♪ theme music ♪
(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
an in-depth, interactive study
of the Word of God.
I'm excited today; we're continuing
a series on The Message to the Hebrews,
today's topic, Jesus, the Anchor for Your Soul,
the Anchor for my soul.
It's such an encouraging topic.
I know you'll be blessed,
and I'm glad you're with us today.
And welcome to the team.
What have we learned?
The book of Hebrews is all about...?
(Team) Jesus!
(Derek) It's all about Jesus, yes,
and we're going to be so blessed
as we study today.
We've not only got
our team here in the studio,
but we've got some
of our remote team members joining us.
Good to see Heide again
from South Carolina,
good to see you, Heide.
And Puia from Hawaii,
great to have you with us, Puia.
And Shaina from Maine,
so good to have you with us, Shaina.
We just love our remote team members
joining us here because it just expands
our discussion and the stories
that we can share.
Remember, I said it's all about Jesus,
The Message to the Hebrews?
We have a special gift
for you this series,
and I know that thousands of you
will write in for it
because you say, "Derek, I'd like
to learn more about Jesus,"
who He was and what He taught.
We've got a special resource for you.
It's a gift; all you have to do
is go to our website, hopetv.org/hopess.
Right in the center of the screen
you'll find a "Free Gift" button.
It's that simple; click on it.
You can either get a digital audiobook
or a PDF where you can learn more
about who Jesus was and what He taught,
not only for yourself but to share
that good news with others.
So, take advantage of that free gift.
And we're glad you're part
of our Hope Sabbath School family.
Well, here are some emails
we received from around the world.
Brenda, writing from South Africa,
Brenda, if you are watching today,
thanks for writing to us.
She writes and says, "I enjoy
Hope Sabbath School every Saturday.
I love the in-depth, interactive study,
and I switch on my TV
to Hope Channel early
so I can understand the Bible study.
And when our on-line service begins,
I can make a contribution.
Thanks for Hope Sabbath School."
Well, Brenda, we're glad
you've got a local church,
even if, right now,
there are some restrictions for gathering.
But we're glad, also, you're part
of our Hope Sabbath School family.
Here's a note from Tasmania.
I don't remember the last time,
but I think we've heard
from Tasmania before.
Ben and Isabel write and say,
"Hello, Hope Sabbath School team."
(Team) Hello.
(Derek) Got the wave.
"My wife and I watch
Hope Sabbath School every single week.
You make the study enjoyable
and easy to understand.
You are indeed a blessing to many.
May God bless you all."
Well, Ben and Isabel,
thanks for writing to us,
and we're praying that our study today
on Jesus, the Anchor for Your Soul
will also be so clear,
but more than that, that we'll accept
that Anchor for our soul,
and we'll be rejoicing together today.
Here's a note, we get notes
every once in a while, not just emails.
This one is from a donor
in Brooklyn, New York,
in the United States of America,
and the donor says,
"Greetings in Jesus' name.
I've been watching you
during the pandemic.
It's a blessing to study with you all.
I understand the Bible so much better
than when I was alone.
Praise God for your knowledge
and your happy, bubbly team.
I'm blessed that I found
Hope Sabbath School.
Thank you for your ministry.
I enjoy the soothing songs
at the beginning of the study.
May the Lord continue
to bless Hope Sabbath School
as you spread God's Word to all the world.
Looking forward to our soon-coming King," what do you say?
(Team) Amen!
(Derek) "Just a little gift
to help spread God's Word,"
and a gift of 500 dollars
to help Hope Sabbath School.
We just want to say thank you.
You're joining the impact movement
that's sharing the love of God with the world.
And by the way, we want
to thank every donor.
You are all part of this miracle.
You can go to hopetv.org/donate,
and say, "I want to be part
of this great miracle,
sharing God's good news with the world."
Thank you for all you do.
Francis writes to us from Kenya.
You know, we have a Hope Channel in Kenya
called HCK, Hope Channel Kenya.
"I'm Francis from Nairobi.
I feel blessed every time I follow
your interactive study of the Word of God.
I have realized new ways
to search the Scriptures,
and I've been blessed immensely.
Thank you, and may God bless
the entire Hope Sabbath School family
and all the people who watch the programs
all over the world."
Well, thank you, Francis,
for writing to us from Kenya.
I know we've got a lot
of Hope Sabbath School members there.
And one last note, from Florida
in the United States of America.
Florence writes, and she says,
"My church is French-speaking.
My husband and I have to study
from the French study guide
because as a Sabbath School teacher,
he has to teach mostly in Creole.
Hope Sabbath School, though,
is a great blessing because we found
a lot of answers and clarifications
on a lot of things
that seemed difficult for us.
In addition, my son," Florence writes,
"who doesn't have any French
or Creole education,
he enjoys studying
Hope Sabbath School with us.
When we tried to share
with some of our members
about Hope Sabbath School, guess what?
We were surprised to find out
a lot of them were watching it already.
We're trying to see if all
of our Sabbath School teachers can use
the same interactive style in their classes.
God bless you abundantly
for this wonderful work that you are doing
by the power of God."
Well, Florence, thanks for writing to us.
Isn't that amazing,
a French-speaking church there in Florida?
And we're so thankful, Florence,
that your son is also joining us
as part of Hope Sabbath School.
Well, right now we need your help to sing.
We'd like to sing in the studio,
but we've got some restrictions right now.
But you sing really well,
and our theme song,
taken from Psalm 103,
is full of joy and praise to God.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me,
bless His holy name!"
Let's sing it together.
♪ music ♪
(Derek) Let's pray together.
Father in heaven, I just want
to thank You for the study today.
We're continuing our series
on the Message to the Hebrews,
and today, Jesus, the Anchor of Our Soul.
I just pray that Jesus would be lifted up
in all of His power to save,
and the Holy Spirit would guide,
as we study today,
Hope Sabbath School members
all around the world, maybe someone
joining for the very first time,
that someone would find eternal salvation
by trusting in Jesus.
Guide us in our study.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) We're starting
in Hebrews, chapter 6,
in what some might consider
to be a controversial text
in the book of Hebrews.
But, I think embedded in the text
is some word of hope for us.
So, we're in Hebrews, chapter 6,
verses 4 and 5, and, Brittany,
would you start our study today?
And the first words are a little challenging,
but we'll get to them in just a minute.
But let's see some of the blessings,
listen carefully as Brittany reads.
What are some of the blessings
that were received by those
who received the message of Jesus
with a receptive heart?
Hebrews, chapter 6, verses 4 and 5.
(Brittany) And I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) Middle of the sentence
because it's going to talk
about whether or not they can be renewed,
but we'll come to that in a minute.
Let's focus on some of the blessings
that first came when they received
the word with a receptive heart.
Did you hear, Shaina, did you hear a word
that jumped out, a blessing that came
when they received the word about Jesus?
(Shaina) Yes, so those people
would become partakers of the Holy Spirit.
(Derek) Okay, that's a big one, isn't it?
Because if you read the teaching of Jesus,
that's really the greatest gift that God gives.
If you give good gifts,
Pedro, to your daughter,
how much will the Lord, the Father,
give the Holy Spirit, right?
So, thank you, Shaina.
What's another blessing that came, Jason?
(Jason) They will be enlightened,
meaning they will have understanding;
they'll have realization,
both personally, intellectually
and I would say probably experientially.
(Derek) I like that word "enlightened"
because in the Scripture we speak
about "shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life,"
talking about Jesus, light of life.
Brittany, something else?
(Brittany) I love how it says
"tasted the heavenly gift,"
so we can experience Jesus.
It's not just Someone we hear about
but Someone we actually "taste" in a way
that our senses can taste food;
we can experience Jesus
and have a relationship.
(Derek) Livinia, can you think of a text,
I'm putting you on the spot,
but can you think of a text
that also talks about tasting?
It's in the Psalms, isn't it?
(Livinia) "Taste and see
that the Lord is good"?
(Derek) That's right!
That's, I think, is it Psalm 34
and verse 8, "Taste and see
that the Lord is good."
So, Brittany, you'd say
they've tasted the heavenly gift, namely,
they experienced the goodness of God.
So, "partakers of the Holy Spirit,"
Puia, what else do you see?
What other blessing had they experienced?
(Puia) Jason mentioned it already,
but for me, the word "enlightened"
also jumped out because I understand that
as to mean that when we are converted,
our eyes are open to the character of God as love.
We no longer worship Him
through fear but through love,
and being enlightened
to the true character of God is powerful.
(Derek) You've seen the beauty of God.
There's so much, Heide,
packed into this little...
I don't know if you looked down
at some of the others.
Which ones haven't we mentioned yet,
a blessing that comes or that came
to when they heard about Jesus?
(Heide) Another one mentioned
was that they've tasted
the good Word of God.
(Derek) I like that one, too.
You know, the Bible says, "All Scripture
is given by inspiration of God."
And doesn't the Psalmist say,
"Your word is a lamp to my feet,"
back to being enlightened,
"and a light to my path."
So, they've not just been taught earthly fables,
but they've been taught
the living Word of God.
I think there's one more.
Was there one more?
(Sabina) Yes, there is one more.
(Derek) What was it, Sabina?
(Sabina) I see here they also experienced
"the powers of the age to come."
(Derek) What does that mean?
(Sabina) It means, to me, Pastor Derek,
that the power of God
is different than human power.
Human power is usually based
on money and strength.
Those are some of the things
that people can have clout
over situations or other people.
But the power of God is love;
and I think that once you have experienced
this power of love,
it is something that changes
everything in you; it's very powerful.
(Derek) And I'm thinking, too,
when they would go up and say,
"In the name of Jesus, stand up and walk."
Or Peter would stretch out
on a lifeless body and say, "Let this..."
What did he do with Dorcas?
Didn't he...I forget, he raised her from the dead.
Did he say, "Arise"?
I mean, they had experienced the power of God.
You'll find that in Acts, chapter 9.
So, I'm going to give you a testimony here.
And, Puia, I'll come to your comment.
Maybe you can start, Puia,
because I know you've got a testimony.
This sounds amazing, when we hear
the truth about Jesus,
all of these blessings - enlightened,
tasting the heavenly gift,
partakers of the Holy Spirit,
tasting the good Word of God, experiencing
the powers of the age to come.
When you first personally surrendered
your heart to Jesus,
what was the gift that became
most apparent to you just right away?
I mean, all these gifts are coming.
(Puia) Yes, for me personally, I would say
my understanding of God's love
has been a gradual experience where I continue -
even until now, I don't claim
to know everything about God's love,
but I'm continuing to grow,
and I believe what I have appreciated
so much is my understanding
of the character of God has shifted.
I have had a paradigm shift
where I no longer relate to God
as Someone who is only happy
when I perform good, you know?
But I now see God as Someone
who loves me with an unending love,
so that has been powerful.
And to also add onto what Sabina
was saying about experiencing
the power of the age to come,
I believe this can also mean that when it says,
"the age to come," that's talking
abouthe future Kingdom of God.
And when Jesus said, "The Kingdom
of Heaven is at hand...Thy Kingdom come,"
I believe this is also meaning to say
that as believers we can now begin
to experience Heaven.
Heaven starts now, and I think that's just beautiful.
(Derek) So, we might say...
And, Heide, I'll come to your point.
We might say that Puia
has been enlightened, right?
Light has come to him.
He's tasted the heavenly gift.
And if the Holy Spirit's the One
who leads us into all truth,
he's also become a partaker
of the Holy Spirit.
But all of that has helped
a paradigm shift in his mind.
And he's smiling while he's sharing that.
He's excited because something
supernatural has happened in his life.
Heide, what became the most precious gift
that you became aware of as you entered
into that personal relationship with Jesus?
(Heide) Well, I was raised
in a Christian home,
and I first started to have a relationship
and seek out God in my teen years.
And maybe when I was about 19
I began to really surrender my heart to Him
and to spend time in prayer,
a great deal of time in prayer.
And I remember before that,
I didn't notice it,
but I never felt good enough.
And when I started to pray
and spend time with God,
I remember consciously realizing
a few months later that I no longer felt
like I wasn't good enough.
I had changed my perception of myself
because my value wasn't in how I looked
or my degree or my job or my grades.
My value was now in the fact
that I am the daughter
of the Most High God.
That was just invaluable to me.
(Derek) That's so beautiful.
I'm going to come
to a challenging question
after Shaina's comment
because I'm saying if there are
so many blessings that come
as we accept who Jesus is,
our Great High Priest, our Savior
and soon-coming King,
why would anyone want
to turn away frm that relationship?
Shaina, your comment first.
(Shaina) Yes, I'm thinking
of particularly the "became a partaker
of the Holy Spirit,"
and I'm thinking of the fruit of the Spirit
when I truly experience Jesus for myself
and not based on what others
painted Jesus to be like.
Taking in all the things
that are going on in the world
and watching the news
could put you in a state of depression,
but I have peace, and that's one
of the fruit of the Spirit.
And so, becoming a partaker
of the Holy Spirit, I'd say,
is one of the gifts that I have received.
(Derek) And you've experienced
the powers of the age to come
if you're experiencing the peace
of God, too, right?
I'm going to ask Livinia if you'd read
Hebrews 10:32,33 because it may
partially answer the question,
at least back in the early -
these Hebrew Christians.
Why would anyone turn away from Jesus
when so many blessings,
even ones we've shared together...
Here may be at least one reason, Livinia.
Would you read for us
Hebrews 10, verses 32 and 33?
(Livinia) Certainly, reading
from the New Living Translation:
(Derek) Can you think of any times
in the New Testament,
even during the earthly ministry of Jesus,
when people appeared to back away
because of ridicule or persecution or hardship?
Anybody, Sabina, can you think of someone?
(Sabina) Pastor Derek, I'm thinking
about a text in John.
I was trying to survey in my mind
exactly the address of this text.
And that's when Jesus
has just finished a sermon,
and the Bible says that many people
started turning away from Him.
(Derek) The end of John chapter 6.
(Sabina) Exactly, the end
of John chapter 6.
So, He's coming, in the book of John,
from doing miracle after miracle after miracle,
yet He does have a message
that is calling people to repentance,
that is calling people
to a change in their lives.
And that's not always an easy message.
And also including people
who had believed that Jesus
was coming not only as the Messiah
but that the Messiah would be a King
and change their immediate situation,
which was not necessarily the case
because we know that for some of them
they still had to endure
a lot of suffering, as we are seeing.
And then Peter turns to Him,
and there is a dialogue
between Peter and Jesus...
(Derek) Why don't you turn to that for us.
I think the Holy Spirit
is leading us there, John, chapter 6.
Would you start in verse 66?
John 6 and verse 66 and perhaps
you could read down through verse 69, John 6:66-69.
And the context, of course, is Jesus
has just fed 5,000, and they've come back
for more free sandwiches.
And Jesus says, "I am the bread of life."
And pick up the story, if you would,
in John 6, verse 66 through 69.
It may help answer the question,
why would people turn away from Jesus
after so many blessings
that we've highlighted have come to them?
(Sabina) Exactly, so here we have John 6,
from verse 66 through 69, and I'm reading
from the New King James Version, and it says:
(Derek) So, why did many, it says,
at that time many turned away
and didn't walk with Him anymore.
Why did they do that, anybody? Yes, Livinia?
(Livinia) Because prior to that exchange,
Jesus said to them,
"Anyone who eats My flesh
and drinks My blood has eternal life,
and I will raise that person at the last day."
And many of the disciples said,
"This is a hard saying,
hard to understand; who can accept it?"
(Derek) They were hoping He'd say,
"You can get more free fish sandwiches,
just stop by each morning."
They were wanting the physical benefits,
like, "I don't think He's the Messiah
that we wanted Him to be," but there may
have been many other reasons.
But for some reason,
whether because He's not
who they thought or disappointment,
"many of His disciples."
The word "many" means...?
(Team Member) A lot?
(Derek) A lot, the majority,
that He even turns
to the 12 and says what?
"Will you also go away?"
Shaina, you had a comment?
(Shaina) I'm thinking specifically
of one of the twelve who walked with Him
who ended up betraying Him, Judas.
He literally walked with Jesus for three years
of His whole entire ministry and saw Him
and saw all the things that He did, and fell away.
But I'm thinking that it was because they
weren't truly anchored in Jesus.
It was a superficial following.
There was no true heart conversion,
which when the wind came and blew,
it blew them out.
(Derek) That's a good point, Shaina,
but let's remember that Simon Peter
also buckled to the pressure.
You know, you read about the persecution
of the Hebrew Christians,
but he also was ridiculed.
That was the word, mocked or ridiculed.
And for a moment, what happened?
He wavered and fell, didn't he?
Well, we're going to go back to the text.
Brittany, since you read verses 4 and 5,
I'm going to ask you to read them again,
but now read on through verse 6,
because it gives us
a very difficult passage.
We want to wrestle with it,
because I think we would all recognize,
am I right, that we've all
had times when we've wavered?
This appears to say - well, let's listen
to what the author of Hebrews says.
Hebrews 6, verses 4 through 6.
(Brittany) I'll be reading
from the New King James Version,
Hebrews, chapter 6, verse 4:
(Derek) Now, whatever this text is saying,
I'd like you to first do a scan
of the Bible, okay?
And, Puia, I'm going to ask you
to go first, just short answers.
Think of someone in the Bible
who, to use Brittany's language, fell;
they fell away, but they were restored.
Can you give us a name, Puia,
of someone who fell away,
and they were restored again.
(Puia) Previously you mentioned Peter.
I believe Peter is one example who fell, but he was restored.
(Derek) Shaina's got her hand raised, too. Shaina?
(Shaina) I'm also thinking of Samson.
(Derek) Samson is another.
Heide, you've got your hand raised.
(Heide) I was also going to say Samson,
but another one was Jacob who fell,
and yet the Lord blessed him greatly in the future.
(Derek) We don't have to think very hard, do we?
Brittany, another one?
(Brittany) King David.
(Derek) King David is a great example,
who commits adultery and deception and murder. Jason?
(Jason) Adam and Eve?
(Derek) You took us back
to the beginning, right,
Adam and Eve who fell and were restored.
The Bible is full of people
who fell away and were restored, right?
Now, that doesn't mean,
"Well, let's just sin because we can
always be restored," because there's
something in this text that says
you can't come back in a certain situation.
But, give me some Bible texts
that would support the fact
that you may fall away,
but God will welcome you back.
You can be restored
to be part of His family.
Anybody, what's a text
that comes to your mind, Livinia?
(Livinia) "For There is
now therefore no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus."
(Derek) Alright, so you would say...
Do you want to read that text for us?
That's in Romans, I believe
chapter 8, right, and verse 1,
Romans, chapter 8 and verse 1.
By the way, some people might say,
"Derek, how do you keep remembering
where those texts are?"
Well, there's a promise in the Bible
that, "The Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things,
and bring to your..."?
(Derek, Team) "Remembrance."
(Derek) And by the way, if I
can't quite remember, I can always ask
the Hope Sabbath School team,
and you will help me, right?
But let's read it just so that we know
that you're reading it
out of the Scripture here.
Romans 8 and verse 1, what does it say?
(Livinia) So, reading
from the New Living Translation:
(Derek) Now, that's interesting because how many have sinned
and fallen short of the glory of God?
(Team) All.
(Derek) So, how many are condemned?
(Pedro) Everyone.
(Derek) So, everyone can be restored.
That's what it's saying, right? Yes?
(Travis) I was thinking of Ezekiel 33:11,
and can I read that?
(Derek) Yes, of course you can.
Ezekiel 33 and verse 11.
Ezekiel, a prophet contemporary
of Daniel in Babylon,
and he's down the river in Susa,
and Jeremiah back in Jerusalem.
And what does he say in Ezekiel 33:11?
(Travis) It says, and I'm reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) That's the Lord speaking, right?!
So, we ought to have no doubt
that a person who falls into sin,
if she turns, if he turns,
isn't there the text in 1 John 1:9,
"If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to..."?
(Derek, Team) "Forgive us."
(Derek) "...and to...?
(Team) "Cleanse us."
(Derek) From how much?
(Derek, Team) "All unrighteousness."
Now if someone said, "Pastor Derek,
you don't know the bad things I've done,"
well, Shaina, I need you to read
a text for us in 1 Corinthians 6,
verses 9 through 11.
Someone says, "You don't know...
That may be for holy people like you,
but I have done things that are so bad
that I cannot be restored."
And by the way, you don't say that
with joy in your heart.
But I've got good news for you.
If you are even feeling
a desire to be restored,
the Holy Spirit is still speaking.
Listen to the amazing text
Shaina's going to read
from 1 Corinthians, chapter 6,
verses 9 through 11.
(Shaina) And I will be reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) Somebody ought to say, "Amen."
That is good news.
And by the way, don't judge someone,
"Well, that's bad," because there are
a lot of things there like extortioners,
that people think they're clever
to extort money from people by selling things
for more than they're worth
or for buying things
for less than they should.
We all need forgiveness, don't we?
But restoration can come.
So, with that in mind,
let's go back to that text
that Brittany read for us
which says it's impossible.
Let's just read verse 6, Brittany, again,
because we've got to wrestle with this.
There's something here that makes
this turning away fatal.
Let's see what the text says again.
(Brittany) In Hebrews, chapter 6,
verse 6, and I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) When I fall, Pedro,
and run to Jesus, what do I find?
When I fall, and I run to Jesus, what do I find?
(Pedro) Repentance?
(Derek) Mercy and grace, right?
Because I come in repentance.
But this is saying, "If you crucify
the Son of God afresh and" (what?)
"bring Him to open shame."
Let's look at another verse.
Heide, could you read for us
in Hebrews, chapter 10,
verses 26 through 29?
This is so important because someone
might be saying, "Derek,
I think I've gone too far.
I don't think there's any hope for me."
Well, I'm telling you, if you're
watching Hope Sabbath School,
and your heart is at all responding,
there is hope for you.
But let's see what this fatal mistake is
from which it's impossible
to turn back. Heide?
(Heide) I'll be reading
from the New King James Version, and it says:
(Derek) What are the strong words there
that impact you, Jason?
(Jason) The last part there
"insulted the Spirit of grace,"
so rejecting the Holy Spirit.
(Derek) Who's the One that leads us
to repentance and also, Brittany?
(Brittany) I was just thinking
what Jason was saying.
In Matthew Jesus talks
about this very thing in chapter 12,
and He said, "Any sin
will be forgiven you
except the sin against the Holy Spirit."
So, it's almost like the same reflection
of the end of this verse.
It's like, "What did Jesus say about this?"
(Derek) So, when we crucify Jesus afresh,
there was another idea there,
of "trampling on the Son of God."
I mean, I don't even...That's such
an offensive thought, isn't it?
You trample on the Son of God.
If you throw the Savior away,
you've thrown away any hope.
There is only one way of salvation.
It's impossible to be restored
without Jesus. Is that right?
(Team) Yes.
(Derek) If you're saying, "Jesus, help me.
I have made a mess; I've been King David.
I've committed adultery and murder; Jesus, help me,"
it is not impossible to be restored!
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) But if you trample
on the Son of God
and bring Him open shame,
and what did he do to the Spirit of truth?
(Team Member) Insult.
(Derek) You insult the Spirit of truth,
you are in a deadly situation. Pedro?
(Pedro) We see here that those
that wouldn't receive any forgiveness,
are those that are not asking for forgiveness.
We see that God is trying,
pursuing us, to go after Him,
and those that decide not to accept
or have rejected or trample over,
are those who will be receiving damnation.
(Derek) So, how do we safeguard ourselves
against that fatal mistake?
We have received all of the blessings
just like the Hebrews did.
And the author of Hebrews is saying,
"Don't do this!" right?
"Don't trample on the Son of God."
"Don't crucify the Son of God afresh."
How do I safeguard, Sabina, against that?
(Sabina) Pastor Derek, I think
that a key element here in the text
in verse 26 is when he's saying
that if we sin willfully.
So, it does have to do with our wills
and the things that we work in our hearts
on whether to do for life or for death.
So, I think that a way
to safeguard ourselves
is to submit our will to God.
And one of the ways to submit
our will to God is to consider Scripture
and His teaching in the Law,
the prophets and everything
that was left for us as a resource
to consult with God.
If our will is aligned with His,
and if we're not willfully going
against His will for our lives.
(Derek) But someone might say,
"But I do that, Sabina.
I do at times willfully transgress God."
I want to read an encouraging text with you.
Puia, could you go
right before the book of Revelation
to the book of Jude.
It's only one chapter,
but verse 25 of Jude.
Jude, most Bible scholars would believe,
is a stepbrother of Jesus, brother of James,
leader of the church in Jerusalem,
so he's one of the ones
who was in the upper room, remember,
and "with Mary and His brothers."
He's a follower of Jesus.
What word does he give us, Puia,
in verse 25 of that short letter
right before the book of Revelation?
(Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) So, I realize, Puia,
I need you to read verse 24 as well,
but thank you for reading verse 25.
That was my mistake, and maybe we
just needed to know to praise God, too.
But would you go back,
and would you read verse 24 and 25?
Obviously, the Spirit wants
both of those heard.
(Puia) Sure, verse 24:
(Derek) Can I say no one will be lost
because she is weak?
(Team Member) Yes, that's right.
(Derek) No one will be lost because he's weak.
We will be lost because we don't run
to the Savior of our souls.
"Jesus, help me!" "Jesus, save me!"
That is a choice, isn't it?
(Sabina) It is.
(Derek) Now, lest we get discouraged
and say, "Oh, boy, that's heavy duty,"
the author to the Hebrews
brings some good news.
And, Pedro, I'm going to ask
if you would read back in Hebrews 6,
verses 9 through 12.
And I would say to all of us,
we need to give people warnings,
but we also need to give them hope, are you with me?
So, let's hear some hope
in Hebrews 6, verses 9 through 12.
(Pedro) I'll be reading
from the New King James Version, Hebrews 6:9-12:
(Derek) Now, before we look
at the specifics of the appeal,
all of us, when we decide
to surrender wholly to Jesus,
we're under attack by the enemy.
Temptations will come, right?
I mean, if you think
when you make a commitment to Jesus,
no temptation will come, think again.
It will happen, right?
But we know where we need to run.
Why is it important,
that just like the author
to the Hebrews here,
we speak words of encouragement
to people on their journey?
Why is that important?
We're not denying the danger,
still giving the warning.
Brittany, why is it important
to give words of encouragement?
(Brittany) I think especially today,
everywhere you look, you turn on the TV,
you look at your computer,
you read the newspaper,
everywhere you look, there's no good news.
And we need encouragement
in this world today.
People are suffering from depression
and anxiety and so much difficulty.
But we need to know
that there is a God who loves us so much,
and He says, "Just look up, look up to Me;
don't look at your surroundings
and what you're going through.
Look to Me; I've walked that same road
that you're on right now.
I'm going to hold your hand.
I'm going to help you through this."
(Derek) So, we know
the challenges are real,
but those words of encouragement,
I was thinking, where it talked
about not forsaking the assembling
but exhorting one another,
that's not like beating each other.
That's a loving encouragement. Yes, Travis.
(Travis) So, I'm thinking
about the love of God, right?
It's obvious that God believes in us.
He wouldn't have come and died
if He wouldn't have had faith
in even who we could become.
And so, if we're going
to go around condemning people,
they're probably going to only go as far as...
You know, if someone
is always telling you,
"You're not going to be this,"
and, "You're not going to be that,"
you'll probably rise no higher than that.
But if you can encourage them
and tell them, "God even believes
in what you can become,"
you can lift their spirit,
and they can see in Jesus
there is something much higher.
And if you keep encouraging, encouraging,
I know that from experience,
when people have encouraged me
instead of condemning me,
when they should or could have condemned me,
my response was, "I don't
even want to go back to that place."
And it's caused me to climb higher
and higher and higher.
(Derek) And it's especially true
if they'll say, "Let's walk together," right?
"By the way, let me just remind you
I'm not perfect either," right,
"but let's walk together on the journey."
Now, it also says "lest you become...,"
my Bible, I think, said sluggish.
Do you have another translation?
That's kind of an Old English word,
sluggish; what does that mean, in verse 12?
(Brittany) Lazy.
(Derek) Lazy. Let's talk about that.
Heide, lest you become lazy.
Lazy about what, do you think?
(Heide) I'm not sure if it means
lazy, just like neglecting
your relationship with God
or also neglecting your purpose,
you know, the mission that you have
when you come to know God.
I would think it's both, though.
(Derek) Alright, so I've got
a few hands raised here, Livinia.
It's not just talking
about getting up late in the morning, lazy right?
But be careful, lest you become lazy,
What do you think?
(Livinia) I think that
the New Living Translation
sheds some light on that.
(Derek) Alright, and you'll read
for us again then, verse 12
of Hebrews, chapter 6?
Alright, let's hear it in your translation.
(Livinia) Okay:
(Derek) "Spiritually dull
and indifferent," lazy.
I think we would agree
that this laziness is talking,
I think as Heide alluded to,
being spiritually lazy,
which would mean that I
would neglect what? Anybody?
What would I neglect
if I'm spiritually lazy?
(Pedro) A relationship.
I look into the aspect
here in the verses,
but the others who have patience,
or they are finding assurance
in the hope until the end,
that we see here,
continue to press forward.
Matthew 24:13 says, "Those
who endure to the end shall be saved."
So, continue to endure.
I can say that I've been married
for 15 years because I have endured,
or I have chosen every day to be married.
The moment I choose not to be,
I have become lazy or dull
in my relationship with God.
(Derek) And your wife
has also endured to the end, right?
(Pedro) Amen.
(Derek) So there's that commitment of holding fast.
But this spiritual laziness,
let's say someone's watching and saying,
"Maybe I'm spiritually...," what would be
some red flags, so to speak, warning signs
of becoming spiritually dull
and indifferent? Sabina?
(Sabina) I think, for instance,
if you decide to stop reading the Bible
or lose the interest of sharing
the Word of God with other people,
maybe just you stop praying,
things that are part
of our spiritual discipline of the day.
(Derek) I was at a university
where I had the privilege of studying,
and I was back there,
and a man came up to me.
He had been a pastor.
I said, "Where are you serving?"
"I'm not a pastor anymore."
He said, "I didn't pray for two years,
and then I finally abandoned my work."
That's becoming spiritually lazy.
But you say, "Well, what if he
doesn't feel like praying?"
Answer? Pray anyway, right?
Run to Jesus and say, "Jesus,
I don't know what's happening here,
but I need to be...," what's the word?
(Brittany) Revived.
(Derek) Revived, "I need to be revived,
and I'm not going to be revived
by hiding from You," right?
"I'm going to run to You.
You said time in Your Word, in prayer,
fellowship with other Christians." Sabina?
(Sabina) And then I really like the word
that he uses in the previous verse
when he's talking about the diligence that they had been showing
to the work of God.
So this word "diligence," I think, is key.
That everything that we do in life, it doesn't need
to be just our spiritual journey;
just think about your work
or when you are studying
or if you have a relationship
with a family member,
everything takes work, right, Pastor Derek?
We need to spend time,
we need to dedicate, separate,
you know, some money
to invest in certain things.
You need to separate time.
You need to separate your thoughts even
to dedicate to certain things.
And that's not different
than our relationship with God.
So, we need to be intentional
about the things that we are doing,
including our relationship with Jesus.
(Derek) Well, we're getting in chapter 6 now.
Puia, could you read for us
in Hebrews 6, verses 17 to 20,
because this is where it talks
about the anchor.
Now, what is the anchor for our soul?
Let's see, normally with Hebrews,
if you're not sure of the answer,
just say "Jesus," okay?
But let's listen carefully,
Hebrews, chapter 6:17-20.
We would recognize many blessings come
when we hear and embrace
the truth about Jesus and accept Him.
Persecution, ridicule could cause us to turn away,
but now Puia is going to read to us
about the anchor; thank you, Puia.
(Puia) And I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) So, what's the anchor
of our soul there?
Or maybe there's more than one answer.
What's the anchor of our soul?
Jason, what did you hear?
(Jason) Well, we have Jesus
as a key anchor of our soul.
(Derek) Right, what did
it say in the text?
(Sabina) It's hope.
(Derek) It's the hope that we have,
but that hope is not detached
from a Person.
That hope is embedded in the One who has
already gone beyond the veil, right?
He's already there; I've got my hope,
but it's anchored in the One
who is my living hope, right; He is the One.
Why is it important to remember
that Jesus is the anchor of our soul?
He is our living hope.
Whatever we're facing, why is that
so important that we remember that?
Like the early Hebrew Christians
who were being ridiculed, persecuted,
thrown in prison, having all of their...
You go home tomorrow,
and all of your goods are taken away
because you're a follower of Jesus.
Why is it important to have Jesus
as the anchor of your soul?
Anybody, what do you say? Sabina?
(Sabina) I would respond
just like Peter responded, Pastor Derek.
He alone, Jesus alone,
has the words of life everlasting.
So, if anything is falling apart in this world,
even if you are menaced in your life,
if your life is at risk,
ultimately that's the one last resource
that we have, is going to Jesus
because He's the only One
that of all things can provide this life eternal.
(Derek) So, we come to Jesus,
and we say, "Lord, they've taken my home,
they've fired me from my job,
I'm no longer able to buy and sell.
I don't have anything left."
And the Lord says to us,
"Will you also go away?"
And we would quote Peter.
"Will you also go away," Shaina?
And we will quote Peter
who says, "Lord...," Jason?
(Jason) "Where would we go?
We only have You."
(Derek) "Where should we go?
We know that You have the words..."
(Sabina) "The words of life eternal."
(Derek) "...of eternal life."
So, that is the anchor
when everything else falls apart. Travis?
(Travis) I'm just thinking, you know,
an anchor is something
used in boating, right,
and I was thinking, in the book of James
when you were saying this
about being blown, tossed about
by every wind and doctrine.
Of course, we could be tossed about
by just trials that you
just have mentioned.
But the thing about an anchor
is it holds us in one place.
And while this is coming
and that is coming,
we're able to stay the course
because the anchor,
He's the lamp to our feet
and a light to our path, right, His words,
and we can just stay the course
because He's the One who holds us fast.
(Derek) So, give me,
in the closing minutes
to give you a scan everybody,
our remote team members are ready
and our team here in the studio,
give me a promise that brings you comfort,
a promise of God that brings you comfort,
that even if everything else crumbles,
you have an anchor for your soul
and that Jesus will be faithful
to His promises. Brittany?
(Brittany) One of my favorite promises
is found in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5
and verses 23 and 24.
(Derek) Do you know that was the text
that was read at my baptism?
That's a very special text,
1 Thessalonians, chapter 5.
(Brittany) Verses 23 and 24.
(Derek) 23 and 24, and you would say
this brings great comfort,
that the Lord is the anchor of our soul.
Let's see how that reads.
(Brittany) I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:
(Derek) I'd like to hear that
in Livinia's translation.
I realize...That's the one
I had memorized that you have there;
that's beautiful, but, Livinia,
do you have that also
in your translation of the Bible?
Let's hear that powerful text
(thank you, Brittany, for sharing that),
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24.
(Livinia) Yes, reading
from the New Living Translation:
(Derek) That's a text worth writing down,
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24.
We've got time for one more,
just a text of encouragement
that we might share. Heide.
(Heide) I heard this
during a children's story in my church; it's Isaiah 49:15.
(Derek) Isaiah 49 and verse 15.
(Heide) Yes, and I'll be reading it
from the New King James Version, and it says:
That means so much to me
as a mother having my own children,
as a daughter who has, praise God,
one of the most wonderful moms in the world,
that there is Someone who is at a level
even higher than that,
than the love of a mother,
that will never leave me
and never leave any of us.
(Derek) Jesus is the anchor of our soul,
and our hope in Him is the anchor
that will hold us fast
when everything else around us is crumbling.
So, my appeal to you today,
you may say, "I've experienced Jesus,
but I'm feeling the pull away," run to Jesus.
Run to Him and say, "Jesus,
hold me close to You"; He loves you
with an immeasurable and unfailing love.
If you're hearing His voice
coming by the Spirit of God, run to Him.
Ask Him to strengthen you,
to cleanse you of your sin
and to hold you close to Him
and to be the anchor of your soul
that He longs to be.
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,
oh, we bless Your name
for this precious truth that Jesus
is indeed the Anchor of our soul.
We have been blessed.
God, forgive us if we've
even thought of turning away.
We run to Jesus even today,
and we thank You for our precious Savior.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) Well, thanks for joining us for Hope Sabbath School.
I'm so thankful, in the storms of life
that we have an anchor for our soul.
When everything else falls away,
Jesus your Savior is there with you.
Share that good news
with those around you.
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