21/08/2021

Shabbat Word

21/08/2021

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 38:11-23

38:11) My heart throbs.

My strength fails me.

As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

38:12) My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague.

My kinsmen stand far away.

38:13) They also who seek after my life lay snares.

Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things,

And meditate deceits all day long.

38:14) But I, as a deaf man, do not hear.

I am as a mute man who does not open his mouth.

38:15) Yes, I am as a man who does not hear,

In whose mouth are no reproofs.

38:16) For in you, Yahuah, do I hope.

You will answer, Master my `Elohiym.

38:17) For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me,

Or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

38:18) For I am ready to fall.

My pain is continually before me.

38:19) For I will declare my iniquity.

I will be sorry for my sin.

38:20) But my enemies are vigorous and many.

Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

38:21) They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me,

Because I follow what is good.

38:22) Do not forsake me, Yahuah.

My `Elohiym, do not be far from me.

38:23) Hurry to help me, Master, my salvation.

.A Word

Do right not through fear of the Law but in service to the Messiah.

When I came back from Canada (where both my wife and I found Salvation through Messiah Yahusha), I immediately got a job as a Marine Superintendent in a local shipping company. A major part of the work was travelling to various ports around the country visiting vessels as they arrived at their berths. This meant that a lot of the time, I was fighting against tight deadlines. In rushing around, I was conscious that I was speeding. My foot was hard down on the accelerator pedal with the car going slower up hills and faster going down.

I was reminded of the Scripture, “Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for Yahuah’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme:” (1 Peter 2:13). The Spirit convicted me and so I applied this to my driving. So long as the law did not contravene Scripture, it is required of Believers to obey the law. I no longer intentionally speed, not because I am worried about the penalty, but in obedience to the Spirit.

In a much deeper sense, about eight years ago the Ruach told me to “…by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.” (Rom. 11:14). After asking how I was to accomplish this, the Ruach told me that I must keep all relevant Laws. This was not to earn my salvation; my salvation was already assured through my faith in the work of Messiah Yahusha. These Laws are the Written Law (Bible, Scripture) and not the Oral Law (man-made opinions, traditions).

Rav Sha`ul (Paul) fulfilled the above passage and was encouraging Gentiles to witness to the Jews in order to ‘provoke to jealousy’. This means to incite the non-Believing Jews to emulate the Gentiles that were capable of fulfilling the applicable Torah. The two matters that the Jewish non-Believers lacked that Believers (both Jewish and Gentile) have in order to comply with Torah was the knowledge of the Risen Messiah and the indwelling Set Apart Ruach.

Not all Laws were applicable to all people, at all times in all places so it needs individual study to find those personally relevant. This is one of the reasons that this Service is published on the Shabbat, to remember and keep it set apart. It is vitally important to let the Spirit teach this and not rely on man-made commentaries. As with next week, Pesach/Passover begins on Friday sunset, there are many traditions (Pesach Seder) that, in themselves are not wrong but are not Biblically mandated. Nevertheless there are mandatory regulations that must be observed (remove all leaven, not to eat leavened bread). Pesach is also an observed Shabbat irrespective of the day of the week it falls. It is just a coincidence that Pesach this year also falls on the weekly Shabbat.

I have had trouble in ‘Churches’ that I have attended in the past because people thought that I was leading them back into legalism/Judaism. Their preconceived prejudices would not listen to the rationale behind my decision; that was to emulate my Master and please Father. He kept the Law without breaking any, unlike me that fails often. However, because of what He did for me, I have a way back when I repent and seek Father’s forgiveness in the Name of Messiah Yahusha.

“Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” (Matt. 5:16). The Master’s ‘good works’ (Torah observance) were not to ensure His salvation, but to glorify His Father. Messiah Yahusha came to reveal the Father and He did this by showing how all Scripture points to Messiah, and through Him, reveals Father. He did not keep the Law to avoid the ultimate penalty. Ironically, it was He that faithfully obeyed all Torah that was crucified (sacrificed) paying the ultimate price for all Mankind.

Even non-Believers are partially Torah observant. Many honour their fathers and mothers, not bearing false witness, not committing adultery and certainly not doing murder. Although not knowing it, this is part of the work of the Ruach. Who, when doing wrong, has not had a moment of ‘conscience’? This is the Ruach convicting a person of the sin in the act. What then of the ‘voice’ that reminds us of our mortality and questions whether there is something after this life? This voice may be ignored but will not go away. What about each coffin that passes us in the streets? Or what about things on a grander scale; is there a Creator or is all just an accident of science? Why are we all here or is all just a random gathering of molecules?

“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.” (John 5:39). Scripture answers all these questions. Let the Ruach guide you through the Bible and you will surely find the answers to these questions and every other that Father through His Ruach causes to come to mind.

“and saying, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of Father Yahuah is at hand! Repent and believe in the Good News.” (Mark 1:15). Your time has been fulfilled. Now is the time to repent and believe what Messiah Yahusha, our Saviour, has done for us.

“For the Law [repent and believe] of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahusha made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom.8:2). This same Ruach will draw you to Messiah. All that is required is that you acknowledge Messiah Yahusha, confess your wrong-doing and turn back to Father, believe that Messiah has paid the penalty for your transgressions and give thanks and praise for your eternal salvation.

Do what is right, right now!

Do not let Messiah’s death be wasted in your life.

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.

“For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.

But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,

And will be at ease, without fear of harm.

The careless ease of fools will destroy them.” (Prov. 1:32, 33).

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

09/09/2021 – Rosh Chodesh 7^th. New Moon

09/09/2021 – Yom Teruah

17/09/2021 – Yom HaKippurim

23/09/2021 to 29/09/2021 – Sukkot

30/09/2021 – Shemeni Atzeret

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.).