♪ theme music ♪

(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

an in-depth, interactive study

of the Word of God.

We are in the middle

of a very important series,

<i>Bible Prophecies and Stories</i>

<i>for the Last Days.</i>

If you've missed any, go to our website,

hopetv.org/hopess.

You can watch the past episodes there.

Or, go to our YouTube channel,

Hope Sabbath School, and watch them there.

Today, we're starting to examine

<i>The Nations</i> as a theme in Bible prophecy,

and we're glad you joined us.

Welcome to the team,

say, "Hi," to each other,

glad you're all here.

You're looking great today.

And we've got some remotes

joining us, too; let's see who's with us.

Gleny, great to have you back with us,

glad you're here.

Jorge, good to see you with us today.

And, Leeah, always good

to have you with us.

And we're glad that <i>you're</i> with us, too,

because you're part of the great miracle

called Hope Sabbath School

wherever you are, around the world.

Why don't you write to us today,

sshope@hopetv.org.

Or, you can leave a note

on our YouTube channel,

but make sure you include the country

where you call home.

Here's a note from Jane in Maine

in the United States of America.

She says, "Hi to everyone.

I love you all.

Thank you, Hope Sabbath School team."

Well, let's give Jane a wave, shall we?
Thank you.

"I receive a great blessing watching

and studying with you every week.

I love the interactive study of the Bible.

May God continue to bless

each and every one who participates

in this study of the Word of God,"
and we say...?

(Derek, Team) Amen.

(Derek) Wherever you are around the world,

Jane, you're up there in Maine,

we're glad you're part

of our Hope Sabbath School family.

Paulette writes from Jamaica.

Oh, we've got some Jamaican connections

on the team, "Greetings

to Hope Sabbath School," that's Paulette.

"I'm writing from Jamaica.

I must say, I enjoy

your interaction on the team,

and I learn a lot from the class.

Keep up the good work always.

I pray that God will use <i>me</i>

for His glory!" Amen?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) You know, that's absolutely true.

We don't just want people

to admire something happening.

We're praying that this can be multiplied

in our lives and in your life

around the world.

Here's an unusual donor note.

Most of our donors come

from North America;

this donor comes from Australia.

And the donor writes, "Hello,

Hope Sabbath School team.

Thank you for continuing

to share Jesus..."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) "...and sharing His Word
and His love

in an unconditional, nonjudgmental way.

May this small gift continue to brighten

one or two corners of this globe

until Jesus comes."

Now, there must be some...

what do you call it...exchange fees

for transferring the funds

from the Australian dollar

to the U.S. dollar,

because a generous gift

of 196 dollars and 78 cents arrived.

And I want to thank you, Donor

in Australia (you know who you are)

for that generous gift

because we're a donor-supported ministry,

and thank you for being part

of the miracle of God,

and for each one of you.

Some of you who help once a month,

some of you help once a year,

whatever you do, we thank you.

You can go to our website,

hopetv.org/hopess, and say, "Lord,

let me be part of the miracle

of sharing Your love with the world."

One last note, from Rosemary in Arkansas

in the United States of America,

"Hello, Hope Sabbath School team."

Do you think they put that

so we can wave? I think so.

"I've learned so much

from watching your show.

I'm very grateful and blessed.

I love the Scripture songs

and often hum or sing them

throughout the day.

Thank you so much for everything you do

to reach the world and spread the gospel

and the love of Jesus."

Well, before we sing the song,

<i>Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You,</i>

I just want to say, years ago,

when my wife began to compose

Scripture songs with a prayer

that God's Word would be hidden

in the hearts of our two little boys,

she had no idea that it would impact

so many people, but isn't that

just what God does?

He just says, "You be faithful to Me

in your little sphere, and I'm going

to bless the world through you."

So, I hope you download those songs

because there's a free song each quarter,

a theme song; you can download it free.

And I hear people saying, "Oh,

I know all of your songs."

We were somewhere just last week,

and the person says,

"Let the Word of Christ..."

I said, "Oh, you learned

some Scripture songs - Praise God."

But while you're there at the website,

you can also download the free gift

for this series, because I was praying,

"God, is there a special gift?"

We're talking about <i>Bible Prophecies</i>

<i>and Stories for the Last Days,</i>

and I thought of a book

called <i>Radical Protection.</i>

I think it was offered years ago,
but there are

so many new Hope Sabbath School members,

I said, "We need to offer that again"

because the prophet Daniel says

there's coming a time of trouble

such as never was, and we need

that supernatural protection

so we can face the future without fear.

Because when we face the future

with Jesus, we're not afraid.

So, go to our website, hopetv.org/hopess,

click on the Free Gift tab, and you can

download a free digital copy

of that valuable resource

and share it with your friends.

But, right now I'd like to hear you sing,

because we've learned a theme song

from Colossians 3:16.

And you say, "Derek, you

don't sound that good."

Well, sing with us, will you?

Let's all sing together and hide

the Word in our hearts,

<i>Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You.</i>

Let's sing it together.

♪ music ♪

(Derek) Let's pray together.

Father in Heaven, we believe this series

on <i>Bible Prophecies and Stories</i>

<i>for the Last Days</i> is very relevant

for our lives today.

And so, I pray the same Holy Spirit

who inspired the prophets,

the same Holy Spirit who protected

the Scriptures through the generations,

that same Holy Spirit Jesus promised

would lead us into all truth,

that that would happen

as we study Your Word today, not just here

but with our Hope Sabbath School family

around the world.

We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) Well, in this study

and the one to follow, we're going

to be studying the theme

of <i>The Nations</i> and how the nations

are part of Bible prophecy.

The first place the nations are mentioned

is in the book of Genesis,

and so we'll start there

in Genesis, chapter 10.

And actually it's related to chapter 11,

but let's start by looking in Genesis,

chapter 10, and, Mighty, I'm going

to ask you if you'd read for us

Genesis 10, the first five verses.

Now, there are some unusual names there,

but just say them the best you can

because we don't know

how to say them either, but Genesis,

chapter 10, verses 1 through 5.

(Mighty) I'll be reading

from the New American Standard Bible,
and it says:

(Derek) Thank you so much.

Wow, what a great job

of reading those names, you know?

But the last words "into their nations,"

now, in order to understand -

and their languages -

there was actually only one language

until chapter 11, so really 10 and 11

are together, and now they're

forming into nations.

So, the question is, what happened

in Genesis, chapter 11, Zaria,

in verses 1 through 4, if you could read.

Let's see what happened in Genesis 11:1-4.

(Zaria) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) So, here they are, and we know

that the judgment of God comes,

and languages are confused.

And now we just read in chapter 10

that they divide into nations.

So, was the forming into nations

an act of obedience

or an act of rebellion?

(Team Members) Rebellion.

(Team Members) No.

(Derek) Okay, how many said rebellion?

Two, three, two and a half, okay.

How many of you think

it was an act of obedience?

How many of you don't know?

How many of you would say

it could have been one or the other?

Because they were <i>supposed</i> to go

to the ends of the earth, right,

and subdue it; that was the assignment.

And presumably in that, they would be

living in harmony with the will of God.

Unfortunately, as the nations emerge,

we find a different spirit

from what God intended,

and we'll find a clue back in chapter 10.

Nicole, if you could read for us

in Genesis, chapter 10,

verses 8 through 12, and we find

a character mentioned,

by the name of Nimrod.

(Nicole) The New International Version

of Genesis 10, verses 8 through 12, says:

(Derek) What do you learn about Nimrod

from that short description?

Anybody. Yes, Puia.

(Puia) Derek, I think what stood out

for me here is the fact that Nimrod

is described as a mighty hunter

before the Lord, and it doesn't sound

like it is a compliment.

It sounds like he is

continuing the rebellion

against the governments of God.

(Derek) Anybody else, what impacted
you? Travis?

(Travis) So, what I'm seeing here

from the nations (and Nimrod

is continuing this) is the same spirit

that was at Babel, "Let us make

a name for ourselves."

It continues with Nimrod,

and it continues to this day

with <i>all</i> of the nations,

nation against nation, always trying

to make a name for themselves,

be better and usurp the next nation.

(Derek) Yes, Jenner.

(Jenner) Important to note

is also verse 10,

and from the New American Standard Bible,

"The beginning of his kingdom

was Babel," which introduces us

to the next chapter, so negative language
towards Nimrod the whole time.

(Derek) And of course, he will

end up also building Nineveh,

and we know the reputation that Nineveh

would have, too, right?

So, back to where this ambition came from.

You say it came from wanting to build

the Tower of Babel, but where is

the spirit of the nations coming from?

Well, let's go to a description

by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 14.

Now, I realize some of you

have read this before -

James, maybe you could read it for us,

verses 12 to 14 -

but someone joining us

for Hope Sabbath School today

is hearing this for the very first time,

and it may be quite startling

because this is the testimony

of a fallen angel, one who was created,

Ezekiel says, in perfection,

but who rebelled against God.

And let's listen to the spirit

of this fallen angel as described

by the prophet Isaiah.

(James) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) And, Travis, you said

that same spirit is manifested today...

(Travis) Correct.

(Derek) ...with the nations wanting

to exercise dominion, to dominate

powers around them. Yes.

(Travis) I just want to say something

as we just read this.

It says, "you, who weakened the nations,"

it's associating an exaltation of self

to the weakening of a nation.

So, if we would glorify God,

we would have a powerful nation.

And if we would exalt ourselves,

the nation would get weak,

if I am reading that correctly.

(Derek) So, let's talk about what God

wanted to do with Abram.

That was his name originally, right,

and later he was called Abraham.

But Abram, He wanted to form him

into a nation, but a nation that was

very different from "the nations,"

which come out of Babel, okay?

So, let's go to Genesis, chapter 12.

Tendi, if you could read

the first three verses.

What do you see immediately

in this call to Abram to be a nation

that's so different from the attitude

that we read earlier

in the book of Genesis?

(Tendi) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:
and it reads:

(Derek) Alright, so what's

the big difference?

What jumps out at you? Nicole?

(Nicole) Well, in this case,

God is offering the blessing.

It's not that Abram is taking them.

It's that He's offering them,

and He's saying, "Through Me

you will be blessed,"

instead of the other one, which is,

"I will ascend; I will

be better, I will, I will..."

(Derek) Okay, so there are

actually several things going on here.

One, instead of saying, "I will be great,"

"I will do this," it is God saying,

"I will do this for you,"

"I will do this for you," but also...?

(Travis) The earth...

(Derek) "The earth will be blessed

because of this nation that will

come forth from you."

Do you see the big difference

between that and what we

read earlier in the chapter?

Well, the prophet Moses

understood that as God's ideal.

Look in Deuteronomy.

Jenner, if you could read for us

in Deuteronomy, chapter 4,

verses 5 through 10.

(Jenner) Deuteronomy, chapter 4?

(Derek) Chapter 4, beginning with verse 5.

Moses understood God's ideal in the nation

that would be formed from Abram.

(Jenner) I will be reading

from the New American Standard Bible,

Deuteronomy 4, starting with verse 5:

(Derek) And you know that word "fear"

can be translated "to be afraid"

or "reverent," right, "Show reverence

toward Me," right,

if the relationship is right.

So, again, God says, "I'll bless you.

Others will be blessed through you,

but even more than that, when others see

the blessing of God," what? What?

(Zaria) They're attracted to it and want
to learn...

(Derek) Make the "it" more specific.
They're attracted to...?

...to learn more about God, right?!
Jenner?

(Jenner) Very specifically,
a personal God.

Verse 7 emphasizes a God that is so <i>near,</i>

and He always listens

whenever we call on Him.

(Derek) I'm going to talk

to some of our remotes here

because some reminders needed to go out.

And we've got three reminders in Isaiah

I'll give to Gleny and Leeah and Jorge.

Let's start with Gleny in Isaiah 42:6,

then we'll look at 49:6

and then 60, verse 3.

It sounds like lots of reminders

had to go out, "Don't forget

why you are a people."

Now, we're going to need that

in the last days as a church,

"Don't forget why I've called you," right?

Not so people will say, "I'm so great.

I have this and this and this,"

but that people would say,

"What a great God you serve."

Gleny, what's the reminder

in Isaiah 42, verse 6?

(Gleny) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,
and it says:

(Derek) So, God's ideal then was

that they would be what, to the nations
or the Gentiles?

(Derek, Team) A light.

(Derek) Let's look in 49, verse 6, Leeah,

Isaiah 49:6, and see how the prophet

reminds them of that mission.

(Leeah) In the English Standard Version,
it reads:

(Derek) Ah, so it's not just some blessing

for Abraham and his descendants,

that is, the nation of Israel, but it is

to bless the entire world, right?

One last reference from Isaiah, Jorge,

in chapter 60 and verse 3.

(Jorge) Isaiah 60, verse 3,

I'll be reading

from the New King James Version, it says:

(Derek) I want to thank you, Jorge.

One of the things we have to remember,

then, is when they "come to your light,"

what do we need to do?

(Nicole) Reflect them up.

(Derek) We need to deflect that praise,

right, to the Light of the world.

Gleny, I see your hand.

(Gleny) And I was just quickly trying

to think of what makes this nation

a light to the world, and I think

it's the distinct principles it runs on.

Like, for instance, when you

look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs,

you start with food, shelter,

all of those things.

But here, the kingdom of God

focuses on seeking Him first,

and that's the way you get

all of your needs met.

So, I'm imagining all the nations

seeing this kingdom that follows

under this principle of a God who says,

"Look at Me, and you will get

all of your deepest desires met,"

rather than the other way around.

(Derek) Thank you for pointing that out.

That's deep thought right there.

And it ties into my question,

and that is, what's the difference,

just from our initial study

between the nations,

which actually reflect the character

of the fallen angel once called Lucifer,

and the nation that God

calls out of Abraham?

And certainly we'll find later

He desires to be manifest in His church.

What's the big difference? Yes, Zaria?

(Zaria) I would say the difference

is the world decided to follow

after their own will, their own desires,

worshiping other gods and other idols,

and that's why they were led astray often,

doing so many different things.

They got sick, whereas God's nation,

we follow His Word and His light

and His direction.

(Derek) One following

their own will and leading

to the gods of this world

(Leeah, I see your hand),

the other following God.

What difference do you see, Leeah,

between <i>the</i> nations

and the special nation God calls out?

(Leeah) There seems to be an element

of peace that comes when you surrender

to God and His will for your life,

whether that be as a nation

or as an individual.

It's so much more difficult

to live by your own standards

and try to be your own leader

or your own god as opposed to surrendering

to the will of God.

He provides so much more peace,

and your life is laid out

so much, not necessarily easier,

but there is just so much peace

when God is in control.

(Derek) It seems through history

(thank you, Leeah) that the nations

are built by violence; that's history.

The nation that God's calling,

He desires it to be built by love, right?

Love for Him and love for the community.

It's a drastic difference.

And some skeptics might say,

"That other nation you're talking about,

[it] isn't even possible

to have a nation like that."

It's only the survival

of the fittest, right?

That's the only way it will happen,

but we'll see that God

does have a plan. Puia?

(Puia) Derek, I think it's

very interesting to note

that as we contrast and compare

the nations around the world

and the nation that God

was raising up through Abraham,

I think the key difference is

how God reveals Himself closely

with that nation through Abraham.

Although we see a lot of conquering

and violence in the other nations,

I think we have to qualify

that even in those nations

there is that battle between the forces

of good and evil.

But what sets [apart] the nation

through Abraham is that God

had given them that special revelation.

And I think Jenner pointed out,

God is very near to them.

And I want to piggyback

on what Leeah said earlier, when you have

that special revelation from God,

you get to enjoy peace

that the other nations

probably did not get to enjoy.

(Derek) Okay, I've got lots of hands,

Mighty and Jorge.

(Mighty) Going off of what Puia is saying,

he just sparked something

in my mind there, and I'm also recalling

that last week's lesson is

coming into play here as well,

is that we are in a marriage with Christ.

We are in a marriage with Jesus.

And I remember one of the verses we read

was Revelation, chapter 19, verse 7:

We are that bride, and how are we

making ourselves ready for Christ to come?

So, we have to absorb that light

that we have from God and that wisdom

and understanding and display

that character that Christ is looking for.

[Make] herself ready

by displaying that character

that Jesus is looking for,

that wisdom and understanding

of His will, and displaying it

to the nations, so they can be blessed

and others can come into our nation

and make themselves ready

for Christ to come.

(Derek) And I think to be fair,

and, Jorge, I'm coming to your point,

the way we make ourselves ready

is to allow God to make us ready.

In other words, it is God

who is shaping this nation, right,

rather than, "We will," "I will,"

"I will," "I will," right,

which is very self-focused.

Now, we have a choice to make,

but that choice is to draw close to God

who can make us a new creation.

It's a different kind

of nation, for sure. Jorge.

(Jorge) Yes, I'm reminded of a portion

as well from last week's lesson

where Abraham told Eliezer, "No,

don't go back to where I came from

to get a wife for my son."

And it reminds me of how we read earlier

in the lesson that God asked Abraham

to come out of his country or his nation

so that He can establish him

as a new nation.

And that dynamic between coming

out of something so God can teach us

something new and use that

for something even greater is a lesson

we see throughout Scripture

with Moses coming out of Egypt

and being taught, John the Baptist

going out to the wilderness

and being taught.

We see these parallels a lot.

I'm reminded of a situation

where I was in a cave;

it was completely dark,

and the guide that was

leading us had a lighter.

He lights the lighter,

and instinctively everybody

just kind of got closer to him

because they could see where the light was

and without it, it was pitch black.

And I'm reminded of this verse here

in Isaiah when it says that everyone

will come to your light.

The kings will come

to the [brightness of your rising].

And when I think about the difference

between these nations, God is giving

a light that no one else has.

It's a darkness in the other nations,

and so it is instinctively attractive

when they come to you,

and kings and all these other magistrates

will come to you even as you're

rising as a kingdom.

And so, there's an attraction

that God is using us

through our light.

(Derek) So, here's the question,

how well did Israel do?

And maybe there's not a simple answer.

Maybe there were times they did well,

but what would you say, big picture?

How did they do as a light

to the Gentiles, to the world? Anybody?

(Jenner) They didn't do well.

(Derek) They didn't

do well, you would say.

(James) Rejected the light.

(Derek) Rejected...I mean, there were

some good men and women, right?

But you're saying, overall?

(Jenner) Overall, it...

(Derek) You'd say the nation...

I mean, think of King Josiah; he was

awesome, but then someone else would...

Up and down or mainly down? Travis?

(Travis) It's interesting,

at the burning bush, God refers

to the children of Israel as "My son,"

"My son, the children of Israel."

Jesus gets baptized, and He said, "This is

My Son in whom I am well pleased."

What we are finding out is

that the children of Israel

really didn't please Him

in everything that they did.

And I praise God because, if we keep going

as we will through the prophecies,

or studying these stories

of the prophecies, we'll find out that God

does eventually finish the work

through His people, you know?

And I think that's something

to look forward to.

(Derek) So, I'm going to ask Gleny

if you'd read for us

from 1 Samuel 8, verses 4 and 5,

because you're saying they're not doing

that well, and in the midst of that,

certainly, you read the book of Judges,

and there's a theme over and over,

"And they did what was right

in their own eyes," "They did

what was right in their own eyes,"

rather than in the sight of God.

And now, Gleny, if you'll read,

they make another mistake

in 1 Samuel 8, verses 4 and 5.

(Gleny) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,
and it says:

(Derek) Why did they want a king

like the nations?

We know the characteristic

of "the nations," right,

in terms of what we've been shown

in the book of Genesis.

Why did they want a king like the nations?

Look at one verse in the warning

that Samuel gives in 1 Samuel 8, verse 15.

Nicole, could you read

1 Samuel 8, verse 15?

(Nicole) Sure, New International Version
says:

(Derek) Yup, you're right.

(Derek) Does something there sound

like a little bit off?

What does it sound like?

(Travis) Like the king is stealing

the tithe that belongs to God.

(Derek) It sounds

like, instead of a theocracy

where God is King, right,

and honoring God as the source

of all blessing, they were to return a...?

(Derek, Team) ...tithe.

(Derek) Now, they're giving a tithe

to a human person.

Now, I'm not saying they didn't continue

to return a tithe

to the temple; I don't know.

But it's kind of interesting

that it's the same.

It's almost like a switch, isn't it?

So again, help me, someone.

Gleny and Jorge, I see your hands raised.

Why would they want a king

if God has called them, and in a sense

He <i>is</i> their King?

Zaria, too, okay, let's start with Gleny.

(Gleny) I think the whole theme

of where we see humans err

ever since the Garden of Eden

is when we lack trust in God

and His methods and lean

on our own understanding.

So, there's this idea of we know better;

we think we know better,

and let's go with that.

(Derek) Alright, let's see who else.

Jorge, you had your hand raised.

(Jorge) Yes, in verse 5

of that same passage that we just read,

we kind of see a little bit of the answer

to your question where it says, "Look, you

are old, and your sons

don't walk in your ways."

So, we are seeing that essentially

the spiritual leadership

or the spiritual head

of Israel is lacking, and there is

no one to turn to, and so they are

starting to look for somebody else.

And we see a similar example

that took place with Moses;

when He appeared to delay,

they started looking elsewhere.

And so, perhaps one of the reasons is

because the leadership started

[turning] their view [from] God, and so it

caused a downstream effect to the people.

(Derek) That's a powerful insight.

If the appointed leaders of God

had been faithful, it might have prevented

or averted turning

towards a human king. Tendi?

(Tendi) So, in 1 Samuel 8, verse 7,

the Lord tells Samuel

that they rejected Him,

that's why they wanted to appoint a king.

(Derek) Let's look at his warning.

If someone would read that for us.

Puia, would you read 1 Samuel 8,

verses 10 through 18?

This is the same Samuel

who, as a little boy, when nobody else

was listening to God, heard the Lord

call him, "Samuel, Samuel," right?

Now, he's an old man.

He's been a faithful prophet of God

through the years.

Let's hear his warning.

(Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,

1 Samuel, chapter 8, verses 10 to 18:

(Derek) It sounds

like a fairly serious warning,

but, James, how do they respond, verses 19

and 20 of the same chapter of 1 Samuel 8?

(James) The New King James Version says:

(Derek) What?! Nicole?

(Nicole) That's it; they did not

want to be a separate and special people.

They wanted to be like everyone else.

I think we have that problem today,

that the Lord calls us to be apart

and separate and to be His chosen people,

but we choose to be like everyone else

because we don't want to stand out.

We don't want anyone to notice us

to be different than they are,

and I think that was Israel's problem.

They wanted to be like everyone else
around them.

(Derek) I was startled.

I don't know if you caught this

(and then I see some hands raised),

"And [our king] will

go out...and fight our battles"?

(Jenner) That's correct, like conquering.

(Derek) Oh, certainly the conquering,

but, like, really, they're thinking

this one person is going

to go out and fight their battles

when before, the Lord had said,

"I will go before you," right?

Like at Jericho, "I will go before you."
Like when...

(Jenner) Opening of the Red Sea.

(Derek) ...He opens the sea,

"I will go before you,"

and now you're going to send a <i>person?</i>

Something is wrong

with their thinking, right? Travis?

(Travis) That danger, Derek,

is still even to this day.

I have been reading lots

of books on history,

and there were many religious groups

who lobbied to have Hitler put into place.

He was a vegetarian, he didn't drink,

and he looked out for the welfare.

And just a few short years later,

we see, I mean, just recent history,

we see what happened.

And the psalmist said, "Don't

put your trust in a prince,

or the son of man,

where there is no [help].

Because the very day they die,

their plans perish."

But God always fought battles

for the children of Israel,

and you're right, for them to want

a man now to fight their battles

just seems crazy!

(Derek) So, here's the question:

Why did God grant their request?

Because didn't God tell Samuel

to anoint someone who is taller

than anybody else, and handsome?

The kind of one that, if he was

in a popularity contest, they would say,

"Why don't you vote for Saul?"

And we all know how that turned out.

Well, maybe we don't, but you can read

about King Saul, and it's

a sad, sad story.

Why did God allow that and even direct

the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul?

I think he was son of Kish, wasn't he?

Why did He direct to have him

anointed as king?

Zaria, what do you think?

(Zaria) I would say it's because He

wanted us to have our will.

He's not going to always just allow us

to do what He wants, right?

He's going to allow us to have our will

and what we desire just so we

can learn from it.

Even in our own lives right now,

sometimes my flesh chooses

something else, and then I learn

from that experience,

and I go back to God.

And we can see this trend throughout time.

They sin, and then they cry out to God,

and then He saves them.

They sin again...it just goes

in circles over and over again.

But we learned from now,

all the prophets, what they wrote,

that we now need to trust in God.

So, it's been a lesson for them
and for us.

(Derek) So, you would say, and I see

some other hands that are twitching here,

but you would say that God,

if we are persistent,

will grant us what we demand

even if it is not His will - is that true?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) That God will grant us

what we demand even if it is not His will?

Puia, we need your help.

(Puia) I think that is true

to a certain degree, because time

and time again, what we see in the Bible

is that God does not always get

what He wants personally

because He gives us the freedom to choose,

and love by definition

cannot be forced, right?

God cannot force a relationship

between Him and us.

And so, it does appear that way,

that God would grant certain things,

even if it is not His best plan.

But the good news, of course,

is that even when we make those decisions

that are not in His best plan,

God always continues to pursue us

to bring us back through those lessons

that we learn from those mistakes.

(Derek) Let's take a look at one example,

and, Jorge, I'm going to ask you to read

Romans 1 for us, please, verses 22 to 25,

which I believe would support

what Zaria and Puia have just said.

Now, I don't think God does that

with any kind of joy in His heart.

I don't think He does that going,

"Well, you're going to really mess up,

and you deserve it," kind of attitude.

But, if we persist in demanding something,

God will allow that to happen.

Let's see, Jorge, Romans 1:22-25.

(Jorge) Romans 1:22-25, I'll be reading

from the New King James Version, it says:

(Derek) What was the expression there,
God did what?

(Team) Gave them up.

(Derek) He gave them up.

Now, please, that's not the same

as "gave up on them," right,

because He will pursue us

with an immeasurable and unfailing love

until our final breath.

But giving them up means what?

(Travis) Let them have their way.

(Derek) Let them have their way.

And of course, history tells us

what happened to the nation.

Now, in the closing section, we want

to look at how, just as He desired

the nation bringing up through Abraham

to be different, He wants His church

to be radically different

from the nations.

But earlier Nicole said we could fall

into the same trap.

But let's look at what Jesus has to say.

Leeah, if you could take us to Matthew,

chapter 20, I think this is

a really important passage,

Matthew 20, verses 25 through 28,

because really, if you are of faith,

Scripture says, you're Abraham's seed.

So, the people of God

post the coming of Jesus

are His church, right?

And He desires His church,

would you say then,

to be a light to the world?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) And He desires His church

not to have the attitude of the nations.

Let's see, Leeah, what counsel Jesus gave.

(Leeah) Alright, Matthew,

chapter 20, verses 25 to 28,

the English Standard Version says:

(Derek) So, we could, in the place

of "the Gentiles," put "the nations,"

right, "lord it over each other,

but it shall not be that way among you.

But you should be a servant,"

and, of course, even Jesus,

the Son of Man, was a servant.

Look at the history

of the Christian church.

Let's start at the very beginning

in the book of Acts.

Where do you see

the character of a loving God revealed

in the character

of the early Christian church,

the new nation?

Where do you see it manifested?

From your reading, what do you know?

(Travis) In Acts, chapter [2], it says

they shared with one another

so that none had more than the other.

(Derek) Yes, Acts 2 and Acts 4 also.

It says that they held everything
in common. Jenner?

(Jenner) Yes, "with gladness

and simplicity of heart."

(Derek) They ate together

"with gladness and simplicity of heart."

And if there was a need,

people like Barnabas sold a piece of land,

brought [the money] to the Apostles' feet.

It's very much, what?

What is it a reflection of?

(Derek, Team) The character of God.

(Derek) Right? That's the picture

of the early church.

But if you do a scan

through church history

through the centuries, where do you see

this kingly power start

to manifest itself?

Anybody a student of church history? Puia.

(Puia) So, when we look back

in church history, we see

that probably around the fourth century
especially,

the church began to court

the power of the state,

and eventually there was a combination,

a union, between the church and the state.

And as a result, the church was

corrupted with power, a desire

to act like a king.

And the church in turn persecuted

a lot of God's own people.

And the darkest chapters

of Christian history is filled

with the church persecuting God's people

through the power of the state.

(Derek) We're going to study about that

in our next program

because that is exactly what happens.

And instead of the light of God

shining in the people of God,

drawing others to the church of God,

they use violence to try

to force people, which was not

the character of God at all.

That's actually the character

of the fallen angel, right?

So, how do we avoid falling into the trap

of using the methods of the nations

and staying as God wants His church to be,

a light to the world?

How do we avoid that trap?

(Travis) Humble ourselves.

(Derek) Okay, Travis, talk
to me about that.

What did you say?

(Travis) Humble ourselves before God.

(Derek) Especially if He puts you

in a position of leadership, right?

When you stand up to teach the class,

it's like, "Lord, hide me behind You,"

right? Yes, James?

(James) When we recognize that we are

part of a royal priesthood,

a chosen nation, in God we know

that the Great Commission

of going into all the world is not

that of Nimrod or of Satan,

which was meant for conquering,

but rather to conquer hearts.

I use that word loosely, to convert hearts

to Jesus so that we can live

in harmony and interdependence.

That's what I see in the book of Acts,

people living communally

with interdependence and living for God.

(Derek) You know, the text that you

quoted there, "You are

a chosen generation," 1 Peter 2:9,

"a royal priesthood, a holy..."?

(Team) "...nation."

(Derek) Ah! There's the word.

You've got the nations, but you are

a holy nation, but back to something

Nicole said earlier,

"His own special people," peculiar.

(Jenner) God's own possession.

(Derek) Yeah, God's own possession,

but hear the last part,

"That you may proclaim [your praises]."

(Team) No!

(Derek) "Is not this great Babylon

that I have built," no, no,

Or, "Is not this great church...," or, no.

"That you may declare the praises of..."?

(Derek, Team) "...Him..."

(Derek) "...who called you out of..."?

(Derek, Team) "...darkness..."

(Derek) "...into.."?

(Team) "...His marvelous light."

(Derek) Oh, man, that's God's ideal.

Jorge, talk to me about that,

because that is so different

from the kingdoms of the world.

(Jorge) Yes, and I think, to answer

your question, how can we not fall

into that same trap, is by remembering

that He is the vine, we are the branches.

And we need to stay abiding

in Him constantly.

And He will keep us from ourselves

and going into a place that would cause us

to deter from where He

would have us to be.

(Derek) We are not more loved by God

than any in the nations; is that right?

God loves all of His children

in the same way, but He wants us

to go out as servants to the nations

to share the light of God with them.

So, I want, in the few minutes

that's closing, remotes, be ready, too,

to share a time when God

sent you out to the nations.

It's one thing to just stay at home

and try to stay out of trouble,

but God sends us out to the nations

to be a witness.

Anybody have a time you want to share

when God did that for you? Yes, Puia.

(Puia) I actually want to answer

in a slightly different way.

I'm so thankful for the missionaries

who came to my land, to my ancestors,

to Mizoram and Burma,

to tells us about this light,

and becoming a light to the Gentiles.

And as a result of those missionaries,

we came to learn, <i>I</i> came to learn

this message about Jesus.

I'm so thankful for missionaries.

(Derek) Has God sent you out

at any time to the nations, too?

(Puia) Yes, I have.

I have traveled, and I have preached,

and it's a result

of one person stepping out,

and the ripple effects continue.

(Derek) Now, Jorge, I know

you're about to go to the Philippines.

What motivated you to sacrifice the time

and the resources to go out

on that mission to the nations?

(Jorge) Yes, we had Henry Suluvale,
a gentleman

who came by and did a vespers, as it were,

on a mission trip that he did

in Papua New Guinea.

And he gave, I guess, a little exposé

of his experience and the thousands

and thousands of people

that were baptized as a result.

And there was a small group of us there,

and, well, we were listening

to his experience and how people

were moved, the different works

that were needed,

the needs that were there,

and he expressed how they
were going

to do a mission trip in the Philippines.

We jumped at the opportunity

as we understood that God was leading us

to say, "We have the time, we have

the health, we have the resources;

let's give them to the Lord while we can."

And so, we're heading over there to do it.

(Derek) And I want to hear

in an upcoming program, Jorge,

what happens, okay?

So, you take some notes.

We may not all go to Palawan,

We may not all go to Mizoram

because we don't speak the Mizo language,

or we don't speak Burmese,

but God has a mission for each one of us.

He wants us not to attract attention

to ourselves but to let the light of Jesus

shine through us to the nations

because He loves all of His children.

Will you accept that challenge?

By the way, that's a lesson

for the last days of this earth's history.

Let's pray together.

Father in Heaven, that You would call us

to bring a life-changing message

to the nations is quite remarkable.

But thank You that those

You call You enable.

And may Your presence be with us as we go.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) Friend, whether you go

to your neighbor or across the world,

take the light of Jesus

to dispel the darkness.

Be a blessing to those around you.

♪ theme music ♪