One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:5-8

The Apostle Paul continues to teach, we as Christians are under the Law of Liberty and not the Law of Moses. Holidays and Sabbaths are still a big contention within the Church, many Christians have even divided because of the days they worship, this is divisiveness caused by Satan. As Paul teaches “One person esteems or considers one day above another, another esteems or considers every day alike” So who is correct here? The Holy Spirit answers “Let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind”

Christmas is a great example of a divisive holiday. I personally love to celebrate the Christmas season with my family, I love the time to reflect upon the incarnation of Christ, a beautiful mystery that without it none of us would be saved! However there are some who refuse to celebrate Christmas because they believe it has pagan roots. We have a family in my Church that doesn’t celebrate Christmas, and somebody came to me and asked what should we do about this? I said nothing, nobody is obligated to celebrate Christmas, as I use this text for my discernment. As the Apostle Paul states “He that regarded the day, regarded it unto the Lord”

The Apostle Paul also wrote the warning to the Church of Colossae “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17) The Holy Spirit warned not to judge other Christians based on what day they are worshipping or observing, so why has the Church divided over this matter? Because Satan knows as Jesus warned “A house divided will not stand” (Mark 3:25)

Paul gives us a great revelation, all of these feast days and Sabbaths are a shadow of Christ! Jesus is our Sabbath Rest (Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4) without Jesus you will never enter into the Rest of God! Now some of you may disagree with me, and that’s alright, as long as we give this day to The Lord, and not to observe for legalism. 

One thing to remember, that Christ Is Risen on Sunday Morning (Mark 16:9, John 20:1, Luke 24:1, Matthew 28:1) All four gospels tell us Jesus rose on a Sunday morning, this is why we as a Church worship on Sunday. The early Church also began to worship on Sunday morning because of the resurrection of Christ “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7) There is nothing pagan about worshipping on Sunday morning, because as the Apostle Paul said “If Christ isn’t Risen, our faith is useless” (1 Corinthians 15:17) 

So whatever day you worship or observe, or whatever you may eat, do it for Jesus Christ, your Lord. “For if we live, we live for The Lord” (v8) Amen!

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4

One thing Satan likes to do is divide the Church, and there are many unnecessary divisions within the body of Christ. One thing we need to remember you are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8) You are not saved by “Keeping The Law” as nobody can keep The law. You need to understand as a Christian you live under the Law of Liberty which is Christ (James 1:25, Galatians 5:1)

So there are some brothers and sisters in Christ who still try to keep parts of the Mosaic Law , including the dietary laws. The main example we will use here is pork, eating swine was considered unclean and forbidden under the Mosaic Law. But we have to remember you are in a New Covenant with Christ (Luke 22) not under the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus said  “So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” (Mark 7:18-19) Christ taught its the sin in our hearts the defiles us, not the things from the outside such as foods.

God gave the Apostle Peter a vision of the New Covenant “And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:13-15) The Lord was trying to teach Peter he was in a New Covenant , not the Mosaic Covenant, as Peter was hesitant to preach the gospel to Gentiles and was still trying to Keep The Law.

So back to the Apostle Pauls teaching, there are still some Christians convicted not to eat pork, and as Paul is teaching us, That’s OK, if they don’t want to eat pork because of their conscience then they dont have to, if you want to eat pork, go ahead, as its the heart that defiles us and not foods. There are going to be Christians who think a little differently than you, show them love and respect, rather than getting into useless arguments! As Paul says “Not to disputes over doubtful things”

“For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables” If a Christian believes as The Lord taught all food is purified, then let them eat, if a Christian wants to try and Keep The Law, let them go.  “Let not him who eats despise him who does not” Don’t have divisions over secondary issues. If Jesus is our Lord, He is our Master, we answer to him! “Who are you to judge anothers servant”? Be united at The Lords Table, Christ is our sacrifice, our Lord, by his body and blood we have been redeemed and made Children of God! Amen!

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14

It’s time for the Church to wake up! As the Apostle Paul has warned the Church, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “It is high time to awake out of sleep”! Think about this, Paul was warning the Church 2,000 years ago, how urgent is our time right now! “For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed”! Jesus is coming back! This is a guarantee , are you ready? Are you ready to stand before The Lord and give an account of your life? Are you preaching the gospel and warning others?

The night is far spent, the Church has wasted many years fighting within itself. The Church has spent more time trying to conform to the ways of the world, falling into the sins of the world, falling into the false doctrine that has infiltrated the Church. Wake up brothers and sisters! The day is at hand! Christ is coming back for His Church, looking for a spotless  bride (Ephesians 5:27)  not a harlot! But many have falling away, many have listened to the doctrines of demons rather than the written Word of God (1 Timothy 4:1)

As the Holy Spirit speaks “Therefor let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armor of Light”! But the worldly Church today loves the works of darkness, in fact they celebrate it!  Many “Christian” denominations such as the Methodist and Presbyterian have Pride Sundays, they have drag queen shows in the sanctuary, they have transgender Pastors! The abominations have invaded the Church, and instead of the body of Christ fighting the works of darkness, they embrace them! They are cowards, spineless conversions, who claim to love Christ yet trample on his blood, they are more wicked than the unconverted sinner

Brothers and sisters, put on the Armor of Light, as our Lord said “You must be Born Again” (John 3:3) You have to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, washed by the blood of Christ! You can’t live by the flesh and expect to inherit the Kingdom of God, these are works of darkness. You must be crucified with Christ, you must be buried and raised again to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6) “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in sexual immorality (carousing/debauchary) not in drunkenness and intoxication, not in strife or envy, but In the Lord Jesus Christ!

Put on the Armor of Light, put on The Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ! Submit to The Lord because time is running short, the day of salvation is at hand! Make no provisions for the flesh! Amen!