WEBVTT
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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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Ministering to "the Least of These":
to Those in Need,
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our topic today, To Love Mercy,
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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
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
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
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
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
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
anyway, right?
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"My name's Kodiah; I'm writing
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
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,
"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
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,
"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
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
a year earlier.
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It was great; the next day
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
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,
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 "The Least of These,"
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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
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
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 Ministering to Those in Need,
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"The Least of These,"
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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
is To Love Mercy.
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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
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?
00:11:04.983 --> 00:11:07.899
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,
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it is not enough; we still live
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in a sinful world, right?
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We still see sins and evils around us,
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and those are most often portrayed -
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we can see them through poverty,
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difficulties, hardship, sickness, pain,
and so many more.
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And today we will study what it means
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to have mercy, to love mercy,
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amidst these troubles in the time
that we live in.
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So let's continue our study
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by reading Matthew, chapter 6,
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verses 25 through 33.
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Adison, if you can read for us
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Matthew, chapter 6,
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starting from verse 25
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down through verse 33.
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(Adison) For sure, and I'm reading
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from the King James Version:
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(Puia) Amen. So, what is Jesus
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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"
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or "worrying" is here at least four times.
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He's saying, instead of worrying,
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we should just have faith
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that He will provide for us what we need.
00:13:58.104 --> 00:14:01.077
(Puia) So we can find assurance that God
00:14:01.077 --> 00:14:04.079
is going to take care
of us, right? Evelyn?
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(Evelyn) I think what the Lord
00:14:05.531 --> 00:14:07.455
is trying to tell us is that many times
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we prioritize the material things
in our lives,
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our treasures or how we're
00:14:12.198 --> 00:14:13.830
going to prosper in life.
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And God is telling us,
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"You don't need to worry about that
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if you seek Me first,
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because I will provide for you,"
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that, "I should be your priority."
00:14:21.772 --> 00:14:23.760
That's what the Lord is telling us.
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(Puia) So how should this assurance
00:14:26.356 --> 00:14:28.507
that we have in God
00:14:28.507 --> 00:14:31.587
change our priorities in life?
00:14:31.587 --> 00:14:33.500
What should we prioritize first,
00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.843
as you said? Yes, Treva.
00:14:34.843 --> 00:14:36.489
(Treva) Our focus should really be
00:14:36.489 --> 00:14:38.380
on those who are in need
00:14:38.380 --> 00:14:40.980
because we know we have a Master,
00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:43.145
and He's going to take care of us.
00:14:43.145 --> 00:14:45.991
So, if we have our focus on others,
00:14:45.991 --> 00:14:47.687
we won't be concerned about,
00:14:47.687 --> 00:14:49.017
"What am I going to wear?"
00:14:49.017 --> 00:14:50.201
"How am I going to eat?"
00:14:50.201 --> 00:14:51.920
"How am I going to pay my bills?"
00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:53.899
because our focus is on helping others.
00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:55.838
We put on focus on that, God will bless.
00:14:55.838 --> 00:14:57.504
(Puia) Amen. Yes, Travis.
00:14:57.505 --> 00:14:59.275
(Travis) I think, too, in the context
00:14:59.275 --> 00:15:00.362
of what we're studying
00:15:00.362 --> 00:15:02.826
is that it's easy in life today to say,
00:15:02.826 --> 00:15:04.300
"Well, I would go do that,
00:15:04.300 --> 00:15:05.806
but I need this job,"
00:15:05.806 --> 00:15:09.022
or, "I would go do this, but I need to..."
00:15:09.022 --> 00:15:11.953
And God is saying, "I'll take care
of your needs."
00:15:11.953 --> 00:15:14.423
You know, "Go ahead and do these things."
00:15:14.423 --> 00:15:16.165
We often use our jobs
00:15:16.165 --> 00:15:19.013
and the necessities we need in life
00:15:19.013 --> 00:15:21.434
as an excuse not to go and help the poor
00:15:21.434 --> 00:15:23.811
or to do that kind of thing.
00:15:23.811 --> 00:15:25.989
(Puia) So the next question is,
00:15:25.989 --> 00:15:29.564
then why is showing mercy to those in need
00:15:29.564 --> 00:15:32.015
important for followers of Jesus?
00:15:32.015 --> 00:15:34.218
But before we answer that, I want us
00:15:34.218 --> 00:15:37.649
to go to Luke, chapter 6, verse 36.
00:15:37.649 --> 00:15:40.249
And, Pedro, if you can read for us
00:15:40.249 --> 00:15:42.249
Luke, chapter 6, verse 36.
00:15:42.249 --> 00:15:44.787
And, after reading this verse,
00:15:44.787 --> 00:15:46.447
we will answer the question,
00:15:46.447 --> 00:15:48.775
why is showing mercy to those in need
00:15:48.775 --> 00:15:52.465
important for followers of Christ?
00:15:54.135 --> 00:15:55.271
(Pedro) I'll be reading
00:15:55.271 --> 00:15:58.579
from the New King James Version,
Luke 6:36:
00:16:04.707 --> 00:16:06.414
(Puia) All right, so what should be
00:16:06.414 --> 00:16:08.301
the reason why this is important,
00:16:08.301 --> 00:16:10.455
showing mercy to those in need?
Yes, Jonathan?
00:16:10.455 --> 00:16:12.001
(Jonathan) To reflect the beauty
00:16:12.001 --> 00:16:13.666
of who Christ is and how He
00:16:13.666 --> 00:16:18.466
reflects God's compassion and mercy.
00:16:18.466 --> 00:16:19.402
(Puia) Yes, Travis?
00:16:19.402 --> 00:16:21.692
(Travis) We can't pay God back
00:16:21.692 --> 00:16:23.991
for anything He's done; we can't.
00:16:23.991 --> 00:16:25.969
I mean, the bill that He's paid for us,
00:16:25.969 --> 00:16:27.818
there's nothing we can do.
00:16:27.818 --> 00:16:30.278
There is one thing we can do,
00:16:30.278 --> 00:16:32.259
and we can extend the same mercy
00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:35.322
that He's extended to us, to others.
00:16:35.322 --> 00:16:36.401
That's the one thing
00:16:36.401 --> 00:16:39.601
that we can do for God.
00:16:39.601 --> 00:16:41.171
(Derek) I honestly believe, Puia,
00:16:41.171 --> 00:16:43.680
that that brings joy to the heart of God.
00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:45.419
It's not like, "You ought to do that
00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.809
because I expect it."
00:16:46.809 --> 00:16:48.352
I think even as parents,
00:16:48.352 --> 00:16:50.110
when we see our children
00:16:50.110 --> 00:16:52.810
acting in a beautiful way,
00:16:52.810 --> 00:16:54.462
we experience joy.
00:16:54.462 --> 00:16:56.448
I think it brings joy to the heart of God
00:16:56.448 --> 00:16:58.530
when He sees His mercy
00:16:58.530 --> 00:17:01.455
extended through us.
00:17:01.455 --> 00:17:06.146
(Puia) So, can we say that, in life,
00:17:06.146 --> 00:17:10.673
food, clothes, money, they're important,
00:17:10.673 --> 00:17:13.552
but they're not the most important,
00:17:13.552 --> 00:17:15.800
or they're not the priorities
00:17:15.800 --> 00:17:17.149
that we should have in life?
00:17:17.149 --> 00:17:18.378
Can we say that?
00:17:18.378 --> 00:17:19.698
(Derek, Team) Sure. Yes.
00:17:19.698 --> 00:17:20.793
(Puia) But that means
00:17:20.793 --> 00:17:23.051
that God called us to a higher standard
00:17:23.051 --> 00:17:24.858
than that of the world,
00:17:24.858 --> 00:17:26.941
and that may bring us
00:17:26.941 --> 00:17:28.619
into situations sometimes
00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:30.603
where our relationship
00:17:30.603 --> 00:17:33.683
with those in power,
00:17:33.683 --> 00:17:35.229
that may change our relationship
00:17:35.229 --> 00:17:38.395
with those people who are oppressing
other people, right?
00:17:38.395 --> 00:17:40.766
So, how should we respond
as Christians,
00:17:40.766 --> 00:17:42.239
if we are in situations
00:17:42.239 --> 00:17:44.460
where our convictions
00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.519
from the Word of God
00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:48.323
may not be in line with the policies
00:17:48.323 --> 00:17:53.036
of the government or people in power?
00:17:53.036 --> 00:17:56.113
Let us read Acts, chapter 5, verse 29,
00:17:56.113 --> 00:17:57.593
to give us an idea
00:17:57.593 --> 00:17:59.708
of how the people of God,
00:17:59.708 --> 00:18:01.479
or at least the disciples of Jesus,
00:18:01.479 --> 00:18:04.705
dealt with situations like that
in the past.
00:18:04.705 --> 00:18:06.363
After reading this, we will
00:18:06.363 --> 00:18:08.284
answer that question again.
00:18:08.284 --> 00:18:10.931
So, Treva, if you can read for us,
00:18:10.931 --> 00:18:15.336
Acts, chapter 5, verse 29.
00:18:15.336 --> 00:18:17.602
(Treva) Acts, chapter 5, verse 29,
00:18:17.602 --> 00:18:21.086
and I'll be reading from the New
King James translation:
00:18:30.508 --> 00:18:34.706
(Puia) Before talking about that verse,
00:18:34.706 --> 00:18:36.821
should we obey the government?
00:18:36.821 --> 00:18:39.338
First let's answer that question.
00:18:39.338 --> 00:18:42.586
Is government important
in our lives? Yes.
00:18:42.586 --> 00:18:44.279
(Derek) There are other Bible texts
00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.706
that tell us we should, right?
00:18:45.706 --> 00:18:48.746
(Nicole) And Jesus did; He's our example.
00:18:48.746 --> 00:18:51.074
(Evelyn) Give to Caesar
what belongs to Caesar.
00:18:51.074 --> 00:18:53.165
(Puia) Yes. So then the next question is:
00:18:53.165 --> 00:18:55.769
What if the policies of the government
00:18:55.769 --> 00:18:56.943
or people in power
00:18:56.943 --> 00:18:58.673
come in conflict with the teachings
00:18:58.673 --> 00:19:00.295
of God? Yes, Adison.
00:19:00.295 --> 00:19:02.375
(Adison) I think of the example of Daniel.
00:19:02.375 --> 00:19:03.367
I mean, he had one
00:19:03.367 --> 00:19:05.963
of the highest positions in Babylon,
00:19:05.963 --> 00:19:08.757
and he did the very best job
00:19:08.757 --> 00:19:11.089
he could possibly do.
00:19:11.089 --> 00:19:12.476
The only time when he
00:19:12.476 --> 00:19:14.903
would go against the decrees
00:19:14.903 --> 00:19:16.046
or the laws of the land,
00:19:16.046 --> 00:19:18.726
if it was going to conflict
00:19:18.726 --> 00:19:22.366
with being obedient to the Law of God
00:19:22.366 --> 00:19:24.420
and following his conscience.
00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.770
And he was even willing
00:19:25.770 --> 00:19:27.198
to go to the den of the lions
00:19:27.198 --> 00:19:28.800
because he chose rather
00:19:28.800 --> 00:19:30.822
to obey God rather than man.
00:19:30.822 --> 00:19:32.716
(Puia) Yes. Stephanie, yes.
00:19:32.716 --> 00:19:35.125
(Stephanie) When I think about Daniel,
00:19:35.125 --> 00:19:38.504
and I think about how Jesus responded,
00:19:38.504 --> 00:19:40.941
it wasn't defiantly;
00:19:40.941 --> 00:19:42.791
it was with a humble spirit.
00:19:42.791 --> 00:19:44.811
And I think we need to keep that in mind,
00:19:44.811 --> 00:19:47.183
that, even though there
00:19:47.183 --> 00:19:48.882
might be a conflict,
00:19:48.882 --> 00:19:50.442
when we deal with that conflict,
00:19:50.442 --> 00:19:53.173
we humbly follow God,
00:19:53.173 --> 00:19:59.048
and we don't go to the lower plane
00:19:59.048 --> 00:20:03.948
and be mean and rough
without the Spirit.
00:20:03.948 --> 00:20:05.679
(Derek) We may also have the choice,
00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:07.045
unlike some prisoners of war
00:20:07.045 --> 00:20:08.789
who didn't have the choice to leave.
00:20:08.789 --> 00:20:10.230
We may have the choice to say,
00:20:10.230 --> 00:20:11.752
"I think I'm going to emigrate
00:20:11.752 --> 00:20:13.244
to another country,"
00:20:13.260 --> 00:20:15.050
because I'm thinking of friends
00:20:15.050 --> 00:20:16.145
who, at certain times,
00:20:16.145 --> 00:20:17.678
lived in parts of Europe,
00:20:17.678 --> 00:20:20.159
where there was no religious freedom,
00:20:20.159 --> 00:20:23.233
and they chose to move
to another country
00:20:23.233 --> 00:20:25.082
where there was religious freedom
00:20:25.082 --> 00:20:26.736
because they wanted their children
00:20:26.736 --> 00:20:29.641
to be able to study the Bible
and to honor God.
00:20:29.641 --> 00:20:32.003
So I don't think we always have
00:20:32.003 --> 00:20:35.915
to get into, like, a fierce conflict.
00:20:35.915 --> 00:20:37.833
We may say, "That's the way
00:20:37.833 --> 00:20:40.226
they're choosing to be here,
00:20:40.226 --> 00:20:41.291
but that's not the way
00:20:41.291 --> 00:20:42.358
I've chosen to live."
00:20:42.358 --> 00:20:44.436
Daniel, especially in his young life,
00:20:44.436 --> 00:20:45.700
didn't have that choice;
00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:47.460
he was a prisoner of war.
00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:49.662
But we may choose, "It would be better
00:20:49.662 --> 00:20:51.218
to live in this setting
00:20:51.218 --> 00:20:53.142
than to stay there."
00:20:53.142 --> 00:20:56.176
(Puia) Yes, looking at Daniel
that you mentioned,
00:20:56.176 --> 00:20:57.178
looking at his story,
00:20:57.178 --> 00:20:58.859
he stood up for people, right?
00:20:58.859 --> 00:21:01.234
Isn't that what God calls us to,
00:21:01.234 --> 00:21:02.711
standing up for people,
00:21:02.711 --> 00:21:05.728
even if the policies or the rules
00:21:05.728 --> 00:21:07.618
that the government or people in power
00:21:07.618 --> 00:21:11.774
have put in place are to oppress
other people? Yes, Travis.
00:21:11.774 --> 00:21:13.746
(Travis) I like what everyone is saying
00:21:13.746 --> 00:21:16.309
because this brings something to my mind.
00:21:16.309 --> 00:21:18.357
When we're faced with this kind of thing,
00:21:18.357 --> 00:21:19.663
we can go out and protest
00:21:19.663 --> 00:21:21.190
and make all kinds of...
00:21:21.190 --> 00:21:23.363
But, you know, Daniel prayed,
00:21:23.363 --> 00:21:27.983
so maybe we should "pray-test"
instead of protest.
00:21:27.983 --> 00:21:29.803
Instead of making a big deal,
00:21:29.803 --> 00:21:32.463
we can go to God with this,
with the problem.
00:21:32.463 --> 00:21:33.504
(Puia) Yes, Pedro.
00:21:33.504 --> 00:21:34.957
(Pedro) This is also, I think,
00:21:34.957 --> 00:21:37.017
a time of witnessing,
00:21:37.017 --> 00:21:39.254
and we're witnessing with a humble heart.
00:21:39.254 --> 00:21:40.514
You know, we're not trying
00:21:40.514 --> 00:21:42.353
to impose what we believe.
00:21:42.353 --> 00:21:43.707
We're trying to share
00:21:43.707 --> 00:21:45.235
the light of Christ,
00:21:45.235 --> 00:21:48.408
and we do that humbly.
00:21:48.408 --> 00:21:49.923
(Puia) Amen. Jonathan?
00:21:49.923 --> 00:21:51.071
(Jonathan) I'm thinking,
00:21:51.071 --> 00:21:53.051
it's kind of how the Kingdom of God is,
00:21:53.051 --> 00:21:54.718
dances in a totally different way
00:21:54.718 --> 00:21:56.275
than the kingdoms of this world.
00:21:56.275 --> 00:21:58.226
Rather than by force, it's by appealing
00:21:58.226 --> 00:21:59.501
to these leaders' hearts
00:21:59.501 --> 00:22:01.518
and demonstrating a way of peace.
00:22:01.518 --> 00:22:03.121
We're working for them, but we're
00:22:03.121 --> 00:22:05.523
also standing up for truth
and for the poor.
00:22:05.523 --> 00:22:07.452
So it's, yeah, "Seek ye first
00:22:07.452 --> 00:22:08.867
the Kingdom of God,"
00:22:08.867 --> 00:22:11.950
goes about life in a different way
and appeals to people.
00:22:11.950 --> 00:22:14.440
(Puia) Amen. Can anyone share
00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.455
an experience or a time
00:22:16.455 --> 00:22:19.478
when God gave you the courage
00:22:19.478 --> 00:22:22.207
or the power to honor Him
00:22:22.207 --> 00:22:26.722
in a potentially compromising situation?
Treva?
00:22:26.722 --> 00:22:28.636
(Treva) As a teacher,
00:22:28.636 --> 00:22:31.758
I am constantly faced with issues
00:22:31.758 --> 00:22:34.831
of having to do things on the Sabbath.
00:22:34.831 --> 00:22:38.896
And recently I just received
00:22:38.896 --> 00:22:40.622
a special certification,
00:22:40.622 --> 00:22:42.258
but at the time I didn't know
00:22:42.258 --> 00:22:44.025
the training for that
00:22:44.025 --> 00:22:46.351
would take place over the Sabbath.
00:22:46.351 --> 00:22:53.411
And I got wise counsel and prayed to God,
00:22:53.411 --> 00:22:54.319
"What should I do?
00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.950
How should I handle this?"
00:22:55.950 --> 00:22:58.477
And He did give me the courage
and the strength.
00:22:58.477 --> 00:23:01.626
And someone said it's a witnessing tool
00:23:01.626 --> 00:23:05.549
to share my faith and humble myself.
00:23:05.549 --> 00:23:07.637
And it all worked out
00:23:07.637 --> 00:23:10.667
because she understood in the end
00:23:10.667 --> 00:23:12.661
about faith and honoring that,
00:23:12.661 --> 00:23:15.462
and accommodations were made for me.
00:23:15.462 --> 00:23:17.192
So, as we mentioned, it doesn't have
00:23:17.192 --> 00:23:19.680
to be a protest and be aggressive.
00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.895
You can humble yourself
00:23:20.895 --> 00:23:22.060
and share your faith
00:23:22.060 --> 00:23:23.541
and witness at the same time.
00:23:23.541 --> 00:23:25.694
And God will bless, and He gave me
the courage
00:23:25.694 --> 00:23:27.164
because I was pretty nervous.
00:23:27.164 --> 00:23:28.799
I thought I would have to pay back
00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.731
the funding for that training,
00:23:30.731 --> 00:23:32.029
but God blessed in the end.
00:23:32.029 --> 00:23:33.219
(Derek, Team) Amen.
00:23:33.219 --> 00:23:34.168
(Derek) Beautiful.
00:23:34.168 --> 00:23:37.310
(Puia) Amen. Let us continue our study
00:23:37.310 --> 00:23:39.045
by reading James, chapter 2,
00:23:39.045 --> 00:23:41.773
verses 15 and 16, and, Gary,
00:23:41.773 --> 00:23:44.492
if you can read for us
00:23:44.492 --> 00:23:47.157
James, chapter 2, verses 15 and 16.
00:23:47.157 --> 00:23:52.019
And we will answer the question then,
00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:55.343
what are we called to do as Christians
00:23:55.343 --> 00:23:58.501
in terms of helping those in need?
00:23:58.501 --> 00:23:59.727
Is knowing the facts
00:23:59.727 --> 00:24:00.803
that people need help,
00:24:00.803 --> 00:24:03.267
enough or not? Gary.
00:24:03.267 --> 00:24:04.674
(Gary) Okay, I'll be reading
00:24:04.674 --> 00:24:09.926
from the New King James Version,
James 2:15-16:
00:24:30.482 --> 00:24:34.759
(Puia) What can we learn from this verse?
Yes, Gary.
00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.377
(Gary) We have to put our actions
00:24:36.377 --> 00:24:39.143
where our words are, right?
00:24:39.143 --> 00:24:41.603
So, if you see someone with a need,
00:24:41.603 --> 00:24:43.077
and you say, "Okay, this is
00:24:43.077 --> 00:24:44.926
the way you should go,"
00:24:44.926 --> 00:24:47.017
well, do something about it.
00:24:47.017 --> 00:24:48.457
(Puia) Yes. Adison?
00:24:48.457 --> 00:24:49.689
(Adison) I was just going
00:24:49.689 --> 00:24:51.599
to re-echo what he was saying.
00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:54.538
As Christians, we have a privilege
00:24:54.538 --> 00:24:57.977
to translate those words into actions.
00:24:57.977 --> 00:24:59.783
and those powerful words of Jesus,
00:24:59.783 --> 00:25:01.232
that counsel He gives us
00:25:01.232 --> 00:25:04.724
in His Holy Word, we can
00:25:04.724 --> 00:25:08.159
create actions out of those
and make a difference.
00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:09.996
(Puia) I like what you said about that
00:25:09.996 --> 00:25:11.814
by using the word "privilege."
00:25:11.814 --> 00:25:14.673
It is an opportunity, right? Yes, Travis.
00:25:14.673 --> 00:25:16.753
(Travis) This verse just reminds me, like,
00:25:16.753 --> 00:25:18.438
you're a man who doesn't own a car,
00:25:18.438 --> 00:25:19.517
and you tell somebody,
00:25:19.517 --> 00:25:20.723
"Yeah, just take my car,"
00:25:20.723 --> 00:25:22.129
but you just don't have one.
00:25:22.129 --> 00:25:23.429
You're promising something
00:25:23.429 --> 00:25:25.959
that you don't have; it's, like, empty.
00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:29.267
(Puia) All right, so let's get
practical now, right?
00:25:29.267 --> 00:25:30.961
So, what are the ways
00:25:30.961 --> 00:25:32.977
that we can show mercy?
00:25:32.977 --> 00:25:34.401
What are the ways that we can
00:25:34.401 --> 00:25:36.311
put our words into action?
00:25:36.311 --> 00:25:37.788
Let's answer that question
00:25:37.788 --> 00:25:39.528
by first reading Leviticus.
00:25:39.528 --> 00:25:41.273
Let's go to the Old Testament.
00:25:41.273 --> 00:25:42.691
Let's look at some principles
00:25:42.691 --> 00:25:45.681
that God gave back in the Old Testament.
00:25:45.685 --> 00:25:50.895
Leviticus, chapter 25, verses 35 to 37,
00:25:50.895 --> 00:25:54.580
and, Nicole, if you can please read for us
00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:58.806
Leviticus, chapter 25, verses 35 to 37.
00:25:58.806 --> 00:26:03.001
And we will look at the principles
00:26:03.001 --> 00:26:05.009
that God gave to His people
00:26:05.009 --> 00:26:06.851
in the Old Testament.
00:26:06.851 --> 00:26:10.124
(Nicole) Leviticus 25, verses
35 through 37,
00:26:10.124 --> 00:26:12.510
the New International Version says:
00:26:41.757 --> 00:26:45.087
(Puia) Wow. So, what stands out for you
00:26:45.087 --> 00:26:47.348
from that verse? Yes, Pedro.
00:26:47.348 --> 00:26:48.750
(Pedro) There are two things
00:26:48.750 --> 00:26:50.120
that stand out for me here.
00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:52.161
First of all, taking care of our brethren.
00:26:52.161 --> 00:26:53.840
Sometimes in a church environment,
00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:55.033
we want to help others
00:26:55.033 --> 00:26:57.142
outside of the church, which is important,
00:26:57.142 --> 00:26:58.363
but we forgot to check
00:26:58.363 --> 00:27:00.100
if our family members in our church
00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:01.332
are being cared for.
00:27:01.332 --> 00:27:02.411
And one of the things,
00:27:02.411 --> 00:27:03.607
and that's the principle
00:27:03.607 --> 00:27:05.501
I always took from this here,
00:27:05.501 --> 00:27:07.073
we should not take profit
00:27:07.073 --> 00:27:08.436
off of each other.
00:27:08.436 --> 00:27:11.263
If we can help without expecting
anything in return,
00:27:11.263 --> 00:27:13.849
without trying to get something from them,
00:27:13.849 --> 00:27:15.811
you know, if somebody is struggling.
00:27:15.811 --> 00:27:17.130
(Puia) Yes, Gladys?
00:27:17.130 --> 00:27:18.856
(Gladys) Yes, what got my attention
00:27:18.856 --> 00:27:20.340
was where it says, treat them
00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:21.788
as a foreigner or a stranger.
00:27:21.788 --> 00:27:22.941
And in a previous lesson
00:27:22.941 --> 00:27:24.431
we talked about how to treat
00:27:24.431 --> 00:27:25.716
the stranger in our midst,
00:27:25.716 --> 00:27:28.324
that if you have a vineyard or a field,
00:27:28.324 --> 00:27:30.823
leave out - don't pick up everything,
00:27:30.823 --> 00:27:34.638
just leave something for the stranger,
and the foreigner.
00:27:34.638 --> 00:27:36.683
So that is interesting that it's saying...
00:27:36.683 --> 00:27:39.614
It's thinking about the people that come,
00:27:39.614 --> 00:27:44.490
that are just part of our family,
like Pedro said,
00:27:44.490 --> 00:27:46.809
about in our own churches
00:27:46.809 --> 00:27:48.221
that may be hungry,
00:27:48.221 --> 00:27:49.436
and we may not know.
00:27:49.436 --> 00:27:52.446
So, providing for the people
in-house as well.
00:27:52.446 --> 00:27:56.331
(Puia) Amen, amen. So, what principle
00:27:56.331 --> 00:27:59.421
can we take from this verse
00:27:59.421 --> 00:28:03.238
that God gave to His people?
00:28:03.238 --> 00:28:05.008
What would be one principle
00:28:05.008 --> 00:28:07.389
that we can take away in terms of helping
00:28:07.389 --> 00:28:10.806
those in need? Yes, Jonathan?
00:28:10.806 --> 00:28:12.470
(Jonathan) It reminds of the verse
00:28:12.470 --> 00:28:14.951
where Christ says, "What good is it
00:28:14.951 --> 00:28:16.339
if you give to those
00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:18.022
who give back to you?"
00:28:18.022 --> 00:28:20.713
I mean, living this way changes you
00:28:20.713 --> 00:28:22.693
from, "How do I calculate
00:28:22.693 --> 00:28:25.453
in order to get something for myself," no.
00:28:25.453 --> 00:28:27.554
This is about being a blessing
00:28:27.554 --> 00:28:30.435
to this person who has no relation to you
00:28:30.435 --> 00:28:32.526
and may actually be hurting you
in some way,
00:28:32.526 --> 00:28:34.908
but your goal is to think
about their needs
00:28:34.908 --> 00:28:36.672
and to prioritize them.
00:28:36.672 --> 00:28:38.087
(Puia) Yes, Derek.
00:28:38.087 --> 00:28:40.275
(Derek) It's quite counter-cultural,
00:28:40.275 --> 00:28:42.681
because, some people, if there is
shortage of food,
00:28:42.681 --> 00:28:43.726
they put the price up
00:28:43.726 --> 00:28:45.241
so they can make more money.
00:28:45.241 --> 00:28:48.755
And the Bible is saying, "Don't do that.
00:28:48.755 --> 00:28:50.802
Don't take advantage of someone."
00:28:50.802 --> 00:28:52.420
And what I was thinking of
00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:56.578
was the simple principle of Jesus,
to treat them
00:28:56.578 --> 00:28:58.948
the way you would like to be treated.
00:28:58.948 --> 00:29:00.043
And if you say, "Well,
00:29:00.043 --> 00:29:01.852
if I was in that situation,
00:29:01.852 --> 00:29:04.572
I would appreciate some mercy,"
00:29:04.572 --> 00:29:06.442
then show mercy to them.
00:29:06.442 --> 00:29:09.539
(Puia) Yes. Nancy, can you read for us
00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:13.717
1 Timothy, chapter 6, verses 17 to 19?
00:29:13.717 --> 00:29:16.231
Let's jump now to the New Testament.
00:29:16.231 --> 00:29:17.795
We have looked at the principles
00:29:17.795 --> 00:29:19.021
from the Old Testament.
00:29:19.021 --> 00:29:20.615
Let's go now to the New Testament
00:29:20.615 --> 00:29:23.302
and see what are the principles
00:29:23.302 --> 00:29:26.017
that God gave to us,
00:29:26.017 --> 00:29:34.414
1 Timothy, chapter 6, verses 17 to 19,
17 to 19.
00:29:34.414 --> 00:29:35.818
(Nancy) Okay, and I'm reading
00:29:35.818 --> 00:29:37.351
from the New King James Version:
00:30:06.959 --> 00:30:09.188
(Puia) So, what does this verse
00:30:09.188 --> 00:30:11.082
tell us about generosity
00:30:11.082 --> 00:30:13.908
towards those in need? Anyone?
00:30:13.908 --> 00:30:15.146
(Derek) Puia, when it was
00:30:15.146 --> 00:30:16.387
talking about storing up,
00:30:16.387 --> 00:30:18.043
I thought of the exact opposite,
00:30:18.043 --> 00:30:20.526
which is the fellow that kept building
a bigger barn
00:30:20.526 --> 00:30:21.852
and storing up for himself.
00:30:21.852 --> 00:30:24.747
And here it's saying store up
by giving away.
00:30:24.747 --> 00:30:25.874
Store up what?
00:30:25.874 --> 00:30:28.677
Well, you're storing treasure in Heaven
00:30:28.677 --> 00:30:30.990
where thieves can't break in and steal
00:30:30.990 --> 00:30:35.074
and moth can't eat or rust corrupt, right?
00:30:35.074 --> 00:30:36.415
But that's kind of strange
00:30:36.415 --> 00:30:39.036
that, by giving to those in need,
00:30:39.036 --> 00:30:42.955
we're actually storing up treasure.
00:30:42.955 --> 00:30:46.853
(Puia) Amen. Yes, isn't it interesting,
00:30:46.853 --> 00:30:48.283
like, as you have mentioned,
00:30:48.283 --> 00:30:51.446
that's counter-cultural, once again.
00:30:51.446 --> 00:30:52.949
Both in the Old Testament
00:30:52.949 --> 00:30:54.156
and in the New Testament
00:30:54.156 --> 00:30:56.105
we find principles in the Scripture
00:30:56.105 --> 00:31:01.027
of God inviting us to reach out to people.
00:31:01.027 --> 00:31:03.864
If you are rich, share your blessings.
00:31:03.864 --> 00:31:06.397
So here we can say for this section,
00:31:06.397 --> 00:31:09.292
that one way, out of the many ways,
00:31:09.292 --> 00:31:12.473
one way to show mercy to those in need,
00:31:12.473 --> 00:31:14.392
to put our words into action,
00:31:14.392 --> 00:31:17.927
is to be generous. Amen?
00:31:17.927 --> 00:31:19.929
So the next question is:
00:31:19.929 --> 00:31:22.787
What are some ways to be generous
00:31:22.787 --> 00:31:25.076
besides giving money or donating
00:31:25.076 --> 00:31:27.055
to a certain cause? Gladys?
00:31:27.055 --> 00:31:28.410
(Gladys) Our time, that's
00:31:28.410 --> 00:31:30.697
the most precious thing that we have,
00:31:30.697 --> 00:31:32.580
and we only have 24 hours a day.
00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:35.116
Sometimes we say, "I'm too busy,"
00:31:35.116 --> 00:31:36.668
you know, "I cannot do it."
00:31:36.668 --> 00:31:39.017
And like Travis said, sometimes
00:31:39.017 --> 00:31:40.624
with our jobs, we say,
00:31:40.624 --> 00:31:42.377
"I'm too busy with my job,"
00:31:42.377 --> 00:31:46.803
or, "I have ten kids," or "five kids
to take care of,"
00:31:46.803 --> 00:31:50.532
and we put helping others aside.
00:31:50.532 --> 00:31:52.655
But giving our time, that is a way
00:31:52.655 --> 00:31:54.916
that we can prioritize
00:31:54.916 --> 00:31:56.474
doing the work of God.
00:31:56.474 --> 00:31:59.523
(Puia) So, besides money, sharing time
00:31:59.523 --> 00:32:01.728
is one way of being generous. Yes, Pedro?
00:32:01.728 --> 00:32:03.523
(Pedro) Sharing your skills also.
00:32:03.523 --> 00:32:05.104
We have many talents.
00:32:05.104 --> 00:32:08.598
At my church, I like to help people
00:32:08.598 --> 00:32:11.769
with things I do; I like to fix cars;
00:32:11.769 --> 00:32:13.688
I like to do handy-work at homes.
00:32:13.688 --> 00:32:15.242
And I make myself available
00:32:15.242 --> 00:32:16.174
to do those things
00:32:16.174 --> 00:32:17.332
because sometimes people
00:32:17.332 --> 00:32:18.482
don't know how to do it.
00:32:18.482 --> 00:32:19.686
They don't have the money
00:32:19.686 --> 00:32:20.857
to be able to fix things
00:32:20.857 --> 00:32:22.054
that are very expensive,
00:32:22.054 --> 00:32:25.159
which, for people who are skilled,
have no cost.
00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:27.394
(Puia) So, skills. Yes, Travis.
00:32:27.394 --> 00:32:28.988
(Travis) I think prayer.
00:32:28.988 --> 00:32:29.872
(Puia) Prayer.
00:32:29.872 --> 00:32:31.892
(Travis) You know, prayer is a huge tool.
00:32:31.892 --> 00:32:33.099
And, as a matter of fact,
00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:34.840
I don't remember where the verse is,
00:32:34.840 --> 00:32:36.632
but I remember it saying in a verse
00:32:36.632 --> 00:32:37.676
that not to intercede
00:32:37.676 --> 00:32:40.532
for somebody in prayer is a sin.
00:32:40.532 --> 00:32:42.143
Like, God says, "You need
00:32:42.143 --> 00:32:43.242
to pray for them,"
00:32:43.242 --> 00:32:45.339
We need to pray for people,
00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:47.705
and I think prayer is a huge thing.
00:32:47.711 --> 00:32:50.099
(Puia) Prayer. Yes, Treva.
00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:53.118
(Treva) Education is very valuable
00:32:53.118 --> 00:32:54.980
in terms of, how can you
00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:56.957
possibly help any community
00:32:56.957 --> 00:32:59.180
unless you know about that community?
00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.359
One of the first things
00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.600
we did in my church,
00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:03.138
because we wanted to do more
00:33:03.138 --> 00:33:05.221
in our little/small community,
00:33:05.221 --> 00:33:06.339
is I went to the city
00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.945
and got a needs assessment.
00:33:07.945 --> 00:33:09.461
And in that needs assessment,
00:33:09.461 --> 00:33:11.744
oh, the information was so valuable
00:33:11.744 --> 00:33:13.614
because then we can pinpoint
00:33:13.614 --> 00:33:15.412
what exactly the people need
00:33:15.412 --> 00:33:16.787
and what agencies we can
00:33:16.787 --> 00:33:19.289
work with to help them.
00:33:19.289 --> 00:33:23.490
And so, education about your community
is priceless.
00:33:23.490 --> 00:33:26.276
(Puia) Amen. So, that is an example
00:33:26.276 --> 00:33:28.415
of how God impressed you
00:33:28.415 --> 00:33:31.192
to reach out to others and show mercy.
00:33:31.192 --> 00:33:32.728
Can anyone share an experience
00:33:32.728 --> 00:33:34.784
when someone came to you
00:33:34.784 --> 00:33:37.648
and someone showed you mercy
00:33:37.648 --> 00:33:40.740
or through a generous spirit?
00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.313
It could be time or money,
00:33:42.313 --> 00:33:45.039
any experience where you felt blessed
00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:48.763
by someone else? Yes, Travis.
00:33:48.763 --> 00:33:50.190
(Travis) When I was
00:33:50.190 --> 00:33:53.035
just starting business, 20 years old,
00:33:53.035 --> 00:33:54.358
I had a truck break down,
00:33:54.358 --> 00:33:57.076
and I was building my first house.
00:33:57.076 --> 00:33:59.914
And he was such a nice man.
00:33:59.914 --> 00:34:01.669
He knew my truck broke down,
00:34:01.669 --> 00:34:04.089
and he took me down to the auto lot,
00:34:04.089 --> 00:34:06.980
and he bought me a truck.
00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.213
I had to pay for it,
00:34:08.213 --> 00:34:09.943
but it would come out of the house.
00:34:09.943 --> 00:34:11.066
And I felt embarrassed
00:34:11.066 --> 00:34:12.972
because I'm building his house,
00:34:12.972 --> 00:34:14.147
but I built him a home.
00:34:14.147 --> 00:34:16.232
His name was Rick, and he's
passed away now,
00:34:16.232 --> 00:34:18.185
and I never got to go back and thank him,
00:34:18.185 --> 00:34:19.302
but for years I thought
00:34:19.302 --> 00:34:21.362
about how generous he was
00:34:21.362 --> 00:34:23.179
to do that for me.
00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.801
It was my first home,
00:34:24.801 --> 00:34:26.572
and it launched my career
00:34:26.572 --> 00:34:27.702
as a home builder,
00:34:27.702 --> 00:34:29.304
and it was just an amazing thing.
00:34:29.304 --> 00:34:31.569
And I still remember to this day.
00:34:31.569 --> 00:34:34.192
(Puia) That reminds me of a saying
00:34:34.192 --> 00:34:38.146
that goes, "No man is an island," right?
00:34:38.146 --> 00:34:41.380
We all need help; we can't survive alone.
00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:45.226
We are created to be people of community.
00:34:45.226 --> 00:34:47.421
We function best as human beings,
00:34:47.421 --> 00:34:49.174
as mankind, when we work together
00:34:49.174 --> 00:34:50.991
and help together, right?
00:34:50.991 --> 00:34:52.879
So let's conclude this part of our study
00:34:52.879 --> 00:34:55.569
by saying that one major way
00:34:55.569 --> 00:34:57.765
that we can show mercy,
00:34:57.765 --> 00:34:59.993
that we can put our words into action,
00:34:59.993 --> 00:35:01.377
is by being generous.
00:35:01.377 --> 00:35:03.514
It could be through money
00:35:03.514 --> 00:35:06.194
or through time, through skills,
00:35:06.194 --> 00:35:10.192
through prayer, through education.
00:35:10.192 --> 00:35:12.180
But let's take it to the next level
00:35:12.180 --> 00:35:14.946
and find another way how we can
00:35:14.946 --> 00:35:17.368
put these words into practice.
00:35:17.368 --> 00:35:20.999
Let's read Matthew, chapter 5, verse 9,
00:35:20.999 --> 00:35:24.294
and we will find another way
00:35:24.294 --> 00:35:28.182
of how we can show mercy to others.
00:35:28.182 --> 00:35:30.532
Stephanie, can you read for us
00:35:30.532 --> 00:35:32.813
Matthew, chapter 5, verse 9?
00:35:32.813 --> 00:35:34.611
(Stephanie) Sure, and I'll be reading
00:35:34.611 --> 00:35:36.103
from the King James Version:
00:35:41.903 --> 00:35:44.370
(Puia) Amen. Before we unpack that,
00:35:44.370 --> 00:35:45.907
let's continue reading,
00:35:45.907 --> 00:35:48.933
Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7.
00:35:48.933 --> 00:35:50.641
Let's go back to the Old Testament,
00:35:50.641 --> 00:35:52.058
and after reading this,
00:35:52.070 --> 00:35:55.612
we will unpack those two verses.
00:35:55.612 --> 00:35:57.975
Gary, can you kindly read for us
00:35:57.975 --> 00:36:00.403
Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7?
00:36:00.403 --> 00:36:02.055
(Gary) Okay, and I'll be reading
00:36:02.055 --> 00:36:03.873
from the New King James Version:
00:36:22.465 --> 00:36:25.107
(Puia) So let's unpack those two verses.
00:36:25.107 --> 00:36:27.164
What word stood out for you
00:36:27.164 --> 00:36:31.540
in terms of showing mercy to others?
Yes, Jonathan?
00:36:31.540 --> 00:36:32.691
(Jonathan) I just think
00:36:32.691 --> 00:36:33.890
about how, in our world,
00:36:33.890 --> 00:36:35.539
there is so much contention
00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:38.440
over different issues in various areas
00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.837
where people just aren't able
00:36:39.837 --> 00:36:40.935
to listen to each other
00:36:40.935 --> 00:36:43.529
or are more prone to look at and can
00:36:43.529 --> 00:36:45.421
point out the problems of other people.
00:36:45.421 --> 00:36:47.324
And I take this as a calling,
00:36:47.324 --> 00:36:50.313
to say, as followers of Christ,
00:36:50.313 --> 00:36:53.056
it's our responsibility to reach out
00:36:53.056 --> 00:36:56.863
and to try to be the voice
of the other side
00:36:56.863 --> 00:37:00.132
or to listen and seek to understand
00:37:00.132 --> 00:37:05.216
and to build bridges of trust,
00:37:05.216 --> 00:37:06.909
so that you can say, "Okay, there's
00:37:06.909 --> 00:37:08.766
something good about this other person.
00:37:08.766 --> 00:37:10.741
They're coming from their own context."
00:37:10.741 --> 00:37:15.622
(Puia) Yes. From those two verses,
00:37:15.622 --> 00:37:18.569
one word that summarizes
what you just said?
00:37:18.569 --> 00:37:19.848
(Team) Peace.
00:37:19.848 --> 00:37:22.742
(Puia) Peace, right? Peacemaking.
Yes, Stephanie.
00:37:22.742 --> 00:37:24.682
(Stephanie) I guess what came to my mind
00:37:24.682 --> 00:37:26.390
was Romans 5, verse 1,
00:37:26.390 --> 00:37:29.903
where it says, well, if we can
go there and read that.
00:37:29.903 --> 00:37:31.556
(Puia) Yes, you want to read that?
00:37:31.556 --> 00:37:33.387
(Stephanie) Sure, Romans, chapter 5...
00:37:33.387 --> 00:37:35.184
(Puia) Just give us time to go there.
00:37:35.184 --> 00:37:37.559
Romans, chapter 5, verse 1.
00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:39.598
(Stephanie) And it also talks about peace.
00:37:39.598 --> 00:37:41.477
(Puia) Okay, making peace.
00:37:41.477 --> 00:37:43.491
(Stephanie) Yes, and I'll be reading
00:37:43.491 --> 00:37:45.282
from the King James Version:
00:37:52.405 --> 00:37:56.873
And I took the view that this peacemaking
00:37:56.873 --> 00:37:58.793
is bringing people to Jesus
00:37:58.793 --> 00:38:00.413
to have that connection
00:38:00.413 --> 00:38:02.437
and find that peace with Him.
00:38:02.437 --> 00:38:05.606
Just like in Isaiah 52:7,
00:38:05.606 --> 00:38:08.008
publishing peace and sharing
00:38:08.008 --> 00:38:09.784
the gospel with those.
00:38:09.784 --> 00:38:15.286
(Puia) Right. Wasn't the whole ministry
of Jesus,
00:38:15.286 --> 00:38:18.183
the fact that He came to this earth,
00:38:18.183 --> 00:38:20.244
to make peace, right,
00:38:20.244 --> 00:38:23.200
to reconcile mankind with God?
00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:24.994
So, from these two verses,
00:38:24.994 --> 00:38:26.182
I believe we can learn
00:38:26.182 --> 00:38:29.243
that if we are children of God,
00:38:29.243 --> 00:38:31.444
if we are followers of Christ,
00:38:31.444 --> 00:38:34.834
we are called to be peacemakers.
Yes, Derek.
00:38:34.834 --> 00:38:36.024
(Derek) In the beatitude,
00:38:36.024 --> 00:38:37.650
it just caught my attention, Puia,
00:38:37.650 --> 00:38:39.116
you would think it would say,
00:38:39.116 --> 00:38:41.482
"Blessed is the one that the peacemaker
00:38:41.482 --> 00:38:44.650
helps to find peace," but it doesn't.
00:38:44.650 --> 00:38:47.973
It says, "Blessed is the peacemaker."
00:38:47.973 --> 00:38:50.410
So, what that tells me, Puia,
00:38:50.410 --> 00:38:52.801
is that when we join God
00:38:52.801 --> 00:38:55.716
in what He's doing, we're blessed.
00:38:55.716 --> 00:38:56.886
Now, I believe that,
00:38:56.886 --> 00:38:58.309
let's say there's contention,
00:38:58.309 --> 00:39:00.340
and you help people to find peace,
00:39:00.340 --> 00:39:02.442
or someone is separated from God,
00:39:02.442 --> 00:39:04.335
and you help them find peace with God,
00:39:04.335 --> 00:39:06.298
I believe they're blessed,
00:39:06.298 --> 00:39:10.749
but this is saying you're blessed,
as the peacemaker,
00:39:10.749 --> 00:39:12.999
when you join the Prince of Peace
00:39:12.999 --> 00:39:14.317
in what He's doing.
00:39:14.317 --> 00:39:16.767
(Puia) Yes. So, in bringing
00:39:16.767 --> 00:39:19.591
that back to the title of our study,
00:39:19.591 --> 00:39:21.826
how does your ministry
00:39:21.826 --> 00:39:24.543
to others as a peacemaker
00:39:24.543 --> 00:39:27.621
demonstrate your love for mercy?
00:39:27.621 --> 00:39:29.689
How do the words "mercy"
00:39:29.689 --> 00:39:33.603
and "peacemaking" go together?
Yes, Nicole.
00:39:33.603 --> 00:39:36.455
(Nicole) If you look at the definition
of the word "mercy,"
00:39:36.455 --> 00:39:37.941
it's compassion and forgiveness
00:39:37.941 --> 00:39:40.157
for someone that you could harm.
00:39:40.157 --> 00:39:41.596
They're under your authority,
00:39:41.596 --> 00:39:43.276
and you could actually harm them.
00:39:43.276 --> 00:39:44.919
And so, if you're bringing peace,
00:39:44.919 --> 00:39:46.626
you're actually showing mercy
00:39:46.626 --> 00:39:49.071
because you are taking away the ability
00:39:49.071 --> 00:39:50.362
to be able to harm them
00:39:50.362 --> 00:39:52.142
and actually putting them in a place
00:39:52.142 --> 00:39:53.353
where they can have life.
00:39:53.353 --> 00:39:56.192
So that's how I think the two
kind of relate.
00:39:56.192 --> 00:39:58.553
(Puia) Yes, so you can't
00:39:58.553 --> 00:40:00.487
separate the two, right?
00:40:00.487 --> 00:40:04.299
Making peace and having mercy
go hand-in-hand.
00:40:04.299 --> 00:40:05.847
Can anyone share an experience
00:40:05.847 --> 00:40:08.745
where God gave you the opportunity
00:40:08.745 --> 00:40:10.638
to be the peacemaker?
00:40:10.638 --> 00:40:12.051
And any experience
00:40:12.051 --> 00:40:14.923
that you have had of making peace?
00:40:14.923 --> 00:40:17.088
It could be between two of your friends,
00:40:17.088 --> 00:40:19.194
or it could be between two countries
00:40:19.194 --> 00:40:22.784
or two schools or two institutions.
00:40:22.784 --> 00:40:25.225
Have you had any experience? Yes, Nancy.
00:40:25.225 --> 00:40:26.463
(Nancy) With my children.
00:40:26.463 --> 00:40:30.470
I have two sons, and I found
00:40:30.470 --> 00:40:32.576
that what's helpful is to listen to them.
00:40:32.576 --> 00:40:33.987
People want to be heard,
00:40:33.987 --> 00:40:35.732
and when you hear their perspective,
00:40:35.732 --> 00:40:36.690
you understand more
00:40:36.690 --> 00:40:37.962
where they're coming from.
00:40:37.962 --> 00:40:39.373
And then they come to a place
00:40:39.373 --> 00:40:40.815
where they can reconcile.
00:40:40.815 --> 00:40:42.135
(Puia) Yes, so it starts
00:40:42.135 --> 00:40:43.835
with the family. Gladys?
00:40:43.835 --> 00:40:46.187
(Gladys) Yes, recently in my school,
00:40:46.187 --> 00:40:47.511
there was some situation
00:40:47.511 --> 00:40:51.503
with a teacher and another teacher.
00:40:51.503 --> 00:40:53.535
One teacher thought that the other teacher
00:40:53.535 --> 00:40:55.637
had said something about her,
00:40:55.637 --> 00:40:57.765
and she was very defensive.
00:40:57.765 --> 00:40:59.867
And it was just like the Lord
00:40:59.867 --> 00:41:01.973
just said, "Just ask."
00:41:01.973 --> 00:41:04.430
I said, "Have you talked to her?"
00:41:04.430 --> 00:41:07.021
It was just a simple, "Have you
talked to her?
00:41:07.021 --> 00:41:09.102
Ask her exactly...," you know,
00:41:09.102 --> 00:41:10.369
because sometimes people
00:41:10.369 --> 00:41:12.260
just are afraid to go straight on
00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:15.579
and say, "Hey, I heard this;
is this true?"
00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:17.735
So it was so simple, but at the same time
00:41:17.735 --> 00:41:19.403
so profound to me, because the Lord
00:41:19.403 --> 00:41:21.343
was just, like, speaking to me as well.
00:41:21.343 --> 00:41:22.629
When I have a situation,
00:41:22.629 --> 00:41:24.429
do I go first to the person
00:41:24.429 --> 00:41:28.063
and say, "Hey, can we work this out?"
00:41:28.063 --> 00:41:30.065
So it was just an amazing experience,
00:41:30.065 --> 00:41:32.896
not only for her and the other teacher,
00:41:32.896 --> 00:41:35.029
but it was also for me,
00:41:35.029 --> 00:41:37.853
being able to ask the question
00:41:37.853 --> 00:41:39.540
and solve the situation.
00:41:39.540 --> 00:41:42.925
(Puia) Amen. God puts us in situations
00:41:42.925 --> 00:41:44.134
and places where we
00:41:44.134 --> 00:41:46.475
can be peacemakers, right?
00:41:46.475 --> 00:41:50.106
And so we have looked at one way
00:41:50.106 --> 00:41:54.288
of showing mercy or having mercy
00:41:54.288 --> 00:41:56.657
by being generous, right?
00:41:56.657 --> 00:41:58.914
And the next that we just looked at
00:41:58.914 --> 00:42:00.780
is by being peacemakers.
00:42:00.780 --> 00:42:02.526
Now let's go further into our lesson
00:42:02.526 --> 00:42:04.103
and study another way
00:42:04.103 --> 00:42:07.745
of having mercy or loving mercy.
00:42:07.745 --> 00:42:13.524
Let us read Psalm number 146 and verse 9,
00:42:13.524 --> 00:42:17.218
and, Jonathan, can you
00:42:17.218 --> 00:42:22.033
please read for us Psalm 146, verse 9?
00:42:22.033 --> 00:42:23.889
(Jonathan) All right, I'll be reading
00:42:23.889 --> 00:42:25.582
from the New Living Translation:
00:42:37.589 --> 00:42:40.364
(Puia) All right, before we unpack that,
00:42:40.364 --> 00:42:42.913
let us read Isaiah, chapter 58,
00:42:42.913 --> 00:42:46.210
verses 6 and 7, and, Treva,
00:42:46.210 --> 00:42:47.839
if you can read for us
00:42:47.839 --> 00:42:51.269
Isaiah 58, verses 6 and 7.
00:42:51.269 --> 00:42:56.211
We will look at these two verses
00:42:56.211 --> 00:42:57.356
and answer the question,
00:42:57.356 --> 00:42:59.247
what other ways can we
00:42:59.247 --> 00:43:01.454
show mercy to others?
00:43:01.454 --> 00:43:03.684
Isaiah 58, verses 6 and 7.
00:43:03.684 --> 00:43:05.000
(Treva) And I'll be reading
00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:07.279
from the New King James translation,
00:43:07.279 --> 00:43:08.979
starting with verse 6:
00:43:37.478 --> 00:43:39.982
(Puia) So, looking at those two verses
00:43:39.982 --> 00:43:41.577
that we just read,
00:43:41.577 --> 00:43:44.269
what stands out for you?
00:43:44.269 --> 00:43:46.124
Travis, I see you smiling.
00:43:46.124 --> 00:43:47.311
(Travis) I've studied
00:43:47.311 --> 00:43:48.956
this whole chapter a lot,
00:43:48.956 --> 00:43:50.966
and there are multiple meanings
00:43:50.966 --> 00:43:53.094
in this thing for me...First...
00:43:53.094 --> 00:43:55.211
(Puia) But in the context
of our study today.
00:43:55.211 --> 00:43:57.220
(Travis) In the context of our study today
00:43:57.220 --> 00:43:58.847
is there are people in this world
00:43:58.847 --> 00:44:01.158
who don't know Jesus,
00:44:01.158 --> 00:44:04.789
and when it talks about, that we
00:44:04.789 --> 00:44:06.856
should clothe somebody,
00:44:06.856 --> 00:44:07.931
many are not clothed
00:44:07.931 --> 00:44:09.823
with the righteousness of Christ.
00:44:09.823 --> 00:44:11.306
When people are hungry,
00:44:11.306 --> 00:44:13.241
Jesus says, "I am the bread of life."
00:44:13.241 --> 00:44:15.165
We need to bring them the bread of life.
00:44:15.165 --> 00:44:16.884
It's not just physical food,
00:44:16.884 --> 00:44:19.172
but we can bring them spiritual food.
00:44:19.172 --> 00:44:21.429
And at the end, it says,
00:44:21.429 --> 00:44:23.773
"Don't hide yourself from your own flesh."
00:44:23.773 --> 00:44:26.961
We, as Christians, need to be open;
00:44:26.961 --> 00:44:29.702
we're just sinners, just like
everybody else,
00:44:29.702 --> 00:44:31.456
and to hide yourself
00:44:31.456 --> 00:44:33.657
from who you are to people,
00:44:33.657 --> 00:44:36.650
it's basically lying.
00:44:36.650 --> 00:44:38.538
(Puia) Yes, thank you. Nicole.
00:44:38.538 --> 00:44:41.155
(Nicole) While I agree
with what Travis said,
00:44:41.155 --> 00:44:43.567
you have to also look at the people
who have needs.
00:44:43.567 --> 00:44:45.157
There are people who are hungry;
00:44:45.157 --> 00:44:46.827
there are people who need shelter.
00:44:46.827 --> 00:44:49.087
And just as Jesus did, He met
the physical needs
00:44:49.087 --> 00:44:51.182
of the individuals He came
in contact with,
00:44:51.182 --> 00:44:53.705
and then He also blessed them spiritually.
00:44:53.705 --> 00:44:54.690
So sometimes we have
00:44:54.690 --> 00:44:56.133
to reach people where they are
00:44:56.133 --> 00:44:57.673
in order to get their attention,
00:44:57.673 --> 00:44:59.506
and then we can bring them Jesus
00:44:59.506 --> 00:45:01.609
and let them know, "Listen,
because of Jesus,
00:45:01.609 --> 00:45:02.842
I was able to help you."
00:45:02.842 --> 00:45:04.663
And that may be able to reach someone
00:45:04.663 --> 00:45:07.085
in a way that we couldn't reach them
any other way.
00:45:07.096 --> 00:45:08.675
(Puia) These are people
00:45:08.675 --> 00:45:09.984
who need help. Yes, Gladys?
00:45:09.984 --> 00:45:11.094
(Gladys) I was thinking
00:45:11.094 --> 00:45:12.430
in the same vein as Nicole,
00:45:12.430 --> 00:45:14.903
that sometime we just, like,
00:45:14.903 --> 00:45:18.783
say to the people, "I'm going
to pray for you."
00:45:18.783 --> 00:45:20.566
And we have the resources
00:45:20.566 --> 00:45:21.920
or know the connections
00:45:21.920 --> 00:45:23.656
or have somebody that can help them,
00:45:23.656 --> 00:45:25.983
but we just say, "We're going
to pray for you,"
00:45:25.983 --> 00:45:27.774
and we don't get involved personally.
00:45:27.774 --> 00:45:29.039
So I think that the text
00:45:29.039 --> 00:45:31.515
is basically telling us,
00:45:31.515 --> 00:45:33.766
"Just go out there and do your part,
00:45:33.766 --> 00:45:37.283
do what you can do, and God will provide."
00:45:37.283 --> 00:45:39.224
(Puia) Yes. Patricia.
00:45:39.224 --> 00:45:41.698
(Patricia) I noticed that the first text
that we read
00:45:41.698 --> 00:45:44.626
says the Lord watches over those people,
00:45:44.626 --> 00:45:45.818
but then the second text
00:45:45.818 --> 00:45:50.756
is telling us, "You need to do it,"
I thought...
00:45:50.756 --> 00:45:54.609
(Puia) So can we say that God is asking us
00:45:54.609 --> 00:45:57.274
to stand up for those people,
00:45:57.274 --> 00:46:00.709
to be the voice for the voiceless, right?
00:46:00.709 --> 00:46:02.980
To stand up for the unjustice
00:46:02.980 --> 00:46:04.888
that we see around us. Yes, Derek.
00:46:04.888 --> 00:46:07.661
(Derek) I heard a story, Puia,
just this weekend,
00:46:07.661 --> 00:46:09.462
and I won't share all of the details,
00:46:09.462 --> 00:46:11.718
but it was a family
00:46:11.718 --> 00:46:13.441
that saw another family,
00:46:13.441 --> 00:46:15.850
that it was in great need.
00:46:15.850 --> 00:46:17.810
The family had suffered
00:46:17.810 --> 00:46:20.070
some trauma in an accident,
00:46:20.070 --> 00:46:21.613
and this other family said,
00:46:21.613 --> 00:46:23.730
"You know, our house just happens
00:46:23.730 --> 00:46:28.640
to be a handicap-accessible house.
00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:31.803
We have ramps; we have wide doors."
00:46:31.803 --> 00:46:34.415
Now, that could just be a coincidence,
00:46:34.415 --> 00:46:37.605
or it could be that even ahead of time,
00:46:37.605 --> 00:46:40.213
God provided, and so then he
00:46:40.213 --> 00:46:42.505
brought this family in need,
00:46:42.505 --> 00:46:45.298
who would need wide doors and ramps.
00:46:45.298 --> 00:46:47.012
You know what I'm saying?
00:46:47.012 --> 00:46:48.631
So I think, when we just pray,
00:46:48.631 --> 00:46:50.932
"God, I want to be open
00:46:50.932 --> 00:46:53.845
to love mercy like You do today,"
00:46:53.845 --> 00:46:55.686
that He might say, "I have someone
00:46:55.686 --> 00:46:57.379
that needs exactly..." -
00:46:57.379 --> 00:46:58.546
back to what Pedro said,
00:46:58.546 --> 00:47:00.621
it may be a skill, or it may be a home
00:47:00.621 --> 00:47:03.291
that has wide doors and ramps -
00:47:03.291 --> 00:47:04.864
"...and I'm going to lead someone
00:47:04.864 --> 00:47:08.311
so that you can show My love to them."
00:47:08.311 --> 00:47:11.443
(Puia) Yes. God loves everyone,
00:47:11.443 --> 00:47:14.660
but He wants to use us as His instrument
00:47:14.660 --> 00:47:17.424
and His hands and feet. Yes, Nancy.
00:47:17.424 --> 00:47:18.932
(Nancy) I have friends who have
00:47:18.932 --> 00:47:20.339
three children of their own,
00:47:20.339 --> 00:47:22.976
but then I believe they were
00:47:22.976 --> 00:47:24.973
thinking about adopting,
00:47:24.973 --> 00:47:29.061
and God actually showed the mom a vision.
00:47:29.061 --> 00:47:31.217
She was out in the summertime,
00:47:31.217 --> 00:47:33.255
and she saw in the clouds
00:47:33.255 --> 00:47:35.552
a formation of the word "joy."
00:47:35.552 --> 00:47:37.193
She thought, "Am I seeing things?
00:47:37.193 --> 00:47:38.743
It seems to say 'joy.'"
00:47:38.743 --> 00:47:40.210
And they went to a service,
00:47:40.210 --> 00:47:42.169
and they were singing a song
00:47:42.169 --> 00:47:44.049
that had the word joy in it a lot.
00:47:44.049 --> 00:47:45.550
And then they just kept running
00:47:45.550 --> 00:47:47.316
into situations with the word "joy."
00:47:47.316 --> 00:47:48.930
It turns out that the little girl
00:47:48.930 --> 00:47:50.340
that they were to adopt,
00:47:50.340 --> 00:47:52.982
her name has "joy" in it.
00:47:52.982 --> 00:47:55.935
And she's just this little Asian girl
00:47:55.935 --> 00:47:57.577
with Down syndrome,
00:47:57.577 --> 00:47:59.475
and she's just precious.
00:47:59.475 --> 00:48:01.083
Now, you would think that that...
00:48:01.083 --> 00:48:02.495
Okay, they adopted one,
00:48:02.495 --> 00:48:05.299
but they also adopted two more children.
00:48:05.299 --> 00:48:08.602
By the time...They had already
adopted one,
00:48:08.602 --> 00:48:10.141
and then they adopted this one.
00:48:10.141 --> 00:48:13.464
And then the husband had a dream,
00:48:13.464 --> 00:48:15.958
and in the dream he dreamt
00:48:15.958 --> 00:48:17.771
that he was in a courthouse,
00:48:17.771 --> 00:48:22.157
and he and all of his family,
a big, big famiiy,
00:48:22.157 --> 00:48:24.353
were on one side, and on the other side
00:48:24.353 --> 00:48:25.554
was this little boy,
00:48:25.554 --> 00:48:27.195
this little Asian boy,
00:48:27.195 --> 00:48:29.134
and he was all by himself.
00:48:29.134 --> 00:48:32.199
And the judge asked him
00:48:32.199 --> 00:48:34.683
if he was willing to adopt him.
00:48:34.683 --> 00:48:37.251
And he thought, "I already have
00:48:37.251 --> 00:48:40.052
my three children and two others."
00:48:40.052 --> 00:48:43.045
And then the Spirit of God spoke to him,
00:48:43.045 --> 00:48:45.842
"But this boy has no one."
00:48:45.842 --> 00:48:47.372
And they adopted him, too.
00:48:47.372 --> 00:48:49.399
And these children, the little boy,
00:48:49.399 --> 00:48:52.146
is one of my son's very dear friends.
00:48:52.146 --> 00:48:54.396
And I just really admire this family.
00:48:54.396 --> 00:48:57.226
They've given so generously.
00:48:57.226 --> 00:49:00.722
Exactly, this is what God calls us to be,
00:49:00.722 --> 00:49:03.817
to give, to give extravagantly
00:49:03.817 --> 00:49:05.688
like He gives to us.
00:49:05.688 --> 00:49:09.486
(Puia) Amen. So let's look
00:49:09.486 --> 00:49:12.003
at the ministry of Jesus.
00:49:12.003 --> 00:49:14.698
Looking at His time
00:49:14.698 --> 00:49:16.301
while he was here on earth,
00:49:16.301 --> 00:49:17.767
when do we see Jesus
00:49:17.767 --> 00:49:19.633
standing up for people
00:49:19.633 --> 00:49:21.121
who didn't have a voice
00:49:21.121 --> 00:49:23.956
or people, those who need His help?
00:49:23.956 --> 00:49:26.529
Is there any story or chapter
00:49:26.529 --> 00:49:29.185
or something that you have read
00:49:29.185 --> 00:49:31.579
comes to mind of when Jesus
00:49:31.579 --> 00:49:32.989
stood up for someone
00:49:32.989 --> 00:49:34.731
who didn't have a voice? Yes, Treva.
00:49:34.731 --> 00:49:36.897
(Treva) I think is a very subtle example;
00:49:36.897 --> 00:49:38.797
I think it's in, maybe, Luke,
00:49:38.797 --> 00:49:40.465
I believe, chapter 14,
00:49:40.465 --> 00:49:41.999
but the woman that came in,
00:49:41.999 --> 00:49:44.656
and she used her tears
00:49:44.656 --> 00:49:46.589
to wash Jesus' feet.
00:49:46.589 --> 00:49:48.363
She had that expensive oil,
00:49:48.363 --> 00:49:50.264
anointed His head.
00:49:50.264 --> 00:49:54.705
And Judas was like, "Wait a minute,
so wasteful.
00:49:54.705 --> 00:49:57.756
She could have used that money
for the poor."
00:49:57.756 --> 00:50:00.001
And we know, at the time,
00:50:00.001 --> 00:50:01.668
Judas was not being sincere
00:50:01.668 --> 00:50:02.803
because he was the one
00:50:02.803 --> 00:50:04.069
that kept the money bag
00:50:04.069 --> 00:50:07.071
and doing some cheating there
with the money.
00:50:07.071 --> 00:50:10.229
And so Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
00:50:10.229 --> 00:50:12.548
She has done a good thing."
00:50:12.548 --> 00:50:14.463
So I think that's a very subtle example
00:50:14.463 --> 00:50:16.791
where Jesus was like, "Wait a minute.
00:50:16.791 --> 00:50:18.790
This woman is doing a good thing.
00:50:18.790 --> 00:50:22.211
Do not fault her for doing that."
00:50:22.212 --> 00:50:25.327
(Puia) Yes, thank you. Yes, Nicole.
00:50:25.327 --> 00:50:28.145
(Nicole) In Luke, same book,
00:50:28.145 --> 00:50:30.340
when He raised the widow's son.
00:50:30.340 --> 00:50:32.512
You know, the widow, she had no one else.
00:50:32.512 --> 00:50:33.715
All she had was her son.
00:50:33.715 --> 00:50:34.856
Her son passed away.
00:50:34.856 --> 00:50:36.090
She was very, very sad,
00:50:36.090 --> 00:50:38.244
and He went and took compassion on her
00:50:38.244 --> 00:50:39.967
and did not want her to be alone.
00:50:39.967 --> 00:50:41.191
And so He actually raised
00:50:41.191 --> 00:50:42.248
her son from the dead.
00:50:42.248 --> 00:50:44.976
So that's Him looking out for widows
and children.
00:50:44.976 --> 00:50:47.612
(Puia) Yes. Yes, Stephanie.
00:50:47.612 --> 00:50:48.906
(Stephanie) I was thinking
00:50:48.906 --> 00:50:49.832
of when the mothers
00:50:49.832 --> 00:50:51.305
brought their children to Jesus
00:50:51.305 --> 00:50:53.037
for Him to bless them,
00:50:53.037 --> 00:50:55.252
and His disciples were, you know,
00:50:55.252 --> 00:50:56.660
"Don't bother the Savior."
00:50:56.660 --> 00:50:58.894
And He said, "No, bring them here,"
00:50:58.894 --> 00:51:00.647
and He blessed each one of them.
00:51:00.647 --> 00:51:03.266
(Puia) Amen. Yes, Pedro.
00:51:03.266 --> 00:51:04.437
(Pedro) It's interesting
00:51:04.437 --> 00:51:06.451
that, even during the suffering of Christ,
00:51:06.451 --> 00:51:07.945
you know, He was on the cross,
00:51:07.945 --> 00:51:09.165
He remembered His mother.
00:51:09.165 --> 00:51:10.664
And He cared for her and said,
00:51:10.664 --> 00:51:12.456
"John, take care of My mother."
00:51:12.456 --> 00:51:14.508
He's dying on the cross for our sins,
00:51:14.508 --> 00:51:16.838
but He looked down, and He remembered
00:51:16.838 --> 00:51:18.928
that His mother was there.
00:51:18.936 --> 00:51:21.074
(Puia) Yes. Gary.
00:51:21.074 --> 00:51:22.894
(Gary) I can't remember which feeding,
00:51:22.894 --> 00:51:27.154
but it was...I believe, the gospel said
00:51:27.154 --> 00:51:30.537
that Jesus had compassion on the multitude
00:51:30.537 --> 00:51:32.146
that was following Him
00:51:32.146 --> 00:51:34.439
for X number of days,
00:51:34.439 --> 00:51:35.968
and He fed them all.
00:51:35.968 --> 00:51:38.179
(Puia) So throughout the ministry
of Jesus,
00:51:38.180 --> 00:51:40.738
we find Him standing up for people,
00:51:40.738 --> 00:51:42.398
standing up for the oppressed,
00:51:42.398 --> 00:51:43.895
standing up for people
00:51:43.895 --> 00:51:45.928
who are outcasts, right?
00:51:45.928 --> 00:51:48.917
Jesus was always the voice
for the voiceless.
00:51:48.917 --> 00:51:50.393
And that's why His teachings
00:51:50.393 --> 00:51:53.265
were so radical for His time.
00:51:53.265 --> 00:51:55.928
Now, let's come our day and age today
00:51:55.928 --> 00:51:59.958
in modern times; who comes to your mind
00:51:59.966 --> 00:52:01.299
as someone who stands up
00:52:01.299 --> 00:52:03.519
and speaks for the voiceless
00:52:03.519 --> 00:52:05.109
or people who are oppressed?
00:52:05.109 --> 00:52:06.957
It could be from outside of the Bible
00:52:06.957 --> 00:52:09.457
outside of the Christian literature.
00:52:09.457 --> 00:52:12.084
Anybody come to mind as an example,
00:52:12.084 --> 00:52:15.953
who fights for the rights of people?
Yes, Derek.
00:52:15.953 --> 00:52:17.160
(Derek) I'm just thinking
00:52:17.160 --> 00:52:20.334
that we probably wouldn't know their name
00:52:20.334 --> 00:52:23.424
because that's not why they're doing it.
00:52:23.424 --> 00:52:26.292
So they're in the inner city
00:52:26.292 --> 00:52:28.261
closest to where we live,
00:52:28.261 --> 00:52:29.801
and they're getting out there,
00:52:29.801 --> 00:52:31.958
and they're maybe running the food pantry,
00:52:31.958 --> 00:52:34.013
like Treva talked about in your home area,
00:52:34.013 --> 00:52:39.497
and they're not being interviewed
on national TV,
00:52:39.497 --> 00:52:42.589
but they are, indeed,
00:52:42.589 --> 00:52:44.920
extending the love of God
00:52:44.920 --> 00:52:46.853
in a very tangible way.
00:52:46.853 --> 00:52:49.643
Maybe we should ask "the least of these,"
00:52:49.643 --> 00:52:51.994
and they would tell us who they are.
00:52:51.994 --> 00:52:54.010
They say, "Oh, it's Susan," "It's John,"
00:52:54.010 --> 00:52:57.279
"It's that person that comes,"
00:52:57.279 --> 00:52:59.389
you know, "late at night."
00:52:59.389 --> 00:53:02.835
That story I heard of an elderly lady
00:53:02.835 --> 00:53:04.751
who decided she would have a ministry
00:53:04.751 --> 00:53:07.828
to women who were on the streets,
and would come
00:53:07.828 --> 00:53:09.299
and put her arms around them.
00:53:09.299 --> 00:53:11.256
Now, you talk about different talents,
00:53:11.256 --> 00:53:13.407
that's not a talent that God would ask
00:53:13.407 --> 00:53:16.143
Gary or Jonathan to do, you know,
00:53:16.143 --> 00:53:19.813
but this mother, this loving, godly woman,
00:53:19.813 --> 00:53:22.436
could go out there and put her arms
00:53:22.436 --> 00:53:24.301
around these young women
00:53:24.301 --> 00:53:27.606
who were in such a dangerous setting.
00:53:27.606 --> 00:53:29.069
We may never know their names,
00:53:29.069 --> 00:53:31.191
but Jesus knows their names.
00:53:31.203 --> 00:53:34.914
(Puia) Amen. So, someone,
00:53:34.914 --> 00:53:36.879
let's say a Hope Sabbath School member
00:53:36.879 --> 00:53:38.826
from another part of the world
00:53:38.826 --> 00:53:40.712
is watching this episode
00:53:40.712 --> 00:53:43.469
and is wondering, "Yes, I'm convicted
00:53:43.469 --> 00:53:45.684
that I need to show mercy,
00:53:45.684 --> 00:53:47.630
that I need to love mercy,
00:53:47.630 --> 00:53:49.650
but what can I do now?"
00:53:49.650 --> 00:53:52.462
"How can my love for mercy expand?"
00:53:52.462 --> 00:53:54.519
What if someone is asking that question,
00:53:54.519 --> 00:53:56.677
how would you respond? Yes, Nicole.
00:53:56.677 --> 00:53:59.036
(Nicole) I would say the first thing
to do is pray
00:53:59.036 --> 00:54:00.491
and ask the Spirit to lead you
00:54:00.491 --> 00:54:02.605
and guide you in the way
that you should go
00:54:02.605 --> 00:54:04.329
to be able to show mercy to someone.
00:54:04.329 --> 00:54:05.687
Because I think on our own,
00:54:05.687 --> 00:54:06.992
we are not capable, really,
00:54:06.992 --> 00:54:08.121
of showing true mercy
00:54:08.121 --> 00:54:09.963
because that's just not our character.
00:54:09.963 --> 00:54:11.436
But with the Holy Spirit
00:54:11.436 --> 00:54:12.844
and with Christ in our lives,
00:54:12.844 --> 00:54:14.491
I think we then are led
00:54:14.491 --> 00:54:16.260
to where we can actually show mercy.
00:54:16.260 --> 00:54:17.953
And then we ask the Lord to give us
00:54:17.953 --> 00:54:20.474
the strength to be merciful to that person
00:54:20.474 --> 00:54:21.951
that we come in contact with.
00:54:21.951 --> 00:54:23.268
(Puia) Yes. Yes, Gladys?
00:54:23.268 --> 00:54:25.413
(Gladys) Just like Pastor Derek
was saying,
00:54:25.413 --> 00:54:27.854
just making ourselves available.
00:54:27.854 --> 00:54:30.774
It's not just praying
00:54:30.774 --> 00:54:33.677
but also making ourselves available.
00:54:33.677 --> 00:54:35.815
Like, "God, lead us to the person
00:54:35.815 --> 00:54:37.302
or to the people that we need
00:54:37.302 --> 00:54:39.134
to be serving every day."
00:54:39.134 --> 00:54:43.422
(Puia) Yes. Adison, anything else
come to mind?
00:54:43.422 --> 00:54:45.828
(Adison) I specifically am from Canada,
00:54:45.828 --> 00:54:46.864
and I'm just thinking
00:54:46.864 --> 00:54:49.272
about my home church right now,
00:54:49.272 --> 00:54:51.086
growing up there, and it's always had
00:54:51.086 --> 00:54:53.060
a special place in my heart.
00:54:53.060 --> 00:54:56.941
And so I just want to re-echo the things
00:54:56.941 --> 00:54:58.443
that have been said here today
00:54:58.443 --> 00:55:02.635
to my home church back home
in Canada.
00:55:02.635 --> 00:55:04.588
I just want you to continue, each of you,
00:55:04.588 --> 00:55:06.768
to show mercy to others.
00:55:06.768 --> 00:55:09.320
Pray for a willing spirit, and allow God
00:55:09.320 --> 00:55:10.959
to use you in a powerful way.
00:55:10.959 --> 00:55:13.203
(Puia) Amen. Pedro.
00:55:13.203 --> 00:55:14.831
(Pedro) We see that relationship
00:55:14.831 --> 00:55:16.566
is key for this to happen
00:55:16.566 --> 00:55:18.359
because if we don't know the people,
00:55:18.359 --> 00:55:19.690
how can you help them?
00:55:19.690 --> 00:55:21.699
So, get to know...In prayer,
00:55:21.699 --> 00:55:23.800
ask God to put people in your life
00:55:23.800 --> 00:55:26.389
that you will be able to impact.
00:55:26.389 --> 00:55:28.138
If we don't have the relationship
00:55:28.138 --> 00:55:30.129
to meet with them on a personal level,
00:55:30.129 --> 00:55:31.350
you will never know.
00:55:31.350 --> 00:55:34.204
(Puia) Amen. Gary?
00:55:34.204 --> 00:55:37.258
(Gary) Pray for an understanding
00:55:37.258 --> 00:55:41.082
of how God has been merciful
to yourself, to you,
00:55:41.082 --> 00:55:43.694
because, without a true appreciation
00:55:43.694 --> 00:55:45.150
for what God is doing
00:55:45.150 --> 00:55:47.795
or what He has done for you,
00:55:47.795 --> 00:55:49.854
you can't be spurred on to do anything,
00:55:49.854 --> 00:55:52.631
even if people are around you
that need it.
00:55:52.631 --> 00:55:54.774
But when you ask God to open your eyes
00:55:54.774 --> 00:55:56.770
to see how much He has blessed you,
00:55:56.770 --> 00:55:58.345
and been a blessing in your life,
00:55:58.345 --> 00:56:00.207
you'd want to share that.
00:56:00.207 --> 00:56:01.937
(Puia) Those are all good points.
00:56:01.937 --> 00:56:03.666
To add my personal point of view,
00:56:03.666 --> 00:56:06.145
I think, in my personal experience,
00:56:06.145 --> 00:56:08.416
when it comes to having mercy
towards others,
00:56:08.416 --> 00:56:10.793
what has helped me is education,
00:56:10.793 --> 00:56:13.314
you know, reading and exploring,
00:56:13.314 --> 00:56:15.535
knowing the facts, being informed
00:56:15.535 --> 00:56:17.914
about what is happening around the world,
00:56:17.914 --> 00:56:20.111
and also traveling.
00:56:20.111 --> 00:56:22.097
You know, traveling really helps.
00:56:22.097 --> 00:56:24.170
It's one thing to see someone in need
00:56:24.170 --> 00:56:25.713
through a TV screen,
00:56:25.713 --> 00:56:27.519
but it's a whole other experience
00:56:27.519 --> 00:56:29.790
when you're actually on the ground,
00:56:29.790 --> 00:56:31.449
seeing the people in need.
00:56:31.449 --> 00:56:34.576
You know, you could visit
a refugee center,
00:56:34.576 --> 00:56:38.366
or visit a refugee camp somewhere,
00:56:38.366 --> 00:56:40.209
or even a refugee resettlement
00:56:40.209 --> 00:56:42.420
here in the United States.
00:56:42.420 --> 00:56:44.851
We can go to the grounds,
and by traveling,
00:56:44.851 --> 00:56:48.235
I believe we can really find
practical needs
00:56:48.235 --> 00:56:50.287
that we can help people with.
00:56:50.287 --> 00:56:52.154
Now, let's conclude our study.
00:56:52.154 --> 00:56:54.000
So, we have looked at the fact
00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:57.184
that God wants us to be merciful,
00:56:57.184 --> 00:56:58.449
and we can be merciful
00:56:58.449 --> 00:57:00.838
by being generous, right,
00:57:00.838 --> 00:57:02.474
being the peacemakers
00:57:02.474 --> 00:57:06.012
and standing up for people in need.
00:57:06.012 --> 00:57:07.336
(Derek) What a great study.
00:57:07.336 --> 00:57:08.999
You know, I'm just reminded
00:57:08.999 --> 00:57:10.621
of what Jesus said.
00:57:10.621 --> 00:57:13.657
And Jesus says it simply but powerfully,
00:57:13.657 --> 00:57:17.075
He says, "Be merciful,
00:57:17.075 --> 00:57:18.159
just as your Father
00:57:18.159 --> 00:57:20.242
in Heaven is merciful."
00:57:20.242 --> 00:57:21.884
Let's pray that that could happen,
00:57:21.884 --> 00:57:24.307
and, you're right, Nicole,
it is a miracle,
00:57:24.307 --> 00:57:26.666
but it can happen by the power
00:57:26.666 --> 00:57:28.062
of the Holy Spirit.
00:57:28.062 --> 00:57:30.066
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,
00:57:30.066 --> 00:57:31.327
we're just so thankful
00:57:31.327 --> 00:57:33.205
that You are a merciful God,
00:57:33.205 --> 00:57:34.848
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
00:57:34.848 --> 00:57:36.793
that You love mercy
00:57:36.793 --> 00:57:39.018
and that You want to show Your mercy
00:57:39.018 --> 00:57:40.710
in us and through us.
00:57:40.710 --> 00:57:42.751
We just want to be available,
00:57:42.751 --> 00:57:44.789
not just to talk about mercy,
00:57:44.789 --> 00:57:47.748
but to act mercifully.
00:57:47.748 --> 00:57:49.514
May those around us be blessed,
00:57:49.514 --> 00:57:51.298
and may joy come to Your heart.
00:57:51.298 --> 00:57:54.091
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
00:57:54.091 --> 00:57:54.949
(Team) Amen.
00:57:54.949 --> 00:57:57.433
(Derek) What a challenging study;
thank you, Puia.
00:57:57.433 --> 00:57:58.807
Thank you for being with us.
00:57:58.807 --> 00:58:00.547
Don't just go out and talk mercy,
00:58:00.547 --> 00:58:02.068
go out and be merciful.
00:58:02.068 --> 00:58:04.116
Be a blessing to those around you.
00:58:04.116 --> 00:58:28.986
♪ theme music ♪