Shabbat Word
23/03/2019
Shabbat Shalom
Psalm 119:153-160
119:153) RESH
Consider my affliction, and deliver me,
For I do not forget your law.
119:154) Plead my cause, and redeem me!
Revive me according to your promise.
119:155) Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek your statutes.
119:156) Great are your tender mercies, Yahuah.
Revive me according to your ordinances.
119:157) Many are my persecutors and my adversaries.
I have not swerved from your testimonies.
119:158) I look at the faithless with loathing,
Because they do not observe your word.
119:159) Consider how I love your precepts.
Revive me, Yahuah, according to your lovingkindness.
119:160) All of your words are truth.
Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. contd.)
A Word
Yahshua: the Light that knows no power failure.
At sea, the Engineers have the responsibility for all the utilities that are taken for granted in a town; water, sewage and power. One of the most dangerous problems is the loss of power. A partial loss of electricity causes all the lights to dim (known as a brown-out) followed by a full loss (known as a black-out). Not only the utilities fail, but the vessel looses all propulsion leaving the ship vulnerable.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psa. 119:105). The Torah is said to be represented by the Menorah and is meant to be at the meeting point of Yahuah with man and is eternally in the presence Yahuah’s people. Yahuah has commanded that the light is to be continually tended. “For the commandment is a lamp and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,” (Prov. 6:23) compares Torah and light. Throughout the first chapter of Yochanan (John 1:4-30) the Good News writer likens the Master as Light; Torah=Light=Messiah. This clearly shows that the Torah became flesh partly to shed light in a dark world by revealing the Father. This was accomplished by the indwelling Spirit empowering Messiah (John 1:33). “You shall command the children of Yisra`el, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually”. (Exod. 27:20). Where commentators equate the Menorah with Messiah, so is the oil a type of the Spirit. Sin is usually contrasted with righteousness in the simile of darkness and light. There is no darkness (not even a black hole in space) that can destroy light, but light always destroys darkness!
It is this commandment (Exod. 27:20) that forms the basis of the Jewish Festival of Lights (Channukah). This celebrates the miracle of 165 B.C.E. when, after the defeat King Antiochus Epiphanes, the Temple was cleansed. However, only one night’s oil supply could be found. Nevertheless, the oil lasted eight days until a fresh supply could be made.
“Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” (Matt. 5:15,16). As Messiah=Light=Torah then Believers are called to emulate Him. It is the role of Believers to show Messiah to non-Believers and in doing so, reveal Father. It is the belief of F.G.A. that this is best accomplished by Believers actively fulfilling all the relevant commandments of Torah. This can only come about by the indwelling Spirit empowering Believers. This ‘power supply’ is infinite; it does not diminish nor does it become less as more and more people come to Faith.
“There will be no night and they need no lamp light; for Yahuah `Elohiym will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 22:5). All the benefits of Heaven (the presence of Yahuah `Elohiym, with peace and joy, no sickness, hunger, tiredness) will take place in absolute light. It is not like a normal lamp that can cast shadows if an object is placed in front of the light. This light is all-encompassing, so that everything is in full illumination. There will be no sunset, no night and no power failure.
At sea, even with a full loss of main power, there is always an emergency generator and, if this failed, emergency batteries. As a very last resort, hand flash-lights. So, there was never a time there was no light at all. There were occasions when I have entered tanks and the lights temporarily failed leaving me in darkness. I only had to wait a minute or two for the lights to go back on.
“throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 25:30). In the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30), the one who rejects the Good News of Salvation (non-Believers) is called the ‘unprofitable servant’. He is cast out to a place of absolute darkness called Hell. “…for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” (Jude 1:13b). In Jude, this darkness is absolute and is to last for all eternity.
Contrast this absolute darkness with the absolute Light of Heaven. How do you want to spend eternity? In darkness or Light? It could be said that with the absolute darkness, the occupants of Hell cannot see the torment going on around them. Have you ever lain awake at night so that every sound seems to be amplified? Then what would it be like to listen to the crying and wailing in never-ending night?
He who knows no power failure, Yahshua, calls you to spend eternity with Him in Light. If only you could believe that as a sinner, He took upon Himself your punishment. His death paid the penalty in full for all who confess their sins to Father and turn back to Him from their sinful ways. That the power that raised up Messiah from the grave will likewise raise you up from Hell to Heaven.
If only you could believe.
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.”
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 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.
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.
“The light of the righteous shines brightly,
But the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.” (Prov. 13:9).
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 of Blessing, 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
Rosh Chodesh 1st. moon 06/04/2019.
Please note that this is the first New Moon and is the New Year. This is a memorial for the protection of the Jewish people in exile.
Pesach – 20/04/2019
Chag Matzah – 21/04/2019 to 27/04/2019
Counting of the Omer – 27/04/2019 to 15/06/2019
Shavuot – 15/06/2019
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 show you His favour)
(May Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.)
First Generation Assembly 