100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:07,960Think about the patience of God in your life.200:00:07,960 –> 00:00:14,940If one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, my lifetime, if it runs to 70 years or whatever,300:00:14,940 –> 00:00:18,000will be about 25 million years.400:00:18,000 –> 00:00:21,920That is an awfully long time for God to be patient with me.500:00:21,920 –> 00:00:23,959Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith.600:00:23,959 –> 00:00:26,840I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could join us today.700:00:26,840 –> 00:00:30,760Colin, 25 million years, that is a long time.800:00:30,760 –> 00:00:31,840That’s a lot of patience.900:00:31,840 –> 00:00:37,799The statement in 2 Peter we’re looking at today, he is patient with you.1000:00:37,799 –> 00:00:41,840I think of God’s patience before we ever came to Christ.1100:00:41,840 –> 00:00:46,799And then, you think about God’s patience with us since we came to Christ,1200:00:46,799 –> 00:00:48,840and how patiently He shows us ourselves,1300:00:48,840 –> 00:00:52,840not showing us everything at once, because we’d be so devastated1400:00:52,840 –> 00:00:55,919if God was to show any of us all of our sins at one time.1500:00:55,919 –> 00:00:58,900We’d be completely and utterly devastated.1600:00:58,900 –> 00:01:00,919So, He leads us with great, great patience.1700:01:00,919 –> 00:01:02,939This is something to really rejoice in.1800:01:02,939 –> 00:01:06,919But then the point Peter wants to make is, God is so patient,1900:01:06,919 –> 00:01:11,900but don’t push that because the Day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night.2000:01:11,900 –> 00:01:15,919So, if you think God’s patience means you can just never change and never grow2100:01:15,919 –> 00:01:19,919and never respond in faith and repentance, you’ve completely misunderstood it.2200:01:19,919 –> 00:01:22,940He is very patient, but the time is coming,2300:01:22,940 –> 00:01:25,940and it’s coming at a moment that we will not expect it.2400:01:25,940 –> 00:01:29,959So, join us, if you can today, in the second book of Peter2500:01:29,959 –> 00:01:31,919as we continue the message,2600:01:31,919 –> 00:01:33,940Everything You Need for Patience.2700:01:33,940 –> 00:01:35,940Here is Pastor Colin.2800:01:35,940 –> 00:01:38,940Ok. God is eternal.2900:01:38,940 –> 00:01:40,940Let’s focus in on verse 8.3000:01:40,940 –> 00:01:43,919A marvelous verse that many know well.3100:01:43,919 –> 00:01:48,959For all the time I’ve heard or read this verse…3200:01:49,959 –> 00:01:53,940Not sure I’ve really reflected on it as I have tried to do this week.3300:01:53,940 –> 00:01:55,940It’s been a blessing to me.3400:01:55,940 –> 00:01:58,959Do not forget this verse 8 dear friends.3500:01:58,959 –> 00:02:04,940With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years,3600:02:04,940 –> 00:02:09,940and a thousand years are like a day.3700:02:09,940 –> 00:02:11,940God is eternal.3800:02:11,940 –> 00:02:14,960That means God is outside of time.3900:02:14,960 –> 00:02:17,960Though he acts in time.4000:02:17,960 –> 00:02:21,940He is not limited by time.4100:02:21,940 –> 00:02:24,940And that means that what is happening in you life4200:02:24,940 –> 00:02:26,940and what is happening in the world4300:02:26,940 –> 00:02:33,940looks very different to God from the way that it looks to us.4400:02:33,940 –> 00:02:35,960Now, of course, the eternity is so vast4500:02:35,960 –> 00:02:40,960that there is no way in the world that our human minds can begin to comprehend it.4600:02:40,960 –> 00:02:45,960So, God accommodates himself to us here by giving us a kind of analogy.4700:02:45,960 –> 00:02:48,940By giving us an extended scale of time4800:02:48,940 –> 00:02:52,940so that at least our mind can be pointed in the right direction4900:02:52,940 –> 00:02:57,960to begin to think about eternity.5000:02:57,960 –> 00:02:59,940And there are two statements here,5100:02:59,940 –> 00:03:02,940each one of which helps us, I think,5200:03:02,940 –> 00:03:06,940in a very practical and distinct way.5300:03:06,940 –> 00:03:08,940Let’s take the second first.5400:03:08,940 –> 00:03:17,919With the Lord, a thousand years is as a day.5500:03:17,919 –> 00:03:18,919Now, what that means,5600:03:18,919 –> 00:03:23,919if with the Lord, a thousand years is as a day,5700:03:23,919 –> 00:03:30,919that means that life on Earth is very, very short.5800:03:30,919 –> 00:03:35,940Think of it on this time scale that Peter is opening up to us,5900:03:35,940 –> 00:03:38,919and he’s quoting from Psalm 90.6000:03:39,899 –> 00:03:45,919Abraham lived four thousand years ago.6100:03:45,919 –> 00:03:48,899What that means is that, before God,6200:03:48,899 –> 00:03:51,899human history is like this.6300:03:52,919 –> 00:03:55,899Abraham was born on Wednesday.6400:03:55,899 –> 00:03:59,899King David was born on Thursday.6500:03:59,899 –> 00:04:02,919The Lord Jesus Christ was born on Friday.6600:04:03,899 –> 00:04:07,899The Middle Ages slipped away yesterday,6700:04:07,899 –> 00:04:09,880and our generation will have passed6800:04:09,899 –> 00:04:12,899before this service is done this morning.6900:04:12,899 –> 00:04:14,880And, if God should let the world continue7000:04:14,899 –> 00:04:15,880till tomorrow morning,7100:04:15,880 –> 00:04:18,899another thirty generations7200:04:18,899 –> 00:04:21,899will have come and have gone.7300:04:22,899 –> 00:04:26,880With the Lord, a thousand years7400:04:26,880 –> 00:04:28,880is like a day.7500:04:29,880 –> 00:04:30,899Now on that scale,7600:04:30,899 –> 00:04:32,880and you can get the calculator out7700:04:32,880 –> 00:04:33,399and check me later,7800:04:33,399 –> 00:04:34,899I had a couple of folks just check it7900:04:34,899 –> 00:04:36,899because I wanted to get this one right.8000:04:36,899 –> 00:04:38,899On that scale,8100:04:38,899 –> 00:04:43,899if your life should be 70 years,8200:04:44,880 –> 00:04:48,899then to God, that is like 100 minutes,8300:04:49,899 –> 00:04:51,899just over an hour and a half.8400:04:52,899 –> 00:04:54,899It’s worth thinking about that.8500:04:55,899 –> 00:04:57,899So, here’s the person8600:04:57,899 –> 00:05:01,899who does not believe in God8700:05:02,899 –> 00:05:05,899and does not obey God8800:05:05,899 –> 00:05:06,899and is growing up8900:05:06,899 –> 00:05:09,899and wants to take his own stand9000:05:09,899 –> 00:05:11,899to live his own life in his own way9100:05:11,899 –> 00:05:13,899and make his own mark on the world9200:05:13,899 –> 00:05:15,899and he thinks his own life9300:05:15,899 –> 00:05:17,899that he is going to live is so important9400:05:17,899 –> 00:05:20,899and God looks down from Heaven.9500:05:20,899 –> 00:05:23,899An hour and a half and he’ll be gone.9600:05:24,899 –> 00:05:26,899An hour and a half.9700:05:27,899 –> 00:05:30,899See, that truth is so important9800:05:30,899 –> 00:05:34,899because it cuts through our self-importance.9900:05:35,899 –> 00:05:38,899Now take this in10000:05:38,899 –> 00:05:40,899and you will see that10100:05:40,899 –> 00:05:43,899in this world that scoffs at God10200:05:43,899 –> 00:05:48,899this world that pursues its own desires10300:05:48,899 –> 00:05:53,899God is not worried about His enemies.10400:05:53,899 –> 00:05:56,899And when we get all worked up10500:05:56,899 –> 00:05:57,899about the state of the world10600:05:57,899 –> 00:05:59,899and how things are going wrong10700:05:59,899 –> 00:06:01,899let’s remember that to the Almighty10800:06:01,899 –> 00:06:03,899the whole of human history10900:06:03,899 –> 00:06:06,899is very short11000:06:06,899 –> 00:06:08,899which is why Psalm 2 says11100:06:08,899 –> 00:06:10,899that when the kings of the earth11200:06:10,899 –> 00:06:12,899take their stand against the Lord11300:06:12,899 –> 00:06:13,899and against His anointed11400:06:13,899 –> 00:06:15,899you know what God does?11500:06:15,899 –> 00:06:17,899God laughs.11600:06:17,899 –> 00:06:19,899God laughs.11700:06:19,899 –> 00:06:21,899He is not worried11800:06:21,899 –> 00:06:23,899about His enemies11900:06:23,899 –> 00:06:26,899and when you see His eternity12000:06:26,899 –> 00:06:28,899you will not be worried12100:06:28,899 –> 00:06:30,899about them either.12200:06:30,899 –> 00:06:34,899Your life on Earth is very short12300:06:34,899 –> 00:06:38,899so what matters?12400:06:38,899 –> 00:06:40,899See we think don’t we12500:06:40,899 –> 00:06:41,899that what really matters12600:06:41,899 –> 00:06:42,899is your education,12700:06:42,899 –> 00:06:43,899your career,12800:06:43,899 –> 00:06:44,899your opportunities12900:06:44,899 –> 00:06:45,899your investments,13000:06:45,899 –> 00:06:46,899your health,13100:06:46,899 –> 00:06:47,899your travel,13200:06:47,899 –> 00:06:48,899your retirement,13300:06:48,899 –> 00:06:49,899your quality of life13400:06:49,899 –> 00:06:50,899and as far as God is concerned13500:06:50,899 –> 00:06:52,899all of us will be in His presence13600:06:52,899 –> 00:06:56,899within an hour and a half13700:06:56,899 –> 00:06:58,899and you see start getting13800:06:58,899 –> 00:06:59,899into your mind13900:06:59,899 –> 00:07:00,899that with the Lord14000:07:00,899 –> 00:07:04,899a thousand years is as a day14100:07:04,899 –> 00:07:06,899and you begin to get a different idea14200:07:06,899 –> 00:07:09,899about what really matters in your life14300:07:09,899 –> 00:07:10,899which is why Psalm 9014400:07:10,899 –> 00:07:12,899from where Peter takes this quote says14500:07:12,899 –> 00:07:15,899teach us to number our days aright14600:07:15,899 –> 00:07:16,899that we may gain14700:07:16,899 –> 00:07:21,899a heart of wisdom14800:07:21,899 –> 00:07:23,899if you knew you were in the presence of God14900:07:23,899 –> 00:07:24,899in an hour and half15000:07:24,899 –> 00:07:25,899you would be responding to Him15100:07:25,899 –> 00:07:28,899in an altogether different way right now15200:07:29,399 –> 00:07:30,899we all would15300:07:32,899 –> 00:07:34,899life on earth is very, very short15400:07:36,899 –> 00:07:38,899then Peter says the other15500:07:38,899 –> 00:07:39,899he says15600:07:39,899 –> 00:07:41,899a day15700:07:41,899 –> 00:07:43,899is as a thousand years15800:07:43,899 –> 00:07:45,899with the Lord15900:07:45,899 –> 00:07:46,899now what that means of course16000:07:46,899 –> 00:07:47,899is that life in heaven16100:07:47,899 –> 00:07:49,899is very, very long16200:07:50,899 –> 00:07:51,899with the Lord16300:07:51,899 –> 00:07:53,899one day16400:07:53,899 –> 00:07:56,899is like a thousand years16500:07:56,899 –> 00:08:02,899which means that God has all the time in the world16600:08:03,899 –> 00:08:07,899let’s draw some practical help from this16700:08:07,899 –> 00:08:10,899do you know if one day is like a thousand years16800:08:10,899 –> 00:08:12,899with the Lord16900:08:13,899 –> 00:08:15,899then if you were to live to17000:08:15,899 –> 00:08:17,899the age of 7017100:08:17,899 –> 00:08:20,899you know how long your life would last on heaven’s time scale17200:08:20,899 –> 00:08:22,899that way calculated up17300:08:22,899 –> 00:08:26,89925 million years17400:08:26,899 –> 00:08:28,89925 million years17500:08:28,899 –> 00:08:30,899long time for God to put up with you, isn’t it17600:08:30,899 –> 00:08:34,90025 million years17700:08:36,900 –> 00:08:39,900I got a lot of stuff to do next week17800:08:39,900 –> 00:08:41,900and to be real honest17900:08:41,900 –> 00:08:43,900I’m feeling under a little bit of pressure18000:08:45,900 –> 00:08:48,900but if I could have18100:08:49,900 –> 00:08:52,900one week of God’s days18200:08:52,900 –> 00:08:56,900a thousand years for every day18300:08:56,900 –> 00:08:57,900of next week18400:08:57,900 –> 00:09:00,9007,000 years ahead in this coming week18500:09:00,900 –> 00:09:02,900I could get all of my work done18600:09:02,900 –> 00:09:04,900and a lot more besides18700:09:04,900 –> 00:09:07,900easily, I could do that18800:09:07,900 –> 00:09:08,900Monday is usually my day off18900:09:08,900 –> 00:09:10,900so I’ve been meditating on this19000:09:10,900 –> 00:09:12,900what would I do?19100:09:12,900 –> 00:09:15,900Well I’d take the first thousand years off19200:09:15,900 –> 00:09:16,900Knowing that there’s easily19300:09:16,900 –> 00:09:18,900enough time for me to accomplish19400:09:18,900 –> 00:09:20,900everything that has been trusted19500:09:20,900 –> 00:09:21,900to me in the coming week19600:09:21,900 –> 00:09:24,900Just think how relaxed19700:09:24,900 –> 00:09:26,900you could be19800:09:26,900 –> 00:09:27,900if one day19900:09:27,900 –> 00:09:30,900if you could just have one of God’s days20000:09:30,900 –> 00:09:32,900that is like a thousand years20100:09:32,900 –> 00:09:33,900Just think of how much20200:09:33,900 –> 00:09:35,900at ease you would be20300:09:35,900 –> 00:09:36,900I have all the time in the world20400:09:36,900 –> 00:09:39,900that is how it is with God20500:09:41,900 –> 00:09:44,900That’s why it is a perfect peace20600:09:44,900 –> 00:09:45,900you think about your loved ones20700:09:46,900 –> 00:09:48,900who do not believe20800:09:48,900 –> 00:09:49,900and you’ve been20900:09:49,900 –> 00:09:50,900calling out to God21000:09:50,900 –> 00:09:51,900you’ve been crying to him21100:09:51,900 –> 00:09:52,900you’ve been praying to him21200:09:52,900 –> 00:09:53,900you’ve been saying21300:09:53,900 –> 00:09:55,900how long, O Lord21400:09:55,900 –> 00:09:56,900you’ve been feeling21500:09:56,900 –> 00:09:57,900that you’ve been crying to him21600:09:57,900 –> 00:09:59,900forever and waiting forever21700:09:59,900 –> 00:10:00,900to see God move21800:10:00,900 –> 00:10:02,900Be encouraged21900:10:04,900 –> 00:10:05,900God can do more22000:10:05,900 –> 00:10:08,900in the life of your dear rebel22100:10:08,900 –> 00:10:12,900one, in one moment22200:10:12,900 –> 00:10:13,900than Satan can do22300:10:13,900 –> 00:10:15,900in his or her life22400:10:15,900 –> 00:10:17,900in twenty or fifty years22500:10:17,900 –> 00:10:18,900isn’t that true?22600:10:18,900 –> 00:10:21,900Thank God for that22700:10:21,900 –> 00:10:22,900And he is all22800:10:22,900 –> 00:10:23,900the time in the world22900:10:23,900 –> 00:10:24,900he is eternal23000:10:24,900 –> 00:10:25,900with God,23100:10:25,900 –> 00:10:26,900one day is like23200:10:26,900 –> 00:10:27,900a thousand years23300:10:27,900 –> 00:10:28,900and a thousand years23400:10:28,900 –> 00:10:29,900is as one day23500:10:29,900 –> 00:10:30,900he is never rushed23600:10:30,900 –> 00:10:31,900he is never overwhelmed23700:10:31,900 –> 00:10:33,900he is never taken23800:10:33,900 –> 00:10:34,900by surprise23900:10:34,900 –> 00:10:35,900and if we can take in24000:10:35,900 –> 00:10:37,900this great truth24100:10:37,900 –> 00:10:38,900we will have less fear24200:10:38,900 –> 00:10:40,900about the secular world24300:10:41,900 –> 00:10:43,900and more peace24400:10:43,900 –> 00:10:45,900as we trust him24500:10:47,900 –> 00:10:49,900to work in the lives of those24600:10:50,900 –> 00:10:51,900for whom we pray24700:10:52,900 –> 00:10:53,900God is eternal24800:10:55,900 –> 00:10:57,900We’ve got to pause the message briefly there24900:10:57,900 –> 00:10:58,900but we’ll be back very shortly25000:10:58,900 –> 00:11:00,900so I do hope you’ll stay with us25100:11:00,900 –> 00:11:02,900Our message today is called25200:11:02,900 –> 00:11:04,900everything you need for patience25300:11:04,900 –> 00:11:05,900and it’s part of our series25400:11:05,900 –> 00:11:07,900Everything You Need for Life25500:11:07,900 –> 00:11:09,900Don’t forget, if you ever miss one of the messages25600:11:09,900 –> 00:11:11,900or if you have to leave early25700:11:11,900 –> 00:11:13,900joined us late25800:11:13,900 –> 00:11:15,900or just want to go back and listen again25900:11:15,900 –> 00:11:17,900you can do that by coming online to our website26000:11:17,900 –> 00:11:19,900OpenTheBible.org.uk26100:11:19,900 –> 00:11:21,900Or as many people do26200:11:21,900 –> 00:11:23,900tune-in as a podcast26300:11:23,900 –> 00:11:25,900on all the main podcast sites26400:11:25,900 –> 00:11:27,900and you can find those by searching for26500:11:27,900 –> 00:11:29,900OpenTheBible.com26600:11:29,900 –> 00:11:31,900Back to the message now26700:11:31,900 –> 00:11:32,900We’re in 2 Peter26800:11:32,900 –> 00:11:34,900here again is Pastor Colin26900:11:35,900 –> 00:11:37,900Then God is patient27000:11:37,900 –> 00:11:39,900Look at the beginning of verse 927100:11:39,900 –> 00:11:41,900will you?27200:11:41,900 –> 00:11:43,900The Lord27300:11:43,900 –> 00:11:45,900is not slow in keeping27400:11:45,900 –> 00:11:47,900his promise27500:11:47,900 –> 00:11:49,900as some understand slowness27600:11:51,900 –> 00:11:52,900He is patient27700:11:53,900 –> 00:11:54,900with you27800:11:55,900 –> 00:11:57,900Now, Peter moves almost imperceptibly27900:11:57,900 –> 00:11:59,900from the eternity of God28000:11:59,900 –> 00:12:01,900to the patience of God28100:12:01,900 –> 00:12:03,900and of course the connection is very obvious28200:12:05,900 –> 00:12:06,900Peter says28300:12:06,900 –> 00:12:07,900the Lord is not slow28400:12:07,900 –> 00:12:09,900in keeping his promise28500:12:09,900 –> 00:12:11,900Now what is the promise he’s refering to?28600:12:12,900 –> 00:12:14,900Well the promise here is clearly is the promise28700:12:14,900 –> 00:12:16,900to judge the earth with fire28800:12:16,900 –> 00:12:18,900as he once judged the earth28900:12:18,900 –> 00:12:20,900in the flood with water29000:12:20,900 –> 00:12:22,900That’s the context of this great statement29100:12:22,900 –> 00:12:24,900Now, when the29200:12:24,900 –> 00:12:26,900verse is about judgement29300:12:26,900 –> 00:12:28,900The context is about judgement29400:12:28,900 –> 00:12:30,900and the promise that God has made of judgement29500:12:30,900 –> 00:12:32,900that the unbeliever says29600:12:32,900 –> 00:12:34,900Remember that that will never happen29700:12:34,900 –> 00:12:36,900you would expect the verse to say29800:12:36,900 –> 00:12:38,900God is not slow in29900:12:38,900 –> 00:12:40,900keeping his promise30000:12:40,900 –> 00:12:42,900but he is patient with the30100:12:42,900 –> 00:12:44,900unbelieving world30200:12:44,900 –> 00:12:46,900you’d expected to say that30300:12:46,900 –> 00:12:48,900at least I would30400:12:48,900 –> 00:12:50,900but I want you to notice that’s not what it says30500:12:50,900 –> 00:12:52,900In talking about the judgement30600:12:52,900 –> 00:12:54,900that will one day come upon the world30700:12:54,900 –> 00:12:56,900It says, God is not slow30800:12:56,900 –> 00:12:58,900in keeping his promise30900:12:58,900 –> 00:13:00,900he is patient31000:13:00,900 –> 00:13:02,900with you31100:13:02,900 –> 00:13:04,900and he’s writing to christian31200:13:04,900 –> 00:13:06,900believers31300:13:06,900 –> 00:13:08,900now31400:13:08,900 –> 00:13:10,900think about what this is saying then31500:13:10,900 –> 00:13:12,900God is not slow in keeping his promise31600:13:12,900 –> 00:13:14,900of judgement31700:13:14,900 –> 00:13:16,900he is patient with31800:13:16,900 –> 00:13:18,900with you31900:13:18,900 –> 00:13:20,900all those32000:13:20,900 –> 00:13:22,900who today are32100:13:22,900 –> 00:13:24,900in Jesus Christ32200:13:24,900 –> 00:13:26,900see32300:13:26,900 –> 00:13:28,900if we ask this question32400:13:28,900 –> 00:13:30,900will the Lord Jesus Chris not come32500:13:30,900 –> 00:13:32,900and the answer32600:13:32,900 –> 00:13:34,900God has32700:13:34,900 –> 00:13:36,900held back his judgement32800:13:36,900 –> 00:13:38,900long enough to bring32900:13:38,900 –> 00:13:39,900you into his33000:13:39,900 –> 00:13:40,900kingdom33100:13:40,900 –> 00:13:44,900that’s what Peter is saying33200:13:44,900 –> 00:13:46,900this is STAGGERING33300:13:46,900 –> 00:13:48,900you held back33400:13:48,900 –> 00:13:50,900the return of your33500:13:50,900 –> 00:13:52,159son dear Lord33600:13:52,159 –> 00:13:53,900you held back the outpouring of33700:13:53,900 –> 00:13:55,900judgement on the Earth33800:13:55,900 –> 00:13:57,900long enough to bring me in33900:13:57,900 –> 00:14:02,900see that is a measure34000:14:02,900 –> 00:14:04,900of the love and the grace34100:14:04,900 –> 00:14:05,900and the mercy and the34200:14:05,900 –> 00:14:07,900particular34300:14:07,900 –> 00:14:09,900grace of Jesus Christ34400:14:09,900 –> 00:14:11,900towards you34500:14:11,900 –> 00:14:13,900Peter even includes34600:14:13,900 –> 00:14:17,900every believer in this34700:14:17,900 –> 00:14:19,900God operates on the grand34800:14:19,900 –> 00:14:21,900eternal scale but he also34900:14:21,900 –> 00:14:23,900operates on the most intimate35000:14:23,900 –> 00:14:25,900level35100:14:26,900 –> 00:14:28,900and into this great35200:14:28,900 –> 00:14:29,900plan for the whole35300:14:29,900 –> 00:14:30,900history of the world is35400:14:30,900 –> 00:14:33,900his grace to35500:14:33,900 –> 00:14:35,900you35600:14:37,900 –> 00:14:38,900think about the patience35700:14:38,900 –> 00:14:42,900of God in your life35800:14:42,900 –> 00:14:43,900if one day with the Lord35900:14:43,900 –> 00:14:45,900is like a thousand years36000:14:45,900 –> 00:14:46,900my lifetime36100:14:46,900 –> 00:14:48,900if it runs to 70 years36200:14:48,900 –> 00:14:49,900or whatever36300:14:49,900 –> 00:14:51,900do you have a 25 million36400:14:51,900 –> 00:14:53,900years36500:14:53,900 –> 00:14:54,900that is36600:14:54,900 –> 00:14:55,900an awfully long time36700:14:55,900 –> 00:14:56,900for God to be36800:14:56,900 –> 00:14:59,900patient with me36900:14:59,900 –> 00:15:00,900our sins have37000:15:00,900 –> 00:15:01,900gone on a long long long37100:15:01,900 –> 00:15:02,900long long time on37200:15:02,900 –> 00:15:04,900heavens clock, haven’t they?37300:15:07,900 –> 00:15:08,900week by week37400:15:08,900 –> 00:15:09,900we come back here37500:15:09,900 –> 00:15:10,900casting ourselves on37600:15:10,900 –> 00:15:11,900the mercy of God37700:15:11,900 –> 00:15:12,900eating bread and37800:15:12,900 –> 00:15:13,900drinking the cup37900:15:13,900 –> 00:15:14,900and saying that we38000:15:14,900 –> 00:15:15,900still hang today38100:15:15,900 –> 00:15:16,900on the cleansing38200:15:16,900 –> 00:15:17,900blood of the38300:15:17,900 –> 00:15:18,900Lord Jesus Christ38400:15:18,900 –> 00:15:19,900and we know that38500:15:19,900 –> 00:15:20,900we always will38600:15:20,900 –> 00:15:21,900and doesn’t it just38700:15:21,900 –> 00:15:22,900amaze you that38800:15:22,900 –> 00:15:23,900God has never at any38900:15:23,900 –> 00:15:24,900time say39000:15:24,900 –> 00:15:27,900Oh I’m done with them39100:15:27,900 –> 00:15:29,900now here’s the39200:15:29,900 –> 00:15:30,900application to the39300:15:30,900 –> 00:15:31,900great theme of the39400:15:31,900 –> 00:15:32,900chapter39500:15:33,900 –> 00:15:35,900since God has shown39600:15:35,900 –> 00:15:36,900that kind of39700:15:36,900 –> 00:15:37,900patience to you39800:15:37,900 –> 00:15:39,900on heavens time scale39900:15:41,900 –> 00:15:43,900you can be patient40000:15:43,900 –> 00:15:45,900in real time40100:15:46,900 –> 00:15:47,900with that40200:15:47,900 –> 00:15:48,900unbelieving40300:15:48,900 –> 00:15:49,900loved one40400:15:50,900 –> 00:15:51,940or that hard40500:15:51,940 –> 00:15:52,900bitten cynic40600:15:52,900 –> 00:15:54,900at work40700:15:56,900 –> 00:15:57,900God is patient40800:15:58,900 –> 00:15:59,900and he’s been patient40900:16:00,900 –> 00:16:01,900and is patient41000:16:02,900 –> 00:16:03,900with you41100:16:03,900 –> 00:16:04,900that’s what Peter says41200:16:05,900 –> 00:16:06,900thank you Lord41300:16:06,900 –> 00:16:08,900for your patience with me41400:16:11,900 –> 00:16:12,900he’s eternal, he’s patient41500:16:12,900 –> 00:16:13,900and here’s the very last thing41600:16:14,900 –> 00:16:15,900God is merciful41700:16:15,900 –> 00:16:16,900he’s merciful41800:16:17,900 –> 00:16:18,900the last part of41900:16:18,900 –> 00:16:19,900chapter 942000:16:19,900 –> 00:16:20,900the Lord is not42100:16:20,900 –> 00:16:21,900at verse 942200:16:21,900 –> 00:16:22,900I’m sorry, the Lord is not42300:16:22,900 –> 00:16:24,900slow in keeping his promise42400:16:24,900 –> 00:16:26,900as some understand slowness42500:16:26,900 –> 00:16:29,900he is patient with you42600:16:29,900 –> 00:16:30,900not wanting anyone42700:16:31,900 –> 00:16:32,900to perish42800:16:33,900 –> 00:16:35,900but everyone to come42900:16:35,900 –> 00:16:36,900to repentance43000:16:38,900 –> 00:16:39,900and what a marvellous43100:16:39,900 –> 00:16:41,900marvellous statement this is43200:16:42,900 –> 00:16:44,900of the mercy of God43300:16:44,900 –> 00:16:47,900God does not want43400:16:47,900 –> 00:16:49,900anyone43500:16:49,900 –> 00:16:50,900to perish43600:16:51,900 –> 00:16:53,900what does it mean?43700:16:53,900 –> 00:16:56,900Well, it can’t mean43800:16:56,900 –> 00:16:58,900that everyone43900:16:58,900 –> 00:17:01,900will ultimately be saved44000:17:01,900 –> 00:17:02,900and the reason that it44100:17:02,900 –> 00:17:03,900can’t mean that everyone44200:17:03,900 –> 00:17:04,900will ultimately be saved44300:17:04,900 –> 00:17:05,900is, I mean if you just44400:17:05,900 –> 00:17:06,900look at Verse 744500:17:06,900 –> 00:17:07,900Peter has just44600:17:07,900 –> 00:17:08,900said that the Heavens44700:17:08,900 –> 00:17:09,900and Earth are44800:17:09,900 –> 00:17:10,900reserved for fire44900:17:10,900 –> 00:17:11,900and that on that day45000:17:11,900 –> 00:17:12,900there will be the45100:17:12,900 –> 00:17:13,900destruction of45200:17:13,900 –> 00:17:14,900ungodly men45300:17:14,900 –> 00:17:16,900and throughout the Bible45400:17:16,900 –> 00:17:17,900there are clear45500:17:17,900 –> 00:17:18,900and repeated45600:17:18,900 –> 00:17:19,900references to the45700:17:19,900 –> 00:17:20,900judgement of God45800:17:20,900 –> 00:17:21,900and not simply the45900:17:21,900 –> 00:17:22,900judgement of God46000:17:22,900 –> 00:17:23,900upon the Earth46100:17:23,900 –> 00:17:24,900but the judgement of God46200:17:24,900 –> 00:17:25,900upon all sin46300:17:25,900 –> 00:17:26,900and upon ungodliness46400:17:26,900 –> 00:17:27,900the destruction46500:17:27,900 –> 00:17:28,900Verse 746600:17:28,900 –> 00:17:29,900of ungodly men46700:17:29,900 –> 00:17:30,900we have to interpret46800:17:30,900 –> 00:17:31,900the scripture46900:17:31,900 –> 00:17:32,900in the light of Scripture47000:17:32,900 –> 00:17:33,900because God47100:17:33,900 –> 00:17:34,900does not contradict47200:17:34,900 –> 00:17:35,900himself47300:17:35,900 –> 00:17:36,900so when Peter says47400:17:36,900 –> 00:17:37,900that God doesn’t want47500:17:37,900 –> 00:17:39,900anyone to perish47600:17:39,900 –> 00:17:40,900he is not saying47700:17:40,900 –> 00:17:41,900that everybody47800:17:41,900 –> 00:17:42,900will be saved47900:17:42,900 –> 00:17:43,900what is he saying?48000:17:43,900 –> 00:17:45,900I think he’s saying this48100:17:45,900 –> 00:17:48,900in the Old48200:17:48,900 –> 00:17:49,900Testament48300:17:49,900 –> 00:17:50,900verse here48400:17:50,900 –> 00:17:51,900there’s a phrase48500:17:51,900 –> 00:17:52,900that’s repeated48600:17:52,900 –> 00:17:53,900three or four times48700:17:53,900 –> 00:17:54,900in the book48800:17:54,900 –> 00:17:55,900of Ezekiel48900:17:55,900 –> 00:17:57,900God takes49000:17:57,900 –> 00:17:59,900no pleasure49100:17:59,900 –> 00:18:01,900in the death49200:18:01,900 –> 00:18:03,900of the wicked49300:18:03,900 –> 00:18:04,900we find that in Ezekiel49400:18:04,900 –> 00:18:05,900chapter 1849500:18:05,900 –> 00:18:06,900verse 2349600:18:06,900 –> 00:18:07,9003249700:18:07,900 –> 00:18:08,900and chapter 3349800:18:08,900 –> 00:18:09,900and verse 1149900:18:09,900 –> 00:18:11,900God takes no pleasure50000:18:11,900 –> 00:18:12,900in the death50100:18:12,900 –> 00:18:14,900of the wicked50200:18:14,900 –> 00:18:15,900the Bible makes it50300:18:15,900 –> 00:18:16,900very clear that50400:18:16,900 –> 00:18:19,900wrath is God’s strange work50500:18:19,900 –> 00:18:21,900he is slow to anger50600:18:21,900 –> 00:18:23,900and abounding in love50700:18:23,900 –> 00:18:24,900that’s his patience50800:18:24,900 –> 00:18:26,900his anger the Bible says50900:18:26,900 –> 00:18:27,900lasts for a moment51000:18:27,900 –> 00:18:29,900his love for a lifetime51100:18:29,900 –> 00:18:30,900the Bible says51200:18:30,900 –> 00:18:32,900God is love51300:18:32,900 –> 00:18:34,900that’s his nature51400:18:34,900 –> 00:18:35,900the Bible never says51500:18:35,900 –> 00:18:37,900God IS wrath51600:18:37,900 –> 00:18:39,900wrath is His strange work51700:18:39,900 –> 00:18:40,900in other words51800:18:40,900 –> 00:18:41,900God’s wrath51900:18:41,900 –> 00:18:44,900is his holy righteous response52000:18:44,900 –> 00:18:48,900to sin and evil52100:18:48,900 –> 00:18:50,900God’s love is not a response to anything52200:18:50,900 –> 00:18:55,900God’s love is the bursting out of who he is52300:18:55,900 –> 00:18:57,900that’s why the Gospel tells us52400:18:57,900 –> 00:18:59,900that God did not send His Son52500:18:59,900 –> 00:19:01,900into the world to condemn the world52600:19:01,900 –> 00:19:04,900you are not dealing here52700:19:04,900 –> 00:19:05,900with an eternal god52800:19:05,900 –> 00:19:08,900who is eager to condemn52900:19:08,900 –> 00:19:10,900it’s not his desire53000:19:10,900 –> 00:19:12,900it takes no pleasure53100:19:12,900 –> 00:19:14,900in the death of the wicked53200:19:16,900 –> 00:19:19,900pleasure in heaven is over one sinner53300:19:19,900 –> 00:19:21,900that comes to repentance53400:19:21,900 –> 00:19:26,900God’s delight is in his saving work53500:19:29,900 –> 00:19:32,900if God takes no pleasure in judgment53600:19:32,900 –> 00:19:35,900we should take no pleasure53700:19:35,900 –> 00:19:36,900in it either53800:19:38,900 –> 00:19:41,900there is a kind of Christianity53900:19:41,900 –> 00:19:43,900that sounds as if it can’t wait54000:19:43,900 –> 00:19:46,900for the judgment of the ungodly54100:19:48,900 –> 00:19:49,900you will get it54200:19:51,900 –> 00:19:54,900and that could not be further54300:19:54,900 –> 00:19:56,900from the heart of God54400:19:58,900 –> 00:19:59,900God is merciful54500:20:02,900 –> 00:20:04,900he offers mercy to you today54600:20:05,900 –> 00:20:07,900that’s his delight54700:20:08,900 –> 00:20:12,900however long you may have resisted him54800:20:13,900 –> 00:20:16,900however intensely you may have hated him54900:20:16,900 –> 00:20:17,900whatever you may have done55000:20:17,900 –> 00:20:19,900against him55100:20:21,900 –> 00:20:23,900there is mercy for you55200:20:23,900 –> 00:20:26,900from this eternal patient merciful God55300:20:26,900 –> 00:20:29,900in Jesus Christ55400:20:31,900 –> 00:20:33,900and heaven delights55500:20:34,900 –> 00:20:37,900as men and women come to receive and embrace55600:20:37,900 –> 00:20:38,900this marvelous mercy55700:20:38,900 –> 00:20:42,900for which Jesus Christ has died55800:20:44,900 –> 00:20:45,900do you know55900:20:45,900 –> 00:20:47,900some of you56000:20:47,900 –> 00:20:51,900are struggling to come to Christ56100:20:51,900 –> 00:20:54,900and the root of it56200:20:54,900 –> 00:20:55,900is that you in the past56300:20:55,900 –> 00:20:59,900have experienced a brand of religion56400:20:59,900 –> 00:21:01,900that is not patient56500:21:01,900 –> 00:21:05,900it is not kind56600:21:05,900 –> 00:21:07,900and it is not merciful56700:21:07,900 –> 00:21:10,900and that has shaped within your mind56800:21:10,900 –> 00:21:13,900a perception of God56900:21:13,900 –> 00:21:19,900as if he could not wait to do you in57000:21:19,900 –> 00:21:22,900and my prayer this morning57100:21:22,900 –> 00:21:24,900above everything else57200:21:24,900 –> 00:21:26,900is that you will be redeemed and released from that57300:21:26,900 –> 00:21:27,900that you will say57400:21:27,900 –> 00:21:29,900that’s not God57500:21:29,900 –> 00:21:32,900this is the eternal God57600:21:32,900 –> 00:21:33,900he is patient, he is merciful57700:21:33,900 –> 00:21:35,900for this reason, he has sent his son into the world57800:21:35,900 –> 00:21:38,900for this reason, Christ has not yet come back57900:21:38,900 –> 00:21:40,900the judgment has not yet followed58000:21:40,900 –> 00:21:46,900for this reason, I could come to Him today58100:21:48,900 –> 00:21:50,900my friend, if you want to know what God is like58200:21:50,900 –> 00:21:53,900you look at the cross of Jesus Christ58300:21:53,900 –> 00:21:56,900you see the eternal God in time58400:21:57,900 –> 00:22:01,900you see his patience as they nail him to the cross58500:22:01,900 –> 00:22:03,900you hear his mercy as he says58600:22:03,900 –> 00:22:05,900father, forgive them58700:22:05,900 –> 00:22:08,900they don’t know what they’re doing58800:22:10,900 –> 00:22:14,900this is your God58900:22:15,900 –> 00:22:20,900and why would you go on fighting and resisting Him59000:22:21,900 –> 00:22:23,900now let the patience59100:22:23,900 –> 00:22:25,900and the mercy59200:22:25,900 –> 00:22:26,900and love59300:22:26,900 –> 00:22:27,900and the grace59400:22:27,900 –> 00:22:29,900of this God in Jesus Christ59500:22:29,900 –> 00:22:31,900draw you to him today59600:22:31,900 –> 00:22:33,900God is Eternal59700:22:33,900 –> 00:22:35,900God is patient59800:22:35,900 –> 00:22:39,900God is merciful59900:22:39,900 –> 00:22:41,900and knowing Him60000:22:41,900 –> 00:22:43,900you will find in Christ60100:22:43,900 –> 00:22:45,900everything you need for patience60200:22:45,900 –> 00:22:49,900in this Christ reacting world60300:22:50,900 –> 00:22:51,900God is patient60400:22:51,900 –> 00:22:52,900He is merciful60500:22:52,900 –> 00:22:53,900and His long patience60600:22:53,900 –> 00:22:55,900is followed by decisive action60700:22:55,900 –> 00:22:57,900You’ve been listening to Open The Bible60800:22:57,900 –> 00:22:59,900with Pastor Colin Smith60900:22:59,900 –> 00:23:00,900and a message called61000:23:00,900 –> 00:23:02,900Everything You Need For Patience61100:23:02,900 –> 00:23:03,900part of our series61200:23:03,900 –> 00:23:05,900Everything You Need For Life61300:23:05,900 –> 00:23:07,900based on the book of 2 Peter61400:23:07,900 –> 00:23:08,900Don’t forget61500:23:08,900 –> 00:23:10,900if you ever miss one of our messages61600:23:10,900 –> 00:23:11,900it’s very easy to 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00:23:43,900to support Open The Bible’s work63500:23:43,900 –> 00:23:45,900thank you so much63600:23:45,900 –> 00:23:46,900This month if you want to begin63700:23:46,900 –> 00:23:48,900to support Open The Bible financially63800:23:48,900 –> 00:23:50,900We’d love to say thank you63900:23:50,900 –> 00:23:52,900by sending you a free gift64000:23:52,900 –> 00:23:54,900Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham64100:23:54,900 –> 00:23:56,900to tell us about it64200:23:56,900 –> 00:23:58,900When life is uncertain64300:23:58,900 –> 00:24:00,900where do you find hope?64400:24:00,900 –> 00:24:02,900Grow in Hope by Colin Smith64500:24:02,900 –> 00:24:04,900is a 30 day devotional64600:24:04,900 –> 00:24:06,900that will help you anchor your heart64700:24:06,900 –> 00:24:08,900in God’s promises64800:24:08,900 –> 00:24:10,900and discover the confidence that comes64900:24:10,900 –> 00:24:12,900from trusting Him65000:24:12,900 –> 00:24:14,900through daily scripture readings65100:24:14,900 –> 00:24:16,900through biblical encouragement65200:24:16,900 –> 00:24:18,900you’ll learn how to grow in a hope65300:24:18,900 –> 00:24:20,900that remains steady through65400:24:20,900 –> 00:24:22,900ever season of life65500:24:22,900 –> 00:24:24,900get your free copy65600:24:24,900 –> 00:24:26,900when you give a one-off gift65700:24:26,900 –> 00:24:28,900when you give a one-off gift65800:24:28,900 –> 00:24:30,900or start a new monthly gift65900:24:30,900 –> 00:24:32,900or start a new monthly gift66000:24:32,900 –> 00:24:34,900but please do remember to leave your name66100:24:34,900 –> 00:24:36,900but please do remember to leave your name66200:24:36,900 –> 00:24:38,900but please do remember to leave your name66300:24:38,900 –> 00:24:40,900but please do remember to leave your name66400:24:40,900 –> 00:24:42,900but please do remember to leave your name66500:24:42,900 –> 00:24:44,900full terms and conditions are on our website66600:24:44,900 –> 00:24:46,900and you can give online66700:24:46,900 –> 00:24:48,900please remember though as Amanda says66800:24:48,900 –> 00:24:50,900to leave your full name and address66900:24:50,900 –> 00:24:52,900to leave your full name and address67000:24:52,900 –> 00:24:54,900so we can send you your gift67100:24:54,900 –> 00:24:56,900I’m David Pick67200:24:56,900 –> 00:24:58,900and glad you joined us today67300:24:58,900 –> 00:25:00,900and glad you joined us today67400:25:00,900 –> 00:25:02,900and glad you joined us today67500:25:02,900 –> 00:25:04,900and glad you joined us today67600:25:04,900 –> 00:25:06,900and glad you joined us today67700:25:06,900 –> 00:25:08,900and glad you joined us today67800:25:08,900 –> 00:25:10,900and glad you joined us today67900:25:10,900 –> 00:25:12,900???68000:25:12,900 –> 00:25:14,900???68100:25:14,900 –> 00:25:16,900???68200:25:16,900 –> 00:25:18,900whats wrong with our world today68300:25:18,900 –> 00:25:20,900many people would say68400:25:20,900 –> 00:25:22,900well nothing its perfectly normal68500:25:22,900 –> 00:25:24,900discover the bible’s answer to that68600:25:24,900 –> 00:25:26,900next time on open the bible