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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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I'm excited about the topic today as we
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continue our series through The Psalms,
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Worship That Never Ends.
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What a great topic,
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and I know you'll be blessed,
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so welcome to Hope Sabbath School.
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Welcome to the team,
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good to be together again.
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Take a look at each other and wave.
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We represent the whole world,
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and I'm excited that John's going
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to be leading our study today.
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What a great study,
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Worship That Never Ends.
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We've also got some remote team members
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with us today, always happy to have them.
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Heide, good to see you again,
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glad you're with us.
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Leeah, great to have you
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on the team today.
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And, Travis, always good
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to have you with us.
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I'm so thankful for our remote team[br]members
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as well as the team here in the studio.
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But I'm thankful for you, too,
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because you are part of our global family.
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And when you answer a question,
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when John asks and you
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raise your hand, you're part
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of that in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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We're always happy to hear from you,
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and here are just a few emails
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we've received recently.
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Kanchele writes from Zambia.
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Do we get a lot of emails from Zambia?
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Kanchele writes and says,
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"My name is Evangelist Kanchele,"
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now, that's significant as I read on,
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"from Zambia, in the western part[br]that is Mongu.
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Hope Sabbath School has changed my life
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in so many ways,
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and Hope Sabbath School is one
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that made me to be an evangelist!"
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(Team) Praise God.
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(Derek) "I love the way
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the Bible is presented.
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God bless you, Hope Sabbath School,"[br]and we say...?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Isn't that amazing?
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You've got an evangelist
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in Western Zambia who was encouraged
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to serve the Lord
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through Hope Sabbath School.
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Thank you for writing to us, Kanchele.
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Here is another note.
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This one is from Mozambique,
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and the person writes and says,
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Joaquim from Mazambique,
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"Hello, Pastor Derek
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and all the Hope Sabbath School team!
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First, I want to make it clear
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that I'm not good in English.
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I'm from Mozambique, so the main thing
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that I appreciate in the program
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is how you make the Word of God
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so easy to understand.
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May God bless you all, Joaquim." Amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Well, we're glad.
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We just launched
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a Hope Channel in Mozambique,
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and actually our Portuguese-speaking[br]channel
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in Brazil, Novo Tempo, helped launch
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the channel in Mozambique. Amen?
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We're all working together,
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so really exciting to hear
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what God is doing.
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Well, here's a hand-written note
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from a donor couple in California
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in the United States, and they write
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and say, "We always enjoy listening
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to Hope Sabbath School
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and seeing your faces.
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All these years we feel like
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we know you all.
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You all make Hope Sabbath School
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flow easily, and we share your thoughts
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with our own Bible class
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here in California," and a donation
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of 400 dollars to bless the ministry
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of Hope Sabbath School. Amen?
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I want to say thank you, donor couple,
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you know who you are.
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And thanks to each one of you,
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because we're all part
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of this miracle of God
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called Hope Sabbath School.
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It's a donor-supported ministry.
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Thank you to this couple,
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but thank you to you, too.
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You can go to our website,
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hopetv.org/hopess.
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Maybe someone just left you
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an inheritance, or you see
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that you have 30 dollars a month
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that you could set aside
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for laying up some treasure in Heaven.
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Go to the website, click on Donate,
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and say, "Thank You, Lord,
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for what You're doing
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through Hope Sabbath School."
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Well, one last note,
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from Rosemary in Arkansas
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in the United States of America.
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Rosemary says, "I love Hope Sabbath School
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because of the...," what do you think?
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Diversity, "...diversity of the group.
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I learn a great deal, every program,
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and I love the Scripture songs, too.
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I've been watching so long,"
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writes Rosemary, "I feel like[br]you're family.
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Thanks for all you do."
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Well, Rosemary, thanks for writing to us,
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and actually, you said you like the songs,
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we need you to help us sing
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the theme song today.
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Could you do that?
0:05:04.032,0:05:06.516
But before we start the music,
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I just want to give you another reminder
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about a wonderful collection
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of Trilogy Scripture Songs
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from the Psalms; there are six songs
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including our theme song from Psalm 105.
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And you can just go to our website,
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hopetv.org/hopess,
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click on the Free Gift tab.
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If you don't know how to do that,
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ask a youngster in your family to do that,
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and they'll find it there and download
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that collection of six songs.
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You can share those with friends.
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Hide God's Word in your heart,
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including our theme song, and God will
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bring that to your remembrance.
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The Holy Spirit will help you
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when you need to remember those words.
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Right now, we're going to sing
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one of those six songs, from Psalm 105,
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"Oh, give thanks to the Lord."
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Let's sing together.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) I just love that song, don't you?
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Three thousand years old
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but a new melody, and what a beautiful way
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to begin our study.
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John, thanks for leading us in prayer.
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(John) Thank you, Pastor Derek.
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Let's pray as we begin.
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Loving heavenly Father, thank You so much
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for this time You have given us as we are
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coming to the tail end of our study
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in the book of Psalms.
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I pray, dear God, that we
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will go away praising You
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and singing praises to You, even now.
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I pray these things
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in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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(Derek, Team) Amen.
0:07:54.992,0:07:56.477
(John) In the book of Psalms,
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we have been looking at how these psalms
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have been used in worship services
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of the sanctuary back then.
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And even here at Hope Sabbath School
0:08:04.342,0:08:06.559
we put new tunes to these psalms
0:08:06.559,0:08:08.139
and we sing them.
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And in our study, we're going
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to look at worship itself.
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While psalms are being used
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in worship services, today we're going
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to be looking at worship itself.
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And here at Hope Sabbath School,
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we consult the Bible for what worship is,
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and not culture in general,
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and we praise God for that.
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So before we begin, we want
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to define what worship is,
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and so the question to you:
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What is worship?
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What do you think worship is? Jason?
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(Jason) When I think about it,
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it really just comes
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to how we conduct ourselves.
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In the way we conduct ourselves,
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whether through thought, actions or words,
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we're basically honoring God
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in all those aspects
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and giving honor to His name.
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(John) Giving honor to God's name. Yes.
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(Scott) Ultimately worship is God-focused
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and not self-focused.
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(John) God-focused, not self-focused.[br]Pedro.
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(Pedro) It's the way that we can
0:09:02.039,0:09:03.546
respond to God and His love.
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There is nothing I can give to God
0:09:05.216,0:09:06.708
other than to worship Him.
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(John) A response to God's love.
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(Derek) So, we're all talking about God,
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but people worship all kinds of things.
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Some people worship idols,
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some people worship movie stars,
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some people worship themselves,
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so I think at the very fundamental level
0:09:22.527,0:09:25.871
worship is ascribing worth,
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value, to something.
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And supreme worship, of course,
0:09:30.827,0:09:32.672
only one Person deserves that,
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and that is God Himself.
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We ascribe worth to Him
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when we worship Him.
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And I certainly agree
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that can be in our words,
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in our actions, in our thoughts.
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But we need to, like you said, focus
0:09:45.565,0:09:48.539
on worship of God, because people
0:09:48.539,0:09:50.413
can worship other things.
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(John) And just to follow your thought,
0:09:52.293,0:09:53.844
Pastor Derek, there is someone
0:09:53.844,0:09:55.550
who said that worship is
0:09:55.550,0:09:57.764
to see what God is worth
0:09:57.764,0:10:00.240
and to give Him what He's worth.
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(Derek) Beautiful.
0:10:01.116,0:10:02.544
(John) To see the worth of God
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and to give all that is worthy to Him.
0:10:06.073,0:10:08.532
So, at the University of Denver,
0:10:08.532,0:10:13.006
they released a study about communication,
0:10:13.006,0:10:14.809
and this is what they said.
0:10:14.809,0:10:16.818
They said, "Communication consists
0:10:16.818,0:10:19.774
of 55 percent body language,
0:10:19.774,0:10:22.455
38 percent paralanguage,
0:10:22.455,0:10:25.680
and 7 percent verbal content."
0:10:25.680,0:10:26.925
So, there is a lot
0:10:26.925,0:10:28.867
of nonverbal communication
0:10:28.867,0:10:30.558
that happens when we speak,
0:10:30.558,0:10:34.656
and so with worship, gestures and posture
0:10:34.656,0:10:37.032
also play a role in worship
0:10:37.032,0:10:39.701
because they communicate to God
0:10:39.701,0:10:41.465
what we want to express.
0:10:41.465,0:10:42.774
And so, we're going to look
0:10:42.774,0:10:45.272
at one of the gestures
0:10:45.272,0:10:46.825
that the Bible talks about
0:10:46.825,0:10:50.369
which is lifting up our hands in worship.
0:10:50.369,0:10:52.733
Now, we're going to see what the Bible
0:10:52.733,0:10:54.134
has to say about it.
0:10:54.134,0:10:56.354
If I can have Lilica please read to us
0:10:56.354,0:11:00.548
from Psalm 134 and verse 2,
0:11:00.548,0:11:02.801
Psalm 134 and verse 2.
0:11:02.801,0:11:05.257
What does the Bible mean when it talks
0:11:05.257,0:11:10.150
about lifting up our hands to God?
0:11:10.150,0:11:11.302
(Lilica) I'll be reading
0:11:11.302,0:11:12.907
from the New King James Version,
0:11:12.907,0:11:15.412
Psalm 134, verse 2:
0:11:21.516,0:11:23.100
(John) Okay, thank you, Lilica.
0:11:23.100,0:11:25.482
So, here in this text, what does
0:11:25.482,0:11:29.901
lifting up the hands mean. Yes, Pedro.
0:11:29.901,0:11:32.580
(Pedro) To worship God, to bless Him.
0:11:32.580,0:11:33.934
(John) Okay, to worship God,
0:11:33.934,0:11:34.970
to bless Him. Scott?
0:11:34.970,0:11:36.989
(Scott) I was going to say the same thing.
0:11:36.989,0:11:38.761
Verse 1 says, "Come, bless the Lord,"
0:11:38.761,0:11:40.955
and that gives us the context of verse 2.
0:11:40.955,0:11:43.051
(John) That's right, to bless the Lord.
0:11:43.051,0:11:46.181
And in talking about context, Scott,
0:11:46.181,0:11:48.362
here the context is those who are
0:11:48.362,0:11:50.712
ministering in the temple are called
0:11:50.712,0:11:54.601
to lift up their hands and bless God.
0:11:54.601,0:11:58.849
Now, this gesture expresses adoration,
0:11:58.849,0:12:02.028
and this gesture indicates the object
0:12:02.028,0:12:07.510
of praise is God and not ourselves,
0:12:07.510,0:12:10.728
and that the entire person is involved
0:12:10.728,0:12:11.968
in worshiping God
0:12:11.968,0:12:14.118
or giving praises to God.
0:12:14.118,0:12:16.238
Let's look at another text,
0:12:16.238,0:12:20.926
Lamentations, chapter 2 and verse 19,
0:12:20.926,0:12:23.742
Lamentations, chapter 2 and verse 19.
0:12:23.742,0:12:26.200
And if I can have Jason please read that[br]for us.
0:12:26.200,0:12:27.735
(Jason) It will be my pleasure.
0:12:27.735,0:12:30.902
Lamentations, chapter 2, verse 19, says:
0:12:49.707,0:12:51.019
(John) Okay, thank you.
0:12:51.019,0:12:53.572
So, here what is the meaning
0:12:53.572,0:12:57.729
of lifting ones hands toward the heavens,
0:12:57.729,0:12:59.782
in Lamentations? Yes, Jason?
0:12:59.782,0:13:01.903
(Jason) It seems like a cry out,
0:13:01.903,0:13:04.315
like desperation, like, "Lord," you know,
0:13:04.315,0:13:06.241
giving up yourself, surrendering
0:13:06.241,0:13:08.579
in a sense, I'm taking from that text.
0:13:08.579,0:13:10.410
(John) Okay, so in Psalms we're seeing
0:13:10.410,0:13:11.986
that lifting up our hands means
0:13:11.986,0:13:14.614
to praise God, to give Him glory,
0:13:14.614,0:13:17.202
but here in Lamentations we're seeing
0:13:17.202,0:13:18.421
out of desperation
0:13:18.421,0:13:20.050
we're crying out to God,
0:13:20.050,0:13:22.568
and we want to receive help from Him.
0:13:22.568,0:13:24.620
And so, what we are beginning to see
0:13:24.620,0:13:26.085
is that lifting up hands
0:13:26.085,0:13:27.629
means different things
0:13:27.629,0:13:30.326
in different contexts, but all of that
0:13:30.326,0:13:33.050
is focused toward God.
0:13:33.050,0:13:35.161
To Him we praise, and He is
0:13:35.161,0:13:37.443
the object of worship, and He is
0:13:37.443,0:13:39.476
the giver of all blessings
0:13:39.476,0:13:41.912
and the answer to our prayers.
0:13:41.912,0:13:43.455
Let's look at one more verse,
0:13:43.455,0:13:45.799
in the New Testament, 1 Timothy,
0:13:45.799,0:13:49.285
chapter 2 and verse 8, if I can have
0:13:49.285,0:13:51.498
Scott please read that for us,
0:13:51.498,0:13:54.346
1 Timothy, chapter 2 and verse 8.
0:13:54.346,0:13:58.081
Paul is instructing his, if I can use
0:13:58.081,0:14:00.815
the term, young intern Timothy
0:14:00.815,0:14:03.845
how one ought to conduct himself
0:14:03.845,0:14:05.989
in the house of God.
0:14:05.989,0:14:07.152
(Scott) Yes, it says:
0:14:16.680,0:14:18.316
(John) Okay, so we see,
0:14:18.316,0:14:20.524
not only in the Old Testament
0:14:20.524,0:14:23.037
but also the New Testament, in the church
0:14:23.037,0:14:25.552
we find that lifting up of hands
0:14:25.552,0:14:26.908
is being allowed.
0:14:26.908,0:14:30.140
Lifting up of hands is being allowed.
0:14:30.140,0:14:34.253
So, question, is it fine for us
0:14:34.253,0:14:37.417
to lift our hands in worship? Yes, Scott.
0:14:37.417,0:14:41.038
(Scott) I was raised in a setting
0:14:41.038,0:14:43.312
where people were rather skeptical
0:14:43.312,0:14:44.825
of lifting hands.
0:14:44.825,0:14:46.424
They associate it
0:14:46.424,0:14:49.898
with Pentecostalism or other things,
0:14:49.898,0:14:52.509
but when I read the Bible,
0:14:52.509,0:14:54.290
I don't find that there.
0:14:54.290,0:14:56.860
Lifting hands is biblical,
0:14:56.860,0:15:00.106
and so it's not a habit I was raised with,
0:15:00.106,0:15:02.714
but it's something that's biblical.
0:15:02.714,0:15:03.909
(John) Yes, Tendi.
0:15:03.909,0:15:05.206
(Tendi) Like you said,
0:15:05.206,0:15:06.542
lifting up your hand
0:15:06.542,0:15:08.873
depends on the context.
0:15:08.873,0:15:11.289
If you're in church, and the pastor
0:15:11.289,0:15:12.596
is preaching, for example,
0:15:12.596,0:15:14.239
you cannot lift your hands;
0:15:14.239,0:15:15.949
you need to be reverent.
0:15:15.949,0:15:17.767
But if there is worship, if there is
0:15:17.767,0:15:20.236
a song that compels your spirit
0:15:20.236,0:15:22.298
to lift your hands, then you can.
0:15:22.298,0:15:23.330
(John) Okay, you used
0:15:23.330,0:15:24.503
a very important word.
0:15:24.503,0:15:27.052
Here actually in Timothy, Paul talks
0:15:27.052,0:15:29.747
to Timothy about the importance
0:15:29.747,0:15:32.296
of reverence in God's house.
0:15:32.296,0:15:34.592
And so, lifting up hands
0:15:34.592,0:15:36.583
is not supposed to be irreverent.
0:15:36.583,0:15:38.184
It should not be irreverent;
0:15:38.184,0:15:39.990
there should be reverence
0:15:39.990,0:15:41.714
that should be entailed
0:15:41.714,0:15:43.150
along with that. Pastor Derek?
0:15:43.150,0:15:44.605
(Derek) And also in the Sermon
0:15:44.605,0:15:47.172
on the Mount, Jesus says in anything
0:15:47.172,0:15:48.925
to do with worship, whether it's
0:15:48.925,0:15:51.017
prayer or fasting or whatever,
0:15:51.017,0:15:51.974
don't do something
0:15:51.974,0:15:54.540
to draw attention to yourself.
0:15:54.540,0:15:56.623
I'm thinking of the my wife's grandmother
0:15:56.623,0:15:58.919
who was from China, and she would
0:15:58.919,0:16:01.388
kowtow when she prayed.
0:16:01.388,0:16:03.522
You know what kowtowing is, right?
0:16:03.522,0:16:05.840
But she wouldn't do that on a platform
0:16:05.840,0:16:07.750
or in front of everybody.
0:16:07.750,0:16:09.024
She would do that when she
0:16:09.024,0:16:10.733
went to her closet to pray,
0:16:10.733,0:16:13.125
because it was part of her culture.
0:16:13.125,0:16:14.527
It was her way, actually,
0:16:14.527,0:16:17.458
of showing reverence to God[br]in her culture.
0:16:17.458,0:16:18.687
But I think the principle
0:16:18.687,0:16:21.742
in the Sermon on the Mount is that we
0:16:21.742,0:16:25.833
are sensitive that we're not just becoming
0:16:25.833,0:16:28.814
the center of attention,[br]drawing attention.
0:16:28.814,0:16:30.342
Jesus talks about praying
0:16:30.342,0:16:32.135
on street corners so that you
0:16:32.135,0:16:34.281
can be seen by people.
0:16:34.281,0:16:35.869
(John) That's right, and we'll go
0:16:35.869,0:16:37.267
to that verse, Pastor Derek,
0:16:37.267,0:16:38.930
but I want to take a few comments.
0:16:38.930,0:16:40.375
Pedro and then Travis.
0:16:40.375,0:16:41.971
(Pedro) I see the importance here
0:16:41.971,0:16:43.990
of giving blessing and receiving blessing.
0:16:43.990,0:16:45.573
Obviously, God is inviting us,
0:16:45.573,0:16:48.413
I found it fascinating, inviting us[br]to bless Him.
0:16:48.413,0:16:50.769
It's a practice we might not partake of
0:16:50.769,0:16:53.243
with our hands and our actions.
0:16:53.243,0:16:54.769
I see our hands as surrendering,
0:16:54.769,0:16:56.746
and when I look at Timothy here, there is
0:16:56.746,0:16:58.446
the aspect of lifting up your hands
0:16:58.446,0:16:59.453
in a negative way,
0:16:59.453,0:17:00.567
There is a positive way
0:17:00.567,0:17:01.702
of lifting up our hands
0:17:01.702,0:17:02.703
and a negative way.
0:17:02.703,0:17:04.052
And we should say,
0:17:04.052,0:17:05.907
"My works are of the Lord," as I think
0:17:05.907,0:17:07.769
that's what we're seeing here.
0:17:07.769,0:17:09.838
[Paul] is saying, "I'm worshiping You
0:17:09.838,0:17:13.002
by saying my actions are Your actions."
0:17:13.002,0:17:15.770
And that is important for us to understand
0:17:15.770,0:17:17.409
the context that we're in,
0:17:17.409,0:17:19.335
like drawing attention to God
0:17:19.335,0:17:21.446
and not to ourselves.
0:17:21.446,0:17:22.642
(John) Exactly, something
0:17:22.642,0:17:23.774
that Pastor Derek said,
0:17:23.774,0:17:25.173
and you are repeating, Pedro,
0:17:25.173,0:17:26.832
which is important, is context.
0:17:26.832,0:17:28.604
We need to know where we are
0:17:28.604,0:17:29.611
and what we're doing,
0:17:29.611,0:17:30.796
and why we are doing it.
0:17:30.796,0:17:33.113
And not just because everyone is doing it,
0:17:33.113,0:17:34.695
but the reason why it's
0:17:34.695,0:17:37.746
being done. Travis.
0:17:37.746,0:17:39.301
(Travis) I was just going to say
0:17:39.301,0:17:40.458
what Pastor Derek said.
0:17:40.458,0:17:46.439
If we're praising God and not trying
0:17:46.439,0:17:47.972
to draw attention to ourselves,
0:17:47.972,0:17:49.741
I don't think there is anything wrong
0:17:49.741,0:17:51.348
with lifting your hands to heaven
0:17:51.348,0:17:53.331
in adoration to God.
0:17:53.331,0:17:55.272
(John) Okay, so the Scripture is clear
0:17:55.272,0:17:56.839
that lifting up our hands
0:17:56.839,0:18:00.194
to God in prayer is fine.
0:18:00.194,0:18:02.906
And one Bible scholar writes
0:18:02.906,0:18:05.183
that it's not a prescription,
0:18:05.183,0:18:06.487
but the Bible is describing
0:18:06.487,0:18:09.227
that it is allowed.
0:18:09.227,0:18:10.754
But if a person doesn't do that,
0:18:10.754,0:18:12.193
that doesn't mean that God
0:18:12.193,0:18:14.323
is not being praised or that God
0:18:14.323,0:18:16.162
is not answering their prayers either.
0:18:16.162,0:18:19.546
And so, there is room for both.
0:18:19.546,0:18:20.972
Now, there are times
0:18:20.972,0:18:23.472
when lifting up our hands to God
0:18:23.472,0:18:25.909
is inappropriate, or other ways
0:18:25.909,0:18:28.151
of doing it, and, Pastor Derek,
0:18:28.151,0:18:29.404
you alluded to it.
0:18:29.404,0:18:31.040
Let's go to Matthew, chapter 6,
0:18:31.040,0:18:32.730
verses 5 and 6; if I can ask Puia
0:18:32.730,0:18:35.023
to please read that for us.
0:18:35.023,0:18:36.626
(Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading
0:18:36.626,0:18:38.225
from the New King James Version,
0:18:38.225,0:18:40.576
Matthew 6, verses 5 and 6:
0:19:11.715,0:19:13.107
(John) Thank you, Puia.
0:19:13.107,0:19:14.814
So, question: Are there times
0:19:14.814,0:19:16.547
when lifting up our hands
0:19:16.547,0:19:17.974
is not appropriate?
0:19:17.974,0:19:19.804
What do you think? Yes, Scott.
0:19:19.804,0:19:22.133
(Scott) Worship is one of those things
0:19:22.133,0:19:24.887
that has a significant cultural element
0:19:24.887,0:19:27.201
to it, and with a worldwide audience,
0:19:27.201,0:19:28.451
there are different people
0:19:28.451,0:19:30.659
who feel different ways about it.
0:19:30.659,0:19:32.944
And I think, as Derek mentioned,
0:19:32.944,0:19:36.331
sometimes if we insist on expressing
0:19:36.331,0:19:38.153
worship the way we're comfortable with
0:19:38.153,0:19:39.612
in a setting where the people
0:19:39.612,0:19:41.046
around us aren't comfortable
0:19:41.046,0:19:43.232
with that same expression, it can cause
0:19:43.232,0:19:45.776
distraction, even if it's not intentional.
0:19:45.776,0:19:47.768
And it can cause trouble
0:19:47.768,0:19:49.721
that doesn't need to be caused.
0:19:49.721,0:19:51.752
(John) Okay, a distraction, a distraction
0:19:51.752,0:19:54.137
where the focus is not so much on God
0:19:54.137,0:19:56.769
but more about what I am doing.
0:19:56.769,0:19:58.337
And that's what these Pharisees
0:19:58.337,0:20:00.218
were doing; they would stand
0:20:00.218,0:20:01.522
on street corners, and they
0:20:01.522,0:20:03.235
would pray aloud because they wanted
0:20:03.235,0:20:06.110
others to know, "See how righteous I am."
0:20:06.110,0:20:10.070
And if those kinds of attitudes are
0:20:10.070,0:20:12.681
what we have when lifting up our hands,
0:20:12.681,0:20:14.723
that is to be avoided. Yes, Pedro.
0:20:14.723,0:20:16.253
(Pedro) And I see the importance
0:20:16.253,0:20:18.182
for us to care for others; Jesus told us
0:20:18.182,0:20:20.250
to love others as ourselves.
0:20:20.250,0:20:22.853
And drawing attention to ourselves
0:20:22.853,0:20:24.403
in a room and saying, "Well, I'm
0:20:24.403,0:20:25.382
doing this for God,"
0:20:25.382,0:20:27.013
is not about the people around me.
0:20:27.013,0:20:29.004
And God says to care for those around us.
0:20:29.004,0:20:30.360
We are our brother's keeper.
0:20:30.360,0:20:31.570
In the same way, if we're
0:20:31.570,0:20:32.733
seeing someone doing it,
0:20:32.733,0:20:34.667
remember it's your brother, your sister.
0:20:34.667,0:20:36.292
Don't rebuke people for no reason.
0:20:36.292,0:20:39.158
If they are adoring God, allow them
0:20:39.158,0:20:41.948
to worship God with their hearts.
0:20:41.948,0:20:43.486
(John) Exactly. Yes, Stephanie,
0:20:43.486,0:20:45.331
you seem to have something to say?
0:20:45.331,0:20:47.335
(Stephanie) I was just thinking that it's
0:20:47.335,0:20:49.004
really a principle; it's a matter
0:20:49.004,0:20:51.565
of principle that whatever we do,
0:20:51.565,0:20:53.914
we do it to honor God in worship.
0:20:53.914,0:20:55.297
That's the principle.
0:20:55.297,0:20:58.940
(John) Exactly. And Leeah.
0:20:58.940,0:21:00.387
(Leeah) I think it's very true
0:21:00.387,0:21:02.931
that sometimes how we conduct ourselves
0:21:02.931,0:21:04.282
physically in worship can be
0:21:04.282,0:21:05.431
a distraction to others.
0:21:05.431,0:21:07.722
But I've also found that sometimes
0:21:07.722,0:21:09.725
it can be an encouragement to others.
0:21:09.725,0:21:11.672
Sometimes people are ashamed
0:21:11.672,0:21:13.173
that, you know, maybe they want
0:21:13.173,0:21:14.134
to lift their hands,
0:21:14.134,0:21:15.853
but they're uncomfortable doing so.
0:21:15.853,0:21:17.797
So maybe sometimes our expression
0:21:17.797,0:21:19.374
can give other people the freedom
0:21:19.374,0:21:20.402
to express themselves
0:21:20.402,0:21:21.749
before the Lord as well.
0:21:21.749,0:21:24.847
(John) Amen. Yes, Nancy?
0:21:24.847,0:21:26.748
(Nancy) It has to do with our attitude.
0:21:26.748,0:21:29.491
If we have an attitude of worship,
0:21:29.491,0:21:32.901
then yes, I think it will be noticed
0:21:32.901,0:21:35.279
by those who are around us.
0:21:35.279,0:21:37.586
But the most important thing is for us
0:21:37.586,0:21:41.716
to truly be honoring God in our worship.
0:21:41.716,0:21:45.687
(John) Amen. Travis, I saw your hand.
0:21:45.687,0:21:47.611
(Travis) I was just going to comment
0:21:47.611,0:21:50.674
on what was mentioned earlier
0:21:50.674,0:21:53.589
about principle, and I think John
0:21:53.589,0:21:57.204
the Baptist clearly held this principle
0:21:57.204,0:21:58.954
in high regard, and it's John,
0:21:58.954,0:22:03.880
chapter 3:30, and he says, "Jesus
0:22:03.880,0:22:05.855
must increase, and I must decrease."
0:22:05.855,0:22:10.693
So understanding who God is
0:22:10.693,0:22:12.739
is really essential
0:22:12.739,0:22:14.403
and I think is the principle.
0:22:14.403,0:22:17.490
It's not about us; it's about Jesus.
0:22:17.490,0:22:18.548
(John) Right. Pastor.
0:22:18.548,0:22:19.949
(Derek) I just want to affirm
0:22:19.949,0:22:21.981
what Leeah said, because if a person
0:22:21.981,0:22:24.145
is leading worship and they're frowning -
0:22:24.145,0:22:25.965
you talked about body language -
0:22:25.965,0:22:28.775
and it's like, "Let's rejoice[br]in the Lord."
0:22:28.775,0:22:31.136
And people are like, "I don't believe you.
0:22:31.136,0:22:33.724
You don't look like you're rejoicing."
0:22:33.724,0:22:35.411
So, I don't want to be the focus
0:22:35.411,0:22:37.286
of attention, but I do want,
0:22:37.286,0:22:39.820
as Jason said earlier, my whole body
0:22:39.820,0:22:43.333
to communicate how great God is.
0:22:43.333,0:22:45.532
And I think that's where we're just asking
0:22:45.532,0:22:48.463
the Holy Spirit to guide us
0:22:48.463,0:22:51.725
as to what is an appropriate way
0:22:51.725,0:22:53.872
with our words, with our body language,
0:22:53.872,0:22:56.321
with the way that we say those words
0:22:56.321,0:22:57.682
to really honor God.
0:22:57.682,0:22:59.274
(John) Exactly. What's amazing
0:22:59.274,0:23:02.531
is that the Bible is very balanced.
0:23:02.531,0:23:04.804
It's giving room for...If you want
0:23:04.804,0:23:06.866
to express your praise to God,
0:23:06.866,0:23:08.181
your prayers to God,
0:23:08.181,0:23:10.288
using your hands is absolutely fine.
0:23:10.288,0:23:11.624
But on the other hand, it is
0:23:11.624,0:23:13.011
important that we don't have
0:23:13.011,0:23:14.714
a self-centered attitude
0:23:14.714,0:23:17.238
or even at times borrow from culture
0:23:17.238,0:23:19.125
the practicing of waving hands
0:23:19.125,0:23:21.231
and lifting up our hands
0:23:21.231,0:23:23.537
and saying that we're praising God,
0:23:23.537,0:23:25.684
but it's really coming out from culture.
0:23:25.684,0:23:27.791
But it ought to come
0:23:27.791,0:23:30.560
from the sole purpose of praising God
0:23:30.560,0:23:32.980
and offering to God our praise.
0:23:32.980,0:23:34.955
Puia and then we'll go to the next point.
0:23:34.955,0:23:36.797
(Puia) Yes, I just wanted to highlight
0:23:36.797,0:23:38.564
also the point from Matthew 6
0:23:38.564,0:23:40.870
where we read, Jesus, I believe,
0:23:40.870,0:23:42.544
differentiated the way
0:23:42.544,0:23:44.718
you worship God individually
0:23:44.718,0:23:46.783
versus in a group, right?
0:23:46.783,0:23:48.777
So, I think it's important to be mindful
0:23:48.777,0:23:49.947
about how we worship God
0:23:49.947,0:23:51.117
when we come as a group.
0:23:51.117,0:23:52.662
But when you go into the closet,
0:23:52.662,0:23:53.817
and you pray before God,
0:23:53.817,0:23:56.530
lift up your hands, and maybe you want
0:23:56.530,0:23:58.282
to move around as you pray.
0:23:58.282,0:23:59.779
Sometimes I pray while walking,
0:23:59.779,0:24:01.936
so I think you can differentiate
0:24:01.936,0:24:03.804
between individual worship
0:24:03.804,0:24:05.947
versus group worship as well.
0:24:05.947,0:24:07.548
(John) Thank you, Puia.
0:24:07.548,0:24:09.764
So we're having a lively discussion here
0:24:09.764,0:24:13.815
about lifting up our hands. Stephanie?
0:24:13.815,0:24:15.058
(Stephanie) Something else
0:24:15.058,0:24:16.893
that came to my mind is, really, we're
0:24:16.893,0:24:18.051
the only ones that know
0:24:18.051,0:24:20.457
if our relationship with God
0:24:20.457,0:24:23.017
is allowing us to truly honor Him
0:24:23.017,0:24:25.758
when we're doing anything in worship.
0:24:25.758,0:24:29.345
So, it's very difficult to be able
0:24:29.345,0:24:31.321
to judge someone's motives.
0:24:31.321,0:24:34.312
And that's hard, right?
0:24:34.312,0:24:37.038
But really we need to pray that God
0:24:37.038,0:24:39.230
will use that person,
0:24:39.230,0:24:40.874
wherever they're at, and trust
0:24:40.874,0:24:42.706
that God will lead them.
0:24:42.706,0:24:44.259
(John) Sure. Thank you all
0:24:44.259,0:24:45.162
for your comments.
0:24:45.162,0:24:47.015
And maybe those of you who are watching
0:24:47.015,0:24:49.611
either on YouTube or on TV, you know,
0:24:49.611,0:24:50.972
write down what you think
0:24:50.972,0:24:53.653
about this topic on our YouTube channel
0:24:53.653,0:24:56.204
or Facebook page, or email to us
0:24:56.204,0:24:58.363
what you think about this topic,
0:24:58.363,0:25:00.334
because you are also part
0:25:00.334,0:25:01.846
of this discussion.
0:25:01.846,0:25:04.231
Let's go to our next topic here,
0:25:04.231,0:25:07.153
praising the Lord with our whole hearts.
0:25:07.153,0:25:11.544
If I can ask Nancy to please read to us
0:25:11.544,0:25:15.233
from Psalm, chapter 9, verses 1 and 2,
0:25:15.233,0:25:18.911
Psalm, chapter 9, verses 1 and 2.
0:25:18.911,0:25:19.900
(Nancy) I'm reading
0:25:19.900,0:25:21.959
from the New American Standard Bible:
0:25:36.877,0:25:38.614
(John) Okay, thank you.
0:25:38.614,0:25:40.727
So, here the psalmist is saying
0:25:40.727,0:25:42.813
that he will give thanks to the Lord
0:25:42.813,0:25:45.036
with his whole heart.
0:25:45.036,0:25:47.371
So in contrast, is it possible
0:25:47.371,0:25:51.188
to give thanks to God half-heartedly?
0:25:51.188,0:25:52.227
(Team Member) Sure.
0:25:52.227,0:25:54.471
(John) For sure, right?
0:25:54.471,0:25:58.258
What does it mean, actually, to praise God
0:25:58.258,0:25:59.813
with our whole heart?
0:25:59.813,0:26:03.037
What does that look like practically?[br]Stephanie?
0:26:03.037,0:26:04.564
(Stephanie) I feel like it means
0:26:04.564,0:26:06.212
a full surrender to Jesus.
0:26:06.212,0:26:07.861
We're fully surrendered to Him,
0:26:07.861,0:26:09.869
and so we're giving Him praise
0:26:09.869,0:26:11.198
with all of our heart.
0:26:11.198,0:26:12.814
He has everything of us.
0:26:12.814,0:26:14.388
(John) Okay. Heide?
0:26:14.388,0:26:16.201
(Heide) I think that he's answering it
0:26:16.201,0:26:17.775
right here in this verse
0:26:17.775,0:26:20.256
because he's telling you, "I will tell
0:26:20.256,0:26:21.742
of Your marvelous works."
0:26:21.742,0:26:23.789
In other words, share what God
0:26:23.789,0:26:27.735
has actually literally done in your life.
0:26:27.735,0:26:29.731
And he's also telling you,
0:26:29.731,0:26:32.795
being glad, that's a way that we are
0:26:32.795,0:26:34.795
praising the Lord with our whole hearts,
0:26:34.795,0:26:39.181
just by continuing to be full of joy
0:26:39.181,0:26:41.255
amidst the trials of life.
0:26:41.255,0:26:46.258
We're also praising the Lord by singing;
0:26:46.258,0:26:48.166
he's telling us this is another way
0:26:48.166,0:26:51.839
that you can praise Him and worship Him.
0:26:51.839,0:26:54.162
So he's telling us right here
0:26:54.162,0:26:55.823
what we need to do.
0:26:55.823,0:26:57.721
(John) Okay, thank you, Heide. Puia.
0:26:57.721,0:26:59.926
(Puia) I just wanted to comment
0:26:59.926,0:27:03.316
that sometimes life can be difficult,
0:27:03.316,0:27:06.521
and we may not be able to give praise
0:27:06.521,0:27:07.981
to God with all our hearts
0:27:07.981,0:27:11.156
and with joy and gladness all the time.
0:27:11.156,0:27:12.496
But I think the key point is
0:27:12.496,0:27:13.904
to just come to God.
0:27:13.904,0:27:15.465
Just come to God and come to Him
0:27:15.465,0:27:17.141
with your trouble, and as Stephanie
0:27:17.141,0:27:18.602
pointed out, surrender
0:27:18.602,0:27:20.103
your troubles to Him.
0:27:20.103,0:27:21.787
And I believe that's the key point
0:27:21.787,0:27:24.369
about praising God with our whole heart.
0:27:24.369,0:27:26.048
(John) I want to focus on something
0:27:26.048,0:27:28.820
that you said, Puia, "Just come to God."
0:27:28.820,0:27:30.664
You know, sometimes when we recognize
0:27:30.664,0:27:32.632
that we are not wholehearted
0:27:32.632,0:27:34.025
in wanting to worship God
0:27:34.025,0:27:35.796
or wanting to follow His truth,
0:27:35.796,0:27:37.394
the amazing thing about God
0:27:37.394,0:27:39.671
is that you can be honest to Him about it.
0:27:39.671,0:27:41.491
And we can say, "God, I don't feel
0:27:41.491,0:27:43.893
like I'm doing this wholeheartedly,
0:27:43.893,0:27:45.484
but please help me do it,"
0:27:45.484,0:27:47.156
and God will help you do it.
0:27:47.156,0:27:49.284
And those moments when you are
0:27:49.284,0:27:51.339
vulnerable with God are when you
0:27:51.339,0:27:54.000
can get closer to Him. Pedro.
0:27:54.000,0:27:55.118
(Pedro) It is important
0:27:55.118,0:27:56.764
to also look at the context here.
0:27:56.764,0:27:58.683
David is praising God
0:27:58.683,0:28:00.055
amidst the death of his son.
0:28:00.055,0:28:01.961
I'm not sure if it was Bathsheba's child
0:28:01.961,0:28:03.303
or Absalom; I believe it was
0:28:03.303,0:28:06.229
Bathsheba's, her son.
0:28:06.229,0:28:07.744
And look at ourselves.
0:28:07.744,0:28:09.532
Imagine, I'm willing to say,
0:28:09.532,0:28:13.315
"God, You are worthy,
0:28:13.315,0:28:17.862
even in my most tragic moment,"[br]wholeheartedly.
0:28:17.862,0:28:19.024
There are people today
0:28:19.024,0:28:20.614
who have sentiments, "Why did God
0:28:20.614,0:28:23.024
allow my child to go through this,
0:28:23.024,0:28:25.629
or someone that I love, or the pain
0:28:25.629,0:28:27.056
that I'm suffering right now?"
0:28:27.056,0:28:29.959
And God says, "Come to Me."
0:28:29.959,0:28:31.531
(Derek) Wow, that's so powerful,
0:28:31.531,0:28:32.632
because my whole heart
0:28:32.632,0:28:34.533
could be a broken heart,
0:28:34.533,0:28:37.855
but I come to Him in total surrender.
0:28:37.855,0:28:39.231
That's a beautiful thought,
0:28:39.231,0:28:43.202
and it's something I long for, John.
0:28:43.202,0:28:47.783
I long to just let go of all of my fears,
0:28:47.783,0:28:50.719
not worry about what people think,
0:28:50.719,0:28:54.898
and just worship God with my whole heart.
0:28:54.898,0:28:57.656
(John) Powerful. Lilica?
0:28:57.656,0:28:58.858
(Lilica) The very thought
0:28:58.858,0:29:00.526
of being vulnerable before God
0:29:00.526,0:29:03.138
is worship Him with your whole heart,
0:29:03.138,0:29:04.512
because you open your heart.
0:29:04.512,0:29:07.320
You're being naked before Him.
0:29:07.320,0:29:09.367
David is the one that is called
0:29:09.367,0:29:12.557
a man after God's own heart.
0:29:12.557,0:29:14.591
Every single time you see
0:29:14.591,0:29:15.696
in the Old Testament...
0:29:15.696,0:29:18.169
I have in the back of my Bible, written,
0:29:18.169,0:29:20.320
the times where David is mentioned
0:29:20.320,0:29:23.111
during the kings of Judah,
0:29:23.111,0:29:27.204
and it says that, "This one followed God
0:29:27.204,0:29:29.091
as David did follow God
0:29:29.091,0:29:30.062
with all his heart,"
0:29:30.062,0:29:32.407
something like that; I'm paraphrasing.
0:29:32.407,0:29:35.774
But it mentions that the king
0:29:35.774,0:29:38.542
followed God as David followed God
0:29:38.542,0:29:39.944
with all his heart.
0:29:39.944,0:29:42.673
It's being open; tell God,
0:29:42.673,0:29:44.768
the One who only can see.
0:29:44.768,0:29:46.886
I love what John Bunyan,
0:29:46.886,0:29:49.653
if I'm pronouncing it right, who wrote
0:29:49.653,0:29:52.974
the book The Pilgrim's Progress, said,
0:29:52.974,0:29:55.984
"It's better to have heart without words
0:29:55.984,0:29:58.209
than words without heart."
0:29:58.209,0:30:01.798
When we come before God, speak it,
0:30:01.798,0:30:04.140
whatever it is, say it.
0:30:04.140,0:30:06.441
And that is what He is concerned about.
0:30:06.441,0:30:07.386
(Derek) Praise God.
0:30:07.386,0:30:08.974
(John) Amen. Tendi and then we'll
0:30:08.974,0:30:10.357
go to the next verse.
0:30:10.357,0:30:12.196
(Tendi) I learned today
0:30:12.196,0:30:14.547
that when you trust,
0:30:14.547,0:30:17.260
a hormone called oxytocin is released
0:30:17.260,0:30:19.083
into your system, and it's
0:30:19.083,0:30:20.655
the same hormone that's released
0:30:20.655,0:30:22.102
when you're in love
0:30:22.102,0:30:25.052
or when you do something with a purpose.
0:30:25.052,0:30:27.458
And I believe worship, when you worship
0:30:27.458,0:30:29.038
God with your whole heart,
0:30:29.038,0:30:31.547
that hormone is released in your body,
0:30:31.547,0:30:33.339
and it shows in your countenance
0:30:33.339,0:30:35.137
that you're worshiping God.
0:30:35.137,0:30:36.395
So, that's what worshiping
0:30:36.395,0:30:38.356
with your whole heart means to me.
0:30:38.356,0:30:39.717
(John) Okay, so there is
0:30:39.717,0:30:42.756
a deep connection with our spirituality
0:30:42.756,0:30:45.680
and even our own bodies, right?
0:30:45.680,0:30:48.832
And there are studies which say
0:30:48.832,0:30:51.613
that people that attend religious services
0:30:51.613,0:30:53.349
are actually much more happy,
0:30:53.349,0:30:54.375
and they are able
0:30:54.375,0:30:56.593
to overcome negative thoughts.
0:30:56.593,0:30:57.987
And so maybe there is someone
0:30:57.987,0:30:59.702
who is watching, and you don't care
0:30:59.702,0:31:01.654
about God or the Bible, but you are
0:31:01.654,0:31:03.478
in a quandary in your own life.
0:31:03.478,0:31:05.088
I want to assure you that if you
0:31:05.088,0:31:06.808
begin praising God,
0:31:06.808,0:31:09.211
attend church services, that your life
0:31:09.211,0:31:11.058
will completely turn around.
0:31:11.058,0:31:12.377
(Team) Amen.
0:31:12.377,0:31:13.975
(John) Let's go to another verse,
0:31:13.975,0:31:16.789
Psalm 113, verses 1, 2 and 3.
0:31:16.789,0:31:19.135
If I can have Heide please read that
0:31:19.135,0:31:24.442
to us, Psalm 113, verses 1, 2 and 3.
0:31:24.442,0:31:25.607
(Heide) I'll be reading
0:31:25.607,0:31:28.394
from the New King James Version,[br]and it says:
0:31:47.716,0:31:49.601
(John) Okay, there is a lot of praising
0:31:49.601,0:31:51.142
going on in these verses,
0:31:51.142,0:31:53.910
and in verse 3 the psalmist says,
0:31:53.910,0:31:55.822
"From the rising of the sun
0:31:55.822,0:31:57.364
to its setting," that's
0:31:57.364,0:31:59.711
pretty much our whole day, right?
0:31:59.711,0:32:01.271
And, I mean, you're at work,
0:32:01.271,0:32:03.661
you're at school, maybe you're
0:32:03.661,0:32:07.049
a homemaker, you're just doing[br]different things.
0:32:07.049,0:32:10.714
How are we, twenty-first century[br]busy people,
0:32:10.714,0:32:12.380
supposed to praise God
0:32:12.380,0:32:14.060
from the morning until the evening?
0:32:14.060,0:32:16.540
How does that practically happen? Lilica.
0:32:16.540,0:32:18.299
(Lilica) As a Pathfinder, we have one
0:32:18.299,0:32:19.819
of the laws that says
0:32:19.819,0:32:23.800
to have always a song in your heart.
0:32:23.800,0:32:25.595
You may be singing, even if you
0:32:25.595,0:32:29.485
are not expressing it aloud.
0:32:29.485,0:32:31.200
(John) Okay. Yes, Nancy.
0:32:31.200,0:32:33.071
(Nancy) It reminds me of my grandmother
0:32:33.071,0:32:34.812
who used to always be singing hymns
0:32:34.812,0:32:36.154
as she was cooking.
0:32:36.154,0:32:38.094
I have that memory of her, as a child,
0:32:38.094,0:32:41.388
and, yes, she was a very positive[br]and gentle person.
0:32:41.388,0:32:42.810
And I think when we fill
0:32:42.810,0:32:44.554
our hearts and our minds
0:32:44.554,0:32:47.827
with the words of God, it helps us.
0:32:47.827,0:32:49.907
It helps us through anything.
0:32:49.907,0:32:51.800
(John) Singing, singing whether you
0:32:51.800,0:32:53.518
are working, doing schoolwork
0:32:53.518,0:32:54.995
or humming a song.
0:32:54.995,0:32:56.210
You can probably memorize
0:32:56.210,0:32:58.385
the Scripture songs that we play here.
0:32:58.385,0:32:59.960
What do you think, Pastor Derek?
0:32:59.960,0:33:01.542
(Derek) Well, I think so, and God
0:33:01.542,0:33:03.076
has given us the ability to do
0:33:03.076,0:33:06.543
more than one thing at the same time.
0:33:06.543,0:33:07.676
Nancy gave an example,
0:33:07.676,0:33:09.501
while her grandmother was cooking.
0:33:09.501,0:33:11.253
You can be driving to the office
0:33:11.253,0:33:13.383
or driving to school, and you can
0:33:13.383,0:33:14.992
be praising God at the same time.
0:33:14.992,0:33:16.491
You're still watching the road,
0:33:16.491,0:33:18.523
but God has given us that ability.
0:33:18.523,0:33:20.680
And I think when the psalmist says
0:33:20.680,0:33:22.937
in Psalm 16, "I've set the Lord
0:33:22.937,0:33:25.390
always before me.
0:33:25.390,0:33:26.754
When He is at my right hand,
0:33:26.754,0:33:29.673
I will not be moved," will not be shaken,
0:33:29.673,0:33:32.399
that tells me I can praise God
0:33:32.399,0:33:35.168
at all times, like the text says,
0:33:35.168,0:33:38.026
while I'm going about my regular day.
0:33:38.026,0:33:39.941
(John) Okay, and song plays a huge role,
0:33:39.941,0:33:42.347
singing and music play a huge role,
0:33:42.347,0:33:44.746
which we will come to in a bit. Puia.
0:33:44.746,0:33:45.879
(Puia) You asked, John,
0:33:45.879,0:33:48.786
about the practical application
0:33:48.786,0:33:51.822
in the twenty-first century.
0:33:51.822,0:33:53.942
For me, in the morning
0:33:53.942,0:33:56.059
when I get up, what helps me is
0:33:56.059,0:33:58.056
listening to gospel music,
0:33:58.056,0:34:01.479
and before I go to bed I read a Bible text
0:34:01.479,0:34:03.718
or listen to a podcast,
0:34:03.718,0:34:05.409
and I fall asleep with it.
0:34:05.409,0:34:07.537
And I believe that sets the tone
0:34:07.537,0:34:09.448
for my morning and evening.
0:34:09.448,0:34:11.725
(John) Okay, so you begin the morning
0:34:11.725,0:34:14.448
praising God, focusing your mind on God.
0:34:14.448,0:34:15.948
You think through what you read
0:34:15.948,0:34:18.563
in the Bible or what you listen to [br]in a sermon,
0:34:18.563,0:34:21.452
and you go to bed, falling asleep
0:34:21.452,0:34:22.845
thinking about God, you know,
0:34:22.845,0:34:26.116
that constant communication[br]with God. Pedro.
0:34:26.116,0:34:27.717
(Pedro) I see the importance here
0:34:27.717,0:34:28.678
as well for actions.
0:34:28.678,0:34:30.544
God says in the fourth commandment
0:34:30.544,0:34:32.639
"In six days you shall labor
0:34:32.639,0:34:34.683
and do all your work," but the labor
0:34:34.683,0:34:36.146
is continuing to be reflecting
0:34:36.146,0:34:37.614
the character of God.
0:34:37.614,0:34:40.328
Everything I do; I drive on the road;
0:34:40.328,0:34:41.385
am I reflecting Jesus?
0:34:41.385,0:34:42.910
It's worship, my actions.
0:34:42.910,0:34:44.457
We talked about hands earlier;
0:34:44.457,0:34:46.467
my actions can be put into worship,
0:34:46.467,0:34:48.080
how I treat others;
0:34:48.080,0:34:49.373
that's an act of worship.
0:34:49.373,0:34:53.272
"If you have done it others, you have done[br]it to Me," is an act of worship that God
0:34:53.272,0:34:55.983
is inviting us to do, so actions[br]play a huge role in that.
0:34:55.983,0:34:57.360
(John) ...In whatever we do,
0:34:57.360,0:34:58.278
we can worship God.
0:34:58.278,0:35:01.228
You know, if there is a job given,
0:35:01.228,0:35:03.072
and you do that job well,
0:35:03.072,0:35:04.741
you do that job with integrity,
0:35:04.741,0:35:06.287
that is worship to God.
0:35:06.287,0:35:07.290
That is praising God.
0:35:07.290,0:35:09.420
I mean, the Bible says
0:35:09.420,0:35:11.670
that whatever you do,
0:35:11.670,0:35:16.517
do it all for the glory of God, right?[br]Yes, Tendi.
0:35:16.517,0:35:18.196
(Tendi) You could also worship Him
0:35:18.196,0:35:20.109
with your personality.
0:35:20.109,0:35:22.677
Be a loving and lovable Christian
0:35:22.677,0:35:25.462
to be around; that is worship.
0:35:25.462,0:35:28.344
(John) Okay, being a loving[br]and a lovable Christian.
0:35:28.344,0:35:31.374
Now, some of you talked about singing
0:35:31.374,0:35:33.320
through the day or using music
0:35:33.320,0:35:34.952
through the day, humming a song,
0:35:34.952,0:35:37.341
singing a song, listening to songs.
0:35:37.341,0:35:38.811
And let's see what the Bible
0:35:38.811,0:35:41.886
has to say about the role of music
0:35:41.886,0:35:44.511
and singing in worship.
0:35:44.511,0:35:46.864
If I can have Tendi please read to us
0:35:46.864,0:35:51.025
from Psalm 33, verses 1, 2 and 3,
0:35:51.025,0:35:54.389
Psalm 33, verses 1, 2 and 3.
0:35:54.389,0:35:55.707
(Tendi) And I'll be reading
0:35:55.707,0:35:57.767
in the English Standard Version,
0:35:57.767,0:36:00.417
Psalm 33, verses 1, 2 and 3:
0:36:22.027,0:36:25.164
(John) Okay, we see that when the psalmist
0:36:25.164,0:36:27.300
is writing, there is a lot of happiness
0:36:27.300,0:36:29.124
surrounding him, right?
0:36:29.124,0:36:31.615
And it says that musical instruments
0:36:31.615,0:36:33.642
are being used in worship.
0:36:33.642,0:36:36.938
There are lyrics being used in worship.
0:36:36.938,0:36:39.593
You know, music plays an important role
0:36:39.593,0:36:42.033
in worship, and specifically the types
0:36:42.033,0:36:44.300
of music we listen to enhance
0:36:44.300,0:36:46.147
our frontal lobes, and it has
0:36:46.147,0:36:48.578
biological implications, too, right?
0:36:48.578,0:36:51.919
It has both negative and positive effects.
0:36:51.919,0:36:54.403
Songs that are based on Scripture
0:36:54.403,0:36:55.632
and music that is based
0:36:55.632,0:36:58.172
on the principles of Scripture
0:36:58.172,0:36:59.802
truly help us to worship God
0:36:59.802,0:37:02.372
in the right way, right?
0:37:02.372,0:37:04.232
And, Stephanie, you seem like
0:37:04.232,0:37:05.636
you have something to say.
0:37:05.636,0:37:07.372
(Stephanie) I just saw in verse 3,
0:37:07.372,0:37:09.232
it says, "Play skillfully
0:37:09.232,0:37:11.620
with a shout of joy."
0:37:11.620,0:37:13.654
There's this sense of peace,
0:37:13.654,0:37:17.672
of contentment and satisfaction in Jesus,
0:37:17.672,0:37:20.112
so again, pointing to Him.
0:37:20.112,0:37:21.542
(Derek) John, you know my wife
0:37:21.542,0:37:23.052
likes to write Scripture songs
0:37:23.052,0:37:25.061
and put them to a melody so we can sing.
0:37:25.061,0:37:27.312
Sometimes she'll see maybe a CD
0:37:27.312,0:37:30.116
of Scripture songs, but they
0:37:30.116,0:37:31.777
plug in the harp, and they crank
0:37:31.777,0:37:35.011
the decibels up so loud that you
0:37:35.011,0:37:36.036
can't hear the words,
0:37:36.036,0:37:38.234
and it's hurting your ears.
0:37:38.234,0:37:41.037
I think the principle there again
0:37:41.037,0:37:44.839
is the instrument and the volume of it
0:37:44.839,0:37:46.883
and maybe how it's played
0:37:46.883,0:37:48.171
also pointing to God,
0:37:48.171,0:37:50.077
or is it a distraction.
0:37:50.077,0:37:54.035
A person says, "Well, no instruments;
0:37:54.035,0:37:55.251
we just sing a cappella."
0:37:55.251,0:37:56.815
Well, like you said earlier,
0:37:56.815,0:37:58.968
we certainly have permission
0:37:58.968,0:38:01.334
to use the 10-stringed instrument, right,
0:38:01.334,0:38:04.934
but we always make sure that the product
0:38:04.934,0:38:07.402
of that is glorifying God.
0:38:07.402,0:38:09.361
(John) Exactly. Yes, Pedro.
0:38:09.361,0:38:11.463
(Pedro) And I see in the text here, Derek,
0:38:11.463,0:38:14.486
it says, "Play skillfully,"
0:38:14.486,0:38:16.292
even, "with a shout."
0:38:16.292,0:38:18.079
You know, I'm not just going to yell.
0:38:18.079,0:38:20.629
It's skillfully use your shout, and I see
0:38:20.629,0:38:22.662
choruses from different parts of the world
0:38:22.662,0:38:25.004
that give that emphasis
0:38:25.004,0:38:27.974
on that beautiful voice tune
0:38:27.974,0:38:29.603
that God has given us.
0:38:29.603,0:38:30.586
(John) Puia?
0:38:30.586,0:38:32.006
(Puia) A few years ago, I had
0:38:32.006,0:38:33.587
the privilege of doing evangelism
0:38:33.587,0:38:36.201
in India, and I was invited to preach
0:38:36.201,0:38:41.110
in a prison, and I was a bit unsure
0:38:41.110,0:38:43.000
about what I was going to face.
0:38:43.000,0:38:44.838
And so the guards escorted us
0:38:44.838,0:38:46.831
inside the prison, and they
0:38:46.831,0:38:48.535
seated us in the chapel.
0:38:48.535,0:38:51.185
And then the prisoners started coming in,
0:38:51.185,0:38:55.235
and as we started singing I was surprised.
0:38:55.235,0:38:57.494
These prisoners had given their hearts
0:38:57.494,0:38:59.708
to Jesus, and they praised God
0:38:59.708,0:39:00.852
with all their hearts.
0:39:00.852,0:39:02.357
We sang songs that we
0:39:02.357,0:39:04.708
normally sing in our churches,
0:39:04.708,0:39:06.917
but the level of commitment
0:39:06.917,0:39:10.225
or the level of joy that they expressed
0:39:10.225,0:39:12.496
as they were praising God with the songs
0:39:12.496,0:39:14.084
just moved my heart.
0:39:14.084,0:39:16.585
It tells me that when we
0:39:16.585,0:39:18.337
talked about freedom, it's not
0:39:18.337,0:39:20.067
really where you are at, is it?
0:39:20.067,0:39:22.910
It's where your heart is.
0:39:22.910,0:39:25.385
(John) Powerful. Yes, Pedro.
0:39:25.385,0:39:26.572
(Pedro) I just mentioned
0:39:26.572,0:39:28.358
wholeheartedly singing, right,
0:39:28.358,0:39:30.199
that they are praising God, and I had
0:39:30.199,0:39:31.832
a similar experience as well going
0:39:31.832,0:39:38.838
to visit a very high facility[br]near my house.
0:39:38.838,0:39:41.545
And I saw men singing with their hearts,
0:39:41.545,0:39:43.498
hugging each other, praising God
0:39:43.498,0:39:46.186
because God has changed their hearts,
0:39:46.186,0:39:48.364
and a heart change, praise God.
0:39:48.364,0:39:49.633
(Team) Amen.
0:39:49.633,0:39:51.394
(John) Let's look at two more verses
0:39:51.394,0:39:52.648
in the book of Psalms,
0:39:52.648,0:39:55.417
and I want you to observe,
0:39:55.417,0:39:58.374
there is a phrase that is repeated,
0:39:58.374,0:40:00.212
and I want you to observe that phrase.
0:40:00.212,0:40:03.051
If I can have Stephanie please read to us
0:40:03.051,0:40:05.533
Psalm 40 and verse 3,
0:40:05.533,0:40:08.050
and after which if Leah can please read
0:40:08.050,0:40:11.722
Psalm 98, verse 1.
0:40:11.722,0:40:13.842
Psalm 40, verse 3,
0:40:13.842,0:40:16.300
and then Leeah Psalm 98, verse 1.
0:40:16.300,0:40:17.796
(Stephanie) And I'll be reading
0:40:17.796,0:40:19.319
from the New King James Version:
0:40:28.085,0:40:30.816
(John) Okay, a new song. Leeah?
0:40:30.816,0:40:31.759
(Leeah) I'm reading
0:40:31.759,0:40:33.435
from the English Standard Version,
0:40:33.435,0:40:35.251
Psalm 98, verse 1:
0:40:45.046,0:40:46.577
(John) Okay, what is the phrase
0:40:46.577,0:40:47.684
that is being repeated?
0:40:47.684,0:40:48.570
(Team) A new song.
0:40:48.570,0:40:50.668
(John) A new song, a new song.
0:40:50.668,0:40:52.699
And so, while it is good that we use
0:40:52.699,0:40:56.054
the book of Psalms to make new songs
0:40:56.054,0:40:59.169
or give new tunes to them
0:40:59.169,0:41:01.269
with the same old lyrics,
0:41:01.269,0:41:02.609
but the Bible also tells us
0:41:02.609,0:41:04.488
that we can write new songs.
0:41:04.488,0:41:05.610
And in the last study,
0:41:05.610,0:41:07.401
we talked about journaling.
0:41:07.401,0:41:09.224
Pastor Derek, you talked about how you
0:41:09.224,0:41:10.999
were inspired to journal.
0:41:10.999,0:41:13.712
And maybe God is calling some of us
0:41:13.712,0:41:15.590
to write of our experiences
0:41:15.590,0:41:18.477
with Him in songs. Yes, Pedro.
0:41:18.477,0:41:19.967
(Pedro) I find it fascinating,
0:41:19.967,0:41:21.259
I'm originally from Brazil,
0:41:21.259,0:41:23.072
and recently in Brazi,l in our church,
0:41:23.072,0:41:23.978
changed the hymnal.
0:41:23.978,0:41:25.080
They updated the hymnal
0:41:25.080,0:41:27.054
with new songs, and it was
0:41:27.054,0:41:29.791
a very exciting experience
0:41:29.791,0:41:31.480
because now we have different songs
0:41:31.480,0:41:32.869
that people have been singing
0:41:32.869,0:41:34.740
that now have been added to the hymnal.
0:41:34.740,0:41:36.197
So it's easy access to people,
0:41:36.197,0:41:37.133
and they have added
0:41:37.133,0:41:39.099
a little section just for the kids,
0:41:39.099,0:41:40.475
and my daughter sings them.
0:41:40.475,0:41:42.433
So, she loves to go through that section
0:41:42.433,0:41:44.206
of the kids songs inside the hymnal,
0:41:44.206,0:41:47.460
and she feels part of that book as well.
0:41:47.460,0:41:49.983
It's not just, "Oh, the old hymnal,"
0:41:49.983,0:41:52.306
it's now, "It's my hymnal."
0:41:52.306,0:41:54.590
(John) One thing that I love
0:41:54.590,0:41:56.734
to do with hymns
0:41:56.734,0:41:59.557
is to see the story of the hymns,
0:41:59.557,0:42:02.582
as to why this hymn came about.
0:42:02.582,0:42:05.714
And the famous song Amazing Grace,
0:42:05.714,0:42:09.008
the back story is really powerful
0:42:09.008,0:42:11.066
of John Newton as to why he wrote
0:42:11.066,0:42:13.638
the story and what is his experience.
0:42:13.638,0:42:16.066
And the Bible also talks about singing
0:42:16.066,0:42:18.872
a new song because of a new experience,
0:42:18.872,0:42:20.889
and let's read about that
0:42:20.889,0:42:22.457
in Isaiah, chapter 42.
0:42:22.457,0:42:24.820
If I can have Scott please read to us
0:42:24.820,0:42:31.533
from Isaiah, chapter 42, verses 10 and 12.
0:42:31.533,0:42:34.308
Isaiah, chapter 42, verses 10 and 12,
0:42:34.308,0:42:37.617
talks about singing a new song.
0:42:37.617,0:42:39.847
(Scott) And I'll be reading from the ESV:
0:42:50.904,0:42:52.029
And verse 12:
0:42:56.836,0:42:58.751
(John) Okay, and if I can have Lilica
0:42:58.751,0:43:01.482
please read to us from Revelation,
0:43:01.482,0:43:05.152
chapter 14, verses 1, 2 and 3,
0:43:05.152,0:43:09.007
Revelation 14, verses 1, 2 and 3.
0:43:09.007,0:43:12.040
And we find that not only here
0:43:12.040,0:43:14.458
on this earth are we to write
0:43:14.458,0:43:16.175
new songs of experience,
0:43:16.175,0:43:17.895
but in the end, when everything
0:43:17.895,0:43:19.732
is said and done, there is going to be
0:43:19.732,0:43:22.936
a new song that is going to be sung.
0:43:22.936,0:43:24.089
(Lilica) I'll be reading
0:43:24.089,0:43:25.681
from the New King James Version,
0:43:25.681,0:43:29.997
Revelation 14, verses 1, 2 and 3:
0:44:11.434,0:44:15.325
(John) Okay, now why is it that no one
0:44:15.325,0:44:18.334
was able to learn the song
0:44:18.334,0:44:21.359
but the 144,000? Yes, Pedro.
0:44:21.359,0:44:23.101
(Pedro) I think when we sing songs,
0:44:23.101,0:44:24.132
we want to sing songs
0:44:24.132,0:44:26.006
that relate to our experiences, right?
0:44:26.006,0:44:27.701
And we see in the world today
0:44:27.701,0:44:29.304
people are attached to the songs
0:44:29.304,0:44:31.042
that relate to their own experience.
0:44:31.042,0:44:32.728
And there in Heaven, we are singing
0:44:32.728,0:44:34.505
a song that relates to our redemption
0:44:34.505,0:44:36.550
and how God saved us from our sins.
0:44:36.550,0:44:38.060
And we're celebrating
0:44:38.060,0:44:40.199
that beautiful victory, that God
0:44:40.199,0:44:41.597
has conquered for us.
0:44:41.597,0:44:42.789
And the angels have never
0:44:42.789,0:44:44.800
experienced that, so they will be silent.
0:44:44.800,0:44:46.492
They're not going to sing something
0:44:46.492,0:44:47.982
that they have not experienced.
0:44:47.982,0:44:49.897
So, it's important for us to also learn
0:44:49.897,0:44:51.290
that as we go on our journey,
0:44:51.290,0:44:53.683
seek songs that elevate God and bring us
0:44:53.683,0:44:55.989
closer to Him into our journey.
0:44:55.989,0:45:00.386
(John) Okay, so music and songs help us
0:45:00.386,0:45:02.460
express our experience in words
0:45:02.460,0:45:03.914
and also our emotions.
0:45:03.914,0:45:07.292
And here the 144,000 are expressing
0:45:07.292,0:45:09.917
their emotions and their experience
0:45:09.917,0:45:12.927
through the music and the lyrics[br]of that song.
0:45:12.927,0:45:14.862
And the text actually kind of hints
0:45:14.862,0:45:17.681
as to what the theme of that song will be.
0:45:17.681,0:45:20.612
If you see towards the end of verse 3
0:45:20.612,0:45:22.732
it says, "No one could learn that song
0:45:22.732,0:45:24.968
except the 144,000
0:45:24.968,0:45:27.746
who had been redeemed from the earth."
0:45:27.746,0:45:30.211
So, it's going to be a song of redemption
0:45:30.211,0:45:33.305
that the 144,000 will sing.
0:45:33.305,0:45:35.501
Lilica and then we'll move on.
0:45:35.501,0:45:37.505
(Lilica) As we speak about the new songs,
0:45:37.505,0:45:40.333
like, what is wrong with the old songs?
0:45:40.333,0:45:43.499
People ask us, "What is
0:45:43.499,0:45:44.497
your favorite song?"
0:45:44.497,0:45:46.787
And you say, "It's this, but it was
0:45:46.787,0:45:48.246
the other one before,"
0:45:48.246,0:45:50.178
depending on the context.
0:45:50.178,0:45:52.163
In the Pathfinder Law, when you study
0:45:52.163,0:45:55.251
about having a new song in your heart,
0:45:55.251,0:45:59.164
we learned that singing, as praying,
0:45:59.164,0:46:01.450
is an act of worship.
0:46:01.450,0:46:03.111
So, a new song, why?
0:46:03.111,0:46:04.555
Because of the new experience
0:46:04.555,0:46:05.905
I'm living with God.
0:46:05.905,0:46:08.351
I'm expressing it into words as I pray,
0:46:08.351,0:46:09.917
I don't go praying and repeating
0:46:09.917,0:46:11.536
the same prayer every single day,
0:46:11.536,0:46:13.435
right, as with singing.
0:46:13.435,0:46:15.651
A new song is a new experience.
0:46:15.651,0:46:18.053
(John) A new song and a new experience.
0:46:18.053,0:46:19.166
Alright, let's move on,
0:46:19.166,0:46:20.971
but before we move on, maybe you are
0:46:20.971,0:46:24.763
looking for good quality Christian music.
0:46:24.763,0:46:27.902
And as Pastor Derek said, you can claim
0:46:27.902,0:46:30.372
our free offer with this study,
0:46:30.372,0:46:32.774
but also check Hope TV where there is
0:46:32.774,0:46:34.198
going to be singing
0:46:34.198,0:46:36.550
and good quality Christian music
0:46:36.550,0:46:40.954
that can enhance your worship towards God.
0:46:40.954,0:46:43.616
Let's go to the next part of our study,
0:46:43.616,0:46:47.485
declaring God's glory among the nations.
0:46:47.485,0:46:50.257
And if I can have Leeah please read to us
0:46:50.257,0:46:54.884
from Psalm, chapter 96, verses 1 to 13,
0:46:54.884,0:46:57.786
Psalm 96, verses 1 to 13.
0:46:57.786,0:47:00.885
It has some very interesting phrases
0:47:00.885,0:47:03.114
which parallel with the book of Revelation
0:47:03.114,0:47:04.677
which we will see.
0:47:04.677,0:47:06.000
(Leeah) And I'll be reading
0:47:06.000,0:47:07.631
from the English Standard Version,
0:47:07.631,0:47:10.427
Psalm 96, verses 1 through 13:
0:48:28.132,0:48:29.783
(John) Alright, powerful.
0:48:29.783,0:48:32.672
There is a lot going on in this passage,
0:48:32.672,0:48:35.432
but I want to ask, what message
0:48:35.432,0:48:37.692
is the psalmist calling us to proclaim
0:48:37.692,0:48:39.815
to all nations here? Scott.
0:48:39.815,0:48:43.223
(Scott) Yeah, he's telling us to tell
0:48:43.223,0:48:45.151
the other people about God,
0:48:45.151,0:48:47.115
who God is, what He's about,
0:48:47.115,0:48:49.378
His righteousness, His justice,
0:48:49.378,0:48:51.549
His judgment, His glory,
0:48:51.549,0:48:52.862
all these different things.
0:48:52.862,0:48:54.832
Tell people about God.
0:48:54.832,0:48:56.871
(John) Okay, tell people about God,
0:48:56.871,0:48:59.770
and he is inviting the entire nations,
0:48:59.770,0:49:01.743
he is inviting the entire earth
0:49:01.743,0:49:03.265
to do so. Travis.
0:49:03.265,0:49:05.040
(Travis) I'm thinking of Revelation,
0:49:05.040,0:49:07.868
chapter 18, and it says
0:49:07.868,0:49:09.899
that the whole earth
0:49:09.899,0:49:12.148
was filled with His glory.
0:49:12.148,0:49:14.252
The glory is the goodness of God.
0:49:14.252,0:49:16.383
In the psalm that was just read,
0:49:16.383,0:49:18.169
we see that, in all its attributes,
0:49:18.169,0:49:20.963
whether it's His creative power,
0:49:20.963,0:49:24.965
His redemptive power, His mercy,
0:49:24.965,0:49:27.622
His grace, that is what God wants us
0:49:27.622,0:49:28.882
to proclaim to the world.
0:49:28.882,0:49:32.565
And that story will be told
0:49:32.565,0:49:34.943
in its fullness before Jesus comes.
0:49:34.943,0:49:36.315
(Team) Amen.
0:49:36.315,0:49:37.798
(John) Heide.
0:49:37.798,0:49:39.268
(Heide) Oh, when I was looking
0:49:39.268,0:49:41.898
at this psalm, it just really reminded me
0:49:41.898,0:49:44.169
of Revelation, chapter 14,
0:49:44.169,0:49:46.436
the three angels' messages where I see
0:49:46.436,0:49:50.089
that he is proclaiming to everyone
0:49:50.089,0:49:53.632
centuries before the Apostle John,
0:49:53.632,0:49:55.805
John the Revelator, ever wrote,
0:49:55.805,0:49:57.904
that we have a Creator
0:49:57.904,0:50:00.098
and He is worthy of our worship,
0:50:00.098,0:50:02.888
and that He is going to come,
0:50:02.888,0:50:05.932
and that He is going to judge the earth.
0:50:05.932,0:50:09.866
And I see him calling us to worship
0:50:09.866,0:50:12.049
this mighty powerful Being.
0:50:12.049,0:50:14.465
(John) Amen. Stephanie.
0:50:14.465,0:50:15.789
(Stephanie) I was thinking
0:50:15.789,0:50:17.409
that this psalmist, when they
0:50:17.409,0:50:19.132
were writing it, understood
0:50:19.132,0:50:21.033
the character of God.
0:50:21.033,0:50:22.359
They had experienced it.
0:50:22.359,0:50:23.362
It's that new song.
0:50:23.362,0:50:25.523
They knew Him, and therefore they were
0:50:25.523,0:50:27.153
able to tell of His glory.
0:50:27.153,0:50:30.615
It wasn't an old song.
0:50:30.615,0:50:32.272
(John) And talking about glory,
0:50:32.272,0:50:35.686
we want to just see what this glory means.
0:50:35.686,0:50:39.275
If I can have Lilica please read to us
0:50:39.275,0:50:42.449
Exodus, chapter 33, verses 18 to 23.
0:50:42.449,0:50:44.383
You know, this glory that God wants us
0:50:44.383,0:50:46.365
to proclaim to all the earth,
0:50:46.365,0:50:48.102
what is the glory of God that we are
0:50:48.102,0:50:51.312
called to share as an act of worship?
0:50:51.312,0:50:53.313
(Lilica) Exodus 33?
0:50:53.313,0:50:56.042
(John) Verses 18 to 23.
0:50:56.042,0:50:58.463
(Lilica) 18 to 23, I'll be reading
0:50:58.463,0:51:00.432
from the New King James Version:
0:51:51.267,0:51:57.337
I will add chapter 34, verse 6.
0:51:57.337,0:51:59.999
(John) Alright, so chapter 34 and verse 6.
0:51:59.999,0:52:02.328
In the next chapter, Moses continues
0:52:02.328,0:52:05.954
to expand on what this glory means.
0:52:05.954,0:52:08.684
Alright, Lilica, chapter 34 and verse 6.
0:52:08.684,0:52:09.873
(Lilica) Verses 6 and 7
0:52:09.873,0:52:11.986
from the New King James Version:
0:52:38.145,0:52:40.072
(John) Okay, to glorify God
0:52:40.072,0:52:43.456
is to glorify His character, right?
0:52:43.456,0:52:45.683
So, through our singing, we ought to let
0:52:45.683,0:52:48.903
the world know about the character of God.
0:52:48.903,0:52:51.168
But moving on, Jesus talked
0:52:51.168,0:52:52.860
to the woman at the well,
0:52:52.860,0:52:55.568
and He told something really powerful.
0:52:55.568,0:52:57.516
And if I can ask Scott to please read
0:52:57.516,0:53:01.226
to us in John, chapter 4, verses 23 to 24.
0:53:01.226,0:53:04.412
And Jesus is talking to this woman
0:53:04.412,0:53:07.989
at the well about worship
0:53:07.989,0:53:11.953
and what worship should entail.
0:53:11.953,0:53:13.344
(Scott) Okay:
0:53:32.990,0:53:34.809
(John) Okay, so if a person says
0:53:34.809,0:53:36.878
that "I'm worshiping God," or if a church
0:53:36.878,0:53:38.913
claims that they are worshiping God,
0:53:38.913,0:53:40.649
they ought to worship God
0:53:40.649,0:53:42.406
in spirit and in truth,
0:53:42.406,0:53:45.102
but what does that mean, to worship God
0:53:45.102,0:53:47.350
in spirit and in truth? Puia?
0:53:47.350,0:53:48.873
(Puia) I believe it's important
0:53:48.873,0:53:51.369
to make sure that our reasons
0:53:51.369,0:53:52.985
for worshiping God is in line
0:53:52.985,0:53:56.002
with the way the Holy Spirit works.
0:53:56.002,0:53:58.772
It's not just an outward performance
0:53:58.772,0:54:01.023
or vain repetition,
0:54:01.023,0:54:02.947
but it's an inward alignment
0:54:02.947,0:54:04.404
with the Holy Spirit, allowing
0:54:04.404,0:54:06.528
the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts
0:54:06.528,0:54:08.961
and worshiping Him according to the Word.
0:54:08.961,0:54:10.609
Because, according to Jesus,
0:54:10.609,0:54:12.666
the Word of God is the truth,
0:54:12.666,0:54:16.275
so worshiping in spirit and in truth.
0:54:16.275,0:54:17.867
(John) Okay, so if a person says,
0:54:17.867,0:54:19.273
"I'm worshiping God," they go
0:54:19.273,0:54:20.447
to a worship experience,
0:54:20.447,0:54:22.450
but they are not moved by the Holy Spirit
0:54:22.450,0:54:23.922
to make changes in their life,
0:54:23.922,0:54:26.093
if they are not prompted to obey
0:54:26.093,0:54:28.023
the Word of God, then that is something
0:54:28.023,0:54:29.907
to be doubted, right?
0:54:29.907,0:54:31.983
And so, our worship experience
0:54:31.983,0:54:33.678
should always be in alignment
0:54:33.678,0:54:36.179
with the truths of the Word of God
0:54:36.179,0:54:39.076
and also in following the promptings
0:54:39.076,0:54:40.541
of the Holy Spirit.
0:54:40.541,0:54:41.610
We're not only going
0:54:41.610,0:54:45.122
to be singing songs now, but also forever,
0:54:45.122,0:54:47.079
and let's read about that.
0:54:47.079,0:54:49.245
Let's go to Isaiah, chapter 66,
0:54:49.245,0:54:50.872
verses 22 and 23.
0:54:50.872,0:54:53.466
Stephanie, if you can please read to us
0:54:53.466,0:54:58.494
in Isaiah 66, verses 22 to 23.
0:54:58.494,0:54:59.999
(Stephanie) And I'll be reading
0:54:59.999,0:55:01.977
from the New King James Version:
0:55:26.348,0:55:29.688
(John) Wow. I have experienced
0:55:29.688,0:55:31.912
one of the most amazing experiences
0:55:31.912,0:55:35.543
of listening to Handel's Messiah music.
0:55:35.543,0:55:37.534
I once went for a sing-along;
0:55:37.534,0:55:39.097
it was glorious, you know,
0:55:39.097,0:55:42.329
so many instruments, so much singing.
0:55:42.329,0:55:44.490
But imagine going to Heaven,
0:55:44.490,0:55:46.439
it's your first Sabbath there,
0:55:46.439,0:55:48.528
the angels are singing, and they are
0:55:48.528,0:55:50.258
playing musical instruments.
0:55:50.258,0:55:52.166
And voices from around the world,
0:55:52.166,0:55:55.252
different languages - there is nothing
0:55:55.252,0:55:58.293
to compare to what is going to happen.
0:55:58.293,0:55:59.928
You know, God is calling us
0:55:59.928,0:56:03.737
to worship Him and Him alone, where we
0:56:03.737,0:56:05.677
take our focus from ourselves
0:56:05.677,0:56:07.723
toward God, now and forever.
0:56:07.723,0:56:09.312
(Team) Amen.
0:56:09.312,0:56:10.871
(Derek) Thank you so much, John.
0:56:10.871,0:56:12.459
That's a powerful study,
0:56:12.459,0:56:15.114
Worship That Never Ends.
0:56:15.114,0:56:17.964
And I appreciate the fact that we realize
0:56:17.964,0:56:19.201
that in different cultures
0:56:19.201,0:56:21.614
people may worship in different ways.
0:56:21.614,0:56:23.864
They may sing different songs,
0:56:23.864,0:56:26.221
but the common thread is it's all
0:56:26.221,0:56:28.701
pointing to God, glorifying God,
0:56:28.701,0:56:32.545
praising God, and telling other people
0:56:32.545,0:56:35.033
about the awesome character of God.
0:56:35.033,0:56:38.672
That kind of worship is worshiping God
0:56:38.672,0:56:41.364
in spirit and truth.
0:56:41.364,0:56:43.008
Let's pray together.
0:56:43.008,0:56:45.456
Father in Heaven, we know the psalms,
0:56:45.456,0:56:47.012
down through the centuries,
0:56:47.012,0:56:49.373
were used in worship,
0:56:49.373,0:56:52.360
both before the coming of Messiah
0:56:52.360,0:56:55.479
and since the coming of Messiah,
0:56:55.479,0:56:58.356
reminding us that worship
0:56:58.356,0:57:00.059
is something that You deserve.
0:57:00.059,0:57:03.632
You are worthy of all of our worship.
0:57:03.632,0:57:05.668
And I pray that in all of our worship,
0:57:05.668,0:57:08.338
we would be guided by Your Spirit
0:57:08.338,0:57:11.883
and guided by Your Word and set free
0:57:11.883,0:57:14.568
from all of those traditions
0:57:14.568,0:57:17.848
and past experiences that hold us back
0:57:17.848,0:57:20.475
from worshiping You in spirit and truth,
0:57:20.475,0:57:24.038
is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
0:57:24.038,0:57:25.278
(Team) Amen.
0:57:25.278,0:57:27.840
(Derek) Thanks for joining us[br]for Hope Sabbath School.
0:57:27.840,0:57:29.656
You say, "Derek, that's challenging,
0:57:29.656,0:57:31.405
to look and say, 'What of my past
0:57:31.405,0:57:34.118
is just tradition or habit,
0:57:34.118,0:57:36.299
and what truly honors God
0:57:36.299,0:57:39.207
and glorifies His name and shows
0:57:39.207,0:57:40.626
His glory to those around?'"
0:57:40.626,0:57:42.610
Let's worship like that
0:57:42.610,0:57:44.031
and go out and be a blessing
0:57:44.031,0:57:45.731
to those around you.
0:57:45.731,0:58:28.086
♪ theme music ♪