Shabbat Word
27/07/2019
Shabbat Shalom!
Psalm 135:1-12
135:1) Praise Yahuah!
Praise the name of Yahuah!
Praise Him, you servants of Yahuah,
135:2) You who stand in the house of Yahuah,
In the courts of our `Elohiym’s house.
135:3) Praise Yahuah, for Yahuah is good.
Sing praises to His name, for that is pleasant.
135:4) For Yahuah has chosen Ya`akov for Himself;
Yisra’el for His own possession.
135:5) For I know that Yahuah is great,
That our Master is above all gods.
135:6) Whatever Yahuah pleased, that He has done,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
135:7) Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightnings with the rain;
Who brings forth the wind out of His treasuries;
135:8) Who struck the firstborn of Mitzrayim,
Both of man and animal;
135:9) Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, Mitzrayim,
On Par`oh, and on all his servants;
135:10) Who struck many nations,
And killed mighty kings,
135:11) Sichon king of the Amori,
`Og king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Kana`an,
135:12) And gave their land for a heritage,
A heritage to Yisra’el, His people. contd.)
A Word
Evil people are dreaded by other people but not by heaven; good people may be cheated by people but not by heaven.
It is not easy to be a Believer, is it? In a world of back-stabbing, dog-eat-dog, I am alright Jack attitudes, it takes a supernatural effort to be good. It seems that the worse a person is, the more likely they are to succeed. “That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9). When King Shlomo (Solomon) wrote Kohelet (Ecclestastes) he was aware that what motivated people would be common throughout all generations.
“How long will the wicked, Yahuah, how long will the wicked triumph?” (Psa. 94:3). Throughout all generations this has been the cry of many. There is the perception that evil people prosper. However, this will depend upon your viewpoint. If all you consider is world/life, then, yes wicked people do seem to lead a life of prosperity and ease. Nevertheless, even the Chinese proverb that is the title of this message, tells otherwise. Yahuah sees all things and the righteous do not lose out. The wicked prosper for a season only then it is destruction. The righteous may suffer but it is only for a season then it is eternal peace.
One of the problems the general public have is in the concept of evil. All know that there is evil (adjective, small ‘e’) describing a person or act. On the other hand very few acknowledge the idea of Evil (noun, capital ‘E’). In the past months, notwithstanding the continual wars and human depravity, there have been a series of attacks in America, France, Japan, Britain and Germany. Some of these attacks have been ascribed to terrorism whilst others have been blamed upon mental illness. One comment upon a recent attack stated that it is unclear as to what was the motive. Never has it ever been suggested that Evil was the cause. Many describe the act as evil, but very really is the person so described. Even when Man descended to the lowest depths of depravity such as in the Holocaust, Russian Pogroms, Spanish Inquisition or ethnic cleansing, Evil is never considered. Sure, these were evil acts perpetrated by evil men, but Evil being the cause.
Evil is not a concept, philosophy or imagination of Man. It is real, and it has a name; haSatan.
From the beginning of time (Gen. 3:1-24), haSatan has been envious of Man’s relationship to his `Elohiym and of `Elohiym’s relationship to Man. Man was not created by `Elohiym’s speech like the rest of creation, including the angels (haSatan being one of them) but rather by His hands. This envy, in one particular case, has turned to abject hatred. This is in the relationship of Yahuah `Elohiym with the people of Yisra`el. Throughout history, it has attacked `Elohiym’s people disguising it as the Crusades, the Holocaust, Yom Kippur War etc. There has been physical, economical and political attacks, all of which were designed to eliminate the people of Yisra`el.
Since the dawn of time, the strategy of haSatan is to lead Man away from his Creator. The easiest way was to entice Man into disobedience, commonly called sin. “For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living lives full of evil and hatred, hating one another.” (Titus 3:3). Sin is attractive to Man in that it appeals to Man’s basic nature. Man tends to mirror his father, whether physical or spiritual. Sinful Man can be seen to take after HaSatan that it wants to be the centre of Man’s worship, replacing `Elohiym. This can be seen most clearly in the lies of ‘Christianity’ stating that the ‘New Testament Church’ has replaced the people of Yisra`el in `Elohiym’s favour. In fact, just the opposite has taken place. A Gentile can become grafted into the Commonwealth of Yisra`el (Rom. 1:1-36) and be partakers in the promises of `Elohiym.
The Evil One knows full well that Man may worship it for a short time but after that Man is destined for Hell. There haSatan and Man will be under eternal punishment as Hell was made for it and its demons, never for Man.
What type of father do you take after?
Is it the Evil One? Then you are destined to follow it down into eternal damnation. If you have not turned back to our Heavenly Father, through the belief in Messiah Yeshua, then the Evil One will drag you down into the Pit. That is its most evil act.
On the other hand, if you do not want this to happen to you then there are a couple of things that you must do. “Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thess. 5:21). “Put to death, therefore, your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Col. 3:5). This is an impossible situation for Man to accomplish for himself. The Evil One will not easily let you go; it wants you to worship it. Nevertheless, there is One who has already accomplished all that is necessary for Man to escape its clutches. By His death and resurrection, Messiah Yeshua has taken the eternal punishment upon Himself; if only you can believe that this is so.
Seek Yahuah Father’s forgiveness of your sins through the Atonement of His Son. “However Yahuah’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, ‘Yahuah knows who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Yahuah depart from unrighteousness.’” (2 Tim. 2:19). He alone can rescue you from the Evil One. “But Yahuah is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the Evil One.” (2 Thess. 3:3). People in this world may let you down, cheat and deceive you but, “For however many are the promises of Yahuah, in Him is the ‘Yes’. Therefore also through Him is the ‘Ameyn’, to the glory of Yahuah through us.” (2 Cor. 1:20).
Should you accept Father’s gift of salvation through His Son, Messiah Yeshua, then you can declare along with all Believers, “And Yahuah will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for His heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Ameyn.” (2 Tim. 4:18).
HalleluYah
Father, we thank you for the power of your Word and that Word was made flesh in Messiah Yeshuah so that in believing in His Life, Death and Resurrection we may have eternal life with you.
Ameyn.
If you want to accept Father’s offer of salvation through Messiah Yeshuah, 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 Yeshuah. Please forgive me of all my past sins as I accept that, Messiah Yeshuah 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 Yeshua, 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 Yeshua.
All blessings to you.
“Yahuah’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Surely He mocks the mockers,
But He gives grace to the humble.
Surely He mocks the mockers,
But He gives grace to the humble.” (Prov. 3:33-35).
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 Yeshuah, all that we will ever need. In your lovingkindness and mercy, you rebuild broken lives. You bless us, in Yeshuah, with a perfect blessing. Ameyn.
Please note the up-and-coming special days.
Rosh Chodesh 4th. Moon 01/08/2019.
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 and show you His favour)
(May Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.)
First Generation Assembly 