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♪ theme music ♪

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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

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an in-depth, interactive study

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of the Word of God.

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I hope you're blessed with this series

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on <i>Bible Prophecies and Stories</i>

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<i>for the Last Days.</i>

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Today, we're going to look

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at <i>Foundations for Prophecy,</i>

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how God wants to reveal Himself to us

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and the story of three prophets

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and what that means for our lives today.

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So, we're glad that you joined us.

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And welcome, team, good to see you,

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say, "Hi," to each other.

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We're glad you're here.

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And we've got some remotes

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joining us, too; let's see who's with us.

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Rodney, great to have you back with us.

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Shaina, always good to have you with us.

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Alex, good to have you with us, too,

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as a remote team member.

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And we're glad <i>you're</i> here, too,

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because you are part

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of the great miracle of God.

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We're always happy to hear from you,

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our Hope Sabbath School members

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around the world.

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Marge, thanks for writing

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to us from California.

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She says, "Your show, Hope Sabbath School,

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has been a blessing to me since 2019,

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and I appreciate

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the in-depth, interactive approach

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to studying God's Word.

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Your teaching method helps me

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to better understand the Scriptures,

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and the Scripture songs are a great tool

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for hiding God's Word in my heart."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "I'm also inspired

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by the team's testimonies,"

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well, Marge, maybe you'll hear

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a testimony from a team member

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in our study today.

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"May God continue to bless your ministry.

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I love you all, Marge."

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Well, Marge, thanks for writing to us,

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and we'd love to meet you in person.

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Jok, J-O-K, Jok Abraham writes to us

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from South Sudan, "Hello,

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Hope Sabbath School members."

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(Team) Hello!

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(Derek) "I am Jok Abraham

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writing from South Sudan.

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I've been enjoying Hope Sabbath School

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for the last five years,

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and it's helped me in my studies

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and to prepare to teach a class.

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Thank you for the great work

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you've been doing, and may God

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bless you as we prepare

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to meet Him in the skies.

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And I do purpose to meet

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each one of you on that day."

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Well, thank you, Jok Abraham,

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for writing to us from South Sudan.

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And isn't it exciting to realize

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he's replicating, multiplying impact,

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by teaching there in his community.

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Here's a handwritten note

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from South Dakota in the United States,

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and a donor writes and says, "God

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richly bless you for Hope Sabbath School.

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It is such a blessing to those of us

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whose first language is not English,"

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you know, we try to talk really clearly,
right,

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and help people to understand,

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"Or," the donor says, "maybe someone

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who has a challenge reading."

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You know, in Revelation, Puia,

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doesn't it talk about blessed are those

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who hear and those who read.

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(Puia) Yes.

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(Derek) So, when you read the Bible

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in our study today, maybe someone

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who has a challenge reading

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is blessed because he or she hears

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a clear word from God.

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"Hope this little gift

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makes a difference," and a donation

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of 50 dollars from South Dakota.

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Thank you, South Dakota,

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you know who you are,

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and it does make a difference.

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And I want to thank each one of you.

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This is a donor-supported ministry,

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and you can be part of the miracle, too.

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You can go to our website,

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hopetv.org/hopess,

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click on that yellow Donate button

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and say, "I want to be part

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of the miracle," or get the address

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and send us a note

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just like this donor did.

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Thank you for partnering with us.

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One last note, a beautiful note

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from Phyllis in Canada.

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Phyllis says, "I've been watching

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Hope Sabbath School (my favorite program)

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for I don't remember how long.

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I have," oh, listen, "I've had

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my unchurched sister-in-law

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watching with me when she stayed with me

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for a few months, and she loved it, too.

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I've also introduced it to a few friends,

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and they have become faithful members

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of Hope Sabbath School."

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Sounds like, is that what we

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call an evangelist? Right?

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"I have two daughters, and they have used

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your outline to teach interactive classes,

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so it's a family affair here in Canada!"

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(Team) Wonderful.

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(Derek) "I feel like I've gotten to know

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so many of the members over the years,

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and I'm always happy to see the return

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of a familiar face.

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The personal testimonies

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are a real blessing," we hear that

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over and over again, don't we,

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"and an encouragement to me

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and many others.

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May God continue to bless all of you

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who are working so hard

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to produce this program

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and spread God's love to the world."

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You know, I'm so thankful, Phyllis,

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that you put that last part.

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It's not just working hard

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to produce a program, but to share

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God's love with the world,

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that's what we really get excited about.

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Well, before we sing our theme song,

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which talks about the word of Christ

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dwelling in us, Colossians 3:16,

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I want to remind you about that free gift

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we have for this series because we're

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talking about <i>Bible Prophecies</i>

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<i>and Stories for the Last Days,</i>

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and, friend, you need protection

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and so do I, the protection that only God

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can give us as His redeemed children.

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So, we're offering a resource

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called <i>Radical Protection,</i>

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a digital copy of a book.

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Just go to our website, and you can

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download your free copy,

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hopetv.org/hopess, look for the free gift.

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You say, "Derek, I already did it."

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Well, then, tell someone else!

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Be a blessing to them.

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Do you know someone who is under attack,

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someone who is struggling

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because the enemy is trying to crush them?

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Tell them about the resource.

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They can get it free on our website.

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But right now, we want to sing

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an ancient text, actually,

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from Colossians, the letter that Paul

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wrote to Christians in Colossae.

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Colossians 3:16, it says, "Let the word

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of Christ dwell in you richly

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in all wisdom"; let's sing it together.

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♪ music ♪

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(Derek) While we were singing,

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I saw our remotes singing,

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Rodney and Alex and Shaina,

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and I thought about you,

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Hope Sabbath School member

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somewhere around the world,

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and you're singing, too,

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and hiding God's Word in your heart.

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That is an excellent preparation

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for the last days, for the Word

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to be in our hearts.

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So, let's pray that the Holy Spirit

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will guide us as we study about a God

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who loves to reveal Himself

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and His truth to us.

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Let's pray; Father in Heaven,

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we just want to thank You

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that we can study Your Word,

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that Scripture is not given

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a private interpretation, but holy men

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of God spoke as they were moved

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by the Holy Spirit, that Your Word

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is an inspired witness for us.

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And as we study about <i>Foundations</i>

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<i>for Prophecy</i> today, please guide

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each one of us wherever we are

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around the world,

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part of our Hope Sabbath School family.

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We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Well, we want to talk together

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about a God who wants to reveal Himself

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to us and then look

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at some Bible characters who were called

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to be prophets.

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So, we're going to start in Genesis,

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chapter 3, which is actually a sad chapter

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about sin coming into our world

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through the tempter.

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But in this chapter, we'll also discover

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some glimmers of hope.

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And so, I want to look in Genesis,

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chapter 3, and begin with verse 21.

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And, Zandile, could you read that verse

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for us, Genesis 3:21?

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Again, now remember the context:

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God has created a perfect world.

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He has created Adam and then Eve

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to be a helpmeet.

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They've walked in the garden with Him,

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and they experienced

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intimate communion with Him.

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But they believed Satan's lie

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that they could somehow be like God,

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which was what the enemy wanted,

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to usurp the place of God.

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And now they are feeling naked,

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and they are separated from God

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because of sin, but there are

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some glimmers of hope

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that God doesn't stop wanting

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to reveal Himself.

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So, Genesis 3, let's look at verse 21,

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and then, Sophia, I'll ask you

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to read verse 24.

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(Zandile) And I'll be reading

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from the New King James Version,

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verse 21 says:

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(Derek) So, why did they need

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"tunics of skin to clothe them"?

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I thought it said in chapter 2

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that they were naked and unashamed.

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So, Joshua, why does God need to make

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tunics of skin for them?

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(Joshua) Well, because sin

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has entered the world,

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and it gets cold and they need
to be warmed.

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(Derek) Okay, even a climate change,

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you're suggesting possibly.

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Anybody else? Yes, Nicole.

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(Nicole) Well, they now realize

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and recognize their nakedness
and there's shame involved

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in that nakedness instead of the purity
that was there before sin.

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(Derek) ...a different kind

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of nakedness, isn't it?

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Because the nakedness before

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was beautiful, but now there's this sense

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that they have lost something.

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Alright, anybody else?

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Why tunics of skins?

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We alluded to this, Puia,

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in a previous study.

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I mean, He could have made them of grass.

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In fact, they tried to make them

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with fig leaves; doesn't it say that

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in the chapter?

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00:13:05,416 --> 00:13:07,353
They tried to, "Woo! Let's get something

273
00:13:07,353 --> 00:13:10,004
to cover things up here."

274
00:13:10,004 --> 00:13:12,819
Why did God choose to use

275
00:13:12,819 --> 00:13:15,326
the skins of animals to cover them?

276
00:13:15,326 --> 00:13:17,816
(Puia) The text didn't clearly state,

277
00:13:17,816 --> 00:13:21,626
but it's very possible that God,

278
00:13:21,626 --> 00:13:23,320
right away, wanted them to see

279
00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,870
that there is going to be a sacrifice

280
00:13:25,870 --> 00:13:28,052
that will cover for their sins.

281
00:13:28,052 --> 00:13:31,580
There will be the death of Somebody,

282
00:13:31,580 --> 00:13:33,168
a Savior, who would come and die

283
00:13:33,168 --> 00:13:33,988
on their behalf.

284
00:13:33,988 --> 00:13:35,707
And by being covered, it's like they

285
00:13:35,707 --> 00:13:38,000
are covered from their shame,

286
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,700
Someone who would save them

287
00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:41,882
from their shame and sin.

288
00:13:41,882 --> 00:13:43,691
(Derek) You know, I just want to speak

289
00:13:43,691 --> 00:13:45,593
to you, our Hope Sabbath School members.

290
00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,261
If you missed the previous study,

291
00:13:47,261 --> 00:13:49,227
actually Puia taught the study

292
00:13:49,227 --> 00:13:51,146
on understanding sacrifice,

293
00:13:51,146 --> 00:13:52,980
and that was so clear.

294
00:13:52,980 --> 00:13:54,716
You can go to our website,

295
00:13:54,716 --> 00:13:58,123
hopetv.org/hopess, watch

296
00:13:58,123 --> 00:13:59,132
the previous study,

297
00:13:59,132 --> 00:14:00,461
<i>Understanding Sacrifice,</i>

298
00:14:00,461 --> 00:14:02,608
or go to our YouTube channel,

299
00:14:02,608 --> 00:14:04,175
and you can watch it there.

300
00:14:04,175 --> 00:14:08,003
We're building one lesson upon another,

301
00:14:08,003 --> 00:14:10,215
and you're absolutely right, this isn't

302
00:14:10,215 --> 00:14:12,950
just, "Well, I'll make it of something."

303
00:14:12,950 --> 00:14:17,188
This was a lesson about the lamb

304
00:14:17,188 --> 00:14:18,977
that would die pointing forward

305
00:14:18,977 --> 00:14:20,218
to the Lamb of God, right?

306
00:14:20,218 --> 00:14:21,739
So, there was a glimmer of hope.

307
00:14:21,739 --> 00:14:23,570
Let's look at another glimmer of hope,

308
00:14:23,570 --> 00:14:27,686
Sophia, in Genesis 3, verse 24.

309
00:14:27,686 --> 00:14:28,849
(Sophia) I'll be reading

310
00:14:28,849 --> 00:14:30,484
from the New King James Version:

311
00:14:42,737 --> 00:14:44,255
(Derek) Shawn, how do you think

312
00:14:44,255 --> 00:14:45,773
that was a word of hope,

313
00:14:45,773 --> 00:14:48,523
to have cherubim guarding

314
00:14:48,523 --> 00:14:50,961
the entrance so they couldn't enter?

315
00:14:50,961 --> 00:14:52,266
(Shawn) Well, it reminds me

316
00:14:52,266 --> 00:14:53,778
of the Ark of the Covenant,

317
00:14:53,778 --> 00:14:55,893
which had the two cherubim,

318
00:14:55,893 --> 00:14:57,558
and what sat between the two

319
00:14:57,558 --> 00:15:00,196
cherubim but the presence of God?

320
00:15:00,196 --> 00:15:02,432
And so, I think God is still alluding

321
00:15:02,432 --> 00:15:04,984
to this reality, that, "Even though you

322
00:15:04,984 --> 00:15:06,019
are leaving the land

323
00:15:06,019 --> 00:15:07,787
that I prepared for you, the garden

324
00:15:07,787 --> 00:15:09,322
I made for you, My presence

325
00:15:09,322 --> 00:15:11,024
is still going to dwell with you

326
00:15:11,024 --> 00:15:12,409
in a way to call you back

327
00:15:12,409 --> 00:15:13,534
to where you belong."

328
00:15:13,534 --> 00:15:15,280
(Derek) And you're absolutely right,

329
00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:16,555
and after Rodney's comment

330
00:15:16,555 --> 00:15:17,647
and Shaina's comment,

331
00:15:17,647 --> 00:15:19,403
everybody wanting to comment on that

332
00:15:19,403 --> 00:15:21,255
(that's good), we'll discover that He

333
00:15:21,255 --> 00:15:23,281
actually gives a promise about, "I

334
00:15:23,281 --> 00:15:25,916
will never leave you or forsake you."

335
00:15:25,916 --> 00:15:28,454
But let's take Rodney's comment first.

336
00:15:28,454 --> 00:15:29,841
(Rodney) And as you mentioned

337
00:15:29,841 --> 00:15:31,269
the word promise there, Derek,

338
00:15:31,269 --> 00:15:32,747
I think there's a sequence here

339
00:15:32,747 --> 00:15:34,233
that leads up to what we are

340
00:15:34,233 --> 00:15:35,490
talking about here that is

341
00:15:35,490 --> 00:15:36,952
very, very important, and Puia

342
00:15:36,952 --> 00:15:40,512
alluded to it, which was in Genesis 3:15,

343
00:15:40,512 --> 00:15:42,628
even before Genesis 3:15, you can see

344
00:15:42,628 --> 00:15:45,040
that man, Adam and Eve, went awry,

345
00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,099
then God actually went to find them.

346
00:15:48,099 --> 00:15:49,861
That's the first beautiful thing

347
00:15:49,861 --> 00:15:51,771
that probably happened before chapter 3,

348
00:15:51,771 --> 00:15:53,825
but once we enter chapter 3,

349
00:15:53,825 --> 00:15:56,130
it then speaks to Genesis 3:15,

350
00:15:56,130 --> 00:15:57,946
which is now the promise

351
00:15:57,946 --> 00:16:02,050
of the Messiah, the One who is to come.

352
00:16:02,050 --> 00:16:04,366
And then now out of that promise,

353
00:16:04,366 --> 00:16:06,838
He provides the skin, and then He

354
00:16:06,838 --> 00:16:08,213
also provides the cherubim

355
00:16:08,213 --> 00:16:09,691
that remind them that He

356
00:16:09,691 --> 00:16:10,909
will always be with them.

357
00:16:10,909 --> 00:16:13,100
I know we said earlier that it is

358
00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:15,413
a very challenging chapter, but as you

359
00:16:15,413 --> 00:16:18,292
said, Derek, there are glimmers of hope

360
00:16:18,292 --> 00:16:20,629
for not just them, but also for us.

361
00:16:20,629 --> 00:16:22,722
(Derek) And I like what Rodney

362
00:16:22,722 --> 00:16:24,957
pointed out, and then I'll come to Shaina

363
00:16:24,957 --> 00:16:27,412
and Alex, and that is,

364
00:16:27,412 --> 00:16:30,261
in that same chapter 3 and verse 8,

365
00:16:30,261 --> 00:16:33,182
God comes looking for them in the garden.

366
00:16:33,182 --> 00:16:34,933
And then He calls out,

367
00:16:34,933 --> 00:16:37,819
"Adam, where are you?"

368
00:16:37,819 --> 00:16:39,928
Did He know where Adam was?

369
00:16:39,928 --> 00:16:42,674
Of course, but He's calling him

370
00:16:42,674 --> 00:16:47,763
to stay in relationship with Him. Alex.

371
00:16:47,763 --> 00:16:50,665
(Alex) I wanted to add along with that,

372
00:16:50,665 --> 00:16:52,981
the Garden of Eden was

373
00:16:52,981 --> 00:16:55,336
actually a sanctuary.

374
00:16:55,336 --> 00:16:57,255
You could see the Cherubim blocking

375
00:16:57,255 --> 00:17:00,622
the entrance, which is east.

376
00:17:00,622 --> 00:17:02,130
That's the exact same structure

377
00:17:02,130 --> 00:17:06,063
as the sanctuary, so even there

378
00:17:06,063 --> 00:17:09,778
early on, we can see that's why God

379
00:17:09,778 --> 00:17:11,614
showed the sanctuary model

380
00:17:11,614 --> 00:17:14,627
to His people, to say, "My ultimate goal

381
00:17:14,627 --> 00:17:17,196
is to bring you back into My presence."

382
00:17:17,196 --> 00:17:18,732
(Derek) Fantastic. And, Shaina,

383
00:17:18,732 --> 00:17:21,341
I didn't want to miss your comment, too.

384
00:17:21,341 --> 00:17:25,435
(Shaina) So, ultimately He used

385
00:17:25,435 --> 00:17:26,835
the cherubim to shield them

386
00:17:26,835 --> 00:17:28,457
from the garden because if we look

387
00:17:28,457 --> 00:17:32,482
at verse 22 in the same [chapter,

388
00:17:32,482 --> 00:17:36,967
Genesis 3], the Godhead, the Lord God

389
00:17:36,967 --> 00:17:42,620
said...if I can read verse 22
of chapter 3.

390
00:17:42,620 --> 00:17:44,200
(Derek) Genesis 3, and you'd like

391
00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,236
to read which verse?

392
00:17:46,236 --> 00:17:47,613
(Shaina) Verse 22.

393
00:17:47,613 --> 00:17:49,578
(Derek) Verse 22, okay.

394
00:17:49,578 --> 00:17:50,942
(Shaina) And I'll be reading

395
00:17:50,942 --> 00:17:54,119
from the New King James Version, it says:

396
00:18:10,184 --> 00:18:12,414
So, it's not that God didn't want them

397
00:18:12,414 --> 00:18:14,423
to live forever, but now they were

398
00:18:14,423 --> 00:18:17,080
in a state of being exposed.

399
00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:18,848
We mentioned that before, now they

400
00:18:18,848 --> 00:18:21,488
were naked; they were ashamed.

401
00:18:21,488 --> 00:18:23,713
And if He allowed them to stay

402
00:18:23,713 --> 00:18:26,044
in that place and they continued to eat

403
00:18:26,044 --> 00:18:28,073
of that Tree of Life that would cause

404
00:18:28,073 --> 00:18:30,157
them to live forever, then they

405
00:18:30,157 --> 00:18:32,079
would forever be living in the state

406
00:18:32,079 --> 00:18:35,325
of nakedness, of shame, of sin.

407
00:18:35,325 --> 00:18:37,536
And the God of love,

408
00:18:37,536 --> 00:18:40,326
who designed us to begin with, does not

409
00:18:40,326 --> 00:18:41,771
want that for us.

410
00:18:41,771 --> 00:18:43,462
(Derek) I struggle with that text;

411
00:18:43,462 --> 00:18:44,467
I have to be honest.

412
00:18:44,467 --> 00:18:45,899
Maybe you can explain it to me

413
00:18:45,899 --> 00:18:48,160
because the wages of sin is death.

414
00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:49,975
So, I don't know, maybe it would have

415
00:18:49,975 --> 00:18:53,249
just prolonged the dying longer

416
00:18:53,249 --> 00:18:56,534
by having access to that life-giving food?

417
00:18:56,534 --> 00:18:58,246
I don't know; I guess we'll ask that

418
00:18:58,246 --> 00:18:59,658
when we get there, too.

419
00:18:59,658 --> 00:19:02,027
But, for sure you would agree with me

420
00:19:02,027 --> 00:19:04,458
that in the garden, and I like the comment

421
00:19:04,458 --> 00:19:06,515
that Alex made about the cherubim,

422
00:19:06,515 --> 00:19:09,867
and Shawn also, that there is foreshadowed

423
00:19:09,867 --> 00:19:12,988
that God is not going to abandon us

424
00:19:12,988 --> 00:19:14,423
because of sin.

425
00:19:14,423 --> 00:19:17,108
In fact, He wants to draw near to us.

426
00:19:17,108 --> 00:19:18,500
Where is that text found?

427
00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:20,594
Does anyone know where He says,

428
00:19:20,594 --> 00:19:23,141
"I will never leave you or forsake you"?

429
00:19:23,141 --> 00:19:25,351
It's found in a couple of places.

430
00:19:25,351 --> 00:19:26,584
Joshua, do you remember?

431
00:19:26,584 --> 00:19:29,150
(Joshua) In the book of Joshua.

432
00:19:29,150 --> 00:19:30,805
(Derek) We thought you would like

433
00:19:30,805 --> 00:19:31,935
to read that because it

434
00:19:31,935 --> 00:19:32,943
has your name on it.

435
00:19:32,943 --> 00:19:34,019
And then it's repeated

436
00:19:34,019 --> 00:19:35,811
in the book of Hebrews, correct?

437
00:19:35,811 --> 00:19:37,382
But, Joshua, the book that bears

438
00:19:37,382 --> 00:19:40,999
your name, let's see what you read there

439
00:19:40,999 --> 00:19:42,475
in Joshua 1, verse 5.

440
00:19:42,475 --> 00:19:43,994
And then we say, "Was that

441
00:19:43,994 --> 00:19:47,426
just for him, or is that for all of us?"

442
00:19:47,426 --> 00:19:48,794
(Joshua) And I'll be reading

443
00:19:48,794 --> 00:19:50,369
from the New King James Version,

444
00:19:50,369 --> 00:19:51,341
and the Bible says:

445
00:20:03,155 --> 00:20:04,352
(Derek) So, someone says,

446
00:20:04,352 --> 00:20:05,549
well that was for Joshua,

447
00:20:05,549 --> 00:20:06,794
and Joshua says, "I'm glad

448
00:20:06,794 --> 00:20:08,082
my name's Joshua, you know,

449
00:20:08,082 --> 00:20:09,751
because that would be for me, too."

450
00:20:09,751 --> 00:20:12,079
How do I know that that promise

451
00:20:12,079 --> 00:20:16,133
is not just for this leader

452
00:20:16,133 --> 00:20:18,519
of the children of Israel? Kylynda?

453
00:20:18,519 --> 00:20:19,703
(Kylynda) I was thinking

454
00:20:19,703 --> 00:20:22,774
about multiple places this text is found,

455
00:20:22,774 --> 00:20:25,208
and I was reminded, when Jesus

456
00:20:25,208 --> 00:20:27,812
is leaving His disciples, He also gives

457
00:20:27,812 --> 00:20:29,221
the same promise, "I won't

458
00:20:29,221 --> 00:20:30,798
leave you or forsake you."

459
00:20:30,798 --> 00:20:32,320
And it's really a promise

460
00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,805
to all followers of Christ.

461
00:20:34,805 --> 00:20:36,761
He's saying, "As you go out in the world,

462
00:20:36,761 --> 00:20:38,131
I am there with you."

463
00:20:38,131 --> 00:20:40,250
(Derek) Did somebody find Hebrews?

464
00:20:40,250 --> 00:20:42,300
Yes, Shawn, how does it read?

465
00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:44,379
It's being quoted for us,

466
00:20:44,379 --> 00:20:46,280
not just about Joshua.

467
00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:47,998
(Shawn) Correct, and I'll be reading

468
00:20:47,998 --> 00:20:51,470
from Hebrews 13, verse 5, and this will be

469
00:20:51,470 --> 00:20:53,654
the English Standard Version:

470
00:21:01,838 --> 00:21:02,959
(that is, God)

471
00:21:07,538 --> 00:21:08,938
(Derek) So, the context there

472
00:21:08,938 --> 00:21:13,012
is learning to be content,

473
00:21:13,012 --> 00:21:14,404
but it affects every area

474
00:21:14,404 --> 00:21:15,801
of our lives, doesn't it?

475
00:21:15,801 --> 00:21:20,537
So, as the darkness of sin settles

476
00:21:20,537 --> 00:21:23,252
on the world, and sin and death,

477
00:21:23,252 --> 00:21:26,925
why is it an encouragement to know

478
00:21:26,925 --> 00:21:28,825
that God says, "I will never leave you

479
00:21:28,825 --> 00:21:30,860
or forsake you"? Scott?

480
00:21:30,860 --> 00:21:33,680
(Scott) I think about Jesus' experience

481
00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:35,866
on the cross; as He was experiencing

482
00:21:35,866 --> 00:21:37,834
the weight of sin Himself, He said,

483
00:21:37,834 --> 00:21:38,762
"My God, My God,

484
00:21:38,762 --> 00:21:40,788
why have You forsaken Me?"

485
00:21:40,788 --> 00:21:44,177
That's what sin does, right?

486
00:21:44,177 --> 00:21:46,036
Sin causes that...and as we

487
00:21:46,036 --> 00:21:47,666
go through our lives, sometimes,

488
00:21:47,666 --> 00:21:48,893
as we're impacted by sin,

489
00:21:48,893 --> 00:21:51,181
we feel abandoned.

490
00:21:51,181 --> 00:21:52,610
And we have to make a choice:

491
00:21:52,610 --> 00:21:54,769
Am I going to go by how I feel,

492
00:21:54,769 --> 00:21:57,388
or am I going to believe God's promise

493
00:21:57,388 --> 00:21:59,286
when He said, "I will never leave you."

494
00:21:59,286 --> 00:22:00,681
It doesn't matter if you feel

495
00:22:00,681 --> 00:22:02,155
like God has left you or not;

496
00:22:02,155 --> 00:22:03,551
He promised, and you can take

497
00:22:03,551 --> 00:22:05,032
that to the bank.

498
00:22:05,032 --> 00:22:06,798
(Derek) That's an English expression,

499
00:22:06,798 --> 00:22:08,468
which means, "You can count on it,"

500
00:22:08,468 --> 00:22:10,179
by the way, if people were wondering

501
00:22:10,179 --> 00:22:13,288
what it means to take it to the bank.

502
00:22:13,288 --> 00:22:16,139
But knowing that God has promised

503
00:22:16,139 --> 00:22:18,842
to never leave us or forsake us

504
00:22:18,842 --> 00:22:20,541
really does make a difference,

505
00:22:20,541 --> 00:22:22,626
doesn't it? Yes, Zandile.

506
00:22:22,626 --> 00:22:24,438
(Zandile) I was going to say that it's

507
00:22:24,438 --> 00:22:28,517
a recurring concept or theme in the Bible

508
00:22:28,517 --> 00:22:31,808
where from Genesis 1, He comes to them.

509
00:22:31,808 --> 00:22:33,474
Even though they had disobeyed,

510
00:22:33,474 --> 00:22:35,975
He shows that He cares; He looks for them.

511
00:22:35,975 --> 00:22:38,605
And throughout the Bible, God is

512
00:22:38,605 --> 00:22:40,031
still saying to us, "I will

513
00:22:40,031 --> 00:22:41,321
never leave you, and I will

514
00:22:41,321 --> 00:22:42,399
never forsake you."

515
00:22:42,399 --> 00:22:43,894
So, if He is repeating it,

516
00:22:43,894 --> 00:22:45,535
there should be some seriousness

517
00:22:45,535 --> 00:22:47,221
and some truth in it because He

518
00:22:47,221 --> 00:22:48,838
wouldn't be saying it if He

519
00:22:48,838 --> 00:22:50,123
does not mean it.

520
00:22:50,123 --> 00:22:52,079
(Derek) Alright, I saw some remote hands

521
00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:54,060
over there, I think Rodney and Alex,

522
00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:56,163
and then Puia, and then we'll move on

523
00:22:56,163 --> 00:22:58,317
to look at some young people

524
00:22:58,317 --> 00:23:00,418
who were called to speak for God

525
00:23:00,418 --> 00:23:03,188
because He doesn't want anyone to think

526
00:23:03,188 --> 00:23:06,831
He's left us or forsaken us. Rodney?

527
00:23:06,831 --> 00:23:08,543
(Rodney) I think we have seen so far

528
00:23:08,543 --> 00:23:11,212
in our discussion, all the way through

529
00:23:11,212 --> 00:23:12,686
God just being with His people.

530
00:23:12,686 --> 00:23:15,072
That was the intent with Adam and Eve

531
00:23:15,072 --> 00:23:18,430
when God made the coats of skin, right,

532
00:23:18,430 --> 00:23:20,328
or the clothing of skin.

533
00:23:20,328 --> 00:23:21,712
In other words, wherever they

534
00:23:21,712 --> 00:23:23,341
went in the garden, they were

535
00:23:23,341 --> 00:23:25,726
wearing clothes, so they were

536
00:23:25,726 --> 00:23:27,482
in God's clothing, if you will.

537
00:23:27,482 --> 00:23:28,983
So, wherever they went, it was

538
00:23:28,983 --> 00:23:30,808
a reminder for them, not only to cover

539
00:23:30,808 --> 00:23:32,486
their shame but also as a reminder

540
00:23:32,486 --> 00:23:34,752
to them that He's with them.

541
00:23:34,752 --> 00:23:37,154
You see it also in the desert when they

542
00:23:37,154 --> 00:23:41,592
were traveling from Egypt to Canaan.

543
00:23:41,592 --> 00:23:43,516
God said, "Make Me a sanctuary

544
00:23:43,516 --> 00:23:44,960
that I may dwell among you."

545
00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:46,246
And so He wanted

546
00:23:46,246 --> 00:23:47,735
to really commune with them.

547
00:23:47,735 --> 00:23:49,211
You see when Jesus came,

548
00:23:49,211 --> 00:23:50,685
He was with His disciples.

549
00:23:50,685 --> 00:23:51,739
All the way through,

550
00:23:51,739 --> 00:23:53,838
even to the very last chapter

551
00:23:53,838 --> 00:23:55,416
of the book of Revelation,

552
00:23:55,416 --> 00:23:57,468
it says, "Surely I am coming quickly."

553
00:23:57,468 --> 00:23:59,681
So, we just see a depiction

554
00:23:59,681 --> 00:24:01,545
that, no matter where or how far

555
00:24:01,545 --> 00:24:03,330
we have gone, Jesus wants

556
00:24:03,330 --> 00:24:06,183
to have an intimate relationship with us.

557
00:24:06,183 --> 00:24:08,056
(Derek) Alright, thank you for sharing.

558
00:24:08,056 --> 00:24:09,553
Alex, I think you had your hand

559
00:24:09,553 --> 00:24:10,885
raised, too; would you like

560
00:24:10,885 --> 00:24:11,683
to add to that?

561
00:24:11,683 --> 00:24:13,481
(Alex) Yes, and to go with the idea

562
00:24:13,481 --> 00:24:15,499
of hope, when people have hope,

563
00:24:15,499 --> 00:24:17,107
it will help them to push through

564
00:24:17,107 --> 00:24:18,647
even through difficult times.

565
00:24:18,647 --> 00:24:19,981
And I just want everyone,

566
00:24:19,981 --> 00:24:22,650
whoever is watching, to put your name

567
00:24:22,650 --> 00:24:25,729
in Joshua 1:5 where God said, "As I was

568
00:24:25,729 --> 00:24:28,226
with Moses, so I will be with," Joshua,

569
00:24:28,226 --> 00:24:30,738
and, "I will be with you, too."

570
00:24:30,738 --> 00:24:31,963
(Derek) Beautiful, I like

571
00:24:31,963 --> 00:24:34,801
that personalizing of the text,

572
00:24:34,801 --> 00:24:37,448
"As I was with Moses,

573
00:24:37,448 --> 00:24:40,352
I will be with...," Sophia, Nicole,

574
00:24:40,352 --> 00:24:42,252
put your name there and say,

575
00:24:42,252 --> 00:24:43,672
"Is that really true?"

576
00:24:43,672 --> 00:24:45,790
Well, Jesus is the same yesterday,

577
00:24:45,790 --> 00:24:48,378
today and forever, so His promise

578
00:24:48,378 --> 00:24:51,997
is not just for Joshua in ancient times,

579
00:24:51,997 --> 00:24:53,881
but it's for each one of us. Puia?

580
00:24:53,881 --> 00:24:55,733
(Puia) I like what Rodney said.

581
00:24:55,733 --> 00:24:56,941
I think this is the theme

582
00:24:56,941 --> 00:24:58,869
that we're seeing throughout Scripture,

583
00:24:58,869 --> 00:24:59,864
the presence of God.

584
00:24:59,864 --> 00:25:02,240
You know, when humanity fell into sin,

585
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,309
we can look at that from different angles,

586
00:25:04,309 --> 00:25:07,601
but one of the main things we lost

587
00:25:07,601 --> 00:25:10,247
was that direct presence of God,

588
00:25:10,247 --> 00:25:12,483
that face-to-face relationship

589
00:25:12,483 --> 00:25:15,386
that humanity had.

590
00:25:15,386 --> 00:25:18,113
But even in verse 24, chapter 3

591
00:25:18,113 --> 00:25:19,740
of Genesis that we read, that God

592
00:25:19,740 --> 00:25:21,322
placed cherubim, you know,

593
00:25:21,322 --> 00:25:24,312
the word "placed" in the Hebrew language

594
00:25:24,312 --> 00:25:27,164
is the same word for "tabernacle."

595
00:25:27,164 --> 00:25:28,790
(Derek) Ah, so He "pitched" them.

596
00:25:28,790 --> 00:25:30,785
(Puia) He pitched the cherubim,

597
00:25:30,785 --> 00:25:33,155
like He tabernacled, He continued

598
00:25:33,155 --> 00:25:34,872
to show humanity that, "Even though

599
00:25:34,872 --> 00:25:37,051
you have fallen into sin, My presence

600
00:25:37,051 --> 00:25:38,539
will still be here."

601
00:25:38,539 --> 00:25:41,193
We will one day be united again,

602
00:25:41,193 --> 00:25:42,796
and that is so beautiful.

603
00:25:42,796 --> 00:25:43,865
(Derek) It really is.

604
00:25:43,865 --> 00:25:46,650
Well, let's look at a few individuals

605
00:25:46,650 --> 00:25:50,494
who were called to be prophets.

606
00:25:50,494 --> 00:25:51,956
And you say, "Well, Derek, I'm

607
00:25:51,956 --> 00:25:53,343
not called to be a prophet,"

608
00:25:53,343 --> 00:25:55,193
but we'll actually learn some lessons

609
00:25:55,193 --> 00:25:57,778
that will help us to know God

610
00:25:57,778 --> 00:25:59,381
wants to reveal Himself to us.

611
00:25:59,381 --> 00:26:02,383
So, let's go to 1 Samuel, chapter 1.

612
00:26:02,383 --> 00:26:04,117
Nicole, if you could read

613
00:26:04,117 --> 00:26:07,271
verses 27 and 28.

614
00:26:07,271 --> 00:26:09,653
And we're asking the question,

615
00:26:09,653 --> 00:26:11,759
how did the Lord prepare

616
00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:14,161
young Samuel to prophesy?

617
00:26:14,161 --> 00:26:17,014
And we'll see the preparation

618
00:26:17,014 --> 00:26:21,705
actually began even before he was born.

619
00:26:21,705 --> 00:26:23,570
(Nicole) The New International Version

620
00:26:23,570 --> 00:26:24,889
of 1 Samuel, chapter 1,

621
00:26:24,889 --> 00:26:26,907
verses 27 and 28, says:

622
00:26:40,694 --> 00:26:42,312
(Derek) And if you'd stay with us,

623
00:26:42,312 --> 00:26:44,315
Nicole, and read in chapter 2,

624
00:26:44,315 --> 00:26:47,140
verses 18 and 19, since you are

625
00:26:47,140 --> 00:26:49,359
also a mother, so you can understand

626
00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:51,961
a mother's prayers as Hannah,

627
00:26:51,961 --> 00:26:53,471
remember, that was her name,

628
00:26:53,471 --> 00:26:56,186
is praying for this child.

629
00:26:56,186 --> 00:26:57,281
(Nicole) And continuing

630
00:26:57,281 --> 00:26:59,448
in the New International Version, it says:

631
00:27:13,634 --> 00:27:14,776
(Derek) Now, let's think

632
00:27:14,776 --> 00:27:16,580
back about the garden and the robe

633
00:27:16,580 --> 00:27:19,233
that was made in the garden.

634
00:27:19,233 --> 00:27:21,783
So, I want to ask a question.

635
00:27:21,783 --> 00:27:23,864
Some of you are parents, too.

636
00:27:23,864 --> 00:27:24,865
What do you think was

637
00:27:24,865 --> 00:27:28,376
going through Hannah's mind -

638
00:27:28,376 --> 00:27:30,147
and we've got some parents here

639
00:27:30,147 --> 00:27:31,885
on our team - what was going

640
00:27:31,885 --> 00:27:34,528
through Hannah's mind as she made

641
00:27:34,528 --> 00:27:38,098
that covering, that robe,

642
00:27:38,098 --> 00:27:42,056
for her son, Samuel, every year?

643
00:27:42,056 --> 00:27:46,643
Anybody, what do you think? Yes, Scott.

644
00:27:46,643 --> 00:27:49,017
(Scott) I'm drawn to the description

645
00:27:49,017 --> 00:27:50,448
of his clothing, that it says

646
00:27:50,448 --> 00:27:51,848
he was wearing a linen ephod.

647
00:27:51,848 --> 00:27:53,214
Now, we don't know exactly

648
00:27:53,214 --> 00:27:54,405
what an ephod was, but it

649
00:27:54,405 --> 00:27:56,584
had to do with priestly ministry.

650
00:27:56,584 --> 00:27:59,574
And so, Hannah has lent him to the Lord,

651
00:27:59,574 --> 00:28:01,142
and now she is clothing him

652
00:28:01,142 --> 00:28:03,821
in the trappings for his service for God,

653
00:28:03,821 --> 00:28:06,506
so she is preparing him, from a young age,

654
00:28:06,506 --> 00:28:10,282
to serve God, to minister for God.

655
00:28:10,282 --> 00:28:13,679
(Derek) Alright, in a physical sense,

656
00:28:13,679 --> 00:28:16,025
you mean, by making this robe?

657
00:28:16,025 --> 00:28:18,436
I want to know, Nicole, what was

658
00:28:18,436 --> 00:28:20,196
going through her <i>mind</i>

659
00:28:20,196 --> 00:28:21,667
while she was making...

660
00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:24,033
What was she doing while she was

661
00:28:24,033 --> 00:28:27,302
weaving or sewing that garment?

662
00:28:27,302 --> 00:28:29,095
(Nicole) I can see her putting tears

663
00:28:29,095 --> 00:28:30,576
in that garment because her son

664
00:28:30,576 --> 00:28:32,709
is not with her, but also love, because

665
00:28:32,709 --> 00:28:34,570
she knows that her son is going to wear

666
00:28:34,570 --> 00:28:36,315
that garment and have a part of her

667
00:28:36,315 --> 00:28:38,598
with him every day that he is
ministering to God.

668
00:28:38,598 --> 00:28:40,215
(Derek) Would someone like to add

669
00:28:40,215 --> 00:28:42,909
another word besides tears and love?

670
00:28:42,909 --> 00:28:43,826
(Joshua) Gratitude.

671
00:28:43,826 --> 00:28:45,604
(Derek) Gratitude. I'm looking

672
00:28:45,604 --> 00:28:47,773
for one more word.

673
00:28:47,773 --> 00:28:48,837
(Sophia) Joy.

674
00:28:48,837 --> 00:28:49,649
(Kylynda) Care.

675
00:28:49,649 --> 00:28:51,864
(Derek) How about prayer?

676
00:28:51,864 --> 00:28:53,385
Because she prayed, you told us,

677
00:28:53,385 --> 00:28:54,864
at the beginning, right?

678
00:28:54,864 --> 00:28:56,165
Did she stop praying?

679
00:28:56,165 --> 00:28:57,900
Do we stop praying for our children,

680
00:28:57,900 --> 00:28:59,535
those of us who have children?

681
00:28:59,535 --> 00:29:02,341
She never stops praying that he

682
00:29:02,341 --> 00:29:08,388
will be covered, that he will understand

683
00:29:08,388 --> 00:29:10,619
the grace of God.

684
00:29:10,619 --> 00:29:12,826
And, by the way, if you read this book,

685
00:29:12,826 --> 00:29:14,637
there are some wicked things happening

686
00:29:14,637 --> 00:29:15,858
in the temple.

687
00:29:15,858 --> 00:29:18,378
It's a miracle that this young boy

688
00:29:18,378 --> 00:29:21,096
is remaining pure and true to God.

689
00:29:21,096 --> 00:29:22,899
Well, let's pick up the story.

690
00:29:22,899 --> 00:29:26,286
Sophia, if you could take us to chapter 3

691
00:29:26,286 --> 00:29:29,173
of 1 Samuel, and we're going to look

692
00:29:29,173 --> 00:29:31,762
at the first 10 verses.

693
00:29:31,762 --> 00:29:33,466
Now, some of you might say, "Derek,

694
00:29:33,466 --> 00:29:35,872
I know this story," but maybe you're

695
00:29:35,872 --> 00:29:37,782
going to hear this for the first time.

696
00:29:37,782 --> 00:29:40,500
Remember, people are listening.

697
00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:43,194
And I want you not just to tell us

698
00:29:43,194 --> 00:29:46,271
what happened, but what can we learn

699
00:29:46,271 --> 00:29:49,628
for our lives today that will help us

700
00:29:49,628 --> 00:29:53,955
to prepare for the last days, okay?

701
00:29:53,955 --> 00:29:56,131
Chapter 3, verses 1 through 10.

702
00:29:56,131 --> 00:29:57,303
(Sophia) I'll be reading

703
00:29:57,303 --> 00:29:59,171
from the New King James Version:

704
00:31:35,711 --> 00:31:36,930
(Derek) What do you learn

705
00:31:36,930 --> 00:31:37,700
from this story?

706
00:31:37,700 --> 00:31:39,299
It's a beautiful story, right?

707
00:31:39,299 --> 00:31:41,434
What lessons do you learn?

708
00:31:41,434 --> 00:31:42,431
I see Rodney, you're

709
00:31:42,431 --> 00:31:44,153
just kind of shaking your head.

710
00:31:44,153 --> 00:31:45,475
There's got to be something

711
00:31:45,475 --> 00:31:46,819
you're thinking while you're

712
00:31:46,819 --> 00:31:47,900
shaking your head.

713
00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:50,877
(Rodney) Derek, this story
is unbelievable.

714
00:31:50,877 --> 00:31:53,874
I'm just watching the progression

715
00:31:53,874 --> 00:31:58,868
of both Samuel and Eli.

716
00:31:58,868 --> 00:32:04,407
I see Samuel, here, trying to understand

717
00:32:04,407 --> 00:32:06,386
the voice of God, because the Bible says

718
00:32:06,386 --> 00:32:08,854
there that the voice of the Lord

719
00:32:08,854 --> 00:32:10,894
was rare in those days.

720
00:32:10,894 --> 00:32:13,146
And so, if he hears anything that is

721
00:32:13,146 --> 00:32:16,822
sounding like...I notice he goes to Eli.

722
00:32:16,822 --> 00:32:18,106
He didn't go anywhere else;

723
00:32:18,106 --> 00:32:19,765
he went to Eli, so he's expecting

724
00:32:19,765 --> 00:32:21,477
that Eli would have been the person.

725
00:32:21,477 --> 00:32:23,555
But I just like how Samuel is

726
00:32:23,555 --> 00:32:25,507
following the instructions of Eli.

727
00:32:25,507 --> 00:32:27,308
Now, Eli himself also went

728
00:32:27,308 --> 00:32:28,884
through a progression.

729
00:32:28,884 --> 00:32:30,350
If you notice, Eli himself

730
00:32:30,350 --> 00:32:32,177
didn't even know, but the third time

731
00:32:32,177 --> 00:32:34,433
he recognized that God was

732
00:32:34,433 --> 00:32:35,811
speaking to this young man

733
00:32:35,811 --> 00:32:37,285
and instructed him accordingly.

734
00:32:37,285 --> 00:32:40,756
So, I can see growth and development

735
00:32:40,756 --> 00:32:42,158
in these two characters

736
00:32:42,158 --> 00:32:43,575
being displayed here,

737
00:32:43,575 --> 00:32:44,654
and so it is with us.

738
00:32:44,654 --> 00:32:47,772
God wants us to grow with Him as well.

739
00:32:47,772 --> 00:32:49,215
(Derek) Okay, I see some hands

740
00:32:49,215 --> 00:32:52,594
in the studio, and then I see Alex,

741
00:32:52,594 --> 00:32:55,104
one of our remotes. Nicole.

742
00:32:55,104 --> 00:32:56,195
(Nicole) I'm taken

743
00:32:56,195 --> 00:32:58,640
by the obedience of this child.

744
00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:00,884
I have children, and it's hard

745
00:33:00,884 --> 00:33:02,458
to get them, sometimes, to listen

746
00:33:02,458 --> 00:33:03,512
to what you're saying.

747
00:33:03,512 --> 00:33:07,150
But in this case, it's refreshing to see

748
00:33:07,150 --> 00:33:09,235
that this child is able to be obedient.

749
00:33:09,235 --> 00:33:11,086
And when Eli tells him what to do,

750
00:33:11,086 --> 00:33:12,788
he does it; that's from the prayer

751
00:33:12,788 --> 00:33:16,091
of his mom saying that this child

752
00:33:16,091 --> 00:33:17,710
is going to be raised and do

753
00:33:17,710 --> 00:33:18,821
the service of God.

754
00:33:18,821 --> 00:33:20,391
And so, that is important for us

755
00:33:20,391 --> 00:33:21,674
as parents to know, we have

756
00:33:21,674 --> 00:33:23,342
to pray for our children to be able

757
00:33:23,342 --> 00:33:24,439
to hear God's voice.

758
00:33:24,439 --> 00:33:26,375
(Derek) So, Samuel, this little boy, is

759
00:33:26,375 --> 00:33:29,421
covered in prayer in more ways than one.

760
00:33:29,421 --> 00:33:31,423
He's got the little robe, right,

761
00:33:31,423 --> 00:33:34,994
but he's also covered in prayer. Alex?

762
00:33:34,994 --> 00:33:36,617
(Alex) And it's powerful, and if I

763
00:33:36,617 --> 00:33:38,703
were to sum this up, for me,

764
00:33:38,703 --> 00:33:41,099
it is the fact that God does not call

765
00:33:41,099 --> 00:33:42,914
the qualified, but he

766
00:33:42,914 --> 00:33:44,603
qualifies the called.

767
00:33:44,603 --> 00:33:46,872
This is a young boy, but as long as you're

768
00:33:46,872 --> 00:33:48,357
willing, whoever you are,

769
00:33:48,357 --> 00:33:50,193
or how old you are, doesn't matter;

770
00:33:50,193 --> 00:33:52,496
as long as you say, "Here am I, Lord,"

771
00:33:52,496 --> 00:33:53,945
He will work through you.

772
00:33:53,945 --> 00:33:55,236
(Derek) So, you don't have

773
00:33:55,236 --> 00:33:57,329
to be the high priest like Eli.

774
00:33:57,329 --> 00:34:02,214
Tragically, Eli's not listening,

775
00:34:02,214 --> 00:34:03,505
and, "The word of the Lord

776
00:34:03,505 --> 00:34:05,307
was rare in those days."

777
00:34:05,307 --> 00:34:07,475
A lesson you learned, Scott.

778
00:34:07,475 --> 00:34:09,711
(Scott) What really struck me is

779
00:34:09,711 --> 00:34:13,649
that it says that Samuel did not yet know

780
00:34:13,649 --> 00:34:15,391
the voice of the Lord.

781
00:34:15,391 --> 00:34:19,368
And what stood out to me is that God

782
00:34:19,368 --> 00:34:24,093
calls us before we are in a position

783
00:34:24,093 --> 00:34:25,394
to reach out to Him.

784
00:34:25,394 --> 00:34:27,730
We are not the one who initiates.

785
00:34:27,730 --> 00:34:29,498
Samuel didn't start this up.

786
00:34:29,498 --> 00:34:31,630
God was the One who took the initiative,

787
00:34:31,630 --> 00:34:33,435
and He initiated this call,

788
00:34:33,435 --> 00:34:35,223
and He spoke to him.

789
00:34:35,223 --> 00:34:36,572
(Derek) Do we have any idea

790
00:34:36,572 --> 00:34:39,174
how old Samuel was at this time?

791
00:34:39,174 --> 00:34:42,511
Does anybody know?

792
00:34:42,511 --> 00:34:44,868
Shawn, you've got a couple of little boys.

793
00:34:44,868 --> 00:34:47,743
Can you imagine the Lord God saying,

794
00:34:47,743 --> 00:34:48,821
"I'm going to choose

795
00:34:48,821 --> 00:34:51,257
little Michael," or Matthew?

796
00:34:51,257 --> 00:34:52,495
(Shawn) That'd be amazing.

797
00:34:52,500 --> 00:34:54,129
(Derek) Wouldn't it be?!

798
00:34:54,129 --> 00:34:56,285
But I appreciate what you said, Alex,

799
00:34:56,285 --> 00:34:57,753
and I would say to you,

800
00:34:57,753 --> 00:34:59,394
our Hope Sabbath School family,

801
00:34:59,394 --> 00:35:01,980
God wants to speak to us,

802
00:35:01,980 --> 00:35:03,381
if we're willing to listen.

803
00:35:03,381 --> 00:35:05,508
Could we also as parents bathe

804
00:35:05,508 --> 00:35:08,417
our children in prayer so that when God

805
00:35:08,417 --> 00:35:10,782
speaks to them, they'll listen,

806
00:35:10,782 --> 00:35:12,114
they'll recognize the voice,

807
00:35:12,114 --> 00:35:13,022
and they'll listen.

808
00:35:13,022 --> 00:35:14,042
It's quite amazing.

809
00:35:14,042 --> 00:35:15,527
Sophia, you had a thought.

810
00:35:15,527 --> 00:35:18,053
(Sophia) It says that He came and stood,

811
00:35:18,053 --> 00:35:19,848
He came to him just like He came

812
00:35:19,848 --> 00:35:21,433
to Adam and Eve in the garden;

813
00:35:21,433 --> 00:35:22,717
He found them.

814
00:35:22,717 --> 00:35:24,402
(Derek) I noticed that also,

815
00:35:24,402 --> 00:35:25,956
that in the first [three],

816
00:35:25,956 --> 00:35:27,943
it just says, "He called."

817
00:35:27,943 --> 00:35:29,165
Did you notice that?

818
00:35:29,165 --> 00:35:31,320
But the [fourth] time, it says,
"The Lord..."?

819
00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,699
(Derek, Team) "...came and stood"

820
00:35:34,699 --> 00:35:36,902
(Derek) ...and called the [fourth] time.

821
00:35:36,902 --> 00:35:38,787
So, what lesson can we learn

822
00:35:38,787 --> 00:35:40,045
for our lives from this?

823
00:35:40,045 --> 00:35:44,442
We're talking about a story here

824
00:35:44,442 --> 00:35:45,530
for the last days.

825
00:35:45,530 --> 00:35:47,686
What lesson, Puia, could I learn

826
00:35:47,686 --> 00:35:48,468
from this story?

827
00:35:48,468 --> 00:35:50,299
You say, "What a great story."

828
00:35:50,299 --> 00:35:51,504
What could I learn?

829
00:35:51,504 --> 00:35:53,709
(Puia) I think God, even to this day

830
00:35:53,709 --> 00:35:56,346
and in the last days, wants to continue

831
00:35:56,346 --> 00:35:58,921
to communicate with us, so I think

832
00:35:58,921 --> 00:36:02,144
the lesson, here, is to be willing,

833
00:36:02,144 --> 00:36:03,586
as Alex pointed out, to have

834
00:36:03,586 --> 00:36:06,883
a willing heart to say, "Here I am, Lord,"

835
00:36:06,883 --> 00:36:08,170
"Here I am, send me,"

836
00:36:08,170 --> 00:36:09,951
"Here I am, I'm listening."

837
00:36:09,951 --> 00:36:11,893
And I really love how Samuel responded,

838
00:36:11,893 --> 00:36:14,089
"Speak, Your servant hears."

839
00:36:14,089 --> 00:36:15,381
I think the lesson is there

840
00:36:15,381 --> 00:36:17,637
for us to continue to listen

841
00:36:17,637 --> 00:36:18,733
to the voice of God.

842
00:36:18,733 --> 00:36:20,844
Today, the Bible is the Word of God,

843
00:36:20,844 --> 00:36:23,407
that we can listen to His Word every day,

844
00:36:23,407 --> 00:36:26,398
and God will speak to our hearts.

845
00:36:26,398 --> 00:36:28,210
(Derek) Let's look at another prophet.

846
00:36:28,210 --> 00:36:29,410
Kylynda, if you'd take us

847
00:36:29,410 --> 00:36:31,089
to Isaiah the prophet.

848
00:36:31,089 --> 00:36:34,659
Now, this is several centuries later.

849
00:36:34,659 --> 00:36:38,620
This is about the eighth century B.C.,

850
00:36:38,620 --> 00:36:40,700
and God calls another prophet

851
00:36:40,700 --> 00:36:43,361
named Isaiah, and if you could read

852
00:36:43,361 --> 00:36:46,722
for us chapter 6 of the book -

853
00:36:46,722 --> 00:36:48,757
because this is where Isaiah

854
00:36:48,757 --> 00:36:51,310
actually tells us about his call -

855
00:36:51,310 --> 00:36:53,428
verses 1 through 5.

856
00:36:53,428 --> 00:36:54,647
(Kylynda) I'll be reading

857
00:36:54,647 --> 00:36:56,524
from the New King James Version:

858
00:37:44,195 --> 00:37:45,405
(Derek) What do you think

859
00:37:45,405 --> 00:37:47,131
about Isaiah's reaction

860
00:37:47,131 --> 00:37:49,101
to this revelation?

861
00:37:49,101 --> 00:37:52,745
Now, again, you know he obviously had

862
00:37:52,745 --> 00:37:56,196
a relationship with God, right,

863
00:37:56,196 --> 00:37:58,645
though I do think, Scott, you pointed out

864
00:37:58,645 --> 00:37:59,889
that we don't have to have

865
00:37:59,889 --> 00:38:01,321
everything together before God

866
00:38:01,321 --> 00:38:02,422
might come and call us.

867
00:38:02,422 --> 00:38:05,102
But he's a man seeking God,

868
00:38:05,102 --> 00:38:07,427
and yet this is a totally...

869
00:38:07,427 --> 00:38:09,773
What would you say?

870
00:38:09,773 --> 00:38:11,849
A more overwhelming revelation

871
00:38:11,849 --> 00:38:14,478
of God's presence and truth to him.

872
00:38:14,478 --> 00:38:15,308
What do you think

873
00:38:15,308 --> 00:38:16,734
about his reaction, Joshua?

874
00:38:16,734 --> 00:38:18,501
(Joshua) To me, he seemed intimidated

875
00:38:18,501 --> 00:38:20,811
and unworthy; he felt

876
00:38:20,811 --> 00:38:22,328
as though he was unworthy.

877
00:38:22,328 --> 00:38:23,029
(Derek) Okay.

878
00:38:23,029 --> 00:38:24,931
(Joshua) I know the following Scriptures

879
00:38:24,931 --> 00:38:27,671
seem to clarify that and what God did

880
00:38:27,671 --> 00:38:28,723
in order to prepare...

881
00:38:28,723 --> 00:38:30,203
(Derek) Okay, let's unpack

882
00:38:30,203 --> 00:38:35,319
the "intimidated"; that implies some fear?

883
00:38:35,319 --> 00:38:38,365
Do you think there was some fear there?

884
00:38:38,365 --> 00:38:39,791
(Joshua) The vision of what he

885
00:38:39,791 --> 00:38:41,932
was seeing? Yeah.

886
00:38:41,932 --> 00:38:43,565
(Derek) You know, it would be nice

887
00:38:43,565 --> 00:38:44,425
to think no fear,

888
00:38:44,425 --> 00:38:47,381
but any time even holy angels showed up,

889
00:38:47,381 --> 00:38:50,646
they had to say, "Fear not," right?

890
00:38:50,646 --> 00:38:52,506
"Fear not, I bring you glad tidings..."

891
00:38:52,506 --> 00:38:53,272
"Fear not," why?

892
00:38:53,272 --> 00:38:56,465
Because the glory of God

893
00:38:56,465 --> 00:38:58,715
is really overwhelming

894
00:38:58,715 --> 00:39:01,875
to sinful human beings. Yes, Puia.

895
00:39:01,875 --> 00:39:04,071
(Puia) I think this is a common theme

896
00:39:04,071 --> 00:39:05,071
we see in the Bible.

897
00:39:05,071 --> 00:39:07,180
Whenever someone gets close to God,

898
00:39:07,180 --> 00:39:10,405
they begin to see their own sinfulness.

899
00:39:10,405 --> 00:39:11,867
You know, the closer you are

900
00:39:11,867 --> 00:39:13,770
drawn to God, the more you

901
00:39:13,770 --> 00:39:15,968
see your failures.

902
00:39:15,968 --> 00:39:17,301
And yet, that's where we see

903
00:39:17,301 --> 00:39:19,761
the grace of God coming through also.

904
00:39:19,761 --> 00:39:21,480
(Derek) You speak about grace, Puia.

905
00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,457
I'd like you to read on, verses 6 and 7

906
00:39:23,457 --> 00:39:24,704
of the same chapter.

907
00:39:24,704 --> 00:39:26,036
The story doesn't end there,

908
00:39:26,036 --> 00:39:28,467
"Woe is me, I'm done, bye."

909
00:39:28,467 --> 00:39:30,914
Fortunately, the prophet continues

910
00:39:30,914 --> 00:39:34,968
to record the story, and what do we learn?

911
00:39:34,968 --> 00:39:36,236
(Puia) And I'll be reading

912
00:39:36,236 --> 00:39:37,980
from the New King James Version,

913
00:39:37,980 --> 00:39:39,813
Isaiah 6, verses 6 to 8:

914
00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:01,158
(Derek) Oh, hold verse 8; we're going

915
00:40:01,158 --> 00:40:03,230
going to read that in just a minute, okay?

916
00:40:03,230 --> 00:40:06,942
So, we've got a hot coal coming

917
00:40:06,942 --> 00:40:09,028
from an altar; there's

918
00:40:09,028 --> 00:40:12,275
some symbolism here, what is that?

919
00:40:12,275 --> 00:40:13,323
(Joshua) Purification.

920
00:40:13,323 --> 00:40:15,539
(Derek) Purification, and what's the altar

921
00:40:15,539 --> 00:40:18,264
it's coming from?

922
00:40:18,264 --> 00:40:20,633
It kind of reminds us of...?

923
00:40:20,633 --> 00:40:21,729
(Team) Burnt offering.

924
00:40:21,729 --> 00:40:27,558
(Derek) Burnt offering, of the sanctuary.

925
00:40:27,558 --> 00:40:30,010
Does anybody have an idea?

926
00:40:30,010 --> 00:40:33,896
Yes, Rodney, you're going to tell us

927
00:40:33,896 --> 00:40:36,410
where this burning coal came from,

928
00:40:36,410 --> 00:40:38,607
an altar of some kind.

929
00:40:38,607 --> 00:40:40,510
(Rodney) Yes, there's an intimation here

930
00:40:40,510 --> 00:40:42,322
that it is from the altar of incense

931
00:40:42,322 --> 00:40:44,174
where there is prayer,

932
00:40:44,174 --> 00:40:46,005
and back to Joshua's point

933
00:40:46,005 --> 00:40:48,929
around purification that takes place.

934
00:40:48,929 --> 00:40:51,347
It really just is a great symbolism

935
00:40:51,347 --> 00:40:54,751
that indicates that, "Well,

936
00:40:54,751 --> 00:40:56,815
you're now ready."

937
00:40:56,815 --> 00:40:58,432
God is saying, "I am purifying you

938
00:40:58,432 --> 00:41:00,190
of your sin, and now you are ready

939
00:41:00,190 --> 00:41:02,569
to represent Me to My people."

940
00:41:02,569 --> 00:41:05,328
(Derek) So, heavenly sanctuary, right,

941
00:41:05,328 --> 00:41:08,222
or earthly sanctuary - no.

942
00:41:08,222 --> 00:41:09,568
It's heavenly sanctuary

943
00:41:09,568 --> 00:41:11,856
this is coming from; it's a symbol.

944
00:41:11,856 --> 00:41:13,540
And, Puia, you wanted to read on,

945
00:41:13,540 --> 00:41:15,963
and we want you to read it for us,

946
00:41:15,963 --> 00:41:20,385
because what options does

947
00:41:20,385 --> 00:41:25,165
this young man, Isaiah, have
at this point?

948
00:41:25,165 --> 00:41:26,594
What are his options?

949
00:41:26,594 --> 00:41:27,658
(Puia) Say no to God.

950
00:41:27,658 --> 00:41:28,827
(Derek) He could say no.

951
00:41:28,827 --> 00:41:30,387
He could say, "This

952
00:41:30,387 --> 00:41:33,876
would be very difficult."

953
00:41:33,876 --> 00:41:35,425
"They've killed prophets before,

954
00:41:35,425 --> 00:41:38,999
and they'll kill prophets later.

955
00:41:38,999 --> 00:41:41,447
They might even kill me."

956
00:41:41,447 --> 00:41:44,308
Or, he says...let's see how he responds

957
00:41:44,308 --> 00:41:46,897
in Isaiah 6 and verse 8.

958
00:41:46,897 --> 00:41:48,304
(Puia) And I will be reading

959
00:41:48,304 --> 00:41:49,913
from the New King James Version:

960
00:42:01,261 --> 00:42:02,634
(Derek) So, we're not called

961
00:42:02,634 --> 00:42:03,407
to be prophets.

962
00:42:03,407 --> 00:42:04,769
Shaina, I'm going to ask you

963
00:42:04,769 --> 00:42:06,342
a question in just a minute here,

964
00:42:06,342 --> 00:42:08,135
because when we're called

965
00:42:08,135 --> 00:42:10,138
even to be on Hope Sabbath School,

966
00:42:10,138 --> 00:42:11,903
right - we're sharing the Word of God

967
00:42:11,903 --> 00:42:13,684
with the world - it would be easy

968
00:42:13,684 --> 00:42:17,378
for us to go, "I don't think so.

969
00:42:17,378 --> 00:42:19,313
Why don't You call someone else

970
00:42:19,313 --> 00:42:22,787
who's more...," more what?

971
00:42:22,787 --> 00:42:23,614
(Team) Qualified.

972
00:42:23,614 --> 00:42:27,093
(Derek) Qualified or talented or whatever.

973
00:42:27,093 --> 00:42:33,910
Shaina, when you joined the team,

974
00:42:33,910 --> 00:42:36,029
I don't think it was just my wife

975
00:42:36,029 --> 00:42:37,511
who asked you; I think God

976
00:42:37,511 --> 00:42:38,886
was inviting you, and you've

977
00:42:38,886 --> 00:42:40,952
been a great blessing

978
00:42:40,952 --> 00:42:43,687
to the Hope Sabbath School team.

979
00:42:43,687 --> 00:42:45,405
How did God interact with you

980
00:42:45,405 --> 00:42:49,222
when that invitation came?

981
00:42:49,222 --> 00:42:51,072
(Shaina) Well, I had to respond

982
00:42:51,072 --> 00:42:55,021
positively to His call as well,

983
00:42:55,021 --> 00:42:58,736
and I found that in reading His Word

984
00:42:58,736 --> 00:43:00,603
and spending more time in His Word

985
00:43:00,603 --> 00:43:03,887
and in communicating, I felt strengthened

986
00:43:03,887 --> 00:43:05,543
and more equipped.

987
00:43:05,543 --> 00:43:07,722
And as I continued to communicate

988
00:43:07,722 --> 00:43:11,315
with Him, the initial fear,

989
00:43:11,315 --> 00:43:14,774
because to be honest, I used to film

990
00:43:14,774 --> 00:43:17,048
in the studio regularly when I lived

991
00:43:17,048 --> 00:43:22,372
in the area, and in my brain,

992
00:43:22,372 --> 00:43:24,262
sitting there in the studio was like,

993
00:43:24,262 --> 00:43:26,762
"Oh, these cameras; I'm being

994
00:43:26,762 --> 00:43:27,858
viewed by the world."

995
00:43:27,858 --> 00:43:30,466
It was kind of an intimidating feeling,

996
00:43:30,466 --> 00:43:32,240
but as I said, as time went on,

997
00:43:32,240 --> 00:43:34,639
and I kept communicating with Him,

998
00:43:34,639 --> 00:43:37,240
and also being surrounded by believers

999
00:43:37,240 --> 00:43:42,913
who were equipped by Him as well,

1000
00:43:42,913 --> 00:43:45,682
it started to become natural to me.

1001
00:43:45,682 --> 00:43:47,330
And so, it's like, as we continue

1002
00:43:47,330 --> 00:43:48,636
to communicate with Him

1003
00:43:48,636 --> 00:43:50,778
and spend time in His Word,

1004
00:43:50,778 --> 00:43:52,354
He will fuel us with the strength

1005
00:43:52,354 --> 00:43:54,109
that we need in order to do

1006
00:43:54,109 --> 00:43:55,453
what He called us to do.

1007
00:43:55,453 --> 00:43:57,372
(Derek) And I want you to stay with us,

1008
00:43:57,372 --> 00:43:58,729
Shaina, because some

1009
00:43:58,729 --> 00:44:00,781
of our Hope Sabbath School family

1010
00:44:00,781 --> 00:44:03,522
know that you faced a great crisis

1011
00:44:03,522 --> 00:44:06,347
when you had an accident some years ago.

1012
00:44:06,347 --> 00:44:09,413
Tell us about that, and that

1013
00:44:09,413 --> 00:44:11,606
might have been a great way out,

1014
00:44:11,606 --> 00:44:13,604
to say, "Well, I'm going through all

1015
00:44:13,604 --> 00:44:15,178
of this difficulty; I don't think

1016
00:44:15,178 --> 00:44:17,237
I can do this anymore."

1017
00:44:17,237 --> 00:44:19,566
And yet, God called you to continue.

1018
00:44:19,566 --> 00:44:21,468
Talk to us about that.

1019
00:44:21,468 --> 00:44:23,704
(Shaina) It was about four years ago

1020
00:44:23,704 --> 00:44:26,311
I underwent the greatest tragedy

1021
00:44:26,311 --> 00:44:29,189
of my life so far.

1022
00:44:29,189 --> 00:44:31,095
I was in a major car accident,

1023
00:44:31,095 --> 00:44:34,467
was on life support for two days,

1024
00:44:34,467 --> 00:44:37,252
and after I got off life support

1025
00:44:37,252 --> 00:44:39,079
had short-term memory loss.

1026
00:44:39,079 --> 00:44:42,393
So, meaning I would most likely be

1027
00:44:42,393 --> 00:44:44,625
repeating the same things I said

1028
00:44:44,625 --> 00:44:48,918
30 seconds ago in this conversation.

1029
00:44:48,918 --> 00:44:50,392
Lots of prayers were sent up

1030
00:44:50,392 --> 00:44:54,417
around the world for me, and I remember

1031
00:44:54,417 --> 00:44:56,636
Pastor Derek's wife reaching

1032
00:44:56,636 --> 00:44:59,333
back out to me after I felt better.

1033
00:44:59,333 --> 00:45:03,311
And I was like, "I cannot not do this,

1034
00:45:03,311 --> 00:45:08,524
because look at what He has done for me."

1035
00:45:08,524 --> 00:45:11,027
I didn't have to have my memory restored.

1036
00:45:11,027 --> 00:45:13,187
I didn't have to be walking.

1037
00:45:13,187 --> 00:45:18,411
I didn't have to look

1038
00:45:18,411 --> 00:45:22,319
like nothing happened to me basically.

1039
00:45:22,319 --> 00:45:24,012
And people look at me today,

1040
00:45:24,012 --> 00:45:25,388
and they would never be able

1041
00:45:25,388 --> 00:45:27,962
to tell that I was in that state.

1042
00:45:27,962 --> 00:45:34,504
And so, this is just like my gratitude,

1043
00:45:34,504 --> 00:45:35,700
to say, "Thank You, God.

1044
00:45:35,700 --> 00:45:39,601
You saved me from that physical death,

1045
00:45:39,601 --> 00:45:42,517
and ultimately the spiritual death,"

1046
00:45:42,517 --> 00:45:43,853
and it's like I can't...

1047
00:45:43,853 --> 00:45:46,241
I don't even know if this is

1048
00:45:46,241 --> 00:45:48,883
enough to say thanks.

1049
00:45:48,883 --> 00:45:53,231
And so, it's very little that I can do

1050
00:45:53,231 --> 00:45:55,417
to say thanks, and He continues

1051
00:45:55,417 --> 00:46:00,972
to strengthen and equip me to do the work.

1052
00:46:00,972 --> 00:46:02,274
(Derek) Thank you so much.

1053
00:46:02,274 --> 00:46:03,919
It's a powerful testimony.

1054
00:46:03,919 --> 00:46:05,511
Thank you so much for sharing it.

1055
00:46:05,511 --> 00:46:07,636
And I guess, you say, "Well, Samuel,

1056
00:46:07,636 --> 00:46:09,194
that was like a long time ago."

1057
00:46:09,194 --> 00:46:11,836
Or, "Isaiah, that was a long time ago."

1058
00:46:11,836 --> 00:46:13,818
But we have a choice to make.

1059
00:46:13,818 --> 00:46:18,667
And Shaina said, "Here am I, use me,"

1060
00:46:18,667 --> 00:46:19,878
right, "Use me."

1061
00:46:19,878 --> 00:46:21,660
Oh, but Satan comes, and, I mean,

1062
00:46:21,660 --> 00:46:23,489
we know God didn't cause the accident.

1063
00:46:23,489 --> 00:46:24,539
You say, "Well, it was

1064
00:46:24,539 --> 00:46:25,964
just someone's driving."

1065
00:46:25,964 --> 00:46:27,751
But, ultimately the enemy is

1066
00:46:27,751 --> 00:46:30,226
behind the chaos of this world.

1067
00:46:30,226 --> 00:46:32,691
But God says, "We're not done."

1068
00:46:32,691 --> 00:46:34,552
You know, the cherubim are still there,

1069
00:46:34,552 --> 00:46:36,234
right, "My presence between them."

1070
00:46:36,234 --> 00:46:38,374
"I've still got you covered."

1071
00:46:38,374 --> 00:46:42,949
And Shaina's testimony today

1072
00:46:42,949 --> 00:46:44,689
will be used by God

1073
00:46:44,689 --> 00:46:47,335
to impact people around the world.

1074
00:46:47,335 --> 00:46:49,588
Well, there's another young person

1075
00:46:49,588 --> 00:46:51,285
that the Lord called;

1076
00:46:51,285 --> 00:46:53,148
his name was Jeremiah.

1077
00:46:53,148 --> 00:46:54,692
And, Alex, I'm going to ask you,

1078
00:46:54,692 --> 00:46:57,162
you're a young man, God called you,

1079
00:46:57,162 --> 00:46:59,017
and by the way, I'm going to give you

1080
00:46:59,017 --> 00:47:00,565
an opportunity to share a little

1081
00:47:00,565 --> 00:47:02,871
of your testimony, too.

1082
00:47:02,871 --> 00:47:04,646
but I would like you to read the text

1083
00:47:04,646 --> 00:47:06,071
for us first, if you would,

1084
00:47:06,071 --> 00:47:08,957
from Jeremiah, chapter 1,

1085
00:47:08,957 --> 00:47:11,246
verses 4 through 10.

1086
00:47:11,246 --> 00:47:12,771
(Alex) Okay, and I'll be reading

1087
00:47:12,771 --> 00:47:14,642
from the New King James,

1088
00:47:14,642 --> 00:47:17,082
and starting at verse 4, it says:

1089
00:48:16,131 --> 00:48:17,516
(Derek) Stay with us, Alex,

1090
00:48:17,516 --> 00:48:19,541
because I want to give you an opportunity.

1091
00:48:19,541 --> 00:48:22,982
You actually were called by God

1092
00:48:22,982 --> 00:48:24,803
as a young man, too,

1093
00:48:24,803 --> 00:48:26,605
and maybe Hope Sabbath School people

1094
00:48:26,605 --> 00:48:28,657
watching go, "Well, he probably grew up,

1095
00:48:28,657 --> 00:48:30,461
you know, a perfect child

1096
00:48:30,461 --> 00:48:32,205
and never had any challenges,

1097
00:48:32,205 --> 00:48:33,559
and he doesn't understand."

1098
00:48:33,559 --> 00:48:35,648
But share with me a little,

1099
00:48:35,648 --> 00:48:37,976
and with our Hope Sabbath School family,

1100
00:48:37,976 --> 00:48:39,315
a little of your testimony.

1101
00:48:39,315 --> 00:48:40,953
I remember some of the things

1102
00:48:40,953 --> 00:48:42,261
that you were involved with

1103
00:48:42,261 --> 00:48:44,556
and how God literally turned

1104
00:48:44,556 --> 00:48:45,801
your life around.

1105
00:48:45,801 --> 00:48:48,928
And He's called you now to proclaim

1106
00:48:48,928 --> 00:48:51,102
to the nations the truth

1107
00:48:51,102 --> 00:48:54,346
about His immeasurable love.

1108
00:48:54,346 --> 00:48:57,585
(Alex) Yes, and it really touches me

1109
00:48:57,585 --> 00:48:59,122
whenever I look back, because I

1110
00:48:59,122 --> 00:49:01,551
really don't see myself whenever I share,

1111
00:49:01,551 --> 00:49:03,895
and it's like, "That's not me."

1112
00:49:03,895 --> 00:49:07,053
But that <i>was</i> me before, and, no,

1113
00:49:07,053 --> 00:49:09,959
I didn't grow up fearing the Lord.

1114
00:49:09,959 --> 00:49:13,535
I had friends that I shouldn't

1115
00:49:13,535 --> 00:49:15,095
have been hanging around with.

1116
00:49:15,095 --> 00:49:17,300
I had done things that I shouldn't

1117
00:49:17,300 --> 00:49:18,394
have been doing.

1118
00:49:18,394 --> 00:49:21,693
I was mostly, unfortunately,

1119
00:49:21,693 --> 00:49:25,764
into a lot of violent sports,

1120
00:49:25,764 --> 00:49:29,052
and because of that, it really numbed me

1121
00:49:29,052 --> 00:49:31,787
into not caring for people,

1122
00:49:31,787 --> 00:49:33,329
not caring for how people think,

1123
00:49:33,329 --> 00:49:36,191
how people feel, what people say,

1124
00:49:36,191 --> 00:49:38,026
and I had an anger problem.

1125
00:49:38,026 --> 00:49:40,045
But I remember the Lord

1126
00:49:40,045 --> 00:49:41,134
really convicting me

1127
00:49:41,134 --> 00:49:42,598
and drawing me out of it.

1128
00:49:42,598 --> 00:49:44,410
And one of the ways - because before I

1129
00:49:44,410 --> 00:49:48,115
didn't believe in God - but one
of the ways

1130
00:49:48,115 --> 00:49:50,789
He revealed to me that He was real

1131
00:49:50,789 --> 00:49:52,587
was through Bible prophecy.

1132
00:49:52,587 --> 00:49:55,026
I couldn't deny it, and I knew

1133
00:49:55,026 --> 00:49:57,312
that I had to accept it.

1134
00:49:57,312 --> 00:49:59,231
And that really led me to the Savior.

1135
00:49:59,231 --> 00:50:01,316
And really looking at the cross

1136
00:50:01,316 --> 00:50:03,802
and seeing that that was real,

1137
00:50:03,802 --> 00:50:05,554
that really broke my heart.

1138
00:50:05,554 --> 00:50:08,557
That pierced my heart, and it led me

1139
00:50:08,557 --> 00:50:11,210
to see that I needed to change.

1140
00:50:11,210 --> 00:50:13,679
And God, out of mercy, called me

1141
00:50:13,679 --> 00:50:14,574
out of that world.

1142
00:50:14,574 --> 00:50:19,101
I was stuck in a very embarrassing
and hard time,

1143
00:50:19,101 --> 00:50:21,030
and I had to call out to God

1144
00:50:21,030 --> 00:50:22,588
and say, "Lord, I don't know

1145
00:50:22,588 --> 00:50:24,306
what You want from me,

1146
00:50:24,306 --> 00:50:26,499
but now I want to give You my all.

1147
00:50:26,499 --> 00:50:27,960
And I don't know the future,

1148
00:50:27,960 --> 00:50:29,462
but I want to give You my all."

1149
00:50:29,462 --> 00:50:32,017
And He called me out; He led me,

1150
00:50:32,017 --> 00:50:34,132
He guided me, and I saw Him

1151
00:50:34,132 --> 00:50:36,889
leading me into spreading His Word.

1152
00:50:36,889 --> 00:50:38,528
And I've loved it ever since,

1153
00:50:38,528 --> 00:50:40,650
and as I study His Word,

1154
00:50:40,650 --> 00:50:42,561
He not only sanctified my lips

1155
00:50:42,561 --> 00:50:45,237
but my mind, my heart, my actions

1156
00:50:45,237 --> 00:50:46,758
to where, when people hear

1157
00:50:46,758 --> 00:50:48,914
of my testimony, they say,

1158
00:50:48,914 --> 00:50:50,489
"You don't look like that person

1159
00:50:50,489 --> 00:50:52,685
that belongs in the streets

1160
00:50:52,685 --> 00:50:54,294
or speaks that way."

1161
00:50:54,294 --> 00:50:56,855
But, God is merciful, and I

1162
00:50:56,855 --> 00:50:58,610
just praise God that His glory

1163
00:50:58,610 --> 00:51:00,565
may be shown in my life.

1164
00:51:00,565 --> 00:51:01,537
(Derek, Team) Amen!

1165
00:51:01,537 --> 00:51:04,220
(Derek) Amen. I remember Alex

1166
00:51:04,220 --> 00:51:05,068
sharing with me.

1167
00:51:05,068 --> 00:51:06,521
It was actually in the middle

1168
00:51:06,521 --> 00:51:09,368
of a mixed martial arts fight

1169
00:51:09,368 --> 00:51:12,152
where he was actually really fighting

1170
00:51:12,152 --> 00:51:15,304
for his life, that he heard

1171
00:51:15,304 --> 00:51:16,423
the Lord speak to him.

1172
00:51:16,423 --> 00:51:19,111
Alex, I'm remembering this story

1173
00:51:19,111 --> 00:51:21,552
and how God delivered him through that.

1174
00:51:21,552 --> 00:51:23,939
He actually knocked the person out,

1175
00:51:23,939 --> 00:51:25,556
and people thought, "Wow, now he's

1176
00:51:25,556 --> 00:51:26,763
really going to be famous

1177
00:51:26,763 --> 00:51:28,924
and go into a career

1178
00:51:28,924 --> 00:51:30,537
and make lots of money."

1179
00:51:30,537 --> 00:51:32,831
But that day, he made the decision

1180
00:51:32,831 --> 00:51:34,738
that he was finished

1181
00:51:34,738 --> 00:51:37,593
with that violent activity.

1182
00:51:37,593 --> 00:51:40,166
And so, God's turned him into a warrior

1183
00:51:40,166 --> 00:51:41,870
for the Kingdom of Heaven.

1184
00:51:41,870 --> 00:51:44,069
Someone ought to say, "Praise God."

1185
00:51:44,069 --> 00:51:45,561
You say, "That's a miracle

1186
00:51:45,561 --> 00:51:47,053
of God's grace."

1187
00:51:47,053 --> 00:51:48,452
Now, I need to take us,

1188
00:51:48,452 --> 00:51:49,960
to wrap up the story...

1189
00:51:49,960 --> 00:51:53,443
I know you want to share, but one

1190
00:51:53,443 --> 00:51:56,516
of the things I noticed as Alex

1191
00:51:56,516 --> 00:52:00,707
was sharing was a spirit of humility.

1192
00:52:00,707 --> 00:52:02,512
Did you notice that?

1193
00:52:02,512 --> 00:52:05,698
I noticed it also with Shaina.

1194
00:52:05,698 --> 00:52:08,184
And I want to just speak

1195
00:52:08,184 --> 00:52:09,385
to you now and speak

1196
00:52:09,385 --> 00:52:12,120
to our Hope Sabbath School family

1197
00:52:12,120 --> 00:52:14,435
around the world, when God calls us,

1198
00:52:14,435 --> 00:52:16,753
He may not call you to be a prophet

1199
00:52:16,753 --> 00:52:19,545
who speaks of the future.

1200
00:52:19,545 --> 00:52:22,968
Alex is a pastor now, a pastor!

1201
00:52:22,968 --> 00:52:24,755
Someone say, "Praise God!"

1202
00:52:24,755 --> 00:52:26,452
He's a pastor now.

1203
00:52:26,452 --> 00:52:31,625
But, to stay humble when we see

1204
00:52:31,625 --> 00:52:33,759
God work in miraculous ways

1205
00:52:33,759 --> 00:52:35,613
(Rodney, I see your hand),

1206
00:52:35,613 --> 00:52:39,878
so that all of the glory is deflected

1207
00:52:39,878 --> 00:52:42,527
to God and not to us,

1208
00:52:42,527 --> 00:52:44,140
because a testimony...

1209
00:52:44,140 --> 00:52:45,571
Remember what Alex said?

1210
00:52:45,571 --> 00:52:47,234
He shares his testimony, and people

1211
00:52:47,234 --> 00:52:50,728
are like, "Is that the same person

1212
00:52:50,728 --> 00:52:51,851
that I'm seeing here

1213
00:52:51,851 --> 00:52:54,948
testifying about God?"

1214
00:52:54,948 --> 00:52:57,250
How do we stay humble, Rodney,

1215
00:52:57,250 --> 00:53:01,284
when we're prophesying

1216
00:53:01,284 --> 00:53:04,868
of what God has done in our lives?

1217
00:53:04,868 --> 00:53:06,635
(Rodney) One of the things I observed

1218
00:53:06,635 --> 00:53:09,006
throughout our study, as we read

1219
00:53:09,006 --> 00:53:12,239
the Scripture about Isaiah, Jeremiah,

1220
00:53:12,239 --> 00:53:14,524
we listen to Shaina's story,

1221
00:53:14,524 --> 00:53:18,204
we listen to Alex's story,

1222
00:53:18,204 --> 00:53:22,436
I realize that God has a unique way

1223
00:53:22,436 --> 00:53:24,278
of getting to each person.

1224
00:53:24,278 --> 00:53:27,240
So, if you notice that their testimonies

1225
00:53:27,240 --> 00:53:29,800
are not the same, but the end goal

1226
00:53:29,800 --> 00:53:30,895
is the same, which is

1227
00:53:30,895 --> 00:53:32,392
to draw closer to Jesus.

1228
00:53:32,392 --> 00:53:34,540
And it is very, very important

1229
00:53:34,540 --> 00:53:39,084
for all of us to remain in Jesus

1230
00:53:39,084 --> 00:53:41,799
so that we can remain humble

1231
00:53:41,799 --> 00:53:45,454
because if we don't, we will go awry.

1232
00:53:45,454 --> 00:53:48,531
We will be off track, and so then we

1233
00:53:48,531 --> 00:53:51,369
start to draw the attention to ourselves

1234
00:53:51,369 --> 00:53:53,373
rather than Jesus.

1235
00:53:53,373 --> 00:53:55,355
So, in order to attain that, we have

1236
00:53:55,355 --> 00:53:57,572
to keep close to Him so that He

1237
00:53:57,572 --> 00:53:59,246
can keep us aligned.

1238
00:53:59,246 --> 00:54:02,348
(Derek) You know, one of the pitfalls

1239
00:54:02,348 --> 00:54:08,553
that Lucifer fell into was exalting self.

1240
00:54:08,553 --> 00:54:11,183
"I will," "I will,' "I will," if you read

1241
00:54:11,183 --> 00:54:14,292
in Isaiah, chapter 14, exalting self.

1242
00:54:14,292 --> 00:54:17,083
But the faithful servant of God

1243
00:54:17,083 --> 00:54:19,201
is always deflecting all of the praise

1244
00:54:19,201 --> 00:54:20,500
and glory to God.

1245
00:54:20,500 --> 00:54:22,920
Now, I want to close with this thought.

1246
00:54:22,920 --> 00:54:25,567
The Apostle Paul said, "God did something

1247
00:54:25,567 --> 00:54:27,278
to me to keep me humble."

1248
00:54:27,278 --> 00:54:29,413
I mean, he was talented, well educated,

1249
00:54:29,413 --> 00:54:32,467
a great orator, but he said, "God allowed

1250
00:54:32,467 --> 00:54:35,067
a thorn in the flesh to come to me."

1251
00:54:35,067 --> 00:54:37,136
It's in 2 Corinthians; we don't need

1252
00:54:37,136 --> 00:54:39,316
to read it, but you say, "What was that?"

1253
00:54:39,316 --> 00:54:41,672
It doesn't really matter.

1254
00:54:41,672 --> 00:54:42,880
Some say, "I think it was

1255
00:54:42,880 --> 00:54:43,794
his poor eyesight."

1256
00:54:43,794 --> 00:54:50,604
But has God taught any of you,

1257
00:54:50,604 --> 00:54:52,521
reminded you, of the need

1258
00:54:52,521 --> 00:54:54,300
to stay humble before Him

1259
00:54:54,300 --> 00:54:56,290
by a thorn in your flesh,

1260
00:54:56,290 --> 00:55:00,727
a challenge that you have?

1261
00:55:00,727 --> 00:55:02,366
I see several hands.

1262
00:55:02,366 --> 00:55:04,917
Anybody want to testify?

1263
00:55:04,917 --> 00:55:08,019
Nicole, God sometimes allows things

1264
00:55:08,019 --> 00:55:10,281
to come to us (He doesn't cause them)

1265
00:55:10,281 --> 00:55:11,647
to keep [Him] saying,

1266
00:55:11,647 --> 00:55:15,215
"Just trust Me completely, Nicole."

1267
00:55:15,215 --> 00:55:16,613
How has He done that for you?

1268
00:55:16,613 --> 00:55:18,307
(Nicole) Well, He's done it

1269
00:55:18,307 --> 00:55:20,848
a few times for me, but I can remember

1270
00:55:20,848 --> 00:55:22,275
distinctly when I was applying

1271
00:55:22,275 --> 00:55:23,995
for medical school I did not do well

1272
00:55:23,995 --> 00:55:25,748
on the entrance exams.

1273
00:55:25,748 --> 00:55:28,078
And in my mind, I thought, "I have this.

1274
00:55:28,078 --> 00:55:29,490
I've done well in college.

1275
00:55:29,490 --> 00:55:31,568
This is nothing for me."

1276
00:55:31,568 --> 00:55:34,402
And it reminded me that I have

1277
00:55:34,402 --> 00:55:36,371
to look to God and be doing this

1278
00:55:36,371 --> 00:55:38,504
for His glory and not for my own glory.

1279
00:55:38,504 --> 00:55:40,385
And so, I had to step back, take a look

1280
00:55:40,385 --> 00:55:43,191
at what my intentions were, and once I

1281
00:55:43,191 --> 00:55:46,510
really dedicated my service to God,

1282
00:55:46,510 --> 00:55:47,969
He then said, "Okay, I'm ready

1283
00:55:47,969 --> 00:55:49,732
for you now to go to this next step."

1284
00:55:49,732 --> 00:55:53,042
And I ended up doing well on my exams
and getting into medical school,

1285
00:55:53,042 --> 00:55:55,100
but I had to go through a challenging time

1286
00:55:55,100 --> 00:55:58,521
to really get to that place where I was
doing it for Him and not for me.

1287
00:55:58,521 --> 00:55:59,866
(Derek) That's interesting.

1288
00:55:59,866 --> 00:56:01,259
You're not a preacher, right?

1289
00:56:01,259 --> 00:56:02,595
You're a physician.

1290
00:56:02,595 --> 00:56:05,010
But whatever our occupation,

1291
00:56:05,010 --> 00:56:06,593
I'm just talking to you now here

1292
00:56:06,593 --> 00:56:07,614
wherever you are.

1293
00:56:07,614 --> 00:56:09,643
You say, "Derek, well, I do this or that,"

1294
00:56:09,643 --> 00:56:12,261
"I'm a teacher," or, "I'm an electrician,"

1295
00:56:12,261 --> 00:56:16,798
or, you tell me what your profession is.

1296
00:56:16,798 --> 00:56:22,005
God wants to use you just like He called

1297
00:56:22,005 --> 00:56:24,761
Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah,

1298
00:56:24,761 --> 00:56:27,946
just like He called Shaina and Alex.

1299
00:56:27,946 --> 00:56:31,517
He wants to use us, Nicole.

1300
00:56:31,517 --> 00:56:34,142
He wants to use us with the gifts

1301
00:56:34,142 --> 00:56:35,925
He's given to us and the passion

1302
00:56:35,925 --> 00:56:39,518
and love for Him to make a difference

1303
00:56:39,518 --> 00:56:41,054
for the Kingdom of Heaven.

1304
00:56:41,054 --> 00:56:42,445
Would you be willing to make

1305
00:56:42,445 --> 00:56:44,293
that commitment today?

1306
00:56:44,293 --> 00:56:45,899
Let's pray together.

1307
00:56:45,899 --> 00:56:48,948
Father in Heaven, as Rodney reminded us,

1308
00:56:48,948 --> 00:56:50,873
our stories are all different,

1309
00:56:50,873 --> 00:56:53,452
and yet the call is the same,

1310
00:56:53,452 --> 00:56:55,354
"Who will go and speak for Me?

1311
00:56:55,354 --> 00:56:57,616
Who will tell the world the truth

1312
00:56:57,616 --> 00:57:00,533
about a God who loves all of His children

1313
00:57:00,533 --> 00:57:02,559
with an immeasurable and unfailing love?"

1314
00:57:02,559 --> 00:57:05,543
God, I pray for each one watching today,

1315
00:57:05,543 --> 00:57:07,871
that we could say in our place,

1316
00:57:07,871 --> 00:57:11,466
"Lord, here I am, would You use me?"

1317
00:57:11,466 --> 00:57:13,532
And may lives around us be blessed.

1318
00:57:13,532 --> 00:57:16,420
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

1319
00:57:16,420 --> 00:57:17,488
(Team) Amen.

1320
00:57:17,488 --> 00:57:18,951
(Derek) Thanks for joining us.

1321
00:57:18,951 --> 00:57:20,949
You say, "What! Some amazing testimonies!"

1322
00:57:20,949 --> 00:57:22,995
We'd love to hear <i>your</i> testimony

1323
00:57:22,995 --> 00:57:25,281
because God is still working miracles

1324
00:57:25,281 --> 00:57:26,762
in these last days.

1325
00:57:26,762 --> 00:57:28,183
Go out and share that

1326
00:57:28,183 --> 00:57:29,731
with those around you.

1327
00:57:29,731 --> 00:57:53,655
♪ theme music ♪