Shabbat Word
01/02/2020
Shabbat Shalom!
Psalm 11:1-8
11:1) For the Chief Musician,
By David.
11:2) In Yahuah, I take my refuge.
How can my soul say,
“Flee as a bird to your mountain!”
11:3) For, behold, the wicked bend their bows.
They set their arrows on the strings,
That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
11:4) If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?
11:5) Yahuah is in His holy temple.
Yahuah is on His throne in heaven.
His eyes observe.
His eyes examine the children of men.
11:6) Yahuah examines the righteous,
But the wicked and him who loves violence His soul hates.
11:7) On the wicked He will rain blazing coals;
Fire, sulphur and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
11:8) or Yahuah is righteous.
He loves righteousness.
The upright shall see His face.
A Word
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let each new year find you a better man.
Looking back on the past year. One thing that it has in common with the previous year is how quickly time has flown by. I have a theory called the ‘Hour-glass Theory’ relating to the passage of time. Imagine an hour-glass. The two chambers have mostly parallel sides: this corresponds to the ages birth to 40. At the bottom of the parallel sides, the sides slope inwards towards the central orifice: this corresponds to the latter years of life. Now, the physicists tell us that time is relative. Nevertheless, to the man (and woman) on the street like you and I, time can be considered to pass at a constant rate. This corresponds to the sand draining down the parallel sides and the younger years. However, as the sand comes to the sloping part, the sand appears to, but in fact does not, run down faster. Once past 40, time appears to pass much quicker, the older one gets.
Now that we come to the end of another year, we begin to think of new year’s resolutions. These generally reflect the state one is in; overweight one thinks of joining a slimming or gym club. Unfortunately, it is not long into the new year when the flesh gives up and the resolution fails. Imagine, though, if you could have your own personal trainer/chef, how much easier it would be.
The best possible new year’s resolution you could make is to renounce your sinful life, ask Yahuah Father to forgive you and seek His salvation through Messiah Yahusha, His Son.
“If it seem evil to you to serve Yahuah, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amori, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahuah.” (Josh. 24:15).
When Joshua called upon the Yisra`elites to decide whom they would worship, he gave them a choice of three:
- The gods of the past that some of their ancestors worshipped in Egypt (and look where that got them – slavery);
- The gods of the land that some of their ancestors worshipped ( and look where that got them – plague);
- The `Elohiym of the past, present and future and the `Elohiym of all the earth and heaven – Yahuah.
They time of decision had come; no more delay or prevarication. The Yisra`elites had to choose THIS DAY i.e. right now.
What will be your choice? Will you carry on serving the gods of yesterday that have only enslaved you in your sinful situation and incapable of helping you?
Will you carry on serving the gods of money, position and power that the nations worship but have only ensnared you into their destruction?
Or will you choose to serve Yahuah `Elohiym who has given His only Son, by whom you may escape the clutches of these demons? He has given His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to help you make the correct choice. Once made the Ruach is there as your own Personal Trainer, teaching you and leading you in the future to carry on making the right choices. There is no need for this resolution to fail.
You have been blessed to have reached the end of another year; many have passed away since last new year. The blessing is that Yahuah Father has extended His grace and mercy to you a little longer.
Can you guarantee being alive this time next year? You cannot even guarantee being alive tomorrow.
There is no guarantee that the offer of salvation will still be available tomorrow. Time is rapidly running out. The sand has all but drained out of the upper glass and there is only a few grains left.
NEVERTHELESS THERE IS TILL ENOUGH TIME LEFT TO SEEK SALVATION: IF YOU CHOOSE THIS DAY.
Halleluyah
Ameyn
If you want to accept Father’s offer of salvation through Messiah Yahusha, you need to ask Him in prayer along these lines. Use your own words but they must be genuine as Father knows our very hearts and nothing is hidden from Him.
“Father, I am a sinner who needs forgiveness through your Son, Messiah Yahusha. Please forgive me of all my past sins as I accept that, Messiah Yahusha my Saviour, has taken upon Himself my punishment. By your Spirit, help me to live a life worthy of His sacrifice. Thank you, Father, for making this way back to you.”
Remember, the Judge looks into your heart, mind and future.
In other words, when you say a Believer’s prayer you had better mean it.
Father, we thank you for the power of your Word and that Word was made flesh in Messiah Yahusha so that in believing in His Life, Death and Resurrection we may have eternal life with you.
Ameyn.
If you have honestly said such a prayer as this, and truly renounced the sin in your life and accepted Father’s salvation through Messiah Yahusha, then please drop us an e-mail at FGA to let us know. This not only builds up our faith, it offers an opportunity to prayfully support you. Even if you have Believing friends or family, we at FGA would be privileged to pray for you. Please contact us at ezra710@firstgenerationassembly.com. Having believed and prayed, now please find a local faith-based church to attend. Drop FGA an e-mail so that we can rejoice with you and pray and support you over the coming weeks.
If you have sincerely called out to Father for forgiveness, then eternal life is assured. No more question marks on your eternal life, only a full stop. Salvation does not take away the day-to-day questions of life, nor is it a short-cut away from trials or tribulations. Nevertheless, knowing your eternal life is secure, any temporary trial can be overcome by looking at the completed work of Messiah Yahusha.
All blessings to you.
“A wise man has great power;
And a knowledgeable man increases strength;
For by wise guidance you wage your war;
And victory is in many advisors.” (Prov. 24:6).
Breaking Matzah
Our Saviour welcomes all His Family to join in this memorial. If you have accepted Messiah Yahusha as your Master and Saviour please take the next few moments to seek Father and to ensure that all is right between Him and you and between you and your Brothers and Sisters. If not, please put this right before continuing.
If you have not yet accepted Him into your life, then we encourage you to seek Him while it is still possible, as time is running out. When He returns or if you pass away then it will be too late. Please do not partake of the matzah and wine as in doing so, it gives thanks for the broken body (matzah) and shed blood (wine) for and a witness of salvation.
On the night of the Master’s betrayal, He took the matzah, blessed it and broke it saying ‘This is my Body broken for you; take and eat it as a memorial to Me.’
Bless the matzah saying: Blessed are you, O Yahuah our `Elohiym, King of the Universe, who brings forth matzah from the earth.
Break and eat the matzah (sharing it if within a group setting):
After the meal He took the Cup, blessed it saying ‘This is my Blood poured out for you for the remission of sins; take and drink it as a memorial to me.’
Bless the wine saying: Blessed are you, O Yahuah our `Elohiym, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Drink the wine (sharing it if within a group setting):
Thanksgiving prayer: Blessed are you, O Yahuah our `Elohiym, King of the universe, who gives us, in Yahusha, all that we will ever need. In your lovingkindness and mercy, you rebuild broken lives. You bless us, in Yahusha, with a perfect blessing. Ameyn.
Please note the up-and-coming special days.
25/02/2020 – Rosh Chodesh 12th. New Moon
Father willing, we will meet again next Shabbat.
“Y’varekh’kha Yahuah v’yishmerekha,
Ya’er Yahuah panav eleikha vichunekka,
Yissa Yahuah panav eleikha v’yasem l’kha shalom.”
(May Yahuah bless you and keep you)
(May Yahuah make His face to shine upon you and show you His favour)
(May Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.).
First Generation Assembly 