100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:03,600Defining the approach200:00:03,600 –> 00:00:07,880Listen to your heart. Follow your heart.300:00:07,880 –> 00:00:10,340Now, that sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?400:00:10,340 –> 00:00:13,700The assumption behind this advice, of course, is that500:00:13,720 –> 00:00:19,000your heart is a reliable indicator of what is right,600:00:19,000 –> 00:00:22,200and the problem with that is that it completely700:00:22,200 –> 00:00:25,860ignores the Christian doctrine of sin.800:00:26,020 –> 00:00:28,559Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.900:00:28,559 –> 00:00:30,280I’m David Pick.1000:00:30,280 –> 00:00:31,480Thanks for being with us today.1100:00:31,480 –> 00:00:33,759Col, it sounds a bit heavy today.1200:00:33,779 –> 00:00:35,580The Christian doctrine of sin?1300:00:35,580 –> 00:00:37,459Christian doctrine of sin – that’s quite a lead line1400:00:37,459 –> 00:00:38,439for the program.1500:00:38,439 –> 00:00:42,040Now, a lot of folks have the idea that sin is simply1600:00:42,040 –> 00:00:44,320mistakes or doing bad things.1700:00:44,320 –> 00:00:46,299The Christian doctrine of sin, in other words,1800:00:46,320 –> 00:00:48,680what the Bible teaches about sin,1900:00:48,680 –> 00:00:51,320is that it has a profound effect on every part2000:00:51,340 –> 00:00:53,759of the human personality, and that’s true of2100:00:53,759 –> 00:00:55,900every person on the face of the planet.2200:00:55,900 –> 00:00:59,040Sin has affected the mind so that we do not see2300:00:59,040 –> 00:01:02,700the glory of God as we would have done2400:01:02,700 –> 00:01:04,480if we were not infected by sin.2500:01:04,480 –> 00:01:07,820It affects the human heart, it affects the human will,2600:01:07,820 –> 00:01:11,820so as soon as a person sees that, if you believe2700:01:11,820 –> 00:01:16,639that my heart has actually been affected by sin,2800:01:16,639 –> 00:01:18,980then simply to follow the impulses of my heart2900:01:18,980 –> 00:01:20,040would be crazy.3000:01:20,040 –> 00:01:21,300That’s going to mislead me.3100:01:21,419 –> 00:01:23,540It’s going to mislead me so I need to take sin3200:01:23,540 –> 00:01:27,099seriously in my life, but how do I begin to do that?3300:01:27,099 –> 00:01:28,820Well, the good news for a Christian3400:01:28,820 –> 00:01:31,139is that God gives us a new heart,3500:01:31,139 –> 00:01:33,580but what I’ve gotta be realistic about as a Christian3600:01:33,580 –> 00:01:35,400is that even with the new heart,3700:01:35,400 –> 00:01:37,860I live this life in the flesh and therefore3800:01:37,860 –> 00:01:39,559there are going to be many, many things3900:01:39,559 –> 00:01:43,160on an ongoing basis I have to confess to God4000:01:43,160 –> 00:01:45,220and I have to get used to doing what the Bible says,4100:01:45,220 –> 00:01:48,599examining myself to look at where sin4200:01:48,739 –> 00:01:51,660is working its way in the inner life4300:01:52,580 –> 00:01:54,900so that confessing that to God4400:01:54,900 –> 00:01:57,440and bringing it under the blood of Christ,4500:01:57,440 –> 00:01:59,639there may be progress against sin4600:01:59,639 –> 00:02:01,279rather than sin making progress4700:02:01,279 –> 00:02:03,320against the new life of Christ in me.4800:02:03,320 –> 00:02:05,620That’s what today’s message is all about.4900:02:05,620 –> 00:02:08,839It’s called Confess, so join us if you can5000:02:08,839 –> 00:02:10,619in Psalms 73.5100:02:10,619 –> 00:02:11,860Here’s Colin.5200:02:11,860 –> 00:02:13,559Now as we come to these verses today,5300:02:13,559 –> 00:02:17,039this is the toughest part of the whole psalm.5400:02:17,059 –> 00:02:19,300You need to brace yourself for this.5500:02:19,300 –> 00:02:21,960This is brutally honest.5600:02:23,000 –> 00:02:24,660But here’s the good news.5700:02:25,619 –> 00:02:28,240The kind of honesty that we find here5800:02:28,240 –> 00:02:31,139is the honesty that leads to a changed life.5900:02:32,600 –> 00:02:35,820When my heart was grieved, verse 21,6000:02:35,820 –> 00:02:38,259and my spirit was embittered,6100:02:38,259 –> 00:02:42,779I was senseless and ignorant.6200:02:42,779 –> 00:02:45,320I was a brute beast before you.6300:02:46,160 –> 00:02:47,600Now, we’ll come to the detail6400:02:47,600 –> 00:02:49,440of what Asaph says here in a moment,6500:02:49,440 –> 00:02:52,240but let’s start with the big picture.6600:02:52,240 –> 00:02:55,600This is a confession of sin.6700:02:56,600 –> 00:02:58,360A confession of sin, remember,6800:02:58,360 –> 00:03:02,119from one of the most Godly men who has ever lived.6900:03:02,119 –> 00:03:03,720And that teaches us the first thing7000:03:03,720 –> 00:03:04,899that we’ve got to grasp today,7100:03:04,899 –> 00:03:08,639which is that confession is a normal part7200:03:08,639 –> 00:03:11,979of a healthy Christian life.7300:03:12,179 –> 00:03:16,619Confession is a normal part of a healthy Christian life.7400:03:16,619 –> 00:03:19,380Now remember the apostle John says in the New Testament7500:03:19,380 –> 00:03:24,300if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just7600:03:24,300 –> 00:03:26,080and will forgive us our sins7700:03:26,080 –> 00:03:28,500and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.7800:03:28,500 –> 00:03:31,020And John wrote these words to who?7900:03:31,020 –> 00:03:32,539To Christians.8000:03:32,539 –> 00:03:34,259To the children of God.8100:03:34,259 –> 00:03:36,300And then he added, to Christians,8200:03:36,300 –> 00:03:41,300if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves.8300:03:42,639 –> 00:03:45,020In other words, if you cannot see anything8400:03:45,020 –> 00:03:47,520in your life right now that you could appropriately8500:03:47,520 –> 00:03:51,779confess a sin to God, you are simply not seeing clearly.8600:03:51,779 –> 00:03:52,759You’re blind.8700:03:53,679 –> 00:03:55,300If we’re walking around thinking8800:03:55,300 –> 00:03:57,339that there is no sin within us,8900:03:58,419 –> 00:04:01,000we are deceiving ourselves.9000:04:02,259 –> 00:04:05,779So confessing our sins is not some kind of aberration9100:04:05,779 –> 00:04:07,899of the Christian life, not something abnormal,9200:04:07,899 –> 00:04:10,300not some sign of dysfunction.9300:04:10,300 –> 00:04:13,479It is a normal part of a healthy Christian life.9400:04:14,940 –> 00:04:16,380Now, here’s the second thing.9500:04:17,700 –> 00:04:22,220Confession exposes what’s hidden in your heart.9600:04:22,220 –> 00:04:23,260First thing was confession,9700:04:23,260 –> 00:04:25,320as a normal part of a healthy Christian life.9800:04:25,320 –> 00:04:29,399Second, confession exposes what’s hidden in your heart.9900:04:29,399 –> 00:04:31,299And here we look a little more detail10000:04:31,299 –> 00:04:34,399at what Asaph actually says in his confession.10100:04:35,420 –> 00:04:39,820Verse 21, when my heart was grieved,10200:04:41,299 –> 00:04:43,359Now, these verses then open up10300:04:43,359 –> 00:04:45,720what was happening in Asaph’s heart,10400:04:45,720 –> 00:04:48,540remember, the heart of a godly man,10500:04:48,540 –> 00:04:50,299what had been happening in that heart10600:04:50,299 –> 00:04:52,700before he came into the sanctuary10700:04:52,700 –> 00:04:54,700and God turned on the light in his mind.10800:04:56,399 –> 00:04:59,660These things had been hidden even from Asaph himself.10900:05:00,679 –> 00:05:02,339But when he came into the presence of God,11000:05:02,339 –> 00:05:05,160God turned on the light and he saw things in himself11100:05:05,160 –> 00:05:07,140that he had not seen before.11200:05:07,140 –> 00:05:09,940And that was why he was able to make this confession,11300:05:11,260 –> 00:05:14,980when my heart was grieved.11400:05:17,480 –> 00:05:19,980Now, when your heart is grieved,11500:05:20,980 –> 00:05:25,980there are some sins to which you will be especially prone11600:05:27,640 –> 00:05:29,260and you need to be aware of what they are,11700:05:29,260 –> 00:05:31,179we’re going to find them and see them clearly11800:05:31,179 –> 00:05:32,880in these very verses.11900:05:34,279 –> 00:05:36,079Now, notice the three sins, therefore,12000:05:36,079 –> 00:05:39,940that Asaph confesses so that you can be on your guard12100:05:39,940 –> 00:05:42,040against them, especially at times12200:05:42,040 –> 00:05:44,339when your heart is grieved because they’re going12300:05:44,339 –> 00:05:48,420to be near to us at these times.12400:05:48,420 –> 00:05:49,260Number one.12500:05:50,459 –> 00:05:53,540My spirit was bitter.12600:05:53,540 –> 00:05:54,940That’s his first confession.12700:05:56,140 –> 00:06:01,140My heart was grieved and my spirit embittered.12800:06:02,779 –> 00:06:04,760Now, it may be that my heart was grieved12900:06:04,760 –> 00:06:07,079and my spirit was embittered are actually two ways13000:06:07,079 –> 00:06:09,820of saying the same thing, that is often the pattern,13100:06:09,820 –> 00:06:14,100in Hebrew poetry, but we all know that you can have13200:06:14,100 –> 00:06:17,140a grieved heart without a bitter spirit.13300:06:18,220 –> 00:06:20,160So, I’m suggesting that the first sin13400:06:20,160 –> 00:06:24,420that Asaph confesses here is a bitter spirit.13500:06:25,299 –> 00:06:29,420Lord, I see now what’s been happening,13600:06:29,420 –> 00:06:32,260I became bitter.13700:06:33,940 –> 00:06:36,859There were things in my life that made no sense to me13800:06:37,859 –> 00:06:41,899and what happened was I was soured towards you13900:06:41,899 –> 00:06:43,579and soured towards other people.14000:06:44,820 –> 00:06:47,320I saw how you were blessing others more than me14100:06:47,320 –> 00:06:51,279and it churned away at me, self-pity came in.14200:06:51,279 –> 00:06:53,380I began to feel sorry for myself.14300:06:53,380 –> 00:06:56,059My spirit was embittered.14400:06:57,399 –> 00:06:58,739This is my confession.14500:06:59,679 –> 00:07:00,839My spirit was bitter.14600:07:02,380 –> 00:07:06,220Second, my heart ruled my head14700:07:07,420 –> 00:07:10,179Look at this, when my heart was grieved14800:07:11,420 –> 00:07:14,940I was senseless and ignorant.14900:07:16,239 –> 00:07:19,579Now these two words, senseless and ignorant15000:07:19,579 –> 00:07:22,200are words about the mind.15100:07:22,200 –> 00:07:23,799So you see what he’s saying.15200:07:23,799 –> 00:07:28,279When my heart was grieved, when my emotions were stirred up15300:07:28,279 –> 00:07:31,000everything I knew and believed about you, oh Lord15400:07:31,000 –> 00:07:32,440seemed to just fly out the window.15500:07:32,440 –> 00:07:33,920Now you know how this happens.15600:07:34,920 –> 00:07:38,660You got your faith and then you hit some crisis15700:07:38,660 –> 00:07:40,100and when the emotions get going15800:07:40,100 –> 00:07:42,519and somehow your heart rolls your head15900:07:42,519 –> 00:07:44,959and everything you ever said you believed about God16000:07:44,959 –> 00:07:46,679suddenly seems to fly out the window.16100:07:46,679 –> 00:07:49,380I started thinking like an unbeliever thinks,16200:07:49,380 –> 00:07:52,299I started to talk to my friends in gloomy terms16300:07:52,299 –> 00:07:55,839as if there was no God, no help, no hope, no future.16400:07:55,839 –> 00:07:57,980What was I thinking about?16500:07:57,980 –> 00:08:00,339I was senseless, I was ignorant,16600:08:00,380 –> 00:08:05,179I let my heart roll my head when my heart was grieved.16700:08:07,820 –> 00:08:11,940I’ve enjoyed watching the film Home Alone.16800:08:11,940 –> 00:08:13,980You seen that one, Home Alone.16900:08:13,980 –> 00:08:15,239I don’t know, we must have watched it17000:08:15,239 –> 00:08:17,579a dozen times at Christmas.17100:08:17,579 –> 00:08:21,100And you know the story of the small boy17200:08:21,100 –> 00:08:23,339who is accidentally left at home17300:08:23,339 –> 00:08:25,820when his family takes a trip at Christmas17400:08:25,820 –> 00:08:30,179and then the whole house is turned into chaos17500:08:30,179 –> 00:08:33,039as he defends the home from burglars,17600:08:33,039 –> 00:08:38,039magnificently, by pouring tar out on the basement,17700:08:38,700 –> 00:08:41,619swinging pots of paint from the staircase,17800:08:41,619 –> 00:08:43,780pulling shelves on the wall,17900:08:43,780 –> 00:08:47,520smashing glass Christmas tree decorations on the carpet,18000:08:47,520 –> 00:08:49,960and the amazing thing is,18100:08:49,960 –> 00:08:52,500and it amazes me every time I’ve seen this film,18200:08:53,640 –> 00:08:55,780that when the parents come back18300:08:55,780 –> 00:08:57,659there isn’t the slightest sign18400:08:57,659 –> 00:08:58,739that anything has happened.18500:08:58,739 –> 00:09:01,099The whole home is restored to perfect order.18600:09:01,099 –> 00:09:04,500How in all the world did that happen?18700:09:06,020 –> 00:09:11,020Now listen, letting your heart rule your head18800:09:11,219 –> 00:09:14,080is like letting the kids run the home.18900:09:15,020 –> 00:09:15,859Think about it.19000:09:16,859 –> 00:09:20,859Your kids bring life and joy to the home19100:09:20,859 –> 00:09:23,020and a few problems as well.19200:09:23,020 –> 00:09:26,599But home wouldn’t be the wonderful place that it is19300:09:26,599 –> 00:09:29,440with all the joy if they weren’t there.19400:09:31,099 –> 00:09:33,820But if you let the kids take over running the home19500:09:33,820 –> 00:09:36,479it will not be long until there is chaos.19600:09:36,479 –> 00:09:38,280Now think of it like this.19700:09:38,280 –> 00:09:41,359Your heart is like a child,19800:09:42,479 –> 00:09:45,299your head is like a parent.19900:09:46,760 –> 00:09:49,000The heart, like the child, brings you great joy20000:09:49,000 –> 00:09:50,400and a few problems as well.20100:09:51,599 –> 00:09:56,219But it is the head that is to bring order to your life20200:09:57,599 –> 00:09:58,520Now here’s what happens,20300:09:58,520 –> 00:10:01,119when the heart is grieved, the heart gets kinda worked up20400:10:01,119 –> 00:10:04,440and the heart comes to the head and says to the head,20500:10:04,440 –> 00:10:07,320head, I, the heart, would like to take over20600:10:07,320 –> 00:10:10,919running this house of your life for a while.20700:10:10,919 –> 00:10:12,940And if the head says to the heart,20800:10:12,940 –> 00:10:15,840well no, that will be just fine20900:10:15,840 –> 00:10:17,840and hands over control of the house21000:10:17,840 –> 00:10:21,200it will not be long before chaos reigns.21100:10:22,719 –> 00:10:24,919And that is precisely what happened to Asaph.21200:10:25,919 –> 00:10:27,780His heart was grieved21300:10:28,960 –> 00:10:31,559and he allowed his heart to rule his head.21400:10:32,440 –> 00:10:34,599His emotions got all stirred up,21500:10:34,599 –> 00:10:36,159he allowed them to take over.21600:10:36,159 –> 00:10:39,520No wonder chaos reigned in his life21700:10:39,520 –> 00:10:41,400and he confesses this to God.21800:10:41,400 –> 00:10:43,440Here’s what I see now in the light of your truth21900:10:43,440 –> 00:10:45,380has been happening to me.22000:10:45,380 –> 00:10:47,599When my heart was grieved,22100:10:47,599 –> 00:10:49,159the head checked out.22200:10:49,159 –> 00:10:51,119I became senseless, I became ignorant,22300:10:51,119 –> 00:10:52,599everything I ever believed about you22400:10:52,599 –> 00:10:54,520went flying out the window.22500:10:55,520 –> 00:10:58,799I allowed my grief to rule my life.22600:10:58,799 –> 00:11:01,260Lord, have mercy upon me.22700:11:03,380 –> 00:11:04,880My spirit was bitter.22800:11:06,359 –> 00:11:10,000My heart ruled my head and chaos was the result.22900:11:11,700 –> 00:11:12,919And then look at the third thing.23000:11:12,919 –> 00:11:16,200Remember, the sins to which we’re especially prone23100:11:16,200 –> 00:11:17,539at times when we’re grief.23200:11:19,080 –> 00:11:21,919I was acting on impulse.23300:11:21,919 –> 00:11:23,320You’re listening to open the Bible23400:11:23,320 –> 00:11:24,719with Pastor Colin Smith23500:11:24,719 –> 00:11:26,539and a message called confessed23600:11:26,539 –> 00:11:29,719and part of our series I almost gave up23700:11:29,719 –> 00:11:33,400all about Asaph from Psalm 73.23800:11:33,400 –> 00:11:34,799If you ever miss one of the series,23900:11:34,799 –> 00:11:36,359don’t forget you can always catch up24000:11:36,359 –> 00:11:37,539and we’ll go back and listen again24100:11:37,539 –> 00:11:40,940online at our website openthebible.org.uk24200:11:42,500 –> 00:11:44,679back to the message now, here’s Colin.24300:11:44,679 –> 00:11:45,960And then look at the third thing,24400:11:45,960 –> 00:11:46,859remember24500:11:46,859 –> 00:11:49,280the sins to which would especially prone24600:11:49,280 –> 00:11:50,900at times when we’re grief.24700:11:52,239 –> 00:11:54,700I was acting on impulse.24800:11:56,359 –> 00:11:58,119When my heart was grieved24900:11:59,140 –> 00:12:03,000I was like a brute beast25000:12:03,000 –> 00:12:03,820before you.25100:12:03,820 –> 00:12:04,739Now what does that mean?25200:12:04,739 –> 00:12:06,479Well the point about a brute beast25300:12:06,479 –> 00:12:09,119is that of course the animals25400:12:09,119 –> 00:12:11,380act on impulse.25500:12:11,380 –> 00:12:13,619One of the great gifts that God has given25600:12:13,619 –> 00:12:14,460to men25700:12:14,460 –> 00:12:15,299and to women25800:12:15,299 –> 00:12:16,700is the gift of reason,25900:12:16,700 –> 00:12:18,000logic,26000:12:18,000 –> 00:12:18,900reflection,26100:12:18,900 –> 00:12:20,000analysis.26200:12:20,039 –> 00:12:23,159These gifts are not given to the animals.26300:12:23,159 –> 00:12:26,219The animals act on impulse26400:12:27,479 –> 00:12:30,400and Esau says this is what I was doing.26500:12:30,400 –> 00:12:31,760I was not acting on reason,26600:12:31,760 –> 00:12:34,000I was acting on impulse.26700:12:34,000 –> 00:12:35,440When my heart was grieved26800:12:35,440 –> 00:12:36,799I was just being pushed around26900:12:36,799 –> 00:12:39,159by the impulses of bitterness27000:12:39,159 –> 00:12:40,479and of unbelief27100:12:40,479 –> 00:12:41,559and of despair.27200:12:41,559 –> 00:12:44,340No wonder my feet had almost slipped.27300:12:46,679 –> 00:12:48,719This is important for us especially27400:12:48,719 –> 00:12:50,320because we live in a culture27500:12:50,320 –> 00:12:54,400where people just love the idea27600:12:54,400 –> 00:12:56,440of acting on impulse.27700:12:58,320 –> 00:13:01,039One of the greatest slogans of our time27800:13:01,039 –> 00:13:03,599and I’m gonna give you the first half27900:13:03,599 –> 00:13:05,919and you’re gonna complete it for me28000:13:05,919 –> 00:13:06,840is this,28100:13:07,900 –> 00:13:09,799if it feels good28200:13:10,679 –> 00:13:12,479do it.28300:13:12,479 –> 00:13:14,479That’s the slogan of our time isn’t it?28400:13:14,479 –> 00:13:15,299What is that?28500:13:15,299 –> 00:13:18,359That is acting on impulse.28600:13:18,479 –> 00:13:21,580If you have absolutely nothing else28700:13:21,580 –> 00:13:23,200that you can think of to do28800:13:24,099 –> 00:13:27,559spend some time watching a radio or television show28900:13:27,559 –> 00:13:29,580where people call in with their problems29000:13:30,880 –> 00:13:32,359and you will hear the same thing29100:13:32,359 –> 00:13:35,580over and over and over and over again.29200:13:36,799 –> 00:13:38,520Listen to your heart.29300:13:39,799 –> 00:13:41,400Follow your heart.29400:13:42,719 –> 00:13:43,960Now it sounds wonderful doesn’t it?29500:13:43,960 –> 00:13:46,000And some of us are drinking it in.29600:13:46,380 –> 00:13:50,820The assumption behind this advice, of course,29700:13:50,820 –> 00:13:54,840is that your heart is a reliable indicator29800:13:54,840 –> 00:13:55,799of what is right.29900:13:56,880 –> 00:13:58,400And the problem with that30000:13:58,400 –> 00:14:00,739is that it completely ignores30100:14:00,739 –> 00:14:02,799the Christian doctrine of sin.30200:14:04,659 –> 00:14:07,739Do you see a person who passes out the advice to everyone30300:14:07,739 –> 00:14:09,380follow your heart, follow your heart30400:14:09,380 –> 00:14:12,659simply doesn’t believe the Christian doctrine of sin.30500:14:13,419 –> 00:14:17,460The problem with me following my heart30600:14:18,659 –> 00:14:22,520is that there are way too many impulses in my heart30700:14:22,520 –> 00:14:25,400that would lead me into sin if I followed them.30800:14:26,460 –> 00:14:28,520There are impulses in here to pride,30900:14:28,520 –> 00:14:29,840impulses to greed,31000:14:29,840 –> 00:14:32,020impulses to self justification,31100:14:32,020 –> 00:14:33,940and a whole lot else besides.31200:14:35,359 –> 00:14:38,539Following your heart is a dangerous business.31300:14:40,140 –> 00:14:41,520Let’s not swing the other way.31400:14:42,299 –> 00:14:43,799I’m not suggesting for a moment31500:14:43,799 –> 00:14:45,619that your heart is always wrong,31600:14:45,619 –> 00:14:47,679I mean, the Holy Spirit lives within your heart.31700:14:47,679 –> 00:14:49,380But plainly from the Scripture,31800:14:49,380 –> 00:14:51,640a Christian who understands his or herself31900:14:51,640 –> 00:14:54,219will know and believe that the impulses of your heart32000:14:54,219 –> 00:14:56,739and the impulses of mine are mixed!32100:14:58,239 –> 00:15:01,539Sometimes your instincts will be enlightened32200:15:01,539 –> 00:15:03,000by the Holy Spirit.32300:15:03,919 –> 00:15:07,039Sometimes your instincts will be guided by the flesh.32400:15:07,960 –> 00:15:10,500That is why you and I have to submit32500:15:10,500 –> 00:15:12,479all our instincts to what?32600:15:12,479 –> 00:15:13,799The Word of God.32700:15:14,919 –> 00:15:16,799So that we can discern32800:15:18,059 –> 00:15:22,539and discover what impulses I need to fight against32900:15:22,539 –> 00:15:25,099and what impulses I need to follow.33000:15:26,820 –> 00:15:28,820Now, Asaph says, I’ve given up on that altogether.33100:15:28,820 –> 00:15:29,659I just lost it.33200:15:31,539 –> 00:15:32,859Here’s what was happening,33300:15:32,859 –> 00:15:34,280and Lord, since you’ve touched me33400:15:34,280 –> 00:15:37,099to open up my mind to the truth in the sanctuary,33500:15:37,099 –> 00:15:38,619I see it so clearly.33600:15:38,619 –> 00:15:40,099My spirit was bitter33700:15:41,440 –> 00:15:43,460My heart ruled my head.33800:15:44,380 –> 00:15:46,820I was acting on impulse.33900:15:48,580 –> 00:15:51,119Now this is a serious confession of sin.34000:15:52,219 –> 00:15:54,900It’s going way beyond a list of things34100:15:54,900 –> 00:15:57,359that Asaph had said or had done.34200:15:58,539 –> 00:16:02,539What he’s doing is in the searchlight of God’s truth,34300:16:02,539 –> 00:16:06,059the hidden movements of this man’s heart is uncovered.34400:16:07,299 –> 00:16:08,460And he’s brought to a position34500:16:08,460 –> 00:16:12,739where he finds liberty as he confesses it before God.34600:16:13,700 –> 00:16:17,900When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,34700:16:17,900 –> 00:16:22,500I was senseless and ignorant, I was a brute beast.34800:16:24,340 –> 00:16:26,299But you know the deepest part of this confession34900:16:26,299 –> 00:16:29,659is in the last two words, you noticed them there,35000:16:29,659 –> 00:16:34,179I was like a brute beast before you.35100:16:34,179 –> 00:16:35,799Before you, oh God.35200:16:36,760 –> 00:16:41,200Now there really is an appropriate sense of shame here,35300:16:42,760 –> 00:16:45,599see earlier I think we engaged with Asaph35400:16:45,599 –> 00:16:47,960when he made the point if I’d followed the thoughts35500:16:47,960 –> 00:16:50,200of my mind I would’ve let everybody down,35600:16:50,200 –> 00:16:53,400here he is now saying, oh Lord, I see now35700:16:53,400 –> 00:16:56,679that all this junk that was going on inside of me,35800:16:56,679 –> 00:17:00,059it was all before you.35900:17:02,280 –> 00:17:03,719What a fool I’ve been.36000:17:05,959 –> 00:17:10,819My spirit was bitter and that was before you.36100:17:13,000 –> 00:17:16,239I let my heart roll my head and you watched36200:17:16,239 –> 00:17:18,520all the chaos that followed,36300:17:20,619 –> 00:17:24,920I was acting on impulse and you saw what I did,36400:17:27,239 –> 00:17:29,920you saw me act on impulse on that website,36500:17:29,920 –> 00:17:32,599you heard me speak on impulse at that breakfast,36600:17:32,599 –> 00:17:34,079it was all before you.36700:17:36,219 –> 00:17:39,900This is the confession of a godly man.36800:17:41,959 –> 00:17:44,619And you know, Aasop’s not a man who needs counseling,36900:17:44,619 –> 00:17:46,520he’s a man who needs cleansing.37000:17:50,180 –> 00:17:54,839He needs to bring out the junk of his inner life37100:17:55,719 –> 00:17:59,420in the presence of God, he needs to confess.37200:18:02,119 –> 00:18:05,579And I expect that all of us, I hope that all of us37300:18:06,640 –> 00:18:10,719feel that we need to enter into this third dimension37400:18:10,719 –> 00:18:12,800of Asaph’s five point turn today.37500:18:12,800 –> 00:18:15,739Stop, think, confess.37600:18:17,479 –> 00:18:18,719Now here’s some good news.37700:18:19,839 –> 00:18:21,520You are never closer to Christ37800:18:21,520 –> 00:18:23,839than when you are most aware of your own sin.37900:18:26,199 –> 00:18:27,719Luke tells us about what happened38000:18:27,719 –> 00:18:29,839when Jesus called the first disciples38100:18:29,839 –> 00:18:30,680to follow him.38200:18:30,680 –> 00:18:31,520Do you remember the story?38300:18:31,520 –> 00:18:34,119Peter had been out fishing all night,38400:18:34,160 –> 00:18:35,199and he didn’t catch a thing,38500:18:35,199 –> 00:18:38,839and Jesus tells him to throw out the net one more time,38600:18:38,839 –> 00:18:40,640and suddenly there are more fish38700:18:40,640 –> 00:18:43,520in the net than Peter can pull in.38800:18:43,520 –> 00:18:45,479And Peter immediately realizes38900:18:45,479 –> 00:18:48,380that he is in the presence of the Lord.39000:18:49,800 –> 00:18:51,560Now what’s the first thing he says?39100:18:51,560 –> 00:18:54,000Depart from me, I’m a sinful man.39200:18:54,000 –> 00:18:55,479That’s what he says to Jesus.39300:18:56,880 –> 00:18:57,699See?39400:18:57,699 –> 00:18:59,239You feel that instinctively.39500:19:00,000 –> 00:19:04,520Watch, of course Jesus didn’t go what Jesus said.39600:19:04,520 –> 00:19:05,359No, no, no.39700:19:05,359 –> 00:19:06,540You follow me.39800:19:06,540 –> 00:19:07,380You follow me.39900:19:09,680 –> 00:19:12,199Actually, it was the nearness of Christ40000:19:12,199 –> 00:19:14,640that made him see his sinfulness as never before.40100:19:14,640 –> 00:19:17,359You are never closer to Christ40200:19:17,359 –> 00:19:20,280than when you are most aware of your own sin,40300:19:20,280 –> 00:19:24,000and so if that awareness is strong for you right now,40400:19:24,000 –> 00:19:25,859thank God for it.40500:19:27,040 –> 00:19:28,520It’s the one who shines the light40600:19:28,599 –> 00:19:29,520of Christ who’s drawing near,40700:19:29,520 –> 00:19:32,599and he’s drawing near not because he wants to leave you,40800:19:32,599 –> 00:19:35,140but because he wants you to follow him.40900:19:37,560 –> 00:19:39,079That’s what happened to Asaph.41000:19:41,540 –> 00:19:43,319It was the turning point of his life.41100:19:44,959 –> 00:19:47,479Confession is a normal part of a healthy Christian life.41200:19:47,479 –> 00:19:50,400Confession exposes what’s hidden in your heart,41300:19:50,400 –> 00:19:51,660and lastly and very briefly,41400:19:51,660 –> 00:19:55,359confession opens the door to hope.41500:19:55,359 –> 00:19:56,699See, what would you think41600:19:56,699 –> 00:20:00,319that the outcome of this confession would be?41700:20:02,479 –> 00:20:04,780Listen to it just one more time.41800:20:04,780 –> 00:20:07,880When my heart was grieved and my spirit was embittered,41900:20:07,880 –> 00:20:10,800I was senseless and ignorant.42000:20:10,800 –> 00:20:14,520I was a brute beast before you.42100:20:14,520 –> 00:20:16,180What would the outcome of that be?42200:20:16,180 –> 00:20:20,319Therefore, I am a total failure.42300:20:20,319 –> 00:20:24,880Therefore, my life is messed up and is a loss.42400:20:24,880 –> 00:20:27,819Therefore, there is no future usefulness for me42500:20:27,819 –> 00:20:29,819in your kingdom or in your purpose.42600:20:29,819 –> 00:20:30,939No, that’s not the outcome.42700:20:30,939 –> 00:20:32,500What is the outcome?42800:20:32,500 –> 00:20:33,920Verse 23.42900:20:33,920 –> 00:20:38,260Yet, I am always with you.43000:20:39,339 –> 00:20:41,880Would you have expected that to be the next statement?43100:20:43,780 –> 00:20:46,380See, true confession never leads to despair.43200:20:46,380 –> 00:20:48,180It always opens the door of hope.43300:20:48,180 –> 00:20:50,040I love this word yet.43400:20:51,459 –> 00:20:53,660My spirit was bitter, my heart ruled my head.43500:20:53,680 –> 00:20:57,420I was acting on impulse, yet I am always with you.43600:20:57,420 –> 00:20:59,300Only a believer can pray like this.43700:21:01,400 –> 00:21:02,619We often think about43800:21:02,619 –> 00:21:07,180the Lord walking with us through life on our path.43900:21:07,180 –> 00:21:09,380But a better way to think about the Christian life44000:21:09,380 –> 00:21:12,579is that you are walking with Christ on his path.44100:21:12,579 –> 00:21:14,319And that’s what Asaph gets here.44200:21:14,319 –> 00:21:18,020He says, yet I’m always with you.44300:21:18,020 –> 00:21:19,500Yet, Lord, here’s the miracle.44400:21:19,500 –> 00:21:20,880Despite everything that has happened44500:21:20,880 –> 00:21:23,099and all the junk that’s in my life,44600:21:23,239 –> 00:21:26,160I’m still here in your presence today, Lord.44700:21:26,160 –> 00:21:27,119Thank you for that.44800:21:27,119 –> 00:21:30,400And why is it that I’m here in your presence today?44900:21:30,400 –> 00:21:34,859It is because you have held me by my right hand.45000:21:37,140 –> 00:21:38,760My feet had almost slipped.45100:21:40,040 –> 00:21:41,660Why didn’t they slip?45200:21:43,280 –> 00:21:45,400He says, Asaph, God, you held me up,45300:21:45,400 –> 00:21:46,959you held me by my right hand.45400:21:46,959 –> 00:21:47,800Verse 23,45500:21:49,140 –> 00:21:50,420I came into the sanctuary.45600:21:50,420 –> 00:21:52,560Why did I come into the sanctuary?45700:21:52,619 –> 00:21:55,000God prompted him to come into his presence.45800:21:57,079 –> 00:22:00,500If sustaining the Christian life depended on me,45900:22:01,760 –> 00:22:05,300I would have given up long ago.46000:22:05,300 –> 00:22:06,300Wouldn’t you?46100:22:08,079 –> 00:22:10,800But thank God with Asaph you can say46200:22:10,800 –> 00:22:12,920as a Christian, and I can say as a Christian,46300:22:12,920 –> 00:22:16,239you hold me by my right hand,46400:22:16,239 –> 00:22:21,239and Lord, that’s why I’m here in your presence today.46500:22:22,000 –> 00:22:23,880If you hadn’t held me by my right hand,46600:22:23,880 –> 00:22:25,520I have no idea where I’d be today46700:22:25,520 –> 00:22:26,520and what I be doing.46800:22:28,000 –> 00:22:28,859But I’m here,46900:22:30,520 –> 00:22:32,680and it’s all because of your grace.47000:22:33,959 –> 00:22:35,719It’s all because of your mercy.47100:22:37,199 –> 00:22:41,699Even now is reaching me in the depth of my own.47200:22:41,699 –> 00:22:44,199Yes, full reminder there from Pastor Colin47300:22:44,199 –> 00:22:45,479that confession is crucial47400:22:45,479 –> 00:22:48,560to prevent our hearts from becoming hardened.47500:22:48,560 –> 00:22:50,920God knows the worst about us anyway.47600:22:50,920 –> 00:22:53,280And so we can’t really surprise him.47700:22:53,280 –> 00:22:56,920We should come to him frequently and honestly.47800:22:56,920 –> 00:22:59,300Our message today is called Confess47900:22:59,300 –> 00:23:01,880and it’s part of our series, I Almost Gave Up,48000:23:01,880 –> 00:23:04,920all about Asaph in the Psalm 73.48100:23:04,920 –> 00:23:07,199So if you ever miss one of the messages48200:23:07,199 –> 00:23:09,579in our series, don’t forget you can always catch up48300:23:09,579 –> 00:23:11,319or go back and listen again online48400:23:11,319 –> 00:23:15,060at our website, openthebible.org.uk.48500:23:15,060 –> 00:23:18,680Open The Bible is broadcast and available online48600:23:18,680 –> 00:23:22,839as a result of the generous donations made by our listeners.48700:23:22,839 –> 00:23:25,000So if you already give to support the work48800:23:25,000 –> 00:23:28,199of Open The Bible, we want to thank you so much.48900:23:28,199 –> 00:23:31,119If you’re considering giving to support Open the Bible49000:23:31,119 –> 00:23:33,319in that way, this month if you’re able49100:23:33,319 –> 00:23:36,280to set up a new direct debit in the amount49200:23:36,280 –> 00:23:39,800of £5 per month or more or a one off gift49300:23:39,800 –> 00:23:43,119of £50 or more, we’d love to say thank you.49400:23:43,119 –> 00:23:45,239Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham49500:23:45,239 –> 00:23:47,739to tell you about our offer this month.49600:23:47,859 –> 00:23:48,939Thanks, David.49700:23:48,939 –> 00:23:51,140This month at Open The Bible UK,49800:23:51,140 –> 00:23:53,719we’ll be thinking about the theme of grief49900:23:53,719 –> 00:23:56,380and the pain of sorrow and loss50000:23:56,380 –> 00:24:00,020that are a sad reality of this broken world.50100:24:00,020 –> 00:24:03,140As part of that, we’re offering a free copy50200:24:03,140 –> 00:24:06,619of Colin Smith’s book For All Who Grieve,50300:24:06,619 –> 00:24:09,859written after Colin counseled grieving couples50400:24:09,859 –> 00:24:12,420in his church and found himself turning50500:24:12,420 –> 00:24:14,959to the book of Lamentations for help.50600:24:15,000 –> 00:24:18,140As a result, it’s full of both biblical wisdom50700:24:18,140 –> 00:24:20,800but also really practical suggestions50800:24:20,800 –> 00:24:25,119and observations from people he counseled at that time.50900:24:25,119 –> 00:24:27,719We would love to send you a free copy51000:24:27,719 –> 00:24:30,040when you set up a new direct debit51100:24:30,040 –> 00:24:32,260of at least five pounds per month51200:24:32,260 –> 00:24:35,560or give a one-off gift of at least 50 pounds.51300:24:35,560 –> 00:24:39,680We will also be including five specially designed postcards51400:24:39,680 –> 00:24:42,280with a verse from Psalm 23,51500:24:42,540 –> 00:24:45,900ideal for sending to a friend for encouragement.51600:24:45,900 –> 00:24:47,380And if you would like to know51700:24:47,380 –> 00:24:49,619what other resources we have on grief,51800:24:49,619 –> 00:24:54,140do visit our website at openthebible.org.uk51900:24:54,140 –> 00:24:58,060and scroll down until you see our section on grief.52000:24:58,060 –> 00:24:59,099Thanks, Amanda.52100:24:59,099 –> 00:25:01,339And you can find full terms and conditions52200:25:01,339 –> 00:25:06,339and you can give online at our website openthebible.org.uk.52300:25:07,699 –> 00:25:10,140For Open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith,52400:25:10,140 –> 00:25:11,380I’m David Pick.52500:25:11,380 –> 00:25:14,540I hope you’ll join us again soon for Open The Bible.52600:25:19,099 –> 00:25:23,140Christian faith is not about your ability to trust.52700:25:23,140 –> 00:25:26,380Find out what the Bible says faith does depend on52800:25:26,380 –> 00:25:28,160next time on Open The Bible.