Shabbat Word
17/10/2020
Shabbat Shalom!
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).”
A Word
Manners Maketh The Man
When I was growing up, both my mother and father went out to work. As infants and toddlers, my sister and I grew up with and were left in the charge of my mother’s mother whom we called Nan. It was from my Nan that I learnt manners. From simply please and thank you to standing up for women and older people, to when walking with a woman having to position myself between her and the road. Nowadays I do not think that many people throw out their night-soil from upper windows, but I still walk that way with my wife.
Now, my mother’s brother, Uncle Tom, was raised by the same woman, so it is not surprising that we had similar outlook to manners. He passed away recently, but I was blessed with having to spend his last sixteen months talking with him. Many a time we would laugh at how my Nan (his Mam) would always repeat an instruction twice, but woe-be-tide you if you did not obey; she never said it a third time! My wife and I have instilled good manners into our children and it has been passed on to our grandchildren.
It takes nothing to be polite and good mannered. In fact, the response for me is automatic. If I am sitting down on a crowded train and a woman boards, I do not have to think about standing up; I just do it.
How many Believers in their prayer time offer up prayers and never realise that it is important to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’? Would we forget these when we ask our earthly father for anything? My Nan would never let us get away without saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’.
Some years ago, I heard the saying that ‘Christians stop becoming Christians when they get behind the wheel of a car’. Beloved, does this apply to you? “Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Messiah.” (1Cor. 11:1). Rav Sha`ul lived his life as closely to Messiah Yeshua’s life as humanly possible. The Master’s life was in complete obedience to Yahuah’s Word as He was without sin. Sha`ul had studied Scripture and was filled with the Ruach haKodesh and knew fully the life to lead. Sha`ul also knew full well the difficulties in following such a life. “For the good which I desire, I do not do; but the evil which I do not desire, that I practice.” (Rom. 7:19). Yet, it did not stop him from setting such a high standard and trying to attain it.
What does Scripture tell us about the Master? “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.” (Matt. 11:29). Some translations say meek and humble. It is not a sign of weakness being meek and humble, but a sign of strength. How would you say the Master would be behind the steering wheel? “…to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.” (Titus 3:2). I could not see Him shouting, cursing or calling others names, nor would I expect Him to shake a fist if He was ever cut-off in traffic. So why do some Believers act this way? Are bad manners a sign of a lack of good teaching as a child or was all this teaching no longer relevant as an adult? We could say exactly the same about our faith to those who forget or ignore the teachings of Scripture.
Are bad manners a sign of pride? Or is it that some Believers think that they are better than other men or look down upon non-Believers? Take care for the Master has a stern rebuke for such people, “But many who will be first will be last; and the last first.” (Mark. 10:31).
Beloved, what must we do; how are we to live our lives? “He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahuah require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your `Elohiym.” (Micah 6:8). “Seek Yahuah, all you humble of the land, who have kept His ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of Yahuah’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3). “Humble yourselves in the sight of Yahuah, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10).
There are obvious benefits from being genuinely humble!
For all those who have not yet accepted Yahuah’s offer of salvation through His Son, Messiah Yeshua, there is one great lesson in the love of Yahuah Father. This love gave Man something that all the rest of Creation does not have: free will. “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). Yahuah Father did not spare anything in His desire for all to be saved, to accept His offer of salvation through His Son. He is omnipotent, all-powerful, nevertheless, He would never force salvation upon anyone. In this, He reveals the utmost in good manners in that He acts humbly towards His creature. This would simultaneously contradict His gift of free will and of His character.
Is it bad manners to refuse or ignore a gift that has been offered by someone who loves you? Of course it is! Then, if you have not yet accepted Father’s gift, do not ignore it. Look at what is being offered. It is the chance to turn back to Father, admit your wrong-doings, and accept that Messiah Yeshua has taken, upon Himself, your eternal punishment.
And remember your manners and say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’.
Ameyn
Halleluyah
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.
“When a man’s ways please Yahuah,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7).
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
19/10/2020 – Rosh Chodesh 8th. New Moon
17/11/2020 – 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 