Looking for a Sign

1. For it is a sign between you and me

• Our verse for today- 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”
• This is what we want to focus on today. “for it is a sign”. Signs are important in the Christian’s life
• We’ve discussed what the purpose of a sign is “a sign represents or communicates something more significant than the physical object itself.”
• The Sabbath isn’t what’s important- what’s important is what it points to- purpose of sign
• What signs could someone outside of Israel ascertain from seeing them observe the sabbath?
• Remember- the sign points to something greater- its not the sign itself
• But even during this time in history, you can see the impact that sabbath as a sign would do
• Devotion to God- person prioritizes their relationship w God over worldly concerns gain. 
• Commitment to Holiness  a desire to live set apart, following God’s commands.
• Trust in God’s Provision rest instead of work reflects faith that God will provide The person relies on God’s sufficiency rather than their own efforts.
• Faithfulness to God’s Covenant marks the person as part of God’s covenant community, visibly affirms their identity as belonging to God’s covenant people.
• Recognition of Creation mirrors God’s rest after creation, Him as Creator.
• A Countercultural Commitment in a culture that values productivity and constant activity, sends a message of distinctiveness. live differently from the world
• This aspect of a sign is important- again- it points to purpose of the sign, not the sign itself. 
• Circumcision as the Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant Genesis 17:11
  The Rainbow as the Sign of the Noahic Covenant Genesis 9:13
  Blood on Doorposts as a Sign in the Exodus Exodus 12:13
  The Sabbath as a Sign Between God and Israel Exodus 31:13
  Miraculous Signs to Confirm God’s Covenant Deuteronomy 6:22
  All of these signs pointed to the same thing- A God who created you, that keeps promises
• Here’s the problem with many of these signs- The rainbow has been hijacked
• The Sabbath was a sign for a long time, but now its just another day, No one believes in miracles anymore. The reality is that culture always tries to assimilate the things of God. Its natural
• When God’s people have or do something and become the standard, it gets perverted
• Because Satan can’t create, he can only mimic and pervert. The world tries to take it over
• Consequently- its why its always confusing to me when the Church wants to become the world
• Sidenote- we are different and we should be an we shouldn’t dumb it down for the world
• In the same way that the Sabbath was a way to show Devotion to God-, a Commitment to Holiness, a desire to live set apart, a follower of God’s commands, part of God’s covenant community, recognizing God as creator and  A Countercultural Commitment ALL signs of our walk with God should reflect those same attributes. They distinguish us from the World. “for it is a sign”
• Professing Christians want to keep self expression, hold onto sense of ‘self’ instead of killing it
• Work- Selling uniforms- first day- guy comes in for sizing- quit on the spot- taking his identity
• Because external things are a sign- they point to something larger than ourselves. 

2. There are New Testament Signs

• The OT Sign of the Sabbath is no longer the only sign of the NT believer of relationship w God
• Like I said go to “better than a dung beetle” and listen to the standard of the Sabbath
• The short answer is it doesn’t save us, its not required, but the principle is to have a sabbath
• In antiquity, the original sign of the covenant w God and his people was circumcision, but the cultures around them began to circumcise as well. It ceased to be special bc everyone doing it
• Such it is with the things of God. The world takes them as their own. Perverts them. 
• We have signs between us and God like the sabbath that are for us as well. 
• The Sabbath is a sign that points to something greater, but it still benefits the believer. 
• What do we have?
• Baptism is an External sign Matthew 28:19 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:4 we were buried with Him through baptism into death
• baptism is an outward sign of identifying with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection- Death
• When we go into the waters of baptism we’re showing the world, ourselves and God a sign. 
• Communion is a sign Lk 22:20 “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
• 1 Corinthians 11:25 This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
• The Lord’s supper is an external sign to the believer and non-believer alike. It distinguishes us
• The Holy Spirit is a sign Eph 1: 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance
• The Holy Spirit is the seal or mark of the New Covenant our security and identity. 
• This sign is the most important sign. It is a sign between us and the Lord- 
• Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
• The indwelling of the HS is central to the Christian experience. Its our seal, our identity, our power, our evidence, our sign to God, us and others that we are indeed His. 
• It’s a sign between Him and US. Remember- The sign points to something bigger than us
• We get benefits of the HS in our life, but the benefits aren’t the purpose- its to point to HIM
• The Holy Spirit is a Seal and Guarantee- It assures our salvation. Guarantees our eternity
• 2 Cor 1:21-22who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
• When you have the HS you know you are saved and rejoice in it. You have assurance. 
• The Holy Spirit is a Sign of God’s Presence- it’s a sign between you and him
• John 14:16-17 Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
• You should experience the presence of God in your life. You see him move in your life. 
• The Holy Spirit is a Sign of Empowerment- it’s a sign between you and him
• Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 
• 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
• When you have the HS you should be progressing in your victory over the sins- not accepting
• The Holy Spirit is a Mark of Adoption- it’s a sign between you and him. 
• Romans 8:15-16 but you received the Spirit of adoption …Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.-  A son does the will of his father- follows his commands. 
• The Holy Spirit is Evidence of the New Covenant
• Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
• Jeremiah 31:33 I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; 
• Unlike the Old Covenant sign of the law written on stone tablets, the New Covenant is marked by the Spirit transforming the inner life of believers. A Holy Spirit life is TRANSFORMED not day observed
• These signs are INTERNAL that can and should manifest EXTERNAL. AS A SIGN between us and HIM
• A SIGN to point to people GREATER purpose- a GREATER and MORE SIGNFICANT than US

They are a sign between you and God and others. NT standard higher than OT- Observe v BE