barry_melisa - Todah Achi EliYah.............Father Yahweh Almighty, i come humbly tonight this great Shabbath Day that you have so graiciously given to us.
barry_melisa - i praise your Holy Name, a name above all names; i worship and honor you Abba Father...
barry_melisa - Father thankyou publically for what you have done in my family this week, delivering my wife, and bringing my wife and i closer together; the closest we have been in 10 years, a bond and truly becoming "one flesh";
barry_melisa - Father i would humbly ask that you bless each one here tonight, and the family of those joining us here tonight,
barry_melisa - as we come together to give you praise, honor, glory and to hear of your great Word, Your Torah Portion for us this evening.
barry_melisa - Abba Father bless the speaker tonight to deliver the message from your heart to our heart. Bless your servant to give beyond his own natural ability and to bring forth your message in spirit and in truth this Shabbat.
barry_melisa - Father teach us how to walk even as Yahushua walked, in humbleness of mind, and in true AGAPE love toward one another, and to love our enemies as Yahushua taught us.
barry_melisa - Father help us to make disciples of all nations, and further your will and kingdom.
barry_melisa - Father bless those that are hear with willing hearts to follow you and your word tonight...
barry_melisa - Father i would that this be done in the Name of Yahushua HaMashiach, our Messiah Amein.............Todah EliYah
John 17:17 -
John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2Thessalonians 2:9 - Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Thessalonians 2:10 - And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.Truth? or Lies?
We must love the truth.. or we will believe a lie
The children of this age are brought up in households from the youngest of ages.. to believe a lie
We enter a time of year when the children of this age rejoice
They rejoice that their god, Santa is going to fulfill their covetous desires for the world's goods
And money, one of the gods of this world, will be spent in abundance
We are approaching a time of year when the world fills its buildings with Christmas decorations, their homes and stores with Christmas music, its streets and homes with decorated trees
And for those of us who do not participate, it is very oppressive
What does Yahweh think of this practice?
What does He think of this observance? After all, isn't it supposed to be honoring His Son?
As is commonly known, the celebration of Christmas is a 'tradition'
Christmas is something that we have inherited because our fathers decided to celebrate this day.
It is something that is celebrated even by atheists and others who are not a part of the Christian religion
It is something that is celebrated even by atheists and others who are not a part of the Christian religion
Interestingly, modern pagans hail it as the time of the winter solstice
Now sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of Yahweh
Now sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of Yahweh
The evil of traditions that transgress the commmandment of Yahweh was a key teaching of Yahushua the Messiah
Matthew 15:1 - Then came to Yahushua scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 15:2 - Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 15:3 - But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of YAHWEH by your tradition?Here we see that the people of Yahushua's day were not pleased that they 'transgressed the tradition of the elders'
Yahushua did not participate in this tradition
I hear people ask me this (in so many words)..Why do you transgress the traditions of our elders?
I hear people ask me this (in so many words)..Why do you transgress the traditions of our elders?
My answer would be the same as Yahushua's except I would apply it to Christmas
Why do ye also transgress the commandment of YAHWEH by your tradition??
As we will see, surely this is what is taking place with the tradition of Christmas
What does Yahushua think about this?
Matthew 15:7 - Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
Matthew 15:8 - This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matthew 15:9 - But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.Christmas is honoring with the lips but its heart is in materialism, falsehood and vanity
Even worse, its roots are in idolatry, as we shall see
But clearly, these doctrines and commandments of men are vain worship. Yahweh never commanded it
You may search from Genesis to Revelation, but you will not find a single scripture in the bible that tells us to celebrate the birth of Yahushua the Messiah. Let alone in a pagan way
So yes, we must question these traditions and the origin of these traditions that have been handed down to this generation even though few dare to.
Many Christians speak against Pagan oriented Catholic traditions, but fail to recognize that the same types of pagan festivals exist in the celebration of Christmas and Easter
How did the observance of Christmas get its start?
The following is a quote from my 1991 Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Volume 11 ; page 390.
"During the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and ultimately led to what has been called a 'solar monotheism.' Nearly all the gods of the period were possessed of Solar qualities, and both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities. The feast of Sol and Victus (open unconquered Sun) on December 25th was celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the Christians"
As you can see, a lot of traditions have crept into the Christian faith over the last 2000 years
Notice how it says "both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities"?
Doesn't that set off any alarm bells?
It should
The "Christmas" holi-day is nothing more than a "Christianized" pagan holiday
The Christians were apparently trying to get more converts so they tried to "paganize" the Messiah to make Him more attractive to pagans.
And as see in the above, they even officially brought the feast of the unconquered sun into their worship in 336 AD. This is the origin of Christmas.
But the real question is, "Who converted who?"
It appears to me that the world converted the Christians
Yes, idolators had their way with the Christians
Just as it is today
Satan has been trying to creep his lies into the worship of Yahweh ever since the Garden of Eden
We need to be far from any practice that he invents or inspires men to invent
1John 5:21 - Little children, keep yourselves from idols.We are to keep ourselves far from idols or from idolatrous practices... not mix them into our worship of Yahweh!
It is true that by 336AD, the mainstream beliefs of Christianity were already far from the truth the apostles taught. However, true believers should be teaching the unbelievers the true way of Yahweh rather than the unbelievers teaching believers these pagan customs and practices!
Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
2Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?We should never take something that is a total abomination to Yahweh and then try to honor Him with it. He recieves no honor in doing such a thing!!
Nor should we join with those who participate in the celebration of such things
Often we as believers will be invited to Christmas parties at work or with relatives
We should have no part with such things, we should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them
Today, Christmas is a very popular holiday. However, as is often the case, what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular.
Christmas means 'mass for christ', but the name of the holiday is much newer than the holiday itself.
The customs associated with christmas, in one form or another, have been celebrated for thousands of years
It is historical fact that even though the same festival from which Christmas originates was celebrated by pagans during the first 300+ years, it was not celebrated by believers.
If they had only heeded the scriptures, we wouldn't be dealing with this issue today
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.There is no doubt that the customs that are associated with christmas are of pagan origin. One must only look to an encyclopaedia or even the local newspaper in December to find this truth.
Nearly all modern day preachers and ministers of Christianity admit this fact.
At issue is whether or not we should walk in these customs
So what is so bad about it?
Is it just for the children?
To this I say.. What should we be teaching our children? Truth or lies?
The truth is that the Messiah was not born on December 25th.
December 25th is the birthday of nearly every sun god ever invented! In fact, the pagan customs associated with Christmas are clearly condemned in the scriptures.
Paganism/Idolatry is something that is against Yahweh. If we know that the roots of Christmas are of pagan origin, shouldn't the roots of our worship be in the scriptures, rather than paganism?
Yahweh's people should always seek the truth. Consider these scriptures:
Jeremiah 10:1 - Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
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.First of all, Yahweh is telling us in this verse "Learn not the way of the heathen"
Don't even learn it, let alone practice it and incorporate it into the worship of Yahweh!
Secondly, it says that the Gentiles were dismayed at the signs of heaven. History tells us that when the sun began to go further away from the earth and the days grew shorter in the winter, the sun worshipping Gentiles were "dismayed", and feared that the sun would not return.
So they held certain festivals just after the time of the Winter Solstice when it did begin to return. This return of the sun is why December 25th is the birthday of so many solar deities.
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.One of the customs the pagans had was to decorate a tree that they had cut down and fasten it so that would not topple.
Yahweh tells us not to learn the way of the heathen. And here He even goes so far as describe a custom that is a way of the heathen. Yet, we see this same custom exist even today which is called the Christmas tree. People cut down a tree and deck it with silver and gold.. fasten it and set it up so it will not topple
This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. We don't need a prophet to come and tell us today that this custom is wrong. Jeremiah said so a long time ago!
Other customs include Mistletoe, the Yule log and Santa Claus. If you seek, you will find that these things are rooted in idolatry also.
One need not do any research into the idolatrous roots of Santa. Santa Claus already is "God" to the children of the world (move the n to the end of Santa). Others say 'Father Christmas'
Speaking of Santa Claus...
Parents purposely and deliberately lie to their children and tell them that they should fear Santa Claus because "he knows if you've been bad or good".
These same parents also lie to their children about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Then they wonder why their children become liars and don't believe the Messiah is real later on in life.
This is clearly a total abomination to Yahweh. You don't have to look very far in the word of Yahweh to find out how much he loathes idolatry and lies. Yahweh is the only true Mighty One.
Why would we teach our children that it is "Santa Claus" who knows if we have been 'naughty or nice'? And that it's Santa Claus who is omnipresent and knows when you are sleeping or awake?
Our children look to us and believe every word we say. Do they not deserve the truth?
Yes
It is an absolute abomination for a believer to teach their children to fear Santa Claus -- and in so doing -- creep an idol into the conscience of a child!
Lies, lies everything is lies :(
Matthew 18:6 - But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.The very foundation of the Christmas holiday is a lie
The Messiah was not born December 25th.
He did not ask us to celebrate his birthday.
He did not say to set up a tree in our house and decorate it and our houses with anything.
He did not say to set up a tree in our house and decorate it and our houses with anything.
Santa Claus does not exist.
He doesn't have reindeer that fly and he isn't going to come on December 25th and leave any gifts. It is a waste of time to leave cookies because he will not be coming down anyone's chimney. It's a lie!
Revelation 22:14 - Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:15 - But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.But the world loves its lies!
The whole holiday is a lie, so the world loves it!
Is Yahweh the originator of this holiday? Or is it the father of lies?
Yahushua condemned the leaders of that generation for teaching lies:
John 8:44 - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 - And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.Yahushua speaks the truth
The adversary speaks lies, and inspires others to speak them
The first lie was "You shall not surely die!"
Beware of lies O people of Yahweh!
Jeremiah 16:19 - O YAHWEH, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Jeremiah 16:20 - Shall a man make elohim unto himself, and they are no elohim?
Jeremiah 16:21 - Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is YAHWEH.Our Fathers have truly inherited lies.. the lies of the gentiles
David said:
Psalms 101:7 - He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.Like David, we should not have any part of lies.. they are from the father of lies
We must realize that the world will naturally follow lies
The book of Revelation predicts that those who hate Yahweh will be glad when the two witnesses of Yahweh die, for they will make merry and have a gift exchange
Revelation 11:9 - Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
Revelation 11:10 - And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.The pagan practices of Christmas are also creeping into the Hanukah holiday
Now there are gift exchanges and even a "Hanukkah bush"
But Yahweh says:
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.Very CLEAR. "Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy Elohim:" It is abundantly clear. Do not worship Yahweh in that way, the way of the heathen!
Do not add to His commandments and do not take away from His commandments. Both Christmas and Easter take pagan festivals and traditions and apply them to the worship of Yahweh. This is clearly condemned here.
Scripture again says we shouldn't be walking as the Gentiles walked. We should be walking as Yahushua walked!
1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.Would it be right to take a Satanic holiday that Satanists have invented and then incorporate that holiday into the worship of Yahweh? Surely not.
Yet all paganism is Satanism
Satan is behind all pagan worship. And whatever god the idolaters worship, they are actually worshipping Satan.
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.In the above verse, we see that the Gentiles who worshiped idols were actually unknowingly worshiping the Devil and sacrificing to him
Though some may have known what they were doing
But it is very obvious to me that you cannot mix the doctrines and practices of satan worship into the worship of Yahweh and still remain pure!
We need to return to the pure faith that was once delivered to the saints! They had no part with such things!
So let's set aside all these vain traditions
Let's set aside our desire to please man and let's be fools in the eyes of the world for the Messiah's sake
And let's set aside any and all desire to conform to the world!
Rather, let's conform ourselves to the image of Yahushua the Messiah.. who is the way the TRUTH and the life
Let's conform ourselves to the TRUE observances found in scripture.. the ones He observed!
For there is no doubt that He not only hates these things, but he hates them being applied to HIM
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.Let's cease from the mixing of cups & tables. Let's return the the way of LIFE, and Righteousness.. and peace and TRUTH
For those who do not love the truth will continue to believe the lie.
Let's have no part with lies.. let's have our part with Yahweh. Which table will you choose? Which cup will you drink? May Yahweh be your choice.. forever!
And may Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!
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