100:00:00,900 –> 00:00:08,160Everyone has something in their life that they wish was different.200:00:08,360 –> 00:00:10,900Peter says, covering the whole range,300:00:10,900 –> 00:00:17,000You have been grieved with various tribes.400:00:17,000 –> 00:00:23,299You can fill in the detail of what that means for you.500:00:23,299 –> 00:00:26,400Now here’s the question.600:00:26,400 –> 00:00:27,660Why?700:00:28,459 –> 00:00:34,560What purpose could God have in these trials?800:00:34,560 –> 00:00:39,959What good, might we hope, would come out of them?900:00:39,959 –> 00:00:42,459Welcome to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:42,459 –> 00:00:43,459I’m David Pick,1100:00:43,459 –> 00:00:44,560glad you could join us today.1200:00:44,560 –> 00:00:48,560And Colin, over the many years that you’ve served as a pastor,1300:00:48,560 –> 00:00:50,560you must have been asked that question –1400:00:50,560 –> 00:00:53,560Why does God allow this trial in my life?1500:00:53,560 –> 00:00:55,660It must have been asked loads of times.1600:00:55,660 –> 00:00:57,360It’s the number one question.1700:00:57,360 –> 00:01:00,160And it’s always the most pressing question, isn’t it?1800:01:00,160 –> 00:01:02,660People who suffer have a sense of,1900:01:02,660 –> 00:01:04,260you know, I can endure this,2000:01:04,260 –> 00:01:07,160but I need to know that there’s some purpose.2100:01:07,160 –> 00:01:09,559That there’s some good that’s going to come out of it.2200:01:09,559 –> 00:01:11,860If I thought that it was just random,2300:01:11,860 –> 00:01:14,160then it would be completely unbearable.2400:01:14,160 –> 00:01:15,360Give me some rationale.2500:01:15,360 –> 00:01:16,360Why?2600:01:16,360 –> 00:01:20,160And we’re going to look in the Scriptures today2700:01:20,160 –> 00:01:22,559at some very clear statements2800:01:22,559 –> 00:01:24,660that the Apostle Peter makes2900:01:25,059 –> 00:01:28,360about what comes out of the trials3000:01:28,360 –> 00:01:30,360that God’s children suffer,3100:01:30,360 –> 00:01:32,760the good purposes that God accomplishes3200:01:32,760 –> 00:01:34,459in them and through them.3300:01:34,459 –> 00:01:36,860And I hope that this is going to be really encouraging3400:01:36,860 –> 00:01:38,860for a person who’s saying,3500:01:38,860 –> 00:01:41,860why am I going through this today?3600:01:41,860 –> 00:01:44,059That you’ll get some glimpse3700:01:44,059 –> 00:01:46,360of what you can look to God to do3800:01:46,360 –> 00:01:47,459in and through the things3900:01:47,459 –> 00:01:49,860that you wish were different in your life.4000:01:49,860 –> 00:01:51,860But God has a bigger purpose4100:01:51,860 –> 00:01:53,459and He’s going to accomplish it4200:01:54,260 –> 00:01:55,160in you and through you.4300:01:55,160 –> 00:01:57,559So let’s get into that encouraging message today.4400:01:57,559 –> 00:01:59,160It’s called Tested Faith4500:01:59,160 –> 00:02:01,459and it comes from 1 Peter 1.4600:02:01,459 –> 00:02:03,260Here is Pastor Colin.4700:02:03,260 –> 00:02:07,160How do you know that your faith is genuine?4800:02:07,160 –> 00:02:08,960And that is a real question4900:02:08,960 –> 00:02:12,160because there are many people5000:02:12,160 –> 00:02:14,460who at one time professed some kind of faith5100:02:14,460 –> 00:02:17,059and then turned back.5200:02:17,059 –> 00:02:22,660So, how do you know that your faith is genuine?5300:02:23,160 –> 00:02:25,860Well, Peter has the answer.5400:02:25,860 –> 00:02:28,960He tells us that when you are grieved5500:02:28,960 –> 00:02:31,259by various trials5600:02:31,259 –> 00:02:33,460and despite them,5700:02:33,460 –> 00:02:36,460you continue to love and to trust5800:02:36,460 –> 00:02:39,160and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ,5900:02:39,160 –> 00:02:43,360then you have decisive proof6000:02:43,360 –> 00:02:45,960that your faith is genuine.6100:02:45,960 –> 00:02:47,759And here’s why.6200:02:47,759 –> 00:02:51,160If your faith was simply a human decision,6300:02:51,160 –> 00:02:54,559if it was simply a sort of religious interest,6400:02:54,559 –> 00:02:57,460if it was simply a passing phase,6500:02:57,460 –> 00:02:59,660then you would renounce your faith6600:02:59,660 –> 00:03:02,600as soon as it became too costly.6700:03:02,600 –> 00:03:05,160If God did not do what you wanted,6800:03:05,160 –> 00:03:07,559if he did not give you what you asked,6900:03:07,559 –> 00:03:10,960well, if your faith was simply a human decision,7000:03:10,960 –> 00:03:12,660you would turn away from worship,7100:03:12,660 –> 00:03:14,960you would turn away from the Word of God,7200:03:14,960 –> 00:03:16,860you would give up on prayer,7300:03:16,860 –> 00:03:18,360you would no longer believe7400:03:18,360 –> 00:03:19,759and you would no longer obey7500:03:19,759 –> 00:03:22,660the Lord Jesus Christ.7600:03:23,160 –> 00:03:26,259The natural response,7700:03:26,259 –> 00:03:27,860the natural response7800:03:27,860 –> 00:03:30,059when Jesus Christ leads a person7900:03:30,059 –> 00:03:33,559into hard places would be8000:03:33,559 –> 00:03:35,259to turn back8100:03:35,259 –> 00:03:38,259and no longer follow him.8200:03:38,259 –> 00:03:39,660But you see,8300:03:39,660 –> 00:03:42,160Peter is writing here8400:03:42,160 –> 00:03:45,259to people who have endured great trials8500:03:45,259 –> 00:03:48,460and they did not turn back8600:03:48,820 –> 00:03:51,059and he’s saying to them,8700:03:51,059 –> 00:03:55,460well, there can only be one explanation.8800:03:55,460 –> 00:03:58,059You have been born of God.8900:03:58,059 –> 00:03:59,660You have a living hope9000:03:59,660 –> 00:04:01,860through the resurrection of Jesus Christ9100:04:01,860 –> 00:04:04,160from the dead.9200:04:04,160 –> 00:04:07,259The life of God is in you.9300:04:07,259 –> 00:04:11,160The Spirit of God indwells you.9400:04:11,160 –> 00:04:15,960Your faith has been proved genuine.9500:04:15,960 –> 00:04:19,160You belong to Jesus Christ,9600:04:19,160 –> 00:04:22,760and he is yours9700:04:22,760 –> 00:04:25,260forever.9800:04:27,559 –> 00:04:29,959Tested faith9900:04:29,959 –> 00:04:32,760is genuine faith.10000:04:32,760 –> 00:04:34,859And now Peter10100:04:34,859 –> 00:04:38,359goes on to tell us why that is so important.10200:04:38,359 –> 00:04:40,059Because10300:04:40,059 –> 00:04:46,160tested faith is more precious than gold.10400:04:46,160 –> 00:04:50,260The tested genuineness of your faith, he says,10500:04:50,260 –> 00:04:55,059more precious than gold10600:04:55,059 –> 00:04:57,359that perishes.10700:04:57,359 –> 00:05:02,260Now, do you see that Peter is talking here about the value10800:05:02,260 –> 00:05:05,559of a genuine faith?10900:05:05,660 –> 00:05:10,799Now, the world looks on with condescending disdain11000:05:10,799 –> 00:05:14,200in regards to faith, while faith is a good thing,11100:05:14,200 –> 00:05:16,859you know, especially for those who feel that they need it.11200:05:16,859 –> 00:05:18,859That’s the way in which the world views faith.11300:05:18,859 –> 00:05:23,899It’s something of very little value indeed.11400:05:23,899 –> 00:05:29,899The world sees faith as a kind of crutch for weak people.11500:05:29,899 –> 00:05:35,160But you see, Peter tells us here that far from being a crutch,11600:05:35,160 –> 00:05:41,820genuine faith is a gift of infinite value,11700:05:41,820 –> 00:05:44,959and to press home how valuable it really is,11800:05:44,959 –> 00:05:46,959he makes this comparison.11900:05:46,959 –> 00:05:49,320He puts it alongside money,12000:05:49,320 –> 00:05:52,459not just a little money, but a lot of money.12100:05:52,459 –> 00:05:56,559He talks about pure gold.12200:05:56,559 –> 00:06:04,160Suppose a man has millions of dollars, millions.12300:06:04,160 –> 00:06:07,059He is pleased.12400:06:07,059 –> 00:06:10,420There are many joys of life that he can savor12500:06:10,420 –> 00:06:14,380because of his money,12600:06:14,380 –> 00:06:17,820but only for a short time.12700:06:17,820 –> 00:06:24,260Very soon, he will have to kiss his money goodbye.12800:06:24,260 –> 00:06:28,760Gold is of finite value,12900:06:28,760 –> 00:06:31,959but genuine faith, Peter is telling us,13000:06:31,959 –> 00:06:34,720is of greater value by far.13100:06:34,720 –> 00:06:40,619It is more precious than gold.13200:06:40,619 –> 00:06:45,059Gold will give you access to many pleasures13300:06:45,059 –> 00:06:47,459for a short while.13400:06:47,459 –> 00:06:52,660Genuine faith will give you access to the presence of God13500:06:52,660 –> 00:06:54,480where there is fullness of joy13600:06:54,480 –> 00:07:00,459and pleasures at his right hand forevermore.13700:07:00,579 –> 00:07:05,359So, faith that is tested and proved genuine13800:07:05,359 –> 00:07:11,579is more precious, Peter says, than gold.13900:07:11,579 –> 00:07:16,220Spurgeon says, if you have faith,14000:07:16,220 –> 00:07:19,420you don’t need to ask for much more14100:07:19,420 –> 00:07:22,959except that your faith will grow.14200:07:22,959 –> 00:07:25,859And then, Peter takes this comparison14300:07:25,859 –> 00:07:29,420between faith and gold a step further.14400:07:29,420 –> 00:07:32,579Notice that he speaks here about gold that perishes14500:07:32,579 –> 00:07:37,079though it is tested by fire.14600:07:37,079 –> 00:07:38,119Now he’s talking, of course,14700:07:38,119 –> 00:07:40,880about the way in which gold is purified14800:07:40,880 –> 00:07:44,100or refined in the fire,14900:07:44,100 –> 00:07:46,799and he’s saying in the same way,15000:07:46,799 –> 00:07:49,140faith is strengthened, faith grows,15100:07:49,140 –> 00:07:54,140faith is refined when it is tested15200:07:54,160 –> 00:07:55,820and when it is tried.15300:07:56,500 –> 00:08:01,320Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary15400:08:01,320 –> 00:08:05,200who started a rescue home for young girls15500:08:05,200 –> 00:08:09,220who had been trafficked in India,15600:08:09,220 –> 00:08:11,559and she tells of an occasion when she went15700:08:11,559 –> 00:08:16,200with the girls under her care to visit a goldsmith15800:08:16,200 –> 00:08:19,899who was refining gold in a charcoal fire.15900:08:20,619 –> 00:08:25,000And they watched as he put the gold into a curved tile16000:08:25,000 –> 00:08:29,540and then put this crucible into the fire,16100:08:29,540 –> 00:08:33,260and then he’d take it out and have a look at the gold.16200:08:33,260 –> 00:08:36,119Then he’d put it back in, then he’d take it back out16300:08:36,119 –> 00:08:39,200and have a look at the gold again.16400:08:40,320 –> 00:08:42,619And someone asked him,16500:08:42,619 –> 00:08:45,619How do you know when the gold is refined?16600:08:46,479 –> 00:08:48,080when the gold is refined.16700:08:50,080 –> 00:08:52,000And the goldsmith gave this answer.16800:08:53,400 –> 00:08:58,119When I can see my face in it,16900:08:58,119 –> 00:09:00,679then it is purely.17000:09:02,979 –> 00:09:07,640When your faith is tested it will grow.17100:09:08,599 –> 00:09:09,940It will be refined.17200:09:11,679 –> 00:09:13,799And when the refining is done,17300:09:13,799 –> 00:09:17,859God will produce a reflection17400:09:17,859 –> 00:09:22,859of his own image and likeness in you.17500:09:24,880 –> 00:09:29,880And that is why faith is of greater worth than gold.17600:09:34,960 –> 00:09:36,599Faith that is tested17700:09:38,000 –> 00:09:39,239and proved genuine17800:09:40,599 –> 00:09:42,280is of infinite wealth.17900:09:43,140 –> 00:09:44,760You’re listening to Open the Bible18000:09:44,760 –> 00:09:47,640with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Tested Faith.18100:09:47,640 –> 00:09:51,000And we’ve heard how tested faith is genuine faith18200:09:51,000 –> 00:09:53,539and how it’s more precious than gold.18300:09:53,539 –> 00:09:54,380And when we come back,18400:09:54,380 –> 00:09:57,159we’ll see how Tested Faith brings praise,18500:09:57,159 –> 00:09:59,200glory and honor to God.18600:09:59,200 –> 00:10:00,719So, hope you’ll stay with us.18700:10:00,719 –> 00:10:03,479We’ll be back with the message just very shortly.18800:10:03,479 –> 00:10:05,359If you ever miss one of our messages,18900:10:05,359 –> 00:10:06,840it’s very easy to catch up19000:10:06,840 –> 00:10:10,039or go back and listen again by coming to our website.19100:10:10,159 –> 00:10:13,200That’s at openthebible.org.uk.19200:10:13,200 –> 00:10:14,900Or you can find us as a podcast19300:10:14,900 –> 00:10:16,919on all the main podcasts sites.19400:10:16,919 –> 00:10:19,440Search for openthebible.uk.19500:10:19,440 –> 00:10:20,479Back to the message.19600:10:20,479 –> 00:10:22,280Here again, is Pastor Colin.19700:10:22,280 –> 00:10:25,520Tested faith is genuine faith.19800:10:25,520 –> 00:10:28,239Tested faith is more precious than gold.19900:10:29,200 –> 00:10:32,479And then Peter tells us that tested faith20000:10:32,479 –> 00:10:34,739will result in praise,20100:10:34,739 –> 00:10:37,380glory and honor.20200:10:37,380 –> 00:10:38,479Look at what he says here.20300:10:38,479 –> 00:10:42,460You have been grieved by various trials20400:10:42,460 –> 00:10:45,859so that, here’s what will come out of it,20500:10:45,859 –> 00:10:50,359the tested genuineness of your faith20600:10:50,359 –> 00:10:53,380may be found to result in praise,20700:10:53,380 –> 00:10:56,280and glory and honor20800:10:56,280 –> 00:11:00,880at the revelation of Jesus Christ.20900:11:02,719 –> 00:11:04,460Now the obvious question is21000:11:04,460 –> 00:11:08,700whose praise, glory, and honor are we talking about?21100:11:08,700 –> 00:11:12,239And there are two answers to that question.21200:11:13,460 –> 00:11:15,900Remember that Jesus tells us21300:11:15,900 –> 00:11:19,580that faithful servants will be praised21400:11:20,619 –> 00:11:22,200by the Master himself.21500:11:23,260 –> 00:11:25,140Well done.21600:11:25,140 –> 00:11:27,780Good and faithful servant,21700:11:27,780 –> 00:11:31,580enter into your Master’s joy.21800:11:32,580 –> 00:11:35,099And in Romans in chapter two,21900:11:35,099 –> 00:11:39,380Paul says of a person who’s come to love God from the heart22000:11:39,380 –> 00:11:42,820and the person who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit,22100:11:42,820 –> 00:11:47,359that his praise is not from man,22200:11:48,599 –> 00:11:49,479but from God.22300:11:52,640 –> 00:11:55,179Then as we think about honor,22400:11:56,099 –> 00:11:58,940in 1 Corinthians 4, in verse five,22500:11:58,960 –> 00:12:00,659Paul speaks about the great day22600:12:00,659 –> 00:12:03,260when God will bring to light the things22700:12:03,260 –> 00:12:06,760that up until that point have been hidden in darkness.22800:12:06,760 –> 00:12:11,140And then God will disclose the hidden purpose22900:12:11,140 –> 00:12:13,500of every heart.23000:12:13,500 –> 00:12:14,840What a day that will be.23100:12:16,520 –> 00:12:19,380And then the Apostle says this.23200:12:20,280 –> 00:12:25,280Each one will receive his commendation from God.23300:12:26,280 –> 00:12:27,260From God.23400:12:28,840 –> 00:12:32,119Now you read that and you may find it very hard23500:12:32,119 –> 00:12:36,359to imagine God himself commending you.23600:12:38,080 –> 00:12:39,820But look at what it says.23700:12:40,919 –> 00:12:43,080If you are in Christ,23800:12:44,000 –> 00:12:47,039if, by faith, you persevere through trial,23900:12:48,400 –> 00:12:52,479the Bible says that God himself will command you,24000:12:54,119 –> 00:12:54,960honor you.24100:12:55,780 –> 00:13:00,719And then Peter uses the word glory,24200:13:00,719 –> 00:13:04,559and later in this first letter that he writes,24300:13:04,559 –> 00:13:06,599there are some words given to elders24400:13:06,599 –> 00:13:09,880that can rightly be applied to all24500:13:09,880 –> 00:13:11,919who extend themselves in the service24600:13:11,919 –> 00:13:13,640of our Lord Jesus Christ.24700:13:13,640 –> 00:13:14,840This is what Peter says.24800:13:14,840 –> 00:13:17,840When the chief shepherd appears,24900:13:17,840 –> 00:13:19,080here’s what will happen.25000:13:19,080 –> 00:13:23,960You will receive the unfading crown of glory.25100:13:25,599 –> 00:13:30,640Glory, praise, honor, glory.25200:13:34,320 –> 00:13:37,559And here Peter brings the three together.25300:13:38,719 –> 00:13:42,119Faith that is proved genuine he tells us25400:13:42,119 –> 00:13:45,799will result in praise, glory,25500:13:45,799 –> 00:13:50,799and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.25600:13:51,780 –> 00:13:55,760Now, who are these people?25700:13:55,760 –> 00:13:59,059Who are praised and honored25800:13:59,059 –> 00:14:01,340by the Lord Jesus Christ himself?25900:14:01,340 –> 00:14:04,799Well, they are those who,26000:14:04,799 –> 00:14:09,119in the face of great trials, great darkness,26100:14:09,119 –> 00:14:11,559grief, suffering, and loss,26200:14:11,559 –> 00:14:15,299they have loved and trusted Christ still.26300:14:15,359 –> 00:14:17,700The greatest honor that you can give26400:14:17,700 –> 00:14:21,559to the Lord Jesus Christ in all of your life26500:14:21,559 –> 00:14:25,260is to love him, trust him,26600:14:25,260 –> 00:14:30,880and obey him in the midst of sorrow and loss26700:14:30,880 –> 00:14:35,380that you do not understand.26800:14:35,380 –> 00:14:42,659Now, what will those who have endured great trial do?26900:14:43,299 –> 00:14:48,119What will those who have endured great trial do27000:14:48,119 –> 00:14:54,700with this praise and this honor and this glory?27100:14:54,700 –> 00:14:56,679Well, you know what they will do.27200:14:56,679 –> 00:15:00,619They will lay any praise, any honor, and any glory27300:15:00,619 –> 00:15:06,000that they receive at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.27400:15:06,000 –> 00:15:09,299And they will say, any strength that we had,27500:15:09,299 –> 00:15:12,059and any perseverance that we showed,27600:15:12,059 –> 00:15:17,840by your grace and by your grace alone.27700:15:17,840 –> 00:15:20,419John tells us in the book of Revelation27800:15:20,419 –> 00:15:24,500that the elders cast their crowns27900:15:24,500 –> 00:15:28,559before the Lord Jesus Christ.28000:15:28,559 –> 00:15:32,140And picking up on that, Charles Wesley wrote these words.28100:15:32,140 –> 00:15:36,619Finish then your new creation.28200:15:36,619 –> 00:15:41,000Pure and spotless let us be.28300:15:41,000 –> 00:15:44,179Let us see your great salvation,28400:15:44,179 –> 00:15:47,039perfect in eternity,28500:15:47,039 –> 00:15:50,440changed from glory into glory.28600:15:50,440 –> 00:15:53,580Till in heaven we take our place.28700:15:53,580 –> 00:15:57,640Till we cast our crowns before thee,28800:15:58,619 –> 00:16:03,619lost in wonder and love and praise.28900:16:04,520 –> 00:16:09,119And notice that Peter says that this praise,29000:16:09,119 –> 00:16:11,419glory and honor will come29100:16:11,419 –> 00:16:15,299at the revelation of Jesus Christ.29200:16:16,020 –> 00:16:17,960Now, Peter, of course, is speaking here29300:16:17,960 –> 00:16:21,400about the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ,29400:16:21,400 –> 00:16:25,820and the Bible often speaks about this as his coming.29500:16:25,820 –> 00:16:28,359But that’s not the word that Peter uses here.29600:16:28,359 –> 00:16:31,739Here, Peter speaks of his being revealed29700:16:32,580 –> 00:16:35,039He uses the word revelation.29800:16:36,419 –> 00:16:40,580Now, what is the difference between Christ coming29900:16:40,580 –> 00:16:42,080and Christ being revealed?30000:16:42,080 –> 00:16:44,299They clearly refer to the same event,30100:16:44,299 –> 00:16:45,900but there’s a different emphasis30200:16:45,900 –> 00:16:47,239and there’s a different focus,30300:16:47,239 –> 00:16:50,739and Peter uses his word carefully30400:16:50,739 –> 00:16:56,700under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, revealed.30500:16:57,659 –> 00:17:04,500Revealed, when you have a reveal at the end of a show30600:17:04,500 –> 00:17:07,020or at the end of a project,30700:17:07,020 –> 00:17:11,859it is the unveiling of something that is already there,30800:17:13,699 –> 00:17:17,060and a scholar by the name of Alan Stibbes30900:17:17,060 –> 00:17:19,680has made this very beautiful comment.31000:17:21,020 –> 00:17:23,939He says the revelation of Jesus Christ31100:17:24,900 –> 00:17:29,739is not the coming of someone hitherto absent,31200:17:31,099 –> 00:17:35,260but the visible unveiling of someone31300:17:35,260 –> 00:17:40,099who has been all the time spiritually31400:17:40,099 –> 00:17:43,180and invisibly present.31500:17:45,760 –> 00:17:50,420When Amy Carmichael took her girls31600:17:50,420 –> 00:17:52,420to watch the goldsmith at work,31700:17:52,540 –> 00:17:56,819she pointed out to them that the refiner31800:17:56,819 –> 00:18:00,420never leaves the gold when it is in the fire.31900:18:03,079 –> 00:18:06,819In every trial that you have faced,32000:18:08,020 –> 00:18:13,020your savior has all the time been invisibly present.32100:18:17,260 –> 00:18:22,099Brother, sister in Christ, your faith will be tested,32200:18:23,040 –> 00:18:27,739when your faith is tested, it will be refined.32300:18:27,739 –> 00:18:28,859It will grow.32400:18:29,780 –> 00:18:32,939Tested faith is genuine faith32500:18:33,979 –> 00:18:36,219and a tested faith that proves genuine32600:18:36,219 –> 00:18:39,319is more precious than gold.32700:18:41,260 –> 00:18:44,099The tested faith that proves genuine32800:18:44,099 –> 00:18:47,839will result in praise and glory and honor32900:18:49,020 –> 00:18:50,880when Jesus Christ is revealed.33000:18:51,560 –> 00:18:54,880The same trial that brings you pain,33100:18:54,880 –> 00:18:57,339grief and sorrow right now33200:18:57,339 –> 00:19:00,160will bring praise, glory and honor33300:19:01,160 –> 00:19:03,660when you see Jesus Christ face to face.33400:19:05,640 –> 00:19:08,400Now, I want to end with a very simple parable33500:19:08,400 –> 00:19:12,199to press the main point of the message today home.33600:19:13,680 –> 00:19:18,680It’s a parable that I call the parable of the pit33700:19:18,880 –> 00:19:21,459and it’s a very simple analogy33800:19:21,459 –> 00:19:26,459to remind us that there are discoveries of God’s grace33900:19:26,699 –> 00:19:29,420that we can only make in the darkest places.34000:19:30,459 –> 00:19:32,420There’s something that you can gain34100:19:32,420 –> 00:19:34,800in the hardest places of your life34200:19:34,800 –> 00:19:36,640that you will not gain anywhere else.34300:19:38,560 –> 00:19:40,439Imagine then, with me for a moment,34400:19:40,439 –> 00:19:45,280that you are told that you will be in a pit for one week.34500:19:45,280 –> 00:19:47,319You’re told that after that week in the pit,34600:19:47,339 –> 00:19:49,640you will never, ever go there again,34700:19:49,640 –> 00:19:52,900never in all of your life, and that while you are there,34800:19:52,900 –> 00:19:56,280you are to use the time and the opportunity34900:19:56,280 –> 00:19:59,260to make a life and a future.35000:20:00,680 –> 00:20:02,219You’re lowered into this pit.35100:20:03,479 –> 00:20:08,219It’s dark, it’s damp, and it smells.35200:20:09,479 –> 00:20:13,300You feel around, the walls are like glass.35300:20:14,180 –> 00:20:15,680You cut your finger.35400:20:16,560 –> 00:20:20,339You think, what can I do here to make a life and a future.35500:20:22,900 –> 00:20:24,880You sit miserably in the darkness.35600:20:26,880 –> 00:20:28,739You think, well, at least I’m only gonna be here35700:20:28,739 –> 00:20:30,640for one week, and I have been promised35800:20:30,640 –> 00:20:34,859that after one week, I will never be here again,35900:20:34,859 –> 00:20:39,380and so you count the hours, you count the days,36000:20:40,280 –> 00:20:42,839you simply wait for the time to pass,36100:20:42,839 –> 00:20:44,939you do nothing, you just sit there.36200:20:46,479 –> 00:20:51,479And finally, one week later, the day comes36300:20:51,920 –> 00:20:56,040when you are lifted out of the pit, and you rejoice,36400:20:56,040 –> 00:20:59,359because you know that you will never be there again,36500:21:01,160 –> 00:21:02,640but as you leave the pit,36600:21:03,880 –> 00:21:04,920you look backwards36700:21:06,959 –> 00:21:09,040and you see a sign that tells you36800:21:09,040 –> 00:21:12,500that the place you have been for an entire week36900:21:12,520 –> 00:21:14,699was a diamond mine.37000:21:17,160 –> 00:21:20,780There are gems of Grace37100:21:20,780 –> 00:21:25,260that can only be found in the darkest of places,37200:21:27,140 –> 00:21:30,560so when your faith is tested,37300:21:32,339 –> 00:21:37,339make sure that you don’t come out empty handed.37400:21:38,479 –> 00:21:39,500Master Colin Smith there,37500:21:39,500 –> 00:21:42,140wrapping up our message called, Tested Faith,37600:21:42,180 –> 00:21:44,900it’s part of a series called, Grow in Faith37700:21:44,900 –> 00:21:47,180and if you’ve missed any of the series so far37800:21:47,180 –> 00:21:49,339or if you want to go back and listen again,37900:21:49,339 –> 00:21:51,140you can do that by coming online38000:21:51,140 –> 00:21:55,060to our website, openthebible.org.uk38100:21:55,060 –> 00:21:58,800or you can find it as a podcast on all the podcast sites,38200:21:58,800 –> 00:22:00,979go and search Open the Bible, UK.38300:22:02,000 –> 00:22:05,180At Open the Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.38400:22:05,180 –> 00:22:08,339If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching38500:22:08,339 –> 00:22:10,260and you’d like to reach out to us,38600:22:10,260 –> 00:22:13,099you can write to us at Open the Bible,38700:22:13,099 –> 00:22:18,099PO box 1420, Cheltenham, GL50, 9PG,38800:22:20,060 –> 00:22:22,619that address along with an email address38900:22:22,619 –> 00:22:26,020and a telephone number that you can use to contact us39000:22:26,020 –> 00:22:30,479are all on our website, openthebible.org.uk.39100:22:31,640 –> 00:22:34,180Open the Bible is supported by our listeners,39200:22:34,180 –> 00:22:37,079it’s people just like you who keep Open the Bible39300:22:37,280 –> 00:22:39,319on this station, on the internet39400:22:39,319 –> 00:22:41,520and on all the podcast sites.39500:22:41,520 –> 00:22:43,959So if you already give to support the work,39600:22:43,959 –> 00:22:45,939thank you so much.39700:22:45,939 –> 00:22:48,079If supporting Open the Bible financially39800:22:48,079 –> 00:22:50,400is something that you’d like to begin to do,39900:22:50,400 –> 00:22:52,359this month, we’d love to say thank you40000:22:52,359 –> 00:22:54,719by sending you a free gift.40100:22:54,719 –> 00:22:57,079If you’re able to begin a new direct debit40200:22:57,079 –> 00:22:59,699of £5 per month or more,40300:22:59,699 –> 00:23:02,479or a One-Off gift of £60 or more.40400:23:02,479 –> 00:23:06,339We’d love to send you a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book,40500:23:06,420 –> 00:23:10,060I’m Praying For You, 40 Days of Praying the Bible40600:23:10,060 –> 00:23:12,300for Someone Who Is Suffering.40700:23:12,300 –> 00:23:14,300Colin, what’s the one thing you hope people40800:23:14,300 –> 00:23:17,060who read this book will take away from it?40900:23:17,060 –> 00:23:19,160Well, the thing that I’ve gained from this book41000:23:19,160 –> 00:23:22,180is that it is a way of staying fresh41100:23:22,180 –> 00:23:25,579in praying for people that we want to intercede for41200:23:25,579 –> 00:23:27,459over a long period of time.41300:23:27,459 –> 00:23:30,040And I think every Christian has friends,41400:23:30,040 –> 00:23:32,140loved ones for whom we’re committed41500:23:32,140 –> 00:23:34,219to pray over the long haul.41600:23:34,219 –> 00:23:36,140And the question of course is always,41700:23:36,520 –> 00:23:39,619how do I stay fresh in praying for the same person41800:23:39,619 –> 00:23:41,260day after day after day?41900:23:41,260 –> 00:23:44,099Well, what Nancy Guthrie has done wonderfully42000:23:44,099 –> 00:23:46,780is she’s brought together from scripture42100:23:46,780 –> 00:23:50,97940 different ways of praying for someone you love,42200:23:50,979 –> 00:23:53,180someone in need, someone who’s suffering.42300:23:53,180 –> 00:23:54,739You can use one of these every day42400:23:54,739 –> 00:23:56,800and you can reuse the many times.42500:23:56,800 –> 00:23:59,219So, it’s in 40 very simple sections.42600:23:59,219 –> 00:24:00,459I mean, for example,42700:24:00,459 –> 00:24:03,339I’m praying that the Lord will keep you.42800:24:03,339 –> 00:24:04,300And another one,42900:24:04,300 –> 00:24:08,000I’m praying that you will not fear bad news.43000:24:08,000 –> 00:24:10,599I’m praying that God will make you fruitful.43100:24:10,599 –> 00:24:11,859I’m praying that you’ll grasp43200:24:11,859 –> 00:24:14,060how deeply you are loved by God.43300:24:14,060 –> 00:24:16,839I’m praying that you’ll cast your anxieties on God.43400:24:16,839 –> 00:24:20,560I’m praying that you’ll learn the secret of being content.43500:24:20,560 –> 00:24:25,459So here are 40 distinct ways to pray for someone you love.43600:24:25,459 –> 00:24:26,900It’s a marvelous resource.43700:24:26,900 –> 00:24:28,939I’ve never seen anything quite like it,43800:24:28,939 –> 00:24:33,020but it will inject freshness into your prayer life,43900:24:33,219 –> 00:24:34,660and I think it’ll be a great blessing44000:24:34,660 –> 00:24:35,619and a help to many.44100:24:35,619 –> 00:24:37,160Well, we’d love to send you a copy44200:24:37,160 –> 00:24:39,619of Nancy Guthrie’s book, I’m Praying for You,44300:24:39,619 –> 00:24:41,500when you begin a new direct debit44400:24:41,500 –> 00:24:42,900to the work of Open the Bible44500:24:42,900 –> 00:24:45,239of five pounds per month or more,44600:24:45,239 –> 00:24:48,079or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more.44700:24:48,079 –> 00:24:50,579You’ll find full terms and conditions online44800:24:50,579 –> 00:24:54,540at our website, Openthebible.org.uk44900:24:54,540 –> 00:24:56,939and you can also give online.45000:24:56,939 –> 00:24:59,479If you want us to send you this free gift,45100:24:59,479 –> 00:25:01,459please don’t give anonymously45200:25:01,479 –> 00:25:03,520and don’t forget to leave your full name45300:25:03,520 –> 00:25:06,939and address so that we can send you your gift.45400:25:06,939 –> 00:25:09,300For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,45500:25:09,300 –> 00:25:10,579I’m David Pick.45600:25:10,579 –> 00:25:12,000Thanks for being with us today45700:25:12,000 –> 00:25:14,640and I hope you’ll join us again next time.45800:25:14,640 –> 00:25:16,619Open the Bible45900:25:22,219 –> 00:25:25,140Doesn’t faith just work automatically?46000:25:25,140 –> 00:25:27,540Discover why it needs to be applied.46100:25:27,540 –> 00:25:29,839That’s next time on Open the Bible.