100:00:00,120 –> 00:00:09,620I have chosen to focus on this single verse today because it has been so significant in200:00:09,620 –> 00:00:14,900my own life. Many of you will have found this scripture already. If you haven’t, I know300:00:14,900 –> 00:00:22,080that you will find it helpful for years to come if God earths it into your heart today.400:00:22,080 –> 00:00:25,980Welcome to Open The Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with500:00:25,980 –> 00:00:28,379us today. And Colin, what is this verse?600:00:28,520 –> 00:00:33,259Well, we’re in the book of Deuteronomy and it’s Deuteronomy 29, 29 which says,700:00:42,619 –> 00:00:47,779So there’s a distinction. There are some things that are secret and they belong to the Lord.800:00:47,779 –> 00:00:52,200And we struggle, don’t we, with why did God do this, why did God allow that, why900:00:52,200 –> 00:00:57,740did this turn of events take place? The secret things belong to the Lord. I have to leave1000:00:57,880 –> 00:01:02,639in the hand of God, those things that He has not revealed. But then there are revealed1100:01:02,639 –> 00:01:06,639things that are given to us and to our children. In other words, they’re to be grasped,1200:01:06,639 –> 00:01:11,839they’re to be lived, they’re to be passed on to the next generation. If we’re able1300:01:11,839 –> 00:01:17,699to leave and to trust the secret things with the Lord and then to grasp and obey and follow1400:01:17,699 –> 00:01:21,699the things that have been revealed we’ll be able to live in a way that is wise and1500:01:21,699 –> 00:01:24,160godly for the sake and the glory of Jesus.1600:01:24,599 –> 00:01:29,919So today we’re in Deuteronomy chapter 29 and verse 29 as we begin the message,1700:01:29,919 –> 00:01:34,360act on what you know, leave the rest to God. Here’s Colin.1800:01:34,360 –> 00:01:36,959If you don’t know this verse already I hope that1900:01:36,959 –> 00:01:42,320today will be a means of God sealing it into your heart and into your mind.2000:01:42,320 –> 00:01:49,099Deuteronomy 29 29 the secret things belong to the Lord our God.2100:01:49,860 –> 00:01:56,360but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever2200:01:56,360 –> 00:02:00,099that we may follow all the words2300:02:00,099 –> 00:02:02,260of this law.2400:02:02,260 –> 00:02:04,160Now, if you’ve been with us during the series,2500:02:04,160 –> 00:02:06,739you will have a sense of what’s happening in Deuteronomy.2600:02:06,739 –> 00:02:10,000God’s people are on the verge of the promised land2700:02:10,000 –> 00:02:13,259and Moses is speaking to them for the last time.2800:02:13,259 –> 00:02:16,960Here we are, now coming towards the end of the book of Deuteronomy2900:02:16,960 –> 00:02:18,559and the book is3000:02:19,259 –> 00:02:22,300And this is the last of the sermons,3100:02:22,300 –> 00:02:23,639it’s not the last in our series,3200:02:23,639 –> 00:02:28,460but it really is the last time Moses speaks to the people.3300:02:28,460 –> 00:02:31,240And so if you think about speaking to those you really love,3400:02:31,240 –> 00:02:35,860those in whom you’ve invested your life all these years3500:02:35,860 –> 00:02:38,300and you’re speaking to them for the very last time,3600:02:38,300 –> 00:02:40,160what would you say?3700:02:40,160 –> 00:02:42,039What really matters?3800:02:42,039 –> 00:02:45,539What is of greatest significance and of importance?3900:02:45,539 –> 00:02:48,059And I think as we look at this last part4000:02:48,139 –> 00:02:50,440of what Moses says to God’s people,4100:02:50,440 –> 00:02:53,160a good title for the last sermon Moses preached4200:02:53,160 –> 00:02:55,339would be Two Ways to Live,4300:02:55,339 –> 00:02:57,100because really his last message is this,4400:02:57,100 –> 00:02:59,740you’re about to enter the Promised Land,4500:02:59,740 –> 00:03:01,679he of course is not going to be with them,4600:03:01,679 –> 00:03:05,479Moses is going to go and be at home with the Lord.4700:03:05,479 –> 00:03:08,639But he’s saying when you enter the Promised Land,4800:03:08,639 –> 00:03:11,080remember, there are two ways to live.4900:03:11,080 –> 00:03:13,520And if you glance back to chapter 28,5000:03:13,520 –> 00:03:15,240you’ll see that this is really the main theme5100:03:15,240 –> 00:03:16,779of his last sermon.5200:03:16,820 –> 00:03:17,660From verse one,5300:03:17,660 –> 00:03:20,899he lists blessings that will follow obedience.5400:03:20,899 –> 00:03:24,139Verse one, if you fully obey the Lord your God,5500:03:24,139 –> 00:03:25,559you will be blessed in the city,5600:03:25,559 –> 00:03:27,660you will be blessed in the country,5700:03:27,660 –> 00:03:29,699you will be blessed in the fruit of your womb,5800:03:29,699 –> 00:03:31,080and so forth and so on.5900:03:31,080 –> 00:03:32,820A long list of blessings,6000:03:32,820 –> 00:03:35,860he’s talking about the national future here.6100:03:35,860 –> 00:03:38,820And then if you take it up at verse 15 of chapter 28,6200:03:38,820 –> 00:03:42,660Moses then lists curses that follow disobedience.6300:03:42,660 –> 00:03:45,960Verse 15, however, if you do not obey the Lord your God,6400:03:45,960 –> 00:03:47,360you will be cursed in the city,6500:03:47,360 –> 00:03:48,679you will be cursed in the country,6600:03:48,679 –> 00:03:50,820the basket and the needing trough will be cursed,6700:03:50,820 –> 00:03:52,199and so forth and so on.6800:03:52,199 –> 00:03:53,119So this is the theme6900:03:53,119 –> 00:03:55,399and it’s developed over several chapters.7000:03:55,399 –> 00:03:58,259Moses is saying, you’re going into a wonderful new land.7100:03:58,259 –> 00:03:59,839There are two ways to live.7200:03:59,839 –> 00:04:03,020There are two radically different consequences7300:04:03,020 –> 00:04:04,399that come to the nation,7400:04:04,399 –> 00:04:07,839according to whether people follow God’s righteous path7500:04:07,839 –> 00:04:10,039or rebel against it.7600:04:10,039 –> 00:04:12,080There’s a path on which you’ll be blessed7700:04:12,080 –> 00:04:14,600and there is a path on which7800:04:14,720 –> 00:04:17,279that you will experience judgment.7900:04:17,279 –> 00:04:19,040Now picture yourself standing there8000:04:19,040 –> 00:04:21,480and listening to Moses last sermon.8100:04:21,480 –> 00:04:24,839And here you are on the verge of the promised land.8200:04:24,839 –> 00:04:26,720And Moses says, now when you go in,8300:04:26,720 –> 00:04:28,119there’s two ways to live8400:04:28,119 –> 00:04:30,839and two radically different experiences of life8500:04:30,839 –> 00:04:33,019that come as a consequence.8600:04:33,019 –> 00:04:34,519What would the question be in your mind?8700:04:34,519 –> 00:04:36,079I know what I’d be asking.8800:04:36,079 –> 00:04:39,600Moses, which one is it gonna be?8900:04:39,600 –> 00:04:42,200What’s the future for us?9000:04:42,200 –> 00:04:43,720What’s the future for our children?9100:04:43,720 –> 00:04:47,320What is the future for our grandchildren?9200:04:47,320 –> 00:04:50,380What kind of world are they going to inherit?9300:04:50,380 –> 00:04:52,519What’s it gonna be like in the next 10 years?9400:04:52,519 –> 00:04:55,399Moses, tell us, what is going to happen?9500:04:55,399 –> 00:04:56,920And here’s Moses answer.9600:04:56,920 –> 00:05:00,279In Deuteronomy 29, verse 29, he says,9700:05:00,279 –> 00:05:05,279the secret things belong to the Lord, our God,9800:05:05,760 –> 00:05:08,119but the things revealed belong to us9900:05:08,119 –> 00:05:09,739and to our children forever10000:05:09,760 –> 00:05:14,220that we may follow all the words of this law.10100:05:15,500 –> 00:05:19,500Now, I’ve chosen to focus on this single verse today10200:05:19,500 –> 00:05:22,660because it has been so significant in my own life.10300:05:22,660 –> 00:05:25,179Many of you will have found this scripture already.10400:05:25,179 –> 00:05:26,459If you haven’t,10500:05:26,459 –> 00:05:29,459I know that you will find it helpful for years to come10600:05:29,459 –> 00:05:33,859if God earths it into your heart today.10700:05:33,859 –> 00:05:36,100It is an easy verse to remember.10800:05:36,100 –> 00:05:39,839Even the reference, Deuteronomy 29, 29.10900:05:39,839 –> 00:05:43,260Say with me, Deuteronomy 29, 29.11000:05:43,260 –> 00:05:44,579Okay, it sticks.11100:05:44,579 –> 00:05:47,239It’s easy to remember, you’ll find it sticks with you.11200:05:47,239 –> 00:05:49,600Deuteronomy 29, 29,11300:05:49,600 –> 00:05:52,600and the truth of that state is so simple.11400:05:52,600 –> 00:05:57,660Just two things, the secret things belong to the Lord.11500:05:57,660 –> 00:06:02,200The things that are revealed belong to us,11600:06:02,200 –> 00:06:03,260and if you think about it,11700:06:03,339 –> 00:06:06,179the whole of life is really divided into two parts.11800:06:06,179 –> 00:06:08,260There are things that God has kept secret11900:06:08,260 –> 00:06:10,640that you do not know, and you do not understand,12000:06:10,640 –> 00:06:12,700and there are things that God has revealed,12100:06:12,700 –> 00:06:15,820and he has given them and trusted them to you.12200:06:17,220 –> 00:06:18,959I want simply for us to ponder,12300:06:18,959 –> 00:06:20,760and then for most of the message12400:06:20,760 –> 00:06:25,760to apply this very simple but powerfully liberating truth.12500:06:25,940 –> 00:06:30,940Liberating truth, God keeps some things secret.12600:06:34,839 –> 00:06:36,820Now, what that means is that as a Christian,12700:06:36,820 –> 00:06:39,279you should expect to face questions12800:06:39,279 –> 00:06:40,980to which you have no answer.12900:06:42,000 –> 00:06:44,480Don’t be afraid as a Christian to say,13000:06:44,480 –> 00:06:48,140I don’t know, it is not part of faith13100:06:48,140 –> 00:06:51,679to pretend that you have an answer for every question.13200:06:52,519 –> 00:06:56,279And faith bows before the mystery13300:06:56,279 –> 00:06:57,760of what God has kept hidden.13400:06:57,760 –> 00:06:59,299That’s part of what faith does.13500:06:59,299 –> 00:07:01,019That’s why it’s faith and not sight.13600:07:01,019 –> 00:07:04,399It bows before the mystery of what God has kept hidden.13700:07:05,399 –> 00:07:07,679I’ve heard Christians on a number of occasions,13800:07:07,679 –> 00:07:09,559both in the UK and here,13900:07:09,559 –> 00:07:10,640talk about having14000:07:10,640 –> 00:07:14,239a Deuteronomy 29.29 file.14100:07:14,239 –> 00:07:15,619Have you heard this phrase?14200:07:15,619 –> 00:07:16,820It’s actually rather helpful.14300:07:16,820 –> 00:07:18,959I’ve heard someone say that when something14400:07:18,959 –> 00:07:21,500that they can’t make any sense of happens in life,14500:07:21,500 –> 00:07:23,299they say, well, I’m going to put14600:07:23,299 –> 00:07:26,540that in my Deuteronomy 29.29 file.14700:07:26,540 –> 00:07:28,579So, I don’t know if they actually have a folder14800:07:28,579 –> 00:07:29,760with these things written down14900:07:29,760 –> 00:07:31,579but that’s a great way to think of it15000:07:31,579 –> 00:07:33,559because you are going to experience things15100:07:33,559 –> 00:07:37,320in life, as I do, that we do not understand15200:07:37,320 –> 00:07:38,720and we’re not going to understand them15300:07:38,720 –> 00:07:39,600this side of heaven.15400:07:39,600 –> 00:07:40,660So what do you do with them?15500:07:40,660 –> 00:07:45,440You put them in your Deuteronomy 29.29 file.15600:07:45,440 –> 00:07:48,980The secret things belong to the Lord.15700:07:48,980 –> 00:07:50,220Living by faith,15800:07:50,239 –> 00:07:52,279this is very important to understand,15900:07:52,279 –> 00:07:54,359living by faith means accepting16000:07:54,359 –> 00:07:56,380the limits of revelation16100:07:56,380 –> 00:08:00,260as well as affirming the reality of revelation.16200:08:00,260 –> 00:08:02,200Normally we put the emphasis on faith16300:08:02,200 –> 00:08:04,920involves affirming what God has revealed16400:08:04,920 –> 00:08:06,600and what he has made clear16500:08:06,600 –> 00:08:09,000but faith equally involves16600:08:09,000 –> 00:08:11,480accepting the limits of revelation16700:08:11,480 –> 00:08:13,399as well as affirming its reality.16800:08:13,399 –> 00:08:15,600That is why we are walking by faith,16900:08:15,600 –> 00:08:18,220Paul says, and not by sight.17000:08:18,720 –> 00:08:20,440Now notice what Moses says next.17100:08:20,440 –> 00:08:21,459He says,17200:08:21,459 –> 00:08:24,459the secret things belong to the Lord.17300:08:26,760 –> 00:08:29,200Now this is wonderful.17400:08:29,200 –> 00:08:31,100There will be things in your life17500:08:31,100 –> 00:08:34,340that will make absolutely no sense to you.17600:08:34,340 –> 00:08:35,880They will baffle you.17700:08:35,880 –> 00:08:38,539You cannot work them out17800:08:38,539 –> 00:08:41,039and you might feel at that point17900:08:41,039 –> 00:08:43,960like a kind of tendency to despair.18000:08:45,559 –> 00:08:47,719You might feel up like throwing up your hands18100:08:47,719 –> 00:08:49,359saying life makes no sense.18200:08:49,359 –> 00:08:50,479It is completely absurd.18300:08:50,479 –> 00:08:52,039What’s the point, I give up.18400:08:52,039 –> 00:08:55,099But that is not where Moses goes.18500:08:55,099 –> 00:08:57,320He doesn’t say the secret things are there18600:08:57,320 –> 00:09:00,859to frustrate you and lead you to despair.18700:09:00,859 –> 00:09:04,619He says the secret things belong to the Lord.18800:09:05,520 –> 00:09:07,179So there will be times in your life18900:09:07,179 –> 00:09:11,260where you say I can make absolutely no sense of this19000:09:11,260 –> 00:09:13,260but God knows, God knows19100:09:14,799 –> 00:09:17,679and the secret things belong to the Lord19200:09:17,679 –> 00:09:20,320and the Lord to whom they belong19300:09:20,320 –> 00:09:22,820is my loving, heavenly Father.19400:09:25,440 –> 00:09:27,099The secret things belong to the Lord.19500:09:27,099 –> 00:09:30,979Faith lives with unanswered questions.19600:09:30,979 –> 00:09:34,119Grasp that, it’ll settle you19700:09:34,119 –> 00:09:36,960in the unsettling things of life.19800:09:37,960 –> 00:09:39,640But then Moses says something else here.19900:09:39,640 –> 00:09:42,179He says the things revealed belong to us20000:09:42,179 –> 00:09:43,460and to our children forever20100:09:43,460 –> 00:09:46,799that we may follow the words of this law.20200:09:46,820 –> 00:09:47,659So see what he’s saying?20300:09:47,659 –> 00:09:50,859God keeps something secret and they belong to him.20400:09:50,859 –> 00:09:52,280But not everything is secret20500:09:52,280 –> 00:09:54,080because God has revealed some things20600:09:54,080 –> 00:09:55,979and they belong to us.20700:09:57,380 –> 00:09:59,340So while it is true that faith bows20800:09:59,340 –> 00:10:02,580before the mystery of what God has kept hidden,20900:10:02,580 –> 00:10:04,200we need to put alongside that21000:10:04,200 –> 00:10:06,659that faith stands on the promise21100:10:06,659 –> 00:10:08,580that Christ has revealed.21200:10:08,580 –> 00:10:11,059These are really the two dimensions of faith.21300:10:11,059 –> 00:10:14,799It bows before the mystery of what God has kept hidden21400:10:14,919 –> 00:10:19,460and it stands on the promise of what God has revealed.21500:10:19,460 –> 00:10:21,820And Moses says, now understand this21600:10:21,820 –> 00:10:24,380the revealed things they’re given to you21700:10:24,380 –> 00:10:26,719so that you’ll be able to follow the Lord21800:10:26,719 –> 00:10:29,179even when you find yourself perplexed21900:10:29,179 –> 00:10:31,419by the things you don’t understand.22000:10:31,419 –> 00:10:35,479These revealed things they belong to us22100:10:35,479 –> 00:10:37,479and they belong to our children.22200:10:37,479 –> 00:10:39,280And they are given to you22300:10:39,280 –> 00:10:42,340so that in this life where many things will perplex you,22400:10:42,340 –> 00:10:44,700you will be able to stand firm22500:10:44,700 –> 00:10:49,460even in the tough circumstances of life.22600:10:49,460 –> 00:10:52,099So this is a great verse of scripture22700:10:52,099 –> 00:10:53,659that goes to the very foundation22800:10:53,659 –> 00:10:57,460of what it means to live by faith in this world.22900:10:57,460 –> 00:10:59,619It’s easy to find,23000:10:59,619 –> 00:11:01,940it is easy to remember,23100:11:01,940 –> 00:11:06,500it is profoundly helpful to apply.23200:11:06,500 –> 00:11:10,020We live by faith and not by sight.23300:11:11,020 –> 00:11:12,500There will be a day, folks,23400:11:12,500 –> 00:11:15,580when our faith is turned to sight.23500:11:15,580 –> 00:11:18,059There will be a day when, you know,23600:11:18,059 –> 00:11:20,099even as now you are known23700:11:21,219 –> 00:11:23,099but that day is not yet.23800:11:24,059 –> 00:11:26,500And until that day, what faith does23900:11:26,500 –> 00:11:27,979is it bows before the mystery24000:11:27,979 –> 00:11:29,619of what God has kept hidden24100:11:29,619 –> 00:11:34,580and stands on the promise that God has revealed.24200:11:34,580 –> 00:11:35,619And when we come back,24300:11:35,619 –> 00:11:38,859we’ll look at seven applications of this truth.24400:11:38,859 –> 00:11:40,179Our message today is called,24500:11:40,179 –> 00:11:43,219act on what you know, leave the rest to God.24600:11:43,219 –> 00:11:44,260And it was originally part24700:11:44,260 –> 00:11:47,280of a series called Take Two, the Power of a Fresh Start.24800:11:47,280 –> 00:11:49,099One of the most popular24900:11:49,099 –> 00:11:52,020and most listened to messages of the last year.25000:11:52,020 –> 00:11:53,260And we’ve included it25100:11:53,260 –> 00:11:56,340with another nine of these popular messages.25200:11:56,340 –> 00:11:58,979Back to the message now, here’s Colin.25300:11:58,979 –> 00:12:02,479I want to give you seven applications25400:12:02,479 –> 00:12:05,500of this powerful truth25500:12:05,559 –> 00:12:08,039that I think all of us will touch25600:12:08,039 –> 00:12:12,940at some point in our life and in our experience.25700:12:12,940 –> 00:12:15,940Seven secrets that belong to the Lord25800:12:15,940 –> 00:12:20,940and then seven promises that are given to us.25900:12:21,099 –> 00:12:21,940Well, here we go.26000:12:23,380 –> 00:12:28,380Secret number one, the future of your children.26100:12:30,520 –> 00:12:34,960Now, is there any parent who hasn’t wondered about this?26200:12:35,900 –> 00:12:37,659What will happen to your children?26300:12:39,219 –> 00:12:40,340Will they marry?26400:12:41,380 –> 00:12:43,840What about your grandchildren?26500:12:43,840 –> 00:12:45,820Will they be happy?26600:12:45,820 –> 00:12:47,000Will they prosper?26700:12:48,479 –> 00:12:49,619You ask that question,26800:12:49,619 –> 00:12:54,340what kind of world will my grandchildren inherit?26900:12:54,340 –> 00:12:55,500You ask that question.27000:12:57,059 –> 00:12:58,539This was surely in the minds of those27100:12:58,539 –> 00:13:00,940who were standing beside Moses when he is telling them27200:13:00,940 –> 00:13:03,299that there are two very different futures27300:13:03,340 –> 00:13:05,880that may happen in the land.27400:13:07,260 –> 00:13:10,299What’s the future for our children, your children?27500:13:11,520 –> 00:13:15,419The secret things belong to the Lord.27600:13:17,979 –> 00:13:19,159Secret number two.27700:13:20,619 –> 00:13:22,979The reason for your suffering.27800:13:25,059 –> 00:13:26,719All of us, at sometime in life,27900:13:26,719 –> 00:13:28,780will ask the question, why?28000:13:28,780 –> 00:13:32,320You will come to some painful experience,28100:13:32,320 –> 00:13:35,400and for some of us, this is so acute.28200:13:36,380 –> 00:13:39,299And you’re locked into this question,28300:13:39,299 –> 00:13:43,719why was I born into that family?28400:13:45,679 –> 00:13:48,719Why did this illness come to me?28500:13:50,900 –> 00:13:55,900Why did that awful event happen to my son or my daughter?28600:13:57,739 –> 00:14:00,340And you ask the question, and you ask it for years.28700:14:00,419 –> 00:14:02,340And you still have no answer.28800:14:03,799 –> 00:14:08,479The secret things belong to the Lord.28900:14:10,659 –> 00:14:12,179Secret number three.29000:14:13,380 –> 00:14:16,219The manner of your death.29100:14:17,619 –> 00:14:20,340Now, I don’t know if you think about this once in a while.29200:14:20,340 –> 00:14:23,440I promise you as you get older, once in a while, you will.29300:14:24,719 –> 00:14:26,219How long will you live?29400:14:26,859 –> 00:14:31,719Will you reach old age, or will God take you while you are young?29500:14:33,659 –> 00:14:38,760Will you die through an illness, or will you die through an accident?29600:14:40,960 –> 00:14:43,440Will you die with a sound mind?29700:14:43,539 –> 00:14:46,059Some of us think about that, perhaps quite a lot.29800:14:47,859 –> 00:14:52,460And perhaps you asked the question, will I experience pain?29900:14:52,700 –> 00:14:54,219Will I experience pain?30000:14:56,419 –> 00:15:00,219The secret things belong to the Lord.30100:15:02,200 –> 00:15:04,320Number four.30200:15:04,419 –> 00:15:06,619The salvation of your loved ones.30300:15:07,559 –> 00:15:11,500I’m thinking here about unbelieving neighbors, friends, or family members30400:15:12,299 –> 00:15:17,059who do not yet know or love Christ, and you pray for them, and you love them,30500:15:17,059 –> 00:15:19,299and you share the gospel with them.30600:15:19,340 –> 00:15:25,840I’m thinking today about someone that I have been praying for for over 20 years.30700:15:25,900 –> 00:15:27,700He has no interest in God.30800:15:28,539 –> 00:15:31,700He has no love for Christ.30900:15:31,700 –> 00:15:34,539Will he be converted?31000:15:34,539 –> 00:15:36,760I do not know, I don’t know.31100:15:38,099 –> 00:15:40,599The secret things belong31200:15:40,599 –> 00:15:42,299to the Lord.31300:15:43,559 –> 00:15:45,500Number five.31400:15:45,500 –> 00:15:47,700The events of tomorrow.31500:15:49,739 –> 00:15:55,299Karen and I plan to fly to England tonight,31600:15:55,299 –> 00:15:58,760to arrive in Glasgow with a second flight tomorrow,31700:15:58,799 –> 00:16:01,460and then to get on a bus that will take us from Glasgow31800:16:01,500 –> 00:16:03,299to the north of Scotland in Inverness31900:16:03,340 –> 00:16:04,140where we got some days32000:16:04,159 –> 00:16:06,460with my parents and then visiting her.32100:16:07,340 –> 00:16:08,400We got it all worked out.32200:16:08,440 –> 00:16:10,739It’s about 14, 15 hours altogether32300:16:10,760 –> 00:16:12,539with the three legs of the journey.32400:16:12,559 –> 00:16:14,440We’ve done it many, many times before32500:16:14,460 –> 00:16:17,559and we’re planned and ready to go.32600:16:18,559 –> 00:16:21,500And every time I travel,32700:16:21,520 –> 00:16:25,400I think about the words of James.32800:16:25,419 –> 00:16:29,299Listen, you who say today or tomorrow32900:16:29,320 –> 00:16:32,159we will go to this or that city.33000:16:32,200 –> 00:16:36,359You do not even know what will happen tomorrow.33100:16:37,460 –> 00:16:38,820Oh, you don’t know what’s going to happen33200:16:38,859 –> 00:16:41,419for you tomorrow either, whatever you’ve got planned.33300:16:43,700 –> 00:16:46,500The secret things belong to the Lord.33400:16:47,200 –> 00:16:49,500Folks, this is life, this is reality.33500:16:50,940 –> 00:16:55,400Number six, the outcome of your ministry.33600:16:56,500 –> 00:16:58,059Now, as you serve the Lord,33700:16:58,099 –> 00:17:01,400us so many of us are engaged in ministry.33800:17:01,440 –> 00:17:02,400You will have discovered.33900:17:02,440 –> 00:17:03,640You don’t need me to tell you34000:17:03,659 –> 00:17:05,800that there are times when you find yourself34100:17:05,839 –> 00:17:07,300asking this question.34200:17:07,339 –> 00:17:10,560Am I doing anything of lasting value?34300:17:11,699 –> 00:17:13,300You are praying and you say,34400:17:13,339 –> 00:17:15,459now is this making any difference?34500:17:15,459 –> 00:17:17,619Is there any Christian who hasn’t been there?34600:17:18,699 –> 00:17:21,300You make sacrifices and you wonder,34700:17:21,319 –> 00:17:23,599well, does anybody even notice?34800:17:25,199 –> 00:17:27,660It’s fascinating to me in Matthew chapter 25,34900:17:27,699 –> 00:17:30,359when the Lord’s people are brought before him35000:17:30,400 –> 00:17:31,920on the day of judgment.35100:17:31,959 –> 00:17:35,400And they are surprised.35200:17:35,420 –> 00:17:38,099They’re surprised by the outcome of their ministry.35300:17:38,119 –> 00:17:39,520Remember Jesus says to them now,35400:17:39,560 –> 00:17:41,060I was hungry and you fed me.35500:17:41,099 –> 00:17:43,560And I was in prison and you visited me.35600:17:43,859 –> 00:17:46,300And they’re saying, when was that?35700:17:46,319 –> 00:17:47,459When did we do these things?35800:17:47,500 –> 00:17:49,400And Jesus says, well, as much as you did it35900:17:49,420 –> 00:17:51,000to the least of these, my Brothers,36000:17:51,020 –> 00:17:53,020you did it to me.36100:17:53,060 –> 00:17:56,099The truth is that the last day will hold36200:17:56,119 –> 00:18:00,219so many wonderful surprises because you don’t know36300:18:00,260 –> 00:18:02,319the outcome of your own ministry.36400:18:02,359 –> 00:18:03,219You don’t.36500:18:04,560 –> 00:18:08,359The secret things belong to the Lord.36600:18:09,900 –> 00:18:11,420Here’s number seven,36700:18:11,420 –> 00:18:14,819the progress of your Christian life.36800:18:16,479 –> 00:18:18,420If you are a Christian today,36900:18:18,439 –> 00:18:22,939you will know what it is to be alarmed37000:18:24,079 –> 00:18:27,380by your own lack of progress as a Christian.37100:18:28,680 –> 00:18:30,680God, of course, is conforming you37200:18:30,719 –> 00:18:33,119to the likeness of Jesus Christ,37300:18:34,280 –> 00:18:37,319and there is progress in sanctification.37400:18:37,339 –> 00:18:40,140But the truth is that it’s not always obvious.37500:18:40,260 –> 00:18:43,060And if it is seen, and where it is seen,37600:18:43,099 –> 00:18:45,140it’s more likely to be seen by other people37700:18:45,160 –> 00:18:47,640before it is seen by you.37800:18:48,900 –> 00:18:51,040And the reality is that sin lies37900:18:51,060 –> 00:18:53,359so deep within the best of us38000:18:54,260 –> 00:18:56,739that we often find ourselves alarmed38100:18:56,760 –> 00:18:58,959and astonished and even confounded38200:18:59,000 –> 00:19:02,239when it breaks out in unexpected ways.38300:19:03,640 –> 00:19:06,140You’ve experienced this, the sudden word,38400:19:06,140 –> 00:19:10,359the cynical thought, the overwhelming impulse,38500:19:10,400 –> 00:19:12,540and the unexpected failure,38600:19:12,560 –> 00:19:15,260and you say, where in the world did that come from?38700:19:15,300 –> 00:19:17,300Well, it came from within you.38800:19:18,859 –> 00:19:21,339Peter says to Jesus,38900:19:21,359 –> 00:19:24,500I’m ready to die with you,39000:19:24,540 –> 00:19:25,939and you remember a few hours later39100:19:25,959 –> 00:19:27,939he’s calling down curses, he’s blaspheming.39200:19:27,959 –> 00:19:30,439He said, I never even knew the man.39300:19:30,459 –> 00:19:31,939Where did that come from?39400:19:31,959 –> 00:19:33,339Inside of him.39500:19:34,239 –> 00:19:38,540You thought you were making progress,39600:19:38,560 –> 00:19:42,239that you had left those things behind,39700:19:42,260 –> 00:19:45,640but now the sin that you thought you had conquered,39800:19:45,660 –> 00:19:48,099it’s back again, and it’s staring you in the face.39900:19:48,140 –> 00:19:50,099It’s almost as if it’s laughing at you.40000:19:50,140 –> 00:19:53,660And you say, well, now, have I made no progress?40100:19:53,699 –> 00:19:57,560Will I ever be the person that God is calling me to be?40200:19:59,000 –> 00:20:00,459If you are a Christian,40300:20:00,520 –> 00:20:02,520you will know what it is to stare40400:20:02,560 –> 00:20:06,219into the mystery of your own sin.40500:20:08,119 –> 00:20:10,660The secret things belong to the Lord.40600:20:10,680 –> 00:20:12,319That’s why it says in Psalm 19,40700:20:12,359 –> 00:20:15,319who can understand his own errors?40800:20:15,359 –> 00:20:17,479Isn’t that a great question?40900:20:17,520 –> 00:20:20,260Is anyone here who really understands his own errors?41000:20:21,420 –> 00:20:22,579Of course you don’t.41100:20:23,819 –> 00:20:28,180The secret things belong to the Lord.41200:20:28,900 –> 00:20:30,939Now folks, this is humbling truth today, isn’t it?41300:20:30,979 –> 00:20:34,300There’s a stillness among us as there ought to be.41400:20:34,339 –> 00:20:35,979Because you start looking at life,41500:20:36,000 –> 00:20:39,599what you see is that however powerful sometimes we may feel,41600:20:39,640 –> 00:20:43,239the truth is that the vastness is of that41700:20:43,280 –> 00:20:45,339which we do not know.41800:20:45,380 –> 00:20:47,839The things God has kept secret.41900:20:47,880 –> 00:20:50,180You don’t know the future of your children42000:20:50,199 –> 00:20:51,699or the reason for your suffering42100:20:51,739 –> 00:20:53,199or the manner of your death42200:20:53,239 –> 00:20:55,400or the salvation of your loved ones42300:20:56,359 –> 00:20:58,599or the events of tomorrow.42400:20:58,619 –> 00:21:01,119You don’t know the outcome of your ministry,42500:21:01,160 –> 00:21:03,959you don’t even have a sure read42600:21:04,000 –> 00:21:06,760on your own progress in the Christian life.42700:21:06,800 –> 00:21:09,599And you say, well, no, with all this that I don’t know,42800:21:09,619 –> 00:21:10,699how can I live?42900:21:11,959 –> 00:21:15,300How can you navigate your way through a world43000:21:15,319 –> 00:21:17,859where God has kept so much secret?43100:21:17,900 –> 00:21:19,920Where so many of the big things that you think,43200:21:19,959 –> 00:21:21,619I really need to know these things.43300:21:21,660 –> 00:21:25,020And yet God has said, I’m not going to tell them to you.43400:21:25,119 –> 00:21:26,239They belong to me.43500:21:28,380 –> 00:21:30,520Well, here’s the principle that’s right at the heart43600:21:30,540 –> 00:21:32,939of this single verse that I’m trying to work43700:21:32,979 –> 00:21:37,239into our hearts and asking that God will seal in our minds.43800:21:38,339 –> 00:21:42,119You live with what God has kept secret43900:21:43,380 –> 00:21:46,479by trusting what God has revealed.44000:21:46,520 –> 00:21:47,579That’s the principle.44100:21:49,040 –> 00:21:51,579The reality is the whatever you turn in life,44200:21:51,800 –> 00:21:54,500we’re surrounded by what we do not know44300:21:54,540 –> 00:21:58,540on what we do not control and you live44400:22:00,239 –> 00:22:03,880with what God has kept secret by trusting44500:22:04,739 –> 00:22:05,939what God has revealed.44600:22:07,579 –> 00:22:08,739You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith44700:22:08,780 –> 00:22:11,040on Open the Bible and the message called44800:22:11,079 –> 00:22:14,140Act On What You Know, Leave the Rest to God,44900:22:14,180 –> 00:22:17,439we’ve heard about seven secrets which belong to the Lord45000:22:17,479 –> 00:22:19,640and next time we’ll look at seven promises45100:22:19,680 –> 00:22:21,140which belong to us.45200:22:21,839 –> 00:22:23,839The message originally came from a series45300:22:23,880 –> 00:22:26,640called Take Two The Power of The Fresh Start45400:22:26,680 –> 00:22:29,380and we’ve included it in the present series45500:22:29,420 –> 00:22:31,619which is called Listeners’ Favourites.45600:22:31,640 –> 00:22:33,739We’ve taken ten of the most popular45700:22:33,780 –> 00:22:36,739and most listened to messages over the last year45800:22:36,780 –> 00:22:38,719and bundled them together.45900:22:38,760 –> 00:22:40,180If you missed any of the series46000:22:40,219 –> 00:22:42,319or if you want to go back and listen again,46100:22:42,359 –> 00:22:46,459come online to our website openthebible.org.uk46200:22:46,479 –> 00:22:48,060and there you’ll find all the messages46300:22:48,079 –> 00:22:49,859which have already gone out on air46400:22:50,000 –> 00:22:51,839and you’ll also find them as a podcast46500:22:51,859 –> 00:22:54,300and those are on all the main podcast sites.46600:22:54,339 –> 00:22:56,760Search for Open The Bible UK.46700:22:56,800 –> 00:22:59,599Also on our website and available as a podcast,46800:22:59,640 –> 00:23:01,939don’t forget Open The Bible Daily,46900:23:01,959 –> 00:23:05,599our series of short two- to three-minute daily reflections47000:23:05,640 –> 00:23:07,699based on Pastor Colin’s teaching47100:23:07,739 –> 00:23:10,199and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.47200:23:10,239 –> 00:23:12,119Fly Through The Bible is available47300:23:12,140 –> 00:23:13,900in a number of different formats47400:23:13,939 –> 00:23:15,020and, in the coming days,47500:23:15,040 –> 00:23:17,339we’ll bring news of some exciting ways47600:23:17,380 –> 00:23:19,599that you can use this material.47700:23:19,660 –> 00:23:22,800Colin Smith’s original book, Fly Through The Bible,47800:23:22,819 –> 00:23:24,540is our gift to you this month47900:23:24,560 –> 00:23:27,099if you’re able to begin a new direct debit48000:23:27,119 –> 00:23:28,760to the work of Open The Bible48100:23:28,800 –> 00:23:31,520in the amount of £5 per month or more,48200:23:31,859 –> 00:23:34,520or a one-off gift of £50 or more.48300:23:35,060 –> 00:23:36,260If you’re able to do that,48400:23:36,300 –> 00:23:38,359we’d love to send you a copy of the book.48500:23:38,380 –> 00:23:41,420Colin, why did you use the flying metaphor48600:23:41,459 –> 00:23:42,859to describe this book?48700:23:42,880 –> 00:23:46,079Well suppose you were making a visit to the Grand Canyon48800:23:46,099 –> 00:23:47,959and exploring it for the first time.48900:23:48,260 –> 00:23:49,920I mean I guess you could hike down49000:23:49,939 –> 00:23:52,400and you’d get a sense of the depth of the canyon,49100:23:52,439 –> 00:23:53,920you could drive around the rim,49200:23:53,939 –> 00:23:56,560you’d get a sense of the length of it.49300:23:56,599 –> 00:23:59,979But perhaps the best way to get an overall sense49400:24:00,000 –> 00:24:02,739of the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon49500:24:02,780 –> 00:24:04,939would be to take a flight over it.49600:24:04,959 –> 00:24:07,439Now, when it comes to the Bible,49700:24:07,459 –> 00:24:10,400to get a high-altitude overview49800:24:10,439 –> 00:24:12,900of what the Bible’s story is all about49900:24:12,939 –> 00:24:15,780seems to me to be the best place to begin.50000:24:15,819 –> 00:24:17,619The Bible really is one story50100:24:17,619 –> 00:24:19,660it begins in a garden, it ends in a city50200:24:19,680 –> 00:24:23,000and all the way through it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ.50300:24:23,040 –> 00:24:25,719Fly Through the Bible is kinda cookies on the bottom shelf50400:24:25,739 –> 00:24:27,839to change the analogy.50500:24:27,880 –> 00:24:30,140It gives an overall picture,50600:24:30,160 –> 00:24:32,079an introduction to the scripture50700:24:32,119 –> 00:24:34,739that I hope will help and encourage people50800:24:34,760 –> 00:24:38,060to want to explore more when they get on the ground.50900:24:38,079 –> 00:24:40,800Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Colin’s book,51000:24:40,839 –> 00:24:42,199Fly Through the Bible,51100:24:42,219 –> 00:24:45,239to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit51200:24:45,239 –> 00:24:46,760to the work of Open the Bible51300:24:46,800 –> 00:24:49,219in the amount of £5 per month or more51400:24:49,260 –> 00:24:53,260or a one-off gift of £50 or more this month.51500:24:53,300 –> 00:24:55,880Full terms and conditions are on our website51600:24:55,900 –> 00:24:59,319at openthebible.org.uk51700:24:59,339 –> 00:25:01,979and you can give online.51800:25:02,000 –> 00:25:04,479For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,51900:25:04,500 –> 00:25:05,599I’m David Pick52000:25:05,640 –> 00:25:14,300and I hope you’ll join us again next time on Open the Bible.52100:25:16,020 –> 00:25:19,359How can you live with all that God has kept secret,52200:25:19,380 –> 00:25:21,859all that you don’t know?52300:25:21,880 –> 00:25:24,819Find out next time on Open the Bible.