The Sabbath Project

It is a lie from God’s enemy that our loving Father would send disease upon us to teach us anything. God never allows anything to be a waste in our lives so if we refuse to seek healing he will still use it for our good, to benefit us, but that is a result of his permissible will. Disease was introduced as a result of Satan’s scheming and God desires that everyone would be made whole. Why do you think Jesus has given us authority over such things. Read Matthew 10. Read the end of Mark. This is what the Word says: “… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:38 We have to stop believing lies that come from a lack of faith and work freely to release those who are willing to be freed from the enemy.

(Source: thepaulzone)

Take it even a step further. Not only will God do it but he commanded us to do it. “Speak to the mountain”, he told us. Tell the demons to flee, don’t ask God to do it. He said it is done already, it is just for you to pronounce. That is the authority that Jesus has given to us. Don’t ask God to heal someone, yo do it. Speak to the illness, tell it to go. Pray health into the body. Jesus has given us the authority to DO!

(Source: thepaulzone)

The Sabbath Project is about entering into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ but eliminating most of the noise in our life so we can hear his voice. The beginning step is to fast anything that is distracting on Sunday’s, such as TV and computer so we can concentrate on relationship building with Jesus.

This past Sunday I discovered the benefits also include building a better relationship with my spouse. With the TV off we have been reading and praying together. One of the books we are reading is The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. What a huge difference in our relationship with just two Sundays of fasting.

The benefits are also incredible with my relationship with Jesus. More power and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. I wake up Monday morning rested and excited to serve. I have been hearing a lot clearer from the Holy Spirit as well. It is like going through a detox, getting back to a spiritual norm.

I highly recommend that people give make an effort to cut some noise out of their lives. Start with Sunday and see what happens. Turn off the TV and Internet and tune into the Spirit.

So how is your weekly planning going? Takes a little bit of effort to arrange to have no work one day a week, doesn’t it. I’ll be honest, Thanksgiving Weekend didn’t seem much of a “rest” even though all the activities were done in a spirit of gratefulness. However, if the day is too busy to spend it with the Lord then it is too busy.

If you are participating in the fasting of work, technology, television and other distracting things, are you finding it affecting the other days of the week and the time you spend with God? Is it at least increasing your desire for time alone with him?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in Canada so it will be a busy day of praise, fellowship and feasting. A religious mind would say that this is not the idea of the Sabbath but this is exactly the purpose of the Sabbath.

We spend the day setting aside our normal routine. We keep the TV off, refuse to open our computers and use that time to spend with the family of God. Our Daddy has been so good to us that every day is a day of thanksgiving but it is great to have a special day to pour out lavish love on each other in appreciation for what the Lord has done.

Yes, there are plenty of dishes and lots of cooking but this too is offered up in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. This is the family of God and together we lift up holy hands. I have no intention of doing anything other than spending this day in worship, in the Word, in prayer and in lavish fellowship as we allow ourselves to be washed in the praise that comes from the overflow of our grateful hearts. There will be no pressing meetings or any business at all, only the relaxation of giving the day to Jesus.

Start thinking about how you will spend this Sabbath day. Will you fast the things that distract you so you can wash in the fellowship of the Father’s love?

I am finding that my obedience to the Father’s call back to his heart is having some incredible effects on me. I am far more spiritually perceptive. I am speaking more of his wisdom instead of my own. And yesterday, I brought a Word to my church like I have not preached in a long time. There was incredible life to it. But I should have warned people before we started on this Project that we are involved in spiritual warfare here.

Any time that we begin to turn our hearts to God the enemy will be upon us to try to discourage us. If you have ever tried to fast you will know what I mean. The enemy will discourage you with thoughts of past failures, he will stir up problems in relationships, he will whisper things to cause you to doubt yourself and God, he will cause you to feel tired and useless. He will do whatever he can to get your mind off of the object of your affection and back on yourself. You may even find yourself 100 times more judgmental than you have ever been before.

Today I was amazed at how much discouragement I perceived all around me. I felt like when Jesus came down off the mountain after the transfiguration. On top of the mountain was an incredible moment when Moses and Elijah appeared to encourage Jesus. But at the bottom of the mountain he faced a people lost and incapable in their doubts. Doubt and fear can be a contagious things. He told them this when the “if” word was used:

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

I will have no part in this spirit of discouragement. I pray for those who are hitting those walls today but I know who my Lord is and I know who I am in him. I take him at his Word and I know he is faithful to his promises. His joy is my strength and I refuse to allow the enemy to gain a foothold in my day. Jesus is everything to me and I fill my heart with thanksgiving for all he has done, is doing and will continue to do. My God is sovereign over everything, including my life. I will follow his lead all the rest of my days. 

So how did it go yesterday with setting all your work aside and concentrating on the Lord? Any reports to give? Any observations? How did you feel waking up this morning?

Well have an excellent day with the Lord tomorrow. I will be plumbing the depths of Matthew 11:12 tomorrow. I have a few good questions that I am seeking some answers to. After a week of looking forward to a full day concentrating on the Lord, I am rather eager to greet the day. God bless you all and may you experience the joy of his presence tonight, tomorrow and all the days of your life. See you Monday.

I pray everyone’s preparation is going well. Are you ready to unplug from your work tomorrow? Ready to walk away from television and your computer? Ready to spend a day just concentrating on the Lord, repairing, strengthening and growing your relationship?

Tonight, before going to sleep, find a passage that you will dwell on during Sunday. If you don’t know where to start try meditating on Psalm 23, Psalm 139 or simply read through 1 John until something strikes you. Read it before going to bed and let it be the first thing you consider Sunday morning.

If you can, partner with someone. Read the passage together over the phone or on Skype tonight. Then tomorrow, get together and discuss it. Then pray together with whatever comes out of your discussion.

Start thinking today about tomorrow. Jot down some rough ideas and plans but let the Spirit lead on Sunday. Jot down some people and situations to pray about all day. And if anything comes to mind that you have been wondering about God then plan to discuss that with him tomorrow.

Take the whole day and just relax in Jesus.

And don’t forget to give some reports on Monday. I am really curious what the Spirit wants to do with this.

The Sabbath Project