100:00:00,140 –> 00:00:03,680Pattie Thompson200:00:03,680 –> 00:00:09,160Do your work, but then release it into the hands of God.300:00:09,160 –> 00:00:12,660Get some rest, give yourself a break.400:00:12,660 –> 00:00:20,379Don’t sweat it because without him you cannot succeed and with him you will not fail.500:00:20,379 –> 00:00:21,360Colin Smith600:00:21,360 –> 00:00:23,600Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:23,600 –> 00:00:24,660I’m David Pick.800:00:24,660 –> 00:00:28,680Collins, I think you have just hit on one of our great struggles which is doing the900:00:28,680 –> 00:00:31,240work and then releasing it into God’s hands.1000:00:31,240 –> 00:00:32,240Colin Smith1100:00:32,240 –> 00:00:35,540Yes and I think especially in regards to family life which is where we are.1200:00:35,540 –> 00:00:42,020We’re in Psalm 127, and unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers are working1300:00:42,020 –> 00:00:43,020in vain.1400:00:43,020 –> 00:00:47,980And so you think about the challenges of trying to raise young children and to do all that’s1500:00:47,980 –> 00:00:52,820involved in in family life and all the questions, am I doing this right?1600:00:52,820 –> 00:00:54,919Am I doing it properly?1700:00:55,560 –> 00:00:59,060You know you do your best but you have to trust it into the hand of God and say God1800:00:59,060 –> 00:01:04,720is at work, I am not on my own here, I am His fellow worker and He is the one who builds1900:01:04,720 –> 00:01:05,720the house.2000:01:05,720 –> 00:01:09,139We’re really going to get a biblical vision for family life today.2100:01:09,139 –> 00:01:14,440What does it mean to raise a godly family, to aspire to do that?2200:01:14,440 –> 00:01:19,440Well I hope that this message is going to be a message of great encouragement especially2300:01:19,440 –> 00:01:20,440for younger parents today.2400:01:20,940 –> 00:01:28,580So let’s get right into that in Psalm 127 and 128 as we continue the message from frustration2500:01:28,580 –> 00:01:30,000to fulfilment.2600:01:30,000 –> 00:01:31,000Here is Colin.2700:01:31,000 –> 00:01:36,680We have a board game at home called careers which we played on a number of occasions more2800:01:36,680 –> 00:01:38,279in the past than recently.2900:01:38,279 –> 00:01:40,239You know the board game careers?3000:01:40,239 –> 00:01:42,120It’s a fun game.3100:01:42,120 –> 00:01:49,440At the beginning, you’ve got to set your winning formula for life and it’s in three categories,3200:01:49,720 –> 00:01:52,900Fame, Fortune, and Happiness.3300:01:52,900 –> 00:01:59,080And the various cards in this board game, the Fame ones have gold stars.3400:01:59,080 –> 00:02:02,139The Fortune ones of course have the big dollar signs.3500:02:02,139 –> 00:02:05,720And the happiness ones have little red hearts.3600:02:05,720 –> 00:02:09,320And so you set your formula at the beginning of the game that you are going to shoot for3700:02:09,320 –> 00:02:12,800so much fame and so much Fortune and so much happiness.3800:02:12,800 –> 00:02:17,160And then you roll the dice and off you go around the board, hoping to land on squares3900:02:17,160 –> 00:02:21,119that will give you the opportunity to pursue these various things or draw cards that will4000:02:21,119 –> 00:02:23,380give you that opportunity.4100:02:23,380 –> 00:02:27,820And so for example, if you land on a square in which you perform a heroic deed, your name4200:02:27,820 –> 00:02:32,179gets in the papers, that’s worth ten stars of fame that goes on your card.4300:02:32,179 –> 00:02:38,300If you get a holiday in Hawaii, then that’s worth five hearts’ worth of happiness and4400:02:38,300 –> 00:02:40,820so forth and so on.4500:02:40,820 –> 00:02:46,279Now it’s a great game and it is based entirely on the assumption that the way in which a4600:02:46,320 –> 00:02:54,460person should measure success is in fame, fortune, and happiness.4700:02:54,460 –> 00:03:00,800That I make my mark in the world, that I amass a certain number of dollars and the security4800:03:00,800 –> 00:03:07,479financially that that brings, and that I am able to enjoy experiences that bring to me4900:03:07,479 –> 00:03:08,720great pleasure.5000:03:08,720 –> 00:03:12,039Fame, fortune, happiness.5100:03:12,039 –> 00:03:14,759Now here’s the question.5200:03:14,860 –> 00:03:17,759How do you measure success?5300:03:17,759 –> 00:03:26,580Now it is a huge question, because the measures you use for success will be the primary drivers5400:03:26,580 –> 00:03:28,160of your life.5500:03:28,160 –> 00:03:35,740They will be the things that you primarily pursue and give yourself to.5600:03:35,740 –> 00:03:41,679So what’s your measure of success?5700:03:41,679 –> 00:03:51,440Now I find that the teaching of these two Psalms is deeply searching, profoundly challenging5800:03:51,440 –> 00:03:54,619and wonderfully encouraging.5900:03:54,619 –> 00:04:03,500I want you to see here that God in these two Psalms gives three dimensions of success,6000:04:03,500 –> 00:04:07,860and I wonder if you were asked to write them down before reading the psalm if you would6100:04:07,860 –> 00:04:10,839write them down at all.6200:04:10,839 –> 00:04:16,700Number one, that your wife should flourish.6300:04:16,700 –> 00:04:21,940Number two, that your children should live with honor.6400:04:21,940 –> 00:04:26,440Number three, that God’s kingdom should prosper.6500:04:26,440 –> 00:04:30,299Let’s look at them together.6600:04:30,299 –> 00:04:35,540I fear they wouldn’t have been the things I would have written down in that order, and6700:04:36,279 –> 00:04:42,980I need my mind and my heart to be taught and directed and guided by the word of God.6800:04:42,980 –> 00:04:46,140Look at it with me.6900:04:46,140 –> 00:04:48,859Psalm 128 and verse three.7000:04:48,859 –> 00:04:53,059That your wife should flourish.7100:04:53,059 –> 00:04:59,519Your wife will be – verse three – like a fruitful vine in your house.7200:04:59,519 –> 00:05:03,260Now, the Scriptures are obviously speaking here to those who are married.7300:05:03,459 –> 00:05:06,540So let me take a moment to do the same.7400:05:06,540 –> 00:05:14,059Really, if you were in a business seminar, and you were asked to list the three distinguishing7500:05:14,059 –> 00:05:20,600marks of a successful life, I wonder if this would really be on your list.7600:05:20,600 –> 00:05:27,160It seems to me that at least in Psalm 128 it is top of God’s list.7700:05:27,160 –> 00:05:32,940It is the first evidence that a man has learned, verse one, to fear the Lord and to walk in7800:05:32,940 –> 00:05:37,980His ways, this is the blessing that comes from it.7900:05:37,980 –> 00:05:42,380About seven years ago, I planted a bush at the bottom of our yard.8000:05:42,380 –> 00:05:46,239There’s a kind of electrical installment just beyond the property we wanted to cover that8100:05:46,239 –> 00:05:47,239up.8200:05:47,239 –> 00:05:48,239So I planted this bush.8300:05:48,239 –> 00:05:49,619It’s in the shade of some larger trees.8400:05:49,619 –> 00:05:55,660I planted it seven years ago and in seven years because of its position, that bush has8500:05:55,660 –> 00:06:00,359hardly grown just a few inches in seven years.8600:06:00,359 –> 00:06:09,279On the same day, I planted another bush of the same size at the opposite end of our yard8700:06:09,279 –> 00:06:13,040and I am never done cutting it back.8800:06:13,040 –> 00:06:18,140Now here’s the picture.8900:06:18,140 –> 00:06:22,799Your wife has been planted beside you.9000:06:22,799 –> 00:06:27,660Her roots go down into the same soil as yours do.9100:06:27,660 –> 00:06:31,820Her flourishing is your success.9200:06:31,820 –> 00:06:34,820That’s the teaching.9300:06:34,820 –> 00:06:41,320A picture of a fruitful vine made me think of a vine that you can see … if you ever9400:06:41,320 –> 00:06:47,799get the chance to go to London, visit Hampton Court, beautiful mansion house with absolutely9500:06:47,799 –> 00:06:52,760magnificent gardens and one of the features there is what they simply refer to as The9600:06:52,760 –> 00:06:54,200Vine.9700:06:54,279 –> 00:07:00,779The Vine in Hampton Court was planted in the year 1769.9800:07:00,779 –> 00:07:10,019It’s stem – a single stem – is now, measures over 6 feet wide.9900:07:10,019 –> 00:07:15,320It still bears a remarkable crop of grapes every year.10000:07:15,320 –> 00:07:20,640This vine, planted in 1769, is housed in a massive green house.10100:07:20,779 –> 00:07:27,619You walk in and you see this massive six foot wide stem and all that flows from it and grows10200:07:27,619 –> 00:07:31,459from it, supported throughout this green house.10300:07:31,459 –> 00:07:32,619One plant.10400:07:32,619 –> 00:07:35,000It is absolutely remarkable.10500:07:36,299 –> 00:07:40,459My memory of last time I was there, in Hampton Court, is very distinctively of coming out10600:07:40,459 –> 00:07:47,019from the green house, and then to the side there is this large area, probably the size10700:07:47,019 –> 00:07:49,779of a basketball court.10800:07:49,820 –> 00:07:52,579And there is nothing growing in it at all.10900:07:53,519 –> 00:08:00,880It is simply the most beautiful, fertile, finely crumbled, beautifully raked soil and11000:08:00,880 –> 00:08:02,480it is clearly marked of.11100:08:02,480 –> 00:08:06,839You cannot walk there, or even get near it.11200:08:06,839 –> 00:08:14,559I asked about it and of course was told that this was the area over the primary root systems11300:08:14,559 –> 00:08:17,239of the vine.11400:08:17,299 –> 00:08:25,500And there is a regular schedule in Hampton Court for fertilizing this patch of ground11500:08:25,500 –> 00:08:29,179so that the vine will continue to flourish.11600:08:29,179 –> 00:08:34,679That’s a beautiful picture, husbands.11700:08:34,679 –> 00:08:38,400You know what success looks like?11800:08:38,400 –> 00:08:44,919That your wife should be like a fruitful vine within your house.11900:08:44,919 –> 00:08:51,780That what you pour onto her roots that are so tied together with yours12000:08:51,780 –> 00:08:56,659should be so rich that she flourishes12100:08:56,659 –> 00:09:03,719that being planted next to you has been for her growth12200:09:03,719 –> 00:09:06,500and has been for her good.12300:09:06,500 –> 00:09:09,080I find that deeply challenging.12400:09:09,080 –> 00:09:12,500I find that profoundly helpful.12500:09:12,500 –> 00:09:19,140Husbands, if you want to move from frustration to fulfilment, begin here.12600:09:19,140 –> 00:09:20,419Let your wife flourish.12700:09:20,419 –> 00:09:23,479You say, how can I do that?12800:09:23,479 –> 00:09:24,960Listen.12900:09:24,960 –> 00:09:27,840Without the Lord you cannot succeed.13000:09:27,840 –> 00:09:31,419With the Lord, you will not fail.13100:09:31,419 –> 00:09:36,059You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called,13200:09:36,059 –> 00:09:37,479From Frustration to Fulfillment.13300:09:38,280 –> 00:09:39,520It’s part of our series,13400:09:39,520 –> 00:09:41,140Moving in the Right Direction,13500:09:41,140 –> 00:09:43,039based on the Psalms of Ascent.13600:09:43,039 –> 00:09:46,479If you’ve missed any of the series so far or if you want to go back and listen again,13700:09:46,479 –> 00:09:52,760don’t forget you can always do that by coming online to openthebible.org.uk.13800:09:52,760 –> 00:09:54,440Back to the message now.13900:09:54,440 –> 00:09:55,919Here again is Colin.14000:09:55,919 –> 00:09:57,739Now notice the second thing.14100:09:57,739 –> 00:10:00,140Not only that your wife should flourish,14200:10:00,140 –> 00:10:03,239but that your children should live with honour.14300:10:03,239 –> 00:10:06,039Psalm 127, verses 4 and 5.14400:10:06,419 –> 00:10:10,719It’s been talking in verse 3 about sons being a heritage from the Lord.14500:10:10,719 –> 00:10:13,099And then it says, verse 5,14600:10:13,099 –> 00:10:20,119they will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies at the gate.14700:10:21,580 –> 00:10:26,080Now the vision here is of sons and daughters who have been raised14800:10:26,080 –> 00:10:30,200in such a way that when they’re sent out into the world they live with honour.14900:10:30,200 –> 00:10:34,359The city-gate was, of course, the place where legal trials took place.15000:10:34,359 –> 00:10:39,080And so the picture here is of sons and daughters who have lived lives of integrity15100:10:39,080 –> 00:10:42,799so that even when their enemies accuse them by the city-gate,15200:10:42,799 –> 00:10:45,159they will not be put to shame.15300:10:46,559 –> 00:10:51,039I want you to notice that there are two beautiful and complementary pictures15400:10:51,039 –> 00:10:54,640of what it means to raise a child in these psalms.15500:10:54,640 –> 00:10:59,200And it is important that we keep these two pictures together.15600:10:59,200 –> 00:11:04,200You will find, I think, that one picture more immediately appeals to mothers.15700:11:04,280 –> 00:11:07,919And the other more immediately appeals to fathers.15800:11:07,919 –> 00:11:12,200And of course I’ll leave it to you to sort out, which is which.15900:11:12,200 –> 00:11:16,559Notice the first, Psalm 128 verse 3.16000:11:24,280 –> 00:11:26,679Now I haven’t often gone to my boys and said,16100:11:26,679 –> 00:11:31,479I’m so glad that you are an olive shoot around my table,16200:11:31,679 –> 00:11:34,179I don’t think that’s gonna get me very far.16300:11:34,179 –> 00:11:35,760What on earth does this mean?16400:11:36,700 –> 00:11:39,520Well very simply the picture of an olive shoot16500:11:39,520 –> 00:11:44,159is the picture of a sapling of tender young growth16600:11:45,640 –> 00:11:47,739that needs to be nurtured.16700:11:47,739 –> 00:11:49,080That’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it?16800:11:49,080 –> 00:11:53,179Of children in the home, of the tender shoots.16900:11:53,179 –> 00:11:56,000The vulnerable saplings, the little buds17000:11:56,900 –> 00:11:58,159that need to be nurtured.17100:11:59,359 –> 00:12:01,460But notice that that is not the only picture17200:12:01,460 –> 00:12:05,539because if you look at Psalm 127 verse three and four,17300:12:05,539 –> 00:12:07,340you’ve got something quite difference17400:12:07,340 –> 00:12:09,299that needs to be alongside it.17500:12:09,299 –> 00:12:11,700Sons are a heritage from the Lord,17600:12:11,700 –> 00:12:16,119children are a reward from him like arrows.17700:12:16,119 –> 00:12:21,119In the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.17800:12:22,460 –> 00:12:25,859So these little moist saplings17900:12:26,900 –> 00:12:29,479have now become sharpened arrows.18000:12:30,559 –> 00:12:31,400And the Psalmist says,18100:12:31,539 –> 00:12:33,119blessed is the man whose quiver18200:12:33,119 –> 00:12:35,119that in which you carry the arrows,18300:12:35,119 –> 00:12:38,200blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.18400:12:39,260 –> 00:12:40,380So here are two pictures18500:12:40,380 –> 00:12:42,919that need to be kept alongside one another.18600:12:42,919 –> 00:12:47,700Here is the mother, like a fruitful vine18700:12:47,700 –> 00:12:52,500with the children being like olive shoots around the table.18800:12:53,640 –> 00:12:57,159And here is the father who is like a warrior18900:12:57,159 –> 00:13:00,599and his kids are like sharpened arrows19000:13:00,599 –> 00:13:03,099and they’re ready to be sent out into the world19100:13:03,099 –> 00:13:04,159because the point of arrows, of course,19200:13:04,159 –> 00:13:06,320is that they don’t remain in the quiver.19300:13:06,320 –> 00:13:08,159You don’t spend the rest of your life19400:13:08,159 –> 00:13:10,539carrying the arrows on your back.19500:13:10,539 –> 00:13:12,039The whole point of the arrows19600:13:12,039 –> 00:13:13,539is that they are prepared in order19700:13:13,539 –> 00:13:18,179to be fired out into the world to fulfill their purpose.19800:13:19,799 –> 00:13:21,859So here in two beautiful pictures19900:13:21,859 –> 00:13:24,919is the calling of parenthood.20000:13:25,539 –> 00:13:29,900The nurture of tender growth20100:13:30,960 –> 00:13:34,880with a view to the release of sharpened strength.20200:13:36,599 –> 00:13:39,200The nurture of tender growth20300:13:40,700 –> 00:13:45,460with a view to the release of sharpened strength.20400:13:46,739 –> 00:13:48,679And you say, how can I do that?20500:13:50,299 –> 00:13:54,859Without the Lord, you cannot succeed, with the Lord.20600:13:55,340 –> 00:13:57,679You will not fail.20700:13:59,280 –> 00:14:00,539By the way I can’t resist this,20800:14:00,539 –> 00:14:03,239Derek Kidner has a wonderful comment here20900:14:03,239 –> 00:14:04,960in his book on the Psalms.21000:14:04,960 –> 00:14:06,239He says this,21100:14:06,239 –> 00:14:08,739the greater their promise,21200:14:09,640 –> 00:14:14,640the more likely it is that these sons will be a handful21300:14:15,039 –> 00:14:17,919before they are a quiverful.21400:14:17,919 –> 00:14:22,919I like that, the greater their promise21500:14:23,200 –> 00:14:28,200the more likely it is that these sons will be a handful21600:14:28,359 –> 00:14:30,919before they are a quiverful21700:14:30,919 –> 00:14:31,859and maybe you’re saying,21800:14:31,859 –> 00:14:34,760hey, wait a minute if my son or my daughter21900:14:34,760 –> 00:14:36,659is supposed to be like a sharpened arrow22000:14:36,659 –> 00:14:39,179they’re like an arrow flying a long way off target.22100:14:39,179 –> 00:14:44,179Well here, this is another place22200:14:44,799 –> 00:14:45,940where we need to remember22300:14:45,940 –> 00:14:47,799what we just learned about the farmer.22400:14:48,880 –> 00:14:52,400You do what God has given you to do22500:14:52,440 –> 00:14:55,000and then you need to find rest22600:14:55,000 –> 00:14:57,679knowing that God keeps doing his work22700:14:57,679 –> 00:15:00,380even when you can’t continue doing yours.22800:15:02,280 –> 00:15:03,900There we need to find release22900:15:05,320 –> 00:15:07,760and there we need to find rest.23000:15:07,760 –> 00:15:09,140What does success look like?23100:15:09,140 –> 00:15:11,419That your wife should flourish,23200:15:11,419 –> 00:15:14,219that your children should live with honor23300:15:14,219 –> 00:15:16,000and thirdly and finally,23400:15:16,000 –> 00:15:18,359that God’s kingdom should prosper.23500:15:18,359 –> 00:15:20,479Psalm 128 in verse five,23600:15:20,580 –> 00:15:22,479May the Lord bless you from Zion23700:15:22,479 –> 00:15:24,080all the days of your life.23800:15:24,080 –> 00:15:26,479May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem23900:15:26,479 –> 00:15:29,400and may you live to see your children’s children24000:15:29,400 –> 00:15:31,799peace be upon Israel.24100:15:33,080 –> 00:15:35,640Of course, Jerusalem was significant24200:15:35,640 –> 00:15:37,799as we’ve seen each time in this series24300:15:37,799 –> 00:15:40,239because it was the center of God’s work24400:15:40,239 –> 00:15:41,820among his people in the world24500:15:41,820 –> 00:15:43,179and so when the prayer is that24600:15:43,179 –> 00:15:46,080you will see Jerusalem prosper,24700:15:46,080 –> 00:15:47,479the prayer and the longing is that24800:15:47,479 –> 00:15:48,840you will see God’s great24900:15:48,859 –> 00:15:52,780and wonderful purpose advance in the world in your time.25000:15:53,919 –> 00:15:56,599Some generations are privileged to see God at work25100:15:56,599 –> 00:15:58,859in the world in wonderful ways.25200:16:00,179 –> 00:16:03,320Other folks have the tough calling25300:16:03,320 –> 00:16:05,640of holding the line of truth25400:16:05,640 –> 00:16:09,460in the cold winds of bitter opposition.25500:16:10,440 –> 00:16:12,559But every generation of God’s people25600:16:12,559 –> 00:16:15,320longs to see his purpose advanced25700:16:15,320 –> 00:16:16,659and his kingdom extended.25800:16:16,659 –> 00:16:18,539That’s why Jesus taught us to pray,25900:16:18,539 –> 00:16:22,820Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth26000:16:22,820 –> 00:16:24,179as it is in heaven.26100:16:24,179 –> 00:16:25,460So here’s a great prayer.26200:16:27,340 –> 00:16:30,820Lord, let us not pass through life in this generation26300:16:30,820 –> 00:16:33,679with your work being left in just the same place26400:16:33,679 –> 00:16:35,140as it was when we arrived.26500:16:37,000 –> 00:16:40,340Let us be the means of bringing your truth26600:16:40,340 –> 00:16:43,219to some who have never heard your gospel.26700:16:44,000 –> 00:16:47,380Let us be the means of bringing your love26800:16:47,380 –> 00:16:49,400to some who have never felt26900:16:49,400 –> 00:16:51,520the compassionate touch of Jesus.27000:16:53,919 –> 00:16:56,179Let us be part of bringing hope to people27100:16:56,179 –> 00:16:58,880who have never seen the light of Jesus Christ.27200:17:00,760 –> 00:17:03,539That would be great success.27300:17:05,640 –> 00:17:06,900You say how do I do that?27400:17:08,400 –> 00:17:10,859There are a thousand ways, and none of them easy.27500:17:11,560 –> 00:17:16,020Without the Lord you cannot succeed with the Lord.27600:17:17,219 –> 00:17:18,260You will not fail.27700:17:20,020 –> 00:17:22,020So, here’s the biblical picture of success27800:17:22,020 –> 00:17:23,560that your wife should flourish,27900:17:24,819 –> 00:17:26,819that your children should live with honor,28000:17:27,839 –> 00:17:30,000that God’s kingdom should prosper in our time.28100:17:31,819 –> 00:17:34,040Of course, unlike careers,28200:17:35,239 –> 00:17:36,979the great thing about these things28300:17:37,979 –> 00:17:39,420is that they last forever.28400:17:41,819 –> 00:17:45,459Fame, fortune, happiness will pass away.28500:17:46,800 –> 00:17:48,000Your wife flourishing.28600:17:49,219 –> 00:17:50,939Your children living with honor.28700:17:52,339 –> 00:17:56,000And the extension of God’s kingdom lasts forever.28800:17:58,300 –> 00:17:59,920Here’s the final thing in conclusion.28900:17:59,920 –> 00:18:01,599It’s always good, it seems to me,29000:18:01,599 –> 00:18:02,939to ask the question,29100:18:02,939 –> 00:18:04,300now where do we see this sort of thing29200:18:04,300 –> 00:18:06,500worked out in practice?29300:18:06,500 –> 00:18:08,819And here we come to what I think is the real kicker,29400:18:08,839 –> 00:18:11,180especially in Psalm 127.29500:18:11,180 –> 00:18:13,060Notice, as we said at the beginning,29600:18:13,060 –> 00:18:15,459that this Psalm was written by Solomon,29700:18:15,459 –> 00:18:17,859the great king to whom early in life29800:18:17,859 –> 00:18:20,300God had given so much wisdom.29900:18:20,300 –> 00:18:22,839It is very clear that it is Solomon’s psalm.30000:18:22,839 –> 00:18:24,300He was the great builder.30100:18:24,300 –> 00:18:25,699He built the temple,30200:18:25,699 –> 00:18:27,540the first book of Kings tells us30300:18:27,540 –> 00:18:28,780so many other buildings30400:18:28,780 –> 00:18:30,280that were put up on a massive scale30500:18:30,280 –> 00:18:31,660during his lifetime.30600:18:31,660 –> 00:18:35,859It was a construction almost spiraling out of control,30700:18:35,859 –> 00:18:38,339and he says unless the Lord builds the house,30800:18:38,339 –> 00:18:40,959it’s builder’s labor in vain.30900:18:40,959 –> 00:18:44,099Solomon made a great start to life.31000:18:44,099 –> 00:18:48,099The teacher here speaks under the direct inspiration31100:18:48,099 –> 00:18:50,040of the Holy Spirit of God.31200:18:50,040 –> 00:18:52,560What an experience that must have been for him.31300:18:54,060 –> 00:18:59,060The tragedy is that as the years went by,31400:18:59,160 –> 00:19:03,260Solomon failed to put his own teaching into practice.31500:19:04,680 –> 00:19:05,520Think about it.31600:19:06,479 –> 00:19:09,219Your wife should flourish.31700:19:10,520 –> 00:19:12,800You know that at the end of his life,31800:19:12,800 –> 00:19:17,579Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines?31900:19:17,579 –> 00:19:18,920I mean I don’t think this man knew much32000:19:18,920 –> 00:19:21,560about sustaining a relationship, do you?32100:19:22,959 –> 00:19:26,800There’s something strangely wrong in his view of women.32200:19:28,680 –> 00:19:31,119That your children should bring honor,32300:19:31,119 –> 00:19:33,319his son Rehoboam who reigned after him32400:19:33,319 –> 00:19:34,959is only remembered for two things.32500:19:34,959 –> 00:19:37,800First, his cruelty, second, his incompetence.32600:19:39,280 –> 00:19:41,180That God’s kingdom should prosper32700:19:41,180 –> 00:19:42,579at the end of Solomon’s reign.32800:19:42,579 –> 00:19:44,660God’s kingdom was divided32900:19:44,660 –> 00:19:47,180and plunged into 400 years of darkness.33000:19:48,819 –> 00:19:52,219The tragedy of Solomon’s life is that he knew these things33100:19:52,219 –> 00:19:53,540but he did not do them.33200:19:55,599 –> 00:19:57,900And I wonder, you know, if that was in Jesus’ mind33300:19:57,900 –> 00:19:59,739when he told his wonderful story33400:19:59,739 –> 00:20:02,099about the wise and foolish builders.33500:20:02,160 –> 00:20:04,439Remember what Jesus said.33600:20:04,439 –> 00:20:06,000The wise man who builds his house on the rock33700:20:06,000 –> 00:20:08,239and the foolish man who builds his house on the sand.33800:20:08,239 –> 00:20:10,160Jesus said specifically this.33900:20:10,160 –> 00:20:12,859It’s the person who hears these words34000:20:12,859 –> 00:20:15,160and puts them into practice34100:20:15,160 –> 00:20:17,640will be like the wise man who builds on the rock.34200:20:18,500 –> 00:20:20,660And the one who just hears these words on Sunday morning34300:20:20,660 –> 00:20:22,199but goes home and doesn’t really change34400:20:22,199 –> 00:20:23,619the priorities of life34500:20:23,619 –> 00:20:24,900is gonna be like a foolish man34600:20:24,900 –> 00:20:26,119who builds his house on the sand34700:20:26,119 –> 00:20:29,780and when the storm comes, great will be the collapse.34800:20:30,420 –> 00:20:31,260The collapse.34900:20:33,280 –> 00:20:37,160So even though these Psalms are given through Solomon35000:20:37,160 –> 00:20:39,719at least the first one, given through Solomon35100:20:39,719 –> 00:20:44,140we have to look for someone better than Solomon35200:20:44,140 –> 00:20:45,719at putting them into practice.35300:20:47,699 –> 00:20:49,459And so I have found it so very helpful35400:20:49,459 –> 00:20:53,119to think of these Psalms on the lips of Jesus.35500:20:54,040 –> 00:20:59,040Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine.35600:21:01,479 –> 00:21:03,880The church is the bride of Christ.35700:21:03,880 –> 00:21:07,079Christ loves her, nourishes her,35800:21:07,079 –> 00:21:10,140walks with her through all her struggles35900:21:10,140 –> 00:21:13,579and will bring her through them and beyond them36000:21:13,579 –> 00:21:18,180into his own house where she will flourish forevermore.36100:21:18,420 –> 00:21:21,540And that in the New Testament is the model36200:21:22,920 –> 00:21:24,880of what a Christian marriage is to be.36300:21:26,260 –> 00:21:29,619Your sons and daughters will not be put to shame.36400:21:29,619 –> 00:21:32,020For if you are a son or a daughter of God,36500:21:32,020 –> 00:21:34,260you may experience shame in this life,36600:21:34,260 –> 00:21:37,020but the Bible tells us those who trust in him36700:21:37,020 –> 00:21:39,380will never be put to shame.36800:21:39,380 –> 00:21:43,140The final outcome of your life as a son or a daughter of God,36900:21:43,140 –> 00:21:45,099whatever your mistakes and your failures,37000:21:46,099 –> 00:21:48,979will not be that your head is left hanging in shame,37100:21:48,979 –> 00:21:52,239but rather that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,37200:21:52,239 –> 00:21:54,880it will be covered in his reflected glory.37300:21:56,560 –> 00:22:00,239And in his hand, God’s kingdom prospers.37400:22:00,239 –> 00:22:03,680The work of Christ in you and in the world37500:22:03,680 –> 00:22:08,680will not end in frustration but in fulfillment,37600:22:08,699 –> 00:22:13,079because what he begins, he always completes.37700:22:13,239 –> 00:22:14,920And what he begins, he always completes.37800:22:14,920 –> 00:22:18,199What he starts, he always finishes.37900:22:19,560 –> 00:22:21,420Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.38000:22:21,420 –> 00:22:23,699The apostle Paul says let nothing move you38100:22:24,880 –> 00:22:28,000but always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,38200:22:28,000 –> 00:22:33,000knowing that in the Lord, your work is not in vain.38300:22:35,439 –> 00:22:36,640What a great challenge38400:22:36,640 –> 00:22:39,540to see how God defines success.38500:22:39,540 –> 00:22:41,040You’ve been listening to Open the Bible38600:22:41,040 –> 00:22:42,380with Pastor Colin Smith,38700:22:42,719 –> 00:22:43,540and a message called38800:22:43,540 –> 00:22:46,000From Frustration to Fulfillment,38900:22:46,000 –> 00:22:49,920based on Psalm 127 and 128,39000:22:49,920 –> 00:22:52,280some of the Psalms of ascent.39100:22:52,280 –> 00:22:54,239If you’ve missed any of the series to date,39200:22:54,239 –> 00:22:56,719which is called Moving in the Right Direction,39300:22:56,719 –> 00:22:57,859you can always catch up39400:22:57,859 –> 00:23:00,000or go back and listen again online39500:23:00,000 –> 00:23:04,160at our website OpenTheBible.org.uk.39600:23:04,160 –> 00:23:06,280You can also find pastor Colin’s teaching39700:23:06,280 –> 00:23:09,079as a podcast on all the main podcast sites,39800:23:09,079 –> 00:23:11,199search for Open the Bible UK,39900:23:11,260 –> 00:23:13,979or follow the link from our website.40000:23:13,979 –> 00:23:16,599Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.40100:23:16,599 –> 00:23:18,780And if you already give to support the work,40200:23:18,780 –> 00:23:21,140we want to say a big thank you.40300:23:21,140 –> 00:23:22,920If you’ve been considering beginning40400:23:22,920 –> 00:23:25,199to support Open the Bible financially,40500:23:25,199 –> 00:23:28,359this month if you’re able to set up a new direct debit40600:23:28,359 –> 00:23:29,959to the work of Open the Bible40700:23:29,959 –> 00:23:32,520in the amount of five pounds per month or more,40800:23:32,520 –> 00:23:35,000or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,40900:23:35,000 –> 00:23:36,719we’d love to say thank you41000:23:36,719 –> 00:23:39,119by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin’s book,41100:23:39,119 –> 00:23:40,680Fly Through the Bible.41200:23:40,719 –> 00:23:42,839If you’d like to receive that free gift,41300:23:42,839 –> 00:23:45,439don’t forget don’t give anonymously41400:23:45,439 –> 00:23:47,579and do leave your address.41500:23:47,579 –> 00:23:50,180Colin, what do you hope that readers of this book41600:23:50,180 –> 00:23:52,040will take away from it?41700:23:52,040 –> 00:23:53,160Well, that people will see41800:23:53,160 –> 00:23:55,739that the whole bible is one story41900:23:55,739 –> 00:23:59,099and that it all points to the Lord Jesus Christ.42000:23:59,099 –> 00:24:01,359You know, I think many folks know some stories42100:24:01,359 –> 00:24:02,439from the bible, you know,42200:24:02,439 –> 00:24:04,199David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale,42300:24:04,199 –> 00:24:05,599and so forth and so on.42400:24:05,599 –> 00:24:08,079But I find that often people don’t realize42500:24:08,140 –> 00:24:11,800that there really is an overall storyline to the bible.42600:24:11,800 –> 00:24:14,359It begins in a garden, it ends in a city,42700:24:14,359 –> 00:24:17,839all the way through, it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ.42800:24:17,839 –> 00:24:21,040So, when a person gets an overview of the bible,42900:24:21,040 –> 00:24:23,760that’s the best way to be introduced43000:24:23,760 –> 00:24:26,000to the Lord Jesus Christ himself.43100:24:26,000 –> 00:24:28,520This is going to show you who he is,43200:24:28,520 –> 00:24:31,160why we need him, what he’s accomplished,43300:24:31,160 –> 00:24:33,560what he offers, what he’s able to do43400:24:33,560 –> 00:24:35,880in the life of any person who turns to him43500:24:35,880 –> 00:24:37,640in repentance and faith.43600:24:37,640 –> 00:24:40,199Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Pastor Colin’s book,43700:24:40,199 –> 00:24:43,040Fly Through the Bible, if you’re able to set up43800:24:43,040 –> 00:24:46,099a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible43900:24:46,099 –> 00:24:48,119for five pounds per month or more,44000:24:48,119 –> 00:24:51,540or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.44100:24:51,540 –> 00:24:53,239Don’t forget to leave your address44200:24:53,239 –> 00:24:55,819so that we can send you your free gift.44300:24:55,819 –> 00:24:57,959You can find full terms and conditions44400:24:57,959 –> 00:25:00,420and you can give online at our website44500:25:00,420 –> 00:25:03,520openthebible.org.uk.44600:25:03,520 –> 00:25:05,959For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,44700:25:06,000 –> 00:25:08,579I’m David Pick and we’ll see you next time.44800:25:15,000 –> 00:25:18,640Have you been wounded or been deeply hurt?44900:25:18,640 –> 00:25:20,479Many of us have been.45000:25:20,479 –> 00:25:23,119The question is, what do you do about it?45100:25:23,119 –> 00:25:24,599Where do you turn?45200:25:24,599 –> 00:25:27,020Find out next time on Open the Bible.