Page 32 - SABBATH

They were created for Yahweh’s pleasure and they were to find their highest fulfillment in
doing that which Yahweh created them to do.
Lucifer, however, began to look at his own beauty, wisdom, and perfection and he
thought it unreasonable that he should be subject to Yahweh in all things. He desired to
determine for himself what his way would be. He no longer desired to be subject to God. He
wanted to be like God, to determine for himself what was good and what was evil. Rather
than being at rest, having no initiative of his own, he began to manifest self-will. This is
revealed clearly in his words.

"But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the
stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I
will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”

Five times Lucifer said, “I will.” He was full of personal initiative. He began to want
to determine for himself what was good and what was evil. He wanted to take unto himself
that which belonged to Yahweh alone, the right of determination. He wanted to purpose and
to choose for himself. He no longer wanted to be subject to another, not even the One who
had created him.
This is the great transgression of Lucifer, he violated the Sabbath rest of God. He was
not content to do the works of God, he wanted to do his own works. He was not God, but
he wanted to be like God in having the ability to choose his own way.
What a contrast this is with the Son of God. Yahshua was God, yet He did not consider
equality with God a thing to be grasped or held onto. Instead, He freely emptied Himself
and took upon the form of a bond-servant, one who lived to do the will of another.
Lucifer was not equal with God, but he desired to become equal. Yahshua was equal,
but he laid His equality aside. What a rebuke this is to the error of Satan. The Son of God
humbled Himself when that which was created through the Son of God would not walk in
the same humility.
Satan came and tempted mankind to repeat his error, to desire to determine their own
way, to find right and wrong, good and evil within themselves, rather than looking to
Yahweh to know these things. Yet the Son of God made it possible for us to return to the
position of humility and submission that Adam abandoned.

Philippians 2:5-13
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Yahshua the Messiah, who,
although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to
be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made
in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross... So then,
my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it
is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

To will and to work for His good pleasure rather than our own is Sabbath rest. This
is what Lucifer rejected. He was not content to will and to work for Yahweh’s pleasure. He
wanted to pursue his own pleasure. To do so is to set oneself in opposition to God. To do
so is to enter into striving.