100:00:00,300 –> 00:00:07,220You don’t need me to tell you it is not easy to be a Christian.200:00:07,220 –> 00:00:14,060It is not easy to sustain a life of faithfulness and of obedience to Jesus Christ.300:00:14,060 –> 00:00:18,860And if you’re going to sustain the Christian life you need to know clearly400:00:18,860 –> 00:00:24,059that what lies at the end of the journey is infinitely worth it.500:00:24,059 –> 00:00:27,760Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.600:00:28,080 –> 00:00:29,860Glad you could be with us today.700:00:29,860 –> 00:00:32,119And Colin, we’re talking about ending the journey.800:00:32,119 –> 00:00:37,080We’ve been hearing about the Psalms of Ascent with the series Moving in the Right Direction.900:00:37,080 –> 00:00:39,900Today’s message is From Seeking to Finding.1000:00:39,900 –> 00:00:45,560So, would you say that at the end of the journey of the Psalms of Ascent that the destination is worth it?1100:00:45,560 –> 00:00:46,980It absolutely is.1200:00:46,980 –> 00:00:51,939And, of course, in the Old Testament, these psalms are really the songs that were sung1300:00:51,939 –> 00:00:54,340by believers who were making their way to Jerusalem.1400:00:55,099 –> 00:00:59,439And what was at the end of their journey was this great privilege of worshipping in the1500:00:59,439 –> 00:01:04,320place where God had put his name and set his presence.1600:01:04,320 –> 00:01:07,459That points forward to something even greater that’s there for us.1700:01:07,459 –> 00:01:11,580We’re on a journey that’s gonna end in the presence of the Lord himself.1800:01:11,580 –> 00:01:13,879We’re gonna see him face to face.1900:01:13,879 –> 00:01:18,779We’re gonna worship him in unclouded joy in his immediate presence.2000:01:18,779 –> 00:01:24,120And getting our eyes on the joy that lies ahead of us, that’s a key principle for sustaining2100:01:24,199 –> 00:01:29,139the Christian journey, especially when it goes through some pretty rough patches.2200:01:29,139 –> 00:01:31,400And that’s what we’re looking at again today.2300:01:31,400 –> 00:01:38,279So, join us today if you can, in Psalm 133 as we begin the message From Seeking to Finding.2400:01:38,279 –> 00:01:39,279Here’s Colin.2500:01:39,279 –> 00:01:43,699Well, we come today to the last in our series, Moving in the Right Direction.2600:01:43,699 –> 00:01:47,379We’ve been learning from the Psalms of Ascent,2700:01:47,379 –> 00:01:50,980which are really a collection of songs, as we’ve been reminded already,2800:01:50,980 –> 00:01:53,919that old testament believers sang2900:01:54,019 –> 00:01:57,680as they made their journey to Jerusalem for the great festivals3000:01:57,680 –> 00:02:01,339in which God has said he would meet with his people.3100:02:01,339 –> 00:02:06,720And the relevance of these songs to us today is, of course, that we are also on a journey,3200:02:06,720 –> 00:02:09,460the Christian life is a journey of faith.3300:02:09,460 –> 00:02:12,779It is a journey we take with the presence of Jesus,3400:02:12,779 –> 00:02:17,740and it is a journey to the presence of Jesus.3500:02:17,740 –> 00:02:21,559And we’ve discovered many things about that journey over these last weeks.3600:02:21,580 –> 00:02:26,479First, we saw that it begins when a person moves from delaying to deciding.3700:02:26,479 –> 00:02:32,179The psalms of ascent beginning in Psalm 120 start with one man who says,3800:02:32,179 –> 00:02:35,899woe to me because I live in Meshech,3900:02:35,899 –> 00:02:39,759one man who says, I’ve lived at a distance from God for too long.4000:02:39,759 –> 00:02:43,279I can’t stay here apart from God any longer4100:02:43,279 –> 00:02:46,240and he begins his journey and he very soon finds4200:02:46,240 –> 00:02:49,380that there are other people on that same journey with him.4300:02:49,380 –> 00:02:51,740We’ve seen that the journey is one of faith.4400:02:51,740 –> 00:02:55,380It involves moving from seeing to believing.4500:02:55,380 –> 00:02:59,080We live on that which is not seen.4600:02:59,080 –> 00:03:02,179If you live on what you see around you, you’ll quickly get discouraged.4700:03:02,179 –> 00:03:05,399We live on that which is unseen, the grace of God,4800:03:05,399 –> 00:03:10,380the presence of the Holy Spirit, our ultimate destiny in heaven.4900:03:10,380 –> 00:03:13,580We’ve seen that it involves moving from asking to receiving.5000:03:13,580 –> 00:03:18,259Learning to pray is a huge part of this Christian journey.5100:03:18,259 –> 00:03:20,479Prayer has two parts essentially.5200:03:20,479 –> 00:03:24,619Asking for what you need, affirming what you have received.5300:03:24,619 –> 00:03:29,160We saw that these are like two tracks on which a train will run.5400:03:29,160 –> 00:03:31,220The one without the other isn’t a great deal of use,5500:03:31,220 –> 00:03:36,059but together they enable us to move in the right direction.5600:03:36,059 –> 00:03:39,979Then we’ve seen that Jesus Christ walks with us through life’s journey,5700:03:39,979 –> 00:03:44,259which has all kinds of different experiences.5800:03:44,259 –> 00:03:45,699Sometimes it involves weeping.5900:03:46,259 –> 00:03:49,460We saw that there are times when it seems that evil has won the day.6000:03:49,460 –> 00:03:53,360The scepter of the wicked over the land of the righteous.6100:03:53,360 –> 00:03:56,940Sometimes it seems with all our effort we only get more and more frustrated.6200:03:56,940 –> 00:03:59,539We’re not achieving what we wanted.6300:03:59,539 –> 00:04:05,259Sometimes we experience deep wounds, and they cause us to cry out to God,6400:04:05,259 –> 00:04:09,860and we need his touch to bring healing to our lives.6500:04:09,860 –> 00:04:14,500Now we’ve seen that all of these things are in normal part6600:04:14,500 –> 00:04:16,619of the Christian life.6700:04:16,619 –> 00:04:21,140You experience trials like these, Jesus walks with you through them and in them.6800:04:21,140 –> 00:04:25,820It’s not that something unusual is happening to you, they are part of the journey,6900:04:25,820 –> 00:04:29,299the difficulties that we have to overcome.7000:04:29,299 –> 00:04:34,040And Jesus Christ is always at work to move you in the right direction,7100:04:34,040 –> 00:04:38,000from weeping to rejoicing, from frustration to fulfillment,7200:04:38,000 –> 00:04:39,420from pain to peace.7300:04:40,100 –> 00:04:44,380And then we saw last week that the wonderful comfort for God’s people7400:04:44,380 –> 00:04:49,959is that the ultimate outcome of your life does not depend on what you try to do for God,7500:04:49,959 –> 00:04:55,040but on what God in Jesus Christ has done for you.7600:04:55,040 –> 00:04:59,059And so today we’re coming to the last in our series,7700:04:59,059 –> 00:05:02,119and the obvious question is simply this,7800:05:02,119 –> 00:05:07,239What lies at the end of the journey?7900:05:07,600 –> 00:05:14,700And so I’d like you to turn to Psalm 133 and Psalm 134 the last in the songs of ascents.8000:05:14,700 –> 00:05:17,019We’re going to read these two short psalms,8100:05:17,019 –> 00:05:22,420and they give to us a picture of what lies at the end of the journey.8200:05:22,420 –> 00:05:26,200133 and then 134.8300:05:26,200 –> 00:05:33,059The first is a song of David, and these are the last in this group called a song of ascents.8400:05:33,079 –> 00:05:38,160How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!8500:05:38,160 –> 00:05:41,380It is like precious oil poured on the head,8600:05:41,380 –> 00:05:43,019running down on the beard8700:05:43,019 –> 00:05:45,880running down on Aaron’s beard,8800:05:45,880 –> 00:05:50,540running down upon the collar of his robes8900:05:50,540 –> 00:05:56,380It is as if the Jew of Herman were falling on Mount Zion9000:05:56,380 –> 00:05:59,799for there the Lord bestows His blessing9100:06:30,140 –> 00:06:34,799Coming to Jerusalem, that would be a journey of something like a hundred miles,9200:06:34,799 –> 00:06:36,899which is a long way to walk9300:06:37,119 –> 00:06:40,420Can you imagine doing this with an extended family?9400:06:40,420 –> 00:06:41,980I mean, bringing the kids,9500:06:41,980 –> 00:06:44,260bringing grandma, a couple of donkeys,9600:06:44,260 –> 00:06:46,779and it’s only a hundred miles by foot9700:06:46,779 –> 00:06:49,480Now, suppose you did 15 or 20 miles a day9800:06:49,480 –> 00:06:51,540you know… five, six days travel9900:06:51,540 –> 00:06:54,160This is not an easy journey10000:06:54,160 –> 00:06:58,079And so, you need to know that what is at the end of the journey10100:06:58,119 –> 00:07:01,500is worth the difficulty of getting there10200:07:01,500 –> 00:07:04,079And obviously, that is a big question for us10300:07:04,079 –> 00:07:08,540You don’t need me to tell you it is not easy to be a Christian10400:07:08,540 –> 00:07:12,839It is not easy to sustain a life of faithfulness10500:07:12,839 –> 00:07:16,040and of obedience to Jesus Christ10600:07:16,040 –> 00:07:18,559And if you’re going to sustain the Christian life,10700:07:18,559 –> 00:07:20,600you need to know clearly10800:07:20,600 –> 00:07:23,160that what lies at the end of the journey10900:07:23,160 –> 00:07:25,799is infinitely worth it11000:07:25,959 –> 00:07:29,480It’s worth all the difficulty of getting there11100:07:29,480 –> 00:07:34,200Now Psalm 133 and 134 give us a picture11200:07:34,200 –> 00:07:37,380of what these Old Testament believers experienced11300:07:37,380 –> 00:07:41,160at the end of their journey when they went to Jerusalem11400:07:41,160 –> 00:07:43,399But they do much more than that11500:07:43,399 –> 00:07:46,760You see, these psalms also shine a light11600:07:46,760 –> 00:07:49,040on what lies at the end of the journey11700:07:49,040 –> 00:07:51,000of all believers in Old Testament11800:07:51,000 –> 00:07:52,920and New Testament11900:07:52,920 –> 00:07:55,459what lies at the end of our journey12000:07:55,519 –> 00:07:58,959when we are gathered in the presence of Jesus12100:07:58,959 –> 00:08:01,100You say, well how do you know that?12200:08:01,100 –> 00:08:04,380Look at the end of Psalm 13312300:08:04,380 –> 00:08:08,980he talks there about Life for evermore12400:08:10,339 –> 00:08:12,820Now obviously, David is talking about12500:08:12,820 –> 00:08:14,980something that is beyond anything12600:08:14,980 –> 00:08:16,940that we experience in this world12700:08:16,940 –> 00:08:19,420Life for evermore12800:08:20,660 –> 00:08:23,619These psalms therefore are talking finally12900:08:24,619 –> 00:08:28,859about your ultimate ascent13000:08:28,859 –> 00:08:31,359into the presence of God13100:08:31,359 –> 00:08:36,619Where you will behold His face13200:08:40,219 –> 00:08:42,380Now what lies at the end of the journey?13300:08:43,460 –> 00:08:45,260What will it be like?13400:08:46,479 –> 00:08:50,380Well, there’s one word that ties these two psalms together13500:08:50,400 –> 00:08:53,179and that is the word blessing13600:08:53,239 –> 00:08:58,080Psalm 133 is all about God’s blessing us13700:08:58,559 –> 00:09:03,539and Psalm 134 is all about us blessing the Lord13800:09:04,700 –> 00:09:06,619And it’s a wonderful thing isn’t it13900:09:06,619 –> 00:09:10,020that this group of psalms begins with one individual14000:09:10,020 –> 00:09:12,440at a distance from God14100:09:12,700 –> 00:09:15,340and it ends with a whole community14200:09:15,340 –> 00:09:18,159rejoicing in the presence of God14300:09:18,159 –> 00:09:21,179That’s moving in the right direction14400:09:21,500 –> 00:09:24,039You’re listening to open the bible with pastor Colin Smith14500:09:24,039 –> 00:09:27,000and our series moving in the right direction14600:09:27,000 –> 00:09:28,840based on the Psalms of Ascent14700:09:28,840 –> 00:09:31,880from Psalm 120 to 13414800:09:31,880 –> 00:09:34,479Today’s message is from seeking to finding14900:09:34,479 –> 00:09:37,039and that’s based on Psalm 13515000:09:37,039 –> 00:09:39,059Don’t forget if you’ve missed any of the series15100:09:39,059 –> 00:09:41,000or if you want to go back and listen again15200:09:41,000 –> 00:09:43,760that’s easy to do by coming online to our website15300:09:43,760 –> 00:09:46,260openthebible.org.uk15400:09:46,260 –> 00:09:48,799or by finding us as a podcast15500:09:48,799 –> 00:09:50,659and those are on all the main line podcast sites15600:09:51,020 –> 00:09:52,900search for open the bible UK15700:09:52,900 –> 00:09:55,500or follow the link from our website15800:09:56,059 –> 00:09:57,500Back to the message now15900:09:57,500 –> 00:09:58,799here again is Colin16000:09:59,059 –> 00:10:01,179Now let’s begin with Psalm 13316100:10:01,179 –> 00:10:01,820and ask the question16200:10:01,820 –> 00:10:05,020What does God’s blessing on us look like?16300:10:05,020 –> 00:10:06,520I want you to notice three things16400:10:07,140 –> 00:10:07,640First16500:10:08,020 –> 00:10:09,419God blesses us16600:10:09,780 –> 00:10:12,559by reconciling us to himself16700:10:12,780 –> 00:10:14,340and to each other16800:10:14,380 –> 00:10:15,780God blesses us16900:10:15,780 –> 00:10:18,400by reconciling us to himself17000:10:18,400 –> 00:10:19,739and to each other17100:10:20,679 –> 00:10:22,780Psalm 133 verse 117200:10:23,159 –> 00:10:26,080How good and pleasant it is17300:10:26,080 –> 00:10:29,400when brothers live together in unity17400:10:30,280 –> 00:10:32,219Now Eugene Peterson points out17500:10:32,219 –> 00:10:36,039that the words brothers and unity17600:10:36,700 –> 00:10:40,679don’t always naturally belong together17700:10:40,679 –> 00:10:43,140and I think that’s a pretty good point17800:10:43,140 –> 00:10:45,559Brothers often fight17900:10:45,919 –> 00:10:48,099Sisters often fight18000:10:48,099 –> 00:10:51,539We talk about sibling rivalry18100:10:51,539 –> 00:10:52,380Now it’s funny18200:10:52,380 –> 00:10:54,260sometimes the congregation people sit like18300:10:54,260 –> 00:10:55,559We don’t know anything about that18400:10:55,559 –> 00:10:58,159You know about that at home don’t you?18500:10:58,859 –> 00:11:01,479And if you don’t, you could find it out in the Bible18600:11:01,479 –> 00:11:02,900I mean, it’s full of examples18700:11:02,900 –> 00:11:05,859The world’s first brothers18800:11:06,479 –> 00:11:08,659Two dear little chaps18900:11:09,099 –> 00:11:11,320called Cain and Abel19000:11:11,780 –> 00:11:14,159And a little bit of sibling rivalry there19100:11:14,159 –> 00:11:16,919ended up with the one murdering the other19200:11:17,020 –> 00:11:18,840Not a very promising start19300:11:18,840 –> 00:11:22,080for the worlds first ever siblings19400:11:22,559 –> 00:11:25,700Then you remember Jacob and Esau?19500:11:25,700 –> 00:11:28,400How well these guys got on together?19600:11:28,979 –> 00:11:31,260Then you have Joseph and his brothers19700:11:31,260 –> 00:11:32,599remember the twelve brothers19800:11:32,599 –> 00:11:34,900and Joseph is the one who receives19900:11:34,900 –> 00:11:36,099a revelation from God20000:11:36,099 –> 00:11:37,520So he comes down at breakfast time20100:11:37,520 –> 00:11:38,599and over the cornflakes20200:11:38,599 –> 00:11:40,200he tells them what God has been saying to him20300:11:40,200 –> 00:11:41,919And they are rolling their eyes20400:11:41,919 –> 00:11:43,219and saying who in all the world20500:11:43,219 –> 00:11:44,380does Joseph think he is?20600:11:44,380 –> 00:11:45,239We’ll fix him20700:11:45,260 –> 00:11:46,419And so they beat him up20800:11:46,419 –> 00:11:47,599they put him in a pit20900:11:47,599 –> 00:11:48,719they sell him as a slave21000:11:48,719 –> 00:11:49,919and off he goes to Egypt21100:11:49,919 –> 00:11:51,460Well, how good and pleasant21200:11:51,460 –> 00:11:52,780a thing it is when21300:11:52,780 –> 00:11:55,219brothers dwell together in unity21400:11:55,219 –> 00:11:56,219right?21500:11:56,219 –> 00:11:58,479And this psalm was written by David21600:11:59,320 –> 00:12:01,400And you remember his brothers21700:12:01,400 –> 00:12:03,619all lined up before the prophet Samuel21800:12:03,619 –> 00:12:04,859to see which one would be king21900:12:04,859 –> 00:12:06,659He was left out in the fields22000:12:06,659 –> 00:12:07,780with the sheep22100:12:08,219 –> 00:12:09,219And then when the brothers22200:12:09,219 –> 00:12:10,760were sent off to war22300:12:10,760 –> 00:12:11,760David was the youngest22400:12:11,760 –> 00:12:13,159so he stayed behind22500:12:13,159 –> 00:12:14,479Till his father Jess said22600:12:14,539 –> 00:12:16,260Well, why don’t you go take him a sandwich?22700:12:16,260 –> 00:12:17,460So he takes this big hamper22800:12:17,460 –> 00:12:19,559gives a picnic to his brothers22900:12:19,559 –> 00:12:21,219When he arrives on the field of battle23000:12:21,219 –> 00:12:22,799the brothers look to him as if to say23100:12:22,799 –> 00:12:24,640what are you doing on a field of battle?23200:12:24,640 –> 00:12:26,580You don’t belong here23300:12:26,580 –> 00:12:28,799you’re just our little brother23400:12:28,799 –> 00:12:30,159Well of course then he slew Goliath23500:12:30,159 –> 00:12:31,940and they treated him with a little more respect23600:12:31,940 –> 00:12:32,940after that23700:12:34,760 –> 00:12:36,539Maybe you know some of these experiences23800:12:36,539 –> 00:12:37,539from your23900:12:37,539 –> 00:12:38,820the intentions of these things24000:12:38,820 –> 00:12:41,400from your own experience too24100:12:41,400 –> 00:12:42,400Brothers and sisters24200:12:42,400 –> 00:12:44,140often know more about rivalry24300:12:44,320 –> 00:12:47,299than they do about unity24400:12:48,039 –> 00:12:49,000So David says24500:12:49,000 –> 00:12:50,460It is a good and a pleasant thing24600:12:50,460 –> 00:12:52,820when brothers live together in unity24700:12:52,820 –> 00:12:55,359for there24800:12:55,359 –> 00:12:56,739God bestows24900:12:56,739 –> 00:12:59,119his blessing25000:12:59,119 –> 00:13:00,479Now of course this was25100:13:00,479 –> 00:13:01,979something that they experienced25200:13:01,979 –> 00:13:03,739in these great festivals in Jerusalem25300:13:03,739 –> 00:13:06,419when God’s people came together25400:13:06,419 –> 00:13:07,419one nation25500:13:07,419 –> 00:13:08,419one family25600:13:08,419 –> 00:13:09,580in the truest sense25700:13:09,580 –> 00:13:10,960descended from Jacob25800:13:10,960 –> 00:13:12,599and from Abraham25900:13:12,599 –> 00:13:13,760In these great festivals26000:13:13,919 –> 00:13:14,880the unity between them26100:13:14,880 –> 00:13:16,039seemed far, far greater26200:13:16,039 –> 00:13:17,200than the difficulties26300:13:17,200 –> 00:13:19,419that had divided them26400:13:19,419 –> 00:13:20,119And of course this is26500:13:20,119 –> 00:13:21,099pointing us forward26600:13:21,099 –> 00:13:21,719to the fact that26700:13:21,719 –> 00:13:23,059there is coming a great day26800:13:24,900 –> 00:13:26,820when everything that has ever come26900:13:26,820 –> 00:13:29,719between brothers and sisters in Christ27000:13:29,719 –> 00:13:32,159will be fully, finally27100:13:32,159 –> 00:13:34,940and wonderfully healed27200:13:34,940 –> 00:13:36,159We will be reconciled27300:13:36,159 –> 00:13:37,380to one another fully27400:13:37,380 –> 00:13:38,419even as we are27500:13:38,419 –> 00:13:41,940fully reconciled to God27600:13:42,080 –> 00:13:44,919Then that will be Heaven27700:13:44,919 –> 00:13:46,140And so every time27800:13:46,140 –> 00:13:47,260we see it happening27900:13:47,260 –> 00:13:49,940among us here and now28000:13:49,940 –> 00:13:53,179we get a little touch of Heaven28100:13:53,179 –> 00:13:55,119on earth28200:13:55,119 –> 00:13:56,340You see, Jesus Christ28300:13:56,340 –> 00:13:57,340has put us in the28400:13:57,340 –> 00:13:59,619reconciliation business28500:13:59,619 –> 00:14:01,679He reconciled us to himself28600:14:01,679 –> 00:14:02,780through the cross28700:14:02,780 –> 00:14:04,299and he makes his church28800:14:04,299 –> 00:14:05,419the body in which28900:14:05,419 –> 00:14:07,179the reconciliation of people29000:14:07,179 –> 00:14:08,380who are very different29100:14:08,380 –> 00:14:10,219begins to happen29200:14:10,500 –> 00:14:14,799What tears our world apart?29300:14:14,799 –> 00:14:17,760Age. Generation.29400:14:17,760 –> 00:14:20,859Colour. Economic status.29500:14:20,859 –> 00:14:22,080social background, education29600:14:22,080 –> 00:14:23,719these things compartmentalize us29700:14:23,719 –> 00:14:29,359they divide people29800:14:29,359 –> 00:14:30,359but when the apostle Paul29900:14:30,359 –> 00:14:31,359writes about the church30000:14:31,359 –> 00:14:32,359he says listen30100:14:32,359 –> 00:14:35,700you are all one in Christ Jesus30200:14:35,700 –> 00:14:39,020there is not Jew nor Greek30300:14:39,020 –> 00:14:40,239the racial divisions30400:14:40,239 –> 00:14:41,940are superseded in Christ30500:14:41,940 –> 00:14:43,640there’s not slaver free30600:14:43,640 –> 00:14:45,580the economic divisions30700:14:45,580 –> 00:14:47,299are superseded in Christ30800:14:47,299 –> 00:14:48,900there’s not even male or female30900:14:48,900 –> 00:14:52,239you are all one in Christ Jesus31000:14:52,239 –> 00:14:54,239and what will be complete in heaven31100:14:54,239 –> 00:14:57,859is begun in the church of Jesus Christ now31200:14:57,859 –> 00:14:58,859it’s a wonderful vision31300:14:58,859 –> 00:15:02,520now of course31400:15:02,520 –> 00:15:05,159we all struggle with this31500:15:05,159 –> 00:15:06,700The Apostle Paul31600:15:07,500 –> 00:15:08,979had wrote a letter to31700:15:08,979 –> 00:15:10,460a church in Philippi31800:15:10,460 –> 00:15:12,460the letter of Philippians in the New Testament31900:15:12,460 –> 00:15:14,280and at the end32000:15:14,280 –> 00:15:16,219he singles out two women32100:15:16,219 –> 00:15:17,859and you can imagine turning up32200:15:17,859 –> 00:15:18,799on Sunday morning32300:15:18,799 –> 00:15:21,219having a letter from the Apostle Paul32400:15:21,219 –> 00:15:22,900being read from the pulpit32500:15:22,900 –> 00:15:24,979and finding that you were named in it32600:15:24,979 –> 00:15:26,979well he picks out two women32700:15:26,979 –> 00:15:29,119who’d evidently been squabbling32800:15:29,119 –> 00:15:30,059their names were32900:15:30,059 –> 00:15:30,460Jodea33000:15:30,460 –> 00:15:32,239and Sintike33100:15:32,239 –> 00:15:34,099Dr. Alan Redpath33200:15:34,099 –> 00:15:35,479used to call them33300:15:35,479 –> 00:15:37,580Onerous and Suntuche33400:15:38,020 –> 00:15:39,039and I rather like that33500:15:39,039 –> 00:15:40,940I find it memorable33600:15:40,940 –> 00:15:41,859and33700:15:41,859 –> 00:15:42,539Paul says33800:15:42,539 –> 00:15:43,700at the end of Philippians33900:15:43,700 –> 00:15:44,119he said34000:15:44,119 –> 00:15:45,299now you two women34100:15:45,299 –> 00:15:46,479they weren’t getting along34200:15:46,479 –> 00:15:48,280he said I plead with you34300:15:49,059 –> 00:15:52,380to agree together in the Lord34400:15:53,200 –> 00:15:54,179look he’s saying34500:15:54,179 –> 00:15:55,419your destiny34600:15:55,419 –> 00:15:57,659is to spend eternity together34700:15:57,659 –> 00:15:59,179in the presence of Jesus Christ34800:15:59,179 –> 00:16:02,140can’t you begin by agreeing together now34900:16:03,020 –> 00:16:03,299Listen35000:16:03,299 –> 00:16:05,080the things that make us different35100:16:05,080 –> 00:16:06,820the things that pull us apart35200:16:06,820 –> 00:16:09,359exist only in time35300:16:09,799 –> 00:16:11,719the things that unite people35400:16:11,719 –> 00:16:13,400in Jesus Christ together35500:16:13,400 –> 00:16:15,940will last for eternity35600:16:16,460 –> 00:16:18,020and as reconciliation35700:16:18,020 –> 00:16:19,340between God’s people35800:16:19,340 –> 00:16:20,739really takes place35900:16:20,739 –> 00:16:21,919the psalmist is saying36000:16:21,919 –> 00:16:22,679there36100:16:22,679 –> 00:16:25,760God’s blessing will flow36200:16:25,760 –> 00:16:27,159so you want to see more of36300:16:27,159 –> 00:16:29,020God’s blessing in your life36400:16:29,020 –> 00:16:31,539do everything that you can36500:16:31,539 –> 00:16:32,979when it comes to this whole area36600:16:32,979 –> 00:16:34,539of reconciliation36700:16:34,580 –> 00:16:36,880as far as it is in you36800:16:36,880 –> 00:16:38,460because when brothers and sisters36900:16:38,460 –> 00:16:40,500in Christ live together in unity37000:16:40,500 –> 00:16:44,080there God’s blessing flows37100:16:44,080 –> 00:16:45,400in your church37200:16:45,400 –> 00:16:46,659in your business37300:16:47,619 –> 00:16:49,739in every area of your life37400:16:51,059 –> 00:16:52,559God’s put us in the business37500:16:52,559 –> 00:16:54,739of reconciliation37600:16:54,739 –> 00:16:56,380Complete then37700:16:57,020 –> 00:16:58,239Begun37800:16:58,859 –> 00:16:59,859Now37900:17:01,059 –> 00:17:02,320Secondly, God blesses us38000:17:02,320 –> 00:17:04,500not only by reconciling us to himself38100:17:04,500 –> 00:17:05,920and one another38200:17:05,920 –> 00:17:07,560But he blesses us38300:17:07,560 –> 00:17:09,219by anointing us38400:17:09,219 –> 00:17:11,479for ministry and service38500:17:12,359 –> 00:17:13,680Now the Bible’s full of pictures38600:17:13,680 –> 00:17:15,520Try and imagine this one with me38700:17:15,520 –> 00:17:16,560Verse two38800:17:17,359 –> 00:17:20,180It is like precious oil38900:17:20,180 –> 00:17:22,560poured on the head39000:17:22,560 –> 00:17:25,260running down on the beard39100:17:25,260 –> 00:17:28,199running down on Aaron’s beard39200:17:28,199 –> 00:17:30,260down upon the collar39300:17:30,260 –> 00:17:31,260of his robes39400:17:32,400 –> 00:17:34,579Now Aaron39500:17:34,579 –> 00:17:36,439Who was Aaron39600:17:36,439 –> 00:17:39,560Aaron was the brother of Moses39700:17:39,560 –> 00:17:43,099Now talk about sibling rivalry39800:17:43,099 –> 00:17:44,839I mean can you imagine being39900:17:44,839 –> 00:17:47,060the brother of one of the greatest men40000:17:47,060 –> 00:17:49,079who has ever lived40100:17:49,079 –> 00:17:52,000I mean talk about being put in the shade40200:17:52,000 –> 00:17:53,859What do you think it would have been like40300:17:53,859 –> 00:17:57,579to be the brother of Moses40400:17:57,579 –> 00:18:00,160Now some of us probably know a little bit40500:18:00,260 –> 00:18:02,640of what this feels like40600:18:02,640 –> 00:18:05,859If you have a well-known father or mother40700:18:05,859 –> 00:18:09,339or husband or wife or even son or daughter40800:18:09,339 –> 00:18:10,339You know what it’s like40900:18:10,339 –> 00:18:11,939You’re always introduced as41000:18:11,939 –> 00:18:14,540somebody’s daughter, somebody’s son41100:18:14,540 –> 00:18:18,560somebody’s wife, somebody’s husband41200:18:18,560 –> 00:18:20,420You’re never introduced in your own right41300:18:20,420 –> 00:18:23,420The thing that always gets noticed41400:18:23,420 –> 00:18:28,719is who you are in relation to somebody else41500:18:28,800 –> 00:18:32,560Now that’s, of course, how it was for Aaron41600:18:32,560 –> 00:18:35,920Aaron was Moses’ brother41700:18:35,920 –> 00:18:39,579And it’s always Moses and Aaron41800:18:39,579 –> 00:18:43,719It’s never Aaron and Moses, right?41900:18:43,719 –> 00:18:45,160Now here’s a wonderful thing42000:18:45,160 –> 00:18:48,040that’s being referred to in this verse42100:18:48,040 –> 00:18:51,780The God who called Moses into ministry42200:18:51,780 –> 00:18:54,619has a purpose for Aaron, too42300:18:54,619 –> 00:18:56,819Aaron was made the high priest42400:18:56,819 –> 00:18:58,119And on the day when he was given42500:18:58,140 –> 00:19:00,719this particular ministry, it was marked42600:19:00,719 –> 00:19:04,859by a vase of oil being poured over his head42700:19:04,859 –> 00:19:07,400So much oil that it ran down over his beard42800:19:07,400 –> 00:19:09,640and over the collar of these wonderful robes42900:19:09,640 –> 00:19:11,560that he was given for his new position43000:19:11,560 –> 00:19:13,780If you want to read about it in more detail43100:19:13,780 –> 00:19:17,160you can read about it in Excel43200:19:17,160 –> 00:19:20,280the anointing of Aaron for ministry43300:19:20,280 –> 00:19:22,479And it is a wonderful picture43400:19:22,479 –> 00:19:23,880What it is saying to us is43500:19:23,880 –> 00:19:27,680that as the oil is poured over Aaron’s head43600:19:27,719 –> 00:19:30,839this ordinary guy who for years had been43700:19:30,839 –> 00:19:33,239in the shadow of his brother43800:19:33,239 –> 00:19:38,199is given a ministry as a Priest of God43900:19:40,119 –> 00:19:41,680Now you say, that sounds marvelous44000:19:41,680 –> 00:19:43,180that little story about Aaron and what44100:19:43,180 –> 00:19:45,680in all the world has it got to do with me44200:19:45,680 –> 00:19:49,199Listen, the anointing of Aaron44300:19:50,520 –> 00:19:53,219is a picture of what God does44400:19:53,219 –> 00:19:56,000with every believer in Jesus Christ44500:19:56,739 –> 00:19:59,300When you come to faith in Jesus Christ44600:19:59,300 –> 00:20:00,459here’s what God does44700:20:00,459 –> 00:20:05,819He pours His Holy Spirit into you44800:20:05,819 –> 00:20:09,319He makes you a priest44900:20:09,319 –> 00:20:10,979The New Testament speaks about45000:20:10,979 –> 00:20:14,560the priesthood of all believers45100:20:14,560 –> 00:20:16,319What that means, is that God puts45200:20:16,319 –> 00:20:18,339every believer in a place45300:20:18,339 –> 00:20:20,260where we are able to serve Him45400:20:20,260 –> 00:20:22,420and minister in His Name45500:20:22,420 –> 00:20:23,979It is a wonderful thing45600:20:23,979 –> 00:20:25,319What that means45700:20:25,319 –> 00:20:27,199is that there is no such thing45800:20:27,199 –> 00:20:29,920as an ordinary Christian45900:20:29,920 –> 00:20:31,439If you’ve ever said46000:20:31,439 –> 00:20:34,079Oh I’m just an ordinary Christian46100:20:34,079 –> 00:20:36,300Never say that again46200:20:36,300 –> 00:20:38,239How can anyone46300:20:38,239 –> 00:20:42,760in whom the Spirit of God dwells46400:20:42,760 –> 00:20:45,239be described as ordinary?46500:20:45,239 –> 00:20:47,420No, the wonderful thing is46600:20:47,420 –> 00:20:49,599no matter how overshadowed46700:20:49,599 –> 00:20:50,400you may have been46800:20:50,400 –> 00:20:51,760by some brother or sister46900:20:51,760 –> 00:20:52,920or famous relative47000:20:52,920 –> 00:20:54,000or person with a more47100:20:54,040 –> 00:20:55,260forceful personality47200:20:55,260 –> 00:20:56,160or greater success47300:20:56,160 –> 00:20:57,959as it seems than you47400:20:57,959 –> 00:21:00,219When you come to Jesus Christ47500:21:00,219 –> 00:21:02,079He pours his Spirit into you47600:21:02,079 –> 00:21:03,900and there’s a ministry for you47700:21:03,900 –> 00:21:07,079as well as for your brother47800:21:07,079 –> 00:21:08,979And every time a believer47900:21:08,979 –> 00:21:11,500finds their gifting and calling48000:21:11,500 –> 00:21:13,560to serve the Lord Jesus Christ48100:21:13,560 –> 00:21:14,680in this life48200:21:14,680 –> 00:21:16,760there is a little touch48300:21:16,760 –> 00:21:18,780of heaven on earth48400:21:24,060 –> 00:21:26,979Examples of the psalms seeking to finding48500:21:26,979 –> 00:21:29,400based on Psalm 13348600:21:29,400 –> 00:21:31,459that’s one of the Psalms of Ascent48700:21:31,459 –> 00:21:33,880Psalms 120-13448800:21:33,880 –> 00:21:35,079These were songs that48900:21:35,079 –> 00:21:37,079old testament believers sang49000:21:37,079 –> 00:21:39,439as they made their way to Jerusalem49100:21:39,439 –> 00:21:42,219where God had promised to meet with them49200:21:42,219 –> 00:21:44,219Don’t forget, if you miss one of the messages49300:21:44,219 –> 00:21:45,160in the series49400:21:45,160 –> 00:21:46,640you can easily catch up49500:21:46,640 –> 00:21:48,099or go back and listen again49600:21:48,099 –> 00:21:49,640online at our website49700:21:49,640 –> 00:21:52,119openthebible.org.uk49800:21:52,119 –> 00:21:53,819And there you’ll find lots of other49900:21:54,099 –> 00:21:56,099and your daily devotions50000:21:56,219 –> 00:21:58,219So I hope you’ll check out our website50100:21:58,219 –> 00:21:58,959the address again50200:21:58,959 –> 00:22:01,780openthebible.org.uk50300:22:02,579 –> 00:22:04,579Open the Bible is able to stay on the radio50400:22:04,579 –> 00:22:05,900and on the internet50500:22:05,900 –> 00:22:08,479because of the very generous donations50600:22:08,479 –> 00:22:09,859made by our listeners50700:22:09,859 –> 00:22:12,680So if you already give to Support Open the Bible50800:22:12,680 –> 00:22:14,140thank you so much50900:22:14,540 –> 00:22:16,619If that something that you’ve been considering doing51000:22:16,719 –> 00:22:17,560in the future51100:22:17,560 –> 00:22:19,560Each month we aim to offer51200:22:19,560 –> 00:22:20,619a special gift51300:22:20,619 –> 00:22:22,420in return for setting up51400:22:22,420 –> 00:22:24,859a new support payment for Open the Bible51500:22:24,859 –> 00:22:27,180If you’re able to set up a new monthly51600:22:27,180 –> 00:22:30,219direct debit of £5 per month or more51700:22:30,319 –> 00:22:32,479or a one-off gift of £50 or more51800:22:32,479 –> 00:22:34,500we’d love to say thank you51900:22:34,500 –> 00:22:35,939by sending you a copy52000:22:35,939 –> 00:22:37,180of Colin Smith’s book52100:22:37,180 –> 00:22:38,859Fly Thru the Bible52200:22:38,859 –> 00:22:41,780Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham52300:22:41,780 –> 00:22:43,119to talk about the book52400:22:43,119 –> 00:22:44,800and also about some other52500:22:44,800 –> 00:22:45,699exciting resources52600:22:45,699 –> 00:22:47,719which are free for everyone to receive52700:22:48,099 –> 00:22:49,560Thanks David52800:22:49,560 –> 00:22:52,020well if you’re been listening for a while52900:22:52,020 –> 00:22:53,380you will of course know that53000:22:53,380 –> 00:22:55,900each month we give away a free book53100:22:55,900 –> 00:22:58,020where you support our ministry53200:22:58,020 –> 00:23:01,020either with a one-off gift of £50 or more53300:23:01,020 –> 00:23:03,219or by setting up a new direct debit53400:23:03,219 –> 00:23:05,180of at least £553500:23:05,180 –> 00:23:07,099but this July and August53600:23:07,099 –> 00:23:08,099we’ve got something53700:23:08,099 –> 00:23:09,900even bigger going on53800:23:09,900 –> 00:23:12,819we’re running a special campaign53900:23:12,819 –> 00:23:15,359packed with free resources54000:23:15,359 –> 00:23:18,199all to help you to open the Bible54100:23:18,199 –> 00:23:19,219with others54200:23:19,219 –> 00:23:21,199because let’s face it54300:23:21,280 –> 00:23:23,819that’s not always easy to do54400:23:23,819 –> 00:23:25,300so yes, when you donate54500:23:25,300 –> 00:23:27,099you will still receive54600:23:27,099 –> 00:23:29,420a free copy of Fly Through the Bible54700:23:29,420 –> 00:23:31,079but this summer54800:23:31,079 –> 00:23:32,619everyone can access54900:23:32,619 –> 00:23:34,780a range of free tools55000:23:34,780 –> 00:23:36,780first, there’s a video series55100:23:36,780 –> 00:23:38,599with Colin Smith55200:23:38,599 –> 00:23:40,780walking through each session55300:23:40,780 –> 00:23:43,040of the Fly Through the Bible course55400:23:43,040 –> 00:23:44,579on our website55500:23:44,579 –> 00:23:46,500great for personal study55600:23:46,500 –> 00:23:47,939or for small groups55700:23:47,939 –> 00:23:50,020second, we’ve got a free app55800:23:50,420 –> 00:23:51,959just head to your app store55900:23:51,959 –> 00:23:55,020and search Fly Through the Bible56000:23:55,020 –> 00:23:56,339could you invite a friend56100:23:56,339 –> 00:23:58,099for coffee this week56200:23:58,099 –> 00:24:00,300and go through it together56300:24:00,300 –> 00:24:02,280or, if you’re a church leader56400:24:02,280 –> 00:24:03,699thinking ahead to your56500:24:03,699 –> 00:24:05,099autumn small groups56600:24:05,099 –> 00:24:06,640we’ve got you covered56700:24:06,640 –> 00:24:10,979head to OpenTheBible.org.uk56800:24:10,979 –> 00:24:12,680forward slash fly56900:24:12,680 –> 00:24:14,459to download a free57000:24:14,459 –> 00:24:16,359small group discussion guide57100:24:16,359 –> 00:24:19,199with questions for every session57200:24:19,199 –> 00:24:20,660we’re praying these resources57300:24:20,660 –> 00:24:22,800will encourage and equip you57400:24:22,800 –> 00:24:24,180whether you’re reading the bible57500:24:24,180 –> 00:24:24,900on your own57600:24:24,900 –> 00:24:26,199or with others57700:24:26,199 –> 00:24:27,040and, honestly,57800:24:27,040 –> 00:24:28,979what better place to start57900:24:28,979 –> 00:24:31,540than a journey through the bible story58000:24:31,540 –> 00:24:33,000thanks Amanda58100:24:33,000 –> 00:24:35,260you can access these free resources58200:24:35,260 –> 00:24:36,219at our website58300:24:36,219 –> 00:24:39,040openthebible.org.uk58400:24:39,040 –> 00:24:40,239and you can download58500:24:40,239 –> 00:24:41,540the Fly app58600:24:41,540 –> 00:24:42,959at the apple app store58700:24:42,959 –> 00:24:44,619or google play58800:24:44,619 –> 00:24:45,699our offer to send you58900:24:45,699 –> 00:24:47,119a copy of Colin’s book59000:24:47,119 –> 00:24:48,479Fly through the Bible59100:24:48,479 –> 00:24:50,459is available all this month59200:24:50,459 –> 00:24:52,380full details, terms and conditions59300:24:52,380 –> 00:24:53,719are on our website59400:24:53,719 –> 00:24:56,219openthebible.org.uk59500:24:56,219 –> 00:24:58,079and you can give online59600:24:58,079 –> 00:24:59,060please do be sure59700:24:59,060 –> 00:25:00,839to leave your address details59800:25:00,839 –> 00:25:02,439when you donate online59900:25:02,439 –> 00:25:04,699in order to receive your free book60000:25:04,699 –> 00:25:06,020For Open the Bible60100:25:06,020 –> 00:25:07,180Pastor Colin Smith60200:25:07,180 –> 00:25:08,420I’m David Pick60300:25:08,420 –> 00:25:09,719And I hope you’ll join us again60400:25:09,719 –> 00:25:10,719next time60500:25:16,219 –> 00:25:18,339we hear a lot about God blessing us60600:25:18,400 –> 00:25:21,000but did you know that we can also bless God60700:25:21,000 –> 00:25:22,400Find out how60800:25:22,400 –> 00:25:23,160next time on60900:25:23,160 –> 00:25:24,839Open the Bible