Shabbat Word
17/08/2019
Shabbat Shalom!
Psalm 136:16-26
136:16) To Him who led His people through the wilderness
For His lovingkindness endures forever:
136:17) To Him who struck great kings;
For His lovingkindness endures forever;
136:18) And killed mighty kings;
For His lovingkindness endures forever:
136:19) Sichon king of the Amori:
For His lovingkindness endures forever;
136:20) `Og king of Bashan;
For His lovingkindness endures forever;
136:21) And gave their land as an inheritance;
For His lovingkindness endures forever;
136:22) Even a heritage to Yisra’el His servant;
For His lovingkindness endures forever:
136:23) Who remembered us in our low estate;
For His lovingkindness endures forever;
136:24) And has delivered us from our adversaries;
For His lovingkindness endures forever:
136:25) Who gives food to every creature;
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
136:26) Oh give thanks to the `El of heaven;
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
A Word
Refuse Nowt But Blows
For those not conversant with Northern English sayings, nowt means nothing. What the proverb is trying to say is that you should not turn down any offer that is not going to harm you.
This was a favourite saying of my maternal grandmother; we called her Nan. Looking back upon the things she taught us, they had no basis in science, but proven to be effective over the generations. Another of her sayings would be, “If you eat a pound of meat, you should eat a pound of fish”. This was not a literal saying, but it stresses the need for a balanced diet of meat and fish. Only recently (in view of my Nan’s generation), has science caught up with her.
She was a very wise woman drawing on generations of sayings known as ‘Old Wives’ Tales’. That is not to say that she was uneducated, on the contrary. She had a razor sharp mind (and tongue) and when she wrote, it was in the most perfect copper-script text. She had to be wise, and strong, and totally sacrificial towards her family. A she-bear could not have been more protective over her cubs than my Nan over her family. She had to be; she was widowed young left with three children to house, feed and clothe. In spite of being made a fore-woman at a local factory when in her early twenties, once married it was nigh on impossible to find work even if you were widowed. It was only due to the chronic labour shortage caused by World War II, she was able to return to work.
I grew up living with my parents and Nan until I left home at twenty-one. It was she who taught me about the rewards of hard work, a good education, and my manners. It is when I look around me, every day, and look how absent are good manners, I particularly think of and thank her.
If you had said my Nan that at some time in the future she would commit a serious crime, to be arrested and tried in court. The offer would be for a lawyer to plead you case pro bono; free; gratis. My Nan would have jumped at the opportunity. She barely met the bills, let alone legal fees.
What about you? If this same offer was extended to you, what would you do? Accept? Refuse? Would it make any difference if you knew that it was a capital offence, you actually committed the crime and all the evidence proves that it was you. Oh! By the way, the lawyer could guarantee your release. You would think that it was a no-brainer.
“I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev. 20:12). Then I have some disturbing news for you.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of Yahuah,” (Rom. 3:23). Sin is disobeying Yahuah. There is no such thing as a little disobedience (sin) or a great disobedience (sin); there is only disobedience. This is a capital offence. Fortunately for you, there is no death penalty in the U.K., but imagine going to gaol with no chance of remission. Although Yahuah’s punishment does not occur right away, nevertheless it is sure and certain. No one can escape. Instead of a life sentence being spent in a gaol that may seem an eternity, the punishment for disobedience is suffering for eternity.
“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23a). Scripture makes it quite clear the cost of disobedience.
How does that “Get out of Hell, free” card look now?
“who saved us and called us with a set apart calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Messiah Yahusha before times eternal,” (2 Tim. 1:9). Try as we might, there is no way we are capable of paying off this debt for we all are morally destitute; we have nothing to offer.
Remember that pro bono lawyer? Although we have nothing to offer, the Lawyer, Messiah Yahusha, does. Not only is Yahusha our Advocate with Yahuah, the Judge of all, He took our full punishment upon Himself. His sinless life, one of complete obedience to Yahuah’s will, His sacrifice on the cross, taking our punishment and His resurrection are proof that this has been accomplished.
He had to die so that we may live.
“…but the free gift of Yahuah is eternal life in Messiah Yahusha our Master.” (Rom. 6:23b). If there was only Rom. 6:23a, all Mankind would be in trouble. Our fate has been sealed and we are all doomed for eternal suffering. Halleluyah we have been given a ‘Get out of Hell, free’ card. Our Father, Yahuah, has given to all Mankind, the free gift of salvation through belief in that only His Son, Messiah Yahusha being sinless, could pay the ultimate price. I have had many discussions as to the exact meaning of ‘free’ in Rom. 6:23. ‘Free’ does not mean that there is no cost to the gift. Rather, it means that there is no cost TO THE RECIPIENT, but the cost has been borne by the Giver. That cost was the death of and having to turn His back upon His only begotten Son.
There is only one way to claim this gift.
We must acknowledge our disobedience to Father Yahuah, and ask His forgiveness. This forgiveness is due only to Father and we as individuals, accepting His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf as full and complete payment of our punishment. Father accepted the sacrifice when Messiah Yahusha was raised up from the dead.
That leaves us. Are we…are you prepared to accept and truly trust, have faith, in Messiah’s completed work.
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Unlike the Monopoly game, you will only get one card. There is no end to this game (it goes on forever and ever) and you cannot just pack it up. If you die before playing this card, then there is no second chance; an eternity in the gaol we know as Hell, awaits.
Are you willing to refuse, to take you chance in front of the Judge without the card known as Yahusha?
Halleluyah
Father, we thank you for the power of your Word and that Word was made flesh in Messiah Yeshuah 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 Yeshuah, 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 Yeshuah. Please forgive me of all my past sins as I accept that, Messiah Yeshuah 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 Yeshua, 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 Yeshua.
All blessings to you.
“The fear of man proves to be a snare,
But whoever puts his trust in Yahuah is kept safe.
Many seek the ruler’s favour,
But a man’s justice comes from Yahuah”. (Prov. 29:25, 26).
Breaking Matzah
Our Saviour welcomes all His Family to join in this memorial. If you have accepted Messiah Yeshuah 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 Yeshuah, all that we will ever need. In your lovingkindness and mercy, you rebuild broken lives. You bless us, in Yeshuah, with a perfect blessing. Ameyn.
Please note the up-and-coming special days.
Rosh Chodesh 6th. Moon 30/08/2019.
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 and show you His favour)
(May Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.)
First Generation Assembly 