100:00:00,760 –> 00:00:10,480Prosperity is a great blessing but it is slippery ground.200:00:10,480 –> 00:00:15,180The problem with prosperity, and especially the prosperity of the wicked,300:00:15,180 –> 00:00:22,520is that a man or woman without faith in God, who prospers will usually become blind to reality.400:00:22,520 –> 00:00:28,240His money will make him feel secure and that is a slippery place.500:00:28,379 –> 00:00:31,219Welcome to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:31,219 –> 00:00:32,700I’m David Pick.700:00:32,700 –> 00:00:35,980And Colin, it sounds like we’re going to be talking about money today.800:00:35,980 –> 00:00:37,459Actually, it’s not.900:00:37,459 –> 00:00:42,599We’re in a series called I Almost Gave Up, and this is all about those times when1000:00:42,599 –> 00:00:48,180a Christian may feel absolutely overwhelmed and tempted towards despair.1100:00:48,180 –> 00:00:50,860And this happened to a very godly man by the name of Asaph.1200:00:50,860 –> 00:00:56,139And one of the reasons he was tempted to give up, was that he looked at the world and he1300:00:56,360 –> 00:00:58,720People who are in rebellion against God, wicked people.1400:00:58,720 –> 00:01:00,119God seems to be blessing them.1500:01:00,119 –> 00:01:01,360They’ve got all the money.1600:01:01,360 –> 00:01:05,480And here am I, and I’m trying to be faithful to God, and it seems like my prayers are not1700:01:05,480 –> 00:01:06,480being answered.1800:01:06,480 –> 00:01:08,739Well, there’s many Christians who know what that is.1900:01:08,739 –> 00:01:10,599Why is God blessing the wrong people?2000:01:10,599 –> 00:01:14,660And why is he doing something for people who are defiant towards Him?2100:01:14,660 –> 00:01:16,599And they seem to get away with everything.2200:01:16,599 –> 00:01:18,320And what is God doing for me?2300:01:18,320 –> 00:01:20,919Well, these are questions of discouragement.2400:01:20,919 –> 00:01:23,480And if you’re asking these questions, you’re certainly not the first.2500:01:23,480 –> 00:01:24,699Asaph was there before.2600:01:25,199 –> 00:01:27,860He had to work through these questions.2700:01:27,860 –> 00:01:33,000God brought him through these questions, and put his feet back in a solid place.2800:01:33,000 –> 00:01:36,480The prayer for this series is that God will do that for us also.2900:01:36,480 –> 00:01:41,500So I hope you’ll be able to join us today in your Bible in Psalm 73 as we continue the3000:01:41,500 –> 00:01:42,940message, Think.3100:01:42,940 –> 00:01:44,040Here’s Colin.3200:01:44,040 –> 00:01:53,379The encouragement of God’s people is one of the great means that God uses to strengthen3300:01:53,379 –> 00:01:56,139us when we feel like giving up.3400:01:56,139 –> 00:02:03,540By the way, that is why you should never withdraw from God’s people when you’re discouraged.3500:02:03,540 –> 00:02:07,500You see, when we become discouraged, there is a certain impetus that says, hey, I’ll3600:02:07,500 –> 00:02:12,360just stay home, I’m not going to come to worship, no I’ll just withdraw.3700:02:12,360 –> 00:02:16,220And isolation is your greatest danger when you’re discouraged.3800:02:16,220 –> 00:02:18,100You need others around you.3900:02:18,100 –> 00:02:21,000We all do.4000:02:21,000 –> 00:02:22,220And Asaph does the right thing.4100:02:22,240 –> 00:02:27,679He not only goes to a sanctuary where he finds the presence of the Ark that speaks to him4200:02:27,679 –> 00:02:31,639of God’s faithfulness over generations, he comes to the place where’s he going to4300:02:31,639 –> 00:02:37,520meet with others who share the same faith and are able to encourage and strengthen one4400:02:37,520 –> 00:02:40,919another in God.4500:02:40,919 –> 00:02:46,119God will use his people to bring strength and encouragement to you.4600:02:46,300 –> 00:02:53,500Sometimes that will happen in the most unexpected of ways.4700:02:53,500 –> 00:02:55,940Let me speak personally.4800:02:55,940 –> 00:03:01,940Let me tell you how God blessed me last Sunday.4900:03:01,940 –> 00:03:06,619Dick Bender.5000:03:06,619 –> 00:03:10,660Dick’s one of our senior members.5100:03:10,660 –> 00:03:15,119He’s been through very extensive surgery.5200:03:15,119 –> 00:03:18,919He’s a man of extraordinary courage.5300:03:18,919 –> 00:03:21,520Last Sunday we had just finished the third service.5400:03:21,520 –> 00:03:22,740I had my coat on.5500:03:22,740 –> 00:03:27,559I was about to head out through the main entrance there, head off home.5600:03:27,559 –> 00:03:33,399Got to the front door of the church and Dick was there with his stick, about to leave.5700:03:35,199 –> 00:03:37,199I hadn’t seen him or spoken to him for quite a while.5800:03:37,199 –> 00:03:41,800I said, how good it was to see him at church after all he’d been through.5900:03:41,899 –> 00:03:45,179And he made some comment about, just keep pressing on.6000:03:45,179 –> 00:03:53,440I held the door for him, said goodbye, and walked across the car park.6100:03:55,559 –> 00:04:00,619And here’s what I was thinking, if he can do what he’s doing6200:04:00,619 –> 00:04:05,440after all that he’s been through, what in the world do I have to complain about?6300:04:05,479 –> 00:04:11,880Actually, I think God was speaking to me through Dick,6400:04:11,880 –> 00:04:14,679and he knew nothing about it.6500:04:14,679 –> 00:04:21,739The truth is, I’ve thought about him four or five times in the last week.6600:04:21,739 –> 00:04:28,440I thanked God for his testimony, then I’ve drawn encouragement from6700:04:28,440 –> 00:04:31,019the example of a man who just keeps struggling on,6800:04:31,019 –> 00:04:33,600who wants to be here in worship despite great difficulties.6900:04:33,779 –> 00:04:36,679He loves Christ, and he just keeps pressing on.7000:04:38,399 –> 00:04:44,200I’ll tell you, I’m really glad that Dick made the effort to come to church last Sunday.7100:04:44,200 –> 00:04:48,480I don’t know what it did for him, but I know what he did for me.7200:04:48,480 –> 00:04:58,200Of course, he wouldn’t have known anything about it except that I phoned him.7300:04:58,500 –> 00:05:05,459I said, Dick, I want you to know that just seeing you at church last Sunday was a blessing7400:05:05,459 –> 00:05:09,700to me, and then I asked him of course if it would be okay if I said that this morning.7500:05:11,940 –> 00:05:19,160In true style he said, you can use my name, just don’t go too much on the heroics.7600:05:19,160 –> 00:05:30,660See, I see a single mother struggling to bring up her children in the faith and I’m encouraged7700:05:30,660 –> 00:05:33,480without anything being said.7800:05:33,480 –> 00:05:39,959I see someone with a child who’s seriously ill and they’re trusting the Lord in their7900:05:39,959 –> 00:05:43,140difficulties, and it inspires me.8000:05:43,140 –> 00:05:48,320I see someone who’s experienced great loss and they’re struggling to hold back the tears8100:05:48,320 –> 00:05:54,760but they’re trying to sing because they want to affirm their faith in God, and I’m strengthened.8200:05:54,760 –> 00:05:59,839Let me say this especially to some of our older people.8300:05:59,839 –> 00:06:09,920You don’t know what ministry you have just by your presence, by your smile, by the fact8400:06:09,920 –> 00:06:15,920that despite all that you have gone through, you did not give up.8500:06:16,739 –> 00:06:22,500Our pastors meet for prayer every Wednesday.8600:06:22,519 –> 00:06:27,880Every week we receive a list of folks in hospital, confined to home or enduring some other significant8700:06:27,880 –> 00:06:29,059difficulty.8800:06:29,059 –> 00:06:35,100It’s always printed on a green sheet of paper so of course we call it the green sheet.8900:06:35,100 –> 00:06:40,140I’ll tell you some of the names on the green sheet are an inspiration.9000:06:40,140 –> 00:06:45,779All you can do is thank God for some of those folks and pray that you would have grace to9100:06:45,779 –> 00:06:48,640be like them.9200:06:48,640 –> 00:06:57,600Don’t ever underestimate the importance of your staying the course.9300:06:57,600 –> 00:07:09,820You are showing the rest of us what it means to persevere, and your faith in these difficulties9400:07:09,820 –> 00:07:16,399is part of our testimony to God’s grace and the whole body draws strength from it.9500:07:16,399 –> 00:07:21,739Now, when Esau came to worship, he says, I come into the sanctuary, and9600:07:21,739 –> 00:07:23,019here’s what God did for me.9700:07:23,019 –> 00:07:29,200It straightened out my thinking because it’s here that I am reminded of God’s truth,9800:07:29,200 –> 00:07:35,420and it’s here that I meet with God’s people.9900:07:35,420 –> 00:07:44,380There will be a thousand ways in which God speaks from one member of the body to another10000:07:44,380 –> 00:07:51,540today, and most of them you may know nothing about.10100:07:51,540 –> 00:08:00,619Only God himself knows the full extent of ministry that goes on as the body gathers10200:08:00,619 –> 00:08:01,880entered the sanctuary of God.10300:08:02,320 –> 00:08:13,440Second, I understood their final destiny.10400:08:13,440 –> 00:08:21,959Now, not only, you see, does he remember God’s truth and meet with God’s people but he,10500:08:21,959 –> 00:08:26,279in the sanctuary, considers ultimate outcomes.10600:08:26,399 –> 00:08:30,679I understood their final destiny.10700:08:32,119 –> 00:08:36,960Now of course, Asaph is talking about the final destiny of the wicked.10800:08:36,960 –> 00:08:41,020Remember that his whole problem began in verse three, when he was raising the question of10900:08:41,020 –> 00:08:44,159why the wicked prosper.11000:08:44,159 –> 00:08:50,039And Asaph uses two pictures here that it seems perhaps God brought to his mind when he was11100:08:50,039 –> 00:08:54,719in the sanctuary, God does speak to us in wonderful ways, and he gives us two pictures11200:08:54,719 –> 00:08:59,099that describe the ultimate outcome of the wicked.11300:08:59,099 –> 00:09:03,760The first is the picture of walking on ice.11400:09:03,760 –> 00:09:04,979Look at verse 18,11500:09:04,979 –> 00:09:08,679Surely you place them on slippery ground.11600:09:08,679 –> 00:09:11,380It’s talking about the wicked.11700:09:11,380 –> 00:09:14,580Now, why has God placed the wicked,11800:09:14,580 –> 00:09:19,960or how has God placed the wicked on slippery ground?11900:09:19,960 –> 00:09:20,960The answer is,12000:09:20,979 –> 00:09:23,320God has placed the wicked on slippery ground12100:09:23,320 –> 00:09:26,000by prospering them.12200:09:26,000 –> 00:09:27,359Which is of course the whole point of the psalm.12300:09:27,359 –> 00:09:30,619That’s where we started.12400:09:30,619 –> 00:09:33,679Prosperity is a great blessing,12500:09:33,679 –> 00:09:38,760but it is slippery ground.12600:09:38,760 –> 00:09:40,219The problem with prosperity,12700:09:40,219 –> 00:09:43,719and especially the prosperity of the wicked,12800:09:43,719 –> 00:09:46,179is that a man or woman without faith in God,12900:09:46,219 –> 00:09:51,460who prospers, will usually become blind to reality.13000:09:51,460 –> 00:09:54,859His money will make him feel secure,13100:09:54,859 –> 00:09:57,760and that is a slippery place.13200:09:57,760 –> 00:09:58,820Remember the words of Jesus13300:09:58,820 –> 00:10:01,500about the man who amassed great wealth13400:10:01,500 –> 00:10:02,820and then had marvelous plans13500:10:02,820 –> 00:10:04,880for all that he was going to do in the future?13600:10:04,880 –> 00:10:05,960And God said to him,13700:10:05,960 –> 00:10:08,179you fool, the strongest of words,13800:10:08,179 –> 00:10:09,599you fool, God said,13900:10:09,599 –> 00:10:10,799don’t you know that tonight14000:10:10,799 –> 00:10:14,820you soul will be required of you?14100:10:14,840 –> 00:10:19,840Now, if prosperity is a slippery place for the wicked,14200:10:20,880 –> 00:10:22,799we’d better take note and realize14300:10:22,799 –> 00:10:25,400that it must be a slippery place also,14400:10:25,400 –> 00:10:27,059therefore, for the righteous.14500:10:28,400 –> 00:10:30,960If God has given you money,14600:10:31,820 –> 00:10:36,820be thankful, but also be careful.14700:10:37,320 –> 00:10:39,520Be thankful, be careful.14800:10:40,179 –> 00:10:45,179It’s like walking on ice, it really is.14900:10:48,900 –> 00:10:53,820Pride can easily come in when God prospers you15000:10:53,820 –> 00:10:58,200and pride comes before a fall.15100:11:00,340 –> 00:11:02,099It’s like walking on ice, you see,15200:11:03,520 –> 00:11:08,520it’s a slippery place, be thankful, be careful.15300:11:10,380 –> 00:11:12,820See, that’s why Paul says to Timothy,15400:11:12,820 –> 00:11:14,760and notice the strength of this language15500:11:14,760 –> 00:11:17,520in the new testament, this is the apostle15600:11:17,520 –> 00:11:21,000speaking to a young pastor and he says,15700:11:21,000 –> 00:11:25,539command those who are rich in the present world15800:11:25,539 –> 00:11:27,260not to be, what?15900:11:27,260 –> 00:11:28,099Arrogant!16000:11:29,299 –> 00:11:30,960He’s talking about believers here.16100:11:32,020 –> 00:11:34,419The danger for the believer who has prospered16200:11:34,419 –> 00:11:35,239is what?16300:11:35,239 –> 00:11:38,239That he’ll become arrogant and Paul says16400:11:38,359 –> 00:11:39,799to Timothy who’s just a young pastor,16500:11:39,799 –> 00:11:41,380I’ve often wondered how in all the world16600:11:41,380 –> 00:11:42,719was Timothy supposed to do this?16700:11:42,719 –> 00:11:45,200Command those who are rich?16800:11:45,200 –> 00:11:46,400That’s what the apostle says.16900:11:46,400 –> 00:11:48,900Command those who are rich in the present world17000:11:48,900 –> 00:11:51,119not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth17100:11:51,119 –> 00:11:53,039which is so uncertain, but to put their hope17200:11:53,039 –> 00:11:54,020in God.17300:11:55,340 –> 00:11:57,760Thank God for those who give us a model of that,17400:11:58,640 –> 00:12:01,179who provides richly, us richly,17500:12:02,239 –> 00:12:05,520with everything for our enjoyment.17600:12:05,520 –> 00:12:07,419You’re listening to Open the Bible17700:12:07,520 –> 00:12:09,340with pastor Colleen Smith and a message called,17800:12:09,340 –> 00:12:10,179Think.17900:12:10,179 –> 00:12:13,059It’s part of our series I almost gave up18000:12:13,059 –> 00:12:15,700and it’s based on Psalm 73.18100:12:15,700 –> 00:12:17,640All about the story of Esau.18200:12:18,739 –> 00:12:20,099We’ll be back to the message shortly18300:12:20,099 –> 00:12:22,159so I hope you’ll stay with us.18400:12:22,159 –> 00:12:23,739If you ever miss one of our messages18500:12:23,739 –> 00:12:25,940you can always catch up or go back and listen again18600:12:25,940 –> 00:12:30,559in our website, openthebible.org.uk.18700:12:30,559 –> 00:12:32,820You can also find Pastor Colleen’s messages18800:12:32,820 –> 00:12:35,940as a podcast and those are on all the podcast sites,18900:12:35,979 –> 00:12:37,979search for open the Bible UK19000:12:37,979 –> 00:12:40,859or follow the link from our website.19100:12:40,859 –> 00:12:44,179Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially19200:12:44,179 –> 00:12:46,780and if that’s something you’ve been considering doing,19300:12:46,780 –> 00:12:49,580I hope you’ll stay with us as later on in the programme19400:12:49,580 –> 00:12:52,940I’ll be talking to open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham19500:12:52,940 –> 00:12:54,500about this month’s offer,19600:12:54,500 –> 00:12:57,179if you’re able to start a new direct debit19700:12:57,179 –> 00:13:00,119to open the Bible this month.19800:13:00,119 –> 00:13:01,340Back to the message now.19900:13:01,340 –> 00:13:02,520Here’s Colleen.20000:13:02,520 –> 00:13:04,900The danger for the believer who has prospered20100:13:05,419 –> 00:13:09,260he’ll become arrogant and Paul says to Timothy20200:13:09,260 –> 00:13:10,260who’s just a young pastor,20300:13:10,260 –> 00:13:11,859I’ve often wondered how in all the world20400:13:11,859 –> 00:13:15,719was Timothy supposed to do this command those who are rich.20500:13:15,719 –> 00:13:16,880That’s what the Apostle says,20600:13:16,880 –> 00:13:19,400command those who are rich in the present world20700:13:19,400 –> 00:13:21,640not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth20800:13:21,640 –> 00:13:22,780which is so uncertain,20900:13:22,780 –> 00:13:24,539but to put their hope in God.21000:13:25,520 –> 00:13:28,340So he says I’m thinking about the destiny of the wicked21100:13:28,340 –> 00:13:31,580and I see that it’s like walking on ice21200:13:33,099 –> 00:13:34,780you’re gonna fall over to their ruin21300:13:35,539 –> 00:13:37,020and then secondly he says at verse 2021400:13:37,020 –> 00:13:39,340it’s like waking from a dream.21500:13:39,340 –> 00:13:42,919As a dream when one awakes so when you arise oh lord21600:13:42,919 –> 00:13:46,159you will despise them as fantasies.21700:13:47,380 –> 00:13:50,760That was Augustine a great Christian writer21800:13:50,760 –> 00:13:55,760who speaks about a beggar who has a dream.21900:13:56,739 –> 00:13:57,979He doesn’t expand on that22000:13:57,979 –> 00:14:00,179let me try and paint the picture for you.22100:14:00,979 –> 00:14:05,479In the dream the beggar wins the lottery.22200:14:07,219 –> 00:14:10,40050 million dollars.22300:14:12,940 –> 00:14:16,880And in his dream he sees the home he will buy.22400:14:18,099 –> 00:14:20,419He sees the car he will drive.22500:14:22,380 –> 00:14:25,340He sees snowmobiles in winter, jet skis in summer.22600:14:25,340 –> 00:14:29,099He sees himself flying first-class around the world22700:14:29,099 –> 00:14:31,419with Taj Mahal, all the wonders of the world22800:14:31,419 –> 00:14:32,239and all the rest of it.22900:14:32,239 –> 00:14:34,419He sees himself cruising the Caribbean.23000:14:34,419 –> 00:14:37,479He is dining in the finest of the world’s restaurants23100:14:37,479 –> 00:14:39,739but when he wakes up to his horror23200:14:39,739 –> 00:14:41,960he realizes it was only a dream.23300:14:43,419 –> 00:14:45,320The reality is he’s a beggar.23400:14:46,780 –> 00:14:47,640He’s a beggar.23500:14:49,619 –> 00:14:52,700Now, Asaph saying I realized that23600:14:52,700 –> 00:14:54,280is the destiny of the wicked.23700:14:54,280 –> 00:14:56,179It is a terrible thing to contemplate.23800:14:57,179 –> 00:15:00,099Thinking that they have everything,23900:15:00,099 –> 00:15:01,340living the dream,24000:15:02,539 –> 00:15:05,140they wake up and find they have nothing24100:15:06,239 –> 00:15:07,299to their horror.24200:15:09,539 –> 00:15:11,380See, as Lewis puts it this way24300:15:11,380 –> 00:15:15,500he says it is to be left utterly and absolutely outside,24400:15:15,500 –> 00:15:18,219repelled, exiled, estranged,24500:15:18,219 –> 00:15:21,380finally and unspeakably ignored.24600:15:22,119 –> 00:15:25,159Now you see Asaph is saying I came into the sanctuary24700:15:26,960 –> 00:15:29,200and that’s where God straightened my thinking out24800:15:29,200 –> 00:15:31,219so that I was able to face life.24900:15:32,599 –> 00:15:34,340It happened as I remembered the truth.25000:15:34,340 –> 00:15:35,539That’s what the Ark is all about,25100:15:35,539 –> 00:15:36,979is I met with God’s people25200:15:38,580 –> 00:15:41,659and as I contemplated ultimate outcomes.25300:15:42,919 –> 00:15:44,840It began to change my whole perspective.25400:15:44,840 –> 00:15:47,320I began to say to myself if that’s the end of the wicked,25500:15:47,320 –> 00:15:49,500why in all the world am I envying God?25600:15:49,500 –> 00:15:52,099The wicked, why in all the world am I envying them?25700:15:54,599 –> 00:15:56,299And then of course he contemplated25800:15:56,299 –> 00:15:57,940not only the destiny of the wicked25900:15:57,940 –> 00:16:00,219but the destiny of the righteous.26000:16:00,219 –> 00:16:01,919Look at verse 24.26100:16:01,919 –> 00:16:03,739You guide me with your counsel26200:16:03,739 –> 00:16:08,739and afterward, you will take me to glory.26300:16:09,900 –> 00:16:11,179Now, one of the commentators here26400:16:11,179 –> 00:16:13,219points out that there’s an interesting parallel26500:16:13,219 –> 00:16:15,859between verse 17 and verse 24.26600:16:16,859 –> 00:16:18,419If you look at verse 17,26700:16:18,419 –> 00:16:21,580then I understood their final destiny.26800:16:22,820 –> 00:16:25,599Now the word translated final destiny26900:16:25,599 –> 00:16:29,580literally means their afterward.27000:16:29,580 –> 00:16:31,039Their afterward.27100:16:32,140 –> 00:16:34,900I understood the after word of the wicked27200:16:34,900 –> 00:16:35,859and the after word of the wicked27300:16:35,859 –> 00:16:37,460is that they fall over and they’re ruined27400:16:37,460 –> 00:16:39,559and they wake up and they’re disappointed.27500:16:40,739 –> 00:16:42,940Now what about the after word of the righteous?27600:16:42,940 –> 00:16:44,419Well it’s in verse 2427700:16:44,419 –> 00:16:46,580and translated with precisely that term,27800:16:46,580 –> 00:16:48,280you guide me with your counsel27900:16:48,280 –> 00:16:52,599and afterward you see the parallel?28000:16:52,599 –> 00:16:54,840You will take me into glory.28100:16:54,840 –> 00:16:56,320This is one of the greatest verses28200:16:56,320 –> 00:16:57,559in the whole of the Bible.28300:16:57,559 –> 00:16:59,280It describes the whole Christian life.28400:16:59,280 –> 00:17:00,559You guide me with your counsel.28500:17:00,559 –> 00:17:01,940That’s what God does for us now28600:17:01,940 –> 00:17:06,459and afterward you will take me into glory.28700:17:08,040 –> 00:17:09,079What a statement.28800:17:09,079 –> 00:17:13,119You will take me into glory.28900:17:16,119 –> 00:17:17,439You never know what’s gonna happen29000:17:17,520 –> 00:17:18,780and the phone rings right?29100:17:20,520 –> 00:17:22,439Some years ago I was sitting29200:17:22,439 –> 00:17:25,859at my desk in London and the phone rang.29300:17:28,140 –> 00:17:30,079Hello said this voice I had never heard before.29400:17:30,079 –> 00:17:33,199My name is John, John White.29500:17:33,199 –> 00:17:34,939You don’t know me?29600:17:34,939 –> 00:17:36,479We’ve never met before29700:17:37,719 –> 00:17:39,479but my wife and I are going to Israel29800:17:39,479 –> 00:17:41,420and we wonder if you’d like to come.29900:17:42,560 –> 00:17:44,599Sales call.30000:17:44,599 –> 00:17:48,380He continued though.30100:17:48,380 –> 00:17:51,160We’d like to take you he said,30200:17:51,160 –> 00:17:53,260my wife and I if you’d like to come.30300:17:54,400 –> 00:17:56,800Sorry could you say that again?30400:17:58,479 –> 00:18:00,640Well John and Rosemary belonged to a church30500:18:00,640 –> 00:18:01,859in another part of the country30600:18:01,859 –> 00:18:03,880I’d never met them before.30700:18:03,880 –> 00:18:06,780They had a great love for Israel30800:18:06,780 –> 00:18:07,680and they had a great love30900:18:07,680 –> 00:18:08,959for the preaching of the word.31000:18:08,959 –> 00:18:11,280They had apparently been encouraged unknown31100:18:11,280 –> 00:18:12,880to me by the ministry31200:18:12,880 –> 00:18:15,560and they wanted to give to Karin and to myself31300:18:15,560 –> 00:18:18,640the opportunity of seeing the land where Jesus walked.31400:18:20,280 –> 00:18:22,079We’ll make all the arrangements they said.31500:18:22,079 –> 00:18:23,479You’ll just meet us at the airport31600:18:23,479 –> 00:18:24,300if you’d like to come.31700:18:24,300 –> 00:18:26,119We’ll take you with us.31800:18:28,420 –> 00:18:30,339Sitting at the end of the phone31900:18:30,339 –> 00:18:31,719and said sorry I’d never met this guy.32000:18:31,719 –> 00:18:33,520I’d never spoken to this guy before.32100:18:34,579 –> 00:18:37,280Doesn’t happen every day by the way32200:18:37,280 –> 00:18:38,260but it happened.32300:18:40,199 –> 00:18:42,400Well John and Rosemary were experienced travelers.32400:18:42,719 –> 00:18:44,199They’d been to Israel several times before.32500:18:44,199 –> 00:18:45,760They knew their way around the country.32600:18:45,760 –> 00:18:48,040They took us to Israel.32700:18:49,540 –> 00:18:53,719They paid for our trip and we traveled in their company32800:18:53,719 –> 00:18:57,239and they have become dear, dear friends to this day.32900:18:58,640 –> 00:18:59,800They took us to Israel33000:19:01,920 –> 00:19:04,000and says Asaph looking up as is were33100:19:04,000 –> 00:19:06,359by faith into the face of God33200:19:06,359 –> 00:19:11,359he says, you take me to glory.33300:19:13,319 –> 00:19:17,020That means you pay the price of getting me there.33400:19:18,880 –> 00:19:23,020That means that I travel in your company.33500:19:24,859 –> 00:19:28,000That means you are with me every step of the way.33600:19:29,640 –> 00:19:32,900That means when I get to crossing the border33700:19:32,900 –> 00:19:35,540with all its hazards and with all its fears33800:19:35,540 –> 00:19:39,000you take me into glory.33900:19:39,160 –> 00:19:40,000Every way.34000:19:41,160 –> 00:19:42,180That’s the future.34100:19:44,719 –> 00:19:46,699And when he takes you into glory34200:19:47,560 –> 00:19:49,140he’s taking you into the place34300:19:49,140 –> 00:19:51,939with which he is supremely familiar already.34400:19:51,939 –> 00:19:56,420And he will spend eternity showing you its delights34500:19:56,420 –> 00:20:00,099to his joy and to yours.34600:20:01,560 –> 00:20:03,680You get your eyes focused on that destiny34700:20:03,680 –> 00:20:06,300the whole of life begins to look somewhat different.34800:20:07,300 –> 00:20:11,719Remember God’s truth, meet with God’s people,34900:20:13,160 –> 00:20:14,979consider ultimate outcomes.35000:20:17,500 –> 00:20:19,660When I tried to understand all this35100:20:19,660 –> 00:20:24,660it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary.35200:20:27,020 –> 00:20:29,000Then I understood their final destiny.35300:20:31,380 –> 00:20:33,300So, to wrap it up here’s where we’ve come.35400:20:33,300 –> 00:20:34,900Remember, it’s a five-point turn,35500:20:34,900 –> 00:20:37,839and there’s more to follow.35600:20:37,839 –> 00:20:40,780We’re at the second point of a five-point turn.35700:20:41,739 –> 00:20:43,959But, boy, Esau’s already well on the way,35800:20:44,979 –> 00:20:46,839and this is what he wants us to know.35900:20:48,199 –> 00:20:49,900Let me tell you my story, he says.36000:20:51,060 –> 00:20:53,979I was facing these problems, my mind was confused.36100:20:53,979 –> 00:20:57,819I’m going round and round and round, I almost gave up.36200:20:59,560 –> 00:21:01,780I couldn’t even see the point of continuing36300:21:01,780 –> 00:21:05,219to pursue a godly life at that time.36400:21:06,920 –> 00:21:10,819I had to stop and I had to think.36500:21:13,479 –> 00:21:15,719And I found I couldn’t do it on my own.36600:21:17,520 –> 00:21:19,540It was oppressive to me.36700:21:19,540 –> 00:21:23,540I got nowhere until I entered the sanctuary of God,36800:21:24,959 –> 00:21:26,540and I remembered God’s truth.36900:21:28,099 –> 00:21:29,780I met with God’s people,37000:21:30,579 –> 00:21:33,400it changed the way I was thinking,37100:21:33,400 –> 00:21:36,280and that’s where God opened my mind.37200:21:36,280 –> 00:21:38,939And I saw the afterward of the wicked,37300:21:40,599 –> 00:21:42,099and the afterward of the godly,37400:21:43,900 –> 00:21:45,020and I think to myself,37500:21:45,020 –> 00:21:47,020I actually thought it wasn’t worth it.37600:21:49,119 –> 00:21:50,719It changed my whole perspective,37700:21:50,719 –> 00:21:52,680it got my thinking straight.37800:21:54,719 –> 00:21:56,800It made it possible for me to go out into the world37900:21:56,800 –> 00:21:58,699and to face the realities of life.38000:22:00,000 –> 00:22:01,619You’ve been listening to Open the Bible38100:22:01,619 –> 00:22:03,239with Pastor Colin Smith,38200:22:03,239 –> 00:22:05,099and a message called Think,38300:22:05,099 –> 00:22:07,680part of our series, I Almost Gave Up.38400:22:07,680 –> 00:22:09,380If you ever miss one of the series,38500:22:09,380 –> 00:22:11,439don’t forget, you can always come online38600:22:11,439 –> 00:22:14,900to our website openthebible.org.uk,38700:22:14,900 –> 00:22:16,479and there you’ll find all the messages38800:22:16,479 –> 00:22:18,520which have already gone out on air.38900:22:18,520 –> 00:22:20,760You can also find them as a podcast,39000:22:20,760 –> 00:22:22,719and those are on all the main podcast sites,39100:22:22,719 –> 00:22:24,520search for Open The Bible,39200:22:24,520 –> 00:22:28,160and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.39300:22:28,239 –> 00:22:30,699Also on our website and available as a podcast,39400:22:30,699 –> 00:22:32,579Open the Bible Daily,39500:22:32,579 –> 00:22:36,060a series of short two to three minute daily reflections39600:22:36,060 –> 00:22:38,400based on Pastor Colin’s teaching.39700:22:38,400 –> 00:22:42,180Many Christians find it a great way to start the day.39800:22:42,180 –> 00:22:45,800Open the Bible is supported by donations from our listeners.39900:22:45,800 –> 00:22:48,199And we are very thankful for that.40000:22:48,199 –> 00:22:50,400If you’d like to be amongst our supporters,40100:22:50,400 –> 00:22:52,780here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham40200:22:52,780 –> 00:22:55,560to tell you about our free gift offer for this month.40300:22:56,380 –> 00:22:57,780Thanks, David.40400:22:57,780 –> 00:22:59,760As we move towards Easter,40500:22:59,760 –> 00:23:03,579I’ve been thinking about how powerful this season can be40600:23:03,579 –> 00:23:07,920as an opportunity to share the hope of the gospel with someone else.40700:23:07,920 –> 00:23:11,599That’s why this month at Open the Bible UK40800:23:11,599 –> 00:23:14,020we’re giving away an Easter bundle40900:23:14,020 –> 00:23:17,560designed to help you pass on the good news.41000:23:17,560 –> 00:23:21,900It includes two copies of our brand-new graphic novel41100:23:21,900 –> 00:23:26,619based on Heaven How I Got Here! The Story of the Thief on the Cross.41200:23:26,619 –> 00:23:29,260Many of your listeners will know that story41300:23:29,260 –> 00:23:32,579a man at the very end of his life who turns to Jesus41400:23:32,579 –> 00:23:35,359and hears those extraordinary words41500:23:35,359 –> 00:23:38,979Today you will be with Me in paradise.41600:23:38,979 –> 00:23:41,479Our new graphic novel tells that story41700:23:41,500 –> 00:23:43,439visually and accesibly41800:23:43,439 –> 00:23:46,079making it ideal for young people41900:23:46,079 –> 00:23:50,540or for anyone who prefers an engaging, illustrated format.42000:23:50,660 –> 00:23:55,439Alongside that, we’re also including a copy of the NIV Outreach Bible42100:23:55,439 –> 00:23:59,800a clear, readable Bible that’s perfect to give to an adult friend42200:23:59,800 –> 00:24:02,020neighbour, or a family member42300:24:02,020 –> 00:24:04,439who may not have one of their own yet.42400:24:04,439 –> 00:24:08,439Easter reminds us that no one is beyond grace!42500:24:08,439 –> 00:24:11,719The thief on the cross had nothing to offer42600:24:11,719 –> 00:24:14,619and yet, he found everything in Christ.42700:24:14,619 –> 00:24:16,579And, perhaps, this year42800:24:16,579 –> 00:24:21,180you could be the one who places that hope into someone else’s hands!42900:24:21,180 –> 00:24:24,000Our Easter Bundle is a free thank you gift43000:24:24,000 –> 00:24:27,939when you give a one-off donation of at least £5043100:24:27,939 –> 00:24:32,040or when you set up a new direct debit of at least £5 a month.43200:24:32,040 –> 00:24:35,520And, as always, please do remember to43300:24:35,520 –> 00:24:38,380include your name and address when you give43400:24:38,380 –> 00:24:41,800so that we can know where to send your free gift!43500:24:41,800 –> 00:24:43,339Thanks Amanda!43600:24:43,339 –> 00:24:46,000And thanks for considering beginning to support43700:24:46,000 –> 00:24:49,000Open the Bible financially this month!43800:24:49,000 –> 00:24:51,140Full details, terms and conditions43900:24:51,140 –> 00:24:57,000can be found at www.openthebible.org.uk44000:24:57,000 –> 00:24:59,760For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith44100:24:59,760 –> 00:25:01,239I’m David Pick,44200:25:01,239 –> 00:25:03,199thanks for being with us and we look forward to you44300:25:03,199 –> 00:25:09,040joining us again next time on Open the Bible!44400:25:09,400 –> 00:25:17,099You go to church and you read your Bible44500:25:17,099 –> 00:25:20,400but how do you know if you’ve really grasped the truth?44600:25:20,400 –> 00:25:25,119Find out next time on Open the Bible!