05/01/2019

Shabbat Word

05/01/2019

Shabbat Shalom!

Psalm 119:65-72

119:65) TET

Do good to your servant,

According to your word, Yahuah.

119:66) Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

For I believe in your commandments.

119:67) Before I was afflicted, I went astray;

But now I observe your word.

119:68) You are good, and do good.

Teach me your statutes.

119:69) The proud have smeared a lie upon me.

With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.

119:70) Their heart is as callous as the fat,

But I delight in your law.

119:71) It is good for me that I have been afflicted,

That I may learn your statutes.

119:72) The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

                                                                                                                        (contd.

 

A Word

The past is a statement: the future is a question.

It is that time of year when most people look back over the last year and to reflect on what has gone by. It is also the time when people look forward and think of any new year resolutions for the coming year.

Looking back, it is easy to remember what went on last week, last month even to last January. This can be likened to a statement. All that has happened is over and done with and there can be no going back to change things. These are all ‘statements’ ending with a full stop.

The future is a totally different matter.

Most people have a reasonable idea what they are going to do tomorrow, but there can be no absolute certainty, so this course of action ends with a small question mark. What about next week or month? There is more uncertainty and any course of action must end with a bigger question mark. What about next year? The further away in time, the more uncertain is the course of action hence a much bigger question mark. There are too many unknown factors that can influence the future.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow let us go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain.’ Whereas you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For you ought to say, ‘If the Yahuah wills, we will both live, and do this or that.’ But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:12-16). The non-Believer may question whether this is relevant to them as they do not acknowledge Yahuah `Elohiym, so why should they look for His approval.

“He spoke a parable to them, saying, ‘The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I do not have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But Yahuah said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared — whose will they be?’” (Luke 12:16-20). In this short parable, Messiah Yahusha warns against presumption. Whether or not a person is a Believer is irrelevant; everyone is in the hand of Yahuah `Elohiym. The Master is not condemning the provision for the future. In fact this parable may be taken as a warning to look forward and plan wisely, but with consideration as to the priorities of life. If this rich man could not know of the unfolding of Yahuah’s will for the man that very night, what confidence have you for your future? Next week? Next month?? Next year???

What about your eternal future????

You can take away all the question marks and replace them with a big, full stop. This is accomplished by not relying on uncertain, future events but trusting in a past, once for all, completed act. “As Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14, 15). By trusting in the life, death of Messiah Yahusha on the cross at Golgotha and His resurrection, there is the end to any doubt.

Can you guarantee being alive this time next year when 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. NEVERTHELESS THERE IS TILL ENOUGH TIME LEFT TO SEEK SALVATION: IF YOU CHOOSE THIS DAY.

“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matt. 7:7, 8).

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.

 

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.

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 these, 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.

“Indeed surely there is a future hope,

And your hope will not be cut off.” (Prov. 23:18).

 

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 day.

10th. New Moon – 07/01/2019

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.)