Shabbat Word
04/04/2021
Shabbat Shalom!
Covid-19 continues to ravage the world. Every night, I pray this Psalm for the continued well-being, security and prosperity of Yahuah’s people, Yisra`el, His land, Yisra`el, His set apart city Yerushalayim and my family spiritual and physical.
Psalm 91:1-16
91:1) He who dwells in the secret place of Ha`Elyon,
Will rest in the shadow of Shaddai.
91:2) I will say of Yahuah,
“He is my refuge and my fortress; My `Elohiym, in whom I trust.”
91:3) For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
And from the deadly pestilence.
91:4) He will cover you with His feathers.
Under His wings you will take refuge.
His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
91:5) You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day;
91:6) Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
91:7) A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it will not come near you.
91:8) You will only look with your eyes,
And see the recompense of the wicked.
91:9) Because you have made Yahuah your refuge,
And Ha`Elyon your dwelling place,
91:10) No evil shall happen to you,
Neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
91:11) For He will give His angels charge over you,
To guard you in all your ways.
91:12) They will bear you up in their hands,
So that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
91:13) You will tread on the lion and cobra.
You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
91:14) “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
91:15) He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver him, and honour him.
91:16) I will satisfy him with long life,
And show him my salvation (yeshu`ah).”
Psalm 29:1-12
29:1) A Psalm.
29:2) Ascribe to Yahuah, you sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to Yahuah glory and strength.
29:3) Ascribe to Yahuah the glory due to His name.
Worship Yahuah in set apart array.
29:4) Yahuah’s voice is on the waters.
The `Elohiym of glory thunders, even Yahuah on many waters.
29:5) Yahuah’s voice is powerful.
Yahuah’s voice is full of majesty.
29:6) The voice of Yahuah breaks the cedars.
Yes, Yahuah breaks in pieces the cedars of Levanon.
29:7) He makes them also to skip like a calf;
Levanon and Siryon like a young, wild ox.
29:8) Yahuah’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
29:9) Yahuah’s voice shakes the wilderness.
Yahuah shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
29:10) Yhuah’s voice makes the deer calve,
And strips the forests bare.
In His temple everything says, “Glory!”
29:11) Yahuah sat enthroned at the Flood.
Yes, Yahuah sits as King forever.
29:12) Yahuah will give strength to His people.
Yahuah will bless His people with shalom.
A Word
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
As a young child, my dad used to take me around the local museums, art gallery and libraries. I especially enjoyed the time we spent looking at books and reading all sorts of material. My own children and now grandchildren all know and laugh about how I love books about smugglers and pirates. One of the greatest gifts that my dad gave me was how he taught me how to use a library. Even at a young age, my dad would ask me to find a book on such and such subject. As I was hunting for the books, he would be looking for the books he wanted.
Museums also fascinated me, but I never did like art galleries. Even now, I am not a great lover of paintings. I like to know what I am looking at and can never understand how people can rave about a splash of colour with a few squiggles and each having their own idea as to what the painter had intended.
I much prefer looking at movement, especially in machinery from a watch to large ships. I can see the beauty of a well made nut and bolt, but not in an impressionist masterpiece. However, it is in books that I still find the most enjoyment.
Of all the books, I enjoy reading and studying my Bible.
There is a kind of fluid movement in the words and how they all fit wonderfully together; like a well-oiled nut and bolt. There is a danger that this beauty is lost in the study of theology.
I call this the Ferrari Concept. With a Ferrari, there are experts in materials, aerodynamics, etc. Each will wax lyrical on their own specific area of expertise. However, they are all restricted to their own discipline and miss the beauty of the car in its totality. The materials, aerodynamics etc. are at the forefront of automotive technology. Nevertheless, individually they are impressive, but it is not until all the factors are merged into the total that is the motor car. Only when the engine is switched on and the car pulls away, is the full beauty realised.
Theologians can get lost in the minutiae of their own study and miss the beauty of Scripture in its totality. “Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I have preached to you, which you also have received, in which you also stand, by which you are also saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached: unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:1-4). If you take a look at this websites maxi- and mini-studies, they are all very interesting (I hope). Nevertheless, studying them without being saved is like having an engine and declaring, ‘Look at my Ferrari!’
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they that testify of Me.” (John 5:39). Messiah Yeshua is the totality of Scripture.
“In the beginning Yahuah `Elohiym created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1). “The grace of the Master Messiah Yeshua be with you all. Ameyn.” (Rev.22:21). From the very first verse to the very last verse in Scripture, Messiah Yeshua is there.
“and that from childhood you have known the Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation, through faith, which is in Messiah Yeshua.” (2 Tim. 3:15). You may not agree with this verse. As a child, when did you read Scripture? I am pretty certain that you have heard the Nativity Account many times, even see or taken part in plays about the birth of Messiah Yeshua. Even though FGA does not accept that ‘Christmas’ is Scriptural, the Nativity is. What about His death and resurrection? When you ate your ‘Easter’ eggs, was it done watching the ‘Easter’ story on T.V.? Without realising it, you have known the Scriptures since childhood.
Search the Scriptures again and wonder in its beauty, for there you will encounter your Saviour.
If you want to accept Father’s offer of salvation through Messiah Yeshua, 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.
HalleluYah
Ameyn
Father, we thank you for the power of your Word and that Word was made flesh in the Messiah Yeshua so that in believing in His life, death and resurrection we may have eternal life with you.
If you want to accept Father’s offer of salvation through the Messiah Yeshua, you need to ask Him in prayer along these lines. You may use these or 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 of my sins through your Son, the Messiah Yeshua. Please forgive me of all my past sins as I accept that, Messiah Yeshua 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 the perfect way back to you.”
Remember, the Judge looks into your heart, mind and future.
If you have honestly said such a prayer as this, and truly renounced the sin in your life and accepted Father’s salvation through the Messiah Yeshua, then please drop us an e-mail or call us at FGA to let us know. This helps build up our faith and offers an opportunity to prayerfully 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 or call us 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. 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 Yeshua.
All blessings to you.
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman who fears Yahuah, she shall be praised.” (Prov. 31:30).
Breaking Matzah
Our Saviour welcomes all His Family to join in this memorial. If you have accepted Messiah Yeshua 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 Yeshua, all that we will ever need. In your lovingkindness and mercy, you rebuild broken lives. You bless us, in Yeshua, with a perfect blessing. Ameyn.
Dates to remember
28/03-03/04/2021 – Chag haMatzah
04/04/-22/05/2021 – Counting of the Omer
13/04/2021 – Rosh Chodesh 2nd. 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 