♪ theme music ♪ (Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School, an in-depth, interactive study of the Word of God. I am excited today as we begin a brand new series, Inspired Letters from Prison: (two of my favorite books in the New Testament) Philippians and Colossians. You will learn lessons that will bless your life, and through you, bless the lives of those around you.
Our topic today is Persecuted but Not Forsaken. So, welcome to Hope Sabbath School, and welcome to the team, good to see you. Take a look at each other, you're looking good today.
You notice we look like the world, and we've got some great remotes with us. Let's see who's joining us remotely. Abigail, great to have you with us, glad you're here.
Rodney, always good to have you with us. And, Alex, welcome back. We're glad you're with us today.
And we're glad you're with us, wherever you're joining us from around the world. We're just glad to be part of a global family studying the Word of God together. And I'm always excited to receive emails from around the world.
Sometimes, I have to look up the places where they're writing from to learn a little more about them. Here's a note from Genever, and Genever writes from Sint Eustatius. Does anybody know where Sint Eustatius is?
Zandile is shaking her head. It's not in South Africa, right? Well, the local people actually call it Statia for short, Sint Eustatius, Statia.
It's part of the Dutch Caribbean. This is where Genever lives, population 3,200, but it can expand to 10,000 during tourist season. So, we'd all like to come visit you, Genever, there in Sint Eustatius or Statia for short.
She writes and says, "I love how the Bible is explained on Hope Sabbath School," why, "in a way that is easy to understand. " Well, Genever, we're glad you're part of our Hope Sabbath School family there at Statia. I'm going to use the abbreviated form of Sint Eustatius.
Here's a short note from Victor in Nigeria, West Africa, "I am Victor, watching from Nigeria, and this is my first time watching Hope Sabbath School. " (Team) Wow. (Derek) Welcome, Victor, we're glad you're starting to watch.
I like his next comment, "You're good. " Well, we say God is good, but we want to be enthusiastic with the Word of God. "You're good.
God bless you all, Victor. " Well, it's a short note, but Victor, you say, "Was it worth writing? " Absolutely, you brought encouragement to the team and I'm sure others around the world.
Here's a note from a donor in Canada. Now, you know we don't read your name. We don't want to publicize names, but we do want to thank you, because we're a donor-supported ministry.
And the donor writes, "Hello, Hope Sabbath School team. " (Team) Hello. (Derek) "Thanks for your dedication and support.
My husband and I have been watching Hope Sabbath School for over six years now, and we're blessed by a study of the Word of God," and we say? (Travis) Praise God. (Derek) For sure.
"Please pray for us as we are facing many trials. God bless you," and a donation of 148 dollars. Thank you so much.
You know who you are. That was probably exchanged [from] Canadian currency, right? Thank you for being part of this great miracle.
One last note, from New York in the United States. Now, for those of you watching from different parts of the world, New York is also a state. Most people think New York City, and that's part of the state, but this is from New York, and the person writes and says, "Hello, Hope Sabbath School team.
" (Team) Hello. (Derek) . .
. you'll wave if [they] do that. "I'm so grateful to finally send feedback for the wonderful job you're doing as instruments of God on Earth.
(Shawn) Amen. (Derek) I've been watching Hope Sabbath School since I discovered it in 2014. " (Team) Wow!
(Derek) "I've been nourished spiritually like a plant nourished by the Word of God. " (Team) Amen. Praise God.
(Derek) That's kind of a biblical image, isn't it? "It makes it easier for me to understand Bible truths that are not easy to explain or grasp sometimes. Please continue what you're doing until Jesus comes.
I really also like the Scripture songs. I love, too, putting melodies into Bible chapters, and it helps me remember the text. God bless you all.
" Well, that's Romelane from New York. And, Romelane, we're glad you like the songs because we have a brand new Scripture song for this series on Inspired Letters from Prison. It's taken from 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 16 through 18, and one of our prison letters, Philippians, chapter 4 and verse 4.
If you'd like to download a free copy of that song, you can go to our website, hopetv. org/hopess. You can also download the outline that we'll be studying from today.
We hope you can learn the song. We'll sing it together. ♪ music ♪ (Derek) Let's pray together.
Father in Heaven, I thank You for these inspired words from the Apostle Paul. And now, as we turn to two of the letters that he wrote from prison, I pray the Holy Spirit who inspired him to write these letters would also guide us in our study. I pray especially for someone who may be studying with us for the first time today, that the Word of God would be light in their path and would guide them in the way You have for them.
Thank you for blessing our study. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
(Team) Amen. (Derek) Well, we're going to start our study today by looking at the broad picture of Paul's imprisonment, and then in this series, we'll take two of the letters that he wrote, Philippians and Colossians. But let's start in the book of Acts, chapter 28, Acts, chapter 28, and the question I want to ask is how long was the Apostle Paul held under house arrest?
And, Shawn, if you could read for us verse 16 of Acts 28, and then read verse 30. (Shawn) Yes, I'll be reading Acts 28, beginning with verse 16, and this is the English Standard Version: Moving on to verse 30: (Derek) So, this imprisonment (thank you, Shawn) was not like the dungeon, later. This is what we would call house arrest, but he does have a soldier chained to him, so, I mean, he's definitely confined.
But it's during this time that he'll be doing some ministry. And part of that will be writing some letters. Well, what letters did he write?
You say, "Well, could I guess Philippians and Colossians since that's the title? " Let's take a look at the opening of the Philippian letter, chapter 1. Victoria, would you read the first seven verses for us of Philippians, chapter 1?
And we'll discover there, well, he gives a clue as to where he is while he's writing the letter to the Philippians. (Victoria) I'm reading from the New American Standard Bible: (Derek) What impresses you? We're going to talk about this in the whole series, but what impacts you, Leeah, [with] the opening words?
(Leeah) . . .
a sweet letter to receive by someone who cares. (Derek) . .
. like, "Oh, I got a letter from the Apostle Paul. " Okay, it's very personal.
Anybody else, what impacted you? Shawn? (Shawn) It's just he's overflowing with love for these people.
As Leeah just said, it's a lovely letter to receive because you're being loved as you read the letter. (Derek) Yeah, and he did mention, as Victoria read, "in my chains," so we know this is one of them. Puia, could you take us to the Colossian letter, a little different from Philippians, but read the first two verses, if you would, of the letter.
and then in the last chapter, 4, verses 2 [through 4], we'll see a clue. We don't have to guess where he's located. (Puia) Sure, and I'll be reading from the New King James Version, Colossians, chapter 1, verses 1 and 2: And then chapter 4, verses 2 [through 4]: (Derek) Okay, another "in chains," so we've got two prison letters.
Now, these are the two, Philippians and Colossians, that we're going to focus on. By the way, I'd like to encourage you to do something I've been doing this past week, get an audio Bible and listen to the letter of Philippians. It just takes about 15 minutes.
Listen to the letter to the Colossians, and you'll get the big picture of what Leeah called a very beautiful letter, right, very personal and touching. So, do that as part of our study. Does anybody know any other letters that Paul wrote, Travis, do you know any other letters he wrote from prison?
(Travis) Ephesians and Philemon. (Derek) Ephesians, which is quite a well known book in the Bible, and a short, one-chapter letter, called Philemon, right, and we'll hear about one of the characters, Onesimus, in this study. So, I have a question for you here, and let's go to Ephesians.
Let's go, Travis, could you take us to Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 1, and then could someone find the little letter of Philemon? Harold, maybe you could find Philemon, just the first verse. I don't know whether to say chapter 1 or just Philemon, verse 1, because there's only one chapter.
But, what do you read, Travis, in Ephesians, chapter, let's see, where are we reading from, 3, verse 1? (Travis) I'll be reading from the New King James Version: (Derek) Okay, and, Harold, Philemon, verse 1? (Harold) Verse 1, and I'll be reading from the English Standard Version and it reads: (Derek) Alright, we'll look at that a little bit more later.
So, Rodney, I have a question for you, and Abigail and Alex, feel free to chime in. I'm talking to one of our remotes now. Rodney, why do you think that the Apostle Paul identifies himself as a "prisoner of Christ Jesus," rather than a prisoner of Rome?
(Rodney) Derek, clearly Paul has given himself to God's service, so whether he's a free man or whether he's in prison, his mind is focused on disseminating the gospel to all those who will hear. (Derek) Alright, so it's like, "Wherever I am, I'm a servant of Christ," right? Anybody else?
Prisoner of Christ? Abigail, could you take us to Ephesians, chapter 6 and verse 20, and then, Alex, if you could take us to Philippians 1:12,13, because he's not just sitting around as a prisoner of Christ saying, "I'm going to serve Jesus once they get me out of here. " He actually uses his time.
Abigail, how does your Bible read there in Ephesians 6 and verse 20? (Abigail) Ephesians 6, verse 20, and I will be reading from the New King James Version; it says: (Derek) Thank you. "I'm an ambassador," unpack that word for me, anybody, "ambassador.
" Puia? (Puia) Before I unpack that word, I just want to comment on your previous question. The reason why he identified himself, not as a prisoner of Rome but as a prisoner for Christ, is because of the reason why he is there in prison in the first place.
You know, people don't throw people, for no reason, into prison. There has to be a reason, and it is because he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is the reason that he identified himself [that way].
And regarding the ambassador part, what do ambassadors do? They represent; if you're an ambassador for a country, you represent that country. In this case, Paul is representing Christ.
(Derek) Alright. Did you want to add something to that? (Travis) I do.
I agree with Puia, but I want to add to that; it isn't just that he was a prisoner because of the message he was giving, but who he was giving it to. It says, "I'm a prisoner of Christ for the Gentiles. " It was because Paul was including the gospel to everyone and including everyone that he was being hard-pressed.
(Derek) Alright, I see lots of hands. This is great. Alex, I am going to come to you in a minute.
Ryan? (Ryan) The idea of ambassador, of course, representing a country; he saw his citizenship as being in Heaven, which is what he describes later. .
. (Derek) Okay, so an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, Victoria.
(Victoria) Yeah, he wanted to be identified with that. Instead of saying that he is a prisoner of Rome, he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ, so he's identifying himself with Christ Jesus. .
. (Derek) Yeah, he doesn't want sympathy for being imprisoned by Rome. He wants people to know he's a servant of Jesus Christ.
So, talk to us, Alex, from Philippians, from the letter itself, verses 12 and 13, what were some of the things he was doing while he was there as an ambassador for Christ? (Alex) Alright, and I'll be reading from the New King James Version. This is something that Paul wants us to know; he says: And verse 13 says: (Derek) I thought he was locked up in a room.
How does the whole prison guard get to hear that he is a prisoner for Christ Jesus? Anybody? Yes, Ryan?
(Ryan) Evidently his personality was so attractive that everybody wanted to come talk to him because he was emulating Christ. (Derek) Either they wanted to come talk to him, or they were chained to him one at a time, right? And so, which one was the prisoner?
He had what we call in the English language a captive audience, right? But, he's sharing with them, like you said, his love for Christ, his faith for Christ. Let's talk about this idea of hardship, because it was not something he didn't understand or know anything about.
Zandile, could you take us to 2 Corinthians, chapter 4, verses 7 through 12? Now, we'll read in another location about shipwrecks and beatings and whatever, but I just want us to look at this testimony, writing another inspired letter, but not from prison, to believers in Corinth, 2 Corinthians 4, beginning with verse 7. (Zandile) Sure, and I'll be reading from the New King James Version, 2 Corinthians 4:7 reads: (Derek) The Apostle Paul, Peter, excuse me, said in 2 Peter, "Some things Paul writes are a little difficult to understand.
" There is some deep thought here in this description, but what do you hear him saying, anybody? Team member, remote member, Alex, what do you hear? He's kind of reflecting to the believers here in Corinth.
(Alex) I like to take this as something practical for us, and that is, he is mentioning the reality, "These things are bad; these things are happening," but he still has hope. It just mentions how he's been persecuted, but he likes to keep in mind, "Look, I'm not forsaken, although I'm persecuted. " And we can take that to heart, that we can mention what is happening, but always mention hope in the end.
(Derek) Thank you for pointing that out. I think one of the things that the enemy says when we're going through hardship is, "God has forsaken you," right? Rodney, I see your hand.
(Rodney) I'm really inspired by Paul and how he views life. It is very clear to him, in fact, he is anticipating the hardship of life, but it doesn't distract him from what is important, which is sharing the love of Jesus with others. And so, I interpret that now for my life to say, "You're going to go through challenges in life, but my connection with God needs to be in place, so that even as I go through the meanderings of life, I'm sharing the love of Jesus with others along the path.
I'm just so inspired by Paul. (Derek) Thank you. Leeah, I'd like to ask you to read from 2 Corinthians 6, because I think we can learn something.
You say, "Are Christians going to go through hardship today? " "Are Christians going to go through hardship as we prepare for the soon return of Jesus? " Maybe there are some lessons we could learn.
Second Corinthians 6, what testimony does Paul give in verses 3 through 7, Leeah? (Leeah ) I'll be reading from the English Standard Version, and it reads: (Derek) There is a text that flashed into my mind when I was reading this, because there's all this bad stuff, and yet he's not focusing on that, is he? It reminded me of a verse, maybe someone can finish it, and you say, "Derek, I haven't read the Bible yet.
" Well, that's one of the benefits of a program like Hope Sabbath School, right? We begin to learn about these inspired messages. The text that came to my mind was also by the Apostle Paul in Romans.
We don't have to read it, but it said, "Do not be overcome by evil. . .
" (Shawn) ". . .
but overcome evil. . .
" (Derek) ". . .
but overcome evil with good," Romans 12:21. So, he's got the evil, like Alex said. There is hardship coming, and some of it's coming from evil people, but he's focusing on the good.
Puia? (Puia) What I really admire about Paul is that he did not waste his suffering, or he did not allow his suffering to go to waste. He made use of his suffering to inspire others, and he did not waste his time while he was under house arrest.
As you pointed out earlier, he didn't say, "Let me wait until I am released, then I will start doing ministry. " No, I think he prayed to God and asked for wisdom, and I believe he was inspired to start writing these letters, which turned out to be a blessing, not just for the immediate audience but for all of us today. (Derek) All of us.
Yes, Zandile. (Zandile) For me, it's the attitude that Paul has, his perspective. Everything that is happening [would cause a normal person] to be like, "Well, maybe God has forsaken me, or maybe God doesn't care anymore.
" But he says that even with this pain, he is rejoicing in it. He has this spirit and this attitude that says, "No matter what I am going through, I will praise God. " (Derek) We've got lots of hands raised.
Victoria. By the way, the Scripture song we sang said, "Rejoice in the Lord. .
. "? (Derek, Team) ".
. . always.
" (Derek) So, he is rejoicing, not in his suffering - he's not rejoicing about his suffering, I should say - but he's rejoicing in the Lord in the midst of it. Victoria? (Victoria) I love that Paul says, "In everything, commending ourselves as servants of God," and he loves his lists.
Paul writes a lot of lists. And it starts out as a negative thing, like we were saying, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, but then he goes straight from "sleeplessness and hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit," so he's combining the good things with the bad things and commending ourselves to God in both of those, and that's so powerful. (Derek) Yeah, and, Abigail, I see your hand; I'm going to come to you, and then I'm going to ask you to read Hebrews, chapter 13 and verse 5.
In the same Philippian letter, that later we'll get to, it says, "Whatever things are true and noble and just and pure, if there is any virtue or anything praiseworthy, mediate," or focus, that's what Victoria is saying (he's not focusing on the beatings and the imprisonment), but focus on those positive things. And, of course, if you were to ask the Apostle Paul, he would say, "The ultimate positive is Jesus," right, "fixing my eyes on Jesus. " Abigail, your comment, and then if you could read for us Hebrews 13 and verse 5.
(Abigail) My thought when I was reading this passage was that a lot of these hardships would definitely discourage me and [make me] feel like I'm not doing what God really wants me to do and is calling me to do. But this shows that Paul had such a good relationship with God that even though he suffered all these hardships, he still knew that he was on the right path, and that was where God wanted him to be, and it didn't dissuade him or discourage him [from] sharing with other people. It just strengthened his faith.
(Derek) Beautiful. Thanks for reading now for us Hebrews, chapter 13 and verse 5. There is a promise, and I want to ask the entire team, why is the promise that Abigail is about to read so meaningful for your life today?
Abigail, Hebrews, 13, verse 5. (Abigail) Alright, I'll be reading from the New King James Version, and Hebrews 13, verse 5, says: (Derek) Oh, my. Somebody say, "Thank You, God.
" (Team) Amen! (Derek) Why is that meaningful to you? Harold?
(Harold) Actually, that verse reminded me of what Blaise Pascal said, that, "Every man has a God-shaped vacuum in their heart, and that there is nothing in this world that can fill it or satisfy it, but only God the Creator," because only an eternal God can fill an eternal heart that is yearning for eternal things. And the fact that God will never leave us or forsake us, is like that is what we want; we are afraid to be forsaken or left, but we know that with God we will be eternally fulfilled, and we will be eternally not forsaken. (Derek) Beautiful.
Yes, Travis? (Travis) I just really love the last few verses that we've read. And, as I was reading and studying this, it came to my mind that, as Paul is talking about facing these persecutions and facing things, he gives us a whole list.
And then, if we notice, just going back, he tells us how. He says, "By purity, by sincere love, by the Holy Spirit, by the power of God, by His righteousness, on the right hand, on the left, it's like he's telling us, "This is what I'm going to face, and this is how I'm going to conquer it, by trusting fully in my God. " And so, it's just really an amazing.
. . "Here's the trouble; here's the antidote," and the antidote is Jesus.
(Derek) Rodney, I see your hand. (Rodney) Clearly, in life today, there are really serious challenges, whether it is at home, in our communities, in our churches; they are real, they are very real. And clearly Paul has learned over time the gift of active patience.
And what I mean by that is, he is waiting, the patience, for the Lord to deliver him from prison and other things. He has learned to be active in sharing Jesus with people throughout those experiences. Isn't there somewhere in the Word that says, "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength"?
And so, we have to learn today and take the advice of Paul to continue to connect with Jesus, because the only way we are able to do that is to continue to have in our minds, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. " (Derek) Thank you. By the way, I like what Rodney just said, "Isn't there somewhere in the Bible that says?
" He knows probably it's the prophet Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 31, and it's actually a beautiful promise that I cherish, too. We're going to move on because we're going to take a snapshot look at the ministry in Philippi and Colossae ("ko-loss-ai") or "ko-loss-ee"; it depends on how you want to pronounce it. And we're going to, in this series, focus in detail on each of those letters, but what miraculous intervention led them to go to Philippi in the first place?
Would anybody like to read that? Ryan, could you read that for us? It's actually in the book of Acts.
Doctor Luke is writing, and what does he say happened there, Acts 16, verses 6 to 12. (Ryan) And I'll be reading from the New King James Version, Acts, chapter 16, verse 6: (Derek) Alright, so, actually I probably should have said what miraculous interventions, not just intervention. What did you hear there?
Abigail, I see you nodding. What did you hear that said, "God is intervening in getting Paul to go to Philippi? (Abigail) There is a saying that says, when God closes a door, He opens another one, and constantly they are trying to go somewhere else where they think God is sending them, but He has a purpose for them.
And so, He directs them in that path, and He will do the same thing for us. (Derek) Thank you so much. How does He do that?
Someone help me. How have you seen God closing a door and opening another door? Anybody have a testimony of that?
Is what Abigail's saying true? (Team) Yes. (Derek) Does anybody have a testimony?
Yes, Puia. (Puia) When I was in college, I wanted to serve as a student missionary, and I was applying for places where many of my friends were going as student missionaries. (Derek) So, this would be like taking a year off of school and going on a mission somewhere.
(Puia) Yes, but all the doors were closed, and my friends were getting accepted, and I was not. And I was wondering, "Why, God? Why are You not opening these doors for me?
" And finally, just when I was about to give up, there was an open door for me to go to Hawaii and serve as a student missionary for one year. And I actually loved my experience there, and I realized God closed the other doors so that He could direct me to this other door that He had planned for me. (Derek) So, Alex, I see your hand, and then I want to find what other intervention you saw besides a closed door and an open door.
Alex? (Alex) Of course, this, really quickly, reminded me [of when] I would go door to door with a group and would share the Bible and different literature pointing to Jesus. But one way that I saw what I call a Divine intervention was [when] we literally got kicked out from the neighborhood.
So, I'm like, "That's okay. The Lord is in control. We'll pray and see to what other area we can go.
" And it turned out, by the grace of God, there was a lady there. I remember, we knocked on the door, and she said, "I have been praying for this, for someone to come and to give me a message about Jesus. " (Derek) So, it's not just closing a door to open, but to open the door that God wants us to go through, right?
And what else, what was the other miraculous intervention? Harold? (Harold) A vision.
(Derek) A vision, right, and what was the vision? (Harold) A man in Macedonia pleading, "Come to Macedonia. " (Derek) So, just getting to Philippi was clearly by the direction of God.
Now, you read a little bit about Philippi. It was a colony. What else do you know about Philippi that made it strategically important?
Does anybody know? Anybody do any research about Philippi? Zandile?
(Zandile) When I was doing my research, I found out that it was a center of trade. A lot of cultures met in Philippi for trading, economy reasons. (Derek) It was named after Philip II of Macedon, right?
They called it after him, Philipp-I, right, Philippi. But, it was a major trade route, and it was also, we read in the text, a Roman. .
. ? (Derek, Team) Colony.
(Derek) What does that mean? Anybody, help me with that. What does it mean it was a Roman colony?
(Harold) Rome took control of it, and actually they can make them citizens, impose taxes. (Derek) Yeah! I mean, it was actually a great privilege to be a Roman colony because then you were a citizen of Rome.
Yes? (Travis) I think the most important thing about that city is that's where God wanted them to go. (Derek) For sure, and that brings us, Victoria, to chapter 16 of Acts, verses 13 through 15, because actually there were some people there, right?
It wasn't just random. And maybe they were praying. Alex, I loved your testimony, by the way.
Maybe they were praying, just like the lady who was praying for someone to bring a word of truth. Maybe, big clue, there were some ladies praying somewhere that God would send more truth to them. Victoria, could you read the story for us in Acts 16, verses 13 to 15?
(Victoria) New American Standard Bible again: (Derek) Do you think that faithfulness to the Lord was just from those few hours they were together and her baptism in the name of Jesus? Or, do you think she shared her story? What do you think?
Anybody? Any thoughts? "Judged me to be faithful.
" Yes, Victoria? (Victoria) It seems like she did have some sort of foundation of faith to build on. (Derek) That's why she's there praying by the river, right, on the Sabbath day.
So, there is some journey that she has been on. Now, we could spend a lot of time looking at what happened, but I want to go on in the same chapter to verses 22 and 23. And, Shawn, if you could read for us Acts 16:22,23.
What suffering. . .
We're going to look at the letter that he will write to the Christians, but what suffering did they experience there in Philippi? (Shawn) Yeah, let's look at that together. Acts 16, verses 22 and 23, from the English Standard Version: (Derek) I wish we could look at the rest of the story, because he's going to look for the positive even there, right?
And something's going to happen in the prison, which is supernatural. But there is actually a prophecy that Jesus gave about the suffering of Paul. Does anybody know when that prophecy was given?
Harold? (Harold) On the road to Damascus. Well, Ananias was a believer, and after Paul, or Saul, was blinded, Ananias was told by God, "Go to Saul of Tarsus and give him back his vision, because I will teach him how much he will have to suffer for My name's sake.
" (Derek) You're quoting Acts 9, verse 16, aren't you? So, there is a prophecy the Lord gives through Ananias. When he goes and prays for Saul, he miraculously receives his sight again.
He's baptized and immediately begins to preach that Jesus is the Christ. But here we see one example of the suffering. Puia?
(Puia) A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit these locations as a study tour, and we actually landed in this city called Neapolis; it has a modern name now. But, from there we went to this old, ancient city of Philippi, and it was a large city. And they had an auditorium that could fit thousands of people.
And there was a prison; you could still see it today. We don't know where exactly Paul was imprisoned, but from the look of it, it was not a comfortable prison. It had to be a very difficult place.
And reading these stories again, and being able to imagine those locations, it really brings the stories alive. And it's really inspiring to see how Paul always followed the calling of God, regardless of where it took him. (Derek) Now, if someone would like to.
. . Maybe, you're watching, you're saying, "Well, what happened in the prison?
" Can someone tell me the story very briefly. I know we're going to be studying the whole letter, but how did they get out of the prison? Does anybody remember?
Harold? (Harold) From what I remember, I think they were singing hymns, and all of a sudden, there was a big earthquake, and all the shackles just fell off. And the prison guard thought that the prisoners left because even the doors were open.
And Paul called out, "Hey, do not kill yourself; all the prisoners are here; we're all here. And then the prison guard became a believer as well. (Derek) And his family.
So, back to what we said earlier, that - and maybe here is a lesson to hold onto as you're watching - when some challenge comes to you, rather than saying, "God, why did You let this happen to me," or did I do something bad to deserve this? " why not say, "God, how do You want to work in this situation in a miraculous way? " Because that's what happened with the prison, right?
We're going to move on to Colossae, and I'm going to ask, I think I'm going to ask Rodney a difficult question. Rodney, when did the Apostle Paul visit Colossae? (Rodney) That's a good one, because the team will need to help me with that one for sure; I am not sure.
(Derek) Alright. Does anybody want to answer that question? By the way, that's a good answer, Rodney.
It's always better to say, "I don't know. " Travis, when did he visit Colossae? (Travis) We don't have a record that he ever did.
(Derek) So, there is something very interesting here, because one of the books of the Bible is where he never visited them, and yet he wrote them a letter. So, let's see, before we find out how they heard about the gospel message, where, does anybody know, did you do any research - maybe, Puia, you could help us because you said you visited in that area - where was this town of Colossae located? (Puia) So, some believe that this is in the area of Laodicea, south of Laodicea, which probably would be modern-day Turkey area, on that side of the part of.
. . (Derek) Then called Asia Minor, okay.
It's actually never been excavated. (Puia) Until recently. (Derek) There's a big mound there, Laodicea.
Are they starting to excavate Colossae now? (Puia) Yes. (Derek) They are.
Okay. Well, I was surprised. I was privileged to go there, too, and Laodicea is a huge excavation.
I didn't know it was such a great city. Colossae and Hierapolis are close by, so it was. .
. I think they said textiles were a big thing there. Harold, is that right?
(Harold) Yes, and also the road connected to Ephesus, and, if you remember, I think Paul was able to. . .
There were some people that Paul influenced that became disciples, and they taught in Ephesus, and maybe through the trade route that connected Ephesus. . .
(Derek) . . .
giving us a little clue as to how they might have heard the story. Let's go to Colossians, chapter 1, and read the first eight verses. And, Alex, could you read that for us, please, Colossians, chapter 1, verses 1 through 8, and then I'll have someone else read chapter 4, verses 12 and 13?
How did they hear the gospel? Back then they didn't have smartphones and text messages. They did have short letters that could be sent, and this will be one of them, and we're going to get to Colossians, but what do you read there, Alex, in Colossians, chapter 1, verses 1 through 8?
(Alex) Okay, and I'll be reading from the New King James Version. It says, starting in verse 1: (Derek) Epaphras, one more verse, Ryan, could you take us to the end of the letter, and let's read maybe a little more about who delivered in Colossians 4, verses 12 and 13. (Ryan) Yes, Colossians, chapter 4, verses 12 and 13, I'll be reading from the New King James Version, it says: (Derek) Ah, there are those two towns, Puia, Laodicea, and Hierapolis, Colossae, right?
So, what do you learn about Epaphras from the brief reference here? (Ryan) He's passionate. (Derek) He's passionate about.
. . ?
(Ryan) Believers, converts. (Derek) Sharing the gospel with people. Anybody else?
(Travis) Prayerful. (Derek) Prayerful. Isn't that amazing that a whole city is impacted by this one person sharing.
Alex? (Alex) I take this as a practical lesson for us, that whatever we learn, share it, because you do not know the produce that comes from it. So, please share everything you know.
No matter how small you think it is, share it. (Derek) Thank you so much. Now, Harold, you said earlier, and I'd like you to go with us, if you would, to Acts, chapter 19, and read verse 1 and verses 8 through 10, because you said there was a route connecting from Ephesus, which was to the west.
And you're thinking maybe that might have been where Epaphras heard the gospel message, maybe trading, and came back to his hometown and shared the gospel. Would you read, Acts, chapter 19, verse 1 and verse 8 through 10, for us? (Harold) Yes, and I'll be reading from the English Standard Version, and it says: And now verses 8 through 10: (Derek) How would you describe what Paul set up in the hall of Tyrannus?
I think he set up a Bible school, didn't he, a Christian Bible school. Ephesus, of course, was one of the main centers there. And Harold suggesting maybe it was there that Epaphras hears the gospel, goes back, and what I hear you saying, whatever your hometown, go back and share what you've learned with other people.
In the last section, I'd like us to look at the first word in our series here, "inspired," because these aren't just letters from prison. I mean, have any of you saved letters that people have written to you? You say, "What's a letter?
You mean an email or a text? " People don't write letters too much anymore, but some of you may have received handwritten letters, and you saved them. Why do you save those letters?
You get lots of things that you put in the trash can, right? Shawn, why are there some letters you save? (Shawn) They're meaningful.
Like Leeah said about this letter earlier about Philippians, they're lovely. You mentioned earlier, we send emails and text messages, but they don't mean as much as when someone takes their time, considers their thoughts, and writes down everything meaningful to you. And so, it becomes a treasure that you keep with you.
(Derek) So, I think you've alluded to the fact that it's not just the content, though that's important, but who is is sending it to you, right? Rodney? (Rodney) That's exactly what I was about to say.
Sometimes, it's not necessarily the content. The content is important, but because you have a relationship with the person who is sending the letter to you, it means a whole world to you, so we'll keep those letters. (Derek) That's a challenge for those of us who have been married for many years.
Can we ever throw those letters away because of the meaning that they have, right? Yes, well, we want to add the word "inspired" because we're going to discover that the Holy Spirit was helping Paul to be productive while he was there under house arrest. So, our title isn't simply Letters from Prison but Inspired Letters.
So, maybe someone's watching, maybe you're watching and saying, "Derek, I don't know much about the Bible. What do you mean 'inspired'? " What Bible text, anybody, might help us to understand what inspired means?
Anybody think of a text that you'd be willing to read for us? Yes, Rodney, what comes to your mind? (Rodney) Second Timothy, chapter 3 and verse 16.
(Derek) Okay, 2 Timothy 3, verse 16. (Rodney) And I'm reading from the New King James Version, it reads: (Derek) All Scripture, by inspiration. So, it hasn't really described what inspiration is except that it's God being involved in the process, would you agree?
Yes, Harold? (Harold) My version says "breathed out by God. " (Derek) "Breathed out by God," okay.
Alright, is there another Bible verse anybody can think of that would help us? Zandile? (Zandile) Second Peter, chapter 1, verses 20 and 21.
(Derek) Okay, 2 Peter, that's right before the end of the Scriptures , right? First and Second Peter, and you'd like to read chapter 1? (Zandile) Yes.
(Derek) Verses 20 and 21? Okay. (Zandile) And I'll be reading from the New King James Version: (Derek) So, somehow God is helping the Bible writer.
Were there ever times that God actually gave them specific words to say, like, specific, like dictation, like specific words? (Shawn) The Ten Commandments, "Thus saith the Lord. " (Derek) There are some, right?
"The Lord said, 'Fear not, for I am with you. '" I love those places where I find actually "the Lord said," right? "I will be with you always, even to the end of the age," speaking of Jesus.
But most of the time, the Holy Spirit's empowering the mind of the author, right, moved by the Holy Spirit. Let's look at one last verse in the same letter that Zandile just read, 2 Peter 3; I'm wondering if Abigail would read that for us, 2 Peter, chapter 3, verses 14 and 15. By the way, we're talking about a former fisherman here, a businessman fisherman named Peter who is writing the letter, but he's been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, right?
Second Peter 3, Abigail, verses 14 and 15. (Abigail) I will be reading from the New King James Version: (Derek) Ah, did you notice that? "Our beloved brother Paul," I don't know how your translation reads, but what does it read in your Bible, anybody?
Ryan, what translation do you have? (Ryan) New King James. (Derek) How did it read there, "Our beloved brother Paul.
. . "?
(Ryan) ". . .
according to the wisdom given to him. " (Derek) "According to the wisdom given to him. " Can someone add a couple of words to that to make it clear?
"According to the wisdom given to him. . .
"? (Derek, Team) ". .
. by God. " (Derek) Right.
So, these letters that we're going to be studying. . .
You say, "This isn't just like ancient literature, and we're going to critique it. " This is something that was given wisdom by God through a prophet, and we'll discover it's very relevant. Travis.
(Travis) You know, you can correct me if I'm wrong, Derek, but I think in Daniel, chapter 2, in Daniel's prayer, it says, "He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. " (Derek) And, "He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. " That's an amazing prayer of Daniel, isn't it?
"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. " But here we're seeing that the God of all wisdom gave wisdom in the writing of the Scripture, and that's what it means to be inspired letters from prison. Now, they didn't have.
. . I don't know what the name of your mail delivery system is in your country.
Here, we've got a government system called the U. S. Postal Service.
And then we have all kinds of private systems, right, that can deliver, FedEx or UPS, or whatever. How did this letter from a prison in Rome, house arrest, yeah, but still in prison. .
. Victoria, do you have any idea how it got all the way to Philippi or it got all the way to Colossae? (Victoria) Well, because there was so much travel going on - we talked about these cities being trade centers - I think that the Christians could have blended in with those people who were going back and forth.
And so it was fellow Christians who were taking these letters from the writers, Paul, Peter, to the believers. So, for this one, in Philippians 2:25, it says: (Derek) So, Epaphroditus. By the way, what could we learn from his name, Epaphroditus?
(Shawn) Aphrodite. (Derek) Yeah, exactly, in other words, it's unlikely that he had Christian parents or God-fearing parents to name him after the goddess of fertility, Aphrodite, right, Epaphroditus, but he's obviously become a follower of Jesus. And his heart has been changed, hasn't it?
So, here is a hand-delivery from Epaphroditus. Do we learn anymore in chapter 4, verse 18, Philippians 4:18, or does it just give us his name again? It just says Epaphroditus, okay.
So, how important was his work, would you say? Very important. (Team) Very important.
Vital. (Derek) You know, we're out of time in our study. We've been studying the Word of God together.
Philippians and Colossians, inspired text messages. I hope you'll join us for the series. Be blessed, then go out and be a blessing to those around you.
