100:00:00,280 –> 00:00:04,780To forgive or not to forsake200:00:04,780 –> 00:00:09,860God has never promised to forgive one sin that you are not willing to forsake.300:00:09,860 –> 00:00:13,620So while I can think of some sins I’ve fallen into many times.400:00:13,620 –> 00:00:15,920Well are you willing to forsake it now?500:00:15,920 –> 00:00:19,160Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick600:00:19,160 –> 00:00:23,420Pleased you could join us today, and Colin that’s a challenging statement.700:00:23,420 –> 00:00:27,799God has never promised to forgive a sin that you’re not willing to forsake.800:00:28,000 –> 00:00:30,139I’ll never forget the time that I heard it.900:00:30,139 –> 00:00:35,500It was Dr. Alan Redpath, who at one time was the pastor of the Moody Church here in Chicago.1000:00:35,500 –> 00:00:37,340And he said that at a conference in Britain.1100:00:37,340 –> 00:00:41,860I was 17-years-old when I heard him say that it, and it hit me between the eyes.1200:00:41,860 –> 00:00:43,340And brought me up short.1300:00:43,340 –> 00:00:47,500And you know, it’s important to listen carefully to what the great man said.1400:00:47,500 –> 00:00:53,500He didn’t say that God has never promised to forgive one sin that you haven’t forsaken.1500:00:53,540 –> 00:00:57,939Because it is true that we sometimes fall into a sin.1600:00:57,939 –> 00:01:00,160Repeatedly, and many, many times.1700:01:00,160 –> 00:01:05,339What he said was that God is not ready to forgive one sin that you’re not willing to forsake.1800:01:05,339 –> 00:01:12,099In other words, I can’t say I’m gonna press right ahead and carry on doing the same thing again,1900:01:12,099 –> 00:01:15,820and at the same time repent and expect that God is going to forgive me.2000:01:15,820 –> 00:01:21,180And Dr. Redpath was touching the great truth of Isaiah chapter 55.2100:01:21,260 –> 00:01:27,339Where God says, let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.2200:01:27,339 –> 00:01:33,459And so this speaks into the heart of repentance that in coming to God and asking for his forgiveness,2300:01:33,459 –> 00:01:37,519I’ve got to bring what I’ve done, I’ve got to place it into his hands and I’ve got to say,2400:01:37,519 –> 00:01:41,379by your grace, I am not going there again.2500:01:41,379 –> 00:01:47,739And God has wonderful grace for us even if we come with the same sin that’s been committed many times.2600:01:48,019 –> 00:01:51,660But you can come and let go of what you’re not willing to forsake.2700:01:51,660 –> 00:01:56,940So, today we’ll be looking at Matthew, Chapter 21, as we continue the message,2800:01:56,940 –> 00:01:59,980Finding the Hidden path to a Transformed Life.2900:01:59,980 –> 00:02:01,300Here is Pastor Colin.3000:02:01,300 –> 00:02:10,339We start with this story in Matthew, in Chapter 21, where Jesus speaks specifically about repentance.3100:02:10,339 –> 00:02:13,020I hope you have it open in front of you.3200:02:13,020 –> 00:02:15,100What do you think, Jesus says.3300:02:15,979 –> 00:02:19,500There was a man who had two sons.3400:02:19,500 –> 00:02:21,360He went to the first and said,3500:02:21,360 –> 00:02:25,000Son, go and work today in the vineyard.3600:02:25,000 –> 00:02:29,779I will NOT…, He answered.3700:02:29,779 –> 00:02:32,720But later he changed his mind.3800:02:32,720 –> 00:02:35,119Now, literally the word there is repented.3900:02:35,119 –> 00:02:36,779Later, he repented.4000:02:36,779 –> 00:02:40,759He changed his mind, and went.4100:02:40,759 –> 00:02:44,880Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.4200:02:44,880 –> 00:02:47,699And he answered, I will Sir.4300:02:47,699 –> 00:02:50,539But he did not go.4400:02:50,539 –> 00:02:56,559Now Jesus asks, verse 31, Which of the two did what his father wanted?4500:02:56,559 –> 00:02:59,759The first they answered.4600:02:59,759 –> 00:03:04,619Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes, that4700:03:04,619 –> 00:03:09,979is people who would be perceived to be miles away from God and the things of God, these4800:03:10,000 –> 00:03:14,820people are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you, Jesus says.4900:03:14,820 –> 00:03:20,779For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness and you did not believe him5000:03:20,779 –> 00:03:23,960but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.5100:03:23,960 –> 00:03:31,899And even after you saw this you did not repent and believe him.5200:03:31,899 –> 00:03:38,039So this is clearly a story of Jesus dedicated to explaining the subject of repentance.5300:03:38,919 –> 00:03:45,500He’s telling us what it is and he is telling us how it happens.5400:03:45,500 –> 00:03:52,699The first son in the story, the father says to him, Verse 28, Son, go work today in my5500:03:52,699 –> 00:03:55,220vineyard.5600:03:55,220 –> 00:04:00,399And this first son says, I will not.5700:04:00,399 –> 00:04:04,240What an obnoxious son.5800:04:04,240 –> 00:04:06,720There’s hostility here.5900:04:07,100 –> 00:04:10,380There’s resentment.6000:04:10,380 –> 00:04:12,580There’s rebellion.6100:04:12,580 –> 00:04:13,580There’s defiance.6200:04:13,580 –> 00:04:17,519My life, you’re not going to tell me what to do?6300:04:17,519 –> 00:04:21,920Got my own plans today.6400:04:21,920 –> 00:04:27,700But then Jesus tells us that a remarkable change took place in this first boy.6500:04:27,700 –> 00:04:35,839I will not, he answered, Verse 29, but later he changed his mind, repented, same word.6600:04:35,920 –> 00:04:38,859He changed his mind and went.6700:04:38,859 –> 00:04:46,679Now, see, what the two sons did shows what they thought of their father.6800:04:46,679 –> 00:04:52,040The son who said, I will, sir, and then did not go, showed that actually he didn’t care6900:04:52,040 –> 00:04:56,799too much for the father, that the father’s words didn’t really carry much weight in his7000:04:56,799 –> 00:05:00,959life, that he was very happy to help the father if it was convenient to him, but if something7100:05:01,239 –> 00:05:06,119else came along that seemed more attractive, then he wanted to keep his options open.7200:05:06,119 –> 00:05:12,459And in that he shows that however polite he was on the surface, in his heart, he was not7300:05:12,459 –> 00:05:16,100devoted to the father at all.7400:05:16,100 –> 00:05:17,559The other son is very different.7500:05:17,559 –> 00:05:21,220He says, I will not.7600:05:21,220 –> 00:05:25,600But when he thought again, he couldn’t live with that decision.7700:05:25,600 –> 00:05:28,720And that says something very wonderful about him.7800:05:28,720 –> 00:05:34,859He could not be at peace while he was in conflict with the father.7900:05:34,859 –> 00:05:43,260And when he thought about the way he’d responded to his father he just couldn’t settle, couldn’t8000:05:43,260 –> 00:05:51,880live with being out of sorts with someone who in his heart he had come to love.8100:05:51,880 –> 00:05:54,480So in the end he thought there’s only one thing to do.8200:05:55,459 –> 00:05:59,739I got to go do what my father has asked of me.8300:05:59,739 –> 00:06:03,600He changed his mind.8400:06:03,600 –> 00:06:10,119And the two changes of mind actually reflect at the deepest level what these two boys really8500:06:10,119 –> 00:06:13,079thought of the father.8600:06:13,079 –> 00:06:19,760And at the deepest heart level it was precisely the opposite of what you might first have8700:06:19,760 –> 00:06:21,480thought.8800:06:22,480 –> 00:06:26,920See, repentance shows what you think of God.8900:06:26,920 –> 00:06:33,480And that is why repentance is the highest form of worship.9000:06:33,480 –> 00:06:37,760It shows that you are no longer hostile to God.9100:06:37,760 –> 00:06:43,440It shows that you think of Him so highly that you would choose to obey Him, even if your9200:06:43,440 –> 00:06:47,019first instinct was otherwise.9300:06:47,079 –> 00:06:53,100It shows that you can’t really bear to live in tension with Him or to exist at a distance9400:06:53,100 –> 00:06:54,100from Him.9500:06:54,100 –> 00:06:57,059You can’t settle if you’re in conflict with Him.9600:06:57,059 –> 00:07:02,260So you think again, you change your mind.9700:07:02,260 –> 00:07:07,420Choosing obedience shows what you think of God.9800:07:07,420 –> 00:07:13,100So this first son, then, is a model of true repentance.9900:07:13,459 –> 00:07:18,320And this very, very simple story of Jesus in a very penetrating way really gives us10000:07:18,339 –> 00:07:22,980the key as to how it actually happens in a person’s life.10100:07:22,980 –> 00:07:28,480And we’ve talked really a fair bit about what repentance is, but how does it happen?10200:07:28,480 –> 00:07:30,980Well, think of it this way.10300:07:30,980 –> 00:07:37,500Repentance is a change of behavior that flows from a change of mind about God and about10400:07:37,500 –> 00:07:38,500yourself.10500:07:38,540 –> 00:07:43,339The word repent meaning a change of mind, a change of heart.10600:07:43,339 –> 00:07:49,880And what this looks like that is modeled for us in this very short story of Jesus is really10700:07:49,880 –> 00:07:55,820filled out in much more familiar story of the prodigal son and for just a few moments10800:07:55,820 –> 00:08:00,820let’s turn it over to Luke’s gospel in chapter 15 together.10900:08:00,820 –> 00:08:06,760Luke’s gospel in chapter 15 and you know this story very well.11000:08:06,760 –> 00:08:11,799The man who had two sons verse 12 and the younger one says to the father, give me my11100:08:11,799 –> 00:08:17,320share of the estate, and he gets the money and he goes as far away from the father as11200:08:17,320 –> 00:08:23,640he can and he squanders the money on wild living and then Jesus says there was a famine11300:08:23,640 –> 00:08:30,079in the country and this lad began to be in need and he gets a job feeding the pigs and11400:08:30,079 –> 00:08:34,739the irony is that the pigs were filled, but the man who was feeding them was hungry and11500:08:34,880 –> 00:08:41,880so the pigs were better off than the prodigal. At this point Jesus says that he came to his11600:08:44,219 –> 00:08:51,219senses, verse 17. He came to his senses, he thought again, he changed his mind, he said11700:08:55,659 –> 00:09:00,440how many of my father’s hard men have food to spare and here I am starving to death,11800:09:00,440 –> 00:09:04,520I’m going to set out and go back to my father and say to him, I’ve sinned against11900:09:04,520 –> 00:09:09,280heaven and against you, I’m no longer worthy to be called your son, make me like one of12000:09:09,280 –> 00:09:13,960your hard men. Now notice what’s happening here,12100:09:13,960 –> 00:09:20,960there is a change of mind towards the father. That’s how this change of character and12200:09:24,719 –> 00:09:30,440life and behavior actually begins. That’s what it flows from, a change of behavior that12300:09:31,359 –> 00:09:38,359a change of mind about God and about ourselves. He changes his mind about the father. At the12400:09:39,239 –> 00:09:45,479beginning, he’s going to the father and it’s, give me, give me. It’s all demand, you owe12500:09:45,479 –> 00:09:51,419me. Give me what’s my right. Give me what’s my due. I got rights. What are you doing12600:09:51,419 –> 00:09:58,419for me? Give me and I want to live as far away from you as I possibly can. And he does12700:10:00,780 –> 00:10:07,780it. But, at the end of the story, it’s not give me, it’s make me. Make me. Like one of12800:10:09,700 –> 00:10:16,700your hired servants. The beginning of the story, all the focus of the boy is how can12900:10:17,739 –> 00:10:24,260I live my life independent of the father. At the end of the story, all of the focus13000:10:24,460 –> 00:10:31,460is about how can I live my life near to the father? He’s thinking again about the13100:10:31,659 –> 00:10:38,659father. He’s thinking again about himself. The beginning of the story, it’s all,13200:10:41,500 –> 00:10:48,280give me the money because I can control my life. If I have the resources, I can do13300:10:48,520 –> 00:10:55,520it. And then, later in the story he sits there and in a moment of great honesty he13400:10:55,820 –> 00:11:03,820says, here I am starving to death. What am I doing, what’s wrong with me? What13500:11:05,359 –> 00:11:12,359have I spent all the money on? Why am I here? What am I doing? And you see this is13600:11:12,359 –> 00:11:20,359where the repentance begins. Why am I living at a distance from God? What’s wrong with13700:11:20,979 –> 00:11:28,979me that I bite the hand that feeds me? What is it that causes me to be so hostile to the13800:11:29,679 –> 00:11:36,679One Who gave me life, sustains me in life, shows me grace, provides for me? What is it13900:11:37,280 –> 00:11:44,280about me that wants to be hostile to the One who would come into the world and lay down14000:11:44,479 –> 00:11:50,539His life for me and offers me grace and eternal life and says, I will live in you by my spirit?14100:11:50,539 –> 00:11:57,539What is wrong with me that I would be running from Him? He came to his senses, but who is14200:11:58,119 –> 00:12:05,119His holiness that I would be running from Him? He came to his senses. He says to himself,14300:12:07,820 –> 00:12:19,099I would be better by far in my Father’s house. What am I doing? Where has all this running14400:12:19,099 –> 00:12:25,359from God really got me? Suquastr.14500:12:25,440 –> 00:12:27,299You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor14600:12:27,299 –> 00:12:30,820Colin Smith and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there but we’ll be back14700:12:30,820 –> 00:12:35,460very shortly so do stay with us. The message is called Finding the Hidden14800:12:35,460 –> 00:12:39,320Path to a Transformed Life based on Matthew 21.14900:12:39,460 –> 00:12:40,880And if you ever miss one of the15000:12:40,880 –> 00:12:44,479messages in the series or if you want to go and listen to the whole series again15100:12:44,479 –> 00:12:50,559you can do that by coming online to our website OpenTheBible.org.uk15200:12:50,559 –> 00:12:54,640or indeed you can find it as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.15300:12:54,840 –> 00:12:59,179Search for Open The Bible UK or follow the link from our website.15400:12:59,179 –> 00:13:02,320While you’re on the website or looking at the podcasts that we have available15500:13:02,320 –> 00:13:07,799don’t forget about Open The Bible Daily. That’s our series of two to three minute15600:13:07,799 –> 00:13:12,700daily reflections, one for every day. It’s based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and15700:13:12,700 –> 00:13:16,640read specially in the UK. Open The Bible Daily.15800:13:16,640 –> 00:13:22,119Back to the message now. Here is Pastor Colin.15900:13:22,179 –> 00:13:31,440He hadn’t changed his mind about the Father and he changed his mind about himself,16000:13:32,280 –> 00:13:39,119And, verse 20, so he got up and went to his father.16100:13:39,119 –> 00:13:41,119That’s how the turn happens.16200:13:41,900 –> 00:13:46,719Change your mind about God. The sinful mind is hostile to God, but when you come16300:13:46,719 –> 00:13:49,200Why am I fighting him?16400:13:51,140 –> 00:13:57,260You change your mind about God you change your mind about yourself. You’ve been saying I can live my life I can do it16500:13:58,859 –> 00:14:05,059You come to your senses you say why am I starving to death here at a distance from the father who has all things in16600:14:05,059 –> 00:14:06,340his hands16700:14:06,340 –> 00:14:07,559and16800:14:07,559 –> 00:14:09,380When you change your mind about16900:14:09,380 –> 00:14:11,739God and you change your mind about yourself17000:14:11,739 –> 00:14:14,099You’re in the position where you’re able to move17100:14:14,419 –> 00:14:18,080So he got up and went to17200:14:19,500 –> 00:14:21,500his father17300:14:22,320 –> 00:14:26,419You know one of the things that we learn here, that is so very very important is17400:14:27,320 –> 00:14:31,559That repentance and faith are so closely intertwined17500:14:32,940 –> 00:14:36,000That the one cannot exist without the other17600:14:37,580 –> 00:14:43,239You can’t believe without repenting and you can’t repent17700:14:44,460 –> 00:14:46,200without believing17800:14:46,200 –> 00:14:48,179the to belong17900:14:48,179 –> 00:14:49,780inextricably together18000:14:49,780 –> 00:14:53,119Like the sun’s heat and the sun’s light18100:14:54,299 –> 00:14:56,299They’re distinct18200:14:56,479 –> 00:14:58,760But they cannot be separated18300:15:00,640 –> 00:15:02,679Remember this if you would believe18400:15:03,659 –> 00:15:07,640You must repent and if you would repent18500:15:08,619 –> 00:15:13,219You must believe you cannot separate these two. They always go together18600:15:13,520 –> 00:15:15,260They are the18700:15:15,260 –> 00:15:20,580Twin response to the gospel, but they are inseparable as a response to the gospel18800:15:20,580 –> 00:15:23,419Think about it if you would believe you must repent18900:15:24,659 –> 00:15:29,640Jesus said on one occasion to some folks who said that they were struggling to believe in him19000:15:29,640 –> 00:15:30,320He said well19100:15:30,320 –> 00:15:31,020How can you?19200:15:31,020 –> 00:15:36,679Believe if all you’re doing is seeking the praise of other people and you’re making no effort to seek the praise that comes from God19300:15:38,960 –> 00:15:41,460See if you’re not repenting if your life is just about yourself19400:15:41,559 –> 00:15:46,440And about the impression that you’re making on other people you will never be able to believe that’s what Jesus says19500:15:48,500 –> 00:15:52,020The way you come to believe is that if you are really my disciple19600:15:52,020 –> 00:15:54,179Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free19700:15:55,440 –> 00:15:58,960If you would believe you must repent19800:16:00,239 –> 00:16:05,859the only way to believe if you say you’re struggling to believe is to humble yourself before God and19900:16:06,059 –> 00:16:09,859To stop saying give me and to start saying make me20000:16:11,979 –> 00:16:14,599Because you can’t believe if you’re not ready to repent20100:16:17,260 –> 00:16:23,840And the other the reverse is also and equally and at the same time true that if you would repent you must believe20200:16:25,460 –> 00:16:28,640See, some of us are coming from the other end. We say well, how can I really change?20300:16:30,719 –> 00:16:33,039The prodigal was absolutely20400:16:33,539 –> 00:16:35,539miserable in the distant country20500:16:36,179 –> 00:16:41,179In that picture of him, you know with the pigs and them being full and him being hungry20600:16:41,260 –> 00:16:43,260It’s a desperate picture20700:16:44,659 –> 00:16:47,979But you can be very desperate and still not come back home20800:16:50,020 –> 00:16:53,500See it takes courage to come back home20900:16:54,559 –> 00:16:56,119and21000:16:56,119 –> 00:16:58,119When you’ve gone far from the Lord21100:17:00,080 –> 00:17:06,819You know that that’s the reality the big question is where do you find the courage to come back21200:17:07,400 –> 00:17:08,579And21300:17:08,579 –> 00:17:15,880The answer is very simple that the prodigal finds the courage to come home when he believes that there will be a welcome21400:17:16,780 –> 00:17:20,420If he doesn’t think he’ll be welcomed. He’ll never come back21500:17:22,459 –> 00:17:25,079But if sitting there among the pigs21600:17:25,260 –> 00:17:31,439He comes to feel and to believe in his mind and in his heart if I go back to my father21700:17:31,459 –> 00:17:33,560I think he will receive me21800:17:34,359 –> 00:17:36,219then that21900:17:36,219 –> 00:17:37,479belief will22000:17:37,479 –> 00:17:41,680Give him courage to begin a long trudge the long journey home22100:17:41,680 –> 00:17:46,160And that is exactly what happens in this story, and of course when he gets back in this story22200:17:46,560 –> 00:17:53,800Jesus wants to make the point that the father is far more generous in the welcome than the son would ever have dared to imagine22300:17:55,099 –> 00:18:01,160The father runs to meet him filled with compression kisses him. There’s forgiveness right there and22400:18:02,079 –> 00:18:08,260More than that puts a robe on him the father will not have his son walking about in22500:18:08,839 –> 00:18:13,599Shameful rags he puts new clothes on him so the boy will not be ashamed22600:18:14,520 –> 00:18:21,300this is what God does for us in Jesus Christ clothes us in his righteousness, and then the father puts the ring on his finger the22700:18:21,640 –> 00:18:23,859Sign the seal of sonship22800:18:26,339 –> 00:18:28,339Because this son is22900:18:29,099 –> 00:18:36,219Restored to his dignified position as a family member so that he can face the world as a new man23000:18:37,839 –> 00:18:39,839Restored to a new position23100:18:40,160 –> 00:18:41,420and23200:18:41,420 –> 00:18:47,079Jesus is telling this story so that you will know how the father will receive you23300:18:47,959 –> 00:18:52,939If you will come to him in repentance and faith if you will come23400:18:53,599 –> 00:18:57,439To God in repentance and faith through Jesus Christ today23500:18:57,439 –> 00:19:02,040He will welcome you with that kind of welcome in Jesus story23600:19:02,660 –> 00:19:04,660believe this and23700:19:05,260 –> 00:19:08,160You will find the courage to repent23800:19:10,199 –> 00:19:17,540Believe that God loves you and that he sent his son into the world for you that he stands ready to forgive you and23900:19:17,540 –> 00:19:20,739accept you and restore you and embrace you24000:19:23,079 –> 00:19:27,780And you will find with the prodigal the strength to get up and go24100:19:29,300 –> 00:19:31,300To the Father24200:19:32,900 –> 00:19:39,219If you would believe you must repent if you would repent you must believe24300:19:41,900 –> 00:19:47,979Now, you know these two stories of the two sons that we’ve looked at this morning really teach us the great irony24400:19:48,459 –> 00:19:50,459That24500:19:50,579 –> 00:19:53,400Those who seem far away from God24600:19:54,819 –> 00:20:00,219May actually be very near and those who seem very near to God24700:20:01,300 –> 00:20:05,920May actually be very far away. It comes through in both of the stories that Jesus told24800:20:10,000 –> 00:20:12,640And the first thing comes to us as a24900:20:13,959 –> 00:20:15,459warning25000:20:15,459 –> 00:20:16,579if25100:20:16,619 –> 00:20:20,219Your Christianity amounts to something you said25200:20:21,500 –> 00:20:23,50025 years ago or whatever it was25300:20:23,819 –> 00:20:26,359When you were six years old, I said I received Jesus25400:20:28,500 –> 00:20:30,500And that’s really all it is and25500:20:32,020 –> 00:20:39,020There’s no serious application for you now of walking the path of repentance and faith, I say25600:20:40,300 –> 00:20:42,619Those who may seem very near25700:20:42,819 –> 00:20:47,760They turn out to be those who are far away25800:20:48,500 –> 00:20:54,099It’s possible to be like the elder brother at home or the second son in Jesus story. You said I will sir25900:20:54,099 –> 00:20:58,800I will sir, but actually they didn’t care very much for what the father told him to do at all26000:21:00,979 –> 00:21:02,979It’s a warning26100:21:04,140 –> 00:21:11,319That those who may seem to be very near may actually be far from God in reality26200:21:13,540 –> 00:21:14,839and26300:21:14,839 –> 00:21:16,839Then the encouragement26400:21:17,420 –> 00:21:22,760That those who may seem to be very far away from God may actually be26500:21:23,839 –> 00:21:25,839very near26600:21:28,180 –> 00:21:33,619If you would repent you must believe if you would believe you must repent26700:21:35,020 –> 00:21:39,439But the promise of the gospel is that God in his grace is ready to welcome26800:21:39,479 –> 00:21:44,420Welcome back all who will come whether they be from near or from far26900:21:46,520 –> 00:21:48,520And if you believe27000:21:49,520 –> 00:21:51,520You will find the courage27100:21:54,359 –> 00:21:58,239Pastor Colin Smith there reminding us that if we fall far from God27200:21:58,280 –> 00:22:00,719He is ready and willing to welcome us back27300:22:01,119 –> 00:22:07,280that’s the message of the gospel and when we believe that we will have the courage to repent and that brings about27400:22:07,719 –> 00:22:09,719Real and lasting change27500:22:10,099 –> 00:22:17,380You’ve been listening to open the bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called findings The Hidden Path to a transformed life27600:22:17,839 –> 00:22:22,319It’s part of our series repentance The Hidden Path to a transformed life27700:22:22,319 –> 00:22:27,160And if you ever miss one of the series you can easily catch up or go back and listen again27800:22:27,300 –> 00:22:30,300by coming online to our website openthebible.org27900:22:31,760 –> 00:22:35,619.uk or if you prefer go to your favorite podcast site28000:22:36,140 –> 00:22:41,359Search there for open the Bible UK and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates28100:22:41,359 –> 00:22:47,020You’ll find all the messages that have already been broadcast right there on the podcast site and on our website28200:22:48,119 –> 00:22:52,839Open the Bible is supported by our listeners and it were very grateful for the support28300:22:52,839 –> 00:22:56,619We receive so if you already give to support open the Bible28400:22:56,619 –> 00:22:57,699Thank you so much28500:22:57,819 –> 00:22:59,699if you’re considering28600:22:59,699 –> 00:23:05,060Beginning to support open the Bible this month. We’d like to thank you by sending you a free gift28700:23:05,339 –> 00:23:11,900Here’s open the Bible’s Amanda cunningham to tell us about it. Hi David. Thanks so much for having me this May28800:23:11,979 –> 00:23:17,079We’re really pleased to be giving away a beautifully encouraging book called28900:23:17,180 –> 00:23:19,900I’m praying for you by Nancy Guthrie29000:23:20,819 –> 00:23:25,739When we hear that a friend is struggling is often easy to say I’m praying for you29100:23:26,079 –> 00:23:32,839But sometimes much harder to know what to actually pray and that’s exactly where this book is so helpful29200:23:33,619 –> 00:23:36,560through 40 carefully chosen scripture passages29300:23:37,119 –> 00:23:41,660Nancy Guthrie shows us how the Bible provides us with the vocabulary for prayer29400:23:41,839 –> 00:23:47,359That enables us to ask God to achieve what he intends in and through suffering29500:23:48,020 –> 00:23:53,479Nancy teaches us to see how God’s purposes are revealed even in our darkest days and29600:23:54,060 –> 00:23:57,599Encourages us to pray for his will to be done in difficult29700:23:58,020 –> 00:23:59,219situations29800:23:59,219 –> 00:24:06,180each chapter includes a short Bible passage a clear explanation and a prayer you can use for a friend and29900:24:06,380 –> 00:24:09,319there’s also a really thoughtful feature a30000:24:09,520 –> 00:24:15,099QR code that allows you to send a message to let someone know not just that you’re praying for them30100:24:15,099 –> 00:24:23,119But exactly what you’re praying. It’s practical deeply rooted in Scripture and a wonderful way to care for others more30200:24:23,479 –> 00:24:24,500intentionally30300:24:24,500 –> 00:24:29,560we would love to send you a copy as a thank you when you give a one-off gift of30400:24:29,640 –> 00:24:34,38060 pounds or sets up a new monthly direct debit of five pounds30500:24:34,560 –> 00:24:39,920Just please remember to leave your name and address when you donate so that we can send you your gift30600:24:40,160 –> 00:24:46,180So Nancy Guthrie’s book I am praying for you is our gift to you when you begin to support open the Bible30700:24:46,780 –> 00:24:50,400Financially this month full terms and conditions are on our web site30800:24:50,400 –> 00:24:53,420that’s how to open the Bible dot org dot UK and30900:24:53,599 –> 00:24:59,140You can give online and as Amanda says, please don’t forget to leave your full name and address31000:24:59,959 –> 00:25:07,160For open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith I’m David Bick. Thanks for being with us today, and I hope you’ll join us again next time31100:25:16,300 –> 00:25:20,920You feel sorry about what has happened, but does that mean you have repented?31200:25:21,459 –> 00:25:25,000There’s a difference between feeling sorry and repenting31300:25:25,579 –> 00:25:28,619Find out what that is next time on open the Bible