17/04/2021

Shabbat Word

17/04/2021

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 31:1-13

31:1) For the Chief Musician.

A Psalm by David.

31:2) In you, Yahuah, I take refuge.

Let me never be disappointed.

Deliver me in your righteousness.

31:3) Bow down your ear to me.

Deliver me speedily.

Be to me a strong rock,

A house of defense to save me.

31:4) For you are my rock and my fortress,

Therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

31:5) Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,

For you are my stronghold.

31:6) Into your hand I commend my spirit.

You redeem me, Yahuah, `Elohiym of truth

31:7) I hate those who regard lying vanities,

But I trust in Yahuah.

31:8) I will be glad and rejoice in your lovingkindness,

For you have seen my affliction.

You have known my soul in adversities.

31:9) You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy.

You have set my feet in a large place.

31:10) Have mercy on me, Yahuah, for I am in distress.

My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.

31:11) For my life is spent with sorrow,

My years with sighing.

My strength fails because of my iniquity.

My bones are wasted away.

31:12) Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbours,

A fear to my acquaintances.

Those who saw me on the street fled from me.

31:13) I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man.

I am like broken pottery.                                                      (contd….

A Word

Ask not for a lighter load but for a broader back.

The old shepherd woke up, stood up, stretched and yawned. Dawn had not yet broken but was not long in coming. Where he lay, was across the gateway to the sheep fold. It was time to lead the sheep to pasture. Over in the distance he saw what looked like a fire. As he took his flock towards the flames, he noticed that it was not dying down. Moshe’s life was soon to be turned upside down for a second time.

It was at the burning bush that Moshe finally learnt of his mission (ministry) in life but he had to wait until he was eighty years old. Although this was when Moshe received his call, it was not when Yahua decided to use him.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which Yahuah prepared before that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10).

When was this work prepared for Moshe?

“Then the King will tell those on His right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;” (Matt. 25:34).

All those that Father call have a job to do. It may be that one is called to fill stadia with evangelical meetings; or to be a good friend or parent; or to host a house group. This work was assigned at the moment Father calls a person and this is at the foundation of the world.

However, in order to carry out his calling, Moshe had to lay down his occupation as a shepherd.

“Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28).

Messiah calls Believers to His side in order to carry out Father’s work. A person may be burdened down with the cares of living; family, finances, health. Although everyone needs to be employed in order to pay the bills, all the cares and woes of life can leave no room for any ministry. It is these troubles that Messiah can alleviate if only Believers go to Him for rest. However, Messiah does not lift these burdens of Believers so that an easy time can be had. He does so that Believers can be released to carry out His work. He wants Believers to exchange one load that weighs down for another load that builds up.

It has been said that the Master was a carpenter who specialised in making yokes. Although the Aramaic description of the Master is of a craftsman in general, Messiah’s yoke is indeed easy.

There is one load that is totally unbearable; one that so weighs a person down that the day to day cares pale into insignificance. This is the burden of sin. No amount of trying or effort on a person’s part can do anything about it. Cares about the family can be worked through; about finances more hours can be worked or loans taken out to spread out the repayment time; most health problems can be seen to by doctors and medicine. At the worst, breakdown of family leaves broken hearts; too great a debt can lead to bankruptcy; even in health a person may die.

With the burden of sin, this leads to an eternity without Father, an eternity in condemnation and punishment. It is no wonder that as a person gets older, they become more aware of their mortality. This is part of the Father’s grace in warning of impending and imminent doom. Another part of His grace is the provision of a Saviour. Indeed, Messiah Yeshua, through the Father’s Spirit calls all sinners to Him. His perfect sinless life and selfless death has made it possible for a person to unship their load. Messiah Yeshua, and He alone, is both able and willing to take up this burden on our behalf.

The only effort of a sinner is to seek Messiah Yeshua, ask forgiveness of all sins committed (laying down the burden) and ask Him into their life (taking up our burden). By His resurrection, this has been assured. This is what is known as the Good News or Gospel and the result is being ‘saved’ or ‘born again’.

“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).

“I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24).

“and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of `Elohiym is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.’” (Mark 1:15).

HalleluYah

Ameyn

Father, we thank you for the power of your Word and that Word was made flesh in the Messiah Yeshua 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 stone is heavy, And sand is a burden;

But a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.” (Prov. 27:3).

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

04/04/-22/05/2021 – Counting of the Omer

13/05/2021 – Rosh Chodesh 3^rd. 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.).