 Welcome to a cornerstone connection lesson on the set today we have Peter, Ced, Salmon, Ashley and teacher Kelvin. On our instruments we have Subira and MPC and Joyce who will be doing sign language for we start let's start with the word of prayer. Oh God we come before you this morning to thank you for everything that you've done for us as far as we're about to start be with us and guide us. You just name my prayer and believe. When Amira turned six, it's father began to look for a good school for his daughter in India. He didn't want Amira to go to just any school. He wanted the little girl to go to the best school but to find such a school to start a first grade. The question bothered father as he ate breakfast, the question bothered father as he went to work. He bothered him as he got his haircut after work. What is a good school I can send my daughter, he asked his barber. Send her to the seventh day Adventist school, the barber said. It is a good school. The father never heard of the seventh day Adventists. He was not a Christian. He had been raised in another world region. But he was impressed that the barber had recommended the Adventist school. He sent Amira to study at the Adventist school. Amira loved the school. She came home after school every day talking about Jesus. She sang joyful Christian songs that she had learned. She told father about the stories that she had heard from the Bible. She showed father how she was learning how to pray. Father liked to hear about what Amira was learning at school. But what amazed him most was Amira's smiles. He had never seen her so happy before. She had started going to the school. She had always looked sad but now she was smiling as brightly as the sun. Father was delighted that his little girl was so happy. He wished he could be as happy as her but he couldn't because he didn't feel well. His stomach often hurt and the pain wouldn't feel very sad. Amira noticed that his father wasn't smiling like her. She wanted him to be happy even though she was only six. She had an idea. Come to the school, she said. Someone will pray for you. So the next time father took Amira to school, he followed her inside. Would someone pray for him? Near Amira's classroom, father saw the school accountant. The accountant helped count the school's money. Would you pray for me? The father asked. The accountant clearly prayed for father. He asked God to give father good health and happiness. After the prayer, the accountant told the school pastor about father. The school pastor contacted father and asked if he would like to study the Bible. Father agreed and he and the pastor began to meet to study the Bible. Father was amazed as he learned about Jesus. Amira had told him some things about Jesus. But now he was reading the things that he had never known. He didn't know all this all his life. He asked the pastor, I wish that I'd known this many years ago. Father began to grow happier and happier. He smiled more and more. He and Amira read the Bible together. There were two, they two went to church on Sabbath together. Soon, he and Amira were perhaps the happiest father in India. But mother wasn't happy. She didn't know Jesus and she didn't want to know Jesus. She belonged to another world religion. She didn't want father and Amira reading the Bible or going to church on Sabbath. Stop going to church. She told father, stop reading the Bible. Father didn't know what to do. As mother complained, father's stomach pain grew worse. Advantage friend took him to hospital and cared for him there. The doctor said that father needed an operation. Something amazing happened as father waited for the operation. As he lay in bed, he had a dream that he saw Jesus. Father had never seen such a kind face. He was so beautiful. One look at his face filled father with peace and calmness. Do not be afraid, Jesus said. I am with you. In the dream, father also saw the pastor. He understood that the pastor was a good man. He was being closer to Jesus. After the operation, father had another dream. This dream, he saw Jesus smiling. He was showing me at him. After that, father had no more doubt about what to do. He wanted to give his heart to Jesus. When mother had the news, she became very angry. She was so angry that she went to another room to sleep at night. Alone in bed, father couldn't fall asleep. He wondered if he had made the right decision in giving his heart to Jesus. Then he felt like Jesus came into the room. He didn't see Jesus but was like Jesus came in and touched him on the shoulder. He felt complete peace. The father decided to follow Jesus no matter what. When mother saw that father had made up his mind to follow Jesus, she came to calm down. She remembered the Adventists that helped care for father in the hospital and she decided that they must be good people. The Adventist church offered some free medical care. She went with father to the church for the first time. Mother was impressed with the people that she saw in the church. She saw that they were kind and loving. She stopped being angry with father and Amira. Today, father is praying for mother to accept Jesus. Amira is praying for mother to accept Jesus. They want mother to be happy like them. Father is happy that she sent Amira to the seventh day Adventist school. Amira is happy that she goes to the school, changed Amira's life, changed father's life and they believe it will change mother's life. They think it's the happiest school ever. Thank you for your Sabbath school mission offering today. That will help spread the gospel in India and Nepal. Seven of the 10th, 13th Sabbath projects involve Adventist school like the one where Amira studies. Thank you for a generous offering. Thank you very much for that beautiful item. Welcome to today's lesson, Life Sentence. Before I start, I'm encompassed with some young people here. I'd like them to introduce themselves from my extreme left. Hello viewers, my name is Ashley Silas. Hi, my name is Salmon. Hi, my name is Sid. Hi, my name is Peter Lewis. Thank you very much. Before we begin, I'd like Ashley to pray as we begin. Peter of the universe, you can be for a throne of mercy. We are grateful and thankful that you have redeemed us. You have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light and that you have given us an opportunity to study your word. Lord, we pray that even as we read this word, it may be of benefit and it may bring life to our bones and healing to our souls. These are humble prayers in Jesus' name. Amen. So this particular lesson, we are discussing about, in fact, the Bible calls him Good King Jehoshaphat. And we are just focusing on his story, his reign of 25 years and what Israel actually experienced during his reign. Now, the other thing to note also is this king also had a weakness. And the weakness came about by him being diplomatic and his diplomacy led him to associate with some of the kings that were not godly and we'll also see the impact of that in his reign. Now, one of the diplomatic ties he made was with King Ahab, of course, and he also made a tie with Ahab's son who was called Ahazia. He also made a tie with the other son of Ahab who was called Jehoram. And out of all the good things that this king achieved, that was one of his weak points. Now Sid, please indulge us. What do you think makes over good leader? What do you think is there that we can look at someone and say or look at the track record and say, this is actually a good leader? Okay, so in the what do you think section, there are, there's a list of certain characteristics that we should rank from one being most crucial and six for least crucial that we rank them according to how crucial they are for good government. Ashley, why don't you go first? I think the first one would be a clear sense of right and wrong and the reason I put that is even if the leader is not spiritual or spirituality teaching or is endowed with wisdom, if they have a clear sense of right and wrong, they are able to distinguish between so many things. Clear sense of wrong. Amazing. Salman? Okay, I agree with Ashley on what she says, but the second one, for me, I'd go for charismatic leadership. You know, a leader needs to lead by example. You know, there is no way a leader will lead in the wrong way and you expect the people to follow a charismatic way, okay? Like as Ashley has said, a clear sense of right and wrong. If the leader does not do that, his people will obviously be lost. Peter? Okay, I will go with Ashley, clear sense of right and wrong. If a leader has a clear sense of right and wrong, he will rule his subjects very well. What about you, Mr. Kelvin? I think what Ashley has said that a clear sense of right or wrong is the most astounding quality in that there are many who compromise and we can even take the example of King Jehosephath here. He wanted to form diplomatic ties with his neighbors for a good cause, he had good intentions, but as we often told, good intentions are not enough. Where the backstop is to really ask yourself that is this right or wrong and there's a lesson for us here. There's a lesson for compromise. There's a theory that goes how far is too far and that I think for any leader needs to be very clear. Very important, very clear, yeah. Okay, now what do we think is least crucial, Ashley? List crucial would be abundance of wealth. I mean, military strength and protection is for protection of the people, charismatic leadership, spiritual teaching and wisdom, peace and security, he cannot rule a nation that has no peace within itself and security within its borders. So I think abundance of wealth would be the least as much as abundance of wealth comes by him being the ruler because he's the king, because he's ruling, he has abundance of wealth but that would be the least crucial. I also agree, I agree partially on that one. Abundance of wealth isn't really needed because all the rest are actually needs of the people like civil peace and security. There is no way, as Ashley said, you're going to rule a country that has no peace or security, then spiritual teaching and wisdom. Now sometimes you hear stories of someone who's not even a Christian by any sort but finds a bag of money and takes it to the police station. This most usually happens in European countries. You know, when you come to look back at it, Christianity was engraved in them generations behind. So this thing is still flowing in them. That's why a man who's not even a Christian can take a bag of money and take it to the police station and say, I found this. So I think spiritual teaching and wisdom is valid. Peter? I took over the abundance of wealth. You see the king of... This kingdom, the king of... Israel perhaps? Babylon? Yeah, the king of Babylon. He had wealth but God didn't approve him after forcing the three Hebrew boys to kneel down. Yeah, so abundance of wealth is not that important in God's aspiration in leadership. Okay. Well, for myself, I think the least important is actually charismatic leadership. And here's my interpretation of the same because I feel like charismatic leadership is someone who's familiar with many people. And I don't think that's good because if you are truly a good leader, most of the decisions that you'll make are normally not popular with the people. Therefore, there are some leaders who will compromise on taking home the badge of being charismatic, stepping on some fundamental things. That's because people will go with what they've said. So sometimes as a leader, you will make decisions that are not popular and that might not anew the badge of being charismatic. So the least, according to me, is actually being a charismatic leader. More often you will not be liked, to be honest. If you are a true leader who wants to choose right, you will not be liked. That's a very good example, like in our own country. If you are a very good person, good standing, and you want to vie for any position, even an MCS seat, I mean, you have to part with some money. At least I'm aware. You have to part with money. You have to buy things. You have to give people money to drink alcohol and things like that. And you see, for me, that already disqualifies you as a leader. So it will be difficult to go with all these other things. Save this being a charismatic leader. It's not necessary for you to be a good leader. Okay. I'm going to throw the ball back to you. All right. Thank you very much, Sid, for that particular instance. I like us to read Fast Kings 22 and verse 43. And it says, And just before maybe Ashley takes us into the story, it is important to note that Israel of old had only two categories of kings. It's either the Bible called you good or bad will stop. So Ashley, tell us how good was good King Jehoshaphat? I will go directly into the story. And it reads that after this, the Moabites and the Ammonites with some of the Mew Knights, which are Edomites, came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in houses on Tamar that is in Ngedi. Alamed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord. Indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in front of the new courtyard and said, The Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, power and might are in your hand and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary in your name saying, If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment or the plague of famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your name and we will cry out to you in our distress and you will hear us and save us. But now, here are men from Amnon, Moab and Mount Sier whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt. They were taken away from them and did not destroy them. See, they are now repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. All the men of Judah with their wives and their children and little ones stood before the Lord. Then the spirit of the Lord came on Jahil, son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jail, the son of Matania, Alivite, a descendant of Asaph as he stood in the assembly. He said, Listen King Jeho Shaphat, all who live in Judah and Jerusalem, this is what the Lord says to you, do not be afraid nor be discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. I would particularly like to underline a few points in this story. And the first part I want to say is, Jeho Shaphat was alarmed, but he resolved to inquire of the Lord. He was alarmed. He was scared. He had all his weaknesses and everything. He had the people to rule. He had food to provide for his people, but he resolved. He did not go to inquire of the army, chief in command of the army. How many men do we have? Are we able to go, to go against this vast army that is coming? He resolved to inquire of the Lord. He proclaimed a fast of all Judah. The fact that the thing I like in this point is that when he was alarmed, his first resort was God. He did not think about everything else and then come to God in the end. And the other thing is he identifies with God. He says, the Lord God of our ancestors, our father was your friend, Abraham your friend. He says, these people who are coming against us, you told us not to turn, not to destroy them. You would not allow us to invade when we came from Egypt. That means he knows his history very well. He knows what God has done for him and therefore he trusts that because God did this for us in the past, he's able to do it now and forevermore. That was something. Amen. And you see, most times, leaders are known to know what to do in terms of crisis. But what did Jehoshaphat do? He inquired of the Lord. He asked, if there is one word I take from this particular lesson is, the word resolve. Resolve basically means to come to the uttermost conviction that whatever you're doing is right. And someone will ask, have you ever actually really wondered what went on in the hearts of the great heroes of faith? We know that people who've died for the Christian faith, have you ever sat down to just imagine what actually went on through their minds? What type of faith did they have? What did they see? What promise were they given for them to have such a resolve to even die for the faith? Could you repeat the question? The question is, there are many people who probably maybe have died for the faith. What do you think makes them brave, passionate wise and committed to the cause of the faith? Given the example of King Jehoshaphat. I guess that's a challenging question. Like, what promise is there other than the crown of life? And you know, we are all promised the same thing, yet we do not comprehend the magnitude or the greatness of this promise and blessing. So therefore, many... It's this simple. I like this dress, right? The importance I attach to this dress may not be the same importance anyone else would attach to this dress. It's the same as the crown of life. What importance do we at a personal level attach to God and to the promises he gives us? If we see the importance and if we fully comprehend what God has in store for us, then that is enough to make us give up our lives for him. So I think we can conclude that for Jehoshaphat at that particular point is his extreme devotion to God is what which led him to actually even consult him even before he actually went into war. Now, I'd like to pose a question for Peter perhaps. What is it that you think what the controlling influence is? Or rather in Jehoshaphat's life and how can you relate that to your own life with regards to the speed of prophecy that what's a controlling influence that makes you tick? What do you think, Peter? Okay, this takes us back to the flashlight and it says, if the teachings of God's Word were made the controlling influence in the life of every man and woman, if mind and heart were brought under its resting power, the evils that now exist in nations and in social life would find no place. Okay, the flashlight says that if the teachings of God were made influence, if they influence us, the evils which happens will not take place because many times we forget about the commandments and also the good works God did so they don't influence us. So the evils find place in our midst and also in day-to-day lives that people who influence us like our parents if they are God-keeping, if they are God-fearing parents they will influence us positively into doing right things and also our friends. If our friends are good and if our friends are God-fearing people we are influenced positively and also if we are good people and God-fearing, we influence also our friends positively. Amen, thank you very much for that Peter. Now there are certain things that can make someone great at least according to what we've learnt here. Guys, I'd like to pose this question maybe Peter can start us off. What are some of the three great things that a young person can acquire that when the life story is being read because again the title of our lesson is Life Sentence. When your life is over what is that thing that can be said about you that can actually be really significant? Peter what are some of the things that you think? If you are kind in the society and helping do many chores people will remember you because people will always remember the good things which you do and also if you are God-fearing people will remember that this man is a God-fearing like in school if you are a God-fearing you stand out being one out of many who are not God-fearing like in our school many students are not that God-fearing but if you are people will always remember you since you will not involve in the evil things so people will always remember the good things. Who else would like to go? What are some of the things that can actually make a young person stand out? Sid do you want to try? I think one thing is having a lot of wisdom because not just any wisdom like the right type of wisdom being able to make the right choices in your day to day life will definitely make people remember you Excellent What are some of the things that you might think? I think for me I'd say wisdom because you need to be wise for people to remember you because that's how you make your decisions also I think not being ashamed of your faith No, most young people tend to be afraid of showing their faith because the mindset is like what do the rest think of me? It's more of peer pressure but if you're not ashamed of your faith you bring it out loud to everyone I think you'll have a good record of remembrance Ashley? I've been looking for a particular verse I can't even paraphrase it because it's not coming to mind but I'd say that I'd read Proverbs 23 verse 17 and 18 which says not let your heart envy sinners but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day for surely there is a hereafter and your hope will not be cut off I think that walking in the right path however difficult is something to be remembered for Do not let your heart fear or envy sinners be zealous for the fear of the Lord all day for the fear of the Lord shall call you to be remembered ages like look at the stories in the Bible how many years ago did they happen thousands of years ago but they're here with us day to day look at King Joseph at his story has been here all these years so many kings read it after him we are reading it after them for surely there is a hereafter and your hope will not be cut off Amen we've highlighted Jehoshaphat's devotion to God and his commandments and under his reign Israel experienced many good things and among the good things that King Jehoshaphat managed to take Israel through is that he actually sent out teachers to instruct the people about God and this can be found in 2 Chronicles 17 7 to 10 he also managed to make Israel experience wealth and security he also had judges organized for civil order and the final one which is like the crowning he had a battle victory won through singing you can imagine people have assembled their weapons they are ready to attack then you guys start singing him 100 great is thy faithfulness what a weapon and to me this week's story highlights Jehoshaphat's leadership and his unwavering dependence on God when you have unwavering please note unwavering dependence on God and unwavering means not sometimes it's a total dependence on God and the first step that this faithful king had he resolved to inquire of the Lord even in our circumstances even in our difficulties even when we think we have enough experience to go through certain things we still need to go back to God because again he could have prided himself and said hey I've been king for a while so I know what to do in this manner he still went back he was humble enough to still go back to God and ask him what should we actually do now Salmon what have you in regards to this story from the spirit of prophecy so from the spirit of prophecy the book is prophets and kings and it's chapter 15 so here we see King Jeosaphat who's 35 and he's receiving the throne from his father Asa who was a good king and who in nearly every crisis sought of the eyes of the Lord so Jeosaphat is inheriting a godly kingdom but obviously the devil is there so they are idols but for him he doesn't go on destroying his people he starts by installing teachers of the law teaching his people not to do the wrong and by protecting his people from the influence of the northern kingdom which is Ahab's kingdom but we see that as you said he liked to have some ties so he brought up a tie with Ahab as his son Jehoam married Athalia, daughter of Ahab the Lord was not pleased but just passed on and before the battle in the story part he had a tie with Ahab and said that he will bring up his men but when they inquired of Micaiah, a prophet the Lord refused but he went on and Ahab was killed he went back to Jerusalem and the Lord told him he met Ahu, the prophet who told him that the Lord told him not to go but he went but he repented and from that time on he continued strengthening in his kingdom on spiritual and devotional matters not on the military strength so he strengthened his people in a way that when the Moabites and Ammonites came they knew that they had God on their side so I think Jeho Shaphat was a king who learned from his mistake and from that time on he leaned on God towards everything Amen Sid, I'd like you to read us the key text and at least one punchline as we conclude The key text comes from The King's chapter 22 verse 43 It says in everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did and did not stray from them he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord the high places however were not removed and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there Amen Let me read one punchline then we can do at least one punchline each Psalms 86 verse 2 says God my life for I am faithful to you save you servant who trusts in you you are my God Sid, you can read the next one Psalms 32 verse 22 it says many other wars of the wicked but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds those who trust in Him Ash I will read Job 22 verse 26 and 27 and you find happiness by worshipping Him God will answer your prayers and you will keep the promises you made to Him Peter you can do fast salonians For the salonians for one Fast the salonians for one and it says as for others as for other matters brother and sister we instruct instruct how to live in order to please God as in fact you are living now we ask you and Agio in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more Okay Salmon The viticus 10 chapter 10 verse 10 and 11 you must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common between what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean and you must note and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the Lord has given them through Moses Amen Now in our Father Insight section we read here that position does not give holiness of character it is by honoring God and obeying His commandments that a man is made truly great Amen And guys I would like to really just ask you here as we close how can we be great leaders because again you guys very soon will be handed positions of leadership but from good King Jehoshaphat how can we actually be true good leaders we can start with Peter Leadership come from God so if you want to be great leaders we should go and ask God for guidance and also to ask Him for wisdom Amen Sid I'm going to have to agree with Peter whenever you're in a position of power and you don't know what to do you can turn to God and he will see you through Amen Salmon I'll say the most obvious lean on the Lord in every matter Amen And I would say I would read the did you know section which says the path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one but they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer never are they to fail of consulting the great source of all wisdom strengthened and enlightened by the master worker they will be unable to stand firm against unholy influences and to discern right from wrong good from evil they will prove that which God approves and will strive honestly against the introduction of wrong principles into His cause Amen Amen So in conclusion we can say that everyone can live a life whereby they can have a positive life sentence in that when all is said and done what will come out from the amounts of many is a positive life sentence it is my prayer that all the young people may resolve as Jehoshaphat resolves to actually depend on God is my prayer in Jesus name Amen Ashley you can pray as we conclude Let's pray How kind and loving Father we are grateful and thankful for your light that you have shown upon us that you have shown us that inquiring of the loving to depend upon you on every single situation is that which you desire of us you have called us to be the head and not tail you have called us to start as an example to shine as the light to be the salt of the earth you have called us to be an example to be a medium by which you will connect heaven and earth by which you will show the people around us what you would love them to do we pray a lot that we may follow this example of King Jehoshaphat that even though we make many grave mistakes we would know that you are willing to forgive us if we are faithful in repentance and that even with our sin mad lives you are willing to do great things you have also asked us to call upon you when we are in trouble teachers to trust and to throw our full weight on them and therefore this is my humble prayer in Jesus' name Amen