Shabbat Word
07/03/2020
Shabbat Shalom!
Psalm 16:1-12
16:1) A poem by David.
16:2) Preserve me, `Elohiym, for in you do I take refuge.
16:3) My soul, you have said to Yahuah,
“You are my Master.
Apart from you I have no good thing.”
16:4) As for the set apart ones who are in the earth,
They are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
16:5) Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god.
Their drink-offerings of blood I will not offer,
Nor take their names on my lips.
16:6) Yahuah assigned my portion and my cup.
You made my lot secure.
16:7) The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
16:8) I will bless Yahuah, who has given me counsel.
Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
16:9) I have set Yahuah always before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
16:10) Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices.
My body shall also dwell in safety.
16:11) For you will not leave my soul in She’ol,
Neither will you allow your Set Apart One to see corruption.
16:12) You will show me the path of life.
In your presence is fullness of joy.
In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
A Word
The Only Inexhaustible Commodity
In 1977, I was on an oil tanker taking crude oil from Mexico to Houston TX and St. James LA in the U.S.A., back and forth for months. I was in St. James the day Elvis passed away and the terminal all but shut down for the day. Even at this early date, the American authorities realised that fossil fuels, particularly oil and gas, are limited. They were buying oil from other producers and pumping it back into the old, dry wells that had previously been full of oil and were pumped dry. This is one commodity that will be finally exhausted. It may take ten years or ten thousand years depending upon the development of new technology (renewable energy sources, nuclear fusion or new oil producing areas).
Water is another commodity that is in increasingly short supply. Although the polar icecaps are receding due to global warming and more water is being released, the consumption is growing at an exponential rate. It is quite possible that wars in the near future will be over water rights as there were over oil rights. No matter how Mankind uses or abuses the natural resources that Father has provided for our wellbeing, there will be some time in the future when they will be exhausted.
However, there is one (and one only) commodity that has an infinite supply; it will never be exhausted nor will it run out. On the contrary, it is ever on the increase. This commodity is Love.
I have four adult children and six grandchildren and I love then all. Now if one of my children has another baby, the amount of love that I have will not go down but will actually increase. If I had two units of love for my wife and for each child and grandchild, I would have twenty two units of love. With the birth of a new grandchild, I would not have to share the twenty two units between twelve people but would now have twenty four units of love. My time is finite and would have less to spend on each individual, but the love would increase.
Therefore, the more opportunities to love someone, the more love will increase.
At the very heart of First Generation Assembly Mission statement is the four love commandments.
- “Hear, Yisra’el: Yahuah is our `Elohiym; Yahuah is one: and you shall love Yahuah our `Elohiym with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your resources. These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart;” (Deut. 6:4-6). In 22:38, the Master calls this the first and greatest commandment. Believers need to love `Elohiym, not because of what He has done, but because of who He is.
- “A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:39). The Master defines who a neighbour is in a person who is in need. This may be a daily occurrence.
- “But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matt. 5:44, 45). The Master calls Believers to love even more people, even though those that need to be loved may not have our best interests at heart.
- “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of Yahuah; and everyone who loves is born of Yahuah, and knows Yahuah.” (1 John 4:7). The fourth group of people to be loved are other Believers. So, if love was a finite commodity, it would be spread so thinly between `Elohiym, neighbours, enemies and other Believers that it would not be of any use.
“But Yahuah commends His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). The four groups above show how much love is needed and put out by Man. However, all this love is a direct result of the love `Elohiym has for His Creation. His love is for all those in need. As sinners, all are destined to an eternity of punishment and torment. `Elohiym created the place known as hell for HaSatan and its fellow demons, not for Mankind. Father’s righteousness requires sin to be punished but His love allowed for a way back to all those acknowledge their sin and turn back to Him and seek His Salvation through the faith in the atoning work of Yahusha.
“But Yahuah commends His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). As with my wife and children, Yahuah loves each and every person exactly the same and no matter how many people will be born, His love cannot and will not be diluted. If I was the only person ever to be born, in His love for me, Father sent Messiah Yahusha to win me back to Him.
“In this is love, not that we loved Yahuah, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10). I am no better or worse than you and certainly have not merited His love. If there is to be 100 billion people, His love cannot be exhausted.
“For Yahuah so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). How much does Father love us? He gave His only begotten Son as the one and only way back to Him and an eternity in peace.
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 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.
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.
“I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.” (Prov. 8:17).
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.
25/03/2020 – Rosh Chodesh 1st. 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 