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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 are coming to the close

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of a very practical series of studies

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based on the words of Jesus,

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<i>Ministering to "the Least of These":[br]to Those in Need,</i>

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our topic today, <i>To Love Mercy,</i>

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and that is so aligned

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with the heart of our loving God.

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I pray you'll be blessed,

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and it's good to be together

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and study, isn't it?

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And I'm excited because one of our team,

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Puia, is going to be teaching today.

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And it's so exciting,

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not only to have some members

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of our team who teach,

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but to know that thousands

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of people around the world

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are downloading our outline, and you're

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having an in-depth, interactive class[br]where you live.

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We would love to hear from you,

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what people are learning

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about the Word of God,

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what you're learning about sharing[br]the Word of God.

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You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org,

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and we would be happy to hear

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what God's doing in you and through you.

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Here are just a few emails

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we've received recently.

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One from Chipo in Zimbabwe,

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Chipo writes, "Hi, everybody."

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(Team) Hi!

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(Derek) "My name's Chipo,

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I'm a 17-year-old girl

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learning at a high school in Zimbabwe,

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the same school where one of your team,

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Simiso, went to school."

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Wow, we all know Simiso.

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He's not with us today, Chipo,

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but we're glad that you're studying there.

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"I look forward to watching

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Hope Sabbath School programs

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because they encourage me

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to read the Bible more

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and to memorize Bible verses,

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which I often struggle with[br]when I'm alone.

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Thanks to your program,

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I enjoy contributing

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during my own Sabbath School class

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and proving to my classmates

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that we shouldn't be embarrassed

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when we know more Bible verses

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than we do about the latest movie[br]or popular song."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) That's powerful.

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"Your testimonies give me

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great assurance that I serve

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a living and powerful God."

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(Team) Amen!

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(Derek) Well, you just encouraged us

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for our study today, Chipo.

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Thanks for writing to us from Zimbabwe.

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And you're right, the Word of God

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is more powerful than modern movies[br]or popular songs.

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Kodiah writes from Jamaica.

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Anyone from Jamaica here?

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All right, Nicole, Jamaican heritage[br]anyway, right?

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"My name's Kodiah; I'm writing[br]from Jamaica.

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I recently got introduced

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to Hope Sabbath School.

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I was so amazed and refreshed

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that there was a program

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that I could watch that would help me

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to further understand the Bible."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "With the introduction[br]of this program,

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I can now understand better

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and make application to my own life.

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I'm thrilled to share with my husband

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because we do Sabbath School together.

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We can now have a more in-depth discussion

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and the program will help both of us

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to know how to understand the Word of God.

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This platform," writes Kodiah,[br]"is remarkable,"

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and I'm looking forward

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to the ones in the future.

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Thank you, and God bless you all."

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Well, Kodiah, I'm impressed that you're...

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She's already encouraged

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her husband to watch, too.

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And you know someone,

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you're watching today

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wherever you are around the world,

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you know someone who will be blessed

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by a study of God's Word.

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The Holy Spirit's the One[br]who changes hearts,

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but we can invite people

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to be blessed through His Word.

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Manuel writes from Angola,

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and he says, "I've been watching

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this program for seven years.

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Now, I'm a member of Hope Sabbath School.

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This program has been changing my life.

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I understand the Scriptures well

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through Hope Sabbath School."

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Well, his main language in Angola

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is not English, is it?

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There are probably some tribal languages

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and Portuguese, right, in Angola.

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So we're just glad, Manuel, that you're

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part of our Hope Sabbath School family.

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Let's see, I have another note here.

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I think I mixed them all up; that's it?

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Oh, no, here are two more in my Bible.

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Here's one from a donor in Arizona

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in the United States.

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Treva, you're from Arizona, aren't you?

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Well, say a little wave to a family there.

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This person writes, "My faith,"

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they mention a mainline church,[br]"of 60 years

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has been void for a long time.

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I didn't know what was missing,

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and one day I found Hope Sabbath School,

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and I know now what I was missing.

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I was missing the Word of God."

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Is it possible to go to church each week

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and not hear the Word of God?

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"I realized it was God's Word,

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reading, studying, savoring;

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that's what was lacking in my life.

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A couple of years of regular watching

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has inspired me to seek out

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a personal Bible study group,

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which I have now found."

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And this donor sent a gift of 25 dollars

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to Hope Sabbath School.

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And, you know, we're all

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part of the miracle,

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so thank you for helping

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this donor-supported ministry.

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One last note, from Randy in Ohio

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in the United States,

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"Thank you for blessing us

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through the weekly Bible study.

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It's been a tough year for me.

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I was rushed to the hospital

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and later diagnosed

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with dead bowel syndrome

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and had emergency surgery.

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I'm still experiencing the effects[br]of that surgery.

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Then in November I was

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to have cataract surgery on my right eye

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because of a retina detachment[br]a year earlier.

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It was great; the next day[br]I was able to see.

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Then in December it became necessary

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to have surgery on the other eye,

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and during that surgery

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something went terribly wrong.

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Instead of a 10- or 15-minute surgery,

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it took an hour and a half.

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This surgery left me blind

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in my left eye, hopefully temporarily.

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So far, I've gained only 50 percent

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of my vision in my left eye,

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haven't been able to drive[br]or go to church,

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but I've been able to watch

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Hope Sabbath School."

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(Team) Amen!

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(Derek) Well, I want to tell you,

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those who wait on the Lord, I believe,[br]will renew their strength.

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And we want to be praying

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for continued healing for you, Randy.

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It's obviously a challenge, isn't it?

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But, you know, when we

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hide the Word in our hearts,

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even if we lose some sight,

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we still have the Word within us.

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And that's why we sing Scripture songs

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as theme songs for this series.

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For this series on <i>"The Least of These,"</i>

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we've got a beautiful text

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from 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 5 and 16,

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"Now may the Lord direct your hearts

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into the love of God."

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Let's sing together.

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♪ music ♪

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(Derek) Well, I'm excited

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as we study together today

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that we can direct our hearts

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into the love of God

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and to love mercy as He does.

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Puia, why don't you lead us in prayer

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as we begin our study?

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(Puia) Shall we pray?

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Our dear, loving heavenly Father,

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we come to You in the name of Jesus.

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Lord, we thank You for this opportunity

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that You have given to us today

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to study Your Word once again.

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Lord, we pray that You will be with us,

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that You speak to us

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through the Holy Spirit.

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Lord, I pray, not only

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for the Hope Sabbath School team members

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here in the studio,

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but I pray also for all

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the Hope Sabbath School members[br]around the world,

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whenever it is that they're

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watching this episode,

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or wherever it is that they're[br]watching this from.

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Lord, I pray that You will be

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with them as well.

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We thank You for Your love, and we

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pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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(Derek, Team) Amen.

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(Puia) All right, we are

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on a series of studies on the topic

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of <i>Ministering to Those in Need,</i>

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<i>"The Least of These,"</i>

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according to the teachings of Jesus,

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and today we are on lesson number 12.

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And the title of our study[br]is <i>To Love Mercy.</i>

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I want to start our study

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by reading Micah, chapter 6, verse 8.

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Jonathan, can you please read for us

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Micah, chapter 6, verse 8,

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and here we will find

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the call of God for mankind, all right?

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In this verse, we will be able to see

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what God requires of us as mankind.

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(Jonathan) Micah 6, verse 8,

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all right, I'll be reading

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from the New Living Translation:

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(Puia) Amen. So here in this verse,

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what is God requiring of us as mankind,

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or people, in your version?

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Anything that stands...

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(Stephanie) To do justly.

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(Puia) To do justly.

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(Evelyn) Walk humbly with God.

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(Puia) Walk humbly with Him, and...?

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(Team) Love mercy.

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(Puia) Love mercy, which is the title[br]of our study today.

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This is what God is asking of mankind,

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every one of us, all right?

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And, as we have seen in our study,

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in this series of studies,

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we have seen time and time again,

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that the Bible is filled

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with descriptions of God's concern

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for the poor and the oppressed people.

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And also the call is for His people

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to stand for those people.

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(Derek) That's right.

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(Puia) Yet, despite all this attention,

0:11:27.641,0:11:29.856
it is not enough; we still live

0:11:29.856,0:11:31.992
in a sinful world, right?

0:11:31.992,0:11:34.984
We still see sins and evils around us,

0:11:34.984,0:11:37.643
and those are most often portrayed -

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we can see them through poverty,

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difficulties, hardship, sickness, pain,[br]and so many more.

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And today we will study what it means

0:11:49.207,0:11:51.225
to have mercy, to love mercy,

0:11:51.225,0:11:54.927
amidst these troubles in the time[br]that we live in.

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So let's continue our study

0:11:56.835,0:11:59.021
by reading Matthew, chapter 6,

0:11:59.021,0:12:01.212
verses 25 through 33.

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Adison, if you can read for us

0:12:03.903,0:12:05.821
Matthew, chapter 6,

0:12:05.821,0:12:08.609
starting from verse 25

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down through verse 33.

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(Adison) For sure, and I'm reading

0:12:12.895,0:12:15.150
from the King James Version:

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(Puia) Amen. So, what is Jesus

0:13:43.543,0:13:44.942
telling us here in this verse

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that we just read, anything?

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(Patricia) He doesn't want us to worry.

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I notice that the word "worry"

0:13:50.581,0:13:53.298
or "worrying" is here at least four times.

0:13:53.298,0:13:54.876
He's saying, instead of worrying,

0:13:54.876,0:13:56.121
we should just have faith

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that He will provide for us what we need.

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(Puia) So we can find assurance that God

0:14:01.077,0:14:04.079
is going to take care[br]of us, right? Evelyn?

0:14:04.079,0:14:05.531
(Evelyn) I think what the Lord

0:14:05.531,0:14:07.455
is trying to tell us is that many times

0:14:07.455,0:14:10.577
we prioritize the material things[br]in our lives,

0:14:10.577,0:14:12.198
our treasures or how we're

0:14:12.198,0:14:13.830
going to prosper in life.

0:14:13.830,0:14:15.104
And God is telling us,

0:14:15.104,0:14:16.791
"You don't need to worry about that

0:14:16.791,0:14:17.841
if you seek Me first,

0:14:17.841,0:14:19.589
because I will provide for you,"

0:14:19.589,0:14:21.772
that, "I should be your priority."

0:14:21.772,0:14:23.760
That's what the Lord is telling us.

0:14:23.760,0:14:26.356
(Puia) So how should this assurance

0:14:26.356,0:14:28.507
that we have in God

0:14:28.507,0:14:31.587
change our priorities in life?

0:14:31.587,0:14:33.500
What should we prioritize first,

0:14:33.500,0:14:34.843
as you said? Yes, Treva.

0:14:34.843,0:14:36.489
(Treva) Our focus should really be

0:14:36.489,0:14:38.380
on those who are in need

0:14:38.380,0:14:40.980
because we know we have a Master,

0:14:40.980,0:14:43.145
and He's going to take care of us.

0:14:43.145,0:14:45.991
So, if we have our focus on others,

0:14:45.991,0:14:47.687
we won't be concerned about,

0:14:47.687,0:14:49.017
"What am I going to wear?"

0:14:49.017,0:14:50.201
"How am I going to eat?"

0:14:50.201,0:14:51.920
"How am I going to pay my bills?"

0:14:51.920,0:14:53.899
because our focus is on helping others.

0:14:53.899,0:14:55.838
We put on focus on that, God will bless.

0:14:55.838,0:14:57.504
(Puia) Amen. Yes, Travis.

0:14:57.505,0:14:59.275
(Travis) I think, too, in the context

0:14:59.275,0:15:00.362
of what we're studying

0:15:00.362,0:15:02.826
is that it's easy in life today to say,

0:15:02.826,0:15:04.300
"Well, I would go do that,

0:15:04.300,0:15:05.806
but I need this job,"

0:15:05.806,0:15:09.022
or, "I would go do this, but I need to..."

0:15:09.022,0:15:11.953
And God is saying, "I'll take care[br]of your needs."

0:15:11.953,0:15:14.423
You know, "Go ahead and do these things."

0:15:14.423,0:15:16.165
We often use our jobs

0:15:16.165,0:15:19.013
and the necessities we need in life

0:15:19.013,0:15:21.434
as an excuse not to go and help the poor

0:15:21.434,0:15:23.811
or to do that kind of thing.

0:15:23.811,0:15:25.989
(Puia) So the next question is,

0:15:25.989,0:15:29.564
then why is showing mercy to those in need

0:15:29.564,0:15:32.015
important for followers of Jesus?

0:15:32.015,0:15:34.218
But before we answer that, I want us

0:15:34.218,0:15:37.649
to go to Luke, chapter 6, verse 36.

0:15:37.649,0:15:40.249
And, Pedro, if you can read for us

0:15:40.249,0:15:42.249
Luke, chapter 6, verse 36.

0:15:42.249,0:15:44.787
And, after reading this verse,

0:15:44.787,0:15:46.447
we will answer the question,

0:15:46.447,0:15:48.775
why is showing mercy to those in need

0:15:48.775,0:15:52.465
important for followers of Christ?

0:15:54.135,0:15:55.271
(Pedro) I'll be reading

0:15:55.271,0:15:58.579
from the New King James Version,[br]Luke 6:36:

0:16:04.707,0:16:06.414
(Puia) All right, so what should be

0:16:06.414,0:16:08.301
the reason why this is important,

0:16:08.301,0:16:10.455
showing mercy to those in need?[br]Yes, Jonathan?

0:16:10.455,0:16:12.001
(Jonathan) To reflect the beauty

0:16:12.001,0:16:13.666
of who Christ is and how He

0:16:13.666,0:16:18.466
reflects God's compassion and mercy.

0:16:18.466,0:16:19.402
(Puia) Yes, Travis?

0:16:19.402,0:16:21.692
(Travis) We can't pay God back

0:16:21.692,0:16:23.991
for anything He's done; we can't.

0:16:23.991,0:16:25.969
I mean, the bill that He's paid for us,

0:16:25.969,0:16:27.818
there's nothing we can do.

0:16:27.818,0:16:30.278
There is one thing we can do,

0:16:30.278,0:16:32.259
and we can extend the same mercy

0:16:32.259,0:16:35.322
that He's extended to us, to others.

0:16:35.322,0:16:36.401
That's the one thing

0:16:36.401,0:16:39.601
that we can do for God.

0:16:39.601,0:16:41.171
(Derek) I honestly believe, Puia,

0:16:41.171,0:16:43.680
that that brings joy to the heart of God.

0:16:43.680,0:16:45.419
It's not like, "You ought to do that

0:16:45.419,0:16:46.809
because I expect it."

0:16:46.809,0:16:48.352
I think even as parents,

0:16:48.352,0:16:50.110
when we see our children

0:16:50.110,0:16:52.810
acting in a beautiful way,

0:16:52.810,0:16:54.462
we experience joy.

0:16:54.462,0:16:56.448
I think it brings joy to the heart of God

0:16:56.448,0:16:58.530
when He sees His mercy

0:16:58.530,0:17:01.455
extended through us.

0:17:01.455,0:17:06.146
(Puia) So, can we say that, in life,

0:17:06.146,0:17:10.673
food, clothes, money, they're important,

0:17:10.673,0:17:13.552
but they're not the most important,

0:17:13.552,0:17:15.800
or they're not the priorities

0:17:15.800,0:17:17.149
that we should have in life?

0:17:17.149,0:17:18.378
Can we say that?

0:17:18.378,0:17:19.698
(Derek, Team) Sure. Yes.

0:17:19.698,0:17:20.793
(Puia) But that means

0:17:20.793,0:17:23.051
that God called us to a higher standard

0:17:23.051,0:17:24.858
than that of the world,

0:17:24.858,0:17:26.941
and that may bring us

0:17:26.941,0:17:28.619
into situations sometimes

0:17:28.619,0:17:30.603
where our relationship

0:17:30.603,0:17:33.683
with those in power,

0:17:33.683,0:17:35.229
that may change our relationship

0:17:35.229,0:17:38.395
with those people who are oppressing[br]other people, right?

0:17:38.395,0:17:40.766
So, how should we respond[br]as Christians,

0:17:40.766,0:17:42.239
if we are in situations

0:17:42.239,0:17:44.460
where our convictions

0:17:44.460,0:17:45.519
from the Word of God

0:17:45.519,0:17:48.323
may not be in line with the policies

0:17:48.323,0:17:53.036
of the government or people in power?

0:17:53.036,0:17:56.113
Let us read Acts, chapter 5, verse 29,

0:17:56.113,0:17:57.593
to give us an idea

0:17:57.593,0:17:59.708
of how the people of God,

0:17:59.708,0:18:01.479
or at least the disciples of Jesus,

0:18:01.479,0:18:04.705
dealt with situations like that[br]in the past.

0:18:04.705,0:18:06.363
After reading this, we will

0:18:06.363,0:18:08.284
answer that question again.

0:18:08.284,0:18:10.931
So, Treva, if you can read for us,

0:18:10.931,0:18:15.336
Acts, chapter 5, verse 29.

0:18:15.336,0:18:17.602
(Treva) Acts, chapter 5, verse 29,

0:18:17.602,0:18:21.086
and I'll be reading from the New[br]King James translation:

0:18:30.508,0:18:34.706
(Puia) Before talking about that verse,

0:18:34.706,0:18:36.821
should we obey the government?

0:18:36.821,0:18:39.338
First let's answer that question.

0:18:39.338,0:18:42.586
Is government important[br]in our lives? Yes.

0:18:42.586,0:18:44.279
(Derek) There are other Bible texts

0:18:44.279,0:18:45.706
that tell us we should, right?

0:18:45.706,0:18:48.746
(Nicole) And Jesus did; He's our example.

0:18:48.746,0:18:51.074
(Evelyn) Give to Caesar[br]what belongs to Caesar.

0:18:51.074,0:18:53.165
(Puia) Yes. So then the next question is:

0:18:53.165,0:18:55.769
What if the policies of the government

0:18:55.769,0:18:56.943
or people in power

0:18:56.943,0:18:58.673
come in conflict with the teachings

0:18:58.673,0:19:00.295
of God? Yes, Adison.

0:19:00.295,0:19:02.375
(Adison) I think of the example of Daniel.

0:19:02.375,0:19:03.367
I mean, he had one

0:19:03.367,0:19:05.963
of the highest positions in Babylon,

0:19:05.963,0:19:08.757
and he did the very best job

0:19:08.757,0:19:11.089
he could possibly do.

0:19:11.089,0:19:12.476
The only time when he

0:19:12.476,0:19:14.903
would go against the decrees

0:19:14.903,0:19:16.046
or the laws of the land,

0:19:16.046,0:19:18.726
if it was going to conflict

0:19:18.726,0:19:22.366
with being obedient to the Law of God

0:19:22.366,0:19:24.420
and following his conscience.

0:19:24.420,0:19:25.770
And he was even willing

0:19:25.770,0:19:27.198
to go to the den of the lions

0:19:27.198,0:19:28.800
because he chose rather

0:19:28.800,0:19:30.822
to obey God rather than man.

0:19:30.822,0:19:32.716
(Puia) Yes. Stephanie, yes.

0:19:32.716,0:19:35.125
(Stephanie) When I think about Daniel,

0:19:35.125,0:19:38.504
and I think about how Jesus responded,

0:19:38.504,0:19:40.941
it wasn't defiantly;

0:19:40.941,0:19:42.791
it was with a humble spirit.

0:19:42.791,0:19:44.811
And I think we need to keep that in mind,

0:19:44.811,0:19:47.183
that, even though there

0:19:47.183,0:19:48.882
might be a conflict,

0:19:48.882,0:19:50.442
when we deal with that conflict,

0:19:50.442,0:19:53.173
we humbly follow God,

0:19:53.173,0:19:59.048
and we don't go to the lower plane

0:19:59.048,0:20:03.948
and be mean and rough[br]without the Spirit.

0:20:03.948,0:20:05.679
(Derek) We may also have the choice,

0:20:05.679,0:20:07.045
unlike some prisoners of war

0:20:07.045,0:20:08.789
who didn't have the choice to leave.

0:20:08.789,0:20:10.230
We may have the choice to say,

0:20:10.230,0:20:11.752
"I think I'm going to emigrate

0:20:11.752,0:20:13.244
to another country,"

0:20:13.260,0:20:15.050
because I'm thinking of friends

0:20:15.050,0:20:16.145
who, at certain times,

0:20:16.145,0:20:17.678
lived in parts of Europe,

0:20:17.678,0:20:20.159
where there was no religious freedom,

0:20:20.159,0:20:23.233
and they chose to move[br]to another country

0:20:23.233,0:20:25.082
where there was religious freedom

0:20:25.082,0:20:26.736
because they wanted their children

0:20:26.736,0:20:29.641
to be able to study the Bible[br]and to honor God.

0:20:29.641,0:20:32.003
So I don't think we always have

0:20:32.003,0:20:35.915
to get into, like, a fierce conflict.

0:20:35.915,0:20:37.833
We may say, "That's the way

0:20:37.833,0:20:40.226
they're choosing to be here,

0:20:40.226,0:20:41.291
but that's not the way

0:20:41.291,0:20:42.358
I've chosen to live."

0:20:42.358,0:20:44.436
Daniel, especially in his young life,

0:20:44.436,0:20:45.700
didn't have that choice;

0:20:45.700,0:20:47.460
he was a prisoner of war.

0:20:47.460,0:20:49.662
But we may choose, "It would be better

0:20:49.662,0:20:51.218
to live in this setting

0:20:51.218,0:20:53.142
than to stay there."

0:20:53.142,0:20:56.176
(Puia) Yes, looking at Daniel[br]that you mentioned,

0:20:56.176,0:20:57.178
looking at his story,

0:20:57.178,0:20:58.859
he stood up for people, right?

0:20:58.859,0:21:01.234
Isn't that what God calls us to,

0:21:01.234,0:21:02.711
standing up for people,

0:21:02.711,0:21:05.728
even if the policies or the rules

0:21:05.728,0:21:07.618
that the government or people in power

0:21:07.618,0:21:11.774
have put in place are to oppress[br]other people? Yes, Travis.

0:21:11.774,0:21:13.746
(Travis) I like what everyone is saying

0:21:13.746,0:21:16.309
because this brings something to my mind.

0:21:16.309,0:21:18.357
When we're faced with this kind of thing,

0:21:18.357,0:21:19.663
we can go out and protest

0:21:19.663,0:21:21.190
and make all kinds of...

0:21:21.190,0:21:23.363
But, you know, Daniel prayed,

0:21:23.363,0:21:27.983
so maybe we should "pray-test"[br]instead of protest.

0:21:27.983,0:21:29.803
Instead of making a big deal,

0:21:29.803,0:21:32.463
we can go to God with this,[br]with the problem.

0:21:32.463,0:21:33.504
(Puia) Yes, Pedro.

0:21:33.504,0:21:34.957
(Pedro) This is also, I think,

0:21:34.957,0:21:37.017
a time of witnessing,

0:21:37.017,0:21:39.254
and we're witnessing with a humble heart.

0:21:39.254,0:21:40.514
You know, we're not trying

0:21:40.514,0:21:42.353
to impose what we believe.

0:21:42.353,0:21:43.707
We're trying to share

0:21:43.707,0:21:45.235
the light of Christ,

0:21:45.235,0:21:48.408
and we do that humbly.

0:21:48.408,0:21:49.923
(Puia) Amen. Jonathan?

0:21:49.923,0:21:51.071
(Jonathan) I'm thinking,

0:21:51.071,0:21:53.051
it's kind of how the Kingdom of God is,

0:21:53.051,0:21:54.718
dances in a totally different way

0:21:54.718,0:21:56.275
than the kingdoms of this world.

0:21:56.275,0:21:58.226
Rather than by force, it's by appealing

0:21:58.226,0:21:59.501
to these leaders' hearts

0:21:59.501,0:22:01.518
and demonstrating a way of peace.

0:22:01.518,0:22:03.121
We're working for them, but we're

0:22:03.121,0:22:05.523
also standing up for truth[br]and for the poor.

0:22:05.523,0:22:07.452
So it's, yeah, "Seek ye first

0:22:07.452,0:22:08.867
the Kingdom of God,"

0:22:08.867,0:22:11.950
goes about life in a different way[br]and appeals to people.

0:22:11.950,0:22:14.440
(Puia) Amen. Can anyone share

0:22:14.440,0:22:16.455
an experience or a time

0:22:16.455,0:22:19.478
when God gave you the courage

0:22:19.478,0:22:22.207
or the power to honor Him

0:22:22.207,0:22:26.722
in a potentially compromising situation?[br]Treva?

0:22:26.722,0:22:28.636
(Treva) As a teacher,

0:22:28.636,0:22:31.758
I am constantly faced with issues

0:22:31.758,0:22:34.831
of having to do things on the Sabbath.

0:22:34.831,0:22:38.896
And recently I just received

0:22:38.896,0:22:40.622
a special certification,

0:22:40.622,0:22:42.258
but at the time I didn't know

0:22:42.258,0:22:44.025
the training for that

0:22:44.025,0:22:46.351
would take place over the Sabbath.

0:22:46.351,0:22:53.411
And I got wise counsel and prayed to God,

0:22:53.411,0:22:54.319
"What should I do?

0:22:54.319,0:22:55.950
How should I handle this?"

0:22:55.950,0:22:58.477
And He did give me the courage[br]and the strength.

0:22:58.477,0:23:01.626
And someone said it's a witnessing tool

0:23:01.626,0:23:05.549
to share my faith and humble myself.

0:23:05.549,0:23:07.637
And it all worked out

0:23:07.637,0:23:10.667
because she understood in the end

0:23:10.667,0:23:12.661
about faith and honoring that,

0:23:12.661,0:23:15.462
and accommodations were made for me.

0:23:15.462,0:23:17.192
So, as we mentioned, it doesn't have

0:23:17.192,0:23:19.680
to be a protest and be aggressive.

0:23:19.680,0:23:20.895
You can humble yourself

0:23:20.895,0:23:22.060
and share your faith

0:23:22.060,0:23:23.541
and witness at the same time.

0:23:23.541,0:23:25.694
And God will bless, and He gave me[br]the courage

0:23:25.694,0:23:27.164
because I was pretty nervous.

0:23:27.164,0:23:28.799
I thought I would have to pay back

0:23:28.799,0:23:30.731
the funding for that training,

0:23:30.731,0:23:32.029
but God blessed in the end.

0:23:32.029,0:23:33.219
(Derek, Team) Amen.

0:23:33.219,0:23:34.168
(Derek) Beautiful.

0:23:34.168,0:23:37.310
(Puia) Amen. Let us continue our study

0:23:37.310,0:23:39.045
by reading James, chapter 2,

0:23:39.045,0:23:41.773
verses 15 and 16, and, Gary,

0:23:41.773,0:23:44.492
if you can read for us

0:23:44.492,0:23:47.157
James, chapter 2, verses 15 and 16.

0:23:47.157,0:23:52.019
And we will answer the question then,

0:23:52.019,0:23:55.343
what are we called to do as Christians

0:23:55.343,0:23:58.501
in terms of helping those in need?

0:23:58.501,0:23:59.727
Is knowing the facts

0:23:59.727,0:24:00.803
that people need help,

0:24:00.803,0:24:03.267
enough or not? Gary.

0:24:03.267,0:24:04.674
(Gary) Okay, I'll be reading

0:24:04.674,0:24:09.926
from the New King James Version,[br]James 2:15-16:

0:24:30.482,0:24:34.759
(Puia) What can we learn from this verse?[br]Yes, Gary.

0:24:34.759,0:24:36.377
(Gary) We have to put our actions

0:24:36.377,0:24:39.143
where our words are, right?

0:24:39.143,0:24:41.603
So, if you see someone with a need,

0:24:41.603,0:24:43.077
and you say, "Okay, this is

0:24:43.077,0:24:44.926
the way you should go,"

0:24:44.926,0:24:47.017
well, do something about it.

0:24:47.017,0:24:48.457
(Puia) Yes. Adison?

0:24:48.457,0:24:49.689
(Adison) I was just going

0:24:49.689,0:24:51.599
to re-echo what he was saying.

0:24:51.599,0:24:54.538
As Christians, we have a privilege

0:24:54.538,0:24:57.977
to translate those words into actions.

0:24:57.977,0:24:59.783
and those powerful words of Jesus,

0:24:59.783,0:25:01.232
that counsel He gives us

0:25:01.232,0:25:04.724
in His Holy Word, we can

0:25:04.724,0:25:08.159
create actions out of those[br]and make a difference.

0:25:08.159,0:25:09.996
(Puia) I like what you said about that

0:25:09.996,0:25:11.814
by using the word "privilege."

0:25:11.814,0:25:14.673
It is an opportunity, right? Yes, Travis.

0:25:14.673,0:25:16.753
(Travis) This verse just reminds me, like,

0:25:16.753,0:25:18.438
you're a man who doesn't own a car,

0:25:18.438,0:25:19.517
and you tell somebody,

0:25:19.517,0:25:20.723
"Yeah, just take my car,"

0:25:20.723,0:25:22.129
but you just don't have one.

0:25:22.129,0:25:23.429
You're promising something

0:25:23.429,0:25:25.959
that you don't have; it's, like, empty.

0:25:25.960,0:25:29.267
(Puia) All right, so let's get[br]practical now, right?

0:25:29.267,0:25:30.961
So, what are the ways

0:25:30.961,0:25:32.977
that we can show mercy?

0:25:32.977,0:25:34.401
What are the ways that we can

0:25:34.401,0:25:36.311
put our words into action?

0:25:36.311,0:25:37.788
Let's answer that question

0:25:37.788,0:25:39.528
by first reading Leviticus.

0:25:39.528,0:25:41.273
Let's go to the Old Testament.

0:25:41.273,0:25:42.691
Let's look at some principles

0:25:42.691,0:25:45.681
that God gave back in the Old Testament.

0:25:45.685,0:25:50.895
Leviticus, chapter 25, verses 35 to 37,

0:25:50.895,0:25:54.580
and, Nicole, if you can please read for us

0:25:54.580,0:25:58.806
Leviticus, chapter 25, verses 35 to 37.

0:25:58.806,0:26:03.001
And we will look at the principles

0:26:03.001,0:26:05.009
that God gave to His people

0:26:05.009,0:26:06.851
in the Old Testament.

0:26:06.851,0:26:10.124
(Nicole) Leviticus 25, verses[br]35 through 37,

0:26:10.124,0:26:12.510
the New International Version says:

0:26:41.757,0:26:45.087
(Puia) Wow. So, what stands out for you

0:26:45.087,0:26:47.348
from that verse? Yes, Pedro.

0:26:47.348,0:26:48.750
(Pedro) There are two things

0:26:48.750,0:26:50.120
that stand out for me here.

0:26:50.120,0:26:52.161
First of all, taking care of our brethren.

0:26:52.161,0:26:53.840
Sometimes in a church environment,

0:26:53.840,0:26:55.033
we want to help others

0:26:55.033,0:26:57.142
outside of the church, which is important,

0:26:57.142,0:26:58.363
but we forgot to check

0:26:58.363,0:27:00.100
if our family members in our church

0:27:00.100,0:27:01.332
are being cared for.

0:27:01.332,0:27:02.411
And one of the things,

0:27:02.411,0:27:03.607
and that's the principle

0:27:03.607,0:27:05.501
I always took from this here,

0:27:05.501,0:27:07.073
we should not take profit

0:27:07.073,0:27:08.436
off of each other.

0:27:08.436,0:27:11.263
If we can help without expecting[br]anything in return,

0:27:11.263,0:27:13.849
without trying to get something from them,

0:27:13.849,0:27:15.811
you know, if somebody is struggling.

0:27:15.811,0:27:17.130
(Puia) Yes, Gladys?

0:27:17.130,0:27:18.856
(Gladys) Yes, what got my attention

0:27:18.856,0:27:20.340
was where it says, treat them

0:27:20.340,0:27:21.788
as a foreigner or a stranger.

0:27:21.788,0:27:22.941
And in a previous lesson

0:27:22.941,0:27:24.431
we talked about how to treat

0:27:24.431,0:27:25.716
the stranger in our midst,

0:27:25.716,0:27:28.324
that if you have a vineyard or a field,

0:27:28.324,0:27:30.823
leave out - don't pick up everything,

0:27:30.823,0:27:34.638
just leave something for the stranger,[br]and the foreigner.

0:27:34.638,0:27:36.683
So that is interesting that it's saying...

0:27:36.683,0:27:39.614
It's thinking about the people that come,

0:27:39.614,0:27:44.490
that are just part of our family,[br]like Pedro said,

0:27:44.490,0:27:46.809
about in our own churches

0:27:46.809,0:27:48.221
that may be hungry,

0:27:48.221,0:27:49.436
and we may not know.

0:27:49.436,0:27:52.446
So, providing for the people[br]in-house as well.

0:27:52.446,0:27:56.331
(Puia) Amen, amen. So, what principle

0:27:56.331,0:27:59.421
can we take from this verse

0:27:59.421,0:28:03.238
that God gave to His people?

0:28:03.238,0:28:05.008
What would be one principle

0:28:05.008,0:28:07.389
that we can take away in terms of helping

0:28:07.389,0:28:10.806
those in need? Yes, Jonathan?

0:28:10.806,0:28:12.470
(Jonathan) It reminds of the verse

0:28:12.470,0:28:14.951
where Christ says, "What good is it

0:28:14.951,0:28:16.339
if you give to those

0:28:16.339,0:28:18.022
who give back to you?"

0:28:18.022,0:28:20.713
I mean, living this way changes you

0:28:20.713,0:28:22.693
from, "How do I calculate

0:28:22.693,0:28:25.453
in order to get something for myself," no.

0:28:25.453,0:28:27.554
This is about being a blessing

0:28:27.554,0:28:30.435
to this person who has no relation to you

0:28:30.435,0:28:32.526
and may actually be hurting you[br]in some way,

0:28:32.526,0:28:34.908
but your goal is to think[br]about their needs

0:28:34.908,0:28:36.672
and to prioritize <i>them</i>.

0:28:36.672,0:28:38.087
(Puia) Yes, Derek.

0:28:38.087,0:28:40.275
(Derek) It's quite counter-cultural,

0:28:40.275,0:28:42.681
because, some people, if there is[br]shortage of food,

0:28:42.681,0:28:43.726
they put the price up

0:28:43.726,0:28:45.241
so they can make more money.

0:28:45.241,0:28:48.755
And the Bible is saying, "Don't do that.

0:28:48.755,0:28:50.802
Don't take advantage of someone."

0:28:50.802,0:28:52.420
And what I was thinking of

0:28:52.420,0:28:56.578
was the simple principle of Jesus,[br]to treat them

0:28:56.578,0:28:58.948
the way you would like to be treated.

0:28:58.948,0:29:00.043
And if you say, "Well,

0:29:00.043,0:29:01.852
if I was in that situation,

0:29:01.852,0:29:04.572
I would appreciate some mercy,"

0:29:04.572,0:29:06.442
then show mercy to them.

0:29:06.442,0:29:09.539
(Puia) Yes. Nancy, can you read for us

0:29:09.539,0:29:13.717
1 Timothy, chapter 6, verses 17 to 19?

0:29:13.717,0:29:16.231
Let's jump now to the New Testament.

0:29:16.231,0:29:17.795
We have looked at the principles

0:29:17.795,0:29:19.021
from the Old Testament.

0:29:19.021,0:29:20.615
Let's go now to the New Testament

0:29:20.615,0:29:23.302
and see what are the principles

0:29:23.302,0:29:26.017
that God gave to us,

0:29:26.017,0:29:34.414
1 Timothy, chapter 6, verses 17 to 19,[br]17 to 19.

0:29:34.414,0:29:35.818
(Nancy) Okay, and I'm reading

0:29:35.818,0:29:37.351
from the New King James Version:

0:30:06.959,0:30:09.188
(Puia) So, what does this verse

0:30:09.188,0:30:11.082
tell us about generosity

0:30:11.082,0:30:13.908
towards those in need? Anyone?

0:30:13.908,0:30:15.146
(Derek) Puia, when it was

0:30:15.146,0:30:16.387
talking about storing up,

0:30:16.387,0:30:18.043
I thought of the exact opposite,

0:30:18.043,0:30:20.526
which is the fellow that kept building[br]a bigger barn

0:30:20.526,0:30:21.852
and storing up for himself.

0:30:21.852,0:30:24.747
And here it's saying store up[br]by giving away.

0:30:24.747,0:30:25.874
Store up what?

0:30:25.874,0:30:28.677
Well, you're storing treasure in Heaven

0:30:28.677,0:30:30.990
where thieves can't break in and steal

0:30:30.990,0:30:35.074
and moth can't eat or rust corrupt, right?

0:30:35.074,0:30:36.415
But that's kind of strange

0:30:36.415,0:30:39.036
that, by giving to those in need,

0:30:39.036,0:30:42.955
we're actually storing up treasure.

0:30:42.955,0:30:46.853
(Puia) Amen. Yes, isn't it interesting,

0:30:46.853,0:30:48.283
like, as you have mentioned,

0:30:48.283,0:30:51.446
that's counter-cultural, once again.

0:30:51.446,0:30:52.949
Both in the Old Testament

0:30:52.949,0:30:54.156
and in the New Testament

0:30:54.156,0:30:56.105
we find principles in the Scripture

0:30:56.105,0:31:01.027
of God inviting us to reach out to people.

0:31:01.027,0:31:03.864
If you are rich, share your blessings.

0:31:03.864,0:31:06.397
So here we can say for this section,

0:31:06.397,0:31:09.292
that one way, out of the many ways,

0:31:09.292,0:31:12.473
one way to show mercy to those in need,

0:31:12.473,0:31:14.392
to put our words into action,

0:31:14.392,0:31:17.927
is to be generous. Amen?

0:31:17.927,0:31:19.929
So the next question is:

0:31:19.929,0:31:22.787
What are some ways to be generous

0:31:22.787,0:31:25.076
besides giving money or donating

0:31:25.076,0:31:27.055
to a certain cause? Gladys?

0:31:27.055,0:31:28.410
(Gladys) Our time, that's

0:31:28.410,0:31:30.697
the most precious thing that we have,

0:31:30.697,0:31:32.580
and we only have 24 hours a day.

0:31:32.580,0:31:35.116
Sometimes we say, "I'm too busy,"

0:31:35.116,0:31:36.668
you know, "I cannot do it."

0:31:36.668,0:31:39.017
And like Travis said, sometimes

0:31:39.017,0:31:40.624
with our jobs, we say,

0:31:40.624,0:31:42.377
"I'm too busy with my job,"

0:31:42.377,0:31:46.803
or, "I have ten kids," or "five kids[br]to take care of,"

0:31:46.803,0:31:50.532
and we put helping others aside.

0:31:50.532,0:31:52.655
But giving our time, that is a way

0:31:52.655,0:31:54.916
that we can prioritize

0:31:54.916,0:31:56.474
doing the work of God.

0:31:56.474,0:31:59.523
(Puia) So, besides money, sharing time

0:31:59.523,0:32:01.728
is one way of being generous. Yes, Pedro?

0:32:01.728,0:32:03.523
(Pedro) Sharing your skills also.

0:32:03.523,0:32:05.104
We have many talents.

0:32:05.104,0:32:08.598
At my church, I like to help people

0:32:08.598,0:32:11.769
with things I do; I like to fix cars;

0:32:11.769,0:32:13.688
I like to do handy-work at homes.

0:32:13.688,0:32:15.242
And I make myself available

0:32:15.242,0:32:16.174
to do those things

0:32:16.174,0:32:17.332
because sometimes people

0:32:17.332,0:32:18.482
don't know how to do it.

0:32:18.482,0:32:19.686
They don't have the money

0:32:19.686,0:32:20.857
to be able to fix things

0:32:20.857,0:32:22.054
that are very expensive,

0:32:22.054,0:32:25.159
which, for people who are skilled,[br]have no cost.

0:32:25.159,0:32:27.394
(Puia) So, skills. Yes, Travis.

0:32:27.394,0:32:28.988
(Travis) I think prayer.

0:32:28.988,0:32:29.872
(Puia) Prayer.

0:32:29.872,0:32:31.892
(Travis) You know, prayer is a huge tool.

0:32:31.892,0:32:33.099
And, as a matter of fact,

0:32:33.099,0:32:34.840
I don't remember where the verse is,

0:32:34.840,0:32:36.632
but I remember it saying in a verse

0:32:36.632,0:32:37.676
that not to intercede

0:32:37.676,0:32:40.532
for somebody in prayer is a sin.

0:32:40.532,0:32:42.143
Like, God says, "You need

0:32:42.143,0:32:43.242
to pray for them,"

0:32:43.242,0:32:45.339
We need to pray for people,

0:32:45.339,0:32:47.705
and I think prayer is a huge thing.

0:32:47.711,0:32:50.099
(Puia) Prayer. Yes, Treva.

0:32:50.099,0:32:53.118
(Treva) Education is very valuable

0:32:53.118,0:32:54.980
in terms of, how can you

0:32:54.980,0:32:56.957
possibly help any community

0:32:56.957,0:32:59.180
unless you know about that community?

0:32:59.180,0:33:00.359
One of the first things

0:33:00.359,0:33:01.600
we did in my church,

0:33:01.600,0:33:03.138
because we wanted to do more

0:33:03.138,0:33:05.221
in our little/small community,

0:33:05.221,0:33:06.339
is I went to the city

0:33:06.339,0:33:07.945
and got a needs assessment.

0:33:07.945,0:33:09.461
And in that needs assessment,

0:33:09.461,0:33:11.744
oh, the information was so valuable

0:33:11.744,0:33:13.614
because then we can pinpoint

0:33:13.614,0:33:15.412
what exactly the people need

0:33:15.412,0:33:16.787
and what agencies we can

0:33:16.787,0:33:19.289
work with to help them.

0:33:19.289,0:33:23.490
And so, education about your community[br]is priceless.

0:33:23.490,0:33:26.276
(Puia) Amen. So, that is an example

0:33:26.276,0:33:28.415
of how God impressed you

0:33:28.415,0:33:31.192
to reach out to others and show mercy.

0:33:31.192,0:33:32.728
Can anyone share an experience

0:33:32.728,0:33:34.784
when someone came to you

0:33:34.784,0:33:37.648
and someone showed you mercy

0:33:37.648,0:33:40.740
or through a generous spirit?

0:33:40.740,0:33:42.313
It could be time or money,

0:33:42.313,0:33:45.039
any experience where you felt blessed

0:33:45.039,0:33:48.763
by someone else? Yes, Travis.

0:33:48.763,0:33:50.190
(Travis) When I was

0:33:50.190,0:33:53.035
just starting business, 20 years old,

0:33:53.035,0:33:54.358
I had a truck break down,

0:33:54.358,0:33:57.076
and I was building my first house.

0:33:57.076,0:33:59.914
And he was such a nice man.

0:33:59.914,0:34:01.669
He knew my truck broke down,

0:34:01.669,0:34:04.089
and he took me down to the auto lot,

0:34:04.089,0:34:06.980
and he bought me a truck.

0:34:06.980,0:34:08.213
I had to pay for it,

0:34:08.213,0:34:09.943
but it would come out of the house.

0:34:09.943,0:34:11.066
And I felt embarrassed

0:34:11.066,0:34:12.972
because I'm building his house,

0:34:12.972,0:34:14.147
but I built him a home.

0:34:14.147,0:34:16.232
His name was Rick, and he's[br]passed away now,

0:34:16.232,0:34:18.185
and I never got to go back and thank him,

0:34:18.185,0:34:19.302
but for years I thought

0:34:19.302,0:34:21.362
about how generous he was

0:34:21.362,0:34:23.179
to do that for me.

0:34:23.179,0:34:24.801
It was my first home,

0:34:24.801,0:34:26.572
and it launched my career

0:34:26.572,0:34:27.702
as a home builder,

0:34:27.702,0:34:29.304
and it was just an amazing thing.

0:34:29.304,0:34:31.569
And I still remember to this day.

0:34:31.569,0:34:34.192
(Puia) That reminds me of a saying

0:34:34.192,0:34:38.146
that goes, "No man is an island," right?

0:34:38.146,0:34:41.380
We all need help; we can't survive alone.

0:34:41.380,0:34:45.226
We are created to be people of community.

0:34:45.226,0:34:47.421
We function best as human beings,

0:34:47.421,0:34:49.174
as mankind, when we work together

0:34:49.174,0:34:50.991
and help together, right?

0:34:50.991,0:34:52.879
So let's conclude this part of our study

0:34:52.879,0:34:55.569
by saying that one major way

0:34:55.569,0:34:57.765
that we can show mercy,

0:34:57.765,0:34:59.993
that we can put our words into action,

0:34:59.993,0:35:01.377
is by being generous.

0:35:01.377,0:35:03.514
It could be through money

0:35:03.514,0:35:06.194
or through time, through skills,

0:35:06.194,0:35:10.192
through prayer, through education.

0:35:10.192,0:35:12.180
But let's take it to the next level

0:35:12.180,0:35:14.946
and find another way how we can

0:35:14.946,0:35:17.368
put these words into practice.

0:35:17.368,0:35:20.999
Let's read Matthew, chapter 5, verse 9,

0:35:20.999,0:35:24.294
and we will find another way

0:35:24.294,0:35:28.182
of how we can show mercy to others.

0:35:28.182,0:35:30.532
Stephanie, can you read for us

0:35:30.532,0:35:32.813
Matthew, chapter 5, verse 9?

0:35:32.813,0:35:34.611
(Stephanie) Sure, and I'll be reading

0:35:34.611,0:35:36.103
from the King James Version:

0:35:41.903,0:35:44.370
(Puia) Amen. Before we unpack that,

0:35:44.370,0:35:45.907
let's continue reading,

0:35:45.907,0:35:48.933
Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7.

0:35:48.933,0:35:50.641
Let's go back to the Old Testament,

0:35:50.641,0:35:52.058
and after reading this,

0:35:52.070,0:35:55.612
we will unpack those two verses.

0:35:55.612,0:35:57.975
Gary, can you kindly read for us

0:35:57.975,0:36:00.403
Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7?

0:36:00.403,0:36:02.055
(Gary) Okay, and I'll be reading

0:36:02.055,0:36:03.873
from the New King James Version:

0:36:22.465,0:36:25.107
(Puia) So let's unpack those two verses.

0:36:25.107,0:36:27.164
What word stood out for you

0:36:27.164,0:36:31.540
in terms of showing mercy to others?[br]Yes, Jonathan?

0:36:31.540,0:36:32.691
(Jonathan) I just think

0:36:32.691,0:36:33.890
about how, in our world,

0:36:33.890,0:36:35.539
there is so much contention

0:36:35.539,0:36:38.440
over different issues in various areas

0:36:38.440,0:36:39.837
where people just aren't able

0:36:39.837,0:36:40.935
to listen to each other

0:36:40.935,0:36:43.529
or are more prone to look at and can

0:36:43.529,0:36:45.421
point out the problems of other people.

0:36:45.421,0:36:47.324
And I take this as a calling,

0:36:47.324,0:36:50.313
to say, as followers of Christ,

0:36:50.313,0:36:53.056
it's our responsibility to reach out

0:36:53.056,0:36:56.863
and to try to be the voice[br]of the other side

0:36:56.863,0:37:00.132
or to listen and seek to understand

0:37:00.132,0:37:05.216
and to build bridges of trust,

0:37:05.216,0:37:06.909
so that you can say, "Okay, there's

0:37:06.909,0:37:08.766
something good about this other person.

0:37:08.766,0:37:10.741
They're coming from their own context."

0:37:10.741,0:37:15.622
(Puia) Yes. From those two verses,

0:37:15.622,0:37:18.569
one word that summarizes[br]what you just said?

0:37:18.569,0:37:19.848
(Team) Peace.

0:37:19.848,0:37:22.742
(Puia) Peace, right? Peacemaking.[br]Yes, Stephanie.

0:37:22.742,0:37:24.682
(Stephanie) I guess what came to my mind

0:37:24.682,0:37:26.390
was Romans 5, verse 1,

0:37:26.390,0:37:29.903
where it says, well, if we can[br]go there and read that.

0:37:29.903,0:37:31.556
(Puia) Yes, you want to read that?

0:37:31.556,0:37:33.387
(Stephanie) Sure, Romans, chapter 5...

0:37:33.387,0:37:35.184
(Puia) Just give us time to go there.

0:37:35.184,0:37:37.559
Romans, chapter 5, verse 1.

0:37:37.559,0:37:39.598
(Stephanie) And it also talks about peace.

0:37:39.598,0:37:41.477
(Puia) Okay, making peace.

0:37:41.477,0:37:43.491
(Stephanie) Yes, and I'll be reading

0:37:43.491,0:37:45.282
from the King James Version:

0:37:52.405,0:37:56.873
And I took the view that this peacemaking

0:37:56.873,0:37:58.793
is bringing people to Jesus

0:37:58.793,0:38:00.413
to have that connection

0:38:00.413,0:38:02.437
and find that peace with Him.

0:38:02.437,0:38:05.606
Just like in Isaiah 52:7,

0:38:05.606,0:38:08.008
publishing peace and sharing

0:38:08.008,0:38:09.784
the gospel with those.

0:38:09.784,0:38:15.286
(Puia) Right. Wasn't the whole ministry[br]of Jesus,

0:38:15.286,0:38:18.183
the fact that He came to this earth,

0:38:18.183,0:38:20.244
to make peace, right,

0:38:20.244,0:38:23.200
to reconcile mankind with God?

0:38:23.200,0:38:24.994
So, from these two verses,

0:38:24.994,0:38:26.182
I believe we can learn

0:38:26.182,0:38:29.243
that if we are children of God,

0:38:29.243,0:38:31.444
if we are followers of Christ,

0:38:31.444,0:38:34.834
we are called to be peacemakers.[br]Yes, Derek.

0:38:34.834,0:38:36.024
(Derek) In the beatitude,

0:38:36.024,0:38:37.650
it just caught my attention, Puia,

0:38:37.650,0:38:39.116
you would think it would say,

0:38:39.116,0:38:41.482
"Blessed is the one that the peacemaker

0:38:41.482,0:38:44.650
helps to find peace," but it doesn't.

0:38:44.650,0:38:47.973
It says, "Blessed is the peacemaker."

0:38:47.973,0:38:50.410
So, what that tells me, Puia,

0:38:50.410,0:38:52.801
is that when we join God

0:38:52.801,0:38:55.716
in what He's doing, we're blessed.

0:38:55.716,0:38:56.886
Now, I believe that,

0:38:56.886,0:38:58.309
let's say there's contention,

0:38:58.309,0:39:00.340
and you help people to find peace,

0:39:00.340,0:39:02.442
or someone is separated from God,

0:39:02.442,0:39:04.335
and you help them find peace with God,

0:39:04.335,0:39:06.298
I believe they're blessed,

0:39:06.298,0:39:10.749
but this is saying <i>you're</i> blessed,[br]as the peacemaker,

0:39:10.749,0:39:12.999
when you join the Prince of Peace

0:39:12.999,0:39:14.317
in what He's doing.

0:39:14.317,0:39:16.767
(Puia) Yes. So, in bringing

0:39:16.767,0:39:19.591
that back to the title of our study,

0:39:19.591,0:39:21.826
how does your ministry

0:39:21.826,0:39:24.543
to others as a peacemaker

0:39:24.543,0:39:27.621
demonstrate your love for mercy?

0:39:27.621,0:39:29.689
How do the words "mercy"

0:39:29.689,0:39:33.603
and "peacemaking" go together?[br]Yes, Nicole.

0:39:33.603,0:39:36.455
(Nicole) If you look at the definition[br]of the word "mercy,"

0:39:36.455,0:39:37.941
it's compassion and forgiveness

0:39:37.941,0:39:40.157
for someone that you could harm.

0:39:40.157,0:39:41.596
They're under your authority,

0:39:41.596,0:39:43.276
and you could actually harm them.

0:39:43.276,0:39:44.919
And so, if you're bringing peace,

0:39:44.919,0:39:46.626
you're actually showing mercy

0:39:46.626,0:39:49.071
because you are taking away the ability

0:39:49.071,0:39:50.362
to be able to harm them

0:39:50.362,0:39:52.142
and actually putting them in a place

0:39:52.142,0:39:53.353
where they can have life.

0:39:53.353,0:39:56.192
So that's how I think the two[br]kind of relate.

0:39:56.192,0:39:58.553
(Puia) Yes, so you can't

0:39:58.553,0:40:00.487
separate the two, right?

0:40:00.487,0:40:04.299
Making peace and having mercy[br]go hand-in-hand.

0:40:04.299,0:40:05.847
Can anyone share an experience

0:40:05.847,0:40:08.745
where God gave you the opportunity

0:40:08.745,0:40:10.638
to be the peacemaker?

0:40:10.638,0:40:12.051
And any experience

0:40:12.051,0:40:14.923
that you have had of making peace?

0:40:14.923,0:40:17.088
It could be between two of your friends,

0:40:17.088,0:40:19.194
or it could be between two countries

0:40:19.194,0:40:22.784
or two schools or two institutions.

0:40:22.784,0:40:25.225
Have you had any experience? Yes, Nancy.

0:40:25.225,0:40:26.463
(Nancy) With my children.

0:40:26.463,0:40:30.470
I have two sons, and I found

0:40:30.470,0:40:32.576
that what's helpful is to listen to them.

0:40:32.576,0:40:33.987
People want to be heard,

0:40:33.987,0:40:35.732
and when you hear their perspective,

0:40:35.732,0:40:36.690
you understand more

0:40:36.690,0:40:37.962
where they're coming from.

0:40:37.962,0:40:39.373
And then they come to a place

0:40:39.373,0:40:40.815
where they can reconcile.

0:40:40.815,0:40:42.135
(Puia) Yes, so it starts

0:40:42.135,0:40:43.835
with the family. Gladys?

0:40:43.835,0:40:46.187
(Gladys) Yes, recently in my school,

0:40:46.187,0:40:47.511
there was some situation

0:40:47.511,0:40:51.503
with a teacher and another teacher.

0:40:51.503,0:40:53.535
One teacher thought that the other teacher

0:40:53.535,0:40:55.637
had said something about her,

0:40:55.637,0:40:57.765
and she was very defensive.

0:40:57.765,0:40:59.867
And it was just like the Lord

0:40:59.867,0:41:01.973
just said, "Just ask."

0:41:01.973,0:41:04.430
I said, "Have you talked to her?"

0:41:04.430,0:41:07.021
It was just a simple, "Have you[br]talked to her?

0:41:07.021,0:41:09.102
Ask her exactly...," you know,

0:41:09.102,0:41:10.369
because sometimes people

0:41:10.369,0:41:12.260
just are afraid to go straight on

0:41:12.260,0:41:15.579
and say, "Hey, I heard this;[br]is this true?"

0:41:15.579,0:41:17.735
So it was so simple, but at the same time

0:41:17.735,0:41:19.403
so profound to me, because the Lord

0:41:19.403,0:41:21.343
was just, like, speaking to me as well.

0:41:21.343,0:41:22.629
When I have a situation,

0:41:22.629,0:41:24.429
do I go first to the person

0:41:24.429,0:41:28.063
and say, "Hey, can we work this out?"

0:41:28.063,0:41:30.065
So it was just an amazing experience,

0:41:30.065,0:41:32.896
not only for her and the other teacher,

0:41:32.896,0:41:35.029
but it was also for me,

0:41:35.029,0:41:37.853
being able to ask the question

0:41:37.853,0:41:39.540
and solve the situation.

0:41:39.540,0:41:42.925
(Puia) Amen. God puts us in situations

0:41:42.925,0:41:44.134
and places where we

0:41:44.134,0:41:46.475
can be peacemakers, right?

0:41:46.475,0:41:50.106
And so we have looked at one way

0:41:50.106,0:41:54.288
of showing mercy or having mercy

0:41:54.288,0:41:56.657
by being generous, right?

0:41:56.657,0:41:58.914
And the next that we just looked at

0:41:58.914,0:42:00.780
is by being peacemakers.

0:42:00.780,0:42:02.526
Now let's go further into our lesson

0:42:02.526,0:42:04.103
and study another way

0:42:04.103,0:42:07.745
of having mercy or loving mercy.

0:42:07.745,0:42:13.524
Let us read Psalm number 146 and verse 9,

0:42:13.524,0:42:17.218
and, Jonathan, can you

0:42:17.218,0:42:22.033
please read for us Psalm 146, verse 9?

0:42:22.033,0:42:23.889
(Jonathan) All right, I'll be reading

0:42:23.889,0:42:25.582
from the New Living Translation:

0:42:37.589,0:42:40.364
(Puia) All right, before we unpack that,

0:42:40.364,0:42:42.913
let us read Isaiah, chapter 58,

0:42:42.913,0:42:46.210
verses 6 and 7, and, Treva,

0:42:46.210,0:42:47.839
if you can read for us

0:42:47.839,0:42:51.269
Isaiah 58, verses 6 and 7.

0:42:51.269,0:42:56.211
We will look at these two verses

0:42:56.211,0:42:57.356
and answer the question,

0:42:57.356,0:42:59.247
what other ways can we

0:42:59.247,0:43:01.454
show mercy to others?

0:43:01.454,0:43:03.684
Isaiah 58, verses 6 and 7.

0:43:03.684,0:43:05.000
(Treva) And I'll be reading

0:43:05.000,0:43:07.279
from the New King James translation,

0:43:07.279,0:43:08.979
starting with verse 6:

0:43:37.478,0:43:39.982
(Puia) So, looking at those two verses

0:43:39.982,0:43:41.577
that we just read,

0:43:41.577,0:43:44.269
what stands out for you?

0:43:44.269,0:43:46.124
Travis, I see you smiling.

0:43:46.124,0:43:47.311
(Travis) I've studied

0:43:47.311,0:43:48.956
this whole chapter a lot,

0:43:48.956,0:43:50.966
and there are multiple meanings

0:43:50.966,0:43:53.094
in this thing for me...First...

0:43:53.094,0:43:55.211
(Puia) But in the context[br]of our study today.

0:43:55.211,0:43:57.220
(Travis) In the context of our study today

0:43:57.220,0:43:58.847
is there are people in this world

0:43:58.847,0:44:01.158
who don't know Jesus,

0:44:01.158,0:44:04.789
and when it talks about, that we

0:44:04.789,0:44:06.856
should clothe somebody,

0:44:06.856,0:44:07.931
many are not clothed

0:44:07.931,0:44:09.823
with the righteousness of Christ.

0:44:09.823,0:44:11.306
When people are hungry,

0:44:11.306,0:44:13.241
Jesus says, "I am the bread of life."

0:44:13.241,0:44:15.165
We need to bring them the bread of life.

0:44:15.165,0:44:16.884
It's not just physical food,

0:44:16.884,0:44:19.172
but we can bring them spiritual food.

0:44:19.172,0:44:21.429
And at the end, it says,

0:44:21.429,0:44:23.773
"Don't hide yourself from your own flesh."

0:44:23.773,0:44:26.961
We, as Christians, need to be open;

0:44:26.961,0:44:29.702
we're just sinners, just like[br]everybody else,

0:44:29.702,0:44:31.456
and to hide yourself

0:44:31.456,0:44:33.657
from who you are to people,

0:44:33.657,0:44:36.650
it's basically lying.

0:44:36.650,0:44:38.538
(Puia) Yes, thank you. Nicole.

0:44:38.538,0:44:41.155
(Nicole) While I agree[br]with what Travis said,

0:44:41.155,0:44:43.567
you have to also look at the people[br]who have needs.

0:44:43.567,0:44:45.157
There are people who are hungry;

0:44:45.157,0:44:46.827
there are people who need shelter.

0:44:46.827,0:44:49.087
And just as Jesus did, He met[br]the physical needs

0:44:49.087,0:44:51.182
of the individuals He came[br]in contact with,

0:44:51.182,0:44:53.705
and then He also blessed them spiritually.

0:44:53.705,0:44:54.690
So sometimes we have

0:44:54.690,0:44:56.133
to reach people where they are

0:44:56.133,0:44:57.673
in order to get their attention,

0:44:57.673,0:44:59.506
and then we can bring them Jesus

0:44:59.506,0:45:01.609
and let them know, "Listen,[br]because of Jesus,

0:45:01.609,0:45:02.842
I was able to help you."

0:45:02.842,0:45:04.663
And that may be able to reach someone

0:45:04.663,0:45:07.085
in a way that we couldn't reach them[br]any other way.

0:45:07.096,0:45:08.675
(Puia) These are people

0:45:08.675,0:45:09.984
who need help. Yes, Gladys?

0:45:09.984,0:45:11.094
(Gladys) I was thinking

0:45:11.094,0:45:12.430
in the same vein as Nicole,

0:45:12.430,0:45:14.903
that sometime we just, like,

0:45:14.903,0:45:18.783
say to the people, "I'm going[br]to pray for you."

0:45:18.783,0:45:20.566
And we have the resources

0:45:20.566,0:45:21.920
or know the connections

0:45:21.920,0:45:23.656
or have somebody that can help them,

0:45:23.656,0:45:25.983
but we just say, "We're going[br]to pray for you,"

0:45:25.983,0:45:27.774
and we don't get involved personally.

0:45:27.774,0:45:29.039
So I think that the text

0:45:29.039,0:45:31.515
is basically telling us,

0:45:31.515,0:45:33.766
"Just go out there and do your part,

0:45:33.766,0:45:37.283
do what you can do, and God will provide."

0:45:37.283,0:45:39.224
(Puia) Yes. Patricia.

0:45:39.224,0:45:41.698
(Patricia) I noticed that the first text[br]that we read

0:45:41.698,0:45:44.626
says the Lord watches over those people,

0:45:44.626,0:45:45.818
but then the second text

0:45:45.818,0:45:50.756
is telling us, "You need to do it,"[br]I thought...

0:45:50.756,0:45:54.609
(Puia) So can we say that God is asking us

0:45:54.609,0:45:57.274
to stand up for those people,

0:45:57.274,0:46:00.709
to be the voice for the voiceless, right?

0:46:00.709,0:46:02.980
To stand up for the unjustice

0:46:02.980,0:46:04.888
that we see around us. Yes, Derek.

0:46:04.888,0:46:07.661
(Derek) I heard a story, Puia,[br]just this weekend,

0:46:07.661,0:46:09.462
and I won't share all of the details,

0:46:09.462,0:46:11.718
but it was a family

0:46:11.718,0:46:13.441
that saw another family,

0:46:13.441,0:46:15.850
that it was in great need.

0:46:15.850,0:46:17.810
The family had suffered

0:46:17.810,0:46:20.070
some trauma in an accident,

0:46:20.070,0:46:21.613
and this other family said,

0:46:21.613,0:46:23.730
"You know, our house just happens

0:46:23.730,0:46:28.640
to be a handicap-accessible house.

0:46:28.640,0:46:31.803
We have ramps; we have wide doors."

0:46:31.803,0:46:34.415
Now, that could just be a coincidence,

0:46:34.415,0:46:37.605
or it could be that even ahead of time,

0:46:37.605,0:46:40.213
God provided, and so then he

0:46:40.213,0:46:42.505
brought this family in need,

0:46:42.505,0:46:45.298
who would need wide doors and ramps.

0:46:45.298,0:46:47.012
You know what I'm saying?

0:46:47.012,0:46:48.631
So I think, when we just pray,

0:46:48.631,0:46:50.932
"God, I want to be open

0:46:50.932,0:46:53.845
to love mercy like You do today,"

0:46:53.845,0:46:55.686
that He might say, "I have someone

0:46:55.686,0:46:57.379
that needs exactly..." -

0:46:57.379,0:46:58.546
back to what Pedro said,

0:46:58.546,0:47:00.621
it may be a skill, or it may be a home

0:47:00.621,0:47:03.291
that has wide doors and ramps -

0:47:03.291,0:47:04.864
"...and I'm going to lead someone

0:47:04.864,0:47:08.311
so that you can show My love to them."

0:47:08.311,0:47:11.443
(Puia) Yes. God loves everyone,

0:47:11.443,0:47:14.660
but He wants to use us as His instrument

0:47:14.660,0:47:17.424
and His hands and feet. Yes, Nancy.

0:47:17.424,0:47:18.932
(Nancy) I have friends who have

0:47:18.932,0:47:20.339
three children of their own,

0:47:20.339,0:47:22.976
but then I believe they were

0:47:22.976,0:47:24.973
thinking about adopting,

0:47:24.973,0:47:29.061
and God actually showed the mom a vision.

0:47:29.061,0:47:31.217
She was out in the summertime,

0:47:31.217,0:47:33.255
and she saw in the clouds

0:47:33.255,0:47:35.552
a formation of the word "joy."

0:47:35.552,0:47:37.193
She thought, "Am I seeing things?

0:47:37.193,0:47:38.743
It seems to say 'joy.'"

0:47:38.743,0:47:40.210
And they went to a service,

0:47:40.210,0:47:42.169
and they were singing a song

0:47:42.169,0:47:44.049
that had the word joy in it a lot.

0:47:44.049,0:47:45.550
And then they just kept running

0:47:45.550,0:47:47.316
into situations with the word "joy."

0:47:47.316,0:47:48.930
It turns out that the little girl

0:47:48.930,0:47:50.340
that they were to adopt,

0:47:50.340,0:47:52.982
her name has "joy" in it.

0:47:52.982,0:47:55.935
And she's just this little Asian girl

0:47:55.935,0:47:57.577
with Down syndrome,

0:47:57.577,0:47:59.475
and she's just precious.

0:47:59.475,0:48:01.083
Now, you would think that that...

0:48:01.083,0:48:02.495
Okay, they adopted one,

0:48:02.495,0:48:05.299
but they also adopted two more children.

0:48:05.299,0:48:08.602
By the time...They had already[br]adopted one,

0:48:08.602,0:48:10.141
and then they adopted this one.

0:48:10.141,0:48:13.464
And then the husband had a dream,

0:48:13.464,0:48:15.958
and in the dream he dreamt

0:48:15.958,0:48:17.771
that he was in a courthouse,

0:48:17.771,0:48:22.157
and he and all of his family,[br]a big, big famiiy,

0:48:22.157,0:48:24.353
were on one side, and on the other side

0:48:24.353,0:48:25.554
was this little boy,

0:48:25.554,0:48:27.195
this little Asian boy,

0:48:27.195,0:48:29.134
and he was all by himself.

0:48:29.134,0:48:32.199
And the judge asked him

0:48:32.199,0:48:34.683
if he was willing to adopt him.

0:48:34.683,0:48:37.251
And he thought, "I already have

0:48:37.251,0:48:40.052
my three children and two others."

0:48:40.052,0:48:43.045
And then the Spirit of God spoke to him,

0:48:43.045,0:48:45.842
"But this boy has no one."

0:48:45.842,0:48:47.372
And they adopted him, too.

0:48:47.372,0:48:49.399
And these children, the little boy,

0:48:49.399,0:48:52.146
is one of my son's very dear friends.

0:48:52.146,0:48:54.396
And I just really admire this family.

0:48:54.396,0:48:57.226
They've given so generously.

0:48:57.226,0:49:00.722
Exactly, this is what God calls us to be,

0:49:00.722,0:49:03.817
to give, to give extravagantly

0:49:03.817,0:49:05.688
like He gives to us.

0:49:05.688,0:49:09.486
(Puia) Amen. So let's look

0:49:09.486,0:49:12.003
at the ministry of Jesus.

0:49:12.003,0:49:14.698
Looking at His time

0:49:14.698,0:49:16.301
while he was here on earth,

0:49:16.301,0:49:17.767
when do we see Jesus

0:49:17.767,0:49:19.633
standing up for people

0:49:19.633,0:49:21.121
who didn't have a voice

0:49:21.121,0:49:23.956
or people, those who need His help?

0:49:23.956,0:49:26.529
Is there any story or chapter

0:49:26.529,0:49:29.185
or something that you have read

0:49:29.185,0:49:31.579
comes to mind of when Jesus

0:49:31.579,0:49:32.989
stood up for someone

0:49:32.989,0:49:34.731
who didn't have a voice? Yes, Treva.

0:49:34.731,0:49:36.897
(Treva) I think is a very subtle example;

0:49:36.897,0:49:38.797
I think it's in, maybe, Luke,

0:49:38.797,0:49:40.465
I believe, chapter 14,

0:49:40.465,0:49:41.999
but the woman that came in,

0:49:41.999,0:49:44.656
and she used her tears

0:49:44.656,0:49:46.589
to wash Jesus' feet.

0:49:46.589,0:49:48.363
She had that expensive oil,

0:49:48.363,0:49:50.264
anointed His head.

0:49:50.264,0:49:54.705
And Judas was like, "Wait a minute,[br]so wasteful.

0:49:54.705,0:49:57.756
She could have used that money[br]for the poor."

0:49:57.756,0:50:00.001
And we know, at the time,

0:50:00.001,0:50:01.668
Judas was not being sincere

0:50:01.668,0:50:02.803
because he was the one

0:50:02.803,0:50:04.069
that kept the money bag

0:50:04.069,0:50:07.071
and doing some cheating there[br]with the money.

0:50:07.071,0:50:10.229
And so Jesus said, "Leave her alone.

0:50:10.229,0:50:12.548
She has done a good thing."

0:50:12.548,0:50:14.463
So I think that's a very subtle example

0:50:14.463,0:50:16.791
where Jesus was like, "Wait a minute.

0:50:16.791,0:50:18.790
This woman is doing a good thing.

0:50:18.790,0:50:22.211
Do not fault her for doing that."

0:50:22.212,0:50:25.327
(Puia) Yes, thank you. Yes, Nicole.

0:50:25.327,0:50:28.145
(Nicole) In Luke, same book,

0:50:28.145,0:50:30.340
when He raised the widow's son.

0:50:30.340,0:50:32.512
You know, the widow, she had no one else.

0:50:32.512,0:50:33.715
All she had was her son.

0:50:33.715,0:50:34.856
Her son passed away.

0:50:34.856,0:50:36.090
She was very, very sad,

0:50:36.090,0:50:38.244
and He went and took compassion on her

0:50:38.244,0:50:39.967
and did not want her to be alone.

0:50:39.967,0:50:41.191
And so He actually raised

0:50:41.191,0:50:42.248
her son from the dead.

0:50:42.248,0:50:44.976
So that's Him looking out for widows[br]and children.

0:50:44.976,0:50:47.612
(Puia) Yes. Yes, Stephanie.

0:50:47.612,0:50:48.906
(Stephanie) I was thinking

0:50:48.906,0:50:49.832
of when the mothers

0:50:49.832,0:50:51.305
brought their children to Jesus

0:50:51.305,0:50:53.037
for Him to bless them,

0:50:53.037,0:50:55.252
and His disciples were, you know,

0:50:55.252,0:50:56.660
"Don't bother the Savior."

0:50:56.660,0:50:58.894
And He said, "No, bring them here,"

0:50:58.894,0:51:00.647
and He blessed each one of them.

0:51:00.647,0:51:03.266
(Puia) Amen. Yes, Pedro.

0:51:03.266,0:51:04.437
(Pedro) It's interesting

0:51:04.437,0:51:06.451
that, even during the suffering of Christ,

0:51:06.451,0:51:07.945
you know, He was on the cross,

0:51:07.945,0:51:09.165
He remembered His mother.

0:51:09.165,0:51:10.664
And He cared for her and said,

0:51:10.664,0:51:12.456
"John, take care of My mother."

0:51:12.456,0:51:14.508
He's dying on the cross for our sins,

0:51:14.508,0:51:16.838
but He looked down, and He remembered

0:51:16.838,0:51:18.928
that His mother was there.

0:51:18.936,0:51:21.074
(Puia) Yes. Gary.

0:51:21.074,0:51:22.894
(Gary) I can't remember which feeding,

0:51:22.894,0:51:27.154
but it was...I believe, the gospel said

0:51:27.154,0:51:30.537
that Jesus had compassion on the multitude

0:51:30.537,0:51:32.146
that was following Him

0:51:32.146,0:51:34.439
for X number of days,

0:51:34.439,0:51:35.968
and He fed them all.

0:51:35.968,0:51:38.179
(Puia) So throughout the ministry[br]of Jesus,

0:51:38.180,0:51:40.738
we find Him standing up for people,

0:51:40.738,0:51:42.398
standing up for the oppressed,

0:51:42.398,0:51:43.895
standing up for people

0:51:43.895,0:51:45.928
who are outcasts, right?

0:51:45.928,0:51:48.917
Jesus was always the voice[br]for the voiceless.

0:51:48.917,0:51:50.393
And that's why His teachings

0:51:50.393,0:51:53.265
were so radical for His time.

0:51:53.265,0:51:55.928
Now, let's come our day and age today

0:51:55.928,0:51:59.958
in modern times; who comes to your mind

0:51:59.966,0:52:01.299
as someone who stands up

0:52:01.299,0:52:03.519
and speaks for the voiceless

0:52:03.519,0:52:05.109
or people who are oppressed?

0:52:05.109,0:52:06.957
It could be from outside of the Bible

0:52:06.957,0:52:09.457
outside of the Christian literature.

0:52:09.457,0:52:12.084
Anybody come to mind as an example,

0:52:12.084,0:52:15.953
who fights for the rights of people?[br]Yes, Derek.

0:52:15.953,0:52:17.160
(Derek) I'm just thinking

0:52:17.160,0:52:20.334
that we probably wouldn't know their name

0:52:20.334,0:52:23.424
because that's not why they're doing it.

0:52:23.424,0:52:26.292
So they're in the inner city

0:52:26.292,0:52:28.261
closest to where we live,

0:52:28.261,0:52:29.801
and they're getting out there,

0:52:29.801,0:52:31.958
and they're maybe running the food pantry,

0:52:31.958,0:52:34.013
like Treva talked about in your home area,

0:52:34.013,0:52:39.497
and they're not being interviewed[br]on national TV,

0:52:39.497,0:52:42.589
but they are, indeed,

0:52:42.589,0:52:44.920
extending the love of God

0:52:44.920,0:52:46.853
in a very tangible way.

0:52:46.853,0:52:49.643
Maybe we should ask "the least of these,"

0:52:49.643,0:52:51.994
and they would tell us who they are.

0:52:51.994,0:52:54.010
They say, "Oh, it's Susan," "It's John,"

0:52:54.010,0:52:57.279
"It's that person that comes,"

0:52:57.279,0:52:59.389
you know, "late at night."

0:52:59.389,0:53:02.835
That story I heard of an elderly lady

0:53:02.835,0:53:04.751
who decided she would have a ministry

0:53:04.751,0:53:07.828
to women who were on the streets,[br]and would come

0:53:07.828,0:53:09.299
and put her arms around them.

0:53:09.299,0:53:11.256
Now, you talk about different talents,

0:53:11.256,0:53:13.407
that's not a talent that God would ask

0:53:13.407,0:53:16.143
Gary or Jonathan to do, you know,

0:53:16.143,0:53:19.813
but this mother, this loving, godly woman,

0:53:19.813,0:53:22.436
could go out there and put her arms

0:53:22.436,0:53:24.301
around these young women

0:53:24.301,0:53:27.606
who were in such a dangerous setting.

0:53:27.606,0:53:29.069
We may never know their names,

0:53:29.069,0:53:31.191
but Jesus knows their names.

0:53:31.203,0:53:34.914
(Puia) Amen. So, someone,

0:53:34.914,0:53:36.879
let's say a Hope Sabbath School member

0:53:36.879,0:53:38.826
from another part of the world

0:53:38.826,0:53:40.712
is watching this episode

0:53:40.712,0:53:43.469
and is wondering, "Yes, I'm convicted

0:53:43.469,0:53:45.684
that I need to show mercy,

0:53:45.684,0:53:47.630
that I need to love mercy,

0:53:47.630,0:53:49.650
but what can I do now?"

0:53:49.650,0:53:52.462
"How can my love for mercy expand?"

0:53:52.462,0:53:54.519
What if someone is asking that question,

0:53:54.519,0:53:56.677
how would you respond? Yes, Nicole.

0:53:56.677,0:53:59.036
(Nicole) I would say the first thing[br]to do is pray

0:53:59.036,0:54:00.491
and ask the Spirit to lead you

0:54:00.491,0:54:02.605
and guide you in the way[br]that you should go

0:54:02.605,0:54:04.329
to be able to show mercy to someone.

0:54:04.329,0:54:05.687
Because I think on our own,

0:54:05.687,0:54:06.992
we are not capable, really,

0:54:06.992,0:54:08.121
of showing true mercy

0:54:08.121,0:54:09.963
because that's just not our character.

0:54:09.963,0:54:11.436
But with the Holy Spirit

0:54:11.436,0:54:12.844
and with Christ in our lives,

0:54:12.844,0:54:14.491
I think we then are led

0:54:14.491,0:54:16.260
to where we can actually show mercy.

0:54:16.260,0:54:17.953
And then we ask the Lord to give us

0:54:17.953,0:54:20.474
the strength to be merciful to that person

0:54:20.474,0:54:21.951
that we come in contact with.

0:54:21.951,0:54:23.268
(Puia) Yes. Yes, Gladys?

0:54:23.268,0:54:25.413
(Gladys) Just like Pastor Derek[br]was saying,

0:54:25.413,0:54:27.854
just making ourselves available.

0:54:27.854,0:54:30.774
It's not just praying

0:54:30.774,0:54:33.677
but also making ourselves available.

0:54:33.677,0:54:35.815
Like, "God, lead us to the person

0:54:35.815,0:54:37.302
or to the people that we need

0:54:37.302,0:54:39.134
to be serving every day."

0:54:39.134,0:54:43.422
(Puia) Yes. Adison, anything else[br]come to mind?

0:54:43.422,0:54:45.828
(Adison) I specifically am from Canada,

0:54:45.828,0:54:46.864
and I'm just thinking

0:54:46.864,0:54:49.272
about my home church right now,

0:54:49.272,0:54:51.086
growing up there, and it's always had

0:54:51.086,0:54:53.060
a special place in my heart.

0:54:53.060,0:54:56.941
And so I just want to re-echo the things

0:54:56.941,0:54:58.443
that have been said here today

0:54:58.443,0:55:02.635
to my home church back home[br]in Canada.

0:55:02.635,0:55:04.588
I just want you to continue, each of you,

0:55:04.588,0:55:06.768
to show mercy to others.

0:55:06.768,0:55:09.320
Pray for a willing spirit, and allow God

0:55:09.320,0:55:10.959
to use you in a powerful way.

0:55:10.959,0:55:13.203
(Puia) Amen. Pedro.

0:55:13.203,0:55:14.831
(Pedro) We see that relationship

0:55:14.831,0:55:16.566
is key for this to happen

0:55:16.566,0:55:18.359
because if we don't know the people,

0:55:18.359,0:55:19.690
how can you help them?

0:55:19.690,0:55:21.699
So, get to know...In prayer,

0:55:21.699,0:55:23.800
ask God to put people in your life

0:55:23.800,0:55:26.389
that you will be able to impact.

0:55:26.389,0:55:28.138
If we don't have the relationship

0:55:28.138,0:55:30.129
to meet with them on a personal level,

0:55:30.129,0:55:31.350
you will never know.

0:55:31.350,0:55:34.204
(Puia) Amen. Gary?

0:55:34.204,0:55:37.258
(Gary) Pray for an understanding

0:55:37.258,0:55:41.082
of how God has been merciful[br]to yourself, to you,

0:55:41.082,0:55:43.694
because, without a true appreciation

0:55:43.694,0:55:45.150
for what God is doing

0:55:45.150,0:55:47.795
or what He has done for you,

0:55:47.795,0:55:49.854
you can't be spurred on to do anything,

0:55:49.854,0:55:52.631
even if people are around you[br]that need it.

0:55:52.631,0:55:54.774
But when you ask God to open your eyes

0:55:54.774,0:55:56.770
to see how much He has blessed you,

0:55:56.770,0:55:58.345
and been a blessing in your life,

0:55:58.345,0:56:00.207
you'd want to share that.

0:56:00.207,0:56:01.937
(Puia) Those are all good points.

0:56:01.937,0:56:03.666
To add my personal point of view,

0:56:03.666,0:56:06.145
I think, in my personal experience,

0:56:06.145,0:56:08.416
when it comes to having mercy[br]towards others,

0:56:08.416,0:56:10.793
what has helped me is education,

0:56:10.793,0:56:13.314
you know, reading and exploring,

0:56:13.314,0:56:15.535
knowing the facts, being informed

0:56:15.535,0:56:17.914
about what is happening around the world,

0:56:17.914,0:56:20.111
and also traveling.

0:56:20.111,0:56:22.097
You know, traveling really helps.

0:56:22.097,0:56:24.170
It's one thing to see someone in need

0:56:24.170,0:56:25.713
through a TV screen,

0:56:25.713,0:56:27.519
but it's a whole other experience

0:56:27.519,0:56:29.790
when you're actually on the ground,

0:56:29.790,0:56:31.449
seeing the people in need.

0:56:31.449,0:56:34.576
You know, you could visit[br]a refugee center,

0:56:34.576,0:56:38.366
or visit a refugee camp somewhere,

0:56:38.366,0:56:40.209
or even a refugee resettlement

0:56:40.209,0:56:42.420
here in the United States.

0:56:42.420,0:56:44.851
We can go to the grounds,[br]and by traveling,

0:56:44.851,0:56:48.235
I believe we can really find[br]practical needs

0:56:48.235,0:56:50.287
that we can help people with.

0:56:50.287,0:56:52.154
Now, let's conclude our study.

0:56:52.154,0:56:54.000
So, we have looked at the fact

0:56:54.000,0:56:57.184
that God wants us to be merciful,

0:56:57.184,0:56:58.449
and we can be merciful

0:56:58.449,0:57:00.838
by being generous, right,

0:57:00.838,0:57:02.474
being the peacemakers

0:57:02.474,0:57:06.012
and standing up for people in need.

0:57:06.012,0:57:07.336
(Derek) What a great study.

0:57:07.336,0:57:08.999
You know, I'm just reminded

0:57:08.999,0:57:10.621
of what Jesus said.

0:57:10.621,0:57:13.657
And Jesus says it simply but powerfully,

0:57:13.657,0:57:17.075
He says, "Be merciful,

0:57:17.075,0:57:18.159
just as your Father

0:57:18.159,0:57:20.242
in Heaven is merciful."

0:57:20.242,0:57:21.884
Let's pray that that could happen,

0:57:21.884,0:57:24.307
and, you're right, Nicole,[br]it is a miracle,

0:57:24.307,0:57:26.666
but it can happen by the power

0:57:26.666,0:57:28.062
of the Holy Spirit.

0:57:28.062,0:57:30.066
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,

0:57:30.066,0:57:31.327
we're just so thankful

0:57:31.327,0:57:33.205
that You are a merciful God,

0:57:33.205,0:57:34.848
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

0:57:34.848,0:57:36.793
that You love mercy

0:57:36.793,0:57:39.018
and that You want to show Your mercy

0:57:39.018,0:57:40.710
in us and through us.

0:57:40.710,0:57:42.751
We just want to be available,

0:57:42.751,0:57:44.789
not just to talk about mercy,

0:57:44.789,0:57:47.748
but to act mercifully.

0:57:47.748,0:57:49.514
May those around us be blessed,

0:57:49.514,0:57:51.298
and may joy come to Your heart.

0:57:51.298,0:57:54.091
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

0:57:54.091,0:57:54.949
(Team) Amen.

0:57:54.949,0:57:57.433
(Derek) What a challenging study;[br]thank you, Puia.

0:57:57.433,0:57:58.807
Thank you for being with us.

0:57:58.807,0:58:00.547
Don't just go out and talk mercy,

0:58:00.547,0:58:02.068
go out and be merciful.

0:58:02.068,0:58:04.116
Be a blessing to those around you.

0:58:04.116,0:58:28.986
♪ theme music ♪