100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,780Somewhere in your journey, you’re going to meet these three thieves faint heart will200:00:10,780 –> 00:00:20,719threaten you, mistrust will want to rob you, and guilt will attempt to beat you up.300:00:20,719 –> 00:00:27,100And when you meet these thieves, you’re going to have to exercise faith.400:00:28,040 –> 00:00:30,299Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.500:00:30,320 –> 00:00:31,360I’m David Pick.600:00:31,360 –> 00:00:32,480Glad you could join us today.700:00:32,480 –> 00:00:35,360And Colin, today, we’re just going to hear about a band of thieves.800:00:35,360 –> 00:00:40,779Yes, you know this is from John Bunyan’s wonderful book, Pilgrims’ Progress, in900:00:40,779 –> 00:00:43,099which he sketches these different characters.1000:00:43,119 –> 00:00:49,220One of his characters is a person called Little Faith and Little Faith gets beaten1100:00:49,720 –> 00:00:59,459up by three ruffians who are Mistrust, Guilt and Faint Heart.1200:00:59,779 –> 00:01:04,199Now, you know, when you think about our own Christian experience, faint heartedness,1300:01:04,199 –> 00:01:09,699feeling like giving up, I know what it is to be beaten up by faint heart and what1400:01:09,699 –> 00:01:14,860it is to be beaten up by guilt, what it is to be beaten up by mistrust.1500:01:15,339 –> 00:01:19,660You know I read the promises of God and then I think now can I really believe this?1600:01:20,019 –> 00:01:22,440These are the experiences of our lives.1700:01:22,959 –> 00:01:28,760And so what we’re going to look at today is, what do you do, little faith when you1800:01:28,760 –> 00:01:34,519get beaten up by these thieves and they try to rob you and take away even what you1900:01:34,519 –> 00:01:36,739have? There’s a response to that.2000:01:36,959 –> 00:01:39,480And we’re going to look at that in the Scriptures together today.2100:01:39,639 –> 00:01:45,519So join us today if you can in Luke Chapter 8 and verses 22 to 25 as we continue the2200:01:45,519 –> 00:01:47,199message applied faith.2300:01:47,199 –> 00:01:48,400Here is Pastor Colin.2400:01:48,660 –> 00:01:53,639Some of you will know the book Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.2500:01:54,839 –> 00:01:58,639Bunyan pictured the Christian life as a journey.2600:01:59,680 –> 00:02:06,839His main character was called Christian and Christian left his hometown that was called2700:02:06,839 –> 00:02:13,679destruction in order to go on a journey to the celestial city, which was Bunyan’s way2800:02:13,699 –> 00:02:15,199of referring to heaven.2900:02:15,199 –> 00:02:20,779So his book Pilgrim’s Progress is really a description of what happens in a life of3000:02:20,779 –> 00:02:27,240faith, pictured as a journey from the city of destruction to the heavenly or celestial3100:02:27,240 –> 00:02:27,839city.3200:02:28,259 –> 00:02:35,500And the main character Christian has many adventures on the way and meets with many3300:02:35,559 –> 00:02:37,279fascinating characters.3400:02:38,220 –> 00:02:44,039One of Bunyan’s characters is called Little Faith.3500:02:44,539 –> 00:02:50,399I’m sure he took that directly from the fact that, as we’ve seen, Jesus said, O you of3600:02:50,399 –> 00:02:53,979Little Faith on no less than five occasions.3700:02:55,240 –> 00:03:03,759Little Faith lived in a town called Sinsea and, like Christian, he decided that he3800:03:04,220 –> 00:03:11,360needed to leave this town called Sinsea in order to begin a journey to the celestial3900:03:11,360 –> 00:03:19,720city. At one point in the story, Little Faith went down an alley that was called Dead4000:03:19,720 –> 00:03:21,199Man’s Lane.4100:03:22,160 –> 00:03:28,539It had been given that lane because of the many murders that had taken place there in4200:03:28,539 –> 00:03:29,240the past.4300:03:29,740 –> 00:03:36,580And while he was in Dead Man’s Lane, Little Faith was confronted by thieves.4400:03:36,580 –> 00:03:45,139There were three of them, and their names were Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt.4500:03:46,199 –> 00:03:49,240Well, Faint Heart was the first to speak.4600:03:49,240 –> 00:03:55,559In a very threatening way, he demanded that Little Faith give the thieves his wallet.4700:03:55,559 –> 00:03:57,600Little Faith was so terrified.4800:03:57,600 –> 00:03:59,160He didn’t know what to do.4900:03:59,160 –> 00:04:03,600It just stood there, absolutely frozen to the spot.5000:04:03,600 –> 00:04:12,559And so Mistrust stepped forward and seized Little Faith’s wallet out of his pocket.5100:04:12,559 –> 00:04:20,320At that moment, Little Faith shouted for help, thieves, thieves, and at that, Guilt stepped5200:04:20,320 –> 00:04:22,640forward with a big stick in his hand.5300:04:22,640 –> 00:04:28,500He hit Little Faith over the head and then beat him down to the ground.5400:04:28,540 –> 00:04:37,359And then the three thieves ran off, leaving Little Faith bleeding in Dead Man’s Alley.5500:04:38,359 –> 00:04:45,380Now Bunyan here is giving to us a profound insight into Christian experience.5600:04:45,380 –> 00:04:50,779Somewhere in your journey, you’re going to meet these three thieves.5700:04:51,700 –> 00:04:54,160Faint Heart will threaten you.5800:04:55,619 –> 00:05:03,380Mistrust will want to rob you and guilt will attempt to beat you up.5900:05:04,019 –> 00:05:11,359And when you meet these thieves, you’re going to have to exercise faith.6000:05:12,959 –> 00:05:19,899First then, exercise faith when Faint Heart tries to scare you.6100:05:20,980 –> 00:05:23,700Now, you’ll know what this is like in your own experience.6200:05:23,700 –> 00:05:26,079You have perhaps an opportunity to serve.6300:05:26,579 –> 00:05:30,179There is something good that you would like to pursue,6400:05:30,179 –> 00:05:33,640but Faint Heart holds you back.6500:05:33,899 –> 00:05:35,239Fear grips you.6600:05:35,940 –> 00:05:39,420You don’t want to fail and so you don’t step forward.6700:05:39,420 –> 00:05:41,339You don’t take a risk.6800:05:41,339 –> 00:05:49,799You want to guard yourself at all costs against any possibility of failure.6900:05:51,160 –> 00:05:58,100Now, what are you to do when Faint Heart crosses your path7000:05:58,540 –> 00:06:00,540and tries to scare you?7100:06:01,820 –> 00:06:06,140The answer is you must exercise faith.7200:06:07,359 –> 00:06:12,239And faith responds to Faint Heart by affirming the strength7300:06:12,239 –> 00:06:14,839that is yours in the Lord Jesus Christ.7400:06:14,839 –> 00:06:20,119I can do all things through Christ.7500:06:20,820 –> 00:06:22,320Who gives me strength.7600:06:24,019 –> 00:06:27,339So when you come to something that seems beyond you,7700:06:27,339 –> 00:06:29,220exercise faith.7800:06:30,519 –> 00:06:33,679Christ will bring you to places in your journey7900:06:33,679 –> 00:06:37,059where you have no alternative, but to depend upon him.8000:06:37,059 –> 00:06:41,059And faith grows when you see that what he calls you to8100:06:41,059 –> 00:06:44,339is indeed beyond you, and you have to trust him8200:06:44,339 –> 00:06:47,720to give you what you do not have.8300:06:47,720 –> 00:06:52,160Tell faint heart that Christ is yours8400:06:52,160 –> 00:06:56,040and in him is all the strength that you need.8500:06:56,040 –> 00:06:58,779Your savior is with you.8600:06:58,779 –> 00:07:02,299And he who guards you will neither slumber nor sleep.8700:07:02,299 –> 00:07:05,760His strength is made perfect in your weakness8800:07:05,760 –> 00:07:10,760and his grace is sufficient for you.8900:07:11,720 –> 00:07:16,720Exercise faith when faint heart tries to scare you.9000:07:20,920 –> 00:07:24,299And then secondly, exercise faith9100:07:24,299 –> 00:07:28,320when mistrust attempts to rob you.9200:07:29,279 –> 00:07:33,519Now in Bunyan’s story remember little faith9300:07:33,519 –> 00:07:36,660was beaten up by guilt,9400:07:37,279 –> 00:07:41,140but it was mistrust who robbed him.9500:07:42,019 –> 00:07:47,019And off the two it was mistrust who did the greater damage.9600:07:47,739 –> 00:07:51,200See little faith recovered from being beaten up,9700:07:51,200 –> 00:07:54,019dusted himself off, recovered from his wounds9800:07:54,019 –> 00:07:55,140and then pressed on9900:07:55,140 –> 00:07:58,119in his journey to the celestial city.10000:07:58,119 –> 00:08:02,619But since mistrust had taken his money,10100:08:02,619 –> 00:08:06,239well, little faith had a much more difficult10200:08:06,660 –> 00:08:07,500journey.10300:08:09,040 –> 00:08:13,500Now to be clear, little faith was,10400:08:13,500 –> 00:08:18,500and is without question a child of God.10500:08:20,299 –> 00:08:24,299Even with little faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,10600:08:24,299 –> 00:08:29,179you belong to Him and God indeed is your father10700:08:29,179 –> 00:08:33,320and by his grace, you will make it home.10800:08:34,280 –> 00:08:38,479Despite being beaten up in dead man’s lane,10900:08:38,479 –> 00:08:43,320little faith, at last, arrived in the celestial city.11000:08:44,200 –> 00:08:46,760But here’s the thing with little faith.11100:08:46,760 –> 00:08:48,599His journey was not a happy one.11200:08:49,739 –> 00:08:54,320Bunyan says he was forced to beg as he went11300:08:54,320 –> 00:08:58,760and that he went with many a hungry belly.11400:08:59,059 –> 00:09:02,979That is a great description of a believer11500:09:04,140 –> 00:09:07,900who is robbed by mistrust.11600:09:09,440 –> 00:09:14,440As a believer, you are rich in the Lord Jesus Christ,11700:09:14,859 –> 00:09:19,859but mistrust can make you live as if you were poor.11800:09:21,080 –> 00:09:25,919Mistrust took away little faith’s joy.11900:09:25,919 –> 00:09:30,520It was mistrust that made little faith’s life12000:09:30,520 –> 00:09:35,520and journey so difficult, and often quite miserable.12100:09:35,979 –> 00:09:38,520Now, what are you to do then12200:09:38,520 –> 00:09:42,739when mistrust tries to rob you?12300:09:43,640 –> 00:09:47,580Well, faith responds to mistrust12400:09:47,580 –> 00:09:52,580by affirming the riches that are yours in Jesus Christ.12500:09:53,440 –> 00:09:58,140You are blessed with every spiritual blessing12600:09:58,140 –> 00:10:00,340in Jesus Christ.12700:10:00,340 –> 00:10:03,219Even if you only have a little faith,12800:10:03,219 –> 00:10:07,320you are loved, you are called,12900:10:07,320 –> 00:10:11,599you are forgiven, you are redeemed.13000:10:11,599 –> 00:10:15,039The Holy Spirit of God lives in you13100:10:15,039 –> 00:10:19,559and you are destined for a life of eternal joy13200:10:20,460 –> 00:10:24,880in the glory of the Lord’s immediate presence.13300:10:24,880 –> 00:10:28,859So tell, Miss Trust, that Christ is yours13400:10:29,799 –> 00:10:33,679and that all the riches that are yours in him13500:10:33,679 –> 00:10:36,000can never be taken away.13600:10:37,039 –> 00:10:41,679Tell, Miss Trust, my God will supply all that I need13700:10:41,679 –> 00:10:46,679according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.13800:10:47,239 –> 00:10:49,280Christ Jesus.13900:10:49,280 –> 00:10:52,000You’re listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible14000:10:52,000 –> 00:10:53,760and A Message Called Applied Faith.14100:10:53,760 –> 00:10:56,599It’s part of our series Grow in Faith.14200:10:56,599 –> 00:10:59,119And today’s message is based on Luke chapter eight14300:10:59,119 –> 00:11:00,799so we’ll be back very shortly14400:11:00,799 –> 00:11:02,159with the second part of this message14500:11:02,159 –> 00:11:03,880so I hope you’ll stay with us.14600:11:03,880 –> 00:11:06,080If you ever miss one of Pastor Colin’s messages14700:11:06,080 –> 00:11:08,659you can easily catch up or go back and listen again14800:11:08,659 –> 00:11:13,719by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk14900:11:13,719 –> 00:11:16,000or you can find the messages as a podcast15000:11:16,419 –> 00:11:18,200on all your favourite podcast sites.15100:11:18,200 –> 00:11:20,200Search for Open the Bible UK15200:11:20,200 –> 00:11:22,760or follow the link from our website.15300:11:22,760 –> 00:11:26,080Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.15400:11:26,080 –> 00:11:31,080Exercise faith when faint-heart tries to scare you.15500:11:32,619 –> 00:11:37,619Exercise faith when mistrust attempts to rob you.15600:11:38,419 –> 00:11:40,640And then thirdly exercise faith15700:11:40,640 –> 00:11:44,400when guilt wants to beat you up.15800:11:46,000 –> 00:11:50,099Now, Bunyan says repeatedly in his remarkable story15900:11:50,099 –> 00:11:53,820that little faith was a good man.16000:11:54,619 –> 00:11:55,599A good man.16100:11:56,599 –> 00:11:59,140He came from a town called Sincir.16200:12:00,619 –> 00:12:02,979And like the rich, young ruler,16300:12:02,979 –> 00:12:06,619he was the kind of person who had sought to live his life16400:12:06,619 –> 00:12:09,020according to the commandments of God.16500:12:10,340 –> 00:12:14,580But when he started out in his journey to the heavenly city,16600:12:14,599 –> 00:12:19,460he was confronted by this thief called Gilt.16700:12:20,400 –> 00:12:22,099I don’t suppose that little faith16800:12:22,099 –> 00:12:26,400had ever been confronted by Gilt before.16900:12:27,520 –> 00:12:32,520But when he started out on his journey, Gilt found him.17000:12:33,960 –> 00:12:36,880And, you know, that may be your story too.17100:12:37,940 –> 00:12:40,340You’re a sincere person.17200:12:40,340 –> 00:12:43,460You’ve lived a good life.17300:12:43,479 –> 00:12:46,859There’s no wild rebellion in your story,17400:12:46,859 –> 00:12:51,000you were always a good student, always got good grades.17500:12:52,039 –> 00:12:57,039But now since you have begun a serious journey of faith17600:12:57,700 –> 00:13:01,419and you’re seriously seeking to follow the Lord Jesus Christ,17700:13:01,419 –> 00:13:05,140suddenly you find in a new way that surprises you17800:13:05,140 –> 00:13:07,979that your own conscience is awakened.17900:13:08,900 –> 00:13:12,739You see sins in your life18000:13:12,739 –> 00:13:14,140that you never saw before18100:13:14,140 –> 00:13:16,799and you’re beginning to discover to your own shock and horror18200:13:16,799 –> 00:13:18,979that you’re actually not the little angel18300:13:18,979 –> 00:13:20,700that you once thought you were.18400:13:23,219 –> 00:13:28,219Now, what do you do when guilt is ready to beat you up?18500:13:30,760 –> 00:13:32,580Well, you exercise faith,18600:13:33,700 –> 00:13:35,919faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,18700:13:36,760 –> 00:13:38,760faith in the promise of God18800:13:38,760 –> 00:13:42,260that as far as the east is from the west,18900:13:42,260 –> 00:13:47,260so far has he removed our transgressions from us.19000:13:48,460 –> 00:13:51,460You exercise faith in the promise of God19100:13:51,460 –> 00:13:53,820where he says to you in scripture,19200:13:53,820 –> 00:13:58,820your sins and your iniquities I will remember no more.19300:13:59,299 –> 00:14:04,299Faith responds to guilt by affirming the grace19400:14:05,080 –> 00:14:09,059that is yours in the Lord Jesus Christ.19500:14:09,059 –> 00:14:13,400Tell guilt that Christ is yours19600:14:13,400 –> 00:14:16,320and that in him you are washed,19700:14:16,320 –> 00:14:18,059you are cleansed,19800:14:18,059 –> 00:14:21,739you are forgiven and you are reconciled19900:14:21,739 –> 00:14:24,599to God forever.20000:14:25,580 –> 00:14:30,099So here are three thieves20100:14:31,140 –> 00:14:34,260and you will encounter them in your journey20200:14:34,260 –> 00:14:36,640through the Christian life.20300:14:36,640 –> 00:14:40,900Faintheart will try and steal your confidence,20400:14:40,900 –> 00:14:42,119fill you with fear.20500:14:42,119 –> 00:14:46,260Mistrust will try and take away your joy.20600:14:48,020 –> 00:14:51,340Guilt will attempt to rob you of peace.20700:14:52,119 –> 00:14:57,119Resist these thieves by exercising faith.20800:14:59,400 –> 00:15:03,099Tell faintheart that Christ is yours20900:15:03,099 –> 00:15:06,299and in him is all the strength that you need.21000:15:07,559 –> 00:15:10,219Tell mistrust that Christ is yours21100:15:10,219 –> 00:15:12,840and that the riches that are yours in him21200:15:12,840 –> 00:15:14,739can never be taken away.21300:15:16,080 –> 00:15:19,500Tell guilt that Christ is yours21400:15:19,500 –> 00:15:20,820and that in him21500:15:21,599 –> 00:15:23,020you are forgiven.21600:15:25,440 –> 00:15:30,440God does not give us faith as a kind of toy to play with.21700:15:30,760 –> 00:15:33,960He gives us faith because we’re going to need it21800:15:35,039 –> 00:15:37,260and because he wants us to use it.21900:15:38,140 –> 00:15:41,840And faith involves an intentional engagement22000:15:41,840 –> 00:15:44,679in which you trust the Lord Jesus Christ22100:15:44,679 –> 00:15:46,700in regards to the realities22200:15:46,700 –> 00:15:49,280of the experience and circumstance22300:15:49,299 –> 00:15:51,460that you’re actually facing now.22400:15:51,460 –> 00:15:53,419Where is your faith?22500:15:53,419 –> 00:15:55,799That’s the question Jesus asks us.22600:15:57,659 –> 00:16:02,020Where do you most need to apply your faith today22700:16:02,020 –> 00:16:04,719in what do you need to trust him?22800:16:07,539 –> 00:16:10,760Now, I want to end today with three encouragements22900:16:10,760 –> 00:16:13,820for believers with little faith.23000:16:13,820 –> 00:16:16,859I want to encourage those who feel23100:16:16,859 –> 00:16:19,479that you’re only at the beginning23200:16:19,479 –> 00:16:22,039and that your faith is really quite small.23300:16:23,099 –> 00:16:24,640First encouragement for you23400:16:24,640 –> 00:16:29,099is that little faith is infinitely better23500:16:29,099 –> 00:16:31,659than unbelief, infinitely better.23600:16:33,039 –> 00:16:36,919You know, God invites us to believe.23700:16:36,919 –> 00:16:41,820He says, turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth.23800:16:42,780 –> 00:16:46,820But He not only invites us to believe,23900:16:47,940 –> 00:16:50,099He commands us to believe.24000:16:51,280 –> 00:16:55,099Did you know that, that God commands us to believe?24100:16:55,099 –> 00:16:57,8591 John chapter three, in verse 23,24200:16:57,859 –> 00:17:00,460and this is His commandment,24300:17:00,460 –> 00:17:04,619that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ,24400:17:04,619 –> 00:17:06,160His commandment.24500:17:07,140 –> 00:17:09,560So, unbelief you see,24600:17:09,560 –> 00:17:13,520is not only a refusal of God’s invitation,24700:17:13,520 –> 00:17:16,180it is a defiance of God’s command.24800:17:18,599 –> 00:17:21,959John tells us that God did not send His Son into the world24900:17:21,959 –> 00:17:23,760in order to condemn the world,25000:17:23,760 –> 00:17:26,680but in order to save the world through Him25100:17:26,680 –> 00:17:28,579and then He adds these words,25200:17:28,579 –> 00:17:33,140whoever does not believe is condemned already25300:17:33,160 –> 00:17:36,479because he has not believed25400:17:37,839 –> 00:17:39,780in the name of the only son of God.25500:17:41,560 –> 00:17:46,560Unbelief puts you on a collision course with God.25600:17:48,880 –> 00:17:53,540So beware of a heart that becomes hardened in unbelief.25700:17:54,959 –> 00:17:57,359If that is your position, repent of it25800:17:57,359 –> 00:18:00,439and ask that God would have mercy upon you.25900:18:01,040 –> 00:18:05,739Take care, brothers, says the writer to Hebrews,26000:18:05,739 –> 00:18:10,219lest there be in any of you an unbelieving heart26100:18:10,219 –> 00:18:13,339leading you to fall away from the living God.26200:18:13,339 –> 00:18:16,300An unbelieving heart is a terrible thing26300:18:17,459 –> 00:18:20,579because it not only refuses God’s invitation,26400:18:20,579 –> 00:18:24,540it actually defies his command.26500:18:25,619 –> 00:18:29,439And so I want to say that if you have just a little faith,26600:18:30,079 –> 00:18:33,199you are in an infinitely better position26700:18:34,219 –> 00:18:36,280than someone who refuses to believe.26800:18:36,280 –> 00:18:39,280Thank God for that little faith.26900:18:40,439 –> 00:18:41,640That’s the first thing.27000:18:42,800 –> 00:18:45,400The second encouragement is this.27100:18:46,359 –> 00:18:47,959That not only is little faith27200:18:47,959 –> 00:18:49,680infinitely better than unbelief,27300:18:49,680 –> 00:18:52,599but little faith can grow.27400:18:52,599 –> 00:18:57,560And that of course is the whole point of this series.27500:18:58,540 –> 00:19:00,819And you may ask the question today,27600:19:00,819 –> 00:19:02,719well, you know what hope does little faith27700:19:02,719 –> 00:19:04,280have against these thieves?27800:19:04,280 –> 00:19:07,239How can he stand up or she stand up27900:19:07,239 –> 00:19:10,020when his or her faith is only small?28000:19:10,020 –> 00:19:12,099What can little faith do?28100:19:12,099 –> 00:19:14,160And the answer to that question is28200:19:14,160 –> 00:19:18,579little faith can do more than he or she thinks.28300:19:20,520 –> 00:19:23,619Exercise the faith that you have28400:19:24,699 –> 00:19:26,579and God will give you more.28500:19:28,020 –> 00:19:30,040But why should God ever give you more28600:19:30,040 –> 00:19:32,400than you actually intend to use?28700:19:32,400 –> 00:19:33,479This is how it works.28800:19:33,479 –> 00:19:36,920God gives more faith to those who use28900:19:36,920 –> 00:19:38,760the faith that they already have.29000:19:40,079 –> 00:19:44,180And we have there foreseen seven strategies29100:19:44,180 –> 00:19:45,560for growing in faith.29200:19:46,739 –> 00:19:49,780You grow in faith as you seek God’s kingdom,29300:19:50,719 –> 00:19:53,300as you get to know Jesus,29400:19:53,300 –> 00:19:54,560as you worship,29500:19:54,560 –> 00:19:56,160as you’re nourished by the Word,29600:19:56,319 –> 00:19:57,219as you persevere,29700:19:57,219 –> 00:19:58,739and as you ask of Jesus.29800:19:58,739 –> 00:20:01,199And all of these are ways in which29900:20:01,199 –> 00:20:05,359you actually exercise faith.30000:20:08,180 –> 00:20:11,199Little faith is infinitely better than no faith,30100:20:11,199 –> 00:20:14,719but no believer should ever rest content30200:20:15,760 –> 00:20:16,939with little faith.30300:20:17,939 –> 00:20:21,859God calls us to grow in faith.30400:20:21,859 –> 00:20:25,800And as we pursue these strategies by His grace,30500:20:26,900 –> 00:20:29,500we will to be encouraged.30600:20:31,180 –> 00:20:32,560The last thing is this.30700:20:33,739 –> 00:20:36,640That little faith is saving faith30800:20:38,140 –> 00:20:41,079if it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.30900:20:42,280 –> 00:20:44,060So if through this series you felt,31000:20:44,060 –> 00:20:48,180yeah, my name really is Little Faith,31100:20:48,180 –> 00:20:50,859the good news is, if your name is Little Faith,31200:20:50,859 –> 00:20:54,939then your name is written in the Book of Life.31300:20:56,140 –> 00:21:00,380Jesus saves all who believe in Him31400:21:00,380 –> 00:21:03,780even if their faith is little.31500:21:05,219 –> 00:21:06,540You know, there’s been a long debate31600:21:06,540 –> 00:21:09,739in the history of the church31700:21:09,739 –> 00:21:13,219about faith and assurance.31800:21:13,219 –> 00:21:16,280Is having faith the same31900:21:16,280 –> 00:21:20,579as being sure that you will be in Heaven?32000:21:20,619 –> 00:21:25,119Is it possible to have faith without being sure?32100:21:26,239 –> 00:21:28,979And I think that our Lord Jesus’32200:21:28,979 –> 00:21:32,180repeated reference to little faith32300:21:32,180 –> 00:21:34,459should make us cautious32400:21:34,459 –> 00:21:38,380about identifying faith with assurance.32500:21:39,300 –> 00:21:42,859Some believers will be surprised32600:21:42,859 –> 00:21:45,260to find themselves in Heaven.32700:21:46,800 –> 00:21:49,140I had so many unanswered questions.32800:21:50,119 –> 00:21:52,939I had so many doubts and so many fears.32900:21:54,500 –> 00:21:58,599My faith was never as strong as I would have liked it to be.33000:21:58,599 –> 00:21:59,839And yet here I am!33100:22:02,459 –> 00:22:06,060Little faith will arrive in Heaven33200:22:07,979 –> 00:22:12,640because we are not saved by the strength of our faith,33300:22:12,640 –> 00:22:17,180but by the strength of our Saviour.33400:22:18,020 –> 00:22:21,339For those of us who feel that our faith is small,33500:22:21,380 –> 00:22:25,319not what we want it to be, that is such good news.33600:22:25,319 –> 00:22:28,060We’re not saved by the strength of our faith,33700:22:28,060 –> 00:22:31,439but by the strength of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.33800:22:31,439 –> 00:22:32,800You’re listening to Open the Bible33900:22:32,800 –> 00:22:34,280with Pastor Colin Smith34000:22:34,280 –> 00:22:36,060and a message called Applied Faith.34100:22:36,459 –> 00:22:38,579It’s part of our series Grow In Faith,34200:22:38,579 –> 00:22:41,420and if you ever miss a message in the series,34300:22:41,420 –> 00:22:43,839it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again34400:22:44,119 –> 00:22:46,420by coming online to our website34500:22:46,420 –> 00:22:48,979openthebible.org.uk34600:22:48,979 –> 00:22:52,520or you can find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites34700:22:52,520 –> 00:22:56,260by searching for Open the Bible UK.34800:22:56,260 –> 00:22:58,920Open the Bible is supported by our listeners,34900:22:58,920 –> 00:23:01,880it’s people just like you who keep Open the Bible35000:23:01,880 –> 00:23:03,859on this station, on the internet,35100:23:03,859 –> 00:23:06,439and on all the podcast sites.35200:23:06,459 –> 00:23:08,800So if you already give to support the work,35300:23:08,800 –> 00:23:10,699thank you so much.35400:23:10,699 –> 00:23:12,920If supporting Open the Bible financially35500:23:12,920 –> 00:23:14,680isn’t something that you’d like to begin to do,35600:23:14,680 –> 00:23:17,199this month we’d love to say thank you35700:23:17,199 –> 00:23:18,800by sending you a free gift.35800:23:18,800 –> 00:23:21,800If you’re able to begin a new Direct Debit35900:23:21,800 –> 00:23:24,060of £5 per month or more,36000:23:24,060 –> 00:23:27,079or a one-off gift of £60 or more,36100:23:27,079 –> 00:23:29,359we’d love to send you a copy of36200:23:29,359 –> 00:23:32,420Nancy Guthrie’s book, I’m Praying For You,36300:23:32,420 –> 00:23:36,19940 Days of Praying the Bible for someone who is suffering.36400:23:36,199 –> 00:23:39,160Colin, who would you say this book is for?36500:23:39,160 –> 00:23:42,640Well, it’s for anyone who has ever said to someone36600:23:42,660 –> 00:23:44,219I’m praying for you.36700:23:44,219 –> 00:23:46,660And that surely is every Christian.36800:23:46,660 –> 00:23:49,119We’ve all said to someone who’s in need36900:23:49,119 –> 00:23:51,319or perhaps a loved one in our family,37000:23:51,319 –> 00:23:52,520I’m praying for you.37100:23:52,520 –> 00:23:54,199But here’s the challenge.37200:23:54,199 –> 00:23:57,219How do you keep your prayers fresh37300:23:57,219 –> 00:23:59,459when you’ve been praying for someone for some time,37400:23:59,459 –> 00:24:01,540perhaps even for many years?37500:24:01,540 –> 00:24:02,459I mean, what are you going to do?37600:24:02,459 –> 00:24:05,060Just keep saying God bless them, God bless them.37700:24:05,060 –> 00:24:07,780How do you keep your prayers fresh?37800:24:07,780 –> 00:24:11,319And Nancy Guthrie has done a wonderful job37900:24:11,319 –> 00:24:12,780in putting together a book38000:24:12,780 –> 00:24:15,400that draws deeply from scripture38100:24:15,400 –> 00:24:19,719so that we are given 40 practical suggestions38200:24:19,719 –> 00:24:23,160as to how you can pray for a friend, a loved one,38300:24:23,160 –> 00:24:26,119or someone who’s going through a really difficult time.38400:24:26,119 –> 00:24:28,199It’s a marvelous resource38500:24:28,199 –> 00:24:30,040and I think folks are gonna find it38600:24:30,040 –> 00:24:31,400very, very helpful.38700:24:31,400 –> 00:24:32,920Well, we’d love to send you a copy38800:24:32,920 –> 00:24:35,560of Nancy Guthrie’s book, I’m praying for you,38900:24:35,560 –> 00:24:37,439when you begin a new direct debit39000:24:37,439 –> 00:24:38,839to the work of open the Bible39100:24:38,839 –> 00:24:41,219for five pounds per month or more39200:24:41,219 –> 00:24:44,079or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more.39300:24:44,079 –> 00:24:45,979You’ll find full terms and conditions39400:24:45,979 –> 00:24:48,839online at our website openthebible.org.uk39500:24:50,479 –> 00:24:52,900and you can also give online.39600:24:52,900 –> 00:24:55,420If you want us to send you this free gift39700:24:55,420 –> 00:24:57,640please don’t give anonymously39800:24:57,640 –> 00:25:00,040and don’t forget to leave your full name and address39900:25:00,040 –> 00:25:02,020so that we can send you your gift.40000:25:02,939 –> 00:25:05,400For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,40100:25:05,400 –> 00:25:06,520I’m David Pick.40200:25:06,520 –> 00:25:07,920Thanks for being with us today40300:25:08,040 –> 00:25:10,579and I hope you’ll join us again next time.40400:25:17,359 –> 00:25:19,680If you think that repentance is beating40500:25:19,680 –> 00:25:21,859yourself up you won’t be able to hear40600:25:21,859 –> 00:25:24,739what Jesus says about a changed life.40700:25:24,739 –> 00:25:27,380So find out what repentance really is40800:25:27,380 –> 00:25:29,319next time on open the Bible.