Believe, Part 2

Psalm 73:23-26

In today’s broadcast, we’re diving into the essence of real, God-centered faith, drawing inspiration from Asaph’s journey in Psalm 73. Pastor Colin reminds us that when we fix our eyes on Jesus, especially during life’s darkest valleys, we rediscover the true meaning of faith and its ability to transform discouragement into confidence. Join us as we explore these rich biblical truths and reflect on the centrality of Christ in our lives, both now and in eternity.

100:00:00,760 –> 00:00:07,320I’d like to try and keep in touch with what’s popular on the reading list I200:00:07,320 –> 00:00:14,260picked this one up the five people you meet in heaven reading through this book300:00:14,260 –> 00:00:18,780are absolutely fascinated five people you meet in heaven and Jesus isn’t one400:00:18,780 –> 00:00:28,200of them the Christless haven which doesn’t exist there is only one heaven500:00:28,959 –> 00:00:32,000has always existed man walked to the sky and jesus christ is at the center of it600:00:32,000 –> 00:00:36,599welcome to open the Bible with pastor Collins myth I’m David pick thank you700:00:36,599 –> 00:00:40,720for being with us today and Colin just as there is no heaven without Jesus800:00:40,720 –> 00:00:45,299we’re thinking about what real faith is and we’re looking at that through the900:00:45,299 –> 00:00:51,279lens of ASAP in Psalm 73 and seeing that when we take our eyes off God we1000:00:51,279 –> 00:00:56,220lose track of the real meaning of faith and we may well become discouraged and1100:00:56,259 –> 00:01:00,740give up on our faith yeah well the world is always trying to get rid of Jesus1200:01:00,740 –> 00:01:05,239Christ you see that throughout his life throughout in the crucifixion and it’s1300:01:05,239 –> 00:01:09,559still true today so that’s why when people talk about faith often faith gets1400:01:09,559 –> 00:01:14,000talked about without the object of faith Jesus if they’re not Jesus there is no1500:01:14,000 –> 00:01:17,599christian faith when people talk about heaven you end up with all these ideas1600:01:17,599 –> 00:01:22,980of heaven and apparently not Jesus well you take Jesus Christ out you haven’t1700:01:23,540 –> 00:01:26,900talking about in relation to Christianity might as well forget the1800:01:26,900 –> 00:01:31,620whole thing because it’s all about him and we’re in a series where we’re1900:01:31,620 –> 00:01:37,180looking at how God brings us through the darkest valleys of discouragement and2000:01:37,180 –> 00:01:42,180you know what only Christ can do that only Christ can walk you through the2100:01:42,180 –> 00:01:48,419darkest Valley the day where you feel like there isn’t any point and some 732200:01:48,419 –> 00:01:53,860is just a wonderful story of how God brought one godly person through that2300:01:53,860 –> 00:01:59,220dark Valley and brought that person to a place of faith of confidence God2400:01:59,220 –> 00:02:05,260centered faith not confidence in myself but in the ability of God to see me2500:02:05,260 –> 00:02:09,979through life through death and into eternity in this God I can trust us so2600:02:09,979 –> 00:02:14,259glad we know that God in Jesus Christ and they were able to proclaim him and2700:02:15,259 –> 00:02:19,259so that’s what we’re going to do in today’s message so I hope he’ll join us2800:02:19,259 –> 00:02:25,279in psalm 73 as we continue our message believe here’s Colin this is then the2900:02:25,279 –> 00:02:31,080fourth dimension of the five point turn and we’ve expressed it in this one words3000:02:31,080 –> 00:02:38,580to believe to come to a god-centered faith and really what we have in these3100:02:38,580 –> 00:02:43,339verses before us is one of the finest expressions of faith that you will find3200:02:43,520 –> 00:02:50,259anywhere that you will ever hear let’s look at it in three ways as we focus in3300:02:50,259 –> 00:02:59,539on verses 25 and 26 the first is this he affirms a faith in God who is in heaven3400:02:59,800 –> 00:03:14,880in heaven for you whom have I in heaven but you verse 25 now the first thing3500:03:14,880 –> 00:03:19,020that you need to know about heaven of course is that heaven is utterly3600:03:19,020 –> 00:03:25,860God-centred. When John saw his vision of heaven that’s recorded in the book of3700:03:25,860 –> 00:03:30,020Revelation you remember that he saw he states it twice in chapter 5 and in3800:03:30,020 –> 00:03:39,139chapter 7 that the lamb of God that’s Jesus Christ was at the centre. If there3900:03:39,139 –> 00:03:45,699is just one thing that you need to grasp about heaven it is that Jesus Christ is4000:03:45,699 –> 00:03:53,860at the centre of everything there. Now it seems to me that this is precisely4100:03:54,059 –> 00:03:59,460the point that Asaph has grasped. He comes to a God centered faith and it4200:03:59,460 –> 00:04:08,559begins here, whom have I in heaven but you. Let me try and illustrate this for4300:04:08,559 –> 00:04:15,779you. Imagine with me please Tom and Mary. A young couple engaged and about to be4400:04:15,779 –> 00:04:19,399married. The wedding is just five days away and4500:04:19,559 –> 00:04:26,260Tom takes Mary out for a candle lit dinner and looking over, you know, get in4600:04:26,260 –> 00:04:32,380a bit of a romantic mood here will you, you know, looking over the candle, Tom4700:04:32,380 –> 00:04:40,100says I can hardly wait till Saturday comes. Mary smiles as she looks back over4800:04:40,119 –> 00:04:47,279the candle into Tom’s eyes. Tell me she says, why are you so excited about4900:04:47,279 –> 00:04:55,519Saturday? Now, all Tom has to do at this moment is to say, because on Saturday I5000:04:55,519 –> 00:05:02,660get to marry you! But Tom’s a bit of a dummy.5100:05:03,220 –> 00:05:10,220He doesn’t always get his cues, so he says, you know Saturday my great-uncle5200:05:10,220 –> 00:05:15,019Jack’s coming in from Boston and I haven’t seen him for ten years. Or he5300:05:15,019 –> 00:05:19,380says, Saturday the guys from the football team at college are all gonna be here5400:05:19,380 –> 00:05:24,299and you know we’re gonna go out on Friday night. Or he says, oh the5500:05:24,299 –> 00:05:29,720reception’s gonna be at the Grand Hotel Ballroom and I love the food that they5600:05:29,720 –> 00:05:32,500serve there.5700:05:32,660 –> 00:05:37,519Now, of course all these things may be wonderfully true, it is great that Uncle5800:05:37,519 –> 00:05:41,959Jack and the football team is coming in and there will be a marvellous meal. The5900:05:41,959 –> 00:05:48,279problem is that by making them his focus Tom has completely missed the point6000:05:48,279 –> 00:05:59,399right? There is only one heaven and Jesus Christ is at the center of it. Heaven is6100:05:59,399 –> 00:06:09,500about Christ. Eternity is about Christ and once you’ve grasped that God6200:06:09,500 –> 00:06:14,839centred, Christ focused reality of eternity then you know how to live life6300:06:14,839 –> 00:06:24,579in this world! Whom have I in heaven? But you. God in6400:06:24,579 –> 00:06:34,260heaven for you. Second. God on earth with you. Whom have I in heaven? But you. Verse6500:06:34,260 –> 00:06:43,26025 and earth has nothing I desire beside you. This is the second dimension of this6600:06:43,260 –> 00:06:48,239God centered expression of faith you’re at the center of everything for me in6700:06:48,239 –> 00:06:53,260heaven, you’re at the center of everything for me on earth.6800:06:53,380 –> 00:07:00,880Earth has nothing I desire besides you. Now you can see here how far Aesop has6900:07:00,880 –> 00:07:05,720come can’t you at the beginning of the psalm he is all tied up because there7000:07:05,720 –> 00:07:09,500are certain things in his life that are not as he’d like them to be he’s7100:07:09,500 –> 00:07:13,739bothered by other people’s prosperity he wants certain things to be7200:07:13,739 –> 00:07:19,040different and because they’re not he’s miserable. But now he finds a new freedom7300:07:19,339 –> 00:07:26,179in this God-centered faith. What’s my life on earth really all about?7400:07:26,359 –> 00:07:34,200Thank God I can be released from this preconceived agenda this life plan.7500:07:35,239 –> 00:07:39,279Yes well my life on earth is about now that I’ve discovered that you’re at the7600:07:39,279 –> 00:07:44,279center of heaven I can live with freedom with you at the center of my experience7700:07:44,519 –> 00:07:50,600life on earth. Now Esau of course is not saying that there are no other7800:07:50,600 –> 00:07:56,820legitimate desires for life on earth. he’s simply saying the same thing as the7900:07:56,820 –> 00:08:03,140apostle Paul said and we sang it earlier in our worship I want to know Christ8000:08:03,140 –> 00:08:10,239that’s what matters that’s the driving ambition of my life. Paul and Esau8100:08:10,239 –> 00:08:16,040expressing precisely the same biblical faith on earth nothing I desire beside8200:08:16,040 –> 00:08:20,660you says Esau I want to know Christ says the Apostle Paul they’re saying the same8300:08:20,660 –> 00:08:25,820thing. Now of course Paul had other desires he8400:08:25,820 –> 00:08:31,880wanted to preach he wanted to plant churches he wanted to see people8500:08:31,880 –> 00:08:38,460converted to Jesus Christ these are good desires but here’s the thing even good8600:08:38,619 –> 00:08:47,020desires even the best desires can become idols and Asav gets it exactly right.8700:08:47,020 –> 00:08:52,179He teaches us that beside the Lord himself everything else must take a8800:08:52,179 –> 00:09:01,320secondary place. Earth has nothing I desire besides you.8900:09:01,900 –> 00:09:05,919See how God-centered it is.9000:09:06,479 –> 00:09:10,580Now if we have really come to love the Lord Jesus Christ and have entered into9100:09:10,580 –> 00:09:16,520what biblical faith is all about then surely we will see the rightness of this.9200:09:16,520 –> 00:09:22,080Let’s go back to our friends Tom and Mary and fast forward their story five9300:09:22,080 –> 00:09:24,559days. And we now come to their wedding on the9400:09:24,559 –> 00:09:30,239Saturday. They stand in the church and they take their vows.9500:09:30,599 –> 00:09:38,419I Tom to take you Mary to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward9600:09:38,419 –> 00:09:46,960for better for worse for richer for poorer in sickness and in health. Now9700:09:46,960 –> 00:09:56,280think with me about what Tom is actually saying, he’s saying if being with you9800:09:56,280 –> 00:10:04,840means I am richer I’m with you, if being with you turns out to mean that I’m9900:10:04,840 –> 00:10:15,799poorer I’m with you, what matters to me Mary is not richer or poorer it’s not10000:10:15,799 –> 00:10:20,960better or worse and it’s not sickness or health what10100:10:21,239 –> 00:10:27,960matters to me is you so bring it on10200:10:28,400 –> 00:10:32,799because no matter what happens that’s the agenda of my life that’s the10300:10:32,799 –> 00:10:41,960commitment that I’m making I’m with you come what may now you see that is how a10400:10:41,960 –> 00:10:48,960real Christian feels about Christ isn’t it and isn’t that why the New Testament10500:10:49,260 –> 00:10:53,359uses the picture of a marriage to describe the relationship between Christ10600:10:53,359 –> 00:11:02,000and his people Christ bonds to us whatever and we bond to him whatever for10700:11:02,000 –> 00:11:11,500better for worse but richer for poorer in sickness and in health when life goes10800:11:11,500 –> 00:11:15,419as I wanted to when life goes as I don’t want it to I’m with you bring it10900:11:15,599 –> 00:11:19,280what matters to me as you11000:11:20,580 –> 00:11:27,840this came to me this week with great force because just just looking again at11100:11:27,840 –> 00:11:34,520biblical faith as its framed in this God-centered way it came to me in a11200:11:34,520 –> 00:11:39,320fresh way what have we done to the gospel in our11300:11:39,320 –> 00:11:48,159time because if you turn on your television these days you will hear a11400:11:48,159 –> 00:11:55,700very different message from some you will hear preachers who invite you to11500:11:55,700 –> 00:12:07,539come to Christ for three reasons health wealth and a better life11600:12:07,940 –> 00:12:17,000in other words we have moved in large parts to an alternative gospel a gospel11700:12:17,000 –> 00:12:23,359that is geared to our unchanging self-interest in which a person is11800:12:23,359 –> 00:12:26,979invited to make a commitment to Christ that would amount to saying something11900:12:26,979 –> 00:12:38,739like this I column to take you Jesus to be my saviour for better for richer and12000:12:38,739 –> 00:12:42,020for health12100:12:42,380 –> 00:12:53,340and by the way if you don’t deliver on what I’m asking if you I got a problem12200:12:53,400 –> 00:13:00,580that’s not loving Christ that is self worship and a person who comes to Jesus12300:13:00,580 –> 00:13:07,359on that basis will abandon Jesus on that basis as quickly and as surely as Judas12400:13:07,359 –> 00:13:19,299did now listen to biblical faith Asaphs faith Earth has nothing I desire beside12500:13:19,299 –> 00:13:22,380you12600:13:23,140 –> 00:13:30,280in the center of all things in heaven and grasping that I now know how to live12700:13:30,280 –> 00:13:36,039in these short years that I have before I enter into your presence you are to be12800:13:36,039 –> 00:13:42,960the center of all things in my life on earth whatever you’re listening to open12900:13:42,960 –> 00:13:47,159the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called believe part of our13000:13:47,559 –> 00:13:53,580series I almost gave up based on the story of ASAPH in Psalm 73 if you ever13100:13:53,580 –> 00:13:57,000miss one of our messages I hope you’ll find the time to go back and listen13200:13:57,000 –> 00:14:03,179again online at our website openthebible.org.uk or you can find it as a13300:14:03,179 –> 00:14:07,380podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites simply search for open the13400:14:07,380 –> 00:14:12,200Bible UK or you can follow the link from our website. Back to the message now13500:14:12,299 –> 00:14:16,760in Psalm 73 here is Colin.13600:14:16,760 –> 00:14:19,099God for you in heaven, God with you on earth,13700:14:19,099 –> 00:14:29,159God beside you at death. My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength13800:14:29,159 –> 00:14:35,400of my heart and my portion forever. Now clearly this statement moves in the13900:14:35,400 –> 00:14:40,099direction of death my flesh and my heart may fail that’s moving in the direction14000:14:40,119 –> 00:14:44,659of death he may be talking about you know heart-stopping experiences at times14100:14:44,659 –> 00:14:49,719when our our heart fails us even through life times when we come to these great14200:14:49,719 –> 00:14:53,299difficulties like Asaph has been enduring but he’s talking about the14300:14:53,299 –> 00:14:57,159progression through life that ultimately is going to come to the moment of our14400:14:57,159 –> 00:15:03,739death and he says well even there God is the strength of my heart and is my14500:15:03,739 –> 00:15:09,940portion forever. The New Testament way of saying this again comes from the14600:15:10,340 –> 00:15:13,760apostle Paul there are some fascinating parallels that run right through this14700:15:13,760 –> 00:15:18,580and the New Testament way of saying the same thing as verse 26 is Paul’s14800:15:18,580 –> 00:15:24,640wonderful statement remember to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.14900:15:24,640 –> 00:15:29,419That’s what he’s saying see even if my flesh in my heart fail even when I die15000:15:29,419 –> 00:15:34,340it’s God Who is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! What has been my15100:15:34,340 –> 00:15:37,719life now because there’s nothing on earth I desire beside you will continue15200:15:37,719 –> 00:15:41,820through death and into heaven itself where He is exalted for me to live is15300:15:41,820 –> 00:15:48,679Christ and to die is gain. John Piper has made I think the central point of15400:15:48,679 –> 00:15:52,320that verse or expressed the point of that verse very well by saying this that15500:15:52,320 –> 00:16:03,000if living is Christ for you, then dying will be gain for you, because in dying15600:16:03,479 –> 00:16:07,960you get more of Christ. That’s it, you see. For me to live is Christ, to die is15700:16:08,119 –> 00:16:14,460gain. If living is Christ for you, then dying will be gain for you, because in15800:16:14,460 –> 00:16:20,919dying you get more of Christ right into his presence. Think about that, you see.15900:16:20,919 –> 00:16:26,780If you take Christ out of that verse, you’ll soon see that any other way of16000:16:26,940 –> 00:16:33,979living ends with disaster. See, look at this text if we blank it out. For me to16100:16:33,979 –> 00:16:46,020live is blank, to die is blank. Now fill in the blanks. For me to live is career.16200:16:46,020 –> 00:16:50,619Well you see for me to live, is career then to die is disaster isn’t it.16300:16:50,659 –> 00:16:58,419This is all gone. For me to live, is family or friends. Then16400:16:58,419 –> 00:17:01,419to die is just lost because I’m taken away from them. That’s all that is just16500:17:01,419 –> 00:17:09,359loss, just loss . For me to live is health, fitness.16600:17:11,239 –> 00:17:18,420That is for some of us, great shape. Well to die is a total failure for you,16700:17:18,500 –> 00:17:26,040isn’t it? Ultimate failure. And by the way it won’t just be at death that you16800:17:26,040 –> 00:17:34,959discover that. If for you to live is sex, expect a tough time as you get older.16900:17:34,959 –> 00:17:40,959You lose your appeal, you lose your vigor. Some of us are living in ways that are17000:17:40,959 –> 00:17:51,540setting us up for disaster. If for you to live is family the kids leaving home will17100:17:51,540 –> 00:18:01,540destroy you. If for you to live is work retirement will destroy you.17200:18:02,500 –> 00:18:12,859If for you to live is pleasure sickness will destroy you. If for you to live is Christ17300:18:12,859 –> 00:18:23,380nothing will destroy you. For me to live is Christ and even to die is gain. I have no17400:18:23,380 –> 00:18:29,859fear as I look at the future. Paul was in prison when he wrote these words. Things had17500:18:29,880 –> 00:18:34,500not worked out as he had hoped or as he had expected. I’m not preaching anymore, I’m17600:18:34,500 –> 00:18:40,420not doing what I thought I’d be doing anymore, but for me to live is Christ I’ve no loss.17700:18:40,420 –> 00:18:48,880I wanna know Him. It’s what my life is about. My flesh and my heart may fail but God is17800:18:48,959 –> 00:18:55,180the strength of my heart and my portion forever. This is the liberating power of a God‑centred17900:18:55,880 –> 00:19:02,000life. That’s why in the book of Hebrews, it tells us that Jesus Christ came into the world18000:19:02,000 –> 00:19:10,060for this reason. Jesus came to free those who, all their lives were held in slavery18100:19:10,119 –> 00:19:16,300by their fear of death. The way that that happens, you see, is when we’re converted18200:19:16,300 –> 00:19:23,939from self-life to a life that is centered in Jesus Christ.18300:19:23,939 –> 00:19:27,579Well here’s the fourth dimension. This is real biblical faith we’re talking about18400:19:27,579 –> 00:19:33,280here, isn’t it? And Asaph, who no doubt had known it for many years, reembraces it18500:19:33,280 –> 00:19:36,359in a new way, because his feet had almost slipped. He’d almost lost sight of18600:19:36,359 –> 00:19:42,640what it really was. God in heaven for you, God on earth for you, God at18700:19:42,640 –> 00:19:51,900death beside you. Asaph’s God centered faith restored delivers him from the18800:19:51,900 –> 00:19:57,420misery of his own self-centeredness and it brings him through to the glorious18900:19:57,420 –> 00:20:03,439freedom of a God centered life. And you say well, how in all the world am I19000:20:03,439 –> 00:20:11,000gonna get there? Well remember how Asaph got there. It is grace that births God19100:20:11,359 –> 00:20:16,260centeredness. That’s what happened to Asaph, this mature believer. Everybody19200:20:16,260 –> 00:20:19,219respected him. He came to the point where his feet almost slipped.19300:20:19,219 –> 00:20:25,900He became bitter. He started living on impulse. His heart ruled his head but he19400:20:25,900 –> 00:20:29,540comes into the presence of God and he sees what’s been going wrong in his life.19500:20:29,540 –> 00:20:36,560He falls on his knees, he confesses his sin and he experiences grace.19600:20:37,079 –> 00:20:43,520Somehow his soul is filled with a fresh love for Jesus Christ.19700:20:43,780 –> 00:20:52,380I was a brute beast before you Lord yet you hold me by my right hand.19800:20:52,380 –> 00:20:59,119That’s grace and his experience of grace19900:20:59,380 –> 00:21:06,479restores his faith, brings him to the point that he’s ready to face the future20000:21:06,479 –> 00:21:12,260in an entirely different way. He knows wonderful good news here. This is the20100:21:12,260 –> 00:21:22,140redeeming power of Jesus Christ. He can use your worst sin to give you a new20200:21:22,140 –> 00:21:28,459appreciation of the wonder of His grace. Some of us have been looking for a long20300:21:28,699 –> 00:21:32,239time about what we can do for God, what we can do for God, and suddenly we hit20400:21:32,239 –> 00:21:39,479something…and we discover what He can do for us…and grace20500:21:39,479 –> 00:21:50,079births God-centeredness. Do you know about that? Truth, prayer, faith.20600:21:50,079 –> 00:21:56,760Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire beside you my flesh20700:21:56,760 –> 00:22:03,420and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion20800:22:03,420 –> 00:22:08,959forever. That’s a lovely closing thought there from pastor Colin Smith on how20900:22:08,959 –> 00:22:14,619when we confront our own sin that leads us to a revelation and appreciation of21000:22:14,619 –> 00:22:19,939God’s grace. Our message today was called Believe and it’s part of our series21100:22:19,939 –> 00:22:24,219I almost gave up…and if you missed any of the series or if you want to go back21200:22:24,479 –> 00:22:27,579and listen again you can always do that by coming online to our website21300:22:27,579 –> 00:22:32,339OpenTheBible.org.UK and there you’ll find all the messages which have21400:22:32,339 –> 00:22:37,020already been broadcast. You’ll also find pastor Colin’s messages as a podcast on21500:22:37,020 –> 00:22:41,699all the main podcast sites. Search for Open The Bible UK on the podcast site or21600:22:41,699 –> 00:22:45,800follow the link from our website. I know many of the listeners to this21700:22:45,800 –> 00:22:51,260programme also listen to Open The Bible Daily. Sue, you’ve been the voice of Open21800:22:51,300 –> 00:22:56,800The Bible Daily for several years now. What are your memories of it? Well, David,21900:22:56,800 –> 00:23:02,359it’s been such a privilege, it really has. It’s been wonderful to work with you22000:23:02,359 –> 00:23:08,619but it’s been even more wonderful to be able to share, what I believe is really22100:23:08,619 –> 00:23:15,540anointed gospel teaching from Pastor Colin. It really has been a huge22200:23:15,540 –> 00:23:20,900privilege and I just thank God that he put me in the place to do this.22300:23:21,119 –> 00:23:24,199How do you think listeners benefit from listening to Open the Bible Daily22400:23:24,199 –> 00:23:30,500regularly? I do believe that the Dailies have a real place actually in people’s22500:23:30,500 –> 00:23:37,020faith. I know for a fact that many people have just found the length to be22600:23:37,020 –> 00:23:42,300perfect for them, gives them a wonderful little reflection to take into the day.22700:23:42,800 –> 00:23:46,839What’s been your own experience of Open the Bible since you started listening to22800:23:46,880 –> 00:23:52,180Pastor Colin Smith many years ago? I have benefited in the most wonderful way. I22900:23:52,180 –> 00:23:58,060was in a very dark place when I was first introduced to Colin’s sermons and23000:23:58,060 –> 00:24:05,319it just completely broke into my darkness, brought light into my life and23100:24:05,319 –> 00:24:10,880from that moment onwards I just could not wait to hear another sermon and to23200:24:11,040 –> 00:24:17,040taught deeply about the Bible and its message and the fact that it’s all one23300:24:17,040 –> 00:24:22,959and it all points to Jesus. Starting this month we’ll be featuring new readers23400:24:22,959 –> 00:24:27,060of 4 Open The Bible Daily. Sue, what are your hopes for the future of23500:24:27,060 –> 00:24:31,839Open The Bible Daily? I do believe that Pastor Colin has a really anointed23600:24:31,839 –> 00:24:37,599ministry and I am absolutely delighted that the UK link is going from strength23700:24:37,599 –> 00:24:43,119to strength and I I just wish the new readers every joy, the joy that I have23800:24:43,119 –> 00:24:49,500had in sharing God’s Word and Pastor Colin’s wonderful teaching. So, whether23900:24:49,500 –> 00:24:53,099you’re a regular listener of Open The Bible Daily or maybe it’s something24000:24:53,099 –> 00:24:58,459you’d like to try, you can find it on our website at openthebible.org.uk24100:24:58,459 –> 00:25:02,939and you can also find it as a podcast by searching for Open The Bible UK.24200:25:03,099 –> 00:25:07,780For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join24300:25:07,780 –> 00:25:13,239us again for our next programme.24400:25:14,319 –> 00:25:18,599Faith leads to commitment not the other way around.24500:25:18,599 –> 00:25:23,180Find out why next time on Open The Bible.

Details

Sermon Series
Date
Primary Audience

Monthly Offer

Get a FREE copy of ‘I’m Praying For You’ by Nancy Guthrie, when you set up a new direct debit of at least £5, or give a one-off gift of at least £60 …

Donate

Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

Linked resources

Sermons on Psalm 73 Sometimes even the strongest Christians feel like giving up. That’s what happened to a man named Asaph, and in Psalm 73, he tells us how God turned him around. Discover Asaph’s “five-point turn” and find out how God can deliver you from discouragement.

Colin Smith

New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

Search

Search

Header Submit Search