11/01/2020

Shabbat Word

11/01/2020

Shabbat Shalom!

Psalm 9:1-11

9:1) For the Chief Musician.

       Set to ‘Death of the Son.’

       A Psalm of David.

9:2) I will give thanks to Yahuah with my whole heart.

       I will tell of all your marvelous works.

9:3) I will be glad and rejoice in you.

       I will sing praise to your name, O Elyon.

9:4) When my enemies turn back,

       They stumble and perish in your presence.

9:5) For you have maintained my right and my cause.

       You sit on the throne judging righteously.

9:6) You have rebuked the nations.

       You have destroyed the wicked.

       You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

9:7) The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin.

         The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished.

9:8) But Yahuah reigns forever.

         He has prepared His throne for judgment.

9:9) He will judge the world in righteousness.

         He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness.

9:10) Yahuah will also be a high tower for the oppressed;

         A high tower in times of trouble.

9:11) Those who know your name will put their trust in you,

         For you, Yahuah, have not forsaken those who seek you.                               (contd.

 

 

A Word

Sin casts a long shadow

When I was serving my apprenticeship at sea, I was fortunate to have engineers that taught me, not only the technical knowledge and skills required, but also the philosophy behind good engineering practice on board a ship. During this apprenticeship, I was to sail for four trips to South America and back. We berthed at Avonmouth, near Bristol, went on leave for a couple of weeks, then rejoined the same ship ready to sail for South America. While at sea, any work that was done was carried out with the knowledge that we would be coming back to the ship next trip. Therefore, it made us conscious of the fact that to do a second-rate job may cause us additional problems later on in life, not to mention the bad reputation that would result. A reputation (good or bad) lasts long after the work has finished.

Similarly, when my wife was doing her Master’s Degree, her research led to comments from prison inmates. When asked about their school days, everyone questioned could remember their best teacher and their worst teacher. Long after their schooldays, the inmates could recall the character of the best and worst teacher, even if they could not recall their lessons.

“you shall not bow yourself down to them, for I, Yahuah your `Elohiym, am a jealous `El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,” (Exod. 20:5). This verse can be seen best in the way many abusive people come from abusive homes; alcoholics coming from alcoholic parents, gamblers from gambling families. So down through the generations becoming ever more difficult to break out of the cycle. Thus, the sin of the forefathers does indeed cast a long shadow. Sin is the responsible of the individual and is not attributable to the father. Nevertheless, we learn how to live our lives by following, either consciously or sub-consciously our parents. Like a bad reputation, sin has the habit of clinging onto a person and is difficult to shake off.

What then can be done about it?

“and showing lovingkindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exod. 20:6). By being obedient to Yahuah. The only way to get rid of a shadow is to have light of such intensity and scope that there is no room for a shadow to exist.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that Yahuah is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not tell the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahusha the Messiah, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5-9). One of the results of accepting Messiah Yahshua as Saviour is that a line is drawn in the sand of time. Pre-salvation, the shadow of the sins of our forefathers reaches down through the ages.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” (Heb. 8:12). At the moment of salvation, all our sins are forgiven, not to be remembered any longer by Yahuah.

Do you have any family traits that cast a long shadow in your life?

Do you want that line be drawn and escape from the cycle of sin?

Halleluyah

Ameyn

 

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.” 

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.

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.

Ameyn.

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.

 

“When the wicked increase, sin increases;

But the righteous will see their downfall.” (Prov. 29:16).

 

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.

26/01/2019 – Rosh Chodesh 11^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.).