We have gathered here this 10th Rosh Chodesh of the year, in obedience to the mitzvah (commandment), to hear the Davar Elohim (Word of God) from the nevi'im (prophets).

Our Heavenly Father is well aware of the thoughts in your minds, and the feelings in your hearts. He sees, hears, and feels everything. He knows you as only a true father can. He is filled with love and compassion. He runs to His repentant children, embraces them, kisses them, as the father of the prodigal son did when he returns (Lk.15:17-24). And when we honour Him, as we should our own parents, He promises a long, full life in the places which He gives us (Ex.6:1-3). He is a Father to the fatherless, and a defender of widows (Ps.68:3-6).

He adores families, especially when we gather as families in His Name, and celebrate Him (Dt.12:7). He delights when we gather at His appointed time - His moedim - like today, which is the monthly Father's Day. And as He prepares a place for us in the heavenlies (Jn.14:2; 1 Cor.2:9), so earthly fathers who love Yahweh delight in preparing homes for their families. On earth there is nothing more important to them. It's the same for pastors too - they love the spiritual families over whom they have been given guardianship. And that is essentially what Rosh Chodesh is all about. It is the father's Day.

Families are indeed forever, all link back and are connected to the Family of families. We may enter Heaven or the Millennium alone but we are instantly reconnected to immediate family and to the wider Family of Elohim (God). There are, and always will be, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, children and the huge kaleidoscope of relationships that connect our extended family. And that family extends far and wide, indeed incredibly so when we are born again, spiritually regenerated, and infused with New Creation Chayim (Life). Suddenly our family expands, like a galaxy to include millions of the saved, both the living and departed. And I am sure you will agree, a galaxy is far more beautiful and splendid to behold than a solitary star. That is why the writer of Hebrews said of the ancients that "only together with us would they be made perfect" (Heb.11:40, NIV). Ultimate perfection is familial, because Heaven is familial, a Family of families within families. Therefore we are bidden repeatedly to think familially.

Being born into a good family is a great and marvelous thing, but remaining in it - in right relationship with all its members - is not automatic. Anything that is deformed in our character acts as a barrier to the free flow of love in that relationship, even after the New Birth - the New Birth gives us family membership and a whole lot of rights and privileges that non-family members don't have. But it also gives us responsibilities which are not burdensome when properly viewed, but which do require hard work. Yah'shua (Jesus) said to the Sardisians:

"He who overcomes will...be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and His malakim (angels)" (Rev.3:5, NIV).

Overcoming is not easy but so worth it. Those who become members of the Divine Family through making teshuvah (repentance) and fully trusting in - adhering to - the Saviour, Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), enduring to the end, not only gain access to Paradise or Heaven but to the better Resurrection world too. Indeed, the writer of Hebrews tells us why we should be willing to suffer, even to make the supreme sacrifice, and that is "so that they might gain a better resurrection". If there is a "better resurrection" (Heb.11:35, NIV) then there is an inferior resurrection, and if there is a resurrection that the Ruach (Spirit) calls 'better' than some other resurrection, then you can be quite sure that our Heavenly Father wants you to have that, because all good fathers want their children to have the best if at all possible. No loving parent wants anything inferior for his or her child, at least not when it comes to heavenly possibilities. It is usually the careless, indifferent ones who are not much concerned.

As we approach and enter into this time of collapse - and I think you will agree now just by looking around that all the signs of collapse are eveywhere - then we must be prepared not so much for sorrow (because there is always a degree of sorrow in even an 'ordinary' life) but for a radical increase in sorrow such as those in many countries are already experiencing. Those of you who have been around will know that we are never entirely free of them, that along with the sinmcha (joy) of salvation and of love, sorrow is the lot of everyone. Learning to deal with it positively then becomes all the more essential, and not to ignore or deny it when comes our way.

I do not know anything about the author of this short poem was other than his name was a Dr.Miller but he wisely observed:

I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way:
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me.

Now I realise that truth served like that does not seem particularly appetising but better to accept the wisdom of this counsel now than learn it the hard way later. The way of emunah (faith) is neither easy nor simple but because it is commanded by a loving Heavenly Father, that means the same loving Heavenly Father will supply the means to its proper and adequate exercising. Did Yah'shua (Jesus) not promise the sorrowing Martha, after the death of her brother Lazarus, that if she would believe, she would see the glory of Elohim (God) (Jn.11:40)? There is power in the promises. We may not understand a lot of things down here in mortality and they may at times take us to the very brink of despair, but Elohim (God) promises that while we may not understand, yet if we believe, we will see.

Abraham had no comprehension whatsoever of why Yahweh should ask for the sacrifice of the long-awaited promised messianic seed, but he trusted nonetheless. And, moreover, was the promise that the one who trusts will 'see' fulfilled or not? Yes it was, he saw the glory of Elohim (God) in the restoration of his son Isaac to him. And as I mentioned last sabbath, Moses could not understand why Yahweh should keep him 40 years in the wilderness of Midian in considerably reduced circumstances (from prince to shepherd), but he trusted. And so it was he came to see that Yahweh had done so, in order to prepare him to lead forth Israel from bondage. And again, Joseph could not understand the cruelty of his brothers, the false witness of an adulterous woman, or the long years of an unjust imprisonment; but he trusted, and he saw at last the glory of Elohim (God) in it all.

Jacob could not understand the strange providence which permitted the same Joseph to be torn from his father's love, just as I cannot understand why some of my sons have been torn from my own bosom, just as some of you don't undersand why some of your children have been torn from yours, but Jacob saw the glory of Elohim (God) when he looked into the face of the same Joseph as the Viceroy of a great king, and preserver of his own life and the lives of his family and of the future great nation of Israel.

And so, perhaps it is the same with you, or will yet happen to you. You say, or will say, 'I do not understand why Yahweh let my dear one to be taken'. Only yesterday I was listening to the harrowing story of a pastor whose son was murdered by a pedophile. 'I do not understand why affliction has been permitted to afflict me'. I do not know why I have been permitted to experience so much illness and pain, and I know some of you are asking the same question about yourselves too. 'I do not understand the devious paths by which Elohim (God) is leading me.' I wish I knew why. 'I do not understand why plans and purposes that seemed good to my eyes should be frustrated and confounded.' I wish I understood. 'I do not know why blessings I so much need are so long delayed.' I truly don't.

But here's the thing which is hard sometimes to accept: we do not have to understand all of Yahweh's ways with us. Elohim (God) does not expect you to understand them! You do not expect your child to understand, only believe. That is, in my view, the hardest test of all, and everyone one of us must wrestle his or her way through it. The choice is to submit and trust, or doubt and rage. Doubt and rage will destroy you and weaken, if not end, the relationships you have with others, or at least make life very miserable for those who love you. Am I guilty of doing that to my loved ones? Undoubtedly. I bless Yahweh for the ones who did not abandon me - I for sure will never abandon them.

Some day you will see the glory of Elohim (God) in the things which you do not understand but for now all that is required of you is that you trust, especially as really hard times multiply. I have never minimised or downplayed the judgments that are coming because I am sure you would prefer that I am brutally honest with you than deceive you only to leave you unprepared, and I could never do that. What we've been preparing for is going to happen very suddenly and soon, so be ready!

In the meantime I hope you will take to heart the words of another poem, whose author I do not know, who wrote:

If we could push ajar the gates of life
And stand within, and all God's working see,
We might interpret all this doubt and strife,
And for each mystery could find a key.

But not today. Then be content, poor heart;
God's plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold,
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart -
Time will reveal the calyxes of gold.

And if, through patient toil, we reach the land
Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,
When we shall clearly know and understand,
I think that we shall say, 'God knew best.'

May this be a blessed 10th month of even more trusting, submission, dying to self, and obedience to the Father's will. Really, really learn to rest in Him in all things and you will see. Amen.

Acknowledgements