Shabbat Word
31/08/2019
Psalm 138:1-8
138:1) By David.
I will give you thanks with my whole heart.
Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
138:2) I will bow down toward your holy temple,
And give thanks to your Name for your lovingkindness and for your truth;
For you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
138:3) In the day that I called, you answered me.
You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
138:4) All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahuah,
For they have heard the words of your mouth.
138:5) Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahuah;
For great is Yahuah’s glory.
138:6) For though Yahuah is high, yet He looks after the lowly;
But the proud, He knows from afar.
138:7) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me.
You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies.
Your right hand will save me.
138:8) Yahuah will fulfill that which concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, Yahuah, endures forever.
Do not forsake the works of your own hands.
A Word
He who is a slave of truth is a free man
If you ask people what they considered to be the scourge of the twenty first century, many would say that it is people trafficking. Although this has gone on through the ages, nevertheless with the advent of twenty-four hour news, social media and camera ‘phones, it has never been so public. War, famine, economic depression, political and religious persecution (are these not sure signs of the End Times?) are cited as the cause of mass migrations of people flocking into more affluent parts of Europe, Asia and the U.S.A.
In order to ‘help’ these people, trafficking gangs have been set up to prey on their vulnerability, extorting money with promises of safe passage, employment, housing and benefits. Tragically this is so often never the case. Instead of safe passage, many end up on grossly over-crowded boats, over-turning and drowning. Instead of legal employment many end up in prostitution. Instead of housing and benefits, they are illegally smuggled into countries to live in squalor unable to claim assistance and working illegally, more like slaves, to pay back the trafficking gangs. Not only are adults trapped this way, but increasingly, children are involved. Recent reports estimate that 10,000 children have gone missing since the latest migrations from Syria, Eritrea and Sub-Sahara Africa. Whether this is from traffickers, drowning, starvation, injury or illnesses cannot be determined; but they are still gone!
“For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error; promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.” (2Pt. 2:18, 19). Quite often, those who have been tricked into a life of slavery become ones who lead others astray so as to pay off their own debts. This is most clearly seen in drug addicts turning dealers to fund their own habit.
Beloved, if you knew of people in such a state as this, would you not do everything possible to get them out of this modern-day slavery? Yet, we tend to shy away from witnessing to those around us who are still under the slavery of haSatan. It may be illness, demonic attack, addiction or immoral living, but all are symptomatic of its slavery.
“Therefore, tell the children of Yisra`el, ‘I am Yahusha, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitzrim, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgements.’” (Exod. 6:6). Most biblical commentators ascribe the slavery of the Yisra`elites in Mitzrayim (Egypt) as a type of sin. It took the death of lambs without blemish, their blood daubed on the door posts and the subsequent death of the Mitzrim first-born to break the yoke of slavery and the release of the Yisra`elites.
How does this fit in with the twenty-first century? “But Yahusha commends His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). The death of the lambs was just a fore-shadow of the atonement won by Messiah Yahshua, the spotless Lamb of Yahusha. His death made it possible for everyone to escape the yoke of slavery. Many think that they can control their cravings and can easily stop at any time; most never do showing how deep into slavery they have fallen.
Is this you?
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both Yahusha and Mammon.” (Matt. 6:24). Who do you think loves you the most; Messiah Yahshua, haSatan or yourself. You know that that addiction is killing you or your relationship with others, so how much do you love yourself? HaSatan is the one that controls you through your cravings, so how much does it love you? “For Yahusha so loved the world (that includes you), that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever (including you) believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (free from slavery).” (John 3:16). Yahusha gave that which was most precious to Him, His Son Messiah Yahshua, so that you can be free. That is how much He loves you!
“I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.” (Jer. 15:21). The word redeem has its basis in the slave market, where a slave is bought and set free or the debt is paid off. This is what Yahusha has done for you. The price of your sin is your eternal condemnation and punishment. The shed blood of Messiah Yahshua has paid that price for you.
“Yahusha said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.’” (John 14:6). “You will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free.” (John 8:32).
Right now, Yahusha is giving you a choice: a short physical life of slavery followed by eternal punishment or eternal peace and safety with Him.
“If it seem evil to you to serve Yahusha, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River or the gods of the Amori (haSatan) in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahusha.” (Josh. 24:15).
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 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 Redeemer, 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 Yahusha.
All blessings to you.
“The hands of the diligent ones shall rule,
But laziness ends in slave labour.” (Prov. 12:24).
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, 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 7th. Moon 29/09/2019.
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 