100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:10,660In an unfaithful Church friends the pure silver of God’s Word that ought always200:00:10,660 –> 00:00:15,980to be at the very center of the life of God’s people is traded for pragmatism300:00:15,980 –> 00:00:23,100and the fine wine of the gospel on which we live gets diluted with the water of400:00:23,100 –> 00:00:29,120affirmation and of self-help. And leaders who may once have had a passion for500:00:29,120 –> 00:00:35,919knowing God end up being driven by the latest books on sociology and business600:00:35,919 –> 00:00:41,700management rather than the Bible. Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin700:00:41,700 –> 00:00:45,759Smiths I’m David Pick glad you could be with us today and Colin why do you think800:00:45,759 –> 00:00:50,580these books on self-help and leadership and management are so popular today?900:00:50,820 –> 00:00:54,720Yeah and there’s always going to be a market for it because by nature we love1000:00:54,720 –> 00:00:58,439ourselves more than we love God we’re more interested in ourselves than we are1100:00:58,540 –> 00:01:02,520in God and so Satan’s original temptation you shall take the place of1200:01:02,520 –> 00:01:07,919God and so the great emphasis is on what’s here for me but the problem is1300:01:07,919 –> 00:01:12,580that’s not Christianity that’s not what you find in the Bible God is God and1400:01:12,580 –> 00:01:13,519we’re not.1500:01:13,519 –> 00:01:16,059As you said a moment ago it’s the Word of God that1600:01:16,059 –> 00:01:21,000should be right at the centre of every church why is that so significant?1700:01:21,000 –> 00:01:24,839Well I think when the Word of God is at the centre of the church the Bible gets1800:01:25,639 –> 00:01:29,639not simply as a source book for ideas that appeal to us it’s very easy to have1900:01:29,639 –> 00:01:32,480the Bible and say hey I like this bid I like that bid and the other will be2000:01:32,480 –> 00:01:37,559inspiring as well but rather to allow the Bible to be over us the Bible2100:01:37,559 –> 00:01:43,419critiques me the Bible guides, teaches, corrects, rebukes, exhorts, encourages2200:01:43,419 –> 00:01:48,279that’s why it’s given it is the Word of God so I gotta place myself under it I2300:01:48,279 –> 00:01:52,800have to do that as a preacher and we have to do that as hearers of the Word2400:01:52,919 –> 00:01:59,339we need more churches where the Bible has the central and authoritative2500:01:59,339 –> 00:02:02,860place and the only way to get there is if there are more Christian believers2600:02:02,860 –> 00:02:07,239who actually want that to be the case well that’s what’s in today’s broadcast2700:02:07,239 –> 00:02:11,679so join us if you can in Isaiah chapter 1 as we begin the message2800:02:11,679 –> 00:02:15,199Restoration. Here’s Colin…2900:02:23,759 –> 00:02:29,479The city, of course, is a reference here to the community of God’s people and3000:02:29,479 –> 00:02:33,279when God speaks about the city it’s very clear that He’s speaking about something3100:02:33,279 –> 00:02:38,679that’s more than individual more than personal. We live in an individualistic3200:02:38,679 –> 00:02:44,619culture and so it is very natural for us instinctively to understand the Bible3300:02:44,619 –> 00:02:49,220in terms of God speaking to us in a personal or individual way we think of3400:02:49,220 –> 00:02:54,100the Bible as God speaking to me but you don’t need to read the Bible very long3500:02:54,100 –> 00:02:58,960before you come to see that God is often speaking to us he’s speaking to his3600:02:58,960 –> 00:03:03,300people as a community he’s speaking to the body of his own3700:03:03,300 –> 00:03:08,339people the great mission of God in the Bible, of course, is to gather a people3800:03:08,339 –> 00:03:13,220for himself that company is going to be gathered from every tribe and from every3900:03:13,220 –> 00:03:18,960language and from every nation and God had this in view from the beginning he4000:03:19,059 –> 00:03:23,360began you remember with one man the man’s name was Abraham and God said to4100:03:23,360 –> 00:03:29,720him I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and in your4200:03:29,720 –> 00:03:37,360offspring, singular, all the nation’s of the earth shall be blessed in the4300:03:37,360 –> 00:03:41,880offspring of Abraham this is how God is going to gather a people to himself and4400:03:41,880 –> 00:03:44,960that is why because it’s through the offspring of Abraham4500:03:45,160 –> 00:03:50,320The entire Old Testament story focuses around God’s dealings with4600:03:50,339 –> 00:03:55,880the people of Israel. God made a covenant with them4700:03:55,880 –> 00:04:02,600God said now I will be your God and you will be my people these were the people4800:04:02,600 –> 00:04:07,279through whom God would bring blessing into the world and the entire Old4900:04:07,279 –> 00:04:11,339Testament follows that story you need to know that as you begin perhaps for the5000:04:11,339 –> 00:04:16,179first time to be reading the Bible that’s why Isaiah later describes Israel5100:04:16,179 –> 00:04:21,660as God’s servants. Why, because it would be through them that the purpose of God5200:04:21,660 –> 00:04:27,899was that his at work would get done. But as you read through the Bible’s story it5300:04:27,899 –> 00:04:34,480very quickly becomes obvious that God’s people cannot fulfill their calling that5400:04:34,480 –> 00:04:38,940however much they are blessed as we’re seeing in Isaiah chapter 1 the impulse5500:04:39,559 –> 00:04:45,160remains within them and therefore they cannot be the means of bringing God’s5600:04:45,160 –> 00:04:49,140blessing into the world. Therefore, the entire Old Testament5700:04:49,140 –> 00:04:55,079story demonstrates for us beyond question that none of us has the5800:04:55,079 –> 00:05:00,480capacity to do what God requires. And therefore we are brought to the position5900:05:00,480 –> 00:05:05,619of understanding that we need God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.6000:05:05,700 –> 00:05:12,160We need God to put in us what we do not have in ourselves. In other words, the6100:05:12,160 –> 00:05:17,399whole point of the Old Testament story is that it demonstrates how much we6200:05:17,399 –> 00:05:22,059need a Redeemer. And therefore, throughout the Old Testament, what you6300:05:22,059 –> 00:05:26,799find is that faithful and believing people are looking forward to this6400:05:26,799 –> 00:05:31,279promised Redeemer and putting their hope in Him. We need someone who can come6500:05:31,279 –> 00:05:35,380and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, someone to put into us what we6600:05:35,420 –> 00:05:40,540do not have in ourselves. He’ll come. We’re looking for Him. He’s our hope.6700:05:40,739 –> 00:05:44,420And that’s why ever since the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who marvelously6800:05:44,420 –> 00:05:49,420fulfills all the promise of the Old Testament, that believing and faithful6900:05:49,420 –> 00:05:53,660people look back to the Lord Jesus Christ and all that He has accomplished7000:05:53,660 –> 00:05:58,980and see that all our hope is in Him. So Jesus Christ, the centerpiece of all7100:05:59,179 –> 00:06:05,179history, is the hope of Israel, and He is the hope and the joy of the Church.7200:06:05,820 –> 00:06:11,820And so these verses, at the end of Isaiah, in chapter one, are addressed to7300:06:11,820 –> 00:06:17,859the community of God’s people. And so I want to apply what we learn from these7400:06:17,859 –> 00:06:19,380verses today7500:06:19,380 –> 00:06:23,220to the Church, and that is why our series is called7600:06:23,359 –> 00:06:29,940180 How God Changes His People And His Church.7700:06:31,320 –> 00:06:36,959Now we begin at verse 21 with a shocking statement,7800:06:36,959 –> 00:06:46,519the faithful city that is the community of God’s people, the Faithful City has7900:06:46,519 –> 00:06:56,839become a whore—that is, has traded what is sacred. I want to give you from these8000:06:56,839 –> 00:07:06,279verses, very simply, a profile of an unfaithful Church. What is an unfaithful8100:07:06,279 –> 00:07:14,239Church like? Three descriptions directly from these verses. Number 1, an8200:07:14,239 –> 00:07:20,399unfaithful Church may have an attractive appearance that masks a disappointing8300:07:20,399 –> 00:07:29,720reality. An attractive appearance that masks a disappointing reality. Notice8400:07:29,720 –> 00:07:43,119verse 22. Your silver has become dross, your best wine, mixed with water. Now what8500:07:43,160 –> 00:07:51,440is dross? Dross is the scum that rises to the surface when silver is refined and8600:07:51,440 –> 00:07:59,679when the dross dries, it forms a kind of rough metal that is silverish in color8700:07:59,679 –> 00:08:07,239but of course is completely worthless. It is a base metal. And what God says here8800:08:07,239 –> 00:08:16,679is that your silver has become dross. That means what is of great value has8900:08:16,679 –> 00:08:25,640been changed in its very nature into something completely worthless. Then God9000:08:25,640 –> 00:08:32,719uses a second picture. Your best wine is mixed with water. Now think about that9100:08:32,719 –> 00:08:39,479picture. The wine, that is, mixed with water still has the colour of wine, but9200:08:39,479 –> 00:08:46,619what is it lost? It loses its taste and it loses its potency. So in both of9300:08:46,619 –> 00:08:50,940these pictures what you have is something that looks like the real9400:08:50,940 –> 00:08:59,400thing, but on closer inspection proves to be very disappointing. Now think about9500:08:59,400 –> 00:09:03,400what we’ve learned already from Isaiah chapter 1. We saw last week that if you9600:09:03,400 –> 00:09:10,239had visited the temple in the time of Isaiah you would have seen huge crowds9700:09:10,239 –> 00:09:16,799trampling the courts, you would have seen multiple sacrifices. More even than were9800:09:16,799 –> 00:09:20,979required in the Old Testament law being made. You would have experienced if you9900:09:20,979 –> 00:09:25,099could have been transported back in time to the temple in the day of Isaiah you10000:09:25,099 –> 00:09:29,700would have experienced a relentless schedule of feasts and festivals and10100:09:29,700 –> 00:09:35,820convocations and we would say today conferences and all the rest of it.10200:09:35,820 –> 00:09:39,260At first sight when you landed there in the temple courts it would all look very10300:09:39,260 –> 00:09:43,159impressive to you. But what looked like silver was actually10400:09:44,000 –> 00:09:56,159and what looked like fine wine was mixed with water. The silver that is trusted to10500:09:56,159 –> 00:10:01,239the People of God, the precious silver that is ours, what is it? Psalm 12 in10600:10:01,239 –> 00:10:09,159verse 6.10700:10:09,159 –> 00:10:18,200Refined in a furnace and purified seven times. That’s Psalm 12 and verse 6. The10800:10:18,200 –> 00:10:24,919words of the Lord are the pure silver refined seven times, trusted to the10900:10:24,919 –> 00:10:32,080church, trusted to the People of God. What is the new wine? Remember what Jesus11000:10:32,080 –> 00:10:35,960says when he comes into the world? He speaks about new wine, new wine11100:10:36,059 –> 00:10:41,239skins! Matthew chapter 9 and verse 17, the great trust that is given to the11200:10:41,239 –> 00:10:47,820church, the silver of God’s Word, the new wine of the gospel. This is the sacred11300:10:47,820 –> 00:10:55,260deposit that is given to the people of God. But you see what happens in an11400:10:55,260 –> 00:11:03,119unfaithful church? The silver gets turned to dross and the wine gets mixed with11500:11:03,179 –> 00:11:10,359water so that when you experience the unfaithful Church your first impressions11600:11:10,359 –> 00:11:15,000may be very positive but then over time you begin to see the center of11700:11:15,000 –> 00:11:19,760gravity here is really not about knowing God or being reconciled to God11800:11:19,760 –> 00:11:23,780through the blood of Christ or learning to live for his glory irrespective of11900:11:23,780 –> 00:11:27,760the cost. It’s been replaced by something else. It’s about how12000:11:27,820 –> 00:11:35,919to do life. It’s about becoming all that you can be and somehow in the middle of12100:11:35,919 –> 00:11:40,679all of that, though there are traces of silver in the dross, though there’s still12200:11:40,679 –> 00:11:45,520some wine mixed in with the water. Somehow, the thing of supreme value has12300:11:45,520 –> 00:11:52,440been lost. That’s what is described in the New Testament in this way that you12400:11:52,640 –> 00:11:59,719end up with something that has a form of godliness, but there’s no life-changing12500:11:59,719 –> 00:12:10,880power at the center of it. In an unfaithful church, friends, the pure12600:12:10,880 –> 00:12:15,960silver of God’s Word that ought always to be at the very center of the life of12700:12:16,479 –> 00:12:23,340people is traded for pragmatism, and the fine wine of the gospel on which we live12800:12:23,340 –> 00:12:30,719gets diluted with the water of affirmation and of self-help, and leaders12900:12:30,719 –> 00:12:36,080who may once have had a passion for knowing God end up being driven by the13000:12:36,080 –> 00:12:43,000latest books on sociology and business management, rather than the Bible, and13100:12:43,419 –> 00:12:49,359it’s all here. The way in which the people of God, the once-faithful city,13200:12:49,359 –> 00:12:57,679lose their calling. And it can look very impressive, but when you taste the13300:12:57,679 –> 00:13:04,099reality, and discover its true value, it proves to be disappointing13400:13:04,099 –> 00:13:08,760You’re listening to Open the Bible, with pastor Colin Smith, and a13500:13:08,799 –> 00:13:14,000message called Restoration, today looking at the profile of an unfaithful Church13600:13:14,000 –> 00:13:18,260We’ll pause the message right there, but we’ll be back very shortly, so I hope13700:13:18,260 –> 00:13:23,400you’ll stay with us. The message is part of a series called 180, How God Changes His13800:13:23,400 –> 00:13:27,200People and His Church, and if you ever miss one of the series you can always13900:13:27,200 –> 00:13:31,080catch up, or go back and listen again, online at14000:13:34,580 –> 00:13:37,099Back to the message now, we’re in Isaiah chapter 1,14100:13:37,440 –> 00:13:38,479Here’s Colin14200:13:38,479 –> 00:13:40,479Second mark of an unfaithful Church14300:13:41,599 –> 00:13:44,820A what’s-in-it-for-me culture14400:13:44,820 –> 00:13:46,820Does that sound familiar, by the way?14500:13:46,820 –> 00:13:48,820A what’s-in-it-for-me culture14600:13:48,820 –> 00:13:50,820Look at verse 2314700:13:50,820 –> 00:13:55,559your princes are rebels and companions of thieves14800:13:55,559 –> 00:14:01,760everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts14900:14:02,340 –> 00:14:04,340Now a bribe, of course15000:14:04,340 –> 00:14:06,340is a pay-off that a person asks for15100:14:06,340 –> 00:14:09,380before doing something that is their duty anyway15200:14:10,380 –> 00:14:13,020And that’s why I call it a what’s-in-it-for-me culture15300:14:13,020 –> 00:14:15,020that’s what this is15400:14:15,159 –> 00:14:20,239The princes here are, of course, government officials15500:14:20,239 –> 00:14:22,539people who should have the public trust15600:14:22,539 –> 00:14:24,539and you know what this is like15700:14:24,539 –> 00:14:26,539Thankfully we are protected from it in very large measure15800:14:27,679 –> 00:14:29,679in our country, though we are not without it15900:14:29,700 –> 00:14:31,700Over taken over, evidently, as a culture16000:14:31,700 –> 00:14:33,260You go to an official16100:14:33,260 –> 00:14:35,260You need a permit for something16200:14:35,260 –> 00:14:37,260oh yes, we can fix that16300:14:37,260 –> 00:14:39,260but what are you going to do for me first and so forth16400:14:41,260 –> 00:14:43,260Now the astonishing thing is16500:14:43,260 –> 00:14:45,260this description is made off16600:14:45,260 –> 00:14:47,260the people of God16700:14:47,260 –> 00:14:49,260and notice the word everyone16800:14:49,260 –> 00:14:51,260in verse 2316900:14:51,260 –> 00:14:53,260everyone was doing this17000:14:53,260 –> 00:14:55,260this has just become the prevailing question17100:14:55,260 –> 00:14:57,260the primary question among God’s people17200:14:57,260 –> 00:14:59,260was not how can we honour God17300:14:59,340 –> 00:15:01,340the primary question had become17400:15:01,340 –> 00:15:03,340what’s in it for me17500:15:03,340 –> 00:15:05,340and that spirit of course17600:15:05,340 –> 00:15:07,340is all around us17700:15:07,340 –> 00:15:09,340but if it settles17800:15:09,340 –> 00:15:11,340in the mind and in the17900:15:11,340 –> 00:15:13,340hearts of God’s own people18000:15:13,340 –> 00:15:15,340the church will soon become faithless18100:15:15,340 –> 00:15:17,340everybody looking for18200:15:17,340 –> 00:15:19,340how can i get what i want around here18300:15:19,340 –> 00:15:21,340what’s in it18400:15:21,340 –> 00:15:22,559for me18500:15:22,559 –> 00:15:24,559Third mark18600:15:24,559 –> 00:15:26,559of an unfaithful church18700:15:26,559 –> 00:15:28,559insulation from immediate18800:15:28,559 –> 00:15:30,559needs notice this verse 2318900:15:30,559 –> 00:15:32,559they do not bring19000:15:32,559 –> 00:15:34,559justice to the fatherless19100:15:34,559 –> 00:15:36,559and the widows cause19200:15:36,559 –> 00:15:38,559does not come to19300:15:38,559 –> 00:15:40,559them19400:15:40,559 –> 00:15:42,559well of course why would the19500:15:42,559 –> 00:15:44,559widow ever bring her cause to people that are only interested19600:15:44,559 –> 00:15:46,559in themselves19700:15:46,559 –> 00:15:48,559she’s not going to get anything from them19800:15:48,559 –> 00:15:50,559so she doesn’t even come19900:15:50,559 –> 00:15:52,559and20000:15:52,559 –> 00:15:54,559here is this20100:15:54,559 –> 00:15:56,559shocking20200:15:56,559 –> 00:15:58,559picture of20300:15:58,559 –> 00:16:00,559the once faithful people of20400:16:00,559 –> 00:16:02,559God and what they’ve become and what they’ve20500:16:02,559 –> 00:16:04,559lost and how silver’s been turned20600:16:04,559 –> 00:16:06,559to dross20700:16:06,559 –> 00:16:08,559and how easily this can20800:16:08,559 –> 00:16:10,559happen that what is attractive20900:16:10,559 –> 00:16:12,559in appearance ends up being profoundly21000:16:12,559 –> 00:16:14,559disappointing in reality as21100:16:14,559 –> 00:16:16,559a whats in it for me culture21200:16:16,559 –> 00:16:18,559takes over and increasingly21300:16:18,559 –> 00:16:20,559the people of God become21400:16:20,559 –> 00:16:22,559insulated from the immediate21500:16:22,559 –> 00:16:24,559needs that are21600:16:24,559 –> 00:16:26,559by them21700:16:26,559 –> 00:16:28,559now again the astonishing21800:16:28,559 –> 00:16:30,559thing here is that Isaiah21900:16:30,559 –> 00:16:32,559is not speaking about the world22000:16:32,559 –> 00:16:34,559he’s not speaking about the unbelief22100:16:34,559 –> 00:16:36,559in nations he’s speaking22200:16:36,559 –> 00:16:38,559about the community of God’s22300:16:38,559 –> 00:16:40,559people22400:16:40,559 –> 00:16:42,559Jerusalem had been22500:16:42,559 –> 00:16:44,559the faithful city22600:16:44,559 –> 00:16:46,559it was the city22700:16:46,559 –> 00:16:48,559where God had put his name22800:16:48,559 –> 00:16:50,559Jerusalem22900:16:50,559 –> 00:16:52,559was the city of God that once23000:16:52,559 –> 00:16:54,55921 had been full of23100:16:54,559 –> 00:16:56,559justice23200:16:56,559 –> 00:16:58,559it was the city remember23300:16:58,559 –> 00:17:00,559when the smoke of God’s23400:17:00,559 –> 00:17:02,559temple came down23500:17:02,559 –> 00:17:04,560indicating the23600:17:04,560 –> 00:17:06,560presence of God among his people23700:17:06,560 –> 00:17:08,560in that city23800:17:08,560 –> 00:17:10,560and all the promise23900:17:10,560 –> 00:17:12,560of fellowship with God24000:17:12,560 –> 00:17:14,560and communion between God and his people24100:17:14,560 –> 00:17:16,560that was represented in that24200:17:16,560 –> 00:17:18,560that happened in the once faithful city24300:17:18,560 –> 00:17:20,560and now24400:17:20,560 –> 00:17:22,560Isaiah is coming and he’s saying24500:17:22,560 –> 00:17:24,400look what has happened24600:17:24,560 –> 00:17:26,560the faithful city24700:17:26,560 –> 00:17:28,560has become a whore24800:17:28,560 –> 00:17:30,560murderers have taken24900:17:30,560 –> 00:17:32,560the place of the righteous25000:17:34,560 –> 00:17:36,560and you read this and you say25100:17:36,560 –> 00:17:38,560I can see25200:17:38,560 –> 00:17:40,560this might happen in the unbelieving world25300:17:40,560 –> 00:17:42,560How can this happen amongst these people?25400:17:44,560 –> 00:17:46,560Among the people of God?!25500:17:46,560 –> 00:17:48,560Here is something25600:17:48,560 –> 00:17:50,560here is something25700:17:50,560 –> 00:17:52,560really important25800:17:52,560 –> 00:17:54,560that I want us all to25900:17:54,560 –> 00:17:56,560grasp today. You’re going to need it26000:17:56,560 –> 00:17:58,560to live in this world26100:18:00,560 –> 00:18:02,560Those who have been26200:18:02,560 –> 00:18:04,560most blessed by God26300:18:04,560 –> 00:18:06,560often become26400:18:06,560 –> 00:18:08,560the worst26500:18:08,560 –> 00:18:10,560if they rebel against Him26600:18:10,560 –> 00:18:12,560you have to understand26700:18:12,560 –> 00:18:14,560that principle26800:18:14,560 –> 00:18:16,560Those who are26900:18:16,560 –> 00:18:18,560most blessed by God27000:18:18,560 –> 00:18:20,560often become27100:18:20,560 –> 00:18:22,560the worst27200:18:22,560 –> 00:18:24,560if they27300:18:24,560 –> 00:18:26,560should choose27400:18:26,560 –> 00:18:28,560to rebel against Him27500:18:28,560 –> 00:18:30,560Too27600:18:30,560 –> 00:18:32,560often27700:18:32,560 –> 00:18:34,560we have had to27800:18:34,560 –> 00:18:36,560endure the pain27900:18:36,560 –> 00:18:38,560of hearing about leaders28000:18:38,560 –> 00:18:40,560of the church28100:18:40,560 –> 00:18:42,560who have fallen into28200:18:42,560 –> 00:18:44,560gross sin28300:18:46,560 –> 00:18:48,560and you may wonder28400:18:48,560 –> 00:18:50,560How in the world28500:18:50,560 –> 00:18:52,560is it possible28600:18:52,560 –> 00:18:54,560for someone28700:18:54,560 –> 00:18:56,560in ministry28800:18:56,560 –> 00:18:58,560to get to a place28900:18:58,560 –> 00:19:00,560of doing things29000:19:00,560 –> 00:19:02,560that are worse29100:19:02,560 –> 00:19:04,560than you would commonly find29200:19:04,560 –> 00:19:06,560even among people who do not believe29300:19:08,560 –> 00:19:10,560Your mind reels29400:19:10,560 –> 00:19:12,560And you say29500:19:12,560 –> 00:19:14,560How can this possibly be?29600:19:14,560 –> 00:19:16,560And I’m saying to you today29700:19:16,560 –> 00:19:18,560This is what you need to grasp29800:19:18,560 –> 00:19:22,560This is what I need to settle in my mind29900:19:22,560 –> 00:19:24,560That those who have been30000:19:24,560 –> 00:19:26,560most blessed by God30100:19:28,560 –> 00:19:30,560often become the worst of all30200:19:30,560 –> 00:19:32,560worse than unbelievers30300:19:34,560 –> 00:19:36,560if they rebel against Him30400:19:36,560 –> 00:19:38,560Him30500:19:38,560 –> 00:19:40,560Now there are multiple examples of this30600:19:40,560 –> 00:19:42,560in the Bible30700:19:42,560 –> 00:19:44,560think of the sons of Eli30800:19:46,560 –> 00:19:48,560Remember Eli was a priest in the Old Testament30900:19:48,560 –> 00:19:50,560He gave himself to the Service of God31000:19:50,560 –> 00:19:52,560you can read his story in the early chapters31100:19:52,560 –> 00:19:54,560of the First Samuel31200:19:56,560 –> 00:19:58,560And Eli had two sons and their names31300:19:58,560 –> 00:20:00,560were Hophne and Phineas31400:20:00,560 –> 00:20:02,560They also were raised, and they also became31500:20:02,560 –> 00:20:04,560priests. And so31600:20:04,560 –> 00:20:06,560there are two boys31700:20:06,560 –> 00:20:08,560who are raised31800:20:08,560 –> 00:20:10,560with the knowledge of God31900:20:12,560 –> 00:20:14,560But you read this story, make your hair stand on end32000:20:14,560 –> 00:20:16,560what they did32100:20:16,560 –> 00:20:18,560Hophne and Phineas were as32200:20:18,560 –> 00:20:20,560as bad as they came32300:20:20,560 –> 00:20:22,560They were corrupt32400:20:24,560 –> 00:20:26,560and they lived in a pattern32500:20:26,560 –> 00:20:28,560of sexual immorality32600:20:28,560 –> 00:20:30,560that was far worse32700:20:30,560 –> 00:20:32,560than you would expect32800:20:32,560 –> 00:20:34,560even among people who had no knowledge of God32900:20:36,560 –> 00:20:38,560So that Eli had to say33000:20:38,560 –> 00:20:40,560to them, why do you do such things33100:20:40,560 –> 00:20:42,560for I hear of your evil33200:20:42,560 –> 00:20:44,560dealings from all people, it was all out there33300:20:46,560 –> 00:20:48,560and you will have seen this33400:20:48,560 –> 00:20:50,560some extraordinary33500:20:50,560 –> 00:20:52,560evil is committed and when the life33600:20:52,560 –> 00:20:54,560story of the person who did it is33700:20:54,560 –> 00:20:56,560traced you hear, and the33800:20:56,560 –> 00:20:58,560news will make a great deal of it33900:20:58,560 –> 00:21:00,560that this person went to Sunday School when they were a little boy34000:21:00,560 –> 00:21:02,560or this person was actually raised by34100:21:02,560 –> 00:21:04,560Christian parents or whatever and you say34200:21:04,560 –> 00:21:06,560now how in the world when the person has done34300:21:06,560 –> 00:21:08,560some heinous thing, yet you say34400:21:08,560 –> 00:21:10,560how in the world is that possible34500:21:10,560 –> 00:21:12,560here’s how it’s possible34600:21:12,560 –> 00:21:14,560that34700:21:14,560 –> 00:21:16,560he rebelled against34800:21:16,560 –> 00:21:18,560the light that he had received34900:21:18,560 –> 00:21:20,560and35000:21:20,560 –> 00:21:22,560the force of that rebellion35100:21:22,560 –> 00:21:24,560took him to the darkest place35200:21:26,560 –> 00:21:28,560the darkest place35300:21:28,560 –> 00:21:30,560this of course is exactly what you see35400:21:30,560 –> 00:21:32,560in Judas is it not35500:21:32,560 –> 00:21:34,560think about this35600:21:34,560 –> 00:21:36,560the one who committed the darkest35700:21:36,560 –> 00:21:38,560deed of all35800:21:38,560 –> 00:21:40,560was the person35900:21:40,560 –> 00:21:42,560who had spent three years in vocational36000:21:42,560 –> 00:21:44,560ministry full time36100:21:44,560 –> 00:21:46,560the darkest deed of all36200:21:48,560 –> 00:21:50,560coming near to God36300:21:50,560 –> 00:21:52,560will either make you better or it will make36400:21:52,560 –> 00:21:54,560you worse36500:21:54,560 –> 00:21:56,560and friend36600:21:56,560 –> 00:21:58,560if you sin against36700:21:58,560 –> 00:22:00,560the light you have received36800:22:00,560 –> 00:22:02,560and go36900:22:02,560 –> 00:22:04,560on doing that37000:22:04,560 –> 00:22:06,560you dull your37100:22:06,560 –> 00:22:08,560own conscience37200:22:08,560 –> 00:22:10,560and over time37300:22:10,560 –> 00:22:14,560their darkness may37400:22:14,560 –> 00:22:16,560lead you to37500:22:16,560 –> 00:22:18,560unimaginable things37600:22:18,560 –> 00:22:20,560and you may find yourself37700:22:20,560 –> 00:22:22,560in greater darkness than many who never37800:22:22,560 –> 00:22:26,560walked with Christ37900:22:26,560 –> 00:22:31,560where there may be rebellion38000:22:31,560 –> 00:22:34,560in your heart38100:22:34,560 –> 00:22:36,560I urge you to come38200:22:36,560 –> 00:22:38,560to the cross of Jesus Christ38300:22:38,560 –> 00:22:40,560and deal with it today38400:22:40,560 –> 00:22:42,560You’ve been listening to38500:22:42,560 –> 00:22:44,560Open the Bible with Prof. Colin Smith38600:22:44,560 –> 00:22:46,560and a message called Restoration38700:22:46,560 –> 00:22:48,560Part of our series38800:22:48,560 –> 00:22:50,560180 How God Changes His People38900:22:50,560 –> 00:22:52,560The message today is all about39000:22:52,560 –> 00:22:55,560looking at the profile of an unfaithful church39100:22:55,560 –> 00:22:57,560and next time we’ll look at39200:22:57,560 –> 00:22:59,560how God restores His people39300:22:59,560 –> 00:23:01,560So I hope you’ll join us for that39400:23:01,560 –> 00:23:03,560If you ever miss one of our broadcasts39500:23:03,560 –> 00:23:05,560you can go back and39600:23:05,619 –> 00:23:07,619catch up or go back and listen again39700:23:07,619 –> 00:23:09,560online at our website39800:23:09,560 –> 00:23:12,560openthebible.org.uk39900:23:13,439 –> 00:23:15,939Open the Bible is supported by our listeners40000:23:15,939 –> 00:23:17,939and this month if you are able to40100:23:17,939 –> 00:23:19,939begin a new direct debit40200:23:19,959 –> 00:23:21,959through the work of Open the Bible40300:23:21,959 –> 00:23:23,959in the amount of £5 per month or more40400:23:23,959 –> 00:23:25,959or a one off gift of £50 or more40500:23:25,959 –> 00:23:27,959we’d love to send you40600:23:27,959 –> 00:23:29,9593 copies of Pastor Colins40700:23:29,959 –> 00:23:31,959devotional book40800:23:31,959 –> 00:23:34,280Green Pastures, Still Waters40900:23:34,280 –> 00:23:36,280It’s based on Psalm 2341000:23:36,280 –> 00:23:38,280and I asked Open the Bible’s41100:23:38,280 –> 00:23:40,280Amanda Cunningham how we might41200:23:40,280 –> 00:23:42,280be blessed by reading this book41300:23:42,280 –> 00:23:44,280Thanks David as I’m sure41400:23:44,280 –> 00:23:46,280our listeners would agree41500:23:46,280 –> 00:23:48,280the cold dark days of January and February41600:23:48,520 –> 00:23:50,520can often feel like a hard slog41700:23:51,520 –> 00:23:53,520if you are already facing41800:23:53,520 –> 00:23:55,520struggles in your life then it can be41900:23:55,520 –> 00:23:57,520particularly hard42000:23:57,520 –> 00:23:59,520that’s why we hope that our February book offer42100:24:00,520 –> 00:24:02,520Green Pastures, Still Waters42200:24:02,520 –> 00:24:04,520by Colin Smith will be a42300:24:04,520 –> 00:24:06,520real encouragement to you42400:24:06,520 –> 00:24:08,520The 31 day devotion in42500:24:08,520 –> 00:24:10,520Psalm 23 reminds us42600:24:10,520 –> 00:24:12,520that we don’t have to navigate42700:24:12,520 –> 00:24:14,520dark valleys on our own42800:24:14,520 –> 00:24:16,520There is a good shepherd who is ready42900:24:16,760 –> 00:24:18,760to lead us, protect us43000:24:18,760 –> 00:24:20,760and walk with us43100:24:20,760 –> 00:24:22,760And actually David we are giving away43200:24:22,760 –> 00:24:24,760three copies of the book43300:24:24,760 –> 00:24:26,760so do be praying about whether there is43400:24:26,760 –> 00:24:28,760someone you could give a copy to43500:24:28,760 –> 00:24:30,760who might also need that encouragement43600:24:30,760 –> 00:24:32,760Indeed if you find the book helpful43700:24:32,760 –> 00:24:34,760why not get in touch and let me know43800:24:34,760 –> 00:24:36,760I would love to hear from you43900:24:36,760 –> 00:24:38,760You can contact me at44000:24:38,760 –> 00:24:40,760hello44100:24:40,760 –> 00:24:42,760at www.openthebible.org.uk44200:24:42,760 –> 00:24:44,760So three copies44300:24:44,760 –> 00:24:46,760of that book, green pastures44400:24:46,760 –> 00:24:48,760still waters by Pastor Colin Smith44500:24:48,760 –> 00:24:50,760are our gift to you44600:24:50,760 –> 00:24:52,760If you are able to set up a new direct debit44700:24:52,760 –> 00:24:54,760to the work of Open the Bible44800:24:54,760 –> 00:24:56,760in the amount of £5 per month44900:24:56,760 –> 00:24:58,760or more, or a one off gift45000:24:58,760 –> 00:25:00,760of £50 or more45100:25:00,760 –> 00:25:02,760Full details, terms and conditions45200:25:02,760 –> 00:25:04,760are on our website that is at45300:25:04,760 –> 00:25:06,760openthebible.org.uk45400:25:06,760 –> 00:25:08,760For Open the Bible45500:25:08,760 –> 00:25:10,760and for Pastor Colin Smith45600:25:10,760 –> 00:25:12,760I am David Pick and I hope you will be able45700:25:12,760 –> 00:25:14,760to join us again next time45800:25:18,760 –> 00:25:20,760Coming nearer to God will either make45900:25:20,760 –> 00:25:22,760you better or it will make46000:25:22,760 –> 00:25:24,760you worse, find out why46100:25:24,760 –> 00:25:26,760next time on Open the Bible