The Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10)

Introduction

Talk to you for a second this morning about today. What is today? Well, it’s the first day of the rest of your life. You’ve heard that before. But more significantly than that, today is the Lord’s day. I’m sure somebody said it already. You hear that very commonly in regard to assemblies on the first day of the week. This is the Lord’s day. I want you to just let that phrase sink in today. What does that mean? What does that mean to us? The English expression, the Lord’s Day, is only found once in the New Testament. And it is found in Revelation chapter 1 and verse 10, where John, and we’ve studied this recently, in one of those famous in the Spirit passages that frame the book of Revelation’s material, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.

And so it begins.

This unique expression in Revelation chapter 1 and verse 10, as it could be understood to be like the phrase you see so often in the Old Testament, particularly the minor prophets, the day of the Lord. And perhaps that’s the idea that he’s not referring to a specific day of the week, but the whole day of the Lord concept when God comes in judgment. However, the things of which John speaks point to nearby, but future activities, future, a future time of the day of the Lord, and doesn’t really reference the moment at which he is receiving the revelation. And that’s what he’s talking about. I was in the Spirit. So the day of the Lord, where God is going to come in judgment was not that specific day, but a few days down the line.

1. The Lord's Day: The First Day of the Week

Obviously, to me, he is referring it to most commentators. He is referring to a specific day of the week that had special significance attached in regard to the Lord Jesus. And commonly it is understood that he received this revelation on the first day of the week. And thus the reference to the Lord’s Day. And the first day of the week is certainly a special day of worship for the Lord’s people. This is something that is greatly emphasized in the New Testament. Jesus was raised on the first day of the week. There has to be some significance to that, since all four, and there’s very few things that are mentioned in all four of the gospel narratives. But it is mentioned in all four Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that Jesus was raised on the first day of the week.

And I think it goes further than just the fulfillment of, say, the prophecy in regard to Jonah. And especially when we see what follows in Acts 20 and verse 7, when Paul and his companions had tarried for seven days to meet with the disciples on the first day of the week to break bread. And I think this becomes even more significant in 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verses 1 and 2. Yes, even more. As when he regulates the giving that was being done for the poor saints in Jerusalem that we talked about at the end of chapter 15 in Romans, as he was admonishing them to participate and to participate generously in that giving, he said, Don’t make it about a big collection when I get there, everybody’s scrambling around trying to get some money together to send down the road.

He says, Do this upon the first day of the week. Now, why choose that day? Because it’s already a special day for the Lord’s people. Not that giving like the Lord’s Supper is tied to the first day of the week. But it was a convenient time to give, and we say that all the time, because they were already meeting on the first day of the week. And that would be the only passages I would need to refer to establish Sunday, our first day of the week, as a special day of collective worship for the Lord’s people. And so I want to talk to you about this particular day and ask this simple but really rhetorical question. This is like, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2. Is This My Day or the Lord's Day?

Should be anyway. Is this my day? Or is this the Lord’s day? Whoa, well, that’s that should answer itself. Shouldn’t it? Let’s talk for a minute this morning about priorities. Gave you a lot of words there. Things that are important in your life. I want to talk to you about the Lord’s day in terms of your priorities. And I really want to talk about this in relation to a lot of discussion that is being generated among the Lord’s people in regard to a second service on the first day of the week. This is not a referendum on that, per se. But just some observations that I want to make about what we’re going to do at 5 o’clock today. It is what many brethren have traditionally done.

It has been my experience as far back as I can remember. I have never worshipped with a group that only had one service on Sunday, but you hear a lot more groups doing that. And so perhaps it is a more expedient thing, and that’s really the question. Because, as I made a very passing quick point in a Bible class recently, a second service this afternoon is not commanded anywhere in the New Testament. The disciples met on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day. They came together on the first day of the week to break bread. It was a rather lengthy assembly in Acts 20, perhaps more lengthy than normal because an apostle was there, the apostle Paul, no less. We know it was pretty lengthy because it continued until midnight.

And that little detail is told because poor Eudicus fell asleep and fell out the window and was taken up dead, and that’s never a pleasant thing when you’re taken up dead. But he was resurrected on the occasion. And I love the story about that the fellow said, I’m going to follow the example of Paul, and I’m going to preach until midnight. Well, I believe all about apostolic example. However, one older sister sitting in the second row raised her head and said, First of all, you are not the Apostle Paul. And second of all, he was going to be with them for a very brief time, and so it was an unusual service. And number three, if I fall off this pew and break my neck, you can’t raise me from the dead.

So that dispelled that. But when I talked about that very briefly in a class recently, it was brought to my attention that perhaps I might have left the wrong impression, so I sent out an email to clarify what I meant about the second service not being commanded for that matter, even the Wednesday night service not being a command of the Lord. And I recommended just as an opportunity to teach these thoughts. And I want to share them with you again because I think they’re that important as it relates to our subject about worship. Two times on the Lord’s Day.

And then another midweek service on Wednesday night. Who has time for that? Why are we doing this? Why do we meet three times a week? Why do we have special meetings where we go Sunday through Wednesday? Oh, I hear about those protracted meetings. They called them that two week meetings. I’ve never preached one of those. I don’t know what’s the longest meeting I preached, probably Sunday through Friday. But some people are still doing that six days in a row. Wow. Why should we make every effort to attend all the assemblies of the local congregation of which we are a part? Well, just look at it from the standpoint of what we know the New Testament is teaching to us about what the things we’re involved in and what has been done for us, as Charles mentioned from Isaiah 53, we should have a desire for worship.

To give our God, our Creator, what is due Him. And then, in regard to the arrangement of the local church, for some reason, our elders think this is in our best interest to assemble in this way for worship. And then there’s this matter of being a member of the local church and the fact that I’m a part of a body. And what if I, as the hand, say, I don’t want to function with the rest of the body? I want to do my own thing. I don’t want to be involved. I don’t want to participate in this way. What about the responsibilities of being a member of a local church and what it means to be a body of believers? And what about the spiritual benefits, as we’ll talk later, that are derived from such assemblies?

The spiritual thoughts that we’re entertaining in the way. Is there something to participating together that is helpful and needful in regard to our faith? The interaction with those of a like precious faith. Hey, sometimes I feel alone out there. Sometimes I am isolated and the weight of the world is upon me. But we come to a place like this and we talk about we’re with people of like precious faith. I’m singing to them. And they’re singing to me. And we’re singing these wonderful things as we’ve done this morning about our God, our need for him, our Savior, what he’s done for us. And we’re entertaining these thoughts in our minds as we sing in such a moving and compelling way, at least that’s, I believe, the design.

If we do them as effectively as possible, they can be they can be very moving and effective in regard to our spirits. And so, while contending that additional assemblies aren’t commanded, as some do, I don’t want to be here because really all I’ve got to be first day of the week, I was here on the first day of the week. I can check that off my list. I did it, and that’s it. Not giving you any more. That reflects a misunderstanding about the purpose of assemblies. One’s responsibility and the potential benefits in an attempt to justify neglect. Now, I had, when I sent this to you, I had several responses. And I every time I send something out, I get several responses, and I like. I like that.

And one email was about a place that was known about that has eliminated the second service and what their motives were for doing that. And I would just say for some groups, it is more expedient because of certain conditions that exist. But here’s what I said in response. I’m just concerned about the motives that we have. This is not a referendum on the elimination of a second assembly. My question is this day my day? Or is it the Lord’s day? And if that is a true designation of the first day of the week, then why should we be so up in arms about the fact that we have to turn around and return at five o’clock and give the Lord a few more hours of the Lord’s day?

I mean, after all, even though this is the Lord’s day, have I emphasized that? We still find plenty of time to do non-spiritual activities, do we not? You might watch some sporting events this afternoon on the television if you’re a male, maybe some females, but that’s mostly a male thing. You may be so exhausted from the week that you might even have time for a somewhat lengthy nap if I don’t preach too long. Or if you don’t stay out too late eating lunch. And you could even maybe stop by the store to do a little shopping on Sunday afternoon. And then after the assembly, since it stays light until 8 o’clock, you might even mow the yard or something. If you’re really crazy.

3. Serving the Lord or Me Serving Me?

And yet for some, it just is such a huge thing. And here’s the thing. Is it really about if we’re going to eliminate the second service? Here’s my question. And I’m not saying it isn’t expedient in some places because there are some circumstances that I think make it expedient, and they meet for a longer period of time, and it’s not about less time per se. But is it really about expediency and serving the Lord better? Or is it more about me serving me?

Now that’s the question I want you to mull over in your mind. Because Romans 12 and verse 11 is it talks about the outgrowth of the decision of the life of faith. It says some of the qualities that characterize the faithful person, it says not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And that just really doesn’t jive with, I want to give the Lord less.

Because I think most of us who have served the Lord regularly throughout our lives and made all the assemblies might even be willing to admit that I could do more than I’m doing.

They can decide what is best for them and meeting once in a protracted period or however long they meet, fulfilling the Lord’s commands in one assembly on the first day of the week is entirely possible. My question is why are we doing it? That’s an expedient. Is it really killing us to have to drag ourselves out of the bed after a two-hour nap? And I know it’s harder for women, I get it. You know, guys, we don’t even comb our hair, some don’t even have hair to comb.

And so I realize it’s a much bigger deal. But still, this is the Lord’s day. It’s not my day. How much is it really asking of us? And you know, if it’s if it’s more about me serving me, let’s just go ahead and erect calves at Dan and Bethel. You know the reference, right? It’s too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. It’s too much. Now you think about what we do in comparison to going up to Jerusalem for worship. See, this all boils down really to our appreciation of what the Lord has done for us. This is the Lord’s day. And I want to make a few observations about the fact that this gives us an opportunity to praise. And I saw this little acrostic.

I thought it was pretty good. I thought I would share it with you. When we praise God with our lives, not just not just this assembly. These are the things that result. And here’s the issue. We make time to do what we want to do in our lives. We have plenty of time. And I’m wonder, I wonder with the second service elimination. I wonder if what some are saying is, I’m just so busy, I need to secure more time for me, and that we’re crowding God out of our hustle and bustle life. Be careful. Are we going to tell God on the day of judgment, I wanted more time for me and less for you? Is that really what we’re going to say? I feel comfortable with that on the day of judgment.

4. The Spiritual Benefits of Assembly

I wanted more time for me and less for you. We’re not getting something if we are crowding God out of an already too busy life. So let’s think about the why. And as I’ve made these observations, and I come to the concluding part of this, I want to talk to you about the spiritual benefits of assembly. Not just this morning, not just upon the first day of the week, but even twice on the Lord’s Day. And every time we have the opportunity to assemble with the Lord’s people. I know when I do gospel meetings, you know, I get a lot more assemblies than you do as I do these meetings here and there. It’s spiritually energizing. It’s spiritually causes me to focus in an intense way.

And I know it’s a unique experience for the preacher, but it’s really helpful to me in all of these areas of praise in our lives. And I want to talk to you about the spiritual benefits because guilting doesn’t work. I haven’t said anything that I said this morning for the purpose of guilting anyone. First of all, nobody’s saying, hey, elders, I think we need to cancel the 5 p.m. service. We’ve discussed it. Would it be expedient? Could we do it differently? Could we extend the service, start earlier, go longer, and have the same amount of time? I get all of that. And it’s okay to discuss all of that. What might be expedient and fulfilling the commands of God.

But the bottom line is if I suggest to you ought to be here at 5 o’clock tonight, if all I’m doing is guilting you, my observation is that doesn’t work. You might come for a week, and then next week you’ve forgotten it. I want to change your whole perspective about what we’re doing in this place. And perhaps that will help you. And let’s start with again our point. Is this my day? Or is this the Lord’s day? And one of the spiritual benefits that I want to talk to you about is, and this is what I meant about what I get to do in preaching gospel meetings is it helps me to focus on God. And I need less focus on myself and less focus on my circumstances that can sometimes be troubling and distracting and hurtful.

Godliness, it’s not just about character, it’s about focusing on God. We need that. And yes, this is supposed to extend well beyond what we do here together on the first day of the week. More on that momentarily, but it helps me to do it collectively with other people. This is something built in. I know that when I come here, I’m going to have godliness time. And I’m supposed to be increasing in that according to 2 Peter chapter 1. I need more time to focus on God. I certainly don’t need more time to focus on sports and other activities. I get plenty of that. And that’s all very temporary. I need more time focusing on God. And I’ll tell you something else happens here. It’s no longer just about me.

I come here because of you, and you come here because of me, and I’m here to serve you and to help you and assist you. I sing to you sing to me. We’re here to just our physical presence encourages others. Here, we’re in this together. This is a together thing. This isn’t about me. Too much of our lives in our world in this time is about me. I mean, seriously. As you live your life Monday through Saturday, how much time do you spend thinking about me? Not me, but you. Probably spend very long time thinking about me. But you think about you. It’s our world. I need this. Because it takes the attention off of me and places it where it more deservedly belongs. Upon the Lord.

And upon others. And after all, this particular day is the Lord’s day. And it participates and contributes to my spiritual growth. I can learn some things reading my Bible at home. And we’re encouraging that. Our elders are encouraging that. But there’s something unique about assemblies. And the Bible studies that happen here, the songs that we sing together, these opportunities assist in my spiritual growth in a unique way. Where would I be without these? These help me in a unique and profound way. Isn’t that their design by our God? And that’s what he says, encouraging one another all the more as you see the day drawing near, and Hebrews stimulate one another unto love and good deeds. There must be something about these assemblies, according to Hebrews 10, 24, and 25, that assist us in going in the right direction in our lives.

So much of what we’re encouraged to do by the world around us is to focus on and go in the wrong direction. There’s nothing like this that steers us in the right direction. Toward heaven, toward righteousness and goodness in all our behavior.

5. We Are Here to Exalt, Please and Adore Him

And being with you. The sense of camaraderie and family, and the fact that you care about me and I care about you. Oh, we can’t care about each other. The larger we grow, we can’t care about each other as much as we would like for every individual person in the group. But I know when I come here, while everybody can’t assist me personally in exactly the same way. I know you want what is best for me. And I want what is best for you. And so we are here to encourage each other in this great journey. This is the Lord’s day. Time for my day to disappear. We are here to exalt a worthy God. We are here to please and adore Him. And I wonder sometimes if we get to these thoughts when we consider assembling with the Lord’s people.

Again, I’m not guilting you. I’m suggesting to you that we ought to realize the worthy object of our worship. And that we’re here to please. We are enlisted as soldiers, according to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And we should adore him. This isn’t a matter of pleasing and exacting God. This is about loving one who has loved us to the uttermost. This is an expression of my love for him. And we need to be generating that in the passion with which we participate here. The way we sing, the way those words come out of our mouths, the way we diligently buckle down and pray together to the throne of an awesome God. Let us not lose sight of these three things on the Lord’s day. And every day.

6. A Lack of Daily Worship

I really believe that perhaps we’re not getting to the source of the problem when we talk about Second Service elimination and all the X’s and O’s of that, and about attending regularly the assemblies of the saints. I wonder if those who are really struggling in great measure that really the issue is a lack of daily worship. You mean to tell me that someone who is engaged in daily worship of God will attend only Sunday mornings? Seriously. I think that’s rare. I’m not saying that doesn’t happen. I just want to suggest to you that’s rare. Because someone who’s engaged in daily worship of God, attending three services a week is just a natural extension of that. And I’m concerned that more and more are isolating worship to a single day.

Maybe one just one assembly a week. That’s my worship to God. That will not be enough. Oh, but we can’t earn or merit our salvation. Well, but you’ve not even begun to approach these qualities in our response to God. So, what about worship on a daily basis? This should not be an unrelated event to our lives. And so I want to remind you of what the early disciples did. They were praising God and having faith. That was only on the first day of the week. No, that’s. They were praising God because of their salvation. They had favor with all the people. It says, in Acts chapter 3, the fellow that was healed on that occasion who was lame, who was begging for alms, but he said, I’ve got something better in the name of Jesus Christ of the Nazarene, arise to walk.

It says everyone was filled with wonder and amazement. And they were praising God, and he himself was leaping and praising God. I wonder if we lose that in the course of the humdrum of life, that we lose our sense of wonder and amazement, and that our lives are to be lives of praise unto our God. We sing this song.

Conclusion

Will that be the case tomorrow? I will wake. When I awake, I’m still with you, David said. I love that statement. Will that be the case? Will we wake the dawn with praises? And if you’re not a Christian, will you choose the life of praise? It’s not just a matter of doing the things necessary to have your sins forgiven. It’s about coming to the Lord, being his person, being his disciple, living for him who died for you. And will your life reflect waking the dawn with praises? Let’s stand and sing together.