100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,600Trouble-free faith really holds out the idea that there is a life of unclouded200:00:09,600 –> 00:00:15,920joy for you and for your family in this world and that it is therefore the300:00:15,920 –> 00:00:21,440taking if only you have the faith to grasp it.400:00:21,440 –> 00:00:25,400Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.500:00:25,480 –> 00:00:30,780Thanks for joining us today and Colin, trouble-free faith sounds wonderful but600:00:30,780 –> 00:00:32,639unfortunately it doesn’t exist.700:00:32,639 –> 00:00:37,119Yeah, that’s right. And Jesus says, in this world, you will have trouble.800:00:37,119 –> 00:00:41,459And he speaks to us about where we’re to establish our faith in the light of it.900:00:41,459 –> 00:00:47,200So, we’re thinking about the words of Jesus, the Last Supper, and he says,1000:00:47,200 –> 00:00:49,680do not let your hearts be troubled.1100:00:49,680 –> 00:00:51,200Now, why would he say such a thing?1200:00:51,200 –> 00:00:54,400Well, he’s speaking to Peter who’s about to fail.1300:00:54,419 –> 00:00:57,400He’s speaking to disciples who are going to experience1400:00:57,400 –> 00:01:01,860this massive disappointment that one of their own number, Judas,1500:01:01,860 –> 00:01:03,419is going to betray the Lord Jesus.1600:01:03,419 –> 00:01:07,980There are real troubles, and so we need to know how to establish1700:01:07,980 –> 00:01:13,739our hearts, how to sustain faith in a world of trouble and we do that by1800:01:13,739 –> 00:01:17,279looking to the Christ who gives us the promise that we’re going to look at today.1900:01:17,279 –> 00:01:21,019That promise is in John, Chapter 14, verses 1-3.2000:01:21,019 –> 00:01:24,320Join us if you can there as we begin our message,2100:01:24,440 –> 00:01:27,080Jesus will take you to be with himself.2200:01:27,080 –> 00:01:28,120Here’s Colin…2300:01:28,120 –> 00:01:33,279Well, would you open your Bible at John’s Gospel and Chapter 14?2400:01:33,279 –> 00:01:37,019This is the second of two weeks in this wonderful chapter of Scripture,2500:01:37,019 –> 00:01:40,900words that Jesus spoke when he was walking with his disciples2600:01:40,900 –> 00:01:45,760towards the garden of Gethsemane, just a few hours from his arrest2700:01:45,760 –> 00:01:48,099and then his trial and his crucifixion.2800:01:48,139 –> 00:01:53,839Pivotal moment for our Lord himself, and, of course for the disciples, as well.2900:01:53,839 –> 00:01:59,379And so what Jesus says to the disciples here and therefore what he says to us here3000:01:59,379 –> 00:02:05,040really gets to the core of what Christian faith is all about.3100:02:05,040 –> 00:02:10,539And so we’re spending these two weekends in this marvelous passage of Scripture3200:02:10,539 –> 00:02:13,559and I want us to see through this time together3300:02:13,679 –> 00:02:20,179how what Jesus promises is really very different from other brands of faith3400:02:20,179 –> 00:02:24,399that some people confuse with authentic Christianity.3500:02:24,399 –> 00:02:26,119And so we coined one or two phrases,3600:02:26,119 –> 00:02:29,520we’ll add a new one today that I hope are going to be helpful.3700:02:29,520 –> 00:02:34,360If you were here last week you may recall that we talked about orphan faith.3800:02:34,360 –> 00:02:37,800Remember that after three years of following Jesus,3900:02:37,800 –> 00:02:42,259the disciples had his teaching, they had seen his example.4000:02:42,300 –> 00:02:45,500And so they would have been in a position to go out into the world and4100:02:45,500 –> 00:02:49,179to say, well no this is the greatest teaching this world has ever heard.4200:02:49,179 –> 00:02:53,020We have seen the example of the greatest life that has ever been lived.4300:02:53,020 –> 00:02:56,080They would have been in a position to forge or4400:02:56,080 –> 00:03:00,720construct a faith that drew inspiration from the example of4500:03:00,720 –> 00:03:04,880Jesus without needing him actually to be present.4600:03:04,880 –> 00:03:09,940And I say that, because that is exactly what many people think Christianity is.4700:03:09,940 –> 00:03:12,020They think it is simply an ethic.4800:03:12,020 –> 00:03:14,059They think that it is a way of life.4900:03:14,059 –> 00:03:17,199They think that it is simply following the pattern of a certain teaching.5000:03:18,320 –> 00:03:22,000And I call that orphan faith, and we saw from John chapter5100:03:22,000 –> 00:03:25,33914 and verse 18, that it is not Christian faith.5200:03:25,339 –> 00:03:29,820Because Jesus says I will not leave you as orphans.5300:03:29,820 –> 00:03:32,139He says I will come to you, and5400:03:32,139 –> 00:03:37,020orphan faith is not real Christianity because it forgets the promise of5500:03:37,020 –> 00:03:40,580the resurrection, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.5600:03:40,580 –> 00:03:44,839Real Christianity is more than an ethic, it is more than a way of life.5700:03:44,839 –> 00:03:48,500The risen Lord Jesus Christ promises his presence to you.5800:03:49,860 –> 00:03:53,460Then we looked at a second brand of faith that falls short of5900:03:53,460 –> 00:03:57,820authentic Christianity, and we called it non-invasive faith.6000:03:57,820 –> 00:04:01,119And we thought about a situation in which a person6100:04:01,119 –> 00:04:03,820needs to have treatment for a serious illness.6200:04:03,820 –> 00:04:07,619And you go to the doctor and he says, well, now I can do surgery.6300:04:07,619 –> 00:04:11,419And then he says, but there’s also another treatment I can offer and6400:04:11,419 –> 00:04:12,860it’s non-invasive.6500:04:12,860 –> 00:04:15,699And I think we ageed last week that most of us would want to go for6600:04:15,699 –> 00:04:17,100the non-invasive.6700:04:17,100 –> 00:04:21,160Give me non-invasive, give me minimally invasive, you see.6800:04:21,160 –> 00:04:24,519And there are folks who think about Christian faith in these6900:04:24,519 –> 00:04:28,920terms too, they see it as something external to themselves.7000:04:28,920 –> 00:04:32,399In other words that it is a creed, that it is a list of beliefs.7100:04:32,399 –> 00:04:34,779Yes, I believe that Jesus is God and man, and7200:04:34,779 –> 00:04:37,440I believe that he died, and yes that he rose again.7300:04:37,720 –> 00:04:41,920They believe this but it’s somehow outside of them, it remains external.7400:04:41,920 –> 00:04:48,019Non-invasive faith does not cut into the fibre of everyday life.7500:04:48,019 –> 00:04:51,920And non-invasive faith falls short of authentic Christianity because as we saw7600:04:51,920 –> 00:04:55,760last week, the Lord Jesus said the Holy Spirit7700:04:55,760 –> 00:04:59,839will live with you and he will be in you.7800:04:59,839 –> 00:05:01,480Live with you and be in you.7900:05:01,480 –> 00:05:04,839But you can’t get more invasive than that, and so8000:05:04,839 –> 00:05:08,799non-invasive faith forgets the promise of the Holy Spirit,8100:05:08,799 –> 00:05:12,040and therefore falls short of true Christianity.8200:05:12,040 –> 00:05:16,500Remember that once for all the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for us8300:05:16,500 –> 00:05:19,799on the cross, but on a continuing basis, he gives8400:05:19,799 –> 00:05:24,399himself to his people by the presence of the Holy Spirit8500:05:24,399 –> 00:05:26,559in our lives.8600:05:26,559 –> 00:05:29,839Now today, I want to suggest that there is a third brand8700:05:29,839 –> 00:05:34,640of faith that also falls short of authentic Christianity.8800:05:34,839 –> 00:05:37,880And it causes confusion for many people.8900:05:37,880 –> 00:05:41,760I’m going to call this trouble-free faith.9000:05:41,760 –> 00:05:44,859And trouble-free faith very simply claims9100:05:44,859 –> 00:05:48,920more than Jesus has promised in this world.9200:05:48,920 –> 00:05:52,980If you have a televisionist, the vast majority of us I’m sure have,9300:05:52,980 –> 00:05:54,260you will know all about this.9400:05:54,260 –> 00:05:59,119If you’ve seen religious programming, you will have seen religious teachers9500:05:59,119 –> 00:06:01,019who will speak like this.9600:06:01,019 –> 00:06:04,399They will say, you know, anything is possible for you9700:06:04,399 –> 00:06:08,339in this world, if you just have enough faith.9800:06:08,339 –> 00:06:12,720If you have the faith, there is a healing that is there for you.9900:06:12,720 –> 00:06:15,619If you have the faith, prosperity will come to you10000:06:15,619 –> 00:06:18,739and be yours and so forth and so on.10100:06:18,739 –> 00:06:21,779And trouble-free faith really holds out10200:06:21,779 –> 00:06:26,279the idea that there is a life of unclouded joy10300:06:26,279 –> 00:06:29,980for you and for your family in this world10400:06:29,980 –> 00:06:32,619and that it is there for the taking10500:06:32,619 –> 00:06:37,279if only you have the faith to grasp it.10600:06:37,279 –> 00:06:39,380Now of course this kind of trouble-free faith10700:06:39,380 –> 00:06:41,179has immense appeal.10800:06:41,179 –> 00:06:44,339All of us want to live long and happy and successful lives.10900:06:44,339 –> 00:06:46,519All of us want our children and our loved ones11000:06:46,519 –> 00:06:48,500to be healthy and happy and so forth.11100:06:48,500 –> 00:06:50,459And so there’s an instinct within us that says,11200:06:50,459 –> 00:06:53,019well, now how could God want anything other than that11300:06:53,019 –> 00:06:54,920for us as well?11400:06:55,980 –> 00:06:59,420Trouble-free faith is with us in other ways.11500:06:59,420 –> 00:07:02,279When it has a social conscience,11600:07:02,279 –> 00:07:04,480when it appeals to the church as a body,11700:07:04,480 –> 00:07:07,799when it comes to us and challenges us11800:07:07,799 –> 00:07:10,579about our life in this world, it speaks like this.11900:07:10,579 –> 00:07:13,100It says, now if we would just all live our faith,12000:07:13,980 –> 00:07:18,440if we would just all go out there and live our faith,12100:07:18,440 –> 00:07:22,880this world could be completely different.12200:07:22,880 –> 00:07:24,799In other words, trouble-free faith12300:07:24,799 –> 00:07:26,399challenges the people of God12400:07:26,399 –> 00:07:28,000and promises to the people of God12500:07:28,000 –> 00:07:30,679that if we just rise to it,12600:07:30,679 –> 00:07:35,380somehow we can bring the life of heaven to earth.12700:07:35,380 –> 00:07:38,100In other words, it claims more than Jesus12800:07:38,100 –> 00:07:42,519has promised to us in this world.12900:07:42,519 –> 00:07:46,440Now, trouble-free faith has always been lurking there,13000:07:46,440 –> 00:07:49,079causing confusion among Christian people,13100:07:49,079 –> 00:07:52,040right back to the times of the New Testament.13200:07:52,040 –> 00:07:54,239In first John, in the first letter of John,13300:07:54,239 –> 00:07:56,239the apostle has to write to certain people13400:07:56,239 –> 00:07:58,399who were deceived by this.13500:07:58,399 –> 00:07:59,760He says in 1 John 1.8,13600:07:59,839 –> 00:08:04,320We deceive ourselves13700:08:04,320 –> 00:08:07,260and the truth is not in us.13800:08:07,260 –> 00:08:10,440In other words, if someone grasps onto the idea13900:08:10,440 –> 00:08:12,760that we can grow in holiness to the point14000:08:12,760 –> 00:08:14,920where we no longer are battling with sin14100:08:14,920 –> 00:08:18,359and somehow get beyond it in our sanctification,14200:08:18,359 –> 00:08:20,079John says, well, if you think like that,14300:08:20,079 –> 00:08:22,320you really are deceived14400:08:22,320 –> 00:08:24,119and whatever kind of faith you have,14500:08:24,119 –> 00:08:25,140it may be very sincere.14600:08:25,140 –> 00:08:26,480It’s not Christian faith14700:08:26,480 –> 00:08:29,619because he says, the truth is not in us.14800:08:30,339 –> 00:08:32,820Another example of this kind of trouble-free faith14900:08:32,820 –> 00:08:35,299would be it arose in Corinth.15000:08:35,299 –> 00:08:40,039When Paul writes to 1 Corinthians 4 in verse eight,15100:08:40,039 –> 00:08:41,640he says with some irony15200:08:41,640 –> 00:08:43,859to some of the folks in the congregation there,15300:08:43,859 –> 00:08:48,859he says now, already you are kings.15400:08:49,299 –> 00:08:50,419You see what he’s saying there.15500:08:50,419 –> 00:08:52,659He’s saying, you seem to have the idea15600:08:52,659 –> 00:08:54,500that a king has all power,15700:08:54,500 –> 00:08:57,619has all authority, can do anything he wants15800:08:57,619 –> 00:08:59,380and it seems Paul is saying15900:08:59,539 –> 00:09:02,760some of you think that you’re there already.16000:09:02,760 –> 00:09:05,140And he says how I wish that this was true.16100:09:05,140 –> 00:09:07,780This is 1 Corinthians 4, eight and four, nine.16200:09:07,780 –> 00:09:09,719How I wish that you really were kings.16300:09:09,719 –> 00:09:11,859He says so that we may be kings with you16400:09:11,859 –> 00:09:13,239because he says it seems to me16500:09:13,239 –> 00:09:15,260that God has placed us apostles16600:09:15,260 –> 00:09:16,859at the end of the procession16700:09:16,859 –> 00:09:18,799and we’re dragging along as it were16800:09:18,799 –> 00:09:22,679like men condemned to die in the arena.16900:09:22,679 –> 00:09:25,179Now, the issue with trouble-free faith,17000:09:25,179 –> 00:09:27,979it falls short of authentic Christianity17100:09:28,739 –> 00:09:32,080because just as orphaned faith17200:09:32,080 –> 00:09:33,960forgets the promise of the resurrection17300:09:33,960 –> 00:09:35,520and just as non-invasive faith17400:09:35,520 –> 00:09:37,619forgets the promise of the Holy Spirit,17500:09:37,619 –> 00:09:40,979trouble-free faith forgets the promise17600:09:40,979 –> 00:09:44,340of Jesus’ Second Coming.17700:09:44,340 –> 00:09:45,919And that’s our focus today.17800:09:45,919 –> 00:09:48,760But I did want us to see the big picture.17900:09:48,760 –> 00:09:52,900In this critical hour, when Jesus right before his arrest18000:09:52,900 –> 00:09:55,820is speaking about the things that matter most18100:09:55,820 –> 00:09:57,179with his disciples,18200:09:57,340 –> 00:10:00,500he’s getting to the core of what Christian faith18300:10:00,500 –> 00:10:02,340in this world is really all about,18400:10:02,340 –> 00:10:07,299he grounds their faith in three promises.18500:10:07,299 –> 00:10:09,820The promise of the resurrection,18600:10:09,820 –> 00:10:11,359I will not leave you as orphans,18700:10:11,359 –> 00:10:13,700I will come to you, verse 18.18800:10:13,700 –> 00:10:15,919The promise of the Holy Spirit,18900:10:15,919 –> 00:10:19,820he will live with you and he will be in you, verse 17.19000:10:19,820 –> 00:10:23,020And the promise of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ,19100:10:23,020 –> 00:10:24,940verse three, which we’ll look at today,19200:10:24,960 –> 00:10:29,020I will come back and I will take you to be with me,19300:10:29,020 –> 00:10:32,299that you also may be where I am.19400:10:32,299 –> 00:10:35,780Now these three promises are absolutely central19500:10:35,780 –> 00:10:37,659to authentic Christian faith.19600:10:38,539 –> 00:10:40,219The promise of the resurrection,19700:10:40,219 –> 00:10:41,979the promise of the Holy Spirit,19800:10:41,979 –> 00:10:43,859the promise of the second coming,19900:10:43,859 –> 00:10:47,039no true Christianity without them.20000:10:47,039 –> 00:10:48,299You’re listening to open the Bible20100:10:48,299 –> 00:10:50,900with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called20200:10:50,900 –> 00:10:54,000Jesus Will Take You to Be With Himself.20300:10:54,000 –> 00:10:56,080It’s part of our current series,20400:10:56,080 –> 00:10:59,760Rocks Solid, Seven Promises Christ Makes to You.20500:10:59,760 –> 00:11:01,299If you ever miss one of the series,20600:11:01,299 –> 00:11:03,080it’s easy to catch up or go back20700:11:03,080 –> 00:11:05,880and listen again online at our website,20800:11:05,880 –> 00:11:08,960openthebible.org.uk.20900:11:08,960 –> 00:11:12,200Back to the message now here again is Colin.21000:11:12,200 –> 00:11:14,000Now we’re going to look at the promise21100:11:14,000 –> 00:11:15,580of Jesus’ return today,21200:11:15,580 –> 00:11:18,200and I want us to see three things.21300:11:18,200 –> 00:11:22,320First, that Jesus confronts us21400:11:22,359 –> 00:11:25,539with the reality of life in this world.21500:11:26,679 –> 00:11:30,559Second, that Jesus established our hope21600:11:30,559 –> 00:11:33,559not here in this world, but in another world.21700:11:34,400 –> 00:11:39,400And third, that Jesus calls us to faith in himself.21800:11:40,559 –> 00:11:41,799Well, let’s begin then with Jesus21900:11:41,799 –> 00:11:44,960confronts us with the reality of life.22000:11:44,960 –> 00:11:46,919And I want us to see what was happening22100:11:46,919 –> 00:11:50,460just before Jesus spoke these words in John 14.22200:11:51,179 –> 00:11:54,559You know the folks who are cynical about Christianity22300:11:54,559 –> 00:11:57,780often make the accusation that Christianity22400:11:57,780 –> 00:12:01,059is just a crutch for weak people.22500:12:01,059 –> 00:12:03,440You know if you can’t really face the realities of life22600:12:03,440 –> 00:12:06,719then religion will give you something that you can lean on.22700:12:06,719 –> 00:12:11,380In fact, true Christianity is entirely the opposite.22800:12:11,380 –> 00:12:16,000If you follow Christ, he will confront you22900:12:16,000 –> 00:12:19,940with the truth about yourself, about other people23000:12:19,960 –> 00:12:22,099and about the world in which you live,23100:12:22,099 –> 00:12:25,219he will confront you with truth that most people23200:12:25,219 –> 00:12:29,539spend a large part of their lives avoiding.23300:12:29,539 –> 00:12:33,380And this is exactly what was happening in the upper room23400:12:33,380 –> 00:12:37,619when the disciples met with Jesus for the last supper.23500:12:37,619 –> 00:12:41,859Jesus confronted Peter with the reality of his own failure.23600:12:41,859 –> 00:12:44,619At the end of John chapter 13,23700:12:44,619 –> 00:12:46,700the situation was very clear.23800:12:46,700 –> 00:12:49,619Peter had come a long way in following Jesus.23900:12:50,340 –> 00:12:51,940He had been the one that had confessed24000:12:51,940 –> 00:12:54,479that Jesus is the Christ.24100:12:54,479 –> 00:12:57,020He had gone up a mountain with James and John and Jesus24200:12:57,020 –> 00:13:00,299and he had seen the transfigured glory of the Lord.24300:13:01,380 –> 00:13:03,840His faith was riding high.24400:13:03,840 –> 00:13:06,200He was making progress.24500:13:06,200 –> 00:13:08,799Things were moving forward for him.24600:13:08,799 –> 00:13:10,739And when Jesus spoke about the cross,24700:13:10,739 –> 00:13:13,580chapter 13 and verse 33,24800:13:13,580 –> 00:13:17,900he says, now where I’m going you cannot come.24900:13:17,919 –> 00:13:21,219But verse 37, Peter says, Lord, why can’t I follow you now?25000:13:21,219 –> 00:13:24,059I’m ready to lay down my life for you.25100:13:24,059 –> 00:13:25,960Peter feels that he’s strong enough25200:13:25,960 –> 00:13:28,960to take a real stand for Jesus Christ25300:13:28,960 –> 00:13:30,919and that this is going to be his moment,25400:13:30,919 –> 00:13:33,179even as it is Christ’s.25500:13:33,179 –> 00:13:35,719And Jesus says, verse 38, you know this well,25600:13:35,719 –> 00:13:38,320will you really lay down your life for me Peter?25700:13:38,320 –> 00:13:41,760I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows,25800:13:41,760 –> 00:13:45,520you will disown me three times.25900:13:45,539 –> 00:13:49,159And a few hours later, when Jesus is arrested26000:13:49,159 –> 00:13:51,760and Peter follows at a distance up to the courtyard26100:13:51,760 –> 00:13:53,780and a servant girl says to him,26200:13:53,780 –> 00:13:56,500Aren’t you one of those who was with Jesus,26300:13:56,500 –> 00:14:01,500Peter denied three times that he had ever known his Lord.26400:14:02,739 –> 00:14:04,419In other words, what’s happening here is26500:14:04,419 –> 00:14:07,020Jesus is saying to Peter, you’re gonna discover26600:14:07,020 –> 00:14:09,260you’re not the man you think you are.26700:14:10,479 –> 00:14:13,460Here he is, with making progress in following Jesus,26800:14:13,619 –> 00:14:14,840Jesus appears feeling so strong,26900:14:14,840 –> 00:14:18,200but suddenly he finds his feet of clay27000:14:18,200 –> 00:14:22,760and his whole evaluation of himself suddenly changes.27100:14:22,760 –> 00:14:24,799And don’t we all know this in our lives.27200:14:24,799 –> 00:14:27,599Don’t we know this so many times?27300:14:28,880 –> 00:14:30,599You’re doing well, you’re making progress,27400:14:30,599 –> 00:14:33,520you’re praying more, you feel you’re exercising some faith,27500:14:33,520 –> 00:14:36,200studying the Bible, growing in confidence.27600:14:36,200 –> 00:14:40,000And then suddenly you say something so foolish27700:14:40,460 –> 00:14:45,320or you do something you know you should never have done.27800:14:45,320 –> 00:14:48,659And suddenly you see again with fresh clarity27900:14:48,659 –> 00:14:50,419your own feet of clay.28000:14:51,539 –> 00:14:54,479Sin has a way of humbling all of us.28100:14:55,880 –> 00:15:00,239After so long I’ve let my Lord down again.28200:15:00,239 –> 00:15:02,619And after all these years of being a Christian,28300:15:02,619 –> 00:15:07,580why is it that I have not progressed further than this?28400:15:07,619 –> 00:15:09,979Now Jesus is confronting, Peter, with this reality28500:15:09,979 –> 00:15:12,719that we all know in our own lives,28600:15:12,719 –> 00:15:15,719the reality of our own personal failure28700:15:15,719 –> 00:15:19,719and the ways in which we fail our Lord.28800:15:19,719 –> 00:15:21,880And along with that there was a second thing happening28900:15:21,880 –> 00:15:24,039in the upper room that was to do29000:15:24,039 –> 00:15:27,260with the great disappointment for the disciples.29100:15:27,260 –> 00:15:28,739These men had been with Jesus.29200:15:28,739 –> 00:15:30,739They’d left everything and as a team29300:15:30,739 –> 00:15:33,020they had followed Jesus for the last three years,29400:15:33,020 –> 00:15:35,659they had bonded together, they loved each other,29500:15:35,659 –> 00:15:37,539they had gone out on mission, they had served,29600:15:38,340 –> 00:15:39,780there was camaraderie between them,29700:15:39,780 –> 00:15:42,239a depth of relationship and bond.29800:15:42,239 –> 00:15:45,559And then in the Last Supper Jesus says to that group,29900:15:45,559 –> 00:15:49,239now one of you is going to betray me.30000:15:51,239 –> 00:15:55,039And Mark records that when Jesus said that with sadness30100:15:55,039 –> 00:15:59,559they all one after the other began to say, Lord, is it me?30200:16:01,260 –> 00:16:03,500It’s very interesting, not a single one30300:16:03,780 –> 00:16:05,000of the disciples said,30400:16:05,000 –> 00:16:06,799Lord, is it Judas?30500:16:08,760 –> 00:16:11,979None of the disciples imagined for a moment30600:16:13,000 –> 00:16:15,119that their friend, Judas,30700:16:16,340 –> 00:16:17,260could betray them.30800:16:17,260 –> 00:16:19,719Lord Jesus Christ, can you imagine?30900:16:21,219 –> 00:16:24,140Judas, whoever would have thought that Judas31000:16:24,140 –> 00:16:25,599would do a thing like that?31100:16:27,820 –> 00:16:32,460Our friend, who we were on mission with31200:16:34,340 –> 00:16:36,400and if that can happen to him,31300:16:36,400 –> 00:16:37,479what does that mean for me?31400:16:37,479 –> 00:16:40,859All the insecurity that comes in a situation like that.31500:16:43,020 –> 00:16:45,059When someone you love, someone you respect,31600:16:45,059 –> 00:16:49,619someone you look up to walks away from Christ,31700:16:49,619 –> 00:16:53,260falls into sin in a flagrant way,31800:16:53,260 –> 00:16:55,059boy, it’s heartbreaking31900:16:56,359 –> 00:16:58,500and it rocks everybody’s confidence.32000:17:00,260 –> 00:17:02,460And on top of that, Jesus had just told them32100:17:02,460 –> 00:17:04,339chapter 13 and verse 33,32200:17:04,339 –> 00:17:06,160”My little children, I will be with you32300:17:06,160 –> 00:17:07,839”only a little longer.”32400:17:07,839 –> 00:17:10,420So, these men now have committed three years32500:17:10,420 –> 00:17:11,900in which their lives have been built32600:17:11,900 –> 00:17:13,239around the Lord Jesus Christ32700:17:13,239 –> 00:17:16,260and now He says that He is going to be taken from them32800:17:16,260 –> 00:17:19,020just a few hours from then.32900:17:19,020 –> 00:17:21,540And so Jesus is now confronting these folks33000:17:21,540 –> 00:17:23,699with the realities of life.33100:17:25,099 –> 00:17:28,599Failure, disappointment,33200:17:30,060 –> 00:17:32,140and loss.33300:17:32,140 –> 00:17:33,800These are the realities.33400:17:35,859 –> 00:17:37,900Now, of course, that was 2,000 years ago,33500:17:39,339 –> 00:17:41,380and our world, of course, is very different33600:17:41,380 –> 00:17:43,439from the world in which the disciples lived33700:17:43,439 –> 00:17:46,380when Jesus met with them in the upper room.33800:17:46,380 –> 00:17:47,439I’ve been thinking in my mind,33900:17:47,439 –> 00:17:49,540what would it be like if Peter34000:17:49,540 –> 00:17:52,180could be translated sort of Star Trek-like,34100:17:52,180 –> 00:17:55,500you know, as a time traveler from the first century34200:17:55,500 –> 00:17:59,300to join us just for one day here in 21st century America?34300:18:00,160 –> 00:18:01,619And can you imagine Peter34400:18:02,239 –> 00:18:06,300suddenly arrives, he’s been transported across time,34500:18:06,300 –> 00:18:09,239and you are given the privilege34600:18:09,239 –> 00:18:11,739of giving him a one-day tour of Chicago.34700:18:12,880 –> 00:18:14,920So you say, oh, Peter,34800:18:14,920 –> 00:18:16,199wow, it’s wonderful to meet you.34900:18:16,199 –> 00:18:18,400We’ve been reading your letter in the New Testament,35000:18:18,400 –> 00:18:19,319we know all about you,35100:18:19,319 –> 00:18:22,839and marvelous to welcome you to 21st century Chicago.35200:18:22,839 –> 00:18:25,560You come and get in my car and he looks at your vehicle35300:18:25,560 –> 00:18:26,640and, what’s this?35400:18:26,640 –> 00:18:28,099And you’re sitting, well, Peter,35500:18:28,099 –> 00:18:30,680I use this instead of a donkey.35600:18:30,680 –> 00:18:33,579Okay, and then as you get into your car,35700:18:33,579 –> 00:18:35,839your cell phone rings.35800:18:35,839 –> 00:18:39,199And Peter says, what in all the world is that?35900:18:39,199 –> 00:18:41,819And you say, oh, this is my iPhone.36000:18:41,819 –> 00:18:43,119And you try to explain them,36100:18:43,119 –> 00:18:46,020it’s almost impossible to explain this to him.36200:18:46,020 –> 00:18:48,520He sees your email in there and he says,36300:18:48,520 –> 00:18:50,239now, how do they get the scrolls36400:18:50,239 –> 00:18:53,420so small that they can go in there?36500:18:53,420 –> 00:18:55,260And then you take him into the city36600:18:55,260 –> 00:18:59,420and you take him to one of our marvelous city hospitals.36700:18:59,459 –> 00:19:02,540You show him the radiology unit,36800:19:02,540 –> 00:19:05,979and you say, Peter, in 21st century America,36900:19:05,979 –> 00:19:10,219this is how we help people who are sick.37000:19:10,219 –> 00:19:13,180And then you take him to the university campus37100:19:13,180 –> 00:19:16,439and you show him the facilities for education37200:19:16,439 –> 00:19:18,520and people from all over the world37300:19:18,520 –> 00:19:22,680and the vastness of intercultural dynamics of learning.37400:19:22,680 –> 00:19:25,660And then you think, boy, it’s the afternoon37500:19:25,660 –> 00:19:27,079and we’ve only got one day.37600:19:27,079 –> 00:19:29,119And it’s Peter I’m showing round.37700:19:29,140 –> 00:19:31,239I suppose I better show him some churches37800:19:31,239 –> 00:19:33,160because I guess he’d be interested in that.37900:19:33,160 –> 00:19:35,280So you say, Peter, let me show you around38000:19:35,280 –> 00:19:37,920some of the churches and the Christian ministries38100:19:37,920 –> 00:19:41,800in Chicago and you take him around as many churches38200:19:41,800 –> 00:19:43,619as you can fit in in the afternoon,38300:19:43,619 –> 00:19:46,400you take him to see some of the Christian ministries.38400:19:46,400 –> 00:19:50,459You take him to see Christian institutions38500:19:50,459 –> 00:19:55,459and seminaries serving thousands and thousands of people38600:19:55,599 –> 00:19:58,920and Peter says, this is amazing.38700:19:58,920 –> 00:20:00,800Your world is completely different.38800:20:00,800 –> 00:20:04,219We didn’t have anything remotely like this38900:20:04,219 –> 00:20:07,599and then he says, let me ask you a couple of questions.39000:20:09,359 –> 00:20:11,579Are there any folks in the city39100:20:13,119 –> 00:20:15,319with its marvelous facilities39200:20:17,079 –> 00:20:20,640who have experienced the loss of someone they love39300:20:21,680 –> 00:20:22,619like we did?39400:20:24,699 –> 00:20:27,199Are there any folks in these marvelous39500:20:27,199 –> 00:20:29,859Christian institutions that you have39600:20:29,859 –> 00:20:32,459that feel disappointed in others,39700:20:32,459 –> 00:20:35,920let down, even betrayed like we did?39800:20:38,680 –> 00:20:40,920Are there any folks in these great churches39900:20:40,920 –> 00:20:42,319that you’ve been showing me?40000:20:44,040 –> 00:20:46,920Any folks who have been humbled by their own sins40100:20:46,920 –> 00:20:50,099and who grieve over failing their Lord like I did?40200:20:53,560 –> 00:20:55,680And you know what I think.40300:20:55,680 –> 00:20:57,400When the tour was over,40400:20:58,680 –> 00:21:01,280Peter would be saying to you and to me,40500:21:02,219 –> 00:21:05,640your world is completely different.40600:21:06,439 –> 00:21:11,040And yet, it is exactly the same.40700:21:12,619 –> 00:21:14,380See, the world never changes.40800:21:15,640 –> 00:21:18,599Failure, disappointment, loss.40900:21:19,640 –> 00:21:23,160That is the experience of life in this world.41000:21:23,199 –> 00:21:26,160Wherever you are on any continent,41100:21:27,280 –> 00:21:30,439and wherever you’re placed in the line of human history41200:21:30,439 –> 00:21:31,900in any century,41300:21:33,500 –> 00:21:37,079we can’t educate out of that.41400:21:38,079 –> 00:21:41,640Prosperity doesn’t lift us beyond that.41500:21:42,920 –> 00:21:45,339The experience of failure and disappointment41600:21:45,339 –> 00:21:48,319and loss that is woven into the fabric of this world41700:21:48,319 –> 00:21:51,319transcends economic circumstances,41800:21:51,319 –> 00:21:54,160transcends educational opportunities,41900:21:54,160 –> 00:21:56,520it transcends everything that makes us different.42000:21:56,520 –> 00:22:00,880It is the nature of life in this world.42100:22:02,239 –> 00:22:04,640And Jesus confronts his disciples42200:22:04,640 –> 00:22:06,839with the reality of life.42300:22:06,839 –> 00:22:10,380No escapism in authentic Christianity.42400:22:10,380 –> 00:22:12,319No sentimentality here.42500:22:13,719 –> 00:22:16,479He sits with them in the upper room42600:22:16,479 –> 00:22:20,239and they’re face to face with the realities of life,42700:22:20,239 –> 00:22:24,359failure, disappointment and loss.42800:22:25,680 –> 00:22:28,339Good to be reminded that Jesus confronts us42900:22:28,339 –> 00:22:32,400with the realities of life, it’s not escapism.43000:22:32,400 –> 00:22:34,880In our next broadcast, we’ll hear how Jesus43100:22:34,880 –> 00:22:37,760establishes our hope in another world.43200:22:37,760 –> 00:22:41,599So our faith is not just naive optimism.43300:22:41,599 –> 00:22:43,359That’s the second part of our message,43400:22:43,359 –> 00:22:46,579Jesus will take you to be with Himself.43500:22:46,579 –> 00:22:48,079And that’s part of the series,43600:22:48,079 –> 00:22:51,359rock solid, seven promises Christ makes to you.43700:22:51,359 –> 00:22:54,959So I hope you’ll join us in our next broadcast.43800:22:54,959 –> 00:22:58,800Open the Bible is supported by financial contributions43900:22:58,800 –> 00:23:01,699from our listeners and we’re extremely grateful.44000:23:01,699 –> 00:23:04,300So if you already give to support the work,44100:23:04,300 –> 00:23:06,000thank you so much.44200:23:06,000 –> 00:23:07,880If you’re considering beginning to support44300:23:07,880 –> 00:23:09,760Open the Bible in that way,44400:23:09,760 –> 00:23:12,300we have a special offer for you this month.44500:23:12,300 –> 00:23:14,780If you’re able to begin a new direct debit44600:23:14,780 –> 00:23:16,459to the work of Open the Bible44700:23:16,459 –> 00:23:19,260in the amount of £5 per month or more,44800:23:19,260 –> 00:23:21,560or a one-off gift of £50 or more,44900:23:21,560 –> 00:23:23,939we’d love to send you two copies45000:23:23,939 –> 00:23:26,560of Pastor Colin’s book, Christmas Stories,45100:23:26,560 –> 00:23:28,579along with five lovely postcards45200:23:28,579 –> 00:23:31,599with illustrations from the book.45300:23:31,599 –> 00:23:35,000Colin, what is Christmas Stories and who’s it for?45400:23:35,000 –> 00:23:37,680Well, it’s for the whole family.45500:23:37,680 –> 00:23:40,520Christmas Stories, it really tells the story45600:23:40,520 –> 00:23:42,660of the birth of Christ from the perspective45700:23:42,660 –> 00:23:45,199of various people who were involved45800:23:45,199 –> 00:23:47,060in the event at the time.45900:23:47,060 –> 00:23:50,459Over the years, I told the Christmas story46000:23:50,459 –> 00:23:53,959through the eyes of Mary and Joseph and Simeon,46100:23:53,959 –> 00:23:55,599and even King Herod.46200:23:55,599 –> 00:23:57,880And these stories have been brought together46300:23:57,880 –> 00:24:00,859by our partners at Ten of Those Publishing,46400:24:00,859 –> 00:24:03,920and they have been beautifully illustrated.46500:24:03,920 –> 00:24:06,640So we have now a Christmas Story book46600:24:06,640 –> 00:24:08,880that’s intended to be read aloud,46700:24:08,880 –> 00:24:10,959and it’s for all the family.46800:24:10,959 –> 00:24:12,839So for you and for your loved ones,46900:24:12,839 –> 00:24:15,239here’s a way to have something fresh47000:24:15,239 –> 00:24:16,880in regards to Christmas.47100:24:16,880 –> 00:24:18,500Tell the Christmas Story,47200:24:18,500 –> 00:24:21,260read it out loud with those who you love.47300:24:21,260 –> 00:24:22,319Christmas stories,47400:24:22,319 –> 00:24:25,920I’m delighted to be able to commend it this month.47500:24:25,920 –> 00:24:29,199Well, we’d love to send you two copies of Christmas Stories,47600:24:29,199 –> 00:24:31,680along with five lovely Christmas cards47700:24:31,680 –> 00:24:34,140with illustrations from the book.47800:24:34,140 –> 00:24:35,319If you’re able to begin,47900:24:35,319 –> 00:24:38,020a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible48000:24:38,020 –> 00:24:41,099in the amount of five pounds per month or more,48100:24:41,099 –> 00:24:43,359or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.48200:24:44,380 –> 00:24:45,959Full terms and conditions,48300:24:45,959 –> 00:24:46,959and to give online,48400:24:46,959 –> 00:24:51,380come to our website Openthebible.org.uk.48500:24:51,380 –> 00:24:54,060Please remember to leave your name and address48600:24:54,060 –> 00:24:56,079so we can send you your free gift48700:24:56,079 –> 00:24:58,660and don’t give anonymously.48800:24:58,660 –> 00:25:01,420For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,48900:25:01,420 –> 00:25:02,420I’m David Pick,49000:25:02,420 –> 00:25:03,900and I hope you’ll join us again49100:25:03,900 –> 00:25:06,219next time on Open the Bible.49200:25:06,859 –> 00:25:09,140The Bible is very clear about the failure,49300:25:09,140 –> 00:25:13,199disappointment and loss we’ll experience in the world.49400:25:13,199 –> 00:25:17,219But also, the hope we can have beyond this world.49500:25:17,219 –> 00:25:20,640Find out what that means next time on Open the Bible.