1 00:00:00,212 --> 00:00:18,537 ♪ theme music ♪ 2 00:00:18,537 --> 00:00:20,400 (Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, 3 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:21,890 an in-depth, interactive study 4 00:00:21,890 --> 00:00:23,115 of the Word of God. 5 00:00:23,115 --> 00:00:25,419 We're making our way through The Psalms, 6 00:00:25,419 --> 00:00:28,569 a collection of inspired Scripture songs, 7 00:00:28,569 --> 00:00:31,976 today, Longing for God in Zion. 8 00:00:31,976 --> 00:00:33,221 What does that mean? 9 00:00:33,221 --> 00:00:35,828 I know I long to be closer to God, 10 00:00:35,828 --> 00:00:38,679 for my heart to be steadfast in Him. 11 00:00:38,679 --> 00:00:41,225 We'll talk about Longing for God in Zion 12 00:00:41,225 --> 00:00:42,913 today on Hope Sabbath School, 13 00:00:42,913 --> 00:00:44,351 and we're glad you joined us. 14 00:00:44,351 --> 00:00:45,981 Good to see you again, team. 15 00:00:45,981 --> 00:00:47,604 Can you wave to everybody? 16 00:00:47,604 --> 00:00:50,670 People all around the world, 200 countries 17 00:00:50,670 --> 00:00:52,538 joining us for Hope Sabbath School. 18 00:00:52,538 --> 00:00:54,255 Let's see who's joining us remotely. 19 00:00:54,255 --> 00:00:57,494 Sabina, great to have you with us again. 20 00:00:57,494 --> 00:00:59,363 And, Gleny, good to have you with us, 21 00:00:59,363 --> 00:01:01,052 Gleny; we're glad you're here. 22 00:01:01,052 --> 00:01:03,293 And, Tricia Lee, good to see you. 23 00:01:03,293 --> 00:01:06,161 I love Tricia Lee's double-handed wave. 24 00:01:06,161 --> 00:01:07,601 It's like we're really excited 25 00:01:07,601 --> 00:01:09,572 to study the Word of God together. 26 00:01:09,572 --> 00:01:12,029 And we're glad that you're with us, too. 27 00:01:12,029 --> 00:01:13,745 And I know you can't wave back 28 00:01:13,745 --> 00:01:16,929 to us right now, but you can write to us 29 00:01:16,929 --> 00:01:19,825 at sshope@hopetv.org. 30 00:01:19,825 --> 00:01:22,295 You can tell us how you're blessed 31 00:01:22,295 --> 00:01:24,071 through a study of the Word of God. 32 00:01:24,071 --> 00:01:26,124 Well, I want to just thank those 33 00:01:26,124 --> 00:01:28,925 who have written to us recently, 34 00:01:28,925 --> 00:01:31,634 sharing with us how God's blessed you. 35 00:01:31,634 --> 00:01:33,156 And here are a couple of notes. 36 00:01:33,156 --> 00:01:34,337 Ruth writes to us 37 00:01:34,337 --> 00:01:36,793 from the beautiful country of Kenya, 38 00:01:36,793 --> 00:01:39,294 and she says, "I appreciate 39 00:01:39,294 --> 00:01:42,442 the committed Hope Sabbath School class 40 00:01:42,442 --> 00:01:44,740 where the Word of God is studied 41 00:01:44,740 --> 00:01:48,942 and analyzed in a way we can understand. 42 00:01:48,942 --> 00:01:50,126 You make it clear 43 00:01:50,126 --> 00:01:52,573 that God loves us all..." 44 00:01:52,573 --> 00:01:53,913 (Team) Amen. 45 00:01:53,913 --> 00:01:55,631 (Derek) "...and is calling us, 46 00:01:55,631 --> 00:01:57,402 regardless of who we are, 47 00:01:57,402 --> 00:01:59,871 where we come from, to believe, 48 00:01:59,871 --> 00:02:02,363 repent in Jesus' name." 49 00:02:02,363 --> 00:02:03,738 Yes, that's it, Ruth. 50 00:02:03,738 --> 00:02:06,379 Thanks for writing to us from Kenya, 51 00:02:06,379 --> 00:02:07,240 and God loves all 52 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,134 of His children, doesn't He? 53 00:02:09,134 --> 00:02:12,810 Here's a note from Joe in California 54 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:14,590 in the United States of America. 55 00:02:14,590 --> 00:02:17,195 I like this note; Joe says, 56 00:02:17,195 --> 00:02:20,395 "Great program, decent people, 57 00:02:20,395 --> 00:02:21,671 learning about the Bible 58 00:02:21,671 --> 00:02:23,171 and Christian religion 59 00:02:23,171 --> 00:02:25,595 in a calm, fun way 60 00:02:25,595 --> 00:02:27,530 instead of those television preachers 61 00:02:27,530 --> 00:02:32,100 who scream and demand money or else. 62 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:33,888 One of the best religious shows 63 00:02:33,888 --> 00:02:36,425 on television, Hope Sabbath School." 64 00:02:36,425 --> 00:02:37,420 (Team) Amen. 65 00:02:37,420 --> 00:02:39,272 (Derek) "Keep up the great work." 66 00:02:39,272 --> 00:02:40,871 Well, Joe, we'd like to meet you. 67 00:02:40,871 --> 00:02:42,984 You tell it like it is; I can tell that. 68 00:02:42,984 --> 00:02:44,492 We're glad you're part 69 00:02:44,492 --> 00:02:47,314 of our Hope Sabbath School family. 70 00:02:47,314 --> 00:02:48,499 And by the way, we want 71 00:02:48,499 --> 00:02:49,857 to always be pointing people 72 00:02:49,857 --> 00:02:51,539 to Jesus, right, and we don't 73 00:02:51,539 --> 00:02:54,357 have to scream to do that. 74 00:02:54,357 --> 00:02:55,921 Here's a hand-written note 75 00:02:55,921 --> 00:02:58,343 from a donor in Pennsylvania 76 00:02:58,343 --> 00:03:01,439 in the United States, and the donor 77 00:03:01,439 --> 00:03:04,021 writes and says, "I don't know 78 00:03:04,021 --> 00:03:06,538 what I'd do without Hope Channel, 79 00:03:06,538 --> 00:03:09,780 and Hope Sabbath School is my favorite. 80 00:03:09,780 --> 00:03:11,289 But some of the other programs 81 00:03:11,289 --> 00:03:12,943 are great, too, like "Wake Up 82 00:03:12,943 --> 00:03:14,271 with Hope" in the morning 83 00:03:14,271 --> 00:03:18,488 and "Story Encounters," and that's great. 84 00:03:18,488 --> 00:03:21,788 And I'm 85 years old, 85 00:03:21,788 --> 00:03:23,658 so I'm pretty much confined 86 00:03:23,658 --> 00:03:25,426 to my place of living, 87 00:03:25,426 --> 00:03:26,802 but God has kept my body 88 00:03:26,802 --> 00:03:28,806 in fairly good working order; 89 00:03:28,806 --> 00:03:30,223 I'm blessed that way. 90 00:03:30,223 --> 00:03:32,066 Take care, love you all," 91 00:03:32,066 --> 00:03:35,876 and a donation of 120 dollars to bless 92 00:03:35,876 --> 00:03:38,116 the global evangelistic media ministry 93 00:03:38,116 --> 00:03:39,366 of Hope Sabbath School. 94 00:03:39,366 --> 00:03:41,673 Thank you, donor from Pennsylvania. 95 00:03:41,673 --> 00:03:43,265 You know who you are, 96 00:03:43,265 --> 00:03:44,731 and that's a very cute picture 97 00:03:44,731 --> 00:03:46,124 at the bottom of your note 98 00:03:46,124 --> 00:03:49,638 of a puppy dog (probably doesn't belong to you), 99 00:03:49,638 --> 00:03:51,272 but thank you for being part 100 00:03:51,272 --> 00:03:53,544 of our Hope Sabbath School family. 101 00:03:53,544 --> 00:03:56,401 One last note, from Helen 102 00:03:56,401 --> 00:03:58,108 in the Philippines; we have a lot 103 00:03:58,108 --> 00:03:59,546 of Hope Sabbath School members 104 00:03:59,546 --> 00:04:01,207 in the Philippines. 105 00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:03,168 And Helen writes and says, "I love to see 106 00:04:03,168 --> 00:04:06,359 the host and everyone willing and eager 107 00:04:06,359 --> 00:04:07,995 to share their understanding 108 00:04:07,995 --> 00:04:09,631 of the Word of God." 109 00:04:09,631 --> 00:04:11,698 Sometimes, I have to tell you, Helen, 110 00:04:11,698 --> 00:04:13,307 there are like 10 hands raised 111 00:04:13,307 --> 00:04:15,239 at the same time; it can be challenging, 112 00:04:15,239 --> 00:04:18,110 but we want it to be - what's the word? 113 00:04:18,110 --> 00:04:19,529 (Derek, Team) Interactive. 114 00:04:19,529 --> 00:04:21,372 (Derek) That's how it should be. 115 00:04:21,372 --> 00:04:23,288 "I hope to listen to messages 116 00:04:23,288 --> 00:04:25,911 from the Bible every week 117 00:04:25,911 --> 00:04:27,622 and to be forever connected 118 00:04:27,622 --> 00:04:28,966 to God's Holy Word." 119 00:04:28,966 --> 00:04:30,000 (Team) Amen. 120 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,071 (Derek) "I know I have my shortcomings, 121 00:04:32,071 --> 00:04:34,225 but I know, like everyone else, 122 00:04:34,225 --> 00:04:37,189 we will be renewed by His Word 123 00:04:37,189 --> 00:04:39,776 and steadfast in the faith. 124 00:04:39,776 --> 00:04:41,951 I pray that this ministry 125 00:04:41,951 --> 00:04:43,404 will continue to grow 126 00:04:43,404 --> 00:04:45,920 and inspire others to seek the Lord 127 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,837 and trust His Word. Amen." 128 00:04:47,837 --> 00:04:48,557 (Team) Amen! 129 00:04:48,557 --> 00:04:49,837 (Derek) Well, Amen, Helen. 130 00:04:49,837 --> 00:04:51,885 We agree with you, and we thank you 131 00:04:51,885 --> 00:04:53,777 for writing to us. 132 00:04:53,777 --> 00:04:55,370 You know we have a special gift, 133 00:04:55,370 --> 00:04:57,087 I want to just remind you, 134 00:04:57,087 --> 00:04:59,372 a collection of Scripture songs 135 00:04:59,372 --> 00:05:02,047 that my wife has put to music, 136 00:05:02,047 --> 00:05:04,654 Trilogy Scripture Songs from the Psalms. 137 00:05:04,654 --> 00:05:07,407 It's a unique collection just for you 138 00:05:07,407 --> 00:05:09,758 during this series on The Psalms 139 00:05:09,758 --> 00:05:11,718 including our theme song. 140 00:05:11,718 --> 00:05:13,438 And you can go to our website, 141 00:05:13,438 --> 00:05:18,500 hopetv.org/hopess and click 142 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:20,330 on the Free Gift tab 143 00:05:20,330 --> 00:05:23,104 and download that collection, 144 00:05:23,104 --> 00:05:24,985 and you can share it with other people. 145 00:05:24,985 --> 00:05:26,429 Bless them by sharing 146 00:05:26,429 --> 00:05:28,428 the Scripture songs with them, too. 147 00:05:28,428 --> 00:05:29,513 Now, one of them 148 00:05:29,513 --> 00:05:32,194 is the theme song from Psalm 105. 149 00:05:32,194 --> 00:05:33,909 We're not going to sing it just yet, 150 00:05:33,909 --> 00:05:35,076 so just hold on; I heard 151 00:05:35,076 --> 00:05:36,815 some of you starting to sing. 152 00:05:36,815 --> 00:05:39,601 But Psalm 105 begins with the words, 153 00:05:39,601 --> 00:05:41,748 "Oh, give thanks to the Lord," 154 00:05:41,748 --> 00:05:43,304 and I'm going to share something 155 00:05:43,304 --> 00:05:45,225 very interesting with you today. 156 00:05:45,225 --> 00:05:50,011 One our team today, well, that's her name, 157 00:05:50,011 --> 00:05:52,222 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord." 158 00:05:52,222 --> 00:05:55,941 And she's from a country and speaks 159 00:05:55,941 --> 00:05:57,713 a mother tongue that many 160 00:05:57,713 --> 00:05:59,450 of you have never heard. 161 00:05:59,450 --> 00:06:03,096 So, please, camera, scan the team here. 162 00:06:03,096 --> 00:06:04,486 Can you do that? 163 00:06:04,486 --> 00:06:06,900 And try to guess who it is. 164 00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:08,931 Let's see, and the name is, 165 00:06:08,931 --> 00:06:10,514 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord," 166 00:06:10,514 --> 00:06:14,549 and the answer is, well, wave if it's you. 167 00:06:14,549 --> 00:06:16,152 It's Tendi; alright, 168 00:06:16,152 --> 00:06:18,307 let's zero in the camera on Tendi, 169 00:06:18,307 --> 00:06:20,609 because Tendi, well, tell us 170 00:06:20,609 --> 00:06:22,641 how you got your name. 171 00:06:22,641 --> 00:06:25,461 And then I want you to read for us 172 00:06:25,461 --> 00:06:28,564 that Psalm 105, the first three verses 173 00:06:28,564 --> 00:06:30,013 in your mother tongue, 174 00:06:30,013 --> 00:06:31,793 which I understand is Kalanga. 175 00:06:31,793 --> 00:06:32,962 How did you get the name 176 00:06:32,962 --> 00:06:34,459 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord," 177 00:06:34,459 --> 00:06:36,573 Tendani in your mother tongue? 178 00:06:36,573 --> 00:06:38,323 (Tendi) Thank you, Pastor Derek. 179 00:06:38,323 --> 00:06:40,983 My parents gave me my name 180 00:06:40,983 --> 00:06:44,445 because I came two months early. 181 00:06:44,445 --> 00:06:47,379 I was a premature baby, and my mom 182 00:06:47,379 --> 00:06:49,425 was on bedrest for the remainder 183 00:06:49,425 --> 00:06:51,254 of her pregnancy. 184 00:06:51,254 --> 00:06:55,509 And I weighed 1.6 kilograms, 185 00:06:55,509 --> 00:06:59,242 and I was 30 centimeters long. 186 00:06:59,242 --> 00:07:01,977 So, they were just giving thanks to God 187 00:07:01,977 --> 00:07:03,526 because I survived. 188 00:07:03,526 --> 00:07:05,282 You see, a year before, my mom 189 00:07:05,282 --> 00:07:08,600 had lost a baby, and now I came, 190 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,961 and she was scared whether or not 191 00:07:11,961 --> 00:07:13,404 I would survive, but I did, 192 00:07:13,404 --> 00:07:16,139 even though I came two months early. 193 00:07:16,139 --> 00:07:17,925 (Derek) And for those who don't know, 194 00:07:17,925 --> 00:07:19,448 30 centimeters, Tendi, 195 00:07:19,448 --> 00:07:22,033 that's not very long, right? 196 00:07:22,033 --> 00:07:23,217 But here you were, 197 00:07:23,217 --> 00:07:25,530 a little precious bundle, and so they 198 00:07:25,530 --> 00:07:28,880 gave you the name Tendani, which means? 199 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:30,291 (Tendi) "Oh, Give Thanks." 200 00:07:30,291 --> 00:07:31,540 (Derek) And could you read 201 00:07:31,540 --> 00:07:32,569 in your mother tongue 202 00:07:32,569 --> 00:07:34,679 those three verses, maybe, 203 00:07:34,679 --> 00:07:37,161 the first three verses of the Psalm 204 00:07:37,161 --> 00:07:39,385 that begins with your name? 205 00:07:39,385 --> 00:07:40,688 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 206 00:07:40,688 --> 00:08:12,333 from the [Kalanga Bible, Psalm 105:1-3:]: 207 00:08:12,333 --> 00:08:13,981 (Derek) I understood some of that! 208 00:08:13,981 --> 00:08:17,706 "Yahweh," I heard the name of the Lord. 209 00:08:17,706 --> 00:08:21,462 You know, as Tendi was reading that, 210 00:08:21,462 --> 00:08:23,081 I just thought, isn't it amazing, 211 00:08:23,081 --> 00:08:24,366 God is going to call people 212 00:08:24,366 --> 00:08:30,005 from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 213 00:08:30,005 --> 00:08:31,383 Tendi, we're glad you're part 214 00:08:31,383 --> 00:08:32,920 of our Hope Sabbath School team. 215 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,075 And I don't want to ask 216 00:08:34,075 --> 00:08:36,705 the rest of the group to sing in Kalanga 217 00:08:36,705 --> 00:08:38,530 because that would be complicated. 218 00:08:38,530 --> 00:08:40,143 We're going to sing in English 219 00:08:40,143 --> 00:08:42,811 a song which bears your name, 220 00:08:42,811 --> 00:08:44,868 "Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord." 221 00:08:44,868 --> 00:08:46,472 Let's sing it together. 222 00:08:46,472 --> 00:08:53,437 ♪ music ♪ 223 00:10:16,051 --> 00:10:18,053 (Derek) Let's call upon His name just now. 224 00:10:18,053 --> 00:10:20,623 Father in Heaven, as we 225 00:10:20,623 --> 00:10:23,601 are studying Your Word today, 226 00:10:23,601 --> 00:10:27,723 Longing for God in Zion, I pray 227 00:10:27,723 --> 00:10:30,119 that there would grow within our hearts 228 00:10:30,119 --> 00:10:33,977 a deeper and yet deeper longing 229 00:10:33,977 --> 00:10:36,832 for intimacy with You. 230 00:10:36,832 --> 00:10:40,648 You've loved us with an everlasting love, 231 00:10:40,648 --> 00:10:43,175 and You invite us to spend eternity 232 00:10:43,175 --> 00:10:47,008 in a growing love relationship with You. 233 00:10:47,008 --> 00:10:49,593 I pray by the Holy Spirit that You 234 00:10:49,593 --> 00:10:52,063 would guide our study today. 235 00:10:52,063 --> 00:10:53,160 And we thank You 236 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,828 in the name of Jesus. Amen. 237 00:10:55,828 --> 00:10:57,593 (Team) Amen. 238 00:10:57,593 --> 00:10:59,380 (Derek) Well, I love that theme song. 239 00:10:59,380 --> 00:11:00,702 I know my wife has composed 240 00:11:00,702 --> 00:11:03,194 about 200 Scripture songs, 241 00:11:03,194 --> 00:11:04,706 but I just like that one. 242 00:11:04,706 --> 00:11:06,441 Do you know I'm waking up 243 00:11:06,441 --> 00:11:08,760 singing that song now, which means 244 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,959 I've been singing it through the night, 245 00:11:10,959 --> 00:11:12,847 hopefully not too loud, 246 00:11:12,847 --> 00:11:15,044 but it's a wonderful thing to give thanks 247 00:11:15,044 --> 00:11:16,116 to the Lord, isn't it? 248 00:11:16,116 --> 00:11:16,853 (Team) Amen. 249 00:11:16,853 --> 00:11:18,090 (Derek) One of the things 250 00:11:18,090 --> 00:11:19,896 I want to give thanks to the Lord for, 251 00:11:19,896 --> 00:11:23,559 as we begin our study, is that God wants us 252 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,997 to be in relationship with Him. 253 00:11:25,997 --> 00:11:28,263 So let's look at some testimonies 254 00:11:28,263 --> 00:11:30,998 of various psalmists who speak 255 00:11:30,998 --> 00:11:34,593 about a longing for a devoted heart. 256 00:11:34,593 --> 00:11:36,283 And I'm going to ask Gleny 257 00:11:36,283 --> 00:11:37,966 if you would begin our study today, 258 00:11:37,966 --> 00:11:40,066 one of our remote team members, 259 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:43,867 in Psalm 84, and, Gleny, if you could read 260 00:11:43,867 --> 00:11:47,932 the first four verses of this psalm 261 00:11:47,932 --> 00:11:52,014 of the sons of Korah. 262 00:11:52,014 --> 00:11:53,338 (Gleny) And I'll be reading 263 00:11:53,338 --> 00:11:55,568 from the New King James Version, and it says: 264 00:12:26,854 --> 00:12:28,317 (Derek) So, I want to ask you, 265 00:12:28,317 --> 00:12:30,076 I'm thinking when Gleny was reading, 266 00:12:30,076 --> 00:12:32,158 did any of you sing that, part of that, 267 00:12:32,158 --> 00:12:34,737 in a choir when you were growing up? 268 00:12:34,737 --> 00:12:37,238 That's kind of a famous psalm, isn't it? 269 00:12:37,238 --> 00:12:39,540 It's been put to a choral piece. 270 00:12:39,540 --> 00:12:43,250 Well, let's keep reading because this is 271 00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:45,182 the sons of Korah composing. 272 00:12:45,182 --> 00:12:47,006 And, Tricia Lee, if you could continue 273 00:12:47,006 --> 00:12:49,533 reading for us in this Scripture song 274 00:12:49,533 --> 00:12:52,349 of the sons of Korah, verses 5 275 00:12:52,349 --> 00:12:56,140 through 9 of Psalm 84. 276 00:12:56,140 --> 00:12:58,917 (Tricia Lee) Reading from the New King James Version: 277 00:13:30,171 --> 00:13:31,710 (Derek) And if it stopped there, 278 00:13:31,710 --> 00:13:33,631 we'd say it's an amazing Scripture song, 279 00:13:33,631 --> 00:13:35,224 but, Sabina, I'm going to ask you 280 00:13:35,224 --> 00:13:36,900 to read the last three verses, 281 00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:39,385 verses 10 through 12. 282 00:13:39,385 --> 00:13:40,362 This is actually one 283 00:13:40,362 --> 00:13:44,659 of my favorite psalms, and how do 284 00:13:44,659 --> 00:13:47,181 the sons of Korah end this Scripture song 285 00:13:47,181 --> 00:13:50,804 in Psalm 84, verses 10 to 12? 286 00:13:50,804 --> 00:13:52,203 (Sabina) So, I'll be reading 287 00:13:52,203 --> 00:13:54,340 from the New King James Version, and it says: 288 00:14:20,681 --> 00:14:22,254 (Derek) "O Lord of hosts, blessed 289 00:14:22,254 --> 00:14:24,055 is the man," blessed is the woman, 290 00:14:24,055 --> 00:14:25,636 blessed is the boy or girl, 291 00:14:25,636 --> 00:14:26,658 "who trusts in You." 292 00:14:26,658 --> 00:14:29,052 As you heard the sons of Korah - 293 00:14:29,052 --> 00:14:30,330 and by the way, remember 294 00:14:30,330 --> 00:14:33,825 that their ancestor died in a rebellion, 295 00:14:33,825 --> 00:14:35,243 but we don't have to stay 296 00:14:35,243 --> 00:14:36,788 like our ancestors, right? 297 00:14:36,788 --> 00:14:39,295 We can be made new by the power of God. 298 00:14:39,295 --> 00:14:39,996 (Team) Amen. 299 00:14:39,996 --> 00:14:42,007 (Derek) They're composing Scripture songs. 300 00:14:42,007 --> 00:14:43,793 What resonates with your heart 301 00:14:43,793 --> 00:14:45,967 in this Scripture song? Puia? 302 00:14:45,967 --> 00:14:47,266 (Puia) I see a longing 303 00:14:47,266 --> 00:14:49,039 to be in the sanctuary 304 00:14:49,039 --> 00:14:50,404 or in the temple of God 305 00:14:50,404 --> 00:14:51,790 just praising God. 306 00:14:51,790 --> 00:14:54,424 I think that's the theme that I see here. 307 00:14:54,424 --> 00:14:55,880 (Derek) Alright, anybody else. 308 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,065 Anything that connects with your heart? Yes, Pedro. 309 00:14:59,065 --> 00:15:01,921 (Pedro) "I'd rather be a doorkeeper in God's house 310 00:15:01,921 --> 00:15:03,687 than to be with the wicked." 311 00:15:03,687 --> 00:15:05,264 (Derek) Yeah, just like, "Give me 312 00:15:05,264 --> 00:15:07,115 basic operation," you know, 313 00:15:07,115 --> 00:15:08,993 I'll be a doorkeeper "than dwell 314 00:15:08,993 --> 00:15:14,079 in the tents of wickedness," right? Tricia Lee. 315 00:15:14,079 --> 00:15:17,033 (Tricia Lee) I love in verse 6 it mentions 316 00:15:17,033 --> 00:15:18,535 the Valley of Baca, which can 317 00:15:18,535 --> 00:15:20,785 also be translated the "Valley 318 00:15:20,785 --> 00:15:23,077 of Weeping," but it says that God 319 00:15:23,077 --> 00:15:24,386 turns it into a spring. 320 00:15:24,386 --> 00:15:26,050 And so, I like to think of that 321 00:15:26,050 --> 00:15:27,762 as a spring of joy or even a spring 322 00:15:27,762 --> 00:15:29,993 of blessing, that God can take our pain, 323 00:15:29,993 --> 00:15:32,241 our sorrow, our dark periods, 324 00:15:32,241 --> 00:15:34,576 and take us from weeping 325 00:15:34,576 --> 00:15:36,148 to a spring of blessings. 326 00:15:36,148 --> 00:15:38,457 He can turn our situations around. 327 00:15:38,457 --> 00:15:40,396 (Derek) Beautiful, let's go to Psalm 63. 328 00:15:40,396 --> 00:15:43,367 There are several of the psalmists 329 00:15:43,367 --> 00:15:46,678 who express a longing for God, 330 00:15:46,678 --> 00:15:49,100 and in Psalm 63, we find 331 00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:50,737 another testimony, and I believe 332 00:15:50,737 --> 00:15:52,714 this is a psalm of David, right? 333 00:15:52,714 --> 00:15:54,195 And it's interesting, Gladys, 334 00:15:54,195 --> 00:15:56,291 if you could take us and look 335 00:15:56,291 --> 00:15:58,865 at the first four verses, 336 00:15:58,865 --> 00:16:01,992 that he's writing this in the wilderness 337 00:16:01,992 --> 00:16:04,213 of Judah, which means he's 338 00:16:04,213 --> 00:16:06,977 probably running from King Saul, right? 339 00:16:06,977 --> 00:16:08,979 But in the midst of that, let's see 340 00:16:08,979 --> 00:16:13,090 the commitment he makes in Psalm 63:1-4. 341 00:16:13,090 --> 00:16:14,238 (Gladys) And I'm reading 342 00:16:14,238 --> 00:16:16,582 from the New International Version, and it says: 343 00:16:51,039 --> 00:16:52,659 (Derek) Do you see the earnestness 344 00:16:52,659 --> 00:16:53,712 there in the psalmist? 345 00:16:53,712 --> 00:16:55,436 Kylynda, if you could keep reading 346 00:16:55,436 --> 00:16:59,030 verses 6 through 8, still in Psalm 63, 347 00:16:59,030 --> 00:17:00,710 a psalm of David. 348 00:17:00,710 --> 00:17:01,631 (Kylynda) I'll read 349 00:17:01,631 --> 00:17:05,039 from the New King James Version, verse 6: 350 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:24,556 (Derek) "Come close to me," I mean, 351 00:17:24,556 --> 00:17:26,979 if God's right hand, and, Pedro, 352 00:17:26,979 --> 00:17:28,585 you often talk about the imagery 353 00:17:28,585 --> 00:17:30,425 of the Psalms, right, so you say 354 00:17:30,425 --> 00:17:33,513 maybe this isn't literal, but speaking 355 00:17:33,513 --> 00:17:36,712 about that kind of proximity, 356 00:17:36,712 --> 00:17:39,424 what does it tell us? 357 00:17:39,424 --> 00:17:40,927 The intimacy of God, right? 358 00:17:40,927 --> 00:17:44,667 He's an immanent God; He's not far away 359 00:17:44,667 --> 00:17:47,505 if His right hand is supporting us. 360 00:17:47,505 --> 00:17:50,339 But probably one of the best known psalms 361 00:17:50,339 --> 00:17:54,125 that speaks about a longing for God, 362 00:17:54,125 --> 00:17:55,743 Geoffrey, if you could go... 363 00:17:55,743 --> 00:17:56,698 This is probably one 364 00:17:56,698 --> 00:17:59,042 that many people could sing, 365 00:17:59,042 --> 00:18:01,570 different musical arrangements, 366 00:18:01,570 --> 00:18:05,600 Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. 367 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,265 Let's see, again the sons of Korah, 368 00:18:08,265 --> 00:18:11,599 how they describe a longing for God. 369 00:18:11,599 --> 00:18:14,335 And Gladys has already started singing, 370 00:18:14,335 --> 00:18:16,732 but if you could read it for us. 371 00:18:16,732 --> 00:18:18,094 (Geoffrey) 142? 372 00:18:18,094 --> 00:18:19,983 (Derek) Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. 373 00:18:19,983 --> 00:18:21,276 (Geoffrey) Oh, Psalm 42. 374 00:18:21,276 --> 00:18:24,959 (Derek) 42, verses 1 and 2. 375 00:18:24,959 --> 00:18:26,861 And this is another psalm 376 00:18:26,861 --> 00:18:30,053 of the sons of Korah, yearning for God 377 00:18:30,053 --> 00:18:33,861 in the midst of distresses. 378 00:18:33,861 --> 00:18:36,864 Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. 379 00:18:36,864 --> 00:18:38,396 (Geoffrey) Okay, I'll be reading 380 00:18:38,396 --> 00:18:40,059 from the English Standard Version: 381 00:18:54,422 --> 00:18:56,362 (Derek) And one last, and then I'm going 382 00:18:56,362 --> 00:18:57,911 to give you the chance to share, 383 00:18:57,911 --> 00:19:00,663 one last reference, Psalm 143, 384 00:19:00,663 --> 00:19:03,830 verses 6 through 8, and, Samantha, 385 00:19:03,830 --> 00:19:05,061 if you'd read that 386 00:19:05,061 --> 00:19:09,259 for us, please, Psalm 143:6-8. 387 00:19:09,259 --> 00:19:10,775 We're getting a common theme, 388 00:19:10,775 --> 00:19:13,162 not just one of the psalmists 389 00:19:13,162 --> 00:19:15,789 but different authors of the Psalms. 390 00:19:15,789 --> 00:19:16,966 How does your Bible read 391 00:19:16,966 --> 00:19:19,410 in Psalm 143, verses 6 to 8? 392 00:19:19,410 --> 00:19:20,439 (Samantha) I'll read 393 00:19:20,439 --> 00:19:22,385 from the New King James Version: 394 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:55,558 (Derek) So, I want to ask a question: 395 00:19:55,558 --> 00:19:57,994 what are your thoughts 396 00:19:57,994 --> 00:20:02,272 about such an earnest longing for God? 397 00:20:02,272 --> 00:20:06,690 What are your thoughts, anybody? Yes, Gleny. 398 00:20:06,690 --> 00:20:08,439 (Gleny) I'm sure many of you 399 00:20:08,439 --> 00:20:10,306 have experienced this, but when you 400 00:20:10,306 --> 00:20:12,816 care for someone or you generally enjoy 401 00:20:12,816 --> 00:20:15,447 someone's companionship or company, 402 00:20:15,447 --> 00:20:16,948 it doesn't matter where you are 403 00:20:16,948 --> 00:20:18,038 or what you are doing. 404 00:20:18,038 --> 00:20:20,580 It can be the most menial task 405 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:23,701 or even the strangest mission, 406 00:20:23,701 --> 00:20:25,615 but just having them around 407 00:20:25,615 --> 00:20:27,717 is such a pleasure. 408 00:20:27,717 --> 00:20:30,445 So, in all of this you can see David 409 00:20:30,445 --> 00:20:33,962 and the sons of Korah and everyone 410 00:20:33,962 --> 00:20:37,059 explaining that same amount 411 00:20:37,059 --> 00:20:38,549 of appreciation they have 412 00:20:38,549 --> 00:20:41,238 for the company of God. 413 00:20:41,238 --> 00:20:43,246 (Derek) So, I appreciate you sharing that. 414 00:20:43,246 --> 00:20:44,612 I have a confession to make. 415 00:20:44,612 --> 00:20:46,009 While Gleny was saying that, 416 00:20:46,009 --> 00:20:48,485 I was thinking about when I'm separated 417 00:20:48,485 --> 00:20:51,129 from my wife and coming back 418 00:20:51,129 --> 00:20:53,377 to be with her, even if we're 419 00:20:53,377 --> 00:20:55,981 washing dishes or doing something, 420 00:20:55,981 --> 00:20:57,749 I forget what word Gleny used, 421 00:20:57,749 --> 00:21:00,324 but something kind of menial, you know, 422 00:21:00,324 --> 00:21:03,074 but just being together. 423 00:21:03,074 --> 00:21:04,299 Yes, I love that image: 424 00:21:04,299 --> 00:21:07,526 I stretch out my hands to you. Samantha. 425 00:21:07,526 --> 00:21:08,675 (Samantha) For me, it's 426 00:21:08,675 --> 00:21:11,677 like an S.O.S. call, just to depict 427 00:21:11,677 --> 00:21:14,534 our dire dependence on God. 428 00:21:14,534 --> 00:21:17,533 It's like when Peter, when he was sinking, 429 00:21:17,533 --> 00:21:18,632 all he had time to say 430 00:21:18,632 --> 00:21:20,204 was, "Lord, save me." 431 00:21:20,204 --> 00:21:22,270 So that's how I get that... 432 00:21:22,270 --> 00:21:24,156 (Derek) Okay, it's an S.O.S., but it's 433 00:21:24,156 --> 00:21:26,545 actually something that he wanted 434 00:21:26,545 --> 00:21:28,405 to do every day, right, "cause me 435 00:21:28,405 --> 00:21:30,306 to hear Your lovingkindness." 436 00:21:30,306 --> 00:21:32,946 We have 17 hands raised right now, 437 00:21:32,946 --> 00:21:34,446 but this is an important topic. 438 00:21:34,446 --> 00:21:36,025 I'm trying to get to everyone. 439 00:21:36,025 --> 00:21:39,156 Short responses, yeah, how do you relate 440 00:21:39,156 --> 00:21:40,487 to that deep longing? 441 00:21:40,487 --> 00:21:43,384 (Gladys) I like that verse in Psalm 42 442 00:21:43,384 --> 00:21:45,375 about the deer, so I went online, 443 00:21:45,375 --> 00:21:47,588 and I researched what does it mean 444 00:21:47,588 --> 00:21:49,635 when a deer pants for the water. 445 00:21:49,635 --> 00:21:51,071 And it means when a mother, 446 00:21:51,071 --> 00:21:53,690 the mother deer, when she has a baby, 447 00:21:53,690 --> 00:21:56,151 she cannot move because she has 448 00:21:56,151 --> 00:21:57,790 the baby close to her. 449 00:21:57,790 --> 00:22:00,503 So she makes this sound 450 00:22:00,503 --> 00:22:02,669 when she longs for the water 451 00:22:02,669 --> 00:22:04,290 that she cannot reach. 452 00:22:04,290 --> 00:22:07,990 And that's exactly how, that desperation 453 00:22:07,990 --> 00:22:10,304 that God wants us to have for Him... 454 00:22:10,304 --> 00:22:11,981 (Derek) That's a new insight to me. 455 00:22:11,981 --> 00:22:13,128 (Gladys) Yeah, that it's 456 00:22:13,128 --> 00:22:15,311 just like a need, that He wants us 457 00:22:15,311 --> 00:22:17,472 to be like the part that moves 458 00:22:17,472 --> 00:22:19,979 the whole body towards Him. 459 00:22:19,979 --> 00:22:20,843 (Derek) Kylynda. 460 00:22:20,843 --> 00:22:22,820 (Kylynda) Earnest longing is intentional. 461 00:22:22,820 --> 00:22:25,094 It's not dictated by the circumstance 462 00:22:25,094 --> 00:22:26,765 or even the feeling. 463 00:22:26,765 --> 00:22:29,000 You know, David is running away; 464 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,074 it's not a great circumstance. 465 00:22:31,074 --> 00:22:33,842 Psalm 42, the psalmist is depressed, 466 00:22:33,842 --> 00:22:37,408 in Psalm 143, the psalmist is anxious, 467 00:22:37,408 --> 00:22:39,271 so it's intentional. 468 00:22:39,271 --> 00:22:40,892 (Derek) It's intentional and it's 469 00:22:40,892 --> 00:22:43,606 not dependent on the circumstance, as you're saying. 470 00:22:43,606 --> 00:22:45,551 So, I want to give someone else 471 00:22:45,551 --> 00:22:46,701 who's raised their hand, 472 00:22:46,701 --> 00:22:47,985 but answer another question 473 00:22:47,985 --> 00:22:49,589 because we've got to move on. 474 00:22:49,589 --> 00:22:52,099 So, I see Sabina waving to me, 475 00:22:52,099 --> 00:22:53,810 and I see another hand raised, 476 00:22:53,810 --> 00:22:55,932 but, Sabina, help me with this. 477 00:22:55,932 --> 00:22:57,276 And I don't know the answer 478 00:22:57,276 --> 00:22:59,970 that you will give, but who has 479 00:22:59,970 --> 00:23:03,335 modeled for you, someone who has 480 00:23:03,335 --> 00:23:05,634 an earnest longing for God? 481 00:23:05,634 --> 00:23:08,726 Many of us may not have grown up 482 00:23:08,726 --> 00:23:12,687 with someone like that very close to us. 483 00:23:12,687 --> 00:23:13,933 Where did you find someone 484 00:23:13,933 --> 00:23:15,502 that really modeled that for you, 485 00:23:15,502 --> 00:23:18,786 and you said, "I'm catching a glimpse 486 00:23:18,786 --> 00:23:20,703 of what that looks like," what we've 487 00:23:20,703 --> 00:23:23,200 been reading about in the Psalms? 488 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:24,533 (Sabina) Derek, I'm thinking 489 00:23:24,533 --> 00:23:26,539 of some experiences I had in my church 490 00:23:26,539 --> 00:23:29,534 back in Brazil, I know, 491 00:23:29,534 --> 00:23:30,772 from my teenage years 492 00:23:30,772 --> 00:23:33,106 up until I was 26, 27. 493 00:23:33,106 --> 00:23:34,842 I was very involved in a ministry 494 00:23:34,842 --> 00:23:37,682 that involved worship and creative arts. 495 00:23:37,682 --> 00:23:39,526 And I had lots of children 496 00:23:39,526 --> 00:23:41,069 that were part of it. 497 00:23:41,069 --> 00:23:42,984 And for me, it was always very inspiring 498 00:23:42,984 --> 00:23:44,149 to see the way that they 499 00:23:44,149 --> 00:23:45,937 were experiencing God, in that they 500 00:23:45,937 --> 00:23:47,545 would also be able to express 501 00:23:47,545 --> 00:23:49,920 in their praise, in their art, 502 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:51,523 in their poetry, the ways 503 00:23:51,523 --> 00:23:55,144 in which they saw God work in their lives. 504 00:23:55,144 --> 00:23:57,529 So, for me, even though they were 505 00:23:57,529 --> 00:23:59,383 younger than I, in some ways that was 506 00:23:59,383 --> 00:24:01,784 modeling to me some sort 507 00:24:01,784 --> 00:24:05,580 of pure longing to God 508 00:24:05,580 --> 00:24:07,169 that marked my life. 509 00:24:07,169 --> 00:24:08,705 (Derek) Isn't that beautiful? 510 00:24:08,705 --> 00:24:11,583 Little boys and girls become mentors. 511 00:24:11,583 --> 00:24:12,641 Jesus said we have 512 00:24:12,641 --> 00:24:14,323 to become like the little children, 513 00:24:14,323 --> 00:24:16,940 but just that earnest longing for God. 514 00:24:16,940 --> 00:24:19,041 Someone else, who really modeled 515 00:24:19,041 --> 00:24:22,104 that for you? Yes, Puia. 516 00:24:22,104 --> 00:24:24,073 (Puia) Pastor Derek, I would say one 517 00:24:24,073 --> 00:24:25,655 of the people who have modeled 518 00:24:25,655 --> 00:24:29,149 a good example for me is you, actually, 519 00:24:29,149 --> 00:24:30,324 having worked with you 520 00:24:30,324 --> 00:24:33,702 inside and outside of the studio. 521 00:24:33,702 --> 00:24:36,063 I really appreciate 522 00:24:36,063 --> 00:24:37,739 the life that you live. 523 00:24:37,739 --> 00:24:39,785 (Derek) Well, I'm desperate for God, 524 00:24:39,785 --> 00:24:41,611 and we all know where 525 00:24:41,611 --> 00:24:44,232 we would be without Him, right? 526 00:24:44,232 --> 00:24:46,755 So, "As the deer pants," new insight, 527 00:24:46,755 --> 00:24:49,113 "Hhuh, hhuh," for the water, 528 00:24:49,113 --> 00:24:52,507 so pants my soul for you, O God." 529 00:24:52,507 --> 00:24:55,841 So, I have a question for you: 530 00:24:55,841 --> 00:24:58,275 Is this deep longing for God 531 00:24:58,275 --> 00:25:00,122 something that can be developed? 532 00:25:00,122 --> 00:25:02,001 You used the word intentional, Kylynda. 533 00:25:02,001 --> 00:25:03,854 Or, is it a gift from God? 534 00:25:03,854 --> 00:25:07,088 You say, wait, that kind of intimacy... 535 00:25:07,088 --> 00:25:08,439 What's the answer? 536 00:25:08,439 --> 00:25:10,051 What do you think, Pedro? 537 00:25:10,051 --> 00:25:12,411 (Pedro) Looking toward society today, 538 00:25:12,411 --> 00:25:15,786 humanity searches for God, 539 00:25:15,786 --> 00:25:17,794 and unfortunately many of them 540 00:25:17,794 --> 00:25:19,468 seek God in things 541 00:25:19,468 --> 00:25:23,679 instead of His presence. 542 00:25:23,679 --> 00:25:25,413 So I think God has put in our hearts 543 00:25:25,413 --> 00:25:27,264 the desire for Him. 544 00:25:27,264 --> 00:25:28,489 (Derek) So, that would be 545 00:25:28,489 --> 00:25:29,752 a gift, then, wouldn't it? 546 00:25:29,752 --> 00:25:31,178 But, Kylynda, let me come back 547 00:25:31,178 --> 00:25:33,088 to the word intentional, because I think 548 00:25:33,088 --> 00:25:35,203 Pedro makes a really good point, 549 00:25:35,203 --> 00:25:37,137 that we're, like, dead 550 00:25:37,137 --> 00:25:38,361 in trespasses and sin, 551 00:25:38,361 --> 00:25:40,870 so God calls us as a gift? 552 00:25:40,870 --> 00:25:42,982 Where does our intentionality come in? 553 00:25:42,982 --> 00:25:43,997 (Kylynda) It's both. 554 00:25:43,997 --> 00:25:45,500 As Pedro mentioned, it's a gift 555 00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:47,505 from God in that initial spark, 556 00:25:47,505 --> 00:25:51,012 and we read in Psalm 84, they said 557 00:25:51,012 --> 00:25:52,668 the person is blessed "whose heart 558 00:25:52,668 --> 00:25:54,473 is set on pilgrimage." 559 00:25:54,473 --> 00:25:56,859 So, there has to be...you know, 560 00:25:56,859 --> 00:25:59,484 God is desiring towards us, 561 00:25:59,484 --> 00:26:01,983 and then we have to accept that 562 00:26:01,983 --> 00:26:03,939 and seek His face as well. 563 00:26:03,939 --> 00:26:05,912 (Derek) I wish we could stay here longer, 564 00:26:05,912 --> 00:26:07,706 but I'm going to have to ask us 565 00:26:07,706 --> 00:26:10,339 to move to Psalm 122, 566 00:26:10,339 --> 00:26:13,497 because part of longing for God 567 00:26:13,497 --> 00:26:16,159 back in the time of the children of Israel 568 00:26:16,159 --> 00:26:19,140 was going up to the house of the Lord. 569 00:26:19,140 --> 00:26:20,597 And we want to look at that, 570 00:26:20,597 --> 00:26:23,242 but then we want to ask ourselves 571 00:26:23,242 --> 00:26:25,373 what does that mean for us today? 572 00:26:25,373 --> 00:26:27,791 So, Tendi, if you could take us there 573 00:26:27,791 --> 00:26:31,521 in Psalm 122 and read 574 00:26:31,521 --> 00:26:32,814 the first nine verses, 575 00:26:32,814 --> 00:26:36,420 I want you to notice what emotions 576 00:26:36,420 --> 00:26:39,339 the worshipers experience as they're 577 00:26:39,339 --> 00:26:43,339 going up to the house of the Lord. 578 00:26:43,339 --> 00:26:44,632 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 579 00:26:44,632 --> 00:26:46,541 from the English Standard Version, 580 00:26:46,541 --> 00:26:50,569 Psalm 122, verses 1 to 9, 581 00:26:50,569 --> 00:26:54,466 "A Song of Ascents. Of David," verse 1: 582 00:27:54,589 --> 00:27:56,571 (Derek) So, they're going up, by the way, 583 00:27:56,571 --> 00:27:58,279 literally because Jerusalem's 584 00:27:58,279 --> 00:28:00,660 at about 2,500-feet elevation, 585 00:28:00,660 --> 00:28:03,230 so Mount Zion is mount, right, 586 00:28:03,230 --> 00:28:05,474 so going up and they're rejoicing. 587 00:28:05,474 --> 00:28:09,663 What is it about the house of the Lord 588 00:28:09,663 --> 00:28:12,086 that is so precious 589 00:28:12,086 --> 00:28:15,273 to the believers, anybody? 590 00:28:15,273 --> 00:28:17,730 Yes, it's not just a nice building, right, 591 00:28:17,730 --> 00:28:19,511 like, go on a tour and see 592 00:28:19,511 --> 00:28:20,840 the nice construction. 593 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:22,424 It was very impressive 594 00:28:22,424 --> 00:28:24,984 until it was destroyed, but what was it, 595 00:28:24,984 --> 00:28:27,012 Puia, about the house of the Lord 596 00:28:27,012 --> 00:28:28,554 that made it so special? 597 00:28:28,554 --> 00:28:30,840 (Puia) I believe the presence of God 598 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:34,778 was the main thing that attracted them. 599 00:28:34,778 --> 00:28:38,995 And everything that the Israelites did 600 00:28:38,995 --> 00:28:40,861 around the sanctuary, or their lives 601 00:28:40,861 --> 00:28:43,122 in the bigger picture, revolves 602 00:28:43,122 --> 00:28:46,662 around the sanctuary service. 603 00:28:46,662 --> 00:28:50,120 So I believe David is glad, as he said, 604 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,260 "I was glad when they said, 'Let us go 605 00:28:52,260 --> 00:28:54,198 to the house of God,'" because there you 606 00:28:54,198 --> 00:28:56,670 can experience the presence of God. 607 00:28:56,670 --> 00:28:59,559 (Derek) Before they even built a temple, 608 00:28:59,559 --> 00:29:00,981 where did the presence 609 00:29:00,981 --> 00:29:03,401 of the Lord dwell, do you remember? 610 00:29:03,401 --> 00:29:04,649 (Gladys) In the sanctuary. 611 00:29:04,649 --> 00:29:07,117 (Derek) In the tabernacle, right? 612 00:29:07,117 --> 00:29:10,496 And how did the Lord reveal His presence? 613 00:29:10,496 --> 00:29:11,762 Sabina, do you remember? 614 00:29:11,762 --> 00:29:14,341 How did the Lord reveal His presence 615 00:29:14,341 --> 00:29:17,260 even when it was a tent or a tabernacle 616 00:29:17,260 --> 00:29:19,330 in the wilderness? 617 00:29:19,330 --> 00:29:21,728 (Sabina) Yes, there was special furniture 618 00:29:21,728 --> 00:29:23,006 and rituals that had been 619 00:29:23,006 --> 00:29:25,411 around the sanctuary, so definitely one 620 00:29:25,411 --> 00:29:27,030 of the places where the Bible says 621 00:29:27,030 --> 00:29:28,695 that He was revealing or expressing 622 00:29:28,695 --> 00:29:30,384 His presence was in the Ark 623 00:29:30,384 --> 00:29:33,577 of the Covenant where, for instance, 624 00:29:33,577 --> 00:29:35,846 the Law of God was kept. 625 00:29:35,846 --> 00:29:37,994 But I think for them, the rejoicing also 626 00:29:37,994 --> 00:29:41,242 of going to Zion or going to the temple 627 00:29:41,242 --> 00:29:43,259 when it was built, I believe, 628 00:29:43,259 --> 00:29:45,276 was also involved with the opportunity 629 00:29:45,276 --> 00:29:47,133 they had to partake 630 00:29:47,133 --> 00:29:49,901 in the sacrificial system that God 631 00:29:49,901 --> 00:29:52,218 had implemented as a reminder 632 00:29:52,218 --> 00:29:55,120 of His forgiveness. 633 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:59,298 So, for us it is now pointing to Jesus, 634 00:29:59,298 --> 00:30:02,135 but I imagine back in their day also 635 00:30:02,135 --> 00:30:05,187 it was a memorial of the availability 636 00:30:05,187 --> 00:30:07,275 of pardon from God, that God was willing 637 00:30:07,275 --> 00:30:09,548 to forgive and renew 638 00:30:09,548 --> 00:30:11,617 their relationship with Him. 639 00:30:11,617 --> 00:30:13,182 (Derek) So, I just want to focus 640 00:30:13,182 --> 00:30:15,188 here first, you mentioned the furniture, 641 00:30:15,188 --> 00:30:19,692 but between the cherubim 642 00:30:19,692 --> 00:30:23,616 in the most holy place of the tabernacle, 643 00:30:23,616 --> 00:30:25,761 what was it called, John, do you remember? 644 00:30:25,761 --> 00:30:30,489 The visible presence of God, the glory of God was called the...? 645 00:30:30,489 --> 00:30:31,550 (John) Shekinah Glory. 646 00:30:31,550 --> 00:30:32,858 (Derek) The Shekinah Glory. 647 00:30:32,858 --> 00:30:35,113 And by the way, the glory of God, 648 00:30:35,113 --> 00:30:37,195 while no one could look upon that, 649 00:30:37,195 --> 00:30:39,212 there was a curtain there, right, 650 00:30:39,212 --> 00:30:43,672 but it was undoubtedly visible, 651 00:30:43,672 --> 00:30:46,784 though covered, the glory of God. 652 00:30:46,784 --> 00:30:49,408 When they built the temple, how was 653 00:30:49,408 --> 00:30:51,671 the glory of God revealed in the temple, 654 00:30:51,671 --> 00:30:53,346 Solomon's temple, do you remember? 655 00:30:53,346 --> 00:30:55,959 (Gladys) Glory of the Lord filled the temple with smoke. 656 00:30:55,959 --> 00:30:58,202 (Derek) At the dedication, the glory of the Lord 657 00:30:58,202 --> 00:30:59,949 filled the temple. 658 00:30:59,949 --> 00:31:03,304 Interestingly, the temple was destroyed, 659 00:31:03,304 --> 00:31:06,413 rebuilt, and then refurbished by Herod, 660 00:31:06,413 --> 00:31:08,599 but never is there an account of the glory 661 00:31:08,599 --> 00:31:10,550 of the Lord filling that temple. 662 00:31:10,550 --> 00:31:13,397 When did the glory of the Lord 663 00:31:13,397 --> 00:31:16,435 fill the temple that we call the temple 664 00:31:16,435 --> 00:31:19,177 in the time of Herod? 665 00:31:19,177 --> 00:31:21,578 (Derek, Team) When Jesus came in. 666 00:31:21,578 --> 00:31:22,957 (Derek) The glory of the Lord 667 00:31:22,957 --> 00:31:24,150 filled the temple. 668 00:31:24,150 --> 00:31:25,866 Now, we don't have the temple today. 669 00:31:25,866 --> 00:31:27,110 We don't have a tabernacle 670 00:31:27,110 --> 00:31:28,466 in the wilderness, 671 00:31:28,466 --> 00:31:30,103 so we don't have a place where you 672 00:31:30,103 --> 00:31:31,125 can say, "Why are you 673 00:31:31,125 --> 00:31:32,342 looking so happy, Tendi?" 674 00:31:32,342 --> 00:31:34,366 "Well, I'm going to the house of the Lord." 675 00:31:34,366 --> 00:31:35,756 Well, I'd be happy; I'd see 676 00:31:35,756 --> 00:31:37,174 the very visible presence 677 00:31:37,174 --> 00:31:38,841 of the glory of God. 678 00:31:38,841 --> 00:31:42,853 So, help me, Tricia Lee, if you would, 679 00:31:42,853 --> 00:31:43,943 where is the house 680 00:31:43,943 --> 00:31:47,241 of the Lord for us today? 681 00:31:47,241 --> 00:31:49,673 Is it a geographic location? 682 00:31:49,673 --> 00:31:51,025 Is it an experience? 683 00:31:51,025 --> 00:31:52,967 What do you think, so that you can 684 00:31:52,967 --> 00:31:56,200 say to me, "Derek, I'm glad when they 685 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:58,444 tell me, 'Let's go to the house of the Lord.'"? 686 00:31:58,444 --> 00:31:59,987 What would you say? 687 00:31:59,987 --> 00:32:01,460 (Tricia Lee) I'd say it's both, 688 00:32:01,460 --> 00:32:03,570 because we know that the Father, 689 00:32:03,570 --> 00:32:06,462 whom we have not met as yet, 690 00:32:06,462 --> 00:32:09,546 dwells in the throne room in Heaven, 691 00:32:09,546 --> 00:32:11,896 but through the power of the Holy Spirit, 692 00:32:11,896 --> 00:32:13,512 God can dwell in our hearts. 693 00:32:13,512 --> 00:32:15,827 And so, we're also told in Scripture 694 00:32:15,827 --> 00:32:17,689 that, "Know ye not that ye are 695 00:32:17,689 --> 00:32:20,486 the temple of God," and so the Holy Spirit 696 00:32:20,486 --> 00:32:24,150 can live in us as we accept Jesus, 697 00:32:24,150 --> 00:32:26,505 and we get that "down payment," if you would, 698 00:32:26,505 --> 00:32:27,947 through the Holy Spirit. 699 00:32:27,947 --> 00:32:30,868 And we can be living temples 700 00:32:30,868 --> 00:32:33,795 for His glory, so I say it's both. 701 00:32:33,795 --> 00:32:37,810 (Derek) Tricia Lee, you made my head spin, 702 00:32:37,810 --> 00:32:40,233 because I've never thought of that, 703 00:32:40,233 --> 00:32:43,552 but if God dwells in my heart, 704 00:32:43,552 --> 00:32:45,135 Christ makes His home with me - 705 00:32:45,135 --> 00:32:46,954 He says, "We will come to you 706 00:32:46,954 --> 00:32:48,792 by the Holy Spirit" - that means 707 00:32:48,792 --> 00:32:51,800 when I spend time with the One 708 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:53,907 who dwells with me, 709 00:32:53,907 --> 00:32:56,347 I am in the house of the Lord. 710 00:32:56,347 --> 00:32:58,742 Whew, that made my head spin. Pedro. 711 00:32:58,742 --> 00:33:00,215 (Pedro) We've been looking here 712 00:33:00,215 --> 00:33:03,196 to the house of God as not only telling us 713 00:33:03,196 --> 00:33:05,224 that we long for Him, but He also longs 714 00:33:05,224 --> 00:33:07,950 for us, to be with us. 715 00:33:07,950 --> 00:33:09,619 And we see here, through the symbol 716 00:33:09,619 --> 00:33:11,819 of the tabernacle, God longed 717 00:33:11,819 --> 00:33:14,949 to be with us, and through the Holy Spirit 718 00:33:14,949 --> 00:33:16,690 He longs for us to be with Him 719 00:33:16,690 --> 00:33:18,559 and also be together 720 00:33:18,559 --> 00:33:21,064 as we preach the gospel. 721 00:33:21,064 --> 00:33:22,907 That's why the Holy Spirit 722 00:33:22,907 --> 00:33:23,916 is being given to us, 723 00:33:23,916 --> 00:33:27,281 so we can finish the work through Him, 724 00:33:27,281 --> 00:33:29,407 and we can be with Him forever. 725 00:33:29,407 --> 00:33:31,657 (Derek) Okay, I see Gleny, I see 726 00:33:31,657 --> 00:33:33,576 your hand raised, and Sabina, too. 727 00:33:33,576 --> 00:33:35,172 Let me just ask a question, 728 00:33:35,172 --> 00:33:38,890 can a church where we go to worship 729 00:33:38,890 --> 00:33:41,525 each week be the house of the Lord for us? 730 00:33:41,525 --> 00:33:44,052 (Team) Yes. 731 00:33:44,052 --> 00:33:46,736 (Derek) But not automatically, right? 732 00:33:46,736 --> 00:33:48,052 But it could be, 733 00:33:48,052 --> 00:33:49,339 if we're meeting God there. 734 00:33:49,339 --> 00:33:50,931 I see many hands raised. 735 00:33:50,931 --> 00:33:53,304 I'm going to go to Gleny and Sabina first 736 00:33:53,304 --> 00:33:54,914 and then come back to the studio. 737 00:33:54,914 --> 00:33:58,997 Gleny, talk to me about where the house 738 00:33:58,997 --> 00:34:02,165 of the Lord is for us today. 739 00:34:02,165 --> 00:34:03,809 (Gleny) I was just about to give 740 00:34:03,809 --> 00:34:06,630 a comment on that, too, where God 741 00:34:06,630 --> 00:34:08,915 is seen in our midst whenever there is 742 00:34:08,915 --> 00:34:10,835 a congregation of believers, 743 00:34:10,835 --> 00:34:13,932 like in Matthew 18, verse 20, it says: 744 00:34:20,327 --> 00:34:22,012 Not just gathering for no reason, 745 00:34:22,012 --> 00:34:23,841 but when we are like-minded, 746 00:34:23,841 --> 00:34:26,954 and you see that in the book of Acts, too, 747 00:34:26,954 --> 00:34:31,081 when people laid their differences aside, 748 00:34:31,081 --> 00:34:33,896 and came together and had 749 00:34:33,896 --> 00:34:35,485 the Holy Spirit work with them, 750 00:34:35,485 --> 00:34:39,237 you can see God was in their midst. 751 00:34:39,237 --> 00:34:40,907 (Derek) That's a powerful thought. 752 00:34:40,907 --> 00:34:44,172 It suggests that the house of the Lord 753 00:34:44,172 --> 00:34:46,828 doesn't have to be a physical building. 754 00:34:46,828 --> 00:34:48,747 It can be when the Lord is in our midst. 755 00:34:48,747 --> 00:34:50,816 Sabina, you want to add to that? 756 00:34:50,816 --> 00:34:51,632 Where's the house 757 00:34:51,632 --> 00:34:54,402 of the Lord for us today? 758 00:34:54,402 --> 00:34:56,629 (Sabina) Yes, what I want to add is that I 759 00:34:56,629 --> 00:34:58,408 just think it's so beautiful that God 760 00:34:58,408 --> 00:34:59,983 makes sure not to attach that 761 00:34:59,983 --> 00:35:02,327 necessarily to a geographic place 762 00:35:02,327 --> 00:35:04,146 or a time or a country, 763 00:35:04,146 --> 00:35:05,854 so that it's accessible 764 00:35:05,854 --> 00:35:09,291 to any person in any time. 765 00:35:09,291 --> 00:35:11,601 Even our church buildings 766 00:35:11,601 --> 00:35:13,056 that we treasure, and they are 767 00:35:13,056 --> 00:35:14,967 important also, the places for gathering 768 00:35:14,967 --> 00:35:17,182 where we can invite people together, 769 00:35:17,182 --> 00:35:19,048 they unfortunately can become, 770 00:35:19,048 --> 00:35:21,090 just like Jesus mentioned back in the day 771 00:35:21,090 --> 00:35:22,946 about their temple, "a den of robbers," 772 00:35:22,946 --> 00:35:24,570 right, like a place where there is 773 00:35:24,570 --> 00:35:26,457 no glory or presence of God, 774 00:35:26,457 --> 00:35:28,920 if we are not personally seeking God 775 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,485 in the true temple that is ourselves. 776 00:35:31,485 --> 00:35:34,578 So, even those places where we gather, 777 00:35:34,578 --> 00:35:37,482 it's important that we primarily develop 778 00:35:37,482 --> 00:35:39,291 that personal relationship with Jesus, 779 00:35:39,291 --> 00:35:41,346 then we come to share about it, 780 00:35:41,346 --> 00:35:43,344 because just being in a building 781 00:35:43,344 --> 00:35:44,714 in the name of God 782 00:35:44,714 --> 00:35:46,468 doesn't really grant that He is 783 00:35:46,468 --> 00:35:48,849 willing to be there - well, He is willing, 784 00:35:48,849 --> 00:35:51,016 but that He will be there 785 00:35:51,016 --> 00:35:53,125 if we don't allow it. 786 00:35:53,125 --> 00:35:54,657 (Derek) So, there's so much more 787 00:35:54,657 --> 00:35:56,370 we could share about this, 788 00:35:56,370 --> 00:35:58,186 but certainly we would agree 789 00:35:58,186 --> 00:36:00,388 that when we come into God's presence, 790 00:36:00,388 --> 00:36:02,432 whether it's personal worship 791 00:36:02,432 --> 00:36:04,682 with the Spirit dwelling in our hearts 792 00:36:04,682 --> 00:36:06,717 or in a group of two or three, 793 00:36:06,717 --> 00:36:08,682 that we can experience joy when we come 794 00:36:08,682 --> 00:36:10,205 to the house of the Lord, right? 795 00:36:10,205 --> 00:36:11,621 Absolutely we can. 796 00:36:11,621 --> 00:36:14,533 But there is also in the Psalms 797 00:36:14,533 --> 00:36:17,694 a reference to the significance 798 00:36:17,694 --> 00:36:20,979 of a specific geographic location. 799 00:36:20,979 --> 00:36:24,347 And I want to just take a moment to look 800 00:36:24,347 --> 00:36:28,782 at Mount Zion and what the significance 801 00:36:28,782 --> 00:36:33,426 of Mount Zion is in salvation history. 802 00:36:33,426 --> 00:36:35,455 So, Geoffrey, if you could take us 803 00:36:35,455 --> 00:36:38,911 to Psalm 87 and read 804 00:36:38,911 --> 00:36:40,099 the first three verses, 805 00:36:40,099 --> 00:36:41,187 we're going to look 806 00:36:41,187 --> 00:36:43,924 at four psalms together that speak 807 00:36:43,924 --> 00:36:45,953 about the significance 808 00:36:45,953 --> 00:36:48,185 of Jerusalem and Mount Zion. 809 00:36:48,185 --> 00:36:49,841 (Geoffrey) Okay, I'll be reading 810 00:36:49,841 --> 00:36:51,769 from the English Standard Version: 811 00:37:06,018 --> 00:37:07,753 (Derek) And if, John, you could read 812 00:37:07,753 --> 00:37:12,199 following that in Psalm 48, verses 1 to 3. 813 00:37:12,199 --> 00:37:14,695 Hear the theme, "Glorious things of you 814 00:37:14,695 --> 00:37:17,096 are spoken, Zion, city of our God." 815 00:37:17,096 --> 00:37:19,708 What is it about that location? 816 00:37:19,708 --> 00:37:20,580 (John) I'm reading 817 00:37:20,580 --> 00:37:22,770 from the English Standard Version, it reads: 818 00:37:44,505 --> 00:37:48,485 (Derek) Alright, what about Psalm 46, 819 00:37:48,485 --> 00:37:49,769 Kylynda, if you could read 820 00:37:49,769 --> 00:37:52,728 the first seven verses of Psalm 46. 821 00:37:52,728 --> 00:37:54,502 Now, there are lots of thoughts here, 822 00:37:54,502 --> 00:37:57,313 but we're listening for the significance 823 00:37:57,313 --> 00:38:01,649 of this location, Mount Zion. 824 00:38:01,649 --> 00:38:03,767 (Kylynda) From the New King James Version: 825 00:38:51,194 --> 00:38:52,784 (Derek) And one last passage, 826 00:38:52,784 --> 00:38:53,992 Pedro, if you could read 827 00:38:53,992 --> 00:38:59,112 Psalm 125, verses 1 and 2. 828 00:38:59,112 --> 00:39:00,327 (Pedro) I'll be reading 829 00:39:00,327 --> 00:39:01,851 from the New King James Version. 830 00:39:01,851 --> 00:39:03,737 Psalm 125, verse 1, says: 831 00:39:21,163 --> 00:39:22,417 (Derek) So, we're up there 832 00:39:22,417 --> 00:39:26,772 in the mountains, and there is Mount Zion. 833 00:39:26,772 --> 00:39:28,263 There's more significance 834 00:39:28,263 --> 00:39:29,202 than just that it's 835 00:39:29,202 --> 00:39:31,295 the capital city, right? 836 00:39:31,295 --> 00:39:33,089 I mean, it is the capital up there; 837 00:39:33,089 --> 00:39:34,817 Jerusalem is there, right? 838 00:39:34,817 --> 00:39:37,631 But there's something more significant 839 00:39:37,631 --> 00:39:41,609 about that geographic location. 840 00:39:41,609 --> 00:39:44,344 Somebody do a scan 841 00:39:44,344 --> 00:39:47,078 of the Book of Beginnings; 842 00:39:47,078 --> 00:39:49,377 it's called Genesis. 843 00:39:49,377 --> 00:39:51,381 We don't have to read the whole story, 844 00:39:51,381 --> 00:39:55,044 but a patriarch, what was his name...? 845 00:39:55,044 --> 00:39:55,784 (Team) Abraham. 846 00:39:55,784 --> 00:39:58,778 (Derek) ...Abraham, first called Abram, 847 00:39:58,778 --> 00:40:02,454 but after having a son is called Abraham, 848 00:40:02,454 --> 00:40:07,370 is told to go to a specific location. 849 00:40:07,370 --> 00:40:09,757 Somebody tell me the story. 850 00:40:09,757 --> 00:40:11,467 Alright, Gladys, tell us the story. 851 00:40:11,467 --> 00:40:13,030 By the way, if people would like 852 00:40:13,030 --> 00:40:17,087 to read it, it's there in Genesis 22. 853 00:40:17,087 --> 00:40:19,573 But Abraham is told to go 854 00:40:19,573 --> 00:40:21,843 to a specific location, 855 00:40:21,843 --> 00:40:23,603 and what is he told to do? 856 00:40:23,603 --> 00:40:26,722 (Gladys) Well, God promised to give him 857 00:40:26,722 --> 00:40:30,437 a son, and after the son is born, 858 00:40:30,437 --> 00:40:33,924 God tells him, "Go to Mount Moriah 859 00:40:33,924 --> 00:40:36,621 and sacrifice him there for Me." 860 00:40:36,621 --> 00:40:38,274 And Abraham believed in God, 861 00:40:38,274 --> 00:40:39,374 even though this was 862 00:40:39,374 --> 00:40:41,221 this child of the promise, 863 00:40:41,221 --> 00:40:42,548 and he went to Mount Moriah 864 00:40:42,548 --> 00:40:44,487 to follow what God said. 865 00:40:44,487 --> 00:40:46,371 And God delivered him. 866 00:40:46,371 --> 00:40:49,150 God tested him, and he proved faithful, 867 00:40:49,150 --> 00:40:52,013 and God provided for Himself a sacrifice. 868 00:40:52,013 --> 00:40:53,787 (Derek) And if you've read the story, 869 00:40:53,787 --> 00:40:55,556 and I want to encourage you if you're 870 00:40:55,556 --> 00:40:57,329 hearing this story for the first time 871 00:40:57,329 --> 00:40:58,920 to read in Genesis 22, 872 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:02,141 what evidences were there, anyone, 873 00:41:02,141 --> 00:41:05,124 that he was trusting God, 874 00:41:05,124 --> 00:41:07,038 because this sounds like something 875 00:41:07,038 --> 00:41:09,457 God would not ask him to do, right? 876 00:41:09,457 --> 00:41:11,288 But that was something the pagans did; 877 00:41:11,288 --> 00:41:14,504 they sacrificed their sons and daughters. 878 00:41:14,504 --> 00:41:16,620 He asked him to be willing 879 00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:18,387 to lay everything down. 880 00:41:18,387 --> 00:41:19,863 But can you remember the story, 881 00:41:19,863 --> 00:41:22,458 any evidences of faith, John? 882 00:41:22,458 --> 00:41:24,972 (John) In verse 5, Abraham talks 883 00:41:24,972 --> 00:41:28,387 to his servants and he says: 884 00:41:33,271 --> 00:41:34,413 (Derek) I like my Bible, 885 00:41:34,413 --> 00:41:37,443 it says, "We will return," we will return. 886 00:41:37,443 --> 00:41:38,586 There was another place, 887 00:41:38,586 --> 00:41:39,669 they're walking along; 888 00:41:39,669 --> 00:41:43,332 Puia, do you remember, and Isaac says, 889 00:41:43,332 --> 00:41:45,081 "Wait a minute, father," 890 00:41:45,081 --> 00:41:46,630 that's a paraphrase, right? 891 00:41:46,630 --> 00:41:50,864 "Wait a minute, father, we've got the wood and the fire..." 892 00:41:50,864 --> 00:41:52,964 (Team) "Where is the sacrifice, the lamb?" 893 00:41:52,964 --> 00:41:55,109 (Derek) "Where's the sacrifice, father?" 894 00:41:55,109 --> 00:41:56,474 And, Puia, do you remember, 895 00:41:56,474 --> 00:41:58,585 just from memory, the story? 896 00:41:58,585 --> 00:42:01,621 How does Abraham respond to his son? 897 00:42:01,621 --> 00:42:02,831 (Puia) I believe he said, 898 00:42:02,831 --> 00:42:05,117 "The Lord will provide." 899 00:42:05,117 --> 00:42:06,181 (Derek) "The Lord will 900 00:42:06,181 --> 00:42:07,712 provide a sacrifice," 901 00:42:07,712 --> 00:42:09,608 so here's this word of faith. 902 00:42:09,608 --> 00:42:12,717 Now, by the way, in the book of Hebrews, 903 00:42:12,717 --> 00:42:16,082 it says he believed that if necessary 904 00:42:16,082 --> 00:42:17,438 God would raise his son 905 00:42:17,438 --> 00:42:19,287 from the dead, right? 906 00:42:19,287 --> 00:42:21,588 So they get to the mountain, 907 00:42:21,588 --> 00:42:23,147 and it's the mountain "that you 908 00:42:23,147 --> 00:42:26,951 will be shown," but it is Mount Moriah. 909 00:42:26,951 --> 00:42:28,987 Now, some scholars argue, is Mount Moriah 910 00:42:28,987 --> 00:42:30,488 and Mount Zion the same, 911 00:42:30,488 --> 00:42:32,754 or they're right in the same vicinity; 912 00:42:32,754 --> 00:42:34,371 it's right in the same cluster 913 00:42:34,371 --> 00:42:36,992 right there; it's that location. 914 00:42:36,992 --> 00:42:39,619 Somebody tell me what happens 915 00:42:39,619 --> 00:42:44,325 when he raises the knife - he's willing. 916 00:42:44,325 --> 00:42:45,975 (Samantha) The Angel called out... 917 00:42:45,975 --> 00:42:47,849 (Derek) Samantha, tell me what happens. 918 00:42:47,849 --> 00:42:49,168 He raises the knife 919 00:42:49,168 --> 00:42:51,335 to sacrifice his son Isaac...? 920 00:42:51,335 --> 00:42:52,798 (Samantha) Verses 11 [and 12]: 921 00:43:02,736 --> 00:43:04,056 (Derek) I imagine him using 922 00:43:04,056 --> 00:43:05,984 my favorite Hebrew word... 923 00:43:05,984 --> 00:43:07,206 I don't know if they were 924 00:43:07,206 --> 00:43:08,486 speaking Hebrew back then, 925 00:43:08,486 --> 00:43:09,960 I think they were, "Hallelujah, 926 00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:12,646 praise the name of Yahweh." 927 00:43:12,646 --> 00:43:16,340 He was willing to lay everything down 928 00:43:16,340 --> 00:43:19,187 because the Lord asked him to, right? 929 00:43:19,187 --> 00:43:22,800 That mountain is where, as Samantha 930 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:28,868 just read, it was told, "The Lord will..."? 931 00:43:28,868 --> 00:43:30,233 (Derek, Team) "...provide." 932 00:43:30,233 --> 00:43:31,826 (Derek) Do you know what that is, 933 00:43:31,826 --> 00:43:33,617 anybody, in Hebrew? 934 00:43:33,617 --> 00:43:36,054 (Team) Jehovah Jireh. 935 00:43:36,054 --> 00:43:37,790 (Derek) Yeah, Yahweh Yireh 936 00:43:37,790 --> 00:43:41,216 or Jehovah Jireh, "The Lord Will Provide." 937 00:43:41,216 --> 00:43:44,567 That was pointing forward to what event 938 00:43:44,567 --> 00:43:47,960 that would happen on the same mountain?! 939 00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:50,238 (Team) Crucifixion of Jesus. 940 00:43:50,238 --> 00:43:51,843 (Derek) The crucifixion of Jesus. 941 00:43:51,843 --> 00:43:55,277 Let's go to the story, and, John, if you 942 00:43:55,277 --> 00:43:56,649 could begin reading. 943 00:43:56,649 --> 00:43:58,579 We'll have several of you read. 944 00:43:58,579 --> 00:44:00,100 And we could take Matthew, Mark, 945 00:44:00,100 --> 00:44:01,538 Luke or John, but we're going 946 00:44:01,538 --> 00:44:05,421 to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15, 947 00:44:05,421 --> 00:44:08,810 and I want you to think with me. 948 00:44:08,810 --> 00:44:11,626 We're talking here about Longing 949 00:44:11,626 --> 00:44:15,010 for God in Zion, and I'm thinking, 950 00:44:15,010 --> 00:44:18,588 as we read this, of the admonition, 951 00:44:18,588 --> 00:44:20,187 "It would be good for us to spend 952 00:44:20,187 --> 00:44:22,211 a thoughtful hour each day 953 00:44:22,211 --> 00:44:23,960 contemplating the life of Christ, 954 00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:27,494 especially the closing scenes." 955 00:44:27,494 --> 00:44:28,851 So, we're going to read some 956 00:44:28,851 --> 00:44:30,729 of the closing scenes. 957 00:44:30,729 --> 00:44:34,493 We ought to then say, "Oh, I'm 958 00:44:34,493 --> 00:44:35,908 looking to Mount Zion. 959 00:44:35,908 --> 00:44:39,161 I'm looking to the place where God will, 960 00:44:39,161 --> 00:44:42,636 now God has, provided," right? 961 00:44:42,636 --> 00:44:45,483 Let's start in Mark, chapter 15, 962 00:44:45,483 --> 00:44:47,954 verses 16 through 20, John. 963 00:44:47,954 --> 00:44:50,430 (John) Mark 15, verses 16 to 20, 964 00:44:50,430 --> 00:44:52,827 in the English Standard Version reads: 965 00:45:32,339 --> 00:45:33,901 (Derek) Tricia Lee, if you could 966 00:45:33,901 --> 00:45:37,489 follow on for us in verses 21 to 26. 967 00:45:37,489 --> 00:45:41,235 My heart is already saying, "Oh, God, 968 00:45:41,235 --> 00:45:44,723 what Jesus suffered for us." 969 00:45:44,723 --> 00:45:47,209 Let's read on in the story, if you'd read 970 00:45:47,209 --> 00:45:52,305 for us verses 21 to 26 of Mark 15. 971 00:45:52,305 --> 00:45:55,071 (Tricia Lee) Reading from the New King James Version: 972 00:46:41,830 --> 00:46:43,501 (Derek) So, here is an amazing part 973 00:46:43,501 --> 00:46:47,297 of the story, a man named Simon comes. 974 00:46:47,297 --> 00:46:48,949 And by the way, did you notice 975 00:46:48,949 --> 00:46:51,667 it tells us his two sons' names? 976 00:46:51,667 --> 00:46:52,843 Why would it tell us 977 00:46:52,843 --> 00:46:54,094 the names of his two sons? 978 00:46:54,094 --> 00:46:57,290 Why does it even tell us his name? 979 00:46:57,290 --> 00:46:59,557 Except, on that mountain his life 980 00:46:59,557 --> 00:47:02,613 was transformed, and he became 981 00:47:02,613 --> 00:47:04,936 a follower of Jesus. 982 00:47:04,936 --> 00:47:06,464 Something amazing happening 983 00:47:06,464 --> 00:47:07,946 on the mountain. 984 00:47:07,946 --> 00:47:11,247 I'm going to ask Sabina if you'd continue 985 00:47:11,247 --> 00:47:14,097 reading - this is sacred space for us - 986 00:47:14,097 --> 00:47:16,347 verses 27 to 32. 987 00:47:16,347 --> 00:47:18,496 This is the mountain where it 988 00:47:18,496 --> 00:47:21,297 was prophesied 2,000 years earlier, 989 00:47:21,297 --> 00:47:23,476 "The Lord will provide." 990 00:47:23,476 --> 00:47:27,841 This is the mountain where the temple 991 00:47:27,841 --> 00:47:32,545 once stood, and they looked to Mount Zion. 992 00:47:32,545 --> 00:47:33,740 Now, we're on Mount Zion, 993 00:47:33,740 --> 00:47:38,863 and what do we hear in verses 27 to 32? 994 00:47:38,863 --> 00:47:40,033 (Sabina) I'll be reading 995 00:47:40,033 --> 00:47:42,491 from the New King James Version, and it says: 996 00:48:30,925 --> 00:48:32,737 (Derek) We talked about that one thief 997 00:48:32,737 --> 00:48:34,167 who said, "Lord, remember me," 998 00:48:34,167 --> 00:48:36,488 but at first it says even the thieves, 999 00:48:36,488 --> 00:48:38,457 both of them, reviled Him. 1000 00:48:38,457 --> 00:48:40,707 Tendi, could you read the last portion 1001 00:48:40,707 --> 00:48:42,747 of our reading from Mark 15, 1002 00:48:42,747 --> 00:48:46,091 verses 33 to 39? 1003 00:48:46,091 --> 00:48:47,387 (Tendi) And I'll be reading 1004 00:48:47,387 --> 00:48:51,850 from the English Standard Version, Mark 15:33-39: 1005 00:50:09,027 --> 00:50:12,178 (Derek) It happened on the mountain, 1006 00:50:12,178 --> 00:50:14,910 the mountain where, 2,000 years earlier, 1007 00:50:14,910 --> 00:50:16,208 the promise had been given, 1008 00:50:16,208 --> 00:50:18,436 "The Lord will provide." 1009 00:50:18,436 --> 00:50:19,510 But what else happened 1010 00:50:19,510 --> 00:50:20,894 on the mountain, Puia, 1011 00:50:20,894 --> 00:50:23,744 besides the sacrifice to take away 1012 00:50:23,744 --> 00:50:25,459 the sins of the world, that all 1013 00:50:25,459 --> 00:50:27,827 who believe in Him might not perish 1014 00:50:27,827 --> 00:50:29,292 but have everlasting life? 1015 00:50:29,292 --> 00:50:31,167 What else happened on the mountain? 1016 00:50:31,167 --> 00:50:32,615 (Puia) That was also the place 1017 00:50:32,615 --> 00:50:34,304 where He was resurrected. 1018 00:50:34,304 --> 00:50:36,217 He was resurrected on the third day. 1019 00:50:36,217 --> 00:50:38,028 He came back to life. 1020 00:50:38,028 --> 00:50:39,711 (Derek) Let's go to Luke 23, if you 1021 00:50:39,711 --> 00:50:41,303 could read the last verses 1022 00:50:41,303 --> 00:50:43,615 of chapter 23 for us. 1023 00:50:43,615 --> 00:50:46,766 And then I'm going to ask Gladys if you'd 1024 00:50:46,766 --> 00:50:49,899 read the first verses of chapter 24. 1025 00:50:49,899 --> 00:50:51,001 We could read from many 1026 00:50:51,001 --> 00:50:52,566 of the Gospel writers, 1027 00:50:52,566 --> 00:50:57,233 but Luke 23, verses 50 to 56. 1028 00:50:57,233 --> 00:50:58,482 (Puia) And I'll be reading 1029 00:50:58,482 --> 00:51:00,180 from the New King James Version: 1030 00:51:49,910 --> 00:51:51,913 (Derek) But the story is not over, Gladys. 1031 00:51:51,913 --> 00:51:52,871 If you could pick up 1032 00:51:52,871 --> 00:51:57,863 in chapter 24, verses 1 1033 00:51:57,863 --> 00:52:01,994 through, let's see, maybe 1 through 8? 1034 00:52:01,994 --> 00:52:04,898 And just remember, this is also happening 1035 00:52:04,898 --> 00:52:06,905 on the mountain where it was prophesied, 1036 00:52:06,905 --> 00:52:08,727 "The Lord will provide." 1037 00:52:08,727 --> 00:52:09,790 (Gladys) I am reading 1038 00:52:09,790 --> 00:52:12,113 from the New International Version, and it says: 1039 00:53:04,358 --> 00:53:06,414 (Derek) So, on the mountain, 1040 00:53:06,414 --> 00:53:08,524 God provided through the death 1041 00:53:08,524 --> 00:53:10,138 and resurrection of Jesus. 1042 00:53:10,138 --> 00:53:13,110 So, let me ask you, as Christians, and I'm 1043 00:53:13,110 --> 00:53:15,507 going to ask Gleny a question here, 1044 00:53:15,507 --> 00:53:18,865 as a follower of Jesus, we don't look 1045 00:53:18,865 --> 00:53:20,994 to a temple on a mountain. 1046 00:53:20,994 --> 00:53:24,360 What does it mean to us as Christians 1047 00:53:24,360 --> 00:53:26,684 to look to Mount Zion? 1048 00:53:26,684 --> 00:53:28,421 (Gleny) I would assume that it means 1049 00:53:28,421 --> 00:53:32,642 to see how God has provided in the past 1050 00:53:32,642 --> 00:53:34,714 and provided for redemption 1051 00:53:34,714 --> 00:53:37,164 and to see that He is able to do 1052 00:53:37,164 --> 00:53:39,588 the same for us even today. 1053 00:53:39,588 --> 00:53:41,252 (Derek) Okay, anybody else? 1054 00:53:41,252 --> 00:53:44,011 Kylynda, to look to Mount Zion? 1055 00:53:44,011 --> 00:53:45,621 (Kylynda) The psalmists found joy 1056 00:53:45,621 --> 00:53:47,294 going to Mount Zion. 1057 00:53:47,294 --> 00:53:49,998 These people went from perplexion 1058 00:53:49,998 --> 00:53:51,971 to joy as they gathered. 1059 00:53:51,971 --> 00:53:54,978 As we look to Heaven, you know, the future 1060 00:53:54,978 --> 00:53:57,949 where we will one day be next to God, 1061 00:53:57,949 --> 00:53:58,881 and there will be 1062 00:53:58,881 --> 00:54:01,061 absolutely no separation, 1063 00:54:01,061 --> 00:54:02,824 we will also have joy. 1064 00:54:02,824 --> 00:54:04,822 (Derek) And that's kind of looking forward, 1065 00:54:04,822 --> 00:54:05,657 and that's good; 1066 00:54:05,657 --> 00:54:07,835 we want to look to the New Zion, 1067 00:54:07,835 --> 00:54:10,044 or New Jerusalem, but, Sabina, 1068 00:54:10,044 --> 00:54:14,212 by faith, looking, keeping my eyes 1069 00:54:14,212 --> 00:54:15,789 fixed on Mount Zion, 1070 00:54:15,789 --> 00:54:18,562 what do you think that means? 1071 00:54:18,562 --> 00:54:20,146 (Sabina) For me, it means looking 1072 00:54:20,146 --> 00:54:22,895 to victory, you know, as we journey 1073 00:54:22,895 --> 00:54:24,295 through this life, as we walk 1074 00:54:24,295 --> 00:54:26,408 into the eternal Zion, 1075 00:54:26,408 --> 00:54:28,245 like in the heavenly dwelling 1076 00:54:28,245 --> 00:54:29,584 of God for eternity. 1077 00:54:29,584 --> 00:54:31,878 I, in the meantime, just look 1078 00:54:31,878 --> 00:54:34,362 to the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus 1079 00:54:34,362 --> 00:54:37,024 that took place on this Mount Zion, 1080 00:54:37,024 --> 00:54:39,032 and I'm reminded that Jesus wins, 1081 00:54:39,032 --> 00:54:40,220 you know, like He won it. 1082 00:54:40,220 --> 00:54:43,265 I just need to stay by Him, 1083 00:54:43,265 --> 00:54:44,602 and that's all good. 1084 00:54:44,602 --> 00:54:46,159 (Derek) Isn't there a Bible text 1085 00:54:46,159 --> 00:54:49,669 that says, "Fixing our eyes..."? 1086 00:54:49,669 --> 00:54:52,995 (Derek, Team) "...on Jesus, the author... 1087 00:54:52,995 --> 00:54:54,326 (Team) "...and finisher..." 1088 00:54:54,326 --> 00:54:56,932 (Derek) "...and perfecter," or finisher "of our faith." 1089 00:54:56,932 --> 00:54:59,803 To keep our eyes fixed on Mount Zion 1090 00:54:59,803 --> 00:55:04,248 is to say God provided all that we need 1091 00:55:04,248 --> 00:55:06,252 through Jesus, and I'm going 1092 00:55:06,252 --> 00:55:08,335 to keep my attention focused there. 1093 00:55:08,335 --> 00:55:10,428 But Kylynda is right, there is 1094 00:55:10,428 --> 00:55:12,840 also a New Jerusalem. 1095 00:55:12,840 --> 00:55:17,018 There is, if you will, a New Zion, 1096 00:55:17,018 --> 00:55:18,735 the mountain of God, 1097 00:55:18,735 --> 00:55:21,169 and that is portrayed...and, Kylynda, 1098 00:55:21,169 --> 00:55:22,736 maybe as we close our study, 1099 00:55:22,736 --> 00:55:25,009 you can read from Revelation, 1100 00:55:25,009 --> 00:55:29,085 chapter 21, verses 1 to 4, 1101 00:55:29,085 --> 00:55:31,858 and let's talk about that. 1102 00:55:31,858 --> 00:55:33,833 Because of what happened 1103 00:55:33,833 --> 00:55:38,607 on Mount Zion 2,000 years ago, 1104 00:55:38,607 --> 00:55:41,041 we have assurance of a blessed hope. 1105 00:55:41,041 --> 00:55:44,255 Read to us Revelation 21:1-4. 1106 00:55:44,255 --> 00:55:46,404 (Kylynda) From the New King James Version: 1107 00:56:38,967 --> 00:56:39,902 (Derek) Praise God. 1108 00:56:39,902 --> 00:56:42,737 I want to speak to our Hope Sabbath School family, 1109 00:56:42,737 --> 00:56:45,851 and I just want to say, that blessed hope 1110 00:56:45,851 --> 00:56:47,801 happens because of what happened 1111 00:56:47,801 --> 00:56:50,025 through Jesus on Mount Zion. 1112 00:56:50,025 --> 00:56:51,485 It happens because of what was 1113 00:56:51,485 --> 00:56:53,061 promised through Abraham, 1114 00:56:53,061 --> 00:56:56,286 that the Lord will provide. 1115 00:56:56,286 --> 00:56:59,207 And I want to encourage you to look 1116 00:56:59,207 --> 00:57:00,746 to what God has done 1117 00:57:00,746 --> 00:57:03,436 through Jesus, for you, so that you 1118 00:57:03,436 --> 00:57:04,742 can have the blessed hope 1119 00:57:04,742 --> 00:57:07,204 of being in that New Jerusalem 1120 00:57:07,204 --> 00:57:09,347 and spending eternity 1121 00:57:09,347 --> 00:57:10,502 with a God who loves you 1122 00:57:10,502 --> 00:57:13,280 with an immeasurable and unfailing love. 1123 00:57:13,280 --> 00:57:14,256 Let's pray together. 1124 00:57:14,256 --> 00:57:16,348 Father in Heaven, thank You 1125 00:57:16,348 --> 00:57:20,659 for what Jesus accomplished on Mount Zion. 1126 00:57:20,659 --> 00:57:22,989 Thank You for the blessed hope 1127 00:57:22,989 --> 00:57:26,271 we have in Him even today. 1128 00:57:26,271 --> 00:57:28,966 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 1129 00:57:28,966 --> 00:57:29,958 (Team) Amen. 1130 00:57:29,958 --> 00:57:31,515 (Derek) I want to encourage you, 1131 00:57:31,515 --> 00:57:33,473 dear friend, if you've never accepted 1132 00:57:33,473 --> 00:57:35,517 what Jesus accomplished for you, 1133 00:57:35,517 --> 00:57:39,626 the Lord has provided, trust Him today. 1134 00:57:39,626 --> 00:57:41,650 Say, "Lord, will You save me, 1135 00:57:41,650 --> 00:57:43,817 so that I can have that blessed hope 1136 00:57:43,817 --> 00:57:44,872 of eternity with You." 1137 00:57:44,872 --> 00:57:46,922 And then don't keep it to yourself. 1138 00:57:46,922 --> 00:57:49,316 Go out and share that good news 1139 00:57:49,316 --> 00:57:50,751 with those around you. 1140 00:57:50,751 --> 00:58:28,362 ♪ theme music ♪