100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,200Faith is never the fruit of commitment. It is always the gift of God.200:00:10,200 –> 00:00:16,940That’s Ephesians 2 in verse 8. Faith is a gift that comes down.300:00:16,940 –> 00:00:21,320It is never an effort that is worked up.400:00:21,320 –> 00:00:24,180Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.500:00:24,180 –> 00:00:26,700I’m David Pick and I’m glad you could be with us today.600:00:27,320 –> 00:00:32,919Colin, we continue our series about Asaph, a worship leader who struggled in his faith,700:00:32,919 –> 00:00:35,860and it’s great to see how God turned him around.800:00:35,860 –> 00:00:40,599We’re comparing it to a five-point turn, which Drivers will know all about.900:00:40,599 –> 00:00:45,279First he had to stop, then think, then confess and then believe,1000:00:45,279 –> 00:00:48,020and today we’ll see how he has to commit.1100:00:48,020 –> 00:00:54,320Isn’t it interesting that commit is the last in these steps God turns Asaph around?1200:00:54,320 –> 00:00:56,560If I went to someone looking for help and I said,1300:00:56,599 –> 00:01:00,400now I’m absolutely exhausted. I’m at the point of despair.1400:01:00,400 –> 00:01:02,520I don’t see any point in carrying on.1500:01:02,520 –> 00:01:05,860That person said to me, you know what, Colin, you need to try harder.1600:01:05,860 –> 00:01:07,279You just need to commit.1700:01:07,279 –> 00:01:12,220How wonderful that is not how God responds to Asaph,1800:01:12,220 –> 00:01:15,459when he’s feeling like he’s at the end of the line.1900:01:15,459 –> 00:01:20,639God very, very gently brings him back to truth,2000:01:20,639 –> 00:01:23,800brings him to a place where faith is established,2100:01:23,919 –> 00:01:26,760gets him off what he’s seeing in himself2200:01:26,760 –> 00:01:30,599and onto all that he’s able to see by faith in God.2300:01:30,599 –> 00:01:33,800And on that basis, he’s able to commit and step forward.2400:01:33,800 –> 00:01:36,239Now the orator is very, very important2500:01:36,239 –> 00:01:40,540and I hope that that will be a great blessing and encouragement to many today.2600:01:40,540 –> 00:01:42,779So we’ll find out in Psalm 73.2700:01:42,779 –> 00:01:46,599So, I hope you will join us, if you can, as we begin the message Commit.2800:01:46,599 –> 00:01:47,580Here’s Colin.2900:01:48,019 –> 00:01:52,860Today is the last in a series of five messages from this psalm3000:01:52,860 –> 00:01:56,300that tells us the story of Asaph, a mature believer3100:01:56,300 –> 00:01:59,820who at one point in his life faced such discouragement3200:01:59,820 –> 00:02:04,059that he tells us frankly, he almost gave up.3300:02:04,059 –> 00:02:06,800And I’d like to read through the psalm,3400:02:06,800 –> 00:02:10,419picking up what we’ve learned over this last month together3500:02:10,419 –> 00:02:12,960so that we can understand the flow3600:02:12,960 –> 00:02:15,660of this testimony into the ending,3700:02:15,699 –> 00:02:18,779which is our particular focus today.3800:02:18,779 –> 00:02:22,479So if you have your Bible open at Psalm 73,3900:02:22,479 –> 00:02:25,020that would be helpful as we review together4000:02:25,020 –> 00:02:26,479what we have learned.4100:02:28,119 –> 00:02:29,740And Asaph tells us at the beginning4200:02:29,740 –> 00:02:31,779what he had always believed, verse one,4300:02:31,779 –> 00:02:36,779surely God is good to Israel to those who are pure in heart.4400:02:36,960 –> 00:02:39,419But he tells us that there came a time, verse two,4500:02:39,419 –> 00:02:42,740where as for me, my feet had almost slipped,4600:02:42,779 –> 00:02:46,600I nearly lost my foothold.4700:02:46,600 –> 00:02:49,020The reason for this problem, he sets out clearly4800:02:49,020 –> 00:02:50,580in verse three.4900:02:50,580 –> 00:02:52,800The reason was I envied the arrogant5000:02:52,800 –> 00:02:56,259when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.5100:02:56,259 –> 00:02:58,460And he goes on, they have no struggles.5200:02:58,460 –> 00:03:00,020Their bodies are healthy and strong.5300:03:00,020 –> 00:03:02,300They’re free from the burdens common to man.5400:03:02,300 –> 00:03:04,320They are not plagued by human ills.5500:03:04,320 –> 00:03:06,179Therefore, pride is their necklace.5600:03:06,179 –> 00:03:08,479They clothe themselves with violence.5700:03:08,479 –> 00:03:11,440From that calloused hearts comes inequity.5800:03:11,460 –> 00:03:14,419The evil conceits of their mind knows no limit,5900:03:14,419 –> 00:03:15,979and you sense his frustration.6000:03:15,979 –> 00:03:17,479You see, here’s the problem,6100:03:17,479 –> 00:03:21,240God lets them get away with it, makes no sense.6200:03:22,279 –> 00:03:25,619Verse 12, this is what the wicked are like,6300:03:25,619 –> 00:03:29,860always carefree they increase in wealth.6400:03:30,899 –> 00:03:33,800So as Asaph looks at the way in which God rules the world,6500:03:33,800 –> 00:03:35,020it makes no sense to him.6600:03:35,020 –> 00:03:39,419Things just don’t seem to be ordered in a way that adds up.6700:03:40,419 –> 00:03:43,139And then, as we saw, when he looked at his own life,6800:03:43,139 –> 00:03:45,220it didn’t make much sense either.6900:03:45,220 –> 00:03:48,940Verse 14, all day long one I have been plagued,7000:03:48,940 –> 00:03:51,380I have been punished every morning.7100:03:52,460 –> 00:03:55,979Look at my own life here, I’m trying to honor the Lord,7200:03:55,979 –> 00:03:57,699I’m trying to pursue godliness,7300:03:58,619 –> 00:04:02,520and look at the way things are, it makes no sense.7400:04:04,020 –> 00:04:07,619And so he’s fast coming to the conclusion in verse 137500:04:07,679 –> 00:04:09,039that there really isn’t any point7600:04:09,039 –> 00:04:10,759in pursuing a godly life at all.7700:04:10,759 –> 00:04:14,020Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure.7800:04:14,020 –> 00:04:17,980In vain I washed my hands in innocence.7900:04:17,980 –> 00:04:20,059In vain, you see, what was the point?8000:04:20,059 –> 00:04:21,059What was the point?8100:04:22,859 –> 00:04:24,299Now the first thing that we’ve learned then8200:04:24,299 –> 00:04:28,059from this series is that even the strongest believer,8300:04:28,059 –> 00:04:30,640because remember Acef was a mature believer,8400:04:30,640 –> 00:04:31,720a man in ministry.8500:04:32,619 –> 00:04:34,720Even the strongest believer can come8600:04:34,720 –> 00:04:36,500to an experience like this.8700:04:36,500 –> 00:04:41,239My feet had almost slipped and the good news8800:04:41,239 –> 00:04:43,579is that when that happens to you,8900:04:43,579 –> 00:04:48,579God knows how to bring you through an Acef experience.9000:04:49,899 –> 00:04:51,119And we’ve been seeing the pattern9100:04:51,119 –> 00:04:54,480that God brought this man through a five-point turn9200:04:55,660 –> 00:04:59,299and that Acef’s five-point turn is really a pattern9300:04:59,299 –> 00:05:01,859of what God will do in your life and in mine9400:05:01,859 –> 00:05:05,399in times of discouragement when we feel like giving up.9500:05:05,440 –> 00:05:06,559And to review what we’ve learned,9600:05:06,559 –> 00:05:08,820to seal it into our minds on this last Sunday9700:05:08,820 –> 00:05:12,720in this series, we saw the first Acef had to stop,9800:05:12,720 –> 00:05:15,839his recovery began not with the answering9900:05:15,839 –> 00:05:17,679of all his unresolved questions,10000:05:17,679 –> 00:05:22,239but with a decision of loyalty to God and to his people.10100:05:22,239 –> 00:05:25,440His mind was going off in all the wrong directions10200:05:25,440 –> 00:05:27,320and he had to bring that to a halt.10300:05:27,320 –> 00:05:28,160Stop.10400:05:28,160 –> 00:05:31,140If I had said, verse 15, I will speak thus,10500:05:31,140 –> 00:05:34,279I would have betrayed your children.10600:05:35,179 –> 00:05:37,320Then secondly, he had to think.10700:05:38,320 –> 00:05:41,100He couldn’t make sense of his problems thinking on his own,10800:05:41,100 –> 00:05:43,040that’s verse 16.10900:05:43,040 –> 00:05:47,059When I tried to understand this, it was oppressive to me,11000:05:47,940 –> 00:05:49,420but the turn around came when he went11100:05:49,420 –> 00:05:52,440into the presence of God, verse 17,11200:05:52,440 –> 00:05:55,200I entered the sanctuary of God.11300:05:55,200 –> 00:05:57,160And then I understood there11400:05:57,160 –> 00:05:59,760that’s the wicked’s final destiny.11500:05:59,760 –> 00:06:02,779Surely you place them on slippery ground,11600:06:02,779 –> 00:06:04,679you cast them down to ruin11700:06:04,679 –> 00:06:06,380how suddenly they are destroyed,11800:06:06,380 –> 00:06:10,579completely swept away by terrorize as a dream when one awakes11900:06:10,579 –> 00:06:13,720so when you arise, Oh Lord, you will despise them12000:06:13,720 –> 00:06:15,660as fantasies.12100:06:15,660 –> 00:06:17,640It was when I came into the presence of God12200:06:17,640 –> 00:06:19,660that I remembered his truth.12300:06:19,660 –> 00:06:23,899I met with his people, I saw the ultimate outcome of life12400:06:23,899 –> 00:06:27,500and God turned on a light in my mind.12500:06:28,880 –> 00:06:30,040Stop, think.12600:06:30,040 –> 00:06:33,040And then the third thing we saw, confess.12700:06:33,040 –> 00:06:36,579When you embrace God’s truth in your life,12800:06:36,579 –> 00:06:39,140you will begin to pray.12900:06:39,959 –> 00:06:41,540And as you grow in the truth,13000:06:41,540 –> 00:06:45,200you will see things in yourself that you did not see before13100:06:45,200 –> 00:06:47,760and they will cause you to confess.13200:06:47,760 –> 00:06:51,359And so in verse 21, he says, when my heart was grieved13300:06:51,359 –> 00:06:54,920and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant.13400:06:54,920 –> 00:06:57,600I was a brute beast before you.13500:06:57,679 –> 00:07:01,420We learned together that when your heart is grieved,13600:07:01,420 –> 00:07:04,779the sins of Asaph will be crouching at the door.13700:07:04,779 –> 00:07:05,920So watch out for them.13800:07:05,920 –> 00:07:07,160What are the sins of Asaph?13900:07:07,160 –> 00:07:09,000I became bitter.14000:07:09,000 –> 00:07:11,940I let my heart rule my head.14100:07:11,940 –> 00:07:13,239I acted on impulse.14200:07:13,239 –> 00:07:16,420I was a brute beast before you.14300:07:17,579 –> 00:07:19,179Now the amazing thing we saw, of course,14400:07:19,179 –> 00:07:21,619is that God held onto him.14500:07:21,619 –> 00:07:23,760Asaph said, my feet had almost slipped.14600:07:23,760 –> 00:07:25,700Well, why didn’t he slip?14700:07:25,739 –> 00:07:29,339Why didn’t he fall to utter disaster?14800:07:29,339 –> 00:07:31,200The answer, of course, in verse 23,14900:07:31,200 –> 00:07:33,160the reason that Asaph is still15000:07:33,160 –> 00:07:35,540and always with the Lord is just this,15100:07:35,540 –> 00:07:38,700you held me by my right hand.15200:07:38,700 –> 00:07:40,779You guide me with your counsel15300:07:40,779 –> 00:07:44,859and afterwards, you will receive me to glory.15400:07:44,859 –> 00:07:46,619And so in this way his faith15500:07:46,619 –> 00:07:48,739is wonderfully renewed and restored.15600:07:48,739 –> 00:07:50,299Stop, think, confess.15700:07:50,299 –> 00:07:53,179Believe was the fourth thing we saw last week,15800:07:53,179 –> 00:07:55,339and he’s able to say, whom have I in heaven15900:07:55,339 –> 00:07:56,299but you on earth.16000:07:56,299 –> 00:07:59,019There is nothing that I desire besides you.16100:07:59,019 –> 00:08:00,959My flesh and my heart may fail,16200:08:00,959 –> 00:08:02,540but God is the strength16300:08:02,540 –> 00:08:06,459of my heart and my portion forever.16400:08:06,459 –> 00:08:10,959Stop, think, affix, believe.16500:08:13,179 –> 00:08:15,559Now today we come to the last two verses of the Psalm16600:08:15,559 –> 00:08:18,179and our key word is commit.16700:08:18,179 –> 00:08:23,019Psalm 73 ends with Asaph making a clear commitment16800:08:23,019 –> 00:08:25,119to live near to the Lord16900:08:25,559 –> 00:08:29,459and to tell his story of what God has done.17000:08:29,459 –> 00:08:33,799He opens his hands and his heart to God and to others.17100:08:33,799 –> 00:08:37,440Let’s look at these last verses 27 and 28.17200:08:37,440 –> 00:08:40,500Those who are far from you will perish.17300:08:41,440 –> 00:08:44,780You destroy all who are unfaithful to you,17400:08:45,960 –> 00:08:50,960but as for me, it is good to be near God.17500:08:53,599 –> 00:08:55,260I have made the Sovereign Lord17600:08:55,520 –> 00:08:59,719for my refuge, I will tell of all your deeds.17700:09:02,960 –> 00:09:05,659Now the thing that has struck me most reflecting17800:09:05,659 –> 00:09:07,599on these verses over these last days17900:09:07,599 –> 00:09:09,820is just how natural they are.18000:09:11,119 –> 00:09:16,119I mean, how else would you expect this Psalm to end?18100:09:17,780 –> 00:09:20,239You look at the path and that’s why we’ve reviewed it18200:09:20,239 –> 00:09:21,419over these moments together.18300:09:21,419 –> 00:09:24,020You look at the path on which the Lord has led him,18400:09:24,059 –> 00:09:26,099you look at how the Lord has turned him around,18500:09:26,099 –> 00:09:28,559you look at what God has been doing in his life18600:09:28,559 –> 00:09:31,940and what’s the natural outflow of that?18700:09:33,000 –> 00:09:34,299There seems nothing more natural.18800:09:34,299 –> 00:09:36,559No other way really in which the Psalm would end18900:09:36,559 –> 00:09:38,520but for him to say well now, there’s nothing19000:09:38,520 –> 00:09:41,099that I want more than to live near the Lord19100:09:41,099 –> 00:09:46,099and indeed, I will naturally want to tell of all his deeds.19200:09:49,539 –> 00:09:52,080Now, I think that’s very important for this reason.19300:09:53,039 –> 00:09:55,919It’s often been said and I think it’s true19400:09:55,919 –> 00:10:00,260that if you scratch an evangelical,19500:10:00,260 –> 00:10:03,919you will find very close to the surface19600:10:03,919 –> 00:10:07,400a bad conscience about two things.19700:10:07,400 –> 00:10:11,340One is prayer and the other is evangelism.19800:10:12,619 –> 00:10:15,539And that being the case, it should not be surprising19900:10:15,539 –> 00:10:18,880that we will come across perhaps from time to time20000:10:18,919 –> 00:10:21,940in Christian world a form of teaching20100:10:21,940 –> 00:10:24,799that plays on that guilt,20200:10:25,940 –> 00:10:28,880and it goes something like this.20300:10:30,520 –> 00:10:32,179Are you living near to the Lord?20400:10:34,080 –> 00:10:35,960Do you know that Martin Luther prayed20500:10:35,960 –> 00:10:37,380for three hours every morning20600:10:37,380 –> 00:10:40,880and that if he was really busy, added an extra hour?20700:10:40,880 –> 00:10:42,520You know that Jesus prayed all night?20800:10:42,520 –> 00:10:44,280What do you think you’re doing then?20900:10:45,059 –> 00:10:47,859And what about telling of God’s deeds?21000:10:47,859 –> 00:10:49,700When was the last time you shared your text?21100:10:49,700 –> 00:10:51,559You know this kind of thing?21200:10:51,559 –> 00:10:54,460And the congregation kind of cringes and so boy,21300:10:54,460 –> 00:10:57,280here we go, we’re in for a right lashing this morning.21400:10:59,140 –> 00:11:04,140Now, Asaph’s commitment is wonderfully releasing21500:11:06,880 –> 00:11:10,059because he talks about living near to God21600:11:10,059 –> 00:11:12,820and he talks about telling the deeds of the Lord21700:11:12,820 –> 00:11:14,659and none of it comes from guilt.21800:11:14,659 –> 00:11:18,840It is the natural outflow.21900:11:18,840 –> 00:11:21,559I mean, you read it, how else would the Psalm conclude?22000:11:21,559 –> 00:11:24,539It is simply the natural outflow22100:11:24,539 –> 00:11:27,580of what God has been doing in his life.22200:11:28,659 –> 00:11:30,340I want to live near the Lord22300:11:31,739 –> 00:11:36,000and I will tell of all that he has done for me.22400:11:36,979 –> 00:11:38,299You’re listening to Open the Bible22500:11:38,299 –> 00:11:41,299with pastor Colin Smith and a message called Commit.22600:11:41,719 –> 00:11:44,799The last in our series, I Almost Gave Up.22700:11:44,799 –> 00:11:46,460And if you’ve missed any of the series,22800:11:46,460 –> 00:11:48,080why not come to our website22900:11:48,080 –> 00:11:50,820at openthebible.org.uk23000:11:50,820 –> 00:11:53,799and there you can catch up or go back and listen again.23100:11:53,799 –> 00:11:56,539You can do the same thing on your favourite podcast site23200:11:56,539 –> 00:11:57,659if that’s better for you23300:11:57,659 –> 00:11:59,780and you can find Pastor Colin’s messages23400:11:59,780 –> 00:12:03,140by searching for Open the Bible UK.23500:12:03,140 –> 00:12:04,440Back to the message now.23600:12:04,440 –> 00:12:05,739Here’s Colin.23700:12:05,739 –> 00:12:08,219So I want you to notice the order here.23800:12:08,219 –> 00:12:09,760The order of progression,23900:12:09,960 –> 00:12:11,320the flow throughout this psalm,24000:12:11,320 –> 00:12:13,520is really very, very important.24100:12:13,520 –> 00:12:15,440And for us to grasp this principle,24200:12:15,440 –> 00:12:19,719you see that it is faith that leads to commitment,24300:12:19,719 –> 00:12:22,919not the other way round.24400:12:22,919 –> 00:12:24,500If you want to write down one thing in your notes24500:12:24,500 –> 00:12:25,919at this point, that’s it.24600:12:25,919 –> 00:12:29,900It is faith that leads to commitment,24700:12:29,900 –> 00:12:34,359it is not the other way around.24800:12:34,359 –> 00:12:36,520Now you see, if you get this the wrong way around,24900:12:36,520 –> 00:12:37,960you will always struggle.25000:12:38,919 –> 00:12:41,159Some folks have the idea25100:12:41,159 –> 00:12:43,520that the way you become a real Christian25200:12:43,520 –> 00:12:46,520is really all about commitment.25300:12:46,520 –> 00:12:48,320And that becoming a real Christian25400:12:48,320 –> 00:12:49,739means having a stronger commitment,25500:12:49,739 –> 00:12:51,200having more commitment, so forth,25600:12:51,200 –> 00:12:53,880it is all about being disciplined in your commitment.25700:12:53,880 –> 00:12:57,760If you’re a 100%, then you’ll be the real deal25800:12:57,760 –> 00:12:59,380and so forth and so on.25900:13:00,520 –> 00:13:04,679Their focus in other words is entirely on personal effort.26000:13:04,679 –> 00:13:07,599Discipline, trying harder.26100:13:07,599 –> 00:13:09,119Behavior modification.26200:13:09,119 –> 00:13:11,320Trying to do certain things in the hope26300:13:11,320 –> 00:13:13,900that this will make you a real Christian.26400:13:13,900 –> 00:13:17,900Let me tell you this, it never works.26500:13:19,280 –> 00:13:21,599It never works.26600:13:23,039 –> 00:13:27,039Faith is never the fruit of commitment.26700:13:28,080 –> 00:13:30,599It is always the gift of God.26800:13:30,599 –> 00:13:32,799That’s Ephesians chapter two in verse eight.26900:13:33,760 –> 00:13:37,719Faith is a gift that comes down.27000:13:37,719 –> 00:13:42,580It is never an effort that is worked up.27100:13:42,580 –> 00:13:44,239You say well OK, if it’s a gift that comes down,27200:13:44,239 –> 00:13:46,419how does the gift come?27300:13:46,419 –> 00:13:48,719Well Asaph’s story has been telling us this.27400:13:48,719 –> 00:13:51,080It was not the result of his own effort27500:13:51,080 –> 00:13:52,380that he was restored.27600:13:52,380 –> 00:13:53,960Indeed he says, verse 16,27700:13:53,960 –> 00:13:57,760when I tried to understand all of this,27800:13:57,760 –> 00:14:00,179it was oppressive to me, it got me nowhere.27900:14:01,239 –> 00:14:02,559How was faith restored?28000:14:03,320 –> 00:14:04,880It was restored when I came into the sanctuary,28100:14:04,880 –> 00:14:06,659He says, into the presence of God.28200:14:06,659 –> 00:14:08,159I remembered God’s truth28300:14:08,159 –> 00:14:11,119and what happened was that God turned on the light for me.28400:14:11,119 –> 00:14:13,400You see he’s discovered this great principle28500:14:13,400 –> 00:14:17,679that salvation is from the Lord.28600:14:19,039 –> 00:14:21,299See it’s God who does things28700:14:21,299 –> 00:14:23,520like turning on the light in your mind28800:14:23,520 –> 00:14:26,200so that you begin to see your sin and confess your need.28900:14:26,200 –> 00:14:29,700It is God who does things like bringing you to faith29000:14:29,700 –> 00:14:31,559and restoring your soul.29100:14:32,400 –> 00:14:34,340Now you see this runs all the way through the Bible.29200:14:34,340 –> 00:14:36,440We’ve been looking at Psalm 73.29300:14:36,440 –> 00:14:40,039It’s the same thing as David found in Psalm 23.29400:14:41,559 –> 00:14:45,159The Lord is my shepherd.29500:14:45,159 –> 00:14:47,679That’s why I shall not want.29600:14:47,679 –> 00:14:51,099He makes me lie down in green pastures.29700:14:51,099 –> 00:14:53,359He leads me by the still waters.29800:14:53,359 –> 00:14:58,159And guess what, it’s he who restores my soul.29900:14:59,020 –> 00:15:00,919How will your soul be restored30000:15:00,919 –> 00:15:03,640when you are desperately discouraged?30100:15:05,140 –> 00:15:06,320God will do it.30200:15:07,539 –> 00:15:08,400Thank God.30300:15:10,580 –> 00:15:13,780Let me tell you the story of a man I know very well.30400:15:16,200 –> 00:15:17,460I’m gonna call him Joe.30500:15:20,159 –> 00:15:23,320Joe was a pastor for some years.30600:15:23,320 –> 00:15:24,320It wasn’t easy.30700:15:24,320 –> 00:15:25,340It wasn’t easy.30800:15:27,440 –> 00:15:31,179Joe and his wife endured great difficulties30900:15:31,179 –> 00:15:32,679over many years.31000:15:34,559 –> 00:15:39,479They scraped by in ministry on a desperately low income.31100:15:41,840 –> 00:15:45,960They did what they did in a small church31200:15:45,960 –> 00:15:47,599for the sake of Christ.31300:15:49,900 –> 00:15:52,400After some years, the pressures of the pastorate31400:15:52,400 –> 00:15:54,460began to affect Joe’s health,31500:15:56,280 –> 00:15:57,739and so he left the ministry.31600:15:58,960 –> 00:16:01,539He was desperately discouraged, broken.31700:16:04,460 –> 00:16:07,460Joe and his wife started attending a church in London.31800:16:09,960 –> 00:16:12,320Sometime later, I heard they had stopped going.31900:16:14,119 –> 00:16:16,979A short time after that, Joe’s wife died.32000:16:18,679 –> 00:16:19,799I took the funeral.32100:16:23,400 –> 00:16:25,700It was sometime after that32200:16:25,700 –> 00:16:28,820that he told me why he gave up.32300:16:33,219 –> 00:16:37,239It has left a deep and a lasting impression32400:16:37,239 –> 00:16:38,940on all my thinking.32500:16:43,599 –> 00:16:47,739It was the same every Sunday, Colin, he said.32600:16:48,739 –> 00:16:52,500We just got slammed about making a commitment.32700:16:55,000 –> 00:16:56,039And I was desperate.32800:16:58,580 –> 00:17:00,840I didn’t have any strength.32900:17:04,180 –> 00:17:06,439And I was just looking for hope.33000:17:06,520 –> 00:17:08,420Just looking for hope!33100:17:12,119 –> 00:17:15,719Now, Asaph’s story tells us33200:17:18,199 –> 00:17:23,040what Joel and thousands of others33300:17:23,040 –> 00:17:26,979need to grasp in the middle of an Asaph experience.33400:17:28,500 –> 00:17:29,500And it’s this.33500:17:30,959 –> 00:17:34,739God will sustain you when your strength is gone.33600:17:36,800 –> 00:17:38,599When your feet are sliding,33700:17:38,599 –> 00:17:41,079He will hold you by your right hand.33800:17:42,979 –> 00:17:45,819He will guide you with His counsel,33900:17:45,819 –> 00:17:49,099and afterwards, He will bring you to glory.34000:17:52,219 –> 00:17:56,800And if you have been wounded by a version of Christianity34100:17:56,800 –> 00:18:00,479that makes the gospel seem like an endless list of demands34200:18:00,479 –> 00:18:02,839and impossible expectations,34300:18:02,900 –> 00:18:06,800you need to take in the grace of God from this psalm.34400:18:08,239 –> 00:18:12,640The gospel is not an endless exhortation34500:18:12,640 –> 00:18:15,079to what you should be, what you must be,34600:18:15,079 –> 00:18:17,439what you ought to do, and all the rest of it.34700:18:18,760 –> 00:18:22,079The gospel is about the grace of God.34800:18:23,520 –> 00:18:27,239And it’s not your commitment that will lead to God’s grace.34900:18:27,239 –> 00:18:30,079It is God’s grace that will lead to your commitment.35000:18:30,079 –> 00:18:31,680All the difference in the world.35100:18:33,839 –> 00:18:35,280Now I would suggest three ways35200:18:35,280 –> 00:18:36,880in which we might use this psalm35300:18:36,880 –> 00:18:40,359as we come to a conclusion this morning.35400:18:40,359 –> 00:18:42,439The first is simply a very practical idea35500:18:42,439 –> 00:18:43,839that I hope it might be useful,35600:18:43,839 –> 00:18:45,439and that is that you may find,35700:18:45,439 –> 00:18:48,239at times when you go through an Asaf experience,35800:18:48,239 –> 00:18:51,640that it is useful for you to write your story35900:18:51,640 –> 00:18:55,199as Asaf wrote his story here.36000:18:55,199 –> 00:18:57,520Obviously, this whole psalm is this man36100:18:57,520 –> 00:18:58,880writing out his story,36200:18:58,880 –> 00:19:01,380under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, of course,36300:19:01,660 –> 00:19:02,640and it has been preserved36400:19:02,640 –> 00:19:05,900for our encouragement in the scriptures.36500:19:05,900 –> 00:19:06,739But think about it,36600:19:06,739 –> 00:19:09,339when you go through an Asaf experience,36700:19:09,339 –> 00:19:12,760you may find it helpful also to write out your story36800:19:12,760 –> 00:19:17,060and you could use the main points from Psalm 7336900:19:17,060 –> 00:19:21,579as a kind of grid to frame your testimony.37000:19:21,579 –> 00:19:23,040Here’s how you might do it.37100:19:24,380 –> 00:19:25,599You might take a piece of paper37200:19:25,599 –> 00:19:28,060and put up the following headings.37300:19:28,060 –> 00:19:32,180My feet almost slipped because.37400:19:32,180 –> 00:19:34,180And then write down what it is,37500:19:34,180 –> 00:19:36,979what it has been that has been your struggle.37600:19:36,979 –> 00:19:40,260Write it out as honestly as Asaf did.37700:19:40,260 –> 00:19:43,439He wrote it out no holds barred, right?37800:19:44,339 –> 00:19:46,359You can do that.37900:19:46,359 –> 00:19:49,140You can write it out before the Lord.38000:19:49,140 –> 00:19:51,500It will be helpful for you.38100:19:51,500 –> 00:19:55,219My feet almost slipped because.38200:19:56,180 –> 00:19:58,219Then you’ll have a second heading38300:19:58,219 –> 00:20:00,219if you’re following the grid of the Psalm.38400:20:00,219 –> 00:20:02,099God taught me that.38500:20:02,099 –> 00:20:04,819So, you remember that he went into the presence of God38600:20:04,819 –> 00:20:05,859and the light went on.38700:20:05,859 –> 00:20:08,560Well, God taught me that.38800:20:08,560 –> 00:20:12,099Now, if you can’t fill this part out yet,38900:20:13,619 –> 00:20:18,239ask God that he will turn on the light in your mind39000:20:18,239 –> 00:20:20,219and then do what Asaf did.39100:20:20,219 –> 00:20:23,540Keep coming to the place of worship.39200:20:24,239 –> 00:20:27,859Keep coming into the presence of God.39300:20:27,859 –> 00:20:30,560Keep opening and reading the Word of God39400:20:30,560 –> 00:20:32,560in the scriptures because these are the ways39500:20:32,560 –> 00:20:34,640in which God will speak,39600:20:34,640 –> 00:20:39,060through his Word and in the company of his people.39700:20:39,060 –> 00:20:41,099Share, perhaps, what you’ve written with a friend39800:20:41,099 –> 00:20:42,479if that will be helpful to you.39900:20:42,479 –> 00:20:45,819God will draw near and he will help you.40000:20:46,800 –> 00:20:48,380That’s his promise.40100:20:49,579 –> 00:20:52,239Have some hope in that.40200:20:52,339 –> 00:20:57,219He will not leave you without help in your struggle.40300:20:57,219 –> 00:20:58,819Then you might use this third heading,40400:20:58,819 –> 00:21:00,239I have confessed40500:21:00,239 –> 00:21:04,199and write down what God has shown you about yourself.40600:21:04,199 –> 00:21:05,219That’s in the past tense40700:21:05,219 –> 00:21:07,719because once you’ve confessed it,40800:21:07,719 –> 00:21:09,239you mustn’t go on harboring it.40900:21:09,239 –> 00:21:11,660You must believe that what is confessed41000:21:11,660 –> 00:21:13,819in the name of Jesus is forgiven41100:21:13,819 –> 00:21:16,619and therefore let it go and thank God41200:21:16,619 –> 00:21:19,500for his grace that forgives.41300:21:19,500 –> 00:21:21,060Lastly, you may write down this heading,41400:21:21,079 –> 00:21:22,140I believe.41500:21:22,140 –> 00:21:24,800Write down what you do know from the gospel.41600:21:24,800 –> 00:21:26,359It’ll do your soul good.41700:21:26,359 –> 00:21:28,500There are many things that you don’t know,41800:21:28,500 –> 00:21:30,839but Asaph affirms what he does know.41900:21:30,839 –> 00:21:34,479Never allow what you don’t know to hold you back.42000:21:34,479 –> 00:21:37,520Instead, use what you do know42100:21:37,520 –> 00:21:40,680to enable you to move forward.42200:21:40,680 –> 00:21:41,660So you may find,42300:21:41,660 –> 00:21:43,680as I found at different points in my life,42400:21:43,680 –> 00:21:47,099to write out the experience42500:21:47,099 –> 00:21:49,459in which the Lord is meeting you42600:21:49,459 –> 00:21:51,520and the turn through which he’s bringing you42700:21:51,520 –> 00:21:56,459will help to clarify how he is at work in your life.42800:21:58,180 –> 00:21:59,300What a great reminder there42900:21:59,300 –> 00:22:02,119from Pastor Colin that faith is never the result43000:22:02,119 –> 00:22:02,959of our effort.43100:22:02,959 –> 00:22:05,760It’s always a gift from God.43200:22:05,760 –> 00:22:08,380That was the first part of our message, Kommit,43300:22:08,380 –> 00:22:11,540and it’s part of our series, I almost gave up.43400:22:11,540 –> 00:22:13,280And if you ever miss one of the series,43500:22:13,280 –> 00:22:14,819don’t forget, you can always catch up43600:22:14,819 –> 00:22:17,079or go back and listen again online43700:22:17,640 –> 00:22:20,920at our website, openthebible.org.uk.43800:22:20,920 –> 00:22:22,760Or you can find us as a podcast43900:22:22,760 –> 00:22:24,719and those are on all the main podcast sites.44000:22:24,719 –> 00:22:27,000Search for Open The Bible UK44100:22:27,000 –> 00:22:29,599or follow the link from our website.44200:22:29,599 –> 00:22:32,359Also on our website and available as a podcast44300:22:32,359 –> 00:22:34,280is Open The Bible Daily,44400:22:34,280 –> 00:22:35,939and that’s a series of short,44500:22:35,939 –> 00:22:38,359two to three minute daily reflections44600:22:38,359 –> 00:22:40,180based on Pastor Colin’s teaching44700:22:40,180 –> 00:22:43,060and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.44800:22:43,060 –> 00:22:46,599Open The Bible is supported by our listeners financially.44900:22:46,619 –> 00:22:49,040And if that’s something you’ve been considering doing,45000:22:49,040 –> 00:22:51,920this month if you were able to begin a new direct debit45100:22:51,920 –> 00:22:53,520to the work of Open The Bible45200:22:53,520 –> 00:22:56,020in the amount of five pounds per month or more45300:22:56,020 –> 00:22:58,619or a one off gift of fifty pounds or more,45400:22:58,619 –> 00:23:00,319we’d love to say thank you45500:23:00,319 –> 00:23:02,400by sending you a copy of Colin’s book,45600:23:02,400 –> 00:23:04,540For All Who Grieve.45700:23:04,540 –> 00:23:07,599I’m with Sue McLeish who many of you will know45800:23:07,599 –> 00:23:10,839is the voice of Open The Bible Daily.45900:23:10,839 –> 00:23:13,739Sue’s husband Ian died a few years ago.46000:23:13,800 –> 00:23:17,780Sue, how did grief affect you after Ian died?46100:23:17,780 –> 00:23:21,359Well, when Ian died and after a long period46200:23:21,359 –> 00:23:24,199of battling with prostate cancer,46300:23:24,199 –> 00:23:26,680I was in a pretty poor shape altogether.46400:23:27,540 –> 00:23:30,739Ian’s actual death was not a peaceful one46500:23:30,739 –> 00:23:34,420and it left me with a degree of post traumatic stress46600:23:34,420 –> 00:23:38,520and recurrence of depression that I’d previously experienced46700:23:38,520 –> 00:23:40,219more than once in my life actually.46800:23:40,900 –> 00:23:44,359Mentally and spiritually, I was in a very dark46900:23:44,359 –> 00:23:46,180and very fearful place.47000:23:47,739 –> 00:23:50,900Very soon I find I was incapable of fulfilling47100:23:50,900 –> 00:23:54,040any of my previous church duties.47200:23:54,040 –> 00:23:56,420My brain just seemed to shut down.47300:23:56,420 –> 00:24:00,660It was a struggle to keep going, to get through everyday.47400:24:00,660 –> 00:24:02,859No nothing really touched me.47500:24:02,859 –> 00:24:04,239I had no hope.47600:24:04,239 –> 00:24:09,239I was just existing not living in any real way at all.47700:24:09,699 –> 00:24:12,359And when you were at your lowest ebb really,47800:24:12,359 –> 00:24:15,439that’s when you discovered Open the Bible?47900:24:15,439 –> 00:24:19,400The moment I discovered the videos of Pastor Colin48000:24:19,400 –> 00:24:22,599delivering his Open the Bible sermons,48100:24:22,599 –> 00:24:25,439it was so light a bit switched on.48200:24:25,439 –> 00:24:29,479The darkness lifted and I found I was beginning48300:24:29,479 –> 00:24:33,079to understand in ways I’ve never had before48400:24:33,079 –> 00:24:37,500the fullness of the gospel and the whole Bible story.48500:24:38,160 –> 00:24:43,040It was a really exciting time and I had so much to learn.48600:24:43,040 –> 00:24:46,459Well, Colin’s written a book called For All Who Grieve48700:24:46,459 –> 00:24:48,699and it’s our gift to you this month48800:24:48,699 –> 00:24:51,339if you are able to set up a new direct debit48900:24:51,339 –> 00:24:52,819to the work of Open the Bible49000:24:52,819 –> 00:24:55,859in the amount of five pounds per month or more49100:24:55,859 –> 00:24:58,900or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.49200:24:58,900 –> 00:25:02,140Full terms and conditions can be found on our website49300:25:02,140 –> 00:25:05,540that’s at openthebible.org.uk.49400:25:06,300 –> 00:25:08,780For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,49500:25:08,780 –> 00:25:12,020I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.49600:25:17,780 –> 00:25:21,300You almost gave up, you almost lost your faith49700:25:21,300 –> 00:25:23,859but God brought you through it all.49800:25:23,859 –> 00:25:26,739Find some practical ways to respond to him49900:25:26,739 –> 00:25:28,800next time on Open the Bible.