The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says, "To
receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent
to present yourself
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approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is,
"Ezra and Nehemiah."
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Oh!
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Hello, I am Shelley
Quinn and we welcome you
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once again to 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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We're so glad that
you're taking this time
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to join us.
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We hope you have your Bible.
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We hope you have your
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Sabbath School
quarterly with you.
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If you haven't got a
copy, you may download it.
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Just simply go to
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ABSG.Adventist.org.
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You can download a
copy or better yet,
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you can go by your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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and they will be
happy to give you a copy
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and even you can
enjoy the fellowship
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of personal study with them.
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We are on lesson 9
of Ezra and Nehemiah
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and this has been
such a rich study.
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Let me quickly introduce
our Sabbath School panel.
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I'm just always so
blessed to be joined
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by my 3ABN family,
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my brothers and
sisters in Christ,
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and to my left is
Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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Kenny, we're so thankful that
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you take the time to
do this study with us.
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It's such a blessing
and I do appreciate it.
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Thank you.
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Oh, you always bring
something good to the table,
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and then my dear sister
and friend, Jill Morikone.
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Jill, you always bring
something good to the table.
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Always a privilege
to study with each one.
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Thank you, Shelley. Amen.
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And then Pastor John
Lomacang who is my pastor,
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and we appreciate
you so much, John.
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Praise the Lord.
Thank you, Shelley.
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Yes.
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And joining us
for the first time
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this quarter is
Pastor John Dinzey.
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John, we are so glad
that you're here today.
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Can't wait to hear
what you've got to add.
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Well, we've been praying
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and asking the
Lord for His blessing.
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And I'm sure that
the Lord is gonna use
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each and every one of
us to bring out a message
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that God wants
His people to hear.
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Amen.
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Johnny, would you like
to have our opening prayer?
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Sure.
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Our loving Heavenly Father,
we want to thank You, Lord,
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for the privilege to
be here together to share
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all those things
You have shown to us.
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And even now we ask, Lord,
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that Your Holy
Spirit will take over again,
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and use us in such a way that
Your children will know that
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they have been
hearing a message from heaven.
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We pray unto You and
ask for Your blessing
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upon all that accompany us,
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whether it be on
Internet, TV or radio,
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may they receive the blessing,
not only that they seek for
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but that which they need.
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We ask You in Jesus'
holy and blessed name, amen.
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Amen. Amen and amen.
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So last week we were
looking at God's love
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and His promises as expressed
in His everlasting covenant.
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And that covenant
just progressively unfolds
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throughout Scripture.
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We've also
considered faithless Israel,
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and how they had
this cycle of sin
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and persecuting the prophets
and then crying out to God
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and asking for Him to save them,
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and then they would just
go right back into that cycle,
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but God was always faithful.
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Now, Nehemiah,
we looked at that,
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how he was teaching
them to listen and learn
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from the Word of God.
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They celebrated the Feast
of Tabernacles with great joy.
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And then on the eighth
day, they had a solemn assembly
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and after their prayer of
confession and repentance,
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Nehemiah Chapter 10
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begins with a
long list of names,
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the leaders, the
Levites, the rest of the people
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who had knowledge
and understanding,
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made a pledge
before God to be faithful.
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So our memory text is 10:29,
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it says "These
joined with their brethren,
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their nobles, and
entered into a curse
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and an oath to
walk in God's love
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which was given by Moses,
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the servant of God, to observe
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and do all the commandments
of the Lord, our God,
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and His
ordinances and His statutes."
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You know, my title
today or the title today
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for this lesson is
Trials, Tribulations, and List.
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Although we know that
all scripture is God breathe.
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Can we be honest,
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sometimes we get to those points
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of the long list or inventories
and we have a tendency
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when it comes to
genealogies and things to go,
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and just skip right
past to the next scripture.
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But why does God include
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these things in His Word?
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You know, God is
a God of details.
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There's nothing
insignificant to Him.
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And He knows all
and He cares about
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the details that
shouldn't give us
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great comfort in
one sense that he does.
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But on the other
hand, it tells us
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we too need to
care about the details.
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In Luke 12:6-7, Jesus said,
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"Are not five
sparrows sold for two pennies,
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yet not one of them
is forgotten by God."
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Indeed, the very hairs on
your head are all numbered,
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which God has,
that, that tells me a lot
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if He's keeping up with me.
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But sparrows were
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the most
insignificant of all birds,
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and God knew.
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Yes.
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You know, every time
one falls to the ground,
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God knows.
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So He knows all the
details of our life too,
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and I want to
give you this promise
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before we go to Sunday.
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Isaiah 43:1, I love this verse.
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It says, "Now
thus says the Lord,
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'Who created you?
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Who formed you?
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Fear not, for I
have redeemed you,
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I have called you by your name.
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You are mine.' " So
God knows your name.
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Let's look at
Sunday, the God of history.
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It's interesting.
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Daniel 1:1-2 kind of
give us a big picture
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that Ezra then goes in
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and gives a little more details.
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In Daniel 1:1-2, it says,
"In the third year of the reign
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of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
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Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon
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came to Jerusalem besieged
it and the Lord gave Jehoiakim,
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king of Judah into his hand
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with some of the
articles of the house of God,
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which he carried
into the land of shinar
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to the house of his God
and he brought the articles
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into the treasure
house of his God."
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That's the big picture.
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Now Ezra 1:7-10 gives us
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the details and the list,
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we won't take time,
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but you might want to read that,
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the 30 gold
platters, 1000 silver platters.
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He goes through
and details everything
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that
Nebuchadnezzar had brought back.
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Now, in October 539.
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This is two decades
after Nebuchadnezzar's death.
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Belshazzar was
the Babylonian king
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and his city Babylon
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was surrounded by the armies
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of the Medo-Persians.
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So he throws this
wild drunken feast
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to boost morale.
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Daniel 5:1-4
tells us about this.
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Belshazzar, 5:1,
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Daniel 5:1,
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"Belshazzar the
king made a great feast
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for a thousand of his lords,
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and drank wine in the
presence of the thousand.
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While he tasted the wine,
Belshazzar gave the command
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to bring the gold
and silver vessels
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which his father
Nebuchadnezzar had taken
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from the temple which
had been in Jerusalem,
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that the king and
his lords, his wives,
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and his concubines
might drink from them."
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So Babylonian hands had
taken these holy vessels
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from the sanctuary,
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and now they're going
to drink wine from them.
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This is an unusually
brazen and blasphemous act.
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These were the holy
articles from God's house.
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So they brought the gold vessels
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that have been taken
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from the temple
of the house of God,
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which had been in Jerusalem,
the king, his lord, his wives,
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and the
concubines drank from them.
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They drank wine,
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and they praised to the
gods of gold and silver,
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bronze and
iron, wood and stone."
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So here they are
drinking from articles
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that have been
sanctified for God,
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and they're toasting their gods.
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So all of a sudden,
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this drunken
feast is interrupted.
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Yes.
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And a mysterious hand,
it may have been their hands
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that took these articles,
but now God's gonna answer
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the challenge.
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This mysterious hand
starts writing on the wall.
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And this wasn't just a
vision when Belshazzar sees it,
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his knees are knocking
and it wasn't just a vision
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that he was seeing.
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This was a miraculous
event because everybody saw it.
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And so what happened?
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Belshazzar had
exalted himself against God
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by using these temple vessels,
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but now God's
answering the challenge.
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None of them, he
calls for his wise men,
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and his soothsayers,
and his astrologists,
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nobody can tell
him what this says
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because the pagan
religion is really worthless.
00:10:12.97\00:10:17.41
But finally, he calls
out for the Hebrew Daniel,
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the prophet of the one true God,
00:10:21.88\00:10:24.25
who Daniel is probably
about 80 years old right now.
00:10:24.29\00:10:27.89
And Daniel had shown
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a lot of respect
for Nebuchadnezzar,
00:10:29.92\00:10:32.16
but when he gets to
Belshazzar, he reprimands him,
00:10:32.19\00:10:37.43
because Belshazzar
has a brazen attitude
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and he didn't learn the lesson
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that Nebuchadnezzar had learned.
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So Chapter 5 of
Daniel, verse 22.
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This is what Daniel is saying,
"You his son, Belshazzar,
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have not humbled your heart."
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Although you knew all
this, he knew that Belshazzar,
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I mean that
Nebuchadnezzar had converted
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after God's mighty
hand had dealt with him.
00:11:03.16\00:11:06.36
But he said, "You
have lifted yourself up
00:11:06.39\00:11:08.06
against the Lord of heaven.
00:11:08.10\00:11:09.73
You've brought the
vessels in the house
00:11:09.76\00:11:11.60
and you've drunk from them."
00:11:11.63\00:11:13.00
And he goes on.
00:11:13.03\00:11:14.37
He says, "You
praised your gods from this,
00:11:14.40\00:11:16.50
which you don't
see or hear and the God
00:11:16.54\00:11:19.44
who hold your
breath in his hand,
00:11:19.47\00:11:21.94
and owns all your ways,
you have not glorified."
00:11:21.98\00:11:26.88
So now in verse 25,
here's we've got this king,
00:11:26.92\00:11:32.22
who's guilty of
pride, blasphemy, idolatry.
00:11:32.25\00:11:36.22
And in verse 25,
Daniel is going to
00:11:36.26\00:11:40.56
interpret the
message on the wall,
00:11:40.60\00:11:42.63
"And this is what was
written in the inscription,
00:11:42.66\00:11:45.23
he says, "MENE,
MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."
00:11:45.27\00:11:48.70
This is the
interpretation of each word.
00:11:48.74\00:11:51.87
MENE: God has numbered
your kingdom and finished it.
00:11:51.91\00:11:56.01
TEKEL: You have been
weighed in the balances
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and found wanting.
00:11:59.71\00:12:01.95
PERES, now, it's interesting
00:12:01.98\00:12:03.92
because that used to confuse me.
00:12:03.99\00:12:06.19
It was UPHARSIN,
but he's saying PERES
00:12:06.22\00:12:09.06
and that is written
00:12:09.09\00:12:12.29
in the plural form of UPHARSIN.
00:12:12.33\00:12:15.20
And so Daniel
explained its meaning
00:12:15.23\00:12:18.23
by using this
singular form PERES.
00:12:18.27\00:12:21.10
He said, "Your
kingdom has been divided
00:12:21.14\00:12:23.67
and given to the
Medes and the Persians."
00:12:23.71\00:12:27.34
So, what happened?
00:12:27.38\00:12:29.34
The troops that
were surrounding Babylon,
00:12:29.38\00:12:32.75
dug a trench, and
they diverted the waters
00:12:32.78\00:12:36.02
of the Euphrates River.
00:12:36.05\00:12:38.59
And when the river went down,
00:12:38.62\00:12:40.86
then they came in
and besieged Babylon,
00:12:40.92\00:12:45.03
and Belshazzar was
slain that very night.
00:12:45.06\00:12:50.20
The kingdom of Babylon fell,
00:12:50.23\00:12:53.13
just as had been
foretold in Daniel 5:30
00:12:53.17\00:12:57.07
and the head of gold,
00:12:57.14\00:12:59.94
Babylon had fallen,
replaced by the arms,
00:13:00.08\00:13:04.98
the chest and arms of silver,
00:13:05.01\00:13:07.32
representing the Medo-Persians.
00:13:07.35\00:13:10.02
So we see that God
is the God of history.
00:13:10.09\00:13:15.39
And he foretold
it all in Daniel.
00:13:15.42\00:13:18.19
Amen. Praise the Lord. Amen.
00:13:18.23\00:13:20.50
I love it when you go
into the Book of Daniel,
00:13:20.53\00:13:22.30
and you go into
prophecy, and you see,
00:13:22.33\00:13:24.77
because lesson brings
out and certainly mine does
00:13:24.80\00:13:27.50
here on Monday in their cities.
00:13:27.54\00:13:30.27
But you mentioned that
God is a God of details.
00:13:30.31\00:13:35.44
And how wonderful,
and I'm so very grateful
00:13:35.48\00:13:37.81
and thankful that He
is, because in this image,
00:13:37.85\00:13:41.82
as it were Babylon,
00:13:41.85\00:13:43.18
Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome,
00:13:43.22\00:13:44.55
everything was
detailed, you know,
00:13:44.59\00:13:47.26
and timeframes attached to it.
00:13:47.32\00:13:49.82
God wanted us to
understand and want to see
00:13:49.86\00:13:51.76
the historical aspect of it
00:13:51.79\00:13:53.26
and how we can
certainly look at it,
00:13:53.29\00:13:55.16
apply to our own
hearts, into our own lives today
00:13:55.20\00:13:58.33
of where we're at in
the history of the world.
00:13:58.37\00:14:00.87
So I take out that God is
very interested in details.
00:14:00.94\00:14:04.11
Amen.
00:14:04.14\00:14:05.47
And so, as we look the lesson,
our lesson challenges us,
00:14:05.51\00:14:08.58
at least on my part here,
it says scan over the list
00:14:08.61\00:14:11.38
in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7.
00:14:11.41\00:14:14.95
Well, that's a lot of
list to go over in 2 and 7,
00:14:14.98\00:14:17.59
so I don't know that I
can scan over the whole thing.
00:14:17.62\00:14:19.92
But you know, just to
look, I'm taking it for granted.
00:14:19.95\00:14:22.89
And by faith, I'm believing
00:14:22.92\00:14:26.43
that God cares about details,
00:14:26.46\00:14:28.96
He likes those and you know,
00:14:29.00\00:14:30.63
and He puts
them in there for us.
00:14:30.67\00:14:32.60
And because He
was wanting to see
00:14:32.63\00:14:34.64
the groups that came, you know,
00:14:34.67\00:14:37.37
and how each one was involved,
00:14:37.41\00:14:39.44
how the next group
and the next group,
00:14:39.47\00:14:41.68
but they all work
together for one purpose
00:14:41.71\00:14:44.51
as the end result.
00:14:44.55\00:14:45.88
And as the bottom line there,
00:14:45.91\00:14:47.28
we find that the
walls were rebuilt
00:14:47.32\00:14:49.68
and the gates were
all put up and you know,
00:14:49.72\00:14:51.95
people returning
with a little more safety
00:14:51.99\00:14:54.62
and they felt
good about themselves,
00:14:54.66\00:14:56.99
and God blessing
and then like Satan,
00:14:57.03\00:14:59.26
you find somehow that they,
ever once in a while turn back
00:14:59.29\00:15:03.60
and then God gets them
again and brings them back.
00:15:03.67\00:15:06.23
Making list, now, I
don't see anything wrong
00:15:06.27\00:15:10.51
with making list.
00:15:10.54\00:15:12.31
You know, I think it's good.
00:15:12.34\00:15:14.28
You know, I don't
know if anybody here
00:15:14.31\00:15:15.64
has made a list of any
trials that you've had,
00:15:15.68\00:15:19.25
or any tests that
may have come your way,
00:15:19.28\00:15:21.32
you said, you know,
that's really a dandy.
00:15:21.35\00:15:23.69
I'm going to
write this thing down
00:15:23.72\00:15:26.42
and take a good
close look at it.
00:15:26.45\00:15:27.89
Because you know, we
write down a lot of it,
00:15:27.92\00:15:29.59
I write blessings down sometime,
00:15:29.62\00:15:31.93
it's a blessing
'cause I want to come back,
00:15:31.96\00:15:33.50
say thank You, Lord for it.
00:15:33.53\00:15:35.16
But maybe tests and trials,
00:15:35.20\00:15:36.53
they're meant to
be blessings, also.
00:15:36.56\00:15:38.83
And so may we should
look at those things,
00:15:38.87\00:15:40.40
make lists, take
notes, keep records.
00:15:40.44\00:15:42.94
What we do without records?
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.71
What we'd be doing
here? What would we have here
00:15:44.74\00:15:47.74
when someone that's
keeping tabs on things,
00:15:47.78\00:15:50.11
especially in the Word of
God, God is taking care of it
00:15:50.15\00:15:52.35
and He's making sure we get it.
00:15:52.38\00:15:53.92
But I think it's very important
00:15:53.98\00:15:55.32
and we're reminded
of the important things.
00:15:55.35\00:15:58.55
There's a lot of
foolishness out there
00:15:58.59\00:15:59.92
but God reminds us of the things
00:15:59.95\00:16:01.56
that are so important.
00:16:01.59\00:16:02.92
And to me the
most important things
00:16:02.96\00:16:04.29
we have in here
is making list out.
00:16:04.36\00:16:06.16
I don't know
about you, but make it,
00:16:06.19\00:16:07.76
I've heard people
say make a bucket list.
00:16:07.76\00:16:09.10
I'm not sure I understand
all of that, you know,
00:16:09.13\00:16:11.60
and the way I understood
it and the list of things
00:16:11.63\00:16:13.57
they may want to
do before they die,
00:16:13.64\00:16:15.77
ain't that what was bucket list?
00:16:15.80\00:16:17.14
That's right.
00:16:17.21\00:16:18.54
Okay, so you know,
so people can relate
00:16:18.57\00:16:20.51
to bucket list or
they can take these,
00:16:20.58\00:16:22.81
I'd like to do this
before, before I get saved,
00:16:22.84\00:16:25.58
before I pass away.
00:16:25.61\00:16:26.95
You know, I don't know
00:16:27.02\00:16:28.35
if there's anything
really wrong with that,
00:16:28.38\00:16:29.72
things we'd like to see
accomplished or whatever,
00:16:29.75\00:16:31.32
but maybe in
the cause of Christ,
00:16:31.35\00:16:32.85
it'd be nice to make a list.
00:16:32.89\00:16:35.46
You know, as we all
work and cooperate together,
00:16:35.49\00:16:37.83
things that God has
impressed you to do,
00:16:37.86\00:16:39.86
things that He's
allowed us to do,
00:16:39.89\00:16:41.93
places that He's taken
us, results that we've seen
00:16:41.96\00:16:46.50
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:46.53\00:16:48.70
And I just, I mourn sometimes,
00:16:48.74\00:16:51.47
I almost cry over the fact
that so many years, I hardly,
00:16:51.51\00:16:56.24
I never even
took a camera with me
00:16:56.28\00:16:57.68
when I went.
00:16:57.71\00:16:59.05
Many, many, I know
Pastor John, that's just.
00:16:59.08\00:17:01.28
It's unheard of.
00:17:01.32\00:17:02.65
It's unheard of, say, I
know, I'm way out with this.
00:17:02.68\00:17:05.65
But you know, I go back to where
00:17:05.69\00:17:07.02
the Polaroids were
not so, you know...
00:17:07.09\00:17:10.36
I can understand
that. You understand that.
00:17:10.39\00:17:12.59
But you know, there's
times that you could have,
00:17:12.63\00:17:14.93
I wish then I
had, because this list
00:17:14.96\00:17:18.67
because it's things
for the cause of Christ,
00:17:18.70\00:17:20.94
things that bring
joy to your heart,
00:17:20.97\00:17:23.14
you know, as you see
different ones working together,
00:17:23.17\00:17:25.54
people coming
together for certain meetings
00:17:25.57\00:17:27.28
and so on and so forth.
00:17:27.31\00:17:29.14
And I wished I have,
00:17:29.18\00:17:31.55
that's maybe a
little bucket list
00:17:31.58\00:17:32.91
that I have, I
don't really want to care,
00:17:32.95\00:17:34.32
care to go anywhere,
do anything necessarily,
00:17:34.35\00:17:36.58
except make it to
heaven. So my bucket list,
00:17:36.62\00:17:38.69
I'm going to put, I
want to make it to heaven.
00:17:38.72\00:17:40.89
Amen. I want by God's grace.
00:17:40.96\00:17:42.86
Now, you know, and
why do we make list?
00:17:42.89\00:17:46.56
Why do you tie a
string around your finger?
00:17:46.59\00:17:48.40
Well, I don't.
00:17:48.43\00:17:50.63
So you don't forget,
that's why you make a list
00:17:50.67\00:17:52.37
so you don't forget
the important things.
00:17:52.40\00:17:54.90
And something that
again, we wanna do,
00:17:54.94\00:17:57.07
place maybe we want to go.
00:17:57.11\00:17:59.67
Yeah, this lesson
reminds me of God's list.
00:17:59.71\00:18:03.41
I believe that God has list
00:18:03.48\00:18:04.81
and He's listed so
many things in here
00:18:04.85\00:18:06.61
and we could do that
in Ezra 2:7, go through.
00:18:06.65\00:18:09.15
And again, 'cause details
and how things came about,
00:18:09.18\00:18:12.82
and how they started
and how they finished,
00:18:12.85\00:18:15.39
and how that different
people play a different part
00:18:15.42\00:18:18.49
and different role in a work.
00:18:18.53\00:18:21.80
It could be at 3ABN, it
could be another ministries.
00:18:21.83\00:18:25.53
What was that Paul talked about
that somebody comes and plants,
00:18:25.57\00:18:27.97
and then
somebody comes and waters
00:18:28.00\00:18:29.34
and somebody comes and...
00:18:29.37\00:18:30.71
God gives the increase.
00:18:30.74\00:18:32.07
You know that, that needs
all be taken in consideration.
00:18:32.11\00:18:33.98
That number one,
00:18:34.01\00:18:35.34
it's always God
that does it all.
00:18:35.38\00:18:37.58
And if He chooses so to use
you or me just for a little bit
00:18:37.65\00:18:41.22
for His honor and
glory, oh, how wonderful.
00:18:41.25\00:18:44.09
Thank you, Lord, for
being using me today.
00:18:44.12\00:18:45.92
Amen.
00:18:45.95\00:18:47.29
You know, and
put that in our list
00:18:47.36\00:18:48.69
and say, you know,
00:18:48.72\00:18:50.06
I liked it so much
today God, that tomorrow,
00:18:50.09\00:18:53.50
I'd like to put some
more of these into my bucket.
00:18:53.53\00:18:56.10
I'd like to have
some more of these lists,
00:18:56.13\00:18:57.63
and God will do it.
00:18:57.67\00:18:59.00
That's right.
00:18:59.03\00:19:00.47
God will do that,
He'll send you the list
00:19:00.50\00:19:01.84
and you know,
00:19:01.87\00:19:03.20
what we need to look at
is what does God care about?
00:19:03.24\00:19:05.74
Is He particular?
Yes, He's particular God.
00:19:05.77\00:19:08.68
Does He care
about little things?
00:19:08.71\00:19:10.38
Absolutely, He does.
00:19:10.41\00:19:11.75
You read several
passages of scripture,
00:19:11.78\00:19:13.18
okay when he said, You know,
I know the hair on your head,
00:19:13.21\00:19:15.82
He's having a
hard time with mine.
00:19:15.85\00:19:17.35
No, He's not. Probably not.
00:19:20.39\00:19:21.92
You know, I said, No,
00:19:21.96\00:19:23.29
he doesn't have a
hard time with it,
00:19:23.32\00:19:24.66
but He's keeping some,
00:19:24.69\00:19:26.03
little busier on
something on others.
00:19:26.06\00:19:27.60
But to me that,
that was intimate.
00:19:27.66\00:19:30.07
That was intimate in
that sense in relationship,
00:19:30.10\00:19:33.17
that Christ cares so
much that the Bible tells it.
00:19:33.20\00:19:36.50
You read, was it, was
43? Was it Isaiah 40 or 45?
00:19:36.54\00:19:40.61
And 45 just
simply says, God says,
00:19:40.68\00:19:43.45
"I called him by name."
00:19:43.48\00:19:45.08
Yes.
00:19:45.11\00:19:46.51
That's intimate. I
called him by name.
00:19:46.55\00:19:48.58
Amen.
00:19:48.62\00:19:49.95
And when He comes
to you, He comes to me,
00:19:49.98\00:19:51.39
He calls us by
name and He woos us
00:19:51.42\00:19:53.66
into the relationship.
00:19:53.69\00:19:55.02
He woos us into, you know,
00:19:55.06\00:20:00.23
recognizing who He is
and falling in love with Him.
00:20:00.30\00:20:03.00
I thought He was
detailed God that we have.
00:20:03.03\00:20:05.57
And I'm so very
grateful and thankful of that.
00:20:05.60\00:20:07.84
God of miracles, you know,
God of might, God of strength.
00:20:07.87\00:20:12.97
You know, if I look
at all these lessons,
00:20:13.01\00:20:15.04
I see so much
coming out of here,
00:20:15.08\00:20:16.41
and I'm thinking
00:20:16.44\00:20:17.78
there's so much
information out here,
00:20:17.81\00:20:19.15
each one of you say it,
there's so much information.
00:20:19.18\00:20:21.42
So much that you
just go on and on.
00:20:21.45\00:20:22.92
And then the
hardest part for us,
00:20:22.95\00:20:24.49
to do is try to condense it down
00:20:24.52\00:20:26.59
to just a little bit, you know,
00:20:26.62\00:20:29.72
because there's so much
and then others think maybe
00:20:29.76\00:20:32.13
you've left something out.
00:20:32.16\00:20:33.76
But you know, I think there's...
00:20:33.80\00:20:36.00
We see in our lesson right here,
00:20:36.03\00:20:37.40
there was a certain time
in the history of the world
00:20:37.43\00:20:41.34
for this project
of the rebuilding.
00:20:41.37\00:20:44.87
There was a certain
time, a certain place,
00:20:44.91\00:20:47.01
a certain people that God chose
00:20:47.04\00:20:49.78
and that God used
to fulfill His will.
00:20:49.81\00:20:52.85
Remember, God writes it,
and then God brings it about.
00:20:52.88\00:20:57.12
And each one of us
need to be praying that
00:20:57.15\00:20:58.69
we can be a part of
that, that we might contribute,
00:20:58.72\00:21:02.86
you know, to
the cause of Christ,
00:21:02.89\00:21:04.23
'cause I think we all
believe that the God is coming.
00:21:04.26\00:21:07.60
I believe that we...
00:21:07.60\00:21:10.17
There needs to
be reformed. Right?
00:21:10.23\00:21:13.40
Reform in our church,
00:21:13.44\00:21:15.40
it needs to be reformed among us
00:21:15.44\00:21:17.27
as individuals.
00:21:17.31\00:21:18.64
That's not saying anything
bad about anything or anybody,
00:21:18.67\00:21:21.01
but until we, you know,
until the Christ's character
00:21:21.04\00:21:23.21
is fully reproduced in us.
00:21:23.24\00:21:24.65
That's right.
00:21:24.68\00:21:26.01
You know, when it is,
He's going to come back,
00:21:26.05\00:21:27.68
and I look at my
measuring device,
00:21:27.72\00:21:30.15
I look at Christ and
I fall short of that.
00:21:30.19\00:21:32.69
And so I'm asking Him
that I may behold Him more
00:21:32.72\00:21:35.16
each and every day, to become
better acquainted with Him,
00:21:35.19\00:21:38.19
so that I might
see Him as He is.
00:21:38.23\00:21:40.30
And then desire that change
and I'm praying that for you,
00:21:40.36\00:21:43.40
and I'm praying for all of
us, because this was all about,
00:21:43.43\00:21:45.97
we may sit on a
panel, you may do this,
00:21:46.00\00:21:47.87
you may do that,
may be in ministry,
00:21:47.90\00:21:49.74
you may run here, you
may run there and there.
00:21:49.77\00:21:51.74
What does that mean?
God knows where you're at.
00:21:51.77\00:21:55.01
God knows what you're doing,
but He also knows the heart.
00:21:55.04\00:21:57.48
Why are we doing
it? Why are we doing it?
00:21:57.51\00:22:00.12
It's because we love the gospel,
00:22:00.15\00:22:01.65
because we love
people, because we want people
00:22:01.68\00:22:04.19
saved in the kingdom.
00:22:04.22\00:22:05.59
Are we willing to
put ourselves out there
00:22:05.62\00:22:07.86
on the line to be talked
about and gossiped about?
00:22:07.89\00:22:10.53
Beat on the head, thrown
out, as it were at times.
00:22:10.56\00:22:13.19
You know, are we willing
to it because we love Jesus.
00:22:13.23\00:22:15.10
I pray that's what it
is, because God does have...
00:22:15.13\00:22:17.83
We'll talk about a list here.
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.20
We talk about
things that He cares about.
00:22:19.23\00:22:21.50
And so what I'm trying
to do by the grace of God
00:22:21.54\00:22:23.71
is learn to
care about the things
00:22:23.77\00:22:25.91
that He cares about me.
00:22:25.94\00:22:27.28
Amen. See, that's important.
00:22:27.34\00:22:28.94
I learned a lot.
00:22:28.98\00:22:30.31
There's other things
that I care about in the world
00:22:30.35\00:22:31.85
that I probably
shouldn't care about.
00:22:31.88\00:22:33.48
And so I don't want to care
about the things that doesn't.
00:22:33.52\00:22:35.62
And now I'm having
more difficult time
00:22:35.65\00:22:37.25
'cause everything
unless it has eternal interest,
00:22:37.29\00:22:39.79
I have a hard time
00:22:39.82\00:22:41.16
getting
involved with it anymore.
00:22:41.19\00:22:42.56
Doesn't make you a good person,
00:22:42.59\00:22:43.93
that's just where my heart's at.
00:22:43.99\00:22:46.26
If there's not
some eternal realities
00:22:46.29\00:22:48.13
involved with, I'm
saying, what's the use?
00:22:48.16\00:22:50.20
Why are we doing it?
00:22:50.23\00:22:51.57
Let's put our thoughts,
our effort, our energy,
00:22:51.60\00:22:53.77
and then our lessons
brought out on finances,
00:22:53.80\00:22:56.44
everything in
the cause of Christ
00:22:56.47\00:22:59.07
because God cares.
00:22:59.11\00:23:00.51
God has a bucket, we
need to fill that bucket up.
00:23:00.58\00:23:02.51
God has details, right?
00:23:02.54\00:23:04.88
And we need to look
at His details, say God,
00:23:04.91\00:23:06.85
"What is your
detail for my life?
00:23:06.92\00:23:09.95
Whatever your details is,
00:23:09.98\00:23:11.32
that's what I want for my life."
00:23:11.35\00:23:13.02
And therefore by
dedicating ourselves to Christ,
00:23:13.05\00:23:15.49
watch what He
will do for and through
00:23:15.52\00:23:18.06
and in you and in me.
00:23:18.09\00:23:20.20
You know, I'm
longing for that day
00:23:20.23\00:23:21.53
that we like Jesus,
longing today I can see Jesus.
00:23:21.56\00:23:24.33
And so that's my
desire. That's my goal.
00:23:24.37\00:23:28.00
Take it from there. Amen.
00:23:28.04\00:23:29.84
We're going to take it to
us. Thank you so much, Pastor.
00:23:29.87\00:23:34.38
We're gonna take a quick
break and we'll be right back.
00:23:34.41\00:23:36.58
Ever wish you could watch
00:23:42.68\00:23:44.05
a 3ABN Sabbath
School Panel again,
00:23:44.09\00:23:46.15
or share it on
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00:23:46.19\00:23:49.32
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We're back now
for Tuesday's study
00:24:14.68\00:24:16.69
with Jill Morikone.
00:24:16.72\00:24:18.05
Where are the priests?
00:24:18.09\00:24:19.42
Thank you so much,
Shelley and Pastor Kenny,
00:24:19.45\00:24:21.39
what an incredible open
to this lesson number 9.
00:24:21.42\00:24:24.69
And on Tuesday's lesson,
00:24:24.73\00:24:26.39
we're gonna turn
to Ezra Chapter 8.
00:24:26.43\00:24:29.40
Ezra Chapter 8, we
look at the first 15 verses,
00:24:29.43\00:24:32.50
although we're
really focused on verse 15.
00:24:32.53\00:24:34.90
And then Pastor John
gets to pick up after that.
00:24:34.94\00:24:37.27
This is the
second return under Ezra.
00:24:37.31\00:24:40.04
Remember, we've
already studied this quarter,
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.08
the first return
under Zerubbabel,
00:24:42.11\00:24:44.21
probably 50,000 Jews went back
00:24:44.25\00:24:47.32
from Babylon, back to
Judah, back to Jerusalem.
00:24:47.38\00:24:50.99
That's probably 538, 537 BC.
00:24:51.02\00:24:55.16
Then we come to this
return under Ezra, 457 BC.
00:24:55.19\00:25:00.13
And then, of course,
we know 13 years later,
00:25:00.16\00:25:02.53
we had the
return under Nehemiah.
00:25:02.56\00:25:04.80
So let's take a
look at the second return
00:25:04.83\00:25:06.94
under Ezra.
00:25:06.97\00:25:08.30
In verses 1-14,
there's another list
00:25:08.34\00:25:11.97
which we will not attempt
00:25:12.01\00:25:13.38
to read all
those beautiful names.
00:25:13.41\00:25:15.71
But we see that there
are 12 different heads
00:25:15.74\00:25:18.95
of families mentioned,
12 different families,
00:25:18.98\00:25:22.05
symbolic as it were of
the 12 tribes of Israel.
00:25:22.08\00:25:26.12
Now, what is
interesting to me, in this list,
00:25:26.15\00:25:29.26
you see
different groups of people.
00:25:29.29\00:25:31.73
You see some priestly returnees,
00:25:31.76\00:25:34.50
that's in Ezra
Chapter 8:2, it says,
00:25:34.56\00:25:37.03
"Of the sons of Phinehas,
00:25:37.07\00:25:38.50
Gershom and of the
sons of Ithamar, Daniel."
00:25:38.53\00:25:42.17
Now we know Phinehas
was Aaron's grandson,
00:25:42.20\00:25:44.81
and Ithamar was
the son of Aaron.
00:25:44.84\00:25:47.28
So these are
priests who are returning.
00:25:47.34\00:25:51.58
Next we see that
00:25:51.61\00:25:53.05
some of the
sons of David return,
00:25:53.08\00:25:55.58
so there are some
royal returnees as well.
00:25:55.62\00:25:58.45
And then we have the
lay people as it were,
00:25:58.49\00:26:01.56
12 different heads of families
listed here in verses 1-14.
00:26:01.59\00:26:06.09
Everyone on this list
with the exception of Joab,
00:26:06.13\00:26:09.93
he is in verse 9,
is connected somehow
00:26:09.96\00:26:13.00
to the first
return of the exiles
00:26:13.03\00:26:15.37
under Zerubbabel.
00:26:15.40\00:26:17.34
This means that
when the original call
00:26:17.41\00:26:19.34
went forth, Cyrus's decree
00:26:19.37\00:26:21.38
and the original
50,000 went back,
00:26:21.41\00:26:23.78
it split up families.
00:26:23.85\00:26:25.51
There was a mixed response,
as it were, Pastor Kenny,
00:26:25.55\00:26:29.58
and families were
divided almost down the middle.
00:26:29.62\00:26:33.96
It shows the
spiritual indifference
00:26:33.99\00:26:37.46
of those who were in
a comfortable lifestyle
00:26:37.53\00:26:40.60
and who had
remained behind in Babylon.
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.33
It also shows the
faith and commitment
00:26:43.37\00:26:46.70
that it took for those to return
00:26:46.74\00:26:49.24
and to make a choice
00:26:49.27\00:26:50.67
to leave their
comfortable lifestyle
00:26:50.71\00:26:52.71
in Babylon and return.
00:26:52.74\00:26:57.01
It was a long journey,
we know it was 900 miles
00:26:57.05\00:27:00.35
across the desert.
00:27:00.38\00:27:01.92
It was a hard journey.
00:27:01.95\00:27:03.82
But it shows the
faith and commitment
00:27:03.85\00:27:05.69
of those who did return.
00:27:05.72\00:27:07.09
We know probably 1,500 men
returned and then, of course,
00:27:07.12\00:27:11.93
the women and children
00:27:11.96\00:27:13.29
bringing the total
to 5 or 6,000 people.
00:27:13.33\00:27:16.00
But let's
concentrate on verse 15.
00:27:16.03\00:27:18.67
That's where we really
spend the balance of our time.
00:27:18.70\00:27:20.84
Let's read Ezra
8:15, "Now I gathered them
00:27:20.87\00:27:24.44
by the river
that flows to Ahava,
00:27:24.47\00:27:26.98
and we camped there three days.
00:27:27.01\00:27:30.25
And I looked among the
people and the priests,
00:27:30.28\00:27:33.35
and found none of
the sons of Levi there."
00:27:33.42\00:27:39.09
Now, what's
interesting, the lesson asks,
00:27:39.12\00:27:40.96
where are the
priests but the truth is,
00:27:40.99\00:27:43.09
the priests were there.
00:27:43.12\00:27:44.46
We already saw
that in Ezra Chapter 2
00:27:44.49\00:27:46.29
because some of the sons
00:27:46.33\00:27:47.66
of the lineage
of Aaron had gone.
00:27:47.66\00:27:50.73
But there were no Levites there.
00:27:50.77\00:27:55.44
Now, you might say, I
don't understand that at all.
00:27:55.47\00:27:57.84
All priests were to be Levites,
00:27:57.87\00:27:59.67
that was clear
according to the law,
00:27:59.71\00:28:02.08
but not all
Levites were priests.
00:28:02.11\00:28:05.71
Levitical priests
were given the privilege
00:28:05.75\00:28:07.85
of doing service
in the tabernacle.
00:28:07.88\00:28:09.98
We also know
they served as judges.
00:28:10.02\00:28:12.85
That's in
Deuteronomy Chapter 17.
00:28:12.89\00:28:15.39
Sometimes they served
as teachers of the law,
00:28:15.42\00:28:18.29
that's in
Deuteronomy Chapter 33.
00:28:18.33\00:28:20.93
I can think of
some Levitical priests,
00:28:20.96\00:28:22.83
of course, Aaron,
00:28:22.86\00:28:24.20
we have Ezra was a
Levitical priest, Eli,
00:28:24.27\00:28:28.20
Zachariah in the New Testament
would be a Levitical priest.
00:28:28.24\00:28:33.71
But not all
Levites were priests.
00:28:33.78\00:28:38.01
They were non priestly Levites
00:28:38.05\00:28:40.55
who were involved in taking care
00:28:40.62\00:28:42.58
of the tabernacle
and its furnishings.
00:28:42.62\00:28:45.39
We see that in
Numbers Chapter 3,
00:28:45.42\00:28:47.99
you can look that
up in verses 21-26.
00:28:48.02\00:28:52.03
So this tells us
here in this verse
00:28:52.06\00:28:55.03
that no Levites wanted to return
00:28:55.06\00:28:59.13
when Ezra made the
call and said please go back
00:28:59.17\00:29:02.37
who wants to come back
and rebuild that temple
00:29:02.40\00:29:05.81
and dedicate
that who wants to go?
00:29:05.84\00:29:08.21
And no Levites made
the decision to join.
00:29:08.24\00:29:12.15
Now, we're gonna
see later in the chapter
00:29:12.18\00:29:14.15
that some Levites
were persuaded to go
00:29:14.18\00:29:16.58
along with some temple servants.
00:29:16.62\00:29:18.69
Later 38
Levites joined the group
00:29:18.72\00:29:20.72
and 220 temple
servants were persuaded
00:29:20.79\00:29:24.19
to join the returning exiles.
00:29:24.26\00:29:27.40
So what is the danger
of the Levite mentality?
00:29:27.46\00:29:31.50
This is what I call
it, the Levite mentality.
00:29:31.53\00:29:34.44
I want to talk
about five dangers,
00:29:34.47\00:29:36.64
Pastor John, five
dangers of the Levite mentality.
00:29:36.71\00:29:40.81
Number one, the
danger of comfort.
00:29:40.88\00:29:44.68
Babylon was
comfortable, and it was safe,
00:29:44.71\00:29:49.12
and it was what
they were used to.
00:29:49.15\00:29:51.29
It's dangerous when
we become comfortable
00:29:51.32\00:29:54.49
where we are serving the Lord.
00:29:54.52\00:29:56.66
Yes.
00:29:56.73\00:29:58.06
It's dangerous when we
become comfortable in that.
00:29:58.09\00:30:00.50
Zephaniah
Chapter 4, Chapter 1:12.
00:30:00.53\00:30:05.00
Zephaniah 1:12.
00:30:05.03\00:30:07.10
"And it shall come
to pass at that time
00:30:07.14\00:30:09.24
that I will search
Jerusalem with lamps
00:30:09.27\00:30:11.44
and punish the men
00:30:11.47\00:30:12.81
who are settled
in their complacency,
00:30:12.84\00:30:16.31
who say in their heart,
the Lord will not do good,
00:30:16.34\00:30:19.71
nor will he do evil, the
Lord will come and punish
00:30:19.75\00:30:23.28
those settled in
their complacency."
00:30:23.35\00:30:26.96
I think of the
parable of the rich fool
00:30:27.02\00:30:28.82
that's in Luke 12.
00:30:28.86\00:30:30.23
Remember verse 19, he said,
"I'll say to my soul, 'Soul,
00:30:30.29\00:30:34.13
you have many goods
laid up for many years,
00:30:34.20\00:30:36.60
take your ease, eat,
drink and be merry.'"
00:30:36.63\00:30:39.60
That is the danger of comfort.
00:30:39.63\00:30:42.64
The second danger is
the danger of tradition.
00:30:42.67\00:30:46.71
Babylon was the only thing
00:30:46.74\00:30:48.08
that many of
these Levites had known
00:30:48.11\00:30:49.68
because they've
probably been born there,
00:30:49.71\00:30:51.51
and they were raised in Babylon
and that's all they knew.
00:30:51.55\00:30:54.75
It's dangerous
when we serve the Lord
00:30:54.78\00:30:56.72
just because our parents did.
00:30:56.75\00:30:58.09
Well.
00:30:58.12\00:30:59.45
Or just because is
what we have always done.
00:30:59.49\00:31:02.36
I think of Joshua 24:15.
00:31:02.39\00:31:05.46
Joshua made an appeal to
the people to not serve God
00:31:05.49\00:31:08.93
from tradition, to not serve God
00:31:08.96\00:31:10.83
because their parents did it.
00:31:10.87\00:31:13.20
But they had to make
their own choice to follow God.
00:31:13.23\00:31:17.57
The Bible says, "And
if it seems evil for you
00:31:17.61\00:31:19.91
to serve the Lord,
choose for yourself this day,
00:31:19.94\00:31:23.51
whom you will serve,
00:31:23.55\00:31:25.28
whether the gods
which your father served,
00:31:25.31\00:31:27.48
that were on the
other side of the river,
00:31:27.52\00:31:30.39
or the gods of the Amorites,
00:31:30.45\00:31:31.99
and whose land you dwell,
but as for me and my house,
00:31:32.02\00:31:35.99
we will serve the Lord."
00:31:36.02\00:31:37.83
Amen.
00:31:37.86\00:31:39.19
We have the danger of comfort,
00:31:39.23\00:31:40.56
the danger of tradition.
00:31:40.60\00:31:42.33
The third danger is
the danger of complacency
00:31:42.36\00:31:45.93
and the fear of hardship.
00:31:45.97\00:31:48.90
The journey to Judah
was long, it was difficult.
00:31:48.94\00:31:52.74
It was a harsh
desert, 900 miles.
00:31:52.77\00:31:55.64
We know it took
Ezra's company four months
00:31:55.68\00:31:58.75
to travel across that journey.
00:31:58.78\00:32:02.32
It's dangerous when we
refuse to serve the Lord
00:32:02.35\00:32:06.19
because of an unwillingness
to encounter hardship.
00:32:06.22\00:32:09.92
We say, I don't want to suffer.
00:32:09.96\00:32:11.99
All that live
godly in Christ Jesus
00:32:12.03\00:32:13.60
shall suffer persecution.
00:32:13.63\00:32:14.96
I don't want persecution.
I don't want to suffer.
00:32:15.00\00:32:17.67
I don't want to endure that.
00:32:17.70\00:32:19.83
Think of Paul,
his letter to Timothy.
00:32:19.87\00:32:22.27
2 Timothy 2:3,
00:32:22.30\00:32:24.37
this is right at
the end of Paul's life,
00:32:24.41\00:32:26.27
and he's counseling his,
you can say son in the faith
00:32:26.31\00:32:30.51
who's Timothy.
00:32:30.55\00:32:31.88
It says, "You
therefore must endure,"
00:32:31.91\00:32:34.32
what's that word?
00:32:34.35\00:32:35.68
Hardship as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ.
00:32:35.72\00:32:38.89
Danger number four,
00:32:38.92\00:32:40.26
the danger of
avoiding responsibility.
00:32:40.32\00:32:45.63
They weren't serving
in the temple in Babylon,
00:32:45.66\00:32:48.40
perhaps they didn't even
want that responsibility.
00:32:48.43\00:32:52.13
It's dangerous
when we shirk a duty
00:32:52.17\00:32:55.34
that God has placed on us.
00:32:55.37\00:32:58.54
Galatians 6:4-5,
00:32:58.57\00:33:00.28
usually I read
from New King James,
00:33:00.31\00:33:01.78
but this is NIV,
00:33:01.81\00:33:03.68
"Each one should
test their own actions,
00:33:03.75\00:33:06.25
then they can take
pride in themselves alone,
00:33:06.28\00:33:08.45
without comparing
themselves to anyone else
00:33:08.48\00:33:10.99
for each one should
carry their own load."
00:33:11.02\00:33:15.09
There's a danger of
shirking the responsibility
00:33:15.12\00:33:17.96
that God has given you to carry.
00:33:17.99\00:33:20.43
Romans 14:12,
00:33:20.50\00:33:21.96
"So then each of us should give
an account of himself to God."
00:33:22.00\00:33:25.07
And finally, danger number five,
00:33:25.10\00:33:27.00
the danger of
feeling insignificant.
00:33:27.04\00:33:30.37
They might have
said, we're only Levites,
00:33:30.41\00:33:32.41
we're not priests, we
don't teach in the law,
00:33:32.44\00:33:35.68
we don't judge, my
job is just to take care
00:33:35.71\00:33:38.85
of the tabernacle
and its furnishings.
00:33:38.88\00:33:40.82
It is dangerous
00:33:40.88\00:33:42.22
when we measure
our responsibilities
00:33:42.25\00:33:44.32
against someone
else instead of doing
00:33:44.35\00:33:46.92
what we are given to
the best of our ability.
00:33:46.96\00:33:51.39
Colossians
3:23-24, "Whatever you do,
00:33:51.43\00:33:54.23
do it heartily as to
the Lord and not to men,
00:33:54.30\00:33:57.60
knowing that from the
Lord you receive the reward
00:33:57.63\00:34:00.54
of your inheritance."
00:34:00.57\00:34:01.90
So beware of the
danger of comfort,
00:34:01.94\00:34:04.34
the danger of tradition,
00:34:04.37\00:34:05.77
the danger of
the fear of hardship
00:34:05.81\00:34:07.68
avoiding responsibility,
or of feeling insignificant.
00:34:07.71\00:34:12.48
Pastor John.
Well, thank you, Jill.
00:34:12.51\00:34:14.88
Thank you for your
notes, I appreciate it.
00:34:14.92\00:34:16.69
Amen.
00:34:16.72\00:34:20.29
Jill is always
a student of list,
00:34:20.36\00:34:22.59
but not just list but
list with great content.
00:34:22.62\00:34:25.03
Thank you for that.
00:34:25.06\00:34:26.43
And Wednesday,
humble before God.
00:34:26.46\00:34:29.53
You know, the
journey of the Israelites,
00:34:29.56\00:34:31.53
the rebuilding of the temple,
00:34:31.57\00:34:33.07
the gathering of
the priests to Levites,
00:34:33.10\00:34:35.37
the opposition, in all of it,
we found a lot of vacillating.
00:34:35.40\00:34:40.44
There were those
00:34:40.48\00:34:41.81
who were
uncomfortable with change.
00:34:41.84\00:34:44.01
There were those who
were hesitant to change.
00:34:44.05\00:34:47.75
They were those who fluctuated
between good and evil.
00:34:47.78\00:34:52.42
They were those who
started out but turned back.
00:34:52.45\00:34:55.09
All of these
instances were listed
00:34:55.12\00:34:57.63
in what we've
discovered so far in the Journey
00:34:57.66\00:35:00.36
of the Israelites
in the books of Ezra,
00:35:00.43\00:35:02.76
Nehemiah, and
Deuteronomy and Daniel,
00:35:02.80\00:35:05.20
and Zephaniah and
Haggai, they're all in there.
00:35:05.23\00:35:08.44
But today we're
talking about humility.
00:35:08.47\00:35:10.94
Humility is
something that's very essential
00:35:10.97\00:35:13.38
when it comes to
working in the Lord's field.
00:35:13.41\00:35:15.91
And what you found...
00:35:15.94\00:35:18.08
We find, I'm going to go ahead
and read here in Deuteronomy,
00:35:18.11\00:35:22.75
I want to just talk about
how God was willing to bring
00:35:22.78\00:35:26.19
His people back.
00:35:26.22\00:35:27.79
But you'll find in
the center of this,
00:35:27.82\00:35:32.29
you find an if and a then.
00:35:32.33\00:35:35.00
All of the promises of God
are based on an if and a then.
00:35:35.03\00:35:39.20
If my people, then I will hear.
00:35:39.23\00:35:41.94
So when you find
those, you consider that
00:35:41.97\00:35:45.14
this promise is conditional.
00:35:45.17\00:35:47.84
Now God's covenant is based
on the consistency of His life.
00:35:47.88\00:35:53.25
But in the nestled in the
midst of all the blessings,
00:35:53.28\00:35:56.79
there is the if
and there's the when.
00:35:56.85\00:35:58.45
Amen.
00:35:58.49\00:35:59.82
So Deuteronomy 30:1-6
and I'm gonna just go down
00:35:59.85\00:36:02.26
to a list of
praises to be humble.
00:36:02.29\00:36:06.86
Verse 1, now it's,
this is Deuteronomy 30:1,
00:36:06.93\00:36:10.47
"Now it shall come to pass
00:36:10.50\00:36:12.07
when all the
things come upon you,
00:36:12.10\00:36:14.24
the blessings and the curse
which I have set before you,
00:36:14.27\00:36:17.24
notice, both of them are there,
00:36:17.31\00:36:19.31
and you call them to
mine among all the nations
00:36:19.34\00:36:23.21
where the Lord
your God drives you
00:36:23.24\00:36:25.71
and you return
to the Lord your God
00:36:25.75\00:36:27.15
and obey His
voice according to all
00:36:27.22\00:36:28.75
that I command you today.
00:36:28.78\00:36:30.49
You and your
children with all your heart
00:36:30.52\00:36:32.49
and with all your soul,
00:36:32.52\00:36:34.09
that the Lord your God
00:36:34.16\00:36:35.49
will bring you
back from captivity
00:36:35.52\00:36:38.23
and have compassion on
you and gather you again
00:36:38.26\00:36:41.10
from all the
nations where the Lord
00:36:41.13\00:36:42.76
your God has scattered you.
00:36:42.80\00:36:44.87
They were scattered
because of their disobedience
00:36:44.90\00:36:46.84
and the Lord says, if
you want to live like that,
00:36:46.90\00:36:48.54
if you want to live
like the Babylonians,
00:36:48.57\00:36:50.17
you're not going
to do it in Jerusalem.
00:36:50.21\00:36:52.31
Go where it's most comfortable,
00:36:52.34\00:36:53.68
live like Babylon in Babylon."
00:36:53.74\00:36:56.01
But look at verse 4.
00:36:56.04\00:36:57.41
"If any of you are
driven out to the farthest parts
00:36:57.45\00:37:00.98
under heaven.
00:37:01.02\00:37:02.42
From there the Lord
your God will gather you
00:37:02.45\00:37:04.49
and from there he
will bring you back,
00:37:04.52\00:37:06.62
he will bring you.
00:37:06.65\00:37:08.29
If then, the Lord your
God will bring you to the land
00:37:08.32\00:37:13.23
which your father's possessed,
and you shall possess it.
00:37:13.26\00:37:16.26
He will prosper
you and multiply you
00:37:16.30\00:37:18.50
more than your father's.
00:37:18.53\00:37:20.74
And the Lord your God
will circumcise your heart,
00:37:20.77\00:37:24.74
and the heart
of your descendants
00:37:24.77\00:37:26.44
to love the Lord your
God with all your heart,
00:37:26.47\00:37:29.04
and with all your
soul, that you may live."
00:37:29.08\00:37:32.31
This is the
promise the Lord made,
00:37:32.35\00:37:33.72
this is a covenant,
00:37:33.75\00:37:35.08
if and then I
have blessings for you,
00:37:35.12\00:37:37.39
but they are conditional,
00:37:37.42\00:37:39.29
and the bringing
back, and this is the point
00:37:39.32\00:37:42.32
I think I've made
it and maybe even past
00:37:42.36\00:37:44.33
it fits right here.
00:37:44.36\00:37:45.69
The Lord was able to take
the Israelites out of Egypt,
00:37:45.73\00:37:49.23
but He couldn't take
each about the Israelites.
00:37:49.26\00:37:51.73
The Lord was able to
take Israel out of Babylon
00:37:51.77\00:37:54.77
but you know what I am
taking Babylon out of Israel,
00:37:54.80\00:37:57.17
and often the places
that they were driven,
00:37:57.21\00:37:59.51
He was able to
take them out physically
00:37:59.54\00:38:01.28
but the spiritual restoration
was the great challenge.
00:38:01.31\00:38:04.51
And a part of the reason
for the spiritual restoration
00:38:04.55\00:38:06.78
being a great challenge
was humility was lacking.
00:38:06.85\00:38:10.35
So I want to point
out a couple of points
00:38:10.42\00:38:12.22
very important here.
00:38:12.25\00:38:13.59
First of all, I
want to point out
00:38:13.62\00:38:14.96
the heart of God,
00:38:14.99\00:38:16.32
the foundation of all
of the blessings of God
00:38:16.36\00:38:19.13
are based on the heart of God.
00:38:19.16\00:38:20.83
Amen.
00:38:20.86\00:38:22.16
And even when we
are falling into sin,
00:38:22.20\00:38:24.40
even when we stumble,
00:38:24.43\00:38:25.77
because sometimes
breaking a person up,
00:38:25.80\00:38:28.40
breaking someone
out of an old habit
00:38:28.44\00:38:30.11
is not as simple
as saying, just do it.
00:38:30.14\00:38:33.04
You know, the brain is
this powerful instrument,
00:38:33.07\00:38:35.54
it engrains in itself.
00:38:35.58\00:38:36.95
I was talking to a young
man just not too long ago.
00:38:36.98\00:38:39.78
And I said, you're
trying to, you know,
00:38:39.81\00:38:42.52
you'd have to say, pray for me.
00:38:42.55\00:38:44.09
I'm gonna read my Bible.
00:38:44.12\00:38:45.45
I said, that's, I said, for you,
00:38:45.49\00:38:47.26
that's the easy thing to do.
00:38:47.29\00:38:48.99
You need a change
in the way you think
00:38:49.02\00:38:51.36
and that's only
gonna happen in the change
00:38:51.39\00:38:53.29
in the way you yield yourself,
00:38:53.33\00:38:55.93
your actions, your
habits, your practices.
00:38:55.96\00:38:58.37
You literally have to
relearn the way you should live
00:38:58.40\00:39:01.97
and that's not something
by copying out by saying,
00:39:02.00\00:39:04.14
well pray for me.
00:39:04.17\00:39:05.51
Because so many people
use prayer as a parachute.
00:39:05.54\00:39:08.11
When they land safely,
they go back to the way
00:39:08.14\00:39:10.68
they live before.
00:39:10.71\00:39:12.45
The heart of
God is so important.
00:39:12.48\00:39:14.18
Hebrews 4:15,
00:39:14.25\00:39:15.58
let's look at the
heart of God very quickly.
00:39:15.62\00:39:17.92
And he says the foundation
of the promises of God
00:39:17.95\00:39:22.42
is he understands us,
but notice the heart of God,
00:39:22.46\00:39:25.56
"For we do not
have a High Priest
00:39:25.59\00:39:27.50
who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses,
00:39:27.56\00:39:30.67
but was in all
points tempted as we are,
00:39:30.70\00:39:33.23
yet without sin."
00:39:33.27\00:39:34.67
He understands our frailty.
00:39:34.70\00:39:36.47
Amen? Amen.
00:39:36.50\00:39:38.67
He understands our
frailty, but He bears with us.
00:39:38.71\00:39:42.01
Also, Hebrews 7:25,
00:39:42.04\00:39:44.95
another indicator
of the heart of God.
00:39:44.98\00:39:48.42
"Therefore, he is able
to save to the uttermost,
00:39:48.45\00:39:52.49
those who come
to God through him
00:39:52.52\00:39:54.59
since he always lives to
make intercession for them,"
00:39:54.62\00:39:58.66
or as the King James
says, ever liveth to make,
00:39:58.69\00:40:01.73
that just sounds
so good, ever liveth.
00:40:01.76\00:40:05.03
And, so let's look at it now,
00:40:05.07\00:40:08.44
He will always bring
us back up we're humble.
00:40:08.47\00:40:11.11
He ever liveth to
make intercession.
00:40:11.14\00:40:12.74
He understands our weaknesses.
00:40:12.77\00:40:14.51
But then so why does
He want us to be humble?
00:40:14.54\00:40:17.95
Now let's look
at Deuteronomy 8:2,
00:40:17.98\00:40:21.45
Deuteronomy 8:2.
00:40:21.48\00:40:23.49
Let's see, one of
the first things, Jill,
00:40:23.55\00:40:25.39
is humility is a test.
00:40:25.42\00:40:27.52
Humility is a test.
00:40:27.56\00:40:29.59
And you shall remember the Lord
your God led you all the way
00:40:29.62\00:40:34.36
these 40 years
in the wilderness,
00:40:34.40\00:40:37.43
to humble you
and to do what else?
00:40:37.50\00:40:40.37
Test you, to know
what was in your heart,
00:40:40.40\00:40:44.41
whether you would keep
His commandments or not.
00:40:44.44\00:40:47.04
You know what's
amazing about this.
00:40:47.11\00:40:48.44
He already knew
what was in their heart.
00:40:48.48\00:40:50.28
God doesn't need to
find out what's in our heart.
00:40:50.31\00:40:52.61
We need to find out
what's in our heart,
00:40:52.65\00:40:54.75
and tests don't
develop us, tests reveal us.
00:40:54.78\00:40:59.72
Trials reveal our fabric.
It doesn't develop our fabric.
00:40:59.75\00:41:04.06
So the Lord
sometimes will ordain a trial
00:41:04.13\00:41:06.46
to show you that you
really don't have faith.
00:41:06.49\00:41:09.03
It's easy to trust
God when the sun is out,
00:41:09.06\00:41:11.13
the bank is full,
the cars are working,
00:41:11.17\00:41:12.67
the kids are obedient
00:41:12.70\00:41:14.04
and the dog
hasn't bitten anybody.
00:41:14.10\00:41:15.60
But if any of those things
fall out of practice, Lord,
00:41:15.64\00:41:18.51
why have you forsaken me?
00:41:18.54\00:41:19.87
And thus the Israelites,
Moses, Aaron, Joshua,
00:41:19.91\00:41:22.84
they all heard
00:41:22.88\00:41:24.55
the unrelenting hearts of people
00:41:24.58\00:41:26.38
that just
couldn't stick with this,
00:41:26.41\00:41:28.82
the consistency of trusting God.
00:41:28.85\00:41:30.75
So the humility first is a test.
00:41:30.79\00:41:33.12
Secondly, go to Proverbs 29:23,
00:41:33.15\00:41:36.99
Humility also will attract,
00:41:37.03\00:41:40.06
a humble character
will attract a blessing.
00:41:40.10\00:41:44.03
Let's see what that blessing is.
00:41:44.10\00:41:46.23
"A man's pride
will bring him low,
00:41:46.27\00:41:48.70
but the humble in
spirit will retain honor."
00:41:48.74\00:41:53.71
We cannot gain honor by
00:41:53.74\00:41:55.44
our veracity or
by our abilities.
00:41:55.48\00:41:58.51
The Lord doesn't give us
honor based on what we do,
00:41:58.55\00:42:01.68
but He gives us
honor based on who we are.
00:42:01.72\00:42:05.42
What kind of heart do you have?
00:42:05.45\00:42:07.36
And if a person is
filled with pride, you know,
00:42:07.39\00:42:09.82
one person says, I am not pride.
00:42:09.86\00:42:11.96
I am not proudful, I
just want to let you know
00:42:11.99\00:42:14.76
that I am not a proud person.
00:42:14.83\00:42:16.63
I'm very humble.
Don't you ever forget that?
00:42:16.67\00:42:22.04
Okay, well, the
point is very well made.
00:42:22.07\00:42:24.84
The next one, James 4:6,
00:42:24.87\00:42:28.08
"A humble heart is also a
heart filled with God's grace,
00:42:28.11\00:42:31.45
but He gives more grace.
00:42:31.48\00:42:33.92
Therefore, he says,
"God resists the proud,
00:42:33.98\00:42:38.69
but gives grace to the humble."
00:42:38.72\00:42:42.29
What does He do?
00:42:42.32\00:42:43.69
He resists the proud and
give grace to the humble.
00:42:43.73\00:42:48.40
Also, a lot of times we wonder
00:42:48.43\00:42:51.10
why the
blessings of God eludes us.
00:42:51.13\00:42:53.67
We are waiting for God
to bless us and sometimes,
00:42:53.70\00:42:56.40
God will
purposefully not bless us
00:42:56.44\00:42:58.57
but bless others in our presence
00:42:58.61\00:43:00.88
so that He can test whether
00:43:00.91\00:43:02.24
or not we are
rejoicing with them
00:43:02.28\00:43:04.35
or jealous of them.
00:43:04.38\00:43:06.45
And the sad...
00:43:06.48\00:43:07.82
It is a sad
reality among Christians,
00:43:07.85\00:43:10.49
there's professional jealousy.
00:43:10.52\00:43:12.62
There's Christian jealousy.
00:43:12.65\00:43:14.49
Wow, what an oxymoron.
00:43:14.52\00:43:16.73
Christians whose hearts
are jealous rather than rejoice
00:43:16.76\00:43:19.06
when we all
celebrate somebody's successes,
00:43:19.09\00:43:22.60
we experience that success.
00:43:22.63\00:43:24.27
But notice what `the
Lord points out here.
00:43:24.30\00:43:27.30
Let's look at 1 Peter 5:6,
00:43:27.34\00:43:29.97
"Humility is a
precursor to God's blessings."
00:43:30.01\00:43:34.14
It's a precursor
to God's blessings,
00:43:34.18\00:43:36.01
but He decide when the
blessing is going to come,
00:43:36.04\00:43:38.51
"Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
00:43:38.55\00:43:42.92
that He may exalt
you when you think
00:43:42.95\00:43:44.82
the time is right."
00:43:44.85\00:43:46.19
In due time. In due time. What?
00:43:46.22\00:43:47.86
In due time, or
as the King James
00:43:47.89\00:43:49.22
says in due season.
00:43:49.26\00:43:50.83
Some people say, "Okay, Lord,
00:43:50.89\00:43:52.23
I've been humble for five years,
00:43:52.26\00:43:53.60
when You're gonna bless me."
00:43:53.63\00:43:54.93
He says, "You
need five more years."
00:43:54.96\00:43:56.60
It's always in God's time,
00:43:56.63\00:43:58.07
so don't put
God on a time clock.
00:43:58.10\00:44:01.60
Don't press God
for the blessings.
00:44:01.64\00:44:03.61
When the time is right,
00:44:03.64\00:44:04.97
when the Lord knows that
you can handle a blessing,
00:44:05.01\00:44:07.48
He'll send the
blessing your way.
00:44:07.51\00:44:09.34
But be humble,
you'll have His grace.
00:44:09.38\00:44:12.01
Be humble, He will exalt you,
00:44:12.05\00:44:13.72
but He'll always
do it in His time,
00:44:13.75\00:44:16.12
and for His glory.
00:44:16.15\00:44:17.49
Amen. Amen.
00:44:17.52\00:44:18.85
Thank you, John. Johnny?
00:44:18.89\00:44:20.46
Well, we pick up now
with Thursday's portion
00:44:20.49\00:44:22.96
and the title is
In the Holy City.
00:44:22.99\00:44:27.83
Now, for this,
00:44:27.86\00:44:29.33
we begin with
Nehemiah Chapter 11
00:44:29.36\00:44:32.07
and we're gonna
go to verse 1 and 2,
00:44:32.10\00:44:34.67
and the Bible tells us this.
00:44:34.70\00:44:37.21
"Now the leaders of the
people dwelt at Jerusalem,
00:44:37.27\00:44:40.98
the rest of the
people, cast lots to bring
00:44:41.01\00:44:45.78
one out of 10 to
dwell in Jerusalem,
00:44:45.81\00:44:48.05
the Holy City and nine tenths
were to dwell in other cities."
00:44:48.08\00:44:52.15
I'm gonna stop
at verse 1 for now.
00:44:52.19\00:44:55.26
Here we see, of course,
00:44:55.29\00:44:56.62
that the leaders of the
people dwelt at Jerusalem
00:44:56.69\00:45:00.46
to lead the rest of the people.
00:45:00.53\00:45:03.30
It's interesting
here that it says that
00:45:03.37\00:45:05.27
they cast lots to
bring one out of 10.
00:45:05.30\00:45:07.97
In other words, like
a tithe of the people
00:45:08.00\00:45:11.24
that were to dwell in Jerusalem.
00:45:11.27\00:45:13.04
Our lesson brings
out something interesting
00:45:13.07\00:45:15.11
about the difference between
00:45:15.14\00:45:17.05
living in the city
and living in the country.
00:45:17.08\00:45:19.35
Remember, the people of Israel
00:45:19.38\00:45:21.22
were apportioned
different places in the land,
00:45:21.25\00:45:26.25
and each family had their
place to have to then move
00:45:26.29\00:45:29.29
from there to the
city means you're separated
00:45:29.32\00:45:32.06
from the rest of your family,
00:45:32.09\00:45:33.70
and now you're
living in the city
00:45:33.73\00:45:35.23
and it seemed to them
00:45:35.26\00:45:36.83
that it was a
sacrifice to move to the city.
00:45:36.87\00:45:40.40
Now, it's interesting
that this is one of the verses,
00:45:40.44\00:45:43.81
Nehemiah 11:1,
that it makes reference
00:45:43.87\00:45:47.24
to the Holy City
and then it mentions
00:45:47.28\00:45:49.01
New Jerusalem attached to it.
00:45:49.04\00:45:50.41
Sometimes it just says,
the Holy City like it says
00:45:50.45\00:45:52.68
in Daniel Chapter 9,
00:45:52.71\00:45:54.08
The Holy City that will
and also in Revelation it says,
00:45:54.12\00:45:57.25
the holy city will
be trodden underfoot
00:45:57.29\00:45:58.72
by the Gentiles, 42 months.
00:45:58.75\00:46:01.42
But I want to
bring out something here
00:46:01.46\00:46:03.56
about casting lots
because we don't want people
00:46:03.59\00:46:07.83
to come out thinking
that this was something
00:46:07.86\00:46:11.20
that was just done by chance.
00:46:11.23\00:46:14.70
When you have, there
are about 70 references
00:46:14.74\00:46:17.67
in the Bible about casting lots
00:46:17.71\00:46:19.27
and what takes place afterwards.
00:46:19.31\00:46:21.11
This is different
00:46:21.14\00:46:22.48
when the Bible
says casting lots,
00:46:22.51\00:46:24.28
it's talking about God
being involved in the process
00:46:24.31\00:46:27.52
of selecting the
person or tribe or people
00:46:27.55\00:46:31.85
that are going to be involved
00:46:31.89\00:46:33.22
in whatever is
being spoken about.
00:46:33.25\00:46:34.66
And I'm going to
bring out an example
00:46:34.69\00:46:36.42
because we
cannot just look at, oh,
00:46:36.46\00:46:40.53
we're gonna toss a coin.
00:46:40.60\00:46:41.90
That's true.
00:46:41.93\00:46:43.26
You know, okay, one of you
two is gonna clean the bathroom,
00:46:43.33\00:46:44.97
we will toss coin,
heads, tails, you okay?
00:46:45.00\00:46:46.90
You clean the
bathroom, oh mom, you know,
00:46:46.94\00:46:48.97
and you're not happy about this.
00:46:49.00\00:46:50.97
But the process
here indicates that
00:46:51.01\00:46:55.08
God gets involved and God says,
00:46:55.11\00:46:56.91
I have chosen you
to live in Jerusalem.
00:46:56.95\00:47:00.45
Wow, God has chosen
me. It's a privilege.
00:47:00.48\00:47:03.52
It's an honor.
That's right. Yeah.
00:47:03.55\00:47:04.89
So let's look
here in one of the...
00:47:04.92\00:47:09.66
We're gonna go to two scriptures
00:47:09.69\00:47:11.03
that help bring this
out in Proverbs 16:33,
00:47:11.06\00:47:15.20
The Bible brings out
this important aspect
00:47:15.23\00:47:18.57
of casting lots as it is done
00:47:18.60\00:47:20.74
according to the biblical way.
00:47:20.77\00:47:22.54
Now, when you say cast
lots, well, how was it done?
00:47:22.57\00:47:25.51
There's not a lot of
information about this.
00:47:25.54\00:47:27.58
They say that, you
know, they probably used,
00:47:27.61\00:47:31.28
something made out of
wood, or metal, or stone,
00:47:31.31\00:47:35.98
wood markings to identify the...
00:47:36.02\00:47:39.42
What was chosen.
00:47:39.45\00:47:40.79
Now Proverbs 16:33 says,
"The lot is cast into the lap.
00:47:40.86\00:47:45.86
But it's every
decision is from the Lord."
00:47:45.89\00:47:50.63
So this casting of
lots is something that
00:47:50.67\00:47:53.20
the Lord gets
involved and He says,
00:47:53.23\00:47:54.57
"You are chosen
to go to Jerusalem."
00:47:54.60\00:47:57.21
Wow, what an honor.
00:47:57.27\00:47:59.07
Now, Proverbs 18:18 says this,
00:47:59.11\00:48:02.44
"Casting lots
causes contentions to cease
00:48:02.48\00:48:05.91
and keeps the mighty apart."
00:48:05.95\00:48:08.62
So this would settle the issue
00:48:08.65\00:48:11.42
and people will
be contend to know
00:48:11.45\00:48:12.99
God has chosen me, I get to go,
00:48:13.02\00:48:15.26
and I am happy to be there.
00:48:15.29\00:48:19.06
There's different
places we can go to.
00:48:19.09\00:48:21.10
I'm gonna skip one of these
00:48:21.13\00:48:22.46
because of lack of
time because I see the time
00:48:22.50\00:48:24.07
seems to fly during the
Sabbath School lesson here.
00:48:24.10\00:48:27.87
Let's go to the Book of Acts.
00:48:27.90\00:48:29.24
Now you remember that
00:48:29.27\00:48:33.58
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ.
00:48:33.61\00:48:35.84
They wanted to
keep the original 12
00:48:35.88\00:48:38.68
and as a matter of
fact to fulfill a prophecy,
00:48:38.71\00:48:41.82
Peter gets up and
starts to talk about this.
00:48:41.85\00:48:45.05
Now there's a
part that man can do.
00:48:45.09\00:48:47.56
And so this is the
part where Peter gets up,
00:48:47.59\00:48:50.16
and he begins to
talk and it says,
00:48:50.23\00:48:52.33
"They proposed two,
00:48:52.36\00:48:53.70
where I'm looking at
Acts 1:23 and onward,
00:48:53.73\00:48:56.40
"And they propose two:
00:48:56.43\00:48:57.97
Joseph called Barsabas
who was surnamed Justus,
00:48:58.00\00:49:00.97
and Matthias and Matthias."
00:49:01.00\00:49:03.14
Now these
individuals have been with them
00:49:03.17\00:49:04.77
from the beginning.
00:49:04.81\00:49:06.14
So they can say, "Okay, of
the ones that are available,
00:49:06.17\00:49:09.21
these have been around
for since the beginning.
00:49:09.24\00:49:12.51
So of these, we're going to pick
00:49:12.55\00:49:14.48
one to replace Judas."
00:49:14.52\00:49:16.45
So verse 24, "And they prayed."
00:49:16.48\00:49:18.65
Now notice that God
gets involved in the process.
00:49:18.69\00:49:20.89
They're asking
God to get involved
00:49:20.92\00:49:22.32
in the process of
this casting a lot
00:49:22.36\00:49:25.13
and they prayed and said,
00:49:25.16\00:49:26.49
"You, O Lord, who
know the hearts of all,
00:49:26.53\00:49:29.50
show which of these
two you have chosen."
00:49:29.53\00:49:33.03
See, there's God
getting involved,
00:49:33.07\00:49:34.57
"To take part in this
ministry and apostleship
00:49:34.60\00:49:36.94
from which Judas
by transgression fell,
00:49:37.01\00:49:39.74
that he might go
to his own place."
00:49:39.77\00:49:41.48
And they cast their lots,
and the lot fell on Mathias.
00:49:41.51\00:49:45.88
And he was numbered
with the eleven apostles."
00:49:45.91\00:49:48.45
So God gets involved in
the process of choosing.
00:49:48.48\00:49:53.19
So here in Nehemiah Chapter 11,
00:49:53.22\00:49:58.26
this choosing of lots is done,
00:49:58.29\00:50:02.60
where God gets
involved in the process.
00:50:02.63\00:50:04.17
Now let's go to Nehemiah
11:2, notice what happens,
00:50:04.23\00:50:08.20
"And the people
blessed all the men
00:50:08.24\00:50:11.17
who willingly offer themselves
to dwell at Jerusalem."
00:50:11.21\00:50:14.98
You know, today
God is also making
00:50:15.01\00:50:17.31
a call to people,
00:50:17.35\00:50:19.08
some may be chosen to go here,
00:50:19.11\00:50:20.92
so may be chosen to go
there to be a missionary here,
00:50:20.95\00:50:26.09
be a missionary there, to
go preach over there to go
00:50:26.12\00:50:28.92
and bring something to the poor.
00:50:28.96\00:50:31.23
God has ministry,
00:50:31.26\00:50:33.70
all of us can get
involved in ministry,
00:50:33.76\00:50:35.40
the church has
opportunities for ministry.
00:50:35.43\00:50:39.03
The church also selects officers
00:50:39.07\00:50:41.47
so that they can serve
in different capacities.
00:50:41.50\00:50:44.37
And we at church, we
pray, and we say, "Lord,
00:50:44.41\00:50:50.28
show us who it is You want to be
00:50:50.31\00:50:52.08
in charge of this department.
00:50:52.11\00:50:53.65
And there should be no jealousy.
00:50:53.68\00:50:55.15
Okay, oh man, I
wanted to be there.
00:50:55.18\00:50:58.29
Now why did they
pick that person?
00:50:58.32\00:51:00.09
You know, we need
to understand that
00:51:00.16\00:51:02.42
if we pray and humble
ourselves and ask God to direct,
00:51:02.46\00:51:06.80
then He's going to
choose the individual to do.
00:51:06.83\00:51:10.33
And I'm going to
bring this a little further,
00:51:10.37\00:51:11.83
which might bring
some people a little,
00:51:11.87\00:51:14.70
get a little upset about
this, but I'm gonna go there.
00:51:14.74\00:51:18.21
And that is the
general conference session
00:51:18.24\00:51:21.61
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:51:21.64\00:51:22.98
delegates from all
over the world get together
00:51:23.01\00:51:25.18
to choose officers.
00:51:25.21\00:51:27.38
And the President
00:51:27.42\00:51:29.62
of the General
Conference is chosen
00:51:29.65\00:51:30.99
and the different
leaders are chosen.
00:51:31.02\00:51:33.52
So as these
delegates get together,
00:51:33.56\00:51:36.52
I heard one individual
say, they had gone to many
00:51:36.56\00:51:40.56
general conference sessions
as a conference president,
00:51:40.60\00:51:43.00
union president, he says,
00:51:43.03\00:51:44.90
"I believe God gets
involved in the process
00:51:44.93\00:51:47.97
and the General
Conference president,
00:51:48.00\00:51:50.44
God gets involved.
00:51:50.47\00:51:52.27
And I believe I
believe this to be so as well
00:51:52.31\00:51:55.81
and I believe we need
to respect that and say,
00:51:55.84\00:51:58.35
"This is the person
that God has shown."
00:51:58.38\00:52:00.62
Let us as David used to say,
00:52:00.65\00:52:02.65
not touch the
anointed of the Lord,
00:52:02.68\00:52:05.32
because God has
chosen that individual now.
00:52:05.35\00:52:07.66
I didn't want to
do that much in this
00:52:07.69\00:52:09.19
but we have to respect
these things God has chosen,
00:52:09.22\00:52:12.53
we need to respect God's choice.
00:52:12.56\00:52:14.30
God can choose
and when God chooses,
00:52:14.30\00:52:16.73
we need to respect it.
00:52:16.77\00:52:18.10
All right.
00:52:18.13\00:52:19.47
Now, let's go
over here to the lesson
00:52:19.50\00:52:21.50
brings out an
aspect of this Chapter 12.
00:52:21.54\00:52:27.34
And in Chapter 12 of Nehemiah,
00:52:27.38\00:52:30.11
we have now a question
00:52:30.15\00:52:33.18
that comes up based on the list.
00:52:33.21\00:52:36.02
There's the list of individuals
00:52:36.05\00:52:37.85
that are there in
Nehemiah Chapter 12
00:52:37.89\00:52:40.92
of the people that I like to ask
00:52:40.96\00:52:45.06
I think I'll ask myself this,
00:52:45.09\00:52:46.49
I'll go ahead
and read it myself.
00:52:46.53\00:52:49.76
Nehemiah 12:1,
00:52:49.80\00:52:51.13
"Now these are the
priests and the Levites
00:52:51.17\00:52:53.60
who came up with
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
00:52:53.67\00:52:56.20
and Jeshua, and Seraiah,
and Jeremiah, and Ezra."
00:52:56.24\00:52:59.31
And the list is
given, and the lesson asks us
00:52:59.34\00:53:02.11
to look at the list
in Jeremiah Chapter,
00:53:02.14\00:53:04.41
I mean, Nehemiah 12:1-27.
00:53:04.45\00:53:07.32
Why were these
individuals mentioned here?
00:53:07.35\00:53:09.75
And they are there,
because God chose them, one,
00:53:09.78\00:53:14.59
and the people are
being directed towards a place
00:53:14.62\00:53:20.60
of dedication to God
and they needed to again
00:53:20.63\00:53:24.17
get accustomed to the sacrifices
00:53:24.23\00:53:27.30
and these individuals
were chosen to not only help
00:53:27.34\00:53:31.51
with that aspect of
what needed to be done
00:53:31.54\00:53:34.88
for the people of
Israel, but also to prepare them
00:53:34.91\00:53:38.31
and to protect what is worship,
the correct worship of God.
00:53:38.35\00:53:43.99
And some interesting
things I brought out there,
00:53:44.05\00:53:46.12
which we don't
have time to bring out.
00:53:46.15\00:53:49.36
And in this
lesson, because as I said,
00:53:49.39\00:53:50.83
time seems to fly.
00:53:50.89\00:53:52.29
Yes.
00:53:52.33\00:53:53.66
Johnny, you take an extra minute
00:53:53.70\00:53:55.00
if you'd like Take
an extra minute, okay.
00:53:55.03\00:53:57.10
Now, when we go
to Nehemiah 12:1-26,
00:53:57.13\00:54:03.10
we see, for example,
00:54:03.14\00:54:06.21
in verse 8, it says here,
00:54:06.24\00:54:10.65
"Moreover the Levites
were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
00:54:10.68\00:54:14.62
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah
00:54:14.65\00:54:17.09
who led the thanksgiving psalms,
00:54:17.12\00:54:19.89
and his brethren."
00:54:19.92\00:54:21.76
These were key people to
help lead out in the people
00:54:21.79\00:54:26.70
to prepare them
because as we continue talking,
00:54:26.73\00:54:30.03
we're gonna see the
dedication of the wall,
00:54:30.07\00:54:32.30
the dedication of the temple
00:54:32.33\00:54:34.14
and this is something marvelous.
00:54:34.20\00:54:37.41
Now something
interesting happens
00:54:37.47\00:54:39.04
because you see,
when you go through
00:54:39.07\00:54:41.18
Nehemiah 12:1-7,
00:54:41.21\00:54:43.51
you see a list and
it seems to start over
00:54:43.55\00:54:45.35
mentioning people again.
00:54:45.38\00:54:47.38
Also Nehemiah
Chapter 10 brings out a list
00:54:47.42\00:54:50.69
of individuals that are very,
very close to the same list.
00:54:50.75\00:54:53.72
There are a few differences
00:54:53.76\00:54:55.56
and we have in this list again,
00:54:55.59\00:55:00.16
you've mentioned
detail, God is a God of detail.
00:55:00.23\00:55:04.07
And this is
another aspect of God,
00:55:04.10\00:55:06.63
letting the people know
what, what had been chosen.
00:55:06.67\00:55:09.57
And, of course, some of
these people volunteered.
00:55:09.60\00:55:11.64
One of the things that we
need to understand is that
00:55:11.67\00:55:14.78
there is revival and
reformation taking place.
00:55:14.81\00:55:19.68
What needs to happen,
00:55:19.71\00:55:21.05
people need to humble themselves
00:55:21.08\00:55:22.42
before the Lord,
allow the Lord to work
00:55:22.45\00:55:24.75
because Israel had a
great mission to accomplish,
00:55:24.79\00:55:27.92
and that is to show the world
00:55:27.96\00:55:29.86
what it is to follow God
and the blessings that follow.
00:55:29.89\00:55:32.19
Amen. Amen.
00:55:32.23\00:55:33.60
Very good.
00:55:33.63\00:55:34.93
Let's take just a few seconds
and give a quick thought that
00:55:34.96\00:55:37.63
you have on your day.
00:55:37.67\00:55:39.00
Quick thought,
just a couple of words
00:55:39.03\00:55:40.40
and I call Steps
to Christ, 57 and 65,
00:55:40.44\00:55:43.37
"We shall often have to bow down
00:55:43.41\00:55:44.84
and weep at the feet of Jesus
00:55:44.87\00:55:46.84
because of our
shortcomings and our mistakes.
00:55:46.88\00:55:49.31
But we are not to be discouraged
00:55:49.34\00:55:51.18
even if we
overcome by the enemy,
00:55:51.21\00:55:53.25
we are not cast
off, not forsaken,
00:55:53.28\00:55:55.28
rejected of God, if you
will, but yield yourself to Him,
00:55:55.32\00:55:58.75
He that hath begun
a good in your work
00:55:58.79\00:56:00.92
and you will carry
forward to the day of Jesus."
00:56:00.99\00:56:03.16
Amen.
00:56:03.19\00:56:04.53
1 Peter 2:9, "You
are a chosen generation,
00:56:04.56\00:56:06.53
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:56:06.56\00:56:08.93
his own special
people, and God has called
00:56:08.96\00:56:11.37
each one of us to
get out of ourselves,
00:56:11.40\00:56:13.94
to get out of our comfort,
our tradition, our complacency,
00:56:13.97\00:56:17.61
our fear of responsibility,
and feeling insignificant
00:56:17.64\00:56:21.78
and share the
gospel with the world."
00:56:21.81\00:56:23.14
Amen.
00:56:23.18\00:56:24.51
Humility is necessary,
00:56:24.55\00:56:26.51
so that we
don't take God's tools
00:56:26.55\00:56:28.68
and rob God of His glory.
00:56:28.72\00:56:30.49
Absolutely.
00:56:30.52\00:56:33.76
The Book of Ezra and
Nehemiah show us that
00:56:33.79\00:56:35.72
God gets involved in the process
00:56:35.76\00:56:37.63
of bringing people back to Him
00:56:37.66\00:56:40.23
and God uses people to
bring people back to Him.
00:56:40.30\00:56:44.13
And I encourage
you, I encourage myself,
00:56:44.17\00:56:47.34
put yourself in
the hands of the Lord
00:56:47.40\00:56:48.94
that He may use you
not only to bring you
00:56:48.97\00:56:52.61
and your family
back to the Lord,
00:56:52.64\00:56:53.98
but to help others
come to the Lord as well.
00:56:54.04\00:56:56.24
Amen, yeah Amen and amen.
00:56:56.28\00:56:58.05
And you know, we just once again
00:56:58.08\00:56:59.91
reminded that God notices
00:57:00.05\00:57:03.08
everything about your life.
00:57:03.12\00:57:06.79
It is so amazing to me to
think of His constant watch
00:57:06.82\00:57:11.36
care over us and
His attention to detail.
00:57:11.39\00:57:14.50
But that's why you
can't hide any sin from Him.
00:57:14.56\00:57:17.90
You know, that's
why you may as well
00:57:17.93\00:57:19.40
be honest in
your approach to Him.
00:57:19.43\00:57:21.47
He knows it all.
And He loves you.
00:57:21.50\00:57:25.07
Yes.
00:57:25.11\00:57:26.44
Well, I want to thank
each and every one of you
00:57:26.47\00:57:28.28
for being on the panel today.
00:57:28.31\00:57:29.94
And we are so
grateful that you joined us.
00:57:29.98\00:57:32.81
We hope that next
week you can join us,
00:57:32.85\00:57:35.02
we're going to...
00:57:35.05\00:57:36.38
Our next week's lesson
is Worshiping the Lord,
00:57:36.42\00:57:40.06
and I know that
is going to be rich.
00:57:40.09\00:57:42.96
Our prayer for you is the grace
00:57:42.99\00:57:44.83
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ,
00:57:44.86\00:57:46.80
the love of the Father
00:57:46.83\00:57:48.13
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:48.16\00:57:49.53
will be with you always.
00:57:49.56\00:57:51.73
Join us next time. Bye-bye.
00:57:51.77\00:57:54.04