♪ theme music ♪ (Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, an in-depth, interactive study of the Word of God. We are in the midst of a thrilling series of studies on <i>Isaiah, the Gospel Prophet.</i> If you missed any of them, go to our website, hopetv.org/hopess. You can watch all of them. The prophet is talking about Messiah who will come. No wonder Isaiah is called the Gospel Prophet. Today, <i>To Serve and to Save.</i> We're going to talk about more prophecies that point to Jesus as Messiah. We're glad you joined us. And welcome to the team! Take a look; we're still the remnant, the little Gideon's band because of social distancing. But God's been blessing, even with a little group, hasn't He? It's been an amazing series. I'm actually looking forward to when we're back to 12, and whenever that is, God knows, but the gospel is not bound
by restrictions. We can continue with a few, just like the story of Gideon who went from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300 people that God used to bring a great victory, and, actually, it wasn't their victory, was it? It was His victory. And we're seeing God work in amazing ways. We're glad you're part of our Hope Sabbath School family. We've got a special gift for you for this series. It's an audiobook you can download called <i>Radical Evidence.</i> It not only includes the prophecies of Isaiah about Messiah but all of the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus said, "They testify about Me." And then powerful stories from the twenty-first century of people who came to know Jesus and were thoroughly convinced He is, indeed, the Messiah, Savior of the world. So, how can you get your copy? It's simple; use the same address to write to us that you do when you share how God's blessing: ssshope@hopetv.org, and in the subject line just put "free offer." We'll send you a link so you can download your digital audiobook. I know you'll be blessed. We'd also like to encourage you to keep writing to us, sshope@hopetv.org. We're excited to hear, aren't we? We get those emails from all around the world, over 200 countries around the world. Well, here's one from the "country"
of Alabama. Well, that's actually in the United States
of America, right? And Scott writes and says, "I just want to say it is amazing how the Holy Spirit leads in our lives." Amen? (Team) Amen. (Derek) "God made Himself known to me as a child, but I didn't give myself to Him until the year 2000. My walk with Jesus has been interesting, and I've come into present truth when I landed in Alabama, where He led me to a group watching Hope Sabbath School." (Team) Amen. (Derek) Praise God! "I love how God has blessed you with the Spirit of teaching the Word, and He'll be with you as long as prophecy unfolds. Not <i>if</i> we meet in Heaven," Scott writes, "but <i>when</i> we meet in Heaven, let's meet at the Tree of Life,"
what do you say? (Team) Amen. (Derek) "Love the entire team, the songs - praise the Lord. I can't make a donation yet until I get blessed, too." Well, you've already made
a donation, Scott! You shared your testimony, and it blessed a million-plus Hope Sabbath School members around the world, didn't it? Because you have come to trust Jesus as your personal Savior. Isaac writes from Zimbabwe, and Isaac is a pastor, Pastor Isaac, and he says, "I have seen the hand of God through Hope Sabbath School." (Team) Amen. (Derek) "Early this year in May, when we moved to our new place, we had neighbors who at night were being harassed by evil spirits. One Friday," this is Zimbabwe, "One Friday in the evening, we invited them over for a prayer session, and we ended up watching Hope Sabbath School. That night the neighbors slept well."
Someone say, "Amen." (Team) Amen! (Derek) I mean, God is an awesome God, isn't He? That's beyond us; that's supernatural. That's the strong arm that we've been studying about in Isaiah. "We even encouraged them to keep studying the Bible. The mother wants to be baptized!" (Team) Amen! (Derek) "We're praying for the two daughters to follow their mother's footsteps
and accept Jesus." Isaac, thanks for writing, Pastor Isaac from Zimbabwe. Isn't that an amazing story? That is what our great and awesome God
can do. Doesn't Isaiah say, "There is
none like Me"? speaking of the true God. Well, here's a note from a donor couple in North Carolina in the United States. And I want to just pause and say thank you for being part of our ministry. It's a donor-supported ministry, and you can go to hopetv.org/donate. Just that simply, you can make a donation. I'd like to have a letter, too, though, because it's nice to read
and encourage people. You know, we don't read your name; we're not trying to give advertising
for people; we're trying to give honor to God. Amen? (Team) Amen. (Derek) But we do thank you
for your support. This couple writes, "Greetings in the name of the Lord! We're so deeply blessed by Hope Sabbath School and watch it regularly. The Hope Sabbath School team is a blessing to us; we feel like we know each one of you!" You've probably had people come up to you and say, "I know you," and you've never seen them before, but they watch Hope Sabbath School. "We love hearing your testimonies." I'm praying we'll hear some powerful testimonies today. "Your heart for the Lord is inspiring. Please know how much we appreciate all of you," and a gift for a hundred dollars to help Hope Sabbath School. Amen? (Team) Amen! (Derek) You know, we're all part of a great miracle of God, and I just want to thank you for partnering with us. Well, here is Omweno; Omweno is a Kenyan living in Uganda. Liza, you've got to give Dr. Omweno... Omweno I'm assuming is the first name, a Kenyan citizen working in Uganda, "Hope Sabbath School has transformed my life ever since I started watching it." (Team) Amen. (Derek) By the way, I asked Liza to wave because Liza's home country
is Kenya, right, even though you're living here in the United States now. He continues, Omweno continues and says, "I have streamlined my ways in the Lord." That's an interesting expression,
isn't it? It's like bringing everything into harmony with the will of God and the Word of God. "The Hope Sabbath School team is doing a powerful work; I know God more through Hope Sabbath School." This is a doctor writing, "I know God more through Hope Sabbath School. It has made me read the Bible more and more." Amen? (Team) Amen! (Derek) Omweno, thanks for writing to us there, working in Uganda. We're just rejoicing in the Lord,
aren't we? We're just happy for what God is doing. One last note, from Shirley
in South Africa, "I greet you all in the wonderful name of the Lord, Jesus Christ," she says. "I miss the larger panel and familiar faces," and she mentions Jason, who isn't here, Stephanie, who's not here, Tricia Lee, who's not here. I'm sorry; we're dealing
with restrictions here. You may see them on an upcoming program, but we're down to five because of the social distancing. But she goes on, "I can't get enough of Hope Sabbath School. I'm so inspired by the testimonies. I can't wait for the next lesson
and the next! During this lockdown where there's no church, our family has church at home, and I always share what I learned on Hope Sabbath School. God continue to bless you as you touch many lives for Heaven. Hope we meet you all in Heaven. Amen." (Team) Amen. (Derek) Well, Shirley, thanks for writing to us from South Africa. I'm just amazed at what God is doing, and you know, what's exciting for me is when you sing with us. Actually, right now we're not allowed to sing in the studio because of the restrictions, but you can sing our theme song. It's taken from Isaiah 55, and it says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Let's sing together. ♪ music ♪ (Derek) Let's pray together. Father in Heaven, I want to thank You so much that when we seek You, we will find You, when we search for You with all of our hearts. And that's not just something I made up. That's very embedded in the word of the prophet Jeremiah. I thank You that You speak through the prophets. And, today, as we study some important prophecies from the prophet Isaiah, I pray the Holy Spirit, who inspired the prophet, would speak to our hearts today life-changing truth. And I pray, Lord God, in this topic, <i>To Serve and to Save,</i> that we would experience a word for our lives today, and I thank You. In the name of Jesus. Amen. (Team) Amen. (Derek) We're going to start our study in Isaiah, chapter 41, as we consider prophecies about the servant of the Lord. And, Travis, would you start our study by reading Isaiah, chapter 41 and verse 8. It's talking about the servant
of the Lord, and who is this servant of the Lord
(41, verse 8)? (Travis) And I'll be reading from the New King James Version: (Derek) Now, I want you to remember that because later we're going to see that the Messiah is the Servant of the Lord. But, actually, we're all servants of the Lord, except our job is to point to the Messiah, right? We're servants who point to the Servant of the Lord. How well did Israel, John, do in pointing people to the Messiah? (John) Not too well, not too well. In their history, there were
major setbacks. (Derek) So, there were some faithful ones, weren't there? All through time, God has had faithful women and faithful men who were pointing to the Messiah, and it's true today as well, right? But, you're right, there wasn't.. Well, it was not what God expected or desired, right? Travis? (Travis) So, they were faithful, but they still were imperfect people. (Derek) Even the faithful ones
were imperfect, but, as John pointed out, a lot of them didn't even begin to try their mission of pointing to the Messiah. In spite of that, there's a beautiful promise given. And, Liza, if you could read it for us in Isaiah 41 and verse 10, because, Travis, even though we're
imperfect, we're still loved by a God with an immeasurable and unfailing love,
right? And He gives promises to us. Let's read one of those promises
in Isaiah 41:10. (Liza) From the New King James Version: (Derek) Now, that happens to be, Gladys, one of my favorite promises in the Bible. I've claimed that in many times in difficult situations. But someone might say, "Derek, I think you're kind of reading into that text; that's something that doesn't relate to you at all. That was just a promise spoken to Israel," you know, 2,700 years ago, "Fear not," the Lord said to <i>them.</i> Help me out, someone. Is that promise also for me?
You say, "Well..." Travis, what would you say to that? (Travis) He says, "I am the same today, yesterday and forever." God does not change; these are words of life for us, each individually. (Derek) Oh, that's a powerful insight!
Thank you. "I am the same yesterday,
today, and forever," so that promise given to His children then... (Come on, now, someone get excited!) ...is a promise for His children today. Alright, but you know that's not the only place in the Bible where He says, "You don't
need to be afraid, even though you are imperfect," right? Give me some other places that give us that assurance. Gladys? (Gladys) John 14:1-3? (Derek) Okay, that's more the fear about the fact that Jesus has just left; in the context now He's going to come back again, right? So, that would be a good one. Alright, another one? Yes, Liza? (Liza) We read Psalm 23 with the Lord being our Shepherd. (Derek) We read that in a previous study. Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, why don't you need to fear evil there? (Gladys) "I am with you." (Derek) He says, "Because I'm..." It doesn't say you won't walk through that valley, but you don't need to fear because He's with you. And another one? Yes? (Travis) The Commission, Matthew, chapter 28, He commissions the disciples to go and preach the gospel, and He says, "'I will be with you even to the end of the age.' Amen." (Derek) And isn't there another place that says, "I will never leave you or forsake you"? So, there are all of these promises, but I come back... Travis, thank you for sharing. A promise given to God's children 2,700 years ago is a promise for His children today. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God." Well, with that wonderful assurance, we come on, John, to verse 14 of chapter 41, and that's a little confusing
for some people. Let's see what name he calls Israel. (John) And I'm reading from the New King James; it says: (Derek) Now, why would He call Israel - He had just given them this wonderful promise, right - "I'll uphold you, you worm," why would He call them a worm? There's another place in, I think it's Isaiah 43; He says, "You're precious in my sight, and I love you." So, why here? John, what do you think? Why would He say, "You worm, Israel"? (John) Just as God is faithful with His love and proclaiming
His promises, He also evaluates us honestly, and this is probably an evaluation of Israel. But yet His love does not change for them. (Derek) So, He's smiling and reaching out to embrace us while He calls us... I'm thinking of in the New Testament where Jesus says, "I send you
out as lambs." You know, they're not that smart; they're not that strong. Why does He use...What's He trying to impress upon the people of God back then and even us today? Travis? (Travis) The fact that they
have been afflicted, the fact that they're helpless; they have no strength of their own, and He's trying to encourage them, "While you may view yourselves as insignificant, I'm here to help you." (Derek) Or, you may <i>not</i> see yourself
as insignificant. You may think you're a superhero and don't even need God. Harold? (Harold) I was going to actually add to what Travis was saying, that He was going to remind them, "You have to realize your condition. You are weak, and you need Me to help you." (Derek) Liza? (Liza) Exactly what I was going to say. And thinking about worms, they move really, really slowly, so we definitely need God. (Derek) Well, whether I know I'm a worm and not that strong or moving that fast, and I need the assurance of God, or whether I think I'm a superhero, and I need to be humble so that God could work miracles through me, in love He tells us the truth, John, right? He tells us the truth. Well, God wants His children to be the servant of the Lord, but then we move to chapter 42, and, Harold, I'm going to ask you to read verse 1 of Isaiah 42 because here the focus shifts from Israel to Someone very special. (Harold) And I'll be reading from the New King James Version,
and it reads: (Derek) Who is this Servant of the Lord? Well, let's look at a few other passages here in the same book. Isaiah 49 and verse 7; Isaiah 51, verse 10; Isaiah 52, verse 13;
Isaiah 53. You say, "Wow, the Servant of the Lord is a theme in the second half
of the book." Isaiah 49 and verse 7, Liza? (Liza) From the New King James Version: (Derek) "Servant of the Lord," "They shall come and worship," that's an interesting combination of words, isn't it? Chapter 51, verse 10, Gladys? (Gladys) 51, verse 10, I'm reading from the New International Version: (Derek) There's something very special about this Servant. Chapter 52 and verse 13, Travis? (Travis) 52:13, and I'll be reading from the New King James Version: (Derek) Very high, in fact, the New Testament will say, "At His name, every knee will bow," right? What about one last, 53, verse 11, John? (John) Sure thing, New King James says: (Derek) Now, I'm excited because, actually Liza, you're going to teach on that topic in just a couple of studies, right? So, very clear fulfillment
in Jesus Messiah. Why do you think Jesus Messiah, the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us, why is He given the title the "Servant of the Lord"? What do you think? I mean, He's got other titles, "King of kings," "Lord of lords," right, "Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace." Why this title, "Servant of the Lord"?
Harold? (Harold) It just reminds me, I can't remember if it's in John, but Jesus said, "I am being your Master, I did not come to be served but to serve," and we see that throughout His life. Even before He came on Earth, He's always been serving us, which is amazing, how God is serving humanity, you know. It's like, wow, in other cultures it's the opposite, like, people are trying to please God, but here, God is trying to work with us. (Derek) So, that idea, and you quoted or paraphrased the words of Jesus where He said, "I didn't come to be served but to serve." And He goes on to give His life, right, a ransom for many. Travis? Servant of the Lord. (Travis) He's doing what Israel
wasn't doing. He came to do the will of His Father who sent Him, and again I go back to this idea that if you've seen Jesus, you've seen the Father. He's showing us what God is like. That God is a God of love, who wants to serve. (Derek) Let's take a look, still in chapter 42, verses 2 through 7. John, if you could read that for us, at the mission of the Servant of the Lord, none other than the Son of God, the Word who will become flesh and dwell among us. (John) Isaiah 42, verses 2 through 7: (Derek) So, before we unpack all of that and see how all of that was fulfilled in the life of Jesus, the true Messiah, let's go over to Matthew's testimony. Because remember God reveals His truth to His servants the prophets. In Matthew, chapter 12, let's look at a little narrative and then a restatement of this prophecy given 700 years earlier. Liza, could you read for us starting in Matthew 12 and verse 9. And, by the way, if you're with us for Hope Sabbath School, you've never read the Gospels, you need to read them: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is the most complete testimony about God who came into humanity to reveal His immeasurable and unfailing love. Let's take a look, starting in verse 9 of Matthew 12. (Liza) To what verse? (Derek) Matthew, chapter 12, beginning with verse 9, down through verse 23. (Liza) Okay, from the New
King James Version: (Derek) Now, you know, it's interesting that Matthew quotes, and he says it was spoken by Isaiah the prophet. There are liberal scholars who say that wasn't actually Isaiah the prophet, that was a second person, not Isaiah, because these prophecies, even about Cyrus that we'll look at in a minute, how could they be telling things that are going to happen so far in the future? And the answer is,
there is a God who knows the end from the beginning, right? We're going to talk about that, but let's focus in on this prophecy, but we're looking in Matthew now because it's actually being fulfilled, right, during the time of Jesus. So, let's look at a few of the descriptions of the Servant
of the Lord. "A bruised reed He will not break." Do a scan of the ministry of Jesus here on the earth revealing the love of the Father, where do you see a story of the bruised reed He will not break? Gladys? (Gladys) I would think of the woman that anointed His feet. She was despised and rejected
by everybody, but yet He showed love for her. He didn't despise her; He didn't push her away. So, I see her as a bruised reed. (Derek) You see that as a bruised reed, and, of course, she's expressing her love and devotion, actually guided by the Holy Spirit to anoint Jesus before His death. Anybody else, a "bruised reed He will not break"? Yes, Harold? (Harold) The story that we just read about the man with the shriveled hand, I mean, it makes me think, like, he's brokenhearted, and also people are not on his favor because he can be healed on the Sabbath, but yet Jesus is restoring him fully and defending him at the same time. (Derek) Let's look at another description, a "smoking flax," or dimly burning flax, "He will not quench." Can you think of a story? I hope you're reading the Gospels. You know, I taught a class on <i>The Life and Teachings of Jesus</i>
for many years. Do you know, many young adults who came into the class, growing up in Christian homes, had never read one of the Gospels? That ought to trouble us because this is the most powerful testimony, isn't it, about the love of the Father. So, scan through the stories, a "dimly burning flax," or a "smoking flax He will not quench."
Harold? (Harold) Actually, I think of the story of Mark 9 about the man whose faith was kind of quivering because he had his son who needed healing. (Derek) I thought of the same story! (Harold) And so, he says, "Help me with my unbelief," so Jesus was not going to quench that little faith that he had, so He was able to... (Derek) I like one translation that says, "I believe, help me to believe more," or, "Help my unbelief." And, of course, Jesus heals his son who has been harassed by a demon. So, a "smoking flax," you could say he was a "bruised reed," too. But I think that's a great example. Another story, yes, John. (John) One of the rare times that Jesus
commends the faith of somebody was the Syro-Phoenician woman who came with the trouble of her daughter's demon possession. And Jesus gave an apparent prejudice to show the disciples, but this woman persisted and would not relent until Jesus says, "O woman, great is your faith." And didn't "quench," I guess
you could say. (Derek) You could probably think of some other stories, but I'm going to move on. "He will preach My good tidings
to the poor," give me an example. Travis. (Travis) I was thinking, when He drove out all the money changers in the temple, and He sat down, and the little children were to come to Him. The whole idea is that God wanted to serve the poor. He didn't want to rob the poor, but He wanted to serve them. (Derek) What about the Sermon
on the Mount? "Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven." And that was preached where? What part of the country was that preached, that sermon? (Gladys) Galilee? (Derek) In Galilee, which was called "Galilee of the Gentiles," was kind of scorned by the religious leaders down in Judah, kind of a mixed multitude of people, and yet, to them, He preaches the good news to the poor. Another example of "preaching glad tidings to the poor." Think of another one? Yes, Gladys? (Gladys) I'm thinking of the widow of Nain. She had her only son, and he had died. (Derek) That's really glad tidings! Thank you for that story... (Gladys) Coming out, and Jesus
resurrected her son. (Derek) Luke, chapter 7, she's lost her husband. We don't know when, but she's called a widow. And then she loses her only son, and what was the glad tidings that Jesus brought to her? It's in Luke, chapter 7. (Gladys) He brought life. He brought meaning back to her life because being a widow and childless? Basically you were destitute in society, so you had nothing left. (Derek) He could have brought good news and said, "When I come again in glory...,"
you know? All who are in the grave will hear His voice. Some will be raised to the resurrection of life, and some to a resurrection of damnation, but that's a long way away. Right there, He takes the hand of this young man and raises him to life. Thank you; that's a beautiful example. What about healing the brokenhearted? Healing the brokenhearted, John? (John) I can think of one,
after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene has come to the tomb and believes that this "Gardener" knows of somebody taking the body of Jesus. She says, "Sir, if you have taken Him, just please tell me where." He heals that with His presence and letting her know that, "I am He," Mary. (Derek) So now, He told them, John, this is a little outside the lesson, I suppose, but He told them He was going to rise again. Why was it so difficult for them to really embrace that and say, "Well, it's okay, I would understand if His body is gone because He said He would rise again." She's still thinking He's dead and someone's taken the body. Liza, why is it so hard for us to believe all of the amazing promises that the Lord gives to us? (Liza) I think, as she loved Him so much, and she couldn't bear to be without Him, and sometimes, you know, that attachment brings way to fear and confusion
and being lost. And sometimes our emotions get the better of us. (Derek) So, even though in our heads we may know a truth, the emotions of the moment... I'm so glad that Jesus doesn't just rebuke her, right? But He says, "Mary," He calls her, and she recognizes Him. Gladys? (Gladys) I was sharing with my Sabbath School class that there is a big difference between believing and knowing. Many of us read, "Jesus loves me," and that is a good thing, but until you <i>know</i> from a personal experience, that's when the connection really comes to reality. And sometimes the Lord would be telling them, "This is going to happen." And I was listening to the words of Jesus this week, and it's just like all these things
He said, and then when it became reality, they were still confused because it had not really dawned on them. Because, like Liza said, their emotions got in the way. (Derek) I'm glad He's patient, God's patient with us, aren't you, because sometimes we're a little slow. But this last one mentioned
in Isaiah [61], "He will proclaim liberty to the captives and open prison doors to those who are bound." Harold? (Harold) The demoniac. (Gladys) The Gadarene. (Harold) Yeah, he was delivered, and he became a preacher, as well, to his people; God sent him. (Derek) So, that's a wonderful example. There are seven stories of deliverance from demon possession
in the Gospels, but there were many more than that. We know, right, because John says, "If it was all written down, there wouldn't be enough room for the books," right? So, He's constantly opening prison doors. There are other kinds of prison doors, though, aren't there, besides demon possession. Where else do you see a story where Jesus "proclaimed liberty to a captive"? Yes, Liza. (Liza) I think about the woman
caught in adultery. She was ready to be stoned; I mean, the religious leaders were really upset with her, and her sentence seemed to be final. But she just fell at the feet of Jesus, and Jesus said, you know, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." He just set her free at that moment but gave her a caution to leave that lifestyle behind and live in the freedom of Christ. (Derek) "Proclaiming liberty to the captives," Hallelujah! That's good news, right? Now, we could keep going. And, by the way, I want to challenge you: Go back, read that description of the "Servant of the Lord" clearly pointing to Messiah in Isaiah, chapter 42, and you will find many examples, a multitude of examples in the Gospels of that being fulfilled. Now, we started out by saying God's desire is that His people, Israel, and even His people today, would be the servant of the Lord, right, doing the work of pointing people to Him. But there's something that <i>the</i> Servant
of the Lord, that is, the Messiah Jesus, could do that Israel or we could not possibly do. Let's look at some things that were unique for <i>the</i> Servant of the Lord, Matthew 1:18-23, Mark 2:5-12, and Matthew 11:28-30. And you might say, "Derek, I can think of some other things that only Jesus can do," alright? You can help me with that, but let's start with Matthew 1, beginning with verse 18, John. What is something that <i>only</i> the Servant
of the Lord, Jesus the Messiah, can do? (John) The New King James says: (Derek) What's one thing <i>the</i> Servant of the Lord could do that no one else could do? (John) Save His people from their sins. (Derek) Save us from our sins;
He's the Savior. What else can He do? Let's look in Mark, chapter 2, Gladys, beginning with verse 5. We could read from verse 1, but let's just focus in. They've carried this man on a stretcher, they've torn open the roof, and they've lowered him down to the feet of Jesus. Pick up the story, if you would, in Mark 2, verse 5. (Gladys) I'm reading from the New International Version, Mark 2, verses 5 to 12: (Derek) I used to imagine the story, that he took his mat and walked out, but now I think he kind of went like this. I mean, he was just so excited, right? He'd been laid out on this mat for how long, you know? And he's rejoicing because he's, well, what was something else that only the Servant of the Lord,
Messiah, could do? (Team) Forgive sins. (Derek) Yeah, He forgave his sins. I think that he was most excited about that! But also physically healed. So, the Savior, the Servant of the Lord referred to in Isaiah [42], He saves us from the penalty of our sin, which is...? (Team) Death. (Derek) He forgives our sins. What else can He do for us? It's referenced in Matthew 11,
verses 28 to 30. Liza, maybe someone needs what the Servant of the Lord, Jesus Messiah, can do, described in these verses, Matthew 11:28-30. (Liza) I'll be reading from the New King James Version: (Derek) How many people need rest for their souls? (Team) All of us. (Derek) Yeah, and unfortunately some people don't know where to find rest for their souls, so they self-medicate, right, with...? (Team Member) Drugs? (Derek) Drugs, alcohol, food, illicit relationships, anything
to self-medicate, when really what they're longing for is rest for their souls. And, by the way, I don't think rest for souls comes without forgiveness. I think we need that, and it doesn't come without hope - Savior. Do you see that Jesus can give us everything we need? He is the Servant of the Lord. He comes down as a Servant to provide everything we need. Well, I wish we could stay there, but we have to move on to chapter 45,
and here, well, the liberal scholars struggle. And I just want to say, if you don't believe that God can foretell the future, well, either that was a very amazing guess that they told the name of someone who would be born over a century later, and not only that, but that He would be the One who would bring deliverance and allow God's people to go home, or you'd have to say, "Well, actually, this whole thing is a bit of a fabrication, and those things were actually written after the event. But it's interesting that Jesus speaks about Isaiah as one through whom the Spirit of God spoke. So, let's see what thet Spirit says through Isaiah the prophet. Harold, if you would read for us chapter 45, verses 1 through 4. (Harold) And I'll be reading from the New King James Version; it reads: (Derek) John, you're just kind of... It's an amazing prophecy, isn't it? (John) This was unheard of, to have leaders to be named and also what their purpose or what their mission would be, only God, who knows the end from the beginning. (Derek) Can you think of other world leaders, world power leaders, that God used even though it says, "You have not known me"? What does it mean, "You haven't known me"? (Travis) Relationship. (Derek) That's right; we don't
have a relationship. You're not saying, "You're my God, the One true God; I worship you," at least not at that point. Can God use people who don't even know Him to accomplish His purpose? Give me an example. (Travis) Nebuchadnezzar. (Derek) The beautiful thing about Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel is, even though the dream, and then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego fiery furnace story, and then being banished, chapter 4, God is so patient that eventually he does recognize the one true God, doesn't he?
Hallelujah. Did you know we're going to see Nebuchadnezzar in the Kingdom of Heaven? (Team) Amen. (Derek) That <i>is</i> amazing, isn't it? But this whole idea that God knows the end
from the beginning - now again, do we just say that was a good guess, or there must be a second Isaiah, maybe a third Isaiah, too, and we'll piece all of this together,
written later? Where, even within the Book do we find the testimony that God can foretell what's going to happen? He knows the end from the beginning. Can you remember where that's found? We've read it already in our study. (John) Isaiah 46, 9 and 10. (Derek) Would you read it for us, John? Maybe someone's joining us for the first time today. By the way, the prophecies of the Bible (I'm going to have you share some others), the prophecies of the Bible, fulfilled in every detail, have turned agnostics and atheists into believers in the one true God. They have. They say, "That's amazing." That means we're not just here by accident, and that means there's hope for my future, right? What does the Lord say through the prophet in chapter 46:9-10? (John) It says in the New
King James Version: (Derek) Is it possible that in the time of Cyrus that someone came to him and said, "I want you to see from the scroll of Isaiah that what you would accomplish for the God of Heaven will be fulfilled through you." Is that possible? It <i>is</i> possible. And he said, "Wow, I have a destiny. I have a destiny; I have something that the God of Heaven wants me to accomplish." And, of course, it was fulfilled just as described. Now, there was another prophet, a contemporary of Isaiah, who was a shepherd. We talked about the Good Shepherd in the previous study, but his name was...? (Derek, Team) Amos. (Derek) And he said something, too, about the prophets. Could you find Amos, chapter 3, Gladys, you have it, and verse 7. Again, some may have heard this, but some may never have heard it. What does the Lord say through this shepherd prophet? (Gladys) I'm reading from the New International Version,
Amos 3, verse 7: (Derek) Why does He do that? Was it just to show us how omniscient... You know what that word means,
all-knowing, right? Is it just to show us omniscient He is or how omnipotent He is, that He rules over history? Why does he tell us, Travis? (Travis) John 14:29 says that He tells us these things so that when they do come to pass that we will believe. (Derek) Ahh! So, you're saying, out of love, He wants, not just so that we'll <i>know,</i> but that we'll know Him. Alright, prophecies, well, let's open up the discussion now. Somebody share with me a prophecy of the Bible outside of the ones we've studied that was fulfilled in every detail.
Yes, Travis. (Travis) For me, it was the 2,300-day prophecy. As I studied, it took time. It actually took me a couple years
to go through the details. (Derek) Where is that found, by the way?
In Daniel? (Travis) Chapter 8, I think, verse 14. (Derek) Chapter 8, right, and you need
to study chapter 9, too, in order to get it all together, right? You probably need to study the Bible
to put it all together. (Travis) But the fact that the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Messiah would die right on time, He would be anointed right on time, and the 490 years, and all the connecting prophecies with it, it blew my mind; I thought how can anybody put something together so exact? And then as I was looking... (Derek) By the way, just hold a second because we're in 200 countries. It doesn't mean his head blew up. To "blow my mind" would mean
it was amazing. By the way, it was to Daniel, too,
wasn't it? Strength left him, and he felt weak and sick, even, because it was hard to comprehend what had been revealed. (Travis) And as I looked and studied them, I thought, if I take the starting date away, it still doesn't change anything. He still died right on time. It's like, God didn't just give one mark. In case we miss that mark, He gave us another mark, and another mark, so they just line up perfectly so that there's no... We can have no reservation that this is real, it's true, and that it was proclaimed by God. (Derek) And, by the way, if you're just joining us, and you haven't been watching for years, we have a whole series on the prophet Daniel. If you go to hopetv.org/hopess and look for the prophet Daniel, you'll find that series, which covers a lot of amazing prophecies, but that one about 2,300 <i>years.</i> By the way, that takes us all to the time of Judgment, so that's an exciting prophecy. Someone else, a prophecy that just really impressed you that there is a God who knows the end from the beginning and can foretell through the prophets something that's going to happen? Anyone? Yes, Harold. (Harold) In Daniel, chapter 7, which correlates with Daniel, chapter 2, and also parts of Daniel, chapter 8, talking about the kingdoms that would follow Babylon. And it happened as it was. If you look at even in history, when I took history, I was talking to my teacher, "Hey, did you know that the book of Daniel predicted that after Babylon, Persia, and then Greece and then Rome? It happened, and God predicted it already
in those chapters. (Derek) And fortunately, you don't go, "Oh, that's cool," because at the end
of the vision, a rock comes, cut out without hands, smashes the feet of that and grinds everything up and becomes a huge mountain that fills the earth. And that rock is..? (Derek, Team) Jesus. (Derek) It is His Kingdom, right? It is His Kingdom. So, again, a beautiful prophecy. Anyone else, a prophecy? The Bible is full of prophecies, but Daniel and Revelation, all Hebrew Scripture, Daniel, New Testament Revelation, have a lot of them, but there are also others we've been reading in Isaiah. John? (John) Well, specifically the one in Daniel, chapter 2, where the legs of iron turn into the feet of iron and clay? That prophecy has really served to be comfort and assurance for people, that that part of the divided Roman Empire would not unite once again; although, there have been efforts through history to do so. (Derek) I was going to say, there have been countless kingdoms that have sought to prove that prophecy wrong, right? And we could name some of them that wanted to set up world powers, and there's not going to be another world power; it's divided. You know, I grew up in the UK, and when they started forming all of the European Union and trying to bring everything together,
it just doesn't seem to be cleaving together, does it? So, the prophecies are so reliable. Now, I want to ask you another important question. Liza, maybe you could start. When did you in your own heart come to the conviction, "I can trust the prophecies of the Bible, even prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled? And, by the way, the most significant one is the glorious return of Jesus, which is spoken of more
than any other prophecy in the whole Bible, the return of Jesus. When did you come to the place in your life where you said, "I can trust the prophecies that the Holy Spirit revealed through the Bible prophets"? (Liza) Absolutely. There's a verse that was shared with me and has become one of my favorite verses. It's Numbers 23, verse 19, and it says...
I don't know if you want... (Derek) Would you like to read it? That's a new one for us, Numbers 23 and verse 19. And a friend shared this verse with you. (Liza) Yes, and it says, from the New King James Version: It just convicted me so much that God is not a liar. He's not, and when he says something,
it's the truth. He's not like men who lie, and it was just such a convicting Word for me, especially as it pertains to prophecy, that it is the truth. (Derek) Powerful, powerful. Now, I want you to imagine a friend comes to you and says, "Travis," Harold, Gladys, John, Liza, "I really would like to have that kind of confidence that the prophecies of the Bible, especially the ones that assure me of salvation, sins forgiven, rest for my soul, hope for the future, but I just have so many questions. I struggle with so many questions," what would you say to her? What would you say to him? Anybody? "Honestly, I'd love to really believe that those prophecies are true and will be fulfilled." Travis? (Travis) Probably I would share
my testimony, and then I would invite him to experience Jesus for himself
or herself. (Derek) You're testimony is that you
didn't always believe, did you? But God brought you to that saving faith. What would you say, Gladys, to a friend who said, "I want to believe, Gladys, but I'm struggling
with so many questions"? (Gladys) I would tell, like Travis said. I would say, you know, I have questions as well, but taste and see, taste and see that the Lord is good. And I will probably share the many times that He cared even of the little things
in my life that is not like a huge revelation, but the minor things that I may think, "Uh, I'm not going to pray about that because He might not be bothered
with this," and He came through for me. (Derek) Do you know that the text you quoted, Psalm 34:8, is also a prophecy? Did you know that? "Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy is the person who trusts in Him." That's a prophecy, right? What would you say, John, a friend, someone you've known for a long time,
they're like, "John, "I'd really like to believe this, but I
just have so many questions"? (John) I would affirm them. God understands our questions,
and I want to let them know that our questions and our doubts
are not too big for God. And that, even though there are scenarios where our mind may not understand, our heart can still trust, based on what has been fulfilled. (Derek) Can God save people
with questions? What's the answer? Of course He can! You know what I tell people, I say, "I'm going to ask Jesus when I see Him, because there are some questions I don't have answers to." Well, if you've been blessed as we've talked togther about the Servant of the Lord and so many prophecies fulfilled, I want to remind you of this free offer, <i>Radical Evidence</i> audiobook showing all of the prophecies pointing to Jesus and stories from today of lives changed. Remember, just write to our email address, sshope@hopetv.org, and in the subject line just put "free offer." We'll send you a link. I'm so excited that the prophecies give us courage and hope, a God who loves us with an immeasurable and unfailing love. Will you trust Him today with your whole life? Let's pray together. Our Father in Heaven, we're so thankful for the promise of the Servant of the Lord who not only <i>would</i> come 700 years before the event but <i>has</i> come, and all of the prophecies
are being fulfilled. And we long for the day when Jesus will return in glory. May we trust Him today that we will be ready with joy on that day. In Jesus' name. Amen. (Team) Amen. (Derek) Well, thanks for joining us for Hope Sabbath School; we're not done! We're moving through the gospel prophet, and we are seeing that we have a Savior, we have hope, and that's not something to keep to yourselves. Go out and share that good news with those around you. ♪ theme music ♪
