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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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I'm glad you joined us today;
we are enjoying
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a very practical series of studies,
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Ministering to "the Least of These":
People in Need,
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and our topic today:
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Living the Advent Hope.
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What does it mean to live the Gospel
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in these last days of Earth's history?
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I'm excited about the topic,
and I'm excited
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because one of our team, Stephanie,
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is going to be teaching today,
great topic.
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We've got a great team here to share,
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and you're with us, too.
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And we always love to hear
interactions from you.
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I'm excited when people write and say,
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"Here's my response to the question
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that Stephanie asked."
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You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org.
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We're glad you're part
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of our international Hope Sabbath School
family.
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And we want to thank you
for writing to us.
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Here are just a few notes.
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Tomson writes from Zambia and says,
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"I watch Hope TV, and I enjoy
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Hope Sabbath School.
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Thank you, dear brothers
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and sisters in Christ.
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May the God, the Holy Spirit,
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continue to be with us
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until the day Jesus comes." Amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) You know, we've got
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lots of Hope Sabbath School members
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there in Zambia, and I want to thank you
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for being part of our team.
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You know, I had to write to this lady;
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her name is Het (H-E-T), Het Jane.
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She's from Brazil, and I had
to write and say,
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"Is that how your name is spelled,
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and how do I say it?" and it's Het.
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And Het writes and says, "We have
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an English Sabbath School class here
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at Sao Paulo Adventist University.
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Since I have decided to help the class
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as one of the teachers,
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I started to search
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the internet for some material
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and comments about Bible study,
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and I found Hope Sabbath School!"
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) We're glad, Het,
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that you did find Hope Sabbath School.
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She says, "It's been quite helpful to me,
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and every week I look forward
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to watch new episodes,
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not only for the task
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of leading the class,
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but for my own encouragement
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and spiritual enrichment.
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May God bless you all."
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Well, Het, we're just glad that you're
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leading an in-depth, interactive class
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there at a university
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in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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God bless you and those
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who study with you.
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Here's a hand-written note
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from a donor in California,
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"Dear Pastor, thank you
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for Hope Sabbath School.
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It's been a blessing to me.
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I found Hope Channel
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on DirecTV, channel 368,
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when I was hopeless and looking
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for someone to study the Bible with me."
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(Team) Wow. Amen.
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(Derek) "Love you; you are my family.
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God bless you all,"
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and a donation of 25 dollars.
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We are glad, California Donor,
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that you're part of our family. Amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) We've learned
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we've all got one Father and one God
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who's the Creator of all.
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And we really believe
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in a study of the Word of God,
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because it points us
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to our loving Creator God and Savior.
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Marek writes to us from Poland
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and says, "I welcome you,
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brothers and sisters in Christ.
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I've not heard about a school
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like Hope Sabbath School before.
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I'm inquiring, and the Lord has led me
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to know more about the Bible with you."
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) "Every quoted verse
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brings me closer to revealing
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the personality of Christ
and God Himself."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "Please pray
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for the successful completion
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of a house of prayer in my city.
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I'm praying for a blessing
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for the Bible classes
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that you are conducting.
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And you are welcome to Poland;
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it's a beautiful country."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "God bless you, Marek."
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Well, Marek, we're just glad you're part
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of our Hope Sabbath School family,
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and if we're ever in Poland...I know
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there are probably 10,000 Mareks there,
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but we're glad that you are part
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of our Hope Sabbath School family.
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Thanks for writing to us.
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One last note, from Joe in Kenya,
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and Joe writes (we've got
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some Kenyans on our team),
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"May the Good Lord be with you.
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As I write, I'm filled with joy
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to share messages of love with you all.
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I feel the love of our King Jesus
around all of us.
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You see, my spiritual journey
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has mainly been through the internet."
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There are a lot of bad things
on the internet,
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but we need to have
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the Good Word there, too, right?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "I am a living testimony
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of how Christ delivers."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "And as I sing along
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with every Bible study,
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I have joy in my heart.
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Praise be to God, for as of now,
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even on my spiritual journey,
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I've become a deacon in my church."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "Last Christmas I shared
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a Bible study with my father
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and taught him the facts about the Bible.
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At first, he saw me as his son
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who could not teach him anything,
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but through Christ, he was amazed."
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(Team) Amen. Wow.
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(Derek) You know, I just want to thank you
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for writing to us.
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These are beautiful testimonies,
aren't they?
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"My dad still doesn't understand
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how it all came about
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to happen to me,
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but slowly, through Jesus,
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I'm going to teach him the Word of God."
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) "Shalom, and God bless
all of you. Joe."
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(Derek) Well, Joe, you are
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a miracle in progress,
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as are each one of us;
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we're all a miracle in progress.
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And as we prepare for the soon coming
of Jesus,
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we want to study today
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what it means to live the Advent hope,
and I'm excited.
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But before Stephanie prays
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and leads us in the study,
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we're going to sing our theme song.
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It's become one of my favorite
Scripture songs
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from 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 5 and 16,
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"Now may the Lord direct your hearts
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into the love of God."
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Let's sing it together.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) What a beautiful promise,
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even as we study today
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about Living the Advent Hope.
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(Stephanie) All right, let's pray
as we study.
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Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank You
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so much for the opportunity
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to study Your Word and to read
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the hope that we have in You.
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Teach us today; in Jesus' name. Amen.
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(Derek, Team) Amen.
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(Stephanie) So our study today
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is about the Advent hope.
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If you were going to define Advent hope,
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how would you define that? Travis.
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(Travis) I would define it
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as the Second Coming or the hope
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of the Second Coming of Jesus.
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(Stephanie) The hope of the Second Coming
of Jesus.
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So let me ask you this:
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How would you define hope? Jason.
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(Jason) If I could read a Scripture,
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would that be okay, to define it?
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(Stephanie) Sure, which Scripture
were you thinking?
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(Jason) Romans, the eighth chapter,
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and twenty-fourth verse.
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(Stephanie) Romans, chapter 8, verse 24.
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Let's see, Romans, chapter 8, verse 24,
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and this is going to define
what hope is. Okay.
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(Jason) And I'll be reading
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from the New King James Version,
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and the Bible says:
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(Stephanie) All right,
so hope is something
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that we haven't seen yet, right?
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Because if we've seen it,
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it's no longer hope.
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All right. Jason.
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(Jason) The word that comes to mind
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is an expectation,
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and in this context particularly,
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of something you're looking forward to.
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(Stephanie) Something that you're
looking forward to.
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So I have this question for you, then:
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Who needs a hope?
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Who needs the Advent hope?
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(Team) Everyone. All of us.
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(Stephanie) Everyone does, that's right.
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So, when you're ministering to someone,
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could we say that we could
minister to everyone
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by giving them the hope of the Advent,
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of the Second Coming? Yes, Travis.
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(Travis) I think that you
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really can't have hope
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unless you have a promise.
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(Stephanie) Unless you have a promise.
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Okay, so unpack that.
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(Travis) If someone's promised
me something,
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I have hope in receiving that.
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And the hope that we look for
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comes from promises that we're given
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from the Scriptures.
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(Stephanie) That's right; you're
absolutely right.
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(Derek) Good point.
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(Stephanie) Nicole.
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(Nicole) When Travis said that, I thought
it's an eager awaiting of something,
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because you're eagerly awaiting something,
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whether it's a gift,
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whether it's the Advent, whatever it is,
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it's an "eager awaiting," when I think
of the word hope.
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(Stephanie) I like that.
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And so we're thinking
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about this Advent hope,
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and we're looking for something
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that has been promised to us, right?
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And the reason we would hope
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in the Second Coming
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is because it's a better life, right?
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It's not just here and now;
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this is not our home, right?
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So, why would we want a better life?
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And I'm just setting a foundation here.
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Why would we want a better life?
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Because this world's damaged.
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It's very simple; this is not God's plan,
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and this is something that is not new.
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We know that people
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throughout the ages
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have looked at the world we live in,
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and they all have a common theme.
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So I'd like us to look
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at three passages as we begin.
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The first one is Psalm 94, and we'll
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be looking at verses 3 through 7.
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00:11:30,751 --> 00:11:32,600
Gladys, if you could take that one.
271
00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,366
And then, Marcus, if you would be ready
272
00:11:35,366 --> 00:11:38,845
to read Habakkuk 1, verse 2,
273
00:11:38,845 --> 00:11:42,624
and, Evelyn, Revelation 6, verse 10.
274
00:11:42,624 --> 00:11:44,105
We're just going to read
275
00:11:44,105 --> 00:11:45,154
through these verses,
276
00:11:45,154 --> 00:11:47,201
and as we're reading, I'd like you
277
00:11:47,201 --> 00:11:49,007
to think about what the common theme
278
00:11:49,007 --> 00:11:51,360
is throughout. Gladys.
279
00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:52,434
(Gladys) I'm reading
280
00:11:52,434 --> 00:11:54,213
from the New International Version,
281
00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:57,641
Psalm 94, verses 3 to 7:
282
00:12:34,197 --> 00:12:37,090
(Stephanie) Thank you. Marcus.
283
00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:42,510
(Marcus) Okay, Habakkuk 1, verse 2,
284
00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:47,066
and I'll give everyone a moment
to get there.
285
00:12:47,066 --> 00:12:50,192
I'll be reading from
the King James Version:
286
00:13:05,586 --> 00:13:06,818
(Stephanie) And Evelyn,
287
00:13:06,818 --> 00:13:11,996
Revelation, chapter 6, verse 10.
288
00:13:11,996 --> 00:13:14,083
(Evelyn) Revelation, chapter 6, verse 10,
289
00:13:14,083 --> 00:13:16,717
I'll be reading from the
New King James Version:
290
00:13:28,359 --> 00:13:30,087
(Stephanie) What is the common theme
291
00:13:30,087 --> 00:13:31,772
that you're hearing? Treva?
292
00:13:31,772 --> 00:13:33,454
(Treva) There is a crying out
293
00:13:33,454 --> 00:13:36,302
to the Father for justice,
294
00:13:36,302 --> 00:13:38,335
for something to be done
295
00:13:38,335 --> 00:13:42,566
because of some type of persecution.
296
00:13:42,566 --> 00:13:44,516
(Stephanie) Desire for freedom
297
00:13:44,516 --> 00:13:46,176
from persecution. Gladys.
298
00:13:46,176 --> 00:13:48,980
(Gladys) I like that the three verses
say, "How long?"
299
00:13:48,980 --> 00:13:50,787
So, just going back to the definition
300
00:13:50,787 --> 00:13:52,359
that we were giving, you know,
301
00:13:52,359 --> 00:13:54,136
it's like expecting something
302
00:13:54,136 --> 00:13:56,030
that has been promised.
303
00:13:56,030 --> 00:13:57,529
(Stephanie) Do these passages
304
00:13:57,529 --> 00:13:59,448
give you the impression that this person
305
00:13:59,448 --> 00:14:01,455
is feeling somewhat hopeless?
306
00:14:01,455 --> 00:14:02,198
(Team) Yes.
307
00:14:02,198 --> 00:14:03,640
(Stephanie) "What do we have?"
308
00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:04,775
"How long are we going
309
00:14:04,775 --> 00:14:06,459
to be in this state?"
310
00:14:06,459 --> 00:14:08,947
Where do people find hope?
311
00:14:08,947 --> 00:14:10,089
Let me put it this way,
312
00:14:10,089 --> 00:14:12,844
where do people search to find hope?
313
00:14:12,844 --> 00:14:17,413
Or to find a future?
314
00:14:17,413 --> 00:14:19,162
Marcus and then Jason.
315
00:14:19,162 --> 00:14:20,190
(Marcus) I would say,
316
00:14:20,190 --> 00:14:23,115
and in this country especially,
like politics.
317
00:14:23,115 --> 00:14:26,393
People always hope that the next president
318
00:14:26,393 --> 00:14:27,636
or the next governor
319
00:14:27,636 --> 00:14:28,779
or the next whoever
320
00:14:28,779 --> 00:14:30,859
will be there to deliver them
321
00:14:30,859 --> 00:14:33,187
some type of reward
322
00:14:33,187 --> 00:14:35,196
or restitution for their suffering.
323
00:14:35,196 --> 00:14:36,815
(Stephanie) So, they're looking
324
00:14:36,815 --> 00:14:39,651
for people to give them hope. Jason.
325
00:14:39,651 --> 00:14:40,730
(Jason) I think people
326
00:14:40,730 --> 00:14:42,646
can look for relationships,
327
00:14:42,646 --> 00:14:44,647
whether it's a significant other
328
00:14:44,647 --> 00:14:46,861
or getting into a marriage
329
00:14:46,861 --> 00:14:48,003
or something like that.
330
00:14:48,003 --> 00:14:50,019
They can think that a relationship,
331
00:14:50,019 --> 00:14:52,544
a friendship, just having another person
332
00:14:52,544 --> 00:14:54,434
will give them that hope.
333
00:14:54,434 --> 00:14:55,514
(Stephanie) Puia.
334
00:14:55,514 --> 00:14:56,810
(Puia) I think people also
335
00:14:56,810 --> 00:14:58,597
look for hope in possessions.
336
00:14:58,597 --> 00:15:01,787
It could be money or things, you know.
337
00:15:01,787 --> 00:15:03,177
(Stephanie) Looking for hope
338
00:15:03,177 --> 00:15:04,912
in people, in possessions.
339
00:15:04,912 --> 00:15:10,922
How about positions? Possible?
All right. Jason.
340
00:15:10,922 --> 00:15:12,293
(Jason) Sometimes people can
341
00:15:12,293 --> 00:15:14,336
look to themselves for hope,
342
00:15:14,336 --> 00:15:15,662
as far as what they can do.
343
00:15:15,662 --> 00:15:17,049
They become self-absorbed
344
00:15:17,049 --> 00:15:17,989
in what they can do
345
00:15:17,989 --> 00:15:20,061
and try to make different moves
346
00:15:20,061 --> 00:15:23,559
or different ways of them finding hope
347
00:15:23,559 --> 00:15:25,745
into the situation that they may be in.
348
00:15:25,745 --> 00:15:27,945
(Stephanie) All right. Now, I'd like
349
00:15:27,945 --> 00:15:29,966
to go over to Lamentations,
350
00:15:29,966 --> 00:15:33,331
chapter 3, verses 22 through 26,
351
00:15:33,331 --> 00:15:35,128
and, Adison, if you would be prepared
352
00:15:35,128 --> 00:15:37,196
to read that for us.
353
00:15:37,196 --> 00:15:40,669
And let's take a look at what the prophet
354
00:15:40,669 --> 00:15:43,295
has found his hope in.
355
00:15:43,295 --> 00:15:47,953
And this is during some troublesome times,
right?
356
00:15:47,953 --> 00:15:50,400
Lamentations, chapter 3,
357
00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,459
verses 22 through 26.
358
00:15:53,459 --> 00:15:54,567
(Adison) I'm reading
359
00:15:54,567 --> 00:15:56,658
from the King James Version:
360
00:16:14,603 --> 00:16:16,303
(Stephanie) I don't know about you,
361
00:16:16,303 --> 00:16:18,357
but when I hear those verses,
362
00:16:18,357 --> 00:16:22,221
it just gives me hope, right?
363
00:16:22,221 --> 00:16:23,188
It gives me energy.
364
00:16:23,188 --> 00:16:27,365
Where did the prophet find his hope,
365
00:16:27,365 --> 00:16:29,145
or choose to find hope?
366
00:16:29,145 --> 00:16:30,872
(Derek) Actually, the next verse
367
00:16:30,872 --> 00:16:32,443
says, "'The Lord is my portion,'
368
00:16:32,443 --> 00:16:35,782
says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!'"
369
00:16:35,782 --> 00:16:38,135
So that's where he chooses.
370
00:16:38,135 --> 00:16:39,716
And like you said, this is
371
00:16:39,716 --> 00:16:42,962
where Jerusalem has just been ransacked,
372
00:16:42,962 --> 00:16:45,136
the temple is in ruins,
373
00:16:45,136 --> 00:16:47,824
and Jeremiah is lamenting.
374
00:16:47,824 --> 00:16:50,218
That's where the Lamentations book
comes from.
375
00:16:50,218 --> 00:16:51,600
He's lamenting, but he says,
376
00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,392
"My hope is in God."
377
00:16:53,392 --> 00:16:55,544
(Team) Amen.
378
00:16:55,544 --> 00:16:57,988
(Stephanie) And through all
of that turmoil,
379
00:16:57,988 --> 00:17:00,305
that's where he placed his hope.
380
00:17:00,305 --> 00:17:02,445
And, I don't know, it just gives me
381
00:17:02,445 --> 00:17:04,365
such encouragement when I hear,
382
00:17:04,365 --> 00:17:06,126
"'The Lord is my portion,'
383
00:17:06,126 --> 00:17:08,028
saith my soul'...The Lord
384
00:17:08,028 --> 00:17:10,737
is good unto them that wait for Him."
385
00:17:10,737 --> 00:17:12,180
It just buoys up your spirits.
386
00:17:12,180 --> 00:17:14,937
Now, Jesus also speaks
387
00:17:14,937 --> 00:17:19,245
about where to find our hope
388
00:17:19,245 --> 00:17:23,261
or encourages us through a parable
389
00:17:23,261 --> 00:17:25,979
in Luke, chapter 18, and we'll go there,
390
00:17:25,979 --> 00:17:28,003
and, Billy, if you would read that for us,
391
00:17:28,003 --> 00:17:30,405
Luke, chapter 18, verses 1 through 8.
392
00:17:30,405 --> 00:17:35,304
And as we're reading through that parable,
393
00:17:35,304 --> 00:17:39,269
I'd like us to think about what is
394
00:17:39,269 --> 00:17:42,828
Jesus saying to us about finding
395
00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:45,011
our hope in God? Billy.
396
00:17:45,011 --> 00:17:46,540
(Billy) Okay, so I'll be reading
397
00:17:46,540 --> 00:17:47,946
from the King James Version:
398
00:18:26,971 --> 00:18:28,521
Is it to verse 5 or 6?
399
00:18:52,594 --> 00:18:55,244
(Stephanie) All right. From this parable,
400
00:18:28,521 --> 00:18:29,653
(Stephanie) Through 8.
401
00:18:29,653 --> 00:18:30,971
(Billy) Through 8, okay:
402
00:18:55,244 --> 00:18:57,186
what do we learn about finding
403
00:18:57,186 --> 00:19:01,446
our hope in God? Tricia Lee.
404
00:19:01,446 --> 00:19:03,876
(Tricia Lee) I think that Jesus
405
00:19:03,876 --> 00:19:05,726
is making an example,
406
00:19:05,726 --> 00:19:10,351
that even in an unjust situation -
407
00:19:10,351 --> 00:19:12,965
this earthly judge or court,
408
00:19:12,965 --> 00:19:16,039
if he was possibly unwilling
409
00:19:16,039 --> 00:19:17,615
to avenge her of her adversary
410
00:19:17,615 --> 00:19:20,048
as she's asking for the first time,
411
00:19:20,048 --> 00:19:21,931
eventually he did just because he was
412
00:19:21,931 --> 00:19:23,614
tired of hearing from her.
413
00:19:23,614 --> 00:19:25,043
And so He's making an example.
414
00:19:25,043 --> 00:19:26,296
If this earthly court
415
00:19:26,296 --> 00:19:27,926
or judge could act this way,
416
00:19:27,926 --> 00:19:29,972
your Heavenly Father, who is not tired
417
00:19:29,972 --> 00:19:30,984
when we call on Him,
418
00:19:30,984 --> 00:19:32,410
not tired when we pray to him,
419
00:19:32,410 --> 00:19:33,787
could never get tired of us,
420
00:19:33,787 --> 00:19:36,507
of course He will bring justice
to our situation.
421
00:19:36,507 --> 00:19:38,540
And so Jesus is asking them,
422
00:19:38,540 --> 00:19:40,446
when He says, "Will the Son of Man
423
00:19:40,446 --> 00:19:41,780
find faith on the earth?"
424
00:19:41,780 --> 00:19:43,600
will you still believe that God
425
00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,002
will do justice for you,
426
00:19:45,002 --> 00:19:46,943
even though you don't see it right away?
427
00:19:46,943 --> 00:19:48,575
So that's really what He's saying
428
00:19:48,575 --> 00:19:51,617
because sometimes we ask for things,
we don't get them right away
429
00:19:51,617 --> 00:19:53,323
or we're still in those situations.
430
00:19:53,323 --> 00:19:56,513
But Jesus is saying, "Do you have faith
to continue hoping," knowing
431
00:19:56,513 --> 00:19:59,158
that the promise, as Travis mentioned,
is sure.
432
00:19:59,158 --> 00:20:03,231
(Stephanie) Pray without ceasing, right?
433
00:20:03,231 --> 00:20:07,918
Did anyone else have a comment?
All right, Marcus.
434
00:20:07,918 --> 00:20:11,560
(Marcus) Just, waiting really is
the hardest part.
435
00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:13,244
And when you've been
436
00:20:13,244 --> 00:20:15,143
through situation where you might have
437
00:20:15,143 --> 00:20:16,819
lost somebody close to you,
438
00:20:16,819 --> 00:20:18,366
and it might have happened
439
00:20:18,366 --> 00:20:20,986
under tragic circumstances,
440
00:20:20,986 --> 00:20:22,963
can you still trust and put your faith
441
00:20:22,963 --> 00:20:24,634
and hope in the Lord,
442
00:20:24,634 --> 00:20:26,789
even though it just doesn't look like
443
00:20:26,789 --> 00:20:28,986
the situation is going to get resolved,
444
00:20:28,986 --> 00:20:32,238
or there's so much grief in your heart?
445
00:20:32,238 --> 00:20:35,095
So I think that the relationship
446
00:20:35,095 --> 00:20:36,797
that you have with Christ,
447
00:20:36,797 --> 00:20:38,955
that you have with the Father,
448
00:20:38,955 --> 00:20:40,583
will help sustain you,
449
00:20:40,583 --> 00:20:43,962
but it's not an easy wait.
450
00:20:43,962 --> 00:20:46,546
(Stephanie) It's never easy
to wait, is it?
451
00:20:46,546 --> 00:20:47,991
So let me ask you this:
452
00:20:47,991 --> 00:20:49,877
When did you choose
453
00:20:49,877 --> 00:20:52,030
to find your hope in God?
454
00:20:52,030 --> 00:20:54,446
And I want to go a step further:
455
00:20:54,446 --> 00:20:57,167
What has your life been like
456
00:20:57,167 --> 00:20:59,201
since that decision?
457
00:20:59,201 --> 00:21:01,958
How has that changed your course? Nicole.
458
00:21:01,958 --> 00:21:03,769
(Nicole) It's not one decision for me.
459
00:21:03,769 --> 00:21:05,360
I think that I have to every day,
460
00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:08,381
and every time a new situation
approaches me,
461
00:21:08,381 --> 00:21:10,208
I have to choose my hope in God.
462
00:21:10,208 --> 00:21:12,616
And so, it makes it challenging,
463
00:21:12,616 --> 00:21:15,328
because when things don't go my way,
464
00:21:15,328 --> 00:21:17,874
I have to wait on what He's going to do,
465
00:21:17,874 --> 00:21:19,144
but I think that for me
466
00:21:19,144 --> 00:21:20,989
it's an ongoing decision daily
467
00:21:20,989 --> 00:21:22,451
to make that decision that I'm
468
00:21:22,451 --> 00:21:24,426
going to hope in God and His return.
469
00:21:24,426 --> 00:21:28,216
(Stephanie) Amen. I appreciate that.
470
00:21:28,216 --> 00:21:30,074
Jason and then Gladys.
471
00:21:30,074 --> 00:21:32,317
(Jason) I have a testimony to share.
472
00:21:32,317 --> 00:21:33,419
I was in the military,
473
00:21:33,419 --> 00:21:35,564
in the navy, specifically,
474
00:21:35,564 --> 00:21:38,565
and I joined without being able to swim.
475
00:21:38,565 --> 00:21:41,633
So, go figure, right?
476
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:45,642
So, through my time in boot camp,
I tried to swim.
477
00:21:45,642 --> 00:21:46,916
I kept on being sent back,
478
00:21:46,916 --> 00:21:47,942
I was not qualified,
479
00:21:47,942 --> 00:21:49,519
maybe three or four times,
480
00:21:49,519 --> 00:21:50,670
but it came to a point
481
00:21:50,670 --> 00:21:51,950
that I had to pray to God,
482
00:21:51,950 --> 00:21:53,434
and I asked the Lord to help me
483
00:21:53,434 --> 00:21:55,531
because I wanted to graduate
from boot camp.
484
00:21:55,531 --> 00:21:57,894
It just so happened I was doing my part.
485
00:21:57,894 --> 00:22:00,486
I was doing my little motions
or what have you,
486
00:22:00,486 --> 00:22:01,413
praying and hoping
487
00:22:01,413 --> 00:22:03,274
that muscle memory would kick in.
488
00:22:03,274 --> 00:22:06,419
And when I went in the water for my test,
489
00:22:06,419 --> 00:22:08,574
I popped up, and I just remember
it kicked in,
490
00:22:08,574 --> 00:22:09,702
and I could just thank
491
00:22:09,702 --> 00:22:10,844
the Lord all the way.
492
00:22:10,844 --> 00:22:12,711
It was an Olympic-sized swimming pool,
493
00:22:12,711 --> 00:22:14,360
so I swam from one end to another,
494
00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:16,045
and I thanked God the whole way.
495
00:22:16,045 --> 00:22:17,527
That's when the hope kicked in,
496
00:22:17,527 --> 00:22:19,882
because I knew it was a miracle.
497
00:22:19,882 --> 00:22:21,516
I knew I didn't do this on my own.
498
00:22:21,516 --> 00:22:22,745
So right then and there,
499
00:22:22,745 --> 00:22:23,748
I was thanking God,
500
00:22:23,748 --> 00:22:25,331
and that's when, from that point
501
00:22:25,331 --> 00:22:28,331
for me, swimming, by God's grace,
502
00:22:28,331 --> 00:22:29,864
it just elevated my faith
503
00:22:29,864 --> 00:22:30,718
in Him even more.
504
00:22:30,718 --> 00:22:32,145
If I could trust Him in this,
505
00:22:32,145 --> 00:22:33,333
I knew I could trust Him
506
00:22:33,333 --> 00:22:35,863
in other things in my life.
507
00:22:35,863 --> 00:22:36,774
(Stephanie) Gladys.
508
00:22:36,774 --> 00:22:38,479
(Gladys) I think that sometimes,
509
00:22:38,479 --> 00:22:40,421
when things are going easy,
510
00:22:40,421 --> 00:22:42,995
we read the words of God and His promises,
511
00:22:42,995 --> 00:22:45,573
and we say "Amen."
512
00:22:45,573 --> 00:22:48,579
But it's not till the moment
of trial comes
513
00:22:48,579 --> 00:22:51,190
that that hope is really revealed.
514
00:22:51,190 --> 00:22:53,797
And I have shared with you guys before
515
00:22:53,797 --> 00:22:54,997
what happened with me
516
00:22:54,997 --> 00:22:57,723
a while ago with my surgery,
517
00:22:57,723 --> 00:23:02,921
and it's just like life comes
to your face,
518
00:23:02,921 --> 00:23:05,366
and you just say, "Do I really
519
00:23:05,366 --> 00:23:07,631
trust God with my life?"
520
00:23:07,631 --> 00:23:09,974
When it's a situation of life and death,
521
00:23:09,974 --> 00:23:11,840
that's when you really look
522
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,317
at what you believe.
523
00:23:13,317 --> 00:23:14,560
And if you have that hope
524
00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,751
that God has you in His hands,
525
00:23:16,751 --> 00:23:19,448
things are just totally different,
526
00:23:19,448 --> 00:23:21,579
and it is not until that moment
527
00:23:21,579 --> 00:23:25,097
that you realize Whom you have believed.
528
00:23:25,097 --> 00:23:27,366
(Stephanie) And Nicole mentioned something
529
00:23:27,366 --> 00:23:31,384
about that hope in the Second Coming,
530
00:23:31,384 --> 00:23:33,625
and I'd like to look at that hope
531
00:23:33,625 --> 00:23:35,803
as we move on in our lesson
532
00:23:35,803 --> 00:23:39,162
in Matthew, chapter 24 and 25.
533
00:23:39,162 --> 00:23:40,663
You know that it talks
534
00:23:40,663 --> 00:23:43,071
about the Second Coming of Christ,
535
00:23:43,071 --> 00:23:46,295
and it's definitely the center
536
00:23:46,295 --> 00:23:47,678
of our hope, right?
537
00:23:47,678 --> 00:23:50,157
It's a pivotal point
538
00:23:50,157 --> 00:23:52,181
of where we place our hope.
539
00:23:52,181 --> 00:23:53,309
I'd like to take a look
540
00:23:53,309 --> 00:23:55,093
at what we should be doing
541
00:23:55,093 --> 00:23:58,683
in the interim between now
542
00:23:58,683 --> 00:24:00,210
and the Second Coming
543
00:24:00,210 --> 00:24:02,053
because I have a feeling
544
00:24:02,053 --> 00:24:04,611
we're not supposed to just be sitting down
545
00:24:04,611 --> 00:24:06,386
and twiddling our thumbs.
546
00:24:06,386 --> 00:24:08,081
There's something for us to do.
547
00:24:08,081 --> 00:24:10,881
So let's look in Matthew 24,
548
00:24:10,881 --> 00:24:14,661
and we'll look at verses 45 to 51,
549
00:24:14,661 --> 00:24:15,824
and, Travis, if you
550
00:24:15,824 --> 00:24:18,106
would read that for us.
551
00:24:18,106 --> 00:24:20,131
(Travis) Matthew, chapter 24,
552
00:24:20,131 --> 00:24:22,526
verses 45 to 51, I'll be reading
553
00:24:22,526 --> 00:24:24,822
from the New King James Version:
554
00:25:09,575 --> 00:25:10,899
(Stephanie) So, what does
555
00:25:10,899 --> 00:25:13,769
that passage say that we should be doing?
556
00:25:13,769 --> 00:25:15,414
(Gladys) Diligently working.
557
00:25:15,414 --> 00:25:18,087
(Stephanie) Diligently working.
558
00:25:18,087 --> 00:25:21,412
What else do you see there?
559
00:25:24,162 --> 00:25:26,547
Providing for the needs.
560
00:25:26,547 --> 00:25:27,841
"Blessed is the servant
561
00:25:27,841 --> 00:25:29,529
whom the Lord, when He comes,
562
00:25:29,529 --> 00:25:31,196
shall find him so doing."
563
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:36,569
In verse 45, "When the faithful
and wise servant,
564
00:25:36,569 --> 00:25:37,944
whom the Lord hath made
565
00:25:37,944 --> 00:25:39,259
ruler of the household,
566
00:25:39,259 --> 00:25:42,503
to give them meat in due season."
567
00:25:42,503 --> 00:25:45,165
So that means feeding those
568
00:25:45,165 --> 00:25:47,617
that they have responsibility over,
569
00:25:47,617 --> 00:25:50,022
doesn't it? Yes, Tricia Lee.
570
00:25:50,022 --> 00:25:52,108
(Tricia Lee) There's also conflict
571
00:25:52,108 --> 00:25:53,968
that's taking place here.
572
00:25:53,968 --> 00:25:56,272
It talks about one servant
573
00:25:56,272 --> 00:25:58,538
is beating another servant,
574
00:25:58,538 --> 00:26:00,552
or they're beating their fellow servants
575
00:26:00,552 --> 00:26:02,587
and start to eat and drink with drunkards.
576
00:26:02,587 --> 00:26:04,145
And so it's this attitude that,
577
00:26:04,145 --> 00:26:05,832
if you lose your sight of the hope
578
00:26:05,832 --> 00:26:07,197
that the Lord is coming,
579
00:26:07,197 --> 00:26:08,344
the whole purpose, like,
580
00:26:08,344 --> 00:26:09,375
what are we here for,
581
00:26:09,375 --> 00:26:10,576
you start to get involved
582
00:26:10,576 --> 00:26:12,382
in disagreements or petty arguments,
583
00:26:12,382 --> 00:26:14,302
like, "Why are you beating each other?"
584
00:26:14,302 --> 00:26:15,968
And then the eating and drinking,
585
00:26:15,968 --> 00:26:17,572
it's like, to your point,
586
00:26:17,572 --> 00:26:18,827
they're just sitting back.
587
00:26:18,827 --> 00:26:20,732
It's like, we have work to do.
588
00:26:20,732 --> 00:26:21,786
We should be preparing
589
00:26:21,786 --> 00:26:23,095
for the Lord to come.
590
00:26:23,095 --> 00:26:25,385
It's as if the party started already,
591
00:26:25,385 --> 00:26:27,931
and it's the wrong type of party.
592
00:26:27,931 --> 00:26:30,150
And so, they've completely lost sight
593
00:26:30,150 --> 00:26:31,227
of what the focus is,
594
00:26:31,227 --> 00:26:32,579
and I think that's a danger.
595
00:26:32,579 --> 00:26:34,459
They start to fight amongst themselves,
596
00:26:34,459 --> 00:26:35,963
and they start having the party
597
00:26:35,963 --> 00:26:37,486
a bit too early, and the wrong
598
00:26:37,486 --> 00:26:39,001
type of party, in fact.
599
00:26:39,001 --> 00:26:40,671
(Stephanie) And let's move over,
600
00:26:40,671 --> 00:26:42,220
thank you very much, Tricia Lee,
601
00:26:42,220 --> 00:26:43,753
let's move to chapter 25
602
00:26:43,753 --> 00:26:46,675
and look at verses 14 and 15.
603
00:26:46,675 --> 00:26:48,769
And, Jason, if you would be willing
604
00:26:48,769 --> 00:26:51,404
to read that for us.
605
00:26:51,404 --> 00:26:54,490
This also gives us a choice.
606
00:26:54,490 --> 00:26:56,848
It shows us the options that we have.
607
00:26:56,848 --> 00:26:58,744
Let's go ahead and read
608
00:26:58,744 --> 00:27:02,725
verses 14 and 15 of Matthew 25.
609
00:27:02,725 --> 00:27:03,823
(Jason) I'll be reading
610
00:27:03,823 --> 00:27:05,367
from the New King James Version,
611
00:27:05,367 --> 00:27:09,048
Matthew, chapter 25, verses 14 and 15:
612
00:27:32,528 --> 00:27:34,629
(Stephanie) So, what are the options
613
00:27:34,629 --> 00:27:36,845
that these individuals have?
614
00:27:36,845 --> 00:27:38,190
They'd been given talents.
615
00:27:38,190 --> 00:27:39,384
What are the talents?
616
00:27:39,384 --> 00:27:44,684
What does that represent? Gifts? Skills?
617
00:27:44,684 --> 00:27:46,216
(Derek) In that culture,
618
00:27:46,216 --> 00:27:49,880
a talent was 6,000 days wages,
619
00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:51,532
so that's 20 years wages,
620
00:27:51,532 --> 00:27:53,960
even to the smallest portion.
621
00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:58,474
So, a massive amount of resource
622
00:27:58,474 --> 00:28:04,708
was given, according to the Master's plan,
to each of them
623
00:28:04,708 --> 00:28:07,389
with no specific instructions,
624
00:28:07,389 --> 00:28:09,223
except maybe their relationship
625
00:28:09,223 --> 00:28:11,071
would determine how they
626
00:28:11,071 --> 00:28:12,611
would use those resources.
627
00:28:12,611 --> 00:28:14,629
(Stephanie) That's right. Travis.
628
00:28:14,629 --> 00:28:15,754
(Travis) Well, the fact
629
00:28:15,754 --> 00:28:17,730
that they're called "servants,"
630
00:28:17,730 --> 00:28:19,633
servants means there is a responsibility
631
00:28:19,633 --> 00:28:21,235
with the resource.
632
00:28:21,235 --> 00:28:23,037
And I like the fact that Derek
633
00:28:23,037 --> 00:28:24,463
used the word "resource,"
634
00:28:24,463 --> 00:28:27,153
because resource can mean many things.
635
00:28:27,153 --> 00:28:28,557
Resource can be information,
636
00:28:28,557 --> 00:28:30,426
resource can be monetary, resource
637
00:28:30,426 --> 00:28:33,690
can be different responsibilities,
638
00:28:33,690 --> 00:28:34,811
but they're servants.
639
00:28:34,811 --> 00:28:36,110
So, when you're a servant,
640
00:28:36,110 --> 00:28:38,734
and the Master gives you a resource,
641
00:28:38,734 --> 00:28:39,951
there's a responsibility
642
00:28:39,951 --> 00:28:41,438
that comes with that resource.
643
00:28:41,438 --> 00:28:42,668
(Stephanie) All right,
644
00:28:42,668 --> 00:28:44,076
so they have options,
645
00:28:44,076 --> 00:28:47,535
either to use that resource wisely
646
00:28:47,535 --> 00:28:50,387
or to choose not to use it wisely.
647
00:28:50,387 --> 00:28:52,151
How do we relate that
648
00:28:52,151 --> 00:28:56,800
to what we should be doing
in our day
649
00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:00,451
between now and the Second Coming
of Christ? Treva.
650
00:29:00,453 --> 00:29:02,959
(Treva) I think also in the Scripture,
651
00:29:02,959 --> 00:29:04,522
we talked about this before,
652
00:29:04,522 --> 00:29:05,894
where people may feel like,
653
00:29:05,894 --> 00:29:09,141
"Well, what can I offer? What can I do?"
654
00:29:09,141 --> 00:29:10,708
And this Scripture shows us
655
00:29:10,708 --> 00:29:13,394
that God has given us something,
656
00:29:13,394 --> 00:29:14,772
some type of resource,
657
00:29:14,772 --> 00:29:16,741
even if it's your testimony,
658
00:29:16,741 --> 00:29:18,644
which is one of the most powerful things
659
00:29:18,644 --> 00:29:23,026
you can share to bring people
closer to Christ.
660
00:29:23,026 --> 00:29:24,436
So, if anything, that's
661
00:29:24,436 --> 00:29:26,042
what we should be doing.
662
00:29:26,042 --> 00:29:28,149
(Stephanie) All right. Tricia Lee,
663
00:29:28,149 --> 00:29:30,102
I see you're ready to say something.
664
00:29:30,102 --> 00:29:32,607
(Tricia Lee) Just a great question
that you're asking
665
00:29:32,607 --> 00:29:35,544
because we all have talents.
666
00:29:35,544 --> 00:29:38,009
Even just this week my husband and I
were commenting
667
00:29:38,009 --> 00:29:40,543
about a very popular musician,
668
00:29:40,543 --> 00:29:43,424
someone in the music industry,
who's in trouble.
669
00:29:43,424 --> 00:29:45,657
And we're thinking to ourselves,
670
00:29:45,657 --> 00:29:46,995
"What if this individual
671
00:29:46,995 --> 00:29:49,475
had used these gifts for the glory of God?
672
00:29:49,475 --> 00:29:51,255
Like, how many lives would he
673
00:29:51,255 --> 00:29:53,656
have impacted with his lyrics
and his music.
674
00:29:53,656 --> 00:29:55,248
He's so skilled and talented,
675
00:29:55,248 --> 00:29:57,303
and yet it's like just headline
676
00:29:57,303 --> 00:29:58,975
after headline of negative things.
677
00:29:58,975 --> 00:30:00,480
And so we have a choice
678
00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,174
to invest in the Kingdom of God,
679
00:30:02,174 --> 00:30:04,240
which is spiritual, blessing others,
680
00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:05,922
or we have an opportunity to invest
681
00:30:05,922 --> 00:30:07,784
in the things that are passing away.
682
00:30:07,784 --> 00:30:10,400
There's no doubt that this person
is talented,
683
00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,035
but the things that he spent
684
00:30:12,035 --> 00:30:13,631
his time investing in
685
00:30:13,631 --> 00:30:15,868
have not reaped anything beneficial
686
00:30:15,868 --> 00:30:18,295
to anyone in the long run.
687
00:30:18,295 --> 00:30:20,416
And so we could focus on our job
688
00:30:20,416 --> 00:30:22,183
or education or on things
689
00:30:22,183 --> 00:30:24,533
that might get us big wins in this life,
690
00:30:24,533 --> 00:30:26,246
but are we thinking about how we're
691
00:30:26,246 --> 00:30:28,666
using our skills to bless others,
692
00:30:28,666 --> 00:30:30,698
to bless and build the Kingdom of God.
693
00:30:30,698 --> 00:30:32,861
The option is there for us,
694
00:30:32,861 --> 00:30:34,246
but how do we use our skills
695
00:30:34,246 --> 00:30:36,274
to really build God's Kingdom.
696
00:30:36,274 --> 00:30:38,311
(Stephanie) I like that, and let's move on
697
00:30:38,311 --> 00:30:40,609
and look at some practical ways.
698
00:30:40,609 --> 00:30:44,138
And staying in Matthew, chapter 25,
699
00:30:44,138 --> 00:30:48,658
we'll be looking in verses 31 through 40,
700
00:30:48,658 --> 00:30:50,718
31 through 40, and Puia,
701
00:30:50,718 --> 00:30:52,732
would you read that for us?
702
00:30:52,732 --> 00:30:54,616
We're looking at some practical ways
703
00:30:54,616 --> 00:30:58,836
of how we should be spending our time
until Christ comes.
704
00:30:58,836 --> 00:31:00,239
(Puia) Sure, I'll be reading
705
00:31:00,239 --> 00:31:01,822
from the New King James Version,
706
00:31:01,822 --> 00:31:04,885
Matthew 25, verses 31 through 40:
707
00:32:29,110 --> 00:32:31,786
(Stephanie) Wow. So tell me,
708
00:32:31,786 --> 00:32:35,338
what have you learned from this passage
709
00:32:35,338 --> 00:32:37,158
as you've done your own study?
710
00:32:37,158 --> 00:32:39,304
Travis, and then we'll go to Gladys.
711
00:32:39,304 --> 00:32:41,272
(Travis) I remember reading in Matthew 7
712
00:32:41,272 --> 00:32:42,563
about a similar group,
713
00:32:42,563 --> 00:32:43,610
but this group said,
714
00:32:43,610 --> 00:32:45,796
"Look at what we've done,"
715
00:32:45,796 --> 00:32:47,218
and He said, "Depart from Me;
716
00:32:47,218 --> 00:32:48,866
I don't know you."
717
00:32:48,866 --> 00:32:50,613
And this group of people here,
718
00:32:50,613 --> 00:32:53,134
they're like, "When did we
do this for You?"
719
00:32:53,134 --> 00:32:55,034
And I remember Billy's story
720
00:32:55,034 --> 00:32:56,330
in a lesson or two ago,
721
00:32:56,330 --> 00:32:59,292
and I can imagine Jesus saying to him,
722
00:32:59,292 --> 00:33:02,662
"You know, I had pizza with you that day."
723
00:33:02,662 --> 00:33:04,547
And he's going to be like,
724
00:33:04,547 --> 00:33:06,197
"When did this happen?"...
725
00:33:06,197 --> 00:33:07,799
(Stephanie) We'll have to go back
726
00:33:07,799 --> 00:33:09,603
and listen to that lesson now, right?
727
00:33:09,603 --> 00:33:10,994
(Travis) But it's just like,
728
00:33:10,994 --> 00:33:12,700
when we're doing things
729
00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:15,057
with compassion for somebody else,
730
00:33:15,057 --> 00:33:18,751
Jesus resonates with each
and every person.
731
00:33:18,751 --> 00:33:20,799
And when you're doing something for them,
732
00:33:20,799 --> 00:33:22,547
it's like you're doing it for Jesus.
733
00:33:22,547 --> 00:33:24,067
And you didn't even realize it;
734
00:33:24,067 --> 00:33:25,904
that thought isn't even in your head.
735
00:33:25,904 --> 00:33:28,025
It's just like, "I want
to help this person,"
736
00:33:28,025 --> 00:33:29,936
and Jesus says, "You've done it to Me."
737
00:33:29,944 --> 00:33:31,755
(Stephanie) And, Travis, I appreciate
738
00:33:31,755 --> 00:33:33,759
the fact that you brought out that verse
739
00:33:33,759 --> 00:33:36,736
that says, "I never knew you,"
740
00:33:36,736 --> 00:33:38,389
when they showed Him.
741
00:33:38,389 --> 00:33:41,708
So this is not about, "I'm working
742
00:33:41,708 --> 00:33:43,471
my way to Heaven," is it?
743
00:33:43,471 --> 00:33:45,028
(Stephanie, Team) No.
744
00:33:45,028 --> 00:33:46,973
(Stephanie) It's talking about having
745
00:33:46,973 --> 00:33:49,911
that connection that allows
746
00:33:49,911 --> 00:33:53,255
the love to flow out through us.
Yes, Gladys.
747
00:33:53,255 --> 00:33:55,606
(Gladys) That is exactly what I was
going to say,
748
00:33:55,606 --> 00:33:57,380
that when that connection is strong,
749
00:33:57,380 --> 00:33:58,680
you are just reflecting
750
00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:00,530
the character of God.
751
00:34:00,530 --> 00:34:02,615
The love of God is just flowing
through you,
752
00:34:02,615 --> 00:34:04,114
so you don't even realize it.
753
00:34:04,114 --> 00:34:05,934
It just becomes part of who you are.
754
00:34:05,934 --> 00:34:07,780
So it is just second nature
755
00:34:07,780 --> 00:34:09,994
to you to help others.
756
00:34:09,994 --> 00:34:11,780
(Stephanie) Amen. Marcus.
757
00:34:11,780 --> 00:34:13,973
(Marcus) A little bit of context to add
758
00:34:13,973 --> 00:34:15,339
to what Travis was saying
759
00:34:15,339 --> 00:34:19,205
is that basically when those people said,
760
00:34:19,205 --> 00:34:20,454
"We did good things,"
761
00:34:20,454 --> 00:34:22,152
"We did good works as well,"
762
00:34:22,152 --> 00:34:23,702
and the Father and Jesus said,
763
00:34:23,702 --> 00:34:25,359
"Depart, I never knew you,"
764
00:34:25,359 --> 00:34:26,925
it's because their hearts
765
00:34:26,925 --> 00:34:28,235
weren't in the right place.
766
00:34:28,235 --> 00:34:29,663
So, what I'm trying to say is,
767
00:34:29,663 --> 00:34:32,937
a great work that is done
768
00:34:32,937 --> 00:34:35,743
for some type of self-glorification
769
00:34:35,743 --> 00:34:37,802
is not acceptable to God
770
00:34:37,802 --> 00:34:39,025
versus a small work
771
00:34:39,025 --> 00:34:41,472
that is done in self-sacrifice
772
00:34:41,472 --> 00:34:44,992
and with no self included in that work.
773
00:34:44,992 --> 00:34:47,764
So, a small work done for the Master
774
00:34:47,764 --> 00:34:50,323
is better than a large and great work
775
00:34:50,323 --> 00:34:53,284
with just a little bit of self
injected in there.
776
00:34:53,284 --> 00:34:54,626
So, it's not the size
777
00:34:54,626 --> 00:34:56,557
of the work that we do,
778
00:34:56,557 --> 00:34:58,197
it is whether we have
779
00:34:58,197 --> 00:34:59,643
surrendered to the Master
780
00:34:59,643 --> 00:35:01,166
and want to give all glory
781
00:35:01,166 --> 00:35:02,578
and honor and praise to Him.
782
00:35:02,578 --> 00:35:04,616
(Stephanie) And that is amazing.
783
00:35:04,616 --> 00:35:06,229
I definitely agree with that.
784
00:35:06,229 --> 00:35:08,018
I do want to say that,
785
00:35:08,018 --> 00:35:10,006
if someone is watching,
786
00:35:10,006 --> 00:35:11,778
and they say, "But that person
787
00:35:11,778 --> 00:35:14,530
did bless me by their acts of kindnesss,
788
00:35:14,530 --> 00:35:15,637
even though they had
789
00:35:15,637 --> 00:35:16,716
selfishness in there,"
790
00:35:16,716 --> 00:35:18,437
can God use that?
791
00:35:18,437 --> 00:35:20,538
Absolutely, He can still use people,
792
00:35:20,538 --> 00:35:21,893
even though their hearts
793
00:35:21,893 --> 00:35:25,339
may not be in the right place.
794
00:35:25,339 --> 00:35:28,507
Anything else that stands out to you
795
00:35:28,507 --> 00:35:37,129
in this passage? Yes, Puia.
796
00:35:37,129 --> 00:35:39,045
(Puia) Not exactly from the verse here,
797
00:35:39,045 --> 00:35:42,153
but I remember an experience that I had
798
00:35:42,153 --> 00:35:43,513
a couple of years ago
799
00:35:43,513 --> 00:35:45,014
when I was serving
800
00:35:45,014 --> 00:35:48,177
as a student volunteer in Hawaii,
801
00:35:48,177 --> 00:35:49,792
and there was a family
802
00:35:49,792 --> 00:35:51,873
that needed help with moving,
803
00:35:51,873 --> 00:35:52,947
as they were moving
804
00:35:52,947 --> 00:35:55,085
from one part of the island
to the other part.
805
00:35:55,085 --> 00:35:57,370
And they had so many things to carry,
806
00:35:57,370 --> 00:36:00,323
and they didn't have enough people
to help them out,
807
00:36:00,323 --> 00:36:01,591
so they invited me.
808
00:36:01,591 --> 00:36:03,374
So I went there, and a lot
809
00:36:03,374 --> 00:36:04,396
of people were busy,
810
00:36:04,396 --> 00:36:05,820
so they couldn't stay behind.
811
00:36:05,820 --> 00:36:07,670
So they asked me if I could stay
812
00:36:07,670 --> 00:36:09,437
a little longer, and I did.
813
00:36:09,437 --> 00:36:11,326
And I went inside, and I helped
814
00:36:11,326 --> 00:36:12,977
paint the house and all of that.
815
00:36:12,977 --> 00:36:15,984
And I had forgotten all about it.
816
00:36:15,984 --> 00:36:17,445
The end of the year came,
817
00:36:17,445 --> 00:36:18,585
and it was time for me
818
00:36:18,585 --> 00:36:19,808
to leave the island,
819
00:36:19,808 --> 00:36:22,468
and the family invited me over.
820
00:36:22,468 --> 00:36:23,751
As I walked into the house,
821
00:36:23,751 --> 00:36:24,926
they said, "Puia, do you
822
00:36:24,926 --> 00:36:25,896
remember this time?"
823
00:36:25,896 --> 00:36:27,160
like, "Remember this wall?
824
00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:28,467
This was what you painted."
825
00:36:28,467 --> 00:36:29,985
I was like, "Oh, wait a minute.
826
00:36:29,985 --> 00:36:31,454
Yes, this is what I painted!"
827
00:36:31,454 --> 00:36:34,242
You know, it brought joy to them
as well as me.
828
00:36:34,242 --> 00:36:36,635
The point is, sometimes
829
00:36:36,635 --> 00:36:40,864
it's not about trying to help people
all the time.
830
00:36:40,864 --> 00:36:43,168
I think it's about asking God
831
00:36:43,168 --> 00:36:44,467
to put us in places
832
00:36:44,467 --> 00:36:46,673
where He wants to use us.
833
00:36:46,673 --> 00:36:48,657
And when we place ourselves
834
00:36:48,657 --> 00:36:50,539
in the place where God can use us,
835
00:36:50,539 --> 00:36:51,998
He will bring us to the people
836
00:36:51,998 --> 00:36:54,793
who need our help when the time is right.
837
00:36:54,793 --> 00:36:56,415
(Stephanie) Being connected.
838
00:36:56,415 --> 00:36:57,934
Now, there's another hope
839
00:36:57,934 --> 00:36:59,440
that we want to take a look at,
840
00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,047
which is closely connected
841
00:37:01,047 --> 00:37:02,434
with the Second Coming.
842
00:37:02,434 --> 00:37:05,977
And this is an event
843
00:37:05,977 --> 00:37:08,984
that will take place at Jesus' return.
844
00:37:08,984 --> 00:37:10,564
It was a precious truth
845
00:37:10,564 --> 00:37:12,886
that was boldly proclaimed
846
00:37:12,886 --> 00:37:15,663
by the early Christians
847
00:37:15,663 --> 00:37:18,673
found in Acts, chapter 4, verse 33.
848
00:37:18,673 --> 00:37:20,471
And, Tricia Lee, if you
849
00:37:20,471 --> 00:37:22,330
would read that for us.
850
00:37:22,330 --> 00:37:26,800
Let's find out what that truth
and promise is.
851
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,367
(Tricia Lee) Certainly, reading
852
00:37:28,367 --> 00:37:30,741
from the New King James Version:
853
00:37:41,378 --> 00:37:42,765
(Stephanie) What did they
854
00:37:42,765 --> 00:37:46,979
give testimony or witness to?
855
00:37:46,979 --> 00:37:49,996
(Stephanie, Team) The resurrection.
856
00:37:49,996 --> 00:37:54,192
(Stephanie) The resurrection. What had
they just gone through?
857
00:37:54,192 --> 00:37:56,532
If you think about Acts, chapter 1,
858
00:37:56,532 --> 00:37:58,977
what had they just seen?
859
00:37:58,977 --> 00:38:01,247
The ascension, they had just seen
860
00:38:01,247 --> 00:38:07,368
their crucified, buried, and risen Savior
861
00:38:07,368 --> 00:38:10,007
leave in Acts, chapter 1.
862
00:38:10,007 --> 00:38:11,689
And so they are able to proclaim
863
00:38:11,689 --> 00:38:15,509
with power, "My Savior died,
864
00:38:15,509 --> 00:38:17,840
and He rose again," okay?
865
00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:21,906
Now, here's my question for us:
866
00:38:21,906 --> 00:38:26,405
What is the importance, why is it
867
00:38:26,405 --> 00:38:32,057
so important or pivotal to our hope,
868
00:38:32,057 --> 00:38:35,567
that Jesus rose again?
869
00:38:35,567 --> 00:38:37,264
And I'd like us...Travis, can you
870
00:38:37,264 --> 00:38:40,317
take us to 1 Corinthians, chapter 15?
871
00:38:40,317 --> 00:38:42,780
And we'll take a look
872
00:38:42,780 --> 00:38:47,049
at a few verses, 12 through 19,
873
00:38:47,049 --> 00:38:49,377
and then, Treva, if you would read
874
00:38:49,377 --> 00:38:52,997
verses 20 through 23.
875
00:38:52,997 --> 00:38:54,818
Let's see what the Bible says,
876
00:38:54,818 --> 00:38:57,745
how pivotal this truth
877
00:38:57,745 --> 00:38:59,633
of the resurrection is
878
00:38:59,633 --> 00:39:03,612
to Christians living today.
879
00:39:03,612 --> 00:39:04,780
(Travis) I'll be reading
880
00:39:04,780 --> 00:39:06,390
from the New King James Version,
881
00:39:06,390 --> 00:39:09,482
1 Corinthians, chapter 15, 12 through 19:
882
00:39:59,631 --> 00:40:01,391
(Stephanie) So if Christ didn't rise,
883
00:40:01,391 --> 00:40:04,392
then what is the natural conclusion?
884
00:40:04,392 --> 00:40:07,045
We're still in our sins.
885
00:40:07,045 --> 00:40:08,704
There's no resurrection.
886
00:40:08,704 --> 00:40:12,913
We're miserable, there's no hope,
that's right.
887
00:40:12,913 --> 00:40:16,720
Let's look at verses 20 through 23, Treva?
888
00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:18,004
(Treva) And I'll be reading
889
00:40:18,004 --> 00:40:20,356
from the New King James translation,
890
00:40:20,356 --> 00:40:22,722
1 Corinthians, chapter 15,
891
00:40:22,722 --> 00:40:24,912
starting with verse 20:
892
00:40:56,380 --> 00:40:58,607
(Stephanie) So it's good news
893
00:40:58,607 --> 00:41:01,131
that Christ rose again, right?
894
00:41:01,131 --> 00:41:02,168
Now, does that mean
895
00:41:02,168 --> 00:41:05,785
that death is not a problem?
896
00:41:05,785 --> 00:41:07,565
No, death is an enemy.
897
00:41:07,565 --> 00:41:09,132
That's what the Bible says.
898
00:41:09,132 --> 00:41:11,658
It's an enemy, and it will be destroyed.
899
00:41:11,658 --> 00:41:13,731
But as Christians, Paul says
900
00:41:13,731 --> 00:41:16,088
that we don't sorrow
901
00:41:16,088 --> 00:41:17,968
as those who have no hope.
902
00:41:17,968 --> 00:41:19,788
I'd like us to turn over, and, Nicole,
903
00:41:19,788 --> 00:41:21,320
if you would read this for us,
904
00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:24,922
1 Thessalonians 4, verses 13 through 18,
905
00:41:24,922 --> 00:41:30,888
and see why we can have this hope. Nicole?
906
00:41:30,888 --> 00:41:34,009
(Nicole) 1 Thessalonians 4,
907
00:41:34,009 --> 00:41:35,485
verses 13 through 18,
908
00:41:35,485 --> 00:41:37,793
from the New International Version says:
909
00:42:38,394 --> 00:42:39,665
(Stephanie) Amen. Have you
910
00:42:39,665 --> 00:42:40,669
ever been encouraged
911
00:42:40,669 --> 00:42:45,190
by the truth of the resurrection? Puia.
912
00:42:45,190 --> 00:42:48,272
(Puia) I never got to see my grandfather.
913
00:42:48,272 --> 00:42:51,133
He passed away before I was born,
914
00:42:51,133 --> 00:42:53,549
my grandfather from my father's side.
915
00:42:53,549 --> 00:42:54,886
And last year, when I had
916
00:42:54,886 --> 00:42:56,624
the opportunity to go back home
917
00:42:56,624 --> 00:42:59,124
to my country, Myanmar,
918
00:42:59,124 --> 00:43:00,811
I asked my grandmother
919
00:43:00,811 --> 00:43:05,526
if we could visit my grandfather's grave,
920
00:43:05,526 --> 00:43:06,971
you know, the tombstone,
921
00:43:06,971 --> 00:43:08,546
because, to be honest,
922
00:43:08,546 --> 00:43:10,658
I never really remembered
923
00:43:10,658 --> 00:43:12,255
that I'd ever visited
924
00:43:12,255 --> 00:43:14,240
that place, the cemetery.
925
00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:16,310
So we went over there, and we realized
926
00:43:16,310 --> 00:43:21,473
that there were no more markings.
927
00:43:21,473 --> 00:43:22,750
It was just a stone,
928
00:43:22,750 --> 00:43:24,987
and the markings were almost gone.
929
00:43:24,987 --> 00:43:26,946
So I told my grandma, "Grandma,
930
00:43:26,946 --> 00:43:28,769
we have to do something about this.
931
00:43:28,769 --> 00:43:31,297
We need to create a new,
932
00:43:31,297 --> 00:43:33,146
at least a good-looking tombstone,
933
00:43:33,146 --> 00:43:35,277
so that people in the future, you know,
934
00:43:35,277 --> 00:43:37,655
maybe, who knows, in the future
935
00:43:37,655 --> 00:43:39,419
our families would like to come back
936
00:43:39,419 --> 00:43:40,903
and know that this is where
937
00:43:40,903 --> 00:43:42,511
our grandfather is laid at rest."
938
00:43:42,511 --> 00:43:44,506
Now, the thing about my grandfather was
939
00:43:44,506 --> 00:43:47,186
he was once an alcoholic.
940
00:43:47,186 --> 00:43:49,674
I knew at least that much about him.
941
00:43:49,674 --> 00:43:51,585
So in my mind, growing up,
942
00:43:51,585 --> 00:43:54,859
I used to wonder, question, you know,
943
00:43:54,859 --> 00:43:55,912
will I ever get to see
944
00:43:55,912 --> 00:43:57,809
my grandfather again,
945
00:43:57,809 --> 00:43:59,934
because, if he was an alcoholic,
946
00:43:59,934 --> 00:44:02,753
and if he did not really accept Jesus,
947
00:44:02,753 --> 00:44:04,546
then I didn't know
948
00:44:04,546 --> 00:44:06,229
if there could be any hope.
949
00:44:06,229 --> 00:44:07,367
That was the question
950
00:44:07,367 --> 00:44:08,795
that I had growing up
951
00:44:08,795 --> 00:44:10,099
because nobody ever told me
952
00:44:10,099 --> 00:44:11,157
much about his life,
953
00:44:11,157 --> 00:44:12,758
and all I knew was that he was
954
00:44:12,758 --> 00:44:14,420
never really someone who liked
955
00:44:14,420 --> 00:44:16,514
to go to church or read the Bible.
956
00:44:16,514 --> 00:44:18,686
So my grandmother said sure,
957
00:44:18,686 --> 00:44:20,863
so we called our family.
958
00:44:20,863 --> 00:44:22,631
We had a get together, we had a meal,
959
00:44:22,631 --> 00:44:25,303
and we talked about repairing the place
960
00:44:25,303 --> 00:44:27,110
where my grandfather is laid to rest.
961
00:44:27,110 --> 00:44:29,695
And in that process, one of my uncles
962
00:44:29,695 --> 00:44:31,098
stood up and shared
963
00:44:31,098 --> 00:44:33,074
a story about my grandpa.
964
00:44:33,074 --> 00:44:35,317
And one of the things he said was
965
00:44:35,317 --> 00:44:37,839
that just before my grandfather
passed away,
966
00:44:37,839 --> 00:44:39,929
he said my grandfather was
967
00:44:39,929 --> 00:44:43,205
going through that moment of repentance.
968
00:44:43,205 --> 00:44:45,232
He said my grandfather was crying,
969
00:44:45,232 --> 00:44:47,712
he said, on his deathbed,
970
00:44:47,712 --> 00:44:50,990
saying, like, "Oh, am I to meet Jesus
971
00:44:50,990 --> 00:44:53,385
without bringing anyone along with me?"
972
00:44:53,385 --> 00:44:56,506
You know, without bringing anyone to Him.
973
00:44:56,506 --> 00:44:59,257
"Am I to meet my Lord?"
974
00:44:59,257 --> 00:45:01,754
With those dying words,
975
00:45:01,754 --> 00:45:03,327
my grandpa passed away.
976
00:45:03,327 --> 00:45:05,339
So, when he said that,
977
00:45:05,339 --> 00:45:07,481
I realized, "Wait a minute.
978
00:45:07,481 --> 00:45:09,584
My grandfather repented of his sin
979
00:45:09,584 --> 00:45:12,917
just before he passed away,
and accepted Jesus!
980
00:45:12,917 --> 00:45:15,632
And that gave me so much hope,
981
00:45:15,632 --> 00:45:17,290
knowing that one day,
982
00:45:17,290 --> 00:45:19,065
when Jesus comes again,
983
00:45:19,065 --> 00:45:21,770
I will get to see my grandfather again.
984
00:45:21,770 --> 00:45:24,413
(Stephanie) Amen. I think all of us,
985
00:45:24,413 --> 00:45:25,565
I don't know about you,
986
00:45:25,565 --> 00:45:26,540
but in our minds,
987
00:45:26,540 --> 00:45:28,104
we're thinking about that person
988
00:45:28,104 --> 00:45:30,999
that we're going to meet.
989
00:45:30,999 --> 00:45:35,127
I know that I am, and, you know,
990
00:45:35,127 --> 00:45:36,478
as I think about that,
991
00:45:36,478 --> 00:45:37,804
we have such a hope
992
00:45:37,804 --> 00:45:40,395
in that resurrection morning.
993
00:45:40,395 --> 00:45:43,957
But some people are fearful of death,
994
00:45:43,957 --> 00:45:45,531
and they're fearful of death
995
00:45:45,531 --> 00:45:47,104
because of the judgment.
996
00:45:47,104 --> 00:45:48,857
They know, the Bible speaks
997
00:45:48,857 --> 00:45:52,674
that at the time of judgment,
998
00:45:52,674 --> 00:45:56,653
we will stand before the Judge,
999
00:45:56,653 --> 00:45:58,677
and the question is,
1000
00:45:58,677 --> 00:46:02,557
who is going to be with us, and what hope
1001
00:46:02,557 --> 00:46:07,375
do we have in this judgment?
1002
00:46:07,375 --> 00:46:09,201
So I'd like us to take a look
1003
00:46:09,201 --> 00:46:11,395
at John, chapter 5,
1004
00:46:11,395 --> 00:46:16,781
and verses 22 through 24,
1005
00:46:16,781 --> 00:46:19,207
and see what the Bible says
1006
00:46:19,207 --> 00:46:21,177
about the hope that we can have
1007
00:46:21,177 --> 00:46:23,250
even in the judgment.
1008
00:46:23,250 --> 00:46:27,515
John, chapter 5, verses 22 through 24,
1009
00:46:27,515 --> 00:46:31,374
and, Adison, would you read that for us?
1010
00:46:31,374 --> 00:46:32,871
(Adison) Sure, and I'm reading
1011
00:46:32,871 --> 00:46:34,632
from the King James Version:
1012
00:47:08,137 --> 00:47:09,634
(Stephanie) So, where do you
1013
00:47:09,634 --> 00:47:12,692
find hope in that passage? Tricia Lee.
1014
00:47:12,692 --> 00:47:15,872
(Tricia Lee) I think about the criminal
justice system in the U.S.
1015
00:47:15,872 --> 00:47:18,275
There is a court, there is a judge,
1016
00:47:18,275 --> 00:47:20,333
there is a jury, there are
1017
00:47:20,333 --> 00:47:24,490
typically lawyers, prosecution
and defense,
1018
00:47:24,490 --> 00:47:26,759
and there could be witnesses
here or there.
1019
00:47:26,759 --> 00:47:28,224
If we read through the whole
1020
00:47:28,224 --> 00:47:30,260
Great Controversy themes of the Bible,
1021
00:47:30,260 --> 00:47:32,891
we're told that our great adversary,
1022
00:47:32,891 --> 00:47:35,148
the devil, is always trying to accuse us.
1023
00:47:35,148 --> 00:47:37,109
But here it's as if the system
1024
00:47:37,109 --> 00:47:39,086
is rigged in our favor, that the Person
1025
00:47:39,086 --> 00:47:41,261
who is advocating for us is Jesus,
1026
00:47:41,261 --> 00:47:44,751
the Person who is our
greatest sacrifice is Jesus,
1027
00:47:44,757 --> 00:47:46,695
the One who is witnessing on our behalf
1028
00:47:46,695 --> 00:47:48,408
is still Jesus and the Holy Spirit
1029
00:47:48,408 --> 00:47:50,832
who knows the conversion process
we've been through.
1030
00:47:50,832 --> 00:47:53,344
And now we find out that the judgment
1031
00:47:53,344 --> 00:47:55,465
is also being given to Jesus.
1032
00:47:55,465 --> 00:47:57,415
It's not as if we should take it lightly,
1033
00:47:57,415 --> 00:47:59,265
we can live our lives any way we want,
1034
00:47:59,265 --> 00:48:00,831
but we're seeing here that God
1035
00:48:00,831 --> 00:48:03,132
is literally doing everything He can
1036
00:48:03,132 --> 00:48:05,283
so that the ruling is in our favor.
1037
00:48:05,283 --> 00:48:07,385
If we accept His mercy and His sacrifice,
1038
00:48:07,385 --> 00:48:08,682
what He's doing for us,
1039
00:48:08,682 --> 00:48:10,606
it's like, how can we lose
1040
00:48:10,606 --> 00:48:13,235
when judgment is in favor of the saints?
1041
00:48:13,235 --> 00:48:15,229
it's in favor of His people.
1042
00:48:15,229 --> 00:48:17,758
(Stephanie) Amen. That's beautiful.
1043
00:48:17,758 --> 00:48:19,461
And I'd like for you to think
1044
00:48:19,461 --> 00:48:21,111
of maybe a Bible verse.
1045
00:48:21,111 --> 00:48:23,176
There's someone who may be watching today.
1046
00:48:23,176 --> 00:48:26,176
You may be watching us for the first time,
1047
00:48:26,176 --> 00:48:28,184
and you're wondering, "How can I
1048
00:48:28,184 --> 00:48:30,917
have hope in the time of judgment?"
1049
00:48:30,917 --> 00:48:33,012
So, what would you say to someone
1050
00:48:33,012 --> 00:48:35,781
who is wondering, "How do I
1051
00:48:35,781 --> 00:48:38,538
find hope even in the judgment?" Travis.
1052
00:48:38,538 --> 00:48:39,846
(Travis) I think of Romans,
1053
00:48:39,846 --> 00:48:41,676
chapter 5, verse 20.
1054
00:48:41,676 --> 00:48:43,701
(Stephanie) Romans, chapter 5, verse 20?
1055
00:48:43,701 --> 00:48:45,458
Would you like to read that for us?
1056
00:48:45,458 --> 00:48:46,543
(Travis) Sure, sure.
1057
00:48:46,543 --> 00:48:48,578
(Stephanie) Romans, chapter 5, verse 20,
1058
00:48:48,578 --> 00:48:50,799
and we're looking at hope
1059
00:48:50,799 --> 00:48:54,249
in the time of judgment.
1060
00:48:55,699 --> 00:48:58,052
All right, Romans, chapter 5,
1061
00:48:58,052 --> 00:48:59,230
(Travis) I'll be reading
1062
00:48:59,230 --> 00:49:00,927
from the New King James Version:
1063
00:49:09,966 --> 00:49:12,204
(Stephanie) So, unpack that a little bit.
1064
00:49:12,204 --> 00:49:14,152
What would you say to that person?
1065
00:49:14,152 --> 00:49:15,883
(Travis) So somebody who is fearful
1066
00:49:15,883 --> 00:49:17,821
of the judgment, has thought,
1067
00:49:17,821 --> 00:49:19,735
"I have so many sins in my life.
1068
00:49:19,735 --> 00:49:21,857
I have so many things in my life,"
1069
00:49:21,857 --> 00:49:23,898
but Jesus says if you confess your sins,
1070
00:49:23,898 --> 00:49:26,020
He is faithful to forgive us
1071
00:49:26,020 --> 00:49:27,973
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1072
00:49:27,973 --> 00:49:29,390
(Stephanie) First John 1:9?
1073
00:49:29,390 --> 00:49:31,050
(Travis) Yeah, and then I think,
1074
00:49:31,050 --> 00:49:33,187
"How could He ever do this?"
1075
00:49:33,187 --> 00:49:35,820
And we can go to Romans 5:20 and say,
1076
00:49:35,820 --> 00:49:37,542
"Where sin abounds,
1077
00:49:37,542 --> 00:49:39,383
grace abounds much more."
1078
00:49:39,383 --> 00:49:42,854
He has more grace than you have sin.
1079
00:49:42,854 --> 00:49:45,217
(Stephanie) Was there another verse?
Yes, Jason.
1080
00:49:45,217 --> 00:49:47,690
(Jason) I've got an oldie but a goody.
1081
00:49:47,690 --> 00:49:49,848
(Stephanie) What verse would you
like to read?
1082
00:49:49,848 --> 00:49:50,910
(Jason) It's Psalms,
1083
00:49:50,910 --> 00:49:54,293
the eighty-sixth chapter, verse 5.
1084
00:49:54,293 --> 00:49:57,899
(Stephanie) Psalm 86 and verse 5,
1085
00:49:57,899 --> 00:50:00,463
and we're looking at promises
1086
00:50:00,463 --> 00:50:04,006
for hope in the time of judgment.
1087
00:50:04,006 --> 00:50:04,920
(Jason) I'm reading
1088
00:50:04,920 --> 00:50:07,753
from the New King James Version,
1089
00:50:07,753 --> 00:50:09,094
and the Bible says:
1090
00:50:19,478 --> 00:50:21,297
So it just shows that God,
1091
00:50:21,297 --> 00:50:24,321
He's ready to forgive.
1092
00:50:24,321 --> 00:50:25,587
He's sitting there waiting
1093
00:50:25,587 --> 00:50:27,242
for us to come unto Him, you know,
1094
00:50:27,242 --> 00:50:29,632
to be forgiven of our sins,
our trespasses,
1095
00:50:29,632 --> 00:50:31,182
so that He can just embrace us
1096
00:50:31,182 --> 00:50:33,705
like that picture in the Prodigal Son.
1097
00:50:33,705 --> 00:50:35,426
You know, the father, just waiting,
1098
00:50:35,426 --> 00:50:37,678
looking for his son to come to him,
1099
00:50:37,678 --> 00:50:39,069
so that he can embrace him,
1100
00:50:39,069 --> 00:50:40,762
so that's what I get from that.
1101
00:50:40,762 --> 00:50:41,673
(Stephanie) Derek.
1102
00:50:41,673 --> 00:50:43,091
(Derek) And that Scripture song
1103
00:50:43,091 --> 00:50:44,268
that Jason just read
1104
00:50:44,268 --> 00:50:46,420
was written by someone
1105
00:50:46,420 --> 00:50:48,187
who had committed adultery
1106
00:50:48,187 --> 00:50:51,119
and murdered someone and lied,
1107
00:50:51,119 --> 00:50:52,894
and damaged his family,
1108
00:50:52,894 --> 00:50:55,323
but had the courage to say,
1109
00:50:55,323 --> 00:50:58,421
"Create in me a clean heart, O God."
1110
00:50:58,421 --> 00:51:00,050
So he confessed his sins,
1111
00:51:00,050 --> 00:51:02,027
"Renew a right spirit within me."
1112
00:51:02,027 --> 00:51:04,715
And now he can write that testimony
1113
00:51:04,715 --> 00:51:06,814
because he's experienced it.
1114
00:51:06,814 --> 00:51:08,254
And I think hope comes,
1115
00:51:08,254 --> 00:51:10,451
even though we don't see, like you said,
1116
00:51:10,451 --> 00:51:13,514
we have seen what God is doing now,
1117
00:51:13,514 --> 00:51:15,999
and that gives us confidence
in His promise.
1118
00:51:15,999 --> 00:51:18,554
(Stephanie) Yes, and that reminds me
1119
00:51:18,554 --> 00:51:20,557
of the verse in 1 John 4.
1120
00:51:20,557 --> 00:51:25,236
We won't read it, but there's
no fear in love.
1121
00:51:25,236 --> 00:51:26,556
And when you have this,
1122
00:51:26,556 --> 00:51:28,911
when you know that God loves you,
1123
00:51:28,911 --> 00:51:30,382
and that Jesus loves you,
1124
00:51:30,382 --> 00:51:32,250
that fear at the time of judgment,
1125
00:51:32,250 --> 00:51:37,180
because He's standing
beside you, it is, it's gone.
1126
00:51:37,180 --> 00:51:42,010
We want to move on to our last hope
1127
00:51:42,010 --> 00:51:43,652
that we're going to look at,
1128
00:51:43,652 --> 00:51:45,080
which is hope realized
1129
00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:47,907
in the new heavens and the new Earth.
1130
00:51:47,907 --> 00:51:49,745
And I'd like us to take a look.
1131
00:51:49,745 --> 00:51:52,755
We know that from 2 Peter
1132
00:51:52,755 --> 00:51:56,424
that this new heavens and a new Earth,
1133
00:51:56,424 --> 00:52:01,562
this is where righteousness dwells.
1134
00:52:01,562 --> 00:52:06,298
When you hear that, what do you think of?
1135
00:52:06,298 --> 00:52:07,615
What comes to your mind?
1136
00:52:07,615 --> 00:52:09,713
(Derek) My favorite Hebrew word,
Hallelujah,
1137
00:52:09,713 --> 00:52:11,656
you know, because it doesn't dwell here.
1138
00:52:11,656 --> 00:52:14,671
I mean, we seek to let righteousness
be revealed
1139
00:52:14,671 --> 00:52:16,410
but there's so much darkness
1140
00:52:16,410 --> 00:52:18,048
in this present world.
1141
00:52:18,048 --> 00:52:20,169
(Stephanie) Right, and we
can't even imagine.
1142
00:52:20,169 --> 00:52:25,363
I think that we're so blinded
1143
00:52:25,363 --> 00:52:27,103
to the reality of what sin
1144
00:52:27,103 --> 00:52:29,495
has done to our world
1145
00:52:29,495 --> 00:52:31,118
that we can't even imagine
1146
00:52:31,118 --> 00:52:32,660
what that would look like,
1147
00:52:32,660 --> 00:52:37,418
except Revelation, chapter 21 and 22,
1148
00:52:37,418 --> 00:52:39,242
and, you know, I think we're
1149
00:52:39,242 --> 00:52:40,347
just going to go ahead
1150
00:52:40,347 --> 00:52:42,097
and read verses 1 through 5
1151
00:52:42,097 --> 00:52:44,641
in Revelation, chapter 21.
1152
00:52:44,641 --> 00:52:46,142
And, Evelyn, if you
1153
00:52:46,142 --> 00:52:47,703
would read that for us.
1154
00:52:47,703 --> 00:52:50,757
And then we'll read verses 1 through 5
1155
00:52:50,757 --> 00:52:54,256
in chapter 22 of this same book
in Revelation.
1156
00:52:54,256 --> 00:52:57,363
And, Jason, would you
1157
00:52:57,363 --> 00:52:59,422
be prepared to read that.
1158
00:52:59,422 --> 00:53:03,875
So, Revelation 21, verses 1 through 5.
1159
00:53:03,875 --> 00:53:05,138
(Evelyn) I will be reading
1160
00:53:05,138 --> 00:53:07,022
from the New King James Version:
1161
00:54:01,639 --> 00:54:04,052
(Stephanie) True and faithful words.
1162
00:54:04,052 --> 00:54:06,935
Jason, would you read for us
1163
00:54:06,935 --> 00:54:10,074
Revelation 22, verses 1 through 5?
1164
00:54:10,074 --> 00:54:11,226
(Jason) I'll be reading
1165
00:54:11,226 --> 00:54:12,760
from the New King James Version,
1166
00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:14,441
Revelation, chapter 22,
1167
00:54:14,441 --> 00:54:16,265
verses 1 through 5:
1168
00:54:59,290 --> 00:55:01,168
(Stephanie) Amen. And, by the way,
1169
00:55:01,168 --> 00:55:02,404
in the next verse, it says
1170
00:55:02,404 --> 00:55:05,502
that these words are faithful and true.
1171
00:55:05,502 --> 00:55:07,204
So, some people think
1172
00:55:07,204 --> 00:55:09,793
that this is a fairytale.
1173
00:55:09,793 --> 00:55:12,122
Do you believe the Word of God?
1174
00:55:12,122 --> 00:55:13,351
(Team) Yes.
1175
00:55:13,351 --> 00:55:14,746
(Stephanie) Can you imagine
1176
00:55:14,746 --> 00:55:21,037
what that will be like? Wow.
1177
00:55:21,937 --> 00:55:24,219
(Derek) And the reason we can
believe, Stephanie,
1178
00:55:24,219 --> 00:55:25,851
is because He's been so faithful
1179
00:55:25,851 --> 00:55:28,414
with the other promises He's given us.
1180
00:55:28,414 --> 00:55:30,692
He's given us freedom
1181
00:55:30,692 --> 00:55:32,500
from the guilt of sin.
1182
00:55:32,500 --> 00:55:34,294
He's given us a new heart.
1183
00:55:34,294 --> 00:55:36,410
We've seen the miracles, healings
1184
00:55:36,410 --> 00:55:38,664
that he's done in our friends' lives.
1185
00:55:38,664 --> 00:55:41,029
This is not just something
we're imagining.
1186
00:55:41,029 --> 00:55:43,855
It's based on our relationship with Him,
1187
00:55:43,855 --> 00:55:47,822
that we trust His promise.
1188
00:55:47,822 --> 00:55:49,852
(Stephanie) As you think about it...
1189
00:55:49,852 --> 00:55:52,870
And we've looked at the hope
1190
00:55:52,870 --> 00:55:55,288
that we have in God. Why?
1191
00:55:55,288 --> 00:55:56,560
Because we know that we're
1192
00:55:56,560 --> 00:55:58,210
in a broken world.
1193
00:55:58,210 --> 00:56:00,666
We have hope in God.
1194
00:56:00,666 --> 00:56:05,830
We have hope in the Second Coming
of Jesus.
1195
00:56:05,830 --> 00:56:08,143
We have hope in the resurrection
1196
00:56:08,143 --> 00:56:11,192
because of Jesus.
1197
00:56:11,192 --> 00:56:14,107
We have hope at the time of judgment
1198
00:56:14,107 --> 00:56:17,837
because Jesus will stand beside us.
1199
00:56:17,837 --> 00:56:22,985
And we have hope in eternity with Jesus.
1200
00:56:22,985 --> 00:56:25,345
Isn't this something that we want
1201
00:56:25,345 --> 00:56:27,653
to share with others?
1202
00:56:27,653 --> 00:56:29,960
There are people that need
1203
00:56:29,960 --> 00:56:33,646
to hear about Jesus.
1204
00:56:33,646 --> 00:56:37,461
The hope that we have in Jesus,
this Advent hope,
1205
00:56:37,461 --> 00:56:39,666
doesn't it make us want
1206
00:56:39,666 --> 00:56:43,033
to just get up and do something?
1207
00:56:43,033 --> 00:56:44,624
I hope that that's what we'll
1208
00:56:44,624 --> 00:56:46,175
walk away with today,
1209
00:56:46,175 --> 00:56:47,557
as we think about that,
1210
00:56:47,557 --> 00:56:49,880
that our hope really is in Jesus,
1211
00:56:49,880 --> 00:56:52,088
and we need to share that with others.
1212
00:56:52,088 --> 00:56:53,333
(Team) Amen.
1213
00:56:53,333 --> 00:56:54,509
(Derek) And I'm so glad
1214
00:56:54,509 --> 00:56:56,470
it's called Hope Sabbath School
1215
00:56:56,470 --> 00:56:58,831
because we've been talking
about hope today.
1216
00:56:58,831 --> 00:57:00,973
And really that's just God's leading
1217
00:57:00,973 --> 00:57:03,844
because without hope, people die.
1218
00:57:03,844 --> 00:57:05,412
But we have hope in Jesus.
1219
00:57:05,412 --> 00:57:07,259
Thank you, Stephanie; thank you, team.
1220
00:57:07,259 --> 00:57:08,761
Thank you to you for joining us
1221
00:57:08,761 --> 00:57:10,135
for our study today.
1222
00:57:10,135 --> 00:57:12,485
And, yes, how can we keep
1223
00:57:12,485 --> 00:57:13,887
that hope to ourselves?
1224
00:57:13,887 --> 00:57:18,259
We need to share that hope,
that Advent hope
1225
00:57:18,259 --> 00:57:19,564
with those around us.
1226
00:57:19,564 --> 00:57:21,235
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,
1227
00:57:21,235 --> 00:57:23,154
we're so blessed as we come
1228
00:57:23,154 --> 00:57:24,257
and believe Your Word.
1229
00:57:24,257 --> 00:57:25,571
You've been so faithful
1230
00:57:25,571 --> 00:57:27,599
to all of the other promises
1231
00:57:27,599 --> 00:57:29,987
that have been already fulfilled
in our lives.
1232
00:57:29,987 --> 00:57:31,451
Thank You that Your Words
1233
00:57:31,451 --> 00:57:33,208
are faithful and true.
1234
00:57:33,208 --> 00:57:35,024
And thank You that we can
1235
00:57:35,024 --> 00:57:36,694
live the Advent hope
1236
00:57:36,694 --> 00:57:38,243
and share that hope with others.
1237
00:57:38,243 --> 00:57:40,396
In Jesus' name. Amen.
1238
00:57:40,396 --> 00:57:41,327
(Team) Amen.
1239
00:57:41,327 --> 00:57:42,488
(Derek) How can you keep
1240
00:57:42,488 --> 00:57:43,795
that hope to yourself
1241
00:57:43,795 --> 00:57:44,800
when there are people
1242
00:57:44,800 --> 00:57:46,504
who feel hopeless all around us.
1243
00:57:46,504 --> 00:57:48,422
Take that Advent hope
1244
00:57:48,422 --> 00:57:49,742
and make a difference
1245
00:57:49,742 --> 00:57:51,475
in the lives of those around you.
1246
00:57:51,475 --> 00:58:29,091
♪ theme music ♪