100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:08,960Here’s John … I drew him to faith 30 years ago200:00:08,960 –> 00:00:13,900His feet almost slipped many times300:00:13,900 –> 00:00:18,959But I held him by his right hand and that’s why he’s here today400:00:19,000 –> 00:00:20,180Imagine Jesus saying that of you500:00:20,200 –> 00:00:24,000Welcome to Open the Bible, with pastor Colin Smith600:00:24,000 –> 00:00:25,160I’m David Pick700:00:25,440 –> 00:00:27,160Thank you for being with us today800:00:27,160 –> 00:00:32,080And Colin, as we end our series I almost gave up the story of Asaph900:00:32,160 –> 00:00:35,119In the end we get some encouragement today1000:00:35,119 –> 00:00:37,040Yes, I think the whole psalm is a wonderful encouragement1100:00:37,060 –> 00:00:40,119for me to know that one of the greatest godly leaders1200:00:40,119 –> 00:00:43,099in the Old Testament went through an experience1300:00:43,119 –> 00:00:46,119where he said, my feet almost slipped1400:00:46,119 –> 00:00:46,959Well, that really helps me to know that1500:00:46,980 –> 00:00:50,119As Christian believers, there are times where we think1600:00:50,119 –> 00:00:53,099but for the grace of God I would have been gone1700:00:53,099 –> 00:00:56,080But for the grace of God, and that’s the whole point of the story1800:00:56,080 –> 00:00:59,060God doesn’t let his children go1900:00:59,080 –> 00:01:02,060And he held on to Asaph and got him established2000:01:02,099 –> 00:01:03,060brought him through2100:01:03,080 –> 00:01:06,059And friend, if you are in a place of feeling2200:01:06,059 –> 00:01:08,059that you’re ready to give up2300:01:08,099 –> 00:01:10,059I want to say to you2400:01:10,059 –> 00:01:11,059Christ will bring you through2500:01:11,099 –> 00:01:14,059and you can put your trust in him2600:01:14,080 –> 00:01:17,040So the prayer for this series is that there will be encouragement2700:01:17,059 –> 00:01:19,099to press on with Jesus Christ2800:01:19,160 –> 00:01:22,040So join us if you can, in Psalms 732900:01:22,040 –> 00:01:25,040As we begin the final part of our message3000:01:25,040 –> 00:01:27,040Commit, here’s Colin3100:01:27,040 –> 00:01:31,980Let me tell you the story of a man I know very well3200:01:31,980 –> 00:01:34,000I’m gonna call him Joe3300:01:35,000 –> 00:01:38,000Joe was a pastor for some years3400:01:38,000 –> 00:01:40,000It wasn’t easy3500:01:41,000 –> 00:01:42,980Joe and his wife endured3600:01:43,000 –> 00:01:46,980great difficulties over many years3700:01:48,000 –> 00:01:50,000They scraped by in ministry3800:01:50,000 –> 00:01:52,940on a desperately low income3900:01:53,940 –> 00:01:55,959They did what they did4000:01:55,959 –> 00:01:57,940in a small church4100:01:57,940 –> 00:02:00,000for the sake of Christ4200:02:01,980 –> 00:02:03,980After some years the pressures of the pastorate4300:02:03,980 –> 00:02:05,940began to affect Joe’s health4400:02:07,980 –> 00:02:09,940And so he left ministry4500:02:09,940 –> 00:02:11,940He was desperately discouraged4600:02:11,940 –> 00:02:13,960broken4700:02:14,960 –> 00:02:17,960Joe and his wife started attending a church in London4800:02:18,919 –> 00:02:20,919Sometime later I heard they had stopped going4900:02:22,919 –> 00:02:25,899A short time after that Joe’s wife died5000:02:26,899 –> 00:02:28,899I took the funeral5100:02:31,899 –> 00:02:33,899It was sometime after that he told me5200:02:33,899 –> 00:02:35,839why he gave up5300:02:37,839 –> 00:02:40,339It has left a deep and lasting5400:02:40,339 –> 00:02:42,339impression5500:02:42,339 –> 00:02:43,699on all my thinking5600:02:44,440 –> 00:02:46,440On all my thinking5700:02:48,440 –> 00:02:52,440It was the same every Sunday, Colin, he said5800:02:54,440 –> 00:02:58,440We just got slammed about making a commitment5900:02:59,440 –> 00:03:01,440And I was desperate6000:03:02,440 –> 00:03:04,839I didn’t have any strength6100:03:05,520 –> 00:03:09,580And I was just looking for hope6200:03:10,460 –> 00:03:15,419Now, A.S.A.F.’s story tells us6300:03:17,419 –> 00:03:20,419what Joe and thousands of others6400:03:21,419 –> 00:03:23,419need to grasp in the middle6500:03:23,419 –> 00:03:25,779of an A.S.A.F. experience6600:03:26,779 –> 00:03:27,779and it’s this6700:03:28,779 –> 00:03:32,779God will sustain you when your strength is gone6800:03:33,779 –> 00:03:36,779When your feet are sliding6900:03:36,779 –> 00:03:38,779he will hold you by your right hand7000:03:40,779 –> 00:03:43,779He will guide you with his counsel7100:03:43,779 –> 00:03:45,779and afterwards7200:03:45,779 –> 00:03:47,779he will bring you to glory7300:03:49,779 –> 00:03:51,779and if you have been wounded7400:03:51,979 –> 00:03:53,779by a version of Christianity7500:03:53,979 –> 00:03:55,779that makes the gospel seem like7600:03:55,979 –> 00:03:57,779an endless list of demands7700:03:57,979 –> 00:03:59,779and impossible expectations7800:03:59,979 –> 00:04:02,779you need to take in the grace of God7900:04:02,979 –> 00:04:04,779from this psalm8000:04:05,779 –> 00:04:08,779The gospel is not an endless8100:04:08,979 –> 00:04:10,779exhortation to what you should be8200:04:10,979 –> 00:04:11,779what you must be8300:04:11,979 –> 00:04:12,779what you ought to do8400:04:12,979 –> 00:04:14,779and all the rest of it8500:04:15,779 –> 00:04:17,779The gospel is about the grace of God8600:04:17,980 –> 00:04:19,779Right8700:04:20,779 –> 00:04:22,779and it’s not your commitment8800:04:22,980 –> 00:04:24,779that will lead to God’s grace8900:04:24,980 –> 00:04:25,779it is God’s grace9000:04:25,980 –> 00:04:27,779that will lead to your commitment9100:04:27,980 –> 00:04:29,779all the difference in the world9200:04:30,779 –> 00:04:32,779I would suggest three ways9300:04:32,980 –> 00:04:33,779in which we might use this psalm9400:04:33,779 –> 00:04:36,579as we come to a conclusion this morning9500:04:36,579 –> 00:04:39,579The first is simply a very practical idea9600:04:39,579 –> 00:04:40,579that I hope might be useful9700:04:40,779 –> 00:04:42,579and that is that you may find9800:04:42,779 –> 00:04:44,579at times when you go through an ASAPh experience9900:04:44,579 –> 00:04:47,579that it is useful for you to write10000:04:47,579 –> 00:04:51,779your story as ASaph wrote his story here10100:04:51,980 –> 00:04:53,579obviously this whole psalm10200:04:53,779 –> 00:04:55,579is this man writing out his story10300:04:55,779 –> 00:04:57,579under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit10400:04:57,779 –> 00:04:58,579of course10500:04:58,779 –> 00:04:59,579and it is being preserved10600:04:59,779 –> 00:05:01,579for our encouragement in the scriptures10700:05:02,579 –> 00:05:03,380so you may find10800:05:03,380 –> 00:05:05,380as I have found at different points in my life10900:05:05,380 –> 00:05:07,380to write out11000:05:07,579 –> 00:05:11,380the experience in which the Lord is meeting you11100:05:11,380 –> 00:05:13,380and the turn with he is bringing you11200:05:13,579 –> 00:05:15,380will help to clarify11300:05:15,579 –> 00:05:17,380how he is at work11400:05:17,579 –> 00:05:19,380in your life11500:05:19,579 –> 00:05:21,380The second thing is simply learn11600:05:21,579 –> 00:05:23,380and here we focus in more closely11700:05:23,380 –> 00:05:26,380on the words that ASaph uses here11800:05:26,579 –> 00:05:29,380notice what ASaph learned11900:05:29,579 –> 00:05:31,380from these last verses12000:05:31,579 –> 00:05:34,380those who are far from you will perish12100:05:34,579 –> 00:05:37,380you destroy all who are unfaithful to you12200:05:37,579 –> 00:05:40,380but as for me it is good to near God12300:05:40,579 –> 00:05:43,380I have made the sovereign Lord12400:05:43,579 –> 00:05:45,380my refuge12500:05:46,579 –> 00:05:49,380Now if you look back to the beginning of the Psalm12600:05:49,579 –> 00:05:53,380and compare verse 1 with verse 2512700:05:53,579 –> 00:05:57,380you will see how far Asaph has come12800:05:57,579 –> 00:05:59,380remember we saw at the beginning12900:05:59,380 –> 00:06:02,179that verse one was a kind of creedal statement13000:06:02,380 –> 00:06:04,179a sort of statement of faith13100:06:04,380 –> 00:06:06,179that would regularly be repeated in worship13200:06:06,380 –> 00:06:08,179God is good to Israel to those who are pure in heart13300:06:08,380 –> 00:06:10,179you see it was almost said13400:06:10,380 –> 00:06:11,179the sort of thing your brought up with13500:06:11,380 –> 00:06:13,179and that every good believer believes13600:06:13,380 –> 00:06:15,179you know God is good to Israel13700:06:15,380 –> 00:06:17,179to those who are pure in heart13800:06:17,380 –> 00:06:19,179this is what Asaph had always believed13900:06:19,380 –> 00:06:20,980but it seems from his testimony14000:06:21,179 –> 00:06:22,779that he did not have a very clear14100:06:22,980 –> 00:06:26,179idea of what it actually meant14200:06:26,380 –> 00:06:28,179What does it mean14300:06:28,980 –> 00:06:33,980to say that God is good to Israel14400:06:34,179 –> 00:06:36,980now the ancient philosophers14500:06:37,380 –> 00:06:39,980Plato and Socrates and all these guys14600:06:40,179 –> 00:06:41,980they used to debate14700:06:42,179 –> 00:06:46,980what is the highest good in life14800:06:47,179 –> 00:06:48,980to use a phrase from today14900:06:49,179 –> 00:06:52,980what is as good as it gets15000:06:53,179 –> 00:06:54,980and they have a phrase in Latin15100:06:55,179 –> 00:06:55,980that they used to use15200:06:56,179 –> 00:06:57,980that is still sometimes used today15300:06:58,179 –> 00:06:59,980about the Sunam Bonam15400:07:00,179 –> 00:07:01,980which you know for the kids15500:07:02,179 –> 00:07:02,980in grade school15600:07:03,179 –> 00:07:04,779you can say I was in church on Sunday15700:07:04,980 –> 00:07:06,779and I learned about the Sunam Bonam15800:07:06,980 –> 00:07:08,779and I will impress your teacher15900:07:08,980 –> 00:07:11,779but don’t get proud about it16000:07:11,980 –> 00:07:13,779the Sunam Bonam the highest good16100:07:13,980 –> 00:07:16,779what is as good as it gets16200:07:16,980 –> 00:07:19,980the point of this psalm16300:07:20,179 –> 00:07:20,980is that Aasaf is saying16400:07:21,179 –> 00:07:22,980I looked at other people16500:07:23,179 –> 00:07:24,980who were not living a godly life16600:07:25,179 –> 00:07:26,980and frankly I thought16700:07:26,980 –> 00:07:31,179they’d got it16800:07:31,380 –> 00:07:32,779I was thinking that the highest good16900:07:32,980 –> 00:07:35,779is health and wealth17000:07:35,980 –> 00:07:38,980and fulfilling your personal dream17100:07:39,179 –> 00:07:40,779now I realized he’s saying17200:07:40,980 –> 00:07:43,579that I was completely mistaken17300:07:43,779 –> 00:07:48,779I’ll tell you what the Sunam Bonam is17400:07:48,980 –> 00:07:51,779as for me17500:07:51,980 –> 00:07:56,779it is good to be near God17600:07:56,980 –> 00:07:58,380I realized this in the sanctuary17700:07:58,579 –> 00:08:00,980when I saw the ultimate outcome of the wicked17800:08:01,179 –> 00:08:05,779those who are far from you will perish17900:08:05,980 –> 00:08:09,380I see it now, the reason that God is good to Israel18000:08:09,579 –> 00:08:14,980is that he’s brought Israel near to God18100:08:15,179 –> 00:08:19,980I see now that, even if everything in my life18200:08:20,179 –> 00:08:21,380was as I wanted it to be18300:08:21,579 –> 00:08:23,179and I was far from God18400:08:23,380 –> 00:08:26,380I would be in a desperate position18500:08:26,779 –> 00:08:30,579and even if nothing in my life were as I’d want it to be18600:08:30,779 –> 00:08:32,780and I was near to God18700:08:32,979 –> 00:08:34,780then I’d still be supremely blessed18800:08:34,979 –> 00:08:38,780For me, this is the sunim bonim18900:08:38,979 –> 00:08:40,979To be near God19000:08:41,179 –> 00:08:47,179There is nothing greater in all of life than this19100:08:47,380 –> 00:08:52,780This is what Asaph learned from his experience19200:08:53,179 –> 00:08:58,380This is exactly the blessing of the Gospel, isn’t it?19300:08:58,580 –> 00:09:01,979What is the whole message of the Christian faith actually about?19400:09:02,179 –> 00:09:03,380It is simply this19500:09:03,580 –> 00:09:06,780That those who were once far away from God19600:09:06,979 –> 00:09:09,979have now been brought near19700:09:10,179 –> 00:09:12,380in Jesus Christ19800:09:12,580 –> 00:09:14,380Paul states it in Ephesians19900:09:14,580 –> 00:09:17,380that Christ came into the world, He gave his life on the cross20000:09:17,580 –> 00:09:20,780so that you could come near to God now20100:09:20,780 –> 00:09:22,979You have come near to him for eternity20200:09:23,179 –> 00:09:25,580You who were once far away He says20300:09:25,780 –> 00:09:28,780have been brought near, how?20400:09:28,979 –> 00:09:31,979Through the blood of Jesus Christ20500:09:32,179 –> 00:09:35,979You don’t come near to God simply by coming to church20600:09:36,179 –> 00:09:38,380By saying prayers20700:09:38,580 –> 00:09:40,979By being religious20800:09:41,179 –> 00:09:44,580By feeling better about your self20900:09:44,780 –> 00:09:47,580How do you come near to God?21000:09:47,780 –> 00:09:52,380Oh, Paul says it is through the blood of Jesus Christ21100:09:52,580 –> 00:09:55,580You are brought into a covenant relationship21200:09:55,780 –> 00:09:57,380sealed with his blood21300:09:57,580 –> 00:10:00,580There is the fulfilment of the covenant relationship21400:10:00,780 –> 00:10:03,179that God had with Israel21500:10:03,380 –> 00:10:05,580and their supreme blessing was that they were brought near to God21600:10:05,780 –> 00:10:07,979That is what the sacrifices were all about21700:10:08,179 –> 00:10:09,780pointing to the shed blood of Jesus21800:10:09,979 –> 00:10:12,979by which those who were far away are now brought near21900:10:12,979 –> 00:10:17,580How do you get near to God?22000:10:17,780 –> 00:10:20,780Through the blood of Jesus Christ22100:10:20,979 –> 00:10:23,380He is our peace22200:10:23,580 –> 00:10:27,580He came to preach peace to those of you who are far away, Paul says22300:10:27,780 –> 00:10:29,979as well as to those who are near22400:10:30,179 –> 00:10:32,979The sunnum bonum, the highest good that you can know in this life22500:10:33,179 –> 00:10:35,979is to be near God22600:10:36,979 –> 00:10:39,979So why would you remain at a distance from God22700:10:40,179 –> 00:10:42,979when Jesus Christ has come and shed his blood22800:10:43,380 –> 00:10:46,979so that you could come near22900:10:47,179 –> 00:10:48,979What Asaph Learned23000:10:49,979 –> 00:10:51,979You are listening to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith23100:10:52,179 –> 00:10:53,979in a message called, Commit23200:10:54,179 –> 00:10:56,979The final part of our series, I almost gave up23300:10:57,380 –> 00:10:59,979The story of Asaph from Psalm 7323400:11:00,179 –> 00:11:02,979The story of a Godly man who nearly lost his faith23500:11:03,179 –> 00:11:05,179but how God turned him around23600:11:05,179 –> 00:11:06,979If you have missed any of the series23700:11:07,179 –> 00:11:08,979Or if you want to go back and listen again23800:11:09,179 –> 00:11:12,979Come to our website, www.Openthebible.org.uk23900:11:13,179 –> 00:11:15,979Or find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites24000:11:16,179 –> 00:11:18,979Search for Open the Bible UK24100:11:19,179 –> 00:11:21,979Back to the message now, here’s Colin24200:11:22,179 –> 00:11:23,979And here’s the last thing24300:11:24,179 –> 00:11:26,979To tell – to write, to learn, to tell24400:11:27,179 –> 00:11:30,780I will tell of all your deeds24500:11:30,979 –> 00:11:33,979Verse 2824600:11:33,979 –> 00:11:37,780Now again, this really shows us how far Esau has come24700:11:37,979 –> 00:11:40,780Remember back in verse 1524800:11:40,979 –> 00:11:44,780That the best thing Esau could do for God’s people24900:11:44,979 –> 00:11:46,780Was keep his thoughts to himself25000:11:46,979 –> 00:11:48,780He said, if I had spoken25100:11:48,979 –> 00:11:51,780I would have betrayed this generation25200:11:51,979 –> 00:11:52,780There was a point in my life25300:11:52,979 –> 00:11:54,780Where if you knew what I was really thinking25400:11:54,979 –> 00:11:57,780It would have been discouraging to everyone25500:11:57,979 –> 00:11:59,780So the best thing I could do for God’s people25600:11:59,979 –> 00:12:02,780Was simply to keep my mouth shut25700:12:02,780 –> 00:12:05,580But now the grace of God has worked in his life25800:12:05,780 –> 00:12:07,580In such a way that he has something to say25900:12:07,780 –> 00:12:09,580And he is able to open his mouth26000:12:09,780 –> 00:12:12,580And share the story of what God has done for him26100:12:12,780 –> 00:12:16,580Every Christian has a story of God’s grace26200:12:16,780 –> 00:12:18,580And the wonderful thing is that26300:12:18,780 –> 00:12:21,580Your story of God’s grace is still being written26400:12:21,780 –> 00:12:24,580And every time you go through an Esau experience26500:12:24,780 –> 00:12:26,580Of real discouragement26600:12:26,780 –> 00:12:30,580Another chapter is added26700:12:30,580 –> 00:12:32,380And every chapter that is added26800:12:32,580 –> 00:12:34,380Becomes another part of the great story26900:12:34,580 –> 00:12:37,380Of testimony among God’s people27000:12:37,580 –> 00:12:39,380To how his grace brings us27100:12:39,580 –> 00:12:41,380Through every circumstance of life27200:12:41,580 –> 00:12:43,380It’s really a wonderful thing to think about it27300:12:43,580 –> 00:12:48,380Psalm 730 describes the worst time27400:12:48,580 –> 00:12:50,380In this man’s life27500:12:50,580 –> 00:12:53,380And here we are27600:12:53,580 –> 00:12:55,3803,000 years later27700:12:55,500 –> 00:12:57,380Feeding on the fruit of it27800:12:57,580 –> 00:12:59,380Drawing encouragement from his testimony27900:13:00,380 –> 00:13:02,179See what God gives to you28000:13:02,380 –> 00:13:06,179Will always be for the good of others28100:13:06,380 –> 00:13:08,179Your testimony to God’s grace28200:13:08,380 –> 00:13:10,179Bringing you through discouragement28300:13:10,380 –> 00:13:12,179Will be a strength to the rest28400:13:12,380 –> 00:13:15,179Of the body of Christ28500:13:15,380 –> 00:13:17,179Paul puts this in an extraordinary way28600:13:17,380 –> 00:13:18,179In 2 Corinthians Chapter 428700:13:18,380 –> 00:13:22,179He says death is at work in us28800:13:23,179 –> 00:13:26,179Life is at work in you28900:13:26,380 –> 00:13:27,179Here I’m going through this experience29000:13:27,380 –> 00:13:28,219Paul was saying29100:13:28,219 –> 00:13:32,020And it feels like death29200:13:32,219 –> 00:13:34,020And you know the result of that testimony29300:13:34,219 –> 00:13:36,020Of the apostles’ perseverance29400:13:36,219 –> 00:13:37,020Was what?29500:13:37,219 –> 00:13:39,219Life in the church29600:13:39,419 –> 00:13:41,020Everybody facility that you go through29700:13:41,219 –> 00:13:42,020Will be a means of blessing29800:13:42,219 –> 00:13:44,219In some way29900:13:44,419 –> 00:13:45,020Through God’s grace and mercy30000:13:45,219 –> 00:13:48,020In the life of others30100:13:48,219 –> 00:13:53,020I will tell of all your deeds30200:13:54,219 –> 00:13:56,020Now in these last moments30300:13:56,020 –> 00:13:58,820I want to make another application30400:13:59,020 –> 00:13:59,820And I want us to think about30500:14:00,020 –> 00:14:02,820What this Psalm would mean30600:14:03,020 –> 00:14:05,820In the experience of Jesus30700:14:06,020 –> 00:14:06,820Now that’s an important way, actually30800:14:07,020 –> 00:14:08,820To come to all of the scriptures30900:14:09,020 –> 00:14:09,820And especially the Psalms31000:14:10,020 –> 00:14:11,820Remember, this was the prayer book31100:14:12,020 –> 00:14:13,820That Jesus used31200:14:14,020 –> 00:14:14,820So what would it mean31300:14:15,020 –> 00:14:18,820In the experience of Jesus?31400:14:19,020 –> 00:14:21,820This is Esau’s story31500:14:22,020 –> 00:14:22,820In some particular ways31600:14:23,020 –> 00:14:24,820It will become your story31700:14:24,820 –> 00:14:25,619and my story31800:14:25,820 –> 00:14:30,619But it is also Jesus’ story31900:14:30,820 –> 00:14:35,619See, all of history32000:14:35,820 –> 00:14:37,619Is heading up to the day32100:14:37,820 –> 00:14:42,619When Jesus Christ will tell His story32200:14:42,820 –> 00:14:46,619The greatest story ever told32300:14:46,820 –> 00:14:47,820The Book of Hebrews32400:14:48,020 –> 00:14:49,820Describes a day32500:14:50,020 –> 00:14:52,419The day32600:14:52,619 –> 00:14:53,619When Jesus will stand32700:14:53,619 –> 00:14:55,419In the presence of the Father32800:14:55,619 –> 00:14:56,419With all of the company32900:14:56,619 –> 00:14:58,419of His Children33000:14:58,619 –> 00:14:59,419Who have been gathered33100:14:59,619 –> 00:15:01,419In Faith33200:15:01,619 –> 00:15:03,419And brought into the presence of God33300:15:03,619 –> 00:15:05,419And Jesus will say this33400:15:05,619 –> 00:15:07,419Here I am33500:15:07,619 –> 00:15:09,419He’ll say to the Father33600:15:09,619 –> 00:15:10,419And here are the children33700:15:10,619 –> 00:15:12,419That You have given me33800:15:12,619 –> 00:15:13,419Can you picture that?33900:15:13,619 –> 00:15:16,419It will be a glorious moment34000:15:16,619 –> 00:15:20,419Jude also speaks about that day34100:15:20,619 –> 00:15:21,419He says this34200:15:21,619 –> 00:15:22,419And it’s wonderfully relevant34300:15:22,419 –> 00:15:23,219To Psalm 7334400:15:23,419 –> 00:15:26,219Jesus Christ is able34500:15:26,419 –> 00:15:29,219To keep you from falling34600:15:29,419 –> 00:15:30,219And more than that34700:15:30,419 –> 00:15:33,219He is able to present you34800:15:33,419 –> 00:15:35,219Faultless34900:15:35,419 –> 00:15:37,219And with great joy35000:15:37,419 –> 00:15:41,219In the presence of the Father35100:15:42,419 –> 00:15:44,219Now try and picture35200:15:44,419 –> 00:15:48,219That day with me35300:15:48,419 –> 00:15:52,219Jesus stands before the Father35400:15:52,419 –> 00:15:55,219And all who are his people35500:15:55,419 –> 00:15:58,219Through faith in his blood35600:15:58,419 –> 00:16:01,219Are gathered there with him35700:16:01,419 –> 00:16:02,219We are overwhelmed35800:16:02,419 –> 00:16:06,219With joy just to be there35900:16:06,419 –> 00:16:08,219And there is awe36000:16:08,419 –> 00:16:09,219In our hearts36100:16:09,419 –> 00:16:13,219As we hear his voice begin to speak36200:16:13,419 –> 00:16:17,219He tells his story36300:16:17,419 –> 00:16:19,219He tells of how he came36400:16:19,419 –> 00:16:20,219Into the world36500:16:20,219 –> 00:16:24,020To seek and to save the lost36600:16:24,219 –> 00:16:28,020He tells of how he was despised36700:16:28,219 –> 00:16:31,020And how he was rejected36800:16:31,219 –> 00:16:33,020And thinking of what it would mean36900:16:33,219 –> 00:16:34,020For Jesus to take the themes37000:16:34,219 –> 00:16:35,020Of this psalm37100:16:35,219 –> 00:16:38,020On his own lips37200:16:38,219 –> 00:16:40,020And into his own experience37300:16:40,219 –> 00:16:42,020Perhaps he would say37400:16:42,219 –> 00:16:44,020Something like this37500:16:44,219 –> 00:16:49,020My feet did slip37600:16:49,020 –> 00:16:50,820I stumbled37700:16:51,020 –> 00:16:55,820Under the weight of that cross37800:16:56,020 –> 00:16:57,820And when I fell37900:16:58,020 –> 00:17:00,820No one came to my aid38000:17:01,020 –> 00:17:01,820They had to press gang38100:17:02,020 –> 00:17:03,820Someone who was standing there38200:17:04,020 –> 00:17:07,819Just to help me38300:17:08,020 –> 00:17:11,819I could not go into the sanctuary38400:17:12,020 –> 00:17:13,819I was shut out from God’s Temple38500:17:14,020 –> 00:17:16,819They did not want me there38600:17:16,819 –> 00:17:19,619I was driven outside of the walls38700:17:19,819 –> 00:17:23,619Of God’s holy city38800:17:23,819 –> 00:17:28,619There I bore the sins of the world38900:17:28,819 –> 00:17:31,619In my own body I carried the guilt39000:17:31,819 –> 00:17:34,619And the shame and the weight39100:17:34,819 –> 00:17:36,619And the condemnation of every sin39200:17:36,819 –> 00:17:42,619And every crime that is known to mankind39300:17:42,819 –> 00:17:43,819When that happened39400:17:44,020 –> 00:17:46,619I looked up to heaven for comfort39500:17:46,819 –> 00:17:53,619And there was no light for me39600:17:53,819 –> 00:17:56,619I cried out in anguish39700:17:56,819 –> 00:17:59,619My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?39800:17:59,819 –> 00:18:02,619And there was no answer to my cry39900:18:02,819 –> 00:18:06,619Yet, Father,40000:18:06,819 –> 00:18:10,619I put my trust in you40100:18:11,420 –> 00:18:18,420Into your hands I commit my spirit, I said40200:18:18,619 –> 00:18:24,420On the third day you raised me from the dead40300:18:24,619 –> 00:18:28,420And ever since that day I have been at work40400:18:28,619 –> 00:18:33,420Drawing men and women to repentance and to faith40500:18:33,619 –> 00:18:36,420Sustaining them in their journey40600:18:36,619 –> 00:18:39,420Sending them out into the world in my name40700:18:39,420 –> 00:18:42,219My Father here I am40800:18:42,420 –> 00:18:46,219With the children you have given to me40900:18:48,420 –> 00:18:50,420You know it’s a great thing41000:18:51,420 –> 00:18:54,219to know that Jesus is in your story41100:18:55,420 –> 00:18:58,219It is an even greater thing to know that41200:18:58,420 –> 00:19:01,219you are in Jesus story41300:19:02,420 –> 00:19:05,219Actually that’s your ultimate assurance41400:19:06,219 –> 00:19:10,020I want you to try and picture this41500:19:10,219 –> 00:19:13,020in these last moments41600:19:14,219 –> 00:19:18,020Even though it is so difficult41700:19:18,219 –> 00:19:21,020to imagine these things41800:19:22,219 –> 00:19:29,020He will present you41900:19:29,219 –> 00:19:33,020to the Father42000:19:33,819 –> 00:19:40,819You are part of His story42100:19:43,020 –> 00:19:46,819He’ll be standing with us, you see42200:19:47,020 –> 00:19:50,619Here am I and the children you have given me42300:19:50,819 –> 00:19:52,819Jesus is saying42400:19:52,819 –> 00:19:55,819John I know you well enough to ask you to stand42500:19:56,819 –> 00:19:58,819And He comes alongside you42600:19:59,020 –> 00:20:00,920John how long have you been a Christian42700:20:01,020 –> 00:20:02,020About thirty years42800:20:02,020 –> 00:20:04,020Thirty years, thirty years42900:20:05,020 –> 00:20:06,020Here’s John43000:20:09,020 –> 00:20:12,020I drew him to faith thirty years ago43100:20:14,020 –> 00:20:18,020His feet almost slipped many times43200:20:19,020 –> 00:20:22,020But I held him by his right hand43300:20:22,020 –> 00:20:24,020And that’s why he’s here today43400:20:25,020 –> 00:20:27,020Imagine Jesus saying that of you43500:20:28,020 –> 00:20:30,020Now try and picture that43600:20:30,020 –> 00:20:32,020Do you know what I think I’d be saying?43700:20:32,020 –> 00:20:34,020What John would be saying and what you’d be saying?43800:20:36,020 –> 00:20:39,020Jesus, I can hardly believe I’m here43900:20:41,020 –> 00:20:43,020I mean, I almost gave up44000:20:45,020 –> 00:20:47,020My feet had almost slipped44100:20:48,020 –> 00:20:51,020I was senseless, I was ignorant44200:20:51,020 –> 00:20:54,020I was a brute beast before you44300:20:55,020 –> 00:20:59,020But you held me by my right hand44400:20:59,020 –> 00:21:01,020You guided me with your counsel44500:21:01,020 –> 00:21:03,020You’ve now brought me into glory44600:21:03,020 –> 00:21:05,020Who am I in heaven but you?44700:21:05,020 –> 00:21:08,020Oh for me it is good to be near God44800:21:08,020 –> 00:21:12,020I will tell of all your deeds44900:21:13,020 –> 00:21:17,020And in that moment you will discover with greater clarity45000:21:17,020 –> 00:21:20,020than at any other point in your entire life45100:21:20,020 –> 00:21:22,020what Asaph learned here45200:21:22,020 –> 00:21:26,020I almost gave up45300:21:27,020 –> 00:21:29,020You almost gave up45400:21:31,020 –> 00:21:36,020and the reason you didn’t give up on Jesus45500:21:37,020 –> 00:21:41,020is that Jesus didn’t give up on you45600:21:44,020 –> 00:21:45,020What an encouraging end to our message and series45700:21:45,020 –> 00:21:47,020The reason you didn’t give up on Jesus45800:21:47,020 –> 00:21:50,020is because he didn’t give up on you45900:21:51,020 –> 00:21:52,020The message was called commit46000:21:52,020 –> 00:21:55,020and it was the final message in our series46100:21:55,020 –> 00:21:57,020I almost gave up46200:21:57,020 –> 00:21:58,020and if you missed any of the series46300:21:58,020 –> 00:22:00,020and if you want to go back and listen again46400:22:00,020 –> 00:22:01,020come to our website46500:22:01,020 –> 00:22:04,020Openthebible.org.uk46600:22:04,020 –> 00:22:06,020or find us as a podcast46700:22:06,020 –> 00:22:07,020on all the main podcast sites46800:22:07,020 –> 00:22:10,020search for Open the Bible UK46900:22:10,020 –> 00:22:12,020or follow the link from our website47000:22:12,020 –> 00:22:15,020Open the Bible is able to stay online47100:22:15,020 –> 00:22:16,020and on the air47200:22:16,020 –> 00:22:18,020as a result of the generous giving47300:22:18,020 –> 00:22:19,020by our listeners47400:22:19,020 –> 00:22:22,020so if you already give to support the work47500:22:22,020 –> 00:22:23,020thank you so much47600:22:23,020 –> 00:22:25,020if that’s something you’re considering doing47700:22:25,020 –> 00:22:26,020in the future47800:22:26,020 –> 00:22:28,020this month we have a special offer for you47900:22:28,020 –> 00:22:30,020if you were able to become a new direct debit48000:22:30,020 –> 00:22:33,020to the work of Open the Bible48100:22:33,020 –> 00:22:35,020in the amount of £5 per month or more48200:22:35,020 –> 00:22:38,020or a one off gift of £50 or more48300:22:38,020 –> 00:22:39,020we’d love to say thank you48400:22:39,020 –> 00:22:42,020by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin Smith’s book48500:22:42,020 –> 00:22:45,020For All Who Grieve48600:22:45,020 –> 00:22:46,020Along with five lovely greetings cards48700:22:46,020 –> 00:22:49,020with a verse from Psalm 2348800:22:49,020 –> 00:22:54,020Colin, what was it that inspired you to write this book48900:22:54,020 –> 00:22:55,020well I’ll never forget it49000:22:55,020 –> 00:22:57,020I was on a study break49100:22:57,020 –> 00:22:58,020when I picked up a voice mail49200:22:58,020 –> 00:23:00,020with the terrible news49300:23:00,020 –> 00:23:02,020that a couple in our church49400:23:02,020 –> 00:23:04,020had lost their son49500:23:04,020 –> 00:23:06,020in a tragic accident49600:23:06,020 –> 00:23:08,020and in the days and weeks that followed49700:23:08,020 –> 00:23:10,020I had the privilege of walking with them49800:23:10,020 –> 00:23:11,020through the funeral49900:23:11,020 –> 00:23:14,020and the first days of their grief50000:23:14,020 –> 00:23:16,020I said to them at one point50100:23:16,020 –> 00:23:18,020there are others50200:23:18,020 –> 00:23:19,020in the church50300:23:19,020 –> 00:23:20,020who have lost a child50400:23:20,020 –> 00:23:21,020and would you be interested50500:23:21,020 –> 00:23:24,020in meeting with some others50600:23:24,020 –> 00:23:25,020who have gone through50700:23:25,020 –> 00:23:27,020this most awful experience50800:23:27,020 –> 00:23:29,020and they jumped at that50900:23:29,020 –> 00:23:30,020and a few days later51000:23:30,020 –> 00:23:32,020we gathered a group of people51100:23:32,020 –> 00:23:33,020who had gone through51200:23:33,020 –> 00:23:34,020this same experience51300:23:34,020 –> 00:23:35,020in our home51400:23:35,020 –> 00:23:36,020and oh it’s one of the51500:23:36,020 –> 00:23:38,020most moving experiences of my life51600:23:38,020 –> 00:23:39,020to have heard these folks51700:23:39,020 –> 00:23:41,020sharing their stories51800:23:41,020 –> 00:23:42,020with each other51900:23:42,020 –> 00:23:43,020and then in the weeks that followed52000:23:43,020 –> 00:23:45,020we continued to meet52100:23:45,020 –> 00:23:46,020and opened up52200:23:46,020 –> 00:23:48,020The Book of Lamentations52300:23:48,020 –> 00:23:49,020A whole book of the Bible52400:23:49,020 –> 00:23:51,020that’s given to the subject52500:23:51,020 –> 00:23:52,020of navigating your way52600:23:52,020 –> 00:23:54,020through the valley of sorrow52700:23:54,020 –> 00:23:55,020and loss52800:23:55,020 –> 00:23:57,020and it was remarkable52900:23:57,020 –> 00:23:59,020to hear folks53000:23:59,020 –> 00:24:00,020relate their experience53100:24:00,020 –> 00:24:01,020to scripture53200:24:01,020 –> 00:24:03,020and scripture to their experience53300:24:03,020 –> 00:24:05,020and sometime after that53400:24:05,020 –> 00:24:06,020several in that group53500:24:06,020 –> 00:24:08,020felt that they would be happy53600:24:08,020 –> 00:24:09,020to share their stories53700:24:09,020 –> 00:24:11,020and so really53800:24:11,020 –> 00:24:12,020this book53900:24:12,020 –> 00:24:14,020For All Who Grieve is54000:24:14,020 –> 00:24:16,020it’s a combination of the stories54100:24:16,020 –> 00:24:18,020with what we learned54200:24:18,020 –> 00:24:20,020from The Book of Lamentations together54300:24:20,020 –> 00:24:22,020so if you would like54400:24:22,020 –> 00:24:23,020to have been in that group54500:24:23,020 –> 00:24:24,020if you would like to54600:24:24,020 –> 00:24:26,020to have been a fly on the wall54700:24:26,020 –> 00:24:27,020and to have heard54800:24:27,020 –> 00:24:28,020what these folks said54900:24:28,020 –> 00:24:29,020you have the opportunity55000:24:29,020 –> 00:24:30,020to do that55100:24:30,020 –> 00:24:32,020and we’ve put this together55200:24:32,020 –> 00:24:33,020in order to share55300:24:33,020 –> 00:24:34,020a testimony55400:24:34,020 –> 00:24:35,020to the sufficiency55500:24:35,020 –> 00:24:37,020of God’s grace55600:24:37,020 –> 00:24:38,020in the most painful55700:24:38,020 –> 00:24:39,020and sorrowful55800:24:39,020 –> 00:24:40,020valleys55900:24:40,020 –> 00:24:41,020and I hope56000:24:41,020 –> 00:24:42,020that it really56100:24:42,020 –> 00:24:43,020will be a means56200:24:43,020 –> 00:24:44,020of help56300:24:44,020 –> 00:24:45,020and comfort56400:24:45,020 –> 00:24:46,020and encouragement56500:24:46,020 –> 00:24:47,020for All Who Grieve56600:24:47,020 –> 00:24:48,020Well we’d love to send you56700:24:48,020 –> 00:24:49,020a copy of Colin’s book56800:24:49,020 –> 00:24:50,020along with five56900:24:50,020 –> 00:24:52,020lovely greetings cards57000:24:52,020 –> 00:24:54,020with a verse from Psalm 2357100:24:54,020 –> 00:24:55,020if you’re able to begin57200:24:55,020 –> 00:24:56,020a new direct debit57300:24:56,020 –> 00:24:57,020to the work57400:24:57,020 –> 00:24:58,020of Open the Bible57500:24:58,020 –> 00:25:00,020in the amount of £557600:25:00,020 –> 00:25:01,020per month or more57700:25:01,020 –> 00:25:02,020or a one-off gift57800:25:02,020 –> 00:25:03,020of £50 or more57900:25:03,020 –> 00:25:05,020this month58000:25:05,020 –> 00:25:06,020Full terms and conditions58100:25:06,020 –> 00:25:07,020can be found58200:25:07,020 –> 00:25:08,020on our website58300:25:08,020 –> 00:25:09,020and you can also58400:25:10,020 –> 00:25:11,020For Open the Bible58500:25:11,020 –> 00:25:11,02058600:25:12,020 –> 00:25:13,020I’m David Pick58700:25:13,020 –> 00:25:14,020and I hope you’ll58800:25:14,020 –> 00:25:15,020join us again next time58900:25:21,020 –> 00:25:23,020Should we fear God59000:25:23,020 –> 00:25:25,020or should we love God?59100:25:25,020 –> 00:25:27,020Find out next time59200:25:27,020 –> 00:25:28,020on Open the Bible