Shabbat Word
02/03/2019
Shabbat Shalom!
Psalm 119:129-136
119:129) PEY
Your testimonies are wonderful,
Therefore my soul keeps them.
119:130) The entrance of your words gives light.
It gives understanding to the simple.
119:131) I opened my mouth wide and panted,
For I longed for your commandments.
119:132) Turn to me, and have mercy on me,
As you always do to those who love your name.
119:133) Establish my footsteps in your word.
Do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
119:134) Redeem me from the oppression of man,
So I will observe your precepts.
119:135) Make your face shine on your servant.
Teach me your statutes.
119:136) Streams of tears run down my eyes,
Because they do not observe your law. (contd.
A Word
When Elephants Fight It Is The Grass That Gets Trampled Upon
The last English king to die in leading his army was King Richard III in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
King James IV of Scotland was the last monarch to die on British soil leading his army when he was killed in September 1513 at the Battle of Flodden.
King George II was the last English king to even lead his army into battle in June 1743 at the Battle of Dettingen.
In World War I the number of casualties in this one conflict alone is estimated at nearly 60 million. These numbers are only approximate due to the differing means of recording the statistics. It does not identify how many generals were killed or injured, but I can be sure that, if any, the number is very, very few. I can, however, guarantee that no monarchs, princes, presidents, prime ministers or chancellors were killed. What a stark contrast between the numbers of rulers and those ruled over who suffered.
These outline details seems to prove the African proverb regarding elephants and grass!
Imagine the scene of two old bull elephants battling it out on the African savannah. There is a baby playing in the soil while its parents pick fruit from a nearby bush. The elephants are charging at one another and the baby is in their way. What loving parent would not risk life and limb in order to snatch away the child out from the danger of the approaching struggle.
How much more so would our loving Heavenly Father risk all in order to snatch away His children from an on-coming struggle.
“For the Yahuah himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the chief angel, and with `Elohiym’s shofar. The dead in Messiah will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Master in the air. So we will be with the Master forever.” (1 Thess. 4:16,17). In his letter to the Assembly at Thessilonka, Rav Sha’ul (Paul) informs the congregation of an event that is to take place at the End of Time. This is commonly known as The Rapture. When Sha’ul writes ‘we…will be caught up...’ this phrase means that all Believers will be snatched away by force. Our Heavenly Father takes away His people (children) from the coming struggle.
This struggle is known as Ya’akov’s Trouble or The Great Tribulation will be a seven year period between the ‘Snatching Away’ (Rapture) and the Second Coming of Messiah. During the latter half of this period will be one of catastrophe after catastrophe; disaster after disaster; plague after plague where a large proportion of the world’s population will perish. It is no small wonder that Father wants none of His children to go through such horrendous times.
However, there will be a great return to the Father as a direct result of Believers being snatched away in full view of the world. These new Believers will have to endure the horrors of Ya`akov’s Trouble.
At the end of this period, there will be a battle between the ruler of this world, haSatan, and the Returning King, Messiah Yahusha. This battle is known throughout the world as the Battle of Armaggedon. (In fact, this is Scripturally incorrect. Armaggedon is the anglicised form of Har Meggido meaning Meggido Hill. The battle will take place in a valley overlooked by Har Meggido.) It is called at battle but in fact it will be a one-sided massacre. HaSatan will be imprisoned but all its followers will be killed.
How then does Father determine which people He calls His children?
“They said therefore to him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Yahusha answered, ‘You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’” (John 8:19).
“Yahusha said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.’” (John 14:6).
“for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from `Elohiym.” (John 16:27). The Apostle Yochanan (John) wrote extensively about Father. These three sample verses show that in order to know Father as Father, it is determined by one’s attitude to His Son, Yahusha.
What then is the right attitude to the Son? Yochanan sums it up in the one verse: “For Yahuah so loved the world, that Hgave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). This belief, faith or trust in the Son is to acknowledge and accept Messiah Yahusha as Saviour. That is He and He alone has taken upon Himself the punishment due to all sinners (those who have disobeyed Father and turned away from Him).
At the top of this Word, I said that ‘What loving parent would not risk life and limb in order to snatch away the child out from the danger of the approaching struggle.’ Father gave up what is most precious to Him in that He sent His Son to take our deserved punishment upon Himself. There is nothing else in all of Creation that Father could do to ensure our safety.
If one accepts Messiah Yahusha as Saviour right up until the moment of the Snatching Away, they will be taken away from all danger. Some mockers call this escapism. They are right! Who in their right mind would want to risk being trampled upon; who would not want to escape catastrophe, disaster and plague?
Sadly, all who do not put their trusting faith in Messiah Yahusha.
If the Snatching Away was to happen tomorrow, where will you end up?
Those who die (and that can happen at any moment to any person) before the Snatching Away, will still be accounted as if they were still alive. In the above verse, John 3:16, this trusting faith has eternal consequences.
Will you want to be whisked away to safety or take your chances?
I, for one, am eternally grateful to be able to call Father, Father.
Will you be?
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.”
Ameyn.
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.
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.
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.
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle:
But victory is with Yahuah.” (Prov. 21:31).
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 of Blessing, 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.
Rosh Chodesh 1st. Moon 06/04/2019
Please note that this is the first New Moon and is the New Year. Pesach is 14 days later on 20/04/2019.
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 show you His favour)
(May Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.)
First Generation Assembly 