100:00:00,760 –> 00:00:13,520It sometimes seems that parents and teachers, and counsellors, and politicians,200:00:13,520 –> 00:00:24,200and advertisers are all conspiring together to tell us how great we are.300:00:24,799 –> 00:00:29,559And apart from a miracle of God’s Grace,400:00:31,200 –> 00:00:32,279we will believe it.500:00:32,279 –> 00:00:35,419Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:35,419 –> 00:00:36,200I’m David Pick.700:00:36,200 –> 00:00:37,459Glad you joined us today.800:00:37,459 –> 00:00:41,860And Colin, many of us recognize that we’re bombarded in that way.900:00:41,860 –> 00:00:46,200And although if we have children, we think they’re wonderful, wonderful,1000:00:46,200 –> 00:00:49,720of course, and they can grow up and to do anything they want,1100:00:49,720 –> 00:00:52,080your saying there’s a bit of a danger in that.1200:00:52,360 –> 00:00:55,660Yeah, well, the first thing to say is that affirmation is important.1300:00:55,660 –> 00:00:57,580We are to encourage each other.1400:00:57,580 –> 00:01:02,459The problem is that I think that an unbroken diet of affirmation1500:01:02,459 –> 00:01:07,099ends up creating exactly the opposite of what we want in our kids.1600:01:07,099 –> 00:01:09,239A sense of self-sufficiency,1700:01:09,239 –> 00:01:14,279a sense that actually, I end up being in the position of God,1800:01:14,279 –> 00:01:16,440which is, of course, the ultimate idolatry.1900:01:16,440 –> 00:01:19,320And we’re looking today at the first beatitude where Jesus says,2000:01:19,320 –> 00:01:21,440blessed are the poor in spirit.2100:01:21,599 –> 00:01:25,879Well, you know, a constant diet of affirmation actually goes against2200:01:25,879 –> 00:01:30,000the very first thing that Jesus speaks to us about as being blessed,2300:01:30,000 –> 00:01:31,760which is I have an awareness of my own need.2400:01:31,760 –> 00:01:33,680So you’re a grandparent now.2500:01:33,680 –> 00:01:40,019How do we talk to those kids in a way that is truthful but doesn’t leave them crushed?2600:01:40,019 –> 00:01:43,959Yeah, well, I think one of the ways of doing that is to do it in a personal way.2700:01:43,959 –> 00:01:48,500We’re not speaking to our children as if there was something that they needed2800:01:48,500 –> 00:01:49,879that we did not.2900:01:49,900 –> 00:01:53,059So it’s a great thing to be able, as a parent or as a grandparent,3000:01:53,059 –> 00:01:54,480to start with yourself.3100:01:54,480 –> 00:01:57,120Dad, Grandad needs this.3200:01:57,120 –> 00:02:03,260Grandad needs this, Savior, and to be able to communicate our own sense of need3300:02:03,260 –> 00:02:06,500so that our children, and indeed, for that matter, our grandchildren3400:02:06,500 –> 00:02:10,360are going to gain something of what Jesus is speaking about here.3500:02:10,360 –> 00:02:11,899Blessed are the poor in spirit.3600:02:11,899 –> 00:02:16,399Blessed are those who say, I need what I cannot find in myself3700:02:16,399 –> 00:02:18,460and what I can only find in Christ.3800:02:18,679 –> 00:02:21,639So today’s message is called Cultivating Humility.3900:02:21,639 –> 00:02:25,979So join us if you can in 1 Peter, Chapter 5.4000:02:25,979 –> 00:02:27,779Here is pastor Colin.4100:02:27,779 –> 00:02:30,660We’re looking together at the Beatitudes,4200:02:30,660 –> 00:02:34,179these great pronouncements of blessings from the Son of God.4300:02:34,179 –> 00:02:38,059We began last week, you may recall, in Matthew, Chapter 5, and verse 3,4400:02:38,059 –> 00:02:39,660with the statement of Jesus,4500:02:39,660 –> 00:02:45,580blessed are the poor in spirit, for their is the kingdom of heaven.4600:02:45,580 –> 00:02:50,039We saw that Christ calls us to recognize our poverty before God.4700:02:50,039 –> 00:02:53,539You may have much to offer your family, your business, your sports team,4800:02:53,539 –> 00:02:55,940your friends, but when you stand before God,4900:02:55,940 –> 00:02:58,740you are in an entirely different position.5000:02:58,740 –> 00:03:02,419What do we have that we did not receive?5100:03:02,419 –> 00:03:07,220But we saw that in this poverty of spirit, there is also a surprising blessing.5200:03:07,220 –> 00:03:11,139Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.5300:03:11,139 –> 00:03:12,580We saw this wonderful gift5400:03:12,580 –> 00:03:15,539that there is a taste of heaven now for the humble5500:03:15,539 –> 00:03:18,779because God has promised to dwell with them.5600:03:18,779 –> 00:03:23,500Heaven comes to the humble before the humble are in heaven.5700:03:23,500 –> 00:03:25,220And therefore, today,5800:03:25,220 –> 00:03:28,339we’re trying to take the second step in this journey5900:03:28,339 –> 00:03:30,039and to ask the question,6000:03:30,039 –> 00:03:35,460how, then, can we cultivate this kind of humility?6100:03:36,380 –> 00:03:39,039Now in the introduction to the series,6200:03:39,199 –> 00:03:42,740we noted that there is a progression in the beatitudes.6300:03:42,740 –> 00:03:44,080A number of folks have written saying6400:03:44,080 –> 00:03:47,279that was a fresh insight to them,6500:03:47,279 –> 00:03:51,080but there clearly is a movement within the beatitudes,6600:03:51,080 –> 00:03:55,520and we pictured that as being like a series of rings.6700:03:55,520 –> 00:03:56,619And there they are.6800:03:56,619 –> 00:04:00,059There’s humility and there’s mourning and there’s meekness6900:04:00,059 –> 00:04:04,759and there’s righteousness and mercy and purity and peace.7000:04:04,759 –> 00:04:06,600And the rings at the end7100:04:06,979 –> 00:04:10,460are really the ones that we often reach for.7200:04:10,460 –> 00:04:14,399Pastor, I really would like to have purity of heart,7300:04:14,399 –> 00:04:19,320but how can I deal with all the stuff that messes me up?7400:04:19,320 –> 00:04:22,820I really would like to be a person who can forgive,7500:04:22,820 –> 00:04:24,519but what do I do about the wounds7600:04:24,519 –> 00:04:27,320that make that so hard for me?7700:04:27,320 –> 00:04:30,640I really would like to have a greater peace in my own soul.7800:04:30,640 –> 00:04:33,420I’d like to be able to bring peace to other people,7900:04:33,420 –> 00:04:35,239but what do I do about all of the turmoil8000:04:35,420 –> 00:04:36,899that is inside of me?8100:04:36,899 –> 00:04:39,859So, we want to get after the rings8200:04:39,859 –> 00:04:41,839at the end of the line, as it were,8300:04:41,839 –> 00:04:45,359but these are the ones that often seem to be beyond us.8400:04:45,359 –> 00:04:47,459We’re saying, how can I get to purity?8500:04:47,459 –> 00:04:49,779How can I get to being merciful?8600:04:49,779 –> 00:04:53,399How can I get to a greater measure of peace8700:04:53,399 –> 00:04:55,540amongst others?8800:04:55,540 –> 00:04:59,019And so often, these things seem to be beyond us.8900:04:59,019 –> 00:05:01,040And the analogy that we’re using,9000:05:01,040 –> 00:05:02,820therefore, is a very simple one.9100:05:02,859 –> 00:05:05,440The Beatitudes are a series of rings.9200:05:06,299 –> 00:05:10,040And the way that you get to the ones at the end9300:05:10,040 –> 00:05:12,440is by swinging first from the ones9400:05:12,440 –> 00:05:14,079that are at the beginning.9500:05:14,079 –> 00:05:16,399You move to the next ring9600:05:16,399 –> 00:05:20,779with the momentum that you gain from the last.9700:05:20,779 –> 00:05:23,920And taking this image of the monkey swing9800:05:23,920 –> 00:05:25,959as we settle that in our minds,9900:05:25,959 –> 00:05:28,839momentum, of course, is the key.10000:05:28,839 –> 00:05:30,839So, the momentum that one gains10100:05:30,859 –> 00:05:33,779from laying hold of the first ring10200:05:33,779 –> 00:05:35,500clearly is critical.10300:05:35,500 –> 00:05:37,700It’s that that will take you to the second10400:05:37,700 –> 00:05:39,100and the momentum of the second10500:05:39,100 –> 00:05:41,619will take you to the third and so forth and so on.10600:05:41,619 –> 00:05:42,779We’re seeing here, then,10700:05:42,779 –> 00:05:46,440a pattern of Christian growth and progress.10800:05:46,440 –> 00:05:47,480May also be described10900:05:47,480 –> 00:05:50,279as a pattern for the rebuilding of a marriage,11000:05:51,820 –> 00:05:54,000the restoration of a life.11100:05:55,200 –> 00:05:57,859There’s a whole counseling model right here11200:05:57,859 –> 00:05:59,679in terms of what we’re looking at11300:05:59,679 –> 00:06:01,279in the scriptures11400:06:01,279 –> 00:06:03,320and I want us, therefore, to learn it deeply11500:06:03,320 –> 00:06:06,619and that is why we’re moving through these Beatitudes11600:06:06,619 –> 00:06:08,299with deliberate pace11700:06:08,299 –> 00:06:11,760so that we ponder them and grasp them well.11800:06:11,760 –> 00:06:14,859That is why grasping this first ring11900:06:14,859 –> 00:06:17,739to be poor in spirit is so important12000:06:17,739 –> 00:06:19,920because this is the gateway blessing12100:06:19,920 –> 00:06:21,420that leads to all the others.12200:06:21,420 –> 00:06:24,500There isn’t another place to begin apart from this.12300:06:24,500 –> 00:06:26,339You can’t jump on the fourth ring12400:06:26,339 –> 00:06:29,279without starting from the first and so forth.12500:06:29,320 –> 00:06:32,459The way to purity and peace and forgiveness of others,12600:06:32,459 –> 00:06:36,059it begins right here.12700:06:36,059 –> 00:06:37,420An intensely important question,12800:06:37,420 –> 00:06:40,019how do I get on this first ring?12900:06:40,019 –> 00:06:42,040Poverty of spirit.13000:06:42,040 –> 00:06:43,700Three things today.13100:06:43,700 –> 00:06:46,720First, I want us just to ponder for a few moments13200:06:46,720 –> 00:06:47,959the curse of pride,13300:06:47,959 –> 00:06:52,399the sheer difficulty of pursuing humility.13400:06:52,399 –> 00:06:56,119Second, I want us to see the range of blessing13500:06:56,940 –> 00:07:01,940that comes from grasping what Christ is calling us to hear.13600:07:02,279 –> 00:07:05,640And then thirdly, some practical directions13700:07:05,640 –> 00:07:09,720for laying hold of the first ring.13800:07:09,720 –> 00:07:12,040Poverty of spirit.13900:07:12,040 –> 00:07:13,739Let’s begin here, there,14000:07:13,739 –> 00:07:16,600and I hope your Bible is open at 1 Peter, in chapter five.14100:07:17,440 –> 00:07:20,859The curse of pride is stated here in verse five,14200:07:20,859 –> 00:07:25,220God opposes the proud.14300:07:26,600 –> 00:07:28,339Isn’t that a striking statement?14400:07:29,279 –> 00:07:30,940And it’s all the more striking folks14500:07:30,940 –> 00:07:32,140when you remember that Peter14600:07:32,140 –> 00:07:35,079is definitely writing to Christians.14700:07:36,320 –> 00:07:37,959This is a letter to believers.14800:07:37,959 –> 00:07:39,399It says so at the beginning.14900:07:40,679 –> 00:07:42,859And he is telling us15000:07:44,600 –> 00:07:49,600that pride blocks the blessing of God.15100:07:50,459 –> 00:07:52,640If I give way to pride,15200:07:53,799 –> 00:07:56,739God will stand against me.15300:07:58,399 –> 00:08:00,320I will come under his discipline.15400:08:02,540 –> 00:08:05,000God stands in the way of the proud,15500:08:05,000 –> 00:08:07,019he opposes them,15600:08:07,019 –> 00:08:12,019but he gives grace to the humble.15700:08:15,079 –> 00:08:17,559Now for every thinking person who believes this,15800:08:17,640 –> 00:08:19,640every thinking person who believes this,15900:08:19,640 –> 00:08:20,940the conclusion is obvious,16000:08:20,940 –> 00:08:23,239the last thing in the world I want16100:08:23,239 –> 00:08:25,760is for God to stand in my way.16200:08:26,679 –> 00:08:29,459If God opposes me, what hope is there for me?16300:08:31,000 –> 00:08:33,400And so the conclusion that I have to draw16400:08:33,400 –> 00:08:35,080is right there in verse six,16500:08:35,080 –> 00:08:37,500I want God to be for me, not to be against me,16600:08:37,500 –> 00:08:38,599so what must I do?16700:08:38,599 –> 00:08:42,359Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God16800:08:42,359 –> 00:08:46,080so that at the proper time he may exalt you.16900:08:48,200 –> 00:08:50,559This battle against pride really is17000:08:50,559 –> 00:08:53,960a lifelong kind of a conflict.17100:08:53,960 –> 00:08:57,599Think about this, humility, first beatitude,17200:08:57,599 –> 00:09:01,159is the first grace that is given to a Christian.17300:09:01,159 –> 00:09:03,880There’s no way into experience of God17400:09:03,880 –> 00:09:06,280except the one that begins here.17500:09:06,280 –> 00:09:08,840It’s the first grace to be given to a Christian.17600:09:08,840 –> 00:09:11,260But while humility’s the first grace to be given,17700:09:11,260 –> 00:09:14,039pride is the last enemy to be subdued.17800:09:15,119 –> 00:09:17,479Pride was the first great sin to come into the world,17900:09:17,479 –> 00:09:19,859it will be the last to exit from it.18000:09:21,039 –> 00:09:24,039And the battle against pride that all of us are engaged in18100:09:24,039 –> 00:09:25,919throughout the course of our Christian lives18200:09:25,919 –> 00:09:27,900is a hard one for multiple reasons.18300:09:27,900 –> 00:09:31,380One is that humility of course goes against18400:09:31,380 –> 00:09:34,299the grain of a self-affirming culture.18500:09:35,640 –> 00:09:39,320Martin Lloyd-Jones writing half a century ago18600:09:39,320 –> 00:09:42,539in the U.K., of course, rather than the U.S.,18700:09:42,539 –> 00:09:44,880he describes something that’s absolutely true18800:09:44,880 –> 00:09:46,299of us still here today.18900:09:46,299 –> 00:09:47,280He says this.19000:09:47,419 –> 00:09:50,280Here’s the spirit of the age, he says, quote,19100:09:50,280 –> 00:09:55,140its express yourself, believe in yourself.19200:09:55,140 –> 00:09:58,859Realize the powers that are innate in yourself19300:09:58,859 –> 00:10:03,659and let the whole world see them and know them.19400:10:03,659 –> 00:10:06,979That he says is the spirit of the age and we recognize it.19500:10:08,059 –> 00:10:12,020And folks, candidly in a culture of affirmation19600:10:12,859 –> 00:10:17,859as robust as ours, it sometimes seems19700:10:18,179 –> 00:10:23,179that parents and teachers and counselors19800:10:24,820 –> 00:10:28,580and politicians and advertisers19900:10:29,780 –> 00:10:34,780are all conspiring together to tell us how great we are.20000:10:34,820 –> 00:10:37,940How great we are.20100:10:39,739 –> 00:10:43,320And apart from a miracle of God’s grace,20200:10:44,280 –> 00:10:45,859we will believe them.20300:10:47,299 –> 00:10:48,400We will believe them.20400:10:50,179 –> 00:10:54,700The teaching of Jesus is directly opposed20500:10:54,700 –> 00:10:56,659to the creed of life that says,20600:10:56,659 –> 00:10:58,539believe in yourself.20700:10:59,700 –> 00:11:02,020You need to think about that because that’s all around us.20800:11:02,020 –> 00:11:03,460It’s the air that we breathe.20900:11:05,020 –> 00:11:08,580The teaching of Jesus is directly opposed21000:11:08,580 –> 00:11:12,340to the creed that says believe in yourself.21100:11:12,340 –> 00:11:13,400What does Jesus say?21200:11:13,400 –> 00:11:16,719He does not say believe in yourself.21300:11:16,719 –> 00:11:18,419He says believe in God.21400:11:19,880 –> 00:11:24,880Believe also in me, that’s what he says.21500:11:25,099 –> 00:11:29,500It’s directly countercultural and so radically so21600:11:29,500 –> 00:11:31,520that we have to do a sort of double-take21700:11:31,580 –> 00:11:36,200to really think about it in order to take this in.21800:11:36,200 –> 00:11:38,119The person who is far from God21900:11:38,119 –> 00:11:41,719will often be speaking like this and thinking like this.22000:11:41,719 –> 00:11:43,619He or she will say why not, I’m up for this.22100:11:43,619 –> 00:11:46,179I can do this, I can do this, you see?22200:11:47,880 –> 00:11:49,880And the person who is close to God thinks22300:11:49,880 –> 00:11:51,479and speaks in a different way.22400:11:51,479 –> 00:11:54,159He or she will say something like this.22500:11:55,280 –> 00:11:57,239The Lord is at my right hand22600:11:58,679 –> 00:12:01,219and because the Lord is at my right hand,22700:12:02,419 –> 00:12:03,559I will not be shaken.22800:12:05,500 –> 00:12:07,280So, folks, we need to think about this deeply.22900:12:07,280 –> 00:12:12,280And you know, I’m a dad with, having raised two boys.23000:12:14,179 –> 00:12:16,280I’ve stood on the sideline of games23100:12:16,280 –> 00:12:18,260and shouted you can do it, you can do it23200:12:18,260 –> 00:12:20,080and all the rest of it.23300:12:20,080 –> 00:12:22,840And I regularly say to my kids, I’m proud of you23400:12:22,840 –> 00:12:26,619and I also say I thank God for you and many other things.23500:12:28,280 –> 00:12:31,080But let’s be very thoughtful,23600:12:31,080 –> 00:12:34,380especially in the teachable moments of life.23700:12:36,780 –> 00:12:39,780It is not a good reflection of faith in Jesus Christ23800:12:39,780 –> 00:12:41,760for you as a father or for you as a mother23900:12:41,760 –> 00:12:44,099or for you as a counselor or for you as a friend24000:12:44,099 –> 00:12:45,619to be saying you can do it.24100:12:47,440 –> 00:12:50,780It is a reflection of discipleship to Jesus Christ24200:12:50,780 –> 00:12:52,799to be saying something like this.24300:12:53,760 –> 00:12:58,659The Lord is with you and He will not fail you24400:13:00,039 –> 00:13:03,820and in Christ you can do all things.24500:13:04,659 –> 00:13:07,159There’s all the difference in the world.24600:13:07,159 –> 00:13:09,299The one is godless.24700:13:11,020 –> 00:13:14,479The one has put man in the place of God.24800:13:15,739 –> 00:13:18,000The one has exalted the individual24900:13:18,000 –> 00:13:19,840to the place of the divine.25000:13:20,739 –> 00:13:24,520And the other reflects the humility of one who knows25100:13:25,460 –> 00:13:28,440that its strength or strength lies25200:13:28,440 –> 00:13:30,239in the presence and the blessing25300:13:31,380 –> 00:13:32,380of a sovereign God.25400:13:32,380 –> 00:13:34,320But folks, that’s so far from our culture.25500:13:34,320 –> 00:13:38,200We really need to stop and take it in.25600:13:38,200 –> 00:13:39,500You’re listening to Open The Bible25700:13:39,500 –> 00:13:40,700with Pastor Colin Smith25800:13:40,700 –> 00:13:43,539and a message called Cultivating Humility,25900:13:43,539 –> 00:13:46,099part of Momentum, our series about26000:13:46,099 –> 00:13:49,099how to make progress in your Christian life26100:13:49,820 –> 00:13:53,440and today’s message is based on I Peter, chapter five.26200:13:53,440 –> 00:13:56,440If you’ve missed any of our messages in this series,26300:13:56,440 –> 00:13:58,760you can easily catch up or go back and listen again26400:13:58,760 –> 00:14:03,039by coming to our website, openthebible.org.uk.26500:14:03,039 –> 00:14:06,299Also, you can find them on your favorite podcast site.26600:14:06,299 –> 00:14:08,400Search there for Open The Bible UK26700:14:08,400 –> 00:14:10,559or follow the link from our website.26800:14:11,479 –> 00:14:13,599In the run up to Christmas at Open The Bible,26900:14:13,599 –> 00:14:16,200we want to provide churches and groups27000:14:16,200 –> 00:14:18,479with great supporting material.27100:14:18,599 –> 00:14:22,539Here’s Open The Bible’s executive director, John Martin.27200:14:22,539 –> 00:14:25,400If you’re planning events for Christmas and Advent27300:14:25,400 –> 00:14:27,440for your church and community,27400:14:27,440 –> 00:14:30,080then Open The Bible has resources to help you,27500:14:30,080 –> 00:14:33,679a nativity script you can use outside or indoors,27600:14:33,679 –> 00:14:36,799sermon outlines for an Advent sermon series27700:14:36,799 –> 00:14:39,239and it’s all linked to our new little book,27800:14:39,239 –> 00:14:42,919Christmas Stories, Five First Person Narratives.27900:14:42,919 –> 00:14:47,640To find out more, go to openthebible.org.uk.28000:14:47,719 –> 00:14:51,039Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.28100:14:51,039 –> 00:14:54,119Secondly, this battle against pride is really,28200:14:54,119 –> 00:14:55,440really hard for this reason28300:14:55,440 –> 00:14:59,979that humility goes against the trajectory of all religion.28400:14:59,979 –> 00:15:03,679Remember this, that religion works on the idea28500:15:03,679 –> 00:15:06,940that you must live a life that is pleasing to God28600:15:06,940 –> 00:15:08,979in order to win his favour.28700:15:08,979 –> 00:15:11,440But realise that in this first beatitude,28800:15:11,440 –> 00:15:13,479Jesus is saying precisely the opposite28900:15:13,479 –> 00:15:16,280of everything that you’ll hear in world religion.29000:15:16,900 –> 00:15:19,260And it’s radically different.29100:15:20,280 –> 00:15:22,479Jesus is telling us that the blessing of God29200:15:22,479 –> 00:15:23,799belongs to those who know.29300:15:23,799 –> 00:15:25,960They cannot win his favour.29400:15:25,960 –> 00:15:27,599Blessed are the poor in spirit,29500:15:27,599 –> 00:15:29,159for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.29600:15:29,159 –> 00:15:30,919Blessed are those who come before God and say,29700:15:30,919 –> 00:15:32,239I haven’t got it.29800:15:34,039 –> 00:15:36,400This is precisely the opposite of everything29900:15:36,400 –> 00:15:37,979that is said in world religion.30000:15:37,979 –> 00:15:40,080Religion says live a life that is pleasing to God30100:15:40,080 –> 00:15:41,419and then you will win his favour,30200:15:41,419 –> 00:15:43,580and then you will be blessed.30300:15:43,580 –> 00:15:45,500Every religion in the world friends,30400:15:46,179 –> 00:15:48,479offers some variation on that theme.30500:15:50,219 –> 00:15:52,080The gospel says the only thing you can do30600:15:52,080 –> 00:15:54,239is come empty-handed and receive the favour30700:15:54,239 –> 00:15:55,880and the mercy and the grace of God30800:15:55,880 –> 00:15:57,159so that you may then begin30900:15:57,159 –> 00:15:59,119to live a life that is pleasing to him.31000:16:00,659 –> 00:16:02,099It all starts from humility.31100:16:02,099 –> 00:16:03,340Not from achievement.31200:16:04,940 –> 00:16:06,000So this is a hard battle31300:16:06,000 –> 00:16:08,299because we’re against all the wins of the culture,31400:16:08,299 –> 00:16:09,799we’re against all the wins31500:16:09,799 –> 00:16:11,760of all the religions in the world.31600:16:12,700 –> 00:16:14,719No wonder Jesus was crucified.31700:16:16,299 –> 00:16:19,320And then it’s a hard and it’s a lifelong battle31800:16:19,320 –> 00:16:21,320because I wonder if you’ve noticed this,31900:16:22,260 –> 00:16:24,000that the very blessing of God32000:16:24,000 –> 00:16:25,659that comes to the humble32100:16:26,979 –> 00:16:30,780becomes something that makes maintaining humility harder.32200:16:32,640 –> 00:16:33,739Here’s the irony,32300:16:33,739 –> 00:16:37,400the poor in spirit experience the blessing of God.32400:16:37,400 –> 00:16:38,880That’s what Jesus said.32500:16:39,840 –> 00:16:42,940But the very blessing of God that is experienced32600:16:42,940 –> 00:16:44,900makes it difficult to remain in the place32700:16:44,900 –> 00:16:47,479where you truly are poor in spirit.32800:16:48,820 –> 00:16:51,119So the more successful you are,32900:16:51,119 –> 00:16:54,619the easier it is to believe that you really are something33000:16:55,880 –> 00:17:00,880and that the something really lies in you after all.33100:17:01,000 –> 00:17:02,119So for example,33200:17:03,239 –> 00:17:05,780if your children believe33300:17:06,900 –> 00:17:09,560when the children of others who are your friends33400:17:09,560 –> 00:17:10,920are in rebellion,33500:17:11,680 –> 00:17:14,640if your marriage prospers33600:17:14,640 –> 00:17:17,180when your friends is falling apart,33700:17:18,800 –> 00:17:22,540if your business succeeds when others are in decline,33800:17:24,400 –> 00:17:28,079if your ministry grows when others are failing,33900:17:29,339 –> 00:17:33,079if these blessings should be given to you,34000:17:33,079 –> 00:17:37,219it kind of gets into your mind34100:17:37,219 –> 00:17:40,239that you must have done something right.34200:17:41,660 –> 00:17:45,920Success of any sort, in any sphere34300:17:47,160 –> 00:17:51,319tends to make us think that we are something.34400:17:53,719 –> 00:17:56,140And thank God for the ministry of the Holy Spirit34500:17:56,140 –> 00:17:59,160who convinces us of sin and of righteousness34600:17:59,160 –> 00:18:03,579and of judgment, because apart from Him,34700:18:04,920 –> 00:18:06,500we would never know the blessing34800:18:06,500 –> 00:18:09,640that belongs to the poor in spirit.34900:18:11,359 –> 00:18:14,079So I’m suggesting to you that this is a hard battle,35000:18:14,079 –> 00:18:16,800it is a lifelong battle and it is no small thing35100:18:16,800 –> 00:18:18,920to lay hold of the first ring,35200:18:18,920 –> 00:18:22,359blessed are the poor in spirit.35300:18:22,359 –> 00:18:26,599Second, I want just to draw your attention to this,35400:18:26,599 –> 00:18:28,680the blessing of humility.35500:18:29,560 –> 00:18:33,439Look at 1 Peter 5 verse 5 here.35600:18:33,439 –> 00:18:35,640God opposes the proud35700:18:35,640 –> 00:18:40,040but He gives grace to the humble.35800:18:40,079 –> 00:18:43,800He gives grace to the humble.35900:18:43,800 –> 00:18:46,739Now, last time we saw that the Supreme blessing36000:18:46,739 –> 00:18:48,599that comes to the humble person36100:18:48,599 –> 00:18:51,439is of course that God lives with them,36200:18:51,439 –> 00:18:53,119nothing can top that.36300:18:54,439 –> 00:18:57,739But I want us to see today that with the presence of God36400:18:57,739 –> 00:18:59,599in the life of a humble person,36500:18:59,599 –> 00:19:03,000there are all kinds of other blessings36600:19:03,000 –> 00:19:08,000that come with the presence of God in a person’s life.36700:19:08,900 –> 00:19:11,760Let me just pick out four.36800:19:11,760 –> 00:19:13,619Number one, growing in humility36900:19:13,619 –> 00:19:16,560will help you to bear affliction.37000:19:16,560 –> 00:19:18,280I draw attention to that37100:19:18,280 –> 00:19:19,520because this is the point that Peter37200:19:19,520 –> 00:19:21,880is making in this letter.37300:19:21,880 –> 00:19:24,020If you look back to chapter four in verse 12,37400:19:24,020 –> 00:19:27,520he says, beloved, do not be surprised at a fiery trial37500:19:27,520 –> 00:19:28,520when it comes on you.37600:19:28,520 –> 00:19:30,400He says there’s trouble ahead,37700:19:30,400 –> 00:19:33,660you’re going to face real periods of difficulty.37800:19:34,640 –> 00:19:36,119And so how are they to prepare37900:19:36,119 –> 00:19:37,640for these periods of difficulty?38000:19:38,160 –> 00:19:40,319Here’s the answer, he says in chapter 5,38100:19:40,319 –> 00:19:43,239humble yourselves therefore under God’s almighty hand.38200:19:43,239 –> 00:19:44,060Why?38300:19:44,060 –> 00:19:46,699Because he gives grace to the humble.38400:19:46,699 –> 00:19:48,839This will be how you will face trouble38500:19:48,839 –> 00:19:51,060and how you will stand when you do.38600:19:52,719 –> 00:19:56,739Job’s wife was a proud woman,38700:19:58,680 –> 00:20:00,280and when trouble came she said,38800:20:00,280 –> 00:20:01,920why don’t you curse God and die.38900:20:02,920 –> 00:20:06,660Job was a humble man,39000:20:07,800 –> 00:20:11,020and when trouble came, he says,39100:20:11,020 –> 00:20:13,119the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,39200:20:13,119 –> 00:20:14,719blessed be the name of the Lord.39300:20:16,260 –> 00:20:19,760Humility will make all the difference in the world39400:20:19,760 –> 00:20:24,219in the way that you face affliction when it comes.39500:20:24,219 –> 00:20:25,880It will help you to stand.39600:20:26,719 –> 00:20:28,800When the fiery trial comes,39700:20:28,800 –> 00:20:31,020here’s how you’re gonna stand, says Peter,39800:20:31,020 –> 00:20:33,939humble yourself under God’s almighty hand,39900:20:33,939 –> 00:20:38,079and in due time, He will lift you up.40000:20:39,660 –> 00:20:41,979Second, and these are just very practical things40100:20:41,979 –> 00:20:44,160touching every area of life,40200:20:44,160 –> 00:20:47,380the realities of life for us here today.40300:20:47,380 –> 00:20:51,900Growing in humility will nourish your love for others.40400:20:52,780 –> 00:20:57,140So someone here who is struggling in a marriage,40500:20:57,140 –> 00:21:01,020in a relationship where there is real, real difficulty,40600:21:01,020 –> 00:21:02,300perhaps after many years,40700:21:02,300 –> 00:21:05,000the quiet question is forming in your mind,40800:21:05,000 –> 00:21:07,920do I still love him?40900:21:07,920 –> 00:21:10,680Do I really love her?41000:21:11,959 –> 00:21:16,640The whole question of love in its decline is before us,41100:21:16,640 –> 00:21:17,739and the whole question41200:21:17,739 –> 00:21:20,800of how love can be revived is before us.41300:21:22,939 –> 00:21:25,060Now, what does the Scripture say to us about this?41400:21:25,119 –> 00:21:27,760Well, you know 1 Corinthians 13 very well.41500:21:27,760 –> 00:21:29,060Let’s think about love.41600:21:29,060 –> 00:21:31,719Love does not boast.41700:21:33,180 –> 00:21:35,439Love is not arrogant.41800:21:36,839 –> 00:21:40,660Love does not insist on its own way.41900:21:41,920 –> 00:21:44,599It is pride that is self-seeking.42000:21:44,599 –> 00:21:47,520It is pride that is easily provoked.42100:21:47,520 –> 00:21:49,140Think of it this way friends.42200:21:49,140 –> 00:21:52,579Pride will be like a bucket of cold water42300:21:52,579 –> 00:21:54,300poured on the fires of love.42400:21:55,420 –> 00:21:57,599You get a higher opinion as of yourself.42500:21:57,599 –> 00:21:59,319You know what it’s going to do to your marriage?42600:21:59,319 –> 00:22:00,459It’s going to pour water42700:22:00,459 –> 00:22:03,140on all the flames of love that were there.42800:22:03,140 –> 00:22:04,500It really is.42900:22:04,500 –> 00:22:05,380It’s a killer.43000:22:07,099 –> 00:22:10,959Humility in contrast fans into flame43100:22:10,959 –> 00:22:12,699the embers of a dying love.43200:22:12,699 –> 00:22:14,660Humility will do that.43300:22:15,900 –> 00:22:17,199Get on this first ring.43400:22:17,199 –> 00:22:22,000This is where hope of recovery in an ailing marriage begins.43500:22:23,520 –> 00:22:24,680Why is it ailing?43600:22:25,020 –> 00:22:26,819Why has love been damped down?43700:22:26,819 –> 00:22:31,239You can be sure that pride has a huge part in this.43800:22:31,239 –> 00:22:32,079A huge part.43900:22:32,079 –> 00:22:34,500Self-seeking, arrogant, irritable.44000:22:34,500 –> 00:22:35,739All these characteristics,44100:22:35,739 –> 00:22:37,020look through them and say44200:22:37,020 –> 00:22:39,180are these things in me?44300:22:40,619 –> 00:22:42,640They’re the killers of love.44400:22:44,180 –> 00:22:45,660You come to the place and you say44500:22:45,660 –> 00:22:47,660do I really love him anymore44600:22:47,660 –> 00:22:48,500and the world says44700:22:48,500 –> 00:22:49,979you got to think about yourself.44800:22:49,979 –> 00:22:50,819Well,44900:22:52,359 –> 00:22:55,359and Jesus says exactly the opposite.45000:22:56,619 –> 00:22:57,939He says each of you should look45100:22:57,939 –> 00:22:59,140not only to your own interests45200:22:59,140 –> 00:23:01,839but also into the interests of others.45300:23:01,839 –> 00:23:04,560Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.45400:23:04,560 –> 00:23:05,380What did he do?45500:23:05,380 –> 00:23:06,959He humbled himself.45600:23:09,739 –> 00:23:11,479He humbled himself.45700:23:11,479 –> 00:23:13,979Good to be reminded there by Pastor Colin Smith45800:23:13,979 –> 00:23:16,780that we should do what Jesus did45900:23:16,780 –> 00:23:20,640and he humbled himself as a servant to others.46000:23:20,640 –> 00:23:22,020You’ve been listening to Open the Bible46100:23:22,020 –> 00:23:23,479with Pastor Colin Smith46200:23:23,479 –> 00:23:26,540and a message called Cultivating Humility.46300:23:26,540 –> 00:23:28,199Part of our series, Momentum.46400:23:28,199 –> 00:23:30,579How to make progress in your Christian life.46500:23:30,579 –> 00:23:32,160And if you’ve missed any of the series46600:23:32,160 –> 00:23:34,579you can catch up by coming to our website46700:23:34,579 –> 00:23:36,239openthebible.org.uk.46800:23:38,359 –> 00:23:39,479Also on our website46900:23:39,479 –> 00:23:42,020don’t forget about Open the Bible Daily.47000:23:42,020 –> 00:23:45,239That’s our series of two to three minute daily reflections47100:23:45,239 –> 00:23:47,160based on Pastor Colin’s teaching47200:23:47,160 –> 00:23:49,239and read this month by Annie Pick.47300:23:49,239 –> 00:23:50,599Open the Bible Daily.47400:23:51,459 –> 00:23:53,800If you tune in regularly to Open the Bible47500:23:53,800 –> 00:23:55,660you’ll know that we’re only able to bring you47600:23:55,660 –> 00:23:57,959Pastor Colin’s messages on this programme47700:23:57,959 –> 00:23:59,439and on the internet47800:23:59,439 –> 00:24:03,319because of the generous gifts made by our many listeners.47900:24:03,319 –> 00:24:05,560If you already give to support our work,48000:24:05,560 –> 00:24:07,719thank you so much.48100:24:07,719 –> 00:24:10,199If you’d like to begin supporting Open the Bible48200:24:10,199 –> 00:24:11,020in that way,48300:24:11,020 –> 00:24:13,359here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham48400:24:13,400 –> 00:24:15,699to talk about our special offer this month.48500:24:15,699 –> 00:24:16,920Thanks, David.48600:24:16,920 –> 00:24:18,920This month, we’re delighted48700:24:18,920 –> 00:24:21,239to offer you two free copies48800:24:21,239 –> 00:24:22,760of Christmas Stories48900:24:22,760 –> 00:24:24,560by Colin Smith.49000:24:24,560 –> 00:24:26,800A beautifully illustrated book49100:24:26,800 –> 00:24:29,359that brings the Christmas story to life49200:24:29,359 –> 00:24:31,959through five key Bible characters49300:24:31,959 –> 00:24:33,180including Mary,49400:24:33,180 –> 00:24:35,719Joseph and the Angel, Gabriel.49500:24:35,719 –> 00:24:37,180I wonder who you could share49600:24:37,180 –> 00:24:40,439the good news of Jesus with this Christmas.49700:24:40,439 –> 00:24:41,859You can receive this gift49800:24:41,939 –> 00:24:42,939as our thank you49900:24:42,939 –> 00:24:45,420when you donate sixty pounds or more50000:24:45,420 –> 00:24:47,540or set up a new direct debit50100:24:47,540 –> 00:24:49,900of just five pounds a month.50200:24:49,900 –> 00:24:51,239But please do remember50300:24:51,239 –> 00:24:52,979to include your address50400:24:52,979 –> 00:24:55,939so that we can send your gift in the post.50500:24:55,939 –> 00:24:58,079Full details, terms and conditions50600:24:58,079 –> 00:24:58,760of our offer50700:24:58,760 –> 00:25:00,020you can find those on50800:25:00,020 –> 00:25:03,660OpenTheBible.org.uk50900:25:03,660 –> 00:25:04,739For Open The Bible51000:25:04,739 –> 00:25:06,099and Pastor Colin Smith51100:25:06,099 –> 00:25:07,180I’m David Pick.51200:25:07,180 –> 00:25:08,520Thanks for being with us today51300:25:08,520 –> 00:25:09,439and I look forward to you51400:25:09,439 –> 00:25:11,180joining us again next time.51500:25:11,859 –> 00:25:22,160Music51600:25:22,160 –> 00:25:24,160If you grow in humility51700:25:24,160 –> 00:25:26,939you’ll reap a lot of other blessings.51800:25:26,939 –> 00:25:28,260Find out what they are51900:25:28,260 –> 00:25:29,099next time on52000:25:29,099 –> 00:25:30,140Open The Bible.