Pagan Holiday Season

I'll probably be seen as a scrooge but . . . there is no Biblical basis for christmas. Most folks should know by now that the "roots" of christmas are the pagan holiday of Saturnalia. The RC incorporated it into "Christianity" in the 4th century to appease the roman pagans. Even the "traditions" of the tree, mistletoe, and gift giving are all pagan based. I don't "observe" christmas myself (biblical evidence is against a winter birth time frame anyway) and am surprised by the arguments about "merry christmas" versus "happy holidays". The word christmas comes from Christ Mass and holiday comes from "Holy day" - again the RC and pagan influences.

Folks complain that the observance of christmas is all about "commercialization", but it never has been different. The Puritans banned it. Throughout most of history it has been used as an excuse to kill Jews.

Folks seem to love to focus on the birth and death of Jesus while leaving out His words and His example for living as minor events.

Anyway, hope everybody stays safe and well for the rest of the year and beyond. May YHWH’s will be done.

Are you fruitful?

Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it away; and each one bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.

(John 15:2)

          The above sentence expresses a simple concept. It is a concept so simple most folks today ignore it. The concept is this: we must continue in Jesus or YHWH will remove us. We will be cast out and burned:

Unless one continues in Me, he is cast out as the branch and is dried up; and, they gather and throw them into a fire and he is burned.

(John 15:6)

          Jesus goes on to tell us:

If you are keeping My commandments you will continue in My love, as I have kept My Father's commandments and continue in His love.

(John 15:10)

          If you are not keeping His commandments then you are not continuing in Jesus - you will be cast out. It is that simple. Jesus commandments are YHWH commandments. He tells us:

 

The one not loving me is not keeping My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father who sent Me.

(John 14:24)

          Obey or be burned. It is that simple. No matter what Paul or your church leader says. Jesus says we have the Holy Spirit to remind of this. Who are you listening to?

Interesting OT references in the NT

Old Testament Reference made in all four gospel accounts:

For this is he spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!"

(Matthew 3:3)

He said, "I am a voice crying in the wilderness:" "Make straight" "the way of the Lord," as Isaiah the prophet said.

(John 1:23)

as it has been written in the scroll of the Words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.

(Luke 3:4)

the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."

(Mark 1:3)

The voice of him who cries in the wilderness: Prepare the way of YHWH; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

(Isaiah 40:3)

Old Testament References made in five books of the NT:

And the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled on them, which says, "In hearing you will hear and in no way understand, and seeing you will see yet in no way perceive. For the heart of this people has grown fat, and they heard heavily with the ears, and they have closed their eyes, that they not see with the eyes, or hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and be converted, and I heal them."

(Matthew 13:14-15)

"He has blinded their eyes" and "has hardened their heart," "that they might not see with the eyes" and "understand with the heart," "and be converted," "and I should heal them."

(John 12:40)

And He said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, that seeing they might not see, and hearing, they might not understand.

(Luke 8:10)

that seeing they may see and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand, lest they should convert, and the sins be forgiven to them.

(Mark 4:12)

saying, "Go to this people and say, You will surely hear, and not at all understand; and you will surely see, and not at all perceive; for the heart of this people was fattened, and they have heard with the ears heavily; and they closed their eyes lest at any time they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."

(Acts 28:26-27)

And He said, Go and say to this people, Hearing you hear, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make his ears heavy, and shut his eyes, that he not see with his eyes, and hear with his ears, and understand with his heart, and turn back, and one heals him.

(Isaiah 6:9-10)

AND:

"The Lord said to my Lord, Sit off My right until I should put Your hostile ones as a footstool for Your feet?"

(Matthew 22:44)

Even David himself said in the Book of Psalms, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I place the ones hostile to You as a footstool of Your feet."

(Luke 20:42-43)

For David himself said by the Holy Spirit, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit off My right until I place Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet."

(Mark 12:36)

For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I place those hostile to You as a footstool for Your feet."

(Acts 2:34-35)

But to which of the angels did He ever say, "Sit at My right hand until I place Your enemies as a footstool of Your feet?"

(Hebrews 1:13)

A Psalm of David. A declaration of Jehovah to my Lord: Sit at My

right hand, until I place Your enemies as Your footstool.

(LXX-Psa. 109:1; MT-Psa. 110:1)

Old Testament References made only by Matthew and John:

"Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes to you, meek and mounted on an ass, even a colt, the son of an ass."

(Matthew 21:5)

"Do not fear," "daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes" "sitting on" "the foal of an ass."

(John 12:15)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous and being victorious, humble, and riding on an ass, even on a colt, the son of an ass.

(Zechariah 9:9)

AND:

And having crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting a lot, that might be fulfilled that spoken by the prophet, "They divided My garments to themselves, and they cast a lot over My clothing."

(Matthew 27:35)

Then they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots about it, whose it will be (that the Scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided My garments among them," and "they threw a lot for My garment." Then indeed the soldiers did these things.

(John 19:24)

They divide My garments among them, and they made fall a

lot for My clothing.

(LXX-Psa. 21:19; MT-Psa. 22:18 )

Remebering

We are told to remember several things in the Bible and one of the first and most important is:

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

(Exodus 20:8)

          Of course some folks claim the OT (Original Testament or Old Testament) does not apply anymore. Ironically, even today many “versions” of the New Testament also contain the Psalms and Proverbs. So let’s see what they might say about remembering:

But the mercy of YHWH is from everlasting, even to everlasting, on those who fear Him; yea, His righteousness is to the sons of sons; to those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments, to do them. YHWH has prepared His throne in Heaven and His kingdom rules over all.

(Psalms 103:17-19)

          If you still think the OT is not relevant for us consider why Jesus said:

Remember Lot's wife.

(Luke 17:32)

          Jesus referenced the OT over a hundred times. IF He is your Lord and Savior then you will listen to Him. If you are still being blinded and deafened by those that teach Paul’s gospel is the only thing relevant to us in this age then consider what Jesus said after His death and resurrection. He still made over half a dozen references to the OT in Revelation. In Revelation, He also said:

Then remember from where you have fallen and repent and do the first works. And if not, I am coming to you quickly and will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:5 

Then remember how you received and heard, and keep and repent. If, then, you do not watch, I will come upon you like a thief and you will not at all know what hour I come upon you.

Revelation 3:3

          IF YHWH is your God you will listen to what He says and remember it. IF Jesus is your Lord and Savior then you will listen to Him and remember it. Listen and have life, ignore or forget and you will die the second death as well as the first.

Out and About

Then any who shall be humbling himself as this little child, this one is greater in the kingdom of the heavens.

(Matthew 18:4)

For those of who may have notice I missed updating for a bit. I had a chance to go up to the mountains for a couple of weeks. YHWH reveals Himself to us in many ways and as for myself I find time away from “civilization” to be a great blessing. Like the tower of Babel it seems man’s efforts to create are feeble attempts to obscure the only true Creator.

Among mankind, even Michelangelo, blessed by YHWH to become one of the greatest artists and inventors man has ever known, left a legacy that reflects the downfallen nature of man. The Sistine Chapel is indeed a fine work of art; sadly, the artist was practically forced on pain of death by the Catholic Church to make it. I have seen it and was more moved by sadness for the artist than by the beauty he brought forth.

To fully appreciate the work of Michelangelo one must have an eye for the subtle. Though much of our Creator’s works are majestic in scope He, as the only true Creator, also appeals to us in many subtle ways - if we would only spend more time looking and listening for Him.

If you haven’t been away from “civilization” for a while I strongly urge you to give it a try. I spend as much time on solo outings into the wilderness as possible - often two or three times a month. I won’t even try to describe what it is like to spend an entire Sabbath, alone, miles from any other human being; and, to have only the Creation and the Spirit of the Creator to occupy your mind. To picture a land where animals won’t claw or bite, plants won’t poison or pierce, desert heat and mountain cold won’t kill - just imagine.

How YHWH must smile when we seek Him, not with the eye of the scientist or critic, but with the awe, wonder, and reverence of a child.

Truly I am saying to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in not be entering into her.

(Luke 18:17)