100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,300How then can you grow in faith? How can you make progress? We desire that200:00:08,300 –> 00:00:14,180you will all have the full assurance of hope. Now how can each one of us, wherever we are300:00:14,180 –> 00:00:19,620in terms of our experience of the journey, how can we know more of this assurance, this400:00:19,620 –> 00:00:26,740joy, this confidence in regards to our own relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?500:00:26,920 –> 00:00:31,139Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could600:00:31,139 –> 00:00:36,259join us today, and Colin, those are some very big questions, so you know what I’m going700:00:36,259 –> 00:00:38,099to ask. What is the answer?800:00:38,099 –> 00:00:42,700I’m going to say this is what the program is about. The entire message today answers900:00:42,700 –> 00:00:46,779these questions, and we’re in the book of Hebrews, and we’re in chapter 6, and we’re1000:00:46,779 –> 00:00:51,639looking at the subject of assurance. It’s a really important, wonderful and very, very1100:00:51,720 –> 00:00:57,720practical subject. How can I have greater confidence that I belong to the Lord Jesus1200:00:57,720 –> 00:01:04,720Christ? And Hebrews 6 gives some very clear directions as to how we can grow in our confidence1300:01:05,480 –> 00:01:07,300that we really are His.1400:01:07,300 –> 00:01:11,720So I hope that the program today is going to be really encouraging, especially for the1500:01:11,720 –> 00:01:17,639Christian who sometimes doubts and says, well I believe that Jesus is a great Saviour but1600:01:17,680 –> 00:01:21,900I’m not really sure if I’m one of His. Here’s how you can grow, and it’s all in Hebrews1700:01:21,900 –> 00:01:22,3396.1800:01:22,339 –> 00:01:28,419So, join us there if you can in your Bibles as we continue the message Doubting. Here1900:01:28,419 –> 00:01:29,639is Colin.2000:01:29,639 –> 00:01:34,720Why is it that some people struggle with doubt and with various fears in the Christian life2100:01:34,720 –> 00:01:39,959more than others? Why is it that the degree of assurance that people experience, that2200:01:39,959 –> 00:01:45,839Christians experience varies significantly? And there are a number of factors. And I think2300:01:45,900 –> 00:01:50,980you may find it helpful just to give them some consideration.2400:01:50,980 –> 00:01:56,940The first is that your temperament will in some degree likely affect your experience2500:01:56,940 –> 00:02:03,940of assurance. Some people find it very hard to be sure about anything. And if that is2600:02:05,559 –> 00:02:12,559your nature, then it should not surprise you that you find it difficult to be sure in regards2700:02:13,300 –> 00:02:17,479to your salvation, and that you have many questions about yourself, and that you find2800:02:17,479 –> 00:02:24,479yourself doubting. And then, secondly, how you came to faith may affect your experience2900:02:28,080 –> 00:02:35,080in regards to assurance. Some people, some among us here tonight, will have a very clear,3000:02:35,300 –> 00:02:42,300marked, and decisive conversion. You know where you were, when it was that you came3100:02:45,919 –> 00:02:52,679to faith in Jesus, and there was a marked difference between the person you were before3200:02:52,679 –> 00:02:58,520and the person you have become since your coming to faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.3300:02:58,559 –> 00:03:05,559But for others of us—and this would be true also in the experience of many—your story3400:03:07,119 –> 00:03:14,119is much more gradual. God formed faith in you over a period of time. And you can’t3500:03:16,279 –> 00:03:23,119pinpoint a decisive moment, and sometimes, that bothers you. It makes you wonder, am3600:03:23,240 –> 00:03:30,240I the real deal or is there actually something missing for me? Now, if that’s your position,3700:03:31,399 –> 00:03:38,399then it’s very important for you to remember that you’re simple and very gradual conversion3800:03:39,800 –> 00:03:46,800is a miracle of grace. So thank God for what he has done in your life and resist the temptation3900:03:47,520 –> 00:03:52,520to compare your story with the more dramatic experiences that others of your brothers and4000:03:55,380 –> 00:04:00,619sisters may have had. And then thirdly, trying to identify some4100:04:00,619 –> 00:04:05,660factors as to why experiences of assurance vary. And a third factor, very obviously is4200:04:05,660 –> 00:04:12,339that the strength of your faith will be a factor in your experience of assurance. Remember4300:04:12,759 –> 00:04:20,660that Jesus spoke about great faith. I’ve not seen such great faith in all of Israel.4400:04:20,660 –> 00:04:25,059He said in regards to the Centurion and then ones to the disciples, he said, oh, you of4500:04:25,059 –> 00:04:32,059little faith. So the more your faith grows, the more assurance you are going to enjoy.4600:04:32,480 –> 00:04:39,480Growing strengthening faith will lead into a greater experience and joy in regards to4700:04:43,959 –> 00:04:50,959assurance. Now how then can you grow in faith? How can you make progress? We desire that4800:04:53,480 –> 00:04:59,420you’ll all have the full assurance of hope. Now how can each one of us, wherever we are4900:04:59,559 –> 00:05:04,619think, in terms of our experience of the journey, how can we know more of this assurance, this5000:05:04,619 –> 00:05:11,619joy, this confidence in regards to our own relationship with Jesus Christ? Let me point5100:05:12,459 –> 00:05:19,459out these three things very simply from Hebrews, verse 10.5200:05:29,980 –> 00:05:33,480And the love that you have shown for his name5300:05:33,480 –> 00:05:40,480in serving the saints as you still do. And we saw earlier that the writer of Hebrews5400:05:41,799 –> 00:05:48,799was confident that these believers where genuine Christians. We feel sure of better things5500:05:50,059 –> 00:05:55,359in regards to you. Now, why was he sure of better things? Well, this verse is telling5600:05:55,380 –> 00:06:02,380us, God is not so unjust as Overlook your work and the love that you have shown in serving5700:06:02,559 –> 00:06:09,559the saints as you still do. So the writer is sure. That’s his word that5800:06:10,279 –> 00:06:14,880these people to whom he’s now speaking, though they may have many doubts, they really5900:06:14,880 –> 00:06:20,140are true Christians. Genuine believers. Why? Because he sees the marks of it in them. Their6000:06:21,100 –> 00:06:28,100work, their love and their serving of the saints. He sees the fruit of genuine faith6100:06:29,179 –> 00:06:32,859in their lives and that’s why he’s confident that they’re not drifting and they’re6200:06:32,859 –> 00:06:36,380certainly not defiant. They may be doubting but they are true believers and they have6300:06:36,380 –> 00:06:43,119genuine faith even if they do not have great assurance. So verse eleven, we desire that6400:06:43,119 –> 00:06:50,119each one of you will show the same earnestness to have this full assurance of hope until6500:06:50,559 –> 00:06:57,540the end. Now notice the phrase show the same earnestness. In other words, this assurance6600:06:57,540 –> 00:07:04,540is a goal for you to go after. It’s something for you to pursue. It is a life to which God6700:07:06,000 –> 00:07:12,200calls you and you will grow in assurance as you pursue the life to which God is calling6800:07:12,200 –> 00:07:19,200you. And the more the distinguishing marks of a genuine believer grow and develop in6900:07:19,420 –> 00:07:26,420your life the more confident you will be that you really are one of Christ’s sheep. The7000:07:27,399 –> 00:07:32,820Apostle John, as some of you will know well, draws out this theme, the distinctive marks7100:07:32,820 –> 00:07:39,380by which a genuine believer is known. For example, 1 John chapter 2 and verse 3, By7200:07:39,380 –> 00:07:43,980this we know that we’ve come to know him. You see that’s assurance there. This is how7300:07:44,079 –> 00:07:51,079we know that we know him. If we keep his commandments. 1 John chapter 3 and verse 14, We know that7400:07:51,179 –> 00:07:56,019we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers. That’s the distinguishing7500:07:56,019 –> 00:08:02,980mark of a person who has genuine faith or 1 John chapter 4 and verse 15, Whoever confesses7600:08:02,980 –> 00:08:09,980that Jesus is the son of God, well, God abides in him and he in God. So, here again is a7700:08:10,980 –> 00:08:17,480distinguishing mark of a genuine believer. At this point, someone may well be thinking7800:08:17,480 –> 00:08:23,519Uh, I’m not sure this is going to help me because I do love other Christians but probably7900:08:23,519 –> 00:08:28,320not as much as I should and I certainly got a long way to go when it comes to keeping8000:08:28,320 –> 00:08:34,280God’s commandments. But please remember, friends, that these marks of grace are here8100:08:34,919 –> 00:08:41,919to help us you may not be able to see them in the degree to which you would like in your8200:08:42,239 –> 00:08:49,239life but if you can find even one of them in your life, then you have reason to say8300:08:50,000 –> 00:08:57,000by God’s grace, I am one of Christ’s sheep. Jesus said by their fruits, you shall know8400:08:58,000 –> 00:09:05,000them. How many blackberries do you need to find on a bush before you could say with some8500:09:11,440 –> 00:09:18,440kind of confidence that’s a blackberry bush? It’s not a hundred is it? You pick one, you8600:09:19,219 –> 00:09:26,219taste it, you say, that’s a blackberry bush. You can see even the beginnings of evidence8700:09:26,320 –> 00:09:30,200of these things in your life. You’ve got reason for encouragement. That’s what’s been given8800:09:30,200 –> 00:09:35,799to us here. It’s reason for encouragement. Are you seeking to follow Christ? You see,8900:09:35,799 –> 00:09:40,440there’s a very basic question. Are you seeking to follow Christ? You say, yes. Well, you9000:09:40,440 –> 00:09:47,119must be one of Christ’s sheep. Because he identifies his sheep as those who follow him.9100:09:47,119 –> 00:09:52,940And this is what you must want to do. Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?9200:09:53,580 –> 00:09:57,940Well, if you have even the beginning of love for your brothers and sisters in Christ, the9300:09:57,940 –> 00:10:01,979life of Christ must be in you because the scripture says that this is how we know that9400:10:01,979 –> 00:10:07,599we really belong to him. Do you want to live a life that is pleasing to God? Remember,9500:10:07,599 –> 00:10:12,039defiant would say, absolutely not. I don’t want anything to do with that. But if you’re9600:10:12,039 –> 00:10:17,659here tonight and you’re saying, I want to live a life that is pleasing to God. Well,9700:10:17,659 –> 00:10:21,239how did that come about? I’ll tell you how it came about. The Holy Spirit has got hold9800:10:21,239 –> 00:10:26,960of you and he indwells you and he’s producing that desire in your heart.9900:10:51,599 –> 00:10:52,799some of those which have already been broadcast,10000:10:53,159 –> 00:10:56,159and you can also find them as a podcast if that’s better for you.10100:10:56,500 –> 00:10:58,380And those are on all the main podcast sites.10200:10:58,380 –> 00:11:02,679You can find them by following a link from our website or by searching your10300:11:02,700 –> 00:11:07,520favorite podcast site for, Open the Bible UK. Back to the message.10400:11:07,520 –> 00:11:09,000Now here again is Colin.10500:11:09,280 –> 00:11:13,719Now remember the questions we’re dealing with here are10600:11:13,719 –> 00:11:17,179not how you can be saved,10700:11:17,179 –> 00:11:20,020but how you can be sure.10800:11:20,900 –> 00:11:24,140And they are very different questions. And this is important.10900:11:24,859 –> 00:11:28,320You are saved by grace, through faith.11000:11:29,020 –> 00:11:31,700Salvation is God’s gift to you.11100:11:31,700 –> 00:11:35,099And your part is simply to receive it with hands that are open.11200:11:35,099 –> 00:11:35,940That’s what faith is.11300:11:35,940 –> 00:11:39,859A hand open to receive what God freely gives.11400:11:40,599 –> 00:11:45,080But your assurance will grow as you11500:11:45,080 –> 00:11:49,539follow Christ in a life of love and in a11600:11:50,239 –> 00:11:54,200life of service. So, pursue the life to which He’s calling you.11700:11:55,679 –> 00:11:56,359Verse 11.11800:11:56,359 –> 00:12:01,179Show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end so11900:12:01,179 –> 00:12:02,599that you may not be sluggish,12000:12:02,599 –> 00:12:07,020but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.12100:12:07,219 –> 00:12:10,380Go after following Jesus and your assurance will grow.12200:12:11,380 –> 00:12:14,979Second, there is a promise for you to believe.12300:12:14,979 –> 00:12:19,380There’s a life for you to pursue and there is a promise for12400:12:19,380 –> 00:12:22,859you to believe. Notice what he says, verse 13.12500:12:23,500 –> 00:12:27,500For when God made a promise to Abraham since he had12600:12:27,500 –> 00:12:30,380no one greater by whom to swear,12700:12:31,299 –> 00:12:33,260he swore by himself,12800:12:33,260 –> 00:12:37,539saying, Surely I will bless you and12900:12:37,539 –> 00:12:38,460multiply you.13000:12:39,539 –> 00:12:41,059Now, the promise referred to here,13100:12:41,059 –> 00:12:44,820the promise to Abraham is the promise where God said,13200:12:44,820 –> 00:12:45,979I will bless you.13300:12:46,020 –> 00:12:47,739I’ll bless you, and in your offspring,13400:12:47,739 –> 00:12:52,260shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.13500:12:52,260 –> 00:12:56,739I’ll bless you, and in your offspring, singular,13600:12:56,739 –> 00:12:59,739all the nations of the earth will be blessed.13700:12:59,739 –> 00:13:00,859The offspring, of course,13800:13:00,859 –> 00:13:03,780is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.13900:13:03,780 –> 00:13:07,900And so the blessing that is promised to Abraham belongs14000:13:07,900 –> 00:13:12,900to everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.14100:13:13,260 –> 00:13:16,760Now, when you struggle with doubt,14200:13:16,760 –> 00:13:20,440when fears gain a grip within your life,14300:13:21,400 –> 00:13:26,159you will not find it easy to believe that God is for you.14400:13:26,159 –> 00:13:28,140A little voice in the back of your conscience14500:13:28,140 –> 00:13:30,239will keep going off like an alarm,14600:13:30,239 –> 00:13:32,159saying to you God’s out to get you.14700:13:32,159 –> 00:13:33,979Anytime suffering comes into your life,14800:13:33,979 –> 00:13:36,500you say it must be that God’s kind of taking it14900:13:36,500 –> 00:13:39,580out on you and so forth and so on.15000:13:40,520 –> 00:13:44,500But God wants you to have full assurance15100:13:44,500 –> 00:13:48,260in regards to his love towards you,15200:13:48,260 –> 00:13:53,179and that is why he has guaranteed his promise15300:13:53,179 –> 00:13:58,679of blessing in Christ with an oath.15400:13:59,380 –> 00:14:00,940An oath, verse 17,15500:14:00,940 –> 00:14:04,460so when God desired to show more convincingly15600:14:04,460 –> 00:14:05,739to the heirs of the promise,15700:14:05,739 –> 00:14:08,159that’s us, the unchangeable nature of his purpose,15800:14:08,200 –> 00:14:11,780he guaranteed it with an oath.15900:14:11,780 –> 00:14:14,659Let’s pause for a moment, trying to take this in.16000:14:14,659 –> 00:14:18,580God never needs to take an oath.16100:14:19,599 –> 00:14:21,719His Word is his bond.16200:14:21,719 –> 00:14:24,260It’s impossible for Him to lie,16300:14:25,640 –> 00:14:28,320but we live in a world where people lie all the time16400:14:28,320 –> 00:14:30,159and break promises all the time,16500:14:30,159 –> 00:14:33,239and so it’s hard for us to believe16600:14:33,239 –> 00:14:34,979even when God speaks.16700:14:35,960 –> 00:14:38,919And so God did what we do.16800:14:40,679 –> 00:14:43,659He did what we do when we want to establish truth16900:14:43,659 –> 00:14:45,940beyond any question.17000:14:45,940 –> 00:14:49,940He guaranteed his Word with an oath.17100:14:51,099 –> 00:14:54,099Now in a court of law, when you take an oath17200:14:54,099 –> 00:14:55,979with your hand on the bible,17300:14:55,979 –> 00:15:00,500you call on God to witness what you are saying,17400:15:01,340 –> 00:15:03,340and in taking an oath, what you’re really saying,17500:15:03,679 –> 00:15:04,640when you put the hand on the bible17600:15:04,640 –> 00:15:06,400and you swear by Almighty God,17700:15:06,400 –> 00:15:07,799what you’re saying is this,17800:15:07,799 –> 00:15:10,760let God himself come down on me17900:15:10,760 –> 00:15:13,380if what I say now is not true.18000:15:13,380 –> 00:15:15,719That’s what it means to take an oath.18100:15:16,880 –> 00:15:18,679Now when we take an oath, of course,18200:15:18,679 –> 00:15:21,580we swear by one greater than ourselves.18300:15:21,580 –> 00:15:22,960That’s why we swear by the name18400:15:22,960 –> 00:15:24,880of Almighty God taking an oath,18500:15:24,880 –> 00:15:26,599but no one’s greater than God.18600:15:27,719 –> 00:15:29,159So when God takes an oath,18700:15:29,159 –> 00:15:30,880he could only swear by himself18800:15:30,880 –> 00:15:33,219because there is no higher authority18900:15:33,460 –> 00:15:34,340and what that means is this.19000:15:34,340 –> 00:15:36,700God put himself on the line19100:15:36,700 –> 00:15:38,520for his promise.19200:15:38,520 –> 00:15:39,919In effect, God said,19300:15:39,919 –> 00:15:43,539let me fall under my own judgment19400:15:43,539 –> 00:15:45,099if I do not bless you.19500:15:46,460 –> 00:15:47,619And of course, you’ll see immediately19600:15:47,619 –> 00:15:50,380that in a very profound way,19700:15:50,380 –> 00:15:52,119that is exactly what happened.19800:15:53,179 –> 00:15:54,340That in Jesus Christ,19900:15:54,340 –> 00:15:58,460God places himself under his own judgment20000:15:58,460 –> 00:16:00,760in order that the blessing20100:16:00,780 –> 00:16:05,780that he has promised will be yours.20200:16:06,000 –> 00:16:07,739And so Jesus Christ himself20300:16:07,739 –> 00:16:10,080became the guarantee20400:16:10,080 –> 00:16:13,679of God’s promise to bless you20500:16:13,679 –> 00:16:16,039and through him,20600:16:16,039 –> 00:16:19,520you can be sure of God’s blessing20700:16:19,520 –> 00:16:21,919forever and forever.20800:16:21,919 –> 00:16:23,080And so what this means20900:16:23,080 –> 00:16:24,460is that your assurance,21000:16:24,460 –> 00:16:25,739your enjoyment of the journey21100:16:25,739 –> 00:16:30,119will grow as you believe God’s promise.21200:16:30,440 –> 00:16:32,719As your eyes are fixed21300:16:32,719 –> 00:16:35,039on the Lord Jesus Christ.21400:16:35,960 –> 00:16:39,500So pursue the life to which God calls you21500:16:39,500 –> 00:16:43,359and believe the promise in Jesus Christ21600:16:43,559 –> 00:16:44,679that God has given you,21700:16:44,679 –> 00:16:47,039that’s sealed right there in his cross.21800:16:47,039 –> 00:16:48,159God is for you.21900:16:48,159 –> 00:16:49,960He gave his own son.22000:16:49,960 –> 00:16:52,320How will he not also along with him22100:16:52,320 –> 00:16:56,799graciously give you all things.22200:16:56,799 –> 00:17:00,260And then the very last thing briefly is simply this,22300:17:00,260 –> 00:17:03,080there is an anchor that will always hold you.22400:17:03,080 –> 00:17:05,280Here’s how assurance can grow.22500:17:05,280 –> 00:17:08,339And especially if you struggle with many fears,22600:17:08,339 –> 00:17:12,359here’s what you need to feed yourself on as a life22700:17:12,359 –> 00:17:13,439for you to pursue.22800:17:13,439 –> 00:17:16,339There is a promise in Christ for you to believe.22900:17:16,339 –> 00:17:18,439And there is an anchor that will always hold you.23000:17:18,439 –> 00:17:20,359Verse 19.23100:17:20,359 –> 00:17:22,280We have this as assurance.23200:17:22,280 –> 00:17:25,079Steadfast anchor of the whole soul23300:17:25,079 –> 00:17:28,380a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain23400:17:28,380 –> 00:17:33,099where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.23500:17:34,400 –> 00:17:39,400Now imagine a man standing on the bough of a yacht23600:17:39,560 –> 00:17:41,180with a chain in his hand.23700:17:42,280 –> 00:17:46,199And you ask him what he’s doing and he says,23800:17:46,199 –> 00:17:49,680I’m holding on to the anchor.23900:17:49,680 –> 00:17:51,160Well, you would say, wait a minute.24000:17:51,199 –> 00:17:55,060But isn’t the anchor supposed to hold onto you?24100:17:56,040 –> 00:17:58,560And this is the point that is being made by Hebrews24200:17:58,560 –> 00:18:02,119in verse 18 God calls us to hold fast24300:18:02,119 –> 00:18:04,920to the hope that’s set before us.24400:18:04,920 –> 00:18:09,920And we do this by trusting the unchanging promises24500:18:09,959 –> 00:18:12,660that are ours in the Lord Jesus Christ.24600:18:12,660 –> 00:18:16,400But now Hebrews tells us that Jesus himself24700:18:16,400 –> 00:18:20,239is our sure and steadfast anchor.24800:18:20,239 –> 00:18:24,119So remember, as you are holding onto Jesus in faith24900:18:24,119 –> 00:18:26,400the bigger truth is that Jesus Christ25000:18:26,400 –> 00:18:29,260in all of the strength of his might is holding onto you.25100:18:30,479 –> 00:18:31,619That’s your anchorage.25200:18:33,619 –> 00:18:36,180And notice that the anchor is behind the curtain25300:18:36,180 –> 00:18:39,680where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.25400:18:39,680 –> 00:18:41,280In other words, the author is talking about25500:18:41,280 –> 00:18:44,260heaven, where Jesus is.25600:18:44,260 –> 00:18:47,760Now an anchor, of course, normally goes down,25700:18:47,760 –> 00:18:50,160this is a gravity defying anchor25800:18:50,280 –> 00:18:54,880that goes up, and so we are anchored to heaven itself.25900:18:54,880 –> 00:18:58,199That’s what we’re being told, by Jesus Christ26000:18:58,199 –> 00:19:02,500and the very fact that he is there for us26100:19:02,500 –> 00:19:05,280at the right hand of the Father.26200:19:05,280 –> 00:19:07,939Now try and take this in, these last moments.26300:19:09,380 –> 00:19:14,079Right now, Jesus Christ, your risen Savior26400:19:14,079 –> 00:19:16,160is in heaven, at the right hand of the Father26500:19:16,160 –> 00:19:18,040and he is there for you.26600:19:18,880 –> 00:19:23,119He died to save you, he lives to keep you26700:19:23,119 –> 00:19:26,180and he will never, never, never let you go.26800:19:27,319 –> 00:19:30,599And your entrance into heaven, brother, sister in Christ26900:19:30,599 –> 00:19:34,920is as sure as the fact that Jesus is already there.27000:19:34,920 –> 00:19:38,400Your faith in him may be very weak,27100:19:38,400 –> 00:19:42,339but his hold on you is very, very strong27200:19:42,339 –> 00:19:45,060and your arrival in heaven27300:19:45,099 –> 00:19:48,380does not depend on the strength of your faith27400:19:48,380 –> 00:19:50,560or the depth of your assurance,27500:19:50,560 –> 00:19:54,859it depends on the strength of your savior.27600:19:56,099 –> 00:19:57,880One other story, and then we’re through.27700:19:57,880 –> 00:19:58,719All right.27800:20:00,800 –> 00:20:04,920The first winter that our family ever came here27900:20:04,920 –> 00:20:08,579from Great Britain, we decided after Christmas28000:20:08,579 –> 00:20:10,959we’d go exploring and we went north from Chicago28100:20:10,959 –> 00:20:13,260where we live up into Wisconsin28200:20:13,479 –> 00:20:16,180and stopped at a little place called Fond du Lac.28300:20:16,180 –> 00:20:20,180It was absolutely perishing cold.28400:20:20,180 –> 00:20:22,880Coldest I’ve ever been in my life, I think.28500:20:22,880 –> 00:20:25,35920 below zero.28600:20:25,359 –> 00:20:29,119And we decided we’d get out and have a look28700:20:29,119 –> 00:20:31,739and our boys who were 10 and eight at the time28800:20:31,739 –> 00:20:36,739got out and said, hey Dad, can we go on the ice?28900:20:36,939 –> 00:20:39,339And you got to understand29000:20:39,339 –> 00:20:41,979that parents aren’t always concentrating29100:20:41,979 –> 00:20:45,260and sometimes just say whatever they’ve always said before.29200:20:46,420 –> 00:20:50,180And in the UK, I mean, yeah there’s ice29300:20:50,180 –> 00:20:52,780but it’s usually pretty thin and so we’re always cautious29400:20:52,780 –> 00:20:56,939and so I said spontaneously what I would always have said,29500:20:56,939 –> 00:20:59,020yeah sure go on the ice, but be careful.29600:21:00,260 –> 00:21:01,900And so these guys being very obedient29700:21:01,900 –> 00:21:04,920and being very careful and cautious going out there29800:21:04,920 –> 00:21:08,020and then their mother comes and then I’m coming29900:21:08,020 –> 00:21:10,939and you know what happens next,30000:21:10,939 –> 00:21:13,239just over the brow of the hill there’s this four30100:21:13,239 –> 00:21:17,000by four vehicle comes roaring with at least six students30200:21:17,000 –> 00:21:20,140packed into it right out into the middle of the lake30300:21:20,140 –> 00:21:22,780and here we are four foreigners.30400:21:28,420 –> 00:21:31,699We didn’t have a whole lot of confidence.30500:21:31,699 –> 00:21:34,660We were absolutely secure30600:21:36,020 –> 00:21:38,619because security doesn’t depend ultimately30700:21:38,619 –> 00:21:40,819on the degree of confidence you have,30800:21:40,819 –> 00:21:42,859it depends on the strength of that30900:21:42,859 –> 00:21:44,280in which you put your trust.31000:21:44,280 –> 00:21:48,420Your salvation, thank God,31100:21:48,420 –> 00:21:51,719does not depend on the strength of your faith31200:21:51,719 –> 00:21:56,719but on the strength of your saviour.31300:21:58,500 –> 00:22:01,280What an encouraging truth that your salvation31400:22:01,280 –> 00:22:03,459does not depend on your strength31500:22:03,459 –> 00:22:05,959but on the strength of your saviour.31600:22:05,959 –> 00:22:07,619You’ve been listening to Open The Bible31700:22:07,619 –> 00:22:09,260with Pastor Colin Smith31800:22:09,280 –> 00:22:11,359and a message called Doubting,31900:22:11,359 –> 00:22:13,780part of our series, Faith That Lasts.32000:22:13,780 –> 00:22:15,540And if you ever miss one of the series32100:22:15,540 –> 00:22:18,619you can easily catch up or go back and listen again32200:22:18,619 –> 00:22:23,579online at our website opensbible.org.uk.32300:22:23,739 –> 00:22:26,260There are lots of other resources on our websites.32400:22:26,260 –> 00:22:28,660I’d really encourage you to have a good look around32500:22:28,660 –> 00:22:32,579at everything that we have to offer at Open The Bible.32600:22:32,579 –> 00:22:35,140Open The Bible is able to stay on this station32700:22:35,140 –> 00:22:38,099and the internet and available as a podcast32800:22:38,459 –> 00:22:41,199Because of the generous financial support of our listeners,32900:22:41,199 –> 00:22:43,060that’s people like you.33000:22:43,060 –> 00:22:45,520And if you already give to support the work.33100:22:45,520 –> 00:22:47,339Thank you so much.33200:22:47,339 –> 00:22:49,099If supporting Open The Bible is something33300:22:49,099 –> 00:22:51,300you’d like to start doing this month33400:22:51,300 –> 00:22:53,819we’re delighted to offer a free gift.33500:22:53,819 –> 00:22:56,099Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham33600:22:56,099 –> 00:22:57,420to tell us about it.33700:22:57,420 –> 00:22:58,540Thanks David.33800:22:58,540 –> 00:23:02,140Yes this month, we are really excited to be giving away33900:23:02,140 –> 00:23:05,660Colin Smith’s newest book and the final book34000:23:05,719 –> 00:23:08,959in the fly and drive through the Bible series,34100:23:08,959 –> 00:23:11,400Hike through the Bible.34200:23:11,400 –> 00:23:14,900This book takes you on a guided 50 session journey34300:23:14,900 –> 00:23:17,640through the whole storyline of scripture.34400:23:17,640 –> 00:23:20,319It’s a little bit like taking a steady hike34500:23:20,319 –> 00:23:23,099with a trusted pastor by your side.34600:23:23,099 –> 00:23:25,760Colin helps you navigate the rugged terrain34700:23:25,760 –> 00:23:28,219of the old Testament, pause at places34800:23:28,219 –> 00:23:31,880of grace and promise and then climb the peaks34900:23:31,880 –> 00:23:35,260for the glory of Jesus shines most clearly35000:23:35,339 –> 00:23:38,219Each chapter is short and accessible35100:23:38,219 –> 00:23:39,959with simple reflection questions35200:23:39,959 –> 00:23:42,060to help you apply what you’re learning35300:23:42,060 –> 00:23:45,380whether you read it on your own or with a small group.35400:23:45,380 –> 00:23:47,339I also particularly like the fact35500:23:47,339 –> 00:23:49,020that at the end of each chapter35600:23:49,020 –> 00:23:51,699there is a short verse to memorize.35700:23:51,699 –> 00:23:53,859If you’ve enjoyed Fly Through the Bible35800:23:53,859 –> 00:23:55,459or Drive Through the Bible,35900:23:55,459 –> 00:23:58,140this final installment completes the journey36000:23:58,140 –> 00:24:01,599helping you see how all of scripture fits together36100:24:01,599 –> 00:24:03,599as one great story.36200:24:03,599 –> 00:24:08,300And we would love to send you a copy for free this month36300:24:08,300 –> 00:24:10,520when you set up a new direct debit36400:24:10,520 –> 00:24:12,420of at least five pounds36500:24:12,420 –> 00:24:15,900or give a one-off gift of at least 50 pounds36600:24:15,900 –> 00:24:19,219to support the ministry of Open the Bible UK.36700:24:19,219 –> 00:24:21,500And with Christmas just around the corner,36800:24:21,500 –> 00:24:24,020I think it would be a lovely treat36900:24:24,020 –> 00:24:25,819and a really encouraging way37000:24:25,819 –> 00:24:29,060to begin the new year in God’s word.37100:24:29,060 –> 00:24:30,939Just don’t forget to leave your address37200:24:30,939 –> 00:24:31,780when you donate37300:24:32,420 –> 00:24:34,140so that we can make sure we can post your gift.37400:24:34,140 –> 00:24:36,599Well, we’d love to send you Colleen’s new book37500:24:36,599 –> 00:24:38,819when you set up a new direct debit37600:24:38,819 –> 00:24:41,380of five pounds per month or more37700:24:41,380 –> 00:24:45,099or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.37800:24:45,099 –> 00:24:48,140Full terms and conditions online at our website,37900:24:48,140 –> 00:24:50,760openthebible.org.uk,38000:24:50,760 –> 00:24:52,959and you can give online.38100:24:52,959 –> 00:24:55,260Don’t forget to leave your name and address38200:24:55,260 –> 00:24:57,800so we can send you your gift.38300:24:57,800 –> 00:25:00,500For Open the Bible and Pastor Colleen Smith,38400:25:00,540 –> 00:25:01,719I’m David Pick,38500:25:01,719 –> 00:25:04,339and I look forward to being with you again next time.38600:25:18,579 –> 00:25:20,359What is it about the Gospel38700:25:20,359 –> 00:25:22,979that people find offensive?38800:25:22,979 –> 00:25:25,520Find out next time on Open the Bible.