100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:11,060Some of us were perhaps brought up with a version of Christianity that majored on the200:00:11,060 –> 00:00:18,219negative. That it was about certain things that you should not do.300:00:18,219 –> 00:00:21,280I will not smoke or drink or chew,400:00:21,280 –> 00:00:24,680I will not go with girls who do.500:00:24,680 –> 00:00:28,940Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick, glad you could join600:00:28,959 –> 00:00:33,119us today. And Colin, I’m guessing it will be people listening today, who were brought700:00:33,119 –> 00:00:38,759up with that sort of Christianity, which paints God as a kind of celestial policeman, more800:00:38,759 –> 00:00:42,720concerned with what we shouldn’t do rather than what we should do, right?900:00:42,720 –> 00:00:48,419And here’s the issue with that, that it’s possible actually to end up living a moral1000:00:48,419 –> 00:00:54,220life, in which you stay within boundaries and end up absolutely miserable. Because the1100:00:54,220 –> 00:00:58,820only reason you stayed within the boundaries was out of a sense of fear of consequences1200:00:58,820 –> 00:01:03,320if you broke outside of them. And so you end up with a sort of sadness and this kind of1300:01:03,320 –> 00:01:09,680misery. And that’s the difference you see between morality, on the one hand, and Christianity,1400:01:09,680 –> 00:01:14,820which is what we want to talk about here, in which we actually offer ourselves to God.1500:01:14,820 –> 00:01:20,580That’s where we are today in Romans, chapter six and verse 13, that you’re to offer yourself1600:01:20,580 –> 00:01:26,680to God as someone who has been brought from death to life. And it’s that offering of myself,1700:01:26,680 –> 00:01:31,860that offering of the heart, that giving of the life into the hands of a Savior who loves1800:01:31,860 –> 00:01:39,500me and gave Himself for me, that’s the thing that makes the Christian life rich and positive1900:01:39,500 –> 00:01:44,860and joyfilled because it’s not lived out of fear, it’s lived out of love, and it’s lived2000:01:44,860 –> 00:01:47,900out of this relationship that’s been forged with Jesus Christ.2100:01:48,199 –> 00:01:50,820It is, it’s a great message from Romans chapter2200:01:50,820 –> 00:01:57,3396. So join us if you can as we begin the message Giving as Much As You Know of Yourself.2300:01:57,339 –> 00:01:58,339Here is Pastor Colin.2400:01:58,339 –> 00:02:04,419We’re continuing our series entitled Repentance, the Hidden Path to a Transformed Life. And2500:02:04,419 –> 00:02:10,699we’re learning together a definition of repentance given by Dr. J. I. Packer, that repentance2600:02:10,699 –> 00:02:17,080is turning from as much as you know of sin, to give as much as you know of yourself, to2700:02:17,399 –> 00:02:23,520much as you know of your God. And as we’ve been learning this from the scriptures, we’ve2800:02:23,520 –> 00:02:29,000seen therefore that repentance really begins with knowing God. You know God a little, you2900:02:29,000 –> 00:02:35,279will change a little. You know God much, you will indeed change much. And we saw this illustrated3000:02:35,279 –> 00:02:41,639from the life of Job, a man who clearly knew the Lord, but when he came to know God more,3100:02:41,679 –> 00:02:47,899his repentance moved to another level. And he said, I’ve heard of you Lord with my ears,3200:02:47,899 –> 00:02:54,119now I’ve seen you with my eyes. Therefore, I repent in dust and ashes. Now today I want3300:02:54,119 –> 00:03:01,119us to focus on the positive dimension of repentance. It is turning from as much as you know of3400:03:01,699 –> 00:03:07,160sin, that’s obviously the negative, and it’s turning to give as much as you know of yourself3500:03:07,860 –> 00:03:13,820to God, that plainly is the positive. And it’s important for us to recognize that repentance3600:03:13,820 –> 00:03:19,820always involves both the negative and the positive. Always what we turn from, and at3700:03:19,820 –> 00:03:26,539the same time what we turn to. It is not in other words just that we stop doing certain3800:03:26,539 –> 00:03:32,639things. That is not repentance, it’s only half of it. It is also that we start pursuing3900:03:32,919 –> 00:03:37,800certain other things. Now let me give you some examples because this is a pattern that’s4000:03:37,800 –> 00:03:43,039found all the way through the Scriptures, it’s just what repentance is. If you look4100:03:43,039 –> 00:03:50,039at first Thessalonians 1 and verse 9, where we have a wonderful description of what repentance4200:03:50,279 –> 00:03:57,279is, first Thessalonians 1 and verse 9, you’ll see that when Paul preached the gospel in4300:03:57,800 –> 00:04:03,520Thessalonica there was a wonderful response, and it is both negative and positive. It’s4400:04:03,520 –> 00:04:10,520stated in verse 9 there when he preached the gospel he says you turned to God from idols4500:04:10,720 –> 00:04:16,980to serve the living and true God, 1 Thessalonians 1, 9. Now that’s repentance. You see the negative4600:04:16,980 –> 00:04:22,019and the positive? You turned away from idols, that’s the first thing, but it wasn’t just4700:04:22,119 –> 00:04:27,519that you dropped the idols, it’s that you gave yourself to serving the true and living4800:04:27,519 –> 00:04:33,160God. It’s not just that you stopped doing certain bad things, it is that you started4900:04:33,160 –> 00:04:39,640pursuing certain things, other things that are glorifying to God. Now I think it’s worth5000:04:39,640 –> 00:04:45,679just pausing on this for a moment, because some of us were perhaps brought up with a5100:04:45,760 –> 00:04:52,660version of Christianity that majored on the negative. That it was about certain things5200:04:52,660 –> 00:04:59,660that you should not do. I will not smoke or drink or chew, I will not go with girls who5300:05:01,200 –> 00:05:08,200do. Where’s the positive vision of a life that impacts the world for Jesus Christ in5400:05:09,160 –> 00:05:16,200that? It is an inadequate concept of repentance. Really that there are certain things that5500:05:16,200 –> 00:05:23,200we will not do. Repentance cannot be confined to the negative, it must turn to the positive.5600:05:23,920 –> 00:05:29,600This was the problem for the rich young ruler. Think about that story. This man who has been5700:05:29,600 –> 00:05:34,160very successful has an encounter with Jesus Christ. He wants to know how to inherit eternal5800:05:34,299 –> 00:05:41,000life. Jesus engages him in a conversation about the 10 commandments. Do not lie, do5900:05:41,000 –> 00:05:44,660not steal, do not commit adultery. And the man says, well, these are the very things6000:05:44,660 –> 00:05:48,640I have been doing ever since I was young. I have avoided all of these things. He has6100:05:48,640 –> 00:05:55,459done well on the negative you see. He has avoided the things that God has said a person6200:05:55,459 –> 00:05:59,739should not do. And so what does Jesus do? He turns to the6300:05:59,739 –> 00:06:04,380positive. He says, well, now here’s where we go from here. You sell all that you have6400:06:04,380 –> 00:06:07,019and you give it to the poor and then come and follow me.6500:06:07,019 –> 00:06:14,339You see what Jesus is saying? You’re telling me that you have avoided certain things. I’m6600:06:14,339 –> 00:06:19,279asking you what good you’re doing in the world. I’m asking you what you’re doing6700:06:19,279 –> 00:06:24,500about helping the poor. I’m asking you what you’re doing about alleviating suffering6800:06:24,500 –> 00:06:28,880in this world. I’m asking whether you’re willing for sacrifice that’s involved in6900:06:28,880 –> 00:06:32,880coming and actually following after me. And that is where the rich young ruler parted7000:06:32,880 –> 00:06:40,299company with Jesus because he was comfortable with a life that was moral. He wasn’t ready7100:06:40,299 –> 00:06:45,579for a life that was sacrificial. That’s all the difference in the world.7200:06:45,579 –> 00:06:51,839See, there is a huge difference between morality and Christianity. Don’t confuse the two.7300:06:51,839 –> 00:06:56,019Don’t think because you’re moral you’re Christian. That’s only half the definition7400:06:56,619 –> 00:07:02,299repentance. Morality is about avoiding certain things that are wrong. It’s focuses on the7500:07:02,299 –> 00:07:08,739negative dimension of repentance. But Christianity is about the pursuit of that which is right.7600:07:08,739 –> 00:07:15,079It is about leaving sin in order that we may pursue righteousness as followers of Jesus7700:07:15,079 –> 00:07:18,179Christ. And Packer catches this, I think, very helpfully7800:07:18,179 –> 00:07:23,420in his definition when he reminds us that repentance is turning from all that you know7900:07:24,220 –> 00:07:31,220your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to God. There’s the positive and that’s our8000:07:32,980 –> 00:07:37,359focus today. Now let’s look at it in it’s biblical expression8100:07:37,359 –> 00:07:44,359in Romans chapter 6 & verse 13 and that verse will be our focus throughout this morning.8200:07:44,500 –> 00:07:48,779Romans chapter 6 and verse 13,8300:07:49,040 –> 00:07:53,899offer yourselves to god.8400:07:53,899 –> 00:07:57,679as those who have been brought from death to life8500:08:01,239 –> 00:08:04,359I want to draw your attention something that I find8600:08:04,359 –> 00:08:05,820fascinating and I think is very8700:08:05,839 –> 00:08:12,839significant in this verse. Look at it from the beginning of verse 13.8800:08:12,880 –> 00:08:16,839Do not …here’s the negative— offer the parts of8900:08:16,859 –> 00:08:19,859your body to sin as instruments of9000:08:19,859 –> 00:08:20,920wickedness.9100:08:20,920 –> 00:08:23,459Now Paul here is talking about your9200:08:23,459 –> 00:08:26,019abilities, your capacities, what you can9300:08:26,019 –> 00:08:27,739do with the skill of your hands, the9400:08:27,739 –> 00:08:30,600power of your mind and so forth.9500:08:30,600 –> 00:08:32,059This is the negative dimension of9600:08:32,059 –> 00:08:34,359repentance and now Paul is going to go9700:08:34,359 –> 00:08:36,760on and state the positive. So the9800:08:36,760 –> 00:08:38,659negative is do not offer the parts of9900:08:38,659 –> 00:08:41,460your body to sin as instruments to10000:08:41,460 –> 00:08:42,179righteousness.10100:08:42,380 –> 00:08:44,000So if that’s the negative you would10200:08:44,000 –> 00:08:45,640expect him to say is the positive.10300:08:45,640 –> 00:08:49,099Instead offer the parts of your body to10400:08:49,099 –> 00:08:51,380God as instruments of righteousness.10500:08:51,380 –> 00:08:53,140That would be the natural parallelism10600:08:53,140 –> 00:08:56,099wouldn’t it? Do not offer the parts of10700:08:56,099 –> 00:08:57,640your body to sin as instruments of10800:08:57,640 –> 00:08:59,979wickedness. But rather offer the parts10900:08:59,979 –> 00:09:01,940of your body to God as instruments of11000:09:01,940 –> 00:09:04,119righteousness. That would be beautifully11100:09:04,119 –> 00:09:07,760parallel. But notice that that is not11200:09:08,280 –> 00:09:12,219what he says. There is something else11300:09:12,219 –> 00:09:16,380that you have to do first, before you11400:09:16,380 –> 00:09:18,280offer your abilities, your capacities11500:09:18,280 –> 00:09:23,520your talents and your gifts to God.11600:09:23,520 –> 00:09:27,179Notice the verse carefully. Do not offer11700:09:27,179 –> 00:09:29,539the parts of your body to sin as11800:09:29,539 –> 00:09:32,219instruments of wickedness. But rather11900:09:32,219 –> 00:09:37,479offer yourselves to God as those who12000:09:37,520 –> 00:09:38,919have been brought from death to life12100:09:38,919 –> 00:09:42,080and offer the parts of your body to him12200:09:42,080 –> 00:09:44,460that’s to God as instruments of12300:09:44,460 –> 00:09:46,679righteousness. Now you see, the very12400:09:46,679 –> 00:09:48,520important point that’s contained in this12500:09:48,520 –> 00:09:53,380verse, before you offer your gifts, you12600:09:53,380 –> 00:09:56,859have to offer yourself!12700:09:56,859 –> 00:09:59,080You’re listening to Open the Bible with12800:09:59,080 –> 00:10:01,239Pastor Colin Smith. We’ve got to pause12900:10:01,239 –> 00:10:03,039the message briefly there but will be13000:10:03,039 –> 00:10:05,340back very shortly, so please stay with us13100:10:05,340 –> 00:10:07,140The message is called Giving Us13200:10:07,140 –> 00:10:09,440Much as You Know of Yourself and it’s13300:10:09,440 –> 00:10:12,219part of our series Repentance, the hidden13400:10:12,219 –> 00:10:15,000path to a transformed life and don’t13500:10:15,000 –> 00:10:16,340forget if you ever miss one of the13600:10:16,340 –> 00:10:18,460messages in the series you can catch up13700:10:18,460 –> 00:10:20,840or go back and listen again online at13800:10:20,840 –> 00:10:24,719our website at openthebible.org.uk13900:10:24,940 –> 00:10:27,679Open the Bible is supported by our14000:10:27,679 –> 00:10:29,799listeners, it’s people like you that keep14100:10:29,799 –> 00:10:32,400us on the air and on the internet, so if14200:10:32,400 –> 00:10:34,059you already give to support our work14300:10:34,960 –> 00:10:37,479you so much. If that’s something you’ve14400:10:37,479 –> 00:10:39,599been considering doing this month we14500:10:39,599 –> 00:10:41,619have a great offer for you, if you are14600:10:41,619 –> 00:10:44,580able to set up a new direct debit of14700:10:44,580 –> 00:10:46,719£5 per month or more or a one off14800:10:46,719 –> 00:10:49,440gift of £60 or more, we’d love14900:10:49,440 –> 00:10:51,479to say thank you by sending you a copy15000:10:51,479 –> 00:10:54,760of Nancy Guthrie’s book, I’m praying for15100:10:54,760 –> 00:10:58,119you. This is an intensely practical guide15200:10:58,119 –> 00:11:01,000to repeated prayer for somebody that you15300:11:01,000 –> 00:11:03,359want to support in that way. It’s15400:11:03,400 –> 00:11:05,679sometimes really hard to come up with15500:11:05,679 –> 00:11:07,479new ways of praying for people who15600:11:07,479 –> 00:11:09,520we’re supporting in prayer. And Nancy15700:11:09,520 –> 00:11:11,679Guthrie’s book is just a great way to15800:11:11,679 –> 00:11:14,260broaden out your prayer life. So we’d15900:11:14,260 –> 00:11:15,880love to send you a copy of Nancy16000:11:15,880 –> 00:11:17,919Guthrie’s book full terms and conditions16100:11:17,919 –> 00:11:19,719are on our website that’s at16200:11:19,719 –> 00:11:22,859openthebible.org.uk and you can16300:11:22,859 –> 00:11:25,419give online. Back to the message now.16400:11:25,419 –> 00:11:27,380We’re again is Pastor Colin.16500:11:27,780 –> 00:11:32,000Before you offer your gifts, you have16600:11:32,000 –> 00:11:36,419to offer yourself. It’s a critical16700:11:36,419 –> 00:11:38,780principle, and if we do not grasp it,16800:11:38,780 –> 00:11:40,280we will come to grief at some point16900:11:40,280 –> 00:11:42,260in the Christian life. You offer17000:11:42,260 –> 00:11:46,200yourself before you offer your gifts.17100:11:46,200 –> 00:11:48,119And only when you’ve offered yourself17200:11:48,119 –> 00:11:52,500is it safe for you then to offer your17300:11:52,500 –> 00:11:55,419gifts. Now you see this in the very17400:11:55,479 –> 00:11:58,780beautiful hymn by Francis Ridley17500:11:58,780 –> 00:12:01,859Havergill, take my life and let it be17600:12:01,859 –> 00:12:04,320consecrated Lord to thee. And17700:12:04,320 –> 00:12:06,140Havergill goes through the various17800:12:06,140 –> 00:12:08,419gifts and abilities that a person17900:12:08,419 –> 00:12:10,919might be able to offer to God. You18000:12:10,919 –> 00:12:12,799know the verses in the familiar song18100:12:12,799 –> 00:12:15,080take my voice and let me sing, take18200:12:15,080 –> 00:12:16,659my hands and let them move at the18300:12:16,659 –> 00:12:19,500impulse of your love, take my silver18400:12:19,500 –> 00:12:21,119and my gold, not a mite would I18500:12:21,119 –> 00:12:23,099withhold. So it goes through all18600:12:23,099 –> 00:12:24,479that we might offer to God. But18700:12:24,479 –> 00:12:28,559where does it begin? Take my life18800:12:29,679 –> 00:12:32,799and let it be consecrated. Lord to18900:12:32,799 –> 00:12:35,280thee, you have to offer yourself19000:12:36,280 –> 00:12:40,599before you offer your gifts. Now,19100:12:40,599 –> 00:12:42,520why is that important for this19200:12:42,520 –> 00:12:45,559reason? That if you start with19300:12:45,559 –> 00:12:47,179your gifts and your abilities,19400:12:48,760 –> 00:12:51,039then your focus will always be on19500:12:51,039 –> 00:12:53,479how your gifts and abilities are19600:12:53,479 –> 00:12:56,260being used. And if that’s your19700:12:56,260 –> 00:12:57,979focus, I promise you, it is a19800:12:57,979 –> 00:13:01,840formula for frustration. If the19900:13:01,840 –> 00:13:03,840focus is always, how am I being20000:13:03,840 –> 00:13:07,559used, you will find an20100:13:07,559 –> 00:13:09,140experience of recurring20200:13:09,140 –> 00:13:12,799frustration in the course of20300:13:12,799 –> 00:13:15,979your Christian life, you have to20400:13:15,979 –> 00:13:20,479offer yourself before you offer20500:13:21,460 –> 00:13:26,179your gifts. I enjoyed20600:13:26,179 –> 00:13:28,820last week sharing some time with20700:13:28,820 –> 00:13:30,359one of the elders from the20800:13:30,359 –> 00:13:32,299church that I served for many20900:13:32,299 –> 00:13:34,419years in North London, he was21000:13:34,419 –> 00:13:35,739passing through Chicago, stayed21100:13:35,739 –> 00:13:38,859with us overnight and we got21200:13:38,859 –> 00:13:40,700reminiscing together about many21300:13:40,700 –> 00:13:42,280things. And you know how these21400:13:42,280 –> 00:13:44,299conversations go, I have no idea21500:13:44,299 –> 00:13:45,380how we ended up here, but we21600:13:45,380 –> 00:13:47,340got somehow onto the subject of21700:13:47,500 –> 00:13:50,039a lady in the church who liked21800:13:50,039 –> 00:13:52,539to sing. I am going to try and21900:13:52,539 –> 00:13:56,440describe this delicately. She22000:13:56,440 –> 00:14:01,440was well passed her prime. And22100:14:02,320 –> 00:14:04,059had what I might describe as a22200:14:04,059 –> 00:14:06,979somewhat optimistic view of her22300:14:06,979 –> 00:14:10,700own talents. One of the first22400:14:10,700 –> 00:14:12,400letters I received when I became22500:14:12,400 –> 00:14:14,000pastor of the church was a22600:14:14,039 –> 00:14:17,700anonymous letter asking me to22700:14:17,700 –> 00:14:21,039invite this lady to sing. Over22800:14:21,039 –> 00:14:22,900the years, I gathered a large22900:14:22,900 –> 00:14:24,080collection. I kept them in a23000:14:24,080 –> 00:14:26,539shoe box. A large collection of23100:14:26,539 –> 00:14:28,140these letters, all of them23200:14:28,140 –> 00:14:31,119anonymous. Some of them actually23300:14:31,119 –> 00:14:33,280specified which songs I should23400:14:33,280 –> 00:14:35,919ask this particular lady to sing23500:14:35,919 –> 00:14:38,119and others even specified who23600:14:38,119 –> 00:14:40,520should accompany her on the23700:14:40,520 –> 00:14:42,619organ. The funny thing was that23800:14:42,640 –> 00:14:43,979next day, of course, every one23900:14:43,979 –> 00:14:46,520of these letters gave them the24000:14:46,520 –> 00:14:48,080woman herself. I knew her24100:14:48,080 –> 00:14:49,760handwriting very well and had24200:14:49,760 –> 00:14:51,679been warned about her by the24300:14:51,679 –> 00:14:53,780previous pastor who also had a24400:14:53,780 –> 00:14:57,159shoe box full of her letters.24500:14:57,159 –> 00:14:58,460now, at one level, this is24600:14:58,460 –> 00:15:01,000really quite comical. But24700:15:01,000 –> 00:15:02,900another level, it really is24800:15:02,900 –> 00:15:05,460rather sad because what you24900:15:05,460 –> 00:15:08,299have here is a woman perhaps in25000:15:08,299 –> 00:15:10,940this case somewhat eccentric25100:15:11,059 –> 00:15:12,700who really is looking for a25200:15:12,700 –> 00:15:16,780platform for her gifts. And the25300:15:16,780 –> 00:15:18,960bottom line is that is not25400:15:18,960 –> 00:15:23,340offering yourself to god.25500:15:23,340 –> 00:15:25,299Offering yourself to god means25600:15:25,299 –> 00:15:27,919putting yourself at his25700:15:27,919 –> 00:15:32,739disposal. That means leaving25800:15:32,739 –> 00:15:35,479him to assign the task and I’ve25900:15:35,479 –> 00:15:36,539gotta tell you, that is26000:15:36,539 –> 00:15:40,340spiritually liberating. Because26100:15:40,380 –> 00:15:41,859if my focus is all about now,26200:15:41,859 –> 00:15:43,580what is the opportunity for my26300:15:43,580 –> 00:15:45,580gifts, I will end up very, very26400:15:45,580 –> 00:15:48,820quickly in frustration. My26500:15:48,820 –> 00:15:50,900responsibility is to offer26600:15:50,900 –> 00:15:52,840myself to god and to say, here26700:15:52,840 –> 00:15:54,940I am. I’m available and I want26800:15:54,940 –> 00:15:56,500to be useful as you will26900:15:56,500 –> 00:15:59,020direct. And I’m willing to27000:15:59,020 –> 00:16:01,700place myself at your disposal.27100:16:02,539 –> 00:16:04,020There is peace and there is27200:16:04,020 –> 00:16:05,979freedom and there is joy that27300:16:05,979 –> 00:16:09,659is found in that. It’s27400:16:10,080 –> 00:16:11,140interesting, you know, talking27500:16:11,140 –> 00:16:13,619with this elder last week. It27600:16:13,619 –> 00:16:16,359was a long, long, long, long,27700:16:16,359 –> 00:16:18,900long time Before his gifts27800:16:18,900 –> 00:16:20,039were ever recognized in the27900:16:20,039 –> 00:16:23,099church. In fact, he was only in28000:16:23,099 –> 00:16:24,419the last year or so of my own28100:16:24,419 –> 00:16:25,739ministry that after sixteen28200:16:25,739 –> 00:16:27,580years that he had any kind of28300:16:27,580 –> 00:16:31,059leadership position at all. we28400:16:31,059 –> 00:16:32,280go down to talking a little bit28500:16:32,280 –> 00:16:33,580about that as well. The28600:16:33,580 –> 00:16:34,919importance of offering yourself28700:16:34,919 –> 00:16:37,940to god. When we to the28800:16:38,359 –> 00:16:41,919election of leaders in the28900:16:41,919 –> 00:16:43,239church This man’s name was29000:16:43,239 –> 00:16:47,380invariably on the list and I29100:16:47,380 –> 00:16:49,820tell you year after year after29200:16:49,820 –> 00:16:54,380year. others were elected His29300:16:54,380 –> 00:16:55,679name was the one that came in29400:16:55,679 –> 00:16:57,679just below the cut and he was29500:16:57,679 –> 00:17:00,460thanked for his willingness to29600:17:00,460 –> 00:17:03,859serve. You know that deal I29700:17:03,859 –> 00:17:05,859said to him when we were29800:17:05,859 –> 00:17:06,979driving down to a hair, take29900:17:07,939 –> 00:17:11,300want to tell you something. I30000:17:11,300 –> 00:17:14,920often felt deeply embarrassed30100:17:14,920 –> 00:17:17,959that your name was put up so30200:17:17,959 –> 00:17:21,400many times for leadership. and30300:17:21,400 –> 00:17:24,739so many times you never got30400:17:24,739 –> 00:17:27,000elected. And he admitted to me30500:17:27,000 –> 00:17:28,939that it hadn’t been easy. But30600:17:28,939 –> 00:17:31,040then he told me something that30700:17:31,040 –> 00:17:33,479was quite fascinating. He said30800:17:33,479 –> 00:17:37,880told me humbly that he had30900:17:37,880 –> 00:17:39,520found out what God wanted him31000:17:39,520 –> 00:17:41,119to do. And you see the reason31100:17:41,119 –> 00:17:42,180that he was visiting here31200:17:42,180 –> 00:17:44,459passing through Chicago is that31300:17:44,459 –> 00:17:45,859he now serves as the Director31400:17:45,859 –> 00:17:47,880of an international mission that31500:17:47,880 –> 00:17:49,619is focused on outreach in the31600:17:49,619 –> 00:17:52,260Middle East. An extraordinary31700:17:52,260 –> 00:17:53,900responsibility. And he said31800:17:53,900 –> 00:17:55,739this, if I had gone into31900:17:55,739 –> 00:17:57,260leadership at the local church32000:17:57,260 –> 00:18:00,260level earlier, I would very32100:18:00,260 –> 00:18:02,540probably have missed the32200:18:02,859 –> 00:18:05,160and you see what that is? That32300:18:05,160 –> 00:18:06,859is a man who has understood32400:18:06,859 –> 00:18:08,400that the most important thing32500:18:08,400 –> 00:18:10,540is to offer yourself to God and32600:18:10,540 –> 00:18:12,040to place yourself at His32700:18:12,040 –> 00:18:13,880disposal. Not to be focused32800:18:13,880 –> 00:18:15,380onto, where is the platform for32900:18:15,380 –> 00:18:18,540my gifts? The Lord has given33000:18:18,540 –> 00:18:22,079him that avenue of opportunity.33100:18:22,079 –> 00:18:24,760Offer yourself before you offer33200:18:24,760 –> 00:18:27,219your gifts. It’s the only way33300:18:27,219 –> 00:18:28,819in which we can serve the Lord33400:18:28,819 –> 00:18:30,760effectively, individually and33500:18:30,760 –> 00:18:32,099together. Here is the second33600:18:32,719 –> 00:18:33,800part of the teaching this33700:18:33,800 –> 00:18:36,020morning. Offer yourself in33800:18:36,020 –> 00:18:39,160your present circumstances. I33900:18:39,160 –> 00:18:40,099think the best way to get at34000:18:40,099 –> 00:18:40,939this is to look at some34100:18:40,939 –> 00:18:42,199examples from the Bible34200:18:42,199 –> 00:18:44,959together. Take the story of34300:18:44,959 –> 00:18:46,780Joseph in the Old Testament.34400:18:46,780 –> 00:18:49,400Now what a gifted guy he was.34500:18:49,400 –> 00:18:53,439God had remarkable purposes for34600:18:53,439 –> 00:18:57,119Joseph. Joseph knew that right34700:18:57,119 –> 00:18:58,520from early in his life because34800:18:58,520 –> 00:18:59,780God gave him a vision that34900:18:59,780 –> 00:19:01,520indicated that he would have a35000:19:01,979 –> 00:19:05,020very special ministry indeed.35100:19:05,020 –> 00:19:07,319But what happens to him?35200:19:07,319 –> 00:19:08,439Well, he ends up getting beaten35300:19:08,439 –> 00:19:12,219up by his brothers. Being left35400:19:12,219 –> 00:19:13,699for dead in a pit, he’s carted35500:19:13,699 –> 00:19:15,760off to Egypt where he gets a35600:19:15,760 –> 00:19:19,260job and works hard and pursues35700:19:19,260 –> 00:19:21,459integrity. In the course of35800:19:21,459 –> 00:19:23,359pursuing integrity, he ends up35900:19:23,359 –> 00:19:25,199with a woman telling lies about36000:19:25,199 –> 00:19:28,199him, so he finds himself in the36100:19:28,199 –> 00:19:31,339end in prison. Now, you try and36200:19:31,439 –> 00:19:33,239put yourself in Joseph’s shoes36300:19:33,239 –> 00:19:34,500as I’ve tried to put myself in36400:19:34,500 –> 00:19:35,900Joseph’s shoes this week36500:19:35,900 –> 00:19:37,640thinking about it. I am36600:19:37,640 –> 00:19:39,339absolutely sure that I would be36700:19:39,339 –> 00:19:41,280saying to God, well, if you’ve36800:19:41,280 –> 00:19:42,640got a great purpose for my36900:19:42,640 –> 00:19:46,020life, why am I here? And what37000:19:46,020 –> 00:19:47,280kind of ministry can I have37100:19:47,280 –> 00:19:50,719while I’m in a prison? Where’s37200:19:50,719 –> 00:19:54,579your plan in all of this? But37300:19:54,579 –> 00:19:56,760you see, what Joseph did, he37400:19:56,760 –> 00:20:00,760offered himself to God in the37500:20:01,359 –> 00:20:04,819prison just where he was, he37600:20:04,819 –> 00:20:06,599exercised faith in the prison,37700:20:06,599 –> 00:20:08,119he pursued integrity in the37800:20:08,119 –> 00:20:10,119prison. He ministered to the37900:20:10,119 –> 00:20:11,500men who God placed around him38000:20:11,500 –> 00:20:12,599in the prison, the butler and38100:20:12,599 –> 00:20:14,760the baker. Nothing much38200:20:14,760 –> 00:20:17,359happened, but then God stepped38300:20:17,359 –> 00:20:22,140in and Joseph was used to save38400:20:22,140 –> 00:20:25,140his entire family. You see the38500:20:25,140 –> 00:20:28,780pattern. Imagine if Joseph had38600:20:28,780 –> 00:20:30,619been focused on how his gifts38700:20:31,579 –> 00:20:34,780were used in the prison. Think38800:20:34,780 –> 00:20:37,880about the New Testament. John38900:20:37,880 –> 00:20:39,479is called to be an apostle39000:20:39,479 –> 00:20:42,959serving the churches of Asia.39100:20:42,959 –> 00:20:45,500What a task! What a calling!39200:20:45,500 –> 00:20:47,000And what happens to him? He39300:20:47,000 –> 00:20:49,260ends up on an island called39400:20:49,260 –> 00:20:51,000Patmos, essentially imprisoned39500:20:51,000 –> 00:20:52,439there. What kind of ministry39600:20:52,439 –> 00:20:55,239can you have to the churches39700:20:55,239 –> 00:20:56,479when you’re stuck on a little39800:20:56,680 –> 00:20:58,780island? Well, John offered39900:20:58,780 –> 00:21:02,040himself to God. He was in the40000:21:02,040 –> 00:21:06,780spirit on the Lord’s Day. And40100:21:06,780 –> 00:21:09,219God gave to him a vision of40200:21:09,560 –> 00:21:11,060heaven which became the last40300:21:11,060 –> 00:21:12,380book of the Bible which has40400:21:12,619 –> 00:21:13,959brought strength and hope and40500:21:13,959 –> 00:21:17,959comfort and courage to the40600:21:17,959 –> 00:21:18,780churches across the world40700:21:19,239 –> 00:21:21,099for the last 2,000 years. Now40800:21:21,099 –> 00:21:22,900you see the principle. You40900:21:22,900 –> 00:21:25,780offer yourself to God in your41000:21:25,780 –> 00:21:28,239present circumstances cuz41100:21:28,239 –> 00:21:29,520there’s the great danger. And41200:21:29,520 –> 00:21:30,699I, I wonder if you found this41300:21:30,699 –> 00:21:32,819in yourself of saying how41400:21:32,819 –> 00:21:35,260useful I could be to God if41500:21:35,260 –> 00:21:36,739only my circumstances were41600:21:36,739 –> 00:21:39,739different. If only I didn’t41700:21:39,739 –> 00:21:42,540have this illness, if only I41800:21:42,540 –> 00:21:45,880had a believing wife, if only41900:21:45,880 –> 00:21:49,540I uh lived in another place or42000:21:49,540 –> 00:21:51,079perhaps even in another time,42100:21:51,079 –> 00:21:52,939if only the circumstances of42200:21:52,939 –> 00:21:54,579my life were different, then I42300:21:54,579 –> 00:21:57,920could be so useful to God.42400:21:57,920 –> 00:22:00,459And it’s all an illusion,42500:22:00,459 –> 00:22:01,800because the only life that you42600:22:01,800 –> 00:22:03,219have to offer to God is the42700:22:03,219 –> 00:22:04,319life that he has given to you42800:22:04,319 –> 00:22:06,020right now. So, offer yourself42900:22:06,020 –> 00:22:08,199to God in your present43000:22:08,199 –> 00:22:10,959circumstances and leave your43100:22:10,959 –> 00:22:14,040future usefulness in his hands.43200:22:14,040 –> 00:22:16,079God knows what he will do with43300:22:16,079 –> 00:22:17,339you in the future. Your43400:22:17,339 –> 00:22:19,300responsibility is to offer43500:22:19,300 –> 00:22:21,939yourself to him as one who’s43600:22:21,939 –> 00:22:24,520wholly available right now.43700:22:24,619 –> 00:22:27,119The Great Challenge today to43800:22:27,119 –> 00:22:29,520offer your entire life into43900:22:29,520 –> 00:22:31,199God’s service. You’ve been44000:22:31,199 –> 00:22:32,500listening to the message44100:22:32,500 –> 00:22:34,400called Giving as Much As You44200:22:34,400 –> 00:22:37,060Know of Yourself, part of our44300:22:37,060 –> 00:22:38,739series Repentance, The Hidden44400:22:38,739 –> 00:22:40,900Path to a Transformed Life.44500:22:40,900 –> 00:22:42,140This has been,44600:22:42,140 –> 00:22:43,739Open the Bible with Pastor44700:22:43,739 –> 00:22:45,380Colin Smith. If you ever miss44800:22:45,380 –> 00:22:46,579one of our messages, you can44900:22:46,579 –> 00:22:48,239easily catch up or go back and45000:22:48,239 –> 00:22:49,520listen to the entire series45100:22:49,520 –> 00:22:51,839again online at our website45200:22:52,400 –> 00:22:54,199you can also find Pastor Colin45300:22:54,199 –> 00:22:56,099as a podcast on all the main45400:22:56,099 –> 00:22:58,180podcasts sites. Search for45500:22:58,180 –> 00:23:00,619OpenTheBibleUK or follow the45600:23:00,619 –> 00:23:03,219link from our website also on45700:23:03,219 –> 00:23:04,680our website and available as a45800:23:04,680 –> 00:23:07,140podcast is a daily reflection45900:23:07,140 –> 00:23:08,780which we call Open the Bible46000:23:08,780 –> 00:23:10,920Daily. It’s based on Pastor46100:23:10,920 –> 00:23:12,660Colin’s teaching and read46200:23:12,660 –> 00:23:14,800specially in the UK. Many46300:23:14,800 –> 00:23:16,099Christians find it’s a great46400:23:16,099 –> 00:23:17,400way to start the day. So I’d46500:23:17,400 –> 00:23:18,920encourage you to check out46600:23:19,880 –> 00:23:22,319Well Colin the46700:23:22,319 –> 00:23:24,119idea of offering ourselves to46800:23:24,119 –> 00:23:25,439God every day is something46900:23:25,439 –> 00:23:27,020that many of us struggle47000:23:27,020 –> 00:23:28,959with. It’s easy to forget47100:23:28,959 –> 00:23:30,420about God when we’re faced47200:23:30,420 –> 00:23:31,880with the demands of our daily47300:23:31,880 –> 00:23:33,699lives. Yeah really is and you47400:23:33,699 –> 00:23:34,920know, I’ve convinced one of47500:23:34,920 –> 00:23:36,380the reasons that we struggle47600:23:36,380 –> 00:23:37,699with that is that we find it47700:23:37,699 –> 00:23:39,560hard to believe that God is47800:23:39,560 –> 00:23:41,979really interested in what47900:23:41,979 –> 00:23:44,400I’m doing in any given day.48000:23:44,400 –> 00:23:45,760We kind of feel that he might48100:23:45,760 –> 00:23:46,660be interested when we’re48200:23:47,319 –> 00:23:49,119praying or when we’re48300:23:49,119 –> 00:23:50,099worshiping or when we’re in a48400:23:50,719 –> 00:23:52,160Bible study or whatever.48500:23:52,160 –> 00:23:54,079But is God really48600:23:54,079 –> 00:23:55,599interested in the ordinary48700:23:55,599 –> 00:23:57,540stuff that you do every48800:23:57,540 –> 00:23:59,359day? And the answer is yes,48900:23:59,359 –> 00:24:00,459he is.49000:24:00,459 –> 00:24:02,900He is the God of creation49100:24:02,900 –> 00:24:04,400as well as the God of49200:24:04,400 –> 00:24:05,119redemption.49300:24:05,119 –> 00:24:06,640And what you do during the49400:24:06,640 –> 00:24:08,479day is part49500:24:08,479 –> 00:24:10,079of his purpose for49600:24:10,079 –> 00:24:11,880you. And he wants that49700:24:11,880 –> 00:24:13,160to be brought into his49800:24:13,160 –> 00:24:14,959purpose and for him to be49900:24:15,020 –> 00:24:16,540part of what you are50000:24:16,540 –> 00:24:17,239doing.50100:24:17,260 –> 00:24:18,939And I have found that simply50200:24:18,939 –> 00:24:20,260to grasp that truth has50300:24:20,859 –> 00:24:21,739helped me.50400:24:21,739 –> 00:24:23,839God cares about50500:24:23,839 –> 00:24:25,380this issue that I’m struggling50600:24:25,380 –> 00:24:26,780with at work.50700:24:26,780 –> 00:24:28,300And when you see that, you50800:24:28,300 –> 00:24:29,780will find that your mind is50900:24:29,780 –> 00:24:31,520drawn to him, to asking for51000:24:31,520 –> 00:24:32,979his help, to thanking him for51100:24:32,979 –> 00:24:33,760his help.51200:24:33,780 –> 00:24:35,439And it will lift the level51300:24:35,439 –> 00:24:36,380of what you’re doing during51400:24:36,380 –> 00:24:36,819the day.51500:24:36,819 –> 00:24:37,560Thanks, Colin.51600:24:37,560 –> 00:24:39,979That’s really useful to hear.51700:24:39,979 –> 00:24:41,119You’ve been listening to Open51800:24:41,119 –> 00:24:42,180the Bible with Pastor51900:24:42,180 –> 00:24:43,459Colin Smith, and we’ll be52000:24:43,459 –> 00:24:44,900continuing with our series52100:24:44,900 –> 00:24:46,400Repentance, the Hidden Path52200:24:46,400 –> 00:24:47,900to a Transformed Life, in52300:24:47,900 –> 00:24:48,939our next broadcast.52400:24:48,939 –> 00:24:50,040So I hope you’ll join us for52500:24:50,040 –> 00:24:50,239that.52600:24:50,339 –> 00:24:51,859For Open the Bible and52700:24:51,859 –> 00:24:53,199Pastor Colin, I’m David52800:24:53,199 –> 00:24:53,640Pick.52900:24:53,640 –> 00:24:54,900I look forward to you joining53000:24:54,900 –> 00:24:57,540us again next time.53100:25:07,719 –> 00:25:08,959If only you didn’t have53200:25:08,959 –> 00:25:10,979this illness, if only you53300:25:10,979 –> 00:25:13,319had a believing spouse, then53400:25:13,319 –> 00:25:14,699you would offer yourself53500:25:14,719 –> 00:25:16,239fully to God.53600:25:16,239 –> 00:25:18,040Find out why this is an53700:25:18,040 –> 00:25:19,500illusion.53800:25:19,500 –> 00:25:20,760That’s next time on Open the53900:25:20,760 –> 00:25:21,160Bible