Shabbat Word
16/10/2021
Shabbat Shalom!
Welcome to First Generation Assembly Virtual Assembly/ Church, based upon the meetings of the early Believers.
“They continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in breaking matzo and in prayer.” (Acts 2:42).
It is suggested that you start with a few praise and worship songs, either by singing, listening to a CD, radio, download or YouTube. The early Believers would have sung Psalms, and that is how this Assembly begins.
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 48:1-15
48:1) A song.
A Psalm by the sons of Korach.
48:2) Great is Yahuah, and greatly to be praised,
In the city of our `Elohiym, in His set apart mountain.
48:3) Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Tziyon, on the north sides,
The city of the great King.
48:4) `Elohiym has shown Himself in her citadels as a refuge.
48:5) For, behold, the kings assembled themselves,
They passed by together.
48:6) They saw it, then they were amazed.
They were dismayed,
They hurried away.
48:7) Trembling took hold of them there,
Pain, as of a woman in travail.
48:8) With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
48:9) As we have heard, so we have seen,
In the city of Yahuah of Hosts, in the city of our `Elohiym.
`Elohiym will establish it forever. Selah.
48:10) We have thought about your lovingkindness, `Elohiym,
In the midst of your temple.
48:11) As is your name, `Elohiym,
So is your praise to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
48:12) Let Mount Tziyon be glad! Let the daughters of Yehudah rejoice, Because of your judgments.
48:13) Walk about Tziyon, and go around her.
Number its towers;
48:14) Mark well her bulwarks.
Consider her palaces,
That you may tell it to the next generation.
48:15) For this `Elohiym is our `Elohiym forever and ever.
He will be our guide even to death.
.A Word
The Parable of the Two Apprentice Bakers
There was once a Master Baker who wanted to take on an apprentice. There were two applicants so the Master Baker had to find out which one was best suited for the work.
The Master Baker gave each one a copy of a recipe for a loaf of bread. It gave the full ingredients, what to do with each ingredient, why it should be done that way, what happened at each stage and how long the loaf had to be in the oven. He then left them to carry out the instructions, the First Applicant to bake in the morning, the Second Applicant in the afternoon.
Each Applicant read the instructions carefully, then proceeded to make the bread.
Each carefully weighed out the ingredients, sifting the strong flour. The yeast was mixed with a little warm water to which sugar was added. This was added to the flour with a pinch of salt. Both Applicants mixed the dough thoroughly, kneading for the right amount of time. They covered over the dough to prove, and rise up.
After a couple of hours, the Applicants each took their dough, kneaded it for a second time before patting it into shape and placing it in the oven.
After the required time, the First Applicant came back. Upon opening the oven, he realised that he had not switched on the power. When the Master Baker asked him what had gone wrong, the Applicant said that the recipe had not stated that the oven had to be switched on. The Master Baker asked him whether the Applicant had not thought through all that was required, all the careful preparation and yet could not work out for himself that, in order for the bread to be baked, the oven had to be hot and this required him switching it on.
When the Second Applicant came to take his loaf out of the oven, he had to use a wooden paddle to remove the hot, crispy loaf from the oven.
That evening, the Master Baker called the Second Applicant to eat with him, breaking the bread that the Applicant had made for him. That night, the Second Applicant went to bed fully satisfied and with a bright future ahead of him.
As for the First Applicant, he was sent away hungry and the Master Baker threw the ruined dough out with the rubbish.
The Kingdom of Yahuah is like this.
There are many that follow the Tanakh or the Bible religiously. They know all the Scriptures and all the requirements. They know all the benefits. Nevertheless they were “holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof.” (2 Tim. 3:5).
What is the power that is being denied?
“Now Yahuah raised up the Master (Yahusha), and He will also raise us up by His power.” (1 Cor. 6:14). The Tanakh and Bible point to the prophesied birth, life, ministry, humiliation and death. However, many detractors of Scripture say that all these have been orchestrated by the Master Yahusha in order to fulfil these prophesies.
The true power comes from the Resurrection.
“For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Master Yahusha the Messiah…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, that you may be strengthened with power through His Ruach in the inward man.” (Eph. 3:14, 16). This power is not a one-off injection or boost, but rather a continuous outpouring of supernatural energy (Wadge p.83).
The reason that Man has been given Scripture (Tahakh/Bible) is to know Yahuah in an intimate way. He sent His Son so that the Father is fully revealed in the Messiah Yahusha, and how Man is to live out a life pleasing to the Father. For this, His grace and power has been given to Man. “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you. for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that in the power of the Messiah may rest on me.” (2 Cor. 12:9). We are not to rely on our own strength, but on Him who is all-powerful.
“Finally, be strong in union with the Master, and in union with His great strength.” (Eph. 6:10). In having this inseparable relationship the Messiah Yahusha who is the Word made flesh, no longer is the Tanakh or Bible a set of instructions on how to live, but is the power to live that life.
However, there is one problem, and it s a big one.
It is called sin.
Sin has caused a barrier between Yahuah and Man. Scripture has told us that everyone has sinned (Rom. 3:23) and is a barrier no one with sin can break down. Nevertheless, there is One who is without sin (Heb. 4:15), the Master Messiah Yahusha.
“But now in Messiah Yahusha you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Messiah. For He is our shalom, who made both one, and broke down the middle barrier of partition,” (Eph. 2:13, 14). It is the shed blood and only the blood of Messiah Yahusha that has broken down the wall so all may draw near to Yahuah. With the wall gone, all have access to that wonderful power.
“that if you will confess with your mouth the Master Yahusha, and believe in your heart that Yahuah raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9). If you call out to Yahuah to forgive your sins and truly believe that the Messiah Yahusha, and Him alone, through His death and shed blood has removed all the sin in your life, you will be given eternal life with Yahuah in heaven.
If you do not, an eternity of torment awaits all unrepentant sinners in Hell.
You may think that you know all the Torah, Prophets and Writings or all of the Bible, yet you also know that there is something missing.
Scripture tells us of two of Master Yahusha’s disciples travelling from Yerushalayim to Amma`us discussing all that had just taken place during Pesach (Luke 24:13-35). They, too, knew all the Torah, Prophets and Writings but had not appropriated the power of the Resurrection. The Master miraculously appeared to them, but unbelief blinded them to His real identity. They may have spent many months, even years in His presence listening to Him teach and explain Torah and the Prophets, yet could not recognise Him.
How much more will unbelief and sin hide Him from our view?
It was only when He pronounced a blessing that the ‘scales’ fell off their eyes and they recognised the Master. They immediately turned around to rush back to their brothers and sisters to tell them they have seen the Risen Master and Redeemer.
Today, you have received the blessing of the Good News that the punishment for your sins has been taken upon the Master Messiah Yahusha so that you do not bear the eternal punishment due to you for your sins.
I pray that the scales have been removed from your eyes and you recognise your Redeemer and Saviour.
Are you prepared to rush back to your brothers and sisters to tell them you have seen the Saviour?
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.
“Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.” (Prov.20:13).
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.
Dates to remember:
05/11/2021 – Rosh Chodesh 9th. 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 