100:00:00,280 –> 00:00:01,740One way to measure your grasp of truth200:00:03,000 –> 00:00:06,480One way to measure your grasp of truth300:00:06,480 –> 00:00:11,140and we hear the truth every Sunday, we read the truth every time we open the Bible400:00:11,140 –> 00:00:15,500But one way to measure your grasp of truth is to take an honest look at your500:00:15,500 –> 00:00:16,240prayer life600:00:16,240 –> 00:00:20,820Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick700:00:20,820 –> 00:00:24,820I’m glad you could be with us today, and Colin that’s an encouraging idea to800:00:24,820 –> 00:00:29,860honestly look at your prayer life. We’ve been hearing about ASAPH, worship leader900:00:30,040 –> 00:00:34,000under David and he experienced a great deal of discouragement1000:00:34,000 –> 00:00:37,880Part of his prayer life was confession of his frustration1100:00:37,880 –> 00:00:41,000and ultimately confession of sin1200:00:41,000 –> 00:00:44,820He came to a place where he felt like giving up he says my feet had almost1300:00:44,820 –> 00:00:47,080slipped, here’s a man in full-time ministry1400:00:47,080 –> 00:00:50,400and he’s going through a crisis of faith, a godly man1500:00:50,400 –> 00:00:53,919This can happen to a mature Christians suddenly find1600:00:53,919 –> 00:00:57,520that circumstances have led to a place1700:00:57,520 –> 00:01:01,259of great great darkness and the good news1800:01:01,259 –> 00:01:05,400is that God brought him through this and what we’re about in this series1900:01:05,400 –> 00:01:09,599is finding out how God did that for him so that we can see how God will do it2000:01:09,599 –> 00:01:10,639for us and we’ve seen2100:01:10,639 –> 00:01:13,919that God caused him to stop and to think2200:01:13,919 –> 00:01:17,599and then to pray and that’s where we’ve got to in Psalm 732300:01:17,599 –> 00:01:21,620and he’s beginning know to pray because he’s seeing his own heart2400:01:21,620 –> 00:01:25,540and some other things that were there that he never saw before2500:01:26,000 –> 00:01:29,680because his life is under the light of the Word of God in a whole new way2600:01:29,680 –> 00:01:33,120its very wonderful and God is turning him around2700:01:33,120 –> 00:01:36,680in order to get him established again so that he won’t give up2800:01:36,680 –> 00:01:40,180but so that he’ll be able to persevere in all the ways in which God is leading2900:01:40,180 –> 00:01:40,459him3000:01:49,900 –> 00:01:51,480This is the third3100:01:51,480 –> 00:01:54,639in a series of five messages on the Psalm3200:01:55,000 –> 00:01:57,919in which a Godly man tells us about3300:01:57,919 –> 00:02:01,699how God brought him through a great crisis in his life3400:02:02,559 –> 00:02:05,459and I want us to remember this, especially this morning3500:02:05,459 –> 00:02:08,339that Asaph was a godly man3600:02:09,179 –> 00:02:11,020He was a spiritual leader3700:02:11,020 –> 00:02:13,880He ministered before the ark of the Lord3800:02:13,880 –> 00:02:17,000he was the kind of man to whom every one of us here3900:02:17,000 –> 00:02:19,940would have looked up with great honour and respect4000:02:19,940 –> 00:02:21,940Asaph remember4100:02:22,000 –> 00:02:24,779didn’t just read the scriptures4200:02:25,460 –> 00:02:28,699in the mercy of God and by the inspiration of the spirit4300:02:28,699 –> 00:02:31,759he was allowed to write part of the scriptures4400:02:31,759 –> 00:02:35,300under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God4500:02:35,300 –> 00:02:38,679I cannot imagine a more intimate experience of the spirit4600:02:38,679 –> 00:02:39,839than that, can you?4700:02:40,740 –> 00:02:45,100To be directly inspired to write a part of the Bible itself4800:02:45,100 –> 00:02:46,800that’s the man we’re talking about4900:02:47,300 –> 00:02:48,919and I want us to keep that in mind5000:02:48,919 –> 00:02:50,919as we come to these verses today5100:02:50,919 –> 00:02:53,979this was a man who walked with God5200:02:54,880 –> 00:02:57,839but in the Some, Asaph tells us that there was a time5300:02:57,839 –> 00:03:00,660in his life when he almost lost it5400:03:00,660 –> 00:03:01,860that’s verse 25500:03:02,639 –> 00:03:05,800My feet had almost slipped, he says5600:03:05,800 –> 00:03:08,360I looked, as we saw a couple of weeks ago5700:03:08,360 –> 00:03:10,460I looked at what was happening in the world5800:03:10,460 –> 00:03:11,919I looked at what was happening in my life5900:03:11,919 –> 00:03:13,940I could make no sense of these things6000:03:13,940 –> 00:03:17,360I could no longer see any point in pursuing a godly life6100:03:17,360 –> 00:03:20,100I almost gave up, he says6200:03:21,919 –> 00:03:23,539Now to tell you over these weeks6300:03:23,539 –> 00:03:25,979I’ve just been struck again and again6400:03:25,979 –> 00:03:28,820by the relevance of this psalm6500:03:29,779 –> 00:03:31,580All of us go through times like this6600:03:31,600 –> 00:03:34,660It doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian6700:03:34,660 –> 00:03:37,960It doesn’t matter how mature you are as a Christian believer6800:03:37,960 –> 00:03:40,220Circumstances will come in your life6900:03:40,220 –> 00:03:42,639and they will take you by surprise7000:03:42,639 –> 00:03:45,880Suddenly, you find yourself where Asaph was7100:03:45,880 –> 00:03:48,399and you’re struggling with thoughts in your own mind7200:03:48,399 –> 00:03:50,220that you never imagined would ever be there7300:03:51,820 –> 00:03:57,160Some of us here will have been plunged into an Asaph experience7400:03:57,160 –> 00:03:59,520even since this series began7500:04:00,979 –> 00:04:05,100And some of us will find ourselves in an Asaph experience7600:04:05,100 –> 00:04:07,940that begins before this series ends7700:04:10,979 –> 00:04:12,720The good news7800:04:13,759 –> 00:04:16,660is that God knows how to bring you7900:04:16,660 –> 00:04:18,619through an Asaph experience8000:04:18,619 –> 00:04:19,640Isn’t that good news?8100:04:21,600 –> 00:04:24,040This is why we have Psalm 738200:04:24,040 –> 00:04:27,399Asaph tells us how God brought him through the crisis8300:04:27,399 –> 00:04:29,239by taking him through, remember,8400:04:29,239 –> 00:04:32,119a five-point turn8500:04:32,859 –> 00:04:36,119The first thing Asaph discovered was that he needed to stop8600:04:36,119 –> 00:04:38,279and we saw this from verse 158700:04:38,279 –> 00:04:40,359If I’d gone, he’s saying, in verse 158800:04:40,359 –> 00:04:41,559where my thoughts were going8900:04:41,559 –> 00:04:44,320where my inclinations were leading me at that time9000:04:44,320 –> 00:04:46,119I would have led everybody down9100:04:46,119 –> 00:04:49,040I would have betrayed your children, he says to God9200:04:49,040 –> 00:04:50,679He had to make a decision to stop9300:04:50,679 –> 00:04:53,679I will no longer go down the track of these thoughts9400:04:54,279 –> 00:04:58,160He will no longer follow where his discouraged mind is going9500:04:58,160 –> 00:05:01,959And we saw that the first step to climbing out of a black hole9600:05:01,959 –> 00:05:04,200The first step to turning your life around9700:05:04,200 –> 00:05:07,160is not getting an answer to all your questions9800:05:07,160 –> 00:05:09,079but it is making a decision9900:05:10,000 –> 00:05:10,839Stop10000:05:12,899 –> 00:05:14,600And then the second thing we saw last week10100:05:14,600 –> 00:05:16,959that Asaph had to do was to think10200:05:16,959 –> 00:05:18,799verse 1710300:05:18,920 –> 00:05:19,679Asaph said,10400:05:19,679 –> 00:05:21,559I went into the sanctuary10500:05:21,559 –> 00:05:22,519And what did he find there?10600:05:22,519 –> 00:05:25,200The Ark of God that spoke of God’s truth10700:05:25,200 –> 00:05:27,119He remembered God’s truth10800:05:27,119 –> 00:05:28,839He met with God’s people10900:05:28,839 –> 00:05:30,839He considered the ultimate outcome11000:05:30,839 –> 00:05:32,920of the lives of the wicked and the righteous11100:05:32,920 –> 00:05:34,519And he says, that turned me around11200:05:34,519 –> 00:05:37,200That gave me a whole new perspective11300:05:37,799 –> 00:05:40,880Now, the title of today’s message,11400:05:40,880 –> 00:05:43,399as you see, is Confess11500:05:43,399 –> 00:05:46,320Confess means admitting to God11600:05:46,720 –> 00:05:48,480the things that are wrong11700:05:48,799 –> 00:05:50,399in your life11800:05:51,040 –> 00:05:52,959and very simply today we’re going to find out11900:05:52,959 –> 00:05:54,600how to do that12000:05:54,600 –> 00:05:57,320and why it is so important12100:05:59,519 –> 00:06:03,600Now, as soon as Asaph gets his thinking straight12200:06:03,880 –> 00:06:05,760it’s very significant in the Psalm12300:06:05,760 –> 00:06:08,720that then he begins to pray12400:06:09,000 –> 00:06:10,399That’s his testimony12500:06:10,880 –> 00:06:12,519He’s telling us very simply that12600:06:12,519 –> 00:06:16,600prayer flows out where truth flows in12700:06:17,540 –> 00:06:21,920in fact one way to measure your grasp of truth12800:06:21,920 –> 00:06:23,399and we hear the truth every Sunday12900:06:23,399 –> 00:06:26,559we read the truth every time we open the Bible13000:06:26,760 –> 00:06:29,279but one way to measure your grasp of truth13100:06:29,279 –> 00:06:31,959is to take an honest look at your prayer life13200:06:32,239 –> 00:06:34,119because where truth is flowing in13300:06:34,119 –> 00:06:35,600prayer will flow out13400:06:37,559 –> 00:06:39,640I spent two days this week in Minneapolis13500:06:39,640 –> 00:06:42,720with about 400 other pastors from our denomination13600:06:42,720 –> 00:06:45,559talking about the importance of our statement of faith13700:06:45,559 –> 00:06:47,160it’s a very important thing13800:06:47,760 –> 00:06:49,119if you’re a member of this church13900:06:49,119 –> 00:06:52,839you will have signed off on the church statement of faith14000:06:54,239 –> 00:06:57,559but you can affirm a creed that God is able to do14100:06:57,559 –> 00:07:01,440all things but actually have very little confidence14200:07:01,440 –> 00:07:03,920that he’s really able to help you in what you’re facing now14300:07:05,200 –> 00:07:07,079you can sign off on a statement of faith14400:07:07,079 –> 00:07:09,440that says that you believe we are all sinners14500:07:09,440 –> 00:07:11,920but have very little awareness of sin14600:07:11,920 –> 00:07:14,519actually in your own life right now14700:07:15,559 –> 00:07:16,799now that’s where Asaph was14800:07:18,359 –> 00:07:20,519but God met him in the sanctuary14900:07:20,519 –> 00:07:22,519and the evidence of it15000:07:22,519 –> 00:07:27,720was the prayer that flowed out from him afterwards15100:07:29,399 –> 00:07:31,239now as we come to these verses today15200:07:31,239 –> 00:07:34,600this is the toughest part of the whole Psalm15300:07:34,600 –> 00:07:36,200you need to brace yourself for this15400:07:37,079 –> 00:07:39,320this is brutally honest15500:07:40,920 –> 00:07:41,959but here’s the good news15600:07:42,839 –> 00:07:45,959the kind of honesty that we find here15700:07:45,959 –> 00:07:48,359is the honesty that leads to a changed life15800:07:49,959 –> 00:07:52,119when my heart was grieved15900:07:52,119 –> 00:07:52,600verse 2116000:07:53,559 –> 00:07:55,239and my spirit was embittered16100:07:56,119 –> 00:07:59,480I was senseless and ignorant16200:08:00,600 –> 00:08:03,000I was a brute beast before you16300:08:04,359 –> 00:08:05,399now we’ll come to the detail16400:08:05,399 –> 00:08:07,239of what Asaph says here in a moment16500:08:07,239 –> 00:08:10,359but let’s start with the big picture16600:08:10,359 –> 00:08:13,239this is a confession of sin16700:08:14,679 –> 00:08:16,519a confession of sin remember16800:08:16,519 –> 00:08:18,600from one of the most godly men16900:08:18,600 –> 00:08:20,359who has ever lived17000:08:20,359 –> 00:08:21,799and that teaches us the first thing17100:08:21,799 –> 00:08:23,079that we’ve got to grasp today17200:08:23,079 –> 00:08:24,519which is that confession17300:08:25,160 –> 00:08:27,239is a normal part17400:08:27,239 –> 00:08:30,200of a healthy christian life17500:08:30,200 –> 00:08:32,359Confession is a normal part17600:08:32,359 –> 00:08:34,039of a healthy christian life17700:08:34,760 –> 00:08:36,359now remember the apostle John says17800:08:36,359 –> 00:08:37,799in the New Testament17900:08:37,820 –> 00:08:40,280if we confess our sins18000:08:41,320 –> 00:08:42,919god is faithful and just18100:08:42,919 –> 00:08:44,520and will forgive us our sins18200:08:44,520 –> 00:08:47,000and cleanse us from all unrighteousness18300:08:47,000 –> 00:08:49,559and John wrote these words to who18400:08:49,559 –> 00:08:51,000to Christians18500:08:51,000 –> 00:08:52,840to the children of god18600:08:52,840 –> 00:08:53,799and then he added18700:08:53,799 –> 00:08:54,919to christians18800:08:54,919 –> 00:08:57,239if we say we have no sin18900:08:57,239 –> 00:08:59,799we are deceiving ourselves19000:09:01,159 –> 00:09:01,799in other words19100:09:01,799 –> 00:09:03,640if you cannot see anything19200:09:03,640 –> 00:09:04,840in your life right now19300:09:04,840 –> 00:09:06,599that you could appropriately confess19400:09:06,599 –> 00:09:07,640a sin to god19500:09:07,640 –> 00:09:09,799you are simply not seeing clearly19600:09:10,359 –> 00:09:11,000you’re blind19700:09:12,359 –> 00:09:14,119you are not in touch with reality19800:09:14,119 –> 00:09:15,400you’ve got the blinkers on19900:09:17,159 –> 00:09:18,280if we’re walking around20000:09:18,280 –> 00:09:20,359thinking that there is no sin within us20100:09:22,440 –> 00:09:24,679we are deceiving ourselves20200:09:26,359 –> 00:09:27,880so confessing our sins20300:09:27,880 –> 00:09:29,880is not some kind of aberration20400:09:29,880 –> 00:09:31,000of the Christian life20500:09:31,000 –> 00:09:32,119not something abnormal20600:09:32,119 –> 00:09:34,520not some sign of dysfunction20700:09:34,520 –> 00:09:37,640it is a normal part of a healthy Christian life20800:09:39,719 –> 00:09:42,599now how this confession is to be done20900:09:42,599 –> 00:09:45,320of course, has been a matter of great debate21000:09:45,320 –> 00:09:46,760throughout history21100:09:47,799 –> 00:09:50,679many of us were brought up in a tradition21200:09:50,679 –> 00:09:51,799where you were taught21300:09:52,520 –> 00:09:55,000to confess your sins to a priest21400:09:56,119 –> 00:09:57,880and there may be some value in that21500:09:58,760 –> 00:10:00,520but there is no place in the Bible21600:10:00,520 –> 00:10:01,559where god says21700:10:01,559 –> 00:10:04,520that you must confess your sins to a priest21800:10:06,200 –> 00:10:07,479in the 16th century21900:10:07,479 –> 00:10:09,479there was a great movement22000:10:09,479 –> 00:10:11,640to get behind some of the traditions22100:10:11,640 –> 00:10:13,239that had piled up in the church22200:10:13,239 –> 00:10:14,440over the centuries22300:10:14,440 –> 00:10:16,119on top of the Bible22400:10:16,119 –> 00:10:18,919and to discover what the Bible actually said22500:10:18,919 –> 00:10:21,000about the key points of our faith22600:10:22,039 –> 00:10:24,679the reformers who led this movement22700:10:24,679 –> 00:10:28,039saw that we need to confess our sins to god22800:10:29,000 –> 00:10:31,960they discovered the great truth in the Bible22900:10:31,960 –> 00:10:33,880that in God’s eyes23000:10:33,880 –> 00:10:35,960all believers are priests23100:10:36,520 –> 00:10:40,200and that Jesus himself is our great high priest23200:10:42,039 –> 00:10:43,000one of these leaders23300:10:43,000 –> 00:10:44,520a man called john calvin23400:10:44,520 –> 00:10:46,359who was a wise pastor23500:10:46,359 –> 00:10:50,039said that we are to confess our sins to God23600:10:51,159 –> 00:10:55,080but that confessing a particular sin23700:10:55,080 –> 00:10:56,679to another person23800:10:56,679 –> 00:10:57,880could be helpful23900:10:58,599 –> 00:11:01,640especially if having confessed our sins to God24000:11:01,640 –> 00:11:04,919we are still struggling to find peace in our hearts about it24100:11:05,880 –> 00:11:07,479in that situation he said24200:11:07,479 –> 00:11:09,159you can go to a pastor24300:11:09,159 –> 00:11:10,280you can tell him24400:11:10,280 –> 00:11:12,280or you can go to another mature christian24500:11:12,280 –> 00:11:13,159and tell them24600:11:13,159 –> 00:11:14,520you should seek some help24700:11:14,520 –> 00:11:16,840if having prayed you have not yet found peace24800:11:16,840 –> 00:11:18,039don’t just leave it there24900:11:18,039 –> 00:11:19,799go and get some help until you do25000:11:19,799 –> 00:11:22,200this is the priesthood of all believers25100:11:23,479 –> 00:11:26,119you can go and get the help of any priest25200:11:26,119 –> 00:11:28,520including the one sitting next to you right now25300:11:29,640 –> 00:11:30,140okay25400:11:32,039 –> 00:11:32,679and by the way25500:11:32,679 –> 00:11:34,359if someone does come to you25600:11:34,359 –> 00:11:37,080and shares some burden that’s upon their conscience25700:11:38,200 –> 00:11:39,960here’s your responsibility25800:11:42,520 –> 00:11:43,239your job25900:11:44,679 –> 00:11:46,280if a person tells you about26000:11:46,280 –> 00:11:47,479a sin in their life26100:11:47,479 –> 00:11:48,679a struggle in their life26200:11:49,479 –> 00:11:54,440is to help that person grasp the promises of the gospel26300:11:54,440 –> 00:11:56,440in relation to that particular matter26400:11:57,479 –> 00:11:58,760the ways in which we can help26500:11:58,760 –> 00:12:00,280and encourage one another26600:12:00,280 –> 00:12:01,400James says26700:12:01,400 –> 00:12:04,119confess your sins to each other26800:12:04,119 –> 00:12:06,280so that you may be healed26900:12:08,039 –> 00:12:09,400so here’s what we’re saying27000:12:09,400 –> 00:12:10,520that the Bible tells us27100:12:10,520 –> 00:12:12,760we are to confess our sins to God27200:12:13,559 –> 00:12:15,880but if you find in a particular situation27300:12:15,880 –> 00:12:18,039that you are still struggling to find peace27400:12:18,039 –> 00:12:19,239you are at liberty27500:12:19,239 –> 00:12:20,039not obligation27600:12:20,039 –> 00:12:21,000but liberty27700:12:21,000 –> 00:12:22,359to share that with a pastor27800:12:22,359 –> 00:12:23,400or a Christian brother27900:12:23,400 –> 00:12:24,359or a sister28000:12:24,359 –> 00:12:26,440so that he or she28100:12:26,440 –> 00:12:29,320may help you apply the promise of the gospel28200:12:29,320 –> 00:12:30,919to that particular matter28300:12:30,919 –> 00:12:32,919so that you may find peace28400:12:32,919 –> 00:12:36,280no believer should be struggling at length28500:12:36,280 –> 00:12:38,599with unresolved issues of guilt28600:12:38,599 –> 00:12:40,520they are to be brought to Christ28700:12:40,520 –> 00:12:42,200if you’ve not yet found peace28800:12:42,200 –> 00:12:44,840get the help of a brother and sister alongside you28900:12:44,840 –> 00:12:45,880to pray it through29000:12:45,880 –> 00:12:47,559until you do find peace29100:12:47,559 –> 00:12:49,320because God wants you to confess29200:12:49,320 –> 00:12:50,520so that you may know29300:12:50,520 –> 00:12:52,200that you are forgiven29400:12:52,200 –> 00:12:53,479and live in the liberty29500:12:53,479 –> 00:12:55,799and the joy of it29600:14:23,900 –> 00:14:30,140If we celebrate ourselves, we do not confess.29700:14:30,359 –> 00:14:33,179And if we do not confess,29800:14:33,380 –> 00:14:36,059we will not change29900:14:36,260 –> 00:14:38,780and that is not New Testament Christianity.30000:14:38,979 –> 00:14:43,200The whole point of the gospel is that it changes a person.30100:14:43,320 –> 00:14:47,059It never leaves you as you were.30200:14:47,260 –> 00:14:52,919And the Apostle Paul says to Christians in 2 Corinthians, 13, verse 5,30300:14:53,479 –> 00:14:56,320’…examine yourselves,30400:14:56,520 –> 00:14:58,719test yourselves…’30500:14:58,919 –> 00:15:00,719He says to believers.30600:15:00,880 –> 00:15:02,960I think it was Socrates, wasn’t it, who said,30700:15:03,159 –> 00:15:06,559’…the unexamined life is not worth living.’30800:15:06,760 –> 00:15:08,840He was right.30900:15:09,039 –> 00:15:12,659Now, you see, this is what Asaph does in these verses before us today,31000:15:12,859 –> 00:15:14,559and it’s a wonderful example.31100:15:14,760 –> 00:15:17,960When his mind was straightened out by the truth,31200:15:18,159 –> 00:15:19,359what does he do next?31300:15:19,359 –> 00:15:22,760He’s able to see what’s been going on inside his soul,31400:15:22,960 –> 00:15:24,640and that leads him to confession.31500:15:24,840 –> 00:15:27,559You see, before God turned on the light in his head,31600:15:27,760 –> 00:15:28,679he was in the darkness.31700:15:28,880 –> 00:15:31,679He didn’t even know the muck that was going on in his own soul.31800:15:31,799 –> 00:15:33,000He couldn’t see it clearly.31900:15:33,200 –> 00:15:35,960But when the light goes on,32000:15:36,159 –> 00:15:42,200now he is in a position to confess because he can see clearly.32100:15:42,400 –> 00:15:44,440So confession, obviously then,32200:15:44,640 –> 00:15:47,080is not a sign of some dysfunction in the Christian life.32300:15:47,320 –> 00:15:51,239It is a normal part of a healthy Christian life.32400:15:51,440 –> 00:15:56,000It is the evidence that you can see.32500:15:56,200 –> 00:16:00,200And if you’re not confessing, it probably means you’re very blind.32600:16:00,919 –> 00:16:03,080Now, here’s the second thing.32700:16:03,799 –> 00:16:08,159Confession exposes what’s hidden in your heart.32800:16:08,359 –> 00:16:11,400First thing was confession is a normal part of a healthy Christian life.32900:16:11,599 –> 00:16:15,640Second, confession exposes what’s hidden in your heart.33000:16:15,760 –> 00:16:21,559And here we look a little more detail at what Asaph actually says in his confession.33100:16:21,840 –> 00:16:22,679Verse 2133200:16:22,880 –> 00:16:27,280When my heart was grieved.33300:16:27,719 –> 00:16:32,320Now, these verses then open up what was happening in Asaf’s heart.33400:16:32,520 –> 00:16:34,960Remember, the heart of a godly man.33500:16:35,159 –> 00:16:36,960What had been happening in that heart33600:16:37,159 –> 00:16:42,119before he came into the sanctuary and God turned on the light in his mind?33700:16:43,119 –> 00:16:47,640These things had been hidden even from Asaph himself.33800:16:47,840 –> 00:16:49,799He didn’t understand godly man, though33900:16:50,000 –> 00:16:54,440he was what was going on inside his own soul, he was not self-aware.34000:16:54,640 –> 00:16:56,119But when he came into the presence of34100:16:56,320 –> 00:17:00,520God, God turned on the light and he saw things in himself that he had not seen34200:17:00,719 –> 00:17:05,760before, and that was why he was able to make this confession.34300:17:06,079 –> 00:17:11,800Now the confession he makes is searching and profoundly helpful.34400:17:12,000 –> 00:17:17,719When my heart was grieved.34500:17:18,439 –> 00:17:21,800Now, when your heart is grieved.34600:17:22,000 –> 00:17:28,439There are some sins to which you will be especially prone.34700:17:28,680 –> 00:17:30,400And you need to be aware of what they are.34800:17:30,520 –> 00:17:35,640We’re going to find them and see them clearly in these very verses.34900:17:35,760 –> 00:17:44,479When things don’t go your way, the sins of Asaph will be crouching at your door.35000:17:44,680 –> 00:17:49,800Now, notice the three sins, therefore, that Asaph confesses so that you can be on your35100:17:49,800 –> 00:17:54,719guard against them, especially at times when your heart is grieved because they’re35200:17:54,719 –> 00:17:57,319going to be near to us.35300:17:57,520 –> 00:18:01,040At these times number one.35400:18:01,319 –> 00:18:04,280My spirit was bitter.35500:18:04,479 –> 00:18:06,880That’s his first confession.35600:18:07,079 –> 00:18:10,000My heart was grieved.35700:18:10,199 –> 00:18:13,640And my spirit embittered.35800:18:13,839 –> 00:18:16,560Now, it may be that my heart was grieved and my spirit was35900:18:16,560 –> 00:18:19,560embittered, and actually two ways of saying the same thing.36000:18:19,760 –> 00:18:23,439That is often the pattern in Hebrew poetry.36100:18:23,640 –> 00:18:29,319But we all know that you can have a grieved heart without a bitter spirit.36200:18:29,479 –> 00:18:36,560So I’m suggesting that the first sin that Asaph confesses here is a bitter spirit.36300:18:36,760 –> 00:18:40,640Lord, I see now what’s been happening,36400:18:40,839 –> 00:18:45,199I became bitter.36500:18:45,520 –> 00:18:47,160There were things in my life that made36600:18:47,359 –> 00:18:49,280no sense to me.36700:18:49,479 –> 00:18:56,359And what happened was I was soured towards you and soured towards other people.36800:18:56,560 –> 00:18:58,560I saw how you were blessing others more36900:18:58,760 –> 00:19:03,040than me and it churned away at me, self-pity came in.37000:19:03,239 –> 00:19:05,199I began to feel sorry for myself.37100:19:05,400 –> 00:19:09,959My spirit was embittered.37200:19:10,839 –> 00:19:13,760I didn’t see it before, Lord,37300:19:13,959 –> 00:19:15,640but now I’ve come into the sanctuary37400:19:15,839 –> 00:19:19,959and you’ve turned on the light in your presence, I sure see it now.37500:19:20,479 –> 00:19:23,040This is my confession.37600:19:23,239 –> 00:19:26,079My spirit was bitter.37700:19:26,599 –> 00:19:31,520Second, my heart ruled my head.37800:19:31,719 –> 00:19:33,079Look at this.37900:19:33,280 –> 00:19:35,199When my heart was grieved,38000:19:35,400 –> 00:19:40,199I was senseless and ignorant.38100:19:40,680 –> 00:19:43,359Now these two words senseless38200:19:43,560 –> 00:19:46,599and ignorant are words about the mind.38300:19:46,800 –> 00:19:50,439So you see what he’s saying when my heart was grieved,38400:19:50,640 –> 00:19:53,880when my emotions were stirred up,38500:19:53,920 –> 00:19:55,920everything I knew and believed about you,38600:19:55,920 –> 00:19:57,760oh, Lord, seemed to just fly out the window.38700:19:57,959 –> 00:20:00,119Now, you know how this happens.38800:20:00,319 –> 00:20:02,479You’ve got your faith38900:20:02,719 –> 00:20:05,599and then you hit some crisis and when the emotions get going39000:20:05,800 –> 00:20:08,520and somehow your heart rolls your head and39100:20:08,719 –> 00:20:11,680everything you ever said you believed about God suddenly seems to fly out39200:20:11,880 –> 00:20:14,959the window. I started thinking like an unbeliever thinks.39300:20:15,160 –> 00:20:19,119I started to talk to my friends in gloomy terms as if there was no God,39400:20:19,319 –> 00:20:21,400no help, no hope, no future.39500:20:21,599 –> 00:20:23,560What was I thinking about?39600:20:23,719 –> 00:20:25,040I was senseless.39700:20:25,239 –> 00:20:26,040I was ignorant.39800:20:26,239 –> 00:20:32,439I let my heart roll my head when my heart was grieved.39900:20:33,160 –> 00:20:34,239And then look at the third thing.40000:20:34,239 –> 00:20:38,079Remember, the sins to which we’re especially prone at times,40100:20:38,280 –> 00:20:40,079when we are grieved.40200:20:40,400 –> 00:20:44,359I was acting on impulse.40300:20:44,560 –> 00:20:47,079When my heart was grieved.40400:20:47,319 –> 00:20:52,760I was like a brute beast before you now, what does that mean?40500:20:52,880 –> 00:20:54,959Well, the point about a brute beast is that40600:20:55,160 –> 00:20:59,400of course, the animals act on impulse.40700:20:59,599 –> 00:21:01,839One of the great gifts that God has given40800:21:02,040 –> 00:21:08,040to men and to women is the gift of reason, logic, reflection, analysis.40900:21:08,239 –> 00:21:11,119These gifts are not given to the animals.41000:21:11,319 –> 00:21:15,400The animals act on impulse.41100:21:15,599 –> 00:21:20,000And Esau says this is what I was doing, I was not acting on reason,41200:21:20,199 –> 00:21:21,920but I was acting on impulse.41300:21:22,119 –> 00:21:25,199When my heart was grieved, I was just being pushed around by41400:21:25,400 –> 00:21:29,640the impulses of bitterness and of unbelief and of despair.41500:21:29,839 –> 00:21:34,079No wonder my feet had almost slipped.41600:21:34,280 –> 00:21:37,239That is why you and I have to submit all41700:21:37,439 –> 00:21:41,000our instincts to what? The word of God.41800:21:41,199 –> 00:21:44,119So that we can discern41900:21:44,359 –> 00:21:47,959and discover what impulses I need to fight42000:21:48,160 –> 00:21:52,160against and what impulses I need to follow.42100:21:52,359 –> 00:21:54,959Great insight there from Pastor Colin.42200:21:55,160 –> 00:21:59,160Asaph is struggling and his life is not going as he hoped.42300:21:59,359 –> 00:22:01,319Meanwhile, people around him who have42400:22:01,520 –> 00:22:04,079rejected God seem to be thriving.42500:22:04,280 –> 00:22:05,640So he’s confused.42600:22:05,839 –> 00:22:07,520He’s ready to give up.42700:22:07,719 –> 00:22:09,520Maybe you can understand that.42800:22:09,719 –> 00:22:10,680Maybe you’ve been there.42900:22:10,880 –> 00:22:13,520Maybe you’re there right at this time.43000:22:13,800 –> 00:22:17,239The good news is God can turn us around.43100:22:17,439 –> 00:22:19,920Our series is called I Almost Gave Up,43200:22:20,119 –> 00:22:22,000and if you ever miss one of the series,43300:22:22,199 –> 00:22:25,160you can always catch up or go back and listen to any you might have missed43400:22:25,359 –> 00:22:29,719online at our website, openthebible.org.uk43500:22:29,920 –> 00:22:33,599And there you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out on air.43600:22:33,800 –> 00:22:35,640You can also find them as a podcast,43700:22:35,839 –> 00:22:37,880and those are on all the main podcast sites.43800:22:38,079 –> 00:22:39,479Search for Open the Bible,43900:22:39,800 –> 00:22:44,119UK, and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.44000:22:44,319 –> 00:22:46,239Open the Bible is supported by our44100:22:46,439 –> 00:22:50,719listeners, and we’re extremely grateful for the financial support that you give us.44200:22:50,920 –> 00:22:54,199If that’s something that you’ve been considering starting to do,44300:22:54,400 –> 00:22:56,760this month we have a wonderful offer for you.44400:22:56,959 –> 00:22:59,719It’s our Easter giveaway bundle.44500:22:59,920 –> 00:23:02,119The bundle consists of two copies of44600:23:02,319 –> 00:23:05,079the graphic novel version of Heaven, How I Got Here.44700:23:05,199 –> 00:23:11,199The story of the thief on the cross plus an NIV outreach edition of the Bible.44800:23:11,400 –> 00:23:15,640These are ideal to give away to friends and family this Easter.44900:23:15,839 –> 00:23:18,880Colin, who is this graphic novel for?45000:23:19,079 –> 00:23:22,439Well, I’m super-excited about this graphic novel.45100:23:22,640 –> 00:23:26,239It is a brilliantly-illustrated 48-page story.45200:23:26,439 –> 00:23:28,640It’s got clear and compelling dialogue45300:23:28,839 –> 00:23:34,040and it’s designed to reach younger people and for anyone who thinks of themselves45400:23:34,040 –> 00:23:35,800as being a visual learner.45500:23:36,000 –> 00:23:38,439And it tells the story of the thief on the cross,45600:23:38,640 –> 00:23:41,640which is really a story that I think everyone needs to know.45700:23:41,839 –> 00:23:45,280It teaches us that entrance into heaven45800:23:45,479 –> 00:23:49,079doesn’t depend on a person’s performance in the Christian life.45900:23:49,079 –> 00:23:51,880And I think that’s something that everybody needs to grasp,46000:23:52,079 –> 00:23:56,560but especially younger people who have grown up in church46100:23:56,760 –> 00:23:59,359and yet may not have grasped the heart of the Gospel46200:23:59,560 –> 00:24:02,000and may be tempted to turn away.46300:24:02,239 –> 00:24:04,040I hope that we can get it into the hands46400:24:04,239 –> 00:24:08,359of as many younger people in visual learners as possible so that people46500:24:08,560 –> 00:24:12,079will understand the marvellous news of God’s grace.46600:24:12,280 –> 00:24:15,479Jesus opened heaven for the thief on the cross.46700:24:15,479 –> 00:24:17,040If you can do that for the thief on the cross,46800:24:17,239 –> 00:24:18,839you can do that for any person.46900:24:19,040 –> 00:24:22,439There is hope for every person in Jesus Christ.47000:24:22,640 –> 00:24:24,719So who’s the young person in your life47100:24:24,920 –> 00:24:29,239who needs to understand the grace of God would love for you to be the means47200:24:29,400 –> 00:24:32,280of getting the story of God’s grace into47300:24:32,479 –> 00:24:35,520their hands, and who knows what God will do as a result?47400:24:35,719 –> 00:24:37,920Well, we’d love to send you our Easter47500:24:38,119 –> 00:24:41,079giveaway bundle. If you’re able to begin a new direct47600:24:41,280 –> 00:24:45,599debit to the work of Open the Bible in the amount of five pounds per month or47700:24:45,800 –> 00:24:49,760more, or a one off gift of fifty pounds or more.47800:24:49,959 –> 00:24:54,479Full terms and conditions and to give online, head for our website.47900:24:54,680 –> 00:24:57,599That’s at open thebible.org.uk.48000:24:57,800 –> 00:25:01,000And if you give online, don’t forget to leave your full name48100:25:01,199 –> 00:25:04,760and address so that we can send you our Easter giveaway bundle.48200:25:04,959 –> 00:25:07,520For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,48300:25:07,719 –> 00:25:11,719I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll join us again next time on open the Bible.48400:25:18,079 –> 00:25:21,239Have you ever been told to follow your heart?48500:25:21,439 –> 00:25:25,359Find out why your heart may not be as reliable as you think.48600:25:25,359 –> 00:25:27,760That’s next time on Open the Bible.