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Sabbath Service
August 15, 2009Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 11:26—16:17
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:11—55:5
Call to Worship
Filled with the Spirit, sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs … making melody to Yahweh in our hearts, giving thanks to our Elohim at all times and for everything in the name of our master Yahshua Messiah.Hymn #74 (CHORAL ARRANGEMENT)
Sing Praises and Rejoice!
Psalm 98
Dwight Armstrong
O sing a new song to Yahweh (the Lord), for wonders He hath done:
His right hand and His holy arm Him victory hath won.
Yahweh (the Lord), His salvation, hath caused it to be known;
His justice in the nation’s sight He openly hath shown.
He mindful of His grace and truth to Isr’el’s house hath been;
The great salvation of our El (God) all ends of the earth have seen.
Let all the earth unto Yahweh (the Lord) send forth a joyful noise;
Lift up your voice aloud to Him, sing praises, and rejoice.
With harp, with harp, and voice of psalms, O sing unto Yahweh (the Lord)!
With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound before Yahweh (the Lord) the King.
Let seas and all their fullness roar; the world, and dwellers there;
Let floods clap hands, and let the hills together joy declare.
O sing a new song to Yahweh (the Lord), for wonders He hath done:
His right hand and His holy arm Him victory hath won.
Rejoice, ye hills before Yahweh (the Lord); to judge the earth comes He:
He’ll judge the world with righteousness, His folk with equity.
Prayer of Adoration
We sing our praises and thanksgiving to you, most holy Yahweh, as we joyfully worship you in gladness and song—our response to your gracious activity in our lives. You gather us through the power and wisdom of your Holy Spirit and transform us into a community graced and held together by Yahshua, our Master, even though we are scattered throughout the nations. Help us to make the most of our time today as we seek to glorify you. May you continue to be glorified in and through all we do in Yahshua’s name today, and in all the days to come. This we pray in his name. Amen.The Great Thanksgiving
(alternative to Thanksgiving and Praise)Yahweh is here.
El’s Spirit is with us.Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to Yahweh.Let us give thanks to Yahweh our Elohim.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.It is the joy of our salvation,
Creator of the universe,
to give you thanks through Yahshua Messiah.You said, ‘Let there be light’;
there was light.
Your light shines on in our darkness.
For you the earth has brought forth life
in all its forms.You have created us
to hear your Word,
to do your will
and to be fulfilled in your love.
You sent your Son to be for us
the way we need to follow
and the truth we need to know.You send your Holy Spirit
to strengthen and to guide,
to warn and to revive your Church.
Therefore, with all your witnesses
who surround us on every side,
countless as heaven’s stars,
we praise you for our creation
and our calling,
with loving and with joyful hearts as we sing:Holy, holy, holy Yah,
Elohim of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh.
Hosanna in the highest.Called to follow Messiah,
help us to reconcile and unite.
Called to suffer,
give us hope in our calling.
For you, the heavenly one, make all things new;
you are the beginning and the end, the last and the first,
to whom we bring our songs of everlasting praise.Blessing, honour and glory be yours,
here and everywhere,
now and for ever. Amen.Hebrew Scriptures Reading
1 Kings 2:10-12 RNKJV
10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.1 Kings 3:3-14 RNKJV
3 And Solomon loved YHVH, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5 In Gibeon YHVH appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and Elohim said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O YHVH my Elohim, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased YHVH, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And Elohim said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.Hymn #75 (CHORAL ARRANGEMENT)
Holy, Mighty Majesty!
Psalm 99
Dwight ArmstrongThe Eternal reigneth high above; He is mighty, He is great!
There between the cherubim He sits; let the people praise His name!
He is King and He maintains the right; He restoreth equity;
Worship and exalt the Eternal One! Holy, Mighty Majesty!The Eternal One is Yah (G0d) and King, and He spoke unto His priests;
In the pillar of the cloud He spoke, unto them who kept His law.
Moses is among them, Aaron too; they extolled Yahweh (the Lord) their El (God).
Samuel also called upon His name; Yah (G0d) did hear, and answered them.O Eternal, You did answer them; You forgave and you avenged;
So, exalt the One Eternal Yah (G0d), Who in Zion is most great!
He is King and He maintains the right; He restoreth equity;
Worship and exalt the Eternal One! Holy, Mighty Majesty!Prayer of Confession
If, as to Solomon, Yahweh said to us “Ask what I should give to you,” how would we reply? Would we ask for gifts to serve ourselves or others? Commercials and advertising bombard us with things that we ‘need’ for comfort and health; better looks; easy wealth. It’s so easy to give way to feelings of greed.
Yahweh, forgive us when we’re tempted to put your ways aside.
If, as to Solomon, Yahweh said to us “Ask what I should give you,” how would we respond? Would we even think to ask for minds that understood the difference between evil and good? We think we can do that now. Would we want to discern what is just, not, of course, just for us, but for those who’re unloved, oppressed and unknown. The temptation is strong, we have to confess to leave it to others to serve those in distress.
What we really need are minds like Yahshua, minds filled with true wisdom and love; to do what is righteous, to do what is just.
If, as to Solomon, Yahweh said to us “Ask what I should give to you,” would we respond … forgive us our greed …
You gave us your Son, what more do we need?
(Moment of silence and reflection)Assurance of Forgiveness
The works of Yahweh’s hands are faithful and just, and all Yahweh’s laws are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. Through Yahweh’s righteousness, the people receive redemption. We experience that redemption through Yahshua Messiah who came into the world to save sinners.
Thanks be to Yahweh.Psalm Reading
Psalms 111:1-10 RNKJV
1 Praise ye YHVH. I will praise YHVH with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of YHVH are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: YHVH is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.Singing Yahweh’s Song
Blessed are you, Creator Spirit, the Joy of the universe!
Yet around us are neighbors and workmates
who see you not, hear you not,
and heed little but their own self interest.
We are your little flock;
always, so it seems,
we must sing Yahweh’s song in an alien land.
To us you are the sight that enlightens our eyes,
the voice that wakes the dead,
the purpose that ingrains our every moment,
the love that underpins us, indwells us, uplifts us
and engenders compassion for family, neighbor and enemy.
Blessed are you, Creator Spirit, Joy of the universe!
You are closer than breathing,
yet above, beneath and beyond the outer limits of space and time.
You are as unimaginable as a fifth or tenth dimension,
yet more purely knowable than our dearest human soul mate.
You are the silence which is deafening
yet your Word speaks with perfect clarity to the meek, the poor and the merciful.
Blessed are you, Creator Spirit, Joy of the universe!
You are the Word which becomes flesh,
and lives among us, full of grace and truth.
You are the Gospel both spoken and embodied,
as disruptive as yeast and more valuable than the most precious pearl.
You are the Love which is as awe-full as Golgotha,
and as beautiful and as touchable as the wounded hands of the risen Master.
Every day, every where,
we will trust and celebrate your amazing grace.
We will sing;
yes, we will sing your praises.
We will sing of your love in the morning,
and of your grace in the night.
We will draw water from the wells of salvation,
and sing Yahweh’s song in this alien land!
Blessed are you, Creator Spirit, Joy of the universe!Praise for Creation
* Slightly adapted from “Apostolic Constitutions”, Syria, circa 380 A.D.
All things are your gift, Eternal Yahweh.
You have filled the universe and adorned it
with plants for perfume and healing and food,
animals strong and weak, tamed and wild,
and serpents that hiss and birds that sing merrily.
You have given the universe the rhythm of the years, months and days;
the changing seasons, the racing clouds
that spread rain that fill up fruits and give aid to all living creatures.
You regulate the breath of the winds
and at your command
it ripples the grasses and sways the trees.
What is more wonderful, you place human beings here;
In us you brought into existence a world within a world.
We emerge from nothingness
to exercise reason and judgment, faith and love,
within this paradise of delights.
To you our praise,
to you our hymns,
to you all honour and glory—
Yahweh and Abba,
through the Son
and in the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever!
Amen!Hymn #16 (CHORAL ARRANGEMENT)
The Heavens Yahweh’s (God’s) Glory Do Declare
Psalm 19
Dwight ArmstrongThe heav’ns Yah’s (God’s) glory do declare, The skies His handiworks teach;
Day after day their speech pours forth, and knowledge, night after night.
There is no speech nor spoken word; their voice is never heard;
And yet their voice spreads to all the earth, their works to the ends of the world.The heav’ns a tent for the sun, He made, Which comes forth like a bride groom,
Leaving his chamber, glowing bright, to run his course with joy.
From heaven’s end its rising is, its circuit to its ends;
And there is nothing from its heat, no, nothing is hidden thereof.
The law of Yah (God) is a perfect law, For it converts the soul;
Sure are the sayings of our El (God), they make the simple wise.
Statutes of Yah (God) are right and just, and do rejoice the heart;
Yahweh’s (The Lord’s) commandments are pure and clear, and light to the mind
impart.Epistle Reading
Ephesians 5:15-20 RNKJV
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of YHVH is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to YHVH;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto YHVH the Father in the name of our Master Yeshua the Messiah;
Gospel Reading
Mark 7:1-23 RNKJV
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of YHVH, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of YHVH, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of YHVH of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.Study Paper, Video or Audio Sermon (of your choice)
Hymn #114 (CHORAL ARRANGEMENT)
Hallelujah! Praise Yah (God)!
Psalm 146
Dwight ArmstrongSing unto the Eternal, Sing your praises to Him:
Put your trust not in mortals for in them is no help
Hallelujah! Praise Yah (God)! The Eternal shall reign!
He shall reign for all ages; Our King and our El (God)!Sing unto the Eternal, give your praises to Him;
He it was who made heaven, earth and sea and all things.
Hallelujah! Praise Yah (God)! The Eternal shall reign!
He shall reign for all ages; Our King and our El (God)!Sing unto the Eternal, let your hope be in Him;
He remains true for ever He gives justice to all.
Hallelujah! Praise Yah (God)! The Eternal shall reign!
He shall reign for all ages; Our King and our El (God)!The Shema
“Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is one!” Blessed be the name of Yahweh whose glorious kingdom is forever! (Deut. 6:4)
Yahshua said, “You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39)
Blessing and Commission
Go, blessed and filled with the wisdom of Yahweh,
blessed and nourished by the life of our Master Yahshua Messiah,
and blessed and directed by the guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Amen.Aaronic Blessing
Yahweh bless you and keep you: Yahweh make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: Yahweh lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.Scriptures quoted from the Restored Name King James Version of the Bible.