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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 in the middle

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of a series of studies

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on <i>Ezra and Nehemiah,</i>

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an ancient priest, an ancient courtier,

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that God used by His Spirit
to give messages,

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not only for their generation

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but also for us today.

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Today we're going to glimpse at worship

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in Ezra and Nehemiah's time,

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<i>Worshiping the Lord,</i>

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and it will inspire us as we think

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about out own worship of the Lord today.

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So welcome to Hope Sabbath School.

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What's the most important lesson

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we've learned from <i>Ezra</i>

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<i>and Nehemiah</i> so far?

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What do you think?

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(Jason) God is in control.

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(Derek) God is in control,

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and God uses people, doesn't He?

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People like Ezra and Nehemiah,

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and, of course, you've got

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a contemporary with Esther,

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men and women of God who are, like,

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"God, I'm available to be used by You."

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And we're just so glad that you are part

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of that global team

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because it's not just a few of us here

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but Hope Sabbath School members

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in 150 countries around the world

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that are part of God's team, sharing

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the good news of a God who loves us

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with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

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Here is Jimilai in Fiji who says, "Bula!"

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(Team) Bula!

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(Derek) That's a greeting.

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"I want to praise God

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for the marvelous work the Holy Spirit

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is doing through Hope Sabbath School.

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I never miss any of your series.

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I always download all of the topics
on my phone

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and share them with my friends."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "It helps me,

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taking the Sabbath School class

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in my ministry at the park

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where I teach and share with those

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who sleep on the streets."

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(Team) Wow.

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(Derek) "We meet in the park
every Sabbath.

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We also have Sabbath School in the park.

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We share lunch together.

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Sometimes there is not enough food,

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but God's love is more than what we need."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "After lunch, we go
to the hospital

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and orphanages for visits."

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I tell you, Jimilai sounds, like,

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on fire for Jesus, wouldn't you say?

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"I thank God that He brought me

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to Hope ministry to encourage me

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in every way and enlighten me
and my family

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to press forward until eternity,

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knowing the end is near,

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and we should be ready to go home."

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(Team) Amen!

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(Derek) I want to thank you, Jimilai,

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for writing to us from Fiji.

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And he says, "We really need

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your prayers for our lives,

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those who are on the streets,

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that we can hang in there, no matter

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what may come until Jesus comes."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Did you know we had

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a Hope Sabbath School member in Fiji

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teaching homeless people in a park? Amen?

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Solomon writes to us from Nigeria.

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Solomon, thanks for being part

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of our Hope Sabbath School family.

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"I'm very happy with the work of God

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that you are doing," he says.

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"I was born into a Christian family,

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and up til now I'm still following Jesus."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "I watch your program every week,

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and it makes me happy,

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and I'm filled with the Spirit.

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Even if I have problems,

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I turn and I watch the program,

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and my problems go away."

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Well, that's interesting.

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Maybe the problems are still there,

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but I'm not focusing on them anymore.

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"Happiness in the Holy Spirit takes over.

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Glory be to God Almighty."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Solomon, thanks

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for your testimony; you cheered us up.

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And it's true, when we turn

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our eyes towards Jesus, as the song goes,

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the things of Earth, what?

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(Team) Grow strangely dim.

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(Derek) They may still be problems
and challenges,

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but they grow strangely dim.

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Roatan, Honduras, Leonardo writes

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and says, "I just want to say,

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'Keep up the good work.'

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It's a blessing to learn God's Word

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and to understand God's Word with you.

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I'm from Bay Island, Roatan, Honduras."

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Well, Leonardo, thanks for the short note

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to Hope Sabbath School.

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We're glad you're part of our family.

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Here's a short note

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from a donor in Pennsylvania,

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and I just want to thank each one of you

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that prays and supports.

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We're a donor-supported ministry.

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"Thanks once again for all you do

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to help people understand the Bible."

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Do you hear the theme

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coming through over and over again?

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My life would be lost without it."

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(Stephanie) Wow.

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(Derek) As always, keep up the good work

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of spreading God's Word."

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Well, thanks for writing

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to us from Pennsylvania.

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We're glad that you're part

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of our Hope Sabbath School family.

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And thank you for your support
and your prayers.

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One last note, from Gaetano in Malta,

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the island of Malta; Malta is where?

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(Kenneth) Near Greece.

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(Derek) Right, in the Mediterranean Sea,

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not far from Greece.

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"I am from Malta,

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a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.

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I watch Hope Sabbath School

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when I'm at home.

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I sometimes lead a class at my church.

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Thanks for what you're doing.

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May the Lord bless you.

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May we all find ourselves

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in the city of God."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) That's the prayer, right?

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"I pray for you; please pray for me.

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I have still got some things

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to get rid of in my life

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to be more like Jesus."

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Well, you know, it's true,

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the closer we come to Jesus,

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the more we see our own deficiencies.

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But we're not focusing on those things;

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otherwise; what happens to us?

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We get depressed, right?

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We want to turn our eyes on Jesus.

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And then he concludes,

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"I am thankful for all of you.

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God bless you, your brother

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in Christ in Malta."

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Well, Gaetano, thanks for writing to us

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from that beautiful island.

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And thanks to each one of you

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for writing to Hope Sabbath School.

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You can write to sshope@hopetv.org.

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We send it to the team,

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and it really gives us encouragement

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to see how God is changing lives
around the world.

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Right now we want to sing

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our theme song, 3,000 years old.

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The words, Psalm 25,

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the tune is one that my wife composed,

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and it's a cheerful little song.

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I feel like jumping when I sing it.

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Why don't you sing it with us?

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♪ music ♪

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(Derek) You know, the theme

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for our study today

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is <i>Worshiping the Lord,</i>

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and we were just doing that, weren't we?

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You might say, "I can't believe

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I've just sung on global television,"

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and the answer is, "It's not about us,"

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because someone in Roatan,

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someone in (What were some

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of the other places we read?)

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Fiji and Malta, they're going

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to be singing along with us

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and praising the Lord,

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every nation, kindred, tongue and people.

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And on that day we gather

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by the sea of glass,

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I don't know what language
we'll be singing,

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whether it will be the language of Heaven,

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or whether somehow God

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will merge all of those languages

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into one symphony of praise,

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"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul."

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Maybe it will be a different tune,
I don't know.

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But we're going to focus today

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on <i>Worshiping the Lord,</i>

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and we are going to learn some lessons

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from the fifth century B.C.,

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from Ezra and Nehemiah who led the exiles

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in that second and third wave,

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trying to get back to where God

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had originally called them to be.

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We'll learn some lessons.

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Let's pray the Holy Spirit

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will be our Teacher today.

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Our Father in Heaven, we thank You

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for Hope Sabbath School members
around the world.

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We represent every nation,

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kindred, tongue and people.

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You're calling Your people to prepare

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for the soon coming of Jesus.

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And, God, we believe that worshiping You

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in spirit and truth

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is a crucial part

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of our spiritual journey.

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And so, as we study

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lessons from ancient inspired texts

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of Ezra and Nehemiah,

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may your Holy Spirit speak to us

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in a fresh way today.

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We pray it in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) <i>Worshiping the Lord,</i>

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singing the songs of the Lord,

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let's start in Ezra, chapter 3,

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and, Stephanie, if you could begin

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our study today in Ezra,

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chapter 3, verses 10 and 11.

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Let's see how the people

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in the time of Ezra responded

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when the foundations were laid

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for the new temple.

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(Stephanie) And I'll be reading

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from the King James Version:

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(Derek) Isn't that amazing, and I thought

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we were having a good time

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with our Scripture song,

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but we didn't have trumpets and cymbals.

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So how would you describe

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what's going on here

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as the temple's foundation

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is being laid? Jonathan?

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(Jonathan) They're rejoicing

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that their years of separation

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from their connection with God
is finally over,

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and now they're back

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to where God dwells amongst them,

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and they have this special relationship
with God.

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(Derek) How would you describe
their rejoicing?

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(Team) Celebration. Jubilee.

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(Derek) You know, some of us, like,

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I was born in Britain;

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we kind of rejoice like this.

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That's about it, you know.

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It seems pretty uninhibited, doesn't it,

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shouts of joy and cymbals and trumpets.

270
00:11:23,235 --> 00:11:24,847
We want to hold onto that

271
00:11:24,847 --> 00:11:25,912
as we go to Nehemiah,

272
00:11:25,912 --> 00:11:27,576
but we ask our question,

273
00:11:27,576 --> 00:11:28,595
what are some things

274
00:11:28,595 --> 00:11:31,460
that might hold us back

275
00:11:31,460 --> 00:11:33,437
from worshiping God in spirit and truth?

276
00:11:33,437 --> 00:11:36,199
Now, someone told me this some years ago;

277
00:11:36,199 --> 00:11:37,352
I'll never forget it.

278
00:11:37,352 --> 00:11:39,604
They said if in your worship you're trying

279
00:11:39,604 --> 00:11:42,015
to draw attention to yourself,

280
00:11:42,015 --> 00:11:46,342
that's called exhibitionism, right?

281
00:11:46,342 --> 00:11:48,870
But if in your worship

282
00:11:48,870 --> 00:11:53,739
you're wanting to bring glory to God,

283
00:11:53,739 --> 00:11:57,226
you know the little child that jumps up

284
00:11:57,226 --> 00:12:00,812
and, you know, is that exhibitionism?

285
00:12:00,812 --> 00:12:02,917
Or my wife's grandma from China

286
00:12:02,917 --> 00:12:06,466
who would kowtow and blow kisses to Jesus,

287
00:12:06,466 --> 00:12:10,496
is that exhibitionism or is that freedom

288
00:12:10,496 --> 00:12:12,314
to worship in spirit and truth

289
00:12:12,314 --> 00:12:14,218
in their culture, right?

290
00:12:14,218 --> 00:12:15,474
Now, if she was doing it,

291
00:12:15,474 --> 00:12:16,500
or someone's doing it

292
00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:18,376
just to draw attention to themselves...

293
00:12:18,376 --> 00:12:19,776
But let's think about this.

294
00:12:19,776 --> 00:12:21,451
I think you're right;

295
00:12:21,451 --> 00:12:23,990
I mean, they were really...

296
00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:27,228
Is there such a thing as really rejoicing?

297
00:12:27,228 --> 00:12:33,949
They were rejoicing in spirit and truth.

298
00:12:33,949 --> 00:12:36,451
Remember that picture Ezra described,

299
00:12:36,451 --> 00:12:37,470
and let's take a look

300
00:12:37,470 --> 00:12:39,250
in Nehemiah, chapter 12.

301
00:12:39,250 --> 00:12:41,987
Jason, if you could read chapter 12,

302
00:12:41,987 --> 00:12:47,700
look at verse 27, 31, 42 and 43.

303
00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:49,070
We'll catch a little glimpse

304
00:12:49,070 --> 00:12:50,364
of what's happening.

305
00:12:50,364 --> 00:12:52,501
Here, you've got the temple,

306
00:12:52,501 --> 00:12:54,517
in the time of Ezra, the foundations.

307
00:12:54,517 --> 00:12:56,000
Now they're celebrating

308
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,093
that the walls have been rebuilt.

309
00:12:58,093 --> 00:13:01,449
Let's see how they worship the Lord.

310
00:13:01,449 --> 00:13:02,551
(Jason) I'll be reading

311
00:13:02,551 --> 00:13:04,075
from the New King James Version,

312
00:13:04,075 --> 00:13:06,127
Nehemiah, chapter 12,

313
00:13:06,127 --> 00:13:09,988
verse 27, 31, and 42 and 43:

314
00:13:30,592 --> 00:13:32,472
Then we have verse 31:

315
00:13:45,806 --> 00:13:47,072
42 and 43:

316
00:14:19,820 --> 00:14:21,109
(Derek) What do you think?!

317
00:14:21,109 --> 00:14:22,984
How would you compare that to the time

318
00:14:22,984 --> 00:14:26,313
of the laying of the stones
in Ezra's time?

319
00:14:26,313 --> 00:14:29,452
Similar, right? There were
a few additions.

320
00:14:29,452 --> 00:14:31,748
What did you see in terms of additions?

321
00:14:31,748 --> 00:14:33,254
(Gladys) They have choirs.

322
00:14:33,254 --> 00:14:34,313
(Derek) They had these

323
00:14:34,313 --> 00:14:36,551
kind of antiphonal choirs, right?

324
00:14:36,551 --> 00:14:37,853
I think that was alluded to

325
00:14:37,853 --> 00:14:38,870
in the time of Ezra.

326
00:14:38,870 --> 00:14:41,748
But these were large choirs. What else?

327
00:14:41,748 --> 00:14:42,786
(Nicole) Instruments.

328
00:14:42,786 --> 00:14:44,813
(Derek) They had stringed
instruments, too,

329
00:14:44,813 --> 00:14:46,260
and harps, right?

330
00:14:46,260 --> 00:14:50,822
And how far was the celebration heard?

331
00:14:50,822 --> 00:14:52,718
(Team) A distance. Far away.

332
00:14:52,718 --> 00:14:54,331
(Derek) Yeah. So there's

333
00:14:54,331 --> 00:15:01,850
this tremendous sense of singing songs
to the Lord,

334
00:15:01,850 --> 00:15:03,257
and, of course, probably many

335
00:15:03,257 --> 00:15:05,580
of those songs were songs of Scripture,

336
00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:08,225
like the one we sang for our theme song.

337
00:15:08,225 --> 00:15:10,667
Let's go back to the time of David,

338
00:15:10,667 --> 00:15:14,220
in 1 Chronicles 25:6-7,

339
00:15:14,220 --> 00:15:18,204
where David appoints singers.

340
00:15:18,204 --> 00:15:20,933
We're looking here at worshiping the Lord,

341
00:15:20,933 --> 00:15:22,429
and certainly one way

342
00:15:22,429 --> 00:15:24,675
is worshiping Him in song.

343
00:15:24,675 --> 00:15:27,529
Somebody have 1 Chronicles 25?

344
00:15:27,529 --> 00:15:31,963
Travis, verses 6 and 7, what does it say?

345
00:15:31,963 --> 00:15:33,197
(Travis) I'll be reading

346
00:15:33,197 --> 00:15:35,234
from the New King James Version:

347
00:16:01,636 --> 00:16:03,541
(Derek) So, I have a question for you.

348
00:16:03,541 --> 00:16:08,367
That's a lot of singers - 288 -

349
00:16:08,367 --> 00:16:10,756
and what does it say about them?

350
00:16:10,756 --> 00:16:12,720
(Nicole) They were all accomplished.

351
00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,822
(Derek) Yeah, they were skillful, right?

352
00:16:14,822 --> 00:16:17,133
I mean, some of us, there are leaders,

353
00:16:17,133 --> 00:16:18,288
some of you are leaders,

354
00:16:18,288 --> 00:16:19,590
and some of us are leaners.

355
00:16:19,590 --> 00:16:22,283
That means we're not the soloists, right?

356
00:16:22,283 --> 00:16:24,407
But these were all skillful.

357
00:16:24,407 --> 00:16:25,592
Evelyn, why do you think

358
00:16:25,592 --> 00:16:28,680
David appointed so many to be singers

359
00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,782
in the house of the Lord, 288?

360
00:16:31,782 --> 00:16:33,605
(Evelyn) I believe David recognized

361
00:16:33,605 --> 00:16:35,538
the importance to give God

362
00:16:35,538 --> 00:16:38,203
your 100 percent in worship.

363
00:16:38,203 --> 00:16:39,378
To him it was important.

364
00:16:39,378 --> 00:16:40,624
He said, "This is our God.

365
00:16:40,624 --> 00:16:42,009
We have to give Him the best.

366
00:16:42,009 --> 00:16:43,396
We need our skilled musicians

367
00:16:43,396 --> 00:16:46,377
to praise God as joyfully as they can."

368
00:16:46,377 --> 00:16:47,518
(Derek) And he certainly

369
00:16:47,518 --> 00:16:49,009
did that personally, didn't he?

370
00:16:49,009 --> 00:16:50,697
He wrote many Scripture songs,

371
00:16:50,697 --> 00:16:53,483
and probably he sang many of them

372
00:16:53,483 --> 00:16:57,195
to an audience of One - who was that?

373
00:16:57,195 --> 00:16:59,150
To the Lord, right?

374
00:16:59,150 --> 00:17:01,531
Yeah, he sang, "To You, O Lord..."

375
00:17:01,531 --> 00:17:03,415
I don't know what the tune was, right,

376
00:17:03,415 --> 00:17:05,406
but just to an audience of One.

377
00:17:05,406 --> 00:17:06,751
But I think Evelyn's right.

378
00:17:06,751 --> 00:17:11,276
He sensed the value of worship, excuse me,

379
00:17:11,276 --> 00:17:13,297
of music as part of worship,

380
00:17:13,297 --> 00:17:15,006
and so he just wants lots

381
00:17:15,006 --> 00:17:16,960
of skilled musicians

382
00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,485
to help lead. Kenneth?

383
00:17:18,485 --> 00:17:19,831
(Kenneth) One important note

384
00:17:19,831 --> 00:17:24,632
is the directors in directing these people

385
00:17:24,632 --> 00:17:26,507
because even though you have the skill,

386
00:17:26,507 --> 00:17:28,964
if you are not directed
in the right way...

387
00:17:28,964 --> 00:17:30,882
(Derek) Has anyone been part of a choir

388
00:17:30,882 --> 00:17:32,246
where there was no director?

389
00:17:32,246 --> 00:17:33,414
I mean, I suppose

390
00:17:33,414 --> 00:17:35,270
a very well-trained choir

391
00:17:35,270 --> 00:17:36,804
because it's kind of ingrained;

392
00:17:36,804 --> 00:17:40,127
otherwise, it could be
fairly chaotic, right?

393
00:17:40,127 --> 00:17:42,877
So, you noticed there was someone

394
00:17:42,877 --> 00:17:45,256
who actually directed them

395
00:17:45,256 --> 00:17:46,947
so that things actually came

396
00:17:46,947 --> 00:17:49,029
at the same time; good point. Gladys.

397
00:17:49,029 --> 00:17:50,142
(Gladys) I was thinking

398
00:17:50,142 --> 00:17:51,498
that maybe to avoid burnout,

399
00:17:51,498 --> 00:17:53,351
you know, when you have so many people,

400
00:17:53,351 --> 00:17:54,816
you can take turns

401
00:17:54,816 --> 00:17:56,925
instead of having just the same person

402
00:17:56,925 --> 00:17:59,356
doing everything at the same
all the time.

403
00:17:59,356 --> 00:18:01,323
(Derek) Yeah, you've got

404
00:18:01,323 --> 00:18:04,861
almost one per day here, right, 288.

405
00:18:04,861 --> 00:18:06,109
So, instead of going,

406
00:18:06,109 --> 00:18:08,141
"Oh, I've got to sing again today,"

407
00:18:08,141 --> 00:18:10,542
it's like, "It's my day coming.

408
00:18:10,542 --> 00:18:11,893
I'm going to be able to sing

409
00:18:11,893 --> 00:18:13,168
in the house of the Lord."

410
00:18:13,168 --> 00:18:14,727
I'm sure they did it in groups,

411
00:18:14,727 --> 00:18:16,402
but, yeah, there were many reasons,

412
00:18:16,402 --> 00:18:18,858
but that's a fairly significant group

413
00:18:18,858 --> 00:18:20,564
to lead in songs of the Lord.

414
00:18:20,564 --> 00:18:22,166
(Jason) Also, I was going to add,

415
00:18:22,166 --> 00:18:24,301
also the more the merrier.

416
00:18:24,301 --> 00:18:25,930
Like we read the verse before,

417
00:18:25,930 --> 00:18:27,026
it was heard afar off.

418
00:18:27,026 --> 00:18:28,364
So the more people you have,

419
00:18:28,364 --> 00:18:29,603
the more it could be heard

420
00:18:29,603 --> 00:18:31,603
because I think that was
one of the reasons

421
00:18:31,603 --> 00:18:32,839
why they had large choirs,

422
00:18:32,839 --> 00:18:34,367
so that other nations could hear

423
00:18:34,367 --> 00:18:36,127
and say, "Oh, what's all that about?"

424
00:18:36,127 --> 00:18:37,367
Intriguing them, you know,

425
00:18:37,367 --> 00:18:39,419
about the beautiful music
that's being sung.

426
00:18:39,419 --> 00:18:40,983
(Derek) Sure. So there is

427
00:18:40,983 --> 00:18:43,118
a certain strength in numbers

428
00:18:43,118 --> 00:18:44,564
when you have a large choir,

429
00:18:44,564 --> 00:18:47,863
or there they had choirs antiphonal,

430
00:18:47,863 --> 00:18:49,274
choirs singing back and forth

431
00:18:49,274 --> 00:18:51,631
to each other, quite impressive.

432
00:18:51,631 --> 00:18:53,313
I want to hyperspace forward

433
00:18:53,313 --> 00:18:54,766
to something Jesus said,

434
00:18:54,766 --> 00:18:55,701
and then I have

435
00:18:55,701 --> 00:18:57,427
an application question for us.

436
00:18:57,427 --> 00:19:01,436
Jesus said that the Father seeks people

437
00:19:01,436 --> 00:19:06,871
who worship Him in spirit and in truth.

438
00:19:06,871 --> 00:19:10,389
That's a principle, Jonathan, right?

439
00:19:10,389 --> 00:19:15,046
It's not like a specific description.

440
00:19:15,046 --> 00:19:16,986
What does that mean to you?

441
00:19:16,986 --> 00:19:18,410
(Jonathan) I think the spirit

442
00:19:18,410 --> 00:19:20,324
can look different for different people.

443
00:19:20,324 --> 00:19:22,572
To me, it's examining our hearts.

444
00:19:22,572 --> 00:19:25,000
Like, I think "spirit" certainly applies

445
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:26,290
that you just want someone

446
00:19:26,290 --> 00:19:27,761
that's filled with the Spirit.

447
00:19:27,761 --> 00:19:29,019
It is coming out of them;

448
00:19:29,019 --> 00:19:31,211
it is not just something exterior.

449
00:19:31,211 --> 00:19:33,346
God has changed their heart,
and it's flowing

450
00:19:33,346 --> 00:19:34,883
out of this relationship,

451
00:19:34,883 --> 00:19:36,440
but sometimes you can

452
00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,349
get really excited about things, maybe,

453
00:19:38,349 --> 00:19:40,568
and not all that excitement

454
00:19:40,568 --> 00:19:42,592
is grounded in truth.

455
00:19:42,592 --> 00:19:43,792
And so it seems like

456
00:19:43,792 --> 00:19:45,630
it's capturing, like, yes,

457
00:19:45,630 --> 00:19:47,103
it needs to be emotional,

458
00:19:47,103 --> 00:19:49,429
it needs to be wholehearted,

459
00:19:49,429 --> 00:19:51,339
but it also needs to be based on truth.

460
00:19:51,339 --> 00:19:55,063
And so God wants all of us,

461
00:19:55,063 --> 00:19:57,104
every part of our body and brain,

462
00:19:57,104 --> 00:20:00,509
to be intelligently appreciating
who He is

463
00:20:00,509 --> 00:20:02,974
and wholeheartedly in love with,

464
00:20:02,974 --> 00:20:04,853
and expressing that love to Him.

465
00:20:04,853 --> 00:20:06,214
(Derek) I remember someone,

466
00:20:06,214 --> 00:20:07,363
while you were sharing,

467
00:20:07,363 --> 00:20:08,715
saying, "I don't mind making

468
00:20:08,715 --> 00:20:10,854
a fool of myself in front of God."

469
00:20:10,854 --> 00:20:12,253
Well, my question would be,

470
00:20:12,253 --> 00:20:13,667
is God asking you to make

471
00:20:13,667 --> 00:20:16,622
a fool of yourself in front of Him?

472
00:20:16,622 --> 00:20:19,769
I like what Jonathan said.

473
00:20:19,769 --> 00:20:22,128
My worship, we're talking here

474
00:20:22,128 --> 00:20:23,718
about music, specifically,

475
00:20:23,718 --> 00:20:25,407
should be uninhibited.

476
00:20:25,407 --> 00:20:26,587
Like, "Oh, I don't know.

477
00:20:26,587 --> 00:20:27,982
I'm not the greatest singer.

478
00:20:27,982 --> 00:20:29,035
Maybe I can't just be

479
00:20:29,035 --> 00:20:30,192
really singing like this

480
00:20:30,192 --> 00:20:31,416
because Johnny can sing

481
00:20:31,416 --> 00:20:33,214
a lot better than I can,"

482
00:20:33,214 --> 00:20:35,127
or, "Susan is much more..."

483
00:20:35,127 --> 00:20:37,580
So I'm not, like, inhibited

484
00:20:37,580 --> 00:20:40,346
by what others might think,

485
00:20:40,346 --> 00:20:44,151
but my brain is still in gear, right?

486
00:20:44,151 --> 00:20:46,764
So the principles I've learned
from Scripture,

487
00:20:46,764 --> 00:20:49,460
you know, if angels cover their faces

488
00:20:49,460 --> 00:20:51,209
and cry, "Holy, holy, holy,"

489
00:20:51,209 --> 00:20:53,013
I don't think God's asking us

490
00:20:53,013 --> 00:20:54,328
to make a fool of ourselves

491
00:20:54,328 --> 00:20:56,094
in front of Him, whatever that means.

492
00:20:56,094 --> 00:20:57,238
Does that make sense?

493
00:20:57,238 --> 00:20:59,735
Anybody else? "Spirit and Truth," Jason?

494
00:20:59,735 --> 00:21:01,852
(Jason) Building off the idea
of truth there,

495
00:21:01,852 --> 00:21:05,999
Jonathan referenced grounding it
in the truth,

496
00:21:05,999 --> 00:21:07,192
and I think in this case

497
00:21:07,192 --> 00:21:08,395
it's in the Word of God

498
00:21:08,395 --> 00:21:10,373
and making sure that what you're singing,

499
00:21:10,373 --> 00:21:11,512
what you're worshiping,

500
00:21:11,512 --> 00:21:13,375
the music you're saying, is consistent

501
00:21:13,375 --> 00:21:15,215
with what God has told us in His Word.

502
00:21:15,215 --> 00:21:17,430
The principles, the beliefs, the values.

503
00:21:17,430 --> 00:21:18,866
(Derek) Okay, anyone want

504
00:21:18,866 --> 00:21:20,268
to add to that before I want

505
00:21:20,268 --> 00:21:21,670
to apply it a little further?

506
00:21:21,670 --> 00:21:22,764
Nicole and then Gladys.

507
00:21:22,764 --> 00:21:24,151
(Nicole) I would add to that,

508
00:21:24,151 --> 00:21:27,112
that it should be a worship that draws
you closer to Christ.

509
00:21:27,112 --> 00:21:29,319
(Derek) So, what is the result
of that worship?

510
00:21:29,319 --> 00:21:31,092
(Nicole) Right, and it should reflect

511
00:21:31,092 --> 00:21:32,499
the Person you're worshiping.

512
00:21:32,499 --> 00:21:34,434
(Derek) Oh, and the character of...Okay.

513
00:21:34,434 --> 00:21:35,418
So if I just go back

514
00:21:35,418 --> 00:21:37,794
with a lot of adrenaline
and emotional hype,

515
00:21:37,794 --> 00:21:40,102
and then I just kind of crash,

516
00:21:40,102 --> 00:21:41,468
rather than walking away

517
00:21:41,468 --> 00:21:44,002
saying "God is awesome,"

518
00:21:44,002 --> 00:21:47,718
"Jesus is my marvelous Savior," right,

519
00:21:47,718 --> 00:21:49,959
what's the focus, okay?

520
00:21:49,959 --> 00:21:55,357
Now, we've heard...Gladys, I'm sorry;
I forgot you.

521
00:21:55,357 --> 00:21:56,563
(Gladys) Nicole just told

522
00:21:56,563 --> 00:21:58,328
what I was going to say basically.

523
00:21:58,328 --> 00:21:59,774
Sometimes we just get consumed

524
00:21:59,774 --> 00:22:02,039
in the activity itself

525
00:22:02,039 --> 00:22:04,369
instead of Who we're worshiping.

526
00:22:04,369 --> 00:22:06,480
So, that should be the focus,

527
00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:07,863
and, like you said,

528
00:22:07,863 --> 00:22:09,838
after the worship is over,

529
00:22:09,838 --> 00:22:12,582
that has to be like a renewal
of our spirit

530
00:22:12,582 --> 00:22:14,506
instead of a draining activity

531
00:22:14,506 --> 00:22:17,394
because we were just working out,
you know...

532
00:22:17,394 --> 00:22:22,841
(Derek) Let's get very practical
then, okay?

533
00:22:22,841 --> 00:22:24,914
Do we allow our worship

534
00:22:24,914 --> 00:22:26,723
to really express to God

535
00:22:26,723 --> 00:22:30,760
how we genuinely feel?

536
00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:37,068
You know, I hear, "Holy, holy,
holy" [sad voice],

537
00:22:37,068 --> 00:22:38,196
and you look at them,

538
00:22:38,196 --> 00:22:43,367
and you go, "That's scary."

539
00:22:43,367 --> 00:22:45,802
What are some things that hold us back?

540
00:22:45,802 --> 00:22:47,228
Again, we're not talking

541
00:22:47,228 --> 00:22:51,733
about showmanship or exhibitionism,

542
00:22:51,733 --> 00:22:54,660
but, you know, that the angels

543
00:22:54,660 --> 00:22:57,590
would look down and say, "Those people

544
00:22:57,590 --> 00:22:59,547
really love our heavenly Father.

545
00:22:59,547 --> 00:23:00,946
Look at them; look at the way

546
00:23:00,946 --> 00:23:04,374
they're singing the songs of the Lord."

547
00:23:04,374 --> 00:23:06,430
What might hold us back from that,

548
00:23:06,430 --> 00:23:07,560
do you think? Nicole?

549
00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,508
(Nicole) I think sometimes we get consumed
by our circumstance,

550
00:23:10,508 --> 00:23:12,883
and we also get so down

551
00:23:12,883 --> 00:23:14,291
by what's going on around us

552
00:23:14,291 --> 00:23:15,636
that when we come to church,

553
00:23:15,636 --> 00:23:17,384
we can't even put that aside to say,

554
00:23:17,384 --> 00:23:19,681
"Thank You, Lord, for what You
<i>have</i> done for us."

555
00:23:19,681 --> 00:23:20,772
We get so bogged down,

556
00:23:20,772 --> 00:23:21,972
and, "Oh, this happened,"

557
00:23:21,972 --> 00:23:23,773
and you're in church, "Holy, holy..."

558
00:23:23,773 --> 00:23:26,514
It's our circumstances; we let those
take over our ability

559
00:23:26,514 --> 00:23:28,519
to really be able to worship the Person...

560
00:23:28,519 --> 00:23:29,767
(Derek) So, one thing then

561
00:23:29,767 --> 00:23:31,673
that may hold us back, Nicole is saying,

562
00:23:31,673 --> 00:23:33,363
is we bring a lot of stuff with us,

563
00:23:33,363 --> 00:23:34,760
which is part of our lives,

564
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,117
but it could distract us.

565
00:23:36,117 --> 00:23:39,186
What else might hold us back? Kenneth?

566
00:23:39,186 --> 00:23:40,758
(Kenneth) Sometimes it's because

567
00:23:40,758 --> 00:23:42,280
of those...like, we are afraid

568
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,451
of how people are going to criticize us,

569
00:23:44,451 --> 00:23:46,535
so we are looking at how people

570
00:23:46,535 --> 00:23:49,120
are going to interpret what we are doing.

571
00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:50,424
And then, because of that,

572
00:23:50,424 --> 00:23:53,433
we hold back from actually rendering

573
00:23:53,433 --> 00:23:56,530
a very heartfelt worshiping to God.

574
00:23:56,530 --> 00:23:57,977
(Derek) And part of the reason

575
00:23:57,977 --> 00:23:59,017
we might be concerned

576
00:23:59,017 --> 00:24:00,198
by what people think

577
00:24:00,198 --> 00:24:01,318
is because we don't see

578
00:24:01,318 --> 00:24:04,336
many other people uninhibited

579
00:24:04,336 --> 00:24:06,436
in their expression of singing

580
00:24:06,436 --> 00:24:07,569
the songs of the Lord.

581
00:24:07,569 --> 00:24:10,641
If we saw some of them, and we see

582
00:24:10,641 --> 00:24:14,320
they're not showmanship or exhibitionism,

583
00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,840
they're just genuinely worshiping
the Lord,

584
00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:21,434
that might give us a sense of what?

585
00:24:21,434 --> 00:24:24,418
Freedom to be able to do so as well.

586
00:24:24,418 --> 00:24:26,192
We've got lots of hands raised here.

587
00:24:26,192 --> 00:24:27,866
Is this an important topic?

588
00:24:27,866 --> 00:24:29,607
(Team) Yes.

589
00:24:29,607 --> 00:24:31,035
(Derek) We have much to learn

590
00:24:31,035 --> 00:24:33,792
from Ezra and Nehemiah.

591
00:24:33,792 --> 00:24:36,043
Have you been to a worship service
recently

592
00:24:36,043 --> 00:24:37,779
that looked like what we read

593
00:24:37,779 --> 00:24:39,338
in Ezra and Nehemiah

594
00:24:39,338 --> 00:24:42,683
where just, it was heard afar off?

595
00:24:42,683 --> 00:24:46,534
There were choirs and singing.

596
00:24:46,534 --> 00:24:49,837
(Team) No. It's been awhile.

597
00:24:49,837 --> 00:24:51,350
(Derek) Jonathan, share a time

598
00:24:51,350 --> 00:24:52,696
with me, if you would,

599
00:24:52,696 --> 00:24:57,300
when you experienced worship with music.

600
00:24:57,300 --> 00:24:59,116
You were talking to me about a time

601
00:24:59,116 --> 00:25:00,918
that just really lifted you

602
00:25:00,918 --> 00:25:02,788
to the throne room of God.

603
00:25:02,788 --> 00:25:04,055
(Jonathan) Yeah, there was

604
00:25:04,055 --> 00:25:05,776
a Christian concert that was

605
00:25:05,776 --> 00:25:10,476
specifically focused on worship
that was amazing.

606
00:25:10,476 --> 00:25:12,237
I went to it; I wasn't sure,

607
00:25:12,237 --> 00:25:14,239
but after a little while, it was...

608
00:25:14,239 --> 00:25:16,558
Yeah, I kind of lost the sense of time.

609
00:25:16,558 --> 00:25:17,880
I was just forgetting

610
00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:19,136
about the people around me

611
00:25:19,136 --> 00:25:20,816
and just worshiping God...

612
00:25:20,816 --> 00:25:22,436
(Derek) And what was your takeaway

613
00:25:22,436 --> 00:25:24,343
when you left that concert?

614
00:25:24,343 --> 00:25:25,454
(Jonathan) It felt like

615
00:25:25,454 --> 00:25:26,716
kind of a taste of Heaven,

616
00:25:26,716 --> 00:25:29,090
just the joy that it will be

617
00:25:29,090 --> 00:25:33,491
to truly be able with your whole heart

618
00:25:33,491 --> 00:25:36,767
to express and be singing beautiful songs.

619
00:25:36,767 --> 00:25:38,810
Just, yeah, you enter another world,

620
00:25:38,810 --> 00:25:41,446
and you don't have to worry
about the people around you.

621
00:25:41,446 --> 00:25:43,976
It's loud enough that no one else
can really hear you,

622
00:25:43,976 --> 00:25:45,984
and you're worshiping with all your heart.

623
00:25:45,984 --> 00:25:46,993
(Derek) Anybody have

624
00:25:46,993 --> 00:25:48,538
an experience like that? Evelyn?

625
00:25:48,538 --> 00:25:50,587
(Evelyn) I think a time that I sensed that

626
00:25:50,587 --> 00:25:52,506
was when you came to preach at Southern.

627
00:25:52,506 --> 00:25:54,787
It was fairly recently.

628
00:25:54,787 --> 00:25:56,951
We were singing, "Wonderful,
Merciful Savior,"

629
00:25:56,951 --> 00:25:58,667
and I remember you kept directing

630
00:25:58,667 --> 00:26:00,310
the students to sing the line

631
00:26:00,310 --> 00:26:01,321
over and over again.

632
00:26:01,321 --> 00:26:03,248
And I remember being so choked up

633
00:26:03,248 --> 00:26:04,513
I could barely sing

634
00:26:04,513 --> 00:26:05,832
because I felt like crying.

635
00:26:05,832 --> 00:26:07,372
I was like, "God, You are

636
00:26:07,372 --> 00:26:09,105
the One that we praise."

637
00:26:09,105 --> 00:26:10,491
And I just remember thinking,

638
00:26:10,491 --> 00:26:12,305
"I wish the service could be like this

639
00:26:12,305 --> 00:26:14,001
every time we have vespers."

640
00:26:14,001 --> 00:26:17,047
I mean, the music was
absolutely beautiful.

641
00:26:17,047 --> 00:26:18,193
(Derek) I happened to be

642
00:26:18,193 --> 00:26:20,706
at that same meeting,

643
00:26:20,706 --> 00:26:26,670
and the presence of God was so palpable,

644
00:26:26,670 --> 00:26:29,173
we didn't want to leave.

645
00:26:29,173 --> 00:26:36,494
So, we know God wants to be with us
always like that.

646
00:26:36,494 --> 00:26:39,133
So, again, maybe the stuff that we bring?

647
00:26:39,133 --> 00:26:41,104
Now, to give a little context

648
00:26:41,104 --> 00:26:43,478
to that beautiful music and worship,

649
00:26:43,478 --> 00:26:47,124
the leaders of music had really prepared.

650
00:26:47,124 --> 00:26:48,804
They were singing in key.

651
00:26:48,804 --> 00:26:50,538
They had some beautiful instruments.

652
00:26:50,538 --> 00:26:54,485
It wasn't loud and kind of overwhelming.

653
00:26:54,485 --> 00:26:56,628
It was sweet and beautiful.

654
00:26:56,628 --> 00:26:58,956
But also the people who had gathered;

655
00:26:58,956 --> 00:27:00,429
many of them were going to go,

656
00:27:00,429 --> 00:27:02,268
either as student missionaries...

657
00:27:02,268 --> 00:27:03,921
Travis, you were there that night.

658
00:27:03,921 --> 00:27:04,691
(Travis) I was.

659
00:27:04,691 --> 00:27:06,687
(Derek) Many of them were going to go

660
00:27:06,687 --> 00:27:09,945
for a year of volunteer mission service.

661
00:27:09,945 --> 00:27:11,404
Many of them were going to go

662
00:27:11,404 --> 00:27:12,992
and share the gospel message

663
00:27:12,992 --> 00:27:14,978
in short meetings during the summer.

664
00:27:14,978 --> 00:27:16,484
So the kind of people who came,

665
00:27:16,484 --> 00:27:17,848
does that make a difference?

666
00:27:17,848 --> 00:27:18,588
(Team) Yes.

667
00:27:18,588 --> 00:27:21,076
(Derek) If people come with an open heart?
Stephanie?

668
00:27:21,076 --> 00:27:22,339
(Stephanie) I was thinking

669
00:27:22,339 --> 00:27:24,215
somewhat along the same line as Nicole.

670
00:27:24,215 --> 00:27:27,098
The distraction that could be

671
00:27:27,098 --> 00:27:29,817
is that we have lost our taste

672
00:27:29,817 --> 00:27:32,494
and our desire for the things of God.

673
00:27:32,494 --> 00:27:37,843
And so it no longer is beautiful to us.

674
00:27:37,843 --> 00:27:39,652
(Derek) Ah, wow. Either it's

675
00:27:39,652 --> 00:27:40,828
no longer beautiful,

676
00:27:40,828 --> 00:27:42,077
or we just don't even know

677
00:27:42,077 --> 00:27:44,103
what it looks like or what it sounds like.

678
00:27:44,103 --> 00:27:46,444
I'm going to take one more comment
from Jonathan,

679
00:27:46,444 --> 00:27:47,648
and then we need to go on

680
00:27:47,648 --> 00:27:49,996
because singing is just one part

681
00:27:49,996 --> 00:27:51,303
of worshiping the Lord.

682
00:27:51,303 --> 00:27:52,237
But could we agree

683
00:27:52,237 --> 00:27:55,030
from the 288 that David named

684
00:27:55,030 --> 00:27:56,817
that it is an important part?

685
00:27:56,817 --> 00:27:57,573
(Team) Yes.

686
00:27:57,573 --> 00:27:58,718
(Derek) Yes, Jonathan.

687
00:27:58,718 --> 00:28:00,612
(Jonathan) I just want to add something

688
00:28:00,612 --> 00:28:03,195
to what was just previously said.

689
00:28:03,195 --> 00:28:07,909
In our focus, where we
have our attention,

690
00:28:07,909 --> 00:28:10,200
also affects the way we worship

691
00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,647
and the way we sing.

692
00:28:12,647 --> 00:28:15,495
So here we see that they were focused

693
00:28:15,495 --> 00:28:18,390
on what God was doing for them,

694
00:28:18,390 --> 00:28:21,175
so they could properly worship Him.

695
00:28:21,175 --> 00:28:22,653
Sometimes we come to a church

696
00:28:22,653 --> 00:28:24,277
thinking of other things,

697
00:28:24,277 --> 00:28:26,104
and then the way we worship

698
00:28:26,104 --> 00:28:27,449
is affected by that.

699
00:28:27,449 --> 00:28:28,588
(Derek) Absolutely.

700
00:28:28,588 --> 00:28:32,403
(Jonathan) If our taste,

701
00:28:32,403 --> 00:28:36,595
as she was saying, for music, for worship

702
00:28:36,595 --> 00:28:39,019
is destroyed or damaged

703
00:28:39,019 --> 00:28:40,730
by what we observe,

704
00:28:40,730 --> 00:28:42,220
if we want to restore it,

705
00:28:42,220 --> 00:28:43,327
we have to observe

706
00:28:43,327 --> 00:28:45,742
the proper thing, which is God.

707
00:28:45,742 --> 00:28:47,472
(Derek) So, we come focusing on Him.

708
00:28:47,472 --> 00:28:49,123
And I think, back to Evelyn,

709
00:28:49,123 --> 00:28:50,279
your experience there,

710
00:28:50,279 --> 00:28:52,119
people came who had surrendered

711
00:28:52,119 --> 00:28:53,080
their lives to God,

712
00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,928
and the worship leaders came prepared

713
00:28:55,928 --> 00:28:57,211
to bring attention to God

714
00:28:57,211 --> 00:28:58,881
and not to themselves,

715
00:28:58,881 --> 00:29:02,557
and God showed up in a powerful way.

716
00:29:02,557 --> 00:29:05,400
Another aspect of worshiping the Lord

717
00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,555
is experiencing cleansing.

718
00:29:07,555 --> 00:29:10,951
Let's look in Nehemiah, chapter 12.

719
00:29:10,951 --> 00:29:13,092
Jason, if you could read that for us,

720
00:29:13,092 --> 00:29:14,997
chapter 12 and verse 30?

721
00:29:14,997 --> 00:29:16,863
(Jason) All right, and I'll be reading

722
00:29:16,863 --> 00:29:18,402
from the New King James Version,

723
00:29:18,402 --> 00:29:19,468
and the Bible says:

724
00:29:27,401 --> 00:29:29,496
(Derek) Another word for purified is...?

725
00:29:29,496 --> 00:29:31,140
(Derek, Team) Cleansed.

726
00:29:31,140 --> 00:29:32,300
(Derek) So let's talk

727
00:29:32,300 --> 00:29:38,029
about cleansing and worship.

728
00:29:38,029 --> 00:29:44,803
Question: Should I be cleansed

729
00:29:44,803 --> 00:29:47,654
before I come to worship - is that

730
00:29:47,654 --> 00:29:50,155
an essential preparation for coming -

731
00:29:50,155 --> 00:29:55,054
or can I experience cleansing
<i>in</i> the worship?

732
00:29:55,054 --> 00:29:56,209
(Team) Both.

733
00:29:56,209 --> 00:29:57,348
(Derek) Oh, both.

734
00:29:57,348 --> 00:29:59,074
(Nicole) What is "cleansing"?

735
00:29:59,074 --> 00:30:00,050
(Derek) Okay, that's

736
00:30:00,050 --> 00:30:01,202
a good question, Nicole.

737
00:30:01,202 --> 00:30:02,305
What is "cleansing"?

738
00:30:02,305 --> 00:30:03,884
Well, "Create in me

739
00:30:03,884 --> 00:30:06,050
a clean heart, O God..."

740
00:30:06,050 --> 00:30:08,482
(Derek, Team) "Renew a right spirit
within me."

741
00:30:08,482 --> 00:30:12,186
(Derek) Or...? Acts, chapter 2,

742
00:30:12,186 --> 00:30:15,185
"Be baptized...for the washing away
of your sins."

743
00:30:15,185 --> 00:30:17,566
So cleansing is forgiveness

744
00:30:17,566 --> 00:30:20,943
and a restoration of purity,

745
00:30:20,943 --> 00:30:23,732
and that's a gift of God.

746
00:30:23,732 --> 00:30:26,021
Would that be a good preparation
for worship?

747
00:30:26,021 --> 00:30:27,376
(Team) Yes. Sure.

748
00:30:27,376 --> 00:30:28,417
(Derek) Can I come

749
00:30:28,417 --> 00:30:30,104
if I've not experienced that?

750
00:30:30,104 --> 00:30:31,118
(Team) Yes.

751
00:30:31,118 --> 00:30:32,042
(Derek) Jonathan?

752
00:30:32,042 --> 00:30:33,425
(Jonathan) I just want to say

753
00:30:33,425 --> 00:30:34,996
that we cannot cleanse ourselves,

754
00:30:34,996 --> 00:30:36,123
so we cannot pretend

755
00:30:36,123 --> 00:30:39,412
to go in, cleaned, to worship.

756
00:30:39,412 --> 00:30:42,881
So we have to have a "please" position,

757
00:30:42,881 --> 00:30:44,789
a willingness to be cleansed,

758
00:30:44,789 --> 00:30:46,715
and go in before His presence,

759
00:30:46,715 --> 00:30:47,958
as we behold His presence,

760
00:30:47,958 --> 00:30:49,291
as we worship Him,

761
00:30:49,291 --> 00:30:54,174
as we are in contact with God,
we are cleansed.

762
00:30:54,174 --> 00:30:55,744
(Derek) I remember someone said,

763
00:30:55,744 --> 00:30:57,306
"I can't go and celebrate

764
00:30:57,306 --> 00:30:58,921
the Lord's Supper," or Communion,

765
00:30:58,921 --> 00:31:00,356
"because I don't feel worthy."

766
00:31:00,356 --> 00:31:05,414
And I'm thinking, "Then no one could go."

767
00:31:05,414 --> 00:31:08,153
That's why we go, because we're
not worthy - Who's worthy?

768
00:31:08,153 --> 00:31:09,041
(Team) Jesus.

769
00:31:09,041 --> 00:31:10,250
(Derek) Jesus is worthy.

770
00:31:10,250 --> 00:31:11,265
Now, that's different

771
00:31:11,265 --> 00:31:12,508
from 1 Corinthians 11,

772
00:31:12,508 --> 00:31:13,774
talking about doing it

773
00:31:13,774 --> 00:31:16,293
in an unworthy manner.

774
00:31:16,293 --> 00:31:21,990
That's talking about carelessness,
lack of reverence.

775
00:31:21,990 --> 00:31:25,042
but Jonathan makes a good point.

776
00:31:25,042 --> 00:31:26,797
If I say, "Well, I don't think

777
00:31:26,797 --> 00:31:28,061
I'm clean enough to come

778
00:31:28,061 --> 00:31:29,297
and worship the Lord,"

779
00:31:29,297 --> 00:31:31,285
it's in coming and worshiping Him

780
00:31:31,285 --> 00:31:33,946
that I can experience that restoration

781
00:31:33,946 --> 00:31:35,712
then transformation. Kenneth?

782
00:31:35,712 --> 00:31:37,339
(Kenneth) Recently my wife took me

783
00:31:37,339 --> 00:31:39,175
to enjoy one of the Christian

784
00:31:39,175 --> 00:31:41,706
contemporary music festivals,

785
00:31:41,706 --> 00:31:44,519
and at first I was hesitant.

786
00:31:44,519 --> 00:31:46,230
But when we got there, what I saw

787
00:31:46,230 --> 00:31:48,603
and what the musicians there said,

788
00:31:48,603 --> 00:31:50,034
"You know, sometimes you guys

789
00:31:50,034 --> 00:31:52,679
just think that the music
just comes naturally,

790
00:31:52,679 --> 00:31:53,719
but let me tell you,

791
00:31:53,719 --> 00:31:56,277
before I come to sing,

792
00:31:56,277 --> 00:31:58,471
I spend some time with God.

793
00:31:58,471 --> 00:32:00,360
Not a day," he said, "I dedicate

794
00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:02,667
a week praying and preparing myself

795
00:32:02,667 --> 00:32:05,756
so that the music that I'm going to sing
or minister,

796
00:32:05,756 --> 00:32:07,828
is going to impact the lives of people."

797
00:32:07,828 --> 00:32:10,044
So this is how I see this

798
00:32:10,044 --> 00:32:12,473
about cleansing and preparation

799
00:32:12,473 --> 00:32:14,369
that we can do, so that when we

800
00:32:14,369 --> 00:32:16,422
come together with fellow believers,

801
00:32:16,422 --> 00:32:19,106
the music will make a joyful noise to God

802
00:32:19,106 --> 00:32:21,719
and impact the people who come there.

803
00:32:21,719 --> 00:32:23,027
(Derek) That's interesting.

804
00:32:23,027 --> 00:32:24,632
Kenneth's saying the preparation

805
00:32:24,632 --> 00:32:27,739
is not only by the worshiper who comes

806
00:32:27,739 --> 00:32:29,516
but the one who's leading in worship.

807
00:32:29,516 --> 00:32:30,674
We're going to come back

808
00:32:30,674 --> 00:32:31,921
to that a little later,

809
00:32:31,921 --> 00:32:33,112
but that's so important.

810
00:32:33,112 --> 00:32:35,418
Let's focus again on the need

811
00:32:35,418 --> 00:32:37,364
for cleansing as part of worship.

812
00:32:37,364 --> 00:32:40,187
First John 1, verse 9,

813
00:32:40,187 --> 00:32:44,215
is fairly well known by many Christians

814
00:32:44,215 --> 00:32:46,142
about, "If we confess our sins,"

815
00:32:46,142 --> 00:32:50,021
but I would like to start in verse 7.

816
00:32:50,021 --> 00:32:53,081
First John 1, Adison,

817
00:32:53,081 --> 00:32:54,916
if you could start with verse 7.

818
00:32:54,916 --> 00:32:56,916
Listen carefully, the Apostle John

819
00:32:56,916 --> 00:32:58,819
speaking under inspiration of God,

820
00:32:58,819 --> 00:33:00,556
verses 7 through 9.

821
00:33:00,556 --> 00:33:01,933
(Adison) And I'll be reading

822
00:33:01,933 --> 00:33:03,313
from the King James Version:

823
00:33:32,565 --> 00:33:34,372
(Derek) How many of us need cleansing?

824
00:33:34,372 --> 00:33:35,097
(Team) All.

825
00:33:35,097 --> 00:33:37,049
(Derek) In fact, if we think we don't...?

826
00:33:37,049 --> 00:33:38,383
(Team) We deceive ourselves.

827
00:33:38,383 --> 00:33:41,295
(Derek) We deceive ourselves, right?

828
00:33:41,295 --> 00:33:45,222
We all need cleansing, and, ideally,

829
00:33:45,222 --> 00:33:46,942
before I even come to worship

830
00:33:46,942 --> 00:33:48,434
I prepare, and I say, "Lord,

831
00:33:48,434 --> 00:33:51,293
make me clean like the new-fallen snow."

832
00:33:51,293 --> 00:33:54,401
But I may come just as I am and say,

833
00:33:54,401 --> 00:33:56,448
"God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

834
00:33:56,448 --> 00:33:58,570
Remember that man who beat on his...?

835
00:33:58,570 --> 00:34:00,949
If he had waited to come...

836
00:34:00,949 --> 00:34:03,121
No, he came just as he was,

837
00:34:03,121 --> 00:34:04,677
and he experienced the cleansing

838
00:34:04,677 --> 00:34:06,908
that he so desperately needed.

839
00:34:06,908 --> 00:34:08,897
So this cleansing experience,

840
00:34:08,897 --> 00:34:11,164
I'd like someone to share

841
00:34:11,164 --> 00:34:13,345
a time when you experienced

842
00:34:13,345 --> 00:34:18,617
that cleansing of God as you lifted

843
00:34:18,617 --> 00:34:21,368
your heart in praise and worship to Him.

844
00:34:21,368 --> 00:34:22,679
Anyone have a story

845
00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:24,584
that comes to mind? Gladys.

846
00:34:24,584 --> 00:34:26,755
(Gladys) Actually I was not in church.

847
00:34:26,755 --> 00:34:28,293
I was in my classroom,

848
00:34:28,293 --> 00:34:30,423
and my heart was very burdened

849
00:34:30,423 --> 00:34:32,138
with situations that I had before.

850
00:34:32,138 --> 00:34:34,183
But I had to teach Bible,

851
00:34:34,183 --> 00:34:35,588
so I was like, "Lord,

852
00:34:35,588 --> 00:34:36,878
I don't know how to do this

853
00:34:36,878 --> 00:34:38,908
because my heart is not in it."

854
00:34:38,908 --> 00:34:40,487
And it was Creation, so I said,

855
00:34:40,487 --> 00:34:42,157
"Oh, I don't have to...I really...

856
00:34:42,157 --> 00:34:44,428
I can do this with my eyes closed

857
00:34:44,428 --> 00:34:46,412
because it's about Creation.

858
00:34:46,412 --> 00:34:47,831
And for the first time,

859
00:34:47,831 --> 00:34:50,823
God, with the singing the kids were doing,

860
00:34:50,823 --> 00:34:52,580
and the reading of the Word of God,

861
00:34:52,580 --> 00:34:55,009
God just blessed my heart.

862
00:34:55,009 --> 00:34:56,825
When I read that Scripture,

863
00:34:56,825 --> 00:34:58,830
"In the beginning, God

864
00:34:58,830 --> 00:35:01,028
created the heavens and the earth,"

865
00:35:01,028 --> 00:35:04,038
it struck me like for the first time.

866
00:35:04,038 --> 00:35:05,408
I just started weeping

867
00:35:05,408 --> 00:35:06,942
because I just could not believe

868
00:35:06,942 --> 00:35:08,179
that in the beginning

869
00:35:08,179 --> 00:35:09,974
the world was in chaos,

870
00:35:09,974 --> 00:35:12,039
and I felt like God was talking to me,

871
00:35:12,039 --> 00:35:13,785
"Your world is in chaos,

872
00:35:13,785 --> 00:35:17,235
and I am here to bring light."

873
00:35:17,235 --> 00:35:18,352
And it was just like

874
00:35:18,352 --> 00:35:21,272
a wonderful worship experience for me,

875
00:35:21,272 --> 00:35:23,382
and I was just not even ready for that.

876
00:35:23,382 --> 00:35:25,841
And the kids were singing and singing,

877
00:35:25,841 --> 00:35:27,352
you know, "Let There Be Light,"

878
00:35:27,352 --> 00:35:28,695
"This Little Light of Mine."

879
00:35:28,695 --> 00:35:30,417
I don't know how they just connected

880
00:35:30,417 --> 00:35:31,614
all these songs together.

881
00:35:31,614 --> 00:35:33,191
And it was just such a blessing,

882
00:35:33,191 --> 00:35:34,581
and it was not even a church.

883
00:35:34,581 --> 00:35:36,774
(Derek) It was a church, actually,

884
00:35:36,774 --> 00:35:38,171
and the angels were saying

885
00:35:38,171 --> 00:35:42,407
to the children, "Keep singing,
keep singing."

886
00:35:42,407 --> 00:35:44,768
We can experience the cleansing of God

887
00:35:44,768 --> 00:35:47,595
sometimes in unexpected places.

888
00:35:47,595 --> 00:35:50,092
Anybody else have a story? Adison.

889
00:35:50,092 --> 00:35:51,943
(Adison) Well, lately, I've been doing

890
00:35:51,943 --> 00:35:55,319
a lot of road-tripping.

891
00:35:55,319 --> 00:35:56,719
(Derek) For those who may be,

892
00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:58,541
because we've got 150 countries,

893
00:35:58,541 --> 00:36:00,388
"road-tripping" would mean...?

894
00:36:00,388 --> 00:36:01,710
(Adison) Well, sometimes

895
00:36:01,710 --> 00:36:02,944
it means going to Canada.

896
00:36:02,944 --> 00:36:05,013
(Derek) Okay, so, long drives in a car?

897
00:36:05,013 --> 00:36:08,215
(Adison) Long drives, sometimes
45, 48 hours.

898
00:36:08,215 --> 00:36:10,163
(Derek) That is long.

899
00:36:10,163 --> 00:36:12,956
(Adison) I try to space it out
a little bit

900
00:36:12,956 --> 00:36:14,444
but sometimes knock it all out.

901
00:36:14,444 --> 00:36:16,614
Anyway, there is a lot of time

902
00:36:16,614 --> 00:36:19,338
to think as you're driving.

903
00:36:19,338 --> 00:36:23,556
And I also enjoy listening to music.

904
00:36:23,556 --> 00:36:25,635
And so, I was listening as I was driving

905
00:36:25,635 --> 00:36:27,268
and thinking about Heaven

906
00:36:27,268 --> 00:36:28,412
and thinking about Jesus

907
00:36:28,412 --> 00:36:29,518
and all the good things

908
00:36:29,518 --> 00:36:31,427
He's done for me personally.

909
00:36:31,427 --> 00:36:33,302
This song began to play, and it was

910
00:36:33,302 --> 00:36:35,890
called, "Lord, Have Mercy on Me,"

911
00:36:35,890 --> 00:36:37,325
and I just began to...

912
00:36:37,325 --> 00:36:38,858
It even brought tears to my eyes

913
00:36:38,858 --> 00:36:40,764
because I began to rethink

914
00:36:40,764 --> 00:36:43,745
just how imperfect I am

915
00:36:43,745 --> 00:36:45,260
and the times I let people down

916
00:36:45,260 --> 00:36:48,401
and the times when I just fall short.

917
00:36:48,401 --> 00:36:50,555
And it really was a moving experience

918
00:36:50,555 --> 00:36:52,266
at an unexpected time.

919
00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:53,650
(Derek) And you were driving?

920
00:36:53,650 --> 00:36:54,786
(Adison) I was driving.

921
00:36:54,786 --> 00:36:57,417
(Derek) And you had windshield wipers
to wipe the tears?

922
00:36:57,417 --> 00:36:59,426
(Adison) I suppose, yeah.

923
00:36:59,426 --> 00:37:02,432
(Derek) God can catch us if we don't

924
00:37:02,432 --> 00:37:05,334
keep putting up barriers, right?

925
00:37:05,334 --> 00:37:07,437
Maybe at a Christian concert

926
00:37:07,437 --> 00:37:10,577
or maybe one-on-one listening

927
00:37:10,577 --> 00:37:12,862
while I'm on a long road trip,

928
00:37:12,862 --> 00:37:15,223
God can catch our attention.

929
00:37:15,223 --> 00:37:19,082
Songs of praise, important,

930
00:37:19,082 --> 00:37:23,210
cleansing, important as part of worship.

931
00:37:23,210 --> 00:37:24,823
But also the Bible speaks

932
00:37:24,823 --> 00:37:27,918
about offering sacrifices.

933
00:37:27,918 --> 00:37:30,793
Now we know in the Old Testament time,

934
00:37:30,793 --> 00:37:33,833
the ceremonial system, those sacrifices

935
00:37:33,833 --> 00:37:37,099
were animals, right, birds and animals

936
00:37:37,099 --> 00:37:41,080
and grain offerings, and different parts,

937
00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:42,814
all pointing forward to...?

938
00:37:42,814 --> 00:37:44,014
(Team) Jesus.

939
00:37:44,014 --> 00:37:46,444
(Derek) Jesus, our all-sufficient Savior.

940
00:37:46,444 --> 00:37:49,247
Look at Nehemiah, chapter 12, verse 43.

941
00:37:49,247 --> 00:37:50,503
Again, we're focusing here

942
00:37:50,503 --> 00:37:52,755
on how they were worshiping

943
00:37:52,755 --> 00:37:55,347
the Lord at that time.

944
00:37:55,347 --> 00:37:57,557
Nehemiah, 12, Travis,

945
00:37:57,557 --> 00:37:59,649
if you'd read verse 43.

946
00:37:59,649 --> 00:38:00,815
Notice what it says.

947
00:38:00,815 --> 00:38:01,985
(Travis) I'll be reading

948
00:38:01,985 --> 00:38:03,786
from the New King James Version:

949
00:38:19,243 --> 00:38:20,866
(Derek) What do you think it means

950
00:38:20,866 --> 00:38:25,190
when it says they offered
"great sacrifices"?

951
00:38:25,190 --> 00:38:27,267
First of all, do you think it's talking

952
00:38:27,267 --> 00:38:30,139
about animal sacrifices there?

953
00:38:30,139 --> 00:38:32,041
(Kenneth) Maybe even more than animals.

954
00:38:32,041 --> 00:38:33,309
(Derek) Maybe more, but it

955
00:38:33,309 --> 00:38:35,141
could include that, right? Jonathan.

956
00:38:35,141 --> 00:38:36,472
(Jonathan) I was thinking it

957
00:38:36,472 --> 00:38:38,327
could be alluding back to when Solomon

958
00:38:38,327 --> 00:38:39,335
dedicated the temple.

959
00:38:39,335 --> 00:38:41,270
And I was trying to think of the number,

960
00:38:41,270 --> 00:38:44,242
but it was like thousands upon thousands,
all these sacrifices.

961
00:38:44,242 --> 00:38:46,966
(Derek) So, would you say then...

962
00:38:46,966 --> 00:38:48,566
But Kenneth's thinking it was

963
00:38:48,566 --> 00:38:52,788
more than just maybe animal sacrifices
or sacrifice.

964
00:38:52,788 --> 00:38:55,231
What other kinds of sacrifices

965
00:38:55,231 --> 00:38:58,698
might they have offered that day?

966
00:38:58,698 --> 00:39:01,097
(Gladys) Their time.

967
00:39:01,097 --> 00:39:04,500
(Derek) Their time? Grain? Okay.

968
00:39:04,500 --> 00:39:05,889
First fruits.

969
00:39:05,889 --> 00:39:07,114
(Team Member) Themselves.

970
00:39:07,119 --> 00:39:08,858
(Derek) Themselves, right?

971
00:39:08,858 --> 00:39:10,738
(Team Member) For God's service.

972
00:39:10,738 --> 00:39:13,138
(Derek) What's the "great," Travis?

973
00:39:13,138 --> 00:39:15,480
(Travis) It says, the verse after that,

974
00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:17,099
"At the same time," they appointed

975
00:39:17,099 --> 00:39:18,208
rooms for a storehouse,

976
00:39:18,208 --> 00:39:20,231
so that means if there were rooms

977
00:39:20,231 --> 00:39:23,373
being appointed to store the offerings
and the things,

978
00:39:23,373 --> 00:39:25,472
I'm thinking that they were bringing

979
00:39:25,472 --> 00:39:28,306
gifts to the Lord, you know,

980
00:39:28,306 --> 00:39:29,608
presenting things to Him.

981
00:39:29,608 --> 00:39:32,153
(Derek) Some might have been animals
that were killed.

982
00:39:32,153 --> 00:39:36,278
Some might have been free-will offerings,

983
00:39:36,278 --> 00:39:38,218
sacrificial offerings that would help

984
00:39:38,218 --> 00:39:39,681
the support of the temple,

985
00:39:39,681 --> 00:39:44,511
the priests, the Levites,
the singers, right?

986
00:39:44,511 --> 00:39:46,870
So, "great," would you say "great"

987
00:39:46,870 --> 00:39:53,963
in terms of quantity or significance...?

988
00:39:53,963 --> 00:39:58,053
(Team) Both.

989
00:39:58,053 --> 00:40:02,844
(Derek) You say quality and quantity;
it was both.

990
00:40:02,844 --> 00:40:05,871
You would say they weren't saying,

991
00:40:05,871 --> 00:40:09,091
"What's the least I have to bring?"

992
00:40:09,091 --> 00:40:11,093
You remember when Moses called

993
00:40:11,093 --> 00:40:12,749
for the building of the sanctuary,

994
00:40:12,749 --> 00:40:19,123
that the response was so overwhelming,

995
00:40:19,123 --> 00:40:23,523
Moses had to say, "We have enough."

996
00:40:23,523 --> 00:40:28,000
That's a heartfelt response, isn't it?
Yes, Nicole?

997
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,571
(Nicole) I was just thinking
it would be so nice today

998
00:40:30,571 --> 00:40:33,278
if our churches could tell people
to stop bringing

999
00:40:33,278 --> 00:40:34,551
because we have enough

1000
00:40:34,551 --> 00:40:36,066
to support the needy, the folks

1001
00:40:36,066 --> 00:40:37,493
who are in need in our church.

1002
00:40:37,493 --> 00:40:39,031
And it's just an example for us

1003
00:40:39,031 --> 00:40:40,516
that we have a ways to go

1004
00:40:40,516 --> 00:40:42,531
when it comes to doing what Christ wants,

1005
00:40:42,531 --> 00:40:44,070
which is helping those around us

1006
00:40:44,070 --> 00:40:46,010
that are in such need.

1007
00:40:46,010 --> 00:40:48,815
(Derek) So, let's talk about today.

1008
00:40:48,815 --> 00:40:52,167
We don't sacrifice animals.

1009
00:40:52,167 --> 00:40:54,577
Why don't we sacrifice lambs anymore?

1010
00:40:54,577 --> 00:40:55,774
(Team) Jesus came.

1011
00:40:55,774 --> 00:40:57,409
(Derek) Jesus <i>is</i> the Lamb of God.

1012
00:40:57,409 --> 00:41:00,101
He died once for all, right?

1013
00:41:00,101 --> 00:41:01,473
And so, instead of focusing

1014
00:41:01,473 --> 00:41:06,255
on a little, helpless lamb, beast,

1015
00:41:06,255 --> 00:41:08,948
we focus on Jesus, right?

1016
00:41:08,948 --> 00:41:12,057
So, what sacrifices can we bring

1017
00:41:12,057 --> 00:41:16,321
as part of worship in spirit and truth?

1018
00:41:16,321 --> 00:41:17,936
What do you think?

1019
00:41:17,936 --> 00:41:19,266
(Kenneth) I think somewhere

1020
00:41:19,266 --> 00:41:20,671
in the book of Romans it says

1021
00:41:20,671 --> 00:41:21,961
we should present ourselves

1022
00:41:21,961 --> 00:41:23,200
as a living sacrifice.

1023
00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:24,256
(Derek) That's right,

1024
00:41:24,256 --> 00:41:26,176
in Romans, chapter 12, doesn't it?

1025
00:41:26,176 --> 00:41:28,679
It says, "Present your bodies..."?

1026
00:41:28,679 --> 00:41:29,921
(Team) A living sacrifice.

1027
00:41:29,921 --> 00:41:31,606
(Derek) A living sacrifice,

1028
00:41:31,606 --> 00:41:35,055
holy, acceptable to God," my translation

1029
00:41:35,055 --> 00:41:38,291
says, "which is your reasonable service."

1030
00:41:38,291 --> 00:41:39,556
And it goes on to say,

1031
00:41:39,556 --> 00:41:42,221
"Don't be conformed to..."?

1032
00:41:42,221 --> 00:41:43,243
(Team) This world.

1033
00:41:43,243 --> 00:41:45,062
(Derek) "...to this world, but be..."?

1034
00:41:45,062 --> 00:41:47,391
(Team) "Transformed by the renewing
of your mind."

1035
00:41:47,391 --> 00:41:48,462
(Derek) So, maybe part

1036
00:41:48,462 --> 00:41:49,652
of the sacrifice we bring

1037
00:41:49,652 --> 00:41:52,283
is a willingness to...?

1038
00:41:52,283 --> 00:41:53,343
Finish the sentence.

1039
00:41:53,343 --> 00:41:54,628
(Gladys) To be transformed.

1040
00:41:54,628 --> 00:41:57,313
(Derek) To be transformed, that's right.

1041
00:41:57,313 --> 00:41:59,639
It's not, as Jonathan mentioned earlier,

1042
00:41:59,649 --> 00:42:01,924
that we come because we look so good.

1043
00:42:01,924 --> 00:42:03,369
But we are willing for God

1044
00:42:03,369 --> 00:42:04,845
to do whatever He wants to do.

1045
00:42:04,845 --> 00:42:06,325
Is that an act of worship?

1046
00:42:06,325 --> 00:42:07,625
(Team) Amen. Yes.

1047
00:42:07,625 --> 00:42:09,638
(Jonathan) It makes me think of the verse,

1048
00:42:09,638 --> 00:42:10,956
"The sacrifices of the Lord

1049
00:42:10,956 --> 00:42:12,667
are a broken and contrite spirit."

1050
00:42:12,667 --> 00:42:13,934
And I think that captures

1051
00:42:13,934 --> 00:42:16,011
a lot of what it's about

1052
00:42:16,011 --> 00:42:17,360
and what Christ went through

1053
00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:19,507
and His example for us.

1054
00:42:19,507 --> 00:42:22,619
Willing to be humble and come down

1055
00:42:22,619 --> 00:42:24,884
and be beaten by all these people

1056
00:42:24,884 --> 00:42:27,244
and to live a life without...

1057
00:42:27,244 --> 00:42:28,929
All the things that we look for,

1058
00:42:28,929 --> 00:42:31,185
He gave up and said, "Okay,

1059
00:42:31,185 --> 00:42:33,966
I give this up," and He lived

1060
00:42:33,966 --> 00:42:36,675
that Romans 12, "Let your bodies

1061
00:42:36,675 --> 00:42:38,228
be a living sacrifice."

1062
00:42:38,228 --> 00:42:39,317
(Derek) And I think

1063
00:42:39,317 --> 00:42:41,602
Jonathan's making an important point here

1064
00:42:41,602 --> 00:42:43,705
that, when we come to true worship

1065
00:42:43,705 --> 00:42:44,952
in spirit and truth,

1066
00:42:44,952 --> 00:42:49,087
our focus is not on whatever sacrifices
we are making.

1067
00:42:49,087 --> 00:42:50,406
We will make them,

1068
00:42:50,406 --> 00:42:51,956
as a loving response,

1069
00:42:51,956 --> 00:42:54,477
but our focus should be
on the sacrifice...?

1070
00:42:54,477 --> 00:42:56,266
(Team) That Jesus made.

1071
00:42:56,266 --> 00:42:58,538
(Derek) That He has made, right?

1072
00:42:58,538 --> 00:43:00,361
"God forbid," Paul says,

1073
00:43:00,361 --> 00:43:02,528
"that I should boast," or glory,

1074
00:43:02,528 --> 00:43:03,599
"except in the cross

1075
00:43:03,599 --> 00:43:05,828
of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1076
00:43:05,828 --> 00:43:11,430
That's where my focus should be,
in true worship.

1077
00:43:11,430 --> 00:43:16,003
So, how are we doing with that?

1078
00:43:16,003 --> 00:43:21,885
Is Christ always the focal point?

1079
00:43:21,885 --> 00:43:22,949
Is that not our prayer

1080
00:43:22,949 --> 00:43:24,507
in Hope Sabbath School?

1081
00:43:24,507 --> 00:43:26,716
Whatever we're studying about,

1082
00:43:26,716 --> 00:43:28,759
that people would catch a clearer

1083
00:43:28,759 --> 00:43:31,079
and yet clearer revelation of what?

1084
00:43:31,079 --> 00:43:32,028
(Team) Jesus.

1085
00:43:32,028 --> 00:43:34,278
(Derek) The immeasurable, unfailing
love of God,

1086
00:43:34,278 --> 00:43:35,919
and that Jesus would be...?

1087
00:43:35,919 --> 00:43:36,848
(Team) Lifted up.

1088
00:43:36,848 --> 00:43:38,207
(Derek) Would be lifted up.

1089
00:43:38,207 --> 00:43:41,701
So, the sacrifices we bring -

1090
00:43:41,701 --> 00:43:44,405
we're singing songs to the Lord,

1091
00:43:44,405 --> 00:43:46,957
we are experiencing cleansing,

1092
00:43:46,957 --> 00:43:50,179
and the sacrifice is...?

1093
00:43:50,179 --> 00:43:53,848
Ourselves in worship

1094
00:43:53,848 --> 00:43:56,539
and thankfulness to...?

1095
00:43:56,539 --> 00:43:57,551
The One who loved us

1096
00:43:57,551 --> 00:43:59,811
and gave Himself for us, right? Travis?

1097
00:43:59,811 --> 00:44:01,108
(Travis) And our sacrifices

1098
00:44:01,108 --> 00:44:03,067
also can be with our tithes and offerings

1099
00:44:03,067 --> 00:44:04,431
as they did back then

1100
00:44:04,431 --> 00:44:06,655
because the work can go forward,

1101
00:44:06,655 --> 00:44:09,536
you know, when we contribute.

1102
00:44:09,536 --> 00:44:11,846
Hope Sabbath School is donor-based.

1103
00:44:11,846 --> 00:44:15,836
Without offerings to the Hope Channel,

1104
00:44:15,836 --> 00:44:17,845
we wouldn't be here.

1105
00:44:17,845 --> 00:44:20,646
(Derek) Right, and some of you

1106
00:44:20,646 --> 00:44:22,377
pay to drive all the way here

1107
00:44:22,377 --> 00:44:25,684
or to fly all the way here, right?

1108
00:44:25,684 --> 00:44:28,721
Why do you do that?

1109
00:44:28,721 --> 00:44:30,420
Some might say, "They just want

1110
00:44:30,420 --> 00:44:31,452
to be on television."

1111
00:44:31,452 --> 00:44:33,466
Let me tell you, it's not worth it.

1112
00:44:33,466 --> 00:44:34,817
It has to be because you see

1113
00:44:34,817 --> 00:44:36,344
lives are being changed, right?

1114
00:44:36,344 --> 00:44:37,340
(Team) Amen. Yes.

1115
00:44:37,340 --> 00:44:40,119
(Derek) So your coming here
is an act of...?

1116
00:44:40,119 --> 00:44:41,304
(Team) Worship.

1117
00:44:41,304 --> 00:44:43,143
(Derek) It's an act of worship. Jason?

1118
00:44:43,143 --> 00:44:45,164
(Jason) And the utilizing
of our time, too.

1119
00:44:45,164 --> 00:44:46,865
(Derek) Which is an act of worship.

1120
00:44:46,865 --> 00:44:47,645
(Jason) Yes.

1121
00:44:47,645 --> 00:44:48,856
(Derek) Sure. Well, good.

1122
00:44:48,856 --> 00:44:50,619
We've got three important lessons

1123
00:44:50,619 --> 00:44:52,775
we've learned so far.

1124
00:44:52,775 --> 00:44:55,713
We've learned singing songs to the Lord

1125
00:44:55,713 --> 00:44:58,342
was a really important part
of worship then.

1126
00:44:58,342 --> 00:45:02,804
And we mustn't lose sight of that, right,

1127
00:45:02,804 --> 00:45:04,399
even if we're singing

1128
00:45:04,399 --> 00:45:07,894
a 200-, 300-, 500-year-old song,

1129
00:45:07,894 --> 00:45:10,466
a 3,000-year-old Scripture song.

1130
00:45:10,466 --> 00:45:12,563
If we're singing Martin Luther's

1131
00:45:12,563 --> 00:45:16,297
<i>A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,</i> you know?

1132
00:45:16,297 --> 00:45:18,662
"And though this world,
with devils filled,

1133
00:45:18,662 --> 00:45:23,503
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear."

1134
00:45:23,503 --> 00:45:25,684
I mean, let's sing it like we meant it!

1135
00:45:25,684 --> 00:45:27,011
What do you think?

1136
00:45:27,011 --> 00:45:27,856
(Team) Yes. Amen.

1137
00:45:27,856 --> 00:45:30,110
(Derek) So that is an important part
of worship.

1138
00:45:30,110 --> 00:45:34,230
The cleansing is an important part
of worship.

1139
00:45:34,230 --> 00:45:40,488
And then thirdly, offering sacrifice,

1140
00:45:40,488 --> 00:45:45,836
not animals, but heart and gifts

1141
00:45:45,836 --> 00:45:47,516
in gratitude for what God has done,

1142
00:45:47,516 --> 00:45:50,745
not to pay or to earn His favor, right?

1143
00:45:50,745 --> 00:45:53,169
But a fourth lesson we learn,

1144
00:45:53,169 --> 00:45:56,694
look in Nehemiah 12, verse 44.

1145
00:45:56,694 --> 00:45:59,357
You could almost miss it.

1146
00:45:59,357 --> 00:46:02,851
It's actually just at at the end
of that verse,

1147
00:46:02,851 --> 00:46:06,886
and it talks about giving thanks

1148
00:46:06,886 --> 00:46:10,417
for those who lead in worship.

1149
00:46:10,417 --> 00:46:12,340
Would someone like to read that for us?

1150
00:46:12,340 --> 00:46:15,765
Gladys? Nehemiah 12, verse 44.

1151
00:46:15,765 --> 00:46:17,232
(Gladys) Yes, I'll be reading

1152
00:46:17,232 --> 00:46:18,916
from the New International Version:

1153
00:46:41,243 --> 00:46:42,578
(Derek) "Judah was pleased."

1154
00:46:42,578 --> 00:46:44,698
My Bible says they "rejoiced."

1155
00:46:44,698 --> 00:46:48,823
In other words, they appreciated

1156
00:46:48,823 --> 00:46:51,271
the spiritual leadership

1157
00:46:51,271 --> 00:46:54,621
that was being provided.

1158
00:46:54,621 --> 00:46:55,802
Who did they represent,

1159
00:46:55,802 --> 00:46:59,756
these priests and Levites?

1160
00:46:59,756 --> 00:47:02,965
Who do they represent?

1161
00:47:02,965 --> 00:47:04,870
The solemn thought

1162
00:47:04,870 --> 00:47:06,959
is that they actually represent

1163
00:47:06,959 --> 00:47:08,858
the character of God.

1164
00:47:08,858 --> 00:47:12,619
And that's why Jesus gets so upset

1165
00:47:12,619 --> 00:47:14,558
when He comes and they've turned

1166
00:47:14,558 --> 00:47:16,195
His Father's house into...?

1167
00:47:16,195 --> 00:47:17,725
(Derek, Team) A den of thieves.

1168
00:47:17,725 --> 00:47:20,171
(Derek) A marketplace, "How <i>dare</i> you

1169
00:47:20,171 --> 00:47:21,874
do that?" He says.

1170
00:47:21,874 --> 00:47:24,058
"It shall be called a house
of prayer for..."?

1171
00:47:24,058 --> 00:47:26,025
(Derek, Team) All people.

1172
00:47:26,025 --> 00:47:27,713
(Derek) So the responsibility

1173
00:47:27,713 --> 00:47:29,855
of those leading in worship

1174
00:47:29,855 --> 00:47:34,318
is to reflect the character of God, right?

1175
00:47:34,318 --> 00:47:37,235
So, let's talk about a time

1176
00:47:37,235 --> 00:47:39,325
when God blessed you...

1177
00:47:39,325 --> 00:47:40,492
We talked about music,

1178
00:47:40,492 --> 00:47:42,443
but I'm now going to broaden it out

1179
00:47:42,443 --> 00:47:44,250
to worship in general,

1180
00:47:44,250 --> 00:47:50,107
when God used someone,

1181
00:47:50,107 --> 00:47:52,103
in a sense representing the truth

1182
00:47:52,103 --> 00:47:55,353
about who He was,

1183
00:47:55,353 --> 00:47:58,053
to bless your life in worship.

1184
00:47:58,053 --> 00:47:59,399
Can you think of a time?

1185
00:47:59,399 --> 00:48:00,861
It may have been in a church,

1186
00:48:00,861 --> 00:48:02,561
or it may have been somewhere else.

1187
00:48:02,561 --> 00:48:04,268
It may have been at a camp,

1188
00:48:04,268 --> 00:48:07,290
or it may have been at a training program.

1189
00:48:07,290 --> 00:48:09,390
Travis, a time that God used someone

1190
00:48:09,390 --> 00:48:14,016
to bless your life in worship.

1191
00:48:14,016 --> 00:48:16,039
(Travis) I did the school of evangelism

1192
00:48:16,039 --> 00:48:18,201
in Australia, an ARISE program,

1193
00:48:18,201 --> 00:48:20,458
and I remember the last day,

1194
00:48:20,458 --> 00:48:24,258
It was a Thursday, and the presenter
was James Rafferty.

1195
00:48:24,258 --> 00:48:26,610
And he was presenting Revelation in a way

1196
00:48:26,610 --> 00:48:29,109
I had never seen it presented before.

1197
00:48:29,109 --> 00:48:32,106
And I remember it was an hour long,

1198
00:48:32,106 --> 00:48:33,300
and I remember weeping

1199
00:48:33,300 --> 00:48:35,007
almost the entire time,

1200
00:48:35,007 --> 00:48:36,491
the way he presented Jesus

1201
00:48:36,491 --> 00:48:38,719
in the light of love in Revelation.

1202
00:48:38,719 --> 00:48:40,319
It was just an amazing thing.

1203
00:48:40,319 --> 00:48:42,254
I taped it on my phone,

1204
00:48:42,254 --> 00:48:44,222
and I still have it and will listen to it

1205
00:48:44,222 --> 00:48:45,837
sometimes, from time to time.

1206
00:48:45,837 --> 00:48:47,638
And it still brings tears to my eyes.

1207
00:48:47,638 --> 00:48:49,856
So God used him in a powerful way.

1208
00:48:49,856 --> 00:48:55,525
(Derek) So God used a man named James

1209
00:48:55,525 --> 00:49:00,312
to reflect the beauty of God's character

1210
00:49:00,312 --> 00:49:02,061
in the message that he shared.

1211
00:49:02,061 --> 00:49:05,162
And praise God that that messenger

1212
00:49:05,162 --> 00:49:08,099
didn't get in the way, right?

1213
00:49:08,099 --> 00:49:10,365
It could happen. Stephanie, a time?

1214
00:49:10,365 --> 00:49:11,954
(Stephanie) Yeah, I was thinking

1215
00:49:11,954 --> 00:49:14,705
of a church that I attended in Tennessee,

1216
00:49:14,705 --> 00:49:16,065
and the leader who was

1217
00:49:16,065 --> 00:49:17,972
leading out in the songs,

1218
00:49:17,972 --> 00:49:20,969
she sang with such joy.

1219
00:49:20,969 --> 00:49:22,941
And I told her later, I said,

1220
00:49:22,941 --> 00:49:24,870
"You sing as if you believed

1221
00:49:24,870 --> 00:49:26,184
what you were singing."

1222
00:49:26,184 --> 00:49:28,179
And she said, "I do."

1223
00:49:28,179 --> 00:49:29,880
And it was just so inspiring

1224
00:49:29,880 --> 00:49:32,445
to see her smiling face.

1225
00:49:32,445 --> 00:49:34,342
And really, we're marching

1226
00:49:34,342 --> 00:49:36,120
to Zion, you know?

1227
00:49:36,120 --> 00:49:38,102
Whatever the songs were,

1228
00:49:38,102 --> 00:49:41,104
she was very engaged, and you could tell

1229
00:49:41,104 --> 00:49:44,568
she believed the message she was singing.

1230
00:49:44,568 --> 00:49:47,028
And that inspired me because I thought

1231
00:49:47,028 --> 00:49:48,980
that's an awesome example.

1232
00:49:48,980 --> 00:49:50,489
(Derek) That was part

1233
00:49:50,489 --> 00:49:53,462
of the sermon, right?

1234
00:49:53,462 --> 00:49:55,057
That God can use a person,

1235
00:49:55,057 --> 00:49:56,082
we ought to thank God

1236
00:49:56,082 --> 00:49:59,280
for those people. Adison?

1237
00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:01,966
(Adison) A pastor back home came to mind.

1238
00:50:01,966 --> 00:50:03,595
He's an old family friend of ours.

1239
00:50:03,595 --> 00:50:06,929
He baptized my dad back in 1994,

1240
00:50:06,929 --> 00:50:11,444
and in 2011 he baptized my brother and me,

1241
00:50:11,444 --> 00:50:13,909
my twin brother, both on the same day,

1242
00:50:13,909 --> 00:50:15,635
so it was a really special moment.

1243
00:50:15,635 --> 00:50:16,687
But what led to that

1244
00:50:16,687 --> 00:50:19,676
was his involvement in our church.

1245
00:50:19,676 --> 00:50:21,045
He would come to our church,

1246
00:50:21,045 --> 00:50:21,978
and he would preach

1247
00:50:21,978 --> 00:50:23,486
and lead out in worship.

1248
00:50:23,486 --> 00:50:26,694
And I remember growing up as a child

1249
00:50:26,694 --> 00:50:28,629
and moving into my early teens,

1250
00:50:28,629 --> 00:50:31,284
just the impact of his messages,

1251
00:50:31,284 --> 00:50:37,184
and the sincerity that he possessed.

1252
00:50:37,184 --> 00:50:38,549
He was truly vindicating

1253
00:50:38,549 --> 00:50:39,950
the character of Christ,

1254
00:50:39,950 --> 00:50:42,026
and it had a huge impression on my life.

1255
00:50:42,026 --> 00:50:44,586
And so his ability to lead in worship

1256
00:50:44,586 --> 00:50:49,469
ultimately led to my cleansing,
experiencing baptism

1257
00:50:49,469 --> 00:50:51,084
and truly a blessing.

1258
00:50:51,084 --> 00:50:52,385
(Derek) Is he still living?

1259
00:50:52,385 --> 00:50:53,731
(Adison) He is still living.

1260
00:50:53,731 --> 00:50:55,015
(Derek) I hope he watches.

1261
00:50:55,015 --> 00:50:56,169
(Adison) I hope so, too.

1262
00:50:56,169 --> 00:50:58,031
(Derek) And he will see that testimony,

1263
00:50:58,031 --> 00:50:59,388
and you know what he'll say?

1264
00:50:59,388 --> 00:51:00,554
(Team) Praise God.

1265
00:51:00,554 --> 00:51:02,254
(Derek) Probably with tears running

1266
00:51:02,254 --> 00:51:04,321
down his cheeks, right,

1267
00:51:04,321 --> 00:51:06,991
he'll say, "Praise God," or he may

1268
00:51:06,991 --> 00:51:09,095
even use my favorite Hebrew word.

1269
00:51:09,095 --> 00:51:11,345
(Team) Hallelujah.

1270
00:51:11,345 --> 00:51:14,073
(Derek) Maybe a little less inhibited.

1271
00:51:14,073 --> 00:51:17,874
Hallelujah! That God could use

1272
00:51:17,874 --> 00:51:21,623
a woman, a man like us, you know,

1273
00:51:21,623 --> 00:51:25,633
to do something supernatural

1274
00:51:25,633 --> 00:51:27,995
like change a person's life?

1275
00:51:27,995 --> 00:51:32,666
Praise God. Someone else. Yes, Jason?

1276
00:51:32,666 --> 00:51:34,414
(Jason) I was invited to church

1277
00:51:34,414 --> 00:51:37,037
a while back in Norfolk, Virginia.

1278
00:51:37,037 --> 00:51:38,664
And I forget his name,

1279
00:51:38,664 --> 00:51:40,725
but he asked me to come, and I did.

1280
00:51:40,725 --> 00:51:42,755
He was an older gentleman, kind of stocky,

1281
00:51:42,755 --> 00:51:43,627
but he had a voice

1282
00:51:43,627 --> 00:51:45,844
that was very, very bass-like,

1283
00:51:45,844 --> 00:51:47,203
and they had a song

1284
00:51:47,203 --> 00:51:48,964
that they were singing at the church.

1285
00:51:48,964 --> 00:51:50,522
He was sitting right next to me,

1286
00:51:50,522 --> 00:51:52,297
and he was drowning me out.

1287
00:51:52,297 --> 00:51:55,638
And it allowed me to be uninhibited,
for me to express,

1288
00:51:55,638 --> 00:51:58,267
and I could just sing and sing and sing.

1289
00:51:58,267 --> 00:51:59,713
And, you know, it might not

1290
00:51:59,713 --> 00:52:00,762
seem like a blessing,

1291
00:52:00,762 --> 00:52:02,138
but at the same time, it was

1292
00:52:02,138 --> 00:52:03,997
because I could just be myself and sing

1293
00:52:03,997 --> 00:52:05,263
because, of course, no one

1294
00:52:05,263 --> 00:52:06,231
could really hear me

1295
00:52:06,231 --> 00:52:07,520
because he was next to me,

1296
00:52:07,520 --> 00:52:08,839
just barely, and from afar,

1297
00:52:08,839 --> 00:52:10,477
everybody could hear him.

1298
00:52:10,477 --> 00:52:12,487
As I looked back, it really was a blessing

1299
00:52:12,487 --> 00:52:14,011
because at that point,

1300
00:52:14,011 --> 00:52:15,176
I was a babe in Christ.

1301
00:52:15,176 --> 00:52:17,059
I was kind of scared to sing, you know,

1302
00:52:17,059 --> 00:52:18,449
because I really can't sing.

1303
00:52:18,449 --> 00:52:19,731
But I made a joyful noise,

1304
00:52:19,731 --> 00:52:21,094
however that sounded to him,

1305
00:52:21,094 --> 00:52:22,492
but it really was a blessing.

1306
00:52:22,492 --> 00:52:23,420
It really helped me

1307
00:52:23,420 --> 00:52:24,911
to come out of my comfort zone.

1308
00:52:24,911 --> 00:52:25,887
(Derek) Like singing

1309
00:52:25,887 --> 00:52:26,975
with the angel choirs;

1310
00:52:26,975 --> 00:52:29,745
like, sing up; it's going to sound okay.

1311
00:52:29,745 --> 00:52:32,231
It's going to sound okay.

1312
00:52:32,231 --> 00:52:33,627
We certainly can thank God

1313
00:52:33,627 --> 00:52:35,585
for people who lead in worship,

1314
00:52:35,585 --> 00:52:38,056
who God's used to bless our lives.

1315
00:52:38,056 --> 00:52:40,730
I'd like to close by asking...
We're talking here

1316
00:52:40,730 --> 00:52:42,287
about <i>Worshiping the Lord.</i>

1317
00:52:42,287 --> 00:52:44,036
The Bible also says, "When you give,

1318
00:52:44,036 --> 00:52:45,837
it's given back to you."

1319
00:52:45,837 --> 00:52:47,210
Can you think of a time

1320
00:52:47,210 --> 00:52:49,437
when God gave <i>you</i> the opportunity

1321
00:52:49,437 --> 00:52:50,909
to help lead a worship,

1322
00:52:50,909 --> 00:52:56,009
and you were blessed in that experience?

1323
00:52:56,009 --> 00:52:57,796
Anybody? That <i>you</i> were given

1324
00:52:57,796 --> 00:52:58,884
an opportunity to lead

1325
00:52:58,884 --> 00:53:00,102
in worship. Kenneth?

1326
00:53:00,102 --> 00:53:01,595
(Kenneth) I recently was at one

1327
00:53:01,595 --> 00:53:03,949
of our Friday worships that we have,

1328
00:53:03,949 --> 00:53:05,952
young couples, we meet.

1329
00:53:05,952 --> 00:53:08,560
And everyone, not knowing

1330
00:53:08,560 --> 00:53:11,752
that everyone has had a very rough week,

1331
00:53:11,752 --> 00:53:13,827
so when we came, they said I should lead.

1332
00:53:13,827 --> 00:53:16,832
And after we read a Scripture,

1333
00:53:16,832 --> 00:53:19,387
I asked how is the message...

1334
00:53:19,387 --> 00:53:20,391
You know, how is God

1335
00:53:20,391 --> 00:53:21,741
speaking to them personally.

1336
00:53:21,741 --> 00:53:23,509
And then each individual shared

1337
00:53:23,509 --> 00:53:25,264
their experience throughout the week

1338
00:53:25,264 --> 00:53:26,519
and how the hymns and then

1339
00:53:26,519 --> 00:53:28,899
the Scripture was very appropriate,
speaking to us.

1340
00:53:28,899 --> 00:53:31,336
So, that, yeah, testimony

1341
00:53:31,336 --> 00:53:32,794
that they shared on that day

1342
00:53:32,794 --> 00:53:34,702
really blessed me and lifted me up.

1343
00:53:34,702 --> 00:53:36,045
(Derek) And this was a group

1344
00:53:36,045 --> 00:53:37,177
of how many couples?

1345
00:53:37,177 --> 00:53:38,429
(Kenneth) About eight.

1346
00:53:38,429 --> 00:53:39,799
(Derek) About eight couples,

1347
00:53:39,799 --> 00:53:41,933
you and your wife were helping
to lead that.

1348
00:53:41,933 --> 00:53:44,171
And as God gave you a Scripture,

1349
00:53:44,171 --> 00:53:45,330
and as they responded

1350
00:53:45,330 --> 00:53:47,578
to how that impacted them,

1351
00:53:47,578 --> 00:53:48,936
you were blessed in return?

1352
00:53:48,936 --> 00:53:50,321
(Kenneth) More than blessed.

1353
00:53:50,321 --> 00:53:51,596
(Derek) More than blessed,

1354
00:53:51,596 --> 00:53:53,184
more than blessed. Yes, Gladys.

1355
00:53:53,184 --> 00:53:56,377
(Gladys) Every month I do prison ministry

1356
00:53:56,377 --> 00:53:58,749
at a prison here in Maryland.

1357
00:53:58,749 --> 00:54:00,684
And it's just amazing how...

1358
00:54:00,684 --> 00:54:03,228
We don't have any contact with them

1359
00:54:03,228 --> 00:54:05,356
prior to going to visit,

1360
00:54:05,356 --> 00:54:07,559
and I preach there regularly.

1361
00:54:07,559 --> 00:54:09,239
And it amazes me always

1362
00:54:09,239 --> 00:54:11,226
the message that God

1363
00:54:11,226 --> 00:54:13,736
impresses me to present,

1364
00:54:13,736 --> 00:54:16,236
how the songs that they prepare,

1365
00:54:16,236 --> 00:54:18,050
the prayers that they prepare,

1366
00:54:18,050 --> 00:54:19,573
everything that they share,

1367
00:54:19,573 --> 00:54:22,669
it just goes together.

1368
00:54:22,669 --> 00:54:25,153
It amazes me every single time

1369
00:54:25,153 --> 00:54:27,771
because we never talk with them

1370
00:54:27,771 --> 00:54:29,468
to say, "Hey, read this Scripture,"

1371
00:54:29,468 --> 00:54:30,749
or, "Sing this song,"

1372
00:54:30,749 --> 00:54:31,930
or, "Prepare this hymn."

1373
00:54:31,930 --> 00:54:32,961
We just come prepared

1374
00:54:32,961 --> 00:54:34,147
to bring the message,

1375
00:54:34,147 --> 00:54:37,246
and everything in the worship
just comes together,

1376
00:54:37,246 --> 00:54:39,348
and it blesses me every single time.

1377
00:54:39,348 --> 00:54:40,739
And I always say that that's

1378
00:54:40,739 --> 00:54:43,212
my favorite Sabbath of the month.

1379
00:54:43,212 --> 00:54:45,122
(Derek) As you come to worship together.

1380
00:54:45,122 --> 00:54:46,069
(Gladys) Yes.

1381
00:54:46,069 --> 00:54:49,755
(Derek) God may give you the opportunity,

1382
00:54:49,755 --> 00:54:53,042
not only to go and worship,

1383
00:54:53,042 --> 00:54:55,711
sing with all your heart,

1384
00:54:55,711 --> 00:55:03,095
experience cleansing, offer sacrifices,

1385
00:55:03,095 --> 00:55:06,432
affirm those who are leading in worship,

1386
00:55:06,432 --> 00:55:07,705
but God may also give you

1387
00:55:07,705 --> 00:55:09,743
an opportunity to lead.

1388
00:55:09,743 --> 00:55:10,970
He may, in response

1389
00:55:10,970 --> 00:55:12,708
to what we've studied here,

1390
00:55:12,708 --> 00:55:13,920
or maybe you're watching,

1391
00:55:13,920 --> 00:55:16,485
God may give you a chance to lead.

1392
00:55:16,485 --> 00:55:20,988
So, we've talked about the importance
of preparation.

1393
00:55:20,988 --> 00:55:22,844
From what you've learned

1394
00:55:22,844 --> 00:55:25,794
about worshiping in spirit and truth,

1395
00:55:25,794 --> 00:55:26,732
what would you say

1396
00:55:26,732 --> 00:55:29,056
is the most important preparation,

1397
00:55:29,056 --> 00:55:31,933
either in <i>coming</i> to worship

1398
00:55:31,933 --> 00:55:34,108
or in coming to <i>lead</i> worship?

1399
00:55:34,108 --> 00:55:36,069
Maybe it's the same for both.

1400
00:55:36,069 --> 00:55:38,062
The most important preparation,

1401
00:55:38,062 --> 00:55:39,945
what would you say, Travis?

1402
00:55:39,945 --> 00:55:41,950
(Travis) Courage and humility.

1403
00:55:41,950 --> 00:55:45,397
(Derek) Okay, courage to not be inhibited,

1404
00:55:45,397 --> 00:55:46,952
but humility to say

1405
00:55:46,952 --> 00:55:49,482
it's all about Him and not about me.

1406
00:55:49,482 --> 00:55:52,012
All right; you want to add
to that, Jonathan?

1407
00:55:52,012 --> 00:55:54,304
(Jonathan) Recognition of our dependence
upon Him

1408
00:55:54,304 --> 00:55:56,195
and just throwing ourselves upon Him...

1409
00:55:56,195 --> 00:55:58,184
(Derek) Even when we come to worship,

1410
00:55:58,184 --> 00:56:00,562
not just coming to lead worship.

1411
00:56:00,562 --> 00:56:02,404
(Jonathan) Yeah, in multiple ways.

1412
00:56:02,404 --> 00:56:05,113
(Derek) Right? "God, even 
coming to worship,

1413
00:56:05,113 --> 00:56:10,399
I really can't worship You
like You deserve,"

1414
00:56:10,399 --> 00:56:11,658
for a variety of reasons,

1415
00:56:11,658 --> 00:56:13,479
bringing a lot of stuff with me,

1416
00:56:13,479 --> 00:56:14,898
or, "I've never seen people

1417
00:56:14,898 --> 00:56:17,477
really worshiping in spirit and truth,

1418
00:56:17,477 --> 00:56:21,458
but here I am, and I come
in my great need.

1419
00:56:21,458 --> 00:56:23,923
You do what You need to do." Evelyn?

1420
00:56:23,923 --> 00:56:25,137
(Evelyn) I've been a part

1421
00:56:25,137 --> 00:56:27,295
of some worship teams here and there,

1422
00:56:27,295 --> 00:56:29,131
and sometimes the team is very focused

1423
00:56:29,131 --> 00:56:31,031
on, "We need to get the harmony right,"

1424
00:56:31,031 --> 00:56:32,294
and, "We need to make sure

1425
00:56:32,294 --> 00:56:34,075
we hit every note exactly."

1426
00:56:34,075 --> 00:56:35,509
And we don't exactly focus

1427
00:56:35,509 --> 00:56:38,040
on, "Okay, is this music
really uplifting God?"

1428
00:56:38,040 --> 00:56:40,041
Or, "Are the people who are going to hear

1429
00:56:40,041 --> 00:56:41,075
going to be blessed?"

1430
00:56:41,075 --> 00:56:42,703
And I realize that those worships

1431
00:56:42,703 --> 00:56:44,879
are the ones where I'm most nervous in.

1432
00:56:44,879 --> 00:56:46,823
It's the worships that we are

1433
00:56:46,823 --> 00:56:50,205
anxious to go and sing.

1434
00:56:50,205 --> 00:56:52,288
However, I've contrasted that

1435
00:56:52,288 --> 00:56:54,241
with worships where we're really praying.

1436
00:56:54,241 --> 00:56:55,452
We're saying, "God, I ask

1437
00:56:55,452 --> 00:56:57,430
that this music bless those who hear it."

1438
00:56:57,430 --> 00:56:59,474
Those are the best worships
that we've had.

1439
00:56:59,474 --> 00:57:00,546
(Derek) The very best.

1440
00:57:00,546 --> 00:57:01,822
When God is lifted up,

1441
00:57:01,822 --> 00:57:05,075
when my heart is aligned with His heart,

1442
00:57:05,075 --> 00:57:06,166
when I'm saying, "God,

1443
00:57:06,166 --> 00:57:07,848
this is all about You," whether I'm

1444
00:57:07,848 --> 00:57:09,820
worshiping or leading in worship,

1445
00:57:09,820 --> 00:57:14,460
whether I'm singing, whether I'm asking
for cleansing,

1446
00:57:14,460 --> 00:57:17,259
whether I'm offering a sacrifice

1447
00:57:17,259 --> 00:57:20,868
or giving thanks for those
who are worshiping,

1448
00:57:20,868 --> 00:57:23,098
"Let my heart beat with Your heart,

1449
00:57:23,098 --> 00:57:26,617
and let my worship, by Your grace,

1450
00:57:26,617 --> 00:57:27,841
bring joy to Your heart."

1451
00:57:27,841 --> 00:57:29,093
Is that your prayer today?

1452
00:57:29,093 --> 00:57:29,962
(Team) Amen.

1453
00:57:29,962 --> 00:57:31,659
(Derek) Let's pray that will happen

1454
00:57:31,659 --> 00:57:32,644
even in the worships

1455
00:57:32,644 --> 00:57:33,914
that are just ahead of us.

1456
00:57:33,914 --> 00:57:35,142
Father in Heaven, You are

1457
00:57:35,142 --> 00:57:36,954
worthy of all worship.

1458
00:57:36,954 --> 00:57:38,542
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

1459
00:57:38,542 --> 00:57:41,245
for all You have done for our salvation,

1460
00:57:41,245 --> 00:57:43,968
we praise You and worship You even today.

1461
00:57:43,968 --> 00:57:45,639
And we pray, from the principles

1462
00:57:45,639 --> 00:57:47,467
we've learned from Ezra and Nehemiah,

1463
00:57:47,467 --> 00:57:49,925
that we would go on to worship You

1464
00:57:49,925 --> 00:57:52,395
in spirit and truth, just as Jesus

1465
00:57:52,395 --> 00:57:54,422
longed for us to do.

1466
00:57:54,422 --> 00:57:56,706
We pray it in Jesus' name. Amen.

1467
00:57:56,706 --> 00:57:57,934
(Team) Amen.

1468
00:57:57,934 --> 00:57:59,344
(Derek) Thanks for joining us

1469
00:57:59,344 --> 00:58:00,490
for Hope Sabbath School!

1470
00:58:00,490 --> 00:58:02,247
Go out and be a blessing

1471
00:58:02,247 --> 00:58:03,497
to those around you.

1472
00:58:03,497 --> 00:58:29,428
♪ theme music ♪