100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:07,840He cannot do what Jesus just asked him to do, because His love for Himself is way too200:00:07,840 –> 00:00:13,440strong and his love for God and for others is way too weak and he just doesn’t have300:00:13,440 –> 00:00:20,580it in him to be good like God. And neither do you and neither do I.400:00:20,580 –> 00:00:25,200Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick, and Colin, the he500:00:25,200 –> 00:00:28,360that you referenced there was the rich young ruler600:00:28,719 –> 00:00:32,080and we find his story in Mark chapter 10.700:00:32,080 –> 00:00:37,040He had just asked Jesus, what must I do to inherit eternal life?800:00:37,040 –> 00:00:41,880Yeah, and we got last time in the Message to the point where it becomes very clear that900:00:41,880 –> 00:00:47,939this guys cannot accomplish what Christ is calling him to. He just does not have the1000:00:47,939 –> 00:00:54,680ability to be good like God and therefore he has to move off this I can do it and just1100:00:54,680 –> 00:00:59,439tell me what I got to do and I can deliver what God is asking of me to say you know what1200:00:59,439 –> 00:01:04,620I can’t and I am there for a person who needs a savior and I am going to have to look to1300:01:04,620 –> 00:01:11,519God to do for me what I can not do for myself and for God by His Holy Spirit to bring a1400:01:11,519 –> 00:01:16,500change within me that I just do not have the capacity in and of myself to bring.1500:01:16,500 –> 00:01:20,739Now that’s faith, it’s looking for God to do for us what we can not do for ourselves.1600:01:20,879 –> 00:01:25,379It’s a marvelous story that gets to the heart of what it really means to be a Christian.1700:01:25,379 –> 00:01:30,559So let’s look back at that story as we continue the message in Mark chapter 10.1800:01:30,559 –> 00:01:31,959Here’s Colin.1900:01:31,959 –> 00:01:34,599Well let’s review what we have learned.2000:01:34,620 –> 00:01:38,160To enter Heaven you must be good like God.2100:01:38,160 –> 00:01:43,300Salvation involves a real change in which a person becomes good like God and this change2200:01:43,300 –> 00:01:47,300is impossible with men.2300:01:47,300 –> 00:01:49,900It’s the teaching of Jesus.2400:01:49,919 –> 00:01:52,400But we can’t stop there because Jesus continues,2500:01:52,400 –> 00:01:57,199this change is impossible with man, but not with God, he says.2600:01:57,199 –> 00:02:06,139Verse 27, with man this is impossible, but not with God, all things are possible with God.2700:02:06,139 –> 00:02:10,660So the good news is that, while you do not have the power to change the selfishness that2800:02:10,660 –> 00:02:16,699would keep you out of Heaven, God does have the power to change the selfishness that would2900:02:16,699 –> 00:02:17,919keep you out of Heaven.3000:02:17,960 –> 00:02:21,720And the obvious answer, or question then is, well now, how does God do that?3100:02:21,720 –> 00:02:24,919How would God do that?3200:02:24,919 –> 00:02:28,979And Jesus does not give us the answer here but of course the rest of the New Testament3300:02:28,979 –> 00:02:29,979does.3400:02:29,979 –> 00:02:37,279And I want to give you this kind of condensed summary so that it is clear in our minds and3500:02:37,279 –> 00:02:47,360to frame it this way, being good like God is possible through Christ’s life for you3600:02:47,360 –> 00:02:50,059and Christ’s spirit in you.3700:02:50,059 –> 00:02:55,880I’ll try and take that in and then we’ll just ponder these two things for a moment.3800:02:55,880 –> 00:03:01,639Being good like God is possible, not possible through you, but it is possible through God3900:03:01,639 –> 00:03:11,740and he does it through Christ’s life for you and Christ’s spirit in you.4000:03:11,740 –> 00:03:13,919Now let’s think first about Christ’s life for you.4100:03:13,919 –> 00:03:14,940What does that mean?4200:03:15,100 –> 00:03:20,619When Jesus said to this man in verse 18, why do you call me good when no one is good except4300:03:20,619 –> 00:03:22,919God alone?4400:03:22,919 –> 00:03:27,300We know something that the rich young ruler obviously didn’t realize at that time, we4500:03:27,300 –> 00:03:31,740know it from our journey through Mark already at that moment that this man was looking into4600:03:31,740 –> 00:03:35,660the face of God in the flesh.4700:03:35,660 –> 00:03:43,259Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus is God with us, Jesus is God for us.4800:03:43,300 –> 00:03:48,399And Jesus Christ lived a life of perfect goodness.4900:03:48,399 –> 00:03:51,699He was good like God because he is God.5000:03:51,699 –> 00:04:00,139God for us and God with us, and having lived that life of perfect goodness, that you have5100:04:00,139 –> 00:04:05,660not lived, that you are not living, that you will not live and that you cannot live, he5200:04:05,660 –> 00:04:10,500laid down that life as an offering on your behalf.5300:04:10,520 –> 00:04:14,039Jesus Christ is our substitute.5400:04:14,039 –> 00:04:17,940He not only died the death that you should have died, he lived the life that you should5500:04:17,940 –> 00:04:19,959have lived.5600:04:19,959 –> 00:04:26,220And God counts both the life of Jesus and the death of Jesus as if they were yours when5700:04:26,220 –> 00:04:29,579you come to faith in Jesus Christ.5800:04:29,579 –> 00:04:35,320Paul states this particularly clearly in 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 21.5900:04:35,359 –> 00:04:42,920God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness6000:04:42,920 –> 00:04:45,959of God.6100:04:45,959 –> 00:04:51,040And Paul puts it this way in Philippians chapter three in verse nine, he says when he’s thinking6200:04:51,040 –> 00:04:56,359about the last day, when you stand in the presence of God, he says, I want to be found6300:04:56,359 –> 00:04:58,380in Christ.6400:04:58,380 –> 00:05:03,679Not having a righteousness of my own which comes from the law, because of course that6500:05:03,679 –> 00:05:05,279would be a very imperfect thing.6600:05:05,279 –> 00:05:11,880But he says, I want to be in Christ and to have that righteousness which is through faith6700:05:11,880 –> 00:05:17,019in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.6800:05:17,019 –> 00:05:20,880That’s Philippians chapter three in verse nine.6900:05:20,880 –> 00:05:26,579So this righteousness is achieved by the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ.7000:05:26,579 –> 00:05:29,679The perfect life of Jesus Christ lived for you.7100:05:30,059 –> 00:05:35,279And faith is the means by which it becomes yours.7200:05:35,279 –> 00:05:39,679Being good like God is possible through Christ’s life for you.7300:05:39,679 –> 00:05:45,679And on the last day you will stand before God in his perfect righteousness, counted7400:05:45,679 –> 00:05:54,519by God as if it was yours, counted as if you had lived the life that he lived on your behalf.7500:05:54,640 –> 00:06:01,399When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, you receive forgiveness through his death for7600:06:01,399 –> 00:06:10,440you, but you also receive righteousness through his life for you.7700:06:10,440 –> 00:06:16,220That’s how it’s possible to enter into Heaven, where only those who are good like7800:06:16,220 –> 00:06:20,140God can be.7900:06:20,140 –> 00:06:26,160But then there is one more thing that the New Testament makes plain to us.8000:06:26,160 –> 00:06:31,600When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, you not only receive forgiveness through his death8100:06:31,600 –> 00:06:37,619for you and righteousness and goodness through his life for you, but there is one more thing8200:06:37,619 –> 00:06:42,839and that is you receive his Holy Spirit.8300:06:42,839 –> 00:06:48,079There is no such thing in the New Testament as a Christian who does not have the Holy8400:06:48,079 –> 00:06:50,079Spirit of God.8500:06:50,100 –> 00:06:54,959Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ receive not only forgiveness and righteousness8600:06:54,959 –> 00:06:58,279from Christ, but receive the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ.8700:06:58,279 –> 00:07:03,640Paul says, if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you do not belong to Christ, it’s8800:07:03,640 –> 00:07:07,820that essential to what it means to be a Christian.8900:07:07,820 –> 00:07:12,019His death in the place of your death.9000:07:12,019 –> 00:07:13,619His life in the place of your life.9100:07:13,619 –> 00:07:17,779And His Spirit to live in your heart.9200:07:17,779 –> 00:07:19,519That’s what it means to become a Christian.9300:07:19,760 –> 00:07:26,019If we separate what God has joined together, we distort the gospel, which happens way too9400:07:26,019 –> 00:07:29,040often in our time.9500:07:29,040 –> 00:07:33,480Now keeping together what God has put together, let’s ask this question.9600:07:33,480 –> 00:07:47,239What would it look like for the Spirit of Jesus to live in the life of a person today?9700:07:47,619 –> 00:07:56,679We’ve been singing a lot about what the Spirit of Jesus was like in his earthly life.9800:07:56,679 –> 00:07:59,579Second Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 9.9900:07:59,579 –> 00:08:02,880He was rich.10000:08:02,880 –> 00:08:03,980He was rich.10100:08:03,980 –> 00:08:07,480He was rich.10200:08:09,040 –> 00:08:11,079And for our sakes, he became what?10300:08:11,079 –> 00:08:12,779Poor.10400:08:12,779 –> 00:08:16,540So that we through his poverty might become rich.10500:08:16,540 –> 00:08:19,459That’s what Jesus did.10600:08:19,459 –> 00:08:23,940In other words, Jesus did precisely what he was asking the rich young ruler to do.10700:08:23,940 –> 00:08:27,359We’ve been singing about it over Christmas, haven’t we?10800:08:27,359 –> 00:08:32,059Thou who was rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake became as poor.10900:08:32,059 –> 00:08:37,039So what would the Spirit of this Jesus look like in your life today?11000:08:37,039 –> 00:08:44,140Here’s what it would look like, radical generosity.11100:08:45,099 –> 00:08:47,919That’s a Spirit of Jesus, isn’t it?11200:08:47,919 –> 00:08:53,380Thou who was rich beyond all splendor, and all for love’s sake became as poor.11300:08:53,380 –> 00:08:57,979Extreme self-giving.11400:08:57,979 –> 00:09:00,640Unusual sacrifice.11500:09:00,640 –> 00:09:07,679That’s what the Spirit of Jesus would look like in me or in you today, isn’t it?11600:09:07,679 –> 00:09:12,419That’s what becoming good like God looks like.11700:09:12,520 –> 00:09:17,840That’s where the Holy Spirit will take you in increasing measure as you follow after11800:09:17,840 –> 00:09:22,760Jesus Christ if that’s what you’re doing.11900:09:22,760 –> 00:09:27,219If Christ’s Spirit lives within you, you will probably find a strong desire even now12000:09:27,219 –> 00:09:33,320growing within you to say, that’s the kind of life I want to pursue.12100:09:33,320 –> 00:09:38,200A life of radical generosity.12200:09:38,200 –> 00:09:41,239And of extreme self-giving.12300:09:41,260 –> 00:09:43,820The kind of unusual sacrifice and of course12400:09:43,820 –> 00:09:48,340your flesh will shout and fight against that but the Spirit within you is greater than12500:09:48,340 –> 00:09:52,119the power of your flesh and all things are possible with God.12600:09:52,119 –> 00:09:56,919It’s what an authentic Christian life looks like.12700:09:56,919 –> 00:10:03,140The beginning of goodness like God being worked out in reality and increasingly into one day12800:10:03,140 –> 00:10:07,320that’s completed in the presence of Jesus Christ in glory.12900:10:07,320 –> 00:10:08,719Real Christianity.13000:10:09,640 –> 00:10:14,840Of course Peter immediately twigs to what Jesus is saying so he wants to give a little13100:10:14,859 –> 00:10:16,099gentle reminder here.13200:10:16,099 –> 00:10:23,840He says to Jesus, verse 28, we have left everything to follow you.13300:10:23,840 –> 00:10:30,099Jesus knows that and he never forgets any sacrifice any extending of self that is done13400:10:30,099 –> 00:10:35,280in the cause of Christ and in the gospel and look at what he says in verse 29 and verse13500:10:35,380 –> 00:10:39,58030, and so many of us in this congregation have proved through the years that this is13600:10:39,580 –> 00:10:41,380true.13700:10:41,380 –> 00:10:45,460Jesus says, verse 29, I tell you the truth.13800:10:45,460 –> 00:10:53,640No one who has left home, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children,13900:10:53,640 –> 00:11:02,340or field for me and for the gospel, you’ve extended yourself, you’ve made great sacrifice,14000:11:02,359 –> 00:11:06,340radical generosity, extreme self giving for me and for the gospel.14100:11:06,340 –> 00:11:11,140No one who’s done that will fail to receive 100 times as much in this present age.14200:11:11,140 –> 00:11:19,919Homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, 100 times as much now.14300:11:19,919 –> 00:11:29,039The blessing of God poured out into the lives of those who extend themselves in self giving14400:11:29,039 –> 00:11:31,260for the sake of the gospel.14500:11:32,159 –> 00:11:38,299Reflected in all that you need to live, there’s homes.14600:11:38,299 –> 00:11:43,820The gift of wonderful relationships you will find increasingly you enjoy as you give yourself14700:11:43,820 –> 00:11:47,719in the service of Jesus Christ.14800:11:47,719 –> 00:11:51,919And fruitfulness in ministry, which is what I take the meaning of children to be here.14900:11:51,919 –> 00:11:57,000If you’ve left children and you’ll have children, you must be referring to spiritual children,15000:11:57,080 –> 00:12:00,679the abundance of fruit of ministry where God’s15100:12:00,679 –> 00:12:03,159people extend themselves.15200:12:03,159 –> 00:12:06,940And then he says, just so that we don’t get too carried away here, verse 30,15300:12:06,940 –> 00:12:09,239and with them you’ll have some persecutions as well.15400:12:09,239 –> 00:12:13,539In other words, your experience in this life will be mixed, there will be suffering, there15500:12:13,539 –> 00:12:16,340will be setbacks, there will be pain, there will be disappointments.15600:12:16,340 –> 00:12:22,380In with the blessing, and in the age to come Jesus says that we’ll still ahead of you be15700:12:22,380 –> 00:12:25,679eternal life.15800:12:26,320 –> 00:12:35,520And there are scores in this congregation who know that for every sacrifice and all15900:12:35,520 –> 00:12:44,280the sacrifice put together that you made for Christ and for the gospel, you have received16000:12:44,280 –> 00:12:49,520far, far, far, far more than you ever have given or ever could give.16100:12:49,520 –> 00:12:57,460And you find yourself with a sense of wonder thanking God for the richness of his blessing16200:12:57,460 –> 00:12:59,940in your life.16300:12:59,940 –> 00:13:02,780Radical generosity.16400:13:02,780 –> 00:13:07,119Unusual self-giving.16500:13:07,119 –> 00:13:12,580Extreme sacrifices for Christ and for the gospel.16600:13:12,960 –> 00:13:17,539And blessing just multiplied now and for all16700:13:17,539 –> 00:13:18,679eternity.16800:13:18,679 –> 00:13:22,479That’s what he says.16900:13:22,479 –> 00:13:26,559That’s what a spirit-filled life looks like.17000:13:26,559 –> 00:13:34,099That’s what the Spirit of Jesus in us today looks like.17100:13:34,099 –> 00:13:34,780That’s where he takes us.17200:13:34,780 –> 00:13:36,719You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.17300:13:36,719 –> 00:13:41,880In a message called, Jesus Lays Claim to All Our Possessions,17400:13:42,299 –> 00:13:44,900It’s part of a series called, Listener Favorites,17500:13:44,900 –> 00:13:47,739where we took the messages which have been most requested17600:13:47,739 –> 00:13:48,919on the broadcasts,17700:13:48,919 –> 00:13:51,020and we bundled them all together.17800:13:51,020 –> 00:13:53,780And if you’ve missed any of the messages in the series,17900:13:53,780 –> 00:13:55,880or if you want to go back and listen to any of them again,18000:13:55,880 –> 00:13:58,820you can do that by coming online to our website18100:13:58,820 –> 00:14:01,539openthebible.org.uk18200:14:01,539 –> 00:14:02,940or we find them as a podcast.18300:14:02,940 –> 00:14:05,859And those are all on your favorite podcast site.18400:14:05,859 –> 00:14:09,000Search for OpenTheBibleUK.18500:14:09,000 –> 00:14:11,599Open the Bible is supported by our listeners18600:14:11,599 –> 00:14:12,919and all this month,18700:14:12,919 –> 00:14:16,200we’re going to be offering anyone setting up a new payment18800:14:16,200 –> 00:14:17,739to the work of Open The Bible,18900:14:17,739 –> 00:14:19,520a special gift to say, thank you.19000:14:19,520 –> 00:14:20,359And that is,19100:14:20,359 –> 00:14:23,840the book by Pastor Colin called Fly Through The Bible.19200:14:23,840 –> 00:14:26,500We’ll hear more about that offer later in the broadcast.19300:14:26,500 –> 00:14:27,979So I hope you’ll stay with us.19400:14:27,979 –> 00:14:29,119Back to the message now,19500:14:29,119 –> 00:14:32,359we’re in Mark chapter 10 here’s Colin.19600:14:32,359 –> 00:14:33,599So a quick summary,19700:14:33,599 –> 00:14:35,099and then just one final thing.19800:14:35,900 –> 00:14:38,940To enter heaven you must be good like God.19900:14:39,979 –> 00:14:42,059Salvation involves a real change20000:14:42,059 –> 00:14:45,299in which a person becomes good like God.20100:14:45,299 –> 00:14:47,159This is impossible with men.20200:14:48,559 –> 00:14:50,460But all things are possible with God20300:14:50,460 –> 00:14:53,179and becoming good like God is possible for you20400:14:53,179 –> 00:14:55,460through Christ’s life for you20500:14:56,479 –> 00:14:59,460and through Christ’s spirit in you.20600:14:59,460 –> 00:15:02,979And we must never separate what God has joined together20700:15:02,979 –> 00:15:06,559or we will distort the beauty of the gospel20800:15:06,559 –> 00:15:08,539and we will turn it into something ugly20900:15:08,539 –> 00:15:12,940that will be understandably despised in the world.21000:15:14,260 –> 00:15:17,159Now here’s the last thing, and it’s simply an application.21100:15:18,260 –> 00:15:23,260Christians are people who count on God to do what we can’t.21200:15:24,000 –> 00:15:27,520This is a wonderful truth that directly comes21300:15:27,520 –> 00:15:29,739from the teaching of Jesus here.21400:15:29,799 –> 00:15:34,099Christians count on God doing what we can’t.21500:15:34,099 –> 00:15:37,320Let’s just take in one more time verse 27.21600:15:37,320 –> 00:15:39,880”With man, this is impossible, but not with God.21700:15:39,880 –> 00:15:42,719”All things are possible with God.”21800:15:44,679 –> 00:15:46,919So, Christians are folks who count on God21900:15:46,919 –> 00:15:48,119doing what we can’t.22000:15:48,119 –> 00:15:49,559That’s good news.22100:15:51,119 –> 00:15:52,859Perhaps you have a son, a daughter,22200:15:52,859 –> 00:15:54,239someone you’re really concerned about22300:15:54,239 –> 00:15:56,099who’s far from being good like God,22400:15:56,099 –> 00:15:58,719no interest in the things of God or of eternity.22500:15:58,719 –> 00:16:01,020You can’t imagine them changing,22600:16:01,020 –> 00:16:02,979and Jesus would say to you today,22700:16:02,979 –> 00:16:04,559”Yes, with man it is impossible,22800:16:04,559 –> 00:16:07,460”but all things are possible with God.”22900:16:07,460 –> 00:16:09,340Don’t forget that.23000:16:09,340 –> 00:16:10,559You’re struggling in a marriage23100:16:10,559 –> 00:16:12,219or some other difficult situation,23200:16:12,219 –> 00:16:15,299the end of one year, the dawning of another soon,23300:16:15,299 –> 00:16:17,200and you think, how long can I go on?23400:16:17,200 –> 00:16:20,599And you’re so discouraged, and change seems impossible.23500:16:20,599 –> 00:16:21,640And Jesus would say to you,23600:16:21,640 –> 00:16:23,840”Yes, it’s impossible with man,23700:16:23,840 –> 00:16:28,359”but all things are possible with God.”23800:16:29,159 –> 00:16:32,000Christians are folks who believe that.23900:16:32,000 –> 00:16:35,599Christians are folks who count on God doing what we can.24000:16:35,599 –> 00:16:37,039That’s what we’re learning here.24100:16:37,039 –> 00:16:38,440And if you’re a Christian,24200:16:38,440 –> 00:16:40,200you have staked your eternity on that.24300:16:40,200 –> 00:16:43,440That is what you stake your soul on.24400:16:43,440 –> 00:16:46,200I cannot be good like God, it is beyond my power,24500:16:46,200 –> 00:16:49,039so I hang on the good and righteous life24600:16:49,039 –> 00:16:50,700of Jesus Christ live for me.24700:16:50,700 –> 00:16:52,460I depend on the gracious work24800:16:52,460 –> 00:16:55,359and power of His spirit within me.24900:16:55,359 –> 00:16:57,919That’s our position.25000:16:57,960 –> 00:17:00,880That’s where you stand as a Christian25100:17:00,880 –> 00:17:02,700in relation to eternity25200:17:02,700 –> 00:17:05,000and in relation to your soul, it’s that big.25300:17:05,000 –> 00:17:06,239Now, here’s the question.25400:17:08,020 –> 00:17:12,719What would it be like to be part of a group of people25500:17:13,939 –> 00:17:17,680who approach ministry in the same way25600:17:17,680 –> 00:17:20,319as we believe for salvation?25700:17:21,640 –> 00:17:23,219What if we were consistent25800:17:23,900 –> 00:17:28,760between what we say from the scripture about salvation25900:17:28,760 –> 00:17:32,920and what we do in relation to ministry?26000:17:34,500 –> 00:17:37,540Suppose that instead of having discussions26100:17:37,540 –> 00:17:39,420about ministry that keep coming back26200:17:39,420 –> 00:17:42,119to things like what we think we can do,26300:17:43,260 –> 00:17:45,260which is not how the kingdom of God advances26400:17:45,260 –> 00:17:46,560according to Jesus here.26500:17:48,359 –> 00:17:51,680Suppose we decided together26600:17:51,680 –> 00:17:52,959that we would count on God26700:17:53,420 –> 00:17:54,459doing what we can’t.26800:17:57,260 –> 00:17:58,900I say this with feeling26900:18:03,020 –> 00:18:04,599because one of the biggest dangers27000:18:04,599 –> 00:18:08,239that a church as blessed as we are falls into27100:18:10,780 –> 00:18:13,479is that we think of ministry in terms27200:18:13,479 –> 00:18:17,040of what we can do in terms of our forecast27300:18:17,040 –> 00:18:20,079of what we think we can resource,27400:18:20,079 –> 00:18:21,859we evaluate everything.27500:18:23,160 –> 00:18:26,579By what is possible with man.27600:18:28,979 –> 00:18:32,579And that is not the way in which God’s kingdom extends27700:18:32,579 –> 00:18:34,719according to the teaching of Jesus here.27800:18:36,079 –> 00:18:37,780Christ kingdom advances27900:18:37,780 –> 00:18:40,280through what is impossible with man he says28000:18:40,280 –> 00:18:42,119but possible with God.28100:18:44,239 –> 00:18:45,859So in November,28200:18:47,079 –> 00:18:48,280our congregational meeting28300:18:48,280 –> 00:18:50,400adopted a statement of our mission28400:18:51,400 –> 00:18:54,660which says that we seek to glorify God by multiplying.28500:18:56,760 –> 00:19:01,400God centered Christ exalting world transforming believers28600:19:01,400 –> 00:19:02,599through the gospel28700:19:04,640 –> 00:19:06,459in the greater Chicago area28800:19:08,000 –> 00:19:09,119and around the world.28900:19:11,280 –> 00:19:12,939You say how can we do that?29000:19:15,160 –> 00:19:16,479It’s impossible.29100:19:17,699 –> 00:19:19,219We can’t do that.29200:19:21,239 –> 00:19:24,540All things are possible with God29300:19:24,540 –> 00:19:28,579and Christians are those who count on God29400:19:28,579 –> 00:19:29,660to do what we can’t.29500:19:31,380 –> 00:19:33,839You’d stake your own soul on that for eternity.29600:19:34,880 –> 00:19:39,380The question is will we stake our ministry on that now?29700:19:41,640 –> 00:19:44,500Or will we be the kind of people who simply look at things29800:19:44,500 –> 00:19:47,239in terms of what we reckon on our own evaluation29900:19:47,239 –> 00:19:49,219we’re able to do on the basis of the past30000:19:49,219 –> 00:19:50,199then we project the future?30100:19:51,300 –> 00:19:56,520In the gospel God calls us to live on the impossible30200:19:57,599 –> 00:19:59,280not only individually but together.30300:20:00,859 –> 00:20:04,579On Christ’s doing for us, in us, and then through us30400:20:04,579 –> 00:20:06,760what we cannot do for ourselves.30500:20:09,400 –> 00:20:12,920I’m excited about us as a congregation30600:20:12,920 –> 00:20:16,979growing in what it means to count on God30700:20:17,020 –> 00:20:18,380to do what we can’t.30800:20:20,219 –> 00:20:21,859To start actually asking God30900:20:21,859 –> 00:20:23,640for some things that are not within the realm31000:20:23,640 –> 00:20:25,619of what we’re confident we can do31100:20:26,660 –> 00:20:28,599but to start asking God for some things31200:20:28,599 –> 00:20:31,459that are beyond what we’re confident we can do,31300:20:32,579 –> 00:20:35,199because the way that the kingdom moves forward31400:20:35,199 –> 00:20:37,540in this world is not through what’s possible with man31500:20:37,540 –> 00:20:39,560but through what’s impossible with man31600:20:40,599 –> 00:20:42,160but what is possible with God.31700:20:43,040 –> 00:20:46,619This is the time for us to get ready spiritually31800:20:47,560 –> 00:20:51,640for that kind of faith and that kind of venture.31900:20:53,079 –> 00:20:56,479See, that’s what 120 people were doing32000:20:56,479 –> 00:21:00,619in an upper room 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus.32100:21:02,359 –> 00:21:03,839A hundred and twenty people,32200:21:03,839 –> 00:21:06,239and this is all that Jesus had asked them to do,32300:21:08,040 –> 00:21:09,800make disciples of all nations.32400:21:10,319 –> 00:21:14,079Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.32500:21:14,079 –> 00:21:15,319How in all the world32600:21:15,319 –> 00:21:20,319do 120 people in an upstairs room do that?32700:21:20,339 –> 00:21:24,459How do 120 people change the Roman Empire?32800:21:24,459 –> 00:21:26,699It’s impossible with man,32900:21:28,380 –> 00:21:32,099but all things are possible with God.33000:21:33,719 –> 00:21:35,079And this is what we believe.33100:21:36,239 –> 00:21:38,719This is what we have staked our own souls33200:21:38,719 –> 00:21:40,819and our own eternity on.33300:21:42,800 –> 00:21:44,920And if we believe it for our souls33400:21:44,920 –> 00:21:47,119we should believe it for our church,33500:21:48,000 –> 00:21:49,119for our ministry,33600:21:50,520 –> 00:21:53,260and if this is truly what we believe33700:21:53,260 –> 00:21:55,500then we should pray,33800:21:55,500 –> 00:22:00,500we should plan and we should act in the light of it.33900:22:02,119 –> 00:22:03,599You’ve been listening to open the Bible34000:22:03,599 –> 00:22:04,959with Pastor Colin Smith34100:22:04,959 –> 00:22:06,060and a message called34200:22:06,339 –> 00:22:09,140Jesus lays claim to all our possessions.34300:22:09,140 –> 00:22:10,199It’s part of a series34400:22:10,199 –> 00:22:12,260which we’re calling listener favorites34500:22:12,260 –> 00:22:16,420based on the most requested programs over the last year.34600:22:16,420 –> 00:22:18,000If you’ve missed any of the series34700:22:18,000 –> 00:22:20,060or if you want to go back and listen again34800:22:20,060 –> 00:22:22,000why not come to our website,34900:22:22,000 –> 00:22:24,420openthebible.org.uk35000:22:24,420 –> 00:22:26,020and there you’ll find all the messages35100:22:26,020 –> 00:22:28,099which have already gone out on air35200:22:28,099 –> 00:22:30,420and they’re also available as a podcast35300:22:30,420 –> 00:22:32,119on all the main podcast sites35400:22:32,119 –> 00:22:34,180search for Open The Bible UK35500:22:34,219 –> 00:22:36,560or follow the link from our website.35600:22:36,560 –> 00:22:39,859Also on our website you’ll find our Bible study course35700:22:39,859 –> 00:22:41,619Fly Through The Bible.35800:22:41,619 –> 00:22:44,359This short simple journey through the Bible story35900:22:44,359 –> 00:22:45,880can be enjoyed on your own36000:22:45,880 –> 00:22:48,180with a friend or as a group36100:22:48,180 –> 00:22:50,060for each of the 15 sessions36200:22:50,060 –> 00:22:52,060you can watch a short video36300:22:52,060 –> 00:22:54,280then work through the questions.36400:22:54,280 –> 00:22:56,719If you want to do a more detailed Bible study36500:22:56,719 –> 00:22:58,339a guide is available for you to use36600:22:58,339 –> 00:23:01,479in small groups or one-to-one.36700:23:01,479 –> 00:23:03,400To make the most of Fly Through The Bible36800:23:03,500 –> 00:23:05,739we recommend buying the book.36900:23:05,739 –> 00:23:07,199There is also a free app37000:23:07,199 –> 00:23:09,979that can be used alongside all the materials.37100:23:09,979 –> 00:23:11,900To find Fly Through the Bible37200:23:11,900 –> 00:23:13,020go to our website37300:23:13,020 –> 00:23:15,699openthebible.org.uk37400:23:15,699 –> 00:23:18,339and click on Courses.37500:23:18,339 –> 00:23:21,420Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners.37600:23:21,420 –> 00:23:24,180It’s your donations which keep Open the Bible37700:23:24,180 –> 00:23:26,099on the air and on the internet.37800:23:26,099 –> 00:23:28,859So if you already give, thank you so much.37900:23:28,859 –> 00:23:30,819If you’re considering starting to38000:23:30,819 –> 00:23:32,800support Open the Bible in that way38100:23:32,800 –> 00:23:35,479this month we’re offering pastor Colin’s book38200:23:35,479 –> 00:23:36,979Fly Through the Bible38300:23:36,979 –> 00:23:40,020to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit38400:23:40,020 –> 00:23:42,839in the amount of £5 per month or more38500:23:42,839 –> 00:23:45,599or a one off gift of £50 or more.38600:23:45,599 –> 00:23:48,199Colin, what do you hope that readers of this book38700:23:48,199 –> 00:23:50,060will take away from it?38800:23:50,060 –> 00:23:52,319Well, that people will see that the whole Bible38900:23:52,319 –> 00:23:55,400is one story and that it all points39000:23:55,400 –> 00:23:57,119to the Lord Jesus Christ.39100:23:57,119 –> 00:23:59,400You know, I think many folks know some stories39200:23:59,400 –> 00:24:00,439from the Bible, you know,39300:24:00,439 –> 00:24:02,239David and Goliath’s Jonah and the whale39400:24:02,239 –> 00:24:03,959and so forth and so on,39500:24:03,959 –> 00:24:06,000but I find that often people don’t realise39600:24:06,000 –> 00:24:10,079that there really is an overall storyline to the Bible,39700:24:10,079 –> 00:24:12,280begins in a garden, it ends in a city.39800:24:12,280 –> 00:24:15,800All the way through it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ.39900:24:15,800 –> 00:24:18,979So when a person gets an overview of the Bible,40000:24:18,979 –> 00:24:21,719that’s the best way to be introduced40100:24:21,719 –> 00:24:23,900to the Lord Jesus Christ himself.40200:24:23,900 –> 00:24:26,420This is going to show you who he is,40300:24:26,420 –> 00:24:29,079why we need him, what he’s accomplished,40400:24:29,079 –> 00:24:31,439what he offers, what he’s able to do40500:24:31,599 –> 00:24:33,839in the life of any person who turns to him40600:24:33,839 –> 00:24:35,420in repentance and faith.40700:24:35,420 –> 00:24:37,280It’s cookies on the bottom shelf40800:24:37,280 –> 00:24:38,699and is going to be an introduction40900:24:38,699 –> 00:24:40,380to the Lord Jesus Christ.41000:24:40,380 –> 00:24:42,920Well, Colin’s book, Fly Through the Bible41100:24:42,920 –> 00:24:46,199is our gift to you, when you set up a new direct debit41200:24:46,199 –> 00:24:47,880to the work of Open the Bible41300:24:47,880 –> 00:24:51,520this month in the amount of five pounds per month or more41400:24:51,520 –> 00:24:54,459or a one-off gift of £50 or more.41500:24:55,319 –> 00:24:56,880Full terms and conditions41600:24:56,880 –> 00:24:59,319and to give online come to our website,41700:24:59,959 –> 00:25:02,319openthebible.org.uk41800:25:03,380 –> 00:25:05,979For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,41900:25:05,979 –> 00:25:07,099I’m David Pick42000:25:07,099 –> 00:25:09,300and I hope you’ll join us again next time.42100:25:16,339 –> 00:25:20,640What do you do when it seems all hope is lost?42200:25:20,640 –> 00:25:23,540We’ll look at a faith that is more than believing42300:25:23,540 –> 00:25:25,439next time on Open the Bible