100:00:00,800 –> 00:00:04,880Keep your life free from the love of200:00:04,880 –> 00:00:08,860money and be content with what you have300:00:08,860 –> 00:00:13,200for. So, here’s a how statement, here’s a400:00:13,200 –> 00:00:16,379way in which you can fulfill what God500:00:16,379 –> 00:00:18,379has just commanded you to do.600:00:18,379 –> 00:00:24,580Here’s the How. For he has said, I will700:00:24,719 –> 00:00:29,740never leave you nor forsake you.800:00:29,740 –> 00:00:32,259Welcome to Open The Bible with900:00:32,259 –> 00:00:34,459Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and1000:00:34,459 –> 00:00:37,119Colin, this is one command but maybe the1100:00:37,119 –> 00:00:39,340reason behind it is much deeper than the1200:00:39,340 –> 00:00:41,660one simple command. It’s not just being1300:00:41,660 –> 00:00:44,740free from the love of money, how does the1400:00:44,740 –> 00:00:47,320message of the Gospel influence how we1500:00:47,320 –> 00:00:49,139live out that command.1600:00:49,139 –> 00:00:51,500Well I love that question, that’s marvelous.1700:00:51,500 –> 00:00:53,580isn’t it significant that God does not1800:00:53,599 –> 00:00:56,580come to us and say, now keep your life1900:00:56,580 –> 00:00:58,619free from the love of money or else2000:00:58,619 –> 00:01:00,259here is what’s going to happen to you, I’ve2100:01:00,259 –> 00:01:01,840got it in for you if you don’t obey this2200:01:01,840 –> 00:01:02,580command2300:01:02,580 –> 00:01:04,540I mean, God could do that if you wish to2400:01:04,540 –> 00:01:06,800do that. It’s not what he says to us. What2500:01:06,800 –> 00:01:09,139he says to us is keep your lives free2600:01:09,139 –> 00:01:12,260from the love of money because the Lord2700:01:12,260 –> 00:01:14,199has said I will never leave you and I2800:01:14,199 –> 00:01:15,860will never forsake you so there’s a2900:01:15,860 –> 00:01:18,660promise here and the promise is actually3000:01:18,660 –> 00:01:20,739the motive for obeying the command.3100:01:20,739 –> 00:01:23,320That’s how the Gospel works, you see.3200:01:23,720 –> 00:01:25,919The Old Testament gives to us these3300:01:25,919 –> 00:01:28,559commandments and they’re held before us3400:01:28,559 –> 00:01:30,080and the question then is well what is3500:01:30,080 –> 00:01:32,680going to be the motive for pursuing3600:01:32,680 –> 00:01:34,760these commandments and in the New3700:01:34,760 –> 00:01:36,199Testament here’s something very3800:01:36,199 –> 00:01:37,919wonderful that we find it’s the love of3900:01:37,919 –> 00:01:40,379Christ, it’s the presence of Christ, it’s4000:01:40,379 –> 00:01:42,559the power of Christ, is the Holy Spirit4100:01:42,559 –> 00:01:44,660of Christ working within us that4200:01:44,660 –> 00:01:47,959actually generates the motive for doing4300:01:47,959 –> 00:01:50,019what God has called us to do.4400:01:50,019 –> 00:01:52,080So seeing that connection actually gives4500:01:52,080 –> 00:01:55,360an entirely different feel to the life4600:01:55,360 –> 00:01:57,059that we’re called to pursue that it’s4700:01:57,059 –> 00:01:59,339not simply a life of duty but there’s4800:01:59,339 –> 00:02:01,400actually some delight here and that4900:02:01,400 –> 00:02:03,099comes to the person who knows Christ5000:02:03,099 –> 00:02:04,080through the Holy Spirit.5100:02:04,080 –> 00:02:05,379I hope as you listen5200:02:05,379 –> 00:02:07,080to this broadcast you understand and5300:02:07,080 –> 00:02:09,979grasp and internalize this so join us if5400:02:09,979 –> 00:02:12,720you can in Hebrews chapter 13 as we5500:02:12,720 –> 00:02:15,419continue the message contented in Christ.5600:02:15,419 –> 00:02:16,679Here is Colin.5700:02:16,960 –> 00:02:19,800We obey God’s commands by5800:02:19,800 –> 00:02:23,580believing his promises that’s how you5900:02:23,580 –> 00:02:27,119live the Christian life and friends what6000:02:27,119 –> 00:02:30,339a marvelous, marvelous promise this is.6100:02:30,339 –> 00:02:33,800I will never leave you.6200:02:34,600 –> 00:02:40,860God says I will never forsake you.6300:02:41,639 –> 00:02:44,820Now think about that to be forsaken by God6400:02:44,860 –> 00:02:47,679what would that be?6500:02:47,679 –> 00:02:53,559To be forsaken by God would be the worst thing imaginable.6600:02:53,559 –> 00:02:57,899A person forsaken by God would be completely6700:02:57,899 –> 00:03:02,279alone, a person forsaken by God would be6800:03:02,279 –> 00:03:04,479ultimately helpless.6900:03:04,479 –> 00:03:06,660A person forsaken by7000:03:06,660 –> 00:03:10,880God would be without hope in this world.7100:03:11,839 –> 00:03:20,759To be forsaken by God would be the hell of hell itself.7200:03:20,759 –> 00:03:24,720And God says to his redeemed people in Jesus Christ,7300:03:24,720 –> 00:03:27,860that will never happen to you.7400:03:27,860 –> 00:03:31,720It is wonderful.7500:03:31,720 –> 00:03:35,080You will never be alone.7600:03:35,080 –> 00:03:38,580You will never be without help.7700:03:38,600 –> 00:03:40,380You will never, whatever you face7800:03:40,380 –> 00:03:43,899and whatever you endure, be without hope.7900:03:43,899 –> 00:03:48,100Whatever happens, I will be with you, God says.8000:03:48,100 –> 00:03:51,220I will never leave you.8100:03:51,220 –> 00:03:57,500I will never forsake you.8200:03:57,500 –> 00:03:59,740Now, commentators point out.8300:03:59,740 –> 00:04:01,380And almost all of them seem to refer8400:04:01,380 –> 00:04:03,460to this, that in the original language,8500:04:03,460 –> 00:04:07,899there are no less than five negatives in the statement8600:04:07,919 –> 00:04:09,380from the mouth of God.8700:04:09,380 –> 00:04:12,979In fact, you can’t translate it directly into English8800:04:12,979 –> 00:04:14,860because, of course, in English,8900:04:14,860 –> 00:04:17,260a double negative actually means a positive.9000:04:17,260 –> 00:04:19,380So if you start keeping up negatives,9100:04:19,380 –> 00:04:21,220it simply becomes confusing.9200:04:21,220 –> 00:04:24,140But in Greek, a double negative or a triple negative9300:04:24,140 –> 00:04:26,459or even more, simply is a kind of double9400:04:26,459 –> 00:04:30,519or triple underlining of the force of what is being said.9500:04:30,519 –> 00:04:33,160And in this statement, you have no less9600:04:33,559 –> 00:04:37,239five negatives all piled up,9700:04:37,239 –> 00:04:39,739one on top of another,9800:04:39,739 –> 00:04:42,940so that one commentator says this is perhaps9900:04:42,940 –> 00:04:47,940the strongest negation in all of the Bible.10000:04:48,399 –> 00:04:50,239Perhaps the best way to phrase it10100:04:50,239 –> 00:04:52,179would be just to put it like this.10200:04:52,179 –> 00:04:55,700I will never, never leave you.10300:04:56,600 –> 00:05:01,600I will never, never, never forsake you.10400:05:02,440 –> 00:05:05,779In fact, when Spurgeon preached on this verse10500:05:05,779 –> 00:05:09,619he chose a five-word title.10600:05:09,619 –> 00:05:12,739Never, never, never, never, never.10700:05:12,739 –> 00:05:14,119That was the title of his sermon10800:05:14,119 –> 00:05:15,600and that absolutely captures it.10900:05:15,600 –> 00:05:17,519That’s what you have here.11000:05:17,519 –> 00:05:22,100A fivefold never so that the sheer strength11100:05:22,100 –> 00:05:24,880of the promise should be underlined11200:05:24,880 –> 00:05:29,880no less than five times for God’s own people.11300:05:30,559 –> 00:05:31,600People.11400:05:31,600 –> 00:05:34,559Now let me just make three simple comments11500:05:34,559 –> 00:05:37,279from this wonderful, wonderful promise11600:05:37,279 –> 00:05:40,179that we want to try to take into our souls today11700:05:40,179 –> 00:05:43,320to believe the promise so that we may obey the command.11800:05:43,320 –> 00:05:46,679This is a promise that you can trust.11900:05:46,679 –> 00:05:48,679You really can trust this promise12000:05:48,679 –> 00:05:51,040because it’s God himself who has made it12100:05:51,040 –> 00:05:52,600and He has made it to you.12200:05:53,799 –> 00:05:56,619Think who He is to you.12300:05:57,420 –> 00:06:01,160He is the Father who loves you.12400:06:01,160 –> 00:06:05,500He is the Savior who redeems you12500:06:05,500 –> 00:06:09,299at the cost of laying down his own life on the cross.12600:06:09,299 –> 00:06:12,079He is the Spirit who indwells you,12700:06:12,079 –> 00:06:13,519who lives within you.12800:06:14,500 –> 00:06:17,540So when God says to you,12900:06:17,540 –> 00:06:19,260brother, sister in Christ,13000:06:19,260 –> 00:06:20,880when God says to you,13100:06:20,880 –> 00:06:22,720I will never, never leave you13200:06:22,720 –> 00:06:25,559and I will never, never, never forsake you,13300:06:26,480 –> 00:06:29,779He is saying there will never be a time13400:06:29,779 –> 00:06:32,160or a circumstance in your life13500:06:32,160 –> 00:06:34,679when you do not have a Father who loves you.13600:06:35,859 –> 00:06:38,299There will never be anything that you will ever face13700:06:38,299 –> 00:06:41,600where you do not have a Savior who will keep you.13800:06:42,579 –> 00:06:44,459There will never be a time in your life13900:06:44,459 –> 00:06:47,059or a circumstance that you will ever face14000:06:47,059 –> 00:06:49,019that you will not have the presence14100:06:49,019 –> 00:06:51,359and the power of the Holy Spirit14200:06:51,359 –> 00:06:53,779to sustain you at that moment14300:06:53,799 –> 00:06:56,279and in that time.14400:06:57,200 –> 00:07:01,100Friends, Christian contentment is actually birthed here.14500:07:02,119 –> 00:07:07,119Whatever happens, this remains true for you,14600:07:07,260 –> 00:07:09,380that God will never leave you.14700:07:09,380 –> 00:07:11,279He will never forsake you,14800:07:11,279 –> 00:07:14,739and a Christian who takes that into his or her soul14900:07:14,739 –> 00:07:19,380will say, I can live on that.15000:07:19,380 –> 00:07:21,000I can live on that.15100:07:21,000 –> 00:07:22,839I can live on that.15200:07:22,959 –> 00:07:23,799Whatever.15300:07:26,019 –> 00:07:28,459And think about this not only15400:07:28,459 –> 00:07:30,579from the angle of who God is to you.15500:07:30,579 –> 00:07:33,959Think about it from the angle of who you are to God.15600:07:35,079 –> 00:07:39,119How does God describe his own people?15700:07:40,739 –> 00:07:44,980Well, to God, the Father you are his child.15800:07:46,619 –> 00:07:50,040And to God, the son you are his brother.15900:07:50,040 –> 00:07:52,059He has become a brother to us,16000:07:52,160 –> 00:07:55,000and brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.16100:07:55,000 –> 00:07:57,359To God, the spirit who indwells you,16200:07:57,359 –> 00:07:59,179you are his own home.16300:08:00,440 –> 00:08:03,339So think about the intimate language16400:08:03,339 –> 00:08:07,700that God deploys to communicate to his own children16500:08:07,700 –> 00:08:10,059just what we are to him.16600:08:10,059 –> 00:08:12,459You are his child, you are his brother,16700:08:12,459 –> 00:08:15,000you are his home.16800:08:15,000 –> 00:08:18,660So when he says, I will never leave you,16900:08:18,779 –> 00:08:22,579God, the father is saying I will never leave my child.17000:08:22,579 –> 00:08:25,820God, the son is saying I will never leave my brother.17100:08:25,820 –> 00:08:29,540God, the spirit is saying I will never leave my home.17200:08:31,019 –> 00:08:32,239He has made this promise.17300:08:32,239 –> 00:08:35,940He has made it in the strongest possible language.17400:08:35,940 –> 00:08:41,000Underlined five times, he has made it to his own children17500:08:41,000 –> 00:08:42,200and his own honor.17600:08:43,219 –> 00:08:47,140Hangs on his keeping his word.17700:08:47,239 –> 00:08:50,900That you can depend on this promise17800:08:50,900 –> 00:08:54,340in life and death and for all eternity.17900:08:54,340 –> 00:08:55,159Marvelous.18000:08:56,260 –> 00:08:59,219Second, never forget that this promise is ours18100:08:59,219 –> 00:09:00,960because of Jesus Christ.18200:09:02,059 –> 00:09:04,200You know, the Bible says all of God’s promises,18300:09:04,200 –> 00:09:06,760they’re all yes and amen in Christ,18400:09:06,760 –> 00:09:09,239which simply means that without Jesus Christ,18500:09:09,239 –> 00:09:11,919none of us would have any promises from God at all.18600:09:12,820 –> 00:09:14,320They are all ours in him.18700:09:14,320 –> 00:09:16,380They are all ours through faith in him18800:09:16,580 –> 00:09:18,640and they are all ours because of him.18900:09:20,520 –> 00:09:24,419People who have been through terrible experiences in life19000:09:25,260 –> 00:09:30,119might sometimes say I have been through hell.19100:09:31,380 –> 00:09:33,080But you know,19200:09:33,080 –> 00:09:37,039that is something that is not possible for a Christian.19300:09:38,440 –> 00:09:42,500There is only one person in all of human history19400:09:42,619 –> 00:09:46,460who has ever endured hell on earth.19500:09:47,820 –> 00:09:49,979And that is Jesus Christ19600:09:49,979 –> 00:09:51,780and you remember what was at the heart of it19700:09:51,780 –> 00:09:53,960and at the depth of it in the darkness?19800:09:55,619 –> 00:10:00,119My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?19900:10:05,299 –> 00:10:09,780Christ entered into that forsakenness20000:10:09,820 –> 00:10:14,820so that in him you would never know what that is like.20100:10:15,099 –> 00:10:18,780Not in life, not in death, not ever.20200:10:20,659 –> 00:10:23,059And it’s yours in Jesus Christ.20300:10:23,059 –> 00:10:24,760Could not possibly be without him.20400:10:26,059 –> 00:10:28,000But because of him, God is able to say20500:10:28,000 –> 00:10:29,380to all of us as children,20600:10:29,380 –> 00:10:33,859I will never, never, never forsake you.20700:10:35,039 –> 00:10:36,380It’s ours in Christ.20800:10:36,380 –> 00:10:38,080You’re listening to Open The Bible20900:10:38,080 –> 00:10:39,500with pastor Colin Smith21000:10:39,500 –> 00:10:41,859and there’s a message called Contented in Christ.21100:10:41,859 –> 00:10:43,599It’s one of our series,21200:10:43,599 –> 00:10:45,919which is called the Art of Contentment.21300:10:45,919 –> 00:10:47,780And if you’ve missed any of the series21400:10:47,780 –> 00:10:50,239or if you want to go back and listen again,21500:10:50,239 –> 00:10:51,739you can do that by coming online21600:10:51,739 –> 00:10:55,479to our website, openthebible.org.uk21700:10:55,479 –> 00:10:57,359or by finding us as a podcast21800:10:57,359 –> 00:10:59,520and those are on all the main podcast sites,21900:10:59,520 –> 00:11:02,039search for open the Bible, UK22000:11:02,039 –> 00:11:04,400or follow the link from our website.22100:11:05,580 –> 00:11:08,380Back to the message now, here again is Colin.22200:11:08,400 –> 00:11:10,719God is able to say to all of us as children,22300:11:10,719 –> 00:11:15,059I will never, never, never forsake you.22400:11:16,940 –> 00:11:18,479And the last thing I want to say is simply this22500:11:18,479 –> 00:11:20,419that you can draw on this promise22600:11:20,419 –> 00:11:23,679and we will need to keep drawing on this promise22700:11:23,679 –> 00:11:25,200time and time and time again22800:11:25,200 –> 00:11:27,799in the various experiences of our lives.22900:11:28,840 –> 00:11:30,679Now, as I was just reflecting on the question,23000:11:30,679 –> 00:11:33,859when do I most need to draw on this promise?23100:11:33,859 –> 00:11:36,719I was actually helped by remembering23200:11:36,719 –> 00:11:39,559this is not the first time23300:11:39,559 –> 00:11:41,359that these words, I will never leave you,23400:11:41,359 –> 00:11:43,140I will never forsake you, occur in the Bible.23500:11:43,140 –> 00:11:45,159Anyone who’s studied the Bible at all,23600:11:45,159 –> 00:11:46,640you know that that’s somewhere23700:11:46,640 –> 00:11:48,840in the Old Testament more than once23800:11:48,840 –> 00:11:51,719and these are not words that are being spoken23900:11:51,719 –> 00:11:52,840by God for the first time,24000:11:52,840 –> 00:11:54,320so I just asked the question,24100:11:54,320 –> 00:11:55,440it’s helpful to ask the question,24200:11:55,440 –> 00:11:58,200when did God give such a promise before?24300:11:58,200 –> 00:11:59,479And it’s helped me just to think24400:11:59,479 –> 00:12:01,760about when we most need to hear such words.24500:12:01,760 –> 00:12:04,059Let me give you just these three suggestions.24600:12:05,020 –> 00:12:08,400First, we will need to draw deeply on these words24700:12:08,400 –> 00:12:12,099when you are facing an overwhelming challenge24800:12:13,479 –> 00:12:15,539and I got to that by reflecting on the fact24900:12:15,539 –> 00:12:19,440that early on God gave exactly this promise to Joshua25000:12:20,299 –> 00:12:23,900when he was facing the overwhelming challenge25100:12:23,900 –> 00:12:26,659of stepping into the shoes of Moses.25200:12:26,659 –> 00:12:29,440I mean, can you imagine what that’s like?25300:12:29,440 –> 00:12:32,640May we do like that job, Moses successor.25400:12:32,640 –> 00:12:34,500Who wants that job?25500:12:34,500 –> 00:12:37,580And your starting place for ministry is the wilderness25600:12:37,580 –> 00:12:39,580and the expectation is that you’ll lead25700:12:39,580 –> 00:12:42,280through all of the conquest and into the promised land.25800:12:42,280 –> 00:12:43,359You know, nothing too difficult25900:12:43,359 –> 00:12:46,140and how would you like to be Joshua?26000:12:46,140 –> 00:12:48,460Overwhelming challenge.26100:12:49,500 –> 00:12:51,580In Joshua chapter one, verse five and six,26200:12:51,580 –> 00:12:52,679most of you know this well.26300:12:52,679 –> 00:12:54,219What does God say to him?26400:12:54,219 –> 00:12:57,219Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.26500:12:57,219 –> 00:12:58,059Here it is.26600:12:58,059 –> 00:13:00,979I will not leave you or forsake you,26700:13:01,260 –> 00:13:03,580so be strong and be courageous.26800:13:04,580 –> 00:13:07,440And you know, this promise of God is given to his people26900:13:07,440 –> 00:13:11,760time and again in circumstances of trouble,27000:13:11,760 –> 00:13:16,700when you pass through the waters, I will be with you.27100:13:16,700 –> 00:13:20,299We’re to draw on this promise whenever we are facing times27200:13:20,299 –> 00:13:23,820of particular difficulty.27300:13:23,820 –> 00:13:26,859The presence of Jesus Christ in trouble27400:13:26,859 –> 00:13:29,780is the Christian answer to fear.27500:13:29,780 –> 00:13:32,859When you know that God has said, I will never leave you,27600:13:32,859 –> 00:13:36,580then you are able to say, I will not be afraid,27700:13:36,580 –> 00:13:38,219what can man do to me?27800:13:39,159 –> 00:13:42,739So as some in the congregation today27900:13:42,739 –> 00:13:44,679are in particular times of trouble,28000:13:44,679 –> 00:13:47,059this is the promise for you, this is the time28100:13:47,059 –> 00:13:49,820when you need to draw deeply on this promise.28200:13:49,820 –> 00:13:52,099God himself says, I’m with you28300:13:52,099 –> 00:13:53,739and I will never leave you28400:13:53,739 –> 00:13:57,299and I will never, never, never forsake you.28500:13:57,979 –> 00:14:02,979Second, we may need to draw deep on this promise28600:14:03,340 –> 00:14:07,659at times when we are being called to take a step of faith.28700:14:09,679 –> 00:14:11,820I came to this by reflecting on the fact28800:14:11,820 –> 00:14:14,380that God gave this promise to Solomon,28900:14:15,880 –> 00:14:19,859who was actually in the opposite position from Joshua.29000:14:21,059 –> 00:14:24,500Solomon’s father had established a kingdom,29100:14:24,520 –> 00:14:28,340and David brought Israel to the very height,29200:14:29,400 –> 00:14:33,119secured the borders, subdued the enemies,29300:14:33,119 –> 00:14:36,700passed onto his son the most marvelous legacy29400:14:36,700 –> 00:14:39,820of things in the best position imaginable.29500:14:41,140 –> 00:14:44,020And of course, what happens when you are brought29600:14:44,020 –> 00:14:46,280into a situation of great blessing,29700:14:46,280 –> 00:14:47,820put yourself in Solomon’s shoes,29800:14:47,820 –> 00:14:49,340what’s your great temptation?29900:14:49,340 –> 00:14:52,820It is to simply settle down and live on the legacy30000:14:53,059 –> 00:14:55,340and settle into your comfort zone,30100:14:55,340 –> 00:14:57,979to play it safe, to hold back.30200:14:57,979 –> 00:15:00,679I mean, Solomon so easily could have said,30300:15:00,679 –> 00:15:03,719look, even my father David30400:15:03,719 –> 00:15:05,659didn’t do something so audacious30500:15:05,659 –> 00:15:07,760as to try and build a temple30600:15:07,760 –> 00:15:11,059that would be one of the wonders of the world for the Lord,30700:15:11,059 –> 00:15:13,119so why should I, Solomon,30800:15:13,119 –> 00:15:15,479try and engage in something so risky,30900:15:15,479 –> 00:15:18,960so difficult, so demanding and so costly as this?31000:15:18,960 –> 00:15:21,880There are times31100:15:21,880 –> 00:15:23,179when the greatest temptation31200:15:23,179 –> 00:15:26,059is simply to play it safe.31300:15:26,059 –> 00:15:28,859When God may be calling you31400:15:28,859 –> 00:15:32,900to take a step of faith31500:15:32,900 –> 00:15:33,900and when you sense31600:15:33,900 –> 00:15:35,500that you’re in that moment of your life,31700:15:35,500 –> 00:15:36,979you’re gonna need to draw very, very deep31800:15:36,979 –> 00:15:37,979on this promise.31900:15:37,979 –> 00:15:40,500I will never leave you32000:15:40,500 –> 00:15:42,500and I will never forsake you.32100:15:42,500 –> 00:15:44,460The Bible records David’s last words32200:15:44,460 –> 00:15:45,820to Solomon his son,32300:15:45,820 –> 00:15:47,960it’s in 1 Chronicles 28,32400:15:48,219 –> 00:15:50,580it’s absolutely fascinating.32500:15:50,580 –> 00:15:52,020But here’s David, the old man,32600:15:52,020 –> 00:15:54,179and he makes this long list32700:15:54,179 –> 00:15:55,460of all that he’s done32800:15:55,460 –> 00:15:57,239to gather the materials32900:15:57,239 –> 00:15:58,820for building the temple.33000:15:58,820 –> 00:16:00,500The detail is astonishing.33100:16:00,500 –> 00:16:02,020He goes into it all,33200:16:02,020 –> 00:16:03,260Solomon, I’m going to give you33300:16:03,260 –> 00:16:04,599the plans for the temple,33400:16:04,599 –> 00:16:05,440I’m going to give you33500:16:05,440 –> 00:16:06,700the gold for the lampstands,33600:16:06,700 –> 00:16:08,440the forks, the cups, the table,33700:16:08,440 –> 00:16:09,739and all the rest of it.33800:16:09,739 –> 00:16:10,880Then it says this,33900:16:10,880 –> 00:16:12,580in 1 Chronicles 28, 30,34000:16:12,580 –> 00:16:14,419David said to Solomon his son,34100:16:15,239 –> 00:16:17,239be strong and courageous34200:16:18,500 –> 00:16:19,919and do it, do it!34300:16:22,659 –> 00:16:23,979Do not be afraid34400:16:23,979 –> 00:16:25,080and do not be dismayed34500:16:25,080 –> 00:16:26,119for the Lord your God,34600:16:26,119 –> 00:16:27,539even my God is with you,34700:16:27,539 –> 00:16:29,380he will not leave you34800:16:30,679 –> 00:16:31,919or forsake you34900:16:34,280 –> 00:16:35,880until all the work for the service35000:16:35,880 –> 00:16:39,679of the house of the Lord is finished.35100:16:39,679 –> 00:16:40,940You see what David’s last words35200:16:40,940 –> 00:16:42,179to his son are?35300:16:43,159 –> 00:16:46,739Solomon, you have been put in a position35400:16:46,739 –> 00:16:48,419of being trusted by Me35500:16:49,599 –> 00:16:51,679with marvelous resources.35600:16:53,020 –> 00:16:54,880Make sure you use them35700:16:54,880 –> 00:16:56,400for the building of God’s house.35800:16:56,400 –> 00:16:59,359That’s what David says to Solomon.35900:16:59,359 –> 00:17:01,580Don’t settle back in to living36000:17:01,580 –> 00:17:03,200in your own comfort zone36100:17:03,200 –> 00:17:05,719and squander a lot on yourself,36200:17:07,400 –> 00:17:08,939and here’s how you can have the confidence36300:17:08,939 –> 00:17:10,300to take a step of faith,36400:17:10,300 –> 00:17:11,140God has said,36500:17:11,739 –> 00:17:12,839I will never leave you36600:17:13,859 –> 00:17:17,300and I will never forsake you.36700:17:19,140 –> 00:17:22,739Third, draw deep on this promise36800:17:23,739 –> 00:17:26,300when following Christ36900:17:27,660 –> 00:17:29,239has really been costly.37000:17:31,180 –> 00:17:32,500And here we come back to Hebrews37100:17:32,500 –> 00:17:35,040where God gives the promise again in the New Testament37200:17:35,040 –> 00:17:37,000and what was the situation of these people37300:17:37,000 –> 00:17:40,219who first received that promise in this book?37400:17:40,439 –> 00:17:43,560It was simply this, that following Jesus Christ37500:17:43,560 –> 00:17:47,180had become very, very costly for them.37600:17:48,219 –> 00:17:51,140In Hebrews chapter 10 in verse 34 we’re told this,37700:17:51,140 –> 00:17:54,000that the Hebrews had compassion on those37800:17:54,000 –> 00:17:54,839who were imprisoned.37900:17:54,839 –> 00:17:58,260So some had been imprisoned on account of their faith38000:17:58,260 –> 00:18:02,219and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property38100:18:02,219 –> 00:18:05,420since you knew that you yourselves had better possessions.38200:18:05,420 –> 00:18:07,780In other words, the authorities had come in,38300:18:07,780 –> 00:18:10,699they had taken dictatorial control.38400:18:10,699 –> 00:18:14,060They had simply confiscated the property of believers38500:18:14,060 –> 00:18:15,900because they were believers.38600:18:16,900 –> 00:18:17,979And here are these folks38700:18:17,979 –> 00:18:19,939who’ve been trying to build up a livelihood38800:18:19,939 –> 00:18:22,180and now they’ve got so, so much less38900:18:22,180 –> 00:18:23,719and the only reason39000:18:23,719 –> 00:18:26,040that they have suffered this particular persecution39100:18:26,040 –> 00:18:28,660and this loss is that they were followers39200:18:28,660 –> 00:18:30,040of the Lord Jesus Christ.39300:18:30,040 –> 00:18:32,079And no doubt there were some of them39400:18:32,079 –> 00:18:34,880who were just beginning to struggle with the question,39500:18:34,880 –> 00:18:36,020is this really worth it39600:18:36,020 –> 00:18:40,459and I look at all that it’s costing me to follow Jesus39700:18:40,459 –> 00:18:44,739and it seems that there’s this enormous hostility against me39800:18:44,739 –> 00:18:48,500and many more people who run in a completely different place39900:18:48,500 –> 00:18:50,479than those who are standing with me here.40000:18:50,479 –> 00:18:51,599Is it really worth it?40100:18:51,599 –> 00:18:53,040And that’s why the Book of Hebrews40200:18:53,040 –> 00:18:55,079has so much about persevering40300:18:55,079 –> 00:18:57,640and about not turning back40400:18:57,640 –> 00:19:02,400and it comes to this in the very last chapter,40500:19:02,400 –> 00:19:04,859keep your life free from the love of money40600:19:05,540 –> 00:19:08,219and be content with what you have,40700:19:08,219 –> 00:19:11,900brackets even if it’s a lot less than it used to be40800:19:11,900 –> 00:19:13,420because you’ve been plundered40900:19:13,420 –> 00:19:14,900and you’ve really suffered a great loss41000:19:14,900 –> 00:19:17,540on account of your faith41100:19:17,540 –> 00:19:19,780and here’s how you can do it41200:19:19,780 –> 00:19:22,219because God has said,41300:19:22,219 –> 00:19:24,420I will never leave you41400:19:24,420 –> 00:19:27,040and I will never forsake you.41500:19:28,459 –> 00:19:30,560Now as I’ve been praying and preparing the message,41600:19:30,560 –> 00:19:32,239my mind has been going out41700:19:32,339 –> 00:19:34,839to many, many folks in the congregation41800:19:35,939 –> 00:19:37,699who in very, very different ways41900:19:37,699 –> 00:19:41,300have found that following Jesus Christ42000:19:41,300 –> 00:19:44,859has truly been coastally for you.42100:19:46,020 –> 00:19:49,560There is real measurable loss42200:19:49,560 –> 00:19:52,459because of your commitment to integrity,42300:19:52,459 –> 00:19:54,260because you took a stand42400:19:54,260 –> 00:19:56,900and were baptized as a Christian believer42500:19:56,900 –> 00:20:00,060and then were disowned and will not inherit42600:20:00,060 –> 00:20:01,959and all of this,42700:20:01,959 –> 00:20:05,140and your life could have been much, much easier42800:20:05,140 –> 00:20:08,339if you had chosen a different path42900:20:08,339 –> 00:20:11,239but you chose to walk the path of Jesus43000:20:11,239 –> 00:20:15,099and to take up the cross that He holds before you43100:20:15,099 –> 00:20:17,060and to follow Him.43200:20:18,219 –> 00:20:19,819And he says to you,43300:20:19,819 –> 00:20:21,900and when you have felt the cost,43400:20:21,900 –> 00:20:24,739you need to hear it and to take it in.43500:20:24,739 –> 00:20:26,579He says to you,43600:20:26,719 –> 00:20:31,719now, I will never, never leave you.43700:20:33,939 –> 00:20:38,939I will never, never, never forsake you.43800:20:41,339 –> 00:20:42,180Never.43900:20:44,619 –> 00:20:49,619Command that we are able to follow as we believe a promise44000:20:51,939 –> 00:20:55,819that then brings us into a place of marvelous freedom44100:20:55,859 –> 00:20:57,939in which we can make this response.44200:20:57,939 –> 00:20:58,760Look at it.44300:20:58,760 –> 00:21:02,219He has said, I will never leave you,44400:21:02,219 –> 00:21:04,579I will never forsake you,44500:21:04,579 –> 00:21:08,880so we can confidently say44600:21:08,880 –> 00:21:10,699this is what you have as a Christian.44700:21:12,219 –> 00:21:13,819However costly it is been,44800:21:13,819 –> 00:21:16,599this is the position that as a believer44900:21:16,599 –> 00:21:18,579who is following after Jesus Christ45000:21:18,579 –> 00:21:19,780that you are brought into.45100:21:19,780 –> 00:21:21,079You are brought into a place45200:21:21,079 –> 00:21:23,719where you can confidently say,45300:21:25,280 –> 00:21:28,119the Lord is my helper.45400:21:29,839 –> 00:21:31,140I will not fear.45500:21:32,819 –> 00:21:34,359What can man do to me?45600:21:36,319 –> 00:21:38,239And when, because you’re obeying the command45700:21:38,239 –> 00:21:39,680by believing the promise,45800:21:39,680 –> 00:21:41,900you are brought to a place where you can say that,45900:21:41,900 –> 00:21:43,079you know what?46000:21:43,079 –> 00:21:48,079You have learned the secret of being contented.46100:21:49,079 –> 00:21:50,880You’ve been listening to pastor Colin Smith46200:21:50,880 –> 00:21:52,000on Open The Bible,46300:21:52,000 –> 00:21:54,839with a message called contented with Christ,46400:21:54,839 –> 00:21:57,880part of our series, The Art of Contentment.46500:21:57,880 –> 00:21:59,719And if you’ve missed any of the series,46600:21:59,719 –> 00:22:00,560catch up,46700:22:00,560 –> 00:22:02,319or go back and listen again online,46800:22:02,319 –> 00:22:07,020at our website, Open The Bible.org.uk.46900:22:07,020 –> 00:22:09,400Open The Bible is able to stay on the radio47000:22:09,400 –> 00:22:10,680and on the internet47100:22:10,680 –> 00:22:13,079because of the very generous donations47200:22:13,079 –> 00:22:14,479made by our listeners.47300:22:14,479 –> 00:22:17,400So if you already give to support Open The Bible,47400:22:17,439 –> 00:22:18,939thank you so much.47500:22:18,939 –> 00:22:19,800If that’s something47600:22:19,800 –> 00:22:22,040that you’ve been considering doing in the future,47700:22:22,040 –> 00:22:25,199each month we aim to offer a special gift47800:22:25,199 –> 00:22:28,079in return for setting up a new support payment47900:22:28,079 –> 00:22:29,520for Open The Bible.48000:22:29,520 –> 00:22:32,319If you’re able to set up a new Monthly Direct Debit48100:22:32,319 –> 00:22:34,800of five pounds per month or more48200:22:34,800 –> 00:22:37,599or a One-off Gift of 50 pounds or more,48300:22:37,599 –> 00:22:39,359we’d love to say thank you48400:22:39,359 –> 00:22:41,920by sending you a copy of Colin Smith’s book,48500:22:41,920 –> 00:22:43,640Fly Through The Bible.48600:22:43,640 –> 00:22:46,199Here’s Open The Bible’s, Amanda Cunningham,48700:22:46,199 –> 00:22:47,599to talk about the book48800:22:47,599 –> 00:22:50,119and also about some other exciting resources48900:22:50,119 –> 00:22:52,479which are free for everyone to receive.49000:22:52,479 –> 00:22:54,160Thanks, David.49100:22:54,160 –> 00:22:56,599Well, if you’ve been listening for a while,49200:22:56,599 –> 00:22:58,760you would of course know that each month49300:22:58,760 –> 00:23:00,479we give away a free book49400:23:00,479 –> 00:23:02,920when you support our ministry,49500:23:02,920 –> 00:23:05,560either with a One-off gift of 50 pounds or more49600:23:05,560 –> 00:23:07,839or by setting up a New Direct Dept49700:23:07,839 –> 00:23:10,000of at least five pounds.49800:23:10,000 –> 00:23:11,719But this July and August,49900:23:11,719 –> 00:23:14,920we’ve got something even bigger going on.50000:23:14,920 –> 00:23:17,359We’re running a special campaign50100:23:17,359 –> 00:23:20,199packed with free resources50200:23:20,199 –> 00:23:24,359all designed to help you Open the Bible with others50300:23:24,359 –> 00:23:25,800because let’s face it,50400:23:25,800 –> 00:23:28,319that’s not always easy to do.50500:23:28,319 –> 00:23:29,959So yes, when you donate,50600:23:29,959 –> 00:23:32,239you will still receive a free copy50700:23:32,239 –> 00:23:34,160of Fly Through the Bible50800:23:34,160 –> 00:23:36,319but this summer everyone50900:23:36,319 –> 00:23:39,520can access a range of free tools.51000:23:39,520 –> 00:23:41,560First, there’s a video series51100:23:41,560 –> 00:23:43,079with Colin Smith51200:23:43,079 –> 00:23:45,239walking through each session51300:23:45,239 –> 00:23:47,560of the Fly Through the Bible course51400:23:47,560 –> 00:23:49,079on our website,51500:23:49,079 –> 00:23:51,000great for personal study51600:23:51,000 –> 00:23:52,719or for small groups.51700:23:52,719 –> 00:23:54,800Second, we’ve got a free app,51800:23:54,800 –> 00:23:56,359just head to your App Store51900:23:56,359 –> 00:23:59,439and search Fly Through the Bible.52000:23:59,439 –> 00:24:02,520Could you invite a friend for coffee this week52100:24:02,520 –> 00:24:04,680and go through it together?52200:24:04,680 –> 00:24:06,640Or if you’re a church leader52300:24:06,640 –> 00:24:09,520thinking ahead to your autumn small groups,52400:24:09,520 –> 00:24:11,079we’ve got you covered.52500:24:11,119 –> 00:24:15,699Head to OpenTheBible.org.uk52600:24:15,699 –> 00:24:20,000to download a free small group discussion guide52700:24:20,000 –> 00:24:22,880with questions for every session.52800:24:22,880 –> 00:24:25,119We’re praying these resources52900:24:25,119 –> 00:24:26,839will encourage and equip you53000:24:26,839 –> 00:24:28,560whether you’re reading the Bible53100:24:28,560 –> 00:24:30,239on your own or with others.53200:24:30,239 –> 00:24:33,359And honestly, what better place to start53300:24:33,359 –> 00:24:36,000than a journey through the Bible story.53400:24:36,000 –> 00:24:37,400Thanks, Amanda.53500:24:37,400 –> 00:24:39,680You can access these free resources53600:24:39,920 –> 00:24:43,359at our website, openthebible.org.uk.53700:24:43,359 –> 00:24:45,920And you can download the Fly app53800:24:45,920 –> 00:24:48,959at the Apple App Store or Google Play.53900:24:48,959 –> 00:24:51,400Our offer to send you a copy of Colleen’s book,54000:24:51,400 –> 00:24:52,800Fly Through the Bible54100:24:52,800 –> 00:24:54,699is available all this month.54200:24:54,699 –> 00:24:58,119Full details, terms and conditions are on our website,54300:24:58,119 –> 00:25:01,119openthebible.org.uk.54400:25:01,119 –> 00:25:02,479And you can give online.54500:25:02,479 –> 00:25:05,280Please do be sure to leave your address details54600:25:05,280 –> 00:25:06,859when you donate online54700:25:06,859 –> 00:25:09,119in order to receive your free book.54800:25:09,859 –> 00:25:12,280I’m David Pick for Open The Bible.54900:25:12,280 –> 00:25:13,619Pastor Colin Smith.55000:25:13,619 –> 00:25:14,760I’m David Pick.55100:25:14,760 –> 00:25:17,219And I hope you’ll join us again next time.55200:25:17,219 –> 00:25:20,239I’m David Pick for Open The Bible.55300:25:20,239 –> 00:25:21,500Pastor Colin Smith.55400:25:21,500 –> 00:25:24,660I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.55500:25:24,660 –> 00:25:29,260How can you be sure your faith is real join us to find out55600:25:29,260 –> 00:25:31,020next time on Open The Bible.