0:00:00.212,0:00:18.537 ♪ theme music ♪ 0:00:18.537,0:00:20.400 (Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, 0:00:20.400,0:00:21.890 an in-depth, interactive study 0:00:21.890,0:00:23.115 of the Word of God. 0:00:23.115,0:00:25.419 We're making our way through The Psalms, 0:00:25.419,0:00:28.569 a collection of inspired Scripture songs, 0:00:28.569,0:00:31.976 today, Longing for God in Zion. 0:00:31.976,0:00:33.221 What does that mean? 0:00:33.221,0:00:35.828 I know I long to be closer to God, 0:00:35.828,0:00:38.679 for my heart to be steadfast in Him. 0:00:38.679,0:00:41.225 We'll talk about Longing for God in Zion 0:00:41.225,0:00:42.913 today on Hope Sabbath School, 0:00:42.913,0:00:44.351 and we're glad you joined us. 0:00:44.351,0:00:45.981 Good to see you again, team. 0:00:45.981,0:00:47.604 Can you wave to everybody? 0:00:47.604,0:00:50.670 People all around the world, 200 countries 0:00:50.670,0:00:52.538 joining us for Hope Sabbath School. 0:00:52.538,0:00:54.255 Let's see who's joining us remotely. 0:00:54.255,0:00:57.494 Sabina, great to have you with us again. 0:00:57.494,0:00:59.363 And, Gleny, good to have you with us, 0:00:59.363,0:01:01.052 Gleny; we're glad you're here. 0:01:01.052,0:01:03.293 And, Tricia Lee, good to see you. 0:01:03.293,0:01:06.161 I love Tricia Lee's double-handed wave. 0:01:06.161,0:01:07.601 It's like we're really excited 0:01:07.601,0:01:09.572 to study the Word of God together. 0:01:09.572,0:01:12.029 And we're glad that you're with us, too. 0:01:12.029,0:01:13.745 And I know you can't wave back 0:01:13.745,0:01:16.929 to us right now, but you can write to us 0:01:16.929,0:01:19.825 at sshope@hopetv.org. 0:01:19.825,0:01:22.295 You can tell us how you're blessed 0:01:22.295,0:01:24.071 through a study of the Word of God. 0:01:24.071,0:01:26.124 Well, I want to just thank those 0:01:26.124,0:01:28.925 who have written to us recently, 0:01:28.925,0:01:31.634 sharing with us how God's blessed you. 0:01:31.634,0:01:33.156 And here are a couple of notes. 0:01:33.156,0:01:34.337 Ruth writes to us 0:01:34.337,0:01:36.793 from the beautiful country of Kenya, 0:01:36.793,0:01:39.294 and she says, "I appreciate 0:01:39.294,0:01:42.442 the committed Hope Sabbath School class 0:01:42.442,0:01:44.740 where the Word of God is studied 0:01:44.740,0:01:48.942 and analyzed in a way we can understand. 0:01:48.942,0:01:50.126 You make it clear 0:01:50.126,0:01:52.573 that God loves us all..." 0:01:52.573,0:01:53.913 (Team) Amen. 0:01:53.913,0:01:55.631 (Derek) "...and is calling us, 0:01:55.631,0:01:57.402 regardless of who we are, 0:01:57.402,0:01:59.871 where we come from, to believe, 0:01:59.871,0:02:02.363 repent in Jesus' name." 0:02:02.363,0:02:03.738 Yes, that's it, Ruth. 0:02:03.738,0:02:06.379 Thanks for writing to us from Kenya, 0:02:06.379,0:02:07.240 and God loves all 0:02:07.240,0:02:09.134 of His children, doesn't He? 0:02:09.134,0:02:12.810 Here's a note from Joe in California 0:02:12.810,0:02:14.590 in the United States of America. 0:02:14.590,0:02:17.195 I like this note; Joe says, 0:02:17.195,0:02:20.395 "Great program, decent people, 0:02:20.395,0:02:21.671 learning about the Bible 0:02:21.671,0:02:23.171 and Christian religion 0:02:23.171,0:02:25.595 in a calm, fun way 0:02:25.595,0:02:27.530 instead of those television preachers 0:02:27.530,0:02:32.100 who scream and demand money or else. 0:02:32.100,0:02:33.888 One of the best religious shows 0:02:33.888,0:02:36.425 on television, Hope Sabbath School." 0:02:36.425,0:02:37.420 (Team) Amen. 0:02:37.420,0:02:39.272 (Derek) "Keep up the great work." 0:02:39.272,0:02:40.871 Well, Joe, we'd like to meet you. 0:02:40.871,0:02:42.984 You tell it like it is; I can tell that. 0:02:42.984,0:02:44.492 We're glad you're part 0:02:44.492,0:02:47.314 of our Hope Sabbath School family. 0:02:47.314,0:02:48.499 And by the way, we want 0:02:48.499,0:02:49.857 to always be pointing people 0:02:49.857,0:02:51.539 to Jesus, right, and we don't 0:02:51.539,0:02:54.357 have to scream to do that. 0:02:54.357,0:02:55.921 Here's a hand-written note 0:02:55.921,0:02:58.343 from a donor in Pennsylvania 0:02:58.343,0:03:01.439 in the United States, and the donor 0:03:01.439,0:03:04.021 writes and says, "I don't know 0:03:04.021,0:03:06.538 what I'd do without Hope Channel, 0:03:06.538,0:03:09.780 and Hope Sabbath School is my favorite. 0:03:09.780,0:03:11.289 But some of the other programs 0:03:11.289,0:03:12.943 are great, too, like "Wake Up 0:03:12.943,0:03:14.271 with Hope" in the morning 0:03:14.271,0:03:18.488 and "Story Encounters," and that's great. 0:03:18.488,0:03:21.788 And I'm 85 years old, 0:03:21.788,0:03:23.658 so I'm pretty much confined 0:03:23.658,0:03:25.426 to my place of living, 0:03:25.426,0:03:26.802 but God has kept my body 0:03:26.802,0:03:28.806 in fairly good working order; 0:03:28.806,0:03:30.223 I'm blessed that way. 0:03:30.223,0:03:32.066 Take care, love you all," 0:03:32.066,0:03:35.876 and a donation of 120 dollars to bless 0:03:35.876,0:03:38.116 the global evangelistic media ministry 0:03:38.116,0:03:39.366 of Hope Sabbath School. 0:03:39.366,0:03:41.673 Thank you, donor from Pennsylvania. 0:03:41.673,0:03:43.265 You know who you are, 0:03:43.265,0:03:44.731 and that's a very cute picture 0:03:44.731,0:03:46.124 at the bottom of your note 0:03:46.124,0:03:49.638 of a puppy dog (probably doesn't[br]belong to you), 0:03:49.638,0:03:51.272 but thank you for being part 0:03:51.272,0:03:53.544 of our Hope Sabbath School family. 0:03:53.544,0:03:56.401 One last note, from Helen 0:03:56.401,0:03:58.108 in the Philippines; we have a lot 0:03:58.108,0:03:59.546 of Hope Sabbath School members 0:03:59.546,0:04:01.207 in the Philippines. 0:04:01.207,0:04:03.168 And Helen writes and says, "I love to see 0:04:03.168,0:04:06.359 the host and everyone willing and eager 0:04:06.359,0:04:07.995 to share their understanding 0:04:07.995,0:04:09.631 of the Word of God." 0:04:09.631,0:04:11.698 Sometimes, I have to tell you, Helen, 0:04:11.698,0:04:13.307 there are like 10 hands raised 0:04:13.307,0:04:15.239 at the same time; it can be challenging, 0:04:15.239,0:04:18.110 but we want it to be - what's the word? 0:04:18.110,0:04:19.529 (Derek, Team) Interactive. 0:04:19.529,0:04:21.372 (Derek) That's how it should be. 0:04:21.372,0:04:23.288 "I hope to listen to messages 0:04:23.288,0:04:25.911 from the Bible every week 0:04:25.911,0:04:27.622 and to be forever connected 0:04:27.622,0:04:28.966 to God's Holy Word." 0:04:28.966,0:04:30.000 (Team) Amen. 0:04:30.000,0:04:32.071 (Derek) "I know I have my shortcomings, 0:04:32.071,0:04:34.225 but I know, like everyone else, 0:04:34.225,0:04:37.189 we will be renewed by His Word 0:04:37.189,0:04:39.776 and steadfast in the faith. 0:04:39.776,0:04:41.951 I pray that this ministry 0:04:41.951,0:04:43.404 will continue to grow 0:04:43.404,0:04:45.920 and inspire others to seek the Lord 0:04:45.920,0:04:47.837 and trust His Word. Amen." 0:04:47.837,0:04:48.557 (Team) Amen! 0:04:48.557,0:04:49.837 (Derek) Well, Amen, Helen. 0:04:49.837,0:04:51.885 We agree with you, and we thank you 0:04:51.885,0:04:53.777 for writing to us. 0:04:53.777,0:04:55.370 You know we have a special gift, 0:04:55.370,0:04:57.087 I want to just remind you, 0:04:57.087,0:04:59.372 a collection of Scripture songs 0:04:59.372,0:05:02.047 that my wife has put to music, 0:05:02.047,0:05:04.654 Trilogy Scripture Songs from the Psalms. 0:05:04.654,0:05:07.407 It's a unique collection just for you 0:05:07.407,0:05:09.758 during this series on The Psalms 0:05:09.758,0:05:11.718 including our theme song. 0:05:11.718,0:05:13.438 And you can go to our website, 0:05:13.438,0:05:18.500 hopetv.org/hopess and click 0:05:18.500,0:05:20.330 on the Free Gift tab 0:05:20.330,0:05:23.104 and download that collection, 0:05:23.104,0:05:24.985 and you can share it with other people. 0:05:24.985,0:05:26.429 Bless them by sharing 0:05:26.429,0:05:28.428 the Scripture songs with them, too. 0:05:28.428,0:05:29.513 Now, one of them 0:05:29.513,0:05:32.194 is the theme song from Psalm 105. 0:05:32.194,0:05:33.909 We're not going to sing it just yet, 0:05:33.909,0:05:35.076 so just hold on; I heard 0:05:35.076,0:05:36.815 some of you starting to sing. 0:05:36.815,0:05:39.601 But Psalm 105 begins with the words, 0:05:39.601,0:05:41.748 "Oh, give thanks to the Lord," 0:05:41.748,0:05:43.304 and I'm going to share something 0:05:43.304,0:05:45.225 very interesting with you today. 0:05:45.225,0:05:50.011 One our team today, well, that's her name, 0:05:50.011,0:05:52.222 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord." 0:05:52.222,0:05:55.941 And she's from a country and speaks 0:05:55.941,0:05:57.713 a mother tongue that many 0:05:57.713,0:05:59.450 of you have never heard. 0:05:59.450,0:06:03.096 So, please, camera, scan the team here. 0:06:03.096,0:06:04.486 Can you do that? 0:06:04.486,0:06:06.900 And try to guess who it is. 0:06:06.900,0:06:08.931 Let's see, and the name is, 0:06:08.931,0:06:10.514 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord," 0:06:10.514,0:06:14.549 and the answer is, well, wave if it's you. 0:06:14.549,0:06:16.152 It's Tendi; alright, 0:06:16.152,0:06:18.307 let's zero in the camera on Tendi, 0:06:18.307,0:06:20.609 because Tendi, well, tell us 0:06:20.609,0:06:22.641 how you got your name. 0:06:22.641,0:06:25.461 And then I want you to read for us 0:06:25.461,0:06:28.564 that Psalm 105, the first three verses 0:06:28.564,0:06:30.013 in your mother tongue, 0:06:30.013,0:06:31.793 which I understand is Kalanga. 0:06:31.793,0:06:32.962 How did you get the name 0:06:32.962,0:06:34.459 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord," 0:06:34.459,0:06:36.573 Tendani in your mother tongue? 0:06:36.573,0:06:38.323 (Tendi) Thank you, Pastor Derek. 0:06:38.323,0:06:40.983 My parents gave me my name 0:06:40.983,0:06:44.445 because I came two months early. 0:06:44.445,0:06:47.379 I was a premature baby, and my mom 0:06:47.379,0:06:49.425 was on bedrest for the remainder 0:06:49.425,0:06:51.254 of her pregnancy. 0:06:51.254,0:06:55.509 And I weighed 1.6 kilograms, 0:06:55.509,0:06:59.242 and I was 30 centimeters long. 0:06:59.242,0:07:01.977 So, they were just giving thanks to God 0:07:01.977,0:07:03.526 because I survived. 0:07:03.526,0:07:05.282 You see, a year before, my mom 0:07:05.282,0:07:08.600 had lost a baby, and now I came, 0:07:08.600,0:07:11.961 and she was scared whether or not 0:07:11.961,0:07:13.404 I would survive, but I did, 0:07:13.404,0:07:16.139 even though I came two months early. 0:07:16.139,0:07:17.925 (Derek) And for those who don't know, 0:07:17.925,0:07:19.448 30 centimeters, Tendi, 0:07:19.448,0:07:22.033 that's not very long, right? 0:07:22.033,0:07:23.217 But here you were, 0:07:23.217,0:07:25.530 a little precious bundle, and so they 0:07:25.530,0:07:28.880 gave you the name Tendani, which means? 0:07:28.880,0:07:30.291 (Tendi) "Oh, Give Thanks." 0:07:30.291,0:07:31.540 (Derek) And could you read 0:07:31.540,0:07:32.569 in your mother tongue 0:07:32.569,0:07:34.679 those three verses, maybe, 0:07:34.679,0:07:37.161 the first three verses of the Psalm 0:07:37.161,0:07:39.385 that begins with your name? 0:07:39.385,0:07:40.688 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 0:07:40.688,0:08:12.333 from the [Kalanga Bible, Psalm 105:1-3:]: 0:08:12.333,0:08:13.981 (Derek) I understood some of that! 0:08:13.981,0:08:17.706 "Yahweh," I heard the name of the Lord. 0:08:17.706,0:08:21.462 You know, as Tendi was reading that, 0:08:21.462,0:08:23.081 I just thought, isn't it amazing, 0:08:23.081,0:08:24.366 God is going to call people 0:08:24.366,0:08:30.005 from every nation, kindred, tongue,[br]and people. 0:08:30.005,0:08:31.383 Tendi, we're glad you're part 0:08:31.383,0:08:32.920 of our Hope Sabbath School team. 0:08:32.920,0:08:34.075 And I don't want to ask 0:08:34.075,0:08:36.705 the rest of the group to sing in Kalanga 0:08:36.705,0:08:38.530 because that would be complicated. 0:08:38.530,0:08:40.143 We're going to sing in English 0:08:40.143,0:08:42.811 a song which bears your name, 0:08:42.811,0:08:44.868 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord." 0:08:44.868,0:08:46.472 Let's sing it together. 0:08:46.472,0:08:53.437 ♪ music ♪ 0:10:16.051,0:10:18.053 (Derek) Let's call upon His name just now. 0:10:18.053,0:10:20.623 Father in Heaven, as we 0:10:20.623,0:10:23.601 are studying Your Word today, 0:10:23.601,0:10:27.723 Longing for God in Zion, I pray 0:10:27.723,0:10:30.119 that there would grow within our hearts 0:10:30.119,0:10:33.977 a deeper and yet deeper longing 0:10:33.977,0:10:36.832 for intimacy with You. 0:10:36.832,0:10:40.648 You've loved us with an everlasting love, 0:10:40.648,0:10:43.175 and You invite us to spend eternity 0:10:43.175,0:10:47.008 in a growing love relationship with You. 0:10:47.008,0:10:49.593 I pray by the Holy Spirit that You 0:10:49.593,0:10:52.063 would guide our study today. 0:10:52.063,0:10:53.160 And we thank You 0:10:53.160,0:10:55.828 in the name of Jesus. Amen. 0:10:55.828,0:10:57.593 (Team) Amen. 0:10:57.593,0:10:59.380 (Derek) Well, I love that theme song. 0:10:59.380,0:11:00.702 I know my wife has composed 0:11:00.702,0:11:03.194 about 200 Scripture songs, 0:11:03.194,0:11:04.706 but I just like that one. 0:11:04.706,0:11:06.441 Do you know I'm waking up 0:11:06.441,0:11:08.760 singing that song now, which means 0:11:08.760,0:11:10.959 I've been singing it through the night, 0:11:10.959,0:11:12.847 hopefully not too loud, 0:11:12.847,0:11:15.044 but it's a wonderful thing to give thanks 0:11:15.044,0:11:16.116 to the Lord, isn't it? 0:11:16.116,0:11:16.853 (Team) Amen. 0:11:16.853,0:11:18.090 (Derek) One of the things 0:11:18.090,0:11:19.896 I want to give thanks to the Lord for, 0:11:19.896,0:11:23.559 as we begin our study, is that God[br]wants us 0:11:23.559,0:11:25.997 to be in relationship with Him. 0:11:25.997,0:11:28.263 So let's look at some testimonies 0:11:28.263,0:11:30.998 of various psalmists who speak 0:11:30.998,0:11:34.593 about a longing for a devoted heart. 0:11:34.593,0:11:36.283 And I'm going to ask Gleny 0:11:36.283,0:11:37.966 if you would begin our study today, 0:11:37.966,0:11:40.066 one of our remote team members, 0:11:40.066,0:11:43.867 in Psalm 84, and, Gleny, if you could read 0:11:43.867,0:11:47.932 the first four verses of this psalm 0:11:47.932,0:11:52.014 of the sons of Korah. 0:11:52.014,0:11:53.338 (Gleny) And I'll be reading 0:11:53.338,0:11:55.568 from the New King James Version,[br]and it says: 0:12:26.854,0:12:28.317 (Derek) So, I want to ask you, 0:12:28.317,0:12:30.076 I'm thinking when Gleny was reading, 0:12:30.076,0:12:32.158 did any of you sing that, part of that, 0:12:32.158,0:12:34.737 in a choir when you were growing up? 0:12:34.737,0:12:37.238 That's kind of a famous psalm, isn't it? 0:12:37.238,0:12:39.540 It's been put to a choral piece. 0:12:39.540,0:12:43.250 Well, let's keep reading because this is 0:12:43.250,0:12:45.182 the sons of Korah composing. 0:12:45.182,0:12:47.006 And, Tricia Lee, if you could continue 0:12:47.006,0:12:49.533 reading for us in this Scripture song 0:12:49.533,0:12:52.349 of the sons of Korah, verses 5 0:12:52.349,0:12:56.140 through 9 of Psalm 84. 0:12:56.140,0:12:58.917 (Tricia Lee) Reading from the New[br]King James Version: 0:13:30.171,0:13:31.710 (Derek) And if it stopped there, 0:13:31.710,0:13:33.631 we'd say it's an amazing Scripture song, 0:13:33.631,0:13:35.224 but, Sabina, I'm going to ask you 0:13:35.224,0:13:36.900 to read the last three verses, 0:13:36.900,0:13:39.385 verses 10 through 12. 0:13:39.385,0:13:40.362 This is actually one 0:13:40.362,0:13:44.659 of my favorite psalms, and how do 0:13:44.659,0:13:47.181 the sons of Korah end this Scripture song 0:13:47.181,0:13:50.804 in Psalm 84, verses 10 to 12? 0:13:50.804,0:13:52.203 (Sabina) So, I'll be reading 0:13:52.203,0:13:54.340 from the New King James Version,[br]and it says: 0:14:20.681,0:14:22.254 (Derek) "O Lord of hosts, blessed 0:14:22.254,0:14:24.055 is the man," blessed is the woman, 0:14:24.055,0:14:25.636 blessed is the boy or girl, 0:14:25.636,0:14:26.658 "who trusts in You." 0:14:26.658,0:14:29.052 As you heard the sons of Korah - 0:14:29.052,0:14:30.330 and by the way, remember 0:14:30.330,0:14:33.825 that their ancestor died in a rebellion, 0:14:33.825,0:14:35.243 but we don't have to stay 0:14:35.243,0:14:36.788 like our ancestors, right? 0:14:36.788,0:14:39.295 We can be made new by the power of God. 0:14:39.295,0:14:39.996 (Team) Amen. 0:14:39.996,0:14:42.007 (Derek) They're composing Scripture songs. 0:14:42.007,0:14:43.793 What resonates with your heart 0:14:43.793,0:14:45.967 in this Scripture song? Puia? 0:14:45.967,0:14:47.266 (Puia) I see a longing 0:14:47.266,0:14:49.039 to be in the sanctuary 0:14:49.039,0:14:50.404 or in the temple of God 0:14:50.404,0:14:51.790 just praising God. 0:14:51.790,0:14:54.424 I think that's the theme that I see here. 0:14:54.424,0:14:55.880 (Derek) Alright, anybody else. 0:14:55.880,0:14:59.065 Anything that connects with your heart?[br]Yes, Pedro. 0:14:59.065,0:15:01.921 (Pedro) "I'd rather be a doorkeeper[br]in God's house 0:15:01.921,0:15:03.687 than to be with the wicked." 0:15:03.687,0:15:05.264 (Derek) Yeah, just like, "Give me 0:15:05.264,0:15:07.115 basic operation," you know, 0:15:07.115,0:15:08.993 I'll be a doorkeeper "than dwell 0:15:08.993,0:15:14.079 in the tents of wickedness," right?[br]Tricia Lee. 0:15:14.079,0:15:17.033 (Tricia Lee) I love in verse 6 it mentions 0:15:17.033,0:15:18.535 the Valley of Baca, which can 0:15:18.535,0:15:20.785 also be translated the "Valley 0:15:20.785,0:15:23.077 of Weeping," but it says that God 0:15:23.077,0:15:24.386 turns it into a spring. 0:15:24.386,0:15:26.050 And so, I like to think of that 0:15:26.050,0:15:27.762 as a spring of joy or even a spring 0:15:27.762,0:15:29.993 of blessing, that God can take our pain, 0:15:29.993,0:15:32.241 our sorrow, our dark periods, 0:15:32.241,0:15:34.576 and take us from weeping 0:15:34.576,0:15:36.148 to a spring of blessings. 0:15:36.148,0:15:38.457 He can turn our situations around. 0:15:38.457,0:15:40.396 (Derek) Beautiful, let's go to Psalm 63. 0:15:40.396,0:15:43.367 There are several of the psalmists 0:15:43.367,0:15:46.678 who express a longing for God, 0:15:46.678,0:15:49.100 and in Psalm 63, we find 0:15:49.100,0:15:50.737 another testimony, and I believe 0:15:50.737,0:15:52.714 this is a psalm of David, right? 0:15:52.714,0:15:54.195 And it's interesting, Gladys, 0:15:54.195,0:15:56.291 if you could take us and look 0:15:56.291,0:15:58.865 at the first four verses, 0:15:58.865,0:16:01.992 that he's writing this in the wilderness 0:16:01.992,0:16:04.213 of Judah, which means he's 0:16:04.213,0:16:06.977 probably running from King Saul, right? 0:16:06.977,0:16:08.979 But in the midst of that, let's see 0:16:08.979,0:16:13.090 the commitment he makes in Psalm 63:1-4. 0:16:13.090,0:16:14.238 (Gladys) And I'm reading 0:16:14.238,0:16:16.582 from the New International Version,[br]and it says: 0:16:51.039,0:16:52.659 (Derek) Do you see the earnestness 0:16:52.659,0:16:53.712 there in the psalmist? 0:16:53.712,0:16:55.436 Kylynda, if you could keep reading 0:16:55.436,0:16:59.030 verses 6 through 8, still in Psalm 63, 0:16:59.030,0:17:00.710 a psalm of David. 0:17:00.710,0:17:01.631 (Kylynda) I'll read 0:17:01.631,0:17:05.039 from the New King James Version, verse 6: 0:17:22.840,0:17:24.556 (Derek) "Come close to me," I mean, 0:17:24.556,0:17:26.979 if God's right hand, and, Pedro, 0:17:26.979,0:17:28.585 you often talk about the imagery 0:17:28.585,0:17:30.425 of the Psalms, right, so you say 0:17:30.425,0:17:33.513 maybe this isn't literal, but speaking 0:17:33.513,0:17:36.712 about that kind of proximity, 0:17:36.712,0:17:39.424 what does it tell us? 0:17:39.424,0:17:40.927 The intimacy of God, right? 0:17:40.927,0:17:44.667 He's an immanent God; He's not far away 0:17:44.667,0:17:47.505 if His right hand is supporting us. 0:17:47.505,0:17:50.339 But probably one of the best known psalms 0:17:50.339,0:17:54.125 that speaks about a longing for God, 0:17:54.125,0:17:55.743 Geoffrey, if you could go... 0:17:55.743,0:17:56.698 This is probably one 0:17:56.698,0:17:59.042 that many people could sing, 0:17:59.042,0:18:01.570 different musical arrangements, 0:18:01.570,0:18:05.600 Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. 0:18:05.600,0:18:08.265 Let's see, again the sons of Korah, 0:18:08.265,0:18:11.599 how they describe a longing for God. 0:18:11.599,0:18:14.335 And Gladys has already started singing, 0:18:14.335,0:18:16.732 but if you could read it for us. 0:18:16.732,0:18:18.094 (Geoffrey) 142? 0:18:18.094,0:18:19.983 (Derek) Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. 0:18:19.983,0:18:21.276 (Geoffrey) Oh, Psalm 42. 0:18:21.276,0:18:24.959 (Derek) 42, verses 1 and 2. 0:18:24.959,0:18:26.861 And this is another psalm 0:18:26.861,0:18:30.053 of the sons of Korah, yearning for God 0:18:30.053,0:18:33.861 in the midst of distresses. 0:18:33.861,0:18:36.864 Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. 0:18:36.864,0:18:38.396 (Geoffrey) Okay, I'll be reading 0:18:38.396,0:18:40.059 from the English Standard Version: 0:18:54.422,0:18:56.362 (Derek) And one last, and then I'm going 0:18:56.362,0:18:57.911 to give you the chance to share, 0:18:57.911,0:19:00.663 one last reference, Psalm 143, 0:19:00.663,0:19:03.830 verses 6 through 8, and, Samantha, 0:19:03.830,0:19:05.061 if you'd read that 0:19:05.061,0:19:09.259 for us, please, Psalm 143:6-8. 0:19:09.259,0:19:10.775 We're getting a common theme, 0:19:10.775,0:19:13.162 not just one of the psalmists 0:19:13.162,0:19:15.789 but different authors of the Psalms. 0:19:15.789,0:19:16.966 How does your Bible read 0:19:16.966,0:19:19.410 in Psalm 143, verses 6 to 8? 0:19:19.410,0:19:20.439 (Samantha) I'll read 0:19:20.439,0:19:22.385 from the New King James Version: 0:19:53.800,0:19:55.558 (Derek) So, I want to ask a question: 0:19:55.558,0:19:57.994 what are your thoughts 0:19:57.994,0:20:02.272 about such an earnest longing for God? 0:20:02.272,0:20:06.690 What are your thoughts, anybody?[br]Yes, Gleny. 0:20:06.690,0:20:08.439 (Gleny) I'm sure many of you 0:20:08.439,0:20:10.306 have experienced this, but when you 0:20:10.306,0:20:12.816 care for someone or you generally enjoy 0:20:12.816,0:20:15.447 someone's companionship or company, 0:20:15.447,0:20:16.948 it doesn't matter where you are 0:20:16.948,0:20:18.038 or what you are doing. 0:20:18.038,0:20:20.580 It can be the most menial task 0:20:20.580,0:20:23.701 or even the strangest mission, 0:20:23.701,0:20:25.615 but just having them around 0:20:25.615,0:20:27.717 is such a pleasure. 0:20:27.717,0:20:30.445 So, in all of this you can see David 0:20:30.445,0:20:33.962 and the sons of Korah and everyone 0:20:33.962,0:20:37.059 explaining that same amount 0:20:37.059,0:20:38.549 of appreciation they have 0:20:38.549,0:20:41.238 for the company of God. 0:20:41.238,0:20:43.246 (Derek) So, I appreciate you sharing that. 0:20:43.246,0:20:44.612 I have a confession to make. 0:20:44.612,0:20:46.009 While Gleny was saying that, 0:20:46.009,0:20:48.485 I was thinking about when I'm separated 0:20:48.485,0:20:51.129 from my wife and coming back 0:20:51.129,0:20:53.377 to be with her, even if we're 0:20:53.377,0:20:55.981 washing dishes or doing something, 0:20:55.981,0:20:57.749 I forget what word Gleny used, 0:20:57.749,0:21:00.324 but something kind of menial, you know, 0:21:00.324,0:21:03.074 but just being together. 0:21:03.074,0:21:04.299 Yes, I love that image: 0:21:04.299,0:21:07.526 I stretch out my hands to you. Samantha. 0:21:07.526,0:21:08.675 (Samantha) For me, it's 0:21:08.675,0:21:11.677 like an S.O.S. call, just to depict 0:21:11.677,0:21:14.534 our dire dependence on God. 0:21:14.534,0:21:17.533 It's like when Peter, when he was sinking, 0:21:17.533,0:21:18.632 all he had time to say 0:21:18.632,0:21:20.204 was, "Lord, save me." 0:21:20.204,0:21:22.270 So that's how I get that... 0:21:22.270,0:21:24.156 (Derek) Okay, it's an S.O.S., but it's 0:21:24.156,0:21:26.545 actually something that he wanted 0:21:26.545,0:21:28.405 to do every day, right, "cause me 0:21:28.405,0:21:30.306 to hear Your lovingkindness." 0:21:30.306,0:21:32.946 We have 17 hands raised right now, 0:21:32.946,0:21:34.446 but this is an important topic. 0:21:34.446,0:21:36.025 I'm trying to get to everyone. 0:21:36.025,0:21:39.156 Short responses, yeah, how do you relate 0:21:39.156,0:21:40.487 to that deep longing? 0:21:40.487,0:21:43.384 (Gladys) I like that verse in Psalm 42 0:21:43.384,0:21:45.375 about the deer, so I went online, 0:21:45.375,0:21:47.588 and I researched what does it mean 0:21:47.588,0:21:49.635 when a deer pants for the water. 0:21:49.635,0:21:51.071 And it means when a mother, 0:21:51.071,0:21:53.690 the mother deer, when she has a baby, 0:21:53.690,0:21:56.151 she cannot move because she has 0:21:56.151,0:21:57.790 the baby close to her. 0:21:57.790,0:22:00.503 So she makes this sound 0:22:00.503,0:22:02.669 when she longs for the water 0:22:02.669,0:22:04.290 that she cannot reach. 0:22:04.290,0:22:07.990 And that's exactly how, that desperation 0:22:07.990,0:22:10.304 that God wants us to have for Him... 0:22:10.304,0:22:11.981 (Derek) That's a new insight to me. 0:22:11.981,0:22:13.128 (Gladys) Yeah, that it's 0:22:13.128,0:22:15.311 just like a need, that He wants us 0:22:15.311,0:22:17.472 to be like the part that moves 0:22:17.472,0:22:19.979 the whole body towards Him. 0:22:19.979,0:22:20.843 (Derek) Kylynda. 0:22:20.843,0:22:22.820 (Kylynda) Earnest longing is intentional. 0:22:22.820,0:22:25.094 It's not dictated by the circumstance 0:22:25.094,0:22:26.765 or even the feeling. 0:22:26.765,0:22:29.000 You know, David is running away; 0:22:29.000,0:22:31.074 it's not a great circumstance. 0:22:31.074,0:22:33.842 Psalm 42, the psalmist is depressed, 0:22:33.842,0:22:37.408 in Psalm 143, the psalmist is anxious, 0:22:37.408,0:22:39.271 so it's intentional. 0:22:39.271,0:22:40.892 (Derek) It's intentional and it's 0:22:40.892,0:22:43.606 not dependent on the circumstance,[br]as you're saying. 0:22:43.606,0:22:45.551 So, I want to give someone else 0:22:45.551,0:22:46.701 who's raised their hand, 0:22:46.701,0:22:47.985 but answer another question 0:22:47.985,0:22:49.589 because we've got to move on. 0:22:49.589,0:22:52.099 So, I see Sabina waving to me, 0:22:52.099,0:22:53.810 and I see another hand raised, 0:22:53.810,0:22:55.932 but, Sabina, help me with this. 0:22:55.932,0:22:57.276 And I don't know the answer 0:22:57.276,0:22:59.970 that you will give, but who has 0:22:59.970,0:23:03.335 modeled for you, someone who has 0:23:03.335,0:23:05.634 an earnest longing for God? 0:23:05.634,0:23:08.726 Many of us may not have grown up 0:23:08.726,0:23:12.687 with someone like that very close to us. 0:23:12.687,0:23:13.933 Where did you find someone 0:23:13.933,0:23:15.502 that really modeled that for you, 0:23:15.502,0:23:18.786 and you said, "I'm catching a glimpse 0:23:18.786,0:23:20.703 of what that looks like," what we've 0:23:20.703,0:23:23.200 been reading about in the Psalms? 0:23:23.200,0:23:24.533 (Sabina) Derek, I'm thinking 0:23:24.533,0:23:26.539 of some experiences I had in my church 0:23:26.539,0:23:29.534 back in Brazil, I know, 0:23:29.534,0:23:30.772 from my teenage years 0:23:30.772,0:23:33.106 up until I was 26, 27. 0:23:33.106,0:23:34.842 I was very involved in a ministry 0:23:34.842,0:23:37.682 that involved worship and creative arts. 0:23:37.682,0:23:39.526 And I had lots of children 0:23:39.526,0:23:41.069 that were part of it. 0:23:41.069,0:23:42.984 And for me, it was always very inspiring 0:23:42.984,0:23:44.149 to see the way that they 0:23:44.149,0:23:45.937 were experiencing God, in that they 0:23:45.937,0:23:47.545 would also be able to express 0:23:47.545,0:23:49.920 in their praise, in their art, 0:23:49.920,0:23:51.523 in their poetry, the ways 0:23:51.523,0:23:55.144 in which they saw God work in their lives. 0:23:55.144,0:23:57.529 So, for me, even though they were 0:23:57.529,0:23:59.383 younger than I, in some ways that was 0:23:59.383,0:24:01.784 modeling to me some sort 0:24:01.784,0:24:05.580 of pure longing to God 0:24:05.580,0:24:07.169 that marked my life. 0:24:07.169,0:24:08.705 (Derek) Isn't that beautiful? 0:24:08.705,0:24:11.583 Little boys and girls become mentors. 0:24:11.583,0:24:12.641 Jesus said we have 0:24:12.641,0:24:14.323 to become like the little children, 0:24:14.323,0:24:16.940 but just that earnest longing for God. 0:24:16.940,0:24:19.041 Someone else, who really modeled 0:24:19.041,0:24:22.104 that for you? Yes, Puia. 0:24:22.104,0:24:24.073 (Puia) Pastor Derek, I would say one 0:24:24.073,0:24:25.655 of the people who have modeled 0:24:25.655,0:24:29.149 a good example for me is you, actually, 0:24:29.149,0:24:30.324 having worked with you 0:24:30.324,0:24:33.702 inside and outside of the studio. 0:24:33.702,0:24:36.063 I really appreciate 0:24:36.063,0:24:37.739 the life that you live. 0:24:37.739,0:24:39.785 (Derek) Well, I'm desperate for God, 0:24:39.785,0:24:41.611 and we all know where 0:24:41.611,0:24:44.232 we would be without Him, right? 0:24:44.232,0:24:46.755 So, "As the deer pants," new insight, 0:24:46.755,0:24:49.113 "Hhuh, hhuh," for the water, 0:24:49.113,0:24:52.507 so pants my soul for you, O God." 0:24:52.507,0:24:55.841 So, I have a question for you: 0:24:55.841,0:24:58.275 Is this deep longing for God 0:24:58.275,0:25:00.122 something that can be developed? 0:25:00.122,0:25:02.001 You used the word intentional, Kylynda. 0:25:02.001,0:25:03.854 Or, is it a gift from God? 0:25:03.854,0:25:07.088 You say, wait, that kind of intimacy... 0:25:07.088,0:25:08.439 What's the answer? 0:25:08.439,0:25:10.051 What do you think, Pedro? 0:25:10.051,0:25:12.411 (Pedro) Looking toward society today, 0:25:12.411,0:25:15.786 humanity searches for God, 0:25:15.786,0:25:17.794 and unfortunately many of them 0:25:17.794,0:25:19.468 seek God in things 0:25:19.468,0:25:23.679 instead of His presence. 0:25:23.679,0:25:25.413 So I think God has put in our hearts 0:25:25.413,0:25:27.264 the desire for Him. 0:25:27.264,0:25:28.489 (Derek) So, that would be 0:25:28.489,0:25:29.752 a gift, then, wouldn't it? 0:25:29.752,0:25:31.178 But, Kylynda, let me come back 0:25:31.178,0:25:33.088 to the word intentional, because I think 0:25:33.088,0:25:35.203 Pedro makes a really good point, 0:25:35.203,0:25:37.137 that we're, like, dead 0:25:37.137,0:25:38.361 in trespasses and sin, 0:25:38.361,0:25:40.870 so God calls us as a gift? 0:25:40.870,0:25:42.982 Where does our intentionality come in? 0:25:42.982,0:25:43.997 (Kylynda) It's both. 0:25:43.997,0:25:45.500 As Pedro mentioned, it's a gift 0:25:45.500,0:25:47.505 from God in that initial spark, 0:25:47.505,0:25:51.012 and we read in Psalm 84, they said 0:25:51.012,0:25:52.668 the person is blessed "whose heart 0:25:52.668,0:25:54.473 is set on pilgrimage." 0:25:54.473,0:25:56.859 So, there has to be...you know, 0:25:56.859,0:25:59.484 God is desiring towards us, 0:25:59.484,0:26:01.983 and then we have to accept that 0:26:01.983,0:26:03.939 and seek His face as well. 0:26:03.939,0:26:05.912 (Derek) I wish we could stay here longer, 0:26:05.912,0:26:07.706 but I'm going to have to ask us 0:26:07.706,0:26:10.339 to move to Psalm 122, 0:26:10.339,0:26:13.497 because part of longing for God 0:26:13.497,0:26:16.159 back in the time of the children of Israel 0:26:16.159,0:26:19.140 was going up to the house of the Lord. 0:26:19.140,0:26:20.597 And we want to look at that, 0:26:20.597,0:26:23.242 but then we want to ask ourselves 0:26:23.242,0:26:25.373 what does that mean for us today? 0:26:25.373,0:26:27.791 So, Tendi, if you could take us there 0:26:27.791,0:26:31.521 in Psalm 122 and read 0:26:31.521,0:26:32.814 the first nine verses, 0:26:32.814,0:26:36.420 I want you to notice what emotions 0:26:36.420,0:26:39.339 the worshipers experience as they're 0:26:39.339,0:26:43.339 going up to the house of the Lord. 0:26:43.339,0:26:44.632 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 0:26:44.632,0:26:46.541 from the English Standard Version, 0:26:46.541,0:26:50.569 Psalm 122, verses 1 to 9, 0:26:50.569,0:26:54.466 "A Song of Ascents. Of David," verse 1: 0:27:54.589,0:27:56.571 (Derek) So, they're going up, by the way, 0:27:56.571,0:27:58.279 literally because Jerusalem's 0:27:58.279,0:28:00.660 at about 2,500-feet elevation, 0:28:00.660,0:28:03.230 so Mount Zion is mount, right, 0:28:03.230,0:28:05.474 so going up and they're rejoicing. 0:28:05.474,0:28:09.663 What is it about the house of the Lord 0:28:09.663,0:28:12.086 that is so precious 0:28:12.086,0:28:15.273 to the believers, anybody? 0:28:15.273,0:28:17.730 Yes, it's not just a nice building, right, 0:28:17.730,0:28:19.511 like, go on a tour and see 0:28:19.511,0:28:20.840 the nice construction. 0:28:20.840,0:28:22.424 It was very impressive 0:28:22.424,0:28:24.984 until it was destroyed, but what was it, 0:28:24.984,0:28:27.012 Puia, about the house of the Lord 0:28:27.012,0:28:28.554 that made it so special? 0:28:28.554,0:28:30.840 (Puia) I believe the presence of God 0:28:30.840,0:28:34.778 was the main thing that attracted them. 0:28:34.778,0:28:38.995 And everything that the Israelites did 0:28:38.995,0:28:40.861 around the sanctuary, or their lives 0:28:40.861,0:28:43.122 in the bigger picture, revolves 0:28:43.122,0:28:46.662 around the sanctuary service. 0:28:46.662,0:28:50.120 So I believe David is glad, as he said, 0:28:50.120,0:28:52.260 "I was glad when they said, 'Let us go 0:28:52.260,0:28:54.198 to the house of God,'" because there you 0:28:54.198,0:28:56.670 can experience the presence of God. 0:28:56.670,0:28:59.559 (Derek) Before they even built a temple, 0:28:59.559,0:29:00.981 where did the presence 0:29:00.981,0:29:03.401 of the Lord dwell, do you remember? 0:29:03.401,0:29:04.649 (Gladys) In the sanctuary. 0:29:04.649,0:29:07.117 (Derek) In the tabernacle, right? 0:29:07.117,0:29:10.496 And how did the Lord reveal His presence? 0:29:10.496,0:29:11.762 Sabina, do you remember? 0:29:11.762,0:29:14.341 How did the Lord reveal His presence 0:29:14.341,0:29:17.260 even when it was a tent or a tabernacle 0:29:17.260,0:29:19.330 in the wilderness? 0:29:19.330,0:29:21.728 (Sabina) Yes, there was special furniture 0:29:21.728,0:29:23.006 and rituals that had been 0:29:23.006,0:29:25.411 around the sanctuary, so definitely one 0:29:25.411,0:29:27.030 of the places where the Bible says 0:29:27.030,0:29:28.695 that He was revealing or expressing 0:29:28.695,0:29:30.384 His presence was in the Ark 0:29:30.384,0:29:33.577 of the Covenant where, for instance, 0:29:33.577,0:29:35.846 the Law of God was kept. 0:29:35.846,0:29:37.994 But I think for them, the rejoicing also 0:29:37.994,0:29:41.242 of going to Zion or going to the temple 0:29:41.242,0:29:43.259 when it was built, I believe, 0:29:43.259,0:29:45.276 was also involved with the opportunity 0:29:45.276,0:29:47.133 they had to partake 0:29:47.133,0:29:49.901 in the sacrificial system that God 0:29:49.901,0:29:52.218 had implemented as a reminder 0:29:52.218,0:29:55.120 of His forgiveness. 0:29:55.120,0:29:59.298 So, for us it is now pointing to Jesus, 0:29:59.298,0:30:02.135 but I imagine back in their day also 0:30:02.135,0:30:05.187 it was a memorial of the availability 0:30:05.187,0:30:07.275 of pardon from God, that God was willing 0:30:07.275,0:30:09.548 to forgive and renew 0:30:09.548,0:30:11.617 their relationship with Him. 0:30:11.617,0:30:13.182 (Derek) So, I just want to focus 0:30:13.182,0:30:15.188 here first, you mentioned the furniture, 0:30:15.188,0:30:19.692 but between the cherubim 0:30:19.692,0:30:23.616 in the most holy place of the tabernacle, 0:30:23.616,0:30:25.761 what was it called, John, do you remember? 0:30:25.761,0:30:30.489 The visible presence of God, the glory [br]of God was called the...? 0:30:30.489,0:30:31.550 (John) Shekinah Glory. 0:30:31.550,0:30:32.858 (Derek) The Shekinah Glory. 0:30:32.858,0:30:35.113 And by the way, the glory of God, 0:30:35.113,0:30:37.195 while no one could look upon that, 0:30:37.195,0:30:39.212 there was a curtain there, right, 0:30:39.212,0:30:43.672 but it was undoubtedly visible, 0:30:43.672,0:30:46.784 though covered, the glory of God. 0:30:46.784,0:30:49.408 When they built the temple, how was 0:30:49.408,0:30:51.671 the glory of God revealed in the temple, 0:30:51.671,0:30:53.346 Solomon's temple, do you remember? 0:30:53.346,0:30:55.959 (Gladys) Glory of the Lord filled[br]the temple with smoke. 0:30:55.959,0:30:58.202 (Derek) At the dedication, the glory[br]of the Lord 0:30:58.202,0:30:59.949 filled the temple. 0:30:59.949,0:31:03.304 Interestingly, the temple was destroyed, 0:31:03.304,0:31:06.413 rebuilt, and then refurbished by Herod, 0:31:06.413,0:31:08.599 but never is there an account of the glory 0:31:08.599,0:31:10.550 of the Lord filling that temple. 0:31:10.550,0:31:13.397 When did the glory of the Lord 0:31:13.397,0:31:16.435 fill the temple that we call the temple 0:31:16.435,0:31:19.177 in the time of Herod? 0:31:19.177,0:31:21.578 (Derek, Team) When Jesus came in. 0:31:21.578,0:31:22.957 (Derek) The glory of the Lord 0:31:22.957,0:31:24.150 filled the temple. 0:31:24.150,0:31:25.866 Now, we don't have the temple today. 0:31:25.866,0:31:27.110 We don't have a tabernacle 0:31:27.110,0:31:28.466 in the wilderness, 0:31:28.466,0:31:30.103 so we don't have a place where you 0:31:30.103,0:31:31.125 can say, "Why are you 0:31:31.125,0:31:32.342 looking so happy, Tendi?" 0:31:32.342,0:31:34.366 "Well, I'm going to the house[br]of the Lord." 0:31:34.366,0:31:35.756 Well, I'd be happy; I'd see 0:31:35.756,0:31:37.174 the very visible presence 0:31:37.174,0:31:38.841 of the glory of God. 0:31:38.841,0:31:42.853 So, help me, Tricia Lee, if you would, 0:31:42.853,0:31:43.943 where is the house 0:31:43.943,0:31:47.241 of the Lord for us today? 0:31:47.241,0:31:49.673 Is it a geographic location? 0:31:49.673,0:31:51.025 Is it an experience? 0:31:51.025,0:31:52.967 What do you think, so that you can 0:31:52.967,0:31:56.200 say to me, "Derek, I'm glad when they 0:31:56.200,0:31:58.444 tell me, 'Let's go to the house[br]of the Lord.'"? 0:31:58.444,0:31:59.987 What would you say? 0:31:59.987,0:32:01.460 (Tricia Lee) I'd say it's both, 0:32:01.460,0:32:03.570 because we know that the Father, 0:32:03.570,0:32:06.462 whom we have not met as yet, 0:32:06.462,0:32:09.546 dwells in the throne room in Heaven, 0:32:09.546,0:32:11.896 but through the power of the Holy Spirit, 0:32:11.896,0:32:13.512 God can dwell in our hearts. 0:32:13.512,0:32:15.827 And so, we're also told in Scripture 0:32:15.827,0:32:17.689 that, "Know ye not that ye are 0:32:17.689,0:32:20.486 the temple of God," and so the Holy Spirit 0:32:20.486,0:32:24.150 can live in us as we accept Jesus, 0:32:24.150,0:32:26.505 and we get that "down payment,"[br]if you would, 0:32:26.505,0:32:27.947 through the Holy Spirit. 0:32:27.947,0:32:30.868 And we can be living temples 0:32:30.868,0:32:33.795 for His glory, so I say it's both. 0:32:33.795,0:32:37.810 (Derek) Tricia Lee, you made my head spin, 0:32:37.810,0:32:40.233 because I've never thought of that, 0:32:40.233,0:32:43.552 but if God dwells in my heart, 0:32:43.552,0:32:45.135 Christ makes His home with me - 0:32:45.135,0:32:46.954 He says, "We will come to you 0:32:46.954,0:32:48.792 by the Holy Spirit" - that means 0:32:48.792,0:32:51.800 when I spend time with the One 0:32:51.800,0:32:53.907 who dwells with me, 0:32:53.907,0:32:56.347 I am in the house of the Lord. 0:32:56.347,0:32:58.742 Whew, that made my head spin. Pedro. 0:32:58.742,0:33:00.215 (Pedro) We've been looking here 0:33:00.215,0:33:03.196 to the house of God as not only telling us 0:33:03.196,0:33:05.224 that we long for Him, but He also longs 0:33:05.224,0:33:07.950 for us, to be with us. 0:33:07.950,0:33:09.619 And we see here, through the symbol 0:33:09.619,0:33:11.819 of the tabernacle, God longed 0:33:11.819,0:33:14.949 to be with us, and through the Holy Spirit 0:33:14.949,0:33:16.690 He longs for us to be with Him 0:33:16.690,0:33:18.559 and also be together 0:33:18.559,0:33:21.064 as we preach the gospel. 0:33:21.064,0:33:22.907 That's why the Holy Spirit 0:33:22.907,0:33:23.916 is being given to us, 0:33:23.916,0:33:27.281 so we can finish the work through Him, 0:33:27.281,0:33:29.407 and we can be with Him forever. 0:33:29.407,0:33:31.657 (Derek) Okay, I see Gleny, I see 0:33:31.657,0:33:33.576 your hand raised, and Sabina, too. 0:33:33.576,0:33:35.172 Let me just ask a question, 0:33:35.172,0:33:38.890 can a church where we go to worship 0:33:38.890,0:33:41.525 each week be the house of the Lord for us? 0:33:41.525,0:33:44.052 (Team) Yes. 0:33:44.052,0:33:46.736 (Derek) But not automatically, right? 0:33:46.736,0:33:48.052 But it could be, 0:33:48.052,0:33:49.339 if we're meeting God there. 0:33:49.339,0:33:50.931 I see many hands raised. 0:33:50.931,0:33:53.304 I'm going to go to Gleny and Sabina first 0:33:53.304,0:33:54.914 and then come back to the studio. 0:33:54.914,0:33:58.997 Gleny, talk to me about where the house 0:33:58.997,0:34:02.165 of the Lord is for us today. 0:34:02.165,0:34:03.809 (Gleny) I was just about to give 0:34:03.809,0:34:06.630 a comment on that, too, where God 0:34:06.630,0:34:08.915 is seen in our midst whenever there is 0:34:08.915,0:34:10.835 a congregation of believers, 0:34:10.835,0:34:13.932 like in Matthew 18, verse 20, it says: 0:34:20.327,0:34:22.012 Not just gathering for no reason, 0:34:22.012,0:34:23.841 but when we are like-minded, 0:34:23.841,0:34:26.954 and you see that in the book of Acts, too, 0:34:26.954,0:34:31.081 when people laid their differences aside, 0:34:31.081,0:34:33.896 and came together and had 0:34:33.896,0:34:35.485 the Holy Spirit work with them, 0:34:35.485,0:34:39.237 you can see God was in their midst. 0:34:39.237,0:34:40.907 (Derek) That's a powerful thought. 0:34:40.907,0:34:44.172 It suggests that the house of the Lord 0:34:44.172,0:34:46.828 doesn't have to be a physical building. 0:34:46.828,0:34:48.747 It can be when the Lord is in our midst. 0:34:48.747,0:34:50.816 Sabina, you want to add to that? 0:34:50.816,0:34:51.632 Where's the house 0:34:51.632,0:34:54.402 of the Lord for us today? 0:34:54.402,0:34:56.629 (Sabina) Yes, what I want to add is that I 0:34:56.629,0:34:58.408 just think it's so beautiful that God 0:34:58.408,0:34:59.983 makes sure not to attach that 0:34:59.983,0:35:02.327 necessarily to a geographic place 0:35:02.327,0:35:04.146 or a time or a country, 0:35:04.146,0:35:05.854 so that it's accessible 0:35:05.854,0:35:09.291 to any person in any time. 0:35:09.291,0:35:11.601 Even our church buildings 0:35:11.601,0:35:13.056 that we treasure, and they are 0:35:13.056,0:35:14.967 important also, the places for gathering 0:35:14.967,0:35:17.182 where we can invite people together, 0:35:17.182,0:35:19.048 they unfortunately can become, 0:35:19.048,0:35:21.090 just like Jesus mentioned back in the day 0:35:21.090,0:35:22.946 about their temple, "a den of robbers," 0:35:22.946,0:35:24.570 right, like a place where there is 0:35:24.570,0:35:26.457 no glory or presence of God, 0:35:26.457,0:35:28.920 if we are not personally seeking God 0:35:28.920,0:35:31.485 in the true temple that is ourselves. 0:35:31.485,0:35:34.578 So, even those places where we gather, 0:35:34.578,0:35:37.482 it's important that we primarily develop 0:35:37.482,0:35:39.291 that personal relationship with Jesus, 0:35:39.291,0:35:41.346 then we come to share about it, 0:35:41.346,0:35:43.344 because just being in a building 0:35:43.344,0:35:44.714 in the name of God 0:35:44.714,0:35:46.468 doesn't really grant that He is 0:35:46.468,0:35:48.849 willing to be there - well, He is willing, 0:35:48.849,0:35:51.016 but that He will be there 0:35:51.016,0:35:53.125 if we don't allow it. 0:35:53.125,0:35:54.657 (Derek) So, there's so much more 0:35:54.657,0:35:56.370 we could share about this, 0:35:56.370,0:35:58.186 but certainly we would agree 0:35:58.186,0:36:00.388 that when we come into God's presence, 0:36:00.388,0:36:02.432 whether it's personal worship 0:36:02.432,0:36:04.682 with the Spirit dwelling in our hearts 0:36:04.682,0:36:06.717 or in a group of two or three, 0:36:06.717,0:36:08.682 that we can experience joy when we come 0:36:08.682,0:36:10.205 to the house of the Lord, right? 0:36:10.205,0:36:11.621 Absolutely we can. 0:36:11.621,0:36:14.533 But there is also in the Psalms 0:36:14.533,0:36:17.694 a reference to the significance 0:36:17.694,0:36:20.979 of a specific geographic location. 0:36:20.979,0:36:24.347 And I want to just take a moment to look 0:36:24.347,0:36:28.782 at Mount Zion and what the significance 0:36:28.782,0:36:33.426 of Mount Zion is in salvation history. 0:36:33.426,0:36:35.455 So, Geoffrey, if you could take us 0:36:35.455,0:36:38.911 to Psalm 87 and read 0:36:38.911,0:36:40.099 the first three verses, 0:36:40.099,0:36:41.187 we're going to look 0:36:41.187,0:36:43.924 at four psalms together that speak 0:36:43.924,0:36:45.953 about the significance 0:36:45.953,0:36:48.185 of Jerusalem and Mount Zion. 0:36:48.185,0:36:49.841 (Geoffrey) Okay, I'll be reading 0:36:49.841,0:36:51.769 from the English Standard Version: 0:37:06.018,0:37:07.753 (Derek) And if, John, you could read 0:37:07.753,0:37:12.199 following that in Psalm 48, verses 1 to 3. 0:37:12.199,0:37:14.695 Hear the theme, "Glorious things of you 0:37:14.695,0:37:17.096 are spoken, Zion, city of our God." 0:37:17.096,0:37:19.708 What is it about that location? 0:37:19.708,0:37:20.580 (John) I'm reading 0:37:20.580,0:37:22.770 from the English Standard Version,[br]it reads: 0:37:44.505,0:37:48.485 (Derek) Alright, what about Psalm 46, 0:37:48.485,0:37:49.769 Kylynda, if you could read 0:37:49.769,0:37:52.728 the first seven verses of Psalm 46. 0:37:52.728,0:37:54.502 Now, there are lots of thoughts here, 0:37:54.502,0:37:57.313 but we're listening for the significance 0:37:57.313,0:38:01.649 of this location, Mount Zion. 0:38:01.649,0:38:03.767 (Kylynda) From the New King James Version: 0:38:51.194,0:38:52.784 (Derek) And one last passage, 0:38:52.784,0:38:53.992 Pedro, if you could read 0:38:53.992,0:38:59.112 Psalm 125, verses 1 and 2. 0:38:59.112,0:39:00.327 (Pedro) I'll be reading 0:39:00.327,0:39:01.851 from the New King James Version. 0:39:01.851,0:39:03.737 Psalm 125, verse 1, says: 0:39:21.163,0:39:22.417 (Derek) So, we're up there 0:39:22.417,0:39:26.772 in the mountains, and there is Mount Zion. 0:39:26.772,0:39:28.263 There's more significance 0:39:28.263,0:39:29.202 than just that it's 0:39:29.202,0:39:31.295 the capital city, right? 0:39:31.295,0:39:33.089 I mean, it is the capital up there; 0:39:33.089,0:39:34.817 Jerusalem is there, right? 0:39:34.817,0:39:37.631 But there's something more significant 0:39:37.631,0:39:41.609 about that geographic location. 0:39:41.609,0:39:44.344 Somebody do a scan 0:39:44.344,0:39:47.078 of the Book of Beginnings; 0:39:47.078,0:39:49.377 it's called Genesis. 0:39:49.377,0:39:51.381 We don't have to read the whole story, 0:39:51.381,0:39:55.044 but a patriarch, what was his name...? 0:39:55.044,0:39:55.784 (Team) Abraham. 0:39:55.784,0:39:58.778 (Derek) ...Abraham, first called Abram, 0:39:58.778,0:40:02.454 but after having a son is called Abraham, 0:40:02.454,0:40:07.370 is told to go to a specific location. 0:40:07.370,0:40:09.757 Somebody tell me the story. 0:40:09.757,0:40:11.467 Alright, Gladys, tell us the story. 0:40:11.467,0:40:13.030 By the way, if people would like 0:40:13.030,0:40:17.087 to read it, it's there in Genesis 22. 0:40:17.087,0:40:19.573 But Abraham is told to go 0:40:19.573,0:40:21.843 to a specific location, 0:40:21.843,0:40:23.603 and what is he told to do? 0:40:23.603,0:40:26.722 (Gladys) Well, God promised to give him 0:40:26.722,0:40:30.437 a son, and after the son is born, 0:40:30.437,0:40:33.924 God tells him, "Go to Mount Moriah 0:40:33.924,0:40:36.621 and sacrifice him there for Me." 0:40:36.621,0:40:38.274 And Abraham believed in God, 0:40:38.274,0:40:39.374 even though this was 0:40:39.374,0:40:41.221 this child of the promise, 0:40:41.221,0:40:42.548 and he went to Mount Moriah 0:40:42.548,0:40:44.487 to follow what God said. 0:40:44.487,0:40:46.371 And God delivered him. 0:40:46.371,0:40:49.150 God tested him, and he proved faithful, 0:40:49.150,0:40:52.013 and God provided for Himself a sacrifice. 0:40:52.013,0:40:53.787 (Derek) And if you've read the story, 0:40:53.787,0:40:55.556 and I want to encourage you if you're 0:40:55.556,0:40:57.329 hearing this story for the first time 0:40:57.329,0:40:58.920 to read in Genesis 22, 0:40:58.920,0:41:02.141 what evidences were there, anyone, 0:41:02.141,0:41:05.124 that he was trusting God, 0:41:05.124,0:41:07.038 because this sounds like something 0:41:07.038,0:41:09.457 God would not ask him to do, right? 0:41:09.457,0:41:11.288 But that was something the pagans did; 0:41:11.288,0:41:14.504 they sacrificed their sons and daughters. 0:41:14.504,0:41:16.620 He asked him to be willing 0:41:16.620,0:41:18.387 to lay everything down. 0:41:18.387,0:41:19.863 But can you remember the story, 0:41:19.863,0:41:22.458 any evidences of faith, John? 0:41:22.458,0:41:24.972 (John) In verse 5, Abraham talks 0:41:24.972,0:41:28.387 to his servants and he says: 0:41:33.271,0:41:34.413 (Derek) I like my Bible, 0:41:34.413,0:41:37.443 it says, "We will return," we will return. 0:41:37.443,0:41:38.586 There was another place, 0:41:38.586,0:41:39.669 they're walking along; 0:41:39.669,0:41:43.332 Puia, do you remember, and Isaac says, 0:41:43.332,0:41:45.081 "Wait a minute, father," 0:41:45.081,0:41:46.630 that's a paraphrase, right? 0:41:46.630,0:41:50.864 "Wait a minute, father, we've got[br]the wood and the fire..." 0:41:50.864,0:41:52.964 (Team) "Where is the sacrifice, the lamb?" 0:41:52.964,0:41:55.109 (Derek) "Where's the sacrifice, father?" 0:41:55.109,0:41:56.474 And, Puia, do you remember, 0:41:56.474,0:41:58.585 just from memory, the story? 0:41:58.585,0:42:01.621 How does Abraham respond to his son? 0:42:01.621,0:42:02.831 (Puia) I believe he said, 0:42:02.831,0:42:05.117 "The Lord will provide." 0:42:05.117,0:42:06.181 (Derek) "The Lord will 0:42:06.181,0:42:07.712 provide a sacrifice," 0:42:07.712,0:42:09.608 so here's this word of faith. 0:42:09.608,0:42:12.717 Now, by the way, in the book of Hebrews, 0:42:12.717,0:42:16.082 it says he believed that if necessary 0:42:16.082,0:42:17.438 God would raise his son 0:42:17.438,0:42:19.287 from the dead, right? 0:42:19.287,0:42:21.588 So they get to the mountain, 0:42:21.588,0:42:23.147 and it's the mountain "that you 0:42:23.147,0:42:26.951 will be shown," but it is Mount Moriah. 0:42:26.951,0:42:28.987 Now, some scholars argue, is Mount Moriah 0:42:28.987,0:42:30.488 and Mount Zion the same, 0:42:30.488,0:42:32.754 or they're right in the same vicinity; 0:42:32.754,0:42:34.371 it's right in the same cluster 0:42:34.371,0:42:36.992 right there; it's that location. 0:42:36.992,0:42:39.619 Somebody tell me what happens 0:42:39.619,0:42:44.325 when he raises the knife - he's willing. 0:42:44.325,0:42:45.975 (Samantha) The Angel called out... 0:42:45.975,0:42:47.849 (Derek) Samantha, tell me what happens. 0:42:47.849,0:42:49.168 He raises the knife 0:42:49.168,0:42:51.335 to sacrifice his son Isaac...? 0:42:51.335,0:42:52.798 (Samantha) Verses 11 [and 12]: 0:43:02.736,0:43:04.056 (Derek) I imagine him using 0:43:04.056,0:43:05.984 my favorite Hebrew word... 0:43:05.984,0:43:07.206 I don't know if they were 0:43:07.206,0:43:08.486 speaking Hebrew back then, 0:43:08.486,0:43:09.960 I think they were, "Hallelujah, 0:43:09.960,0:43:12.646 praise the name of Yahweh." 0:43:12.646,0:43:16.340 He was willing to lay everything down 0:43:16.340,0:43:19.187 because the Lord asked him to, right? 0:43:19.187,0:43:22.800 That mountain is where, as Samantha 0:43:22.800,0:43:28.868 just read, it was told,[br]"The Lord will..."? 0:43:28.868,0:43:30.233 (Derek, Team) "...provide." 0:43:30.233,0:43:31.826 (Derek) Do you know what that is, 0:43:31.826,0:43:33.617 anybody, in Hebrew? 0:43:33.617,0:43:36.054 (Team) Jehovah Jireh. 0:43:36.054,0:43:37.790 (Derek) Yeah, Yahweh Yireh 0:43:37.790,0:43:41.216 or Jehovah Jireh, "The Lord Will Provide." 0:43:41.216,0:43:44.567 That was pointing forward to what event 0:43:44.567,0:43:47.960 that would happen on the same mountain?! 0:43:47.960,0:43:50.238 (Team) Crucifixion of Jesus. 0:43:50.238,0:43:51.843 (Derek) The crucifixion of Jesus. 0:43:51.843,0:43:55.277 Let's go to the story, and, John, if you 0:43:55.277,0:43:56.649 could begin reading. 0:43:56.649,0:43:58.579 We'll have several of you read. 0:43:58.579,0:44:00.100 And we could take Matthew, Mark, 0:44:00.100,0:44:01.538 Luke or John, but we're going 0:44:01.538,0:44:05.421 to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15, 0:44:05.421,0:44:08.810 and I want you to think with me. 0:44:08.810,0:44:11.626 We're talking here about Longing 0:44:11.626,0:44:15.010 for God in Zion, and I'm thinking, 0:44:15.010,0:44:18.588 as we read this, of the admonition, 0:44:18.588,0:44:20.187 "It would be good for us to spend 0:44:20.187,0:44:22.211 a thoughtful hour each day 0:44:22.211,0:44:23.960 contemplating the life of Christ, 0:44:23.960,0:44:27.494 especially the closing scenes." 0:44:27.494,0:44:28.851 So, we're going to read some 0:44:28.851,0:44:30.729 of the closing scenes. 0:44:30.729,0:44:34.493 We ought to then say, "Oh, I'm 0:44:34.493,0:44:35.908 looking to Mount Zion. 0:44:35.908,0:44:39.161 I'm looking to the place where God will, 0:44:39.161,0:44:42.636 now God has, provided," right? 0:44:42.636,0:44:45.483 Let's start in Mark, chapter 15, 0:44:45.483,0:44:47.954 verses 16 through 20, John. 0:44:47.954,0:44:50.430 (John) Mark 15, verses 16 to 20, 0:44:50.430,0:44:52.827 in the English Standard Version reads: 0:45:32.339,0:45:33.901 (Derek) Tricia Lee, if you could 0:45:33.901,0:45:37.489 follow on for us in verses 21 to 26. 0:45:37.489,0:45:41.235 My heart is already saying, "Oh, God, 0:45:41.235,0:45:44.723 what Jesus suffered for us." 0:45:44.723,0:45:47.209 Let's read on in the story, if you'd read 0:45:47.209,0:45:52.305 for us verses 21 to 26 of Mark 15. 0:45:52.305,0:45:55.071 (Tricia Lee) Reading from the New[br]King James Version: 0:46:41.830,0:46:43.501 (Derek) So, here is an amazing part 0:46:43.501,0:46:47.297 of the story, a man named Simon comes. 0:46:47.297,0:46:48.949 And by the way, did you notice 0:46:48.949,0:46:51.667 it tells us his two sons' names? 0:46:51.667,0:46:52.843 Why would it tell us 0:46:52.843,0:46:54.094 the names of his two sons? 0:46:54.094,0:46:57.290 Why does it even tell us his name? 0:46:57.290,0:46:59.557 Except, on that mountain his life 0:46:59.557,0:47:02.613 was transformed, and he became 0:47:02.613,0:47:04.936 a follower of Jesus. 0:47:04.936,0:47:06.464 Something amazing happening 0:47:06.464,0:47:07.946 on the mountain. 0:47:07.946,0:47:11.247 I'm going to ask Sabina if you'd continue 0:47:11.247,0:47:14.097 reading - this is sacred space for us - 0:47:14.097,0:47:16.347 verses 27 to 32. 0:47:16.347,0:47:18.496 This is the mountain where it 0:47:18.496,0:47:21.297 was prophesied 2,000 years earlier, 0:47:21.297,0:47:23.476 "The Lord will provide." 0:47:23.476,0:47:27.841 This is the mountain where the temple 0:47:27.841,0:47:32.545 once stood, and they looked to Mount Zion. 0:47:32.545,0:47:33.740 Now, we're on Mount Zion, 0:47:33.740,0:47:38.863 and what do we hear in verses 27 to 32? 0:47:38.863,0:47:40.033 (Sabina) I'll be reading 0:47:40.033,0:47:42.491 from the New King James Version,[br]and it says: 0:48:30.925,0:48:32.737 (Derek) We talked about that one thief 0:48:32.737,0:48:34.167 who said, "Lord, remember me," 0:48:34.167,0:48:36.488 but at first it says even the thieves, 0:48:36.488,0:48:38.457 both of them, reviled Him. 0:48:38.457,0:48:40.707 Tendi, could you read the last portion 0:48:40.707,0:48:42.747 of our reading from Mark 15, 0:48:42.747,0:48:46.091 verses 33 to 39? 0:48:46.091,0:48:47.387 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 0:48:47.387,0:48:51.850 from the English Standard Version,[br]Mark 15:33-39: 0:50:09.027,0:50:12.178 (Derek) It happened on the mountain, 0:50:12.178,0:50:14.910 the mountain where, 2,000 years earlier, 0:50:14.910,0:50:16.208 the promise had been given, 0:50:16.208,0:50:18.436 "The Lord will provide." 0:50:18.436,0:50:19.510 But what else happened 0:50:19.510,0:50:20.894 on the mountain, Puia, 0:50:20.894,0:50:23.744 besides the sacrifice to take away 0:50:23.744,0:50:25.459 the sins of the world, that all 0:50:25.459,0:50:27.827 who believe in Him might not perish 0:50:27.827,0:50:29.292 but have everlasting life? 0:50:29.292,0:50:31.167 What else happened on the mountain? 0:50:31.167,0:50:32.615 (Puia) That was also the place 0:50:32.615,0:50:34.304 where He was resurrected. 0:50:34.304,0:50:36.217 He was resurrected on the third day. 0:50:36.217,0:50:38.028 He came back to life. 0:50:38.028,0:50:39.711 (Derek) Let's go to Luke 23, if you 0:50:39.711,0:50:41.303 could read the last verses 0:50:41.303,0:50:43.615 of chapter 23 for us. 0:50:43.615,0:50:46.766 And then I'm going to ask Gladys if you'd 0:50:46.766,0:50:49.899 read the first verses of chapter 24. 0:50:49.899,0:50:51.001 We could read from many 0:50:51.001,0:50:52.566 of the Gospel writers, 0:50:52.566,0:50:57.233 but Luke 23, verses 50 to 56. 0:50:57.233,0:50:58.482 (Puia) And I'll be reading 0:50:58.482,0:51:00.180 from the New King James Version: 0:51:49.910,0:51:51.913 (Derek) But the story is not over, Gladys. 0:51:51.913,0:51:52.871 If you could pick up 0:51:52.871,0:51:57.863 in chapter 24, verses 1 0:51:57.863,0:52:01.994 through, let's see, maybe 1 through 8? 0:52:01.994,0:52:04.898 And just remember, this is also happening 0:52:04.898,0:52:06.905 on the mountain where it was prophesied, 0:52:06.905,0:52:08.727 "The Lord will provide." 0:52:08.727,0:52:09.790 (Gladys) I am reading 0:52:09.790,0:52:12.113 from the New International Version,[br]and it says: 0:53:04.358,0:53:06.414 (Derek) So, on the mountain, 0:53:06.414,0:53:08.524 God provided through the death 0:53:08.524,0:53:10.138 and resurrection of Jesus. 0:53:10.138,0:53:13.110 So, let me ask you, as Christians, and I'm 0:53:13.110,0:53:15.507 going to ask Gleny a question here, 0:53:15.507,0:53:18.865 as a follower of Jesus, we don't look 0:53:18.865,0:53:20.994 to a temple on a mountain. 0:53:20.994,0:53:24.360 What does it mean to us as Christians 0:53:24.360,0:53:26.684 to look to Mount Zion? 0:53:26.684,0:53:28.421 (Gleny) I would assume that it means 0:53:28.421,0:53:32.642 to see how God has provided in the past 0:53:32.642,0:53:34.714 and provided for redemption 0:53:34.714,0:53:37.164 and to see that He is able to do 0:53:37.164,0:53:39.588 the same for us even today. 0:53:39.588,0:53:41.252 (Derek) Okay, anybody else? 0:53:41.252,0:53:44.011 Kylynda, to look to Mount Zion? 0:53:44.011,0:53:45.621 (Kylynda) The psalmists found joy 0:53:45.621,0:53:47.294 going to Mount Zion. 0:53:47.294,0:53:49.998 These people went from perplexion 0:53:49.998,0:53:51.971 to joy as they gathered. 0:53:51.971,0:53:54.978 As we look to Heaven, you know, the future 0:53:54.978,0:53:57.949 where we will one day be next to God, 0:53:57.949,0:53:58.881 and there will be 0:53:58.881,0:54:01.061 absolutely no separation, 0:54:01.061,0:54:02.824 we will also have joy. 0:54:02.824,0:54:04.822 (Derek) And that's kind of[br]looking forward, 0:54:04.822,0:54:05.657 and that's good; 0:54:05.657,0:54:07.835 we want to look to the New Zion, 0:54:07.835,0:54:10.044 or New Jerusalem, but, Sabina, 0:54:10.044,0:54:14.212 by faith, looking, keeping my eyes 0:54:14.212,0:54:15.789 fixed on Mount Zion, 0:54:15.789,0:54:18.562 what do you think that means? 0:54:18.562,0:54:20.146 (Sabina) For me, it means looking 0:54:20.146,0:54:22.895 to victory, you know, as we journey 0:54:22.895,0:54:24.295 through this life, as we walk 0:54:24.295,0:54:26.408 into the eternal Zion, 0:54:26.408,0:54:28.245 like in the heavenly dwelling 0:54:28.245,0:54:29.584 of God for eternity. 0:54:29.584,0:54:31.878 I, in the meantime, just look 0:54:31.878,0:54:34.362 to the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus 0:54:34.362,0:54:37.024 that took place on this Mount Zion, 0:54:37.024,0:54:39.032 and I'm reminded that Jesus wins, 0:54:39.032,0:54:40.220 you know, like He won it. 0:54:40.220,0:54:43.265 I just need to stay by Him, 0:54:43.265,0:54:44.602 and that's all good. 0:54:44.602,0:54:46.159 (Derek) Isn't there a Bible text 0:54:46.159,0:54:49.669 that says, "Fixing our eyes..."? 0:54:49.669,0:54:52.995 (Derek, Team) "...on Jesus, the author... 0:54:52.995,0:54:54.326 (Team) "...and finisher..." 0:54:54.326,0:54:56.932 (Derek) "...and perfecter," or finisher[br]"of our faith." 0:54:56.932,0:54:59.803 To keep our eyes fixed on Mount Zion 0:54:59.803,0:55:04.248 is to say God provided all that we need 0:55:04.248,0:55:06.252 through Jesus, and I'm going 0:55:06.252,0:55:08.335 to keep my attention focused there. 0:55:08.335,0:55:10.428 But Kylynda is right, there is 0:55:10.428,0:55:12.840 also a New Jerusalem. 0:55:12.840,0:55:17.018 There is, if you will, a New Zion, 0:55:17.018,0:55:18.735 the mountain of God, 0:55:18.735,0:55:21.169 and that is portrayed...and, Kylynda, 0:55:21.169,0:55:22.736 maybe as we close our study, 0:55:22.736,0:55:25.009 you can read from Revelation, 0:55:25.009,0:55:29.085 chapter 21, verses 1 to 4, 0:55:29.085,0:55:31.858 and let's talk about that. 0:55:31.858,0:55:33.833 Because of what happened 0:55:33.833,0:55:38.607 on Mount Zion 2,000 years ago, 0:55:38.607,0:55:41.041 we have assurance of a blessed hope. 0:55:41.041,0:55:44.255 Read to us Revelation 21:1-4. 0:55:44.255,0:55:46.404 (Kylynda) From the New King James Version: 0:56:38.967,0:56:39.902 (Derek) Praise God. 0:56:39.902,0:56:42.737 I want to speak to our Hope Sabbath School[br]family, 0:56:42.737,0:56:45.851 and I just want to say, that blessed hope 0:56:45.851,0:56:47.801 happens because of what happened 0:56:47.801,0:56:50.025 through Jesus on Mount Zion. 0:56:50.025,0:56:51.485 It happens because of what was 0:56:51.485,0:56:53.061 promised through Abraham, 0:56:53.061,0:56:56.286 that the Lord will provide. 0:56:56.286,0:56:59.207 And I want to encourage you to look 0:56:59.207,0:57:00.746 to what God has done 0:57:00.746,0:57:03.436 through Jesus, for you, so that you 0:57:03.436,0:57:04.742 can have the blessed hope 0:57:04.742,0:57:07.204 of being in that New Jerusalem 0:57:07.204,0:57:09.347 and spending eternity 0:57:09.347,0:57:10.502 with a God who loves you 0:57:10.502,0:57:13.280 with an immeasurable and unfailing love. 0:57:13.280,0:57:14.256 Let's pray together. 0:57:14.256,0:57:16.348 Father in Heaven, thank You 0:57:16.348,0:57:20.659 for what Jesus accomplished on Mount Zion. 0:57:20.659,0:57:22.989 Thank You for the blessed hope 0:57:22.989,0:57:26.271 we have in Him even today. 0:57:26.271,0:57:28.966 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 0:57:28.966,0:57:29.958 (Team) Amen. 0:57:29.958,0:57:31.515 (Derek) I want to encourage you, 0:57:31.515,0:57:33.473 dear friend, if you've never accepted 0:57:33.473,0:57:35.517 what Jesus accomplished for you, 0:57:35.517,0:57:39.626 the Lord has provided, trust Him today. 0:57:39.626,0:57:41.650 Say, "Lord, will You save me, 0:57:41.650,0:57:43.817 so that I can have that blessed hope 0:57:43.817,0:57:44.872 of eternity with You." 0:57:44.872,0:57:46.922 And then don't keep it to yourself. 0:57:46.922,0:57:49.316 Go out and share that good news 0:57:49.316,0:57:50.751 with those around you. 0:57:50.751,0:58:28.362 ♪ theme music ♪