Shabbat Word
28/11/2020
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).”
A Word
History repeats itself endlessly for those who are unwilling to learn.
My wife has shared on several occasions, an experience that she has gone through when we were selling a house. The problem was that we were trusting that a sale was to go through with no hiccups. As the sale dragged on, the more anxious she became. That was until Yahuah gave her this word.
Yahuah showed her a small box with a lid. He told her to put the problem into the box, close the lid and lock it. She was then to give the key to Yahuah and then bury the box. The only way to get the box back was to dig it up again with your hands.
“Casting all your worries on Him, because He loves you.” (1Peter 5:7). There is a paradox in this verse; it is both the easiest thing to do and yet, the most difficult thing to do. Beloved, when we have a problem, we take it to our Father in prayer. Unfortunately, in this world of instant results, especially in light of the ‘name it and claim it’ doctrine, we expect Father to answer us immediately. We must be very careful not to fall into the sin of presumption; thinking that we know what is best for us and Father does not. This results in what I call yo-yo praying We offer up the problem to Father then take it back by worrying only to offer the problem back up to Him and so on and so forth. Do you not know that He always hears our cries (Psa. 116.1)? Do you not know that we have a Great High Priest, Messiah Yeshua, ever interceding on our behalf (Rom. 8:24)? Why then take it back? Do you think that Father is unable to answer or just does not care? Of course not!
“knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfected and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:3, 4). Just the very opposite is the case. Father sometimes does not answer us in order to build up our faith; ‘perfected and complete, lacking in nothing’ being part of the definition of shalom. Although the answer may not be manifested immediately, we must have patience for the answer is already written in Heaven (Rom. 8:25). The Messianic Assembly in Thessilonika was under severe persecution, crying out to Yahuah `Elohiym for relief. Yet, Rav Sha`ul commends their patience and faith in the face of persecution. (2 Thess. 1:4).
It is for discipline that you endure. Yahuah deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb. 12:7). The problem that has arisen may also be a direct result of our wandering away from the path Father has chosen for us and He needs to bring us back. If the same problem or trial keeps returning, it is wise to look at what we are doing. Is it knowing or learning what Father wants?
Nevertheless, for those of little faith, it is sometimes easier to visualise a solution such as my wife’s box. With the box buried, the only way to get it back is to dig the box up with your hands to ask Father for the key. Imagine the state of your hands; the ground-in dirt and your finger nails, what is left of them, full of soil. Is this the condition that you want to come before your Creator?
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Doubting whether Father has heard us, ignored us, is unwilling or unable to answer us is a sin. Each time we dig up that box we are actually saying that we are more capable than Father to solve the crisis. That is why we get covered in grime that only He can wash away.
What about those who have not yet accepted the Salvation of Yahuah offered through His Son Messiah Yeshua?
The ‘box’ is all the more important. No matter what the problem is (alcohol, drugs, immorality, pain, family, work, finances) there is no problem to big that the ‘box’ cannot hold it. Offer it up to your heavenly Father in the name of Messiah Yeshua. In other words confess your sins and Father will gladly wash away all your iniquities with the shed blood of Messiah Yeshua. He is not only willing and able, His precious Son died in order that you sins may be forgiven, if you would only truly turn back to Him, seek His forgiveness and mercy. For His Son has taken your eternal punishment upon Himself. Believe this and confess to others that, by this and Messiah’s resurrection and ascension, He is your Master and Saviour, you will indeed be saved from eternal wrath.
Once your sins are buried, never go back to them. That is, if Father is capable of remembering your sins no more, do not keep reminding Him of them through your thoughts and actions.
Ameyn
Halleluyah
Father, we thank you for the power of your Word and that Word was made flesh in the Messiah Yeshua 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.
“By patience a ruler is persuaded.
A soft tongue breaks the bone.” (Prov. 25:15).
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
15/12/2020 – Rosh Chodesh 10th. 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.).
First Generation Assembly 