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00:12 ♪♪♪ 00:22 ♪♪♪ 00:35 Jean Ross: Good morning, friends. 00:36 Welcome to "Sabbath School Study Hour" here at the Granite Bay 00:38 Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sacramento, California. 00:41 I'd like to welcome our online members and our friends 00:44 who are joining us for our study time across the country 00:46 and around the world. 00:48 We started a new lesson dealing with two books 00:51 in the Old Testament, Ezra and Nehemiah. 00:54 Today we find ourselves on lesson number three, 00:57 very important study. 00:58 It's called God's Call. 01:00 Now, if you're joining us, maybe for the first time in our 01:03 Sabbath School Study Hour and you don't have a copy 01:06 of the lesson, you can download one for free. 01:09 Just simply go to lesson.aftv.org. 01:14 Again, that's lesson.aftv.org. 01:17 You'll be able to download lesson number three entitled 01:19 God's Call, and you can study along with us. 01:23 We also have a free offer we'd like to let you know about, 01:25 a book written by Pastor Doug. 01:27 It's entitled "Determining The Will Of God," and this is 01:30 our free offer for today. 01:32 If you would like to receive it, the number to call is 01:35 866-788-3966 and you want to ask for Offer Number 778, or you can 01:42 download a copy of the book for free by simply texting the code 01:47 SH025 to the number 40544. 01:53 You'll then get a link as to where you can go to download 01:55 a copy of the book, "Determining The Will Of God." 01:58 We'd also like to welcome our regular church members right 02:02 here in our church this morning. 02:04 We're glad you're here, here to study the Word together. 02:08 But before we get to our lesson, I'd like to invite our song 02:10 leaders to come and they're going to be leading us 02:12 in our song for our study time today. 02:15 ♪♪♪ 02:25 female: Happy Sabbath. 02:27 The song this morning is 524, 02:29 "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus." 02:33 ♪♪♪ 02:38 ♪ 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, ♪ 02:43 ♪ just to take Him at His word; ♪ 02:48 ♪ just to rest upon His promise, ♪ 02:53 ♪ just to know, Thus saith the Lord. ♪ 02:58 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! ♪ 03:03 ♪ How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! ♪ 03:09 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! ♪ 03:14 ♪ O for grace to trust Him more! ♪ 03:21 ♪ O how sweet to trust in Jesus, ♪ 03:25 ♪ just to trust His cleansing blood; ♪ 03:30 ♪ just in simple faith to plunge me ♪ 03:35 ♪ 'Neath the healing, cleansing flood! ♪ 03:40 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! ♪ 03:45 ♪ How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! ♪ 03:51 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! ♪ 03:56 ♪ O for grace to trust Him more! ♪ 04:02 ♪ Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, ♪ 04:07 ♪ just from sin and self to cease; ♪ 04:12 ♪ just from Jesus simply taking life and rest, ♪ 04:19 ♪ and joy and peace. ♪ 04:22 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! ♪ 04:27 ♪ How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! ♪ 04:32 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! ♪ 04:38 ♪ O for grace to trust Him more! ♪ 04:44 ♪ I'm so glad I learned to trust thee, ♪ 04:49 ♪ precious Jesus, Savior, friend; ♪ 04:54 ♪ and I know that thou art with me, ♪ 04:59 ♪ wilt be with me to the end. ♪ 05:04 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! ♪ 05:10 ♪ How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! ♪ 05:15 ♪ Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! ♪ 05:21 ♪ O for grace to trust Him more! ♪♪ 05:33 Jean: Dear Father in heaven, we thank You once again that 05:35 we're able to gather together in Your house on this beautiful 05:37 Sabbath that You've given us to open up Your Word and study 05:40 a very important lesson, something dealing with the call 05:43 that You're given to us as individuals to share the gospel, 05:47 to be Your ambassadors here in this world. 05:50 So, bless our time, bless our study today. 05:52 For we ask this in Jesus's name, amen. 05:55 Our lesson this morning is going to be brought to us 05:58 by Pastor Luccas, our youth pastor here at Granite Bay. 06:01 Thank you, Pastor. 06:03 Luccas Rodor: Happy Sabbath. 06:05 It's so good to be here with you all. 06:07 Today's lesson is a very beautiful lesson. 06:09 I hope you've studied throughout this week. 06:12 It's a beautiful lesson, a deep study actually 06:14 about God's calling for our life. 06:16 And that being said, I'd just like to emphasize this free 06:20 offer and the reason for that is because determining the will of 06:24 God is exactly what we're going to be talking about today. 06:27 It's the grand theme of our study this, this past week. 06:34 Since we started this new lesson, you might have noticed 06:37 that it's a very deep lesson. 06:39 It's a very historical lesson. 06:41 It talks a lot about dates. 06:43 It talks a lot about events in history, about names. 06:45 There are certain prophets and kings here that are connected. 06:49 So, you really need to study at home because well, if you show 06:52 up just for Sabbath school, or if you only listen to the 06:55 Sabbath School lesson in, you know, in 40 minutes, 06:58 you will miss out on a lot. 07:00 So, don't forget to study at home. 07:02 We're going to get right into it. 07:04 We're going to have a brief recap right now about the 07:06 previous two lessons, the previous two weeks since they're 07:10 the beginning of what we're going to talk about today. 07:13 Now, the previous two lessons, they introduce the main Bible 07:17 themes that we're going to be studying throughout the next 07:21 quarter, the main Bible themes and the main Bible characters. 07:24 So, we know that Ezra and Nehemiah, they play the decisive 07:28 role in what we're going to be studying throughout 07:30 the whole quarter. 07:32 But we also understand that as we're told by Prophet Jeremiah, 07:36 we know that after 70 years-- and again, this is a recap. 07:40 After 70 years, he had prophesied that 07:43 what would happen? 07:45 The exile would end, the children of Israel would be able 07:48 to return home to Jerusalem to Israel. 07:51 And this is a process that begins in the year 606 and 605, 07:55 and it goes down to 537 and 536 B.C. 07:59 Now, the important thing here, and, of course, 08:01 the dates are important. 08:03 The names are important, but the most important thing is 08:05 for you to understand this week is that God calls 08:09 and God uses people in His plan. 08:12 Ultimately, this story, this lesson, it's not about Ezra. 08:15 It's not about Nehemiah. 08:17 It's not about Artaxerxes or about, you know, 08:19 Darius or Cyrus. 08:20 Ultimately, this study is about how God calls us 08:23 and how God has perfect control and sovereignty over time. 08:28 God knows when things need to happen. 08:32 And we see that through this study 08:34 where God uses multiple people. 08:36 The Lord uses Jeremiah, the Lord uses Ezra, Nehemiah. 08:39 The Lord uses Zerubbabel. 08:41 He uses even pagan kings such as Cyrus and Darius, you know, 08:44 and Xerxes and Artaxerxes. 08:46 So, we see that God, He is limitless. 08:49 God has no limits. 08:50 He can use anyone, and you know what that means? 08:52 That means that He can even use me and you. 08:55 Isn't that beautiful? 08:56 He can use even me, and He can use even you. 08:59 Now, they say that the two most important days in anyone's life 09:04 are, first of all, the day that you're born. 09:07 That's a very important day, right? 09:09 The day you're born. 09:10 And secondly, the day you find out why you were born, 09:14 the day you figure out your purpose. 09:16 What have you been born for? 09:18 Why did God create you? 09:20 Now, this question, this aspect of life has to do with God's 09:25 calling, the calling of God. 09:27 Now, each person is individuals. 09:29 Each individual is a singular exclusive, unique being. 09:34 Your father's DNA links to your mother's DNA, but the product, 09:39 it's not a copy of the parents, is it? 09:41 I know I'm not a copy of my mom or my dad. 09:46 The product, the end product, it's not a direct copy. 09:49 What comes out in the end is a unique, an exclusive, 09:53 a singular being. 09:55 And your singularity, this is what the Bible teaches, your 09:58 singularity, your uniqueness, reaches its maximum potential, 10:02 its maximum potential, when you understand that you are unique 10:08 and when you submit your life, when you submit your talents 10:12 and your gifts to God's will, when you strive to understand 10:17 what His will is for your life. 10:19 And we find this over again in the Bible. 10:21 We find that many times there are 10:23 different people writing mystified. 10:26 For example, we find the psalmist in Psalm 39 saying, 10:28 "Your eyes have seen my substance, being yet unformed. 10:33 And in Your book, they are all written." 10:36 Mystified, the psalmist writes. 10:38 Look, You've seen all the days of my life. 10:40 To Ananias in the Book of Acts in the New Testament, 10:42 we find the Lord saying, speaking about the calling 10:45 of Paul now, God says, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine." 10:50 Now, do you think that God's foreknowledge, that His, God 10:55 seeing the future, do you think that that only applies 10:57 to Paul and to David? 10:59 Of course not, that applies to all of us. 11:02 The Bible tells us that the Lord, He has counted our days. 11:06 He knows what is going to happen. 11:08 And this foreknowledge, in this foreknowledge, He has a plan, 11:12 a plan even for me and for you, a mission for me and for you. 11:19 It's also not surprising that when we frustrate God's plan, 11:26 when we go outside of what His will is for our life, 11:30 it's a it's a big disaster, isn't it? 11:32 We see that it also in the Bible. 11:34 For example, King Saul, God had a plan, didn't He? 11:38 And King Saul frustrated that plan. 11:41 And look at the end, it was disastrous. 11:44 Look at Jonah. 11:47 How--what would have happened, let's imagine, what would have 11:50 happened if he hadn't run away at first, if he had gone? 11:55 We know that the Lord did end up saving the Ninevites, 11:57 but we find a very, a very sour, a very unhappy prophet 12:05 at the end of the book. 12:07 What would have happened if he had submitted his will 12:09 to the Lord? 12:11 When we frustrate God's plan, only disaster comes from that, 12:14 only disaster comes from that. 12:17 The question that we have to come out from all of this study, 12:20 the true question, and we're going to get into it. 12:22 But I want you to ask yourself this, not only now, 12:25 but throughout the week, the question that we have 12:28 to have after a study like this is, "Well, then what is God's 12:31 calling from my life? 12:33 What does He want from me?" 12:35 I really believe that one of the most important prayers 12:37 that anyone can pray throughout their life is, 12:39 "Lord, where do I fit in? 12:41 What is my place in Your plan?" 12:44 I'm sure that many of you, if not all, have prayed that 12:48 or asked the Lord that in one moment or another in your life. 12:51 I know I have multiple times. 12:53 I still pray it sometimes. 12:54 What is Your will, Father, for my life? 12:57 What do You want? 12:58 Show me my place according to Your will. 13:01 He has for each person, a very special place 13:04 in His grand plan for the human race. 13:07 And what's more, all are called, everyone is called, 13:10 and some are called for very decisive roles. 13:14 Some of us are called for very decisive roles. 13:18 Ezra and Nehemiah, that's what we study, you know, 13:21 in this whole lesson and this week, Ezra and Nehemiah, 13:23 they were called for different functions. 13:25 They had different abilities, different backgrounds, training, 13:28 different personalities. 13:30 Ezra, for example, he was a scribe. 13:32 The Bible tells us in Ezra 7:10, the Bible tells us his attitude. 13:37 Look at what we read here, "For Ezra had prepared his heart 13:41 to seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach statutes 13:44 and ordinances in Israel." 13:47 So Ezra, he knew what he was good at, 13:49 and that's also something important in life. 13:50 What talents, what gifts has God given you? 13:53 Recognize them and employ them in the service of the King, 13:56 in the service of heaven. 13:58 So Ezra, the Bible tells us that he determined 14:00 his heart to seek the law of the Lord. 14:03 And not only to seek it, there are many of us 14:05 that only study the Bible. 14:07 Is that enough? 14:09 It's not, because when you study the Bible, 14:13 you're not studying something abstract. 14:16 It's not an abstract study. 14:17 You're studying the person, you're getting to have 14:19 a relationship with Him. 14:21 And because of that, you want to teach, 14:23 you want to show other people. 14:25 And this is what happens to Ezra. 14:26 The Bible tells us that Ezra, he determined his heart, 14:30 not only to study the law of the Lord, but to do what else? 14:33 To teach it, to teach it. 14:36 And so, he was using a very decisive role. 14:39 The New Testament gives us three lists, 14:41 three major lists of gifts. 14:43 And of course, God, He can add more gifts 14:46 to these lists. 14:47 Is God limited to the gifts that we find here in the Bible? 14:50 Of course not. 14:52 If any new need should arise, the Lord would add more and more 14:55 and more gifts to these lists. 14:59 But we find that the supreme gift, 15:01 the supreme fruit, is what? 15:03 The fruit of the Spirit. 15:05 We find in Galatians 5:22 and 23, we find what the Lord says 15:10 about this, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 15:14 longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 15:16 gentleness, self-control. 15:18 And what I mean to say by this is, we can't all have 15:20 the same gifts. 15:22 You know, some people are good at singing. 15:26 I know I'm not, I wish I was. 15:28 That's not my gift. 15:31 My gift isn't singing. 15:32 There's some people that can preach, that can teach. 15:34 Other people are amazing greeters. 15:36 Now, we don't all have the same gifts. 15:39 To some, the gift of singing was given. 15:41 To others, the gift of preaching or teaching was given. 15:43 To others, the gift of greeting. 15:46 To others, the gift of being a good host, of being a good 15:48 companion, of listening. 15:50 Have you ever been around someone that's a good listener, 15:52 that can hear you very well? 15:54 Some people have that gift. 15:56 Now, we can't all have these gifts, but the supreme fruit of 15:58 the Spirit, that is something that God expects of us. 16:01 Love, that is something that we should all have because that's 16:04 not something that you can live as a Christian without. 16:08 A great problem to many Christians is that many, 16:11 and I don't know what kind of Christian you are. 16:13 I know that sometimes I even do this. 16:15 But many Christians, they spend their time lamenting a gift 16:18 that they don't have. 16:20 "Lord, why couldn't I sing better? 16:22 Lord, why couldn't I teach better? 16:24 Oh, Lord, why couldn't I be bold enough to greet?" 16:26 Have you ever done something like that? 16:28 Kind of complained to God, "Lord, look at that person 16:30 singing so beautifully. 16:32 How I wish I could do that." 16:34 I've done that a few times after hearing myself sing and then, 16:37 "Lord, why can I sing better?" 16:39 Many Christians, they spend a lot of time complaining for the 16:42 gifts that they don't have and in the end, they don't employ, 16:45 they don't use the gifts that they do have. 16:48 What did we learn from the the parable of the talents 16:51 in the Bible? 16:53 The one who used his gift, more was given to him, 16:56 more gifts were given. 16:58 And the one that didn't use it, well, what happened? 17:01 He lost, even what he had, he lost. 17:03 So, do you want more gifts? 17:05 Do you want more responsibility? 17:07 Use what you have. 17:08 Start with what you have in your hands. 17:10 The calling of Ezra and Nehemiah, they were beautiful 17:14 callings for decisive roles. 17:15 Ezra was able to use his gift to train and to teach the children 17:19 of Israel for 13 years in Jerusalem and those 17:22 must not have been easy years for Ezra. 17:26 He went there, and he taught those people. 17:28 The Bible says, and the word here is word qum in Hebrew, 17:32 to determine his heart. 17:34 And due to this, the Lord was able to use him powerfully. 17:36 Nehemiah had a different personality. 17:40 When you find Nehemiah, he had a strong, almost aggressive, 17:42 isn't it right, almost aggressive personality. 17:45 And that the traits, the character traits, the talents 17:48 that God gave him, they were different from Ezra, 17:50 but they were no less important because to Nehemiah 17:53 the gift of leadership was given. 17:56 Even before he arrives in Jerusalem, he had to rack up 17:59 the, you know, the nerve, the boldness, 18:01 the courage to speak to whom? 18:03 To the king, to Artaxerxes and ask him to allow him to go. 18:08 And how long did he pray for this? 18:10 What does the lesson say? 18:12 He had pray for about four months. 18:14 He heard the news coming from Jerusalem that, and we studied 18:16 this last week, he heard the news that the things, 18:19 things were not going. 18:21 They were not happening in Jerusalem and he cried, 18:23 and he prayed, and he poured himself before the Lord. 18:25 And he was waiting for the right moment. 18:27 And because he was a cupbearer, he had a good contact 18:29 with the king. 18:31 He had proximity to the king. 18:33 One day the king came and said and saw that he was sad, 18:35 and said, "Well, why are you sad?" 18:36 Now, the Bible says that Nehemiah had that moment. 18:39 He did what? 18:41 He prayed to the Lord. 18:43 And this is where you see the humanity of the person, 18:44 the man behind the book, you know? 18:47 Because I can't imagine this, a moment where the king comes 18:50 and says, "What's mad, you're sad." 18:52 And then he hears, "Hold on a bit, king." 18:54 He goes out, he kneels down, he prays, and then he comes back. 18:57 I don't see that happening. 18:58 I see Nehemiah. 19:00 You know that lightning prayer where he said, 19:02 "Lord, please bless me. 19:03 Lord, please help me. 19:05 Lord, please save me." 19:06 You know those lightning prayers? 19:08 I imagine Nehemiah at that moment saying, 19:10 "Lord, please use me right now," and he gets into it. 19:11 And he says, in a very diplomatic form, he says, 19:13 "You know, king, I would like to go back to help my people." 19:16 And because of his proximity, his responsibilities, the 19:18 talents that God had given him of leadership, 19:21 of administration, he was the perfect man for that job. 19:25 The team trusted him. 19:26 This was the same team that had halted the construction before. 19:30 So, Nehemiah had to be very careful of how he worded this, 19:34 but the Lord helped him. 19:35 The Lord used him. 19:37 You see, there are some gifts that are more visual 19:40 than others. 19:41 Obviously, the gifts of singing or of preaching, they're more 19:44 visual because while people are, you know, you're teaching 19:46 people, you're singing to people. 19:49 And sometimes people with more visual gifts, 19:51 they tend to belittle people with other gifts. 19:55 Imagine if perhaps Nehemiah, who was you know a cupbearer 19:58 to the king, if he had belittled, I don't know, 20:01 maybe someone with a very important talent 20:03 back in Jerusalem. 20:05 We can't belittle other people because their gifts aren't 20:08 as visual, perhaps, as our own. 20:10 All are used. 20:12 God can use all in the most extraordinary and powerful ways. 20:15 It is vital for us to recognize the gifts and the work 20:19 that people previously have done. 20:21 Nehemiah, he was only able to do what he did and Ezra, 20:24 because they stood atop the shoulders of Zerubbabel, 20:27 the shoulders of Jeremiah, Daniel, the people 20:30 who had come before. 20:32 I believe it was Thomas Edison who said that he was only able 20:35 to invent what he invented and do what he did because he stood 20:39 atop the shoulders of giants, the men who had come before him, 20:43 and figured it out, and found out, and discovered the things 20:45 that he used to invent, you know, what he did invent. 20:50 Sometimes we have to stand atop the shoulders of giants. 20:54 When it comes to how God handles prophecy, prophetic timing, 21:00 it's a beautiful thing because we see, apparently humanly, 21:03 we see some disconnected points in history. 21:07 And sometimes people ask, 21:08 "Well, how is all this coming together?" 21:10 Well, when you look behind the scenes you have the master 21:13 guider, the master king who has control of all time. 21:17 As we study the Bible, it becomes obvious that God 21:20 has perfect control over time, always. 21:23 God knows what is happening. 21:25 The lesson gives us a list of people and it's just so 21:28 impressive that these people were there when the prophecies 21:31 were being meant to be fulfilled. 21:33 For example, we find Noah commissioned to build 21:36 the ark during the time of the flood. 21:39 I didn't know if you, I don't know if you know this, 21:41 but Enoch, when he named Methuselah, Methuselah's name 21:43 literally means after this one, the waters will come. 21:46 Did you know that? 21:48 His name was a prophecy for the flood and Noah 21:50 was there to fulfill that. 21:52 You find Abraham called out of his father's, his father's land. 21:55 Moses, what a calling. 21:58 Joshua, Samuel, Hosea, and Amos, Ezekiel and Daniel, Haggai and 22:03 Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah, John the Baptist, Stephen. 22:07 More recently, Ellen White. 22:09 Do you see that God is in control of time? 22:12 And here's the beautiful thing about God, God is transparent. 22:15 He doesn't do things, you know, in a backhanded sort of way. 22:18 He doesn't hide what He's doing. 22:20 The Bible tells us that God doesn't do anything 22:22 without first doing what? 22:25 Revealing His will to His servants, the prophets. 22:27 We're not left in the dark. 22:30 Not only is God in control, God allows us to know, 22:34 He tells us what He is going to do. 22:37 That is the kind of God that we have. 22:40 Jeremiah prophesied the return of the people from captivity 22:43 after a period of 70 years. 22:46 God did not leave them in the dark as to how long 22:48 they would be in exile. 22:50 To that end, God first raised up Zerubbabel, then Ezra, 22:53 and then 13 years later after Ezra, He raised up Nehemiah. 22:57 However, from Jeremiah all the way down to Nehemiah, 23:03 God used many people, maybe even some people that we don't know, 23:08 people that are not mentioned in the Word, 23:10 but God used many people. 23:12 Now, the chronology places Artaxerxes' intervention 23:16 in 457 B.C. 23:18 And this is where the lesson, it becomes, timing becomes crucial. 23:24 Now, again, this is a deep lesson, a very historical 23:26 lesson, so please bear with me. 23:28 But chronology places Artaxerxes' intervention 23:31 in 457 B.C., because-- 23:34 and this is why it's so important to us-- 23:36 because this decree given by this king in 457, 23:42 it's tied to another prophecy. 23:45 Which prophecy? 23:48 The prophecy of Daniel chapter 9, verse 25 of the 70 weeks. 23:52 Look at what it says. 23:53 "Now therefore, understand that from the going forth of the 23:57 command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah, 24:01 the prince, there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks." 24:04 Two items are interconnected here, okay? 24:06 And when we study this, of course, we don't have 24:08 the time to go in depth. 24:10 We don't have time for a seminary here, 24:12 but two things here remain broadly crucial. 24:16 First of all, the date itself, the date itself. 24:19 Since there were three individual decrees given 24:22 in three different moments by three different kings, 24:24 why do we use this one, 457? 24:27 If we have a decree given by Cyrus, and then we have another 24:30 decree given by Darius, and then we have another decree 24:33 now here given by Artaxerxes. 24:35 Why do we use this last one, 457, to understand Daniel 9:25. 24:41 There are a few reasons, okay? 24:43 And here, this is important for you as an Adventist here, or you 24:48 if you're studying to become, or studying to understand 24:51 who the Adventists are. 24:53 It's important for you to understand these dates and the 24:57 reasons why we use this year because the way we understand 25:01 these 490 years and the way we understand the 2300 years, 25:05 that's crucial. 25:07 That's basically who we are. 25:08 If you take that away, if you track that from the Adventist 25:10 message, there will be simply no Adventist message. 25:14 So, it's crucial for you to understand this. 25:17 Now, the reason why we use this date, the date of 457 B.C. 25:22 is well, first of all, only the decree of Artaxerxes includes 25:27 the concern--includes concern for the city of Jerusalem. 25:30 The previous two decrees, they didn't say much about the walls, 25:34 they didn't say much about the city. 25:36 They were talking about what? 25:37 The temple. 25:39 They were mostly talking about the temple. 25:41 Then when Artaxerxes gives his decree, we find that he mentions 25:44 the reconstruction of Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the city. 25:49 That's one of the reasons why we use this the date, 457 B.C. 25:53 If we use any other date, if you use any other date for the 490 25:57 years of Daniel, that wouldn't lead us to Messiah the prince. 26:02 If you use any other date, it wouldn't take it to anywhere. 26:05 Anything significant in history, it fits. 26:08 It's a very good fit and it stands to reason 26:11 because it's what we believe to be true. 26:14 So, King Artaxerxes, he gives this decree in 457 B.C., 26:18 as a decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and therefore, 26:23 we believe that that is the beginning date of the second 26:26 thing that we're going to mention here, 26:28 which is the day year principle. 26:30 Have you ever wondered why, I don't know maybe you have, 26:33 maybe you haven't. 26:35 I know that when I was younger, I used to see us interpreting 26:37 these time schemes, and I wanted to understand why we use 26:41 the day year principle. 26:43 And it's very simple. 26:45 The Bible gives us these principles in Numbers 14:34 26:47 and Ezekiel 4:5 and 6. 26:50 Many people tend to interpret this literally. 26:53 They'll say, well, there's 490 years, there's 70 weeks, right, 26:56 let's interpret this literally. 26:58 The problem with that is that you don't get anywhere. 27:01 With a literal interpretation, how much is 490 days literally? 27:05 That's about a year and a half, a little bit more than a year 27:08 and a half, perhaps, right around there. 27:11 What happened in the year 456, 455? 27:15 Nothing significant, certainly not a Messiah, the prince. 27:19 So, if you interpret this literally, you get nowhere. 27:22 We have to understand that in the Bible, 27:24 prophecy is interconnected. 27:27 If you want to understand, for example, Revelation, 27:29 where do you go? 27:31 Daniel, Daniel and the Old Testament. 27:34 If you want to understand the ten plagues, where do you go? 27:38 The seven plagues, I'm sorry. 27:40 You go to the ten plagues of Exodus. 27:42 So, one thing in the Bible is connected to the other. 27:44 It has to be that way, otherwise, we get nowhere, 27:48 prophecy will mean nothing. 27:50 It will be just someone coming up with ideas and that's 27:52 what the world is full of around us. 27:54 We find many people coming up with the craziest ideas 27:57 because they're not being guided by the Bible, 27:59 by connecting the dots in the Bible itself. 28:03 The 70 weeks end in the year 34 AD, when Stephen is martyred, 28:08 when the Jewish nation of the time they rejected Jesus, 28:12 they rejected God's chosen servant. 28:15 The half of the week, that coincides with what? 28:20 The death of Jesus, the crucifixion. 28:22 And that's where we believe that Jesus, He confirmed 28:24 a covenant with many. 28:26 And we read that in Daniel 9:27. 28:28 Now, Adventists, and please again, we don't have all the 28:32 time in the world to go into this so please bear with me. 28:36 Adventists have been severely criticized in their 28:40 understanding of this prophecy, severely criticized, especially 28:46 in this part of the 70 weeks that have been determined. 28:49 And the main argument used against Adventists is 28:52 in the interpretation of the word "determined." 28:57 We literally believe that the word "determined" means 29:00 to be cut off, it has been cut off. 29:02 And that's how we understand that this prophecy of 490 years 29:05 given in Daniel chapter 9, it is cut off from 29:09 the larger time period prophecy of where? 29:11 Daniel chapter 8 of the 2300 years. 29:14 So, we believe that it has been cut off, one thing is part of 29:18 the other and that's where we've been criticized. 29:21 They say that the interpretation of this word that we use is 29:26 wrong because it's only used once in the whole Hebrew Bible. 29:29 It's only used here in Daniel, and that's the main argument 29:32 given against us in this-- in regard to this, 29:35 that this word, it's only used once in the whole 29:38 Hebrew Bible here by Daniel, 29:40 and that it doesn't mean cut off. 29:42 It means to be determined or decreed, and that would change 29:44 everything because if the word is determined, then it doesn't 29:47 have to do with the larger time prophecy of Daniel chapter 8. 29:50 So, that's the criticism, you understand? 29:52 They say that we use, or we interpret the word wrong, 29:55 the word "determined" incorrect. 29:57 Now, the question is how solid is this argument? 30:01 It is a fact. 30:02 Unfortunately, or fortunately, however you want to see this, 30:04 it is a fact that this word is only used once. 30:07 In the whole Hebrew Bible, this word, which is the word 30:09 "shatach," it's only used once in the whole Hebrew Bible. 30:14 But nevertheless, and again, this is going 30:18 to get a bit amusing. 30:20 But first, this other words, other words, such as decree, 30:23 or such as determined, they appear in the Hebrew Bible, 30:26 and they are not the word shatach. 30:29 So, one of the questions is, well, why didn't Daniel use it? 30:32 If what he wanted to mean was decree or determined, 30:35 70 weeks are determined for you, well, why didn't he use 30:39 these other words? 30:40 Why did he go with this more obscure, this more mysterious 30:43 word, shatach? 30:45 He should have used, I mean, if he wanted to mean determined 30:47 or if he wanted to mean decreed, shouldn't he 30:49 have used those words? 30:51 That's what you would expect. 30:53 But no, he uses this less known, this more obscure word 30:56 called shatach. 30:58 Secondly, while shatach isn't used anywhere 31:00 in Hebrew Scripture, it appears numerous times 31:03 in Jewish writings, such as the Mishnah, 31:05 the Jewish Bible Commentary, which was compiled. 31:08 It already existed in oral form, but it was compiled 31:11 in the first two centuries AD. 31:13 And that word "shatach" is there. 31:16 And while the Hebrew and the Mishnah isn't exactly alike, 31:21 the Hebrew in the Old Testament, they are very similar. 31:24 And there the word shatach is used many times. 31:28 In fact, it's used 12 times and ten of those 12 times, 31:32 it refers to the cutting off of animal parts, 31:35 according to the dietary laws. 31:37 Of the 19 times that this word is used as a noun in the noun 31:40 form, not as a verb, but as a noun 19 times, 31:43 18 times it appears as that which is cut off. 31:48 Not only this, Strong's concordance gives 31:51 its primary root to cut off. 31:53 Whiting's translation, which is a very well-known translation, 31:56 has it as cut off. 31:58 Gesenius is the standard key lexicographer, 32:01 defines it as to cut off. 32:03 The Chaldeal Rabbinic Dictionary of Stoycius defines 32:06 it as to cut, to cut away, to cut into pieces, 32:09 to engrave or to cut off. 32:11 The earliest versions of the Vulgar or the Septuagint define 32:14 the verb here, shatach, as cutting off. 32:17 Theodotion's Greek version of the word renders it to cut off. 32:20 Even more versions use the term "cut off." 32:24 Do you get the point? 32:27 Cut off is a perfectly good explanation. 32:30 It's a perfectly good interpretation of this word 32:32 shatach, perfectly fine. 32:35 Actually, it's the best one we have. 32:37 So, to say that this word isn't, that it doesn't mean that, 32:42 well, then we would be playing a guessing game. 32:45 That would be the guessing game not to interpret it as cut off. 32:49 As the lesson tells us, there are many reasons 32:54 why we believe that the 70-year-- 32:56 the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9 32:59 and the 2300-year prophecy of Daniel chapter 8, 33:03 they belong together. 33:05 First of all, both are time prophecies, right? 33:07 That by itself doesn't mean much, 33:09 but both our time prophecies. 33:10 Second, the terminology, vision, understanding, 33:13 link them together. 33:15 Both interpretations were given by whom? 33:18 Gabriel, the same person, the same angel, 33:20 the same messenger is interpreting them. 33:23 Lastly, and this to me is the most important reason, the only 33:26 part of the vision of chapter 8, the only part of the vision of 33:31 chapter 8 of the 2300 years that was not explained is exactly 33:37 this one of the 2300 years. 33:39 The rest of the vision in chapter 8 is explained 33:40 by Gabriel. 33:42 Why didn't he explain the 2300 years? 33:44 And then you go to chapter 9, a few years later, 33:48 then you have the interpretation. 33:51 Daniel chapter 8 contains two parts. 33:53 You have a vision and you have an interpretation of the vision. 33:56 Daniel chapter 9 doesn't really have a vision. 33:58 It only has an interpretation, and the interpretation, 34:01 it has to do with something. 34:03 What was the only thing that had not been interpreted yet? 34:07 The vision of the 2300 years. 34:09 Do you see how one is tied to the other? 34:11 This might be a bit confusing, and I urge you to study more 34:14 on this, this good part of your comprehension of Adventism 34:19 and of the Bible prophecies, they will be hinged upon 34:22 this matter of Daniel chapter 7, 8 and 9. 34:27 But we believe that these two prophecies, the cutting off 34:31 of this period of 490 years, they have to do with the vision 34:35 of the 2300 years that go from 457. 34:38 What happened in 457? 34:40 Artaxerxes issued in a decree that the walls of Jerusalem 34:45 should be built. 34:47 And from then on, we start counting not only the 490 years 34:49 in the year 34, but we end in the year 1844 34:53 with the 2300 years. 34:55 That is one of our most basic beliefs and this is why 34:58 we believe it. 35:01 Praise the Lord. 35:03 For all these reasons and more, we believe that these two 35:04 prophecies, they belong together, Daniel 8 and 9, 35:08 they are tied together. 35:11 The next, the next topic that we find in the lesson, and this is 35:16 something that I really want to get into, is the topic 35:19 of biblical election. 35:21 This might be as confusing, or maybe even more confusing, 35:26 then about all the dates. 35:29 Because when it comes to dates, really it's a matter of you 35:31 sitting down concentrating, and trying to figure out what 35:34 prophecies it's talking about. 35:36 When it comes to election, there's just so much debate. 35:39 When it comes to how God chooses people or what God's choosing 35:42 people means, there's just so much debate. 35:44 It's so controversial that it might be a bit intimidating 35:48 for a few people. 35:50 God's election in the Bible has nothing to do 35:52 with predestination, as many would believe. 35:55 We're not talking here about predestination 35:57 in a certain sense. 35:59 God has chosen how many for salvation? 36:02 All, all are chosen. 36:04 What does John 3:16 tell us? 36:06 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, 36:09 that whosoever, whosoever is an all-inclusive word. 36:13 Whosoever, does whosoever exclude anyone? 36:16 Whosoever except, except Luccas. 36:19 Whosoever except my Brazilians. 36:22 Whosoever except the Granite Bay Church. 36:25 No, whosoever is an all-inclusive word. 36:29 All are chosen. 36:31 All are on God's map of salvation. 36:34 Everyone is on His radar. 36:37 Now, the only way that you can not be on that map, 36:42 or not be on that radar of salvation, if you choose 36:45 for yourself to exclude yourself. 36:48 That's the only way because God does not violate our will. 36:53 So, when we're talking about God's election, first of all, 36:56 we're talking about when it comes to salvation, 36:59 it's for everyone. 37:01 In theology, this is called soteriology, the doctrine 37:03 of salvation, all right, how God saves us. 37:06 All are chosen, all are on the map. 37:08 Now, on the other hand, and this is something that I struggled 37:12 for a while when I was younger is about God's free will 37:17 because God also has free will, doesn't He? 37:20 I should hope so. 37:22 God also has free will. 37:24 And the fact that God has free will means that He has 37:27 the freedom of choosing whoever He wants for certain roles. 37:31 When it comes to salvation, God doesn't meddle with that. 37:34 Everyone is chosen, everyone should be saved. 37:37 But when it comes to some certain roles, then some people 37:41 are chosen, some specific, particular people are chosen. 37:48 For example, it was Paul, not Peter, that God chose to write 37:53 14 books in the New Testament because of his training, 37:57 his background, his knowledge. 37:59 He prepared himself for this. 38:01 And that teaches me something, that natural talent placed under 38:03 God's hand, placed and submitted to God's Word, that talent, 38:07 that natural talent, becomes divine talent. 38:11 Now, you might be good at something, you might be 38:13 very good. 38:15 You might have a very good talent. 38:16 Trust me, it can get better. 38:18 You know how? 38:19 By submitting it to God because in the end, my friends, 38:22 actually, before I say this, let me say something else. 38:24 You might have a very good talent, but at the same time, 38:26 maybe you are not good at something. 38:30 Trust me, God can still use you. 38:32 Maybe you try to imagine, "Well, what can I do? 38:36 I'm in a church with 600 people. 38:38 I'm in, you know, there are so many people around me. 38:40 I live in a city with I don't know, two, 38:41 three million people, ten million people. 38:43 What can I do? How can I be used by God? 38:46 I can't sing. I can't preach. 38:48 I can't, I don't know, I can't be a deacon. 38:50 I can't be an elder. I can't be this. 38:51 I can't be--what do I do?" 38:53 Look, what matters is not--what determines God's usage of you 38:57 and how you can be of service is not your ability or your 39:01 disability, but your availability. 39:06 That's it because the rest, while it could be important, you 39:09 know, a natural talent could be very important, very good. 39:12 But if you're not available, it's for nothing. 39:16 If Ezra, or Nehemiah, or Moses, if they had been good at all 39:20 that they were good at, but they hadn't been available to God, 39:23 well, how would He use them? 39:26 He couldn't use them. 39:28 Romans 9:13, this is a very confusing texts for many. 39:33 Romans 9:13 tells us that God loved Jacob and He hated Esau. 39:38 This, my friends, has no soteriological meaning. 39:40 What I mean by that is, this doesn't-- 39:43 the issue here isn't salvation. 39:45 God didn't love Jacob for salvation and hate Esau, 39:48 condemning him to death, eternal death without 39:53 a choice from Esau. 39:55 That's not what we're talking about. 39:56 What we're talking about is that God chose Jacob 39:59 for a specific role inside His plan. 40:02 Does that make sense? 40:04 God chose Jacob, He loved Jacob. 40:06 This is classic Semitic literature, all right? 40:09 God loved Jacob for a purpose. 40:14 That doesn't mean that God hated Esau for him to die forever 40:16 for no reason whatsoever without a choice, 40:19 without a say in the matter. 40:21 That's not what we're talking about. 40:23 The issue isn't salvation, but different roles 40:25 inside the plan of salvation. 40:28 Now, we've studied a little bit about these prophets, the 40:33 calling of Ezra and Nehemiah. 40:35 We've studied a little bit of how this prophecy 40:38 played out in their life. 40:40 The prophecy given by Daniel a few years before played out in 40:43 the life of Ezra and Nehemiah. 40:45 Wouldn't it be cool for you to fulfill prophecy and to know 40:48 that you're fulfilling prophecy? 40:50 Imagine how it was for them. 40:52 I don't know if they were thinking about this 40:54 as it was happening, if it dawned upon them. 40:56 It's always easier with, you know, after the things happen. 40:59 You know, it's always easier for you to determine. 41:01 But it must have been so amazing to fulfill a prophecy that had 41:04 been given, to fulfill the beginning of that spectacular 41:07 prophecy that one day, the Savior, the Messiah, 41:10 He would come and they could know the exact year. 41:15 It must have been spectacular. 41:17 We've studied that. 41:19 We've also studied a little bit how God considers salvation. 41:22 All are chosen, all are on God's map, unless we decide 41:24 to exclude ourselves. 41:26 We've seen how God, He can, and this is where we talked about 41:29 election, He does elect some people for specific roles. 41:32 But the important thing that we have to come to, now at the 41:37 end with eight minutes, what we have to understand is, 41:40 "What is my responsibility? 41:42 What do I have to do now? 41:44 What does God expect from me? 41:46 How am I responsible?" 41:48 Do you know what etymology-- 41:50 I don't know if I'm saying that right. 41:52 But the meaning of the word "responsibility," 41:55 you know what that means? 41:57 The ability of response. 41:59 That's what the word, its roots mean, the ability of giving 42:02 a good answer, a good response. 42:04 So, what is my--what should be my good response? 42:08 How should I? 42:11 Be it choosing Nehemiah, be it choosing Ezra, or certain other 42:15 individual for certain roles, in God's plan He wants us to know, 42:19 He wants me to know that He can bless and transform me. 42:23 Not only can He transform me and make-- 42:26 and give me a blessing, 42:28 but He can make me a blessing. 42:30 That's my calling, to be a blessing. 42:32 Ultimately, the saints are called to what? 42:34 To be a blessing to this dark world, to take light where there 42:37 is darkness, to take joy where there's sadness and anger, 42:41 peace to where there is anger. 42:43 Ezra and Nehemiah, and here you have the difference 42:46 between certain people. 42:48 Ezra and Nehemiah, did they kind of ponder? 42:50 Were they reluctant to answer God's call? 42:53 No, they weren't. 42:54 They went readily. 42:56 They wanted it. 42:58 But you do find a few others that they were kind 43:00 of reluctant. 43:01 Remember Moses? 43:03 Moses was very reluctant. 43:05 Moses had been in the desert for 40 years. 43:07 He was 80 years old. 43:09 Who starts thinking of a grand scheme 43:12 for their life when they're 80? 43:15 Maybe someone does, okay, maybe you do. 43:17 I don't know. 43:19 I know that when I'm 80, I want to be up and kicking still. 43:21 I want to be doing a lot of stuff. 43:22 But usually, you don't have someone, you know, 43:25 thinking of the next 40 years, a plan for the next 40 years 43:29 when they're 80 years old. 43:31 So Moses, he was like, "Is God blind? 43:33 Is He, you know, doesn't He know how old I am? 43:36 Doesn't He know that I'm already tired. 43:38 I'm heavy of tongue?" 43:39 And actually, I'm going to mention that. 43:41 Moses, he came up with his best arguments. 43:44 He used his sociological argument, his knowledge 43:46 about others. 43:48 "Lord, they're not going to believe me. 43:50 Who am I to teach them to talk to them? 43:52 Look at me. I used to be a prince there. 43:54 They hate me. I killed one of the officials. 43:56 They drove me out. 43:58 Who am I--no one's going to hear me." 43:59 That's a sociological argument which God destroyed, 44:02 God broke that argument. 44:04 He said, "Look, when You go there, You just tell them 44:06 that I Am sent you, Yahweh, the Eternal One." 44:14 Man, sometimes I've seen, you know, 44:16 I've seen movies about Moses's calling. 44:19 And at that moment at the burning bush, there isn't one 44:22 time that goes by that I either read it or see it 44:25 that I don't--tears don't come to my eyes. 44:29 Imagine being in the presence of Yahweh. 44:33 Imagine Him knowing your name and you hearing Him 44:36 call you by name. 44:38 We know that He knows us by name, but imagine hearing it, 44:42 that He remembered, and He is going to use you 44:44 as a chosen vessel. 44:46 Moses, he gives first a sociological argument, then when 44:49 that's been destroyed, he gives a psychological argument, his 44:52 knowledge, not about others now, but as knowledge by himself. 44:56 "Lord, look at me. 44:59 I'm heavy of tongue, I'm heavy of speech. 45:02 I've been here shouting at sheep for the past 40 years, 45:07 now You're going to put me to shout in front of Pharaoh? 45:09 It's not going to work, Lord, that's not going to work. 45:13 Too old, my abilities not qualified for this project that 45:18 Yahweh is giving me." 45:20 Which Yahweh, and when you read it, God appears 45:23 very optimistic about this plan. 45:26 Moses was the doubter in the story. 45:29 He's the one saying, "I don't know, Lord." 45:32 The Lord insisted with him. 45:34 The Lord did insist with him. 45:37 The Lord knew Moses better than he knew himself. 45:40 And here's something important for you, the Lord knows you 45:42 better than you know yourself. 45:44 He knows that in the future if you do follow His plan, as hard 45:47 as it may be, you will be happy. 45:50 You'll be happy that you did. 45:52 You'll be happy that you did. 45:54 You know, many times I've heard people use arguments about, 45:58 you know, "Well, why can't I just live my life, the pleasures 46:00 that I want to and do what I want? 46:02 At the very end, I'll come to God." 46:05 And well, first of all, you know that, you know that you don't 46:09 know when you'll die. 46:11 That's uncertain to us. 46:13 Who can guarantee that I will have time to come to God? 46:17 But most of all, I think, for example of the difference 46:20 between Isaac in the Bible and the thief on the cross, 46:25 the good thief, who lived a better life? 46:29 Isaac, he was born, raised, and he lived 46:32 a relationship with God. 46:34 Both will be in heaven, we know this, 46:36 but who lived a better life? 46:38 The one that walked with God. 46:41 So, we're not only talking about salvation, we're talking about 46:43 quality of life here and now, a quality of life that God gives 46:49 you by walking with Him, by having a relationship with Him. 46:52 Looking back at the end of his life, I'm certain that Moses, he 46:56 was, he would admit that this was his greatest 46:58 and best decision. 47:01 He could have said no, couldn't he? 47:02 Of course he could. 47:04 He could have said, "Look, Lord, I know--" 47:07 And he tried, in the end, he even gave the excuse that it's 47:09 not a psychological, it's really an excuse given on laziness. 47:12 "Lord, I know all this, but please send another." 47:15 But God knew Moses better than he knew himself. 47:17 Moses could have insisted. 47:19 He could have run away from God, but he didn't. 47:22 And I'm sure that at the end, looking back, he would tell you, 47:25 he would admit that was the best decision. 47:28 Imagine to be a companion to God, to hear His voice, to see 47:31 His back at least, to have Him, to have God have his back. 47:39 That's a privilege and Moses would be the first one 47:41 to admit that. 47:45 God comes--when God appears to Moses, He says, 47:47 "Moses, what do you have in your hands?" 47:49 And this is where it gets real for you and for me. 47:51 "Moses, what do you have in your hands?" 47:53 What did he have? 47:55 A staff, a symbol of his pathetic wanderings 47:58 in the desert for 40 years. 48:01 A symbol of his simpleness, shepherd. 48:07 But God transformed that staff in an instrument of omnipotence. 48:11 Where was the power though? 48:13 Was it in the staff? 48:15 No, the power was with God. 48:18 So, today God's calling to you might be a question. 48:21 He might be asking you, "Look, my dear friend, 48:24 what do you have in your hands?" 48:26 Maybe not a lot of money. 48:31 Maybe not many gifts or talents to be used. 48:37 Maybe a painful history, a painful past, 48:40 traumas, heartache. 48:44 The power isn't in what is in your hands, 48:47 the power is with God. 48:49 Sister White tells us that anyone that submits himself or 48:53 herself to the Lord, anyone that places themselves 48:56 in His hands become instruments of omnipotence. 49:02 You can become an instrument of omnipotence. 49:05 That is God's calling for you. 49:07 My deep and profound prayer for each one of us here is that we 49:10 learn to become instruments of omnipotence, 49:13 regardless of what we hold in our hands. 49:16 May God bless you. May He use you. 49:18 May He teach you and educate you and show you what 49:21 His calling for your life is. 49:23 May God bless you. 49:25 Thank you so much for being with us 49:27 for this Bible Study Hour this week. 49:30 I hope you return next week. 49:32 And study your lesson, we have a great lesson to learn, 49:34 a lot to learn. 49:36 May God bless you. 49:38 male announcer: Don't forget to request today's life-changing 49:40 free resource. 49:41 Not only can you receive this free gift in the mail, 49:43 you can download a digital copy straight to your computer 49:45 or mobile device. 49:47 To get your digital copy of today's free gift, simply text 49:50 the keyword on your screen to 40544, 49:53 or visit the web address shown on your screen. 49:56 And be sure to select the digital download option 49:59 on the request page. 50:01 It's now easier than ever for you to study God's Word with 50:03 Amazing Facts wherever and whenever you want. 50:06 And most important, to share it with others. 50:14 announcer: Amazing Facts, changed lives. 50:22 female: I was born into a family of criminals. 50:25 When I got older and I started breaking the rules, no one ever 50:28 taught me about "Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lie, 50:31 Thou shalt not commit adultery," anything like that. 50:34 When I became a runaway at 14, I was just a wild and lost child. 50:41 I had somebody tell me, "Hey, you want to earn some money 50:44 cleaning this guy's kitchen?" 50:46 So, I went to this house on a different side of town 50:48 than I was used to. 50:50 Someone kept giving me alcoholic drinks, and being 115 pounds and 50:55 14 years old, it really didn't take much time before I was 50:58 so inebriated that I had no control over what was 51:02 going on around me. 51:04 He took me to another location, another town 51:07 and I was put in isolation. 51:09 I would come out to be abused between three 51:11 and eight times a day. 51:13 I was degraded. 51:14 I was humiliated, that I had no value as a human being. 51:17 And I learned very quickly that what I felt and what I thought, 51:21 and how this made me feel, did not matter to him at all. 51:25 If I even thought about not doing what he wanted me to do, 51:30 I would have a gun to my head and knife to my throat. 51:36 There was one time in particular where he had been 51:40 tormenting me psychologically. 51:43 And one day he said, "Oh, you'll never kill yourself. 51:46 You'll never do it." 51:49 And almost defiantly I was like, Yes, I will. 51:52 And he handed me a Bible and full of pills, and I took them. 51:55 While I was overdosing and I had been overdosing all night, 51:58 I cried out to a God that I didn't even believe in 52:01 and at that very moment in the most powerful way, 52:05 God shone His light on me. 52:08 And He gave me peace of mind like I never had. 52:11 And He let me know right then and there while I was on that 52:14 bathroom floor that He was real, and He was love. 52:17 And that I did not know how at that time, 52:19 but He was going to help me. 52:21 A little less than a year later, I became pregnant at 15. 52:25 I loved my son with my whole heart. 52:27 He also became something that my abuser could use against me 52:32 in order to pump more fear and coercion. 52:36 I had finally got away from my abuser, and I had finally built 52:40 up a support system to help me stay on the move 52:43 and stay on the run. 52:45 And I was at my grandmother's house and on my son's 52:47 third birthday, he took my son. 52:54 And when I called the police and said, 52:56 "My son's just been kidnapped," they said, "He's the father, 52:58 we can't do anything about it." 53:01 After my son was gone, I lost my mind. 53:03 I started doing drugs and within a month and a half, 53:06 I robbed a convenience store. 53:08 So, I was sentenced to 70 months, five years, 53:12 ten months in prison. 53:15 And it was the best thing that ever happened to me. 53:18 I started attending the church services in prison 53:22 seven days a week. 53:23 It blew my mind. 53:25 I was hooked. 53:27 And then we went through, it was millennium of prophecy 53:30 and net 99 that just solidified my faith in such a powerful way. 53:37 And I knew God, that God was leading me. 53:40 Even the guards there commented on how much I had changed. 53:44 And since I started doing the studies on Amazing Facts, 53:48 I was so excited about what I was learning that I was coming 53:51 back from there and trying to convert my hardened 53:55 criminal friends with the Storacles of Prophecy. 53:58 Every question I ever had, every worry, everything that I ever 54:02 wondered about, the Bible answered everything, 54:06 and it was so clear and so easy to understand. 54:10 It's been 11 years since I've been out of prison. 54:12 I am married to an amazing, wonderful man, my first 54:16 non-abusive relationship and my whole entire life. 54:19 Before we got married, we watched the Millennium of 54:21 Prophecy series together, and it was just such a blessing to be 54:27 able to see him learn and see him grow. 54:31 And I feel like my life now is just a gift, that every single 54:34 thing that happened to me bad in the past is nothing compared 54:38 to the the joy, and the happiness, and the stability 54:42 that I have now. 54:44 My name is Christine Vanorder and my life has been changed 54:46 by Jesus Christ and "Amazing Facts." 54:51 ♪♪♪ 55:11 ♪♪♪ 55:16 ♪♪♪ 55:21 Doug Batchelor: Today's smartphones are a virtual 55:23 universe of information that fits in the palm of your hand. 55:26 It's a good thing we have opposable thumbs. 55:28 With it, you can buy your groceries, take care of 55:31 your exercise regime, watch a video, listen to music. 55:35 You can surf the international World Wide Web, 55:38 which may not always be a good thing. 55:41 And you know, there is more computer processing technology 55:44 and power in a little smartphone today than was used by NASA 55:48 to put a man on the moon. 55:50 And I almost forgot, you can also use these to make 55:52 a phone call. 55:54 But who does that anymore? 55:56 Today communication is not in complete sentences. 55:58 It's all about short message servicing or SMS texting. 56:03 That's right, there are about 2.5 billion people in the world 56:07 today that are communicating with their fellow humans 56:09 in short bites called texting. 56:12 That's more data that is being used than those who are 56:14 surfing the web, or even playing video games. 56:17 And friends, nowhere is this more true than right here 56:19 in the Philippines. 56:21 Even though the Philippines has about 100 million people, 56:24 they are responsible for the largest number of text messages 56:27 of anywhere in the world. 56:29 They're the 12th largest country, but they send 56:31 400 million text messages every day. 56:35 Wow, that's a lot of finger fatigue. 56:39 Even though the greatest number of texters is here in the 56:42 Philippines, the record for the fastest texture in the world is 56:44 from Brazil, a young man by the name of Marcel Fernandes Filho. 56:48 He was able to text 25 very complicated words 56:51 in a little more than 18 seconds. 56:54 Wow, it takes me longer than that to just say, "I love you" 56:57 to my wife and press send, all thumbs. 57:01 One of the neat things about texting is you can text 57:03 just about anywhere. 57:05 If you're surrounded with people, you want to send 57:07 a personal message, you text. 57:09 You're in a crowded subway or an airport, you can text. 57:11 If you're surrounded by noise, or nosy people, you can text. 57:15 Just don't text while you're driving. 57:17 That's what's so wonderful, friends, you can always text God 57:20 a message of prayer from your heart. 57:22 When you're wondering, "What school do I go to? 57:24 What job do I take? 57:26 Who am I supposed to date that may be a future life partner?" 57:29 Your prayers don't have to be long. 57:31 The shortest prayer in the Bible is three words. 57:33 When Peter prayed, "Lord, save me." 57:35 Jesus answered his prayer. 57:37 And it doesn't matter how fast you can text 57:39 when you're talking to God. 57:41 He'll know what you're asking for and hear your prayer before 57:43 you have a chance to say amen and press the send button. 57:46 In fact, friends, you'll bring joy to God when you send Him 57:49 regular messages from your heart to His. 57:52 So, why don't you talk to Him right now? 57:56 ♪♪♪ 58:06 ♪♪♪ 58:16 ♪♪♪ 58:24 CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM |
Revised 2019-10-15