Ron Garber Ministries  

"Whatever I have commanded you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to or take away from it." (Deu.12:32)

People have the idea it doesn't really matter if we do things a little differently than the early church. What do you think would have happened if Naaman had dipped in one of the rivers of Syria instead of the river of Jordan as he was told? You know as well as I that he would not have been cleansed. Why... isn't a river a river and isn't water water? It would have been foolish to think he could do it any way he wanted and still get the same results.

Likewise if you add water to milk, cola, or anything it will take something away and it will not taste the same. Add water to gasoline and your car will not run right, and if enough is added it won't run at all. So you see, because things have been added to the church, it has lost the power that it possessed in the beginning. Oh, once in a while someone may get healed, but it is not the same power that allowed the shadow of a man of God to bring healing to the sick. (Ac.5:15) Let's be honest, the churches are filled with the sick and dying. It says in James, "If (or in case) anyone is sick, they are to call the ELDERS (not pastor) of the church and the prayer offered in faith WILL heal them." Not may or sometimes - but WILL. (Ja.5:14-15) 'If, or in case' implies that it is not expected that people would normally be sick. I traveled around the USA for awhile and I was constantly hearing of ministers who were having open heart surgery. How can they inspire faith for people to believe for their healing when they are having to rely on medical science themselves? The word says the evil one cannot touch me for I am protested by the power of God THROUGH FAITH. (1Jn.5:18;1Pet.1:5) If you don't BELIEVE those Scriptures, you are not protected, for it works THROUGH faith. By removing the things that have been added, I have found that faith and power is restored. Just as removing the water from the gasoline will allow the power in the gasoline to run your car; remove the additives from the church and the power will be manifested. We are told to "...earnestly contend for THE FAITH that was once and for all delivered to the saints." (Ju.3)

King David, told Nathan the prophet, that he wanted to build God a house. Wasn't that a nice thing that David wanted to do to show his love for God? Even the prophet agreed at first, but God said, "I did not tell David to build Me a house." (2Sam.7:2-5) Even though it seemed good, David was not permitted to do it because he wasn't instructed to do so. This tells us just because something seems like a good thing, it doesn't make it right.

Now look at King Saul. He didn't follow the word of God and saved some of the cattle and sheep that he was instructed to kill. And for what reason? Aaah, he wanted to offer them as a sacrifice to God. Wasn't that nice? Not in God sight, for the LORD considered it disobedience. And even in the face of the evidence, he insisted, "I have carried out the command of the LORD." (1Sam.15:13) And again, after being confronted by the prophet, he insisted, "I did obey the voice of the LORD." (Vs.20) He was like people today, who will claim they are following the Word that was preached by the foundation apostles, even when I have shown by the Scriptures how they have strayed from the truth.

Lets look at the celebration called Christmas. Where did it come from? You say from the Catholic church, yes, but where did they get it? They took it from a pagan festival and converted it into a Christian festival. "Beware that you are not ensnared to follow the pagan nations, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, THAT I MAY DO LIKEWISE?'" (Deu12:30)

God does not want us to take an idea from a pagan religion and make a Christian thing of it, for it's roots are in paganism. In doing so, we are worshipping God through things learned from pagans. The Israelis copied burning incense, to the LORD, on the mountains from the pagans nations, and it angered the LORD. So what makes people think we can institute heathen things into Christianity?

Let's examine this further. We were never instructed to celebrate the birth of Christ and everyone knows that December 25th is not the actual date of His birth. James, the half brother of Jesus, and Mary, His mother, knew when He was born and if we were supposed to celebrate His birth, we would have been given the correct date. People say we are doing it unto the Lord; so did David and Saul. They say it is such a spiritual thing and time. If so, why does the world, which is under the power of the evil one, have anything to do with it? Go into the prisons and you will find murderers, rapist, and all sorts of criminals celebrating this so called "spiritual season." In the U.S., the Supreme Court ruled that Christmas was a secular holiday and not a religious one. Statistics show that more people get drunk at Christmas than any other time, other that New Years; and more adultery is committed at Christmas than any other time of the year. What a wonderful birthday present that must make!

The early church never celebrated Christmas, so there is no denying that it was added. The only thing we were told to celebrate was his death and the world has not gotten involved in celebrating that, because the world is under the power of the evil one; and it was through His death that Satan was defeated. (1Cor.11:23-26)

"You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain." (Gal.4:10-11) "I HATE, I REJECT your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies." (Am.5:21)Paul said, "Therefore no one is to act as you judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day." He is not saying no one is to act as your judge because you do these things, but because you DO NOT DO THESE THINGS. For they are, "...a mere shadow of what is to come." (Col.2:16-17)

Remember, he said he FEARED for those who were doing them.

I was talking to a young lady about the Lord and she informed me that she did not believe in God; and then turned around and asked if I was ready for Christmas. After I told her I didn't celebrate it, she exclaimed, "Oh, I think it is the most spiritual time there is!" (??????) Could an atheist feel something spiritual in celebrating a holiday that is of God and holy?

I have found that Christians will persecute you if do not celebrate Christmas. Is it because it condemns them, and they know it is a man made tradition that has no place in Christianity? They try to make you feel bad by saying they feel sorry for your children because they will suffer. Since when will the truth cause suffering? Philip had four virgin daughter who prophesied and they didn't seemed to suffer scars by not celebrating Christmas. I believe many will see this but will not forsake Christmas, for the lack of intestinal fortitude to stand against family and friends who will come against them with persecution. We are told, "Indeed all who desire to live GODLY in Christ Jesus WILL be persecuted." (2Tim.3:12)

Then there is the Christmas tree, where does it fit into the birth of Christ? It is a object of worship. They even sing to a dumb tree even though it cannot hear. "Oh, Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches." Tree worship goes all the way back to paganism that infiltrated Judaism and it was called the Asherah. Read about tree idols they deck with silver and gold in Jeremiah 10:1-5.

Today you can find the Christmas tree even in church buildings and in the Old Testament you could find the Asherah tree in the Temple, where the women were weaving hangings for it. (2 Kg.23:7) King Josiah, burned the Asherah tree and removed all the things that had been added and brought into the house of the LORD. It was said concerning him;"Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with ALL his heart and with ALL his soul and with ALL his might, according to ALL the law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him." (2Kg.23:25)Jesus said to love the Lord God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength was the greatest commandment. Read all about Josiah in 2 Kings chapter 22 and 23, and ask yourself if you are ready to remove ALL that has been added and distorted, and turn to God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your strength.

In Timothy 4:1-4, Paul says when they turn away from the truth, they will turn aside to myths. Look at the way the birth of Christ has been turned into a big myth. When Jesus was born the shepherds were told to go into Bethlehem and find a baby who is Christ the Lord lying in a manger. That much is true. And we are told that wise men, or Magi, who saw this great big star, went to Jerusalem and then ran over to Bethlehem, all in one night, where they came and worshipped the baby with the shepherds - just like we see in all the nativity scenes. (That is a myth.) The star was so small or insignificant that no one else was aware of it's existence; otherwise, why would Herod ask when it first appeared? It took the Magi nearly two years to arrive in Jerusalem. (Camel Jet Airlines wasn't in existence) They had to make provisions for such a long trip and needed an armed escort to protect them from bandits as they were carrying valuable gifts. When they finally arrived in Bethlehem, they went into the house (not manger) and saw the Child (not baby) and fell down and worshipped Him.(Mat.2:11)Read the full and true account in Matthew 2:1-16.

The killing of the children, two years old and under, coincided with the time Herod ascertained that the star first appeared. It is no wonder some people think the whole gospel is a myth when we are portraying a giant star in the sky and NO ONE wondering why. Then, there are these men that could travel maybe a thousand miles or more, possibly on a camel, in one night.

Then there is the practice of gift giving because the magi brought gifts. To whom did they give them; family, friends, each other? No, they were given unto Jesus, not to someone who was giving back to them. There was NO GIFT EXCHANGE!

So called wise men today have speculated as to the star, that it was Haley's Comet or some other comet that was passing earth at that time. No comet takes two years to past the earth. As it is written,"Always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim.3:7) What wise man can show me justification for mixing paganism into Christianity? My ears wait with anticipation to be tickled.

Look at Easter...where did it come from? From the Goddess Eastre who had a magic rabbit who laid golden eggs. Did you ever wondered how rabbits and easter eggs got into Easter?

HERE IS A LITTLE HISTORICAL NOTE:

Most people do not know that when the first Christians came to America, it was to get away from the Church of England and Christmas. They included Mennonites, Presbyterians, Pilgrims, as well as others. In Massachusetts, a law was passed that anyone caught celebrating Christmas, in any way, could be fined, as they were very adamant to keep the pagan practice out of America.

Eventually, the water the dragon spewed out of his mouth caught up with those Christians and diluted the word. (Rev.12:15-16)The first Christmas tree was put up in Williamsburg, Virginia by a German Lutheran - that's only one step away from a Catholic - and the next year all the houses on the street displayed Christmas trees in their windows.

Ron

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