11/14/2008 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Before I begin tonight's scripture study, I have an important announcement to make.

As most of you know, I have been doing 2 separate Shabbat meetings every week for a few years now.

The audio broadcast is the newer of the two meetings, but also the most popular.

Originally the audio broadcast was supposed to be done somewhat irregularly, depending on our schedule here at home, but now it is almost always 2 meetings for our family to run every Shabbat.

In light of this, we don't get the amount of rest and family time on Shabbat that I feel Yahweh would desire.

For this reason, I will be discontinuing the Shabbat evening ("Friday night") meetings so my family and I can spend time together and rest well.

The audio broadcasts will continue as currently scheduled though, Yahweh willing. We want to be committed to serving the brethren in this way without neglecting other important areas of our lives.

The audio of each broadcast, along with a typed transcript of each meeting will be available for download each week on this web site.

This way, anyone can make copies to CD's and distribute them as Yahweh leads. The typed transcripts will include the scripture study, and the calls/comments/questions

One drawback about no longer doing the text chat meetings is that there are a number of deaf believers who participate in these meetings every Shabbat.

For this reason, we are planning to implement a way to address this concern. Our current plans (which are subject to change) are as follows:

* An ASL (American Sign Language) version of each audio meeting will be implemented via streaming video.

A pre-recorded video ASL feed of the previous audio Shabbat meeting will be broadcast via http://www.eliyah.com/videoasl/ at the same time as the current Shabbat evening text chat meetings (9:30PM ET).

* This video feed will be archived on the web site, and available for distribution on various video sites on the internet.

Our brother "Decrease" (Gregory Ross) will be doing the video ASL for us.

The Torah readings will continue to be shared here every week at 8:30PM. This is automated and does not require my participation, but all are encouraged to continue coming to the chat room for fellowship and discussion.

So after about an 11 and a half year run, the final text chat meeting will be 11/21/08 (Modern reckoning).

That means next weeks text chat meeting will be the final one until further notice.

It will be replaced with Video ASL of the previous week's audio broadcast. I will not be present in the chat room during this video broadcast

I confess that there is a tinge of sadness about the change, but I praise Yahweh for the work He has been doing with the audio broadcast and I want to continue doing them while keeping my priorities straight before Yahweh.

The two little ones He has recently brought into our lives underscore the need for this even more. Thanks to everyone for your love and support.

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Tonight's study is entitled, "Should We Observe Christmas?"

Yahushua said:

John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 14:6 - Yahushua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And later, it is written:

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.

2Thessalonians 2:11 - And for this cause YAHWEH shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Truth?

Or lies?

Which will we love? To which will we cling?

In 2Thess 2:10 it says that we must love the truth, or we will believe a lie.

Are our hearts accustomed to seeking and loving truth?

Are our hearts desensitized to lies?

Do lies seem to be of no significance?

Whether we cleave to truth or lies is very important.

This time of year, the children of this age, from the time they are very small, are taught 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, another 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 can be very oppressive and vexing to the soul.

What does Yahweh think of these practices?

Has anyone thought to consult Him?

After all, isn't it supposed to be honoring His Son?

As is commonly known, the celebration of Christmas is a 'tradition.'

Christmas is an observance which the men of this generation have inherited from their fathers.

It is something that is celebrated even by some atheists and others who are not a part of the Christian religion.

Interestingly, modern pagans hail it as the time of the winter solstice.

Sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of Yahweh.

But there are other traditions which clearly transgress the commmandments of Yahweh.

Which might it be in this case?

First, let's understand clearly that Yahushua taught us to utterly reject any tradition which transgresses Yahweh's commandments

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 Yahushua's disciples "transgressed the tradition of the elders."

And today, many will ask those of us who do not keep Christmas the same question (though with different wording). They wonder, "Why do you transgress the traditions of our elders?"

Our answer could be the same as Yahushua's answer except we can apply it to Christmas. "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of YAHWEH by your tradition??"

As we will see, this is exactly what is taking place with the tradition of Christmas.

What did Yahushua say about those who transgress Yahweh's commandments so that they can keep to their traditions?

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.

Brethren, it is quite evident to me that the "Christmas celebration" is honoring with the lips...but its heart is far from Yahweh. It's heart is in materialism, falsehood, idolatry and vanity.

You may search from Genesis to Revelation, but you will not find a single scripture in the bible which asks us to celebrate the birth of Yahushua the Messiah.

But today, most who claim to believe in Him do celebrate it, and in a way that imitates idolators!

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 will speak strongly against Catholic traditions which have their roots in idolatry, but then fail to recognize that the same types of pagan festivals exist in the celebration of Christmas and Easter.

So how did the observance of Christmas get its start?

The following is a quote from the 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, the "feast of Sol and Victus" crept into the Christian faith many years ago. So essentially, Christianity rejected Yahweh's feasts in favor of feasts that were of demonic origin.

Notice how it says "both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities"?

Do any alarm bells go off here??

It should!

The "Christmas" holi-day is nothing more than a "Christianized" pagan/demonic holiday. It's an attempt to insert the observances and doctrines of demons (idols) into the purity of Yahweh's Holy Son.

But friends and brethren, they don't mix!!!

The Christians were apparently trying to get more converts so they bascially tried to "Christianized" these idolatrous/pagan feasts to make Yahushua more attractive to them.

But they did not "Christianize" these holidays at all. What they really did was "Paganize" the only begotten Son of Yahweh!

So the real question is, "Who converted who?"

It appears to me that the Christians were being converted to the world, not the other way around.

Brethren, you can't win the world by imitating the world.

You win the world by imitating Yahushua the Messiah!

The demon worshipers had their way with the Christians and pressured them into accepting their holidays.

In truth, satan has been trying to creep his lies into the worship of Yahweh ever since the Garden of Eden.

We need to be far removed from any practice that he invents or inspires men to invent.

1Corinthians 10:14 - Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

And our children need to be taught purity, truth and the ways of life; not profane things, lies and the things of demons!

1John 5:21 - Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

And so 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, many of the mainstream beliefs of Christianity were already far from much of 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.

But that is what took place when the Christians took over the feast of Sol/Victus. They invented a reason to keep the demonic feast that was already in their hearts rather than rejecting the worldly ways.

They tried to clean that which was unclean

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

Therefore, we should not 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, as we should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, unless we are there to simply expose them.

It is true that 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.

But by 336AD they eventually succumbed to the ways of this world.

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 often even the local newspaper in December to find this truth.

Nearly all modern day preachers and ministers of Christianity will admit that its roots are in idolatry, and not the scriptures.

The issue is whether or not we should walk in these customs.

"What is so bad about it?" they say

Is it just for the children?

Many wonder how they could "neglect" their children by letting them be the "oddball" and not permit Christmas celebrations in their home.

To this I say..

What should we be teaching our children? Truth or lies?

Conformity to the world, or a life transformed by the renewing of the mind?

Follow a crowd to do evil, or follow Yahushua the Messiah?

Walking a broad path where many are, or walk the narrow path that few find?

Exodus 23:7 - Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

We need to be "far from a false matter"

The truth is that the Messiah was not born on December 25th.

December 25th is the alleged "birthday" of the sun god(s), not Yahushua the Messiah.

Please tell me... Why would we want to give Yahweh's perfect, holy Son the attributes of an idol?

The scriptures do not tell us when He was even born, but the closest indication is that He was born in the spring or fall, not in the dead of winter.

Yahushua surely knew that millions of people would be wanting to celebrate His "birthday."

But left us with no birthdate. Does this not show that He had no interest in us celebrating His birthday?

Rather, we are told to commemorate His death on the day of Passover.

1Corinthians 11:24 - And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

But most of the world ignores the Passover and chooses a demonic holiday that is based on the lie that He was born on Dec. 25th

In scriptures, Yahweh tells us "Learn not the way of the heathen"

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.

So He says to not even learn it, let alone practice it and incorporate it into the worship of Yahweh!

It also says that the Gentiles were dismayed at the signs of heaven. What is this about?

History tells us that when the sun began to go further away from the northern hemisphere and the days grew shorter in the winter, the sun worshipping Gentiles were "dismayed", and possibly feared that the sun would not return.

So they held certain festivals and celebrations just after the winter soltice to thank their idol (the sun) for returning. This return of the sun is why December 25th is the birthday of so many solar deities.

To them, all the world around them appeared to be dead with the trees losing their leaves and plants ceasing from being green.

One exception to this was the evergreen tree

It held special significance for this reason.

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.

Continuing in Jeremiah 10, we see here a very familiar sounding custom

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

A "vain custom" indeed. Remember what Yahushua said about "vain worship"?

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

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. Today, people cut down a tree and deck it with silver and gold.. fasten it and set it up so it will not topple.

And, as the ancient pagans offered gifts to their idols, today we see a similar custom where people bow down to place "Gifts" under the tree.

All the while, not really knowing why they do what they do.

If nobody else in the entire world practiced this custom today, the one guy who went out into the forest and set up a "christmas tree" in his house would be the laughingstock of the neighborhood

After all, why would anyone do something so strange??

If nobody else in this world celebrated Christmas, who would insist on celebrating it?

There is no scripture telling us we should.

So it is just a tradition of this world

The "Tree fastening" 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.

However, one need not do much research to discover 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.'

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 the "Tooth Fairy".

Then they wonder why their children become liars and have a hard time believing the true Elohim 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.

What they have done is put Santa in the place that only Yahweh belongs. It is Yahweh who is the watcher of men and their morality, not Santa Claus. It is Yahweh who is omnipresent, not Santa Claus or anyone else.

So why would any believer teach their children that it is "Santa Claus" who knows if we have been 'naughty or nice'? And why would any believer teach their children 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.

Brethren, I say to you that ot is an absolute abomination to Yahweh for any believer to teach their children to fear Santa Claus--and in so doing--creep an idol into the conscience of a child!

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.

People of this world, take away the stumbling block! You have been warned!!

Lies, lies everything is lies :(

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.

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!

So is Yahweh the originator of this holiday? Or is it the father of lies?

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.

We know that most of the world will love and practice lies. The whole holiday is a lie, so the world loves it!

Yahushua condemned the leaders of that generation for their "traditions of men" and for cleaving to 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 always, always, always...speaks the truth.

So should we

The adversary speaks lies, and inspires others to speak them.

"You shall not surely die!" satan said. A liar from the beginning indeed.

It is sooo important that we the truth and beware of lies.

And if we discover a lie, let's have nothing to do with it.

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.

Let's confess what should already be obvious: Our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Therefore, let's forsake them and cleave to the truth, calling on His name!

It is time that we know that His name is Yahweh!

If we admit that we have inherited lies and vanity, Yahweh makes a promise saying that He will reveal His name, His power and His might

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 should keep ourselves from idols and keep ourselves from every false matter.

The "little lies" are in many ways the most dangerous. It is the "Truth mixed with lies" that is downright deadly.

Of course, 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.

Sound familiar?

As I shared a while ago, the pagan practices of Christmas are also creeping into the Jewish 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;

Notice now.. Yahweh's people are about to be brought into a land where there are idol worshipers.

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, yes?

"Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy Elohim:" <---- Yes, it is abundantly clear.

Do not worship Yahweh in that way, the way of the heathen. Do not take a pagan way of worship and try to apply that to the worship of Yahweh. 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 says we shouldn't be walking as the Gentiles walked. Rather, 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 modern Satanists have invented and then incorporate that holiday into the worship of Yahweh? Surely not.

Yet, the truth is: 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.

But it is very obvious from scripture 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 in the first century by Yahushua Himself! They had no part with such things.

So let's set aside all these vain, satanic, syncretic, "religion mixing" traditions.

Let's set aside our desire to please man and let's be willing to 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 the way of the heathen, but He really loathes the idea of the way of the heathen 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.

Therefore, cease from the mixing of cups & tables....

Return the the way of LIFE, and Righteousness...

Return to the way of LIFE, and Righteousness...

peace and TRUTH...

Removing ourselves from every false matter...

Fleeing from idolatry...

Refusing conformity to the world...

And embracing the ways of truth.

Yahweh already has His Holy Days.

We don't need the world's unholi-days.

Let's have no part with lies.. let's have our part with Yahweh, partaking of His table!

Which table will you choose?

Which cup will you drink?

May Yahweh's pure, unadulterated cup of truth be your choice.. from this time forth.. and forevermore.

As you do so, may Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!