0:00:00.020,0:00:20.231 ♪ theme music ♪ 0:00:20.231,0:00:22.104 (Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, 0:00:22.104,0:00:23.786 an in-depth, interactive study 0:00:23.786,0:00:25.071 of the Word of God. 0:00:25.071,0:00:26.027 We are in the middle 0:00:26.027,0:00:28.269 of a very important series, 0:00:28.269,0:00:30.489 Bible Prophecies and Stories 0:00:30.489,0:00:32.356 for the Last Days. 0:00:32.356,0:00:34.925 If you've missed any, go to our website, 0:00:34.925,0:00:37.986 hopetv.org/hopess. 0:00:37.986,0:00:40.565 You can watch the past episodes there. 0:00:40.565,0:00:42.667 Or, go to our YouTube channel, 0:00:42.667,0:00:45.387 Hope Sabbath School, and watch them there. 0:00:45.387,0:00:47.889 Today, we're starting to examine 0:00:47.889,0:00:52.705 The Nations as a theme in Bible prophecy, 0:00:52.705,0:00:54.101 and we're glad you joined us. 0:00:54.101,0:00:55.230 Welcome to the team, 0:00:55.230,0:00:56.502 say, "Hi," to each other, 0:00:56.502,0:00:57.502 glad you're all here. 0:00:57.502,0:00:58.790 You're looking great today. 0:00:58.790,0:01:00.051 And we've got some remotes 0:01:00.051,0:01:02.307 joining us, too; let's see who's with us. 0:01:02.307,0:01:04.489 Gleny, great to have you back with us, 0:01:04.489,0:01:05.624 glad you're here. 0:01:05.624,0:01:08.526 Jorge, good to see you with us today. 0:01:08.526,0:01:09.748 And, Leeah, always good 0:01:09.748,0:01:11.129 to have you with us. 0:01:11.129,0:01:13.197 And we're glad that you're with us, too, 0:01:13.197,0:01:15.450 because you're part of the great miracle 0:01:15.450,0:01:17.267 called Hope Sabbath School 0:01:17.267,0:01:19.554 wherever you are, around the world. 0:01:19.554,0:01:21.339 Why don't you write to us today, 0:01:21.339,0:01:24.292 sshope@hopetv.org. 0:01:24.292,0:01:25.573 Or, you can leave a note 0:01:25.573,0:01:26.928 on our YouTube channel, 0:01:26.928,0:01:29.309 but make sure you include the country 0:01:29.309,0:01:30.731 where you call home. 0:01:30.731,0:01:35.219 Here's a note from Jane in Maine 0:01:35.219,0:01:38.440 in the United States of America. 0:01:38.440,0:01:41.115 She says, "Hi to everyone. 0:01:41.115,0:01:43.094 I love you all. 0:01:43.094,0:01:44.959 Thank you, Hope Sabbath School team." 0:01:44.959,0:01:47.869 Well, let's give Jane a wave, shall we?[br]Thank you. 0:01:47.869,0:01:50.818 "I receive a great blessing watching 0:01:50.818,0:01:53.805 and studying with you every week. 0:01:53.805,0:01:57.634 I love the interactive study of the Bible. 0:01:57.634,0:01:59.530 May God continue to bless 0:01:59.530,0:02:02.344 each and every one who participates 0:02:02.344,0:02:05.209 in this study of the Word of God,"[br]and we say...? 0:02:05.209,0:02:06.137 (Derek, Team) Amen. 0:02:06.137,0:02:08.169 (Derek) Wherever you are around the world, 0:02:08.169,0:02:09.674 Jane, you're up there in Maine, 0:02:09.674,0:02:10.721 we're glad you're part 0:02:10.721,0:02:12.780 of our Hope Sabbath School family. 0:02:12.780,0:02:15.273 Paulette writes from Jamaica. 0:02:15.273,0:02:17.182 Oh, we've got some Jamaican connections 0:02:17.182,0:02:19.827 on the team, "Greetings 0:02:19.827,0:02:23.018 to Hope Sabbath School," that's Paulette. 0:02:23.018,0:02:24.886 "I'm writing from Jamaica. 0:02:24.886,0:02:26.929 I must say, I enjoy 0:02:26.929,0:02:29.424 your interaction on the team, 0:02:29.424,0:02:31.609 and I learn a lot from the class. 0:02:31.609,0:02:33.891 Keep up the good work always. 0:02:33.891,0:02:36.815 I pray that God will use me 0:02:36.815,0:02:38.482 for His glory!" Amen? 0:02:38.482,0:02:39.198 (Team) Amen. 0:02:39.198,0:02:41.155 (Derek) You know, that's absolutely true. 0:02:41.155,0:02:42.354 We don't just want people 0:02:42.354,0:02:44.539 to admire something happening. 0:02:44.539,0:02:47.274 We're praying that this can be multiplied 0:02:47.274,0:02:50.469 in our lives and in your life 0:02:50.469,0:02:52.503 around the world. 0:02:52.503,0:02:54.983 Here's an unusual donor note. 0:02:54.983,0:02:57.088 Most of our donors come 0:02:57.088,0:02:59.037 from North America; 0:02:59.037,0:03:02.562 this donor comes from Australia. 0:03:02.562,0:03:06.194 And the donor writes, "Hello, 0:03:06.194,0:03:09.546 Hope Sabbath School team. 0:03:09.546,0:03:11.466 Thank you for continuing 0:03:11.466,0:03:13.299 to share Jesus..." 0:03:13.299,0:03:16.137 (Team) Amen. 0:03:16.137,0:03:19.073 (Derek) "...and sharing His Word[br]and His love 0:03:19.073,0:03:23.195 in an unconditional, nonjudgmental way. 0:03:23.195,0:03:26.630 May this small gift continue to brighten 0:03:26.630,0:03:29.417 one or two corners of this globe 0:03:29.417,0:03:31.813 until Jesus comes." 0:03:31.813,0:03:34.843 Now, there must be some... 0:03:34.843,0:03:38.910 what do you call it...exchange fees 0:03:38.910,0:03:40.847 for transferring the funds 0:03:40.847,0:03:42.814 from the Australian dollar 0:03:42.814,0:03:44.286 to the U.S. dollar, 0:03:44.286,0:03:46.034 because a generous gift 0:03:46.034,0:03:50.725 of 196 dollars and 78 cents arrived. 0:03:50.725,0:03:53.008 And I want to thank you, Donor 0:03:53.008,0:03:55.523 in Australia (you know who you are) 0:03:55.523,0:03:57.228 for that generous gift 0:03:57.228,0:03:59.664 because we're a donor-supported ministry, 0:03:59.664,0:04:01.115 and thank you for being part 0:04:01.115,0:04:02.568 of the miracle of God, 0:04:02.568,0:04:04.249 and for each one of you. 0:04:04.249,0:04:06.029 Some of you who help once a month, 0:04:06.029,0:04:07.705 some of you help once a year, 0:04:07.705,0:04:09.783 whatever you do, we thank you. 0:04:09.783,0:04:11.030 You can go to our website, 0:04:11.030,0:04:14.880 hopetv.org/hopess, and say, "Lord, 0:04:14.880,0:04:16.398 let me be part of the miracle 0:04:16.398,0:04:19.233 of sharing Your love with the world." 0:04:19.233,0:04:25.493 One last note, from Rosemary in Arkansas 0:04:25.493,0:04:28.342 in the United States of America, 0:04:28.342,0:04:31.196 "Hello, Hope Sabbath School team." 0:04:31.196,0:04:32.537 Do you think they put that 0:04:32.537,0:04:35.316 so we can wave? I think so. 0:04:35.316,0:04:36.784 "I've learned so much 0:04:36.784,0:04:38.704 from watching your show. 0:04:38.704,0:04:41.749 I'm very grateful and blessed. 0:04:41.749,0:04:44.365 I love the Scripture songs 0:04:44.365,0:04:46.911 and often hum or sing them 0:04:46.911,0:04:48.929 throughout the day. 0:04:48.929,0:04:51.367 Thank you so much for everything you do 0:04:51.367,0:04:54.102 to reach the world and spread the gospel 0:04:54.102,0:04:55.806 and the love of Jesus." 0:04:55.806,0:04:59.410 Well, before we sing the song, 0:04:59.410,0:05:01.158 Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You, 0:05:01.158,0:05:03.727 I just want to say, years ago, 0:05:03.727,0:05:05.724 when my wife began to compose 0:05:05.724,0:05:08.000 Scripture songs with a prayer 0:05:08.000,0:05:09.760 that God's Word would be hidden 0:05:09.760,0:05:11.582 in the hearts of our two little boys, 0:05:11.582,0:05:14.118 she had no idea that it would impact 0:05:14.118,0:05:15.695 so many people, but isn't that 0:05:15.695,0:05:17.467 just what God does? 0:05:17.467,0:05:19.656 He just says, "You be faithful to Me 0:05:19.656,0:05:22.165 in your little sphere, and I'm going 0:05:22.165,0:05:24.813 to bless the world through you." 0:05:24.813,0:05:27.965 So, I hope you download those songs 0:05:27.965,0:05:30.784 because there's a free song each quarter, 0:05:30.784,0:05:32.907 a theme song; you can download it free. 0:05:32.907,0:05:34.755 And I hear people saying, "Oh, 0:05:34.755,0:05:36.004 I know all of your songs." 0:05:36.004,0:05:37.949 We were somewhere just last week, 0:05:37.949,0:05:39.109 and the person says, 0:05:39.109,0:05:40.471 "Let the Word of Christ..." 0:05:40.471,0:05:41.612 I said, "Oh, you learned 0:05:41.612,0:05:44.552 some Scripture songs - Praise God." 0:05:44.552,0:05:46.664 But while you're there at the website, 0:05:46.664,0:05:49.120 you can also download the free gift 0:05:49.120,0:05:51.476 for this series, because I was praying, 0:05:51.476,0:05:53.257 "God, is there a special gift?" 0:05:53.257,0:05:55.890 We're talking about Bible Prophecies 0:05:55.890,0:05:58.035 and Stories for the Last Days, 0:05:58.035,0:05:59.496 and I thought of a book 0:05:59.496,0:06:01.566 called Radical Protection. 0:06:01.566,0:06:04.335 I think it was offered years ago,[br]but there are 0:06:04.335,0:06:06.239 so many new Hope Sabbath School members, 0:06:06.239,0:06:08.255 I said, "We need to offer that again" 0:06:08.255,0:06:09.937 because the prophet Daniel says 0:06:09.937,0:06:11.859 there's coming a time of trouble 0:06:11.859,0:06:15.713 such as never was, and we need 0:06:15.713,0:06:17.381 that supernatural protection 0:06:17.381,0:06:19.933 so we can face the future without fear. 0:06:19.933,0:06:21.936 Because when we face the future 0:06:21.936,0:06:24.397 with Jesus, we're not afraid. 0:06:24.397,0:06:28.859 So, go to our website, hopetv.org/hopess, 0:06:28.859,0:06:31.812 click on the Free Gift tab, and you can 0:06:31.812,0:06:34.031 download a free digital copy 0:06:34.031,0:06:35.615 of that valuable resource 0:06:35.615,0:06:37.134 and share it with your friends. 0:06:37.134,0:06:40.254 But, right now I'd like to hear you sing, 0:06:40.254,0:06:42.614 because we've learned a theme song 0:06:42.614,0:06:44.425 from Colossians 3:16. 0:06:44.425,0:06:45.966 And you say, "Derek, you 0:06:45.966,0:06:47.661 don't sound that good." 0:06:47.661,0:06:49.980 Well, sing with us, will you? 0:06:49.980,0:06:51.631 Let's all sing together and hide 0:06:51.631,0:06:53.217 the Word in our hearts, 0:06:53.217,0:06:55.937 Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You. 0:06:55.937,0:06:58.722 Let's sing it together. 0:06:58.722,0:07:12.236 ♪ music ♪ 0:09:28.858,0:09:30.575 (Derek) Let's pray together. 0:09:30.575,0:09:32.695 Father in Heaven, we believe this series 0:09:32.695,0:09:34.747 on Bible Prophecies and Stories 0:09:34.747,0:09:38.166 for the Last Days is very relevant 0:09:38.166,0:09:39.801 for our lives today. 0:09:39.801,0:09:42.004 And so, I pray the same Holy Spirit 0:09:42.004,0:09:44.055 who inspired the prophets, 0:09:44.055,0:09:46.526 the same Holy Spirit who protected 0:09:46.526,0:09:49.412 the Scriptures through the generations, 0:09:49.412,0:09:51.997 that same Holy Spirit Jesus promised 0:09:51.997,0:09:54.216 would lead us into all truth, 0:09:54.216,0:09:55.834 that that would happen 0:09:55.834,0:09:59.021 as we study Your Word today, not just here 0:09:59.021,0:10:01.367 but with our Hope Sabbath School family 0:10:01.367,0:10:02.177 around the world. 0:10:02.177,0:10:05.845 We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 0:10:05.845,0:10:07.085 (Team) Amen. 0:10:07.085,0:10:08.377 (Derek) Well, in this study 0:10:08.377,0:10:09.995 and the one to follow, we're going 0:10:09.995,0:10:11.136 to be studying the theme 0:10:11.136,0:10:13.452 of The Nations and how the nations 0:10:13.452,0:10:17.896 are part of Bible prophecy. 0:10:17.896,0:10:21.660 The first place the nations are mentioned 0:10:21.660,0:10:23.395 is in the book of Genesis, 0:10:23.395,0:10:24.730 and so we'll start there 0:10:24.730,0:10:27.265 in Genesis, chapter 10. 0:10:27.265,0:10:30.735 And actually it's related to chapter 11, 0:10:30.735,0:10:33.505 but let's start by looking in Genesis, 0:10:33.505,0:10:36.102 chapter 10, and, Mighty, I'm going 0:10:36.102,0:10:37.993 to ask you if you'd read for us 0:10:37.993,0:10:42.054 Genesis 10, the first five verses. 0:10:42.054,0:10:44.717 Now, there are some unusual names there, 0:10:44.717,0:10:46.355 but just say them the best you can 0:10:46.355,0:10:47.392 because we don't know 0:10:47.392,0:10:50.089 how to say them either, but Genesis, 0:10:50.089,0:10:53.652 chapter 10, verses 1 through 5. 0:10:53.652,0:10:54.828 (Mighty) I'll be reading 0:10:54.828,0:10:57.194 from the New American Standard Bible,[br]and it says: 0:11:50.324,0:11:51.585 (Derek) Thank you so much. 0:11:51.585,0:11:52.602 Wow, what a great job 0:11:52.602,0:11:54.995 of reading those names, you know? 0:11:54.995,0:11:59.350 But the last words "into their nations," 0:11:59.350,0:12:01.081 now, in order to understand - 0:12:01.081,0:12:02.132 and their languages - 0:12:02.132,0:12:04.188 there was actually only one language 0:12:04.188,0:12:07.278 until chapter 11, so really 10 and 11 0:12:07.278,0:12:09.363 are together, and now they're 0:12:09.363,0:12:11.161 forming into nations. 0:12:11.161,0:12:14.065 So, the question is, what happened 0:12:14.065,0:12:17.363 in Genesis, chapter 11, Zaria, 0:12:17.363,0:12:21.161 in verses 1 through 4, if you could read. 0:12:21.161,0:12:25.649 Let's see what happened in Genesis 11:1-4. 0:12:25.649,0:12:26.760 (Zaria) I'll be reading 0:12:26.760,0:12:28.303 from the New King James Version: 0:13:03.161,0:13:04.990 (Derek) So, here they are, and we know 0:13:04.990,0:13:06.514 that the judgment of God comes, 0:13:06.514,0:13:09.390 and languages are confused. 0:13:09.390,0:13:12.136 And now we just read in chapter 10 0:13:12.136,0:13:16.558 that they divide into nations. 0:13:16.558,0:13:19.960 So, was the forming into nations 0:13:19.960,0:13:21.876 an act of obedience 0:13:21.876,0:13:23.654 or an act of rebellion? 0:13:23.654,0:13:26.105 (Team Members) Rebellion. 0:13:26.105,0:13:27.586 (Team Members) No. 0:13:27.586,0:13:30.391 (Derek) Okay, how many said rebellion? 0:13:30.391,0:13:33.094 Two, three, two and a half, okay. 0:13:33.094,0:13:34.125 How many of you think 0:13:34.125,0:13:36.477 it was an act of obedience? 0:13:36.477,0:13:38.262 How many of you don't know? 0:13:38.262,0:13:39.480 How many of you would say 0:13:39.480,0:13:41.650 it could have been one or the other? 0:13:41.650,0:13:44.252 Because they were supposed to go 0:13:44.252,0:13:46.688 to the ends of the earth, right, 0:13:46.688,0:13:49.241 and subdue it; that was the assignment. 0:13:49.241,0:13:52.310 And presumably in that, they would be 0:13:52.310,0:13:54.779 living in harmony with the will of God. 0:13:54.779,0:13:58.823 Unfortunately, as the nations emerge, 0:13:58.823,0:14:01.315 we find a different spirit 0:14:01.315,0:14:02.738 from what God intended, 0:14:02.738,0:14:06.458 and we'll find a clue back in chapter 10. 0:14:06.458,0:14:08.727 Nicole, if you could read for us 0:14:08.727,0:14:11.518 in Genesis, chapter 10, 0:14:11.518,0:14:15.366 verses 8 through 12, and we find 0:14:15.366,0:14:16.985 a character mentioned, 0:14:16.985,0:14:19.534 by the name of Nimrod. 0:14:19.534,0:14:21.343 (Nicole) The New International Version 0:14:21.343,0:14:23.958 of Genesis 10, verses 8 through 12, says: 0:15:02.146,0:15:03.968 (Derek) What do you learn about Nimrod 0:15:03.968,0:15:05.803 from that short description? 0:15:05.803,0:15:10.238 Anybody. Yes, Puia. 0:15:10.238,0:15:11.951 (Puia) Derek, I think what stood out 0:15:11.951,0:15:14.171 for me here is the fact that Nimrod 0:15:14.171,0:15:15.988 is described as a mighty hunter 0:15:15.988,0:15:18.779 before the Lord, and it doesn't sound 0:15:18.779,0:15:20.965 like it is a compliment. 0:15:20.965,0:15:22.067 It sounds like he is 0:15:22.067,0:15:23.908 continuing the rebellion 0:15:23.908,0:15:26.274 against the governments of God. 0:15:26.274,0:15:29.659 (Derek) Anybody else, what impacted[br]you? Travis? 0:15:29.659,0:15:31.242 (Travis) So, what I'm seeing here 0:15:31.242,0:15:32.593 from the nations (and Nimrod 0:15:32.593,0:15:34.434 is continuing this) is the same spirit 0:15:34.434,0:15:35.929 that was at Babel, "Let us make 0:15:35.929,0:15:37.011 a name for ourselves." 0:15:37.011,0:15:38.617 It continues with Nimrod, 0:15:38.617,0:15:39.981 and it continues to this day 0:15:39.981,0:15:41.571 with all of the nations, 0:15:41.571,0:15:43.501 nation against nation, always trying 0:15:43.501,0:15:45.012 to make a name for themselves, 0:15:45.012,0:15:48.222 be better and usurp the next nation. 0:15:48.222,0:15:49.246 (Derek) Yes, Jenner. 0:15:49.246,0:15:50.504 (Jenner) Important to note 0:15:50.504,0:15:51.429 is also verse 10, 0:15:51.429,0:15:53.394 and from the New American Standard Bible, 0:15:53.394,0:15:54.799 "The beginning of his kingdom 0:15:54.799,0:15:57.101 was Babel," which introduces us 0:15:57.101,0:16:01.453 to the next chapter, so negative language[br]towards Nimrod the whole time. 0:16:01.453,0:16:02.907 (Derek) And of course, he will 0:16:02.907,0:16:05.200 end up also building Nineveh, 0:16:05.200,0:16:07.781 and we know the reputation that Nineveh 0:16:07.781,0:16:10.761 would have, too, right? 0:16:10.761,0:16:14.689 So, back to where this ambition came from. 0:16:14.689,0:16:18.440 You say it came from wanting to build 0:16:18.440,0:16:20.408 the Tower of Babel, but where is 0:16:20.408,0:16:24.948 the spirit of the nations coming from? 0:16:24.948,0:16:27.632 Well, let's go to a description 0:16:27.632,0:16:31.796 by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 14. 0:16:31.796,0:16:33.158 Now, I realize some of you 0:16:33.158,0:16:34.256 have read this before - 0:16:34.256,0:16:36.116 James, maybe you could read it for us, 0:16:36.116,0:16:37.659 verses 12 to 14 - 0:16:37.659,0:16:39.703 but someone joining us 0:16:39.703,0:16:41.086 for Hope Sabbath School today 0:16:41.086,0:16:43.414 is hearing this for the very first time, 0:16:43.414,0:16:45.950 and it may be quite startling 0:16:45.950,0:16:49.012 because this is the testimony 0:16:49.012,0:16:54.075 of a fallen angel, one who was created, 0:16:54.075,0:16:56.868 Ezekiel says, in perfection, 0:16:56.868,0:16:58.930 but who rebelled against God. 0:16:58.930,0:17:00.948 And let's listen to the spirit 0:17:00.948,0:17:03.408 of this fallen angel as described 0:17:03.408,0:17:05.186 by the prophet Isaiah. 0:17:05.186,0:17:06.483 (James) And I'll be reading 0:17:06.483,0:17:08.222 from the New King James Version: 0:17:45.308,0:17:46.689 (Derek) And, Travis, you said 0:17:46.689,0:17:49.305 that same spirit is manifested today... 0:17:49.305,0:17:50.120 (Travis) Correct. 0:17:50.120,0:17:51.804 (Derek) ...with the nations wanting 0:17:51.804,0:17:59.865 to exercise dominion, to dominate 0:17:59.865,0:18:02.552 powers around them. Yes. 0:18:02.552,0:18:04.374 (Travis) I just want to say something 0:18:04.374,0:18:05.426 as we just read this. 0:18:05.426,0:18:10.326 It says, "you, who weakened the nations," 0:18:10.326,0:18:13.563 it's associating an exaltation of self 0:18:13.563,0:18:15.633 to the weakening of a nation. 0:18:15.633,0:18:17.318 So, if we would glorify God, 0:18:17.318,0:18:19.135 we would have a powerful nation. 0:18:19.135,0:18:21.521 And if we would exalt ourselves, 0:18:21.521,0:18:22.790 the nation would get weak, 0:18:22.790,0:18:24.417 if I am reading that correctly. 0:18:24.417,0:18:26.417 (Derek) So, let's talk about what God 0:18:26.417,0:18:28.646 wanted to do with Abram. 0:18:28.646,0:18:30.414 That was his name originally, right, 0:18:30.414,0:18:33.000 and later he was called Abraham. 0:18:33.000,0:18:35.034 But Abram, He wanted to form him 0:18:35.034,0:18:37.971 into a nation, but a nation that was 0:18:37.971,0:18:42.208 very different from "the nations," 0:18:42.208,0:18:45.142 which come out of Babel, okay? 0:18:45.142,0:18:48.408 So, let's go to Genesis, chapter 12. 0:18:48.408,0:18:49.983 Tendi, if you could read 0:18:49.983,0:18:51.869 the first three verses. 0:18:51.869,0:18:54.605 What do you see immediately 0:18:54.605,0:18:58.235 in this call to Abram to be a nation 0:18:58.235,0:19:00.844 that's so different from the attitude 0:19:00.844,0:19:02.712 that we read earlier 0:19:02.712,0:19:04.300 in the book of Genesis? 0:19:04.300,0:19:05.598 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 0:19:05.598,0:19:08.390 from the New King James Version:[br]and it reads: 0:19:41.648,0:19:42.904 (Derek) Alright, so what's 0:19:42.904,0:19:43.808 the big difference? 0:19:43.808,0:19:45.506 What jumps out at you? Nicole? 0:19:45.506,0:19:47.124 (Nicole) Well, in this case, 0:19:47.124,0:19:48.927 God is offering the blessing. 0:19:48.927,0:19:51.346 It's not that Abram is taking them. 0:19:51.346,0:19:52.847 It's that He's offering them, 0:19:52.847,0:19:54.371 and He's saying, "Through Me 0:19:54.371,0:19:55.386 you will be blessed," 0:19:55.386,0:19:57.079 instead of the other one, which is, 0:19:57.079,0:19:58.152 "I will ascend; I will 0:19:58.152,0:19:59.564 be better, I will, I will..." 0:19:59.564,0:20:00.825 (Derek) Okay, so there are 0:20:00.825,0:20:03.325 actually several things going on here. 0:20:03.325,0:20:07.161 One, instead of saying, "I will be great," 0:20:07.161,0:20:09.313 "I will do this," it is God saying, 0:20:09.313,0:20:10.635 "I will do this for you," 0:20:10.635,0:20:14.208 "I will do this for you," but also...? 0:20:14.208,0:20:15.233 (Travis) The earth... 0:20:15.233,0:20:16.856 (Derek) "The earth will be blessed 0:20:16.856,0:20:19.201 because of this nation that will 0:20:19.201,0:20:20.552 come forth from you." 0:20:20.552,0:20:22.160 Do you see the big difference 0:20:22.160,0:20:23.350 between that and what we 0:20:23.350,0:20:25.096 read earlier in the chapter? 0:20:25.096,0:20:27.494 Well, the prophet Moses 0:20:27.494,0:20:30.301 understood that as God's ideal. 0:20:30.301,0:20:31.703 Look in Deuteronomy. 0:20:31.703,0:20:33.261 Jenner, if you could read for us 0:20:33.261,0:20:35.772 in Deuteronomy, chapter 4, 0:20:35.772,0:20:37.868 verses 5 through 10. 0:20:37.868,0:20:39.396 (Jenner) Deuteronomy, chapter 4? 0:20:39.396,0:20:41.976 (Derek) Chapter 4, beginning with verse 5. 0:20:41.976,0:20:47.301 Moses understood God's ideal in the nation 0:20:47.301,0:20:49.390 that would be formed from Abram. 0:20:49.390,0:20:50.688 (Jenner) I will be reading 0:20:50.688,0:20:52.523 from the New American Standard Bible, 0:20:52.523,0:20:55.059 Deuteronomy 4, starting with verse 5: 0:22:26.351,0:22:28.146 (Derek) And you know that word "fear" 0:22:28.146,0:22:29.903 can be translated "to be afraid" 0:22:29.903,0:22:33.592 or "reverent," right, "Show reverence 0:22:33.592,0:22:35.233 toward Me," right, 0:22:35.233,0:22:37.433 if the relationship is right. 0:22:37.433,0:22:41.919 So, again, God says, "I'll bless you. 0:22:41.919,0:22:43.605 Others will be blessed through you, 0:22:43.605,0:22:47.576 but even more than that, when others see 0:22:47.576,0:22:51.947 the blessing of God," what? What? 0:22:51.947,0:22:54.374 (Zaria) They're attracted to it and want[br]to learn... 0:22:54.374,0:22:59.567 (Derek) Make the "it" more specific.[br]They're attracted to...? 0:22:59.567,0:23:03.844 ...to learn more about God, right?![br]Jenner? 0:23:03.844,0:23:06.668 (Jenner) Very specifically,[br]a personal God. 0:23:06.668,0:23:11.543 Verse 7 emphasizes a God that is so near, 0:23:11.543,0:23:12.785 and He always listens 0:23:12.785,0:23:14.446 whenever we call on Him. 0:23:14.446,0:23:15.670 (Derek) I'm going to talk 0:23:15.670,0:23:16.962 to some of our remotes here 0:23:16.962,0:23:20.105 because some reminders needed to go out. 0:23:20.105,0:23:22.695 And we've got three reminders in Isaiah 0:23:22.695,0:23:28.450 I'll give to Gleny and Leeah and Jorge. 0:23:28.450,0:23:31.600 Let's start with Gleny in Isaiah 42:6, 0:23:31.600,0:23:33.573 then we'll look at 49:6 0:23:33.573,0:23:35.326 and then 60, verse 3. 0:23:35.326,0:23:37.488 It sounds like lots of reminders 0:23:37.488,0:23:41.923 had to go out, "Don't forget 0:23:41.923,0:23:44.387 why you are a people." 0:23:44.387,0:23:45.815 Now, we're going to need that 0:23:45.815,0:23:47.335 in the last days as a church, 0:23:47.335,0:23:51.106 "Don't forget why I've called you," right? 0:23:51.106,0:23:53.609 Not so people will say, "I'm so great. 0:23:53.609,0:23:55.545 I have this and this and this," 0:23:55.545,0:23:56.989 but that people would say, 0:23:56.989,0:23:59.525 "What a great God you serve." 0:23:59.525,0:24:01.149 Gleny, what's the reminder 0:24:01.149,0:24:04.533 in Isaiah 42, verse 6? 0:24:04.533,0:24:05.825 (Gleny) And I'll be reading 0:24:05.825,0:24:08.318 from the New King James Version,[br]and it says: 0:24:20.981,0:24:22.506 (Derek) So, God's ideal then was 0:24:22.506,0:24:25.660 that they would be what, to the nations[br]or the Gentiles? 0:24:25.660,0:24:26.830 (Derek, Team) A light. 0:24:26.830,0:24:31.040 (Derek) Let's look in 49, verse 6, Leeah, 0:24:31.040,0:24:34.427 Isaiah 49:6, and see how the prophet 0:24:34.427,0:24:38.792 reminds them of that mission. 0:24:38.792,0:24:41.180 (Leeah) In the English Standard Version,[br]it reads: 0:24:55.333,0:24:58.307 (Derek) Ah, so it's not just some blessing 0:24:58.307,0:25:01.066 for Abraham and his descendants, 0:25:01.066,0:25:03.993 that is, the nation of Israel, but it is 0:25:03.993,0:25:06.726 to bless the entire world, right? 0:25:06.726,0:25:10.334 One last reference from Isaiah, Jorge, 0:25:10.334,0:25:14.871 in chapter 60 and verse 3. 0:25:14.871,0:25:16.939 (Jorge) Isaiah 60, verse 3, 0:25:16.939,0:25:17.712 I'll be reading 0:25:17.712,0:25:20.616 from the New King James Version, it says: 0:25:26.806,0:25:28.474 (Derek) I want to thank you, Jorge. 0:25:28.474,0:25:30.280 One of the things we have to remember, 0:25:30.280,0:25:33.171 then, is when they "come to your light," 0:25:33.171,0:25:35.122 what do we need to do? 0:25:35.122,0:25:36.730 (Nicole) Reflect them up. 0:25:36.730,0:25:40.763 (Derek) We need to deflect that praise, 0:25:40.763,0:25:44.281 right, to the Light of the world. 0:25:44.281,0:25:47.687 Gleny, I see your hand. 0:25:47.687,0:25:49.920 (Gleny) And I was just quickly trying 0:25:49.920,0:25:54.107 to think of what makes this nation 0:25:54.107,0:25:56.138 a light to the world, and I think 0:25:56.138,0:25:59.096 it's the distinct principles it runs on. 0:25:59.096,0:26:00.451 Like, for instance, when you 0:26:00.451,0:26:03.068 look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs, 0:26:03.068,0:26:04.951 you start with food, shelter, 0:26:04.951,0:26:06.620 all of those things. 0:26:06.620,0:26:09.332 But here, the kingdom of God 0:26:09.332,0:26:12.194 focuses on seeking Him first, 0:26:12.194,0:26:14.807 and that's the way you get 0:26:14.807,0:26:16.680 all of your needs met. 0:26:16.680,0:26:19.163 So, I'm imagining all the nations 0:26:19.163,0:26:22.875 seeing this kingdom that follows 0:26:22.875,0:26:26.256 under this principle of a God who says, 0:26:26.256,0:26:28.908 "Look at Me, and you will get 0:26:28.908,0:26:30.989 all of your deepest desires met," 0:26:30.989,0:26:33.851 rather than the other way around. 0:26:33.851,0:26:35.761 (Derek) Thank you for pointing that out. 0:26:35.761,0:26:38.192 That's deep thought right there. 0:26:38.192,0:26:40.538 And it ties into my question, 0:26:40.538,0:26:43.901 and that is, what's the difference, 0:26:43.901,0:26:45.534 just from our initial study 0:26:45.534,0:26:47.745 between the nations, 0:26:47.745,0:26:49.846 which actually reflect the character 0:26:49.846,0:26:54.250 of the fallen angel once called Lucifer, 0:26:54.250,0:26:56.637 and the nation that God 0:26:56.637,0:26:58.671 calls out of Abraham? 0:26:58.671,0:27:00.725 And certainly we'll find later 0:27:00.725,0:27:03.262 He desires to be manifest in His church. 0:27:03.262,0:27:05.780 What's the big difference? Yes, Zaria? 0:27:05.780,0:27:07.396 (Zaria) I would say the difference 0:27:07.396,0:27:09.033 is the world decided to follow 0:27:09.033,0:27:11.722 after their own will, their own desires, 0:27:11.722,0:27:14.320 worshiping other gods and other idols, 0:27:14.320,0:27:16.423 and that's why they were led astray often, 0:27:16.423,0:27:17.926 doing so many different things. 0:27:17.926,0:27:19.655 They got sick, whereas God's nation, 0:27:19.655,0:27:21.407 we follow His Word and His light 0:27:21.407,0:27:22.780 and His direction. 0:27:22.780,0:27:23.857 (Derek) One following 0:27:23.857,0:27:25.255 their own will and leading 0:27:25.255,0:27:26.485 to the gods of this world 0:27:26.485,0:27:27.737 (Leeah, I see your hand), 0:27:27.737,0:27:28.902 the other following God. 0:27:28.902,0:27:31.114 What difference do you see, Leeah, 0:27:31.114,0:27:33.271 between the nations 0:27:33.271,0:27:37.118 and the special nation God calls out? 0:27:37.118,0:27:38.835 (Leeah) There seems to be an element 0:27:38.835,0:27:41.131 of peace that comes when you surrender 0:27:41.131,0:27:42.983 to God and His will for your life, 0:27:42.983,0:27:44.294 whether that be as a nation 0:27:44.294,0:27:45.886 or as an individual. 0:27:45.886,0:27:47.661 It's so much more difficult 0:27:47.661,0:27:50.424 to live by your own standards 0:27:50.424,0:27:52.460 and try to be your own leader 0:27:52.460,0:27:54.895 or your own god as opposed to surrendering 0:27:54.895,0:27:56.576 to the will of God. 0:27:56.576,0:27:58.183 He provides so much more peace, 0:27:58.183,0:27:59.375 and your life is laid out 0:27:59.375,0:28:01.678 so much, not necessarily easier, 0:28:01.678,0:28:04.321 but there is just so much peace 0:28:04.321,0:28:06.473 when God is in control. 0:28:06.473,0:28:08.275 (Derek) It seems through history 0:28:08.275,0:28:10.945 (thank you, Leeah) that the nations 0:28:10.945,0:28:15.833 are built by violence; that's history. 0:28:15.833,0:28:18.452 The nation that God's calling, 0:28:18.452,0:28:22.579 He desires it to be built by love, right? 0:28:22.579,0:28:25.625 Love for Him and love for the community. 0:28:25.625,0:28:27.426 It's a drastic difference. 0:28:27.426,0:28:29.692 And some skeptics might say, 0:28:29.692,0:28:33.003 "That other nation you're talking about, 0:28:33.003,0:28:35.753 [it] isn't even possible 0:28:35.753,0:28:38.442 to have a nation like that." 0:28:38.442,0:28:40.351 It's only the survival 0:28:40.351,0:28:41.999 of the fittest, right? 0:28:41.999,0:28:43.667 That's the only way it will happen, 0:28:43.667,0:28:44.742 but we'll see that God 0:28:44.742,0:28:46.240 does have a plan. Puia? 0:28:46.240,0:28:47.495 (Puia) Derek, I think it's 0:28:47.495,0:28:48.636 very interesting to note 0:28:48.636,0:28:50.991 that as we contrast and compare 0:28:50.991,0:28:52.623 the nations around the world 0:28:52.623,0:28:53.824 and the nation that God 0:28:53.824,0:28:55.607 was raising up through Abraham, 0:28:55.607,0:28:57.374 I think the key difference is 0:28:57.374,0:29:00.301 how God reveals Himself closely 0:29:00.301,0:29:02.829 with that nation through Abraham. 0:29:02.829,0:29:05.358 Although we see a lot of conquering 0:29:05.358,0:29:07.866 and violence in the other nations, 0:29:07.866,0:29:09.145 I think we have to qualify 0:29:09.145,0:29:10.397 that even in those nations 0:29:10.397,0:29:13.144 there is that battle between the forces 0:29:13.144,0:29:14.733 of good and evil. 0:29:14.733,0:29:16.800 But what sets [apart] the nation 0:29:16.800,0:29:20.214 through Abraham is that God 0:29:20.214,0:29:23.393 had given them that special revelation. 0:29:23.393,0:29:25.818 And I think Jenner pointed out, 0:29:25.818,0:29:28.248 God is very near to them. 0:29:28.248,0:29:30.007 And I want to piggyback 0:29:30.007,0:29:32.643 on what Leeah said earlier, when you have 0:29:32.643,0:29:35.149 that special revelation from God, 0:29:35.149,0:29:37.181 you get to enjoy peace 0:29:37.181,0:29:38.251 that the other nations 0:29:38.251,0:29:39.920 probably did not get to enjoy. 0:29:39.920,0:29:41.681 (Derek) Okay, I've got lots of hands, 0:29:41.681,0:29:44.019 Mighty and Jorge. 0:29:44.019,0:29:46.083 (Mighty) Going off of what Puia is saying, 0:29:46.083,0:29:47.300 he just sparked something 0:29:47.300,0:29:49.218 in my mind there, and I'm also recalling 0:29:49.218,0:29:50.497 that last week's lesson is 0:29:50.497,0:29:51.942 coming into play here as well, 0:29:51.942,0:29:54.369 is that we are in a marriage with Christ. 0:29:54.369,0:29:56.330 We are in a marriage with Jesus. 0:29:56.330,0:29:58.827 And I remember one of the verses we read 0:29:58.827,0:30:01.265 was Revelation, chapter 19, verse 7: 0:30:08.075,0:30:10.023 We are that bride, and how are we 0:30:10.023,0:30:13.247 making ourselves ready for Christ to come? 0:30:13.247,0:30:15.365 So, we have to absorb that light 0:30:15.365,0:30:17.211 that we have from God and that wisdom 0:30:17.211,0:30:18.633 and understanding and display 0:30:18.633,0:30:20.719 that character that Christ is looking for. 0:30:20.719,0:30:22.757 [Make] herself ready 0:30:22.757,0:30:24.371 by displaying that character 0:30:24.371,0:30:25.638 that Jesus is looking for, 0:30:25.638,0:30:27.050 that wisdom and understanding 0:30:27.050,0:30:28.479 of His will, and displaying it 0:30:28.479,0:30:30.286 to the nations, so they can be blessed 0:30:30.286,0:30:32.366 and others can come into our nation 0:30:32.366,0:30:33.571 and make themselves ready 0:30:33.571,0:30:34.565 for Christ to come. 0:30:34.565,0:30:36.132 (Derek) And I think to be fair, 0:30:36.132,0:30:37.917 and, Jorge, I'm coming to your point, 0:30:37.917,0:30:40.461 the way we make ourselves ready 0:30:40.461,0:30:43.176 is to allow God to make us ready. 0:30:43.176,0:30:45.329 In other words, it is God 0:30:45.329,0:30:47.797 who is shaping this nation, right, 0:30:47.797,0:30:50.200 rather than, "We will," "I will," 0:30:50.200,0:30:52.154 "I will," "I will," right, 0:30:52.154,0:30:53.771 which is very self-focused. 0:30:53.771,0:30:55.827 Now, we have a choice to make, 0:30:55.827,0:30:58.540 but that choice is to draw close to God 0:30:58.540,0:31:00.685 who can make us a new creation. 0:31:00.685,0:31:01.780 It's a different kind 0:31:01.780,0:31:05.045 of nation, for sure. Jorge. 0:31:05.045,0:31:07.387 (Jorge) Yes, I'm reminded of a portion 0:31:07.387,0:31:09.148 as well from last week's lesson 0:31:09.148,0:31:11.982 where Abraham told Eliezer, "No, 0:31:11.982,0:31:13.974 don't go back to where I came from 0:31:13.974,0:31:16.384 to get a wife for my son." 0:31:16.384,0:31:18.638 And it reminds me of how we read earlier 0:31:18.638,0:31:21.484 in the lesson that God asked Abraham 0:31:21.484,0:31:24.181 to come out of his country or his nation 0:31:24.181,0:31:25.532 so that He can establish him 0:31:25.532,0:31:27.058 as a new nation. 0:31:27.058,0:31:28.775 And that dynamic between coming 0:31:28.775,0:31:30.778 out of something so God can teach us 0:31:30.778,0:31:33.059 something new and use that 0:31:33.059,0:31:35.182 for something even greater is a lesson 0:31:35.182,0:31:36.493 we see throughout Scripture 0:31:36.493,0:31:37.936 with Moses coming out of Egypt 0:31:37.936,0:31:39.814 and being taught, John the Baptist 0:31:39.814,0:31:41.195 going out to the wilderness 0:31:41.195,0:31:42.041 and being taught. 0:31:42.041,0:31:43.463 We see these parallels a lot. 0:31:43.463,0:31:46.050 I'm reminded of a situation 0:31:46.050,0:31:47.161 where I was in a cave; 0:31:47.161,0:31:48.559 it was completely dark, 0:31:48.559,0:31:49.878 and the guide that was 0:31:49.878,0:31:51.519 leading us had a lighter. 0:31:51.519,0:31:52.856 He lights the lighter, 0:31:52.856,0:31:55.364 and instinctively everybody 0:31:55.364,0:31:56.874 just kind of got closer to him 0:31:56.874,0:31:58.891 because they could see where the light was 0:31:58.891,0:32:01.061 and without it, it was pitch black. 0:32:01.061,0:32:02.735 And I'm reminded of this verse here 0:32:02.735,0:32:05.430 in Isaiah when it says that everyone 0:32:05.430,0:32:06.763 will come to your light. 0:32:06.763,0:32:08.009 The kings will come 0:32:08.009,0:32:10.617 to the [brightness of your rising]. 0:32:10.617,0:32:13.554 And when I think about the difference 0:32:13.554,0:32:15.456 between these nations, God is giving 0:32:15.456,0:32:18.376 a light that no one else has. 0:32:18.376,0:32:20.311 It's a darkness in the other nations, 0:32:20.311,0:32:22.730 and so it is instinctively attractive 0:32:22.730,0:32:23.785 when they come to you, 0:32:23.785,0:32:25.800 and kings and all these other magistrates 0:32:25.800,0:32:27.285 will come to you even as you're 0:32:27.285,0:32:28.483 rising as a kingdom. 0:32:28.483,0:32:29.928 And so, there's an attraction 0:32:29.928,0:32:30.953 that God is using us 0:32:30.953,0:32:33.335 through our light. 0:32:33.335,0:32:34.885 (Derek) So, here's the question, 0:32:34.885,0:32:36.687 how well did Israel do? 0:32:36.687,0:32:39.590 And maybe there's not a simple answer. 0:32:39.590,0:32:42.005 Maybe there were times they did well, 0:32:42.005,0:32:44.644 but what would you say, big picture? 0:32:44.644,0:32:47.047 How did they do as a light 0:32:47.047,0:32:53.183 to the Gentiles, to the world? Anybody? 0:32:53.183,0:32:55.006 (Jenner) They didn't do well. 0:32:55.006,0:32:55.942 (Derek) They didn't 0:32:55.942,0:32:58.392 do well, you would say. 0:32:58.392,0:32:59.989 (James) Rejected the light. 0:32:59.989,0:33:01.764 (Derek) Rejected...I mean, there were 0:33:01.764,0:33:04.587 some good men and women, right? 0:33:04.587,0:33:06.060 But you're saying, overall? 0:33:06.060,0:33:07.153 (Jenner) Overall, it... 0:33:07.153,0:33:08.676 (Derek) You'd say the nation... 0:33:08.676,0:33:11.283 I mean, think of King Josiah; he was 0:33:11.283,0:33:14.118 awesome, but then someone else would... 0:33:14.118,0:33:17.264 Up and down or mainly down? Travis? 0:33:17.264,0:33:18.551 (Travis) It's interesting, 0:33:18.551,0:33:21.214 at the burning bush, God refers 0:33:21.214,0:33:24.434 to the children of Israel as "My son," 0:33:24.434,0:33:26.486 "My son, the children of Israel." 0:33:26.486,0:33:28.578 Jesus gets baptized, and He said, "This is 0:33:28.578,0:33:30.767 My Son in whom I am well pleased." 0:33:30.767,0:33:32.098 What we are finding out is 0:33:32.098,0:33:33.757 that the children of Israel 0:33:33.757,0:33:34.925 really didn't please Him 0:33:34.925,0:33:37.457 in everything that they did. 0:33:37.457,0:33:41.394 And I praise God because, if we keep going 0:33:41.394,0:33:43.669 as we will through the prophecies, 0:33:43.669,0:33:44.897 or studying these stories 0:33:44.897,0:33:47.351 of the prophecies, we'll find out that God 0:33:47.351,0:33:49.259 does eventually finish the work 0:33:49.259,0:33:51.601 through His people, you know? 0:33:51.601,0:33:52.994 And I think that's something 0:33:52.994,0:33:54.164 to look forward to. 0:33:54.164,0:33:56.250 (Derek) So, I'm going to ask Gleny 0:33:56.250,0:33:58.574 if you'd read for us 0:33:58.574,0:34:02.606 from 1 Samuel 8, verses 4 and 5, 0:34:02.606,0:34:04.469 because you're saying they're not doing 0:34:04.469,0:34:07.053 that well, and in the midst of that, 0:34:07.053,0:34:09.274 certainly, you read the book of Judges, 0:34:09.274,0:34:11.297 and there's a theme over and over, 0:34:11.297,0:34:12.639 "And they did what was right 0:34:12.639,0:34:14.385 in their own eyes," "They did 0:34:14.385,0:34:16.052 what was right in their own eyes," 0:34:16.052,0:34:18.521 rather than in the sight of God. 0:34:18.521,0:34:20.506 And now, Gleny, if you'll read, 0:34:20.506,0:34:23.531 they make another mistake 0:34:23.531,0:34:27.576 in 1 Samuel 8, verses 4 and 5. 0:34:27.576,0:34:28.903 (Gleny) And I'll be reading 0:34:28.903,0:34:31.131 from the New King James Version,[br]and it says: 0:34:48.148,0:34:50.151 (Derek) Why did they want a king 0:34:50.151,0:34:51.705 like the nations? 0:34:51.705,0:34:52.994 We know the characteristic 0:34:52.994,0:34:55.456 of "the nations," right, 0:34:55.456,0:34:57.655 in terms of what we've been shown 0:34:57.655,0:34:59.578 in the book of Genesis. 0:34:59.578,0:35:04.271 Why did they want a king like the nations? 0:35:04.271,0:35:06.284 Look at one verse in the warning 0:35:06.284,0:35:10.731 that Samuel gives in 1 Samuel 8, verse 15. 0:35:10.731,0:35:11.796 Nicole, could you read 0:35:11.796,0:35:13.607 1 Samuel 8, verse 15? 0:35:13.607,0:35:16.444 (Nicole) Sure, New International Version[br]says: 0:35:19.574,0:35:20.837 (Derek) Yup, you're right. 0:35:26.670,0:35:29.870 (Derek) Does something there sound 0:35:29.870,0:35:32.630 like a little bit off? 0:35:32.630,0:35:34.897 What does it sound like? 0:35:34.897,0:35:37.217 (Travis) Like the king is stealing 0:35:37.217,0:35:39.417 the tithe that belongs to God. 0:35:39.417,0:35:40.336 (Derek) It sounds 0:35:40.336,0:35:43.586 like, instead of a theocracy 0:35:43.586,0:35:47.358 where God is King, right, 0:35:47.358,0:35:50.717 and honoring God as the source 0:35:50.717,0:35:54.950 of all blessing, they were to return a...? 0:35:54.950,0:35:56.936 (Derek, Team) ...tithe. 0:35:56.936,0:36:01.434 (Derek) Now, they're giving a tithe 0:36:01.434,0:36:04.015 to a human person. 0:36:04.015,0:36:06.028 Now, I'm not saying they didn't continue 0:36:06.028,0:36:06.993 to return a tithe 0:36:06.993,0:36:08.769 to the temple; I don't know. 0:36:08.769,0:36:10.236 But it's kind of interesting 0:36:10.236,0:36:11.813 that it's the same. 0:36:11.813,0:36:16.190 It's almost like a switch, isn't it? 0:36:16.190,0:36:18.910 So again, help me, someone. 0:36:18.910,0:36:21.327 Gleny and Jorge, I see your hands raised. 0:36:21.327,0:36:24.329 Why would they want a king 0:36:24.329,0:36:27.934 if God has called them, and in a sense 0:36:27.934,0:36:29.652 He is their King? 0:36:29.652,0:36:33.246 Zaria, too, okay, let's start with Gleny. 0:36:33.246,0:36:36.142 (Gleny) I think the whole theme 0:36:36.142,0:36:38.655 of where we see humans err 0:36:38.655,0:36:40.641 ever since the Garden of Eden 0:36:40.641,0:36:44.351 is when we lack trust in God 0:36:44.351,0:36:45.645 and His methods and lean 0:36:45.645,0:36:47.672 on our own understanding. 0:36:47.672,0:36:49.574 So, there's this idea of we know better; 0:36:49.574,0:36:51.212 we think we know better, 0:36:51.212,0:36:53.931 and let's go with that. 0:36:53.931,0:36:56.252 (Derek) Alright, let's see who else. 0:36:56.252,0:36:59.654 Jorge, you had your hand raised. 0:36:59.654,0:37:01.489 (Jorge) Yes, in verse 5 0:37:01.489,0:37:04.476 of that same passage that we just read, 0:37:04.476,0:37:06.461 we kind of see a little bit of the answer 0:37:06.461,0:37:08.651 to your question where it says, "Look, you 0:37:08.651,0:37:10.039 are old, and your sons 0:37:10.039,0:37:11.617 don't walk in your ways." 0:37:11.617,0:37:13.701 So, we are seeing that essentially 0:37:13.701,0:37:15.333 the spiritual leadership 0:37:15.333,0:37:16.362 or the spiritual head 0:37:16.362,0:37:19.588 of Israel is lacking, and there is 0:37:19.588,0:37:21.217 no one to turn to, and so they are 0:37:21.217,0:37:22.902 starting to look for somebody else. 0:37:22.902,0:37:24.437 And we see a similar example 0:37:24.437,0:37:25.738 that took place with Moses; 0:37:25.738,0:37:27.784 when He appeared to delay, 0:37:27.784,0:37:29.257 they started looking elsewhere. 0:37:29.257,0:37:31.664 And so, perhaps one of the reasons is 0:37:31.664,0:37:34.390 because the leadership started 0:37:34.390,0:37:38.817 [turning] their view [from] God, and so it 0:37:38.817,0:37:42.849 caused a downstream effect to the people. 0:37:42.849,0:37:44.479 (Derek) That's a powerful insight. 0:37:44.479,0:37:48.488 If the appointed leaders of God 0:37:48.488,0:37:52.797 had been faithful, it might have prevented 0:37:52.797,0:37:54.588 or averted turning 0:37:54.588,0:37:57.025 towards a human king. Tendi? 0:37:57.025,0:37:59.870 (Tendi) So, in 1 Samuel 8, verse 7, 0:37:59.870,0:38:01.625 the Lord tells Samuel 0:38:01.625,0:38:03.226 that they rejected Him, 0:38:03.226,0:38:06.647 that's why they wanted to appoint a king. 0:38:06.647,0:38:08.670 (Derek) Let's look at his warning. 0:38:08.670,0:38:10.778 If someone would read that for us. 0:38:10.778,0:38:13.925 Puia, would you read 1 Samuel 8, 0:38:13.925,0:38:15.633 verses 10 through 18? 0:38:15.633,0:38:17.102 This is the same Samuel 0:38:17.102,0:38:19.904 who, as a little boy, when nobody else 0:38:19.904,0:38:22.595 was listening to God, heard the Lord 0:38:22.595,0:38:25.455 call him, "Samuel, Samuel," right? 0:38:25.455,0:38:27.257 Now, he's an old man. 0:38:27.257,0:38:29.809 He's been a faithful prophet of God 0:38:29.809,0:38:31.771 through the years. 0:38:31.771,0:38:35.512 Let's hear his warning. 0:38:35.512,0:38:37.064 (Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading 0:38:37.064,0:38:38.605 from the New King James Version, 0:38:38.605,0:38:41.100 1 Samuel, chapter 8, verses 10 to 18: 0:40:03.958,0:40:04.775 (Derek) It sounds 0:40:04.775,0:40:07.048 like a fairly serious warning, 0:40:07.048,0:40:09.857 but, James, how do they respond, verses 19 0:40:09.857,0:40:13.692 and 20 of the same chapter of 1 Samuel 8? 0:40:13.692,0:40:15.626 (James) The New King James Version says: 0:40:34.903,0:40:37.400 (Derek) What?! Nicole? 0:40:37.400,0:40:38.963 (Nicole) That's it; they did not 0:40:38.963,0:40:43.393 want to be a separate and special people. 0:40:43.393,0:40:45.165 They wanted to be like everyone else. 0:40:45.165,0:40:46.830 I think we have that problem today, 0:40:46.830,0:40:48.879 that the Lord calls us to be apart 0:40:48.879,0:40:51.499 and separate and to be His chosen people, 0:40:51.499,0:40:53.433 but we choose to be like everyone else 0:40:53.433,0:40:55.425 because we don't want to stand out. 0:40:55.425,0:40:57.471 We don't want anyone to notice us 0:40:57.471,0:40:58.906 to be different than they are, 0:40:58.906,0:41:00.714 and I think that was Israel's problem. 0:41:00.714,0:41:03.914 They wanted to be like everyone else[br]around them. 0:41:03.914,0:41:05.376 (Derek) I was startled. 0:41:05.376,0:41:07.037 I don't know if you caught this 0:41:07.037,0:41:09.066 (and then I see some hands raised), 0:41:09.066,0:41:10.053 "And [our king] will 0:41:10.053,0:41:11.690 go out...and fight our battles"? 0:41:11.690,0:41:14.346 (Jenner) That's correct, like conquering. 0:41:14.346,0:41:16.110 (Derek) Oh, certainly the conquering, 0:41:16.110,0:41:17.853 but, like, really, they're thinking 0:41:17.853,0:41:19.855 this one person is going 0:41:19.855,0:41:21.682 to go out and fight their battles 0:41:21.682,0:41:23.753 when before, the Lord had said, 0:41:23.753,0:41:27.430 "I will go before you," right? 0:41:27.430,0:41:33.236 Like at Jericho, "I will go before you."[br]Like when... 0:41:33.236,0:41:34.762 (Jenner) Opening of the Red Sea. 0:41:34.762,0:41:36.106 (Derek) ...He opens the sea, 0:41:36.106,0:41:37.511 "I will go before you," 0:41:37.511,0:41:41.549 and now you're going to send a person? 0:41:41.549,0:41:42.459 Something is wrong 0:41:42.459,0:41:45.612 with their thinking, right? Travis? 0:41:45.612,0:41:47.554 (Travis) That danger, Derek, 0:41:47.554,0:41:49.110 is still even to this day. 0:41:49.110,0:41:51.325 I have been reading lots 0:41:51.325,0:41:52.743 of books on history, 0:41:52.743,0:41:56.045 and there were many religious groups 0:41:56.045,0:41:59.514 who lobbied to have Hitler put into place. 0:41:59.514,0:42:03.404 He was a vegetarian, he didn't drink, 0:42:03.404,0:42:05.036 and he looked out for the welfare. 0:42:05.036,0:42:07.341 And just a few short years later, 0:42:07.341,0:42:09.945 we see, I mean, just recent history, 0:42:09.945,0:42:11.352 we see what happened. 0:42:11.352,0:42:13.398 And the psalmist said, "Don't 0:42:13.398,0:42:15.367 put your trust in a prince, 0:42:15.367,0:42:16.454 or the son of man, 0:42:16.454,0:42:17.722 where there is no [help]. 0:42:17.722,0:42:19.167 Because the very day they die, 0:42:19.167,0:42:21.289 their plans perish." 0:42:21.289,0:42:23.888 But God always fought battles 0:42:23.888,0:42:25.196 for the children of Israel, 0:42:25.196,0:42:26.860 and you're right, for them to want 0:42:26.860,0:42:28.567 a man now to fight their battles 0:42:28.567,0:42:31.583 just seems crazy! 0:42:31.583,0:42:34.185 (Derek) So, here's the question: 0:42:34.185,0:42:39.673 Why did God grant their request? 0:42:39.673,0:42:42.993 Because didn't God tell Samuel 0:42:42.993,0:42:46.480 to anoint someone who is taller 0:42:46.480,0:42:49.876 than anybody else, and handsome? 0:42:49.876,0:42:51.366 The kind of one that, if he was 0:42:51.366,0:42:54.488 in a popularity contest, they would say, 0:42:54.488,0:42:57.981 "Why don't you vote for Saul?" 0:42:57.981,0:43:00.644 And we all know how that turned out. 0:43:00.644,0:43:02.461 Well, maybe we don't, but you can read 0:43:02.461,0:43:04.419 about King Saul, and it's 0:43:04.419,0:43:07.718 a sad, sad story. 0:43:07.718,0:43:13.602 Why did God allow that and even direct 0:43:13.602,0:43:18.583 the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul? 0:43:18.583,0:43:20.981 I think he was son of Kish, wasn't he? 0:43:20.981,0:43:23.467 Why did He direct to have him 0:43:23.467,0:43:24.856 anointed as king? 0:43:24.856,0:43:26.053 Zaria, what do you think? 0:43:26.053,0:43:27.752 (Zaria) I would say it's because He 0:43:27.752,0:43:29.070 wanted us to have our will. 0:43:29.070,0:43:31.687 He's not going to always just allow us 0:43:31.687,0:43:33.130 to do what He wants, right? 0:43:33.130,0:43:35.009 He's going to allow us to have our will 0:43:35.009,0:43:36.440 and what we desire just so we 0:43:36.440,0:43:37.538 can learn from it. 0:43:37.538,0:43:39.116 Even in our own lives right now, 0:43:39.116,0:43:40.378 sometimes my flesh chooses 0:43:40.378,0:43:41.943 something else, and then I learn 0:43:41.943,0:43:42.963 from that experience, 0:43:42.963,0:43:43.995 and I go back to God. 0:43:43.995,0:43:46.057 And we can see this trend throughout time. 0:43:46.057,0:43:47.910 They sin, and then they cry out to God, 0:43:47.910,0:43:49.006 and then He saves them. 0:43:49.006,0:43:50.403 They sin again...it just goes 0:43:50.403,0:43:52.163 in circles over and over again. 0:43:52.163,0:43:53.851 But we learned from now, 0:43:53.851,0:43:55.546 all the prophets, what they wrote, 0:43:55.546,0:43:57.668 that we now need to trust in God. 0:43:57.668,0:43:59.744 So, it's been a lesson for them[br]and for us. 0:43:59.744,0:44:01.479 (Derek) So, you would say, and I see 0:44:01.479,0:44:03.878 some other hands that are twitching here, 0:44:03.878,0:44:07.125 but you would say that God, 0:44:07.125,0:44:11.362 if we are persistent, 0:44:11.362,0:44:16.137 will grant us what we demand 0:44:16.137,0:44:20.475 even if it is not His will - is that true? 0:44:20.475,0:44:22.243 (Team) Yes. 0:44:22.243,0:44:24.037 (Derek) That God will grant us 0:44:24.037,0:44:30.167 what we demand even if it is not His will? 0:44:30.167,0:44:31.878 Puia, we need your help. 0:44:31.878,0:44:33.163 (Puia) I think that is true 0:44:33.163,0:44:35.270 to a certain degree, because time 0:44:35.270,0:44:37.243 and time again, what we see in the Bible 0:44:37.243,0:44:39.029 is that God does not always get 0:44:39.029,0:44:41.478 what He wants personally 0:44:41.478,0:44:43.948 because He gives us the freedom to choose, 0:44:43.948,0:44:45.433 and love by definition 0:44:45.433,0:44:47.202 cannot be forced, right? 0:44:47.202,0:44:49.588 God cannot force a relationship 0:44:49.588,0:44:51.955 between Him and us. 0:44:51.955,0:44:54.675 And so, it does appear that way, 0:44:54.675,0:44:57.321 that God would grant certain things, 0:44:57.321,0:44:59.852 even if it is not His best plan. 0:44:59.852,0:45:01.242 But the good news, of course, 0:45:01.242,0:45:03.351 is that even when we make those decisions 0:45:03.351,0:45:04.982 that are not in His best plan, 0:45:04.982,0:45:07.105 God always continues to pursue us 0:45:07.105,0:45:09.440 to bring us back through those lessons 0:45:09.440,0:45:11.775 that we learn from those mistakes. 0:45:11.775,0:45:13.810 (Derek) Let's take a look at one example, 0:45:13.810,0:45:15.800 and, Jorge, I'm going to ask you to read 0:45:15.800,0:45:20.324 Romans 1 for us, please, verses 22 to 25, 0:45:20.324,0:45:21.971 which I believe would support 0:45:21.971,0:45:24.405 what Zaria and Puia have just said. 0:45:24.405,0:45:26.241 Now, I don't think God does that 0:45:26.241,0:45:28.676 with any kind of joy in His heart. 0:45:28.676,0:45:30.495 I don't think He does that going, 0:45:30.495,0:45:32.496 "Well, you're going to really mess up, 0:45:32.496,0:45:35.683 and you deserve it," kind of attitude. 0:45:35.683,0:45:42.121 But, if we persist in demanding something, 0:45:42.121,0:45:47.757 God will allow that to happen. 0:45:47.757,0:45:53.478 Let's see, Jorge, Romans 1:22-25. 0:45:53.478,0:45:56.397 (Jorge) Romans 1:22-25, I'll be reading 0:45:56.397,0:45:59.491 from the New King James Version, it says: 0:46:33.624,0:46:37.068 (Derek) What was the expression there,[br]God did what? 0:46:37.068,0:46:38.112 (Team) Gave them up. 0:46:38.112,0:46:40.315 (Derek) He gave them up. 0:46:40.315,0:46:41.886 Now, please, that's not the same 0:46:41.886,0:46:44.792 as "gave up on them," right, 0:46:44.792,0:46:48.008 because He will pursue us 0:46:48.008,0:46:50.545 with an immeasurable and unfailing love 0:46:50.545,0:46:52.821 until our final breath. 0:46:52.821,0:46:55.733 But giving them up means what? 0:46:55.733,0:46:58.256 (Travis) Let them have their way. 0:46:58.256,0:47:00.448 (Derek) Let them have their way. 0:47:00.448,0:47:03.132 And of course, history tells us 0:47:03.132,0:47:06.471 what happened to the nation. 0:47:06.471,0:47:08.914 Now, in the closing section, we want 0:47:08.914,0:47:12.433 to look at how, just as He desired 0:47:12.433,0:47:16.237 the nation bringing up through Abraham 0:47:16.237,0:47:19.594 to be different, He wants His church 0:47:19.594,0:47:22.109 to be radically different 0:47:22.109,0:47:24.456 from the nations. 0:47:24.456,0:47:26.788 But earlier Nicole said we could fall 0:47:26.788,0:47:29.050 into the same trap. 0:47:29.050,0:47:32.017 But let's look at what Jesus has to say. 0:47:32.017,0:47:34.630 Leeah, if you could take us to Matthew, 0:47:34.630,0:47:38.409 chapter 20, I think this is 0:47:38.409,0:47:40.678 a really important passage, 0:47:40.678,0:47:46.417 Matthew 20, verses 25 through 28, 0:47:46.417,0:47:50.638 because really, if you are of faith, 0:47:50.638,0:47:52.940 Scripture says, you're Abraham's seed. 0:47:52.940,0:47:56.261 So, the people of God 0:47:56.261,0:47:59.881 post the coming of Jesus 0:47:59.881,0:48:02.634 are His church, right? 0:48:02.634,0:48:04.723 And He desires His church, 0:48:04.723,0:48:05.676 would you say then, 0:48:05.676,0:48:07.236 to be a light to the world? 0:48:07.236,0:48:08.216 (Team) Yes. 0:48:08.216,0:48:10.308 (Derek) And He desires His church 0:48:10.308,0:48:13.911 not to have the attitude of the nations. 0:48:13.911,0:48:17.816 Let's see, Leeah, what counsel Jesus gave. 0:48:17.816,0:48:19.043 (Leeah) Alright, Matthew, 0:48:19.043,0:48:23.208 chapter 20, verses 25 to 28, 0:48:23.208,0:48:25.155 the English Standard Version says: 0:48:51.121,0:48:52.773 (Derek) So, we could, in the place 0:48:52.773,0:48:55.936 of "the Gentiles," put "the nations," 0:48:55.936,0:48:58.968 right, "lord it over each other, 0:48:58.968,0:49:05.258 but it shall not be that way among you. 0:49:05.258,0:49:06.811 But you should be a servant," 0:49:06.811,0:49:08.504 and, of course, even Jesus, 0:49:08.504,0:49:10.339 the Son of Man, was a servant. 0:49:10.339,0:49:11.928 Look at the history 0:49:11.928,0:49:14.884 of the Christian church. 0:49:14.884,0:49:16.863 Let's start at the very beginning 0:49:16.863,0:49:18.582 in the book of Acts. 0:49:18.582,0:49:22.271 Where do you see 0:49:22.271,0:49:27.220 the character of a loving God revealed 0:49:27.220,0:49:28.416 in the character 0:49:28.416,0:49:30.850 of the early Christian church, 0:49:30.850,0:49:32.911 the new nation? 0:49:32.911,0:49:35.328 Where do you see it manifested? 0:49:35.328,0:49:37.351 From your reading, what do you know? 0:49:37.351,0:49:39.650 (Travis) In Acts, chapter [2], it says 0:49:39.650,0:49:41.768 they shared with one another 0:49:41.768,0:49:44.929 so that none had more than the other. 0:49:44.929,0:49:47.311 (Derek) Yes, Acts 2 and Acts 4 also. 0:49:47.311,0:49:50.147 It says that they held everything[br]in common. Jenner? 0:49:50.147,0:49:51.505 (Jenner) Yes, "with gladness 0:49:51.505,0:49:53.277 and simplicity of heart." 0:49:53.277,0:49:54.465 (Derek) They ate together 0:49:54.465,0:49:57.447 "with gladness and simplicity of heart." 0:49:57.447,0:49:59.546 And if there was a need, 0:49:59.546,0:50:03.601 people like Barnabas sold a piece of land, 0:50:03.601,0:50:06.193 brought [the money] to the Apostles' feet. 0:50:06.193,0:50:10.564 It's very much, what? 0:50:10.564,0:50:12.700 What is it a reflection of? 0:50:12.700,0:50:15.228 (Derek, Team) The character of God. 0:50:15.228,0:50:19.177 (Derek) Right? That's the picture 0:50:19.177,0:50:20.390 of the early church. 0:50:20.390,0:50:22.778 But if you do a scan 0:50:22.778,0:50:24.528 through church history 0:50:24.528,0:50:27.924 through the centuries, where do you see 0:50:27.924,0:50:30.534 this kingly power start 0:50:30.534,0:50:33.410 to manifest itself? 0:50:33.410,0:50:36.536 Anybody a student of church history? Puia. 0:50:36.536,0:50:37.882 (Puia) So, when we look back 0:50:37.882,0:50:39.363 in church history, we see 0:50:39.363,0:50:42.746 that probably around the fourth century[br]especially, 0:50:42.746,0:50:46.286 the church began to court 0:50:46.286,0:50:48.288 the power of the state, 0:50:48.288,0:50:50.167 and eventually there was a combination, 0:50:50.167,0:50:52.666 a union, between the church and the state. 0:50:52.666,0:50:54.719 And as a result, the church was 0:50:54.719,0:50:57.161 corrupted with power, a desire 0:50:57.161,0:50:58.929 to act like a king. 0:50:58.929,0:51:03.259 And the church in turn persecuted 0:51:03.259,0:51:05.049 a lot of God's own people. 0:51:05.049,0:51:06.660 And the darkest chapters 0:51:06.660,0:51:08.972 of Christian history is filled 0:51:08.972,0:51:12.646 with the church persecuting God's people 0:51:12.646,0:51:15.012 through the power of the state. 0:51:15.012,0:51:16.870 (Derek) We're going to study about that 0:51:16.870,0:51:19.102 in our next program 0:51:19.102,0:51:22.224 because that is exactly what happens. 0:51:22.224,0:51:25.065 And instead of the light of God 0:51:25.065,0:51:26.805 shining in the people of God, 0:51:26.805,0:51:30.884 drawing others to the church of God, 0:51:30.884,0:51:35.779 they use violence to try 0:51:35.779,0:51:39.426 to force people, which was not 0:51:39.426,0:51:41.339 the character of God at all. 0:51:41.339,0:51:42.777 That's actually the character 0:51:42.777,0:51:46.322 of the fallen angel, right? 0:51:46.322,0:51:51.232 So, how do we avoid falling into the trap 0:51:51.232,0:51:57.815 of using the methods of the nations 0:51:57.815,0:52:01.694 and staying as God wants His church to be, 0:52:01.694,0:52:03.585 a light to the world? 0:52:03.585,0:52:07.766 How do we avoid that trap? 0:52:07.766,0:52:09.011 (Travis) Humble ourselves. 0:52:09.011,0:52:11.176 (Derek) Okay, Travis, talk[br]to me about that. 0:52:11.176,0:52:12.283 What did you say? 0:52:12.283,0:52:15.324 (Travis) Humble ourselves before God. 0:52:15.324,0:52:16.907 (Derek) Especially if He puts you 0:52:16.907,0:52:19.462 in a position of leadership, right? 0:52:19.462,0:52:22.603 When you stand up to teach the class, 0:52:22.603,0:52:25.072 it's like, "Lord, hide me behind You," 0:52:25.072,0:52:26.985 right? Yes, James? 0:52:26.985,0:52:29.882 (James) When we recognize that we are 0:52:29.882,0:52:31.366 part of a royal priesthood, 0:52:31.366,0:52:34.847 a chosen nation, in God we know 0:52:34.847,0:52:37.234 that the Great Commission 0:52:37.234,0:52:39.452 of going into all the world is not 0:52:39.452,0:52:41.915 that of Nimrod or of Satan, 0:52:41.915,0:52:44.408 which was meant for conquering, 0:52:44.408,0:52:47.560 but rather to conquer hearts. 0:52:47.560,0:52:50.590 I use that word loosely, to convert hearts 0:52:50.590,0:52:53.351 to Jesus so that we can live 0:52:53.351,0:52:55.738 in harmony and interdependence. 0:52:55.738,0:52:58.038 That's what I see in the book of Acts, 0:52:58.038,0:52:59.640 people living communally 0:52:59.640,0:53:03.128 with interdependence and living for God. 0:53:03.128,0:53:04.846 (Derek) You know, the text that you 0:53:04.846,0:53:06.660 quoted there, "You are 0:53:06.660,0:53:10.367 a chosen generation," 1 Peter 2:9, 0:53:10.367,0:53:13.914 "a royal priesthood, a holy..."? 0:53:13.914,0:53:14.836 (Team) "...nation." 0:53:14.836,0:53:16.684 (Derek) Ah! There's the word. 0:53:16.684,0:53:19.378 You've got the nations, but you are 0:53:19.378,0:53:21.326 a holy nation, but back to something 0:53:21.326,0:53:22.729 Nicole said earlier, 0:53:22.729,0:53:29.443 "His own special people," peculiar. 0:53:29.443,0:53:30.908 (Jenner) God's own possession. 0:53:30.908,0:53:33.290 (Derek) Yeah, God's own possession, 0:53:33.290,0:53:35.496 but hear the last part, 0:53:35.496,0:53:39.151 "That you may proclaim [your praises]." 0:53:39.151,0:53:41.828 (Team) No! 0:53:41.828,0:53:44.118 (Derek) "Is not this great Babylon 0:53:44.118,0:53:45.710 that I have built," no, no, 0:53:45.710,0:53:48.539 Or, "Is not this great church...," or, no. 0:53:48.539,0:53:51.010 "That you may declare the praises of..."? 0:53:51.010,0:53:52.232 (Derek, Team) "...Him..." 0:53:52.232,0:53:54.124 (Derek) "...who called you out of..."? 0:53:54.124,0:53:55.612 (Derek, Team) "...darkness..." 0:53:55.612,0:53:56.580 (Derek) "...into.."? 0:53:56.580,0:53:58.265 (Team) "...His marvelous light." 0:53:58.265,0:53:59.978 (Derek) Oh, man, that's God's ideal. 0:53:59.978,0:54:01.899 Jorge, talk to me about that, 0:54:01.899,0:54:05.288 because that is so different 0:54:05.288,0:54:09.524 from the kingdoms of the world. 0:54:09.524,0:54:11.221 (Jorge) Yes, and I think, to answer 0:54:11.221,0:54:13.164 your question, how can we not fall 0:54:13.164,0:54:15.749 into that same trap, is by remembering 0:54:15.749,0:54:18.902 that He is the vine, we are the branches. 0:54:18.902,0:54:20.742 And we need to stay abiding 0:54:20.742,0:54:22.740 in Him constantly. 0:54:22.740,0:54:25.040 And He will keep us from ourselves 0:54:25.040,0:54:27.433 and going into a place that would cause us 0:54:27.433,0:54:28.668 to deter from where He 0:54:28.668,0:54:30.579 would have us to be. 0:54:30.579,0:54:32.895 (Derek) We are not more loved by God 0:54:32.895,0:54:36.231 than any in the nations; is that right? 0:54:36.231,0:54:38.226 God loves all of His children 0:54:38.226,0:54:40.687 in the same way, but He wants us 0:54:40.687,0:54:45.274 to go out as servants to the nations 0:54:45.274,0:54:47.289 to share the light of God with them. 0:54:47.289,0:54:49.078 So, I want, in the few minutes 0:54:49.078,0:54:52.116 that's closing, remotes, be ready, too, 0:54:52.116,0:54:54.817 to share a time when God 0:54:54.817,0:54:57.303 sent you out to the nations. 0:54:57.303,0:54:59.003 It's one thing to just stay at home 0:54:59.003,0:55:00.790 and try to stay out of trouble, 0:55:00.790,0:55:04.043 but God sends us out to the nations 0:55:04.043,0:55:05.715 to be a witness. 0:55:05.715,0:55:07.513 Anybody have a time you want to share 0:55:07.513,0:55:11.133 when God did that for you? Yes, Puia. 0:55:11.133,0:55:12.692 (Puia) I actually want to answer 0:55:12.692,0:55:14.404 in a slightly different way. 0:55:14.404,0:55:17.823 I'm so thankful for the missionaries 0:55:17.823,0:55:21.527 who came to my land, to my ancestors, 0:55:21.527,0:55:24.580 to Mizoram and Burma, 0:55:24.580,0:55:27.199 to tells us about this light, 0:55:27.199,0:55:29.535 and becoming a light to the Gentiles. 0:55:29.535,0:55:31.420 And as a result of those missionaries, 0:55:31.420,0:55:33.789 we came to learn, I came to learn 0:55:33.789,0:55:35.698 this message about Jesus. 0:55:35.698,0:55:37.926 I'm so thankful for missionaries. 0:55:37.926,0:55:39.275 (Derek) Has God sent you out 0:55:39.275,0:55:41.090 at any time to the nations, too? 0:55:41.090,0:55:42.025 (Puia) Yes, I have. 0:55:42.025,0:55:43.982 I have traveled, and I have preached, 0:55:43.982,0:55:45.194 and it's a result 0:55:45.194,0:55:46.729 of one person stepping out, 0:55:46.729,0:55:50.438 and the ripple effects continue. 0:55:50.438,0:55:51.737 (Derek) Now, Jorge, I know 0:55:51.737,0:55:56.912 you're about to go to the Philippines. 0:55:56.912,0:56:00.111 What motivated you to sacrifice the time 0:56:00.111,0:56:03.138 and the resources to go out 0:56:03.138,0:56:06.505 on that mission to the nations? 0:56:06.505,0:56:11.136 (Jorge) Yes, we had Henry Suluvale,[br]a gentleman 0:56:11.136,0:56:16.482 who came by and did a vespers, as it were, 0:56:16.482,0:56:19.085 on a mission trip that he did 0:56:19.085,0:56:20.703 in Papua New Guinea. 0:56:20.703,0:56:24.140 And he gave, I guess, a little exposé 0:56:24.140,0:56:26.458 of his experience and the thousands 0:56:26.458,0:56:27.559 and thousands of people 0:56:27.559,0:56:30.230 that were baptized as a result. 0:56:30.230,0:56:33.762 And there was a small group of us there, 0:56:33.762,0:56:35.477 and, well, we were listening 0:56:35.477,0:56:37.754 to his experience and how people 0:56:37.754,0:56:39.270 were moved, the different works 0:56:39.270,0:56:40.085 that were needed, 0:56:40.085,0:56:41.417 the needs that were there, 0:56:41.417,0:56:43.085 and he expressed how they[br]were going 0:56:43.085,0:56:45.658 to do a mission trip in the Philippines. 0:56:45.658,0:56:47.459 We jumped at the opportunity 0:56:47.459,0:56:49.399 as we understood that God was leading us 0:56:49.399,0:56:52.085 to say, "We have the time, we have 0:56:52.085,0:56:54.670 the health, we have the resources; 0:56:54.670,0:56:56.705 let's give them to the Lord while we can." 0:56:56.705,0:57:00.376 And so, we're heading over there to do it. 0:57:00.376,0:57:01.641 (Derek) And I want to hear 0:57:01.641,0:57:03.686 in an upcoming program, Jorge, 0:57:03.686,0:57:05.617 what happens, okay? 0:57:05.617,0:57:08.784 So, you take some notes. 0:57:08.784,0:57:11.919 We may not all go to Palawan, 0:57:11.919,0:57:13.746 We may not all go to Mizoram 0:57:13.746,0:57:15.746 because we don't speak the Mizo language, 0:57:15.746,0:57:18.657 or we don't speak Burmese, 0:57:18.657,0:57:22.290 but God has a mission for each one of us. 0:57:22.290,0:57:24.283 He wants us not to attract attention 0:57:24.283,0:57:27.253 to ourselves but to let the light of Jesus 0:57:27.253,0:57:29.288 shine through us to the nations 0:57:29.288,0:57:31.239 because He loves all of His children. 0:57:31.239,0:57:32.945 Will you accept that challenge? 0:57:32.945,0:57:34.994 By the way, that's a lesson 0:57:34.994,0:57:38.374 for the last days of this earth's history. 0:57:38.374,0:57:39.466 Let's pray together. 0:57:39.466,0:57:42.851 Father in Heaven, that You would call us 0:57:42.851,0:57:45.104 to bring a life-changing message 0:57:45.104,0:57:47.456 to the nations is quite remarkable. 0:57:47.456,0:57:48.611 But thank You that those 0:57:48.611,0:57:50.509 You call You enable. 0:57:50.509,0:57:53.154 And may Your presence be with us as we go. 0:57:53.154,0:57:55.097 In Jesus' name. Amen. 0:57:55.097,0:57:55.881 (Team) Amen. 0:57:55.881,0:57:57.309 (Derek) Friend, whether you go 0:57:57.309,0:57:59.083 to your neighbor or across the world, 0:57:59.083,0:58:00.526 take the light of Jesus 0:58:00.526,0:58:02.260 to dispel the darkness. 0:58:02.260,0:58:04.160 Be a blessing to those around you. 0:58:04.160,0:58:28.425 ♪ theme music ♪