100:00:00,320 –> 00:00:03,360Introduction200:00:03,360 –> 00:00:05,160Jesus says, no that’s not how it is.300:00:06,360 –> 00:00:11,860Actually Father, you’ve hidden these things from the wise and the understanding.400:00:11,860 –> 00:00:12,860Simply means this.500:00:12,920 –> 00:00:15,880The person who thinks they know it all they don’t know it at all.600:00:16,820 –> 00:00:20,860Intelligence gives enormous advantages in life.700:00:21,360 –> 00:00:24,860But it gives no advantage whatsoever when it comes to knowing God.800:00:25,219 –> 00:00:28,160Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith900:00:28,360 –> 00:00:30,320I’m David Pick and I’m glad you could be with us today.1000:00:30,820 –> 00:00:36,200And Colin, how remarkable that is that no matter how high or low our IQ,1100:00:36,240 –> 00:00:38,240our intelligence or our knowledge may be,1200:00:38,740 –> 00:00:41,240we can all know God.1300:00:41,240 –> 00:00:45,340Yes, and the reason that we can know God is not because of the amount of intelligence that we have,1400:00:45,340 –> 00:00:48,259but because he has made himself known.1500:00:48,279 –> 00:00:50,779And that is what we’re looking at in this marvellous verse,1600:00:51,180 –> 00:00:56,060in 1 Timothy, in Chapter 3, where we are told that he manifested himself.1700:00:56,139 –> 00:01:00,380That is, God has made himself known in Jesus,1800:01:00,540 –> 00:01:04,540and the reason he did this is that he wants you to know him.1900:01:04,540 –> 00:01:05,639He really does.2000:01:05,639 –> 00:01:09,000And today, we’re going to look at the next statement in this wonderful verse,2100:01:09,300 –> 00:01:14,160which is that he, that is Jesus, was vindicated by the Spirit.2200:01:14,160 –> 00:01:16,279Now that’s a reference to the resurrection.2300:01:16,680 –> 00:01:17,400He died.2400:01:17,779 –> 00:01:21,459But then the great proof that he is indeed the Son of God,2500:01:21,459 –> 00:01:27,220the irrefutable proof, was given by the Holy Spirit raising him from the dead.2600:01:27,220 –> 00:01:28,779And this is really good news2700:01:28,980 –> 00:01:34,860because what it means is that there is a living Saviour to whom you can come.2800:01:34,860 –> 00:01:40,059And the Christian message is not, hey, you’d better shape up and you’d better do better.2900:01:40,459 –> 00:01:44,339No, what God says to you today from the scriptures3000:01:44,339 –> 00:01:49,580is there is a living Saviour to whom you can come.3100:01:49,739 –> 00:01:53,459And knowing His presence and power in your life is going to make all of the difference!3200:01:53,459 –> 00:01:56,820Jesus said, I’m the vine, you’re the branches.3300:01:56,820 –> 00:01:59,419The life of Jesus can be in you.3400:01:59,540 –> 00:02:02,459That’s going to change who you are.3500:02:02,500 –> 00:02:06,779It’s going to change how you’re able to respond to difficulties that you face.3600:02:06,940 –> 00:02:10,179And guess what? It’s going to change your every destiny as well.3700:02:10,179 –> 00:02:13,460So, this is wonderful, good news that we’re looking at today3800:02:13,460 –> 00:02:16,220as we prepare ourselves for Christmas and rejoice3900:02:16,580 –> 00:02:20,059in all that it means for Jesus Christ to have come into the world.4000:02:20,100 –> 00:02:22,300We’re looking at these truths from God’s Word.4100:02:22,300 –> 00:02:24,820So I hope you can join us in your own Bible today4200:02:24,820 –> 00:02:28,220as we continue the message, Jesus Born and Risen.4300:02:28,220 –> 00:02:29,339Here’s Colin.4400:02:29,339 –> 00:02:33,660If a person is to come to know God two things must happen.4500:02:33,660 –> 00:02:36,339One is, that God must make Himself known,4600:02:36,339 –> 00:02:39,619which He has done in the sending of His Son into the world.4700:02:39,860 –> 00:02:43,899But second, we need God to give us the ability4800:02:43,899 –> 00:02:48,259to see what He has made known in Jesus.4900:02:49,419 –> 00:02:51,100Now that very important truth of course5000:02:51,100 –> 00:02:54,380is written all over the Christmas story.5100:02:55,259 –> 00:02:57,899how in the world5200:02:57,899 –> 00:03:00,259could shepherds out in the fields5300:03:00,259 –> 00:03:02,619keeping watch over their flocks by night,5400:03:02,619 –> 00:03:05,259how could they ever have known5500:03:05,259 –> 00:03:08,539that a baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem5600:03:08,539 –> 00:03:12,539was actually God manifested in the flesh.5700:03:12,539 –> 00:03:14,300There’s only one answer to that question.5800:03:14,300 –> 00:03:17,860How could they know God told them?5900:03:17,860 –> 00:03:20,179So in order for them to come to know,6000:03:20,179 –> 00:03:22,339not only that God would come into the world in Christ,6100:03:22,339 –> 00:03:25,179but that God would reveal what He had done in Jesus Christ6200:03:25,179 –> 00:03:27,460and that He did through the angels6300:03:27,460 –> 00:03:29,460who appeared to the shepherds who said,6400:03:29,460 –> 00:03:30,820do not be afraid,6500:03:30,820 –> 00:03:32,520I bring you good news of great joy6600:03:32,520 –> 00:03:33,779that will be for all people.6700:03:33,779 –> 00:03:36,699To you is born this day in the city of David,6800:03:36,720 –> 00:03:38,660a savior who is Christ the Lord.6900:03:38,660 –> 00:03:40,259This is gonna be assigned to you.7000:03:40,259 –> 00:03:42,979You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes7100:03:42,979 –> 00:03:44,339and lying in the manger.7200:03:44,339 –> 00:03:46,979And when the angels left the shepherd said,7300:03:46,979 –> 00:03:49,679let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing7400:03:49,679 –> 00:03:54,479that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.7500:03:57,259 –> 00:03:58,580The Lord hadn’t made it known to them,7600:03:58,580 –> 00:04:00,619they would have spent all night the next day7700:04:00,619 –> 00:04:03,020and the rest of their lives are on the hills, wouldn’t they?7800:04:03,020 –> 00:04:04,899They’d never have come to know Jesus.7900:04:05,880 –> 00:04:07,820But the Lord made it known to them8000:04:09,479 –> 00:04:10,779and that’s why they came.8100:04:12,399 –> 00:04:14,960And of course it was the same with the wise men.8200:04:16,119 –> 00:04:21,119How could these kings from remote lands possibly ever8300:04:21,459 –> 00:04:26,220have known where and when the savior was to be born?8400:04:26,220 –> 00:04:29,179The answer very simply is, God told them.8500:04:30,260 –> 00:04:33,179He sent a star to guide them.8600:04:33,579 –> 00:04:37,200It went, Matthew tells us, before them8700:04:37,200 –> 00:04:42,200until it came to rest over the place where the child was.8800:04:44,799 –> 00:04:47,380Now, these are not just features of the Christmas story.8900:04:47,380 –> 00:04:50,440This is a theme that runs right through the gospel9000:04:50,440 –> 00:04:53,179and applies directly to our own knowledge of God today9100:04:53,179 –> 00:04:54,959which is why it’s so important.9200:04:54,959 –> 00:04:57,320You see the same thing with Simon Peter.9300:04:58,279 –> 00:05:00,000You remember that after the disciples9400:05:00,000 –> 00:05:01,399had been following Jesus,9500:05:01,519 –> 00:05:03,440and remember from the incident with Phillip,9600:05:03,440 –> 00:05:05,600that not all of them are seeing clearly9700:05:05,600 –> 00:05:09,399that Jesus is indeed God in the flesh.9800:05:09,399 –> 00:05:11,760But there was an occasion at a place called9900:05:11,760 –> 00:05:16,160Caesarea Philippi where Jesus directly asked10000:05:16,160 –> 00:05:20,859the disciples, who do you say that I am?10100:05:21,839 –> 00:05:23,519And Peter stepped forward,10200:05:23,519 –> 00:05:26,320and in one of his great moments he said,10300:05:26,320 –> 00:05:30,579you are the Christ, the son of the living God,10400:05:32,059 –> 00:05:34,420and do you remember what Jesus said to him next?10500:05:35,720 –> 00:05:37,820Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah.10600:05:39,100 –> 00:05:42,200Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you10700:05:42,200 –> 00:05:45,940but my father who is in heaven.10800:05:48,200 –> 00:05:50,859Now friends, it’s the same for us.10900:05:50,859 –> 00:05:53,160How can you come to know God?11000:05:54,119 –> 00:05:55,299Two things must happen.11100:05:55,299 –> 00:05:59,399One, God makes himself known in Jesus,11200:05:59,399 –> 00:06:01,000that’s what we celebrate at Christmas,11300:06:01,399 –> 00:06:05,359second, God gives the ability to see11400:06:05,359 –> 00:06:08,760what he has made known in Jesus.11500:06:10,239 –> 00:06:13,100So here’s the problem that our world faces.11600:06:13,100 –> 00:06:14,720Paul puts it this way.11700:06:14,720 –> 00:06:19,720Our gospel is veiled to those who are perishing11800:06:21,619 –> 00:06:24,440and God comes into the world in Jesus Christ,11900:06:24,440 –> 00:06:27,600manifested in the flesh, unveiling his glory12000:06:27,660 –> 00:06:30,079to those who are failing,12100:06:30,079 –> 00:06:32,119but there’s a blindness in human nature12200:06:32,119 –> 00:06:33,799that can’t see the glory of God12300:06:33,799 –> 00:06:35,299even when it’s revealed?12400:06:37,040 –> 00:06:38,559And what’s the answer to that?12500:06:38,559 –> 00:06:40,420Well, the apostle Paul puts it this way12600:06:40,420 –> 00:06:42,600in second Corinthians chapter four and verse six.12700:06:42,600 –> 00:06:45,959God, who makes the light shine out of darkness12800:06:45,959 –> 00:06:47,859or into darkness says,12900:06:50,119 –> 00:06:53,320he makes his light shine into our hearts13000:06:54,160 –> 00:06:58,260to give us the light of the knowledge13100:06:58,260 –> 00:07:03,260of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.13200:07:05,040 –> 00:07:06,519That’s how a person becomes a Christian.13300:07:06,519 –> 00:07:09,799God shines a light into the heart13400:07:09,799 –> 00:07:14,200and you begin to see in Jesus what you never saw before.13500:07:16,000 –> 00:07:18,660And every Christian has a personal testimony to that.13600:07:19,600 –> 00:07:24,600Now, does that then mean that a person13700:07:25,260 –> 00:07:29,619who does not yet have a living relationship with God13800:07:29,619 –> 00:07:33,760needs to just sit around and wait13900:07:33,760 –> 00:07:36,040until God shines the light into their hearts.14000:07:36,040 –> 00:07:37,380Is that the implication?14100:07:37,380 –> 00:07:38,640No.14200:07:39,660 –> 00:07:41,140Listen to these words of Jesus.14300:07:41,140 –> 00:07:45,420They’re very important on how you can come to know14400:07:45,420 –> 00:07:47,799the truth of Jesus Christ,14500:07:47,799 –> 00:07:50,899how you can come to know God in Jesus Christ.14600:07:50,899 –> 00:07:55,420Matthew 11, verses 25 and 26, Jesus declared,14700:07:56,839 –> 00:08:00,420I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,14800:08:01,940 –> 00:08:06,140that you have hidden these things14900:08:07,679 –> 00:08:10,540from the wise and the understanding15000:08:10,600 –> 00:08:15,339and revealed them to little children.15100:08:17,179 –> 00:08:22,179Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.15200:08:24,980 –> 00:08:27,260Now, ponder these words with me for a moment15300:08:27,260 –> 00:08:28,820because they are telling us,15400:08:28,820 –> 00:08:30,619this is the Son of God telling us15500:08:30,619 –> 00:08:33,539how we can come to faith,15600:08:33,539 –> 00:08:38,500how we can know, how the light will come into our hearts.15700:08:39,500 –> 00:08:42,659First the negative, then the positive.15800:08:43,580 –> 00:08:44,539The negative is,15900:08:44,539 –> 00:08:49,039it is not a matter of intellectual ability.16000:08:51,099 –> 00:08:53,099You have hidden these things, hidden them16100:08:54,260 –> 00:08:57,059from the wise and from the understanding.16200:08:58,260 –> 00:09:02,460It is not a matter of intellectual ability.16300:09:02,460 –> 00:09:05,340Friends, that is the greatest good news16400:09:06,179 –> 00:09:11,500because we are all born with very different degrees16500:09:11,500 –> 00:09:14,000of intellectual ability.16600:09:15,119 –> 00:09:18,539And if knowing God was a matter of intelligence,16700:09:18,539 –> 00:09:20,780it would be downright unfair16800:09:21,619 –> 00:09:24,080because a few folks would have a huge advantage16900:09:24,080 –> 00:09:25,719over all the rest of us.17000:09:26,859 –> 00:09:29,099But Jesus says now that’s not how it is.17100:09:30,200 –> 00:09:33,859Actually, Father, you’ve hidden these things17200:09:33,940 –> 00:09:35,619from the wise and the understanding,17300:09:35,619 –> 00:09:36,739which simply means this,17400:09:36,739 –> 00:09:38,559the person who thinks they know it all,17500:09:38,559 –> 00:09:39,859they don’t know it at all.17600:09:40,900 –> 00:09:42,780You never come to a knowledge of the truth17700:09:42,780 –> 00:09:44,539by thinking that you know it all.17800:09:47,059 –> 00:09:51,520Intelligence gives enormous advantages in life17900:09:51,520 –> 00:09:53,640but it gives no advantage whatsoever18000:09:53,640 –> 00:09:55,260when it comes to knowing God.18100:09:56,799 –> 00:09:59,340Coming from a stable and a prosperous family18200:09:59,340 –> 00:10:01,820gives you enormous advantage in life18300:10:01,820 –> 00:10:05,200but it gives you no advantage whatsoever18400:10:05,200 –> 00:10:08,340when it comes to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.18500:10:08,340 –> 00:10:10,500here you are, brought up in a Christian home,18600:10:10,500 –> 00:10:12,140all of these advantages.18700:10:12,140 –> 00:10:13,380That gives you no advantage18800:10:13,380 –> 00:10:15,580when it comes to the knowledge of the truth.18900:10:16,500 –> 00:10:19,539The danger is that you might become stuck up and arrogant19000:10:20,460 –> 00:10:22,159and think you know it all.19100:10:22,940 –> 00:10:24,140And you know what,19200:10:24,140 –> 00:10:26,179the marvel and the mystery of Jesus Christ19300:10:26,179 –> 00:10:28,539will remain a mystery to you.19400:10:29,419 –> 00:10:30,580That’s a tragedy.19500:10:31,400 –> 00:10:32,239Tragedy!19600:10:33,460 –> 00:10:35,280You think you know it all,19700:10:38,099 –> 00:10:39,219but flip that round,19800:10:39,219 –> 00:10:43,739you may have drawn the most miserable combination possible19900:10:43,739 –> 00:10:45,000out of the gene pool.20000:10:48,820 –> 00:10:51,820You may have suffered every social, educational,20100:10:51,820 –> 00:10:54,780or economic disadvantage imaginable,20200:10:57,179 –> 00:10:59,659but when it comes to the greatest riches20300:10:59,919 –> 00:11:01,400is a person can ever know20400:11:02,859 –> 00:11:07,880the door of opportunity is wide open for you20500:11:09,239 –> 00:11:10,760on one condition.20600:11:12,340 –> 00:11:13,400And what is that?20700:11:13,400 –> 00:11:14,799Please if we can just show that verse20800:11:14,799 –> 00:11:17,119one more time at this point.20900:11:17,119 –> 00:11:22,119You need to come to God as a little child.21000:11:25,719 –> 00:11:27,599You have hidden these things21100:11:27,659 –> 00:11:30,200from the wise and understanding21200:11:30,200 –> 00:11:32,359and revealed them to who?21300:11:32,359 –> 00:11:33,599Little children.21400:11:35,739 –> 00:11:39,260That means that you need to humble yourself21500:11:39,260 –> 00:11:41,359today before God.21600:11:43,619 –> 00:11:46,000That means that if you ever want to know21700:11:46,000 –> 00:11:48,280the greatest truth, the greatest mystery21800:11:48,280 –> 00:11:50,260that has ever happened in the history of the world21900:11:50,260 –> 00:11:51,539if you want to come to know God22000:11:51,539 –> 00:11:53,719if you want to come to know what He has done22100:11:53,719 –> 00:11:56,400in Jesus Christ and who He is for you22200:11:56,400 –> 00:11:58,179you’ve got to come with a humility22300:11:58,179 –> 00:12:00,479that says Lord, I need you to teach me.22400:12:02,719 –> 00:12:04,840I don’t have this in and of myself.22500:12:06,419 –> 00:12:07,320How could I?22600:12:08,700 –> 00:12:09,659Humility.22700:12:11,159 –> 00:12:12,739Dependence.22800:12:13,919 –> 00:12:15,039Trust.22900:12:16,440 –> 00:12:17,440Love.23000:12:19,200 –> 00:12:21,739Before an open Bible,23100:12:23,200 –> 00:12:26,080Lord, teach me.23200:12:27,280 –> 00:12:28,280God loves you.23300:12:30,400 –> 00:12:32,159God blesses you.23400:12:35,119 –> 00:12:37,159And Jesus says, this is how the light23500:12:37,159 –> 00:12:39,400comes into a heart, that God is for you.23600:12:39,400 –> 00:12:42,159God wants you to come to a knowledge of the truth.23700:12:42,159 –> 00:12:44,840Light will come to you as you come before Him23800:12:44,840 –> 00:12:46,880with a humble spirit23900:12:46,880 –> 00:12:49,679seeking to know what He has revealed in the Scripture24000:12:49,679 –> 00:12:52,799with regards to His son, Jesus Christ.24100:12:53,119 –> 00:12:56,239In a beautiful song that we know as The Magnificat,24200:12:57,239 –> 00:12:59,159Luke Chapter 1 and Verse 51,24300:13:00,080 –> 00:13:02,599Mary uttered these marvellous words.24400:13:04,799 –> 00:13:07,520God has scattered the proud24500:13:07,520 –> 00:13:10,200in the thoughts of their hearts,24600:13:10,200 –> 00:13:13,440but He has exalted those of humblest state.24700:13:13,440 –> 00:13:17,239Scatters the proud, exalts the humble.24800:13:17,239 –> 00:13:19,280You got nothing going for you,24900:13:19,280 –> 00:13:21,400you’ve got the greatest door of opportunity25000:13:21,520 –> 00:13:22,359in front of you.25100:13:22,359 –> 00:13:25,080If you will come as a little child and if you will come25200:13:25,080 –> 00:13:27,919in a humble, teachable spirit and allow God himself25300:13:27,919 –> 00:13:29,359to teach you through his word.25400:13:31,359 –> 00:13:32,320And then she says,25500:13:32,320 –> 00:13:35,719he has filled the hungry with good things,25600:13:35,719 –> 00:13:38,400but the rich, he has sent away empty.25700:13:38,400 –> 00:13:40,320In other words, if you think you’ve already got it all,25800:13:40,320 –> 00:13:42,599if you think your life’s just full and fine as it is,25900:13:42,599 –> 00:13:45,020you go away absolutely empty and you never come to know26000:13:45,020 –> 00:13:46,799what God has done in Jesus Christ.26100:13:46,799 –> 00:13:49,159But if you have a great hunger and thirst in your soul,26200:13:49,159 –> 00:13:50,119God will feed you.26300:13:52,239 –> 00:13:56,739Paul had every privilege imaginable in life.26400:13:57,840 –> 00:13:59,760Privileges that came from his race,26500:13:59,760 –> 00:14:02,159his education, his family and his career.26600:14:03,679 –> 00:14:06,780And at one point in Philippians three, he says,26700:14:06,780 –> 00:14:09,200I realize now that in the big picture of things,26800:14:09,200 –> 00:14:11,719all of that counted for nothing in comparison26900:14:11,719 –> 00:14:16,000with a surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ,27000:14:16,000 –> 00:14:17,159my Lord.27100:14:18,299 –> 00:14:21,260He was manifested in the flesh.27200:14:22,119 –> 00:14:25,719We’ve been hearing how Jesus was manifested in the flesh,27300:14:25,719 –> 00:14:27,799but how do we know that?27400:14:27,799 –> 00:14:30,599We’ll come back to find out in just a moment.27500:14:30,599 –> 00:14:32,359You’ve been listening to Open The Bible27600:14:32,359 –> 00:14:33,840with Pastor Colin Smith27700:14:33,840 –> 00:14:37,000and a message called Jesus Born and Risen.27800:14:37,000 –> 00:14:40,000It’s from our series simply called Jesus.27900:14:40,000 –> 00:14:42,159And if you’ve missed any of the series so far,28000:14:42,159 –> 00:14:44,000or if you want to go back and listen again,28100:14:44,000 –> 00:14:45,440don’t forget you can always do that28200:14:45,440 –> 00:14:49,840by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk.28300:14:49,900 –> 00:14:51,380And there you’ll find all the messages28400:14:51,380 –> 00:14:53,340which have already gone out on air.28500:14:53,340 –> 00:14:55,659You can also find us as a podcast,28600:14:55,659 –> 00:14:58,419and those are on all the main podcast sites28700:14:58,419 –> 00:15:00,880by searching for Open The Bible UK28800:15:00,880 –> 00:15:03,900and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.28900:15:03,900 –> 00:15:07,299There’s also a link to the podcast on our website.29000:15:07,299 –> 00:15:10,380Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners.29100:15:10,380 –> 00:15:12,400That’s how we manage to stay on the air29200:15:12,400 –> 00:15:13,580and on the internet.29300:15:13,580 –> 00:15:16,099And if that’s something you’re considering doing,29400:15:16,099 –> 00:15:19,099this month, if you’re able to begin a new direct debit29500:15:19,219 –> 00:15:20,619to the work of open the Bible29600:15:20,619 –> 00:15:23,440in the amount of five pounds per month or more,29700:15:23,440 –> 00:15:26,619or one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,29800:15:26,619 –> 00:15:29,179we’d love to thank you by sending you three copies29900:15:29,179 –> 00:15:30,700of the gospel of John.30000:15:30,700 –> 00:15:32,859Back to the message now, here’s Colin.30100:15:33,820 –> 00:15:37,979Now, how do we know that he was manifested in the flesh?30200:15:37,979 –> 00:15:42,940How do we know that Jesus really is God with us?30300:15:42,940 –> 00:15:44,359Well, we know it in this way,30400:15:44,359 –> 00:15:48,760that he was vindicated by the spirit.30500:15:48,760 –> 00:15:51,880Vindicated by the spirit.30600:15:51,880 –> 00:15:55,580And supremely, of course, Jesus is vindicated by the spirit30700:15:55,580 –> 00:15:59,080through his resurrection from the dead.30800:15:59,080 –> 00:16:02,520And the resurrection of Jesus also is a mystery,30900:16:02,520 –> 00:16:06,080a secret that God has revealed though its full wonder31000:16:06,080 –> 00:16:08,000is still to be made known.31100:16:08,000 –> 00:16:10,799And again, the father, the son and the Holy Spirit31200:16:10,799 –> 00:16:12,880were all actively involved31300:16:12,880 –> 00:16:15,039in the miracle of the resurrection.31400:16:15,039 –> 00:16:17,400It was at the initiative of the father.31500:16:17,419 –> 00:16:20,239The father, Paul says in Galatians 1, 1,31600:16:20,239 –> 00:16:23,200raised him from the dead.31700:16:23,200 –> 00:16:26,380And yet it was through the agency of the Holy Spirit,31800:16:26,380 –> 00:16:29,8201 Peter 3, and verse 18 and several other places,31900:16:29,820 –> 00:16:31,880he was put to death in the flesh32000:16:31,880 –> 00:16:35,140and he was made alive in the spirit.32100:16:35,140 –> 00:16:38,719And yet it was also the work of God the Son himself32200:16:38,719 –> 00:16:41,080because he says in John chapter 10,32300:16:41,080 –> 00:16:44,219I lay down my life and I take it up again.32400:16:44,219 –> 00:16:46,119I have authority to lay it down.32500:16:46,119 –> 00:16:47,739I have authority to take it up.32600:16:47,739 –> 00:16:49,820No one takes my life from me.32700:16:51,380 –> 00:16:53,299And just as in the incarnation,32800:16:53,299 –> 00:16:55,219there are two things that must happen32900:16:55,219 –> 00:16:58,140in order for us to know this wonderful truth.33000:16:58,140 –> 00:17:00,419Not only that Christ should be raised from the dead,33100:17:00,419 –> 00:17:02,780but that God should make it known.33200:17:02,780 –> 00:17:04,619How did the women who went to the tomb33300:17:05,819 –> 00:17:08,420know that Jesus was risen from the dead?33400:17:09,979 –> 00:17:12,180Well the answer is God told them.33500:17:12,180 –> 00:17:13,099God told them.33600:17:14,339 –> 00:17:15,900So we’re surrounded by a kind of idea33700:17:15,979 –> 00:17:17,219that people keep coming up with,33800:17:17,219 –> 00:17:19,319oh, this was just the apostles’ way of coming up with,33900:17:19,319 –> 00:17:21,859you know, this is how we can have a power base,34000:17:21,859 –> 00:17:23,780and so they developed this story.34100:17:23,780 –> 00:17:25,500No, it would never have entered their head34200:17:25,500 –> 00:17:26,859if God had not told them.34300:17:27,900 –> 00:17:28,739He is not here.34400:17:30,479 –> 00:17:31,439He is risen.34500:17:33,839 –> 00:17:36,280Now let me end on this point, just very briefly.34600:17:36,280 –> 00:17:38,359How does this help us to be godly?34700:17:38,359 –> 00:17:42,500Do you see how great is the love of God for you?34800:17:42,800 –> 00:17:47,800And do you see how a new and different life is possible?34900:17:48,420 –> 00:17:51,599The more you see the greatness of Jesus Christ35000:17:51,599 –> 00:17:53,920and the mystery and the wonder of who He is35100:17:53,920 –> 00:17:57,099manifested in the flesh and vindicated by the Spirit,35200:17:57,099 –> 00:17:59,640the more deeply you are going to have confidence35300:17:59,640 –> 00:18:04,439that you can, in fact, change and grow into His likeness35400:18:04,439 –> 00:18:07,300inasmuch as He lives in you.35500:18:07,300 –> 00:18:09,000He lives in you.35600:18:10,199 –> 00:18:11,699And I want us to remember this,35700:18:12,079 –> 00:18:13,959especially from this morning,35800:18:13,959 –> 00:18:16,699that you will be helped in your pursuit of godliness35900:18:16,699 –> 00:18:19,199from the knowledge that the Saviour God36000:18:19,199 –> 00:18:22,719manifested in the flesh, He really does know you.36100:18:22,719 –> 00:18:26,619When you’re tempted, Jesus can say, I’ve been there.36200:18:26,619 –> 00:18:31,619When you grieve, Jesus can say, I’ve been there, too.36300:18:33,239 –> 00:18:38,119If you have conflict in your family, Jesus has been there.36400:18:39,060 –> 00:18:43,599And if you are lonely, Jesus has been there, too.36500:18:43,599 –> 00:18:45,839He knows life in the flesh.36600:18:46,920 –> 00:18:49,339If you’ve been let down by a trusted friend,36700:18:49,339 –> 00:18:50,819Jesus has been there.36800:18:50,819 –> 00:18:53,199If you feel overwhelmed by the pressure36900:18:53,199 –> 00:18:55,040of what God is calling you to do,37000:18:55,040 –> 00:18:56,800well, Jesus has been there, too.37100:18:58,680 –> 00:19:03,160If you have been abused, Jesus has been there.37200:19:04,800 –> 00:19:07,359If you should find yourself in great darkness37300:19:07,439 –> 00:19:10,280and lose all sense of the love of God37400:19:11,199 –> 00:19:13,000and find yourself crying out,37500:19:13,000 –> 00:19:15,079why?37600:19:15,079 –> 00:19:17,000Jesus has been there, too.37700:19:18,239 –> 00:19:20,859He knows the reality of life in the flesh37800:19:20,859 –> 00:19:24,140and therefore this is a savior to whom you can come.37900:19:25,319 –> 00:19:27,119He’s been tested in every way as we are.38000:19:27,119 –> 00:19:29,680Yet without sin, therefore with confidence,38100:19:29,680 –> 00:19:31,900let us come to his throne of grace38200:19:31,900 –> 00:19:34,619and receive from him the mercy we need38300:19:34,640 –> 00:19:37,900to help us in our time of need38400:19:39,160 –> 00:19:40,599then I want you to remember this,38500:19:40,599 –> 00:19:41,959that your savior lives38600:19:42,880 –> 00:19:44,160at the very heart of our faith38700:19:44,160 –> 00:19:47,640is not simply remembering a Jesus from long ago38800:19:47,640 –> 00:19:50,520but living in the power of a resurrected Jesus38900:19:50,520 –> 00:19:53,000who truly is God with us,39000:19:53,000 –> 00:19:56,560God at work in us by the power and presence39100:19:56,560 –> 00:19:58,599of his Holy Spirit.39200:19:58,599 –> 00:20:02,599Nothing could be more futile39300:20:02,599 –> 00:20:04,560than to put your trust39400:20:04,800 –> 00:20:06,459in a bogus savior39500:20:07,500 –> 00:20:11,819but Jesus Christ has been vindicated by the Holy Spirit,39600:20:11,819 –> 00:20:14,140he rose from the dead on the third day39700:20:14,140 –> 00:20:19,140and he says because I live, you will live also.39800:20:22,099 –> 00:20:25,640I end with this, the Bible tells us a story39900:20:25,640 –> 00:20:29,939about a very godly man who was tested.40000:20:30,939 –> 00:20:34,699He suffered the loss of what he enjoyed40100:20:34,699 –> 00:20:37,459and of the people that he loved.40200:20:39,900 –> 00:20:43,500And the one remaining person in his life that he loved,40300:20:43,500 –> 00:20:47,780his wife, gave up on God40400:20:49,760 –> 00:20:51,380and she said to him,40500:20:51,380 –> 00:20:54,400”Job, why don’t you curse God and die?’40600:20:55,979 –> 00:20:57,540In other words, she took the view40700:20:57,560 –> 00:21:00,339that since God had taken away the people he loved40800:21:00,339 –> 00:21:02,060and taken away the things that he enjoyed,40900:21:02,060 –> 00:21:04,060what was the point in being godly?’41000:21:05,819 –> 00:21:06,699And Job said this,41100:21:08,800 –> 00:21:11,619”I know that my Redeemer lives41200:21:12,839 –> 00:21:16,239and at the last, he will stand upon the earth.41300:21:17,420 –> 00:21:20,260And after my skin has thus been destroyed,41400:21:20,260 –> 00:21:24,839yet in my flesh, I will see God.”41500:21:25,020 –> 00:21:27,280And Rehashim said,41600:21:28,739 –> 00:21:30,000”Your savior knows41700:21:31,420 –> 00:21:34,359and your savior lives.41800:21:34,359 –> 00:21:36,459He is God manifested in the flesh.41900:21:36,459 –> 00:21:38,420He was vindicated by the Spirit42000:21:38,420 –> 00:21:41,699and one day your faith42100:21:41,699 –> 00:21:44,660in him will be vindicated, too.”42200:21:45,719 –> 00:21:49,479That’s a message of hope for all those who know Jesus.42300:21:49,479 –> 00:21:50,760But perhaps as you listen,42400:21:50,760 –> 00:21:52,800you realize that you don’t know Jesus42500:21:53,079 –> 00:21:55,020as Pastor Colin often talks about.42600:21:55,020 –> 00:21:56,680If that’s your experience,42700:21:56,680 –> 00:21:59,479why don’t you reach out to a trusted Christian friend42800:21:59,479 –> 00:22:02,079or family member and talk to them42900:22:02,079 –> 00:22:04,699about what it means to become a Christian43000:22:04,699 –> 00:22:07,760or make your way to a local Christian fellowship,43100:22:07,760 –> 00:22:10,880speak to the pastor there or any of the congregation.43200:22:10,880 –> 00:22:12,060They’ll be happy to talk to you43300:22:12,060 –> 00:22:15,800about their experience of knowing Jesus day-to-day.43400:22:15,800 –> 00:22:17,979If you have questions about the Christian faith,43500:22:17,979 –> 00:22:21,680a great way of getting answers is to join an alpha program.43600:22:21,680 –> 00:22:24,319Many churches run these programs throughout the year43700:22:24,319 –> 00:22:26,140and the program is a great way43800:22:26,140 –> 00:22:28,760to answer all those questions.43900:22:28,760 –> 00:22:30,239You’ve been listening to Open The Bible44000:22:30,239 –> 00:22:32,079with Pastor Colin Smith44100:22:32,079 –> 00:22:35,260and the message called Jesus Born and Risen44200:22:35,260 –> 00:22:38,439and is part of our series just simply called Jesus.44300:22:38,439 –> 00:22:40,180And if you’ve missed any of the series44400:22:40,180 –> 00:22:42,579or you might want to go back and listen again,44500:22:42,579 –> 00:22:45,579you can do that by coming online to our website,44600:22:45,579 –> 00:22:48,000OpenTheBible.org.uk44700:22:48,000 –> 00:22:51,520or find us as a podcast on your regular podcast site.44800:22:51,579 –> 00:22:53,280Search for Open The Bible UK44900:22:53,280 –> 00:22:56,959and subscribe to receive regular updates.45000:22:56,959 –> 00:22:59,180Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners,45100:22:59,180 –> 00:23:01,099that’s people just like you,45200:23:01,099 –> 00:23:03,859and if that’s something you’re considering doing in the future,45300:23:03,859 –> 00:23:06,900why not set up a new direct debit this month45400:23:06,900 –> 00:23:09,760in the amount of five pounds per month or more45500:23:09,760 –> 00:23:12,479or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more.45600:23:12,479 –> 00:23:14,959In return, we’d love to say thank you45700:23:14,959 –> 00:23:18,300by sending you three copies of the Gospel of John.45800:23:18,300 –> 00:23:20,500That’s obviously so you can give copies away45900:23:20,579 –> 00:23:23,219to your friends and family and maybe even sit down46000:23:23,219 –> 00:23:24,560and read it with them.46100:23:24,560 –> 00:23:27,199But Colin, why John’s Gospel?46200:23:27,199 –> 00:23:28,459Well, you know, surveys tell us46300:23:28,459 –> 00:23:32,540that two out of three people are interested in the Bible.46400:23:32,540 –> 00:23:36,099I find that a wonderfully encouraging statistic.46500:23:36,099 –> 00:23:39,560Two out of every three people that I know and you know46600:23:39,560 –> 00:23:41,579express that they have some interest,46700:23:41,579 –> 00:23:45,719some curiosity in knowing more about the Bible.46800:23:45,719 –> 00:23:47,619Well, what if you were the person46900:23:47,619 –> 00:23:50,000to introduce a friend of yours47000:23:50,020 –> 00:23:51,640to the Word of God?47100:23:51,640 –> 00:23:54,680Here’s an opportunity for you to invite a friend47200:23:54,680 –> 00:23:56,599to read through John’s Gospel47300:23:56,599 –> 00:23:59,560and more than that, to read through it with you.47400:23:59,560 –> 00:24:01,040Let me encourage you.47500:24:01,040 –> 00:24:03,319Why not give a copy of John’s Gospel47600:24:03,319 –> 00:24:05,560to someone you know who needs to know47700:24:05,560 –> 00:24:06,560the God of the Bible,47800:24:06,560 –> 00:24:08,640and then offer just to read it through with them,47900:24:08,640 –> 00:24:10,239you know, read a chapter at a time,48000:24:10,239 –> 00:24:12,959talk about it, either in person or over the phone48100:24:12,959 –> 00:24:14,760or even by text or whatever,48200:24:14,760 –> 00:24:18,119but get a conversation going around the Word of God.48300:24:18,119 –> 00:24:20,660If you get the living seed of the Word of God48400:24:20,660 –> 00:24:22,640dropped into a person’s life,48500:24:22,640 –> 00:24:25,459you can look with hope and expectation48600:24:25,459 –> 00:24:27,479at what God may do as a result.48700:24:27,479 –> 00:24:30,040Well, we want to help you to get that living seed48800:24:30,040 –> 00:24:32,119of the Word of God into your life48900:24:32,119 –> 00:24:33,959and into the lives of those you give49000:24:33,959 –> 00:24:36,199a copy of John’s Gospel to.49100:24:36,199 –> 00:24:38,260Three copies of John’s Gospel49200:24:38,260 –> 00:24:40,859is our gift to you, if you’re able to set up49300:24:40,859 –> 00:24:43,800a new direct debit of five pounds per month49400:24:43,800 –> 00:24:47,160or more, or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more49500:24:47,160 –> 00:24:51,140this month to support the work of Open the Bible.49600:24:51,140 –> 00:24:53,400Information and full terms and conditions49700:24:53,400 –> 00:24:55,619about this offer are on our website49800:24:55,619 –> 00:24:58,339that’s open thebible.org.uk.49900:24:59,420 –> 00:25:01,959For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50000:25:01,959 –> 00:25:04,380I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again50100:25:04,380 –> 00:25:06,260next time on Open the Bible.50200:25:12,859 –> 00:25:16,319What are angels and what do they do?50300:25:16,319 –> 00:25:19,000Find out next time on Open the Bible.