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by KC
Do people really understand what it means "things sacrificed to idols"? I guess not. I don't see anyone referring to this very thing. What is a Christmas dinner, Halloween candy, Easter dinner? Even for someone not practicing religion of any kind, if they do Christmas, they are still practicing a pagan idol sacrifice. You can’t take this out of it because it’s exactly what it all is. Even the pagan winter solstice people know this. They know where their customs come from. It’s the same celebration.

Another thing, study about sacrifices, which aren’t just going out and slaughtering an animal to have a pagan celebration. You are supposed to be a living sacrifice to Yahweh, yourself. (Rom 12:1). There are sacrifices of joy, trust, giving, a broken ruach, contrite heart (Ps. 51:17). Just look these up: Heb. 13:15f; Ps. 27:6, Ps. 107:22, Ps. 4:5.

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That is an interesting statement you made here and we understand what you are saying.

We have watched a video (America's Occult Holidays) of a man called Doc Marquis this man claimed that he came straight out of the Illuminati a third degree witch and had since left and became "Christian". He had a chart that explained all the world's holidays and how on the major holidays there are actual human sacrifices in their rituals for these days. Now if this is true, these worldly holidays might just have a blood sacrifice attached to them in which the unsuspecting person who practices certain rituals for certain holidays could possibly be ensnared through an unspoken agreement.

One could listen to it in Real Audio here:

http://www.prophecyclub.com/audio_marquis.htm

~Greg and dawn

I decided not to particpate in Christmas from reading the word of YHWH to Jeremiah in 10:1-4.

What made me resolve to stick to this decision in the face of family persecution is Jeremiah 35 (see below)...

Jeremiah 35

Jer 35:1 The word which came to Yirmeyahu from יהוה (YHWH)in the days of Yehoyaqim son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of Yehudah, saying,
Jer 35:2 “Go to the house of the Rĕkabites. And you shall speak to them, and bring them into the House of יהוה(YHWH), into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink.”
Jer 35:3 And I took Yaazanyah the son of Yirmeyahu, the son of Ḥabatstsinyah, and his brothers and all his sons, and all the house of the Rĕkabites,
Jer 35:4 and brought them into the House of יהוה(YHWH), into the room of the sons of Ḥanan son of Yigdalyahu, a man of Elohim, which was by the chamber of the heads, above the room of Maasĕyahu son of Shallum, the keeper of the door.
Jer 35:5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rĕkabites bowls filled with wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.”
Jer 35:6 But they said, “We do not drink wine, because Yonadab the son of Rĕkab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons, forever.
Jer 35:7 ‘And do not build a house, neither sow seed, nor plant a vineyard, nor have any of these, but dwell in tents all your days, so that you live many days on the face of the land where you are sojourners.’
Jer 35:8 “So we obeyed the voice of Yonadab son of Rĕkab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters,
Jer 35:9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in. And we have no vineyard, field or seed.
Jer 35:10 “But we dwell in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Yonadab our father commanded us.
Jer 35:11 “And it came to be, when Nebukadretst-sar sovereign of Babel came up into the land, that we said, ‘Come, let us go to Yerushalayim for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Arameans.’ So we dwell at Yerushalayim.”
Jer 35:12 And the word of יהוה(YHWH)came to Yirmeyahu, saying,
Jer 35:13 “Thus said יהוה (YHWH) of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, ‘Go, and you shall say to the men of Yehudah and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, “Have you not received instruction, to obey My words?” declares יהוה(YHWH).
Jer 35:14 “The words of Yonadab son of Rĕkab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are established, and they have not drunk unto this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. And as for Me, I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not obeyed Me.
Jer 35:15 “And I sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn, each one from his evil way, and make good your deeds, and do not go after other mighty ones to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.
Jer 35:16 “The sons of Yonadab son of Rĕkab have indeed carried out the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.” ’
Jer 35:17 “Therefore thus said יהוה (YHWH) Elohim of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, ‘See, I am bringing on Yehudah and on all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim all the evil I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them but they did not listen, and I have called to them but they did not answer.’ ”
Jer 35:18 And Yirmeyahu said to the house of the Rĕkabites, “Thus said יהוה (YHWH)of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, ‘Because you have obeyed the command of Yonadab your father, and guarded all his commands and done according to all that he commanded you,
Jer 35:19 therefore thus said יהוה (YHWH)of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, “Of Yonadab son of Rĕkab there shall never cease to be a man to stand before Me.”

I thought it was very sad that YHWH had to bring the sons of Yonadab to Jeremiah to show Jeremiah how they wouldn't budge from obeying their earthly father's commandment... and how much more Yisrael should do the same with YHWH's commandments, seeing that He is the King of the Universe, their Creator...

The little bit that I can do to show my allegiance to the King of the Universe, is to say "no" to pagan Christmas and keep His commandments... this makes me happy because it is a privilege for me to show Him that I am following His ways...

This is just me, I understand that everyone is at different levels in their walk with YHWH, perhaps different paths, I am not judging or condemning anyone here, just sharing why I chose not to particpate in Christmas.

Someone shared about a dying relative... what came to mind was Matthew 8:21,22

Mat 8:21 And another of His taught ones said to Him, “Master, first let me go and bury my father.”
Mat 8:22 But יהושע (Yahushua) said to him, “Follow Me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

If it happened to me, that a dying relative wanted me to come join his/her last pagan family Christmas gathering, I'd come and visit the relative beforehand, and spend some quality time with him/her and explain that I couldn't attend, so here I am... and explain why...

Just because a person is dying doesn't mean we drop our obedience to YHWH's Torah and participate in his/her pagan ways... if, during the pagan celebration, the dying relative observes all his/her family members there, and knows one is missing, because of obedience to YHWH, there is the possiblity that the dying relative will keep it in his/her mind and later on, contact the follower of YHWH to enquire about YHWH and Yahushua.

Another thing that I may add...

some said, Yahushua ate with sinners... what I read, it was actually the sinners who came to Yahushua and enquired of Him, and He welcomed all who came to Him... He did not go into questionable places or participate in pagan festivals. If a sinner comes up to you and say, "I am interested, please come to my place so I may learn about YHWH" what reason is there to refuse? But if sinners are not interested, and you come up to them in questionable places, I think that is where it becomes unsafe...

Just my opinion... food for thought... if anyone does differently, and believes they are doing the best for YHWH, praise YHWH. Only He is the judge of our hearts.

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Blessed be the Name of YHWH

I appreciate the things you said. I feel like if the Torah is being written on our hearts in a process then as long as we speak from the heart or sharing our lives then we are sharing His Word. One is written and one is experience.
Thanks for your encouragement and blessings!

Shalom & love,
Renae

Bluesun,

quote:

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If it happened to me, that a dying relative wanted me to come join his/her last pagan family Christmas gathering, I'd come and visit the relative beforehand, and spend some quality time with him/her and explain that I couldn't attend, so here I am... and explain why...

Just because a person is dying doesn't mean we drop our obedience to YHWH's Torah and participate in his/her pagan ways... if, during the pagan celebration, the dying relative observes all his/her family members there, and knows one is missing, because of obedience to YHWH, there is the possiblity that the dying relative will keep it in his/her mind and later on, contact the follower of YHWH to enquire about YHWH and Yahushua.

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Have you read this from Shield of David?

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1. Those who seek the esteem of their Master Yahshua and their Father in heaven and bring a message to the people are those considered as having "no unrighteousness." The reason is simple - the same reason those in Hebrews 11 were considered righteous. The religious crowd thinks righteousness is by their keeping the letter of the Law, which is a deception, and why Yahshua pointed out "Not one of you keeps the Law!" I can say the same thing here - not one of you keeps the Law. I don't either, but keeping the Law is not what makes me righteous or unrighteous, though practicing the letter does have a purpose, and I seek to do that as I learn and grow.

5. Yahshua did not put an emphasis, EVER, in his time in the flesh on earth, over fleshly/outward "clean and unclean." However, the Pharisees found he and his disciples eating with unwashed hands and called such "unclean" and rebuked him. He in turn rebuked their religiosity with the Truth from heaven concerning what is truly clean and unclean. He exposed their false doctrine which seemed to be from Torah, but was a perversion of Torah concerning clean and unclean. A woman with an issue of blood touched him and the Ruach POWER still saw FIT to go into her body and H-E-A-L her. Yahshua DID NOT turn around and say, "You unclean woman! How dare you touch me!!" I have no doubt the PHARISEES would have had her "outside the camp," because of her ISSUE, and sharply chastised her had she came up and touched any one of them in their "holiness."Yahshua showed he had the POWER to make something or someone clean, just like running water in the natural symbolized in the Torah commands. He made the woman with the issue of blood well that day. He walked in newness of life and power, not deadness of religion that condemns.

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Thanks for sharing. I will remember to find the balance through what my conscience convicts me of, not the letter of the law. I mean did Yahshua break Torah by being touched by the woman with an issue of blood, or did He keep Torah because He loved her more than the letter and He healed her out of love not rebuke her out of contempt for her uncleanliness?

Maybe that's what this means?
Mat 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and the anise and the cumin,1 and have neglected the WEIGHTIER matters of the Torah: the right-ruling and the compassion and the belief. These need to have been done, WITHOUT neglecting the others.
Luk 11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees, because you tithe the mint and the rue and every plant, and pass by the right-ruling and the LOVE of Elohim. These you should have done, WITHOUT leaving the others undone.

Luk 18:10 “Two men went up to the Set-apart Place to pray – the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luk 18:11 “The Pharisee stood and began to pray with !HIMSELF! this way, ‘Elohim, I thank You that I am not like the REST of men, swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
Luk 18:12 ‘I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’
Luk 18:13 “But the tax collector standing at a distance would not even raise his eyes to the heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘Elohim, show favour unto me, a SINNER!’

Today Pharisees pray to themselves this way: "Elohim, I thank You that I am not like the REST of the people who claim to believe in your Messiah, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Messianic Jews, etc, SINNERS, swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even this tax collector.

Luk 18:14 “I say to you, this man went down to his house declared right, rather than the other. For everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.”
Mat 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you go about the land and the sea to win one convert, and when he is won, you make him a son of Gehenna twofold more than yourselves.

If you feel led to produce fruit or lead people to Messiah by explaining to folks how they are full of pagan practices while a family member is dying and you can't come be there because the calendar says it's a particular day then you witness Messiah the way you feel led. I think me and you will just need to agree to disagree about how we'd handle similar circumstances. This is me:

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It sounds like to me that when we exalt ourselves above others we try to make ourselves equal with Elohim and it is idol worship (worshipping ourselves). And I would call it IDLE worship too because it doesn't do alot to draw others to Messiah (doesn't produce fruit). It's like we are asking them to worship/follow us. We are winning them for us, not Yah.

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Quote by Shield of David:

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He accepted them as they were, with the faith he had the power from heaven to change them as his Father willed. He was not about trying to clean fish before catching them, like Pharisees are, because a Pharisee does not believe a person can be truly "saved" until they are clean according to religious qualifications.

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To me what I put in bold sounds like what you said, you needed to avoid that person for their own good on that particular calendar day because just believing in Messiah and having grace wasn't enough, you needed to make a point about keeping the letter of the law.

Mat 7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Yesha Yahu (Isaiah) prophesy of you: 8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

Trust in YHWH with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6

charis
khar'-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
If you take this definition and started applying it to different scriptures that contained the word 'grace.' For example:

With the word 'grace' -
2Co 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I shall rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah rests on me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Messiah. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

With the definition -
2Co 12:9 And He said to me, “<(#1) My divine influence upon your heart> AND <(#2) the reflection of it in your life including gratitude is sufficient for you>, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I shall rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah rests on me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Messiah. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

#1 is like the definition of grace and then #2 are like the fruits of the Spirit which result from that grace? Like faith and works (works being fruit of the Spirit) working together? I am not saying that grace is not His favour, but I am saying that there actually is a more complete definition than the thought of favour alone.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such ***there is no Torah.***
Gal 5:24 And those who are of Messiah have impaled the flesh with its passions and the desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Mat 23:17 "Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the Dwelling Place that sets the gold apart?

What's more important the doctrine/knowlege or the PERSON who Yahshua died for and dwells in???

You make it sound like the letter of the law is more important than the opportunity to heal somebody even if it's just seeing them one last time because of a calendar date. Is that the way Yahshua should've looked at the woman with the issue of blood? Just like the Pharisees were consumed by the letter of the law and not the love and compassion of Elohim they condemned Yahshua for the "work(s)" He performed on Shabbat.

Here is a quote from Shield of David's current article on Grace:

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In fact, at some level they will always put on outward observance of "obedience" to their interpretation of legal requirements of Elohim, in order to prove to themselves and others that they don't have enmity, but are subject to the ***Law of God.***
The truth is, our own righteousness, no matter how well we may THINK we keep Torah ("the Law") has already been declared by Elohim to be "filthy rags." Either you believe his Word on the matter or you don't, and would prefer to believe in yourself (and your works).

Isaiah 64:5-6 MKJV You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, for we sinned. In them is eternity, and we will be saved. (6) But we are all as the unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as a menstruation cloth. And we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

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If we are having a misunderstanding it's okay, it happens with me alot. You don't need to post another detailed post unless you just want to try to explain how you live your faith. We can just agree that our conscience convicts us differently.

Shalom & love,
Renae

Thank you! I have gone to my Father in tears this morning, upset that I may have 'dropped' obedience to Him out of love for my sister. He has encouraged me with Psalm 103. You are right, and so is Shield Of David. I think it would be unloving to not be with her. My sister has spent many years attending Bible studies and has a 'head knowledge' but not a heart one. That doesn't mean she is without help, as the Father may use me to reach out to her. She already understands that christmas has nothing to do with Yahushua, and I have told her about the true names and festivals. However, christmas is what she knows. It has been part of her life for 50 years, as it was for me. It was only His total and utter grace towards me that allowed me to see that. I didn't come to that conclusion on my own. I cannot say that I am in any way better than her. However, only He sees her heart, and He has brought her this far. She has had cancer for 4 years and its been in her brain, liver, bones and spine for almost all of that. Yet she is still gracious, smiling and laughing...only the Father can do that.

Maybe we'll get together on christmas day, maybe we won't. Maybe the Father will lead me to something else. One thing I do know, is that my heart is not hard towards Him or her, and so I shall wait for leading. In the meantime, I will do what I can, which is talk about it.

It is a very hard situation, and I think no-one can really say too much about it, unless they find themselves in it.

Shalom
Lindsey[/B][/QUOTE]

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Naeissmo,

Thank you! I have gone to my Father in tears this morning, upset that I may have 'dropped' obedience to Him out of love for my sister. He has encouraged me with Psalm 103. You are right, and so is Shield Of David. I think it would be unloving to not be with her. My sister has spent many years attending Bible studies and has a 'head knowledge' but not a heart one. That doesn't mean she is without help, as the Father may use me to reach out to her. She already understands that christmas has nothing to do with Yahushua, and I have told her about the true names and festivals. However, christmas is what she knows. It has been part of her life for 50 years, as it was for me. It was only His total and utter grace towards me that allowed me to see that. I didn't come to that conclusion on my own. I cannot say that I am in any way better than her. However, only He sees her heart, and He has brought her this far. She has had cancer for 4 years and its been in her brain, liver, bones and spine for almost all of that. Yet she is still gracious, smiling and laughing...only the Father can do that.

Maybe we'll get together on christmas day, maybe we won't. Maybe the Father will lead me to something else. One thing I do know, is that my heart is not hard towards Him or her, and so I shall wait for leading. In the meantime, I will do what I can, which is talk about it.

It is a very hard situation, and I think no-one can really say too much about it, unless they find themselves in it.

Shalom
Lindsey

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Lindsey,

I really enjoyed reading your post! I like to cry out to Father, I guess that's why I like the story about Lazarus so much. He must expect us to cry sometimes!

Psa 56:8 You have counted my wanderings; You put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Psalms are very comforting to me too.

When I read this:

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She has had cancer for 4 years and its been in her brain, liver, bones and spine for almost all of that. Yet she is still gracious, smiling and laughing...only the Father can do that.

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I'm going to say that your sister has more than "head knowlege" of Him, like you said ...only the Father can do that.

But remember, at the beginning of your post you said this:

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My sister has spent many years attending Bible studies and has a 'head knowledge' but not a heart one. That doesn't mean she is without help, as the Father may use me to reach out to her.

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That sounds like a contradiction, but the reason I think it happened was because you are growing in your understanding of grace and why we seek to learn Torah, and somethings you struggle to make sense of are surfacing. But that's no biggie, it just means we can see it and take care of it. It sounds like to me seeing how your sister has handled the illness in her life (which only leaning on Father could do) has inspired you, and you say His grace only gave your heart revelation of Shabbat, Feasts, food laws, etc.

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It was only His total and utter grace towards me that allowed me to see that. I didn't come to that conclusion on my own. I cannot say that I am in any way better than her.

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So maybe He is using the two of you to minister to one another in different but equal ways, which you so rightly aknowleged: It was only His total and utter grace towards me that allowed me to see that. I didn't come to that conclusion on my own. I cannot say that I am in any way better than her.

We all have different gifts and strengths, that's why I think of us like a team, there is no "I" in team! Each teammate has their position so to speak.

I hope and pray that my noticing the contradiction in your post doesn't make you feel I was judging you. Because really what I think I notice is you growing and overcoming, and just some obstacles surfacing so you can see them. I think that's exciting! The point is I think you are overcoming!

If this:

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Maybe we'll get together on christmas day, maybe we won't. Maybe the Father will lead me to something else. One thing I do know, is that my heart is not hard towards Him or her, and so I shall wait for leading. In the meantime, I will do what I can, which is talk about it.

It is a very hard situation, and I think no-one can really say too much about it, unless they find themselves in it.

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has led you to where you are today then it sounds like to me you are on the right path! What you said is good advice for everybody I think! Thanks for opening your heart and sharing something so personal.

Shalom & love,
Renae

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Originally posted by naesimo:
Joel,

I appreciate the things you said. I feel like if the Torah is being written on our hearts in a process then as long as we speak from the heart or sharing our lives then we are sharing His Word. One is written and one is experience.
Thanks for your encouragement and blessings!

Shalom & love,
Renae

Bluesun,

If we are having a misunderstanding it's okay, it happens with me alot. You don't need to post another detailed post unless you just want to try to explain how you live your faith. We can just agree that our conscience convicts us differently.

Shalom & love,
Renae

[This message has been edited by naesimo (edited 11-10-2007).]

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Shalom Renae,

Wow, this is a great posting! Through all my blundering in my other answer, this is what I was meaning, but couldn't find the words or Scripture to show the example I wanted to share. Thank You so Very Much!

I agree with you 100% on this posting.

What's the most important thing Yahushusa wanted us to do? Love other's and bring them to the Father Yahweh, through Him. If we avoid others, because of a day, are we showing Love to that person? NO.

I also liked what someone else said on here. (Forgive me if this isn't word for word.) To avoid all Pagan things, we'd have to leave the Planet.

Yahushua traveled over a 200 mile area while he was on this earth. Thus even though someone said that the "sinners" came to him; shall we look at that a little more.... True the Sinners did go to him, IN THE AREA he happened to be at the time, yet He did travel over 200 miles on foot, to Proclaim the Word of Yahweh and to bring others into the Truth, by showing them how to repent and being baptized. He didn't stay away from the Sinners, that is why He came, for the Sinners. He showed perfect Love for ALL Sinners. He didn't die, just for the ones who obeyed the Torrah. He died for ALL mankind, anyone who wanted to "seek" the truth.

No one has ALL Knowledge, only Our Father, Yahweh does. Only Our Father Yahweh can see into our hearts and minds.

Some people might feel "safer" not going around anything that is Pagan. They might need to keep that wall up between themselves and others. Yet is this Truely what Yahushua taught? How can we reach out to others with the Good News, if we stay away from them and don't share what we do know?

Some say, it should be on a differnt day. Really? I don't remember where Yahushau in His example to us said, "Now on this and that day....don't go fellowship or show love to your neighbor." Someone said, it could be any other day we could invite them. True we can, yet to get a group of people together in todays world (on one day) with everyone working at the same time is so Very Rare.

Yahweh has taught me that I need to be out there with the Sinners, talking to them about Him. That might be in a Truck Stop,(where I've seen whores working the truck stops, men swearing and acting way out of sorts.) Should I stay away from these people or should I witness to them? What did Yahusha teach?

A Christmas Dinner Party, whatever you want to call it is much safer to witness at. Me I'll do both in honor my Father Yahweh.

Sometimes I get lost when folks use alot of words and then sometimes folks can make lengthy posts and I can follow easily LOL.

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Yahweh has taught me that I need to be out there with the Sinners, talking to them about Him. That might be in a Truck Stop,(where I've seen whores working the truck stops, men swearing and acting way out of sorts.) Should I stay away from these people or should I witness to them? What did Yahusha teach?

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Mat 25:33 “And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 “Then the Sovereign shall say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the reign prepared for you from the foundation of the world –
Mat 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
Mat 25:36 was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Mat 25:37 “Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry and we fed You, or thirsty and gave You to drink?
Mat 25:38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger and took You in, or naked and clothed You?
Mat 25:39 ‘And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and we came to You?’
Mat 25:40 “And the Sovereign shall answer and say to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’
Mat 25:41 “He shall then also say to those on the left hand, ‘Go away from Me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his messengers –
Mat 25:42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink,
Mat 25:43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, was naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
Mat 25:44 “Then they also shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve You?’
Mat 25:45 “Then He shall answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
Mat 25:46 “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”

In Mat 25:36 I wonder if "I was in prison and you came to Me" is criminals in prisons but also spiritual prisoners, those who are in some kind of spiritual bondage?

2. Yahshua the Messiah manifested the power and life of the Kingdom of heaven in the midst of people on earth, and told his disciples to do likewise. While the Pharisees were calling him demon possessed and a blasphemer, he was out healing the sick, casting out demons from those in BONDAGE to them, causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the downcast to be lifted up with new hope. He fed the hungry, taught the simple/humble people (non-Pharisees) simple doctrine of the Kingdom that does not puff up, and took inner circles of men and women willing to also learn how to manifest the Kingdom and help others. His main goal: helping others - which he was about the business of doing constantly WITH POWER from on high. Meanwhile, the Pharisees made a show of keeping commandments to appear righteous before men and persecuted the true Anointed when in their midst. They did not heal the sick, cast out the demons, cause the blind to see, deaf to hear, lame to walk, or any other manifestation of the Kingdom power coming on earth as in heaven. They did not, because they could not, because they weren't empowered by the Kingdom, because they were not submitting and working for the Kingdom. They worked for their own sect of religion, to make converts and appear righteous outwardly before men.

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Some say, it should be on a differnt day. Really? I don't remember where Yahushau in His example to us said, "Now on this and that day....don't go fellowship or show love to your neighbor." Someone said, it could be any other day we could invite them. True we can, yet to get a group of people together in todays world (on one day) with everyone working at the same time is so Very Rare.

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This is why we can only see some of our family at this particular time of year, it is when they are able to come to where we live. I think to say if we invite them to the Feast of Tabernacles and they don't come so we refuse to see them in December that is religiosity. Sure they may question why are they keeping the Jewish holidays? And we say why are they keeping the Pagan holidays? Doesn't that sound like we are both in some kind of religiosity? If we are to love others as we want to be loved then maybe we should consider spending time with them at what they call "the Christmas party" because we would like it reciprocated that they spend time with us at Feast of Tabernacles. Maybe one of us needs to break out of the religiosity first and trust that Father will work in our lives and things will happen as He wills and through His grace?

Shalom & love,
Renae

You're as gorgeous on the inside as you are on outside. And I know, I've seen your pictures!

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Originally posted by eliyahuwitz:
I dont think Christmas is bad, only the pagan customs involved with it. Santa Clause, the Yule Tree, Yule Log, misseltoe, etc etc... but the concept of acknowledging the birth of Yeshua is not a bad thing. I think if it is done in a way that does not violate Torah then it is okay.

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It violates the Torah to participate in pagan customs.

1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Lev 17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

Deu 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Why is paganism and anything linked to it so offensive?
Psa 106:38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Do we want to offend Yahweh?
1Co 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

What will Yahweh do about it?
Nah 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Yir. (Jer) 10:1 Hear ye the word which YHWH speaketh unto you, O house of Yisra'El:

2 Thus saith YHWH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O YHWH; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.

9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. 10 But YHWH is the true El, he is the living El, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The elohims that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.