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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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We're in the middle of a series
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on Ezra and Nehemiah,
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an ancient Jewish priest
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and a government official in Persia.
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And you say, "Derek, what could
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that have to do with us today?"
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God and the covenant today,
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but God wants to make
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a covenant with us, too.
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It's a new covenant
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and an everlasting covenant,
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that will change us,
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not only today but forever; so I'm excited
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about Hope Sabbath School today,
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God and the Covenant.
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I'm glad you joined us.
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And this has been a great series,[br]hasn't it?
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(Team) Yes.
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(Derek) Fifth century B.C.,[br]a Jewish priest,
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inspired by the Holy Spirit,[br]named Ezra,
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and a government official
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living in Persia - he was a Jew in exile
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by the name of Nehemiah,
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also guided by the Holy Spirit -
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write a record for us
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by the Holy Spirit today.
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It's exciting to know what God can do.
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And we're happy you're part
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of our Hope Sabbath School family
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wherever you are around the world.
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Here's a note from Mutale in Zambia.
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Lots of Hope Sabbath School members there.
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"Hi, Hope Sabbath School team."
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(Team) Hello!
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(Derek) "My name is Mutale.
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I've always enjoyed
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the discussions every day at my office
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before I start work in the morning."
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Begin the day with God, right?
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"May the good Lord Jesus
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continue to grant you good health
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so that you can reach
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many people around the world,
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even as God also helps you
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in your Christian journey."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "Let's be prayerful
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in these Last Days as believers.
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Pray for everyone so that God
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can take control. Amen."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Mutale, thanks for writing
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to us from Zambia,
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and I know there are
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many Hope Sabbath School members there.
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Carlos writes from Chile.
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I don't remember one from Chile,
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but I'm sure we've had some.
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Carlos says, "I just want to thank you,
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Hope Sabbath School team, for being there.
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I'm an English teacher in Chile,"[br]South America.
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"Let me tell you, watching
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Hope Sabbath School every Friday night
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has been a double blessing for me.
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I can study the Bible,
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listening to your beautiful English.
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Greetings to everyone, from Chile."
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Well, Carlos, thanks for writing to us,
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and I'm sure you're
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a great English teacher, but even more,
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to be a great man of God, right,
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a great woman of God,
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that you can bless students.
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Here's a note from Marcia in Jamaica.
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Long live Jamaica, Nicole.
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(Nicole) Long live.
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(Derek) All right.
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"Thank you, Hope Sabbath School.
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I watch your show to help me
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understand more about the Bible.
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Keep teaching and sharing God's Word
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so that Jesus can come soon."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Well, Marcia,
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a simple message from Jamaica,
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but we believe with all of our hearts[br]what you said.
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Jesus is coming soon,
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and He wants us all to be ready.
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A donor writes from Oklahoma in the U.S.,
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and I just want to say thank you
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to all of our donors; Hope Channel
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is a donor-supported ministry.
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"I love the program," the donor writes.
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"Young people are inspiring to me."
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They must be talking
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about the folks sitting there and not me,
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but I just want to say
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that we are excited to see young leaders
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taking their place in this ministry.
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"I'm 90 years old," writes the donor,
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"and I want you to know
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that you are an inspiration."
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Somebody smile and say Amen.
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(Team) Amen!
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(Derek) All right, praise God.
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You know, I know this donor.
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By the way, a gift for 20 dollars,
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and that may be a major donation
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when you're 90 years old.
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Thanks for being part of our ministry
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and for each one of you
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that supports this ministry.
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Last note, from Justina in the Bahamas.
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Justina writes and says, "Thank you,
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Hope Sabbath School team,
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for your explanation of the Word of God.
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I listen during the week
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so that I can receive
0:04:13.682,0:04:16.647
a clear understanding of the Bible.
0:04:16.647,0:04:18.964
Hope Sabbath School uplifts me
0:04:18.964,0:04:20.957
and allows me more and more
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to understand God's faithfulness
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and His grace to me.
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I love you all.
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I look forward to the day
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when all of God's people
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will meet in His Kingdom.
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Please do not get weary in well-doing.
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Keep up the excellent work.
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I'm sure that God has a special reward
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for each one of you."
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And you know what the reward will be?
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To see each other there
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and to be with Jesus.
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) So, thanks, Justina,
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for writing to us from the Bahamas.
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And we'd love to hear from you.
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You can write to us
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at sshope@hopetv.org.
0:04:55.333,0:04:57.517
And those email testimonies
0:04:57.517,0:04:59.412
really do encourage us.
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Right now, though, we have
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a Scripture song to sing,
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taken from Psalm 25,
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a 3,000-year-old Scripture song.
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My wife put a happy tune to it, and we're
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going to sing it together right now.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) You know, as we[br]were singing that song,
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it suddenly hit me
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that Jesus, as a young lad in Nazareth,
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might have sung those words.
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It was a thousand-year-old Scripture song
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written by the psalmist at that time,
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but Jesus memorized Scripture in song.
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He had these beautiful Psalms.
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Now, you say, "It's a different tune."
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I know; Maybe He'll hear us,
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"To You, O Lord," and He'll pause
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and say, "I know the words.
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Who wrote the tune?"
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But the Word of God
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is so powerful, isn't it?
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And I'm glad that you can sing[br]along with us
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wherever you are around the world,
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that we can sing Scripture together,
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and we can be blessed.
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But right now we want to pray
0:07:14.863,0:07:18.554
that God will guide us in our study.
0:07:18.554,0:07:20.618
God and the Covenant is the title.
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God wants to make a covenant with us.
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Let's pray; Father in Heaven, we thank You
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that from these ancient writings
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of Ezra and Nehemiah,
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we can learn practical lessons
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for our lives today.
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And I pray that we would catch a glimpse
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of Your immeasurable and unfailing love,
0:07:39.063,0:07:40.919
that we would catch a glimpse
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of all that You want to do for us,
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in us and through us.
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May lives be blessed today.
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We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Before we begin
0:07:53.688,0:07:55.389
reading from the Scripture
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about God and the Covenant,
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someone give me a simple explanation,
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what is a covenant? Anybody. Brittany.
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(Brittany) It's an agreement
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between two or more people.
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(Derek) Okay, an agreement
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between two or more people.
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Jason, you want to add to that?
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(Jason) It often has a lot
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of emotional significance
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related to a relationship.
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(Derek) Certainly a well-known covenant
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in today's culture is?
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(Derek, Team) Marriage.
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(Derek) And unfortunately those covenants
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are not always kept, right?
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But it's an agreement.
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So, both people are consenting.
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Are they equal, the two parties?
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Sometimes, that's right;
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that's a good answer.
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Sometimes they're equal.
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Other times, for example,
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if a monarch and people
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are making decisions.
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Certainly God and us
0:08:43.921,0:08:45.952
making a covenant together,
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we're not equal are we?
0:08:47.069,0:08:49.224
But we're both agreeing,
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a covenant that is made.
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Let's go to Nehemiah, chapter 9,
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beginning with verse 36.
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And, Nicole, would you
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begin our study today? Verses 36 to 38.
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What is the setting for the people of God
0:09:05.243,0:09:06.203
here during the time
0:09:06.203,0:09:07.838
of Ezra and Nehemiah
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when they say, "We're going
0:09:09.127,0:09:12.146
to renew our covenant with God"?
0:09:12.146,0:09:13.956
(Nicole) So the New King James Version
0:09:13.956,0:09:17.355
of Nehemiah 9:36-38 says:
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(Derek) So, what's the setting
0:09:51.239,0:09:53.024
of making this new covenant?
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Where are we history-wise?[br]Anybody? Travis?
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(Travis) They're prisoners
0:09:58.030,0:09:59.202
in their own land.
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(Derek) That's an interesting way[br]of describing it
0:10:01.736,0:10:07.467
because they're not really prisoners[br]in a jail, right?
0:10:07.467,0:10:10.040
But they're in a very difficult situation.[br]John?
0:10:10.040,0:10:11.279
(John) So, this is shortly
0:10:11.279,0:10:12.278
after the completion
0:10:12.278,0:10:13.767
of the city walls of Jerusalem.
0:10:13.767,0:10:15.696
They had been restored and rebuilt,
0:10:15.696,0:10:16.615
but they were still
0:10:16.615,0:10:18.308
under Persian rule at the time.
0:10:18.308,0:10:20.938
(Derek) And how did all of that happen?
0:10:20.938,0:10:23.142
Give me a little history, Stephanie.
0:10:23.142,0:10:25.074
How did they end up in exile,
0:10:25.074,0:10:27.142
and now they've come back from exile?
0:10:27.142,0:10:29.023
Why do they go, "We need
0:10:29.023,0:10:30.697
to renew our commitment to God"?
0:10:30.697,0:10:32.597
(Stephanie) When they've gone away,
0:10:32.597,0:10:34.332
when they were taken into captivity,
0:10:34.332,0:10:36.356
it was because of their disobedience.
0:10:36.356,0:10:37.596
(Derek) They had abandoned
0:10:37.596,0:10:40.005
the covenant with God, right?
0:10:40.005,0:10:42.528
Okay, and how long were they there?
0:10:42.528,0:10:44.067
(Derek, Team) Seventy years.
0:10:44.067,0:10:45.175
(Derek) And we're going
0:10:45.175,0:10:46.084
to study about that
0:10:46.084,0:10:47.159
because then they go,
0:10:47.159,0:10:48.266
"You know, God promised
0:10:48.266,0:10:49.387
we could come back."
0:10:49.387,0:10:52.095
But as Travis pointed out, the first wave
0:10:52.095,0:10:53.964
comes back under Zerubbabel.
0:10:53.964,0:10:55.331
Another wave comes back
0:10:55.331,0:10:57.470
under Ezra and Nehemiah,
0:10:57.470,0:11:00.417
but things are not all well, right?
0:11:00.417,0:11:02.451
So they are saying to themselves,
0:11:02.451,0:11:04.482
"You know, we know what got
0:11:04.482,0:11:07.124
our forefathers into trouble,"
0:11:07.124,0:11:10.001
abandoning the agreement with God,
0:11:10.001,0:11:11.109
the covenant with God,
0:11:11.109,0:11:13.744
"let's renew our covenant."
0:11:13.744,0:11:14.851
Now, in chapter 10,
0:11:14.851,0:11:16.534
you've got your Bible there,
0:11:16.534,0:11:20.664
you'll notice in verses 1 through 27
0:11:20.664,0:11:22.520
what do you see, anybody?
0:11:22.520,0:11:24.169
(Derek, Team) A list of names.
0:11:24.169,0:11:26.218
(Derek) And I am not going to ask for you,
0:11:26.218,0:11:27.471
Adison, to read that list.
0:11:27.471,0:11:28.997
I'm sure you could,
0:11:28.997,0:11:32.040
but why do you think the Holy Spirit
0:11:32.040,0:11:37.383
inspired Nehemiah to write down
0:11:37.383,0:11:39.457
all of those names?
0:11:39.457,0:11:40.789
What do you think, Adison?
0:11:40.789,0:11:42.358
(Adison) I think it was important
0:11:42.358,0:11:44.034
because this covenant was
0:11:44.034,0:11:45.831
not only for one individual and God,
0:11:45.831,0:11:47.944
but it was a community thing.
0:11:47.944,0:11:49.474
So, here we have an example
0:11:49.474,0:11:51.323
of all these names being listed down,
0:11:51.323,0:11:52.280
and so you can see
0:11:52.280,0:11:53.839
that it was a community covenant
0:11:53.839,0:11:55.395
between God and His people.
0:11:55.395,0:11:59.340
(Derek) You've got Nehemiah there,[br]certainly, right,
0:11:59.340,0:12:04.746
and then you've got Zedekiah and Seraiah.
0:12:04.746,0:12:07.824
I'm assuming, as the list[br]is being written,
0:12:07.824,0:12:10.464
that someone says...?
0:12:10.464,0:12:11.491
(Team) "Me, too."
0:12:11.491,0:12:12.701
(Derek) "Me, too," right,
0:12:12.701,0:12:14.611
"add my name," right? Travis?
0:12:14.611,0:12:15.890
(Travis) You know, when we
0:12:15.890,0:12:17.111
sign agreements nowadays,
0:12:17.111,0:12:18.871
we do that so there's accountability,
0:12:18.871,0:12:20.318
so they can't go back and say,
0:12:20.318,0:12:22.423
"Well, you know, I never said that."
0:12:22.423,0:12:25.293
When you put something in writing,
0:12:25.293,0:12:28.457
you know, it's an accountability,[br]it's official.
0:12:28.457,0:12:30.483
(Derek) So, back to the marriage
0:12:30.483,0:12:32.168
or courting relationship,
0:12:32.168,0:12:34.649
if someone says, "Well, I'd like
0:12:34.649,0:12:35.640
to move in with you,
0:12:35.640,0:12:37.329
but I'm not ready to make
0:12:37.329,0:12:40.027
a formal agreement...
0:12:40.027,0:12:42.958
(Evelyn) Commitment.
0:12:42.958,0:12:45.349
(Derek) What would you say[br]to them, Evelyn?
0:12:45.349,0:12:46.986
(Evelyn) I would say you guys
0:12:46.986,0:12:48.010
need to do it the way
0:12:48.010,0:12:50.637
the Lord commands us to,
0:12:50.637,0:12:52.992
I mean, to show commitment to one another.
0:12:52.992,0:12:54.514
(Derek) That's true. Yes, Jason.
0:12:54.514,0:12:56.816
(Jason) I would say that's[br]kind of like cheating.
0:12:56.816,0:12:58.384
You're trying to get the benefits
0:12:58.384,0:13:00.300
of the situation without the commitment.
0:13:00.300,0:13:02.154
(Derek) And the truth is, it won't work
0:13:02.154,0:13:03.436
because there's no...?
0:13:03.436,0:13:04.661
(Team) Commitment.
0:13:04.661,0:13:06.439
(Derek) There's no commitment, right?
0:13:06.439,0:13:09.766
Now, having listed these primary signers,
0:13:09.766,0:13:10.738
I mean, we can think
0:13:10.738,0:13:12.284
of other primary documents
0:13:12.284,0:13:13.639
where there are the signers
0:13:13.639,0:13:15.466
whose names are on there,
0:13:15.466,0:13:17.053
let's take a look, Gladys,
0:13:17.053,0:13:19.964
at verses 28 and 29,
0:13:19.964,0:13:21.866
something that Nehemiah adds
0:13:21.866,0:13:24.076
after that list of names.
0:13:24.076,0:13:25.065
(Gladys) I'm reading
0:13:25.065,0:13:26.956
from the New International Version,
0:13:26.956,0:13:31.603
Nehemiah, chapter 10, verses 28 and 29:
0:14:09.043,0:14:10.891
(Derek) So, what's the significance
0:14:10.891,0:14:12.124
of that little add-on
0:14:12.124,0:14:14.122
to the list of names?
0:14:14.122,0:14:16.146
(Harold) Total commitment.
0:14:16.146,0:14:17.413
(Derek) Total commitment.
0:14:17.413,0:14:20.203
(Harold) It wasn't just the leaders[br]because we can't forget
0:14:20.203,0:14:23.258
the names listed in verses 1 through 27;[br]these were the leaders,
0:14:23.258,0:14:26.432
which actually they were supposed to teach[br]and impart this message.
0:14:26.432,0:14:28.037
But at the same time, the people,
0:14:28.037,0:14:30.263
were like, "We want to be followers, too."
0:14:30.263,0:14:32.247
(Derek) Right? The rest of the people.
0:14:32.247,0:14:35.137
In fact, we find that phrase
0:14:35.137,0:14:37.529
toward the end of verse 29,
0:14:37.529,0:14:39.438
or verse 28, excuse me,
0:14:39.438,0:14:42.591
"everyone who had knowledge[br]and understanding."
0:14:42.591,0:14:43.583
What does that mean?
0:14:43.583,0:14:44.793
We had that when Ezra
0:14:44.793,0:14:47.061
was reading, too, the Word, right?
0:14:47.061,0:14:49.649
What does that mean?
0:14:49.649,0:14:50.716
Even the little ones
0:14:50.716,0:14:52.607
who could understand, right?
0:14:52.607,0:14:56.260
They said, "Me, too, papa,"
0:14:56.260,0:14:58.653
"Me, too, mama, add my name[br]to that list.
0:14:58.653,0:15:02.115
I want to be named with the people of God
0:15:02.115,0:15:04.617
who are making this covenant with God."
0:15:04.617,0:15:06.513
So, like Harold said,
0:15:06.513,0:15:10.638
it's, like, a total commitment,
0:15:10.638,0:15:11.897
a total commitment.
0:15:11.897,0:15:16.715
Now, how did the witness of the leaders
0:15:16.715,0:15:19.331
influence the rest of the people?
0:15:19.331,0:15:22.933
We don't know, do we?
0:15:22.933,0:15:25.095
Is there a correlation sometimes, John,
0:15:25.095,0:15:28.145
between the leader, even in a family,
0:15:28.145,0:15:30.261
and where the family goes?
0:15:30.261,0:15:32.338
(John) They often set the example,
0:15:32.338,0:15:34.805
and they set the tone for the family
0:15:34.805,0:15:37.164
or those that they are leading.
0:15:37.164,0:15:39.087
(Derek) So, you've got two key leaders,
0:15:39.087,0:15:40.942
namely Ezra and...?
0:15:40.942,0:15:41.797
(Team) Nehemiah.
0:15:41.797,0:15:43.318
(Derek) who are saying,
0:15:43.318,0:15:44.670
"We're going to follow God.
0:15:44.670,0:15:46.603
This is what God wants us to do.
0:15:46.603,0:15:49.401
They both sacrificed in order to do that.
0:15:49.401,0:15:51.088
Now the other leaders are coming,
0:15:51.088,0:15:52.598
and now all of the people,
0:15:52.598,0:15:53.761
a total commitment,
0:15:53.761,0:15:54.978
"Let's make a covenant,"
0:15:54.978,0:15:56.961
make an agreement, "with God." Stephanie.
0:15:56.961,0:15:58.936
(Stephanie) I guess, what came to my mind
0:15:58.936,0:16:00.514
was that each person has to make
0:16:00.514,0:16:02.060
their own individual commitment.
0:16:02.060,0:16:03.371
So, even though the leaders
0:16:03.371,0:16:04.644
are making the commitment,
0:16:04.644,0:16:05.837
each individual also had
0:16:05.837,0:16:07.322
to make their own commitment.
0:16:07.322,0:16:09.801
(Derek) Now, it said, "those who[br]have understanding."
0:16:09.801,0:16:11.024
What about the tiny ones?
0:16:11.024,0:16:14.066
How is their destiny determined,
0:16:14.066,0:16:17.955
the ones without understanding yet?
0:16:17.955,0:16:21.420
(Team) The parents.
0:16:21.420,0:16:22.562
(Derek) It was the same
0:16:22.562,0:16:24.378
in the time of Noah.
0:16:24.378,0:16:26.127
It was the same, you know,
0:16:26.127,0:16:27.372
you think of other times
0:16:27.372,0:16:30.345
when people had decisions to make.
0:16:30.345,0:16:31.950
The Exodus, you know,
0:16:31.950,0:16:33.181
"Are we going to go out?"
0:16:33.181,0:16:34.489
The little ones, they don't
0:16:34.489,0:16:36.694
make that choice, do they?
0:16:36.694,0:16:38.343
At that point, their destiny
0:16:38.343,0:16:39.781
is very much impacted
0:16:39.781,0:16:41.378
by the decision of their parents.
0:16:41.378,0:16:43.390
It's a solemn responsibility, right?
0:16:43.390,0:16:45.860
So, we're going to pause for a moment now.
0:16:45.860,0:16:49.165
We've seen this important juncture,
0:16:49.165,0:16:52.036
crossroads, for the people of God
0:16:52.036,0:16:53.903
there in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah,
0:16:53.903,0:16:55.682
"We're going to renew our commitment,
0:16:55.682,0:16:56.847
our covenant, with God."
0:16:56.847,0:16:58.012
But there had been times
0:16:58.012,0:17:00.037
down through sacred history
0:17:00.037,0:17:01.971
when God has made covenants,
0:17:01.971,0:17:03.793
or agreements, with people,
0:17:03.793,0:17:05.567
and we're just going to take a moment
0:17:05.567,0:17:06.777
to look at some of those.
0:17:06.777,0:17:08.526
Some of them might seem massive,
0:17:08.526,0:17:11.424
and some are rather small, but there are
0:17:11.424,0:17:13.593
at least two people in the agreement,
0:17:13.593,0:17:15.904
and they're both agreeing to it,
0:17:15.904,0:17:17.333
and it has implications.
0:17:17.333,0:17:21.047
So, anybody, give me some examples
0:17:21.047,0:17:25.768
of other covenants. Anybody? Yes, Evelyn?
0:17:25.768,0:17:27.155
(Evelyn) There's the covenant
0:17:27.155,0:17:28.470
God had with Adam.
0:17:28.470,0:17:30.426
(Derek) All right, let's look at that
0:17:30.426,0:17:33.734
in the book of Genesis, chapter 3,
0:17:33.734,0:17:35.102
a covenant with Adam.
0:17:35.102,0:17:36.842
Again, a covenant is a what?
0:17:36.842,0:17:37.815
(Team) An agreement.
0:17:37.815,0:17:39.420
(Derek) It's an agreement, okay.
0:17:39.420,0:17:41.725
So let's see, the words spoken
0:17:41.725,0:17:46.177
in verse 15 are actually
0:17:46.177,0:17:48.853
spoken to the serpent,
0:17:48.853,0:17:51.961
but it is describing a covenant
0:17:51.961,0:17:53.653
with the human family.
0:17:53.653,0:17:55.449
So would you read verse 15 for us,
0:17:55.449,0:17:59.055
and then also if you would add verse 21.
0:17:59.055,0:18:00.525
(Evelyn) And I will be reading
0:18:00.525,0:18:03.370
from the New Living Translation; it says:
0:18:14.944,0:18:16.912
Verse 21 says:
0:18:22.334,0:18:24.274
(Derek) So, what does that promise
0:18:24.274,0:18:26.260
in verse 15, that God is not
0:18:26.260,0:18:28.348
going to abandon the human family -
0:18:28.348,0:18:30.543
He's making a promise to them, right,
0:18:30.543,0:18:31.930
that He's going to provide
0:18:31.930,0:18:33.919
a way of salvation for them -
0:18:33.919,0:18:36.481
and verse 21, why are those two related?
0:18:36.481,0:18:38.704
Help me, someone. John?
0:18:38.704,0:18:40.765
(John) These are linked because verse 15
0:18:40.765,0:18:43.976
gives the promise of the Messiah to come,
0:18:43.976,0:18:45.701
and here you have that they
0:18:45.701,0:18:46.767
are clothed with skin.
0:18:46.767,0:18:48.700
That means that there was a sacrifice
0:18:48.700,0:18:51.235
that took place for them
0:18:51.235,0:18:52.931
to receive skins or covering.
0:18:52.931,0:18:55.567
(Derek) And that's not described there[br]in chapter 3.
0:18:55.567,0:18:57.689
In chapter 4, you've got
0:18:57.689,0:18:59.992
Abel bringing the lamb.
0:18:59.992,0:19:01.772
Cain, in rebellion, bringing
0:19:01.772,0:19:03.863
some fruit from his garden.
0:19:03.863,0:19:05.473
So obviously this idea
0:19:05.473,0:19:07.725
of a lamb pointing forward
0:19:07.725,0:19:09.919
all the way to the Lamb of God, Jesus,
0:19:09.919,0:19:11.984
who will take away the sin of the world,
0:19:11.984,0:19:13.340
had been explained to them.
0:19:13.340,0:19:14.843
Now, did you ever think
0:19:14.843,0:19:16.452
(my wife was sharing this with me
0:19:16.452,0:19:18.040
just a few days ago),
0:19:18.040,0:19:22.259
does that mean that God
0:19:22.259,0:19:24.116
offered the first sacrifice
0:19:24.116,0:19:28.134
to show them the cost
0:19:28.134,0:19:30.462
and also the sign of looking forward?
0:19:30.462,0:19:33.865
And if that's true, was that
0:19:33.865,0:19:36.730
the first time in eternity
0:19:36.730,0:19:43.462
that God had caused any form of death?
0:19:43.462,0:19:45.928
That's a solemn thought, isn't it?
0:19:45.928,0:19:47.832
And yet, the agreement is,
0:19:47.832,0:19:50.947
if you trust My promise,
0:19:50.947,0:19:53.341
I will save you, right?
0:19:53.341,0:19:55.452
And not just you but your children.
0:19:55.452,0:19:57.438
Well, we could spend a lot of time there.
0:19:57.438,0:20:00.288
We may get a thousand emails;[br]you go, "Really?"
0:20:00.288,0:20:02.405
Or did God just tell Adam,
0:20:02.405,0:20:03.818
"You kill the lamb'"?
0:20:03.818,0:20:05.807
Maybe God told Adam?
0:20:05.807,0:20:06.928
We'll hear from you.
0:20:06.928,0:20:08.370
What do you think, by the way?
0:20:08.370,0:20:09.806
It was certainly not
0:20:09.806,0:20:10.938
within the heart of God
0:20:10.938,0:20:12.970
to witness any death, was it?
0:20:12.970,0:20:14.389
God wanted all things
0:20:14.389,0:20:16.840
to be in perfect harmony.
0:20:16.840,0:20:19.401
We'll get some emails, I'm sure.
0:20:19.401,0:20:21.130
Yeah, I see you thinking. Gladys?
0:20:21.130,0:20:22.374
(Gladys) Yes, the covenant
0:20:22.374,0:20:23.860
that God made with Noah.
0:20:23.860,0:20:25.829
(Derek) Okay, let's take a look at that.
0:20:25.829,0:20:27.224
Of course, you know the story
0:20:27.224,0:20:29.059
of Noah starts in Genesis 6,
0:20:29.059,0:20:32.033
but let's take a look at Genesis 9.
0:20:32.033,0:20:33.380
Perhaps you could read that
0:20:33.380,0:20:37.190
for us, Gladys, verses 8 through 11.
0:20:37.190,0:20:38.686
(Gladys) Sure, I'll be reading
0:20:38.686,0:20:40.506
from the New International Version,
0:20:40.506,0:20:43.946
Genesis 9, verses 8 to 11:
0:21:21.247,0:21:22.546
(Derek) So, that's God part
0:21:22.546,0:21:23.892
of the covenant, a promise,
0:21:23.892,0:21:26.513
and He gives the sign of that with what?
0:21:26.513,0:21:27.414
(Team) A rainbow.
0:21:27.414,0:21:30.510
(Derek) So, what's their part[br]of the covenant?
0:21:30.510,0:21:31.817
What does He ask them
0:21:31.817,0:21:34.285
to do to enter into it?
0:21:34.285,0:21:35.250
(John) Trust Him.
0:21:35.250,0:21:37.236
(Derek) To just trust Him, that's right.
0:21:37.236,0:21:39.796
You say, "That's not very much,"
0:21:39.796,0:21:42.651
but actually it's the very essence,[br]isn't it,
0:21:42.651,0:21:45.951
of trusting in the immeasurable[br]and unfailing love of God.
0:21:45.951,0:21:47.946
One more, another covenant. Brittany.
0:21:47.946,0:21:49.348
(Brittany) I think of Abraham
0:21:49.348,0:21:50.842
when he was called Abram.
0:21:50.842,0:21:52.519
God promised him that He would make
0:21:52.519,0:21:55.001
his descendants like the stars of the sky.
0:21:55.001,0:21:56.523
(Derek) When his name was Abram,
0:21:56.523,0:21:57.599
and I'll have you read
0:21:57.599,0:21:59.771
chapter 12 for us, of Genesis, 1 to 3,
0:21:59.771,0:22:00.984
when his name was Abram,
0:22:00.984,0:22:02.473
how many children did he have?
0:22:02.473,0:22:03.372
(Team) None.
0:22:03.372,0:22:05.297
(Derek) And how old was he at that time?
0:22:05.297,0:22:07.336
Oh, can you remember that? Was he...?
0:22:07.336,0:22:10.925
Seventy-five years old, right?
0:22:10.925,0:22:12.635
Well, let's take a look, Brittany,
0:22:12.635,0:22:14.746
in chapter 12, verses 1 to 3.
0:22:14.746,0:22:17.021
And then we could look at many others,
0:22:17.021,0:22:18.176
but I'm going to ask you
0:22:18.176,0:22:19.148
what you've noticed
0:22:19.148,0:22:20.666
they all have in common so far.
0:22:20.666,0:22:21.924
(Brittany) I'll be reading
0:22:21.924,0:22:23.469
from the New King James Version,
0:22:23.469,0:22:26.031
Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1 through 3:
0:22:51.495,0:22:53.481
(Derek) Now, that's a beautiful promise.
0:22:53.481,0:22:54.666
By the way, if you look
0:22:54.666,0:22:56.714
at the family tree of Jesus,[br]get to Matthew,
0:22:56.714,0:22:58.717
He's a son of Abraham, right?
0:22:58.717,0:23:01.209
Because the, "In you, all the families
0:23:01.209,0:23:04.736
of the earth will be blessed," is also...?
0:23:04.736,0:23:06.789
A prophecy pointing forward to Messiah
0:23:06.789,0:23:09.416
just like the lamb is a prophecy
0:23:09.416,0:23:11.805
pointing forward to Messiah, right?
0:23:11.805,0:23:13.904
"In you all the nations..."
0:23:13.904,0:23:15.890
We have to look at one more, Moses,
0:23:15.890,0:23:18.320
the covenant made with Moses and Israel.
0:23:18.320,0:23:20.706
If someone could look in Exodus 19,
0:23:20.706,0:23:23.360
verses 4 through 6.
0:23:23.360,0:23:26.429
Exodus 19, Jason, if you
0:23:26.429,0:23:28.288
could read verses 4 through 6,
0:23:28.288,0:23:30.831
what does the Word say there?
0:23:30.831,0:23:31.978
(Jason) I'll be reading
0:23:31.978,0:23:33.530
from the New King James Version,
0:23:33.530,0:23:37.470
Exodus, chapter 19, verses 4 through 6:
0:24:07.929,0:24:09.282
(Derek) So, now God's making
0:24:09.282,0:24:12.979
a covenant with Moses and...?[br]All of Israel.
0:24:12.979,0:24:14.479
What do you see that all
0:24:14.479,0:24:16.107
of these covenants have in common?
0:24:16.107,0:24:17.710
We could look at more, too,
0:24:17.710,0:24:18.674
but what do you see
0:24:18.674,0:24:20.382
that they have in common, Harold?
0:24:20.382,0:24:21.863
(Harold) God is the Initiator.
0:24:21.863,0:24:22.577
(Derek) Okay.
0:24:22.577,0:24:24.105
(Harold) He starts the covenant.
0:24:24.105,0:24:26.200
(Derek) Very important, God is[br]the Initiator,
0:24:26.200,0:24:27.440
and what's motivating Him?
0:24:27.440,0:24:28.256
(Team) Love.
0:24:28.256,0:24:29.321
(Derek) That's right.
0:24:29.321,0:24:30.730
He doesn't need, like,
0:24:30.730,0:24:32.089
"And I really need your help
0:24:32.089,0:24:34.260
to build this city of...," whatever,"
0:24:34.260,0:24:36.598
you know, like the Egyptians, right.
0:24:36.598,0:24:40.000
No, it's just motivated by love.
0:24:40.000,0:24:42.259
He's like, "I want to bless you.
0:24:42.259,0:24:44.289
Can we make an agreement?"
0:24:44.289,0:24:47.136
In fact, all of the sacrifice
0:24:47.136,0:24:49.701
is coming from Him.
0:24:49.701,0:24:51.680
Anything else that you're noticing? John?
0:24:51.680,0:24:53.960
(John) It appears that in each[br]of the covenants,
0:24:53.960,0:24:55.020
it's based on what God
0:24:55.020,0:24:57.090
has done or will do,
0:24:57.090,0:25:00.712
so, based on His actions and His doing.
0:25:00.712,0:25:03.512
(Derek) So, trusting Him
0:25:03.512,0:25:05.263
because we've seen what He's done
0:25:05.263,0:25:07.626
in the past, maybe?
0:25:07.626,0:25:09.753
Abram must have had some confidence
0:25:09.753,0:25:11.937
in God's leading in his past. Nicole?
0:25:11.937,0:25:14.385
(Nicole) It's all based on us trusting.
0:25:14.385,0:25:15.998
He doesn't ask us to do anything.
0:25:15.998,0:25:18.116
He said, "I'm going to do[br]everything for you,
0:25:18.116,0:25:20.036
if you can just trust Me and accept it,
0:25:20.036,0:25:21.305
then that's the covenant."
0:25:21.305,0:25:22.476
(Derek) It's almost like
0:25:22.476,0:25:23.747
they're about to set off
0:25:23.747,0:25:25.271
this nuclear explosion,
0:25:25.271,0:25:31.269
"Here's the shelter; just come in," right?
0:25:31.269,0:25:32.713
"My love has provided for you,
0:25:32.713,0:25:33.904
just enter in." Harold?
0:25:33.904,0:25:35.163
(Harold) I wanted to add
0:25:35.163,0:25:36.370
that all these covenants
0:25:36.370,0:25:37.889
have to do with a relationship.
0:25:37.889,0:25:39.627
It's always about this relationship,
0:25:39.627,0:25:42.044
entering this harmonious relationship[br]with God,
0:25:42.044,0:25:45.000
because the part, as it's been mentioned,[br]is the trust.
0:25:45.000,0:25:46.876
When you trust, you're willing to obey.
0:25:46.876,0:25:48.494
You're like, "Oh, yes, I love You.
0:25:48.494,0:25:49.439
I want to do this,"
0:25:49.439,0:25:51.483
because, again, I believe John
0:25:51.483,0:25:52.502
said that we love Him
0:25:52.502,0:25:54.237
because He first loved us.
0:25:54.237,0:25:55.954
(Derek) That's right.
0:25:55.954,0:25:57.173
So, we're going to go now
0:25:57.173,0:25:58.334
to a beautiful statement
0:25:58.334,0:26:00.985
of what is called the New Covenant,
0:26:00.985,0:26:03.281
but it's another revelation
0:26:03.281,0:26:05.552
of the immeasurable and unfailing[br]love of God
0:26:05.552,0:26:09.946
in Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 31 to 34.
0:26:09.946,0:26:13.050
Stephanie, if you could read that for us.
0:26:13.050,0:26:14.601
(Stephanie) And I'll be reading
0:26:14.601,0:26:16.009
from the King James Version:
0:27:18.576,0:27:20.661
(Derek) Now, that expression,
0:27:20.661,0:27:23.537
"They shall all know Me,"
0:27:23.537,0:27:26.477
what does that mean?
0:27:26.477,0:27:28.955
Anybody know? The Hebrew understanding
0:27:28.955,0:27:32.009
of that "knowing." Yes, Gladys.
0:27:32.009,0:27:34.443
(Gladys) It's an intimate relationship.
0:27:34.443,0:27:36.146
(Derek) That's right; it's actually
0:27:36.146,0:27:37.336
the same word where Adam
0:27:37.336,0:27:39.321
knew his wife, Eve, and she conceived
0:27:39.321,0:27:41.038
and bore a child, right?
0:27:41.038,0:27:45.413
So it's that close, intimate relationship,
0:27:45.413,0:27:48.683
and that's God's ideal, for how many?
0:27:48.683,0:27:49.738
(Team) For all of us.
0:27:49.738,0:27:51.071
(Derek) Yeah, that everyone
0:27:51.071,0:27:52.778
(we won't need to go and say...),
0:27:52.778,0:27:54.956
that all will experience
0:27:54.956,0:27:56.357
that intimate relationship.
0:27:56.357,0:27:58.630
What do you hear different...
0:27:58.630,0:27:59.926
The Lord Himself says,
0:27:59.926,0:28:02.330
"This is not like the covenant
0:28:02.330,0:28:04.592
I made with their fathers
0:28:04.592,0:28:06.725
the day I brought them out of Egypt."
0:28:06.725,0:28:09.786
What's different in this covenant,
0:28:09.786,0:28:12.416
the wording of this New Covenant? Jason?
0:28:12.416,0:28:14.011
(Jason) There is some description
0:28:14.011,0:28:15.029
about putting the Law
0:28:15.029,0:28:16.991
in their hearts and in their minds.
0:28:16.991,0:28:18.845
And in the sort of previous covenant,
0:28:18.845,0:28:22.978
there was a lot of external activity[br]written down.
0:28:22.978,0:28:25.009
And so there's something kind of happening
0:28:25.009,0:28:26.585
more internal here, it seems.
0:28:26.585,0:28:28.989
(Derek) Okay, yes, you're[br]absolutely right.
0:28:28.989,0:28:31.049
Let's expand on that a little. Travis?
0:28:31.049,0:28:32.515
(Travis) I'd like to say
0:28:32.515,0:28:35.295
that this New Covenant was based
0:28:35.295,0:28:38.504
on God's promise to change us
0:28:38.504,0:28:39.748
internally, like you said,
0:28:39.748,0:28:41.613
but the first covenant was,
0:28:41.613,0:28:43.151
"I promise, if you do this,"
0:28:43.151,0:28:44.828
and this promise was based
0:28:44.828,0:28:47.237
just on God's promise, which never fails.
0:28:47.237,0:28:50.446
Man failed in keeping the covenant,
0:28:50.446,0:28:51.703
and God says, "I'm going
0:28:51.703,0:28:52.974
to do something within you
0:28:52.974,0:28:54.490
so that you can keep
0:28:54.490,0:28:55.748
this covenant with me.
0:28:55.748,0:28:58.481
(Derek) All right, so, again,[br]more internal.
0:28:58.481,0:29:00.503
Were there any other covenants
0:29:00.503,0:29:02.928
that talked about, "I will forgive[br]their iniquities
0:29:02.928,0:29:05.368
and remember their sins no more"?
0:29:05.368,0:29:06.675
(Team) No.
0:29:06.675,0:29:07.967
(Derek) I suppose you could
0:29:07.967,0:29:09.288
go back to Genesis and say
0:29:09.288,0:29:11.733
that by trusting in the sacrifice.
0:29:11.733,0:29:14.054
This is much more explicit,[br]though, isn't it?
0:29:14.054,0:29:16.292
"And I'm going to do something..."?
0:29:16.292,0:29:18.241
"...in their hearts," right?
0:29:18.241,0:29:21.528
"I'm going to change their hearts."
0:29:21.528,0:29:23.449
So, what are your thoughts about God
0:29:23.449,0:29:24.957
wanting to do that for you?
0:29:24.957,0:29:26.787
Because that's not just written
0:29:26.787,0:29:29.851
in the time of Jeremiah, right?
0:29:29.851,0:29:33.407
That covenant is a covenant He wants
0:29:33.407,0:29:35.856
to make with each one of us, right?
0:29:35.856,0:29:37.652
Give me a new heart, forgive my sins,
0:29:37.652,0:29:40.185
give me a new start,
0:29:40.185,0:29:42.935
what are your thoughts about that?[br]Yes, Alex.
0:29:42.935,0:29:44.972
(Alex) It's just really humbling to me.
0:29:44.972,0:29:46.224
I think of all the things
0:29:46.224,0:29:47.586
that I've done to hurt Him,
0:29:47.586,0:29:49.433
the things I still do to hurt Him,
0:29:49.433,0:29:50.778
and that He wants to have
0:29:50.778,0:29:51.753
a covenant with me,
0:29:51.753,0:29:54.629
that He still wants to reach out to me[br]to have it.
0:29:54.629,0:29:56.699
(Derek) So, back to what we said earlier.
0:29:56.699,0:29:59.604
Again, He's taking the initiative[br](always, right),
0:29:59.604,0:30:01.389
and it's based on His...?
0:30:01.389,0:30:02.274
(Team) Love.
0:30:02.274,0:30:04.225
(Derek) His immeasurable, unfailing love.
0:30:04.225,0:30:06.740
And Alex says that's kind of humbling
0:30:06.740,0:30:09.642
because He knows me, right? Nicole?
0:30:09.642,0:30:11.423
(Nicole) It's encouraging also,
0:30:11.423,0:30:14.495
that, even when I fall, He's still there[br]to pick me up,
0:30:14.495,0:30:16.554
and He still wants to be with me.
0:30:16.554,0:30:18.095
It's kind of self-esteem booster
0:30:18.095,0:30:19.873
that this God of the universe
0:30:19.873,0:30:21.005
wants little 'ole me
0:30:21.005,0:30:23.068
to be in the covenant with Him.
0:30:23.068,0:30:24.975
(Derek) And if it was a human being,
0:30:24.975,0:30:25.980
you might say, "Well,
0:30:25.980,0:30:27.176
that's because they don't
0:30:27.176,0:30:28.677
really know me," right?
0:30:28.677,0:30:30.070
But He does! John?
0:30:30.070,0:30:31.940
(John) The terms of the covenant,
0:30:31.940,0:30:34.370
and there are terms of agreement,
0:30:34.370,0:30:37.100
and God says that He will complete them,
0:30:37.100,0:30:40.850
so He's fulfilling those terms[br]in our lives,
0:30:40.850,0:30:44.508
and it's to us to receive and believe in.
0:30:44.508,0:30:45.886
(Derek) All right. Adison?
0:30:45.886,0:30:48.878
(Adison) I just love this concept,
0:30:48.878,0:30:50.912
in part because that same Law
0:30:50.912,0:30:52.892
that was written on the tables of stone,
0:30:52.892,0:30:54.154
the Holy Spirit takes it,
0:30:54.154,0:30:55.178
and He engraves it
0:30:55.178,0:30:56.965
upon the tables of our hearts.
0:30:56.965,0:31:02.478
And we find Christ's righteousness,[br]not our own;
0:31:02.478,0:31:05.566
He puts His righteousness on us.
0:31:05.566,0:31:07.522
And I just think it's a tremendous gift.
0:31:07.522,0:31:08.855
(Derek) And it's important
0:31:08.855,0:31:10.279
to "rememberize," to remember
0:31:10.279,0:31:12.489
("rememberize," that's not[br]an English word),
0:31:12.489,0:31:14.575
to remember what Jesus said,
0:31:14.575,0:31:16.059
that all of that Law He wants
0:31:16.059,0:31:18.189
to write on our hearts is summarized
0:31:18.189,0:31:20.407
in two great commandments, right?
0:31:20.407,0:31:22.642
Because, remember, this is[br]all about wanting
0:31:22.643,0:31:24.953
an intimate love relationship with us,
0:31:24.953,0:31:27.603
and those two great commandments,
0:31:27.603,0:31:28.977
Jesus said, are...?
0:31:28.977,0:31:29.881
(Team) Love God.
0:31:29.881,0:31:31.122
(Derek) Love God how?
0:31:31.122,0:31:33.669
With all your heart, soul,[br]mind and strength.
0:31:33.669,0:31:34.952
And love your neighbor...?
0:31:34.952,0:31:36.754
(Team) As yourself.
0:31:36.754,0:31:38.063
(Derek) It's in the context
0:31:38.063,0:31:39.130
of that relationship.
0:31:39.130,0:31:40.758
All right, Travis, how do you feel
0:31:40.758,0:31:42.378
about, God's like, "I want to make
0:31:42.378,0:31:44.327
this covenant with you"?
0:31:44.327,0:31:45.411
(Travis) I just think
0:31:45.411,0:31:48.527
that, when we look at the new covenant,
0:31:48.527,0:31:51.307
it just shows how relentless God is,
0:31:51.307,0:31:53.052
because He's doing something in us
0:31:53.052,0:31:55.201
that we couldn't do ourselves.
0:31:55.201,0:31:56.658
What God is doing to us
0:31:56.658,0:31:58.608
is He's enabling us to be
0:31:58.608,0:31:59.793
a part of His Kingdom,
0:31:59.793,0:32:00.962
something that was
0:32:00.962,0:32:03.065
just absolutely impossible[br]within ourselves.
0:32:03.065,0:32:04.498
And we got to see that
0:32:04.498,0:32:07.320
through the Old Testament Scriptures.
0:32:07.320,0:32:08.440
(Derek) I've been told
0:32:08.440,0:32:09.458
that that's something
0:32:09.458,0:32:14.398
about Judeo-Christian faith[br]that is unique,
0:32:14.398,0:32:16.534
because many religions have us
0:32:16.534,0:32:19.045
trying to earn God's favor.
0:32:19.045,0:32:20.477
You know, we beat ourselves,
0:32:20.477,0:32:22.079
we walk on hot rocks,
0:32:22.079,0:32:23.921
or put fish hooks in our back,
0:32:23.921,0:32:25.808
or whatever, you know,
0:32:25.808,0:32:28.922
to try to...or we offer chickens...
0:32:28.922,0:32:31.625
to try to placate God or earn His favor.
0:32:31.625,0:32:33.976
Here, we're seeing God[br]take the initiative.
0:32:33.976,0:32:36.322
And He loves us with an everlasting love.
0:32:36.322,0:32:39.011
Now, one other aspect of covenant
0:32:39.011,0:32:40.546
before we move on.
0:32:40.546,0:32:41.852
The Bible also speaks
0:32:41.852,0:32:43.914
about God wanting to make
0:32:43.914,0:32:46.797
an everlasting covenant.
0:32:46.797,0:32:48.709
Is that different from this new covenant
0:32:48.709,0:32:49.760
we're talking about?
0:32:49.760,0:32:51.331
Well, let's read two verses,
0:32:51.331,0:32:53.212
and then you can give me
0:32:53.212,0:32:54.761
the answer to that question.
0:32:54.761,0:33:00.298
Hebrews 13, verses 20 and 21,
0:33:00.298,0:33:01.856
Malaina, if you have that,
0:33:01.856,0:33:03.084
you could read it for us,
0:33:03.084,0:33:06.709
Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 20 and 21,
0:33:06.709,0:33:08.399
and then someone could find
0:33:08.399,0:33:10.189
Isaiah 55 and verse 3.
0:33:10.189,0:33:11.492
(Malaina) I will be reading
0:33:11.492,0:33:13.082
from the New King James Version,
0:33:13.082,0:33:15.638
Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 20 through 21:
0:33:35.428,0:33:36.744
(Derek) Amen. All right,
0:33:36.744,0:33:38.610
"through the blood
0:33:38.610,0:33:42.129
of the eternal covenant."
0:33:42.129,0:33:45.503
Isaiah 55 and verse 3,
0:33:45.503,0:33:46.988
someone have that already?
0:33:46.988,0:33:49.568
Alex, do you have it already? Verse 3.
0:33:49.568,0:33:51.104
(Alex) Okay, and I'll be reading
0:33:51.104,0:33:52.488
from the King James Version:
0:34:03.998,0:34:06.316
(Derek) So, is this the same covenant,
0:34:06.316,0:34:08.341
or is it "Oh, that's a different one."
0:34:08.341,0:34:09.356
The everlasting one
0:34:09.356,0:34:10.943
is different from Jeremiah 31.
0:34:10.943,0:34:11.985
What do you think?
0:34:11.985,0:34:12.875
(Team) Same.
0:34:12.875,0:34:15.385
(Derek) Same. So, why does God
0:34:15.385,0:34:16.596
go out of His way
0:34:16.596,0:34:20.735
to say "everlasting covenant," Stephanie?
0:34:20.735,0:34:22.413
(Stephanie) That's really important
0:34:22.413,0:34:24.317
because it is forever;
0:34:24.317,0:34:26.267
it's down through the ages.
0:34:26.267,0:34:28.812
It's His covenant that is sure.
0:34:28.812,0:34:31.162
We know that it will be accomplished.
0:34:31.162,0:34:32.292
(Derek) Because we said
0:34:32.292,0:34:34.032
He takes the initiative,
0:34:34.032,0:34:35.749
and it's based on what He...?
0:34:35.749,0:34:36.789
(Team) Has promised.
0:34:36.789,0:34:37.974
(Derek) And so by saying
0:34:37.974,0:34:39.421
it's an everlasting covenant,
0:34:39.421,0:34:41.291
He's saying, "I am the Lord, and I..."?
0:34:41.291,0:34:42.419
(Stephanie) Change not.
0:34:42.419,0:34:43.626
(Derek) "I change not."
0:34:43.626,0:34:44.576
"I am the same..."?
0:34:44.576,0:34:47.757
(Derek, Team) Yesterday, today[br]and forever.
0:34:47.757,0:34:49.541
(Derek) So, that gives us comfort.
0:34:49.541,0:34:52.984
We ought to get a little happy, right?[br]Praise God!
0:34:52.984,0:34:54.046
He's not going to say,
0:34:54.046,0:34:55.880
"You know, I thought about this, Alex.
0:34:55.880,0:34:58.025
You're right; you don't deserve
0:34:58.025,0:34:59.631
this covenant I'm making with you
0:34:59.631,0:35:01.090
because I've noticed, in fact,
0:35:01.090,0:35:03.162
I have a record of all of your failings."
0:35:03.162,0:35:05.282
And you say, "Lord, have mercy."
0:35:05.282,0:35:07.250
You say, "No, they've been washed away."
0:35:07.250,0:35:08.340
But you know, to think
0:35:08.340,0:35:10.251
that God is never going to come there
0:35:10.251,0:35:12.729
and go, "I've changed My mind
0:35:12.729,0:35:14.568
about this agreement with you."
0:35:14.568,0:35:16.264
Everlasting covenant, someone says?
0:35:16.264,0:35:17.567
(Team) Amen!
0:35:17.567,0:35:18.917
(Derek) Gladys?
0:35:18.917,0:35:22.383
(Gladys) I've been struggling with this,
0:35:22.383,0:35:24.246
with the fact that, yes,
0:35:24.246,0:35:26.443
God is love; He doesn't change,
0:35:26.443,0:35:29.000
but what happened with Noah?
0:35:29.000,0:35:31.390
He said that He regretted
0:35:31.390,0:35:33.976
or resented making man?
0:35:33.976,0:35:35.736
My husband asked me that this morning
0:35:35.736,0:35:37.170
when we were reviewing this...
0:35:37.170,0:35:38.899
(Derek) Okay. Well, how do you think
0:35:38.899,0:35:41.218
God feels when we reject His offer
0:35:41.218,0:35:42.862
of immeasurable and unfailing love
0:35:42.862,0:35:47.206
and throw dirt in His face, so to speak?
0:35:47.206,0:35:48.635
How does He feel about that?
0:35:48.635,0:35:49.983
(Team) Hurt. It's painful.
0:35:49.983,0:35:52.924
(Derek) It's heartbreaking for Him, right?
0:35:52.924,0:35:56.146
I don't think He stopped loving those
0:35:56.146,0:35:57.702
when He regretted.
0:35:57.702,0:35:58.989
I think He wept over those
0:35:58.989,0:36:02.502
who refused to come into the Ark, right?
0:36:02.502,0:36:03.748
But He wants to make
0:36:03.748,0:36:05.406
this everlasting covenant with us.
0:36:05.406,0:36:06.877
He wants us to know
0:36:06.877,0:36:11.288
that even when we are not trustworthy,
0:36:11.288,0:36:13.022
He is trustworthy. Travis?
0:36:13.022,0:36:14.430
(Travis) If anyone's ever had
0:36:14.430,0:36:18.977
a child who has rebelled,
0:36:18.977,0:36:20.324
I think that verse
0:36:20.324,0:36:22.715
is really explained in that term,[br]you know?
0:36:22.715,0:36:24.188
Once you've experienced that,
0:36:24.188,0:36:26.230
of course you love that child,
0:36:26.230,0:36:27.934
but, boy, it just really
0:36:27.934,0:36:29.597
brings sorrow to your heart,
0:36:29.597,0:36:31.849
and it just tears you up inside.
0:36:31.849,0:36:37.568
And you just get that feeling inside[br]like, why? You know?
0:36:37.568,0:36:38.781
But you would do anything
0:36:38.781,0:36:40.428
for that child even yet, you know.
0:36:40.428,0:36:41.625
(Derek) Sure. Sure.
0:36:41.625,0:36:43.091
So, I have a question for you,
0:36:43.091,0:36:44.572
and I want you to look with me
0:36:44.572,0:36:48.731
in Joshua 24, [verses] 14 and 15.
0:36:48.731,0:36:51.655
Can you make a decision
0:36:51.655,0:36:55.490
for someone else to accept
0:36:55.490,0:36:59.074
that immeasurable and unfailing offer[br]of God's love?
0:36:59.074,0:37:02.282
Well, before you say no,
0:37:02.282,0:37:06.060
let's look at Joshua 24, 14 and 15,
0:37:06.060,0:37:07.847
and maybe you're absolutely right.
0:37:07.847,0:37:09.374
Maybe he talked to the family,
0:37:09.374,0:37:13.725
and they said, "Me, too."
0:37:13.725,0:37:15.523
And so he comes and says...
0:37:15.523,0:37:17.216
Well, let's see what the text says.
0:37:17.216,0:37:19.258
Joshua 24, Evelyn, do you
0:37:19.258,0:37:21.957
have it there, verses 14 and 15.
0:37:21.957,0:37:23.228
(Evelyn) I will be reading
0:37:23.228,0:37:25.492
from the New Living Translation:
0:37:56.862,0:37:58.411
(Derek) Amen? By the way,
0:37:58.411,0:38:00.614
that is capitalized in my Bible;
0:38:00.614,0:38:02.652
that's the name, Yahweh.
0:38:02.652,0:38:04.236
That's the name of the Lord God,
0:38:04.236,0:38:06.147
Creator of heaven and the earth.
0:38:06.147,0:38:07.362
(John) His covenant name.
0:38:07.362,0:38:09.298
(Derek) His covenant name, that's right.
0:38:09.298,0:38:11.179
That's the agreement He's made with us.
0:38:11.179,0:38:14.573
Now, Joshua says, "As for me and my house,
0:38:14.573,0:38:16.242
we will serve the Lord."
0:38:16.242,0:38:18.386
But you're saying you can't make
0:38:18.386,0:38:20.480
that decision for your spouse,
0:38:20.480,0:38:21.830
or, if you have children,
0:38:21.830,0:38:25.585
for your children, for your siblings.
0:38:25.585,0:38:27.874
So, what, what do you think, Jason?
0:38:27.874,0:38:29.158
(Jason) Well, when you're
0:38:29.158,0:38:30.432
a family relationship,
0:38:30.432,0:38:32.539
particularly the marriage one,[br]is a covenant,
0:38:32.539,0:38:34.057
so when you have that covenant,
0:38:34.057,0:38:35.355
you aren't making
0:38:35.355,0:38:37.128
the individual choice for the person,
0:38:37.128,0:38:39.201
but you're kind of setting the tone,
0:38:39.201,0:38:40.643
like we said with the leaders,
0:38:40.643,0:38:43.741
you're kind of setting the direction[br]for the person.
0:38:43.741,0:38:46.049
Ultimately, each of the individual[br]family members
0:38:46.049,0:38:47.485
have to make their own choice,
0:38:47.485,0:38:49.061
but you can kind of set the stage
0:38:49.061,0:38:51.471
which way it will go.
0:38:51.471,0:38:53.998
(Derek) Yes. Remember that phrase,
0:38:53.998,0:38:56.259
"those who have understanding,"
0:38:56.259,0:38:57.739
so, for all those that do,
0:38:57.739,0:38:59.202
this would be a good time
0:38:59.202,0:39:01.571
for a family council, right,
0:39:01.571,0:39:04.610
and say, "As the mother,"
0:39:04.610,0:39:06.988
or, "As the father," "As the parent,"
0:39:06.988,0:39:10.114
some families only have one parent,[br]some have two,
0:39:10.114,0:39:12.839
"but this is my decision,
0:39:12.839,0:39:15.042
and here's why I'm making my decision,"
0:39:15.042,0:39:17.014
and they say, "Mommy, we see that,"
0:39:17.014,0:39:18.546
or, "Daddy, we see that,"
0:39:18.546,0:39:19.653
or, "Mommy and daddy,
0:39:19.653,0:39:22.924
we see that. Me, too!"
0:39:22.924,0:39:27.710
So, no matter how young they are,
0:39:27.710,0:39:31.288
if they have understanding,
0:39:31.288,0:39:33.130
like it says in the text,
0:39:33.130,0:39:35.860
they can say, "Me, too."
0:39:35.860,0:39:37.586
And I think that's helpful.
0:39:37.586,0:39:41.836
It's not like, you know, Joshua's dragging
0:39:41.836,0:39:44.502
his family kicking and screaming,
0:39:44.502,0:39:46.781
but they thought it through together,
0:39:46.781,0:39:48.543
and he can come and say,
0:39:48.543,0:39:51.572
"The decision of me and my family
0:39:51.572,0:39:53.965
is we will serve the Lord."
0:39:53.965,0:39:56.564
Anybody want to respond to that.[br]Yes, Gladys?
0:39:56.564,0:39:58.892
(Gladys) In a family, usually...
0:39:58.892,0:40:01.119
I will say, for my family it's like that.
0:40:01.119,0:40:03.208
When we were little, he always said,
0:40:03.208,0:40:05.294
"In the morning, in my house
0:40:05.294,0:40:06.570
we will have worship."
0:40:06.570,0:40:08.923
So everyone who will come and visit,
0:40:08.923,0:40:10.429
that's what we do in my house.
0:40:10.429,0:40:12.758
So, I think that that's what the Lord[br]represents.
0:40:12.758,0:40:15.602
This is what He wants,
0:40:15.602,0:40:17.069
to have that relationship,
0:40:17.069,0:40:18.401
and the leader of the home,
0:40:18.401,0:40:20.292
or the representative of the home,
0:40:20.292,0:40:23.198
makes the decision, not forcing it
0:40:23.198,0:40:24.351
on the family member,
0:40:24.351,0:40:26.343
but kind of like being the representative
0:40:26.343,0:40:27.403
of God in the home
0:40:27.403,0:40:29.043
and bringing his family along.
0:40:29.043,0:40:30.117
(Derek) Okay, and back
0:40:30.117,0:40:31.873
to what we've talked about earlier,
0:40:31.873,0:40:32.827
that list of names,
0:40:32.827,0:40:34.737
and then it said, "and the..."?
0:40:34.737,0:40:36.093
"Rest of the people," right?
0:40:36.093,0:40:39.603
So it became a total commitment.
0:40:39.603,0:40:42.669
But leadership is not unimportant, is it?
0:40:42.669,0:40:44.357
That can have an influence.
0:40:44.357,0:40:45.938
Well, let's talk about some
0:40:45.938,0:40:47.240
of the promises now.
0:40:47.240,0:40:49.417
We'll go back to Ezra and Nehemiah's time.
0:40:49.417,0:40:50.368
They said, "We need
0:40:50.368,0:40:52.108
to renew our covenant with God."
0:40:52.108,0:40:53.191
Let's look at some
0:40:53.191,0:40:56.431
of the promises that they made.
0:40:56.431,0:40:57.791
John, would you read for us
0:40:57.791,0:40:59.733
in Nehemiah, chapter 10,
0:40:59.733,0:41:04.730
beginning with verse 29 through verse 38.
0:41:04.730,0:41:07.956
And while John reads that, are they
0:41:07.956,0:41:11.225
getting the most important things here?
0:41:11.225,0:41:15.227
Maybe what is the most important promise[br]that we make,
0:41:15.227,0:41:17.191
let's think about that.
0:41:17.191,0:41:19.781
But let's hear how they respond now.
0:41:19.781,0:41:22.878
They're renewing their covenant with God.
0:41:22.878,0:41:25.269
(John) From the New King James Version,[br]it says:
0:43:36.535,0:43:40.902
(Derek) So, that seems like[br]a lot of details, yes?
0:43:40.902,0:43:46.615
But it's all part of a ceremonial system
0:43:46.615,0:43:49.875
which points to what?
0:43:49.875,0:43:51.235
(Brittany) The Lamb of God.
0:43:51.235,0:43:53.134
(Derek) To the Lamb of God who's coming
0:43:53.134,0:43:56.347
and reflects the immeasurable[br]and unfailing love of God.
0:43:56.347,0:43:59.543
If, when we're doing all of that,
0:43:59.543,0:44:05.041
we don't forget what it's pointing to
0:44:05.041,0:44:06.084
and that God wants
0:44:06.084,0:44:08.100
what kind of relationship with us?
0:44:08.100,0:44:09.143
(Team) Intimate.
0:44:09.143,0:44:15.258
(Derek) An intimate, loving, personal[br]relationship with us, then it's okay.
0:44:15.258,0:44:18.241
If we lose sight of that,
0:44:18.241,0:44:21.141
then we're in trouble, right?
0:44:21.141,0:44:22.268
Could that happen
0:44:22.268,0:44:26.340
even in the twenty-first century?
0:44:26.340,0:44:27.805
You know, we don't bring lambs
0:44:27.805,0:44:29.504
and have grain offerings, right?
0:44:29.504,0:44:31.444
We typically, when we come to worship,
0:44:31.444,0:44:32.929
what are some things that we do
0:44:32.929,0:44:34.221
when we come to worship?
0:44:34.221,0:44:35.232
(Team) Praise. Sing.
0:44:35.232,0:44:37.202
(Derek) We sing praise to God and we...?
0:44:37.202,0:44:38.151
(Team Member) Pray.
0:44:38.151,0:44:39.577
(Derek) And we pray, and...?
0:44:39.577,0:44:40.750
(Nicole) Read the Bible.
0:44:40.750,0:44:42.165
(Team Member) Give offering.
0:44:42.165,0:44:44.962
(Derek) We give offerings, that's right;[br]We read the Bible.
0:44:44.962,0:44:45.960
We listen to someone
0:44:45.960,0:44:49.256
teaching from the Scriptures, right?
0:44:49.256,0:44:52.178
So there are things that we do,
0:44:52.178,0:44:55.424
but we always need to remember
0:44:55.424,0:44:57.938
when we come that it's all about what?
0:44:57.938,0:44:58.730
(Team) Jesus.
0:44:58.730,0:45:00.346
(Derek) It's all about God
0:45:00.346,0:45:02.101
who loves us with a...?
0:45:02.101,0:45:05.022
An immeasurable and unfailing love,[br]wanting a...?
0:45:05.022,0:45:06.011
(Team) Relationship.
0:45:06.011,0:45:07.522
(Derek) A relationship with us.
0:45:07.522,0:45:09.314
And, of course, as someone mentioned,
0:45:09.314,0:45:12.149
He showed that most vividly[br]and perfectly...?
0:45:12.149,0:45:13.276
(Team) At the cross.
0:45:13.276,0:45:15.040
(Derek) Through the coming of Jesus,
0:45:15.040,0:45:17.024
who lived, died on the cross,
0:45:17.024,0:45:19.048
rose again the third day,
0:45:19.048,0:45:20.687
and has ascended to Heaven.
0:45:20.687,0:45:22.354
He's ministering there
0:45:22.354,0:45:23.624
in the heavenly sanctuary,
0:45:23.624,0:45:25.024
and He's coming back soon.
0:45:25.024,0:45:25.728
(Team) Amen!
0:45:25.728,0:45:27.790
(Derek) We forget that if we think,
0:45:27.790,0:45:31.608
"I went to church this week, did you?"
0:45:31.608,0:45:36.308
We could miss the whole point, right?
0:45:36.308,0:45:37.699
Promises are not bad.
0:45:37.699,0:45:39.309
The Bible does tell us
0:45:39.309,0:45:40.287
we should be careful
0:45:40.287,0:45:42.377
about making promises to God.
0:45:42.377,0:45:44.432
And so I'm going to read that,
0:45:44.432,0:45:46.802
have someone read it from Ecclesiastes 5,
0:45:46.802,0:45:49.566
and then I have an important question[br]for you, and that is,
0:45:49.566,0:45:51.473
what is the most important promise
0:45:51.473,0:45:54.893
anyone can ever make to God? Okay?
0:45:54.893,0:45:57.464
But let's look first in Ecclesiastes,
0:45:57.464,0:45:59.706
which basically says, "Don't be careless
0:45:59.706,0:46:02.294
in making promises to God."
0:46:02.294,0:46:06.013
Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, and, Adison,
0:46:06.013,0:46:08.610
could you read the first five verses,
0:46:08.610,0:46:10.561
Ecclesiastes 5:1-5?
0:46:10.561,0:46:11.926
(Adison) And I'll be reading
0:46:11.926,0:46:13.580
from the King James Version:
0:47:03.940,0:47:07.400
(Derek) So, what's the sacrifice of fools?
0:47:10.050,0:47:13.548
Making rash promises
0:47:13.548,0:47:16.035
without any intention of keeping them.
0:47:16.035,0:47:19.193
Better not to say anything, right?
0:47:19.193,0:47:21.639
So, we don't want to be careless,
0:47:21.639,0:47:24.187
but there's at least one promise
0:47:24.187,0:47:28.027
that God really wants us to make.
0:47:28.027,0:47:31.632
What's the most important promise
0:47:31.632,0:47:34.378
He wants us to make to Him?
0:47:34.378,0:47:35.488
I don't know; is there
0:47:35.488,0:47:37.216
a right answer to that?
0:47:37.216,0:47:39.929
Or most important decision, I don't know.
0:47:39.929,0:47:41.444
What do you think, Brittany?
0:47:41.444,0:47:42.918
(Brittany) I think He wants us
0:47:42.918,0:47:44.230
to give Him our whole heart
0:47:44.230,0:47:46.655
and to promise to give it to Him every day
0:47:46.655,0:47:48.173
the rest of our lives.
0:47:48.173,0:47:49.990
(Derek) Can we do that?
0:47:49.990,0:47:53.059
(Brittany) Only with His help.
0:47:53.059,0:47:54.290
(Derek) Or can I promise
0:47:54.290,0:47:55.721
to at least allow Him
0:47:55.721,0:47:57.828
to enable me to do that?
0:47:57.828,0:47:58.698
(Team) Yes.
0:47:58.698,0:48:00.249
(Derek) You know, isn't there...
0:48:00.249,0:48:01.226
I remember a prayer,
0:48:01.226,0:48:08.054
"Take my heart, I cannot give it,"[br]you know?
0:48:08.054,0:48:09.162
(Adison) Keep it pure.
0:48:09.162,0:48:10.477
(Derek) Yeah, keep it pure.
0:48:10.477,0:48:16.605
I mean, it's like, "God, here I am.
0:48:16.605,0:48:18.112
I promise to be..."?
0:48:18.112,0:48:19.057
(Team) Willing.
0:48:19.057,0:48:22.171
(Derek) Willing. "I promise to be..."?
0:48:22.171,0:48:24.122
(Derek, Team) Open.
0:48:24.122,0:48:26.629
(Derek) "...to Your immeasurable[br]and unfailing love.
0:48:26.629,0:48:28.354
Your covenant with me.
0:48:28.354,0:48:30.127
You know me, God,"
0:48:30.127,0:48:33.274
but can I promise that, "I will,
0:48:33.274,0:48:36.801
by Your grace, never close myself[br]up to You"?
0:48:36.801,0:48:38.703
Yeah, "I promise to be open to You,"
0:48:38.703,0:48:40.568
most important promise.
0:48:40.568,0:48:44.003
Can anybody think, either of that promise,
0:48:44.003,0:48:45.040
a time when you made
0:48:45.040,0:48:46.172
that promise to God,
0:48:46.172,0:48:49.686
or an important promise you made to God?
0:48:49.686,0:48:50.908
Anybody think of a time
0:48:50.908,0:48:54.674
you made an important promise? Travis?
0:48:54.674,0:48:56.492
(Travis) Yeah, it was a few years ago.
0:48:56.492,0:49:00.113
I was in a tree reading a book...
0:49:00.113,0:49:02.288
(Derek) What were you doing[br]in a tree, Travis?
0:49:02.288,0:49:03.567
(Travis) I was actually...
0:49:03.567,0:49:05.156
(Derek) You mean, like Zacchaeus?
0:49:05.156,0:49:06.821
(Travis) Actually that's the story
0:49:06.821,0:49:07.893
that got my attention
0:49:07.893,0:49:09.181
in the book I was reading,
0:49:09.181,0:49:10.647
and I realized then and there
0:49:10.647,0:49:14.402
that I wanted to live the rest of my life
0:49:14.402,0:49:16.391
in ministry, working for Jesus.
0:49:16.391,0:49:18.194
And I told Him, that's what I'll do.
0:49:18.194,0:49:21.596
And I've had bumps along the way,[br]but still going.
0:49:21.596,0:49:24.257
(Derek) So, that promise was to just say,
0:49:24.257,0:49:26.442
"God, take my heart,
0:49:26.442,0:49:27.671
I cannot give it."
0:49:27.671,0:49:29.630
I mean, "Here I am.
0:49:29.630,0:49:33.333
I give myself to You; hold onto Me."
0:49:33.333,0:49:35.430
Bumps along the way.
0:49:35.430,0:49:37.623
Anybody else have a testimony?
0:49:37.623,0:49:38.789
Jason and then John.
0:49:38.789,0:49:39.969
(Jason) Towards the end
0:49:39.969,0:49:41.408
of my collegiate experience,
0:49:41.408,0:49:42.712
I was trying to figure out
0:49:42.712,0:49:43.982
where I should go in life,
0:49:43.982,0:49:44.978
and I was struggling
0:49:44.978,0:49:47.055
with different opportunities and paths.
0:49:47.055,0:49:48.907
And during that time,
0:49:48.907,0:49:50.687
I had a conversation with God,
0:49:50.687,0:49:52.259
and the conclusion of it was,
0:49:52.259,0:49:53.945
"All right, Lord, I promise
0:49:53.945,0:49:56.601
that whatever direction You show me,
0:49:56.601,0:49:58.400
I'm going to go; do You want me
0:49:58.400,0:49:59.564
to go to this school?
0:49:59.564,0:50:01.215
Do you want me to go to this job?"
0:50:01.215,0:50:02.728
And He ended up sending me
0:50:02.728,0:50:05.450
to be a student missionary for a year
0:50:05.450,0:50:07.071
before sending me on a career,
0:50:07.071,0:50:09.627
and I know I needed to make that promise.
0:50:09.627,0:50:11.418
I needed to open myself to God's will
0:50:11.418,0:50:12.542
so that He could put me
0:50:12.542,0:50:13.777
where He wanted to put me
0:50:13.777,0:50:16.209
along the path that He had for my life.
0:50:16.209,0:50:18.018
(Derek) And maybe you hadn't thought
0:50:18.018,0:50:19.982
about the student missionary for a year,
0:50:19.982,0:50:22.141
but God says, "As part of the plan,
0:50:22.141,0:50:23.710
I need you to go here,"
0:50:23.710,0:50:25.074
which was where, by the way?
0:50:25.074,0:50:26.572
(Jason) In Central America.
0:50:26.572,0:50:28.891
(Derek) In Central America.[br]All right. John.
0:50:28.891,0:50:30.677
(John) In 2013 my wife
0:50:30.677,0:50:32.487
was involved in an accident
0:50:32.487,0:50:33.837
while she was jogging.
0:50:33.837,0:50:36.017
A vehicle struck her from behind.
0:50:36.017,0:50:37.933
She had been life-flighted
0:50:37.933,0:50:39.906
to the nearest trauma center.
0:50:39.906,0:50:41.516
A policeman showed up at my door
0:50:41.516,0:50:43.065
with the police chaplain
0:50:43.065,0:50:44.409
and told me about it.
0:50:44.409,0:50:47.636
And during the hour-and-a-half drive[br]to the hospital,
0:50:47.636,0:50:49.160
not knowing her condition
0:50:49.160,0:50:52.450
other than she was flown,
0:50:52.450,0:50:53.494
and all these things
0:50:53.494,0:50:54.925
going through my mind,
0:50:54.925,0:50:56.280
I had made a promise to God
0:50:56.280,0:50:58.625
that I will never doubt
0:50:58.625,0:51:00.210
His goodness and love,
0:51:00.210,0:51:02.287
regardless of the outcome.
0:51:02.287,0:51:03.579
The promise was, "I'm going
0:51:03.579,0:51:06.000
to serve You still."
0:51:06.000,0:51:07.329
And I can praise God
0:51:07.329,0:51:10.207
that she's restored fully,
0:51:10.207,0:51:13.423
but I was going to serve God regardless.
0:51:13.423,0:51:17.991
(Derek) Powerful.
0:51:17.991,0:51:21.962
That's a Holy-Spirit-enabled promise,
0:51:21.962,0:51:24.622
right, because the enemy says,
0:51:24.622,0:51:27.629
"Curse God and die."
0:51:27.629,0:51:29.464
But, "No, I will trust You still."
0:51:29.464,0:51:31.413
That's kind of Job, isn't it?
0:51:31.413,0:51:32.627
"No matter what happens,
0:51:32.627,0:51:34.854
I'll trust in You."
0:51:34.854,0:51:36.078
Well, God wants us
0:51:36.078,0:51:38.368
to enter into that promise.
0:51:38.368,0:51:39.223
What do you do...
0:51:39.223,0:51:40.547
Maybe someone comes to you,
0:51:40.547,0:51:42.141
and we don't have a lot of time,
0:51:42.141,0:51:43.395
you're just going to have
0:51:43.395,0:51:44.604
to quote the text for me,
0:51:44.604,0:51:46.619
someone comes to you and says, "Derek,
0:51:46.619,0:51:48.885
I made that promise up in the tree,
0:51:48.885,0:51:51.226
but I had a bump along the way,
0:51:51.226,0:51:53.005
and I feel like I broke my promise.
0:51:53.005,0:51:56.637
I went out and I did something stupid
0:51:56.637,0:51:58.077
after I had made a promise.
0:51:58.077,0:52:01.434
I just wanted to follow Jesus[br]no matter what."
0:52:01.434,0:52:04.046
What would you say to that friend
0:52:04.046,0:52:05.466
if she came to you and said,
0:52:05.466,0:52:09.575
"I guess it didn't work out[br]for me," Brittany?
0:52:09.575,0:52:11.585
(Brittany) I think about the story[br]of Peter
0:52:11.585,0:52:12.532
and how he promised
0:52:12.532,0:52:13.997
he would never leave Christ,
0:52:13.997,0:52:17.440
and then Jesus said to him,[br]"I'll pray for you,
0:52:17.440,0:52:19.772
that even after your faith fails you,
0:52:19.772,0:52:21.991
that you will come and return to Me."
0:52:21.991,0:52:24.188
And Jesus said that to Him
0:52:24.188,0:52:26.057
even before he failed.
0:52:26.057,0:52:27.785
He said, "I'll be praying for you."
0:52:27.785,0:52:29.010
And so that's something
0:52:29.010,0:52:31.106
that we can remember.
0:52:31.106,0:52:32.930
Jesus knows when we're going to fail;
0:52:32.930,0:52:36.114
He knows when we're going to stumble,[br]but He's still praying for us.
0:52:36.114,0:52:39.653
He knows that we'll come back; He's giving[br]us the opportunity to come back.
0:52:39.653,0:52:41.343
(Derek) So there are stories,
0:52:41.343,0:52:43.586
there are promises.
0:52:43.586,0:52:45.220
Someone else in the Scripture
0:52:45.220,0:52:46.672
that gives us hope? Gladys?
0:52:46.672,0:52:48.562
(Gladys) Yes, I love the story of David
0:52:48.562,0:52:51.992
when he fell, and in Psalm 51
0:52:51.992,0:52:55.566
he said, "A broken and contrite heart,
0:52:55.566,0:52:56.990
You will not despise."
0:52:56.990,0:52:59.712
So even when we fail, God doesn't.
0:52:59.712,0:53:01.092
(Derek) I love those words
0:53:01.092,0:53:03.376
in Psalm 51, verse 10,
0:53:03.376,0:53:06.221
"Create in me a clean heart, O God;
0:53:06.221,0:53:09.889
and renew a right spirit within me.
0:53:09.889,0:53:11.763
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
0:53:11.763,0:53:14.435
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
0:53:14.435,0:53:16.049
Restore to me..."
0:53:16.049,0:53:18.197
(Derek, Team) "... the joy[br]of Your salvation."
0:53:18.197,0:53:19.527
(Derek) So it's coming back
0:53:19.527,0:53:21.053
into that intimate relationship
0:53:21.053,0:53:23.005
with a God who loves us how?
0:53:23.005,0:53:25.914
With an immeasurable and unfailing love.
0:53:25.914,0:53:29.252
You know, we cannot fail when we fall
0:53:29.252,0:53:32.931
into the arms of a loving Savior;[br]we can't.
0:53:32.931,0:53:34.958
There's one last thought in our study.
0:53:34.958,0:53:36.932
We've just got a couple of minutes left.
0:53:36.932,0:53:39.636
Did you notice, talking about caring
0:53:39.636,0:53:40.798
for the house of God.
0:53:40.798,0:53:44.350
Go back to Nehemiah 10 and verse 39,
0:53:44.350,0:53:47.728
at the end of this renewing[br]of the covenant.
0:53:47.728,0:53:54.739
Nehemiah makes this interesting record
0:53:54.739,0:53:57.051
in chapter 10, Nehemiah,
0:53:57.051,0:53:59.527
chapter 10, and verse 39.
0:53:59.527,0:54:01.778
Brittany, would you read[br]that verse for us?
0:54:01.778,0:54:03.038
(Brittany) I'll be reading
0:54:03.038,0:54:04.582
from the New King James Version,
0:54:04.582,0:54:07.465
Nehemiah, chapter 10 and verse 39:
0:54:28.100,0:54:32.591
(Derek) Why is that last phrase[br]so important?
0:54:32.591,0:54:34.859
Why is it important today, too,
0:54:34.859,0:54:36.089
but let's go back there,
0:54:36.089,0:54:37.789
"We will not neglect
0:54:37.789,0:54:39.576
the house of our God"?
0:54:39.576,0:54:41.031
Why is that important?
0:54:41.031,0:54:45.015
God doesn't need that house, or does He?
0:54:45.015,0:54:46.870
Why is it important that they said,
0:54:46.870,0:54:48.177
"We're not going to neglect
0:54:48.177,0:54:49.264
the house of our God"?
0:54:49.264,0:54:50.701
Short answer, Travis.
0:54:50.701,0:54:51.935
(Travis) Because that was
0:54:51.935,0:54:53.275
the picture of salvation
0:54:53.275,0:54:54.986
of the land that was going to be...
0:54:54.986,0:54:56.957
(Derek) That is telling the story
0:54:56.957,0:54:58.277
about a God who loves us
0:54:58.277,0:55:00.719
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.
0:55:00.719,0:55:03.094
Hyperspace forward to our time.
0:55:03.094,0:55:05.432
What does that mean for us today?
0:55:05.432,0:55:08.346
We'd say, "Okay, we're followers of Jesus,
0:55:08.346,0:55:09.908
preparing for His soon return."
0:55:09.908,0:55:11.319
How many does Jesus
0:55:11.319,0:55:12.876
want to be saved in His Kingdom?
0:55:12.876,0:55:13.717
(Team) All.
0:55:13.717,0:55:15.116
(Derek) "We will not neglect
0:55:15.116,0:55:16.209
the house of our God."
0:55:16.209,0:55:17.165
What does that mean
0:55:17.165,0:55:19.088
for us today? Stephanie?
0:55:19.088,0:55:21.018
(Stephanie) I think it means showing up
0:55:21.018,0:55:22.380
and being presently active.
0:55:22.380,0:55:23.687
(Derek) Okay, so you'd say
0:55:23.687,0:55:25.801
it's very physical, actually going
0:55:25.801,0:55:27.728
and being active in what?
0:55:27.728,0:55:28.994
(Stephanie) In ministry.
0:55:28.994,0:55:29.898
(Derek) In, in...?
0:55:29.898,0:55:31.798
(Stephanie) The ministry of the church.
0:55:31.798,0:55:34.652
(Derek) In the ministry of the church,[br]which is what, Harold?
0:55:34.652,0:55:36.355
What is the ministry of the church?
0:55:36.355,0:55:37.817
(Harold) To share the gospel.
0:55:37.817,0:55:39.277
(Derek) That's right, to share
0:55:39.277,0:55:41.116
the good news about a God who loves us
0:55:41.116,0:55:43.038
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.
0:55:43.038,0:55:46.012
Now, back then it took sacrifice, right?
0:55:46.012,0:55:47.264
They brought their tithes;
0:55:47.264,0:55:48.683
they brought their offerings.
0:55:48.683,0:55:50.411
Does it require sacrifice today?
0:55:50.411,0:55:51.139
(Team) Yes!
0:55:51.139,0:55:52.890
(Derek) What kind of sacrifices?
0:55:52.890,0:55:54.500
(Team Member) A living sacrifice.
0:55:54.500,0:55:55.757
(Derek) A living sacrifice
0:55:55.757,0:55:57.107
because, actually, while God
0:55:57.107,0:55:59.157
does want us to return our faithful tithes
0:55:59.157,0:56:02.387
and to honor Him with praise and prayer,
0:56:02.387,0:56:04.833
what He wants more than anything is...?
0:56:04.833,0:56:05.864
(Team) Our hearts.
0:56:05.864,0:56:07.295
(Derek) He wants us,
0:56:07.295,0:56:10.218
that living sacrifice that will love Him
0:56:10.218,0:56:11.359
with all of our hearts
0:56:11.359,0:56:13.054
and will go out and...?
0:56:13.054,0:56:14.510
(Team) Share...
0:56:14.510,0:56:15.805
(Derek) Share the good news
0:56:15.805,0:56:16.983
about a God who loves us
0:56:16.983,0:56:19.234
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.
0:56:19.234,0:56:21.285
What we'll discover
0:56:21.285,0:56:25.289
is that when we do that,
0:56:25.289,0:56:26.485
out of the context
0:56:26.485,0:56:29.600
of an intimate relationship with God,
0:56:29.600,0:56:30.982
what's going to happen
0:56:30.982,0:56:33.106
when we go out to share with people
0:56:33.106,0:56:35.310
about a God who loves them?
0:56:35.310,0:56:36.589
Out of the context
0:56:36.589,0:56:38.599
of a life-changing relationship with God,
0:56:38.599,0:56:39.936
what's going to happen?
0:56:39.936,0:56:41.136
(Team) We'll be changed.
0:56:41.136,0:56:43.494
(Derek) It's going to change lives,[br]including...?
0:56:43.494,0:56:44.492
(Team) Ours.
0:56:44.492,0:56:45.547
(Derek) That's right.
0:56:45.547,0:56:49.277
You know, when God asks us[br]to do something,
0:56:49.277,0:56:51.021
it's not just because He
0:56:51.021,0:56:52.910
can't find anybody else.
0:56:52.910,0:56:54.814
He could ask angels,
0:56:54.814,0:56:56.719
but He wants us to experience
0:56:56.719,0:56:58.668
his immeasurable and unfailing love
0:56:58.668,0:57:01.844
as we join Him in His harvest work.
0:57:01.844,0:57:04.451
We will not let it be said of us
0:57:04.451,0:57:05.938
in this last generation,
0:57:05.938,0:57:09.135
we will not neglect the house of our God.
0:57:09.135,0:57:12.022
And that covenant that He initiated,
0:57:12.022,0:57:13.972
that He will put His love
0:57:13.972,0:57:15.495
in our hearts, right,
0:57:15.495,0:57:16.825
His law in our hearts,
0:57:16.825,0:57:20.357
embrace us in an intimate,[br]life-changing relationship.
0:57:20.357,0:57:21.580
Do you want that today?
0:57:21.580,0:57:24.573
Every day that's a choice we can make.
0:57:24.573,0:57:27.690
Every day, "Lord, I'm here, open to You."
0:57:27.690,0:57:29.325
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,
0:57:29.325,0:57:31.309
let that be each of our prayers,
0:57:31.309,0:57:33.111
that we may see clearer
0:57:33.111,0:57:35.127
and yet clearer revelations
0:57:35.127,0:57:37.994
of your immeasurable and unfailing love,
0:57:37.994,0:57:40.473
and that through us that love
0:57:40.473,0:57:43.049
would be revealed to those around us.
0:57:43.049,0:57:45.716
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
0:57:45.716,0:57:47.001
(Team) Amen.
0:57:47.001,0:57:49.895
(Derek) Someone else needs to konw
0:57:49.895,0:57:51.840
that God loves her
0:57:51.840,0:57:53.930
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.
0:57:53.930,0:57:55.935
Someone else, maybe that you work with,
0:57:55.935,0:57:57.958
needs to know that God loves him
0:57:57.958,0:58:00.099
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.
0:58:00.099,0:58:02.881
Take that good news and be a blessing
0:58:02.881,0:58:04.155
to those around you.
0:58:04.155,0:58:29.185
♪ theme music ♪