Dear CBC Family,

Please, click here to listen to a message by Dr. Robert Godfrey entitled The Sabbath Gift.

This message on the meaning and significance of the Sabbath Day is one of the best sermons I have heard on this subject. I hope that you will take the time to sit down with an open Bible and note paper and carefully listen to Dr. Godfrey on this subject.

One of the things that struck me about this sermon is its delivery. Dr. Godfrey is one of the teaching-elders at the church where he delivers this message. The congregation is predominately Dutch believers who have grown-up under the annual evening service preaching of the Heidelberg Catechism. This congregation is not "in need" of being persuaded of the relevance of Sabbath Keeping. Rather, Dr. Godfrey's message is the proclamation of the wise and mature shepherd guiding his well-instructed sheep in the promised rest of the gospel.

My desire for our congregation to thoughtfully listen and reflect upon Dr. Godfrey's message is threefold;

First, from the beginning of creation to the consummation of the ages, God promises and supernaturally provides a Sabbath rest for the spiritual enrichment of His beloved children. This promised rest is not a burdened but a gift, overflowing with spiritual benefits and linked to God's real substantive presence among His people. Jesus is forthrightly able to say to us, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS." Matthew 11:28-30. This sermon opens up for us some of these great blessings.

Second, from the earliest verses of the Bible, history has been moving to a very specific goal where our Heavenly Father will sum up all things in heaven and earth in Christ, who is the Lord of the Sabbath. Ephesians 1:9-10, Mark 2:27. Learning to live in light of the promised Sabbath rest now helps orients our present life around the things concerning the age to come and fills us with its power for living today. Hebrews 6:4-5.

Finally, as we continue to reform our lives and our congregation around God's gospel promises, we are building a heritage and an ethos for our children and our children's children. Just imagine what the lives of the youngest might be like having grown-up basking in the supernatural hope of God's eternal rest experience weekly as an ordinary part of their lives. For me, that is something really worth prayerfully working towards.

I hope you will take the opportunity to listen to this wonderful message about the gift of the Sabbath rest our loving heavenly Father has given to us in Christ. Click here to listen.

Pastor Doug