100:00:00,720 –> 00:00:04,220Let us deliver us from evil.200:00:04,220 –> 00:00:07,940Guide us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.300:00:07,940 –> 00:00:15,340God answers this prayer by His grace and grace is that which is not400:00:15,340 –> 00:00:18,219deserved but freely given.500:00:18,219 –> 00:00:25,799I want you to see today that God’s grace operates in many wonderful ways.600:00:25,799 –> 00:00:28,920Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:28,920 –> 00:00:30,160I’m David Pick.800:00:30,160 –> 00:00:32,580Thanks for joining us today and Colin900:00:32,580 –> 00:00:33,980as we continue to think about the part of the Lord’s Prayer that says1000:00:33,980 –> 00:00:40,580lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil,1100:00:40,580 –> 00:00:43,860you said God answers that prayer with his grace1200:00:43,860 –> 00:00:48,299and I think sometimes we think of grace as something which only applies to believers.1300:00:48,299 –> 00:00:50,980Well, it certainly does apply to believers.1400:00:50,980 –> 00:00:52,360By grace we are saved.1500:00:52,560 –> 00:00:57,020I mean it is a wonderful theme in the Bible that God gives us what we do not deserve in1600:00:57,020 –> 00:01:01,419the Lord Jesus Christ but you know, it’s a marvelous truth too1700:01:01,419 –> 00:01:04,879that God is kind in his nature.1800:01:04,879 –> 00:01:08,419The scripture says the Lord is good to all.1900:01:08,419 –> 00:01:12,099God is gracious even to his enemies.2000:01:12,099 –> 00:01:17,919In this sense, Jesus says he makes the sun rise on the just and the unjust.2100:01:18,739 –> 00:01:28,639People who perform the worst of evil deeds and who hate God still experience his kindness2200:01:28,639 –> 00:01:33,440in the rain falling on them, in being given breath still to live.2300:01:33,440 –> 00:01:36,959I mean, God is wonderfully, wonderfully kind.2400:01:36,959 –> 00:01:43,660Now here’s the where the Bible goes with that, in Romans Paul says don’t you realize that2500:01:44,099 –> 00:01:48,300God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.2600:01:48,300 –> 00:01:53,940So, it’s valid for us as Christian believers to pray that they will be deliverance from2700:01:53,940 –> 00:02:00,019the worst of evils, even in the lives of those who do not know and love the Lord and that2800:02:00,019 –> 00:02:05,379in God’s kindness it may be the means by which they come into a new and living knowledge2900:02:05,379 –> 00:02:06,379of him.3000:02:06,379 –> 00:02:11,339Well I hope you’ll join us if you can in Matthew chapter 6 as we continue the message God’s3100:02:11,339 –> 00:02:12,820Deliverance, Here is Colin3200:02:13,179 –> 00:02:20,800What I want you to see today is that God’s grace operates in many wonderful ways.3300:02:20,800 –> 00:02:26,940I want to identify for you four ways in which God’s grace operates, four ways in which3400:02:26,940 –> 00:02:33,259God answers this last petition of the Lord’s Prayer.3500:02:33,259 –> 00:02:40,139The first of them, this is very important, is common grace.3600:02:40,139 –> 00:02:45,160When we pray, deliver us from evil, God answers this prayer through common grace.3700:02:45,160 –> 00:02:47,179You say, well, now what is that?3800:02:47,179 –> 00:02:55,839Common grace is God’s kindness to all people, including those who do not believe in him,3900:02:55,839 –> 00:03:03,679those who have no place for him in their lives and even those who outright defy him.4000:03:03,679 –> 00:03:06,440Now I wonder if you’ve ever thought about this.4100:03:06,520 –> 00:03:12,059The Bible makes it very clear that by nature, we are all dead4200:03:12,059 –> 00:03:16,580in trespasses and sins.4300:03:16,580 –> 00:03:21,639Have you ever wondered then, why is it that if we’re all dead in trespasses and sins,4400:03:21,639 –> 00:03:28,860why is it that so many unbelieving people seem able to live peaceful, happy and very4500:03:28,860 –> 00:03:31,699productive lives?4600:03:31,699 –> 00:03:36,860Why is it that many who have no place for God in their lives whatsoever are often very4700:03:36,860 –> 00:03:42,619patient, very kind, seem to have good family relationships, good marriages, be considerate,4800:03:42,619 –> 00:03:45,779generous and loving?4900:03:45,779 –> 00:03:46,860Why is that?5000:03:46,860 –> 00:03:51,699And the answer to that is common grace.5100:03:51,699 –> 00:03:58,940God’s kindness puts good gifts into the lives of all people, including those who don’t5200:03:58,940 –> 00:04:04,199believe in him, those even who may defy him.5300:04:04,199 –> 00:04:09,660Jesus says, Matthew 5, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you so that you5400:04:09,660 –> 00:04:12,179may be sons of your father who is in heaven.5500:04:12,179 –> 00:04:14,460Notice what your father in heaven does.5600:04:14,460 –> 00:04:19,559He makes his son rise on the evil and the good.5700:04:19,559 –> 00:04:24,459The best person and the worst person both experiences the same blessing of the sunshine5800:04:24,459 –> 00:04:27,299from the hand of God, and the same goes for the rain.5900:04:27,299 –> 00:04:32,260He sends rain on the just and on the unjust.6000:04:32,260 –> 00:04:39,519So every good gift comes from the hand of God, including the good that may be in the6100:04:39,519 –> 00:04:44,160lives of those who don’t believe in him, those who have no room for them, and those6200:04:44,160 –> 00:04:46,660who may even defy him.6300:04:46,660 –> 00:04:51,660The blessings of love in their lives, the blessing of family, the blessings of creative6400:04:51,760 –> 00:04:58,859genius in music, in folks who may have no place for God in their life, art, science,6500:04:58,859 –> 00:05:03,500discoveries, medicine – where does all this come from?6600:05:03,500 –> 00:05:07,519Every good gift comes from the hand of God, including the good gifts that have been put6700:05:07,519 –> 00:05:14,619into the lives of those who do not yet believe, and may never believe, and may even be defiant6800:05:14,619 –> 00:05:15,940towards God.6900:05:15,940 –> 00:05:21,040This is common grace – God’s goodness to those who don’t believe in him, those7000:05:21,040 –> 00:05:23,299who may even defy him.7100:05:23,299 –> 00:05:34,000Psalm 145 says the Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.7200:05:34,000 –> 00:05:41,640And His kindness is not only that He gives good to all, but also that He restrains the7300:05:41,640 –> 00:05:45,880worst in all.7400:05:46,059 –> 00:05:52,000However bad this world becomes, it always could be worse.7500:05:52,000 –> 00:05:57,980However evil human beings may become, we could always be worse.7600:05:57,980 –> 00:06:03,600The worst of people are not as the demons of hell.7700:06:03,600 –> 00:06:08,519And the reason that this world is not hell is very simply God’s restraining grace,7800:06:08,579 –> 00:06:15,260His common grace that not only gives the good but holds back the worst.7900:06:15,260 –> 00:06:25,500Now, when God loosens this restraint off the worst, the Bible is very clear that it is8000:06:25,500 –> 00:06:28,399a sign of His wrath.8100:06:28,399 –> 00:06:35,660Romans 1 speaks about this, that there are times when God’s wrath is revealed by his8200:06:35,660 –> 00:06:42,660giving sinners up to what we persist in choosing.8300:06:42,660 –> 00:06:46,720But the whole point there is that is God’s strange work.8400:06:46,720 –> 00:06:52,459His normal work is to restrain the worst.8500:06:52,459 –> 00:06:59,500And He does that for the common good and that is a part of His common grace.8600:06:59,500 –> 00:07:03,619Now how does God restrain the worst in the world?8700:07:04,579 –> 00:07:08,540Well there are many answers to that question, let me just give you two.8800:07:08,540 –> 00:07:14,040One, God restrains the worst through conscience.8900:07:14,040 –> 00:07:17,880Which is His gift to all.9000:07:17,880 –> 00:07:22,779And God restrains the worst through government.9100:07:22,779 –> 00:07:30,320Which Romans chapter 13 makes very clear is also His gift in this fallen world.9200:07:30,440 –> 00:07:38,440Now we all know that a conscience can be corrupted, and we know that government can be corrupted.9300:07:38,440 –> 00:07:47,279But you see any conscience and any government is better than none at all, so when we pray9400:07:47,279 –> 00:07:53,739deliver us from evil we are asking God for common grace.9500:07:53,739 –> 00:08:01,140Lord in your mercy give what is good in the community and restrain what is worst in us,9600:08:01,140 –> 00:08:05,540in our community, in our nation, and in our world.9700:08:05,540 –> 00:08:11,420Raise up people of goodwill and of great wisdom who are able to bring others together.9800:08:11,420 –> 00:08:14,540And grant that peace and justice will prevail.9900:08:14,540 –> 00:08:18,600That’s common grace.10000:08:19,279 –> 00:08:25,299God works for its advance through those who may not believe in Him and even defy Him as10100:08:25,299 –> 00:08:31,440He works for the good through those who love Him and honour Him.10200:08:31,440 –> 00:08:36,780And then secondly God answers this prayer through special grace.10300:08:36,780 –> 00:08:42,380When we pray, lead us not into temptation, God answers this prayer through special grace10400:08:42,380 –> 00:08:48,359which is His kindness when we are tested.10500:08:48,380 –> 00:08:52,239Now brothers and sisters this is a very wonderful truth.10600:08:52,239 –> 00:09:02,400God will give to you special help when you face special trials at special times.10700:09:02,400 –> 00:09:07,080And the apostle Paul speaks about this very clearly at least twice.10800:09:07,080 –> 00:09:11,900Once is in Philippians where he tells us that at different times in his life he had had10900:09:11,900 –> 00:09:18,260plenty and then there were times when he was in great need.11000:09:18,260 –> 00:09:21,179And how did he get through the times when he had great need?11100:09:21,179 –> 00:09:22,179He says this.11200:09:22,179 –> 00:09:28,719I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.11300:09:28,719 –> 00:09:33,580In other words this was his experience that when he came to time of special difficulty11400:09:33,580 –> 00:09:39,140God gave him special grace, special strength.11500:09:39,140 –> 00:09:42,820And he speaks about the same thing again in second Corinthians Chapter 12.11600:09:42,820 –> 00:09:47,500That’s the passage where he speaks about something very painful in his life that was there for11700:09:47,960 –> 00:09:48,960years.11800:09:48,960 –> 00:09:52,659He would have loved to be free from it but God never took it away.11900:09:52,659 –> 00:09:56,059He calls it a thorn in my flesh.12000:09:56,059 –> 00:09:57,719And he says this.12100:09:57,719 –> 00:09:58,900God gave this promise.12200:09:58,900 –> 00:10:08,799My grace is sufficient for you, and my power is made perfect in weakness.12300:10:08,799 –> 00:10:11,380And here’s the principle.12400:10:11,380 –> 00:10:18,099When you are stretched to the point where you feel I don’t know how I am going to12500:10:18,099 –> 00:10:25,460carry on, God’s grace will be sufficient for you.12600:10:25,460 –> 00:10:27,580Special grace.12700:10:27,580 –> 00:10:31,880Strength given particularly for this.12800:10:31,880 –> 00:10:38,419I will infuse my strength into your weakness according to what you are facing so that you12900:10:38,539 –> 00:10:43,619When you are able to bear up and to carry this load and to endure there’s an old hymn13000:10:43,619 –> 00:10:48,359that says it like this, All the way my savior leads me,13100:10:48,359 –> 00:10:54,880cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial,13200:10:54,880 –> 00:10:57,020feeds me with the living bread.13300:10:57,020 –> 00:11:02,679See that’s it, gives me grace for every trial.13400:11:02,679 –> 00:11:06,320And when we pray lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.13500:11:06,580 –> 00:11:10,599Then God answers with special grace13600:11:10,599 –> 00:11:15,419that will enable you to endure.13700:11:15,419 –> 00:11:16,260And then thirdly God answers this prayer13800:11:16,260 –> 00:11:20,280through the restoring grace13900:11:20,280 –> 00:11:24,859which is his kindness to us when we have failed.14000:11:24,859 –> 00:11:28,559Now remember that on the night when Jesus was betrayed14100:11:28,559 –> 00:11:30,820Peter was tempted.14200:11:30,820 –> 00:11:32,200Jesus had said to him14300:11:32,200 –> 00:11:36,159now watch and pray so that you do not enter into temptation14400:11:36,840 –> 00:11:38,780and Peter did not watch and Peter did not pray.14500:11:39,780 –> 00:11:42,799And Jesus knew that he would enter into temptation14600:11:42,799 –> 00:11:47,280and indeed Peter denied the Lord, Jesus, three times14700:11:47,280 –> 00:11:52,280and then the cock crowed and that would have been the end14800:11:52,619 –> 00:11:55,419for Peter as a disciple except for one thing.14900:11:56,460 –> 00:11:58,940The very wonderfully Jesus said to him Simon15000:11:58,940 –> 00:12:01,239Satan has demanded to have you15100:12:01,320 –> 00:12:06,320but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.15200:12:08,679 –> 00:12:13,679And when you have turned again strengthen your brothers.15300:12:16,500 –> 00:12:19,340Now you see, Jesus knew that Peter would fail15400:12:20,960 –> 00:12:24,460but he prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail15500:12:25,479 –> 00:12:27,440and that’s why Peter’s failure15600:12:27,440 –> 00:12:31,000didn’t have the last word in his life, he turned again.15700:12:31,000 –> 00:12:32,679Notice it’s not if you turn again,15800:12:32,679 –> 00:12:33,940it’s when you turn again.15900:12:33,940 –> 00:12:35,520Jesus knew that he would turn again16000:12:35,520 –> 00:12:38,239because that’s what Jesus prayed for.16100:12:38,239 –> 00:12:41,000That’s restoring grace.16200:12:41,000 –> 00:12:44,159And Jesus went to the cross for sinners like Peter16300:12:44,159 –> 00:12:46,880and sinners like you and sinners like me.16400:12:46,880 –> 00:12:49,140He rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven.16500:12:49,140 –> 00:12:50,400What’s He doing in heaven now?16600:12:50,400 –> 00:12:54,000He’s interceding the Bible says for us.16700:12:54,000 –> 00:12:57,000He’s doing right now for us what He did for Peter.16800:12:57,000 –> 00:12:59,359Then He is praying so that sin16900:12:59,780 –> 00:13:03,659will not have the last word in any of our lives.17000:13:03,659 –> 00:13:05,700Here’s the reality.17100:13:05,700 –> 00:13:09,580Like Peter, you and I, we will fail.17200:13:09,580 –> 00:13:11,859But like Peter, you’re gonna turn again17300:13:11,859 –> 00:13:13,739if you belong to Christ,17400:13:13,739 –> 00:13:16,140and when you repent, you will be restored.17500:13:16,140 –> 00:13:17,260And why is this?17600:13:17,260 –> 00:13:19,400Because Jesus prays for you17700:13:19,400 –> 00:13:22,219that sin will not have the last word in your life.17800:13:22,219 –> 00:13:24,059And when you’re tempted and when you fall,17900:13:24,059 –> 00:13:25,900He will not let you go.18000:13:26,739 –> 00:13:29,739There’s a wonderful verse in the book of Micah18100:13:29,739 –> 00:13:31,419in the Old Testament,18200:13:31,419 –> 00:13:34,140that will be a help and encouragement to you,18300:13:34,140 –> 00:13:39,140especially at a time where temptation overcomes you.18400:13:39,140 –> 00:13:39,979And you may feel,18500:13:39,979 –> 00:13:42,859oh, I failed so many times in this area,18600:13:42,859 –> 00:13:44,320now I’m failed again.18700:13:44,320 –> 00:13:45,780And you get discouraged.18800:13:45,780 –> 00:13:47,640Go to Micah seven and verse eight.18900:13:47,640 –> 00:13:50,219Rejoice not over me, o my enemy.19000:13:50,219 –> 00:13:52,739When I fall, I shall rise.19100:13:52,739 –> 00:13:54,260When I sit in darkness,19200:13:54,260 –> 00:13:56,359the Lord will be a light to me.19300:13:57,500 –> 00:14:00,299See, I’m down, but I’m not gonna stay down19400:14:00,299 –> 00:14:03,119because of restoring grace.19500:14:03,119 –> 00:14:06,659I have light even in this darkness of my failure.19600:14:06,659 –> 00:14:08,099Jesus is my light.19700:14:08,099 –> 00:14:10,380And therefore I’m gonna rise up19800:14:10,380 –> 00:14:13,859and press on in following hard after Him.19900:14:14,820 –> 00:14:16,119You’re listening to Open The Bible20000:14:16,119 –> 00:14:17,619with Pastor Colin Smith20100:14:17,619 –> 00:14:20,140and a message called God’s Deliverance.20200:14:20,140 –> 00:14:21,140Part of our series,20300:14:21,140 –> 00:14:23,260six things to ask of God20400:14:23,260 –> 00:14:24,940based on the Lord’s Prayer20500:14:24,940 –> 00:14:26,940as found in Matthew Chapter Six.20600:14:26,940 –> 00:14:28,580And if you missed any of the series20700:14:28,580 –> 00:14:29,599you can always catch up20800:14:29,599 –> 00:14:31,460or go back and listen again online20900:14:31,460 –> 00:14:35,500at our website, openthebible.org.uk21000:14:35,500 –> 00:14:37,179or find us as a podcast21100:14:37,179 –> 00:14:39,020on your favourite podcast site.21200:14:39,020 –> 00:14:41,820Set for Open The Bible UK.21300:14:41,820 –> 00:14:43,080Back to the message now,21400:14:43,080 –> 00:14:44,840here’s Colin.21500:14:44,840 –> 00:14:49,179So, here’s this prayer that we so need21600:14:49,179 –> 00:14:50,739and God will answer it.21700:14:50,739 –> 00:14:52,200And how does he answer it?21800:14:52,200 –> 00:14:54,359He answers it through common grace,21900:14:54,359 –> 00:14:56,099through special grace22000:14:56,099 –> 00:14:58,000and through restoring grace.22100:14:58,000 –> 00:14:59,119And just one more thing22200:14:59,119 –> 00:15:00,380and it’s the best of all,22300:15:00,380 –> 00:15:03,340through saving grace.22400:15:03,340 –> 00:15:04,460Which is God’s kindness22500:15:04,460 –> 00:15:05,979when we turn to him in faith22600:15:05,979 –> 00:15:07,719and in repentance.22700:15:07,719 –> 00:15:10,419It is by grace that you have been saved22800:15:10,419 –> 00:15:11,260through faith.22900:15:11,260 –> 00:15:12,719It’s not of yourselves.23000:15:12,719 –> 00:15:16,320It is the gift of God.23100:15:18,400 –> 00:15:20,719Maybe there is someone here23200:15:20,900 –> 00:15:22,739in this last congregation today23300:15:22,739 –> 00:15:25,520and you are not yet a believer.23400:15:27,340 –> 00:15:30,219And you have to come to a place in life23500:15:30,219 –> 00:15:34,719when you are feeling a strong pull of temptation.23600:15:35,619 –> 00:15:37,080And you’re beginning to think23700:15:37,080 –> 00:15:38,700maybe I need some help.23800:15:40,059 –> 00:15:41,500Maybe I need deliverance.23900:15:41,500 –> 00:15:42,900Maybe I need a savior.24000:15:42,900 –> 00:15:43,979And I’m here to tell you24100:15:43,979 –> 00:15:46,559that Jesus is the savior that you need.24200:15:48,219 –> 00:15:49,539Maybe there’s someone here24300:15:49,559 –> 00:15:51,020and you’ve come to a place of saying,24400:15:51,020 –> 00:15:53,679you know what, I really do need to be forgiven.24500:15:55,159 –> 00:15:56,919And I need God to forgive me.24600:15:58,419 –> 00:16:00,520Or maybe there’s something that you need to forgive24700:16:00,520 –> 00:16:02,000and it’s not easy to forgive,24800:16:02,000 –> 00:16:03,859you don’t have this forgiveness in you24900:16:03,859 –> 00:16:06,780because you’ve wounded very deeply.25000:16:09,239 –> 00:16:10,679And you know that you need the help25100:16:10,679 –> 00:16:11,979that only God can give.25200:16:14,020 –> 00:16:15,820Maybe there’s someone here and you said,25300:16:15,820 –> 00:16:17,539I don’t know how I’m going to get through25400:16:17,539 –> 00:16:19,200these next days, weeks and months,25500:16:19,719 –> 00:16:21,919I need God to give me something I don’t have25600:16:22,820 –> 00:16:24,539and I don’t know where to find it.25700:16:26,640 –> 00:16:30,840And maybe there are some here who are beginning to despair25800:16:30,840 –> 00:16:32,599even of this world in which we live,25900:16:32,599 –> 00:16:35,119you’re losing hope, you’re saying,26000:16:35,119 –> 00:16:37,380will this world ever be any different?26100:16:38,760 –> 00:16:40,679And you need the hope that can only come26200:16:40,679 –> 00:16:44,000with the Lord Jesus Christ and through his kingdom.26300:16:46,039 –> 00:16:48,880Now friends, do you see that Jesus is saying26400:16:48,919 –> 00:16:53,919that these are the very things that you can ask of God?26500:16:56,559 –> 00:16:59,520But the asking begins26600:16:59,520 –> 00:17:03,780when you come to know God as your own Father.26700:17:04,880 –> 00:17:08,239And you come to know God as your own Father26800:17:08,239 –> 00:17:12,439when you believe in his Son, Jesus Christ.26900:17:13,640 –> 00:17:15,560When you believe in his name,27000:17:15,560 –> 00:17:17,680God makes you one of his own children.27100:17:17,760 –> 00:17:21,160He adopts you into his own family.27200:17:21,160 –> 00:17:23,760And, you know, when you become a child of God27300:17:23,760 –> 00:17:26,859by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,27400:17:26,859 –> 00:17:30,239you’re gonna have way more than common grace.27500:17:31,920 –> 00:17:34,619You’re gonna enjoy saving grace.27600:17:36,160 –> 00:17:38,760And when you face times of special trial27700:17:38,760 –> 00:17:40,199and testing in your life,27800:17:40,199 –> 00:17:43,439you’re going to receive special grace to help you.27900:17:44,160 –> 00:17:46,119And when you fail,28000:17:46,119 –> 00:17:50,160you’re going to experience God’s marvelous restoring grace.28100:17:51,719 –> 00:17:54,280And as you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,28200:17:54,280 –> 00:17:55,760here is what God will do for you.28300:17:55,760 –> 00:18:00,579He’s going to put into your heart his own Holy Spirit.28400:18:01,800 –> 00:18:04,199And when his Holy Spirit is in your heart,28500:18:04,199 –> 00:18:06,959you’re going to have a new love for him.28600:18:06,959 –> 00:18:08,359I mean, a real love for him28700:18:08,359 –> 00:18:10,400that actually comes from within you28800:18:10,400 –> 00:18:13,319because God put it within you.28900:18:14,319 –> 00:18:16,560And because you really love him,29000:18:16,560 –> 00:18:18,479you’re not trying to put this on,29100:18:18,479 –> 00:18:22,800you really have come to love him as your own Father.29200:18:22,800 –> 00:18:26,180Therefore, you will have a genuine desire29300:18:26,180 –> 00:18:28,640to see his name honored.29400:18:29,880 –> 00:18:33,000You’ll have a new hope in the coming of his kingdom.29500:18:33,000 –> 00:18:34,839You’ll say, I belong to this kingdom29600:18:34,839 –> 00:18:36,640and this kingdom belongs to me.29700:18:37,599 –> 00:18:39,959You’ll have a new energy,29800:18:39,959 –> 00:18:44,520a new strength to pursue his will.29900:18:44,520 –> 00:18:45,760You’ll have a new confidence,30000:18:45,760 –> 00:18:48,239because you’ll be able to say, now God is my Father30100:18:48,239 –> 00:18:50,640and I know that he will provide for me.30200:18:51,839 –> 00:18:54,359You’ll have a peace that you have not known before30300:18:54,359 –> 00:18:56,699because you will be able to say, I know.30400:18:56,699 –> 00:19:01,699my sins have been forgiven by my Father in heaven.30500:19:04,479 –> 00:19:06,579And you will have a new security,30600:19:06,579 –> 00:19:08,359because whatever comes in your life30700:19:08,420 –> 00:19:11,800you will be able to say, and my Father will deliver me.30800:19:13,579 –> 00:19:16,579So I invite you right now to believe30900:19:16,579 –> 00:19:19,459in the Lord Jesus Christ.31000:19:21,060 –> 00:19:23,560For all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ31100:19:23,560 –> 00:19:28,180we are able to say, amazing grace31200:19:28,180 –> 00:19:32,739how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.31300:19:32,739 –> 00:19:36,719I once was lost, I now am found.31400:19:36,760 –> 00:19:39,839I was blind but now I see.31500:19:39,839 –> 00:19:42,540Through many dangers, toils, and snares31600:19:42,540 –> 00:19:45,140I have already come.31700:19:45,140 –> 00:19:49,040It’s grace that has brought me safe this far31800:19:50,800 –> 00:19:55,800and grace will lead me home.31900:19:57,900 –> 00:20:01,079Let’s bow in God’s presence in prayer together.32000:20:02,439 –> 00:20:04,780Oh our Father in Heaven, we come before you today32100:20:04,819 –> 00:20:09,359profoundly aware of our utter dependence on you.32200:20:10,780 –> 00:20:13,140We grieve that your name is not honored,32300:20:13,140 –> 00:20:16,119that your will is not done and we long32400:20:16,119 –> 00:20:19,040to see your kingdom come in power and in glory.32500:20:20,979 –> 00:20:23,560Father, today we pray deliver us from evil,32600:20:25,020 –> 00:20:27,099our nation is in turmoil.32700:20:28,420 –> 00:20:31,819Deliver us from the evil of racism.32800:20:32,819 –> 00:20:36,699Deliver us, oh Lord, from this virus, we pray.32900:20:38,579 –> 00:20:41,540Raise up in our polarized society people33000:20:41,540 –> 00:20:44,959of reason and goodwill and wisdom33100:20:44,959 –> 00:20:47,140who can bring others together.33200:20:48,880 –> 00:20:51,739Father, we sometimes fear that what we experience33300:20:51,739 –> 00:20:54,819may be an outpouring of your wrath,33400:20:55,680 –> 00:20:57,900that you are giving us up to sins33500:20:57,900 –> 00:21:00,199we have persisted in choosing.33600:21:00,479 –> 00:21:02,900Oh Lord, do not give us up.33700:21:04,239 –> 00:21:07,420In wrath, remember mercy, we pray.33800:21:08,979 –> 00:21:11,020And lead us not into temptation.33900:21:12,319 –> 00:21:14,479The roots of sin lie so deep within us34000:21:14,479 –> 00:21:16,579and we ask that you will help us34100:21:16,579 –> 00:21:18,819to watch and pray this week.34200:21:20,319 –> 00:21:23,660When the inclination to sin rises within us,34300:21:23,660 –> 00:21:26,219help us by your grace to deal with it34400:21:26,219 –> 00:21:27,979early and decisively.34500:21:28,000 –> 00:21:30,500By the power of your spirit, we pray.34600:21:32,660 –> 00:21:36,280Father, we thank you that you are the God of all grace.34700:21:37,599 –> 00:21:39,479All of our hope is in you.34800:21:41,280 –> 00:21:46,239In your common grace, restrain the worst34900:21:47,160 –> 00:21:50,660and promote the best in our community,35000:21:50,660 –> 00:21:53,500our nation and our world.35100:21:54,219 –> 00:21:57,400And where we are tested, give us special grace35200:21:57,400 –> 00:21:59,819that we may be able to carry the load.35300:22:01,660 –> 00:22:06,660And where we have failed, restore us, dear Lord, we pray.35400:22:06,739 –> 00:22:10,900You are our light, so help us to turn again35500:22:12,140 –> 00:22:14,020and to rise up and to follow you.35600:22:15,859 –> 00:22:18,219Save people even today, dear Lord,35700:22:18,219 –> 00:22:20,500by your grace and through your word35800:22:20,780 –> 00:22:25,739and hasten the day when our faith will be sight35900:22:25,739 –> 00:22:30,739for yours is the kingdom and the power36000:22:32,060 –> 00:22:37,060and the glory forever and ever, Amen.36100:22:38,660 –> 00:22:40,079Pastor Colin Smith there,36200:22:40,079 –> 00:22:42,400ending the message, God’s Deliverance,36300:22:42,400 –> 00:22:44,319the final part of our series,36400:22:44,319 –> 00:22:46,599Six Things to Ask of God.36500:22:46,599 –> 00:22:47,979Don’t forget if you ever miss one36600:22:48,219 –> 00:22:49,479of the series, you can always go back36700:22:49,520 –> 00:22:52,439and listen to it again, or indeed the whole series36800:22:52,439 –> 00:22:57,439by coming to our website openthebible.org.uk.36900:22:58,599 –> 00:23:00,459Open The Bible is supported entirely37000:23:00,459 –> 00:23:01,739by our listeners.37100:23:01,739 –> 00:23:04,800It’s you that keep us online and on the air.37200:23:04,800 –> 00:23:07,020If that’s something you’re considering doing,37300:23:07,020 –> 00:23:08,540this month, if you’re able to begin37400:23:08,540 –> 00:23:11,599a new direct debit to the work of Open The Bible37500:23:11,599 –> 00:23:14,060for five pounds per month or more,37600:23:14,060 –> 00:23:17,780or a one-off gift of 50 pounds every month,37700:23:17,880 –> 00:23:20,319or 40 pounds or more, we’d love to say thank you37800:23:20,319 –> 00:23:23,319by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin Smith’s book,37900:23:23,319 –> 00:23:27,359For All Who Grieve along with five lovely greetings cards38000:23:27,359 –> 00:23:29,979with a verse from Psalm 23.38100:23:29,979 –> 00:23:32,439Colin, what is in this book that you hope38200:23:32,439 –> 00:23:34,479that someone who is grieving will be able38300:23:34,479 –> 00:23:36,500to take from it?38400:23:36,500 –> 00:23:39,739Well, I think when we experience loss in life,38500:23:39,739 –> 00:23:42,199we often feel that God is at a distance,38600:23:42,199 –> 00:23:43,880what does God know about this38700:23:43,880 –> 00:23:46,180and where is God in all of this?38800:23:46,239 –> 00:23:49,099And sometimes we feel that he is very, very far away38900:23:49,099 –> 00:23:52,979indeed, but the thing that’s been most striking to me39000:23:52,979 –> 00:23:56,000in pondering the book of Lamentations39100:23:56,000 –> 00:23:59,180and the journey through grief that we all39200:23:59,180 –> 00:24:02,020at some time in our lives have to endure,39300:24:02,020 –> 00:24:03,619what’s been most striking to me39400:24:03,619 –> 00:24:06,900is that Jesus knows about the path of sorrows.39500:24:06,900 –> 00:24:09,880He’s described in the Bible as the man of sorrows39600:24:09,880 –> 00:24:13,060who is acquainted with grief.39700:24:13,099 –> 00:24:18,099So no one wants to walk on the path of sorrow and loss,39800:24:18,300 –> 00:24:20,219but you know, when you do,39900:24:20,219 –> 00:24:22,300you’re walking at a place40000:24:22,300 –> 00:24:25,439where Jesus Christ himself can be found.40100:24:25,439 –> 00:24:29,699He walks sorrows path, he’s very familiar with it.40200:24:29,699 –> 00:24:33,260And Steve, my greatest motivation in writing this book40300:24:33,260 –> 00:24:35,459is to try and help and encourage people40400:24:35,459 –> 00:24:37,939who are going through grief, sorrow and loss40500:24:37,939 –> 00:24:40,439to find the company of Jesus Christ40600:24:40,479 –> 00:24:43,119as they walk this very difficult and painful path.40700:24:43,359 –> 00:24:45,800So Colin’s book, For all who grieve40800:24:45,800 –> 00:24:47,119is our gift to you40900:24:47,119 –> 00:24:49,560along with five lovely greetings cards41000:24:49,560 –> 00:24:51,760with a verse from Psalm 23,41100:24:51,760 –> 00:24:53,939when you set up a new direct debit41200:24:53,939 –> 00:24:55,800to the work of Open the Bible41300:24:55,800 –> 00:24:58,040for five pounds per month or more41400:24:58,040 –> 00:25:01,140or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more.41500:25:01,140 –> 00:25:03,560Full terms and conditions on our website41600:25:03,560 –> 00:25:06,079openthebible.org.uk41700:25:06,079 –> 00:25:08,199and you can give online.41800:25:08,239 –> 00:25:09,339For Open the Bible,41900:25:09,339 –> 00:25:11,000for Pastor Colin Smith42000:25:11,000 –> 00:25:13,619and for myself, David Pick,42100:25:13,619 –> 00:25:17,040I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time.42200:25:20,160 –> 00:25:22,140Hear the story of a godly leader42300:25:22,140 –> 00:25:24,199who almost lost his faith42400:25:24,199 –> 00:25:26,160and discover what God used42500:25:26,160 –> 00:25:27,479to turn him around.42600:25:27,479 –> 00:25:29,560That’s next time on Open the Bible.