1
00:00:00,070 --> 00:00:19,916
♪ theme music ♪

2
00:00:19,916 --> 00:00:21,770
(Jason) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

3
00:00:21,770 --> 00:00:23,396
an in-depth, interactive study

4
00:00:23,396 --> 00:00:24,775
of the Word of God.

5
00:00:24,775 --> 00:00:26,449
We're glad you've joined us today,

6
00:00:26,449 --> 00:00:30,350
as we continue another exciting
lesson series here,

7
00:00:30,350 --> 00:00:33,080
from the books of <i>Ezra and Nehemiah</i>

8
00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,194
about <i>Our Forgiving God.</i>

9
00:00:35,194 --> 00:00:36,853
Even when we've made mistakes,

10
00:00:36,853 --> 00:00:39,182
even when we've gone our own way,

11
00:00:39,182 --> 00:00:41,484
God is still there, loving us,

12
00:00:41,484 --> 00:00:43,041
ready to forgive us.

13
00:00:43,041 --> 00:00:45,374
And we're very happy we have
the team here.

14
00:00:45,374 --> 00:00:47,470
Hasn't this been a blessed series

15
00:00:47,470 --> 00:00:48,955
that we've experienced?

16
00:00:48,955 --> 00:00:49,737
(Team) Amen!

17
00:00:49,737 --> 00:00:51,322
(Jason) These Old Testament books

18
00:00:51,322 --> 00:00:53,070
are coming alive, and we're finding

19
00:00:53,070 --> 00:00:54,484
practical lessons from them

20
00:00:54,484 --> 00:00:56,851
that maybe we had never seen before.

21
00:00:56,851 --> 00:00:59,817
We're also happy to hear from you,
our [viewers].

22
00:00:59,817 --> 00:01:01,414
If you haven't written to us,

23
00:01:01,414 --> 00:01:02,798
feel free to write to us

24
00:01:02,798 --> 00:01:06,239
at sshope@hopetv.org.

25
00:01:06,239 --> 00:01:08,262
And right now we have some letters

26
00:01:08,262 --> 00:01:10,060
that we want to share with you.

27
00:01:10,060 --> 00:01:14,776
The first one comes from our friend Kanga
in South Sudan,

28
00:01:14,776 --> 00:01:18,199
one of the newest countries we have
in the world.

29
00:01:18,199 --> 00:01:20,966
Kanga writes and says, "Dear members

30
00:01:20,966 --> 00:01:23,337
of the in-depth, interactive study

31
00:01:23,337 --> 00:01:24,953
of the Word of God."

32
00:01:24,953 --> 00:01:26,721
You can tell he's paying attention.

33
00:01:26,721 --> 00:01:30,119
"Greetings to you from Kanga John Matthew

34
00:01:30,119 --> 00:01:33,431
in Wau town, South Sudan.

35
00:01:33,431 --> 00:01:35,248
I am a regular watcher

36
00:01:35,248 --> 00:01:38,047
of Hope Sabbath School; I feel impressed

37
00:01:38,047 --> 00:01:40,850
by your lively lesson discussions

38
00:01:40,850 --> 00:01:42,198
of the book of Revelation."

39
00:01:42,198 --> 00:01:43,260
So, he's been watching

40
00:01:43,260 --> 00:01:44,631
something from Revelation.

41
00:01:44,631 --> 00:01:48,252
"You are doing extraordinarily great jobs

42
00:01:48,252 --> 00:01:51,339
for the Lord in the sight of the viewers.

43
00:01:51,339 --> 00:01:53,676
You are building the families of God,

44
00:01:53,676 --> 00:01:56,487
which are scattered all over the world,"

45
00:01:56,487 --> 00:01:58,007
which, actually, makes me think

46
00:01:58,007 --> 00:01:59,396
of the story of Nehemiah,

47
00:01:59,396 --> 00:02:01,133
where the people had been scattered.

48
00:02:01,133 --> 00:02:03,195
And yet, through Hope Sabbath School,

49
00:02:03,195 --> 00:02:04,713
we can all come together,

50
00:02:04,713 --> 00:02:05,760
no matter what parts

51
00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:06,876
of the world we're in.

52
00:02:06,876 --> 00:02:08,844
And he closes by saying this,

53
00:02:08,844 --> 00:02:11,426
"As His children, let us focus

54
00:02:11,426 --> 00:02:14,267
our eyes all on Him,

55
00:02:14,267 --> 00:02:18,770
and we shall be victorious as He is."

56
00:02:18,770 --> 00:02:20,399
Thank you, Kanga;

57
00:02:20,399 --> 00:02:26,278
that is such a blessed and encouraging
message for all of us.

58
00:02:26,278 --> 00:02:28,497
We also have Joann who writes to us

59
00:02:28,497 --> 00:02:30,151
from the state of Georgia

60
00:02:30,151 --> 00:02:31,699
in the United States.

61
00:02:31,699 --> 00:02:34,793
She says, "I am Joann Dustin,

62
00:02:34,793 --> 00:02:37,627
and I live in Georgia, USA.

63
00:02:37,627 --> 00:02:40,548
I'm an assistant instructor at my church.

64
00:02:40,548 --> 00:02:43,328
I'm very grateful for Hope Sabbath School

65
00:02:43,328 --> 00:02:45,322
for I learn more about God

66
00:02:45,322 --> 00:02:47,726
and gain more knowledge to share

67
00:02:47,726 --> 00:02:49,744
with my new friends

68
00:02:49,744 --> 00:02:53,329
and strengthen my faith to patiently wait

69
00:02:53,329 --> 00:02:57,101
for our wonderful Savior to return.

70
00:02:57,101 --> 00:02:58,982
In the New Jerusalem,

71
00:02:58,982 --> 00:03:02,128
I hope to get answers to all my questions

72
00:03:02,128 --> 00:03:04,682
and finally see my God."

73
00:03:04,682 --> 00:03:05,632
(Team) Amen.

74
00:03:05,632 --> 00:03:07,247
(Jason) Amen, Joann.

75
00:03:07,247 --> 00:03:09,040
We're looking forward to that, too.

76
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:10,514
While we're here on this earth,

77
00:03:10,514 --> 00:03:12,118
we do have answers in the Bible;

78
00:03:12,118 --> 00:03:13,537
our Hope Sabbath School team,

79
00:03:13,537 --> 00:03:15,763
we do the best we can to answer questions,

80
00:03:15,763 --> 00:03:17,714
but we ultimately know that, in the end,

81
00:03:17,714 --> 00:03:19,549
we will get the full answers

82
00:03:19,549 --> 00:03:21,646
when we are there, with our God.

83
00:03:21,646 --> 00:03:22,815
And so, just as you're

84
00:03:22,815 --> 00:03:25,052
waiting forward to see our God,

85
00:03:25,052 --> 00:03:28,469
we are waiting for that moment as well.

86
00:03:28,469 --> 00:03:31,104
We have Nadene who writes to us.

87
00:03:31,104 --> 00:03:33,021
Now, the interesting thing here, Nadene,

88
00:03:33,021 --> 00:03:36,630
she's from the United Kingdom,
but she's living

89
00:03:36,630 --> 00:03:38,995
in the United Arab Emirates.

90
00:03:38,995 --> 00:03:40,469
We are a global family,

91
00:03:40,469 --> 00:03:41,752
and as you see here,

92
00:03:41,752 --> 00:03:44,283
we come from many different countries.

93
00:03:44,283 --> 00:03:48,034
She says, "Hello, I tune into your show

94
00:03:48,034 --> 00:03:50,306
every week online."

95
00:03:50,306 --> 00:03:52,469
So, she's not necessarily watching us
on a TV,

96
00:03:52,469 --> 00:03:53,585
she's watching online,

97
00:03:53,585 --> 00:03:55,103
which actually reminds me

98
00:03:55,103 --> 00:03:57,571
that we have a Hope Channel app

99
00:03:57,571 --> 00:03:59,553
that you can go ahead and download.

100
00:03:59,553 --> 00:04:02,281
Go to the App Store, go to Google Play;

101
00:04:02,281 --> 00:04:03,489
on that Hope Channel app,

102
00:04:03,489 --> 00:04:05,027
you'll get Hope Sabbath School

103
00:04:05,027 --> 00:04:08,115
and many other amazing Bible programs

104
00:04:08,115 --> 00:04:09,629
that will bless you

105
00:04:09,629 --> 00:04:11,075
and can help change your life.

106
00:04:11,075 --> 00:04:12,613
And so, just as Nadene here

107
00:04:12,613 --> 00:04:13,807
is watching online,

108
00:04:13,807 --> 00:04:15,755
download the app, and you can watch

109
00:04:15,755 --> 00:04:18,242
through online services as well.

110
00:04:18,242 --> 00:04:21,898
So Nadene says that, "I really enjoy

111
00:04:21,898 --> 00:04:24,185
all of the engaging topics

112
00:04:24,185 --> 00:04:26,797
and probing questions."

113
00:04:26,797 --> 00:04:28,785
The topics, the questions,

114
00:04:28,785 --> 00:04:31,417
this isn't just surface-level material.

115
00:04:31,417 --> 00:04:34,330
She says, "I recently got baptized

116
00:04:34,330 --> 00:04:36,295
and moved from my home in England

117
00:04:36,295 --> 00:04:38,248
to the United Arab Emirates.

118
00:04:38,248 --> 00:04:41,523
There have been a few restrictions
here on worship,

119
00:04:41,523 --> 00:04:43,626
but God has been good

120
00:04:43,626 --> 00:04:45,312
and has provided me

121
00:04:45,312 --> 00:04:47,110
with many opportunities

122
00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:49,451
to witness to others.

123
00:04:49,451 --> 00:04:52,327
The church appreciates that I'm a teacher

124
00:04:52,327 --> 00:04:55,123
and recently started to ask me

125
00:04:55,123 --> 00:04:56,346
to do the lesson study

126
00:04:56,346 --> 00:04:58,856
on Saturday morning.

127
00:04:58,856 --> 00:05:01,677
At first, I found it daunting

128
00:05:01,677 --> 00:05:04,665
because I had no idea what to do

129
00:05:04,665 --> 00:05:06,378
or where to start.

130
00:05:06,378 --> 00:05:09,690
But, thank the Lord, I have discovered

131
00:05:09,690 --> 00:05:13,535
I can download your wonderful programs

132
00:05:13,535 --> 00:05:15,665
from Hope Sabbath School.

133
00:05:15,665 --> 00:05:17,934
I have received many blessings

134
00:05:17,934 --> 00:05:19,893
since my move to the UAE,"

135
00:05:19,893 --> 00:05:21,527
(United Arab Emirates),

136
00:05:21,527 --> 00:05:22,770
"and have also been asked

137
00:05:22,770 --> 00:05:24,805
to do Adventist youth program

138
00:05:24,805 --> 00:05:26,190
after the main sermon

139
00:05:26,190 --> 00:05:29,313
as well as a recent request

140
00:05:29,313 --> 00:05:32,980
to preach a sermon to the whole church.

141
00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:36,437
Thank you for your wonderful lessons,
Nadene."

142
00:05:36,437 --> 00:05:39,327
Wow, so, from Hope Sabbath School

143
00:05:39,327 --> 00:05:40,814
to the youth program

144
00:05:40,814 --> 00:05:42,584
to preaching the sermon,

145
00:05:42,584 --> 00:05:44,763
once you start sharing the Word of God,

146
00:05:44,763 --> 00:05:46,112
once you start understanding

147
00:05:46,112 --> 00:05:47,311
the Word of God,

148
00:05:47,311 --> 00:05:50,011
there's no limit to what God
can use you [for]

149
00:05:50,011 --> 00:05:52,259
and how He can use you.

150
00:05:52,259 --> 00:05:54,442
Now we have a couple who write to us

151
00:05:54,442 --> 00:05:56,682
from the state of New York;
they are donors,

152
00:05:56,682 --> 00:05:57,990
and because they're donors,

153
00:05:57,990 --> 00:05:59,622
we don't want to give their names.

154
00:05:59,622 --> 00:06:01,336
This is not about glorifying self.

155
00:06:01,336 --> 00:06:02,987
We are a donor-supported ministry,

156
00:06:02,987 --> 00:06:04,769
and we're thankful that this couple

157
00:06:04,769 --> 00:06:05,826
has partnered with us,

158
00:06:05,826 --> 00:06:07,675
but ultimately this is not about us,

159
00:06:07,675 --> 00:06:10,006
this is about giving glory to God.

160
00:06:10,006 --> 00:06:11,665
Now, this couple writes and says,

161
00:06:11,665 --> 00:06:12,851
"When we think of all

162
00:06:12,851 --> 00:06:14,446
the soul-winning services

163
00:06:14,446 --> 00:06:15,930
that have been conducted,

164
00:06:15,930 --> 00:06:17,070
and we also think

165
00:06:17,070 --> 00:06:18,916
about the condition of the world,

166
00:06:18,916 --> 00:06:23,291
at times we ponder how long-suffering
our God is,

167
00:06:23,291 --> 00:06:25,877
not willing that any should perish

168
00:06:25,877 --> 00:06:28,258
but all should come to repentance.

169
00:06:28,258 --> 00:06:31,590
Thank you for your courage
and your vision.

170
00:06:31,590 --> 00:06:33,063
Keep up the good work.

171
00:06:33,063 --> 00:06:35,355
Your prayers will be appreciated

172
00:06:35,355 --> 00:06:37,088
to make sure that we don't

173
00:06:37,088 --> 00:06:39,336
miss out ourselves by preaching to others

174
00:06:39,336 --> 00:06:42,018
and not being partakers of His Kingdom."

175
00:06:42,018 --> 00:06:43,474
That's a pretty sober message,

176
00:06:43,474 --> 00:06:45,446
and we're thankful that this donor couple

177
00:06:45,446 --> 00:06:46,426
has shared with us.

178
00:06:46,426 --> 00:06:48,213
We need to remember for ourselves

179
00:06:48,213 --> 00:06:50,532
to be in the Word, to be studying,

180
00:06:50,532 --> 00:06:53,049
spending time getting close to God.

181
00:06:53,049 --> 00:06:54,670
And we have our last letter;

182
00:06:54,670 --> 00:06:57,400
it comes to us from the country of Zambia.

183
00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,238
Alvin writes to us; Alvin says,

184
00:07:00,238 --> 00:07:01,853
"Hi, Hope Sabbath School team."

185
00:07:01,853 --> 00:07:02,654
(Team) Hi!

186
00:07:02,654 --> 00:07:04,012
(Jason) What do we say back?

187
00:07:04,012 --> 00:07:05,032
We say, "Hi," back.

188
00:07:05,032 --> 00:07:06,924
"I am one of the ardent followers

189
00:07:06,926 --> 00:07:09,072
of the Hope Sabbath School lessons

190
00:07:09,072 --> 00:07:10,380
as they always add

191
00:07:10,380 --> 00:07:12,356
a new scope of understanding

192
00:07:12,356 --> 00:07:15,728
and a new method of approach
to the lesson.

193
00:07:15,728 --> 00:07:17,386
I am a discussion leader

194
00:07:17,386 --> 00:07:19,083
of our Sabbath School class

195
00:07:19,083 --> 00:07:21,743
and am always blessed.

196
00:07:21,743 --> 00:07:23,249
May God continue blessing

197
00:07:23,249 --> 00:07:25,657
your ministry, Alvin."

198
00:07:25,657 --> 00:07:27,824
Praise God, Alvin, that you are

199
00:07:27,824 --> 00:07:29,067
leading the discussion,

200
00:07:29,067 --> 00:07:30,408
that you are being blessed,

201
00:07:30,408 --> 00:07:31,611
and we're happy that we

202
00:07:31,611 --> 00:07:32,992
can be part of that blessing.

203
00:07:32,992 --> 00:07:35,143
Another way we can be part of the blessing

204
00:07:35,143 --> 00:07:36,103
is through singing,

205
00:07:36,103 --> 00:07:37,463
and we have a Scripture song

206
00:07:37,463 --> 00:07:38,819
we're going to sing.

207
00:07:38,819 --> 00:07:41,711
Please feel free to join us and sing it.

208
00:07:41,715 --> 00:07:43,694
It comes from Psalm 25,

209
00:07:43,694 --> 00:07:45,984
a 3,000-year-old Scripture song,

210
00:07:45,984 --> 00:07:49,522
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul."

211
00:07:49,522 --> 00:07:53,205
♪ music ♪

212
00:09:11,903 --> 00:09:15,088
(Jason) Amen. Isn't that such
an exciting song,

213
00:09:15,088 --> 00:09:18,101
praising God, giving Him thanks?

214
00:09:18,101 --> 00:09:19,998
Well, one of the ways we can praise God

215
00:09:19,998 --> 00:09:21,710
is we can praise Him through prayer,

216
00:09:21,710 --> 00:09:23,217
and so I'd like to invite you

217
00:09:23,217 --> 00:09:25,109
to bow your heads as we are

218
00:09:25,109 --> 00:09:26,647
going to ask the Lord

219
00:09:26,647 --> 00:09:29,382
to be with us in this study.

220
00:09:29,382 --> 00:09:32,418
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, today,

221
00:09:32,418 --> 00:09:35,580
as we look through an Old Testament story,

222
00:09:35,580 --> 00:09:38,292
help us to see something from the lessons

223
00:09:38,292 --> 00:09:40,483
of a couple thousand years ago

224
00:09:40,483 --> 00:09:42,408
that we can apply to today.

225
00:09:42,408 --> 00:09:44,451
Help us to see how Your forgiveness

226
00:09:44,451 --> 00:09:46,752
and Your love is unchanging.

227
00:09:46,752 --> 00:09:48,120
We pray all this

228
00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,909
in the holy name of Jesus,

229
00:09:49,909 --> 00:09:51,614
the One who has forgiven us

230
00:09:51,614 --> 00:09:53,083
and given us the power

231
00:09:53,083 --> 00:09:55,391
to live a new life. Amen.

232
00:09:55,391 --> 00:09:56,672
(Team) Amen.

233
00:09:56,672 --> 00:09:58,295
(Jason) Talking about the idea

234
00:09:58,295 --> 00:10:00,095
of <i>Our Forgiving God</i>

235
00:10:00,095 --> 00:10:02,362
makes me think about why I

236
00:10:02,362 --> 00:10:04,499
very much appreciate His forgiveness.

237
00:10:04,499 --> 00:10:05,821
And so I'd like to ask,

238
00:10:05,821 --> 00:10:07,934
before we get directly into the lesson,

239
00:10:07,934 --> 00:10:09,337
anyone on the team,

240
00:10:09,337 --> 00:10:10,636
or even several of you,

241
00:10:10,636 --> 00:10:13,062
when you think of the forgiveness of God,

242
00:10:13,062 --> 00:10:14,693
what do you think of?

243
00:10:14,693 --> 00:10:17,075
How does that impact you personally?

244
00:10:17,075 --> 00:10:18,666
How do you experience

245
00:10:18,666 --> 00:10:19,862
the forgiveness of God?

246
00:10:19,862 --> 00:10:21,941
Nancy, I see you kind of nodding

247
00:10:21,941 --> 00:10:23,330
your head there a little bit.

248
00:10:23,330 --> 00:10:25,457
When you think of the forgiveness of God,

249
00:10:25,457 --> 00:10:28,681
what comes to your mind?

250
00:10:28,681 --> 00:10:32,523
(Nancy) Well, God will forgive...

251
00:10:32,523 --> 00:10:34,956
He wants us to come to Him with anything,

252
00:10:34,956 --> 00:10:37,125
and He is long-suffering;

253
00:10:37,125 --> 00:10:41,220
He's forgiving, and He forgives me.

254
00:10:41,221 --> 00:10:43,519
(Jason) He forgives you. Amen. Ranela.

255
00:10:43,519 --> 00:10:45,434
(Ranela) I think just great relief

256
00:10:45,434 --> 00:10:47,969
to know that I can come to God.

257
00:10:47,969 --> 00:10:49,898
His mercies are new every morning,

258
00:10:49,898 --> 00:10:52,529
and His faithfulness is great,

259
00:10:52,529 --> 00:10:54,289
and His grace is His power

260
00:10:54,289 --> 00:10:56,427
to live an overcoming life.

261
00:10:56,427 --> 00:10:57,387
(Jason) Jonathan.

262
00:10:57,387 --> 00:10:59,129
(Jonathan) I think knowing

263
00:10:59,129 --> 00:11:02,835
that God's always going to be forgiving

264
00:11:02,835 --> 00:11:04,818
and is not going to turn His back on us,

265
00:11:04,818 --> 00:11:07,270
I think that gives you a freedom

266
00:11:07,270 --> 00:11:10,786
to actually avoid some of the problems.

267
00:11:10,786 --> 00:11:12,521
Like, if I know that God's not going

268
00:11:12,521 --> 00:11:13,645
to give up on me,

269
00:11:13,645 --> 00:11:15,315
then I'm more able

270
00:11:15,315 --> 00:11:16,978
to choose the right way

271
00:11:16,978 --> 00:11:18,007
because it's not like

272
00:11:18,007 --> 00:11:21,300
I'm hovering under His judgment.

273
00:11:21,300 --> 00:11:24,559
It's like He's going to pursue me
no matter what,

274
00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,273
and so I can just turn away

275
00:11:26,273 --> 00:11:27,780
from that stuff and follow Him.

276
00:11:27,780 --> 00:11:29,097
(Jason) So the forgiveness,

277
00:11:29,097 --> 00:11:31,075
while it may give you an emotional peace,

278
00:11:31,075 --> 00:11:32,776
it also allows something practical.

279
00:11:32,776 --> 00:11:34,696
It allow you to make different decisions

280
00:11:34,696 --> 00:11:36,468
and allows you, as you said, freedom,

281
00:11:36,468 --> 00:11:38,600
you used the word, in your life. Travis.

282
00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,244
(Travis) I think of the Bible text

283
00:11:40,244 --> 00:11:41,924
where it says, "With lovingkindness

284
00:11:41,924 --> 00:11:42,796
I have drawn you,"

285
00:11:42,796 --> 00:11:44,295
so when we look at forgiveness,

286
00:11:44,295 --> 00:11:45,694
that's what draws us to Jesus

287
00:11:45,694 --> 00:11:48,323
as we know what condition we're in.

288
00:11:48,323 --> 00:11:50,664
And yet, He loves us, and He's forgiving,

289
00:11:50,664 --> 00:11:52,360
not willing that any should perish,

290
00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:53,994
but all should come to repentance.

291
00:11:53,994 --> 00:11:55,856
And that draws us; it's His grace

292
00:11:55,856 --> 00:11:57,581
that teaches us to love Him.

293
00:11:57,581 --> 00:11:58,984
(Jason) Amen. And now let's

294
00:11:58,984 --> 00:12:01,618
get into the Word of God.

295
00:12:01,618 --> 00:12:03,316
I'm going to ask Stephanie

296
00:12:03,316 --> 00:12:05,244
if you could start out for us.

297
00:12:05,244 --> 00:12:06,706
We're in the book of Nehemiah.

298
00:12:06,706 --> 00:12:08,729
I'd like you to read chapter 9

299
00:12:08,729 --> 00:12:11,177
and read verses 1 through 3.

300
00:12:11,177 --> 00:12:13,255
And as she reads, I want us

301
00:12:13,255 --> 00:12:15,543
to think about what's happening here,

302
00:12:15,543 --> 00:12:17,092
what's going on, and how does

303
00:12:17,092 --> 00:12:19,700
this relate to God's forgiveness.

304
00:12:19,700 --> 00:12:21,212
(Stephanie) And I'll be reading

305
00:12:21,212 --> 00:12:22,567
from the King James Version:

306
00:13:00,599 --> 00:13:02,051
(Jason) Wow, so there's

307
00:13:02,051 --> 00:13:03,190
a lot happening here,

308
00:13:03,190 --> 00:13:04,452
and I'd like someone first

309
00:13:04,452 --> 00:13:06,546
to unpack what's going on.

310
00:13:06,546 --> 00:13:08,130
What is the context?

311
00:13:08,130 --> 00:13:11,283
Is this a celebratory scene

312
00:13:11,283 --> 00:13:14,176
with a lot of music and excitement?

313
00:13:14,176 --> 00:13:15,670
Puia, you're nodding your head.

314
00:13:15,670 --> 00:13:17,337
What do you see happening here?

315
00:13:17,337 --> 00:13:19,531
(Puia) I see a group of people

316
00:13:19,531 --> 00:13:23,250
coming together in repentance

317
00:13:23,250 --> 00:13:25,044
and humbling themselves.

318
00:13:25,044 --> 00:13:26,704
(Jason) Humbling themselves.

319
00:13:26,704 --> 00:13:28,722
(Puia) It says they're wearing sackcloths;

320
00:13:28,722 --> 00:13:30,483
they're putting dust on their heads.

321
00:13:30,483 --> 00:13:31,878
When do people do that?

322
00:13:31,878 --> 00:13:35,271
It's when they humble themselves
before the Lord.

323
00:13:35,271 --> 00:13:38,318
(Jason) They humble themselves, okay.
Jonathan.

324
00:13:38,318 --> 00:13:39,522
(Jonathan) I was thinking

325
00:13:39,522 --> 00:13:41,119
that this is coming after they've

326
00:13:41,119 --> 00:13:42,572
been spending some time

327
00:13:42,572 --> 00:13:44,229
looking at the Law of God.

328
00:13:44,229 --> 00:13:45,809
And now they're...It seems like

329
00:13:45,809 --> 00:13:47,889
maybe they're really realizing,

330
00:13:47,889 --> 00:13:51,432
just, their corporate guilt.

331
00:13:51,432 --> 00:13:52,987
I mean, they're kind of saying,

332
00:13:52,987 --> 00:13:55,015
"Wow, Lord, we have so sinned.

333
00:13:55,015 --> 00:13:57,263
We have so gone all these ways.

334
00:13:57,263 --> 00:13:58,793
All these warnings You gave,

335
00:13:58,793 --> 00:14:00,276
we didn't pay attention to.

336
00:14:00,276 --> 00:14:02,092
All these things You've told us to do;

337
00:14:02,092 --> 00:14:03,934
we've done none of them."

338
00:14:03,934 --> 00:14:06,263
So they're really repenting.

339
00:14:06,263 --> 00:14:08,360
(Jason) They're really repenting.
Yes, Pedro.

340
00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:09,789
(Pedro) One thing I see here,

341
00:14:09,789 --> 00:14:14,910
the forgiveness is something
that is specific.

342
00:14:14,910 --> 00:14:16,927
You know, they're reading the Word

343
00:14:16,927 --> 00:14:18,523
for the first part of the day,

344
00:14:18,523 --> 00:14:19,876
and then they are confessing

345
00:14:19,876 --> 00:14:20,871
for the other part.

346
00:14:20,871 --> 00:14:23,389
So they're recognizing why they fell

347
00:14:23,389 --> 00:14:25,045
short of the glory of God,

348
00:14:25,045 --> 00:14:26,533
but they're confessing.

349
00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:28,251
And if I say, "God...," you know,

350
00:14:28,251 --> 00:14:29,702
my prayers, I'm coming to God.

351
00:14:29,702 --> 00:14:31,769
I say, "God, forgive my errors
of the day,"

352
00:14:31,769 --> 00:14:33,145
I'm not being specific,

353
00:14:33,145 --> 00:14:34,599
and that might not help me

354
00:14:34,599 --> 00:14:36,313
have a change of heart.

355
00:14:36,313 --> 00:14:37,329
And they were looking

356
00:14:37,329 --> 00:14:39,641
for a change of heart, as I look there.

357
00:14:39,641 --> 00:14:43,457
They were wanting to be at one with God,

358
00:14:43,457 --> 00:14:46,063
and they were seeking from God's Word,

359
00:14:46,063 --> 00:14:49,387
what could have made them go wrong,

360
00:14:49,387 --> 00:14:51,181
and they were asking for forgiveness.

361
00:14:51,181 --> 00:14:53,302
It's specifically on their sins.

362
00:14:53,308 --> 00:14:55,019
(Jason) Pedro's making a reference,

363
00:14:55,019 --> 00:14:56,248
and Jonathan, too;

364
00:14:56,248 --> 00:14:57,844
they've done some wrong things.

365
00:14:57,844 --> 00:14:59,766
And I'd like to ask here on the team,

366
00:14:59,766 --> 00:15:01,432
let's get a little explicit.

367
00:15:01,432 --> 00:15:02,694
What has happened here?

368
00:15:02,694 --> 00:15:04,084
Someone may be watching this

369
00:15:04,084 --> 00:15:05,580
and may not be totally familiar

370
00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:07,085
with all the story.

371
00:15:07,085 --> 00:15:08,133
They may not have seen

372
00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:09,336
all the previous lessons,

373
00:15:09,336 --> 00:15:11,539
so, what have these people done?

374
00:15:11,539 --> 00:15:12,532
What is the problem?

375
00:15:12,532 --> 00:15:14,611
What has gone on? Jonathan.

376
00:15:14,611 --> 00:15:16,237
(Jonathan) For years they

377
00:15:16,237 --> 00:15:17,697
worshiped other gods.

378
00:15:17,697 --> 00:15:19,719
I mean, they were warned

379
00:15:19,719 --> 00:15:24,082
not to marry outside of...
other peoples,

380
00:15:24,082 --> 00:15:24,947
because they would

381
00:15:24,947 --> 00:15:26,793
draw them away to other gods

382
00:15:26,793 --> 00:15:28,295
and all these different things

383
00:15:28,295 --> 00:15:29,397
that God had laid down

384
00:15:29,397 --> 00:15:30,444
for them, boundaries,

385
00:15:30,444 --> 00:15:32,640
these very strong boundaries,
tough boundaries.

386
00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:33,701
And they, one by one,

387
00:15:33,701 --> 00:15:34,854
rejected all of them,

388
00:15:34,854 --> 00:15:38,035
and you can see how all these things

389
00:15:38,035 --> 00:15:40,086
that would have protected them

390
00:15:40,086 --> 00:15:41,830
ended up leading to destruction,

391
00:15:41,830 --> 00:15:43,779
and then God sent all these prophets.

392
00:15:43,779 --> 00:15:48,065
And so it's very clear,

393
00:15:48,065 --> 00:15:50,068
both their guilt but also how much

394
00:15:50,068 --> 00:15:51,321
God has pursued them

395
00:15:51,321 --> 00:15:53,256
and tried to win them back

396
00:15:53,256 --> 00:15:54,744
and cried out to them,

397
00:15:54,744 --> 00:15:57,324
and they didn't accept it for years.

398
00:15:57,324 --> 00:15:58,232
(Jason) Pedro.

399
00:15:58,238 --> 00:16:00,720
(Pedro) One thing we might not realize
in some ways,

400
00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,652
even though this is in the middle

401
00:16:02,652 --> 00:16:03,686
of the Old Testament,

402
00:16:03,686 --> 00:16:05,037
this is basically at the end

403
00:16:05,037 --> 00:16:06,598
of the story of what's happening

404
00:16:06,598 --> 00:16:08,447
because the prophets come afterward,

405
00:16:08,447 --> 00:16:10,620
which are basically the prophets

406
00:16:10,620 --> 00:16:12,350
that came before this time

407
00:16:12,350 --> 00:16:14,424
telling them to stop doing
the wrong things,

408
00:16:14,424 --> 00:16:16,168
stop doing the wrong things.

409
00:16:16,168 --> 00:16:17,562
And the prophets are speaking

410
00:16:17,562 --> 00:16:19,015
through the time of the kings,

411
00:16:19,015 --> 00:16:21,242
and we saw that the majority of the kings

412
00:16:21,242 --> 00:16:23,217
were rebellious kings.

413
00:16:23,217 --> 00:16:25,556
And at this time, God,

414
00:16:25,556 --> 00:16:27,065
after the 70 years they were

415
00:16:27,065 --> 00:16:28,877
in captivity in Babylon,

416
00:16:28,877 --> 00:16:30,668
they came back; God blessed them

417
00:16:30,668 --> 00:16:33,479
to rebuild the walls, rebuild the temple.

418
00:16:33,479 --> 00:16:34,885
And they're saying, "We don't

419
00:16:34,885 --> 00:16:36,813
want to fall into the same problem.

420
00:16:36,813 --> 00:16:38,651
We want to get right with God."

421
00:16:38,651 --> 00:16:40,496
And the best way to get right with God

422
00:16:40,496 --> 00:16:43,017
is to know what you're doing wrong.

423
00:16:43,017 --> 00:16:44,447
And the only way you can do it

424
00:16:44,447 --> 00:16:46,833
is through going to the Law of God
and to His Word.

425
00:16:46,833 --> 00:16:48,099
(Jason) Amen. Now verse 2

426
00:16:48,099 --> 00:16:49,860
has this interesting statement.

427
00:16:49,860 --> 00:16:51,323
Stephanie's version said

428
00:16:51,323 --> 00:16:55,038
something about separating themselves
from strangers.

429
00:16:55,038 --> 00:16:58,353
Other versions may even say "foreigners."

430
00:16:58,353 --> 00:16:59,470
What is this all about?

431
00:16:59,470 --> 00:17:00,563
What's going on here?

432
00:17:00,563 --> 00:17:02,410
I mean, there had been a reference

433
00:17:02,410 --> 00:17:03,347
that Jonathan made,

434
00:17:03,347 --> 00:17:04,833
something about, you know,

435
00:17:04,833 --> 00:17:09,466
marrying other people and worship.

436
00:17:09,466 --> 00:17:10,583
What's going on here,

437
00:17:10,583 --> 00:17:15,262
because wouldn't it be fair to say

438
00:17:15,262 --> 00:17:17,381
that shouldn't everyone come
to worship God?

439
00:17:17,381 --> 00:17:19,663
Shouldn't they invite the foreigners,

440
00:17:19,663 --> 00:17:21,299
the strangers, to worship God?

441
00:17:21,299 --> 00:17:26,710
So, why are they separating themselves,
the lineage? Puia.

442
00:17:26,710 --> 00:17:28,026
(Puia) Of course, everyone

443
00:17:28,026 --> 00:17:29,647
is welcome to worship God,

444
00:17:29,647 --> 00:17:31,755
but in this context, it seems like

445
00:17:31,755 --> 00:17:33,616
they have acknowledged the fact

446
00:17:33,616 --> 00:17:36,032
that the reason why they were exiled

447
00:17:36,032 --> 00:17:38,964
was because their nation
turned against God.

448
00:17:38,964 --> 00:17:41,470
And so, in this context, in this verse,

449
00:17:41,470 --> 00:17:43,486
we are seeing that they have

450
00:17:43,486 --> 00:17:46,398
accepted the fact that it was their sin,

451
00:17:46,398 --> 00:17:48,283
not the foreigners' sin.

452
00:17:48,283 --> 00:17:49,550
It was their nation's sin.

453
00:17:49,550 --> 00:17:51,469
And what's interesting here

454
00:17:51,469 --> 00:17:53,298
is that they could have complained

455
00:17:53,298 --> 00:17:54,674
and said, "Well, you know,

456
00:17:54,674 --> 00:17:56,548
the people who sinned were our parents,

457
00:17:56,548 --> 00:17:58,040
our grandparents; it's not us,"

458
00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,022
because the people who actually came back

459
00:18:00,022 --> 00:18:02,395
probably were born into captivity.

460
00:18:02,395 --> 00:18:04,098
But yet they were not saying

461
00:18:04,098 --> 00:18:05,772
that it was a sin of someone else,

462
00:18:05,772 --> 00:18:07,509
but they accepted that it was

463
00:18:07,509 --> 00:18:10,138
a corporate sin as the nation.

464
00:18:10,138 --> 00:18:11,233
(Jason) Jonathan, yes.

465
00:18:11,233 --> 00:18:12,472
(Jonathan) I was thinking,

466
00:18:12,472 --> 00:18:13,757
in the book of Deuteronomy;

467
00:18:13,757 --> 00:18:16,667
it actually explains why God

468
00:18:16,667 --> 00:18:18,005
kicked these people out,

469
00:18:18,005 --> 00:18:20,598
I mean, like, some terrible things.

470
00:18:20,598 --> 00:18:22,385
It's sad to look and see, that, okay,

471
00:18:22,385 --> 00:18:26,909
God had to let some whole tribes
and stuff go,

472
00:18:26,909 --> 00:18:28,519
but He very clearly warned them

473
00:18:28,519 --> 00:18:31,421
that, "It was because of these things

474
00:18:31,421 --> 00:18:33,276
that I had to kick them out,

475
00:18:33,276 --> 00:18:35,636
and if you do them,"

476
00:18:35,636 --> 00:18:37,705
which the Israelites ended up doing

477
00:18:37,705 --> 00:18:38,969
many of those same things,

478
00:18:38,969 --> 00:18:40,504
and so that's part of the reason

479
00:18:40,504 --> 00:18:41,543
that now they've been

480
00:18:41,543 --> 00:18:42,714
sent off to Babylon.

481
00:18:42,714 --> 00:18:45,011
(Jason) All right, so we have
some context here,

482
00:18:45,011 --> 00:18:47,553
and in the end of this section,

483
00:18:47,553 --> 00:18:48,747
there was a statement

484
00:18:48,747 --> 00:18:51,596
about a fourth of a day or something,

485
00:18:51,596 --> 00:18:52,962
and a fourth of day.

486
00:18:52,962 --> 00:18:54,811
Someone want to do some math for me

487
00:18:54,811 --> 00:18:56,089
about what's going on

488
00:18:56,089 --> 00:18:58,721
and what happened specifically here?

489
00:18:58,721 --> 00:19:00,453
Pedro, you've got the math.

490
00:19:00,453 --> 00:19:01,779
(Pedro) Well, we sometimes,

491
00:19:01,779 --> 00:19:04,377
we look into the hours

492
00:19:04,377 --> 00:19:05,339
that they looked at.

493
00:19:05,339 --> 00:19:07,756
It was three and three hours,

494
00:19:07,756 --> 00:19:09,757
so, every three hours

495
00:19:09,757 --> 00:19:11,417
is a section of their day.

496
00:19:11,417 --> 00:19:13,244
If you look in the New Testament,

497
00:19:13,244 --> 00:19:16,461
you see a parable that Jesus talks about.

498
00:19:16,461 --> 00:19:18,438
They come early at the sixth hour,

499
00:19:18,438 --> 00:19:21,614
the third hour, you know,
the eleventh hour,

500
00:19:21,614 --> 00:19:23,004
and it's their labor [time],

501
00:19:23,004 --> 00:19:25,051
the point that they start working,

502
00:19:25,051 --> 00:19:27,959
at sunrise all the way to the time
of the sunset.

503
00:19:27,959 --> 00:19:29,593
(Jason) All right. Yes, Jonathan.

504
00:19:29,593 --> 00:19:34,125
(Jonathan) Just thinking about,
in verse 2,

505
00:19:34,125 --> 00:19:36,519
and I think those strangers,

506
00:19:36,519 --> 00:19:38,486
they represent more than just people.

507
00:19:38,486 --> 00:19:40,661
We think about people, "Okay,

508
00:19:40,661 --> 00:19:43,560
we have to separate in order to seek God."

509
00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:44,908
And I think they represented

510
00:19:44,908 --> 00:19:46,718
also certain spiritual elements

511
00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:52,193
that prevented them from repenting.

512
00:19:52,193 --> 00:19:54,643
So, that's the way I look at it.

513
00:19:54,643 --> 00:19:57,319
It is not just about separating
from actual people

514
00:19:57,319 --> 00:19:59,981
because God loves everybody.

515
00:19:59,981 --> 00:20:02,758
It is about separating ourselves

516
00:20:02,758 --> 00:20:06,596
from those things that keep us
from repenting.

517
00:20:06,596 --> 00:20:07,953
(Jason) So, it's not so much

518
00:20:07,953 --> 00:20:10,042
about discrimination against others

519
00:20:10,042 --> 00:20:12,073
but rather, putting yourselves in a place

520
00:20:12,073 --> 00:20:13,417
so that we can allow

521
00:20:13,417 --> 00:20:15,578
the Holy Spirit to work with us.

522
00:20:15,578 --> 00:20:17,263
And then, as you see, after this

523
00:20:17,263 --> 00:20:20,141
they have, as now Pedro has informed us,

524
00:20:20,141 --> 00:20:23,058
three hours of a praise service

525
00:20:23,058 --> 00:20:26,524
and three hours of confession and worship.

526
00:20:26,524 --> 00:20:27,981
What do you think about that?

527
00:20:27,981 --> 00:20:29,051
Because I'll just say

528
00:20:29,051 --> 00:20:30,396
that when I first read this,

529
00:20:30,396 --> 00:20:31,973
I was like, "Wow."

530
00:20:31,973 --> 00:20:33,198
In my day, I have a lot

531
00:20:33,198 --> 00:20:36,111
of things I have to do; I need to eat.

532
00:20:36,111 --> 00:20:37,862
If you're a family, you might need

533
00:20:37,862 --> 00:20:39,862
to, you know, take care of your kids.

534
00:20:39,862 --> 00:20:41,316
If you're a student, you might

535
00:20:41,316 --> 00:20:42,645
need to do education.

536
00:20:42,645 --> 00:20:43,896
So, what is this...Is this

537
00:20:43,896 --> 00:20:45,901
a little radical, spending all this time?

538
00:20:45,901 --> 00:20:47,979
Heide, I see you've got a thought on this.

539
00:20:47,979 --> 00:20:49,375
(Heide) It doesn't sound like

540
00:20:49,375 --> 00:20:51,359
this is something that they do every day.

541
00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,965
It sounds like they selected
a specific date,

542
00:20:53,965 --> 00:20:55,687
and they were like, "For this day,

543
00:20:55,687 --> 00:20:58,348
we're going to do this," you know?

544
00:20:58,348 --> 00:21:00,992
And I just was so impressed by that,

545
00:21:00,992 --> 00:21:02,371
because I was also like you.

546
00:21:02,371 --> 00:21:06,405
I was, like, "Whoa! That is a long time!"

547
00:21:06,405 --> 00:21:08,767
But I was just thinking how we spend,

548
00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:10,661
not only every day in our lives,

549
00:21:10,661 --> 00:21:12,909
we're in such a fast-paced world,

550
00:21:12,909 --> 00:21:14,768
that everything is constant,

551
00:21:14,768 --> 00:21:17,330
like time, we're always running
against time,

552
00:21:17,330 --> 00:21:18,548
but even on the Sabbath,

553
00:21:18,548 --> 00:21:20,220
I was stopping and reflecting,

554
00:21:20,220 --> 00:21:22,418
sometimes, even for good things,

555
00:21:22,418 --> 00:21:23,864
we're involved in ministries,

556
00:21:23,864 --> 00:21:25,251
and we're so busy -

557
00:21:25,251 --> 00:21:27,797
"I have to go to this meeting,

558
00:21:27,797 --> 00:21:28,827
and then I have to go

559
00:21:28,827 --> 00:21:30,168
and help with this program,"

560
00:21:30,168 --> 00:21:32,844
or help with this - that we don't

561
00:21:32,844 --> 00:21:34,464
have the time to stop and do this.

562
00:21:34,464 --> 00:21:36,279
And I saw how important it is

563
00:21:36,279 --> 00:21:38,970
that God wants me to stop,

564
00:21:38,970 --> 00:21:41,836
and [He] says, "Get into My Word,

565
00:21:41,836 --> 00:21:44,480
removing the factor of time."

566
00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,675
And then stop and meditate on that

567
00:21:47,675 --> 00:21:49,454
and say, "God, what do You

568
00:21:49,454 --> 00:21:51,611
want me to learn from this?"

569
00:21:51,611 --> 00:21:54,378
like someone said in a previous lesson,

570
00:21:54,378 --> 00:21:56,103
and how can I apply it?

571
00:21:56,103 --> 00:21:57,266
You know, what things

572
00:21:57,266 --> 00:22:00,132
are hindering me from doing this?

573
00:22:00,132 --> 00:22:04,135
And I'm going to maybe try to do this.

574
00:22:04,135 --> 00:22:05,669
But I just saw that, and I was

575
00:22:05,669 --> 00:22:07,528
so impressed by it.

576
00:22:07,528 --> 00:22:10,126
(Jason) Wow, that's convicting,
right there.

577
00:22:10,126 --> 00:22:11,668
Ranela, you have some thoughts.

578
00:22:11,668 --> 00:22:13,598
(Ranela) I was just thinking of the fact

579
00:22:13,598 --> 00:22:14,883
that they haven't...

580
00:22:14,883 --> 00:22:16,533
This is really good for them to do

581
00:22:16,533 --> 00:22:18,733
because they haven't had this reading

582
00:22:18,733 --> 00:22:20,066
and this understanding

583
00:22:20,066 --> 00:22:23,231
of the Word of God for many years.

584
00:22:23,231 --> 00:22:24,796
And so, it's interesting

585
00:22:24,796 --> 00:22:27,665
because they're kind of coming
out of captivity,

586
00:22:27,665 --> 00:22:30,012
coming out of all the other ideologies

587
00:22:30,012 --> 00:22:31,927
that they've been, you know,

588
00:22:31,927 --> 00:22:33,220
that have surrounded them.

589
00:22:33,220 --> 00:22:34,810
And now God is kind of trying

590
00:22:34,810 --> 00:22:36,236
to wipe the slate clean

591
00:22:36,236 --> 00:22:39,152
and show them what the truth is,
remind them again.

592
00:22:39,153 --> 00:22:41,802
And it just kind of, to make it practical,

593
00:22:41,802 --> 00:22:46,332
I think especially for those
that are watching,

594
00:22:46,332 --> 00:22:48,426
if this is kind of the first time

595
00:22:48,426 --> 00:22:50,365
you're starting to understand the Bible,

596
00:22:50,365 --> 00:22:52,072
it is so important to spend

597
00:22:52,072 --> 00:22:54,248
a lot of time familiarizing yourself,

598
00:22:54,248 --> 00:22:56,753
understanding the whole picture
and everything.

599
00:22:56,753 --> 00:22:58,444
It helps to understand the Bible

600
00:22:58,444 --> 00:22:59,456
as you keep going.

601
00:22:59,456 --> 00:23:00,832
But, yeah, it's interesting;

602
00:23:00,832 --> 00:23:02,909
they didn't have a background
at that point.

603
00:23:02,909 --> 00:23:03,742
(Jason) Jonathan.

604
00:23:03,742 --> 00:23:04,912
(Jonathan) Just thinking

605
00:23:04,912 --> 00:23:05,949
about how many hours

606
00:23:05,949 --> 00:23:08,277
they were spending over there in worship.

607
00:23:08,277 --> 00:23:10,080
They didn't have AC;

608
00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,299
they were not comfortable.

609
00:23:12,299 --> 00:23:14,778
But we have to think

610
00:23:14,778 --> 00:23:18,241
there are some moments in our lives

611
00:23:18,241 --> 00:23:21,803
where we need those dramatic activities
with God,

612
00:23:21,803 --> 00:23:23,633
dramatic moments with God,

613
00:23:23,633 --> 00:23:25,881
in order to make a dramatic change.

614
00:23:25,881 --> 00:23:28,563
They were in a very pivotal moment.

615
00:23:28,563 --> 00:23:31,322
They were coming back

616
00:23:31,322 --> 00:23:32,371
from their captivity,

617
00:23:32,371 --> 00:23:34,887
and they wanted to make changes.

618
00:23:34,887 --> 00:23:37,923
So, we need to make a special...

619
00:23:37,923 --> 00:23:40,795
to set apart special moments for God

620
00:23:40,795 --> 00:23:46,290
when we want to make important changes.

621
00:23:46,290 --> 00:23:48,295
(Jason) One of the most dramatic things

622
00:23:48,295 --> 00:23:49,911
I saw in here was this idea

623
00:23:49,911 --> 00:23:52,404
of the group coming together

624
00:23:52,404 --> 00:23:54,199
and doing this confession.

625
00:23:54,199 --> 00:23:56,994
There's a phrase, "corporate repentance."

626
00:23:56,994 --> 00:23:59,028
Have you heard of that phrase before?

627
00:23:59,028 --> 00:24:00,858
That seems like that's

628
00:24:00,858 --> 00:24:02,393
what's going on here,

629
00:24:02,393 --> 00:24:04,374
and I'm just curious,

630
00:24:04,374 --> 00:24:06,857
what do you think of this idea

631
00:24:06,857 --> 00:24:08,812
of corporate repentance

632
00:24:08,812 --> 00:24:10,409
that you see here in Nehemiah?

633
00:24:10,409 --> 00:24:11,714
Someone on the team, Pedro,

634
00:24:11,714 --> 00:24:12,833
you have a thought.

635
00:24:12,833 --> 00:24:14,006
(Pedro) Looking at this,

636
00:24:14,006 --> 00:24:15,707
I think this cannot happen

637
00:24:15,707 --> 00:24:18,083
if it doesn't happen personally.

638
00:24:18,083 --> 00:24:20,283
If you're not able to do that

639
00:24:20,283 --> 00:24:23,622
in a point of one-on-one,

640
00:24:23,622 --> 00:24:24,936
you're not going to be able

641
00:24:24,936 --> 00:24:27,340
to come into a group of people
and expose yourself.

642
00:24:27,340 --> 00:24:28,537
And I want to share

643
00:24:28,537 --> 00:24:29,709
a little testimony here.

644
00:24:29,709 --> 00:24:31,244
For many years...You know,

645
00:24:31,244 --> 00:24:33,365
I have five siblings,

646
00:24:33,365 --> 00:24:35,076
and for a season of time

647
00:24:35,076 --> 00:24:37,271
I had a problem with my older brother

648
00:24:37,271 --> 00:24:38,948
because, for the same reason

649
00:24:38,948 --> 00:24:40,148
we see here in the text.

650
00:24:40,148 --> 00:24:42,785
It's interesting that it fits well with me

651
00:24:42,785 --> 00:24:45,036
because he was being a person

652
00:24:45,036 --> 00:24:47,557
that was taking me away from God.

653
00:24:47,557 --> 00:24:48,793
And my wife brought to me,

654
00:24:48,793 --> 00:24:50,670
"You see, the things that you're doing,

655
00:24:50,670 --> 00:24:52,923
it's like the same things
your brother is doing.

656
00:24:52,923 --> 00:24:54,508
He's not uplifting you for God,

657
00:24:54,508 --> 00:24:56,628
but he's taking you away from God."

658
00:24:56,628 --> 00:24:58,426
And I restrained myself from him

659
00:24:58,426 --> 00:25:00,041
for a period of time,

660
00:25:00,041 --> 00:25:02,422
and I did that in a harsh way.

661
00:25:02,422 --> 00:25:05,806
And I said, "Well, I noticed that..."

662
00:25:05,806 --> 00:25:08,388
I didn't want to confront him
at that moment,

663
00:25:08,388 --> 00:25:10,364
but later on I came to him,

664
00:25:10,364 --> 00:25:11,676
and we had a conversation.

665
00:25:11,676 --> 00:25:13,766
And I believe it was not something

666
00:25:13,766 --> 00:25:15,316
I could say, "You know, brother,

667
00:25:15,316 --> 00:25:17,693
we haven't talked for six months,

668
00:25:17,693 --> 00:25:19,686
forgive me, and have a good day."

669
00:25:19,686 --> 00:25:21,925
No, we had to take time to reconcile.

670
00:25:21,925 --> 00:25:23,790
It was a moment of reflection

671
00:25:23,790 --> 00:25:24,986
and a moment of talk.

672
00:25:24,986 --> 00:25:26,049
And since the moment

673
00:25:26,049 --> 00:25:27,410
that I had to explain to him

674
00:25:27,410 --> 00:25:30,325
what was happening, why I had to do

675
00:25:30,325 --> 00:25:31,742
the things that I did.

676
00:25:31,742 --> 00:25:34,643
And he realized, and he thanked me for it.

677
00:25:34,643 --> 00:25:37,315
And it was a good time of reconciliation.

678
00:25:37,315 --> 00:25:39,074
And I believe we can do that

679
00:25:39,074 --> 00:25:41,457
if we are experiencing

680
00:25:41,457 --> 00:25:44,401
those reconciliations on a daily basis.

681
00:25:44,401 --> 00:25:45,302
(Jason) Puia.

682
00:25:45,302 --> 00:25:46,319
(Puia) We're looking

683
00:25:46,319 --> 00:25:50,443
at a corporate repentance happening here,

684
00:25:50,443 --> 00:25:52,310
and I think there is power

685
00:25:52,310 --> 00:25:54,748
in coming together as a group.

686
00:25:54,748 --> 00:25:58,400
See, when we see our friends repenting,

687
00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:01,013
in some way, it influences our thoughts,

688
00:26:01,013 --> 00:26:02,459
and it's like, "Oh, my friend

689
00:26:02,459 --> 00:26:03,644
is repenting to God,"

690
00:26:03,644 --> 00:26:05,809
and that in some way motivates us

691
00:26:05,809 --> 00:26:08,491
or gives us more reason

692
00:26:08,491 --> 00:26:10,932
to also do likewise.

693
00:26:10,932 --> 00:26:14,914
You know, negativity can spread
very quickly,

694
00:26:14,914 --> 00:26:15,915
and in the same way,

695
00:26:15,915 --> 00:26:17,868
positivity can also spread

696
00:26:17,868 --> 00:26:20,405
when we come together as a group.

697
00:26:20,405 --> 00:26:21,389
(Jason) Jonathan.

698
00:26:21,389 --> 00:26:23,002
(Jonathan) I think there's a time

699
00:26:23,002 --> 00:26:24,442
when decisions are made

700
00:26:24,442 --> 00:26:27,074
at a level where it's the whole body

701
00:26:27,074 --> 00:26:28,247
making the decision.

702
00:26:28,247 --> 00:26:29,744
I mean, it wasn't just the fact

703
00:26:29,744 --> 00:26:31,820
that one person worshiped other gods;

704
00:26:31,820 --> 00:26:34,554
it's the fact that leader after leader

705
00:26:34,554 --> 00:26:37,086
after leader rejected the prophets

706
00:26:37,086 --> 00:26:39,768
and rejected the warnings

707
00:26:39,768 --> 00:26:44,549
and outright called people
to worship Baal.

708
00:26:44,549 --> 00:26:49,869
So when it is a communal decision,

709
00:26:49,869 --> 00:26:52,240
the community should probably also make

710
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:53,978
a communal saying, "Okay,

711
00:26:53,978 --> 00:26:55,653
it looks like we did not do

712
00:26:55,653 --> 00:26:57,047
what we should have."

713
00:26:57,047 --> 00:26:58,140
(Jason) Now, this idea

714
00:26:58,140 --> 00:26:59,302
of corporate repentance,

715
00:26:59,302 --> 00:27:00,751
we've talked about it now here

716
00:27:00,751 --> 00:27:02,348
in the context of Nehemiah's day,

717
00:27:02,348 --> 00:27:04,136
but for...and I come

718
00:27:04,136 --> 00:27:05,952
from the United States, from the West,

719
00:27:05,952 --> 00:27:07,787
from a Western individualist mindset,

720
00:27:07,787 --> 00:27:09,038
this is kind of foreign

721
00:27:09,038 --> 00:27:10,549
because we have this idea,

722
00:27:10,549 --> 00:27:13,306
"Well, you have your sin; I have my sin.

723
00:27:13,306 --> 00:27:15,376
You go talk with God about your issue,

724
00:27:15,376 --> 00:27:17,941
and I go talk with God about my issue."

725
00:27:17,941 --> 00:27:19,671
But is there something we can learn

726
00:27:19,671 --> 00:27:21,085
from this experience

727
00:27:21,085 --> 00:27:23,075
that could apply for us today? Travis.

728
00:27:23,075 --> 00:27:24,309
(Travis) As I'm listening

729
00:27:24,309 --> 00:27:26,894
to everybody discussing this,

730
00:27:26,894 --> 00:27:28,813
there's a precursor

731
00:27:28,813 --> 00:27:30,210
to corporate repentance

732
00:27:30,210 --> 00:27:33,736
and that's recognizing corporate need.

733
00:27:33,736 --> 00:27:37,031
And so, when we, as a body,

734
00:27:37,031 --> 00:27:39,757
recognize corporately our condition,

735
00:27:39,757 --> 00:27:41,211
the Bible says, "Blessed are

736
00:27:41,211 --> 00:27:42,558
the poor in spirit,

737
00:27:42,558 --> 00:27:44,329
for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

738
00:27:44,329 --> 00:27:45,836
When we recognize our need,

739
00:27:45,836 --> 00:27:49,797
and we come to Jesus beating our chests

740
00:27:49,797 --> 00:27:51,634
and saying, "Lord, have mercy on me,"

741
00:27:51,634 --> 00:27:53,898
corporately God will pour His blessings

742
00:27:53,898 --> 00:27:55,163
out on the church.

743
00:27:55,163 --> 00:27:56,431
(Jason) Amen. Stephanie.

744
00:27:56,431 --> 00:27:58,639
(Stephanie) I actually see these verses

745
00:27:58,639 --> 00:28:01,814
as revival and reformation

746
00:28:01,814 --> 00:28:04,578
of this group of individuals.

747
00:28:04,578 --> 00:28:07,132
And I think that even our churches,

748
00:28:07,132 --> 00:28:09,622
we need that revival and reformation.

749
00:28:09,622 --> 00:28:12,048
And in order for that to happen, we need

750
00:28:12,048 --> 00:28:14,934
that personal revival in our lives.

751
00:28:14,934 --> 00:28:16,810
but then, when that happens,

752
00:28:16,810 --> 00:28:20,166
we're a safe place to bring others in

753
00:28:20,166 --> 00:28:23,758
and give them the blessings

754
00:28:23,758 --> 00:28:27,172
that we've experienced from our time.

755
00:28:27,172 --> 00:28:29,076
(Jason) Amen. We have to move on,

756
00:28:29,076 --> 00:28:30,362
and we need to read

757
00:28:30,362 --> 00:28:32,095
further on in the story,

758
00:28:32,095 --> 00:28:34,580
and I'd like to ask Nancy

759
00:28:34,580 --> 00:28:36,017
if you would read for us

760
00:28:36,017 --> 00:28:39,778
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verses 5 and 6.

761
00:28:39,778 --> 00:28:42,155
And with verse 5, just read
the second part.

762
00:28:42,155 --> 00:28:43,809
There's a list of all these names,

763
00:28:43,809 --> 00:28:45,891
and there are some statements
that are said,

764
00:28:45,891 --> 00:28:47,289
so just read the part

765
00:28:47,289 --> 00:28:48,890
beyond the names in verse 5,

766
00:28:48,890 --> 00:28:50,839
and then also read verse 6.

767
00:28:50,839 --> 00:28:52,225
(Nancy) Okay, and I'm reading

768
00:28:52,225 --> 00:28:53,786
from the New King James Version:

769
00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:23,554
(Jason) Wow. Amen.

770
00:29:23,554 --> 00:29:25,524
So, now we continue a little more

771
00:29:25,524 --> 00:29:27,395
into what the content is

772
00:29:27,395 --> 00:29:29,656
of how this worship is going along.

773
00:29:29,656 --> 00:29:30,955
And I'd like to ask someone

774
00:29:30,955 --> 00:29:31,951
here on the team,

775
00:29:31,951 --> 00:29:33,345
did you see any appeals here?

776
00:29:33,345 --> 00:29:34,291
What was the appeal

777
00:29:34,291 --> 00:29:36,131
that the worship leaders made

778
00:29:36,131 --> 00:29:37,260
to the people gathered?

779
00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:38,823
What was the request? Stephanie.

780
00:29:38,823 --> 00:29:40,843
(Stephanie) "Stand up and bless the Lord."

781
00:29:40,843 --> 00:29:42,682
(Jason) "Stand up and bless the Lord."

782
00:29:42,682 --> 00:29:44,718
Now, we say that, but what does that mean?

783
00:29:44,718 --> 00:29:46,872
Do you physically stand up

784
00:29:46,872 --> 00:29:48,526
and just wave your hands,

785
00:29:48,526 --> 00:29:49,902
or is there something more?

786
00:29:49,902 --> 00:29:53,284
What is this idea of, "Stand up
and bless the Lord"? Yes, Puia.

787
00:29:53,284 --> 00:29:55,246
(Puia) I think it's more about the heart,

788
00:29:55,246 --> 00:29:57,199
more than just the physical standing up.

789
00:29:57,199 --> 00:29:58,417
I think it also has to do

790
00:29:58,417 --> 00:30:00,659
with moving out of your comfort zone.

791
00:30:00,659 --> 00:30:03,550
When you're talking about sitting down,
it's comfortable.

792
00:30:03,550 --> 00:30:05,678
"Stand up," like, "Come up," you know,

793
00:30:05,678 --> 00:30:07,489
move out of your comfort zone

794
00:30:07,489 --> 00:30:10,098
and be willing, open your heart.

795
00:30:10,098 --> 00:30:11,892
(Jason) Move out of your comfort zone

796
00:30:11,892 --> 00:30:13,517
and open your heart. Yes, Jonathan.

797
00:30:13,517 --> 00:30:15,494
(Jonathan) I'm thinking about the context

798
00:30:15,494 --> 00:30:17,575
from which this all emerges,

799
00:30:17,575 --> 00:30:20,692
and they are coming out of a captivity.

800
00:30:20,692 --> 00:30:23,762
And to bless the Lord for that,

801
00:30:23,762 --> 00:30:26,873
I feel like, to bless,

802
00:30:26,873 --> 00:30:28,226
we have to bless the Lord

803
00:30:28,226 --> 00:30:38,416
even though those external things
are not positive.

804
00:30:38,416 --> 00:30:41,260
I recently lost one of my legs.

805
00:30:41,260 --> 00:30:43,275
I have a prosthetic leg,

806
00:30:43,275 --> 00:30:46,596
and whenever people met me,

807
00:30:46,596 --> 00:30:49,181
they said, "How can you be so smiley

808
00:30:49,181 --> 00:30:51,289
when you have lost a leg?"

809
00:30:51,289 --> 00:30:54,334
Because while I was in the hospital,

810
00:30:54,334 --> 00:30:58,289
one of those who care,

811
00:30:58,289 --> 00:31:01,044
one of the nurses said, "I come here

812
00:31:01,044 --> 00:31:03,861
and I see you smiling always."

813
00:31:03,861 --> 00:31:06,793
And I said, "Because God is with me,
and He's love."

814
00:31:06,793 --> 00:31:08,094
And she said, "How can you

815
00:31:08,094 --> 00:31:10,034
say that God is love?

816
00:31:10,034 --> 00:31:13,036
He just allowed you to lose your leg."

817
00:31:13,036 --> 00:31:15,715
And then I talked to her about God's love,

818
00:31:15,715 --> 00:31:18,153
and I blessed the Lord.

819
00:31:18,153 --> 00:31:20,618
Tears came out from her eyes,

820
00:31:20,618 --> 00:31:23,141
and she said, "You know, I am

821
00:31:23,141 --> 00:31:25,698
now working currently in this room,

822
00:31:25,698 --> 00:31:27,283
but I came here accidentally

823
00:31:27,283 --> 00:31:29,877
because I'm replacing somebody,

824
00:31:29,877 --> 00:31:32,277
and now I found the reason why
I came here.

825
00:31:32,277 --> 00:31:34,778
I was about to give up on God

826
00:31:34,778 --> 00:31:36,741
because I lost one

827
00:31:36,741 --> 00:31:40,545
of my daughters recently in this room,

828
00:31:40,545 --> 00:31:42,593
and I couldn't understand God's love.

829
00:31:42,593 --> 00:31:44,782
I could not praise Him.

830
00:31:44,782 --> 00:31:46,527
And thank you for sharing that."

831
00:31:46,527 --> 00:31:48,173
So I think we have to share God

832
00:31:48,173 --> 00:31:50,495
and bless God even when the circumstances

833
00:31:50,495 --> 00:31:51,849
around are negative.

834
00:31:51,849 --> 00:31:53,435
And these, well, we see, they are

835
00:31:53,435 --> 00:31:56,725
coming out of a very negative experience,

836
00:31:56,725 --> 00:32:00,165
and yet they are called to bless God.

837
00:32:00,165 --> 00:32:02,291
(Jason) Thank you for sharing that,
Jonathan.

838
00:32:02,291 --> 00:32:03,435
So even if we're going

839
00:32:03,435 --> 00:32:05,550
through negative or difficult experiences,

840
00:32:05,550 --> 00:32:06,882
as we come out of them,

841
00:32:06,882 --> 00:32:08,495
even as we're going through them,

842
00:32:08,495 --> 00:32:10,869
as in your case, we can stand up,

843
00:32:10,869 --> 00:32:12,641
we can bless the Lord,

844
00:32:12,641 --> 00:32:15,287
get out of our comfort zone
and praise God.

845
00:32:15,287 --> 00:32:18,053
Now, one big element of praise

846
00:32:18,053 --> 00:32:20,929
is this idea of recognizing God
as the Creator.

847
00:32:20,929 --> 00:32:23,534
So, why is the Creator idea

848
00:32:23,534 --> 00:32:26,080
so important, so connected

849
00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,760
to this idea of praise that we see here,

850
00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:30,520
because if you look at this section,

851
00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:32,640
there's a lot about the creator.
Yes, Puia.

852
00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:35,224
(Puia) I think when you know your Creator,

853
00:32:35,224 --> 00:32:36,838
you know your origin.

854
00:32:36,838 --> 00:32:38,726
And when you know your origin,

855
00:32:38,726 --> 00:32:40,107
you know your destiny,

856
00:32:40,107 --> 00:32:42,148
or, somewhat, you know your purpose.

857
00:32:42,148 --> 00:32:45,211
See, nowadays in the public school system

858
00:32:45,211 --> 00:32:46,617
and around the world,

859
00:32:46,617 --> 00:32:47,883
students are being taught

860
00:32:47,883 --> 00:32:51,378
that there's no God, there's no Creator.

861
00:32:51,378 --> 00:32:53,135
So, with that worldview,

862
00:32:53,135 --> 00:32:54,301
if there is no Creator,

863
00:32:54,301 --> 00:32:57,256
my life is just an accident.

864
00:32:57,256 --> 00:32:58,564
So, I think it's important

865
00:32:58,564 --> 00:33:00,004
to understand here that people

866
00:33:00,004 --> 00:33:01,394
are called back to understand

867
00:33:01,394 --> 00:33:03,424
that God is their Creator, to remind them

868
00:33:03,424 --> 00:33:05,314
that they have a purpose,

869
00:33:05,314 --> 00:33:07,118
and they have a reason to live.

870
00:33:07,118 --> 00:33:08,537
And they have a destiny,

871
00:33:08,537 --> 00:33:11,819
and it's based on their Creator
who created them.

872
00:33:11,819 --> 00:33:13,150
(Jason) Amen. Stephanie.

873
00:33:13,150 --> 00:33:14,646
(Stephanie) We also recognize

874
00:33:14,646 --> 00:33:16,279
that the reason we exist

875
00:33:16,279 --> 00:33:18,426
is because of Him,

876
00:33:18,426 --> 00:33:22,025
both physically and spiritually,

877
00:33:22,025 --> 00:33:24,598
because of His forgiveness.

878
00:33:24,598 --> 00:33:25,541
(Jason) Jonathan.

879
00:33:25,541 --> 00:33:26,832
(Jonathan) There is so much

880
00:33:26,832 --> 00:33:28,918
that is beautiful about God's creation.

881
00:33:28,918 --> 00:33:30,888
You go out in nature or someplace,

882
00:33:30,888 --> 00:33:32,656
and there are waterfalls, et cetera,

883
00:33:32,656 --> 00:33:33,990
and you're just overwhelmed.

884
00:33:33,990 --> 00:33:37,146
And I think that is a right representation

885
00:33:37,146 --> 00:33:40,230
of who God is and of His love for us.

886
00:33:40,230 --> 00:33:42,457
(Jason) Now, when it comes to praise,

887
00:33:42,457 --> 00:33:45,258
there is a difference, or, I should ask,

888
00:33:45,258 --> 00:33:46,396
is there a difference

889
00:33:46,396 --> 00:33:48,240
between praising the Lord

890
00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,839
and this idea of in spirit, in truth,

891
00:33:50,839 --> 00:33:52,625
and praising the Lord

892
00:33:52,625 --> 00:33:55,037
with emotionalism and exhibitionism?

893
00:33:55,037 --> 00:33:57,035
Because there are a lot of different ways

894
00:33:57,035 --> 00:34:01,723
we can look like we're praising the Lord,

895
00:34:01,723 --> 00:34:02,833
but how can we tell

896
00:34:02,833 --> 00:34:04,813
if we're actually praising the Lord?

897
00:34:04,813 --> 00:34:06,841
Is all apparent praise to the Lord,

898
00:34:06,841 --> 00:34:08,596
is it all the same thing?

899
00:34:08,596 --> 00:34:10,826
Or is there something different?
Yes, Nancy.

900
00:34:10,826 --> 00:34:12,077
(Nancy) It should be based

901
00:34:12,077 --> 00:34:14,612
on an understanding of who He is.

902
00:34:14,612 --> 00:34:17,264
And I think of Job, when He said,

903
00:34:17,264 --> 00:34:18,997
you know, all that Job went through,

904
00:34:18,997 --> 00:34:22,240
and he said, "Though he slay me,

905
00:34:22,240 --> 00:34:24,919
yet will I trust Him."

906
00:34:24,919 --> 00:34:29,014
So he knew whom he had believed in.

907
00:34:29,014 --> 00:34:31,993
That's ultimate trust.

908
00:34:31,993 --> 00:34:33,085
(Jason) Yes, Jonathan.

909
00:34:33,085 --> 00:34:34,918
(Jonathan) I just say, I think it will

910
00:34:34,918 --> 00:34:36,697
look different for different people.

911
00:34:36,697 --> 00:34:39,440
(Jason) Okay, it will look different
for different people.

912
00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:42,687
(Jonathan) Sometimes it can be tempting
to try to judge other people,

913
00:34:42,687 --> 00:34:45,469
but, I mean, David was dancing around
and all this stuff,

914
00:34:45,469 --> 00:34:47,561
and his wife was like,
"What are you doing?!"

915
00:34:47,561 --> 00:34:48,716
But he was praising God.

916
00:34:48,716 --> 00:34:50,497
He wasn't worried about other people.

917
00:34:50,497 --> 00:34:52,037
He was just living in the spirit

918
00:34:52,037 --> 00:34:53,209
and praising God for all

919
00:34:53,209 --> 00:34:54,870
that He had done and was doing.

920
00:34:54,881 --> 00:34:58,930
(Jason) Travis, you have some thoughts.

921
00:34:58,930 --> 00:35:00,831
(Travis) To worship in spirit and truth

922
00:35:00,831 --> 00:35:03,669
is different than just on emotions.

923
00:35:03,669 --> 00:35:05,955
Part of that is, when we worship,

924
00:35:05,955 --> 00:35:08,271
we're praising and we're claiming

925
00:35:08,271 --> 00:35:10,989
the promises of God.

926
00:35:10,989 --> 00:35:13,571
When we come to worship God in spirit,

927
00:35:13,571 --> 00:35:15,487
we're coming to worship Him

928
00:35:15,487 --> 00:35:18,684
with an idea that we can trust Him

929
00:35:18,684 --> 00:35:21,098
and that His words

930
00:35:21,098 --> 00:35:24,187
will not return to us void.

931
00:35:24,187 --> 00:35:25,524
When it's emotions,

932
00:35:25,524 --> 00:35:27,333
sometimes it's just based on feelings,

933
00:35:27,333 --> 00:35:28,558
"Well, I feel good today.

934
00:35:28,558 --> 00:35:29,864
The music was loud;

935
00:35:29,864 --> 00:35:31,637
the smoke was great in church today,

936
00:35:31,637 --> 00:35:33,983
and I had a great time."

937
00:35:33,983 --> 00:35:35,962
But when the great time is over with,

938
00:35:35,962 --> 00:35:38,295
if we've not hid the Word of God
in our hearts,

939
00:35:38,295 --> 00:35:39,487
if we've not based it

940
00:35:39,496 --> 00:35:43,260
on the promises of God and truth,
then it's empty.

941
00:35:43,260 --> 00:35:45,045
(Jason) Now, Jonathan made reference

942
00:35:45,045 --> 00:35:47,222
to this idea, some people have a concept

943
00:35:47,222 --> 00:35:48,908
that, if you're worshiping

944
00:35:48,908 --> 00:35:49,873
in spirit and truth,

945
00:35:49,873 --> 00:35:51,637
it means a certain format,

946
00:35:51,637 --> 00:35:55,073
a certain style of song, a certain,

947
00:35:55,073 --> 00:35:57,017
dare I even say, traditional method.

948
00:35:57,017 --> 00:35:58,897
But is it possible that one can worship

949
00:35:58,897 --> 00:36:03,195
in a very apparently reverent way,

950
00:36:03,195 --> 00:36:05,162
very traditional, but yet could that

951
00:36:05,162 --> 00:36:08,074
also be emotionalism or exhibitionism?

952
00:36:08,074 --> 00:36:12,816
Is that also possible, too? Yes, Jonathan.

953
00:36:12,816 --> 00:36:15,057
(Jonathan) Jesus was referring...

954
00:36:15,057 --> 00:36:19,882
Okay, those words "in spirit and truth"

955
00:36:19,882 --> 00:36:21,353
are words spoken by Jesus

956
00:36:21,353 --> 00:36:22,342
when He was talking

957
00:36:22,342 --> 00:36:23,945
to the Samaritan woman,

958
00:36:23,945 --> 00:36:25,294
and she was worried because

959
00:36:25,294 --> 00:36:27,153
she said, "Your people say that we

960
00:36:27,153 --> 00:36:29,556
should worship God in the temple,

961
00:36:29,556 --> 00:36:31,842
in the physical temple"; she was focused

962
00:36:31,844 --> 00:36:37,036
on the physical activities,
religious activities.

963
00:36:37,036 --> 00:36:40,072
And I think Jesus was taking her attention

964
00:36:40,072 --> 00:36:42,626
from the physical or external activity

965
00:36:42,626 --> 00:36:46,098
into the inner experience,
the inner worship.

966
00:36:46,098 --> 00:36:48,625
And worship in spirit and truth,

967
00:36:48,625 --> 00:36:50,390
I think, when we talk about truth,

968
00:36:50,390 --> 00:36:51,906
we talk about the Word of God.

969
00:36:51,906 --> 00:36:55,480
John 17:17 says the Word of God is truth,

970
00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,656
and Jesus also claims, Himself,
to be the Truth.

971
00:36:58,656 --> 00:37:02,078
So, that inner experience, where we're

972
00:37:02,078 --> 00:37:04,066
just worshiping God in the spirit

973
00:37:04,066 --> 00:37:05,688
should be regulated by the truth,

974
00:37:05,688 --> 00:37:08,666
by the Word of God and example of Jesus.

975
00:37:08,666 --> 00:37:10,121
(Jason) Ranela.

976
00:37:10,121 --> 00:37:11,902
(Ranela) I appreciate what he said,

977
00:37:11,902 --> 00:37:13,212
and what everyone has said.

978
00:37:13,212 --> 00:37:15,587
I think that, when it comes
to emotionalism,

979
00:37:15,587 --> 00:37:17,737
there's nothing wrong with being emotional

980
00:37:17,737 --> 00:37:18,969
when we talk about God,

981
00:37:18,969 --> 00:37:19,874
when we praise God,

982
00:37:19,874 --> 00:37:20,970
when we think of God.

983
00:37:20,970 --> 00:37:22,800
And I appreciate what Jonathan said.

984
00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:25,524
We can't judge someone else, like,
"Oh, are they being..."

985
00:37:25,524 --> 00:37:27,009
like, "Are they being sincere?"

986
00:37:27,009 --> 00:37:29,534
"Are they really doing that
based on the Word of God?"

987
00:37:29,534 --> 00:37:31,187
We don't know, but the difference,

988
00:37:31,187 --> 00:37:32,992
where it gets into a dangerous place,

989
00:37:32,992 --> 00:37:34,494
is when emotion is the <i>reason</i>

990
00:37:34,494 --> 00:37:36,781
that you're doing it.

991
00:37:36,781 --> 00:37:39,183
It should be the expression

992
00:37:39,183 --> 00:37:40,926
and not the reason.

993
00:37:40,926 --> 00:37:42,360
The reason needs to be based

994
00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:44,529
on who God is and on the Word of God.

995
00:37:44,536 --> 00:37:45,402
(Jason) Puia.

996
00:37:45,402 --> 00:37:47,120
(Puia) I also want to make a point

997
00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:48,881
that there is danger, also,

998
00:37:48,881 --> 00:37:51,983
to go to the extreme of emotionalism.

999
00:37:51,983 --> 00:37:53,494
I think the question is,

1000
00:37:53,494 --> 00:37:55,197
who is in control?

1001
00:37:55,197 --> 00:37:59,388
Is the Spirit of God in control?

1002
00:37:59,388 --> 00:38:01,542
Some people in some worship forms,

1003
00:38:01,542 --> 00:38:05,319
I know...this is not being
judgmental at all,

1004
00:38:05,319 --> 00:38:08,111
but in some worship forms,

1005
00:38:08,111 --> 00:38:12,056
people are dragged out of their seats
against their will,

1006
00:38:12,056 --> 00:38:13,799
and they are forced to dance.

1007
00:38:13,799 --> 00:38:15,617
I've seen them, you know.

1008
00:38:15,617 --> 00:38:16,890
There are plenty of places

1009
00:38:16,890 --> 00:38:19,098
where they believe that that's
the Holy Spirit.

1010
00:38:19,098 --> 00:38:20,595
But I think the Holy Spirit,

1011
00:38:20,595 --> 00:38:22,069
it's very clear from the Bible

1012
00:38:22,069 --> 00:38:24,771
that the Holy Spirit never forces upon us.

1013
00:38:24,771 --> 00:38:26,489
So, if in the process

1014
00:38:26,489 --> 00:38:27,810
of our worshiping God,

1015
00:38:27,810 --> 00:38:31,006
if some form of force

1016
00:38:31,006 --> 00:38:33,918
is taking over our own will and decision,

1017
00:38:33,918 --> 00:38:36,049
that's something to be careful of,

1018
00:38:36,049 --> 00:38:37,634
and that's not something from God

1019
00:38:37,634 --> 00:38:39,780
because God never forces us.

1020
00:38:39,780 --> 00:38:42,838
God wants us to worship out of our hearts.

1021
00:38:42,838 --> 00:38:43,903
(Jason) Yes, Pedro.

1022
00:38:43,903 --> 00:38:45,212
(Pedro) It's hard to put

1023
00:38:45,212 --> 00:38:46,836
worship into a perspective

1024
00:38:46,836 --> 00:38:48,032
because it's something

1025
00:38:48,032 --> 00:38:49,588
that we experience ourselves

1026
00:38:49,588 --> 00:38:51,082
in relation to God.

1027
00:38:51,082 --> 00:38:54,358
But when I look into the boundaries,

1028
00:38:54,358 --> 00:38:56,755
I try to look into the history
of marriage.

1029
00:38:56,755 --> 00:39:00,025
That's the only entity

1030
00:39:00,025 --> 00:39:01,500
that you probably can have

1031
00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:02,846
as a different relationship

1032
00:39:02,846 --> 00:39:05,308
of experiencing something with someone.

1033
00:39:05,308 --> 00:39:08,997
And if you're cut and dried,

1034
00:39:08,997 --> 00:39:11,354
you're not having a relationship
with that person.

1035
00:39:11,354 --> 00:39:12,734
You can say, "I'm married,"

1036
00:39:12,734 --> 00:39:15,513
but you're just on that ceremonial level

1037
00:39:15,513 --> 00:39:18,053
where you just do what needs to be done
and that's it.

1038
00:39:18,053 --> 00:39:20,361
But also you cannot be too emotional.

1039
00:39:20,361 --> 00:39:21,807
You have to have reason.

1040
00:39:21,807 --> 00:39:23,237
It's that mix, that balance

1041
00:39:23,237 --> 00:39:25,716
of reason and emotions

1042
00:39:25,716 --> 00:39:27,279
that brings together

1043
00:39:27,279 --> 00:39:29,524
a full experience of relationship.

1044
00:39:29,524 --> 00:39:31,375
And I think that's the most important.

1045
00:39:31,375 --> 00:39:33,061
Are you experiencing a relationship

1046
00:39:33,061 --> 00:39:34,612
with God as you worship?

1047
00:39:34,612 --> 00:39:36,881
And are you growing

1048
00:39:36,881 --> 00:39:40,214
from this marital church in Christ?

1049
00:39:40,214 --> 00:39:42,032
(Jason) So, worship involves both

1050
00:39:42,032 --> 00:39:46,291
the emotional and the rational components,
as Pedro said.

1051
00:39:46,291 --> 00:39:47,848
We need to move on, and we need

1052
00:39:47,848 --> 00:39:49,402
to look further in the story.

1053
00:39:49,402 --> 00:39:50,490
Jonathan, I would like

1054
00:39:50,490 --> 00:39:51,730
if you could read for us

1055
00:39:51,730 --> 00:39:56,109
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verses 7 through 15.

1056
00:39:56,109 --> 00:39:58,197
And as we read this, let's see,

1057
00:39:58,197 --> 00:40:00,396
how do the children of Israel,

1058
00:40:00,396 --> 00:40:02,006
this group gathered together,

1059
00:40:02,006 --> 00:40:03,664
how do they worship?

1060
00:40:03,664 --> 00:40:04,806
What are the statements

1061
00:40:04,806 --> 00:40:06,022
that are made here?

1062
00:40:06,022 --> 00:40:07,824
(Jonathan) All right, I'll be reading

1063
00:40:07,824 --> 00:40:09,519
from the New International Version:

1064
00:41:43,173 --> 00:41:45,590
(Jason) Wow, so, what is the story here?

1065
00:41:45,590 --> 00:41:48,635
What is happening in this prayer?

1066
00:41:48,635 --> 00:41:50,565
Jonathan just read a lot of verses,

1067
00:41:50,565 --> 00:41:52,111
and what are those verses

1068
00:41:52,111 --> 00:41:55,031
all talking about? Stephanie.

1069
00:41:55,031 --> 00:41:56,365
(Stephanie) It's recounting

1070
00:41:56,365 --> 00:42:00,305
God's faithfulness, each step of the way.

1071
00:42:00,309 --> 00:42:01,767
(Jason) Each step, recounting

1072
00:42:01,767 --> 00:42:03,323
God's faithfulness. Yes, Travis.

1073
00:42:03,323 --> 00:42:06,664
(Travis) It's also talking

1074
00:42:06,664 --> 00:42:08,709
about His power, the power of God.

1075
00:42:08,709 --> 00:42:10,379
Only God can part the Red Sea.

1076
00:42:10,379 --> 00:42:11,752
Prior to this, we talked

1077
00:42:11,752 --> 00:42:12,818
about their worship,

1078
00:42:12,818 --> 00:42:14,654
worship Him who made the earth

1079
00:42:14,654 --> 00:42:16,091
and everything that was in it.

1080
00:42:16,091 --> 00:42:20,785
And that was basically leading them

1081
00:42:20,785 --> 00:42:22,371
back into Sabbath worship,

1082
00:42:22,371 --> 00:42:25,558
to honoring Him as the Creator.

1083
00:42:25,558 --> 00:42:26,753
(Jason) Yes, Nicole.

1084
00:42:26,753 --> 00:42:28,780
(Nicole) It also talks
about His authority.

1085
00:42:28,780 --> 00:42:29,957
"You gave us ordinances.

1086
00:42:29,957 --> 00:42:31,976
You gave us structure and rules

1087
00:42:31,976 --> 00:42:33,280
that we need as humans."

1088
00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:35,055
And so, He's awesome in that way,

1089
00:42:35,055 --> 00:42:36,856
that He gives us what's good for us

1090
00:42:36,856 --> 00:42:39,064
because He knows what we need
when we need it.

1091
00:42:39,064 --> 00:42:41,581
(Jason) All right, so, His authority,

1092
00:42:41,581 --> 00:42:45,137
structure, power, His love.

1093
00:42:45,137 --> 00:42:46,463
Now, let's look through,

1094
00:42:46,463 --> 00:42:48,819
because there's a specific series

1095
00:42:48,819 --> 00:42:51,107
of statements that are made

1096
00:42:51,107 --> 00:42:54,363
in this retelling of God's goodness

1097
00:42:54,363 --> 00:42:55,421
and God's guidance.

1098
00:42:55,421 --> 00:42:57,191
And we're kind of going to see

1099
00:42:57,191 --> 00:42:59,140
how they play back and forth

1100
00:42:59,140 --> 00:43:01,506
between what the people are doing

1101
00:43:01,506 --> 00:43:02,875
and what God has done.

1102
00:43:02,875 --> 00:43:04,873
And so, I want to start this.

1103
00:43:04,873 --> 00:43:06,787
Puia, if you could read for us

1104
00:43:06,787 --> 00:43:11,587
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verses 16 and 17.

1105
00:43:11,587 --> 00:43:13,033
And you're going to see here,

1106
00:43:13,033 --> 00:43:14,183
I'm going to ask you,

1107
00:43:14,183 --> 00:43:15,633
what do the people do?

1108
00:43:15,633 --> 00:43:16,975
What is God's response?

1109
00:43:16,975 --> 00:43:19,602
So, 16 and 17, please, and you can read

1110
00:43:19,602 --> 00:43:21,784
all the full verses there.

1111
00:43:21,784 --> 00:43:23,428
(Puia) All right, I'll be reading

1112
00:43:23,428 --> 00:43:24,977
from the New King James Version:

1113
00:43:53,091 --> 00:43:55,189
(Jason) Wow. So, what did the people do?

1114
00:43:55,189 --> 00:43:59,338
What was their action? Yes, Stephanie.

1115
00:43:59,338 --> 00:44:02,120
(Stephanie) Proud, hard, 
disobedient, rebellious.

1116
00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:04,352
(Jason) Proud, hard, disobedient.
Yes, Pedro.

1117
00:44:04,352 --> 00:44:06,716
(Pedro) I like the phrase,
"hardened their necks."

1118
00:44:06,716 --> 00:44:08,274
If somebody is calling you,

1119
00:44:08,274 --> 00:44:09,707
you're just not turning;

1120
00:44:09,707 --> 00:44:12,882
you're just rejecting to go.

1121
00:44:12,882 --> 00:44:14,901
You know, somebody is calling
on this side,

1122
00:44:14,901 --> 00:44:16,960
and I'm turning that way;
I'm not listening.

1123
00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:19,630
It's a very offensive way, you know.

1124
00:44:19,630 --> 00:44:21,561
You're not recognizing God.

1125
00:44:21,561 --> 00:44:22,805
And now they are saying,

1126
00:44:22,805 --> 00:44:25,022
"We want to recognize You
and Your praise."

1127
00:44:25,022 --> 00:44:27,258
(Jason) So, they're very offensive
towards God,

1128
00:44:27,258 --> 00:44:28,649
and what is God's response?

1129
00:44:28,649 --> 00:44:30,238
Does He turn His neck back?

1130
00:44:30,238 --> 00:44:31,411
Does He say, "All right,

1131
00:44:31,411 --> 00:44:32,696
I'm done with you"? Nicole.

1132
00:44:32,696 --> 00:44:33,906
(Nicole) He loves them.

1133
00:44:33,906 --> 00:44:34,877
He always does.

1134
00:44:34,877 --> 00:44:36,163
He loves us no matter what.

1135
00:44:36,163 --> 00:44:38,623
And He calls them to come back to Him.

1136
00:44:38,623 --> 00:44:40,038
You know, He's gracious,

1137
00:44:40,038 --> 00:44:41,934
He's compassionate, He's slow to anger,

1138
00:44:41,934 --> 00:44:44,226
and He's abounding in faithful love.

1139
00:44:44,226 --> 00:44:46,017
He is faithful to the end.

1140
00:44:46,017 --> 00:44:46,982
(Jason) Travis.

1141
00:44:46,982 --> 00:44:48,845
(Travis) Well, I just noticed, it says,

1142
00:44:48,845 --> 00:44:50,016
"They appointed a leader

1143
00:44:50,016 --> 00:44:51,300
to return to their bondage.

1144
00:44:51,300 --> 00:44:53,802
But You are God," so, God
was their leader,

1145
00:44:53,802 --> 00:44:55,404
but they chose a different leader

1146
00:44:55,404 --> 00:44:57,009
that led them into bondage.

1147
00:44:57,009 --> 00:44:58,836
(Jason) And yet God still returns,

1148
00:44:58,836 --> 00:45:00,225
and He's gracious to them.

1149
00:45:00,225 --> 00:45:02,571
All right, let's look at the next section.

1150
00:45:02,571 --> 00:45:04,649
I'd like to ask Evelyn

1151
00:45:04,649 --> 00:45:06,035
if you could read for us

1152
00:45:06,035 --> 00:45:10,316
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verses 18 through 25.

1153
00:45:10,316 --> 00:45:12,193
We have another story here,

1154
00:45:12,193 --> 00:45:13,862
and then how God responds.

1155
00:45:13,862 --> 00:45:17,698
So, please read for us 18 through 25

1156
00:45:17,698 --> 00:45:19,908
of Nehemiah, chapter 9.

1157
00:45:19,908 --> 00:45:21,139
(Evelyn) I'll be reading

1158
00:45:21,139 --> 00:45:22,825
from the New King James Version:

1159
00:47:06,325 --> 00:47:09,022
(Jason) So, if you heard
most of those verses,

1160
00:47:09,022 --> 00:47:10,763
you almost might have missed

1161
00:47:10,763 --> 00:47:12,261
the one negative thing they did

1162
00:47:12,261 --> 00:47:14,284
because you see so much of God's blessing.

1163
00:47:14,284 --> 00:47:16,641
But what was the one problem?

1164
00:47:16,641 --> 00:47:18,880
What was the negative thing
they did, Stephanie?

1165
00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:20,674
(Stephanie) They worshiped the calf.

1166
00:47:20,674 --> 00:47:22,559
(Jason) They worshiped the golden calf.

1167
00:47:22,559 --> 00:47:24,190
So they worshiped the golden calf,

1168
00:47:24,190 --> 00:47:26,132
and what is God's response here?

1169
00:47:26,132 --> 00:47:30,438
How does God...Does He cut them off again?

1170
00:47:30,438 --> 00:47:32,644
Yes, Pedro, how does God respond?

1171
00:47:32,644 --> 00:47:34,493
(Pedro) He responds with blessings.

1172
00:47:34,493 --> 00:47:36,793
He brings them to repentance

1173
00:47:36,793 --> 00:47:39,981
and says, "Here, what I have promised."

1174
00:47:39,981 --> 00:47:40,945
He kept His promise.

1175
00:47:40,945 --> 00:47:42,835
I think, even though they rebelled,

1176
00:47:42,835 --> 00:47:44,202
God is faithful in keeping

1177
00:47:44,202 --> 00:47:46,138
His promise that He had made.

1178
00:47:46,138 --> 00:47:46,998
(Jason) Travis.

1179
00:47:46,998 --> 00:47:49,082
(Travis) Since we're talking
about prophets,

1180
00:47:49,082 --> 00:47:50,548
I'd just like to go back there

1181
00:47:50,548 --> 00:47:53,048
and kind of go dive into that story
just a little bit

1182
00:47:53,048 --> 00:47:54,500
because, during that story,

1183
00:47:54,500 --> 00:47:56,333
God was very angry,

1184
00:47:56,333 --> 00:47:58,203
and Moses interceded and said,

1185
00:47:58,203 --> 00:48:01,934
"Lord, even if You have to take my life,

1186
00:48:01,934 --> 00:48:04,100
write their names in the Book of Life."

1187
00:48:04,100 --> 00:48:05,752
And so, there was another prophet,

1188
00:48:05,752 --> 00:48:07,779
like Ezra, like Nehemiah,

1189
00:48:07,779 --> 00:48:09,723
somebody else to intercede for them,

1190
00:48:09,723 --> 00:48:11,582
a powerful leader,

1191
00:48:11,582 --> 00:48:13,890
a godly servant, [God]-fearing leader,

1192
00:48:13,890 --> 00:48:15,878
who interceded for them at the time.

1193
00:48:15,878 --> 00:48:17,862
And it just goes to show you

1194
00:48:17,862 --> 00:48:20,914
that God uses people also,

1195
00:48:20,914 --> 00:48:23,869
godly people, to work

1196
00:48:23,869 --> 00:48:26,445
for the will of His people.

1197
00:48:26,445 --> 00:48:28,451
(Jason) We have to continue in the story.

1198
00:48:28,451 --> 00:48:30,064
Ranela, if you could read for us

1199
00:48:30,064 --> 00:48:34,387
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verses 26 and 27,

1200
00:48:34,387 --> 00:48:36,119
let's continue on in the story

1201
00:48:36,119 --> 00:48:38,462
and let's see how this relationship

1202
00:48:38,462 --> 00:48:41,388
goes on between God and His people.

1203
00:48:41,388 --> 00:48:42,805
(Ranela) Yes, I'll be reading

1204
00:48:42,805 --> 00:48:44,614
from the New King James Version:

1205
00:49:14,512 --> 00:49:17,275
(Jason) So had the children of Israel
learned their lesson?

1206
00:49:17,275 --> 00:49:20,038
Nope. How did they act this time?
Yes, Pedro.

1207
00:49:20,038 --> 00:49:22,621
(Pedro) I see here that they
rebelled against.

1208
00:49:22,621 --> 00:49:24,162
And it's interesting that God

1209
00:49:24,162 --> 00:49:26,785
allowed things to take place.

1210
00:49:26,785 --> 00:49:28,524
Even though He brings the prophets

1211
00:49:28,524 --> 00:49:32,523
to take them back to the Word of God,
they rebel.

1212
00:49:32,523 --> 00:49:34,129
But that's when I see here

1213
00:49:34,129 --> 00:49:35,863
there's a very important aspect here

1214
00:49:35,863 --> 00:49:37,453
on this lesson that I believe in

1215
00:49:37,453 --> 00:49:38,799
is that God allowed trials

1216
00:49:38,799 --> 00:49:40,164
to come into their lives

1217
00:49:40,164 --> 00:49:41,680
so they could know

1218
00:49:41,680 --> 00:49:44,240
that they need God to live.

1219
00:49:44,240 --> 00:49:46,276
And then when they recognized,

1220
00:49:46,276 --> 00:49:49,992
"I'm in trouble," they gave it to God.

1221
00:49:49,992 --> 00:49:51,097
(Jason) And now, Heide,

1222
00:49:51,097 --> 00:49:52,305
if you could read for us,

1223
00:49:52,305 --> 00:49:54,483
we're going to close off this story

1224
00:49:54,483 --> 00:49:56,051
with verse 28, Nehemiah,

1225
00:49:56,051 --> 00:49:58,448
chapter 9, verse 28.

1226
00:49:58,448 --> 00:50:01,401
How does the story kind of end?

1227
00:50:01,401 --> 00:50:02,661
Continue, if you will.

1228
00:50:02,661 --> 00:50:03,815
(Heide) I'll be reading

1229
00:50:03,815 --> 00:50:06,045
from the New King James Version,
and it says:

1230
00:50:23,330 --> 00:50:25,096
(Jason) All right, so, what do you

1231
00:50:25,096 --> 00:50:26,332
feel about this, Jonathan,

1232
00:50:26,332 --> 00:50:28,346
when you read these things?

1233
00:50:28,346 --> 00:50:30,253
(Jonathan) The last one, I was thinking,

1234
00:50:30,253 --> 00:50:31,441
it kind of shows how much

1235
00:50:31,441 --> 00:50:32,650
God will go towards,

1236
00:50:32,650 --> 00:50:34,412
the lengths that God will go towards.

1237
00:50:34,412 --> 00:50:35,779
I mean, He doesn't want

1238
00:50:35,779 --> 00:50:37,155
to bring calamities.

1239
00:50:37,155 --> 00:50:40,014
No parent wants to do that for their kids,

1240
00:50:40,014 --> 00:50:44,062
but He knows that He's got

1241
00:50:44,062 --> 00:50:45,584
to do something to wake them up.

1242
00:50:45,584 --> 00:50:49,521
I mean, He has to take responsibility.

1243
00:50:49,521 --> 00:50:50,781
Like, when people look on,

1244
00:50:50,781 --> 00:50:51,826
they're going to say,

1245
00:50:51,826 --> 00:50:53,340
"God's doing what to me?"

1246
00:50:53,340 --> 00:50:55,392
But He knows that that's what they needed.

1247
00:50:55,392 --> 00:50:59,286
And so I think it's kind of a reminder
we can have,

1248
00:50:59,286 --> 00:51:03,352
that God will go to great lengths
to win us back.

1249
00:51:03,352 --> 00:51:04,348
(Jason) Nicole.

1250
00:51:04,348 --> 00:51:06,387
(Nicole) I was thinking, this is us today.

1251
00:51:06,387 --> 00:51:09,804
You know, we have all the knowledge
of the entire Bible,

1252
00:51:09,804 --> 00:51:11,248
and yet we still do things

1253
00:51:11,248 --> 00:51:15,325
that are shameful and not in God's sight.

1254
00:51:15,325 --> 00:51:16,587
But if we cry out to Him,

1255
00:51:16,587 --> 00:51:18,766
He is faithful to forgive us.

1256
00:51:18,766 --> 00:51:21,067
He's faithful to be there for us
and rescue us.

1257
00:51:21,067 --> 00:51:22,635
So I'm just very thankful

1258
00:51:22,635 --> 00:51:24,665
that in all of my fallings,

1259
00:51:24,665 --> 00:51:25,990
God is there to pick me up

1260
00:51:25,990 --> 00:51:27,165
if I just cry out to Him

1261
00:51:27,165 --> 00:51:28,509
and ask Him to pick me up.

1262
00:51:28,509 --> 00:51:30,843
(Jason) Stephanie, and then
we'll have to move on.

1263
00:51:30,843 --> 00:51:31,914
(Stephanie) What I see

1264
00:51:31,914 --> 00:51:33,370
throughout all of these verses

1265
00:51:33,370 --> 00:51:35,262
is that God allows us to make a choice,

1266
00:51:35,262 --> 00:51:36,710
and unfortunately our choices

1267
00:51:36,710 --> 00:51:38,642
lead to consequences.

1268
00:51:38,642 --> 00:51:41,400
But He is merciful, and those consequences

1269
00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:43,032
will still be there,

1270
00:51:43,032 --> 00:51:45,024
but the mercy of us being able

1271
00:51:45,024 --> 00:51:46,302
to come back to Him

1272
00:51:46,302 --> 00:51:49,914
is part of His faithfulness.

1273
00:51:49,914 --> 00:51:51,945
(Jason) Malaina, could you read for us

1274
00:51:51,945 --> 00:51:54,710
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verse 30?

1275
00:51:54,710 --> 00:51:56,533
There is a specific reference

1276
00:51:56,533 --> 00:51:58,192
about what God does,

1277
00:51:58,192 --> 00:52:00,074
how He tries to reach the people.

1278
00:52:00,074 --> 00:52:02,529
Please read for us Nehemiah 9:30.

1279
00:52:02,529 --> 00:52:03,751
(Malaina) I'll be reading

1280
00:52:03,751 --> 00:52:05,322
from the New King James Version,

1281
00:52:05,322 --> 00:52:07,419
Nehemiah, chapter 9, verse 30:

1282
00:52:21,420 --> 00:52:23,407
(Jason) All right, so, what did God do?

1283
00:52:23,407 --> 00:52:27,101
How did God try to win back His people?
Yes, Pedro.

1284
00:52:27,101 --> 00:52:29,342
(Pedro) Through the Spirit
of the prophets.

1285
00:52:29,342 --> 00:52:31,391
That's what basically we need
to understand

1286
00:52:31,391 --> 00:52:32,642
is the role of the prophet

1287
00:52:32,642 --> 00:52:35,132
is to bring us back to the Word of God.

1288
00:52:35,132 --> 00:52:36,622
(Jason) And let's actually look

1289
00:52:36,622 --> 00:52:38,787
at some verses about what a prophet does,

1290
00:52:38,787 --> 00:52:41,812
and so, I'd like to ask Nancy

1291
00:52:41,812 --> 00:52:43,058
if you could read for us

1292
00:52:43,058 --> 00:52:47,052
in the book of Amos, chapter 3, verse 7.

1293
00:52:47,052 --> 00:52:49,550
We're going to look at
what a prophet does,

1294
00:52:49,550 --> 00:52:51,462
and then after Nancy,

1295
00:52:51,462 --> 00:52:53,659
I'm going to ask Puia, right next door,

1296
00:52:53,659 --> 00:52:57,607
to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

1297
00:52:57,607 --> 00:52:58,534
Pedro introduced us

1298
00:52:58,534 --> 00:53:00,206
to this idea of prophets.

1299
00:53:00,206 --> 00:53:02,316
Let's look at what the prophets are,

1300
00:53:02,316 --> 00:53:04,879
what they do, and how that can be

1301
00:53:04,879 --> 00:53:06,950
helpful for us in life.

1302
00:53:06,950 --> 00:53:09,136
So, yes, Nancy, from Amos, please.

1303
00:53:09,136 --> 00:53:10,726
(Nancy) All right, this is Amos,

1304
00:53:10,726 --> 00:53:12,022
chapter 3, verse 7,

1305
00:53:12,022 --> 00:53:13,651
in the New King James Version:

1306
00:53:20,745 --> 00:53:22,332
(Jason) So the prophets are there

1307
00:53:22,332 --> 00:53:24,245
to reveal His secrets, to tell us

1308
00:53:24,245 --> 00:53:25,627
what God is doing,

1309
00:53:25,627 --> 00:53:28,710
to warn us about God's activities.

1310
00:53:28,710 --> 00:53:30,208
Now, Puia, what does

1311
00:53:30,208 --> 00:53:33,876
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tell us?

1312
00:53:33,876 --> 00:53:34,992
(Puia) I'll be reading

1313
00:53:34,992 --> 00:53:36,655
from the New King James Version:

1314
00:53:52,784 --> 00:53:54,993
(Jason) So, when you hear these verses,

1315
00:53:54,993 --> 00:53:56,150
how do these relate

1316
00:53:56,150 --> 00:53:58,110
to the idea of prophets

1317
00:53:58,110 --> 00:53:59,991
and what they can tell us,

1318
00:53:59,991 --> 00:54:02,516
and maybe what the people
there with Nehemiah

1319
00:54:02,516 --> 00:54:04,019
should have listened to before?

1320
00:54:04,019 --> 00:54:06,146
Yes, Stephanie, I see you
have some thoughts?

1321
00:54:06,146 --> 00:54:07,408
(Stephanie) Well, it says

1322
00:54:07,408 --> 00:54:09,941
that all Scripture is given
by inspiration of God,

1323
00:54:09,941 --> 00:54:13,471
and so, those prophets who wrote that

1324
00:54:13,471 --> 00:54:15,373
or gave us that information,

1325
00:54:15,373 --> 00:54:17,316
they were inspired by God.

1326
00:54:17,316 --> 00:54:19,533
(Jason) They were inspired by God.
Yes, Travis.

1327
00:54:19,533 --> 00:54:23,026
(Travis) I was just thinking that,

1328
00:54:23,026 --> 00:54:26,516
no matter what age we live in,

1329
00:54:26,516 --> 00:54:28,541
as we go through the Scriptures,

1330
00:54:28,541 --> 00:54:30,477
the words of the prophets

1331
00:54:30,477 --> 00:54:32,563
are as valuable to us today

1332
00:54:32,563 --> 00:54:35,606
as they were to them back then.

1333
00:54:35,606 --> 00:54:36,568
(Jason) Now, we have

1334
00:54:36,568 --> 00:54:37,751
the ultimate revelation

1335
00:54:37,751 --> 00:54:39,377
that the Scriptures reveal,

1336
00:54:39,377 --> 00:54:42,329
and so, I'd like to ask Pedro,

1337
00:54:42,329 --> 00:54:44,625
if you could read for us

1338
00:54:44,625 --> 00:54:48,908
John, chapter 5, verses 39 and 40.

1339
00:54:48,908 --> 00:54:51,318
We have the greatest revelation

1340
00:54:51,318 --> 00:54:53,835
that the Scriptures give to us.

1341
00:54:53,835 --> 00:54:55,902
So, what is this greatest revelation,

1342
00:54:55,902 --> 00:54:58,414
and how can it help us

1343
00:54:58,414 --> 00:55:00,556
in this idea of forgiveness

1344
00:55:00,556 --> 00:55:02,241
and turning to God?

1345
00:55:02,241 --> 00:55:03,364
(Pedro) I'll be reading

1346
00:55:03,364 --> 00:55:04,909
from the New King James Version,

1347
00:55:04,909 --> 00:55:08,158
John, chapter 5, verses 39 to 40:

1348
00:55:22,690 --> 00:55:24,989
(Jason) So, what do you think
about these verses?

1349
00:55:24,989 --> 00:55:26,679
How does this all connect together?

1350
00:55:26,679 --> 00:55:28,896
Nicole, I see you nodding your head.

1351
00:55:28,896 --> 00:55:31,406
(Nicole) Jesus, it comes back to Jesus.

1352
00:55:31,406 --> 00:55:32,618
It all comes back to Him.

1353
00:55:32,618 --> 00:55:33,620
No matter what we do,

1354
00:55:33,620 --> 00:55:35,126
what we say, or where we are,

1355
00:55:35,126 --> 00:55:36,494
we have to come back to Him,

1356
00:55:36,494 --> 00:55:39,340
and the Word points to Jesus,
and that's all we have.

1357
00:55:39,340 --> 00:55:41,409
(Jason) The Word points to Jesus.
Yes, Puia.

1358
00:55:41,409 --> 00:55:42,733
(Puia) As Jesus said,

1359
00:55:42,733 --> 00:55:45,038
the Scripture is about Him.

1360
00:55:45,038 --> 00:55:46,356
It's about Him, and when we

1361
00:55:46,356 --> 00:55:47,410
have Him in our lives,

1362
00:55:47,410 --> 00:55:49,623
that's eternal life.

1363
00:55:49,623 --> 00:55:52,046
(Jason) Eternal life. Yes, Heide.

1364
00:55:52,046 --> 00:55:54,507
(Heide) And putting that
into perspective then,

1365
00:55:54,507 --> 00:55:56,409
the prophets were telling them,

1366
00:55:56,409 --> 00:55:58,646
"Come to Him; come to your Creator,"

1367
00:55:58,646 --> 00:56:00,696
and they were rejecting that.

1368
00:56:00,696 --> 00:56:03,167
And we sometimes are in church

1369
00:56:03,167 --> 00:56:05,741
or we've heard the same things
that they have,

1370
00:56:05,741 --> 00:56:08,261
and yet we continue to live sinfully.

1371
00:56:08,261 --> 00:56:10,306
But His love is just, like, unfailing

1372
00:56:10,306 --> 00:56:12,358
is what I see here; it's so beautiful.

1373
00:56:12,358 --> 00:56:13,361
(Jason) Amen. Travis.

1374
00:56:13,361 --> 00:56:15,189
(Travis) So, as we make an application

1375
00:56:15,189 --> 00:56:16,959
to the verses that we've just read,

1376
00:56:16,959 --> 00:56:18,794
we see mistake, God's love,

1377
00:56:18,794 --> 00:56:20,113
mistake, God's love.

1378
00:56:20,113 --> 00:56:21,756
The Scriptures testify of God's

1379
00:56:21,756 --> 00:56:23,582
immeasurable, unfailing love.

1380
00:56:23,582 --> 00:56:24,789
(Jason) Yes, Pedro.

1381
00:56:24,789 --> 00:56:27,312
(Pedro) That's basically...
the Bible is saying

1382
00:56:27,312 --> 00:56:28,509
God has given the Word

1383
00:56:28,509 --> 00:56:30,120
because He wants us to know

1384
00:56:30,120 --> 00:56:32,166
that He is willing to forgive us.

1385
00:56:32,166 --> 00:56:34,384
(Jason) God is willing to forgive us.

1386
00:56:34,384 --> 00:56:36,334
That's such great news,

1387
00:56:36,334 --> 00:56:39,270
but that news is not just for us;

1388
00:56:39,270 --> 00:56:41,343
it's for the whole world.

1389
00:56:41,343 --> 00:56:44,741
Maybe you've gone on your own journey,

1390
00:56:44,741 --> 00:56:46,212
like the children of Israel,

1391
00:56:46,212 --> 00:56:48,458
maybe you've made mistakes,

1392
00:56:48,458 --> 00:56:50,247
maybe you've even been rebellious

1393
00:56:50,247 --> 00:56:51,982
against God yourself.

1394
00:56:51,982 --> 00:56:54,089
I want to ask you, if maybe you have

1395
00:56:54,089 --> 00:56:55,328
done some of these things,

1396
00:56:55,328 --> 00:56:57,322
that you join me right now,

1397
00:56:57,322 --> 00:56:59,553
and as I pray, you go to God

1398
00:56:59,553 --> 00:57:01,716
and you ask Him for forgiveness.

1399
00:57:01,716 --> 00:57:04,740
As we see in these stories,
in these lessons,

1400
00:57:04,740 --> 00:57:08,799
our God is a forgiving God,
is a loving God,

1401
00:57:08,799 --> 00:57:11,242
and time after time He's willing

1402
00:57:11,242 --> 00:57:13,978
to take us back and to redeem us.

1403
00:57:13,978 --> 00:57:15,963
He redeemed us through His power

1404
00:57:15,963 --> 00:57:17,180
and through His blood,

1405
00:57:17,180 --> 00:57:18,967
and He wants to take us with Him.

1406
00:57:18,967 --> 00:57:20,815
So please bow your heads with me

1407
00:57:20,815 --> 00:57:23,401
as we pray and as we thank God

1408
00:57:23,401 --> 00:57:24,790
for His forgiveness.

1409
00:57:24,790 --> 00:57:26,093
Our dear Heavenly Father,

1410
00:57:26,093 --> 00:57:28,396
Lord, we have made mistakes.

1411
00:57:28,396 --> 00:57:30,954
Whether individually or corporately,

1412
00:57:30,954 --> 00:57:32,639
we have turned from You.

1413
00:57:32,639 --> 00:57:34,871
And, Lord, if this is the time right now,

1414
00:57:34,871 --> 00:57:36,910
then we ask forgiveness.

1415
00:57:36,910 --> 00:57:39,169
We ask for, where we have failed,

1416
00:57:39,169 --> 00:57:40,535
that You redeem us,

1417
00:57:40,535 --> 00:57:41,911
that You take us back.

1418
00:57:41,911 --> 00:57:43,900
Lord, You are so long-suffering.

1419
00:57:43,900 --> 00:57:45,464
You are so loving.

1420
00:57:45,464 --> 00:57:46,570
We see what You did

1421
00:57:46,570 --> 00:57:48,019
with the children of Israel,

1422
00:57:48,019 --> 00:57:49,942
and we want You to do the same for us.

1423
00:57:49,942 --> 00:57:51,652
Lord, by Your grace, help us

1424
00:57:51,652 --> 00:57:53,262
to learn these lessons

1425
00:57:53,262 --> 00:57:56,078
so that we can truly appreciate Your love.

1426
00:57:56,078 --> 00:57:58,659
We pray all this in the holy name
of Jesus,

1427
00:57:58,659 --> 00:58:01,588
our Redeemer, our Savior. Amen.

1428
00:58:01,588 --> 00:58:02,528
(Team) Amen.

1429
00:58:02,528 --> 00:58:04,290
(Jason) Go out and be a blessing.

1430
00:58:04,290 --> 00:58:06,096
Share this with those around you.

1431
00:58:06,096 --> 00:58:29,310
♪ theme music ♪