100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:09,440If you’re a person who professes Faith, but you have not seen that the goal of your life200:00:09,620 –> 00:00:15,520may be expressed in the pursuit of these things, there’s something wrong with you. You’re like300:00:15,520 –> 00:00:19,920a person… and he uses the three ways of describing something wrong. Nearsighted, blind400:00:19,920 –> 00:00:21,459and forgetful.500:00:21,920 –> 00:00:26,860Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you could join600:00:27,139 –> 00:00:33,900us today and Colin, are you saying that some believers are nearsighted, blind or forgetful?700:00:33,900 –> 00:00:38,020Well, actually, it wasn’t me that said it, it is Peter who says it. He’s speaking to800:00:38,020 –> 00:00:42,299Christian believers and he’s saying, it’s possible to be a Christian believer and have900:00:42,299 –> 00:00:48,779something very seriously wrong. Then he uses these words to describe the kind of condition1000:00:48,779 –> 00:00:56,099that a Christian can be in. Blind and nearsighted and forgetting that you have been cleansed1100:00:56,099 –> 00:01:00,240from your past sins. So, this is very easy to happen, you know, I profess faith in the1200:01:00,240 –> 00:01:05,959Lord Jesus Christ and then I really lose touch with the reality of what has happened and1300:01:05,959 –> 00:01:09,879the reality of what needs to happen in order to grow as a Christian life. So, it feels1400:01:09,879 –> 00:01:14,239pretty politically incorrect these days to say, there might be something wrong with you.1500:01:14,239 –> 00:01:18,139But you know what, we’re opening the Bible and that’s exactly what’s being said to1600:01:18,139 –> 00:01:21,239Christians, hey, waken up! If you’re in this condition, there’s something you need1700:01:21,239 –> 00:01:26,760to do about it. That’s what our message today is all about. We began to see last time1800:01:26,760 –> 00:01:32,680how in Christ we have everything we need for growth. But what do we pursue and how do we1900:01:32,680 –> 00:01:37,279grow? That’s what today’s message is all about. So, join us, if you can, in to Peter2000:01:37,279 –> 00:01:44,000chapter one. Here is pastor Colin. Now here then are seven virtues that Peter says we2100:01:44,000 –> 00:01:49,959are to vigorously pursue, make every effort to go after these things in the power of the2200:01:49,980 –> 00:01:57,699Holy Spirit. Number one, goodness. In the light of all that God has done for you in2300:01:57,699 –> 00:02:05,120Christ pursue this, make every effort to pursue goodness. Moral excellence is really what2400:02:06,019 –> 00:02:11,320that means. Peter is saying if you want to be a really fruitful Christian you got to2500:02:11,320 –> 00:02:16,960grow in goodness because the evidence of your faith will be seen in your life. Peter has2600:02:16,960 –> 00:02:25,220already told us that we were called through Christ’s own glory and goodness, verse 3.2700:02:25,220 –> 00:02:29,960We were compelled, we were drawn by what we saw in Jesus Christ and now other people will2800:02:29,960 –> 00:02:35,580be drawn as they see a reflection of that same goodness of Jesus in you. Therefore if2900:02:35,580 –> 00:02:41,720you want to be fruitful in your life of the Lord Jesus Christ here is where to begin.3000:02:42,119 –> 00:02:43,160with all the energy you3100:02:43,160 –> 00:02:49,479can muster a goodness that reflects the excellence of the life of Jesus.3200:02:49,479 –> 00:02:55,539So I want in each case here to give a simple question and you might find this question3300:02:55,539 –> 00:03:00,899helpful, where then can I do good for another person this week? That’s a good question3400:03:00,899 –> 00:03:06,479to live with isn’t it? How can I do good to another person in these next days because3500:03:06,479 –> 00:03:11,600this is something I’m to go after in the light of all that God has done for me in Jesus3600:03:11,600 –> 00:03:17,960Christ. Second, knowledge. Make every effort to go after knowledge, which really means3700:03:17,960 –> 00:03:24,919practical wisdom. If you’re going to live a fruitful Christian life you need wisdom,3800:03:24,919 –> 00:03:33,279depth, stability and maturity, and where are you going to get wisdom and depth and stability3900:03:33,279 –> 00:03:38,320and maturity to live a fruitful Christian life you’ll get it through the word of God,4000:03:38,320 –> 00:03:48,559learned, believed, applied, and obeyed. The Bible is much more than information, the Salmist4100:03:48,559 –> 00:03:57,039says God’s word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path. In other words, the scriptures4200:03:57,039 –> 00:04:02,419when my thinking is shaped by them will give me the wisdom and maturity to be able to make4300:04:02,419 –> 00:04:09,940good decisions and to live in a way that is honoring to Jesus Christ. So, one of the questions4400:04:09,940 –> 00:04:16,140that we might live with here is now how am I learning God’s word? What opportunities4500:04:16,140 –> 00:04:23,899am I really grasping, daily and weekly, to get the truth of the scriptures into my mind4600:04:23,899 –> 00:04:28,019so that I’m growing, not just in knowing a lot of things, but in the kind of wisdom and4700:04:28,859 –> 00:04:40,540stability that comes from a life that is lighted by the lamp of the word of God? How am I learning4800:04:40,540 –> 00:04:49,779God’s word? Remember? One opportunity is right now. It’s right now. Am I seizing, Sunday4900:04:49,779 –> 00:04:55,299by Sunday, the opportunity to learn from God’s word in such a way that it’s shaping my thinking5000:04:55,320 –> 00:05:02,380and therefore my living? Or am I just letting these things pass me by? Number three, go5100:05:02,380 –> 00:05:08,959after self-control. Make every effort in this area. Self-control is simply you controlling5200:05:08,959 –> 00:05:14,660your passions instead of letting your passions control you. That’s what self-control is.5300:05:14,660 –> 00:05:20,600Now remember who’s writing this, Peter, the most impulsive man in the New Testament. At5400:05:20,600 –> 00:05:27,299least, that’s what he was once. But here’s Christian growth, and as you see it in Peter,5500:05:27,299 –> 00:05:31,899think about what it could mean for you. The man who was once the blundering disciple in5600:05:31,899 –> 00:05:40,980the gospels is now the trusted apostle and leader in the early church. Praise God for5700:05:40,980 –> 00:05:47,160that. That’s growth. If the Holy Spirit can bring that kind of growth in self-control5800:05:47,160 –> 00:05:55,480in Peter’s life, then he can bring that kind of growth and stability in your life as well.5900:05:55,480 –> 00:06:01,799So let’s ask this question to make it specific, where do I need to improve my self-control?6000:06:01,799 –> 00:06:08,380Remember, this is a lifelong pursuit to possess these qualities in increasing measure, Peter6100:06:08,380 –> 00:06:13,480says. To go after them, straining after them, making every effort. Where do you need to6200:06:13,559 –> 00:06:19,559improve your self-control? Is it in the area of eating? Is it in the area of drinking?6300:06:19,559 –> 00:06:26,260Is it in the area of your choices of entertainment? Is it in the area of the way that you spend6400:06:26,260 –> 00:06:35,200and your control of finances? Is it in regard to your anger? Is it in regard to your tongue?6500:06:35,200 –> 00:06:40,399Where do I need to grow in self-control? Because if you want to live a fruitful and productive6600:06:40,399 –> 00:06:48,519life, you got to grow Peter says in self-control right across the board. So target where you6700:06:48,519 –> 00:06:54,720need to begin, target where you need to develop. Set it as a goal, it is a key result area6800:06:54,720 –> 00:07:02,600if you find that language helpful. God has given you everything you need for life. The6900:07:02,600 –> 00:07:11,059Holy Spirit lives within you so go after developing self-control. You can do this by the power7000:07:11,059 –> 00:07:18,459of the spirit within you. Fourth perseverance, which means pressing on when you feel like7100:07:18,459 –> 00:07:24,700giving up. If you want to be useful to Jesus Christ, here is where you need to grow in7200:07:24,700 –> 00:07:31,779perseverance. Perseverance by the way arises from self-control. There is a certain order7300:07:31,799 –> 00:07:39,760I think in the way that Peter sets these virtues out here, the impulsive person gives up easily.7400:07:40,380 –> 00:07:48,779He’s pushed around by what he feels at any given moment. So when he gets fed up, he wants7500:07:48,779 –> 00:07:55,019to give up, so if you can grow in self-control you will find that one of the fruits of that7600:07:55,019 –> 00:07:59,220is that you’re better positioned to grow in perseverance. You won’t give up so easily.7700:08:00,200 –> 00:08:04,420And what Peter is saying is that if you want to be really useful to Jesus, you’ve got to7800:08:04,420 –> 00:08:09,899learn to stay the course through times of difficulty. So, determine that you will rise7900:08:09,899 –> 00:08:14,619above discouragement, don’t give up so easily. Grow in perseverance. So here’s the obvious8000:08:14,619 –> 00:08:22,059question. Where then, in your life, right now, do you need to actively persevere? Look8100:08:22,059 –> 00:08:27,600for the situation where your natural inclination is to quit and look at it this way. Here is8200:08:27,899 –> 00:08:34,760opportunity for me to develop Christian character that will make me a more useful person, in8300:08:34,760 –> 00:08:42,979the long haul of my life and in the light of eternity itself. Number five, godliness.8400:08:42,979 –> 00:08:49,619That is a life that flows from a passion for God. Worship both expresses that passion and8500:08:49,619 –> 00:08:55,099refreshes that passion. It’s good for us to ask this question then. How is my love for8600:08:55,159 –> 00:09:02,159Jesus Christ, for us to be rekindling a love for Christ? Peter speaks about love for Christ8700:09:03,260 –> 00:09:08,320which is godliness in its essence. He then speaks about love for Christian brothers,8800:09:08,320 –> 00:09:12,619brotherly kindness. Then he speaks for the broader love that Christians are called to8900:09:12,619 –> 00:09:19,619have for the world. Notice the order. I grow in my love for others as first I cultivate9000:09:20,099 –> 00:09:27,099freshness of love for Jesus Christ. Then brotherly kindness is number 6 which is simply a generous9100:09:28,760 –> 00:09:33,760spirit towards other believers. If you want to be really useful and fruitful in your Christian9200:09:33,760 –> 00:09:38,599life, you’ll be looking to lend a hand. How could I contribute to another person? How9300:09:38,599 –> 00:09:45,599can I show kindness to another believer? Brotherly kindness. If you want to be really useful9400:09:46,440 –> 00:09:53,440to the Lord Jesus, be generous in your judgment of other believers. Some Christians find it9500:09:55,440 –> 00:10:01,679easier to be generous in their judgment of those who do not believe than they are with9600:10:01,679 –> 00:10:08,679regards to those who do believe. But, if you want to be really useful to Jesus Christ,9700:10:08,919 –> 00:10:14,880you will be quick to think the best of your brothers and sisters, and you will be slow9800:10:15,080 –> 00:10:21,320to believe the worst of your brothers and sisters. If you want maximum usefulness for9900:10:21,320 –> 00:10:28,320Jesus throughout the course of your life, pursue that in increasing measure. Brotherly10000:10:29,119 –> 00:10:36,119kindness. So, where can I be more generous to other Christians? How can I express that?10100:10:36,419 –> 00:10:42,559How can I show greater concern and love for other members of the body of Christ, perhaps10200:10:42,760 –> 00:10:49,760especially those with whom I do not always agree? And then, seventhly, love. God’s great10300:10:49,960 –> 00:10:56,960compassion for the world. Notice again the order. Peter calls us to grow in love for10400:10:57,780 –> 00:11:03,619Christ, for each other within the body, but then also to have this great love for the10500:11:03,619 –> 00:11:09,580world. And so, where can I demonstrate God’s compassion for lost people?10600:11:09,900 –> 00:11:16,900Now, these are the things, Peter says, we’re to go after. Make them the priorities and10700:11:17,820 –> 00:11:23,419the goals of your life, for these are the things that matter.10800:11:23,419 –> 00:11:30,419And they determine your fruitfulness as a Christian believer.10900:11:30,719 –> 00:11:35,280So we’ve set out what we need to go after, and when we come back in a moment, we’ll look11000:11:35,340 –> 00:11:38,799at a warning from Peter and a couple of encouragements. So,11100:11:38,799 –> 00:11:41,059please, do stay with us.11200:11:41,059 –> 00:11:44,840You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, and a message called11300:11:44,840 –> 00:11:49,539Everything You Need for Growth. It’s part of our series on …11400:11:49,539 –> 00:11:53,599And if you’ve missed any of the series, you can easily catch up or go back and listen11500:11:53,599 –> 00:11:59,840again by coming online to our website, at…11600:11:59,840 –> 00:12:04,979Also, from where ever you get your podcasts, go there and search for Open the Bible UK11700:12:05,059 –> 00:12:09,260And you’ll find all of Pastor Colin’s messages right there.11800:12:09,260 –> 00:12:13,260Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.11900:12:13,260 –> 00:12:18,539Now, having established what we’re to go after,12000:12:18,539 –> 00:12:22,940Peter wants to give us one warning and two encouragements. I like the proportion12100:12:22,940 –> 00:12:26,900there by the way, don’t you? One warning, two encouragements much better12200:12:26,900 –> 00:12:30,239than the other way around. So we’ll take the warning first,12300:12:30,239 –> 00:12:32,179but we need to hear it.12400:12:32,239 –> 00:12:33,960It’s in verse nine,12500:12:34,679 –> 00:12:40,719if anyone does not have them, that’s the seven virtues he has described.12600:12:40,719 –> 00:12:47,299That person is nearsighted and blind. And he has forgotten that he has been12700:12:47,299 –> 00:12:53,559cleansed from his past sins. Now, listen to what Peter is saying here12800:12:53,559 –> 00:13:04,679in this verse. If there is no sense within your soul that these things12900:13:04,679 –> 00:13:11,679are the things you must go after. If there is no correspondence13000:13:11,679 –> 00:13:20,719between Peter’s call and the pursuit of your life, then there is something13100:13:20,719 –> 00:13:25,059wrong with you. That’s what he’s saying. That’s so politically13200:13:25,059 –> 00:13:30,380incorrect, isn’t it, in our generation? But that’s what he’s saying.13300:13:30,380 –> 00:13:35,179He’s saying, if you’re a person who professes faith, but you have13400:13:35,179 –> 00:13:39,659not seen that the goal of your life may be expressed in the pursuit13500:13:39,659 –> 00:13:45,299of these things, there’s something wrong with you. You’re like a person,13600:13:45,299 –> 00:13:48,659and he uses three ways of describing something wrong, nearsighted,13700:13:49,219 –> 00:13:56,140and forgetful. He says, If these things are not speaking to your soul,13800:13:56,140 –> 00:13:58,820if they’re not the pursuits of your life, if they’re not,13900:13:58,820 –> 00:14:05,099in some measure, evident in you, then you’re nearsighted.14000:14:05,099 –> 00:14:08,940That means you can’t see into the further distance. You’ve lost touch14100:14:08,940 –> 00:14:12,559with the fact that one day you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to14200:14:12,559 –> 00:14:15,700give an account of your life, or perhaps more accurately,14300:14:15,739 –> 00:14:19,979for Jesus to give an account of your life. You must have lost sight of that14400:14:19,979 –> 00:14:24,799if you don’t feel that you need to pursue this every day of your life.14500:14:24,799 –> 00:14:28,619Living in a dream world. More than that, you’re blind,14600:14:28,619 –> 00:14:31,059you’re kind of stumbling around, you’re going to be falling all over14700:14:31,059 –> 00:14:34,919the place because you’re just not aware of what you’re up against and what your14800:14:34,919 –> 00:14:38,840life is about. And you must’ve forgotten what it really14900:14:38,840 –> 00:14:41,320means to be a Christian. You’ve forgotten that you’ve been15000:14:41,320 –> 00:14:45,380cleansed from your past sins because, evidently, you have no desire15100:14:45,400 –> 00:14:52,440to pursue a life that is holy. The opposite of sin.15200:14:52,440 –> 00:14:55,979Not understood that Jesus came to save you from your sins and therefore to lead15300:14:55,979 –> 00:15:04,739you into a different kind of life. So, if it’s not clear to you that this15400:15:04,739 –> 00:15:08,619is the life that God is calling you to pursue, and that you must pursue,15500:15:08,619 –> 00:15:11,500if there is not something within your soul that says, yes,15600:15:12,419 –> 00:15:17,380is what I must pursue, then please hear Peter’s message this morning15700:15:17,380 –> 00:15:20,700as a wake up call to say, look, there’s something wrong.15800:15:20,700 –> 00:15:24,979Don’t sit in church thinking that all is well with you spiritually if you’re not15900:15:24,979 –> 00:15:34,219feeling a sense of your own need to pursue these things. That’s the warning.16000:15:34,219 –> 00:15:43,679Now, two encouragements. The first is in verse 8, if you pursue these things,16100:15:43,679 –> 00:15:48,400what will be the result? Peter says, you pursue these things,16200:15:48,400 –> 00:15:54,299you will be fruitful for Jesus Christ. If you possess, verse 8,16300:15:54,299 –> 00:16:02,700these qualities, in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective16400:16:02,700 –> 00:16:10,000and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.16500:16:10,000 –> 00:16:17,299See what he’s saying? These qualities are critical to your Christian usefulness.16600:16:17,299 –> 00:16:20,979If you’re the kind of woman, the kind of man who just gives up easily,16700:16:20,979 –> 00:16:26,099critical of other believers all the time, you’re really not going to be effective16800:16:26,219 –> 00:16:29,659and you’re really not going to be productive.16900:16:29,659 –> 00:16:36,539But if you pursue goodness and knowledge and self-control and perseverance17000:16:36,539 –> 00:16:38,880and godliness and brotherly kindness and love,17100:16:38,880 –> 00:16:43,440if you pursue these things with every fiber of your being17200:16:43,440 –> 00:16:49,340and they’ve become evident in your life in increasing measure,17300:16:49,340 –> 00:16:52,020then you will be effective, you will be fruitful,17400:16:52,020 –> 00:16:55,859you will be productive in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ,17500:16:55,859 –> 00:17:00,419you will be an abundantly fruitful Christian.17600:17:00,419 –> 00:17:03,320Whatever god sets you, whatever he’s given you to do,17700:17:03,320 –> 00:17:08,339however narrow you may feel your opportunities are,17800:17:08,339 –> 00:17:10,219you pursue these things, Peter says,17900:17:10,219 –> 00:17:14,760and you will be productive and you will be effective.18000:17:14,760 –> 00:17:20,739It’s a glorious promise.18100:17:20,739 –> 00:17:22,040And then he says something else,18200:17:22,040 –> 00:17:24,660not only will you be a fruitful Christian,18300:17:24,739 –> 00:17:28,920but he says, you will know that you are in Jesus Christ,18400:17:28,920 –> 00:17:31,479this is verses 10 and 11.18500:17:31,479 –> 00:17:33,579Therefore my brothers be all the more eager18600:17:33,579 –> 00:17:37,599to make your calling and election sure.18700:17:37,599 –> 00:17:39,099Oh my goodness, in the last few minutes,18800:17:39,099 –> 00:17:41,040what in all the world does that mean?18900:17:41,040 –> 00:17:43,359Make your calling and election sure?19000:17:45,099 –> 00:17:46,619Well, let me tell you what it cannot mean.19100:17:46,619 –> 00:17:51,619It cannot mean that your pursuit of a godly life19200:17:51,920 –> 00:17:55,800somehow contributes to your calling and election.19300:17:55,800 –> 00:17:58,000It cannot mean that because your calling and election19400:17:58,000 –> 00:17:59,119is God’s work,19500:17:59,119 –> 00:18:01,079you can’t add anything to it,19600:18:01,079 –> 00:18:02,819you can’t take anything from it19700:18:02,819 –> 00:18:05,780because it is something that God has already done.19800:18:06,760 –> 00:18:07,880So what does he mean?19900:18:08,959 –> 00:18:10,880The point that Peter’s making here surely20000:18:10,880 –> 00:18:15,880is that you may know your calling and election20100:18:16,000 –> 00:18:18,119that you should be sure20200:18:18,140 –> 00:18:21,959about your own belonging to Jesus Christ.20300:18:21,959 –> 00:18:24,979That you should be able to see the effect of his grace20400:18:24,979 –> 00:18:26,739in your own experience20500:18:26,739 –> 00:18:30,020and therefore bring you to a place of growing confidence,20600:18:30,020 –> 00:18:33,619growing peace and growing joy in your own experience20700:18:33,619 –> 00:18:37,500because you see that God’s grace is at work within you.20800:18:39,579 –> 00:18:40,780And that’s what Peter is saying.20900:18:40,780 –> 00:18:42,300You pursue this kind of life,21000:18:42,300 –> 00:18:44,900you will find that growing joy and confidence21100:18:44,900 –> 00:18:46,439in your own experience.21200:18:47,319 –> 00:18:49,520See, Paul pursued that kind of life21300:18:49,520 –> 00:18:51,500and at the end, he was able to say21400:18:51,500 –> 00:18:53,800I know whom I have believed21500:18:54,920 –> 00:18:58,119and I’m persuaded that He’s able21600:18:58,119 –> 00:19:00,579to keep what I’ve committed to Him against that day.21700:19:00,579 –> 00:19:02,280You come to the end of your life,21800:19:02,280 –> 00:19:04,920wouldn’t you like to have that kind of assurance?21900:19:06,040 –> 00:19:08,800You see, Peter is saying this is the path to follow22000:19:08,800 –> 00:19:11,119because this is how assurance grows.22100:19:13,020 –> 00:19:15,719Paul was able to say at the end of his life,22200:19:15,839 –> 00:19:17,540and I have fought the good fight,22300:19:18,520 –> 00:19:20,800I have finished the race,22400:19:20,800 –> 00:19:22,719I have kept the faith and now,22500:19:22,719 –> 00:19:24,560this is a man approaching death.22600:19:24,560 –> 00:19:27,160Now, what’s laid up in store for me22700:19:27,160 –> 00:19:28,540is the crown of righteousness22800:19:28,540 –> 00:19:30,839which belongs to all who long for His appearing.22900:19:32,859 –> 00:19:35,119Wouldn’t you love at the end of your life23000:19:35,119 –> 00:19:37,079to be able to face death like that?23100:19:37,079 –> 00:19:40,319Now, Peter is saying here’s the path23200:19:40,319 –> 00:19:41,160that will take you there.23300:19:41,160 –> 00:19:43,180You pursue these things with every fiber23400:19:43,199 –> 00:19:48,199of your being and you will grow in joyful confidence23500:19:49,660 –> 00:19:53,239in all that is yours in Jesus Christ and he says verse 11,23600:19:53,239 –> 00:19:58,199if you do these things, you will never fall.23700:19:58,300 –> 00:20:00,380Notice, he doesn’t say you’ll never fail23800:20:00,380 –> 00:20:02,599because we all fail in many ways23900:20:02,599 –> 00:20:04,699but he does say you will never fall24000:20:05,579 –> 00:20:07,959and here’s the crowning blessing,24100:20:08,819 –> 00:20:11,180he says you will receive, verse 1124200:20:11,260 –> 00:20:12,660a rich welcome,24300:20:13,540 –> 00:20:16,979a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom24400:20:16,979 –> 00:20:20,619of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.24500:20:20,619 –> 00:20:22,739Wow, what would that be like?24600:20:22,739 –> 00:20:25,319A rich welcome.24700:20:27,060 –> 00:20:29,579Do you know it’s good to ponder often24800:20:30,479 –> 00:20:33,060the day when you and I will stand24900:20:33,060 –> 00:20:35,680in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.25000:20:37,300 –> 00:20:40,579If you’re a Christian, you will never experience25100:20:40,680 –> 00:20:42,479the condemnation of God.25200:20:43,939 –> 00:20:47,040There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.25300:20:47,040 –> 00:20:48,300Praise God for that.25400:20:49,699 –> 00:20:51,020But the Bible makes it very clear25500:20:51,020 –> 00:20:52,780that every Christian will stand25600:20:52,780 –> 00:20:56,040before the Lord Jesus Christ to give an account25700:20:56,040 –> 00:20:59,359for the stewardship of our lives.25800:21:00,839 –> 00:21:03,300Or perhaps it will be that the Lord Jesus Christ25900:21:03,300 –> 00:21:05,780gives to the Father a report26000:21:06,660 –> 00:21:09,319on the stewardship of our lives.26100:21:11,260 –> 00:21:14,140And I’ve tried to meditate on that this week.26200:21:16,339 –> 00:21:21,339When Christ gives His report to the Father on my life,26300:21:24,619 –> 00:21:26,880I don’t want to hear Him say,26400:21:28,939 –> 00:21:32,699here’s Colin, he knows me26500:21:34,000 –> 00:21:36,239and he’s been trusted with much,26600:21:37,099 –> 00:21:40,479but he was largely ineffective and unproductive26700:21:40,479 –> 00:21:42,439in what he did throughout his life.26800:21:42,439 –> 00:21:46,800I don’t want to hear him say that, and neither do you.26900:21:48,520 –> 00:21:52,579I want to hear Him say, well done,27000:21:52,579 –> 00:21:54,040good and faithful servant.27100:21:56,719 –> 00:21:59,560And Peter is telling us the path that leads there.27200:22:00,959 –> 00:22:03,660You pursue these things He says27300:22:03,660 –> 00:22:05,520with every fiber of your being,27400:22:05,540 –> 00:22:06,599you make every effort,27500:22:06,599 –> 00:22:09,060you go after this kind of life27600:22:09,060 –> 00:22:11,939and you will receive a rich welcome27700:22:13,099 –> 00:22:14,619into the eternal kingdom27800:22:14,619 –> 00:22:17,079of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.27900:22:18,219 –> 00:22:20,359It’s good to remember that in Christ28000:22:20,359 –> 00:22:22,839we have everything we need for life28100:22:22,839 –> 00:22:26,479and that includes everything we need for growth.28200:22:26,479 –> 00:22:29,859Everything We Need For Life is the title of our series28300:22:29,859 –> 00:22:32,699and if you ever miss one of the messages in the series,28400:22:32,699 –> 00:22:34,859you can catch up or go back and listen again28500:22:35,000 –> 00:22:37,119by coming online to our website28600:22:37,119 –> 00:22:40,739at openthebible.org.uk28700:22:40,739 –> 00:22:43,339You can also find Pastor Colin’s messages28800:22:43,339 –> 00:22:45,300on your favorite podcast site,28900:22:45,300 –> 00:22:47,839go and search for openthebibleuk29000:22:47,839 –> 00:22:50,420or follow the link from our website.29100:22:50,420 –> 00:22:53,119Also at openbible.org.uk29200:22:53,119 –> 00:22:54,859and available as a podcast,29300:22:54,859 –> 00:22:56,780is Open The Bible Daily29400:22:56,780 –> 00:22:59,560and that’s a series of short two-to-three-minute29500:22:59,560 –> 00:23:02,939daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching29600:23:02,939 –> 00:23:05,260and read specially in the UK.29700:23:05,260 –> 00:23:06,819Open The Bible Daily.29800:23:07,780 –> 00:23:10,199Open The Bible is able to be on this station29900:23:10,199 –> 00:23:12,959as well as our website and the podcasts30000:23:12,959 –> 00:23:14,339because listeners like you30100:23:14,339 –> 00:23:17,180give generously to support our work30200:23:17,180 –> 00:23:19,859so if you already support Open The Bible in this way,30300:23:19,859 –> 00:23:21,699thank you so much.30400:23:21,699 –> 00:23:23,260If supporting Open The Bible30500:23:23,260 –> 00:23:25,859is something you want to start doing this month,30600:23:25,859 –> 00:23:27,160we’d love to say thank you30700:23:27,160 –> 00:23:30,099by sending you Pastor Colin’s brand-new book,30800:23:30,099 –> 00:23:31,300Grow In Hope.30900:23:31,359 –> 00:23:33,939It’s a 30-day devotional study31000:23:33,939 –> 00:23:38,479drawing on Scripture and years of pastoral experience.31100:23:38,479 –> 00:23:41,459Colin, why did you write this book?31200:23:41,459 –> 00:23:45,140Well, Grow In Hope is the second of three books31300:23:45,140 –> 00:23:48,359that we are putting out from Open The Bible this year,31400:23:48,359 –> 00:23:52,099Grow In Faith, Grow In Hope and Grow In Love31500:23:52,099 –> 00:23:55,099and the reason for all three is that as Paul says31600:23:55,099 –> 00:23:57,439in 1 Corinthians in chapter 13,31700:23:57,439 –> 00:24:00,060everything else will pass away.31800:24:00,099 –> 00:24:02,079I mean, that’s quite a statement, isn’t it?31900:24:02,079 –> 00:24:04,560Everything else will pass away,32000:24:04,560 –> 00:24:09,560but these things will remain, faith, hope and love.32100:24:09,680 –> 00:24:12,599So these are things of supreme importance.32200:24:12,599 –> 00:24:17,439I am absolutely persuaded that our greatest need32300:24:17,439 –> 00:24:19,339is to have a stronger faith.32400:24:19,339 –> 00:24:21,199To have a more certain hope32500:24:21,199 –> 00:24:24,260and to be renewed in a resilient kind of love.32600:24:24,260 –> 00:24:25,880You know, if that happens in the lives32700:24:25,880 –> 00:24:26,900of Christian believers,32800:24:26,900 –> 00:24:29,280some very, very good things will follow.32900:24:29,520 –> 00:24:30,599So Pastor Colin’s book,33000:24:30,599 –> 00:24:32,819Grow in Hope is our gift to you33100:24:32,819 –> 00:24:34,859when you set up a new direct debit33200:24:34,859 –> 00:24:37,420of five pounds per month or more33300:24:37,420 –> 00:24:40,140or a one off gift of 60 pounds or more33400:24:40,140 –> 00:24:43,160to support the work of Open The Bible this month.33500:24:43,160 –> 00:24:45,500Full terms and conditions are on our website33600:24:45,500 –> 00:24:48,140at OpenTheBible.org.uk33700:24:48,140 –> 00:24:50,140and you can give online.33800:24:50,140 –> 00:24:52,880Don’t forget though to leave your full name and address33900:24:52,880 –> 00:24:53,780when you donate,34000:24:53,780 –> 00:24:56,979so we’ll be able to send you your gift.34100:24:56,979 –> 00:24:58,060For Open The Bible34200:24:58,079 –> 00:24:59,180and Pastor Colin Smith,34300:24:59,180 –> 00:25:00,479I’m David Pick.34400:25:00,479 –> 00:25:01,900Thanks for being with us today34500:25:01,900 –> 00:25:05,060and we look forward to having you join us again next time.34600:25:14,640 –> 00:25:18,979Everything we know about Jesus comes through the Bible,34700:25:18,979 –> 00:25:22,099but how do we know that we can trust the Bible?34800:25:22,099 –> 00:25:24,619Find out next time on Open The Bible.