Shabbat Word
25/04/2020
Shabbat Shalom!
Counting of the Omer – Day 15
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
Yeshua: 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, Yeshua, 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.
“A wise man has great power;
And a knowledgeable man increases strength;” (Prov. 24:5)
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.
Please note the up-and-coming special days.
25/05/2020 – Rosh Chodesh 3rd. 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.).
First Generation Assembly 