’t it be great to be released from all debts after seven years, Dt 15:1&2. Perhaps we should let our banks know of these wonderful biblical principles that they could put into practise. Perhaps they feel they are putting them into practise except they consider us foreigners whose debt they may exact, rather than being brothers, Dt 15:3. Regardless, as Christians we are called to have a generous forgiving nature and practise. In what ways do you think we can show a forgiveness of debt to others, considering the great debt we have been forgiven in Christ? Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven, Mt 18:22. This is a practical way of forgiving debt in our day.
2. The laws of lending were without restriction – that there would be no poor among them, Dt 15:4-14, even when the seventh year of debt forgiveness approached, the heart of grace was to abound. We need to show the same grace to those who are part of the household of God. Freely we have received, freely we must give. In what ways can you put this principle into practise this week for a brother or sister you know could use a hand?
3. Jesus quotes the truth found in Dt 15:11 “For there will never cease to be poor in the land” in Mt 26:11. Jesus also adds that we will not always have Him. Jesus’ earthly ministry was very short but in a very real sense we still have Him through the influence and power of the Holy Spirit. As such we are called to minister to the poor, blind and naked and serve even the very least of these, Mt 25:35-40. As such the command is to “open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land”, Dt 15:11
4. The Lord has put an awl through our ears in Christ, Dt:16&17. We are now forgiven slaves of Christ, now working for His kingdom. He is not the hard taskmaster like those of Egypt. Let’s remember we have been bought at a price, as such we should now reflect the character of our Master’s house.
5. We are to dedicate the first and best to the Lord, Dt 15:19. We should never offer anything that is blemished with respect to our worship. Our hearts if they are to be full of praise must also be ready to sacrifice the best. The principle of course is that we continually receive the blessing and the best that the Lord has for us.
6. Our Lord Jesus is the lamb that was sacrificed for us without blemish, Dt 15:21, cf 1Pet 1:19.
7. Why do you think that the blood was not to be eaten, but was to be poured out upon the ground, Dt 15:23? We are called to drink the blood of Christ are we not, John 6:53-55? The blood represents life, it’s part of our identity. We identify with Christ and His life giving blood. His is the only blood to drink. Of course this is not taken as a literal thing as the Roman Catholics would have it, but symbolic of what Christ did on our behalf and our response to His sacrifice on the cross.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups are encouraged to do alpha at church on Wednesday night 6:30pm at church. Be encouraged and join us.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for Tad and family as they continue life after Andy. The comfort is they know where he is.
2. Pray for the Kids Klub advertising through Chaplain and RI this week. Pray this ministry builds in our community.
3. Pray for alpha course session Wed 6:30pm at Church. Invite non-Christians.
4. Pray about Sunday’s message that it would change lives.
5. That those who are new to the church are encouraged and settle in well into the church.
6. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you saved.
7. Pray for Rosie and Kids@church.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for Andrew Otte’s message. Continue to pray the word of God influences people by the Holy Spirit.
2. Praise God for new life! Jennifer has been blessed with 2 more grandchildren. Twin girls – Aurelia Rose Blackwood and Callista Lily Blackwood – 2kg each. Both healthy and mum as well. Praise the name of the Lord!
3. God for the start of the first alpha course and Kids Klub last week.
4. Give thanks for Sally who has consistently been able to come to church with Richard.
5. Some encouraging signs of those wanting to consider who Jesus was. People asking about baptism.
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Alpha Course 2nd session on Wed 2nd Aug – 6:30pm – invite non Christians to this course.
