1 00:00:19,559 --> 00:00:20,600 ♪ theme music ♪ 2 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,160 (Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, 3 00:00:22,166 --> 00:00:25,432 an in-depth, interactive study of the Word of God. 4 00:00:25,432 --> 00:00:26,859 I'm glad you joined us today 5 00:00:28,079 --> 00:00:30,878 as we continue a series of studies 6 00:00:30,878 --> 00:00:31,745 on the Gospel of Matthew. 7 00:00:31,745 --> 00:00:34,698 Our topic today: The Sermon of Jesus on the Mount. 8 00:00:34,698 --> 00:00:36,554 It's going to be a great blessing, 9 00:00:36,554 --> 00:00:37,959 and we're especially happy 10 00:00:37,959 --> 00:00:39,596 that one of our team, Stephanie, 11 00:00:39,596 --> 00:00:41,102 is going to be teaching today. 12 00:00:41,102 --> 00:00:42,455 Stephanie, we are looking forward 13 00:00:42,455 --> 00:00:43,548 to a great study. 14 00:00:43,548 --> 00:00:44,410 (Stephanie) Amen. 15 00:00:44,410 --> 00:00:45,928 (Derek) And we're glad that each one of you 16 00:00:45,928 --> 00:00:47,343 has joined us for our study today. 17 00:00:47,343 --> 00:00:48,454 It's been a great series, hasn't it? 18 00:00:48,454 --> 00:00:50,688 I notice people ask, "It's not 19 00:00:50,688 --> 00:00:51,928 the same people every time?" 20 00:00:51,928 --> 00:00:54,754 No, but we're all studying, and this 21 00:00:54,754 --> 00:00:56,130 Gospel of Matthew, I think 22 00:00:56,130 --> 00:00:58,440 the biggest challenge is we could take 23 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,320 a whole series of studies 24 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:01,648 on just one section, 25 00:01:01,648 --> 00:01:03,899 like the Sermon on the Mount, 26 00:01:03,899 --> 00:01:06,312 but we have to look at the big picture 27 00:01:06,312 --> 00:01:09,112 and the message that Jesus is giving us 28 00:01:09,112 --> 00:01:10,296 through His sermon in Matthew. 29 00:01:10,296 --> 00:01:12,056 So, we want to pray that God would bless. 30 00:01:12,056 --> 00:01:13,566 Before I do, though, I want to welcome 31 00:01:13,566 --> 00:01:15,615 our Hope Sabbath School members 32 00:01:15,615 --> 00:01:16,610 around the world. 33 00:01:16,610 --> 00:01:17,702 Thank you for writing to us. 34 00:01:17,702 --> 00:01:21,378 You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org, 35 00:01:21,378 --> 00:01:23,088 and we're always happy to know 36 00:01:23,088 --> 00:01:25,214 how God is blessing your lives. 37 00:01:27,783 --> 00:01:28,033 Gerard writes from the Cameroon. 38 00:01:31,693 --> 00:01:33,105 He says, "Hi, Hope Sabbath School team. 39 00:01:33,105 --> 00:01:34,512 I'm a church member in the Cameroon. 40 00:01:34,512 --> 00:01:37,444 I like to spend my time studying 41 00:01:37,444 --> 00:01:39,475 with Hope Sabbath School, 42 00:01:39,475 --> 00:01:42,411 and I now have an iPhone, and I'm ready 43 00:01:42,411 --> 00:01:44,861 to get the Hope Sabbath School app." 44 00:01:44,861 --> 00:01:46,301 (Team) Amen. 45 00:01:46,301 --> 00:01:49,105 (Derek) Well, I think we have the iPhone 46 00:01:49,105 --> 00:01:53,307 Hope Sabbath School app in 137 countries, 47 00:01:53,307 --> 00:01:55,797 and we have the Android app, 48 00:01:55,797 --> 00:01:58,170 which is only more recent; 49 00:01:58,170 --> 00:02:00,136 that's, I think, in 150 countries. 50 00:02:00,136 --> 00:02:03,019 So, we're glad, Gerard, that you're 51 00:02:04,829 --> 00:02:06,398 going to get the Hope Sabbath School app 52 00:02:06,398 --> 00:02:07,303 for your iPhone, and it's great 53 00:02:07,303 --> 00:02:08,612 because you click, and the most 54 00:02:08,612 --> 00:02:10,670 recent program opens up. 55 00:02:10,670 --> 00:02:12,950 He concludes by saying, 56 00:02:12,950 --> 00:02:16,993 "Hope Sabbath School is like a river of blessing for me," 57 00:02:16,993 --> 00:02:18,252 (Team) Amen. 58 00:02:18,252 --> 00:02:19,645 (Derek) "...and I'm learning more 59 00:02:19,645 --> 00:02:20,681 about the Word of God. 60 00:02:20,681 --> 00:02:23,511 My dream is to be with you one day live 61 00:02:23,511 --> 00:02:25,533 in this amazing Bible study." 62 00:02:25,533 --> 00:02:27,724 Well, you know if you come over here 63 00:02:27,724 --> 00:02:29,796 when we're filming, Gerard, 64 00:02:29,796 --> 00:02:30,698 we would love to have you 65 00:02:30,698 --> 00:02:32,370 on our team, but you're just as much 66 00:02:32,370 --> 00:02:34,451 a part of Hope Sabbath School right there in the Cameroon. 67 00:02:34,451 --> 00:02:37,459 And I want to invite you and everyone else watching, 68 00:02:39,942 --> 00:02:41,243 think about gathering a group together. 69 00:02:42,218 --> 00:02:43,597 You can download the outline, 70 00:02:43,597 --> 00:02:44,686 the same outline that Stephanie 71 00:02:44,686 --> 00:02:45,894 will be using today in our study, 72 00:02:45,894 --> 00:02:48,395 from our website, hopetv.org/hopess. 73 00:02:48,395 --> 00:02:49,781 You can download the outline, 74 00:02:49,781 --> 00:02:51,728 or you can watch the program with a group of friends; 75 00:02:51,728 --> 00:02:54,436 hold up your iPHone for them, Gerard, 76 00:02:54,436 --> 00:02:55,467 but get a group of people watching. 77 00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:58,058 We can share what we've learned together. 78 00:02:58,058 --> 00:03:01,356 Here's a note from Pavel. 79 00:03:06,359 --> 00:03:07,306 Anybody want to guess where Pavel is from? 80 00:03:07,496 --> 00:03:08,454 (Team) Russia. 81 00:03:08,454 --> 00:03:09,659 (Derek) He's from Russia, that's right. 82 00:03:09,659 --> 00:03:10,428 How did you know? 83 00:03:10,428 --> 00:03:10,939 He says, "Greetings, Hope Sabbath School, from Russia. 84 00:03:10,939 --> 00:03:13,494 We always watch the Sabbath School discussion 85 00:03:13,494 --> 00:03:14,362 and truly enjoy it. 86 00:03:14,362 --> 00:03:16,416 Our younger daughter, Veronica, 87 00:03:16,416 --> 00:03:19,451 Consistently asks me to send you a message, 88 00:03:19,451 --> 00:03:21,116 so, here it is." 89 00:03:21,116 --> 00:03:23,588 Here comes the message from Veronica: 90 00:03:23,588 --> 00:03:25,829 "I was sitting in the kitchen 91 00:03:25,829 --> 00:03:29,723 and enjoying your songs; I like you. 92 00:03:29,723 --> 00:03:32,648 My name is Veronica, and I'm 5 years old." 93 00:03:32,648 --> 00:03:34,969 Well, it's good to know 94 00:03:34,969 --> 00:03:36,237 we have Hope Sabbath School members 95 00:03:36,237 --> 00:03:37,547 who are 5 years old, right? 96 00:03:37,547 --> 00:03:38,492 (Team) Amen. 97 00:03:38,492 --> 00:03:39,888 (Derek) Thank you, Veronica, 98 00:03:39,888 --> 00:03:40,723 for your message, 99 00:03:40,723 --> 00:03:42,367 and we hope you will sing our new 100 00:03:42,367 --> 00:03:44,841 Scripture song, "Praise Him in the Heights." 101 00:03:44,841 --> 00:03:47,429 You can download that from our website, too. 102 00:03:47,429 --> 00:03:49,491 "I'm watching you every week," 103 00:03:49,491 --> 00:03:52,827 continues Veronica, "with my mom and dad. 104 00:03:52,827 --> 00:03:56,589 Thank you for the songs. I love them and I love all of you." 105 00:03:56,589 --> 00:04:01,113 Well, thank you so much, Veronica! We love you, too. 106 00:04:01,113 --> 00:04:03,519 And your mommy and daddy, thank you 107 00:04:03,519 --> 00:04:06,592 for being part of our Hope Sabbath School there in Russia. 108 00:04:06,592 --> 00:04:09,498 It's amazing what a variety of people 109 00:04:09,498 --> 00:04:10,639 we have watching, isn't it? 110 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:12,844 Grace writes to us from China, 111 00:04:12,844 --> 00:04:16,419 and she says, "I often translate 112 00:04:16,419 --> 00:04:18,359 Hope Sabbath School for my mother 113 00:04:18,359 --> 00:04:20,832 who teaches a Sabbath School 114 00:04:20,832 --> 00:04:22,958 in a small church in Beijing. 115 00:04:22,958 --> 00:04:24,942 So, this is what we are talking about, 116 00:04:24,942 --> 00:04:26,793 making Hope Sabbath School available 117 00:04:26,793 --> 00:04:28,041 in other languages. 118 00:04:28,041 --> 00:04:30,071 It's already happening by individuals. 119 00:04:30,071 --> 00:04:32,557 Remember a recent email from someone in Russia. 120 00:04:32,557 --> 00:04:35,463 Her husband was translating for her. 121 00:04:35,463 --> 00:04:36,517 "Please pray for my family so that we 122 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:41,284 can all love and reverence God." 123 00:04:41,284 --> 00:04:42,814 Wow. 124 00:04:42,814 --> 00:04:45,047 "These days there are many temptations 125 00:04:45,047 --> 00:04:47,961 for people of all ages, especially young people. 126 00:04:47,961 --> 00:04:52,623 Pray for us so that we can have the wisdom to follow God. 127 00:04:52,623 --> 00:04:53,649 God bless you." 128 00:04:53,649 --> 00:04:55,078 Well, we'll do that, Grace. 129 00:04:55,078 --> 00:04:58,104 God bless you there in the great country of China. 130 00:04:58,104 --> 00:05:00,635 May God bless your witness to those around you. 131 00:05:00,635 --> 00:05:05,152 Here's one last really encouraging email from Christian. 132 00:05:05,152 --> 00:05:08,550 Now, that name has special significance, 133 00:05:08,550 --> 00:05:09,926 as you'll discover in a minute. 134 00:05:09,926 --> 00:05:13,392 Christian is from Malawi, and Malawi 135 00:05:13,392 --> 00:05:16,015 is right there in the heart of Africa, right? 136 00:05:16,015 --> 00:05:19,247 "Dear Saints," that's an encouraging title. 137 00:05:19,247 --> 00:05:22,644 "Dear Saints, I'm happy to God 138 00:05:22,644 --> 00:05:26,296 for using Hope Sabbath School to bring a change to my life. 139 00:05:26,296 --> 00:05:27,292 (Team) Amen. 140 00:05:27,292 --> 00:05:29,472 (Derek) This is wonderful. 141 00:05:29,472 --> 00:05:32,808 "It has really made an impact on my life 142 00:05:32,808 --> 00:05:36,243 since I grew up a Muslim, and I never 143 00:05:36,243 --> 00:05:38,165 found the truth as I found it now. 144 00:05:38,165 --> 00:05:43,068 Now I have decided to follow Jesus and be baptized. 145 00:05:43,068 --> 00:05:44,470 (Team) Amen! Praise God. 146 00:05:44,470 --> 00:05:46,524 (Derek) Wow. 147 00:05:46,524 --> 00:05:48,956 "As I am speaking, I am now 148 00:05:48,956 --> 00:05:51,538 a true believer in Bible truth. 149 00:05:51,538 --> 00:05:54,388 Thank you for the mission you're doing 150 00:05:54,388 --> 00:05:56,778 in cooperating with Jesus Christ 151 00:05:56,778 --> 00:05:59,760 in saving lost sinners like me." 152 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,303 Is that powerful? 153 00:06:02,303 --> 00:06:04,091 (Team) Amen. Praise God. 154 00:06:04,091 --> 00:06:06,460 (Derek) "May the Good Lord bless us all, 155 00:06:06,460 --> 00:06:08,203 and now you understand." 156 00:06:08,203 --> 00:06:11,830 He has another name, but he's been given a new name. 157 00:06:11,830 --> 00:06:14,028 His name is Christian. 158 00:06:14,028 --> 00:06:16,823 Thanks for writing to us, Christian, 159 00:06:16,823 --> 00:06:18,615 from Malawi, and we just want 160 00:06:18,615 --> 00:06:20,953 to praise God for the way He's leading you, 161 00:06:20,953 --> 00:06:23,482 not only for your salvation but to be 162 00:06:23,482 --> 00:06:25,437 a blessing to those around you. 163 00:06:25,437 --> 00:06:27,705 Right now we want to sing our Scripture song. 164 00:06:27,705 --> 00:06:30,897 It's word for word from Psalm 148. 165 00:06:30,897 --> 00:06:33,565 So, it's 3,000 years old, but it's got 166 00:06:33,565 --> 00:06:35,331 a new tune; I hope you'll enjoy it. 167 00:06:35,331 --> 00:06:37,585 "Praise Him in the Heights." 168 00:06:37,585 --> 00:06:39,664 Let's sing it together. 169 00:06:39,664 --> 00:06:46,788 ♪ music ♪ 170 00:08:46,103 --> 00:08:46,937 (Derek) And for those of you who don't know, 171 00:08:46,937 --> 00:08:50,265 in Hebrew "Praise the Lord" is "Hallelujah!" 172 00:08:50,265 --> 00:08:52,614 So, what a beautiful, ancient, 173 00:08:52,614 --> 00:08:55,544 Scripture song with a message with a message for us today. 174 00:08:56,675 --> 00:08:57,578 And, Stephanie, as you lead us 175 00:08:57,578 --> 00:08:59,155 in this important study, "The Sermon 176 00:08:59,155 --> 00:09:01,025 of Jesus on the Mount," I know in the end 177 00:09:01,025 --> 00:09:02,844 we are going to say, "Praise the Lord!" 178 00:09:02,864 --> 00:09:04,443 because it's really encouraging news. 179 00:09:04,789 --> 00:09:06,909 So, why don't you lead us in prayer as we begin our study. 180 00:09:07,132 --> 00:09:09,643 ((Stephanie) Let's bow our heads. 181 00:09:09,909 --> 00:09:12,233 Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much 182 00:09:14,972 --> 00:09:16,661 for giving us this opportunity to study Your Word. 183 00:09:16,661 --> 00:09:19,509 We just ask that, as we study Your Word, 184 00:09:19,509 --> 00:09:20,980 You would send Your Holy Spirit 185 00:09:20,980 --> 00:09:24,168 to guide us and to direct us, 186 00:09:24,168 --> 00:09:26,201 that at the end of the study, Lord, 187 00:09:26,201 --> 00:09:28,831 our lives would be changed, and we 188 00:09:28,831 --> 00:09:30,094 would have something to share 189 00:09:30,094 --> 00:09:31,402 with those around us. 190 00:09:31,402 --> 00:09:33,294 In Jesus' name, amen. 191 00:09:33,294 --> 00:09:34,361 (Team) Amen. 192 00:09:34,361 --> 00:09:35,777 (Stephanie) So, our study today 193 00:09:35,777 --> 00:09:38,430 is on the Sermon on the Mount 194 00:09:38,430 --> 00:09:42,028 according to Matthew, but we also know 195 00:09:42,028 --> 00:09:46,107 that Luke records this Sermon on the Mount 196 00:09:46,107 --> 00:09:51,350 as well, and there are some differences that we see. 197 00:09:51,350 --> 00:09:53,488 Before we go looking into looking 198 00:09:53,488 --> 00:09:55,831 at some verses, we do some differences 199 00:09:55,831 --> 00:10:00,188 between the account of Matthew and that of Luke. 200 00:10:00,188 --> 00:10:03,337 What can we learn from the differences 201 00:10:03,337 --> 00:10:04,871 that we see? 202 00:10:04,871 --> 00:10:09,024 Notice that Matthew is how many chapters it spans over? 203 00:10:09,024 --> 00:10:11,021 (Derek) Three whole chapters. 204 00:10:11,021 --> 00:10:12,171 (Stephanie) Three whole chapters, 205 00:10:12,171 --> 00:10:13,580 and that's over 100 verses. 206 00:10:13,580 --> 00:10:15,725 And Luke spans over how many verses? 207 00:10:15,725 --> 00:10:17,586 (Derek) I think there's 30. 208 00:10:17,586 --> 00:10:18,719 (Stephanie) Just around 30. 209 00:10:18,719 --> 00:10:21,918 So, what can we learn from the differences 210 00:10:21,918 --> 00:10:24,308 that we see there, anyone? 211 00:10:24,308 --> 00:10:25,806 (Derek) You know, Stephanie, 212 00:10:25,806 --> 00:10:27,310 it's interesting that even in the 30 verses 213 00:10:27,310 --> 00:10:29,223 of Luke some things are new. 214 00:10:29,223 --> 00:10:32,757 So, that tells me that probably 215 00:10:32,757 --> 00:10:34,846 neither of them has everything. 216 00:10:34,846 --> 00:10:36,678 If Jesus taught all day on the mount, 217 00:10:36,678 --> 00:10:40,824 that the Spirit's guiding them to share some insights. 218 00:10:40,824 --> 00:10:41,997 (Stephanie) Yes. 219 00:10:41,997 --> 00:10:43,356 (Derek) It's not a video. 220 00:10:43,356 --> 00:10:44,366 (Stephanie) That's right. 221 00:10:44,366 --> 00:10:45,870 (Derek) Guided by the Holy Spirit, 222 00:10:45,870 --> 00:10:47,584 which is interesting because then 223 00:10:47,584 --> 00:10:48,807 we ask, "Why did the Holy Spirit 224 00:10:48,807 --> 00:10:51,401 inspire Matthew to include what he did?" 225 00:10:51,401 --> 00:10:53,159 but there's probably much more. 226 00:10:53,159 --> 00:10:54,586 (Stephanie) So, we've learned that 227 00:10:54,586 --> 00:10:56,282 it's thought-inspired right? 228 00:10:56,282 --> 00:10:59,299 It's not exact word-by-word inspired. 229 00:10:59,299 --> 00:11:01,059 Was there someone else? Go ahead. 230 00:11:01,059 --> 00:11:02,545 (Kyle) It's like the four Gospels 231 00:11:02,545 --> 00:11:04,354 are all a little different because each one 232 00:11:04,354 --> 00:11:05,579 has a different perspective. 233 00:11:05,579 --> 00:11:07,750 God uses each personality to bring a new insight, 234 00:11:07,750 --> 00:11:10,175 and He puts it all together for a more complete picture. 235 00:11:10,175 --> 00:11:11,870 (Derek) And, Stephanie, I just want 236 00:11:11,870 --> 00:11:13,395 to catch you because I understand 237 00:11:13,395 --> 00:11:16,022 what you are saying about inspired versus word-for-word. 238 00:11:16,022 --> 00:11:18,227 I think Matthew and Luke are writing down the words Jesus said. 239 00:11:18,227 --> 00:11:19,025 (Stephanie) Yes. 240 00:11:19,025 --> 00:11:20,395 (Derek) So, it's a little different 241 00:11:20,395 --> 00:11:22,008 from the prophet being given a vision 242 00:11:22,008 --> 00:11:23,123 like Daniel, and he writes it 243 00:11:23,123 --> 00:11:25,121 in his own words, rather than being dictated. 244 00:11:25,121 --> 00:11:27,685 I think here Jesus may have said 245 00:11:27,685 --> 00:11:29,925 different things in different ways 246 00:11:29,925 --> 00:11:32,105 during the day, and for some reason, 247 00:11:32,105 --> 00:11:34,290 which maybe we'll discover in our study, 248 00:11:34,290 --> 00:11:37,684 Matthew decides, "I'm going to record some of these." 249 00:11:37,684 --> 00:11:39,668 By the way, he was there, right? 250 00:11:39,668 --> 00:11:41,174 He was an eye witness, Matthew. 251 00:11:41,174 --> 00:11:42,230 (Team) He was. 252 00:11:42,230 --> 00:11:43,890 (Derek) Luke has to talk to eye witnesses, 253 00:11:43,890 --> 00:11:46,738 and so he, guided by the Spirit, too, 254 00:11:46,738 --> 00:11:48,027 gets some other insights, 255 00:11:48,027 --> 00:11:51,143 but I think the Holy Spirit's definitely 256 00:11:54,059 --> 00:11:54,309 given us a reliable account of what Jesus said. 257 00:11:54,309 --> 00:11:54,620 (Stephanie) Amen. 258 00:11:55,131 --> 00:11:57,600 Is there a difference in the audience 259 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:03,343 that Matthew and Luke are speaking to? Yes, Olric. 260 00:12:03,343 --> 00:12:05,366 (Olric) Matthew's Gospel, from our research, 261 00:12:05,366 --> 00:12:09,152 is more targeted to a Jewish audience, 262 00:12:09,152 --> 00:12:12,227 so in his Gospel he tends to play up 263 00:12:12,227 --> 00:12:15,522 more Jesus' kingship, and in his rendering 264 00:12:15,522 --> 00:12:17,514 of the Sermon on the Mount it is 265 00:12:17,514 --> 00:12:21,403 a little longer than Luke's version 266 00:12:21,403 --> 00:12:22,900 because we know in those days 267 00:12:22,900 --> 00:12:25,992 a king is the person invested 268 00:12:25,992 --> 00:12:27,995 with the authority to enforce the law, 269 00:12:27,995 --> 00:12:30,586 keep the law in the land like the lawgiver. 270 00:12:30,586 --> 00:12:34,571 So he spends a little more time on that 271 00:12:34,571 --> 00:12:36,795 as opposed to Luke, who was writing more 272 00:12:36,795 --> 00:12:39,826 to Gentiles, but he wanted the Gentiles 273 00:12:39,826 --> 00:12:42,825 to see the law in a way that was 274 00:12:42,825 --> 00:12:44,177 more applicable to them. 275 00:12:44,177 --> 00:12:47,705 So he did not include many of the things that Matthew was about. 276 00:12:47,705 --> 00:12:48,832 (Stephanie) So, would you say that 277 00:12:48,832 --> 00:12:51,332 in Matthew some of the very detailed 278 00:12:51,332 --> 00:12:59,556 renditions that Matthew shares connects with the Jews? 279 00:12:59,556 --> 00:13:00,397 (Olric) Yes. 280 00:13:00,397 --> 00:13:02,400 (Stephanie) ...in a way that is powerful? 281 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:03,454 (Olric) Yes, indeed. 282 00:13:03,454 --> 00:13:04,589 (Stephanie) All right. 283 00:13:04,589 --> 00:13:07,146 Let's go ahead and jump into Matthew, chapter 5, 284 00:13:07,146 --> 00:13:10,990 and we'll read verses 17 through 19. 285 00:13:10,990 --> 00:13:14,049 And, Joshua, if you would be willing 286 00:13:14,049 --> 00:13:16,932 to read for us those first three verses 287 00:13:16,932 --> 00:13:21,355 in Matthew, chapter 5, verses 17 through 19? 288 00:13:21,355 --> 00:13:23,112 (Joshua) Absolutely, and I'll be reading 289 00:13:23,112 --> 00:13:57,147 from the New King James Version; the Bible says: 290 00:13:57,147 --> 00:13:59,690 (Stephanie) So, what are we talking about here? 291 00:13:59,690 --> 00:14:02,336 We're talking about the Law of God, right? 292 00:14:02,336 --> 00:14:03,329 (Joshua) Yeah. 293 00:14:03,329 --> 00:14:04,559 (Stephanie) This is the introduction 294 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,708 to the Law of God that Matthew is talking about. 295 00:14:07,708 --> 00:14:09,717 Let's go and look at a few more verses, 296 00:14:09,717 --> 00:14:12,568 and then we'll consider some questions 297 00:14:12,568 --> 00:14:15,467 as they relate to the verses that we read. 298 00:14:15,467 --> 00:14:19,325 In Matthew, chapter 5:21-22. 299 00:14:19,325 --> 00:14:21,134 Olric, would you read that for us, 300 00:14:21,134 --> 00:14:26,418 Matthew, chapter 5, verses 21 and 22. 301 00:14:26,418 --> 00:14:30,081 And then we'll read verses 27 and 28. 302 00:14:30,081 --> 00:15:05,629 (Olric) Reading from the New Living Translation: 303 00:15:05,629 --> 00:15:08,992 (Stephanie) Wow, that's pretty strong. 304 00:15:08,992 --> 00:15:09,704 (Olric) Verses 27 and 28? 305 00:15:25,544 --> 00:15:25,970 (Stephanie) Yes, go ahead and continue on. 306 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,818 (Stephanie) So, do you see a pattern? 307 00:15:28,266 --> 00:15:32,877 What is the pattern that you see in these verses? 308 00:15:32,877 --> 00:15:33,920 Go ahead, Tricia Lee. 309 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,098 (Tricia Lee) Well, first if we were wondering, "Well, what law 310 00:15:36,098 --> 00:15:38,477 is he talking about," it's clear as we kept reading 311 00:15:38,477 --> 00:15:40,175 that he's talking about the Ten Commandments 312 00:15:40,175 --> 00:15:41,901 that the people at the time believed 313 00:15:43,212 --> 00:15:44,353 prided themselves in being able to keep, and you start to understand 314 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 more about what Jesus meant when He said, 315 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I've come to fulfill," to give a clearer understanding 316 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of what it truly means to keep the Law. 317 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And at the time, they were more concerned 318 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 about the outward physicality of behaviors 319 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that proved that they were observing the laws, 320 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but here Jesus starts to point to what's happening in our hearts, 321 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in our minds, in our thoughts, and kind of showing that 322 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 breaking the Law or even sin doesn't just occur in an action, 323 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it kind of starts in our hearts and our minds. 324 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, again, in fulfilling that Law, He's really kind of peeling back 325 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what they thought was the reality in showing that it's much deeper 326 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 than they thought in just the behavior. 327 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 There's something that's happening in the heart that only He can come 328 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and help them fix or help them actually be. 329 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie, Team) Yes. 330 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Did you have a comment, Jason? 331 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead. 332 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Jason) Yes, I'm looking at this here, 333 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and it talks about how He didn't come 334 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to destroy but to fulfill, 335 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because Jesus could be accused 336 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of these new teachings as destroying the law, 337 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but what He's saying is, 338 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Look, I'm not destroying the Law; 339 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm showing you what it really means." 340 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, He's not saying what was said of old is untrue; 341 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's saying what was said of old, it is true, but also this. 342 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, you have a very limited picture 343 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of what the Law is, but this is 344 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a greater understanding, a greater fulfillment 345 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of what the Law truly is. 346 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And that is what He is doing here in the sermon. 347 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) He's expounding on that. 348 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Yes, Missy. 349 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Missy) From the fall of humanity, 350 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you know, they had perfection in Eden. 351 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Then came the fall. They fell so far. 352 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Humanity just, fell, fell, fell, 353 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and so, step by step, through Scripture 354 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you see how God is taking them 355 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 step by step back to His ideal 356 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 until you could see the fulfillment 357 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the Law in Christ when He came to humanity. 358 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And it was supposed to be a revelation 359 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of who God really was. You know, opening our minds 360 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to what the Law really meant. 361 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. Nathan. 362 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) Keep in mind that Matthew is writing to Jews... 363 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 364 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) ...and Moses was the great hero as the lawgiver. 365 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Moses went up on the Mount Sinai 366 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to receive the Law from God, 367 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and then he gave it to the people, 368 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and the people did their best 369 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to keep the law, but Moses was the one 370 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 who lead them out of slavery and into the Promised Land, right? 371 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, the "deliverer." 372 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ((Stephanie) Right. 373 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) Now Matthew is showing 374 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Jesus is the One who went up on the mountain 375 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and now expounds upon the Law. 376 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's the new Moses, showing them, 377 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Okay, you received the Law 378 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on the mountain from God through Moses, 379 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 now up on this mountain Jesus 380 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is saying, 'Let me show you what 381 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 this Law really means and how 382 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it applies deeply inwardly, 383 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and then you're going to be free, 384 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not just from Egypt but from the slavery of sin...' 385 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie, Team) Amen. Wow. 386 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) '...when we get to the depths 387 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of what the Law means deep in the heart.'" 388 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) And I want to go to another passage 389 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 before we leave the teaching of Jesus about the Law of God. 390 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We'll move to Matthew 5:43-48, 391 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and, Kyle, would you be willing to read that for us? 392 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew 5:43-48. 393 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Kyle) I'll be reading from the New King James Version. 394 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The Bible says: 395 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow. 396 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 There's a lot in that verse. 397 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What do you pull out from those verses? 398 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead, Joshua. 399 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Joshua) I will say that it's this aspect 400 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of Christianity that's the most difficult. 401 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You know, if you compare this sort of command from Jesus 402 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in comparison to the Ten Commandments, 403 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the Ten Commandments actually look pretty easy. 404 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You know, if you tell me I'm supposed 405 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to love my enemies, do good to those 406 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 who are persecuting me, it's like, 407 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Are you serious?" 408 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But at the same time we have to think 409 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 about the fact that people 410 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 outside of Christianity judge us based on this sort of thing, 411 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not simply how many times do you 412 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 go to church in a week or how many 413 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Bible verses do you know, 414 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but it's in our character and in the way 415 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we treat others. 416 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow, yes. Go ahead, Juliana. 417 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Juliana) Actually this summer I was 418 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 traveling around in Europe and happened 419 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to interact with an individual on a train. 420 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, somehow we got to talking about this kind of stuff, 421 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and he told me, "You know, Christianity 422 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is supposed to be so much more radical than it is. 423 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So many people, they focus just 424 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on the Ten Commandments, 425 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but what about the Sermon on the Mount?" 426 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And it kind of goes along with what 427 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you are saying, like, people 428 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from the outside are looking at us, and, it's like, wow! 429 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 This is what Christianity is supposed to be. 430 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I think that he was completely right, 431 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we should be looking a lot more 432 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 at the Sermon on the Mount for many 433 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the things of how we should 434 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 interact with other people. 435 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So isn't it interesting; 436 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think Jesus was trying to move us away 437 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from just a head knowledge to a heart knowledge, right? 438 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Yes. Amen. 439 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) A heart experience. 440 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) You know, I think, Stephanie, 441 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 something Jason said earlier is 442 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 really important because some Christians 443 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 get confused and say the Ten Commandments 444 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 doesn't matter; we just need to love, but that's absurd. 445 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That's like saying, "Don't hate people, but you can kill them." 446 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Don't lust after someone, but you can commit adultery with him or her." 447 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's not that. 448 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The Commandments stand. 449 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But, as Tricia Lee was pointing out, 450 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 God is calling us to a much higher standard. 451 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 In fact, to be honest, it's an impossible standard 452 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 if we're going to do it 453 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in our own strength because we know 454 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 how feeble we are. 455 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie, Team) Yes. 456 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) It's going to take a miracle... 457 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Exactly. 458 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) ...so that, as Joshua pointed out, 459 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 people will look, and they'll actually see 460 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Jesus reflected, right? Instead of us. 461 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) And that happens as a result 462 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the head knowledge going to our hearts, right? 463 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And that's the next section that we 464 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 want to move into, this outward conformity 465 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 versus an inward conversion. 466 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, I'd like us to move to Matthew, chapter 5, verse 20. 467 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go back to Matthew, chapter 5, verse 20, 468 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and, Missy, would you read that for us? 469 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Missy) I am reading from the New Living Translation: 470 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So, I think this is coming back 471 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to what Juliana was saying. 472 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 People expect something more than 473 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 just a check off, right? they want something real. 474 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) But it's not just the realness. 475 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Notice here he says, 476 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Unless your righteousness 477 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 exceeds their righteousness, what was 478 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 their righteousness that was not sufficient for God? 479 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Their righteousness...mind you, 480 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 righteousness means "right doing." 481 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, they had the outward expression 482 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of doing right, but at the same time 483 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the inward conversion was not there. 484 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What they were doing was not from a heart 485 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that genuinely loved God and loved people. 486 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So you find that a lot of what was being done 487 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 looked right to the folks on the outside, 488 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but God knew that the heart was not transformed. 489 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, Jesus is saying,"It's not just 490 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to do right on the outside; I want 491 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 your heart to be in the right condition also." 492 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That means that your actions 493 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 will be inspired and motivated by the right desires. 494 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So, it starts in the heart, 495 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it starts in the mind, and then our actions follow. 496 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead. 497 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Kyle) I'm just going to add onto what he said 498 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because the Pharisees, they had a scale of how... 499 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They said, "Okay, this is a sin and this 500 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is worse and worse and worse, and this is a good deed, 501 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and this one's really good, and this one's really, really good." 502 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And they almost would balance and say, 503 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "If your good deeds outweigh 504 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 your bad deeds, then you earned 505 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 righteousness in God's sight." 506 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, it was this whole outward way 507 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of building up themselves, basically, 508 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to feel like they were good and accepted by God. 509 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But Jesus comes, and He says, 510 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "That's not what it's about. 511 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Every amount of human righteousness is inadequate." 512 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The only thing is the true heart righteousness 513 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that you were talking about, Pastor Derek. 514 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That is only from the Holy Spirit. 515 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And that's a total transformation 516 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of character; true perfection in God's eyes. 517 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) By the way, those who 518 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 were listening, because we look at it, 519 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and we say, "Oh, it has to exceed 520 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the righteousness of the Pharisees." 521 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Well, we know what the righteousness 522 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the Pharisees looked like, 523 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but for those who were listening, 524 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the Pharisees were on a high level. 525 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Right. 526 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So, for them, they were 527 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 thinking, "Whoa! For us to exceed that -- 528 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we can't even match them -- how do we exceed that?" 529 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, what is Jesus trying to teach? 530 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, also another question that I 531 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 would have, too, is that, 532 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 have you ever tried to earn the favor of Christ, of God? 533 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I mean, let's be real. 534 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Have you ever been in that situation? 535 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Please be willing to share, I hope, 536 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a time when you've tried to do that. 537 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What was that like? Go ahead, Tricia Lee. 538 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) Your first question 539 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 about how could they exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. 540 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The Pharisees, you're right. 541 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They were very good at doing what the law required, 542 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and the different requirements that they made, 543 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but they did not love God, and they did not love other people 544 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 other than themselves. 545 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And we find that that was what God 546 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 was trying to teach them was that, at the heart of the commandments, 547 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 loving the Lord more than anything else 548 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and loving your neighbor as yourself, 549 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and they completely missed all of that. 550 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, the "checking of the boxes" meant nothing because they didn't love God. 551 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They crucified Him, tried to kill Him at every chance they could. 552 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They did not love their neighbors; they were the ones walking past 553 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the Samaritan on the road and these people. 554 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think that it's hard because, as humans 555 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and even as you grew up as a child, you learned that if you study hard 556 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and you get a good grade, or if you do this then you get a reward. 557 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, it goes against the way even society 558 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 runs and functions, that, if you do something then 559 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you get something. An action has an equal reaction. 560 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But here God is showing us that it really doesn't depend upon you 561 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or me or us, it all has to depend upon Christ, and that's where 562 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the faith comes in. 563 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, it's the faith, it'is the obedience, it's all depending upon Christ. 564 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's really His righteousness that's working in us. 565 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I think what happens, at least for me, is that... 566 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I'm sorry...it's just that once you are honest with yourself, 567 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and when you realize, "I keep trying, and I keep failing, 568 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that's not good enough," at some point you just have 569 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to get tired of trying and failing, and you realize it can't depend 570 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 upon me anymore. I have to reach out to somebody who I know 571 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 was successful in this life, and it was Christ. 572 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) And who has the power to do it. 573 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) Exactly. 574 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) To get us out of the mess. 575 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I think we've all been there, haven't we? 576 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team Member) Yeah! 577 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) We realize that we need Jesus. 578 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Andrea, you wanted to share? 579 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Andrea) I only wanted to reflect 580 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a little bit on your question, which was 581 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 how would we express if we have been 582 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in a similar situation, and where we felt 583 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we needed to do something in order to earn God's favor. 584 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I recall I was a teenager and have sat 585 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in church many times listening 586 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to baptismal appeals and calls to give our lives to Jesus. 587 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, as the pastor's daughter, 588 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it was something I would listen to very frequently. 589 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 However, I had the feeling or a tendency 590 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of thinking that I have to be very prepared to make that step. 591 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, for years I have resisted the call, 592 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I have considered that 593 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm not ready yet, or I'm not good enough... 594 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow. 595 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Andrea) ...until I was 17 when I started 596 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to meditate more upon this decision, 597 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and decided I have to make this step 598 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 even if I'm not feeling quite ready, 599 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and the Lord will take care of the rest. 600 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 601 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Andrea) I cannot tell you how blessed 602 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I felt afterwards. It was the best decision of my life. 603 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie, Team) Amen. 604 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) You know what Jesus said, 605 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Stephanie, in the Sermon on the Mount just a little later. 606 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He said, "Seek first the Kingdom 607 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and His righteousness." 608 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 609 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) And really what Tricia Lee 610 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is saying is righteousness is a gift, 611 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 back to that miracle of new creation 612 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we talked about in a previous study. 613 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 God is going to change us from the inside 614 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so that we are motivated by love, 615 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 even in the keeping of the Commandments. 616 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Love to God and love to those around us. 617 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And that's a miracle of the new creation. 618 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) And I believe John, 619 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 chapter 14:15 tells us a little bit about that. 620 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 John, chapter 14, verse 15. 621 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, Nathan, would you be willing 622 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to read that for us? John, chapter 14, verse 15. 623 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) Right. I'm reading from the New King James Version. 624 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 John 14 and verse 15: 625 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow. Very simple, right? 626 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team Member) Very plain. 627 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So, how does your attitude 628 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 towards God's law change when you have 629 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 this trusting, loving relationship 630 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with Jesus as your Savior and your Lord? 631 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 How does that change? Olric? 632 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) You want to keep it because, 633 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 when you have this love relationship 634 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with God, I compare it to a marriage. 635 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You know, for those who are married here on the set. 636 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You know, you have your spouse, you exchange vows and so forth. 637 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, you know, some folks, they 638 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 may be married for 7 years, 4 years, 639 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 50 years, and sometimes we question 640 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and we ask them, "How did you "guys" 641 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 maintain that relationship, 642 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that connection, the obedience to the vows?" 643 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And they just say to me, 644 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "It's very simple: I love the other person. 645 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That's why I do what I do." 646 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, when you are in that love relationship 647 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with God, you want to do the things 648 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that pleases Him the same way He likes 649 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 doing things that blesses you. 650 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, you are motivated by a love for God, 651 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is what really propels you to obedience. 652 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) The heart's been changed. 653 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) The heart's been changed. 654 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) The heart's been changed. Missy and then Nathan. 655 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Missy) I see Scripture as God 656 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in continual pursuit of humanity, 657 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Look at me; look at my face; 658 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 look at what I've done for you. Please, keep your attention on me. 659 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Look at what I've said in My Word. Get to know me." 660 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 661 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Missy) When we are able to hone in on that, 662 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the Law is a natural result of the relationship. 663 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Powerful. Nathan. 664 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) Well, I love this woman. 665 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) You better tell the people 666 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that that's your wife. 667 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) This is my wife, and, you know, 668 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 if I do something that hurts her, that hurts me. 669 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 To see my wife hurting 670 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because of something I've done 671 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 would break my heart. 672 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, when we're in love with the Lord, 673 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we realize that when we break His Law we're hurting Him. 674 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's given us His Law because He wants us to be happy. 675 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 676 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) And when I wander away 677 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from that Law that He's given, which is 678 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a Law of freedom, a Law of liberty, 679 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and it's a Law that brings joy to my life, 680 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I know that not only am I hurting myself, 681 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but I'm hurting Him. 682 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 683 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) So, my love for Him just propels 684 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 me into naturally obeying the Law 685 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because I don't want to break His heart; 686 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I don't want to hurt Him, as well. 687 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Okay, Joshua, and then 688 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we'll go to Tricia Lee, and then we have to move on. 689 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Joshua) I believe that we not only serve 690 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a holy God but we serve a practical God. 691 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, when I look at His Commandments, 692 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I see that even if I weren't a Christian 693 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it would be in my best interest to still keep these Commandments. 694 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 695 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Joshua) So, if you think about what it 696 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 would be like to murder someone, and what 697 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you would have to live with after that, 698 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and if you know what it feels like 699 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to commit adultery and see the effects 700 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of that trickling after, if you look 701 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 at each and every Law, you'll see, 702 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Wait a minute. He's not telling me 703 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to keep these Laws as hoops to jump through 704 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in order to make it into Heaven," 705 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but it's for our own good and for our best interest to keep these Laws. 706 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 707 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) Something that Missy 708 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and Joshua mentioned about getting to know God 709 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and what's in our best interest, 710 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think that the Devil's deception is that we would think of God as someone 711 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 who is out to get us, someone that cannot be trusted. 712 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And if He's a being that is not to be trusted or, you know, 713 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 wants to hurt us, then I don't care about what He's saying, I don't care 714 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 about His Laws, (that breaking them) is not good for me. 715 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When we do exactly what Missy is saying, 716 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 try to get to know Him, allow Him to enter our lives, and we see who He is, 717 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 like, how Jesus came, the best example and revelation of the Father, 718 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He lived a whole life, when we see the life of Christ, 719 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 how could we not want to be more like Him? 720 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 How could we not want to see truly who the Father is, 721 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and then everything He's saying starts to make sense as things for our benefit, 722 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 as things that will help us be in a loving relationship with Him. 723 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, even Christ coming and expounding and fulfilling the Law 724 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 was us seeing the Father as who He really is, not the deception, 725 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not the lies, the angry God with lightening and thunderbolts. 726 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When we see that, then the Law starts to be something beautiful 727 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for our best interest and something that helps us be in a good, loving, 728 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 strong relationship with Him. 729 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) We have full confidence... 730 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) Yeah, yeah. 731 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) ...that He has the best interest in mind. 732 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We need to move on to God's ideal 733 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for His children, which somewhat connects 734 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with what we've already been speaking about. 735 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew, chapter 5, verse 48, and, Nicole, 736 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 if you would be willing to read that 737 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for us, and then we'll follow it up 738 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with Luke 6:36, and, Nancy, if you would read that one after Matthew 5:48. 739 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nicole) Okay, Matthew 5:48. 740 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm reading it from the New International Version, and the Bible says: 741 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) And then Luke 6:36. 742 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We're looking at these two in conjunction with each other. 743 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nancy) Okay, and this is from the New King James Version. 744 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) All right, what is Jesus asking us to do? 745 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Be like God. 746 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) To be like God. 747 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's asking us, may I mention it this way: 748 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's asking us to do the impossible without Him. 749 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It would be impossible without Him. 750 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You understand what I'm saying? 751 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But He's giving us the strength to do it, 752 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so, it's not impossible, but without Him, 753 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 if we're trying to do it as only head knowledge, it is going to be impossible. 754 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) And, you know, Stephanie, 755 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sometimes people read that like, 756 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Be perfect," and think that's the way to 757 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 make God love us, right? 758 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Never quite good enough. 759 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That's not what it's saying at all. 760 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Right. 761 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) That's why Luke's wording 762 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is different is important. 763 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's saying, "I want you to reflect 764 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the beauty of my Father's character." 765 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And what does it look like? 766 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Jesus said, "If you want to know 767 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what the Father is like, look at Me." 768 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, He's saying, "I want you to reflect my character to the world," 769 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that is not to earn His love. 770 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He already loves us. It's out of that loving relationship. 771 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. Go ahead, you wanted to say something. 772 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Andrea) I also wanted to add 773 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to what Elder Morris said, that this perfection that God is calling us to 774 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is not so much a state of sinlessness 775 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 as the spiritual maturity to which we need 776 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to attain, and the Lord can help us to attain that. 777 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, of course, at each state 778 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the Christain's experience, 779 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 there is a different level of maturity 780 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because what is perfect for a grade one student to add 2 + 2 781 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is not perfect for a grade five student 782 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and to a grade eight student. 783 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So this perfection is where we are at; 784 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 if we just fulfill what God requires us to do at that stage, 785 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we have attained to God's ideal. 786 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. All right, Olric. 787 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Let me encapsulate what she's saying. 788 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 At each stage, God reveals light to us. 789 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He reveals more of Himself to us. 790 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Perfection that is being talked about here 791 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is the progressive state of growth, Christian maturity. 792 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 A plant starts out as a seedling, 793 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but then it grows to a big tree and bears fruit. 794 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 A baby starts off walking on fours 795 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and mumbling, but eventually they grow, and they walk on legs, 796 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and now they can talk well and do things for themselves. 797 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 There is maturing; there is growth. 798 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 God's ideal of perfection is that you should continually grow. 799 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Not that you reach a stage here, 800 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 where, "Hah! You're perfect. Now you don't need to go any further." 801 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 No. 802 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 His idea of perfection is progressive Christian maturity. 803 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So, let me... Go ahead, go ahead, Kyle. 804 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Kyle) You know, somebody might be worried, 805 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Well, I'm not perfect, and I have all these faults," 806 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and my only thing I think we could all say: "Look to Jesus." 807 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie/Team) Yes. 808 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Kyle) Look to Jesus, because Jesus, 809 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ?as we look to Him, "If ye love Me, 810 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 keep My Commandments," He says. 811 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The only way that we can truly grow 812 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in likeness to Him is to fall in love 813 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with Him, and how do we fall in love with Him? 814 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 By looking to Him, spending time with Him. 815 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie/Team) Yes. 816 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Kyle) That is so key because otherwise 817 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we're just going to try to earn our righteousness, 818 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that will never get us anywhere. 819 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, we must look to Jesus. 820 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek/Team) Amen. Yes. 821 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Beautiful, beautiful. 822 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, my question, I think we already have 823 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 an answer for it, but my question is: 824 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Is this a means of salvation 825 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or an evidence of a living, loving connection with Jesus? 826 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Simple. 827 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's an evidence of a living connection 828 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with Jesus, not a means to salvation. 829 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) All right. 830 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Will you share with us a verse that supports that? 831 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Galatians 2, verses... 832 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Galatians, chapter 2. 833 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, Olric, you'll go ahead and read 834 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Galatians, chapter 2, I believe, 20 and 21. 835 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Galatians, chapter 2, verses 20 and 21? 836 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 837 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Reading from the New Living Translation, 838 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the Word of God says: 839 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow. 840 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Another verse, another promise that we can share. 841 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Someone out there, as Kyle was saying, 842 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 may be wondering, "How do I do this?" 843 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "How is this practical?" 844 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Yes. 845 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) Let me just say people may not know who wrote the Galatian letter, 846 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul the Apostle, 847 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 he had gone down that road of trying to earn righteousness. 848 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie/Team): Yes. 849 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) He said, "I was flawless," you know? 850 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But he was killing people who believe in Jesus. 851 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 852 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) So, he understands the miracle of his changed heart. 853 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I just want to emphasize, 854 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I know it is one stage and then another, 855 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but it's a miracle at every stage. 856 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie/Team): Amen. Yes. 857 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) For us to be who God's calling us to be, is a miracle. 858 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) It is. 859 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) And Paul would be the first one 860 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to say that it is a miracle. 861 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That's why he says that if anyone is in Christ, 862 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 she or he is a new creation. 863 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 864 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) Because he's seen it himself. 865 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 866 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) It's key that in that verse 867 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is mentioned Christ now lives in me. 868 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He says, "It is no longer I who live, but I died. 869 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I surrender self and the old way, 870 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I accept Christ in my heart, 871 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and He changes me internally. 872 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Now what I do is motivated by love." 873 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, it is very important to see the transformation. 874 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Would you share with us 875 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a time when you experienced 876 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or you saw someone who represented 877 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the character of Christ. 878 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What impact did that have on you? 879 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You saw someone had the character of Christ. 880 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What was the impact on you, or what was 881 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the impact when someone saw 882 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the character of Christ in you? 883 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What impact did that have on you? 884 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) Stephanie, I was 7 years old... 885 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Go ahead. 886 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) Oh good, if I can just share real briefly. 887 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ...and my teacher in Form 2 (this is back in the UK) 888 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 was full of the love of Jesus. 889 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I was only privileged to go 890 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to a Christian school for four years, 891 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but that one year with Christine Emmerson 892 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 my teacher changed my life... 893 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow. 894 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) ...because she was full of the love of God. 895 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And when you see that, and I think 896 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that's the ultimate witness, it's not just what we say. 897 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When the love of God fills a heart, 898 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we just say, "I just want to be like that," 899 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that person says, "Well, I'm 900 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a follower of Jesus, so follow Him." 901 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 902 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Reflecting the light of Jesus. Nancy. 903 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nancy) My dad is full of the love of Jesus. 904 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And, you know, what he does is he studies 905 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the Bible in the morning, a chapter 906 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the morning, and a chapter 907 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the evening, a chapter in the New, a chapter in the Old. 908 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I like to think about it 909 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 as him "marinating" his life in Jesus, you know? 910 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's a cooking term, when you take 911 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 some meat or some tofu, and you put it, 912 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you know, in all of those sauces and things. 913 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Well, that's what he does with his life, 914 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and so everything he does is covered in Jesus. 915 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Amen. 916 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nancy) He's been a great example to me. 917 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek/Stephanie) Amen. 918 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Praise God. 919 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) I'm guessing that he's been 920 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on his knees praying often, 921 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I think that's the section that 922 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we want to move into next. 923 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We've talked about the head knowledge, 924 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that it reaches our hearts, 925 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and, as a result, our hands or our actions 926 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 produce what has already happened inside. 927 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Now we are going to talk about how we sustain that, 928 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that is by spending time with God in prayer. 929 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, Juliana, if you would read 930 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew, chapter 6, verses 5 through 13. 931 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew chapter 6, verses 5 through 13, 932 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 talking about Jesus teaching on prayer. 933 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Juliana) I'm reading from the New King James Version: 934 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie/Team) Amen. 935 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) What important lessons 936 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 can we learn about prayer from Jesus' example? 937 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead, Tricia Lee. 938 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) We're counseled not to have vain repetitions, 939 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so, there were practices that heathens had at the time but also was part 940 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the religious practices to repeat certain things. 941 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "The more I say it, then the more likely God will hear," 942 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but here this model, in its simplest way, is a conversation. 943 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think, even in talking to God, we are acknowledging that He's hearing us. 944 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We're not just saying phrases out, and hoping they go somewhere. 945 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We're actually speaking to another Being who can hear and understand 946 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and wants to have a conversation with us. 947 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So, we have full confidence 948 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the Person that we love and trust. 949 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) Yes. 950 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 951 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Nathan, and then we'll go to Olric. 952 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) I can't miss the distinction 953 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Jesus is making between people who pray 954 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to be seen by others, and it's not just 955 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what they say but where they are when they are saying it. 956 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They're out on the street corners, 957 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 versus people who are praying in secret. 958 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He says, "Go into your room and pray 959 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to your Father who is also in secret." 960 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, in other words, what He's showing us 961 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 here is this is an intimate time. 962 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm sorry if this sounds a little 963 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 too far fetched, but just like 964 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a married couple behind closed doors 965 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and the intimacy that they share. 966 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They are having quiet time or conversation, you know. 967 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 No one else is there, and this is 968 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the same way, He says, "With your Father 969 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in Heaven, you are behind closed doors, intimate communion." 970 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's just you and Him. 971 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You're not showing off to the world. 972 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You're not doing this before others. 973 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You're having quiet time. 974 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, Jesus wants us to be having 975 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 intimate communion with our Father quietly. 976 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Just to think that 977 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's willing to spend quiet time with us. 978 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Amen. 979 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) The God of the universe. 980 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I mean, think about that. That's powerful. 981 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) It's very key that Nathan 982 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 points that out because in verse 16 of that same chapter 983 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He uses the word "hypocrite." 984 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He says, "Don't fast as the hypocrites do." 985 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That word is a key word, 986 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because in the Greek it means an "actor," 987 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you know, someone who puts on a show, a performance. 988 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, what is Jesus saying about these individuals who pray to be heard 989 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 by many people or use many words to look religious and so forth? 990 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's saying, "You're just acting," 991 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and my Bible says to me, "If you harbor 992 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 iniquity in your heart, God will not hear your prayers." 993 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 This was a problem with the religious leaders and those who were doing it 994 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for outward show; the heart wasn't right. 995 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Right, He was asking 996 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for an inward change. 997 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead, Nicole. 998 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nicole) Just to take it a little differently, 999 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you can also teach someone how to pray, 1000 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so when I look at this verse and I look at this text, 1001 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think about children and make sure 1002 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we instill within our children 1003 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the desire to pray and the need to pray. 1004 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have to teach them how to pray 1005 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and how to spend that time with God, 1006 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so they can then grow to a place 1007 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 when they can spend that quiet time in their "closets" 1008 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 knowing what they're to say. 1009 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So I think that we should really remember 1010 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we all have to teach our children how to pray. 1011 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) I agree. 1012 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) That's true. 1013 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) You know, I'm thinking, in the light of what Nathan said, 1014 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the little book "Steps to Christ," 1015 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it speaks about prayer as the opening 1016 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the heart to God as to a friend. 1017 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That's very personal. 1018 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Even the Lord's prayer could become 1019 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a vain repetition, if you just repeat it ten times 1020 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and think that God will hear you by saying it 10 times. 1021 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 In fact, if you look at the Gospels, 1022 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Jesus prays a lot of different prayers. 1023 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) He does. 1024 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) He is opening His heart to His Father as to a friend. 1025 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I think what I'm hearing 1026 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in this great Sermon on the Mount, 1027 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 just like with loving obedience, 1028 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is when you love God you want to talk to Him. 1029 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. 1030 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) And you want to listen, too. 1031 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) You have an open communication. 1032 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Juliana, and then we need to move on. 1033 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Juliana) I was just going to say really succinctly 1034 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that what this says to me, 1035 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I guess why I choked up trying to read it, 1036 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 was that it says we have a direct connection. 1037 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team Member) Amen. 1038 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Juliana) We don't have anything else in the way. 1039 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) That's right. 1040 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Juliana) That the God of the universe 1041 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 wants to talk to me and wants me to talk to Him. 1042 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) Amen. 1043 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Wow, that's powerful. 1044 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Let's move on; Matthew, chapter 7. 1045 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thank you so much for sharing. 1046 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew, chapter 7, and we'll go to verse 24 to 27, 1047 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and, Jason, would you read that for us? 1048 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew, chapter 7, and we're moving 1049 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 into our last section of our study 1050 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is "Living What We Learn." 1051 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead. 1052 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Jason) I'll be reading from the New King James Version, 1053 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Matthew, chapter 7, verse 24 through 27. 1054 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) What is Jesus' appeal in these verse? 1055 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What is Jesus' appeal? Missy. 1056 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Missy) Trust and obey, Just to listen 1057 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to what He has to say and do them. 1058 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's just simple. 1059 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Yes. Go ahead, Joshua. 1060 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Joshua) I would just say to build 1061 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 your foundation on Christ. 1062 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Essentially, if you look at family structures, 1063 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it never made sense to me as to why 1064 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 atheists get married, you know? 1065 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Think about it just for a second. 1066 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Just picture that in your mind for a minute. 1067 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 How is it, if you're not focused 1068 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on the love of Christ and the beauty 1069 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of His Word and the understanding 1070 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of His heart rather than your own, 1071 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 how is it that you can unite yourself 1072 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in a marriage and try to build your family 1073 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on a structure that cannot stand, 1074 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that's built on worldly principles that are like sand? 1075 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They can change at any time. 1076 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They are weak. They are futile. 1077 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, when I think about that in my own life, 1078 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I say, "Okay, I have to build my foundation on Christ." 1079 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 1080 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Joshua) Because outside of that, 1081 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 everything else is just going to be a wreck, you know, 1082 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and it's really that simple. 1083 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think it's a lesson to us to just say, 1084 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Okay, let's going about things 1085 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the smartest way possible," and this is it. 1086 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 1087 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Nathan and then we'll come up to Kyle. 1088 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Nathan) Jesus is comparing two kinds of people here. 1089 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Both of them heard His Word. He says, 1090 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Whoever hears these sayings of Mine 1091 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and does them," and then He says later, 1092 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Whoever hears these sayings and does not do them." 1093 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So it's not about just hearing and knowing, 1094 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's actually about putting it in practice. 1095 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He says, "The one who puts into practice 1096 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 these teachings of Mine, this is 1097 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 solid rock foundation that you can 1098 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 build on, and it's trustworthy, so build on this. 1099 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But if you hear it and don't do it, 1100 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 whatever you're building on is like sand." 1101 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Right. 1102 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's not a solid foundation. 1103 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) You won't make it through the storm. 1104 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Kyle. 1105 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Kyle) I'll just add to what Nathan said. 1106 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Just to think that this whole time 1107 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in Matthew 5 we've been looking at, you know, 1108 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Jesus' standard of righteousness versus 1109 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what our human standard is. 1110 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And if we build our lives on our own righteousness, 1111 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on our own works, then it's like sand. 1112 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have no real foundation. 1113 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The only Rock is the Rock of Christ's righteousness 1114 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that can get us through the storm. 1115 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, you know, it all connects; 1116 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's dependence upon Him, 1117 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 even the prayer thing. 1118 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Prayer is all about dependence on God, 1119 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and depending on His righteousness, 1120 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on His character in our hearts, 1121 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 will give us the foundation that will 1122 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 carry us through that storm. 1123 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Amen. 1124 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Tricia Lee, did you have a comment you wanted to share? 1125 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) I was just reflecting on what Juliana mentioned about the invitation 1126 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to connect with the Lord, "our Father." 1127 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Even in reading this, I just feel as though personally I would be a fool 1128 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not to accept that invitation, that the great God of the universe came, 1129 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sent His Son, went to all this length to show me who He really was, 1130 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to show me what His Law means, to show me how to love other people, 1131 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 who wants to love me and wants to accept my love to Him, 1132 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and He's just giving me the simple way to Him 1133 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that I have to be kind of silly in seeing all of this and then saying, 1134 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "No, I'd rather build it my own way." 1135 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It just really feels like it's just a heart-felt invitation, and that, wow, 1136 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 how do I respond to that. I was just thinking about that. 1137 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) So I want to move on. 1138 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have one more verse to read, 1139 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that's John, chapter 13:17. 1140 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'll ask Tricia Lee if you would read that for us. 1141 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The question is, why does Jesus want 1142 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 us to live in harmony with His Word? 1143 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) John, chapter 13, verse 17. 1144 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm reading from the New King James Version, and it reads: 1145 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Tricia Lee, I think that is 1146 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what you were talking about. 1147 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Tricia Lee) It's a blessing. 1148 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) God wants us to be happy. 1149 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Amen. Yes. 1150 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) It has to go from the head 1151 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to the heart, to the hands, and to the "how." 1152 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 How do I do that? 1153 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 By spending time with Jesus 1154 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and falling in love with my Savior and Lord. 1155 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Then what happens? 1156 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When you're sharing with others, 1157 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 doesn't it make you happy? 1158 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You're in the will of God. 1159 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 There's no better peace than that. 1160 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Go ahead, Olric. 1161 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Olric) Let me just wrap this study here together. 1162 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We see clearly Jesus is saying, 1163 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "The law is important, you must keep it, 1164 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but I don't want you to keep it 1165 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from an unconverted heart because 1166 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to do that is to do it with a heart 1167 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is not connected to the love of God, 1168 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is devoid of the right motives and right thoughts." 1169 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, keep the Law but make sure the heart is converted. 1170 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Why? 1171 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Because when you do that you build your faith. 1172 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) Our faith is built upon the Rock, yes. 1173 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And our eyes are fixed on Jesus,... 1174 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Amen. 1175 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Stephanie) ...the Author and Finisher of our faith, 1176 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and we share that with joy in our hearts. 1177 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What a God. What a God we serve. 1178 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thank you so much for this lesson 1179 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and for sharing today. 1180 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) Thanks, Stephanie. 1181 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You know, the Sermon on the Mount ends 1182 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 by saying they were astonished 1183 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 at His teaching because He taught as One 1184 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 having authority, and really our authority 1185 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 comes from that living connection with God, doesn't it? 1186 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Team) Amen. 1187 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (Derek) And I want to challenge you, 1188 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 as you think about this message, 1189 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I have to be honest. 1190 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 If I look at God's ideal, it's an impossible standard 1191 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unless a miracle happens in my heart, 1192 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that God's grace not only saves me 1193 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but transforms me into that follower 1194 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of Jesus that He wants me to be, 1195 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to reflect the beauty of His character to others. 1196 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That's God's plan for you and for me. 1197 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Why don't we pray that that miracle can happen each day, 1198 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not only for our blessing but the blessing of those around us. 1199 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Let's pray. 1200 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Our Father in Heaven, we're astonished 1201 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 at the teaching of Jesus, to know how much You love us 1202 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and how much You want to work in us and through us. 1203 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Oh, Lord, forgive us where we have tried 1204 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to build our own righteousness, 1205 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to build on sand instead of on Jesus the Solid Rock. 1206 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Please, accept our lives now 1207 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and work in us and through us 1208 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 as we follow you with love in our hearts, 1209 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is our prayer, in Jesus' name, amen. 1210 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thanks for joining us for Hope Sabbath School. 1211 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We are learning a lot from the Gospel of Matthew. 1212 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Take what you learn and share it with those around you. 1213 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ♪ theme music ♪