Shabbat Word
09/03/2019
Shabbat shalom!
Psalm 119:137-144
119:137) TZADI
You are righteous, Yahuah.
Your judgments are upright.
119:138) You have commanded your statutes in righteousness.
They are fully trustworthy.
119:139) My zeal wears me out,
Because my enemies ignore your words.
119:140) Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
And your servant loves them.
119:141) I am small and despised.
I do not forget your precepts.
119:142) Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.
Your law is truth.
119:143) Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me.
Your com,mandments are my delight.
119:144) Your testimonies are righteous forever.
Give me understanding, that I may live. (contd.
A Word
There Are No Atheists In A Foxhole
To start with, I need to define three words (from the Oxford Dictionary):
Agnostic: A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.
Atheist: A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.
Foxhole: A hole in the ground used by troops as a shelter against enemy fire or as a firing point; a place of refuge or concealment.
I used to have difficulty distinguishing the difference between an Agnostic and an Atheist. The Agnostic believes that there could be a Deity but that it cannot be proven either way.
The Atheist believes that there is no such Deity.
For this Word, it is the Atheist that is meant.
There is almost a mini industry grown up around this expression; books, videos, CD’s etc. The term is used to describe the state of a person in extreme danger. At this time, the person will cry out to ‘God’. There is also an anti-movement that tends to play down the crisis in a person’s life. However, it is during such a crisis that a person evaluates that which is important. A cliché being a cliché does not make it any less true.
In World War 1, the life expectancy of a front-line soldier in the trenches was just six weeks. However, this was much shorter if a soldier was commanded to take up an advanced position in ‘No Man’s Land’, usually as a spotter for when the enemy attacks. This was virtually a death sentence. In the period leading up to death, the soldier would have thought of two things; ‘God’ and mother.
A very good friend used to work in a care home environment and says that ‘There are no atheists on the death bed’. It is the thought of impending death that concentrates the mind on what happens after the final breath whether this is on the front line, death bed or even going onto old age. As a young child, there is no real conception of death. As an adolescent or young adult, there is an attitude of invincibility. It is only when the latter years are reached and relatives and friends are passing away around one, do the thoughts of ‘What happens next?’ take a more prominent role.
One day, coming up to a date Nostradamus had declared the end of the world would take place, I was working with a man, let us call him Bill, who was very agitated at the impending doom. It was the realisation that he was mortal and what would happen to him and his family. I calmed Bill down a bit by explaining that the ‘prophecies’ of Nostradamus were inconsistent. Yes, there were some that appeared accurate but many others that had proved false. During the time working together, I briefly explained that Bible prophecy has been proven to be one hundred percent accurate, and that the Biblical end of the world was not due that week. It is strange, don’t you think, that here was a very practical man (I would say an Atheist) who could not see a spiritual aspect in the modern world yet was prepared to accept Nostradamus’ predictions.
It was then that I explained, what I would call, ‘The Theory of Worm Bait’.
I asked him what he thought happened to him when he died. He replied that everything closed down and his body would be absorbed back into the ground, either as crematorium dust or eaten by the worms. I told him of my beliefs and that I expected to go to Heaven. As an Atheist, this seemed a ridiculous idea to him.
“So,” I said, “one of us must be wrong and one of us must be right?”
Looking at the problem from my point of view, if I was right, the best I could hope for was a place assured for me in Heaven. If I was wrong then the worst that I could expect was that I would end up as ‘worm bait’.
Looking at the problem from Bill’s point of view, if he was correct and there was nothing after death, then we all end up as ‘worm bait’. That was the best that he could hope for. However, if he was wrong and I was right, the worst that he could expect was an eternal state of punishment in Hell.
My worst outcome (‘worm bait’) was Bill’s best (‘worm bait’)!
Bill left work that afternoon not worrying anymore about Nostradamus.
It is the belief here at FGA that when a person dies their spirit separates from the body. Yes the physical body becomes ‘worm bait’ but the spirit goes to an Intermediate State determined by the decision whether or not to accept Messiah Yahusha as Saviour. There will be a date, some time in the future, when the spirit will be united with a renewed body; either to eternal peace in Heaven or eternal damnation in Hell.
You can ask how I know if Heaven and Hell exist.
Take a look at the Bible. Nostradamus has been proven false but the Bible has hundreds of quite detailed prophecies having been proven as accurate and not one proven false. If the Bible then states that there is a Heaven and a Hell, it is safe to say that this, too, is correct. As is the need for everyone for a Saviour who has taken away the eternal punishment for sins.
If you were in Bill’s position, how would you have answered my question regarding what happens to you when you die? You do not need to be in a foxhole as every person born has an ultimate appointment with death.
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 wicked is brought down in his calamity,
But in death, the righteous has a refuge.” (Prov. 14:32).
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. This is a memorial for the protection of the Jewish people in exile.
Pesach – 20/04/2019
Chag Matzah – 21/04/2019 to 27/04/2019
Counting of the Omer – 27/04/2019 to 15/06/2019
Shavuot – 15/06/2019
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 