reetings, holy children of God, in the wonderful name of our lord and saviour Jesus, the Christ. The sermon subject for today is:

I BELIEVE THAT EVERY THING PROCEEDED EITHER FROM GOD, OR FROM SATAN . FOR EXAMPLE IN THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT, AND THE TARES. THE WHEAT THE CHILDREN OF GOD CAME FROM GOD, AND THE TARES THE CHILDREN OF SATAN ARE FROM SATAN. MT:13:36 THEN JESUS SENT THE MULTITUDE AWAY, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE: AND HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM, SAYING, DECLARE UNTO US THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD. 37. HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, HE THAT SOWETH THE GOOD SEED IS THE SON OF MAN; 38. THE FIELD IS THE WORLD; THE GOOD SEED ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM; BUT THE TARES ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE; 39. THE ENEMY THAT SOWED THEM IS THE DEVIL; THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD; AND THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS. THE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO MEDITATE ON IS THIS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CUSTOM OF SANTA CLAUS CAME FROM THE LORD GOD, OR DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CUSTOM OF SANTA CLAUS IS FROM THE OLD SERPENT THE DEVIL. WHEN YOU APPLY THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPALS TO THIS CUSTOM, TO THIS TRADITION, IT IS EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS SUBJECT MATTER CAME FROM. FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE TRULY A SANTA CLAUS, THAT HAS A LONG WHITE BEARD, THAT LIVES AT THE NORTH POLE, THAT DRIVES A SLED PULLED BY REIN DEERS, THAT DRESSES IN RED AND WHITE, THAT BRINGS TOYS TO BOYS AND GIRLS ALL OVER THE WORLD ON CHRISTMAS DAY? NO, THERE IS NOT . THEREFORE, WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT THE WHOLE PROPOSITION IS A LIE. FURTHERMORE, WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT THE CUSTOM OF SANTA CLAUS PROCEEDED FROM THE OLD SERPENT THE DEVIL. FOR SATAN IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF IT. I KNOW THAT HOLLYWOOD, THE MOVIE INDUSTRY, THAT GREAT PROPAGANDA MACHINE, MAKES LYING SEEM AS IF IT IS JUST THE THING TO DO, BUT LYING WILL CAUSE A PERSON GREAT TROUBLE IN THIS WORLD, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME, WHEN THEY STAND BEFORE GOD ON JUDGMENT DAY. REV. 21:7 HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS. AND I WILL BE HIS GOD, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON. 8. BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND THE WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH. WHAT ARE THE SINS THAT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO BE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE? BEING AFRAID, OR MAKING OTHERS AFRAID, THE FEARFUL. THE UNBELIEVING, THOSE PEOPLE THAT REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD. THOSE PEOPLE THAT REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT CHRIST JESUS HAS SAID. THE ABOMINABLE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT COMMIT VILE ACTS, WICKED, AND IMMORAL ACTS. THE MURDERER, THOSE PEOPLE THAT PLOT, AND PLAN, AND KILL PEOPLE. PREMEDITATED KILLING OF HUMAN BEINGS. THE WHOREMONGERS, THOSE PEOPLE THAT RUN HOUSES OF PROSTITUTION. THE SORCERERS, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORSHIP THE DEVIL TO RECEIVE SUPERNATURAL POWER. THE IDOLATER, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORSHIP IDOLS, IMAGES, AND STATUES. FINALLY THE LOWEST OF THE LOW, THE BASE OF THE BASE, IS THE LIARS. THOSE PEOPLE THAT PREVARICATE, TURN ASIDE AND EVADE THE TRUTH, THAT SAY THINGS THAT WILL NOT AGREE WITH FINAL REALITY, THE PERJURER, THE FALSE WITNESS, THE HERETIC. ALL LIARS SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE OF FIRE, WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH. WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SATAN INVENTED SUCH A DIABOLICAL CUSTOM AS SANTA CLAUS? TWO REASONS, THE FIRST REASON IS TO ROB HARD WORKING, SELF SACRIFICING, DAD’S AND MOTHERS OF THE LOVE THAT THEY SHOULD RECEIVE FROM GIVING GIFTS TO THEIR CHILDREN. SECONDLY, SATAN USES THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AS A WEAPON TO DESTROY THE CHILDREN OF GOD. JUST AS HE USED THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD TO CAUSE THE DEATH OF ADAM, AND EVE. IF YOU WILL RECALL GOD GAVE ADAM, AND EVE, A COMMANDMENT NOT TO EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD, AND EVIL, FOR IN THE DAY THEY EAT OF THAT TREE THEY WOULD SURELY DIE. WHEN ADAM TRANSGRESSED THAT COMMANDMENT SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN. FOR IT IS WRITTEN THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. ROM:6:23 FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD ARE COMMANDED TO GIRT UP OUR LOINS WITH TRUTH AND NOT TO DO SO IS SIN. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SPEAK, BUT IF YOU SPEAK LET IT BE THE TRUTH. WHAT IS THE YEAR DATE? THE YEAR DATE IS 2004. WHAT HAPPENED 2004 YEARS AGO THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT, THAT MEN HAVE BEEN COUNTING TIME FROM THAT DATE EVER SINCE? 2004 YEARS AGO THE LORD JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, CAME INTO THE WORLD BEING BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM. JN:1:10 HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT. WHEN YOU HEAR A NEW BORN BABY CRY WITH IT’S FIRST BREATH, IT IS JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, THAT HAS GIVEN THAT CHILD LIFE. . EPH:3:9 AND TO MAKE ALL MEN SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD HATH BEEN HID IN GOD, WHO CREATED ALL THINGS BY JESUS. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM, AND ALL THINGS CONSIST BECAUSE OF HIM. GOD INSPIRED THE APOSTLE PAUL TO RECORD THESE WORDS ABOUT JESUS COL:1:12 GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER, WHICH HATH MADE US MEET TO BE PARTAKERS OF THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IN LIGHT. 13. WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON. 14. IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. 15. WHO IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE. 16. FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, THAT ARE IN HEAVEN, AND THAT ARE IN EARTH VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, WHETHER THEY BE THRONES, OR DOMINIONS, OR PRINCIPALITIES, OR POWERS. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM, AND FOR HIM. 17. AND HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST. BROTHERS, AND SISTERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, HAVE YOU NOTICED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THE LORD’S BIRTHDAY, ON CHRISTMAS, HOW THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT SANTA CLAUS THAN ABOUT THE LORD JESUS . THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL ONLY HAVE FIRST PLACE IN A PERSON’S HEART. WHEN A DAD, OR MOTHER, GRAND FATHER OR GRAND MOTHER BEGINS TO TELL A CHILD THAT BELIEVES IN THE LORD JESUS, THAT THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS WHEN IN REALITY THERE IS NOT, CAUSES THAT CHILD TO BELIEVE A LIE. CAUSES DAMAGE TO THAT CHILD’S FAITH, AND TRUST. MOST FOLKS THAT SPEAK ABOUT SANTA CLAUS TO CHILDREN, BEGIN TO TELL THE CHILD THIS MYTH, WHEN THE CHILD IS VERY YOUNG. AND CAUSES THAT CHILD TO SOMETIMES BELIEVE THAT LIE FOR YEARS. IT IS A TERRIBLE SIN TO OFFEND ONE OF GOD’S CHILDREN. MT:18:1 AT THAT TIME CAME THE DISCIPLES UNTO JESUS, SAYING, WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? 2. AND JESUS CALLED A LITTLE CHILD UNTO HIM, AND SET HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM, 3. AND SAID, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 4. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD, THE SAME IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 5. AND WHOSO SHALL RECEIVE ONE SUCH LITTLE CHILD IN MY NAME RECEIVETH ME. 6. BUT WHOSO SHALL OFFEND ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHICH BELIEVETH 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. 7. WOE UNTO THE WORLD BECAUSE OF OFFENSES FOR IT MUST NEEDS BE THAT OFFENSES COME BUT WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE OFFENSE COMETH. IT IS ONE THING FOR A MAN TO SIN IN IGNORANCE, UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES’, A MAN IF HE SINNED IN IGNORANCE COULD BRING A SHE GOAT TO THE PRIEST, AND THE PRIEST COULD OFFER THE GOAT UP AS A SACRIFICE TO GOD, AND THE SIN WOULD BE FORGIVEN. BUT IF A MAN SIN PRESUMPTUOUSLY, WILFULLY, WITH MALICE AFORETHOUGHT, THERE WAS NO SACRIFICE COULD BE OFFERED UP FOR HIM. HIS INIQUITY REMAIN. NU:15:27 ( IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE GOD IS SPEAKING TO MOSES’, AND THE LORD SAYS) AND IF ANY SOUL SIN THROUGH IGNORANCE, THEN HE SHALL BRING A SHE GOAT OF THE FIRST YEAR FOR A SIN OFFERING, 28. AND THE PRIEST SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL THAT SINNETH IGNORANTLY, WHEN HE SINNETH BY IGNORANCE BEFORE THE LORD, TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR HIM; AND IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM. 29. YE SHALL HAVE ONE LAW FOR HIM THAT SINNETH THROUGH IGNORANCE, BOTH FOR HIM THAT IS BORN AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND FOR THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG THEM. 30. BUT THE SOUL THAT DOETH OUGHT PRESUMPTUOUSLY, WHETHER HE BE BORN IN THE LAND, OR A STRANGER, THE SAME REPROACHETH THE LORD. AND THAT SOUL SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM AMONG HIS PEOPLE 31. BECAUSE HE HATH DESPISED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND HATH BROKEN HIS COMMANDMENT, THAT SOUL SHALL UTTERLY BE CUT OFF. HIS INIQUITY SHALL BE UPON HIM. UNDER THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS IF WE, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, SIN IN IGNORANCE; WHEN WE COME INTO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE SINNED, WE CONFESS THAT SIN TO GOD . HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US OUR SIN. 1JOHN1:9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. BUT HOLY CHILDREN, IF WE SIN WILFULLY AFTER WE COME INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH; WE KNOW ABOUT REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS, ABOUT FAITH TOWARD GOD, BAPTISM, AND THE LAYING ON OF HANDS, AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, AND THE ETERNAL JUDGMENT. IF WE SIN WILFULLY AFTER WE COME INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. THERE REMAINS NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SIN, THE SIN WILL REMAIN. WHY? IF A PERSON SINS WILFULLY AFTER THEY COME INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, THEY TROD UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, THEY COUNT THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHEREWITH THEY WERE SANCTIFIED AN UNHOLY THING, AND THEY HAVE DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE. HEB:10:26 FOR IF WE SIN WILFULLY AFTER THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF HE TRUTH, THERE REMAINETH NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS. 27. BUT A CERTAIN FEARFUL LOOKING FOR OF JUDGMENT AND FIERY INDIGNATION, WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THE ADVERSARIES. 28. HE THAT DESPISED MOSES’ LAW DIED WITHOUT MERCY UNDER TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 29. OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YE, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE? 30. FOR WE KNOW HIM THAT HATH SAID, VENGEANCE BELONGETH UNTO ME, I WILL RECOMPENSE, SAITH THE LORD, AND AGAIN, THE LORD SHALL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE. 31. IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. IN THIS PRESENT WORLD, CHILDREN OF GOD, THERE IS THE REAL, TRUE, THE GENUINE REASON TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, AND THERE IS THE IMITATION REASON TO CELEBRATE. FOR EXAMPLE WE, THE SAINTS OF GOD, AT CHRISTMAS HAVE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO CELEBRATE. I HEARD SOME OF GOD’S CHILDREN SINGING, AND THEY SANG, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR A PLACED CALLED MOUNT CALVARY, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR AN OLD RUGGED CROSS, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR A MAN CALLED JESUS ; THEN FOREVER MY SOUL WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST. AND I SAID HOW TRUE, HOW TRUE. BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, WHAT HAVE THEY, SANTA CLAUS? WE, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AT EASTER CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD HAVE THE EASTER BUNNY. WHY DO WE, AS SAINTS OF GOD, CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST ? BECAUSE JESUS LIVES IT HAS BEGOTTEN US TO THE LIVELY HOPE THAT WE TOO SHALL LIVE IN ETERNITY. BE A GOOD SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF GOD, GIRT UP YOU LOINS WITH TRUTH, PUT ON THE BREAST PLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, SHOD YOU FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, AND ABOVE ALL TAKE THE SHIELD OF FAITH, AND THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD, AND WAGE WAR AGAINST SATAN. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE. LET ME ACQUAINT YOU WITH THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE RECORD IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. IS:1:18 COME NOW LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW, THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL. 19. IF YE BE WILLING AND OBEDIENT YE SHALL EAT OF THE GOOD OF THE LAND. 20. BUT IF YE REFUSE AND REBEL, YE SHALL BE DEVOURED WITH THE SWORD: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SIGN AT CHRISTMAS TIME THAT READ " XMAS." I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS, THEREFORE THE SIGN READS " XMAS." CHRISTMAS IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR A TIME WHEN CHRISTIAN MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN LOVE GIVE GIFTS TO THOSE WE LOVE. BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD THE FATHER GAVE US THE GREATEST GIFT EVER, HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. JN:3:16 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS QUESTION? "WHY DID GOD CREATE YOU?" OR THIS QUESTION, " DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD?" IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM YOU. MEN AND WOMEN DO NOT ALWAYS SEE THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER IN THE SAME LIGHT. THEREFORE IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO KNOW YOUR THINKING ON THESE QUESTIONS. YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE APPRECIATED. MY ADDRESS IS HOLLIS RAY MATHIS 111 SUGARTOWN ROAD, CALCASIEU , LOUISIANA. LET ME CONCLUDE WITH THIS BLESSING NM:6:24 THE LORD BLESS THEE, AND KEEP THEE, 25. THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE, AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE. 26. THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE, AND GIVE THEE PEACE.