One of the most divisive questions Christians face is which day we should assemble to worship. Saturday? Sunday? Wednesday? As in all things the answer is in Scripture. In the creation account we are given facts of God’s work during the six days of creation, and then we read:

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).

That sounds pretty simple but is it really that simple? Did God really need to rest? No, but He gave us an example to follow and we need to pay attention. At that time in history there were only two humans…Adam and Eve. They were neither Jew nor Gentile, so this example of a day of rest is to all people.

The seventh day is sacred to the Jews and Scripture tells us that it is a sign between them and God.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:12-17).

The Sabbath is so important to God that He said that the Jews who did not keep it were to be put to death. These words were written on stone tablets by God’s own finger. Notice that it is a day of rest and that it is a sign between God and Israel.

This simple instruction that the Jews were to rest from work on the Sabbath was expanded into a list of rules—a list of 39 actions which define work. Then, those 39 actions were expanded upon so that observing the Sabbath by Jewish Law and tradition is quite an undertaking. Nobody was more meticulous about such things than the Pharisees.

The works required by the Law were vigorously enforced by them, but when Jesus—God incarnate—walked among men, He seems to have gone out of His way to challenge this Law as interpreted by the Pharisees. For instance, one day He and His disciples were hungry on the Sabbath:

“And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn” (Mark 2:23).

According to the oral law this act broke a number of laws: reaping, threshing, winnowing, and selecting for instance. Why would God, Jesus who gave the Law to Moses, break His own law? Jesus didn’t break any of the other laws such as stealing or committing adultery, so why pick on this one? He wasn’t breaking the Law but was making a strong point to the Pharisees, and to us.

“And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).

People need a day of rest and God approves of it, but turning it into religious works is not what God intended. Works cannot save anyone.

There were many instances when Jesus went against the Pharisees idea of keeping the Sabbath. Many times He healed people on the Sabbath, which was also prohibited. In fact, this is what angered the Pharisees enough to seek to destroy Him. One Sabbath Jesus healed a man who had a withered hand.

“And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him” (Mark 3:6).

If they had only understood who they were seeking to destroy they might have reconsidered their feelings. Jesus demonstrated that the Sabbath is a day of rest given to man by God, not a day to prove how holy you are.

Eventually the Jews did have Jesus arrested and crucified, but instead of destroying Him like they intended, He was victorious. Because of His death, burial, and resurrection we who earnestly place our faith in Him will live eternally; Jews and Gentiles alike. Jesus fulfilled the Law, but He did not destroy it.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).

When Jesus did “work” on the Sabbath He was not breaking the Law; He was demonstrating that the Pharisees had missed the point of the Sabbath. It was not just another work of religion, but a day of rest.

After Jesus had ascended into Heaven the Apostles and other believers continued to share the Good News. Many Jews came to accept Christ as their Savior, but so did many Gentiles. This caused a problem. How could Gentiles be saved without first being under the Law?

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:23-25).

Paul, a self-described “Pharisee of Pharisees” recognized that the Law taught God’s “rules” and also the sacrifices required to atone for our inability to keep the Law. Christians are saved by grace through faith in the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He paid our sin-debt in full. Works of the Law cannot save anyone, nor can any works of religion.

The question regarding Gentile believers was an important one and the Apostles came together to prayerfully decide what should be required of them. After much discussion Peter said:

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” (Acts 15:10-12).

Though the specific question being considered was whether Gentiles would have to be circumcised in order to be saved, Peter’s words bring into question the entire Law. After more discussion, James declared his thoughts:

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we not trouble them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20).

The Gentiles who turn to God – those who have earnestly accepted Christ as their Savior – need not first come under the Law. It is faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross that saves and not the Law or works.

Aside from having a day of rest it is important for Christians to have fellowship with other Christians. The writer of Hebrews encourages Christians to assemble together.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

There is a strong need for Christians to meet together, but does this mean that if you sit in a pew for an hour or so one day a week you meet this need? Not really. Attending worship services, singing hymns of praise, and hearing a stirring sermon are important to Christian growth, but assembling together isn’t limited to one day a week. Everyday get-togethers with fellow Christians are important too.

This is one way we encourage each other and stay strong in our faith. Become a part of a home fellowship or host one, invite fellow Christians to your home for dinner and then talk about our Lord rather than the latest baseball scores, spend time with Christian friends and encourage each other to remain steady and true in following Christ. These are all ways to assemble together in addition to formal worship services.

So, the question remains, when to we worship? Do we worship on the Sabbath (sundown Friday through sundown Saturday)? Do we worship on Sunday (the first day of the week recognizing that Jesus arose from the grave on that day)? Paul wrote:

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

If you are a doctor and are busy healing people from sundown Friday through sundown Saturday, or even on Sunday, are you going against God? If you work in a restaurant and feed people on the Sabbath or on Sunday, should you change jobs? Christians look to Jesus, the Creator of all things, for our example of rest. Don’t get tangled up in works by setting rules as to what you do on a certain day of the week, but do take one day to rest.

Turn off the alarm clock, spend time with your family, and relax. Are you breaking God’s Law if you work on the Sabbath or on Sunday? Jesus (the Author of the Law given to Moses) did “work” on the Sabbath. Following Christ’s example we can harvest grain, prepare meals, etc. any day, but we need a day to rest.

Still the question is when do we worship? The answer is every hour of every day.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

Assemble together often with fellow believers and encourage each other to walk in the ways of the Lord. Take a day and rest, but praise and worship Him always.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

Christians believe in the supernatural. For example we believe in the virgin birth, we believe Jesus walked on water, and we believe the Red Sea parted to allow the Israelites to pass. Amidst all of the “good” supernatural things from God, somehow we deny that there is also “evil” supernatural. Demons are mostly considered spooky myths with no truth, but the fact is demons do exist and are very active in the world today.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Though God’s Word is full of evidence of demonic activity and warnings against it, most people today simply laugh at the idea that demons might actually be real. Movies and books have desensitized people to think demonic activity is entertaining make believe. Nothing could be more wrong.

Christians have willingly been “dumbed down” and many today cannot defend simple Christian beliefs, let alone more complicated ones like demons. Satanic activity is all around us but has been ignored by many preachers in order to not upset the sheep. Instead of studying God’s Word to find truth, many Christians sit in their pews and hear nothing more than a watered down sermon. Don’t get me wrong, we need to hear about God’s love and forgiveness, but we also need to be prepared for spiritual warfare.

Somehow biblical subjects relating to fallen angels and Satan get ignored; Christians are not prepared for the battle. Why should we put on our spiritual armor if Satan is just a funny looking guy in a red suit? Instead of being prepared for spiritual warfare we go into this mine field with blinders on. Instead of opening the eyes of the congregation, too many preachers ignore the demonic realm and soon Satan and his minions don’t seem so bad.

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Demons are real and pure evil. We need to be prepared to battle them.

There is a lot of disinformation around us and instead of holding God’s Word in authority we look to the world. Instead of searching Scripture to see what God’s Word has to say about such things, many Christians base their theology on what they see on television, movies, and music. Ineffectual preachers who haven’t got a clue about supernatural demonic existence don’t know how to recognize demonic activity and allow yoga, New Age, and other evils to sneak into their congregation.

Demons aren’t believed to be real and thus are seen as nothing more than myths and fairy tales. Somehow we can read of Jesus casting out demons but think “that was then and this is now.” Nothing has changed since Jesus walked this earth and demons are still an issue. Study your Bible and you will come to understand that this battle is real.

Demons presence is everywhere and poised to pounce like a lion hidden and waiting on its prey. Give them the opportunity and they will take control of your self-will. They are spirit beings and they need a portal in which to enter and set up residence in a human body.

Portals are easy to open but demons can’t just come in, they must first be invited. Christians must be on guard so that no unintentional invitation is given. We have the protection of the Holy Spirit and cannot be possessed, but if we willingly open a door and invite a demon into our life we can be oppressed.

Drug use is one way to open your mind and body to demons. Paul gave a list of works of the flesh (of Satan) when he wrote to the Galatians. Part of that list reads “Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies” (Galatians 5:20).

The word “witchcraft” comes from the Greek word “pharmakeia” which, among other things, means “the use or administering of drugs.”

Though drugs have been an issue since the beginning of time, the 1960s ushered in a generation who used mind-altering drugs to “tune in, turn on, and drop out”. In doing so they opened the way for demons to enter. Marijuana, LSD, cocaine, heroin, and so on will alter your thinking and invite demons into your life. Nobody should be involved with drugs, especially Christians.

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Christians must always be on guard against evil and keep our wits about us. Another invitation to demons is yoga. This satanic practice is even promoted by misguided Christian congregations who allow this satanic practice into their hallowed halls. Anyone who practices this Eastern Mysticism opens their minds to demons. According to one website:

“Yogis in India have conceptualized the seven “chakras,” or wheels of energy since ancient times as the ethereal body (energy body that engulfs the physical body).

They take in vitality (prana) from the surrounding atmosphere. They are located along the central axis of the body. These chakras govern the seven levels of the spiritual life of the yogic practitioner. The yogi strives to awaken or become conscious of these centers of energy through visualization and breathing exercises that concentrate attention on the areas in the body where they are located. Each is associated with a specific aspect of physical functioning and appears to be the center and energetic source of specific emotional qualities.

This is satanic and Christians need to run from this evil practice. The yoga positions are designed to activate a “Kundalini” in the base of your spine. When released it supposedly rushes up your spinal cord to your brain. What is Kundalini? It is a “fiery serpent”. Scripture refers to Satan many times as a serpent or a dragon. Do you see how evil this practice is? Totally demonic. By the way, there is no such thing as Christian yoga. Many Christians can’t find the time to read and study the Bible, but somehow find time to practice yoga.

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways” (Psalm 119:15).

It is God who we need to have foremost in our hearts and minds, not the fiery serpent.

Aside from drugs and yoga, another way to invite demons into your life is through “necromancy.” Necromancy is defined as the conjuring of the spirits of the dead. Scripture tells us that “divination, sorcery and spiritism” are practices forbidden by God. Scripture is quite specific concerning the prohibition of any attempt to contact the dead.

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12a).

The Israelites were going to enter the Promised Land which was filled with demon worshipping people and Christians are living amidst the demon worshipping people of this fallen world. God forbids His people to practice evil. Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Both died and the rich man was in the place of torments.

Fully aware of his suffering he wanted to go and tell his brothers to change their ways, but that was forbidden. If you think that a loved one who has died can come to give you advice, you are wrong. Necromancy always involves demons, and anyone who practices it opens themselves up to demonic attack. Satan and his demons seek to destroy human beings; their intention is not to communicate truth or wisdom, but pure lies.

Peter said we are to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

There is to be no contact between the dead and the living. Period.

Today we see that evil is growing stronger. Remember the man in Florida who ate another man’s face? He growled at the police as they tried to stop the attack before shooting him. At first the authorities thought he was on drugs, but the autopsy didn’t support that. This was demonic and it isn’t an isolated incident. Lately we hear of many mass shootings.

The killer murders and injures many people then turns the gun on himself. This is satanic. Because Christians have chosen to ignore the warnings about Satan throughout our Bible, Satan is growing stronger and Christians are growing weaker. God isn’t growing weaker, but Christians no longer honor Him as we should. By accepting activities such as yoga, “recreational drugs” or horoscopes we are going against God and are allowing portals to be opened and demons to enter. Demons are real.

Born-again believers in Christ cannot be indwelt by demons. We are already indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God and He doesn’t share space with malevolent misfits.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13).

Here’s the rub, whenever Christians go against God’s Word Satan may be allowed to build a stronghold; you can be oppressed by Satan and your walk with God hindered. If you profess to be a Christian, why would you engage in any activity that God abhors? Drugs open up entry ways for demons to enter and mystical practices such as yoga give demons rights in your life. Stand firm on God’s Word and don’t be fooled by Satan’s lies.

How can people protect themselves from the demons all around? First and foremost accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. At that point you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and have protection. Next, turn away from the things God abhors.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:7-8).

Resist Satan by turning away from drugs, yoga, necromancy, and any number of other activities promoted by Satan. You cannot bring every thought to the obedience of Christ if you are high on drugs or if you are clearing your mind and putting your body into positions designed to release the fiery serpent into your brain.

You cannot bring every thought to the obedience of Christ if you are trying to contact the dead for guidance instead of consulting the Living God. Don’t be deceived. Demons are real, but Christ is stronger than anything this world has to offer. Submit yourself to Him.

Many people today simply refuse to believe the fact that evil supernatural beings exist. Knowing that demons and fallen angels are real is not difficult for the informed Bible student; God wants us to know about Satan and beware of his treachery.

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:3-4).

Ignoring the fact that demons exist won’t make them go away and choosing activities that invite them into your life is something Christians should not do.

The supernatural is all around us and I have just touched on a few of the dark, evil powers we face. You can choose to follow evil or you can choose the power and love of Jesus Christ. My suggestion is that you choose Jesus Christ.

God bless you all,

Ron and Nathele Graham