0:00:00.020,0:00:20.125
♪ theme music ♪
0:00:20.125,0:00:21.985
(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
0:00:21.985,0:00:23.774
an in-depth, interactive study
0:00:23.774,0:00:25.306
of the Word of God.
0:00:25.306,0:00:27.121
I hope you're blessed with this series
0:00:27.121,0:00:29.042
on Bible Prophecies and Stories
0:00:29.042,0:00:30.430
for the Last Days.
0:00:30.430,0:00:31.703
Today, we're going to look
0:00:31.703,0:00:33.801
at Foundations for Prophecy,
0:00:33.801,0:00:36.516
how God wants to reveal Himself to us
0:00:36.516,0:00:38.602
and the story of three prophets
0:00:38.602,0:00:40.800
and what that means for our lives today.
0:00:40.800,0:00:42.974
So, we're glad that you joined us.
0:00:42.974,0:00:44.645
And welcome, team, good to see you,
0:00:44.645,0:00:45.833
say, "Hi," to each other.
0:00:45.833,0:00:47.020
We're glad you're here.
0:00:47.020,0:00:48.834
And we've got some remotes
0:00:48.834,0:00:50.791
joining us, too; let's see who's with us.
0:00:50.791,0:00:53.435
Rodney, great to have you back with us.
0:00:53.435,0:00:55.940
Shaina, always good to have you with us.
0:00:55.940,0:00:58.025
Alex, good to have you with us, too,
0:00:58.025,0:00:59.782
as a remote team member.
0:00:59.782,0:01:01.713
And we're glad you're here, too,
0:01:01.713,0:01:02.847
because you are part
0:01:02.847,0:01:04.673
of the great miracle of God.
0:01:04.673,0:01:06.390
We're always happy to hear from you,
0:01:06.390,0:01:07.903
our Hope Sabbath School members
0:01:07.903,0:01:08.720
around the world.
0:01:08.720,0:01:10.142
Marge, thanks for writing
0:01:10.142,0:01:12.023
to us from California.
0:01:12.023,0:01:15.577
She says, "Your show, Hope Sabbath School,
0:01:15.577,0:01:20.265
has been a blessing to me since 2019,
0:01:20.265,0:01:21.416
and I appreciate
0:01:21.416,0:01:24.101
the in-depth, interactive approach
0:01:24.101,0:01:26.237
to studying God's Word.
0:01:26.237,0:01:28.179
Your teaching method helps me
0:01:28.179,0:01:30.742
to better understand the Scriptures,
0:01:30.742,0:01:33.667
and the Scripture songs are a great tool
0:01:33.667,0:01:35.412
for hiding God's Word in my heart."
0:01:35.412,0:01:36.447
(Team) Amen.
0:01:36.447,0:01:37.685
(Derek) "I'm also inspired
0:01:37.685,0:01:39.604
by the team's testimonies,"
0:01:39.604,0:01:41.071
well, Marge, maybe you'll hear
0:01:41.071,0:01:43.087
a testimony from a team member
0:01:43.087,0:01:44.439
in our study today.
0:01:44.439,0:01:47.845
"May God continue to bless your ministry.
0:01:47.845,0:01:49.877
I love you all, Marge."
0:01:49.877,0:01:51.996
Well, Marge, thanks for writing to us,
0:01:51.996,0:01:54.522
and we'd love to meet you in person.
0:01:54.522,0:01:59.270
Jok, J-O-K, Jok Abraham writes to us
0:01:59.270,0:02:03.050
from South Sudan, "Hello,
0:02:03.050,0:02:04.557
Hope Sabbath School members."
0:02:04.557,0:02:05.726
(Team) Hello!
0:02:05.726,0:02:07.361
(Derek) "I am Jok Abraham
0:02:07.361,0:02:09.663
writing from South Sudan.
0:02:09.663,0:02:11.786
I've been enjoying Hope Sabbath School
0:02:11.786,0:02:14.661
for the last five years,
0:02:14.661,0:02:17.472
and it's helped me in my studies
0:02:17.472,0:02:20.378
and to prepare to teach a class.
0:02:20.378,0:02:21.810
Thank you for the great work
0:02:21.810,0:02:23.628
you've been doing, and may God
0:02:23.628,0:02:25.830
bless you as we prepare
0:02:25.830,0:02:27.773
to meet Him in the skies.
0:02:27.773,0:02:29.978
And I do purpose to meet
0:02:29.978,0:02:32.580
each one of you on that day."
0:02:32.580,0:02:36.053
Well, thank you, Jok Abraham,
0:02:36.053,0:02:39.360
for writing to us from South Sudan.
0:02:39.360,0:02:40.929
And isn't it exciting to realize
0:02:40.929,0:02:44.748
he's replicating, multiplying impact,
0:02:44.748,0:02:48.436
by teaching there in his community.
0:02:48.436,0:02:49.641
Here's a handwritten note
0:02:49.641,0:02:53.390
from South Dakota in the United States,
0:02:53.390,0:02:56.710
and a donor writes and says, "God
0:02:56.710,0:02:59.730
richly bless you for Hope Sabbath School.
0:02:59.730,0:03:03.268
It is such a blessing to those of us
0:03:03.268,0:03:07.505
whose first language is not English,"
0:03:07.505,0:03:10.942
you know, we try to talk really clearly,[br]right,
0:03:10.942,0:03:13.278
and help people to understand,
0:03:13.278,0:03:16.281
"Or," the donor says, "maybe someone
0:03:16.281,0:03:19.147
who has a challenge reading."
0:03:19.147,0:03:20.718
You know, in Revelation, Puia,
0:03:20.718,0:03:22.620
doesn't it talk about blessed are those
0:03:22.620,0:03:24.202
who hear and those who read.
0:03:24.202,0:03:24.906
(Puia) Yes.
0:03:24.906,0:03:26.577
(Derek) So, when you read the Bible
0:03:26.577,0:03:28.511
in our study today, maybe someone
0:03:28.511,0:03:30.427
who has a challenge reading
0:03:30.427,0:03:33.848
is blessed because he or she hears
0:03:33.848,0:03:36.252
a clear word from God.
0:03:36.252,0:03:37.868
"Hope this little gift
0:03:37.868,0:03:40.470
makes a difference," and a donation
0:03:40.470,0:03:43.774
of 50 dollars from South Dakota.
0:03:43.774,0:03:45.109
Thank you, South Dakota,
0:03:45.109,0:03:46.678
you know who you are,
0:03:46.678,0:03:48.786
and it does make a difference.
0:03:48.786,0:03:50.671
And I want to thank each one of you.
0:03:50.671,0:03:53.050
This is a donor-supported ministry,
0:03:53.050,0:03:55.519
and you can be part of the miracle, too.
0:03:55.519,0:03:56.921
You can go to our website,
0:03:56.921,0:04:00.275
hopetv.org/hopess,
0:04:00.275,0:04:03.267
click on that yellow Donate button
0:04:03.267,0:04:04.556
and say, "I want to be part
0:04:04.556,0:04:06.290
of the miracle," or get the address
0:04:06.290,0:04:07.532
and send us a note
0:04:07.532,0:04:08.810
just like this donor did.
0:04:08.810,0:04:11.286
Thank you for partnering with us.
0:04:11.286,0:04:13.605
One last note, a beautiful note
0:04:13.605,0:04:17.566
from Phyllis in Canada.
0:04:17.566,0:04:19.174
Phyllis says, "I've been watching
0:04:19.174,0:04:23.248
Hope Sabbath School (my favorite program)
0:04:23.248,0:04:25.914
for I don't remember how long.
0:04:25.914,0:04:28.153
I have," oh, listen, "I've had
0:04:28.153,0:04:29.764
my unchurched sister-in-law
0:04:29.764,0:04:33.641
watching with me when she stayed with me
0:04:33.641,0:04:37.495
for a few months, and she loved it, too.
0:04:37.495,0:04:39.896
I've also introduced it to a few friends,
0:04:39.896,0:04:42.146
and they have become faithful members
0:04:42.146,0:04:44.301
of Hope Sabbath School."
0:04:44.301,0:04:46.840
Sounds like, is that what we
0:04:46.840,0:04:50.581
call an evangelist? Right?
0:04:50.581,0:04:54.178
"I have two daughters, and they have used
0:04:54.178,0:04:57.532
your outline to teach interactive classes,
0:04:57.532,0:05:00.779
so it's a family affair here in Canada!"
0:05:00.779,0:05:02.160
(Team) Wonderful.
0:05:02.160,0:05:04.072
(Derek) "I feel like I've gotten to know
0:05:04.072,0:05:06.066
so many of the members over the years,
0:05:06.066,0:05:08.042
and I'm always happy to see the return
0:05:08.042,0:05:10.277
of a familiar face.
0:05:10.277,0:05:12.647
The personal testimonies
0:05:12.647,0:05:14.450
are a real blessing," we hear that
0:05:14.450,0:05:16.418
over and over again, don't we,
0:05:16.418,0:05:17.952
"and an encouragement to me
0:05:17.952,0:05:19.459
and many others.
0:05:19.459,0:05:22.239
May God continue to bless all of you
0:05:22.239,0:05:24.269
who are working so hard
0:05:24.269,0:05:25.694
to produce this program
0:05:25.694,0:05:28.379
and spread God's love to the world."
0:05:28.379,0:05:30.047
You know, I'm so thankful, Phyllis,
0:05:30.047,0:05:31.381
that you put that last part.
0:05:31.381,0:05:32.760
It's not just working hard
0:05:32.760,0:05:35.186
to produce a program, but to share
0:05:35.186,0:05:37.170
God's love with the world,
0:05:37.170,0:05:40.000
that's what we really get excited about.
0:05:40.000,0:05:42.043
Well, before we sing our theme song,
0:05:42.043,0:05:43.760
which talks about the word of Christ
0:05:43.760,0:05:47.832
dwelling in us, Colossians 3:16,
0:05:47.832,0:05:49.884
I want to remind you about that free gift
0:05:49.884,0:05:51.686
we have for this series because we're
0:05:51.686,0:05:53.744
talking about Bible Prophecies
0:05:53.744,0:05:56.508
and Stories for the Last Days,
0:05:56.508,0:05:58.226
and, friend, you need protection
0:05:58.226,0:06:01.465
and so do I, the protection that only God
0:06:01.465,0:06:04.386
can give us as His redeemed children.
0:06:04.386,0:06:05.906
So, we're offering a resource
0:06:05.906,0:06:07.556
called Radical Protection,
0:06:07.556,0:06:09.408
a digital copy of a book.
0:06:09.408,0:06:11.651
Just go to our website, and you can
0:06:11.651,0:06:13.212
download your free copy,
0:06:13.212,0:06:17.516
hopetv.org/hopess, look for the free gift.
0:06:17.516,0:06:19.369
You say, "Derek, I already did it."
0:06:19.369,0:06:21.112
Well, then, tell someone else!
0:06:21.112,0:06:22.655
Be a blessing to them.
0:06:22.655,0:06:25.008
Do you know someone who is under attack,
0:06:25.008,0:06:26.543
someone who is struggling
0:06:26.543,0:06:29.061
because the enemy is trying to crush them?
0:06:29.061,0:06:30.619
Tell them about the resource.
0:06:30.619,0:06:32.915
They can get it free on our website.
0:06:32.915,0:06:35.150
But right now, we want to sing
0:06:35.150,0:06:37.573
an ancient text, actually,
0:06:37.573,0:06:40.597
from Colossians, the letter that Paul
0:06:40.597,0:06:42.731
wrote to Christians in Colossae.
0:06:42.731,0:06:45.104
Colossians 3:16, it says, "Let the word
0:06:45.104,0:06:48.035
of Christ dwell in you richly
0:06:48.035,0:06:50.615
in all wisdom"; let's sing it together.
0:06:50.615,0:07:04.072
♪ music ♪
0:09:20.636,0:09:22.071
(Derek) While we were singing,
0:09:22.071,0:09:23.853
I saw our remotes singing,
0:09:23.853,0:09:26.553
Rodney and Alex and Shaina,
0:09:26.553,0:09:28.572
and I thought about you,
0:09:28.572,0:09:30.063
Hope Sabbath School member
0:09:30.063,0:09:31.628
somewhere around the world,
0:09:31.628,0:09:32.856
and you're singing, too,
0:09:32.856,0:09:35.511
and hiding God's Word in your heart.
0:09:35.511,0:09:38.481
That is an excellent preparation
0:09:38.481,0:09:40.433
for the last days, for the Word
0:09:40.433,0:09:41.407
to be in our hearts.
0:09:41.407,0:09:43.173
So, let's pray that the Holy Spirit
0:09:43.173,0:09:46.072
will guide us as we study about a God
0:09:46.072,0:09:48.607
who loves to reveal Himself
0:09:48.607,0:09:49.909
and His truth to us.
0:09:49.909,0:09:52.655
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,
0:09:52.655,0:09:54.698
we just want to thank You
0:09:54.698,0:09:57.217
that we can study Your Word,
0:09:57.217,0:09:59.388
that Scripture is not given
0:09:59.388,0:10:02.645
a private interpretation, but holy men
0:10:02.645,0:10:04.988
of God spoke as they were moved
0:10:04.988,0:10:07.410
by the Holy Spirit, that Your Word
0:10:07.410,0:10:10.963
is an inspired witness for us.
0:10:10.963,0:10:13.166
And as we study about Foundations
0:10:13.166,0:10:15.819
for Prophecy today, please guide
0:10:15.819,0:10:17.694
each one of us wherever we are
0:10:17.694,0:10:18.854
around the world,
0:10:18.854,0:10:20.710
part of our Hope Sabbath School family.
0:10:20.710,0:10:23.959
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
0:10:23.959,0:10:25.178
(Team) Amen.
0:10:25.178,0:10:26.986
(Derek) Well, we want to talk together
0:10:26.986,0:10:30.326
about a God who wants to reveal Himself
0:10:30.326,0:10:31.871
to us and then look
0:10:31.871,0:10:34.640
at some Bible characters who were called
0:10:34.640,0:10:35.881
to be prophets.
0:10:35.881,0:10:37.599
So, we're going to start in Genesis,
0:10:37.599,0:10:41.893
chapter 3, which is actually a sad chapter
0:10:41.893,0:10:45.847
about sin coming into our world
0:10:45.847,0:10:47.883
through the tempter.
0:10:47.883,0:10:51.884
But in this chapter, we'll also discover
0:10:51.884,0:10:54.406
some glimmers of hope.
0:10:54.406,0:10:57.593
And so, I want to look in Genesis,
0:10:57.593,0:11:02.648
chapter 3, and begin with verse 21.
0:11:02.648,0:11:04.961
And, Zandile, could you read that verse
0:11:04.961,0:11:07.406
for us, Genesis 3:21?
0:11:07.406,0:11:10.640
Again, now remember the context:
0:11:10.640,0:11:13.293
God has created a perfect world.
0:11:13.293,0:11:16.374
He has created Adam and then Eve
0:11:16.374,0:11:17.613
to be a helpmeet.
0:11:17.613,0:11:20.934
They've walked in the garden with Him,
0:11:20.934,0:11:22.476
and they experienced
0:11:22.476,0:11:24.502
intimate communion with Him.
0:11:24.502,0:11:27.398
But they believed Satan's lie
0:11:27.398,0:11:31.785
that they could somehow be like God,
0:11:31.785,0:11:33.753
which was what the enemy wanted,
0:11:33.753,0:11:35.756
to usurp the place of God.
0:11:35.756,0:11:38.342
And now they are feeling naked,
0:11:38.342,0:11:40.234
and they are separated from God
0:11:40.234,0:11:42.286
because of sin, but there are
0:11:42.286,0:11:43.339
some glimmers of hope
0:11:43.339,0:11:45.276
that God doesn't stop wanting
0:11:45.276,0:11:46.820
to reveal Himself.
0:11:46.820,0:11:49.737
So, Genesis 3, let's look at verse 21,
0:11:49.737,0:11:51.448
and then, Sophia, I'll ask you
0:11:51.448,0:11:53.581
to read verse 24.
0:11:53.581,0:11:54.978
(Zandile) And I'll be reading
0:11:54.978,0:11:56.507
from the New King James Version,
0:11:56.507,0:11:57.737
verse 21 says:
0:12:05.406,0:12:06.791
(Derek) So, why did they need
0:12:06.791,0:12:09.277
"tunics of skin to clothe them"?
0:12:09.277,0:12:11.012
I thought it said in chapter 2
0:12:11.012,0:12:14.282
that they were naked and unashamed.
0:12:14.282,0:12:18.172
So, Joshua, why does God need to make
0:12:18.172,0:12:20.091
tunics of skin for them?
0:12:20.091,0:12:21.602
(Joshua) Well, because sin
0:12:21.602,0:12:23.031
has entered the world,
0:12:23.031,0:12:26.287
and it gets cold and they need[br]to be warmed.
0:12:26.287,0:12:28.003
(Derek) Okay, even a climate change,
0:12:28.003,0:12:29.948
you're suggesting possibly.
0:12:29.948,0:12:32.974
Anybody else? Yes, Nicole.
0:12:32.974,0:12:34.449
(Nicole) Well, they now realize
0:12:34.449,0:12:37.065
and recognize their nakedness[br]and there's shame involved
0:12:37.065,0:12:40.157
in that nakedness instead of the purity[br]that was there before sin.
0:12:40.157,0:12:41.526
(Derek) ...a different kind
0:12:41.526,0:12:42.794
of nakedness, isn't it?
0:12:42.794,0:12:44.203
Because the nakedness before
0:12:44.203,0:12:47.245
was beautiful, but now there's this sense
0:12:47.245,0:12:50.017
that they have lost something.
0:12:50.017,0:12:51.402
Alright, anybody else?
0:12:51.402,0:12:53.170
Why tunics of skins?
0:12:53.170,0:12:54.972
We alluded to this, Puia,
0:12:54.972,0:12:56.274
in a previous study.
0:12:56.274,0:12:59.594
I mean, He could have made them of grass.
0:12:59.594,0:13:01.746
In fact, they tried to make them
0:13:01.746,0:13:03.817
with fig leaves; doesn't it say that
0:13:03.817,0:13:05.416
in the chapter?
0:13:05.416,0:13:07.353
They tried to, "Woo! Let's get something
0:13:07.353,0:13:10.004
to cover things up here."
0:13:10.004,0:13:12.819
Why did God choose to use
0:13:12.819,0:13:15.326
the skins of animals to cover them?
0:13:15.326,0:13:17.816
(Puia) The text didn't clearly state,
0:13:17.816,0:13:21.626
but it's very possible that God,
0:13:21.626,0:13:23.320
right away, wanted them to see
0:13:23.320,0:13:25.870
that there is going to be a sacrifice
0:13:25.870,0:13:28.052
that will cover for their sins.
0:13:28.052,0:13:31.580
There will be the death of Somebody,
0:13:31.580,0:13:33.168
a Savior, who would come and die
0:13:33.168,0:13:33.988
on their behalf.
0:13:33.988,0:13:35.707
And by being covered, it's like they
0:13:35.707,0:13:38.000
are covered from their shame,
0:13:38.000,0:13:39.700
Someone who would save them
0:13:39.700,0:13:41.882
from their shame and sin.
0:13:41.882,0:13:43.691
(Derek) You know, I just want to speak
0:13:43.691,0:13:45.593
to you, our Hope Sabbath School members.
0:13:45.600,0:13:47.261
If you missed the previous study,
0:13:47.261,0:13:49.227
actually Puia taught the study
0:13:49.227,0:13:51.146
on understanding sacrifice,
0:13:51.146,0:13:52.980
and that was so clear.
0:13:52.980,0:13:54.716
You can go to our website,
0:13:54.716,0:13:58.123
hopetv.org/hopess, watch
0:13:58.123,0:13:59.132
the previous study,
0:13:59.132,0:14:00.461
Understanding Sacrifice,
0:14:00.461,0:14:02.608
or go to our YouTube channel,
0:14:02.608,0:14:04.175
and you can watch it there.
0:14:04.175,0:14:08.003
We're building one lesson upon another,
0:14:08.003,0:14:10.215
and you're absolutely right, this isn't
0:14:10.215,0:14:12.950
just, "Well, I'll make it of something."
0:14:12.950,0:14:17.188
This was a lesson about the lamb
0:14:17.188,0:14:18.977
that would die pointing forward
0:14:18.977,0:14:20.218
to the Lamb of God, right?
0:14:20.218,0:14:21.739
So, there was a glimmer of hope.
0:14:21.739,0:14:23.570
Let's look at another glimmer of hope,
0:14:23.570,0:14:27.686
Sophia, in Genesis 3, verse 24.
0:14:27.686,0:14:28.849
(Sophia) I'll be reading
0:14:28.849,0:14:30.484
from the New King James Version:
0:14:42.737,0:14:44.255
(Derek) Shawn, how do you think
0:14:44.255,0:14:45.773
that was a word of hope,
0:14:45.773,0:14:48.523
to have cherubim guarding
0:14:48.523,0:14:50.961
the entrance so they couldn't enter?
0:14:50.961,0:14:52.266
(Shawn) Well, it reminds me
0:14:52.266,0:14:53.778
of the Ark of the Covenant,
0:14:53.778,0:14:55.893
which had the two cherubim,
0:14:55.893,0:14:57.558
and what sat between the two
0:14:57.558,0:15:00.196
cherubim but the presence of God?
0:15:00.196,0:15:02.432
And so, I think God is still alluding
0:15:02.432,0:15:04.984
to this reality, that, "Even though you
0:15:04.984,0:15:06.019
are leaving the land
0:15:06.019,0:15:07.787
that I prepared for you, the garden
0:15:07.787,0:15:09.322
I made for you, My presence
0:15:09.322,0:15:11.024
is still going to dwell with you
0:15:11.024,0:15:12.409
in a way to call you back
0:15:12.409,0:15:13.534
to where you belong."
0:15:13.534,0:15:15.280
(Derek) And you're absolutely right,
0:15:15.280,0:15:16.555
and after Rodney's comment
0:15:16.555,0:15:17.647
and Shaina's comment,
0:15:17.647,0:15:19.403
everybody wanting to comment on that
0:15:19.403,0:15:21.255
(that's good), we'll discover that He
0:15:21.255,0:15:23.281
actually gives a promise about, "I
0:15:23.281,0:15:25.916
will never leave you or forsake you."
0:15:25.916,0:15:28.454
But let's take Rodney's comment first.
0:15:28.454,0:15:29.841
(Rodney) And as you mentioned
0:15:29.841,0:15:31.269
the word promise there, Derek,
0:15:31.269,0:15:32.747
I think there's a sequence here
0:15:32.747,0:15:34.233
that leads up to what we are
0:15:34.233,0:15:35.490
talking about here that is
0:15:35.490,0:15:36.952
very, very important, and Puia
0:15:36.952,0:15:40.512
alluded to it, which was in Genesis 3:15,
0:15:40.512,0:15:42.628
even before Genesis 3:15, you can see
0:15:42.628,0:15:45.040
that man, Adam and Eve, went awry,
0:15:45.040,0:15:48.099
then God actually went to find them.
0:15:48.099,0:15:49.861
That's the first beautiful thing
0:15:49.861,0:15:51.771
that probably happened before chapter 3,
0:15:51.771,0:15:53.825
but once we enter chapter 3,
0:15:53.825,0:15:56.130
it then speaks to Genesis 3:15,
0:15:56.130,0:15:57.946
which is now the promise
0:15:57.946,0:16:02.050
of the Messiah, the One who is to come.
0:16:02.050,0:16:04.366
And then now out of that promise,
0:16:04.366,0:16:06.838
He provides the skin, and then He
0:16:06.838,0:16:08.213
also provides the cherubim
0:16:08.213,0:16:09.691
that remind them that He
0:16:09.691,0:16:10.909
will always be with them.
0:16:10.909,0:16:13.100
I know we said earlier that it is
0:16:13.100,0:16:15.413
a very challenging chapter, but as you
0:16:15.413,0:16:18.292
said, Derek, there are glimmers of hope
0:16:18.292,0:16:20.629
for not just them, but also for us.
0:16:20.629,0:16:22.722
(Derek) And I like what Rodney
0:16:22.722,0:16:24.957
pointed out, and then I'll come to Shaina
0:16:24.957,0:16:27.412
and Alex, and that is,
0:16:27.412,0:16:30.261
in that same chapter 3 and verse 8,
0:16:30.261,0:16:33.182
God comes looking for them in the garden.
0:16:33.182,0:16:34.933
And then He calls out,
0:16:34.933,0:16:37.819
"Adam, where are you?"
0:16:37.819,0:16:39.928
Did He know where Adam was?
0:16:39.928,0:16:42.674
Of course, but He's calling him
0:16:42.674,0:16:47.763
to stay in relationship with Him. Alex.
0:16:47.763,0:16:50.665
(Alex) I wanted to add along with that,
0:16:50.665,0:16:52.981
the Garden of Eden was
0:16:52.981,0:16:55.336
actually a sanctuary.
0:16:55.336,0:16:57.255
You could see the Cherubim blocking
0:16:57.255,0:17:00.622
the entrance, which is east.
0:17:00.622,0:17:02.130
That's the exact same structure
0:17:02.130,0:17:06.063
as the sanctuary, so even there
0:17:06.063,0:17:09.778
early on, we can see that's why God
0:17:09.778,0:17:11.614
showed the sanctuary model
0:17:11.614,0:17:14.627
to His people, to say, "My ultimate goal
0:17:14.627,0:17:17.196
is to bring you back into My presence."
0:17:17.196,0:17:18.732
(Derek) Fantastic. And, Shaina,
0:17:18.732,0:17:21.341
I didn't want to miss your comment, too.
0:17:21.341,0:17:25.435
(Shaina) So, ultimately He used
0:17:25.435,0:17:26.835
the cherubim to shield them
0:17:26.835,0:17:28.457
from the garden because if we look
0:17:28.457,0:17:32.482
at verse 22 in the same [chapter,
0:17:32.482,0:17:36.967
Genesis 3], the Godhead, the Lord God
0:17:36.967,0:17:42.620
said...if I can read verse 22[br]of chapter 3.
0:17:42.620,0:17:44.200
(Derek) Genesis 3, and you'd like
0:17:44.200,0:17:46.236
to read which verse?
0:17:46.236,0:17:47.613
(Shaina) Verse 22.
0:17:47.613,0:17:49.578
(Derek) Verse 22, okay.
0:17:49.578,0:17:50.942
(Shaina) And I'll be reading
0:17:50.942,0:17:54.119
from the New King James Version, it says:
0:18:10.184,0:18:12.414
So, it's not that God didn't want them
0:18:12.414,0:18:14.423
to live forever, but now they were
0:18:14.423,0:18:17.080
in a state of being exposed.
0:18:17.080,0:18:18.848
We mentioned that before, now they
0:18:18.848,0:18:21.488
were naked; they were ashamed.
0:18:21.488,0:18:23.713
And if He allowed them to stay
0:18:23.713,0:18:26.044
in that place and they continued to eat
0:18:26.044,0:18:28.073
of that Tree of Life that would cause
0:18:28.073,0:18:30.157
them to live forever, then they
0:18:30.157,0:18:32.079
would forever be living in the state
0:18:32.079,0:18:35.325
of nakedness, of shame, of sin.
0:18:35.325,0:18:37.536
And the God of love,
0:18:37.536,0:18:40.326
who designed us to begin with, does not
0:18:40.326,0:18:41.771
want that for us.
0:18:41.771,0:18:43.462
(Derek) I struggle with that text;
0:18:43.462,0:18:44.467
I have to be honest.
0:18:44.467,0:18:45.899
Maybe you can explain it to me
0:18:45.899,0:18:48.160
because the wages of sin is death.
0:18:48.160,0:18:49.975
So, I don't know, maybe it would have
0:18:49.975,0:18:53.249
just prolonged the dying longer
0:18:53.249,0:18:56.534
by having access to that life-giving food?
0:18:56.534,0:18:58.246
I don't know; I guess we'll ask that
0:18:58.246,0:18:59.658
when we get there, too.
0:18:59.658,0:19:02.027
But, for sure you would agree with me
0:19:02.027,0:19:04.458
that in the garden, and I like the comment
0:19:04.458,0:19:06.515
that Alex made about the cherubim,
0:19:06.515,0:19:09.867
and Shawn also, that there is foreshadowed
0:19:09.867,0:19:12.988
that God is not going to abandon us
0:19:12.988,0:19:14.423
because of sin.
0:19:14.423,0:19:17.108
In fact, He wants to draw near to us.
0:19:17.108,0:19:18.500
Where is that text found?
0:19:18.500,0:19:20.594
Does anyone know where He says,
0:19:20.594,0:19:23.141
"I will never leave you or forsake you"?
0:19:23.141,0:19:25.351
It's found in a couple of places.
0:19:25.351,0:19:26.584
Joshua, do you remember?
0:19:26.584,0:19:29.150
(Joshua) In the book of Joshua.
0:19:29.150,0:19:30.805
(Derek) We thought you would like
0:19:30.805,0:19:31.935
to read that because it
0:19:31.935,0:19:32.943
has your name on it.
0:19:32.943,0:19:34.019
And then it's repeated
0:19:34.019,0:19:35.811
in the book of Hebrews, correct?
0:19:35.811,0:19:37.382
But, Joshua, the book that bears
0:19:37.382,0:19:40.999
your name, let's see what you read there
0:19:40.999,0:19:42.475
in Joshua 1, verse 5.
0:19:42.475,0:19:43.994
And then we say, "Was that
0:19:43.994,0:19:47.426
just for him, or is that for all of us?"
0:19:47.426,0:19:48.794
(Joshua) And I'll be reading
0:19:48.794,0:19:50.369
from the New King James Version,
0:19:50.369,0:19:51.341
and the Bible says:
0:20:03.155,0:20:04.352
(Derek) So, someone says,
0:20:04.352,0:20:05.549
well that was for Joshua,
0:20:05.549,0:20:06.794
and Joshua says, "I'm glad
0:20:06.794,0:20:08.082
my name's Joshua, you know,
0:20:08.082,0:20:09.751
because that would be for me, too."
0:20:09.751,0:20:12.079
How do I know that that promise
0:20:12.079,0:20:16.133
is not just for this leader
0:20:16.133,0:20:18.519
of the children of Israel? Kylynda?
0:20:18.519,0:20:19.703
(Kylynda) I was thinking
0:20:19.703,0:20:22.774
about multiple places this text is found,
0:20:22.774,0:20:25.208
and I was reminded, when Jesus
0:20:25.208,0:20:27.812
is leaving His disciples, He also gives
0:20:27.812,0:20:29.221
the same promise, "I won't
0:20:29.221,0:20:30.798
leave you or forsake you."
0:20:30.798,0:20:32.320
And it's really a promise
0:20:32.320,0:20:34.805
to all followers of Christ.
0:20:34.805,0:20:36.761
He's saying, "As you go out in the world,
0:20:36.761,0:20:38.131
I am there with you."
0:20:38.131,0:20:40.250
(Derek) Did somebody find Hebrews?
0:20:40.250,0:20:42.300
Yes, Shawn, how does it read?
0:20:42.300,0:20:44.379
It's being quoted for us,
0:20:44.379,0:20:46.280
not just about Joshua.
0:20:46.280,0:20:47.998
(Shawn) Correct, and I'll be reading
0:20:47.998,0:20:51.470
from Hebrews 13, verse 5, and this will be
0:20:51.470,0:20:53.654
the English Standard Version:
0:21:01.838,0:21:02.959
(that is, God)
0:21:07.538,0:21:08.938
(Derek) So, the context there
0:21:08.938,0:21:13.012
is learning to be content,
0:21:13.012,0:21:14.404
but it affects every area
0:21:14.404,0:21:15.801
of our lives, doesn't it?
0:21:15.801,0:21:20.537
So, as the darkness of sin settles
0:21:20.537,0:21:23.252
on the world, and sin and death,
0:21:23.252,0:21:26.925
why is it an encouragement to know
0:21:26.925,0:21:28.825
that God says, "I will never leave you
0:21:28.825,0:21:30.860
or forsake you"? Scott?
0:21:30.860,0:21:33.680
(Scott) I think about Jesus' experience
0:21:33.680,0:21:35.866
on the cross; as He was experiencing
0:21:35.866,0:21:37.834
the weight of sin Himself, He said,
0:21:37.834,0:21:38.762
"My God, My God,
0:21:38.762,0:21:40.788
why have You forsaken Me?"
0:21:40.788,0:21:44.177
That's what sin does, right?
0:21:44.177,0:21:46.036
Sin causes that...and as we
0:21:46.036,0:21:47.666
go through our lives, sometimes,
0:21:47.666,0:21:48.893
as we're impacted by sin,
0:21:48.893,0:21:51.181
we feel abandoned.
0:21:51.181,0:21:52.610
And we have to make a choice:
0:21:52.610,0:21:54.769
Am I going to go by how I feel,
0:21:54.769,0:21:57.388
or am I going to believe God's promise
0:21:57.388,0:21:59.286
when He said, "I will never leave you."
0:21:59.286,0:22:00.681
It doesn't matter if you feel
0:22:00.681,0:22:02.155
like God has left you or not;
0:22:02.155,0:22:03.551
He promised, and you can take
0:22:03.551,0:22:05.032
that to the bank.
0:22:05.032,0:22:06.798
(Derek) That's an English expression,
0:22:06.798,0:22:08.468
which means, "You can count on it,"
0:22:08.468,0:22:10.179
by the way, if people were wondering
0:22:10.179,0:22:13.288
what it means to take it to the bank.
0:22:13.288,0:22:16.139
But knowing that God has promised
0:22:16.139,0:22:18.842
to never leave us or forsake us
0:22:18.842,0:22:20.541
really does make a difference,
0:22:20.541,0:22:22.626
doesn't it? Yes, Zandile.
0:22:22.626,0:22:24.438
(Zandile) I was going to say that it's
0:22:24.438,0:22:28.517
a recurring concept or theme in the Bible
0:22:28.517,0:22:31.808
where from Genesis 1, He comes to them.
0:22:31.808,0:22:33.474
Even though they had disobeyed,
0:22:33.474,0:22:35.975
He shows that He cares; He looks for them.
0:22:35.975,0:22:38.605
And throughout the Bible, God is
0:22:38.605,0:22:40.031
still saying to us, "I will
0:22:40.031,0:22:41.321
never leave you, and I will
0:22:41.321,0:22:42.399
never forsake you."
0:22:42.399,0:22:43.894
So, if He is repeating it,
0:22:43.894,0:22:45.535
there should be some seriousness
0:22:45.535,0:22:47.221
and some truth in it because He
0:22:47.221,0:22:48.838
wouldn't be saying it if He
0:22:48.838,0:22:50.123
does not mean it.
0:22:50.123,0:22:52.079
(Derek) Alright, I saw some remote hands
0:22:52.079,0:22:54.060
over there, I think Rodney and Alex,
0:22:54.060,0:22:56.163
and then Puia, and then we'll move on
0:22:56.163,0:22:58.317
to look at some young people
0:22:58.317,0:23:00.418
who were called to speak for God
0:23:00.418,0:23:03.188
because He doesn't want anyone to think
0:23:03.188,0:23:06.831
He's left us or forsaken us. Rodney?
0:23:06.831,0:23:08.543
(Rodney) I think we have seen so far
0:23:08.543,0:23:11.212
in our discussion, all the way through
0:23:11.212,0:23:12.686
God just being with His people.
0:23:12.686,0:23:15.072
That was the intent with Adam and Eve
0:23:15.072,0:23:18.430
when God made the coats of skin, right,
0:23:18.430,0:23:20.328
or the clothing of skin.
0:23:20.328,0:23:21.712
In other words, wherever they
0:23:21.712,0:23:23.341
went in the garden, they were
0:23:23.341,0:23:25.726
wearing clothes, so they were
0:23:25.726,0:23:27.482
in God's clothing, if you will.
0:23:27.482,0:23:28.983
So, wherever they went, it was
0:23:28.983,0:23:30.808
a reminder for them, not only to cover
0:23:30.808,0:23:32.486
their shame but also as a reminder
0:23:32.486,0:23:34.752
to them that He's with them.
0:23:34.752,0:23:37.154
You see it also in the desert when they
0:23:37.154,0:23:41.592
were traveling from Egypt to Canaan.
0:23:41.592,0:23:43.516
God said, "Make Me a sanctuary
0:23:43.516,0:23:44.960
that I may dwell among you."
0:23:44.960,0:23:46.246
And so He wanted
0:23:46.246,0:23:47.735
to really commune with them.
0:23:47.735,0:23:49.211
You see when Jesus came,
0:23:49.211,0:23:50.685
He was with His disciples.
0:23:50.685,0:23:51.739
All the way through,
0:23:51.739,0:23:53.838
even to the very last chapter
0:23:53.838,0:23:55.416
of the book of Revelation,
0:23:55.416,0:23:57.468
it says, "Surely I am coming quickly."
0:23:57.468,0:23:59.681
So, we just see a depiction
0:23:59.681,0:24:01.545
that, no matter where or how far
0:24:01.545,0:24:03.330
we have gone, Jesus wants
0:24:03.330,0:24:06.183
to have an intimate relationship with us.
0:24:06.183,0:24:08.056
(Derek) Alright, thank you for sharing.
0:24:08.056,0:24:09.553
Alex, I think you had your hand
0:24:09.553,0:24:10.885
raised, too; would you like
0:24:10.885,0:24:11.683
to add to that?
0:24:11.683,0:24:13.481
(Alex) Yes, and to go with the idea
0:24:13.481,0:24:15.499
of hope, when people have hope,
0:24:15.499,0:24:17.107
it will help them to push through
0:24:17.107,0:24:18.647
even through difficult times.
0:24:18.647,0:24:19.981
And I just want everyone,
0:24:19.981,0:24:22.650
whoever is watching, to put your name
0:24:22.650,0:24:25.729
in Joshua 1:5 where God said, "As I was
0:24:25.729,0:24:28.226
with Moses, so I will be with," Joshua,
0:24:28.226,0:24:30.738
and, "I will be with you, too."
0:24:30.738,0:24:31.963
(Derek) Beautiful, I like
0:24:31.963,0:24:34.801
that personalizing of the text,
0:24:34.801,0:24:37.448
"As I was with Moses,
0:24:37.448,0:24:40.352
I will be with...," Sophia, Nicole,
0:24:40.352,0:24:42.252
put your name there and say,
0:24:42.252,0:24:43.672
"Is that really true?"
0:24:43.672,0:24:45.790
Well, Jesus is the same yesterday,
0:24:45.790,0:24:48.378
today and forever, so His promise
0:24:48.378,0:24:51.997
is not just for Joshua in ancient times,
0:24:51.997,0:24:53.881
but it's for each one of us. Puia?
0:24:53.881,0:24:55.733
(Puia) I like what Rodney said.
0:24:55.733,0:24:56.941
I think this is the theme
0:24:56.941,0:24:58.869
that we're seeing throughout Scripture,
0:24:58.869,0:24:59.864
the presence of God.
0:24:59.864,0:25:02.240
You know, when humanity fell into sin,
0:25:02.240,0:25:04.309
we can look at that from different angles,
0:25:04.309,0:25:07.601
but one of the main things we lost
0:25:07.601,0:25:10.247
was that direct presence of God,
0:25:10.247,0:25:12.483
that face-to-face relationship
0:25:12.483,0:25:15.386
that humanity had.
0:25:15.386,0:25:18.113
But even in verse 24, chapter 3
0:25:18.113,0:25:19.740
of Genesis that we read, that God
0:25:19.740,0:25:21.322
placed cherubim, you know,
0:25:21.322,0:25:24.312
the word "placed" in the Hebrew language
0:25:24.312,0:25:27.164
is the same word for "tabernacle."
0:25:27.164,0:25:28.790
(Derek) Ah, so He "pitched" them.
0:25:28.790,0:25:30.785
(Puia) He pitched the cherubim,
0:25:30.785,0:25:33.155
like He tabernacled, He continued
0:25:33.155,0:25:34.872
to show humanity that, "Even though
0:25:34.872,0:25:37.051
you have fallen into sin, My presence
0:25:37.051,0:25:38.539
will still be here."
0:25:38.539,0:25:41.193
We will one day be united again,
0:25:41.193,0:25:42.796
and that is so beautiful.
0:25:42.796,0:25:43.865
(Derek) It really is.
0:25:43.865,0:25:46.650
Well, let's look at a few individuals
0:25:46.650,0:25:50.494
who were called to be prophets.
0:25:50.494,0:25:51.956
And you say, "Well, Derek, I'm
0:25:51.956,0:25:53.343
not called to be a prophet,"
0:25:53.343,0:25:55.193
but we'll actually learn some lessons
0:25:55.193,0:25:57.778
that will help us to know God
0:25:57.778,0:25:59.381
wants to reveal Himself to us.
0:25:59.381,0:26:02.383
So, let's go to 1 Samuel, chapter 1.
0:26:02.383,0:26:04.117
Nicole, if you could read
0:26:04.117,0:26:07.271
verses 27 and 28.
0:26:07.271,0:26:09.653
And we're asking the question,
0:26:09.653,0:26:11.759
how did the Lord prepare
0:26:11.759,0:26:14.161
young Samuel to prophesy?
0:26:14.161,0:26:17.014
And we'll see the preparation
0:26:17.014,0:26:21.705
actually began even before he was born.
0:26:21.705,0:26:23.570
(Nicole) The New International Version
0:26:23.570,0:26:24.889
of 1 Samuel, chapter 1,
0:26:24.889,0:26:26.907
verses 27 and 28, says:
0:26:40.694,0:26:42.312
(Derek) And if you'd stay with us,
0:26:42.312,0:26:44.315
Nicole, and read in chapter 2,
0:26:44.315,0:26:47.140
verses 18 and 19, since you are
0:26:47.140,0:26:49.359
also a mother, so you can understand
0:26:49.359,0:26:51.961
a mother's prayers as Hannah,
0:26:51.961,0:26:53.471
remember, that was her name,
0:26:53.471,0:26:56.186
is praying for this child.
0:26:56.186,0:26:57.281
(Nicole) And continuing
0:26:57.281,0:26:59.448
in the New International Version, it says:
0:27:13.634,0:27:14.776
(Derek) Now, let's think
0:27:14.776,0:27:16.580
back about the garden and the robe
0:27:16.580,0:27:19.233
that was made in the garden.
0:27:19.233,0:27:21.783
So, I want to ask a question.
0:27:21.783,0:27:23.864
Some of you are parents, too.
0:27:23.864,0:27:24.865
What do you think was
0:27:24.865,0:27:28.376
going through Hannah's mind -
0:27:28.376,0:27:30.147
and we've got some parents here
0:27:30.147,0:27:31.885
on our team - what was going
0:27:31.885,0:27:34.528
through Hannah's mind as she made
0:27:34.528,0:27:38.098
that covering, that robe,
0:27:38.098,0:27:42.056
for her son, Samuel, every year?
0:27:42.056,0:27:46.643
Anybody, what do you think? Yes, Scott.
0:27:46.643,0:27:49.017
(Scott) I'm drawn to the description
0:27:49.017,0:27:50.448
of his clothing, that it says
0:27:50.448,0:27:51.848
he was wearing a linen ephod.
0:27:51.848,0:27:53.214
Now, we don't know exactly
0:27:53.214,0:27:54.405
what an ephod was, but it
0:27:54.405,0:27:56.584
had to do with priestly ministry.
0:27:56.584,0:27:59.574
And so, Hannah has lent him to the Lord,
0:27:59.574,0:28:01.142
and now she is clothing him
0:28:01.142,0:28:03.821
in the trappings for his service for God,
0:28:03.821,0:28:06.506
so she is preparing him, from a young age,
0:28:06.506,0:28:10.282
to serve God, to minister for God.
0:28:10.282,0:28:13.679
(Derek) Alright, in a physical sense,
0:28:13.679,0:28:16.025
you mean, by making this robe?
0:28:16.025,0:28:18.436
I want to know, Nicole, what was
0:28:18.436,0:28:20.196
going through her mind
0:28:20.196,0:28:21.667
while she was making...
0:28:21.667,0:28:24.033
What was she doing while she was
0:28:24.033,0:28:27.302
weaving or sewing that garment?
0:28:27.302,0:28:29.095
(Nicole) I can see her putting tears
0:28:29.095,0:28:30.576
in that garment because her son
0:28:30.576,0:28:32.709
is not with her, but also love, because
0:28:32.709,0:28:34.570
she knows that her son is going to wear
0:28:34.570,0:28:36.315
that garment and have a part of her
0:28:36.315,0:28:38.598
with him every day that he is[br]ministering to God.
0:28:38.598,0:28:40.215
(Derek) Would someone like to add
0:28:40.215,0:28:42.909
another word besides tears and love?
0:28:42.909,0:28:43.826
(Joshua) Gratitude.
0:28:43.826,0:28:45.604
(Derek) Gratitude. I'm looking
0:28:45.604,0:28:47.773
for one more word.
0:28:47.773,0:28:48.837
(Sophia) Joy.
0:28:48.837,0:28:49.649
(Kylynda) Care.
0:28:49.649,0:28:51.864
(Derek) How about prayer?
0:28:51.864,0:28:53.385
Because she prayed, you told us,
0:28:53.385,0:28:54.864
at the beginning, right?
0:28:54.864,0:28:56.165
Did she stop praying?
0:28:56.165,0:28:57.900
Do we stop praying for our children,
0:28:57.900,0:28:59.535
those of us who have children?
0:28:59.535,0:29:02.341
She never stops praying that he
0:29:02.341,0:29:08.388
will be covered, that he will understand
0:29:08.388,0:29:10.619
the grace of God.
0:29:10.619,0:29:12.826
And, by the way, if you read this book,
0:29:12.826,0:29:14.637
there are some wicked things happening
0:29:14.637,0:29:15.858
in the temple.
0:29:15.858,0:29:18.378
It's a miracle that this young boy
0:29:18.378,0:29:21.096
is remaining pure and true to God.
0:29:21.096,0:29:22.899
Well, let's pick up the story.
0:29:22.899,0:29:26.286
Sophia, if you could take us to chapter 3
0:29:26.286,0:29:29.173
of 1 Samuel, and we're going to look
0:29:29.173,0:29:31.762
at the first 10 verses.
0:29:31.762,0:29:33.466
Now, some of you might say, "Derek,
0:29:33.466,0:29:35.872
I know this story," but maybe you're
0:29:35.872,0:29:37.782
going to hear this for the first time.
0:29:37.782,0:29:40.500
Remember, people are listening.
0:29:40.500,0:29:43.194
And I want you not just to tell us
0:29:43.194,0:29:46.271
what happened, but what can we learn
0:29:46.271,0:29:49.628
for our lives today that will help us
0:29:49.628,0:29:53.955
to prepare for the last days, okay?
0:29:53.955,0:29:56.131
Chapter 3, verses 1 through 10.
0:29:56.131,0:29:57.303
(Sophia) I'll be reading
0:29:57.303,0:29:59.171
from the New King James Version:
0:31:35.711,0:31:36.930
(Derek) What do you learn
0:31:36.930,0:31:37.700
from this story?
0:31:37.700,0:31:39.299
It's a beautiful story, right?
0:31:39.299,0:31:41.434
What lessons do you learn?
0:31:41.434,0:31:42.431
I see Rodney, you're
0:31:42.431,0:31:44.153
just kind of shaking your head.
0:31:44.153,0:31:45.475
There's got to be something
0:31:45.475,0:31:46.819
you're thinking while you're
0:31:46.819,0:31:47.900
shaking your head.
0:31:47.900,0:31:50.877
(Rodney) Derek, this story[br]is unbelievable.
0:31:50.877,0:31:53.874
I'm just watching the progression
0:31:53.874,0:31:58.868
of both Samuel and Eli.
0:31:58.868,0:32:04.407
I see Samuel, here, trying to understand
0:32:04.407,0:32:06.386
the voice of God, because the Bible says
0:32:06.386,0:32:08.854
there that the voice of the Lord
0:32:08.854,0:32:10.894
was rare in those days.
0:32:10.894,0:32:13.146
And so, if he hears anything that is
0:32:13.146,0:32:16.822
sounding like...I notice he goes to Eli.
0:32:16.822,0:32:18.106
He didn't go anywhere else;
0:32:18.106,0:32:19.765
he went to Eli, so he's expecting
0:32:19.765,0:32:21.477
that Eli would have been the person.
0:32:21.477,0:32:23.555
But I just like how Samuel is
0:32:23.555,0:32:25.507
following the instructions of Eli.
0:32:25.507,0:32:27.308
Now, Eli himself also went
0:32:27.308,0:32:28.884
through a progression.
0:32:28.884,0:32:30.350
If you notice, Eli himself
0:32:30.350,0:32:32.177
didn't even know, but the third time
0:32:32.177,0:32:34.433
he recognized that God was
0:32:34.433,0:32:35.811
speaking to this young man
0:32:35.811,0:32:37.285
and instructed him accordingly.
0:32:37.285,0:32:40.756
So, I can see growth and development
0:32:40.756,0:32:42.158
in these two characters
0:32:42.158,0:32:43.575
being displayed here,
0:32:43.575,0:32:44.654
and so it is with us.
0:32:44.654,0:32:47.772
God wants us to grow with Him as well.
0:32:47.772,0:32:49.215
(Derek) Okay, I see some hands
0:32:49.215,0:32:52.594
in the studio, and then I see Alex,
0:32:52.594,0:32:55.104
one of our remotes. Nicole.
0:32:55.104,0:32:56.195
(Nicole) I'm taken
0:32:56.195,0:32:58.640
by the obedience of this child.
0:32:58.640,0:33:00.884
I have children, and it's hard
0:33:00.884,0:33:02.458
to get them, sometimes, to listen
0:33:02.458,0:33:03.512
to what you're saying.
0:33:03.512,0:33:07.150
But in this case, it's refreshing to see
0:33:07.150,0:33:09.235
that this child is able to be obedient.
0:33:09.235,0:33:11.086
And when Eli tells him what to do,
0:33:11.086,0:33:12.788
he does it; that's from the prayer
0:33:12.788,0:33:16.091
of his mom saying that this child
0:33:16.091,0:33:17.710
is going to be raised and do
0:33:17.710,0:33:18.821
the service of God.
0:33:18.821,0:33:20.391
And so, that is important for us
0:33:20.391,0:33:21.674
as parents to know, we have
0:33:21.674,0:33:23.342
to pray for our children to be able
0:33:23.342,0:33:24.439
to hear God's voice.
0:33:24.439,0:33:26.375
(Derek) So, Samuel, this little boy, is
0:33:26.375,0:33:29.421
covered in prayer in more ways than one.
0:33:29.421,0:33:31.423
He's got the little robe, right,
0:33:31.423,0:33:34.994
but he's also covered in prayer. Alex?
0:33:34.994,0:33:36.617
(Alex) And it's powerful, and if I
0:33:36.617,0:33:38.703
were to sum this up, for me,
0:33:38.703,0:33:41.099
it is the fact that God does not call
0:33:41.099,0:33:42.914
the qualified, but he
0:33:42.914,0:33:44.603
qualifies the called.
0:33:44.603,0:33:46.872
This is a young boy, but as long as you're
0:33:46.872,0:33:48.357
willing, whoever you are,
0:33:48.357,0:33:50.193
or how old you are, doesn't matter;
0:33:50.193,0:33:52.496
as long as you say, "Here am I, Lord,"
0:33:52.496,0:33:53.945
He will work through you.
0:33:53.945,0:33:55.236
(Derek) So, you don't have
0:33:55.236,0:33:57.329
to be the high priest like Eli.
0:33:57.329,0:34:02.214
Tragically, Eli's not listening,
0:34:02.214,0:34:03.505
and, "The word of the Lord
0:34:03.505,0:34:05.307
was rare in those days."
0:34:05.307,0:34:07.475
A lesson you learned, Scott.
0:34:07.475,0:34:09.711
(Scott) What really struck me is
0:34:09.711,0:34:13.649
that it says that Samuel did not yet know
0:34:13.649,0:34:15.391
the voice of the Lord.
0:34:15.391,0:34:19.368
And what stood out to me is that God
0:34:19.368,0:34:24.093
calls us before we are in a position
0:34:24.093,0:34:25.394
to reach out to Him.
0:34:25.394,0:34:27.730
We are not the one who initiates.
0:34:27.730,0:34:29.498
Samuel didn't start this up.
0:34:29.498,0:34:31.630
God was the One who took the initiative,
0:34:31.630,0:34:33.435
and He initiated this call,
0:34:33.435,0:34:35.223
and He spoke to him.
0:34:35.223,0:34:36.572
(Derek) Do we have any idea
0:34:36.572,0:34:39.174
how old Samuel was at this time?
0:34:39.174,0:34:42.511
Does anybody know?
0:34:42.511,0:34:44.868
Shawn, you've got a couple of little boys.
0:34:44.868,0:34:47.743
Can you imagine the Lord God saying,
0:34:47.743,0:34:48.821
"I'm going to choose
0:34:48.821,0:34:51.257
little Michael," or Matthew?
0:34:51.257,0:34:52.495
(Shawn) That'd be amazing.
0:34:52.500,0:34:54.129
(Derek) Wouldn't it be?!
0:34:54.129,0:34:56.285
But I appreciate what you said, Alex,
0:34:56.285,0:34:57.753
and I would say to you,
0:34:57.753,0:34:59.394
our Hope Sabbath School family,
0:34:59.394,0:35:01.980
God wants to speak to us,
0:35:01.980,0:35:03.381
if we're willing to listen.
0:35:03.381,0:35:05.508
Could we also as parents bathe
0:35:05.508,0:35:08.417
our children in prayer so that when God
0:35:08.417,0:35:10.782
speaks to them, they'll listen,
0:35:10.782,0:35:12.114
they'll recognize the voice,
0:35:12.114,0:35:13.022
and they'll listen.
0:35:13.022,0:35:14.042
It's quite amazing.
0:35:14.042,0:35:15.527
Sophia, you had a thought.
0:35:15.527,0:35:18.053
(Sophia) It says that He came and stood,
0:35:18.053,0:35:19.848
He came to him just like He came
0:35:19.848,0:35:21.433
to Adam and Eve in the garden;
0:35:21.433,0:35:22.717
He found them.
0:35:22.717,0:35:24.402
(Derek) I noticed that also,
0:35:24.402,0:35:25.956
that in the first [three],
0:35:25.956,0:35:27.943
it just says, "He called."
0:35:27.943,0:35:29.165
Did you notice that?
0:35:29.165,0:35:31.320
But the [fourth] time, it says,[br]"The Lord..."?
0:35:31.320,0:35:34.699
(Derek, Team) "...came and stood"
0:35:34.699,0:35:36.902
(Derek) ...and called the [fourth] time.
0:35:36.902,0:35:38.787
So, what lesson can we learn
0:35:38.787,0:35:40.045
for our lives from this?
0:35:40.045,0:35:44.442
We're talking about a story here
0:35:44.442,0:35:45.530
for the last days.
0:35:45.530,0:35:47.686
What lesson, Puia, could I learn
0:35:47.686,0:35:48.468
from this story?
0:35:48.468,0:35:50.299
You say, "What a great story."
0:35:50.299,0:35:51.504
What could I learn?
0:35:51.504,0:35:53.709
(Puia) I think God, even to this day
0:35:53.709,0:35:56.346
and in the last days, wants to continue
0:35:56.346,0:35:58.921
to communicate with us, so I think
0:35:58.921,0:36:02.144
the lesson, here, is to be willing,
0:36:02.144,0:36:03.586
as Alex pointed out, to have
0:36:03.586,0:36:06.883
a willing heart to say, "Here I am, Lord,"
0:36:06.883,0:36:08.170
"Here I am, send me,"
0:36:08.170,0:36:09.951
"Here I am, I'm listening."
0:36:09.951,0:36:11.893
And I really love how Samuel responded,
0:36:11.893,0:36:14.089
"Speak, Your servant hears."
0:36:14.089,0:36:15.381
I think the lesson is there
0:36:15.381,0:36:17.637
for us to continue to listen
0:36:17.637,0:36:18.733
to the voice of God.
0:36:18.733,0:36:20.844
Today, the Bible is the Word of God,
0:36:20.844,0:36:23.407
that we can listen to His Word every day,
0:36:23.407,0:36:26.398
and God will speak to our hearts.
0:36:26.398,0:36:28.210
(Derek) Let's look at another prophet.
0:36:28.210,0:36:29.410
Kylynda, if you'd take us
0:36:29.410,0:36:31.089
to Isaiah the prophet.
0:36:31.089,0:36:34.659
Now, this is several centuries later.
0:36:34.659,0:36:38.620
This is about the eighth century B.C.,
0:36:38.620,0:36:40.700
and God calls another prophet
0:36:40.700,0:36:43.361
named Isaiah, and if you could read
0:36:43.361,0:36:46.722
for us chapter 6 of the book -
0:36:46.722,0:36:48.757
because this is where Isaiah
0:36:48.757,0:36:51.310
actually tells us about his call -
0:36:51.310,0:36:53.428
verses 1 through 5.
0:36:53.428,0:36:54.647
(Kylynda) I'll be reading
0:36:54.647,0:36:56.524
from the New King James Version:
0:37:44.195,0:37:45.405
(Derek) What do you think
0:37:45.405,0:37:47.131
about Isaiah's reaction
0:37:47.131,0:37:49.101
to this revelation?
0:37:49.101,0:37:52.745
Now, again, you know he obviously had
0:37:52.745,0:37:56.196
a relationship with God, right,
0:37:56.196,0:37:58.645
though I do think, Scott, you pointed out
0:37:58.645,0:37:59.889
that we don't have to have
0:37:59.889,0:38:01.321
everything together before God
0:38:01.321,0:38:02.422
might come and call us.
0:38:02.422,0:38:05.102
But he's a man seeking God,
0:38:05.102,0:38:07.427
and yet this is a totally...
0:38:07.427,0:38:09.773
What would you say?
0:38:09.773,0:38:11.849
A more overwhelming revelation
0:38:11.849,0:38:14.478
of God's presence and truth to him.
0:38:14.478,0:38:15.308
What do you think
0:38:15.308,0:38:16.734
about his reaction, Joshua?
0:38:16.734,0:38:18.501
(Joshua) To me, he seemed intimidated
0:38:18.501,0:38:20.811
and unworthy; he felt
0:38:20.811,0:38:22.328
as though he was unworthy.
0:38:22.328,0:38:23.029
(Derek) Okay.
0:38:23.029,0:38:24.931
(Joshua) I know the following Scriptures
0:38:24.931,0:38:27.671
seem to clarify that and what God did
0:38:27.671,0:38:28.723
in order to prepare...
0:38:28.723,0:38:30.203
(Derek) Okay, let's unpack
0:38:30.203,0:38:35.319
the "intimidated"; that implies some fear?
0:38:35.319,0:38:38.365
Do you think there was some fear there?
0:38:38.365,0:38:39.791
(Joshua) The vision of what he
0:38:39.791,0:38:41.932
was seeing? Yeah.
0:38:41.932,0:38:43.565
(Derek) You know, it would be nice
0:38:43.565,0:38:44.425
to think no fear,
0:38:44.425,0:38:47.381
but any time even holy angels showed up,
0:38:47.381,0:38:50.646
they had to say, "Fear not," right?
0:38:50.646,0:38:52.506
"Fear not, I bring you glad tidings..."
0:38:52.506,0:38:53.272
"Fear not," why?
0:38:53.272,0:38:56.465
Because the glory of God
0:38:56.465,0:38:58.715
is really overwhelming
0:38:58.715,0:39:01.875
to sinful human beings. Yes, Puia.
0:39:01.875,0:39:04.071
(Puia) I think this is a common theme
0:39:04.071,0:39:05.071
we see in the Bible.
0:39:05.071,0:39:07.180
Whenever someone gets close to God,
0:39:07.180,0:39:10.405
they begin to see their own sinfulness.
0:39:10.405,0:39:11.867
You know, the closer you are
0:39:11.867,0:39:13.770
drawn to God, the more you
0:39:13.770,0:39:15.968
see your failures.
0:39:15.968,0:39:17.301
And yet, that's where we see
0:39:17.301,0:39:19.761
the grace of God coming through also.
0:39:19.761,0:39:21.480
(Derek) You speak about grace, Puia.
0:39:21.480,0:39:23.457
I'd like you to read on, verses 6 and 7
0:39:23.457,0:39:24.704
of the same chapter.
0:39:24.704,0:39:26.036
The story doesn't end there,
0:39:26.036,0:39:28.467
"Woe is me, I'm done, bye."
0:39:28.467,0:39:30.914
Fortunately, the prophet continues
0:39:30.914,0:39:34.968
to record the story, and what do we learn?
0:39:34.968,0:39:36.236
(Puia) And I'll be reading
0:39:36.236,0:39:37.980
from the New King James Version,
0:39:37.980,0:39:39.813
Isaiah 6, verses 6 to 8:
0:39:59.400,0:40:01.158
(Derek) Oh, hold verse 8; we're going
0:40:01.158,0:40:03.230
going to read that in just a minute, okay?
0:40:03.230,0:40:06.942
So, we've got a hot coal coming
0:40:06.942,0:40:09.028
from an altar; there's
0:40:09.028,0:40:12.275
some symbolism here, what is that?
0:40:12.275,0:40:13.323
(Joshua) Purification.
0:40:13.323,0:40:15.539
(Derek) Purification, and what's the altar
0:40:15.539,0:40:18.264
it's coming from?
0:40:18.264,0:40:20.633
It kind of reminds us of...?
0:40:20.633,0:40:21.729
(Team) Burnt offering.
0:40:21.729,0:40:27.558
(Derek) Burnt offering, of the sanctuary.
0:40:27.558,0:40:30.010
Does anybody have an idea?
0:40:30.010,0:40:33.896
Yes, Rodney, you're going to tell us
0:40:33.896,0:40:36.410
where this burning coal came from,
0:40:36.410,0:40:38.607
an altar of some kind.
0:40:38.607,0:40:40.510
(Rodney) Yes, there's an intimation here
0:40:40.510,0:40:42.322
that it is from the altar of incense
0:40:42.322,0:40:44.174
where there is prayer,
0:40:44.174,0:40:46.005
and back to Joshua's point
0:40:46.005,0:40:48.929
around purification that takes place.
0:40:48.929,0:40:51.347
It really just is a great symbolism
0:40:51.347,0:40:54.751
that indicates that, "Well,
0:40:54.751,0:40:56.815
you're now ready."
0:40:56.815,0:40:58.432
God is saying, "I am purifying you
0:40:58.432,0:41:00.190
of your sin, and now you are ready
0:41:00.190,0:41:02.569
to represent Me to My people."
0:41:02.569,0:41:05.328
(Derek) So, heavenly sanctuary, right,
0:41:05.328,0:41:08.222
or earthly sanctuary - no.
0:41:08.222,0:41:09.568
It's heavenly sanctuary
0:41:09.568,0:41:11.856
this is coming from; it's a symbol.
0:41:11.856,0:41:13.540
And, Puia, you wanted to read on,
0:41:13.540,0:41:15.963
and we want you to read it for us,
0:41:15.963,0:41:20.385
because what options does
0:41:20.385,0:41:25.165
this young man, Isaiah, have[br]at this point?
0:41:25.165,0:41:26.594
What are his options?
0:41:26.594,0:41:27.658
(Puia) Say no to God.
0:41:27.658,0:41:28.827
(Derek) He could say no.
0:41:28.827,0:41:30.387
He could say, "This
0:41:30.387,0:41:33.876
would be very difficult."
0:41:33.876,0:41:35.425
"They've killed prophets before,
0:41:35.425,0:41:38.999
and they'll kill prophets later.
0:41:38.999,0:41:41.447
They might even kill me."
0:41:41.447,0:41:44.308
Or, he says...let's see how he responds
0:41:44.308,0:41:46.897
in Isaiah 6 and verse 8.
0:41:46.897,0:41:48.304
(Puia) And I will be reading
0:41:48.304,0:41:49.913
from the New King James Version:
0:42:01.261,0:42:02.634
(Derek) So, we're not called
0:42:02.634,0:42:03.407
to be prophets.
0:42:03.407,0:42:04.769
Shaina, I'm going to ask you
0:42:04.769,0:42:06.342
a question in just a minute here,
0:42:06.342,0:42:08.135
because when we're called
0:42:08.135,0:42:10.138
even to be on Hope Sabbath School,
0:42:10.138,0:42:11.903
right - we're sharing the Word of God
0:42:11.903,0:42:13.684
with the world - it would be easy
0:42:13.684,0:42:17.378
for us to go, "I don't think so.
0:42:17.378,0:42:19.313
Why don't You call someone else
0:42:19.313,0:42:22.787
who's more...," more what?
0:42:22.787,0:42:23.614
(Team) Qualified.
0:42:23.614,0:42:27.093
(Derek) Qualified or talented or whatever.
0:42:27.093,0:42:33.910
Shaina, when you joined the team,
0:42:33.910,0:42:36.029
I don't think it was just my wife
0:42:36.029,0:42:37.511
who asked you; I think God
0:42:37.511,0:42:38.886
was inviting you, and you've
0:42:38.886,0:42:40.952
been a great blessing
0:42:40.952,0:42:43.687
to the Hope Sabbath School team.
0:42:43.687,0:42:45.405
How did God interact with you
0:42:45.405,0:42:49.222
when that invitation came?
0:42:49.222,0:42:51.072
(Shaina) Well, I had to respond
0:42:51.072,0:42:55.021
positively to His call as well,
0:42:55.021,0:42:58.736
and I found that in reading His Word
0:42:58.736,0:43:00.603
and spending more time in His Word
0:43:00.603,0:43:03.887
and in communicating, I felt strengthened
0:43:03.887,0:43:05.543
and more equipped.
0:43:05.543,0:43:07.722
And as I continued to communicate
0:43:07.722,0:43:11.315
with Him, the initial fear,
0:43:11.315,0:43:14.774
because to be honest, I used to film
0:43:14.774,0:43:17.048
in the studio regularly when I lived
0:43:17.048,0:43:22.372
in the area, and in my brain,
0:43:22.372,0:43:24.262
sitting there in the studio was like,
0:43:24.262,0:43:26.762
"Oh, these cameras; I'm being
0:43:26.762,0:43:27.858
viewed by the world."
0:43:27.858,0:43:30.466
It was kind of an intimidating feeling,
0:43:30.466,0:43:32.240
but as I said, as time went on,
0:43:32.240,0:43:34.639
and I kept communicating with Him,
0:43:34.639,0:43:37.240
and also being surrounded by believers
0:43:37.240,0:43:42.913
who were equipped by Him as well,
0:43:42.913,0:43:45.682
it started to become natural to me.
0:43:45.682,0:43:47.330
And so, it's like, as we continue
0:43:47.330,0:43:48.636
to communicate with Him
0:43:48.636,0:43:50.778
and spend time in His Word,
0:43:50.778,0:43:52.354
He will fuel us with the strength
0:43:52.354,0:43:54.109
that we need in order to do
0:43:54.109,0:43:55.453
what He called us to do.
0:43:55.453,0:43:57.372
(Derek) And I want you to stay with us,
0:43:57.372,0:43:58.729
Shaina, because some
0:43:58.729,0:44:00.781
of our Hope Sabbath School family
0:44:00.781,0:44:03.522
know that you faced a great crisis
0:44:03.522,0:44:06.347
when you had an accident some years ago.
0:44:06.347,0:44:09.413
Tell us about that, and that
0:44:09.413,0:44:11.606
might have been a great way out,
0:44:11.606,0:44:13.604
to say, "Well, I'm going through all
0:44:13.604,0:44:15.178
of this difficulty; I don't think
0:44:15.178,0:44:17.237
I can do this anymore."
0:44:17.237,0:44:19.566
And yet, God called you to continue.
0:44:19.566,0:44:21.468
Talk to us about that.
0:44:21.468,0:44:23.704
(Shaina) It was about four years ago
0:44:23.704,0:44:26.311
I underwent the greatest tragedy
0:44:26.311,0:44:29.189
of my life so far.
0:44:29.189,0:44:31.095
I was in a major car accident,
0:44:31.095,0:44:34.467
was on life support for two days,
0:44:34.467,0:44:37.252
and after I got off life support
0:44:37.252,0:44:39.079
had short-term memory loss.
0:44:39.079,0:44:42.393
So, meaning I would most likely be
0:44:42.393,0:44:44.625
repeating the same things I said
0:44:44.625,0:44:48.918
30 seconds ago in this conversation.
0:44:48.918,0:44:50.392
Lots of prayers were sent up
0:44:50.392,0:44:54.417
around the world for me, and I remember
0:44:54.417,0:44:56.636
Pastor Derek's wife reaching
0:44:56.636,0:44:59.333
back out to me after I felt better.
0:44:59.333,0:45:03.311
And I was like, "I cannot not do this,
0:45:03.311,0:45:08.524
because look at what He has done for me."
0:45:08.524,0:45:11.027
I didn't have to have my memory restored.
0:45:11.027,0:45:13.187
I didn't have to be walking.
0:45:13.187,0:45:18.411
I didn't have to look
0:45:18.411,0:45:22.319
like nothing happened to me basically.
0:45:22.319,0:45:24.012
And people look at me today,
0:45:24.012,0:45:25.388
and they would never be able
0:45:25.388,0:45:27.962
to tell that I was in that state.
0:45:27.962,0:45:34.504
And so, this is just like my gratitude,
0:45:34.504,0:45:35.700
to say, "Thank You, God.
0:45:35.700,0:45:39.601
You saved me from that physical death,
0:45:39.601,0:45:42.517
and ultimately the spiritual death,"
0:45:42.517,0:45:43.853
and it's like I can't...
0:45:43.853,0:45:46.241
I don't even know if this is
0:45:46.241,0:45:48.883
enough to say thanks.
0:45:48.883,0:45:53.231
And so, it's very little that I can do
0:45:53.231,0:45:55.417
to say thanks, and He continues
0:45:55.417,0:46:00.972
to strengthen and equip me to do the work.
0:46:00.972,0:46:02.274
(Derek) Thank you so much.
0:46:02.274,0:46:03.919
It's a powerful testimony.
0:46:03.919,0:46:05.511
Thank you so much for sharing it.
0:46:05.511,0:46:07.636
And I guess, you say, "Well, Samuel,
0:46:07.636,0:46:09.194
that was like a long time ago."
0:46:09.194,0:46:11.836
Or, "Isaiah, that was a long time ago."
0:46:11.836,0:46:13.818
But we have a choice to make.
0:46:13.818,0:46:18.667
And Shaina said, "Here am I, use me,"
0:46:18.667,0:46:19.878
right, "Use me."
0:46:19.878,0:46:21.660
Oh, but Satan comes, and, I mean,
0:46:21.660,0:46:23.489
we know God didn't cause the accident.
0:46:23.489,0:46:24.539
You say, "Well, it was
0:46:24.539,0:46:25.964
just someone's driving."
0:46:25.964,0:46:27.751
But, ultimately the enemy is
0:46:27.751,0:46:30.226
behind the chaos of this world.
0:46:30.226,0:46:32.691
But God says, "We're not done."
0:46:32.691,0:46:34.552
You know, the cherubim are still there,
0:46:34.552,0:46:36.234
right, "My presence between them."
0:46:36.234,0:46:38.374
"I've still got you covered."
0:46:38.374,0:46:42.949
And Shaina's testimony today
0:46:42.949,0:46:44.689
will be used by God
0:46:44.689,0:46:47.335
to impact people around the world.
0:46:47.335,0:46:49.588
Well, there's another young person
0:46:49.588,0:46:51.285
that the Lord called;
0:46:51.285,0:46:53.148
his name was Jeremiah.
0:46:53.148,0:46:54.692
And, Alex, I'm going to ask you,
0:46:54.692,0:46:57.162
you're a young man, God called you,
0:46:57.162,0:46:59.017
and by the way, I'm going to give you
0:46:59.017,0:47:00.565
an opportunity to share a little
0:47:00.565,0:47:02.871
of your testimony, too.
0:47:02.871,0:47:04.646
but I would like you to read the text
0:47:04.646,0:47:06.071
for us first, if you would,
0:47:06.071,0:47:08.957
from Jeremiah, chapter 1,
0:47:08.957,0:47:11.246
verses 4 through 10.
0:47:11.246,0:47:12.771
(Alex) Okay, and I'll be reading
0:47:12.771,0:47:14.642
from the New King James,
0:47:14.642,0:47:17.082
and starting at verse 4, it says:
0:48:16.131,0:48:17.516
(Derek) Stay with us, Alex,
0:48:17.516,0:48:19.541
because I want to give you an opportunity.
0:48:19.541,0:48:22.982
You actually were called by God
0:48:22.982,0:48:24.803
as a young man, too,
0:48:24.803,0:48:26.605
and maybe Hope Sabbath School people
0:48:26.605,0:48:28.657
watching go, "Well, he probably grew up,
0:48:28.657,0:48:30.461
you know, a perfect child
0:48:30.461,0:48:32.205
and never had any challenges,
0:48:32.205,0:48:33.559
and he doesn't understand."
0:48:33.559,0:48:35.648
But share with me a little,
0:48:35.648,0:48:37.976
and with our Hope Sabbath School family,
0:48:37.976,0:48:39.315
a little of your testimony.
0:48:39.315,0:48:40.953
I remember some of the things
0:48:40.953,0:48:42.261
that you were involved with
0:48:42.261,0:48:44.556
and how God literally turned
0:48:44.556,0:48:45.801
your life around.
0:48:45.801,0:48:48.928
And He's called you now to proclaim
0:48:48.928,0:48:51.102
to the nations the truth
0:48:51.102,0:48:54.346
about His immeasurable love.
0:48:54.346,0:48:57.585
(Alex) Yes, and it really touches me
0:48:57.585,0:48:59.122
whenever I look back, because I
0:48:59.122,0:49:01.551
really don't see myself whenever I share,
0:49:01.551,0:49:03.895
and it's like, "That's not me."
0:49:03.895,0:49:07.053
But that was me before, and, no,
0:49:07.053,0:49:09.959
I didn't grow up fearing the Lord.
0:49:09.959,0:49:13.535
I had friends that I shouldn't
0:49:13.535,0:49:15.095
have been hanging around with.
0:49:15.095,0:49:17.300
I had done things that I shouldn't
0:49:17.300,0:49:18.394
have been doing.
0:49:18.394,0:49:21.693
I was mostly, unfortunately,
0:49:21.693,0:49:25.764
into a lot of violent sports,
0:49:25.764,0:49:29.052
and because of that, it really numbed me
0:49:29.052,0:49:31.787
into not caring for people,
0:49:31.787,0:49:33.329
not caring for how people think,
0:49:33.329,0:49:36.191
how people feel, what people say,
0:49:36.191,0:49:38.026
and I had an anger problem.
0:49:38.026,0:49:40.045
But I remember the Lord
0:49:40.045,0:49:41.134
really convicting me
0:49:41.134,0:49:42.598
and drawing me out of it.
0:49:42.598,0:49:44.410
And one of the ways - because before I
0:49:44.410,0:49:48.115
didn't believe in God - but one[br]of the ways
0:49:48.115,0:49:50.789
He revealed to me that He was real
0:49:50.789,0:49:52.587
was through Bible prophecy.
0:49:52.587,0:49:55.026
I couldn't deny it, and I knew
0:49:55.026,0:49:57.312
that I had to accept it.
0:49:57.312,0:49:59.231
And that really led me to the Savior.
0:49:59.231,0:50:01.316
And really looking at the cross
0:50:01.316,0:50:03.802
and seeing that that was real,
0:50:03.802,0:50:05.554
that really broke my heart.
0:50:05.554,0:50:08.557
That pierced my heart, and it led me
0:50:08.557,0:50:11.210
to see that I needed to change.
0:50:11.210,0:50:13.679
And God, out of mercy, called me
0:50:13.679,0:50:14.574
out of that world.
0:50:14.574,0:50:19.101
I was stuck in a very embarrassing[br]and hard time,
0:50:19.101,0:50:21.030
and I had to call out to God
0:50:21.030,0:50:22.588
and say, "Lord, I don't know
0:50:22.588,0:50:24.306
what You want from me,
0:50:24.306,0:50:26.499
but now I want to give You my all.
0:50:26.499,0:50:27.960
And I don't know the future,
0:50:27.960,0:50:29.462
but I want to give You my all."
0:50:29.462,0:50:32.017
And He called me out; He led me,
0:50:32.017,0:50:34.132
He guided me, and I saw Him
0:50:34.132,0:50:36.889
leading me into spreading His Word.
0:50:36.889,0:50:38.528
And I've loved it ever since,
0:50:38.528,0:50:40.650
and as I study His Word,
0:50:40.650,0:50:42.561
He not only sanctified my lips
0:50:42.561,0:50:45.237
but my mind, my heart, my actions
0:50:45.237,0:50:46.758
to where, when people hear
0:50:46.758,0:50:48.914
of my testimony, they say,
0:50:48.914,0:50:50.489
"You don't look like that person
0:50:50.489,0:50:52.685
that belongs in the streets
0:50:52.685,0:50:54.294
or speaks that way."
0:50:54.294,0:50:56.855
But, God is merciful, and I
0:50:56.855,0:50:58.610
just praise God that His glory
0:50:58.610,0:51:00.565
may be shown in my life.
0:51:00.565,0:51:01.537
(Derek, Team) Amen!
0:51:01.537,0:51:04.220
(Derek) Amen. I remember Alex
0:51:04.220,0:51:05.068
sharing with me.
0:51:05.068,0:51:06.521
It was actually in the middle
0:51:06.521,0:51:09.368
of a mixed martial arts fight
0:51:09.368,0:51:12.152
where he was actually really fighting
0:51:12.152,0:51:15.304
for his life, that he heard
0:51:15.304,0:51:16.423
the Lord speak to him.
0:51:16.423,0:51:19.111
Alex, I'm remembering this story
0:51:19.111,0:51:21.552
and how God delivered him through that.
0:51:21.552,0:51:23.939
He actually knocked the person out,
0:51:23.939,0:51:25.556
and people thought, "Wow, now he's
0:51:25.556,0:51:26.763
really going to be famous
0:51:26.763,0:51:28.924
and go into a career
0:51:28.924,0:51:30.537
and make lots of money."
0:51:30.537,0:51:32.831
But that day, he made the decision
0:51:32.831,0:51:34.738
that he was finished
0:51:34.738,0:51:37.593
with that violent activity.
0:51:37.593,0:51:40.166
And so, God's turned him into a warrior
0:51:40.166,0:51:41.870
for the Kingdom of Heaven.
0:51:41.870,0:51:44.069
Someone ought to say, "Praise God."
0:51:44.069,0:51:45.561
You say, "That's a miracle
0:51:45.561,0:51:47.053
of God's grace."
0:51:47.053,0:51:48.452
Now, I need to take us,
0:51:48.452,0:51:49.960
to wrap up the story...
0:51:49.960,0:51:53.443
I know you want to share, but one
0:51:53.443,0:51:56.516
of the things I noticed as Alex
0:51:56.516,0:52:00.707
was sharing was a spirit of humility.
0:52:00.707,0:52:02.512
Did you notice that?
0:52:02.512,0:52:05.698
I noticed it also with Shaina.
0:52:05.698,0:52:08.184
And I want to just speak
0:52:08.184,0:52:09.385
to you now and speak
0:52:09.385,0:52:12.120
to our Hope Sabbath School family
0:52:12.120,0:52:14.435
around the world, when God calls us,
0:52:14.435,0:52:16.753
He may not call you to be a prophet
0:52:16.753,0:52:19.545
who speaks of the future.
0:52:19.545,0:52:22.968
Alex is a pastor now, a pastor!
0:52:22.968,0:52:24.755
Someone say, "Praise God!"
0:52:24.755,0:52:26.452
He's a pastor now.
0:52:26.452,0:52:31.625
But, to stay humble when we see
0:52:31.625,0:52:33.759
God work in miraculous ways
0:52:33.759,0:52:35.613
(Rodney, I see your hand),
0:52:35.613,0:52:39.878
so that all of the glory is deflected
0:52:39.878,0:52:42.527
to God and not to us,
0:52:42.527,0:52:44.140
because a testimony...
0:52:44.140,0:52:45.571
Remember what Alex said?
0:52:45.571,0:52:47.234
He shares his testimony, and people
0:52:47.234,0:52:50.728
are like, "Is that the same person
0:52:50.728,0:52:51.851
that I'm seeing here
0:52:51.851,0:52:54.948
testifying about God?"
0:52:54.948,0:52:57.250
How do we stay humble, Rodney,
0:52:57.250,0:53:01.284
when we're prophesying
0:53:01.284,0:53:04.868
of what God has done in our lives?
0:53:04.868,0:53:06.635
(Rodney) One of the things I observed
0:53:06.635,0:53:09.006
throughout our study, as we read
0:53:09.006,0:53:12.239
the Scripture about Isaiah, Jeremiah,
0:53:12.239,0:53:14.524
we listen to Shaina's story,
0:53:14.524,0:53:18.204
we listen to Alex's story,
0:53:18.204,0:53:22.436
I realize that God has a unique way
0:53:22.436,0:53:24.278
of getting to each person.
0:53:24.278,0:53:27.240
So, if you notice that their testimonies
0:53:27.240,0:53:29.800
are not the same, but the end goal
0:53:29.800,0:53:30.895
is the same, which is
0:53:30.895,0:53:32.392
to draw closer to Jesus.
0:53:32.392,0:53:34.540
And it is very, very important
0:53:34.540,0:53:39.084
for all of us to remain in Jesus
0:53:39.084,0:53:41.799
so that we can remain humble
0:53:41.799,0:53:45.454
because if we don't, we will go awry.
0:53:45.454,0:53:48.531
We will be off track, and so then we
0:53:48.531,0:53:51.369
start to draw the attention to ourselves
0:53:51.369,0:53:53.373
rather than Jesus.
0:53:53.373,0:53:55.355
So, in order to attain that, we have
0:53:55.355,0:53:57.572
to keep close to Him so that He
0:53:57.572,0:53:59.246
can keep us aligned.
0:53:59.246,0:54:02.348
(Derek) You know, one of the pitfalls
0:54:02.348,0:54:08.553
that Lucifer fell into was exalting self.
0:54:08.553,0:54:11.183
"I will," "I will,' "I will," if you read
0:54:11.183,0:54:14.292
in Isaiah, chapter 14, exalting self.
0:54:14.292,0:54:17.083
But the faithful servant of God
0:54:17.083,0:54:19.201
is always deflecting all of the praise
0:54:19.201,0:54:20.500
and glory to God.
0:54:20.500,0:54:22.920
Now, I want to close with this thought.
0:54:22.920,0:54:25.567
The Apostle Paul said, "God did something
0:54:25.567,0:54:27.278
to me to keep me humble."
0:54:27.278,0:54:29.413
I mean, he was talented, well educated,
0:54:29.413,0:54:32.467
a great orator, but he said, "God allowed
0:54:32.467,0:54:35.067
a thorn in the flesh to come to me."
0:54:35.067,0:54:37.136
It's in 2 Corinthians; we don't need
0:54:37.136,0:54:39.316
to read it, but you say, "What was that?"
0:54:39.316,0:54:41.672
It doesn't really matter.
0:54:41.672,0:54:42.880
Some say, "I think it was
0:54:42.880,0:54:43.794
his poor eyesight."
0:54:43.794,0:54:50.604
But has God taught any of you,
0:54:50.604,0:54:52.521
reminded you, of the need
0:54:52.521,0:54:54.300
to stay humble before Him
0:54:54.300,0:54:56.290
by a thorn in your flesh,
0:54:56.290,0:55:00.727
a challenge that you have?
0:55:00.727,0:55:02.366
I see several hands.
0:55:02.366,0:55:04.917
Anybody want to testify?
0:55:04.917,0:55:08.019
Nicole, God sometimes allows things
0:55:08.019,0:55:10.281
to come to us (He doesn't cause them)
0:55:10.281,0:55:11.647
to keep [Him] saying,
0:55:11.647,0:55:15.215
"Just trust Me completely, Nicole."
0:55:15.215,0:55:16.613
How has He done that for you?
0:55:16.613,0:55:18.307
(Nicole) Well, He's done it
0:55:18.307,0:55:20.848
a few times for me, but I can remember
0:55:20.848,0:55:22.275
distinctly when I was applying
0:55:22.275,0:55:23.995
for medical school I did not do well
0:55:23.995,0:55:25.748
on the entrance exams.
0:55:25.748,0:55:28.078
And in my mind, I thought, "I have this.
0:55:28.078,0:55:29.490
I've done well in college.
0:55:29.490,0:55:31.568
This is nothing for me."
0:55:31.568,0:55:34.402
And it reminded me that I have
0:55:34.402,0:55:36.371
to look to God and be doing this
0:55:36.371,0:55:38.504
for His glory and not for my own glory.
0:55:38.504,0:55:40.385
And so, I had to step back, take a look
0:55:40.385,0:55:43.191
at what my intentions were, and once I
0:55:43.191,0:55:46.510
really dedicated my service to God,
0:55:46.510,0:55:47.969
He then said, "Okay, I'm ready
0:55:47.969,0:55:49.732
for you now to go to this next step."
0:55:49.732,0:55:53.042
And I ended up doing well on my exams[br]and getting into medical school,
0:55:53.042,0:55:55.100
but I had to go through a challenging time
0:55:55.100,0:55:58.521
to really get to that place where I was[br]doing it for Him and not for me.
0:55:58.521,0:55:59.866
(Derek) That's interesting.
0:55:59.866,0:56:01.259
You're not a preacher, right?
0:56:01.259,0:56:02.595
You're a physician.
0:56:02.595,0:56:05.010
But whatever our occupation,
0:56:05.010,0:56:06.593
I'm just talking to you now here
0:56:06.593,0:56:07.614
wherever you are.
0:56:07.614,0:56:09.643
You say, "Derek, well, I do this or that,"
0:56:09.643,0:56:12.261
"I'm a teacher," or, "I'm an electrician,"
0:56:12.261,0:56:16.798
or, you tell me what your profession is.
0:56:16.798,0:56:22.005
God wants to use you just like He called
0:56:22.005,0:56:24.761
Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
0:56:24.761,0:56:27.946
just like He called Shaina and Alex.
0:56:27.946,0:56:31.517
He wants to use us, Nicole.
0:56:31.517,0:56:34.142
He wants to use us with the gifts
0:56:34.142,0:56:35.925
He's given to us and the passion
0:56:35.925,0:56:39.518
and love for Him to make a difference
0:56:39.518,0:56:41.054
for the Kingdom of Heaven.
0:56:41.054,0:56:42.445
Would you be willing to make
0:56:42.445,0:56:44.293
that commitment today?
0:56:44.293,0:56:45.899
Let's pray together.
0:56:45.899,0:56:48.948
Father in Heaven, as Rodney reminded us,
0:56:48.948,0:56:50.873
our stories are all different,
0:56:50.873,0:56:53.452
and yet the call is the same,
0:56:53.452,0:56:55.354
"Who will go and speak for Me?
0:56:55.354,0:56:57.616
Who will tell the world the truth
0:56:57.616,0:57:00.533
about a God who loves all of His children
0:57:00.533,0:57:02.559
with an immeasurable and unfailing love?"
0:57:02.559,0:57:05.543
God, I pray for each one watching today,
0:57:05.543,0:57:07.871
that we could say in our place,
0:57:07.871,0:57:11.466
"Lord, here I am, would You use me?"
0:57:11.466,0:57:13.532
And may lives around us be blessed.
0:57:13.532,0:57:16.420
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
0:57:16.420,0:57:17.488
(Team) Amen.
0:57:17.488,0:57:18.951
(Derek) Thanks for joining us.
0:57:18.951,0:57:20.949
You say, "What! Some amazing testimonies!"
0:57:20.949,0:57:22.995
We'd love to hear your testimony
0:57:22.995,0:57:25.281
because God is still working miracles
0:57:25.281,0:57:26.762
in these last days.
0:57:26.762,0:57:28.183
Go out and share that
0:57:28.183,0:57:29.731
with those around you.
0:57:29.731,0:57:53.655
♪ theme music ♪