18/04/2020

Shabbat Word

18/04/2020

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

There Are No Atheists In A Foxhole

To start with, I need to define three words (from the Oxford Dictionary):

Agnostic: A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.

Atheist: A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.

Foxhole: A hole in the ground used by troops as a shelter against enemy fire or as a firing point; a place of refuge or concealment. 

I used to have difficulty distinguishing the difference between an Agnostic and an Atheist. The Agnostic believes that there could be a Deity but that it cannot be proven either way.

The Atheist believes that there is no such Deity.

For this Word, it is the Atheist that is meant.

There is almost a mini industry grown up around this expression; books, videos, CD’s etc. The term is used to describe the state of a person in extreme danger. At this time, the person will cry out to ‘God’. There is also an anti-movement that tends to play down the crisis in a person’s life. However, it is during such a crisis that a person evaluates that which is important. A cliché being a cliché does not make it any less true.

In World War 1, the life expectancy of a front-line soldier in the trenches was just six weeks. However, this was much shorter if a soldier was commanded to take up an advanced position in ‘No Man’s Land’, usually as a spotter for when the enemy attacks. This was virtually a death sentence. In the period leading up to death, the soldier would have thought of two things; ‘God’ and mother.

A very good friend used to work in a care home environment and says that ‘There are no atheists on the death bed’. It is the thought of impending death that concentrates the mind on what happens after the final breath whether this is on the front line, death bed or even going onto old age. As a young child, there is no real conception of death. As an adolescent or young adult, there is an attitude of invincibility. It is only when the latter years are reached and relatives and friends are passing away around one, do the thoughts of ‘What happens next?’ take a more prominent role.

One day, coming up to a date Nostradamus had declared the end of the world would take place, I was working with a man, let us call him Bill, who was very agitated at the impending doom. It was the realisation that he was mortal and what would happen to him and his family. I calmed Bill down a bit by explaining that the ‘prophecies’ of Nostradamus were inconsistent. Yes, there were some that appeared accurate but many others that had proved false. During the time working together, I briefly explained that Bible prophecy has been proven to be one hundred percent accurate, and that the Biblical end of the world was not due that week. It is strange, don’t you think, that here was a very practical man (I would say an Atheist) who could not see a spiritual aspect in the modern world yet was prepared to accept Nostradamus’ predictions.

It was then that I explained, what I would call, ‘The Theory of Worm Bait’.

I asked him what he thought happened to him when he died. He replied that everything closed down and his body would be absorbed back into the ground, either as crematorium dust or eaten by the worms. I told him of my beliefs and that I expected to go to Heaven. As an Atheist, this seemed a ridiculous idea to him.

“So,” I said, “one of us must be wrong and one of us must be right?”

Looking at the problem from my point of view, if I was right, the best I could hope for was a place assured for me in Heaven. If I was wrong then the worst that I could expect was that I would end up as ‘worm bait’.

Looking at the problem from Bill’s point of view, if he was correct and there was nothing after death, then we all end up as ‘worm bait’. That was the best that he could hope for. However, if he was wrong and I was right, the worst that he could expect was an eternal state of punishment in Hell.

My worst outcome (‘worm bait’) was Bill’s best (‘worm bait’)!

Bill left work that afternoon not worrying anymore about Nostradamus.

It is the belief here at FGA that when a person dies their spirit separates from the body. Yes the physical body becomes ‘worm bait’ but the spirit goes to an Intermediate State determined by the decision whether or not to accept Messiah Yeshua as Saviour. There will be a date, some time in the future, when the spirit will be united with a renewed body; either to eternal peace in Heaven or eternal damnation in Hell.

You can ask how I know if Heaven and Hell exist.

Take a look at the Bible. Nostradamus has been proven false but the Bible has hundreds of quite detailed prophecies having been proven as accurate and not one proven false. If the Bible then states that there is a Heaven and a Hell, it is safe to say that this, too, is correct. As is the need for everyone for a Saviour who has taken away the eternal punishment for sins.

If you were in Bill’s position, how would you have answered my question regarding what happens to you when you die? You do not need to be in a foxhole as every person born has an ultimate appointment with death.

 

“The name of Yahuah is a strong tower:

The righteous run to Him, and are safe.” (Prov.18:8).

 

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 forgiveness 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.

 

Please note the up-and-coming special days.

25/04/2020 – Rosh Chodesh 2^nd. New Moon.

12/04-29/05/2020 – Counting of the Omer

29/05/2020 – Shavuot

 

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.).