24/07/2021

Shabbat Word

24/07/2021

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 37:24-33

37:24) A man’s goings are established by Yahuah.

He delights in His way.

37:25) Though he stumble, he shall not fall,

For Yahuah holds him up with His hand.

37:26) I have been young, and now am old,

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his children begging for bread.

37:27) All day long He deals graciously, and lends.

His seed is blessed.

37:28) Depart from evil, and do good;

Live securely forever.

37:29) For Yahuah loves justice,

And does not forsake His set apart ones.

They are preserved forever,

But the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

37:30) The righteous shall inherit the land,

And live in it forever.

37:31) The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom.

His tongue speaks justice.                                          (….contd.

.A Word

When – The Reason For Prophecy

Prophecy is the word of Yahuah either given forth as an encouragement or a chastisement or foretelling some future event. It is this second meaning that I wish to concentrate upon in this message.

During the past few weeks, much has been made of various prophecies; many scaremongering with predictions of impending doom. I have heard recently a fine saying that ‘The world is not falling to pieces; it is falling into place.’ Biblical prophecy is meant to give the reader or listener an assurance that there is One in ultimate control.

Let me explain:

When I was working as an Engineer Surveyor some years before I retired, I was on a site with several engineers preparing equipment for me to inspect. This would take a good two days to complete, so I was able to spend time talking to the men. One man in particular (let us call him Joe) was visibly very agitated. When the other men went out on site, I asked ‘Joe’ what was troubling him. He replied that the end of the world had been predicted that day by the 16^th. Century prophet, Nostradamus. He did not want to be away from his family when it would happen.

I managed to calm him down by explaining that many of Nostradamus’ predictions had failed before. Furthermore, I told him that according to the Bible, certain situations had to be in place, and many were not. Therefore, the end was not due. Even so, as soon as he could, he was off home to be with his family.

The following day, ‘Joe’ was a totally different man. He thanked me for the previous day and said that he felt a right fool. He also asked why I was so confident in the Bible as opposed to Nosradamus.

Unlike Nostradamus whose many predictions have failed, the Bible has never given a prophecy that had not taken place or the timing has not yet come. Many so-called ‘prophets’ or fortune-tellers give vague predictions such as, “You will meet a tall man next week”. Now, the likelihood of meeting a tall man the following week is quite high, especially if the listener wants to believe it, and events are made to fit the prediction.

Not so with the Bible.

Scripture gives accurate details of people, events, times and places that would have been impossible for the prophet to have known about. When the Bible, Yahuah’s word states that something will happen: it will.

He (Moshe) said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve `Elohiym on this mountain. Moshe said to `Elohiym, ‘Behold, when I come to the children of Yisra’el, and tell them, ‘The `Elohiym of your fathers has sent me to you;’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” `Elohiym said to Moshe, (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh) “I WHO WAS AND AM AND WILL BE WHO I WAS AND AM AND WILL BE, (commonly abbreviated to I AM)” and He said, “You shall tell the children of Yisra’el this: “I AM has sent me to you.” `Elohiym said moreover to Moshe, “You shall tell the children of Yisra’el this, ‘Y-H-W-H, the `Elohiym of your fathers, the `Elohiym of Avraham, the `Elohiym of Yitzchak, and the `Elohiym of Ya`akov, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations. (Exod. 3:12-15).

Over the years, I have heard several messages on Exod. 3:13-15, concentrating upon Yahuah, the covenantal name of `Elohiym. However, I believe that a major consideration has been missed when not including v12.

In this verse, `Elohiym (by which Moshe would probably known Yahuah by before this encounter) states that WHEN Moshe brings out the Yisra`elites out of Egypt, Yahuah was prophesising on the outcome of Moshe’s dealings with Pharaoh. The use of the word WHEN means that all that Yahuah says will come about. Moshe and the Yisra`elites will return to this same mountain and worship Yahuah, but not as they previously did.

To confirm this, Moshe was given the previously unknown name of the Covenant-keeping `Elohiym; Yahuah.

This is what I believe is the purpose of (forth-telling) prophecy. That is to make known and confirm the Covenant-keeping name Yahuah.

The Bible is the self-revelation of Yahuah and a large proportion of the Bible is given over to prophecy, then it stands to reason that the prophecy would reveal Who and What Yahuah is to His own glory.

Any prophecy in Scripture, I believe, can be inserted between the words “When…….then you will know I AM. Not only will the prophecy come about, but there will be a further realisation of the Covenant-keeping `Elohiym, that we, like Moshe and the Yisra`elites may worship Him and Him alone.

Therefore Yahuah Himself will give you a sign: behold, (when…) a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanu’el (….then you will know I AM.) (Isa. 7:14). This well known and often quoted verse found its complete fulfilment in birth of the Messiah Yahusha (Matt. 1:18-2:1). Only Yahuah could have known and brought about this miracle…to His glory.

“(When…) I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Y`hoshafat, And I will enter into judgement with them, On account of my people Yisra`el… (….then you will know I AM.)” (Joel 3:2a). This prophecy was partially completed in the reign of King Y`hoshafat (2 Chron. 20:1-30), but will not be fully completed until the end of time (Rev. 16:16). Even so, it will be accomplished as written.

Can you see how the word WHEN means that there is no doubt as to the fulfilment of the prophecy and in its completion, all Yisra`el will come to know and experience the Covenant-keeping I AM.

So from these, and the multitude of other prophecies either fully or partially completed, it can be seen that Biblical prophecy will take place EXACTLY as written.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books… And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:12, 15). The writer of the Book of Revelation, John, was shown a prophetic image of all sinners being judged and condemned to eternal punishment. Applying the test of WHEN to this prophecy, both judgement and punishment are certain. The Covenant-keeping character of I AM allows nothing less.

Do you honestly think that when all Biblical prophecy is fulfilled, that this one prophecy will not?

“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw His glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). Yahuah’s word, His self-revelation, came in the man, the Messiah Yahusha and cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Not only can prophecy be totally relied upon as being true, but all Scripture is truth (John 17:17).

Scripture further tells us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Yahuah,” (Rom. 3:23). That is every man and woman, including you and me, are destined to appear before a holy and righteous Judge and will end up in Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The only exceptions are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

This Book will only contain the names of those who have realised their sinful condition and have turned back to Yahuah and called out for His mercy.

“Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, (Heb. 9:27). When we die, Scripture tells us that there will be a judgement for each and every one of us: no exceptions.

“Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn back to Yahuah.” (Lam. 3:39, 40). The writer of the Book of Lamentations understood that Man, as a sinner, can have no grievance against the judgement of righteous Yahuah. His Word has warned us and prepared us for judgement. When we stand in front of the Judge, we will not have any defence and we will be pronounced guilty. Only everlasting punishment then awaits.

I implore you, right this moment to consider this question. “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). How can I escape from this coming judgement?

Simply put, “Believe in the Master Yahusha the Messiah, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31).

“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). There is nothing we can do except to put our trust in Yahuah because the Good News is that He has been done everything for us.

“I called on your name, Yahuah, out of the lowest pit. You heard my voice; do not hide your ear at my sighing, at my cry. You drew near in the day that I called on you; you said, ‘Do not be afraid.’ Yahuah, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.” (Lam. 3:55-58). The writer of Lamentations then goes on to say that Yahuah hears the deepest, heart-felt cry of a sinner, calling out to Him and it is only Yahuah who can save.

What then is this covenant?

“but these are written, that you may believe that Yahusha is the Messiah, the Son of Yahuah, and that believing, you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31). Yochanan wrote his Good News account of the life, death and resurrection of the Messiah Yahusha, the only begotten Son of Yahuah, so that we may believe the Messiah Yahusha has paid for our sins.

When judgement comes, all who have believed, while they were still alive, that the Messiah Yahusha has paid for our sins through His shed blood, these will be found in the Book of Life. These are the ones who have listened to the voice of Yahuah recorded in Lam. 3:57 when Yahuah said ‘Do not be afraid…” and a Heavenly Father stands to welcome His children.

Thosewho have rejected Yahuah’s offer of the complete forgiveness of sins through belief in His Son, Yahusha, their names will be blotted out of the Book of Life (Psa. 69:26-29) and only everlasting punishment awaits them.

When you eventually pass away from this earth, then you will know Yahuah.

Will you know Yahuah as a Father with open arms welcoming you into His peace (Rom. 8:15)?

Or will you know Yahuah as the wrathful Judge who sentences you to Hell (Eze. 25:17)?

Today, right now, is the time of your salvation (Isa. 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2).

Do not let it pass, as it may be your last opportunity to be saved for we do not know when we will die. More so in these troubled times of Covid-19, when seemingly healthy people are being taken from us by the virus.

Take comfort in the truth of Scripture. It is the same Yahuah who spoke and all of Creation was formed and it is the same Yahuah that says, “Believe in the Lord Yahusha the Messiah, and you will be saved”.

Turn back toYahuah. Ask Him to forgive your sins and, like the writer of Lamentations, seek mercy in the Covenant-keeping name of Yahuah.

He has said that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Then please accept His freely-given gift of His Son before it is too late.

Prophecy has been given so that you may know that all Scripture is true and what has been written will come about. Yahuah does not want you to go to Hell. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to the cross to bear the price of your sins.

If you were to die today, would your name be found in the Lamb’s Book of Life and you go to be with Yahuah in heaven?

Or will your name be blotted out and you go everlasting punishment away from Yahuah in Hell?

It all comes down to this: Do you believe that all what is written in the Bible is true or do you believe that all of it is a lie?

I pray that I have given enough proof for you to answer the all-important question:

What must I do to be saved?

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.

“When calamity overtakes you like a storm,

When your disaster comes on like a whirlwind;

When distress and anguish come on you.

Then will they call on me, but I will not answer.

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;” (Prov. 1:27, 28).

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

09/08/2021 – Rosh Chodesh 5^th. 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.).