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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 <i>Ezra and Nehemiah,</i>

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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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<i>God and the covenant</i> 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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<i>God and the Covenant.</i>

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I'm glad you joined us.

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And this has been a great series,
hasn't it?

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(Team) Yes.

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(Derek) Fifth century B.C.,
a Jewish priest,

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inspired by the Holy Spirit,
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,"
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
what you said.

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Jesus <i>is</i> 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

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a clear understanding of the Bible.

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Hope Sabbath School uplifts me

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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.

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And those email testimonies

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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
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
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

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that God will guide us in our study.

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<i>God and the Covenant</i> 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,

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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

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reading from the Scripture

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about <i>God and the Covenant,</i>

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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

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making a covenant together,

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we're not equal are we?

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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

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here during the time

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of Ezra and Nehemiah

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when they say, "We're going

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to renew our covenant with God"?

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(Nicole) So the New King James Version

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of Nehemiah 9:36-38 says:

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(Derek) So, what's the setting

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of making this new covenant?

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Where are we history-wise?
Anybody? Travis?

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(Travis) They're prisoners

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in their own land.

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(Derek) That's an interesting way
of describing it

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because they're not really prisoners
in a jail, right?

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But they're in a very difficult situation.
John?

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(John) So, this is shortly

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after the completion

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of the city walls of Jerusalem.

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They had been restored and rebuilt,

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but they were still

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under Persian rule at the time.

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(Derek) And how did all of that happen?

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Give me a little history, Stephanie.

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How did they end up in exile,

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and now they've come back from exile?

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Why do they go, "We need

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to renew our commitment to God"?

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(Stephanie) When they've gone away,

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when they were taken into captivity,

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it was because of their disobedience.

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(Derek) They had abandoned

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the covenant with God, right?

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Okay, and how long were they there?

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(Derek, Team) Seventy years.

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(Derek) And we're going

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to study about that

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because then they go,

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"You know, God promised

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we could come back."

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But as Travis pointed out, the first wave

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comes back under Zerubbabel.

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Another wave comes back

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under Ezra and Nehemiah,

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but things are not all well, right?

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So they are saying to themselves,

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"You know, we know what got

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our forefathers into trouble,"

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00:11:07,124 --> 00:11:10,001
abandoning the agreement with God,

274
00:11:10,001 --> 00:11:11,109
the covenant with God,

275
00:11:11,109 --> 00:11:13,744
"let's renew our covenant."

276
00:11:13,744 --> 00:11:14,851
Now, in chapter 10,

277
00:11:14,851 --> 00:11:16,534
you've got your Bible there,

278
00:11:16,534 --> 00:11:20,664
you'll notice in verses 1 through 27

279
00:11:20,664 --> 00:11:22,520
what do you see, anybody?

280
00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,169
(Derek, Team) A list of names.

281
00:11:24,169 --> 00:11:26,218
(Derek) And I am not going to ask for you,

282
00:11:26,218 --> 00:11:27,471
Adison, to read that list.

283
00:11:27,471 --> 00:11:28,997
I'm sure you could,

284
00:11:28,997 --> 00:11:32,040
but why do you think the Holy Spirit

285
00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:37,383
inspired Nehemiah to write down

286
00:11:37,383 --> 00:11:39,457
all of those names?

287
00:11:39,457 --> 00:11:40,789
What do you think, Adison?

288
00:11:40,789 --> 00:11:42,358
(Adison) I think it was important

289
00:11:42,358 --> 00:11:44,034
because this covenant was

290
00:11:44,034 --> 00:11:45,831
not only for one individual and God,

291
00:11:45,831 --> 00:11:47,944
but it was a community thing.

292
00:11:47,944 --> 00:11:49,474
So, here we have an example

293
00:11:49,474 --> 00:11:51,323
of all these names being listed down,

294
00:11:51,323 --> 00:11:52,280
and so you can see

295
00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:53,839
that it was a community covenant

296
00:11:53,839 --> 00:11:55,395
between God and His people.

297
00:11:55,395 --> 00:11:59,340
(Derek) You've got Nehemiah there,
certainly, right,

298
00:11:59,340 --> 00:12:04,746
and then you've got Zedekiah and Seraiah.

299
00:12:04,746 --> 00:12:07,824
I'm assuming, as the list
is being written,

300
00:12:07,824 --> 00:12:10,464
that someone says...?

301
00:12:10,464 --> 00:12:11,491
(Team) "Me, too."

302
00:12:11,491 --> 00:12:12,701
(Derek) "Me, too," right,

303
00:12:12,701 --> 00:12:14,611
"add my name," right? Travis?

304
00:12:14,611 --> 00:12:15,890
(Travis) You know, when we

305
00:12:15,890 --> 00:12:17,111
sign agreements nowadays,

306
00:12:17,111 --> 00:12:18,871
we do that so there's accountability,

307
00:12:18,871 --> 00:12:20,318
so they can't go back and say,

308
00:12:20,318 --> 00:12:22,423
"Well, you know, I never said that."

309
00:12:22,423 --> 00:12:25,293
When you put something in writing,

310
00:12:25,293 --> 00:12:28,457
you know, it's an accountability,
it's official.

311
00:12:28,457 --> 00:12:30,483
(Derek) So, back to the marriage

312
00:12:30,483 --> 00:12:32,168
or courting relationship,

313
00:12:32,168 --> 00:12:34,649
if someone says, "Well, I'd like

314
00:12:34,649 --> 00:12:35,640
to move in with you,

315
00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:37,329
but I'm not ready to make

316
00:12:37,329 --> 00:12:40,027
a formal agreement...

317
00:12:40,027 --> 00:12:42,958
(Evelyn) Commitment.

318
00:12:42,958 --> 00:12:45,349
(Derek) What would you say
to them, Evelyn?

319
00:12:45,349 --> 00:12:46,986
(Evelyn) I would say you guys

320
00:12:46,986 --> 00:12:48,010
need to do it the way

321
00:12:48,010 --> 00:12:50,637
the Lord commands us to,

322
00:12:50,637 --> 00:12:52,992
I mean, to show commitment to one another.

323
00:12:52,992 --> 00:12:54,514
(Derek) That's true. Yes, Jason.

324
00:12:54,514 --> 00:12:56,816
(Jason) I would say that's
kind of like cheating.

325
00:12:56,816 --> 00:12:58,384
You're trying to get the benefits

326
00:12:58,384 --> 00:13:00,300
of the situation without the commitment.

327
00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:02,154
(Derek) And the truth is, it won't work

328
00:13:02,154 --> 00:13:03,436
because there's no...?

329
00:13:03,436 --> 00:13:04,661
(Team) Commitment.

330
00:13:04,661 --> 00:13:06,439
(Derek) There's no commitment, right?

331
00:13:06,439 --> 00:13:09,766
Now, having listed these primary signers,

332
00:13:09,766 --> 00:13:10,738
I mean, we can think

333
00:13:10,738 --> 00:13:12,284
of other primary documents

334
00:13:12,284 --> 00:13:13,639
where there are the signers

335
00:13:13,639 --> 00:13:15,466
whose names are on there,

336
00:13:15,466 --> 00:13:17,053
let's take a look, Gladys,

337
00:13:17,053 --> 00:13:19,964
at verses 28 and 29,

338
00:13:19,964 --> 00:13:21,866
something that Nehemiah adds

339
00:13:21,866 --> 00:13:24,076
after that list of names.

340
00:13:24,076 --> 00:13:25,065
(Gladys) I'm reading

341
00:13:25,065 --> 00:13:26,956
from the New International Version,

342
00:13:26,956 --> 00:13:31,603
Nehemiah, chapter 10, verses 28 and 29:

343
00:14:09,043 --> 00:14:10,891
(Derek) So, what's the significance

344
00:14:10,891 --> 00:14:12,124
of that little add-on

345
00:14:12,124 --> 00:14:14,122
to the list of names?

346
00:14:14,122 --> 00:14:16,146
(Harold) Total commitment.

347
00:14:16,146 --> 00:14:17,413
(Derek) Total commitment.

348
00:14:17,413 --> 00:14:20,203
(Harold) It wasn't just the leaders
because we can't forget

349
00:14:20,203 --> 00:14:23,258
the names listed in verses 1 through 27;
these were the leaders,

350
00:14:23,258 --> 00:14:26,432
which actually they were supposed to teach
and impart this message.

351
00:14:26,432 --> 00:14:28,037
But at the same time, the people,

352
00:14:28,037 --> 00:14:30,263
were like, "We want to be followers, too."

353
00:14:30,263 --> 00:14:32,247
(Derek) Right? The rest of the people.

354
00:14:32,247 --> 00:14:35,137
In fact, we find that phrase

355
00:14:35,137 --> 00:14:37,529
toward the end of verse 29,

356
00:14:37,529 --> 00:14:39,438
or verse 28, excuse me,

357
00:14:39,438 --> 00:14:42,591
"everyone who had knowledge
and understanding."

358
00:14:42,591 --> 00:14:43,583
What does that mean?

359
00:14:43,583 --> 00:14:44,793
We had that when Ezra

360
00:14:44,793 --> 00:14:47,061
was reading, too, the Word, right?

361
00:14:47,061 --> 00:14:49,649
What does that mean?

362
00:14:49,649 --> 00:14:50,716
Even the little ones

363
00:14:50,716 --> 00:14:52,607
who could understand, right?

364
00:14:52,607 --> 00:14:56,260
They said, "Me, too, papa,"

365
00:14:56,260 --> 00:14:58,653
"Me, too, mama, add my name
to that list.

366
00:14:58,653 --> 00:15:02,115
I want to be named with the people of God

367
00:15:02,115 --> 00:15:04,617
who are making this covenant with God."

368
00:15:04,617 --> 00:15:06,513
So, like Harold said,

369
00:15:06,513 --> 00:15:10,638
it's, like, a total commitment,

370
00:15:10,638 --> 00:15:11,897
a total commitment.

371
00:15:11,897 --> 00:15:16,715
Now, how did the witness of the leaders

372
00:15:16,715 --> 00:15:19,331
influence the rest of the people?

373
00:15:19,331 --> 00:15:22,933
We don't know, do we?

374
00:15:22,933 --> 00:15:25,095
Is there a correlation sometimes, John,

375
00:15:25,095 --> 00:15:28,145
between the leader, even in a family,

376
00:15:28,145 --> 00:15:30,261
and where the family goes?

377
00:15:30,261 --> 00:15:32,338
(John) They often set the example,

378
00:15:32,338 --> 00:15:34,805
and they set the tone for the family

379
00:15:34,805 --> 00:15:37,164
or those that they are leading.

380
00:15:37,164 --> 00:15:39,087
(Derek) So, you've got two key leaders,

381
00:15:39,087 --> 00:15:40,942
namely Ezra and...?

382
00:15:40,942 --> 00:15:41,797
(Team) Nehemiah.

383
00:15:41,797 --> 00:15:43,318
(Derek) who are saying,

384
00:15:43,318 --> 00:15:44,670
"We're going to follow God.

385
00:15:44,670 --> 00:15:46,603
This is what God wants us to do.

386
00:15:46,603 --> 00:15:49,401
They both sacrificed in order to do that.

387
00:15:49,401 --> 00:15:51,088
Now the other leaders are coming,

388
00:15:51,088 --> 00:15:52,598
and now all of the people,

389
00:15:52,598 --> 00:15:53,761
a total commitment,

390
00:15:53,761 --> 00:15:54,978
"Let's make a covenant,"

391
00:15:54,978 --> 00:15:56,961
make an agreement, "with God." Stephanie.

392
00:15:56,961 --> 00:15:58,936
(Stephanie) I guess, what came to my mind

393
00:15:58,936 --> 00:16:00,514
was that each person has to make

394
00:16:00,514 --> 00:16:02,060
their own individual commitment.

395
00:16:02,060 --> 00:16:03,371
So, even though the leaders

396
00:16:03,371 --> 00:16:04,644
are making the commitment,

397
00:16:04,644 --> 00:16:05,837
each individual also had

398
00:16:05,837 --> 00:16:07,322
to make their own commitment.

399
00:16:07,322 --> 00:16:09,801
(Derek) Now, it said, "those who
have understanding."

400
00:16:09,801 --> 00:16:11,024
What about the tiny ones?

401
00:16:11,024 --> 00:16:14,066
How is <i>their</i> destiny determined,

402
00:16:14,066 --> 00:16:17,955
the ones without understanding yet?

403
00:16:17,955 --> 00:16:21,420
(Team) The parents.

404
00:16:21,420 --> 00:16:22,562
(Derek) It was the same

405
00:16:22,562 --> 00:16:24,378
in the time of Noah.

406
00:16:24,378 --> 00:16:26,127
It was the same, you know,

407
00:16:26,127 --> 00:16:27,372
you think of other times

408
00:16:27,372 --> 00:16:30,345
when people had decisions to make.

409
00:16:30,345 --> 00:16:31,950
The Exodus, you know,

410
00:16:31,950 --> 00:16:33,181
"Are we going to go out?"

411
00:16:33,181 --> 00:16:34,489
The little ones, they don't

412
00:16:34,489 --> 00:16:36,694
make that choice, do they?

413
00:16:36,694 --> 00:16:38,343
At that point, their destiny

414
00:16:38,343 --> 00:16:39,781
is very much impacted

415
00:16:39,781 --> 00:16:41,378
by the decision of their parents.

416
00:16:41,378 --> 00:16:43,390
It's a solemn responsibility, right?

417
00:16:43,390 --> 00:16:45,860
So, we're going to pause for a moment now.

418
00:16:45,860 --> 00:16:49,165
We've seen this important juncture,

419
00:16:49,165 --> 00:16:52,036
crossroads, for the people of God

420
00:16:52,036 --> 00:16:53,903
there in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah,

421
00:16:53,903 --> 00:16:55,682
"We're going to renew our commitment,

422
00:16:55,682 --> 00:16:56,847
our covenant, with God."

423
00:16:56,847 --> 00:16:58,012
But there had been times

424
00:16:58,012 --> 00:17:00,037
down through sacred history

425
00:17:00,037 --> 00:17:01,971
when God has made covenants,

426
00:17:01,971 --> 00:17:03,793
or agreements, with people,

427
00:17:03,793 --> 00:17:05,567
and we're just going to take a moment

428
00:17:05,567 --> 00:17:06,777
to look at some of those.

429
00:17:06,777 --> 00:17:08,526
Some of them might seem massive,

430
00:17:08,526 --> 00:17:11,424
and some are rather small, but there are

431
00:17:11,424 --> 00:17:13,593
at least two people in the agreement,

432
00:17:13,593 --> 00:17:15,904
and they're both agreeing to it,

433
00:17:15,904 --> 00:17:17,333
and it has implications.

434
00:17:17,333 --> 00:17:21,047
So, anybody, give me some examples

435
00:17:21,047 --> 00:17:25,768
of other covenants. Anybody? Yes, Evelyn?

436
00:17:25,768 --> 00:17:27,155
(Evelyn) There's the covenant

437
00:17:27,155 --> 00:17:28,470
God had with Adam.

438
00:17:28,470 --> 00:17:30,426
(Derek) All right, let's look at that

439
00:17:30,426 --> 00:17:33,734
in the book of Genesis, chapter 3,

440
00:17:33,734 --> 00:17:35,102
a covenant with Adam.

441
00:17:35,102 --> 00:17:36,842
Again, a covenant is a what?

442
00:17:36,842 --> 00:17:37,815
(Team) An agreement.

443
00:17:37,815 --> 00:17:39,420
(Derek) It's an agreement, okay.

444
00:17:39,420 --> 00:17:41,725
So let's see, the words spoken

445
00:17:41,725 --> 00:17:46,177
in verse 15 are actually

446
00:17:46,177 --> 00:17:48,853
spoken to the serpent,

447
00:17:48,853 --> 00:17:51,961
but it is describing a covenant

448
00:17:51,961 --> 00:17:53,653
with the human family.

449
00:17:53,653 --> 00:17:55,449
So would you read verse 15 for us,

450
00:17:55,449 --> 00:17:59,055
and then also if you would add verse 21.

451
00:17:59,055 --> 00:18:00,525
(Evelyn) And I will be reading

452
00:18:00,525 --> 00:18:03,370
from the New Living Translation; it says:

453
00:18:14,944 --> 00:18:16,912
Verse 21 says:

454
00:18:22,334 --> 00:18:24,274
(Derek) So, what does that promise

455
00:18:24,274 --> 00:18:26,260
in verse 15, that God is not

456
00:18:26,260 --> 00:18:28,348
going to abandon the human family -

457
00:18:28,348 --> 00:18:30,543
He's making a promise to them, right,

458
00:18:30,543 --> 00:18:31,930
that He's going to provide

459
00:18:31,930 --> 00:18:33,919
a way of salvation for them -

460
00:18:33,919 --> 00:18:36,481
and verse 21, why are those two related?

461
00:18:36,481 --> 00:18:38,704
Help me, someone. John?

462
00:18:38,704 --> 00:18:40,765
(John) These are linked because verse 15

463
00:18:40,765 --> 00:18:43,976
gives the promise of the Messiah to come,

464
00:18:43,976 --> 00:18:45,701
and here you have that they

465
00:18:45,701 --> 00:18:46,767
are clothed with skin.

466
00:18:46,767 --> 00:18:48,700
That means that there was a sacrifice

467
00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:51,235
that took place for them

468
00:18:51,235 --> 00:18:52,931
to receive skins or covering.

469
00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:55,567
(Derek) And that's not described there
in chapter 3.

470
00:18:55,567 --> 00:18:57,689
In chapter 4, you've got

471
00:18:57,689 --> 00:18:59,992
Abel bringing the lamb.

472
00:18:59,992 --> 00:19:01,772
Cain, in rebellion, bringing

473
00:19:01,772 --> 00:19:03,863
some fruit from his garden.

474
00:19:03,863 --> 00:19:05,473
So obviously this idea

475
00:19:05,473 --> 00:19:07,725
of a lamb pointing forward

476
00:19:07,725 --> 00:19:09,919
all the way to the Lamb of God, Jesus,

477
00:19:09,919 --> 00:19:11,984
who will take away the sin of the world,

478
00:19:11,984 --> 00:19:13,340
had been explained to them.

479
00:19:13,340 --> 00:19:14,843
Now, did you ever think

480
00:19:14,843 --> 00:19:16,452
(my wife was sharing this with me

481
00:19:16,452 --> 00:19:18,040
just a few days ago),

482
00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:22,259
does that mean that God

483
00:19:22,259 --> 00:19:24,116
offered the first sacrifice

484
00:19:24,116 --> 00:19:28,134
to show them the cost

485
00:19:28,134 --> 00:19:30,462
and also the sign of looking forward?

486
00:19:30,462 --> 00:19:33,865
And if that's true, was that

487
00:19:33,865 --> 00:19:36,730
the first time in eternity

488
00:19:36,730 --> 00:19:43,462
that God had caused any form of death?

489
00:19:43,462 --> 00:19:45,928
That's a solemn thought, isn't it?

490
00:19:45,928 --> 00:19:47,832
And yet, the agreement is,

491
00:19:47,832 --> 00:19:50,947
if you trust My promise,

492
00:19:50,947 --> 00:19:53,341
I will save you, right?

493
00:19:53,341 --> 00:19:55,452
And not just you but your children.

494
00:19:55,452 --> 00:19:57,438
Well, we could spend a lot of time there.

495
00:19:57,438 --> 00:20:00,288
We may get a thousand emails;
you go, "Really?"

496
00:20:00,288 --> 00:20:02,405
Or did God just tell Adam,

497
00:20:02,405 --> 00:20:03,818
"You kill the lamb'"?

498
00:20:03,818 --> 00:20:05,807
Maybe God told Adam?

499
00:20:05,807 --> 00:20:06,928
We'll hear from you.

500
00:20:06,928 --> 00:20:08,370
What do you think, by the way?

501
00:20:08,370 --> 00:20:09,806
It was certainly not

502
00:20:09,806 --> 00:20:10,938
within the heart of God

503
00:20:10,938 --> 00:20:12,970
to witness any death, was it?

504
00:20:12,970 --> 00:20:14,389
God wanted all things

505
00:20:14,389 --> 00:20:16,840
to be in perfect harmony.

506
00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,401
We'll get some emails, I'm sure.

507
00:20:19,401 --> 00:20:21,130
Yeah, I see you thinking. Gladys?

508
00:20:21,130 --> 00:20:22,374
(Gladys) Yes, the covenant

509
00:20:22,374 --> 00:20:23,860
that God made with Noah.

510
00:20:23,860 --> 00:20:25,829
(Derek) Okay, let's take a look at that.

511
00:20:25,829 --> 00:20:27,224
Of course, you know the story

512
00:20:27,224 --> 00:20:29,059
of Noah starts in Genesis 6,

513
00:20:29,059 --> 00:20:32,033
but let's take a look at Genesis 9.

514
00:20:32,033 --> 00:20:33,380
Perhaps you could read that

515
00:20:33,380 --> 00:20:37,190
for us, Gladys, verses 8 through 11.

516
00:20:37,190 --> 00:20:38,686
(Gladys) Sure, I'll be reading

517
00:20:38,686 --> 00:20:40,506
from the New International Version,

518
00:20:40,506 --> 00:20:43,946
Genesis 9, verses 8 to 11:

519
00:21:21,247 --> 00:21:22,546
(Derek) So, that's God part

520
00:21:22,546 --> 00:21:23,892
of the covenant, a promise,

521
00:21:23,892 --> 00:21:26,513
and He gives the sign of that with what?

522
00:21:26,513 --> 00:21:27,414
(Team) A rainbow.

523
00:21:27,414 --> 00:21:30,510
(Derek) So, what's their part
of the covenant?

524
00:21:30,510 --> 00:21:31,817
What does He ask them

525
00:21:31,817 --> 00:21:34,285
to do to enter into it?

526
00:21:34,285 --> 00:21:35,250
(John) Trust Him.

527
00:21:35,250 --> 00:21:37,236
(Derek) To just trust Him, that's right.

528
00:21:37,236 --> 00:21:39,796
You say, "That's not very much,"

529
00:21:39,796 --> 00:21:42,651
but actually it's the very essence,
isn't it,

530
00:21:42,651 --> 00:21:45,951
of trusting in the immeasurable
and unfailing love of God.

531
00:21:45,951 --> 00:21:47,946
One more, another covenant. Brittany.

532
00:21:47,946 --> 00:21:49,348
(Brittany) I think of Abraham

533
00:21:49,348 --> 00:21:50,842
when he was called Abram.

534
00:21:50,842 --> 00:21:52,519
God promised him that He would make

535
00:21:52,519 --> 00:21:55,001
his descendants like the stars of the sky.

536
00:21:55,001 --> 00:21:56,523
(Derek) When his name was Abram,

537
00:21:56,523 --> 00:21:57,599
and I'll have you read

538
00:21:57,599 --> 00:21:59,771
chapter 12 for us, of Genesis, 1 to 3,

539
00:21:59,771 --> 00:22:00,984
when his name was Abram,

540
00:22:00,984 --> 00:22:02,473
how many children did he have?

541
00:22:02,473 --> 00:22:03,372
(Team) None.

542
00:22:03,372 --> 00:22:05,297
(Derek) And how old was he at that time?

543
00:22:05,297 --> 00:22:07,336
Oh, can you remember that? Was he...?

544
00:22:07,336 --> 00:22:10,925
Seventy-five years old, right?

545
00:22:10,925 --> 00:22:12,635
Well, let's take a look, Brittany,

546
00:22:12,635 --> 00:22:14,746
in chapter 12, verses 1 to 3.

547
00:22:14,746 --> 00:22:17,021
And then we could look at many others,

548
00:22:17,021 --> 00:22:18,176
but I'm going to ask you

549
00:22:18,176 --> 00:22:19,148
what you've noticed

550
00:22:19,148 --> 00:22:20,666
they all have in common so far.

551
00:22:20,666 --> 00:22:21,924
(Brittany) I'll be reading

552
00:22:21,924 --> 00:22:23,469
from the New King James Version,

553
00:22:23,469 --> 00:22:26,031
Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1 through 3:

554
00:22:51,495 --> 00:22:53,481
(Derek) Now, that's a beautiful promise.

555
00:22:53,481 --> 00:22:54,666
By the way, if you look

556
00:22:54,666 --> 00:22:56,714
at the family tree of Jesus,
get to Matthew,

557
00:22:56,714 --> 00:22:58,717
He's a son of Abraham, right?

558
00:22:58,717 --> 00:23:01,209
Because the, "In you, all the families

559
00:23:01,209 --> 00:23:04,736
of the earth will be blessed," is also...?

560
00:23:04,736 --> 00:23:06,789
A prophecy pointing forward to Messiah

561
00:23:06,789 --> 00:23:09,416
just like the lamb is a prophecy

562
00:23:09,416 --> 00:23:11,805
pointing forward to Messiah, right?

563
00:23:11,805 --> 00:23:13,904
"In you all the nations..."

564
00:23:13,904 --> 00:23:15,890
We have to look at one more, Moses,

565
00:23:15,890 --> 00:23:18,320
the covenant made with Moses and Israel.

566
00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,706
If someone could look in Exodus 19,

567
00:23:20,706 --> 00:23:23,360
verses 4 through 6.

568
00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:26,429
Exodus 19, Jason, if you

569
00:23:26,429 --> 00:23:28,288
could read verses 4 through 6,

570
00:23:28,288 --> 00:23:30,831
what does the Word say there?

571
00:23:30,831 --> 00:23:31,978
(Jason) I'll be reading

572
00:23:31,978 --> 00:23:33,530
from the New King James Version,

573
00:23:33,530 --> 00:23:37,470
Exodus, chapter 19, verses 4 through 6:

574
00:24:07,929 --> 00:24:09,282
(Derek) So, now God's making

575
00:24:09,282 --> 00:24:12,979
a covenant with Moses and...?
All of Israel.

576
00:24:12,979 --> 00:24:14,479
What do you see that all

577
00:24:14,479 --> 00:24:16,107
of these covenants have in common?

578
00:24:16,107 --> 00:24:17,710
We could look at more, too,

579
00:24:17,710 --> 00:24:18,674
but what do you see

580
00:24:18,674 --> 00:24:20,382
that they have in common, Harold?

581
00:24:20,382 --> 00:24:21,863
(Harold) God is the Initiator.

582
00:24:21,863 --> 00:24:22,577
(Derek) Okay.

583
00:24:22,577 --> 00:24:24,105
(Harold) He starts the covenant.

584
00:24:24,105 --> 00:24:26,200
(Derek) Very important, God is
the Initiator,

585
00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:27,440
and what's motivating Him?

586
00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:28,256
(Team) Love.

587
00:24:28,256 --> 00:24:29,321
(Derek) That's right.

588
00:24:29,321 --> 00:24:30,730
He doesn't need, like,

589
00:24:30,730 --> 00:24:32,089
"And I really need your help

590
00:24:32,089 --> 00:24:34,260
to build this city of...," whatever,"

591
00:24:34,260 --> 00:24:36,598
you know, like the Egyptians, right.

592
00:24:36,598 --> 00:24:40,000
No, it's just motivated by love.

593
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,259
He's like, "I want to bless you.

594
00:24:42,259 --> 00:24:44,289
Can we make an agreement?"

595
00:24:44,289 --> 00:24:47,136
In fact, all of the sacrifice

596
00:24:47,136 --> 00:24:49,701
is coming from Him.

597
00:24:49,701 --> 00:24:51,680
Anything else that you're noticing? John?

598
00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:53,960
(John) It appears that in each
of the covenants,

599
00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:55,020
it's based on what God

600
00:24:55,020 --> 00:24:57,090
has done or will do,

601
00:24:57,090 --> 00:25:00,712
so, based on His actions and His doing.

602
00:25:00,712 --> 00:25:03,512
(Derek) So, trusting Him

603
00:25:03,512 --> 00:25:05,263
because we've seen what He's done

604
00:25:05,263 --> 00:25:07,626
in the past, maybe?

605
00:25:07,626 --> 00:25:09,753
Abram must have had some confidence

606
00:25:09,753 --> 00:25:11,937
in God's leading in his past. Nicole?

607
00:25:11,937 --> 00:25:14,385
(Nicole) It's all based on us trusting.

608
00:25:14,385 --> 00:25:15,998
He doesn't ask us to do anything.

609
00:25:15,998 --> 00:25:18,116
He said, "I'm going to do
everything for you,

610
00:25:18,116 --> 00:25:20,036
if you can just trust Me and accept it,

611
00:25:20,036 --> 00:25:21,305
then that's the covenant."

612
00:25:21,305 --> 00:25:22,476
(Derek) It's almost like

613
00:25:22,476 --> 00:25:23,747
they're about to set off

614
00:25:23,747 --> 00:25:25,271
this nuclear explosion,

615
00:25:25,271 --> 00:25:31,269
"Here's the shelter; just come in," right?

616
00:25:31,269 --> 00:25:32,713
"My love has provided for you,

617
00:25:32,713 --> 00:25:33,904
just enter in." Harold?

618
00:25:33,904 --> 00:25:35,163
(Harold) I wanted to add

619
00:25:35,163 --> 00:25:36,370
that all these covenants

620
00:25:36,370 --> 00:25:37,889
have to do with a relationship.

621
00:25:37,889 --> 00:25:39,627
It's always about this relationship,

622
00:25:39,627 --> 00:25:42,044
entering this harmonious relationship
with God,

623
00:25:42,044 --> 00:25:45,000
because the part, as it's been mentioned,
is the trust.

624
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:46,876
When you trust, you're willing to obey.

625
00:25:46,876 --> 00:25:48,494
You're like, "Oh, yes, I love You.

626
00:25:48,494 --> 00:25:49,439
I want to do this,"

627
00:25:49,439 --> 00:25:51,483
because, again, I believe John

628
00:25:51,483 --> 00:25:52,502
said that we love Him

629
00:25:52,502 --> 00:25:54,237
because He first loved us.

630
00:25:54,237 --> 00:25:55,954
(Derek) That's right.

631
00:25:55,954 --> 00:25:57,173
So, we're going to go now

632
00:25:57,173 --> 00:25:58,334
to a beautiful statement

633
00:25:58,334 --> 00:26:00,985
of what is called the New Covenant,

634
00:26:00,985 --> 00:26:03,281
but it's another revelation

635
00:26:03,281 --> 00:26:05,552
of the immeasurable and unfailing
love of God

636
00:26:05,552 --> 00:26:09,946
in Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 31 to 34.

637
00:26:09,946 --> 00:26:13,050
Stephanie, if you could read that for us.

638
00:26:13,050 --> 00:26:14,601
(Stephanie) And I'll be reading

639
00:26:14,601 --> 00:26:16,009
from the King James Version:

640
00:27:18,576 --> 00:27:20,661
(Derek) Now, that expression,

641
00:27:20,661 --> 00:27:23,537
"They shall all know Me,"

642
00:27:23,537 --> 00:27:26,477
what does that mean?

643
00:27:26,477 --> 00:27:28,955
Anybody know? The Hebrew understanding

644
00:27:28,955 --> 00:27:32,009
of that "knowing." Yes, Gladys.

645
00:27:32,009 --> 00:27:34,443
(Gladys) It's an intimate relationship.

646
00:27:34,443 --> 00:27:36,146
(Derek) That's right; it's actually

647
00:27:36,146 --> 00:27:37,336
the same word where Adam

648
00:27:37,336 --> 00:27:39,321
knew his wife, Eve, and she conceived

649
00:27:39,321 --> 00:27:41,038
and bore a child, right?

650
00:27:41,038 --> 00:27:45,413
So it's that close, intimate relationship,

651
00:27:45,413 --> 00:27:48,683
and that's God's ideal, for how many?

652
00:27:48,683 --> 00:27:49,738
(Team) For all of us.

653
00:27:49,738 --> 00:27:51,071
(Derek) Yeah, that everyone

654
00:27:51,071 --> 00:27:52,778
(we won't need to go and say...),

655
00:27:52,778 --> 00:27:54,956
that <i>all</i> will experience

656
00:27:54,956 --> 00:27:56,357
that intimate relationship.

657
00:27:56,357 --> 00:27:58,630
What do you hear different...

658
00:27:58,630 --> 00:27:59,926
The Lord Himself says,

659
00:27:59,926 --> 00:28:02,330
"This is not like the covenant

660
00:28:02,330 --> 00:28:04,592
I made with their fathers

661
00:28:04,592 --> 00:28:06,725
the day I brought them out of Egypt."

662
00:28:06,725 --> 00:28:09,786
What's different in this covenant,

663
00:28:09,786 --> 00:28:12,416
the wording of this New Covenant? Jason?

664
00:28:12,416 --> 00:28:14,011
(Jason) There is some description

665
00:28:14,011 --> 00:28:15,029
about putting the Law

666
00:28:15,029 --> 00:28:16,991
in their hearts and in their minds.

667
00:28:16,991 --> 00:28:18,845
And in the sort of previous covenant,

668
00:28:18,845 --> 00:28:22,978
there was a lot of external activity
written down.

669
00:28:22,978 --> 00:28:25,009
And so there's something kind of happening

670
00:28:25,009 --> 00:28:26,585
more internal here, it seems.

671
00:28:26,585 --> 00:28:28,989
(Derek) Okay, yes, you're
absolutely right.

672
00:28:28,989 --> 00:28:31,049
Let's expand on that a little. Travis?

673
00:28:31,049 --> 00:28:32,515
(Travis) I'd like to say

674
00:28:32,515 --> 00:28:35,295
that this New Covenant was based

675
00:28:35,295 --> 00:28:38,504
on God's promise to change us

676
00:28:38,504 --> 00:28:39,748
internally, like you said,

677
00:28:39,748 --> 00:28:41,613
but the first covenant was,

678
00:28:41,613 --> 00:28:43,151
"I promise, if you do this,"

679
00:28:43,151 --> 00:28:44,828
and this promise was based

680
00:28:44,828 --> 00:28:47,237
just on God's promise, which never fails.

681
00:28:47,237 --> 00:28:50,446
Man failed in keeping the covenant,

682
00:28:50,446 --> 00:28:51,703
and God says, "I'm going

683
00:28:51,703 --> 00:28:52,974
to do something within you

684
00:28:52,974 --> 00:28:54,490
so that you can keep

685
00:28:54,490 --> 00:28:55,748
this covenant with me.

686
00:28:55,748 --> 00:28:58,481
(Derek) All right, so, again,
more internal.

687
00:28:58,481 --> 00:29:00,503
Were there any other covenants

688
00:29:00,503 --> 00:29:02,928
that talked about, "I will forgive
their iniquities

689
00:29:02,928 --> 00:29:05,368
and remember their sins no more"?

690
00:29:05,368 --> 00:29:06,675
(Team) No.

691
00:29:06,675 --> 00:29:07,967
(Derek) I suppose you could

692
00:29:07,967 --> 00:29:09,288
go back to Genesis and say

693
00:29:09,288 --> 00:29:11,733
that by trusting in the sacrifice.

694
00:29:11,733 --> 00:29:14,054
This is much more explicit,
though, isn't it?

695
00:29:14,054 --> 00:29:16,292
"And I'm going to do something..."?

696
00:29:16,292 --> 00:29:18,241
"...in their hearts," right?

697
00:29:18,241 --> 00:29:21,528
"I'm going to change their hearts."

698
00:29:21,528 --> 00:29:23,449
So, what are your thoughts about God

699
00:29:23,449 --> 00:29:24,957
wanting to do that for you?

700
00:29:24,957 --> 00:29:26,787
Because that's not just written

701
00:29:26,787 --> 00:29:29,851
in the time of Jeremiah, right?

702
00:29:29,851 --> 00:29:33,407
That covenant is a covenant He wants

703
00:29:33,407 --> 00:29:35,856
to make with each one of us, right?

704
00:29:35,856 --> 00:29:37,652
Give me a new heart, forgive my sins,

705
00:29:37,652 --> 00:29:40,185
give me a new start,

706
00:29:40,185 --> 00:29:42,935
what are your thoughts about that?
Yes, Alex.

707
00:29:42,935 --> 00:29:44,972
(Alex) It's just really humbling to me.

708
00:29:44,972 --> 00:29:46,224
I think of all the things

709
00:29:46,224 --> 00:29:47,586
that I've done to hurt Him,

710
00:29:47,586 --> 00:29:49,433
the things I still do to hurt Him,

711
00:29:49,433 --> 00:29:50,778
and that He wants to have

712
00:29:50,778 --> 00:29:51,753
a covenant with me,

713
00:29:51,753 --> 00:29:54,629
that He still wants to reach out to me
to have it.

714
00:29:54,629 --> 00:29:56,699
(Derek) So, back to what we said earlier.

715
00:29:56,699 --> 00:29:59,604
Again, He's taking the initiative
(always, right),

716
00:29:59,604 --> 00:30:01,389
and it's based on His...?

717
00:30:01,389 --> 00:30:02,274
(Team) Love.

718
00:30:02,274 --> 00:30:04,225
(Derek) His immeasurable, unfailing love.

719
00:30:04,225 --> 00:30:06,740
And Alex says that's kind of humbling

720
00:30:06,740 --> 00:30:09,642
because He knows me, right? Nicole?

721
00:30:09,642 --> 00:30:11,423
(Nicole) It's encouraging also,

722
00:30:11,423 --> 00:30:14,495
that, even when I fall, He's still there
to pick me up,

723
00:30:14,495 --> 00:30:16,554
and He still wants to be with me.

724
00:30:16,554 --> 00:30:18,095
It's kind of self-esteem booster

725
00:30:18,095 --> 00:30:19,873
that this God of the universe

726
00:30:19,873 --> 00:30:21,005
wants little 'ole me

727
00:30:21,005 --> 00:30:23,068
to be in the covenant with Him.

728
00:30:23,068 --> 00:30:24,975
(Derek) And if it was a human being,

729
00:30:24,975 --> 00:30:25,980
you might say, "Well,

730
00:30:25,980 --> 00:30:27,176
that's because they don't

731
00:30:27,176 --> 00:30:28,677
really know me," right?

732
00:30:28,677 --> 00:30:30,070
But He does! John?

733
00:30:30,070 --> 00:30:31,940
(John) The terms of the covenant,

734
00:30:31,940 --> 00:30:34,370
and there are terms of agreement,

735
00:30:34,370 --> 00:30:37,100
and God says that He will complete them,

736
00:30:37,100 --> 00:30:40,850
so He's fulfilling those terms
in our lives,

737
00:30:40,850 --> 00:30:44,508
and it's to us to receive and believe in.

738
00:30:44,508 --> 00:30:45,886
(Derek) All right. Adison?

739
00:30:45,886 --> 00:30:48,878
(Adison) I just love this concept,

740
00:30:48,878 --> 00:30:50,912
in part because that same Law

741
00:30:50,912 --> 00:30:52,892
that was written on the tables of stone,

742
00:30:52,892 --> 00:30:54,154
the Holy Spirit takes it,

743
00:30:54,154 --> 00:30:55,178
and He engraves it

744
00:30:55,178 --> 00:30:56,965
upon the tables of our hearts.

745
00:30:56,965 --> 00:31:02,478
And we find Christ's righteousness,
not our own;

746
00:31:02,478 --> 00:31:05,566
He puts His righteousness on us.

747
00:31:05,566 --> 00:31:07,522
And I just think it's a tremendous gift.

748
00:31:07,522 --> 00:31:08,855
(Derek) And it's important

749
00:31:08,855 --> 00:31:10,279
to "rememberize," to remember

750
00:31:10,279 --> 00:31:12,489
("rememberize," that's not
an English word),

751
00:31:12,489 --> 00:31:14,575
to remember what Jesus said,

752
00:31:14,575 --> 00:31:16,059
that all of that Law He wants

753
00:31:16,059 --> 00:31:18,189
to write on our hearts is summarized

754
00:31:18,189 --> 00:31:20,407
in two great commandments, right?

755
00:31:20,407 --> 00:31:22,642
Because, remember, this is
all about wanting

756
00:31:22,643 --> 00:31:24,953
an intimate love relationship with us,

757
00:31:24,953 --> 00:31:27,603
and those two great commandments,

758
00:31:27,603 --> 00:31:28,977
Jesus said, are...?

759
00:31:28,977 --> 00:31:29,881
(Team) Love God.

760
00:31:29,881 --> 00:31:31,122
(Derek) Love God how?

761
00:31:31,122 --> 00:31:33,669
With all your heart, soul,
mind and strength.

762
00:31:33,669 --> 00:31:34,952
And love your neighbor...?

763
00:31:34,952 --> 00:31:36,754
(Team) As yourself.

764
00:31:36,754 --> 00:31:38,063
(Derek) It's in the context

765
00:31:38,063 --> 00:31:39,130
of that relationship.

766
00:31:39,130 --> 00:31:40,758
All right, Travis, how do you feel

767
00:31:40,758 --> 00:31:42,378
about, God's like, "I want to make

768
00:31:42,378 --> 00:31:44,327
this covenant with you"?

769
00:31:44,327 --> 00:31:45,411
(Travis) I just think

770
00:31:45,411 --> 00:31:48,527
that, when we look at the new covenant,

771
00:31:48,527 --> 00:31:51,307
it just shows how relentless God is,

772
00:31:51,307 --> 00:31:53,052
because He's doing something in us

773
00:31:53,052 --> 00:31:55,201
that we couldn't do ourselves.

774
00:31:55,201 --> 00:31:56,658
What God is doing to us

775
00:31:56,658 --> 00:31:58,608
is He's enabling us to be

776
00:31:58,608 --> 00:31:59,793
a part of His Kingdom,

777
00:31:59,793 --> 00:32:00,962
something that was

778
00:32:00,962 --> 00:32:03,065
just absolutely impossible
within ourselves.

779
00:32:03,065 --> 00:32:04,498
And we got to see that

780
00:32:04,498 --> 00:32:07,320
through the Old Testament Scriptures.

781
00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:08,440
(Derek) I've been told

782
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:09,458
that that's something

783
00:32:09,458 --> 00:32:14,398
about Judeo-Christian faith
that is unique,

784
00:32:14,398 --> 00:32:16,534
because many religions have us

785
00:32:16,534 --> 00:32:19,045
trying to earn God's favor.

786
00:32:19,045 --> 00:32:20,477
You know, we beat ourselves,

787
00:32:20,477 --> 00:32:22,079
we walk on hot rocks,

788
00:32:22,079 --> 00:32:23,921
or put fish hooks in our back,

789
00:32:23,921 --> 00:32:25,808
or whatever, you know,

790
00:32:25,808 --> 00:32:28,922
to try to...or we offer chickens...

791
00:32:28,922 --> 00:32:31,625
to try to placate God or earn His favor.

792
00:32:31,625 --> 00:32:33,976
Here, we're seeing God
take the initiative.

793
00:32:33,976 --> 00:32:36,322
And He loves us with an everlasting love.

794
00:32:36,322 --> 00:32:39,011
Now, one other aspect of covenant

795
00:32:39,011 --> 00:32:40,546
before we move on.

796
00:32:40,546 --> 00:32:41,852
The Bible also speaks

797
00:32:41,852 --> 00:32:43,914
about God wanting to make

798
00:32:43,914 --> 00:32:46,797
an everlasting covenant.

799
00:32:46,797 --> 00:32:48,709
Is that different from this new covenant

800
00:32:48,709 --> 00:32:49,760
we're talking about?

801
00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:51,331
Well, let's read two verses,

802
00:32:51,331 --> 00:32:53,212
and then you can give me

803
00:32:53,212 --> 00:32:54,761
the answer to that question.

804
00:32:54,761 --> 00:33:00,298
Hebrews 13, verses 20 and 21,

805
00:33:00,298 --> 00:33:01,856
Malaina, if you have that,

806
00:33:01,856 --> 00:33:03,084
you could read it for us,

807
00:33:03,084 --> 00:33:06,709
Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 20 and 21,

808
00:33:06,709 --> 00:33:08,399
and then someone could find

809
00:33:08,399 --> 00:33:10,189
Isaiah 55 and verse 3.

810
00:33:10,189 --> 00:33:11,492
(Malaina) I will be reading

811
00:33:11,492 --> 00:33:13,082
from the New King James Version,

812
00:33:13,082 --> 00:33:15,638
Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 20 through 21:

813
00:33:35,428 --> 00:33:36,744
(Derek) Amen. All right,

814
00:33:36,744 --> 00:33:38,610
"through the blood

815
00:33:38,610 --> 00:33:42,129
of the eternal covenant."

816
00:33:42,129 --> 00:33:45,503
Isaiah 55 and verse 3,

817
00:33:45,503 --> 00:33:46,988
someone have that already?

818
00:33:46,988 --> 00:33:49,568
Alex, do you have it already? Verse 3.

819
00:33:49,568 --> 00:33:51,104
(Alex) Okay, and I'll be reading

820
00:33:51,104 --> 00:33:52,488
from the King James Version:

821
00:34:03,998 --> 00:34:06,316
(Derek) So, is this the same covenant,

822
00:34:06,316 --> 00:34:08,341
or is it "Oh, that's a different one."

823
00:34:08,341 --> 00:34:09,356
The everlasting one

824
00:34:09,356 --> 00:34:10,943
is different from Jeremiah 31.

825
00:34:10,943 --> 00:34:11,985
What do you think?

826
00:34:11,985 --> 00:34:12,875
(Team) Same.

827
00:34:12,875 --> 00:34:15,385
(Derek) Same. So, why does God

828
00:34:15,385 --> 00:34:16,596
go out of His way

829
00:34:16,596 --> 00:34:20,735
to say "everlasting covenant," Stephanie?

830
00:34:20,735 --> 00:34:22,413
(Stephanie) That's really important

831
00:34:22,413 --> 00:34:24,317
because it is forever;

832
00:34:24,317 --> 00:34:26,267
it's down through the ages.

833
00:34:26,267 --> 00:34:28,812
It's His covenant that is sure.

834
00:34:28,812 --> 00:34:31,162
We know that it will be accomplished.

835
00:34:31,162 --> 00:34:32,292
(Derek) Because we said

836
00:34:32,292 --> 00:34:34,032
He takes the initiative,

837
00:34:34,032 --> 00:34:35,749
and it's based on what He...?

838
00:34:35,749 --> 00:34:36,789
(Team) Has promised.

839
00:34:36,789 --> 00:34:37,974
(Derek) And so by saying

840
00:34:37,974 --> 00:34:39,421
it's an everlasting covenant,

841
00:34:39,421 --> 00:34:41,291
He's saying, "I am the Lord, and I..."?

842
00:34:41,291 --> 00:34:42,419
(Stephanie) Change not.

843
00:34:42,419 --> 00:34:43,626
(Derek) "I change not."

844
00:34:43,626 --> 00:34:44,576
"I am the same..."?

845
00:34:44,576 --> 00:34:47,757
(Derek, Team) Yesterday, today
and forever.

846
00:34:47,757 --> 00:34:49,541
(Derek) So, that gives us comfort.

847
00:34:49,541 --> 00:34:52,984
We ought to get a little happy, right?
Praise God!

848
00:34:52,984 --> 00:34:54,046
He's not going to say,

849
00:34:54,046 --> 00:34:55,880
"You know, I thought about this, Alex.

850
00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:58,025
You're right; you don't deserve

851
00:34:58,025 --> 00:34:59,631
this covenant I'm making with you

852
00:34:59,631 --> 00:35:01,090
because I've noticed, in fact,

853
00:35:01,090 --> 00:35:03,162
I have a record of all of your failings."

854
00:35:03,162 --> 00:35:05,282
And you say, "Lord, have mercy."

855
00:35:05,282 --> 00:35:07,250
You say, "No, they've been washed away."

856
00:35:07,250 --> 00:35:08,340
But you know, to think

857
00:35:08,340 --> 00:35:10,251
that God is never going to come there

858
00:35:10,251 --> 00:35:12,729
and go, "I've changed My mind

859
00:35:12,729 --> 00:35:14,568
about this agreement with you."

860
00:35:14,568 --> 00:35:16,264
Everlasting covenant, someone says?

861
00:35:16,264 --> 00:35:17,567
(Team) Amen!

862
00:35:17,567 --> 00:35:18,917
(Derek) Gladys?

863
00:35:18,917 --> 00:35:22,383
(Gladys) I've been struggling with this,

864
00:35:22,383 --> 00:35:24,246
with the fact that, yes,

865
00:35:24,246 --> 00:35:26,443
God is love; He doesn't change,

866
00:35:26,443 --> 00:35:29,000
but what happened with Noah?

867
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,390
He said that He regretted

868
00:35:31,390 --> 00:35:33,976
or resented making man?

869
00:35:33,976 --> 00:35:35,736
My husband asked me that this morning

870
00:35:35,736 --> 00:35:37,170
when we were reviewing this...

871
00:35:37,170 --> 00:35:38,899
(Derek) Okay. Well, how do you think

872
00:35:38,899 --> 00:35:41,218
God feels when we reject His offer

873
00:35:41,218 --> 00:35:42,862
of immeasurable and unfailing love

874
00:35:42,862 --> 00:35:47,206
and throw dirt in His face, so to speak?

875
00:35:47,206 --> 00:35:48,635
How does He feel about that?

876
00:35:48,635 --> 00:35:49,983
(Team) Hurt. It's painful.

877
00:35:49,983 --> 00:35:52,924
(Derek) It's heartbreaking for Him, right?

878
00:35:52,924 --> 00:35:56,146
I don't think He stopped loving those

879
00:35:56,146 --> 00:35:57,702
when He regretted.

880
00:35:57,702 --> 00:35:58,989
I think He wept over those

881
00:35:58,989 --> 00:36:02,502
who refused to come into the Ark, right?

882
00:36:02,502 --> 00:36:03,748
But He wants to make

883
00:36:03,748 --> 00:36:05,406
this everlasting covenant with us.

884
00:36:05,406 --> 00:36:06,877
He wants us to know

885
00:36:06,877 --> 00:36:11,288
that even when we are not trustworthy,

886
00:36:11,288 --> 00:36:13,022
He is trustworthy. Travis?

887
00:36:13,022 --> 00:36:14,430
(Travis) If anyone's ever had

888
00:36:14,430 --> 00:36:18,977
a child who has rebelled,

889
00:36:18,977 --> 00:36:20,324
I think that verse

890
00:36:20,324 --> 00:36:22,715
is really explained in that term,
you know?

891
00:36:22,715 --> 00:36:24,188
Once you've experienced that,

892
00:36:24,188 --> 00:36:26,230
of course you love that child,

893
00:36:26,230 --> 00:36:27,934
but, boy, it just really

894
00:36:27,934 --> 00:36:29,597
brings sorrow to your heart,

895
00:36:29,597 --> 00:36:31,849
and it just tears you up inside.

896
00:36:31,849 --> 00:36:37,568
And you just get that feeling inside
like, why? You know?

897
00:36:37,568 --> 00:36:38,781
But you would do anything

898
00:36:38,781 --> 00:36:40,428
for that child even yet, you know.

899
00:36:40,428 --> 00:36:41,625
(Derek) Sure. Sure.

900
00:36:41,625 --> 00:36:43,091
So, I have a question for you,

901
00:36:43,091 --> 00:36:44,572
and I want you to look with me

902
00:36:44,572 --> 00:36:48,731
in Joshua 24, [verses] 14 and 15.

903
00:36:48,731 --> 00:36:51,655
Can you make a decision

904
00:36:51,655 --> 00:36:55,490
for someone else to accept

905
00:36:55,490 --> 00:36:59,074
that immeasurable and unfailing offer
of God's love?

906
00:36:59,074 --> 00:37:02,282
Well, before you say no,

907
00:37:02,282 --> 00:37:06,060
let's look at Joshua 24, 14 and 15,

908
00:37:06,060 --> 00:37:07,847
and maybe you're absolutely right.

909
00:37:07,847 --> 00:37:09,374
Maybe he talked to the family,

910
00:37:09,374 --> 00:37:13,725
and they said, "Me, too."

911
00:37:13,725 --> 00:37:15,523
And so he comes and says...

912
00:37:15,523 --> 00:37:17,216
Well, let's see what the text says.

913
00:37:17,216 --> 00:37:19,258
Joshua 24, Evelyn, do you

914
00:37:19,258 --> 00:37:21,957
have it there, verses 14 and 15.

915
00:37:21,957 --> 00:37:23,228
(Evelyn) I will be reading

916
00:37:23,228 --> 00:37:25,492
from the New Living Translation:

917
00:37:56,862 --> 00:37:58,411
(Derek) Amen? By the way,

918
00:37:58,411 --> 00:38:00,614
that is capitalized in my Bible;

919
00:38:00,614 --> 00:38:02,652
that's the name, Yahweh.

920
00:38:02,652 --> 00:38:04,236
That's the name of the Lord God,

921
00:38:04,236 --> 00:38:06,147
Creator of heaven and the earth.

922
00:38:06,147 --> 00:38:07,362
(John) His covenant name.

923
00:38:07,362 --> 00:38:09,298
(Derek) His covenant name, that's right.

924
00:38:09,298 --> 00:38:11,179
That's the agreement He's made with us.

925
00:38:11,179 --> 00:38:14,573
Now, Joshua says, "As for me and my house,

926
00:38:14,573 --> 00:38:16,242
we will serve the Lord."

927
00:38:16,242 --> 00:38:18,386
But you're saying you can't make

928
00:38:18,386 --> 00:38:20,480
that decision for your spouse,

929
00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:21,830
or, if you have children,

930
00:38:21,830 --> 00:38:25,585
for your children, for your siblings.

931
00:38:25,585 --> 00:38:27,874
So, what, what do you think, Jason?

932
00:38:27,874 --> 00:38:29,158
(Jason) Well, when you're

933
00:38:29,158 --> 00:38:30,432
a family relationship,

934
00:38:30,432 --> 00:38:32,539
particularly the marriage one,
is a covenant,

935
00:38:32,539 --> 00:38:34,057
so when you have that covenant,

936
00:38:34,057 --> 00:38:35,355
you aren't making

937
00:38:35,355 --> 00:38:37,128
the individual choice for the person,

938
00:38:37,128 --> 00:38:39,201
but you're kind of setting the tone,

939
00:38:39,201 --> 00:38:40,643
like we said with the leaders,

940
00:38:40,643 --> 00:38:43,741
you're kind of setting the direction
for the person.

941
00:38:43,741 --> 00:38:46,049
Ultimately, each of the individual
family members

942
00:38:46,049 --> 00:38:47,485
have to make their own choice,

943
00:38:47,485 --> 00:38:49,061
but you can kind of set the stage

944
00:38:49,061 --> 00:38:51,471
which way it will go.

945
00:38:51,471 --> 00:38:53,998
(Derek) Yes. Remember that phrase,

946
00:38:53,998 --> 00:38:56,259
"those who have understanding,"

947
00:38:56,259 --> 00:38:57,739
so, for all those that do,

948
00:38:57,739 --> 00:38:59,202
this would be a good time

949
00:38:59,202 --> 00:39:01,571
for a family council, right,

950
00:39:01,571 --> 00:39:04,610
and say, "As the mother,"

951
00:39:04,610 --> 00:39:06,988
or, "As the father," "As the parent,"

952
00:39:06,988 --> 00:39:10,114
some families only have one parent,
some have two,

953
00:39:10,114 --> 00:39:12,839
"but this is my decision,

954
00:39:12,839 --> 00:39:15,042
and here's why I'm making my decision,"

955
00:39:15,042 --> 00:39:17,014
and they say, "Mommy, we see that,"

956
00:39:17,014 --> 00:39:18,546
or, "Daddy, we see that,"

957
00:39:18,546 --> 00:39:19,653
or, "Mommy and daddy,

958
00:39:19,653 --> 00:39:22,924
we see that. Me, too!"

959
00:39:22,924 --> 00:39:27,710
So, no matter how young they are,

960
00:39:27,710 --> 00:39:31,288
if they have understanding,

961
00:39:31,288 --> 00:39:33,130
like it says in the text,

962
00:39:33,130 --> 00:39:35,860
they can say, "Me, too."

963
00:39:35,860 --> 00:39:37,586
And I think that's helpful.

964
00:39:37,586 --> 00:39:41,836
It's not like, you know, Joshua's dragging

965
00:39:41,836 --> 00:39:44,502
his family kicking and screaming,

966
00:39:44,502 --> 00:39:46,781
but they thought it through together,

967
00:39:46,781 --> 00:39:48,543
and he can come and say,

968
00:39:48,543 --> 00:39:51,572
"The decision of me and my family

969
00:39:51,572 --> 00:39:53,965
is we will serve the Lord."

970
00:39:53,965 --> 00:39:56,564
Anybody want to respond to that.
Yes, Gladys?

971
00:39:56,564 --> 00:39:58,892
(Gladys) In a family, usually...

972
00:39:58,892 --> 00:40:01,119
I will say, for my family it's like that.

973
00:40:01,119 --> 00:40:03,208
When we were little, he always said,

974
00:40:03,208 --> 00:40:05,294
"In the morning, in my house

975
00:40:05,294 --> 00:40:06,570
we will have worship."

976
00:40:06,570 --> 00:40:08,923
So everyone who will come and visit,

977
00:40:08,923 --> 00:40:10,429
that's what we do in my house.

978
00:40:10,429 --> 00:40:12,758
So, I think that that's what the Lord
represents.

979
00:40:12,758 --> 00:40:15,602
This is what He wants,

980
00:40:15,602 --> 00:40:17,069
to have that relationship,

981
00:40:17,069 --> 00:40:18,401
and the leader of the home,

982
00:40:18,401 --> 00:40:20,292
or the representative of the home,

983
00:40:20,292 --> 00:40:23,198
makes the decision, not forcing it

984
00:40:23,198 --> 00:40:24,351
on the family member,

985
00:40:24,351 --> 00:40:26,343
but kind of like being the representative

986
00:40:26,343 --> 00:40:27,403
of God in the home

987
00:40:27,403 --> 00:40:29,043
and bringing his family along.

988
00:40:29,043 --> 00:40:30,117
(Derek) Okay, and back

989
00:40:30,117 --> 00:40:31,873
to what we've talked about earlier,

990
00:40:31,873 --> 00:40:32,827
that list of names,

991
00:40:32,827 --> 00:40:34,737
and then it said, "and the..."?

992
00:40:34,737 --> 00:40:36,093
"Rest of the people," right?

993
00:40:36,093 --> 00:40:39,603
So it became a total commitment.

994
00:40:39,603 --> 00:40:42,669
But leadership is not unimportant, is it?

995
00:40:42,669 --> 00:40:44,357
That can have an influence.

996
00:40:44,357 --> 00:40:45,938
Well, let's talk about some

997
00:40:45,938 --> 00:40:47,240
of the promises now.

998
00:40:47,240 --> 00:40:49,417
We'll go back to Ezra and Nehemiah's time.

999
00:40:49,417 --> 00:40:50,368
They said, "We need

1000
00:40:50,368 --> 00:40:52,108
to renew our covenant with God."

1001
00:40:52,108 --> 00:40:53,191
Let's look at some

1002
00:40:53,191 --> 00:40:56,431
of the promises that they made.

1003
00:40:56,431 --> 00:40:57,791
John, would you read for us

1004
00:40:57,791 --> 00:40:59,733
in Nehemiah, chapter 10,

1005
00:40:59,733 --> 00:41:04,730
beginning with verse 29 through verse 38.

1006
00:41:04,730 --> 00:41:07,956
And while John reads that, are they

1007
00:41:07,956 --> 00:41:11,225
getting the most important things here?

1008
00:41:11,225 --> 00:41:15,227
Maybe what is <i>the</i> most important promise
that we make,

1009
00:41:15,227 --> 00:41:17,191
let's think about that.

1010
00:41:17,191 --> 00:41:19,781
But let's hear how they respond now.

1011
00:41:19,781 --> 00:41:22,878
They're renewing their covenant with God.

1012
00:41:22,878 --> 00:41:25,269
(John) From the New King James Version,
it says:

1013
00:43:36,535 --> 00:43:40,902
(Derek) So, that seems like
a lot of details, yes?

1014
00:43:40,902 --> 00:43:46,615
But it's all part of a ceremonial system

1015
00:43:46,615 --> 00:43:49,875
which points to what?

1016
00:43:49,875 --> 00:43:51,235
(Brittany) The Lamb of God.

1017
00:43:51,235 --> 00:43:53,134
(Derek) To the Lamb of God who's coming

1018
00:43:53,134 --> 00:43:56,347
and reflects the immeasurable
and unfailing love of God.

1019
00:43:56,347 --> 00:43:59,543
If, when we're doing all of that,

1020
00:43:59,543 --> 00:44:05,041
we don't forget what it's pointing to

1021
00:44:05,041 --> 00:44:06,084
and that God wants

1022
00:44:06,084 --> 00:44:08,100
what kind of relationship with us?

1023
00:44:08,100 --> 00:44:09,143
(Team) Intimate.

1024
00:44:09,143 --> 00:44:15,258
(Derek) An intimate, loving, personal
relationship with us, then it's okay.

1025
00:44:15,258 --> 00:44:18,241
If we lose sight of that,

1026
00:44:18,241 --> 00:44:21,141
then we're in trouble, right?

1027
00:44:21,141 --> 00:44:22,268
Could that happen

1028
00:44:22,268 --> 00:44:26,340
even in the twenty-first century?

1029
00:44:26,340 --> 00:44:27,805
You know, we don't bring lambs

1030
00:44:27,805 --> 00:44:29,504
and have grain offerings, right?

1031
00:44:29,504 --> 00:44:31,444
We typically, when we come to worship,

1032
00:44:31,444 --> 00:44:32,929
what are some things that we do

1033
00:44:32,929 --> 00:44:34,221
when we come to worship?

1034
00:44:34,221 --> 00:44:35,232
(Team) Praise. Sing.

1035
00:44:35,232 --> 00:44:37,202
(Derek) We sing praise to God and we...?

1036
00:44:37,202 --> 00:44:38,151
(Team Member) Pray.

1037
00:44:38,151 --> 00:44:39,577
(Derek) And we pray, and...?

1038
00:44:39,577 --> 00:44:40,750
(Nicole) Read the Bible.

1039
00:44:40,750 --> 00:44:42,165
(Team Member) Give offering.

1040
00:44:42,165 --> 00:44:44,962
(Derek) We give offerings, that's right;
We read the Bible.

1041
00:44:44,962 --> 00:44:45,960
We listen to someone

1042
00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:49,256
teaching from the Scriptures, right?

1043
00:44:49,256 --> 00:44:52,178
So there are things that we do,

1044
00:44:52,178 --> 00:44:55,424
but we always need to remember

1045
00:44:55,424 --> 00:44:57,938
when we come that it's all about what?

1046
00:44:57,938 --> 00:44:58,730
(Team) Jesus.

1047
00:44:58,730 --> 00:45:00,346
(Derek) It's all about God

1048
00:45:00,346 --> 00:45:02,101
who loves us with a...?

1049
00:45:02,101 --> 00:45:05,022
An immeasurable and unfailing love,
wanting a...?

1050
00:45:05,022 --> 00:45:06,011
(Team) Relationship.

1051
00:45:06,011 --> 00:45:07,522
(Derek) A relationship with us.

1052
00:45:07,522 --> 00:45:09,314
And, of course, as someone mentioned,

1053
00:45:09,314 --> 00:45:12,149
He showed that most vividly
and perfectly...?

1054
00:45:12,149 --> 00:45:13,276
(Team) At the cross.

1055
00:45:13,276 --> 00:45:15,040
(Derek) Through the coming of Jesus,

1056
00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:17,024
who lived, died on the cross,

1057
00:45:17,024 --> 00:45:19,048
rose again the third day,

1058
00:45:19,048 --> 00:45:20,687
and has ascended to Heaven.

1059
00:45:20,687 --> 00:45:22,354
He's ministering there

1060
00:45:22,354 --> 00:45:23,624
in the heavenly sanctuary,

1061
00:45:23,624 --> 00:45:25,024
and He's coming back soon.

1062
00:45:25,024 --> 00:45:25,728
(Team) Amen!

1063
00:45:25,728 --> 00:45:27,790
(Derek) We forget that if we think,

1064
00:45:27,790 --> 00:45:31,608
"I went to church this week, did you?"

1065
00:45:31,608 --> 00:45:36,308
We could miss the whole point, right?

1066
00:45:36,308 --> 00:45:37,699
Promises are not bad.

1067
00:45:37,699 --> 00:45:39,309
The Bible does tell us

1068
00:45:39,309 --> 00:45:40,287
we should be careful

1069
00:45:40,287 --> 00:45:42,377
about making promises to God.

1070
00:45:42,377 --> 00:45:44,432
And so I'm going to read that,

1071
00:45:44,432 --> 00:45:46,802
have someone read it from Ecclesiastes 5,

1072
00:45:46,802 --> 00:45:49,566
and then I have an important question
for you, and that is,

1073
00:45:49,566 --> 00:45:51,473
what is the most important promise

1074
00:45:51,473 --> 00:45:54,893
anyone can ever make to God? Okay?

1075
00:45:54,893 --> 00:45:57,464
But let's look first in Ecclesiastes,

1076
00:45:57,464 --> 00:45:59,706
which basically says, "Don't be careless

1077
00:45:59,706 --> 00:46:02,294
in making promises to God."

1078
00:46:02,294 --> 00:46:06,013
Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, and, Adison,

1079
00:46:06,013 --> 00:46:08,610
could you read the first five verses,

1080
00:46:08,610 --> 00:46:10,561
Ecclesiastes 5:1-5?

1081
00:46:10,561 --> 00:46:11,926
(Adison) And I'll be reading

1082
00:46:11,926 --> 00:46:13,580
from the King James Version:

1083
00:47:03,940 --> 00:47:07,400
(Derek) So, what's the sacrifice of fools?

1084
00:47:10,050 --> 00:47:13,548
Making rash promises

1085
00:47:13,548 --> 00:47:16,035
without any intention of keeping them.

1086
00:47:16,035 --> 00:47:19,193
Better not to say anything, right?

1087
00:47:19,193 --> 00:47:21,639
So, we don't want to be careless,

1088
00:47:21,639 --> 00:47:24,187
but there's at least one promise

1089
00:47:24,187 --> 00:47:28,027
that God really wants us to make.

1090
00:47:28,027 --> 00:47:31,632
What's the most important promise

1091
00:47:31,632 --> 00:47:34,378
He wants us to make to Him?

1092
00:47:34,378 --> 00:47:35,488
I don't know; is there

1093
00:47:35,488 --> 00:47:37,216
a right answer to that?

1094
00:47:37,216 --> 00:47:39,929
Or most important decision, I don't know.

1095
00:47:39,929 --> 00:47:41,444
What do you think, Brittany?

1096
00:47:41,444 --> 00:47:42,918
(Brittany) I think He wants us

1097
00:47:42,918 --> 00:47:44,230
to give Him our whole heart

1098
00:47:44,230 --> 00:47:46,655
and to promise to give it to Him every day

1099
00:47:46,655 --> 00:47:48,173
the rest of our lives.

1100
00:47:48,173 --> 00:47:49,990
(Derek) Can we do that?

1101
00:47:49,990 --> 00:47:53,059
(Brittany) Only with His help.

1102
00:47:53,059 --> 00:47:54,290
(Derek) Or can I promise

1103
00:47:54,290 --> 00:47:55,721
to at least allow Him

1104
00:47:55,721 --> 00:47:57,828
to enable me to do that?

1105
00:47:57,828 --> 00:47:58,698
(Team) Yes.

1106
00:47:58,698 --> 00:48:00,249
(Derek) You know, isn't there...

1107
00:48:00,249 --> 00:48:01,226
I remember a prayer,

1108
00:48:01,226 --> 00:48:08,054
"Take my heart, I cannot give it,"
you know?

1109
00:48:08,054 --> 00:48:09,162
(Adison) Keep it pure.

1110
00:48:09,162 --> 00:48:10,477
(Derek) Yeah, keep it pure.

1111
00:48:10,477 --> 00:48:16,605
I mean, it's like, "God, here I am.

1112
00:48:16,605 --> 00:48:18,112
I promise to be..."?

1113
00:48:18,112 --> 00:48:19,057
(Team) Willing.

1114
00:48:19,057 --> 00:48:22,171
(Derek) Willing. "I promise to be..."?

1115
00:48:22,171 --> 00:48:24,122
(Derek, Team) Open.

1116
00:48:24,122 --> 00:48:26,629
(Derek) "...to Your immeasurable
and unfailing love.

1117
00:48:26,629 --> 00:48:28,354
Your covenant with me.

1118
00:48:28,354 --> 00:48:30,127
You know me, God,"

1119
00:48:30,127 --> 00:48:33,274
but can I promise that, "I will,

1120
00:48:33,274 --> 00:48:36,801
by Your grace, never close myself
up to You"?

1121
00:48:36,801 --> 00:48:38,703
Yeah, "I promise to be open to You,"

1122
00:48:38,703 --> 00:48:40,568
most important promise.

1123
00:48:40,568 --> 00:48:44,003
Can anybody think, either of that promise,

1124
00:48:44,003 --> 00:48:45,040
a time when you made

1125
00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:46,172
that promise to God,

1126
00:48:46,172 --> 00:48:49,686
or an important promise you made to God?

1127
00:48:49,686 --> 00:48:50,908
Anybody think of a time

1128
00:48:50,908 --> 00:48:54,674
you made an important promise? Travis?

1129
00:48:54,674 --> 00:48:56,492
(Travis) Yeah, it was a few years ago.

1130
00:48:56,492 --> 00:49:00,113
I was in a tree reading a book...

1131
00:49:00,113 --> 00:49:02,288
(Derek) What were you doing
in a tree, Travis?

1132
00:49:02,288 --> 00:49:03,567
(Travis) I was actually...

1133
00:49:03,567 --> 00:49:05,156
(Derek) You mean, like Zacchaeus?

1134
00:49:05,156 --> 00:49:06,821
(Travis) Actually that's the story

1135
00:49:06,821 --> 00:49:07,893
that got my attention

1136
00:49:07,893 --> 00:49:09,181
in the book I was reading,

1137
00:49:09,181 --> 00:49:10,647
and I realized then and there

1138
00:49:10,647 --> 00:49:14,402
that I wanted to live the rest of my life

1139
00:49:14,402 --> 00:49:16,391
in ministry, working for Jesus.

1140
00:49:16,391 --> 00:49:18,194
And I told Him, that's what I'll do.

1141
00:49:18,194 --> 00:49:21,596
And I've had bumps along the way,
but still going.

1142
00:49:21,596 --> 00:49:24,257
(Derek) So, that promise was to just say,

1143
00:49:24,257 --> 00:49:26,442
"God, take my heart,

1144
00:49:26,442 --> 00:49:27,671
I cannot give it."

1145
00:49:27,671 --> 00:49:29,630
I mean, "Here I am.

1146
00:49:29,630 --> 00:49:33,333
I give myself to You; hold onto Me."

1147
00:49:33,333 --> 00:49:35,430
Bumps along the way.

1148
00:49:35,430 --> 00:49:37,623
Anybody else have a testimony?

1149
00:49:37,623 --> 00:49:38,789
Jason and then John.

1150
00:49:38,789 --> 00:49:39,969
(Jason) Towards the end

1151
00:49:39,969 --> 00:49:41,408
of my collegiate experience,

1152
00:49:41,408 --> 00:49:42,712
I was trying to figure out

1153
00:49:42,712 --> 00:49:43,982
where I should go in life,

1154
00:49:43,982 --> 00:49:44,978
and I was struggling

1155
00:49:44,978 --> 00:49:47,055
with different opportunities and paths.

1156
00:49:47,055 --> 00:49:48,907
And during that time,

1157
00:49:48,907 --> 00:49:50,687
I had a conversation with God,

1158
00:49:50,687 --> 00:49:52,259
and the conclusion of it was,

1159
00:49:52,259 --> 00:49:53,945
"All right, Lord, I promise

1160
00:49:53,945 --> 00:49:56,601
that whatever direction You show me,

1161
00:49:56,601 --> 00:49:58,400
I'm going to go; do You want me

1162
00:49:58,400 --> 00:49:59,564
to go to this school?

1163
00:49:59,564 --> 00:50:01,215
Do you want me to go to this job?"

1164
00:50:01,215 --> 00:50:02,728
And He ended up sending me

1165
00:50:02,728 --> 00:50:05,450
to be a student missionary for a year

1166
00:50:05,450 --> 00:50:07,071
before sending me on a career,

1167
00:50:07,071 --> 00:50:09,627
and I know I needed to make that promise.

1168
00:50:09,627 --> 00:50:11,418
I needed to open myself to God's will

1169
00:50:11,418 --> 00:50:12,542
so that He could put me

1170
00:50:12,542 --> 00:50:13,777
where He wanted to put me

1171
00:50:13,777 --> 00:50:16,209
along the path that He had for my life.

1172
00:50:16,209 --> 00:50:18,018
(Derek) And maybe you hadn't thought

1173
00:50:18,018 --> 00:50:19,982
about the student missionary for a year,

1174
00:50:19,982 --> 00:50:22,141
but God says, "As part of the plan,

1175
00:50:22,141 --> 00:50:23,710
I need you to go here,"

1176
00:50:23,710 --> 00:50:25,074
which was where, by the way?

1177
00:50:25,074 --> 00:50:26,572
(Jason) In Central America.

1178
00:50:26,572 --> 00:50:28,891
(Derek) In Central America.
All right. John.

1179
00:50:28,891 --> 00:50:30,677
(John) In 2013 my wife

1180
00:50:30,677 --> 00:50:32,487
was involved in an accident

1181
00:50:32,487 --> 00:50:33,837
while she was jogging.

1182
00:50:33,837 --> 00:50:36,017
A vehicle struck her from behind.

1183
00:50:36,017 --> 00:50:37,933
She had been life-flighted

1184
00:50:37,933 --> 00:50:39,906
to the nearest trauma center.

1185
00:50:39,906 --> 00:50:41,516
A policeman showed up at my door

1186
00:50:41,516 --> 00:50:43,065
with the police chaplain

1187
00:50:43,065 --> 00:50:44,409
and told me about it.

1188
00:50:44,409 --> 00:50:47,636
And during the hour-and-a-half drive
to the hospital,

1189
00:50:47,636 --> 00:50:49,160
not knowing her condition

1190
00:50:49,160 --> 00:50:52,450
other than she was flown,

1191
00:50:52,450 --> 00:50:53,494
and all these things

1192
00:50:53,494 --> 00:50:54,925
going through my mind,

1193
00:50:54,925 --> 00:50:56,280
I had made a promise to God

1194
00:50:56,280 --> 00:50:58,625
that I will never doubt

1195
00:50:58,625 --> 00:51:00,210
His goodness and love,

1196
00:51:00,210 --> 00:51:02,287
regardless of the outcome.

1197
00:51:02,287 --> 00:51:03,579
The promise was, "I'm going

1198
00:51:03,579 --> 00:51:06,000
to serve You still."

1199
00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:07,329
And I can praise God

1200
00:51:07,329 --> 00:51:10,207
that she's restored fully,

1201
00:51:10,207 --> 00:51:13,423
but I was going to serve God regardless.

1202
00:51:13,423 --> 00:51:17,991
(Derek) Powerful.

1203
00:51:17,991 --> 00:51:21,962
That's a Holy-Spirit-enabled promise,

1204
00:51:21,962 --> 00:51:24,622
right, because the enemy says,

1205
00:51:24,622 --> 00:51:27,629
"Curse God and die."

1206
00:51:27,629 --> 00:51:29,464
But, "No, I will trust You still."

1207
00:51:29,464 --> 00:51:31,413
That's kind of Job, isn't it?

1208
00:51:31,413 --> 00:51:32,627
"No matter what happens,

1209
00:51:32,627 --> 00:51:34,854
I'll trust in You."

1210
00:51:34,854 --> 00:51:36,078
Well, God wants us

1211
00:51:36,078 --> 00:51:38,368
to enter into that promise.

1212
00:51:38,368 --> 00:51:39,223
What do you do...

1213
00:51:39,223 --> 00:51:40,547
Maybe someone comes to you,

1214
00:51:40,547 --> 00:51:42,141
and we don't have a lot of time,

1215
00:51:42,141 --> 00:51:43,395
you're just going to have

1216
00:51:43,395 --> 00:51:44,604
to quote the text for me,

1217
00:51:44,604 --> 00:51:46,619
someone comes to you and says, "Derek,

1218
00:51:46,619 --> 00:51:48,885
I made that promise up in the tree,

1219
00:51:48,885 --> 00:51:51,226
but I had a bump along the way,

1220
00:51:51,226 --> 00:51:53,005
and I feel like I broke my promise.

1221
00:51:53,005 --> 00:51:56,637
I went out and I did something stupid

1222
00:51:56,637 --> 00:51:58,077
after I had made a promise.

1223
00:51:58,077 --> 00:52:01,434
I just wanted to follow Jesus
no matter what."

1224
00:52:01,434 --> 00:52:04,046
What would you say to that friend

1225
00:52:04,046 --> 00:52:05,466
if she came to you and said,

1226
00:52:05,466 --> 00:52:09,575
"I guess it didn't work out
for me," Brittany?

1227
00:52:09,575 --> 00:52:11,585
(Brittany) I think about the story
of Peter

1228
00:52:11,585 --> 00:52:12,532
and how he promised

1229
00:52:12,532 --> 00:52:13,997
he would never leave Christ,

1230
00:52:13,997 --> 00:52:17,440
and then Jesus said to him,
"I'll pray for you,

1231
00:52:17,440 --> 00:52:19,772
that even after your faith fails you,

1232
00:52:19,772 --> 00:52:21,991
that you will come and return to Me."

1233
00:52:21,991 --> 00:52:24,188
And Jesus said that to Him

1234
00:52:24,188 --> 00:52:26,057
even before he failed.

1235
00:52:26,057 --> 00:52:27,785
He said, "I'll be praying for you."

1236
00:52:27,785 --> 00:52:29,010
And so that's something

1237
00:52:29,010 --> 00:52:31,106
that we can remember.

1238
00:52:31,106 --> 00:52:32,930
Jesus knows when we're going to fail;

1239
00:52:32,930 --> 00:52:36,114
He knows when we're going to stumble,
but He's still praying for us.

1240
00:52:36,114 --> 00:52:39,653
He knows that we'll come back; He's giving
us the opportunity to come back.

1241
00:52:39,653 --> 00:52:41,343
(Derek) So there are stories,

1242
00:52:41,343 --> 00:52:43,586
there are promises.

1243
00:52:43,586 --> 00:52:45,220
Someone else in the Scripture

1244
00:52:45,220 --> 00:52:46,672
that gives us hope? Gladys?

1245
00:52:46,672 --> 00:52:48,562
(Gladys) Yes, I love the story of David

1246
00:52:48,562 --> 00:52:51,992
when he fell, and in Psalm 51

1247
00:52:51,992 --> 00:52:55,566
he said, "A broken and contrite heart,

1248
00:52:55,566 --> 00:52:56,990
You will not despise."

1249
00:52:56,990 --> 00:52:59,712
So even when we fail, God doesn't.

1250
00:52:59,712 --> 00:53:01,092
(Derek) I love those words

1251
00:53:01,092 --> 00:53:03,376
in Psalm 51, verse 10,

1252
00:53:03,376 --> 00:53:06,221
"Create in me a clean heart, O God;

1253
00:53:06,221 --> 00:53:09,889
and renew a right spirit within me.

1254
00:53:09,889 --> 00:53:11,763
Do not cast me away from Your presence,

1255
00:53:11,763 --> 00:53:14,435
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

1256
00:53:14,435 --> 00:53:16,049
Restore to me..."

1257
00:53:16,049 --> 00:53:18,197
(Derek, Team) "... the joy
of Your salvation."

1258
00:53:18,197 --> 00:53:19,527
(Derek) So it's coming back

1259
00:53:19,527 --> 00:53:21,053
into that intimate relationship

1260
00:53:21,053 --> 00:53:23,005
with a God who loves us how?

1261
00:53:23,005 --> 00:53:25,914
With an immeasurable and unfailing love.

1262
00:53:25,914 --> 00:53:29,252
You know, we cannot fail when we fall

1263
00:53:29,252 --> 00:53:32,931
into the arms of a loving Savior;
we can't.

1264
00:53:32,931 --> 00:53:34,958
There's one last thought in our study.

1265
00:53:34,958 --> 00:53:36,932
We've just got a couple of minutes left.

1266
00:53:36,932 --> 00:53:39,636
Did you notice, talking about caring

1267
00:53:39,636 --> 00:53:40,798
for the house of God.

1268
00:53:40,798 --> 00:53:44,350
Go back to Nehemiah 10 and verse 39,

1269
00:53:44,350 --> 00:53:47,728
at the end of this renewing
of the covenant.

1270
00:53:47,728 --> 00:53:54,739
Nehemiah makes this interesting record

1271
00:53:54,739 --> 00:53:57,051
in chapter 10, Nehemiah,

1272
00:53:57,051 --> 00:53:59,527
chapter 10, and verse 39.

1273
00:53:59,527 --> 00:54:01,778
Brittany, would you read
that verse for us?

1274
00:54:01,778 --> 00:54:03,038
(Brittany) I'll be reading

1275
00:54:03,038 --> 00:54:04,582
from the New King James Version,

1276
00:54:04,582 --> 00:54:07,465
Nehemiah, chapter 10 and verse 39:

1277
00:54:28,100 --> 00:54:32,591
(Derek) Why is that last phrase
so important?

1278
00:54:32,591 --> 00:54:34,859
Why is it important today, too,

1279
00:54:34,859 --> 00:54:36,089
but let's go back there,

1280
00:54:36,089 --> 00:54:37,789
"We will not neglect

1281
00:54:37,789 --> 00:54:39,576
the house of our God"?

1282
00:54:39,576 --> 00:54:41,031
Why is that important?

1283
00:54:41,031 --> 00:54:45,015
God doesn't need that house, or does He?

1284
00:54:45,015 --> 00:54:46,870
Why is it important that they said,

1285
00:54:46,870 --> 00:54:48,177
"We're not going to neglect

1286
00:54:48,177 --> 00:54:49,264
the house of our God"?

1287
00:54:49,264 --> 00:54:50,701
Short answer, Travis.

1288
00:54:50,701 --> 00:54:51,935
(Travis) Because that was

1289
00:54:51,935 --> 00:54:53,275
the picture of salvation

1290
00:54:53,275 --> 00:54:54,986
of the land that was going to be...

1291
00:54:54,986 --> 00:54:56,957
(Derek) That is telling the story

1292
00:54:56,957 --> 00:54:58,277
about a God who loves us

1293
00:54:58,277 --> 00:55:00,719
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

1294
00:55:00,719 --> 00:55:03,094
Hyperspace forward to our time.

1295
00:55:03,094 --> 00:55:05,432
What does that mean for us today?

1296
00:55:05,432 --> 00:55:08,346
We'd say, "Okay, we're followers of Jesus,

1297
00:55:08,346 --> 00:55:09,908
preparing for His soon return."

1298
00:55:09,908 --> 00:55:11,319
How many does Jesus

1299
00:55:11,319 --> 00:55:12,876
want to be saved in His Kingdom?

1300
00:55:12,876 --> 00:55:13,717
(Team) All.

1301
00:55:13,717 --> 00:55:15,116
(Derek) "We will not neglect

1302
00:55:15,116 --> 00:55:16,209
the house of our God."

1303
00:55:16,209 --> 00:55:17,165
What does that mean

1304
00:55:17,165 --> 00:55:19,088
for us today? Stephanie?

1305
00:55:19,088 --> 00:55:21,018
(Stephanie) I think it means showing up

1306
00:55:21,018 --> 00:55:22,380
and being presently active.

1307
00:55:22,380 --> 00:55:23,687
(Derek) Okay, so you'd say

1308
00:55:23,687 --> 00:55:25,801
it's very physical, actually going

1309
00:55:25,801 --> 00:55:27,728
and being active in what?

1310
00:55:27,728 --> 00:55:28,994
(Stephanie) In ministry.

1311
00:55:28,994 --> 00:55:29,898
(Derek) In, in...?

1312
00:55:29,898 --> 00:55:31,798
(Stephanie) The ministry of the church.

1313
00:55:31,798 --> 00:55:34,652
(Derek) In the ministry of the church,
which is what, Harold?

1314
00:55:34,652 --> 00:55:36,355
What is the ministry of the church?

1315
00:55:36,355 --> 00:55:37,817
(Harold) To share the gospel.

1316
00:55:37,817 --> 00:55:39,277
(Derek) That's right, to share

1317
00:55:39,277 --> 00:55:41,116
the good news about a God who loves us

1318
00:55:41,116 --> 00:55:43,038
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

1319
00:55:43,038 --> 00:55:46,012
Now, back then it took sacrifice, right?

1320
00:55:46,012 --> 00:55:47,264
They brought their tithes;

1321
00:55:47,264 --> 00:55:48,683
they brought their offerings.

1322
00:55:48,683 --> 00:55:50,411
Does it require sacrifice today?

1323
00:55:50,411 --> 00:55:51,139
(Team) Yes!

1324
00:55:51,139 --> 00:55:52,890
(Derek) What kind of sacrifices?

1325
00:55:52,890 --> 00:55:54,500
(Team Member) A living sacrifice.

1326
00:55:54,500 --> 00:55:55,757
(Derek) A living sacrifice

1327
00:55:55,757 --> 00:55:57,107
because, actually, while God

1328
00:55:57,107 --> 00:55:59,157
does want us to return our faithful tithes

1329
00:55:59,157 --> 00:56:02,387
and to honor Him with praise and prayer,

1330
00:56:02,387 --> 00:56:04,833
what He wants more than anything is...?

1331
00:56:04,833 --> 00:56:05,864
(Team) Our hearts.

1332
00:56:05,864 --> 00:56:07,295
(Derek) He wants us,

1333
00:56:07,295 --> 00:56:10,218
that living sacrifice that will love Him

1334
00:56:10,218 --> 00:56:11,359
with all of our hearts

1335
00:56:11,359 --> 00:56:13,054
and will go out and...?

1336
00:56:13,054 --> 00:56:14,510
(Team) Share...

1337
00:56:14,510 --> 00:56:15,805
(Derek) Share the good news

1338
00:56:15,805 --> 00:56:16,983
about a God who loves us

1339
00:56:16,983 --> 00:56:19,234
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

1340
00:56:19,234 --> 00:56:21,285
What we'll discover

1341
00:56:21,285 --> 00:56:25,289
is that when we do that,

1342
00:56:25,289 --> 00:56:26,485
out of the context

1343
00:56:26,485 --> 00:56:29,600
of an intimate relationship with God,

1344
00:56:29,600 --> 00:56:30,982
what's going to happen

1345
00:56:30,982 --> 00:56:33,106
when we go out to share with people

1346
00:56:33,106 --> 00:56:35,310
about a God who loves <i>them?</i>

1347
00:56:35,310 --> 00:56:36,589
Out of the context

1348
00:56:36,589 --> 00:56:38,599
of a life-changing relationship with God,

1349
00:56:38,599 --> 00:56:39,936
what's going to happen?

1350
00:56:39,936 --> 00:56:41,136
(Team) We'll be changed.

1351
00:56:41,136 --> 00:56:43,494
(Derek) It's going to change lives,
including...?

1352
00:56:43,494 --> 00:56:44,492
(Team) Ours.

1353
00:56:44,492 --> 00:56:45,547
(Derek) That's right.

1354
00:56:45,547 --> 00:56:49,277
You know, when God asks us
to do something,

1355
00:56:49,277 --> 00:56:51,021
it's not just because He

1356
00:56:51,021 --> 00:56:52,910
can't find anybody else.

1357
00:56:52,910 --> 00:56:54,814
He could ask angels,

1358
00:56:54,814 --> 00:56:56,719
but He wants us to experience

1359
00:56:56,719 --> 00:56:58,668
his immeasurable and unfailing love

1360
00:56:58,668 --> 00:57:01,844
as we join Him in His harvest work.

1361
00:57:01,844 --> 00:57:04,451
We will not let it be said of us

1362
00:57:04,451 --> 00:57:05,938
in this last generation,

1363
00:57:05,938 --> 00:57:09,135
we will not neglect the house of our God.

1364
00:57:09,135 --> 00:57:12,022
And that covenant that <i>He</i> initiated,

1365
00:57:12,022 --> 00:57:13,972
that He will put His love

1366
00:57:13,972 --> 00:57:15,495
in our hearts, right,

1367
00:57:15,495 --> 00:57:16,825
His law in our hearts,

1368
00:57:16,825 --> 00:57:20,357
embrace us in an intimate,
life-changing relationship.

1369
00:57:20,357 --> 00:57:21,580
Do you want that today?

1370
00:57:21,580 --> 00:57:24,573
Every day that's a choice we can make.

1371
00:57:24,573 --> 00:57:27,690
Every day, "Lord, I'm here, open to You."

1372
00:57:27,690 --> 00:57:29,325
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,

1373
00:57:29,325 --> 00:57:31,309
let that be each of our prayers,

1374
00:57:31,309 --> 00:57:33,111
that we may see clearer

1375
00:57:33,111 --> 00:57:35,127
and yet clearer revelations

1376
00:57:35,127 --> 00:57:37,994
of your immeasurable and unfailing love,

1377
00:57:37,994 --> 00:57:40,473
and that through us that love

1378
00:57:40,473 --> 00:57:43,049
would be revealed to those around us.

1379
00:57:43,049 --> 00:57:45,716
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

1380
00:57:45,716 --> 00:57:47,001
(Team) Amen.

1381
00:57:47,001 --> 00:57:49,895
(Derek) Someone else needs to konw

1382
00:57:49,895 --> 00:57:51,840
that God loves her

1383
00:57:51,840 --> 00:57:53,930
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

1384
00:57:53,930 --> 00:57:55,935
Someone else, maybe that you work with,

1385
00:57:55,935 --> 00:57:57,958
needs to know that God loves him

1386
00:57:57,958 --> 00:58:00,099
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

1387
00:58:00,099 --> 00:58:02,881
Take that good news and be a blessing

1388
00:58:02,881 --> 00:58:04,155
to those around you.

1389
00:58:04,155 --> 00:58:29,185
♪ theme music ♪