100:00:00,320 –> 00:00:01,280book.200:00:05,480 –> 00:00:07,460When he says, rejoice in hope,300:00:07,460 –> 00:00:08,900he’s not saying, hey, cheer up.400:00:08,900 –> 00:00:09,660It’ll be better around the500:00:09,660 –> 00:00:10,200corner.600:00:10,220 –> 00:00:12,940What he’s saying is there is a700:00:13,160 –> 00:00:15,240living hope that is yours in800:00:15,260 –> 00:00:18,080Jesus Christ and those who hope900:00:18,100 –> 00:00:19,200in him will not be1000:00:19,200 –> 00:00:19,959disappointed.1100:00:20,760 –> 00:00:22,340Welcome to open the Bible with1200:00:22,340 –> 00:00:23,440Pastor Colin Smith.1300:00:23,500 –> 00:00:24,340I’m David pick.1400:00:24,340 –> 00:00:25,340I’m glad you could be with us1500:00:25,340 –> 00:00:25,700today.1600:00:25,700 –> 00:00:27,180And Colin, today we’re talking1700:00:27,180 –> 00:00:28,780about hope and the role that1800:00:29,020 –> 00:00:29,500that’s right.1900:00:29,500 –> 00:00:30,459And I think there are two things2000:00:30,459 –> 00:00:31,900that are really important here.2100:00:31,940 –> 00:00:33,779One is to recognize that we live2200:00:33,779 –> 00:00:35,500with short term uncertainty.2300:00:35,660 –> 00:00:37,180In other words, none of us knows2400:00:37,340 –> 00:00:38,459what tomorrow will bring.2500:00:38,660 –> 00:00:40,220That is not revealed to us.2600:00:40,459 –> 00:00:41,860And so that kind of cheer up,2700:00:41,860 –> 00:00:42,980it’s going to be better tomorrow.2800:00:43,139 –> 00:00:44,200We don’t know what tomorrow will2900:00:44,200 –> 00:00:44,500bring.3000:00:44,540 –> 00:00:46,599And so if we live on the short3100:00:46,599 –> 00:00:48,580term uncertainty and apply that3200:00:48,580 –> 00:00:49,380there’s hope there.3300:00:49,580 –> 00:00:51,200We end up being disappointed and3400:00:51,200 –> 00:00:52,939hope deferred makes the heart3500:00:52,939 –> 00:00:53,299sick.3600:00:53,520 –> 00:00:54,680But here’s the good news for the3700:00:54,680 –> 00:00:55,160Christian.3800:00:55,160 –> 00:00:56,540While we live with short term3900:00:56,660 –> 00:00:57,580uncertainty.4000:00:57,939 –> 00:00:59,540We also are given the gift of4100:00:59,540 –> 00:01:01,099long term security.4200:01:01,299 –> 00:01:03,380We have security in Jesus Christ.4300:01:03,380 –> 00:01:04,339We don’t know the short term.4400:01:04,360 –> 00:01:05,739We do know the long term.4500:01:05,779 –> 00:01:07,699We do know that God’s purpose4600:01:07,699 –> 00:01:09,379will be accomplished in every4700:01:09,379 –> 00:01:11,300believers life and that it will4800:01:11,300 –> 00:01:13,180be completely accomplished and4900:01:13,339 –> 00:01:15,180every part of our life the worst5000:01:15,180 –> 00:01:16,779as well as the best will play5100:01:16,779 –> 00:01:18,120into the fulfillment of that5200:01:18,120 –> 00:01:18,680purpose.5300:01:18,940 –> 00:01:19,900So we’re going to look at what it5400:01:19,900 –> 00:01:21,739means to rejoice in hope.5500:01:21,980 –> 00:01:23,739And obviously that can’t be the5600:01:23,739 –> 00:01:25,019short term uncertainty.5700:01:25,059 –> 00:01:26,419It has to be the long term5800:01:26,500 –> 00:01:28,580security that is ours in Jesus5900:01:28,580 –> 00:01:29,120Christ.6000:01:29,379 –> 00:01:31,059Well join us if you can in6100:01:31,059 –> 00:01:33,260Romans chapter 12 as we begin6200:01:33,260 –> 00:01:35,660the message overcoming evil with6300:01:35,660 –> 00:01:36,519steadiness.6400:01:36,699 –> 00:01:37,379Here’s Colin.6500:01:37,620 –> 00:01:41,339In any walk of life there will6600:01:41,339 –> 00:01:44,339be times of great blessing and6700:01:44,339 –> 00:01:45,500there will be times of great6800:01:45,500 –> 00:01:46,820difficulty.6900:01:47,220 –> 00:01:48,660There are going to be times in7000:01:48,660 –> 00:01:52,239your life that are full of joy7100:01:52,300 –> 00:01:54,419and there may well be times in7200:01:54,419 –> 00:01:57,019your life when you really feel7300:01:57,019 –> 00:01:59,220quite desperate.7400:01:59,480 –> 00:02:01,139And we have seen that the Book7500:02:01,139 –> 00:02:03,680of Romans is written against the7600:02:03,680 –> 00:02:06,739background of darkening skies7700:02:06,779 –> 00:02:09,259for Christian believers in Rome.7800:02:09,500 –> 00:02:11,100Nero had come to power.7900:02:11,100 –> 00:02:12,460No Christian in their right8000:02:12,460 –> 00:02:13,619mind would ever have voted for8100:02:13,619 –> 00:02:13,919Nero.8200:02:14,059 –> 00:02:15,100They didn’t get the vote but8300:02:15,100 –> 00:02:16,179they didn’t like who they got8400:02:16,179 –> 00:02:17,779when the result came.8500:02:18,039 –> 00:02:20,179They had Neto imagine that for8600:02:20,179 –> 00:02:24,100your Emperor and evil was on the8700:02:24,139 –> 00:02:25,639rise.8800:02:25,899 –> 00:02:28,460And Paul says do not be8900:02:28,460 –> 00:02:31,080overcome by evil.9000:02:31,339 –> 00:02:33,820But overcome evil with good.9100:02:33,860 –> 00:02:35,139And the question of course then9200:02:35,139 –> 00:02:35,639is how.9300:02:35,699 –> 00:02:37,399How in the world are we to9400:02:37,759 –> 00:02:40,380overcome the increasing darkness9500:02:40,380 –> 00:02:42,240of evil that we see and how are9600:02:42,240 –> 00:02:43,679we to overcome it with good.9700:02:43,699 –> 00:02:45,520And we have been tracing this9800:02:45,520 –> 00:02:47,080through Romans 12 beginning at9900:02:47,080 –> 00:02:49,500verse 9, And we saw that the10000:02:49,500 –> 00:02:52,660place to begin has to be love10100:02:53,100 –> 00:02:55,080that God’s people manifest love10200:02:55,080 –> 00:02:56,539that we begin with loving each10300:02:56,539 –> 00:02:58,059other and then that it overflows10400:02:58,059 –> 00:03:00,300beyond the boundaries as it were10500:03:00,300 –> 00:03:01,820off the gathered church and it10600:03:01,820 –> 00:03:04,020must be genuine.10700:03:04,059 –> 00:03:05,580Then we saw secondly that God10800:03:05,580 –> 00:03:08,179calls us to engage energetically10900:03:08,179 –> 00:03:09,720in the work of ministry.11000:03:09,720 –> 00:03:12,899Do not be slothful in zeal.11100:03:12,899 –> 00:03:15,119Be fervent in spirit serve the11200:03:15,119 –> 00:03:16,479Lord.11300:03:16,740 –> 00:03:18,679Today we come to the third thing11400:03:18,699 –> 00:03:21,899which is that God calls us to a11500:03:21,899 –> 00:03:26,699steady tenacity the God calls us11600:03:26,720 –> 00:03:29,380in difficult days to stick at it11700:03:29,380 –> 00:03:33,539to persevere to push through and11800:03:33,539 –> 00:03:36,479to stay at it over the long haul11900:03:36,479 –> 00:03:39,100and so we look at verse 12 that12000:03:39,100 –> 00:03:41,100tells us how to do this.12100:03:41,100 –> 00:03:45,139Rejoice in hope, be patient in12200:03:45,139 –> 00:03:49,479tribulation and be constant in12300:03:49,479 –> 00:03:49,860prayer.12400:03:49,860 –> 00:03:51,839Several commentators quote a12500:03:51,839 –> 00:03:53,800paraphrase that gives the sense12600:03:53,800 –> 00:03:55,419or the meaning of this very12700:03:55,419 –> 00:03:58,059important verse, in so far as we12800:03:58,059 –> 00:03:59,580have cause to hope let us be12900:03:59,580 –> 00:04:02,139joyful, in so far as we have13000:04:02,160 –> 00:04:04,339cause of pain let us hold out or13100:04:04,339 –> 00:04:07,100hold on, in so far as the door of13200:04:07,100 –> 00:04:08,979prayer has been opened to us let13300:04:08,979 –> 00:04:11,139us continue to use it.13400:04:11,139 –> 00:04:13,820These three things are before us13500:04:13,820 –> 00:04:14,899this morning, they are very13600:04:14,899 –> 00:04:17,540simple, I want to simply apply13700:04:17,540 –> 00:04:19,619them to our lives for our13800:04:19,660 –> 00:04:21,059encouragement.13900:04:21,059 –> 00:04:23,220The first then, is rejoice in14000:04:23,220 –> 00:04:23,619hope.14100:04:23,660 –> 00:04:25,619Here’s how to persevere, rejoice14200:04:25,660 –> 00:04:27,779in hope, in so far as we have14300:04:27,779 –> 00:04:29,500cause to hope, says the14400:04:29,500 –> 00:04:32,899paraphrase, let us be joyful.14500:04:32,940 –> 00:04:37,380Rejoice in hope.14600:04:37,380 –> 00:04:38,820Now to settle the meaning of14700:04:38,820 –> 00:04:40,380what Paul is saying here in our14800:04:40,380 –> 00:04:42,100mind, remember that he is14900:04:42,100 –> 00:04:45,739writing to Christians in Rome,15000:04:45,739 –> 00:04:47,380who within a very few years,15100:04:47,380 –> 00:04:49,100less than a decade of receiving15200:04:49,100 –> 00:04:52,500this letter, would be in a15300:04:52,500 –> 00:04:54,420position in which some of them15400:04:54,420 –> 00:04:56,380would be thrown to lions in15500:04:56,380 –> 00:04:58,540circuses and others of them15600:04:58,540 –> 00:05:00,660would be burned in Nero’s15700:05:00,660 –> 00:05:02,500garden.15800:05:02,500 –> 00:05:05,100So when Paul speaks here about15900:05:05,100 –> 00:05:09,420hope, he is not talking about16000:05:09,420 –> 00:05:11,380an optimistic feeling that the16100:05:11,380 –> 00:05:13,420world’s going to get better in16200:05:13,420 –> 00:05:15,660the coming days.16300:05:15,660 –> 00:05:18,619Paul was not naive.16400:05:18,619 –> 00:05:20,299Paul did not hold to an16500:05:20,299 –> 00:05:22,540evolutionary view of human16600:05:22,540 –> 00:05:24,140nature.16700:05:24,140 –> 00:05:25,600In fact, he says, in 2 Timothy16800:05:25,600 –> 00:05:27,420and chapter 3, that evil men16900:05:27,420 –> 00:05:30,839will go from bad to worse.17000:05:30,839 –> 00:05:32,220That’s not an evolutionary view17100:05:32,220 –> 00:05:35,019of human nature, by the way.17200:05:35,019 –> 00:05:36,839So the hope that Paul speaks17300:05:36,839 –> 00:05:38,160about here, when he’s writing to17400:05:38,160 –> 00:05:39,660Christians in Rome, who within a17500:05:39,660 –> 00:05:41,660few years would undergo this17600:05:41,660 –> 00:05:43,500awful persecution at the hands17700:05:43,500 –> 00:05:45,859of Nero, Paul’s not saying,17800:05:45,859 –> 00:05:47,019hey, be optimistic!17900:05:47,019 –> 00:05:48,100It’s going to get better!18000:05:48,920 –> 00:05:50,700No, when he talks about hope18100:05:50,700 –> 00:05:52,660here, he is talking about what18200:05:52,660 –> 00:05:54,660the New Testament describes as18300:05:54,660 –> 00:05:57,299the hope, the great and18400:05:57,299 –> 00:05:58,980glorious hope that is ours in18500:05:58,980 –> 00:06:00,660Jesus Christ.18600:06:00,660 –> 00:06:02,239What he describes in Titus, in18700:06:02,239 –> 00:06:04,579chapter 2, in verse 13, as our18800:06:04,579 –> 00:06:07,500blessed hope, which is the18900:06:07,500 –> 00:06:10,299appearing of the glory of our19000:06:10,299 –> 00:06:12,980great God and savior, Jesus19100:06:12,980 –> 00:06:13,619Christ.19200:06:13,619 –> 00:06:15,100And he says to believers, under19300:06:15,100 –> 00:06:17,859pressure, now, you rejoice in19400:06:17,899 –> 00:06:20,339this, rejoice in hope, rejoice19500:06:20,339 –> 00:06:23,119in all that lies ahead of you19600:06:23,119 –> 00:06:25,160that is in the hand of Jesus19700:06:25,160 –> 00:06:27,339Christ, and that is stored up19800:06:27,339 –> 00:06:28,779ready to give.19900:06:28,779 –> 00:06:30,140He’s spoken about this already,20000:06:30,140 –> 00:06:31,019of course, in the Book of20100:06:31,019 –> 00:06:31,459Romans.20200:06:31,459 –> 00:06:33,540We rejoice, chapter 5 and verse20300:06:33,540 –> 00:06:36,2992, in the hope of the glory of20400:06:36,299 –> 00:06:37,299God.20500:06:37,299 –> 00:06:38,980Then in chapter 8, he speaks20600:06:38,980 –> 00:06:40,859about it, I consider that our20700:06:40,859 –> 00:06:42,739present sufferings are not worth20800:06:42,739 –> 00:06:45,380comparing to the glory that20900:06:45,380 –> 00:06:46,459will be revealed.21000:06:46,459 –> 00:06:47,619Speaking of the time when21100:06:47,640 –> 00:06:49,059Jesus Christ comes again.21200:06:49,440 –> 00:06:50,459And then he speaks about the21300:06:50,459 –> 00:06:53,140redemption of our bodies, that21400:06:53,140 –> 00:06:54,679is the transformation even of21500:06:54,679 –> 00:06:56,260our bodies, the gift of the21600:06:56,260 –> 00:06:57,859resurrection body, and he says21700:06:58,040 –> 00:07:00,619in this hope we are saved.21800:07:00,619 –> 00:07:02,200So when he comes in chapter 1221900:07:02,420 –> 00:07:04,119to say rejoice in hope, it’s22000:07:04,119 –> 00:07:05,859very clear what he means by22100:07:05,859 –> 00:07:06,459hope.22200:07:06,459 –> 00:07:07,899We are to rejoice in the hope22300:07:07,899 –> 00:07:10,940that is ours in Jesus Christ.22400:07:11,220 –> 00:07:12,519Now here’s the question, how22500:07:12,519 –> 00:07:13,459are we to do that?22600:07:14,019 –> 00:07:15,140How are we to live in this22700:07:15,140 –> 00:07:16,619world in such a way that we22800:07:16,619 –> 00:07:18,779find our joy in the great hope22900:07:18,779 –> 00:07:21,619that is ours in Jesus Christ?23000:07:22,179 –> 00:07:23,059And, let me just say three23100:07:23,059 –> 00:07:23,940things about that.23200:07:23,980 –> 00:07:26,959The first is this, in order to23300:07:26,959 –> 00:07:29,100rejoice in this hope that is a23400:07:29,100 –> 00:07:32,339means of persevering, stop23500:07:32,420 –> 00:07:36,140indulging in false hopes, stop23600:07:36,140 –> 00:07:37,279indulging in false hopes, you’re23700:07:37,279 –> 00:07:38,940going to embrace the true hope,23800:07:38,940 –> 00:07:40,459you’ve got to stop indulging in23900:07:40,459 –> 00:07:41,299false hopes.24000:07:42,540 –> 00:07:43,739There’s a verse in Proverbs,24100:07:43,739 –> 00:07:47,239hope deferred makes the heart24200:07:47,359 –> 00:07:48,100sick.24300:07:48,700 –> 00:07:50,600That’s Proverbs chapter 13 and24400:07:50,600 –> 00:07:51,959verse 12.24500:07:52,760 –> 00:07:54,700In other words, God in his24600:07:54,700 –> 00:07:57,679wisdom says to us, if you keep24700:07:57,679 –> 00:07:59,359thinking that something good is24800:07:59,359 –> 00:08:00,640going to happen just around the24900:08:00,640 –> 00:08:02,320corner and you set your heart25000:08:02,320 –> 00:08:05,880upon that and it doesn’t happen,25100:08:06,779 –> 00:08:09,220the result is that you feel sick.25200:08:09,739 –> 00:08:12,480You feel so let down, it breaks25300:08:12,500 –> 00:08:13,220your heart.25400:08:13,940 –> 00:08:15,980So, in life, don’t put yourself25500:08:15,980 –> 00:08:17,019in that position.25600:08:17,760 –> 00:08:20,399Don’t set yourself up for being25700:08:20,399 –> 00:08:21,600disappointed.25800:08:22,940 –> 00:08:24,820Now, let’s expand that beyond the25900:08:24,820 –> 00:08:26,100personal because we all can26000:08:26,100 –> 00:08:27,619relate to that in terms of things26100:08:27,619 –> 00:08:29,380we hope might happen, and it’s26200:08:29,380 –> 00:08:31,059easy to set our hearts upon that26300:08:31,079 –> 00:08:32,460and then it makes the heart sick26400:08:32,619 –> 00:08:33,640if it doesn’t happen.26500:08:33,900 –> 00:08:35,460But think about that more broadly26600:08:35,460 –> 00:08:36,820in regards to the history of the26700:08:36,820 –> 00:08:37,619whole world.26800:08:38,880 –> 00:08:42,219The last hundred years, the end26900:08:42,239 –> 00:08:44,880of the 19th century, there was27000:08:44,880 –> 00:08:47,200probably unprecedented in human27100:08:47,200 –> 00:08:49,599history this optimism, the end27200:08:49,599 –> 00:08:51,479of the 19th century, the 20th27300:08:51,479 –> 00:08:53,780century, oh, it’s going to be the27400:08:53,780 –> 00:08:56,359golden age of humanity.27500:08:56,919 –> 00:08:58,440Because all this came from people27600:08:58,440 –> 00:08:59,739embracing Darwin and the27700:08:59,739 –> 00:09:01,619evolutionary view of human nature27800:09:01,619 –> 00:09:02,619were all getting better and27900:09:02,619 –> 00:09:04,119better, and the world’s going to28000:09:04,119 –> 00:09:06,320be the most marvelous place in28100:09:06,320 –> 00:09:07,719the 20th century, it’s going to28200:09:07,719 –> 00:09:10,000be the golden age of humanity.28300:09:10,440 –> 00:09:12,479We got 14 years into the 20th28400:09:12,479 –> 00:09:14,559century and what did we get?28500:09:14,640 –> 00:09:15,859The First World War.28600:09:16,299 –> 00:09:17,299So what did people say?28700:09:17,299 –> 00:09:18,140Oh, the First World.28800:09:18,140 –> 00:09:19,099This is terrible.28900:09:19,299 –> 00:09:24,039But it is the war to end all wars.29000:09:24,039 –> 00:09:25,940This is it, this is just the last29100:09:25,940 –> 00:09:27,820calamity, once we’re past this29200:09:27,820 –> 00:09:28,820everything’s going to be just29300:09:28,820 –> 00:09:29,320fine.29400:09:29,840 –> 00:09:31,059That’s what people believed.29500:09:32,659 –> 00:09:35,059And so you have 20 years after29600:09:35,059 –> 00:09:36,500the end of the First World War,29700:09:36,520 –> 00:09:37,599what do you get?29800:09:37,599 –> 00:09:38,900You get the Second World War,29900:09:39,799 –> 00:09:41,559You get the end of the Second30000:09:41,559 –> 00:09:42,799World War, would you get after30100:09:42,799 –> 00:09:43,140that?30200:09:43,140 –> 00:09:45,559You get 50 years of the Cold War.30300:09:47,340 –> 00:09:49,200Then, at the end of the 20th30400:09:49,200 –> 00:09:50,580century, we get this return of30500:09:50,580 –> 00:09:51,580super optimism.30600:09:52,700 –> 00:09:54,440The Berlin Wall comes down, the30700:09:54,440 –> 00:09:56,179collapse of communism across30800:09:56,179 –> 00:10:00,739Europe and those who were30900:10:00,739 –> 00:10:02,080reading newspapers in those31000:10:02,080 –> 00:10:03,780days, you remember how often the31100:10:03,780 –> 00:10:06,359phrase New World Order was being31200:10:06,359 –> 00:10:06,880used.31300:10:07,260 –> 00:10:08,799It’s going to be a new world31400:10:09,260 –> 00:10:12,059order and we no longer have all31500:10:12,059 –> 00:10:14,599of this tension that comes from31600:10:14,599 –> 00:10:16,559these two superpowers looking at31700:10:16,559 –> 00:10:16,940each other.31800:10:16,940 –> 00:10:17,599Now there has been, that has31900:10:17,599 –> 00:10:19,599been ended and it’s been32000:10:19,599 –> 00:10:21,880decided and one has prevailed32100:10:21,880 –> 00:10:23,880and now we’re going into the32200:10:23,880 –> 00:10:25,29921st century.32300:10:26,419 –> 00:10:28,479And 21st century, it’s gonna be32400:10:28,479 –> 00:10:29,979a new kind of an order32500:10:29,979 –> 00:10:30,419altogether.32600:10:30,419 –> 00:10:33,919We’ve got one year into the 21st32700:10:33,919 –> 00:10:34,760century, one year.32800:10:36,260 –> 00:10:37,219September the 11th.32900:10:38,919 –> 00:10:40,260And ever since then we’re being33000:10:40,260 –> 00:10:41,960told that we are now engaged in33100:10:41,960 –> 00:10:43,119a new kind of a war.33200:10:43,119 –> 00:10:44,000It’s a war on terror.33300:10:44,000 –> 00:10:45,099It’s a war that’s never been33400:10:45,099 –> 00:10:46,840fought before and has to be33500:10:46,840 –> 00:10:48,400fought anew in different ways33600:10:48,400 –> 00:10:49,440and so it goes on.33700:10:49,440 –> 00:10:51,039So what happens, you see,33800:10:51,039 –> 00:10:53,700as history rolls on is people33900:10:53,700 –> 00:10:55,599begin to see, hope deferred34000:10:55,599 –> 00:10:56,780makes the heart sick,34100:10:56,780 –> 00:10:58,140people begin to say,34200:10:58,140 –> 00:10:59,780when are we going to see34300:10:59,780 –> 00:11:02,039the kind of world we’d hoped for?34400:11:03,380 –> 00:11:04,479When are we going to see34500:11:04,479 –> 00:11:05,679the kind of world of peace and34600:11:05,679 –> 00:11:07,119joy and love that we have long34700:11:07,119 –> 00:11:08,320for in our hearts?34800:11:09,760 –> 00:11:11,359And friends, if you read and34900:11:11,359 –> 00:11:12,320believe the Bible,35000:11:12,320 –> 00:11:13,700the answer is this,35100:11:13,700 –> 00:11:15,799we ain’t going to see it here.35200:11:16,960 –> 00:11:18,299We’re not going to see it here.35300:11:20,099 –> 00:11:23,900All visions of utopia35400:11:23,900 –> 00:11:26,000are doomed to failure whether35500:11:26,000 –> 00:11:27,200they be Marxist,35600:11:27,200 –> 00:11:29,099Capitalist or Islamic State.35700:11:30,599 –> 00:11:33,479So stop indulging false hopes.35800:11:34,840 –> 00:11:36,039Stop thinking that there35900:11:36,039 –> 00:11:37,679is someone that has the key36000:11:37,679 –> 00:11:39,619to the problem of the human heart.36100:11:40,520 –> 00:11:41,679And there’s only one who has36200:11:41,679 –> 00:11:42,359that key.36300:11:43,760 –> 00:11:45,320And that is Jesus Christ.36400:11:45,799 –> 00:11:47,179You’re listening to open the Bible36500:11:47,179 –> 00:11:48,400with Pastor Colin Smith36600:11:48,400 –> 00:11:49,520and a message called36700:11:49,520 –> 00:11:52,159overcoming evil with steadiness.36800:11:52,159 –> 00:11:53,559It’s part of our series36900:11:53,559 –> 00:11:55,159simply called overcoming evil.37000:11:55,159 –> 00:11:57,159And if you ever miss one of the series37100:11:57,159 –> 00:11:58,479or if you want to go back37200:11:58,479 –> 00:11:59,280and listen again,37300:11:59,280 –> 00:12:00,919you can do that by coming online37400:12:00,919 –> 00:12:01,919to our website37500:12:04,440 –> 00:12:05,799there, you’ll find all the37600:12:05,840 –> 00:12:07,760previously broadcast messages.37700:12:08,280 –> 00:12:09,340If you’re a regular listener37800:12:09,340 –> 00:12:11,000to open the Bible,37900:12:11,000 –> 00:12:12,640you’ll know that we’re supported38000:12:12,640 –> 00:12:14,900by our listeners financially,38100:12:14,900 –> 00:12:16,000and we’re very grateful38200:12:16,000 –> 00:12:17,159for the support we get.38300:12:17,719 –> 00:12:18,760If that’s something38400:12:18,760 –> 00:12:20,280that you’re considering doing38500:12:20,280 –> 00:12:20,799this month,38600:12:20,799 –> 00:12:21,840we have an offer that38700:12:21,840 –> 00:12:23,099I hope you’ll like38800:12:23,099 –> 00:12:24,299if you’re able to set up38900:12:24,299 –> 00:12:25,559a new direct debit39000:12:25,559 –> 00:12:27,299to the work of Open the Bible39100:12:27,299 –> 00:12:28,599in the amount of five pounds39200:12:28,599 –> 00:12:29,799per month or more39300:12:29,799 –> 00:12:31,659or a one off gift of 50 pounds39400:12:31,659 –> 00:12:32,400or more.39500:12:32,400 –> 00:12:33,679We’d love to say thank you39600:12:33,679 –> 00:12:36,200by sending you three copies39700:12:36,200 –> 00:12:38,659of Pastor Colin’s devotional book,39800:12:38,679 –> 00:12:40,520Green Pastures, Steel Waters!39900:12:41,020 –> 00:12:42,020I’ll be talking to40000:12:42,020 –> 00:12:43,500Open the Bibles Amanda Cunningham40100:12:43,500 –> 00:12:44,840later in the program about that,40200:12:44,840 –> 00:12:46,280so I hope you’ll stay with us.40300:12:46,640 –> 00:12:47,960Back to the message now,40400:12:47,960 –> 00:12:48,840here’s Colin.40500:12:49,059 –> 00:12:51,539Stop indulging false hopes!40600:12:53,099 –> 00:12:54,440Stop thinking that there is40700:12:54,440 –> 00:12:55,559someone that has the40800:12:55,559 –> 00:12:56,619key to the problem40900:12:56,619 –> 00:12:57,840of the human heart!41000:12:58,820 –> 00:12:59,419There’s only one who41100:12:59,419 –> 00:13:00,599has that key.41200:13:02,020 –> 00:13:03,419And that is Jesus Christ.41300:13:03,500 –> 00:13:05,760Second, if you are going to41400:13:05,979 –> 00:13:08,059rejoice in that which is true hope,41500:13:08,080 –> 00:13:10,080not only do you have to stop41600:13:10,080 –> 00:13:11,440indulging false hopes,41700:13:11,440 –> 00:13:12,840but you have to recognize41800:13:13,179 –> 00:13:15,539short-term uncertainty.41900:13:16,239 –> 00:13:18,479Recognize short-term uncertainty.42000:13:18,659 –> 00:13:19,919Listen what God says42100:13:19,919 –> 00:13:21,799in the letter of James!42200:13:22,219 –> 00:13:26,000Come now, you who say today42300:13:26,000 –> 00:13:28,179or tomorrow we will go into42400:13:28,179 –> 00:13:29,520such and such a town42500:13:29,760 –> 00:13:31,479and spend a year there42600:13:31,559 –> 00:13:34,840and trade and make a profit.42700:13:34,840 –> 00:13:36,880Yet, you do not know42800:13:36,880 –> 00:13:40,080what tomorrow will bring.42900:13:40,760 –> 00:13:43,000Now, here is God addressing us43000:13:43,000 –> 00:13:44,380in our planning,43100:13:44,380 –> 00:13:46,979and it is good and right43200:13:46,979 –> 00:13:50,260and biblical to have plans.43300:13:50,260 –> 00:13:52,880But, here’s what the Lord43400:13:52,880 –> 00:13:54,520says to us in relation43500:13:54,520 –> 00:13:55,520to our plans,43600:13:56,799 –> 00:13:58,280You know what you say,43700:13:58,280 –> 00:13:59,739here’s what I want to do,43800:14:00,140 –> 00:14:02,479I’m going to go to this city43900:14:02,479 –> 00:14:03,679and we’re going to live here44000:14:03,679 –> 00:14:05,659and we’re going to do business there44100:14:05,659 –> 00:14:07,859and we’re going to make this deal44200:14:07,859 –> 00:14:09,280and this partnership44300:14:09,280 –> 00:14:10,359and so forth and so on,44400:14:10,359 –> 00:14:11,719I’m going to go to this college,44500:14:11,719 –> 00:14:14,700I’m going to pursue this career,44600:14:14,700 –> 00:14:15,640we’re going to marry,44700:14:15,640 –> 00:14:17,140we are going to have children,44800:14:18,799 –> 00:14:20,679we’re going to plant a church.44900:14:21,719 –> 00:14:23,500But, here’s what God says45000:14:23,500 –> 00:14:25,640into our planning,45100:14:26,500 –> 00:14:30,400remember, when you plan for the future,45200:14:30,400 –> 00:14:32,940you don’t even know if you’re going to be here.45300:14:34,039 –> 00:14:35,440Because he says next,45400:14:35,440 –> 00:14:36,880what is your life?45500:14:37,780 –> 00:14:40,059Your life is a mist, it’s a vapor,45600:14:40,059 –> 00:14:41,500it’s like steam.45700:14:42,919 –> 00:14:44,799It appears for a little time45800:14:45,799 –> 00:14:50,239and then it is gone and so,45900:14:50,239 –> 00:14:53,760the more you set your heart on your plans,46000:14:53,799 –> 00:14:56,159the more anxious you become46100:14:56,159 –> 00:14:58,799that your plans might not actually work out46200:14:58,799 –> 00:15:01,479because you know that just as a human being,46300:15:01,479 –> 00:15:04,520we all live with short-term uncertainty.46400:15:06,080 –> 00:15:08,159Everything that we hope to do in this life46500:15:08,159 –> 00:15:10,260and in this world depends on God’s grace46600:15:10,260 –> 00:15:11,799and on God’s strength,46700:15:11,799 –> 00:15:14,840therefore instead, James says,46800:15:14,840 –> 00:15:17,679you should say, if the Lord wills,46900:15:18,619 –> 00:15:22,479we will do this or we will do that.47000:15:22,520 –> 00:15:26,239So this short life that we have is so very, very uncertain.47100:15:26,239 –> 00:15:28,780God calls us to walk on a winding path47200:15:28,780 –> 00:15:31,440in which not one of us can see around the next corner47300:15:31,440 –> 00:15:33,239and what may be around the next corner for you47400:15:33,239 –> 00:15:34,520may be a great trial47500:15:34,520 –> 00:15:37,280or it may be a great and unexpected joy47600:15:38,840 –> 00:15:43,799but whatever it is, we walk by faith and not by sight47700:15:44,599 –> 00:15:45,679and so here’s the thing,47800:15:45,679 –> 00:15:48,320there isn’t a single one of us here today47900:15:48,320 –> 00:15:50,479who knows for sure what is gonna happen48000:15:50,479 –> 00:15:53,400in our lives tomorrow, let alone next week,48100:15:53,400 –> 00:15:56,080let alone next month, let alone next year.48200:15:56,080 –> 00:15:59,020We live with short-term uncertainty48300:15:59,020 –> 00:16:00,479but here’s the great thing,48400:16:01,960 –> 00:16:05,039I don’t know what will happen tomorrow48500:16:06,000 –> 00:16:07,940but as a Christian believer,48600:16:07,940 –> 00:16:12,039I know for sure what the final outcome of my life will be48700:16:12,039 –> 00:16:14,039and you see, that’s where the hope has to be,48800:16:14,039 –> 00:16:17,880not in the uncertainty of the immediate48900:16:17,960 –> 00:16:21,219but in the security of that49000:16:21,219 –> 00:16:24,159which is in the hand of Jesus Christ49100:16:24,159 –> 00:16:28,679that is already revealed and is promised to us by his grace49200:16:28,679 –> 00:16:32,580and therefore, recognizing short-term uncertainty,49300:16:32,580 –> 00:16:34,979the uncertainty of life in this world,49400:16:34,979 –> 00:16:37,880where we find our joy as Christian believers49500:16:37,880 –> 00:16:40,400is in our long-term security.49600:16:40,400 –> 00:16:42,140In other words, our blessed hope,49700:16:42,140 –> 00:16:43,760which is the appearing49800:16:43,979 –> 00:16:48,140and the glory of our God and savior, Jesus Christ.49900:16:50,780 –> 00:16:53,440Now, there’s a piece that I like50000:16:54,619 –> 00:16:57,280because it fires my imagination,50100:16:57,280 –> 00:17:01,059written by a poet and a journalist, Steve Turner,50200:17:01,059 –> 00:17:02,880and I’ll quote it in part to you.50300:17:02,880 –> 00:17:05,880I want us just to reflect on the joy50400:17:07,000 –> 00:17:10,859that lies ahead of us in the presence of the Lord.50500:17:10,979 –> 00:17:12,160Steve Turner says this.50600:17:12,160 –> 00:17:15,160In heaven, there will be no policemen50700:17:16,579 –> 00:17:19,300because there will be no crime.50800:17:19,300 –> 00:17:23,459There will be no soldiers because there will be no war.50900:17:24,680 –> 00:17:28,319There will be, think about the implications of this,51000:17:28,319 –> 00:17:31,239no doctors, no surgeons, no nurses.51100:17:34,239 –> 00:17:36,900There will be no prison warders,51200:17:36,900 –> 00:17:39,500security guards or undertakers.51300:17:40,099 –> 00:17:42,199No insurance salesmen.51400:17:42,199 –> 00:17:44,939I like that because there’s no risk, you see.51500:17:44,939 –> 00:17:47,099No judges, no watchmakers.51600:17:49,540 –> 00:17:52,199There will be time, but not the tyranny of time.51700:17:52,199 –> 00:17:53,739None of this.51800:17:53,739 –> 00:17:56,160No firefighters, evangelists.51900:17:57,959 –> 00:18:02,119No gossip columnists, I like that one.52000:18:02,119 –> 00:18:05,920No prostitutes and no ambulance drivers.52100:18:05,920 –> 00:18:09,400Because that which gave rise to each of these52200:18:10,199 –> 00:18:11,619no longer exists.52300:18:13,199 –> 00:18:14,119Who will be there?52400:18:14,119 –> 00:18:17,300Those who are redeemed in Jesus Christ52500:18:18,560 –> 00:18:22,140from every background and every profession.52600:18:23,199 –> 00:18:26,000Think with me for a few moments about the glorious hope52700:18:26,000 –> 00:18:29,859that lies ahead of us in Jesus Christ.52800:18:29,859 –> 00:18:32,060In heaven sin will be no more,52900:18:32,060 –> 00:18:33,520it will no longer be in you,53000:18:33,520 –> 00:18:35,459it will no longer be around you.53100:18:35,479 –> 00:18:38,560Never again will you ever grieve your savior.53200:18:40,239 –> 00:18:41,699You will be a joy to him53300:18:41,699 –> 00:18:45,640and he will be a joy to you forever.53400:18:47,099 –> 00:18:49,780You will serve the Lord as you always in this world53500:18:49,780 –> 00:18:51,040wished you could,53600:18:52,459 –> 00:18:55,619without hindrance, without weariness,53700:18:55,619 –> 00:18:57,380without ever being discouraged.53800:18:59,540 –> 00:19:02,880You will explore the joys of the new earth53900:19:02,900 –> 00:19:05,939freed at last from the curse54000:19:05,939 –> 00:19:08,780and new earth with no floods or raging fires,54100:19:08,780 –> 00:19:11,660no storms, no earthquakes and no mudslides.54200:19:13,020 –> 00:19:15,800You will enjoy the blessings of life in a world54300:19:15,800 –> 00:19:20,800where every person truly loves every other person there.54400:19:21,520 –> 00:19:26,420So no violence, no hatred and no fear.54500:19:27,619 –> 00:19:31,319And you will enjoy this life in a resurrection body54600:19:31,319 –> 00:19:36,219in which no dark cloud of depression54700:19:36,219 –> 00:19:39,420can ever cast its shadow over you.54800:19:39,420 –> 00:19:41,359I know there are many in the congregation54900:19:41,359 –> 00:19:44,400who will say amen to that, bring it on oh Lord.55000:19:45,719 –> 00:19:48,300And no strong pool of temptation55100:19:48,300 –> 00:19:50,280can ever rise from within you.55200:19:51,760 –> 00:19:56,160And no sharp anguish of pain will ever torment you.55300:19:57,160 –> 00:20:01,280You will be at home in this body.55400:20:01,280 –> 00:20:04,180In a way perhaps that you never felt completely55500:20:04,180 –> 00:20:06,339at home in the body that you have right now.55600:20:07,319 –> 00:20:11,040Right now the scripture says we groan inwardly55700:20:11,040 –> 00:20:14,640as we wait for the redemption of our bodies.55800:20:14,640 –> 00:20:16,640Why does he say that because there are things55900:20:16,640 –> 00:20:18,540that arise from life in the body56000:20:18,540 –> 00:20:23,359that often causes distress but no longer then.56100:20:24,260 –> 00:20:26,060And says Paul it is in this hope,56200:20:26,060 –> 00:20:28,459the redemption of the body that we are saved.56300:20:29,900 –> 00:20:33,880When you are in heaven, old regrets that have haunted you56400:20:33,880 –> 00:20:35,420will be gone forever.56500:20:36,359 –> 00:20:38,280Old battles that have plagued you56600:20:38,280 –> 00:20:41,719will never ever be fought again.56700:20:41,719 –> 00:20:42,800There will be no death.56800:20:42,800 –> 00:20:43,839There will be no mourning.56900:20:43,839 –> 00:20:46,219There will be no crying and there will be no pain57000:20:46,219 –> 00:20:50,760and God himself will wipe away every tear from your eyes57100:20:50,760 –> 00:20:55,760and then you will see the King in his beauty.57200:20:58,040 –> 00:21:00,699You will behold his face57300:21:02,119 –> 00:21:04,839and you will enter into the pleasures57400:21:04,839 –> 00:21:09,260that are at his right hand forever more.57500:21:10,900 –> 00:21:12,780Now says the apostle to believers57600:21:12,780 –> 00:21:14,959who shortly would face some very difficult times.57700:21:14,959 –> 00:21:18,540You rejoice in hope.57800:21:18,540 –> 00:21:19,719It’s how you persevere.57900:21:20,760 –> 00:21:23,000Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible58000:21:23,000 –> 00:21:26,640with the message overcoming evil with steadiness.58100:21:26,640 –> 00:21:29,239It’s part of our series Overcoming Evil58200:21:29,239 –> 00:21:31,959and it’s based on Romans chapter 12.58300:21:31,959 –> 00:21:35,579So I hope you’re getting a lot from this series with us.58400:21:35,579 –> 00:21:38,619Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the messages58500:21:38,619 –> 00:21:41,579in the series or if you want to go back and listen again,58600:21:41,579 –> 00:21:44,079you can do that by coming online to our website,58700:21:44,079 –> 00:21:48,619openthebible.org.uk, or find us as a podcast58800:21:48,619 –> 00:21:50,500and those are on all the main podcast sites58900:21:50,780 –> 00:21:52,680search for Open the Bible UK59000:21:52,680 –> 00:21:56,680and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.59100:21:56,680 –> 00:22:00,540You can also find links to the podcast on our website.59200:22:00,540 –> 00:22:01,680Also on our website,59300:22:01,680 –> 00:22:05,560you’ll find our Bible study course, Fly Through the Bible.59400:22:05,560 –> 00:22:08,319This short simple journey through the Bible story59500:22:08,319 –> 00:22:12,119can be enjoyed on your own with a friend or as a group.59600:22:12,119 –> 00:22:14,000For each of the 15 sessions,59700:22:14,000 –> 00:22:15,979you can watch a short video59800:22:15,979 –> 00:22:18,199then work through the questions.59900:22:18,199 –> 00:22:20,640If you want to do a more detailed Bible study,60000:22:20,640 –> 00:22:23,640a guide is available for you to use in small groups60100:22:23,640 –> 00:22:25,420or one-to-one.60200:22:25,420 –> 00:22:27,339To make the most of Fly Through the Bible,60300:22:27,339 –> 00:22:29,579we recommend buying the book.60400:22:29,579 –> 00:22:31,060There is also a free app60500:22:31,060 –> 00:22:33,900that can be used alongside all the materials.60600:22:33,900 –> 00:22:35,819To find Fly Through the Bible,60700:22:35,819 –> 00:22:39,680go to our website, openthebible.org.uk60800:22:39,680 –> 00:22:42,140and click on Courses.60900:22:42,140 –> 00:22:43,180As I mentioned earlier,61000:22:43,180 –> 00:22:46,359Open the Bible is supported by our listeners61100:22:46,400 –> 00:22:47,239and this month,61200:22:47,239 –> 00:22:49,880if you’re able to begin a new direct debit61300:22:49,880 –> 00:22:51,439to the work of Open the Bible61400:22:51,439 –> 00:22:54,180in the amount of 5 pounds per month or more61500:22:54,180 –> 00:22:56,959or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,61600:22:56,959 –> 00:22:59,420we’d love to send you three copies61700:22:59,420 –> 00:23:01,920of Pastor Collins’ devotional book61800:23:01,920 –> 00:23:04,400Green Pastures, Still Waters.61900:23:04,400 –> 00:23:06,760It’s based on Psalm 2362000:23:06,760 –> 00:23:09,560and I asked Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham62100:23:09,560 –> 00:23:12,140how we might be blessed by reading this book.62200:23:12,140 –> 00:23:13,359Thanks, David.62300:23:13,359 –> 00:23:15,400As I’m sure our listeners would agree,62400:23:15,439 –> 00:23:18,619the cold, dark days of January and February62500:23:18,619 –> 00:23:22,020can often feel like a hard slog.62600:23:22,020 –> 00:23:24,739And if you are already facing struggles in your life,62700:23:24,739 –> 00:23:27,140then it can be particularly hard.62800:23:27,140 –> 00:23:30,199That’s why we hope that our February book offer,62900:23:30,199 –> 00:23:33,540Green Pastures, Still Waters by Colin Smith63000:23:33,540 –> 00:23:36,020will be a real encouragement to you.63100:23:36,020 –> 00:23:39,660The 31-day devotion in Psalm 2363200:23:39,660 –> 00:23:42,219reminds us that we don’t have to navigate63300:23:42,219 –> 00:23:44,420dark valleys on our own.63400:23:44,420 –> 00:23:47,459There is a good shepherd who is ready to lead us,63500:23:47,459 –> 00:23:50,739protect us, and walk with us.63600:23:50,739 –> 00:23:51,579And actually David,63700:23:51,579 –> 00:23:53,900we’re giving away three copies of the book.63800:23:53,900 –> 00:23:56,260So do be praying about whether there is someone63900:23:56,260 –> 00:23:57,839that you could give a copy to64000:23:57,839 –> 00:24:00,880who might also need that encouragement.64100:24:00,880 –> 00:24:03,060Indeed if you find the book helpful,64200:24:03,060 –> 00:24:05,400why not get in touch and let me know?64300:24:05,400 –> 00:24:07,260I would love to hear from you.64400:24:07,260 –> 00:24:12,119You can contact me at hello at open thebible.org.uk.64500:24:12,920 –> 00:24:17,099If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching64600:24:17,099 –> 00:24:19,020and you’d like to reach out to us,64700:24:19,020 –> 00:24:21,880you can write to us at open the bible64800:24:21,880 –> 00:24:26,780p.o. box 1420 Cheltenham GL50 NINE PG.64900:24:28,619 –> 00:24:33,619That’s open the bible p.o. box 1420 Cheltenham GL50 NINE PG.65000:24:36,939 –> 00:24:39,060Our address and telephone number65100:24:39,099 –> 00:24:42,199and email address are available on our website65200:24:42,199 –> 00:24:45,260openthebible.org.uk.65300:24:45,260 –> 00:24:47,199So, three copies of that book,65400:24:47,199 –> 00:24:50,780”Green Pastures Still Waters” by Pastor Colin Smith65500:24:50,780 –> 00:24:53,339are our gifts to you if you’re able to set up65600:24:53,339 –> 00:24:56,000a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible65700:24:56,000 –> 00:24:58,819in the amount of £5 per month or more65800:24:58,819 –> 00:25:01,920or a one-off gift of £50 or more.65900:25:01,920 –> 00:25:05,239Full details, terms and conditions are on our website.66000:25:05,599 –> 00:25:08,260That’s at opennessbible.org.uk.66100:25:09,479 –> 00:25:12,020For Open the Bible, and for Pastor Colin Smith,66200:25:12,020 –> 00:25:13,359I’m David Pick,66300:25:13,359 –> 00:25:16,359and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time.66400:25:20,099 –> 00:25:22,079What does God expect of us66500:25:22,079 –> 00:25:26,239when we feel utterly and unbearably crushed?66600:25:26,239 –> 00:25:28,959Find out next time on Open The Bible.