05/06/2021

Shabbat Word

05/06/2021

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 35:1-14

35:1) By David.

35:2) Contend, Yahuah, with those who contend with me.

Fight against those who fight against me.

35:3) Take hold of shield and buckler,

And stand up for my help.

35:4) Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me.

Tell my soul, “I am your yeshu`ah.”

35:5) Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonour.

Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

35:6) Let them be as chaff before the wind,

Yahuah’s angel driving them on.

35:7) Let their way be dark and slippery,

Yahuah’s angel pursuing them.

35:8) For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me.

Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

35:9) Let destruction come on him unawares.

Let his net that he has hidden catch himself.

Let him fall into that destruction.

35:10) My soul shall be joyful in Yahuah.

It shall rejoice in His yeshu`ah.

35:11) All my bones shall say, “Yahuah, who is like you,

Who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him,

Yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”

35:12) Unrighteous witnesses rise up.

They ask me about things that I do not know about.

35:13) They reward me evil for good,

To the bereaving of my soul.

35:14) But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.

I afflicted my soul with fasting.

My prayer returned into my own bosom.                                                           (contd…..

.A Word

Let Difficulties Make You Better Not Bitter

In November 2010, my wife lost a younger brother to cancer after a short illness. In January 2011, she lost her eldest sister suddenly to an embolism. In October 2011 she lost her other elder sister to cancer, again after a short illness. The loss of three siblings in less than twelve months literally brought my wife to her knees. At this very traumatic time, our Bible Discussion group was looking to start a new subject. My wife suggested a study of the Book of Iyov (Job). We started at Job 1:1 and steadily worked our way through the entire book, verse by verse.

“Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce `Elohiym, and die.’”(Job 2:9). Iyov/Job’s wife rebuked her husband after the death of all their family and loss of their entire wealth, thinking that he was at fault and Yahuah was punishing him for his sins. She called on her husband to curse Father so as to end his life. She was bitter and wanted to blame anyone for the tragedies but her husband knew otherwise. Later Iyov would go on to declare that “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25). Even though his physical life would end, one day he would have to face Judgement, and that the Judge would be the One who would vindicate him. Throughout his trials, Iyov could not understand why Father was treating him the way He was, but knew that ultimately it was for his best interest and through him Believers would be strengthened. In the end, Iyov received a double blessing for what he lost.

Note carefully that the blessings came after Iyov’s declaration of faith but that he was unaware of this when making the declaration.

My wife had read Job before, but it was only after she had undergone that tragic year followed by the study did she fully understand when David wrote “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psa. 23:4).

There are two reasons that a Believer goes through trials: to discipline or correct and to strengthen or refine.
Being a Believer is no guarantee that life will be a bed of roses. On the contrary, the Master promises that life will be a bed of thorns, in that the world will (not if or maybe) persecute Believers (John 15:20). King David in Psalm 23 likewise knew that persecution was the lot allocated to the Believer when he wrote the Psalm. The “…valley of the shadow of death…” was the trials and difficulties that he (and all other Believers) had to pass through. As he (and we) goes through difficulties the Good Shepherd Yahuah will be there with us to correct our behaviour (with the rod) and guide us (with the staff). The word ‘comfort’ is the old fashioned way of saying to strengthen.

“My son, do not despise the Yahuah’s discipline, Neither be weary of His reproof: For whom the Yahuah loves, He reproves; Even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.” (Prov. 3:11, 12). King David’s son, King Shlomo (Solomon) well understood what his father, wrote about in the Psalm when he later wrote these Proverbs. Any parent knows the value of early discipline in correcting a child’s behaviour before it is too late; the child grows up and moves away from parental influence or the child winds up in danger or worse. How much more so does a loving Heavenly Father know of the dangers in life that His children must face?

The second aspect of difficulties is one of refining. “I will bring the third part into the fire, And will refine them as silver is refined, And will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, ‘It is my people;’ And they will say, ‘Yahuah is my `Elohiym.’” (Zec. 13:9). Here, Father is promising that He will bring about difficulties that will refine and test. This word ‘test’ is that used of assay offices to make sure that the metal is pure. Gold ore has great value but is of no use whatsoever. However, after the rock is crushed and subjected to chemical treatment, it is heated in a furnace to melt the gold. Any imperfections will rise to the surface and can be skimmed off or sink to the bottom. This is repeated several times with the pure liquid metal then being poured out into ingots. Only in this purified state is gold of any use. It can be made into numerous useful or decorative products.

Likewise with any Believer. Every Believer has great value (it took the death of Messiah Yahusha to redeem each and every one of them) but is of little use. However, through the cauldron of life, a Believer has their faith strengthened. “Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to Him, for he who comes to `Elohiym must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Heb.11:6). Faith or complete trust in Father is what He is looking for in every Believer. Each difficulty a Believer passes through makes the Believer stronger and ready to take on even greater responsibilities and work for Father. This will inevitably involve further trials and so on until Father calls the Believer home to Himself. Father will not put a Believer through a trial that Father has not given such grace as to provide all that is necessary to pass through the trial.

This may well be good for a Believer, but what about the non-Believer? Is it the same for them? Well, not really. All Believers are adopted in to the family of Father Yahuah (Rom. 8:14-17). Non-Believers have, by their sin have turned away from the true Father to call a counterfeit ‘father’. “You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44). So what then is the purpose of trials and difficulties?

Consider road traffic signs. What is their purpose? The Highway Code instructs drivers that every one is a warning of impending danger or of guidance for drivers. The signs are not there to make driving less enjoyable. There is nothing pleasant about a road traffic accident. Imagine a driver driving along a country road at the National Speed Limit and approaches a village. Before entering the village, there are road signs warning of impending danger and the speed limit is reduced to thirty miles an hour. The driver ignores the warning and carries on at speed. In the village there is a speed camera and the driver is caught speeding. After breaking the law, the driver faces punishment and has to pay the fine. One of two outcomes may result from the fine: 1) The driver realises his error and no longer speeds; or 2) The driver carries on regardless, ignoring the warning signs and disregards the Highway Code. That is until the next time when the speeding results in an accident where the driver or others are seriously injured or killed.

In 1) above the driver has been made a better driver. In 2) above, if the driver survives, he is made bitter by the experience, having been caught. So it is with breakers of Father’s Laws. These people are called sinners in the Bible and it states that all sinners are bound for eternal punishment. It is the Bible that instructs everyone in the Law of Father, as the Highway Code instructs drivers.

In the above scenario of the guilty driver, the driver is aware that he has broken the law and the punishment is inevitable. Imagine his surprise when, in court, he is about to pay the fine when another man stands up and pays his fine in full. The driver then has a choice whether to accept the freely given gift or to refuse it. I cannot think that the offer would be refused! The law was broken, a judgement was made and the fine was required to be paid.

So it is with sinners. The Law (of Father) has been broken. One day Judgement will be made and all sinners will have to pay the ultimate fine and the punishment is of eternal torment in Hell. Imagine then a Man comes forward to the Judge and offers Himself as the Fine and takes that ultimate punishment upon Himself. However, this Man is the Son of the Judge and the Judge does not condemn Him to eternal damnation. On the contrary, He is exalted above all things.

What is your reaction to this Man? Will you accept that He has taken away your punishment? Or will you ignore the offer? In accepting the offer, you will have to repent and change your way of living. Yes, all Believers have occasions when they slip up and break the Law but the Judge, Father, will always accept His Son, Messiah Yahusha, as having taken upon Himself, the punishment of a repentant and contrite Believer.

In the Parable of El`azar (Lazarus) and the Rich Man, both die with the Rich Man being judged and ends up in eternal punishment in Hell. El`azar, on the other hand, is judged but ends up in eternal peace with Father in Heaven. The Rich Man can see El`azar and wishes that he would have accepted that freely given Gift. It is my belief that when sinners end up in Hell, they, too, will be able to see into Heaven (but Believers cannot see into Hell).

How bitter will they be when they realise that through whatever reason, they rejected the Good News of salvation through Messiah and now eternally lament upon their decision. There are a lot of bitter people in Hell.

How much better will be those who have accepted Messiah’s substitutionary Death, who will spend eternity in peace with Father in Heaven.

What will be the result of your difficulties?
Will they make you better? Or bitter?
Ignore the Bible at your eternal peril.

Ameyn

HalleluYah

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.

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.

“A full soul loathes a honeycomb;

But to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.” (Prov. 27:7).

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

11/06/2021 – Rosh Chodesh 4^th. 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.).