Shabbat Word
21/12/2019
Shabbat shalom!
Psalm 6:1-11
6:1) For the Chief Musician: on stringed instruments, upon the sheminit.
A Psalm of David.
6:2) Yahuah, do not rebuke me in your anger,
Neither discipline me in your wrath.
6:3) Have mercy on me, Yahuah, for I am faint.
Yahuah, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
6:4) My soul is also in great anguish.
But you, Yahuah — how long?
6:5) Return, Yahuah.
Deliver my soul,
And save me for your lovingkindness’ sake.
6:6) For in death there is no memory of you.
In She’ol, who shall give you thanks?
6:7) I am weary with my groaning;
Every night I flood my bed;
I drench my couch with my tears.
6:8) My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my adversaries.
6:9) Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity,
For Yahuah has heard the voice of my weeping.
6:10) Yahuah has heard my supplication.
Yahuah accepts my prayer.
6:11) May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed.
They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
A Word
A Testimony
This week’s Shabbat Word is a bit different in that it is a testimony rather than a Good News message. “They overcame it [the Accuser of the Brethren] because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They did not love their life, even to death.” (Rev. 12:11).
The Accuser works tirelessly attacking Believers. Nevertheless, there is a sure way in which it was defeated: the blood of the Lamb and individual testimonies. Now, the blood has been shed once and for all, so it is down to an individual to declare a testimony. It may be as simple as declaring “Yahuah is my Saviour” or by His blood, I am saved.”
This testimony is a bit longer than that, but I pray, none the less effective.
On December 18th. 2017, I was admitted into hospital to have a macro adenoma removed. This was a very large tumour on my pituitary gland and would take a six hour operation to carry out the procedure and would be the only operation carried out at that hospital that day. The pituitary gland is a walnut sized organ located just behind the eyes and immediately in front of the brain.
The surgeon went up through my nose and carefully cut away the growth. As it was so close to my brain, my head had to be clamped in a head brace to ensure I did not move at a critical moment.
Halleluyah! The operation was a complete success. The recuperation would take three to four days after which I would be sent home.
This was ideal for me. Although my wife and I celebrate our wedding anniversary on August 31st., we tend to celebrate the day Yahuah first brought us together (another testimony for another time), December 23rd. So it was psychologically important that I was not in hospital for that day. If I was, then it would have meant that all the senior medical staff would break for the holidays and not discharge me until the New Year.
Amongst the main considerations was that no damage was done to the meningies, the protective membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The indication of any damage would be a clear, continuous trickle of nasal fluid. Up to the night of the 21st. all was going according to plan. However, during the night of 21st. to 22nd. my nose started to drip clear fluid. I was reluctant to go to the night staff as I was hoping to be discharged on 22nd. Nevertheless, I had to seek help. The nursing staff was not able to detect whether or not it was brain fluid so I had to wait until the doctors came around in the morning.
You can imagine my dismay when they said that a sample had to go to the lab and would take several hours to determine the origin of the fluid. I was definitely not going home that day, and if it proved positive, I would have to go back into theatre to find the cause of the leakage and plug it off.
The 22nd. proved a very long day.
Finally my results came back: negative!
Halleluyah! I would be discharged the next day, 23rd.
Now, all this time I was receiving paracetamol at 06:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00 for pain relief and I had no problems. I was allowed only the four lots of tablets as any form of opiate pain relief made me nauseous.
Around mid-day, I started to develop a headache. Not from the area of surgery, but at the four areas were the head brace was clamped to my skull. As the day went by, the headache became worse. So much so, that at the 18:00 dose, the pain did not subside. That meant that I would have to go through the night in pain.
As the night wore on the pain got worse. I did not want to tell the staff again as I was sure to be kept in and not discharged. Sleep evaded me.
In order to help distract me from the headache, I meditated on Scripture passages. However, as time passed, this became increasingly difficult. The only passage that I could remember was Psalm 23: “Yahuah is my Shepherd…”
Each time I came to verse 4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.,” I was aware that I was being borne along on the prayers of several assemblies/fellowships/churches that I know were praying for me.
As the pain increased, I was having difficulty stringing two or three verses together. All I could focus on was that I would have to wait until 06:00 for my next medication. Eventually, I could not get past verse 4. I entered a very deep and dark valley of pain and despair that was overwhelming.
If only I could get through to 06:00…if only I could get through to 06:00…if only…this thought became all consuming.
It was only then, when I thought that I could no longer bear the pain, Father Yahuah spoke to me. “My son, you have medication to look forward to at six o’clock…” I was then given a vision of my head in the brace. “…When my Son wore that crown of thorns for your healing, He only had the Cross to look forward to, and He did so with joy.”
I was then given a picture of Yahusha’s head adorned by the crown of thorns.
When I realised what Yahusha had done for me…the pain instantly vanished.
Not a minute later nor even thirty seconds later but immediately all pain had gone.
Halleluyah!
I fell asleep praising Yahuah `Elohiym.
At the doctors’ rounds in the morning, the surgeon asked me had I any pain, to which I could honestly reply that I did not.
I was discharged at lunchtime and was home by 15:00, to celebrate our anniversary with my wife.
Halleluyah! What a Saviour.
Ameyn
If you want to accept Father’s offer of salvation through Messiah Yahusha, 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 Yahusha. Please forgive me of all my past sins as I accept that, Messiah Yahusha 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.”
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.
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.
Ameyn.
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 Yahusha, 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 Yahusha.
All blessings to you.
“A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But a trustworthy envoy gains healing.” (Prov. 13:17).
Breaking Matzah
Our Saviour welcomes all His Family to join in this memorial. If you have accepted Messiah Yahusha 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 Yahusha, all that we will ever need. In your lovingkindness and mercy, you rebuild broken lives. You bless us, in Yahusha, with a perfect blessing. Ameyn.
Please note the up-and-coming special days.
27/12/2019 – Rosh Chodesh 10th. 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 