100:00:00,400 –> 00:00:08,140I’d like to try and keep in touch with what’s popular on the reading list and200:00:08,140 –> 00:00:14,200pick this one up. The five people you meet in heaven, reading through this book300:00:14,200 –> 00:00:18,719how absolutely fascinating, five people you meet in heaven and Jesus isn’t one400:00:18,719 –> 00:00:28,160of them. The Christ-less heaven which doesn’t exist. there is only one heaven500:00:28,360 –> 00:00:34,360and Jesus Christ, is at the centre of it. Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor600:00:34,360 –> 00:00:38,740Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Thank you for being with us today and Colin just as700:00:38,740 –> 00:00:44,080there is no heaven without Jesus we’re thinking about what real faith is and800:00:44,080 –> 00:00:48,439we’re looking at that through the lens of Asaph in Psalm 73 and seeing that900:00:48,439 –> 00:00:53,799when we take our eyes off God we lose track of the real meaning of faith and1000:00:54,500 –> 00:00:57,680we may well become discouraged and give up on our faith.1100:00:57,680 –> 00:01:01,759Yeah well the world is always trying to get rid of Jesus Christ you see that1200:01:01,759 –> 00:01:05,459throughout his life throughout in the crucifixion and it’s still1300:01:05,459 –> 00:01:09,779true today so that’s why when people talk about faith often faith gets talked1400:01:09,779 –> 00:01:13,940about without the object of faith. Jesus if they’re not Jesus there is no1500:01:13,940 –> 00:01:17,760Christian faith. When people talk about heaven, you end up with all these ideas1600:01:17,760 –> 00:01:22,959of heaven and apparently not Jesus well you take Jesus Christ out you haven’t1700:01:23,239 –> 00:01:26,220anything that is worth talking about in relation to Christianity. You might as1800:01:26,220 –> 00:01:31,180well forget the whole thing because it’s all about him and we’re in a series1900:01:31,180 –> 00:01:35,860where we’re looking at how God brings us through the darkest valleys of2000:01:36,160 –> 00:01:40,639discouragement and you know what, only Christ can do that. Only Christ can walk2100:01:40,639 –> 00:01:45,900you through the darkest valley, the day where you feel like there isn’t any2200:01:45,900 –> 00:01:52,779point and Psalm 73 is just a wonderful story of how God brought one godly2300:01:52,820 –> 00:01:57,639person through that dark valley and brought that person to a place of faith,2400:01:57,699 –> 00:02:03,959of confidence, God-centered faith, not confidence in myself but in the ability2500:02:03,959 –> 00:02:09,000of God to see me through life, through death and into eternity. In this God I2600:02:09,000 –> 00:02:13,419can trust. I’m so glad we know that God in Jesus Christ and that we’re able to2700:02:13,460 –> 00:02:15,360proclaim him and to trust him today.2800:02:15,720 –> 00:02:19,380So that’s what we’re going to do in today’s message. So I hope you’ll join2900:02:19,500 –> 00:02:24,259in Psalm 73 as we continue our message, Believe. Here’s Colin.3000:02:24,600 –> 00:02:29,820Now this is then the fourth dimension of the Five-Point Turn and we’ve3100:02:29,820 –> 00:02:34,860expressed it in this one word, to believe. To come to a God-centered3200:02:35,279 –> 00:02:40,039faith and really what we have in these verses before us is one of the3300:02:40,039 –> 00:02:45,880finest expressions of faith that you will find anywhere that you will ever3400:02:45,880 –> 00:02:50,660hear. Let’s look at it in three ways as we focus in on verses3500:02:50,660 –> 00:02:52,69925 and 26.3600:02:53,679 –> 00:03:00,699First is this, He affirms a faith in God who is in heaven.3700:03:00,839 –> 00:03:03,539God in heaven for you.3800:03:04,820 –> 00:03:08,339Whom have I in heaven3900:03:10,059 –> 00:03:11,899but you? Verse 25.4000:03:12,039 –> 00:03:14,380Now, the first thing that you need to know about heaven, of4100:03:14,380 –> 00:03:18,720course, is that heaven is utterly God centered.4200:03:20,179 –> 00:03:23,419When John saw his vision of heaven that’s recorded in the4300:03:23,419 –> 00:03:26,839Book of Revelation, you remember that he saw, he states it twice4400:03:26,839 –> 00:03:31,520in chapter 5 and in chapter 7, that the Lamb of God, that’s4500:03:31,520 –> 00:03:35,300Jesus Christ was at the center.4600:03:36,720 –> 00:03:39,559If there is just one thing that you need to grasp about4700:03:39,559 –> 00:03:41,559heaven, it’s that Jesus Christ4800:03:41,899 –> 00:03:47,179is at the center of everything there.4900:03:49,179 –> 00:03:51,720Now, it seems to me that this is precisely the point5000:03:51,720 –> 00:03:53,220that Asaph has grasped.5100:03:53,220 –> 00:03:55,520He comes to a God-centered5200:03:55,520 –> 00:04:00,020faith and it begins here, whom have I in heaven but you?5300:04:03,899 –> 00:04:08,119Let me try and illustrate this for you.5400:04:09,080 –> 00:04:13,080Imagine with me, please, Tom and Mary.5500:04:13,080 –> 00:04:16,880A young couple engaged and about to be married.5600:04:16,880 –> 00:04:19,200The wedding is just five days away5700:04:19,200 –> 00:04:23,380and Tom takes Mary out for a candle-lit dinner5800:04:23,380 –> 00:04:26,459and looking over, you know, get in a bit5900:04:26,459 –> 00:04:28,200of a romantic mood here will you?6000:04:28,200 –> 00:04:31,220You know, looking over the candle.6100:04:31,220 –> 00:04:35,940Tom says, I can hardly wait till Saturday comes.6200:04:36,220 –> 00:04:39,160Mary smiles as she looks back over the candle6300:04:39,160 –> 00:04:41,420into Tom’s eyes.6400:04:41,420 –> 00:04:46,420Tell me, she says, why are you so excited about Saturday?6500:04:48,359 –> 00:04:51,260Now all Tom has to do at this moment6600:04:51,260 –> 00:04:54,239is to say, because on Saturday,6700:04:54,239 –> 00:04:56,980I get to marry you.6800:04:58,040 –> 00:05:00,739But Tom’s a bit of a dummy.6900:05:00,739 –> 00:05:04,140He doesn’t always get his cues.7000:05:04,160 –> 00:05:06,779So he says, you know, Saturday,7100:05:06,779 –> 00:05:08,820my great uncle Jack’s coming in from Boston7200:05:08,820 –> 00:05:10,679and I haven’t seen him for 10 years.7300:05:12,179 –> 00:05:15,640Or he says, Saturday, the guys from the football team7400:05:15,640 –> 00:05:16,980at college are all gonna be here7500:05:16,980 –> 00:05:19,440and you know, we’re gonna go out on Friday night.7600:05:20,420 –> 00:05:22,739Or he says, oh, the reception’s gonna be7700:05:22,739 –> 00:05:25,179at the Grand Hotel Ballroom7800:05:25,179 –> 00:05:28,220and I love the food that they serve there.7900:05:30,619 –> 00:05:32,799Now, of course, all he can do8000:05:33,320 –> 00:05:36,679now, of course, all these things may be wonderfully true,8100:05:36,679 –> 00:05:38,899it is great that uncle Jack and the football team’s coming8200:05:38,899 –> 00:05:40,640and there will be a marvelous meal.8300:05:41,920 –> 00:05:46,320The problem is that by making them his focus,8400:05:46,320 –> 00:05:49,359Tom has completely missed the point, right?8500:05:51,480 –> 00:05:53,420There is only one heaven8600:05:53,420 –> 00:05:56,980and Jesus Christ is at the center off it.8700:05:58,859 –> 00:06:01,079Heaven is about Christ.8800:06:01,959 –> 00:06:04,899Eternity is about Christ.8900:06:06,679 –> 00:06:09,760And once you’ve grasped that God centered,9000:06:09,760 –> 00:06:12,820Christ focused reality of eternity,9100:06:12,820 –> 00:06:15,320then you know how to live life in this world.9200:06:17,040 –> 00:06:21,440Whom have I in heaven but you.9300:06:23,679 –> 00:06:24,920God in heaven for you.9400:06:25,899 –> 00:06:29,779Second, God on earth with you.9500:06:31,480 –> 00:06:35,600Whom have I in heaven but you, verse 25,9600:06:35,600 –> 00:06:40,600and earth has nothing I desire besides you.9700:06:41,600 –> 00:06:43,040This is the second dimension9800:06:43,040 –> 00:06:46,420of this God centered expression of faith.9900:06:46,420 –> 00:06:48,880You’re at the center of everything for me in heaven,10000:06:48,880 –> 00:06:53,880you’re at the center of everything for me on earth.10100:06:54,079 –> 00:06:57,679Earth has nothing I desire besides you.10200:06:58,220 –> 00:07:02,040Now you can see here how far Aesop has come, can’t you?10300:07:02,040 –> 00:07:05,059At the beginning of the psalm he’s all tied up10400:07:05,059 –> 00:07:07,019because there are certain things in his life10500:07:07,019 –> 00:07:09,420that are not as he’d like them to be.10600:07:09,420 –> 00:07:12,059He’s bothered by other people’s prosperity,10700:07:12,059 –> 00:07:14,279he wants certain things to be different10800:07:14,279 –> 00:07:17,059and because they’re not, he’s miserable10900:07:17,059 –> 00:07:22,059but now she finds a new freedom in this God centered faith.11000:07:22,100 –> 00:07:24,640What’s my life on earth really all about?11100:07:25,619 –> 00:07:30,619Thank God I can be released from this preconceived agenda,11200:07:30,779 –> 00:07:33,040this life plan.11300:07:36,220 –> 00:07:37,779That’s what my life on earth is about11400:07:37,779 –> 00:07:39,739now that I’ve discovered that you’re at the center11500:07:39,739 –> 00:07:41,700of heaven I can live with freedom11600:07:42,739 –> 00:07:45,739with you at the center of my experience and life on earth.11700:07:47,959 –> 00:07:49,820Now Aesop of course is not saying11800:07:49,820 –> 00:07:52,100that there are no other legitimate desires11900:07:52,160 –> 00:07:54,040for life on earth.12000:07:54,040 –> 00:07:56,559He’s simply saying the same thing12100:07:56,559 –> 00:07:57,859as the Apostle Paul saidvid12200:07:57,859 –> 00:08:00,239and we sang it earlier in our worship.12300:08:00,239 –> 00:08:04,040I want to know Christ.12400:08:04,040 –> 00:08:06,160That’s what matters.12500:08:06,160 –> 00:08:09,359That’s the driving ambition of my life.12600:08:09,359 –> 00:08:11,959Paul and Aesop are expressing precisely12700:08:11,959 –> 00:08:13,359the same biblical faith.12800:08:13,359 –> 00:08:17,220On earth nothing I desire beside you says Aesop.12900:08:17,220 –> 00:08:20,079I want to know Christ says the Apostle Paul.13000:08:20,079 –> 00:08:21,600They’re saying the same thing.13100:08:22,179 –> 00:08:25,739Of course Paul had other desires.13200:08:25,739 –> 00:08:27,459He wanted to preach.13300:08:27,459 –> 00:08:29,980He wanted to plant churches.13400:08:29,980 –> 00:08:33,820He wanted to see people converted to Jesus Christ.13500:08:33,820 –> 00:08:36,299These are good desires.13600:08:36,299 –> 00:08:37,739But here’s the thing,13700:08:37,739 –> 00:08:39,219even good desires,13800:08:39,219 –> 00:08:43,380even the best desires can become idols.13900:08:44,219 –> 00:08:47,179Aesop gets it exactly right.14000:08:47,179 –> 00:08:50,619He teaches us that beside the Lord himself,14100:08:50,700 –> 00:08:53,539everything else must take a secondary place.14200:08:54,140 –> 00:08:58,020Earth has nothing I desire14300:08:58,020 –> 00:09:00,419beside You.14400:09:02,140 –> 00:09:04,619See how God centered it is.14500:09:07,179 –> 00:09:09,719Now if we have really come to love the Lord Jesus Christ14600:09:09,719 –> 00:09:12,900and have entered into what biblical faith is all about,14700:09:12,900 –> 00:09:17,219then surely we will see the rightness of this.14800:09:17,219 –> 00:09:19,099Let’s go back to our friends Tom and Mary14900:09:19,460 –> 00:09:22,739and fast forward their story, five days,15000:09:22,739 –> 00:09:26,419and we now come to their wedding on the Saturday.15100:09:26,419 –> 00:09:30,039They stand in the church and they take their vows.15200:09:30,940 –> 00:09:34,539I, Tom, do take you, Mary, to be my wife,15300:09:35,400 –> 00:09:38,140to have and to hold from this day forward,15400:09:39,200 –> 00:09:41,700for better, for worse, for richer,15500:09:41,700 –> 00:09:45,340for poorer, in sickness and in health.15600:09:46,340 –> 00:09:51,039Now think with me about what Tom is actually saying.15700:09:53,020 –> 00:09:57,020He’s saying, if being with you means15800:09:57,020 –> 00:10:00,059I am richer, I am with you.15900:10:02,020 –> 00:10:04,500If being with you turns out to mean16000:10:04,500 –> 00:10:07,659that I’m poorer, I’m with you.16100:10:09,900 –> 00:10:13,859What matters to me, Mary, is not richer or poorer,16200:10:14,020 –> 00:10:19,020it’s not better or worse, and it’s not sickness or health.16300:10:20,159 –> 00:10:22,700What matters to me is you.16400:10:24,460 –> 00:10:26,140So bring it on!16500:10:28,440 –> 00:10:30,099Because no matter what happens,16600:10:30,099 –> 00:10:31,739that’s the agenda of my life,16700:10:31,739 –> 00:10:33,500that’s the commitment that I’m making,16800:10:33,500 –> 00:10:37,140I’m with you come what may!16900:10:39,679 –> 00:10:42,419Now, you see, that is how a real Christian17000:10:43,080 –> 00:10:44,619feels about Christ, isn’t it?17100:10:46,900 –> 00:10:49,020And isn’t that why the New Testament17200:10:49,020 –> 00:10:51,320uses the picture of a marriage17300:10:51,320 –> 00:10:54,659to describe the relationship between Christ and his people?17400:10:54,659 –> 00:10:57,179Christ bonds to us, whatever,17500:10:58,739 –> 00:11:01,799and we bond to him, whatever,17600:11:01,799 –> 00:11:03,460for better, for worse.17700:11:04,320 –> 00:11:05,659For richer, for poorer,17800:11:07,380 –> 00:11:09,179in sickness and in health,17900:11:10,080 –> 00:11:12,479when life goes as I want it to,18000:11:12,479 –> 00:11:14,260when life goes as I don’t want it to,18100:11:14,260 –> 00:11:16,280I’m with you, bring it on.18200:11:16,280 –> 00:11:17,599What matters to me is you.18300:11:21,400 –> 00:11:24,460This came to me this week with great force.18400:11:26,000 –> 00:11:29,460Because just looking again at Biblical faith18500:11:29,460 –> 00:11:32,580as it’s framed in this God-centered way,18600:11:33,460 –> 00:11:35,840it came to me in a fresh way,18700:11:35,979 –> 00:11:39,979what have we done to the gospel in our time?18800:11:43,780 –> 00:11:47,640Because if you turn on your television these days,18900:11:47,640 –> 00:11:51,280you will hear a very different message from some.19000:11:53,539 –> 00:11:55,580You will hear preachers who invite you19100:11:55,580 –> 00:11:58,820to come to Christ for three reasons.19200:12:00,260 –> 00:12:05,260Health, wealth, and a better life.19300:12:06,460 –> 00:12:08,280Who?19400:12:09,780 –> 00:12:10,719In other words,19500:12:10,719 –> 00:12:15,659we have moved in large parts to an alternative gospel.19600:12:17,099 –> 00:12:21,599A gospel that is geared to our unchanging self-interest,19700:12:22,979 –> 00:12:26,419in which a person is invited to make a commitment to Christ19800:12:26,419 –> 00:12:28,760that would amount to saying something like this,19900:12:28,760 –> 00:12:33,760I, Colin, do take you, Jesus, to be my savior.20000:12:34,539 –> 00:12:39,539For better, for richer, and for health.20100:12:43,059 –> 00:12:48,059And by the way, if you don’t deliver20200:12:48,580 –> 00:12:52,239on what I’m asking of you, I got a problem.20300:12:54,340 –> 00:12:57,179That’s not loving Christ, that is self-worship.20400:12:59,299 –> 00:13:01,520And a person who comes to Jesus on that basis20500:13:01,719 –> 00:13:04,400will abandon Jesus on that basis as quickly20600:13:04,400 –> 00:13:07,940and as surely as Judas did.20700:13:10,460 –> 00:13:13,960Now listen to biblical faith, Asaphs faith.20800:13:15,520 –> 00:13:19,419Earth has nothing I desire beside you.20900:13:24,159 –> 00:13:26,479You’re at the center of all things in heaven21000:13:28,340 –> 00:13:29,979and grasping that I now know how21100:13:29,979 –> 00:13:32,099to live in these short years that I have21200:13:32,099 –> 00:13:34,979before I enter into your presence.21300:13:34,979 –> 00:13:38,419You are to be the center of all things21400:13:38,419 –> 00:13:41,219in my life on earth whatever.21500:13:42,179 –> 00:13:43,539You’re listening to Open the Bible21600:13:43,539 –> 00:13:46,400with pastor Colin Smith and a message called, Believe.21700:13:46,400 –> 00:13:49,340Part of our series I almost gave up21800:13:49,340 –> 00:13:53,239based on the story of Asaph in Psalm 73.21900:13:53,239 –> 00:13:54,700If you ever miss one of our messages22000:13:54,700 –> 00:13:56,880I hope you’ll find the time to go back22100:13:56,880 –> 00:13:59,419and listen again online at our website22200:14:00,080 –> 00:14:02,099openthebible.org.uk22300:14:02,099 –> 00:14:03,979or you can find it as a podcast22400:14:03,979 –> 00:14:06,200and those are on all the main podcast sites.22500:14:06,200 –> 00:14:08,260Simply search for Open the Bible UK22600:14:08,260 –> 00:14:11,159or you can follow the link from our website.22700:14:11,159 –> 00:14:15,200Back to the message now, we’re in Psalm 73 here’s Colin.22800:14:16,419 –> 00:14:19,400God for you in heaven, God with you on earth,22900:14:19,400 –> 00:14:23,000God beside you at death.23000:14:24,039 –> 00:14:26,719My flesh and my heart may fail23100:14:27,599 –> 00:14:30,059but God is the strength of my heart23200:14:30,059 –> 00:14:32,200and my portion forever.23300:14:33,320 –> 00:14:36,080Now clearly this statement moves in the direction of death,23400:14:36,080 –> 00:14:38,260my flesh and my heart may fail,23500:14:38,260 –> 00:14:40,239that’s moving in the direction of death.23600:14:40,239 –> 00:14:44,020You may be talking about you know heart stopping experiences23700:14:44,020 –> 00:14:48,080of times when our heart fails us even through life,23800:14:48,080 –> 00:14:50,239times when we come to these great difficulties23900:14:50,239 –> 00:14:51,880like ASAP has been enduring24000:14:51,880 –> 00:14:54,400but he’s talking about the progression through life24100:14:54,679 –> 00:14:58,200that ultimately is going to come to the moment of our death24200:14:58,200 –> 00:15:00,400and he says well even there,24300:15:00,400 –> 00:15:03,119God is the strength of my heart24400:15:03,119 –> 00:15:05,960and is my portion forever.24500:15:07,200 –> 00:15:08,960The New Testament way of saying this24600:15:08,960 –> 00:15:10,760again comes from the Apostle Paul.24700:15:10,760 –> 00:15:12,280There are some fascinating parallels24800:15:12,280 –> 00:15:14,099that run right through this24900:15:14,099 –> 00:15:16,679and the New Testament way of saying the same thing25000:15:16,679 –> 00:15:19,520as verse 26 is Paul’s wonderful statement,25100:15:19,520 –> 00:15:22,200remember to me to live is Christ25200:15:23,119 –> 00:15:24,520and to die is gain.25300:15:24,520 –> 00:15:26,020That’s what Aesop was saying,25400:15:26,020 –> 00:15:28,280see even if my flesh and my heart fail,25500:15:28,280 –> 00:15:31,739even when I die it’s God who is the strength25600:15:31,739 –> 00:15:33,719of my heart and my portion forever.25700:15:33,719 –> 00:15:35,140What has been my life now25800:15:35,140 –> 00:15:37,080because there’s nothing on earth I desire beside You25900:15:37,080 –> 00:15:39,380will continue through death and into heaven itself26000:15:39,380 –> 00:15:40,880where He is exalted.26100:15:40,880 –> 00:15:44,359For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.26200:15:45,960 –> 00:15:48,640John Piper has made, I think the central point26300:15:48,640 –> 00:15:50,840of that verse or expressed the point of that verse26400:15:50,840 –> 00:15:55,840very well by saying this, that if living is Christ for you26500:15:58,020 –> 00:16:01,979then dying will be gain for you26600:16:01,979 –> 00:16:05,479because in dying you get more of Christ.26700:16:05,479 –> 00:16:06,780That’s it see.26800:16:06,780 –> 00:16:08,700For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.26900:16:08,700 –> 00:16:11,359If living is Christ for you,27000:16:11,359 –> 00:16:14,080then dying will be gain for you27100:16:14,080 –> 00:16:17,479because in dying you get more of Christ27200:16:17,479 –> 00:16:18,940right into his presence.27300:16:19,919 –> 00:16:23,179Think about that you see if you take Christ out27400:16:23,179 –> 00:16:26,840of that verse, you’ll soon see that any other way27500:16:26,840 –> 00:16:30,080of living ends with disaster.27600:16:31,020 –> 00:16:33,619See look at this text if we blank it out.27700:16:33,619 –> 00:16:38,619For me to live is blank, to die is blank.27800:16:40,580 –> 00:16:41,780Now fill in the blanks.27900:16:43,659 –> 00:16:45,200For me to live is career.28000:16:45,840 –> 00:16:47,440Well you see for me to live is career28100:16:47,440 –> 00:16:49,559than to die is disaster isn’t it?28200:16:49,559 –> 00:16:50,619Is all gone.28300:16:52,479 –> 00:16:55,840For me to live is family or friends28400:16:57,219 –> 00:16:59,820than to dies just loss because I’m taken away from them.28500:16:59,820 –> 00:17:02,280It’s all it is just loss, just loss.28600:17:05,319 –> 00:17:08,699For me to live is health, fitness.28700:17:10,079 –> 00:17:11,420That is for some of us.28800:17:12,500 –> 00:17:13,979Great shape.28900:17:15,959 –> 00:17:19,260Well to die is a total failure for you than isn’t it?29000:17:20,319 –> 00:17:21,880Ultimate failure.29100:17:23,800 –> 00:17:25,839And by the way it won’t just be at death29200:17:25,839 –> 00:17:27,020that you discover that.29300:17:29,000 –> 00:17:31,780If for you, to live is sex.29400:17:33,140 –> 00:17:35,239Expect a tough time as you get older.29500:17:35,239 –> 00:17:37,439You lose your appeal, you lose your vigor.29600:17:39,280 –> 00:17:40,699Some of us are living in ways29700:17:40,699 –> 00:17:43,819that are setting us up for disaster.29800:17:46,040 –> 00:17:48,800If for you, to live is family29900:17:50,280 –> 00:17:52,479the kids leaving home will destroy you.30000:17:54,520 –> 00:17:59,520If for you, to live is work, retirement will destroy you.30100:18:02,439 –> 00:18:07,439If for you, to live is pleasure, sickness will destroy you.30200:18:09,680 –> 00:18:14,680If for you, to live is Christ, nothing will destroy you.30300:18:15,319 –> 00:18:16,479If for you, to live is April,30400:18:16,479 –> 00:18:19,599the eyes will see pink from the winter휴30500:18:19,599 –> 00:18:21,439Even if for you, to live is death,30600:18:21,439 –> 00:18:23,540communism will destroy you.30700:18:25,199 –> 00:18:30,199For me, to live is Christ and even to die is gain,30800:18:31,400 –> 00:18:33,699I have no fear as I look at the future.30900:18:35,739 –> 00:18:38,119Paul was imprisoned when he wrote these words,31000:18:38,119 –> 00:18:39,920things had not worked out as he had hoped,31100:18:39,920 –> 00:18:41,079or he had expected.31200:18:41,079 –> 00:18:42,959But hey, I’m not preaching anymore,31300:18:43,280 –> 00:18:44,680it’s what my life is about.31400:18:46,599 –> 00:18:48,319My flesh and my heart may fail,31500:18:48,319 –> 00:18:50,439but God is the strength of my heart31600:18:50,439 –> 00:18:51,739and my portion forever,31700:18:51,739 –> 00:18:56,219this is the liberating power of a God-centered life.31800:18:57,660 –> 00:18:59,520That’s why in the book of Hebrews it tells us31900:18:59,520 –> 00:19:03,060that Jesus Christ came into the world for this reason.32000:19:03,979 –> 00:19:08,880Jesus came to free those who all their lives32100:19:08,880 –> 00:19:11,839were held in slavery by their fear of death.32200:19:13,699 –> 00:19:15,079And the way that that happens, you see,32300:19:15,079 –> 00:19:17,880is when we’re converted from self-life32400:19:19,040 –> 00:19:22,660to a life that is centered in Jesus Christ.32500:19:24,099 –> 00:19:25,760Well, here’s the fourth dimension.32600:19:25,760 –> 00:19:27,920This is real biblical faith we’re talking about here,32700:19:27,920 –> 00:19:28,760isn’t it?32800:19:29,819 –> 00:19:32,439And Asaph, who, no doubt, had known it for many years,32900:19:32,439 –> 00:19:33,979re-embraces it in a new way33000:19:33,979 –> 00:19:35,339because his feet had almost slipped.33100:19:35,339 –> 00:19:38,040He’d almost lost sight of what it really was, you see.33200:19:39,660 –> 00:19:41,540God in heaven for you, God on earth for you,33300:19:42,520 –> 00:19:44,219a death beside you.33400:19:46,459 –> 00:19:50,319Asaph’s God-centered faith, restored,33500:19:50,319 –> 00:19:55,239delivers him from the misery of his own self-centeredness33600:19:55,239 –> 00:19:58,319and it brings him through to the glorious freedom33700:19:58,319 –> 00:20:00,339of a God-centered life.33800:20:01,959 –> 00:20:02,800And you say, well,33900:20:02,800 –> 00:20:04,319how in all the world am I gonna get there?34000:20:04,319 –> 00:20:06,199Well, remember how Asaph got there.34100:20:06,199 –> 00:20:09,760It is grace that births God-centeredness.34200:20:13,479 –> 00:20:15,680That’s what happened to Asaph, this mature believer.34300:20:15,680 –> 00:20:17,099Everybody respected him.34400:20:17,099 –> 00:20:19,319He came to the point where his feet almost slipped,34500:20:19,319 –> 00:20:22,020he became bitter, he started living on impulse,34600:20:22,020 –> 00:20:24,160his heart ruled his head.34700:20:24,160 –> 00:20:27,640He comes into the presence of God34800:20:27,640 –> 00:20:29,959and he sees what’s been going wrong in his life.34900:20:29,959 –> 00:20:32,239He falls on his knees, he confesses his sin35000:20:32,239 –> 00:20:35,339and he experiences grace.35100:20:37,119 –> 00:20:39,920And somehow his soul is filled35200:20:39,920 –> 00:20:42,420with a fresh love for Jesus Christ.35300:20:44,540 –> 00:20:49,099I was a brute beast before you Lord.35400:20:49,099 –> 00:20:52,199Yet you hold me by my right hand.35500:20:53,280 –> 00:20:54,339That’s grace.35600:20:55,920 –> 00:20:58,219And his experience of grace35700:21:00,020 –> 00:21:01,880restores his faith.35800:21:04,339 –> 00:21:05,780Brings him to the point where he’s ready35900:21:05,780 –> 00:21:08,479to face the future in an entirely different way.36000:21:10,239 –> 00:21:11,719You know who has wonderful good news here.36100:21:11,719 –> 00:21:14,520This is the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.36200:21:15,900 –> 00:21:19,760He can use your worst sin36300:21:20,859 –> 00:21:25,380to give you a new appreciation of the wonder of his grace.36400:21:27,300 –> 00:21:28,800Some of us have been looking for a long time36500:21:28,800 –> 00:21:30,040about what we can do for God,36600:21:30,040 –> 00:21:32,920what we can do for God and suddenly we hit something36700:21:33,459 –> 00:21:37,219and we discover what he can do for us36800:21:38,780 –> 00:21:43,199and grace bursts God centeredness.36900:21:43,199 –> 00:21:48,199You know about that, truth, prayer, faith,37000:21:50,900 –> 00:21:52,439whom have I in heave but you37100:21:52,439 –> 00:21:55,000and earth has nothing I desire beside you.37200:21:56,339 –> 00:21:58,540My flesh and my heart may fail,37300:21:58,540 –> 00:22:01,040but God is the strength of my heart37400:22:02,239 –> 00:22:04,180and my portion forever.37500:22:05,380 –> 00:22:06,959That’s a lovely closing thought there37600:22:06,959 –> 00:22:08,719from Pastor Colin Smith on37700:22:08,719 –> 00:22:11,219how when we confront our own sin,37800:22:11,219 –> 00:22:13,319that leads us to a revelation37900:22:13,319 –> 00:22:16,459and appreciation of God’s grace.38000:22:16,459 –> 00:22:18,680Our message today was called Believe38100:22:18,680 –> 00:22:21,640and it’s part of our series I Almost Gave Up.38200:22:21,640 –> 00:22:23,319And if you’ve missed any of the series38300:22:23,319 –> 00:22:24,959or if you want to get back and listen again,38400:22:24,959 –> 00:22:28,040you can always do that by coming online to our website,38500:22:28,040 –> 00:22:30,520openthebible.org.uk38600:22:30,520 –> 00:22:32,099and there you’ll find all the messages38700:22:32,099 –> 00:22:33,979which have already been broadcast.38800:22:33,979 –> 00:22:36,020You’ll also find Pastor Colin’s messages38900:22:36,020 –> 00:22:38,540as a podcast on all the main podcast sites,39000:22:38,540 –> 00:22:41,719search for Open the Bible UK on the podcast site39100:22:41,719 –> 00:22:44,760or follow the link from our website.39200:22:44,760 –> 00:22:47,819Also available on our website and as a podcast39300:22:47,819 –> 00:22:49,900is Open the Bible Daily,39400:22:49,900 –> 00:22:52,819that’s a series of short two to three minutes39500:22:52,819 –> 00:22:56,180daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching39600:22:56,199 –> 00:22:59,719and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.39700:22:59,719 –> 00:23:02,859Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners.39800:23:02,859 –> 00:23:05,839It’s you that keep us online and on the air.39900:23:05,839 –> 00:23:08,680If that’s something you’re considering doing this month,40000:23:08,680 –> 00:23:10,920if you’re able to begin and you direct debit40100:23:10,920 –> 00:23:12,680to the work of Open the Bible40200:23:12,680 –> 00:23:15,319for five pounds per month or more40300:23:15,319 –> 00:23:18,219or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,40400:23:18,219 –> 00:23:19,540we’d love to say thank you40500:23:19,540 –> 00:23:22,560by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin Smith’s book40600:23:22,560 –> 00:23:24,219for all who grieve40700:23:24,260 –> 00:23:26,640along with five lovely greetings cards40800:23:26,640 –> 00:23:29,260with a verse from Psalm 23.40900:23:29,260 –> 00:23:31,020Colin, what is in this book41000:23:31,020 –> 00:23:33,140that you hope that someone who is grieving41100:23:33,140 –> 00:23:34,880will be able to take from it?41200:23:35,760 –> 00:23:39,020Well, I think when we experience loss in life,41300:23:39,020 –> 00:23:41,459we often feel that God is at a distance.41400:23:41,459 –> 00:23:43,140What does God know about this41500:23:43,140 –> 00:23:45,459and where is God in all of this?41600:23:45,459 –> 00:23:46,540And sometimes we feel41700:23:46,540 –> 00:23:49,800that he is very, very far away indeed.41800:23:49,800 –> 00:23:52,380But the thing that’s been most striking to me41900:23:52,380 –> 00:23:55,339in pondering the book of Lamentations42000:23:55,339 –> 00:23:57,739and the journey through grief42100:23:57,739 –> 00:24:01,319that we all at some time in our lives have to endure,42200:24:01,319 –> 00:24:02,920what’s been most striking to me42300:24:02,920 –> 00:24:06,219is that Jesus knows about the path of sorrows.42400:24:06,219 –> 00:24:09,199He’s described in the Bible as the man of sorrows42500:24:09,199 –> 00:24:12,380who is acquainted with grief.42600:24:12,380 –> 00:24:17,380So no one wants to walk on the path of sorrow and loss42700:24:17,579 –> 00:24:21,579but when you do, you’re walking at a place42800:24:21,579 –> 00:24:24,739where Jesus Christ himself can be found.42900:24:24,739 –> 00:24:26,579He walks sorrows’ path.43000:24:26,579 –> 00:24:28,939He’s very familiar with it.43100:24:28,939 –> 00:24:32,540And Steve, my greatest motivation in writing this book43200:24:32,540 –> 00:24:34,719is to try and help and encourage people43300:24:34,719 –> 00:24:37,180who are going through grief, sorrow, and loss43400:24:37,180 –> 00:24:39,719to find the company of Jesus Christ43500:24:39,719 –> 00:24:42,599as they walk this very difficult and painful path.43600:24:42,599 –> 00:24:46,380Sir Colin’s book, For All Who Grieve, is our gift to you43700:24:46,380 –> 00:24:48,780along with five lovely greetings cards43800:24:48,780 –> 00:24:51,000with a verse from Psalm 23.43900:24:51,000 –> 00:24:53,180When you set up a new, direct debit44000:24:53,180 –> 00:24:56,219to the work of Open the Bible for five pounds44100:24:56,219 –> 00:25:00,339per month or more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,44200:25:00,339 –> 00:25:02,819full terms and conditions on our website,44300:25:02,819 –> 00:25:07,420openthebible.org.uk and you can give online44400:25:07,420 –> 00:25:10,219for Open the Bible for pastor Colin Smith44500:25:10,219 –> 00:25:12,819and for myself, David Pick.44600:25:12,819 –> 00:25:15,140I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time.44700:25:15,939 –> 00:25:19,219Faith leads to commitment, not the other way around.44800:25:19,219 –> 00:25:21,780Find out why next time on Open the Bible.