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