Disciple, Part 1

John 6:22-71

How can you stand firm in your faith when so many are turning away? Join us as we explore themes of enduring faith, the struggles of university students facing newfound freedom, and the challenge of holding steadfast to Jesus’ teachings in a culture that is often at odds with His message. We’ll journey through John chapter 6, discussing the uniqueness of Jesus, the necessity of the atonement, and our dependence on grace.

100:00:00,680 –> 00:00:03,440The Bible曰Spirit.200:00:03,840 –> 00:00:10,320How are you going to stand firm when vast numbers of other people are turning away?300:00:10,320 –> 00:00:14,120How are you going to have a faith that lasts?400:00:14,120 –> 00:00:21,540How are you going to move beyond drifting, away from defiance, and beyond doubting, and500:00:21,540 –> 00:00:25,040live as a disciple of Jesus?600:00:25,620 –> 00:00:30,719Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, glad you could700:00:30,719 –> 00:00:34,720join us today. And Colin, you’re going to answer this question in the message but800:00:34,720 –> 00:00:39,540can we go back a little further and ask why you think it is that so many people900:00:39,540 –> 00:00:42,580are walking away from faith or away from Jesus?1000:00:42,580 –> 00:00:45,419Oh, well, what Jesus says is so radically1100:00:45,419 –> 00:00:50,119counter to the prevailing values in our culture. But the thing is, it has always1200:00:50,119 –> 00:00:55,000been like that. We’re going to look today at John in Chapter 6 where you have a1300:00:55,000 –> 00:01:00,000group of people who were miraculously fed in the multiplying of the loaves and1400:01:00,000 –> 00:01:03,900and the fish, so they experience something of Jesus enough to have an1500:01:03,900 –> 00:01:08,680interest in hearing more but when they hear what He actually says, He speaks1600:01:08,680 –> 00:01:13,260about his own incarnation and speaks about his own death and what that’s1700:01:13,260 –> 00:01:18,040going to involve and therefore speaks about his own absolute uniqueness and1800:01:18,040 –> 00:01:22,820how they are utterly dependent upon grace. None of that sits well with them.1900:01:22,839 –> 00:01:26,300They listen to it and they say, This is a hard saying and we’re out of here.2000:01:26,300 –> 00:01:30,500So nothing has changed in 2000 years. We’re still in the same place. When2100:01:30,500 –> 00:01:35,400people really get to know what Jesus is saying, they will either give themselves2200:01:35,400 –> 00:01:40,180to him completely or else they will have to turn away and sooner or later that2300:01:40,180 –> 00:01:44,500point of decision comes for us all and we’re going to see it in the Bible and2400:01:44,500 –> 00:01:49,440we’re going to see what the compelling reasons are to stay with Jesus, even when2500:01:49,440 –> 00:01:55,300it’s unpopular. Maybe this is especially tough for university students. They grew2600:01:55,300 –> 00:01:59,320up in a Christian home maybe and now they have their first taste of freedom2700:01:59,320 –> 00:02:04,059and they have to work through, What do I believe? Why do I believe what I was told2800:02:04,059 –> 00:02:08,600while I was growing up? and you had the opportunity to give this message to a2900:02:08,600 –> 00:02:11,460group of students recently. And it was an unforgettable occasion3000:02:11,460 –> 00:02:16,699and a great privilege for me . I mean to say to this gathered and wonderful3100:02:16,699 –> 00:02:22,320student body, now you in your generation, are going to face this pressure. You’re3200:02:22,320 –> 00:02:26,119going to see more and more people moving away from faith and you’re going to have3300:02:26,119 –> 00:02:32,320to know how am I going to stand. And here in the Bible in John chapter 6, is how3400:02:32,320 –> 00:02:33,259you are going to stand.3500:02:33,259 –> 00:02:36,759So, those students were at Taylor College in the US and it was part of their3600:02:36,759 –> 00:02:42,559spiritual renewal week. So, join us today if you can in John chapter 6 as we begin3700:02:42,559 –> 00:02:44,679the message, Disciple.3800:02:44,940 –> 00:02:45,660Here’s Colin.3900:02:45,660 –> 00:02:54,199We focused in on a theme that really matters, faith that lasts. And, a faith that4000:02:54,199 –> 00:03:00,399lasts is really the only kind of faith that’s ever worth having. No one is saved4100:03:00,399 –> 00:03:07,020by a passing interest in Jesus Christ. And so we have looked together at three4200:03:07,020 –> 00:03:13,179characters, drifting, defiant and doubting. And I think that we’ve seen something of4300:03:13,220 –> 00:03:18,440ourselves in these characters as we have listened to what God has to say to each4400:03:18,440 –> 00:03:24,000of them from Hebrews and chapter six. And in this last session that4500:03:24,000 –> 00:03:28,800we have together this morning I want to introduce you to a fourth character.4600:03:28,800 –> 00:03:33,160And my prayer from the heart is that each and every one of us will be4700:03:33,160 –> 00:03:41,800increasingly like her. She is not drifting. The basic principles of the word4800:03:41,860 –> 00:03:49,119of God are clearly established in her life. She knows that she is a sinner4900:03:49,119 –> 00:03:54,300and she knows that she needs a savior and that she has a savior in the Lord5000:03:54,300 –> 00:03:59,380Jesus Christ, so she’s not defiant. She’s not among those who are saying no5100:03:59,380 –> 00:04:05,259to the Lord Jesus Christ, not among those who refuse His lordship in her life.5200:04:05,259 –> 00:04:10,380She’s not crucifying again the son of God to her own harm or holding him5300:04:10,380 –> 00:04:16,500up to contempt, and she is not doubting. She believes in the Lord Jesus Christ5400:04:16,500 –> 00:04:21,279and she knows that she belongs to Him and she is thankful for it.5500:04:21,279 –> 00:04:26,799And so I am going to call her today disciple, and again, my prayer for every5600:04:26,799 –> 00:04:35,839one of you is that you will be a true, lifelong disciple of our Lord5700:04:36,640 –> 00:04:40,239Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And here’s what I want to say to you from John in5800:04:40,239 –> 00:04:48,079chapter 6 in this last session. If you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ,5900:04:48,079 –> 00:04:58,920if you really follow after Him, you will come under great pressure and it6000:04:58,920 –> 00:05:04,880will keep coming at you all of your life, I promise you. And you need to know how6100:05:04,880 –> 00:05:12,440to stand against it. Now, John chapter 6, tells the story, the whole chapter tells6200:05:12,440 –> 00:05:16,739the story, of the day that Jesus lost His crowd.6300:05:16,739 –> 00:05:21,799The story begins, in fact, the previous day, the beginning of John 6, is the story6400:05:21,799 –> 00:05:26,980of when Jesus fed 5,000 people miraculously from five loaves and two6500:05:26,980 –> 00:05:34,720fish. It was a stunning unveiling of the glory of the Lord. And people were so6600:05:34,739 –> 00:05:39,339impressed, that John tells us, verse 15 of chapter 6, that they wanted, at that6700:05:39,339 –> 00:05:44,179moment, in the desert, after the miracle, to take Jesus by force and make Him6800:05:44,179 –> 00:05:49,220king. In other words, they wanted to politicize Jesus. They wanted to capture6900:05:49,220 –> 00:05:54,260Jesus for their own agenda. And Jesus will never be captured for anyone’s7000:05:54,260 –> 00:06:01,500agenda. And so he slips away, and he goes to the other side of the lake on the7100:06:01,500 –> 00:06:05,820boat, and the next morning, these people who have been miraculously fed, they come7200:06:05,820 –> 00:06:09,839looking for Him, they don’t find Him. And so John records how there’s a little7300:06:09,839 –> 00:06:15,820flotilla of boats that are there, a kind of aquatic Uber service from the first7400:06:15,820 –> 00:06:20,100century. And all these people get on the boat and they come across the other side7500:06:20,100 –> 00:06:25,640of the lake and they come looking for Jesus. And when they find Him, on the7600:06:25,640 –> 00:06:29,760other side of the lake, Jesus begins to teach them. He says, verse 27,7700:06:29,980 –> 00:06:34,739And do not work for food that perishes, but work for the food that endures for7800:06:34,739 –> 00:06:41,000eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him, God the Father has7900:06:41,000 –> 00:06:47,320set His seal. Now, these people then had eaten the food that perishes—the bread8000:06:47,320 –> 00:06:51,000and the fish, they’d eaten that the previous day. And Jesus begins to speak8100:06:51,000 –> 00:06:58,440to them about what lasts forever, what endures to eternal life. Now, what happens8200:06:58,480 –> 00:07:04,220next as you follow the story of the chapter is that the crowd that were so8300:07:04,220 –> 00:07:10,459impressed by Jesus at first, so enthusiastic about Jesus at one point,8400:07:10,459 –> 00:07:17,640they take offense at what He then says to them. And I want you to notice8500:07:17,640 –> 00:07:21,700particularly, the three things that Jesus says that really offended these people.8600:07:21,880 –> 00:07:26,500The first is the uniqueness of the incarnation. Verse 41,8700:07:36,959 –> 00:07:40,079Now you see, that’s something that no one else in the history of the world8800:07:40,079 –> 00:07:41,399could ever have said.8900:07:41,399 –> 00:07:47,500That puts Jesus in a category of His own with no peers and no rivals.9000:07:47,500 –> 00:07:50,339I’m the bread that came down from Heaven. Who else in all of the history of the9100:07:50,339 –> 00:07:53,339world could ever have said such a thing?9200:07:53,339 –> 00:07:58,660That makes Jesus unique and they don’t like that.9300:08:06,660 –> 00:08:10,820So the uniqueness of the incarnation, that Jesus is unlike any other person who9400:08:10,820 –> 00:08:13,299has ever lived. That offended them.9500:08:13,299 –> 00:08:17,579Second, they were offended by the necessity of the atonement.9600:08:17,859 –> 00:08:23,619Jesus says to them verse 56 whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood9700:08:23,619 –> 00:08:26,420abides in me and I in him.9800:08:26,420 –> 00:08:30,779Now the flesh and the blood of Jesus of course are a clear reference to the9900:08:30,779 –> 00:08:35,940sacrifice of Jesus when he stood in our place and bore our sins and died for us10000:08:35,940 –> 00:08:38,059on the cross.10100:08:38,059 –> 00:08:42,979And it is by believing in or feeding on as Jesus puts it here, on him, that10200:08:43,059 –> 00:08:49,679we become his and the life that is in him comes to be in us and verse 60 when10300:08:49,679 –> 00:08:52,020many of the disciples heard it,10400:08:52,020 –> 00:08:54,979that’s what he said about the atonement,10500:08:54,979 –> 00:09:00,179they said this is a hard saying who can listen to it.10600:09:00,799 –> 00:09:10,280So they did not like the necessity and the centrality of the Atonement of Jesus10700:09:10,280 –> 00:09:15,739dying on the cross for our sins, that offended them.10800:09:17,260 –> 00:09:19,320And then the third thing that offended these folks,10900:09:19,320 –> 00:09:21,640who initially were very impressed with Jesus,11000:09:21,640 –> 00:09:23,400was dependence upon grace.11100:09:23,400 –> 00:09:25,039Look at it. It’s very clear.11200:09:25,039 –> 00:09:31,359Verse 65, Jesus said this is why I told you that no one can come to me11300:09:31,359 –> 00:09:36,239unless it is granted him by the father and after this11400:09:37,179 –> 00:09:42,859many of his disciples turned back and no longer11500:09:42,859 –> 00:09:45,520walked with him.11600:09:47,320 –> 00:09:51,940Now friends, the world seems to be always changing11700:09:52,940 –> 00:09:57,419but in the most profound ways the world never changes.11800:09:57,419 –> 00:10:01,000In the most profound ways the world is always the same11900:10:01,159 –> 00:10:05,059and today in the 21st century in your generation12000:10:05,059 –> 00:10:08,919and in mine the world is still offended12100:10:08,919 –> 00:10:11,280by the same three things that caused offence12200:10:11,280 –> 00:10:13,140right back there in the first century.12300:10:13,140 –> 00:10:16,719We live in a culture that boldly proclaims12400:10:16,719 –> 00:10:21,099that we are all able to be our own Saviour12500:10:21,099 –> 00:10:23,859and therefore our own Lord and therefore we don’t need12600:10:23,859 –> 00:10:26,159the unique one who comes down from heaven.12700:10:26,159 –> 00:10:28,080In fact we deny his uniqueness at all.12800:10:28,080 –> 00:10:30,700That’s what the culture does.12900:10:30,739 –> 00:10:34,239The culture loudly proclaims that in our hearts13000:10:34,239 –> 00:10:36,080we are all essentially good,13100:10:36,080 –> 00:10:38,059if you dig down deep enough you’ll always find13200:10:38,059 –> 00:10:40,219good at the bottom of the heart13300:10:40,219 –> 00:10:41,859and therefore why in the world13400:10:41,859 –> 00:10:43,979would we need an atonement for sin13500:10:45,400 –> 00:10:47,979and our culture loudly proclaims13600:10:47,979 –> 00:10:50,559that we all have our own truth,13700:10:50,559 –> 00:10:52,719that it all lies within us13800:10:52,719 –> 00:10:55,780and therefore essentially life is a journey13900:10:55,780 –> 00:11:00,479and why would anyone need therefore to depend upon God14000:11:00,479 –> 00:11:04,520if the truth already lies inherently within you14100:11:05,799 –> 00:11:07,739and so this vast crowd of people14200:11:07,739 –> 00:11:09,479who have experienced a miracle,14300:11:09,479 –> 00:11:11,359remember, just the previous day,14400:11:11,359 –> 00:11:12,659they’ve eaten the loaves and the fish,14500:11:12,659 –> 00:11:15,159then they’ve come across on the little boats to seek Jesus,14600:11:15,159 –> 00:11:16,960they’re so interested in learning more14700:11:16,960 –> 00:11:18,059and he speaks to them14800:11:18,059 –> 00:11:21,119and when it gets to what his message really is,14900:11:22,239 –> 00:11:23,679the uniqueness of the incarnation,15000:11:23,679 –> 00:11:25,619the necessity of the atonement15100:11:25,619 –> 00:11:28,080and our absolute dependence upon his grace,15200:11:28,080 –> 00:11:31,039they say, we are so out of here15300:11:32,179 –> 00:11:34,400and this vast crowd of people,15400:11:34,400 –> 00:11:36,640thousands of people, thousands,15500:11:36,640 –> 00:11:39,400who have shown some interest of Jesus in Jesus15600:11:39,400 –> 00:11:42,719now are offended and so verse 66 after this,15700:11:42,719 –> 00:11:46,219after this, many, many of his disciples,15800:11:46,219 –> 00:11:49,159notice that word, people had followed him,15900:11:49,159 –> 00:11:51,679people you never would have expected this from,16000:11:52,520 –> 00:11:53,760they turned back16100:11:54,739 –> 00:11:58,979and they no longer walked with him.16200:12:00,359 –> 00:12:02,880Now, friends, you really don’t need me to tell you16300:12:02,880 –> 00:12:06,119that we are living at a time16400:12:06,119 –> 00:12:09,260when unprecedented numbers of people16500:12:09,260 –> 00:12:11,280are abandoning a faith in Jesus16600:12:11,280 –> 00:12:13,599that they once professed,16700:12:13,599 –> 00:12:16,520the secularization of the culture in which we live16800:12:16,520 –> 00:12:20,039is progressing at an astonishing pace16900:12:21,039 –> 00:12:26,159and what that means is that your experience17000:12:26,159 –> 00:12:27,500throughout your lifetime17100:12:28,479 –> 00:12:30,719is that you will be shaken to the core17200:12:31,760 –> 00:12:33,659by people who once professed faith17300:12:33,659 –> 00:12:35,000and you thought were really the Lord’s17400:12:35,000 –> 00:12:35,840and they walk away17500:12:35,840 –> 00:12:37,359and they don’t want anything else to do with it17600:12:37,359 –> 00:12:38,859and it will shake you17700:12:40,380 –> 00:12:42,719every time it happens to someone you know17800:12:43,739 –> 00:12:45,020and someone that you love17900:12:46,059 –> 00:12:47,880and remember for the Disciples18000:12:47,940 –> 00:12:51,140this was more than simply a cultural pressure18100:12:51,960 –> 00:12:54,219these events took place in Galilee18200:12:55,099 –> 00:12:56,719a rural area18300:12:59,140 –> 00:13:00,619Bethsaida18400:13:01,039 –> 00:13:03,039a very small town18500:13:04,299 –> 00:13:06,080and so we’re talking about18600:13:07,200 –> 00:13:09,400a very small population and18700:13:10,460 –> 00:13:12,520many of the people who walked away18800:13:12,520 –> 00:13:13,719would have been neighbours18900:13:13,719 –> 00:13:15,099extended family members19000:13:15,099 –> 00:13:16,119of the Disciples19100:13:18,000 –> 00:13:20,440it’s one thing to talk about the drift of the culture19200:13:20,440 –> 00:13:22,919it’s another thing when people you know and love19300:13:23,979 –> 00:13:27,840walk away from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ19400:13:29,099 –> 00:13:30,900and how are you going to stand19500:13:32,200 –> 00:13:33,940when that happens to you19600:13:34,880 –> 00:13:37,380you’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith19700:13:37,380 –> 00:13:39,739and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there19800:13:39,739 –> 00:13:41,179but we’ll be back shortly19900:13:41,179 –> 00:13:42,559so I hope you’ll stay with us20000:13:43,119 –> 00:13:44,880the message is called Disciple20100:13:44,880 –> 00:13:46,739and it’s part of our series20200:13:47,659 –> 00:13:50,140if you ever miss one of the messages in the series20300:13:50,140 –> 00:13:52,780you can easily catch up or go back and listen again20400:13:52,780 –> 00:13:54,979by coming online to our website20500:13:57,919 –> 00:14:01,900there you’ll find all the messages that have already gone out on air20600:14:02,539 –> 00:14:03,880back to the message now20700:14:03,880 –> 00:14:05,200here again is Colin20800:14:05,200 –> 00:14:08,000now this scene and I want you to try and picture it with me20900:14:08,000 –> 00:14:09,919for a moment in your mind’s eye21000:14:09,919 –> 00:14:10,960this scene21100:14:11,820 –> 00:14:14,299of thousands of people21200:14:14,299 –> 00:14:15,140thousands21300:14:16,140 –> 00:14:18,460walking away from Jesus21400:14:19,299 –> 00:14:21,200by the shore of the lake21500:14:22,280 –> 00:14:24,739it speaks so powerfully to us today21600:14:26,359 –> 00:14:31,640the vast majority of people in our culture today21700:14:31,640 –> 00:14:35,559absolutely convinced that we can all be our own Savior21800:14:35,559 –> 00:14:39,039absolutely convinced that we’re all inherently good21900:14:39,039 –> 00:14:42,500absolutely convinced that we all have our own truth22000:14:43,460 –> 00:14:44,840and here are you22100:14:45,700 –> 00:14:47,940and you’re going to take a stand believing in22200:14:47,940 –> 00:14:49,799the uniqueness of Jesus22300:14:49,799 –> 00:14:51,580the uniqueness of the incarnation22400:14:52,260 –> 00:14:54,500the necessity of the atonement22500:14:55,340 –> 00:14:57,900and dependence upon grace22600:14:58,900 –> 00:15:02,119you can see you are going to be under enormous pressure22700:15:02,119 –> 00:15:03,500it’s going to last all of your life22800:15:05,780 –> 00:15:07,380now picture the scene then22900:15:07,380 –> 00:15:08,739of the thousands walking away23000:15:08,739 –> 00:15:11,020I mean they’re not walking away quietly23100:15:11,020 –> 00:15:12,260they’re walking away in disgust23200:15:13,320 –> 00:15:15,820they’re spitting in the ground as they go23300:15:16,719 –> 00:15:18,340they’re outraged23400:15:19,880 –> 00:15:23,080and you’re standing with the disciples23500:15:23,080 –> 00:15:25,859and you’re seeing thousands walk away23600:15:25,859 –> 00:15:26,919and you say23700:15:27,539 –> 00:15:30,140wow look at everyone who’s no longer believing23800:15:30,140 –> 00:15:31,400how many of us are left23900:15:31,400 –> 00:15:33,179and you look around and how many are left24000:15:33,179 –> 00:15:34,3201224100:15:35,900 –> 00:15:36,460and you say24200:15:36,460 –> 00:15:38,520well how can so many people be so wrong24300:15:38,520 –> 00:15:40,400and so few people be right24400:15:41,200 –> 00:15:43,219you’re going to feel that pressure in your life24500:15:45,520 –> 00:15:46,500so24600:15:47,479 –> 00:15:49,099John 6 verse 6724700:15:49,320 –> 00:15:50,179at that moment24800:15:50,179 –> 00:15:52,859Jesus said to the 1224900:15:54,419 –> 00:15:55,700do you want to go away as well?25000:15:58,020 –> 00:15:58,960Now this is the question25100:16:00,719 –> 00:16:03,859how are you going to stand firm25200:16:05,099 –> 00:16:07,719when vast numbers of other people are turning away25300:16:08,159 –> 00:16:10,599how are you going to have a faith that lasts25400:16:12,020 –> 00:16:14,020how are you going to move beyond drifting25500:16:15,460 –> 00:16:18,260away from defiance25600:16:18,260 –> 00:16:19,719and beyond doubting25700:16:19,719 –> 00:16:23,820and live as a disciple of Jesus25800:16:25,880 –> 00:16:30,179and I want in this last session therefore just to leave with you very simply25900:16:31,400 –> 00:16:35,239the marvelous answer that Peter gave to Jesus’ question26000:16:35,580 –> 00:16:36,659do you want to go away as well?26100:16:37,739 –> 00:16:42,200notice three things very simply here26200:16:42,200 –> 00:16:46,440the first is here’s how you’ll stand for a lifetime with Jesus26300:16:47,280 –> 00:16:50,580because you know the richness of life with Jesus26400:16:50,580 –> 00:16:52,500the richness of life with Jesus26500:16:54,659 –> 00:16:56,159Simon Peter answered him26600:16:56,159 –> 00:16:59,799Lord to whom shall we go?26700:17:01,059 –> 00:17:03,799you have the words of eternal life26800:17:04,420 –> 00:17:05,780of eternal life26900:17:08,260 –> 00:17:11,520when I was in high school in Scotland27000:17:11,520 –> 00:17:13,979we had a math teacher27100:17:13,979 –> 00:17:16,180delightfully eccentric27200:17:16,180 –> 00:17:17,459who would give us27300:17:17,459 –> 00:17:20,579an equation or whatever to work on27400:17:20,579 –> 00:17:22,859and a certain amount of time for us to work on this thing27500:17:22,859 –> 00:17:23,880and to resolve it27600:17:23,880 –> 00:17:26,439and he would always say the same thing27700:17:26,439 –> 00:17:28,979after he’d finished doing his thing up front27800:17:28,979 –> 00:17:31,319and then got us to do an exercise together27900:17:31,420 –> 00:17:34,640he said, you’re going to have to get going on this28000:17:34,640 –> 00:17:37,439because you’re short on time28100:17:37,439 –> 00:17:39,119and he said that every time28200:17:39,119 –> 00:17:40,400I mean every day28300:17:40,400 –> 00:17:40,819you know28400:17:40,819 –> 00:17:44,040so of course we helped him out as a class28500:17:44,040 –> 00:17:46,719you know, as soon as he said the first part of the tagline28600:17:46,719 –> 00:17:48,719you know, you’re going to have to get going on this28700:17:48,719 –> 00:17:49,760we’d all shout out28800:17:49,760 –> 00:17:52,319because we’re short on time28900:17:53,300 –> 00:17:57,420and that phrase is embedded in my mind forever29000:17:57,839 –> 00:18:02,479without eternal life29100:18:02,479 –> 00:18:05,459we would be short on time29200:18:05,459 –> 00:18:08,699put yourself for one minute29300:18:08,699 –> 00:18:13,479in the shoes of a person who doesn’t have eternal life29400:18:13,479 –> 00:18:18,060if you don’t have eternal life29500:18:18,060 –> 00:18:20,079I feel sorry for you29600:18:20,079 –> 00:18:23,300your life is so short29700:18:23,300 –> 00:18:27,859and you will always feel that it is slipping away29800:18:27,859 –> 00:18:30,760and if the only good29900:18:30,760 –> 00:18:32,219you are ever going to enjoy30000:18:32,219 –> 00:18:33,739is the good that you hold of30100:18:33,739 –> 00:18:35,780now you are going to live30200:18:35,780 –> 00:18:38,180with the fear of what you might miss30300:18:38,180 –> 00:18:40,739formal will be written all over your fear of missing out30400:18:40,739 –> 00:18:42,520because you’ve only got this very, very little life30500:18:42,520 –> 00:18:45,819and with so little life30600:18:45,819 –> 00:18:48,060if something should happen to you30700:18:48,060 –> 00:18:52,180that harms or spoils your life30800:18:52,500 –> 00:18:56,160you will feel ultimate loss30900:18:56,160 –> 00:18:57,819this life is all that I have31000:18:57,819 –> 00:19:01,160and now it has been spoilt31100:19:01,160 –> 00:19:02,780without eternal life31200:19:02,780 –> 00:19:04,520you will inevitably be drawn31300:19:04,520 –> 00:19:06,880to one of two alternatives31400:19:06,880 –> 00:19:09,599one would be to throw yourself31500:19:09,599 –> 00:19:12,979into a life of indulgence31600:19:12,979 –> 00:19:14,819try everything31700:19:14,819 –> 00:19:16,060eat, drink and be merry31800:19:16,060 –> 00:19:17,900for tomorrow we die31900:19:17,900 –> 00:19:19,180I’ve only got a little life32000:19:19,180 –> 00:19:21,500so I’ve just got to try everything32100:19:22,339 –> 00:19:24,699or if you don’t do that32200:19:24,699 –> 00:19:25,420you go the other way32300:19:25,420 –> 00:19:27,319you will live with fear32400:19:27,319 –> 00:19:28,859caution32500:19:28,859 –> 00:19:30,880grasping on32600:19:30,880 –> 00:19:32,119to this little life32700:19:32,119 –> 00:19:32,979that you have32800:19:32,979 –> 00:19:34,479desperately trying to make sure32900:19:34,479 –> 00:19:35,359that you don’t let it slip33000:19:35,359 –> 00:19:38,040through your fingers33100:19:38,040 –> 00:19:40,420now brothers and sisters33200:19:40,420 –> 00:19:43,719in Jesus Christ33300:19:43,719 –> 00:19:44,719think about the reality33400:19:44,719 –> 00:19:46,719of your position in Christ33500:19:46,760 –> 00:19:53,880You have eternal life33600:19:53,880 –> 00:19:58,859you have life stored up33700:19:58,859 –> 00:20:00,660inexhaustible33800:20:00,660 –> 00:20:03,079never-ending33900:20:03,079 –> 00:20:05,739pleasures greater by far34000:20:05,739 –> 00:20:07,319than all the joys of life34100:20:07,319 –> 00:20:08,300and love that you can34200:20:08,300 –> 00:20:09,699experience here34300:20:09,699 –> 00:20:12,479lie ahead of you34400:20:12,479 –> 00:20:13,880and when you live your life here34500:20:13,880 –> 00:20:16,260knowing that this is your position34600:20:16,319 –> 00:20:20,380you will be in an entirely different place34700:20:20,380 –> 00:20:21,859if you know that34800:20:21,859 –> 00:20:24,260you have eternal life34900:20:24,260 –> 00:20:25,819you will feel that35000:20:25,819 –> 00:20:27,160you can give the life35100:20:27,160 –> 00:20:28,699that you have now freely35200:20:28,699 –> 00:20:30,920to the one who gave his life for you35300:20:30,920 –> 00:20:32,959you will be freed35400:20:32,959 –> 00:20:36,020from this terrible fear35500:20:36,020 –> 00:20:37,020the haunting fear35600:20:37,020 –> 00:20:40,380that sometime you might be missing out35700:20:40,380 –> 00:20:41,880and if something should35800:20:41,880 –> 00:20:43,040come into your life35900:20:43,040 –> 00:20:44,859that spoils36000:20:44,959 –> 00:20:46,260or harms36100:20:46,260 –> 00:20:47,260or hurts36200:20:47,260 –> 00:20:50,079or wounds36300:20:50,099 –> 00:20:51,760and you no longer have the life36400:20:51,760 –> 00:20:53,260that you thought you would have36500:20:53,260 –> 00:20:54,180in this world36600:20:54,180 –> 00:20:56,739well you will grieve36700:20:56,739 –> 00:20:58,000but36800:20:58,000 –> 00:20:59,079you will grieve knowing36900:20:59,079 –> 00:21:00,640that you have an inheritance37000:21:00,640 –> 00:21:03,079that can never spoil or fade37100:21:03,079 –> 00:21:05,280and it’s kept in heaven for you37200:21:05,280 –> 00:21:06,239and when you feel37300:21:06,239 –> 00:21:07,280that your ears are37400:21:07,280 –> 00:21:08,719slipping away37500:21:08,719 –> 00:21:09,459you will say37600:21:09,760 –> 00:21:11,300I am getting nearer37700:21:11,300 –> 00:21:16,280to incomparable joy37800:21:16,300 –> 00:21:18,140Now I’m saying to you37900:21:18,140 –> 00:21:19,560when you know38000:21:19,560 –> 00:21:22,560that you have eternal life38100:21:22,560 –> 00:21:24,219you will be free then38200:21:24,219 –> 00:21:26,219to pour out your life38300:21:26,219 –> 00:21:28,359in service for Jesus Christ38400:21:28,359 –> 00:21:30,180that’s the key38500:21:30,180 –> 00:21:30,800you’ve got to know38600:21:30,800 –> 00:21:32,359how rich you are in Jesus Christ38700:21:32,359 –> 00:21:33,180if you’re gonna pour out38800:21:33,180 –> 00:21:35,020your life in service38900:21:35,020 –> 00:21:36,160you’ve gotta be able to know39000:21:36,160 –> 00:21:37,000and say as it says39100:21:37,000 –> 00:21:37,979in the New Testament39200:21:38,000 –> 00:21:40,180all things are yours39300:21:40,180 –> 00:21:41,040life39400:21:41,040 –> 00:21:41,579death39500:21:41,579 –> 00:21:42,180the present39600:21:42,180 –> 00:21:42,780the future39700:21:42,780 –> 00:21:43,839all things are yours39800:21:43,839 –> 00:21:44,719and you’re Christ39900:21:44,719 –> 00:21:46,040and Christ is God40000:21:46,040 –> 00:21:50,160you are rich in life40100:21:50,160 –> 00:21:50,979and when you know40200:21:50,979 –> 00:21:52,599that you are more rich in life40300:21:52,599 –> 00:21:53,939even than you can fathom40400:21:53,939 –> 00:21:56,859you will be free40500:21:56,859 –> 00:21:57,880to go out40600:21:57,880 –> 00:21:59,219and to give yourself40700:21:59,219 –> 00:22:01,020in serving the Lord Jesus Christ40800:22:01,020 –> 00:22:02,000for a lifetime40900:22:02,000 –> 00:22:04,040irrespective41000:22:04,040 –> 00:22:05,520of what it costs41100:22:05,520 –> 00:22:07,239we’ve got to pause the message there41200:22:07,859 –> 00:22:09,300the second part of it41300:22:09,300 –> 00:22:10,579in our next broadcast41400:22:10,579 –> 00:22:12,439so I hope you’ll tune in for that41500:22:12,900 –> 00:22:13,939the message is called41600:22:13,939 –> 00:22:14,739Disciple41700:22:14,739 –> 00:22:16,380and it’s part of our series41800:22:16,380 –> 00:22:18,160Faith That Lasts41900:22:18,160 –> 00:22:19,520and if you ever miss42000:22:19,520 –> 00:22:20,300one of the series42100:22:20,300 –> 00:22:21,459you can easily catch up42200:22:21,459 –> 00:22:23,060or go back and listen again42300:22:23,060 –> 00:22:23,839by coming online42400:22:23,839 –> 00:22:25,020to our website42500:22:25,020 –> 00:22:27,859openthebible.org.uk42600:22:27,859 –> 00:22:30,359or by going to your favorite podcast site42700:22:30,359 –> 00:22:31,060and searching for42800:22:31,060 –> 00:22:32,520Open the Bible UK42900:22:32,520 –> 00:22:33,599there you’ll find43000:22:33,599 –> 00:22:34,760all of the messages43100:22:34,760 –> 00:22:36,579which have already been broadcast43200:22:37,260 –> 00:22:38,479While you are on our website43300:22:38,479 –> 00:22:39,780don’t forget to check out43400:22:39,780 –> 00:22:41,699Open the Bible Daily43500:22:41,699 –> 00:22:43,359that’s our series of short43600:22:43,359 –> 00:22:45,739two-to-three minute daily reflections43700:22:45,739 –> 00:22:47,520based on Pastor Colin’s teaching43800:22:47,520 –> 00:22:48,680There’s a new one every day43900:22:48,680 –> 00:22:49,780and many Christians find44000:22:49,780 –> 00:22:52,140it’s a great way to start the day44100:22:52,459 –> 00:22:53,420Open the Bible44200:22:53,420 –> 00:22:54,939is able to stay on this station44300:22:54,939 –> 00:22:56,219and the internet44400:22:56,219 –> 00:22:58,040and available as a podcast44500:22:58,040 –> 00:23:00,020because of the generous financial support44600:23:00,020 –> 00:23:01,119of our listeners44700:23:01,119 –> 00:23:02,920that’s people like you44800:23:02,920 –> 00:23:05,420and if you already give to support the work44900:23:05,479 –> 00:23:06,760Thank you so much45000:23:06,760 –> 00:23:08,619if supporting Open the Bible45100:23:08,619 –> 00:23:10,619is something you’d like to start doing45200:23:10,619 –> 00:23:13,339this month we’re delighted to offer a free gift45300:23:13,859 –> 00:23:16,260When you set up a new direct debit45400:23:16,260 –> 00:23:17,819to the work of Open the Bible45500:23:17,819 –> 00:23:20,579in the amount of £5 prevents or more45600:23:20,579 –> 00:23:21,859or a one-off gift of45700:23:21,859 –> 00:23:23,219£50 or more45800:23:23,219 –> 00:23:24,880We’d love to say thank you45900:23:24,880 –> 00:23:26,880by sending you a free copy46000:23:26,880 –> 00:23:28,880of Pastor Colin’s new book46100:23:28,880 –> 00:23:30,540Hike Through the Bible46200:23:30,540 –> 00:23:33,540Colin, where did the idea for this book come from?46300:23:33,760 –> 00:23:35,339Well, we have46400:23:35,339 –> 00:23:36,979fly through the Bible46500:23:36,979 –> 00:23:39,800for those who are looking for a place to begin46600:23:39,800 –> 00:23:41,540then drive through the Bible46700:23:41,540 –> 00:23:43,439obviously takes people a bit further46800:23:43,439 –> 00:23:46,060but for everyone who wants to get serious46900:23:46,060 –> 00:23:47,560about the Bible story47000:23:47,560 –> 00:23:50,000Hike Through the Bible is for you47100:23:50,000 –> 00:23:52,219this is where you get your boots on the ground47200:23:52,219 –> 00:23:54,219and really get to grips47300:23:54,219 –> 00:23:56,839with what the Bible is all about47400:23:56,839 –> 00:23:58,859and you’ll discover that the whole Bible47500:23:58,859 –> 00:24:01,060is one story, that the whole of it47600:24:01,060 –> 00:24:02,699points to our Lord47700:24:02,699 –> 00:24:04,760and Saviour Jesus Christ47800:24:04,760 –> 00:24:06,260and I wrote this for people47900:24:06,260 –> 00:24:09,300who want to have a better grasp of the Bible48000:24:09,300 –> 00:24:10,599I wrote it for people who48100:24:10,599 –> 00:24:13,780want to have a deeper love for the Lord Jesus Christ48200:24:13,780 –> 00:24:15,219and just by way of encouragement48300:24:15,219 –> 00:24:17,739if you think that hiking sounds like hard work48400:24:17,739 –> 00:24:20,459well you can hike at a gentle pace48500:24:20,459 –> 00:24:22,540this is 50 chapters48600:24:22,540 –> 00:24:24,239and that’s designed so that48700:24:24,239 –> 00:24:25,300you can do one a week48800:24:25,300 –> 00:24:27,239a nice gentle hike through the Bible48900:24:27,239 –> 00:24:29,099so that at the end of the year49000:24:29,099 –> 00:24:32,260you really have grasped the Bible as a whole49100:24:32,459 –> 00:24:33,959and you’ve got a clearer grip49200:24:33,959 –> 00:24:36,660on what it is that God is saying into your life49300:24:37,219 –> 00:24:39,699Well we’d love to send you Collin’s new book49400:24:39,699 –> 00:24:41,839when you set up a new direct debit49500:24:41,839 –> 00:24:44,439of £5 per month or more49600:24:44,439 –> 00:24:48,180or a one-off gift of £50 or more this month49700:24:48,180 –> 00:24:51,140full terms and conditions online at our website49800:24:51,140 –> 00:24:53,839openthebible.org.uk49900:24:53,839 –> 00:24:56,079and you can give online50000:24:56,079 –> 00:24:58,239Don’t forget to leave your name and address50100:24:58,239 –> 00:24:59,939so we can send you your gift50200:25:00,739 –> 00:25:03,180For Open the Bible and Pastor Collin Smith50300:25:03,180 –> 00:25:04,420I’m David Pick50400:25:04,420 –> 00:25:07,239and I look forward to being with you again next time50500:25:18,380 –> 00:25:20,660How are you going to stand with Jesus50600:25:20,660 –> 00:25:23,359when many are moving away from Him?50700:25:24,219 –> 00:25:26,719Find out next time on Open the Bible

Details

Sermon Series
Date
Scripture
Primary Audience

Monthly Offer

Get our free Easter Bundle with 2 copies of our new graphic novel, and an NIV Bible, when you set up a monthly direct debit of at least £5, or give a one-off gift of at least £50…

Donate

Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

Linked resources

Faith that lasts is the only kind of faith worth having. In this series, you will meet four characters—Drifting, Defiant, Doubting, and Disciple. You may recognize some of these characters in your own life.

Colin Smith

New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

Search

Search

Header Submit Search