100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:11,060Here’s John. I drew him to faith 30 years ago. His feet almost slipped many times.200:00:11,080 –> 00:00:15,780But I held him by his right hand, and that’s why he’s here today!300:00:16,440 –> 00:00:17,799Imagine Jesus saying that of you.400:00:18,440 –> 00:00:20,820Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.500:00:21,080 –> 00:00:21,980I’m David Pick.600:00:22,559 –> 00:00:27,000Thank you for being with us today, and Colin, as we end our series, I almost gave up.700:00:27,660 –> 00:00:32,160With the story of Asaph, in the end we get some encouragement today.800:00:32,740 –> 00:00:38,860Yeah, I think the whole psalm is a wonderful encouragement for me to know that one of the greatest godly leaders in the Old Testament900:00:38,919 –> 00:00:42,779went through an experience where he said, my feet almost slipped.1000:00:43,619 –> 00:00:48,700Well, that really helps me to know that as Christian believers, there are times where we think but for the grace of God I1100:00:48,759 –> 00:00:52,980would have been gone, but for the grace of God, and that’s the whole point of the story.1200:00:53,500 –> 00:00:57,840God doesn’t let his children go.1300:00:57,900 –> 00:01:01,740And he held on to Asaph and got him established, brought him through,1400:01:01,799 –> 00:01:06,160and friend, if you are in a place of feeling that you’re ready to give up,1500:01:06,220 –> 00:01:12,800I want to say to you, Christ will bring you through and you can put your trust in him.1600:01:12,860 –> 00:01:17,599So, the prayer for this series is that there will be encouragement to press on with Jesus Christ1700:01:17,660 –> 00:01:22,760So, join us if you can in Psalm 73 as we begin to imagine God’s bless us.1800:01:23,220 –> 00:01:28,260So, let’s begin the final part of our message. Commit. Here’s Colin.1900:01:28,320 –> 00:01:32,800Let me tell you the story of a man I know very well.2000:01:32,860 –> 00:01:35,860I’m going to call him Joe.2100:01:35,940 –> 00:01:41,760Joe was a pastor for some years. It wasn’t easy.2200:01:41,839 –> 00:01:48,839Joe and his wife endured great difficulties over many years.2300:01:49,059 –> 00:01:54,059He would die in ministry on a desperately low income.2400:01:55,000 –> 00:02:00,699They did what they did in a small church for the sake of2500:02:00,779 –> 00:02:02,279Christ.2600:02:02,339 –> 00:02:06,879After some years, the pressures of the pastorate began to2700:02:06,940 –> 00:02:08,520affect Joe’s health.2800:02:08,580 –> 00:02:11,179And so he left the ministry.2900:02:11,259 –> 00:02:15,679He was desperately discouraged, broken.3000:02:16,339 –> 00:02:20,919So my wife started attending a church in London.3100:02:21,000 –> 00:02:24,919Sometime later, I heard they had stopped going.3200:02:24,979 –> 00:02:29,520Within a short time after that, Joe’s wife died.3300:02:29,580 –> 00:02:33,580I took the funeral.3400:02:33,660 –> 00:02:40,259It was sometime after that that he told me why he gave up.3500:02:40,320 –> 00:02:44,899It has left a deep and a lasting impression on3600:02:44,899 –> 00:02:48,139my thinking.3700:02:48,199 –> 00:02:54,600It was the same every Sunday, Colin, he said.3800:02:54,660 –> 00:02:59,399We just got slammed about making a commitment.3900:02:59,479 –> 00:03:02,479And I was desperate.4000:03:02,539 –> 00:03:07,279I didn’t have any strength.4100:03:07,339 –> 00:03:12,020And I was just looking for hope.4200:03:12,399 –> 00:03:20,380Now, Asaph’s story tells us what Joel and thousands of4300:03:20,460 –> 00:03:24,779others need to grasp in the middle of an Asaph experience4400:03:24,860 –> 00:03:31,820And it’s this, God will sustain you when your4500:03:31,899 –> 00:03:34,759strength is gone.4600:03:34,940 –> 00:03:38,240When your feet are sliding, he will hold you by4700:03:38,300 –> 00:03:41,559your right hand.4800:03:41,860 –> 00:03:45,020God will guide you with his counsel and4900:03:45,080 –> 00:03:50,740afterwards he will bring you to Glory.5000:03:50,820 –> 00:03:54,059And if you have been wounded by a version of5100:03:54,139 –> 00:03:57,320Christianity that makes the gospel seem like an endless5200:03:57,399 –> 00:04:02,259list of demands and impossible expectations, you need to take5300:04:02,339 –> 00:04:06,479in the grace of God from this Song.5400:04:06,559 –> 00:04:11,520The gospel is not an endless exhortation to what you should5500:04:11,600 –> 00:04:14,199be, what you must be, what you ought to do and all the5600:04:14,259 –> 00:04:16,299rest of it.5700:04:16,359 –> 00:04:21,339The gospel is about the grace of God, right?5800:04:21,399 –> 00:04:24,739And it’s not your commitment that will lead to God’s grace,5900:04:24,799 –> 00:04:27,940it is God’s grace that will lead to your commitment, all the6000:04:28,000 –> 00:04:29,260difference in the world.6100:04:31,299 –> 00:04:34,239I want to suggest three ways in which we might use this Psalm6200:04:34,299 –> 00:04:37,299as we come to a conclusion this morning.6300:04:37,859 –> 00:04:40,299First, is simply a very practical idea, that I hope6400:04:40,299 –> 00:04:43,480might be useful, and that is that you may find at times when6500:04:43,540 –> 00:04:46,500you go through an Asaph experience, that it is useful6600:04:46,579 –> 00:04:52,540for you to write your story as Asaph wrote his story here.6700:04:52,600 –> 00:04:56,299Obviously this whole psalm is this man writing out his story6800:04:56,380 –> 00:04:58,880under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, of course,6900:04:58,940 –> 00:05:01,279and it is being preserved for our encouragement7000:05:01,339 –> 00:05:02,640in the scriptures.7100:05:03,299 –> 00:05:06,299So you may find, as I found out at different points in my life,7200:05:06,880 –> 00:05:10,799you have to write out the experience in which the Lord7300:05:10,880 –> 00:05:13,779is meeting you and the turn through which he is bringing7400:05:13,839 –> 00:05:20,540you will help to clarify how he is at work in your life.7500:05:20,600 –> 00:05:24,040The second thing is simply learn and here we focus in more7600:05:24,100 –> 00:05:28,000closely on the words that Asaph uses, here.7700:05:28,079 –> 00:05:31,279Notice what Asaph learned from these last verses,7800:05:32,019 –> 00:05:35,359Those who are far from you will perish.7900:05:35,420 –> 00:05:38,679You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.8000:05:38,760 –> 00:05:41,679But as for me, it is good to be near God.8100:05:41,760 –> 00:05:47,160I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge.8200:05:47,220 –> 00:05:50,660Now, if you look back to the beginning of the Psalm and8300:05:50,720 –> 00:05:55,859compare verse 1 with verse 25, you will see how far8400:05:55,920 –> 00:05:58,480Asaph has come.8500:05:58,480 –> 00:06:00,859Remember, we saw at the beginning that verse 1 was8600:06:00,920 –> 00:06:04,420a kind of credal statement, a sort of statement of faith8700:06:04,480 –> 00:06:06,559that would regularly be repeated in worship.8800:06:06,619 –> 00:06:08,579God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in8900:06:08,660 –> 00:06:09,320heart.9000:06:09,380 –> 00:06:11,179You see, it almost said the sort of thing you’re9100:06:11,260 –> 00:06:13,119brought up with and that every good believer9200:06:13,179 –> 00:06:15,220believes, you know, God is good to Israel, to those9300:06:15,279 –> 00:06:17,459who are pure in heart.9400:06:17,519 –> 00:06:19,820This is what Asaph had always believed, but it9500:06:19,880 –> 00:06:22,559seems from his testimony that he did not have a9600:06:22,619 –> 00:06:26,420very clear idea of what it actually meant.9700:06:26,420 –> 00:06:34,559What does it mean to say that God is good to Israel?9800:06:34,619 –> 00:06:37,959Now, the ancient philosophers, Plato and9900:06:38,019 –> 00:06:41,059Socrates and all these guys, they used to debate10000:06:41,119 –> 00:06:46,859what is the highest good in life?10100:06:46,920 –> 00:06:50,519To use a phrase from today, what is as good10200:06:50,600 –> 00:06:52,399as it gets?10300:06:53,019 –> 00:06:55,220And they had a phrase in Latin that they used to10400:06:55,420 –> 00:06:57,220it’s sometimes still used today.10500:06:57,299 –> 00:07:00,920They used to talk about the Pseudim Bonum, which10600:07:01,000 –> 00:07:03,459you know, for the kids in grade school.10700:07:03,519 –> 00:07:05,359You can say, I was in church on Sunday and I10800:07:05,420 –> 00:07:07,899learned about the Pseudim Bonum.10900:07:07,959 –> 00:07:09,459You see, it will impress your teacher, but don’t11000:07:09,519 –> 00:07:10,220get proud about it.11100:07:10,299 –> 00:07:11,119You know?11200:07:11,200 –> 00:07:15,160The Pseudim Bonum, the highest good, what is as11300:07:15,220 –> 00:07:18,399good as it gets?11400:07:18,459 –> 00:07:20,559Now, you see, the point of the psalm is that11500:07:20,619 –> 00:07:23,160Asaph is saying, you know, I looked at other people11600:07:23,160 –> 00:07:26,339who were not living a godly life, and frankly, I11700:07:26,399 –> 00:07:29,339thought they’d got it.11800:07:29,399 –> 00:07:33,859I was thinking that the highest good is health11900:07:33,940 –> 00:07:38,299and wealth and fulfilling your personal dream.12000:07:38,359 –> 00:07:40,459Now, I realize he’s saying that I was12100:07:40,540 –> 00:07:41,940completely mistaken.12200:07:42,000 –> 00:07:48,540I will tell you what the Pseudim Bonum is.12300:07:48,619 –> 00:07:55,920As for me, it is good to be near God.12400:07:55,980 –> 00:07:58,959God opened my eyes to this in the sanctuary when I saw the12500:07:59,019 –> 00:08:00,820ultimate outcome of the wicked.12600:08:00,880 –> 00:08:05,559Those who are far from you will perish.12700:08:05,619 –> 00:08:09,579I see it now the reason that God is good to Israel is that12800:08:09,640 –> 00:08:12,420he’s brought Israel near to God.12900:08:13,260 –> 00:08:20,059I see now that even if everything in my life was13000:08:20,140 –> 00:08:23,839as I wanted it to be and I was far from God, I would be in a13100:08:23,899 –> 00:08:26,399desperate position.13200:08:26,480 –> 00:08:30,220And even if nothing in my life were as I would want it to be13300:08:30,279 –> 00:08:33,419and I was near to God, then I would still be13400:08:33,479 –> 00:08:34,419supremely blessed.13500:08:34,479 –> 00:08:40,760For me, this is the sunam bonam, to be near God.13600:08:41,000 –> 00:08:47,280There is nothing greater in all of life than this.13700:08:47,340 –> 00:08:50,799This is what Asaph learned from his experience.13800:08:53,380 –> 00:08:56,039See, this is exactly the blessing of the Gospel,13900:08:56,119 –> 00:08:58,640isn’t it?14000:08:58,719 –> 00:09:01,080What is the whole message of the Christian faith14100:09:01,159 –> 00:09:02,179actually about?14200:09:02,260 –> 00:09:05,520It is simply this, that those who were ones far away from14300:09:05,559 –> 00:09:13,460near to God have now been brought near in Jesus Christ.14400:09:13,539 –> 00:09:15,659Paul states it in Ephesians,14500:09:15,739 –> 00:09:18,260the Christ came into the world to give His life on the cross14600:09:18,340 –> 00:09:23,179so that you could come near to God now and come near to Him14700:09:23,239 –> 00:09:23,900for eternity.14800:09:23,979 –> 00:09:27,840You who were once far away, he says,14900:09:27,919 –> 00:09:30,020have been brought near, how?15000:09:30,080 –> 00:09:34,419Through the blood of Jesus Christ.15100:09:34,419 –> 00:09:39,859By simply by coming to church, by saying prayers,15200:09:39,919 –> 00:09:46,099by being religious, by feeling better about yourself,15300:09:46,159 –> 00:09:48,700how do you come near to God?15400:09:48,760 –> 00:09:53,179Oh, Paul says, it is through the blood of Jesus Christ.15500:09:53,239 –> 00:09:56,179You’re brought into a covenant relationship sealed15600:09:56,239 –> 00:09:57,179with His blood.15700:09:57,239 –> 00:10:01,140That is the fulfillment of the covenant relationship that God15800:10:01,700 –> 00:10:02,900had with Israel.15900:10:02,960 –> 00:10:04,479And their supreme blessing was that they16000:10:04,539 –> 00:10:05,700were brought near to God.16100:10:05,780 –> 00:10:07,580That’s what the sacrifices were all about,16200:10:07,640 –> 00:10:09,719pointing to the shed blood of Jesus.16300:10:09,780 –> 00:10:12,739By which those who are far away are now brought near.16400:10:15,640 –> 00:10:19,320How do you get near to God?16500:10:19,380 –> 00:10:24,119Through the blood of Jesus Christ, He is our peace.16600:10:24,179 –> 00:10:27,500He came to preach peace to those of you who are far away,16700:10:28,059 –> 00:10:30,359Jesus Christ says, as well as to those who are near,16800:10:30,799 –> 00:10:33,460the sunum bonum, the highest good that you can know16900:10:33,539 –> 00:10:36,700in this life is to be near God.17000:10:37,000 –> 00:10:40,479So why would you remain at a distance from God17100:10:40,539 –> 00:10:43,380when Jesus Christ has come and shed his blood17200:10:43,440 –> 00:10:46,179so that you could come near?17300:10:47,179 –> 00:10:48,619Well look what Asaph learned.17400:10:49,820 –> 00:10:52,940You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith17500:10:53,020 –> 00:10:55,960and a message called Commit, the final part of our series,17600:10:56,760 –> 00:10:59,559The story of Asaph, from Psalm 73,17700:10:59,719 –> 00:11:02,719the story of a godly man who nearly lost his faith17800:11:02,780 –> 00:11:04,679but how God turned him around.17900:11:05,159 –> 00:11:06,820If you’ve missed any of the series18000:11:06,919 –> 00:11:08,820or if you want to go back and listen again,18100:11:09,099 –> 00:11:12,320come to our website openthebible.org.uk18200:11:12,799 –> 00:11:15,960Or find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.18300:11:16,359 –> 00:11:18,719Search for OPEN THE BIBLE UK.18400:11:19,159 –> 00:11:21,400Back to the message now, here’s Colin.18500:11:22,000 –> 00:11:23,140Here’s the last thing.18600:11:23,900 –> 00:11:26,159To tell, to write, to learn, to tell.18700:11:27,299 –> 00:11:30,599I will tell of all your deeds.18800:11:31,619 –> 00:11:32,520Verse 28.18900:11:34,260 –> 00:11:37,919Now again, this really shows us how far Asaph has come.19000:11:38,700 –> 00:11:40,619Remember back in verse 1519100:11:40,900 –> 00:11:45,140that the best thing Asaph could do for God’s people19200:11:45,200 –> 00:11:46,739was keep his thoughts to himself.19300:11:47,280 –> 00:11:48,780He said, if I had spoken,19400:11:49,080 –> 00:11:51,400I would have betrayed this generation.19500:11:51,520 –> 00:11:53,359There was a point in my life where if you knew19600:11:53,359 –> 00:11:54,599what I was really thinking,19700:11:54,719 –> 00:11:56,820it would have been discouraging to everyone.19800:11:57,859 –> 00:11:59,619So the best thing I could do for God’s people19900:11:59,719 –> 00:12:01,380was simply to keep my mouth shut.20000:12:02,859 –> 00:12:05,400But now the grace of God has worked in his life20100:12:05,400 –> 00:12:08,119in such a way that he has something to say20200:12:08,119 –> 00:12:10,099and he’s able to open his mouth20300:12:10,320 –> 00:12:12,919and share the story of what God has done for him.20400:12:13,760 –> 00:12:16,419Every Christian has a story of God’s grace.20500:12:17,380 –> 00:12:18,299And the wonderful thing is20600:12:18,299 –> 00:12:21,000that your story of God’s grace is still being written.20700:12:22,159 –> 00:12:24,960And every time you go through an A$APH experience20800:12:24,960 –> 00:12:26,880of real discouragement,20900:12:27,239 –> 00:12:29,299another chapter is added.21000:12:30,179 –> 00:12:32,340And every chapter that is added21100:12:32,340 –> 00:12:34,900becomes another part of the great story21200:12:35,080 –> 00:12:37,700of testimony among God’s people21300:12:37,900 –> 00:12:39,419to how his grace brings us21400:12:39,419 –> 00:12:41,200through every circumstance of life.21500:12:42,179 –> 00:12:44,200It’s really a wonderful thing to think about it.21600:12:44,320 –> 00:12:45,799Psalm 7321700:12:46,619 –> 00:12:50,679describes the worst time in this man’s life.21800:12:52,000 –> 00:12:55,080And here we are, 3,000 years later,21900:12:55,080 –> 00:12:57,700feeding on the fruit of it.22000:12:57,859 –> 00:12:59,859Drawing encouragement from his testimony.22100:13:00,700 –> 00:13:02,059See what God gives to you22200:13:02,080 –> 00:13:05,239will always be for the good of others.22300:13:06,000 –> 00:13:08,119Your testimony to God’s grace22400:13:08,119 –> 00:13:09,619bringing you through discouragement22500:13:09,799 –> 00:13:12,080will be a strength to the rest22600:13:12,080 –> 00:13:14,239of the body of Christ.22700:13:15,000 –> 00:13:16,780Paul puts this in an extraordinary way22800:13:16,780 –> 00:13:18,580in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4.22900:13:18,580 –> 00:13:22,419He says death is at work in us23000:13:22,679 –> 00:13:25,219Life is at work in you.23100:13:25,799 –> 00:13:27,520Here I’m going through this experience,23200:13:27,520 –> 00:13:31,119Paul was saying and it feels like death23300:13:32,479 –> 00:13:34,260And you know the result of that testimony23400:13:34,640 –> 00:13:36,780of the Apostles perseverance was what?23500:13:36,799 –> 00:13:38,119Life in the church.23600:13:39,359 –> 00:13:41,219Every difficulty that you go through23700:13:41,219 –> 00:13:43,260will be a means of blessing in some way23800:13:43,260 –> 00:13:45,580through God’s grace and mercy23900:13:45,599 –> 00:13:48,239in the life of others.24000:13:48,599 –> 00:13:53,020I will tell of all your deeds.24100:13:55,280 –> 00:13:56,799Now, in these last moments I want to24200:13:56,799 –> 00:13:58,239make another application.24300:13:59,080 –> 00:14:01,760And I want us to think about what the Psalm24400:14:01,760 –> 00:14:05,820would mean, in the experience of Jesus.24500:14:06,239 –> 00:14:07,820That’s an important way actually to come24600:14:07,820 –> 00:14:09,960to all of the scriptures and especially24700:14:09,960 –> 00:14:10,479the Psalms.24800:14:10,500 –> 00:14:12,299Remember, this was the prayer book that24900:14:12,299 –> 00:14:15,359Jesus used, so what would it mean in the25000:14:15,380 –> 00:14:16,640experience of Jesus?25100:14:18,659 –> 00:14:20,460This is Asaph’s story.25200:14:22,099 –> 00:14:24,020In some particular ways it will become25300:14:24,020 –> 00:14:27,580your story and my story, but it is also25400:14:28,299 –> 00:14:30,020Jesus’ story.25500:14:31,739 –> 00:14:37,020See, all of history is heading up to the25600:14:37,020 –> 00:14:42,059day when Jesus Christ will tell his story,25700:14:42,979 –> 00:14:45,559the greatest story ever told.25800:14:46,419 –> 00:14:49,979The book of Hebrews describes a day25900:14:49,979 –> 00:14:53,539the day, when Jesus will stand in the26000:14:53,539 –> 00:14:55,940presence of the Father with all of the26100:14:55,940 –> 00:14:58,780company of his children, who have been26200:14:58,780 –> 00:15:01,820gathered in faith and brought into the26300:15:01,820 –> 00:15:04,539presence of God and Jesus will say this,26400:15:04,539 –> 00:15:09,520here I am he’ll say to the father and26500:15:09,520 –> 00:15:11,359here are the children that you have26600:15:11,359 –> 00:15:13,520given me. Can you picture that? It will be a26700:15:13,520 –> 00:15:18,539glorious moment. Jude also speaks about26800:15:18,539 –> 00:15:21,559that day, he says this and it’s26900:15:21,559 –> 00:15:23,760wonderfully relevant to Psalm 73. He said27000:15:23,760 –> 00:15:26,960Jesus Christ is able to keep you from27100:15:26,960 –> 00:15:31,419falling and more than that he is able to27200:15:31,419 –> 00:15:36,919present you faultless and with great joy27300:15:36,919 –> 00:15:42,440in the presence of the Father.27400:15:42,580 –> 00:15:47,840Now try and picture that day with me.27500:15:47,919 –> 00:15:52,799Jesus stands before the Father and all27600:15:52,799 –> 00:15:56,419who are his people through faith in his27700:15:56,419 –> 00:16:01,320blood are gathered there with him. We are27800:16:01,320 –> 00:16:05,280overwhelmed with joy just to be there27900:16:05,280 –> 00:16:09,619and there’s awe in our hearts as we hear28000:16:10,440 –> 00:16:16,780his voice begin to speak. He tells his28100:16:16,780 –> 00:16:22,059story. He tells of how he came into the28200:16:22,059 –> 00:16:26,500world to seek and to save the lost. He28300:16:26,500 –> 00:16:30,340tells of how he was despised and how he28400:16:30,340 –> 00:16:34,679was rejected, and thinking of what it28500:16:34,679 –> 00:16:37,140would mean for Jesus to take the themes28600:16:37,359 –> 00:16:39,479from their own lips and into his own28700:16:40,000 –> 00:16:41,719experience, perhaps he would say28800:16:41,719 –> 00:16:47,859something like this. My feet did slip.28900:16:47,859 –> 00:16:53,900I stumbled under the weight of that29000:16:53,900 –> 00:17:00,559cross. And when I fell, no one came to my29100:17:00,559 –> 00:17:03,900aide. They had to press-gang someone who29200:17:04,040 –> 00:17:07,780wanted to sit there just to help me. I29300:17:07,780 –> 00:17:12,119could not go into the sanctuary. I was29400:17:12,119 –> 00:17:14,959shut out from God’s temple. They did not29500:17:14,959 –> 00:17:19,859want me there. I was driven outside of29600:17:19,859 –> 00:17:25,640the walls of God’s holy city. And there I29700:17:25,640 –> 00:17:31,560bore the sins of the world. In my wym29800:17:31,579 –> 00:17:34,640carried the guilt and the shame and the29900:17:34,640 –> 00:17:37,180weight and the condemnation of every30000:17:37,180 –> 00:17:39,819sin and every crime that is known to30100:17:39,819 –> 00:17:44,880mankind. And when that happened, I looked30200:17:44,880 –> 00:17:49,640up to heaven for comfort. And there was30300:17:49,640 –> 00:17:52,640no light. For me,30400:17:54,719 –> 00:17:57,520I cried out in anguish. My God, my God,30500:17:57,520 –> 00:17:59,579why have you forsaken me? And there was30600:17:59,579 –> 00:18:04,420no answer to my cry. Yet,30700:18:04,420 –> 00:18:13,219Father, I put my trust in you. Into your30800:18:13,219 –> 00:18:15,739hands I commit my spirit,30900:18:15,739 –> 00:18:22,060I said. On the third day you raised me31000:18:22,060 –> 00:18:26,540from the dead. And ever since that day I31100:18:26,680 –> 00:18:30,979have been at work. Drawing men and31200:18:30,979 –> 00:18:32,400women to repentance31300:18:32,400 –> 00:18:35,239and to faith. Sustaining them in their31400:18:35,239 –> 00:18:37,619journey, sending them out into the31500:18:37,619 –> 00:18:39,979world in my name and now, Father,31600:18:39,979 –> 00:18:44,500here I am with the children you have31700:18:44,500 –> 00:18:49,319given to me. You know, it’s a great31800:18:49,319 –> 00:18:53,239thing to know that Jesus is in your31900:18:53,239 –> 00:18:57,459story. It is an even greater thing to32000:18:57,459 –> 00:19:00,800know that you are in Jesus’ story.32100:19:00,800 –> 00:19:04,540Actually that’s your ultimate assurance.32200:19:04,540 –> 00:19:11,939I want you to try and picture this in32300:19:11,939 –> 00:19:16,859these last moments, even though it is so32400:19:16,859 –> 00:19:22,439difficult to imagine these things.32500:19:22,859 –> 00:19:34,020He will present you to the Father.32600:19:34,020 –> 00:19:43,180You are part of His story.32700:19:43,180 –> 00:19:47,699He’ll be standing with us, you see.32800:19:47,959 –> 00:19:50,780Here am I and the children you have given me,32900:19:50,780 –> 00:19:53,579Jesus is saying.33000:19:53,579 –> 00:19:57,359John, I know you well enough to ask you to stand.33100:19:57,359 –> 00:19:59,400He comes alongside you.33200:19:59,400 –> 00:20:01,060John, how long you been a Christian?33300:20:01,060 –> 00:20:02,260About 30 years.33400:20:02,260 –> 00:20:03,76030 years.33500:20:05,359 –> 00:20:09,060Here’s John.33600:20:09,060 –> 00:20:13,979I drew him to faith 30 years ago.33700:20:14,060 –> 00:20:18,500His feet almost slipped many times,33800:20:19,380 –> 00:20:22,119but I held him by his right hand33900:20:22,119 –> 00:20:24,699and that’s why he’s here today.34000:20:24,699 –> 00:20:26,359Imagine Jesus saying that of you.34100:20:29,280 –> 00:20:30,839And I try and picture that,34200:20:30,839 –> 00:20:32,199you know what I think I’d be saying,34300:20:32,199 –> 00:20:34,819what John would be saying and what you’d be saying?34400:20:37,040 –> 00:20:39,540Jesus, I can hardly believe I’m here.34500:20:41,420 –> 00:20:42,939I mean, I almost gave up.34600:20:44,939 –> 00:20:47,160My feet had almost slipped.34700:20:49,319 –> 00:20:51,680I was senseless, I was ignorant,34800:20:51,680 –> 00:20:53,540I was a brute beast before you.34900:20:56,260 –> 00:20:58,699But you held me by my right hand.35000:20:58,699 –> 00:21:00,699You guided me with your counsel.35100:21:00,699 –> 00:21:02,199You’ve now brought me into glory.35200:21:02,199 –> 00:21:05,239Who have I in heaven but you?35300:21:05,239 –> 00:21:08,739For me, it is good to be near God.35400:21:08,739 –> 00:21:11,219I will tell of all your deeds.35500:21:12,040 –> 00:21:15,420And, in that moment, you will discover35600:21:15,420 –> 00:21:17,939with greater clarity than at any other point35700:21:17,939 –> 00:21:21,540in your entire life what Asaph learned here.35800:21:23,219 –> 00:21:26,300I almost gave up.35900:21:28,060 –> 00:21:29,739You almost gave up.36000:21:31,839 –> 00:21:36,140And, the reason you didn’t give up on Jesus36100:21:37,140 –> 00:21:42,500is that Jesus didn’t give up on you.36200:21:42,540 –> 00:21:45,660What an encouraging end to our message and series,36300:21:45,660 –> 00:21:48,180The Reason You Didn’t Give Up On Jesus36400:21:48,180 –> 00:21:51,219Is Because He Didn’t Give Up On You.36500:21:51,219 –> 00:21:52,979The message was called Commit,36600:21:52,979 –> 00:21:55,660and it was the final message in our series,36700:21:55,660 –> 00:21:57,339I Almost Gave Up.36800:21:57,339 –> 00:21:58,939And, if you missed any of the series,36900:21:58,939 –> 00:22:00,819or if you want to go back and listen again,37000:22:00,819 –> 00:22:04,859come to our website, openthebible.org.uk,37100:22:04,859 –> 00:22:08,459or find us as a podcast, on all the main podcast sites.37200:22:08,500 –> 00:22:10,459Search for Open The Bible UK,37300:22:10,459 –> 00:22:13,339or, follow the link from our website.37400:22:13,339 –> 00:22:16,540At Open the Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.37500:22:16,540 –> 00:22:19,699If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching,37600:22:19,699 –> 00:22:21,579and you’d like to reach out to us,37700:22:21,579 –> 00:22:23,459there are several ways you can do that.37800:22:23,459 –> 00:22:26,260You can write to us at Open The Bible,37900:22:26,260 –> 00:22:32,819PO Box 1420 Cheltenham GL50 9PG38000:22:32,939 –> 00:22:40,979or you can phone us at 0330 335 8089.38100:22:40,979 –> 00:22:43,140If we’re not available when you call,38200:22:43,140 –> 00:22:46,099leave a message for us and we’ll return your call.38300:22:46,099 –> 00:22:49,459All of these contact details are available on our website38400:22:49,459 –> 00:22:53,180openthebible.org.uk38500:22:53,180 –> 00:22:55,579Open the Bible is supported by our listeners,38600:22:55,579 –> 00:22:59,219it’s people just like you who enable us to stay on the radio38700:23:00,140 –> 00:23:04,219internet and we’re extremely grateful for the support we receive from you.38800:23:04,219 –> 00:23:07,979So if you already give to Open The Bible, thank you so much!38900:23:07,979 –> 00:23:11,859If you’re considering beginning to support Open The Bible financially,39000:23:11,859 –> 00:23:14,420this month we have a great offer for you.39100:23:14,420 –> 00:23:19,260If you’re able to begin a direct debit of £5 per month or more,39200:23:19,260 –> 00:23:22,420or a one-off gift of £60 or more,39300:23:22,420 –> 00:23:24,140we’d love to say thank you,39400:23:24,140 –> 00:23:28,859by sending you a copy of John Stott’s book The Incomparable Christ39500:23:29,420 –> 00:23:31,939Colin, who was John Stott?39600:23:31,939 –> 00:23:37,300Well, John Stott was one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.39700:23:37,300 –> 00:23:39,540A faithful preacher, a wise pastor,39800:23:39,540 –> 00:23:43,540a brilliant scholar who served the Church faithfully for over 60 years.39900:23:43,540 –> 00:23:47,660He really is one of my heroes of the faith,40000:23:47,660 –> 00:23:52,739and you know I have valued the advice I was given years ago, Steve.40100:23:53,060 –> 00:23:57,140Choose a book by its author and so this is a really good author,40200:23:57,140 –> 00:24:01,140but it’s a really good author on a really great subject.40300:24:01,140 –> 00:24:05,380This is John Stott on the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.40400:24:05,380 –> 00:24:06,339Who is Jesus?40500:24:06,339 –> 00:24:10,339Jesus was the central focus of all of John Stott’s work and life40600:24:10,339 –> 00:24:14,260as he should be the central focus of all of our lives.40700:24:14,260 –> 00:24:18,540And this wonderful book just opens up the glory of the lord Jesus Christ40800:24:18,540 –> 00:24:21,219as we find him in the New Testament,40900:24:21,420 –> 00:24:23,819as he’s inspired people throughout history,41000:24:23,819 –> 00:24:28,060and as one day we’re going to see him when he comes again in power and glory.41100:24:28,060 –> 00:24:34,859For anyone who loves Jesus to read a great book about Jesus Christ is a good thing to do.41200:24:34,859 –> 00:24:37,979And I think this is one of the best books you could read41300:24:37,979 –> 00:24:40,619about the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.41400:24:40,619 –> 00:24:43,660Well this book by John Stott, The Incomparable Christ,41500:24:43,660 –> 00:24:48,699is our gift to you when you begin a new direct debit to the work of Open The Bible41600:24:48,699 –> 00:24:51,739in the amount of £5 per month or more,41700:24:51,739 –> 00:24:55,819or a one-off gift of £60 or more this month.41800:24:55,819 –> 00:24:58,579Full terms and conditions are on our website.41900:24:58,579 –> 00:25:01,900That’s at OpenTheBible.org.uk42000:25:01,900 –> 00:25:03,939And you can give online.42100:25:03,939 –> 00:25:08,619Don’t forget to leave your full name and address so we can send you your free gift.42200:25:09,380 –> 00:25:12,900For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick42300:25:12,900 –> 00:25:16,239and I look forward to you joining us again for our next programme.42400:25:19,560 –> 00:25:23,780People often talk about what they’re looking for in a church,42500:25:23,780 –> 00:25:27,020but what is God looking for in a church?42600:25:27,020 –> 00:25:29,660Find out next time on Open The Bible.