10/12/2007 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Last week, my family and I were greatly blessed in our observance of the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot.

Each year, we learn new things about what Yahweh wants for us in our lives. By these observances, our spiritual walk has been greatly blessed and enriched as we meet more of Yahweh's people and learn the different things He is doing in their lives.

I believe it is important that we go forth and proclaim the great blessing of keeping His holy days to all peoples and show them that there is a difference!

Those of us who have practiced these things know that there is a difference.

There is a stark contrast between the Holy Days of Yahweh and the un-holi-days of the world.

There is a difference between the holy and unholy. Yahweh wants us to teach the difference and distinguish the difference in our lives.

And we are now approaching the time of year where the world's un-holi-days are starting their oppression.

While Yahweh commands His people to rejoice before Him during the feast of Tabernacles, about a month later the world celebrates and glorifies the ruler they have chosen for themselves: Satan and his demons.

We are now entering the time when ghosts, witches, jack-o-lanterns and goblins are found throughout the stores and in front of homes.

Little children are dressed up to look like demons, and morbidity is celebrated and lifted up as acceptable and worthy of adoration.

What a stark contrast between Yahweh's holy days and the "holi-days" of this world!

Yahweh's children are dressed in such a way to honor Yahweh, while the children of the devil dress to celebrate death and demonic activity.

Tonight let's consider what the scriptures have to say about incorporating pagan/satanic and/or additional observances into our worship and into our lives.

Tradition isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be abominable in Yahweh's sight

In these end times, I see more and more of Yahweh's people from a Mainstream Christian background coming in contact with with more of Yahweh's people from a Mainstream Judaism background.

This is absolutely wonderful (and prophetic!).

With this, it seems evident that each bring along what I like to call "Baggage". "Baggage" is usually in the form of thought patterns, observances or traditions that have been carried over from each one's previous denominations or religions.

What should we do with this "Baggage"?

Having seen and examined the 'baggage' of both religions, I believe it is important we all inspect each others "baggage" as well as our own "baggage" to see if it conforms with Yahweh's word.

Some baggage will conform and others will not.

Here is at least one tradition that is mentioned in Scripture:

Genesis 32:30 - And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.

Genesis 32:31 - And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Genesis 32:32 - Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

In this text, there is no command to refrain from eating the meat that comes from this muscle area. However, we see a tradition that started in honor of Jacob.

There are other traditions within Mainstream Judaism that have been carried over into Messianic Judaism. I believe we must be diligent to consider where these traditions got their start. We should not assume that they got their start in scriptural ways.

The same is true of traditions carried over from mainstream Christianity as we will discuss in a moment. It is evident that Christmas, Easter and many other such customs got their start in unscriptural ways. Remember what Yahweh said to Israel:

Deuteronomy 12:28 - Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of YAHWEH thy Elohim.

Deuteronomy 12:29 - When YAHWEH thy Elohim shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

Deuteronomy 12:30 - Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their elohim, saying, How did these nations serve their elohim? even so will I do likewise.

Deuteronomy 12:31 - Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy Elohim: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which he hateth, have they done unto their elohim; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their elohim.

Deuteronomy 12:32 - What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

So we should be careful that we do not pick up traditions which have their roots in idolatrous worship.

And we should be careful not to make any tradition into a command of Yahwhe.

Yahweh

Yahushua warned that keeping a tradition can cause us to break Yahweh's commandments:

Mark 7:7 - Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

Mark 7:8 - For laying aside the commandment of YAHWEH, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mark 7:9 - And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of YAHWEH, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Therefore, I would gather from scripture that we must keep in mind a few principles when coming across baggage and traditions:

1. Be absolutely sure it didn't come from pagan/idolatrous sources.

2. Be absolutely sure it doesn't break a commandment of Yahweh.

3. Don't make it into a commandment by looking down on others for not keeping to the tradition.

I think that it is important that we shouldn't assume that because those of us from a Christian background are experienced with Messianic or "new testament" scripture, that our baggage is somehow more likely to meet the above principles. Christianity is full of traditions picked up in Paganism.

And we shouldn't assume that because those of us from a Judaism background are more experienced with the Tanakh or "Old Testament" scripture, that our baggage is somehow more likely to meet the above principles.

Judaism still practices some of the things which Yahushua condemned as "Rejecting the commandment of Yahweh, that ye may keep your own tradition". I believe we have much to learn from one another.

Case in point.. What apostle/emissary ever referred to himself as a "Rabbi"?

Nobody was calling each other "Rabbis" in the first century assembly.

Yet, this is a common tradition today in Messianic circles.

The fact that the first century Jews did use the term but the first century believers in Yahushua did not use the term is quite telling. It is evident that such a practice was rejected by true believers in Yahushua.

At any rate, we can certainly all learn from one another, "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Having said this, we do know that there are many who say it doesn't matter.

For instance, many in mainstream Christianity believe Yahweh 'doesn't mind' if we observe Christmas, Easter, Halloween and many other such practices that have roots in idolatrous worship.

For examples, here are some responses that I have encountered in my walk with Yahweh:

* It's okay to eat pork, the pig has been domesticated and is fed whole grains for it's food and is not roaming the earth eating garbage like it used to.

* It's okay to keep the Sabbath day on the first day instead of the 7th day because this is the day the Messiah resurrected. The 7th day is no longer kept by Christians so as long as you are keeping 'one day out of seven', Yahweh 'doesn't mind'.

* It's okay to keep Christmas, it used to be pagan but it doesn't mean that anymore.

Within the logic of each of these statements, we find a common thread:

Each of them say that something has changed. Because of that change, what USED to be wrong is now considered right!

I do believe this to be a snare.

Let's consider first of all the scriptural prohibition of incorporating paganism into our worship in the first place.

As we read earlier, when the children of Israel were about to go into the promised land, we read earlier that Yahweh commanded them not to even inquire after their gods. He told them not to take their practices and apply them to Him.

Yahweh didn't want them to 'learn the way of the heathen' at all! This is consistent with what Yahweh said later:

Jeremiah 10:2 - Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

"Learn not the way of the heathen". We are told to not learn about pagan worship, much less apply their practices to the worship of Yahweh.

Incidentally, the "way of the heathen" that Jeremiah is referring to is going to sound really familiar:

Jeremiah 10:3 - 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.

Jeremiah 10:4 - They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

The custom is vain, yes? Remember what Yahushua said?

Mark 7:7 - Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

The ways of men are much the same today.

Deuteronomy 12:31 - Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy Elohim: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which he hateth, have they done unto their elohim; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their elohim.

Deuteronomy 12:32 - What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Yahweh says plainly "Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy Elohim". Do what? Worship Yahweh in the way the other nations worship their deities.

Don't learn it and don't do it.

We find more scriptural support in the "New Testament" scriptures:

Galatians 4:8 - But then, indeed, when you did not know YAHWEH, you served those which by nature are not mighty ones.

Galatians 4:9 - But now after you have known YAHWEH, or rather are known by YAHWEH, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Galatians 4:10 - You observe days and months and seasons and years.

Galatians 4:11 - I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

Here is a direct condemnation of continuing in those 'weak and beggarly elements' which were in paganism/idolatry.

This included the observance of certain days, months, times and years found within idolatry. Yahweh does not want us participating!

Now some have tried to use this against those who observe the commanded feast days such as Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, etc. but Yahweh's commandments are not "weak and beggarly elements"! The days that Yahweh calls "Holy" are not "weak and beggarly"

Rather, notice that this is (in context) referring to "returning" to things that were found in their idol worship when they "did not know Yahweh" and "served those which by nature are not mighty ones."

The fact is, Paul himself kept the feasts:

Acts 18:20 - When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

Acts 18:21 - But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if YAHWEH will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Surely he would be bringing condemnation upon himself when writing to book of Galatians if he were referring to Yahweh's feasts and other observances.

Therefore, this is certainly talking about Gentiles who are 'turning again' to observances (days, months, seasons, years) found in idolatry, not "turn(ing) again" to Yahweh's commandments! For they weren't previously keeping Yahweh's commandments.

He is trying to get them to stop keeping the various commandments of men found in idolatry.

In part, that is what this study tonight is about. Let's not turn again to weak and beggarly things which are in idolatry. Let's cleave to Yahweh and keep His commandments which honor HIS days, not the observances which are inspired by Yahweh's enemy and our enemy--the devil!

We find the people of Judah were doing similar things in Jeremiah chapter 2. They were claiming that they weren't polluted with Baal, but Yahweh said:

Jeremiah 2:22 - For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Master YAHWEH.

Jeremiah 2:23 - How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

They claimed they weren't polluted, but apparently their actions showed otherwise.

A familiar tone today

Some might think that the idolatrous customs are just 'cute' and 'harmless'

But we need to realize that idolatrous practices are actually Satanic observances.

It is written..

1Corinthians 10:20 - But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to Elohim: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

1Corinthians 10:21 - Ye cannot drink the cup of YAHWEH, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of YAHWEH's table, and of the table of devils.

The Gentiles--who thought they were sacrificing to their gods--were in reality sacrificing to demons/devils. Why? Because Satan is behind all idolatrous worship.

In light of this, why would anyone believe it is okay to incorporate Satanic practices into our worship?

By doing so we drink from both cups! The cup of devils and Yahweh's cup are not compatible at all!

If we are found drinking from both cups, let's repent and let Yahweh's righteous ways be our drink. The pure table of Yahweh needs to be the place we get our spiritual food.

The Egyptians observed many pagan practices, what did Yahweh command Israel?

Leviticus 18:2 - Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am YAHWEH your Elohim.

Leviticus 18:3 - After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

Leviticus 18:4 - Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am YAHWEH your Elohim.

Leviticus 18:5 - Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am YAHWEH.

They are told specifically to keep Yahweh's commandments, not the ones of the Egyptians nor the ones in the land of Canaan.

Yet, we find in modern day mainstream Christianity that people are doing these very things.. by "christianizing" pagan practices. And they defend themselves for doing it.

Job 14:4 - Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

We are told to keep Yahweh's commandments and not add to them nor take away from them:

Did the children of Israel obey these commands?

Psalms 106:32 - They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

Psalms 106:33 - Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Psalms 106:34 - They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom YAHWEH commanded them:

Psalms 106:35 - But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

It was because they mingled with the heathen and learned their works that Yahweh cast them out of the land.

How about today? Can we participate in pagan practices today? Should we learn their works and keep their ordinances?

Does Yahweh indeed have a double standard? Was it wrong for them and okay for us? Does Yahweh mind if we mingle among the heathen and learn their works? Certainly not!

It is written:

Colossians 3:24 - Knowing that of YAHWEH ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve Yahushua the Messiah.

Colossians 3:25 - But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

1Peter 1:13 - Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the favor that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Yahushua the Messiah;

1Peter 1:14 - as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

1Peter 1:15 - but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

1Peter 1:16 - because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

1Peter 1:17 - And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay [here] in fear;

On Judgment day, Yahweh will judge each without partiality and He is not a respecter of persons.

If something was wrong in 2000BCE then it is also wrong in the 21st century. We are called to be holy in all our conduct. This means avoiding the unholy and embracing that which is truly is holy.

The seventh day of the week is truly holy and was sanctified at creation. We who are called to be holy should not profane it. The feast days are also holy days that should be kept holy.

Can you imagine Yahweh saying to one person "okay.. you were a Jew in the year 500BCE, and you didn't keep the Sabbath.. you are condemned", but then the next person comes and he says "You were NOT a Jew in the year 2005 and you didn't keep the sabbath.. enter into the joy of your Master!"??

Brothers, Sisters, friends and people around the world...do not forget!!!

Hebrews 13:8 - Yahushua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Christmas, Easter, pagan symbols and various other 'strange customs/doctrines' (though under different names) were alive and well in Yahushua's time and they are alive and well in the 21st century. Idolatrous customs were wrong then, and it is wrong now.

Consider the alternative here..

Suppose something was wrong in the year 300...in what year did it become acceptable to Yahweh?

For people will often say today "Well, it doesn't mean that any more"

So in what year did Yahweh give His stamp of approval?

301?

400 AD maybe?

1900??

What day, hour, minute and second did it suddenly become "okay?"

The answer is NEVER. If it was wrong then, it is wrong now. Christmas, no matter how you package it is nothing more than an attempt to mix Mithraism (sun worship) with Yahushua the Messiah.

Regardless of excuses, reasoning's, etc. there is ONE standard on Judgment day and that is Yahweh's word. If Yahweh's word says it is wrong to mix satanic/idolatrous practices in with the worship of Him, then it is ALWAYS wrong.

If Yahweh says not to eat the pig, don't eat it. I don't care how supposedly 'clean and efficient' modern agricultural practices claim to be.

I have yet to see a pig chewing the cud. Until the day I see a pig chewing the cud, I will declare it UNCLEAN as Yahweh's word says. These are all attempts to undermine the word of Yahweh.

If it was wrong to change the Sabbath to Sunday in years gone by, it is wrong now.

Shouldn't the roots of our worship be in the scriptures rather than in idolatry and vain customs? Yet just the opposite is embraced today...all with a million excuses, none of which will stand.

What we need to stand on is the Word of Yahweh!

He has provided us with TRUE holy days, right laws and just ways.

He gave us beautiful, awesome and wonderful HOLY DAYS to gather together with other believers and be truly blessed.

And so Yahweh commands us to keep the feasts, keep the Sabbaths, call upon His name and walk in HIS ways, not the ways of the world..

The world wants our belief to change with time.

The influence of the heathen is alive and well today, just as it was in the days of Israel being a nation.

They are thorns in our sides and stumbling blocks in our paths.

We ought not give them heed for one second!

But our fathers did give them heed, so we have inherited many lies today

Those who claimed to follow Yahushua changed as the world changed

They have even changed His name a number of times..

First it was Yahushua

Then Iesous...

Then Iesus...

Then Jesus...

But if Yahushua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.. why do they keep changing His Name?

Not even the original KJV had the name "Jesus" in it. It had "Iesus", a Latin form of "Iesous" which was a Greek form of "Yahushua"

I say, skip the Greco-Latin-Anglicized stuff and get back to the original!

So what if the world knows Him as "Jesus".... what name were the disciples proclaiming, getting baptized in and being persecuted for teaching in.. that's what I want to know!

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of YAHWEH.

Oh, if only those who picked up unscriptural practices in centuries gone by had heeded this scripture!

For it's only when we refuse to be conformed to this world and we are willing to yield ourselves to transformation by the renewing of our mind...that we'll learn the good and acceptable and perfect will of Yahweh.

James 4:4 - Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with YAHWEH? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of YAHWEH.

Perhaps they thought they could win the world by imitating the world.

But you can't win the world to "the world", the world has already won them over!

But still today there are Christians doing just that with their "Christian Speed Metal" bands, Christian comedians, Christian Tattoo parlors and even Christian magicians!

Brethren, you don't win the world by imitating the world, you can only win the world by imitating Yahushua the Messiah!

Even mainstream Judaism isn't immune to the world's influences. The Jewish Hannukah is even growing more and more like the world's "Christmas" observance. Why the "Hannukah bush?"

It is things like that which leads me to suspect that some of the Jewish traditions are not particularly trustworthy.

For who knows what the pagan world may have forced on them in years gone by.. and they just found a way to justify it?

The modern day skull cap (Kippah) for instance...

Anything the Pope wears...

I would have to question the source of!

Isn't he the one that also wears the (dagon?) "fish hat"?

Brethren, we should not pick up any practice, whether it is from Christianity or Judaism or whatever unless we know for a 100% absolute fact that the practice did not come from idolatry. For we want to do what is right in Yahweh's eyes and keep His commandments.

We need to also be careful about repeating legends that may or may not be true. Spreading a false report is not right.

With Hannukah, the "miracle story" about the oil lasting longer is not in scripture, nor is it in the book of Maccabees. Some Jewish leaders even doubt the authenticity of it, calling it mere 'legend.'

Our Fathers have inherited lies, but let's worship our Father in Spirit and in truth, shall we?

Personally, I think it's high time we forsake vain traditions and to simply walk in the commandments of Yahweh!

The truth is not to be found in mainstream Christianity and the truth is not to be found in mainstream Judaism.

Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of YAHWEH and the faith of Yahushua.

Mainstream Judaism rejects the Messiah and mainstream Christianity rejects the keeping of Yahweh's commandments.

But we need to see that both Yahweh's commandments and Yahushua the Messiah are to be embraced

I keep finding that the truth is right down the middle of both, minus the baggage! (the narrow way?)

Let's worship Yahweh in Spirit and in truth

John 4:23 - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joshua 24:14 - Now therefore fear YAHWEH, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the elohim which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye YAHWEH.

HalleluYah...when all is said and done we can know that we are doing right if our conduct is FROM and ACCORDING TO the Word of Yahweh.

Let's put away the practices of the wicked and lets embrace the practices found in the word of Yahweh.

The Word of Yahweh is Yahushua the Messiah. We know that He never observed such things, nor did He command them. Therefore let us walk as He walked!

1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHWEH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

If we walk as He walked, we cannot go wrong. Let's lift up the righteous standard that He lived by, keeping all of Yahweh's commandments, so that all might truly be drawn to Him by the TRUTH.

Let's not mix Him with lies, for He has nothing to do with lies. He has nothing to do with demon worship. He is the Son of the MOST HIGH ELOHIM: YAHWEH!

Let's walk in the truth, let's walk in the Torah, let's imitate Yahushua!

We can rest in this promise. He who abides in Him should walk as He walked

Therefore, let's allow Yahushua the Messiah to be in us to do the pure, undefiled and set apart works that He did on earth... IN US.

Let's allow the Spirit of Yahweh to convict our hearts to receive redemption by His grace, learning to love and serve one another, and learning love and serve our Almighty Father Yahweh in Spirit and in truth...

forsaking vain traditions...

And cleaving to the solid rock of Word of Yahweh, no matter when it was written.. and no matter what year we happen to live in.

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!