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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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We're in the middle of a series,
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God's Mission - My Mission,
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seeing the heart of God
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to bring a revelation of His love
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to everyone on planet Earth
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and save as many as possible,
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as many as will believe
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in His grace and mercy.
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Our topic today, well, we're looking
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at an ancient prophet named Jonah
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and Excuses to Avoid Mission.
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That's not to give you ideas,
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but to see how we can make it
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past those excuses.
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So, welcome to Hope Sabbath School
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and welcome to the team.
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Good to be together again.
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Take a look at each other there.
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You look like the whole world,
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and that's what Hope Sabbath School
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is about, isn't it, every nation,
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kindred, tongue and people coming together
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to study the Word of God.
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We've got some team members
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joining us remotely.
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Sabina, great to have you back with us,
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glad you're here today.
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Leeah, good to see you again.
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And Hope, good to see you, Hope.
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We're glad you're here
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for Hope Sabbath School today.
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And we've got emails
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from a few people around the world,
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and can I ask you to write to us:
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sshope@hopetv.org.
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Share with us how you're blessed.
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You can even send us a digital picture
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of your family, maybe a study group
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that you're leading.
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We want to see how God is blessing you
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through a study of His Word.
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Here's a note from Virginia
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in the United States of America.
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Denise writes and says, "I've wanted
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to send you a message for a while,
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so while watching Hope Sabbath School
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this Friday evening,
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it seemed like a perfect time.
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I've so enjoyed the different teachers
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on Hope Sabbath School."
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Well, I happen to be teaching today,
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but there are quite a few teachers
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even in our group today.
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"I have to admit, it's taken a while
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for me to get used to the new set..."
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Well, you're right; we used a set
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for about 10 years until it
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started falling apart,
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and we have an amazing new set.
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"...took a while, but I think it was
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probably time for an update," said Denise.
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I think the people that moved
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the old set around would agree with you.
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"Hope Channel has
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always had beautiful sets
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and such professional filming[br]and programming.
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I consider it an honor to help
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in a small way with electronic giving.
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May God continue to lead
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and guide you all."
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Well, Denise, thanks for writing
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to us from Virginia
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here in the United States of America.
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Well, across the ocean, in Zambia,
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Letty writes, and she says,
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"Greetings, Hope Sabbath School family,"
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we gave Letty the wave; she says,
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"and the whole Hope Sabbath School family
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around the world
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and the entire production team."
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So, we want to wave to them, too.
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"The study of the Bible
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has been a huge blessing in my life.
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I put it upon myself to download
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the weekly programs and to share them
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on many platforms with my friends,
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family and the entire church!"
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) What do we call that?
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That's joining God in His mission, right?
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That's what this series is all about.
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"If it will ever be possible,"
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writes Letty from Zambia,
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"I would love to be part of the team.
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May God bless your ministry.
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Pray for me as I also pray for you."
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Well, I want to tell you, Letty,
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and I know the team agrees,
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you are part of the team, right?
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You're doing, there in Zambia,
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what we can't do in this country
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for your people.
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Thank you for writing to us.
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Here's a note from a donor couple
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in Jamaica, and they write and say,
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"Christian greetings
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from the beautiful island of Jamaica.
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My husband and I are pensioners,"
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that means that they are on retirement,
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"but we're thankful to the Lord
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for the work He has done
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raising up Hope Channel around the world.
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We are positive that many souls
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are being blessed daily
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by the various programs,
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especially Hope Sabbath School."
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Wow, that's why they wrote to us.
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"Thank you for your commitment[br]and dedication.
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Enclosed is a contribution
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toward the evangelistic outreach,"
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that's why we exist, right?
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"May the Lord continue to bless
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Hope Channel and the leaders
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as you continue to allow the Holy Spirit
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to use you for God's honor
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and glory. Amen."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) And a donation of 100 dollars
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to bless the ministry.
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Thank you, Jamaica, for being part
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of the great miracle,
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and thank you to each one of you
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who say, "I want to be part."
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Maybe you've been thinking about it.
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You can go to our website,
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hopetv.org/hopess.
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Some of you watch the program there.
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Click on the Donate button
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and say, "Dear Lord, bless
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the global evangelistic media ministry
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of Hope Sabbath School."
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One last note, I don't remember
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the last time we got an email from Cuba,
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not the first time, I know, but...
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"Hello, Hope Sabbath School team,"
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writes Adiel from Cuba.
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"I've been watching your progam,
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and I'm glad God is using you
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for the precious work
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of sharing His message.
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God bless you; Jesus is coming soon."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Well, Adiel, thanks for writing
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to us from Cuba.
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Doesn't it encourage you
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to hear from all these different parts[br]of the world?
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It really is amazing.
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We realize that many are listening
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in a second language,
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which is why, those of you
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who are watching from around the world,
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we try to speak slowly and clearly
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because we want to thank you
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for listening to us in maybe a language
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that may be your second or third language.
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But, the Holy Spirit helps us, doesn't He,
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as we study the Word together.
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Well, right now we need your help
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to sing our theme song.
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It's a 3,000-year-old Scripture song.
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My wife put a new tune to it;
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it's kind of a happy tune,
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and it speaks about mission,
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because it says in Psalm 9,
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verses 1 and 2, "I will praise You,
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O Lord, with my whole heart;
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I will tell of all Your marvelous works."
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We join God in His mission.
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Let's sing it together.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) Well, we're going to study today
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about a prophet who didn't want
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to tell of all God's marvelous works.
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In fact, he wasn't glad and rejoicing
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in the Lord either,
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but I think there'll be some lessons
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that will help us
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to join God in His mission.
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Let's sing our song together again.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) Amen. Let's pray together.
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Father in Heaven, what a privilege it is,
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not only to praise You
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with our whole hearts
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for You are worthy of our praise,
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but also to tell
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of all Your marvelous works,
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to join You in Your mission to share
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Your immeasurable, unfailing love
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with the world.
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Today, as we look
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at an ancient prophet, Jonah,
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and excuses for mission,
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I pray that You would help us
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to find freedom from those things
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that hinder us from being the witnesses
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that You've called us to be for You.
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I thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Well, we're considering Jonah,
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and we'll learn about him primarily
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in the book that bears his name,
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the book of Jonah.
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It's a small book near the end
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of the Hebrew Scriptures.
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I was in the city of Joppa just recently,
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and several important things
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happened in Joppa.
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One of them was someone was raised
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from the dead by the power of Jesus' name.
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Do you remember who that was?
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It was Dorcas, raised to life in Joppa.
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What else happened?
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Well, Peter had a vision in Joppa
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that he should not call any person unclean
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when a message came
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from a centurion, you remember?
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But, perhaps Joppa is best known as being
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a place where Jonah went
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to try to run away from God.
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And we're going to consider
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the excuses he made and the excuses
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some others may make to avoid mission,
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but hopefully we can get past them.
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We might even identify some excuses
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that we have made in the past
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or may still make.
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So, Jonah, chapter 1, Samuel, if you
0:10:31.368,0:10:33.570
could begin our study today in Jonah,
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chapter 1, and read for us
0:10:36.698,0:10:39.350
the first three verses.
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(Samuel) I'm reading
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from the English Standard Version,[br]and it reads:
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(Derek) Now what do we know
0:11:15.208,0:11:21.238
about the Ninevites, the Assyrian Empire?
0:11:21.238,0:11:23.235
What did Jonah probably know
0:11:23.235,0:11:24.220
about them, too?
0:11:24.220,0:11:27.694
Well, if we just had these verses,
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what do we know?
0:11:28.963,0:11:31.457
The Lord says something; what do we know?
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(Team) Wicked.
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(Derek) They were wicked, right.
0:11:34.026,0:11:37.714
So, even if we didn't have any details,
0:11:37.714,0:11:39.692
we would say they were very wicked.
0:11:39.692,0:11:41.390
But, Sabina, I'm going to ask you
0:11:41.390,0:11:42.932
to find another little book;
0:11:42.932,0:11:45.487
it's right there in the Minor Prophets
0:11:45.487,0:11:47.380
after the book of Jonah,
0:11:47.380,0:11:49.942
Micah, and then Nahum.
0:11:49.942,0:11:51.189
Some of these little books
0:11:51.189,0:11:53.628
are hard to find, but Nahum,
0:11:53.628,0:11:57.338
chapter 1 and verse 1,
0:11:57.338,0:11:58.624
and then I'll have you read
0:11:58.624,0:12:00.490
chapter 3, verses 1 to 4.
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We learn a little more about Nineveh.
0:12:06.770,0:12:08.388
(Sabina) Okay, so I'll be reading
0:12:08.388,0:12:10.242
from the New International Version
0:12:10.242,0:12:13.610
and Nahum, verse 1, says:
0:12:20.782,0:12:24.813
And then chapter 3, verses 1 to 4 say:
0:13:03.776,0:13:07.552
(Derek) What do you think about this city?
0:13:07.552,0:13:10.229
One of the excuses that someone might make
0:13:10.229,0:13:13.363
and perhaps one of the motivations
0:13:13.363,0:13:15.706
for Jonah to say, "Let me get a boat
0:13:15.706,0:13:19.321
anywhere in the other direction,"
0:13:19.321,0:13:23.133
is because of...? Fear, right?
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I mean, these were a fearful people,
0:13:25.654,0:13:30.070
but if Jonah had remembered something
0:13:30.070,0:13:32.571
of the Lord's work, it might have
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helped him to find freedom from his fears.
0:13:36.638,0:13:42.673
Let's go back to 2 Kings, chapter 19,
0:13:42.673,0:13:45.150
and, Travis, would you be willing to read
0:13:45.150,0:13:53.572
for us 2 Kings 19, verses 32 to 37?
0:13:53.572,0:13:54.788
Sometimes when we
0:13:54.788,0:13:57.578
are tempted to be afraid,
0:13:57.578,0:14:02.747
we need to remember what God has done.
0:14:02.747,0:14:04.087
(Travis) And I'll be reading
0:14:04.087,0:14:06.065
from the New King James Version:
0:15:20.609,0:15:22.180
(Derek) Some of us are very happy
0:15:22.180,0:15:24.234
that you read that text; there were a lot
0:15:24.234,0:15:27.727
of difficult names there, thank you.
0:15:27.727,0:15:29.840
You can go - and I was
0:15:29.840,0:15:33.211
in Israel just recently - and you can see
0:15:33.211,0:15:37.024
reliefs in museums of devastation
0:15:37.024,0:15:40.898
that the Assyrians brought,[br]even in Israel.
0:15:40.898,0:15:44.603
But, the Lord delivered His people
0:15:44.603,0:15:46.803
there in Jerusalem.
0:15:46.803,0:15:53.231
So, if that memory was there,
0:15:53.231,0:15:57.722
why would the prophet Jonah be so fearful?
0:15:57.722,0:15:59.675
What do you think?
0:15:59.675,0:16:01.975
Leeah, what do you think?
0:16:01.975,0:16:05.625
He knew how God had delivered in the past.
0:16:05.625,0:16:07.451
(Leeah) The Assyrian Kingdom
0:16:07.451,0:16:09.763
continues to resurface, so I think
0:16:09.763,0:16:11.091
there was probably the fear
0:16:11.091,0:16:12.815
that, "Well, why did they come back?
0:16:12.815,0:16:14.537
if God struck them down once,
0:16:14.537,0:16:16.042
why do they keep coming back?"
0:16:16.042,0:16:18.047
There's a lot of fear that comes
0:16:18.047,0:16:19.965
when something kind of "rears
0:16:19.965,0:16:22.753
its ugly head," as we say.
0:16:22.753,0:16:24.178
(Derek) Okay, good point.
0:16:24.178,0:16:25.822
In other words, maybe they're
0:16:25.822,0:16:27.812
coming back for revenge.
0:16:27.812,0:16:30.782
"God delivered us in the past,
0:16:30.782,0:16:32.258
but can we be certain
0:16:32.258,0:16:34.238
that He will deliver again?
0:16:34.238,0:16:37.879
I'm actually going to them now."
0:16:37.879,0:16:39.180
What do you think, Jason?
0:16:39.180,0:16:42.557
(Jason) It can be a combination of fear[br]and also feeling like they don't
0:16:42.557,0:16:44.317
deserve it because they're so wicked.
0:16:44.317,0:16:45.609
(Derek) We're going to come
0:16:45.609,0:16:47.416
to the "don't deserve it" in a minute,
0:16:47.416,0:16:49.018
but the fear thing would be what?
0:16:49.018,0:16:51.590
You've been in the military, right?
0:16:51.590,0:16:54.420
You hear about these people.
0:16:54.420,0:16:58.137
And you won one battle by the Lord.
0:16:58.137,0:17:00.060
(Jason) Yeah, it gets to be overwhelming
0:17:00.060,0:17:01.586
because of the things you heard
0:17:01.586,0:17:04.088
and feeling like, "I can't do this,"
0:17:04.088,0:17:07.052
feeling inadequate, in that sense.
0:17:07.052,0:17:07.765
(Derek) Nancy.
0:17:07.765,0:17:09.621
(Nancy) I would say there is one of him
0:17:09.621,0:17:12.827
against a whole city, but he's forgetting
0:17:12.827,0:17:13.932
that he's with God,
0:17:13.932,0:17:16.218
and with God on our side...
0:17:16.218,0:17:17.684
(Derek) I mean Sabina read
0:17:17.684,0:17:19.610
that description in Nahum; it was
0:17:19.610,0:17:23.614
pretty overwhelming, wasn't it? Travis?
0:17:23.614,0:17:25.002
(Travis) So, I think if we're
0:17:25.002,0:17:26.238
going to be hard on Jonah,
0:17:26.238,0:17:28.228
we're going to have to be hard on Elijah,
0:17:28.228,0:17:31.286
the same who slew all the prophets of Baal
0:17:31.286,0:17:33.245
and then runs from a queen.
0:17:33.245,0:17:36.550
So, we could be hard on Jonah,
0:17:36.550,0:17:38.100
but there are other prophets.
0:17:38.100,0:17:39.597
I mean, Elijah, he was
0:17:39.597,0:17:40.969
quite a prophet of God,
0:17:40.969,0:17:44.279
and he was afraid of Jezebel.
0:17:44.279,0:17:46.013
(Derek) So, maybe there are times...
0:17:46.013,0:17:47.246
I see your hand raised.
0:17:47.246,0:17:48.950
Because that same Elijah
0:17:48.950,0:17:50.276
would stretch his body
0:17:50.276,0:17:51.546
over a lifeless child,
0:17:51.546,0:17:54.328
and he would be raised to life, right?
0:17:54.328,0:17:57.052
And yet, he does run from Jezebel.
0:17:57.052,0:17:59.077
And yet, later God deals with Jezebel.
0:17:59.077,0:18:01.010
I mean, there's nothing
0:18:01.010,0:18:02.607
too hard for God, right?
0:18:02.607,0:18:03.910
But, you're saying one time
0:18:03.910,0:18:04.920
we might feel strong
0:18:04.920,0:18:07.337
and other times overwhelmed by fear?
0:18:07.337,0:18:09.211
(Stephanie) I think the difference is,
0:18:09.211,0:18:11.184
is where I'm placing my eyes -
0:18:11.184,0:18:12.942
on evidence that God exists,
0:18:12.942,0:18:15.143
and He's led me so far,
0:18:15.143,0:18:17.587
or on what I can see presently,
0:18:17.587,0:18:20.963
which can change in an instant
0:18:20.963,0:18:22.025
when God's in it.
0:18:22.025,0:18:23.762
(Derek) I'm remembering a quotation.
0:18:23.762,0:18:25.510
Lots of hands raised, this is great.
0:18:25.510,0:18:27.113
But, I remember, "We have nothing
0:18:27.113,0:18:28.963
to fear for the future
0:18:28.963,0:18:31.149
except as we shall forget
0:18:31.149,0:18:32.449
the way the Lord has led us
0:18:32.449,0:18:34.622
and His teaching in our past history."
0:18:34.622,0:18:37.217
So, maybe in that moment -
0:18:37.217,0:18:43.061
you talk about focus - we shift our focus
0:18:43.061,0:18:44.220
even though the evidence
0:18:44.220,0:18:46.149
is still there, right?
0:18:46.149,0:18:48.044
Now, a couple more, and then I want
0:18:48.044,0:18:50.919
to ask is there...Travis, you said,
0:18:50.919,0:18:52.323
let's not be too hard on him.
0:18:52.323,0:18:55.073
Can you think of a time when fear
0:18:55.073,0:18:56.550
got the best of you
0:18:56.550,0:18:59.101
in a challenging mission assignment? John.
0:18:59.101,0:19:00.557
(John) Going back to the quote
0:19:00.557,0:19:02.619
that you just recited,
0:19:02.619,0:19:04.352
Jonah must have forgotten
0:19:04.352,0:19:05.965
about the stories of how God
0:19:05.965,0:19:08.889
delivered them from the Assyrians.
0:19:08.889,0:19:13.663
And also, Jonah must have
0:19:13.663,0:19:15.504
thought to himself, I mean God did it,
0:19:15.504,0:19:16.739
even if he had remembered
0:19:16.739,0:19:17.619
God did it before,
0:19:17.619,0:19:19.133
would He do that again?
0:19:19.133,0:19:20.783
And at times in our own lives,
0:19:20.783,0:19:22.475
we think like that, "Okay, yes, God
0:19:22.475,0:19:24.121
gave me that victory back then
0:19:24.121,0:19:25.544
in reaching this person,
0:19:25.544,0:19:27.978
but would He do that again?
0:19:27.978,0:19:29.412
And so, those are some reasons
0:19:29.412,0:19:32.034
that could be why Jonah was fearful.
0:19:32.034,0:19:33.730
(Derek) We're going to have to give
0:19:33.730,0:19:35.851
a testimony time, honest time.
0:19:35.851,0:19:37.093
Some of you have been
0:19:37.093,0:19:39.852
in difficult places on mission trips
0:19:39.852,0:19:43.261
or long-term assignments; Sabina, you're
0:19:43.261,0:19:45.742
in a long-term ministry assignment.
0:19:45.742,0:19:47.183
Can anybody think of a time
0:19:47.183,0:19:48.940
when you felt fear
0:19:48.940,0:19:51.286
kind of well up, like, "Whoa!"
0:19:51.286,0:19:55.645
Adison, you're nodding and smiling.
0:19:55.645,0:19:57.456
(Adison) When I was 13 years old,
0:19:57.456,0:19:59.232
so this was way back now,
0:19:59.232,0:20:00.856
I remember sharing with a group
0:20:00.856,0:20:05.736
of about 50 to 60 people from the public
0:20:05.736,0:20:07.553
about the sanctuary message,
0:20:07.553,0:20:12.601
about Exodus 25 and that important topic,
0:20:12.601,0:20:14.132
and it was one of my first times
0:20:14.132,0:20:15.929
I had ever spoken publicly.
0:20:15.929,0:20:18.661
And I remember human emotion
0:20:18.661,0:20:20.299
taking over in that moment,
0:20:20.299,0:20:21.784
and it was like a paralysis.
0:20:21.784,0:20:24.170
I was just paralyzed with fear.
0:20:24.170,0:20:26.899
And, you know, 13 years old,[br]there is still...
0:20:26.899,0:20:30.165
Anyway, I love this story about Jonah;[br]it reminds me of that.
0:20:30.165,0:20:31.274
(Derek) And you weren't
0:20:31.274,0:20:32.818
in Papua New Guinea, you were...
0:20:32.818,0:20:34.113
(Adison) No, I was home.
0:20:34.113,0:20:38.081
Yes, I was on Vancouver Island in Canada.
0:20:38.081,0:20:39.139
(Derek) Sometimes fear
0:20:39.139,0:20:40.911
might come for different reasons,
0:20:40.911,0:20:42.539
but you felt that.
0:20:42.539,0:20:45.327
Anybody else can think of a time? John?
0:20:45.327,0:20:47.188
(John) I'll leave the country unnamed,
0:20:47.188,0:20:48.647
but I was in a certain country
0:20:48.647,0:20:50.677
going door to door
0:20:50.677,0:20:52.190
giving out Christian literature
0:20:52.190,0:20:53.558
and praying with them.
0:20:53.558,0:20:54.745
And soon there were
0:20:54.745,0:20:57.563
some certain other religious extremists
0:20:57.563,0:20:59.420
who came, and they took us
0:20:59.420,0:21:00.943
to the police station.
0:21:00.943,0:21:03.187
And during that time, my friends and I
0:21:03.187,0:21:05.737
were quite fearful as to what was
0:21:05.737,0:21:06.795
going to happen next.
0:21:06.795,0:21:08.885
But, the Lord amazingly delivered
0:21:08.885,0:21:10.236
by sending some other people
0:21:10.236,0:21:11.400
who came to the rescue.
0:21:11.400,0:21:12.647
(Derek) But the fear came?
0:21:12.647,0:21:13.378
(John) Yes.
0:21:13.378,0:21:16.025
(Derek) Sabina, you think of a time.
0:21:16.025,0:21:18.033
(Sabina) Yes, I think that one
0:21:18.033,0:21:20.607
of the times where I felt the most fearful
0:21:20.607,0:21:23.147
was actually when God invited me
0:21:23.147,0:21:28.382
to leave my job, back in the day,
0:21:28.382,0:21:31.033
to go into fulltime ministry.
0:21:31.033,0:21:31.974
And for me, it was
0:21:31.974,0:21:34.167
a very challenging request from God
0:21:34.167,0:21:37.808
because I had lots of uncertainties
0:21:37.808,0:21:39.049
about my future, you know,
0:21:39.049,0:21:40.839
how He would provide for me,
0:21:40.839,0:21:43.038
what ministry would look like for me.
0:21:43.038,0:21:47.452
And it took me maybe about half a year
0:21:47.452,0:21:49.156
to take a step further than He
0:21:49.156,0:21:51.713
had already impressed upon my heart,
0:21:51.713,0:21:53.576
even though I had, like, a strong sense
0:21:53.576,0:21:55.231
of calling since I was a teenager.
0:21:55.231,0:21:57.573
It was at 28 only that I sensed that He
0:21:57.573,0:22:00.496
was directly indicating my next move.
0:22:00.496,0:22:02.903
And for me to respond to this move,
0:22:02.903,0:22:04.035
it took me, as I said,
0:22:04.035,0:22:05.865
more than half a year.
0:22:05.865,0:22:08.209
I asked for some evidence from God,
0:22:08.209,0:22:11.366
and I really had a hard time trusting
0:22:11.366,0:22:12.304
that He was the One
0:22:12.304,0:22:13.491
who was speaking to me.
0:22:13.491,0:22:14.873
So, I eventually responded,
0:22:14.873,0:22:16.945
but I was quite fearful at the time.
0:22:16.945,0:22:17.857
I was quite fearful
0:22:17.857,0:22:19.642
of my family's judgment.
0:22:19.642,0:22:22.352
I was quite fearful of not having enough
0:22:22.352,0:22:24.671
to provide for myself in the future.
0:22:24.671,0:22:25.829
I was quite fearful
0:22:25.829,0:22:28.105
of where all this would end.
0:22:28.105,0:22:29.585
And, you know, I'm thankful;
0:22:29.585,0:22:32.036
now 10 years almost have gone by,
0:22:32.036,0:22:34.288
and God is good.
0:22:34.288,0:22:35.764
(Derek) So, I guess one thing,
0:22:35.764,0:22:37.262
and then we're going to move on
0:22:37.262,0:22:38.073
to another excuse
0:22:38.073,0:22:40.745
after just a moment here.
0:22:40.745,0:22:45.898
We ought to be sympathetic, compassionate
0:22:45.898,0:22:47.393
toward people who may wrestle
0:22:47.393,0:22:49.334
with some fears, because we've
0:22:49.334,0:22:51.644
also wrestled with fears, right?
0:22:51.644,0:22:53.019
So, we're not judging Jonah
0:22:53.019,0:22:54.921
or anyone else, but we're saying
0:22:54.921,0:22:57.106
how do we make it past the fear?
0:22:57.106,0:22:59.250
And that's my final question for us
0:22:59.250,0:23:02.139
before we move to the second excuse.
0:23:02.139,0:23:06.546
Fears will come, right?
0:23:06.546,0:23:08.687
How do I make it past that fear
0:23:08.687,0:23:10.527
if it's clear that God has
0:23:10.527,0:23:11.922
given me a mission?
0:23:11.922,0:23:14.730
God has asked me to do something. Nancy?
0:23:14.730,0:23:16.952
(Nancy) We have to remember
0:23:16.952,0:23:18.429
what we're dealing with,
0:23:18.429,0:23:20.125
the Great Controversy between good
0:23:20.125,0:23:23.372
and evil in the universe is real.
0:23:23.372,0:23:26.147
And so, when we remember what it's about
0:23:26.147,0:23:27.881
and whose side we're on,
0:23:27.881,0:23:29.959
it will give us courage.
0:23:29.959,0:23:35.051
I wanted to mention that one situation
0:23:35.051,0:23:36.540
in which we may feel fearful
0:23:36.540,0:23:39.967
is when we're among peers that have
0:23:39.967,0:23:42.678
the same head knowledge about God
0:23:42.678,0:23:45.282
but perhaps not the same heart knowledge
0:23:45.282,0:23:47.027
and the heart experience.
0:23:47.027,0:23:48.587
And so, we may feel like, "Well,
0:23:48.587,0:23:51.871
it's not cool," maybe, "to stand out
0:23:51.871,0:23:53.575
and be bold for God."
0:23:53.575,0:23:56.435
But when we really understand
0:23:56.435,0:23:58.893
what's happening and what is at stake
0:23:58.893,0:23:59.967
and who's on our side,
0:23:59.967,0:24:02.348
then we will be bold.
0:24:02.348,0:24:03.788
(Derek) I'm going to ask Hope,
0:24:03.788,0:24:05.812
because Hope you're, today,
0:24:05.812,0:24:07.929
the youngest member of our team.
0:24:07.929,0:24:12.694
I know you've done ministry; you've had
0:24:12.694,0:24:15.309
a youth prayer group that you lead,
0:24:15.309,0:24:16.308
were there ever times
0:24:16.308,0:24:17.732
that you felt fearful,
0:24:17.732,0:24:21.368
and if so, how did you make it past that?
0:24:21.368,0:24:22.617
(Hope) One time that comes
0:24:22.617,0:24:25.569
to my mind for sure is when I was
0:24:25.569,0:24:29.519
doing some canvassing, and that is
0:24:29.519,0:24:31.314
selling Christian books door to door.
0:24:31.314,0:24:33.093
And I was in a neighborhood that was
0:24:33.093,0:24:37.772
a little bit lower class, and I remember
0:24:37.772,0:24:39.749
feeling so afraid, and I actually called
0:24:39.749,0:24:42.392
my leader, and I was just like,
0:24:42.392,0:24:44.119
"I can't do this."
0:24:44.119,0:24:46.882
And I remember I just had
0:24:46.882,0:24:49.857
to hold onto the Bible promises,
0:24:49.857,0:24:51.156
and that was the only thing
0:24:51.156,0:24:52.660
that could get me through that.
0:24:52.660,0:24:55.326
And one verse that actually sticks out
0:24:55.326,0:24:59.130
in my mind is Psalm 34:4, and it says,
0:24:59.130,0:25:01.054
"I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
0:25:01.054,0:25:03.789
and delivered me from all my fears."
0:25:03.789,0:25:06.642
And, when we seek God in our fear,
0:25:06.642,0:25:09.495
not waiting until after we've freaked out
0:25:09.495,0:25:11.796
and then coming to Him, but seeking Him
0:25:11.796,0:25:14.078
while we're afraid, I think that's
0:25:14.078,0:25:16.481
something that's really important,
0:25:16.481,0:25:18.293
just keeping that connection with Him,
0:25:18.293,0:25:19.616
because He is the only One
0:25:19.616,0:25:21.430
who can free us from our fears.
0:25:21.430,0:25:22.715
(Derek) Thank you so much.
0:25:22.715,0:25:23.512
Wow, that's one
0:25:23.512,0:25:24.898
of my wife's Scripture songs,
0:25:24.898,0:25:27.308
"I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
0:25:27.308,0:25:28.689
and delivered me."
0:25:28.689,0:25:30.878
So, how do I find freedom from my fears?
0:25:30.878,0:25:34.896
The answer is not by trying harder, right?
0:25:34.896,0:25:37.192
God is the One who can deliver us
0:25:37.192,0:25:38.707
from all our fears. Samuel?
0:25:38.707,0:25:40.234
(Samuel) Here in the Scriptures
0:25:40.234,0:25:41.730
that we read, a couple of times
0:25:41.730,0:25:43.500
the Bible mentions, "He went away
0:25:43.500,0:25:46.507
from the presence of the Lord."
0:25:46.507,0:25:47.930
And when we go away
0:25:47.930,0:25:49.377
from the presence of the Lord,
0:25:49.377,0:25:50.683
that's when fear creeps in.
0:25:50.683,0:25:53.032
But, we must continue to stay
0:25:53.032,0:25:54.333
in the presence of the Lord
0:25:54.333,0:25:55.409
through faith in Him,
0:25:55.409,0:25:57.084
that He who has called us
0:25:57.084,0:25:59.390
will carry us through. for me.
0:25:59.390,0:26:00.442
(Derek) And maybe not
0:26:00.442,0:26:05.154
that fear crept in, but fear was
0:26:05.154,0:26:08.552
increased, right, exponentially increased.
0:26:08.552,0:26:09.894
The fear was there.
0:26:09.894,0:26:12.453
Hope is saying when you feel the fear,
0:26:12.453,0:26:16.136
run to God rather than away from Him;[br]He is the One.
0:26:16.136,0:26:17.731
If we run away, the fear
0:26:17.731,0:26:20.713
just increases, right,
0:26:20.713,0:26:22.580
and becomes overwhelming.
0:26:22.580,0:26:24.032
We've got to move to a second.
0:26:24.032,0:26:25.904
I just want us to know then, if someone
0:26:25.904,0:26:27.279
says, "Well, I've been asked
0:26:27.279,0:26:29.652
to do this, but I'm afraid," that we
0:26:29.652,0:26:31.795
would come with compassion, right?
0:26:31.795,0:26:34.027
And maybe even a testimony,
0:26:34.027,0:26:36.475
like we just heard from Hope.
0:26:36.475,0:26:40.798
You know, "Hey, I felt that it was real.
0:26:40.798,0:26:42.381
I checked with my leader,
0:26:42.381,0:26:44.383
but I also remembered the Word
0:26:44.383,0:26:46.465
that God had hidden in my heart
0:26:46.465,0:26:49.110
in Psalm 34 and verse 4."
0:26:49.110,0:26:52.564
A second excuse that we see or discover
0:26:52.564,0:26:56.971
in the story of Jonah is the idea,
0:26:56.971,0:27:00.490
an excuse that, "God, You're saying
0:27:00.490,0:27:01.755
these people need to hear,
0:27:01.755,0:27:03.488
but I don't think those people
0:27:03.488,0:27:07.781
deserve to hear that good news,"
0:27:07.781,0:27:10.379
whether it's a certain neighborhood
0:27:10.379,0:27:12.856
or a certain country
0:27:12.856,0:27:16.437
or a certain socioeconomic level.
0:27:16.437,0:27:18.660
And by the way, there are people who think
0:27:18.660,0:27:20.724
that the homeless don't deserve it,
0:27:20.724,0:27:22.413
but there are also people who think
0:27:22.413,0:27:24.174
the rich don't deserve it.
0:27:24.174,0:27:26.397
We have all of these different ideas.
0:27:26.397,0:27:28.836
Let's take a look at Jonah
0:27:28.836,0:27:32.077
and see if we can learn something
0:27:32.077,0:27:34.018
about his attitude
0:27:34.018,0:27:37.864
and actually his faulty view of God.
0:27:37.864,0:27:40.237
Jonah, chapter 1, I'd like to go
0:27:40.237,0:27:41.770
back to verse 3, Kylynda,
0:27:41.770,0:27:43.227
if you would read that.
0:27:43.227,0:27:44.610
We heard it at the beginning,
0:27:44.610,0:27:48.677
but what faulty view of God
0:27:48.677,0:27:51.842
do you hear in this text?
0:27:51.842,0:27:54.006
(Kylynda) Verse 3, I'm going to be reading
0:27:54.006,0:27:56.505
from the New King James Version:
0:28:12.926,0:28:14.909
(Derek) So, help me, someone.
0:28:14.909,0:28:16.313
You're smiling, Stephanie.
0:28:16.313,0:28:18.244
What faulty view of God
0:28:18.244,0:28:20.578
is in that narrative?
0:28:20.578,0:28:22.091
(Stephanie) The belief that you
0:28:22.091,0:28:23.906
can go away from God; you can run away
0:28:23.906,0:28:24.936
and He won't see you.
0:28:24.936,0:28:26.854
(Derek) You remember the Psalm of David
0:28:26.854,0:28:30.094
where he says, "Where can I..."?
0:28:30.094,0:28:31.258
"...go from Your Spirit?
0:28:31.258,0:28:33.122
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
0:28:33.122,0:28:34.548
If I ascend to heaven...
0:28:34.548,0:28:37.018
or farthest parts of the sea..."
0:28:37.018,0:28:38.267
So, there is a faulty view
0:28:38.267,0:28:39.505
of God there, isn't there?
0:28:39.505,0:28:41.226
We've got to move to the next verse.
0:28:41.226,0:28:42.736
Leeah, if you would read for us
0:28:42.736,0:28:45.351
in the same chapter, 1, verse 12,
0:28:45.351,0:28:47.864
let's see another faulty view of God.
0:28:47.864,0:28:50.804
Listen carefully, because the faulty view
0:28:50.804,0:28:54.653
of God will distort our idea
0:28:54.653,0:28:56.041
about whether people
0:28:56.041,0:28:59.397
deserve His grace or not.
0:28:59.397,0:29:00.540
(Leeah) I'll be reading
0:29:00.540,0:29:02.211
from the English Standard Version,
0:29:02.211,0:29:04.368
Jonah, chapter 1, verse 12:
0:29:15.359,0:29:20.359
(Derek) What's faulty there?[br]Anybody? Jason?
0:29:20.359,0:29:21.565
(Jason) That God desires,
0:29:21.565,0:29:23.384
like, a sacrifice, like throw himself?
0:29:23.384,0:29:24.673
But, we know the Bible says
0:29:24.673,0:29:26.259
a contrite heart, a broken heart
0:29:26.259,0:29:28.009
is what God wants, not a sacrifice.
0:29:28.009,0:29:29.247
(Derek) Right, so there's
0:29:29.247,0:29:31.019
this distorted view of God
0:29:31.019,0:29:35.535
that somehow, "If you throw me in,
0:29:35.535,0:29:38.048
God will somehow be happy."
0:29:38.048,0:29:39.516
What would bring joy to God
0:29:39.516,0:29:42.455
is to obey the mission assignment, right,
0:29:42.455,0:29:45.002
not to throw him into the sea.
0:29:45.002,0:29:47.174
Well, let's go on to chapter 3
0:29:47.174,0:29:50.600
and verse 4 now, when he finally,
0:29:50.600,0:29:52.025
and you know the story.
0:29:52.025,0:29:53.165
He's thrown overboard.
0:29:53.165,0:29:54.828
God prepares a great fish,
0:29:54.828,0:29:56.528
and I don't know how that happened.
0:29:56.528,0:29:58.270
You say, "That's not normal."
0:29:58.270,0:30:01.161
You're right; that was a miracle.
0:30:01.161,0:30:04.036
"Submarine" catches him,
0:30:04.036,0:30:06.958
an aqua-submarine, and then vomits him
0:30:06.958,0:30:10.129
up on the beach, and God says,
0:30:10.129,0:30:12.948
"I haven't changed my mission plan,
0:30:12.948,0:30:14.760
which is to show My love
0:30:14.760,0:30:16.841
to the people of Nineveh,
0:30:16.841,0:30:18.847
and I want you to go."
0:30:18.847,0:30:24.243
What do you see in chapter 3 and verse 4?
0:30:24.243,0:30:26.532
John, would you read that verse for us?
0:30:26.532,0:30:30.570
Jonah 3 and verse 4,
0:30:30.570,0:30:33.996
and what's missing there?
0:30:33.996,0:30:35.787
(John) Jonah, chapter 3 and verse 4,
0:30:35.787,0:30:38.193
from the English Standard Version:[br]it says:
0:30:49.532,0:30:50.601
(Derek) What's missing
0:30:50.601,0:30:53.145
in this picture, folks? Adison?
0:30:53.145,0:30:57.600
(Adison) Grace, redemption.
0:30:57.600,0:31:00.737
(Derek) Yeah, "Repent," right,
0:31:00.737,0:31:02.712
"for the Kingdom of God," you remember
0:31:02.712,0:31:04.516
what John the Baptist said, right?
0:31:04.516,0:31:07.343
There's both a word of judgment,
0:31:07.343,0:31:08.959
if you will, but also we need
0:31:08.959,0:31:11.756
a word of...? Grace.
0:31:11.756,0:31:15.097
Why doesn't Jonah say, "If you
0:31:15.097,0:31:19.093
don't repent, this will happen in 40 days,
0:31:19.093,0:31:21.235
but if you repent, God is
0:31:21.235,0:31:23.408
abundant in mercy and kindness
0:31:23.408,0:31:26.191
to all those who call upon Him"?
0:31:26.191,0:31:28.942
Why, why doesn't he say that? Samuel?
0:31:28.942,0:31:30.387
(Samuel) I think the excuse is
0:31:30.387,0:31:31.891
he doesn't want them to repent.
0:31:31.891,0:31:33.797
He doesn't want them to be saved.
0:31:33.797,0:31:37.223
He doesn't want them to have salvation.
0:31:37.223,0:31:42.175
(Derek) He has this thought
0:31:42.175,0:31:44.346
that maybe God is more generous
0:31:44.346,0:31:49.922
and more compassionate than he is, right?
0:31:49.922,0:31:51.384
But, you're right, he doesn't
0:31:51.384,0:31:53.400
want them to be saved.
0:31:53.400,0:31:55.213
So, these distorted pictures.
0:31:55.213,0:31:57.930
Well, it gets even worse,
0:31:57.930,0:32:00.912
and I'm going to ask Adison
0:32:00.912,0:32:05.130
if you'd read Jonah 3, verse 10,
0:32:05.130,0:32:10.192
and chapter 4 through verse 4.
0:32:10.192,0:32:14.679
It's kind of startling, because this is
0:32:14.679,0:32:17.815
from a prophet of God.
0:32:17.815,0:32:19.423
Let's see what he says.
0:32:19.423,0:32:20.594
(Adison) And I'm reading
0:32:20.594,0:32:22.683
from the King James Version, verse 10:
0:33:14.111,0:33:15.072
(Derek) This is one
0:33:15.072,0:33:21.445
of the most successful[br]evangelistic meetings
0:33:21.445,0:33:24.677
in the history of the planet.
0:33:24.677,0:33:29.120
It's not a very good sermon, right?
0:33:29.120,0:33:30.643
But the Holy Spirit works,
0:33:30.643,0:33:32.949
which is how any life is changed,
0:33:32.949,0:33:36.947
and a whole city repents!
0:33:36.947,0:33:39.820
And Jonah is what?
0:33:39.820,0:33:41.847
(Team) Exceedingly angry.
0:33:41.847,0:33:49.067
(Derek) Exceedingly angry.
0:33:49.067,0:33:50.989
I'm not going to ask you if you were God
0:33:50.989,0:33:52.587
how you would treat that prophet,
0:33:52.587,0:33:54.435
because fortunately God was
0:33:54.435,0:33:58.421
as merciful and gracious as Jonah thought;
0:33:58.421,0:33:59.818
otherwise, he could have lost
0:33:59.818,0:34:02.727
his life right there. John?
0:34:02.727,0:34:05.339
(John) In some ways, I almost think
0:34:05.339,0:34:07.490
that, yes, God was trying to reach
0:34:07.490,0:34:09.069
the city of Nineveh,
0:34:09.069,0:34:11.983
but in bringing Jonah into this mission,
0:34:11.983,0:34:14.048
He's also trying to reach Jonah
0:34:14.048,0:34:17.663
and to show that mercy and compassion.
0:34:17.663,0:34:22.105
(Derek) So, faulty view of God
0:34:22.105,0:34:30.431
or certainly a faulty view of salvation,
0:34:30.431,0:34:32.343
how could that get in the way for us
0:34:32.343,0:34:34.741
in our mission today? Kylynda?
0:34:34.741,0:34:37.736
(Kylynda) I think we all have biases,
0:34:37.736,0:34:41.253
and it's unavoidable, but sometimes we
0:34:41.253,0:34:44.139
want to project these same biases to God.
0:34:44.139,0:34:46.881
We want God to agree with us
0:34:46.881,0:34:49.858
that some people are better than others,
0:34:49.858,0:34:51.786
or we can treat people in some way
0:34:51.786,0:34:54.483
and treat other people in a different way.
0:34:54.483,0:34:57.517
And we have to learn to say, "God,
0:34:57.517,0:34:58.954
how should I look at the world
0:34:58.954,0:35:00.217
through Your views?"
0:35:00.217,0:35:02.785
whether it's intentional
0:35:02.785,0:35:03.794
in the case of Jonah
0:35:03.794,0:35:06.019
or even unintentionally, "Please save me
0:35:06.019,0:35:08.278
from looking at other people
0:35:08.278,0:35:09.606
through biases that I've
0:35:09.606,0:35:11.578
built up in my life."
0:35:11.578,0:35:12.804
(Derek) Can anybody think
0:35:12.804,0:35:14.412
of someone that you met,
0:35:14.412,0:35:16.716
Sabina, I see your hand there,
0:35:16.716,0:35:18.636
can you think of someone that you met
0:35:18.636,0:35:21.049
that your first impression was,
0:35:21.049,0:35:22.967
"There is no way that God
0:35:22.967,0:35:25.749
could save that person"?
0:35:25.749,0:35:28.727
Think about that. Sabina?
0:35:28.727,0:35:30.227
(Sabina) There have been people
0:35:30.227,0:35:32.579
I've encountered in ministry
0:35:32.579,0:35:35.091
and in life in general that I found
0:35:35.091,0:35:39.478
very rooted in ideas or ways
0:35:39.478,0:35:43.114
that definitely were not pleasing to God,
0:35:43.114,0:35:45.896
but I've personally have not thought
0:35:45.896,0:35:47.452
that they were unworthy.
0:35:47.452,0:35:48.931
But, I have found people
0:35:48.931,0:35:52.084
that have thoughts just as you are saying,
0:35:52.084,0:35:54.973
like their ideas about salvation
0:35:54.973,0:35:56.784
are rooted, not in God's grace,
0:35:56.784,0:35:57.929
but in an understanding
0:35:57.929,0:35:59.371
that maybe through their works
0:35:59.371,0:36:01.293
they are going to achieve salvation,
0:36:01.293,0:36:03.648
and that they, because they believe so,
0:36:03.648,0:36:05.545
don't think they are worthy
0:36:05.545,0:36:07.501
of receiving God's grace.
0:36:07.501,0:36:10.685
So, that's also possible, right,
0:36:10.685,0:36:12.736
not only what we think about other people,
0:36:12.736,0:36:14.661
but what we think about God's salvation
0:36:14.661,0:36:17.896
may hinder us from coming to Jesus, right?
0:36:17.896,0:36:19.826
(Derek) I remember one time I was
0:36:19.826,0:36:23.250
speaking in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro,
0:36:23.250,0:36:24.953
and I was speaking in a church.
0:36:24.953,0:36:26.843
And there was a young man,
0:36:26.843,0:36:29.795
and he was a strong young man.
0:36:29.795,0:36:31.663
He looked like a bodybuilder,
0:36:31.663,0:36:35.186
and he had tattoos over almost all
0:36:35.186,0:36:37.691
of his body that I could see.
0:36:37.691,0:36:40.816
And a first impression would be,
0:36:40.816,0:36:42.838
"Why is he even here?"
0:36:42.838,0:36:44.984
But, as he listened to the Word of God,
0:36:44.984,0:36:49.312
he was leaning forward, focusing,
0:36:49.312,0:36:51.914
and when an invitation was given,
0:36:51.914,0:36:54.594
this young man got up and walked forward!
0:36:54.594,0:36:55.990
(Team) Amen.
0:36:55.990,0:36:58.677
(Derek) But sometimes, as Kylynda said,
0:36:58.677,0:37:00.641
we may have biases.
0:37:00.641,0:37:03.615
We say, "Well, that wealthy businesswoman
0:37:03.615,0:37:05.464
is not going to be interested."
0:37:05.464,0:37:08.104
"That homeless teenager
0:37:08.104,0:37:09.887
is not going to be interested."
0:37:09.887,0:37:11.562
But the question is, rather,
0:37:11.562,0:37:15.582
is God interested in them?! Samuel?
0:37:15.582,0:37:17.650
(Samuel) There are two ways that I think
0:37:17.650,0:37:20.691
faulty views can hinder us from mission.
0:37:20.691,0:37:23.380
One view is that there is this notion
0:37:23.380,0:37:24.647
that God doesn't destroy,
0:37:24.647,0:37:25.462
and that everyone
0:37:25.462,0:37:26.678
will be saved at the end.
0:37:26.678,0:37:28.458
So, if everyone is going to be saved,
0:37:28.458,0:37:29.381
why do I need to go
0:37:29.381,0:37:30.537
and share God's mission?
0:37:30.537,0:37:32.689
On the opposite extreme is this view
0:37:32.689,0:37:35.196
that God has already chosen some
0:37:35.196,0:37:37.347
to be saved and some to be lost.
0:37:37.347,0:37:39.202
So, if God has chosen some to be saved,
0:37:39.202,0:37:40.473
why do I go bother
0:37:40.473,0:37:41.806
and share God's mission?
0:37:41.806,0:37:44.122
So, these are some views
0:37:44.122,0:37:46.269
that exist in the world, very much so,
0:37:46.269,0:37:51.888
faulty views that can hinder[br]from sharing God's mission.
0:37:51.888,0:37:53.759
(Derek) The Word of God challenges that
0:37:53.759,0:37:55.195
when it says, "Today, if you
0:37:55.195,0:37:56.829
hear His voice, don't harden
0:37:56.829,0:37:58.259
your heart," right?
0:37:58.259,0:38:01.417
There is a choice that we make. Jason?
0:38:01.417,0:38:03.124
(Jason) And also, we could tend
0:38:03.124,0:38:04.288
to lean into the point
0:38:04.288,0:38:05.925
of, "It's not my job to do it;
0:38:05.925,0:38:07.575
maybe someone else will come along
0:38:07.575,0:38:09.063
and witness to them," you know,
0:38:09.063,0:38:10.438
and kind of free yourself up
0:38:10.438,0:38:11.938
from trying to do that mission,
0:38:11.938,0:38:14.020
even though God has called you to do it.
0:38:14.020,0:38:15.290
(Derek) We'll come to that
0:38:15.290,0:38:16.972
as another excuse in just a minute.
0:38:16.972,0:38:18.895
That's good; you're moving forward.
0:38:18.895,0:38:22.061
First excuse is...? "I'm afraid."
0:38:22.061,0:38:23.290
And we've all been there,
0:38:23.290,0:38:24.535
and let's be compassionate
0:38:24.535,0:38:25.872
if someone is struggling.
0:38:25.872,0:38:28.020
Second excuse is...?
0:38:28.020,0:38:29.492
"They don't deserve it,"
0:38:29.492,0:38:32.441
because of my faulty view of God.
0:38:32.441,0:38:34.149
Even though in the back of his mind
0:38:34.149,0:38:36.245
he knew better, didn't he?
0:38:36.245,0:38:38.671
But there is a third excuse that I think
0:38:38.671,0:38:42.388
Jonah could definitely have thought about,
0:38:42.388,0:38:44.570
and that is, "That is
0:38:44.570,0:38:47.761
way too difficult for me."
0:38:47.761,0:38:49.710
Someone mentioned, "There's one of me,
0:38:49.710,0:38:51.967
and there's that great city,
0:38:51.967,0:38:53.427
and You're expecting me to go
0:38:53.427,0:38:54.717
into the midst of that city
0:38:54.717,0:38:57.326
that Nahum describes as full of blood,
0:38:57.326,0:38:59.875
corpses stacked up?
0:38:59.875,0:39:01.778
Way too difficult for me."
0:39:01.778,0:39:06.693
Think about a mission assignment
0:39:06.693,0:39:10.694
God may give to you, a difficult one.
0:39:10.694,0:39:13.316
Just imagine it; it may be inner city,
0:39:13.316,0:39:15.256
it may be a foreign country,
0:39:15.256,0:39:17.615
it may be the other side of the world.
0:39:17.615,0:39:20.978
What are some excuses
0:39:20.978,0:39:22.323
that you might come up with?
0:39:22.323,0:39:24.757
I'm going to ask Hope to start with that,
0:39:24.757,0:39:25.895
and God's going to...
0:39:25.895,0:39:27.388
I know, Hope, you're thinking
0:39:27.388,0:39:29.108
about getting some mission training,
0:39:29.108,0:39:30.379
but then God throws you,
0:39:30.379,0:39:34.735
let's say He throws you to Mongolia, okay?
0:39:34.735,0:39:37.999
Mongolia. What are some things
0:39:37.999,0:39:41.207
that might cause you, Hope, to say,
0:39:41.207,0:39:45.338
"That's too difficult for me"?
0:39:45.338,0:39:46.961
(Hope) I don't know the language.
0:39:46.961,0:39:48.780
I don't know the culture.
0:39:48.780,0:39:49.788
I don't know anything
0:39:49.788,0:39:51.995
about any of the people.
0:39:51.995,0:39:53.948
(Derek) Yeah, so I've got two right away.
0:39:53.948,0:39:56.203
I don't speak Mongolian, and I
0:39:56.203,0:39:59.440
don't understand the culture, alright?
0:39:59.440,0:40:01.579
Are those valid concerns?
0:40:01.579,0:40:03.377
(Team) Yes.
0:40:03.377,0:40:05.142
(Derek) Is it too difficult?
0:40:05.142,0:40:06.306
(Stephanie) Not for God.
0:40:06.306,0:40:08.452
(Derek) It depends how I'm looking, right?
0:40:08.452,0:40:10.766
I might have to say, and we've had one
0:40:10.766,0:40:11.681
of our team members
0:40:11.681,0:40:13.871
just recently learn another language.
0:40:13.871,0:40:16.410
I don't even know what it looks like,
0:40:16.410,0:40:18.096
but someone just learned
0:40:18.096,0:40:20.275
the Albanian language, right?
0:40:20.275,0:40:24.043
But, I could say, "That's too difficult
0:40:24.043,0:40:26.649
for me, a language/culture."
0:40:26.649,0:40:29.482
What else might cause me to say,
0:40:29.482,0:40:30.713
"Oh, send somebody else"?
0:40:30.713,0:40:33.023
You said, "Send someone else," right?
0:40:33.023,0:40:35.348
What other...we'd like
0:40:35.348,0:40:37.298
to call them reasons, right,
0:40:37.298,0:40:39.106
but if God's calling us,
0:40:39.106,0:40:41.664
all of His biddings are enabling,
0:40:41.664,0:40:42.894
so He's going to do.
0:40:42.894,0:40:44.855
But from a human perspective,
0:40:44.855,0:40:46.241
what else, John?
0:40:46.241,0:40:48.491
(John) It's not safe for me or my family.
0:40:48.491,0:40:51.450
(Derek) Yes! I mean, sending Hope
0:40:51.450,0:40:55.202
over to Mongolia without bodyguards,
0:40:55.202,0:40:57.420
you know, that's not safe.
0:40:57.420,0:41:00.515
Or, someone, I remember my wife and I
0:41:00.515,0:41:02.450
as a young couple got a call to go
0:41:02.450,0:41:03.965
to a part of the world
0:41:03.965,0:41:07.082
that they called "the white man's grave."
0:41:07.082,0:41:09.669
And I had the fear that I
0:41:09.669,0:41:13.432
would bury children there, right?
0:41:13.432,0:41:14.546
It may not be safe.
0:41:14.546,0:41:17.101
Sabina, you want to respond
0:41:17.101,0:41:18.899
to one of those three,
0:41:18.899,0:41:20.541
or is there something else
0:41:20.541,0:41:23.686
that we might go, "This is too difficult"?
0:41:23.686,0:41:25.657
(Sabina) I'm thinking of something else.
0:41:25.657,0:41:27.098
It relates to what is shared,
0:41:27.098,0:41:28.273
but it's something else,
0:41:28.273,0:41:30.306
like material deprivation, I think, is,
0:41:30.306,0:41:31.936
depending on where you are going,
0:41:31.936,0:41:32.814
how you are going,
0:41:32.814,0:41:34.010
really, you may not have
0:41:34.010,0:41:35.668
the same facilities or amenities
0:41:35.668,0:41:38.219
that you have in your home country, right,
0:41:38.219,0:41:40.114
or even you do, but you are going
0:41:40.114,0:41:42.217
to spend a life with less
0:41:42.217,0:41:44.957
than what you wished.
0:41:44.957,0:41:46.793
(Derek) So, I'm going to ask you
0:41:46.793,0:41:49.766
to share a testimony.
0:41:49.766,0:41:50.731
Travis, you've been
0:41:50.731,0:41:52.587
to a lot of different countries, right,
0:41:52.587,0:41:54.688
and I'm sure there were times
0:41:54.688,0:41:56.410
when some of these...
0:41:56.410,0:41:57.574
We'll call them reasons;
0:41:57.574,0:42:01.321
they become excuses if we what?
0:42:01.321,0:42:02.698
Finish the sentence:
0:42:02.698,0:42:07.713
They become excuses if we...? [br]Don't go, right?
0:42:07.713,0:42:10.173
But they may still be reasons,
0:42:10.173,0:42:11.825
right, is that right?
0:42:11.825,0:42:13.054
Don't know the language,
0:42:13.054,0:42:14.883
don't know the culture; it's not safe,
0:42:14.883,0:42:16.274
so those are reasons,
0:42:16.274,0:42:19.249
but we go anyway if we're focusing
0:42:19.249,0:42:22.480
on the Lord and how He's led in the past.
0:42:22.480,0:42:26.209
Can you think of a time when you go,
0:42:26.209,0:42:32.008
"This is difficult, too hard for me"?
0:42:32.008,0:42:34.699
(Travis) Well, Derek, it's interesting
0:42:34.699,0:42:37.143
you ask the question, because, as we're
0:42:37.143,0:42:38.428
going through this study,
0:42:38.428,0:42:40.701
I'm struggling internally,
0:42:40.701,0:42:42.050
because I've just been asked
0:42:42.050,0:42:46.968
to take on an orphanage in Bangladesh.
0:42:46.968,0:42:49.325
And I'm like, "Lord, I have
0:42:49.325,0:42:50.852
way too much going on
0:42:50.852,0:42:52.020
with other orphanages
0:42:52.020,0:42:53.070
and different things."
0:42:53.070,0:42:54.422
Like, I can't handle it.
0:42:54.422,0:42:55.686
(Derek) You shared with us
0:42:55.686,0:42:57.629
in a previous study that you
0:42:57.629,0:42:59.242
actually helped launch
0:42:59.242,0:43:02.330
a new orphanage in Malawi, right?
0:43:02.330,0:43:05.353
Started there, putting roofs on churches,
0:43:05.353,0:43:06.698
because your background
0:43:06.698,0:43:09.964
is in construction.
0:43:09.964,0:43:11.027
But your background
0:43:11.027,0:43:13.852
wasn't in running orphanages, right?
0:43:13.852,0:43:16.566
So, now here this...
0:43:16.566,0:43:18.216
What do you know about Bangladesh?
0:43:18.216,0:43:19.708
(Travis) I don't know anything
0:43:19.708,0:43:21.657
about Bangladesh; I don't know anything.
0:43:21.657,0:43:23.332
I started looking up the tickets,
0:43:23.332,0:43:24.636
and my wife says, "You have
0:43:24.636,0:43:26.127
so much going on!
0:43:26.127,0:43:27.972
Can you really handle this?"
0:43:27.972,0:43:29.603
And so, now I'm thinking, as we're
0:43:29.603,0:43:30.803
going through this study,
0:43:30.803,0:43:34.092
you know, I think about Martha
0:43:34.092,0:43:35.835
being distracted with much serving.
0:43:35.835,0:43:39.101
Is there a balance, because I
0:43:39.101,0:43:40.495
certainly would want to help
0:43:40.495,0:43:42.291
the orphanage in Bangladesh,
0:43:42.291,0:43:43.328
but at the same time,
0:43:43.328,0:43:45.821
can you have too much?
0:43:45.821,0:43:47.731
And that's what I'm struggling with now.
0:43:47.731,0:43:49.256
(Derek) What's the big question?
0:43:49.256,0:43:51.025
This is real, right? It's right now.
0:43:51.025,0:43:53.042
He's thinking about it during this study.
0:43:53.042,0:43:55.849
What is the big question I ask
0:43:55.849,0:43:58.480
when someone says, "I'd like you
0:43:58.480,0:44:01.000
to come and do this"?
0:44:01.000,0:44:02.313
What do you think?
0:44:02.313,0:44:03.760
(Kylynda) Has the Holy Spirit
0:44:03.760,0:44:05.106
called me to go?"
0:44:05.106,0:44:07.775
I think it's very hard,
0:44:07.775,0:44:08.840
because as I mentioned
0:44:08.840,0:44:10.038
we have internal biases,
0:44:10.038,0:44:11.918
but we also have internal thoughts
0:44:11.918,0:44:14.080
about what God might be saying.
0:44:14.080,0:44:18.046
It's really difficult to wisely discern
0:44:18.046,0:44:18.888
the voice of God.
0:44:18.888,0:44:20.753
You need prayer, you need Scripture,
0:44:20.753,0:44:22.047
and you need conversation
0:44:22.047,0:44:24.795
with other people that can help guide you.
0:44:24.795,0:44:26.387
(Derek) There's a lot of counsel
0:44:26.387,0:44:27.620
right there, isn't there?
0:44:27.620,0:44:29.940
Because, sometimes we might even have
0:44:29.940,0:44:31.599
like delusions of grandeur,
0:44:31.599,0:44:35.653
that I'm like the savior of the world.
0:44:35.653,0:44:39.642
And what I'm hearing Kylynda say is,
0:44:39.642,0:44:41.957
"Is this something the Holy Spirit
0:44:41.957,0:44:43.779
is impressing me to do?
0:44:43.779,0:44:46.351
Or, do I join with them in prayer
0:44:46.351,0:44:47.807
that God would bring someone
0:44:47.807,0:44:50.373
just as he brought someone to Malawi?"
0:44:50.373,0:44:52.766
Does that make sense?
0:44:52.766,0:44:54.082
Now, is it possible
0:44:54.082,0:44:56.848
God's asking Travis to do that?
0:44:56.848,0:45:00.002
(Team) Yes.
0:45:00.002,0:45:02.753
(Derek) But we don't know for sure, do we?
0:45:02.753,0:45:03.659
We have to listen.
0:45:03.659,0:45:07.832
Sabina, what are you thinking?
0:45:07.832,0:45:09.927
(Sabina) I believe that, in just going
0:45:09.927,0:45:12.601
with what Travis was sharing,
0:45:12.601,0:45:14.588
there needs to be an inner conviction
0:45:14.588,0:45:16.079
that comes from God
0:45:16.079,0:45:18.421
so that we can move forward.
0:45:18.421,0:45:20.539
But then, as we put the story of Jonah
0:45:20.539,0:45:21.975
in perspective, one could say,
0:45:21.975,0:45:23.977
"Oh, but Jonah was not convicted."
0:45:23.977,0:45:25.282
So, I would say there needs
0:45:25.282,0:45:27.312
to be an inner conviction based also
0:45:27.312,0:45:29.178
on what the Scripture is teaching.
0:45:29.178,0:45:30.854
So, if your reasons
0:45:30.854,0:45:32.683
for not being convicted are
0:45:32.683,0:45:35.590
going against Scripture's wisdom,
0:45:35.590,0:45:37.967
then maybe you should follow
0:45:37.967,0:45:40.986
Scripture's wisdom and respond to God.
0:45:40.986,0:45:43.737
But, maybe if the reasons that you are
0:45:43.737,0:45:45.376
not having that inner conviction
0:45:45.376,0:45:47.251
are aligned also with God's Word,
0:45:47.251,0:45:48.491
just as Travis was saying,
0:45:48.491,0:45:51.401
like, "Maybe I have too much on my plate.
0:45:51.401,0:45:53.431
Do I have enough resources now?
0:45:53.431,0:45:55.402
Am I the right person to do that?"
0:45:55.402,0:45:57.193
So, those are all valid questions
0:45:57.193,0:45:59.906
that we don't want to ignore as well.
0:45:59.906,0:46:00.894
(Derek) We've looked
0:46:00.894,0:46:01.994
at three main excuses,
0:46:01.994,0:46:03.717
and then Jason added a fourth one,
0:46:03.717,0:46:05.256
which I actually wrote down
0:46:05.256,0:46:08.776
as another excuse, but, fear.
0:46:08.776,0:46:12.069
And fear is real; there can be real things
0:46:12.069,0:46:16.620
not just imaginary fear, right, real fear.
0:46:16.620,0:46:18.926
"They don't deserve this," but that
0:46:18.926,0:46:20.864
really comes from a faulty view of God,
0:46:20.864,0:46:22.613
because from God's persepective,
0:46:22.613,0:46:24.772
how many people deserve salvation?
0:46:24.772,0:46:26.406
(Derek, Team) Everyone.
0:46:26.406,0:46:27.711
(Derek) Why are you saying
0:46:27.711,0:46:28.960
they don't deserve it?
0:46:28.960,0:46:31.293
"It's too difficult," that's real.
0:46:31.293,0:46:33.257
I look, I go, "I don't know the language,
0:46:33.257,0:46:37.112
the culture; it's not safe."
0:46:37.112,0:46:38.716
Another one Jason mentioned,
0:46:38.716,0:46:42.450
"Someone else could do it better."
0:46:42.450,0:46:45.461
Have you ever felt that way? Samuel?
0:46:45.461,0:46:47.905
(Samuel) Another excuse I think of,
0:46:47.905,0:46:50.042
particularly here in the story of Jonah,
0:46:50.042,0:46:53.000
is that Jonah was a Jew,
0:46:53.000,0:46:56.684
and the people of Nineveh were Gentiles.
0:46:56.684,0:46:58.874
And so, there is that racial tension,
0:46:58.874,0:47:01.619
which can often hinder us
0:47:01.619,0:47:03.696
from going into missions.
0:47:03.696,0:47:06.262
(Derek) And by the way, those Gentiles,
0:47:06.262,0:47:07.877
as you called them, from Assyria,
0:47:07.877,0:47:09.992
killed a lot of Jewish people.
0:47:09.992,0:47:12.578
They came and slaughtered and destroyed
0:47:12.578,0:47:16.899
a lot of cities, but that's
0:47:16.899,0:47:19.101
an interesting bias to this
0:47:19.101,0:47:20.558
that says, "I don't want them
0:47:20.558,0:47:23.664
to be saved," right?
0:47:23.664,0:47:25.243
As you've listened to the study,
0:47:25.243,0:47:26.487
and I'm going to start
0:47:26.487,0:47:27.997
with some of our remotes;
0:47:27.997,0:47:29.203
Leeah, I'm going to start
0:47:29.203,0:47:30.358
with you if that's okay.
0:47:30.358,0:47:32.925
I don't know the answer to the question,
0:47:32.925,0:47:36.269
but as you hear this story of Jonah,
0:47:36.269,0:47:39.454
we've looked at three or four excuses,
0:47:39.454,0:47:41.525
what do you feel in your heart
0:47:41.525,0:47:43.263
(and I'll give the rest of the team
0:47:43.263,0:47:45.647
time to share) is an excuse
0:47:45.647,0:47:48.373
that you might easily grab onto
0:47:48.373,0:47:50.169
that you need to just give to God?
0:47:50.169,0:47:51.238
Say, "God, I just need
0:47:51.238,0:47:53.327
to give that to You, because I do want
0:47:53.327,0:47:54.684
to join You in Your mission,
0:47:54.684,0:47:57.499
whatever that looks like."
0:47:57.499,0:47:59.055
(Leeah) In anything that God
0:47:59.055,0:48:00.755
has called me to in my life,
0:48:00.755,0:48:03.445
I have felt quite a measurable amount
0:48:03.445,0:48:08.632
of fear, and fear mainly for the unknown.
0:48:08.632,0:48:10.769
Like, we named so many reasons,
0:48:10.769,0:48:13.135
maybe I don't feel like I can afford it,
0:48:13.135,0:48:14.802
or I don't understand the culture,
0:48:14.802,0:48:17.403
or I don't understand the language.
0:48:17.403,0:48:19.396
But, all of these things can be denounced
0:48:19.396,0:48:21.756
when we go to God and when we say,
0:48:21.756,0:48:22.885
"This is my fear."
0:48:22.885,0:48:24.211
God understands that we're
0:48:24.211,0:48:25.483
going to have fear, and He
0:48:25.483,0:48:26.693
probably expects it, too,
0:48:26.693,0:48:29.365
because He knows that we're human.
0:48:29.365,0:48:30.908
But, like somebody said earlier,
0:48:30.908,0:48:32.812
I think in instances where He knows
0:48:32.812,0:48:34.970
we're going to be afraid, or like Jonah,
0:48:34.970,0:48:37.550
when He knows that we're going to resist,
0:48:37.550,0:48:40.129
maybe that call to mission is more for us
0:48:40.129,0:48:42.053
and for our heart change than it is
0:48:42.053,0:48:43.294
for the people that we're
0:48:43.294,0:48:45.555
actually going to witness to.
0:48:45.555,0:48:47.897
(Derek) Alright, so, just letting go[br]of that fear.
0:48:47.897,0:48:50.313
By the way, I received some healing
0:48:50.313,0:48:52.195
a few years ago where God
0:48:52.195,0:48:54.417
directly said to me, "Derek, I want
0:48:54.417,0:48:57.147
to deliver you from all your fears."
0:48:57.147,0:48:59.685
And I was anointed that day, by the way,
0:48:59.685,0:49:02.115
because I grew up with a lot of fears,
0:49:02.115,0:49:03.132
and some of them were
0:49:03.132,0:49:07.032
from my family of origin, a lot of fears.
0:49:07.032,0:49:09.051
So, I can relate to that.
0:49:09.051,0:49:11.613
Let's show some kindness to Jonah, right?
0:49:11.613,0:49:13.960
Anybody else, as you've looked
0:49:13.960,0:49:16.540
at this study, something you just feel...
0:49:16.540,0:49:18.727
Kylynda, is it the same or something else?
0:49:18.727,0:49:19.692
You just say, "God,
0:49:19.692,0:49:21.002
I want to give that to You.
0:49:21.002,0:49:24.558
I could easily grab onto that
0:49:24.558,0:49:26.320
and make it a reason when actually it
0:49:26.320,0:49:28.477
could be an excuse holding me back."
0:49:28.477,0:49:30.528
(Kylynda) Well briefly, several years ago,
0:49:30.528,0:49:32.746
I had the opportunity to work in a lab
0:49:32.746,0:49:34.373
in a different country.
0:49:34.373,0:49:36.788
So, I'm a scientist; it's my first day,
0:49:36.788,0:49:37.972
and I'm eating lunch
0:49:37.972,0:49:39.741
with my new colleagues, and they say,
0:49:39.741,0:49:41.679
"Well, what are you doing this weekend?"
0:49:41.679,0:49:44.692
And I thought, "Oh, you know,
0:49:44.692,0:49:46.761
maybe I shouldn't mention going to church
0:49:46.761,0:49:49.553
or Sabbath," because in science
0:49:49.553,0:49:51.186
it could be perceived that someone
0:49:51.186,0:49:52.129
who embraces faith
0:49:52.129,0:49:53.950
is not intelligent
0:49:53.950,0:49:56.206
or they're intolerant or bigoted,
0:49:56.206,0:49:58.161
or, you know, maybe it's not appropriate
0:49:58.161,0:50:00.645
in this culture to discuss religion,
0:50:00.645,0:50:02.150
so I said, "Nothing."
0:50:02.150,0:50:04.179
And then someone else came to the table,
0:50:04.179,0:50:05.879
another scientist, sat down,
0:50:05.879,0:50:07.978
not of my faith, and started
0:50:07.978,0:50:09.628
to pray for his food.
0:50:09.628,0:50:11.833
Everyone at the table went silent
0:50:11.833,0:50:13.459
until he finished, and then we all
0:50:13.459,0:50:14.922
started talking again.
0:50:14.922,0:50:17.794
And I think it was like a personal rebuke
0:50:17.794,0:50:19.901
to me because it wasn't
0:50:19.901,0:50:21.676
quite the same shade of fear.
0:50:21.676,0:50:22.916
I wasn't afraid that they
0:50:22.916,0:50:25.894
would hurt me or say things,
0:50:25.894,0:50:29.758
but pride and apathy, they play a role
0:50:29.758,0:50:32.325
in how people might perceive me.
0:50:32.325,0:50:36.005
And I want to ask God's forgiveness
0:50:36.005,0:50:37.664
and grace to say, "What do You
0:50:37.664,0:50:39.373
want me to do, and can I be open
0:50:39.373,0:50:41.632
to do that no matter the circumstance."
0:50:41.632,0:50:44.311
(Derek) And, we need to recognize
0:50:44.311,0:50:45.492
that there is a time
0:50:45.492,0:50:47.073
and place to share more.
0:50:47.073,0:50:48.939
Even Jesus said, "There are some things
0:50:48.939,0:50:50.052
I would share with you,
0:50:50.052,0:50:51.963
but you cannot bear them now."
0:50:51.963,0:50:52.901
So, we don't have
0:50:52.901,0:50:54.383
to share everything right away,
0:50:54.383,0:50:56.587
but you were feeling there,
0:50:56.587,0:50:57.840
you used the word rebuke,
0:50:57.840,0:51:00.301
or at least a loving reminder
0:51:00.301,0:51:02.792
from the Holy Spirit, "When I ask you
0:51:02.792,0:51:05.391
to do something, don't be afraid," right,
0:51:05.391,0:51:08.023
"Don't let that hold you back." Nancy.
0:51:08.023,0:51:09.391
(Nancy) Derek, I'd also like
0:51:09.391,0:51:11.150
to mention comfort.
0:51:11.150,0:51:12.151
Some of us don't want
0:51:12.151,0:51:13.811
to go off somewhere else
0:51:13.811,0:51:15.633
because we're comfortable.
0:51:15.633,0:51:18.744
We know God, we're happy in our church,
0:51:18.744,0:51:23.832
and maybe going off to another country
0:51:23.832,0:51:26.025
with our families, and the grandparents
0:51:26.025,0:51:28.350
won't get to be with the children,
0:51:28.350,0:51:29.907
you know, things like that.
0:51:29.907,0:51:33.084
But, Jesus says, if you can remind me
0:51:33.084,0:51:39.955
of where in Scripture, that sometimes we[br]are called to leave...
0:51:39.955,0:51:41.220
(Derek) Father and mother?
0:51:41.220,0:51:42.887
(Nancy) Yes, yes, and, "Great
0:51:42.887,0:51:44.504
will be our reward."
0:51:44.504,0:51:47.842
And so, yeah, I wanted to mention comfort.
0:51:47.842,0:51:49.615
(Derek) Comfort, right, because there
0:51:49.615,0:51:51.064
may be bedbugs there or snakes
0:51:51.064,0:51:52.970
that I don't like, or people
0:51:52.970,0:51:53.882
that I don't like.
0:51:53.882,0:51:55.211
There are lots of reasons.
0:51:55.211,0:51:56.923
We need to move to Isaiah,
0:51:56.923,0:51:58.176
and I'll give you a chance
0:51:58.176,0:51:59.323
to share at the end,
0:51:59.323,0:52:02.009
because Isaiah finds
0:52:02.009,0:52:04.437
his way past all excuses.
0:52:04.437,0:52:07.456
And, I think there's a clue,
0:52:07.456,0:52:09.380
and, Stephanie, if you could read for us
0:52:09.380,0:52:12.577
in the book that bears the prophet's name,
0:52:12.577,0:52:16.925
in Isaiah, chapter 6, verses 1 through 7,
0:52:16.925,0:52:21.293
I think there's a clue in this passage
0:52:21.293,0:52:25.256
as to how he abandons all excuses,
0:52:25.256,0:52:28.497
because verse 8 is a verse we'll read
0:52:28.497,0:52:30.464
after you've read 1 through 7.
0:52:30.464,0:52:32.406
(Stephanie) Alright, and I'll be reading
0:52:32.406,0:52:34.045
from the New King James Version:
0:53:57.342,0:53:59.974
(Derek) Now the first half of verse 8.
0:54:08.670,0:54:10.469
(Derek) So, there are lots of excuses
0:54:10.469,0:54:11.908
because he's going to be given
0:54:11.908,0:54:14.122
a difficult assignment,
0:54:14.122,0:54:16.854
but the second half of verse 8,
0:54:16.854,0:54:21.355
how does he respond?
0:54:28.829,0:54:33.098
(Derek) Whew! What was it
0:54:33.098,0:54:35.980
in the first seven verses?
0:54:35.980,0:54:37.761
There's something there, isn't there?
0:54:37.761,0:54:39.887
It makes sense from all the things
0:54:39.887,0:54:42.079
we've been studying.
0:54:42.079,0:54:45.845
What was it in the first seven verses
0:54:45.845,0:54:48.829
that gave him the courage
0:54:48.829,0:54:51.301
to abandon all excuses,
0:54:51.301,0:54:55.016
call them reasons, and say,
0:54:55.016,0:54:58.192
"Here am I, send me"? Adison?
0:54:58.192,0:55:01.754
(Adison) He had an experience with God.
0:55:01.754,0:55:03.233
He saw the glory of the Lord,
0:55:03.233,0:55:04.474
the character of God,
0:55:04.474,0:55:07.483
and that changed him
0:55:07.483,0:55:10.280
and moved upon his heart to say,
0:55:10.280,0:55:13.102
"Here I am, Lord, I want to serve You.
0:55:13.102,0:55:14.478
You are beautiful, amazing."
0:55:14.478,0:55:15.715
(Derek) That's one thing.
0:55:15.715,0:55:16.888
Stay with us now.
0:55:16.888,0:55:18.279
He saw the glory of the Lord.
0:55:18.279,0:55:19.292
He had a revelation
0:55:19.292,0:55:20.967
of the glory of the Lord.
0:55:20.967,0:55:22.313
What else? Samuel?
0:55:22.313,0:55:23.586
(Samuel) I think the verse
0:55:23.586,0:55:25.065
also talks about how your guilt
0:55:25.065,0:55:26.950
is taken away, and your sin atoned for.
0:55:26.950,0:55:28.128
(Derek) So something was
0:55:28.128,0:55:31.699
happening to him spiritually. What else?
0:55:31.699,0:55:33.605
(Nancy) Perspective.
0:55:33.605,0:55:35.129
(Derek) There was something else
0:55:35.129,0:55:36.568
really big that happened there
0:55:36.568,0:55:37.386
in those verses.
0:55:37.386,0:55:39.040
What was it? Yes, Kylynda?
0:55:39.040,0:55:40.252
(Kylynda) He was touched
0:55:40.252,0:55:42.626
by the fire from the altar.
0:55:42.626,0:55:45.406
(Derek) Something supernatural happens
0:55:45.406,0:55:49.002
when we abandon all of our excuses,
0:55:49.002,0:55:50.337
and it comes in the context
0:55:50.337,0:55:51.499
of that encounter
0:55:51.499,0:55:53.733
with the living God, right,
0:55:53.733,0:55:56.847
and the freedom from all of the shame
0:55:56.847,0:55:59.565
and guilt and sin and all of that.
0:55:59.565,0:56:01.678
Something supernatural happens
0:56:01.678,0:56:06.141
that enables us to say....Stephanie?
0:56:06.141,0:56:08.205
(Stephanie) Yes, he recognized who he was
0:56:08.205,0:56:09.841
in the presence of God.
0:56:09.841,0:56:14.445
He understood that he was a human being,
0:56:14.445,0:56:15.709
and he was in the presence
0:56:15.709,0:56:18.053
of the Almighty King.
0:56:18.053,0:56:20.314
(Derek) So, someone's watching today,
0:56:20.314,0:56:25.282
and you're saying, "I want to be the woman
0:56:25.282,0:56:26.518
of God/man of God,
0:56:26.518,0:56:28.464
join God in His mission,
0:56:28.464,0:56:31.955
but I've been...Honestly I
0:56:31.955,0:56:32.912
called them reasons,
0:56:32.912,0:56:34.604
but maybe they're excuses.
0:56:34.604,0:56:38.392
I need a revelation of the glory of God,
0:56:38.392,0:56:40.942
and I need something supernatural
0:56:40.942,0:56:42.632
to happen in me."
0:56:42.632,0:56:46.441
Is God able to do that?
0:56:46.441,0:56:47.943
I hope you're raising your hand
0:56:47.943,0:56:50.628
and saying, "Yes," because He is!
0:56:50.628,0:56:51.974
And He's done it;
0:56:51.974,0:56:53.490
it's recorded in Scripture.
0:56:53.490,0:56:56.033
People, I'm sure Mary, when she was told,
0:56:56.033,0:56:57.812
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,"
0:56:57.812,0:56:59.201
she had to wrestle with fear,
0:56:59.201,0:57:01.164
"This is too difficult,"
0:57:01.164,0:57:04.601
but surrendering and trusting a loving God
0:57:04.601,0:57:08.553
to say, "God, here am I, send me."
0:57:08.553,0:57:11.509
Is that your prayer today?
0:57:11.509,0:57:14.004
I want to pray for you just now.
0:57:14.004,0:57:18.736
Father in Heaven, we didn't just come
0:57:18.736,0:57:21.787
to study today to rebuke people
0:57:21.787,0:57:23.169
for making excuses.
0:57:23.169,0:57:27.140
We came so we could see how easy it is
0:57:27.140,0:57:30.770
to have reasons not to go.
0:57:30.770,0:57:31.659
But, we've learned
0:57:31.659,0:57:32.967
that an encounter with You,
0:57:32.967,0:57:36.258
that, yes, Your supernatural blessing can
0:57:36.258,0:57:39.887
enable us to do whatever You ask us to do.
0:57:39.887,0:57:41.365
Today, we just want to say,
0:57:41.365,0:57:43.282
whatever that looks like in the mission,
0:57:43.282,0:57:45.664
Lord, we're available.
0:57:45.664,0:57:48.639
Here we are, please send us.
0:57:48.639,0:57:49.850
And when we see miracles,
0:57:49.850,0:57:51.523
we will give You all of the praise.
0:57:51.523,0:57:54.441
In Jesus' name. Amen.
0:57:54.441,0:57:56.875
Well, thanks for joining us[br]for Hope Sabbath School.
0:57:56.875,0:57:58.442
Go out and be a blessing
0:57:58.442,0:58:00.041
to those around you.
0:58:00.041,0:58:28.635
♪ theme music ♪