Collective Weariness, Part 2

Isaiah 40:27-31

How can we renew our strength through faith and understanding? Discover what it truly means to “wait on the Lord” and how leaning into the truths we know about God and ourselves can transform our weariness into renewed hope and strength. Join Colin as he explores Isaiah 40 and shares the comforting assurance that God’s inexhaustible power is sufficient for all our struggles. This message is a timely reminder that no matter how worn out we may feel, we can find rest and rejuvenation in the presence of our eternal and ever-faithful Creator.

100:00:00,640 –> 00:00:03,860They200:00:03,860 –> 00:00:07,680They who wait for the Lord300:00:08,980 –> 00:00:12,240shall renew their strength. Can400:00:12,240 –> 00:00:14,920you hear God speaking that tenderly to500:00:14,920 –> 00:00:18,820you today? They that wait upon the600:00:18,820 –> 00:00:24,120Lord shall renew their strength. What700:00:24,120 –> 00:00:26,500does it mean to wait on the Lord?800:00:28,459 –> 00:00:29,600Welcome to Open the Bible,.900:00:29,600 –> 00:00:32,480I’m your host, Colin Smith. I’m1000:00:32,480 –> 00:00:34,099David Pick, and Colin, we can’t just1100:00:34,099 –> 00:00:36,180leave that question hanging there.1200:00:36,299 –> 00:00:37,900What does it mean to wait on the Lord?1300:00:38,080 –> 00:00:38,779Well, you know, we were looking at the1400:00:38,779 –> 00:00:42,480programme last time at leaning in to1500:00:42,480 –> 00:00:44,419what you know about God and leaning1600:00:44,419 –> 00:00:45,980in to what you know about yourself.1700:00:45,980 –> 00:00:47,220That’s what’s in this scripture.1800:00:47,660 –> 00:00:49,779It reminds us who we are so that we1900:00:49,779 –> 00:00:51,820don’t have unreasonable expectations2000:00:51,820 –> 00:00:53,759of ourselves. We do run and and we2100:00:53,759 –> 00:00:56,119experience faintness, we get run2200:00:56,119 –> 00:00:58,459down. But we are to lean into who God2300:00:58,660 –> 00:01:00,919is, an inexhaustible God. And in taking2400:01:00,919 –> 00:01:03,660in who He is and who we are, that’s2500:01:03,660 –> 00:01:05,760where hope is found, and it’s found in2600:01:05,760 –> 00:01:07,160Him, and that’s where we’re had it in2700:01:07,160 –> 00:01:09,760the programme today, not only the2800:01:09,800 –> 00:01:12,599looking at who we are and who God is,2900:01:12,599 –> 00:01:16,099but the taking hold of the hope that3000:01:16,099 –> 00:01:17,900is found in Jesus Christ.3100:01:18,300 –> 00:01:20,239Well, no better place to start than3200:01:20,279 –> 00:01:23,019Isaiah 40 as we continue the message3300:01:23,279 –> 00:01:25,620collective we’re in us. Here is Colin.3400:01:25,639 –> 00:01:27,459When you’re tired and worn out, you3500:01:27,519 –> 00:01:29,080don’t know how to answer God’s3600:01:29,120 –> 00:01:31,959questions, do you? God says, Why are3700:01:31,959 –> 00:01:33,260you saying this? Why are you thinking3800:01:33,260 –> 00:01:37,059this? I don’t know, I’m just worn out.3900:01:37,120 –> 00:01:40,160I don’t know how to answer. And so4000:01:40,160 –> 00:01:42,239very wonderfully, God answers His own4100:01:42,839 –> 00:01:44,860question. Thank God that when we don’t4200:01:44,860 –> 00:01:46,739know how to answer His questions, He4300:01:46,739 –> 00:01:49,199does. And I want you to notice the4400:01:49,199 –> 00:01:51,440answer that God Himself very tenderly4500:01:51,440 –> 00:01:55,139gives to us as he ministers to us to4600:01:55,360 –> 00:01:58,800strengthen us in these passages of life.4700:01:59,940 –> 00:02:01,580The answer really comes in two parts.4800:02:01,580 –> 00:02:05,099Here’s the first. Lean into the truth4900:02:05,139 –> 00:02:08,080that you know. In a time of weariness5000:02:08,080 –> 00:02:10,880of jaded-ness of feeling that the5100:02:10,880 –> 00:02:13,940cumulative events of life are catching5200:02:13,979 –> 00:02:18,160up with you. Lean into the truth that5300:02:18,160 –> 00:02:20,960you know, and first in particular the5400:02:20,960 –> 00:02:23,259truth that you know about God. That’s5500:02:23,520 –> 00:02:26,679verse 28. Have you not known? Have you5600:02:26,679 –> 00:02:30,860not heard? The Lord is the everlasting5700:02:30,860 –> 00:02:33,699God. The creator of the ends of the5800:02:33,699 –> 00:02:35,460earth, he does not faint or grow weary5900:02:35,460 –> 00:02:39,039and his understanding is unsearchable.6000:02:40,240 –> 00:02:42,059Now here’s a very important principal.6100:02:43,240 –> 00:02:47,500That God reminds his people of what6200:02:47,500 –> 00:02:50,240they already know. Do you not know?6300:02:51,020 –> 00:02:53,460They have not yet known what they6400:02:53,460 –> 00:02:56,360already know and what they have often6500:02:59,100 –> 00:03:02,419heard. So in these times lean into6600:03:02,419 –> 00:03:06,020what you know about God and lean into6700:03:06,020 –> 00:03:11,259what you know about yourself. There’s6800:03:11,259 –> 00:03:13,860a good dose of biblical reality in6900:03:13,860 –> 00:03:16,320verses 29 and 30 with regards to7000:03:16,320 –> 00:03:18,020ourselves. Look at the words that are7100:03:18,820 –> 00:03:21,220we both read pretty well, certainly7200:03:21,220 –> 00:03:23,259do in your own binnenesses. Look7300:03:23,259 –> 00:03:26,960to the faint, to him who has no7400:03:26,960 –> 00:03:31,679might, he increases strength.7500:03:31,679 –> 00:03:35,919And youngsters are weary and towards7600:03:35,919 –> 00:03:38,139young men shall fall exhausted.7700:03:38,139 –> 00:03:41,020There’s the fourfold description of7800:03:41,020 –> 00:03:45,300our human nature. Faint, no might,7900:03:46,220 –> 00:03:49,100and not only is that us in our8000:03:49,100 –> 00:03:53,220frail humanity, but it is us at8100:03:53,220 –> 00:03:55,440our best in humanity. That’s why8200:03:55,440 –> 00:03:59,339it says you see even youths faint8300:03:59,339 –> 00:04:02,539and are weary because youths8400:04:02,539 –> 00:04:04,660have more energy, as we discover8500:04:04,660 –> 00:04:05,820with every ten years of our8600:04:05,820 –> 00:04:07,779lives, those who are younger are8700:04:07,779 –> 00:04:09,220given the gifts of remarkable8800:04:09,220 –> 00:04:10,399energy. Parents think they’ve got8900:04:10,440 –> 00:04:12,020way too much energy and all the9000:04:12,020 –> 00:04:15,139rest of it, but even youths are9100:04:15,160 –> 00:04:17,579faint and are weary, and then9200:04:17,579 –> 00:04:19,299notice this God says, and young9300:04:19,299 –> 00:04:22,519men shall fall exhausted. The9400:04:22,519 –> 00:04:24,720phrase young men literally means9500:04:24,839 –> 00:04:28,640picked men. And the image here9600:04:28,640 –> 00:04:31,700is of an athlete in superb9700:04:31,700 –> 00:04:34,519condition. And think of the9800:04:34,519 –> 00:04:36,559Olympic selectors picking the9900:04:36,559 –> 00:04:39,880team to represent the U.S. and10000:04:39,880 –> 00:04:42,200here are these athletes and they10100:04:42,220 –> 00:04:44,820catch the eye of the selector.10200:04:44,980 –> 00:04:47,579Picked men. And so they’re on10300:04:47,579 –> 00:04:48,619the team because of their10400:04:48,619 –> 00:04:51,420prowess and and so even human10500:04:51,420 –> 00:04:54,260strength at its highest point,10600:04:54,799 –> 00:04:58,260at its selected point, even10700:04:58,260 –> 00:05:01,059that even picked men shall fall10800:05:01,059 –> 00:05:02,940exhausted. So, you look even at10900:05:02,940 –> 00:05:04,980great athletes at the end of the11000:05:04,980 –> 00:05:06,260marathon, the end of the Iron11100:05:06,260 –> 00:05:08,480Man, or whatever it is and you11200:05:08,480 –> 00:05:11,059see they are weary and and fall11300:05:11,059 –> 00:05:13,000exhausted and some looked faint11400:05:13,079 –> 00:05:15,320and why is that? Because their11500:05:15,320 –> 00:05:16,640bodies have been pushed to the11600:05:16,640 –> 00:05:17,540very limit.11700:05:19,339 –> 00:05:20,720And that’s exactly what we’re11800:05:20,720 –> 00:05:22,279being told here, that there are11900:05:22,279 –> 00:05:24,720limits to all human endurance.12000:05:25,839 –> 00:05:27,920And that is why Paul in Second12100:05:27,920 –> 00:05:29,299Corinthians Chapter 5, he12200:05:29,299 –> 00:05:31,799pictures the human body as what?12300:05:31,880 –> 00:05:35,079A tent. And you look at the12400:05:35,079 –> 00:05:36,380fitness of younger people and12500:05:36,380 –> 00:05:37,799they’re kind of like a tent set12600:05:37,799 –> 00:05:40,220up, real taut and then you get12700:05:40,220 –> 00:05:41,880older as the decades pass the12800:05:41,880 –> 00:05:43,200ropes are beginning to sag.12900:05:43,220 –> 00:05:44,679Does that picture work for you,13000:05:44,720 –> 00:05:45,760you know, a little bit of a13100:05:46,480 –> 00:05:49,320droop in the ridge. He said,13200:05:49,399 –> 00:05:50,540one day in this tent’s gonna be13300:05:50,540 –> 00:05:52,859torn down, it was never made for13400:05:52,859 –> 00:05:54,079eternity, there’s gonna be a13500:05:54,079 –> 00:05:55,519Resurrection body for that.13600:05:57,660 –> 00:05:59,040Now what does all this tell us?13700:05:59,040 –> 00:06:00,359Why is all this truth being13800:06:00,359 –> 00:06:01,760given to us? For this reason,13900:06:02,779 –> 00:06:04,260no Christian should be14000:06:04,260 –> 00:06:06,380surprised at the experience of14100:06:06,380 –> 00:06:07,059weariness.14200:06:08,000 –> 00:06:10,380God has placed this treasure of14300:06:10,380 –> 00:06:12,940Christ, where? In jars of clay.14400:06:14,279 –> 00:06:15,399And we live in this earthly14500:06:15,399 –> 00:06:17,899tent that one day will be torn14600:06:17,899 –> 00:06:19,279down. And the experience of14700:06:19,279 –> 00:06:20,899weariness that may come to a14800:06:20,899 –> 00:06:24,239Christian has come to the best14900:06:24,299 –> 00:06:25,940of believers, the strongest of15000:06:25,940 –> 00:06:27,660believers, David, and Elijah,15100:06:27,660 –> 00:06:28,940John the Baptist.15200:06:31,260 –> 00:06:32,540And when it comes to you, and15300:06:32,540 –> 00:06:33,700when it comes to me, here’s what15400:06:33,700 –> 00:06:36,220we have to do, we have to lean15500:06:36,480 –> 00:06:39,399into the truth that we already15600:06:39,399 –> 00:06:40,579know, that God has made very15700:06:40,579 –> 00:06:42,940clear to us in the scripture.15800:06:43,140 –> 00:06:44,459The truth about God, the truth15900:06:44,459 –> 00:06:46,160about ourselves. John Calvin16000:06:46,160 –> 00:06:47,679said so wonderfully on one16100:06:47,679 –> 00:06:49,920occasion that nearly all the16200:06:49,920 –> 00:06:51,980wisdom we can possess is in two16300:06:51,980 –> 00:06:53,380parts, the knowledge of God and16400:06:53,380 –> 00:06:55,299ourselves, and we never possess16500:06:55,299 –> 00:06:57,980the one without the other. Very16600:06:57,980 –> 00:07:01,700profound. And here God is saying16700:07:01,700 –> 00:07:03,140to his people, now you need to16800:07:03,140 –> 00:07:04,940lean into the truth of, the16900:07:05,000 –> 00:07:06,420knowledge of who you are and17000:07:06,420 –> 00:07:08,779the knowledge of who God17100:07:08,799 –> 00:07:11,260himself is. Here’s what you know17200:07:11,320 –> 00:07:13,420about God, he’s your creator,17300:07:13,420 –> 00:07:15,540he will never abandon you, he17400:07:15,540 –> 00:07:17,040will never faint, he will not17500:07:17,040 –> 00:07:18,299grow weary, and he works on a17600:07:18,339 –> 00:07:20,820vast time scale, so that what he17700:07:20,820 –> 00:07:22,739is doing ultimately is beyond17800:07:22,739 –> 00:07:23,820the range of what you can ever17900:07:23,820 –> 00:07:27,880imagine. But don’t even try. And18000:07:27,880 –> 00:07:28,700here’s what you need to know18100:07:28,700 –> 00:07:30,559about yourself, you are not God,18200:07:31,059 –> 00:07:32,540you are a created being with18300:07:32,540 –> 00:07:33,839limits to your own strength and18400:07:33,839 –> 00:07:35,140your own endurance, you will18500:07:35,140 –> 00:07:36,600become weary, you will know what18600:07:36,600 –> 00:07:38,040it is to feel spent and to feel18700:07:38,040 –> 00:07:39,920exhausted, and that should never18800:07:39,920 –> 00:07:43,700take you by surprise. So lean18900:07:43,700 –> 00:07:44,920into the truth that you know.19000:07:46,799 –> 00:07:48,040But that’s not the whole answer,19100:07:48,200 –> 00:07:50,000that’s the first thing, and it’s19200:07:50,000 –> 00:07:51,600the necessary step that will get19300:07:51,600 –> 00:07:53,440us to the second, which is this,19400:07:54,079 –> 00:07:56,000lay hold of the hope that you19500:07:56,000 –> 00:07:58,160have, lean into the truth that19600:07:58,160 –> 00:08:01,000you know, and lay hold of the19700:08:01,000 –> 00:08:03,700hope that you have. And again,19800:08:03,700 –> 00:08:05,179this comes in two parts, do you19900:08:05,179 –> 00:08:07,559notice here that he gives us the20000:08:07,559 –> 00:08:09,619gift of strength? He speaks20100:08:09,619 –> 00:08:11,660about God giving verse 29, and20200:08:11,660 –> 00:08:13,179then he tells us about how to20300:08:13,220 –> 00:08:15,299receive this gift. So the giving20400:08:15,299 –> 00:08:16,859of the gift and the receiving of20500:08:16,859 –> 00:08:19,179the gift both very clear here.20600:08:19,179 –> 00:08:21,179So lay hold of the hope that you20700:08:21,179 –> 00:08:23,000have. Notice the gift of20800:08:23,000 –> 00:08:26,019strength in verse 29. He gives,20900:08:26,260 –> 00:08:31,420God gives power to the faint and21000:08:31,420 –> 00:08:32,820to him who has no might he21100:08:32,820 –> 00:08:34,460increases strength. That’s21200:08:34,859 –> 00:08:37,940wonderful word gives, gives,21300:08:39,219 –> 00:08:41,320he gives, God gives.21400:08:42,380 –> 00:08:43,799So here we’re reading about a21500:08:43,799 –> 00:08:45,960particular action of God in21600:08:45,960 –> 00:08:47,520relation to his own people at21700:08:47,520 –> 00:08:49,460times when we feel discouraged,21800:08:49,460 –> 00:08:50,900our strength depleted, our faith21900:08:50,900 –> 00:08:52,460burning low, what does God do?22000:08:52,460 –> 00:08:57,140He gives power. He increases22100:08:57,140 –> 00:08:58,940strength, a particular action22200:08:58,940 –> 00:09:01,099and work of God. How does God do22300:09:01,099 –> 00:09:03,780this? Well, we’ve just read22400:09:03,799 –> 00:09:05,460that God himself does not grow22500:09:05,460 –> 00:09:07,099faint or grow weary and the way22600:09:07,099 –> 00:09:08,619in which he gives strength to22700:09:08,619 –> 00:09:11,539the weary is that he gives us22800:09:11,539 –> 00:09:15,619himself, the unwearying God, the22900:09:15,619 –> 00:09:19,020spirit of the God who never runs23000:09:19,080 –> 00:09:23,419out of resource. And this is not23100:09:23,419 –> 00:09:25,039folks… I mean this is not some23200:09:25,039 –> 00:09:27,659kind of zapping with power that23300:09:27,659 –> 00:09:29,280moves an exhausted Christian23400:09:29,440 –> 00:09:32,119into instant bionic overdrive. I23500:09:32,119 –> 00:09:36,099mean, no, it’s not that. The23600:09:36,119 –> 00:09:38,640effect of this renewing of23700:09:38,640 –> 00:09:40,460strength that is the gift of God23800:09:40,520 –> 00:09:43,320to his people is that God’s23900:09:43,359 –> 00:09:44,840people just keep pressing on.24000:09:45,640 –> 00:09:47,840Keep running, keep walking,24100:09:49,119 –> 00:09:53,520keep, keep pressing on. And it’s24200:09:53,520 –> 00:09:55,840an amazing thing. If you want to24300:09:55,840 –> 00:09:57,559know how it feels, let me give24400:09:57,580 –> 00:09:59,880you two descriptions of it from24500:09:59,880 –> 00:10:01,000the New Testament from the24600:10:01,000 –> 00:10:02,840experience of the Apostle Paul.24700:10:02,840 –> 00:10:03,820This is what it was like for24800:10:03,820 –> 00:10:05,520him. And so it’s what it may24900:10:05,520 –> 00:10:07,080feel like for you and for me as25000:10:07,080 –> 00:10:08,820well. One description is in25100:10:08,820 –> 00:10:10,6402 Corinthians chapter four and25200:10:10,640 –> 00:10:12,479verse seven. This is where Paul25300:10:12,479 –> 00:10:14,159talks about the treasure of25400:10:14,159 –> 00:10:15,840Christ being placed in these25500:10:15,840 –> 00:10:18,080jars of clay, this frail25600:10:18,599 –> 00:10:21,760reality, that is my life. And he25700:10:21,760 –> 00:10:23,159says, this is what it’s like, we25800:10:23,159 –> 00:10:25,219are afflicted in every way.25900:10:25,359 –> 00:10:28,099There’s the stress. But we are26000:10:28,099 –> 00:10:29,059not crushed.26100:10:29,099 –> 00:10:30,659There’s God giving the strength26200:10:30,659 –> 00:10:33,039to continue. We are perplexed.26300:10:33,059 –> 00:10:34,900There’s the pressure but we are26400:10:34,900 –> 00:10:36,659not driven to despair. There’s26500:10:36,659 –> 00:10:38,059God renewing strength to keep26600:10:38,059 –> 00:10:41,039going. We are persecuted but we26700:10:41,039 –> 00:10:43,140are not forsaken. We are struck26800:10:43,140 –> 00:10:44,859down but we are not destroyed.26900:10:44,859 –> 00:10:46,140We’re always carrying in our27000:10:46,140 –> 00:10:47,359body the death of the Lord27100:10:47,359 –> 00:10:48,799Jesus so that the life of the27200:10:48,799 –> 00:10:50,299Lord Jesus may be revealed in27300:10:50,299 –> 00:10:52,159us. That’s the reality of27400:10:52,159 –> 00:10:53,520Christian experience is God27500:10:53,539 –> 00:10:56,119renews your strength. Another27600:10:56,119 –> 00:10:57,460way in which Paul describes it27700:10:57,460 –> 00:10:59,159is in Colossians chapter 1 and27800:10:59,159 –> 00:11:01,400verse 29. He’s been talking27900:11:01,400 –> 00:11:02,479about ministry, he’s been28000:11:02,479 –> 00:11:04,760talking about his life’s work.28100:11:04,760 –> 00:11:06,260He says and the life’s work of28200:11:06,260 –> 00:11:07,239the Church. He says, we28300:11:07,239 –> 00:11:08,919proclaim Him. That’s what we28400:11:08,919 –> 00:11:11,840do. We proclaim Jesus Christ and28500:11:11,840 –> 00:11:14,859what’s it like doing that? Well28600:11:14,859 –> 00:11:16,559he says in the next verse, for28700:11:16,559 –> 00:11:20,320this I toil, literally the word28800:11:20,320 –> 00:11:24,080is hard labor. For this I toil28900:11:24,080 –> 00:11:25,919and notice the next word29000:11:25,919 –> 00:11:29,400struggling! That’s tough.29100:11:29,400 –> 00:11:31,520Struggling, how struggling with29200:11:31,520 –> 00:11:33,960all his energy that so29300:11:33,960 –> 00:11:36,580powerfully works in me? So29400:11:36,580 –> 00:11:38,520here’s what it feels like. It29500:11:38,520 –> 00:11:39,799feels like I’m working really29600:11:39,799 –> 00:11:41,599hard. It feels like I’m toiling.29700:11:41,599 –> 00:11:43,559It feels like I’m laboring. It29800:11:43,559 –> 00:11:44,900feels like I’m struggling but29900:11:44,900 –> 00:11:45,979the very reason that I am30000:11:45,979 –> 00:11:48,580struggling and not giving up is30100:11:49,320 –> 00:11:50,900that he’s renewing my strength.30200:11:50,900 –> 00:11:52,179That his energy is working30300:11:52,179 –> 00:11:55,619powerfully in me. So the30400:11:55,619 –> 00:11:57,119energy of God that he’s spoken30500:11:57,119 –> 00:11:58,340of here does not make a30600:11:58,340 –> 00:11:59,979Christian feel that he or she30700:11:59,979 –> 00:12:01,940is somehow soaring above the30800:12:01,940 –> 00:12:06,280clouds. No, I toil, I labor.30900:12:06,280 –> 00:12:07,739I sometimes feel discouraged.31000:12:07,739 –> 00:12:09,520I sometimes feel exhausted but31100:12:09,520 –> 00:12:12,940here is why I don’t give up.31200:12:12,940 –> 00:12:13,979Here is why I keep31300:12:13,979 –> 00:12:18,239pushing on. God gives.31400:12:19,020 –> 00:12:20,960Power to defeat.31500:12:22,119 –> 00:12:22,960You’re listening to Open the31600:12:22,960 –> 00:12:24,340Bible with Pastor Colin31700:12:24,340 –> 00:12:25,799Smith and a message called31800:12:25,799 –> 00:12:27,419Collective Weariness and31900:12:27,419 –> 00:12:28,400we’ll get right back to the32000:12:28,400 –> 00:12:30,280message very shortly.32100:12:30,280 –> 00:12:31,039Don’t forget if you ever32200:12:31,039 –> 00:12:32,520missed one of Pastor32300:12:32,520 –> 00:12:33,580Colin’s messages or if32400:12:33,580 –> 00:12:34,919you want to catch up or32500:12:34,919 –> 00:12:35,940go back and listen again32600:12:35,940 –> 00:12:37,020to any of the series32700:12:37,020 –> 00:12:37,659which have already been32800:12:37,659 –> 00:12:38,940broadcasted, you can find32900:12:38,940 –> 00:12:40,599them all on our website33000:12:40,599 –> 00:12:43,539at openthebible.org.uk33100:12:43,539 –> 00:12:45,080also as a podcast on all33200:12:45,080 –> 00:12:46,880the main podcast sites.33300:12:46,880 –> 00:12:48,280Try searching Open the33400:12:49,239 –> 00:12:50,719Bible UK. Open the Bible33500:12:50,719 –> 00:12:52,059is listened to by people33600:12:52,059 –> 00:12:53,599up and down the country.33700:12:53,599 –> 00:12:55,419I’m with Open the Bible’s33800:12:55,419 –> 00:12:56,179executive director, John33900:12:56,179 –> 00:12:57,679Martin. John, what are34000:12:57,679 –> 00:12:58,919listeners saying when34100:12:58,919 –> 00:13:00,179they contact you?34200:13:00,179 –> 00:13:02,719Yeah, so we get letters34300:13:02,719 –> 00:13:03,539from all sorts of34400:13:03,539 –> 00:13:04,919listeners and some of34500:13:04,919 –> 00:13:05,880those listeners are34600:13:05,880 –> 00:13:07,140actually inmates around34700:13:07,140 –> 00:13:08,539UK prisons and it’s34800:13:08,539 –> 00:13:09,940wonderful to receive the34900:13:09,940 –> 00:13:11,299news that they have been35000:13:11,299 –> 00:13:12,380able to listen to the35100:13:12,380 –> 00:13:13,359broadcast and they’ve35200:13:13,359 –> 00:13:14,539been encouraged by it.35300:13:14,539 –> 00:13:15,679We’re pursuing a35400:13:15,679 –> 00:13:17,419partnership with Daylight35500:13:17,559 –> 00:13:19,260Christian Prison Trust.35600:13:19,260 –> 00:13:20,700They have chaplains in a35700:13:20,700 –> 00:13:22,099number of UK prisons,35800:13:22,099 –> 00:13:23,979and they’re keen to use35900:13:23,979 –> 00:13:25,900good resources with those36000:13:25,900 –> 00:13:27,299exploring faith and those36100:13:27,299 –> 00:13:28,059seeking to grow in their36200:13:28,059 –> 00:13:30,140faith. So, we’ve talked36300:13:30,140 –> 00:13:31,260with them about the36400:13:31,260 –> 00:13:32,239possibility of getting36500:13:32,239 –> 00:13:33,260the film, Heaven, How I36600:13:33,260 –> 00:13:34,820Got It, into as many of36700:13:34,820 –> 00:13:35,739those prisons as36800:13:35,739 –> 00:13:37,080possible, to give the36900:13:37,080 –> 00:13:38,460chaplains the discussion37000:13:38,460 –> 00:13:39,919guide, to supply the37100:13:39,919 –> 00:13:41,099chaplains with the books37200:13:41,099 –> 00:13:42,460or booklets. So, we’re37300:13:42,460 –> 00:13:43,880trialling that now with37400:13:43,880 –> 00:13:45,099the hope of creating a37500:13:45,099 –> 00:13:46,419batch of DVDs of the37600:13:46,760 –> 00:13:47,900films so they can easily37700:13:47,900 –> 00:13:49,859take those in and share37800:13:49,859 –> 00:13:50,760the good news that way.37900:13:51,400 –> 00:13:52,099There are a number of38000:13:52,099 –> 00:13:53,419prisoners around the UK38100:13:53,419 –> 00:13:55,140who are really keen to38200:13:55,140 –> 00:13:56,059learn more about the38300:13:56,059 –> 00:13:57,539Christian faith. So, if38400:13:57,539 –> 00:13:58,919we can give them courses38500:13:58,919 –> 00:14:00,419that are accessible and38600:14:00,419 –> 00:14:01,299appropriate for their38700:14:01,320 –> 00:14:02,900setting, then we are very,38800:14:02,900 –> 00:14:04,260very eager to do that.38900:14:04,340 –> 00:14:05,500To find out more about39000:14:05,500 –> 00:14:06,260the work of Open the39100:14:06,260 –> 00:14:07,419Bible, come to our39200:14:07,419 –> 00:14:09,780website, openthebible.org.uk39300:14:09,780 –> 00:14:12,299Back to The Message Now,39400:14:12,299 –> 00:14:13,460here again is Colin.39500:14:14,419 –> 00:14:18,640God gives power to the39600:14:18,640 –> 00:14:21,979faint. So there is the39700:14:21,979 –> 00:14:23,179gift that God gives.39800:14:23,179 –> 00:14:24,820And then of course the39900:14:24,820 –> 00:14:26,059question is then how am I40000:14:26,059 –> 00:14:29,059to receive it? And notice40100:14:29,059 –> 00:14:29,739that that is where we40200:14:29,739 –> 00:14:31,500come in. Verse 31 –40300:14:31,500 –> 00:14:35,239They who wait for the40400:14:35,239 –> 00:14:39,799Lord shall renew their40500:14:39,799 –> 00:14:41,979strength. Do you hear God40600:14:41,979 –> 00:14:43,320speaking that tenderly to40700:14:44,159 –> 00:14:46,859you today? They that wait40800:14:46,859 –> 00:14:50,900upon the Lord shall renew40900:14:50,900 –> 00:14:53,000their strength. What does41000:14:53,000 –> 00:14:54,659it mean to wait on the41100:14:54,659 –> 00:14:57,739Lord? Well it means to41200:14:57,739 –> 00:15:00,960look expectantly, it means41300:15:00,960 –> 00:15:04,580eager anticipation. When41400:15:04,580 –> 00:15:07,539I was a little boy my41500:15:07,539 –> 00:15:10,159grandparents used to41600:15:10,159 –> 00:15:12,580come in my aunts blue41700:15:12,979 –> 00:15:18,739call our car every Wednesday41800:15:18,739 –> 00:15:20,679at 630 and the reason they41900:15:20,679 –> 00:15:22,760came every Wednesday at 63042000:15:22,760 –> 00:15:24,280was that every Wednesday at42100:15:24,280 –> 00:15:26,599730 was the prayer meeting42200:15:26,599 –> 00:15:28,820and we didn’t have a car.42300:15:28,820 –> 00:15:29,859They picked up either my42400:15:29,859 –> 00:15:30,900father or my mother and one42500:15:30,900 –> 00:15:31,559of them went with my aunt42600:15:31,559 –> 00:15:34,799my grandparents and my42700:15:34,799 –> 00:15:36,239grandma always had sweets42800:15:36,239 –> 00:15:40,099in her bag. and she was42900:15:40,500 –> 00:15:43,239at time. At 630 when she43000:15:43,239 –> 00:15:44,940arrived. and I can still43100:15:44,940 –> 00:15:46,200remember quite vividly my43200:15:46,200 –> 00:15:47,400mother saying where are43300:15:47,400 –> 00:15:51,080you. and I would say.43400:15:51,080 –> 00:15:54,320watching at the window.43500:15:54,320 –> 00:15:56,820Climbed up my bedroom. Next43600:15:56,820 –> 00:15:59,859to the curtain watching at43700:15:59,859 –> 00:16:02,059the window. Grandma’s43800:16:02,059 –> 00:16:04,099coming. she’s got good43900:16:04,099 –> 00:16:07,359things in her bag.44000:16:07,359 –> 00:16:13,659anticipating. anticipation.44100:16:13,659 –> 00:16:15,400Those who anticipate the44200:16:15,400 –> 00:16:19,419help of God. will renew44300:16:19,419 –> 00:16:23,280their strength. And laying44400:16:23,280 –> 00:16:25,340hold of the hope that you44500:16:25,340 –> 00:16:29,419have. The natural result of44600:16:29,419 –> 00:16:31,239leaning into the truth that44700:16:31,239 –> 00:16:33,979you know. So when you lean44800:16:33,979 –> 00:16:35,359into what you know about God44900:16:35,359 –> 00:16:36,460that he really is your45000:16:36,460 –> 00:16:38,159spirit and he can not grow45100:16:38,159 –> 00:16:40,900weary, you will look to him45200:16:40,900 –> 00:16:44,719and he will give you strength45300:16:44,719 –> 00:16:46,440and look at what is promised45400:16:46,440 –> 00:16:48,340they who wait upon the lord45500:16:48,340 –> 00:16:49,840shall renew their strength.45600:16:49,840 –> 00:16:51,700They shall mount up with45700:16:51,700 –> 00:16:52,659wings like eagles. They45800:16:52,659 –> 00:16:54,799shall run and not be weary45900:16:54,799 –> 00:16:56,640and they shall walk and not46000:16:56,640 –> 00:16:59,479faint. at least one of the46100:16:59,479 –> 00:17:00,640commentators asked the46200:17:00,640 –> 00:17:01,479question, isn’t this the46300:17:01,479 –> 00:17:04,479wrong way around? I mean, it46400:17:04,479 –> 00:17:05,719seems like we’re starting46500:17:06,280 –> 00:17:07,020and then we’re going to46600:17:07,020 –> 00:17:09,479running, then we’re slowing46700:17:09,479 –> 00:17:11,880down to walking. What’s46800:17:11,880 –> 00:17:12,920next, grind into a46900:17:12,920 –> 00:17:14,719standstill? I mean, like47000:17:14,719 –> 00:17:15,479we’re going the wrong way,47100:17:15,479 –> 00:17:17,400it doesn’t, it! Of course47200:17:17,400 –> 00:17:18,920God never has it the47300:17:18,920 –> 00:17:19,900wrong way around. Why is47400:17:19,900 –> 00:17:21,459it placed this way? Let me47500:17:21,459 –> 00:17:24,000suggest this to you. The47600:17:24,000 –> 00:17:26,000strength for pressing on47700:17:26,000 –> 00:17:27,140whether it be running or47800:17:27,140 –> 00:17:29,739walking arises from what?47900:17:30,739 –> 00:17:32,479It comes to us as we48000:17:32,540 –> 00:17:34,800ascend by faith into the48100:17:34,819 –> 00:17:36,199presence of the Lord and48200:17:36,199 –> 00:17:38,060commune with him. That’s48300:17:38,060 –> 00:17:39,219exactly what I’m inviting48400:17:39,219 –> 00:17:40,219you to do in just a few48500:17:40,219 –> 00:17:41,160moments time around the48600:17:41,160 –> 00:17:43,660Lord’s table. We come48700:17:43,660 –> 00:17:46,160here to do more than48800:17:46,160 –> 00:17:47,439remember a Savior who48900:17:47,439 –> 00:17:50,579died. We come here to49000:17:50,579 –> 00:17:52,400commune with a Savior who49100:17:52,400 –> 00:17:55,599lives. That’s huge. And49200:17:55,599 –> 00:17:57,180remember as you come that49300:17:57,180 –> 00:17:59,380in His humanity, He knew49400:17:59,380 –> 00:18:01,180what it was to be weary,49500:18:01,180 –> 00:18:02,959to be so tired that he49600:18:02,959 –> 00:18:04,160could even fall asleep in49700:18:04,339 –> 00:18:05,160a boat where there’s a49800:18:05,160 –> 00:18:07,920storm. That tired in49900:18:07,920 –> 00:18:11,219ministry. And he knew as50000:18:11,219 –> 00:18:12,920a young man what it was50100:18:12,920 –> 00:18:14,400to stumble and to fall50200:18:14,599 –> 00:18:16,260bearing the weight of that50300:18:16,260 –> 00:18:18,199cross after his back had50400:18:18,199 –> 00:18:19,880been lacerated, his head50500:18:19,880 –> 00:18:20,839had been beaten. His50600:18:20,839 –> 00:18:22,060strength was exhausted.50700:18:22,180 –> 00:18:23,719He stumbles and falls.50800:18:23,819 –> 00:18:26,880He’s been there but He’s50900:18:27,280 –> 00:18:29,900not there now. Where is51000:18:29,900 –> 00:18:30,939He now? He’s at the right51100:18:30,939 –> 00:18:33,219hand of the Father in51200:18:33,260 –> 00:18:34,599glory. And He’s there for51300:18:34,599 –> 00:18:36,219you. And He’s there on51400:18:36,239 –> 00:18:37,959your behalf. And He gives51500:18:37,959 –> 00:18:39,199His spirit. And there is51600:18:39,199 –> 00:18:40,280hope for you in your51700:18:40,280 –> 00:18:41,719struggle and Him as51800:18:41,719 –> 00:18:43,479something of His divine51900:18:43,479 –> 00:18:47,040power touches you in your52000:18:47,040 –> 00:18:48,280human weakness and52100:18:48,280 –> 00:18:50,739strength comes to us as52200:18:50,739 –> 00:18:52,560by faith we ascend into52300:18:52,560 –> 00:18:53,640the presence of the Lord52400:18:53,800 –> 00:18:55,119and we commune with Him52500:18:55,280 –> 00:18:58,660our living Savior. And52600:18:58,660 –> 00:18:59,859here’s what will come from52700:18:59,859 –> 00:19:01,300that as you ascende to Him52800:19:01,300 –> 00:19:02,939by faith. And you commune52900:19:02,959 –> 00:19:04,099with Him. You will find53000:19:04,099 –> 00:19:05,420that strength comes to53100:19:05,420 –> 00:19:06,800you. That’s what faith is.53200:19:06,819 –> 00:19:08,560That’s how faith receives53300:19:08,560 –> 00:19:10,180and you will just keep53400:19:10,180 –> 00:19:13,219going. You will keep53500:19:13,239 –> 00:19:14,260pressing on. Someone’s53600:19:14,260 –> 00:19:14,979going to be saying,53700:19:14,979 –> 00:19:16,040someone who’s skeptical53800:19:16,040 –> 00:19:17,579someone who says, I wish53900:19:17,579 –> 00:19:18,959that was true. But where’s54000:19:18,959 –> 00:19:20,339the proof. I see to you54100:19:20,339 –> 00:19:21,560today the proof is all54200:19:21,560 –> 00:19:24,500round you. Brother,54300:19:24,500 –> 00:19:26,380sister, you are the54400:19:26,380 –> 00:19:29,979proof. Look back on your54500:19:29,979 –> 00:19:31,180Christian life. And ask54600:19:31,180 –> 00:19:32,359this question, how in all54700:19:32,359 –> 00:19:33,479the world am I still a54800:19:33,479 –> 00:19:36,520Christian today? Think54900:19:36,520 –> 00:19:37,959about all the questions55000:19:37,959 –> 00:19:39,000that have perplexed you55100:19:39,000 –> 00:19:39,780and some of them you’ve55200:19:39,780 –> 00:19:42,280not answered yet. All55300:19:42,280 –> 00:19:42,920the things that have55400:19:42,920 –> 00:19:44,119disappointed you, all the55500:19:44,119 –> 00:19:45,199things that have drained55600:19:45,199 –> 00:19:48,199you. Look at all that55700:19:48,199 –> 00:19:50,520you have come through and55800:19:50,520 –> 00:19:52,760ask the question, why am55900:19:52,760 –> 00:19:54,959I still a Christian today,56000:19:55,119 –> 00:19:56,020and there can only be56100:19:56,020 –> 00:19:57,000one answer to that56200:19:57,000 –> 00:19:58,800question. You were saved56300:19:58,800 –> 00:20:00,760because God made hold56400:20:00,760 –> 00:20:02,119of you and you have56500:20:02,119 –> 00:20:04,119been kept because God56600:20:04,119 –> 00:20:05,680has never let you go.56700:20:07,339 –> 00:20:08,119His grace and his56800:20:08,119 –> 00:20:08,719strength has been56900:20:08,719 –> 00:20:11,439sufficient and that just57000:20:11,439 –> 00:20:12,560caught the mind, the57100:20:12,560 –> 00:20:14,160imagination of John57200:20:14,160 –> 00:20:14,880Newton who wrote that57300:20:14,880 –> 00:20:16,640wonderful hymn coming out57400:20:16,640 –> 00:20:17,680of his own conversion,57500:20:17,680 –> 00:20:19,640Amazing Grace, and he was57600:20:19,640 –> 00:20:20,760gripped by the fact57700:20:20,760 –> 00:20:21,839that after all that he57800:20:21,839 –> 00:20:23,160had done, the wickedness57900:20:23,160 –> 00:20:24,760of his life, that God in58000:20:24,760 –> 00:20:26,319his grace would save him.58100:20:27,760 –> 00:20:28,800But it didn’t stop58200:20:28,800 –> 00:20:31,160there. He was every bit58300:20:31,239 –> 00:20:32,800as amazed that God would58400:20:32,800 –> 00:20:33,739have kept him.58500:20:34,920 –> 00:20:35,579Do you remember how he58600:20:35,579 –> 00:20:36,939put it? Through many58700:20:36,939 –> 00:20:38,479dangers, toils and58800:20:38,479 –> 00:20:41,319snares I have already58900:20:41,319 –> 00:20:44,119come, but it is grace59000:20:44,119 –> 00:20:45,579that has brought me safe59100:20:45,579 –> 00:20:49,199this far. And it is grace59200:20:50,040 –> 00:20:53,800that will lead me home.59300:20:53,800 –> 00:20:54,920That is the faithfulness59400:20:54,920 –> 00:20:57,239of God the eternal and59500:20:57,239 –> 00:20:59,520inexhaustible God, a God59600:20:59,520 –> 00:21:00,520who has come to us in59700:21:00,520 –> 00:21:01,760Jesus Christ, and who59800:21:01,760 –> 00:21:03,760says to us in his son,59900:21:03,800 –> 00:21:05,300Come to me all you who60000:21:05,300 –> 00:21:06,400are weary and heavy60100:21:06,400 –> 00:21:09,839lame and I will give60200:21:09,839 –> 00:21:11,119you rest.60300:21:12,979 –> 00:21:13,979You’ve been listening to60400:21:13,979 –> 00:21:15,319Pastor Colin Smith on60500:21:15,319 –> 00:21:16,660Open the Bible with the60600:21:16,660 –> 00:21:17,599final part of our60700:21:17,599 –> 00:21:18,880message, Collective60800:21:18,880 –> 00:21:20,359Weariness, part of the60900:21:20,359 –> 00:21:21,859series Waiting for the61000:21:21,859 –> 00:21:23,839Lord. If you ever miss61100:21:23,839 –> 00:21:24,959one of our messages,61200:21:24,959 –> 00:21:25,979you can easily catch61300:21:25,979 –> 00:21:26,920up or go back and61400:21:26,920 –> 00:21:28,319listen again by coming61500:21:28,319 –> 00:21:29,699online to our website,61600:21:30,000 –> 00:21:31,839openthebible.org.uk61700:21:32,699 –> 00:21:33,579or by going to your61800:21:33,579 –> 00:21:34,900favourite podcast site61900:21:35,099 –> 00:21:36,540and they’re searching for62000:21:36,540 –> 00:21:38,119openthebibleuk.62100:21:38,599 –> 00:21:39,500You’ll find all the62200:21:39,500 –> 00:21:40,359messages which have62300:21:40,359 –> 00:21:41,660already gone out on air62400:21:41,900 –> 00:21:42,819freely available62500:21:42,819 –> 00:21:44,239to be listened to on62600:21:44,239 –> 00:21:45,880our website and as a62700:21:45,880 –> 00:21:47,819podcast. Many62800:21:47,819 –> 00:21:48,459Christians62900:21:48,479 –> 00:21:49,859use Open the Bible’s63000:21:50,040 –> 00:21:51,199short reflection63100:21:51,199 –> 00:21:52,540programme, Open the63200:21:52,540 –> 00:21:54,099Bible Daily. You’ll63300:21:54,099 –> 00:21:55,099find Open the Bible63400:21:55,099 –> 00:21:56,500Daily on our website63500:21:56,739 –> 00:21:57,540and there’s a fresh63600:21:57,540 –> 00:21:58,900episode every day.63700:21:59,079 –> 00:22:00,099It’s based on Pastor63800:22:00,099 –> 00:22:01,380Colin’s teaching and63900:22:01,380 –> 00:22:03,079read in the UK by Sue64000:22:03,099 –> 00:22:04,939MacLeish. That’s open64100:22:04,939 –> 00:22:07,000the Bible Daily.64200:22:07,079 –> 00:22:07,819Open the Bible is64300:22:07,819 –> 00:22:08,680supported very64400:22:08,680 –> 00:22:09,719generously by our64500:22:09,739 –> 00:22:10,959listeners but it’s not64600:22:10,959 –> 00:22:12,060just the programme and64700:22:12,060 –> 00:22:13,180the website that are64800:22:13,180 –> 00:22:14,160listeners support.64900:22:14,579 –> 00:22:15,660Open the Bible also65000:22:15,660 –> 00:22:16,979supports Daylight65100:22:17,020 –> 00:22:18,459Christian Prison Trust65200:22:18,859 –> 00:22:20,000who work directly with65300:22:20,000 –> 00:22:21,219prisoners in UK65400:22:21,219 –> 00:22:23,119prisons. Here again is65500:22:23,199 –> 00:22:24,060open the Bible’s65600:22:24,060 –> 00:22:25,219executive director65700:22:25,300 –> 00:22:26,079John Martin.65800:22:26,479 –> 00:22:26,680bi65900:22:26,680 –> 00:22:27,400Listeners might be66000:22:27,400 –> 00:22:28,079interested to know66100:22:28,079 –> 00:22:28,939where some of the66200:22:28,959 –> 00:22:29,880donations to open66300:22:29,880 –> 00:22:30,680the Bible go.66400:22:30,739 –> 00:22:31,699So through a mutual66500:22:31,699 –> 00:22:32,819friend I got to know66600:22:32,859 –> 00:22:34,239Gaius Fillingham who66700:22:34,239 –> 00:22:35,579is the CEO of66800:22:35,579 –> 00:22:36,640Daylight Christian66900:22:36,660 –> 00:22:37,660Prison Trust or67000:22:37,719 –> 00:22:38,800Daylight for short67100:22:39,119 –> 00:22:40,339and Gaius and I67200:22:40,339 –> 00:22:41,280were talking about67300:22:41,280 –> 00:22:42,239some of the resources67400:22:42,239 –> 00:22:43,079that open the Bible67500:22:43,079 –> 00:22:44,500has I mentioned67600:22:44,760 –> 00:22:46,040Colin has this67700:22:46,199 –> 00:22:47,439first person account67800:22:47,439 –> 00:22:48,319of the story of the67900:22:48,319 –> 00:22:49,160Thief on the Cross68000:22:49,160 –> 00:22:50,199heaven how I got68100:22:50,199 –> 00:22:51,079here that was a68200:22:51,079 –> 00:22:51,719story that was68300:22:51,719 –> 00:22:52,540relevant to68400:22:53,099 –> 00:22:54,459prisoners obviously I68500:22:54,479 –> 00:22:55,319mentioned that the68600:22:55,319 –> 00:22:56,079book had actually68700:22:56,099 –> 00:22:57,540been produced as a68800:22:57,540 –> 00:22:59,060one hour one actor68900:22:59,079 –> 00:23:00,459filmed performance69000:23:00,880 –> 00:23:01,859and that was available69100:23:02,020 –> 00:23:02,579and would that be69200:23:02,579 –> 00:23:03,599of use in prisons69300:23:04,079 –> 00:23:05,540so we produced69400:23:05,579 –> 00:23:06,780a prison edition69500:23:07,400 –> 00:23:08,380of heaven how I got69600:23:08,380 –> 00:23:09,040here the story of69700:23:09,040 –> 00:23:09,560the thief on the69800:23:09,560 –> 00:23:09,979cross.69900:23:10,660 –> 00:23:11,260One hundred and70000:23:11,260 –> 00:23:12,180fifty DVD’s70100:23:12,180 –> 00:23:13,000were produced.70200:23:13,479 –> 00:23:14,000We did it as a70300:23:14,000 –> 00:23:14,800prison edition70400:23:14,819 –> 00:23:15,640whereby we had70500:23:15,660 –> 00:23:16,339open the Bible70600:23:16,339 –> 00:23:17,079and Daylight’s70700:23:17,140 –> 00:23:18,180logos on there70800:23:18,719 –> 00:23:19,979and Collin recorded70900:23:20,020 –> 00:23:21,219a bespoke little71000:23:21,260 –> 00:23:22,579epilogue to71100:23:22,680 –> 00:23:23,300address the71200:23:23,300 –> 00:23:24,359prisoners point71300:23:24,359 –> 00:23:24,939them to the71400:23:24,939 –> 00:23:25,760prison chaplain71500:23:26,060 –> 00:23:27,040encourage them to71600:23:27,040 –> 00:23:27,560speak to their71700:23:27,560 –> 00:23:28,319chaplains to get71800:23:28,319 –> 00:23:29,060more literature.71900:23:29,599 –> 00:23:30,979We’ve heard from72000:23:30,979 –> 00:23:31,800prison chaplains72100:23:31,800 –> 00:23:32,579who said the72200:23:32,579 –> 00:23:33,719video the film72300:23:33,719 –> 00:23:34,400has been well72400:23:34,400 –> 00:23:35,000received.72500:23:35,760 –> 00:23:36,760We printed a72600:23:36,760 –> 00:23:37,239whole load of72700:23:37,239 –> 00:23:38,079little booklets72800:23:38,180 –> 00:23:39,400about how to72900:23:39,400 –> 00:23:40,099get into heaven73000:23:40,739 –> 00:23:41,280how they can73100:23:41,280 –> 00:23:42,319respond themselves73200:23:42,760 –> 00:23:44,079and those again73300:23:44,079 –> 00:23:44,800were distributed73400:23:44,800 –> 00:23:45,780with the DVD’s73500:23:46,199 –> 00:23:46,780and there’s a whole73600:23:46,780 –> 00:23:47,459load more that can73700:23:47,459 –> 00:23:48,300be requested for73800:23:48,300 –> 00:23:48,739free.73900:23:49,000 –> 00:23:49,880So donations74000:23:49,880 –> 00:23:50,479towards open the74100:23:50,479 –> 00:23:51,699Bible can be74200:23:51,839 –> 00:23:52,819sent directly74300:23:52,880 –> 00:23:53,880into that ministry.74400:23:54,400 –> 00:23:55,239If you’d like to74500:23:55,239 –> 00:23:55,880support the work74600:23:55,880 –> 00:23:56,520of open the Bible74700:23:56,660 –> 00:23:57,719generally or our74800:23:57,719 –> 00:23:58,699working prison in74900:23:58,699 –> 00:23:59,439association with75000:23:59,439 –> 00:23:59,979Daylight75100:23:59,979 –> 00:24:01,560specially you can75200:24:01,560 –> 00:24:02,619do that online75300:24:02,619 –> 00:24:03,560at our Web site75400:24:03,560 –> 00:24:04,359open the Bible75500:24:05,079 –> 00:24:06,439.org.uk75600:24:06,439 –> 00:24:07,439use the donate75700:24:07,439 –> 00:24:08,560button and enter75800:24:08,560 –> 00:24:09,479your email address.75900:24:09,959 –> 00:24:10,920On the next page76000:24:10,920 –> 00:24:11,859select between76100:24:11,859 –> 00:24:13,160the General Fund76200:24:13,160 –> 00:24:14,119our monthly free76300:24:14,119 –> 00:24:14,739offer for new76400:24:14,739 –> 00:24:15,680givers or76500:24:15,680 –> 00:24:16,660prison ministry76600:24:16,660 –> 00:24:17,560in association76700:24:17,560 –> 00:24:18,300with Daylight.76800:24:18,719 –> 00:24:19,520Thanks so much76900:24:19,520 –> 00:24:20,359in advance for77000:24:20,359 –> 00:24:21,180your support of77100:24:21,180 –> 00:24:21,680the work of77200:24:21,680 –> 00:24:22,400open the Bible.77300:24:22,920 –> 00:24:23,640If you’re able77400:24:23,640 –> 00:24:24,660to support the77500:24:24,660 –> 00:24:25,359work of open the77600:24:25,359 –> 00:24:26,020Bible on a77700:24:26,020 –> 00:24:27,199regular basis77800:24:27,439 –> 00:24:28,079by setting up77900:24:28,079 –> 00:24:29,439a direct debit78000:24:29,760 –> 00:24:30,380in the amount of78100:24:30,380 –> 00:24:31,300five pounds per78200:24:31,300 –> 00:24:32,319month or more78300:24:32,560 –> 00:24:33,359or a one off78400:24:33,359 –> 00:24:34,119gift to 5078500:24:34,119 –> 00:24:34,979pounds or more78600:24:35,300 –> 00:24:35,959we’d love to say78700:24:35,959 –> 00:24:36,619thank you78800:24:36,920 –> 00:24:37,640by sending you78900:24:37,640 –> 00:24:38,140a copy of79000:24:38,140 –> 00:24:39,060pastor Colin’s79100:24:39,060 –> 00:24:39,780new book79200:24:40,160 –> 00:24:40,900Hike Through79300:24:40,900 –> 00:24:41,500the Bible.79400:24:42,020 –> 00:24:43,160Full terms and79500:24:43,160 –> 00:24:44,199conditions online79600:24:44,199 –> 00:24:45,239at our website79700:24:45,239 –> 00:24:46,260open the Bible79800:24:46,260 –> 00:24:47,780.org.uk79900:24:47,780 –> 00:24:48,660and you can80000:24:48,660 –> 00:24:49,520give online.80100:24:50,079 –> 00:24:50,819Don’t forget80200:24:50,819 –> 00:24:51,599to leave your80300:24:51,599 –> 00:24:52,459named address80400:24:52,459 –> 00:24:53,560so we can send80500:24:53,560 –> 00:24:54,260you your gift.80600:24:55,000 –> 00:24:55,819For Open the80700:24:55,920 –> 00:24:56,439Bible and80800:24:56,439 –> 00:24:57,500Pastor Colin Smith80900:24:57,500 –> 00:24:58,540I’m David Pick81000:24:58,540 –> 00:24:59,239And I look81100:24:59,239 –> 00:24:59,859forward to being81200:24:59,859 –> 00:25:00,719with you again81300:25:00,719 –> 00:25:01,560next time.81400:25:08,380 –> 00:25:08,800Find out81500:25:08,800 –> 00:25:09,619how Christians81600:25:09,619 –> 00:25:10,040ought to81700:25:10,040 –> 00:25:10,920communicate81800:25:10,920 –> 00:25:11,439when we81900:25:11,439 –> 00:25:12,060speak in the82000:25:12,060 –> 00:25:12,560name of the82100:25:12,560 –> 00:25:13,060Lord.82200:25:13,819 –> 00:25:14,439That’s next82300:25:14,439 –> 00:25:14,939time on82400:25:14,939 –> 00:25:16,079Open the Bible.

Details

Sermon Series
Date
Primary Audience

Monthly Offer

Get a FREE copy of ‘I’m Praying For You’ by Nancy Guthrie, when you set up a new direct debit of at least £5, or give a one-off gift of at least £60 …

Donate

Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

Linked resources

Sermons on Isaiah 40 Where would you look in the Bible for help when you feel jaded, discouraged, and generally worn out? Isaiah 40:31 says, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” That speaks to me. That’s what I need. But how do I get there? How do I get to Isaiah

Colin Smith

Search

Search

Header Submit Search